sent to the King Condé to make his quarrel more colourable and being heightned by the said Arrest of the Parliament of Paris added divers Articles more to his Manifesto viz. 1. That further research be made for the assassinat of Henry the Great 2. That a reformation be made of the Kings Counsell 3. That the grievances of the three Estates be answer'd with divers other They of the Religion were yet Neutrals and thinking to fish in these troubled waters propos'd these high demands 1. That the independence of the French Crown be declar'd 2. That the Counsell of Trent be never publish'd in this Kingdom 3. That his Majesty shall be desir'd to declare that upon his Coronation oath for extirpation of heresies he understood not or comprehended his subjects of the Religion 4. That in all public Acts it shall be inserted no more the pretended reform'd Religion but only Religion 5. That their Ministers shall be payed by the King c. These with divers other Propositions were first made at Grenoble where the King permitted them to Assemble but Lesdigueres could not endure them there therefore they remov'd to Nismes and thence to Rochell notwithstanding that the King commanded the contrary The Prince of Condé had an Agent in the Assembly who much press'd them to enter into the ligue with him which they did at last and writ a Letter to the King of the cause of their conjunction with Condé And as the King was importun'd by them of the Religion one way so was he sollicited by the Roman Catholiques of Bearn on the other side that his Majesty would please to restablish them in the possession of their goods whereof they were depriv'd by Iane d'Albret his paternal granmother Amongst these counter-distractions there came news unto the King that the 6000. Suisses which he had from the Protestant Cantons had quitted his pay and party and return'd to their own Countrey by the perswasion and practises of them of the Religion Madame the Kings sister being recover'd He went to Bourdeaux where the Spanish Ambassadour came to demand her for the Prince of Castile The Duke of Guise had a Procuration to marry her the next day which he did the Cardinal of Sourdis officiating and the pietie of the King much appear'd in the ceremony because he commanded the Cardinals Chaire should be put on a higher ground then his The same day the Duke of Lerma married the Infanta of Spain in Burgos for the King of France These nuptial ceremonies being perform'd Madame now Princesse of Castile departed from Bourdeaux conducted by the Duke of Guyse and in regard a rumor ran that they of the Religion as also the Count of Grammont with others who were said to have ligu'd with Condé had way-laid the young Bride the King commanded all the Regiment of his gard to attend her putting himself in the interim in the hands of them of Bourdeaux The exchange of the two Princesses was made upon a river call'd Bidasso hard by St. Iohn de Luz which separats those two mightie Kingdoms there were two stately Barges to waft them the Spaniards on their side had a huge vast globe representing the world rais'd upon a pavilion very high which made an ostentous shew The Duke of Guise took exception at it and protested he would never bring o're the Princesse till it was taken down which was done accordingly The next day the young Queen came to Bayon where Luynes then favorit to the King attended her with a Letter all written by the King himself in these words Madame since I cannot according to my desire find my self neer you at your entrance into my Kingdom to put you in possession of the power I have as also of my entire affection to love and serve you I send towards you Luynes one of my confident'st servants to salute you in my name and tell you that you are expected by Me with much impatience to offer unto you my Self I pray therefore receive him favorably and to beleeve what he shall tell you Madame from your most deer friend and servant Lewis Luynes deliver'd her also from the King two rich Standards of Diamonds which she receiv'd and kiss'd and from her table at Supper She sent a dish of meat unto him In the morning She return'd this Answer to the King Sir I much rejoyc'd at the good news Luynes brought Me of your Majesties health I come therewith being most desirous to arrive where I may serve my Mother and so I am making hast to that purpose and to kisse your Majesties hand whom God preserve as I desire Anne Being come afterwards to Bourdeaux they both receiv'd the nuptial benediction in magnificence according to the qualitie of the act and the persons and medals were made and thrown up and down with this Motto aeternae foedera Pacis pledges of eternal peace but the Poet that made that peece of verse for a Motto was no good Prophet for the eternal peace he spoake of lasted not many yeers between the two nations who notwithstanding that nature hath conjoyn'd them neer enough in point of local distance there being but a small river whereon the two Princesses were exchang'd that severs them yet there is no two people on earth are further asunder and more differing in disposition affections and interests being herein right Antipodes one to the other By this alliance is verified the saying of the Italian that Kings may wed but kingdoms never It appears also hereby what a hard destiny and sorry condition attends the daughters of Soverain Princes who are commonly made sacrifices of State and oblations for Politicall respects being also to be maried to aliens and oft-times to husbands of a different Religion they are wood by Proxy they must choose by picture fancy upon trust and tied in a knot indissoluble to one they never saw but in effigie perchance and afterwards they must be contented to be unpatriated disterr'd and as it were banish'd for ever from their own sweet native soyle and the ayr they first breath'd yet as the Civilian saith although they are the end of the House whence they come they are the beginning of that wherein they enter While the King was celebrating his nuptials in his town of Bourdeaux by divers inventions and exercises of pastime and pleasure as masks tilting playes bals and dances Condé with his Confederats leads another kind of dance up and down France but while he danc'd and revell'd thus the poore Countrey sung lachrymae being pitifully oppress'd torn and harass'd in most parts there being six or seven armies in motion on both sides he encreas'd mightily by concourse of partisans by conjunction of them of the Religion and by divers successfull rencounters The King on the other side was at a very low ebb having exhausted that two millions and a half of liures he had taken himself in person out of the Bastile and being put to hard shifts to get money to
therefore it was needlesse to force them to their duty which were willing to do it of their own motion So the Hollanders refus'd to fight yet the Rochell fleet not fully knowing their intention fell unwares upon them and burnt their Vice-Admirall but attempting to boord some French they were repuls'd with the losse of three hundred men and four Barks full of hurt men this nettled Hans afterwards seriously he joyn'd with the French Royall Fleet which had receiv'd an addition of seven English Ships under the command of Chevalier de Ris and twenty two more under the Marquis of Royan so that the whole number coming to sixty six sayles they divided themselfs to three Squadrons In the first was Monmorency and Hauthain Dorp commanded the second and the third was under Manty Monmorency's Vice-Admiral Soubize had got into the Isle of Ré where he had intrench'd himself but a considerable Army of the Kings landing there there were divers furious and bloudy skirmishes wherein there fell on Soubizes side above eight hundred and so many more drown'd in flight The Royallists also lost there a great number but they made themselfs Masters of the Island Soubize got away in a Shallop and as the enemy gave out left his hat and sword behind him so he went to England There was also a great Sea fight neer la fosse de loy'e where the Royallists took nine ships burnt one and attempting to boord their Admiral call'd the Virgin and being grappled with her all that were upon the upper deck being kill'd they who had got under hatches desperatly put fire in the Gunpowder and blew her up with three hundred soules in her whose members floted afterwards up and down the waves a piteous and horrid spectacle to see three of the Kings ships being grappled with her were also burnt The Duke of Monmorency the Isle of Ré being already reduc'd went then to Oleron which he took and secur'd for the King While these fearfull traverses of war happen'd before Rochell the Duke of Rohan was very busie in Languedoc and entertain'd a Treaty with the Spaniard but Camredon his Agent was surpriz'd and had his head chopt off at Tholous Constable Lesdigueres was upon point of passing the Alps with an Army at this time to Italy but the commotions of Languedoc were such that he was diverted and commanded to march thither against the Duke of Rohan The King endevouring to win Rohan by acts of grace offer'd him a prime command in the Army that was to go for Italy against the Spaniard and his brother Soubize the command of ten Galeons but the motion was not hearken'd unto Espernon and Themines did divers exploits up and down Languedoc this yeer specially before Montauban where they of the Town lost eight hundred men in two sallys they had made They of the Religion being now much quail'd by divers ill successes they had receiv'd by Sea and Land had recourse to the King with a submissive querulous Remonstrance of their miseries He that brought it seem'd to reproach the Rebellion in general but he excus'd the Rochellers declaring ore tenus to the King How they were bereft of their Priviledges how their Walls were batter'd their Vines pluck'd up how their Tillage ceas'd and their Traffic was ruin'd And while others of his Majesties subjects have slept in their beds under the public faith of peace they have watch'd upon his walls to repell the injuries of a particular war In fine this usage being capable to make wild the gentlest spirits hath made them apprehend the blow of their utter ruine It is true that they had bin forc'd to put the law of necessitie in practise which they do not alledge to justifie themselfs they have rather words of execration against those subjects which dare raise armes in Prejudice of their Princes under what pretext whatsoever but only to make his Majesty see that they have held it necessary to do well in doing ill and that they are more worthy of pity then pain Thus they accus'd themselfs and were come hither to crave pardon of his Majesty whom they adjur'd and beseech'd by his Royall naturall goodnes and by the glory their ramparts have gain'd to have conserv'd his Majesty in the reignes of Henry the Great to restore them to liberty and to forget their faults c. Upon this Petition the King intended to shew them some Grace but with this Proviso to separate the Rochellers from the conditions he vouchsafed to the whole body of the Religion that they might be the more humbled and so to take from them the presumption they us'd to attribut to themselfs to have a kind of authority over the rest and from the other Churches the confidence and repute they had of them so by reiteration of divers supplications they obtain'd at last these conditions 1. That the Counsel and Government of Rochell be put in the hands of the body of the Town as it was 1610. 2. That they receive an Overseer of Justice to hinder dissensions and factions 3. That all new Bastions and Fortifications be demolish'd and that she be reduc'd to her ancient circuit 1560. 4. That his Majesty shall be receiv'd into the Town with all due respect and reverence whensoever he please 5. That they of the Town shall not keep any Vessels of War in their Haven and those that go abroad in course and to traffic shall ask leave of the Lord Admiral 6. That the goods appertaining to Ecclesiastics be restor'd c. These being sent to Rochell Montauban Castres and other places were accepted and a public Act pass'd That the foresaid conditions were taken as a most speciall testimony of his Majesties clemence There followed a great calm in France after this and all forces were withdrawn from before Rochell except the Garrison in Lewis Fort. So the King had now opportunity to look abroad and the first place he cast his eye upon was the Valtolin and the Grisons which border upon Milan The King of Spain and the Arch-Duke Leopold his Cousin german were call'd in there to preserve the Catholicks from the oppression of the Protestants who were powerfull so coming to the said assistance they took divers old forts and erected new which they secur'd with Garrison The Spaniard hereby had an extraordinary advantage to convey any forces from Italy to Germany upon all occasions The Protestant Grisons had recourse to the King of France and he undertook their protection according to an old league in Lewis the twelfth his time not as much out of any great good will he bore them but to deprive the Spaniard of that advantage therefore he sent the Marquis of Caeuures Ambassadour to the Cantons of Suisse that were Allies to France to exhort them to defend the Valtolins Caeuures from Ambassadour was made Generall of an Army a while after and the Venetians with the Duke of Savoy ligu'd with him He perform'd divers exploits there so that the
which was suppress'd by Charles the Wise they boldly put themselfs in armes against the Nobility and Gentry to lessen their greatnes Add hereunto as an advantage to the work that this power being first transferr'd to Charles the Seventh there succeeded him a notable cunning King Lewis the Eleventh who knew well how to play his game for amongst all the rest he was said to be the first who put the French Kings horce de Page out of their minority or from being Pages any more though thereby he brought the Peasans to be worse then Laquais Out of some distast the King took at the last Convention of the three Estates which was upon his entrance to his Majority he resolv'd to summon them no more yet because he might be in good intelligence with his people a way was projected to call an Assembly of Notables which should be equivalent to the States Generall though fewer far in number and some out of every one of the Provinciall Sedentary Courts of Parlement were chosen to joyn with them such an Assembly as this was held in Roven as we mentioned before which did little good therefore the King was advis'd to convoque such another at Paris this yeer which was done accordingly They met in the great Hall of the Twilleries where the King spoak to them thus We protest before the living God that We have no other ayme or intention but his honour and the good and ease of Our subjects therefore in his Name We conjure and pray you whom we have here convoqued and by that lawfull power which is given Us over you We command and expresly enjoyn you that without any other respect or cōsideration whatsoever without regard of pleasing or displeasing any person you would afford Us with all freedom and sinceritie those counsels which you shall judge in your consciences to be most wholesome and convenient to the advancement of the publique good The Cardinal de Richelieu also made a long rhetoricall Oration which you shall find in the legend of his life hereunto annexed but there was no great advantage accrued to the public by this Assembly of Notables though it lasted from the second of December to the twenty fourth of February following This yeer a passage happend in the Court of England whence ensued ill-favord consequences and no lesse then a war afterward 'twixt the two Nations which was this The train of French servants which the Queen of Great Britain had brought with her at her first arrivall was suddenly dismiss'd to the number of one hundred and twenty In regard of no good offices they did twixt the King and Queen and for some petulant bold misdemeanurs of theirs by imposing also certain odd superstitious penances upon the Queen in prejudice of her health Besides his Majesty of Great Britain having settled a Royall joynture upon her of neer upon one hundred thousand crowns a yeer out of the choicest Demeans Royalties and Houses he had in England the Bishop of Mende sought to be Surintendent and steward of her lands and others of her French servants expected to have Offices in that kind which the King would not hearken unto in regard the said French were unfit for those extern employments having not the Language or knowledge of the Laws and Customs of the Countrey therefore he desir'd them to rest contented with the domestic Offices they had about the Person of the Queen they made a shew to be satisfied herewith though palpable discontentments appear'd in their countenances and carriage afterward more and more So they were suddenly discharg'd and summon'd to quit the Kingdom and there should be order taken for all conveniences for their journey by Land and Sea and the arrears of their wages and pensions were punctually paid them The Queen for the present took much to heart the renvoy of her servants and the King her brother resented it also when notice was sent him though it was nothing to be wondred at for he himself had discharg'd the Spanish servants his Queen had brought with her not long after she came in the same manner The King of England dispatch'd a Messenger of honor to the Court of France to give a true information of matters which affoorded but little satisfaction Thereupon Marshall Bassompierre was sent Ambassador extraordinary to England expresly about this busines but matters were thrust so far off the hinges that they could not be set right again so soon The French began the first act of hostilitie and that before any public Declaration was publish'd by seizing a great number of English and Scottish ships at Blay as they were returning from the vintage with cargazons of wines from Bourdeaux but the Scots were releas'd the English still stayed A little after an Edict issued out in the Kings name to interdict all commerce and traffic with England that no kind of grain wines or pulse should be transported thither nor from thence to France any cloth serges woolls lead tinn stuffs silk stockings with an enumeration of divers other commodities by this one may observe the advantage that England hath of France in varietie and substance of Marchandizes The French Chroniclers obtrude to the world divers wrong informations of this travers twixt England and France 1. They relate that the French were casheer'd of the Queens service with little or nothing at all of their wages which is false for they were payed to a peny and many of them parted with gifts and much wealth 2. They report that the Queen out of her necessities had borrow'd much money of them which was also a calumny for there was never Princesse liv'd in greater plentie 3. They make the world beleeve that the first depraedations at Sea and acts of Piracy were committed by the English which is another falshood for besides the seisure of the Marchants at Blay where they came to reimbarque their Ordnance divers other praedatory acts were done by the French 4. They publish also another imposture that while the Earls of Carlile and Holland were in the heat of the Treaty of a Match with England the same time they did machinat the ruine of France the first time that England was ever taxed of double dealing 5. That his Majesty of Great Britain had no hand in the Pacifications which were made twixt the King and them of the Religion whereas his Ambassadors and Agents did alwayes follow the Kings Army to their excessive expences and did perpetually negotiat in their behalf and became caution to them for performances on the Kings side Thus a black cloud hung between England and France which broak out into a shrew'd though short tempest of war The King of Great Britain riggs up his galeons and in a very short time puts to Sea a huge royall fleet in perfect equippage of 150. Sayles with an Army of 10000. combatants which by the advise and directions of Monsieur Subize and Blancart who had fled to England some moneths before were
at Sea might be dissipated without the employment of any Fleet Royall Finally that there hath bin a necessity to arme thus because there is no hope of accommodation otherwise the contrary will be most manifest to him who will consider the researches which have bin made at severall times as well by their own Ministers as by the Ministers of other Princes to the King my Master to treat of accommodating things at their instigation It appears by all this that the King my Master hath not bin forc'd to arme for any particular interest but only for the defence of the Churches for the security and freedom whereof he stood responsible Yet there are some who dare amuse the world that his Majesty hath a particular dessein in it and that he useth Religion for a pretext to gain a party by means whereof and by which conjunction he hopes to push on his purposes to the end at which they ayme No no our Religion teacheth us otherwise and the King my Master's piety wherein he gives place to no man living will never permit him His desscin is the establishment of the Churches his interest is their good and his ayme their contentment That being done these Drums beating these Ensignes displayed shall be folded up again And all this noyse of War shall be buried in night and silence which would never have bin but for their cause Given aboard of our Admiral this Wensday the 21. of Iuly 1627. Buckingham A good while before this Fleet was under sayle the French Cardinal by some pensionary Spies he had in the English Court had advertisement of the dessein therefore there was a Remonstrance sent from the King to his Town of Rochell to this effect That they were French and that the English were proud and insupportable that having vain pretentions upon this Kingdom if they took any place it was to reduce it to slavery That their Ancestors being acquainted with the nature of the English chose rather to lose half their goods then to be under their domination upon the accord made for the delivery of King John when he was prisoner in England That his Majesty had given proofs of the effects of his clemency so often and with so much favor that his grace seem'd to be above their crimes for their Religion if they thought to cast it upon the account he left them the free exercise of it touching Lewis Fort which seem'd to give some ombrage to their Town he assur'd them that continuing within the bounds of their obedience there should be a cours taken for their contentment but if it should come into the hands of the English doubtlesse they would turn it to a Cittadell to settle therein their tyranny That the present occasion was of that high importance that it might entirely and eternally gain them the affections of their King by their fidelity or that they might thereby offend him so sensibly that they might render themselfs incapable of grace ever after if they departed from their loyalty whereunto they were oblig'd as subjects towards their naturall Prince and as Frenchmen against a strange Nation and an ancient enemy of France By the Duke of Buckinghams Manifesto it appears the King of Great Britain had divers grounds of War against France first that his Merchants were so abus'd their ships seiz'd on and their goods taken away secondly that the French King grew so strong in ships which in former times was us'd to be a sufficient motif for War of it self and lastly that Articles were not perform'd of the peace which was made with them of the Religion wherein England was engag'd His Majesty of Great Britain waves the first two and layes hold of the last whereby the French Reformists had just cause to abet him in the quarrell it being more theirs then his Though there were reports blaz'd abroad of other odd motifs Howsoever the Policy of England was tax'd though her courage admir'd abroad to engolf her self into a War with France when she had another great neighbour King already on her back in actual hostility This Fleet gave a mighty alarme to France which made the King to send the Duke of Angoulesme before Rochell with three thousand foot and five hundred horse The King following a few dayes after fell sick upon the way and Monsieur was in mourning for his wife who died in Child-bed of a daughter The Duke of Angoulesms Quarter-masters when they came to take lodgings for the billeting of the Army in the small villages about Rochell took so much roome as would have serv'd an Army thrice as great and this was done of purpose for the report thereof being blown to Rochell and so to the English Fleet the Duke upon Soubize's advice cast anchor at the Isle of Ré whereas his first intention was for Lewis fort upon the Continent which dessein was diverted upon the false report of the greatnes of Angoulesms Army There were hardly 1200. English landed upon the Island of Ré but 1000. French foot and 200. choice horse who had layn invisible in a bottom all the while appear'd and charg'd them furiously the French horse did wonderful bravely and the English foot no lesse who having scarce step'd ashore were set upon and divers driven into the Sea and drown'd but by the brave example of their Commanders they resum'd courage and kill'd above one hundred and fifty of the enemies Cavalry put their foot to flight and remaind Masters of the field there was good pillage found among the French horsemen that fell divers of them being persons of quality and young spirits which being stripp'd many had their Mistesses favors tied about their genitories At this first act of invasion the English loss'd some hundreds of men amongst others Blaneart Monsieur Soubize companion who had bin one of the chief tracers of this voyage in the English Court was slain upon the sands and Sir Iohn Heyden was kill'd too who had afterwards honourable buriall The next day the English horse landed and so they began to intrench The chiefest Fort in the Island was Saint Martin where Monsieur Toiras a choice man had bin many dayes before he sent the next day in a bravado a Page and a Trumpet to tell the Duke he meant to give him a breakfast the Page had twenty peeces and the Trumpet five given him If the Duke had gon presently in pursuance of his victory for that breakfast toward Saint Martin he might in all probability have taken the Fort but he stayed divers dayes neer the Sea side and in the interim Toiras had time to fortifie and the cause he stay'd his march further was that Soubize Sir Will Beecher had gon to Rochell for more ayd which the Duke expected but the Rocheller gave them little countenance letting them in at the Postern gate Toiras after the first sent a second Trumpet to the Duke for burying the dead offering a thousand pounds for his brothers body and others
defray his ordinary expences the town of Bourdeaux to her eternal glory shew'd herself carefull of his honor and supplied him Add hereunto that two whole armies fell from him that of the Suisse consisting of 6000. and that under the Duke of Vendosm being the greater of the two the one only left him the other turn'd against him and the whole body of them of the Religion declar'd it self against him and actually help'd the other side Moreover his Parliament at Paris would not verifie his Edicts Yet in the midst of all these straits He marcheth resolutly from Bourdeaux with his new Queen to joyn his army with Bois Dauphin with a purpose either to present battaile to the adverse party or to draw them to a treaty Espernon met him in the way with 4000. foot and 500. horse The Duke of Nevers did very much labour and made journeys to and fro for an accommodation and his endevors took so good effect that a Conference was agreed on at Lodun where Commissioners were appointed and did meet on both sides in the interim the Duke of Guyse perform'd a notable exploit with 2000. of the Kings prime horses wherwith he set upon three Regiments of Condés at Nantueil which he slew took and put to flight carrying all their colours to the King for a present Hereupon a suspension of arms was accorded through all the Kingdom except in Anjou Perch and the frontiers of Britany where Vendosm continued all acts of hostility notwithstanding that he had his Deputy at the Conference The King was then advanc'd to Chastel le Heraud where Villeroy deliver'd him the Articles of the Truce sign'd by the Princes and where a Legat came from the Pope to deliver him the Imperial Sword and to the Queen the Rosetree of flowers and leaves of gold Thence the King went to Blois where after a long debate an Edict of Pacification was publish'd upon the Treaty of Lodun which consisted of 54. Articles wherein all the Princes with their adhaerents as also They of the Religion found satisfaction and divers persons of base condition were nominated therein which the world cryed shame upon By this Edict the King approv'd of all actions pass'd as having bin done for his Service and by consequence tacitly disadvow'd what He and his Counsell had ordain'd to the contrary The former Arrests of the Court of Parliament of Paris which the King had suspended were reestablish'd and they of the Counsell of State annull'd and many high demands were accorded to them of the Religion The Chancelor Sillery and divers others who were the Kings Favorits before were outed of their offices Besides the said Edict there were also secret Articles condescended unto containing rewards and honors to some particular men in lieu of punishment and they were presented in a privat close way to the Parliament to be verified with the gran Edict The Court wav'd them a while but afterwards by expresse commandment of the Kings and by a Declaration he made that those secret Articles contain'd no more then what was granted in the secret Articles of the Edict of Nants already verified by the same Court the businesse pass'd though with much reluctancy for if those of Nants were verified what need these being the same have a second verification This as it were enforc'd Verification was accompagnied with Letters Patents from the King in special favor to the Prince of Condé and others Letters in favor of them of the Religion by which his Majesty declar'd not to have understood his subjects of the Reform'd pretended Religion in the Oath and Protestation he had made at his Coronation to employ his sword and power for the extirpation of heresies which put the world in an astonishment because it made the meaning of the Taker of that Oath and of the Prelat who administred it to differ This turn'd afterwards rather to the disadvantage then the benefit of the Demanders for those hard and high termes which reflected so much upon the conscience of a yong King stuck deep in his breast nor could he ever digest them as will appear in the ensuing Story Nor was his honor thought much to suffer hereby being newly come out of his nonage little vers'd in the art of Government and having not attain'd that courage and yeers which use to strike awe into Subjects This shrew'd tempest being pass'd the weather broak up and clear'd And the King brought his new Queen to Paris having surmounted such a world of difficulties and waded through a sea of troubles he had bin absent thence neer upon a twelvemoneth therefore you may well imagin with what joy and triumph the Parisians receiv'd him Observable it is that in this voyage the King notwithstanding that he had condescended to hard capitulations yet he attain'd his main ends which was to perfect the Alliance with Spain and to fetch home his wife in safety which he did maugre the great Martiall oppositions that were made by most of the Princes of France who malign'd the match In this yeer there happen'd some ill-favor'd jarrs in Italy twixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantova about Monferrat The King employed thither the Marquis of Coeuures to compose the difference but he return'd without doing any good notwithstanding that the Ambassador of his Majesty of Great Britain joyn'd with him He sent afterwards the Marquis of Rambovillet who caried himself with more addresse for he tamper'd with the affections of the French and Suisses which made the better part of the Duke of Savoys army with such dexterity that the Duke entring into a diffidence of them hearkned to a Treaty Don Pedro de Toledo then Governor of Milan was arm'd for the Mantovan and by this Treaty both Parties were to disband in the interim if the Spaniard attempted any thing upon Monferrat France should assist his Highnes of Savoy But the Spaniard though he attempted nothing yet he reinforc'd his Troupes which struck an apprehension of fear into the Venetians who of all Nations are most eagle-ey'd to foresee dangers because there was a small difference twixt them and the Archduke of Grats about the Uscochi which made them confederat and co-arme with the Savoyard there were great Forces on both sides and Don Pedro took Verselli Damian but his Majesty of France employ'd thither Mons. de Bethune who procur'd a Treaty in Pavia to that end which took effect but the Spaniard afterwards delaying to give up Vercelli Modene Luynes kinsman was sent thither who did the work The difference also twixt the Republic and the Archduke of Grats was accommoded by French intercession so that in lesse then a twelve moneths four Ambassadors went from France to Italy About this time the Lord Hayes afterwards Earl of Carlile came in a very splendid equippage to Paris to congratulate in his Majestie of Great Britain's name 1. The alliance with Spain 2. The arrivall of the new Queen 3. The Kings return to Paris 4. The end
brotherly affection that We cannot return you the like onely we can promise and assure you upon the faith of an honest man that you shall have alwayes power not onely to dispose of Our forces and kingdoms but of Our heart and person and also of the person of Our son if you have need which God prevent praying you to rest assured that We shall not onely be far from cherishing or giving the least countenance to any of your subjects of what profession soever of Religion who shall forget their naturall allegiance unto you but if We have the least inkling thereof We shall send you very faithfull advertisement And you may promise your self that upon such occasion or upon any other which may tend to the honor of your Crown you shall alwayes have power to dispose freely of Our assistance as if the cause were Our own so upon assurance that Our interests shall be alwayes common We pray God most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved Brother Cousen and Ally to have you alwayes in his most holy protection Newmarket 9. of February 1624. Your most affectionat Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Iames K. The Critiques of the time did much censure this Letter in regard King Iames seems to dis-invest himself utterly of all Title to France thereby because he confesseth Henry the Fourth to have not onely reconquer'd it but to have a naturall right unto it in the said Letter The former Treaty for the Infanta of Spaine did facilitat also the hastning of this businesse and made it lesse knotty in regard that the matrimonial capitulations which in effect were the very same with those of the Infanta's had bin beaten and moulded a long time before upon the Spanish Anvill and so made smooth and passable They were in substance these that follow 1. That the French King should make it his busines to procure a dispensation from Rome within three moneths 2. That for the celebration of the act of affiancing the King of Great Britain should depute whom he pleas'd and that it be done according to the Roman rites 3. That the mariage be solemniz'd in the same forme as that of Queen Margaret and the Duchesse of Bar was 4. That she be attended to the Sea side upon the charge of France 5. That the contract of mariage be publiquely ratified in England without intervention of any Ecclesiastic ceremony 6. That free exercise of Religion be granted unto Madam her self and all her train and to the children that her servants shall have And to that end they shall have a Chappel in every one of the Kings Royall Houses or any where els where she shall keep her Court 7. That preaching and the administration of the Sacraments of the Masse with all other Divine Offices be permitted Her as also the gaining of all Indulgences and Jubils from Rome and that a Church-yard be appointed wall'd about to bury Catholiks according to the Rites of the Roman Church all which shall be done modestly 8. That she shall have a Bishop for her Almoner who may have power to proceed against any Ecclesiastic under his charge according to the Canonicall constitutions And in case the Secular Court shall seize upon any Churchmen under his jurisdiction for any crime which concern'd not the State he shall be sent back to the said Bishop who taking cognisance of the delict shall degrade him and so return him to the Secular power and other faults all Church-men under him shall be sent to him to be proceeded against accordingly or in his absence to his Vicar generall 9. She shall have 28. Priests of her House and if any be a Regular he shall be allow'd to weare his habit 10 The King of Great Britain and his son shall oblige themselfs by Oath not to attempt any thing upon the conscience of Madam to induce her to renounce her Religion 11. All her domestiques shall be Catholiques and French which she shall bring with her and in their roomes when they die she shal be allow'd to choose other French Catholiques but with the consent of the King of Great Britain 12. Her dowry shall be eight hundred thousand crowns whereof the one moity shall be pai'd the yeeve after Contract the other a yeer after and in case she survive her Husband the said dowry shall be entirely return'd her whether she desire to live in England or France 13. But if there remain any children of this mariage then she is to have back but two thirds of the said dowry 14. And in case Madam die before the Prince without children the moity of the said dowry shall be only return'd and in case she leave children all shall go amongst them 15. Madam shall be endow'd with a joynture of eighteen thousand pound sterling per an which comes to sixty thousand crowns and his Majestie of Great Britain shall give her besides the value of fifty thousand crowns in Jewels whereof she shall have the property as of those she hath already and of what shall be given her hereafter He shall be also oblig'd to maintain her and her House and in case she come to be a widow she shall enioy her dower and jointure which shall be assignd her in Lands Castles and Houses whereof one shall be furnish'd and fit for habitation and that the said joynture be pay'd her wheresoever she shall desire to reside she shall have also the free disposing of the Benefices and Offices belonging to the said Lands whereof one shall have the title of Duchy or County 16. That she shall be permitted whether she have children or not to return to France and bring with her her movables rings and jewels as also her dowry and the King shall be bound to have her conducted to Calice upon his charge 17. The contract of the mariage shall be registred in the Court of Parliament of Paris and ratified in that of England 18. All her servants shall take this following Oath I sweare and promise fidelitie to the most gracious King of Great Britain to the most gracious Prince Charles and to Madame Henriette Marie daughter of France which I shall most faithfully and inviolably keep And if I know of any attempt against the said King Prince and Lady or their estates or against the public good of the Kingdoms of the said King I shall forthwith denounce the same to the said King Prince and Lady or others who shall have it in charge This was the substance of all the Matrimoniall capitulations which were digested to 28. Articles with a penalty of four hundred thousand crowns upon either of the two Kings which should infringe any of them Besides these there were some privat Articles accorded in favour of the Roman Catholiks in England and Ireland but far from the latitude of a public Toleration Upon the ending of this great Treaty with France Iames the First of England and Sixth of Scotland ended his life
and to continue a war in France There were divers other Propositions tending to the kind usage of the Catholiques and withall a request That the Dukes pension from fourteen thousand crowns might be augmented to eighteen thousand and that his Catholic Majesty would please to add to his brother Soubize's pension of eight thousand crowns a yeer two thousand more For performance of these propositions the said Clausel could give no other caution but the word of an Honorable and most Religious Prince meaning the Duke These offers were accepted by the Spaniard but the sum was reduc'd to three hundred thousand crowns payable in two payments every yeer The Articles being sent by Clausel to France by a Zeland Gentleman he was suspected and taken in a Pond up to the neck so he was hang'd at Tholouse The King at his return to Provence took Privas from them of the Religion after many bloudy sallies and assaults on both sides a place of mighty consequence In the Campe before Privas the Peace was proclaym'd 'twixt France and England to dishearten them in the Town the more for they thought that the King of Great Britain was still involv'd in their Cause This Peace was negotiated by Georgi and Contarini Ambassadors to the Mayden Republic who yet may be call'd the Mother of Policy and able to read Lectures on that Thesis to the rest of Europe nor did there small glory redound to her by her succesfull intervention herein and by making her Saint Mark Mediator 'twixt two such mighty Monarks The words of the Proclamation before Privas pronounc'd alowd by a king of Arms were these Let the world know there is peace amity and good intelligence between his Majesty and his good Brother and Brother in law the King of Great Britain acessation of all acts of hostility betwixt them and their subjects with an entire confirmation of the ancient Alliances and of the Articles and Contract of Mariage with the Queen of Great Britain and an overture of a free and safe commerce between the subjects of the two Crowns Therefore all persons are prohibited to attempt any think in prejudice of the said Peace under pain of being punish'd as Disturbers of the public repose c. The generall Articles also were signed there interchangeably in the ordinary forme where of there were some extraordinary as that In regard it would be difficult to make restitution on either side of divers prises which have been taken in this war the two Crowns are accorded that there shall be no reprisall made by sea or in any other maner for that which is pass'd 'twixt the two Kings and their subjects during the said war And because there are divers vessels at Sea with Letters of Mart which give Commission to combat the enemies which cannot presently have notice of this Peace or receive Order to abstain from acts of hostility It is accorded that whatsoever shall passe the space of the two next moneths after this accord shall not derogate from or empeach this Peace or the good will of the two Crowns The King having dismantled Privas and secur'd other petty places he march'd to Alets a very considerable Garrison Town of them of the Religion which being also surrendred he march'd to Languedoc took Castres and Nismes once the darling of Rome when she had her Legions in those parts though now no Town throughout France be a greater enemy unto her These monstrous successes of the Kings made the Duke of Rohan hearken unto a Treaty therefore being at Anduza he convokes a kind of Assembly of the chiefest of them of the Religion to whom he made this notable speech Sirs You know well enough that the King doing me the honor as to acknowledge me his kinsman hath had particular consideration of me in all generall Treaties made with your party and that he hath made me to be perpetually sollicited to separat my self from you with assurances that he would raise my condition to such a point that might draw upon it the envy of the Princes and the greatest of his Kingdom Neither are you ignorant that the generall interests of the party being deerer unto me then mine own I have bin so far from lending an ear unto those charming propositions that to the contrary I have broak with his Majesty whensoever he hath refus'd or delay'd the execution of the Edicts pass'd in favor of us and exposing my self to his indignation I have run the hazard of my fortun my honor and life Gentlemen I pray do not think that since our Cause is conjoyn'd with that of God but that I continu as strong a zeal and inclination as ever towards it But in regard our affaires are in another condition perchance then you do imagin I have call'd you hither to instruct you and then to take such order that your wisdoms shall afford me to put in punctuall execution with as much fidelity as courage You must then consider that any time these eight yeers that the King hath warr'd with us heaven hath bin so favorable unto him that it seems he rather went to the routing of our troupes then to combat and by assaulting our strongest Towns he prepar'd rather for triumphant entries then sieges so that now the number of our combatants and the strength of our strongest places doth not serve as much to maintain our party as to augment his glory so many Towns in Poitou Saintonge Guyen and Languedoc which have not bin able toresist him as many dayes as we count moneths are most sensible proofs hereof Rochell alas with that he fetcht a profound sigh accompagnied with tears Rochell which we thought inexpugnable that prowd Town one of the miracles of Europe being now reduc'd to an open village on all sides doth carry and shall eternally beare the marks of the valour and good fortune of this glorious Monark Having demolish'd this strong rampart of the Gospel by which the whole party subsisted he hath penetrated the Kingdom from one Diameter to the other and travers'd in five or six dayes the Alps in the most rigorous season of the yeer which Julius Caesar accounted amongst his heroiquest actions and Hannibal could not do it in fifteen dayes without inestimable losse He hath forc'd the passe of Susa marching ore the belly of an Army entrench'd and fortified in a straight He hath deliver'd the Duke of Mantova from the oppression of the King of Spain and the Savoyard and oblig'd the latter who was Author of the War to receive such conditions of peace that he pleas'd to prescribe him Repassing the Alps with like celeritie he hath depriv'd us of Privas and taken multitudes of places more by the terror only of his victorious Arms. He is continually assisted by the Cardinal of Richelieu who for the fertility of his Invention for the solidity of his Counsels for the secrecy of his desseins for his hardines in execution and for his addresse in all affairs of consequence I
would acknowledge him the greatest man of Europe were he not born for the ruine of our party and the abolition of the Reformed Religion This young generous warlike King though too much zealoused to Popery following in every thing the counsels of this Priest as Oracles can we doubt but our defence though lawfull as being for Religion and liberty of conscience be not an occasion to him to advance our destruction under pretext of rebellion and felony After all that Gentlemen you must consider that the taking of Rochell hath extinguish'd all Factions throughout the Kingdom which commonly serv'd to the encrease of our party In so much that of three hundred places good and bad which we had formerly in our hands we have not 30. remaining without rents without soldiers or means to put into them all together as many men as would serve to preserve one alone For although our Parsons cry out daily in their Chaires that we ought not to despaire of heavenly succour yet receiving every day proofs of the wrath of the Eternal there is more appearance to expect punishment for our sins then miracles for the re-establishment of our affaires Peradventure you will promise your selfs some great assistance from strangers and specially from Protestants whom the conformity of Religion which ties them to our interests may oblige to assist us in so urgent necessity But I pray consider that the Germans have enough to defend themselfs from the oppression of the Emperour consider the elusions of the Hollander the impuissance of the Savoyard who hath bled at the nose the lightnes of the English who have concluded a peace with France without comprehending us who were the sole object of the war And if you stay for the offers of Spain which loves not our Nation and our Religion lesse know that he studies how to engage us so far against the King that we may become incapable of his grace and that the succours wherewith he will supply us which is but a little money will not serve but to prolong our ruine by enfeebling France by our Civill Wars and intestine broyles For my self I am now as much solicited as ever to abandon you and to take advantagious conditions of his Majesty but I shall never hearken to any thing but wherein you may find your satisfaction in a generall Treaty for the whole Cause as also particularly for your Towns If your wisdoms find it to purpose that it be more expedient to seek our conservation with the exercise of our Religion and liberty of our consciences within the obedience which we owe to our lawfull Prince then in resistance which though just of it self is held by the Enemies of our Faith no other then a Rebellion and high Treason whereby under a more specious pretext to exterminat and destroy us Or if contrary to all appearance of human reason you take a resolution to stiffen your selfs against so victorious and invincible a power I resolve also to incur all hazards with you though I am sory that neither the advancement of the Faith can be found in my resolution nor your security in my danger nor your safety in my losse This studied speech with the sense of the late ill successe and of the Kings power wrought so far upon the Assembly that it extorted a willingnes to submit unto a Treaty which was propounded accordingly so a little after there was a generall peace concluded with the Reformists and the King being in Languedoc where the Plague after this scourge of War was very rife he went therefore himself to Paris and left the Cardinal behind to consummat all things who amongst other places entred Montauban where Espernon met him and reentred into a perfect friendship with him Montauban following the example of all the rest of the Towns dismantled herself of all new fortifications and restor'd the Church lands c. The Cardinall being return'd to Paris the Peace with his Majesty of Great Britain was solemnly renew'd and sworn unto but they of the Religion took it ill that there was no mention at all made of them in the Treaty they having bin declar'd to be the object of Englands last war with France All the Princes were commanded to be at this Ceremony and because a difference did arise for precedency 'twixt forrein Princes of souverain Houses and the naturall sons of Kings a provisional Order was made by the Privy Counsel That every one should take place according to his seniority of age Thus our fourth Lustre of the life of Lewis the thirteenth ends with an Olive branch of a double Peace one with a forren Prince the King of Great Britain which was solemnly sworn unto by both Kings Sir Thomas Edmunds being Ambassadour for the one and the Marquis of New-Castle de Chasteau neuf for the other The second Peace was concluded with his own subjects the whole Body of the Religion whom he had now reduc'd to an exact rule of obedience having seiz'd upon dismantled and secur'd all their praesidiary Towns which were neer upon fifty whereof Montauban was the last that left her Mantle So that they must hereafter depend no more upon Garrisons but Royall Grace A mighty work then which nothing could conduce more to make him so absolut a Monark Thus ends the fourth Lustre The fifth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth THe King having with such a strong hand put a period to the Civill Wars in his own Kingdoms by debelling his subjects of the Religion and utterly disabling them from banding against him for the future in dismantling all the tenable Towns they had for their security and disguarding other places they held to the number of three hundred of all Military strength whereby he brought them to depend totally upon his favor for their liberty and the performance of the Edicts granted in their behalfe he now thinks upon another march ore the Alps for the support of the Duke of Mantova once his vassall and still partly so being a Frenchman by birth though not by extraction And this he might now do with lesse fear then formerly having quieted and secur'd all things in France according to the saying Frustrà foris agit bellum qui domi timet incendium He vainly combats abroad who fears combustions at home The Duke of Nevers being now settled in Mantova the French grew powerfull in Italy which the Spaniard could not well disgest Thereupon a Ligue was struck 'twixt the Emperour and him whereinto the Duke of Savoy entred afterward The Emperor questions the Duke of Nevers about Mantova though not for the Title yet for the investiture which he was to receive from him Hereupon he sends an Army to Italy under the command of Colalto a great Captain and Marquis Spinola a greater was Generall for the King of Spain nor was the little Duke Emanuel of Savoy inferior to either who after Henry the Great 's death assum'd to himself the title of the
acces that notwithstanding he seems to cast the fault upon certain Counsellors yet all bounds upon her by reflection she declares that long before the reception of his Letter she had resolv'd and to that end there were public dispatches abroad to summon the Convocation of the States Generall she takes exception that he should call them Estats seurs libres States sure and free which made her conceive a violent jealousie of some artifice on his side to sow seeds of difficulties in the said great Assembly she alledgeth that from the beginning she imparted both to him and the Co of Soissons the mariage with Spain that they approved of them and subscribed the Articles That the late King declared his inclination unto it when Don Pedro de Toledo pass'd through France And so she concluds with exhortation that he wold appear in the Assembly of the three Estates and bring with him all his Confederats to contribut the great zeal they professe to the common good of the Kingdom The Queens Letter was large and in it there was a curious mixture of meekness and Majestie The Duke of Vendosme sent her also two Letters but he could get no answer to either Thus a fearfull black clowd hung over poor France which the Queen Mother essayed by all means possible to dissipat before it shold break out into a tempest of intestine War therefore the King and she descended to send again the Duc of Vantadour accompanied with the Presidents of Thou and Ieanin with others to draw Conde to a treaty of accord which at last was agreed upon and the prime Capitulations were these 1. That the States Generall shold assemble in the Town of Sens within such a time wherin the Deputies of the three Orders may safely and freely make such Remonstrances and Propositions that they shall hold in their consciences to be profitable for the common good for the redresse of disorders and conservation of public tranquillity 2. His Majesty being willing to gratify the Prince of Conde hath upon his prayer and instance and upon assurance of his future affection and fidelity accorded to put into his hands the Castle of Amboise as a gage till the States Generall dissolve and 100. men for garrison in the said Castle 3. That 100. men shall be entertain'd in Mezieres 200. in Soissons whereof the Duc of Main is Governor till the States Generall have risen 4. That Letters shall be sent from his Majesty verified by the Court of Parliament wherin his Majesty shall declare unto the world that there was no ill intention against his service by the said Prince and his Associats therfore that they shold be never prejudic'd for the future in their estates or persons 5. That in consideration of the expences the said Prince might be at in this business his Majesty accords to give him 450000. Franks to dispose of as he shall think fit 6. That the eldest sonne of the Duke of Nevers shall succeed his father in the Government of Champany These with divers other Articles of this kind the King was induc'd I will not say inforc'd to condescend unto for preventing of greater evils and it was call'd the Treaty of Saint-Menehou And one would have thought that a gentle calme should have follow'd and that the meeting of the States General would have perpetuated it But behold two ill-favor'd accidents like two impetuous puffs put things again in disorder The one was that the Duke of Vendosin would not put Blavet into the hands of the Marquis of Caeuures according to the Kings command but stood still upon his gard in Britany The second was an affront which Conde alledg'd to have receiv'd from the Bishop of Poitiers who would not suffer him to enter the Town as he pass'd to his government of Dauphine and secur'd the Castle of Amboise being sought unto by the Governor the Duc of Roanez to establish his authoritie there The Bishop arm'd first and the town after his example Conde writes a Letter to the Queen Regent which did not please her well for he subscribes himself only her thrice-humble servant and neveu whereas he was us'd to write your thrice humble and thrice obedient servant and subject The Marquis of Bonnivet a creature of Condes had not yet dismissd all his troupes therefore under his authoritie he harasseth and plunders all the Countrey about Poitiers sacks the Bishops House and commits many sacrilegious and execrable outrages The young King hearing this gets presently a Horsback and sends the Duke of Main before to stop the ravages of Bonnivet so he followeth after and passing by Orleans Blois Tours and Chastel le heraud a cautionary town of them of the Religion who notwithstanding presented the Keys to his Majesty as he pass'd he came to Poitiers where he reconcil'd the Prince of Conde and the Bishop caus'd Bonnivet to disband his forces compos'd of Picaroons and vagabonds Thence he went to Nants where also he rang'd the Duke of Vandosme to obedience dismantled the Fort at Blavet and so having in a short compasse of time compos'd and quash'd all things he returns triumphantly to Paris where an Ambassadour was attending him from Zuric who desir'd to enter into an alliance with him as the rest of the Cantons had This was the first exploit that Lewis the thirteenth did in his own person which like the rising Sun dispell'd those frog vapors that hover'd in Poictou and Britany and it was held a good augury for the future The presence of a King is oft-times very advantageous for Rebellion durst never stare long in the face of Majesty which useth to lance out such penetrating refulgent rayes that dazzle the eyes of Traytors and put them at last quite out of countenance With this achievment we will conclude his Minority and his Mothers Regency And as this first expedition of his prov'd lucky so was his whole life attended with a series of good successes as if Fortune her self had rid with him all the while upon the same horse And now must we put a period to the first lustre of Lewis the thirteenths raign and with it to his minoritie or bassage We proceed to his second lustre wherewith his majoritie begins being arriv'd to the yeer fourteen The second Lustre of the Life of Lewis the 13th raigne and of his Majoritie ANd now our Story must mount up to his Majority and follow him to his full age wherein he entred at fourteen yeers and the broken number of the Lords yeer was coincident being sixteen hundred and fourteen But I have read an old Author who writes that without any consideration had of yeers the French Kings arrive to maturitie and are capable to sway the Scepter when they come to be as high as a sword let their age be what it will In the former Chapter we told you that by vertue of the Treatie of St. Menehou the Queen Regent had promis'd and was oblig'd to the Princes by
capitulation to summon the States Generall and suspecting there might be some desseins against her authoritie she endevour'd to prevent it divers wayes First in the Mandats sent to the Governors of Provinces and Towns for the elections of Deputies there were speciall cautions inserted to choose no factious persons The second means was to defer the convocation of the States Generall till the Kings majority was declar'd that so his authoritie might be the more compleat and absolut whereby he might have a greater power to take into his hands her interests and oppose such resolutions that might prejudice them Lastly whereas the said convocation was appointed first to be at Rheims then at Sens she sent summons abroad that it should be held at Paris where the King was strongest by the residence of his servants the affections of all orders of people and the assistance of the ordinary Court of Parliament which is still there sitting though it was us'd to be ambulatory with the Kings Court. Now the difference which is in France between an Assembly of the three Estates and their Parliaments is that the former hath an analogie both in point of institution power and summons with our Soverain high Court of Parliament in England compos'd of Lords and Commons wherein the King sits as head and it is He alone who opens and shuts it with his breath This being the greatest of all Assemblies treats of matters touching the universall good of the State and the making correcting or repealing of laws and it is the highest Sphere which gives motion to all the rest The Parliaments of France whereof there are eight have not the same latitude of power yet are they Supreme Courts or Sessions of Justice where mens causes and differences are publikly determined in last ressort without any further appeale and any Peer of France by right of inheritance hath a capacitie to sit there The day being assign'd for publishing the Kings Majority the Queen Regent and He with his now sole brother the Duke of Anjou for his brother the Duke of Orleans was lately dead went in a stately solemn maner to the Court of Parliament accompagnied with the prime Prelats and Peers of the Kingdom and amongst them there were fower Cardinalls A contestation happen'd 'twixt the Cardinalls and Peers for precedency because the twelve Peers of France before an Ordinance made by Henry the third preceded any Prince of the bloud at the Coronation and Sacring of the King and the declaration of his Majority was an Act reflecting on that Yet the King inordred the priority for that time to the Cardinalls because they were Princes of the Church universal which made the Peers retire from the Court lest it might serve for a precedent to future Ages The Court being sat and all silenc'd the Queen Regent riss up and said That she prais'd and thank'd God to have afforded her grace to bring up her son to the yeers of his Majority and to maintain his Kingdom in peace the best she could That now he being come to age she transmitted the Government to him exhorting the company there present and all other his subjects to render him that service obedience and fidelity which is due unto him as to their King The Chancelor hereupon pronounced the Arrest of the Court importing a verification of the declaration of his Majesties Majority which was done in a solemn studied Oration This great solemnity did not end so but it was accompagnied with four wholsom Edicts as the first fruits or hansels of his raign 1. The first aym'd at a general concord 'twixt his subjects by strict injunction of observing the Edict of Nantes concerning them of the Religion 2. The second aym'd at a generall obedience prohibiting all ligues confederacy and intelligence with any strange Prince or State under pain of lifs 3. The third against Duells 4. The fourth against Blasphemy and Swearing Thus ended the Regency of Maria de Medici in form though not in effect for she swayed a good while after as Queen Mother in all Counsels the King reposing still his chief confidence in her during her Regency she did many public things which discover'd a pious and Princely soul Amongst others she provided divers Hospitalls in the suburbs of Saint German for the relief of the poor the aged and sick and to set young people at work which will continue there as long as the walls of Paris for monuments of her honour and charity The King having notice that the Deputies of the three States were com he sent the B p. of Paris to warn them in his name to fit themselfs for receiving the grace of God that so a blessing might fall upon their consultations to which purpose three daies fast was enjoyn'd them to prepare them the better for the holy Communion which was also inordred them So according to ancient custom a generall Procession was made wherein divers ranks of Fryars and Hopitalers went before then followed the Deputies of the third Estate who took place according to the rank of the 12. Governments of France and made in number 192. The Nobles followed them in number 132. They of the Clergie went last who made 140. so that in all they came to 464. which number I observe is inferior to that of the English Parliament where the Members of the House of Commons alone which corresponds the Third Estate in France come to neer upon 500. After these the King himself followed on foot accompagnied with the Queen and the Princes and Peeres The next day after all met in Bourbon House hall where the young King told them That having not long since declar'd his Majority he thought fitting to convoque the States Generall of his Kingdom to begin his raign by their good advice and Counsell to receive their complaints and provide for redres accordingly as it should be more amply told them by his Chancelor who took the word therupon This generall overture and Ceremony being ended the States Generall spent some daies to visit one another and to choosing of their three Praesidents or Prolocutors which they presented to the King with protestation of all fidelity and obedience The next day they took the Communion all in one Church going six at a time viz. two of every Order to the holy Table The Munday following they reassembled intending to fall close to work but their proceedings were retarded by some differences which interven'd touching the rank of the 12. Provinces or Governments and this clash kept a great noise till the King interpos'd therin his Authority and by the advice of his Privy Counsel which they submitted unto made this decision marshalling the 12. Governments thus 1. the Isle of France whereon Paris stands 2. Burgundy 3. Normandy 4. Guyen 5. Britany 6. Champany 7. Languedoc 8. Picardy 9. Dauphine 10. Provence 11. Lionnois 12. Orleans This being regulated by the King they fell to the main work and three Propositions were made the first by
the Clergy wherewith the Nobles joyn'd 1. That the Counsell of Trent should be publish'd through France 2. That the venality and selling of Offices should be suppressed 3. That the King should acknowledge in this Assembly to have no other superiour power on earth in his Temporalls and that he held the Crown immediatly of God alone This last Proposition was put on by the third Estate against the intention and without the concurrence of Clergy and Nobles of purpose to hinder the concession of the other two because divers of the third Estate were favourers of them of the Religion and Financiers The first Proposition was couch'd in these termes That the Oecumenical Counsel of Trent be receiv'd and publish'd in your Realms and the Constitutions thereof kept and observ'd but without prejudice to your Majesties rights the liberties of the Gallic Church the priviledges and exepmtions of Chapters Monasteries and Cominalties which his Holinesse shall be prayed may be reserv'd and to remain in their entire strength so that the publication of the said Counsell may not prejudice them any way The Third Estate protested against this alledging these reasons That in the said Counsell there were divers Decrees whereby the Spirituall invaded the Temporall rights That it would be a thing not only prejudiciall but dishonourable for France to approve of a Counsell wherein the most Christian King had received a palpable injury in the persons of his Ambassadors who were postpos'd to them of Spain which caus'd them to retire and quit the said Counsell in sense of that indignity offer'd to them who personated the first son of the Church in so public a Convention They excepted also against that clause that the Pope should be prayed the liberties of the Gallic Church might be preserv'd for that was to submit them to a forren power to the Papall authoritie whereas the said liberties are independent and originally inhaerent in the Gallican Church and contemporary with Christianity it self The difference 'twixt Liberties and Priviledges being this that the latter presuppose the concession and grant of some superior Power but liberties are originall and immemorial possessions and equall to inheritances Touching the second Proposition of the Clergy and Nobles against the venality and merchandising of Offices it was wav'd because divers of the Third Estate were either Financiers or Officers of Justice which places they had bought and so had power to sell them again for money Touching the third Proposition that concern'd the independency of the French Crown which was presented by the Commons in opposition to the first Proposition made by the Clergy and Nobles for the publication of the Counsell of Trent the one being made out of a zeale to the State Civil the other to the State Spiritual there were hot bandings on both sides The third Estate or Commons would have it declared for a fundamentall law that the King being supreme and absolute in his own Dominions there is no power on earth either Spirituall or Temporall that hath any right to deprive him of his Crown or to dispense and absolve his subjects from their allegiance unto him This was done to extinguish that dangerous Doctrin broached by som how it was lawfull to kill Tyrants and if the Roman Bishop had power to declare Kings Tyrants their lifes would be expos'd to the passion of every Pope and so to perpetuall apprehensions of danger The Clergy and Nobles finding how pertinacious and resolute the Commons were in this point for securing the lifes of their Kings and fearing it might breed a schisme 'twixt the Apostolicall See and the Monarchy of France Cardinal Perron a man of high merit and moderation was sent to make a Remonstrance unto them which he reduced to three heads 1. That it is not permitted upon any cause whatsoever to kill a King 2. That the Kings of France are Soverains in all degrees of Temporal soverainty within their Realm 3. That there is no case wherby subjects may be absolved from their oth of fidelity to their Prince Concerning the first two he pronounc'd them as absolut and categoricall but touching the last the Cardinal said that in regard it might usher in a Schisme he left it as problematicall not positif The President or Speaker of the Commons answer'd that the third Proposition being politicall he conceiv'd it concern'd not the Doctrin of Faith and consequently could not introduce any schisme much bussling there was about this point the Commons being very eager in it having the Parliament of Paris siding with them who pass'd an Arrest in favour of them accordingly but the King evok'd the difference to himself commanding that nothing should be determin'd theron in regard that he being assured of his own right and possession it appertain'd not either to the States or to the Court of Parliament or any other arbiter whatsoever to take cognisance thereof and remarkable it was that the King did not evoke and call that matter to Himself and to his Counsell according to the ordinary form but absolutly to himself and his own Person But although the King commanded the said Decree of the Court of Parliament to be suspended the Attorney Generall made such diligences because he was a friend to the businesse that divers Copies were sent abroad The great Assembly drawing now towards a closure they brought their Cayers or papers of grievances to the King at Bourbon House hall The Bishop of Luson after Cardinall of Richelieu was Prolocutor for the Clergy the King presently delivered the said Cayers to his Chancelor promising them an answer with all convenient expedition Thereupon a little after he sent for them to the Louure his royal Palace and told them that in regard of sundry affairs of great importance he could not answer their Cayers so soon as he desired but he would give speedy order to do it in the interim they might carry along with them to the Countrey an assurance of the satisfaction they expected touching the chiefest Articles for he was resolv'd to suppres the selling of offices to ease his people of tallies and subsidies to cause a research to be made into the misdemeanures of his Receivers and Financiers and lastly to retrench the multiplicitie of Offices and Pensions which were encreas'd from about two millions of franks which was the stint in the former Kings raign to four millions which make four hundred thousand pounds sterling Observ'd it was that the Marshall of Ancre while this busines of retrenching Officers and Pensions was in hottest agitation amongst the States got three new Tresurers of Pensions to be created from whom he drew neer upon one hundred thousand pound sterling as you will find hereafter when it will be thrown into his dish This was the first and last Assembly of the three Estates or Parliament general that was held in the raign of Lewis the thirteenth which it seems found his grave then for there hath bin none ever since and there is
Parliament mainly endevour'd to give some contentment to their Majesties therefore they employ'd again the prime President with others To declare the great displeasure the Court had that their Remonstrance was not agreeable to their Majesties wils protesting that it was never the intention of the Court to touch upon their actions or the Queens Regency whom they acknowledg'd to have oblig'd all France by her wise conduct and care she had both of the Kings Person and the State that as they could not so they would never attempt any thing upon royal authority what they had don was to testifie the zeal which they owe and will shew eternally to their Majesties Persons That they most humbly desir'd them to remember that the very next day after the death of Henry the Great their Majesties were pleas'd to honor that Court with their presence desiring them to contribut their good Counsels for the conduct of the public affairs which oblig'd them to present the foresaid Remonstrances c. So they concluded with all possible submission and a desire that the said Arrest of his Counsel of State should not be publish'd This took away somthing of the inflamation for the time but it cur'd not the wound which began to fester more and more and so gangrend that the whole body politic was like to perish For what the Court of Parliament sought by supplication the Prince of Conde not long after sought by the sword who having divers of the greatest Princes and them of the Religion ligu'd with him brought their Petition upon the Pikes point Conde flew to that height that he proceeded not by way of Remonstrance but as if he had bin a Prince absolut by way of Manifesto He was then in Picardy whither the King had sent divers Letters by persons of good quality to invite him to come to Court and to accompany him in his voyage to Guyen to fetch the Infanta but all would not do for old Bovillon had infus'd other Counsels into his head and so he publish'd a Manifesto that the cause of his retirement from the Court was the insolent deportment of the Marshall of Ancre the dissipation of Henry the Greats treasure the introduction of strangers of Iewes Sorcerers and Magicians by the said Marshall and so he concluded King-like parlant en sire Wherefore we pray and warn all the the Princes Peers and Officers of the Crown and all such as call themselfs French to succour and assist us in so good an occasion And we require and adjure all forren Princes and strangers all the Allies and Confederats of this State to give us ayd and assistance c. These were the specious pretences that caus'd this Manifesto which divers forren Princes took in foul scorn that he should require them being but a vassal himself The truth is there was but one generall grievance and that was the Marshall of Ancre a Confident of the Queen Mothers whom she had brought with her from Italy his wife having bin her foster sister He had the greatest vogue at Court which being a stranger made him repin'd at The King and the Queen Mother were then resolv'd upon a journey to Burdeaux to receive the Infanta and to deliver the Daughter of France for the King of Spain Conde disswades the King from the voyage by Letters which were not well taken So while the one prepares for his journey the other arms for a war and gets on his party Longueville Bulloin and Mayn who had concluded the match with Spain yet refus'd to attend in the jour ney Thus a fearfull clowd hung over France yet nothing could deter the King from going to fetch his wife and the Queen Mother said That all the power of earth should not hinder him Besides he was straitned for money for so long and costly a voyage nor would the Chamber of Accounts verify in Letters to take any out of the Bastile whereupon the King went himself in Person accompagnied by the Queen his Mother his Chancelor Secretaries of State and others in whose presence the Coffers were open'd and two millions and a halfe of Liures which make 250000. pounds sterling were taken out and deliver'd to the Treasurer of the Privy Purse The King being to begin his journey the first thing he did was to secure Paris so he left Mounsier de Liencour Governour thereof and to authorise him the more he admitted him to the Court of Parliament by Letters Patents which the said Court did verifie notwithstanding the harsh answer they had had to their late Remonstrance at the Louure The Marshal of Ancre was sent to Amiens with a considerable Army And another Army was left under the command of the Marshal de Bois Daufin consisting of 16000. foot 1500. horse and 2000. Carrabins to make head against the Mutiners So the King and his Mother accompagnied with the Dukes of Guyse Elbaeuf and Espernon with a good number of Gentlemen with 1200. light horse his Guard of Suisses and others making in all 400. foot parted from Paris towards Bourdeaux and being come to Poictiers Madame his sister which was to be sent to Spain fell sick of the small Pox which detaind the Court there five weeks and so much retarded the journey In the intrim the Princes forces encrease and prosper exceedingly having had the best in three rencounters Old Bovillon had got 600. Reiters from the Marquis of Brandenburg who joyn'd with them they got over the Loire maugre the Royall Army under Bois Dauphin The Duke of Vandom was then with the King and he gave him Commission extraordinary to make levies of horse and foot and having by virtu thereof rais'd an Army of 10000. Combatants he declar'd himself afterward for the Princes and employ'd them against the King He who did thrive best amongst the Royalists was the Marshal of Ancre who in the interim had taken Corbes and Clermont The King caus'd a Declaration to be publish'd wherein Conde and all his Adhaerents were Proclaim'd Traytors and sent it to Paris to be verified by the Parliament which was never more puzzled in any busines those that were averse to the Match with Spain and favour'd the Mutineers endevour'd to elude the Registring of the royal Declaration alledging that the Princes of the bloud being the prime Peers could not be censur'd there without their Peers and that the presence of the King himself was requisit without which his bloud could not be judg'd After tough altercations the voices of the Court were reduc'd to two Opinions one was of 73. voices who order'd that the Declaration should be registred but the Person of the Prince excepted for a moneth during which time he should be warn'd to submit himself to his Majesty and all others should lay down their arms The other Opinion was caried by 78. voices which was that the Court order'd that the reasons for which they could not and ought not to proceed to verifie the said Declaration should be
to detain still the possessions of the Church 2. Others thought it was fit to give the King some contentment but in appearance only and to verifie the Edict assuring themselfs that it could never be put in execution it would meet with so many difficulties 3. Others thought it best to delay the verification to another time The King understanding that they were thus chopping of Logic and that the Synod also which was there then sitting did mainly resist the verification of his Edict He resolves to go thither himself though many disswaded him from the journey by reason of the uncouth wayes the sory lodgings the waters in some places poyson'd by Sorcerers and the scarcity of provision in the Lands of Bourdeaux But none of these reasons could deter the King therefore he prepares for his voyage and in the interim he sent a person of quality to the Rochellers to acquaint them with the Elusory answers which the Bearnois made to his commands and therefore he advis'd and requir'd them to have nothing to do in this busines They of Rochell little regarding what the King said but undertook the protection of the Bearnois The King being advanced in his journey neer Pau the Inhabitants sent to know how he would be receiv'd the King asked if there were ever a Church in the Town if there were he would enter as their Soverain if not he would receive no honor in a place where God Almighty had no House to be honor'd in so he entred without any Ceremony They of the Religion making three parts of the people forbore to send Commodities to Pau Market during the Kings sojourn there to constrain him to go away the sooner so that his train made hard shift to subsist all the while He goes thence to Navarrenz seven leagues neerer the hills a strong tenable place having 45. peeces of Ordnance and 40. Culverins the old Governor Bertrand de Sales sent the keys of the Town to the King where he peaceably entred contrary to all expectation he put in a new Garrison of French there and plac'd another Governor giving for recompence to the old 60000. Franks He also caus'd Masse to be sung there which had not bin done fifty yeers before so having settled all things at Navarrenx he return'd to Pau where the great Church which they of the Religion had turn'd to a Temple was restor'd to the Priests and two thousand crowns given for satisfaction In fine having cast the Church into its old mould and the Military with the Civill Government into a new and leaving a competent strength with La Force to preserve both he took post and came safely and triumphantly to Paris in a few dayes The Bearnois made their addresses to the French Churches and exhibited their complaints unto them and for their justification they alledg'd two reasons One was a possession of fifty yeers continued without interruption of those revenues the King had ravish'd them of The second was an Ordinance of the States Generall of Bearn confirm'd by a Declaration of Henry the Great to that effect The Roman Catholiks answer'd That for the possession they speak of it was violent and accompagnied with rebellion and felony Touching the Assembly of the States Generall which they urg'd it was altogether illegal because the first and most noble part which was the Clergy was excluded by a cruel persecution and for Henry the Great he was then himself a persecutor of the Catholiks The French Reformed Churches which are neer upon eight hundred did much resent the usage of the Bearnois thereupon there was a great Assembly held at Loudun without the Kings permission wherein they resolv'd to assist their brethren of Bearn They drew up Cayers or papers to present unto the King containing sundry demands 1. The first that his Majesty would please to revoke his arrest given in favor of the Ecclesiastiks of Bearn 2. A continuation of their Cautionary Towns foure yeers longer the time being now expir'd 3. They demanded leave to change two Governors which were turn'd Catholiks When these Papers were presented to the King he sent their Deputies word by Condé and Luynes that his will was that first of all they should separat the Assembly and six moneths after their separation they should be favourably answer'd They prai'd this promise might be digested in writing to an Act they were answer'd That it was an indecent and derogatory thing for a Monark to treat in that manner with his subjects as if his word were not sufficient The Deputies receiv'd little satisfaction in this so they returnd to Loudun wher the Assembly continued still notwithstanding two Declarations publish'd by the King wherein they were commanded to separat upon pain of being proclaim'd Traytors They little valu'd the Kings Declarations but dissolving their Assembly at Loudun they sent summons up and down to meet at Rochell where in a greater eagernes and zeal to the Cause then before they solemnly conven'd notwithstanding another new Prohibition of the Kings verifi'd by the Court of Parliament in Paris Hereupon the busines was put into deep deliberation at the Counsell of State whether the King should declare war against the whole body of the Religion or particularly against those that had met at Rochell and the latter opinion took place for these reasons 1. First it could not stand with justice to force consciences to quit that beleef which had bin so long tolerated 2. Secondly that declaring a war against the whole body of them of the Religion might bring in forren ayd 3. Thirdly that if a war were pronounc'd in generall many of the Kings best servants would be involv'd therein and provok'd as the Duks of Trimoville Bovillon Lesdigueres Suilly Chastillon Brassai Montgomery Blamville with divers other of his best sort of subjects The King in regard his Treasury was much drain'd was loth to plunge himself in a serious war again the Rochelers therefore to comply with them he accorded a continuation of their cautionary Towns for five yeers longer notwithstanding that they demanded but foure He also gave them leave to change the Governor of Lectour Castle and to choose a new Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris two things they insisted much upon but they prevail'd little with them unlesse the late Edict of Bearn were revok'd Hereupon the Gran Assembly at Rochell reinforc'd it self and went on more roundly then ever there were also up and down the Countrey divers other meetings as Synods Colloquies Circles and demy-circles which conven'd and consulted They of Rochell went higher and higher they had a new public sealemade they establish'd a new Court of Admiralty and stamp'd new Coines They made 47. Ordinances which were printed and commanded to be strictly observed through all the Reformed Churches They nominated Governors of Provinces and impos'd taxes at pleasure The King was much incens'd at these traverses yet nothing could move him to declare war against the whole body of them
any one Faction in France He left two living Monuments of his greatnes behind him which were his two brothers one whereof was Marshall but both of them Dukes and Peers of France The repulse before Montauban and the death of Luynes gave some matter of resentment to the King for the present but he quickly pass'd it over And having settled matters to his best advantage in Guyen he return'd to Bourdeaux and so came to keep his Christmas at Paris The Spring following he gets a horseback again and it was high time for him in regard there was a generall insurrection of them of the Religion both in Dauphiné Languedoc Guyen and Poitou In the last Soubize had got a considerable army of 7000. foot and 600. horse and 9. Pieces of Ordnance The King parts from Paris upon Palm-Sunday which was cryed up to be a good augury that he would return with the Palm the Emblem of victory so marching to Poitou he found out Soubize entrench'd in certain little Islands call'd Rie Perier upon the Kings approach Soubize abandons the place and with a few Horse got along the sands to Rochell the whole Army being thus left headlesse in a fearfull consternation all began to flie and some thought to save themselfs through the Marasse where many hundreds miserably perished those that stayed behind the King were pardon'd only 13. were hang'd for example and they were some of those that had taken an oath at Saint Iohn d' Angely never to bear arms against the King there were kill'd and drown'd in all above two thousand Reformists in this rencounter After this Royan was rendred after a pertinacious siege and a great slaughter on both sides The King thence marcheth to Guyen where the Duke of Elbaeuf had done divers exploits Insomuch that in a short time all the towns of Guyen were reduc'd to the King except Montauban amongst others there were three towns call'd Tonnenx knotted one in another which were utterly extinguish'd with prohibition for any ever to build there again Being in Carcassona upon his March to Montpellier there were two signall things done Soubize was proclaim'd Traitor for flying to England to sollicit for forrein ayd And old Lesdeguiers was made Constable of France Chastillon also a little after came to be Marshall for giving up Aiguemortes the first had that high Office provided he would go to Masso which he did but the last persisted still in his Religion The King appear'd now in Person before Montpellier and a great deal of earth was thrown up by his Pioners before he came the trenches being almost finish'd there were divers furious Sallies from within and Assaults from without happen'd in this Siege and many gallant Gentlemen lost amongst others the young Duke of Fronsack unic son to the Count of Saint Paul was condol'd with much regret And the King was like to have had the same fortune there which he had before Montauban had not the Duke of Vendosme come with a timely supply of five thousand fresh combatants The Duke of Rohan and Constable Lesdiguieres old in yeers and new in Office had privat meetings the former going into the Town carried the busines with that power and wrought so far upon the affections of the Inhabitants of Montpellier that he made them inclinable to let in the King provided that their fortifications might continue entire and that they might be exempt from Cittadel Governor or Garrison upon such termes they with the whole body of the Religion would conform themselfs to a generall Peace which was a little after proclaim'd before Montpellier in form of an Edict to this effect That the Edict of Nants with the secret Articles thereunto annexed should be inviolably kept as under the raign of Henry the Great That the exercise of the Catholic Roman Religion should be reestablish'd where it hath bin interrupted and the Ecclesiasticks restor'd to all their goods That likewise they of the Reformed Religion should exercise it freely in all those places where it was practis'd before these commotions That all new fortifications should be demolish'd specially in the Islands of Re Oleron and the old wals only stand That all Assemblies particular and generall be prohibited to them of the p Reformed Religion for the futur unlesse it be upon affairs purely Ecclesiastic under pain of the crime of Treason That an abolition be granted of every thing pass'd except of those execrable cases reserv'd by the Article 86. of the Edict of Nants That Catholicks as well as Reformists be chosen promiscuously in civill Offices c. This being done the Deputies of the Reformed Churches coming to attend the King they were made to stoop at the entrance of the Kings lodging and afterward having first desir'd pardon they presented the Keys of the Town unto him So the next day he entred the Town and having settled all things thereabouts the King went to Provence and so to Avignon the Popes Town where the old Duke of Savoy came to visit him Thence he returns to Lyon where he found the two Queens The Prince and Princesse of Savoy came also thither to attend him Geneva likewise sent thither her Deputies who made an Oration to the King upon their knees all the while From Lyon He came triumphantly to Paris to begin the new yeer 1623. in Peace after such a long Martial progres While the King was himself in person up and down Poitou and Guyen to represse them of the Religion the Duke of Guyse by Sea who had an Auxiliary Fleet of eight of the King of Englands Ships joyn'd with him for which the Duke of Buckingham was afterwards questioned in Parliament and the Count of Soissons by Land did pinch the Rochellers Soissons rais'd up a strong tenable bulwark which he call'd Lewis-fort that commanded the Chanell Sea-ward and gave the law by Land The generall Pacification published at Montpellier was but a peece slightly plaister'd over it was far from searching the bottom from cleansing and curing the wound for many discontents raign'd still amongst them of the Religion they complain'd that Lewis-fort before Rochell was not demolish'd being a new fortification and they spoak of other grievances the King on the other side complain'd they had not reestablish'd the Ecclesiasticks in their Primitive possessions nor chosen Catholicks in Civill Offices This being profoundly debated in the Counsell of State some as the Church-men and Nobles gave their opinion that rather then to be in such continuall trances and alarms his Majesty should with his main entire strength apply himself to extinguish both the Rebellion and the Heresie as they term'd it totally together as the effect with the cause because his Majesty was not in case to do any thing abroad while they were left so strong at home for as one of the Counsellors said He that hath theeves to his neighbours dares not goe far from home Others were of a contrary opinion that it was very requisit there
should be a generall peace now 'twixt the French people because of the businesse of the Valtolin where the Spaniard had a purpose to block out France in all places towards Italy which was very necessary to be prevented so that it was not fit to enfeeble France at this time by attempting to extinguish them of the Religion and to plunge the whole Countrey in an intestine war for it was as if one would cut off his left hand with the right This last counsell took more with the King and so he left no way unessayed to reunite all his subjects Hereupon to content the Reformists he caus'd their Temples to be reedified he appointed 60000. Franks for the payment of their Ministers and permitted them to call a Synod at Charenton with divers other acts of compliance provided that on their part they should entertain no strangers for preachers nor admit Ministers into politic Assemblies In these difficulties and anxious traverses of things the King made the Cardinal of Richelieu his principall Minister of State chiefe of his Counsell and Director generall under his authority in the government of the State He made this election by the advice of the Queen Mother principally nor was it an improper choice for the party had a concurrence of high abilities in him answerable to that transcendent trust and he prov'd as will appear by the sequele of things a succesfull Instrument though many doubt whether his Counsel was as succesfull to France as it was fatall to the rest of Christendom which he hath plung'd in an eternall war touching this we leave the Ingenious Reader a freedom of censure according as his judgement shall be guided by an unpartiall and unbiass'd relation of matters as they ly connected in the ensuing part of this story Thus our third Lustre concludes with the commencement of Richelieus greatnes The fourth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth VVE began the last lustre with the espousals of the Lady Christina second daughter of France with the Prince of Piemont this begins with the mariage of the Lady Henriette Marie de Bourbon the yongest Royall branch of Henry the Great and this was the first great act that the Cardinal of Richelieu performed after he was come to the superintendency of affairs of State France had two causes of perpetuall apprehensions of fear one external th' other internal The still growing greatnesse of Spain without and They of the Religion within doors which were made frequent use of by any discontented Princes upon all occasions and were cryed up by the Jesuits to be as Matches to set France on fire at any time Therefore the first gran dessein that he projected with himself was to clip their wings and diminish their strength by dismantling their Cautionary Towns and making them dismisse their Garrisons The Cardinal knew the King his Master did not affect them since the Treaty at Lodun wherein they forc'd him to put another interpretation upon his Coronation Oth then his conscience did dictat unto him or the Prelat who administred it unto him meant which appear'd in a churlish answer that he gave them not long after when he was solicited to prolong the terme of holding their Cautionary Towns as Henry the Third and Henry the Great his father had done Which answer was That what grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you nor love you To compasse that great work of taking from them their Garrison Towns it was thought very expedient to secure forren Princes from assisting them specially England and the united Provinces Touching the latter they were charm'd with money for in a fresh Treaty the King accorded them a million of Franks and six hundred thousand Franks every one of the two yeers next ensuing which they were to re-inburse the next two yeers that they should conclude a peace or truce with Spain The Holland-Ambassadors who were employed in this Treatie did promise the King that there should be libertie of conscience given the Catholiks at his Majesties request That the States should associat the French with them in the commerce of the Indies give them some choice ports for traffic and repaire some depraedations they had made by sea but the money being once got there was little care taken to perform these promises which were no more then parol engagements or rather complements whereupon an Ambassador was expressely sent to complain hereof but he effected little To secure England from succouring Them of the Religion the first overture that the Erl of Holland made for an alliance was yeelded unto to whom the Erl of Carlile was sent in joynt commission to conclude it The King told them that he took it for an honour that they sought his sister for the sole sonne of so illustrious a King his neighbour and Allie onely he desir'd that he might send to Rome to have the Popes consent for better satisfaction of his conscience and in the mean time the English Ambassadors might send for a more plenary power to England so in lesse then the revolution of nine moons this great businesse was propos'd poursued and perfected whereas the Sun ran his carreer through the Zodiac ten times before that Spain could come to any point of perfection This may serve to shew the difference twixt the two Nations the leaden heel'd pace of the one and the quicksilver'd motions of the other it shewes also how the French is more round and frank in his proceedings not so full of scruples reservations and jealousies as the Spaniard And one reason that the Statists of the time alledg'd why Spain amus'd the English and protracted the Treaty of the Match so long was that all the daughters of France might be first married to prevent an alliance 'twixt England and her There was a concurrence of many things that favor'd the effecting and expediting of this alliance some previous Offices and Letters of invitation from France wherein there were strains of extraordinary endearments wherewith the King of Great Britain corresponded also in an unusuall stile as appears by this Letter following Most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved good Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Although the deceased King of happy memory was justly call'd Henry the Great for having re-conquer'd by arms his Kingdom of France though it appertain'd unto him as his proper inheritance Yet you have made now a greater conquest for the Kingdom of France though it was regain'd by the victorious arms of your dead father it was his de jure and so he got but his own But you have lately carried away a greater victory having by your two last Letters so full of cordiall courtesies overcome your good Brother and ancient Ally and all the Kingdoms appertaining unto him for We acknowledge Our self so conquer'd by your more then
in his Palace at Theobalds A little before he broak out into a very passionate Speech to his Lords of the Counsel of the King of France saying My Lords the King of France hath writ unto me that he is so far my friend that if ever I have need of him he will render me Offices in Person whensoever I shall desire him Truly he hath gain'd upon me more then any of his Predecessors and he may beleeve me that in any thing that shall concern him I will employ not only my peoples lifes but mine own and whosoever of his subjects shall rise against him either Catholiks or others shall find me a party for him 'T is true if he be provok'd to infringe his Edicts I shall impart as much as in me lies by counsell and advice to prevent the inconveniences Then falling upon the perfections of Madame Henriette Marie he said pleasantly When she is come over I will denounce war against her because she would not read my Letter nor my sons as I understand before she had first receiv'd command from the Queen her Mother yet I have cause to thank her because that after she had perus'd them she put mine in her cushionet and the other in her bosome intimating thereby that she would rely upon me for counsell and lodg my son in her heart King Iame's death retarded a while the proceedings of the Match for things were at a stand till his Exequies were pass'd which were perform'd with a Magnificence sutable to so great a King This Ceremony being ended a procuration was sent the Duke of Cheureuse from his Majesty of Great Britain to be contracted unto the Lady Henriette and then to marry her in his name which was done with extraordinary celebrity the one in the Louure the last in the great Church of Paris by the ministery of the Cardinall Rochefaucaud a little before there was a clash twixt him and the Bishop of Paris who urg'd it was his right to officiat in his own Church but the Cardinal being a Prince of the Church Universall being also gran Almoner which makes him chief Clark of the Court and Cardinal Richelieu who had now the greatest stroak in the State favoring his own habit and the Hat more then the Mitre the Cardinal carried the day This solemnity was perform'd to the very height of greatnes and splendor and such was the bravery of the English Ambassadors the Earls of Carlile and Holland that they seem'd to outshine the French that day in their own Sphere One half of the dowry had bin delivered before upon the Contract which was in all as was said before eight hundred thousand crowns and it was more then the eldest Sister had by two hundred thousand crowns and double as much as the second had the one having but six hundred thousand the other but foure hundred thousand crowns to their portions The Contract and Mariage being thus finish'd the Duke of Buckingham came a fortnight after with admired gallantry to demand the Queen of Great Britain for the King his Master and to attend and conduct her over to England The Queen Mother accompagnied her as far as Amiens Monsieur her Brother to Bullen whence a Fleet of twenty Galeons Royall transported her to Dover This was the eighth Nuptiall conjunction of the Rose and Flowerdeluce that hath happend 'twixt England and France The first was in the yeer 900. 'twixt Charles the First of France and the Lady Ogine daughter to Edward the old King of England 120. yeers before the Norman conquest The second twixt Henry the Third of England and Margaret daughter to Lewis the Seventh of France The third was between Edward the First of England and the Lady Margaret daughter to Philip the Hardy of France The fourth 'twixt Edward the Second of England and Isabel daughter to Philip the Faire The fifth was 'twixt Richard the Second of England and Elizabeth daughter to Charles the Sixth The sixth 'twixt Henry the Fifth of England and Catherin daughter also to Charles the Sixth of France The seventh was 'twixt Lewis the twelfth of France and Mary daughter to Henry the Seventh of England The eighth was this 'twixt Charles Stuard Prince of Wales and Henriette Marie of Bourbon youngest daughter to Henry the Great so in these eight Matches England hath had six daughters of France and France two of Englands As soon as this great Nuptiall pompe was pass'd there came tydings that Soubize upon a new discontent of them of the Religion had a great Fleet of ships at Sea and surpriz'd the Port of Blauet in Britany which is a faire and large Haven deposited to the Spaniard in time of the Ligue and restored to Henry the Great at the peace at Vervins Soubize enterd the Haven with eleven Sayle of men of War and took and carried away six great ships whereof some belong'd to the Duke of Nevers This rendred them of the Religion powerfull at Sea and because their Ships might have choise of harbors they seiz'd upon the Islands of Re and Oleron where they began to fortifie Soubize sayles up the Garond towards Bourdeaux with a Fleet of seventy sayles of all sort which made him Master of the Sea and landing a considerable number of land forces at the land of Medoc they of Bourdeaux joyning with Toiras sent him a shipboard again with losse and so he return'd to Rochell A little after he sets out to Sea again and takes divers prises extremely interrupting all traffic on those Coasts Hereupon the King sent to the Hollander to hyre twenty Sayle of men of War according to the late Treaty which were accordingly sent him under Admirall Hauthain These joyning with another Fleet of the Duke of Monmorency made a considerable naval power Monmorency was very eagar to set upon Soubize and the Rochell Fleet but he found the Hollanders bacward and cold being charm'd by Letters and a Remonstance annexed unto it sent to Hauthain by two French Ministers and two Dutch Merchants from Rochell wherein they made piteous complaint that the King had performed little or nothing at all of the Treaty before Montpellier and that the utter ruine of the whole body of the Religion which was the same with that of Holland was intended therefore they did efflagitat and conjure the said Admiral Hauthain to lay his hand on his heart and conscience and not to contribute to so damnable a dessein This Remonstrance wrought much upon Hauthain and Dorp his Vice-Admiral in so much that he publiquely declar'd unto the Duke of Monmorency that he had Commission in expresse termes from his Masters the States to reduce Monsieur Soubize to his duty either by reason or force that he understood how he was ready to conforme himself to the first and to that effect he and his Brother the Duke of Rohan with other Towns of their party had Deputies employed to the King to desire Peace which was in a good forwardnes
of Austria they thought it high time to look about them so there came Commissioners extraordinary from Holland to Paris and a Ligue defensive and offensive was struck between them to make a social conjunctive war in the Netherlands against the King of Spain the most materiall Articles of which Ligue for we are loth to stuff this History with formalities were these 1. The King of France shall have an Army of 25000 foot and 5000. horse upon the frontiers of France towards the Netherlands in the convenientest place And the States of the united Provinces shall have 20000. foot and 8000. horse 2. Of these two Armies one shall send the other 10000. foot and 2000. horse as Auxiliaries in case the enemy shall succour any place which either of them shall besiege and if occasion require both Armies shall joyn in one body 3. It is accorded that a Declaration be sent to all the Towns under the King of Spain in the Netherlands to assure them that there shall be no Innovation introducd which may prejudice their priviledges and that the exercise of Religion be left free 4. That all other Princes and States who shall desire the protection of France and the united Provinces may enter into this Ligue provided they take up armes against the Spaniard 5. That if any Towns yeeld themselfs of their own accord it shall be lawfull for them to mould themselfs into the body of a particular State 6. That there may be no difference in parting what shall be taken it is agreed that France shall have all Flanders from the frontiers of France as far as Blanquemberg neer the Sluce And the States shall have all the Maritim places beyond toward France as far as the River of Swyn That Artois and Henault as far as Navar inclusively shall be the Kings of France And the States shall have Hulst Malines and Brabant as far as Brussells 7. That no places which shall be taken be troubled for matter of Religion but that it be continued in the same state 't is found 8. That no Treaty for Truce or Peace be set a foot with the Spaniard without the reciprocall consent of both parties 9. That for a more regular way in proceeding this Order shall be followed to attempt first two places allotted for the share of France and then two of the shares of the States which order shall be successively observed 10. That if the King invade Flanders the States with a diverting Army shall enter Brabant and if the States are engag'd in Brabant the King shall have a diverting Army in Artois or Hanault 11. That the King of Great Britain may enter into this Confederacy to which effect there shall be Ambassadors employed unto him from both parties to know of him whether he will continue upon termes of Neutrality 12. It is accorded further that both parties shall have fifteen men of War at Sea a peece of so many Tonns and if any English ships desire to joyne with the said Fleet they shall have the precedence of them of the States 13. If any Treaty be agreed unto for Peace or Treaty it shall be kept in the Hague and no where els 14. In regard of this Treaty the obligation shall cease to furnish the States yeerly with two millions of Franks which was us'd to be sent them from France c. These Articles being interchangeably sign'd and ratified in Paris there issued a large public Declaration from the King to denounce war with Spain to this effect Lewis by the grace of God King of France and Navar to all who shall see these present Letters health The great and sensible offences this Monarchy hath receiv'd divers times from that of Spain are so well known to all the world that it is needles to renue their memory We have a long time dissembled the hatred and naturall jealousie the Spaniards have against France whereby they have alwayes stopp'd the course of Our prosperity by secret practises oppressed the Princes allied to this Crown and sought to dismember the Kingdome Therefore with those forces which God hath given Us We have resolv'd to prevent their further desseins upon Us and rather to carry Our Armes within their Countrey then expect theirs in Ours c. Then He goes on to enumerat the obligations that Spain had to France for making the last truce with the Hollander which Spain had so much need of at that time the good Offices he had done the Emperour upon the beginning of the troubles in Germany so he taxes him that the first recompence which France receiv'd was the occupation of the Valtolin from the Grisons the ancient Allies of France he complains further that the Treaty at Mouson was not executed as it was intended He speaks of sundry enterprises upon the Duke of Savoy while he was Confederat of France of the violent oppression which the Duke of Mantova suffer'd How the Duke of Lorain arm'd five times against France by the suscitation of the King of Spain How the said King Treated with the chief of them of the Religion to form a perpetuall body of Rebellion in the bowels of France at that time when he promis'd assistance against them How his Ambassadors continually practised to sow division between them of the Royall Family How he assisted with men and money those that made rents and factions in France How to bring about his far fetch'd designes for the Westerne Monarchy he made Flanders his Arcenal for Arms not only to subdue them whom he had acknowledg'd free and soverain but to keep France in perpetuall jealousie of surprisals by a veteran Army therefore he thought it more honorable to attain unto a sound secure Peace by the generous strength of an open war then let his subjects drop away by small numbers and languish under a doubtfull and incertain Peace which must be conserv'd with 150000. men Then he comes to speak of the outrage that was done to the Archbishop of Triers and the jeering illusory answer which was return'd about his liberty Then he speaks of his most deer great friends Allies and Confederats the States of the united Provinces with whom he had made a Ligue defensive and offensive but with this Proviso that what Towns or places whatsoever were taken the Catholique Religion should not be damnified but conserv'd still in the same condition Then he makes his addresse to the Flemins that if within two moneths they cause the Spaniards to retire from their Towns and Provinces they shall be joyn'd and united into a body of one free and independent State with all rights of soveraignty So he concluds with an Injunction to all his subjects to make war by sea and land night and day against the King of Spain a declar'd Enemy to his Person and state protesting before God and men that as he was reduc'd to the utmost extremity to take up arms for his own defence and for his Allies and friends so his main end
and prudence who to the wonder of all the world had the comfort of two sons after two and twentie yeers expectation And to that benediction hath another now added to have not only the sole government of them but the supreme sway of that huge Monarchy which She is like to continue about nine yeers longer A just recompence from heaven for her so long patience as also for her wise comportment and moderation in refraining utterly to intermeddle with any the least matters of State while She remain'd under covert Baron Touching other circumstances of this Kings death with his constitution of body and disposition of mind you shall find it in the ensuing Corollary or Character Thus ends the Life and Raign of Lewis the thirteenth A COROLLARY ADDED TO THE LIFE of LEVVIS the Thirteenth ANd thus have we attended this Great King from the Womb to the Tomb from the Funt to his Funerall from Fountainbleau to Saint Denis Our story hath waited on him in his child-hood in his nonage and so ascended from his majority to his Meridian not leaving him tills he had clos'd his eyes at Saint Germans which was a good while too soon considering the ordinary longitude of time that is allowed man to live amongst the Elements for he reach'd not unto forty three yeers compleat which in some constitutions is accounted but the noontyde of virility In so much that when I consider the frame of his body and the actions of his life I find that he had more obligations to Fortune then to Nature yet was he of a comely middlesiz'd proportion of a spare but cleer making and though not strenuous or robust yet active enough and patient of toyle for he would be most commonly in the head of some of his Armies himself and take very much pains to drill and disciplin his Troups in his own Person and sit twelve howers together on horseback He was of a soft complexion though black hair'd which turn'd gray before he came to thirty yeers which put him to his dy and the reason that Nature did thus outrun Time in him was that she had not given him a competence of radicall moisture for seldom came any humidities from him from mouth or nostrill nor was he subject to sweat though he would agitat his body often in tough exercises as hunting the wild Bore and other sports wherein he would be earnest Divers eminent vertues did cohabit in him as piety in his way chastity temperance and constancy Touching the first two they shin'd in him with such a strength and lustre that his example might have had power enough to give law to all mankind cast the world into a new mould had it bin capable of reformation He was pious in an intense degree for though he was not known to be subject to any Vice yet would he be on his knees to his ghostly father every week rather to refresh as one said then to clense his conscience by confession nor in his prayers had he as much cause to ask for pardon as for perseverance defects he had but scarce any faults those rayes which enlightned his brain from above descended to his breast and became fire so fervent he us'd to be in his way of devotion when but a youth he went to the Countrey of Bearn at his entrance to Pau the Inhabitants bringing a Canopy to carry over his head he ask'd whether there was ever a Church in Town and being answer'd no he said He would receive no honor in that place where God Almighty had no House to be honour'd in And into all other Towns where he entred as Conqueror he would give expresse command that none should cry out Vive le Roy during the time of Procession When the Queen now Regent found her self quick he caus'd a solemn Declaration to be publish'd wherein he made the blessed Virgin Protectresse under the Holy Trinity of all his estates all which he consecrated to Her and for an immortall mark of this consecration he commanded the great Altar in the Cathedrall Church of Paris to be built anew with the Image of the Virgin which should hold in her armes that of our Saviour and the King to ly prostrat before the Son and Mother offring them his Crown and Scepter The Archbishop of Paris was enjoyn'd to commemorat this Declaration once every yeer upon Assumption day at the high Altar in the Morning and that in the Evening a generall Procession should be made wherein the Provost of Paris and all the soverain companies should be assistant with the Court of Parlement this command extended to all other Archbishops and Bishops throughout France that they should in every Cathedrall Church erect one speciall Altar for the Virgin Mary for this end and in commemoration of this act to perpetuity Many other instances could be produc'd what a great Zelot he was in the Religion and Ceremonies of Rome but the adding of one more shall suffice which was that when the old Marshall de la Force was admitted to see him a little before he expir'd he told him from his death-bed That he thought God Almighty suffer'd him meaning the Marshall to live so long upon earth expecting his conversion as he had done that of Lesdiguieres He put out sundry Proclamations against Swearers against Pride in apparell for he himself went usually very plain as also against Duells and the last was so strict that both the appellant and defendant whosoever did survive should suffer death without mercy and be depriv'd of Christian buriall but both rot upon the gallowes with their heels upwards As he was thus pious in a general way so was he towards his parents in particular For when he had pass'd nonage he sayed I am now a major to all the world except my mother to whom I shall be still a minor When he had given Vitry order to feiz upon the Marshall of Ancre yet he gave him a private instruction not to touch him in his mothers lodgings She was twice in actuall armes against him yet though he routed and broak her partisans and might have crush'd them all to peeces he pardon'd them all at her request his brother started out often against him yet such was his indulgence that he alwaies forgave him and receiv'd him again into his bosome But when the Cardinall came to sit at the stern he had such strong influxes upon him that he postpos'd both fraternall love and maternall duty to his affection towards him or rather towards his kingdom as he term'd it Insomuch that amongst other short memorandums he sent her word that it concernd him more to conserve France then to content Her viz. his mother Touching his continence and chastity he was a great example for he was not subject no not as much as in thought much lesse in action to the contraries of these according to the relatiō of some of his neerest servants nor did this proceed from impotence as some would make
their Counsels He had his beagles abroad every where which were excellent to find the sent of things and amongst others one de Lope a Jew was his chiefest Spy A little before the revolt of Catalonia and Portugall he was overheard to say That shortly he would give the Spaniard such a bone to gnaw that should shake all the teeth in his head And touching the troubles of Scotland and England he was us'd to say 't was easie for one with half an eye to have foreseen them He had an excellent invention to devise wayes to get money in so much that when the Cow slack'd he had a way to presse her nipples so that all the time of his sway the King never wanted Treasure he us'd France like Prospero Colunnas Goose pluck the old feathers and the new ones will grow the faster He gave her likewise all sorts of Physick sometimes he would give her a purge sometimes a vomit then would he often Phlebotomize her and by sweating and fluxing do away the peccant humors He held that Principle a vain thing which calls the peoples hearts the Kings best Exchequer He verified the saying that La France est un beau pré qu'on ton-doit trois fois l'année France is a medow which if you do mow thrice every yeer the grasse will better grow Or France's like your beard which the more oft you shave still the more thick and plusher hair you 'l have He thought often upon that Maxim that populus aut humiliter servit aut superbè dominatur The common people serve slavishly or rule proudly they are like fire and water Good servants but ill Masters therefore he kept them under by impositions and poverty It was long before the King took him into his bosome though he had always a great conceit of his abilities A good while when he saw him come to Court he was us'd to say sometimes Voycy venir le Fourbe Here coms the cunning Companion but afterwards he so fastned upon his affections that whereas to others Kings favours are but as Tenacies at wil the Kings favor to him might be call'd a stable possession 't was not as brittle glasse but as firm as Diamond Thus for twenty yeers together he sayl'd securely upon the Ocean of Royall favour which useth to be full of rocks shelfs and Quicksands but he knew the use of the Compasse so well that he avoyded them all He was marvailously constant to his ends assiduous and sagacious whereby he took off from the Frenchman that reprochfull saying which defines him to be an animal sine praeterito et futuro He fitted his projects so aptly to the means and the means to the ends that he seldome fayl'd of his expectation He stird all the Caecodaemons of hell against the House of Austria and a little before he died he threatned to pull the King of Spain out of his Escuriall such was his forren Intelligence that he did the Enemy more mischief by discovering of his Counsels then by discomfiting his Armes He had such a nimble apprehension that he oft times would find out truth at first search the prime motions of his thoughts being so conclusive that what discours he form'd upon them afterward was but an approbation of the first Idaea which needed no addition He was no great zelot in his own Religion but as he made her subservient to his politicall ends nor would he ever employ Jesuit he had a moderate opinion of the Reformists which made him to be call'd the Huguenot Cardinal And he would have often in his mouth this saying Maneat moralis benevolentia inter discordes sententia Yet he writ a book against them which is extant He did them more mischief by complementing with them then by combating He was overheard to say that he had taken Rochell in despight of three Kings meaning his own for one for it was a great while before the King could be induc'd to that expedition Saint Martin was beholding to him for his cloake els the English had taken it away from him at the Isle of Ré with which cloake 't was said Saint Martin cover'd him afterwards in many Battailes He was a great cherisher and promoter of vertuous men and would find them out wheresoever they were in so much that he gave every yeer in pensions little lesse then an hundred thousand Franks He erected two Universities one in Paris call'd L'Academie de beaux Esprits where the prime wits of the Kingdom met every Munday and another at Richelieu where the Mathematiques and other Sciences were read in the French Language the difficulty of the Latin deterring many from the study of them in other places He did so oblige all the wits of the Kingdom that they strove who should magnifie him most and there were never such hyperbolicall expressions of any man and not without some mixture of profanenes which shews that there is no Inquisition in France Some said That God Almighty might put the government of the world into his hands That France in God and the Cardinals hands were too strong that What the soule was to the body the same he was to France Si foret hic nullus Gallia nulla foret Some appropriat the reduction of the Rochellers soly to him therefore to sooth him one French Chronicler writes that in the taking of that Town Neither the King nor God Almighty himself had a share in the action but the Cardinal himself Thereupon another made this Distich Richelii adventu portae patuere Rupellae Christo infernales ut patuere fores The gates of Rochell op'd to Richelieu As those of Hell to Christ asunder flew Then another Cedite Richelio mortales cedite Divi Ille homines vincit vincit et ille Deos. Vayle mortalls vayle ye gods to Richelieu He mortals can He can the gods subdue Another thus O Princeps delicte Deo cui militat aequor Et tempestates omnia laeta ferunt Magne pater patriae quae saecla ingrata recusent Indigites inter te numerare Deos And in the French Language there are a world of such Hyperboles we will instance only in two Et si nous faisons des ghirlandes C'est pour en couronner un Dieu Qui soubs le nom de Richelieu Recoit nos Vaeux nos offrandes Another Heros a qui la France erige des Autels Qui prevois qui fais le bonheur des Mortels Qui scais mieux l'advenir que les choses passeés Penetre dans mon Ame c. Another Si quelq'un dans ces vers parle de Richelieu Qui sous l'habit d'un homme il nous descrive un Dieu Vous n'estes point suiet a l'humaine impuissance c. He that 's cryed up for the Cicero of France speaking of his book against them of Charenton saith that that book might be the death of all other books except the Bible Another though a Royal Chronologer attributs more to him then to his Master the King
notwithstanding that he was offer'd six hundred thousand crowns yearly by the Ecclesiasticks viz. two hundred thousand by the Pope two hundred thousand by the Colledge of Cardinalls and two hundred thousand by the French Clergy La Force whom the King had left Governor of Bearn did not put the Kings commands in execution as he expected therefore the Duke of Espernon was sent thither with an Army and settled all things according to the Kings pleasure and made La Force quit the Countrey who was proclaym'd Traytor and the Marshall of Themines put in his place though afterwards La Force recovered his repute with the King and receiv'd the Truncheon to be Marshall of France and grew to be a great Confident The King having now taken a resolution of war against the Rechellers intended to make a Lord High Constable of France thereupon it was offer'd the old Duke Le'sdigueres provided he would go to Masse which he waving Luynes undertook it which drew much more envy upon him then formerly The King put out a Declaration that it was not against Religion but against Rebellion that he proceeded therefore he offer'd to take into his protection all those Reformed Churches that would contain themselfs within the bounds of their obedience to him and not adhaere to the Assembly at Rochell which Declaration was verified in Parliament with much solemnity so he march'd towards the Loire and being neer Saumur a Town of the greatest consequence that the Reformed Churches had he sent to Monsieur du Plessis Mournay that he desired to lodge in the Castle that night with his Queen The old Governor being above eighty yeers of age was so surpriz'd with this Message that it put him to his wits end for he made full account the King would have lodg'd in the Town as other Kings had and as he was consulting what to do with much perplexity the Guard of Swisses were at the Castle gate so he peaceably let them in the King followed presently after who charming the old man with complement made him discharge his Garrison so the Castle and City was secur'd for the King Yet the Governor which he left in the Castle was a Reformist who was the Count of Sault Monsieur Crequy's son The reductiono and assurance of Saumur was a mighty advantage to the King for the advance of his present dessein in regard that Saumur for her situation was one of the importantst Towns that they of the Reformed Religion had in regard it tied Normandy Britany Anjou and Mayn with Poitou Tourain and other Countreys circumjacent where they were strongest besides it lay upon the Loire and it was the probablest place to stop the Kings passage which they endevor'd to doe afterwards at Saint Iohn d' Angely From Saumur the King marched to Touars a Town of the Duke of Trimovillies where he was receiv'd with all honor and obedience by the Duchesse in the Dukes absence from thence he pass'd through divers Towns of the Reformed Religion where in some places he chang'd the Governors so he came to Moart where Paraberre the old Governor afterward turning Roman entertaind him with all kind of compliance So he found little or no opposition at all till he came to Saint Iohn d' Angely where Soubize had cast himself in with 1500. men a formall siege was planted before the Towne The King had 15000. foot and 2000. horse the flower of the Cavalry of France and Espernon came with 4000. foot more of Gascons and Bearnois A Herald of Arms was sent to summon Soubize who being let a little in at one of the gates in his rich coat he pronounced alowd these words To thee Benjamin of Rohan Lord of Soubize I come and command thee in the Kings name my Soverain Lord and thine to open unto him the gates of this Town to deliver it unto him as his own and to go out presently with all those that assist thee otherwise I declare thee a Rebell and a Traytor against Divine and Humane Majesty in the highest degree thy Houses and Castles to be raz'd thy goods confiscated to the King and I declare thee and all thy posterity Yeomen Soubize answer'd That he was a most humble servant and subject of the Kings but being there in quality of a Soldier the execution of the Kings commandment depended on the Assembly of Rochel who had committed unto him the Government of the place this he spoak with his hat on thereupon the Herald replied Know that neither as Captain or Soldier thou oughtst to answer me with thy head cover'd when I speak to thee in the name of the King thy Soverain Lord and mine Then Haute Fontaine took the word saying That the Lord Soubize having never seen such summons was excusable This Answer and cariage of Soubize that he should prefer an Ordinance of the Assembly before his royal Declaration nettled the King extremley so the siege was poursued very eagerly a mine or two sprung and a generall Storm appointed but in the interim there were Deputies sent to Constable Luynes to Treat he sent them back with this Answer that the King did not use to Treat with his Subjects Hereupon they return'd with Commission to implore grace so the King publish'd a short Proclamation to this effect That his Majesty being contented to admit of a Treaty at the most humble supplication many times reiterated by them which are in the Town of St. John d'Angely or Angerry he was pleas'd to vouchsafe a generall pardon to all provided they ask it and swear never to bear arms again against his service c. So they came out and Soubize kneel'd unto the King and promis'd to observe the conditions his Majesty requir'd Thus Saint Iohn d' Angely was yeelded upon Saint Iohn Baptists day the Patron of the place after fortie daies siege which was furious and very hot for the time divers Lords and Gentlemen of quality lost their lives there the Prince of Ienvill was hurt so was the Duke of Elbeuf the Marquis de la Valette de Saint Claumont Crequy with divers others The Cardinal of Guyse fell down at the puffe of a Canon bullet which put him in such a burning feavor that he died before the Town as also the Marshall of Brissac The King commanded a Convent of Capuchins to be built forthwith the wals to be raz'd and commanded it should be call'd no more a town but a village and to be nam'd Lewis-Bourg The rendition of this town was seconded with good news from the Prince of Condé and the Count of Saint Paul who had taken Gergeau and Sancerre which with Saumur were all they had upon the Loire While the King was before Saint Iohn d' Angely a remarkable passage happen'd twixt Sir Edward Herbert now Baron of Cherberry then Ambassador for his Majesty of great Britain in France and the great Favorit and Constable Luynes which was thus Sir Edward Herbert had receiv'd privat instructions from England to
mediat a Peace for them of the Religion and in case of refusall to use certain menaces hereupon he coming to the Army and finding the approches to the said Town were almost finish'd he hastned his addresses to the King for an audience The King referring him to Luynes and desiring that what he had to say might be first imparted unto him he went accordingly to Luynes lodgings and deliver'd his Message so that he reserv'd still the latter part which was menace untill he heard how the busines was relish'd Luynes had hid behind the hangings a Gentleman of the Religion who was upon point of turning Roman that being an earwitnes of what had pass'd between the English Ambassador and Luynes he might relate unto them of the Religion what little hopes they were to expect from the intercession of the King of England The Ambassador and Luynes having mingled some Speeches the language of Luynes was very haughty saying What hath your Master to do with our Actions Why doth he meddle with our affairs Sir Edward Herbert replied It is not to you to whom the King my Master owes an account of his Actions and for Me it is enough to obey Him In the mean time I must maintain that the King my Master hath more reason to do what he pleaseth to do then you have to ask why he doth it Nevertheles if you desire me in a gentle fashion I shall acquaint you further Whereupon Luynes bowing a little said very well The Ambassador answer'd That it was not on this occasion only that the King of Great Britain had desir'd the Peace and prosperity of France but upon all other occasions whensoever any troubles were rais'd in that Countrey And this he said was his first Reason The second was That when a Peace was settled there His Majesty of France might be better dispos'd to assist the Palatin in the affairs of Germany Luynes said We will none of your advices The Ambassador replied That he took that for an Answer and was sorry only that the affection and good will of the King his Master was not sufficiently understood and that since 't was rejected in that maner he could do no lesse then say that the King his Master knew well enough what he had to do Luynes said We are not afraid of you The Ambassador smiling a little replied If you had said you had not lov'd Us I should have beleev'd you and made you another Answer In the mean while all I will tell you more is That We know very well what we have to do Luynes hereupon rising a little from his chaire with a fashion and a countenance much discompos'd said By God if you were not Monsieur l' Ambassadeur I know very well how I would use you The Ambassador herewithall rising also from his chaire said That as he was his Majesties of Great Britains Ambassador so he was also a Gentleman and that his sword whereon he laid his hand should do him reason if he took any offence After which Luynes replying nothing the Ambassador went on his way towards the doore to which when Luynes seem'd to accompagny him the Ambassador told him that after such language there was no occasion to use ceremony and so departed expecting to hear further from him But no message being brought him from Luynes he did in poursuance of his instructions demand audience of the King at Cognac St. Iean d' Angely being now rendred who granting it where he did in the same termes and upon the same motives Mediat a Peace for them of the Religion and receiv'd a far more gentle Answer from the King The Marshall de Saint Geran coming to Sir Edward Herbert told him in a friendly maner you have offended the Constable and you are not in a place of surety here whereunto he answer'd That he held himself to be in a place of surety wheresoever he had his sword by him Luynes little resenting the affront he receiv'd from Sir Ed. Herbert got Cadenet his brother Duke of Chaune with a ruffling train of Cavaliers neer upon a hundred whereof there was not one as Cadenet told King Iames but had kild his man in duel Ambassadour extraordinary to England a little after who misreporting the clash 'twixt Sir Ed. Herbert and Luynes prevaild so far that Sir Ed. Herbert was presently revok'd to answer the charge that should be laid against him In the mean time the Earl of Carlile that dexterous Courtier was employ'd extraordinary Ambassador to France for accommodating le mal entendu which might arise 'twixt the two Crowns Carlile was commanded to inform himself of the truth of the businesse afore mention'd and he could meet with no relation but what Luynes had made himself wherein more affronting and haughty expressions were laid to Sir Ed. Herberts charge then had truly pass'd for though the first provocation came from Luynes yet the Ambassadour kept himself within the bounds both of his instructions and honor but as my Lord of Carlile was ready to send this mis-information to England the Gentleman formerly spoken of who stood behind the hangings came to the Earl of Carlile and said that he ow'd so much unto truth and honor that he could doe no lesse then vindicat Cavalier Herbert from all indiscretion and unworthines and thereupon related the true circumstances of the businesse The Earl of Carlile being thus rectified in the knowledge of the truth gave account to King Iames accordingly who cleer'd Sir Ed. Herbert and resolv'd to renvoy him Ambassador to France whereof he having notice kneel'd to the King before the Duke of Buckingham and humbly desired that since the busines was public in both Kingdoms he might in a public way demand reparation of M. Luynes for which purpose he beseech'd his Majesty that a Trumpeter if not a Herald might be sent on his part to M. de Luynes to tell him That he had made a false relation of the passages before mentioned and that Sir Ed. Herbert would demand reasons of him with sword in hand on that point the King answering that he would take it into consideration Luynes a little after died and Sir Edward was again sent Ambassador to France But to return to our former road besides those places formerly mentioned the Towns Suilly Merac and Caumont were also taken for the King but the latter two by the Duke of Mayn Governor of Guyen All Poitou being reduc'd to Royall obedience and setled the King resolv'd to go for Guyen to suppresse the Duke of Rohan and la Force who were in arms and had a considerable Army He left behind the Duke of Espernon with 4000. foot and 600. horse to beleager Rochell and stop the advenues in the interim So he advances to Guyen and divers places in the way open'd their gates unto him till he came to Clairac where he found a tough resistance He lost before the Town the great Lord of Thermes and sundry persons of quality besides