shew'd not the least alteration in his Countenance received the Prince with all demonstration of affection and sincere friendship and Conde complaining to him of the bruit spred thorough the City that he was not his true friend and sought his ruine Mazarine with the greatest protestations of sincerity and friendship assured him of the esteem he had for him and of his affectionate and loyal correspondence redoubling still his Asseverations that he never had the least thought of being against him and yet at the same time Mons de Lionne was writing the Order To entice the Duke of Longueville to transgress the Agreement made with his brothers in Law never to appear all three at the Council they made him believe that in the evening of the 18th of January 1650 the Affair concerning the Marquess of Beveron his great Confident would be debated so that for his care to favour his friend he forgot his own concern and notwithstanding that Mons Priolo his familiar Acquaintance advertiz'd him not to go to the Council yet would he not be persuaded so that all three came thither one after another though Conde and Conty were dissuaded by the Princess their Mother that very morning the Prince not apprehending any thing as well for the Cardinals demonstrations of his true friendship as for his confidence of the Abbot della Riviera who would have told him all supposing that the Duke of Orleans without his assent would have taken no such resolution and though it had been taken would have communicated it to the Abbot his bosom-friend They went together to wait on the Queen who feigning her self not very well was lain down to repose her self on her bed wherefore they suddenly withdrew and staying awhile in the Anti-chamber the Queen being alone with the King and sollicitous for what she knew must happen prayed the King to shut the door which he did The Princes going afterwards into the Gallery where the Council was held they found every one there but the Cardinal who was in his own Appartement discoursing with the Abbot della Riviera ignorant of this business after which he found himself openly in disgrace with the Duke of Orleans his Patron who likewise came not to Council as they had agreed for fear of what might happen abroad The Sieur de Cominges Lieutenant of the Queens Guards entered immediately into the Gallery with the Sieur de Guitault his Uncle and Croissy who told the Princes the Orders they had from the King to secure their persons They standing amazed at such news the Prince of Conde requested to speak a word with the Queen but being refused as also to speak with the Cardinal they were constrained to descend by the Back-stairs that leads to the Garden without the least noise or suspicion given to any although the Halls Chambers and Courts were full of the Princes friends and followers They were carried away in a Coach with a Guard of Horse to the Boys de Vincennes The Partizans of the Princes were exceedingly astonished at this news which was presently noised in the City the sign being given by discharging a Cannon that the prisoners were arrived at Vincennes whereupon the whole City was immediately in Arms the people believing that the Duke of Beaufort was likewise secured as the friends of the prisoners did artificially divulge to exasperate the people against Mazarine so that Beaufort was obliged that very night to ride thorough the City by Torch-light that he might be seen which pacified and much contented the people who rejoycing at the imprisonment of the Princes made Bonfires in several parts of the Town with such Acclamations as if the Kingdom had been redeemed from all misery and affliction and all blessed the Cardinal for so pious a resolution But the more reputation he gained by this act the more did he awaken their envy and incited the Frondeurs to contrive his destruction since they had obtained their intent in seeing the Prince of Conde's Party laid low pursuing still their former design of getting the sole management of Affairs in their own power After this there arose new disturbances in divers parts of the Kingdom stirred up by the Prince of Conde's Mother the Dutchess of Longueville and many other Princes and Noblemen of their Kindred and Friends in the Provinces under their Government and in Paris it self the favourers of the imprisoned being assembled in the House of the Princess Palatine consulted about the properest remedies to draw them out of prison The Coadjutor and Beaufort concurred with them in this Consultation on design to ruine also Mazarine and remain sole Masters The Cardinal finding himself more at liberty to act began to practise the ways how to arrive at his intent which was to destroy the Faction of la Fronda serving himself to that end with his wonted dissimulation excellently by him practised to make appear his reconciliation with the Duke of Beaufort seem candid and sincere who at that time was in the highest degree of Esteem and Veneration with the Parisiens and with design to make them diffident of him he went publickly to pay him a Visit unusual for him to do for which the Frondeurs murmured against the Duke calling him a Mazarine which much lessened his credit and esteem with the people and the Faction of la Fronda The Friends and kindered of the Princes ceased not at the same time to raise new commotions in the other parts of France so that the Tumults of Normandy Champagne and Burgundy were scarce appeased when as those of Guienne and chiefly of Bourdeaux began to break out Mazarine being no less agitated by the commotions of the Kingdom then by those in Paris where the people were more and more set on to Seditions he thought fit to cause the K to leave the City again under pretext to oppose the Preparations of the Spaniards who were united with the Male-contents on the Confines of Flanders Whereupon the Court went to Compeigne and because the Spaniards at this time had besieged Guise a place of great importance the Cardinal thought it convenient to go in person to the Army and attempt to relieve it which successfully he performed having encourage the Souldiers and Officers with money and many Presents distributed amongst the principal Commanders by which kind of dealing he kept the Souldiery always well-affected and faithful to the King and his own person Upon this good success the Cardinal took courage to go with the King to chastise the Rebels of Bourdeaux and drew the Duke of Orleans and all the Council to his Opinion This resolution displeased the Frondeurs for the advantages they foresaw the happy execution of this Enterprize might bring to the Court and to Mazarine and by consequence the damage and prejudice to their own Party Whereupon they began to divulge new calumnies against the Cardinal namely that this Progress was for no other purpose then to establish the Matrimony of his Nieces who after the
Kingdom according to the Kings Declaration they asked no more nor would they fail to render immediately all duty and obedience to his Majesty That to send Deputies in their names was superfluous since those of the Parlement being there in whom they reposed all confidence they did not intend to do any thing without the privity of the Parlement to which effect they should at all times write their mind to President Nesmond After which it was concluded to return thanks to his Majestie for his favourable Answer for sending away the Cardinal and to supplicate him anew that it might be done speedily That the Princes would be pleased to write to Nesmond or to some other of the Deputies to second this their Declaration that whensoever the Cardinal should be out of the Kingdom they should perform what they had promised and order the said Deputy to receive what Commands the King should deem necessary In this Assembly the Prince was observed to discourse with some sternness as if he were angry Monsieur de Bust proposed to choose new Deputies that might find out the most convenient means to send the Troops farther off and to do their utmost endeavour to procure the Peace and although all things should happen to be agreed on yet nothing to be done till the Cardinal was first departed Upon this the Parlement thought it expedient to order their Deputies at Court to give the King thanks for his Promise of giving Mazarine licence to depart and to sollicit the performance of it and to desire the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde to write to the President Nesmond with assurance as they had declared in the Assembly to lay down their Arms and yield entire obedience to his Majestie so soon as Mazarine should be gone Orleans therefore writ that by the desire of the Court that he and the Prince should send Deputies to the King they could imagine no other thing considering with what delays the Audience of the Deputies was retarded but that it was a device of the Cardinal to elude his Majesties resolution in banishing him the Kingdom and making Peace with his subjects that although the solemn Declarations made and reiterated before the Parlement might suffice yet to make it more clearly appear how sincerely and candidly he had behaved himself in all those Transactions he was resolved to let him know by that Letter that he might assure and faithfully promise to the King that he should punctually make good his said Declaration so soon as ever the Cardinal should withdraw in good earnest and without any other shadow of suspition and should send to render him his humble thanks receive his Orders and Commands having no other Agreements or Conditions to make with his Majestie but only to obey him as he was always ready to do with all respect and submission according to the obligation of his birth The Prince writ also to Nesmond in the same form and charged him to give all assurance of the reality of their intentions Hereupon Nesmond being admitted to the Kings Presence spake in this manner Sir The Assurance that it hath pleased your Majestie to give us for the retirement of Cardinal Mazarine hath fill'd the hearts of your Vassals with hope upon the confidence they have that the words of Kings as the Word of God bring their full effect and can never be but profitable Your Parlement hath given us in charge to testifie to your Majestie with all humbleness and respect their desire and to request the effecting it conformable to their Declaration and to the Decrees that have seconded it supplicating your Majestie to consider that the miseries of France augmenting daily and suffering no delay it will be an effect of your bounty Not to defer the remedy so desired a benefit any longer the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde have given us in charge to confirm to your Majestie their first Declarations and represent on their behalf that they have nothing to propound by employing Deputies submitting themselves to obey your Orders with all obedience so soon as the Cardinal shall have fulfill'd your Majesties Declaration It depends now Sir on your Authority to shorten all these ills yielding to this departure at our supplication We have no more words to express our grief the force of which does stop our utterance The publick disorders the ruine of the State the Power of the Enemies the Misery of the People are sensibly obvious to your Majesties sight and will yet more touch your Majesties heart to whom we protest that we shall always have an eternal obligation for the end of so many mischiefs and for the Peace the Kingdom The King reply'd that he would participate all this to his Council and they should receive his Answer which was delivered them the day following in writing and read by the Count de Brienne in these words That the King had granted the request made him to send away the Cardinal though he clearly saw it was only a pretext to disturb the State if the Princes had accepted the Articles that were to be performed on their part sincerely there would have remained no other stop to the establishment of the quiet of the Realm That if his Majestie had believed that his Answer to the Deputies touching that Affair should have served as an occasion for a new Decree of Parlement he would not have given it in any wise knowng that in the condition the Parlement was then in as well for the absence of a great number of the principal Counsellours as for the violent Authority usurp'd by the Heads of the Rebellion they were deprived of their freedom and reduced to obey other mens wills since by the Decree of the first of July it was resolved not to treat nor determine any thing concerning the publick Affairs till the Courts of Justice and the City were restored to their freedom but instead of providing for their safety when the Assembly was convened in the Town-house to that effect the burnings violences and slaughters had reduced the Tribunals and the City to the extreamest oppression so that his Majestie could no longer regard the determinations made in a Company where the Liberty of Voices was not free The Kings intention in his Answer to the Deputies was to give them opportunity that the Princes might send persons of their own with Authority to receive Orders for putting the Articles by them accepted in execution and to agree upon the time the manner and the security for the performance so that not without Reason His Majesty was surprized to see Subjects pretend to obtain things of their Soveraign that were never practised even among Princes that were equal It was not fit that he should be the first to fulfil on his part what hath been agreed on till the Conditions which comprehend the true cause of these distractions be solemnly promised and cleared as they ought to be It being evident that the principal occasion
when that unfortunate accident happened of the Gentleman of the Horse to the Mareschal d'Estree the French Embassadour But as the best qualified and ablest men are most envied and most liable to Persecution and Malice so he being watch'd on every side could not advance himself to those Honours which the Malignity and Emulation of others hindered him from Whence the King of France perceiving that this Person for being well affectionated to his Crown was persecuted by the Spaniards and esteeming it a dishonourable thing to keep idle and depress an Understanding so sublime took him near himself with profession of great esteem and with offers of support honour and assistance Many other Princes of Italy proffered him considerable advantages in their Courts Vittorio Amadeo Duke of Savoy a very intelligent Prince particularly invited him with much benignity to his Court. Resolving finally to pass into France he went thither in the beginning of the year 1639. and arrived just at the time when Father Joseph the Capucine died one for his great Parts and Experience in the Affairs of State imployed with great assurance by Cardinal Richlieu in the Intrigues of the Kingdom The King had nominated him to a Cardinalship and his Promotion was with all earnestness sollicited by Mazarine whose Fortune it was not to obtain the Scarlet for Father Joseph seeing that the King named him instead of the other declaring by this the great esteem he had for him in preferring him before any other of his Kingdom qualifying him besides with the Title of his Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of the General Peace which Mazarine valued more then his Recommendation to the Cardinalship Few days after his Arrival in France His Majesty sent him Extraordinary Embassadour into Piemont upon business of Importance and particularly to win to the French fide Prince Thomas and to reunite those Princes to the chief of their House He dexterously atchieved them both though that which concerned the first with Prince Thomas had not then its effect for some impediments which he could not suddenly surmount but he fixed the second in such manner that France thereby received many advantages Returned from Piemont he waited upon Cardinal Richlieu into Languedoc honoured by that great Politician with an entire Confidence and his Zele for the Kings Service was succesful not onely in the Affairs of that Voyage but also in remoter parts for at the same time by his Negotiations he reduced the strong Town of Sedan into the Kings power which was a receptacle of Male-contents He was the man that designed the Attempt of Tortona in the State of Milan and took upon him to provide all things necessary for the gaining of that City and it was he likewise that drew the Prince of Monaco to the French Party Finally on the 16th of December 1641. with universal Applause he was promoted to the purple robe to the particular satisfaction of the King and of Richlieu who was pleased to see him his Companion in the Ecclesiastical Function whom he already presaged his Successor in his Ministery He prepared for his journey to Rome to receive the Hat and to perfect many important Commissions But Richlieu's indisposition of body increasing and the machinations of his enemies growing stronger to justle him out of the Kings favour he thought fit to cause him stop his journey to make use of his help and councel of which he had so good experience very useful in that rugged conjuncture The King perfectly knowing Mazarines abilities in the foreseen failing of Richlieu had oftentimes thoughts to make use of him in direction of the Affairs of the Crown and had also discovered this his intent to some of his Confidents extolling him for the most able he knew to undergo this burden which gave much trouble to Mazarine doubting with himself that such manifestation of his Majestie might give Richlieu some jealousie it being for the most part the humour of Courtiers to look with a scouling brow on those they deem able to sustain the same charge with themselves and therefore he urged anew for leave to go to Rome which was still denied him by the King and opposed by Richlieu himself quite contrary to Mazarines expectation besides Richlieu before his death assured His Majestie that he could not better trust the Management of his weighty Affairs to any then to Mazarine Richlieu dying the King immediately began to make use of Mazarines Advice and Councel with open shew of the value and confidence he had of his ableness and fidelity and to qualifie him higher caused him one day to sit in his Presence an honour that was never bestowed on Cardinal Richlieu in so many years of his Attendance The King desirous he should take notice that the Choice he had made proceeded solely from himself assured him that of his own proper inclination he had chosen him out from amongst so many excellent men of his Kingdom The Cardinal being very wary in his demeanour conformed himself so well to the humour of his Majestie that he did not give him the least doubt of that odious power that he had abhorred in his Predecessor from whence it hapned that he became in a short time disposer of the Kings Will and Trust By how much the more he saw himself advanced in his Princes favour so much the more did he reflect on his tottering Fortune for while the King lay under a languishing condition he began to weigh what a difficult passage it would be from a firme to a wavering Government by the disorders changes and turbulencies commonly hapning in Minorities especially the Queen-Mother being of a Nation so much exposed to the jealousie of that Countrey The first trial the King made under the direction of Mazarine was to render his Armies victorious the next Campania to the intent that the world might not attribute his past Victories totally to the Government of Richlieu Mazarine in this occasion gave great proof of his dexterous abilities by obtaining that the Command of the Army in Flanders might be conferred on the Duke d' Anguien eldest son of the Prince of Conde notwithstanding his Majestie had some aversion against it The Kings sickness increasing with little hope of recovery calling for Mazarine he communicated to him his intent of forming a Councel without the Princes of the blood of which he intended to make him President The Cardinal though astonish'd at so great honour was not at all dazled with the ambition but with great reverence demonstrated to his Majestie the disorders such a form might cause and with convincing reasons framed his answer in favour of the Queen comprehending also the Princes of the blood as for what concerned his own person he beseech'd his Majestie that others might share in that honour which he thought too far exceeding his merit and too probable to excite envy against him being a stranger The King notwithstanding continued resolute in his purpose to limit at least the Regency of the Queen
Vincennes which was in his Government whether the Duke came accompanied by many followers with design to murder him the Cardinal Advertized of it forbore to appear to the Treat saved himself in the Louvre where the day following he caused Beaufort to be arrested and sent him with a strong Guard to the said Castle of Vincennes With admirable subtilty he raised a glorious Envy betwixt the Dukes of Orleans and Anguien enticing the former to the Incommodities of Warre as well by the Allurements of Glory as by the diligent furnishing him with all things necessary to make it less irksom to him by this means making use of the Triumphs of the one to moderate the haughtiness of the other which was one of his greatest Artifices to enjoy the benefit of a well-concerted Union Hereupon the Duke of Orleans marched into Flanders at the head of a most puissant Army and after the taking of Graveling Mardike and Dunkirk by all men esteemed impossible he opened a way into the heart of Flanders passed the River Colma and brought in a short time under the French Dominion Lens Bourbourg Merville Bettunes St. Venant Armentieres Bergues Courtray Ypres la Bassee Dixmude Landresy Furnes and other places He put them upon few Undertakings that did not succeed and though he failed in that of Cambray attempted by the Count d' Harcourt yet it cannot be said but that he merited great praise for the most accurate diligence that he shewed they ought to use in those Conjunctures which in all probability would have rendred the defence of that place more difficult then the taking it if his Orders had been put in execution according as he directed He caused to be sent to the Catalonians a considerable assistance with which they got Tortosa Roses and other places and to give that people a fuller assurance of the firm Protection of France he made his brother the Cardinal of Sancta Cicilia Governour of that Province In Italy after the Kings death many enterprizes were begun by his directions and Counsel and many things done to the great benefit of the Crown The Town and Cittadel of Aste were suddenly recovered they gained great advantages in the Siege of Turin in the Enterprize of Pontestura and Vigevano and many other Expeditions prudently undertaken although some were unsuccessful whether for the ill fortune of Prince Thomas of Savoy in the Warre of Italy or for the variable Accidents of War Considering moreover how beneficial the friendship of the Princes of Este would be to the French in their Affairs of Italy and making use of the happy Conjuncture when by the phlegme of some Ministers of Spain those Princes thought themselves not treated according to their merit He bent his thoughts to draw them to the French party beginning luckily with the Acquisition of Cardinal Rinaldo d' Este a Prince in earnest very worthy of that high esteem which he enjoys in the opinion of all the World causing him to be honoured by the King of France with the Protection of that Crown in the Court of Rome and afterward obliging Duke Francesco his brother by giving him the charge of General of the Army of his most Christian Majesty in Lombardy Both these by their generous actions have always upheld the one in Rome the other in the Army the Reputation of the Crown of France to their eternal glory and merit Mazarine well knowing that to attaque the Spaniards in their holds of Italy would touch them to the quick caused to be set out to Sea a very potent Fleet and aiming to gain some Poste on the Shore of Tuscany caused Orbitello to be beleagured by the Army under Prince Thomas of Savoy by Land and by the Navy commanded by the Duke of Bresé by Sea But the Duke of Bresé being slain at the very first by a Cannon-shot and the Prince probably ill served by his Officers the Action succeeded not which otherwise was well designed by the Cardinal intending by the gaining of this place to facilitate the Enterprise which he had plotted against Naples and to hinder the communication betwixt that Kingdom and the State of Milan Likewise in the other attempts made upon the same Kingdom by the Duke of Guise they found no better fortune for the sinister correspondencies of those giddy headed Napolitans with the Crown of France together with the contrariety of their humours that hindred all good operations yet whether they succeeded or not Mazarine gave not over to make his advantage of them as potent diversions for the Enterprizes of Flanders which were of greatest concernes being nearest to the heart of the Kingdom Mazarine desirous to recover the Glory of the French which the ill success in Italy had much eclipsed with an incredible and unexpected resolution that Navy which was supposed incapable to appear in the Mediterranean for a long time was seen to return again the year following more formidable then ever under the Command of the Mareschals de la Milleray and Plessis Pralin with which in a few days they possest themselves of Piombino and Porto Longone in the Isle of Elba half belonging to the King of Spain and half to the Duke of Tuscany by which Victories the Reputation of the French was much recovered the Applauses and Fame of the Victors echoing every where to the great advantage of the Neighboring Princes especially of the Cardinals Barbarini who flying the indignation of Innocent the tenth had sheltered themselves under the Protection of the King of France by the efficacious and powerful Offices of Cardinal Mazarine who by a noble Example of Gratitude upheld that Family which newly fallen from a potent and long Dominion a warning to elective Princes knew not whether to turn themselves for a friendly Sanctuary Thus by the help of Mazarine they saw themselves honoured with the Protection of the most Christian King by which means they were in a short time re-established by the Pope himself and with a strange Metamorphosis embraced again The Comedy of their wandring ending in a strict Union and Alliance by the Marriage of one of the Popes Nieces Daughters to Don Maffeo Barberino to whom Don Carlo Prince of Pellestrina renounced his Titles and Honours himself being promoted to the Scarlet whereby he had a fair pretence to free himself from the engagement wherein he had promised to wed no other then the Countess Martinozzi Mazarines Niece who finding in this as in all other occasions the usual experiment of working good out of evil saw afterward his said Niece more highly matched in the Family of Este and Dutchess of Modona It will not be amiss since we are entred upon the discourse of this Family to give a touch of what Cardinal Mazarine being chief Minister of State did in favour of the Barbarini in the War with the Duke of Parma with whom most of the Princes of Italy were joyned in League for the aversion that they bore to Cardinal Barbarini with whom they
whereat the others taking Alarm became much more audacious and undertaking The Parlement added to the Instructions given to their Deputies dispatched to the Court to urge the release of the Counsellour Bitant and that the Mareschal de la Milleray could be advanced to the Dignity of Duke and Peer if first he did not give the pretended satisfaction to the Parlement of Brittain Moreover that no Duke Mareschal of France or other Officer of the Crown should hence forward be admitted to their Function if the Cardinal were not first withdrawn out of the Kingdom It was thought that this was done to lessen the Interest that he had by disposing of the Offices of the Crown thereby to gain those Officers to their Party But of this the Gentry and Nobility of the Kingdom made no reckoning but by how much the more the Parlement shewed themselves eager against the Court so much the more contemptible they render'd themselves no body regarding their Decrees so long as the Authority of the King could annul them and render them invalid and therefore they who sounded the Affairs to the bottom found it better counsel to keep the streight way of Obedience then to walk in rugged paths and praecipices In this manner the Princess Palatine Anna Gonzaga from being first Conde's Friend became the Queens greatest Confident and the Cardinals to which the King corresponding called her to Court to foment by her ready and smart Wit the Parties proper to destroy the Caballs of the Male-contents She arrived there as likewise divers other Lords did who openly condemned the Opinion of those which could not but in the end be losers yet obstinately follow'd the Game In the mean while the Cardinal at the Head of the Army departing from Pont sur Saone came to Chasteaurenart and from thence advanced to Gien upon the River Loire The Souldiers of the Marquess of Sordis who were enter'd into the Town upon news of his March quitted it The Cardinal pass'd the River over the Bridge and was civilly receiv'd by those Inhabitants He went thence to Vierron where he left the Army under the command of the Count Broglio to continue their March towards Guienne and His Eminence accompanied with Hoquincourt and Grançay Mareschals of France with a great number of other principal Officers and Persons of Quality went in diligence towards Poitiers where the King was and drawing near was met by His Majesty without the City The King light out of his Coach and imbraced him with so much affection that the Honours were greater which the Cardinal received by that benign Reception then his misusage by so many Decrees of the Parlement His Majesty took him into his Coach and conducted him to kiss the Queens hand where the joy of the Court was redoubled By how much the more splendent the Applauses and Contentments were in this part by so much the more the hatred was dismal and cloudy in other parts and in no City greater threatnings appeared then in Bourdeux whose Parlement after the example of that of Paris persevering in their Assemblings and unlawful and seditious Decrees drove from the City the persons and whole Families of those who were esteemed faithful to the King and did all that Rebells and Enemies of their lawful Soveraign could do THE HISTORY Of the Managements of Cardinal MAZARINE Lib. II. MAZARINE being enter'd into France the 16th of January 1652 the King cancell'd and annull'd the Decree of the Parlement of Paris of the 29 September 1651 with express prohibition to put it in execution and not to attempt any thing against him upon pain of death He forbad also not to proceed to the sale of his Goods nor Books the Transgressors in this case being to lose what they had paid and â—0000 Livres penalty declaring â—â—at the said Decree was contrary to His Majesty's intention to the ordinary Forms of Justice to the Customs of the Kingdom and injurious to the Sacred College of Cardinals to the Head of the Church and to the Holy Apostolick See towards which he protested following the example of the Kings his predecessours always to observe an unalterable devotion and reverence that the Cardinal was entered into the Kingdom by his express Order to conduct a good Body of an Army levied at his own proper charges to serve him in the present Emergencies and that he being a Soveraign King and absolute Master of all he ought to be obey'd by his Subjects without any limitation In Poitiers after the arrival of the Cardinal divers Consultations of War were held which were reduced to the examinations of two points The one to go with all the Forces into Guienne to bring under Bourdeaux and totally to suppress the Prince of Conde's Party the Queen and the Cardinal were of the same judgment The other was to go towards Paris with the greatest part of the Forces to disperse those of the Duke of Orleans encourage the well-affected Citizens and hinder the passage of the Duke of Nemours Souldiers who were about to enter into France Divers Reasons were alledged for both these Opinions and it was resolved on to pass into Guienne but the City of Anger 's being up in Arms by means of the Duke de Rohan Chabot Governour of Anjou the Cardinal judged it more opportune to direct their course that way so that unexpectedly on the 6th of February the Court hasted to Saumeur to the great resentment of the Marquess de Chasteauneuf who seeing that in the Kings Council it was resolved on to march into Guienne and afterward without consulting him they changed their resolution for Anjou He thought they made little Account of him and that the Cardinal was become again the sole Disposer of all Affairs wherefore he took free leave of the Court and retired to live privately at Tours whereby Mazarine remain'd to direct all as before without any companion but not without the envy and jealousie of some of his friends who could not brook the preeminency of a stranger The Court having finished the Enterprize of Anger 's which was reduced to the Kings obedience possessed themselves also of Pont de Cé and secured the Provinces beyond the Loire the News coming of the Duke of Nemours Arrival in France with some Troops out of Flanders the Cardinal thought fit not to defer time but to provide carefully for the Affairs of those parts where all their friends desired the Kings Presence The Court then departed from Saumeur the 7. of March 1652 and settled at Tours whether from divers Provinces and Cities came several Persons of Quality deputed to confirm to the King their fidelity and obedience and amongst others the Archbishop of Rouen Chamvallon Primate of Normandy deputed by a great Assembly of Prelates met at Paris upon the Decree against the Cardinal to demonstrate to his Majestie the wrong that was done to the Church of Rome and the injury she received in the person of one of her Members out-raged The Archbishop
him that the world might know that he was Master The Parisiens the day following had another general Assembly and selected some Deputies to desire their Majesties to remove the Cardinal further off and to return to Paris but it was to no purpose the Court standing firm in their resolution not to sully the Royal Authority endeavouring to gain time and to keep Paris Neutral that they might not supply the contrary Party with Men and Money of which they stood in need enough The Princes and the Parlement on the other side studying to maintain themselves in the Peoples favour did not omit to imploy all their industry to stir up the people against the Kings Ministers and because it was necessary to keep afoot the commerce of Paris to hinder the Kings Army from passing the Sene they made some Levies which joyn'd with some other Troops of the Princes to scower the neighbouring Campania The Army of the Princes possest themselves of the Country of Estampes situated betwixt Orleans and Paris where they found a great quantity of Corn and here they intended to abide and fortifie themselves with hopes by maintaining this Post to keep Paris and Orleans faithful which was the main scope of all While the Kings Army lay quarter'd at Chartres and thereabouts they cast themselves into Estampes with their Lieutenants Generals for the Prince and the Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort were gone to Paris where they staid to make sure of the Frondeurs and their Party a good part of whom desiring the Kings return hearkened willingly to the Treaties that thereupon were had about the entry and reception of His Majesty who if at that instant he had frankly shewn himself he would have been received with all joyfulness and applause and the Princes and their Party chased away since the Citizens were at last weary of these hurly-burlies but nothing was done the King not daring to venture himself on the peoples instability nor willing to let the Cardinal depart as he often pressed to take away all pretext from the Male-contents The Kings Army besieged that of the Princes in Estampes where followed divers skirmishes and amongst the rest a very bloudy one in possessing themselves of the Suburbs The Court fixed at St. Germains and here the first Deputation which was sent was in the name of the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde who dispatched thither the Count de Chavigny the Secretary Goulas and the Duke de Rohan Chabot Chavigny was for the Prince Goulas for Orleans and Chabot for both At first they declared that they would not treat with the Cardinal but this was only a shew for they had secret order to see him and to seek all ways to come to an Agreement with him with a firm resolution to gain him to their particular interests supposing that he to continue in France and in his Ministry would easily condescend to their pretensions They were secretly in the Cardinals Cabinet treated with him and Chavigny a person of great worth propounded to the Cardinal to make an entire Agreement with the Prince by granting him four Demands One was to make the Count d' Ognon Duke and Peer the Count de Marsin a Mareschal of France the Prince of Conty Governour of Provence and the Prince himself Plenipotentiary for the General Peace To the two first the Cardinal did comply because they simply concerned only honourable titles But the Government of Provence and the Plenipotentiary of the Peace he did wholly reject declaring he would never consent that for his particular interest the Kings Authority and Service should be prejudic'd This Deputation was of huge prejudice to the Princes because it was made in a time that the Parliament and the Parisiens were more incensed against the Cardinal and when all the Sovereign Courts had deliberated to require his removal and that the Commonalty of Paris were of the same mind in a time that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince had declared in Parliament that for a general satisfaction they desired nothing but the banishment of the Cardinal so that the people seeing them act against such express Declarations from thence forward they were not a little jealous of their carriage and many that were very well inclined towards them began to be more wary in their proceedings which was afterward one of the principal causes of their fall In the neck of this Deputation the Deputies of the Parliament appear'd at St. Germains with their Remonstrances to their Majesties about giving the Cardinal his Congé against whom the President Nesmond spake with great liberty The King heard them with much civility and afterward told them that he was very well informed of the good intentions of the Parliament and wish'd that they were as well perswaded of his That he would confer with his Privy Council and in three days they should understand his will with such words and general termes concluding nothing the Deputies return'd to Paris The same day those sent from the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids had Audience and the Answer was the same he gave the Parliament also the Provost of Merchants the Sheriffs the Attorney-General the City-Notary and others deputed from the Communalty presented themselves before his Majestie representing to him the unhappy state of his Subjects and of the necessity of dismissing the Cardinal the sole cause of all the distasts and differences The Keeper of the Seals answer'd that his Majestie was assured of the good affection of the City of Paris and to satisfie them he intended to return thither so soon as the Passes should be open and this he said to give them a wipe that in the same time they made these Addresses they endeavored to hinder his coming cutting off the Bridges of the Sene and Marne The King therefore not yielding to condescend to such licentious demands the Male-contents took occasion to exclaim against his Council who on the other side complaining of the Subjects Proceedings every thing went more and more into confusion and all the faults which indeed did concern onely a few interessed people and Male-contents were charged upon Mazarine against whom their hatred and fury not abating he was commonly called The root of all evil and The cause of all the miseries of that flourishing Kingdom which would have been more unhappy wanting the protection of the Cardinal and the power of the Princes and of the Parlement increasing if the Kings Authority had been diminished which the more independent and absolute the more profitable to Subjects who are always most miserable where there are most Masters The Parliament Assembled to hear the Answers that the Deputies brought from Court where were present the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde with all the chief of the Faction when the News came that the Royallists were assaulting the Bridge of St. Cloud defended by a little Fort whereupon the Prince of Condé mounting suddenly on Horseback with several Gentlemen and above eight
artificial reach of the Court to weary them out by delays in stead of giving consolation in good earnest and to protract time by which Mazarine hoped to be able at last to gain the Parisiens by force of sufferings accustomed to enjoy peaceably their rich Traffick and to make extraordinarily advantage of those commodities that they send to all the parts of the world To take order for all these things the King with advice of his Council the 18th of July after a long rehearsal of all things past and of the principal causes of those ill events decreed that Information should be taken of the horrible and scandalous attempt upon the Town-house the 14th of the present moneth seeking and finding out the circumstances and dependencies also by way of Monitory and to proceed against the Authors and Complices of the Massacres and Violences committed according to the Statutes and rigour of the Laws and in the mean time annull'd and revoked the pretended Election of the Counsellour Brussel into the place of Provost of Merchands whom His Majesty expresly prohibited to act in that Function upon pain of Death and he and all his posterity to be accountable for the disorders happened or that should happen since his pretended administration He declared moreover all the Resolves made from the first of July as well in the Parlement as in the Town-house touching the publick affairs null and invalid till the Governour and the Provost of Merchands and the other Magistrates that were constrained to absent themselves were restored and that sufficient Provision were made for securing of the due Administration of Justice and safety of the City according to the tenure of that Decree The King expresly prohibited all the other Cities of the Kingdom and all his Subjects and Servants not to take any cognizance of any Orders or Decrees from Paris so long as it remain'd under the Tyrannical power of Rebels And to the end that the Money destin'd for the publick Uses of the City should not remain at the Enemies disposal to make use of it for the Warre and to pay the Spanish troops that they had call'd in His Majestie ordered it to be brought to the place where he should establish his abode to be put into Hands of the Pay-Masters of the publick Rents who were commanded to repair to Court with all the other Consuls and Sheriffs of the Cities within the term of three days after the publication of the Decree in the usual manner The Princes the Parlement and the Frondeurs were greatly disturb'd at this departure believing that the Court did but mock at their licentious and extravagant Pretences The Count de Servient had signified to the Deputies in His Majesties Name that if the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde not willing to nominate Commissioners of their own should rather desire to make use of the Parlements Deputies that the King was content and would adjust the Propositions with them contain'd in the foresaid Answer promising to send away the Cardinal and that before the Articles should be performed on their part provided they could come to an Agreement with their Deputies or with those of the Parlement when they should be impowered but the Princes in stead of accepting this offer and staying the Deputies at St. Denis to expect there the Kings Answer or to go and find him at Pontoise as he had ordered they were conducted as hath been said to Paris where continuing their Complaints of their being slighted by the Court they stood firm to have the Cardinal expell'd before any thing else was done flattering themselves in their own opinions and esteeming every thing easie arising from an overweening sufficiency The Parlement ambitious to usurp a greater Authority then what became them fell at last upon the resolution to chuse the Duke of Orleans Lieutenant General of the Crown and the Prince of Conde General of the Army under Orleans and supplicated His Royal Highness to take upon him this Quality under pretence of freeing the King from the hands of the Cardinal who had snatcht him from his people and kept him in constraint But this determination profitted them little as well because it was not imbraced by the other Parlements of the Kingdom but rather refused and reprehended as also because Orleans being of a disposition absolutely contrary to violent courses would not imbroil himself in that attempt but especially because he and the Cardinal de Retz the Contriver of all the Plots promised to themselves that without their ruining the Court Mazarine would be gone of himself The Cardinal de Retz put this into the Dukes head for fear that the Court being too much depressed the Prince of Conde his irreconcilable Enemy should rise too high Retz thus endeavouring to arrive at the Ministry first with the expulsion of Mazarine and afterward with the ruine of the Prince through the re-uniting the Queen with the Duke of Orleans was supposed the onely and true cause of the total downfall of that Party and afterward of his own imprisonment The Parlement moreover decreed that should go in the sale of the Moveables and other things belonging to the Cardinal The fond was likewise laid for the 50000 crowns the price of the Cardinals Head upon a years tax on Cattel But whether it was lukewarmness or the policy of those who endeavoured with like arts to bring to an advantageous conclusion the secret Treaties still managed in the Princes name by Monsieur de Goucourt with the assistance of the Duke of Bovillon who insisted earnestly for bringing the Prince of Conde and the Cardinal to an Agreement excluding Orleans or for what other secret respects the money was never deposited and many other things were passed by by reason of the concerns of the parties that interven'd The day following Orleans went to the Parlement and after many Complements declared that he would accept the charge of Lieutenant-General of the Crown so long as the King should be retained by the Cardinal but desired to have a Council about him establish'd by the Parlement The Chambers return'd Answer that they referr'd themselves to what his Royal Highness should determine He went in the same manner to the Chamber of Accounts where he declared the same thing and made the same request to have some of their Members in his Council and here again he had the like Answer that all was left to his own choice in pursuance whereof he took into his new Council of State the major part of the Male-contents and the first Consultation that was held was the third of August But these Proceedings so prejudicial to the Crown were carried on with as much coldness as they were embraced with eagerness And although in appearance these Decrees of the Parlement and Actions of the Princes looked like some great matter of importance in reality they were only shadows which in a short time vanished of themselves for by the cunning contrivances of Mazarine by little
command them to give up their places without delay under pain of most severe punishments due to Rebels and Disturbers of the publick Peace As to his Return to Paris the substance of his answer was that as soon as his Enemies and those who by abusing his Name and Authority to keep the people in disobedience had procured the destruction of the principal Inhabitants in the Town-house and did still make use of the Spanish Forces to keep them in subâ—ection should have left the Town that then he would immediately return having drawn right to Paris to that intent His Majesty added that as he was much contented and satisfied that those who had entred upon offices without a lawful title and contrary to His Royal Will were discharged of their places and from the Assemblies at the Town-house so he declared that he could not for the future but disapprove and declare void and unlawful whatsoever should be done at their Meetings in the Presence of the Rebels and their Adherents if they continued to appear there or did any thing by their order or any ways favoured their evil designs of which he thought fit to advertise the Inhabitants that they might take care for all things as they should judge convenient and necessary assuring himself that upon these occasions they would give good proofs of their fidelity of which His Majestie would take particular notice and give proof of his Royal gratitude to all those who should be assisting in so important an occasion as the Preservation of the State and the re-establishment of the Metropolis of his Kingdom to its ancient splendour While Affairs pass'd in this manner at Court they fail'd not at Paris to attempt all manner of ways the Accomplishment of these designes and the Citizens growing daily more and more weary of the Spanish Troops which lay about Paris a part of the Duke of Wirtenberg his baggage was plundred by the people of St. Honore's street near to the Croix du Teroir whilst those who conducted it were busie at some Taverns in lading of Muscat and Spanish Wines for the Camp of the Confederates After this strict Order was given that the Gates should be guarded and none of the Army to be permitted any more to enter the Town esteeming it a dishonour to the French name that the enemies of their King and Countrey should be seen publickly in their red Scarfs in the Capital City of the Kingdom whereat the Parliament and Princes were extraordinarily surprized perceiving that their Authority became every hour more weak and languishing being deprived of the support of the people and the Citizens in Arms but what astonish'd them more was to see the device of the Straw obscured by the splendor of the white Scarfs and Ribands worn by many of the Kings faithful Servants The Assembly at Palace-Royal was afterward advertised that the Guards of the Duke of Beaufort were to go out to Convoy the bread made at Gonesse a Captain of a Quarter being spoken to and perswaded to cast away his Straw as a mark of Sedition and to take a white Scarf the Colours of those who were Loyal and threatned withall that if he did otherwise he should be set upon seeing that in the Assembly it was resolved to fall upon as many as should be found without Scarfs or White paper about them and that they should begin to execute this design at the gate of St. Martin where this Captain was to keep Guard who thereupon and all his Company very joyfully accepted of the white Colours and drank the Kings health and the Cardinals obliging moreover the Captain of the Duke of Beaufort's Guards to do the like who going out at that Gate were stopped telling them that none must go out there without Passports from his Majestie on his Generals and that by the white colours they wore they might perceive they were the Kings Servants The Captain answered that he had a Passport from the Duke of Orleans they replied that that was not the question but that they must drink the Kings Health and return back again which he was constrained to do the Souldiers making use of their Hats in stead of Glasses all this was done and not a man of that quarter offered to stir The Duke of Beaufort having notice immediately took Coach to remedy this Affair but having understood the resolution of the Assembly he stopped at the Curates house of Saint Nicholas Parish expecting while that Company should come off the Guard After this beginning there followed many happy occurrences and great advantages to the Kings party many in emulation of one another following this example The King being very much satisfied with these demonstrations of their loyalty to encourage them the more commanded upon the 29. of September that the Passages should be opened for the conveying of Corn Wine Wood and other necessary Provisions for so numerous a people The Answer afterwards which he gave to the six Companies of Merchants contained That His Majestie was very sensible of these new Testimonies of Affection and Fidelity from his beloved City of Paris and profess'd himself the more satisfi'd in that he discovered in their looks the good intentions of their hearts by the tears which accompanied their speeches As to the new instances they made for his return to Paris he gave them the same Answer he had signified to the Deputies of the Town-house upon the same subject of which he caused a Copy to be delivered into their hands adding only That there was no need of applying themselves any further to His Majesty for Peace since he had already granted it them by the Declaration of the Amnesty given in the Parliament at Pontoise the forme or termes of which ought not at all to be censured by Subjects seeing that the most guilty and blameable with perfect security might therein finde the Pardon and Oblivion of all their Errours but that they ought withal to oppose them who were the cause of the continuation of the War and made their advantage by it and these were the only persons to be complained of seeing that His Majestie for his part upon these occurrences had out of his incomparable goodness granted without any exception whatsoever was pretended to or desired when the others had so often gone back from their word so solemnly given making use still of the Royal Authority to the great prejudice of His Majesty and the State continuing armed contrary to their Promise and united with the declared Enemies of the Crown keeping the Capital City of the Kingdom in awe by continual seditions and violences sacking and ruining the French by Foreiners and to serve Spain made desolate and destroy'd France and therefore it being the interest of all the Inhabitants to put an end to these disorders in that City he hoped that they would apply themselves with all diligence to restore her to her former state notwithstanding the opposition of those who were enemies to the publick good
an humour so haughty and disdainful it could not but become odious to the Grandees of Spain who stood much upon the Ceremony and Punctilio besides the natural antipathy betwixt the Nations and his ignorance in their Language must of necessity produce some inconveniences seeing he could not speak so as to make himself understood or obey'd by the several Nations in the Spanish Army And if it should so happen that by his extraordinary valour he should atchieve any thing extraordinary it would but make them jealous and emulous of his glory and let his Actions be what they would he should be always look'd upon in Spain not only as a Foreigner but as a Conspicuous Prince of an Enemies Countrey who might every moment find out some way or other to regain him if they pleas'd But if his fortune should be adverse his loss would be accompanied with disdain and regret for having consumed as much gold for the support of one person as would have sufficed to have maintained a whole Army So that when ever the Prince came to any difference or rupture with the Spaniard it must needs redound to the advantage of France because in that case it would fall out either the Spaniards would destroy him or he ruine the Spaniard so that the leaving the Prince still in their hands would be so great a burden to them that in stead of giving them the assistance they expected he would be an impediment and obstruction to all their deliberations Again if the Prince should be restor'd and the affairs of France succeed to advantage the honour would be attributed wholly to his conduct and adding new lustre to his former reputation he would be able to eclipse the glory of other people so that reassuming his old sentiments of giving not receiving Lawes the good Government would becom confused and distracted which under a Monarchy ought to acknowledge but one Master besides which they should want occasion to evince that in France there were other Captains as considerable as he contrary to what the Royal Council of Spain had given out The King of France out of his inexpressible clemency would have condescended to have received the Prince again into his favour if without concerning himself in the affairs of that Kingdom he could have resolved to have retired out of France into som unsuspected State and quietly enjoy the profits of his Revenue till the War were ended But being in the flower of his Age and accustomed to command he was too passionately addicted to honor which is acquir'd by labour and pains to make himself a slave to his own quiet and repose Upon these Maxims the French interest being managed and the Cardinal proceeding with all courtesie and demonstration of kindness his Ministery being full of sweetness and Moderation pretending to revenge himself no further of his enemies then by making himself known to be a good man and a vertuous the acrimony and disgust at his Administration which had been infus'd into the fancies of the people by a few seditious persons began to clear up and dispel The first effects of this alteration was seen in Paris where his Reputation having been more wounded then in any other part of the Kingdom the Citizens touch't with Remorse for what they had done thought themselves obliged to make some publick manifestation of their Repentance which they perform'd by inviting him on the 29 of March 1653. to a most sumptuous Dinner in the Town-Hall an honour seldom shewn in France but to some great Prince The Cardinal went thither accompanied by several Grandees of the Court and the Principals of the Counsel of the Communalty of Paris where he receiv'd a Dinner so pompously prepar'd and serv'd up with so great demonstration of affection from the people with whom the great Piazza called the Greve was full that I my self being there in curiosity among the rest heard his name very frequent among their Acclamations heard them applaud his management and curse those who had misrepresented him with an astonishment equal to the facility wherwith those animals pass from one extream of contempt to the other of honor and esteem The Cardinal appear'd to them several times at the window and caused several sorts of money to be thrown out among them who return'd their thanks in extraordinary Applauses The Citizens drank his health very often and did him all the Honors could be exprest to a chief Minister Whilst he was at Dinner the Rooms and Hall were as full of the Citizens Wives as they could hold who were come thither as fine as they could make themselves to behold a man who as they call'd him was the Miracle of Nature The Cardinal treated them with all imaginable Civility distributing Sweet-meats and other Junkets amongst them in abundance When he went down the stairs he stop'd very often discoursing somtimes with one and somtimes with another and though he was then in the sight of the whole Piazza there was not one of the unruly and insolent multitude which gave him the least ill word but all saluted him with benedictions and well-wishes for his health with the same noise and acclamation they follow'd him to his Coach only one of them was observd to cry Per mia fe voi non sete Mazarino ma un honorato huomo In my conscience you are not Mazarine but an honest Gentleman Every one strove to see him and to be seen by him Their Augury was good and the event was suitable their happy Annunciations corresponding in their effects for the Prince of Condy's Troops under the Command of the Count de Coligny being drawn out to fall upon Couvin a little Town upon the River Noirau they were catch'd in an Ambuscade by the Count de Beaujeu cut to pieces and Coligny and others of the principal Officers taken Prisoners which the Court looking upon as a good Omen concluded the Duke of Espernon Governour-General of Burgundy should commence the Enterprise against Bellegard After the Surrender of the Castle of Dijon Burgundy was in no small distraction by the continual excursions of that Garrison that continually infested the Countrey to restrain their Extravigancies the aforesaid Duke clapt a Garrison into the Castle of Pagny which was not far off but wanting strength sufficient to reduce it he hearkned to certain Propositions made him by the Creatures of the Prince of Condy who had some thoughts of putting it into his hands as being very hard to be kept in respect of its scituation which was in the midst of the Kings Provinces But that treaty being interrupted by the high remands of the Governour thereof the Marquess de Batteville the Duke of Espernon made Preparations to besiege it and being advis'd that those of the Franche County though at that time in Neutrality might break with them and relieve it he dispatch'd a Messenger to the Marquess de Saint Martino and the Sieur de Cea the principal Directors of his Catholick Majesties Affairs in
Boda Governour of the Town with his Tertia of French Foot and march'd himself to observe the motions of the Prince of Condy and the Spaniard who during this Leagure were joyn'd at Hayes d' Auvenes having been retarded in their Campagne both by their want of Horses as abovesaid and also by a Negotiation they had with a Citizen of Arras for the surprize of that City But the same Person held Intelligence likewise with the Cardinal as he had done with the Prince to gain money on both sides This Correspondence was began the Year before and continued till the Prince found himself deluded and cheated at several times of about 2000 Pistols The French having notice that the Spaniard had not yet their Forces united to engage the French Army which was then numerous and flourishing till they were reinforc'd which they most sollicitously endeavor'd by express Order from the Cardinal they advanc'd against the Prince with full resolution to attaque him But he had drawn up his Army betwixt two Woods behind a streight Pass by which means he prevented being fallen upon in a disadvantageous place as it might have hapned had it bin but one half houre longer before he had had the News of the French Army The Mareschals him in so good a posture return'd to their Posts and afterwards march'd towards Vervins passing thorough certain Villages not far from the Abby of Tougny they drew near to Vervens about Proussy and thence coasting by Guise they encamp'd at Riblemont to observe the motion of the enemy who being reinforc'd with the Lorrain Troops and other supplies from Flanders did principally design to make an Inroad into France upon presumption that at their first appearance many would declare for them The French Generals being inferiour in number were oblig'd for that reason to be more wary and circumspect and to have a care how they ran the risk of a Battel which if it went cross would be more dangerous in the consequences then in their present loss The Cardinals design was to protract time and to set the Affairs of the Kingdom to rights by the reduction of Bourdeaux to incapacitate the Prince to raise new troubles by the assistance or intelligence of his friends and to let the Spaniards at length see they were mistaken in the opinion they had conceived of that Juncture to ruine France and the confidence they had repos'd in the reputation and interest of the Prince in his own Countrey thâ—t being the principal mark to which all their Councils were directed it seeming unlikely to the Court of Spain that that Crown of it self with its States and Kingdoms so distant and depopulated should act any thing with advantage against France whilst it was entire and unanimous for this cause they spared no money but were many times lavish and profuse in their distributions to the discontented French who always deceived them with vain hopes and pretences endeavoring still to draw more of them into rebellion that by that means they might be able as it were to compel the French to a solid Peace to which his Catholick Majesty was seriously inclin'd but could not hope to obtain any other way But the effects did not answer Expectation for placing their hopes upon particular persons more sollicitous of their own then of other peoples advantage who propos'd only such things as might render themselves necessary to the Spanish affaires founding their principles upon this Maxime That to draw benefit from Princes they ought to make them expect more then they intended to perform forasmuch as their custom is when they are once delivered to regard them no longer who brought them out of their exigence Things being acted in this manner and hastned by the Spaniard in order to the approaching Campagne the Princes and Generals of the Armies held many Counsels what way they were to proceed The chief of of the Spanish Officers and particularly the Count de Fuensaldagna a person of great judgment propos'd to fall upon some of the most considerable of the King of France's Towns by the benefit of which they might be enabled to pass on and upon a solid foundation maintaine the War afterward in the Enemies Country Some propounded to ship 5 or 6000 men under the Command of the most expert Officers could be chosen and to send them into Guienne to reinforce the Princes Troops in that Province and support the courage of the Bourdelots thereby to sustein the War in those parts which was the strongest diversion could be given to the French Armes To that end it was proposed they should sit down before Bayon and the Princes repair thither with their Troops which would be more feasible in respect that Colonel Baltasser had made himself Master of Tarsas But the hopes that the Reliefe from Spain would be sufficient and having no Orders for dividing their Army in Flanders confuted all those Propositions The Count of Fuenseldagne was of opinion that laying all other things aside they should sit down before Arras whilst their Army was fresh and the Alarmes so hot in other parts of the Kingdom for which reason he look'd upon the Enterprise not so difficult as other people might imagine and that the Prince of Condy might consent he offered to give him Mouson But the Prince insisting upon his Intelligence in Paris prest hard and upon very good reason that drawing all their forces together they should pass the Soma march up to Paris and give their party in that City opportunity to rise while the Court growing jealous of them would be easily perswaded to quit the Town and that in these confusions their Army advancing to Mantes might possess themselves of all the Countrey about Pontoise Saint Lis and other adjacent Towns where recruiting themselves with the discontented party which in probability would throng to him daily they should reap extraordinary advantage and foment the Civil War in France This Proposition was in appearance plausible and so well represented by the Prince that the Council were of the same minde and esteemed that his opinion ought really to be followed as was seemingly desired by those who applauded his Actions with their tongue more then by their deeds But there were two considerable difficulties objected The first was that by the loss of Bellegard and Rhetel the minds of many people were much dejected so that there were but few of the opinion but the King of France would be stronger that Campagne then the Prince of Condy who had lost two such considerable places as it were under his Nose to the great diminution of his credit The other was that the French Army being come into the Field much stronger then was imagin'd it was dangerous to pass so many Rivers and put themselves into the Enemies Countrey without any place of Retreat in case of disaster whilst also the Spanish Army was attended by another though less numerous yet superiour in courage being all French bold and experienc'd besides 4000
considering several of the Olmiera were joyned with them and particularly one Cot a Ring-leader of the seditious and another called Chevalier a son of one of the Attourneys of the Palace carried all the Letters which past betwixt the Conspirators and the Commanders in chief for the King The Fleet appear'd at Lermont ready for the Enterprize but the Messenger was taken with his Letters about him hang'd as a Spie before the Town-Hall and the whole Plot interrupted At the same time the Sieur de Chambon who was sent by the Prince of Condy into Guienne to hinder the Count d' Ognon from reconciling himself to the Court by offering him 300000 Crowns in ready money and one of his Mannors with the Title of a Duke ran the same hazard for after he had found all his Negotiations with the Count absolutely ineffectual desiring to pass into Bourdeaux though they had no good opinion of him for having delivered up Xantes to the enemy the year before He was arrested by the people drawn to the Gallows and had doubtless been hang'd if in the time granted him to make his Confession the Prince of Conty had not sent to deliver him and luckily rescued him from that infamous death Yet all this could not discourage Theubon to set on foot new Machinations for the compassing his designes and entring into a correspondence with the Count de Marin Camp-Master under the King he held frequent Intelligence with all such as he thought serviceable upon that occasion in which number having judg'd one of the Treasurers of France called Filiot a proper person in respect of the liberty he had of entring the Town daily and going out at his pleasure he committed the improvement of the correspondence to him which Count Marin held with the two Brothers of Chastein and the Counsellor du Sault Son of the Advocate-General who being offended to see the Authority of that Parliament prostituted to the impertinencies of the Olmiera engaged himself in that Plot and resolv'd to put himself at the Head of a Party of Citizens and open one of the Gates to let in the Kings Army This Scene was very well laid and the success not improbable because all was managed by Persons in whom the people had very great confidence But young Heads especially of the French Nation who are a communicative people keeping their secrets as Water in a Sieve One of the Chasteins having imparted the whole business to the Count de Auteuil the Duke d' Enguins Governour by the means of a Citizens daughter with whom the said Count was in love Filiot and the Counsellor de Sault were both taken and clap'd into prison The other Chastein not knowing the treachery of his Brother was gone out to perswade the Duke of Candale to advance with his Troops towards Bourdeaux as believing all sure The Dukes forces march'd with that diligence and secresie That though the Plot was discover'd and the assistance expected within totally interrupted yet had not the Prince of Conty been in person at the Gate to encourage his men the Duke of Candale had questionless without any Complices entred the Town in that confusion This advance of the Duke of Candale was so strong a confirmation of the truth of the Conspiracy and fill'd the Olmeisti so full of disdain that like mad men they ran up and down the streets with their swords in their hands crying out That it was better to die a thousand deaths fighting valiantly for their liberty then to suffer themselves to be so basely and villainously betray'd They immediately ordered a solemn Procession to be made to give God thanks for their delivery and caused a Franciscan Frier to preach a Sermon to exhort them to unity and fidelity to their Countrey The Frier got up into the Pulpit and though in his affections he had been a Frondeur nevertheless being at that time illuminated by the Divine Wisdom he delivered himself in such a manner before the Prince the Princess the Frondeurs the Olmeisti and the rest and perswaded them so efficaciously to Peace that all of them were touch'd and the people extreamly edified with his extraordinary eloquence and doctrine so that hence we may see that Gods Providence is as active in the confirmation and establishment as in the destruction of Kingdoms Here the innocence and goodness of the King was protected and the wickedness and ingratitude of his subjects chastised by the Justice of Heaven After this a Process was form'd against Filiot and the Evidence being short he was most inhumanely put upon the Rack in the Presence of Duratesta the chief of the Olmeisti and the Advocate Pontelier who took his examination Filiot swooned at first but having implor'd the divine assistance he found himself so strangely encouraged as he reported afterwards himself that he kept firm to his resolution of confessing nothing nor did he discover one man of all his Accomplices For du Sault they proceeded not so violently against him by reason the tears of the father and the former services of the son out-weigh'd the resentment of a Treason which had it succeeded would have left the Princes expos'd to the fury of the Souldiers without any capitulation The Negotiations and Conspiracies for reducing Bourdeaux to its obedience to the King not having the expected success and the Forces under the Dukes of Vandosme and Candale being too weak to reduce so potent and obstinate a City by force the Cardinal dispatch'd his Orders to the Count d' Estrades Lieutenant-General in Rochel to draw what strength he could out of the Neighbouring Towns and lead them with all speed to the Duke of Vendosme Estrades us'd all imaginable diligence and being a good souldier and well-affected to his Majesties service he suddenly appear'd with a considerable body of men before Bourg the Conquest of which Town being judg'd conducive to the reduction of Bourdeaux it was undertaken by his advice And to proceed the more vigorously it was necessary to attaque it in three several places but they having foot enough but for two the Duke of Candale was desired that he would furnish them with men for the third The Duke granted their desire very readily and going immediately to Caesars Fort to discourse the business with the Duke of Vandosme and l' Estrades he caus'd his own Tertia and some other Companies to march and he himself having agreed with the Duke of Vendosme about the Command would needs be of the Party Bourg was beleagured and on the 29. of June their Trenches were opened in three places The first was commanded by the Duke of Vendosme the second by the Duke of Candale and the third by l' Estrades The last Approach was managed so vigorously that the fourth day the Sieur Delus Camp-Mareschal lodg'd himself upon the brow of the ditch cut down a strong Pallisadoe in the middle of it notwithstanding several showers of small shot made against him and the Granadoes and other Fire-works poured upon them
the 9th of October in the Assembly held at the Town-house divers were chosen and deputed to go to Court and to intreat His Majesty again to return to Paris but because His Majesty did not admit of publick Messages from an Assembly where the Duke of Beaufort pretended Governour of Paris used to be present contrary to the Kings Prohibition so that by consequence the Assembly was accounted unlawful it was proposed in Parlement and concluded on that the Duke of Beaufort should be desired to renounce his Charge voluntarily that he might not hinder the conclusion of the Peace which was so earnestly sought for by all wherefore Beaufort remitted it into the hands of the Duke of Orleans who had conferred it upon him The whole Body of the Militia of Paris was also resolved for Peace and knowing that the presence of the King was necessary for the consummating of it they made choice at the same time of 250 persons Colonels Officers and other Inhabitants to go and render their due respects to His Majesty and to entreat him that he would honour his good City of Paris with his return These Officers having given notice of this to the Court and desired the accustomed Pasports they were immediately granted and the King himself wrote to them with Orders to come to S. Germans Octob. 14. where he intended to be that night and besides this Letter to all in general he sent one in particular to every Colonel in which he thanked them for the affection and goodwill which they expressed to his service He wrote also to the Communalty and commanded them to call a general Assembly and to restore to their Offices the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs which had been turned out The Prince of Conde seeing by all these changes that his longer stay at Paris would be to no purpose and that every thing was in readiness to receive the King he resolved to hasten his departure The Duke of Lorrain also took leave of his Brother in Law the Duke of Orleans upon the 11th of October to follow his Army which were on their march not far off but at his going out of S. Martins Gate the Guard stopt him for not having a Pasport from the Communalty and were very near giving him some affront for some of them reproching him for all those evils which had happened to France proposed to have him imprisoned and detained till his Forces were out of the Kingdom and he had given satisfaction for the damage they had done to the Country about but this was not put in execution for the respect they bore to the Duke of Orleans but they gave him a thousand injurious words and the next morning they permitted him to depart upon His Royal Highness command The Prince of Condé went away two days after together with the Duke of Wirtemberg the Duke of Rochefocaut the Prince of Tarante and many other peesons of Quality who resolved to take their Fortunes with him At his going away he said as he passed through the streets That the Parisiens hoped for the return of the Court but that would not end the War He went afterwards towards Rheims a great City and Metropolis of Champagne with intention to lay hold of what he could in that Province that he might the better winter there under the Protection of Stenay and Mauson two places upon the Mose which held for him At his departure from Paris he left a printed Manifesto in which he set forth how much he had done for the publick and in particular for the Parisiens exhorting them not to trust to the Court and to believe that he could by the force of Arms have constrained them to make Peace Conde therefore and all the Officers of the Army having thus abandoned Paris upon the fifteenth following the aforesaid Colonels and Officers went to St. Germains Accompanied with two hundred Citizens more who joyned with them upon the way They had a favourable audience in which they express'd the general desire of all to see these mists cleared up by the splendour of his Royal Presence and assured His Majesty of their inviolable faith and entire Obedience engaging faithfully their word that they would be all in armes upon any occasion ready to spend their lives and fortunes in his Royal service beseeching him not to refuse them this favour but to be touched at their sighs and tears proceeding from their sincere and zealous devotion protesting to him finally that he should finde nothing from them but due observance and a perfect propensity to make good the Character which they bore of His most humble and most faithful subjects The King Answered them with his own mouth that he should be mindful all his life-time of the service they had done him upon this occasion and desired them to be always assured of his affection and that although the disorders stirrâ—â— up by those who were revolted might oblige him to take some other journey yet nevertheless seeing they had so great a desire he was resolved to go with the first occasion to Paris and would signifie to the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs what he thought necessary to that effect the Deputies gave him thanks and did their obeisance to their Majesties severally who were pleased to receive them with testimonies of extraordinary satisfaction After this they were treated with a Dinner and had leave to depart to Paris with so much joy of the people that seeing them pass through the streets and hearing the News of the Kings sudden return they loaded them with benedictions and deafned them with their continual shoutings of Vive le Roy. The same day that the Colonels went to St. Germains his Majesty before he left Mantes answered the Letters which the Duke d' Anville had delivered him from the Duke of Orleans to desire an Act of Oblivion in better forme then the former the Contents were that the King did not desire any further Declaration from the said Duke it being sufficient if he made his word good which he had so often given to lay down his Arms and send the foreign Troops to the Frontiers thereby to free Paris his Majesty having nothing more to do seeing he had already publish'd a General Amnesty and such an one as the most seditious could not find what more to adde to it for their security and less to pretend that it should be registred at Paris seeing that it was done publickly in the Parliament at Pontorse so that his Majestie having anticipated all that the Duke desired of him without any reservation there remained nothing but that he on his side should perform his Promises And that therefore his Request for Passports was superfluous and from the purpose because it tended to no other end but to gain time till the Spanish Troops commanded by the Duke of Wirtenberg were drawn near Paris to joyn with those at the Prince of Conde and to amuse the people whilst that another
Body of the Spanish Army under the Command of the Prince of Ligne should advance into the Kingdom which Forces were designed to keep Paris in that servitude under which it now suffered and to hinder His Majesties Return So soon as the Colonels before-mention'd were departed it was variously debated at the Counsel whether the Court according as they had resolved should return to Paris or no. They who apprehended some danger of receiving affronts by reason that there were still divers ill-affected persons said that there was no trusting to the people who being always inconstant are apt to be led away with every Novelty and to forget all Promises and therefore they ought to walk cautiously to secure themselves from falling into new inconveniences The greater part of the Counsel was of this opinion adding that they ought not to trust those who had deceived them so often or to think to finde faith amongst persons who with such bruitish insolence had shewn themselves unfaithful that to forsake the King and now again to forsake their friends whom they had so often protested never to leave was an Argument of an inconstancy which was as easie to promise as not to perform That this City by its out-rages committed against His Majesty and his Officers had rendred it self unworthy of the Presence of the King and his Court neither would it be well thus by the easiness of the Pardon to encourage subjects to commit new misdemeanors But Prince Thomas of Savoy who had the chief Management of Affairs and who being a Stranger examined matters with no other passion then that of serving their Majesties discreetly weighing the prejudice they might receive by letting slip out of their hands such favourable opportunities proposed and maintained yet with the Advice of the Cardinal that they ought to enter into the City without loss of time and drive from thence the principal Leaders of the sedition and as the Princes had made use of the favour of the people to strengthen their party so the King ought to do the same to overthrow their Faction Mareschal Turenne was also of this opinion who considering that the Countrey about Paris was wasted and the Kings Army not well provided for represented to them the necessity of making themselves Masters of Paris in respect of the abundance of all things there and that the King might be said to be without his Crown so long as he was deprived of that potent City The opinion of these Princes of so great reputation and experience overcoming all Arguments produced by others to the contrary was at length unanimously received and the rather because both of them assured their Majesties upon their words and lives that they should be received with all testimonies of affection and that the Citizens to wash off that spot they had contracted by what was past would with so much the more readiness procure the satisfaction of the Court as they had before acted to its displeasure In order to this the Mareschal of the Hospital the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs being restored to their places followed the Collonels to Paris those of the contrary party endeavored to hinder their entrance into the City perswading them that there could be no security for their persons amongst those people who had their very names in abomination The Duke of Orleans in particular told them that not being able to promise them any security they ought to consider to what danger they exposed themselves but these threatnings took no effect for they being informed of the good intention of the people to receive the King doubted not but to be welcom also and therefore freely entred The Mareschal of the Hospital took presently possession of the Bastille and the Arsenal which the Sieur de Louvieres son to Counsellour Brussell quitted and Orders were given through all the streets and quarters of the City to keep the people quiet and in obedience to the King After this His Majestie ordered the Parliament of Pontoise to be at Paris upon the 22. following in the Palace of the Lovure where he designed to lodge for his greater security the King of England who lodged there removing to the Palace-Royal he wrote also to the Communalty to advertise them that his Entrance should be on the same day and that therefore they ought to take away the Guards from the Gates and all the Inhabitants fall to the exercise of their several Professions and traffick which was presently done To Mademoiselle d' Orleans it was signified that the Kings Brother intending to lodge in her Apartment in the Lovure was therefore to be left free which she submitted to with some displeasure and removed into the Hostel of the Embassadors extraordinary in the suburbs of St. Germain On Munday morning the Parliament met where the President Nesmond declared that he had received a Letter with the Kings Seal and that His Majesty had sent the like to each Counsellour in particular in which they were appointed to meet on the morrow Morning at the Lovure there to understand His Majesties pleasure concerning the present Affairs The Duke of Orleans replied that he knew nothing of it and some other Counsellours about twelve in number said that they had received no such Letters with much resentment and paleness of face perceiving that all their designs were totally ruined and those of the Kings Party being called to give in their opinions they gave their voices for the adjourning of the Parliament to the Gallery of the Lovure although those who had received no Letters from His Majesty as the others had and that knew themselves not to be in favour endeavoured to oppose it representing the prejudice the Priviledges of Parliament might receive from this unaccustomed Novelty The President Nesmond made it appear that the King was Master to hold it in what part of Paris he pleased alledging that formerly in the Reign of Henry the second and Henry the third it was held in the Tournelle and in the house of Saint Paul and that the Chamber of Vacations had ordered the Canopy of the Kings Seat of Justice to be removed into the said Gallery and they ought to obey to this the major part consenting they determined to meet the next morning by Sun-rise in their Scarlet at the place appointed Upon the 22. of October the King departed from St. Germains dined at Ruel and from thence sent the Count of Nogent to the Duke of Orleans to give him notice of the Kings journey and to exhort him as from himself to come and meet the King and do his respects to him assuring him of His Majesties favour and kinde reception The Duke of Orleans was surprized not thinking that the King would in earnest come and trust himself in Paris where the inquietude of those spirits who had so highly out-raged him was not yet appeased but the effect confirmed how fallacious those designes are which are founded upon the inconstancy of the