1611. of Parents whose Birth was not only Eminent but ev'n recommendable among Sovereigns He was the Son of Henry de la Tour D'Auvergne and of Elizabeth of Nassaw These two Houses are so blaz'd throughout Europe nay and i' th Other Parts of the World that it wou'd be needless in me to Enlarge much upon their Grandeur That of Nassaw has giv'n an Emperour to Germany and continu'd his Posterity in Severall Branches equally Illustrious and particularly in that of the Princes of Orange That of La Tour D'Auvergne has possest the County of Boulogne and severall other Lands in Sovereignty and for a top of Greatness matcht one of it's Daughters to a Majesty of France Not but there are those who are of Opinion that this Ancient House of Boulogne and that of Bouillon are very Different Nay and I have heard it affirm'd by the present Duke of Elboeuf tho' he had marry'd a Daughter of this Family and that his Interest led him to take that Part But it is not for me to decide these sorts of things and tho' I were better informed than I am I should circumscribe my relation to what is commonly said upon this Point I shall leave then to others to judge of the Case as they think fit and content my self to say that it is however a most Illustrious House Consider we it either as issu'd from the Counts of Boulogne or from a House of Limosin from whence some derive it's Original Such as are of this sentiment affirm it's Name to be La Tour of which there are many Gentlemen setled in the Kingdom and that they have thereto added the name D'Auvergne Mrs de Gouvernet de Montauban de la Chartre are of that House and some of 'em have told me the House of Bouillon and theirs to be one and the same thing But one would willingly have more than bare words for it for no doubt but they would be very glad to be look'd on as Relations of Monsieur de Bouillon who hold'st not only an Eminent rank in France but are likewise very considerable in Germany on the score of the Allyances they have there with several Princes As for the rest the Principality of Sedan had not been long in this House when the Viscount de Turenne came into the World His Father was oblig'd for it to Henry the 4th Who had match'd him to the Heiress But we may assure it to be in acknowledgement for the Services he had receiv'd from him For during the Civil Wars of France he brought him sundry Succours from Germany and spar'd neither his Estate nor Person to help him to Subdue his Enemies For this Reason did Henry the fourth prefer him before many Others when the Marrying that Princess was the point in Agitation and it 's believ'd he did it too that he might not remit her Territories into the hands of a Person less affectionate to him than this Lord For as they border with France on the side of Germany it was that Great Kings Interest to be carefull on whom he bestow'd the Heiress But be it as it will the new Duke of Bouillon on his very Wedding night endeavour'd to acquit himself of that Obligation for leaving his Brides Bed he put on his Armour and went and Surpriz'd the City of Stenay which acquired him Great Reputation Nevertheless tho' Henry the 4th Esteem'd him dayly more and more yet he did not long entertain him with the same favour which I shall attribute to what I am going to relate This Great King was obliged to turn Catholique so to appease the troubles of his Kingdom and the Duke of Bouillon a Protestant not being of a humour to follow his Masters Example he became suspected to the King for the kindness born him by those of his Religion The Jealousy conceiv'd by the King on this Occasion was so Great that the Duke of Bouillon found himself oblig'd to withdraw into Germany from whence he Writ to the King and procur'd other Letters from Divers Princes his Relations The King sent to him to return and trust in his Royall Word but he was loath to obey as knowing he had Enemies at Court who endeavour'd to render him answearable for Sundry Complaints made by People of the Religion in great pow'r at that time Moreover accus'd he was of having endeavour'd to draw into the Kingdom the Army of Mansfeld a famous General who without being in any Bodies Pay had found the Secret to keep on foot an Army of thirty thousand men and make himself feared by all Europe At length time having appeas'd all things the Duke of Bouillon went to kisse the Kings hand and then retired to Sedan where his main Care was to educate his Children sutably to their Condition God having given him as I have already sayd the Viscount de Turenne whose Life I here delineate he was brought up in the Protestant Religion to which his Mother shew'd her self as zealous as his Father As soon as he was come to an age ripe for Instruction he had Masters given him accordingly some appointed to teach him the Exercizes befitting a Person of his Quality 't is inconceivable how easily he learnt every thing which sufficiently Testify'd the Vivacity of his Wit Nevertheless as some things he apply'd himself more willingly to than others his Inclination lay for those that concern'd Arms For as for Sciences he set himself slightly to them or as I may say for fashions sake which sometimes put Monsieur de Bouillon out of humour because he would have render'd him accomplisht in all things When he had attain'd fifteen years of Age Monsieur de Bouillon resolv'd to send him into Holland at that time the School of War for all Persons of Quality and where was already his Eldest Brother For the States after having brought Spain to demand a Truce saw themselves upon the point of renewing Hostilities for ascertaining their freedom He gave him Letters for Prince Maurice his Brother in Law the Greatest Captain of his Age and the Person to whom the Hollanders are most endebted for their Establishment For tho' they began to cast off the Spaniards yoak under William Prince of Orange and that they acquir'd their freedom under the Government of Frederick Henry We may say that without Maurice they would have found it difficult to compass their Designs This Prince being the Person who began not only to restore Discipline in Armies but likewise put in Practice a world of things till then unknown by Judges He had the Love of his Souldiers beyond Imagination was fear'd by his Enemies and esteem'd by all his Neighbours Worthy in short of Commanding the Greatest States but happy in having been only the Head of a rising Commonwealth since so many Great events can only be imputed to his virtue The Viscount de Turenne had had Order at his Departure from Sedan to apply himself to all that Prince should do as to a Perfect Model
hottest occasions He courted indeed the greatest Perils but did not expose himself hand over head he weigh'd things before he undertook them and in a green youth exerted the Conduct of a man of Fifty Years Boisleduc was of too great Consequence to the Spaniards to suffer it to be taken without endeavouring to relieve it for which reason the Marquis of Berghen one of their Generals was encharg'd with that Expedition and advanc'd as far as Boxtel with eighteen thousand Foot four thousand Horse but after having in vain endeavour'd to lure the Prince of O 〈◊〉 ge out of his Lines and perceiv'd he was not in a capacity to force his Camp without exposing himself to an evident Defeat he took his way towards the Rhine and having pass'd without any Obstacle that River he thought to make him raise the Siege by the fear he shou'd be under for the Places that were in the heart of the Country In effect the Prince of Orange was alarm'd at his March and much more so when he heard he had pass'd the Yssel taken Amersfort and made excursions to the very Gates of Amsterdam But while he made all the Provinces tremble the Governour of Emerick knowing he had led along with him the better part of the Garrison of Wesel took that City by Scalade and freed his Party from their Apprehensions The Marquis of Berghen fearing to be coopt up between the Rivers made a hasty retreat but not without leaving a strong suspition of Correspondence with the Prince of Orange Boisleduc having expected some Great matters from this Diversion seeing it self Closely press'd and without hopes of Succours Surrender'd after a competent long Siege and wherein the Parties on both sides had Signaliz'd their Bravery The Affairs of Italy had now had a Breathing while but were not as yet compos'd Indeed the Siege of Cazal had been rais'd but besides that the Imperialists were still around Mantoua that Siege was just upon the point of being renew'd Spinola having acquired a great Reputation in Flanders had quitted those Provinces by the King his Masters order and after having Embark'd with Numerous Troups without any Bodies taking Wind of his Design he came to land at Genoua in order to Execute the Enterprizes contriv'd against the Repose of Italy The Viscount de Turenne who notwithstanding the Remonstrances of his Mother had a great Passion to Signalize himself in the Service of his own Country seeing that according to all imaginable appearances a furious War was upon the point of being kindled between the two Crowns he lay perpetually representing to her that more Honour was to be acquired in Serving a Great Monarch than a Commonwealth not yet well settl'd But Madam de Bouillon having been born in those Provinces Cover'd under the Cloak of Religion the Inclination she had for continuing him there She durst not however openly oppose a sense of things so reasonable but to weaken them the best she cou'd she gave him to understand there was no Difference between the Service he did the King in another Country and that he did him in his Own that besides the Allyance which this Prince had with the Commonwealth he it was that furnish'd it with necessaries for Carrying on the War maintaining there actually a Body of ten thousand Men in the head of whom was a Mareschal of France and that fighting as he did in those Troups 't was fighting for the King for whose Service he manifested so much Passion that besides she had the Comfort of knowing him with the Prince of Orange her Brother who wou'd ever take more Care of him than wou'd do another not so near related that he must have patience at least wait till the King desir'd him and that if he meant to enhance his Value he must not Discover his Eagerness But the Viscount de Turenne knew the Thoughts it became him to Entertain of this Answer For tho' Youth is ever very prone to flatter it self he did himself so much justice as not to presume so highly to his Advantage He knew well enough that at his years he was only considerable for his Birth but if that was an advantage in respect of some Persons it was not so much considerable with a Monarch that had so many greaterthan himself that reckon'd it their Glory to do him Homage Thus through the Passion he had of making himself known to his Majesty more particularly than he was he ventur'd to write to him but fearing Monsieur de Bouillon would oppose his Intention and knowing his Governour wou'd never suffer him to do it he Conceal'd the Bus'ness from 'em Both and gave his Letter to the Mareschal De Chatillon then returning to Court The Mareschal DeChatillon having deliver'd it without acquainting any other as he had promis'd the Viscount the King read it with Delight and having already heard advantageous things of this young Prince he judg'd the Good they spoke of him to be still less than what might be Expected from him Nevertheless for Reasons to me unknown he did not send for the Viscount to him for to Credit what I have heard affirm'd by certain People namely it to be on the Score of some Dissatisfactions giv'n him by the late Monsieur De Bouillon is a thing not meriting much belief The King was a Prince of too good nature to bear a grudge so long in his heart Monsieur De Bouillon had then been Seven years Dead and cou'd be of nought else accus'd than of having been too free with his Majesty in favour of those of the Religion Much more reason is there to believe Monsieur De Chatillon had serv'd him but by halves and that at the same time when he presented his Letter to the King he represented to his Majesty it 's not being convenient to take him yet from a School where he render'd himself capable of doing him one Day Great Services This was Monsieur De Turenne's thought but as he was extremely reserv'd and Prudent for his Age he only unbosom'd his Mind to his greatest Confidents adding in Excuse of Monsieur De Chatillon that if he did so he did it with a good Intention that it was out of fear he might lose his time in France where there was more prospect of a Civil than of a Forreign War In Reality the Duke of Orleans suffering himself to be led dayly away by Evil Councils was still upon the Point of giving some disquiet to the King his Brother His Wife was Dead in Child-Bed and aim he did again to match himself with some Forreign Princess to have thereby the more means to trouble the Kingdom The Enemies of Cardinal deRichelieu taking it ill that he made them so little privy to his Affairs put these thoughts in 's head People were dayly expecting that some Commotion or other wou'd break out iustead of the advantages that they might promise to themselves in the Flourishing Estate the Kingdom began to be in at
that time Tho' Monsieur de Turenne was vext to see his hopes miscarry Yet he comforted himself for he thought after having done what lay in his Pow'r he cou'd do no more that he had gone a great way in making known his Zeal to the King and that His Prince being inform'd of it it was now for his Majesty to Command his Return when he judg'd it fitting In the mean while the War that had been made in Flanders with much fury the Campain afore cool'd thro' the Spaniards want of Forces they having caus'd a great part of their Troups to march towards Italy The Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia Governess of the Low-Countries being afraid the Hollanders might make advantage of that occasion bethought her self then to make several Proposals of a Truce and tho' the Hollanders knew on what Account these Overtures were made the desire they had to enjoy some Quiet after troubles of Eighty Years continuance caus'd 'em to suffer themselves to be amuz'd The Cardinal de Richelieu resolving at any rate to cross these Negotiations sent an Embassadour to the Hague who by the help of Money which he did not want brought the States to change their Sentiments who instead of that Truce Struck-up a new Allyance with the King The Prince Palatine then at the Hague whose Interest led him to Create Enemies to the Spaniards Us'd also on his part his utmost Pow'r to frustrate their Negotiations but with all this he had but a very slender Prospect of recovering his Imaginary Royalty or his Quality of Elector which the Emperour had stript him of with it to invest the Duke of Bavaria Dayly did he receive new Mortifications and People far from acknowledging him as King of Bohemia as he fain wou'd have been own'd his near Relations deny'd him so much as the Quality he inherited by his Birth and added to the outrages done him by his Enemies Injuries to him still more sensible The Duke of Newburgh being come to the Hague to adjust some Differences he had with the Republick refus'd him the Upper-hand and this provoking the Prince Palatine such things pass'd between these two Princes as would have transported 'em to Blows had not the Prince of Orange Prudently interpos'd But the Viscount de Turenne the Palatine's near Kinsman espousing his Interests undertook to demand satisfaction for this Affront but cou'd not bring it about because the Duke of Newburgh wou'd not accept of a Duel Two or three days pass'd before this new Quarrel was terminated and in the mean while so many Persons throng'd to the Mareschal de Turenne to offer him their Service as sufficiently manifested the great value the world had for him The Prince of Orange was not sorry for this Accident for he was in the Interest of the Prince Palatine but out of an unwillingness to declare himself he oblig'd the Viscount de Turenne to make some Excuses to the Duke of Newburgh In the mean while matters of a much greater Consequence occurr'd in France Cardinal Richelieu whose favour augmented more and more notwithstanding the hatred of his Enemies inclin'd the King to Succour Powerfully the Duke of Mantoua upon the point of being oppress'd But the Spaniards to divert this Blow induc'd the Duke of Orleans with whom they kept Correspondence to retire into Lorrain where the Duke a great lover of Novelties afforded him a Retreat Tho' such a juncture was capable of laying by all other thoughts the Cardinal de Richelieu who sutably as Difficulties augmented perceiv'd his Courage to encrease after having pacify'd the best he cou'd Domestick troubles procur'd from the King the Quality of Generalissimo in Italy and with a Flourishing Army march'd away towards Savoy For in the occasion that then offer'd it self the first thing to be done was to see if the Duke of Savoy wou'd keep to the late Treaty and conformably to what had been resolv'd on joyn his Troups to those of the King or if he would take the Party of his Enemies The Duke of Savoy upon the first Proposals made him of this matter sought out Evasions and Pretexts to avoid declaring himself one while excusing the Emperour and Spaniards for what they had done and another making semblance of blaming them contriving thus to gain time But the Cardinal as Crafty as He not contenting himself with these put-offs press'd him so hard to say what he would stick to that he was at length oblig'd to promise Provisions for the Army and to joyn Troups in case the Peace then in Discourse prov'd difficult to conclude But he no sooner fancy'd he had diverted the Storm but that forgetting his Promises he not only deny'd Provisions but also kept upon the Borders of the Army to take his advantages on 't if occasion serv'd The Cardinal de Richelieu finding there was no trusting him had a Design to surprise him at Rivoli a House of Pleasure whither he was gone to take the Diversion of Hunting but the Duke being advertiz'd of it as it is believ'd by the Duke of Montmorency had time to scape to Turin with the Prince his Son The Cardinal having miss'd his Aim declar'd openly against him and without any more ceremony laid all his Territories Wast and after this making a show as if he would besiege Turin he oblig'd him to put the better part of his Forces into that Town But having made that feint only the better to Compass his Designs upon Pignerol he laid Siege to that Place and took the Town in one Days time Insomuch that nothing now stood out but the Cittadel The Cittadel quickly follow'd the Town 's Destiny the Cardinal being become Master of it he Employ'd his Troups in the Conquest of the Places that are in the Marquisate of Saluces The Duke of Savoy who had Secret Intelligences with the Spaniards having demanded Succours of them in so pressing an Occasion they sent him Troups and Money and while he made head against the Cardinal they laid Siege to Cazal Spinola Commanding their Troups as I have already said detach'd his Son to attack Pont-desture which Thoiras had Fortify'd and made himself Master of it allmost at the same time the Imperialists found the means to Enter Mantoua Surrendred to them by Treachery Of all the Dominions of the Duke of Mantoua he had only Cazal left nay and that so shut-up by Spinola that there was no likelihood of its being able to hold out long The Garrison wanted Provisions and no means could be contriv'd how to get any In. This Extremity having induc'd the King to pass himself into Italy he put his Kingdom into the Best Order and Posture he cou'd and having left an Army under the Duke of Orleans to defend the Campagne he made his Resentment fall upon the Duke of Savoy to whose Infidelity he attributed all these Disorders Being entred his Countrey he in a few days subdu'd all Savoy saving Montmelian at which he thought it not convenient to stop These good
may say that the Hatred he bore them was rather founded upon the Knowledge he had of their Policy than upon any Natural aversion for he cou'd not endure that under the pretext of Religion they shou'd seek to Cover the Invasion the design'd to make upon all the E 〈◊〉 e Emperour Ferdinand follow'd the same 〈◊〉 er the same Pretext had so far depre 〈◊〉 German Princes that it was no longer in th 〈◊〉 ower to prevent blindly following his 〈◊〉 t w 〈◊〉 ly th 〈◊〉 g of Denmark now that 〈◊〉 d sâ—me 〈◊〉 Liberty but after having 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 d in several incounters he was ready to f 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 as others The Protestant Party thus 〈◊〉 ping put the rest of it's hopes in Gustavus Adoâ—pâ—us King of Sueden a Prince who had already acquired much Reputation in the Wars he had sustain'd against the King of Poland Gustavus seeing himself call'd by those of his own Persuasion resolv'd not to abandon them and having made Peace with his Enemy he entered Pomerania where he had Secret Correspondencies However the Duke of Pomerania to prevent the seeming to have call'd him appear'd in Arms upon the Frontier of his Territory But after some slight Losses feigning to undergoe the Victour's Law he deliver'd-up his Towns and joyn'd himself to the King of Sueden This irruption was usher'd in by divers things that might well make the Emperour fear some Change in his then flourishing condition For the Duke of Bavaria who seem'd most Wedded to his Fortune had been the first to induce him to depose Wallestein a Famous Captain by whose means he had atchiev'd all his Conquests After this they had also constrain'd him to Disarm and Gustavus his Army was made-up out of the Ruines of the Emperour 's too insomuch that he had for Enemies those who a little afore were in his Pay and fought under his Ensigns but Enemies so much the more irreconciliable that after having pass'd some Ten Years others Fifteen others Twenty and some more in his Service they had been Discarded for their Reward The Duke of Bavaria who had plaid him these unlucky turns had likewise sent secretly into France to hamper him in new troubles and Cardinal Richelieu having a great Soul contriving how to render the Kingdom more flourishing let not this occasion slip without emproving it to Advantage He had besides Correspondence with the King of Sueden and had assur'd him of a Hundred Thousand Francs a Month to help him to make War Nevertheless as he had a Wit that fore-saw things at a distance instead of causing the King to ratify the Treaty of Ratisbonne of which I have spoken afore he had brought so many Difficulties in it that it had been restrain'd to the Affairs of Italy so as that he had an open field to enter into War when he pleas'd The Viscount de Turenne fill'd with Piety was over-joy'd to see such puissant Preparations to destroy the Enemies of his Religion and cou'd not sufficiently admire the Cardinals Conduct who in the midst of the thorny Affairs rais'd him in the Kingdom had the faculty to provide against all with so much judgment He desired nothing more than to have his Regiment sent that way and this was the Cardinal's Design of whom he had begg'd this favour with much Importunity But dayly was this Minister haunted with new troubles and in the number of the Enemies that arose up against him he cou'd not do all he wou'd and was sufficiently happy in doing one thing after another The Spaniards who had the Queen Mother and the Duke of Orleans in their hands to thwart his Designs excited them to cause their Creatures to rise of whom they boasted the having a great number at their arrival at Bruxells The Queen Mother only breathing Revenge wou'd have had the Duke of Orleans without more ado to enter the Kingdom in the head of a Spanish Army but the Spaniards wou'd not proceed to a Declaration till they saw on what fund they were to make this Diversion The Duke of Orleans on his side more irresolute than ever and weary of Bruxells listen'd to the Proposition which the King his Brother caus'd privately to be sent unto him but as the Spaniards knew the byass of his mind they took care he shou'd not give them the slip and in the mean while endeavour'd to fortify him in his first Designs Yet the only Obstacle that barr'd his Return to France was his Marriage with the Princess of Lorrain which the King cou'd not resolve to approve of and which he on his side wou'd not break Thus being Both wedded to their Sentiments all hopes of Accomodation were taken away and the Duke of Orleans tamper'd with the Duke of Montmorency Governour of Languedoc to support a Rebellion The King of Sueden in the mean while had not only been happy in the beginning of his Enterprize but the Prosecution of it too had been so Glorious to him that he had Conquer'd whole Provinces in as little time as it would have taken to pass them over After having Re-establish'd the Dukes of Meklembourg in their Territories deliver'd the Baltique Sea from the Servitude of the Imperialists beaten four or five of their Armies Subdu'd the Strongest Fastnesses of Germany Spread Consternation among his Enemies and giv'n jealousy to his Allyes he advanc'd towards the Rhine where he render'd himself Master of the City of Mayence Cardinal Richelieu either jealous of his Fame or fearing perhaps he might Emprove the Occasions offer'd him by Fortune to the Destruction of his Friends as well as Enemies knew not how to stop the Course of so many Conquests for to declare openly against him was a Dangerous Design and besides had been wanting fidelity to his Ally and to suffer him to advance much farther might allure him to the Conquest of France the Goodness of whose Soil and the Deliciousness of whose Climate being a Great Charm to a Conquerour For the finding out a Medium to all this he endeavour'd to prevail with the Ecclesiastique Electors to depart from the Allyance they had with the Emperour that so under the Pretext of Neutrality the King of Sueden might be oblig'd to turn his Arms elsewhere But the King of Sueden seeing Clearly into his Intentions redoubl'd his Hostilitys before the Treaty cou'd be Concluded and put those Princes into so great a Despondency that the Electour of Trier only threw himself into the Cardinals Arms. For a Token of the Dependancy he meant to have for him thenceforward he put into our hands the fortress of Hermesteim But before our Army was Arriv'd to take Possession of Coblentz and other the Places of his Territories the Spaniards perceiving it to be a way to give the Suedes an Inlet into the Low-Countreys forestall'd Us and Clapt a Garrison into that Town The Mareschal D'Effiat who was advanc'd with Intention to Seize on 't but had trifled away much time about Strasbourg from whence he
before that cou'd be effected For tho' the Frondeurs were seemingly in a strict Union with her Majesty they had a very different Aim They were in the Interests of Châteauneuf Keeper of the Seales who after having posses'd the first Place in the Council had try'd a Reverse of fortune that had distanc'd him thence Yet the most part did not despair of his being restor'd and not a Person besides the Coadjutour but wisht it as not being of a humour to leave to another what made him do so many things unbeseeming his Character However being one day at the Palais he happen'd into a great perplexity for going out of the Great Chamber to hinder any Disorder from happening between his Friends and those of the Prince of Conde that staid in the Great-Hall he saw himself all of a suddain Surrounded with Swords and if every Individuall had not retired to his own Company he wou'd have fancy'd that not a man of 'em All but had his Person for the mark of his Revenge At length having distinguisht his friends from his Foes he rang'd himself among the Former while that the Duke de la Rochefoucaut plac'd himself at the Head of the Latter Thus a man wou'd have said they were just going to fight but the fear they were under of discrediting their Party in the Parliament occasion'd their resting satisfy'd with threatning one another After this they wou'd both return into the Great Chamber But as the Duke de la Rochefoucaut had got the Start he wayted the others coming behind the Bar-Door and just upon his passing he Clapt it strongly to and Caught his Head between the other half of the Door that remain'd shut The Coadjutour schream'd-out as if he had been upon the point of being Assassinated and the Parliament being interrupted by all these things was rather contriving how to appease this Disorder than to deliberate about the matters for which it was Assembled The Duke de la Rochefoucaut that he might not shock the Parliament answer'd the Complaints the Coadjutour made immediately against him that he had â—â—d no Design of insulting him in any manner and that if he had shut the Door it was only to hinder those of his Party who pursu'd him from wanting Respect to so August a Body But the Respect born it was so small that the Duke de Brissac the Coadjutours near Relation fell to using bitter Words which the Duke de la Rochefoucaut wou'd never have suffer'd without taking satisfaction if the Duke of Orleans had not interpos'd to bring 'em to an accommodation This was a more vexatious Bus'ness to the Coadjutour than can be imagin'd he was Universally blam'd for offering to measure himself with the first Prince of the Blood and as his Profession did not allow him to do any thing Violent of which all his Actions had the Appearance what the Prince of Conde gave out of him found the more easy Credit namely that he had a Design of Assassinating him As the Queen cou'd not doubt of the hatred they bore one another she look'd upon it as a great piece of Merit from the Coadjutour to her Majesty and for th'engaging him to continue as he began she promis'd him the first Cardinals Cap which the Court of Rome should grant to France Thus in that time of Disorder and Confusion Vice had the Compensation of Virtue for sufficient was it for a man to be in a capacity to make himself fear'd by his Intrigues Cabals and provided one did not directly thwart the Queens Intentions he had fair hopes of obtaining any sort of favour During these Transactions the Parliament being back'd by the Duke of Orleans who through his natural inconstancy chang'd his Party as often as his Shirt dayly perceiving more and more that the Queens whole aim tended to bring about the Cardinals return who in lieu of distancing himself from France as she had promis'd staid at Liege pass'd new Arrests against him importing that not any Cardinal tho' of the same Nation shou'd thenceforward have admittance into the King's Council The Queen not daring openly to declare her Intensions was oblig'd to subscribe to so hard a Condition by causing an Edict to be expedited in Conformity with the Arrest This did not hinder her however from sending him money and the Duke of Orleans caus'd a Carriage design'd for him to be stopt that came from the Provinces bordering upon the Loire where the Blood of the People was not spar'd no more than the rest of the Kingdom which was lavisht upon him to facilitate his Return The Cardinal by the means of this money rais'd Forces and having wherewithall to keep in with his Quondam-Friends and get new he Fortify'd his Party as much as he cou'd and did not yet renounce the hopes he had of becoming more than ever Potent The People suffering by all these Novelties complain'd in the mean while that for the interest of one single man the whole State was near it's Ruine but withall most of the Grandees were glad that they had this Pretext given them to render themselves the more Powerfull and tho' that amid their Disobedience they had ever the Publique Good in their Mouth when it came to the making of Proposalls all turn'd upon their Interests and not a Word was there about the Poor People In the mean while the King entred into his fourteenth year being the time six'd for the Majority of our Kings and People hop'd that being a Major he might possibly apply some Remedy to the Evils that afflicted the Realm principally when he shou'd be let know whence they proceeded and the Means to be made use of to put a Stop to them But the wisest Expected but little Ease from that side they said it to be a great mistake to believe that a Child foster'd in the Love of his Mother and in the hatred of the Princes of the Blood whom he was made to believe had a Design to bereave him of his Crown had the judgement to discern truth from falshood that if Our Kings were declar'd Majors at fourteen years of Age 't was rather thro' Custom than Reason that well known it was that at that Age a Man was not capable of any great matter that it was also Manifest they needed Council more than Ever by cause that beginning to have some Intentions yet without being able to distinguish what was wholesome from what injurious they were to be redress'd and set to Rights when they had made a false Step. And in truth this Ceremony was perform'd with more Pomp and Lustre than Profit and all the Change there was consisted in there being no more than the Kings name in the Declarations whereas that of the Queen was there allso before But the same Maximes and the same Sentiments still appear'd so as that it was plainly seen the Peace of the Realm was not hence to be expected In the mean while the Parliament still continu'd it's Sessions and
not a Week pass'd without receiving two or three Letters under the Privy Signet but this did not hinder it from pursuing it's Road and when it had done what it pretended to they contented themselves with remonstrating to the King th' inconvenience there wou'd be in complying with his Desires They sent him Deputies ever and anon that spoke siercely against the Cardinals Return which was whisper'd up and down notwithstanding all th' Assurances giv'n to the Contrary But at length diverse Letters that were intercepted having left no room for Doubt the Prince of Condé who had long minuted the War took his journey towards Guyenne after having sent Orders to the Counts de Tavanes and de Marsin to bring him the Forces that Espous'd his Interests By this piece of Treason those two Leaders one of whom commanded in Champange and the other in Catalonia left those two Provinces as a Prey which very much further'd the Affairs of the Spaniards as well as the Civil-War which kindled at the same time in sundry parts of the Kingdom For several Governours either egg'd-on by the Zeal they had for the Interests of the Prince of Condé or hoping to advance their Fortune declar'd themselves in favour of his Highness The King seeing the main of the War was going to fall in Guyenne went into Poitou that so he might be the nearer at hand after having provided for the Frontiers as far forth as his present Circumstances wou'd allow of During these Transactions he call'd about him those in whom he cou'd put any Trust and having Written to the Viscount de Turenne he repair'd to his Majesty at Poitiers Since his return from the Enemies he had staid in his owu Family where he enjoy'd Ease and Quiet he had endeavour'd to set his Affairs to Rights by the means of some Benefits he had receiv'd from Court and seeing that in the Troubles that arose a great deal of Ambition was mingl'd with the Pretexts laid hold of to trouble the State he was very glad in having avoided the Ambuscades that had been so long laid to trepan him Being arriv'd at Poitiers he receiv'd from the King and Queen-Mother all the kind Treatments he cou'd desire For besides their being acquainted with his Merit as they stood in need of him they did not stick sometimes doing more for him than they wou'd have done in another occasion the Queen especially embrac'd him recommending her Son to him in such terms as Created Compassion for she had every moment Tydings brought of new Insurrections which made her afraid that this bad example might seduce others The Viscount de Turenne comforted her the best he was able and having assur'd her of his Loyalty he receiv'd her Orders which were to go oppose the Duke of Nemours who with a Body of Seav'n or Eight Thousand men was on the side of Montargis The Count de Harcourt March'd in the mean while against the Province of Guyenne many Towns of which allready repented of their Revolt for when the business is Waging War against one's own Prince so many things arise that were not foreseen that one wou'd often wish it were again to begin Bordeaux was divided into Factions that were all in Appearance for the Prince of Condé but were so opposite one to another thro' the Private Interest of those at the Head that the City was dayly upon the Point of it's Ruine The other Towns in the Province after their Capitals example were not in a better Posture the most part had declar'd themselves thro' the hatred they bore the Cardinal but seeing the Remedy they thought to have apply'd to their Evils was worse than the Disease it self they complain'd that those they had call'd to their Succours were only come to render them still the more miserable The Prince of Condé dissembled these things to his Principal Officers for sear they might be pall'd by seeing the Weakness of his Party Bur at the long run he cou'd not bar them of the Knowledge of it by a Sedition that happen'd at Agen wherein he wou'd have put a Garrison He found it a difficult business to disentangle himself handsomly from that matter whose Consequences he dreaded as fearing the other Towns might thereby Square their Conduct But having terminated things in an amicable manner tho' a little to his own Diminution he had news brought him which render'd him again uneasy The Duke of Beaufort had some days afore joyn'd the Duke of Nemours with four or five thousand Men and pretended by reason of his having the hand at Court of Forreign Princes to retain allso that Prerogative in the Army The Duke of Nemours did not agree to the matter and tho' Brothers in-Law they had often come to Blows if those about them had not narrowly Watcht them This Division was injurious to their Party and both remain'd without the least Action while the King drew near Anjou where the Duke of Rohan had form'd his Party thinking to pen him up between the Prince of Condé and his Adherents This News gave as I have already hinted a great deal of Vexation to the Prince of Condé and lessen'd the joy he had for some happy Successes gain'd o'er the Marquis de St. Lue the Kings Lieutenant of Guyenne However the time present made him less uneasy than the future he receiv'd dayly new Advertisements how that the misunderstanding encreas'd between the Duke of Beaufort and the Duke of Nemours and fearing that this might at the length produce some bad business he resolv'd to march that way that so by his Presence removing the Subject of Division between those two Leaders he might by that means sree himself from Apprehensions The Enterprize was extreme Dangerous several Provinces and several Rivers had he to Cross and this journey was to be perform'd without Attendance so not to abandon Guyenne but his Fortune having carry'd him thro' all these Difficulties after having evaded sundry Dangers he came into the Army of those two Dukes to the Great Contentment of all his Adherents The King had newly reduc'd the Duke of Rohan to Reason and was again mounting up the Loire to secure the Towns scituated upon that River The Viscount de Turenne having joyn'd the Marquis d'Hocquincourt who had been made Mareschal of France for having shewn Great Affection to the Cardinal to meet whom he had been upon the Frontiers and had Conducted him afterward to the very Court Commanded the Army joyntly with him they were in Quarters where Hocquincourt thought himself in Safety as imagining the Prince of Condé far distant But this Prince being desirous to signalize his coming by some illustrious Action march'd all the Night and won two of this Mareschals Quarters before he cou'd put himself into a Posture of Defence At last Hocquincourt having re-assembled all he could in hast in the general fear by reason of the night he advanc'd towards the Prince of Condé who after having Plander'd two more of his Quarters thought
to gain the Rest as Easily His Countenance giving this Prince to understand there not to be that facility in the undertaking as he had imagin'd he made a halt to give his Men time that were here and there dispers'd in Plundering to rally and leading them forthwith to the Charge he Compell'd the Mareschal d'Hocquincourt to abandon the Head of a Quarter and to retreat behind it The Prince of Condé's men set fire to 't and pretended to have pass'd-on further but the other Quarters had had leisure to stand to their Arms so as that saving some Equipages that were still taken the Mareschal d'Hocquincourt was quit for what he had lost He put his Infantry into Blenean and the Horse retired on another side In the mean while the Viscount de Turenne upon the Notice he had of the Mareschal d'Hocquincourts being attack'd with the utmost Expedition he assembled all his Quarters and without staying for his Infantry he advanc'd within a Hundred Paces of a Wood that was upon the Way Had he had his Foot with him he had possess'd himself of it before the Prince of Condés Arrival but his not being come up he durst not Engage his Cavalry in so disadvantageous a Place The Prince of Condé who after having beaten as he had done the Mareschal d'Hocquincourt did not imagine that the Viscount de Turenne durst stay his Coming advanc'd on in the mean time aiming to Surprize the Court in Gien a Place of small Defence and uncapable to hold out against him And in truth some Run-aways having carry'd thither the News of their Defeat it gave such a General Alarum that they knew not whither to save the Kings Person and that of the Queen his Mother as for the Cardinal he was allready Booted to betake himself to flight But the Viscount de Turenne having stopp'd the Prince of Condé the Court had more time to come to it self again and recovering Courage upon his sending Word thither that it had no reason yet to be in any fright the Prince of Condé hoping nevertheless utterly to rout him caus'd his Infantry to Advance that lin'd the Wood and as the Viscount de Turenne suffer'd Extremely he Retreated some Paces which gave him a little Respite The Prince of Condé thinking he gave Ground caus'd his Horse to march but the Ground was so inconvenient that besides it could not hold above Seaven or Eight Squadrons afront there were several Ditches that hinder'd him from drawing up in Battalia In the mean while the Viscount de Turenne apprehending that if he Suffer'd him to Advance further the whole Army wou'd by Degrees be upon his Bones he repass'd a Defile behind which he had posted himself and making his On-set upon that Cavalry he overturn'd it upon one another The Prince of Condé was not of a Humonr to be paul'd by the first stroke but the Disadvantage he had in fighting in so disadvantageous a Place Curbing his Courage they plaid the Canon the rest of the Day The Court being very uneasy about the Success of the Battel sent Couriers after Couriers to be inform'd of it in time but having Notice that the Prince of Condé had not been able to gain his Point it sent Orders to the Viscount de Turenne to retreat at the beginning of the Night which he easily atchiev'd by the means of Sundry Defiles that Separated the two Armies He receiv'd from the King the Queen and Cardinal all the Testimonies of Acknowledgement that he cou'd hope for after so signal a piece of Service and the Mareschal d'Hocquincourt only from whom the vexation of having been beaten dropt words to the Viscount's Disadvantage as if he had accus'd him of having contributed to his Defeat by not Succouring him in due time But a man overwhelm'd with Affliction had easily granted him the freedom of Complaining and the Viscount de Turenne himself slighted these sorts of Matters the Diligence he had us'd being by all Sufficiently known And indeed the Prince of Condé whose humour was to render justice to his very Enemies did himself openly Proclaim that but for the Viscount he had at one stroke put an end to the War and taking a Pleasure in exaggerating his Valour and Conduct he seem'd to aim at rendring him suspected to his Party On the contrary he made a Thousand keen Railleries on the Mareschal d'Hocquincourt which did not at all please the Viscount de Turenne who knew that in the present Posture of things and in an Age wherein each one glory'd in being Disloyal there needed no more to make his Fidelity be suspected The Prince of Condé after having gain'd this Advantage led his Army towards Châtillon and having a Design to take a turn to Paris he took the Duke of Beaufort along with him that his absence might obviate all fresh Disputes with the Duke of Nemours who nevertheless was inlittle condition for any as having been dangerously Wounded in the last Battle During these Transactions the Parliament had passâ—d an Arrest by which it's hatred broke-out more than ever against the Cardinal for they set his Head at Fifty Thousand Crowns and to give some sort of Assurance to those that undertook to Kill him this sum was rais'd by the means of a new Imposition laid upon the People so as that in th' Unhappy State of the Kingdom they were become equally the Victims of the Cardinal and his Enemies But the Odium born this Minister was so Universal that no body complain'd of this Tax and never had they paid any so chearfully The Prince of Condé being come to Paris found the Parliament and the People in so favourable a disposition for his Highness that he had nothing more to desire He was look'd upon by both with Admiration and he at last conceiv'd such vast such towring hopes that the Cardinal having made him new Proposals of Accommodation he cluded them all by Exorbitant Demands The Cardinal who was a great Politician prolonging these Negotiations sometimes by granting him a part of what he demanded another by opposing him gave in the mean while the People to understaud that the Prince of Condé's hatred for him was not so strong but that it might be extinguish'd if he wou'd content his Ambition so as that this People that had flatter'd themselves that he had taken up Arms in behalf of their Interests and for their sakes had so often expos'd his Life and Fortune seeing themselves undeceiv'd dwindled insensibly in the kindness they bore him During all these Intrigues his Army which he had left on the side of Châtillon upon Loin falling under the want of all Necessaries the Baron of Clinchant and the Count de Tavannes under whose Command it was led it towards Estampes that sided with his Highness In the mean while the Court seem'd to have a Design of Blocking-up Paris again for it had Troups in several Places around it which oblig'd the Prince of Condé to send a Detachment on the side
of St. Cloud which the Kings Forces had a Design to seize on This Detachment being weak and St. Cloud no place of Defence it rested satisfy'd with making it self Master of the Bridge an Arch of which it blew-up by this means did they hinder the In-roads that were made to the very Gates of Paris and which had occasion'd some Clamour in the Inhabitants of that great City But the King meaning to Mortify them and punish so many Disobediences sent to recover the Bridge and upon the notice the Prince of Condé had of it he left Paris to go encourage his men being attended by several Persons of Quality nay and by several Citizens that had taken Arms. His Presence having stopp'd th' Enemies Design he march'd against St. Denis where the King held a Garrison and after having taken it he retired to Paris where there was more Caballing than Ever The King was advis'd to draw near it to retain there some Servants that were still Loyal to his Majesty and he did so upon their Desire after they had remonstrated to him that otherwise all was lost And indeed his Remoteness had made it presum'd that he abandon'd that Beauteous Town but his Presence having giv'n another Opinion those who had as it were forsaken his Party made reflection upon the fault they had Committed and their thoughts were wholly how to repair it The Viscount de Turenne still Cover'd the Kings Person in a March that lasted above forty Leagues and after having Notice of his being arriv'd at Melun he lead his Army towards Chastres that so the Prince of Condé then at Estampes might have no longer any Communication with Paris All these motions that cou'd not be made without the Desolation of the Countrey rais'd a Murmuring in the People that began to grow weary of the War so as that several Deputations were made to the King to beseech him he wou'd distance the Cardinal from his Person after which he shou'd find as much Obedience as ever in Paris and in all the Rest of the Kingdom But the most trusty servants his Majesty had in that great Town told him without mentioning to him the removing this Minister out of the way that there needed no more than his returning thither to make all things hush again that the greater part of the Parliament and of the Citizens were very much undeceiv'd of the Prince of Conde after having seen him neglect their Interests to think barely of his own that this Disposition was to be improv'd and not to wait till he had regain'd their Confidence by new Artisices In a word that they stood Warrantees for the Event and that their Lives shou'd be answerable for it These Reasons joyn'd to the Desire the King had to make the Parisians still sensible of the Inconveniencies of the War that so they might have still the more Passion for Peace made his Majesty resolve upon Causing Estampes to be attack'd the taking of which wou'd have cut off the Communication with Orleans from whence they receiv'd a world of Wines and other things necessary to Life Yet wou'd â—e first know of the Viscount de Turenne if he approv'd of this Resolution But this General having represented to the King a world of Inconveniencies that might thence ensue the King left all things to his Ordering continu'd still in his Quarters near Chastres and Montlery In the mean while the Viscount de Turenne having Intimation that Mademoiselle d'Orleans the Duke of Orleans's Eldest Daughter had in her passage thorough Estampes desired to see the Prince of Conde's Leaguer in Arms he broak up with his own and Surpriz'd one of the Suburbs in the time the Enemies were Sprucing themselves up for that Review The Disorder therein was so great that most of the Troupers abandon'd their Horses and without Lauville the Mestre de Camp of the Regiment of Conti and who commanded the Guard and did effectually his Duty the Disorder had been much greater This Success having Surpass'd the Viscount de Turenne's hopes made him Change his mind and thinking to improve the Consternation the Enemies Army had plung'd them in he beseig'd Estampes that far from being a place of War has but one bare wall with a sorry Castle on the side of Dourden without Outworks without a Ditch nay and open on sundry sides But the Army within the Town supply'd all these Defects and an enterprize was it Sufficiently great to attack it there how ever sorry the Place Nevertheless the Viscount de Turenne having taken his Precautions rais'd his Assaults and Batteries and as he press'd the Town he had Notice that the Duke of Lorrain advanc'd to cause him to raise the Siege The Court having no Ressourse left if it chanc'd to loose it's Army was extremely Surpriz'd at this Tydings and not standing to consider what Course to take it dispatch'd away an Agent to this Duke to see whether his humour wou'd lead him to treat for some Money In the Int'rim the Viscount de Turenne had orders sent him to raise the Siege as soon as that Duke should draw near but his answer imported the thing not to be yet so Urging and that when it were so he wou'd take such Care that nothing ill shou'd come on 't The Duke of Lorrain having no greater Passion than to heap up Money was byast to the offers of the Court but as the point was the more or less he stay'd in the Neighbourhood of Paris under Colour of coming to Conferr with the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Condé there arose a Contest between him and the Prince of Condé for the rank and he caus'd it to last some days that so the Court might have time to bethink it self whether it shou'd give him what he demanded At last the Court not very opulent at that time having found the means to furnish the sum he requir'd it was agreed in Concert with the Duke of Orleans his Brother-in-Law that the Siege of Estampes shou'd be rais'd on Condition that as soon as the King's Army was drawn-off the Prince of Condé's Forces should Evacuate the Town The Duke of Lorrain having thus provided for his Honour talk'd of returning according to the obligation he lay under by a secret Treaty he had made with the Court But the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Condé exclaiming against him he promis'd to stay and instead of directing his March back for Flanders as he had engag'd to do he March'd away towards Corâ—â—al where he laid all the Open Country in Fire and Blood This oblig'd the Viscount de Turenne to March against him and some Hostilities having pass'd between the Two Armies the Duke of Lorrain took a Pretext from thence to say that the Court fail'd in its Parole to him and both Parties were oblig'd to come to New Explications But the Viscount de Turenne having learnt by Experience that mild Remedies had no effect upon him prepar'd to give him Battel The Duke
of Lorrain being stript of his Dominions and his Repute and Credit subsisting only by his Troups he did not think fit to hazard them but Caus'd a Bridge to be laid over the Sein so to have that River between the Two Camps But seeing himself press'd in such manner that he cou'd no longer avoid fighting he desir'd My Lord Digby that his Lordship wou'd interpose in a New Treaty then on foot The Viscount de Turenne wou'd by no means hear it mention'd and with the Sword pretended forthwith to decide the matter But the Court standing then also in need of his Forces wou'd husband every thing with the utmost Waryness and Chose rather to grant the Duke of Lorrain some farther favour with which as I may say it drove him out of the Kingdom Tho' all these Successes were not great on either side the Court however thence derived great advantage for the People growing impatient to see an End put to their Miseries did more earnestly wish for Peace than before and complain'd of the Violences the Duke of Lorrain had Exercis'd in lieu of the Advantages they had Expected by his coming The Prince of Condé's Troups being drawn near the Bancks of the River Seine made a Shift to render these Complaints alltogether Legitimate by the Desolation they spread thro' all the Countrey whose Grain and Forrage they not only consum'd but Pillag'd the very Houses The Prince of Condé had dayly Complaints made him of 'em but whatever Care he us'd he cou'd not Suppress the Licentiousness of the Souldiery who imagin'd that a Civil War Entitl'd 'em to all Exorbitancies and whom besides he durst not command absolutely to refrain having not the means to pay them All these things stimulating thus the Parisians to return to their Allegeances the Prince of Condé was oblig'd to place himself at the Head of his Forces that so they might not only live in better Order but also to preserve them from Danger For the Viscount de Turenne seeing himself freed from the Lorrainers pretended to force them to a Battle notwithstanding they thought themselves secur'd from that by the Bridge of St. Cloud which afforded them free passage to either side the River The Court seeing no better means to terminate the Civil War than to Defeat the Remains of that Army which dayly diminisht for want of Pay sent for the Mareschal de la Ferté with the Troups he had in Lorrain and this Mareschal having caus'd a Bridge of Boats to be made over the Seine near St. Denis pretended to nab the Prince of Condé on the one side while the Viscount de Turenne shou'd attacque him on th' other This Prince to avoid his Defeat otherwise inevitable discampt forthwith and having abandon'd the Bridge of St. Cloud he had a Design to demand Passage at Paris to shelter his Forces with the Rivers of Mâ—rne and Seine but not knowing whether that the Parisians wou'd grant it him and fearing besides that his Army wou'd totally disband in the City he directed his Way upon the Left to gain the Upper-end of the Fauxbourg St. Martin from whence he pretended to make towards the Bridge of Charenton beyond which is an Island capable of containing an Army But the Viscount de Turenne plying him Close at his Heels not having giv'n him the leisure His Rier was oblig'd to face about to stand the Brunt of some Squadrons which the Viscount de Turenne had detach'd with intent to begin the Battle Much a do had it to disengage it self and to gain the Point of Faux-bourg St. Antoine where the Van was drawn up in Batalia the Prince thinking that by reason of Paris and some Intrenchments made to hinder the Inroads of the Duke of Lorrains Army the Viscount de Turenne wou'd be Cautious how he attack'd him Wherefore he chose this Post as the only one that cou'd hinder this Defeat for the Viscount de Turenne was much stronger than he and besides Expected the Mareschal de la Ferté who upon notice of the Prince of Condé March was to come suddainly with his Troups All these things making him presume as I have newly hinted that he wou'd find it a Difficult matter for him to come off from this Push he meant however to have sav'd his Baggage in Paris But those that held there the Kings Party caus'd him to be deny'd the Gates and he was oblig'd to place 'em upon the Ditch that 's between the Town and the Fauxbourg In the mean while the King who in so tender an Age allready manifested his Warlike Humour mounted upon the top of du Mesnil to have the Pleasure of seeing his Troups fight they forthwith Fil'd and Marshall'd into Order and the Viscount de Turenne unwilling to leave the Prince of Condé any further time to contrive his Matters Caus'd him to be attack'd by a Batallion which the Prince repuls'd he having plac'd himself at the head of a Squadron made up of Men of Quality The Viscount de Turenne perceiving it wou'd be a hard Matter for him to force that Place where the Prince of Condé was himself with the flow'r of his Troups weakned that attack to re-insorce those that were made on another side the Prince of Condé having not minded it cou'd not hinder his Men from being forc'd and tho' the Marquis de St. Maigrin one of the Cardinals Favourites and who had boasted he wou'd seek out the Prince of Condé was kill'd with several other Persons of Condition the Rest continu'd nevertheless to march in Batalia as far as the Abby of St. Antoine The Prince of Condé who had done Wonders whereever he had been present hearing this bad News march'd immediately that Way-words and with the same Squadron at the Head of which he had allready fought several times he allso beat these Troups But his forces vanish'd and grew Evidently thinner and as the Mareschal de la Ferté began to come in sight allready they abandon'd after some Dispute a Post they kept at the End of Charenton street The Viscount de Turenne caus'd several Houses to be pierc'd thereby to maintain his Ground and the Prince of Condè having no hopes of driving him thence with his Horse caus'd the Infantry to come up which shamefully ran away It is not to be Express'd how angry the Prince of Condè was at this sight nor the Disorders some Squadrons were in that were Expos'd to the firing from the Houses before-mention'd However the Prince of Condè having a Courage too great to be dejected by any Disgrace meaning to try if he cou'd not Speed better than the Rest march'd himself with all the men of Quality in his Army But as he Advanc'd one of his Squadrons that were upon its Retreat taking him for an Enemy Charg'd him and he did the like while that those of the Barricade that had other thoughts fir'd upon both In the mean while all Paris was throng'd upon the Rampart to see what wou'd be the