of Byron This word was as lightning the Vant-Courier of the Thunder-bolt he was about to throw the King by it degrading him of so many eminent dignities with which he had honoured him shewed that he was about to abase him much more then ever he had raised him At his coming forth of the Queens Chamber where he played at Primero Vitry Captain of the Kings Life-Guard demanded his Sword and Arrested him as his prisoner Praslin likewise Captain of the Guards secured the Count of Auvergne and on the morrow putting them in Boats on the Seine conducted them with a good Convoy by water to the Bastille Byron had a very great number of friends but on this occasion wherein he was accused to have conspired against the person of the King they were all mute and struck dumb His kindred which were found at the Court went to cast themselves on their knees before the King not to demand Justice of him but to implore his mercy The Lord de la Force afterward Marshal of France spoke for them all If Byron had at first spoke with so much humility and submission as they did he had without doubt obtained his grace but it was now too late there was now no more room for Clemency it had given place to Justice The King commanded his Parliament to make his Process and sent particular Commission to the chief President and to the President Potier Blan-Mesnil and two Counsellours to draw up the instructions at the request of the Attorny-General The proofs were very strong and the defence of Byron very weak He made it plainly appear in a business wherein he acted for his Life that he had less brains then heart For he presently acknowledged his writing which he might have denied and have gained some time to have made it be proved This piece had been written in the time of the War of Savoy He pretended that the King being at Lyons had pardoned him all his rebellious Motions But the King sent Letters under his Great Seal to the Parliament by which herevoked that grace And no great consideration was had upon it for first that grace he had granted him was but verbal and in the second place the Parliament held it for a Maxime That there are Crimes the King cannot pardon as those of Laesae Majestatis Divine and Humane and those which are of a horrible scandal and great prejudice to the Publick When they came to the re-examination and confronting of Witnesses and presented Laffin to Byron in stead of reproaching him as a man whom an hundred reproaches might have rendred incapable of bearing witness he acknowledged him for an honest Man and a brave Gentleman but afterwards when he heard his Deposition read he began to charge him with injuries to call him Traytor Magician and Devilish Fellow But the time was past nor were his reproaches any more valuable He believed that Renaze was still a Prisoner in Piedmont but he had escaped some time before and was now presented to him He believed that he saw a Fantasm or Ghost he remained astonished and dumb and without making any exception against him heard his Deposition which agreed with that of Laffin They deposed besides what we have already said That he had complotted with the Governour of Fort St. Katherine to kill the King when he went to receive that place That Byron was to march a little before him clad in a certain fashion to the end he might be known They said likewise that he had another designe to take away the King when he should be hunting or other where ill accompanied and carry him into Spain The Charge of the Impeachment thus made in the Bastille by four Commissioners he was conducted to the Palace down the River guarded on both sides by the Regiment of Guards He was heard in Parliament seated on the Foot-stool all the Chambers of the Assemblies but the Peers being present though they had been likewise called and afterwards reconducted to the Bastille On the morrow being the last of July it was put to the Vote of one hundred and fifty Judges there was not one who concluded not of his death He was declared Attainted and convicted of the crime of Laesae Majestatis for the Conspiracies made by him against the person of the King Designes upon his Estate Treasons and Treaties with his Enemies being Marshal of the Armies of the said King And for reparation of his Crimes deprived of all his Estates Honours and Dignities and condemned to have his head cut off in the place of the Greve his Goods moveable and immoveable taken and confiscated to the King his Lands of Byron for ever deprived of the title of Peerage and those and all his other Lands re-united to the Demains of the Crown The King under pretext of doing a favour to his Kindred but fearing indeed some tumult because he was much loved of the Souldiery and had a great number of friends in Court removed the place of his execution and would have it done in the Bastille The Chancellour going with the chief President caused him to be led to the Chappel where about ten of the Clock in the morning he pronounced his Sentence which he heard with one Knee on the ground with a great deal of patience onely when they came to these words Conspiracies against the person of the King he rise up and cryed out There is no such thing that is false blot out that In fine the Chancellour according to form redemanded of him the Coller of his Order his Ducal Crown and his Marshals Staff He had not the two last with him but onely the first which he drew out of his pocket and gave It will be needless to recount all his Discourses his Reproaches his Passions his Laments his Exclamations and a hundred other Extravagancies for so we may call them with which he was transported About five a Clock that Evening he was led to the Scaffold where he had his head cut off It was observed that it bounded three times forced by the impetuosity of his spirits which were transported and that there issued more blood out of it then out of the trunk of his body He was carried to the Church of St. Paul where he was buried without any Ceremony but with a great concourse of people who had all tears in their eyes and lamented that brave Courage which a detestable Ambition and a too boundless Pride had brought to so unhappy an end It is convenient to understand that this Marshal was very ignorant but extreamly curious in the Predictions of Astrologers Diviners Necromancers and other Deceivers It was held likewise that Laffin had gained his favour by making him believe that he talked with the Devil and that he had assured him that he should be a Soveraign It was said likewise that being young he went one day disguised to see a Teller
order in the Revenues Effects of this good management of Rosny * A general place for receipt of Revenues whereof there be 20. in France viz. Paris Rouen Caen Nantes Tours Bourges Poictiers Agen Tholouse Montpellier Aix Grenoble Lyons Dijon Chaalons Amiens Orleans Limoges Soissons Moulin Expedients to hinder those of the Council to share with the Farmers The Collectors exclaim against Rosny but he derides them 1599. The King cannot yet provide for the Reformation of the Clergy His abuse of Benefices Remonstrance of the general Assembly of the Clergy to the King The Kings answer He had need of great Prudence to conduct himself with the Pope and with the Hugonots Edict of Nantes granted to the Hugonots The Parliament with great difficulty confirm it The King shews all respect â—o the Pope Cause of the Dutchy of Ferrara Caesar bastard of Ferrara would maintain it The Pope makes war against him The King offers his sword to the Pope Caesar quits Ferrara remains Duke of Modena Many Hugonots converts The King takes the young Prince of Conde from the Hugonots and causes him to be instructed in the Catholick Religion Marriage of the Infanta of Spain and Ratherine sister to the King Qualities of Katherine why the King married her to the Duke of Bar. The marriage made in the Kings Closet The Pope troubled at the Duke of Bar for this marriage Death of the Dutchess of Bar. The Duke of Joyeuse re-takes the habit of Capuchin The Marchioness of Bell ' Isle turns Feuillantine Duel of de Crequy and Phillipin bastard of Savoy The Apparition of the great Hunter to the King hunting at Fountainbleau What these fantasms may be The fair Gabriella demands the King to espouse her and legitimate his Children He feeds her with hope She in the end obliges the King to demand Commissioners of the Pope to judge of the divorce of Margaret The King remains at Fontainbleau to do his Easter-devotions and sends the fair Gabriella to Paris * A service in the Roman Church used three days before Easter which are called Les tâ—ois Jours de tenebres She dies in a strange manner The King comforts himself conserves an extream tenderness for her Children Queen Margaret presents a request to the Pope to dissolve her marriage The Lords and Parliament beseech the King to take a wife He presents his request to the Pope as well as Queen Margaret The Pope appoints Commissioners who pronounce the dissolution of the marriage After which Queen Margaret comes to Paris Her inclination 1600. Maria de Medicis demanded for Hen. 4. The contract of the marriage at Florence and the Nuptials Solemnized by Proxy The King falls into the snares of Madam d'Entragues afterwards March ioness of Verneuil A good reflection concerning flatterers The King gives an hundred thousand crowns to Madamoiselle d' Entragues Her cunning to bring him to her designs She gets a promise of marriage from him Sully tears it but the King makes another He pursues at Rome the decision of the Marquisate of Saluces How that Marquisate appertained to him How the Duke of Savoy seized it An accommodation spoke of He offers it to be held at faith homage By the Treaty of Vervin the business is remitted to the Popes Arbitration The Pope refuses farther medling with the Arbitration why The Duke of Savoy strives to gain time He would come to France to confer with the King What might be the motives of his voyage His Train The King causes him to be well received every where He passes Lyons Arrives at Fontainbleau where the King is His address to gain confidence with the King who is as subâ—ile as himself and carries him to Paris Overture of the Centenary Jubilee at Rome Great Demonstrations of friendship between the King and Duke How the Duke lived in the Kings Court. The King shews him his Parliament * A place I suppose so called which looked into the Parliament-House and where they might see and not be seen Yet the King releases not to him the Marquisate * The French hath it Prendre le Change which is taken for flying out at a wrong Deer like hounds of Riot The Duke not succeeding it is believed he endeavoured to debauch Byron by the means of Laffin The vanities of Byron become insupportable He esteems himself more then the King who takes disgust at it A good and important Reflection The Duke causes to be carried to Byron some disadvantagious words of the Kings The King proposes to the Duke the exchange of the Marquisate for la Bresse The Duke seems not a verse but takes three moneths to consider He takes leave of the King who accompanies him to Charenton Some had counselled the King to arrest him The Kings noble Answer The three months expired the King presses the Duke to chuse either the change or the restitution The Duke presses the Council of Spain to help him The Count of Fuentes comes to this purpose to Milain but too late The King again presses the Duke to chuse the change or restitution He promises positively to surrender the Marquisate But when the King sends his forces he takes off his mask and refuses The King declares war against him He gives advice of it to the neighbouring Princes * Julius Caesar would never let the tenth Legion fight but with him Byron conquers all la Bresse The Pope Alarm'd at this War sends to the King The Kings good and Christian answer The King enters Savoy Yet the Duke stirs not He trusts some vain predictions of Astrologers or to Byron much incensed against the King In fine the Duke takes the field but does nothing The Citadel of Montmelian taken and that of Bourg and fort St. Katherine The King visits Geneva The Pope endeavours a peace and sends to that purpose his Nephew Legat. The King comes to Lyons where his Queen expected him The Legat likewise comes and the Ambassadors of Savoy 1610. The peace agreed signed and published at Lyons They both gain by the exchange After the King goes to Paris followed by the Queen He carries her to see his buildings He divertised but never employed himself about buildings An excellent reflexion Count Fuentes would surprize Marseilles to break the peace His people might be intrapped by counter-intelligence but the King will not The Spaniards turn their Arms against the Infidels The Duke of Merceur commands the Emperoâ—rs forces and dies Gentlemen of the Ambassador of France in Spain kill some Spaniards The Magistrate violates the freedom of the Ambassadors house and takes them out Discourse of the freedom of Ambassadors Palaces The King being offended recals his Ambassador And goes in haste to Calais to visit his Frontier The Pope undertakes to accommodate the difference and doth it The Arch-Duke besieging Ostend sends to complement the King * This siege lasted three years three months and three days The King returns the civility to the Arch-Duke The Queen of England
pretext for raising his Siege from before Paris To put his body in a place where the resentment of the Duke of Guises creatures might not outrage it he carried it to Compeigne and laid it in the Abbey of S. Cornille where he celebrated all the funebrous Ceremonies as honourably as the confusion of the time would permit Not able to assist himself because of his Religion he committed the care to Bellegarde and Espernon the last of which accompanied him thither and then retired into Angoumois There were three advices given concerning the place to which he ought to retire when he raised his siege from Paris The first was to repass the Loire and abandon to the League all the Provinces on this side it because he could difficultly maintain them The second to re-advance along the Marne and seizing those Bridges and Cities expect an assistance from the Protestant Suisses and Germans promised to come to him And the third to march down into Normandy to assure himself of some Cities whose Governours were not yet engaged in the League to gather the mony received for Taxes and to joyne with the Assistance of England which Queen Elizabeth had promised him and which could not be long absent He concluded on the last of these advices and so many of the Nobles who accompanied him desiring some time to go and refresh themselves he gave them leave He sent a part of his Troops into Picardie under the Conduct of the Duke of Longueville another into Campaine under that of Marshal d' Aumont and with three thousand French foot two Regiments of Suisses and twelve hundred horse only which he kept with him he descended into Normandy The Duke of Montpensier who was Governour there came to joyne him with two hundred Gentlemen and fifteen hundred Foot Rolet Governour of Pont d' Arche a man of Courage and Spirit brought him the Keys of that place demanding no other recompence but the honour to serve him Emer de Chattes a Commandadoâ—e of Malta did the same with those of Diepe After which the King approached Rouen where he believed to have some intelligence This Enterprize put him in extream danger but in revenge gave him a fair occasion to acquist Glory in retiring himself from so great a peril See how it passed The Duke of Mayenne came to the succour of Rouen with all his forces and passed the Rivers at Vernon The King much astonished retires to Diepe and sends to the Duke of Longueville and d' Aumont to return to him with diligence with their forces The Duke in the mean time takes all the little places about Diepe to inviron and invest himself within In effect he shuts him up so close that if he had not amused himself by an untimely motion to go to Bins in Hainault to confer with the Duke of Parma he had in that disorder dissipated the greatest part of his little Army He had already caused a report to be spread through France and had writ with assurance to all strange Princes That he held the King of Navarre so he called him shut up in a little corner from whence he could not get but either by yeilding himself to him or leaping into the Sea The danger appeared so eminent even to his most faithful servants that the Parliament at Tours sent expresly to him a Master of Requests proposing as the onely expedient they saw to save the Estate the associating him and the Cardinal of Bourbon his Uncle in the Royalty giving to One the conduct of Civil Affairs and the Other of Martial There were likewise the greatest part of the Captains of his Army of opinion that leaving his Forces on shore well intrenched in their posts he should as soon as possible embarque for England or for Rochel for fear lest if he should longer delay it he might be shut up by Sea as well as by Land To the Proposition of the Parliament he made answer That he had taken such good order that the intrigues of the Duke of Mayenne could not deliver the Cardinal of Bourbon as they apprehended and the Marshal of Byron so stoutly opposed those who counselled him to embarque that they desisted It appeared soon after by the proof that the Forces of the League which were thrice as great as his were not to be feared in proportion to their number and that the more Commanders they had the less their power was to be doubted The King was lodged at the Castle d'Arques which is seated on a little Hill to stop the passage of the Valley which goes to Diepe The Duke had formed a Designe to take this Post by Sea by four or five Reprises and on divers days he essayed to assault the Suburbs of Polet and four or five times was driven back Our Henry dayly doing wonders and exposing himself so much that once he thought he should have been surprized and encompassed by his Enemies In fine the Duke having lost eleven days time and a thousand or twelve hundred men raised the Siege and retired into Picardy It was believed that he passed into this Province upon a fear lest the Picards a free and honest people but very simple should permit themselves to be surprized by the Artifices of the Agents of Spain who would engage them to cast themselves under the protection of the King their Master It was observed likewise that that which hindred the success of his enterprize at Diepe and which kept him two or three days without enterprizing any thing at the time he ought to have done it was the jealousie and contentions between the Chiefs that accompanied him particularly of the Marquess dâ— Pâ—ntâ—-Mousson Son to the Duke of Lorrain of the Duke of Nemours and of Cavalier d'Aumale for they believing the taking of the King infallible or at least his flight assured and disposing already of the Kingdome as of their Conquest regarded one another with an Eye of jealousie and each formed designes in his head to have the better part of it It was observed likewise that in one of these Combats of Diepe the Duke of Mayenne having at present some advantage had gained an entire Victory if he had advanced but a quarter of an hour quicker but marching too slowly he let slip that opportunity he could never redeem which made the King who well observed his faulâ— say If he act not in another manner I shall be assured always to gain the Field I have recounted these Particularities because they make known the defaults of that great Body of the League and the true causes which hindred its progress and reduced it to nothing I finde three principal ones The first was the distrust which the Duke of Mayenne had of the Spaniards for though he could not be without them yet he could not but regard them as his secret Enemies and they assisted him not for love of himself but out of the
little St. Anthonies being holy Thursday as she returned to her Lodging and being walking in the Garden she felt her self struck with an Apoplexy in the brain The first fury of it being passed she would no longer stay in that house but caused her self to be carried to that of Madam de Sourdis her Aunt near St. Germain of the Auxerrois And all the rest of that day and the morrow she was perplexed with Swoondings and Convulsions of which she died on the Saturday-morning The causes of her death were diversly spoken of but however it was a happiness to France since it deprived the King of an object for which he was about to loose both himself and his Estate His grief was as great as his love had been yet he not being of those feeble souls who please themselves in perpetuating their sorrows and in bathing themselves in their tears received not onely those comforts he sought but still conserved for the Children and particularly for the Duke of Vendosm that affection he had born the Mother All good French-men passionately desired that so good a King might leave legitimate Children They durst not press him to take a Wife capable to bring him forth such so long as Gabriella lived for fear lest he should espouse her and out of the same fear Queen Margaret would not give her consent to dissolve his marriage But when Gabriella was dead she willingly lent her hand to it and her self addressed a Request to the holy Father to demand the dissolution founding it principally on two causes of nullity The first was the want of consent for she alledged she had been forced to it by King Charles the ix her Brother The second the Proximity of Kindred found between them in the third degree for which she said there had never been any valuable Dispensation In like manner the Lords of the Kingdome and the Parliament besought his Majesty by solemn Deputations that he would think of taking a Wife representing to him the inconveniencies and the danger wherein France would be found if he should die without Children These Deputations will not seem strange to those who know our ancient History where it may be seen that neither the King nor his Children married but by the advice of his Barons and this passed in that time for almost a Fundamental Law of the Estate The King touched with these just supplications of his subjects addressed his request to the Pope containing the same reasons as that of Queen Margaret and charged the Cardinal d'Ossat and Sillery his extraordinal Ambassadour whom he had sent to Rome to pursue the judgement of the Pope concerning the restitution of the Marquisate of Saluces to sollicite instantly this Affair The cause reported to the Consistory the Pope gave Commission to the Prelates to judge it on the place according to the rights of that Crown which suffers not French-men to be transported for Affairs of the like nature beyond the Mountains whither it would be almost impossible to bring the necessary proofs and witnesses These Prelates were the Cardinal of Joyeuse the Popes Nuntio and the Archbishop of Arles who having examined both Parties seen the Proofs produced on one and the other and the Request of the three Estates of the Kingdom declared this marriage null and permitted them to marry whom they should think fit Queen Margaret who for many years had deserted the King and voluntarily shut her self up in the strong Castle of Usson in Auvergne had now permission to come to Paris money given her to pay her debts great Pensions the possession of the Dutchy of Valois with some other Lands and right to bear still the Title of Queen She lived yet fifteen years and built a Palace near du Pre-aux-Clercs which was after sold to pay his debts and demolished to build other houses She loved extreamly good Musitians having a delicate Ear and knowing and eloquent Men because she was of a spirit clear and very agreeable in her discourse For the rest she was liberal even to prodigality pompous and magnificent but she knew not what it was to pay her debts Which is without doubt the greatest of all a Princes fault because there is nothing so much against Justice of which he ought to be the Protector and Defender This marriage being dissolved Bellievre and Villeroy fearing lest the King should engage himself in new loves and be taken in some of those snares which the fairest of the Court stretched out for him perswaded him by many great Reasons of State to fix his thoughts on Maria de Medicis who was daughter to Francis and Neece to Ferdinand great Dukes of Toscany The Cardinal d' Ossat and Sillery made known his intention to the great Duke Ferdinand her Uncle and Alincour son to Villeroy whom he had sent to thank the holy Father for his good and brief Justice touching the aforesaid dissolution of his marriage had order to testifie to him that the King having cast his eyes on all the Daughters of the Soveraign Houses of Christendome had found no Princess more agreeable to him The business was managed with so much activeness and vigilancy by the diligence of those which had enterprized it that the King found himself absolutely engaged The contract of the marriage was signed at Florence by his Ambassadors the fourth of April in the year one thousand six hundred And Alincour in seven days brought him the news to Fountain-bleau He assisted at present at that famous Conference or Dispute between James David du Perron Bishop of Eureux afterwards Cardinal and Philip du Plessis Mornay where truth nobly triumphed over falsehood There are particular relations of the solemnities made at Florence the Magnificences of the great Duke the Ceremonies of the Affiancing and Marriage of this Queen of her Imbarking her being convoyed by the Gallies of Malta and Florence and her reception at Marseilles at Avignon and at Lions and therefore I shall speak nothing of it Whilst the Marriage of Florence was treating the King having a heart which could for no long time keep his liberty became enslaved to a new object It is to be understood that Mary Touchet who had been Mistress to Charles the ninth from whom came Issue the Count d' Auvergne had been Married to the Lord d' Entragues and had by him many children amongst the rest a very fair daughter named Henrietta who by consequent was sister by the mothers side to the Count of Auvergne This Count was about the age of thirty years and she about eighteen It is but too well known that Flatterers and wicked Sycophants ruine all in the Courts of great Men and corrupt likewise their persons These are they which sweeten the poyson which embolden the Prince to do ill which make him familiar with vice which seek and facilitate occasions for it and who act as we may say the mystery of
of Duke William said likewise that it preferably appertained to him because it was concluded in the contract of the marriage of that Lady that in case an issue Male were wanting to the house of Juliers the Succession should return to him and his descendants Now that arriving it necessarily followed that the Succession was open to him The Duke of Nevers pretended likewise to the Dutchy of Cleves as he alone carrying the Name and Arms of Cleves and the Count of Maulevrier for the same reason demanded the County de la Mark for he was the Eldest de la Mark and in this quality he pretended likewise to the Dutchy of Bouillon and the Signory of Sedan which were held by the Viscount of Turenne Marshal de Bouillon The Emperour said that all the pretensions of those concurrents were ill founded for that those Lands being Fiefs Masculine could not fall to Daughters but in default of Males were devolved to the Empire and therefore he to have the disposal of them And upon this right he secretly gave the investiture to Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasbourg and sent his forces to seize those lands under pretext of Right and in the mean time assigned the parties to appear before his Imperial Majesty to give in their reasons The pursuits of the Duke of Nevers and the Count of Maulevrier were not very hot because they were made understand that the Fiefs they demanded were united and could not be dismembred The Right of the Marquis of Brandenbourg and that of Newbourg being most apparent the greatest contestation was between them The Landgrave of Hesse their common friend became Mediator for them and made them pass a transaction to decide their difference friendly without imploying their forces except against Usurpers the administration of the Succession remaining equal and common amongst them saving the Rights of the Emperour But in the mean time Leopold of Austria arrives with his forces and seizes Juliers The two Princes resolved to drive him out sought assistance on all sides and particularly implored the Kings to whom they sent the Prince of Anhalt with the Letters of the Electors Palatine and of the Duke of Wirtenbourg who assured him that his Arms would be just powerful and by the grace of God victorious The Prince of Anhalt without doubt discoursed with him of many other things touching the great design The King gave his person a most gracious reception and received his propositions with an unparallel'd joy he answered him in terms as obliging as he could that he would march in person to the assistance of his good Allies and that till such time as he could mount on horseback with an Equipage befitting a King of France he would dayly make some Troops advance which he did about the end of the year 1609. But moreover he prayed him to let the Confederate Princes understand that they would do him great wrong if they thought that he intended any prejudice to the Catholick Religion in that Country for he desired above all things that the Exercise of it should be conserved in the same estate it was before the death of Duke William who was a Catholick but Brandenbourg and Newbourg were Protestants The Emperor likewise sent to him Ambassadors one of his chiefest Confidents intreating him not to favour the rebellion and injustice of these Princes and to consider that he could not assist them without doing wrong to the Catholick Religion Henry the Great answered him That being the Thrice-Christian King he should know well how to maintain and amplifie it but that he acted not to that intent that the question was onely about succouring his friends in which he should never be wanting so long as he had life During the whole Winter he gave order for all preparations for this Expedition which was onely the cover to a greater Being resolved to pursue himself the success he had deliberated before his departure from the Kingdome to establish so good an Order for the Government of it that no trouble could arrive For this effect he believed that the best way was to leave the Regency to the Queen but because he knew that she was governed by Conchini whom he did not at all love he would have her assisted by a Council composed of fifteen persons to wit the Cardinals of Joyeuse and du Peronne the Dukes of Mayenne Montmorency and Montbazon the Marshals of Brissac and de Fervaques Chasteau-Neauf who should have been Keeper of the Seals of the Regency for the King would take his Chancellour with him Achilles de Harlay first President of Parliament Nicholas first President of the Chamber of Accounts the Count of Chasteauvieux and the Lord of Lian-court two wise Gentlemen Pontcarre Counsellour of Parliament Gesvres Secretary of State and Maupeou Controuller of the Revenues Moreover he would establish a little Council of five persons in every one of the twelve Provinces of France to wit one person for the Clergy one for the Nobility one for Justice one for the Revenues and one for the Body of the Cities and these twelve little Councils should have correspondence with and dependence on the great one which should have taken its resolutions from the plurality of voices the Queen having onely hers Nor could it indeed take any but according to the general Instructions formed by the King or without his Majesties being informed of it if it were a thing which his Instructions did not clearly enough explain Thus though absent he kept the Reins of his Government and tied up the hands of the Queen for fear lest she should take too much Authority or have been induced to abuse her Command Whilst he applyed his spirit to these things some persons amongst others Conchini and his wife put it into the spirit of the Queen that she should to acquire more dignity and splendour in the eyes of the people and more advantagiously to authorize her Regency be installed and crowned before the departure of the King For the same Reasons that she desired it the King found it not agreeable to him besides that this Ceremony could not be made without a great deal of expence and without loosing much time which would keep him at Paris and retard his designes He had an extream impatience to depart from that City I know not what secret instinct pressed him to be gone as soon as possible but for this reason the Instalment troubled him yet he could not refuse this mark of his affection to the Queen who passionately desired it Sully recounts that he heard him say more then once My Friend this Instalment presages me some misfortune they will kill me I shall never depart from this City My Enemies have no other remedy but my death they have told me that I should be killed at the first great Magnificence that I make and that I should die in a Coach this makes me often times
both of the one and the other party into the Low-Countries made himself Mediator of the peace and obtained it by an Edict which was concluded after the Conference of Fleix This peace was the cause of almost as many evils to the Estate as all the former Wars had been The two Courts of the two Kings and the two Kings themselves plunged themselves in their pleasures with this difference however that our Henry was not so absolutely lull'd asleep with his delights but he thought sometimes of his affairs being awakened and lively reminded by the Remonstrances of the Ministers of his Religion and by the reproaches of the old Captains of the Hugonots who spoke to him with great liberty But Henry the third was wholly overwhelmed with softness and feebleness he seemed to have neither heart nor motion and his subjects could scarce know that he was in the world but because he dayly charged them with new Imposts all the money of which was disposed to the benefit of his Favorites He had always three or four at a time and at present he began to cast his graces on Joyeuse and the two Nogarets to wit Bernard and Jean-Lewis of whom the eldest died five or six years after and the youngest was Duke d' Espernon one of the most memorable and most wonderful Subjects that the Court had ever seen elevated in its favour and who certainly had qualities as eminent as his fortune In the mean time the excessive gifts which the King gave to all his favorites excited the cries of the people because they were trampled on and their monstrous greatness displeased the Princes because they believed themselves despised in such manner that they rendred themselves odious to all the world and the hate carried to them fell likewise upon the King whilst that violence which they obliged him to use towards his Parliaments to confirm his Edicts of Creation and Imposts augmented it yet more for if his Authority made his Wills pass as absolute he drew the peoples curses and if the vigour of the Soveraign companies as often happened stopt them he attracted their disdain The people who easily licentiate themselves to Rebellion against their Prince when they have lost for him all sentiments of esteem and veneration spoke strange things of him and his favorites The Guises whom the Minions for so the favorites were called opposed in all occasions endeavouring to deprive them of their Charges and Governments to re-invest themselves were not wanting to blow the fire and to increase the animosities of the people particularly of the great Cities whom favorites have always feared and who have always hated favorites These were the principal Dispositions to the aggrandizing the League and to the loss of Henry the third It is not to our purpose to recount here all the intrigues of the Court during five or six years nor the War of the Low-Countries from which Monsieur brought nothing but disgrace It is onely necessary to tell that in the year 1684. Monsieur died at Castle-Thierry without having been married that Henry the third had likewise no Children and that it was but too well known he was uncapable of ever having any by reason of an uncurable disease which he contracted at Venice in his return from Poland See here the reason why as soon as Monsieur was judged to death by the Physitians the Guises and Queen-Mother began to labour each on their side to assure themselves of the Crown as if the succession had been open to them for neither the one nor the other accounted for any thing our Henry so much the rather because he was beyond the seventh degree beyond which in ordinary successions is accounted no kindred and because he was not of that Religion of which all the Kings of France have been since Clouis and by consequence incapable to wear the Crown or bear the Title of Thrice-Christian Adde to this that he was two hundred Leagues distant from Paris and as it were shut up in a corner of Guyenne where it seem'd to them easie to ensuare him or oppress him The Queen-Mother had a design to give the Crown to the Children of her Daughter married to the Duke of Lorrain whom she would have treated as Princes of the bloud as if the Crown of France could fall under the command of the Spindle Nor was she carried to this onely out of the love she had for them but out of a secret hatred she had conceived against our Henry because she saw that contrary to all her wishes heaven opened him a way to come to the Throne Besides she was too much deceived for so able a woman to believe that the Duke of Guise would favour her in her design there was much appearance and after affaires sufficiently testified it that seeing himself persecuted by the Favorites and ill treated by the King himself for their sakes he had thoughts to assure the Crown for his own head For ill treatments work at least no other effect then to cast into extreme despaire Souls so Noble and Elevated as that of this Prince But he knowing well that of himself he could not arrive at so high a pitch and that specially because it would be difficult to divert the affection which the people of France naturally have for the Princes of the Bloud he advised himself to gain the old Cardinal de Bourbon who was Uncle of our Henry he promised him therefore that the death of Henry the third Arriving he would employ all his power and that of his Friends to make him King and that good man doting with age permitting himself to be flattered with these vain hopes made himself the Bauble of the Dukes Ambition who by this means drew to his party a great number of Catholiques who considered the house of Bourbon The Question was if the Uncle ought to precede the Son of the Elder Brother in the Succession and to speak truth the business was not without some difficulty because according to the Custome of Paris the Capital of the Realm and many other Customes collateral representation hath no place This point of right was diversly agitated by the Reverend Judges and many treats were had some in favour of the Uncle and others of the Nephew but these were but Combats of words the sword was to decide the difference It seemed to many great Polititians that the Duke of Guise acted contrary to his own interests and design by acknowledgeing that the Cardinal of Bourbon ought to Succeed to the Crown this being to avow that after his death which could suffer no long delay it would appertain to our Henry his Nephew Henry 3. knew well his design or rather was advertised of it by his Favorites who saw in it their certain ruine and therefore so much desired to bring back the King of Navarre to the Catholique Church to the end he might deprive the Leaguers of that specious Pretext they
had to entertain the League He sent therefore to him the Duke d'Espernon who Essayed to Convert him by reasons of interest and policy Our Henry hearkened to him but he testified that those were not motives sufficiently puissant to make him Change and sent him back with many Civilities The Hugonots were so vain as to publish and cause to be Printed the conference of this Prince with Espernon to shew that he was unshaken in his Religion and possibly likewise to engage him more strongly in it The Duke of Guise was not wanting to profit himself of it and to remonstrate to the Catholique people the stubbornness of this Prince and what they might hope if he came to the Crown with such sentiments To stop therefore his way to it he made the zealous openly renew the League and boldly bringing it into Paris where some new religious persons inspired this Ardour into peoples souls by Confessions held the first publique Assembly at the Colledge de Fortet which was called the Cradle of the League Many Burgesses many Tradesmen and likewise some Clerks of Paris entred into it They carried it to Rome and presented it to Pope Gregory the 13. for his approbation but he never would give it and continually so long as he lived disavowed it So soon as it grew a little great and strong those who had engendred it made it appear that it was not only to provide for the security of Religion for the future but that at present they might approach themselves neer to the Crown and that they not onely would have it against the King of Navarre who was to Succeed but against Henry the third who now reigned They kept in Salary certain new Divines who durst openly sustain that a Prince ought to be deposed who acquits himself not well of his duty That no power but that which is well ordered is of God otherwise when it passes due bounds it is not Authority but Usurpation and that it is as absurd to say that he ought to be King who knows not how to govern or who is deprived of understanding as to believe a blind man a fit guide or an immoveable Statue able to make living men move In the mean time the Duke of Guise was retired to his Government of Champagne feigning himself discontented but it was to make the Duke of Lorrain sign the League out of hopes he would cause his Son to Succeed to the Crown to which he pretended to have right by his Mother Daughter to Henry the Second He held to this purpose a Treaty at Joinville where he likewise found Agents from the King of Spain who signed to the Treaty and as it was reported did by Letters of Exchange supply the Duke of Guise with great sums of money At his departure thence the Duke assembled Troops on all sides his friends seized on as many places as they could not onely amongst the Hugonots but likewise amongst the Catholiques The King might easily have dissipated these Levies had he taken the field But the Queen-Mother like to self-interested Physitians who would for their profit augment the disease withheld and amused him in his Closet perswading him that if he would leave to her the management of this affair she would easily reduce the Duke to his obedience To this purpose she held a Conference with him at Vitry and so gave him time to strengthen his party and when he saw himself in an Estate to fear nothing he broke the Conference and made shew of some resolutions to come directly to Paris The King astonished prayed his mother to conclude an accommodation upon any terms which she did by the Treaty of Nemours by which she granted to the Duke and other Princes of his house the Government of several Provinces many great sums of money together with a most bloudy Edict against the Hugonots which forbad the profession of any other Religion then the Catholique under Penalty of Confiscation of Goods and Estate with Command to all Preachers and Ministers to depart the Realm within one moneth and all Hugonots of what degree or quality soever within six months or otherwise abjure their false Religion This Edict was called the Edict of Juillet which the League farther constrained the King to carry himself into the Parliament and cause it to be ratified A little after arrived news from Rome that Sixtus the fifth who succeeded Gregory the eighteenth had approved the League and had besides fulminated out terrible Bulls against the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde declaring them Hereticks Apostates Chiefs Favourers and Protectors of Hereticks and as such falling under the Censures and Pains concluded on in the Laws and Cannons depriving them and their descendants of all Lands and Dignities incapable to succeed to any Principality whatsoever especially to the Kingdome of France and not onely absolving their Subjects from all Oaths of Fidelity but absolutely forbidding them to obey them It was now that our Henry had need of all the forces both of his Courage and Vertue to sustain so rude assaults He seemed in a manner lull'd asleep by his pleasures when the noise of these great assaults awakened him he recalled all his Vertue and began to make it appear more vigorously then ever before And certainly he afterwards avowed that his enemies had highly obliged him by persecuting him in this manner for had they left him in repose that rest had possibly Entombed him in a corner of Guyenne and he not have been constrained to think of his affairs so that at the death of Henry the third he would not have been in an Estate to attempt or entertain the Crown He now did two Actions of great renown the first was his commanding Plessis Mornay a Gentleman of excellent Education and who could be reproached with nothing but being a Hugonot to answer the Manifesto of the League by an Apologie and by a Declaration which he caused to be drawn In this last piece the Chiefs of the League having spread abroad divers calumnies against his honour he with all submission besought the King his Soveraign that he would not be offended if he did pronounce saving still the respect due to his Majesty that they did falsely and maliciously lye and moreover that to spare the blood of his Nobles and shun the desolation of the poor people those infinite disorders and above all those blasphemies burnings and violations which the license of War must cause he offered to the Duke of Guise chief of the League to decide this quarrel by his person against his one to one two to two ten to ten or what number he should please with Arms generally in use by Cavaleers of honour either in the Realm of France or in such place as his Majesty should command or else in such place as the Duke of Guise himself should chuse This Declaration had a great effect o'er peoples spirit They said
That force could not justly be employed against him who so far submitted himself to reason and the greatest part of the Nobility approved this generous procedure and proclaimed aloud that the Duke of Guise ought not to refuse so great an honour That Duke wanted no courage to accept the Defiance but he considered that drawing his sword against a Prince of the blood was in France accounted a kinde of Parricide that otherwise he could willingly have reduced the cause of Religion and of the Publick to a particular Quarrel He therefore prudently answered That he esteemed the person of the King of Navarre and would have no controversie with him but that he onely interested himself for the Catholick Religion which was threatned and for the tranquillity of the Kingdome which onely and absolutely depended on the unity of Religion His other Action was thus Having understood the noise of those paper-Thunder-bolts which the Pope had thrown out against him he dispatched one to the King to make his Complaints to him and to remonstrate to him That this procedure concerned his Majesty nearer then himself That he ought to judge That if the Pope took upon him to decide concerning his succession and should seize to himself a right to declare a Prince of the blood unable of the Crown he might afterwards well pass further and dethrone himself as Zachary is reported to have formerly degraded Childeric 3. Upon these Remonstrances the King hindred the publication of those Bulls in his Dominions But our Henry not contenting himself there with knowing himself to have friends at Rome proved so hardy as to fix his and the Prince of Condé his opposition at the corners of the chiefest streets of the City by which those Princes appealed from the sentence of Sixtus to the Court of Peerage of France giving the Lye to whoever accused them of the crime of Heresie offering to prove the contrary in a general Council and in the end professing that they would revenge upon him and upon all his successours the injury done their King the Royal Family and all the Courts of Parliament It could not but be supposed that this opposition would incense to the utmost the spirit of Sixtus the fifth and indeed at first he testified a very furious emotion However when his Choler was a little asswaged he admired the great Courage of that King who at such a distance had known how to revenge himself and fix the marks of his resentment even at the gates of his Palace in such manner that he conceived so great an esteem for him so true is it that Vertue makes it self be reverenced by its very enemies that he was often afterwards heard say That of all those who reigued in Christendome there was none but this Prince and Elizabeth Queen of Enland to whom he would have communicated those great things which agitated his spirit if they had not been Hereticks Nor could all the prayers of the League ever oblige him to furnish any thing towards the charges of this War which possibly overwhelmed the greatest part of their Enterprizes because their hopes in part depended on a Million which he had promised them Now as on their side the Chiefs of the League endeavoured to engage on their party all the Lords and Cities they could our Henry on his part re-united with him all his friends both of the one and the other Religion the Marshal of Damville-Montmorency Governour of Languedoc the Duke of Montpensier Prince of the blood who was Governour of Poictou with his Son the Prince of Dombes the Prince of Condé who held a part of Poictou of Xaintonge and of Angoumois the Count of Soissons and the Prince of Conty his brother Of these five Princes of the blood the three last were his Cousen-Germans the two first were removed one degree further and all professed the Catholick Religion save onely the Prince of Condé He had likewise on his part Lesdiguieres who from a plain Gentleman had by his Valour elevated himself to so high a point that he was Master of the Daulphinate and made the Duke of Savoy tremble Claudius de la Trimouille who possessed great Lands in Poictou and Brittany and was sometimes before turned Hugonot that he might have the honour to marry his Daughter to the Prince of Condé Henry de la Tour Viscount of Turenne who either out of complacency or true perswasion had espoused the new Religion Chastillon son to the Admiral of Coligny la Boulaye Lord Poitevin Rene chief of the house of Rohan George de Clermont d' Amboise Francis Count of Rochefoucaud the Lord de Aubetterre James de Caumontla-force the Seigneurs de Pons Saint Gelais-Lansac with many other Lords and Gentlemen of remark all or most of the new Religion At the same time he dispatched to Elizabeth Queen of England and to the Protestant Princes of Germany such able Agents that they joyned all together in a strong Union The One to maintain the Other so that all these being united all things arrived contrary to what the League expected and our Henry found himself fortified in such manner that he had no longer any apprehension of being oppressed without having the means to defend himself I shall not make here a particular Recital of the Actions either of the one or the other party during the years 1585. and 1586. because I have observed nothing very considerable King Henry the third was extreamly perplexed at this War which was maintained at his expence and to his great prejudice since they disputed the succession he yet living and well and already considered him as one dead He loved neither the one nor the other party but did so much cherish his Favourites strange blindness that he could have desired had it been in his power to have parted his Estate amongst them The League on their side pretended to have power enough to carry it and our Henry hoped to frustrate the designes both of the one and the other The Queen-mother having other wishes for the children of her Daughter married to the Duke of Lorrain promised the King to finde means to calm all these tempests To this purpose she procured a Truce with our Henry during which an Interview was agreed upon between him and her at the Castle of St. Brix near Coignac where both the one and the other met in the month of December There was some difficulty to finde security both for the one and the other but especially for the Queen-mother who was wonderfully distrustful Our Henry hereupon did an Action of great Generosity which he managed in this manner There had a Truce been agreed upon for the security of this Conference in such sort that if either party broke it they were in fault and might justly be arrested now some of our Henry's followers feigning to be Traytors had enticed some of the Catholick-Captains too greedy of the booty to Fontenay which they
custome became mediatrix of an Accommodation but the King fearing to be inclosed in a fright retires to Chartres The League by this becoming Mistress of Paris take possession of the Bastille the Hostel de Ville and the Temple hang the Provost of the Merchants and the Civil Lieutenant And at the same time they assured themselves of Orleans Bourges Amiens Abbeville Montreuil Rouen Rheims Chaalons and more then twenty other Cities in several Provinces the people every where crying Long live Guise Long live the Protector of the Faith The King not without much reason was extreamly affrighted The Parisians deputed some to him to Chartres to ask pardon but withal they demand the extirpation of Heresie All the world encreased his fears none fortified his Courage In this distress he knew no securer way to shun that danger which threatned him then by essaying to disarm his subjects To this effect he sends one of his Masters of the Requests to the Parliament to let them understand that his absolute intention was to forget all that was past so that every one returned to his Duty and to labour diligently for the Reformation of the Kingdome for which end he found it convenient to assemble the General Estates at the end of the year where they might provide for the assuring a Catholick Successor of the Blood-Royal protesting that he would observe inviolably all the Resolutions of the Estates but that he would have them free and without Faction and that from that day all his Subjects should lay down Arms. It much troubled the Duke of Guise to consent to the laying down Arms fearing lest when he was left defenceless he should remain at the mercy of his enemies and particularly of the Duke d' Espernon He therefore stirred up the Parisians by a famous deputation to demand the continuation of the War against the Hugonots and the expulsion of that Duke The King after some resistance granted both the one and the other for he caused to be Ratified in Parliament an Edict most advantagiously favourable for the League and most bloody against the Hugonots and he bid Adieu to the Duke d' Espernon who retired into his Government of Angoumois After this the Duke of Guise came to attend the King at Chartres having the Queen-mothers word for his Security and both gave great assurances of his Fidelity and received all the testimonies he could wish of the affection of the King insomuch that he made him great Master of the Gens d' Arms of France In the mean time the League gained the upper hand throughout all the Provinces on this â—ide the Loire and caused Deputies for the Estates to be elected at its pleasure In the moneth of November the Estates assembled in the City of Blois It is not necessary here to recount all their intrigues In fine the King perswading that they had conspired to dethrone him caused the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother to be slain in the Castle and kept prisoner the Cardinal of Bourbon the Archbishop of Lyons the Prince of Joinville who after the Death of his Father was called Duke of Guise and the Duke of Nemours brother by the mother to the first Duke The Queen-mother under whose word the Guises thought to have been in security was so touched with the reproaches made her and with the â—lightings of the King her Son who after this believed he had no more need of her that she died with grief and envy few days after lamented by no person not so much as by her Son and generally hated by all parties In truth if ever there were an Action ambiguous or problematical it was this The servants of the King said that he was constrained to it by the extream audacity of the Guises and that if he had not prevented them they had shaved him and shut him up in a Monastery But the ill repute he had among all men the general esteem these Princes had acquisted and the odious circumstances of the murther made it appear horrible even to the eyes of the very Hugonots who said that this much resembled the bloody Massacre of St. Bartholomew Our Henry conserved a wise Mediocrity in this rencounter he deplored their death and gave praises to their Valour but he said That certainly the King had very puissant Motives to treat them in that manner and for the rest that the Judgements of God were great and his Grace thrice-special towards him having revenged him of his Enemies and neither engaged his Conscience nor his hand in it For certain Gentlemen having often offered themselves to him with a determinate resolution to go kill the Duke of Guise he had always let them know that he abhorred such a Proposition and that he would neither esteem them his friends nor honest men if they conserved it in their thoughts His Council being assembled upon this great News found that he ought not for it make any change in the conduct of his Affairs because the King though himself might be willing to it durst not for some moneths speak of a Peace with him for fear lest he should make it be believed that he had slain the Guises to favour the Hugonots so that he continued the War and kept several places In the mean time the progress of Affairs beat him out a path to lead him to the heart of the Kingdom and return him to the Court which was the post he ought most to wish for Henry the third amusing himself after the murther of the Guises to examine the Acts of the Estates at Blois in stead of mounting presently to horse and shewing himself in those places where his presence was most necessary the League which at first had been astonished at so great a blow regained its spirits The great Cities and principally Paris who were possessed with this madness having had leisure to dissipate their amazement passed from fear to pity and from pity to fury The Sixteen chose at Paris the Duke of Aumarle for their Governour The Preachers and Church-men declaimed horribly against the King the people snatched down his Arms where-ever they found them and dragged them through the dirt The Parliament who would have opposed this rage were imprisoned in the Bastille by Bussy le Clerk a simple Proctor but very much esteemed among the Sixteen and were forced to regain their Liberty to swear to the League At their coming forth of the Bastille there were many who continued to hold the Parliament at Paris the others stole away by little and little and went to the King who transported the Parliament to Tours where they kept their Session until the reducement of Paris in the year fifteen hundred ninety four These without doubt testified most fidelity to their King but those who remained at Paris rendred him afterwards much greater service as shall be observed in its place The Widow of the Duke
lose his life then the remembrance of those good services they had rendred him and granting them easily all the points they demanded only the second In stead of which he promised them to re-establish the exercise of the Catholick Religion through all his Territories and to remit the Ecclesiasticks into the possession of their Estates and of this he caused a Declaration to be ingrossed which after all the Lords and Gentlemen of Note had signed he sent to be confirmed by that part of the Parliament which was at Tours There were many who signed it with some regret and others who absolutely refused it among whom were the Duke of Espernon and Lewis d' Hospital Vitry This last disturbed as it was said by a scruple of Conscience cast himself into Paris and gave himself for some time to the League but first of all he abandoned the Government of Dourdan which the Defunct King had given him Such were then the Maxims of persons of true honour in the Civil Wars that in quitting one party which ever it was they quitted likewise those places they held and returned them to those had conferred them The Duke d' Espernon protesting that he would never be either Spaniard or Leaguer but that his Conscience would not permit him to stay with the King demanded leave of him to retire to his Government The King after having in vain endeavoured to retain him gave him leave with many Carresses and prayses but so much was he in his heart troubled at his abandoning him that it hath been believed he conserved against him a secret resentment so long as he lived The Duke of Mayenne was not a little troubled in Paris what resolution he should take he saw that all the Parisians even those who had held of the party of the Defunct King had fully resolved to provide for the security of Religion But that however they would all have a King contrary to some of the Sixteen who imagined they might form a Republick and turn France into Cantons like to the Suisses but those were neither sufficiently powerful in Number Riches or Capacity to Conduct such a design So that the most part of his friends counselled him to take the title of King but when he went about to sound this Gulfe he found that this proposition was neither agreeable to the people nor yet to the King of Spain from whom he received and was to receive his Principal stay and means of Subsistence Hereupon two other Counsels were given him the one to accord willingly with the new King who without doubt in the conjuncture wherein things were would grant him most advantagious conditions The other that he should by Declaration publish to the Catholicks of the Royal Army that all resentments remaining Extinct by the Death of Henry the third he had no other interest then that of Religion That that point being of Divine obligation and regarding all good Christians he summoned and conjured them to joyn with him to exhort the King of Navarre to return to the Church upon which they promised to acknowledge him immediately for King but if that he refused to do it they protested to Substitute in his place another Prince of the blood This advice was the best And indeed it was proposed by Jeannin President of the Parliament of Burgongne one of the wisest and most Politick heads of his Councel and who acted in his affairs without Sleights or Stratagems but with great judgement and singular Honesty The Duke of Mayenne equally rejected both these advices and took a third to wit the causing the old Cardinal of Bourbon who was at present detained prisoner by order of our Henry to be proclaimed King still reserving to himself the quality of Lieutenant-General of the Crown He published after several Declarations one of which he sent to the Parliament the other to the Provinces and the Nobility inviting them to endeavour to deliver their King and defend their Religion At the same time the King tried by divers Negotiations and caused him to be exhorted rather to seek his advancement by his friendship then by the troubles and miseries of France But to this the Duke answered that he had engaged his Father in the Publick cause and given Oath to King Charles the tenth for so they called the old Cardinal of Bourbon who was named Charles to whom according to the sentiment of the League the Crown appertained as to the nearest Kinsman of the Defunct And in the mean time he entertained Plots and Conspiracies in the Royal Army where his emissaries from day to day debauched many persons even of those whom the King believed most assured There were many Generous enough to resist the temptations of Silver but nothing was proof against the intrigues of the Ladies of Paris who cunningly attracted the Gentlemen and the Officers in the City sparing nothing to engage them The King knowing that there daily remained some catch'd in these snares and having just reason to fear that those which returned tempted by their Mistresses might bring back some perâ—itious designs and the Duke of Nemours being upon the advance with his Troops to joyne with the Duke of Mayenne the Duke of Lorrain being likewise to send his having cause to doubt his retreat might be cut off on all sides found it convenient to discamp from before Paris But before he dislodged he writ to the Protestant Princes to give them an account of what he did and to assure them that nothing should be capable to shake his Constancy or separate him from Christ and he spoke at present according to his thoughts and Conscience not having any desire to change which yet the Ministers of his Religion would not believe but watched him so close on this Subject that they became importunate It was oertainly an unspeakable trouble which continually for three or four years he was forced to undergo to hear on one side the exhortatious of those people and on the other the most instant Remonstrances of the Catholicks for it was necessary he should allay the distrust of the first and entertain the second with continual hopes of making himself be instructed How much prudence had he need of how much patience with how much jugdement and policy must he manage such great differences Certainly he could not do it without imploying all the powers of his Spirit and experience And he well knew how far it was necessary for a Prince to have his Spirit happily exercised and to be well instructed how to Negotiate and Speak well to be able at his necessity to serve himself of his talent Without falsity he might well at present praise those who having had the care of bringing him up had formed him in his youth to the Management of affairs to Treating with men and to the gaining the affections of all the world Those last devoirs he desired to render his Predecessor served as a fair
was gone to meet the Duke of Parma at Conde on the Escaut to demand of him some assistance in his necessity He was in a great trouble and in a just fear to loose Paris whether he relieved it or whether he permitted it to be taken and that the rather because that he saw well that if he brought in the Spanish Assistance the Sixteen would serve themselves of that advantage again to raise up themselves and possibly would out of despite to him engage Paris under the Spanish Yoke For these Sixteen loved him not at all because he had broken up their Council of Forty which bridled his Authority and that to shew himself absolutely averse to a Republican Government which they would have introduced he had created another Council a Keeper of the Seals and four Secretaries of State with which he governed Affairs without calling them except when he had need of money Besides this trouble there happened to him another subject of inquietude which was the decease of the old Cardinal of Bourbon who died at Fontenay where he was guarded by the Lord de la Boulay He had reason to fear lest his death should give occasion to the Spaniards and to the Sixteen to demand the Creation of a King and that they should press him so much that in the necessity he had of their aid he should be constrained to suffer it In effect this was the first Condition which the Agents of Spain proposed in the Treaty they held with him to give him Assistance and he out of fear to displease them testified that he ardently wished the Convocation of the Estates to elect a King and transferred the place of their assembly from the City of Melun where he had assigned it to that of Paris that is to say from a City which he had lost to one which was besieged In the mean time he employed his Friends with the Parliament and at the Hostel de Ville to keep to himself the quality of Lord-General which being continued to him he demonstrated that he feared nothing so much as the Estates and endeavoured by all his power to hinder them that which to speak truth compleated the ruine of his party Paris being blocked up the Legat and the Sixteen forgot nothing to encourage their people They consulted their faculty of Theologie and obtained what Resolutions they pleased against him they named the Bearnois They caused many both general and particular Processions to be made and the Officers received their Oath of Fidelity to the Holy Union so it was they called the League At the same time the Duke of Nemours took great Order to put the City in a posture of Defence and the Burgesses being for the most part perswaded that if the King took it he would establish Preaching and abolish the Mass were possessed with an extream ardour and contributed all that was demanded either of their Purse or Labour towards its Fortification There is no finer passage in the Histories of that time then the Relation of this Siege the Orders which Nemours gave in the City the Garisons he established in divers quarters the Sallies he made for the first month the Inventions he used to animate the people the Endeavours and divers Practices of the Kings Friends to bring him into the City the Negotiations held in one part and the other to essay a Treaty of Accommodation how Provisions diminished how they sought means to make them last how notwithstanding all their oeconomy the Famine was extream and how in the end that great City being within three or four days of utter perishing was delivered by the Duke of Parma I shall observe onely some Particularities very memorable There were in Paris when it was blocked up onely two hundred thousand persons and there were of them near thirty thousand of the Country-people thereabouts who had there refuged themselves and there were retired near one hundred thousand of the natural Inhabitants so that in those times there were no more then three hundred thousand Souls in Paris whereas it is now believed that there are twice as many The King was made hope that so soon as the Parisians had for seven or eight days seen the Granaries and Markets without Bread the Butcheries without Meat the Ports without Corn Wine and other Commodities with which the River is accustomed to be covered they would go take their Chiefs by the throat and constrain them to treat with them or at least if a seditious humour did not so soon prompt them to it Famine would force them in fifteen days In effect they had but five weeks Victuals but they managed them carefully and those who had said that knew not well the people of Paris for they are wonderfully patient nor is there any extremity they are not capable to suffer provided they have those know how to conduct them and principally when they act for their Religion It cannot be read without astonishment how blinde was the Obedience and how constant the Union of that fierce and indocile people for four whole months of horrible Losses and Miseries The Famine was so great that the People eat even the Herbs that grew in the Ditches Dogs Cats and Hides of Leather were Food and some have reported that the Lansquenets or Foot-souldiers fed upon such Children as they could entrap The Hugonots ravished with delight to hold that City blocked up which had done them so much mischief insisted strongly in the Kings Council and not onely cryed it there themselves but made it be cryed aloud among the Souldiers That it should be assaulted by lively force and that in six hours it would so become a desolate thing But the good and wise King took no heed to follow those passionate counsels he knew well that they would take parts by force that they might murder all in revenge of the Massacres of St. Bartholomew And moreover he considered that he should lay desolate a City the ruine of which like a wound struck in the heart might possibly prove mortal to all France That he should in one day dissipate the richest and almost the onely Treasure of his Estate and that no person would be benefited by it but onely the simple Souldiery who becoming insolent by so rich a booty would either overwhelm themselves in their Delights or as soon abandon him Those who within had taken the care of the Politick part had committed a great fault in not putting forth the poor populary and useless mouths The scarcity augmenting they sought too late means to remedy it but not finding any they deputed some to the King to gain permission of him to let a certain number depart who hoping for this grace were already assembled near the Gate of St. Victor and had taken leave of their Friends and Neighbours with those Regrets which even rent asunder the Hearts of the most insensible The King was so good and merciful that he permitted
of his Conversion and in the mean time they would continually keep him as it were besieged by those strangers forces In effect Elizabeth who had zeal for the Protestant religion interested her self very strongly in the cause of this King daily generously assisted him and strenuously sollicited the German Princes to coâ—cur with her At the same time the Hugonots pressed with all their force that he would grant them an Edict for the Free exercise of their Religion they pursued it so strongly that he was forced to accord it them and they sent it to the Parliament sitting at Tours but they could never obtain it to be confirmed by them but with these words by proviso only shewing themselves as much enemies to this false Religion as they were to the factions of the League During this time Pope Sixtus 5. died leaving in the Treasury of the Church Five Millions of gold which he had heaped up He was much disgusted at the League and stretched forth his armes as much as he could to our Henry to recal him into the Church whilst the League endeavoured to shut the gates against him that they might exclude him from his Royalty To Sixtus succeeded Urban 7. who held the Seat only thirteen daies and to that Urban Gregory the 14. who being of a violent spirit and a Spaniard by inclination zealously embraced the party of the League as we shall see hereafter I silently pass over divers enterprizes made both by one party and the other The Parisians made one upon St. Denis The Cavalier d' Aumale one of their Chiefs whom they called the Lion Rampant of the League was killed in the midst of the City when he had made himself almost master of it The King on his side made an other attempt upon Paris It was called the battail of the Flour because he was to surprize the City under pretext of a Convoy of Flour or Meal carried thither but it was discovered and obliged the Duke of Mayenne upon the vehement cries of the Sixteen to receive four thousand Spaniards into the Garrison which retarded for more then a year the reduction of Paris It is convenient to understand that neither the one nor the other party having any foundation to keep continually their Armies on foot they only as we may say made War by intervals When they had been three months together they retired and then re-assembled again and according as they were stronger or weaker made their enterprises The King having Rendezvouzed his besieged the City of Chartres where la Bourdaisiere commanded There was but a small Garrison within yet however the siege was long difficult and bloody It s length gave subject to the third party to continue many dangerous intrigues but the taking of that place repressed them for some time He restored the Government to Chiverni Chancellour of France who had had it before the League seized it After this the Duke of Mayenne who beheld himself in no very good Estate following the Counsel of the Duke of Parma renewed a Conference for peace which ending without doing any thing the Princes Lorrains and the Principal Chiefs of the League held a general Assembly at Reims It was resolved that they being altogether too weak to resist the King and wanting money it was absolutely necessary to unite themselves more firmely with Spain then they had formerly done and to this Effect they dispatched the President Janin to Philip the second This President was a man of a strong brain and a good French-man who laboured for the League and for the Duke of Mayenne but who would save the Estate by saving the Religion so that he well endeavoured to serve himself of the Spaniard but he would not serve them or procure their advancement Yet we cannot doubt but as he had his ends they had likewise theirs and that they designed to make good their expences laid out for the League on the Kingdom of France The Spaniard had for Aid and Second in his design the new Pope Gregory the 14. who yet went on more swiftly and with more heat then he for without having regard either to the Letters which Monsieur de Luxembourg after Duke of Piney writ to him on the part of the Princes and Catholick Lords which were in the Kings party or to the submissions and three humble Remonstrances made him by the Marquis of Pisany who was there at Rome deputed from them he strenuously embraced the party of the League entertained correspondence with the Sixteen receiving Letters from them and writing to them and which is more he prodigally wasted that treasure which Sixtus 5. had heaped up to raise an Army of twelve thousand men giving the Command to Count Hercules Sfondrato his Nephew whom he made expresly Duke of Montmarcian to authorize him the more by this new title He accompanied this Army with a Monitory or Bull of Excommunication against the Prelates which followed the King and sent it by Marcelin Landriano his Nuntio with great quantity of Silver to the Sixteen of Paris to be distributed among them and the Chiefs of the Cabals in the great Cities The Parliament at Tours having had advice of this Monitory caused it to be torn by the hand of the Common Scavenger and decreed an Arrest against the Nuntio That at Paris on the contrary annulled that Arrest as being said they by persons without power and commanded that the holy Father and his Nuntio should be obeyed After all these Bulls produced no great effect at present and the Cardinal of Bourbon tormented himself in vain to make the assembly of the Clergy which was held at Chartres declare against the Arrest at Tours Nor did the Army of the Pope do any great exploits but was almost quite dispersed ere it came to render any Service The same arrived not to those Troops the King had caused to be raised in Germany by the Viscount of Turenne They served the King well in his affairs and gained him notable advantages In recompence he honoured this Lord with the Staff of Marshal of France to render him the more capable to Espouse Charlotta de la Mark Dutchess of Bouillon and Sovereign Lady of Sedan who though a Hugonot had been puissantly sought to both by friendship and force by the Duke of Lorrain who desired to marry her to his Eldest Son the Marquis du Pont. The King made this Match to oppose a man to the Duke of Lorrain who helped to sustain the League Of which the new Marshal acquitted himself having among other fair exploits surprized Stenay the night preceding his Nuptials The King had another great Captain in the Daulphinate which was Lesdiguieres who held that Country having reduced the City of Grenoble and who saved Provence for him of which the Duke of Savoy thought to seize himself and dismember that piece from the Crown This Duke being Son-in-law to Philip the second King of
Spain the puissance of his Father-in-law had raised his Ambition and Courage and made him forget that constant affection which his Predecessors have almost continually had for France insomuch that they have held themselves much honoured to be Pensioners to our Kings But the Conduct and Valour of Lesdiguieres made him repent all his high designs especially by the battails of Esparon de Palieres and of Pont-Charra where that Duke received as much loss as confusion About this time our Henry conceived a passion for the Fair Gabriella d' Estrees who was of a very noble house and that passion by degrees grew so strong that whilst she lived she held the Principal place in his heart so that after having had by her three or four Children he had almost resolved to marry her though he knew not how to do it but by hazarding great troubles and very dangerous difficulties Having taken the City of Noyon he gave the Government to Count d' Estrees Father of this fair one and a little after gave him likewise the charge of Great Master of the Artillery which had formerly been held by John d' Estrees in the year 1550. Not long after the Siege of Noyon he understood the escape of the Duke of Guise who after many other attempts had got at high-noon out of the Castle of Tours where he had been in prison since his fathers death The News at first no less touched the King then it surprized him he feared this great Name of Guise which had given him so much trouble and he doubted lest this young Prince should re-ingross the love of the people which his father had possessed to so high a pitch he was troubled to have lost such a Gage which might serve him in many things However after he had a little meditated he diminished his apprehensions and told those who were about him That he had more reason to rejoyce then be troubled for of force it must happen that either the Duke of Guise must take his party and that if he did so he would treat him as his Parent and Kinsman or that he must cast himself into the League and then it would be impossible that the Duke of Mayenne and he could continue any long time without contending and becoming enemies This Prognostick was very true The Duke of Mayenne having seen those Rejoycings which all the League testified at this News the Bonefires made in the great Cities those Actions of thanks which the Pope caused publickly to be rendred to God and the hopes which the Sixteen conceived to see revived in this Prince the Protection and Qualities of his Father which they had idolatrized the Duke of Mayenne I say seeing all this was struck with a very strong Jealousie and though he sent him monies with entreaties that they might have an Interview yet notwithstanding he looked not upon him as a new renforce but as a new subject of inquietude and trouble to him In effect this young Prince immediately knit himself in firm bond with the Sixteen and promised to take their protection By this means and by the help of the Spaniards they emboldened themselves in such manner that they resolved to loose the Duke of Mayenne not ceasing to cry down his Conduct among the people I have been assured that there was some amongst them who writ a Letter to the King of Spain by which they cast themselves into his Arms and intreated him if he would not reign over them to give them a King of his Race or to chuse a Son-in-law for his Daughter whom they would receive with all Obedience and Fidelity They advised themselves besides this to make a new form of Oath for the League which excluded the Princes of the Blood to the end they might oblige all suspected persons who would not swear a thing so contrary to their thoughts to depart out of the City and to abandon their Goods to them By this artifice they drave away many persons among others the Cardinal of Gonde Bishop of Paris whom they had begun to hate because that with some Clerks of the City he honestly endeavoured to dispose the people in favoâ—r of the King There remained nothing now but to dissolve the Parliament who watched them day and night and stopt their Enterprizes They had pursued the Condemnation of one named Brigard because he had Correspondence with the Royalists and the Parliament having pardoned him they were so incensed that the most passionate by conspiracy amongst them and by their private Authority having caused those of their faction to take arms went to seize on the persons of the President de Brisson and of de Larcher and de Tardiff Counsellours whom they carried prisoners to the Castelet and after some formalities one of them pronounced against them the sentence of death in execution of which they caused them all three to be hanged at the window of the Chamber and on the morrow to be carried to the Greve to the end they might move the people in their favour but the greatest part abhorred so damnable an attempt and even the most zealous of the party remained mute not knowing whether they ought to approve or blame it Yet there were some of these Sixteen found so determinate as to pass farther they said They must finish the Tragedy and rid themselves of the Duke of Mayenne if he came to Paris he being at present at Laon That after that they might assure to themselves the City elect a Chief who should depend of them re-establish the Council of Forty which that Duke had abolished and demand the Union of the great Cities And certainly there was some appearance that having the Bastille of which Bussy was Governour the common people and the Garison of Spaniards for them that they might render themselves Masters of Paris and afterwards treat at their pleasure either with the King or with the Duke of Guise or with the Spaniards but they wanted Resolution In the mean time the Duke of Mayenne having been in two days doubt whether he should come to Paris because he feared they would shut the Gates against him at length comes with a warlike attendance and seeing that the Parliament durst not attempt to make process against these people he resolved whatever might arrive to chastise them himself and thereupon without form of Process in his Cabinet condemns nine to death They could catch but four whom he caused to be hanged in the Louvre the other five saved themselves in Flanders The most remarkable of these five was Bussy le Clerke who had been constrained to yeild the Bastille to the Dukes people He was seen to lead a miserable life in the City of Bruxels yet still to conserve his hatred against the French even to the last gasp which he breathed forth a little before the last Declaration of War between the two Crowns This terrible blow having quite quelled the
to Mass whether he would or not He was so much affrighted at it or feigned to be so that he took the Field gathered together his surest friends and caused the English Forces to come and lodge in the Suburbs of Limay At the same time the Duke de Feria Ambassador from the King of Spain to the States-General arrived at Paris he presented to them a very civil Letter on the part of his Master and made them a large Speech by which he exhorted them to expedite the naming of a King offering them all assistance both of men and monies In effect the King of Spain passionately desired the chusing of one because as we have said he would give him in marriage his Daughter Isabella whom he singulaâ—ly loved It was therefore now time that our Henry should either publish to the world that he would persevere in his Religion without wavering in which case he must resolve on a War of which possibly he might never see the end or return into the bosome of the Catholick Church The Spaniolized Leaguers feared above all things this change which would take from them all pretext the good Catholicks ardently wished it they onely feared lest his Conversion should be feigned the rigid Hugonots endeavoured to divert him threatning him with the Judgements of God if he abandoned said they the Evangelical Truth But all Polititians both of the one and the other Religion counselled him not to delay it They told him that of all Canons the Canon of the Mass would prove best to reduce the Cities of his Kingdome they besought him that he would serve himself of it and to their Prayers they added Threats to abandon him and to retire themselves being wearied with consuming themselves in his service for the Capricio of some obstinate Preaching-Ministers who hindred him from embracing the Religion of his Predecessors Besides these humane Motives God who is never wanting to those who seek him with submission cleared his understanding with his holy Lights and rendred him capable to receive the saving instructions of the Catholick Prelates This resolution taken he immediately gives advice of it to the Deputies of the League in the Conference of Surene It cannot be imagined how great was their astonishment nor how the Duke of Mayenne was surprized for they least of all expected to hear this News The Spaniards and the Legat having advice that he was about to convert pressed the Estates more vehemently to elect a King and seeing that the French would not accept of any but one of their own Nation they proposed that their King should name a French Prince who should reign wholly and individually with the Infanta Isabella When the Parliament understood this and that the Estates were not averse to this Proposition that great Body though captive and dismembred remembring its ancient Vigour ordained That Remonstrances should be made to the Duke of Mayenne that he should maintain the Fundamental Laws of the Estate and that he should hinder the Crown the Lieutenancy of which was committed to him from being transferred to Strangers moreover declaring null all Treaties made or that should be made which should be contrary to that Law of the Estate It was suspected that this Arrest was made by Collusion with the Duke of Mayenne but Villeroy the greatest States-man of the Kingdom gave this Testimony for the Parliament that it took the counsel from himself Having no other Motives then those of Honour and Duty as persons who would chuse rather to loose their lives then be wanting either of the one or the other by conniving at the renversement of the Laws of the Realm of which by their institution they are Protectors and obliged to maintain them by the Oath given them at their Reception These words are all very memorable The Vigour of this Arrest made all those good French-men which were in Paris and in the Estates take heart and at the same time the taking of Dreux which the Kings Army forced caused a great astonishment among the most passionate Leaguers Nevertheless the Spaniards ceased not to pursue their designe The Duke of Mayenne thinking to stop their course made excessive Demands before any proceed should be made to the election of a King but that they might come to their point they granted him all and in the end they declared that their King would name to the Estates the Duke of Guise to whom he would give his Daughter in marriage and all forces necessary to assure him the Crown if they found it convenient to give him their Suffrages and elect him Never was man more astonished then the Duke of Mayenne when he saw that he should be constrained to obey his Nephew and that his Authority must end His Wife yet more impatient then he could not refrain from making appear her despite and jealousie and rather then suffer that they should confer the Crown on this young Prince she counselled her Husband to make peace with the King at any price whatsoever He was in effect resolved to do all things rather then raise his Nephew above himself and therefore he employed all sorts of means to hinder him and to this purpose he concluded a Truce with the King notwithstanding the oppositions of the Legat and Spaniards In pursuance of this Truce the King came to St. Denis where there met many Prelates and Doctors by whose care he caused himself to be instructed An Historian reports that the King causing a Conference to be held before him between the Doctors of the one and the other Church and hearing a Minister grant that one might be saved in the Religion of the Catholicks his Majesty breaking silence and speaking to the Minister How said he do you agree that one may be saved in the Religion of these Gentlemen The Minister answering that he doubted it not so that they lived well the King very judiciously replyed Prudence will that I should be of their Religion and not of yours because being of theirs I may be saved both according to their opinion and yours but being of yours I can be saved onely according to your opinion but not according to theirs Prudence therefore teaches me to follow the most assured And thus after long instructions in which he would amply be cleared in all his Doubts he abjured his Errour made profession of the Catholick Faith and received Absolution in the Abby-Church of St. Denis in the moneth of July by the Ministery of Renaud de Beaune Archbishop of Bourges That Evening the whole Champaign between Paris and Pointoise was made shine with fires of Joy and great number of Parisians who had flocked to St. Denis to see this Ceremony brought back an entire satisfaction and fill'd the whole City with esteem and affection for the King insomuch that they called him no longer Bearnois but absolutely King The Estates of Paris sate no long time after The Duke
of Mayenne dismissed the Deputies who the most part returned ill satisfied into their Provinces where they served not a little to dispose them to reduce themselves under the Obedience of their Legitimate Soveraign There rested now no other pretext to the League except that the King had not received Absolution from St. Peter's Chair that therefore he was not yet in the bounds of the Church and that they could not acknowledge him until he was entred at the great Gate He had sent the Duke of Nevers to Rome to Negotiate this affair with the Pope who was very much incensed that the Prelates of France had enterprized to absolve him though they had not absolved him but by provision ad Cautelam only for he said that he alone had authority to restore a relapsed person as having the only Sovereign power to bind and to loose and for this cause he appeared so difficult nor could ever be bended till he saw the party of the League quite overthrown Now since the life and actions of the King made it appear that his conversion was not feigned the League having no other valuable pretext was dug up as we may so say by the very foundation so that before the end of the year it fell to the ground and there remained to it only a very small number of places in the utmost parts of the Realm the other Chiefs not being willing to run to the end the fortune of the Duke of Mayenne This Prince was very irresolute and knew not what he ought to do as well because of his natural slowness as out of the regret he had to quit the Sovereign authority which he had in his hands and out of fear likewise not to find safety with the King In the mean time Vitry desiring to be the first should re-enter under his obedience as he had been the first had separated from it brought back the City of Meaux The Count of Carces delivered that of Aix in Provence Lyons surrendred of it self of which the Duke of Mayenne was in part cause by having endeavoured to make himself master of that City and snatch it from the Duke of Nemours his brother by the mothers side who intended to establish a small Sovereignty in that Country That he might compass his design he had by secret contrivances made the Burgesses rise against that young Prince so that they having seized of his person had made him a prisoner in the Castle of Pierre-Encise But he found that in this he more laboured for the King then for himself for the Burgesses who had made prisoners the Duke of Nemours fearing lest the brothers should agree among themselves to their prejudice treated secretly with Colonel Alfonso d' Ornano Lieutenant-General for the King in the Daulphinate and being well fortified took the White-scarfe and cried Vive le Roy. The Castle likewise returned to its duty with the Cities of Orleans and Bourges The reduction of Paris happened on the two and twentieth day of March The Parliament the Provost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs having disposed this great City received the King maugre the vain endeavours of some remnant of the faction of the Sixteen The Duke of Mayenne was gone into Picardy and Brissac to whom he had confided the Government of Paris for some months past having taken it from the Count of Belin broke his faith with him believing he ought it rather to the King then him The King had a little before caused himself to be anointed at Chartres with the Cruse of St. Martin of Tours The City of Reims was yet in the hands of the League but he would not longer defer his Coronation because he knew that that Ceremony was absolutely necessary to confirm to him the affection and respect of his people It was almost a miracle how that there being four or five thousand Spaniards Engarisoned in Paris and ten or twelve thousand factious persons remaining of the Cabal of the Sixteen who all cruelly hated the King he could nevertheless render himself master of it without striking stroak or without shedding blood except that of five or six Mutineers who came into the streets to cry to Arms. His Troops having by intelligence seized on the gates ramparts and publick places he entred triumphantly into the City by the new gate by which Henry the third had unhappily fled six years before and went directly to Nostredame to hear Mass and cause Te Deum to be sung afterward he returned to the Loâ—vre where he found his Officers and his Dinner ready as if he had always remained there After Dinner he gave the Spanish Garison a saâ—e-Conduct and a good Convoy to conduct them as far as the tree of Guise in all security for so those had desired who brought them into the City The Garison departed about three a Clock the same day of his entrance with twenty or thirty of the most obstinate Leaguers who chose rather to follow strangers then obey their Natural Prince He would needs see them depart and regarded them passing from a window by St. Denis gate they all saluted him with their hats very low and with a profound inclination he returned the salutes to their Chiefs with great courtesie adding these words Recommend me to your Master go in a good hour but return no more The same day that he entred into Paris the Cardinal de Pelleve Archbishop of Sens a passionate Leaguer expired in his Palace of Sens. The Cardinal of Placentia Legat from the Pope had safe-Conduct to retire home but he died by the way Brissac for recompence had the Staff of Marshal and a place of Honourable Counsellor to the Parliament a favour very rare in that time D' O was re-placed in his government of Paris which he had had under Henry the third but he enjoyed it not long dying soon after That part of the Parliament which was at Tours was recalled and that which was at Paris re-enabled for it had been interdicted and both re-united to serve conjoyntly the King By noon of that day on which our Henry entred Paris the City was every where peaceable the Burgesses in a moment grew familiar with the Souldiers the Artificers worked in their shops In a word the Calme was so profound that nothing interrupted it but the Ringing of the bells the Bonfires and the Dances which were made through all the streets even till midnight It is certain that that which caused this joy and wonderful tranquillity was the great opinion which the people had conceived of the generous goodness of this Prince and the Commands he gave for the orderly government of his Souldiers There were two actions which he did the same day he entred Paris worthy observation proceeding from an admirable Justice Goodness and Policy The first was that he suffered the Baggage of la Noue one of his principal Chiefs to be Arrested at his entring
into Paris by the Serjeants for the debts of his Father contracted in his service and when la Noue went to complain to him of this insolence he answered publickly La Noue you must pay his debts for I pay likewise those of mine But after that he took him apart and gave him some precious stones to engage to his creditors in stead of the Baggage which they had seized Was there ever a more wonderful goodness or more exact Justice The second is that the same evening he played at Cards with the Dutchess of Montpensier who was of the house of Guise and the most vehement Leaguess of the Party What could be seen of more Policy After this reduction of Paris the other Cities and their Governours hastened likewise to conclude their Treaties Villars made his for Rouen so gaining to himself the Government in chief of this City and Bailiwick and that of the Country of Caux with the charge of Admiral which he was to take out of the hands of Byron for that of Marshal of France twelve hundred thousand Livres of present money and sixty thousand Livres of pension At the same time or little after Montreuil and Abbeville in Picardy Troyes in Champagne Sens and Riom in Auvergne Agen Marmande and Villeneuve d' Agenois rendred themselves obedient and their Governours had all they could demand of the King The City of Poictiers and the Country thereabouts treated likewise by means of its principal Magistrates and the Marquis of Elbeuf Governour for the League seeing he could not hinder the Revolution permitted himself to be drawn in with them and composed with the King who left him the Government of that Province In the mean time the Count Mansfield entred into Picardy to endeavour to sustain the League which was in a very low condition and took la Capelle The King in revenge laid siege to Laon and took it by capitulation notwithstanding all the endeavours of the Duke of Mayenne to relieve it Balagny with his City of Cambray renounced likewise the League and promised service to the King He had called himself Sovereign of this City and had held it from the time that Henry the thirds brother the Duke of Alenzon had usurped it from the Baron of Inchi who in the great Rebellion of the Low-Countries had quitted the obedience of Spain to embrace his party In like manner the Cities of Beauvais and Peronne renounced the League as did likewise that of Amiens shaking off the yoak of the Duke of Aumale There resting to that party in all Picardy only Soissons la Fere and Ham. And which was much more the Duke of Guise shook off the Duke of Mayenne and brought the Cities of Reims Vitry and Mezieres under the Kings obedience who in recompence of it gave him the Government of Provence from which he was obliged to withdraw the Duke of Espernon because the People the Parliament and the Nobility had taken Arms against him The Duke of Lorrain likewise who negotiated his peace by the intermission of Bassompierre concluded it the twenty sixth of November But neither the example of this Duke chief of the house of Lorrain nor the general revolution of that party could oblige the Duke of Mayenne to withdraw himself from that danger wherein he was ready to be overwhelmed he could not abandon that fair title of Lieutenant-General of the Crown but flattered himself with the hopes that the assistance of Spain might again give his affairs the upper hand He was retired into his Government of Bourgongne because that remained yet most entire to him though to keep to himself Dijon he was forced to make use of an odious cruelty in cutting off the head of the Mayor and another who laboured to reduce it to the Kings service Now since it was the Spaniards who maintained him in his obstinacy and who made War against the King in his name it was proposed and agreed in the Councel to assault them with an open War to the end that being imployed at their own homes they might lose the desire and leasure of coming to disquiet the King in his For they not only assaulted him by force of Arms and by practices which encouraged the people in Rebellion but moreover they would have had his life and endeavoured to murther him by base and execrable waies They contrived or favoured many conspiracies against his Sacred person which were well discovered Those two which made most noise was that of one Peter Barriere and that of John Castel The first was a Souldier aged about twenty seven years who being discovered at Melun in the year one thousand five hundred ninety three as he sought the execution of his detestable blow was condemned to have his right hand burned holding the Knife with which he should have struck the King after to have his flesh torn off with burning Pinsers and to be broken on the wheel alive The second was a young Scholar aged about eighteen years son of a Merchant-Draper of Paris keeping Shop before the Palace this villain about the end of the year fifteen hundred ninety four having thrust himself with the Courtiers into the Chamber of the fair Gabriella where the King was would have struck him with a Knife into the belly but by good fortune the King then bowing to salute some one the blow chanced on his face only piercing his upper lip and breaking a Tooth It was not known for the present who had struck it but the Count of Soissons seeing this young man affrighted stopt him by the arme He impudently confessed that he had given the blow and maintained that he ought to do it The Parliament condemned him to have his right hand burned his flesh torn off with red-hot Pinsers and after to be torn in pieces by four horses This detestable Parricide not shewing any sign of pain so much had they imprinted in his spirit that he would offer a Sacrifice acceptable to God by taking out of the world a Prince relapsed and Excommunicate The Father of this miserable villain was banished his house before the Palace demolished and a Pyramide erected in its place The Jesuites under whom this Miscreant had studied were likewise accused for having instructed him with this pernicious Doctrine and they having many enemies the Parliament banished the whole Society out of the Kingdom by the same Arrest of their Scholar Yet these Fathers were not wanting notwithstanding that the times were contrary to them to labour to sustain their honour but writ many things to justifie themselves against their charge And truly those who were not their enemies did not at all believe the Society culpable so that some years after the King revoked the decree of Parliament and recalled them as we shall mention hereafter The success of the War declared against Spain was much different from that which the King maintained against the League and made
wilt punish me as my sins deserve I offer my head to thy Justice spare not the Culpable but Lord for thy holy mercies sake take pity of the poor Kingdom and smite not the flock for the offence of the shepherd It cannot be expressed of what efficacy these words were they were in a moment carried through the whole Army and it seemed as if some vertue from heaven had given courage to the French The Arch-Duke therefore finding them resolved and in good Countenance durst not pass farther Some other attempts he afterwards made which did not succeed and he retired by night into the Country of Artois where he dismissed his Army In fine Hernand Teillo being slain by a Musquet-shot the besieged capitulated and the King established Governour in the City the Seigneur de Vic a man of great order and exact discipline who by his command began to build a Citadel there At his departure from Amiens the King led his Army to the very Gates of Arras to visit the Arch-Duke he remained three days in battalia and saluted the City with some Volleys of Cannon Afterward seeing that nothing appeared he retired towards France ill satisfied said he gallantly with the courtesie of the Spaniards who would not advance so much as one pace to receive him but had with an ill grace refused the honour he did them The Marshal of Byron served him extraordinarily at this siege and the King when he was returned to Paris and that those of the City gave him a reception truly Royal he told them shewing them the Marshal Gentlemen see there the Marshal de Byron whom I do willingly present both to my friends and to my enemies There rested now no appearance of the League in France but onely the Duke of Merceur yet keeping a corner of Brittany The King had often granted him Truces and offered him great Conditions but he was so intoxicated with an ambition to make himself Duke of that Country that he found out daily new fancies to delay the concluding one imagining that time might afford him some favourable revolution and flattering himself with I know not what prophecies which assured him that the King should dye in two years In fine the King wearied with so many protractions turns his head that way resolving to chastise his obstinacy as it deserved He had been lost without remedy if he had not been advised to save himself by offering his only daughter to the eldest son of the Fair Gabriella Dutchess of Beaufort who is at this day Duke of Vendosme His Deputies could at first obtain nothing else but that he should immediately depart out of Brittany and deliver those places which he held which done his Majesty would grant him oblivion for all past and receive him into his favour But the King being of a tender heart and desiring to advance his natural son by so rich and noble a marriage granted him a very advantagious Edict which was verified in the Parliament as all those of the Chiefs of the League were This accommodation was made at Angiers the Contract of marriage passed at Chasteau and the affiances celebrated with the same Magnificence as if he had been a Legitimate son of France He was four years old and the Virgin six The King made gift to him of the Dutchy of Vendosme by the same right that other Dukes hold them which the Parliament verified not without great repugnancy and with this condition that it should be no president for the other goods of the Kings patrimony which by the Laws of the Realm were esteemed reunited to the Crown from the time of his coming to it From Angiers the King would pass into Brittany He stayed some time at Nantes from thence he went to Rennes where the Estates were held he passed about two months in this City in feasts joys and divertisements but yet ceasing not seriously to imploy himself to hasten the expedition of many affairs For it is to be observed that this great Prince employed himself all the mornings in serious things and dedicated the rest of the day to his divertisements yet not in such manner that he would not readily quit his greatest pleasures when there was any thing of importance to be acted and he still gave express order not to defer the advertizing him of such things He took away a great many superfluous Garisons in this Country suppressed many imposts which the Tyranny of many perticular persons had introduced during the War disbanded all those pilfering Troops which laid waste the plain Country sent forth the Provosts into the Campagne against the theeves which were in great number restored Justice to its authority which License had weakned and gathered four Millions of which the Estates of the Country of their own free will levyed eight hundred thousand crowns So he laboured profitably for these two ends which he ought most to intend to wit the ease of his people and the increase of his treasures Two things which are incompatible when a Prince is not Just and a good manager or lets his mony be managed by others without taking diligent care of his accounts Thus was a calme of Peace restored to France within it self after ten years Civil Wars by a particular grace of God on this Kingdom by the labour diligence goodness and valour of the best King that ever was And in the mean time a peace was seriously endeavoured between the two Crowns of France and Spain The two Kings equally wished it our Henry because he passionately desired to ease his people and to let them regain their forces after so many bloody and violent agitations and Philip because he found himself incline to the end of his days and that his Son Philip the third was not able to sustain the burthen of a War against so great a King The Deputies of one part and the other had been assembled for three months in the little City of Vervins with the Popes Nuntio Those of France were Pompone of Believre and Nicholas Bruslard both Counsellours of State and the last likewise President of the Parliament who acting agreeably and without jealousies determined on the most difficult Articles in very little time and according to the order they received from the King signed the peace on the second of May. The 12. of the same month it was published at Vervin It would be too long to insert here all the Articles of the Treaty I shall say only that it was agreed that the Spaniards should surrender all the places they had taken in Picardy and Blavet which they yet held in Brittany That the Duke of Savoy should be comprehended in this Treaty provided he delivered to the King the City of Berry which he held in Provence And for the Marquesate of Saluces which that Duke had taken from France towards the latter end of the Reign of Henry the third that it should be
remitted to the judgement of the holy Father who was to decide that controversie in a year The Publication of the Peace was made on the same day through all the Cities of France and the Low-Countries with those rejoycings whose rumour spread to the utmost bounds of Christendom but none so truly resented a joy for it as our Henry who was accustomed to say That it being a thing Barbarous and contrary to the laws of Nature and Christianity to make War for the love of War a Christian Prince ought never refuse peace if it were not absolutely disadvantagious to him The Third PART OF THE LIFE OF Henry the Great Briefly containing what he did after the Peace of Vervin made in the year 1598. unto his death which happened in the year 1610. HItherto we have followed the Fortune of our Henry through ways craggy and intricate over Rocks and Precipices during times very troublesome and full of storms and tempests at present we are about to trace it through paths more easie and fair in the sweetnesses of calm and quiet peace where however his Vertue slept not in his repose but appeared always active where his great Soul was employed without ceasing in the true functions of Royalty and where in fine among his Divertisements he made his most necessary and most important employs his principal pleasures In the two first parts of his Life which we have seen he was by constraint a Man of War and of the Field in this last a Man of Counsel and a great Polititian but in both invincible and indefatigable The true duty of a Soveraign consists principally in protecting his Subjects he must both defend them against Strangers and repress the Factions and Attempts of Rebels It is for this purpose that he hath the power of Arms in his hands and that it is advantagious to him perfectly to understand the mystery of War But that comprehends but a part of his Functions and we may truely say that it is neither the most necessary nor the most satisfactory For besides that he may manage his Wars by his Lieutenants who doubts him to be the most happy Prince that governs his Affairs in such a manner that he hath no need of his Sword but is powerful enough to distribute Justice punish the wicked and to honour and reward deserving men to confer graces and recompences to keep good order and conserve the Laws to maintain his Provinces in tranquillity sustain his Reputation and greatness by his good Conduct inform himself often and diligently of all that passes make himself to be feared by his Enemies and esteemed by his Allies and like a Soveraign himself preside in his Councils receive Ambassadours and answer them dispatch great Affairs by Treaties and Negotiations prevent all ill and deprive wicked persons and enemies of their power to hurt encourage Traffick and the Studies of Sciences and Noble Arts to make his Kingdome rich flourishing and abundant to fetch wealth from all the corners of the earth but above all to procure the glory and service of God so that his Kingdome may be as a Paradise of Delights and a Harbour of Felicity These are in my opinion Employs worthy a potent King a Christian and wise King who being the Shepherd of his people as Homer often calls the great King Agamemnon ought not onely know how to drive away the Wolves I mean make War but likewise understand how to manage his Flock preserve them from Diseases fatten and multiply them The Peace being published with an incredible joy of the French Flemins and Spaniards it was solemnly sworn by the King on the one and twentieth of June in the Church of Nostre-Dame on the Cross and the holy Evangelists in the presence of the Duke of Arscot and the Admiral of Arragon Ambassasadors from the King of Spain for that purpose and afterwards Cardinal-Arch-Duke Albert Governour of the Low-Countries for that King swore it on the six and twentieth of the same moneth in the City of Bruxels the Marshal of Byron assisting whom our Henry had newly honoured with the Quality of Duke and Peer confirmed in Parliament as well to give more splendour to that Embassy as to recompense those great services that Lord had rendred him in his Wars In this Voyage the Spaniards spared neither Caresses nor Prayers to this new Duke to inspire him with Pride and Vanity and intoxicated him in such manner with a good opinion of himself that it put a fancie in his head that the King ought him more then he would ever know how to give him and that if his vertue were not sufficiently honoured in France he would finde other places where it should be set at a higher price That which afterwards produced very ill effects Many among the French who knew not truely the pitiful estate wherein the King of Spain and his Affairs were could not comprehend why this Prince should buy the peace at so dear a rate as the surrendry of six or seven strong places and amongst others Calais and Blavet which might be called the Keys of France On the contrary the Spaniards who beheld their King as it were dying his Treasury wasted the Low-Countries shattered in pieces Portugal and his Lands in Italy on the point to revolt the Son which he left a good Prince in truth but who loved repose were astonished that the French having so bravely re-taken Amiens and re-united all their Forces after the Treaty of the Duke of Merceur had not pressed farther into the Low-Countries seeing that in all appearance they might either have carried them or at least sorely shaken them The King answered That if he had desired peace it was not because he was weary of the incommodities of War but to give leave to afflicted Christendome to breath That he knew well that from the Conjuncture wherein things were he might have drawn great advantages but that God often overturns Princes in their greatest Prosperities and that a wife man ought never out of the opinion of some favourable event be averse to a good accord nor trust himself too much on the appearance of his present happiness which may change by a thousand unexpected Accidents it having often happened that a man thrown down and wounded hath killed him who would make him demand his life It was known in a little time that King Philip the second had more need of the peace then France for his sickness was more then redoubled he had for twenty six days continually a perpetual flux of blood through all the conduits of his body and a little before his death he had four Aposthumes broke in his Groin from whence there tumbled a continual multitude of Vermin which all the diligence of his Officers could not drain In this strange sickness his constancy was wonderful nor did he ever abandon the reins of his Estate until the last gasp of his Life for he
soon converted into a Frugality very necessary for the State He had chosen for his Council very able and faithful Ministers as Chiverny Bellievre Sillery Sancy Janin Villeroy and Rosny I speak not here at all of his gallant Men for War as the Marshal of Byron Lesdiguieres Governour of the Daulphinate the Duke of Mayenne the Constable of Montmorency the Marshal de la Chastre the Marshal d' Aumont Guitry la Noue and many others of whom he served not himself in the Administration of State-affairs though he often entertained himself with them and for their honour sometimes communicated to them things of consequence demanding their advice The Chancellour of Chiverny who had been raised to this charge under the reign of Henry the third was a man cold dissembled and considerate but as his Enemies said he was a much better Pleader then Counsellour of State He died the year following and in his place the King constituted Pompone de Bellievre a man perfectly accomplished in the knowledge of the Rights and Interests of France and a most expert Negotiator as he well shewed in the Treaty of Vervin He was old when the King gave him this Charge and therefore said himself That he onely entred into it to go out of it He counselled the King to make a severe Act against Duels He established a very good Order in the Council and ordained That none should be received Master of the Requests but who had been ten whole years in one of the Soveraign Companies or sixteen in other of the Subalternate Seats Nicholas Bruslard de Sillery President of the Cap to the Parliament of Paris who was his Son-in-law and who had been his Companion at Vervin was of a spirit sweet facile and circumspect It hath been said that the Publick never beheld any passion either in his Countenance or Discourse Harlay-Sancy was a man free bold and dauntless who feared no person when he acted for the service of the King but he was a little rugged and spoke to him too freely witness what he said concerning Madam Gabriella who knew how to return it to him As for Janin President of the Parliament of Bourgongne and Villeroy chief Secretary of State they had both taken part with the League and yet very profitably served both the King and France having in what they acted endeavoured onely for the defence of the Catholick Religion and not been moved out of a spirit of faction They had hindred the Spaniards from planting themselves in this Realm and the Duke of Mayenne from absolutely casting himself upon them as his despair had often perswaded him to do They agreed both in this point that they loved the Estate and Royalty with passion and that they had great judgement but for the rest of their humours they were very much different Janin was an old Gaul who would manage his Affairs by the ancient forms according to the Laws and Ordinances a good Lawyer firm and resolute who went directly towards his end and who knew no subtile turnings and windings but entirely loved the publick good Villeroy was one of the wisest and most exact Courtiers that was ever seen he had a spirit clear and neat which would unravel with an incredible facility the most embroyled Affairs explain them so agreeably and intelligibly as nothing more and who turned them as himself pleased He was wonderfully active withal and most excellent at finding Expedients taking his business by so sure hold that it was difficult to escape him The King often conferred with these Counsellours for they were now so called and not Ministers as they had been for above thirty years before He spoke to them of his Affairs sometimes to be instructed and sometimes to instruct them which he did either in the Council-chamber or walking in the Gardens of the Tuilleries Monceaux St. Germain and Fontainbleau He discoursed often with them apart calling them one after another and he did so either to oblige them to speak to him with more liberty or not to tell them all together what he would onely tell to some particularly or for some other reason which he without doubt deduced from good policy He said That he found none amongst them who satisfied him like Villeroy and that he could dispatch more business with him in an hour then with the others in a whole day As for Maximilian de Bethune Baron of Rosny and after Duke of Sully he had been bred up with the King in the Hugonot Religion and the King had known his capacity and affection in divers affairs of consequence but above all that his genius carried him to the good management of Revenues and that he had all qualities requisite for that purpose In effect he was a man of good order exact a good husband a keeper of his word not prodigal nor proud nor carried away by vain follies or expences or play or women or any other things not convenient for a man entrusted with such an Employment Moreover he was vigilant laborious expeditious and one who dedicated almost his whole time to his affairs and little to his pleasure and withal he had the gift of piercing into the very bottome of matters and unravelling those twistings and knots with which Treasurers when they are not trusty and faithful endeavour to conceal their deceits We have already said how the King desired above all things to provide for a good Government in his Revenues and the reasons for which he had been obliged to leave Francis d' O in the charge of Superintendant After this man was dead he gave that charge to five or six persons whom he believed both capable and honest men he was perswaded that he should be better served by them then by one alone imagining that they would serve as checks and controulers to one another But the quite contrary happened every one discharged himself on his Companion nothing was advanced and if any would act the others were not wanting to cross him by their jealousies so that they only agreed in this point that every one looked that his Salary was well paid him which cost the King six times more then if he had had only one Superintendent whilst he drew no profit from this multitude Knowing then that so many people did onely imbroil his Revenues he returned them again into the hands of one and this was Sancy But a short time after finding him more proper for other Employments then that he gave him Rosny for a Companion and after made Rosny alone Superintendent Rosny before he entred into this Charge was provided with all necessary knowledges to acquit himself well of it he knew perfectly all the Revenues of the Kingdom and all the expences which were necessary He communicated all he knew to the King who on his part had likewise studied all these things so that an hundred Crowns could not be laid out but he would
know whether it were well or ill employed As it is the advantage of an unfaithful Steward that his Master be ignorant and make no inspection into his affairs so it is of a true and faithful Servant that he be well instructed and that he clearly see them to the end he may know how worthily to esteem his Services For the rest of his humour it agreed perfectly well with that of the Kings When he trusted him with his Revenues he desired him that he would never take a bottle of wine or any the least present without advertising him And when Rosny did advertise him of it he consented presently to it and likewise was so willing that in serving him well he might find his benefit that oftentimes he added gifts of his own to give him courage to serve him still better and better But Rosny never received them till they were duly ratified in the Chamber of Accounts to the end all the world might know the liberality of his Prince towards him and that he might not be reproached that he made use of his favour to load his own Coffers Under the Administration of this Superintendent the first Law which the King made concerning affairs of this nature was the immutable constancy of their ordering which was never to alter after it was once agreed and concluded on For as the most desperate things are by good order redressed under a firm and constant Conduct so the best established and most assured become dispersed under a light head which does undoes and redoes without ceasing and which on the morrow revokes what it to day commanded Rosny soon gave indubitable proofs of his capacity for having visited only four Generalities he in little time got in a Million and half of money which was in Arrear And after the Surprizal of Amiens by the Spaniards he readily found moneys to raise a great Army and furnish the expenâ—e of the siege so that he was one of the Principal instruments in the Recovery of that great City It is convenient since it may prove necessary in all times to take notice of an Expedient which amongst others he found to hinder the cousenages of the Tax-gatherers He knew that there were some persons in the Kings Council who held part with the Renters and Farmers and who caused them to be adjudged to the Council at a low price and often made be given great Diminutions To hinder therefore these people from eating the Cake amongst them he stopt the hands of the general Farmers forbidding the under-Farmers longer to pay them any thing but themselves to bring the mony of their under-Farms into the Exchequer He doubled by this means the Revenues of the King for the under-Farms and under-Rents were found to surmount almost two thirds the General Rents and Farms Those of the Council and the Collectors at first exclaimed highly against his Conduct they laid snares every where for him and begat him a thousand troubles but with time he brought them to reason Likewise all those who had no right to demand any thing of him and who ceased not to importune him when they could get nothing from him stormed against his hardness but he cared not for their fury he regarded onely legally to pay the debts of the King and readily to pay what was ordained for good ends for he knew not how to let that be an hundred times demanded which was truly due We have stayed somewhat the longer on this point of the Revenues because it is the most important of all that by which all things are done and without which nothing can be done on which depends either the ease or the oppression of the people and the good or ill success of all designs or enterprizes Our Henry much desired at the same time to take care for the Reformation of the Clergy which in truth was in great disorder as well in temporals its goods having been usurped during the Wars by the Hugonots and wicked Catholicks as in spirituals the greatest part of both Prelates and Pastors being as ignorant as depraved but he could not yet apply convenient remedies The necessity to which he was driven to recompence those who had well served him constraining him to tolerate abuses and likewise to commit them disposing Benefices as formerly Charles Martell had done For he gave them to people incapable to Married men to men of the Sword to Children and likewise to Women to recompense the loss of their husbands killed or ruined in his Service I have not attempted to excuse this fault for there can never be any lawful reason given for the prostitution of the goods of the Sanctuary to prophane uses or employing the treasures of the Cross in other Services then that of the Altar I know well that many Ecclesiasticks themselves act otherwise but who doubteth these people to be worse then those Jews who played at Dice upon the holy Robe of Jesus Christ About the end of this year the general Assembly of the Clergy was held at Paris who drew up a Remonstrance to the King by which the Prelates prayed him to cause the Council of Trent to be published in France Not to charge his conscience with the nomination of Bishops Abbots and other Benefices having the charge of souls not to give any persons of the Layty Pensions over Benefices not to permit Churches and holy places to be profaned as they then were but to take some order for their reparation and the re-establishment of Divine Service For what concerned the Council of Trent it is to be understood that it was received in France as to those Articles concerned the Faith but not generally for those which concerned Policy and Discipline because it seemed to many that these last were for the most part contrary to the liberty of the Gallick Church and the rights of the King For which reasons whatever endeavours the zealous have used they could never compass its reception the Parliaments having alwaies strongly opposed it To the Harangue of the Clergy the King eloquently answered but in few words That he acknowledged what they had said concerning the nomination of Benefices was true but that he was not the author of that abuse That being come to the Crown during the flames of a Civil War he had ran where ever he had beheld the greatest fire to extinguish it That now he had peace he would endeavour again to raise up those two Pillars of France to wit Piety and Justice That God willing he would restore the Church to as good an Estate as it was in the time of Lewis xii But said he contribute I pray you on your side let your good Examples as much incite the people to do good as they have been heretofore diverted you have exhorted me to my duty and I exhort you to yours let us act in this with envy one to another My Predecessors have given you fair words
dangerous enemies so that no year passed but with many conspiracies against his person he hoped that in the end some of them might succeed In effect that year there had been three discovered of which that which made most noise was of a woman who offered to the Count of Soissons to poison him but the Count discovered it and she was buried alive in the Greve To the end therefore to gain time he desired to come himself into France having so good an opinion of his own cunning and slights that he assured himself he should obtain of the King the gift of this Marquisate or at least he pretended to make such propositions and to employ so many artifices that there should pass more then a year before he should untangle them He said that his Ambassador had sent him word that he had heard the King say that if they were together they would decide this difference like friends and that it was this good word had set him on his voyage But many suspected and that with some appearance that he had a design to gain some people in the Kings Council to sound the affections and observe and watch the discontented to cast abroad seeds of corruption and division and renew that intelligence might be useful to him at Court Others imagined that he was discontented with Spain because Philip the second having given the Low-Countries in Dower to his youngest Daughter he had left to the eldest wife of this Duke only a Crucifix and an Image of our Lady Moreover he had indeed received some displeasures from the Ministers of Spain and he spread a report abroad were it true or not that he had undertaken this voyage without communicating any thing to Philip the third his Brother-in-law In fine every one judged according to his fancy and possibly none divined the secrets of his thoughts there being never any Prince more close or less penetrable then he And some said his Heart was covered with mountains as well as his Country that is because that he was Hulch-back't as Savoy was mountainous He brought with him a Train which well set forth his degree for he had with him twelve hundred horse but all his Officers were clad in mourning by reason of the death of his Wife which many took as an ill presage The King desiring to receive him according to his dignity commanded all the Cities and the Governours to render him the same honour as if he were there in person He came to Lyons by the River of Roan and was received by la Guiche Governour of that City But the Chapiter of St. John would not give him the place of Canon and Count of that Church because he no longer possessed the County of Villars by virtue of which the Counts of Savoy had been at other times received Adding to this that he had not his Titles nor would give time to make proof of his Nobility of which the Chapiter dispences not with any whatsoever beside our Kings From Lyons he came to Roanna descended by water to Orleans and after came post to Fontain-bleau where the King was He arrived the twentieth of December accompanied with seventy horse and presently to acquist confidence with him he lamented highly against the Spaniards discovered or feigned to discover to him his most secret thoughts and a designe he had to drive them out of Italy He told him his friends his ways and his intelligences for that he would make him believe that he would open his heart to him that he was an absolute French-man and desired to fix himself to the interests of France without reserve The King hearkned to him with attention and thanked him for his good thoughts but after all he finished with this I am of opinion that we should decide first those affairs between us and then talk of others Three days after the King went to Paris where they were to discourse more amply on the subject had brought him into France Now was the beginning of the last year of the fifteenth Age which is counted the One thousand six hundredth celebrated for the Centenary Jubilee which was opened at Rome There were found there four and twenty thousand French some moved by devotion others by curiosity among which there was a good number of Hugonots who went to see the great Ceremony They might do it with all security for during the great Jubilee the Inquisition ceases at Rome where at other times it is much less rigoâ—ous then in Spain The Duke of Bar was in a concealed habit at this Jubilee he went to demand absolution of the holy Father but his submission how great soever could not obtain it nor had he it till the death of Madam Katherine his Wife The beginning of this year beheld the King and the Duke of Savoy live with so much familiarity and so many proofs of friendship that it was believed that they had both but the same heart The French Courtesie and Civility obliged the King to give the Duke all sorts of good Treatments and the desire which the Duke had to obtain from him the Marquisate moved him to a great Complacency and to seek all means to render himself agreeable to so great a King The Court of France avowed it had never seen a more perfect Courtier the Ladies a more pleasing Gallant and the Officers of the King and the great ones a Prince more liberal He knew how to govern himself in such manner with the King that he neither acted his Companion nor his Servant and if he would appear inferiour to him in Grandeur he endeavoured to be superiour to him in Generosity and Liberality he gave with full hands especially to the principal men of the Court The King permitted them to accept his presents and on his side gave very great ones to the Duke he treated him and made the Chiefs of the Court treat him every day shewing him some new subject of divertisement Among other things he desired that he should see his Parliament which our Kings have usually shewn to strange Princes as a Compendium of their greatness and the place where their Majesty sits with the greatest splendour They went together into the Lantern of the great Chamber where they with great delight heard pleaded a very singular Cause chosen of purpose and the sentence or agreement pronounced by Harlay first President a Personage so grave and so eloquent that all which came from his mouth seemed to come from that of Justice her self There was no Civility or Courtesie which the King shewed not to the Duke but after all he released not to him the Marquisate The Duke tryed the business all ways possible sometimes he offered to hold it in homage from the Crown sometimes he proposed to the King his great Designes on the Milanois and on the Empire sometimes he laid before him the platform of a puissant League to destroy
was very good and commodious thought it best to introduce the Manufacture into France to the end the French might gain what was now gained by the strangers To this purpose he gave order for the planting of a great number of white Mulberry-trees in those Countries where they would best thrive and particularly in Touraine to nourish Silk-worms and that people should be provided who understood how to prepare the Webs and put to work the labour of these pretioâ—â— Caterpillers If care had been taken â—â—ter his death to maintain this Order and to extend it to other Provinces it might have spared France more then five Millions which it every year sends out to provide silk Stuffs besides a Million of persons useless for other labours as are old people Maids and Children might have gained a living by it and the Employers more easily have afforded to pay the Imposts and Taxes out of the profit they had made of their industry There was yet a much greater mischief which as we may say dryed up the very Intrails of the Kingdom this was the excessive Usury The ill Husbands that is to say the greatest part of the Nobility borrowed money at ten or twelve in the hundred In which there was two great inconveniences The first That the Interests undermining by little and little in seven or eight years dug up the foundations of the richest and most ancient Houses which are as we may say the Props and Pillars that uphold the State The second That the Merchants finding this conveniency of laying out their money to so great profit and without any hazard absolutely abandoned all Commerce the streams of which once dryed up there must needs follow a famine of Gold and Silver in the Kingdome for France hath no other Mines then its Traffick and the distribution of its Merchandizes These Considerations obliged the King not onely to prohibit all Usuries but lay a penalty of the Confiscation of the sum lent and great Fines beside Afterwards the Parliament deputed some Counsellours in all Provinces to make inquisition after Usurers and to reduce all Interests or Hypothecated Rents to six and a half in the hundred They were before at ten or twelve as we have said The reason of which was because when they were constituted money was much more scarce now since it was extreamly multiplyed since the discovery of the Indies it was just to abate its interests And it was for this reason that it was afterwards put at six and may possibly one day be reduced lower Out of the same designe to enrich his people and to bring abundance and plenty into his Kingdome the King continually received all Proposals which might serve to enlarge Commerce to bring Commodity to his people and to till and make fruitful the most sterile places He endeavoured as much as was possible to make Rivers Navigable He caused to be repaired all Bridges and Causways and the great Roads to be paved knowing that whilst they are not well kept Carriages find but a difficult passage and Commerce is by that means interrupted From whence happen the same disorders in the oeconomy of an Estate as doth in that of a mans body when it findes Obstructions and when the passage of the blood and spirits are not free When he passed through the Countries he curiously regarded all things took notice of the necessities and disorders and immediately remedied all with a great diligence Under his favour and protection were established in many places of the Kingdom Manufactures of Linen and Woollen Cloths Laces Iron-ware and many other things After his example the Burgesses repaired their houses which the War had ruined The Gentlemen having laid by their Arms with onely a switch in their hand dedicated themselves to manage their Estates and augment their Revenues All the people were attentive to their work and it was a wonder to see this Kingdom which five or six years before had been as we may say a Den of Serpents and venemous Beasts being filled with Thieves Robbers Vagrants Rake-hells and Beggers changed by the diligence of the King into a Hive of innocent Bees who strove as it were with envy to each other to give proofs of their industry and to gather Wax and Honey Idleness was a shame and a kinde of Crime and indeed it is as the Proverb says the Mother of all Vices That spirit which takes no care to employ it self seriously in something is unprofitable to it self and pernitious to the publick And for these Reasons did the Provosts in that time make diligent search after Loyterers Vagabonds and idle persons and sent them to serve the King in his Gallies to oblige them perforce to work There is no happiness so stable and assured but it may be easily troubled there arrived this year two things which might have overturned all France had not the King in a good hour subverted them The Assembly of the Notables or Chiefs at Rouen which was held in the year 1596. to raise money for the King to continue the War and pay his debts had granted him as we have said the imposition of a Sol pour livre on all Merchandizes carried into walled Cities The Estate says Tacitus the greatest Polititian among Historians cannot be maintained without Forces nor the Forces without Payment nor they paid without Impositions by consequence therefore they are necessary and it is just that every one should contribute to the expences of an Estate of which he makes a part as well as partake of those Conveniences and that protection it enjoys But these impositions ought to be moderate proportionate to the power of every one and every one ought to bear his part Moreover it should be easie to perceive that the expence of raising them exceed not the principal that they be not laid so as to appear odious as on Merchandizes which nourish the poor and that in fine they be blood drawn gently from the veins and not marrow forced from the bones Now the imposition of a Sol pour livre was of this nature It was very oppressive for in every City they searched the Merchants Goods opened their Bales and saw what every one brought so that liberty was quite lost in the Kingdom Moreover it was excessive for any Merchandize being ten or twelve times sold it was found that it paid as much Impost as it was worth Moreover there was great expence in the sale of it for men were forced to employ as many Factors as would have composed an Army who desiring all to make themselves rich as well as their Masters were so vexatious to the Merchants that they became desperate And that was most strange was that there were in the Kings Council Pensioners to these Farmers who supported them in their violences and upheld them against all Complaints made of their misdemeanours The people are always subject to this Criminal Errour That when
several Petitions of complaint against them accusing them of a great number of Exactions and Cruelties The Duke d' Espernon who without doubt sustained these Burgesses at the Court was sent by the King to accommodate this difference The Soboles who had offended him no longer trusted him they would not permit him to enter into the strongest Citadel nor let the Garison go out to meet him so that being justly incensed he envenomed the plague instead of healing it and animated the inhabitants in such a manner that they Barricadoed themselves against them The King who knew that the least sparkles were capable to kindle a great fire was not content to send La Varenne but went himself being moreover willing to visit that Frontier Sobole gave the place into his hands and he gave it to Arquien Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment of Guards with the Quality of Lieutenant of the King to command in the absence of the Duke d' Espernon Governour who had no great power so long as the King lived The King passed the Feast of Easter at Mets. Whilst he was there he hearkned to the request which the Jesuites made for their re-establishment He referred the doing them Justice till he should come to Paris and gave leave to Father Ignatius Armand and Father Coton to come to sollicite their cause They were not wanting to do it and Father Coton being of a sharp and witty discourse and a very famous Preacher gained so soon the favour of all the Court and pleased the King so well that he obtained from his Majesty the recalling of the Society into the Kingdom contrary to the opinion and advice of some of his Council He then re-established them by an Act which he caused to be confirmed in Parliament and caused to be thrown down that Pyramide which had been erected before the Palace in the place of the house of John Castel where there were many writings in Verse and Prose very bloody against these Fathers Thus was their banishment gloriously repaired and after all the King kept with him Father Coton as his Chaplain in Ordinary and Confessor and Director of his Conscience This was not accomplished till the year 1604. In these two years of 1602 and 1603. we have yet three or four important things to observe The first that the King at his departure from Mets went to Nancy to visit his Sister the Dutchess of Bar who died the year following without Children The second that he renewed the Alliance with the Suisses and some months after with the Grisons notwithstanding those Obstacles by which the Count of Fuentes endeavoured to oppose it The third was that in returning to Paris he received news of the Death of Elizabeth Queen of England one of the most Illustrious and most Heroick Princesses that ever Reigned and who Governed her Estate with more Prudence and Power then any of her Predecessors had ever done She was Daughter to King Henry the eighth and to that Anne of Bullen for whose love he had left Katherine of Arragon Aunt to Charles the fifth Emperour his first wife There was nothing wanting to the happiness of her Kingdom save the Catholick Religion which she banished out of England And we might give her the name of good as well as great if she had not dealt so inhumanely as she did with her Cousin-German Mary Stuart Queen of Scotland whom she kept eighteen years prisoner and after beheaded induced to it by some conspiracies which the Servants and Friends of that poor Princess had made against her person The Son of that Mary named James the sixth King of Scotland being the nearest of the blood-Royal of England as Grandchild to Margaret of England Daughter to King Henry the seventh and Sister to Henry the eighth married to James the fourth King of Scotland succeeded Elizbeth who had put his Mother to death He caused himself to be called King of Great Britain to unite under the same title the two Crowns of England and Scotland which indeed are but one Island formerly called by the Romans Magna Britania The Alliance of so powerful a King might make the balance incline to which side soever it were turned either of France or Spain For which reason both the one and the other immediately sent Magnificent Ambassadors to salute him each endeavouring to draw him to his side It was Rosny who went on the part of Henry the Great he obtained all the favourable Audience he desired and the confirmation of the ancient Treaties between France and England The Ambassador of Spain found not such facility in his Negotiation the English appeared resolute The Spaniards were forced to yeild that the place of the Treaty should be appointed in England and to grant the English free Taffick in all their Territories even in the Indies and give them liberty of Conscience in Spain so that they should not be subject to the Inquisition nor obliged to salute the holy Sacrament in the streets but onely turn from it France was in a profound peace as well without by the renewing of the Alliances with the Suisses and with England as within by the discovery of the Conspiracies which were quite dissipated the King enjoyed a repose worthy his labours and his past travail made his pleasure more sweet However he was not idle but was seen daily employed for he endeavoured with as much diligence to conserve peace that divine daughter of heaven as he had used courage and valour in making War He was often heard say That though he could make the house of France as powerful in Europe as that of the Ottomans was in Asia and conquer in a moment all the Estates of his neighbours yet he would not do so great a dishonour to his word by which he was obliged to the keeping of the Peace His most ordinary divertisements during this time were Hunting and Building He at the same time maintained workmen at the Church of the holy Cross at Orleans at St. Germain in Laye at the Louvre and at the Place Royal. The Nobility of France during this peace could not live out of action some passed their time in Hunting others with Ladies some in Studies of Learning and the Mathematicks others in travelling into Forraign Countries and others continued the Exercise of War under Prince Maurice in Holland But the greatest part whose hands as it were itched and who sought to signalize their valour without departing from their Countries became punctilious and for the least word or for a wry look put their hands to their swords Thus that madness of Duels entred into the hearts of the Gentlemen and these Combats were so frequent that the Nobility shed as much blood in the Meadows with their own hands as their enemies had made them lose in Battails The King therefore made a second and a most severe Edict which prohibited Duels confiscating the
caused likewise the Registers of Parliament and of the Notaries to be taken off the File with all informations which might conserve the memory of his Crime By this see an example how time causes a mutability in all things and how it changeth the greatest hatreds into the greatest affections and on the contrary transmutes the strongest affections into mortal hatreds By searching into the plot of the Marchioness her Father to deliver her with her Children to the Spaniards the designes of the Duke of Bouillon were likewise discovered who at present was the onely person could give the King any trouble in his own Kingdom It is most certain that this Prince had conferred on him very considerable Favours having given him the Staff of Marshal of France and procured him the marriage of the Heiress of Sedan and this Lord had likewise very well served him in his greatest necessities But after he saw him converted to the Catholick Faith he diminished much of his affection and moved partly by Zeal for his false Religion and partly by Ambition he conceived vast designes of making himself Chief and Protector of the Hugonot party and under that pretext make himself Master of the Provinces beneath the Loire It was believed that for this effect he had much assisted to exasperate the spirit of the Marshal of Byron and that he had made a Treaty with the Spaniard who was to furnish him with what money he desired but not with forces for fear of rendring himself odious to the Protestants It was but too visible that after the conversion of the King he had instantly laboured to beget distrusts and discontents in the spirits of the Hugonots and to unite and Rally them together that they might make a body perswading himself that that body must necessarily have a head and that they could chuse no other but himself And for these Reasons so many Assemblies were made and so many particular and general Synods of those of this Religion held wherein nothing was heard but complaints and murmurs against the King whom they continually wearied with new Requests and Demands Moreover it was found that this Duke had Emissaries and Servants in Guyenne and particularly in Limosin and Quercy who held private Councils among the Nobility distributed money and took oath of those who promised him service and had formed designes against ten or twelve Catholick Cities The King judging that he ought to dig up the root of this mischief before it extended farther and not knowing indeed to what it might extend resolved himself to go and remedy it He departed from Fontainbleau in the month of December having sent before Jean-Jacques de Mesmes Lord of Rossy to make process against those that were culpable Immediately all this conspiracy flew into smoak The best advised came to the King to cast themselves at his feet The chief Agent of the Duke of Bouillon being advertized that there was order given to arrest him brought his head to the King and told him both all he knew before and all that he did not know The others either fled out of the Kingdom or else hid themselves Five or six unfortunate persons being taken were beheaded at Limoges and their heads planted on the tops of the Gates their bodies burnt and the ashes thrown into the Air. Three or four others suffered the same punishment at Perigord There were ten or twelve condemned for Contumacy and their Effigies hanged up amongst others Chappelle-Byron and Giversac of the house of Cugnac But in all these procedures there were found no proofs by writing nor yet by any formal deposition against the Duke of Bouillon so cautiously and subtilly had he carried his business Before these executions the King having made his entrance into Limoges returned to Paris He passionately wished that after this the Duke of Bouillon would acknowledge and humble himself For if he remained impenitent he was obliged to prosecute him to the utmost and if he did prosecute him he offended all that great body of Protestants which were his faithful Allies He employed therefore underhand all means which he could devise to induce him to have recourse to his Clemency rather then to the intercession of strangers which a Soveraign could not agree to in the case of his Officer and Subject The Duke desired as much as he to draw himself out of this trouble but he believed he could not finde security at Court because Rosny who was not his friend and who had conceived some jealousie to see him more authorized then himself in the Hugonot party had so great credit with the King So that after many Treaties and Negotiations the King resolved to go seek him at Sedan with an Army Rosny laboured with great Zeal to make preparation for this Expedition The King confided much in him and by honouring him desired to testifie to the Hugonots that if he assaulted the Duke of Bouillon it was not against their Religion but the Rebellion he made War For this purpose he erected the Land of Sully into a Dutchy and Peerage wherefore we shall henceforward call him Duke of Sully His thoughts were that the King should pursue the Duke of Bouillon to the utmost Villeroy and the rest of the Council were of a contrary judgement they would not have the Siege of Sedan hazarded because the length of that Enterprize might possibly revive divers factions in the other corners of the Kingdom give time to the Spaniard to assault the Frontiers of Picaray to the discontented Savoyard to cast himself with the Forces of the Milanois on disarmed Provence and to the Hugonots and Protestants of Germany to come to the assistance of their friends The King well foresaw all these inconveniences and therefore having advanced to Donchery during the absence of Sully who was gone to provide Artillery he treated with the Duke of Bouillon and received him into grace on condition that he humbled himself before his Majesty and received him into the City of Sedan and delivered up the Castle to him to keep it with what Garison he should think fit for foâ—h years These were the publick Conditions but by the secret Articles the King promised the Duke to stay but five days in Sedan nor to put but fifty men in the Castle which should immediately depart upon humble supplication made by the Duke All these things were faithfully executed and without the least distrust either on the one side or the other The Duke came to meet the King at Donchery where he besought his pardon The King received him as if he had never been faulty and five or six days after entred into Sedan where he stayed onely three days and then returned to Paris The Duke accompanied him as far as Mouson passing then no further but some days after when he understood that the Parliament had confirmed his pardon in which were likewise comprehended his
Authority doth not always consist in prosecuting things to the utmost extremity That the time the persons and the cause ought to be regarded That having been ten years extinguishing the fire of civil War he feared even the least sparkles That Paris had cost him too much to hazard the least danger of loosing it which seemed to him insallible if he followed their counsel because he should be obliged to make terrible examples which would in few days deprive him of the glory of his Clemency and the love of his people which he prized as much as nay above his Crown That he had in an hundred other occasions made proof the fidelity and honesty of Miron who had no ill intention but without doubt he believed himself obliged by the duty of his Charge to do what he did That if some inconsiderate words had escaped him he might well pardon them for his past services That after all if this man affected to be the Martyr of the people he would not give him that glory nor attract to himself the name of Persecutor or Tyrant And that in fine he would not prosecute a man whom he would resolve to loose in so advantagious occasions Thus this wise King knew how prudently to dissemble a little fault nor would he understand what passed for fear of being obliged to some blow of Authority which might possibly have had dangerous Consequences He received therefore very favourably the excuses and humble submissions of Miron and after prohibited the farther pursuing the inquisitions of Rents which had caused so much trouble The second means of which he served himself to raise money and which was of very dangerous consequence was the Paulete or Annual Right To understand this business well we must make some recital of things farther off The Offices of Judicature of Policy and of the Revenues had formerly been exercised in France under the first and second Race of our Kings by Gentlemen for the Nobility was obliged to study and understand the Laws of the Kingdom They were chosen for the maturity of their Age and Judgement they were changed from time to time from one seat to another nor took they any Fees from Parties but onely a Salary very moderate which the Publick paid them rather for honour then recompence Afterwards in the end of the second Race and the beginning of the third the Nobility becoming ignorant and weak together the Plebeians and Burgesses having learnt the knowledge of the Laws raised themselves by little and little to these Charges and began to make them better worth because they drew all their Honour and all their Dignity thence not having any other by their birth as the Gentlemen had Yet they had not over-much employment for the Church-men possessed almost all the Jurisdiction and had their Officers which administred Justice In the mean time the Parliament which before was as the Council of Estate of the Kingdom and an Epitomy of the general Estates taking upon them to trouble themselves with the knowledge of differences between particular persons whereas before they onely treated of great Affairs of Policy Philip the fair or according to some others Lewis Hutin his son made it sedentary at Paris Now this Company of Judges being most illustrious because the King often took seat amongst them the Dukes Peers and Prelates of the Realm made a part of them and that the most able people for Law were chosen to fill places there they made depend upon them all the power of other Judges-Royal to wit the Bayliffs and Seneschals who though before Soveraign Judges became now Subalternate to them Long time after our other Kings created likewise at divers times many other Parliaments but out of a sole intention the better to distribute Justice without any pecuniary interest for by it they charged their Coffers with new Wages to be paid these new Officers At this time the number of the Officers of Justice was very small and the order which was observed to fill the vacancies in Parliament perfectly good The custome was to keep a Register of all the able Advocates and Lawyers and when any Office came to be vacant they chose three whose Names they carried to the King who preferred him he pleased But the Favourites and the Courtiers soon corrupted this Order they perswaded the Kings not to confine themselves to those presented but to name one of their proper motion which those people did to draw some present from him who should be named by their recommendation And the abuse was so great that oftentimes the Charges were filled with ignorant People and Porters by reason of which people of merit held the condition of an Advocate much more honourable then that of a Counsellour The mischief dayly encreasing and the rich people becoming extreamly liquorish of these Charges for lucre and their Wives out of vanity those who governed began to make a Merchandize of them and to draw money from them Thus under Lewis the xii his Coffers being exhausted by the long Wars of Italy the Offices of the Revenue began to become vendible However that good King having soon foreseen the dangerous consequence resolved to re-imburse those who had bought them but dying in that good designe Francis the first of whom he had well predicted that he would spoile all sold likewise those of Judicature afterwards new ones were at several times created onely of purpose to raise money Afterward Henry the second his Son created the Presidents and Charles the ninth and Henry the third heaping ill upon ill and ruine upon ruine made a great number of other Creations of all sorts to have these Wares to sell. And moreover they sold Offices when they were vacant either by death or forfeiture Hitherto the ill was great but not incurable a part of these Offices need onely have been suppressed when they became vacant and the rest when so filled with persons of capacity and merit Thus in twenty years this Ants-nest of Officers might have been reduced to a very little number and those as honest people But the business was not in this manner made known to Henry the Great they represented it to him in another sense They let him understand that since he drew no profit from vacant Offices being almost always obliged to give them he would do well to finde the means to discharge that way his Coffers of a part of the Wages he paid his Officers which he might do by granting them their Offices for their Heirs reserving a moderate sum of money which they should yearly pay yet without constraining any person so that it should be a favour and not an oppression This was named the Annual Right otherwise the Paulete from the name of the proposer named Paulete who gave the Counsel and was the first Farmer All the Officers were not wanting to pay this Right to assure their Offices to their heirs We need
it to be opened in the presence of twenty six Physitians aâ—â— Chirurgeons who found all parts so sounâ— â—hat in the course of Nature he might yet have lived thirty years His Entrails were the same hour sent to St. Denis and interr'd without any Ceremony The Fathers Jesuites demanded the heart and carried it to their Church de la Fleche where this great King had given them his house to build that fair Colledge at present seen The Corps embalmed in a sheet of Lead covered with a Coffin of Wood and a cloath of Gold over it was placed in the Kings Chamber under a Canopy with two Altars on each side on which Mass was said for eighteen days continuance Afterwards it was conducted to St. Denis where it was buried with the ordinary Ceremonies eight days after that of Henry the third his Predecessor For it is to be understood that the body of Henry the third remained till then in the Church of St. Cornille in Compeigne from whence the Duke of Espernon and Bellegarde great Esquire formerly his favourites brought it to St. Denis and caused his funerals to be celebrated Civility obliging that he should be buried before his Successor The Kings death was concealed from the City all the rest of that day and a good part of the morrow whilst the Queen disposed the Grandees and the Parliament to give her the Regency She obtained it without much difficulty having led the young King her Son to the Parliament and the Prince of Conde and the Count of Soissons who alone could have opposed it being absent The first was at Milan as we have said before and the second at his house at Blandy whither he was retired discontented some days before the Instalment of the Queen When the fame of this Tragical accident was spread through Paris and that they knew assuredly that the King whom they believed only wounded was dead that mixture of hope and fear which kept this great City in suspence broke forth on a suddain into extravagant cries and furious groans Some through grief became immoveable Statue-like others ran through the streets like mad men others embraced their friends without saying any thing but Oh what misfortune some shut themselves up in their houses others threw themselves upon the ground women were seen with their disheveled haire run about howling and lamenting Fathers told their Children What will become of you my Children you have lost your Father Those who had most apprehension of the time to come and who remembred the horrible calamities of the past Wars lamented the misfortune of France and said that that accursed blow which had pierced the heart of the King cut the throat of all true French-men It is reported that many were so lively touched that they died some upon the place and others a few days after In fine this seemed not to be mourning for the death of one man alone but for the one half of all men It might have been said that every one had lost his whole family all his goods and all his hopes by the death of this great King He died at the age of fifty seven years and five months the thirty eighth of his reign of Navarre and the one and twentieth of that of France He was married twice as we have said before First with Margaret of France by whom he had no children The second time with Mary of Medicis Margaret was Daughter to King Henry the second and Sister to the Kings Francis the second Charles the ninth and Henry the third from whom he was divorced by sentence of the Prelates deputed for that purpose from the Pope Mary of Medicis was Daughter to Francis and Niece to Ferdinand Dukes of Florence She had three Sons and three Daughters The Sons were all born at Fontain-bleau The first named Louis came into the world on the 27 September in the year 1601. at Eleven a Clock at night He was King after him and had the Surname of Just. The second was born on the 16 of April 1607. he had the title of Duke of Orleans but no name because he died before the Ceremony of his Baptism was celebrated in the year 1611. The third took birth on the 25 of April 1608. and was named John Baptista Gaston and had title Duke of Anjou but the second Son being dead that of Duke of Orleans was given him which he bore to his death which happened two years ago The eldest of the Daughters was born at Fontain-bleau the 22 of November 1602. she was the second child and was named Elizabeth or Isabella she was married to Philip the fourth King of Spain and died some years past She was a Princess of a great heart and had a spirit and brain above her Sex the Spaniards therefore said that she was truly Daughter to Henry the Great The second was born at the Louvre at Paris the 10. of February 1606. There was given to her the name of Christina and she Espoused Victor Amadeo then Prince of Piedmont and after Duke of Savoy a Prince of the greatest vertue and capacity in the world The third was born in the same place on the 25. of November being the Feast of St. Katherine in the year 1609. and had name Henrietta-Maria This is the present Queen-Mother of England widow of the unfortunate King Charles Stuart whom his Subjects cruelly despoiled of his Royalty and Life but heaven the protector of Soveraigns hath gloriously re-established his Son Charles the second Besides these six Legitimate children he had likewise eight Natural ones of four different Mistresses without counting those whom he did not own Of Gabriella d' Estrees Marchioness of Monceaux and Dutchess of Beaufort he had Caesar Duke of Vendosme who yet lives and was born in the month of June in the year 1594 Alexander great Prior of France who died prisoner of Estate and Henrietta married to Charles of Lorrain Duke of Elbeuf Of Henrietta de Balsac d' Entragues whom he made Marchioness of Verneuil he had Henry Bishop of Mets who yet lives and Gabriella who Espoused Bernard of Nogaret Duke of Valette at present Duke of Espernon by whom she had the Duke of Candale dead some time since and a Daughter at present a Religious Carmilite after which she died Of Jacqueline de Bueil to whom he gave the County of Moret was born Anthony Count of Moret who was killed in the Service of the Duke of Orleans in the Battail of Castlenaudary where the Duke of Montmorency was taken This was a young Prince whose Spirit and Courage promised much The Marquis of Vardes Espoused afterward this Jacqueline de Bueil Of Charlotta d' Essards to whom he gave the land of Romorantin came two Daughters Jane who is Abbesse of Fontevrault and Mary-Henrietta who was of Chelles He loved all his children Legitimate and Natural with a like affection but with different consideration He would
and carries with her her daughter Margaret The King of Navarre looses Agen and la Reole by two follies of youth Two exquisite Reflections Queen Margaret did not over-well love her husband nor he her but he draws advantages from her intrigues The Queen-mother Monsieur the Guises weary of the peace 1579. They under-hand perswade the King of Navarre to a Rupture which proves very disadvantagious to him Monsieur procures the peace Of much damage to the Estate being the cause the two Henries plunged themselves in pleasure Henry 3. hath favorites who prejudice his affairs Dispositions to the League to the loss of Hen. 3. 1584. a Monsieur intending to surprize Antwerp and treating ill the people of the Low-Countries who had called him was driven thence The death of the Monsieur begets thoughts of a Successor to the Crown The Queen-Mother designs to give the Crown to the children of her daughter married to the Duke of Lorrain A belief that the Duke of Guise hoped to Reign himself Henry 3. knew his design or was advertized of it by his favorites He sends the Duke d'Espernon to the King of Navarre to oblige him to return to the Catholick Church but he refuses The Duke of Guise profits himself of it The League Established at Paris The Pope disapproves it It is turned against Henry the third The Treaty of Joinville where the Spaniards enter into the League furnish money The League seize many places The Queen-mother enters into conference with Guise who breaks it when he sees himself in an Estate to fear nothing The King astonished grants him all he desires 1585. Pope Sixtus 5. excommunicates the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde The vertue of our Henry awakened He doth two noble actions He defies the Duke of Guise to single Combat Why the Duke of Guise accepted not the defiance The other gallant Action of our Henry He causes to be fixed up at the corners of the chief streets of Rome oppositions to the sentence of Sixtus 5. who at first is incensed but afterwards conceives a great estèem for him The King of Navarre makes a League to defend himself 1586. Henry 3. hated both the League the Hugonots and loved none but his favourites The Queen-mother endeavours an accommodation with the King of Navarre The Interview and conference at St. Brix A noble generous Action of our Prince His constancy in the whole conference A handsome answer to Duke de Nevers Conference at St. Brix produceth nothing Dances and Feasts in the Courts of the two Kings Blaise de Monluc Marshal of France who writ in these times says in his Memoires That whatever affair there were of force the Dancing was still to go forward 1587. An Army of German Protestants enter France It is followed by the Duke of Guise It doth nothing to purpose The King of Navarre would joyn with them but the Duke of Joyeuse makes head against him with an Army The Duke overtakes him near Coutras What the Army of Joyeuse was What that of the King His Exhortation to his Army and to the Princes of the Blood His valour bravery An Action of great Justice and Christian Humility The Battail of Coutras which he gains Joyeuse slain His moderation and admirable Clemency in his Victory He pursues it not and wherefore Defeat of the German horse The rest of that Army retire 1588 Prognostications of the evils of the year 1588. Death of the Prince of Conde The King of Navarre much afflicted But in his affliction puts his trust in God The League rejoyce The Hugonots afflicted Sentiments of Hen. 3. The Duke of Guise presseth him to give him forces to exterminate the Hugonots The Duke of Guise much loved and Hen. 3. much haâ—ed D' Espinac Villeroy become friends to the Duke of Guise and why The ill Conduct of Henry 3. The Conduct and employs of the Duke of Guise What the sixteen were The King would punish them The Duke of Guise hastes to defend them The King retires to Chartres The league becomes Mistriss Paris The Parisians send Deputies to the King The King pardons all so they lay down Arms. The Duke of Guise demands the expulsion of Espernon which is in the end granted And after comes to the Court at Chartres The Estates of Blois The death of the Guises Death of Queen Katherine de Medices Different Judgments concerning the death of the Guises Our Henry speaks very wisely He changeth not his Conduct 1589. Henry 3. amusiag himself too much at Blois the League is re-assured and grows furious The Parliament imprisoned in the Bastille by Bussy le Clerk forced to swear to the the â—eague A part remains at Paris and the others go to the King who transfers all to Tours Those of the Parliament remaining at Paris make process against Henry 3. An excellent reflection for Kings Henry 3. excommunicated by Pope Sixtus 5. The Duke of Mayenne assures himself of Burgongne and Champagne and comes to Paris He takes the quality of Lieutenant-General of the Estate and Crown of France they likewise break the Kings Seals Henry 3. for fear retires to Tours He in vain endeavours to appease the Duke of Mayenne He in the end calls the King of Navarre gives him Saumur The King perswaded by his friends not to trust him Yet he resolves to go arrive what will to which purpose he passes the River Cher. His interview with the King at Tours He repasses the River and lies in the Fauboâ—rg but on the morrow visits the King alone They resolve to besiege Paris Duke of Mayenne wants little to surprize King Hen. 3 â—â— Tours Great and profitable Reflections made on the different Conducts of Hen. â— and the King of Navarre Paris besieged King Hen. 3. killed by a Jacobin Our Henry comes to visit him dying What the King said to him and those present 1589 Change caused by the Death of Hen. 3. Problem if Hen. 3. died in a time favourable to Hen. 4. or not Henry 4. holds many Councels Same Catholicks acknowledge him but most refuse Some design to make themselves Sovereigns The Marshal of Byron among others but the King made him forgo his desire Byron and Sancy assure the Catholick Suiss to the Kings Service What was the disposition of the Princes of the blood towards the King Many Lords in Camp and Court ill intended Assembly of Noblemen at d' O's who would have the King converted d' O carrys him word of it The King answers them hansomely and couragiously Another greater Assembly resolved to acknowledge him provided he will permit himself to be instructed The Duke of Piney carries their resolution to the King who agrees to it and grants a Declaration touching the exercise of the Catholick Religion through all his Territories Many sign it with regret and others refuse as Vitry who becomes a Leaguer And the Duke of Espernon who retires The Duke of Mayennâ— troubled what party to take Two
retires to Pont de l' Arche The Duke of Parma takes Caudebec and is wounded and the Duke of Mayenne falls sick The Army of the King increases and the pursues the two Dukes Byron beats up one quarter but will not quite defeat them He would continue the War * A French Proverb aâ— if he should say Wouldst thou have me ruine my own Fortune Wonderful retreat of the Duke of Parma which the King cannot hinder The King admires the action A noble and dangerous action of the King at Aumale where he saved his Rereguard Grave answer of the Duke of Parma's concerning the Kings action Byron killed at Espernay Conferences renewed The Duke of Mayenne calls the Estates to Paris to elect a King The election of a King would have been the ruine of Henry 4. and France Expedient which the King finds to hinder this election Confeence of Surene 1593. Estates of the League assemble at Paris Mansfield comes with a Spanish Army takes Noyon afterwards his Army dissipates Byron raises the siege of Selles to relieve Noyon but dares not aâ—tempt it which puffs up the Kings enemies Conspiracy to surpâ—ize his person The Duke of Feria brings a Letter to the States-General from the King of Spain It was time for the King to convert In fine God touches him and he is converted The Spaniards and Legat press the Estates to chuse a King Grand arrest of the Parliament at Paris for the Salique Law Advantagious testimony of Villeroy in favour of the Parliament The King takes Dreux The Spaniards propose to the Estates to elect the Duke of Guise and their Infanta The Duke of Mayenne enraged his Wife more He makes truce with the King His subtile Argument against the Minister He abjures his Errour and becomes a Catholick The Duke of Mayenne dismisses the Estates The King sends the Duke of Nevers to Rome to have absolution of the Pope The Pope shews him self very difficult 1594. The League fals in less then a year Meaux Aix Lyons Orleans Bourges surrender to the King Reduction of Paris The King anointed at Chartres It was almost a wonder how he became master of Paris He sees the Spanish Garison depart and what he saies to them Parliament at Tours recalled to Paris The City rejoyce and are peaceable Two worthy actions of the King The one of Justice The other of Policy Reduction of Rouen Abbeville Troyes Sens c. La Capelle taken by Mansfield and Laon by the King Balagny turns to the Kings party with his City of Cambray Reduction of Amiens Beauvais Peronne The Duke of Guise compounds with the King And likewise the Duke of Lorrain The Duke of Mayenne remains alone and retires into Bourgongne 1595. The King declares war against the Spaniards Two artempts on his person Of Peter Barriere and of John Castel Jesuites exiled the kingdom Reduct on of Beaune Auxerre and Dijon c. The King goes into Bourgongne against the Spanish Army Battail of Fountain-Franzoise where the King shews his valour but is in danger of his life The Spanish Army retire The Duke of Mayenne despairing would retire into Savoy The King hath pity of him and offers him an accommodation and place of retreat He grants him a truce La Fere Ham delivered to the Spaniards who are cut in pieces at Ham. Humieres killed Many Leaguers despairing cast themselves into the Spaniards arms Amongst others Rosny who causeth the taking of Dourlens Battel of Dourlens Villars slain Cambray taken by the Spaniards The Pope absolves the King The Duke of Mayenne in the end makes his Treaty with King Hath advantagious Conditions He comes to Monceaux to salute the King The Duke of Nemours reconciled likewise His elder Brother died of a strange disease 1596. The Duke of Joyeuse makes his Treaty with the King And the Lord of Boisdaufia Reduction of Marseilles The King grants a truce to the Duke of Merceur Arch-duke Albert takes Calais Taking of la Fere by the King The Archduke takes likewise Guines and Ardres The King to have mony calls an assembly of the Chiefs to Rouen The manner of their sitting His Speech The Assembly grant money for the War King of Spain desires the peace Surprizal of Amiens by the Spaniards retards the peace 1597. The King resolves to besiege Amiens Many conspiracies discovered The people contribute willingly and the Leaguers serve him well The Arch-Duke comes to relieve Amiens His arrival assaults put the Kings Army in disorder The King re-assures them Words worthy a good and Christian King The Arch-Duke retires to Flanders The King retakes Amiens The King marches to the gates of Arras and dares the Spaniards The Duke of Merceur daily delays concluding his Treaty The King goes into Brittany resolved to chastise him He gives his daughter to the Kings natural son and by this means makes his agreement By reason of this marriage the King gives his son the Dukedom of Vendosme 1598. He goes to Nantes and Rennes He puts good order in the Province Endeavours for a general peace and the two Kings wish it The Deputies met at Vervin Substance of the Treaty of Vervin The peace published 1598. The third part of the Life of Henry the great more calm and more peaceable then the others He was a Souldier by constraint but a Polititian by inclinaon It is necessary a King should know War but besides that there are other functions of Royalty What those functions are The Peace sworn by the King and Arch-Duke Albertus Byron made Duke and Peer goes to swear the peace in the Netherlands The Spaniards possess him with pride and presumption VVhat the French and what the Spaniards said of the peace VVhy the King desired peace Excellent words Strange sickness death of Philip 2. of Spain Before his death he takes care to marry his son and daughter His sickness hinders his swearing to the peace His son Philip the 2. doth it after his death The King forbids the carrying of arms He dismisses his Troops He remits the arrears of Taxes He commands the false Nobles to be sought out and taxes re-imposed on them He retrenches theluxury of the Nobility and sends them all to their houses in the Country He shews them by his example the modesty of his habits He falls dangerously sick Words of a good King He gives the Estates an account of his expences Cuts off the superfluous expences of his Tables Who were his Counsellours Ministers Chiverny Bellievre Sillery Sancy Janin Villeroy The King confers often with his Counsellours how Rosny after Duke of Sully After the death of Francis d' O he commits his Revenues to five or six who acquit themselves ill Seeing that he makes Sancy alone Superintendent And very little time after Rosny who knows perfectly the Revenues Which the King knows also so well that he could not be cheated He desires Rosny to take no Presents without advertising him He begins to establish a constant
sends likewise to complement him and he answers it by Byron To whom she shews the Earl of Essex head The King Queen enjoy the Jubilee at Orleans The Queen brought to bed of a Daulphine who is named Lewis after surnamed The Just. The King gives him his blessing and puts his sword in his hand Birth of the Infanta of Spain named Anne who after espoused King Lewis xiii The King makes divers Orders for the good of the Estate He suppresses the Triennial Officers for Revenues He establisheth a Chamber of Justice to call Treasurers and Collectors to account The onely remedy against their thefts The King prohibites the transport of gold or silver out of his Kingdome and wearing gold and silver lace or gildings Introduces the manufacture of silk into France The usury excessive in France which caused the ruine of the best families and the Merchants to abandon all traffick The King reduces interests to six in the hundred His great care to enrich his Kingdom He favours the establishment of manufactures After his example all labour for their benefit Idleness punished 1602. The King remedies two things capable to overthrow France The tax of a Sol pour livre burthensome It causes commotions in the Provinces The King to appease them goes to Poictiers His wise and just remonstance to the Deputies of Guyenne * He had sold the Lands of his Patrimony He calms the seditions and revokes the Sol pour livre Conspiracy of the Marshal Byron Laffin discovers it to the King * Vidame is a Lord who holds his Lordship in Fief of a Bishop How he got the Notes written with Byron's own hand The Duke of Savoy keeps Renaze Laffins Secretary Propositions betwixt Byron the Duke of Savoy and the Count Fuentes Byron had demanded pardon of the King but after fell again He speaks ill of the King and boasts excessively of himself Two things compleat his loss Laffin comes to Court and reveals all to the King The King sends for Byron to Court who at first excuses himself In the end Byron comes The King conjures â—im the first time to confess the truth He insolently vindicates himself The King prayes the Count of Soissons to exhort him to confess his crime But he is more obstinate The King speaks to him the second time but in vain He is troubled what to resolve on He resolves to leave him to Justice Yet tries the third time to draw truth from him He finds it in vain leaves him By on and the Count of Auvergne Arrested prisoners His kindred intercede for him The Parliament make his Process He defends himself weakly Letters of the King revoking the pardon granted him at Lyons He reproacheth not Laffin Renaze appears before him at which he is much astonished He is conducted to the Parliament and heard Sentence of death voted against him The King removes the execution to the Bastille Sentence pronounced His head cut off He was very ignorant but a great lover of predictions A reflection very necessary for great men Laffin and Renaze pardoned * That is the Rack So is the Baron of Lux and confirmed in his Charges Montbarot imprisoned and soon released Fontanelles broke on the wheel Duke of Bouillon had a hand in the conspiracy The King sends for him to Court but he presents himself to the Chamber of Castres After he retires to Geneva thence to Heidelberg to the Prince Palatine his Kinsman The favour of Rosny a pretext to the discontents of the great ones Yet the King gave him not too much power but keeps it to himself An important truth A memorable example that a King ought not to yeild too much to his Ministers Enterprizes of the Duke of Savoy on Geneva Thirteen of the Enterprizers â—anged The Duke of Savoy excuses himself to the Suisses From whom the City of Geneva was held It was an Allie of the Suisses and under protection of France The Genevans make War on Savoy But the King obliges them to peace The inhabitants of Mets rise against Sobole their Governour The Duke d' Espernon kindles the fire more The King goes in person The Jesuites present their request to the King for their reestablishment He re-establisheth them gloriously 1602 1603. He visits his sister at Nancy Renews his alliance with the Suisses and Grisons Hears of the death of Queen Elizabeth of England She beheaded Mary Queen of Scots James 6. King of Scotland and Son of Mary succeeded to the Kindom of England He was James the first of that name among the Kings of England Ambassadors go from France and Spain to desire his friendship Piety yeilds to Interest The King labours to conserve peace Excellent speeches of a good King His divertisements Employs of the Nobility Duels too frequent The King makes an Edict against this madness He makes Acts for working the Gold Silver and Copper Mines An enterprize to joyn the Seine and Loire Another design to joyn the two Seas Navigation to Canada Establishment of Religious Orders at Paris The King gives Verneuil to Madamoiselle d' Entragues She despises and offends the Queen * Alluding I suppose to the Dukes of Florence who are all Merchants The Queen on her part troublesome to the King Leonora Conchini her husband foster the Queen in ill humors 1604. The Kings debaucheries cause the Gout The Queen threatens the Marchioness Who prays the King to see her no more And her Father demands leave to retire with her out of France They treat with the Ambassador of Spain The King resolves to hinder them To this end he sends for Auvergne who is at Clermont and refuses to come He is Arrested prisoner and carried to the Bastille D' Entragues and the Marchioness likewise Arrested * The Common Goal of Paris Sentence of Parliament against them The King pardons them and justifies the Marchioness But the Count of Auvergne remained at the Bastille and is despoiled of his County Which is adjudged to Queen Margaret who gives her Estates to the Daulphin The designes of the Duke of Bouillon discovered The King had done him many favours and he had as well served the King But after the Kings conversion he excites the Hugonots against him and would make himself chief of their party His Emissaries endeavour to form a party in Guyenne The King goes to prevent them All the Conspiracy dissipated The King returns to Paris He in vain endeavours to make the Duke of Bouillon humble himself He resolves to besiege Sedan Rosny makes all necessary preparations The King makes him Duke of Sully Inconveniences in the siege of Sedan The King chuses rather to receive the Duke into favour On what conditions The Duke demands pardon of of the King who enters Sedan and thence goes to Paris A great example of generosity in our Prince Notwithstanding which there are many conspiracies Treason of l' Oste. 1605. Treason of Merargues He is surprized talking with the Spanish Ambassadours
Secretary His punishment The Ambassadours Secretary arrested Several discourses concerning Ambassadours priviledges The King forbids any process against the Secretary The Ambassadour makes a great noise and threatens his Kings resentment Treason of the Luquisses A fool makes an attempt on the Kings person Those who desire war whet the Kings spirit upon these Conspiracies Character of Philip 3. of Spair A good profitable reflection In what the courage of a Soveraign principally consists The goodness of Henry the Great But the King hastens not the War He makes himself Arbitrator of the differences of Christendom 1606. After the death of Clement 8. he causes to be chosen Leo xi who soon dies and Paul 5. succeeds A great difference between Paul 5. and the Venetians The Venetians had made a law to bound the Acquisitions of the Clergy They make other Decrees Paul 5. offended at these Decrees He sends Briefs to revoke them He Excommunicates the Senate They declare his sentence of Excommunication null and abusive 1607. Henry the great undertakes to accommodate the difference He sends to this purpose Cardinal Joyeuse who concludes an accommodation The Pope absolves the Signory There was nothing but the reestablishment of the Jesuites not obtained 1608. The King endeavours an accommodation between the Hollander and Spaniard He underhand assists the Hollander with men and money Janin sent for this accommodation They come presently to an eight months truce The King makes an offensive and defensive League with the Hollander The Spaniards Alarm'd at this League Don Pedro de Toledo makes great complaints to the King Things very curious which passed betwixt the King and Don Pedro. Their entertainments Lively and quick replies Don Pedro kisses the Kings Sword Two obstacles in the Treaty of the Hollanders surmounted by the King The Treaty ends in a twelve years Truce Great praise given by the republick of Venice to our Henry All desire his friendship and protection He will not protect Subjects against their Soveraign What the Maurisques were The Spaniards treat them ill * An avanie is when by a false accusation money is forced from any person They demand assistance of Henry the Great He refuses it The King of Spain banisheth them all They are horribly ill Treated by the Spaniards and by the French They are carried into Affrica but some stay in France The great designe of Henry 4. for the extent of the Christian Religion in the Levant He sends some to spy the Country He seeks means to raise mony without burthening his people He would disengage his demain * The Greffes is a due to the King of 63 â— 9 d. Tours upon the sale of wood in several places and take off the Impost by buying the Salt-Marishes He is constrained to acquit himself of old scores to make some new imposts creations He makes not always use of innocent means Inquisition of the rents of the City-house cause disturbance * Hostel de Ville is the same at Paris as Guild-hall at London Miron Provost of the Merchants sustains the interest of the people Some would incense the King against him The people rise to defend him The King counselled to take him by force The Kings wise answer worthy a great Polititian He will not pursue this business of the Rents Establishment of the Paulete Justice formerly administred in France by Gentlemen How it fell into the hands of the Plebeians who made profit of it The Parliament of France meddle with particular affairs and is made sedentary at Paris They make all other Judges subalternate to them The number of the Officers of Parliament small How Offices became vendible under Francis 1. * He had often said that fat Boy would spoile all and Henry 2. How this might be remedied But on the contrary is made incurable by the Paulete Which causes great abuses 1609. Marriage of the Prince of Conde And of the Duke of Vendosme What were the Kings divertisements He loved Play too much He was extremely given to women This passion made him do shameful things Three or four of his Mistresses This causes often contentions with his wife And hinders his great design What that was The means with which he served himself to put it in Execution To this purpose he grants an Edict to the Hugonots and pays his debts Which regains the reputation and credit of France He joyns to him all Christian Princes by promising his conquests He reunites them by accommodating their differences The Princes he made his friends How he would have accommodated the Protestant Princes with the Pope He treats with the Electors With the Lords of Bohemia Hungary Poland With the Pope Model of the designe of Hen. 4. He would part Christendome into fifteen equal Dominions To wit eleven Kingdoms and four Republicks What the Pope had had The Signory of Venice The Italian Common-wealth Duke of Savoy Republick of the Swisses The Low-Countries Kingdome of Hungary The Empire with free election Bohemia Hungary elective A general Council of sixty persons Three others of each twenty Order to hinder tyranny and rebellion and to assist the Provinces adjoyning to Infidels Three general Captains two by Land and one by Sea to war against the Turks What forces what train None but the house of Austria had suffered by this establishment In Italy the Pope Venetians and Savoyard would consent In Germany many Electors and had chosen the Duke of Bavaria Emperour In Bohemia and Hungary the Lords and Nobility The business of Cleves happens to give a beginning to the great designe The Cities of Flanders should revolt The Kingâ— Army should have lived in great order The King would have reserved nothing of his Conquests He had with other Princes prayed the Emperour to rerestore the Cities of the Empire to liberty Bohemia Hungary Austria had made the same request The Duke of Savoy had demanded the Dower of his wife from the Spaniard The Pope and Venetians to become mediators of the difference of Navarre Naples Savoy c. And the King had yeilded his right They had perswaded the King of Spain or else forced him The great Prudence and moderation intended by the King in the pursuit of his design The preparations he made The forces he had The Prince of Oranges Army That of the Electors German Princes That of the Venetians and Savoyard His Exchequer for defraying this great designe He would make the War powerfully that it might be short Great appearance it might have succeeded having no Princes to oppose it but the Dukes of Saxony and Florence What was the business of Cleves and Juliers Death of John Duke of Juliers without issue His succession disputed by many particularly by Brandenbourg and Newbourg The Emperour said it was devolved to the Empire He invests Leopold of Austria who whilst Brandenbourg and Newbourg dispute seizes Juliers They implore the Kings assistance who promises to march in person But tells him he intended to conserve the Catholick Religion in that Country Answer made to the Ambassador of the Empire He establishes good order in the Kingdom before his departure Leaves the Regency to the Queen but gives her a good Council He establishes little Councils in the Provinces who refer to the great one 1610. Some put it into the spirit of the Queen that she should be installed before the Kings departure He though unwillingly consents The instalment of the Queen Many Prognosticks which seemed to presage the death of Henry 4. Advice from several places that his life should be attempted He seems to believe them and fear Who Ravaillac was He is induced to kill the King but it is not known by whom The King departs the Louvre to go to the Arsenal What persons were with him His Coach stopt in the street of the Ferronnerie Ravaillac killeth him He is torn with burning pincers and drawn in pieces by four horses The Kings body opened and found that he might yet live 30 years He is buried at St. Denis The Queen made Regent The great desolation in Paris when they knew of the Kings death His age and the time of of his reign His two wives Margaret and Mary He had three Sons by Mary and three Daughters He had eight Natural children of divers Mistresses Two Sons and a Daughter of Gabriella A Son and a Daughter of the Marchioness of Verneuil Of the Countess of Moret one Son Of Madam d' Essards two daughters He loved all his children and would have them call him Papa Summary recital of the Life of Henry the Great Parallel of his adversities and prosperities * There are more then fifty conspiracies against his person His adversities whet his spirit and courage Why Princes who come young to the Crown seldome learn to govern well Those who come to a Crown at greater distance and a more ripe age are more capable and better The reasons of it A mystick Crown to the glory of Henry the Great