to command which certainly he would never have done had his disgrace been really true and not meerly dissembled to satisfie the insolent demands of the League and to comply with the necessity of the time Things being thus dispos'd the Duke went to take his leave of the King and to receive his Majesties final Commands where his affection in so great an extremity suggesting to him the honest liberty a passionate and faithful Subject may justly take he freely told him That it was not without an extraordinary violence upon himself that he came to beg leave of his Majesty that he might retire into his Governments where he hop'd nevertheless to do his Majesty better service than if he should continue about his Person That to his extreme grief he saw of late his Majesties safest Determinations and the Counsels of his most faithful Servants perverted by the Artifices of those evil Ministers who had usurp'd a greater share in his Royal Trust and Confidence than was consistent with the prosperity of his Affairs That the Queen his Mother however an excellent and prudent Princess was notwithstanding abus'd as his Majesty himself was That seeing no cure for this evil he had rather chosen to deprive himself of the Honour of being near his Majesties Person than to be an unprofitable Spectator of those inconveniences into which his evil Counsellors were about to precipitate his Affairs That as to that hour no man could reproach him that any of his Actions had been contrary to his Majesties Service so he would not for the future by a toleration unworthy a good Subject and an honest Man draw any jealousie upon his Intentions That by an excess of bounty and oftentimes contrary to his own desire his Majesty had enrich'd him with so many Possessions Honours and Offices that he had nothing left to desire of Heaven but Moderation in a Prosperity rais'd so infinitely beyond his Hopes That having receiv'd these benefits to no other end than to employ them in his Majesties Service he should be ready to surrender all upon command if by his Spoils any advantage might accrue to his Majesties Affairs That for the sum of all Obligation and for a final Testimony of his Majesties good Inclinations towards him he had only two Requests to make the first That his Majesty would never confer any of his Offices upon any of the League and the other that so often as his Enemies should by their Malice seek to ruine him in his Majesties Favour he would please to recollect the infinite Obligations he had laid upon him which was the greatest pledge of Fidelity a good Servant and an honest Man as he pretended to be could in his absence possibly leave with so good a Master The King though already prepar'd for the Duke's departure yet touch'd with so sad a Farewel could not refrain from Tears and his friendship producing the usual effects that all true friendships ordinarily do in such occasions made him forget the conditions he was bound to perform and once more to reiterate all sorts of perswasion to make him stay In which importunities though some have believ'd there was more of dissimulation than real truth yet it is certain that his Majesty in this proceeded with a most sincere affection and that looking more narrowly into the condition of his Affairs and considering he was about to surrender his Person into the hands of his Enemies by whom he saw himself already environed he could have been content to have retain'd a Servant of so approved Valour and Fidelity about him But the Duke having so often try'd and so often found it impossible to settle the King's mind to such resolutions as were most proper to secure his Dignity with Honour could never deliberate to look on and see the continuation of those evils for which he could neither see nor hope for any possible Remedy Remaining then firm in his resolution to depart he made a voluntary surrender of his Government of Normandy into the King's hands which was as soon transferr'd to the Duke of Montpensier a Prince of the House of Bourbon very affectionate to the King's Service and Father to Henry of Bourbon likewise Duke of Montpensier the same who in succession of time came to be the Duke's Nephew by a Marriage with Catherine de Ioyeuse his Neece she who as we have said before is now Dutchess of Guise And this of all those Offices the Duke stood seiz'd of was the only resignation the King would consent to whatever D' Auila is pleas'd to say to the contrary He says that the King importun'd the Duke to make a surrender of all his Employments at once excepting his Government of Provence but that the Duke Who was a man of exceeding great understanding and bred up by the King himself in all the Stratagems of State rais'd so many difficulties and made so many exceptions against the persons of all those who were propos'd to succeed him that suddenly departing before any thing was concluded he dexterously disingag'd himself from so nice and so dangerous a Proposition It is certain notwithstanding that the Duke was never press'd to lay down any of his Offices and if he did surrender his Government of Normandy it was not only a voluntary act but founded upon mature deliberation and great judgment as a Province that was near neighbour to Paris separated many Leagues from all the rest of his Governments and in which his Enemies had so great Interest that his Presence would be necessary to secure it neither considering the strong Faction they had within was it certain to be secur'd So that not being able amongst so many persecutions as he saw prepar'd against him to maintain all his Charges at once he rather chose to part with that he was not likely to keep at least without exposing all the rest than to abandon the other strong Holds and Places in his Possession which though particularly consider'd they seem'd to promise less than so important a Government as that of Normandy yet that by their vicinity to one another were more likely to be kept and to be more serviceable to him Thus then parted the Duke of Espernon from Court in Iune 1588. and retir'd himself to Loches though far otherwise than in the equipage of a declining Minister or attended like a Favourite laps'd into disgrace but with a numerous train of above three hundred Gentlemen and those of so good Quality as that he employ'd the most of them for the raising of such Forces as he had order from his Majesty speedily to set on foot But that which rendred him every where more considerable than this outward shew of greatness was his brave and unbated Courage of which he had given so many signal testimonies in his Prosperity that there was nothing left but such a disgrace as this to give it the utmost test and the last tryal of a noble Constancy Being come to Lochis he presently set
great disorder The King willing upon this occasion of the Dukes Marriage to continue his Liberalities made him then a gift of four hundred thousand Crowns but the Duke had never other advantage by it than the bare testimony of his Masters good Inclinations towards him For the Treasury being either wholly exhausted or containing no more than was necessary to defray the immediate War the money could no ways have been rais'd but by a new Tax upon the People which would have bred new Discontents and though his Majesty notwithstanding desir'd such an Imposition might be laid the Duke a truer Servant to his Masters Interests than a Friend to his own would never consent but obstinately oppos'd it The Papers are yet to be seen amongst those that were found at his Death for an eternal monument of this good Masters Affection and for a testimony of the small accompt the Servant made of a Benefit that must be exacted with the clamours of the People and that was likely to pull down a popular Odium upon his Benefactor Amongst the preparations that were made for the Duke's Marriage the King was still intent upon his business not omitting any due care that might fit his Army to receive the strangers who were now upon their March under the command of the Baron de Dona and were already advanc'd to the Frontiers of Lorain There it was that the Germans first began to be sensible of those inconveniences his Majesties prudent Conduct had strew'd in their way which still as they advanc'd further into France where they promis'd to themselves a great abundance of all things upon the false hopes wherewith their Leaders were prepossest that the whole Court favour'd the King of Navarre and that they had only the Duke of Guise to wrestle with they found more and more to encrease upon them all things remov'd out of their way that should any ways contribute to the support of so great a Body And then it was that they plainly saw the vanity of those aiery promises that had been made them they found themselves in a few days opprest with hunger thirst and sickness their Arms with rust dismounted and useless their Horses unshod and themselves expos'd to all the other miseries with which great Armies in long Marches and in an Enemies Countrey are usually afflicted By which misfortunes their eyes being opened they began to fear and to foresee those that in a short time fell upon them but amongst all those difficulties that which troubled them the most was their encounter with the Duke of Espernon who whilst they were trying to find a pass over the River Loire having continually coasted them and attended their motion with eight hundred light Horse and five hundred Harquebusses on Horseback and having by his activity and vigilancy found an opportunity to beat up a Quarter of twelve hundred Light Horse and to take the Cornets from them they plainly saw by that action what they were likely to expect for they had been made to believe that the Duke was won over to the King of Navarre's Party a slaunder which having been first spread abroad by the League those of the Reformed Religion made good use of to encourage the strangers to enter the Kingdom but they having receiv'd so smart a proof of the contrary were now undeceiv'd and the more clearly they were convinc'd of their error the more did their fears encrease which begetting at first private mutterings and growing on to publick murmurs proceeded at last to an open Mutiny The Duke well enform'd of this disorder in the Enemies Camp began with great dexterity to manage their discontents to the King's advantage he treated therefore for an accommodation both with the Reiters and the Swisse the latter of which made up a considerable part of that Army all their Infantry almost being rais'd out of the Swisse Cantons pressing nevertheless with his flying Army the Rear of the one or the other at the same time that he disturb'd their March and their Quarters with his Armies entertaining them with overtures of Agreement putting them at once in fear of the King's Force and in hopes of his clemency by which different ways of proceeding to one and the same end the two Nations equally perplex'd at last hearkned to an Accommodation which notwithstanding was concluded only with the Swisse at that time and with them the Articles were agreed upon and Sign'd under the King 's good Pleasure the 18. of November 1587. Which being afterwards ratified by his Majesty they immediately retir'd into their Confines This great body thus separated from the Reiters the remaining Army was in such perplexity that there was now nothing but disorder and confusion amongst them so that their courages being abated by the extreme necessities they suffer'd by their being abandoned by their Confederates who made up the best part of their Army and by the fear of worse michiefs to come they now thought of nothing more than of retiring from the extreme danger they saw themselves envellop'd in and then it was that they hearkened in good earnest to the Propositions which were then offer'd to them afresh by the Duke though much harder than the former neither could all the Intreaties or Authority of their Leaders as well French as those of their own Nation prevail any thing or disswade them from concluding a composition and from retiring at last into their own Country The Articles with them were Sign'd the eighth day of December in the same year by the same Duke by which it appears that his courage vigilancy and Wisdom contributed not a little to the diversion of this dangerous storm and to the preservation of the Kingdom from so powerful an invasion as that of an Army consisting of forty thousand fighting men Yet is it not to be denyed but that the Duke of Guise did also very brave service in this occasion he defeated great numbers of them both at Vilmory and at Aulneau but in the condition they then were ruin'd and disarm'd by the King 's forecast beaten and Disunited by the Duke of Espernon's Skirmishing and Practices it infinitely much facilitated the Duke of Guise his Victories to have an Enemy reduc'd to such streights before he came to engage them But if the War was carried on with good success to the King in the forementioned engagements things succeeded much otherwise on his Majesties part with the King of Navarre for the Duke of Ioyeuse having precipitated the Battel of Coutras the advantage of his Forces having blinded him even to a Contempt of the Enemy an ordinary presage of Ruine to whoever is too secure of his Fortune he there lost the Battel with his Life the twentieth of October in the same year together with as considerable a number of Nobility and Gentry as have almost fallen in one day in any one Battel in France Some have believ'd that the King was neither so much displeas'd at the loss
to the King by whom he was receiv'd with all the honour and kindness he could expect from his Majesties old Affection to him now newly reviv'd by the important Services he had so lately receiv'd from his Fidelity and Valour And then it was that his Majesty never thinking he could sufficiently evidence the esteem he had for him endeavour'd till better times should render him capable of a better acknowledgement principally to satisfie him concerning all things that had past during his absence from Court receiving him into a degree of greater Privacy and trust than he had ever been in in his highest pitch of Favour The Duke that he might make a grateful return to those infinite testimonies he receiv'd of the King his Masters great affection to him sought on his part all occasions to please him in all things and knowing very well he could not give him a greater nor a more signal satisfaction than to reconcile himself to the Mareschal d' Aumont a man very acceptable to and in great esteem with his Majesty but who had long been upon ill terms with the Duke he went one day franckly to his Lodging and without regarding the formalities usual in such Accommodations there made him offers of Reconciliation and Friendship the greatest violence imaginable to his own nature of it self not easie to be reconciled an humour in which he has ever since persisted but too obstinately for the advantage of his own Affairs but the desire he had to gratifie the King his Master overcame that difficulty whose great Interest it was that those few Servants who continued about his Person and were faithful to him should live in perfect intelligence with one another The Duke therefore having embrac'd the Mareschal told him That he was come with all freedom and candour to desire his Friendship as also to make him a tender of his that the evil intelligence they had so long liv'd in could not but be prejudicial to his Majesties Service which they both so zealously desired to promote That there had no oâ—â—ense past betwixt them wherein their Honours could be any ways concern'd that if notwithstanding he had entertain'd some little discontents he desir'd him to forget them as for his part and that sincerely he would blot out all memory of his The Mareschal overcome by this generous and unexpected freedom as readily met the Duke in his courtesie like a true Frenchman laying open his bosom to the reconciliation with more sincerity and affection than ever Whereupon they both of them went immediately to the King who was not a little pleas'd at an Accommodation so important to his Service and having been particularly inform'd of the Duke's manner of proceeding gave it the favourable interpretation due to so noble an Action so that still more and more encreasing the esteem and kindness he had for him he made it so highly and so publickly appear as gave D'Avila occasion to say he was re-establish'd in the highest degree of Favour he had ever been as it was effectually true whatever D' Aubigné is pleas'd to write to the contrary The same D' Aubigné a man very perfect in calumny and with which he continually bespatters all the King's Actions contrary to the truth known and receiv'd by all the world says further That they had much ado to prevail with the King to march his Army out of Tours towards Paris that the King of Navarre was forc'd to use all manner of perswasion and even a certain kind of violence to bring him to it but besides that all our Historians are contrary to him in this the King was observ'd after the death of the Duke of Guise to be so vigorous in all his actions that at Court they would ordinarily say he had now re-assum'd that Lions Courage he had for some years supprest His whole discourse was nothing but of reigning with Authority and of chastising such as would not acknowledge him in their obedience which his actions likewise confirm'd In the attempt upon the Suburbs of Tours Mounsieur de Thou as being continually with the King and particularly all that day gives this testimony That although in this occasion which was very hot his Majesty was surpriz'd in his Doublet only he nevertheless gave orders with so much assurance and gave so evident proofs of Valour and Constancy in so great a danger that the whole Army took it for a happy Omen and every man by his Example fortified himself with Courage and Resolution In fine whatever men may say of this Prince 't is most certain that a Martial Disposition govern'd in him as he had sufficiently made it appear in his Youth when he was meerly led by his own natural inclination but it is likewise true that being come to the Crown and having learn'd by the miseries of War that Peace is the greatest good with which a Prince can gratifie his people he endeavour'd by all means and doubtless too industriously to establish that happy Government in his Kingdom To this end were all his Politicks which as I have said he made his ordinary and regular study directed but at last incens'd at the ill success of so good a Design he absolutely resolv'd upon the taking Arms never to lay them down till he had re-establish'd his Authority and that in the highest degree any of his Predecessors had ever done With this resolution then he departed from Tours in the beginning of May 1589. The first Town upon his way that stood for the League was Gergeau and this little Town had the confidence to shut their Gates against the Royal Army So much were mens minds infatuated with zeal to their Faction The Duke of Espernon was order'd to go before to block up this place and to cast up the first earth against it which he accordingly did and the whole Army being a few days after come up to the Siege the King of Navarre advanc'd as far as the Trenches to see what progress they had made A Prince whose Valour and Bravery were so generally known as that his Reputation was universally receiv'd and establish'd in the opinion of all But the Duke who till this time had never had the honour to be near him in any occasion of this kind would now let him see that he also was no Novice in matters of Warre 'T is true he might have chosen a fitter opportunity of giving the King a testimony of his own Valour without exposing his Person to so great a danger but the heat of Youth transported him and I have heard him discoursing of this Action and alwayes accusing his own indiscretion magnifie to the highest degree the King of Navarre's courage which appear'd in great lustre upon this occasion D' Aubigné who was himself then present gives this Relation of it and I shall make use of his own words being in this case not much to be suspected since every body knows he was never very partial to
but in the end seeing them after a walk of four or five hours continually brought back at night and that which at first surpriz'd them by its novelty being grown familiar by the continuation of it even the most penetratingly inquisitive began to grow weary of their suspicion letting them at last pass to and again without any regard at all And then it was that the Duke commanded the Sieur de Campels the Gentleman of his Horse who till that time had been as ignorant as the rest at his next ordinary sally to ride clear away and to go to a House near Sanserra and upon the Banks of the River Loire call'd Rezé belonging to le Puigeolet his Lieutenant in the Regiment of Champagne there to expect himâ— which was accordingly perform'd without the least notice taken or any noise at all This part being thus perform'd le Leige Major to Rembure's Regiment a Gentleman very expert in the Geographical Cart and an excellent Quarter-Master for the lodging of an Army came back to Metz whom the Duke had sent a few days before to discover all the ways by which he was to pass into Angoumoâ—s by whose extraordinary diligence the way was already chalk'd out and divided into Journeys the Fords all sounded and the whole thing exactly drawn into a Map After all which precautions the Duke still living at Metz as if he never had design to part from thence and having concluded with his Sons Rucellay and le Plessis the day of his setting out to be the 22. of Ianuary the ensuing year all things were thenceforward prepar'd with the greatest secreâ—ie and diligence imaginable to be ready against the time to come The Queen Mother had as you have heard signified in her last dispatch that she was in hope she might convey her person to any place the Duke should think fit to name thinking that the Letter she had receiv'd from the King after the Protestation she had made to Father Arnoux would priviledge her so to do she having full liberty given her therein to go whither she pleas'd into any part of the Kingdom but because that it was probable the design of that Letter was rather to comfort her in her solitude and to sweeâ—en her captivity than intended to give her absolute liberty to dispose of her person it was moreover thought impossible so to order the time that she could at a certain and punctual hour transfer her self to a place where she might be free to dispose of her self at her own choice Especially considering that all those who were about her the major part at least were Servants made and corrupted by the Court Minion Which sole difficulty appearing invincible it was at last resolv'd that to avoid all suspicion her Majesty should not stir from Blois but that the Duke or some other trusty person by him appointed should advance thither to receive and convey her first to Loches and from thence to Angoulesme This resolution being taken the Archbishop of Tholouze attended only by his own ordinary Train parted from Metz eight days before the Duke his Father to go into Angoumois The pretense of this Journey was to try to raise mony upon their Territories in those parts for their better support they having not as was pretended wherewithal to defray their necessary expense the Duke's Offices being now no longer paid him since his dispute with the Garde des Sceaux though indeed the true cause of his going was to confirm the Servants the Duke had in his Governments there in their Duty and to secure the strong Holds he had in Xaintonge and Angoumois by a seasonable prevention of any practice from Court There was also at the same time a dispatch sent to the Queen Mother to acquaint her with their resolutions that she might make her self ready against the day prefix'd the charge whereof Rucellay having taken upon himself he intrusted it to a young fellow whose name was Lorme one whom he had bred up of a Page and by whom he had in truth been very faithfully serv'd at Court in some affairs of no ordinary nature though in this and in the most critical time for the ruine of the Enterprize in hand he play'd fowl and stumbled into the foulest Treachery in the world He had often been employ'd to and fro upon this occasion wherein he had ever acquitted himself with great sincerity and discretion but now though he had not penetrated into the depth of the design yet guessing by the secresie had been enjoyn'd him that it must necessarily be of very great importance what recompenses soever he had been promis'd by his Master he chose rather by his infidelity to obtain them than by a vertuous action to deserve them Instead therefore of going to Blois and from thence to Confolant in Angoumois where he was order'd to expect the Duke after he should be dismiss'd by the Queen from whom he was to bring an accompt of the precise day of her escape he went directly to Paris where he address'd himself to some of the Duke de Luines his Servants to be by them presented to their Master to whom he said provided he might be secur'd of a good reward he would discover something of more than common concern To this desperate pass was the state of Affairs reduc'd when Fortune by a strange and unexpected accident set the Machine again on work upon its own proper Base Those to whom Lorme had apply'd himself for admission to Luines looking upon him as an Impostor either made no mention of him to the Duke at all or if they did represented him for such a fellow as they themselves took him to be making him wait at the Gates for three whole days together without giving him either admittance or answer In the interval of which three days le Buisson a Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris heard by chance that Lorme Rucellay's man was in Town which he had from one of his own people who being of Lorme's acquaintance had met him accidentally in the street At which intelligence le Buisson a man passionately devoted to the Queen Mother privy to her designs and an affectionate Servant of the Duke of Espernon's by reason of a Brother of his a Lieutenant in the Regiment of Guards who was one of the Duke's domesticks being infinitely surpriz'd forasmuch as Lorme had at other times ever been directed immediately to him and not being able to comprehend the cause of this alteration began presently to suspect there was some knavery in the wind He therefore presently took order to have my companion narrowly watch'd and was by his spies as faithfully inform'd of his being continually seen waiting at the Duke de Luines his Gate by which discovery judging aright at what he was about and foreseeing what mischief the sight of those Letters he knew he had about him would produce he undertook a dangerous but a very necessary act and that indeed prov'd the safety of
came to wait upon him in so great numbers and so handsomely attended that he could hardly have been better accompanied in any other part of his Government They here pass'd away the time as people usually do in the Bathing season in all sorts of innocent Recreations to which the good Company there had invited the Ladies as well as the Gentlemen of the Countrey when the Duke after having bestow'd more of his time upon his friends than to the consultation of his own health which at so great an age continued in a marvellous vigour would return back towards the lower Gascony to see the miserable condition of that part of the Province still groaning under the same heavy judgments wherewith at his first coming from Court he had found it afflicted Whilst the Duke was preparing for his return he receiv'd news of the Grace his second Son had receiv'd from the King who had lately conferr'd upon him the honour of Duke and Peer he had long before receiv'd his Patent for that Dignity which has made me so often in the preceding discourse give him that Title but he had neither taken his Oath nor assum'd his place in Parliament till this time The Territory of Ville-Bois settled upon him by the Duke his Father at his Marriage was also honour'd with the Title of a Dutchy by that means leaving its former denomination to take that of its Lord and Owner That which rendred this new Dignity more remarkable was that Cardinal Richelieu at this time advanc'd to the greatest height a Subject can be capable of would at the same Session be installed in the same degree of honour so that they were both receiv'd together in Parliament and both their Letters Patents the same day verified and confirmed The Duke though at present ill enough dealt withal at Court and inwardly not over-well satisfied with former passages could not however but acknowledge this for a favour so that once in his life accommodating himself to the time he writ a Letter of Complement to the Cardinal to which he soon after return'd an answer obliging enough wherein after he had reply'd to the Duke's civility concerning his Sons promotion he proceeded to acquaint him that the Cardinal his youngest Son had been lately created Governour of Anjou A news at which the Duke was highly pleas'd but as joy seldom arrives without some mixture of bitterness this was soon follow'd by one of the most just and most sensible afflictions that could almost arrive which was the Death of le Plessis his beloved and faithful Servant This Gentleman equally wise and valiant dextrous and faithful and who had all these qualities eminent in him to a very conspicuous degree had been so happy that the Services which had been acceptable to the Father were no less pleasing to his Sons insomuch that not one of them but was passionate for his advancement and ambitious to contribute something to his Fortune a thing he himself so little considered that had he not met with Masters liberal in their own Natures his deserts had been the worst rewarded of any mans of his time but such was the acknowledgment they all paid to his merit that the Cardinal de la Valette was no sooner provided of the Government of Anjou but that he cast his eye upon le Plessis to bestow upon him one of the best and principal Commands of that Province which was that of the Castle of Anger 's He had already that of Chasteau Trompette of Bordeaux neither would the Duke consent to be totally depriv'd of his Service all that he could condescend unto to satisfie his Son being to share with him in this good Servant and to give way that he should serve at the Castle of Anger 's still keeping the command of Chasteau Trompette Le Plessis having therefore taken his leave of the Duke at Condom to go to take possession of his new Government staid by the way to keep his Christmas at Bordeaux with an intention after the Holy days were pass'd to continue his Journey to Anger 's but his Devotion making him commit a violence upon his health at this time something impair'd by an indisposition that began to grow upon him his Disease increas'd to such a degree at midnight Mass that the conclusion of his Prayers was almost the end of his Life He went out of the Church seiz'd with a Catarre by which his breathing being stop'd and all sense and memory taken away he was in a few hours totally suffocated He could not certainly by a more Christian nor a more easie death have finish'd a very excellent life but the Duke of Espernon could not of a long time after be comforted for his loss neither indeed could a greater almost have befallen him he having scarce any other Servant left that was allow'd the liberty to tell his Master what he conceiv'd was best for the good of his Service the Duke who would never slacken the severe hand he ever held over all his Servants not enduring that any of them should presume to advise him this only by the prerogative of his Age and approv'd Fidelity was dispens'd from that Law a dispensation that he notwithstanding ever made use of with so great modesty as to make it appear it was rather a Priviledge granted by the Master's bounty than any Empire usurp'd by the Servant over his Masters affections The life of the Duke of Espernon and his particular actions have so great a connexion with the publick interest that his story is no where to be long continued without putting the writer upon a necessity of interweaving something of the general concerns of the Kingdom which obliges me in this place to resume the gross of Affairs and with the year to enter into transactions of very great importance wherein the Duke had so eminent a share that his greatest enemies and such as were most emulous of his glory cannot but do him that right as to confess that he strook the greatest stroke in the success of the Royal Arms. The Queen Mother and the Monsieur being retir'd out of the Kingdom it was not likely but that two so great persons being open and profess'd enemies to the Cardinal whom they had publickly declar'd to be the Author of their discontents would do their utmost endeavours to make him feel the effects of their indignation but it appearing that the King was in a manner oblig'd in honour to protect his Minister and that he was not consequently to be assaulted without offending his Majesty himself they were to expect a great and vigorous opposition to whatever attempts they should make upon the Cardinal's Fortune These two discontented Princes therefore well foreseeing this difficulty willingly accepted the offers made them by the Emperour the King of Spain and the Duke of Lorain to take Arms in their favour but as it was impossible these separate Forces should unite and move at the same time whereas
auspicious beginning that Caumont's favour began to appear neither did he on his part cultivate his springing fortune with an assiduity and diligence unbecoming his Spirit and Blood for whatever testimonies of favour and esteem the King daily discover'd to him there was nevertheless no occasion of action which he did not greedily embrace and for which he did not continually neglect all Court Interest preferring his Honour and Duty before all other Advantages of Fortune At his return from one of these expeditions he soon discern'd a coldness in his Majesty towards him and his Court Rivals who very well saw how precipitiously the Kings Affections were bent upon him had not fail'd on their part by their ill offices to weaken that interest during his absence with all the Art and Malice they had but his brave services having acquir'd his Masters Esteem he soon recovered his former possession of Grace and at last settled himself so firm in the Kings Bosom that the favour which had for a long time before been divided amongst many pretenders was at last establish'd without reservation in Ioyeuse and him though he had still the greatest share I have already observ'd what an effect Caumonts negotiation about the Affairs of Guienne had produc'd with the King and Queen neither was he so blind to his own interest as not to see it nor so negligent as not to improve it with all the industry he had Nor was his diligence less effectual with the Queen Mother who bore the greatest sway of Affairs than with the King himself she ever receiving him with great demonstration of Favour and Esteem which he to continue or to encrease contracted great Familiarities with some of the Maids of Honour of chiefest trust about her and from their Friendship receiv'd no few good Offices in this Foundation of his Fortune But neither these good Offices nor the Favour he was by their procurement seated in had yet produc'd any thing to his benefit 't is true he was look'd upon with an Eye of Favour the King would often speak to him and in all apparence he was in a hopeful way but still this was hitherto only apparence and he reap'd no other advantage by it until the Duke of Alenfon's expedition which was the first time he tasted of his Masters Bounty After the Treaty of Champigny which was a little before this time the King having design'd absolutely to disingage his Brother the Duke of Alenson from the Hugonot Party had to that purpose given him the command of an Army against them Upon which occasion Caumont fail'd not to prepare himself to make one which the King so well approv'd of that coming to take his leave his Majesty having first publickly commended his generous design order'd him twelve hundred Crowns of Gold out of his privy Purse to put him into a handsome posture A largess so seasonable as enabled him to put himself into a better equipage than otherwise he could conveniently have done and as he had a mind above his present Fortune he laid out all the Kings Bounty in Horses Arms and other Furniture but above all he bought himself the finest Tent that could possibly be seen The Rendezvous of the Army being appointed to be at Romorentin the King and Queen Mother being then at Blois would themselves see it and there dismiss the Duke of Alenson with all possible demonstration of Honour and Kindness Caumont fail'd not to Muster up his Equipage upon this occasion and for the better advantage caus'd his Tent to be set up in that part of the Camp that lay most in view of the Queens Lodgings to the end chiefly that her Maids of Honour might more conveniently see it The King who never fail'd as I have observ'd before to visit his Mother once a day as he was one day leaning with her in her Chamber Window took particular notice of this Tent which being for its fineness remarkable above the rest the King and Queen both fancied it to be Caumont's and the better to be satisfied sent one purposely to enquire at whose return finding it to be so indeed his gallantry was highly commended by them both Soon after coming to take his leave of the King and to receive his Commands he was dismist with so high testimonies of Affection as might for the future give him just occasion to hope for greater things These observations may perhaps seem light to some upon such a subject but since Fortune suffers nothing to be lost to happy men and that she is industrious to collect and improve the least of their actions to make them succeed to their advantage I thought it not altogether improper by her example to make mention of these passages which how inconsiderable soever in themselves have been nevertheless the steps and gradations by which this great man afterwards rose to such an eminence of Fortune The Duke of Alensons expedition succeeded according to the Kings desire he took la Charité and Issoire and the Army was in a condition to perform greater things had not the over-strict League and Friendship betwixt the Duke of Alenson and the Duke of Guise his Lieutenant General in this Employment begot a suspicion in the King To break then this Friendship the King began to hearken to overtures of Peace which although they were not presently concluded yet the meer proposition was pretense enough to call home the Duke of Alenson and to give Caumont opportunity to return to Court. At his coming back he was less favourably receiv'd than he had reason to expect through the jealousie of those who had been more industrious to improve the Kings Favour than he had been Yet could not this hinder him a new occasion of the Siege of Brouage presenting it self once more to expose and abandon his springing Favour to the malicious Offices of his Court-Concurrents He went to this Siege where he behav'd himself so well as he had done before at la Charit◠and Issoire that in all these expeditions he still won the great liking and approbation of his Generals who being just to his merit in the testimony of his actions confirm'd the King more and more in the opinion he had before conceiv'd of his Worth and Valour This esteem of Caumont took at last so deep root in this Princes Breast that it was no more in the power of Envy to shake it and he had him in so high consideration that he never us'd him with the least severity nor ever gave him the least injurious word an indulgence not common to his other Favourites who were often subject to very passionate language But the King in his noble nature was pleas'd to spare a heart which he had before observ'd was too stout to submit to Injuries what advantage soever might accrue by such a patience Of which now we are upon this discourse I shall give you an instance in this place although the thing happened not just at this time
afterward Caumont and Ioyeuse were to solicit but without the least dispensation notwithstanding their Favour from the due and customary forms of Law where if any difficulty or opposition chanc'd to arise his Majesty ever interpos'd his Justice to over-rule them if justly they were to be over-ruled neither did they ever receive any Grace or Largess which did not either first pass the Seal the Chamber of Accounts or an Act of Parliament In these beginnings the two young Favourites were continually call'd to all the Councils not to give their advice from which by their immaturity and inexperience they were exempt but to inform and to inure themselves to business Which the better to exercise them in the King himself was pleas'd often in private to propose weighty questions to them and to make them debate them before him without exposing their early Opinions to the Experience of his graver Council initiating them with his own Precepts and forming them with his own hand and that rather with the tenderness and indulgence of a Father to his Children than with the authority of a Master over his Servants About this time as I have already observ'd the Order of the Holy Ghost was instituted and the first Ceremony was already past where although Caumont had no share by reason of his Youth but was deferred to the next Creation which happened a few years after yet his Majesty though he judg'd him too young to be admitted into that honourable Fraternity thought him notwithstanding sufficient to treat with Philibert D. of Savoy though he were one of the most discreet and most circumspect Princes of his time This Prince had rais'd a considerable Army which he intended to imploy against the Genoveses and the King who was oblig'd to protect them dispatch'd Caumont to the Duke to disswade him from that enterprize His negotiation in this Affair met with great difficulties and infinite oppositions both from the House of Austria the League and the Pope which nevertheless he overcame with that dexterity that having untied all those knots of State he obtain'd full satisfaction for the King his Master and acquir'd so much Reputation and Esteem with the Duke as at the same time to obtain a signal Favour and a timely assistance for himself The occasion this The Mareschal de Bellegarde his Uncle having for some time possest the Kings Favour was at last through the ill Offices of some fallen into disgrace and had thereupon retir'd himself into the Marquisate of Saluzzo of which Province he had the Government and whither being come he had chas'd Charles Birague the Kings Lieutenant in that Marquisate out of all the Places and strong holds he had formerly possest which he had taken upon him to do without any order from the King and indeed Bellegarde unsatisfied with the Court rather endeavour'd to fortifie himself and to secure his own interest than to stand upon the niceties and punctillio's of his duty This disorder gave a hot alarm to all Italy who knew not to what Bellegardes designs might tend and the Queen Mother desirous in time to prevent any ill consequence had her self taken a Journey to accommodate the business and had compos'd it to the Kings satisfaction and seemingly to the Mareschal's too who had receiv'd a ratification of whatever he had done but the Mareschal was no sooner return'd into his Government than he fell immediately sick and of so violent a distemper as in few dayes carried him away not without vehement suspicion of poison Many being perswaded that his turbulent spirit having given the Court an apprehension that a discontented man of his Courage would be hard to be continued in the due limits of his Obedience they thought it better at once to dispatch him out of the way than to be at the continual trouble would be necessary to contain him in his duty His Son whom he leâ—t very young and much unsettled in his Government soon found himself in danger to be turn'd out by the Faction of the People the whole Countrey in general favouring the Biragues Gentlemen of good quality and Natives of that Countrey whom doubtless they would have restor'd to the Government had not Caumont in the time of his Embassy in Savoy obtain'd some Troops from the Duke for his Kinsman's assistance with which he brought him so opportune and so effectual a succour that he soon supprest the Faction plac'd Bellegarde secure in his charge and left him strong enough to defend himself until the King whose interest requir'd a Minister of greater Experience in that Countrey call'd him from thence to place la Valette Caumont's elder Brother in his stead giving to Bellegarde in recompense the Governments of Xaintonge Angoumois and the Countrey of Auluis It was during the interim of this Voyage that the disgrace of St. Luc one of the Favourites was concluded D' Aubigné tell us that he learn'd the cause of this disgrace from St. Luc's own mouth and thereupon tells an impudent Story but they who well consider this malevolent Author's way of writing will easily judge it his own invention to bespatter the Kings reputation against whom besides the interest of his Party he had a particular spleen having been ill us'd and slighted upon many occasions Of which he himself cannot forbear to complain in his History and which confession in it self is sufficient to discredit all the calumnies he has forg'd against the Honour of this Prince Here then take the true reason of his disgrace The King falling in love with a Lady of great Quality had made Caumont and St. Luc the confidents of his Passion shortly after which Caumont was sent upon the Embassy of Savoy spoke of before and St. Luc in this interval of his absence discovers the secret of the King's love to his Wife who was of the Family of Brissac and his Wife immediately to the Queen who could not long dissemble her discontent to the King her Husband but reproach'd him with his Love and that with so many circumstances that in effect he could not much deny it The King infinitely concern'd at the infidelity of his Confidents to whose discretion he had only intrusted that secret falls upon St. Luc Caumont being out of the reach of his anger complains how basely he was betray'd and in fine reproaches him with the discovery St. Luc excuses himself and that he might do it with the better colour charges Caumont whose absence expos'd him to that ill office with the fault but the King who had before begun to distaste St. Luc ever since his Marriage with a Wife who was very partial to the House of Guise a Family whose designs were every day more and more suspected to him was still in his own Judgement more enclin'd to condemn him than Caumont of the Treachery Yet for the better clearing of the truth which he was impatient to know he addresses himself to the Queen pressing and conjuring her to tell him freely
his soul to hazard his own life that he might by an honourable way deliver his Master from the troubles and apprehensions with which the practices of this Duke perpetually afflicted him though his Majesty would never consent to it But Ioyeuse liv'd after another manner maintaining a greater intelligence with the House of Guise than ought to have been betwixt so oblig'd a Servant and his Master 's open and declared Enemies which doubtless was the chief cause of the diminution of his favour and in truth either prompted by the sole ambition of seeing himself Brother-in-law to the King to which honour he thought he could not arrive without the Duke of Guise's assistance or by the desire he had to secure his Fortune on all sides which is very often a ruinous maxim he ever industriously labor'd the friendship of that Family Some believe that he at first treated with them unknown to the King about his Marriage with a Princess of their House and Name Sister to the Queen 'T is true he had afterwards the King's permission and the overture being once made was prest by the King himself to a consummation of it but it was his part to have foreseen the inconveniences of this Alliance and to have consider'd the consequences before he had embark'd himself As one of the King 's chiefest cares was to keep such an equality towards his Favourites that they might have no occasion to trouble the delight he took in their conversation with complaints or differences so had he no sooner concluded the Marriage of his Sister-in-law to the Duke of Ioyeuse but that he would bestow another call'd Christina upon the Duke of Espernon I begin here to give him the title of Duke because he had it before although the thred of this discourse permits me not to speak of his promotion to this dignity till the following page A temptation delicate enough to flatter a mind so great and so ambitious as that of the Duke nevertheless he excus'd himself with a moderation highly to be commended in an occasion of this nature neither was his prudence less to be admir'd than his moderation and all the world have believ'd that amongst all the actions of his life this was of greatest importance to the conservation of his Fortune Upon this refusal of his divers Judgments were made all actions of great men especially Favorites never wanting interpreters such as were justest to the Duke highly approved his conduct that so prudently under the shadow of respect had rejected an advantage that in it self carried only noise and shew though otherwise it might render him capable of pretending to more solid things and at least make him rival the extraordinary honor the Duke of Ioyeuse had receiv'd others that would less favourably interpret him discommended his carriage as if by this refusal he intended tacitly to condemn the Duke of Ioyeuse his Vanity and Ambition and these confirm'd themselves in their opinion by the great disproportion they saw betwixt the moderate expense at the Marriage of the Duke's elder Brother and the prodigious profusion that was made at that of the Duke of Ioyeuse where the expense was so great as amounted to above two millions of Livers an immense summe in those days and especially at a time wherein the State was in great necessities This gave a great occasion of murmure not only to the well and ill dispos'd French but even to such strangers as were affectionate to the Crown of France whereas that of Mounsieur de la Valette which was solemnized at the same time with Anne de Batarnay was past over with very little noise not but that the King would also in this occasion have powr'd out his liberality but the two Brothers having discreetly avoided an unnecessary expense soberly husbanded their Masters purse to his and their own reputation From the time that his Majesty had determined to raise his two Favourites to the honour of his Alliance he honoured them both with the Dignity of Duke and Peer and purchas'd in Caumont's name the Manour of Espernon to the end he might bear that Title But his Letters Patents having been carried to the Parliament receiv'd at first some difficulty in their verification as it had before happened in the case of Ioyeuse which difficulty arose from the place the King had given in those Letters to the two new Dukes having there ranck'd them immediately after the Princes of the Blood which the other more ancient Dukes being highly displeas'd at oppos'd and had so wrought the Parliament to their Favour that the King was forc'd to send them a peremptory command to pass over all oppositions telling them amongst other terms of favour that having chosen Caumont and Ioyeuse for his Brothers-in-law and intending to place them by this Alliance so near his own person he could not endure they should make any difficulty of receiving them into the degree he had assign'd for them that Honour being far inferiour to what he had already conferr'd upon them by that choice Upon which there being no more contest the thing past according to his Majesties pleasure and was recorded without reservation Though the King seem'd to have his thoughts wholly taken up with these little domestick Affairs and to intend nothing but the advancement of his Favourites yet was he not even in this without a further end and design for perceiving himself too weak by fine force to crush the two powerful Factions that divided the whole Kingdom he try'd to accomplish that by policy which he could not effect by power in depriving both sides of all kind of authority and trust advancing on the contrary his Favourites and such as he had confidence in to all the Offices and Employments he possibly could neither was there any grace or favour to be obtain'd but for them or for such of their creatures as wholly relied upon their fortune Neither met this design of his with any opposition from the Hugonot Party who the more they were his open and declared Enemies the less were they in his way and gave him the less trouble For the Court being suspected to the King of Navarre the Prince of Condâ— and the other Chiefs of their party kept them at such a distance as depriv'd them of the means to sue for Governments Offices and commands of places nay it was a favour to let them enjoy those they already had so that living retir'd and at ease but without credit or consideration their interest by degrees mouldred away and grew weak of it self which was the posture the King would have them in But the heads of the League were in a far different condition they had for many years upheld their credit at Court had discharg'd successively from Father to Son the greatest Offices of the Crown were possest of many important Governments and very considerable places and by the greatness of their Birth and Services by the reputation of their
but his Majesty who was as perfect in the Nature and Designs of the Queen his Mother as she was in his had still been constant to his Servants Protection and the Duke having been bred up in the School of so politick a Master had learn'd so much cunning as had hitherto ever rendred all those Artifices ineffectual by which she had so often and so industriously labour'd his Ruine But at last the Queen knowing how important the present occasion was to the Kings Repose embrac'd it with that fervour that in the end it procur'd the Dukes so long wish'd for removal She had the management of the Treaty in hand absolutely committed to her with the choice of any two of the King's Council to assist her of which such as she knew were affectionate to the Duke you may be sure msut have nothing to do in this business so that it was no hard matter all parties concurring in the same design to conclude his disgrace and in conclusion the King was plainly told that it was absolutely necessary for him to dismiss the Duke of Espernon if his Majesty intended to have that Peace he seem'd so passionately to desire To the same end there was then Printed a Manifest subscrib'd by the Cardinal of Bourbon as Head of the League wherein the whole Faction were very importunate for the Duke 's total Ruine together with Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother his bare removal from Court being now too little to satisfie their Malice the League in this sole point comprehending the suppression of the Hugonot Party of which they said the two Brothers were the Protectors with the King the redress of the people opprest to enrich them and the satisfaction of the great ones who might easily be contented with those Offices and Governments which the two Brothers now possest to their common prejudice The Duke who very well foresaw that he must either comply with the time or reduce the King to a necessity of taking up Arms to protect him which would have made him responsible to his Majesty for any sinister event that might happen chose the lesser evil and would rather alone undertake the defense of his own Fortune than be any ways the occasion of so great a mischief He saw the Kings mind perpetually fluctuating and continually alarm'd with the Counsels of his Enemies which in his Majesties astonishment grew still more and more prevalent with him he saw the powerful Faction of the League wholly Arm'd against his Person neither was there any who did not conclude his ruine inevitable in so dangerous a conjuncture should he be once though but a moment remov'd out of the King's Protection but he had courage enough to run the hazard and his undaunted Spirit notwithstanding he very well understood his danger made him resolute with his own single Interest to stand the shock of all his Adversaries I ought here to adde yet another Motive the Duke had to retire from Court a thing which will perhaps hardly be believ'd though it be precisely true but it merits a due place in the Duke's History as the noblest testimony of a generous heart and this it was The Duke had understood something of the King's intention to cut off the Duke of Guise by those ways by which it was afterwards effected at Blois and not being able to divert that resolution he chose rather to absent himself than to be present at an action he thought so unworthy of his Masters Authority and Greatness though it redounded to his own particular preservation 'T is true that in the first motions of the League he had advis'd the King to take up Arms to chastise him that he had afterwards counsell'd him to cut off his Head at the very Gate of the Louvre when the Duke came in contempt of his command to raise that Commotion in Paris and that he had offer'd himself to fight him hand to hand in Duel but he could by no means consent that his Majesty should commit an Act so unworthy of his Name And this in truth was as powerful a Motive as any to oblige him to retire There is great diversity of Opinions amongst the Historians of that time about this retirement of the Dukes whether or no it were franckly and of his own motion whether he were dismist with the King 's good Opinion and Favour or whether he went not away in a real disgrace which they severally report every man according to his particular passion But D' Avila much better inform'd in the Affairs of the Cabinet than the rest enclines to the more favourable opinion and says very truly that the Duke resolv'd upon this retirement of his own voluntary inclination and that to the King 's great grief who notwithstanding compell'd by the necessity of the conditions imposed upon him in the Articles of Peace consented to it And of this truth there are two evident proofs One the great familiarity and privacy the Duke had with the King some days before his departure and the same D'Avila records a very remarkable and a very true passage upon this occasion That the night preceding this separation the Abbot del Bene a great confident of the Duke's and a man in great esteem with the King for his excellent parts of which his Majesty made continual use in his Politicks a study in which he was strictly regular was shut up alone with the King in his Cabinet for many hours not so much as the Grooms of his Majesties Chamber permitted to come in all the while by which he conjectures and very rightly that his Conference was in order to some Instructions which were to be convey'd by the Abbot who was to accompany him in his retirement to the Duke for his future Conduct during the time of his absence And I have heard the Duke say that he never in all his life receiv'd so many Testimonies of his Masters Affection as he did at this time His Majesty being pleas'd not only to chalk him out what he would have him do and what he would have him avoid during his retirement but also adding a thousand Protestations that he would sooner abandon his Crown than his protection and that he had not consented to his departure but with a resolution to recall him speedily back to Court with greater Honour and to confer upon him greater advantages than he had ever yet done Commanding at the same time the Abbot del Bene not to stir from him to have a care of his Person and to be assisting to him with his Counsels in whatever Accidents might happen and in all the difficulties and dangers he well foresaw would by his Enemies be prepar'd against him The other proof that the Duke was dismist in a high state of Favour was this that his Majesty made him at his departure Generalissimo of his Armies in the Provinces of Anjou Maine Perche Poictou Xaintonge Angoumois and the Country of Aulnis with absolute Power
Guienne and Languedoc the Friends he had in those two Provinces being enough to make his way through the one and the other should he be put upon a resolution of retiring thither The first propositions being accompanied with great and almost invincible difficulties the Duke wholly adher'd to the last advice and so far follow'd it as to retire to Angoulesme without joyning himself nevertheless though infinitely solicited so to do with the King of Navarre A thing impossible for him to resolve upon had he been so enclin'd for two Reasons First by reason of that Princes Religion and secondly because being a declared Enemy to the King his Master the Duke would rather have perish'd a thousand times than appear to favour much less to engage with such as he knew acted positively against his Majesties Service One of the Duke 's old Servants De Guez by name a man of fourscore and eight years old but notwithstanding so entire in his Judgment as discover'd nothing of the infirmities of Age gave me not long since a full Relation of all these Circumstances He was at this time about the Duke's Person and as one of his principal and most trusty Servants present at this Deliberation when the Duke asking his particular Opinion of all had been propounded to him De Guez told him that he believ'd the resolution he had already taken to be without all dispute the best provided it were put iâ—to speedy execution but that it was to be fear'd that whilst he stood deliberating with his Friends what was best to be done his Enemies who were very powerful and already resolv'd what to do might effect something to the prejudice of his Fortune and that the least moments were to be husbanded in a business of so great consequence as this An advice that being soon consider'd of by the Duke he immediately commanded that every one should make himself ready to depart within two days neither did he longer defer it but accordingly put himself upon his way to Angoulesme and that very seasonably as by the following discourse will suddenly appear But before the Duke left Loches he was presented with a discourse by way of Apology in the behalf of himself and his Brother against the Calumnies contain'd in the forementioned Manifest of the League a piece so eloquently couch'd and set forth with so many powerful and so pertinent Arguments that it is certain the Leaguers could afterwards have wish'd they had never assaulted the Duke by the way of writing that so they might not have drawn upon themselves so tart a Reply I forbear to transcribe it in this place because it would swell this Volume with things that are elsewhere and in better language than I should perhaps express it to be found But Mounsieur de Thou one of the most celebrated Historians of these latter times thought it a Discourse worth inserting at length in his History and having translated it out of the Original into his own elegant Latine has commended it to all the Nations of Europe where his works are read with an universal applause And although the Duke never thought of justifying his actions that way and that he had so little a share in this answer as neither then nor ever since to know his name who undertook his Quarrel and Interest with so friendly a Zeal a thing somewhat hard to believe that a man who would oblige the Duke at so kind a rate should deprive himself of the thanks justly due to so great an obligation he nevertheless took it upon him and publish'd it in his own name that all the world might be satisfied both with his and his Brothers Innocency and certainly it wrought upon all disinterested spirits impressions very disadvantageous to the covert practices of the League Having caus'd this Declaration to be publish'd he departed towards Angoulesme where he safely arriv'd in Iuly and where the several Orders of the City contented with great emulation which should give the greatest testimony of joy for his Arrival Being thither come the Duke would needs take up his Lodging in the Castle which although it was only a rude pile of stone and naked of all defense though by him afterwards fortified and made more conâ—iderable and though there was in the same City a Cittadel much stronger and more commodious commanded by the Sieur de Bordes a particular creature of the Dukes yet to shew the Inhabitants how entire a Confidence he repos'd in them he would rather choose to lie in the other and that with so much civility to the Town as that he permitted not one of the Souldiers he brought along with him so much as to come within the Walls of the City Two days after his Arrival the Sieurs Nesmond Chief Justice and Normond Consul of the City receiv'd dispatches from the King Sign'd by Mounâ—ieur Villeroy wherein his Majesty positively commanded them not to admit any whomsoexer with any Forces into their City without his express Order whatever they might pretend or what Commissions soever they should produce to the contrary And indeed his Majesty had been so importun'd to exclude the Duke from this important place being withal made to believe that he had only left Loches in order to a closing with the King of Navarre that being unwilling to have that Faction strengthened by so powerful and so active a Confederate he had consented to this dispatch but the Duke's diligence having prevented this command so frustrated the execution of it that whereas it had before had these orders come in time been a very easie matter to have kept him out it was now impossible to obey the Kings desire he being got in or to thrust him out again who had already made himself Master of the place The Consul notwithstanding communicated the Orders he had receiv'd to some of his Relations and most intimate Friends where the greater part of those he consulted about this business being enclin'd to the League and it is hardly to be imagin'd how strangely that contagion had diffus'd it self throughout the whole Kingdom no Family almost being without one or more of their Party no City without some notorious Ring-leader of their Faction nor no Province wherein their Interest was not grown to a formidable height it was soon resolv'd upon that since the Kings pleasure could not now be fulfill'd in the precise Form his Letters prescrib'd to propose to his Majesty other ways by which as they conceiv'd they might work as considerable if not a more advantageous effect for his service than they could have done by that it was now too late for them to perform The Consul therefore dispatch'd away to Court one Souchâ—t his Brother-in-Law a notable Leaguer and a bold Factious Fellow to acquaint the King with his Design which was to seize upon the Duke's person and to detain him Prisoner in the City till his Majesties further Order who accordingly arriving at Court and
uncertain Fight where he had promis'd to himself a certain Victory he retyr'd without once daring to attempt any thing upon the Duke highly condemning and complaining of Minieux who by his rashness and impatience had ruin'd so hopeful a Design The Duke having thus rid his hands of his Enemies went to put himself into the danger of his Friends at least those who ought to have been so being engag'd in the same Service but I dare not here publish all I know of this business lest I should revive the memory of an Action that was then condemnâ—d by the King himself and that cannot be approved of now I shall only tell you that the Duke having carried his Prisoners into Corbie they were there peremptorily demanded of him and upon his refusal violently taken and detained from him A dispute that was on both sides carried on with such heat as brought the Duke's Person who could not with any thought of patience endure so great an affront into very great danger and the odds against him was so great that nothing could have been expected but certain death had not the Sieur de Humierres the King's Lieutenant in the place and the Sieur de la Boissiere his Brother-in-law interposing hinder'd the violence was preparing against him and mediated an Accommodation which though it could not obliterate the memory of the offense kept matters notwithstanding from proceeding to the last Extreams Neither was this the last danger the Duke escap'd in his return for as he proceeded on his way to Chartres where the Siege still continued he heard the Marquis d' O his old friend was very busie at the Siege of Pierre Fonds which he had undertaken whom the Duke going to visit he was by him entreated to stay there a few days and by his Authority and those Forces he had then with him to help him to bring his Enterprize to an honourable issue which the Duke as franckly consented to and went immediately into the Trenches to take a view of the order of the Siege where presenting himself with his usual bravery to open view of the Enemy and without other Arms than his Corsset only he receiv'd a Harquebuss-shot in his mouth that passing through one of his cheeks shatter'd his right jaw and coming out at his chin flatted upon his Gorget A shot that every one believ'd had certainly dispatch'd him But being carried to his Lodging and his Wound search'd it was found to be nothing dangerous and in a few days he was in a condition to mount on horse-back After all these good and evil adventures the Duke being at last arriv'd at Chartres he went presently to give the King an accompt of his Voyage not forgetting to make his complaint of the injury done him at Corbie withal humbly entreating his Majesty would be pleas'd to do him Justice which the King had in part already done having order'd his prisoners immediately to be restor'd but their Wounds were such that they all dy'd of them soon after they were left at Corbie so that they who had committed the injury not long surviving the Duke's Quarrel was at an end and all thoughts of revenge were soon extinct and for ever buried in oblivion The Siege of Chartres continued yet some time after the Duke's return which la Bourdaisiere Governour there for the League had so bravely defended as often made the King to repent that undertaking having lost before it the Sieur de Chastillon eighteen camp-Camp-Masters and as may well be imagin'd from thence a great number of common Souldiers Neither did those Forces the Duke of Espernon had left with the King scape better than the rest the King willing to husband the lives of his own Servants in whom he yet repos'd a greater trust than in the Duke continually exposing them to the greatest danger Of these Beaujeu Mascaron and Blumet three Colonels were there slain and also many other Officers by whose valour amongst the rest who perhaps had better fortune the place was at last notwithstanding their notable resistance reduc'd to the necessity of a surrender From thence his Majesty pass'd over into Picardy where he besieg'd and took Noyon and secur'd many other considerable Cities of that Province to his obedience when having after all made a little digression into Champagne the year and that Champagne ended together it being necessary to dispose the Army into several Garrisons to refresh them So that the Duke seeing the time of the year for further Service was now past ask'd leave of the King to retire into his own Government to recruit his Troops that they might be in a better condition to serve his Majesty the year to come to which his Majesty willingly consented dismissing the Duke with great testimonies of an entire satisfaction in his service and an absolute oblivion of all past unkindness The end of the Third Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Fourth Book THE Duke solicitous by his Services to dispossess the King of those evil impressions his Majesty had through the ill Offices of some conceiv'd against him to the prejudice of his Loyalty and affection did now resolve to raise far greater Forces than before for the Summer to come Neither had his Majesty on his part conceal'd his most secret Designs from the Duke's knowledge but on the contrary had invited him again into action and had reserv'd an Employment of great trust and Reputation for him in his Army The Duke also was prepar'd to go and expected with great impatience his Majesties Order for his setting out when he receiv'd the sad news of the death of Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother This Lord after he had beaten the Duke of Savoy out of Provence and made him sustain such losses as had forc'd him to retire into his own Dukedom after he had settled Provence and Dauphiné in his Majesties Obedience and almost rooted out all the seeds of the League in those two Provinces after having by Treaties carried on with infinite Conduct and Prudence interested the Republick of Venice the Dukes of Florence and Mantua in his Majesties Quarrel and obtain'd from these Princes security for thirty thousand Crowns a month to transport the War into the Dutchy of Savoy it self of which also he was to have the management by so powerful a diversion to oblige this Ambitious Prince to defend his own Territories instead of invading his Neighbours Being I say upon the point to execute a design so honourable in it self and so important to the Crown he would yet first absolutely cleanse Provence from the contagion of the League that he might leave no Enemy behind to beget new mischiefs when he should not be near to suppress them To this end therefore he drâ—w his Arâ—y into the Field in the beginning of Ianuary and went to besiege Roquebrune that stood for the League A place which though little was nevertheless so
he had since maintain'd it against the Duke of Savoy and the League combin'd together It had cost him his Brother's Life much of his own Blood and many of his Friends and Servants so that what propositions soever could be made unto him he intended never to quit claim to his title there and stood resolute to bury himself in Provence rather than by leaving it to satisfie his Enemies longing who were hourly importunate with his Majesty to remove him thence In which resolution being every day more and more confirm'd he gave the Constable who as I have said was to mediate the differences betwixt the Provencials and him plainly to understand his determination entreating him at the same time not to take it ill if he did not submit a thing to Arbitration which he could by no means ever consent to part withal Neither was it any hard matter for him to satisfie the Constable who was infinitely affectionate to his person and who had much rather have had him for his Neighbour in Provence than any other a consideration that perhaps especially mov'd the King to call the Duke from that Government his Majesty not conceiving it convenient that two persons so intimate and of so great Reputation as they both were should possess two so conâ—iderable and so near neighbouring Provinces Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres observing how little the Duke was enclin'd to an Accommodation and suspecting that the Constable forbore to press him to it only to give the Duke more time to make himself Master of Aix began to march with three thousand five hundred Foot and eight or nine hundred Horse towards Provence and by the way was reinforc'd with some Troops that had serv'd the League under the command of the Count de Carces and who were exceeding glad to be employ'd against the Duke Lafin since famous for having been the Instrument of the Mareschal de Birons Ruine hapned to be at this time in Provence who having some command in the Country and having frequently convers'd with the Duke about the management of Affairs had a great Ambition to have the honour of composing these Differences wherefore knowing Mounsieur de lâ— Esdiguieres to be upon his March he went out to meet him to whom he undertook provided he would advance no further to perswade the Duke absolutely to submit to the Constables determination But Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres supposing that to shew himself with his Forces upon the Frontiers of his Government would sooner encline the Duke to that resolution advanc'd as far as the Banks of the River Durance which separates Provence from Dauphiné where what he design'd to hasten an Accommodation he soon saw serv'd only to put things into a worse condition and to make the Rupture wider than before There had been of old a certain emulation betwixt these two great men and their Vertue having begot in each of them a great esteem for the other they had long and equally desir'd an occasion wherein they might make a decisive trial of themselves to see which by his merit could get the start in the race of Honour and stand fairest in the worlds Opinion A noble and vertuous jealousie of one anothers Reputation yet was there at this time something of feud in the case the Duke complaining that he had not receiv'd from Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres the return nor acknowledgement he expected for the good Offices he had done him in the business of Savoy to which were also added the Difference in Religion and the Diversity of Interest things that were never observ'd to promote Accommodations nor to unite the wills and inclinations of men by all which the Duke being animated against Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres perhaps more than he should have been against any other he had no sooner notice of his motion than taking his approach for a defiance he would let him see that he was neither astonish'd at his Reputation nor daunted with the Forces he brought along with him and therefore immediately arose from his Fort of Aix where nor daring as it was not fit to leave his Quarters weakly guarded he took the Field with only 3000 Foot though in Horse he was equal to Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres and with these small Forces bravely fac'd â—im who having already pass'd the River there was so little to part them as reduc'd them both to almost a necessity of fighting In this little Battel therefore the Duke advanc'd to begin the charge which though it was of no great continuance ended nevertheless with the loss of many men on both sides and wherein the Duke shew'd himself no ways inferiour to his Adversary either in Courage or Conduct which is all I shall say that I may not appear interested and partial All the Historians who make mention of this Action do say that the two Armies retreated without any considerable advantage on either side that in truth the Duke of Espernon carried away many prisoners of eminent Quality but that Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres remain'd Master of the Field by which report they seem to give him the advantage of the day Mounsieur de Thou writes to that purpose and so does d' Avila though it be nothing strange in the last who excepting in things that meerly concern the Affairs at Court does as to the rest only translate the other and wholly follows his relation in what concerns the business of the Provinces of the Kingdom As to Mounsieur de Videl who has writ the life of the Constable l' Esdiguieres exceedingly well and paid to the memory of a good Master the gratitude of a passionately affectionate and faithful Servant I must commend him for writing to his Benefactors advantage in an occasion wherein he might with great truth do his memory honour but to make a right judgment of this action it will be convenient to relate the circumstances of it after which it will be easier to conclude to which side the Victory enclin'd Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres having pass'd the River Durance took up his Quarters at Ourgon and the circumjacent Villages where the fertility of the Country abundantly provided for him but the Duke on the contrary who came to meet him being constrain'd to Quarter in a very ill Country as at Eguiere Sennas Lambescq and other places thereabouts his men suffer'd great want and inconvenience A consideration that besides the promptness of his nature made him eageâ— to come to the trial of Arms In which resolution advancing still towards the Enemy he at last discover'd him standing in a place of singular advantage behind a great Ditch which the torrent of Land floods had worn and hollow'd into the form of a regular entrenchment L' Esdiguieres at the Duke's first appearance immediately drew up into Battalia behind the Ditch sending out his Vant-guard only to fight wherein he had indeed dispos'd his best men under the command of his
and having left his Studies wherein he had made a considerable progress had follow'd and serv'd him in Provence commanding the Regiment of Pernes his Brother in-law all the while the Duke was there in action after which during the whole time of the Duke's life which was very long he was by him continually employ'd in his greatest and most important Affairs in which he ever gave so good an accompt of his Conduct and Fidelity that there was scarce any Gentleman of his time in a higher reputation for Valour Prudence and Integrity insomuch that I have often heard the Duke say if he were to corrupt le Plessis he should be to seek on which side to assault him his soul was so bravely fortified throughout This le Plessis according to his Masters order puts himself upon his way to go meet the Mareschal but as his Errand could not but be dangerous both for the Master and the Servant the one and the other sufficiently knowing the violent suspicion the King had of the Mareschal's proceeding so did he endeavour with all imaginable caution if possible to entertain him alone I have often heard him tell the story and do very well remember every circumstance which put altogether will make this appear an affair of the greatest difficulty and the best carried on that perhaps you shall meet with in the Duke 's whole History and wherein the generous spirit an innocent Servant and the Clemency and Justice of a good Master will as evidently appear Le Plessis perceiving the Mareschal's Equipage coming at a pretty distance lighted at a Barn a little wide of the High-way where having with him one of the Duke's Footmen without a Livery he commanded him to call the first of the Mareschal's that appear'd upon the Road which he having done and le Plessis being not unknown to the fellow he sent him to tell his Master in his ear that le Plessis staid to speak with him a word or two in private The Footman accordingly deliver'd his Message whereupon Biron stragling from his company upon some pretense or other came to the place where le Plessis stood to expect him and where without being observ'd by any he had all liberty to discourse at leisure Le Plessis had in charge to tell him That the Journey he was now upon to the King requir'd his most serious deliberation and that he was now in good earnest to reflect upon his own condition That if he came with a confidence some possibly might have possess'd him withal that Lafin had not spoken to the King he was abus'd That the Duke of Espernon did not know what had pass'd betwixt Lafin and him neither did he desire to inform himself but that he might be assur'd that whatever he had done or negotiated with him or by him was every tittle discover'd to the King acquainting him with the several times and places and how oft Lafin had been in private Conference with him That he was herein to be advis'd by his own Conscience and to rely upon his Majesties Grace and Bounty if he conceiv'd there was any thing that might justly be condemn'd in his former Actions there being much better to be hop'd for from his Majesties Clemency and noble nature than from the secresie of what had pass'd betwixt Lafin and him This obliging and prudent advice which ought to have been receiv'd by the Mareschal with so much the greater tenderness by how much it was preferr'd with the infinite hazard of him that sent it did on the contrary put him into so great a rage that I have heard le Plessis say he never in his life saw any thing in so extravagant a fury Biron ask'd him first of all If the Duke of Espernon esteem'd him for other than an honest man To whom du Plessis having reply'd That had he had any other opinion of him he would not have persisted in his Friendship so long he proceeded to tell him That he was come to give the lye and to be the death of all those who durst blemish his Actions That he was the same the Duke of Espernon and he Plessis himself had ever known him to be That for what concern'd him Mounsieur d' Espernon might set his heart at rest And then clapping his hand upon his Sword after a hundred wild postures he further told du Plessis That if any one durst make an attempt upon his Person he would make more arms and heads flie than would stand before him So that instead of making use of his Friend's caution and good advice he continued his way in his first obstinacy and the same night arriv'd at Fountainbleau At his arrival the King spoke to him of the business himself gently admonishing him withal to make an ingenuous confession of his fault a thing he was so far from being perswaded to do that he seem'd discontented and angry at the motion Soon after he went to Paris and din'd at the Hostel d' Espernon when the King returning the same day from Fountain-bleau the Duke and he went together in the afternoon to the Louvre to attend his Majesty who having notice of their coming went to the Window through the glass to observe their carriage and countenance which a friend of the Duke's who was then with the King gave the Duke timely caution of to the end he might comport himself so as that his Majesty might not by any behaviour of his be fortified in those evil impressions with which he had before by his Enemies been prepossess'd though the Duke carried himself quite contrary to his advice and being more and more confirm'd in the testimony of a good Conscience and full of a just and generous indignation to see his Fidelity suspected walk'd with his face erect and his eyes fix'd upon the Window where he knew the King stood A carriage the King very well observ'd as he made others about him to do also They were no sooner come both of them into his Majesties Chamber who as yet had express'd no publick dissatisfaction with Biron as being still in hope to regain him and to have an occasion to pardon him by the confession of his fault but that he presently made a Match at Tennis wherein the King and the Count de Soissons were to play against the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschal and upon this occasion it was that the Historians of that time make the Duke say as a piece of wit speaking to the Mareschal That he played well but that he made his matches ill as if by those words which may admit of a double interpretation he would obliquely condemn Biron's designs which never came into his thought it being his custom when ever he talk'd with the Mareschal about that business not to do it in such ambiguous terms nor so out of season but seriously and plainly and in a secresie the safest for him he would advise He several times represented to him the ill Offices he had receiv'd he
confirm'd to him the same thing he had sent him word of before concerning Lafin conjuring him not to rely upon his Faith which would certainly deceive him But these second admonitions were as fruitless as the first and the King seeing that he could neither by himself nor by the Count de Soissons the Mareschals intimate Friend who had dealt with him by his Majesties absolute command and in his name reclaim this obstinate spirit nor make him reconcile himself to his duty by acknowledging his offence he gave him over at last to the rigor of Law and Justice who punish'd his Crime by the forfeiture of his Head Whilst they were drawing up the Mareschal's Charge his Majesty well enform'd of le Plessis Envoy it being a thing hard to be kept secret in an Affair where all things were so narrowly observ'd referr'd the intelligence to the deliberation of his Council The Cabinet Council at that time consisted of the Count de Soissons de Sillery Keeper of the Seal Sully superintendent of the Exchequer President Ianin Bellieure and Villeroy In which Assembly divers conjectures being set on foot to fortifie the jealousies his Majesty had been perswaded into against the Duke it was by the major part voted necessary to secure his person or at least to make sure of le Plessis and to put him to the wrack that from a confession extorted from him sufficient evidence might be drawn to convince his Master A result so approv'd by all that the King was himself almost the only man that oppos'd those two propositions He told them that as for the Duke a man of his quality was never to be arrested unless to be condemn'd that as yet there was nothing but suspicion and conjectures against him which should they prove idle and vain he was never after to repose any trust in a man so undeservedly and so unjustly offended That for le Plessis he was no more to be meddled withal than the other without giving a manifest distaste to his Master That if one of them were to be secur'd he should rather begin with the Master than the Servant because the confinement of the last would be an equal injury to the other but that the effect would by no means be the same being the Duke if he knew himself guilty would by the seizing of le Plessis be forwarn'd to make his escape That he was therefore of opinion to expect if in the Tryal of Mareschal Biron nothing would come to light that might justly bring the Duke in question which if there did and that he should be found a Complice there was no place he could fly to so remote where his arm would not be long enough to reach him If the King had intelligence of le Plessis's Envoy to the Mareschal Biron the Duke was no less faithfully inform'd of what had pass'd in the Cabinet Council concerning him by which he understood that le Plessis Journey was not so great a secret as it had been convenient for both their safeties it had been which made him consult with le Plessis what was best to be done in so dangerous an occasion The Duke was not secure the King would continue so constant in his favour that his Majesty might not at another Council be over-rul'd into other resolutions and perswaded at last to put le Plessis to the question a doubt that made him think it expedient he should retire that he being gone no evidence might appear against him he having been alone entrusted with the secret of this Affair but le Plessis who very well foresaw his flight though it might procure his own particular safety would certainly be his Master's ruine could by no means consent to the motion He rather chose to run the hazard of the Wrack which he was ready to undergo and of which I have heard him say he had already the terrors in his imagination than to expose the Life and Honour of his Master which after so strong a presumption as his withdrawing himself must of necessity give would be in an apparent danger He therefore humbly entreated the Duke not to concern himself at the thought of any thing that threatned him assuring him withal that as he had done nothing contrary to his Majesties Service so all the Wracks and Tortures in the world could never force him to say any thing contrary to the truth Settled then in this resolution from which I do believe nothing upon earth could have remov'd him his wit suggested to him an expedient by which in the end he secur'd both his Masters Person and his own He advis'd the Duke to prevent his Majesty by an ingenuous confession of the truth and to tell him himself what he had done for as the King could not imagine that the Duke could have had any notice of that secret it being improbable the result of a Council held but that morning and consisting of men of so approv'd Fidelity and Trust could be so suddenly reveal'd so was it not to be believ'd that the Duke 's voluntary discovery of what he had done could pass in his Majesties opinion for a premeditated thing The Duke approving of this advice put it as speedily into execution and the King intending to hunt in the afternoon he mounted on horseback as he us'd to do to attend him where having follow'd and observ'd his Majesties motion with an extraordinary diligence that he might find an opportunity for his purpose they light by chance into a solitary place into which his Majesty being insensibly stragled from the gross of his Train there were very few left about him And here it was that the King turning towards the Duke fell upon the Discoure of Mareschal Biron who was now in the heat of his Tryal complaining how ill he had us'd him and how ungrateful a man he was To which the Duke reply'd That as a Relation and a Friend to the Mareschal he could not without great affliction see so evident testimonies of his guilt that he had been at first very unwilling to believe he could be guilty of so foul a Crime but that now it did so manifestly appear he could not think any punishment enough to chastise so foul an Offence To whom the King having return'd What it seems then you know nothing of the business The Duke made answer Sir I knew so little of it that at his coming to this Town I sent le Plessis to meet him and to welcome him to Court which I should never have done had I thought him guilty At which words which touch'd the King to the quick his Majesty set spurs to his Horse with an extravagance not very natural to him but which that unexpected answer had put him into when having taken a Career and turning again to the Duke with a countenance that sufficiently express'd that he was angry at a discovery he had no mind should have come from the Duke 's own mouth It seems then said he you sent to
sufficient to beget new distastes in the King against him yet was he not so much master of himself nor had so much command over his own Nature but that he must put those affronts upon Crequy or rather upon the King who made this business his own By these disputes which in another time might have turn'd very much to the Duke's prejudice he got nevertheless this advantage that the King to satisfie him for the future in the interests of his Command made a kind of agreement with him if a largess from a Master to his Servant may be so call'd which was That his Majesty would indeed really and effectually reserve to himself the nomination of Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards as also to the other old Regiments but with this condition that the Colonel should swear them that they should be conceiv'd to have their admission from him without which they were not to be receiv'd into the employment That his Majesty having provided for one Company in the Regiment of Guards he was content the Duke should in turn do the same for the next at his own appointment That of all the Foot Companies of the other Regiments new and old the Duke when ever any should be vacant should have the naming of the Captains to the King to fill them up and that no Captain soever whether of the Regiment of Guards or any other Regiment should be admitted into or establish'd in his Command till first his Commission was Sign'd by the Colonel But for what concern'd those Offices that depended upon the Duke's Command as Lieutenants Ensigns Colonel-Ensigns Serjeants and Serjeant-Majors Martials Provost-Martials Quarter-Masters and other Officers that he should place and displace them by his sole Authority without any order from the King or his Majesties taking any notice thereof According to which Agreement the Duke proceeded so regularly and undisturb'd in the Priviledges of his Command that there was never after during this Kings Reign the least Dispute betwixt them saveing once that the King thinking it fit to add two Companies more to his Regiment of Guards and having appointed their Captains the Duke interpos'd his Majesties Royal Promise humbly beseeching him to do him right an Argument so powerful to this equitable Prince that of two Captains he had nam'd he only provided for one which was the Sieur de la Courbe who had but the second Company neither the first being given to the Sieur de Bourdet by the Duke's Recommendation whose turn it was to name the first vacant Company yet did not the business pass without some dispute though at last the King was pleas'd rather to give way to his Servant's just desires than to fail in the least Article of his Word I shall here add since I am upon this discourse of the Office of Colonel a thing that time has sufficiently justified to all France which is that the Duke was so exceeding cautious in the dispensation of Commands whether meerly depending upon his own Authority or in his nomination only that his Majesty would often say he never had better Foot Officers than those of the Duke's preferring And in truth the French Infantry whilst the Duke was permitted to execute his charge were kept in so good order that perhaps no Militia in Europe were better Disciplin'd nor better Officer'd than they a truth to this hour confirm'd by an infinite number of persons yet living who have commanded under him and who were witnesses of his conduct To which I shall further add and to his great commendation a thing not to be contradicted which is that he neither directly nor indirectly ever made the least benefit of any Command he dispos'd of which I think had they been set to sale would in the long course of his life have amounted to above two Millions of Gold after the rate they are sold now adays And I do very well remember that towards his latter end when he saw the selling of Offices began to grow in fashion he did all he could and that the condition of the time would permit to oppose it representing to the King with very convincing Arguments what a prejudice such an abuse would be to his Service although in the end seeing he could not prevail with the Council to alter that toleration he also gave some of his own Servants though very few leave to make mony of the Offices he had conferr'd upon them but I am certain that for his own particular he never converted any the least employment to his own pâ—ofit A thing perhaps such as thought him solicitous of his own Interest will hardly be perswaded to believe as indeed he was enclin'd to the saving side and wary enough when it was fit for him to be so but never upon any occasion where his Honour was concern'd that ever taking with him the upperhand of all other considerations The business of Crequy how troublesome and how hard soever to digest was not yet the last of the same nature the Duke was to wrestle withal in this years revolution another following immediately after which as it nearer concern'd him pierc'd deeper to the quick neither had it so happy an issue as the first The Duke having in the year 1582. been by King Henry the III. establish'd in the Government of Metz he conferr'd the Lieutenancy of the City and Country upon Moncassin his Kinsman and the Command of the Cittadel upon Sobole but in process of time which hapned in the year 1585. having withdrawn Moncassin from this employment to continue about his own person Sobole whom he had bred a Page and in whom he had an entire confidence was by his bounty rais'd to that degree that he conferr'd upon him the command of the City and Country together with that of the Cittadel also which was effectually one of the bravest entertainments in France Metz being at that time the most considerable place of the Kingdom and the noblest member of the Duke's Command In the Year 1594. the King undertook the Siege of Laon to which as to an occasion wherein he expected to meet with great difficulties he invited many of his Servants of the neighbouring Provinces Amongst these Sobole was one who by the Authothority the Duke had given him in Metz having got a great interest in the Country might with great facility raise a considerable party of Horse as he did and at the Head of sixscore Light-Horse very well appointed and fourscore Carabins went to serve his Majesty at this Siege The King receiv'd him with great demonstrations of favour and not being well satisfied with the Duke of Espernon who being at that time in Provence where he did not behave himself to his Majesties liking after he had as he conceiv'd cut him out work enough there he took occasion to raise him greater difficulties about Metz by lessening the Authority he had till that time ever had over Sobole And to that purpose after he had reduc'd Laon to
the Cardinal and of a long time before receiv'd all kind of civil respect from this Queen but after his dismission presenting himself before her as he us'd to do she had so little regard for him as before his face to hold discourse an hour together with people of far inferiour quality without so much as vouchsafing him one word A neglect which if it was resented by the Duke as it was to the last degree it was notwithstanding of no little advantage to him for the Cardinal who knew how solicitous the Queen Mother had been to win him to her party before his disgrace who was not ignorant of the strong connexion he had with the House of Guise and above all of the great intimacy that was betwixt the Princess of Conty and him and who had been moreover inform'd that the night preceding his disfavour he had been long in secret Conference with the Mareschal de Bassompierre one of his most passionate enemies had from all these knowledges conceiv'd a violent presumption that the Duke must of necessity be deeply engag'd in his enemies interests and designs But the Queen's indifferency did in part justifie him from that suspicion though some have believ'd that that alone would not have been sufficient absolutely to have clear'd him from the Cardinal's jealousie nor to have secur'd him from imprisonment at least if the late merits of the Cardinal his Son had not rescu'd him from that danger It was in truth very necessary some body else should have that care of him he being so far from contributing in the least to his own preservation that on the contrary after the face of Affairs was wholly chang'd that the Queen Mother was fallen as well from her hopes as her credit with the King that the Princess of Conty was confin'd to her own House that the Garde des Sceaux Marillac was under the same restraint that Mareschal Bassompierre was clapt up Prisoner in the Bastâ—le and that an Order was granted out to call the Mareschal Marillâ—c from the command of an Army to undergo an infamous Execution In fine after the fatal day call'd la journée des Dupes had produc'd so many dire effects that not only all the men of Quality but almost all of any name at Court went to visit the Cardinal to dispossess him of the opinion that they might have been any way inimical to him the Duke of Espernon was perhaps the only man that would not go to see him nor once offer to justifie himself from the jealousie he might reasonably enough conceive of his disaffection and that purposely the more to manifest it to him He went 't is true to Versaille where he saw the King and had the honour to talk with him but he would never be prevail'd upon to go into the Cardinal's Chamber though very near the King 's to pay him the least civility or respect I saw le Plessis the same night infinitely afflicted at this carriage this Gentleman who was very discreet well vers'd in Affairs and much more passionate for his Masters interests than for any thing that concern'd himself had importun'd him to give the Cardinal a Visit but according to his custom the more he represented to him the danger of not doing it the more obstinate he was not to do it his haughty and undaunted spirit rather choosing to transgress the Maxims of Policy and Prudence than those of Bravery and Honour It is indeed true that he went two days after to see him where the Cardinal knowing every tittle of what had pass'd it may be imagin'd how he was receiv'd though the Duke without being concern'd at his cold entertainment said to those who spoke to him of it That he had done as he ought to do that every one did not understand the distinction that ought to be made betwixt the Master and the Servant that those were respects so different in themselves as they ought not to be slightly confounded and that he was old enough to carry the authority of Example Of all the means that can be propos'd for the establishment of a prodigious power there is none so certain as attempts that are vainly made to suppress it it appearing that whatever is imperfect in the one does ever give increase to the other neither can there be any so imprudent or so dangerous a resolution as to offend a great Minister by halves since by making him sensible of the power he has to revenge himself you give him at the same time a pretense to do it with some colour of Justice It fell out so in the violent but fruitless endeavours the Cardinal's Enemies made use of to work his ruine by which being made to understand the interest he had in the King's bosom and employing that interest under the sole pretense of retorting the injuries he had visibly receiv'd he found his Majesty so much the more inclin'd to take his part as he saw there was a kind of equity in the case wherein he would not do his business by halves as his enemies had done but vigorously pressing them who either had already fall'n foul upon him or who had yet the power to do it he put himself by that means into a condition of living not only in security but also in repose for the time to come by removing all such as were likely either to molest his Peace or to trouble his Affairs As the Monsieur was the person whose power of all others after having publickly declar'd himself his Enemy in his own House the Cardinal had most cause to fear so was he the first he took occasion to fright from Court by causing him to be possess'd that his person was not there very secure the Queen Mother also was by the same device perswaded to depart from Compeigne to retire into Flanders So that these two being remov'd out of the way and all the Queens adherents being either clapt up in prison or confin'd to their own Houses nothing remain'd that could bring any obstacle to his designs or stop the swing of his Fortune that now sail'd with all her Canvas a trip in the full Tide of Favour The Duke of Espernon was yet at Court in the midst of this Tempest who judging by the example of the wrack of these great Fortunes what power the Cardinal would have over him unless he did wholly submit himself to his pleasure he chose rather calmly and without disorder to retire into his own Government than to preserve himself by submitting to so unhandsome and so dishonourable a compliance He departed then from Paris in Iune 1631. to return into his Government of Guienne where being arriv'd he found that miserable Province in the most desolate condition that can possibly be imagin'd the Famine had there been succeeded by a Plague and if by his Wisdom and good conduct he had not deliver'd them from the third Judgment which was that of the Sword
desire he come to us to the end we may be fully inform'd of the truth of what has pass'd purposing in the mean time to send one of our Council to our said City of Bordeaux to enquire into and to bring Us thence a perfect Accompt of the business The rest we refer to the said Sieur de Varennes to communicate to you whom you are in all things to believe praying God Cousin c. At St. Germain en Laye this 18 th of November 1633. Sign'd Lovis And below Philipeaux The Duke of Espernon's Friends at Court being inform'd of the severe contents of this Dispatch were not a little in doubt after what manner he would receive it They fear'd his great Spirit full of those generous Maxims which had for so many years and in so many froward occurrences supported his Reputation and Fortune would with great difficulty submit to Laws so different from what they had been in former times Amongst these the Cardinal de la Valette a man as well read in the Court as any whatever of his time upon this occasion laid aside the complacency of a Son to assume the austerity of a faithful Adviser and writ to him to this effect That he did beseech him to look upon this Affair as one of the greatest Difficulty and Importance he had met withal in the whole course of his life That to avoid any inconveniences might befal him he must immediately submit to the King's Pleasure and Command and refer the business wholly and without reservation to the Cardinal which was the only way to put a good end to this Dispute Monsieur de Seguier Garde des Sceaux the Duke 's intimate friend and a man that appeared more for his Interest than the condition of the time seem'd conveniently to permit did the same writing him word That a prompt and absolute Obedience was the only way whereby a cause his Enemies Favour rendred generally disapprov'd might be brought to a successful issue but that without that it was utterly impossible for his Friends and Servants to do him those Offices were necessary for the bringing of matters to any tolerable conclusion All the Duke 's other Friends having confirm'd the same thing he evidently saw that he must of necessity obey yet was it not withour an incredible violence upon his own Humour and great Spirit He had at other times resisted the greatest powers of the State when arm'd against him with the King's Authority and Forces whereas now he saw himself reduc'd to submit to four lines of Paper they made him indeed to depart out of his Government And though it be true that in these latter Times the Royal Authority was rais'd to a more illustrious height than formerly it had ever been yet I do not know that any one has observ'd a greater example of his Power than upon this occasion All France acknowledg'd the Duke for the eminent qualities he was master of to be a man of the greatest Reputation of his Age he was possess'd of the greatest and most important Governments of the Kingdom powerful in Riches Commands Places Servants and much more in his Children His three Sons had all of them great Offices and great Employments and yet with all these advantages he was not able to resist four words and then it was that he plainly saw a Subject had no way to support himself in his Fortune and Reputation but by Obedience and that the Power of a King manag'd as it ought to be can meet no difficulties nor impediments it cannot easily master and overcome He had seen a time when by making a shew of Resolution or Discontent men had sometimes obtain'd part of what they desir'd or at least defended themselves from what they had not a mind to do Under the Reign of Henry the III the diversity of Factions which then divided the State had so weakened the Authority of the Sovereign that he durst scarce pretend to more than a voluntary Submission from his People And Henry the Great his Successor by an excess of Bounty and good Nature had continued to do what the other had been constrain'd to by inevitable Necessity This Mighty Prince was of so noble a Disposition that he would destroy none so that excepting the Mareschal de Biron who would have no compassion of himself almost all the great men of the Kingdom were either actually Rebels or highly Disobedient without ever feeling either the Sword or so much as the Hand of Justice The Regency of Queen Mary de Medici was equally moderate and gentle and the Tempests that arose in her time being appeas'd with money men did not only offend securely but made moreover a profit of their Crimes The Mareschald ' Encre try'd to change those milder into rougher Maxims but he lost himself in the practice of this premature severity In the Ministry of the Duke de Luines there was no more of violence than in the preceding Reigns the good success notwithstanding the Royal Arms always had in all Enterprizes during the time of his favour made it plain that there was nothing his Majesty could not with great facility effect in his own Kingdom He had with great ease supprest the Queen Mothers Insurrection he had invaded the Party of the Religion with very great success wherein having found their weakness by their disunion amongst themselves he was by that discovery encourag'd to undertake their total ruine and the Cardinal entring into the Ministry in so favourable a juncture of Affairs press'd the declining Faction so home that in a very short time he remov'd all Obstacles which could any ways oppose the Royal Authority or impede the establishment of his own The Party of the Religion was totally suppress'd the House of Austria infinitely weakened all the other Princes who were ill affected to the Crown reduc'd to a necessity of complying with whatsoever was impos'd upon them and those of the Nobility who were so bold as to oppose the King's will had been so roughly handled that not a man durst any more expose himself to the punishment they all knew would inevitably follow the least forfeiture of their Duty It had been but of very late years that this new form of Government had been introduc'd into the Kingdom and the Duke was grown old in the practice of other Maxims It is not then to be doubted but that it must needs be with great repugnancy and unwillingness that he could Accommodate himself to a thing so unusual and severe he did notwithstanding do it and without delaying time or spending any more than was requisite for the making of some few Visits and taking leave of his Friends he departed out of his Government suspended from his Functions Excommunicated from the Church and reduc'd to the conversation of his own Domesticks only Though in a condition so different from what it had formerly been and so contrary to his ordinary way of living he could not but be very much afflicted
the affliction wherewith you must of necessity resent it So that being my self incapable of receiving any Consolation upon this sad Accident I am so much the more unfit to administer it to you The manner wherewith I ever liv'd with him his Affection towards me and the singular Esteem I ever had for him will without much difficulty perswade you to believe this truth which is so certain that were it possible for a man with his Blood to redeem such a Friend I would give a great deal of mine to retrive him There is none save God Almighty himself who can allay your Griefs I beseech you therefore to apply your self to him and to believe that I am My Lord Your c. From Lyons the 19 th of Octob. 1639. It was sufficiently known to all France that if one Friend can oblige another the Cardinal de la Valette had oblig'd that of Richelieu to the highest degree which made the Duke of Espernon importun'd by his Friends to try if he yet retain'd any memory of that Friendship he in his Letter so highly profess'd in the end to obtain so much of his own haughty humour as to write to him this that follows My Lord The Testimonies you have done me the honour to give me in one of your Letters of the part you share with me in the grief I sustain for the loss of my Son the Cardinal de la Valette has made me hope you will be no less sensible of the other Afflictions and Grievances wherewith I am from all parts assaulted I shall therefore take the liberty to represent them to you and to tell your Lordship that since the time I left my Government to retire my self to this place there is no sort of Injury or Outrage with which I have not by my Enemies been unjustly offended Who after having dissected me in publick by injurious Declarations have since publish'd defamatory Libels against me therewith as much as in them lies to blemish the Honour I have justly acquir'd in the Service of the Kings my Masters Neither have they been satisfied with attempting upon my single Person and the Persons of my Sons only but I have neither Friend nor Servant they do not most violently and injuriously persecute as if it were a Crime to embrace or own my Interests and Concerns I know my Lord that neither the King nor your self know any thing of this proceeding and that you are too just to consent that after fourscore years pass'd of which the greatest part have been employ'd in the Service of the Kings my Masters and for the good of the Kingdom I should be so severely us'd under your Administration I have now lost the Cardinal my Son whilst serving the King in Italy his elder Brother but a few months since went before him which great losses I have born with patience out of the sole consideration of the Service they perish'd in which has serv'd for some allay to my Affliction I assure my self that their Merits and Services since I my self am no more in a condition to serve either his Majesty or you will my Lord at least secure the repose of an afflicted Father who daily expects that benefit from his Age and Nature c. From Plassac this first of Decemb. 1639. This Letter with how great reluctancy soever the Duke had consented to write it though it produc'd no good effect the Duke notwithstanding who had expected no better success reap'd this advantage by it that he by that means deliver'd himself from the importunities of those who otherwise would upon other occasions have been pressing with him to have been still imploring the Cardinal's Favour But after this Repulse nothing of that nature was ever more to be extorted from him so that if he afterwards writ it was ever either to preserve the Decorum of common civility or upon pure necessity or to the end his Friends might not condemn him for having by his own obstinacy pull'd upon himself the mischiefs which had long been preparing against him Thus therefore depriv'd of all humane assistance since the Cardinal without whom all the rest of what Quality soever signified nothing was opposite to his Interests he wholly resign'd himself into the hands of God and would no more make application to any other but to him alone He had ever born a great Respect and Zeal to Religion and for above twenty years before his Death had been observ'd to be so constant to his Beads that not a day pass'd over his head wherein he did not spend three whole hours in Devotion At this time as the persecutions of malevolent men grew more violent against him so did he redouble his Prayers to Heaven and has ever believ'd that it was from thence he deriv'd the strength and fortitude to support all the accidents that befel him and the disgraces that were hourly multiplied upon him This calm and innocent way of living created either so great an esteem for his Vertue or so great a compassion for his Adversity in the minds of men that there was scarce any who did not manifest some tendernes for a person of his eminent condition so unjustly oppress'd Insomuch that the Prince of Condé who had not been able so positive his Orders were to avoid employing his Authority to the ruine of his Fortune could not but discover that he also amongst the rest was touch'd with commiseration of his Wrongs and deplorable condition so that whether it were that he therein glancâ—d at some particular advantages to himself or that it was meerly an act of his Generosity in order to the Duke's repose he sent him word as he was upon his Journey to Bordeaux That he had compassion on his Misfortune and Solitude and if he unluckily had formerly had a hand in the Disgraces had befall'n him he would much more willingly employ it to his redress That his Afflictions how great soever were not altogether without remedy but that he had one Son still surviving from whom he might yet derive comfort That although the Court was highly animated and incens'd against him he would notwithstanding do his utmost endeavour and set it hard to obtain his return into France provided he would be content to resign his Governments in lieu whereof he would also procure him some reasonable recompence and that by this means he might spend the remainder of his days in company which it self would render the worst of evils supportable to him Geneste a Counsellor in the Parliament of Bordeaux known of long to have been a particular Friend to the Duke was made choice of by the Prince to offer this proposal to him but he had Instructions withal not to own he did it by any express Order from the Prince unless he should first perceive the Duke very ready to embrace the motion The Duke unable to endure the first overture would return no answer at all thinking by that means to disingage himself from that
that the falsity of this Accusation might be strictly examin'd by any person he should think fit to appoint and not to permit that the most ancient Officer of the Crown who had serv'd four Kings without Reproach should in the last Act of his Life undergo the most odious of all Aspersions without receiving the satisfaction he might reasonably promise to himself from his Eminences Justice and his own Innocency The Cardinal after he had hearkened to this Discourse which was pretty long with great Civility and Patience the Secretary having done made answer That it was true the King being five or six weeks ago at Amiens Messieurs the Ministers who staid behind at Paris had given him intimation of a man of the Province of Guienne who deliver'd himself to be a Gentleman and whom they had found to be a man of understanding that was purposely come thither to assure them that a Conspiracy had been made in Guienne to attempt upon the Life of the King and that he had offer'd to prove his Accusation by sufficient evidence in Writing under the Hands of the Conspirators You will very well judg added the Cardinal that an Advertisement of this kind was of too important a nature to be neglected but he deny'd withal that the Duke's name had ever been mention'd in that Affair assuring him moreover that had it been so much as glanc'd at in that Information he should immediately have concluded the whole thing altogether forg'd and false as he now absolutely did That he knew the Duke to be too good a man to entertain so criminal a thought and that he would ever answer for him as for himself That therefore he ought not to concern himself about his Justification and that he had been very well wash'd which was his own expression but that notwithstanding they were to consider which way to give him satisfaction in causing those who had been the Authors of his Calumny to be brought to exemplary punishment After which he enquir'd by what means Madaillan might be taken concluding in the end that the King should give the Duke power to apprehend him if possible even in Guienne it self that in the mean time he would give order to have him sent for to Court whither in a very short time he had also promis'd to come that by one means or other it should be a hard matter for him to escape and that if he did once fall into his hands he would deliver him up into those of Justice as he afterwards did and in that was very just to his word The King's Dispatch was made ready at this time but the Secretary could not however so soon depart as by this successful beginning he was in hopes he should have done Chavigny who had order to deliver him his Dispatch appointing him to stay yet some few days longer But these few days were spun out into some few weeks during which interval he had notice given him by several of his Friends that there was an Order granted out to Arrest him to make him give an account of those Counterfeit Papers were laid to his charge These advertisements which he receiv'd from very good hands did much more trouble him for the regard he had to the Duke his Master than for any thing that concern'd himself he believ'd that they would proceed in this Affair by the way and in the forms of Justice which was nothing consonant to what had been promis'd him in the beginning The Duke's Servants to whom he had instructions to communicate all things were also infinitely surpriz'd at the news but he forbore not what danger soever had been represented to him to appear as at other times in all places where his business lay-After he had given all the time was necessary wherein to clear any doubts that might have been started concerning this Affair and weary to see no more than the first hour he came he resolv'd at last finding he could obtain nothing from Chavigny to make his Address immediately to the Cardinal himself hoping from him at least to learn the true reasons why he had been thus long delay'd This design accordingly took effect and the Cardinal having espied him amongst a crowd of other Solicitors and Suitors that were attending in the Hall caus'd him presently to be call'd to tell him That upon the hopes Madaillan had given him of his coming every day to Town he had desir'd he might stay to be a witness of his Confinement but that seeing there was no end of his delays he might now return to his Master and assure him that what he had promis'd upon this occasion should be punctually perform'd That it would also be necessary he on his part should employ all the Friends and Servants he had in Guienne to cause the Slanderer to be taken and that the thing being of that importance to his Honour he did not doubt but the Duke would herein use endeavours proportionable to the quality of the Affair After which he pour'd out himself in several expressions of very great Civility concerning the Duke but they were so distant from his manner of proceeding and so differing from the ill usage he made his Master at the same time undergo that giving them no place in his belief he scarce allow'd them a room in his memory After this manner the Duke's Secretary departed from Court charg'd with Letters from the King and the Cardinal which were couch'd in these terms Cousin Having understood by the Sieur Girard the intimation you have receiv'd that one Madaillan of Sauvetat had an intent to accuse you of a design to attempt upon my Person as also upon that of my Cousin the Cardinal of Richelieu I write you this to let you know It is my pleasure that you cause the said Madaillan to be apprehended in any place where he shall be found as also the named le Sage Bois-Martin Seingoux and a certain Scrivener dwelling at la Linde in Perigort whom it is said he intends to make use of to fortifie his Calumny I doubt not but you will use all imaginable diligence to cause the forementioned persons to be taken and to dispose them into some secure hold until you receive my further Order In which assurance I pray God Cousin c. At St. Germaine en Laye this 10 th of Decemb. 1641. That of the Cardinal contain'd these words Monsieur The Sieur Girard will acquaint you with how great facility the King has been pleas'd to give way to the clearing the Calumny wherewith you have discover'd some malicious people have a design to asperse you I can assure you that such a justification is not at all necessary for the possessing his Majesty touching the business in agitation with such impressions of you as you would your self desire but he will be very glad for your own satisfaction that so wicked an Imposture be punish'd according to its desert For my own particular I shall ever be very