wherein he wonders that the Month's Pay which according to his account ought to have arrived at the Army on the 15th was not yet come The aforesaid Sieur indeed when he was here sollicited for a Month's Pay for the 15th upon which I was resolv'd to use all my Interest with Monsieur de Bullion to have it got ready and do the same every Day and yet I cannot bring him to name any precise time All that I can assure you of at present is that it shall be ready without fail some time this Month. As for Money to carry on the Works you have already receiv'd the fifty thousand Livres sent for Landrechy and thirty thousand more which l' Espine brought you for St. Guillain or Maubeuge I sent you word that you shou'd want nothing and here I repeat the same Promise to you I cou'd wish with all my Heart that you had such a brave Fellow with you as Terrail was who petarded so many Towns belonging to the Hollanders for the Arch-Duke for that perhaps is one of the things that we want to try since the greatest part of the Enemy's Towns lie naked and unprovided I am persuaded you will lose no opportunity to undertake any thing that you judge proper to be done for the King's Service For which reason I shall forbear to say any more to you only give me leave to assure you that I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Chappelle Aug. 14 1637. Pray send me the Plan of Maubeuge and the Design of the Fortifications you intend to make there or that of St. Guillain if you were ever able by chance to procure it You must use all means my Lord to end this Campagne happily to which we will contribute on our side all that lies in our power LETTER XCIII To the same My Lord AFter I had heard Monsieur de la Meilleraye upon the Subject of his Journey I am of Opinion that of all the Designs which he proposes on your part there are only two that can be reasonably undertaken that is to say either the Siege of Cambray or that of Avenes That of Cambray indeed is of much greater importance but it is to be feared that the Season is already too far advanced and that we have not all the Preparatives requisite for such a Design especially People to supply the Army so as several Accidents which often happen unexpectedly may require As for that of Avenes besides that it is more feasible it seems to be more agreeable to the present state of our Affairs It will stand us in mighty stead to preserve all the Posts we have taken upon the Sambre the keeping of which is a sort of Circumvallation for the aforesaid Siege So that by making our selves Masters of Beaumont Solre and Chimay if we please the place will be surrounded without being formally so During this Siege the greatest part of his Majesty's Horse being intrench'd at Maubeuge with four thousand Men will make Head against the Enemy who will not dare to oppose or give them Battel and we may make several Attempts upon them in Parties What will chiefly contribute to the execution of this Design will be to lose no time to detach the Troops that are to march thither out of your Army and to give them necessary Orders to joyn on some prefix'd Day at the above-mention'd place In the mean time my Lord if you 'll give me leave to tell you my Opinion You have three things to do in the first place you must secure Maubeuge whether by fortifying the whole Town or by making a good Redoubt capable of maintaining the Lodgment of the Horse that will be in the place You must make as great a Magazine of Corn and Forrage at Maubeuge as is possible and preserve the Country behind the Sambre as far as the Oyse and the Meuse that you may take up Winter-Quarters there for the greatest part of our People After all I have said to you the King entirely leaves it to your own choice to undertake which of these two Designs you judge most proper However if you shou'd have a fair opportunity in the mean time to petard any place you wou'd do well to make the Experiment Monsieur de la Meilleraye tarries here two Days and then he will most assuredly return to you But we thought it convenient to dispatch this Courrier to you beforehand that neither Monsieur de la Meilleraye's tarrying here two Days longer nor any other consideration shou'd make you lose one single Moment to dispose every thing for the execution of what you shall pitch upon now you have seen the King's Sentiments upon the matter I am My Lord Your c. August 15 1637. LETTER XCIV To the same My Lord THE Sieur de la Garde being arriv'd here from Colen and particularly from Breda about an Hour after the departure of Monsieur de la Meilleraye occasions me to dispatch this Courrier to you to acquaint you for certain that you have no reason to apprehend that the Cardinal Infant will quit the Design he has form'd and the Post he has taken to hinder the Siege of Breda to come and give you the least disturbance things being come to such a Point that the Spaniards fortifie themselves in all places thro' which the Convoys of the States may come in order to hinder them so that the Prince of Orange has sent the King word that he is like to find himself very much embarrass'd if we don't make a powerful diversion on this side 'T is therefore your part my Lord to act with the greatest Vigour you can without amusing your self at what we proposed to you to make a Line of Circumvallation .................... which must be infallibly carried if it is warmly attack'd and having no other Enemies to fear than what you have before you I have sent a fresh Dispatch to the Mareschal de Chastillon to engage him to undertake the Attack of .......... If our 84 don 't do something considerable it is to be fear'd that 2600 finding the difficulty of his .......... will not ........ with the 76 for to .......... with ................ This if you please shall lie betwixt me and you I conjure you therefore upon this consideration to lose no time and believe me that I shall be proud of an opportunity to convince you by my Actictions that I am with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Royaumont Aug. 20 1637. LETTER XCV To the same My Lord THE King having by my former Letters to which I have receiv'd your Answer given you to understand his Intentions nothing now remains for me to say to you 'T is your concern to fortifie and keep your Post at Maubeuge as you have proposed and to attack Avenes while the Mareschal de Chastillon makes account to go to attack Mommedy or some other place You will receive the hundred thousand Franks which you demand for your Works besides the ten thousand Crowns
Majesty's Deputies As also His Majesty continuing to employ the Officers belonging to the Artillery of the said Army the said Officers shall be oblig'd to take Letters of Approbation from the Master of the Ordnance And to the end that the Auditor-General who is at present in Function in the said Army may administer Justice in His Majesty's Name he shall be oblig'd in order thereunto to take such Commissions and Letters Patent from His Majesty as are necessary seal'd with his Broad Seal as it is practis'd in all other Armies by those who officiate the said Places The present Articles are to be sign'd by the said four Directors Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels of the said Army being present at the Resolution abovesaid and by His Majesty's Deputies to be observ'd and kept by each of them according to the Form and Tenour of the same and deliver them into his Hands to establish Governors there That otherwise we had labour'd long in vain for the composing of all that is abovesaid Upon this Point they desir'd to have our Intentions in Writing which we sent to them in this manner That the conquer'd Places should be deliver'd into His Majesty's Hands for him to settle such Governors there as he should think fit as also to put French and German Garisons there according to His Highness's last Will and Testament Having sent this Article to Major-General Erlach he sent us word that it was necessary to communicate it to the whole Army That Colonel Ohem who was going back to his Quarters would take that Care upon him And that after that he would acquaint us with their Resolutions Five or six Days pass'd without any News during which we did not fail to press the said Erlach and he to make perpetual Complaints of the Delays of the March of the French Forces which he said put a full Stop to the Conclusion of our Business Finally Having receiv'd Orders to make the Army Commanded by Monsieur du Hallier advance and at the same time Letters from the said du Hallier giving an Account of the March of his Forces we gave him an Account thereof Upon which he took Occasion the very next Day to write to the Officers of the Army that it was time to assemble again And we were glad to have the Assembly kept at Colmar to the end that the Duke of Longueville's Presence might advance it During the first Days of our Conference renew'd at Colmar we were oblig'd to begin all almost de Nova again They increas'd their Demands and we drew the inclos'd Articles as if nothing had been spoken of till then In Answer to our Article concerning the Garisons they sent us word at first by two Deputies from among them That all the Garisons should remain in the Power of the Body of the Army and that they would provide such Governors and Garisons for them as they should think fit excepting only Brisac in which the King should be allow'd to put a third part of French-men because His Majesty by a Re-inforcement of Men had contributed towards the Taking of it And the said Deputies added That it was the last Resolution of their Assembly refusing even to hear our Reasons which nevertheless we made them hear at last in a very ample manner without being able any wise to alter their Minds This oblig'd us in order not to break with them to tell them That our Instructions did not authorize us to grant their Demands That it was necessary that they and we should send to the King to know his Intensions That in the mean time to shew them in what good Union we desir'd to live with them the Duke of Longueville was ready to join his Forces with those of His late Highness of Weymar in order to march together towards the County of Burgundy and not to pass the Rhine since we were certain that His Majesty would never resolve to do it without being Master of Brisac This startl'd the Deputies who were in hopes that while the Article of the Garisons was in debate we would help them to take their Winter-Quarters which cannot be good without passing the Rhine Nevertheless being parted thus at Night Count Guebriant met Major-General Erlach who came from the Duke de Longueville with whom having had some Discourse they renewâ—d a Conference for the next Day in which the Proposition of the Garisons was something soften'd he giving us to understand that the Choice of the Governors should be referr'd to the King provided he took them out of the German Body and that they were willing that one half of the Garisons of Brisac and Friburg should be French We told him That this would put too great a Check upon the King's Liberty in obliging him to put none but German Governors into the said Garisons That we were of Opinion that he would sooner chuse them than Frenchmen but that it ought to be without Constraint He withdrew dis-satisfy'd without expressing it and immediately after Dinner took Coach and return'd to Brisac All the other Officers and Colonels return'd in the same manner to their Quarters leaving only the Auditor-General behind to desire us to fix our Resolution With whom after several Debates we drew the Article concerning the said Garisons as it is stated and put it into his hands to confer about it with the Colonels He sent it to Colonel Ohem and came the next Day to Brisac where * Monsieur de Choisy I repair'd also to convoy the Wheat that came from Basil Two Hours after my Arrival the General-Major and the Governor of Rheinfeld came to see me We examin'd all the Articles we send you upon which he alledg'd no Difficulties excepting that relating to the Garisons Finding at the very beginning of the said Article that a Sub-Governor was mention'd he said That he would have none and the Governor of Rheinfeld said the same thing In the next place That he was of Opinion the Army would persist in desiring an Assurance from the King that he would put no Governor into Brisac and Friburg but such as should be drawn out of the German Body and that the Governors would take no other Oath than to keep the said Places for the King 's and Confederate Princes Service and never to deliver them to any body without the King's Leave I told him the Reasons which would hinder the King always from consenting to it in this manner To which I had no other Answer but That it was his Opnion that we should never obtain what we desir'd in this Point And in private he told me the Obstinacy he had found in all the Officers on that Subject That for his part he discharg'd himself of it and could not answer for the Sequel Within half an Hour afterwards he sent me word that he had just receiv'd a Letter from the Crown of Sueden directed to the Directors by which they were desir'd to remember that the Army belong'd to the said Crown This
Boussiers and the Baulines which were look'd upon to be the strongest of the said Places On the Tenth Day after the Trenches were open Privas was taken altho' the Fortifications of that Town were exceeding strong 'T is impossible to relate the several Cruelties which these Rebels have us'd towards the Catholicks Among others after the Siege was begun they took the Guardian of the Capuchins of Valence a Man of an excellent Life and singular Learning and they treated him in so barbarous a manner that they wou'd not kill him outright till they had first cut off his Nose and pluck'd out his Eyes St. André and Ten or Twelve of the principal Leaders are taken Prisoners Several are in the Hands of some Gentlemen of the Army who will endeavour to save them for the great Summs of Money they offer for their Lives Others have made their Escapes And this Madam is an account of what has happen'd to Privas The King will not part these two or three Days from hence because he is oblig'd to stay till the Artilery comes up which cannot be done so speedily in such an unpassable Country as this is So soon as he has resolv'd upon the Place where he is to go next your Majesty shall with all Expedition be inform'd of it In the mean time I beg you 'll do me the Honour to believe that no Man in the World is or can be with more Sincerity than I am MADAM Your most humble most obedient most faithful and most obliged Servant RICHELIEU Privas May 13 1629. LETTER XIV To Monsieur Ville aux-Clers SIR I Send you these few Lines to tell you 't is the King's pleasure that you shou'd dispatch a Courier to the Mareschal d' Estreé with a Letter from his Majesty bearing Order for him to make no difficulty to march the Troops that are in Compeigne pursuant to what Instructions he will receive from Monsieur de Saint-Chaumont to whom the King has communicated his Intentions upon this Subject In the mean time I remain SIR Your most Affectionate c. RICHELIEU Leuville June 2 1631. LETTER XV. To the Duke of Hallwin SIR ALtho' I writ to you two or three Days ago yet I take occasion to send you these few Lines to inform you that Orders are dispatch'd to Monsieur le Camus to cause such Fortifications to be made at Narbonne and Leucate as you and he shall judge necessary to put both those places in a good Posture of Defence There are likewise Commissions sent down to you to raise four Regiments and three Troops of Light-Horse in case you think there will be occasion for so many The manner of doing it is wholly left to your own Discretion being impower'd to act according as you see the Necessity and Service of the King shall require it Besides that his Majesty's Interest demands it of me be assur'd that I shall take as much care of your Concerns as you your-self can desire from any one who is truly as I am SIR Your most Affectionate Servant RICHELIEU Royaumont March 16 1635. LETTER XVI To the Mareschal de Chastillon SIR I Cannot sufficiently express to you how entirely his Majesty is satisfy'd with your manner of Commanding his Army The greatest Pleasure you can do him is to keep it as compleat and in as good Order as possibly you can I am extremely well pleas'd that Monsieur de Brezê is pitch'd upon to serve the King in conjunction with you knowing that he will honour you and live after such a manner with you that it will be to your mutual Satisfaction As for my self I shall be very proud to have an opportunity to convince you that I am SIR Your most Affectionate Servant RICHELIEU Ruel April 11 1635. LETTER XVII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord ALtho' 't is a needless Precaution to put you in Mind of being upon your Guard at Metz knowing you will take all the care that can be desired yet I thought my self obliged to inform you that we have received Advice that the King's Enemies have a Design upon that place I 'm persuaded you 'll give such effectual Orders where you are that you 'll let them find no opportunity to put what they threaten in execution His Majesty is very well God be praised and Monsieur came this Day to see him We have no News here that is worth the while to send to you So that nothing remains for me but to assure you of the Continuance of my Affection and Love to you and that I am My Lord Your most Humble and most Affectionate Servant RICHELIEU Ruel April 12 1635. LETTER XVIII To the same My Lord COlonel Hebron will particularly inform you of the Affection I have now and will still preserve for your Lordship which is so great that neither Absence nor Time shall ever cause the least Alteration in it At present I shall only conjure you to repair your Fortifications with all possible Expedition and so soon as they are in such a Condition that your Presence will be less necessary where you are than it is at present I am of opinion it will be highly expedient for you to visit the Mareschal de la Force's Army where without question it will be very advantageous After which I hope we shall be so happy as to see you shortly in your Frontier In the mean time assure your self I beseech you that no Man can be more than I am My Lord Your c. RICHELIEU Compeigne April 29 1635. I earnestly beg of you before your Departure to the Army to leave such good Orders behind you that there may be no danger of a Surprize LETTER XIX To the Duke of Hallwin SIR I Have receiv'd your Letter together with a Memorial of what things you judge to be necessary at Narbonne In answer to which finding by your Account that there are no more than fourscore thousand weight of Powder in that Place of which there are eight thousand weight spoil'd and that there are sixty thousand in Tolouse fit for use I judge it expedient for you to take one half of that and get it carried thither as soon as possible Monsieur d' Arpajon has likewise sent me Word that there are not above six or seven hundred Bullets so you 'll find it expedient to cause to be cast in the neighbouring Places so many as may make 'em up six thousand of all the Sizes of the Pieces there As for your Provisions if there is the least Appearance that the City will be besieg'd in such a case you must seize all the Cattle that are in the Country that you may have Victuals sufficient Above all 't is necessary that you shou'd have fifty thousand weight of Powder thirty or forty thousand weight of Lead fifty thousand of Match six thousand Bullets Corn sufficient for a Year and if besides all this any thing more be wanting 't is generally to be found in such Cities as that which are
believe they wou'd have had no mighty Matters to boast of 'T is my Request to you to march towards Burgundy with all the speed you can that this Consternation may produce no ill Effects on that side which will not happen when they see you have Forces there able to oppose the Designs of the Enemy The Prince has already had the Orders sent to him which his Majesty wou'd have observ'd among the different Armies when they joyn which is that every General shall command his own Troops I am apt to think that the sooner you can advance on this side it will be so much the better for I make no question but Galasse will endeavour to pass the River at Brisac to joyn the Duke of Lorrain and 't is of great importance that you shou'd arrive there before him The Enemies have possess'd themselves of the Village of Verdun upon the Doux which is not fortify'd but 't is a Pass of some consequence Assure your self My Lord that I am and will be so long as I live without the least alteration My Lord Your c. Paris Aug. 23 1636. LETTER LVIII To the same My Lord I Want Words to express my Dissatisfaction at the ill Conduct of the Marquiss de Sourdis He cannot excuse himself upon the want of Directions for he has been written to often enough If we knew any Man at present fit to be put into his place we shou'd take care to have him sent for home immediately As for the Gentlemen of the Parliament of Metz you will assuredly receive all the Satisfaction you can desire But I desire you to have a little patience till the present Tempest be over After the rate things go now one wou'd imagine that a Blessing attended those that rail'd at the Government I hope that within two Months it will not be so and then the Parliament of Metz shall be chang'd as you desire it We do all that we can to re-inforce you with some Foot This very Day we order'd the Regiment of Ronciere to march which in my opinion will make a very fine one Verderonne is by this time got pretty forward and so is Decauts The Regiment that Monsieur Vignier is a raising will be complete in seven or eight Days Vaubecourt has sent us word that he will furnish us with four thousand Men but knowing the Man as you and I do I shou'd be very glad if he brought us but one half of them Let the worst come I take it for granted that he and Monsieur Vignier will bring three thousand effective Men and Verderonne Ronciere and Decauts two thousand five hundred besides the Forces that the Baron de Chapelaine and one Anfonville intend to raise to put into Chaumont As for the Horse we expect them from those places where the Count de Guiche told you 'T is with a great deal of reason you say that we want a German in the place of the late Monsieur Hebron If you cou'd so contrive matters as to manage any one of those whom you propos'd you wou'd very much oblige us In the mean time we will write about it Since I writ this it came into my Head that the Great Provost will be a very proper Man at Nancy Send me word what you think of it and whether you approve of him If 't is so after I have receiv'd your Letter I will act accordingly and let you see upon all occasions that whatever concerns you touches me more sensibly than even my own proper Interests Let me conjure you to believe that I am most sincerely My Lord Your c. Abbey de la Victoire Sept. 13 1636. LETTER LIX To the same My Lord THE Sieur Talon your Secretary has receiv'd Satisfaction as he will inform you himself as to the business of the Fund for Corn. In every thing else that lies in my power you shall find the like care taken to give you all imaginable content The King has given the Scotch Regiment to the Baron Hebron which your Letter did not a little promote The Prince has sent us some Letters which were written very much in your favour I suppose that by this time his Troops and those of Vaubécourt have joyn'd you and that by this means you will be in a condition to oppose the designs of Galasse Upon my word I depend more upon your and the Duke of Weymar's Conduct although you have but indifferent Forces than upon all the great Armies which we have on this side which in truth exceed thirty five thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse in number The Enemy retires too fast for us We cou'd wish they wou'd be so civil as to stay till we cou'd come up to them Their Army does not in reality consist of above eighteen thousand as well Foot as Horse Monsieur has passed the River at Peronne with twenty five thousand Men and ten thousand Horse The King marches this way towards Corbie with ten thousand Men and two thousand Horse Corbie at this very Moment is reduc'd to great necessity Those that are in the place are forc'd to eat boil'd Corn as they did at the Siege of Paris They have Corn in abundance but their Mills that were lately burnt by the Sieur de Beau-fort failing them they give seven Bushels of Corn for a Bushel and a half of Meal They have in a manner no Wine among them and to compleat their Misery the Plague and Bloody-Flux rage violently in the place I am very glad that you have taken Chevillon You did very well in giving him leave to write You must look after him carefully and treat him gently in order to make good use of him in time and place as occasion shall require There is no good to be hoped from the Master of the aforesaid Chevillon unless meer Necessity constrains him to it and it pleases God to give us some Advantage over our Enemies If the People of the Franche-Comté wou'd come again into the Neutrality the King wou'd do the same very willingly You and the Prince may negotiate this Affair according as you find it convenient if you see any tendency towards it We can return no answer to Monsieur de Frangipane because we cannot listen to any Treaty of a Peace but in conjunction with the rest of our Allies at Colen which is the place appointed for all We have paid two hundred thousand Crowns to the Duke of Weymar They send me word that within three Days there will be nothing due to him You remember what I writ to you concerning the Marquis de Sourdis and the Affair of the Parliament of Metz. Both one and t'other shall most assuredly be done Send me word with all expedition whether you judge the Great Provost to be a proper Man for Nancy In case you do his Commission shall be speedily dispatch'd to him But you must be sure to keep the Affair secret that he may be actually in the place before they mistrust any thing
them an effectual Blow will be to surprize them and not give them time to put themselves into a posture to oppose you The Sieur de Aigueberre is come back and returned The Prince of Orange persists in his first Resolutions to make one of the three Attacks you know of provided that we begin first The aforesaid Sieur d' Aigueberre has been with him to assure him that by the fourth of this Month you 'll be in the Enemy's Country I hope you will do it with good success which I the rather believe because I am no Stranger to your good Fortune and Industry Let me conjure you therefore My Lord to make all the haste you can that the Prince of Orange may have no excuse for staying behind I know well enough that a Day or two whether more or less will break no squares between you so the intention of this Letter is not to make you take the Field in a hurry but only to remind you to lose no time Monsieur de la Meilleraye goes next Wednesday to review the Troops he is to command and will so post himself as to be able to assist you upon any occasion I passionately wish that you may perform some glorious Exploit not only for the Advantage of the King's Service but also for your own particular Satisfaction which I desire as much as your self being with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Ruel June 1 1637. LETTER LXXIV To the same My Lord I Am extremely concern'd that you did not find every thing in readiness as you might well expect but 't is the nature of great Affairs to carry many Difficulties with them and it often happens that the Sun shines brighter after the Storm is over I suppose that by this time the Horses you wanted to draw the Cannon are arriv'd safe and that Crié has given orders for subsisting your four hundred Horses that are to carry your Victuals Monsieur de Bullion having made Provision for them above ten Days ago As for the other two hundred Horses that you want to make them up in all a hundred and fifty the Sieur de Septoutre who was employ'd to raise them has given the Sieur Gargan a List of the several places where they are kept for 't is ten Days ago since he signified as much in a Letter to Monsieur de Noyers who has sent you an account of that whole matter Vercourt parted from hence on Saturday to wait upon you but I suppose he will first call upon Monsieur de Rambure at Guise Monsieur de la Barre went yesterday to meet you and carries with him Money to pay off the Artillery We are assur'd here that his absence will do no hurt because the Officers that are upon the Spot have orders to act in his absence as far as he himself cou'd do if he was there The Boats went from Paris about five Days ago I am sorry you had them not all at once that you might have begun with the better show But you may want several things that are absolutely necessary to you which the Enemy however cannot hinder from coming up to you your Designs not carrying you to leave any place that belongs to them behind you If your Infantry is not so good as you cou'd desire we design you from this very Moment two Regiments of twenty Companies each to recruit you by the beginning of July and two more by the first of August To convince you that I will omit nothing that lies within the Sphere of my poor capacity to second the good Designs which you have form'd for his Majesty's Service I have sent you by one of Monsieur de Noyers's Gentlemen ten thousand Crowns that in case any thing be wanting to the Horses that carry your Provisions or in short any other unforeseen Accident shou'd happen you may be able to remedy it immediately and not see your Designs miscarry for want of Money The Sieur d' Estrade has communicated to us your two different Projects Your first is to take Auchy in twenty four Hours which may easily be done and to invest Hesdin at the same time in order to besiege it afterwards The second is to take Chasteau Cambresis which may be done in three or four Days time and so soon as you have taken that place to invest Landrecy in order to besiege it afterwards As for the first you must let it alone because of our Engagement with the Prince of Orange Aigueberre is come back who went on purpose to assure him that we wou'd attack the Enemy on this side without naming the place So you must consider with all speed what is to be done with the second Design or any other that you shall judge more advantageous But as for Hesdin you must not think of it at present for the Reasons mention'd above There will be no occasion to send for the Count de Guiche hither because that wou'd make People suspect that we were irresolv'd â—n our Designs and this Answer gives you light enough to see what measures you must take Le Rosle is gone from hence with the Sieur d' Estrade to serve this Campagne Rest assur'd that I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Ruel June 3 1637. LETTER LXXV To the same My Lord THat which afflicts Monsieur de Bullion rejoyces me that is to say the Supplies of Money which you demand for the Month's Pay of your Troops 'T is true the Advice I lately receiv'd that you had not above ten thousand Men does sensibly grieve me but since the Funds that were erected to discharge the aforesaid Month's Pay for fifteen thousand Foot and seven thousand Horse does not suffice we shall have more Men by a great deal than we expected Monsieur de la Meilleraye has faithfully promis'd me that you shall want no Military Provisions that he spoke to you about I am going this very Moment to give Orders concerning them At this present Hour besides the Ammunitions which you have in your Equipage there are thirty thousand Pound weight of Powder in St. Quintin which you may send for whenever you please because it is design'd for your Army I am sorry for the discovery of the King's Musqueteer but in matters of War a Man had much better depend upon meer Force than upon Enterprizes the Success whereof is uncertain I hope that by carrying on your Affairs with your usual Vigour all things will succeed well enough This I desire from the bottom of my Heart as also that you 'll believe me to be My Lord Your c Chilly June 9 1637. LETTER LXXVI To the same My Lord I Have left it to Monsieur de Noyers to return a particular Answer to the Dispatch which you sent to me by Monsieur d' Estrade and to let you know how well pleas'd I am at the account he gave me of the good condition of your Troops I am no less satisfy'd to find that the Enterprize you
Guastallo to Mantua The Fourth Upon restoring several Places belonging to the Garrisons with-held by the Emperour as also what His Majesty enjoys in the Territories of his Higness of Savoy The Fifth About repairing several Infringements of the Treaty of Monzon agreed between the Two Crowns of France and Spain concerning the Differences of the Garrisons with those of Valtelina All these Points have been debated several times between the Parties together with the Mediation of the Legate and his Holiness's Nuncio There have been several Contests about the Investiture of the Duke of Mantua The French immediately demanded to have it perform'd pursuant to a Treaty and that with Reason for the Duke of Mantua having claim'd it so long since by his Son sent Envoy methinks the Emperour should not think of deferring it longer the previous Ceremonies being once past On the contrary the Imperialists and Spaniards offered to perform it in three Weeks after the Treaty because they would have time sufficient for him to demand it a new Now although this Formality seem'd to be only for gaining more time yet France has agreed to it As to the Second Point The Spaniards insisted That the French should so absolutely quit Cazal that the Duke of Mantua might never admit any of 'em into it again To which was Answer'd by those that acted for the King That their Proposition was not reasonable because the Duke of Savoy had always equally entertain'd French and Spaniards when he pleas'd that all Soveraign Princes have ever had this Liberty and that if his Highness of Mantua was to be depriv'd of admitting Strangers because he was an Italian Prince in the like manner the Spaniards ought to be excluded Milan Naples and Scicily being no Natives there Also That France did not require the French should remain in Cazal but only that the Duke of Mantua should not be deny'd a Right to make use of what Garrison he pleas'd and which might extend as well to Germany and Spain as to France The Marquess of Spinola would by no means consent to this Article Affirming That tho' he should lose four Battles he would not do it For says he I can never look upon my Master's Territories to be safe as long as the French have any Footing in Italy To obviate the ill Apprehension he had upon this Article It was offer'd That the Number of the French admitted into Montferrat in case the Duke of Mantua would please to accept 'em should be limited to 12 or 1500 Men which might not be capable of giving any reasonable cause of Suspition but nevertheless the Marquess persisted in his Refusal At length the Mediators interpos'd to this Effect That altho' it were said that all the French should go out of the Duke of Mantua's Territories and they should Quit 'em accordingly yet the Duke of Savoy might easily suffer 2 or 300 to pass in small Numbers through his Country without being thought to know that they went to serve his Highness of Mantua To this Overture was Answered That over and above that it was Infamous in itself the Spaniards that should suffer it would pretend we had infring'd the Treaty that was to be made and thereupon tax His Majesty with Breach of Faith the Consideration of both which would be enough to withhold us from any such Practice As to the Third Point Two Difficulties arose First That the Duke of Savoy would have his Division in such Place as he lik'd best in Montferrat altho' that Choice belong'd only to those that Pay The Second He always insisted on the Payment of 15000 Crowns per Annum which were promis'd him the year before with Trinâ— out of the same Revenues which the Duke of Montferrat had when the Right he claims to the said Dominions fell to him Whereby he would have excluded most of the Prerogatives the Duke of Mantua now enjoys altho' they were altogether Hereditary By which means instead of 15000 Crowns a year he would have had above 50000. To this the Duke of Mantua reply'd That those 15000 Crowns were to be paid out of the Revenues he enjoy'd when he promis'd to pay ' em Nevertheless the Duke of Savoy would never quit any of his Claims and did positively aver That if it was given any other way the Duke of Mantua must never expect to live in Amity or Peace with him As to the Fourth Point The Imperialists and Spaniards have demanded That Susa Pignerol and whatever else the King holds in Italy might be restored on the same day they should give up the Passes of the Grisons It has been Answered in favour of France That all that could be expected was That the Restitution of Susa should Ballance the Passes of the Grisons because Susa was taken to get the said Passes in order to march against Spain who then Attack'd the Duke of Mantua and that it was not the same with Pignerol which was taken to avoid an irreconcileable War with Spain However Cardinal Richelieu who Acted for the King when he gave his Consent to the Restitution of Susa at the same time with the Passes did still insist That as he could not consent to the Restoring of Pignerol as having no Orders from the King who at that time knew nothing of its being taken did assure 'em that the greatest Difficulty would not be in the Restitution but the manner of its being Restor'd He said moreover to the Legate That being so far off from the King and in such an Employ as he was he ought neither to advise him to restore or not to restore Pignerol but on the contrary would wait His Majesty's Orders But nevertheless if all other Matters concurr'd to accomplish it he doubted not but that Her Highness the Dutchess might easily obtain the said Restitution by means of the Queen her Mother and that thereupon he should have Permission to acquaint His Holiness from His Majesty of the same The said Sieur Cardinal has divers times represented to those that were to Treat That his Master desir'd Pignerol only to secure the Treaty that was to be made so that the only way to incline him to surrender were to satisfie him about the same For this purpose he has always desir'd on the King's account the Princes of Italy to enter into a League for the defence of the Duke of Mantua in case he should be attack'd again Which has been all along refus'd unless that at last they seem'd a little inclin'd to hear him He has likewise requir'd the Mediation of the Pope and College of Cardinals which was also deny'd unless that in conclusion the Legate told him That if he had insisted only upon that the Peace of Italy had not been so long deferr'd Then Father Valerien a Capuchin Fryer who came from Germany on purpose to facilitate the Peace propos'd That the Emperor would oblige the Catholick League and the Colledge of Electors to the Defence of the D. of Mantua if he should be attack'd But
have not hindr'd me from coming to this place near to Montauban for the determining several Difficulties started every day by Persons breathing only Sedition There have been some Commotions in the City but thanks be to God things are reduc'd to that point that if I am not deceiv'd in my measures I hope within three days to make my entrance into it with that Dignity which becomes Your Majesty From thence I shall set forward to attend Your Majesty intending to stay two days only in Montauban in order to dispatch those dismissions which Your Majesty has commanded me I must not forget to send Your Majesty word that though the Gentlemen of the Parliament of Tâ—oulouse have always made some Scruples upon the Edicts of the Peace and the favours you have shewn to those of the pretended Reformed Religion yet they have purely and simply verify'd this with great Applause of Your Majesty's Goodness Piety Strength and Prudence Though never any Prince acquir'd so much Glory as Your Majesty has now done yet I hope if God permits me to live some Years to see you wearing many other Crowns which only your Vertue and the blessing of God will acquire Your Majesty This is that which I desire with the greatest Passion in the World promising Your Majesty that my life shall never be of any value to me in respect of your Grandeur your prosperity and particular contentment which I shall Eternally wish for in the Quality of c. LETTER LIV. To the King THE Letter Your Majesty was pleas'd to honour me withall obliges me in such a manner that I have not Expressions sufficiently worthy to testify my Gratitude to your Majesty I wish that for the Supply of this defect I might be so happy as to be able to pay Your Majesty as many faithful services as I have had and as long as I live shall have a chearful will to perform I am extreamly troubled that Your Majesty is not pleas'd with your stay at Paris and therefore have taken a Resolution for your ease to go into Champaign so soon as your Brother shall depart from Nancy The share which Your Majesty was pleas'd to allow me in your Prayers during the Jubilee was so great a favour that wanting words to return my due thanks to Your Majesty I have no more to say upon that Subject but that your Majesty shews your Goodness equal to your Piety I could passionately wish that I might be near Your Majesty as Your Majesty desires but my sorrow to see my self remov'd so far from your presence is in some measure allay'd when I consider it is for the Interest of your service which is the only thing that I regard I am now setting forward from hence in Order to cross the Mountains and hasten into Italy where I shall serve Your Majesty with that Zeal and Vigilancy which becomes c. LETTER LV. To the King I Have receiv'd a new dispatch from Monsieur the Marshal de Crequi who assures me a second time that he will not Sign the Suspension He sends me word more over that the News of the Motion of your Army has caus'd the Imperialists to raise the siege of Mantua from whence the Germans are retreated in so much disorder that 't was the Duke of Mantua's fault they were not utterly defeated However he cut some of 'em to peices in retaking Montenara and Courtentone which were two Posts distant from Mantua about five miles which the Enemy had a mind to have kept He believes that as soon as your Army arrives at Suza the Republick of Venice will resolve to do something to good purpose Provided the Duke of Savoy's delays do not retard the Passage of your Army I hope your Majesty will have no reason to complain Courrier is dispatched after Courrier to press the Duke of Savoy to whom I have also this day written Your Majesty's Express command to me not to lose any time which obliges me to conjure him that he would give Speedy Passage to your Army I expect to hear from him within these few days Your Majesty may be confident of being as punctually inform'd as it is possible of all that happens and that I desire not so much to preserve my Life as to please Your Majesty and to testify by real Effects That I am and ever will be c. LETTER LVI To the King HAving Yesterday given Your Majesty an Account of the Reducing the Citadel of Pignerol under your Obedience I now resume my Pen to let your Majesty know that 't is impossible for me to express the Vigilance and Passion for your Service of the Marshalls â—requi la Force and Schomberg and of all the Officers of your Army upon this Occasion And here I hope your Majesty will not take it amiss if I take the Liberty to tell you my Opinion that you cannot gratify any Person with the Government of the City and Citadel of Pignerol who better deserves it then Monsieur Crequi as well for the rare Qualities with which he is endow'd and with which your Majesty is so well acquainted as for that those Places are contiguous to the Dauphinate where his Employment obliges him chiefly to reside and be near at hand to provide for the Preservation of ' em Besides these Considerations I must not conceal from your Majesty that he has given me to understand that he should be infinitely engag'd to your Majesty if you would but be pleas'd to honour him with the Grant of his Request He also desires that you would be pleas'd to honour M. de Canaples with the Collar of your Order the next time you make any Knights This would be a means by new Obligations to engage both Father and Son to your Service to which I am so inseparably devoted that I shall always be to the last gasp of my Breath c. LETTER LVII To the King MOnsieur Marshal de Crequi having desired me to write to your Majesty that you would be pleas'd to confer upon the Sieur Aubery the Employment of the Queen's Chancellor I take that Liberty so much the more willingly to the same end because your Majesty knowing the Affection which the said Marshal has for that Family will readily consider that while he serves your Majesty as he does I could not deny him the kind Office of such a Letter your Majesty knows better then any person in the World how to supply that place with such a Person as you shall deem most Capable In the mean time I beseech your Majesty to believe that I am and shall be as long as I live c. LETTER LVIII To the King I Send this Courrier in hast to your Majesty at the heels of the Sieur de Folaine to deliver you the particular Relation of what the Gentlemen who command your Armies in Italy sent me concerning what happen'd at the Attacque of Pont Carignan I praise God with all my heart for the good success wherewith he is
fix'd to her own Resolves without being able to dissuade her from 'em judg'd that if she was unwilling her Presence should be useful to him at Court it could not but be to his prejudice for her to be there seeing that her appearing to be there in Discontent would but embolden and give liberty to others to come and declare themselves such as she was I am so extreamly afflicted at these things considering my present and eternal Passion for the Queen's Service and what I owe her in all manner of Respects that I can admit of no Comfort though the Resolution taken upon this Occasion was merely the Effect of Necessity not of Choice I beseech God with all my Heart that our Disorders may not be of long Continuance and that I be able to testifie more and more that I am c. LETTER CXXI To the Commander de la Porte I Write you these Lines to acquaint you that the Queen the King's Mother though she had declar'd since her Arrival at Compeigne that she would not stir from thence withdrew her self about four Days ago and is retired into Flanders She thought to have gone to Aix la Chapelle but the Sieur de Vardes the Father took such good Order that he put his Son out of the place where he had a Design to have receiv'd her The King has sent away all the Governors of Picardy every one to their Places to provide for their Security He makes Account very suddenly to take a Progress himself towards the Frontiers by his Presence to disperse and disappoint whatever may occasion any Trouble in his Realm We hope by God's Assistance from his Valour and the Prosperity that attends it that he will bring it to pass with no less Glory then he has hitherto unravell'd all the knotty Affairs he has had under his Management For having God and Justice on his side there is no Reason in my Opinion that he should be afraid of any thing There is not any thing which would be left undone to dissuade the Queen from uniting with Monsieur and Spain The Government of Anjou and the Places which she held there would be restor'd her But she refuses all honourable and safe Conditions that are propos'd to her We shall see what her Departure will produce LETTER CXXII To the Mareschal de Brezè THough I have already signify'd to yee by the Letter which I directed to you as well as to the Mareschal de Chastillon how much I was pleas'd with the Advantage which it has pleas'd God to give the Army under your Command in the Battel with the Enemy at Avein nevertheless I cannot but acquaint you in particular with my extraordinary Joy for so much good Success as well for the King's Glory and the Honour which you have your self acquir'd I doubt not but you will continue upon all Occasions to give Proofs of your Courage as also to govern your self in the Army as I understand you do for that besides it cannot be but greatly to your Advantage it will be a most particular Satisfaction to my self considering how much I share in all your Concerns I beseech yee to preserve a strict Union with Mareschal de Chastillon and to prevent lest the Advantage you have won should give liberty to any one in your Army to demean himself less modestly with the Hollanders then is to be desir'd The main Business is now not to lose Time to pursue your Victory while the Country is under Astonishment I question it not but the Prince of Orange will contribute towards it all that lies in his power I cannot sufficiently express my Joy for the good Success wherewith God has been pleas'd to favour your Conduct I beseech yee that you would acknowledge it as a Blessing from his Hands and to relie more upon him LETTER CXXIII To the Commander de la Porte M. de Bourdeaux is going to the Quarters where you are for the reasons with which he will acquaint yee which terminate in preparing and bastning out a Fleet to Sea which the King desires may be ready by the beginning of March He wil inform yee upon what design the King will employ the said Fleet that he may have your Advice before he sixes his last Resolutions His said Majesty does you the Honour to appoint you Admiral of the said Fleet if you think your Health be in a Condition to endure the Fatigues of the Sea I beseech you not only to consult your Courage but your Disposition of Body your Health being so dear to me that if I thought such a Voyage would be prejudicial to it I would never consent to your going for the World The King thinks it convenient that there should be a Regiment rais'd in your Name to be put on Board the said Fleet. I have made choice of some Captains and left others which you may supply as you shall please your self LETTER CXXIV To Cardinal de Lyon being at Rome THO' it be not necessary to recommend to your care those things wherein I am concern'd and that your Affection for me is sufficient to induce you to be particularly mindful of 'em however I cannot but write you these Lines wherein I beg of yee to employ your dexterity and sollicitation for the Dispatches which I prosecute at Rome of the Bulls for the Abbys of Cisteaux and Premontre of which the Monks have Elected me their Abbot so that this Gentleman whom I send on purpose to Rome for that end may be dispatch'd with all the speed that may be and that he may bring the dispatches along with him I know the share you take in my Interests which assures me that you will not omit what lies in your power that may contribute to my satisfaction in this particular according to my desire requesting you to believe that upon all opportunities you shall find that I am c. LETTER CXXV To the same upon his return from Rome I was extreamly glad to hear as well by your Letters as by the Sieur Châ—velier de Chappes that you were happily ariv'd at Lyon Yet I cannot forbear but I must let you know that my Joy is extreamly lessen'd to hear that your disposition of Health is not so well settled as you and I could desire The share I take in it is such that I cannot conceal from You that the Drugg which they call Scocolate which I am told you frequently make use of being altogether prejudicial to your Health I think it more convenient that you should have recourse to the ordinary Remedies that Physick prescribes to all Diseases To this purpose I wrote to M. de Lorme who is acquainted with your Temperament and in whom you have a great Confidence to desire him that he would wait upon you so soon as he receiv'd my Letter to see in what condition you were and to contribute toward the perfect recovery of your Health whatever his Experience could suggest to that end I think I should
de Schomberg YOU will receive Dispatches from the King wherein you will find two principal things The first is That he would not have you continue the Truce And the second is that you try to relieve Casal so soon as it shall be expir'd I hope that during the Truce you will press the Performance of his Word in order to a Peace so home upon the Duke of Savoy that there will be no need of relieving Casal and that during the said Negotiation you may get all things in such a readiness for the Relief of the said Place that you will want nothing to undertake it in earnest not doubting but you will effect it I am extreamly sorry that I am constrain'd to send you word that the King has got a Quotidian Ague of which this is the fourth Fit All my Comfort in this Affliction which you may well judge to be extraordinary is that the Physicians say they never knew a Quotidian Ague accompany'd with more gentle Symptoms then this Nevertheless they believe it will hold him a long time I cannot but once more let you know my extream Affliction and what a Comfort it would be to me if we were together But we must submit to the Will of God I hope we shall be soon deliver'd from our present Troubles In the mean time I beg you to believe that I am sincerely and cordially c. LETTER CXLIX To the same THE King upon the Dispatch of this Courier to yee thought convenient that I should acquaint yee particularly that M. de Leon's and Father Joseph's Letters have persuaded you to accept the Peace which I do not believe considering your particular Knowledge of the Difference between the said Treaty and the Instructions sent to M. de Leon His Majesty does not mean that you should begin the War again by a new Rupture but that their Letters should serve you for a Pretence of not accepting the Peace if you have not done it already and for continuing the Prosecution of the War till you have farther Orders from him I cannot forbear acquainting you that I am almost out of my Wits to see that M. de Leon and Father Joseph should so strangely over-see themselves But I will write to you more at large within four Days In the mean time assure your self that I am cordially c. LETTER CL. To the same I Am infinitely oblig'd to you for the Care you take in sending to enquire after my Health It is at present out of Order by reason of a Rhumatism which is fallen upon my Reins of which I had some Grudgings when we were together at Leymure But my Pain will be much more easily endur'd then now it is could I but hear that you miss'd your Fit last Night there being no Person in the World who shares more deeply in your Preservation then I do who shall always be glad when I have any Opportunity to give you Proofs of the Truth of what I say and how I am and shall be as long as I live c. LETTER CLI To the Duke of Halwin YOU will understand by the Honour the King is pleas'd to do yee the Advantage of serving so good a Master as His Majesty seeing we receive our Recompence when 't is least thought of His Majesty of his own proper Good Will has heap'd upon you the Honour of being a Mareschal of France with so much Goodness that in truth there could be no Addition to it For my part who have a particular Esteem as you know for your Person I am more pleas'd with it then I can express which I am assur'd you will easily believe since you know that I am from Father to Son c. LETTER CLII. To the same HIS Majesty having hitherto declar'd himself highly satisfy'd with your Conduct in those Places where you are and of your Care in those things which concern the Welfare of the Province I thought it my Duty as your particular Friend to give you Notice that Hajesty did signifie to me to be somewhat displeas'd at your scrupling the Execution of the Orders sent you in his Name for the Allowance of Quarters and Subsistence in your Government for the Soldiers design'd for Italy And this I do that you may by your Prudence apply a Remedy to it Had I had any Excuse to have pleaded in your behalf when His Majesty did me the Honour to speak to me about this Business you may be sure that being so much your Friend as I am I would not have fail'd to have made use of it But having no Reasons sufficiently prevalent to oppose against those upon which he grounded his Complaints I could offer no more to him upon that Subject but that I would write to you and that I promis'd my self from your affectionate Desire and Zeal to please him and for the Advantage of your Affairs that you would for the future make such Amends for what you have done amiss as should be fully to his Satisfaction This is therefore what I beg of yee as much as in me lies to the end I may be the more capable to serve you with my Applications to His Majesty and to let you know by the Effects that I am as much as any Person can be c. LETTER CLIII To the same M. de Narbonne who is returning into his Diocess having testify'd to me his Desire for the future to live in perfect Union and good Correspondence with you and having promis'd to contribute whatever lies on his part to that Effect I write you these Lines to let you know how glad I am of it and to desire you to contribute on your side as much as it is possible to settle that good Understanding between you both which is so necessary for the King's Service so that there may appear no more Coldness in your Friendship Seeing therefore that he has given me his Word so to demean himself towards yee with all the Respect that you can in Reason desire I am willing to believe that he will not be wanting to his Promise and that you will have just Cause to be satisfy'd one of another I passionately wish it not only for the Advantage of the Affairs of your Province but which is more for your own particular Contentment which I shall always desire as much as your self as being c. LETTER CLIV. To Monsieur de Zoiras I Have receiv'd your Letter in Answer to which I have no more to say but only this That there is no Person who can hinder me from being your Friend and Servant but your self I know well you are far from any such Design never questioning but all your Actions will correspond with that Remembrance which you will ever preserve of the King's Goodness and Bounty to his Servants of which you and I may serve for Examples LETTER CLV To the same I Add this to my preceding Letters to acquaint you that the Sieur de Castellane will let you know the
been so pleas'd but only to give him a constant Account thereof His Majesty having no Interest in the matter provided the Catholick Religion be thereby promoted he preferring that Consideration to all the Policies that can occurr upon this Account though perhaps others would not deal with so much Candour towards him But whereas his Majesty is of Opinion that this proposition of Alliance is only to gain time and to improve occasions on both sides as it appears sufficiently by all their proceedings in relation to the general affairs in which they are concern'd so his Majesty thinks fit not to trouble himself any further with it but to refer it all to the Prudences and wise Consideration of his Beatitude Who must needs be sensible by the good Offices lately done at Venice for the restauration of the Jesuits in their Demean what care his Majesty takes to promote whatever tends towards his Holiness's satisfaction who has express'd a great deal of concern in this Affair as a thing tending to the service of God the honour of which might have been rais'd had the Republick been pleas'd to adhere to his Holiness's and his Majesty's good Councils and Salutery Remonstrances And though his Majesty has some reason to be dissatisfy'd with the refusal he has incur'd at his Holinesses Intreaty he having expos'd his Name and Dignity in this Business contrary to his first intentions fore-seeing this resistance from the Seignory Nevertheless in order to do well in all things whenever any reasonable likelihood of success shall appear in the issue of the said Recommendation his Majesty will freely undertake it a new But at present his Majesty is of Opinion that it is proper to refer it to another Season when time shall have made the Venetians sensible of the fault they have committed and of the misfortunes which may arise in their State by the Banishment of the said Fathers If his Holiness should put the said Commandore upon the subject of the Enterprise of Geneva to which he has lately invited his Majesty by a person sent on purpose he is to make him sensible according as it has already been freely declar'd to his Nuncio and to Father Barnabite sent on purpose on that subject that this would be directly contrary to the design his Majesty has propos'd to himself in this Kingdom to remove the Opinion which some malicious persons publish that by the War he makes against his rebellious Subjects he aims at their Religion and not at the Faction which would make them all Unite again not only in France but those of the same Sect out of the Kingdom who hitherto have only been Spectators of this Tragedy which the said Revolters have been the cause of his Majesty having all along told and satisfy'd them that without respect to Religion he only attacks Disobedience and that if any of his Catholick Subjects should lay aside their Allegiance he would use them in the same manner for the good of the publick Peace and for the security of his Authority Had he consented to this Enterprize against Geneva these publick Causes failing he would be at a loss for the prosecution of this project which is in such forwardness And therefore when the said Nuncio and the Ministers of Savoy have press'd him upon that affair they have sound the solidity of his Reasons by his Answers besides the reasons of State which his Majesty does not alledge at this time and which have always been held in great consideration by the late King his Father when the said Duke as he has often done has propos'd the said design But possibly he has thought that his Majesty being imploy'd at home could not so easily divert him from the said design or that his Holiness would have more power to persuade him If the Duke speaks to the said Commandore about it he is to make the same answer to him and that his Majesty for these Reasons which have been known to him heretofore cannot agree to the said Enterprize and that when he has put a good order to his Affairs according to his good beginning it will then be more â—asie for him to resolve about it and to consider of means to favour his Highnesses designs who at this time would do better to joyn with his Holiness to seek out and propose good expedients to promote the advancement of his Majesty's good design in his Kingdom the rather because the security of his Neighbours and the Publick Peace partly depends on the good Condition thereof by the counterpoise every body knows his Majesty's power keeps against other Kings and States which might make attempts to the prejudice of the Common Liberty The said Commandore is also to represent that his Holiness has good informations thereof his Majesty's happy Progresses the last Year and the advantage he has gain'd by the reduction of upwards of Sixty Garrisons his being resolv'd to prosecute his Fortune a great deal farther yet unless the said Revolters submit to their Duty of their own accord on such conditions and submissions as are requir'd from Subjects to Soveraigns That he is persuaded that as God has been pleas'd hitherto to favour his Arms he will still assist him for the future since he has no other end but the maintaining of his Authority and the promoting of Religion under the favour of the Edicts as much as justice and their behaviour will permit him being now ready to march under the protection of God whom he intreats his Holiness to implore for him as he has hitherto done in order to prosecute the success of his just and pious design And the said Commandore is to take care to acquaint his said Holiness with his Majesty's Moral and Pious Life a true example for his Age to all other Kings He assures himself that God will grant the Vows and Prayers of his Holiness and of all his Majesty's good Subjects thus following the paths of Honour and Vertue which gives hopes besides that being seconded by his Holiness's good Advice he will daily fructify for the better and employ those advantages bestow'd on him by Providence to the Honour of his Holy Name and unto the benefit of the Christian Common-wealth And it is highly important for the promotion of this good Work that it be favour'd and that all the World may know that it was undertaken by the Authority of his Holiness his Predecessors having lost many favourable occasions to advance the publick good for want of so doing His Majesty expects from the Justice and Wisdom of his Beatitude that making his profit of their Faults and Omissions in what relates to him he will be more careful of it and will look upon him as the most Christian King first Son of the Church who in his private and publick Conduct aims at nothing but the Exaltation of the Holy Name of God Equity and the general Good and Peace of Christendom These things appear particularly in the Actions which are done in
the Army will be at being in Action of which a particular Account is to be given to such Persons as His Majesty or the Grand Master of the Artillery of France shall depute in order thereunto in the said Army His said Majesty is also to allow Ammunition-Bread both to the Foot and Horse whether in the Field or in Garisons without deducting any thing for the same out of the said Musters If any of the Officers Soldiers or other particular Persons belonging to the said Army shall desire His Majesty to gratifie them with the Gift of some Lands and Houses seated in a conquer'd Country His Majesty does promise to make such Gratifications of the same to them that every one of them shall have Reason to be satisfy'd Moreover His said Majesty does promise to ratifie and confirm the Gifts of such Lands Lordships and Houses seated in the said Countries and Towns as may have been made by the late Duke of Weymar in favour of the Officers and Soldiers of the said Army and other particular Persons that were in his Service In Consideration of which the aforesaid Directors and other Colonels and Officers do promise in the Name of the whole Army to continue to serve His Majesty fâ—ithfully and constantly towards and against all what Oâ—der or Command they might receive to the contrary conformable to what His late Highness was oblig'd to do by his Treaty of the 27th of October 1635. and to march with the Army to all such Places and Enterprises as His Majesty shall desire either into France Germany Burgundy Lorrain or the Low-Countries for the Restoration of the publick Liherty and oppress'd States Orders shall be given to their Body by the said Directors or one of them according as they shall agree by the Day Weekly or otherwise Which Orders they shall first receive from His Highness of Longueville General of His Majesty's Armies as it was done by the late Duke of Weymar Lieutenant-General du Hallier and the Vice-Count of Turrinne and Count Guebriant Mareschals de Camp of His Majesty's Armies The said Directors are to be call'd into all the Councils and Resolutions to be taken for the Good and Promotion of the common Cause and Restoration of the Confederate Towns and States The conquer'd Places are forthwith to be deliver'd into His Majesty's Hands according to the late Duke of Weymar's last Will and Testament in order that His Majesty may place such Governors as he shall think fit in the Cities of Brisac and Friburg with Garisons consisting one half of French and the other half of Germans And as to the Governors of the other Places His Majesty is to chuse them out of the Body of the Army the said Governors and Garisons taking an Oath well and faithfully to serve the King to-towards and against all to preserve the Garisons for his Service and never to deliver them into any body's hands without His Majesty's Leave and express Order The present Articles have been sign'd by His Majesty's Deputies by virtue of the Power given unto them as also by the Directors of the Army in the Name of all the other Officers The said Deputies have promis'd to deliver the Ratifications of the said Treaty in two Months time reckoning from the Day of the Date hereof and the said Directors to take and oblige all the other Colonels Officers Soldiers and Troopers of the said Army to take an Oath well and faithfully to observe all that is above-written Done at Brisac this 9 th of October 1639. A Secret Article WE Count de Guebriant de Choisy and Baron d'Oysonville Deputed by His Majesty do acknowledge That notwithstanding by the Articles this Day sign'd between Us and the Directors of the Army Commanded by the late Duke of Weymar it is said that the Cities of Brisac and Friburg are to be deliver'd into His Majesty's Hands in order to his placing such Governors in the same as he shall think fit nevertheless the Truth is that we have agreed that the King shall give the the Government of the said Places to the same Persons who had the Command thereof during the Life of the late Duke of Wâ—ymar and have it still at this time the said Governors taking the Oath as it is set down in the said Articles And the more to express the Considence His Majesty reposes in the Affection and Fidelity of the Colonels and Officers of which the said Body is compos'd towards his Service we do promise That in case His Majesty shall think sit to change the Governors and Garisons of the conquer'd Places they shall both be re-implac'd at his Choice with Officers and Soldiers out of the said Army As also That His said Majesty will leave the free Exercise of the Protestant Religion in all the said Towns and Armies For all which the said Deputies do promise to procure His Majesty's Ratification in the space of two Months Done at Brisac Septemb. 29. O.S. Or Octob. 9. N.S. 1639. Sign'd de Guebriant de Choisy Baron d'Oysonville d'Erlach Hohem Nassaw Roze Flerschin Thomas Rluge F. M. Remehingen and others The Oath taken by the Officers and Soldiers of the said Army WE promise faithfully loyally and honourably to serve His most Christian Majesty towards and against his Enemies to march in all Places either in Germany France Lorrain or the Low-Countries according as we shall be commanded by His Highness of Longucville His said Majesty's General in Germany And that in case we should hear any thing against the King's Service we will give notice thereof to His said Highness and all for the Good and Promotion of the common Cause and to obtain a good and lasting Peace And whereas we do hope that His Majesty will satisfie us according to the Treaty of Brisac for our Services past and those we will do him We also expect in case of Non-performance to be discharg'd of our Promise A Treaty made between the Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu for the King and the Duke Charles of Lorrain THE real Repentance the Duke Charles of Lorrain has often caus'd Assurances to be given of to the King for the ill Proceedings he has us'd towards him these ten or twelve Years last past the Petition he is come to make in Person to him to remit and pardon whatever Despair might have urg'd him to say or do comrary to the Respect he is sensible he owes him and the Assurance he gives that for the future he will be inseparable from all the Interests of this Crown have touch'd His Majesty in so sensible a manner that he has freely given way to the Christian Sentiments and Movements of Grace God has been pleas'd to give him upon that Subject In Consideration of which as he beseeches the Divine Goodness to pardon his Offences so he heartily forgives those he may have receiv'd from the said Duke And after the said Duke has oblig'd himself as he does by the present Treaty for himself his Successors and such as may
Monsieur Bouthilliers has sent me an account what Complaints you make of Bellefonds No doubt but the King will give you all the Satisfaction you can expect in that Matter I am sorry to find by you that the King's Companies are in such ill Order At the same time I am pleased that you are so well satisfy'd with the Regiment of Guards and with the News you sent me about the Sieur Savignac I am likewise well pleased to hear what Monsieur de Turenne has perform'd in relation to the Castles which he took by your Order I don't question but he will discover his great Merits upon all occasions Don't be afraid I beg it of you to be too severe for 't is almost impossible for you to trespass in that kind The King's Affairs are in so perplexed a Condition that 't is a Chimoera to go to rectifie them without Rigour I desire you to send me good verbal Processes against all those that have abandon'd the Army that I may see them accordingly punish'd If you condemn Vezilly as you send me word you will I 'll take care to have your Sentence put in execution The Sieur Ferrier will entertain you so particularly about all that has happen'd here that at present I need only subscribe my self Your most Humble c. RICHELIEU Chilly Oct. 19 1635. LETTER XXXVIII To the same My Lord YOU will find by the King's Dispatches which the Sieur de la Cour-d'Argis will shew you what his Majesty's Sentiments are upon the occasion of his Journey I have sent you a Memorial by him of my Thoughts at present by which you will perceive that the King does not positively order you to give Battle but in that matter he wholly leaves you to your own Liberty 'T is certain that as one unfortunate Event wou'd throw our Affairs into a great Disorder so a compleat Victory wou'd be of mighty advantage to us And so much do I relie upon your Courage your Prudence your Zeal for the Service of the King and your generous Ambition to answer the expectation of your Friends that I promise my self every thing from your Conduct We have put up publick Supplications to God in all the Convents of Paris to implore a Blessing upon his Majesty's Arms. I give you a thousand thanks for the good advice you gave me which I received as a fresh Proof of your Affection to my Interests I send you no News by this Bearer because he is urgent to depart only I will tell you that the King arriv'd here yesterdy in good Health His Majesty has sent the Count de Gramail to the Bastile because he was one of those who instead of advancing his Affairs was a means of keeping them back There are abundance of other ill-favour'd Particulars that I cannot send you an account of now but we will discourse of them sometime or other at your leasure In the mean time I beseech you to believe that no Man living esteems and loves you better than my self and that I am and ever will be with all sincerity My Lord Your most Humble c. RICHELIEU Ruel Oct. 23 1653. The Superintendants have sent you by the Sieur Ferrier a Month's Pay for your Cavalry and a particular Fund for your private Expences LETTER XXXIX To the Duke of Halwin SIR AFter having seen all your Dispatches and the Advices you sent to me I cannot sufficiently commend you for the great Care you have taken to put all the Diocesses in Languedoc in a condition to oppose the Enemy in case they have a design to attempt any thing on that side I am clearly of opinion that you cannot make too much haste to summon the Nobility of the Country and the Companies of Gendarms belonging to you and Monsieur d' Ambres to appear I likewise think 't will be absolutely necessary for you to put those two Regiments for which you receiv'd Commissions on foot with all the speed you can Monsieur de Bullion will send you what Money you have occasion for to raise the Levies Monsieur de la Vriliere has engag'd himself to procure you that Order I shall shortly send the Sieur de Rentiere again to you with my advice upon all Matters you think fit to signifie to him In the mean time I conjure you to provide for all those places in your Province upon which you believe the Enemy may have any design for in such cases a Man had infinitely better do too much than too little for fear of a Surprizal In a Word I persuade my self that you 'll omit nothing that may be expected from your Diligence and Loyalty to the King This is the reason why I say no more to you upon this Chapter contenting my self to assure you that I am with all sincerity SIR Your c. RICHELIEU Ruel Nov. 9 1635. LETTER XL. To the same SIR I Have again dispatch'd the Sieur de Rentiere to you with all speed to acquaint you that we have seized a Letter from the King of Spain directed to the Cardinal Infant wherein he tells him in express Terms that were it not for the War of Italy he had before this made a Descent upon Languedoc and that he employs all his Efforts to carry on that Design Besides these general Terms when he comes to Particulars he plainly says that he is resolv'd to surprize Mazeres To prevent this Design you are order'd immediately upon the receipt of this to put the two Regiments on foot for which you have receiv'd Commissions and ready Money is sent to you to defray your Charges in raising them and since the Passes of Col Saint-Louis and Col de Terneres are the only two places through which they Enemy can come towards Mazeres and Saverdan you must dispatch some Forces with all expedition to seize and fortifie them Now because 't is impossible to keep Col de Terneres any other way but by fortifying Forcereal in the Enemy's Country and Col de las-Batailles in ours you must seize the above-mention'd Col de las-Batailles and fortifie it and the King will impower you to surprize Forcereal and fortifie it provided you are able to keep it as the Sieur de Rentiere proposes it feasible His Majesty likewise gives you power to possess your self of Aupoulx which place the aforesaid Sieur de Rentiere tells us may be easily gain'd and when once in our Possession so easie to be kept that 't is impossible for all the Force of Spain to wrest it out of our Hands I am apt to believe that these two Designs cannot well miscarry provided they are put in execution with speed and secresie Besides the Sieur de Rentiere whom we have trusted with this Matter no Man living has the least knowledge of it and in the Country it will be easie enough to keep it secret by pretending that all these Preparations you make are for the Defence and Preservation of your Frontier which the Enemy has publickly threaten'd to
of the matter Assure your self My Lord that whatever concerns you shall likewise affect me to the highest degree who am My Lord Your c. Abbey de la Victoire Sept 22 1636. LETTER LX. To the same My Lord THE Sieur de Suz will deliver the King's pleasure to you so fully and clearly that I have no occasion to say more to that point I am confident you know how to make the best use of it and manage all Advantages with care You shall not want Money to pay for whatever Corn is necessary for the Subsistence of your Army Due care shall be taken here to supply you with it from time to time according as you send us word that you stand in need of it I have written to the Duke of Weymar a Letter in the most obliging Terms I cou'd think of I likewise writ to Monsieur de Ranzau The Sieur de Suz and his Gentleman bring him two thousand Crowns for his Pension We shall most certainly take care of him We hasten as much as possible Monsieur de Longueville to go and joyn you He sent me word two Days ago that he was march'd out of Gisors I say nothing to you of our Affairs on this side You 'll hear the News soon enough from other Hands The Enemy retir'd with too much haste out of Picardy and those that were employ'd to pursue them follow'd them too slowly A Multitude of Commanders does never do any good Corbie is block'd up The Works advance very well the Spaniards 't is true bear Hardships very well but 't is certain that the necessities of the place are very pressing Among the rest they have no Wine very little Beer and but one Hand-Mill which cannot supply one half of the Garrison The Sieur de Suz brings the Great Provost his Commission to go to Nancy pray send him thither with all Secresie and speed for the Affair requires it In whatsoever Place or Condition I am you shall always find me what you know me to be that is to say My Lord Your c. Amiens Oct. 10 1636. Pray tell the Count de Grancay that the King takes it very kindly from him that he helpt you to subsist your Army As for my own particular I am highly oblig'd to him for it and will take all occasions to possess the King with a good opinion of his Services Addition Yesterday in the Evening I receiv'd your Letter dated Oct. 3. I shall only add to those Lines I writ to you yesterday that I am sending a Courrier in all haste to Monsieur de Longueville to joyn you with all expedition Monsieur de Ranzau has not only receiv'd his Warrant for a Pension of two thousand Crowns but has had it actually paid to him which Summ I made a shift to make up not thinking it fit to wait the leasure of the Treasury It is impossible at present to get Aiguebonne out of the place where he is Fontenay is busied here We cou'd not think of a fitter Man to send to Nancy than the Great Provost Pray write to all the places in Alsatia to furnish themselves with as much Corn as they can I will effectively provide that Money shall be sent to them We have writ to Monsieur de Villarceaux to lay up part of the Corn with all speed at Saverne The Great Provost being at Nancy may make him do it himself If Monsieur de Ranzau can raise the Croats we shall be well pleas'd with the News I will write to Charnacé to bring over Herrenrestre about whom you writ to me to the King's Service Amiens Oct. 11 1636. LETTER LXI To the same My Lord WHen the Sieur de Suz parted from hence in order to go and wait upon you I assured him we wou'd think to put him in some Place without explaining my self any farther to him Since that time I have so great a Value for him particularly upon the Testimonials you have given me of his Affection and Courage that I propos'd him to the King to be Governour of Moyenvic concluding that you wou'd be infinitely better pleas'd to have this Place which depends upon your Government and is at the Gates of Metz fill'd with a Person whom you love and can answer for than one you don't know as you do the Sieur de Suz His Majesty granted him the Government very willingly If you think him not proper for the place pray stop the Commission and send it back again to me But if you judge him capable of such a Post see it deliver'd to him and send him to Mayenvec aforesaid In this and every thing else where there is the least prospect of serving you you 'll find by the effect that I am with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Amiens Oct. 16 1636. LETTER LXII To the same My Lord THE reason of my setting Pen to Paper now is not to answer your Dispatch which you sent me by the Sieur Arodot but to assure you of the continuance of my Affection and Service and to tell you that the Marquiss of Coblens has had the honour to kiss the King's Hand who receiv'd him very favourably His Majesty has granted him a Pension of two thousand Crowns and given him a Warrant for it till such time as he has an opportunity to reward his Services some other way For my own particular I will assist him as far as lies in my power as well in consideration of his Merit as for the recommendation you give me of his Person I beseech you to believe that I am and will be so as long as I live My Lord Your c. Amiens Oct. 29 1636. A MEMORIAL To the same IN the time of Monsieur de Montmorency Monsieur le Premier behav'd himself extremely ill because the other had such an Ascendant over him that he made him do what he pleased After this the aforesaid Sieur le Premier manag'd himself with a Conduct not to be mis-liked till now of late being possessed by some obscure Persons that are unknown he return'd to his former wicked Courses which particularly appear'd after the infamous Cowardise of his Unkle who was Governour of Catelet At the beginning of the Siege he said in publick Company That he was assur'd that his Unkle wou'd not agree to any Capitulation and if he did that he wou'd be the first to condemn him As soon as this Place was basely and ignominiously surrender'd he alter'd his Tone and had the boldness to say That his Unkle had discharg'd the part of an honest Man This anger'd the King Afterwards his Majesty having held a Council at Chaliot where it was resolv'd to apprehend the Sieur de St. Leger Monsieur le Premier who was then at Chaliot having discover'd it dispatch'd a Courrier immediately to his Brother to inform his Unkle of the Proceedings and advise him to make his Escape Which fell out so well for him that he receiv'd notice of it two Hours before
I desire you to dispatch a Person in whom you may relie thither to fortifie them in their good Intentions The Malice of the Count and the Easiness of Monsieur are really things that surpass expressing I conjure you to do on your side all that you shall judge necessary upon this occasion Monsieur de Noyers has writ to you about Winter-Quarters for the Duke of Weymar 'T is of great importance in my Opinion that he shou'd have them in Lorrain on the side of Remiremont Espinal Rambervilliers Mirecourt that we may save France as much as we can or rather to give him some Contributions to be rais'd upon Bassigny that shall be brought to him by certain Commissioners erected on purpose to receive them I beseech you to believe that I am and always will be My Lord Your c. De Plessis Saint Just Nov. 21 1636. LETTER LXVI To the same My Lord MOnsieur de Noyers dispatching this Courrier to you to give you Advice of the Alteration that has happen'd in the Affair of Monsieur and the Count I writ these few Lines to signifie to you how overjoy'd I am at the News and to acquaint you by the same Bearer that I hope every thing will be accommodated to the Satisfaction of the King and his Servants and yet that this shall not occasion the least change in his Majesty's Affairs I wish with all my Heart it may go off so But let whatever will happen I shall always be to the utmost of my power My Lord Your c. Presle Nov. 24 1636. I know well enough that the Equipping of the Count will cause some Difficulties but for all that I don't believe it will have any influence in changing the Series of Affairs or the repose of the State LETTER LXVII To the same My Lord MOnsieur de Noyers has writ so fully to you that the reason of my putting Pen to Paper now was not to add any thing to his Dispatch but only to tell you the King is of opinion that 't is absolutely necessary for for his Service that you shou'd not leave your Post to come to wait upon him till such time as you have decided what is contain'd in the Memorial which the aforesaid Sieur de Noyers sends you from the part of his Majesty You 'll pass a better Judgment upon it when you see it than 't is possible for me to represent to you in this Letter I will not tell you how joyful I shall be to see you reserving that till such an opportunity presents it self In the mean time I conjure you to believe that there is no Man living upon whose Affection and Service you may more entirely depend than mine who am and ever will be My Lord Your c. Ruel Nov. 29 1636. LETTER LXVIII To the same My Lord THE Prince of Orange having sent me several Letters and Memoirs where he takes notice of several Defects at Thionville observed by one la Mothe a Captain in that Garrison who was taken Prisoner by the Troops belonging to the States and carried to Maâ—stricht I judged it convenient that you should go and view the place that if there is any prospect of getting it you might not lose the opportunity while you are in those parts For which reason I have sent the Dispatch to you just as I receiv'd it leaving it to your Prudence to make those Considerarations upon it which you think will be most advantageous for the King's Service This being the business of this Letter I shall only add that I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Ruel Dec. 14 1636. LETTER LXIX To the same My Lord YOU will herewith receive the Commission sent down to the Duke of Candalle to command the King's Army in your absence and under you I have nothing more to add but that so soon as you have put the Army into their Winter-Quarters the King will be very glad to see you and my self in particular whose greatest Ambition it is to convince you that I am My Lord Your c. Ruel Dec. 15 1636. LETTER LXX To Monsieur the King's Brother My Lord HIS Majesty's Goodness in relation to your self is so fully known to me that I dare engage my Life and Honour for the performance of what he is pleas'd to promise you in the Letter which will be put into your Hands by Monsieur de Chavigny Your Highness shall find upon this occasion and any other that may happen hereafter that I am with Zeal and Sincerity My Lord Your c. LETTER LXXI To Monsieur the Count. SIR THE Assurances which Monsieur de Brion aad the good Father Hilarion have given me of your Affection have made me write these few Lines to you to thank you for it and to signifie to you how overjoy'd I am that you have taken the true Course to re-establish your self in his Majesty's Favour and given an opportunity to those that honour you as I do in particular to do you what Service they can Which I shall most readily do whenever an occasion presents it self as being Sir Your c. Ruel March 27 1636. LETTER LXXII To the Duke of Halwin SIR I Was extremely pleas'd to find by the Letter you writ to me on the 14th of this Month that you had sent a Re-inforcement to the Islands by way of advance His Majesty judges it expedient that you should visit them as you desire and discourse the Commissioners of the Navy to know what store of Victuals and Ammunitions Languedoc is able to furnish for their Subsistence as you will more particularly find by the Letter which the King has written to you upon this Subject I do here positively assure you that if you pass your Word as you tell me you are ready to do it to the Merchants who are willing to advance these Provisions that they shall certainly be paid such order shall be taken to establish a Fund here for that purpose that you need not be in any trouble about that matter In the mean time rest assur'd of the continuance of my Affection to you and believe that no opportunity shall present it self to give you any Proofs of it which I shall not most eagerly embrace who am Sir Your c. Charonne April 2 1636. Besides that 't is his Majesty's desire that you wou'd visit all Provence about the occasion mention'd in my Letter I conjure you in my own particular to do all that lies in your power relating to that Affair assuring you that you cannot do any thing that will be more agreeable to his Majesty and grateful to my self LETTER LXXIII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Dispatch'd this Gentleman on purpose to you as well to bring me an account of your Health as how Affairs go in your part of the World I don't doubt but you 'll take all imaginable care to put your self in a condition to enter the Enemy's Country speedily because the surest way to give
are now upon promises so fairly and indeed 't is impossible to manage any thing with more Prudence and Judgment than you have shown upon that occasion I don't question but that in a short time you 'll be Master of Chasteau-Cambresis and hope that after that Landrechy will make no long opposition tho' the Town is strongly fortify'd and well provided so great an opinion have I of the good Success of his Majesty's Arms and of your Diligence Nothing shall be wanting here that may in the least contribute to make you Master of that place I have already sent you word that besides the fourscore thousand weight of Powder which you have with you there are thirty thousand weight more at St. Quintin which you may send for when you see fit As also four thousand Cannon-Ball and two thousand for Culverins that are at Guise And now I can assure you that Monsieur de la Meilleraye has given Orders to send you all sorts of Ammunition on which we work here without intermission He has likewise sent you 300 Artillery Horses extraordinary to carry the Powder and other Stores that are at Chaulny and Compeigne according to your request to Guise and to hasten the aforesaid Carriages and Waggons we send thither a Relation of Monsieur de Noyers and a Gentleman that lives with me who I am sure will not lose one Moment Thus my Lord I hope that you 'll be well supply'd with Ammunition and that in a short time we shall have a good Magazine at Guise We have likewise dispatch'd Courriers to the Regiments of Belnave Xaintonge and Perigord that are quarter'd not far from this place to advance in order to send them to you to re-inforce your Army We have no News in these parts The King God be thanked is in good health As for my self I am troubled with my old Distemper which however does not hinder me from testifying to you upon all occasions that I am with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Ruel June 23 1637. LETTER LXXVII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord SInce the Dispatch I sent to you by Monsieur de Pulluau the Sieur Renard arriv'd here upon which I cou'd not forbear to congratulate with you for the continual progress of his Majesty's Arms under your conduct not at all doubting but that they will prosper more and more in your Hands to the great satisfaction of the King and your own Honour in particular As you have already found by good Experience that nothing is wanting to you which is in the power of the Court so I am persuaded that on your part you 'll do all you can to make your self Master speedily of the Town you have besieg'd not questioning but that you have taken sufficient care to prevent any relief from coming to the place I can assure you that you 'll either find the Enemy in a weak condition or that they 'll leave you to meet the Prince of Orange who at this very Moment I am writing to you is in the Field He parted from the Hague on the Seventeenth of this Month for that intent and I flatter my self that he will perform some remarkable Action for in all probability he has such a Design in his Head and knows well enough that the Enemy is not over powerful I so passionately desire that the Army may be victorious under your command that if I thought there were the least necessity for it I wou'd offer my self to serve you even in the quality of a Commissary of the Provisions I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Ruel June 26 1637. LETTER LXXVIII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord THE desire I have to omit nothing that may enable you to perform some notable and successful Action has made me resolve since the departure of Monsieur de Palluau to dispatch an Express to Monsieur de la Meilleraye to tell him that instead of carrying on the Design upon which we put him he must march strait away for St. Quintin with fifteen hundred Horse and four thousand Foot to joyn you if you have occasion for him Upon due consideration I find that we may reap so many Advantages by taking Landrechy that nothing in the World should be neglected that can in the least contribute to so good a Design If I cou'd do more towards the effecting of it I wou'd do it very freely both as it respects the King's Service and your Glory You may rest assur'd of this as also that I am with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Ruel June 27 1637. LETTER LXXIX To the Duke of Halwin SIR I Have dispatch'd this Courrier on purpose to you to inform you with all speed that besides the Attack which the King of Spain makes on the Coasts of Bayonne he prepares another for Languedoc which he designs to make on the Fifteenth of July To facilitate this Enterprize he has summoned all the Power of Spain and seized on all the Coach-Horses in Madrid to mount the Cavalry You may easily believe that I am well satisfied how difficult it is for Spain to make two powerful Attacks at the same time but however 't is very certain that this is their Design and that the Enemy pretend to make a Descent upon Languedoc both by Sea and by Land Being no longer employ'd in the Islands their Naval Forces may help to execute this Attempt Now to prevent this Storm I desire you to advance to Narbonne with all Expedition take the Sieur d' Argencourt along with you to see what is necessary to be done there and accordingly put every thing in order without delay Post the Regiment of Languedoc in some neighbouring place to help you in case of need Order all the Commons of the Province to be ready as likewise the Gentlemen and Nobility and lay up all the Corn you can get in the Country at Narbonne We have already written to Monsieur de Vitry to send you his Regiment and to the Messieurs d' Harcourt and Bourdeaux to get the Naval Forces ready to come to your assistance I make no doubt but that by the help of God and your diligence the Enemy will be as warmly received in Languedoc as they were in the Islands I beg of you not to neglect this Advice and though you see but little appearance of their coming to visit you yet take it for a certain Truth I writ to Monsieur de Narbonne to acquaint him that this is no Chimerical News as likewise to desire him to second your good Intentions upon this occasion Monsieur de Barraut has receiv'd Orders some time ago to raise the Militia which is now in a State of readiness to defend the Country of Foix. Monsieur de la Vrillerie has sent him word to march with them to your assistance in case of necessity and has sent you his Majesty's Dispatch to that purpose as also another to Monsieur de â—…ry to
Difficulties attend a Siege and therefore don't desire that you should hasten your Attacks more than you can do it in Prudence I can assure you that this is not only his Majesty's Opinion but likewise of all those that have the honour to be near his Person Monsieur de la Meilleraye is marched to joyn you according to the Orders he has receiv'd from hence occasion'd by what you writ to us some time ago viz. that you wanted to be re-inforced with some Troops He is ready to act as you shall order him the only reason why we sent him being to execute your commands either on the Siege or any where else where you think fit to employ him Since you are of opinion that you still want Horses to fetch in your Provisions we are going to raise two hundred more in order to relieve yours when they begin to be harrassed As for the Artillery Monsieur de la Meilleraye may joyn yours with that which was design'd for him in case you have occasion for it and thus I hope you 'll be supply'd with every thing necessary to carry on your Design Bergerac told me as from you that you have receiv'd advice that the Enemy are taking abundance of Cannon out of Sedan to be employ'd against us We cannot imagine what shou'd be the meaning of it because they do nothing at Sedan as we are inform'd by the Mareschal de Châtillon who acquaints us with what passes there I beg of you that as you continue your Attacks which you send me word were begun last Night you wou'd not forget to finish your Lines of Circumvallation and rest assur'd that nothing that lies in our power shall be omitted which may facilitate the reduction of the place Knowing that the Enemy may be in a condition to make some Effort by the end of this Month the King whom I shall accompany makes account to be at Soissons about that time to strengthen either by his Presence or by the addition of his own Troops your Army which perhaps may want such a Re-inforcement Be assur'd that in whatsoever place 't is my destiny to be I am and ever shall be My Lord Your c. Challiot July 19 1637. LETTER LXXXV To the Cardinal de la Vallette My Lord THO' I have nothing at present to write to you yet I cou'd not let the Sieur de Bergerac go without giving him this Letter to assure you of the continuance of my Affection and Service on which you may certainly depend upon all occasions We begin to have News of Picolomini that he has not above eight or nine thousand Men in all with him half Horse and half Foot Monsieur de Châtillon has got his Forces together and has a sufficient power with him to despise all the Efforts that the Enemy can make on that side The King will be infallibly at Soissons or â—…on by the end of this Month. The Sieur de Saintou has taken care to send away all those things that Monsieur de la Meilleraye said he had a necessary occasion for We will not fail to supply you with every thing that may be expected from us Rest satisfy'd of this and that I am My Lord Your c. Challiot July 15 1637. LETTER LXXXVI To the same My Lord I Am overjoy'd to find by you that the Siege of Landrechy is so fairly advanc'd We are in hopes to hear every Day better News than other for places that are reduc'd to such a Condition as yours is make no long opposition when they once begin to decline I have spoken to the King about what you were pleased to write to me that it was high time to find out a Governour for the Town His Majesty was of opinion that the two fittest Men in your Army were Nettancourt and Vaubecourt but the latter he thinks the properer of the two in regard of Nettancourt's Religion which wou'd extremely prejudice the reputation of his Majesty and check the progress we may expect to make in Flanders So you must put the aforesaid Sieur de Vaubecourt with his Regiment and such other Troops as you shall judge convenient into the place as well to guard as to fortifie it We continue to make a considerable Progress in Burgundy as well on the part of Monsieur de Longueville as of the Duke of Weymar and the Count de Gransay Landrechy will balance the loss of Hermestein and after this we will push our fortune farther in Flanders The King will set forward by the end of this Month as I have already sent you word for Laon. I am persuaded that two or three Days before our departure we shall hear the agreeable News that you have pluck'd down the Stag that you have been chasing I am and always shall be My Lord Your c. Challiot July 21 1637. The Hollanders embark'd some fifteen Days ago at Ramekins but the Wind was so contrary that we don't know which way they are gone However we are certain that they will do us some notable Service LETTER LXXXVII To the same My Lord YOU will receive two of my Letters in one Day The latter comes to inform you that the Hollanders having been in great Pain at some Reports that have been scatter'd abroad that your Army consists of no more than eight or nine thousand Men I beseech you that for the future you will not suffer the Commissaries that make the Reviews to order their Accounts so as has been practised of late They cannot be too exact to set down no more Men than they find in the Army but then 't is reasonable they should put those in the Number that are reckon'd in Pay Now in their present Supputations they never reckon the Captain the Lieutenant the Ensign the two Sergeants the Drummer the Haut-boy and the Quartermaster nor what is more the three Men that are allowed to the three great Officers for want of which they are forced to take other Soldiers when their Baggage marches Thus not reckoning in every Company the eleven Men that are effectually there it comes to pass that in a Regiment consisting of twenty Companies we lose two hundred and twenty Men. By this means the Enemy having always Spies in our Army and knowing that People are seldom guilty of making their numbers less than they are imagine that we are fewer than in reality we are which may occasion a world of inconveniences The Sieur Usquerque who is Secretary to the States has been again with us to be informed of the Truth of your Army which is represented so small on this side that it looks as if these Gentlemen wou'd use this as an Excuse for not doing the great Service we expected from them 'T is to little purpose for us to tell them how things really are for People are apter to believe the flying Reports of an Army than our Assurances which is an unspeakable damage to us We have dispatched two Courriers to the States to satisfie
Days ago for this purpose I have sent you thirty thousand Livres more that if you make an Attempt upon N you may want nothing All that I have written to you above being presuppos'd although the King gives you full liberty to act as you shall see most convenient for his Service and 't is a difficult matter for a Man to give his Advice at a great distance yet for all that I am of opinion that if you cou'd succeed at N and the place is really as advantageous as it is represented to be it wou'd be no very hard matter by keeping a considerable Body in all the good Country that lies between this Post and Maubeuge to take Avenes with a few Horse and no great number of Foot In a word My Lord I leave all to your Prudence beseeching you to believe that as I by no means desire you to attempt any thing above your power so we at least expect that you should perform all you are capable of doing Heaven be praised every thing goes well on all sides We do better and better every Day in the Franche-Comté Monsieur de Châtillon is in hopes to make some good progress in Luxemburgh And just now we have receiv'd Advice that on the First of this Month the Duke of Savoy met the whole Spanish Cavalry near Verseil beyond Sezia and resolv'd to attack them with Vigour Which he perform'd so well that there are at least two hundred of them dead upon the Spot two hundred taken Prisoners and above four hundred Horses made a Booty Spadin and several other Persons of great consideration were killed in this Aâ—…on This My Lord is all I have to communicate to you in this Letter I have no more to add but my desires that you wou'd believe me to be with all sincerity My Lord Your c. Challiot Aug. 8 1637. Le Plessis Bezancon will part within a Day or two You must excuse me if I tell you that in truth you write with so much deference of 44 that I am afraid you are not satisfy'd with him All the Letters he writes to me are full of Expressions of Gratitude for the great Civilities he has receiv'd from you He looks upon it as an honour to be under your command but shou'd he ever do any thing to disoblige you I wou'd most assuredly disown him My Opinion is that we ought to end this Campagne as we begun for since the Prince of Orange cannot march into Flanders as he proposed in his first Design nothing obliges us now to separate his Majesty's Forces any longer However if you find the Party aforesaid a Burthen to you the Friendship between you and me is great enough to make me find an Invention to rid you of him Addition SInce the writing of this Letter the Sieur Talon your Secretary brings us advice from the Sieur de Roquepine who commands for you at Metz that after an exact view of Picolomini's Troops that are quarter'd between Treves and Vaudreurange he judges them to be reduc'd to six thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse Since which advice the aforesaid Sieur de Roquepine assures us that they lose so many Men as well by want of Provisions as by sickness that he believes they cannot be above five thousand five hundred at most By this we may conclude that it will be impossible for him to march into Flanders at the head of 13 or 1400 Horse and 4000 Foot so that by God's help he will not be in a capacity to do us a Mischief I conclude from this Account and the Siege of Breda that till the 20th of August or thereabout you will have no great Business upon your hands because the Spaniards will endeavour all they can to hinder the Lines of Circumvallation from being finish'd at Breda and when they find there is no possibility of saving that Town 't is probable they will come to attack us in their own Country and that we may be so happy as to conclude this Campagne with a successful Battle I conjure you to take care that Landrechy be well fortify'd and that nothing be wanting there LETTER XCII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Was extremely glad to be inform'd by yours of the 9th of this Month after what manner Affairs went on your side You found by my former Letter which I gave Monsieur de Combour to deliver to you that the King gives you full liberty to act at your Discretion and that your Advices and ours did not differ I never knew particularly what sort of a place St. Guillain was for which reason I writ to you concerning it as a thing fit to be undertaken if you judged it worth the while The Difficulties we must expect to find there now upon account of the two Men that were hanged have wholly alter'd the Face of this Affair so that we must comfort our selves if Maubeuge as you represent it can do us the same kindness In such a case it will be necessary for you to fortifie your self there as well as you can I did not so much apprehend the difficulty of taking St. Guillain as that of keeping it which cou'd not be done without great Convoys that require abundance of Troops and in the Winter are almost impossible If we cou'd take Avenes as I most assuredly believe we may we shou'd have reason to say that this Campagne was employ'd happily enough This is therefore the Point to which we must stick and by keeping the Sambre whereof now you are Master still in your power you may hinder the Enemy from coming to the relief of it Bezancon when he was here promised to do Wonders in the good ordering of the Army for which reason we have sent him word to go to wait upon you that by your Orders he might as far as is possible hinder the Soldiers from making havock of the Corn for I well foresee that it will be an impossible Matter to furnish so great a Body with Corn enough if you don't make them sublist upon what you find in the Country where as I am informed 't is exceedingly plentiful In the mean time one Touches of Metz is gone to convoy four or five hundred Muids of Corn that are now at Guise to Landrechy in which he will be forced to employ more than two hundred Horses which you demanded and which have been employ'd in carrying one thing or another ever since you have taken the Field A Message has been sent to Monsieur Lambert to joyn de Bussy's Army at Estren between Capelle and Avenes and to stay there till you send him farther Orders As for the Owners of the Horses that bring Provisions to your Army they shall have all due encouragement to make them continue in the Service In the mean time you must take care to prevent them from leaving you I have seen a Letter of the Sieur Arnauld dated the 10th of this Month and written to the Reverend F. Joseph
of Renty carryed on with all imaginable Vigour and Diligence I have taken occasion for my part to conjure you not to slip one Minuit For although this Undertaking be not great yet it is a means to begin to amend what is past to which end I shall always be assisting to my power I entreat you therefore to be very diligent in this Affair by the issue of which we may see what we have to do In the mean time be secure of my Affection and Friendship and that I am sincerely c. LETTER CXXXVII To the Mareschals de la Force and Chatillon GENTLEMEN THis Letter is intended only to give you account of a signal Victory obtained by Monsieur Weymar over the two Armies of Goeux and Savelli where he has bore away 24 as well Colours as Standards 11 Pieces of Cannon all the Enemies Baggage six thousand Sacks of Corn 40000 Weight of Powder that they were about to carry into Brisac The Fight continued from one till six at Night and 3000 Men were left dead upon the place of which Monsieur Weymar lost only four or five hundred Monsieur Weymar attach'd them first after having sought 'em for two whole days Tubal and Vernancourt only were carryed off Prisoners by being too hot in their Pursuit after their flying Enemies Monsieur Weymar has above 800 Prisoners At the same time we received News that Monsieur de la Mothe Houdancourt whom Monsieur de Longueville had sent to the Relief of Poligny that was besieg'd had driven the Enemies from before that Place with the Loss of 500 upon the Spot and above 100 Prisoners To second this great Victory of Monsieur Weymar it were to be wished Gentlemen That you would also do some great thing on this side The King has commanded me to put you in mind of it in his Absence and I am so well assured that you will do your utmost endeavours that I think no more necessary to be said But I am nevertheless afraid His Majesty will be a little displeas'd that you did not leave Renty before this day for supposing you should follow the Orders sent you Monsieur Hallier is design'd to Advance upon another Expedition We have every day Advices That the Enemies are punctually inform'd of every thing you do therefore we earnestly desire you to communicate for the future neither your Thoughts your Orders nor your Intentions to any body As also to believe that I am c. LETTER CXXXVIII To both the Same GENTLEMEN I Take up my Pen to acquaint you with a remarkable Sea-Fight perform'd by Monsieur Burdeaux in the Port of Gatary in Spain where he has had so compleat a Victory that the Enemies have lost 1â— great Gallions with 3 other Ships which were all burnt together with their Seamen and 3000 Natural Spanyards that they were carrying to St. Sebastian to compose an Army to obviate His Majesty's Designs there I think it would be proper that you endeavour to make this good News known to the Enemy which being joyn'd to their Loss of 19 Ships at the taking of the Port of Passage they may see thanks be to God that their Affairs are not in so prosperous a condition as they may imagine and which the late Victory of Monsieur Weimar may evince to 'em in a greater measure Furthermore Gentlemen the King having been inform'd that the Enemy has taken a great Number of your Forage Horses has commanded me to signifie to you that you do by no means suffer any hereafter to go a Foraging without sufficient Convoy for the remedying of such pernitious inconveniencies for the future and which in a short time would utterly ruine your Cavalry I conjure you also in my own particular and desire you to believe me c. LETTER CXXXIX To both the Same GENTLEMEN THese three Words are only to desire you to cause a general Discharge of your Cannon to morrow Night to learn the Enemies our Victory obtain'd by Monsieur Bordeaux in the same manner as they acquainted us of a trifling Advantage over the Hollanders by their Discharge at Cambray I beg of you to intrench yourselves so securely that they may not be able to force any of your Quarters Assuring you that I am c. P. S. Monsieur Noyers has sent you Money for the Works you have acquainted us you design to cause to be made at Crevecoeur LETTER CXL To Mareschal Schomberg SIR Monsieur de la Jaille having represented to me that there is no foundation left for the Works of the Citadel of Monpellier and that there are some begun that will never be able to stand if they be not finished before Winter I write you this Letter to acquaint you that in my opinion the King would not take it amiss if you should convert towards the finishing of these Works the 12000 Livres were sent you last as well to levy 10 Troops of Horse as for Ammunition Bread for the Souldiers that were then under your Command in case you should have been oblig'd for the Defence of the Province to have assembled and caus'd 'em to march reserving the rest of the said Fund to be employ'd in the Spring in new Levies there having been no occasion for any such hitherto I desire you to send me word what Horse you shall be likely to have the next year Also to Answer my Letter copiously which I sent you concerning Rousillon and to believe that I am c. LETTER CXLI To the Same SIR FOR fear you may not have received a Letter which I wrote you from St. Quentin whereby I desired a particular Map of your Frontiers and the Country of Rousillon with all the Principal Places and Passes exactly drawn I write this to entreat you to get me such a Cast made and to send it soon after with an ample Memoire of the Facilities and Difficulties to be met with by making War in those Parts and all this that in case His Majesty should turn his Designs on your side we might be able to concert Measures before we undertake any Action I desire you also to send me a very particular Plat well design'd of the Town and Castle of Perpignan as also the means you judge requisit to take it in case His Majesty should have any Thoughts of that Nature How many Men would be necessary for such an Undertaking If the Town were taken what Circumvallation were requisit to become Masters of the Castle and if that it would be easie to accomplish Also what Parts of it were proper to be Attach'd The best means to subsist an Army Whence we must expect Provisions Where most proper to make Magazines How to bring Subsistance into the Camp and to secure 'em so that the Enemies might not cut 'em off or molest their Convoys What Train of Artillery and Ammunition were necessary for such an Enterprize If Horses and Mules are to be found in the Country sufficient for that purpose What Troops one might draw
out of your Garrison in case of need to relieve or strengthen the King's Army In short you would abundantly oblige me to send me your thoughts not only upon besieging Perpignan but also of any other Undertaking upon the Frontiers of Languedoc about all which you may confer with Monsieur d' Argencour and send me your speedy Result In expectation of your Answer I 'll conclude my Letter assuring you that I am and will be always c. LETTER CXLII To the Same SIR THere having been some Broils lately between Monsieur Valleras a Marine Captain and some Gentlemen his Neighbours and for fear they might have ill effects I thought fitting to desire you to set a Guard upon 'em and in the mean time to endeavour by your Authority to 'em good Friends I don't mention any Punishment that one of your Guards deserves who instead of accomodating this Quarrel has offer'd himself and was employ'd to carry a Challenge to the said Sieur Valleras I say nothing of this because I am well assur'd that if his Action has come to your knowledge he has receiv'd his Deserts I shall only remember you how very necessary it is that you should make known your Authority in such Cases I give you my Sentiments hereupon the freer because I would be thought to have no common share in what relates to your good and that I am unquestionably c. LETTER CXLIII To Cardinal de la Valette SIR I Shall Answer Two of your Letters at once assuring you that such Care is taken of the Troops in Italy that by the Grace of God no necessary Subsistence shall be wanting Monsieur d' Argençon has already given Orders at Lions for the 160000 Livres which you imagin'd would not be so soon remitted The necessary Subsistence for the Garrisons of Cazal and Pignerol for the Months of January February and March is already dispatch'd to the full satisfaction of both Monsieur Emery and Monsieur Argençon All requisit Orders are given for your Ammunitions of War which you shall have speedily to your content The Troops which you desire by a Letter to Monsieur Noyers may not be disbanded shall be continued Furthermore they shall not be sent you next Spring till your own time though all that have come hither from Italy have advis'd us we could not send 'em too soon the Winter being once over notwithstanding we shall comply with your desires Monsieur Turenne has already receiv'd his Orders to join you in Italy We shall take care to augment his Troops before he goes that he may be in condition to be more serviceable I am going to Paris where I shall take care to refund your Expences and enable you to proceed I am very glad to hear you have strongly fortify'd several Places whatever be further necessary to support you in it shall neither be complain'd of or deny'd you I am also very glad you have caus'd the Melting at Cazal to continue As to the Dutchess I believe I shall be well advis'd not to meddle any more in her Affairs being oblig'd in regard to myself and her by the Letter I sent her by the Sieur d' Estrade to keep to that Resolution providing she will be pleas'd to slight that Counsel that meer natural instinct might inform her as to the business she has upon her hands I pray God open her Eyes and give her a prospect of the danger she is in The Prince will be to Morrow at Paris where I expect with impatience to undeceive him in the Opinion he might have that your's and M. de la Valette's Affairs are the same I 'll discourse him as I see convenient and make him sensible that your concerns and mine are inseparable and that I would not do any thing for myself that I would not undertake for you always and as often as your interest should require LETTER CXLIV To Mareschal Schomberg SIR I Have seen your Letter which is very easie to answer There 's a great deal of difference between Surprizing a Place and Besieging it If Aupaux were a Pass of great importance and from which we might expect great advantages the best way were to besiege it but on the contrary being only a useless Castle founded upon a Rock which opens no entrance into the Country as perhaps it might be worth while to surprize it so a Fortnight's Siege would not be a little prejudicial by reason it would not only alarm the Enemies but spend a great deal of time that might be otherwise better employ'd as about those Designs we projected before you went from hence I am very glad to hear you assure me that every thing relating to Provisions and Artillery shall be ready by the Fifteenth of April So I am likewise that you prepare your Men with great and vigorous Resolutions and promise to see 'em executed I conjure you this with a great deal of earnestness and desire you to believe that I am c. LETTER CXLV To the Cardinal de la Valette My LORD I Can never often enough express my concern for the present Trouble you are in as well on account of the ill Consequences may happen from it as out of a pure sense of your Misfortunes earnestly assuring you that there is nothing in the World can prevent my having a true and sincere Compunction The Negligence of those with whom the Dutchess had intrusted her Town is not only to be lamented but likewise not be endur'd I 'll assure you the late Action at Chivas has made me pity that unfortunate Princess more than it is in my power to express But nevertheless at present we must rather apply Remedies than reap up inconsolable Misfortunes All imaginable diligence has been us'd to expedite your March we have sent backwards and forwards on all sides But as M. Hebron said Men not being Crows it is impossible to make 'em fly M. Emery is gone again to Lions to hasten every thing I don't know what M. Argençon meant by sending you word that your Army was reduc'd to 18 Regiments I am sure there has been no change since the first Project which I here send you We have had several times a mind to augment it but it was altogether impossible When we added the Regiment design'd for Dauphine under his Royal-Highness's Name it was all over and above the Complement without taking any out In a word I protest to you before God that there is not one thing that were practicable but would be done for the Dutchess's sake whose welfare is as dear to the King as she could any ways wish it For the better preservation of her Dominions it is absolutely necessary for the future that she resolve to winter a Body of Men in her Country sufficient for her defence for otherwise the Enemies will be continually surprizing her before it is possible for any Troops to come from France I won't tarry any longer upon this Discourse which how profitable soever for the future is
being gone to appease the Commotions of Lorrain and to raise a powerful Army and after that to reinforce the Cardinal de la Valette and d' Angoulesme and de la Force thought it convenient in this Juncture to return to the Center of his Affairs to send necessary Orders to all other Places and to raise new Forces against Spring Therefore pray let not your Majesty be in pain and be assured that I will omit nothing for the future as in times past which may depend upon me for your Service and Satisfaction of which I will always have more Care than of my own Life as being c. LETTER CCXXVII To Monsieur d'Hemery SIR THE Loss of Revel ought to make Madam sensible that she herself is lost if she do not immediately make use of some extraordinary means to save herself It is indeed necessary to have Cahours but that doth not heal the Distemper with which we are troubled since it is but a Magpy's Nest on the top of a Tree and requires Time and Pains and vast Charges to fortifie the bottom Madam is in jest to think of surrendring this Place upon the Terms of Revel his Majesty will in no wise hear it spoke of therefore it must be surrendred at Discretion I told the Embassadour who will write conformably that it is altogether necessary that Cahours be kept by the King's Troops Here is a Discourse that to find a speedy Remedy for these Evils we must some way or other take Coni it is easie to mention what we ought to desire for the re-establishment of Affairs For this purpose we ought to retake Coni and Revel Ast Villeneuve d'Ast or Verrue but I fear much it will be difficult In the mean time we must strive to attain this End and to disarm Turin If you are at a distance from Madam send de la Cour thither with Instructions necessary to the Safety of Italy That Coni may be reduc'd with ease This is all Care must be taken that Longueville sit down before it before the Enemy suspects any thing of it To this end Cardinal de la Valette must oppose them in some advantageous place while Longueville shall make a Retreat to go to Coni. We rely on their Prudence Count Philippes hath sent great Complaint of you to the Embassadour of Savoy but as you may easily imagine we laughed at it and I told the Embassadour what was convenient upon that Account I am c. LETTER CCXXVIII To Monsieur d'Hemery SIR I Am much amazed to understand by Degraves that the Inhabitants of the three Towns which Madam has put in the King's Hands are not disarm'd If you have a mind to lose them you must delay as you do now every thing that is necessary for their Security If the Inhabitants are not already disarmed fail not to do it immediately upon the Receipt of this â—ithout losing one Moment it being the only Means to preserve the said Places for Madam I think you ought to have done it before and to have omitted it is pure Madness I expect upon this occasion which is of very great Consequence the Effects of your Care and Diligence and in the mean time assure you that I am c. LETTER CCXXIX To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR I Cannot be sufficiently amazed at the Continuation of Madam's Blindness because it is to that degree that it exposes her to a certain Ruin I know not what can hinder her from accomplishing the Establishment which she promised to make in Montmillian and Savoy because she cannot be secure without it Tell her from me that which I now write and let her know that if we can find no Security in what she promises for herself we will have no further Negotiation with her I am glad that Don Felix and the Marquess of St. Morice promote the Execution of the things promised upon that account they testifie thereby the Zeal they have for Madam's Security and Reputation Having seen the Complaints which you say the Marquess of St. Germain makes because he received no Reward from the King while he was at Grenoble nor the others who were with Madam I cannot sufficiently wonder why he himself doth not acknowledge that it was done on purpose for fear of making him suspected and to give no opportunity to those who would hinder this Establishment to be able to do it If he thinks that the King's Liberality is abridged he is mistaken Let him take care to deserve and we will procure him a Reward You will oblige me if by a cleanly Conveyance you will let those who are concern'd know the Contents of this Letter I recommend to your Care the Fort of Perouza and the Soldiers Quarters and to impart to us what things are necessary so opportunely that we may provide them in due time In the mean time be assured that I continue my Friendship and am c. LETTER CCXXX To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR THE Advice that we have had that the Cardinal of Savoy and Prince Thomas have Practices and Intelligence in Madam's Court by which they are contriving great Designs obliging me to inform her Highness that she may apply some necessary Remedies I also think it convenient to impart it to you that being inform'd thereof you may act more conveniently for her Good and the King's Service To that end I send you a Memorial which will let you know his Majesty's Intentions and that which he judges convenient for Madam to do at this Juncture to prevent the Mischiefs that her Enemies are preparing for her The Confidence she has in you the Zeal you have for the King's Service your Prudence and Address perswade me that her Highness will have great Regard for what you will say upon this occasion and that his Majesty will be very well satisfy'd with your Negotiation I desire it both for his particular Interest and your own which shall be ever recommended by c. LETTER CCXXXI To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR AFter I had received your last Letters concerning the impertinent Proposals which were made to Madam by Monety and Father Michel-Ange d'Aglie I desired that Mondin should go to her immediately to let her know what I think convenient to preserve her from absolute Ruine You will see the particulars I have wrote to her Highness by the Copy of the Letter I send to you according to which you may act vigorously The King has this confidence in you that when there happens some unforeseen occasions which may destroy Madam you have Foresight Power and Courage enough to oppose them and to prevent her from comming irreparable Faults I do not know how Men are so impudent as to dare to advise Madam to sign something with her Enemies before she first consults the King on whom alone depends all her Protection and how Madam is not sensible that such Men being desirous of her ruine that she ought by timely Remedies to prevent their
desired your Highness and do yet repeat my Desires by these Lines conjuring you to believe that as to my particular I will have such Sentiments of it as you may expect from c. LETTER CCLIV To the Same SIR I Am particularly obliged to your Highness for the favour you were pleased to do me in sending Count Scarnasis to give me a Visit and to assure me of your Good-will I always promised myself that I should find in you that dispotion which you testifie you have in the King's satisfaction and that you will shew him the Effects of it upon the present Occasion So I desired you to believe that you may be assured of his Majesty's Affections and of all those of his House And as to my particular I will serve you to my utmost I have particularly made known to the said Count Scarnasis my earnest Desires of the Peace not only of Italy but of all Christendom To which I will gladly contribute all that may reasonably be expected from a Person who really is c. LETTER CCLV. To Victor Amedeus Duke of Savoy SIR I Was very glad to hear News of your Highness by the Sieur d'Inchamp who assuring me of your good Health confirm'd in me the belief of your Affection to the King's Service And as an Answer to what you were pleased to write I tell you that the sincerity of the King's Intentions is such that as yet it hath had no other design in the Affairs of Italy than to deliver the Duke of Mantua from his Persecutions in a mild and loving way He has long hoped for this happiness but the Delays of Spain and the several Puttings-off which happened in all the Passages of this Affair having given him great reason to believe that the Enemies of the Duke of Mantua were pleased to speak of an Agreement and Peace with a design to do neither he is resolved to send me into Italy as the fore-runner of himself with a considerable Army and he has given me such precise Orders that I have not the liberty of changing them The first is To lose no time Which makes me desire you quickly to open the Magazines of Savoy according to the Promise you made to Mareschal Crequi that the King's Army may begin to pass the 25th of this Month. His Majesty will be obliged by it and I in particular who am and ever will be c. LETTER CCLVI. To the Princess of Piedmont MADAM YOur Highness honours me a thousand times more than I deserve in vouchsafing to send me a Visit by the Sieur Morguenay to testifie your Joy at my arrival in those Parts I want fit words to be able to express my sense of this Favour which I acknowledge I only owe to your Goodness I do not doubt but you 'll honour me with the continuation of your Good-will your Candour being so great that I look upon all your Words as infallible You will also believe I am certain that I will forget nothing which may merit so great an Honour which I esteem according to its quality having understood by the Letters which it pleas'd your Highness to write to me by the Sieur de l'Isle and afterward by Mareschal Crequi that you are pleased that I should have the honour of seeing you and that you would communicate to me some Particulars which you do not think convenient to trust in Writing Now that I may satisfie your Will and my Desire and Duty altogether I will not fail to send to you by the Mareschal de Crequi or the Sieur de l'Isle the means which I think proper to attain to this end In the mean time I desire you to be assured that no Man is more faithful to you than myself who will always give you such clear Proofs of this truth that you will have reason to confess me to be sincerely that which I am c. LETTER CCLVII To the Same from Pignerol MADAM ALl manner of Respect and Duty obliges me to seek an occasion by these Lines to give your Highness new Testimonies of the Passion which I always will have for your Service and of my Obedience and also to inform you that I am departing hence to meet the King at Lions where he commands me to wait upon him I think it also my Duty to tell you Maâ—am That I understand that his Majesty's intentions are not foreign to a Peace which may be concluded if it be desired upon reasonable Terms And if it be his Majesty desires that your Highness would send him the Approbation of the House of Savoy The Zeal that I know you have to promote this Affair will make me gladly contribute toward it according to my small ability by the performance of those things which his Majesty desires for your satisfaction and advantage I will assure the King and the Queen-mother of the tender Affection your Highness has for their Persons and of your Displeasure of all those Passages in which I beseech God to be your Comfort who often suffers Afflictions for a good end I will never have any other but to shew you by all manner of Proofs that I am and ever will be c. LETTER CCLVIII. To the Princess of Piedmont MADAM I Have receiv'd the Letter which your Highness was pleased to honour me with about the Death of the Duke of Savoy and the desire that you have of a lasting Peace in Italy I desire you to believe that the King has no less mind to it but he desires it may be firm reasonable and honourable in which the Queen-Mother and all their Majesties Servants have the like Sentiments As to my particular I would contribute my utmost to this end but those with whom we have to do are so far from it at present that they have depriv'd us of all hopes of it but let what will happen I will always honour your Highness as it is my duty and will testifie to you that I am more concern'd for your Interest than mine own having no greater passion than that to serve you and to let you know by real effects that I am as much as can be c. LETTER CCLIX To the Same MADAM I Will not omit this opportunity of assuring your Highness of the continuation of my most humble Service of which I shall always think myself happy to be able to give you proofs upon all occasions I do not write to you my unhappiness by incurring the Queen-Mother's displeasure because you may have learn'd it some other way I only beseech you to believe that that shall not hinder me from preserving the memory of your Obligations as long as I live and that I will serve you upon all occasions with all the fidelity that you may expect from a Creature wholly devoted to your Interest As to what concerns your Highness Madam you may be certain that I will honour you and will always have as great a care of your advantage as can be desired from c. LETTER
to your Majesty for the favour you have been pleas'd to do me in sending me the Portraiture of Monseigneur the Dauphin whose Image I Reverence as I shall his Person as long as I live I pray to God that they who shall come after me may serve him as faithfully as I have always endeavour'd to serve the King his Father and your Majesty to whom I shall ever be c. LETTER XI To the Archbishop of Bourdeaux YOu will do me an Injury to believe that any Alliance is capable to hinder me from assisting and serving yee when you have aâ— occasion for it My Humour is so far from any such manner of proceeding that I believe that such a thought can never enter into the mind of any person whatsoever I most earnestly desire to see a good Correspondence betwen M. d' Espernon and you I dare promise it between my Lords his Sons And though I am not ignorant that it is a difficult thing for them that are harden'd in their Humour by Age to alter it yet I am not out of hopes to see a good issue of what I desire I beg of you to contribute towards it what lies in your power assuring you that whoever shall have most Reason and Justice on his side in the Differences which after this time may happen between yee shall be the person whom I will serve most candidly I believe that my assistance will not be very necessary to any body but I find my self oblig'd to offer it to him that has the better cause Assure your self of my Friendship for ever and be convinc'd that nothing can alter the Quality of c. LETTER XII To the same Person I Am extreamly glad that M. d' Espernon has made Restitution to the Church of what is her due in order to repair the Injury which she receiv'd in your Person and that it is now known to all the World that there is no consideration that can hinder me from favouring so just a Cause as yours was according to the intentions of a King so Pious as his Majesty is known to be The Abbot of Coursan acquainted me with every particular that past in that Affair if that be true of which I have not had the leisure yet to ascertain my self that you have not pursu'd his Holiness's intentions signify'd to you by his Briefs I must needs tell you that you would have done better had you done otherwise In the Name of God regulate your Actions and your Words in such a manner that there may be no objection to be made against your Behaviour You know how many times I have admonish'd you to be careful of the quickness of your Wit and the nimbleness of your Tongue As it was always my fear that those two Enemies were the greatest you had I must confess that I am more affraid of 'em now then ever and conjure yee to be more reserv'd for the love of your self assuring you that I give so little heed to what the said Abbot inform'd me of your being transported in your passion to reflect upon me that 't is no consideration of my self which enclines me to give you this Advice The Justice that has been done you in your Business makes the King's Piety so clearly manifest and the assistance of my Friends that he must have lost his Judgment who thinks there can be any bad impression made either of the one or the other Never were Sentences more Authentick then those which his Holiness and the King's Council pronounc'd upon this Difference and he cannot be master of himself who says that they were ever chang'd Therefore seeing such Discourses would but do you an Injury many others which you are said to give out sometimes would bring a Reproach upon your Gratitude which in my Opinion ought not to permit you to complain of Fortune who has done for you from your early Youth what she does not usually do for others till after long Time spent in tedious Services Were I not really your Friend I would not talk to you in this manner But being desirous to continue the same as I have always been I find my self oblig'd to what I do because that several Persons not knowing yee so well as I do will not so easily excuse what I believe proceeds from Vanity rather then from any other evil Cause I promise my self therefore that your Carriage will be such as your Friends ought to desire it and as I particularly wish it may be As being c. LETTER XIII To the same Person YOU will know more News by the Abbot of Coursaâ— then I can write to yee He brings yee all the Satisfaction you can desire M. d'Espernon will receive Absolution at your hands will visit yee will give yee the Right Hand at his own House when you repay him his Visits He will engage himself to build the Chappel within the Time limited by Cardinal Bichi You shall have your Decree which you have so earnestly desired as a Mark of the Satisfaction which the King has order'd to be given yee So that there is nothing more in Reason for yee to desire I am willing to believe that M. d'Espernon will very honestly perform whatever is requisite upon this Occasion But tho' he should not I desire yee so to demean your self that the World may be convinc'd there is no Fault on your part I conjure yee also for the future to take such Care of your Actions that whatever happens the Wrong may not be laid at your Door assuring you provided that Equity and Right be on your side that you shall have no less Assistance from me then hitherto you have had Of this you may be convinc'd and that I shall always be unalterably c. LETTER XIV To the same Person I know not how to testifie my Sorrow to you for that there is nothing as yet done in order to the Attack which ought to have been made upon the Islands after the Waste of so much Time and Money The Mischief is that they who have no Kindness for you lay the greatest part of the Blame upon your self which afflicts me beyond what I am able to express as well in respect of the Interest of the King's Service as for the Share which I take in all your Concerns For this Reason as your Friend I cannot forbear telling you that as Relapses render Sicknesses more grievous so if after having fail'd to attack the Islands you neglect the Relief of Parma now that that there is no body who is able as you pretend to obstruct your Enterprize all your Friends together will not be able to defend you from the Blame that will be imputed to you upon this second Default For this Reason it is that I conjure you as much as in me lies to attempt Impossibilities upon this Occasion to the end you may repair what has been done amiss assuring you that I will make the best of this Action to the King as
Reason the said Father Caussin had to behave himself as he has done The Fault which his Imprudence caus'd him to commit being a Thing that no way touches the General of your Order but his own particular Onely I can assure yee has no way lessen'd the good Will which the King has always had for your Society For my part having all the reason in the world to speak well of it I shall ever take a singular delight in serving it and meeting all Opportunities to procure its Advantages no less glad of the Occasion to let you know that no Man has a greater Esteem for yee nor is more sincerely then I am c. LETTER XXVI To Father Joseph HAving sent four or five times to Paris that I might hear News of your Health yet not being able to know any thing of Certainty the Trouble I am in by reason of your Distemper and my Desire to understand exactly what Condition you are in has occasion'd my sending once more to yee to the same End If you will take my Counsel you shall quit the Convent to which you are retir'd as not being proper for the Recovery of your Health and come to this place where the Air being much better will contribute to your Recovery in a short time If you will follow my Advice in this I will send you my Litter wherein you will ride much more at ease And so expecting either the Happiness of seeing yee or at least of hearing from yee such News as I desire I must assure yee there is no Man who is more then I am c. LETTER XXVII To Father Monod a Jesuite THE King being desirous to bestow some Mark of his Good Will upon those who are more particularly devoted to the Service of Monsieur and Madam of Savoy has commanded me to cause an Oratory to be built for yee Notice of which you will receive by a Letter from the Hands of Madam whom His Majesty looks upon not only as a Person so nearly related to him but as one in whom he has a most entire Confidence I could wish for my own part that I had some better Occasion to let you know the singular Esteem which I have always had of your Merit and how affectionately I am c. LETTER XXVIII To the General of the Jacobins BEing inform'd that there had been some Disorders committed in the great Convent of the Jacobins in Paris as well in reference to Piety as relating to their Studies and that it was most necessary to put a Stop to the farther Progress of 'em I took such Care at the same time that there can happen no farther Inconvenience having provided a very good Prior able Readers in Theology and learned Preachers I hope in a little time we shall see this House restor'd to its former Lustre and that it will be a great Satisfaction to yee to have at present three Monks of the same House that preach in Paris with great Esteem and Reputation My Desire that every thing should be done in Order and with that Obedience that is your due produc'd these Lines to inform you of the Condition of the said House to the end that if in pursuance of what has been done for the Repose of it you think that there remains any thing more to do I may be contributary thereto for the Glory of God the Service of the King and your Satisfaction as much as in me lies And which I shall always study to do with the same Affection as I bear your Order in general and to your Person in particular c. LETTER XXIX To the General of the Augustins THE Bishops of Chartres and Aâ—xerces who have great Experience in Matters that concern the Regular Discipline as must be acknowledged by the good Order they have shewn in the Reformation of the Convents of the Carmelites in Paris having by virtue of the Commission which we formerly gave 'em to take Cognizance of the Disorders of the grand Convent of Austin-Friars in the said City and by the Advice of the Sieurs du Val and 〈◊〉 the King's Professors in Theology and the Fathers Binet and Rabardeau Jesuites with Father Ansâ—lm Fucillant all Persons of great Probity and good Government having deem'd it requisite for the reducing the said Convent to give the Government and Conduct of it to the Fathers of the Province of St. Guillaume which the rest of the Reform'd Societies in France assembled in the said City of Paris for that purpose had requested and to that end having made Choice according to the usual Forms in such Elections of a Prior and Officers of the said Province of St. Guillaume as the sole and only Means to bring this Affair to a desir'd Conclusion for the general Good of the Order I thought it my Duty to give yee notice of it and at the same time to tell yee that the King who is particularly acquainted with the Care which the said Bishops have taken will be very glad not only of your confirming the said Election and what has been done farther to the Advantage of the said House but will also be well pleas'd to hear that you no more permit any Monks to be admitted unless he observes the Regularity of the Order setled in the Convent according to the Reformation of the said Province of St. Guillaume for the Establishment of which His Majesty will do whatever you shall think more proper upon this Occasion His Majesty desires also that you would forbid Father Andrew Massif who is now at Rome to return to the Convent in Paris to manage any Affairs in the name of it nor to undertake any thing whatever against or to the prejudice of the fore-mention'd Regulations Which being a thing so advantageous to the said House in Paris and to all the Orders in general I make no question but you will readily submit to give His Majesty that Satisfaction which he desires in this Particular So that I will urge yee no farther and only take the liberty to assure yee that besides that it will be a thing acceptable to the King I shall think my self particularly oblig'd as you will find upon all Occasions that will give me an Opportunity to serve you and to let you know how affectionately I am c. LETTER XXX To the General of the Gallican Congregation of St. Benedict Reverend Father MY Desire to contribute my utmost to the Progress of good Observance in the Abby of Chelles makes me desire you to send thither as speedily as may be three or four of your Monks to administer the Sacraments there and to exercise Spiritual Functions with the Authority of Monsieur of Paris to whom it will be very acceptable And as to what you have so earnestly remonstrated to me that your Constitutions enjoin yee not to take any Charge of Nuns I assure my self that you make no question of my entire Affection to support your Congregation in all things that serve to its
by giving way to Melancholly and by that means I hope that through the Goodness of God you will enjoy your full content For my part I shall never have any but in giving Your Majesty to understand from time to time that I am the most faithfull Servant the most passionate Subject and the most zealous Servant that ever King and Master had in this World I will live and conclude in this condition as being a hundred times more devoted to Your Majesty then mindful of my own concerns c. LETTER LXV To the King I should not have given credit to what M. Bouthillier related to me had I not understood it from Your Majesty's Lips I thought that the long time I have serv'd Your Majesty under the Blessing which God has been pleas'd to bestow upon your Vertue had made you too well accquainted with the passionate Zeal which I have always had and ever shall have for your Service to question my Sincerity That which comforts me in this Misfortunes is that I am certain of never having fail'd so much as in thought of my duty to Your Majesty and that I hope Your Majesty will soon be of the same mind I am so far from being unwilling to abandon all things for the love of you that I should be ready to abandon my self when ever you should think it for your Benefit or that I thought you would receive any Contentment by it I never was otherwise enclin'd and I will rather dye a thousand Deaths then alter my mind I am beholding for an infinite number of favours to Your Majesty which I shall always acknowledge as long as I live Among 'em all the greatest and of which I am most sensible is the Confidence which you have always been pleas'd to repose in my Fidelity and the sincere opening of your heart to my Advice My Health which was better then now it is afforded me the means of frequently receiving that Honour Now that my unfortunate Indispositions render me more unweildy then I could wish to be I am affraid least my absence depriving me of that singular Favour should create me other mischiefs which it is impossble for me to foresee But in what place soever I am I shall think more upon Your Majesty then upon my self and upon your Interest more then upon the preservation of my own life I confess my heart is so sensibly touch'd that I can say no more to Your Majesty The Bearer in whom I have a full Confidence will give you a more particular accompt of it but he can tell Your Majesty nothing more certain then the Truth with which I shall conclude this Letter protesting to Your Majesty that I shall never cease to be c. LETTER LXVI To the King IN sending this Bearer to know the state of Your Health the freedom wherewith Your Majesty is pleas'd that your Creatures should converse with you is the reason that I am unwilling to lose the opportunity of letting Your Majesty know who is the most Zealous of all Your Majesty's Creatures I have and shall have as long as I live more confidence in Your Majesty then in my self a greater Passion for you then Your Majesty has for your Self and assuredly my tenderness also equalls my Fidelity I will not deny but that Jealousie comes in for a share but I am sure Your Majesty will not take it a miss since Your Majesty does not a little caress that Lady that she should be kindly entertain'd by a Creature who shall always Glory in imitating Your Majesty and in being till my Descent into the Grace c. LETTER LXVII To the King NOT deserving the least of these Testimonies which you are pleas'd to give me of the satisfaction you have receiv'd in my Services I have receiv'd 'em as pure Effects of your Goodness I shall never aspire to any other Honour then to live under the Shadow of your Glory serving you all the while as faithfully as ever Servant serv'd a Master God who knows the hearts of Men is my Witness of this Truth and that there is nothing in this World that can more content me then to fulfill your Will and Pleasure and see the Prosperity of your Affairs I cannot sufficiently declare to Your Majesty my joy to find that they begin to change their Countenance The taking of Corbie and the raising the Siege of St. John de Laune besieg'd by all the Forces of the Empire are two pieces of great Importance Your Majesty will see the Memoire which M. d' Angoulesme and my self drew up before we knew of Galasse's Retreat and another which contains what your Servants think fit to be done now he is retir'd The whole is submitted to your Judgment to do what Your Majesty pleases I am overjoy'd that Your Majesty is in so good a Humour and I pray to God that he will grant me the Favour to serve you as successfully as I shall do it faithfully as being Eternally c. LETTER LXVIII To the King IN the midst of my Sorrows for the loss of those who Commanded those Troops of Horse which Your Majesty was pleas'd to give me 't is no small Consolation to me that they have ended their days in your Service and that the Cardinal de la Valetta has won a considerable Advantage over the Enemy I question not but Your Majesty's presence will regulate all things that were out of Order in your Absence The Resistance of the Enemy in St. Mitchel serves only to augment Your Majesty's Honour who may make your Advantage of it by making use of that Right which their Obstinacy will deserve and without which they will be both able and willing to renew their Disobedience I am extreamly glad that my Cousin de Meilleray is so Fortunate as to serve Your Majesty to your good liking For there is nothing which I desire more Ardently then that my self and all that belong to me may spend their lives in the Service of the best Master in the World to whom I am and ever shall be till Death c. LETTER LXIX To the King BUT for the Miscarriage which is not to be excus'd of M. d' Angoâ—lesme there is no qustion but that Your Majesty had accomplish'd what you had so prudently design'd However Your Majesty is happy in this satisfaction that the Faults of another not your own were the Obstacles that prevented your making the best of so glorious a Contrivance But as there is now no reason for Your Majesty to advance so it will not be convenient for Your Majesty to remove any farther till you have repair'd the disorder of your Affairs occasion'd by M. d' Aâ—goulesms Retreat and I am perswaded a few days will produce that good Effect In the mean time I beseech Your Majesty not to afflict your self but to consider that if Kings could always do whatever they pleas'd they would be equal to God who reserves that Prerogative to himself alone Your Majesty has
be pleas'd to favour His Majesty's good Intentions there is great Reason to hope that he may obtain those Ends which he has always propos'd to himself for the common Good My Assurance that you will leave nothing omitted that depends upon your Prudence and Care to persuade him to obliges me to say no more but that I am c. A Memoir sent to M. de Berhune after the taking of the Cittadel of Pignerol MOnsieur Bethune will see by the Answers of Monsieurs Spinola and Colalto to the Proposals contain'd in the Rough Draught of the Peace which Monsieur the Cardinal has sent to M. Pancirollo how unreasonable the said Answer is and the little Likelihood that we can be satisfied with it in order to the procuring a solid Peace to the end that after he has consider'd it he may take his time to inform the Pope of it Which done he shall beseech His Holiness to let the Spanish Ambassador know his Sentiments upon it which according to Equity cannot be otherwise then conformable to His Majesty's to the end that the Spaniards being out of hopes of concealing any longer their Artifices from His Holiness may be constrain'd to agree in things that are just and which may as well for the present as for the future remove all Occasions of any farther Troubles The said Sieur de Bethune shall represent to His Holiness That one of the principal Reasons why the King sent his Forces into Italy having been the often re-iterated Instances of His Holiness it would be an extream Grief to him should His Holiness testifie any Coldness to favour a Design to which he was induc'd with so much the more Zeal because His Holiness approv'd the Justice of it and rightly apprehended how much the Success of it would conduce to the Liberty of Italy to establish the Dignity of the Holy See and to the Security of the Pope's Person which were the most forcible Arguments that could move His Majesty That although His Holiness is desirous to preserve the Name and Effect of Common Father that ought not to hinder him but oblige him rather to make use of his Authority to chastise those who trouble the Family and reduce 'em to their Duty instead of assisting 'em in the Execution of their wicked Intentions And this was apparently done by His Holiness's Ministers in the State of Ferrara where they reliev'd the Germans with Corn when all Italy knows that without that Relief they could not have subsisted though they made use of it only to commit with more Leisure and Convevenience the greatest Prophanations of holy Things and the most horrid Cruelties upon all sorts of Persons that are not to be imagin'd Moreover the said Corn was set at so high a Rate that we have Reason to think it was done on purpose to scare the Venetians from buying it which the Germans were willing to do considering the Extremity they were in and not wanting Money after they had plunder'd the State of Mantua and all the neighbouring Princes for which they may thank the Pope's Officers M. de Bethune is also to complain of His Holiness's granting Passage several times to the Troops in their March from Naples into Milanols and so desire him to let the French have the same Privilege when they shall have an Occasion to march through his Fortresses to aid the Venetians and the Duke of Mantua The said Sieur de Bethune shall tell him The King cannot believe though he be well assur'd of it that His Holiness or his Nephew the Legate have within this little while been very importunate with the Duke of Mantua to agree these Differences without giving any notice of it to the King As also to beg the Emperor's Pardon which would suppose that he and his Confederates had been too blame in upholding a Cause so just and of which His Holiness all along declar'd his Approbation M. de Bethune must have receiv'd a Letter which the Cardinal wrote him about Fifteen Days ago wherein he sends him word that the King would be extreamly pleas'd if His Holiness would but lay his Commands upon Bagni to reside in his Army in Italy that so he might be a Testimony of His Majesty's good Intentions and his just proceeding upon this Occasion And that he would do well to be very importunate with His Holiness in the very Terms of the Letter But if the Letter be not come to his hands and he finds the Pope is not inclin'd to what is desir'd M. de Bethune shall renew his Instances in that Particular and use such Arguments as he shall think most proper to persuade His Holiness to condescend to His Majesty's Desire considering that he knows the Prudence the Probity and Affection of the said Cardinal to His Holiness and the common Good Nevertheless avoiding to give the Pope any Occasion to believe that this proceeds from any Distrust of those whom he employs or that the King seeks after a Peace but only because the said Cardinal Bagni having been a long time vers'd in this Affair can be no Prejudice to His Holiness's Design for the publick Repose more especially seeing the Decease of Don Carlo his Brother may render the Presence of the said Cardinal most useful in those Quarters LETTER LXXXVI From Card. Richlieu to the said Sieur de Bethune I Send you the Memoir annex'd which I desire you carefully to peruse and then to acquaint His Holiness with it I promise my self that you will omit nothing that depends upon your Care and Prudence to make the Pope clearly sensible that all the Proposals of these Gentlemen tend to no other End then to compleat the Ruin of the Duke of Mantua and to deprive Italy of that little Liberty she has left her by the Words of a Peace under which they hatch the Seeds of a perpetual War if the Authority of His Holiness and the Princes of Italy who are principally concern'd therein being assisted by His Majesty's good Intentions and Puissance do not apply a speedy Remedy This is all I have to say to yee in this Letter expecting to hear from yee LETTER LXXXVII To Cardinal Lodovisio after the Taking of Pignerol I am here at the Gate of Italy with a Design to do what lies in my power under the King's Commands and Authority to settle a safe and solid Peace I have so good an Opinion of your Judgment that I make no question but that you clearly see into His Majesty's good Intentions who following the Example of his Predecessors has propos'd to himself as the principal End of his Actions to support the Honour and settle the Security of the Holy See and establish the Repose of Christendom I presume to hope from the Goodness of God who is a Witness of this Truth that he will vouchsafe his Blessing upon the Care His Majesty takes in the Defence of so just a Cause LETTER LXXXVIII To M. de Bethune I was very glad to find by the
the Duke of Lorrain were none of the worst Advices But I should be much more glad if we could but see the Effects of Toledo's Fears 'T is my Belief that by re-inforcing the Cardinal of Valetta with what the King resolv'd on and Six Thousand Switzers design'd for Champagne there ought not a Minute to be lost but forthwith to march against the Duke of Lorrain I recommend to yee once more to be severe against those of St. Michel LETTER CXV To M. de Bullion I Send you the King's Letter which Madam de Guise has so great a Desire to see but you must not deliver it to her undess she 〈…〉 yee another of her own of a preceding Date wherein she begs His Majesty to give M. de Guisâ— Permission to go for two or three Months to Loretto and Venice instead of waiting on His Majesty as 〈◊〉 was pleas'd to command him LETTER CXVI To the same THKing has commanded me to write yee this Letter whose Pleasure it is that you wait upon Madam de Guise in his Name and let her know that he wonders M. de Guise has not yet obey'd the Order which he receiv'd to attend his Person He is ignorant of the Cause of his Delay which raises in him some kind of Suspicion Nevertheless to shew his Goodness as to what both he and Madam desire that he may have Leave to travel out of the Kingdom His Majesty is pleas'd to let him know that though he will not change his Order to attend him yet if his Fears continue he gives him Permission to go to Loretto and Venice for three Months provided that at the End of that Time he gives his Attendance and acquits himself of what is laid to his Charge to the Prejudice of that Affection and Fidelity which he owes him His Majesty does not command him to depart the Kingdom but to wait upon him However complying with his Fears he permits him at his Request if that be the thing he so much desires to take a Journey for three Months and at the End of that prefixed Time to wait upon his Person without fail The King has made Choice of this Expedient to testifie the Excess of his Goodness by complying with the Infirmities of those who have the Honour to live under his Government LETTER CXVII To the same HAving in your Letters read the Offer which you may make of your Purse I thought I should do you an Injury if I should not accept it with the same Frankness that induces you to proser it Therefore I desire you to lend me Fifty Thousand Crowns To this purpose I have sent a Procuration to N. to make a Bond in such Form as you shall think fit your self I hope you will find me so good a Pay-master that the next time you will give me sull Power to dispose of what is yours as of my own of which you may always make a particular Account seeing I am sincerely c. LETTER CXVIII To the Commander de la Porte I Take Pen in hand to acquaint yee that it has pleas'd the Queen to declare that it was her Pleasure no longer to make use of me my Cousin de Meilleray nor my Neice de Combalet I was willing to give you notice of it to prevent your Mis-understanding Things upon the common Report which represents Things quite otherwise then they are I desire yee not to be troubl'd at it I am here near the Person of the King who does me the Honour to continue me that of his good Will and testifies his Sorrow for this Misfortune In regard I am not capable of having any other thing in my Heart then to live and die the Queen's Servant I desire you to talk of me always conformably to that Resolution I admonish yee of it because I know the Liberty you take which might happen to be transported by your Affection for me and it would not be just that all my Obligations to so great a Princess should be buried in Oblivion for a Disgust conceived against my Person LETTER CXIX To M. de Breze I Could no longer delay the sending you word that since the Queen has given me to understand that she will no longer make use either of mine or the Services of my Neice Combalet or my Cousin de Meitleray 't is our Duty to obey her Will and Pleasure I make no question but this News will not a little astonish yee yet I beg of yee as much as in me lies by no means to lay it to heart since there is no other Ground for it but our Misfortune And I have this to comfort me still in this unlucky Accident that the King near whose Person I still remain is pleas'd to testifie a particular Sorrow for it Time will shew the Queen that whatever Usage I receive at her hands I shall ever publish the great Obligations she has laid upon me which engage me to live and die her Servant As for your particular I beg of yee to believe that in what Condition soever I am you shall always find me with as much Affection for your Person as you can desire from a Person who is c. LETTER CXX To the Cardinal of Lyon 'T IS with a most bloody and unexpressible Sorrow that I am forc'd to acquaint you with the Resolution which the King has been forc'd to take at Compeigâ—… to beg of the Queen-Mother that she would be pleas'd for some time to reside at Moulins I would have been willing to have redeem'd with my Blood the Necessity of this Counsel and to have been separated from my Life rather then to have been the Witness of this Separation though it will not be of any long Continuance And if God would have vouchsaf'd to have heard my humble Prayers the last of my Days had preceded that of her Removal nor can I sind any Comfort in the Excess of my Affliction to see the Queen whom I have always so faithfully serv'd and and honour'd in a Condition of any Discontent But certain wicked Spirits have been so long a time contriving to trouble the King's Affairs that there was a Necessity of applying some Remedy to it During the War in Baly they omitted nothing that lay in their power to hinder his good Success Since that they have still continu'd the same Practises and in truth Licentiousness was grown to that Excess that the like was never seen Monsicur having withdrawn himself from the Court at such a time the King several times besought the Queen his Mother that she would be pleas'd with open'd Eyes to view these Mischiefs and concurr with him in the most necessary Means to put a Stop to ' em But she would not be pleas'd to hearken to his Counsels as she was wont to do but obstinately persisted in refusing to have any Share therein saying she would not have her Name made use of in the Resolutions they went about to take The King therefore finding her so
but that he still wishes him far more who is sincerely c. LETTER CXLIII To the same THO' the Person of M. Biscaras be extreamly necessary about me and that the particular confidence I have in him be a sufficient inducement to me not to part from him nevertheless understanding that you desire to have him to serve under you and the Duke of Veletta in the present occasion I send him to yee to do whatever either the one or the other shall deem convenient Did I but enjoy my Health as well as he does and could be as useful to yee in any thing I would willingly undertake his Journey so much I desire to see the Royal Arms prosper under your Conduct His Majesty relies so much upon your Prudence and in your Affection that he doubts not in the least but you will do wonders to that effect For my own part I most fervently wish it as well for the Interest of his Majesty's Service as your Honour which I equally desire with your self as being c. LETTER CXLIV The the Duke de la Valette THough M. de Gramond's Commission to Command the Army of Guyenne under your self and M. d' Espernon was dispatch'd when the Letter you were pleas'd to send me concerning that Affair was deliver'd me yet is your Contentment so dear to me that I prevail'd so far with the King that his Majesty alter'd his Resolution of sending it to the said Sieur de Gramond into that of continuing you alone in the said Employment promising himself that you will serve him with so much Prudence care and Affection that he shall have no reason to repent of his favour I assure my self that this new Testimony of his Confidence and Esteem will redouble your Zeal to answer so worthy a choice by real Effects and that you will make your value appear to the Confusion of the Enemies of the State M. de Biscaras whom I send to serve you upon this occasion according to M. d' Espercon's desire will assure yee of the Continuance of my Affection and my desire to serve yee and will inform yee of some particulars which I thought convenient to acquaint you with You may give him the same Credence as to my self who am c. LETTER CXLV To the same THE Condition to which you have reduc'd the Croquers is so much to the King's Advantage and so much to your Honour that although I have already testify'd my joy for so happy a Success I cannot forbear sending the Marquiss of Durass to yee to the end he may give you new Demonstrations of it in these Lines He will give yee so particular an account of his Majesty's satisfaction in your Conduct upon this occasion of the thanks which he returns you for the manner of your mannagement and the Honour he has done him for your sake as having made him a Camp Marshall that it would be needless to add any thing more I shall only say thus much that M. de Beaupuy's Journey has been no less acceptable to his Majesty then that of the Sieur de Duras for that it has not only confirm'd him in his belief of your Affection for his Person but also in that assurance he always had of your Passion and Zeal for the prosperity of his Dominions For my part my contentment is more then I can express to see you so highly in the King's Favour as you are there being no person who claims a greater share in your Concerns or who is more sincerely then my self c. LETTER CXLVI To the same I send you this Gentleman for a particular accompt of the Port of Biaris taken by our Pinaces upon the Coast of Bayonne They who know it report That it will so very much annoy the Forts which the Spaniands have built at Socoa St. John de Luz and other places that they will have much a do to subsist there If it be so 't is my Opinion that you may with more ease make some attempt upon those places then hitherto you have been able to do and that by molesting 'em by Land you will have this advantage that after you have defeated the Croquers you will expell the Spaniards quite out of your Government I passionately deserve it for the good of the King's Service and which is more for your own particular sake as being certain that if this good Fortune befalls yee your Enemies will be in such a Confusion that they will no longer dare to be so fluent of their Tongues as they have been I beseech yee not to omit any thing that lies in your power for the attaining of so glorious an End I say nothing to yee of the preparations on this side for the subsistance of your Army For I doubt not but the Sieur Cartier gives yee an accompt from time to time of the Provisions made for every thing and that I contribute toward it as much as in me lies by my daily solliciting the Lords of the Treasury I shall still continue the same earnestness to let you see my Zeal for your Interests and how sincerely I am c. LETTER CXLVII To the Marquiss of Coisquen Lieutenant of his Eminencies Gens D' Armes HAd you sooner acquainted me that you did not think me a Lord great enough to command the Troop of Gens d' Armes which it has pleas'd the King to bestow upon me I had given yee the contentment which you could desire and you had oblig'd me not to let me stay till you gave me to understand it by real effects in contemning your Duty and the Military Orders which oblige the Gendarmery to be compleatly arm'd so that my Troop was the only Troop that appear'd before the King without Arms though I had several times order'd 'em to be duly provided I will not insist upon my several Entreaties that you would observe a discipline so exact in my Troop that it might serve as an Example to others But your actions informing me of what perhaps out of civility you were unwilling to tell me your self that I may answer your Curtesie this Letter is to let you know that I no longer claim any Interest in the Troop which you command and that I willingly surrender it into your hands to make such provisions for it as the King thinks convenient Nevertheless I assure my self that you do not believe me so unfortunate that I shall not able to meet with some person of Quality who while he commands that Troop which shall march under my Name for the future will be willing to perform what his Reputation and the Military Orders require from him and to observe and submit to requests and such Orders which he shall receive from me I Advise yee to take a course quite contrary to what you have hitherto done and to believe that upon any other opportunity that shall present it self you shall find the Effects of my Friendship and that I am still desirous to be c. LETTER CXLVIII To Mareschal
is so well pleas'd with Monsieur's Choice of M. de Verderonne for Chancellor of his Houshold well knowing his good Qualities that he has willingly granted him the Employment of Ordinary in his Council which His Highness requested him to add to it My Joy is greater then I can express as well for that the said Sieur de Verderonne has the Honour to be related to you as for his own particular Merit most earnestly requesting you to believe that I shall always be dispos'd to favour your Concerns with all the Affection that you can expect from him who is sincerely c. LETTER CLXX To the Duke of Chaunes WE have just now receiv'd the News that the Queen has left Compeigne and is retir'd to la Capelle I send you this word to the end you may not fail upon Receipt hereof to take Horse with all the Friends you can get together to the end you may be as near that place as is possible in order to hinder her from enterprizing upon any other to the prejudice of the King's Service His Majesty will speedily send a considerable Force to your Frontiers In the mean time give notice to all the Cities and bid 'em take care of their Preservation and be assur'd that you shall see us very suddenly I am c. LETTER CLXXI. To the Marquiss de Fossez THO' I know you have not as yet had time enough to take an exact view of the place where you are nor to observe what is wanting and necessary for its preservation nevertheless I cannot but I must earnestly entreat you to send me in General by the Return of this Bearer whom I have sent on purpose the Condition of the Garrison and Magazins as you found 'em to the end we may be satisfy'd I have such a confidence in your Affection your care and diligence that I no longer believe Nancy to be in any danger while you are there not doubting but that you will so well regulate all things that we shall no longer labour under those perplexities we have suffer'd for these three Months considering the danger of that place The little care that has been taken hitherto to preserve the Corn that was laid up there is the reason that the Magazins are almost empty but I hope that yours and the care of the Bishop of Nantes whom the King has sent into Lorrain and Barrois to buy Corn and send it thither will remedy this defect and that in a little time there will he as great Plenty in the City as there has been scarcity hitherto This is that which I request of yee as much as in me lies assuring you that there is nothing that I wish more passionately then to see Nancy and Metz so well stor'd that whatever Army the King may have in those Quarters this Summer there may be enough to spare Be pleas'd then to do your utmost and believe me to be for ever c. LETTER CLXXII To the same YOU may have heard by this time how Treves has been surpriz'd which makes me put Pen to Paper most earnestly to intreat you to beware by this Example of falling into the like misfortune and to that end that you keep so careful a watch over the Inhabitants of Nancy that they may not be able to accomplish any ill design To this purpose besides those you have already put out of the Town if you think there are any others whom you have good reason to suspect the King's service and the security of the place requires that you deal by them after the same manner it being certain that 't is more easie to obviate the designs of open Enemies without then to prevent the Machinations of Clandestin Conspirators within I believe it also no less necessary for you to make a new and exact search in all suspected Houses for conceal'd Arms and to take away such as you find thereby not only to prevent the Effect but the fear of any danger My assurance that you will do whatever may be expected from your Vigilance and Affection will not permit me to say any more but that I am c. LETTER CLXXIII To Cardinal Barberini I Write to your Eminency to let you know the satisfaction which Mazarine has given by his Journey to this Court where he behav'd himself in such a manner that the King was very much pleas'd with him I will say nothing to yee of his Address and dexterity in Negotiation but that he has testify'd so great a desire for Peace that he could not have shewn a greater and if the Imperialists and Spaniards tread the same steps that we on this side do I make no question but that in a little time we shall see all Italy in safe Tranquility which will be a great step toward the Repose of all Christendom I hope his Holiness will be as well satisfy'd to see so great a Work accomplish'd if it can be brought to perfection as I hope it will For my own part I should extreamly rejoyce at it and from this very hour it is no small consolation to me that the said Sieur Mazarin and all that have Negotiated on this side are clearly sensibly that the King has omitted nothing that could be desir'd for the promoting so great a good and that they who had the Honour to serve him have sincerely contributed all that could be expected from their Industry And I shall continue to do the same with the same passion that I am c. LETTER CLXXIV To the same THe King having done the president M. le Coignrux the Honour to recommend him to the Cardinalship as deeming him worthy of it I write you these Lines to assure yee that you cannot do an act of Kindness more gratefull to the King and to Monsieur then to make use of your Credit with his Holiness that so this affair may be terminated with the soonest For my own part I most earnestly entreat your Eminency to believe that your good will to the Person in whose behalf I write will lay an Eternal Obligation upon him who Honours your Eminency and desires all Opportunities to serve yee as being as much as man can be c. LETTER CLXXV To Cardinal Bentivoglio MOnsieur Le Coigneux being recommended by the King to the Dignity of Cardinal as well in respect to Monsieur as in Consideration of his own Merit I write you these lines beseeching yee to make use of your Power with his Holiness so that his Majesty and Monsieur may with the soonest receive that satisfaction which they promise to themselves Besides the thanks they will repay you and the strict Obligation you will lay upon him in whose behalf I write I dare assure yee that I shall take so great a share in it that there shall no Opportunity present it self of manifesting my acknowledgment wherein you shall not find by the Effects that I am most sincerely c. LETTER CLXXVI To Cardinal Barberini THE King having within these
was impossible for those who were in the Province to do other wise then they did without particular Orders At this time therefore Prudence will not allow his Releasment but under such infallible Assurances that he shall not act either directly or indirectly against France as are no way to be evaded He is and shall be treated with all the Respect that is due to a Person of his Quality and who is in that Station that he is And I shall deem it a great Honour to see him in a better Condition that I might be able to manifest to Your Majesty by my Respect to his Person the Reverence I shall always have for Your Name as being c. LETTER CXCIV To the Duke of Neubourg IF I thought you were capable of believing what you write to me I would make it my Business to convince yee of that Opinion nor would my Trouble be very great But I take you for too penetrating a Prince to believe that France is the Cause of all the Miseries which you foresee will be fall Italy or that I have refus'd any just Conditions of an Accommodation Monsiour the Legate knows that I made the Way as easie to it as it was possible for me to do But to consent to such a Peace as had only the Name of a Peace and which in three Months would inforce us to buckle on our Arms again I must confess I am not capable of being persuaded to it I have a greater Longing for a sound Peace in Christendom the Repose of Italy and the Satisfaction of the Holy See then they who most pretend to desire ' em I serve a Master whose Aim it is not to enlarge his Dominions with the Spoils of his Neighbours and who never display'd his Banners in Foreign Countries but to deliver from Oppression such Princes and States as are unjustly assail'd So soon as they shall really and not in Words alone surcease from doing Mischief on that side they shall find the King inclin'd to whatever can be expected from a most just Prince and though of a Warlike Disposition yet most desirous of Peace As to the Miseries wherewith you threaten France His Majesty's Arms are so long that though he has one stretch'd out into Italy he will with the other sufficiently defend his remotest Frontiers and if they think to force him to a Defensive War on that side they will force him to act contrary to what he designs and to what he thinks of least of all I am c. LETTER CXCV. From Father Joseph to Father Valerian a Confident of Marquis Spindola 's during the Siege of Pignerol Reverend Father I Have receiv'd the Writing sent me by a Trumpeter from the Duke of Savoy It would be needless to answer many things which your Reverence I am confident well knows to be a little too tart and which I am therefore willing to believe are not conformable to your Sentiments In the mean time I must tell yee that they who blame Artifice and Wily Craft upon such Occasions as these have great Reason for what they say since nothing has hinder'd the past Treaties about the Affairs now in dispute but those Tricks and Shifts which have been put in practise contrary to our Desire and Expectation 'T is easie to know the Designs of those who have always talk'd as loudly as they have acted openly on this side but impossible to make 'em talk things that are not in their power The Prudence of those who have meddl'd in this Affair is too much esteem'd for having design'd to delay the Preparations which they are desirous to make for the War If they are thought of on this side the Proverb Sivis pacem para beâ—…m is the Cause of it In a Word Neither the Thoughts nor Designs on this side are such as the Writing which you have sent me represents ' em Peace is sincerely desir'd but a safe and honourable Peace And when we shall see in reality the Securities which your Reverence has propos'd the Declaration of the Treaty of Monson which you speak of and the effectual Reparation of the Breaches of the said Treaty as your Writing declares that the Marquis Spinola is willing to do then we shall believe those Gentlemen have some Inclination to Peace and it will be clearly seen whether they have Reason to say that France has no mind to it You say that on our part we want Effects and that on your part you propound nothing but your Thoughts upon which you know there is no Foundation to be laid Mon Seignicur the Cardinal has always talk'd distinctly according to the Power wherewith he is intrusted in an Affair upon which he could not as yet have time to know the King's Pleasure He has no other End no other Aim then the Welfare and Repose of Christendom And when he understands His Majesty's Intentions he will speak 'em as freely as he has hitherto done his own particular Sentiments I pray to God to bring all things to a good Conclusion which I know we both of us ought and do desire LETTER CXCVI. From the King to the Duke of Lorrain I Am much troubl'd that the Sieur de Ville has brought me no Satisfaction on your part to my just Complaints of your Demeanour I beseech yee to consider well whether it can be a thing to your advantage to do quite contrary to what all your Predecessors have done in contemning that Union which they have always religiously observ'd with this Crown and persisting in the Breach of those Treaties which you have made with me I expect a speedy Answer and such Deeds as I may reasonably desire upon this Subject if you desire that I should afford yee those Marks of my Good Will which I shall be al ways ready to conferr upon yee if you do not force me to the contrary LETTER CXCVII From Cardinal Richlieu to the same YOU are too clear-sighted in your Affairs to have need of Counsel and living with the King as you do you ought to be too jealous of me to take my Advice But for all that I most earnestly beseech yee to consider well whether it be for your Advantage to lie under His Majesty's Displeasure And in case you do not think it for your Good a thing which in my Opinion Your Highness can never believe I as earnestly intreat yee to seek out all the Ways which you shall deem most proper to satisfie him for what has pass'd since the Treaty of Peace I beseech yee so much the more willingly because it is for the Good of your Service for which I shall always have a sincere Affection when you shall give the King what he ought to expect in pursuance of your Promises and Treaties Be pleas'd to believe what I say and moreover that I am c. LETTER CXCVIII. To the Duke of Parma YOU will understand from Monsieur the Count of Scoti how that the Succour which the King promis'd
any Likelihood of Truth in those Reports But knowing his Innocence so well as I do and that he is a Man that only minds his Prayers and his Books I was willing to give you this Assurance of his Course of Living as also of his Loyalty to his King his Affection to his Country and his Service to your Lordship I promise my self that you will give no Credit to those false Imputations and that they will not be capable of blemishing the Honour and Reputation of this good Prelate whose Merit I have known a long time but that you will rather believe the Sincerity of my Words both in this particular and in the Protestation which I make of being ever c. LETTER CCX To the Count of Cramail after the Battel of Veillana FEwer Lines then you have receiv'd Cuts and Slashes will serve to testifie how glad I am that the Enemy has cut out more Work for your Taylor then Employment for the Surgeon I pray to God that in such like Encounters you may have more need to expend your Money in Stuffs and Silks then in Salves and Ointments and that for the Advantage of the King's Service and the Honour of those who have acquir'd so much in this Battel he may meet with many such Occasions among which I wish for some one wherein it might be proper for me to manifest how much I am c. LETTER CCXI. To the Count of Charost BRave Charost the Honour of thy Race These three Words will let thee know how much thou art esteem'd on this side the Mountains for the Courage which in these last Encounters thou hast shewn upon the Theatre of Mars and which will give thee an Occasion to let the Valour of Rambures know from me that no Person living sets a higher Price upon it then I do or who desires more to manifest how really I am the Slave of your Martial Vertue LETTER CCXII. To the Marquiss of Sourclis HIstory makes mention of several Captains in the past and present Ages who have taken Towns but never till now did we hear of any Captain that took a Town without Cannon and with only two Regiments a Town wherein there was a numerous Garison which was constrain'd to surrender at Discretion that extended it self so far as to hang two Thirds of 'em for Examples sake Certainly History will speak of this hereafter and not forget the Name of the generous Marquis who commanded in this Action The Gazette shall do its Duty or Renaudot shall lose his Pensions that he has hitherto enjoy'd Nay more There shall be set up a small Inscription upon the Fountains of Jouy importing that they stand there only for a Sign that he who set 'em up has found a Way to make the Blood of his Master the King's Enemies run Purple Streams as they piss Water But this Inscription will not reach Chastillon in regard that they who were sentenc'd to Death having ended their Days by the Rope their manner of dying has not that Resemblance to the Effusion of Liquid Blood of which we will have the said Fountains to be the Hieroglyphicks Continue Marquis to tread the same Steps in the Path of Honour which will acquire yee lasting Renown in this World and everlasting Glory in the other LETTER CCXIII. To Madam de Bullion I Wish it were in my power to manifest more advantageously then I have done my affectionate Desire to serve you Besides that the Consideration of your Merit inclines me to it the frequent Sollicitations of M. de Bullion in order to what may concern your Contentment are not a little pleasing to me I knew the Time when I thought him one of those Husbands that only lov'd their Wives as a part of their Inventory But now I perceive that he loves his Skin better then his Shirt that is to say his Wife's Interests better then those of other People and that in reference to Marriage he is one of those who never think they do a good Work unless they do it in secret This requires in my Opinion that the Tenderness which you have always had for him should still increase and that in Acknowledgment of his stirring in your Concerns as he does you should not wonder at his open Repulses since they turn to Effects such as you can desire For my part Madam I shall omit nothing that lies in my power to let you know that I am c. The Instructions of M. Schomberg Count of Nantueil Counsellor to the King in his Council of State His Majesty's Lieutenant-General in Limousin the Upper and Lower Marche for his Journey into Germany 1617. Sign'd de Richlieu out of M. de Puys 's Study MS. 121. THE first thing that M. the Count of Schomberg is to have before his Eyes is that the End of his Journey into Germany is to dissipate the Factions that may be set up there to the prejudice of France to carry the King's Name as high as possibly may be and powerfully to settle his Authority there This being the End propos'd he is next to see what are the most speedy and proper Means to attain this End Upon this Examen the Means will be found proportionable to the Ends in divers Kinds some General others Particular General those that may be serviceable over all Germany Particular are such as must be vary'd according to the Dispositions of several Princes The General ones also are to be of a various Nature either such as are proper to deface the ill Impressions that have been made in those Parts by misrepresenting the Affairs of France or proper to settle an honourable and advantageous Belief or such as are capable to produce both these Effects together The first consist in refuting and eradicating the Opinion inculcaâ—d by those of Monsieur the Prince's Party that he was seiz'd without any lawful Cause They consist also in making it out to be a perfect Calumny which has no other Foundation then the Passion and Imposture of our Enemies to say that we are sometimes Romans sometimes Spaniards that we embrace the Interests either of Rome or Spain to the prejudice of our ancient Alliances to the prejudice of our selves that is to say of those who profess the pretended Reformed Religion in France or of those that hate Spain and pride themselves in calling themselves true French-Men The Second General Means consists in making a good Impression of our Government in justifying our Actions though we are not oblig'd to give 'em an Account of ' em And this may be easily done by taking Cognizance of all that has been done in France since the Death of Henry the Great of glorious Memory according to the Discourse hereafter set down The Third General Means consists in Visits Compliments Civilities Assurances and Testimonies of Affection which are generally very proper to extinguish Discontents to remove Ill Will and create Kindness at the same time And as to this Point there needs no other Instruction then
for the good and peace of Italy as well as for the sake of the Catholick Religion the advantage of which he may assure himself his Majesty will ever be one of the first to promote with all his power But there is some danger as it has often been represented in being too obstinate for one of losing both together For it is most certain that the said Leagues of the Grisons are not oblig'd by the Articles of the Treaty to maintain the Catholick Religion alone in Valtelina and consequently the Spaniards cannot insist on this without a Breach of the Treaty and without wounding his Majesty's Royal Intermission But moreover to remove this borrow'd Veil and to go beyond them by a Zeal not apparent but truly sincere of Religion though this be not included in the said Agreement he will imploy his Credit and lively Remonstrances towards the said Grisons by his Ambassadors and use all other reasonable means to prevail with them for the preservation of the said Religion in Valtelina though not in the nature of a Condition as abovesaid it not being mention'd in the Treaty and they being oblig'd notwithstanding a refusal to accomplish the said Agreement and to perform the said full and intire Restitution That in case his Majesty can succeed in this design it will be a great comfort to his Holiness whose Nuncio in Switzerland must be order'd to facilitate with his Majesty's Ministers all honest and sure means to hasten the said Râ—stitution His Majesty presses this Affair being justly press'd by the thing it self and by the Persons concern'd therein which should invite his Holiness to double his vigilance and serious Instances in Spain otherwise he will find by real Effects that his Majesty's foresight has been good and his care in so many places very praise worthy But in order the better to convince his Holiness of the truth of the premisses here is a very certain and most visible Argument thereof The Spaniards who boast and seem very desirous of promoting the good and advancement of the Catholick Religion in Germany where they had promis'd to Invest the Duke of Bavaria with both the Palatinates are now out of Reasons of State more reserv'd in the matter out of fear of displeasing the King of Great Britain and lest the Duke of Bavaria should grow too powerful in Germany Causes altogether Temporal which hinder them from advancing the Glory and Holy Name of God in so fair an occasion while his Majesty shows himself more inclinable and favourable to it for though the Elector Palatin is Ally'd to him he knows in his Soul what he has done on that subject where it was necessary to show his good intention His Holiness's Officers and his Nuncio here have discover'd it themselves and that it was only a Blind u'sd by them to abuse the most simple but not capable of obscuring the prudence and clear sight of his Holiness who will be prais'd and bless'd by God and Men for endeavouring to prevent Usurpations and to maintain the publick Peace which are the only Ends his Majesty proposes But the said Commandore is chiefly to insist on the Mischiefs that may insue for the Publick these Crowns proceeding to a Breach which his Majesty will prevent to the utmost of his power by the advantages the Turk will easily gain by the division of the Christian Princes Whereas being united as it is his Holiness's Office to keep them and to which his Piety and other good Considerations should incline him above all things considering the present state of the Turks great progresses might be made against them But our Sins and Discords making us unworthy of that happiness we must implore the goodness of God and his Holiness by Prayers and Exhortations must use his utmost Endeavours to reconcile the hearts of Christian Princes to an Enterprize so holy so important and so seasible at this time according to the knowledge the King has of the now State of the Grand Seignor's Affairs and Provinces This business of Valtelina being adjusted before which nothing can be resolved on if his Holiness finds a good Disposition in other Princes His Majesty will ever be ready to second his good Intentions and to promote them to the utmost of his power It is His Majesty's Desire that the Honour of a Design so pious and so full of Glory should be reserv'd to the Happiness of this Pontificate and that in order thereunto His Holiness would be pleas'd to continue his best Endeavours for the Pacification of the Troubles of Italy as well as those that are kindling in Germany that the chief Princes of Christendom having no other Quarrels to decide may be the better able to unite their Wills and â—orces for this holy Enterprize His Majesty is very sensible that none are so busie on the Stage of the World as the Spaniards in order to extend their Empire more and more which will not only be the Occasion of neglecting the Opportunities of this Christian Project but also of uniting the Protestant Princes more strictly to oppose the Projects of the House of Austria And while this Game lasts the Turk will have many fair Occasions to improve it to their Cost and Shame and the Christâ—anâ— themselves will pay the Faults of their Ambition and Imprudence The Emperor having re-gain'd Bohemia which had been taken from him seems to have more Cause to let his Arms rest in order to provide against this common Enemy than to satisfie the Passion of another who leads him under his Authority to a Design which keeps him in Servitude himself and makes him share the publick Loss For here is Work cut out for a long time unless the Parties will put an end to it themselves since there is Reason to believe that the King of Great Britain with his Confederates will not let his Son-in-Law perish and that the States-General of the United Provinces will neither be so weak nor so destitute of Friends and of Assistance as to fall so soon by the Efforts of the Arms of Spain And in the mean time the great Occasions of doing good as to the general slip away Princes weaken each other by vexatious bloody Exercises thereby giving great Advantages to a potent Enemy who is only with-held by his Ignorance of our Condition or by the Hand of God who in his Mercy has not yet given us over to his Wrath. But we have reason to fear that the Continuance of this Misfortune will draw it upon us as being too unworthy of his Favours in not having made use of the fair Opportunities he had given us of making great Progresses against this Enemy in these last Ages The said Commandore is also to enquire of the Cardinals de Sourdis and Bentivoglio on what Terms the Marriage propos'd between Spain and England stands at present not to raise the least Obstacle against it His Majesty having had several Occasions so to do since he first was inform'd of it had he
Precedency of Cardinals in the King's Council collected by Cardinal de Richelieu MDCXXII From M. du Puy 's Study M.S. 478. THERE is no account to be given of the Treatment Cardinals receive in all other Kingdoms where Kings give them the Precedency before all others whatever But France having peculiar Laws to which it is reasonable to submit they pretend to no more there than what they have had for the time past and I am persuaded that the World will commend their Modesty if they consider that they freely suffer some diminution of the first rank they have had out of respect to the Blood of their Majestys In the Year 1467. at the Estates of Tours Cardinal Balue was seated on the King's Right Hand and Rene King of Sicilly Prince of the Blood on the left In 1493. du Tillet Reports That the King sitting in his Parliament the Cardinal of Lyons was seated immediately after the Dukes of Orleans and of Burgundy the King's Brothers and after him the Counts d' Angoulesme and de Montpencier Princes of the Blood The Possession of this Rank has been so clear that du Tillet says in express Terms that the Quality of a Cardinal is such that he preceeds all the Princes of the Blood after the second Person The first contest between the Princes of the Blood and the Cardinals happen'd under Charles the 9th not between a lay Prince of the Blood but between the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Cardinal of Lorrain The Cardinal of Lorrain was the most Ancient and was seated in the Council above the other without any Contestation They became Enemies and it was fear'd that the Princes of the House of Lorrain would become too great in the State Therefore in order to Temper and Humble the said House the precedence was given to the Cardinal of Bourbon after his having declar'd that he only pretended that Rank in the Council upon the account of the interest those of the Blood have in the State above others Since that time there have been disputes sometimes between the Princes of the Blood and the Cardinals in the Council But without the least Contradiction the Cardinals have always preceeded all others And it would be without the least ground or reason should any Constable or Chancelor pretend to dispute the said Rank with a Cardinal since they have ever been preceeded by Persons who do not dispute it with the Cardinals Du Tillet reports pag. 439. in a Sessions of Parliament That the Constable was seated after the Dukes of Guise d' Aumalle and Vaudemont In another Sessions under Henry the 2d after the Duke of Guise In another Sessions under the said Henry after the Dukes of Guise and Aumalle And yet in another after the Dukes of Guâ—se and of Nivernois He also says elsewhere in express words That the Prelates are after the Constables or Chancellors unless they are Princes or Cardinals Under Henry the 2d the Constable Anne de Montmorency was Favourite He did not love the Cardinal of Lorrain and yet he never thought of disputing his Rank Since the Cardinal of Lenoncourt has always been seated in the King's Council above the Lord Keeper officiating the place of Chancelor At the Declaration of the Queen's Regency in the Parliament held in the Monastery of the Augustin Fryars the Constable of Montmorency seated himself after the Cardinals of Joyeuse Sourdis and du Perron And no Constable or Chancellor ever had that thought except Monsieur de Sillery who imparting his Ambition to the Constable induc'd him to aspire to it All the Ancients of the Council remember to have seen Monsieur de Guise seated above Monsieur de Sillery and on the same side with him The Queen remembers to have seen the Cardinal of Joyeuse seated there and formerly the Cardinal of Sourdis She also remembers he complain'd to her one day that the Chancellor endeavudr'd to break up the Council to incroach that place The Expedient propos'd by the said Chancellor was That there should be one Side of the Dignities on which the Children of France the Princes of the Blood and other Princes Dukes and Peers should be seated consecutively And another Side of the Officers on which the Constable Chancellor Mareschals of France and other Officers should be plac'd And foreseeing that this would be look'd upon as a great Absurdity since by this Means he would be seated sometimes above the Children of France Princes of the Blood or Cardinals he propos'd the making a Declaration which setling the two Sides of Dignities and of Offices should at the same time express that the Second Place on the Side of the Dignities should be Nobler than the First Place on the Side of the Officers This Proposition destroys it self evidently seeing that not only Kings but even God himself cannot make the Vale of a Hill to be the Top thereof nor the Feet of a Man to be higher than his Head So that in reality whatever Subtlity was us'd the Chancellor had a mind to precede those who in Reason have always preceded him since the Second Person of the Right Side would not have been so nobly seated as the First on the Left This Design was openly to settle a perpetual Precedency in the King's Council by the Chancellor like unto that of the First President of the Parliament who has a certain fix'd Seat which he does not so much as yield to the Princes of the Blood This would be of very ill Consequence in the Council for several Reasons easily thought on No body can be ignorant of the End of this Pretension if they consider that the Jealousie of keeping this regulated Place has often induced the Chancellor His Majesty being absent from the Council to give the King 's own Place to qualify'd Persons which was never done before rather than quit his own Therefore the King has wisely condemn'd the said Pretension as being very prejudicial and given the First Place of his Council in which the Prince of Conde sits when he is there to the Cardinal de la Roch-foucaulâ— declaring that the said Prince coming the said Cardinal should remove to the other Side which is the Second Place And thus the Chancellor was absolutely depriv'd of the Advantage he expected by this Proposition which is the same that is continu'd at present contrary to the Judgment the King was pleas'd to give at that time Should any thing be alter'd about this Pretension at present it would be as unjust whatever Retrenchments were made as it was in the whole since it is evident by the Examples above-mention'd that the Cardinals have never yielded to any but the Princes of the Blood for the Reasons abovesaid which can only be of force in relation to them and consequently that next to them they ought to possess the first Places and of Course theirs in their Absence That the noblest Places have always been look'd upon to be those that are the first on the two Sides opposite to
oblig'd me to write that very Night to Messieurs de Guebriant and d'Oysonville to acquaint them with all those Difficulties and the Reasons I had to conclude as advantageously as was possible Two Hours after the Receipt of my Letter and their having conferr'd with the Duke of Longueville they repair'd hither where it was their Opinion that I should wait on Major-General Erlach to tell him absolutely that we could not go beyond what we had granted by the last Articles that our Power was at an end and that if the Army was not satisfy'd with it it was fit to send to the King again He repeated with much Disquiet as I thought that it behov'd us to take care lest Things should take an ill Biass before the Return of the Courier we should send and that afterwards we should fall into the Proverb Such refuse who afterwards muse I repeat the same Words to you Upon which I press'd him to tell me what great Reason there was to doubt I ask'd him if he had any Notice of some other Treaty to the prejudice of ours Whether he was afraid of any Treason in the Army or in the Governors He could alledge none to me but that the Army was absolutely ruin'd in case it remain'd some Days longer without marching After having felt his Pulse he made great Complaints to me against Colonel Flâ—rschin even so far that he look'd very coldly on him since his Return from Colmar That he was a Man that had receiv'd 800 Pistoles for a Gratification for which he thought himself but little oblig'd Whereupon I reply'd to him that it behov'd him to take care lest he were turn'd out of his Government That it would be a great Affront to him That he knew what we had offer'd to him what Engagements he had made to the Court That it behov'd him only to speak and that he should not want a sufficient Assistance This produc'd no Conclusion and thus we parted he saying that we should tarry for the Answer of Colonel Ohem and the other Officers about the Articles of the said Places I acquainted Messieurs de Guebriant and d'Oysonville with this Conversation We weigh'd all the Reasons on both sides consider'd the Hardships of the Treaty they would impose on the King as also the hazard we should run if in delaying the Army should chance to take another Party and the Garisons find Means to subsist without us as they might do for a while if having each Wheat enough almost for a whole Year at least for the most considerable all the Colonels following the Advice of the Suedish Resident should make a Resolution to join their Forces to those of Koningsmark a Suede From whence it would follow that the Crown of Sueden in pursuance of the Treaty made with His Majesty would oblige him to send another Army into Germany or would take an Occasion to make a Peace with the Emperor without our Leave I am sensible that this Expedient propos'd by the Resident of Sueden is not the most advantageous for those Forces by reason that in the first place before their Conjunction they are necessitated to cross a large Country belonging to the Enemy where they would be in danger of a Defeat Besides that at the time of their quitting these Quarters all the Officers would be oblig'd to break their Equipages to mount their Infantry which is a thing Germanâ— would hardly resolve upon Moreover I am of Opinion that they are not over-fond of the Suedish Command that on that side they can draw no Money from them and that since they are so loth to receive the absolute Commands of a potent King they will much more unwillingly submit to those of Koningsmark who is but a Colonel like themselves Propositions have also been made to them to Canton themselves in this Country and to make a Republick which is a mere Chimera But we have to deal with such unreasonable Men that not being capable to know their own Good they may chance to be hurry'd away following the Passion of one Man who may have a Mind to establish his Authority above the rest All these Reasons made 〈◊〉 among us incline in case the said Officers did 〈…〉 their Propositions about the Garisons to declare unto them that we had no power to grant what they desir'd and that it was necessary to send a Deputation to the King The rest consider'd that though in effect their Instructions oblig'd them to secure the Army in the most direct manner in the King's Service according to the secret Treaty of His late Highness and that by another Article of the said Instructions it is expresly provided that in case any Difficulties should arise on the part of the Governors of the Places and Officers of the Army about the Taking of the Oath purely and simply to the King and that they should be desirous to add that they will keep the said Garisons for the King's Service and the Good of the common Cause they must be made sensible how the said Duke himself by the secret Article acknowledg'd none but the King And that Reason does not allow their doing less in this than he Which are Words that enengage the Deputies to suit as much as can be their Negotiation to His Majesty's entire Satisfaction but yet do not decisively express that for want of that the King will hearken to no manner of Treaty Seeing moreover that by all the Letters we have receiv'd from His Majesty and Monsieur de Noyers since the Beginning of our Negotiation we are always injoin'd not to break it off And that by a Third Instruction sent to us upon the Propositions of Colonel Flerschin when Mention is made of the Oath to be taken by the Governors of Places it is said in express Words Although His Majesty has very clearly acquainted the said Deputiâ—e by their Instructions in what manner he is of Opinion that the Governors ought to take their Oath of Fidelity Which Expression He is of Opinion shews that His Majesty refers it to us to compose all things as advantageously as is possible for his Service After all Whether our Instructions do not bind us so fast but that we may go beyond the Words of the Oath therein set down or whether we may not exceed them without endangering our Heads considering all the Accidents above-noted and another which is most certain That in sending to the Court without a Conclusion we must pass at least a Fortnight longer before we can receive Orders and that after the Receipt of those Orders we must spend seven or eight Days longer to assemble the Officers again and as much to make the Preparations of our Departure That all this time would lead us very far into November and deprive us of the Means of taking our Winter-Quarters and consequently that this Army would be infallibly ruin'd or we forc'd to lodge them in France considering also that it is better to take some Possession of what
St. Menehoud the 14th of August 1639 Memorial for Monsieur du Hallier IMmediately after having seen the Dispatch of Monsieur du Hallier and the Credentials of the Sieur Vitelle from the Duke Charles this Gentleman is sent to him with all speed to acquaint him with the King's Intentions His Majesty is very willing that the Sieur de la Grange-aux-Ormes should no longer be concern'd in this Affair having only sent him to the Duke Charles because he himself had desir'd it which is justify'd by a Letter of his The King approves du Hallier's proceeding in giving a Pass to the Duke Charles to go to and tarry in safety at St. Avan His Majesty supposing his Intention to be good and that he will treat sincerely is willing that the Sieur du Hallier should give him a fresh Security the most ample and in the best Form that can be made to abide at Espinal or Remiremont in order to make his Treaty with more Convenience And whereas he is desirous a Commission should be given to adjust it to some Person of Quality on whom the King reposes a Confidence His Majesty has cast his Eyes upon the said Sieur du Hallier to that end assuring himself that he will discharge his Trust with all the Address and Prudence requir'd Such a Treaty as the King can make is sent to the said du Hallier he must endeavour to make Duke Charles agree to it without Modification and however is to insist upon it in such a manner as may not disgust him And if he finds that he cannot absolutely prevail with him to accept it by disputing the Articles he must if possible oblige the said Duke to demand the things mention'd in the Modifications in order to conclude it the sooner and that there may be the less difficulty when the said Duke shall be possess'd that those things are granted to him which he desires Instructions for the same THE Treaty may be soften'd in two Points The First in leaving him the Country of Bar not to deprive him of his Revenue Which Monsieur du Hallier is to make him sensible of as of a great and singular Favour The Second In shortning the Deposition of Nancy into the King's hands for the term of three Years after the Peace If he should require the Price of the County of Clermont as it was stipulated by the Treaty made with him before the War it must be represented to him That having put himself out of the Bounds of that Treaty by the Breach he made with the King he can no longer require the Execution of it That the War has alter'd all things and that he ought to look upon it as a great Favour that the King should return him what he is willing to restore without asking for more He must add to this That if the King should demand the Charges of the War in returning his Country to him which he might lawfully do and is generally done they would amount to more than the Price of the State it self In case the said Duke should demand a Strong Hold for the place of his Residence it must be represented to him That the King neither can nor ought in reason to hearken to such a Proposition since it would be a means to enable him anew to revolt against His Majesty in case he were minded so to do for then the King could have no Security beyond his Word which he cannot look upon as inviolable but by a long Experience considering what is past Nevertheless if he should insist very much upon having la Motte the only place to the Restitution of which His Majesty could consent Monsieur du Hallier may give him his Choice to have the said Town again after the War if he will consent by the present Treaty to leave the Country of Bar in propriety to the King In that Case the Fourth Article about the Country of Bar must remain as it is set down in the Treaty putting la Motte out of the beginning of the Fifth Article of the places that are to remain in the King's hands adding after those Words of the Seventh Article Unless the said Duke had rather tarry for the Restitution of the said Places till after the Settlement of a general Peace that which follows Which is particularly agreed upon about the Town of La Motte which His Majesty is willing to restore to the said Duke in order one day to reside safely in the same but that is only to be deliver'd to him three Years after the Conclusion of the Peace Monsieur du Hallier is not to acquaint the Duke with the Particulars of this Treaty by the Interposition of any Person but by Word of Mouth since it will be much easier for him to prevail with the said Duke personally than by the Interposition of any one whatever And though the said Duke should swear and protest not to pass certain things Monsieur du Hallier is not to desist for that it being the said Duke's Custom to return from one Extremity to another whatever Protestation he has made to the contrary It is thought necessary to chuse a Newter Place to pass this Treaty as Remiremont or Espinal or some adjacent place in the Country where Monsieur du Hallier is to take care not to go without Safety In order to satisfie all the World of the Truth of this Treaty when it is made the said Duke is to come to the King However in case he should refuse to do it so soon Monsieur du Hallier is not to break off with him for that But I am confident that he will make no difficulty about it upon the Faith of the Treaty and the Pass that is sent him together with all the Assurances Monsieur du Hallier is to give him that he will be serv'd and assisted at Court by my Lord the Cardinal If the said Duke represents the extream Necessity to which he is reduc'd Monsieur du Hallier may grant him 50000 Crowns once paid which he will receive when he comes to wait upon the King Monsieur du Hallier is to make no difficulty of promising that the Fault committed by de Ville in making his Escape contrary to his Faith will be pardon'd by the King and that he will look upon him as if it had never happen'd His Eminency writes a Letter to Monsieur du Hallier in order to his shewing it to the Duke Charles as from himself The Treaty must be deliver'd to Monsieur du Hallier counter-sign'd by the Duke's Secretary officiating at this time and seal'd with his Seal Memorial of Cardinal de Richelieu to Monsieur du Hallier From Briare the First of November 1639. THE little Trust that can be repos'd in the Duke of Lorrain makes it very difficult to make any Treaty with him without running the hazard of being deceiv'd in it This Consideration will oblige Monsieur du Hallier to take a particular Care to follow all the Expressions of the Treaty that
is sent to him most religiously without making any Alterations because this Prince is captious and that it is certainly known that he has not the Intentions he ought to have It is moreover known that he has given an Account of the Overtures of the Treaty he is about to the Cardinal Infant saying That he is courted to it against his Will and that far greater Offers are made him than the Conditions the King is willing to grant him The said Duke has also communicated this Treaty to all the Princes of Germany and particularly to those of Bavaria and Cologne with the same Suppositions he has sent into Flanders It will be proper to let him know that we are acquainted with all his Artifices and Levities and that such a manner of proceeding does almost break off all manner of Treaty since he has nothing on his side to give the King but his Fidelity which he does not approve Nevertheless in order to give Monsieur du Hallier means to conclude a Treaty if there be any hopes to make a good one the King has been pleas'd once more to answer the three new Demands made by Videl in the Duke Charles's Name and to give the said du Hallier means to satisfie the said Duke if he be capable of acknowledging a Courtesie which he grants him beyond what he could expect in Reason The said Duke demands the Title of Sovereign in the Treaty That a Garison may be given him immediately in Lorrain And that those Garisons the King is to keep in the places that are to remain in his possession may not be paid out of the Revenues of Lorrain It is thought that by the first of these three Demands Duke Charles intends to oblige the King to decide the Salique Law pretended in Lorrain in favour of him which His Majesty cannot do without enquiring farther into the matter especially with a Person who is not as yet reconciled with him But to shew the King's Goodness he is willing that in the Third Article of the Project of the Treaty which Monsieur du Hallier has in his hands instead of these words Thus the Duke shall be restor'd to the Possession of the Dutâ—…y of Lorrain these may be inserted That he shall be restor'd to the Possession of the Soverignty of the Dutchy of Lorrain As to the Garison he desires were the King persuaded that he had a mind to treat sincerely he would condescend to it but it is impossible to resolve on it without that Assurance 'T is the said Duke's part to give us such an one I am of opinion that such an one might be had by incerting a Clause in the Treaty by which the Duke may shew that he is willing to deprive himself of the Means of failing The said Clause ought to be as followeth As to the City of La Motte His Majesty being mov'd by the earnest Intreaty the said Duke has made to him to have the said City deliver'd into his hands in order to his being the better able to execute what he promises by the present Treaty since it will put him in a Condition not to fear those whose Ill Will he will incur by making this Engagement His said Majesty has been pleas'd to grant it the said Duke consenting freely that in case he should make an ill Use of this Advantage by violating the present Treaty which he will be the better able to execute having a safe Retreat His Majesty should make him resent the Effects of his Indignation attacking his Territories anew and preserving to Perpetuity whatever he shall take there by Force of Arms. Though this Clause seems to give some Assurance the Experience of what is past which has shewn that nothing can hinder the said Duke Charles from following his Passions when-ever he is mov'd by them makes us sensible that this Pre-caution is not sufficient to venture to put a strong Place into the hands of a Prince who may chance to do a great deal of Mischief with it during the War Nevertheless If after having seen the said Duke Monsieur du Hallier thinks that there is more Sincerity in his proceeding than before His Majesty will run that hazard to promote a Peace As to the Payment of the Garisons the King restoring the said Duke to the Possession of his Territories out of his extraordinary Goodness His Majesty has no Thoughts of reserving any thing to himself there besides the places mention'd in the said Treaty with the Liberties thereof insomuch that in case the said Duke immediately passes the Treaty coming between this and the Month of January to pay his Respects to the King he shall begin to enjoy his Territories on the very beginning of the next Year It will be Monsieur du Hallier's part to decide the Liberties of the said Towns very advantageously for the King There will be no need of mentioning the Liberties of Clermont since the County is to remain in the King's Hands as well as the Town The King desires the said du Hallier to cause a Map to be made of all the Country round about the said Places in which the Liberties of the same are to be particularly noted according as he shall think they ought to be and so send the same to His Majesty who will acquaint him with his Pleasure therein Thus Monsieur du Hallier may acquaint the Duke of Lorrain That in treating with him he will treat as with a Sovereign and that he does not doubt in case the said Duke behaves himself towards His Majesty as he ought to do that he will pay the Garisons of the Towns that are to remain in his hands In a word That he is persuaded that when he sees him if he knows how to deserve His Majesty's Favour he will be able to give him Satisfaction But that he cannot explain himself farther without having seen the Disposition he is in and known the Security he is willing to give His Majesty of his Fidelity Moreover Whenever the said du Hallier sees the Duke it will suit with his Prudence to behave himself in such a manner that in case the said Duke be not in a Condition to perform his Duty freely towards the King he may not be able to say That he has been willing to restore La Motte to him immediately Monsieur du Hallier is to let him make the Proposition about it saying that he has no Order to grant it and that he does not believe the King will do it but that he will propose it to His Majesty And if he finds all things agreed on excepting that Point he is to promise to give him an Answer in seven or eight Days time and to dispatch a Courier to St. Germain where the King will be Memorial of Cardinal de Richelieu to Monsieur du Hallier From Paris this 20 th of November THE divers Circumstances of Duke Charles's proceeding who sends to Monsieur du Hallier upon a slight Pretence being join'd