King is Master of the Body and the Goods of his Subjects The Courtiers who instil'd this Doctrine into Sovereigns this Judicious Divine without Ceremony calls Dogs and Court-Parasites To prevent the ill effects of the bad Politicks of the Cardinal Director of the Education of King Lewis the XIV they printed the same things during the Minority of that Prince Neither the Bookseller nor the Author did dare to set their Name to it This Book was writ by a Churchman Eminent for his Learning and Probity Mr. Jolli Chantre de Nôtre-Dame de Paris Maximes veritables impnrtantes pour l'institution du Roi. He since enjoyed one of the first Dignities of the Church of Paris but what was spoken freely to Henry the II. and what was published covertly about 50 years since the French would have now lost the Memory of if it were as easie to forget as it is to be silent to avoid Danger all Books of this kind are now burnt by the hands of the Hangman Can those unworthy Magistrates who order this believe that the flames by consuming of Paper will erase out of the Hearts of good Frenchmen those Sentitiments that right Reason hath deeply inscrib'd in them The Oath which James the 1. King of England requirâ—…d of his Pâ—…pish Subjects caus'd a Dispute concerning the Independance of Sovereignty in Temporal Matters The Parlement of Paris on the 26th day of November the same year made a Decree for the Suppression of the Treatises which Cardinal Bellarmin a Jesuit had published concerning the power of the Pope in Temporal Matters since this new Book was a Consequence of the Dispute of the Author with James the first King of Great Britain upon the occasion of the Oath which that Prince required of the Roman Catholicks of England I will in a few words Relate the beginning and Progress of the Controversie After the Horrible Gunpowder Plot King James thought for his own Safety it was necessary to require the English Papists to take a particular Oath of Allegiance to him The Form of this was so ordered that it might not offend the Conscience of those who without renouncing their Religion would pay that duty to their Sovereign they rightfully ow'd him In this they acknowledg'd the Pope had no right to Depose Kings or dispose of their Kingdoms or any Foreign Prince to Invade them or Absolve their Subjects of their Oath of Allegiance or Command them to take Arms against their Sovereign they promis'd farther to be faithful to the King and serve him notwithstanding all that the Pope should attempt against him or his Successors and to discover all Conspiracies which should come to their Knowledge They Abjured and Detested as Impious and Heretical the Doctrine of those who teach it is lawful to Depose and Assassinate Princes Excommunicated by the Pope and lastly they protested they believed that neither the Pope nor any other power could dispense with the keeping of their Oath and Renounced all Dispensations which the Pope might think fit to give The thing appear'd reasonable to the English Papists the Nobility Gentry Priests and all others swore in this Form George Blackwell nominated Arch-Priest of England by the Pope not content with taking the Oath himself wrote in Defence of it against all its Opposers Paul V. forbids the English of his Communion to take the Oath The Court of Rome made a quite different Judgment in the matter Thinking Men were not surpriz'd at it a Proposition which she makes one of the Fundamental Articles of her Religion was here Rejected as Impious and Heretical Whatever be said on this Subject those who approve the Oath reason inconsequently if they own the Pope for the Vicar of Jesus Christ Paul V. scared at these proceedings of the English Catholicks without his Knowledge and Consent sent a Brief immediately to forbid them to take an Oath Inconsistent as he said with the Catholick Faith and the Salvation of their Souls These Expressions are as moving and strong as if he designed to disswade these poor People from subscribing the most Impious Tenets against the Divinity of Jesus Christ This thundering Brief discompos'd them so much they thought they could not do better then regard it as Subreptitious or Spurious His Holiness not being well inform'd of the proceedings in England King James his Apology for his Oath without setting his Name to it They were not suffered long to remain in this voluntary Mistake Paul soon dispatch'd another Brief to confirm the first Cardinal Bellarmin was the greatest and most eminent Champion of the Pontifical Power since the Death of Cardinal Baronius which happened not long before Bellarmin I say wrote a well studied Letter to Blackwell to reduce him into the right way A more passionate Remonstrance could scarce have been made to one who had renounc'd the Gospel and embrac'd the Alchoran This made James loose all Patience he wrote himself to defend his Oath against the two Briefs of the Pope and the Letter of Bellarmin and now he did not set his Name to the Work Had not a King better forbore Writing at all and left this care to another This good Prince own'd himself publickly that it became a King more to Judge than Dispute A little Jesuit made a Cardinal by blotting of Paper was not an Adversary worthy of a great Monarch Borghese behav'd himself like a King and James acted the part of a Doctor one Commanded and the other Disputed Except a Prince then write as Julius Caesar or Marcus Aurelius he is in the wrong to become an Author Julian was pleas'd to take his Pen to defend his Philosophick Gravity and Religion and with all his Learning made himself Contemptible and Ridiculous The King of England declares himself Author of the Apology to the Princes and States of Christendom Bellarmin did not fail to reply to the King but under a borrowed Name A Learned Prelate of England undertook to refute the Cardinal he shewed that before Gregory the VII no Ecclesiastical Writer had attempted to maintain the Authority of the Pope over the Temporalities of Sovereigns The King of England caused another Edition of his Apology to be printed and declared himself the Author of it Shall I say he thought in this to do himself Honour by becoming a Champion for the common cause of all Sovereigns or had a mind to display a Learning not very common in Persons of his Rank The Work appeared with a very pompous Preface at the Head of it This was a Manifesto addressed to all the Kings Princes and other Republicks of Christendom to give an account of his Oath and his Conduct with regard to his Roman Catholick Subjects Rouse your selves it is high time said the King to them The Common Interest of all Sovereigns is concerned a Formidable and Obstinate Enemy is undermining the Foundations of your Power unless you act in Concert to put a stop to the Progress he makes every Day
Assistance of the Pope and Governor of Milan did not desist for all this The Count of Soissons sent him privately word to be very reserved to Berrault a Creature of Villeroy who aimed to surprize and daunt the Duke Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag. 463 464. The Pope's Nuncio in France declared his Master knew nothing of the Designs of Charles Emanuel but this Italian Minister maintained them as well as he could and strove to prove the Justice of them to the Queen All this gave Umbrage This was the reason she earnestly recommended to the Cardinal of Joieuse to Discourse with the Pope upon this Subject and to Represent the Reasons which France had to oppose the Enterprize which the Duke of Savoy seemed to design The Duke of Savoy is forced to Disarm The World could not comprehend the Intrigues of this Prince perhaps he himself did not very well know what he would have Charles Emanuel undertakes to make a War on the Protestants and his chief Prospect is to raise the Hugonots of France in case he were left alone to act against Geneva At the same time he proposes to the King of England a double Marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Savoy and of the Prince of Piemont with a Daughter of England It was very difficult at first to make King James hear the Envoy from Savoy and yet the Duke pushed the Matter so far that the Court of Rome was alarmed at it Paul V. took Measures to break the Treaty which the King of England and the Duke of Savoy had no great mind to conclude A Capucin had Orders to go to Turin with an Instruction from Cardinal Borghese to divert Charles Emanuel from thinking on an Alliance with England All that could ever be guessed of so capricious a Movement was that the Duke thought to create a Jealousie in France and bring her by this means to finish the Treaty or the Marriage of the Eldest Daughter of that Kingdom with the Prince of Piemont He hoped too the Pope would break the Treaty of the Double Marriage between France and Spain and Assist the Prince of Piemont to Marry the Eldest Daughter of either of those two Crowns rather than suffer the Duke to bring a Protestant Princess to Turin The poor Duke spoil'd all his Affairs by aiming too much to be crafty His Intrigue with England did not succeed better than any of the rest The Regent determined too on the double Marriage between France and Spain thought no more on the Prince of Piemont except for Madam Christina second Daughter to the late King For his designs on Geneva and the Country of Vaux these he must quit too Mary de Medicis had acted her part so well with the Pope and King of Spain that they joyned with her to compel the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. La Varenne was sent from the Court of France to Turin to conclude this Matter Charles Emanuel still flattered with some Hopes the Regent would be his Friend had a mind to do this with a good Grace He thought at least to make this Advantage that Mary de Medicis should take in good part the Deference which he feigned to have for her Majesty A Civil Meeting of the Protestants of France The Queen was the more Solicitous to put a stop to the Commotions in Savoy because the Court feared the Protestants met at Saumur might take Umbrage at it When the Reformed of France saw there was a necessity for them to defend themselves against those who attacked them with open force they began to form set Meetings in different Provinces of the Kingdom to agree on Measures for their Safety and the free Exercise of their Religion One or more Provinces joined together first held their Provincial Assembly Out of these they deputed a certain number of Gentlemen of those they called Elders or Ministers to form the General Assembly who were to take Resolutions for the common Good of the whole Body Reason and Natural Equity allow of these sort of Confederacies The Primitive Christians united and had their Meetings for the Regulation of their Discipline and preserving the Purity of the Gospel After their Example the Reformed had their Synods to draw up their Confession of Faith and form the Government of their Churches These being born in a Christian State where Subjects have Privileges and Liberties had not only their Religion to take care of but were under an Indispensable Obligation to defend their Right as far as the Rules of Natural Equity and Christianity admit against their King and a Faction of their Countrymen who strove to oppress them The Sovereign Power ought to hinder as far as may be all Associations and Meetings which may cause Disorder and Confusion in a State but this must be by a due Execution of the Fundamental Laws and maintaining those Rights and Privileges which Subjects cannot without Injustice be deprived of It is reasonable to alledge Men ought not to form a State within a State None would think of this if they were left peaceably to enjoy their Birthright But for Princes to pretend to prevent Disorders which would never happen if they were disposed to do Justice and to use these plausible Maxims to oppress with more ease those whom they have Sworn to protect is a Tyranny which it is lawful to oppose This is ever most dangerous when it is covered with the fair Colours of the publick Good The King of Navarre liked these Principles very well and thought them solid and conducing to the Welfare and Repose of Civil Society whilst he was struggling to defend himself against the power of the League but when he once saw himself Master of a fair Kingdom he soon abandon'd those Sentiments which Interest more than Reason had led him to embrace Princes never consult this Oracle they are only entertained with Discourses of Reason when they are not in a condition capable of understanding it In the following part of their Lives they are flattered and Transported with Passion for their own Greatness Whatever makes them absolute and Independent ever seems most Just and Reasonable to them After the Verification of the Edict of Nants Henry did not without great difficulty grant the Protestants leave to hold a General Meeting He was afraid the Lords that resorted to it or had their Creatures there should attempt any thing to his prejudice Are not the Synods said the King sufficient to determine Matters of Discipline and Religion As for Civil Affairs and the keeping the Edict of Pacification the two Deputies General which I allow the Protestants to have in my Court can represent to me the Griefs and Complaints of the Provinces I will take care to do them Justice This manner of Reasoning had been good if Henry had had the Knowledge and Integrity not to be Surprized by the Popes Nuncio and other crafty Men who were ever near him to Extort
Crown to be Entailed on his Heirs Male in short for setling Luther's Reformation in his Country and Abridging the too great Power of the Clergy Eric the Eldest Son of Gustavus Succeeded him but wanted the Virtues of his Father He introduced into Sweden the Dignities of Count and Baron which before were unknown there It was thought this was done to divide the Nobility among themselves The too great Union of this Powerful Body was able to create Trouble to a Family newly raised to the Throne The Dignities bestowed on some gave a Jealousie to the rest Those who had most Ambition made their Court to the King to obtain the same Distinction And the New Nobility were obliged to support the Authority of the King and adhere here to his Family to preserve their Privileges Eric made himself Odious by his Cruelties and Despicable by his Debauches and Extravagancies His ill Treatment of John Duke of Finland and Charles Duke of Sudermannia obliged them to rise and put themselves at the Head of the Malecoutents These two Princes Attacked Eric in Stockholm it self He first delivered up his Favourite whom all the Kingdom Exclaimed against They inflicted an Infamous punishment on him John and Charles would have something more than all this They agreed to take the Sovereign Power from Eric who abused it unjustly and that the Duke of Finland should be declared King and the Duke of Sudermannia should share with him in the Government without having any outward Marks of Royalty John thought himself now discharged from the Oath he had taken when Eric delivered him out of a close Prison where he had kept him three or four years The Duke had given Assurance by a Writing under his Hand that he would continue faithful to the King and not aspire to the Crown neither before nor after the Death of the King his Elder Brother and that he would acknowledge those Children for lawful Heirs of the Kingdom which Eric had by a Mistress of Mean Birth whom he afterwards Marryed Solemnly But John was not very anxious about the Religious observing his Promises When he was Master of his Eldest Brother not contented with shutting him up in a Castle he soon poisoned him John and Charles continued to attack Stockholm The Senate of the City delivered it up to them and poor Eric reduced to Extremity was left to the Discretion of his two Brothers The States of Sweden declared him fallen from the Crown and John Duke of Finland was set up in his place John King of Sweden endeavours to alter the Religion Established by his Father The New King of Sweden was not truer to the Duke of Sudermannia than he had been to his Predecessor Charles had no share in the Administration of the Kingdom Men promise any thing when they are to ascend a Throne but when they are once Established in it they find other Principles of Religion and Honour John had Married Catherine Jagellon Daughter to the King of Poland Whether the Princess had inspired her Husband with an Aversion to the Protestant Religion or the Reading the Books and Conversation of able Men of the Papal Communion had raised doubts in him or he hoped to be King of Poland after the Death of Sigismund Augustus his Brother-in-Law who had no Children as soon as John had made a Peace with Denmark by the Treaty of Stetin in Pomerania he applied himself seriously to change the Religion which his Father had setled in Sweden It is not a place here to relate all the Artifices he made use of to prepare the Minds of his People for the Alterations he designed I shall only observe that the King who wanted not Wit or Judgment was convinced there were a great many things to be altered in the Worship and Doctrine of the Church of Rome He can neither be reckoned among the good Catholicks nor the true Protestants Ever uncertain and wavering sometimes he relished the Project of Accommodation which Cassander had given to the Emperor Maximilian II. at other times he was inclined to the Greek Church The Answers of Jeremiah Patriarch of Constantinople to the Divines of Wirtembergh pleased him so much that he once thought to unite with that Communion Possevin a Learned Jesuit whom Pope Gregory the XIII had sent into Sweden thought he had persuaded King John to Reunite himself in earnest to the Church of Rome He confessed himself to that Jesuit the Popes private Nuncio he received the Communion in the Form used in that Church Possevin imposed as a Pennance on him for the Murther of his Brother Eric whom he had poysoned to fast every Wednesday throughout the year It is said John observed this Practice regularly all the rest of his Life Nevertheless he frequented the publick Service of the Church of Sweden There was a New Liturgy used which himself had introduced and the Pope refused to approve of The Mixture of these two Religions was one of the ways by which this Prince pretended insensibly to bring the People to forsake the Worship and Belief of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession Several Romish Churchmen came into Sweden The Irresolution of King John and his Indulgence drew them thither Several of his own Subjects too favour'd his dissembled Designs By their manner of Discourse the more unthinking People took these Preachers for free Protestants But others observed in spight of their Disguises all they spoke tended to insinuate into the Minds of the People the Doctrines of Popery The Archbishop of Vpsal suffered himself to be won by them Some Prelates and divers ignorant or ambitious Churchmen follow'd his Example There were some Bishops ordained according to the Roman Pontifical The Bishop of Linkoping several of his Brethren and a great number of Churchmen couragiously defended the Reformation setled by Gustavus Ericson The Clergy of the Dutchy of Sudermannia shewed a firmness of Mind which much confounded King John Charles his Brother declared highly for the Ausburgh Confession He opposed this Alteration with all his Might Neither the King nor I can make any Innovation in the Religion established by Law he replied to those sent to dispose him to comply All things are well regulated by the last Will and Testament of the late King our Father We must fix there For my part I am resolved never to depart from it The States of Sweden shew'd great Vigour on several Occasions They represented to the King that mighty Jealousies were risen in Sweden and Foreign Countries that his Majesty would overthrow that Constitution which his Father had wisely established and that to put an end to all those Rumours it concerned him to declare publickly that the Reformation received in that Kingdom was conformable to the Sense of the Primitive Church Farther the States commanded several Popish Books brought into that Country to be suppress'd they press'd the King to place able Men of unblemish'd Reputation in the Publick Schools to instruct the Youth In the last
place they desired that Sigismund the King 's eldest Son should be bred in the Protestant Religion because that young Prince began to give some Umbrage Queen Catherine Jagellon his Mother had so strongly tinctured him with the Principles of the Church of Rome that the Senators of the Kingdom having one day threatned him that he should lose the Right of Succession to the Crown if he did not soon renounce the Religion he had imbibed and embrace the Ausburgh Confession I prefer replied he boldly the Kingdom of Heaven to all the Crowns in the World No other Answer could be got from him On some Occasions the States of Sweden had more Complaisance for the King All seem'd dispos'd to receive the new Liturgy and the Accommodations he had invented Charles of Sudermannia the Clergy of his Provinces and some great Lords were the only People who defended the Reformation but the Interest of the Duke and the effectual Remonstrances of the rest brought back several whose Hopes and Fears had abated their Warmth and Zeal The King himself had lost much of that Ardor the Jesuit Possevin had inspired into him Whether he could not accommodate himself to the haughty Humour of Sixtus V. Successor to Gregory XIII or his Doubts were not sufficiently cleared or the great Power of his Brother kept him in awe John humbled the Catholicks who thought themselves now Masters of all things He drove out the Jesuits and demolished their College Gennila Bielke whom the King married after the Death of Catherine Jagellon cooled the Fervour her Husband had before shewed for the Roman Religion Kings often think they do that of their own Heads which a dextrous and insinuating Woman inspires into them John King of Sweden thought he had solid Reasons to doubt of the Truth of the Protestant Religion But his principal Motive though he scarce knew it himself was his great Complaisance for Catherine Jagellon The Queen Gennila might have brought him back to his first Religion in the same manner as the other had seduced him from it Sigismond Prince of Sweden is chosen King of Poland After the Death of Stephen Battori King of Poland Ann Jagellon his Widow and Aunt of Sigismond Prince of Sweden managed the Polish Nobility so well that the greatest part declared for him The contrary Faction chose the Arch-Duke Maximilian Brother to the Emperor Rodolphus But Sigismond's Friends carried it He was received in Poland beat the Arch-Duke and Maximilian being taken Prisoner redeemed his Liberty by renouncing all his Pretensions to the Crown of Poland The Swedes made their Conditions before the Prince left that Kingdom as the Poles made theirs before they received him The Principal thing which the Senate of Sweden stipulated with Sigismond was the preserving the Priviledges and Religion of their Country They added this Clause in the Treaty that if the King of Poland becoming King of Sweden after the Death of his Father should contravene any of the Articles agreed on that then the Swedes should be discharged from the Oath of Allegiance they had taken It is very probable that Sigismond before his departure from Sweden urged the King his Father to pursue his Design of causing his new Liturgy to be received together with the ancient Ceremonies which he had establish'd a little after his coming to the Crown When Princes have begun a Work that makes a great Figure they are loth to quit it and soon resume it when they see the least Prospect of Success Sigismond hoped his late Advancement would make it easie for him to accomplish the Work which his Father had drawn a rough Draught of And the King of Sweden strengthned by the new Alliance of Poland flatter'd himself that Charles of Sudermannia would not dare to oppose him He was deceived in his Conjectures The Churchmen of the Dutchy agreeing perfectly well with the Prince refused to receive his Liturgy This disturbed the King so much who was now at greater variance with his Brother than ever that he thought of recalling Sigismond in earnest The new King himself was tempted to return into his Country He would willingly have done it if the Poles had not briskly opposed it A Foreign Prince is easily dazled with the glittering Title of King of Poland But he soon takes distaste at the false Lustre of a Crown which only appears fair at a distance Those who have left their Hereditary Countries to go into Poland have repented This is the way to hazard the loss of an Effective Sovereignty for a Title which has more Pomp than Reality Sigismond knew by Experience the Truth of this Maxim The King his Father finding so great opposition from the Swedes who were more upon their Guard since the Election of Sigismond had nothing else to have Recourse to but to reconcile himself speedily to the Duke of Sudermannia and admit him to a Share in the Administration of Affairs The Apprehensions of John were something lessened by Charles's losing his Wife She left no Issue behind her and John pretended his Brother promised him never to think of a second Marriage If it were so the Duke in his turn broke his Word He soon after married Christina Daughter of Adolphus Duke of Holstein It is reported Sigismond courted this Lady before he went into Poland But a Sister of King John diverted the Prince her Nephew from the Match He after married Constance of Austria Daughter of Charles and Sister of Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Gratz in Stiria Christina enraged at this Contempt conceived so great a Hatred against Sigismond that after she was married to Charles of Sudermmannia she incessantly urged him to force the Crown of Sweden from Sigismond King John was not well satisfied with this second Marriage of Charles But his ill Humour did not last long He died soon after at Stockholm The Duke of Sudermannia was active as soon as he heard this News He set at liberty the Senators and Clergymen Sigismond King of Poland succeeds in the Kingdom of Sweden whom the late King had confined for opposing his Designs Sigismond very much distrusted his Uncle To prevent his enterprizing any thing to his Prejudice the new King writes that he was making all Preparations to come speedily into his Hereditary Countries In the mean time the Duke of Sudermannia takes the Administration as next of Kin to the King Puffendorf Introduction à Histoire Tom. IV. p. 11. Rhap 1. 2. John left another Son by his second Wife but he was yet a Minor The Senators without prejudice to their Oath taken to Sigismond promised to obey Charles in every thing he should order with their Consent for the Glory of God the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the maintaining the just Rights and Priviledges of the Nation The Duke promised of his Part not to transact any thing of weight without the Advice and Consent of the Senate A Council is thereupon assembled at Vpsal to regulate Matters of
Religion They abolished the Liturgy and Ceremonies introduced by the late King and reassumed those of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession They elected an Archbishop who was well affected and deprived those of the Clergy who had devoted themselves to serve the late King in his Innovations The Swedes and the Goths only assisted aâ—… this Assembly The other Provinces weâ—â— afraid of displeasing King Sigismond iâ—… they engaged without his Consent Thâ—… Decrees of the Council were confirmed by the Duke of Sudermannia by the Senate the Clergy the Nobility the Ministers of State and the Burgo-Masterâ—… who were present Those who were noâ—… there subscribed after Sigismond and his Uncle Charles observed each other The Nephew's Distrust was encreased by Charles his demanding that before he left Sweden his Majesty would give him a Promise under his Hand that he would confirm the Liberties and Priviledges of the States of the Kingdom and suffer them to enjoy the same Freedom of Religion they had done under the Reign of Gustavus Ericson and in the beginning of the late King 's The Duke of Sudermannia farther represented to the King that the ill Condition of his Country would not admit him to carry much People away with him These Instructions and Demands increased Sigismond's Jealousie He thought his Uncle plainly discovered he had vast Designs Sigismond was resolved not to heed the Duke's Remonstrances And now Charles had greater Hopes than ever to embarass the new King when he saw the Poles gave Sigismond leave to go into his Hereditary Country under Condition to keep his ancient Oath not to abandon Poland as Henry III. King of France had done â—…nd that his Majesty should return when he â—…ad setled his Affairs in Sweden and have â—…is usual Residence amongst them The Swedes were disatisfied the new King had plainly declared the Decrees â—…ade at Vpsal in his Absence and without â—…is Consent to be null However they reâ—…eived him with great Marks of Joy â—…nd Affection Duke Charles withdrew â—â—fter he had made his Compliments to his Majesty He thought it proper to leave â—…im alone with the Council of his Kingâ—…om The Pope's Nuncio who was with â—…igismond much disquieted the Swedes â—…t was visible the new King hearkened to â—…he Councils of the Court of Rome He â—…roke the Regulations made at Vpsal and commanded another Archbishop to be chosen He who was raised to that Digâ—…ity was in his Opinion an Enemy to the late King Afterwards he demanded a Church in every great Town for the Roman Catholicks The States of the Kingdom and the Clergy vigorously opposed his Enterprize being assured of the Protection of the Duke of Sudermannia The time of the Coronation approaching the Senators demanded in the Name of the States of Sweden that the King should first promise under his Hand-writing not to hinder the Exercise of the Protestant Religion Sigismond replied only in general Terms that he would give his Subjects satisfaction after his Coronation All these Difficulties retarded the Ceremony The Quarrel between King Sigismond and Charles Duke of Sudermannia Men cover Liberty and Independence only for themselves Very far from procuring it for others they strive by all ways possible to enslave the rest of the World The Polish Nobility so Jealous of their Privileges and Liberty but accustomed to keep other People in Slavery incessantly cried to their King Sigismond that an Hereditary State is Governed otherwise than an Elective Kingdom That in Poland he was subject to the Laws but in Sweden he was above them These Maxims easily insinuate themselves into the Mind of a Prince Sigismond displeased to see himself dependant on the Senat of Poland was better satisfied with being Absolute in Sweden He Rejected the Petitions presented to him The Duke of Sudermannia stood Neuter in the beginning of the Dispute He advised the King to have regard to the just Requests of his Subjects but he was not very uneasie to find a Difference arise between them by his Denials and Delays The States secure of Charles Assistance abated nothing of their Pretensions The stubbornness of the King strangely incensed them and the Sermons of some zealous Preachers of the Protestant Religion warmed the most cold â—…nd indifferent They talked of offering â—…he Crown to the Duke and giving it to Prince John in case he would not accept â—…t Being persuaded it was not yet time â—…o hear a Proposition of this kind he conâ—…ented himself with going to wait upon â—…he King at Vpsal and strongly backing â—…he Pretensions of the States The Neâ—…hew and the Uncle so heated each other â—…hey were upon the point of Fighting They were parted and as soon reconcil'd â—…o prevent any Confusion and Disorder in â—…he Kingdom These Accidents conâ—…irm'd the States the more in the Resoâ—…ution they took to make the King Exâ—…lain himself before they would proceed â—…o his Coronation The Popes Nuncio and such of the Poâ—…ish Nation as then attended at Sigismond's Court now perceived clearly that in Pruâ—…ence he ought not to stand it out any â—…onger but must yield to the present Exgency of Affairs They told him withal That he was not bound to keep a Promise exâ—…orted from him by Violence Now Sigismond promises 'em any thing they 'd have He reserved only that he might have the â—…ree Exercise of the Popish Religion for himself within the private Walls of the Castle where he should make his Residence But he from that very time took a Resolution of destroying his Uncle The Plot of Murdering him at a Play having miscarried they undertook to drive at him with all the Vigour and open Violence that was possible Immediate Orders were given to the Polish Army to march toward Stockholm This made the States of that Kingdom begin to think of their own Security They Summoned the Inhabitants of the Highlands to come down to their Assistance In the mean time during all this bustle the King took no care of the Government nor of securing the quiet of the Kingdom When any Proposal was made to him by the States he likewise would make a demand of some other thing at their Hands The Polanders were still at him to return home and to come to no Conclusion with the Swedes They flattered themselves that the wider the Breaches and Divisions grew in Swedeland the easier it would be to reduce it So that Sigismond in fine following their Advice took thipping for Dantzick He left Orders how he would have the Kingdom Governed in his Absence but neither the Duke of Sudermannia nor the States would submit to any of them as judging the Persons imploy'd therein to be averse to the Treaty concluded at Vpsal before the King's Coronation The States of Swedeland commits the Government of the Kingdom during the King's Absence to the Duke of Sudermannia Soon after his Departure the States of Swedeland pray'd Charles of Sudermannia to take upon him the Government The Duke desired to be excused yet
and Strength of France These Princes who were Apprehensive of the too great Power of the House of Austria were enter'd into a League with the Deceased King The good Correspondency that he took care to maintain in this sort of a Confederacy which he Headed did keep Spain in awe and within due bounds This put Henry in a capacity of undertaking any thing whenever he should think it most expedient But so soon as these Allies of France perceived that the Queen Regent was entring into a strict Alliance with the House of Austria they presently grew Jealous and betook themselves to other Measures The Venetians did not so openly declare themselves The Duke of Savoy extream angry that no regard was now had of the Treaties that had been made between King Henry and him sought all manner of ways to raise Commotions in France he had thoughts of siding with Spain if he might be secured of any thing to content his Ambition France taking no care to preserve the old good Correspondency that was between the Protestant Princes of Germany and elsewhere they fell off one from another The House of Austria that has always a watchful Eye to its own Interest was wise enough to make the best of these Divisions James King of England might have in this case supplied the Place of Henry the 4th and compel'd the Queen Regent to keep to the Model of Government that was left with her by the late King her Husband The concern of the Protestant Religion as well as the Wellfare of England did require that James should have at that time thought on 't better But alas the good Prince never lov'd sincerely either one or th' other Such a State of Affairs as this did well for the Court of Rome The Popes have been ever Spaniards by Inclination The Kings of Spain are wont to bring the Popes over to their Interest by affecting a great Zeal to ruine Heresie The aim of these is to raise their Worldly State and of the former to serve those that will best contribute to restore their Spiritual Monarchy It appears that the Court of France at this time was pleased with this old policy of Spain whereby to gain the Popes favour But was it not a little too late to think of this way The Court of Rome never keeps a Neutrality with France but when reduced to it by some emergent Necessity The French have Principles that are opposite to the Pope's Pretensions and to the greediness of his Courtiers The Factions which had formerly put France into such a Confusion under the Regency of Catharine of Medicis were now seen to revive under this Government of Mary For the maintaining of her own Authority Mary took care to bring down the Princes of the Blood Royal as that other Queen her Cousin had done before She thought fit to make use of the House of Guise which enter'd into a new Knot with that of the Duke d'Epernon Instead of joyning with the real Friends and Well-wishers of the Crown she gave her self over to be led by the Popes and King of Spain's Counsels who could not grow great but at the cost of young Lewis The Princes of the blood understood this great Evil. They were in the Right but in renouncing their Forefathers Religion they had lost all their Credit They likewise wanted Strength to oppose the Queen Regent's Designs They of the Reformed Religion in France being well inclin'd sought to prevent the Mischief this double Alliance with Spain would bring on the Head of the Protetestants But alas how could they help themselves There were now no Princes of the Blood to Head them any more The Grandees of that Communion divided more than ever since the Assembly at Saumur were now ready to undoe one another I come now to particulars of the History of the year 1612. We shall in it begin to see these three different Parties following their Intrigues and the different condition they are in The Queen Regent and her Confidents shall make use of the Kings Authority to cover their wicked Designs The Princes of the Blood shall exclaim against the ill Management of the Government but either no ear shall be given to what they 'll say or their Mouths shall be stopt by false Promises or slight Gratifications The Hugenot Party fully convinced that â—…ll effectual ways are taken to ruine them totally shall make loud Complaints and shall bestir themselves without being able to mend their Matters in the least thereby Their mutual Divisions will hinder them from having sufficient Strength to cause their just Remonstrances to be heard Negotiations touching a double Marriage betwixt France and Spâ—…in Cosme Grand Duke of Toscany now enter'd into a Closer Alliance with the House of Austria by a Marriage with Magdalen Arch-Dutchess of Grats does set on foot the Negotiation that was begun by his Father Ferdinand concerning a double Marriage to be concluded betwixt the two Crowns of France and of Spain The better to succeed for to obtain the Deceased Kings consent he proposed a third Match between Don Carlos King Philip the 3d's second Son and the Princess Christina second Daughter of France The King of Spain did offer to give with the Infant the Sovereignty of the Low Countries after the Arch-Dutchess Isabella's Death But Henry gave no ear to this New Proposal no more than to the former being convinced that it was only a Snare for to get him to Abandon the Protection of the Vnited Provinces As soon as the News of his Death was brought to Madrid Siri Memorie râ—â—â—ndite pag. 3â—…0 3â—â— c. the Duke of Florence's Embassador at that Court did again sâ—…t on foot the Business of the double Marriage He knew well enough how agreeable it would be to his Master to gratifie Mary of Medicis who had an extream desire this Affair might Succeed The Duke of Lerma and the other Spanish Ministers of State readily agreed to the renewing of this Negotiation but they finding that France was not now so much to be feared as heretofore they made some other lower Proposals These Gentlemen would hear no more of that third Marriage of Don Carlos with the Princess Christina pretending that their King was unwilling to Alienate and cut off for ever the Sovereignty of the Low Countries from the Monarchy of Spain and they did even give out that Philip was not out of Hopes of reducing the Vnited Provinces as soon as the Truce was expired or broke And on pretence that the Daughters of France do not carry along with them into another Family any Right of Succession to the Crown the Council of Spain scrupled moreover to give the Eldest Infanta of Spain to the New King of France so that they would offer only the Second Daughter Mary of Medicis would have been contented with this it self so that Philip would also accept of the Second Daughter of France By this means a way was left to satisfie the Duke
The primitive Christians did they pretend the Empire to be in the Church She ought to obey God and Sovereigns but Emperors and Kings have none but God above them Thus they thought in the primitive Ages All the World would think still the same if Sovereigns would be instructed in their true Interests and those of the Religion they profess By giving great Riches and Principalities to the Clergy they have given them wherewith they may degrade their Benefactors Matthias having wisht the Empress his Spouse was Crown'd the Ceremony was perform'd two days after Leonard Donato Doge of Venice died almost at the same time Antony Memmi chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato Antony Memmi was Elected in his place the 24th of July and Crown'd the next Morning The Dogate of Donato was famous for the Contest of the Republick with Pope Paul V. who interdicted all the Country of the Seigniory of Venice The Doge and Senate seem'd at first willing to defend courageously the lawful Authority of Sovereigns but when they were come to treat of this with the Pope the Venetians Degenerated from the Vigour and Stedfastness of their Ancestors upon the like occasions They yielded cowardly to almost all the Articles which the Court of Rome required from them except the Reestablishment of the Jesuits who had been gone after the Fulmination of the Interdiction The Society had done much more Mischief in France than at Venice In the mean time being extreamly content to see themselves deliver'd from the good Fathers these Wise Senators Resisted a longer time than France the Solicitations of the Court of Rome for the Reestablishment of their Society During this quarrel with the Pope the Seigniory had forbid the Subjects of the Republick under pain of perpetual Banishment to have any Commerce with the Jesuits or send their Children to studie in their Colleges The same Act was this year renew'd Mercure Francois 1612. upon the account of a Woman of Bresse who was gone to Castilione to live there under the direction of the good Fathers They had Establish't there I can't tell what College of Women and a great many Maids had put themselves into it The Brissan Lady sold the Estate she had in the States of the Republick to Augment this New Foundation but the Senate endeavour'd to stop the Money that arose from the Alienation and caused the Venetian Dames to be recall'd that might have put themselves under the conduct of the Society into the College of Castiglione The Mareschal d'Bouillon's Embassy to England The Mareschal Bouillon was gone extraordinary Ambassador into England and this was to impart to King James the double Marriage and so dissipate all Suspicions and Jealousies which this double Alliance might create in his Majesty Bouillon had a particular design in this Voyage Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 684 685 686. He was minded to Negotiate a Marriage of the young Elector Palatine Nephew of the Mareschal's Lady who was of the House of Orange with the Princess of England Mary of Medicis whom the Court of Rome always made use of for it's own ends had recommended to her Ambassador that he should complain to the King of great Britain for that he had enter'd into a League with the Protestant Princes of Germany against the Roman Religion and to desire his Britannick Majesty to moderate the Rigor of the Laws against the English who were of the Popish Communion The Mareschal had besides express Order to cause King James to Disapprove of the Demeanour of the Reform'd of France in their last Assembly at Saumur but especially to bid him beware of the Duke of Rohan who was the most Zealous of the Protestant Lords Bouillon had already done to Rohan such ill Offices with the Queen of France as he himself was enough dispos'd not to be more favourable to the Duke in the English Court. King James was easily made to believe that France thought of nothing but the General good of Christianity by making this double Allyance with Spain and that the Regent would not less preserve the Amity of Princes and the States Protestants Bouillon endeavour'd at last to make his Majesty understand that the Pope would not use violent means against the Protestants and that he intended only to Convert them by Preachments and the good Examples of the Clergy The Mareschal laid hold on this occasion to insinuate into the King the Regent's Complaints for that he had enter'd into the Protestant League of Germany and the entreaty that Mary of Medicis made him in favour of the English Papists I don't know whether this good Prince was enclin'd to believe what the Ambassador had told him concerning the good Intentions of the Pope Whatever the Matter was James answer'd that the Protestants lookt only to the Reciprocal Defence of the States of the Confederate Princes and that Religion was not concern'd in it As to the English who were of the Roman Communion his Majesty protested he willingly would let them be at Rest as soon as they could give certain Assurances of their Fidelity and Obedience Bouillon sent this into France and then Villeroy imparted it to the Nuncio as a great Secret The Regent press'd Vbaldini to make his Master acquainted of it Subjoyning that she would write of it to Breves her Ambassador to the end his Holiness might find some Expedient to content the King of Great Britain Memoires de la Regence de Mary de Medicis When they came to speak touching the Matters of the Reformed Churches in France James was not altogether so Tractable The Duke de Rohan held a great Correspondence with Henry the King 's Eldest Son This was a very hopeful Prince he shew'd a Zeal little common to Persons of his Age for the good of the Protestant Religion Never did the Roman People so much love Germanicus as the English lov'd this Prince of Wales and the Father perhaps was not much less jealous of the Applauses they gave his Son than Tiberius was of old jealous of the Reputation of him whom Augustus made him adopt Rohan had gain'd over a Gentleman of the Ambassador's Retinue This secret Friend of the Duke was to instruct his Britannique Majesty with the truth of all which pass't in France Insomuch as the King was well prepared whenever he was spoke to concerning the Assembly at Saumur If the Queen your Mistress reply'd he to Bouillon will break Acts agreed to the Protestants of her Realm I don't pretend that the Alliance I have made and confirm'd with France ought to hinder me from succouring and protecting them When my Neighbours are Attack't in a Quarrel that respects me Natural Law requires that I should prevent the Mischief which may arise from thence Believe me Monsieur Mareschal said the King you must be Reconciled to the Duke of Rohan I will let him know 't is my desire that you live friendly together Would to God King James
they desired to make a publick Testimony of their Stedfastness for the Service of the King by censuring Becan's Book and to make at least the Publick know that it was not their Fault if so dangerous a Book had not been condemn'd in Forms or formally They moreover said that they entreated leave to remonstrate to the Queen upon this as an Affair of the greatest Importance Sileri approved the Zeal of the Sorbonne He gloried that he had all his Learning in the University of Paris And so he promised the Doctors to introduce them into her Majesty's Presence Dr. Fayet who was the Spokesman told the Regent that the Faculty of Paris not being accustom'd to receive Orders from the King by the Mouth of any private Person or by Letters under the Privy-Seal but only by Letters sealed with the Great Seal they had obey'd as soon as it was reported to them what the Cardinal Bonzi had told the Syndic of ther Majesty's Intentions Nevertheless Madam said he the Faculty hath believed it was their duty to receive your Order from your own Mouth If you don't judge it convenient for us to deliberate upon Jesuit Becan's Book we most humbly entreat your Majesty to take care that our Silence upon this Occasion be not interpreted as a tacit Approbation of those pernicious Sentiments which deprives Kings of their lawful Authority and justifies their Assassination The Regent answer'd that she would speak of this Affair to her Council and that the chancellor should by the Faculty know her Intentions Dr. Fayet being come to the Chancellor some Days after The Queen said Sileri is inform'd that the wicked Book of Becan is become too common Her Majesty gives you leave to do what you judge convenient 'T is a great Mischief that the Sorbonne is divided for what concerns good Sentiments Will you never unite and agree again Fayet answer'd the Chancellor That the Faculty was willing to preserve its ancient Doctrine and that they had always taught the same Doctrine in the Sorbonne till some certain Persons had broach'd there some Foreign Oâ—…inions The Chancellor commended the Doctors for their Zeal and gave the Queen's leave to censure Becan's Book â—…ut the Nuncio Vbaldini cunningly turn'd he Blow aside He being persuaded that â—â—mething would be attempted in France â—…gainst the Jesuit's Work straitways solliâ—…ited a Decree from the Inquisition As â—…on as he receiv'd it he communicated it 〈◊〉 the Queen She being always submisâ—…ve to the Pope told the Faculty that it â—…as sufficient to read the Decree openly in â—…e Sorbonne The Affair thus rested One â—…ight be surprized to find Robert Bellarâ—…in's Name amongst those Cardinals â—…ho condemn'd the Author's Book who â—…llow'd Bellarmin's Principles if it was not known that the Cardinal promoted in the Society had in a readiness his Equivocations and Mental Restrictions to condemn with safety of Conscience in the Work of one of his own Fraternity the Doctrine which he maintain'd as the most Orthodox in the World An Edict of Palement against Scioppius's Book It was the Jesuits alone who courted Paul V. by writing against James I. King of England concerning the Authority of Sovereigns and the Holy Chair Gaspar Scioppius the most violent Enemy of that Society would enter the List likewise and shew some of his fine Latin in this notable Dispute His Book having been brought from Frankfort-Fair to Paris there was a Presentment made of it to the Parlement Scioppius discours'd herein of Henry IV. as if he was a Prince without any Religion He seem'd to approve of the infamous Action of Ravillac All Kings and Sovereigns who let Hereticks live in repose in their States were in his Opinion Hereticks themselves What do I say nay even Turks and Atheists The Parlement order'd that this extravagant and impious Book should be burnt by the Hands of the Common Executioner and that all the Copies should be suppress'd That it should be branded in England after the same manner Dictionaire Hist Critique de M.. Bayle is no wonder But I can't enough admire the King of Great Britain should suffer a Farce to be acted before him wherein Scioppius was represented and hang'd upon the Stage A Revenge alike unworthy of a Prince and an Author If his Majesty had look'd upon Scioppius's Work as the Libel of a contemptible Declamator should not the King have despis'd it or at the best contented himself to have left to the Magistrates the Execution of the Laws against defamatory and pernicious Libels But to take a Pleasure to be reveng'd of the Author after such a manner so little becoming a Crown'd Head was to shew the Publick that the Book had touch'd to the Quick the Person whom the Author had attack'd The Care which his Britannick Majesty took at that time to reconcile the King of Denmark with Gustavus Adolphus Peace betwixt the Crowns of Swedeland and Denmark the new King of Swedeland was a Work more worthy of a Prince Christian IV. endeavour'd this Year to push on his Conquests in Swedeland He accompanied with George Duke of Lunenbourg who had brought him Succour advanc'd as far as Jenkoping laying all the Country desolate where he went The young Gustavus gave now such clear Tokens of his Wisdom and Valour as that the Queen Christina his Mother left to him the Administration of the Realm though he was but yet in the eighteenth Year of his Age. He stopp'd the Enemies Progress and oblig'd him to retire into the Province of Schonen Gustavus follow'd him thither and after the way of using Reprisals he put all to Fire and Sword The Swedish Army had some disadvantage in their Retreat The King of Denmark made a new Irruption into West Gothia Being aboard the Fleet he try'd to get near to Stockholm Gustavus broke the Enemy's Design with an extraordinary Prudence and Courage At last the Hans Towns and the United Provinces troubled that the War betwixt the two Northern Crowns broke off all Commerce in the Baltick Sea engag'd the King of England to intermediate for a Peace Christian himself treated with four Swedish Senators After some Conferences held at the end of this Year the Treaty was concluded at the beginning of the next following Denmark gave up to the Swedes the City of Calmar and the Isle of Oeland but kept Eâ—…sbourgh for a time and till the Crown of Swedeland had paid a certain Sum of Money which Denmark pretended was due to him Revolvtions in Muscovy Gustavus very freely surrender'd something on that side to be in a Condition of marching towards Muscovia There was a strong Party who desir'd of him Prince Charles Philip his Brother whom these People intended to set upon the Throne of their Nation Altho' the Affair of Muscovy seem to have no Relation to those of France I think I ought to say something of the surprizing Revolutions which were seen there at the beginning of the XVII Century This may give us a
punished him severely he would have made him left out what was of ill tendency in the Book Since the death of Henry IV. many French Authors have published several satyrical Libels against the Holy See and the Person of the Pope They have endeavoured to Ruine his Authority at that time when he employed it for the Interest of the King and for the Prosperity of France The Bishop of Folìgni charged the Ambassador to inform the Regent that the Pope complained of the violent Proceedings of the Parlement and to desire her Majesty to get the Decree revok'd The Discourse between the Pope and the F. Ambassador about the Parlements Decree The Marquiss de Trenel having an Audience of the Pope sometime after he represented to his Holiness how impossible it was to obtain what he desired of the Queen who in the present juncture of Affairs could not fall out with the Parlement of Paris Her Majesty said the Ambassador to the Pope will always retain a remembrance of those kindnesses which you have done her but she will be concerned to understand that your Holiness gives protection to a Book the Author of which is so far from incouraging Subjects to Obey their Sovereigns as be is obliged by his Profession to do that he laies down Maxims to stir them up to Rebellion and make an attempt on the Lives of their Princes France still bewails the Bloody death of Henry IV. Her Parlements will never fail to oppose those Authors whose pernicious Doctrine Struck the Knife in the Breast of so good a King The Magistrates will never cease to employ their utmost Care for the preservation of the Person of his Son without being defective in that Respect that they owe to your Holiness and the Apostolick See Accordingly the Parlement of Paris hath taken all possible Care that their Decree might not violate the Lawful Authority of the Successors of St. Peter These Remonstrances did not at all affect a proud and angry Pope If the King of France replied he will not revoke the Decree of Parlement as to those Points which concern the Rights of the Holy See I will follow the light and dictates of my Conscience You must not imagine that the fear of a Rupture will be any restraint upon me in this matter In case Her Majesty refuses to give me the satisfaction that I desire I 'le endeavour to do my self justice and follow the examples of my Predecessors Must I maintain â—…a Nuncio at Paris to be there the Spectator of the outrages that are done me and the Indignity with which they there trample under their Feet the Authority of the Holy See Is it so hard a matter to stop the proceedings of the Parlement I know the Chancellor well enough Maxims of Politicks are more pleasing to him than truths of Religion The Ambassador was not at all dismaied He desired the Pope to reflect upon the reasons which the Parlement had to Condemn Suarez his Book I have heard say added he like a Gentleman that Divinity is a holy Science It is therefore inconsistent with an Opinion which allows the murder of Kings The Parlemenâ—… is indispensably obliged to take care of the preservation of good Divinity in the Kingdom of the Authority and Person of the King They have a Book brought before them which maintains that in some cases a particular Person may attempt with a safe Conscience the Life of his Prince Caâ—… any one desire that the Magistrate should be Silent when Two Kings have been successively murdered by Fanaticks who have imbibeâ—… this damnable Divinity Paul replied that the matter in dispute was not about the killing of declared Tyrants I have forbid my self said he the teaching such Doctrines and I do not know but that I have complied too much in that matter Many approved Authors in the Church are of the Opinion But I complain of the Condemnation of certain passages recited in thâ—â— Decree which speak only of the Prerogativeâ—â— of the Holy See And what were these They were those where Suarez affirms that the Pope may depose Princes when they become Tyrants That which Paul Vâ—â— acknowledges deserves to be remarkâ—… He pretends to be very favourable to Kings in forbidding any to teach that iâ—… was lawful to kill them with a safe Conscience in any Case what ever But with a moderation altogether worthy of the Successor of St. Peter he reserves to himself the Right of Deposing them when ever he should judge that their Government is degenerated into Tyranny Trenel replied very aptly that Princes were not so much obliged to him and that it was his Holiness's own Interest that such a Doctrine should be banished all Christian Communions For says he the Protestants hold that the Popes are Hereticks Tyrants and Antichrist and if the Opinion which allows the attempting the Lives of Tyrants be once Established among Christians It is not impossible but a Fanatick Hugonot may take a fancy to do a brave Action and kill the Pope Paul V. was enraged instead of being pacified He said again with a threatning and angry Air that nothing should hinder him from defending the Rights of the Holy See if the King would not revoke the Decree of Parlement I wish your Holiness replied the Ambassador in a submissive manner would have the goodness to offer some Expedient that you would write to your Nuntio and would send Orders â—…o the Cardinals which are in France to consult with him about some means of accommodation the Queen will agree to any thing that she can do with Honour As for Revoking of the Decree it is not a thing possible to be done at present Trenel's design was only to hold him in play that so the hot and haughty Old Gentleman might have time to grow cool and reflect upon the Consequences of his Threatnings After some farther discourse he took a resolution to write to the Nuncio and to send to the Cardinals de Joieuse du Perron and de la Rochefoucault to enjoin them to confer with the Nuncio about the Satisfaction which his Holiness should Demand in the present posture of affairs in France In reciting these particulars Two things seem equally Surprising to me The arrogance of the pretended Vicar of Jesus Christ who will not endure that Crowned Heads should make use of their Authority to support their Sovereign and Independant Power or to preserve their Lives from Assasins They must humbly desire of the Pope the Condemnation of a Jesnit who allows attempts upon their Lives They must be content with his publishing throughout their Dominions that the Pope hath a Right to examine their Conduct and to Depose them when he thinks they Tyrancically abuse their Power The other thing which does not less amazâ—… me is the mean and low-spirited Superstition of the Princes of the popish Communion What good Reason did he alledge to oblige them blindly to submit to the arrogance and pride of the Bishop of Rome which grosily
HISTORY OF LEWIS XIII THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre CONTAINING The most Remarkable Occurrences in FRANCE and EUROPE during the Minority of that Prince By Mr. MICHEL Le ASSOR LONDON Printed for Thomas Cockerill at the Three Legs and Bible against Grocers-Hall in the Poultrey 1700. Advertisement THE Remaining Parts of this History will be Printed in the same Size with this Volume TO MY Lord Viscount WOODSTOCK My LORD AS soon as I began to write the Book I now present you with My Lord the Earl of Portland your Illustrious Father did me the Honour to employ me in your Service to read History to you I was surprized with Pleasure to observe that the Providence of God having designed me for this Employment had turned my thoughts upon a Subject the knowledge of which is so absolutely necessary for you that so you may reap the full advantage of those wise Instructions which your Father who loves you tenderly will one day give you concerning those extraordinary Revolutions which Europe has with Amazement beheld for thirty years together He knows the secret Motives and hidden Springs which produced them all and he has always been the Depositary of the Secrets of that Great Prince who had the greatest hand in them he has served him in his brave and hazardous Enterprizes with equal Zeal and Courage 'T is from a Father so exquisitely skill'd in all the Arts of Politicks and War that you will learn my Lord the Intrigues of all the Negotiations which have been transacted in his time the present Interests of Princes the Account of Battels Sieges Marches of Armies in which he has always held a considerable Post In giving you the Narrative of his own Actions he will instruct you how a Person of your Rank and Quality may equally love your Country and a Prince who do's you the Honour to trust you with his Secrets what Rules you are to observe that so you may do good service for the one without intrenching upon that inviolable fidelity which you owe to the other In short he will teach you what a Peer of England is obliged to do that he may be serviceable to the King in Parliament and at the same time deserve the Esteem and Approbation of a People extremely jealous of its Rights and Priviledges Others besides my Lord the Earl of Portland may possibly be able to give you good Counsel in these Affairs But there is one thing yet behind which your incomparable Father alone can teach you And that is My Lord Moderation in an elevated Fortune He has himself lately given you a rare example of it The Greatness of his Soul in this respect is a thing so extraordinary that you will scarcely find an equal Instance in all those Ancient and Modern Histories which you design to read Keep your Eyes always fixt on this Domestick Example It can't but powerfully impress this weighty Maxim in your mind That to set bounds to your Ambition though just and reasonable is truer and more substantial Glory than 't is to rise to the highest Dignities I have told you my Lord that the History of the Reign of Lewis the XIII will be of great use to you to let you into the understanding of those Revolutions which have happened for some time past in Europe You will there see how the Affairs of the Empire put on a new face after the Peace of Munster And there find the causes and first beginnings of the Decay of the Spanish Monarchy which before that time was dreadful to its Neighbours You will there read the first steps of France to that height which it arrived at under the Conduct of the violent and refined Politicks of a Cardinal who renders his Master powerful at home by humbling the Princes and great Men there and formidable abroad by entring him into a seasonable League with the Crown of Swedeland and the United Provinces The good Correspondence which the great Frederick Henry Prince of Orange and this able Minister held together did not a little assist the Cardinal in compassing his vast Designs The Swedes were hitherto hardly known but for their Wars against Denmark Poland Muscovy and some extraordinary Revolutions which Religion or the differing interests of King and Subjects had produced in Swedeland We shall see in the course of this History a new Warrier arising out of the North with a small number of Troops for the Rescue of Germany almost entirely enslav'd by the Ambition and Arms of Ferdinand the Second Gustavus Adolphus King of Swedeland makes the Emperor Tremble for fear of losing his Hereditary Countries The Rapid course of his Victorius Arms carryed to the Rhine makes jealous even those Princes which call'd him to their Assistance and those Sovereigns which had desired his Alliance That which you ought particularly to be affected with My Lord is the reading of the resolute Efforts of your Dear and Illustrious Country to defend it's Liberty after the twelve years Truce was expir'd The Spaniard's pleas'd themselves with the hopes of making great Advantages of the Divisions which arose in Holland and some other Provinces after the Conclusion of that Truce But the Valour and Wise Conduct of Maurice and Frederick Henry Princes of Orange defeated those hopes which seem'd to be but too well grounded You will be very much pleased to find here Sieges Form'd by those Two Great Masters in the Art of Taking Towns and Victories Won by those Two Famous Generals to whom they came from all Parts of the World to learn the Art of War and in short That Courage not Inferiour to that of the Ancient Romans with which the United Provinces did weary out the King of Spain until he renounc'd all his Pretensions to 'em and was forc'd to acknowledge them in a Solemn Treaty for a Free Republick I believe you have not forgot that which my Lord your Father told you in one of his Pleasant and Profitable Discourses which he had with you the last Summer in the Walks of his beloved Solitude near the Hague He recited to you one Day the Prediction of Prince Frederick Henry a little before his Death That his Posterity would be under a Necessity one Day to declare against France as he had been to oppose the Ambitious Designs of the House of Austria It has fell out as this Judicious and Knowing Politician had foretold The House of Orange hath had the Honour to have given the first Blow which shook the Power of Spain and by a surprizing Turn of Affairs the only Remaining Branch of that Noble Stock which hath been so fruitful in Heroes can glory this Day that by his Prudence and Valour he hath defended that same Monarchy threatned with approaching Ruin Could that fierce and bloody Philip II. have ever thought that the Posterity of that Man whom he had basely murder'd after an unworthy and ridiculous Proscription should be one Day the best Support of
his tottering Crown The History of the Reign of Lewis XIII will discover to you my Lord the Reasons which Philip Frederick Henry had to foresee the Glory which was reserv'd for a Great King the Heir of his Blood and of his Virtues who gives you already signal Marks of his Distinguishing Favour 'T would be but a small Matter to learn from History The Interests of Sovereigns the Accounts of Battles and Sieges the Intrigues of Treaties and Negotiations the Good or Bad Quality of the different Actors It s greatest and principal End is to confirm in you the Good Sentiments of Religion Virtue and Probity which my Lord your Father hath took care to inspire you with They charm'd me the first Day I had the Honour to be in your Company and I bless God with all my Heart that they appear so pure and so deeply engraven in your Soul that we have all the Reason in the World to hope that the Contagious and insinuating Air of the Court and of the World will never be able to corrupt or wear them out and that you will never wander from the Paths of Piety Prudence and Valour which my Lord the Earl of Portland hath trac'd out to you Heavens grant which have design'd you to enjoy the great Advantages which a Father can leave to his Son that you may make an Use of them worthy of the Purity of the Holy Religion which we profess These are the ardent Desires of him who shall be all his Life with a prosound Respect and inviolable Fidelity My Lord Your most Humble and most Obedient Sevant MICHAEL Le VASSOR THE PREFACE Polybius in the beginning SInce all who have written History before me says an Able and Judicious Writer have taken pains to shew the usefulness of things past It would be to no purpose to excite the Curiosity of the Reader by a like Preface All Men are sensible that the reading of History is the most proper means to form the Mind and Inclinations of those who apply themselves to it with Reflection and Judgment They who are born to the first employs of the State learn here how to govern those whom Providence has placed under them and private Persons often find Instructions for the Conduct of their Lives To read the Ancients and Moderns and only fill the Head with a confus'd heap of different Facts is the vainest thing in the World and conduces most to Debauch the Mind But to run thrô History with a design to learn Human Nature to reflect on the Disorderly and Unjust Passions of Men to distinguish Solid and Real Virtue from that which consists in the mistaken Opinion of the Multitude This certainly is the most proper Study to form a Man for the World and Business Notwithstanding the reading History has these mighty Advantages there are few that profit by it The fate of those who spend their time in it is often the same with that of Persons who Travel live in a Court or Converse in the World A Man who has the Skill to make a good use of his Parts and Reason Accomplishes himself very much in Foreign Countries by Conversation with Courtiers and Men of Business But it ordinarily happens that Travellers only seek to Divert themselves in the places where they come A young Fellow returns out of Italy France Germany or England as ignorant as he went there And very often in stead of correcting his Domestick Vices he encreases them by the Addition of Foreign ones Most Men who come to Court or into the World only think how to wast away their Lives and spend their Time agreeably Very far from considering how private Interest and Passion play their parts on the publick Stage and reasoning with themselves oâ—… the different steps Men take and profitably observing their good and ill Qualities they only strive to please them and wiâ—… their savour by some Motives of Interest or Pleasure The greatest part of those whâ—… read History fall into the same Mistake They only aim to consume their Time and pass away the Tedious Hours It is enough for them if a Book be Pleasant and Diverting They are never in Pain to profit by the Examples of Virtue they meet with or reflect on the Faults of those who are exposed in it This Negligence proceeds from the little care taken to acquaint Youth with the Nature of Mankind and infusing good Principles of Morality into them before they are put on reading History sent into Foreign Countries or left to live at large in the World If their Tutors and Governors which had the Charge of their Education had accustomed them to Meditate on those Remarks which the Incomparable Author of the Search after Truth P. Malebranche de Recherche de la Verite has made on the Mistakes and Delusions of our Senses Imagination and Passions on the Maxims of Mr. de la Rochefancault and some other good Books published in our Times I do not in the least question but Minds thus prepared would draw a wonderful Fruit from Travelling Conversation in the World and Ancient and Modern History Perhaps too the small number of good Authors in this and former Ages is another cause of the little Progress made by those who promiscuously run over all without Choice or Distinction Herodotus whom the Ancients call the Father of History Cicero Liv. 1. De Legibuâ—… is a polite Writer and pleasant to read One may learn good Jonick in him Let him if you will have it so be a good Model of an Elegant and Clean Style but what Solid Knowledge can be gained out of an Author fill'd with Fables and Falsities who only aims to Divert and not to Instruct The History of Cyrus is thought to be a Romance devised by Xenophon I do not know whether the Plan of the Work do not come nearer Truth than what Herodotus delivers of the Birth Conquest and Death of Cyrus The one at least is more probable than the other However this be a Man of good Sense will ever prefer the Reading of Xenophon to Herodotus If the former did not design an exact History of the Life of Cyrus he draws at least the Idea of a good and just Government This should make us value the Eight Books of the Cyropedia of Xenophon more than the nine of Herodotus his History though they have the Name of the nine Muses given them This may amuse me indeed but the other will instruct me I find a thousand Maxims a thousand Reflections proper to improve my Mind and Reform my Passions Discourse of the manner of writing History Thucidides was very sensible of Herodotus his Fault Notwithstanding the great Reputation of a Man who first writ History among the Greeks I had rather said he as Lucian Reports displease by speaking the Truth than please by relating of Fables If I do not please my Reader so well I shall profit him more I would not prejudice him by Accommodating
finds it in the worst When an Author is oblig'd to censure a Man Polybius L. XII Polybius judiciously remarks he must not have regard to what may please the Enemies of him whom he speaks of The Rules of Truth and Decency must be inviolably kept Those who are led by their Passions or Malice are imprudent and rash in their Relations and Judgments Polybius had good Reason to blame a Greek Historian who had not Equity enough to own what was good in Agathocles the Tyrant of Syracuse If this Man says he whose first Employment was to serve a Poâ—…ter knew how to make himself King of Sicily and could embarâ—…ss the Potent Republick of Carthage and die in the peaceful Possession of what he had acquired it cannot be denied but Agathocles had rare Qualities without these could he have done any of these extraordinary Things Historians ought then to do him Justice in delivering with the same Sincerity what was Good or Ill in him This is the Rule which I propose to my self in respect of Cardinal Richlieu and some others Though I think of that first Minister quite otherwise than his Flatterers for indeed I cannot regard without Horror a Prelate who sacrifices the Liberty of France and the Repose of all Europe to his Ambitions yet without falling into the violent Invectives of St. Germain and the Faction of Mary de Medicis I will describe with pleasure what is Good and Valuable in that Great Politician There is a Thing in which I would imitate Titus Livy and Tacitus and that is Brevity The first employs but Ten Books in relating what pass'd remarkable in the Roman Commonwealth for several Ages and the other has brought into one small Volume the Reigns of Tiberius Caligula Claudius and Nero. But I believe it is impossible to be so short The Reason presents it self to every Man's view The Roman Religion did not occasion any Disputes it did not cause Schisms and different Sects Their Divinity had no Connexion with Political Matters It is not so with Christianity There are great Disputes in this It has always been divided into different Communions Princes interest themselves and take a part in the Quarrels of Divines Since the Popes have setled their Monarchy in the Western World the Court of Rome concerns her self in every thing So that Matters of Religion Controversies of Divinity the Interests and Pretensions of Popes Bishops and the Clergy the Cabals of Monks and divers other Matters which only regard the Church considerably swell an History The good Fathers the Jesuits have been at the bottom of every thing since the Rise of the Society The Relation of their endless Intrigues Enterprizes and Quarrels is Work enough to employ an Historian Add to this that in the Days of the Romans Things were in another Posture than they are at present There were not so many Treaties with neighbouring Nations so many Intrigues in the Senate among the People and in the Court of the Emperors The Romans made War to extend their Territories they had a small number of Allies whom they protected against the Powers that threatned them All Intrigues terminate in gaining the People by Donatives or promising to procure them a Dividend of Lands or to obtain for them a greater Share in the Government The time of the greatest Intrigues in the Roman Commonwealth doubtless was that of the two Triumvirates We have not a very exact History of this but it is plain all was transacted between som few Persons who had the Address to procure the Command of Armies in the remote Provinces Others fell in with the prevailing Party led by Ambition or Avarice That which Tacitus calls the Great Secret of Government in the time of the Emperors was to be Masters of the Legions He who had Interest or Money enough to procure them to revolt was soon proclaimed Emperor After this he had nothing more to do but to beat out the old Possessor or a Competitor The Victor became lawful Sovereign and the Vanquish'd was declared an Usurper In an Absolute and Tyrannical Government all things are ruled at the Pleasure of the Prince The Favourite and the Mistress have their Share in the Authority When these are once established the Dagger Poison False Informations and Violence are the Means they make use of to rid themselves of their Enemies and preserve their Power Thus every thing was managed under the Successors of Augustus The History of such a State as I represent the Commonwealth and Empire of Rome cannot be very large But the Affairs of all Christian Princes have so great a Relation to each other they make so many Leagues and Alliances together some for their own Greatness others to defend themselves from their ambitious Neighbours that it is impossible to write the History of Germany France Spain or England without speaking at the same time of what passes in the rest of Europe If two Petty Princes have any Différence one implores the Protection of the House of Austria and the other throws himself into the Arms of France If the two Crowns commence a War some of these declare for Spain others for France in hopes of profiting by the Conjuncture The Powers who have the smallest Interest are at last obliged to side with one Party or at least to arm to keep the Balance even and prevent the Conqueror from advancing his Power too much by the Ruins of the Vanquish'd The Intrigues of each Court the Interests and Motions of Great Men in a State where Arbitrary and absolute Power is not well setled cannot be so succinctly related Those Illustrious Historians who shall write the present Reign in France will be obliged if I guess aright to enlarge more in proportion on the Affairs of the Minority of Lewis XIV than on what has happen'd since the Peace of the Pyrenees The Designs and Advances of the Prince of Condé the Cardinal Mazarin and some Court Ladies in the Parlements and Provinces will fill a greater Space than the Events since the Death of Philip IV. King of Spain Since Lewis XIV has obtained what Richlieu and Mazarin had proposed and opened the way to every thing is disposed of by one or two Ministers a Mistress or a certain Lady What Character this Great Woman ought to have Time perhaps will inform us The Princes of the Blood Great Lords and Parlements all keep the Respect and Silence All Wars Alliances and great Affairs are resolv'd on with the Ministers Mistress or the Lady None can be preferred or obtain any Employ or Honour but through one of these Channels There are no knotty difficult Treaties abroad Every thing is done by the Power of Money or Threats It is the King's Pleasure it should be so This is the Answer with which his Majesty's Ministers often pay those of Foreign Sovereigns as well as their Master's Subjects Things were not so under the Reign of his Father Mary de Medicis impatiently endured the excessive
and Predestination in the Vnited Provinces A new Contest in Holland about the manner of chusing Pastors The Differences in the Vnited Provinces encrease A Conference at Delft between the Remonstrants and Contra-remonstrants The Prejudice of James King of England against the Arminians is abated Sibrund a Frieseland Minister publishes a Libel on the States of Holland Grotius is ordered to reply An Edict of the States of Holland to compose the Differences about the Questions of Predestination and Grace BOOK V. A New Party form'd at Court by the Marechal of Bouillon Artifices of the Duke of Savoy to raise a Civil War in France Different Measures propos'd to the Council of Franco for dispersing the Prince of Conde's Faction The Regent's Circular Letter upon the Retreat of the Prince of Conde and some Lords of his Faction The Duke of Nevers seizes the Citadel of Mezieres in Champagne The Prince of Conde writes a Letter to the Regent in form of a Manifesto The Weakness of the Parlement of Paris on this Occasion Reflections on the Answer the Cardinal of Perron made the Prince of Conde The Reply of Mary de Medicis to the Prince of Conde Mary de Medicis raises Six Thousand Swisses Bassompierre is made Colonel General of the Swisses in the Duke of Rohan's Place The Conduct of the Reformed in France in the Prince of Conde's Business The Wisdom of Du Plessis The Prince of Conde solicits the Reformed The wise Reply of du Plessis Mornay to the Regent and the Prince of Conde The Duke of Rohan seems to hear the Prince of Conde's Propositions The Duke of Vendome's Evasion He writes into Britany The Death of the Constable of Montmorency The Duke of Savoy shuns meeting the Marquess de Coeuvres Ambassador from France into Italy The Jealousie of the Princes and States of Italy occasioned by the Correspondence of the Two Crowns about the Affairs of that Country The Spaniards secretly traverse the Treaty carried on by the Marquess de Coeuvres The Cardinal-Duke of Mantua accepts the Conditions proposed by the Marquiss de Coeuvres The Duke of Savoy seems likewise to accept them Troops are raised at Turin The Treaty of the Duke of Ventadour and the other Commissioners of the King with the Prince of Conde and those of his Party The Prince retires to Soissons and goes into Champagne A Division in the Regent's Council on the Demands which the Prince of Conde and the Malecontents make with respect to their private Interests Intrigues of the Marshal of Ancre to divert the Regent from making War on the Prince of Conde The Pope's Nuncio's reasoning on the Resolution taken to make Peace with the Prince of Conde An Examen of the Political Reflexion of a Venetian Author of the Treaty made with the Prince of Conde A Treaty concluded at St. Menehoud between the Regent and the Prince of Conde The Sentiments of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Suarez the Jesuit Paul V. complains of the Proceedings of Parlement against Suarez's Book A Discourse of the Pope to the French Ambassador upon the Parlements Sentence The Conduct of the Court of France to satisfie the Pope The Jesuits stir to have the Parlement's Sentence burnt The King's Declaration in his Council concerning the Parlement's Sentence The Pope will not be satisfied with the King's Declaration The King at last is obliged to suspend the Execution of the Parlements Sentence Differences in the Court of France The Duke of Vendome refuses to accept the Treaty of Menehoud The Ability and Prudence of du Plessis Mornay Mary de Medicis sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres to the Duke of Vendome to dispose him to an Accommodation A new Disturbance of the Prince of Conde An Interview of the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Rohan The Prince of Conde thinks to make himself Master of Poitiers A great Tumult at Poitiers The Gates of the City are shut against the Prince He retreats to Chateouroux in Berry A Remonstrance of du Plessis Mornay to the Regent The King and Queen Mother go to Poitiers The Queen goes to Nants in Brettany to hold a Meeting of the States The Prince of Conti's Death New Differences between the Princes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh about the Administration of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers The Town of Aix la Chapelle is put under the Ban of the Empire The Marquess of Spinola reduces the Town of Aix la Chapelle and seizes divers Places in the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Maurice Prince of Orange takes divers Places in the same Country A Conference at Santheim about the Succession of Cleves and Juliers The Duke of Savoy is more embroyl'd with Spain than ever He seeks to gain the Venetians into his Interests The Marquiss of Rambouillet is sent Ambassador Extraordinary into Italy An open War between Spain and Savoy Several Things writ on both sides The Pope's Nuncio and French Ambassador labour for an Accommodation between them The Duke of Savoy accepts the Conditions proposed and Spain refuses them The King of Spain is not satisfied with the Governour of Milan's Conduct The Majority of Lewis XIII His first Act. Sits in his Seat of Justice Education of Lewis XIII THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK I. THE Reign whose History I am about to write The Plan of the Work abounds in Great Events Here is a Scene of Civil and Foreign Wars Bloody Battles Towns attack'd and defended with great Conduct and Courage The Protestants oppress'd in France and supported in Hungary Germany and the Vnited Provinces The Nobility Clergy Parlements and People reduced to Slavery A King unable to extricate himself from those Difficulties in which some were still busie to involve him leaves the Care of Affairs to his Favourites and Ministers Alike averse to his Mother his Wife his Brother he treats the one ill and obliges the rest to form Leagues at Home and Abroad and at last to throw themselves into the Hands of the ancient Enemies of France The Princes of the Blood and the Great Lords disgusted sometimes at the ill Administration of a Regent at other times with the excessive Power of a Favourite or Minister rise under the specious Pretence of a Concern for the Publick Good The Protestants driven to Extremity by the frequent Infractions of the most inviolable Edict that ever was at last take Arms to defend the Liberty of their Consciences and preserve those Securities which had been so justly granted them in the preceding Reign The Enterprizes of the House of Austria on the Princes of Italy force them to have recourse to the Protection of France and make an Alliance with her These Sovereigns jealous of their Repose and Liberty see without concern the Duke of Savoy give up to the King of France a Place which opens a way into Italy whenever he shall think fit to send any Aid thither A great Conqueror coming from the
Extremities of the North to defend those of his Religion in Germany overthrows the ambitious Projects of the Courts of Vienna and Madrid The Emperor trembles and fears to lose his Hereditary Countries and France by the help of a League opportunely made with Sweden forces from the House of Austria part of her ancient Patrimony The Success of the Spanish Arms in Picardy strikes a Terrour into Paris it self The King of France comes out of his Capital to repulse the Enemy and cannot refrain from Tears to see the Fire advanced so near the Gates of his own Palaces The Revolutions on the other side the Pyrences change the Face of Affairs Catalonia surrenders to Lewis XIII and Portugal drives out the Spaniards and replaces the Duke of Bâ—…aganza on the Throne of his Ancestors Philip the IV. in a Consternation leaves Madrid to secure the Country of Arragon and reduce the Catalonians But no soonâ—…r does he begin this Expedition but he receives the unwelcome News that France had seized the Town of Perpigan and the County of Rousillon In this Variety of Events there may be â—…und many eminent Instances of Virtue â—…nd Vice Treachery richly rewarded â—…e highest Posts of Honour obtained by â—…e most infamous Crimes some few beâ—…owed on Merit great Preferments reâ—…cted with Contempt from Motives of â—…eligion and Probity Some great Lords â—…eanly ransom their Lives and Estates by coming Slaves to an Ambitious and Revengeful Cardinal Others threatned to be made a Sacrifice to his Passions and Interest with a Noble Haughtiness continue faithful to their Friends and suffer Death with an Heroick Courage This Fragment of the Modern History of France which I design to illustrate is so curious and full of Variety it would soon tempt a Man who would employ his Time in writing something Diverting and Instructive However the boldness of the Attempt has often awed me and perhaps it is above my Abilities If I praise the principal Actors who appear upon the Stage I am in danger of being censured for Flattery and if I speak too freely I am sure to be charged with Detraction Constant Panegyrick disgusts and incenses most Readers They love to have the Vices and secret Passions of Men laid open This Air of Freedom pleases and diverts them But if I should indulge this natural Inclination we have to heaâ—… others condemned will not the World too say I am making a Satyr and not wriâ—…ting a History I shall endeavour then to avoid theâ—… two Extremes with all possible Care have no Inducement to praise or blaâ—â— Persons who were almost all dead befoâ—â— I came into the World What particular Reason can I have to love or hate them The difference of Opinion in Matters Religion and Government shall not hind the from doing Justice to Merit or conmending what is worthy of Praise I am thanks to God in a Country where every one enjoys a Happiness which is so rare in this World to speak their reasonable Thoughts with freedom If I am not in a Capacity to do my Country Service I have the Liberty to deplore its Misfortunes The State of Europe and of France at the end of the Reign of Henry IV. Before I enter upon the Matter I shall promise some few Things of Henry the Fourth and the End of his Life It s necessary to know the Posture of Affairs in Europe and France when this latter lost one of the greatest Monarchs she ever had He employ'd the first Years of his Reign in reducing by force of Arms or gaining by Treaties all who had formed a potent League against him under Colour of Religion and in carrying on a War against Philip II. King of Spain This Ambitious Monarch had supported the League with a mighty Assistance of Men and Money out of a Design to place a Prince of his House on the Throne of France or at least to dismember that Monarchy whose Power was an invincible Obstacle to the vast Projects he had conceived But finding himself worn out with Infirmities of Body and seeing his Country quite exhausted by the Immense Sums he expended and the great number of Soldiers and Ships which he lost in his Wars against the Vnited Provinces of the Low Countries England and France Philip I say after so many Men and so much Treasure consumed in vain was glad to make Peace with Henry on such Conditions as the State of France not less exhausted than Spain could not give them leave to hope for Elizabeth Queen of England and the States of the Vnited Provinces made loud Complaints that the King abandoned his good and faithful Allies in preâ—…sing â—…o cagerly the Conclusion of the Treaty with Philip. Tâ—â—â— say they is a sure way to lose the favourable Opportunity of taking those Advantages against Spain which its low and declining Condition must have put in our Hands Henry excused this Proceeding of his as well as he could alledging the Incapacity of his Kingdom to support a Foreign War after it had been so miserably harass'd by a Domestick one which had lasted so many Years and was not yet well extinguished The Reason was specious But the King seemed impatient to give himself up to his Pleasures and with ease to enjoy so fair a Succession which he had purchased with so much Hazard and Trouble It must be own'd Henry had good Reason to distrust his Strength for the future The Duke of Mercoeur penned up in Britany would not have made his Peace if he had not believ'd that of Spain entirely resolv'd on Besides the Protestants of France who had served a King bred up amongst them with so much Courage and Constancy took Umbrage and Jealousie His changing his Religion and the Favours with which he purchased the friendship of the Great Men who had been Leagued against him began to Alarm them and his New Engagements to the Court of Rome their crael and implacable Enemy had like to have cool'd them Henry prudently confirmed his best Subjects by the Edict of Nantes which was concerted with great Industry and Deliberation Happy had they been if the Successors of this good Prince had left them peaceably to enjoy what he so justly granted them No sooner was Peace setled at home and abroad but Henry strove to win the Hearts of his Subjects by publishing he would labour incessantly to make them live in Ease and Plenty Several Manufactures were set up and some certain Duties taken off It is probable the great Debts he contracted and the engagement of a great part of his Revenue would not give him leave to take away divers others very burthensom and made him give ear to all Projects for bringing Money into his own Coffers But in all this he had the Address to prevent and stifle all Murmurs by making the French Nation since for a long time accustomed to patience believe his greatest desire was to make them happy The King flattered himself he should check the turbulent humour of divers great
the Memory of his Father by the Love you ought to have for your selves and your Zeal for your Country I will instruct him to follow your Advice in all the concerns of State It is your part to see this be wholsom and good When she had done she came down within the Bar as if she would still give them a liberty to agree in their Opinions concerning the Regency The Princes Lords and Magistrates convinced there was more Ceremony than Reality in this begg'd her to take her place again Mary skill'd in the Art of Dissimulation suffer'd her self to be prest for a long time till the Instances she required seem'd to be a force on her Modesty and Grief Young Lewis rehearsed well enough the Discourse prepared for him It was not omitted here to insert the young King would follow the Advice of his Parliament This is a Language which ancient Custom has made usual in the beginning of a Minority but is never remembred by Princes when their Authority is once Established Ann of Austria and her Son said the same thing Nevertheless we have seen with our own Eyes in the present Reign and we shall see in that whose History I now write that Lewis XIII and his Successor have too much given ear to vile Flatterers who have prompted them to annul the Authority of a Body of Men on which the Preservation of France does depend Reisel Hist de Louis XII dans son livre de la Monarchie de France 1. part chap. VIII X. and which was Established to curb the Absolute power of the King Thus Men talked in the time of Lewis XIII And this Discourse is Seditious under the Reign of Lewis XIV The Chancellour assured them the late King had more than once signified his Intention according to divers preceding Examples that the Queen his Wife should have the Administration of Affairs in case he died before his Son was a Major After the Chancellor's Harangue was over the first President began He exhorted the young Prince to strive to deserve the Title of Father of his People as the good King Lewis XII had done on whose Throne he sat and to follow the Instructions which St. Lewis left to Posterity Servin Advocate-General did the same and all was concluded by the King's Decree sitting in his Seat of Justice and confirming that made the preceding Day and by sending it to other Parliaments and publishing it throughout the Kingdom The Speeches of these Two great Magistrates would have been worthy of their Gravity and Reputation if they had given less excessive Praises to a Princess who never deserved the most moderate ones The New Decree being given out the King returned with mighty Shouts and Acclamations of the Multitude who admire whatever strikes their Senses All People wished a long Prosperity to the Son of the Great Henry crying for Justice on the Authours of his Father's Death Happy had it been if the Prayers and Wishes of his Subjects could have obtained for him the Qualities of Mind and Inclinations necessary to tread in the Steps of the good Kings who preceded him the number of whom is very small But he had not Genius enough to acquire the one and his Mother would not permit him to have a Governour to form him for the other The Count of Soissons was extremely surprized to find all done in his Absence He made haste to Paris Intrigues and Cabals at Court in the beginning of the Regency of Mary de Medicis accompanied with Three Hundred Gentlemen on Horseback To lessen his Discontent which began to discover it self he had the Government of Normandy given him The Regent next rewarded those who had servâ—…d her well The Pensions of the Princes of the House of Lorrain were very moderate in the preceding Reign But Sully who strove to support the greatest Enemies of his Religion raised them to a Hundred thousand Livres The Duke of Guise obtained Two Hundred Thousand Crowns to pay his Debts and the Queen promised to favour him in the Design he had to marry the Heiress of Joyeuse Widow of the Duke of Montpensier by whom she had only One Daughter Epernon was so wealthy and had such Places he seem'd above the Gratifications of the Court He was rewarded according to his own Humour He had great Honours done him and all the Marks of a particular Distinction The Queen lodg'd him in the Louvre I do not said she Vie de Duc d' Epernon L. IV. think my self safe there wihtout him The Secretaries of State communicated all Dispatches to him In a word he seemed on the Point to render himself as formidable now as he had been under the Reign of the weak Henry III. The Count of Soissons sought his Friendship with great earnestness He He aimed by this to strengthen himself against the Prince of Conde who was invited to return and take his Rank at Court The Princess of Montpensier was Daughter to a Niece of the Duke of Epernon and the Count hoped to bring the Wealth of that rich Family into his House by marrying his Son to that Heiress This Match could not be concluded without the Consent of the Uncle Soissons hated Sully mortally He flatter'd himself that Epernon exasperated against that Minister who had done very ill Offices to the One and the Other with the late King would join with him to rid themselves of their common Enemy The Duke did not refuse the Friendship of a Prince of the Blood but would not engage to serve him in all his Projects The Edge of the Count was not taken off by this He proposes to his new Friend to stab the Duke of Sully in the Louvre A base and cowardly Action unworthy I will not say of a Prince but of the meanest Man in the World It struck with Horror one who valu'd himself on his Virtue and Probity Epernon reply'd as civilly as he could his Trust would not permit him to suffer a Violence of that kind in the King's House The Count took this Denyal ill However the secret Desire he had to raise himself above the Prince of Conde who fill'd a Place that Soissons thought belonged of Right to him made him dissemble his ill Humour Could Epernon after this maintain a Friendship with a Man who had discover'd so villainous a Heart However great a Prince is by his Birth or Interest he can deserve nothing but Hatred and Contempt when he once becomes guilty of so black a Crime Jealousies broke out and Intrigues grew numerous State of Affairs in the beginning of the Regency when the Debates began about forming the Regents Council The Princes of the Blood justly pretended to have a place there by Right of their Birth The Constable of Montmorency and the Duke of Joyeuse thought they ought not to be excluded Those of the House of Guise assured of the good Intentions of the Queen towards them hoped to raise themselves They were too weak
it However the Mareschal De la Chátre was preferr'd to him The Court would not give an Abâ—… Man and a Protestant whom they were jealous of the Command of an Army designed to joyn Prince Maurice his Friend and Brother-in-Law Bouillon made a great noise Must my Religion said he exclude me from all Employs due to my Rank and Services When Mons the Prince returns I 'll try to make a Party to oppose this new Triumvirate of the Count of Soissons the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse These Men would be Masters of all things Edicts revoked for the ease of the People A Declaration in favour of the Protestants To hinder the Princes and discontented Lords from causing an Insurrection among the People or raising the Protestants they took care to give Satisfaction to every Man FÃfty four Edicts for taxing the People were Revoked diverse Commissions were superseded and the price oâ—… Salt abated one fourth part To remove alâ—… Distrust from the Protestants a Declaration on was set forth to confirm the Edict of Nants Though as the young King is reported to have said this Formality was not necessary in regard that Law was Irrevocable and Perpetual Those who had the greatest Interest in the Party they strove to gain by Presents The Regent sent word to Du Plessis Mornay He might ask what he liked best and that her Majesty would readily grant it Vie de Mr. du Plessis Mornay 〈◊〉 a la fin No Man shall ever Reproach me said that Wise and Religious Gentlewoman with taking Advantage of the Disasters of my Country or extorting the least thing from a Minor King or his Distressed Mother If the Queen order me to be paid what has been long due to me I will look on this Order as a new Gratification The Prince of Conde's Return Affairs were in this Posture when the Prince of Conde prepared to return into France No sooner did the Count of Fuentes hear of the Death of Henry but he employed all his Wit and Address to perswade the Prince not to neglect so fair an Opportunity to make himself King Mem. de la Regençe de Marie de Medicis The Divorce of your Kinsman from Margaret of France and his Marriage with Mary de Medicis says the crafty Spaniard are contrary to the Laws of God and of the Church Will you tamely lose a Crown which belongs to you Have but Courage to assert your Right you will not want Power or Support I offer you all the King my Mâ—…ster can do for you If the Authority of the Holy See interposed in the Divorce of Henry we will find a way to engage Paul V. to declare null what his Predecessour did The Thing is not without Example Fuentes caused the Project to be proposed to the Pope who rejected it Condé did not any more give ear to it either because the Design appeared Chimerical to him or remembring the proceedings against Charlotte de la Trimoville his Mother he did not dare attempt to contest the Legitimacy of the Children of a King who had employed all his power to make him so when a great many thought his Condition doubtful Conde went from Milan to Brussels to take the Princess his Wife Firm in his Resolution to content himself with the Rank he had in France he would not suffer himself to be allured by a deceitful Appearance and therefore prepares to resume his former place at Court The Regent pressed him every day to it and his Friends waited with Impatience for him Tâ—…e Arrival of the Prince Conde at Paris Those of the House of Lorrain the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of of Sulli went to Senlis to meet him And now a new Part began to appear on the Stage The Regent took Umbrage at this The Count of Soissons the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joleuse fearing there was a design to drive them from Court began to think of defending themselves Mary alarm'd her self hearkned to the Advice given her to arm the Parisians New Officers were chosen who took an Oath to the Queen in the Town-Hall and in less than eight days time above an hundred Thousand Men were in Arms. However Conde enter'd Paris accompanied with fifteen Hundred Gentlemen He had received intelligence from different Hands that at the Sollicitation of the Count of Soissons the Regent would secure his Person and the Mareschal of Bouillon But the kind Reception he met with from their Majesties dispersed all these Jealousies Two powerful â—…aâ—…tions at Court The Prince of Conde at the head of one and the Count Soisson 8 of the other 〈◊〉 He declared at first he had no design to dispute the Regency which the Queen was in possession of Notwithstanding this the frequent Cabals he had with the Heads of his Party sometimes at the Hôtel of Mayenne and sometimes at the Arsenal gave an extream Jealousie The Duke of Sulii Master of the Artillery which was there and the Money the late King had lodged in the Bastile could have furnished Conde with means to undertake something considerable But he had not the Courage Either because the Arming the Citizens broke his Measures or the Guises united with him were more concerned for their own Interests than the greatness of a Prince naturally an Enemy of their House These Men privately had assured the Queen they only joined themselves to the Prince of Conde to skreen themselves from the ill Designs of the Count of Soissons who endeavour'd to depress them and they should be the first to leave him if he ever declared against her Majesty Conde might have spared the Guises and might have made the Queen the Count of Soissons and all the contrary Faction tremble by following the Counsel of the Mareschal of Bouillon Memoires de Dac de Rohan This was to return to the Reformed Church which Henry had forced him to forsake and declare himself Protectour of the Protestants in France Supported by the Experience and Credit of Bouillon secure of the Money in the Bastile which Sully could put into his hands strengthned with a great number of Swisses which Rohan their Colonel General would have brought to him followed by all the Protestant Nobility who would have been at his Devotion Master of several good and well fortified Cities with all these great Advantages the first Prince of the Blood would have balanced the power of the Regent and made himself formidable at home and abroad But he was only good to enrich himself like a Country Gentleman Covetous and Contentious in reasoning a point of Law or Discussing a Question of School Divinity Some had put it into his Head to desire the Reversion of the Dignity of Constable but he had the Mortification to see himself denied Too Happy in obtaining the Hôtel of Condi now called Conde which the Queen bought for him As soon as the Mareschal of Bouillon perceived that the
to allow them a place of Meeting for the taking Measures to represent to him the Justice of their Pretensions and read the Answer which the King of Hungary and the Electors and Princes of the Empire had sent them Incensed at the unjust refusal of Rodolphus the Gospellers take each other by the hand and mutually swear to lose their Lives in defence of their Liberties and Religion take Arms in the Court of the new Prague broke open the Gates enter and consult what was fit to be done in their Condition They were not more than three Hundred Budovitz their chief lays open to the Assembly the Importance of their Undertaking the danger they are threatned with and the ill Designs of their Enemies Then making an Ardent Prayer to God sings the Hymn of the Holy Ghost in the vulgar Tongue This animates the Assembly with new Zeal and Devotion they continue to sing and shed Tears in abundance A great number of Gospellers come presently into them and all set themselves to sing and weep together Notice is given a great Body of Masqueteers were coming to charge them Instead of being daunted they take Courage come down into the Area seize all the Avenues and prepare for a Vigorous Defence There was about twelve Hundred Horse and three Hundred Harquebusiers The People of their Religion in Prague came on all sides to the Assistance of their Brethren so that there was soon about ten Thousand Men differently Armed There was a Rainbow seen in the South and the Sun appeared encircled with this new Phaenomenon The vulgar naturally addicted to Superstition interpret any thing which seems extraordinary according as their Imagination is more or less heated And now they conceive great hopes thinking God has given this as a visible sign of the particular Assistance they had begg'd of him with great Ardour The chief Persons were desired to return into the Hall of the Assembly and consider what Methods were to be used The People promised in the mean time to guard the Avenues with all possible care Rodolphus informed of what had passed sent the first Burgrave of Prague and the chief Officers of his Court to appease the Tumult His Imperial Majesty says the Burgrave in the Hall cannot imagine for what reason you have taken Arms. He has always loved you as his good Subjects The Emperors Conscience bears him witness he has faithfully kept his Word in every thing he promised to the States of the Kingdom and hopes you will not be less steddy in your Fidelity to him He is disposed to summon a new Meeting to determine all Disputes which may arise on the Head of Religion contrary to the Intention of his Majesty Budovitz replied in the name of the rest that the Gospellers humbly thanked the Emperor for his good Will towards them and intreated him to believe they never design'd an Insurrection against him We only complain says he of certain Persons who under colour of preserving the Catholick Religion give his Majesty Advice which tends to the Subversion of the Government We hope to make this appear in the next Assembly which he shall convene Farther we most humbly intreat his Majesty the Publication of this Meeting may be made within three Days This is the only way to prevent those Accidents we have reason to be afraid off The Suspicion which the Gospellers had of the Catholick Party was the cause of more Commotions Rodolphus appeased these without much Difficulty by publishing a Proclamation In this he own'd those of the Bohemian Confession and the Protestants for his good and faithful Subjects declared that in their Meetings held without his consent they had no other end than the good of the Kingdom and his Majesties Service required all the Deputies to meet in the Castle of Prague the 25th of May 1609. and to bring no Soldiers with them promised on his side to send away all those in his Service that so he might leave the States an entire Liberty to settle all matters of Religion The Gospellers had a solemn Thanksgiving upon the publishing this Proclamation but their Enemies every day finding new Pretences to hinder the Conclusion of the matter the Gospellers began to raise Soldiers and brought them into Prague All preparations were made for a Civil War The Pacification of the Trrubles in Bohemia when at the Intercession of the Elector of Saxony Rodolphus published a Declaration That all his Subjects communicating under one or both kinds should have free exercise of their Religion and their Service in Bohemian or High-dutch forbidding the Archbishop of Prague to disturb the Ministers of the other Party in their Worship That Catholicks and others should equally enjoy the same Privileges That the Gospellers might build Churches and found Colleges This Edict was declared perpetual and irrevocable and those who broke it were to be punished as Disturbers of the publick Peace By Virtue of this Grant the Protestants had the liberty to exercise their Religion in Prague and the 15th of July 1609. their Ministers preached publickly in a Church of the Hussites shut up for a long time before None doubted the Jesuits inspired into the Archbishop of Prague and the other Officers of the Empire the violent Counsels which caused all the preceding Troubles The Catholicks and Gospellers were alike enraged at them Both parties reunited to present jointly an Address to the Emperor In this they represent that the Jesuits being very poor when they came into Bohemia had gained considerable Wealth and did not contribute at all to the Charges of the State for this Reason they did humbly beseech his Majesty to take care the good Fathers should not be exempted more than other Churchmen and for the future they should not receive any thing by Will or Donation without the express consent of his Majesty A Diet at Prâ—…gue in 1610. The Emperor soon repented of the Treaty with Matthias his Brother and demanded the Restitution of Austria and Moravia The Electors and Princes of that Empire summon'dâ—…to meet at Prague in 1610. came thither to endeavour a Reconciliation between the two Brothers Besides this they were to Treat of the Election of a King of the Romans and determine the Difference about the Succession of Cleves and Juliers The Elector of Cologne Ferdinand of Austria Archduke of Gratz and Henry Julius Duke of Brunswick went to Vienna to confer with the King of Hungary After a long Negotiation the two Brothers made a new Treaty Matthias remained in possession of what had been given him and the weak Rodolphus had only some seeming Submissions and a sort of annual Tribute of a certain number of Tuns of Wine and a small sum of Money The Emperor gives the Elector of Saxony the Countries of Cleves and Juliers The Diet did not take any Resolution about the Election of a King of the Romans The Posture of Affairs did not seem very favourable to the House Austria As for the Succession
something to the Disadvantage of the Reformed The continual Industry of their Enemies to do them Mischief made these Meetings almost Indispensably necessary The King having come to an Agreement with the Protestants that they should Nominate six capable Persons for their Agents and that out of this Number he should chuse two which he liked best it was necessary they should meet for the Nomination of these Men. Henry indeed declared his Intention was these Assemblies should only concern themselves in the Choice of fit Persons to be their Deputies General But those who resigned this Employ being to give an Account of what they had Transacted it was not possible for this Assembly to avoid entring upon the Discussion of some Political Matters Henry saw this very clearly The good King contented with taking Precaution against the Mareschal of Bouillon and some other Protestant Lords whom he was jealous of granted a Permission to the Reformed to meet and Adress their Complaints and Desires to him The Duke of Sully his Faithful Minister was a great Assistance to him on these Occasions He strove to manage all things so as to give the King Satisfaction and the most moderate Protestants might have no reason to complain Sully's Station was enough to Embarass any Man To serve his Master and content the Reformed was no easie Matter Turbulent Restless Spirits were continually Exclaiming and the Mareschal of Bouillon all whose Motions he observed conceived an Implacable Hatred against him The time of Villarnoul and Mirandu exercising their Office The Protestants prepare to hold another general Meeting expiring in the year 1611 these two Deputies General followed the Court in the Journey to Rheims Here they presented a Petition to beseech his Majesty to permit his Subjects of the Reformed Religion to hold a General Meeting This Request was too reasonable to be Rejected especially in a time when there was a necessity to manage every thing The Kings Letters were dispatcht away the 10th of October Mercure Francois 1611. 1610. He allowed the Reformed to meet at Chatelleraut the 25th of May in the following year From that time they prepared in earnest Mem. du Duc de Rohan L. 1. Relation de ce qui s'est passe a l'assemblee de Saumur 1611. aptâ—â— les Mem. precedente to present their Grievances to the Regent in expectation of Redress The Court flattered them with â—…air hopes the Mareschals of Bouillon and Lesdiguieres shew a zeal for the Interest of their Religion They engage Du Plessis Mornay to draw up Memorials to be sent into the Provinces that all might agree what to ask of the Regent in the present Juncture The Resolves of the Provincial Assemblies were brisk enough Bouillon do's not conceal these publishes them at Court shews Copies of them to Villeroy values himself on this to the Ambassadours of England and the Vnited Provinces promises to do Wonders in the Assembly then retires to Sedan This was to let the Regent know he would take effectual ways to do his Brethren Justice The Mareschal of Bouillon suffers himself to be won by the Court. Whether the Mareschal of Bouillon had at that time any ill Intentions or whether he suffer'd himself after to be won by the Promises and Caresses of the Queen and her Confidents God knows As for Lesdiguieres he had little sense of Christianity his Life was almost a continual Series of so black Crimes that the sacred Name may be spared In short he was an absolute Libertine But what ever the secret Designs of Bouillon were after his return from Sedan he changed his Language In the time of a Minority said he to Aersens Ambassador from the States General is it not the Duty of good Christians to suffer rather than form Cabals and Intrigues to amend their Condition In the first place let us give the young King some Marks of our Loyalty and Devotion to his Service God will give us the rest when he pleases I go in this mind to our Meeting and I will endeavour to inspire the same Thoughts into others I would here praise his Noble and Generous Sentiments if other Memoires than those of the Duke of Rohan did not farther inform me that a certain Person carried a promise from the Queen to the Mareschal of Bouillon of the Government of Poitou which she design'd to take from the Duke of Sully Villeroy and the Marquess of Ancre drew up Instructions for Bouillon they put Money in his Hands to be distributed as he should think fit they gave him Commission to gain several Mercenary Souls by New Gratifications from Mary de Medicis The Meeting of the Reformed is removed from Chatelleraut to Saumur Mercure Francois 1611. Chatelleraut being one of the Towns under the Government of the Duke of Sully whom they intended to ruin the Mareschal of Bouillon was of Opinion the Meeting should not be held there Saumur seemed to be a place more convenient for his designs The Letters for this Translation were Dated at Fontainbleau the 2d of May 1611. Before the opening of the Meeting Bouillon had declared to Du Plessis Mornay and some other Persons of Quality that he would not be President of it I think too added he this Place ought not to be given to any great Lord This must needs create Jealousies But the Mareschals New Engagements to the Court made him change his Mind Mem. du Due de Rohan Liv. 1. Relation de l'assemblee de Saumur No sooner were they at Saumur but he declared without farther Ceremony that he desired to preside This Distinction said he is due to the long and considerable Services I have done for the Reformed Churches of France The Dukes of Sully Rohan de la Trimouille Soubize Chatillon la Force and divers other Protestants of Quality came to Saumur Some of these and the greatest part of the Deputies had a Distrust of the Mareschal For this reason they agreed to stand by the first Motion which Bouillon himself had made not to Elect any Great Lord for their President Du Plessis Mornay Governor of the Town and Castle of Saumur justly valued for his great Knowledge Religion and Probity carried it by a Plurality of Voices At first he refused a Place which exposed him to the Envy and ill Humour of the Mareschal his old Friend His Opposition was in vain The Company earnestly intreated him to give on this Occasion New Proofs of his Zeal for maintaining the Reformation and his usual Integrity in the most difficult Matters Bouillon shewed visibly his Resentment and threatned to revenge the Affront done to him This particularly regarded the Dukes of Rohan and Sully The Reconciliation of the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of Sully Reflecting after some time that this Transport was capable of overthrowing all his Projects he appeared more calm Some common Friends proposing a Reconcilement between him and the Duke of Sully he thought Prudence required this to be done at least
Priest who being come to be Bishop of Rome was pleased to see himself flatter'd in such an Impious manner But the Monks and Bigots made a great Noise The Popes Nuncio was in a terrible Heat and Paul himself sent Briefs to complain of the Outrage done him The Regent was not less alarmed than the rest She could not endure to hear it said the Pope was Antichrist Besides the Reasons common to all of her Religion to oppose a Dogm which make them pass for Worshippers of the Beast Mary de Medicis had a particular one The Validity of her Marriage with Henry was grounded on the Authority of the Pope who declared his former with Margaret of France null and the Regent imagined all who looked on the Pope as Antichrist could not look upon her as the lawful Wife of Henry the IV. This made her desire to see de Mornay's Book blasted at least in appearance Du Plessis Mornays Book is censured by the faculty of Paris It is carried to the Sorbonne the first of August 1611. The Dean and Doctors of the Faculty of Paris having said a Solemn Mass of the Holy Ghost met to appoint Doctors to examine the Work They make the Report the 19th of the same Month and Condemn the Book as filled with an Infinity of Blasphemies Mercure Francois 1611. and Execrable Impieties against the Catholick Faith and Religion and against the Apostolick See These big Words only serve to dazle the Simple They would have the World believe the Catholick Faith and Religion are inseparable from the Pontifical Authority Every Doctor every Magistrate every Courtier may believe what he pleases But Policy do's not allow People to be drawn out of their Ignorance and Superstition The Censure of the Faculty was made according to the Report of the Doctors who were deputed to censure it The Book was detested and condemned as Heretical stuff'd with Furious Zeal exceeding Seditious contrary to the Divine Natural and Canon Law in short whatever those good Gentlemen pleased Reflections on their Censure Could they have declared themselves with more Vehemence against the Impious Dogms of Paul of Samosata Arius or Photinus To ask these Wise Masters â—…f the Sorbonne what reason they had â—…o thunder thus on an Author who deâ—…ies the Monarchy of the Pope to be of Diâ—…ine Institution would be an useless loss â—…f Time The Doctors set up for little â—…opes They thunder but do not instruct â—…o they think the Papacy founded on Naâ—…ural Right The greatest part of Manâ—…ind hitherto have not discovered this â—…trange Blindness indeed For the Diâ—…ine Law they shew us one or two Pasâ—â—ages in the Gospel The Roman Cathoâ—â—cks Disagree about the true sense of these â—…laces the Gravest Christian Writers did â—…ot see the Primacy of the Pope in them â—…efore there were any Protestants in the â—…orld If by the Canon Law the Moâ—…ern Decretals are to be understood we â—…ill submit to Condemnation But if the â—…ue Canon Law of France be as we are â—…ften told the ancient Code of Canons â—…ade or received in the first General â—…ouncils the Judicious and Disinterested â—…octors of Paris will find nothing less â—…an the Primacy and Monarchy of the â—…ope there It was the Name of Antichrist which â—â—d most disturb the Roman Catholicks The Pope do's not care to be the Beast â—…nd those of his Communion will not be â—…is Worshippers But in short if it be â—…ue and it is not commonly denyed in â—…rance that the Dominion usurped by the â—…opes is contrary to the Spirit of Jesus â—…hrist and the Institution of the Apostles it cannot be denyed that the Pope is Antechrist in this Sense and that his Monarchy is Antechristian If it be true as it seems to be that to rise and oppose what is called God or what Men adore be to put a Mans self above those to whom the Lord of all things has said Ye are Gods and the Sons of the most High and to assume Honours which are due to him alone is it not evident then that the Pope is or at least resembles very much the Son of Perdition and the Man of Sin foretold by St. Paul As for the Prophecies of St. John the Protestants are not the first who have applied them to the Pope There is no need of seeking ways round about to find Characters very much resembling those we see in him The Comparison between the Pagans and Christians in these latter times seems so just that it is difficult to determine which of the Interpreters are in the Right who Explain the Prophecies of the Revelations of one and the other Rome One Ferrier thought to distinguish himself in the beginning of this Age by maintaining a publick Thesis at Nismes where he was Professor of Divinity that the Pope is Antichrist The Parlement of Toulouse proceeded against him but he declined their Jurisdiction and removed the Affair to the Chamber of the Edict at Castres Some little time after the Protestants made a New Article of Faith in their National Synod of Gap in Dauphine in which they declared that they believed and would maintain That the Bishop of Rome is properly Antichrist and the Son Perdition foretold in the Word of God This New Article was to be the XXXI of the Confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches in France Henry IV. took it ill than in his Reign they should devise a thing they had never once thought of when the Disputes were hottest in the times of his Predecessors Whether it were that he feared for his own part the Consequences with regard to his second Marriage or that he was displeased the Reformed should Reproach him with leaving the true Religion to become a Worshipper of the Beast Henry commanded absolutely this New Article should be left out The more Wise and Moderate of the Protestants disavowed what was done at Gap or at least thought the Synod wanted Prudence and Moderation The Question of Antichrist was again brought upon the Board at the Synods of Rochell and St. Maixant But Henry the IV. constantly opposed the making of an Article of Faith which did not seem very necessary to Salvation Viguier having published a Book with the Title of the Theater of Antichrist the Jesuit Gontier a famous Converter of these Times preached against it in a Violent and Seditious manner The King forbid the publishing of the Book and imposed Silence on this Outragious Controvertist Du Plessis Mornay's Book coming out immediately after these Disputes which were not yet entirely stifled it is not to be wonder'd that it made such a mighty Uproar If it be owned this Gentleman who was very able and judicious in all other things failed in his usual Consideration and Conduct here the censure of the Sorbonne is no less extravagant and ridiculous Troubles of Aix la Chrpelle Mary de Medicis began to take that Method which has since been so constantly followed in the Reign of her Son and
is still in our Times She applied her self to divide the Protestants of France and weaken them but did not refuse her good Offices and the young King's Protection to those of Geneva and Germany The Marquess de la Vieuville du Brueil President of Mets and Villers Hotman were sent of her part to Aix la Chappelle towards the end of September to endeavour to appease the Troubles raised a little before in that City The occasion of these was thus In the year 1598. the Protestant Inhabitants of Aix la Chappelle Mercure Francois 1611. having drove out the Roman Catholick Magistrates the City was put under the Interdict of the Empire The Elector of Cologne had a Commission to see the Emperor's Orders put in Execution and Accomplished it by the Aid of the Elector of Triers and the Duke of Cleves So the Catholick Magistrates were restored and the Protestant Ministers in their turn drove out of the City The Protestants shewing great uneasiness to be thus deprived of the Exercise of their Religion the Catholicks to strengthen their Interest put themselves under the Protection of Albert Arch-Duke of the Low Countries The Revolution which hapned after in the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers which Countries fell into the Hands of two Protestant Princes gave some Consolation to those of Aix la Chapelle who were of the same Religion They went two Leagues off into a Village in the Country to pray to God and hear his Word This displeased the Roman Catholicks The Magistrates forbid the Protestants to go into that Village upon pain of Imprisonment and paying a great Fine They added to this a Clause that all who should not be able to pay the Fine should be banished out of the City Some by Vertue of this New Law suffered Imprisonment and after were condemned to perpetual Banishment Their Friends and Neighbours moved with Compassion in taking their leaves of them went in a considerable Number to the Magistrates when they were met to present a Petition in favour of those poor Wretches They alledged that the Sentence against them was contrary to the Privileges of the Inhabitants and required the Rigour of it to be abated The Magistrates very far from considering this Ordered every one to return immediately to their Respective Houses Those who were thus remanded began to exclaim against the Hardships of the Magistrates and the Jesuits whom they lookt on as Authors of these violent Counsels It is now twelve years that we have groaned under this Oppression said some of them have we not had Patience long enough Shall we never think of Revenging three hundred Families of our fellow Citizens driven out of their Country in less than eight days time The love of Liberty is common to Men and Brutes But it is the Advantage of Men to have Courage and Industry to defend it and recover it when it is lost Our Ancestors have ever preferred Death to Slavery Let us follow the Examples which they have given us It is sweeter to die than endure Banishment If God bless our just Efforts for the Preservation of our Estates and Liberties We shall obtain the free Exercise of our Religion into the Bargain Fired with this warm Speech several run presently to Arms and others joyn with them They sieze the Town-House oblige the Burgomaster to let out those who were unjustly kept in Prison sieze the Keys of the Gates and put up the Chains in all parts of the City The Protestants being Masters of the Town chose Captains setled a New City Council and took all ways they could think of to prevent Trouble and Confusion Being persuaded it would be hard to keep peace in the City as long as any Jesuits remained in it the New Council sent Men to secure the good Fathers and secure their College The Consternation they were in not giving them leave to Intrigue they withdrew to their Church to implore the Assistance of God and their Great Patron Ignatius Loyola whom the Pope had newly Canonized When Bigots have rashly brought themselves into danger by their Cabals and Indiscreet Zeal they have a vain confidence that God will work Miracles to bring them out The Jesuits were carried to the Town-House and put under a strong Guard without having any harm done them The Superior of their professed House at Paris was then at Aix la Chapelle to drink the Waters He was treated with all imaginable Respect as soon as he discovered himself The Townsmen shewed they did this in consideration of the King of France and the Queen his Mother The Wise and Moderate Catholicks disapproved the Severity of the Magistrates to the Protestants several of them would not quit their Places in the City or the Pretensions they had to them but seeing in the Conclusion they were the weakest they had Recourse to Arch-Duke Albert. The Protestants of their side begged the Assistance of the Prince of Brandenburgh and Newburgh Masters of the Neighbouring Countries of Cleves and Juliers Count Solms Governor there for the Princes coming to Aix la Chapelle with a good number of Horse the Protestants remained absolute in the City And now they publish a Manifesto setting forth the Reasons they had to change the Form of their small Commonwealth for a time In this they offered to agree to these Conditions that those of the Confession of Ausburg and the Reformed should have free Exercise of their Religon that a certain Number of Protestants should be admitted to the Magistracy with a Provision in the last place that the Jesuits should be expelled the place The Regent of France interposes to calm the Troubles at Aix la Chapelle The Arch-Duke Albert and the Elector of Cologne had sent Persons on their part to labour for an Accommodation But the Threats of the Persons cut by Arch-Duke Albert having Exasperated the Minds of the People their Mediation was not accepted The Marquess de la Vieuville and his Collegues were heard more favourably After a Wise Remonstrance they made the Protestants agree to a conditional Treaty without prejudice to the Emperor's Power or what he should order hereafter The Protestants agreed to wait for his Imperial Majesty's Decision of their Differences with the Catholicks and that all things in the mean time without excepting the College of Jesuits should be Reestablished in the same condition they were with a Provision that the Protestants should have the free Exercise of their Religion in some convenient Place without the Walls of the ancient City of Charlemagne But the Catholick Magistrates refused to Sign the Treaty upon a pretence that the Empepor had Commissioned Archduke Albert and the Elector of Cologne to pacifie the Troubles in such manner as they should think fit In vain did Vieuville and his Collegues make a second Remonstrance to the Catholick Magistrates to encline them to Peace They obstinately refused it and the Jesuits retired into the Catholick Low Countries And now the Envoys of France caused New
to obtain his consent The Advocate Montholon seeing what Confusion his Clients were in had a greater Presence of Mind than the good Father Provincial The Jesuits says he will readily follow the Laws of the Vniversity When these four Propositions shall be Signed by the Sorbonne the Jesuits will not make any scruple of subscribing them The dextrous Montholon knew there were so many Leaguers and Doctors in the Pope's Interest amongst the Sorbonists that they would never agree in these four Propositions And if the Faculty would have resolved to have Signed them the Court was so afraid of offending the Pope they would not have suffer'd them to do it So much Respect and Deference had Mary de Medicis for his Holiness The first President himself embarassed by the Advocates Reply would seem not to understand it being well pleas'd that the Jesuits had not handsomly explained themselves on what was proposed to them He pronounced a Decree forbidding any of that Society to teach the Youth at Paris or read any publick Lecture there The Members of the University Triumphed made a thousand Verses some good some bad in praise of their Judges and their Advocate The Jesuits obeyed the Decree They dismist their Scholars continued silent and did not write at all or at least did it under the borrowed Names of their Friends Here they comforted themselves on their Disgrace shewed the Imprudence of those who would renew Disputes out of Season which might create Differences between France and the Pope Every Man discoursed of the Decree of Parlement as his Fancy led him Some took part with the Jesuits others with the University The Pope's Nuncio complained of the Parlements having required such a Subscription of the Jesuits The Cardinal Gonzaga was then at Paris He was offended the good Fathers had been so ill spoken of Mercure Francois 1612. Montholon whose Voice was so low in his short pleading to the Audience printed a more ample Argument the following year This Discourse was divided into three Parts In the two first he justified the Conduct and Institution of the Jesuits The third answered the Objections made against the Doctrine of the Society and the Perverse Consequences which its Adversaries drew from it Disputes concerning Grace and Predestination The Zeal which the Jesuits shewed the latter end of the last and the beginning of this Age for the Doctrine opposite to that of St. Augustin and Thomas Aquinas in the Matter of Grace and Predestination drew still a greater number of Enemies on them the Advocate of the University Reproaching them with this in his Plea Not only the Order of Dominicans which is more Potent in Italy and Spain than in France where it is trampled on with the rest of the Mendicants had declared openly against the Jesuits But a great Number of the Doctors of Paris and Louvain bigotted to the Hypotheses of St. Augustin and Aquinas condemned too against the Society They decreed it as Pelagian At least said they she attempts to revive the Sentiments of Cassian and the old Priests who were called Semipelagians The Dispute began in Spain upon occasion of a Book of Molina a famous Jesuit This Author boasted of having found out a new System to reconcile the Certainty of God's Fore-Knowledge and the Operation of Grace with the Liberty of Man The Invention pleased the Society and she adopted it This was a Deviation from the first Laws of the Founder who ordered she should follow the Doctrine of Thomas Aquinas When the Jesuits reproached their Adversaries with maintaining the Sentiments of Luther and Calvin condemned in the Council of Trent they recriminated instantly Your Hypothesis said they to the good Fathers is the same with that of the ancient Enemies of St. Austin in Gaul The Dispute was so warm in Spain that the Matter was remitted to Rome Clement VIII resolved to determine this Controversie It is reported that he not only made Preparations for this by a serious Examen of all the Questions for which he setled a famons Congregation of Divines and Cardinals but farther had recourse to Prayer Fasting and extraordinary Mortifications The Holy Father believed that the Holy Ghost had inspired him to condemn the Sentiments of the Jesuits The Bull was ready But to speak after the manner of the People beyond the Mountains God did not permit Clement to pass on the Church his private Illusions for Divine Oracles The Pope died very luâ—…kily for the Jesuits Paul V. pleased with the Zeal the good Fathers had shewn for the Interests of the Holy See in the Difference between the Pontif and the Republick of Venice suppressed his Predecessors Bull. He imposed silence on the Dominicans and Jesuits Few except these two Orders had engaged publickly in this first Dispute The Universities of Doway and Louvain declared too against the Jesuits and their Doctrine of Grace was condemned there After this the Book of Jansenius Bishop of Ipres caused a long and famons Contest in the Faculty of Paris and all the Gallican Church At the same time that Paul V. endeavoured to stifle in his Church the Disputes concerning Grace and Predestination the Protestants of Holland were divided on the same Questions Luther and the first Reformers had at first embraced the Hypothesis of St. Austin either because they were prepossessed or because it seemed most proper to combat the Dogms of the Roman Church and settle those of the Reformation However Luther himself or at least his first Disciples soon saw the Inconveniences and ill Consequences of the Augustinian System That of the Greek Fathers appeared both more Ancient and Reasonable Melancthon took to this and his moderate Sentiments prevailed with those of the Ausburgh Confession Calvin Zanchy Beza and the greatest number of the Reformed adhered strongly to the Opinions of St. Austin Some strain'd them higher and used harder Expressions The rigid Thomists did the same in the Roman Church Towards the beginning of this Age divers of the Reformed Divines opened their Eyes after the Example of the Lutherans Upon examining the Scripture more attentively the Sense of St. Chrysostom and the ancient Greeks appeared preferrable to that of the Bishop of Hippo who did not certainly very well understand the Old or New Testament The Rise of Arianism in Holland As the Books of Erasmus Melancthon and Bulllinger were much esteemed in Holland where these Works had much conduced to give a Relish to the Reformation so the most knowing of the Magistrates and Laiety were inclined to the mild and moderate Sentiments of these Divines on Predestination and Grace rather than the rigid Hypothesis of the first Reformers They thought at least they were very tolerable and compatible with the Reformation which that Province had embraced But the greatest part of the Ministers on the contrary who had only studied Religion Grotius Apolog eorum qui Hollandiae praefueâ—…unt in the Books of Calvin and Beza stifly maintained the Opinions of
their Masters This occasioned a great difference in Religion between the Churchmen and the Magistrates The one and the other formed a different Idea of what they call'd the Reformation or the Reformed Doctrine The Ministers meant by these Words the Opinions in Divinity explained by their great Authors and inserted into the Confessions of Faith which the first Reformers had drawn up These Servants of God meant well But they did not consider that by aiming in their Formularies of Faith and Catechisms to compile a compleat and regular Body of Divinity they inserted their own Speculations as certain and essential Truths The Magistrates and wise Laity of Holland urged that the Reformation being only a purer Worship and more free from vain Superstitions than the Church of Rome with a greater Latitude of Opinions in things not plainly revealed in the Holy Writings it could not be said the Reformation stood on what some Persons thought the most crabbed and difficult Questions of School Divinity The Ministers always warm for their Opinions and Prejudiced often cried the Magistrates wanted Zeal for the true Doctrine And these in their turn complained that the other were stubborn and inflexible and would force all the World to be of their Mind When the Churchmen fir'd with Zeal brought befor the Magistrates those who opposed the Hypothesis of Calvin and Beza about Predestination and Grace as Men who subverted the Foundations of the Reformation the more wise and discerning asked these new Inquisitors if it were impossible to be a true Reformed Christian without embracing the Opinions of St. Austin and his Disciples From the first Reformation in Holland the contrary Sentiments had always prevailed in the City of Tergow The States of Holland too had not solemnly approved the Confession of Faith received in the Belgick Churches Is not this a Proof that those wife Magistrates thought there were Articles put in this Formulary which were not absolutely necessary which ought to be expressed in a more soft manner and less offensive to those of a different Persuasion from the first Reformers This appears very probable since we read in History that the States of Holland in other respects very averse to the Convocation of a General Synod of the Seven United Provinces consented in the Year 1597. to the holding such an Assembly where the Confession of the Faith should be exactly revised and amended in a Spirit of Charity and Peace For my own part when I consider the Disputes which have caused such a fatal Division in Holland I am in pain to comprehend how Men of Sense can be perswaded that the Opinions of St. Austin concerning Predestination and Grace are essential to a Reformation of Christianity How many Holy Men were there in the Times of the greatest Purity of the Church of Rome whose Thoughts were differenâ—… from the Fathers Cannot we renounce the monstrous and ridiculous Dogm oâ—… Transubstantiation the Religious Worship of Saints and Images the Fable oâ—… Purgatory Indulgences the false Traditions of the Church of Rome the Tyranny of the Pope without believing absolute Predestination and irresistiblâ—… Grace Did all those honest Men who convinced of the Absurdity and Falsity oâ—… the Things which I mentioned embraceâ—… the Reformation think of the Hypothesâ—… of the Bishop of Hippo Were they anxious to know if it were true or false 〈◊〉 These abstract and difficult Questions only employed some Doctors who were projecting to make a compleat System of Divinity Among these who took this pains there were some who preferred the moderate Sense of the ancient Greek Fathers Calvin himself was not perswaded thaâ—… his Thoughts of Grace and Predestination were essential to Religion He took the pains to translate the Common Places oâ—… Melancthon into French whose Thoughts of these Matters were quite different from his own In his preface he gives all imaginable Praises to Melancthon Could he in Conscience have done this if he had been perswaded the Opinions of his Author undermined the Foundations of the Reformation Able Divines of the Reformed Churches have publickly maintained that â—…e Opinons of Universal Grace of the â—…ower of resisting its Operation and â—…onditional Predestination are of the numâ—…er of those Articles which every one may â—…elieve without renouncing the Principles â—…f his Religion Several learned Hollanders had highly â—…efended this Doctrine before Arminius â—…ad preach'd it at Amsterdam and taught 〈◊〉 at Leyden before Gomar rose up against â—…im These Books are still extant It is â—…ue certain warm Ministers made a stir 〈◊〉 blast those Works and ruin their Auâ—…ors But the States of Holland always â—…op'd this impetuous Zeal The Professors â—â—d an entire Liberty to teach according to â—…e Sense of Melancthon And when Arâ—…inius was called into that University â—…one were ignorant of his Opinions He â—…ad declared them in the Church of Amâ—…erdam which gave an advantageous â—…estimony of them Gomar himself and â—…vers more of the same Mind with him â—…tring into a Conference with Arminius â—…ade no Scruple to say their Differences â—â—d not concern the Grounds of Reformaâ—â—on It is true Gomar did not long live 〈◊〉 a good Understanding with Arminius his â—…ew Collegue either because his Reputaâ—â—on gave him Umbrage or the Enemies â—…f Arminius kindled his Choler by some â—…sinuation and then he vigorously oppoâ—…d a Man whom he look'd on as Orthoâ—…x but a little before The two Professors had soon their Disciples and Party The Division was so great in the University of Leyden that the Affair was brought before the Synod held at Rotterdam Gomar's Party was the strongest there The Assembly ordered that all the Pastors should subscribe the Confession of Faith and the Catechism Arminius and his Party refused to obey There are some things to be amended in both of them said they They ought to be considered in a National Synod We hope to see one meet in a little time The manner in which Questions should be treated and determined in this Synod caused new Difficulties One side required certain Conditions others rejected all In the meantime the ordinary Synods press'd Arminius and his Party to declare publickly what Exceptions they had against the Confession oâ—… Faith and the Catechism in order to have the Matter duly determined Arminius perswaded his greatest Enemieâ—… would be Judges in such an Assembly declined the Jurisdiction of a Synod as much as possibly he could Vtenbogard a Minister of great Reputation in the Hague his Friend and of the same Opinion with himself did him considerable Service with several of the chief Persons of the Government Never did Synod in its first Steps and perhaps thro' the whole Course of it more follow the Council of Trent than the Synod of Dort except that there were more able Divines at Dort than at Trent This is not in any manner surprizing almost all Councils are alike The same Interests give occasion to them and the same Passions reign in them Arminius presented a Petition to the States of
His Discourse ended in earnest Prayers to her Majesty for this speedy prevention of the Mischief which this forward undertaking of the Parlement was making said he against Religion Mary de Medicis gave the Nuncio good words But it was not sufficient to have Circumvented a Woman not so clear-sighted Superstitious to the utmost degree and absolutely depending upon the Pope for the Ministers of State and the principal Men in Parlement were to be brought over The Queen was not in a capacity to do any thing without them upon this occasion The Nuncio sent first his Auditor to the Ministers of State 's Houses There he made a great noise Is it then come to this pass saith this Italian that the Kings Advocates General believe they have right to propose in Parlements Questions which respect the administration of Sacraments Doth this Assembly pretend to be the Sovereign Judges of them If the Edict which it hath set forth did only oblige the Jesuits to follow the Doctrine received in ev'ry Church or at least what the Prelats of the Gallican Church profess to believe the Matter might have been born withal but when a Parlement shall constrain them to conform to what is not taught but in so small a Corporation as Sorbonne the Pope must needs condemn so unsufferarable a procedure Then the Auditor insisted from the Nuncio that the Kings Privy Council might make void the Edict of Parlement or at least Suspend the Execution of it The Nuncio's Railing against the Advocate General Servin Then the Master on his part bawl'd and ask'd if the Sorbonne pretended to make a Schism in the Church by the Adoption of a Doctrine which was contrary to any received in all other Universities If this continue saith he the Pope will be obliged to call a National Council in France in order to have the Sorbonne Doctrine Condemned there as Rash False and Erroneous In the mean time his Holiness shall proceed by way of Ecclesiastical Censure against those Doctors who shall subscribe the Articles which the Parlement proposes to the Jesuits As for Servin added this Italian Minister all the World knows how he is a downright Hugonot and a Pentioner to the King of England His Office ought to be taken from him or he for the future be prohibited to speak any thing that concerns Religion the Pope the Court of Rome and the Immunities of the Church This Man infects the young Lawyers with his evil Sentiments he strives to serve the Hugonot Party by breaking the good intelligence betwixt the Court of France and the Holy Chair and by sowing Jealousie and Distrust betwixt the Pope and the most Christian King The Nuncio maintain'd further that the Clergy of France ought to Excommunicate the Advocate General If Humane respect he added stop the Bishops from doing this the Pope himself shall proceed against a Man who meddles with making of New Articles of Faith and Condemns for Heresie Doctrines conformable to the Truth which the Catholick Church teacheth Paul the 5th could he have dared to undertake the Excommunication of the principal Magistrates of France for having stood up for the Interests of the King and State Would to God this bold Pope had undertaken it One might have seen then how the Gallican Church would have defended this great Article of its Liberties viz. That a Magistrate cannot be Excommunicated for any thing that regards the exercise of his Office I question whether Paul the 5th could have got rid of this Affair as well as of his Interdiction fulminated against the Republick of Venice The Nuncio complain'd chiefly of the Article touching the Seal of Confession as it refers to ill Attempts upon the Persons of Kings and the State he spoke of this as if 't was nothing less than Impiety and Sacrilege This Doctrine said he is against the Security of the Persons of Princes This is Surprizing for the Parlement intended to do the King good Service in Establishing that the Confessor is obliged to Reveal what he knows of ill Attempts upon the Person of the Prince and State Observe here how the Popes Minister argued Should this be received he continued Those who conceive such black Designs will never come to Confession a Priest will be no longer able to disswade his Penitent from the execution of his wicked Enterprize When such sorts of Practices are made known by way of Confession it s permitted to give the Prince or Magistrate notice of them in general Terms without Naming or describing the Persons but to use such a way of dissuasion Discourageth Men from Confession of the Crime they intend and deprives their Confessors of the means to do this good Service for the Publick What Vbaldini said against the Article touching the Popes Superiority over the Council was more Malitious and more capable to affright the Queen Regent The same Arguments said he aloud which the Sorbonne use to establish this Doctrine prove likewise that the States General of the Kingdom are above the King The Hugonots or at least the troublesom Catholicks will be able to appeal to a future Council from the Sentence of Divorce which Clement VIII hath pronounced betwixt the Deceased King and Queen Margaret The Birth of the King is not certain according to these Principles and that Man is in the Right who provides against the Queen's Regency This is that which Servin aims at He 's a declared Enemy to the Queen and her Council This great bustle rais'd through the Nuncio's means was the reason why Mary de Medicis and her Ministers resolved to appease the Italian But the Grandees and Ministers of State could not well agree amongst themselves about the Expedients which ought to be taken The Grandees were for the Queen 's Suspending the Execution of the Parlement's Edict for the calling of this Affair to her Counsel and that the Advocate General should receive a sound Reprimand and be advised never to engage the Queen again to such Difficulties The Ministers of State were not of the Grandees mind They were afraid least this high dealing should provoke the Parlement Prudence required they should handle this Matter much more discreetly in a time of the King's Minority than at any other time T' was found at last more convenient to hinder the Sorbonne with soft words from explaining themselves upon the four Articles and to engage the Parlement it self to Limit the Edict and not to receive any more New Petitions against the Jesuits The Nuncio's tampering with the Members of Parliament to get this Sentence Mitigated Conchini was ordered to speak to the Presidents of Parlement from the Queen and inform them that her Majesty wisht their Edict were Limited The Chancellor Sileri and Villeroy were further employ'd for the obtaining the same from the Magistrates This Resolution did not at all please the Nuncio He sees himself sent back to the Parlement to Limit an Edict by a Negotiation with them which might not be to
Dr. Duval at the Head of his Party promis'd to answer in case the Parlement press't them to it that the Faculty could do nothing without the Bishops or without an express Order from the Queen that the Articles in question had not only a Reference to Religion but to State Affairs also In the mean time the Jesuits were at a stand they long'd to open their College of Clermont To obtain this Permission The Jesuits puzl'd how they could content the Court of Rome and the Parlement at the same time they were to follow the Advice which the President Seguier their good Friend and some others gave to the Society which was to content the Parlement by a Promise to conform to the Doctrine generally received in the University of Paris But this exposed them too to the Indignation of the Holy Father and Court of Rome The Cardinal Perron the Bishop of Paris and many other Prelates Counsell'd them not to content the Parlement so far Vbaldini entreated them from it being persuaded that the Honour of the Holy Chair was concern'd in this Affair After great Consults the Provincial accompanied by five other Jesuits goes without giving notice to the Nuncio or Cardinals to make a Declaration in Writing before the Register of Parlement like to that which the Provincial had made in Parlement vivâ voce The good Fathers believed they should easily Extricate themselves in this Affair with the Court of Rome when the thing was done and should escape with only a chiding from the Nuncio and their General who would not be sorry for it at the bottom of his Heart As soon as the Nuncio had understood what the Jesuits had done he was in a furious Passion Father Coton was order'd to wait on him to Appease him The oily Tongu'd Jesuit represented to him to little purpose that his Provincial did not think to do any Mischief in signing what he had already said viz. That the Rules of the Society required it should conform to the Sentiments of the Universities where it had Colleges that their good Friends counsell'd them to prevent the Troubles which the Parlement would not fail to give them if the Society should obstinately refuse to obey the Edict Lastly that they had believ'd the Pope to have Reasons why he did not give them expresly Permission to submit to a Law which the Parlement would impose upon them but that they hop'd the Pope would not take it ill from them likewise to have contented the Parlement without the knowledge of the Court of Rome The Nuncio was not paid with these Reasons Doth it belong to you said he to Coton to guess the Intentions of his Holiness You should have consulted his Minister who knows them better than any one else And since you ought to conform to the Sentiments of Vniversities why have you not tarried till the Sorbonne explain'd clearly what it believes In stead of consulting your President Seguier and the Lawyers it might have been more expedient to have taken mine and the Prelates their Advice who have good Intentions and have expected Orders from your Father General Coton had nothing to reply but the business was over The Nuncio likewise could not further complain to the Queen of the violence the Parlement had done the Jesuits for one might have answer'd him that the good Fathers went of their own accord without any new Summons to promise to conform to the Sentiments of the University and Intentions of the Parlement As Equivocations Silence keeping and Mental Reservation are always the Society's great help the Jesuits of Paris made wonderful use of them in the Letters they wrote to the Pope and Cardinal Borghese his Nephew Can any one forbear laughing and see Coton speaking down right to his Holiness that by the Liberties of the Gallican Church they understood nothing but the Concordate made betwixt Leo X. and Francis I. A Book of Doctor Richer Sindic of the Doctors of Paris occasions there a great stir Vbaldini bestirr'd himself yet farther with the Clergy and Sorbonne to ruine Richer Doctor and Syndic of the Faculty at Paris At the beginning of the year two Books were put out one of which brought great trouble to the Author tho' his Name was not put to it The first was but a Collection of some Decrees of the Faculty at Paris upon the Authority of the Pope T' was intended to prove herein that the ancient Doctrine of Sorbonne is That Jesus Christ hath instituted an Aristocratical Government in his Church And because the Court of Rome accuseth all those of Huguenotism who oppose it's Usurpations the Author of this Collection was willing to prevent this Reproach against the Faculty in joyning to his Collection the Sorbonne Decrees against Luther and du Plessis Mornai The second Book unfolds the Hypothesis of the Aristocratical Government of the Church The Title of the Book is Of Ecclesiastical and Politick Power The Author pretended that Spiritual Jurisdiction belongs properly to the Church and that the Pope and Bishops are but the Instruments and Ministers whom she makes use of to exercise this Jurisdiction that Jesus Christ is the Essential Head of the Church of which the Pope is only Head Ministerial as they term it and that the Authority of the Pope extends only to particular Churches where he is to see that the Decrees and Canons publish't in General Councils be observ'd that the Church ought not to be govern'd by one Absolute Monarch but by the Canons that Infallibility is given to the Church in general that is to say to the Body of the chief Pastors every particular Bishop and Pope likewise being subject to Error that the frequent calling of General Councils is necessary that the Decrees of the Pope oblige no further than they are Conformable to the Canons Lastly that the Pope cannot impose any Obligation upon the Church against her will and without her consent to it As to politick Power the Author maintains that Jesus Christ hath given no Temporal Jurisdiction to the Church and that she hath not any power to use the Sword or Constraint that Censures and Excommunications are the Spiritual Arms of the Church and that they could not heretofore be employ'd without the Counsel of the Assembly which they call'd Presbyters that the King is the Defender and Protector of the Natural Divine and Canonical Law and that in this Quality he hath right to make Laws and use the Sword to maintain what God and the Councils have ordain'd that Christian Emperors have by Right call'd the first General Council That Appeals as Appeals from Abuse or Error are lawful and that Sovereigns ought to receive them in quality of being Protectors of the Canons that the Church hath an indirect Power over Temporal Matters by way of Persuasion and Excommunication but not by way of Constraint and Deposition of Sovereigns that the Decrees of Popes wherein Sovereigns who don 't Exterminate Hereticks are Excommunicated have no
Guises and Eperâ—…on and who pretended to drive away â—…rom Court the Ministers of State Conchini had a mind especially to do this good â—…urn for the Chancellor He was busied â—…o obtain for Dole his Creature and his â—â—timate Friend the Office of Attorney General at the Parlement of Paris vaâ—â—ant by the Death of De la Guesle but â—…ileri had procured it for Belieure Allied â—…o the Chancellor's House To revenge â—…imself of this Affront Conchini took a â—…esolution to get the Seals taken away from Sileri and to cause them to be given to Dole The Duke of Mayenne is sent to Spain to make a demand of the Infanta in the King's Name In the mean time the Affair of the double Marriage was to be made an end of and Dispatches given to the Duke of Mayenne which were necessary for to demand the Infanta Ann in the King's Name The Presence and express consent of all the Princes of the Blood were of the greatest importance upon this occasion The Ministers of State employ'd divers Persons to Negotiate the return of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons But the Uncle and Nephew would not hearken to the Ministers whom they had undertaken to ruine Memoires de la Regence de Marie de medicis The Marquess d'Ancre who had need of the Princes for his own ends willingly took upon him the Office of going to invite both of them to come to Court All considerations were promis't which were due to their Birth Soissons suffer'd himself to be Lured by the hopes of being Governor of Quilleboeuf in Normandy After this it was noâ—… hard to persuade Conde The two Princes at first went to Paris accompanied with 500 Horsemen The Regent seem'd to be afraid of this but she recovered her Spirits They came in few days after to Fontainbleau where the Courâ—… pass't away the Spring The Count de Soissons Friends counsell'd him to refuse his consent to the double Marriage till he was more assured oâ—… what he was to hope for and hinder thâ—… Prince of Conde from giving his but the Mareschal Lesdiguieres always deceived by the hopes of having made good in Parlement his Brief to be made Duke and Peer though the Court had amus'd him for more than Six Months Lesdiguieres I say persuaded the Count of Soissons to do what the Regent would have him do The double Match having been then proposed in Council with the Envoy of the Duke of Mayenne and de Puisieux Secretary of State and Son to the Chancellor the Business came to a conclusion without any one's opposing of it Moreover the Procuration and Instruuctions prepared for the Duke of Mayenne were read who immediately set out on his Journey with Puiseux The Duke de Pastrana came on his side into France to demand from the King and Prince of Spain Madam Elizabeth the Eldest Daughter of France Matthias King of Hungary and of Bohemia is chosen Emperor after the Death of Rodolphus the Second The year 1612 was stiled the year of Magnificences by reason of the Festivals and Shews set up in France Spain and Naples for the Publication of the double Marriage betwixt the two Crowns and in Germany at the Election of Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia who was Proclaim'd and Crown'd Emperor at Francfort Rodolph the Second his Brother died at Prague in the beginning of this year of a Distemper in his Legs T' was in the 60th year of his Age and 23d of his Reign A Prince whom one might judge would Govern well if he never had arrived to the Sovereign power Mercure Francois 1611. After his Death the Duke of Neubourg contended for the Vicegerency of the Empire with the Duke de Deux-Ponts as he had already contested the Administration of the â—…alatinate and the Tutelage of the young Elector The two Dukes sent their Letters Patents into the Provinces of the Vicariat Palatine as the Elector of Saxony had sent into his Vicariat for to Exhort all the People to remain Peaceable and seek for Redress before the Vicegerent of the Empire in all Affairs which are needful till the approaching Election But the Duke de Deux-Ponts having been received as Administrator at the Diet at Neuremberg the preceding year it was a great step to promote his interest He was present in the same Quality at the Election of the New Emperor and there gave his Vote The Elector of Mentz according to the right which the Golden Bull gives him had convok't a Diet at Francfort to be on the 24th of May. Ferdinand of Bavaria New Elector of Cologne since the Death of Ernest his Kinsman arriv'd in the Month of February whom he Succeeded in full Right in Quality of Coadjutor nominated The Archbishop of Treves and John George Duke of Saxony render'd themselves there John Sigismond Marquess of Brandenburg sent thither his Embassador to stand in his place Matthias came the last as King of Bohemia accompanied with the Queen his Spouse and follow'd by 3000 Persons He had ask't leave of the Electoral College to have with him a great number of Men which the Golden Bull does not allow of to Electors in the like occasion They held their first Meeting in the Town-Hall at Francfort They observed there all the Formalities which were to precede the Election The 13th of June the Electors went to St. Bartholomew's Church After they had taken the usual Oath they went into the Imperial Chamber and Matthias II. King of Hungary and Bâ—â—emia and Arch-Duke of Austria was Elected and Proclaimed Emperor This is not a place to give a Description in of all the Ceremonies which are practis'd on this occasion The Concourse of the Princes and Nobility of Germany makes the finest Sight Besides the Princes of Sovereign Houses who came in crouds to Francfort Besides the Barons which the Emperor and the Electors had in their Train there were counted Ninety others who paid their Devoirs to Matthias He was Crown'd the 24th of June with the usual Pomp. The Oath cannot but be approved of which they made him take viz. to be a Defender and Protector of the Church in General and in particular to govern the Empire according to the Justice of his Predecessors to preserve carefully all the Rights of it to defend the Poor the Rich Widows and Orphans Lastly to submit himself and obey Jesus Christ But is not this the greatest Indignity in the World that they should put into this Oath the Roman High-Priest immediately after the Saviour of the World The Emperor promises to obey God and the Pope alike Strange blindness of Princes who will not know the Spirit of the Religion they swear to maintain Let the Bishop of Rome be Sovereign of the same Provinces in Italy t' is a grand abuse in Religion But the Emperors and Kings engage to obey him this is an entire overthrow of the Gospel They were wont heretofore to say that the Church is in the Empire
advis'd of the evil Offices that were constantly done him at Court went to justifie himself After having represented to the Regent that he had behav'd as a good Man in the Assembly at Saumur I confess to you Madam said the Duke that I oppos'd the Designs of Monsieur de Bouillon But this was done but in order to give your Majesty fresh Tokens of my Fidelity and Zeal which I have for your Service I Distrust those Persons who turn Scales and pay their Services on both Sides 'T is seldom known that such Men are upright in their Intentions If Monsieur Bouillon had brought his Designs about in our Assembly at Saumur he might have understood how to have used them and prevailed even against your self When Monsieur Bouillon comes to be the Master amongst us your Authority shall be never the better Established in this Realm The Duke of Rohan upon this occasion prov'd the Truth of a Reflection which he himself made viz. That a Prince who hath a prejudicate Opinion is hard to be perswaded The Regent gave no Attention to these Remonstrances The time now of the Election of the Mayor of St. John of Angeli was near It was a thing of the greatest Importance that could be to the Duke of Rohan that he who was in the place might not be continued The adverse Party to the Governor had got over this Man to their side and if their Project had succeeded the Duke had lost all his Authority in the place Feigning then that his Brother was dangerously sick he took a Journey suddenly from Paris Rohan took Soubize in his way and they both got to St. John d' Angeli The day of Election being come a Letter under the King 's Privy Seal was produc't that the Ancient Major should continue this not being to be any Rule for the future and to be without prejudice to the Privileges of the Inhabitants The Duke de Rohan Remonstrated that her Majesty had been ill inform'd of the State of the City where there was not any thing at all of Division as the Letter under the King 's Privy Seal had suppos'd and that they might proceed to a new Election according to the accustom'd Form I hope said he I shall bring her Majesty to agree to it To this effect I send my Secretary to Court The Mareschal Bouillon flatter'd himself that the Duke of Rohan would infallibly lose himself whatever Party he would take in an Affair that was so ticklish for him to manage If Rohan suffers the former Major to be continued they wou'd strip him of all his Authority and if he oppos'd the Court's Orders this would find it self in a necessity of punishing a Man who neglected to observe the Authority of the King To engage the Queen after such a manner as she should not flinch back for the future the Mareschal perswaded her to send a more express Order for to contitinue the old Major But the Duke of Rohan being perswaded that if he lost the Government he himself was lost without any Redemption believ'd that he ought not to obey the Orders which the Queen had sent as being Surprised unwarily by his Enemies A New Major was chosen that is to say three Persons were Nominated whose Names were sent to the Court to the end her Majesty might pitch upon one whom she judg'd most proper for the place Whilst they were expecting an Answer from the Regent the Keys of the Town were put into the Hands of the Eldest Alderman and thus the Duke of Rohan made himself Master of the Town from whence he caus'd some Subaltern Officers to be put out who were against him This bold Action mightily stir'd up the Queen against the Duke of Rohan Those whom he had sent to Court were committed to the Bastile T' was forbid the Dutchess his Mother his Wife his Sister to stir out of Paris Some Persons proposed to the Counsel that t' was fit to go and Besiege the Duke in St. John d' Angeli as a Rebel Orders were dispatch't for raising Troops and sending the Artillery The Queen publish't abroad that she would go her self in Person to the Army which the Mareschal Bouillon and Lesdiguieres were to command to make the Reformed know that there was no point of Religion here in Question but only a Chastisment of a particular Lord who had Revolted from his Obedience The Duke as soon as he understood this published a Manifesto which he Addres't to the Reform'd Churches he gave them notice that his Zeal for their Preservation brought upon him this Persecution that the loss of St. John d' Angeli drew along with it other places of Retreat and Security and their Enemies wou'd not stop in so fair a way after they had taken from him his Government Mercure Francois 1612. The Manifesto ended with a lively Exhortation The Duke complain'd because his Enemies had made Information of his Conduct and that having found him irreprovable they had inform'd against some Gentlemen who were not at all faulty of any other Crime than his giving him a Visit The Court said he fears that our divided Body will reunite the Reputation Monsieur de Rohan hath acquired by his Quality and Probity which he hath always made profession of gives Vnbrage must they for this cause apply themselves by little and little to weaken our Party and to undoe us by Peacemeals Let us know our selves if we would Live and Subsist Let us revive the good Intelligence which was heretofore amongst us Let us Devote our selves to the Service of our God and our King Let us work for the Good of our Church and the State We were the most judicious and considerable Party before our Divisions at Saumur This great Man who knew better to Fight than to Write not standing upon Manifesto's only prepar'd himself for a courageous Defence Another Manifesto was publish'd on the Queen's side She took great care therein to advertise the World that her Majesty complain'd only of the Duke of Rohan's Undertaking All the French of either Religion were exhorted in it to relieve their Majesties in the just Design they had to punish a Crime of so dangerous Consequence to the Common Good of the State At last the Queen protested to the Reformed that Religion not being concern'd in this Affair the Edicts of Pacification should not be less exactly observ'd Du Plessis Mornai was then in a great Perplexity The Town of Saumur of which he was Governor was in the Queen's way in case she went to St. John d' Angeli and Prudence required that she would assure her self of that important Passage Du Plessis did not know which side to take If I fortifie my self said this Judicious Gentleman if I call for Succours they will attack me under pretence of Rebellion Besides if I don't think at all of being aware beforehand I leave a place of Security which I am entrusted withal to the Discretion of our Enemies Let 's run
him The Death of Boris while these things were doing arriv'd and chang'd the face of Affairs Tho' the Muscovite Army had sworn fealty to his Son division got into it in a little time after All follow'd the Example of some Lords who declared aloud for the pretended Demetrius The Son and Widow of Boris were Apprehended and Stifled At length the New Czar is receiv'd and Crown'd at Mosco the last day of July French Mercury 1600. in 1605. The Palatine Sandomir's Daughter whom Demetrius afterwards Marryed by a Proxy at Cracovia was conducted in great Pomp the following year to Mosco Her Father and her nearest Relations were present at the Ceremony of her Marriage and Coronation Demetrius and many Polish Lords are Massacred at Mosco The New Princess did not long enjoy her good Fortune Susky a Moscovite to whom Demetrius had pardon'd his Life against the Advice of many Persons who Counsell'd him to let the Sentence of Death be executed which had pass't against a Man of a restless and ambitious Spirit and of whose Fidelity no one could be assured Susky I say and a great number of Muscovite Nobles had now laid a Plot against Demetrius They render'd him odious to the Clergy and People by spreading abroad a Rumour that he design'd to alter Religion to bring Muscovy into subjection under the Pope and cause Jesuits and Roman Priests to come in And because the People thought Heaven would not have so much declared in favour of the New Czar if he had been an Impostor t' was endeavour'd to make it be believ'd that he had not goâ—… so great advantage against Boris and hiâ—… Son but by the help of Magick This Discourse made so great an Impression as the People could hardly suffer that Demetrius should have two or three Companies of Foreigners to guard his Palace and Person The natural Aversion which the Muscovites have for the Poles made the People yet more apt to receive what they took care to insinuate into them to wit that the Treasure of the Czars was to be Transported into Poland and that the State should be govern'd for the future by a Polish Princess and other Confidents of the same Nation Susky and the principal Heads of this Conspiracy having taken their Measures by the favour of the Malecontents to make an Insurrection of the People in Mosco the 27th of May 1606. came to the Palace at the Head of a great number of armed Men broke it open with violence slew the pretended Demetrius betray'd by his best Friends and did a thousand Indignities to his dead Body The People afterwards put all the Polanders to the Sword 't is reported that there died of 'em more than seventeen Hundred The Palatine of Sendomir was only saved his Daughter his Son and some Lords who were ev'ry one of them put into private Houses Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down his Dignity Susky caus'd himself to be chosen and Crown'd in the room of Demetrius whether he was the right or Counterfeit one for at last many pretended that he spoke truth But the Circumstance of the Monk who conducted him into Poland and that of his being put into Service in two different Houses this I say makes the History to be very much suspected It seems to me that a Child of this Importance shou'd have been first carried to the King of Poland What had he there to fear from him Whatever this Affair was yet to confirm further the People in their Opinion that this was a Cheat Susky was willing they shou'd dig up the dead Body of him whom Boris had caus'd to be Slain The Bones were carried to Mosco and the Patriarch order'd that he should be Reverenced as a Martyr Susky not doubting but that the Poles would wage a War against him enter'd into a Negotiation with Charles of Sudermania the New King of Sweden who sent him Succors under the Conduct of de la Gardie The Divisions of Sigismond with the Palatines of his Realm did not permit him to attack the Muscovites so soon In the year 1609. he resolved to take the City of Smolensko which the Muscovites had taken from the Poles The Siege or Blockade of this place lasted two years and more than two Hundred Thousand Inhabitants died before it was surrender'd He sought several times to cause the Siege to be raised Susky troubled at the ill success of his Arms retired into a Monastery after having laid down the Scepter and Crown Muscovy was then divided into three Parties A New Demetrius was put up Ladislaus Prince of Poland proclaimed Czar of Muscovy and a great many declared for him others to remedy the ill condition Muscovy was in would have Ladislaus King Sigismond's Eldest Son and a hopeful Prince set upon the Throne At last a third Party would have a great Lord of the Country these being united to Ladislau's Party he was chosen Czar in his absence in the year 1610. and the most considerable of the Clergy and Nobility took an Oath of Fidelity to him The false Demetrius strove to make himself Master of Mosco but the Poles having twice beaten him he was obliged to Retreat beyond the River Volga This put the Poles into a condition of undertaking ev'ry thing They made themselves Masters of the Castles of Mosco and made it known to King Sigismond who daily Besieg'd Smolensko that his Son was Proclaimed Czar The Inhabitants offer'd to yield themselves to Ladislaus Elected Sovereign of Moscovy But Sigismond was willing to get the place for Poland The Inhabitants resolved not to separate themselves from the interest of Moscovy held still the Siege out till the Month of June 1611. So that Sigismond had got but a City almost quite Dispeopled and reduc'd to Ashes The King of Poland who did not think so much of Establishing his Son in the Throne of Moscovy as to make advantage of the Country's Divisions and bring it into Subjection deferr'd too long to carry Ladislaus into Mosco He had put off this Affair to the year 1612. but the continual Contentions he had with the Palatines did not suffer him to execute his Project The Poles are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovits is chosen Czar So long a delay gave time to the Relations of the Deceased Czar Boris to get together a strong Party Michel Federovits put himself at the Head of 'em and march't towards Mosco The Polish General came out of the City gather'd Troops together and gave Battle to the Moscovites revolted from Ladislaus The Polandâ—…rs were Defeated and their General Retreated towards Smolensko with the broken Remnant of his Army After this t' was easie to drive the Poles out of the Castle of Mosco The Moscovites thus deliver'd from a Foreign Power chose a New Czar in the year 1612. This was Michel Federovits the nearest Kinsman of the Deceased Czar Boris A New Party united in favour of Charles Philip Brother to
death of his Son whose Court having for some time been fuller than his made him Jealous This was clear enough from a word that fell from him What will they bury me alive An expression which the World reflected on when the Prince of Wales came to die a little while after The occasion of so many Diversions and Festival Solemnities in England was the Marriage of the Princes Elizabeth the Kings Daughter with Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine This Alliance pleased the English extreamly and all the Protestants Mercure Francois 1613. The House of Austria took a great deal of pains to Traverse it And the Queen whom the Court of Madrid had took Care to make their Friend did her best to dissuade the King from it But he concluded it notwithstanding the Intrigues of the Spanish Faction James conferred the Honour of the Order of the Garter upon the Elector before the Solemnity of the Wedding The Illustrious Prince Maurice of Orange was Received into the same Noble and Ancient Society at the same time with his Nephew The Chapter of the Order was Convened at Windsor Castle the 14th of February this Year The Ceremony was performed with all the Solemnity imaginable The Elector Palatine who was himself in England to Negotiate his Marriage Received the Order in Person and Maurice being absent Received it by Count William of Nassau his Proxy Ten days after Frederick was publickly Married to the Princess Elizabeth Before and after their Wedding day the King Entertained the People with Plays and magnificent Spectacles Holland also was well pleased and joyful for a great while Prince Maurice Received in the Presence of the States General of the United Provinces the Garter which the Herald of the Order had brought thither and there was nothing omitted which might contribute to the Glory of the Ceremony The wise Barnavelt Pensionary of the Province of Holland Returned thanks in the Name of the States General to the English Ambassador who had presented the Garter in the Name of the King his Master to Prince Maurice The New Electoress having past from England into Holland in the Month of May following to go to Heydelberg she was Received almost in every City of the Province and particularly at Amsterdam with a Magnificence answerable to their Wealth and the Memory which they retained of the great assistances which their Infant-Republick had received formerly from the Crown of England The Protestants were in hopes that the Marriage of the Elector Palatine with the Princess of Great Britain would be very advantageous to their Religion But there was yet one thing which they wisht for And that was that King James would abondon his Design of Marrying his Heir to a Princess of the Popish Communion A Marriage talkt of between Charles Pr. of Wales Christiana of France But althô his Majesty did not stick publickly to say that the Pope was Antichrist yet he never had a sincere and fervent Zeal for the Establishment of the Reformation As soon as Prince Henry was in his Grave James proposed the Marriage of Charles his Second Son now Prince of Wales with Christina Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 44.45 c. Second Daughter of France The Regent frankly received the Memoires which the Ambassador of England delivered touching this Affair to Villeroy Secretary of State She hoped that the Protestants of France and elsewhere allarmed with the double Marriage concluded with Spain would be calmed when they saw that nevertheless the Crown of France was not set at such a distance from an Alliance with Protestants but that it still designed a strict Union with them in giving the younger Sister of the King to the Heir of the most powerful Prince of their Communion Althô the Conduct of Maria de Medicis in this Negociation was full of Artifice and Dissimulation the Court of Rome was Jealous and the Pope used all his Power to dissuade the Regent from listening to the offers of his Brittannick Majesty The Pope plainly told Breves the King 's Ambassador that he took it ill that there should be any design of mingling the Blood Royal oâ—… France with that of an Heretick Princeâ—… Breves took the liberty to represent to the Pope that the welfare of the Kingdom and of Religion it self required that the Proposals of the King of England should not be rejected The Old Man being devoted to Spain did not regard him He insisted to conjure the Regent not to enter into a Negociation so disadvantageous to the Church which is really as much as to say so little conducible to the Interests of the Court of Rome The Nuncio Vbaldini very much bestirred himself in France Ibid. p. 50.51 c. he tired the Queen with his Remonstrances he exhausted himself in finding out the most pressing motives of Piety and Religion at length he heated the Cabals of Devotees which are always numerous and powerful in an ignorant and superstitious Court. Said this Italian Prelate to the Queen Is it possible Madam that your Majesty should be so little sensible of the particular kindness of God to you 'T is to distrust his Providence to have recourse to the Alliance of Hereticks as a thing necessary for the Repose and Conservation of the Dominions of the King your Son Your Ministers think it convenient that you should hear the Proposals of an Heretick Prince Your Majesty agrees with them but that is not sufficient to clear you before God and all those who detest this sort of Politicks You should rather listen to the Voice of your Conscience and the good Advice of the Pope than the vain speculations of a Council that govern themselves by the maxims of the wisdom of the Children of this World rather than by those of Religion This Prelate advanced at that time a Principle of his particular Gospel which deserves to be related He declares that these pretended good People whom he would make the Queen afraid of entertain this piece of corrupted Morality that the Princes of their Communion are not obliged to observe Treaties made with those whom they are pleased to call Hereticks if the Terms appear to them to be never so little contrary to their Religion that is to the Court of Rome This Nuncio said moreover It is true Madam that promises made against the interest of God don't in any wise oblige and that we ought not to keep them But consider that your Majesty will hereafter find it more difficult to break your promise with the King of England than it is now to reject his Proposals Your Affairs are thanks be to God in a better Posture than they have been since the death of the King your Husband The Kingdom is in a peaceful State without the assistance of such an Alliance The time of your Administration will shortly Expire What a comfort will it be to you to deliver up to the King your Son France in a better Condition than you
found it without doing any thing against your Conscience or the welfare of Religion These studied Discourses made no great impressions on the Queen She coldly answered the Nuncio that all her Council except the Marschal de Bovillon were good Catholicks and that they were the best Judges what made for the Interest of the Kingdom and of Religion Besides added her Majesty I do nothing upon this occasion but what certain Princes of Italy have done as well as I and that before the Pope's Eyes The Dutches of Tuscany with all her Devotion did she refuse to allow of any Discourse concerning the Marriage of her Daughter with the late Prince of Wales The Emperor Matthias goes to Ratisbonne to the Diet. Of all the Protestants the United Princes in Germany were those which flattered themselves with deriving great Advantages from the Alliance of the Elector Palatine with the Crown of England They hoped that King James would Support their League of which Frederick his Son-in Law was the Chief Since the Dispute that arose concerning the Succession of Cleves and Juliers the Animosite which the Catholicks and Protestants bore towards one another in Germany was inflamed The Two Parties got all the Strength they could and made Attempts upon each other The weakness of Rodolphus contributed much to this unhappiness Matthias his Brother and Successor tryed to Cure it in the begining of his Reign But he had neither Power nor Wisdom necessary to reconcile so different Interests or to Command equal Respect from Princes that were sowr'd one against the other with mutual Discontents Possibly the Emperor had no very ill intentions with respect to the Protestants at least he seemed to imitate the moderation of Maximilian his Father But not having so much Sense and Resolution he was ensnared with the Contrivances of the Court of Rome the Catholick Party The Progress the Turks made a little while ago in Hungary seemed to threaten Matthias with a War near Home This obliged him to keep even with both Sides because he equally needed their assistance against a formidable Enemy The Protestants endeavoured to make their use of this opportunity to better their Condition and to secure the repose of their Churches The Catholicks and Protestants complain of each other Matthias had promised at his Coronatiion to call a Diet to consult about means to secure the Peace and Tranquility of the Empire and to remedy those Disorders of which several parts of it had complained a long time It was appointed to meet at Ratisbonne The Emperor and the Three Ecclesiastical Electors came thither But the other Electors only sent their Deputies Lewis Landgrave of Hesse declared at large the Reasons the Emperor had to convene the Diet. Mercure Francois 1613. Five were with relation to the particular Government of the Empire and the Sixth related to the Attempts of the Turks upon Hungary His Imperial Majesty thinking it necessary vigorously to oppose them desired that they would grant him certain Contributions for that purpose but before they would enter upon the Consideration of what the Emperor proposed the United Protestant Princes who were then called Correspondans presented several Grieveances of which they had before complain'd under the preceding Reign without obtaining any Redress 'T would be to no purpose to give an account of them here The Emperor in vain endeavoured to Elude the Demands of the Correspondans and to defer till another time the Examination of that Affair they stood to it that his Imperial Majesty ought first to Redress their Greivances The Catholick Princes being convinc'd of the Justice of the pretensions of their Adversaries were of Opinion without having any regard to the Complaints of the United Protestants that they should immediately proceed to deliberate upon the Articles proposed by the Emperor The Consideration of some particular Persons less in Number said they ought to be preferred before the necessity of the publick Welfare which was very pressing Being sure to have the plurality of Voices on their Side these Gentlemen had a mind that what ever they Ordered should be lookt upon as a Resolution of the Diet There could be nothing more contrary to the Repose and Tranquility of the Empire in the present posture of Affairs At this Rate they would presently have Ruined all the Protestants in Germany The Catholicks did likewise maliciously insinuate to the Empire that the Protestants had ill Designs under-hand and that there was Reason to fear they would at last Contest the Lawful Authority of his Majesty Within a little while after they presented a long account of the Complaints which the Catholicks had to make against the Protestants They accused them of diverse Infractions of the Treaty of Pacification that was made some time past at Passau and of diverse Attempts contrary to the Constitutions of the Empire The Catholicks Demanded Justice in their turn of his Imperial Majesty These Gentlemen have been a long time us'd to cry out of Injustice and Persecution against those very Men which they Tormented and Opprest Not to suffer them to Tyranize is to Persecute them So that the Pope grants Jubilees and Indulgences with a liberal Hand to obtain the Deliverance of those of his Religion as if they were unjustly Opprest althô at the same time they live in perfect Tranquility This we see done every day The bad Success of the Diet at Ratisbonne Not being able to Reconcile Spirits which were more and more sowr'd against one another the Emperor endeavoured to avoid the Examination of the Complaints which were made of either Side He proposed to defer it to another time Nevertheless he demanded Assistance for the Security of Hungary where Bethlem Gabor the New Prince of Transilvania Supported by the Turks had made himself dreadful The Protestants answered that they did not doubt but the Emperor was well affected to them and that they were ready to Contribute both Men and Money for the Defence of his Majesties Hereditary Countrys But that they could not forbear to desire his Imperial Majesty in the first Place to restablish the Peace and Tranquility of the Empire and take Care of redressing the Greivances which they had presented to him The Arch-Duke Maximilian the Emperor's Brother a Prince of a sweet and moderate Temper was then at Ratisbonne Matthias desired him to Treat with the Protestants hoping he was able to bring them over but althô they profest a great Respect for the Arch-Duke yet he could obtain nothing of them With a design to make the Emperor more favourable the Catholicks shewed themselves Liberal and well Inclined They promised to furnish him for Two years with their Antient Contributions to carry on a War against the Turks the Protestants oppos'd this Deliberation being resolv'd not to suffer that the Resolutions taken by the Catholicks should be lookt upon as the Decrees of the whole Diet of the Empire Thus the Diet of Ratisbonne broke up instead of remedying the disorders of
Germany it made them greater and more incurable The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Pr. of Transilvania Since Bethlem Gabor must often appear upon the Stage in this History I think it necessary to say something of his Fortune and Elevation He was one of the most dangerous Enemies the House of Austria had in this Age. I will look a pretty way backwards upon things that so the Reader may the better understand the Ancient pretenions of the Emperor upon Transilvania The brave Stephen Battori was the first who was declared Prince of Transilvania under the Protection of the Ottomans After his Elevation to the Crown of Poland by his means Christopher his Brother was Elected to the Principality of Transilvania Sigismond his Son and Successor steered another Course by the persuasion of the Emissaries of the House of Austria which he had about him This Prince who did not want Courage was persuaded that it was more advantageous and more honourable for him to quit the Alliance of the Sultan and unite with the Emperor But to the shame of Christianity Sigismond found that which has happened to a great many more I mean he met with less Justice and Fidelity among those of his own Religion than his Uncle and his Father had found among Infidels That he might be more firmly united with the Emperor Rodolphus he Married a Princess of the House of Austria but this marriage was the cause of the misfortunes of his Life They made him give up his Right to Transilvania for a certain Dutchie which they gave him At length repenting of the bad Market which he had made he retracted the Cession which he had made to the Emperor and gave his Principality to Cardinal Battori his Brother who was chosen by the States of the Country under the Protection of the Grand Seignior The new Prince had a terrible War to maintain against the Emperor and in it lost his Life Botskay his Kinsman Elected afterwards by the Transilvanians Mercure Francois 1606 1607 1608 c. defended himself with a great deal of Courage and Success insomuch that he took a great many Places from the Emperor in upper Hungary The House of Austria was forc'd to make a Peace with him One Article of the Treaty Imported that if Bortskay died withot Male-Issue Transilvania should Devolve upon the Emperor The Sultan Ratified this Treaty in another which he afterwads made with Rodolphus The House of Austria not long before it Demanded Transilvania by Virtue of this Agreement Borskai being poisoned immediately after by his Chancellor The States of the Country did not fail to choose Sigismond Ragotski for their Prince There were then so great Divisions in the House of Austria and such Commotions in Hungary and Bohemia that neither Rodolphus nor Matthias his Brother were in a Condition to press the Execution of the Treaty made with Botskay The New Prince did not long enjoy Transilvania but Generously gave it up to Gabriel Batori Heir of that Family whom the Turks publickly Supported Mercure Francois 1613. He being rendred odious by his Cruelties Bethlehem Gabar a Transilvanian Gentleman of boundless Ambition took care to gain the Favour and Protection of the Ottoman Court This is the Man which formed a powerful Party against Batori and which made War against him The Assistance of the House of Austria was of no use to Batori who was presently Reduc'd to the lowest Despair so that he begged of his own Friends to kill him His Enemies Soldiers did him that kindness which they refused Three days after his death Bethlem was declared Prince of Transilvania by the General of the Turkish Army who invaded Hungary The States of the Country assembled at Claussembourg afterwards chose him upon Condition that he should ask the Authentick Confirmation of the Sultan When Bethlem was in Possession of his New Principality he wrote a Letter to the Palatine of Hungary to desire the Favour of the Emperor But his Imperial Majesty intended to make the best of his Pretensions to Transilvania by Virtue of his Treaty made with Botskai which the Sultan Confirm'd Matthias declared this publickly in the Diet of Ratisbonne and it was principally for this End that he desired Assistance of the States of the Empire With this Prospect the House of Austria kept up the Party of Batori who refused to acknowledge the New Prince Bethlem Protected by the Turks whose Favour he had cunningly gained not only maintained himself in Transilvania but was upon the Point of taking away Hungary from them that would oppose him The Protestant and Catholick Leagues were Formed in Germany upon the occaâ—…ion of the Quarrel that arose about the Succession to the States of Cleves and Juâ—…iers The Division between the Houses of Brandenburg and Newbourg concerning the Government of the States of Cleves and Juliers Interests de Princes per M. de Rohan Part 1. Disc 4. the Princes of Brandenbourg and Newbourg Governed these Dutchies in Common Peaceably for many Years under the Favour of the Protestant League The strong Places were guarded by equal Garrisons The Two Princes Resided in the same Palace and did all by Concert But how difficult is it that a Country should be long governed after this manner without Divisions Princes of a different Family and different Religion have not the same Interest and Designs These began to fall out about Ecclesiastical Affairs Mercure Francoise 1613. Brandenburg would have ordered something without the consent of his Colleague and Newbourg opposed him The King of great Britain and the States of the United Provinces Mediated for a Reconciliation they were afraid their Division would give opportunity to the House of Austria to Seize upon a Contested Succession which would have been so convenient for it to prevent the Increase of their misunderstanding their Friends proposed a Marriage between the Two Families That of Newburg was free to it Prince Volfgang goes to the Elector of Brandenburg and desires his Daughter in Marriage But this step made by the wholesome Advice of those who designed nothing but to Establish a good Correspondence between the Two Houses was the occasion of an inplacable hatred between them and of the Distraction of those fine Dutchies which they might have divided between them I cannâ—…t tell how it came to pass but in the heat of Wine and at a Feast The Prince of Newburg said something at the Table of the Elector which displeased him Brandenburg was so enraged at it that he gave a Box in the Ear to him who desired his Alliance This unhappy accident might have been redrest if the Elector would have made a suitable Satisfaction but he obstinately refused to do it Volfgang being provokt with such an Affront returns to the Country of Cleves being resolved to be Reveng'd on him what ever it cost him From that time Brandenburg and Newburg did nothing by Concert in the Government of the States of Cleves and Juliers they Cavild at every
little thing and the one pretended to disannul what the other had done Prince Wolfgang of Newbourg marries the D. of Bavaria's Daughter and changes his Religion The Spaniards wisely made their Advantage of so fair an occasion to weaken the Protestant League and to bring over the House of Newburg to their Faction They proposed to Prince Volfgan a Match with Magdalen Sister of Maximilian Duke of Bavaria and of Ferdinand Elector of Cologne They promised him the Protection of the House of Austria a Pension from the King of Spain and the Support of the Catholick League if he would quit his Religion and enter into the Communion of the Church of Rome a very sensible Temptation to an Ambitious young Prince and who was big with Revenge for the horrible Affront which had been offered him Newburg falls before the force of it But Wolfgang whether 't were to keep fair with his Father who was a zealot for the Confession of Ausbourg or whether he had some other Reasons would not renounce his Religion before his Marriage He only consented to Marry the Princess Magdalen and the Duke of Newbourg gave his Consent not seeing the Snare which was laid for his Son who was blinded with Passion The Marriage was Celebrated at Munich the 10th of November this Year And that he might keep within bounds as to outward appearance the Prince was not Married by the Mass he only received the Nuptial Benediction by the hands of the Bishop of Aichstat at Evening Service in the great Church of Munich But at length Wolfgang declared himself in the Month of May the next Year He made publick profession of the Popish Religion at Dusseldorp The Duke his Father was extremely troubled at it The Proclamation which he publisht immediately after is an infallible proof of it It imported that every Munday throughout the Year publick Prayers should be made for the Conservation of the Protestant Religion in the Dutchy of Newbourg The Artifices and Fetches of the Duke of Savoy The Peace mude between the D of Savoy Mantua has much ado to continuefirm stable oblige us frequently to return to him The Treaty of Peace between Charles Emanuel and the Cardinal Ferdinand Duke of Mantua had been concluded with so much precipitation that they spoke there only of Resigning the Places in Monferrat without making any mention of the Mutual pretentions of each Party of the reparation of the Damages done in Monferrat which Ferdinand demanded nor of an Amnesty for the Subjects of the House of Mantua who had declared for that of Savoy which Charles Emanuel was willing to obtain These Affairs not being settled Disputes must presently revive Neither were the Princes of Italy very well satisfied with a Peace that was so infirm and subject to a Rupture They imagined and that with probability enough that the Marquiss d'Inojosa had made it because he could tell how to refuse Obedience to the positive Orders of the King his Master They were still afraid there was a Collusion between him and the Duke of Savoy and that they both of them had an under-hand Design At the very same time that Charles Emanuel Restored the Towns in Monferrat he re-enforced his Troops and the Governor of Milan remained in Arms diligently observing all these steps of which the most penetrating head could not understand the Secret The Venetians took care to continue to the Cardinal Duke the assistance which they had given him since the beginning of the Quarrel and to be themselves upon their Guard The Quarrel which arose between their Republick and Ferdinand of Austria Arch-Duke of Gratz who had a great Interest at the Court of Madrid obliged them to distrust the King of Spain 'T was upon the account of the Vscoques Pyrats and Robbers upon the Coasts of Dalmatia whom the Arch-Duke openly protected although the Venetians and the Turks did equally complain of their Robberys We shall say something in the Course of this History concerning this Quarrel which occasion'd the Vscoques to be known in the World The Governor of Milan presseth the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. That which most perplext the speculative Italians about the Affair of Monferrat was that the Governor of Milan who was thought to be in the Interest of Charles Emanuel nevertheless powerfully prest him to lay down his Arms as soon as possible And at the same time that he was contending with him he would constrain Ferdinand to do all that the Savoyard could wish These steps Contrary in appearance are not difficult to be reconciled Spain endeavoured to make its advantage of the Quarrel His Catholick Majesty pretended to be the absolute Arbiter and to direct the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua as should be most for his Interest The Governor of Milan who had no mind to be at the charge of having an Army on Foot to oppose the Duke of Savoy in case his Attempts should make it necessary was continually pressing him to Disband his Troops And because it was of Importance to the King his Master to have at his Disposal the Heiress of Monferrat he boldly demanded her of the Cardinal Duke and thus the Intrigue comes out Now let us see how these Two Parties will get clear of the Demands of the Catholick King Inojosa had sent to Turin the Commander of the Castle of Milan possitively to tell the Duke that he must comply immediately with what was required of him Charles Emanuel bore very impatiently this Imperious way which the Spaniards took with him and with the other Princes of Italy althô he had been used to it for many Years But not being able openly to resist the will of King Philip he found out according tâ—… his usual way divers pretences to shrinâ—… back Never was a Mind more fruitfuâ—… of such Inventions than that of thiâ—… Prince He answered to this Message that he was ready to dismiss his Troops when the Marquiss of Inojosa should perform the private Articles to which the Cardidal Duke of Mantua had agreed at the time of the Treaty made with him Mr. the Governor hath himself given me positive assurances said Charles Emanuel that the Cardinal Duke did consent to deliver up into my hands the Princess Mary my Grand-daughter and to grant a general Amnesty to â—…he Subjects of Monferrat which declared for me Is it not fit that I should continue â—…n Arms till this be performed All the World was mightily surpriz'd when this Answer of the Duke of Savoy was known The Cardinal Ferdinand denied that he had â—…ver promis'd any such thing He pretendâ—…d likewise that Inojosa had told him to the â—…ontrary People could not tell what to â—â—ink of this Riddle Some said that â—â—e Governor of Milan having received â—…resents from Charles Emanuel and Ferdiâ—â—nd had impos'd upon them both in telâ—â—ng the Duke of Savoy that which I have â—â—lated before and in promising the clear â—â—ntrary to the Cardinal Duke that
a Sum of Money in requital Rohan whose great Design was to be Head of those of his own Religion whom he was willing to Defend and to maintain the Reputation which he had gotten by his Zeal and Probity in Poitou in Guienne and Languedoc where he had very well Supported the Interest of the Reformed Party against the Connestable Governor of the Province Rohan I say was not concerned to keep his Post near the King A Sum of Money was very welcome to him in the present posture of Affairs Bassompierre is made Collonel General of the Swisses in the Room of the Duke of Rohan The business was to get a Man devoted to the Queen and agreeable to the Swisses She proposed Bassompierre in the Council But Villeroy who favour'd the Duke of Longueville whose Family he was a great Friend to told her Majesty that the Place of Colonel General of the Swisses had always been fill'd by a Prince and that the late King promised to give it to no Person but one of that Rank when he renew'd his Ancient Alliance with the Thirteen Cantons The Duke of Rohan said Villeroy was afterwards chosen as a Prince of the Blood of Navarre and Scotland Several of the Ancestors of the Duke of Longueville have Commanded the Swisses The offering him this Post of his Forefathers will be a likely way to draw him off from the Party of the Male-contents Mary did not approve of trusting a young Lord who declared against her and who had often quarrelled with the Mareschal d' Ancre about the Execution of their Offices Longueville was Governor of Picardy and Conchini of the City and Castle of Amiens Because Bassompierre was excluded by the Treaty with the Swisses Mary de Medicis proposed the Chevalier du Guise who unhappily died a little after Villeroy interposed a Second time by saying that this would open the mouths of the Male-contents more than ever who complained of the too high preferments of the House of Guise 'T was happy for Bassompierre that they did not come to a resolution then After he understood from the Queen her self that he was excluded from the Office of Collonel General of the Swisses because he was not one of the Princes he used all his endeavours to take away this obstacle One of the Montmorenci's having had this Employ with the consent of the Helvetick Nation Galatis a Friend of Bassompierre's undertook after all to obtain for him the consent of the Cantons He acquainted the Queen with this who gave him Three Weeks to try what might be done Galatis went directly to Switzerland where he obtained leave to raise Six thousand Men and the Consent of the Thirteen Cantons in favour of Bassompierre And thus this Lorain Gentleman became a Collonel General of the Swisses The sooner to bring this advantageous business to an Issue he paid out of his own Estate the Money promised to the Duke of Rohan But her Majesty afterwards re-embursed him Bassompierre was afraid that if the Duke of Rohan was not paid presently he might have some contrivance to prevent him from an Employ that was likely to be a Step to higher preferment The Conduct of the Reformed in France in the Affair of the prince of Conde The better to Engage the Prince of Conde and his Party to Rise against the Government the Mareschal de Bovillon flattered them with hopes that the Reformed Churches would declare for them He had taken care to discover this Project to the most intimate Friends of the Duke of Rohan Memoires of the Duke of Rohan whether it were that the cunning Mareschal had a mind to make the Prince believe that Rohan would readily join him or whether he had a mind to raise yet greater suspicions in the Court against a Person whom he had a mind to Ruine and make himself more necessary to the Regent Conde seem'd so well persuaded of the favourable Inclinations of the Huguenot Party that he wrote to the Deputy Generals of the Reformed Churches to let them know the Obligations he had laid upon them in not forgetting the Interests of the Protestants in the Manifesto which he had Addressed to the Queen But the Wise du Plessis-Mornai had the precaution to prevent the Deputy Generals from interesting themselves in this Affair and to prescribe to them the Conduct which they were to observe in this Conjuncture After having reflected upon the Steps of the Prince and the measures which he had taken with the Male-contented Lords du Plessis said very aptly that they which Halt at the Threshold are not like to go far And when he had read the Prince of Conde's Letter to the Queen he said Judiciously to the Ambassador of the States General of the Vnited-Provinces to the Queen that he could not imagine what was the Principle of that Charity which the Prince of Conde and his Party pretended to the Reformed Churches These Gentlemen added he are no less at the Devotion of the Pope than the Queen her self of whom they Complain Thâ—… Court of Rome will interpose to reconcile them and his Emissaries will not fail to make us more odious if we imprudently Side with those who hate us in reality and sollicite us only with hopes thereby to obtain better Terms for themselves The wisdom of du Plessis Mornai Villarnoux came to visit du Plessis his Father-in-Law upon the first report of the Rising of the Prince of Conde He sent him immediately back to Paris with Orders to admonish the Deputy-Generals that they should take Care not to draw the Reproach upon themselves of Rising upon any other account but the obtaining of the liberty of their Conscience That would be to wrong their good Cause to mix with it Interests purely Civil and that those of the Religion as they were Reformed Christians ought not to meddle with the Reformation of the State Altho' added he we should think it our Duty to joyn witih them as French-men who desire it of us the Opportunity is not Inviting the design of the Prince according to all appearance will not succeed His Retreat will be look'd upon as an effect of his Discontent or as a desire to Embroil the State The Queen will easily break all their Measures by promising to assemble the States of the Kingdom and to defer the Marriage of the King To what purpose do they think to meet together in a Corner of France Those People which the King can Attack without making any great diversion of his Forces will not continue long before they are reduc'd to beg his Mercy The Event justified this right Guess of this able Old Man Conde could not have drawn himself out of the Intrigue so safely if the Mareschal de Ancre had not apprehended that the Duke de Guise would have been too powerful if he should have had the Command of the Royal Army When the Mareschal de Bovillon had joined the Prince of Conde in Champagne The
to represent to you further Madam that they put you to needless Expences to gain certain Persons of our Religion We know who those mercenary Souls are They deceive your Majesty who tell you that they can he Serviceable to you I can tell you a far less Chargeable way to have all the Reformed at your Devotion That is to give Orders that all Promises made to us be performed our Griâ—…vances be redressed some ambiguous Expressions in the Edicts be more favourably Interpreted and some things be granted us which may secure the Peace of our Churches and do no great Injury to the Roman Catholicks The ardent and sincere Zeal which I have for your Majesty makes me speak against my self Pursue the Method which I take the liberty to propose you may take away when you please our Offices and Pensions Our Churches living peaceably under his Majesty's Protection will never concern themselves in my favour or for any of the Lords of the Kingdom This Advice was generous and worthy of a truly Christian Gentleman It might have had some good Effect upon such as had no other design but to preserve Peace in the Kingdom by doing Justice and perhaps some small gratification to the Reformed But they were resolved to Ruine them and to effect a design long since contrived and pursued For almost an Age together the Court could not take more convenient Measures than the corrupting of those who had any Credit or Authority in the Reformed Church The ambition and avarice of the Lords and a great number of Hugonot Gentlemen has done more mischief to the Religion than the haâ—…red of the Pope and his Clergy or the Zeal of the blind and superstitious Kings and Queens of France If the Dukes and Peers the Mareschals of France the Lords and Gentlemen of Note had had as much Religion and Probity as du Plessis Mornai I question whether the Son of him whose History I write would ever have ventured to attempt the overthrow of the Reformed Churches of his Kingdom The Posterity of a corrupted Gentry who had no great Concern for their Religion does at this day bewail the fatal Consequences of the Baseness of their Ancestors The Regent received at Tours The K. and Q. his Mother go to Poitiers Letters from the Duke of Maienne He informed her that the Prince de Conde was retired to Chateauroux and that he defired at the present no Reparation of the Injury Mercure Francois 1614. which he had complained had been done him at Poitiers It was wisely done to seem to neglect an Offence for which the Court would never have granted him the Satisfaction which he expected The Bishop was too much favoured by the Queen He went boldly to Tours with Two hundred of the Inhabitants to pray their Majesty 's to come to Poitiers That day when Chataigner made appear that he understood the Office of a Captain better than that of a Bishop was in his Opinion the day of the preservation of Poitiers Their Majesties went thither They were Received with all imaginable Expressions of Joy They Elected a Mayor Mazurier had Orders to remain there as Intendant Rochfort Lieutenant General for the King in that Province a-little after resigned his Office The Count de la Rochefoucaut of the Party of the Guises succeeded him They had a mind to have Poitou in their Power that they might go and Receive the Infanta of Spain when the time should come Memoires de Duc de Rohan The Duke de Rohan being admonished by Velleroi that the Queen was surprized that he did not appear at Court since she was so near to St. Jean d' Angeli came to pay his Respect to their Majesty's They received him kindly and the Regent taking all oportunities to get him near her self made him promise to be present at the meeting of the States of Bretagne which was to be held at Nantes their Majestys being present and to go afterwards to the States General which were already appointed to Meet Mary de Medicis The Q. goes to hold a meeting of the States of Bretagne at Nantes Vie de M. du Plessis Mornai Liv. III. pleas'd that every thing went according to her mind took the Road of Anger 's to go to Nantes Her Majesty had a mind to give a Proof of her Confidence in du Plessis Mornai as she passed through Saumur He went to meet the King being followed by an Hundred Gentlemen As soon as the Young Lewis had enter'd the Castle du Plessis Offer'd to make the Garrison march out But his Majesty would not permit him It is not against our Kings said the Governor that we have strong Places in our Possession they have been willing to grant them us that we may be secured against the hatred of our sworn Enemies If at any time his Majesty does the Honour to be present there Mercure Francoise 1614. we desire no other Security but his Presence The Duke de Vendome seeing their Majesties came in good Earnest towards him submitted himself They gave him New Letters of Re-establishment Memoires de Bassompierre which were Registred in the Parliament of Rennes But he had the Mortification of see that in the meeting of the States of the Province of which he was Governor they made Invectives against him and took Resolutions injurious to his Person and utterly contrary to his Interest So bad a Beginning was no good Omen for the rest of the Life of Coesar de Vendome He could never after recover his Reputation or Respect Henry IV. his Father had Married him to the Heiress of the House of Mercoeur and one of the greatest Fortunes of a Subject in Europe He wasted the great Estate which she brought him The death of the Prince de Conti. Maâ—…y de Mâ—…dicis Returned triumphantly to Paris She found there a Court deprived of a Prince of the Blood The loss was not very great Francis de Bourbon Prince de Conti who died the 13th of August made no great Figure in the World His Widow was soon Comforted after the loss of a weak Husband She was desperately in Love with Bassompierre There had passed between them that which they call Marriage before God Entragues the famous Marchioness de Vernueil's Sister and Daughter to Mary Touchet Charles IX his Mistress had commenced a Suit against Bassompierre upon the account of a Promise of Marriage which he had made her This happy Spark had Two Wives at the same time The First out of a Family more Renowned for the fine Ladies which were Married into the Family or were of it than for any of its Military Exploits the Second being the Daughter of the Duke of Guise and the Widow of a Prince of the Blood might have done Bassompierre great Honour But by an odd Accident Bassompierre would never own the one for his Lawful Wife the other never dared to make her Marraige Publick New Contests between the Princes of
Princess sent to let the Regent know that La d'Escouman had great things to Reveal Some Persons were ordered to go to the Hôtel of Queen Margaret They conceal themselves in an adjoyning Closet while the Princess makes la d'Escouman repeat with a loud Voice what she had said Margaret testified the Woman did not vary but repeated Word for Word before to her what they had now heard She is Condemned Upon the Report made to the Regent her Majesty ordered her Letter Patents to be dispatched for the Parlement of Paris to take cognizance of this New Affair La d'Escouman being examined by the first President de Harlay accuses two Persons one of which had been Valet de Chambre to the Marquess d' Entragues These Men are Seized Examined thrown into a Dungeon confronted with d'Escouman who affirms peremptorily all was true she had charged them with Farther she declares the Marchioness of Vernueil had sent Ravaillac to her with a Letter for one Madamoiselle du Tillet and that in her Presence du Tillet had spoke to Ravaillac to Assassinate the late King But the Evidence so ill maintain'd her Charge was so deficient in describing the Person of the Murtherer and said so many things directly false that no Credit was given to her Depositions The two Prisoners were acquitted and la d'Escouman condemned to close Imprisonment for the rest of her Life Reflections on 〈◊〉 Sentence The care taken to confine this Wretched Woman and the keeping her Examination so private gave occasion for divers Suspicions and many Reflections It was pretty commonly believed Persons of Eminent Quality had a share in this Mystery of Iniquity and it was not judg'd convenient to disclose it Some pretended this was only done to spare the Reputation of certain Persons of the first Rank who had made this use of la d'Escouman to ruine their Enemies So ill and revengeful a Woman as la Vernueil said they may well enough be guilty of a great Crime But is it to be believed the Queen who mortally hates the Marchioness would spare her Could she ever find a fairer opportunity to revenge the frequent Disquiets which the ill Nature and Raillery of a Rival had given her The Duke of Epernon 's Interest added some Judicious Men could never stifle this Matter He has powerful Enemies at Court The Prince of Conde and the Count of Soissons declare openly against him The Mareschal de Bouillon and the Marquess of Ancre strictly tied together seek to remove and ruine him If any one reflect on the Conduct of the Duke of Epernon his Humour and Inclinations he will not appear capable of so black an Attempt And if he had Malice enough to conceive it is he so void of Common Sense to trust this in the Hands of a Fool as Ravaillac was In short if he suborned the Assassin would he have taken pains to keep him from being killed on the spot as James Clement was The Duke of Epernon said some who were the most prejudiced against him could not be called to an Account without bringing in the Queen whom he served in it Doubtless said others to them it would be much safer and easier to have poison'd the King than to depend upon a Blow of that Importance on such a Fellow as Ravaillac was There was a greater Division in the Court of Prague than that of Paris and the Princes of the House of Austria in Germany lived in a more visible Misunderstanding than the Princes of the Blood in France The Emperor Rodolphus had three Brothers Matthias Albert and Maximilian The first had forced from his Elder Brother the Kingdom of Hungary and the greatest part of what the House of Austria calls her Hereditary Countries Albert lived contented with the Provinces of the Low Countries which the Infanta Isabell brought to him in Marriage and Maximilian having long agoe relinquished his Pretensions to the Kingdom of Poland which he disputed with Sigismund King of Sweden led a quiet Life with Matthias King of Hungary These four Brothers had two Cousin Germans Children of Charles Brother to the Emperor Maximilian II. The small Country of Gratz in Stiria did not satisfie the Ambition of Ferdinand the Eldest of this second Branch of that House and Leopold the younger Brother desired something more than the Bishopricks of Strasburg and Passau Rodolphus and his Brothers had no Children this gave their Cousins mighty Hopes but as yet they were a great way off The King of Hungary this year Married Ann Archdutchess of Austria and might leave Heirs Ferdinand Wisely concealed his vast Ambition he seemed contented with managing the Pope and keeping a strict Correspondence with Spain and seem'd willing to wait patiently for a more favourable Opportunity to obtain the Succession of his Cousins All Men looked on the Emperor as a dead Man The Courts of Rome and Madrid were not very well satisfied that Matthias kept fair with the Protestants which he did to prevent being opposed by them when there should be a Debate about chusing a Successor to his Brother Perhaps too his Inclination led him to follow the steps of Maximilian II. a very Wife and Moderate Prince He had had a good Opinion of the Protestant Religion and it is thought would have embraced it if he had not met with Obstacles from Ferdinand the I. and the Court of Rome The Emperor his Father pressed by the Pope threatned Maximilian to Disinherit him but if the Son had shewn greater Resolution the Father would have found it no easie Matter to have made such an Exclusion valid I very much doubt if he would have dared to attempt it Ferdinand Archduke of Gratz was very far from this Moderation of Maximilian He was violent against the Protestants to a prodigious degree The Jesuits and Ignorant Monks who had too great Influence on the Councils of this Prince and his Descendants kept him in this extravagant Bigotry flattering him with the Assistance of the Pope and King of Spain to obtain the Empire even whilst those of the Elder Branch were yet alive The Archduke Leopold had no less Ambition but was still more impatient The Ambitious Designs of Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasburg and Passaw on the Kingdom of Bohemia vext to see himself reduced to live on his Benefices and to find his mighty Designs on the Countries of Cleves and Juliers prove Abortive he resolved to take his Advantage of the Weakness of Rodolphus and to make himself King of Bohemia to the prejudice of Matthias to whom that Crown was promised after the Emperors Decease Leopold had raised a small Army with the consent of Rodolphus under colour of keeping Juliers against the Confederate Princes The Town being taken by the Brave Maurice of Orange the Arch-duke kept his Troops in his Bishoprick of Passau with an intention to employ them in some greater and more prositable Work Romeo their General as Active and Stirring as Leopold
perswaded him to treat with his Friends in the Court of Prague and the Roman Catholicks in Bohemia who could not endure to see the Gospellers enjoy the free use of their Religion Leopold designed in the first place to make an Alteration in the Government of Prague and Expel divers Lords of the Emperors Council who were in the King of Hungary's Interests the thing did not seem practicable in a free Country as that of Bohemia was There was a Necessity for him to content himself with gaining over the Catholick Party and chiefly the Churchmen and Monks by giving them hopes that if Leopold should enter Prague by force of Arms he would oblige the Emperor to revoke the Edict in favour of the Gospellers The Jesuits were the most forward to favour the Designs of Leopold they filled their Colledge with Canon Arms and Ammunition to make use of in case there should be occasion Leopold's Troops â—…arch into Bohemia Leopolds Army was compos'd of nine Thousand Foot and four Thousand Horse They marched strait towards Austria under the Command of Romeo who found the means to help the Soldiers to Money in their way they plundered divers considerable Castles King Matthias being unprovided to resist was very much alarmed He writ to his Subjects and Friends to come immediately to his Aid In the mean time Romeo passes the Danube ravages whereever he comes marches into Bohemia under pretence of exacting those Subsidies the Emperor had promised Leopold for the Subsistence of his Troops He took two or three important Places and Leopold joined him when he was at the Gates of the Capital The States of the Countries amazed at these Motions prepar'd for a Defence The Gospellers appear'd more active and warm than the rest they were afraid to fall under the Government of one of the House of Gratz But it was not possible to hinder Leopold from entring into a third part of the Town which is called the little Prague He had a good Intelligence there the two other Quarters which they call the Old and New Prague defended themselves so vigorously that Leopold could not make himself Master of them Matthias King of Hungary Marches to the Assistance of Bohemia During the Confusions which Accidents of this Nature must needs cause in a Town divided into two Factions Violent against each other Rodolphus remained in his Castle contented with commanding both Parties by a Herald to lay down their Arms he seemed to stand Neuter His old Piques against his Brother made him encline to Leopold who seized on the Castle and was declared Lieutenant General for the Emperor The King of Hungary had at that time a Dispute with Gabriel Battori Prince of Transilvania He chose rather to give up his Pretensions than to have Bohemia taken from him Behold him then at the Head of an Army of eighteen Thousand Men. Leopold and Romeo make a quick Retreat to the Frontiers of Bohemia as soon as they are informed Matthias was enter'd into the Kingdom too fortunate in carrying off their Booty and two Hundred Thousand Florens which the Emperor gave them The King of Hungary being come to Prague the States of the Country received him with all possible Magnificence Matthias is Crowned King of Bohemia After some of Rodolphus his Counsellors were clapt into Prison and others forced to fly it was no hard Matter to make Rodolphus consent to a Demise of the Kingdom of Bohemia in favour of his Brother This poor Prince had very good Conditions in appearance made for him at the Solicitation of the Elector of Saxony who always was a Friend to the House of Austria The States of Bohemia too proposed theirs to the New King for the securing the Privileges of the Kingdom and Liberty of Conscience The City of Prague made some separate Stipulations and particularly that the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction should be restrained and the Abuses of it corrected After Matthias had been Solemnly Crowned at Prague the 23d of May by the Cardinal Ditrechstein an Agreement was made with Leopold who still had divers Important Places in his Hand He promised to quit these upon the payment of a certain Sum of Money In Conclusion the King of Hungary and Bohemia having agreed to some Articles for a perfect Reconciliation with the Emperor he went to Breslau his Design was to go and take Possession of Silesia which had likewise been given up to him The Bishop of the City the Lords and States of the Province took an Oath of Fidelity to him and he likewise swore to preserve to them the free Exercise of that Religion each of them professed before A Cabal in the Court of France against the Duke of Epernon The Princes of the House of Austria lived the rest of that year in a good Understanding as to outward Appearance those of the Royal Blood did the same in France Conde and Soissons being now combined together were not content with Supplanting Sully they resolved farther to ruine the Duke of Epernon the Marquess of Ancre took part with them He promised the Count of Soissons to remove a Man who was insupportable to all the Favourites Epernon hated them in effect because he loved to engross Favours he thought no one besides himself could deserve it Conchini provoked by the great Contempt the Duke treated him with resolved to humble a Man who ow'd his Rise to the Favour of Henry the III. and was now more haughty and hard to be bended than the Princes of the Blood The more Epernon found his Interest at Court sink the more he strove to make the Princes of the Blood Sensible if they would not love him they should have reason to fear him After the Count of Soissons had threatned to insult him he went through the Streets of Paris attended with Seven or Eight Hundred Gentlemen he would sometimes take Pleasure in going to the Louvre a foot His Men marched in order of Battle and when the first were at the Louvre the last were at the Hôtel of Epernon The Distance of these is near two thousand Paces In the midst of this outward Splendor the Discontent to see himself Excluded from Publick Business tormented him exceedingly The Cardinal of Joyeuse who only Subsisted by the Dukes Support resolved to go to Rome and Divert himself in the Chapels and Congregations there since there was no more occasion for him in the Court of France Epernon desired leave to go to his Estate and Government this he obtained with the good liking of the Court Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis The Regent gave him on this occasion several Marks of Confidence and Respect The Prince of Conde had a mind to go and take Possession of the Government of Guienne and nothing could divert him from this Resolution His stiffness gave Umbrage to the Court The Reformed had a civil Assembly at Saumur and the Regent did not know whether Conde might not have some secret design
I should not have found fault with these grave Magistrates for not relying much upon a young Prince whose little Genius and low Conduct gave them no great hopes but what shall we say of People that pretend to be the Guardians of Kings Here we see they dare not open a Letter written by a first Prince of the Blood to complain of the ill Administration of Affairs during a Minority Our Fathers were then Born to Slavery and we have gone on in the Paths they chalkt out to us Reflections upon Cardinal Perron's answer to the Prince of Conde None of the Parlements had the Courage to Answer the Prince several Officers of the Crown sent their Letters to Court unopened some few Printed Answers I find that of Cardinal Perron seems to me to deserve some Reflection This flattering and mercenary Pen did not dare to deny that there was a great many disorders to be regulated in the Government under the Minority of Lewis XIII Mercure Francois 1614. They have been pleased to multiply them since his Minority and during the long Reign of his Son How great a Reformation is necessary now and who at this time dares to Demand it One of the Ancients said the Cardinal hath wisely said that there is no Prince so bad but that he is better than a Civil War And thus we may say of the Government of Kingdoms that there is no Administration let it be what it will but it is better than Civil Discord Whether the Author who laid down this Maxim be a Greek or Latin one it is all one to us if we take it in its utmost Extent it tends only to Establish Tyranny in the World Would it be better to endure all the extravagancies and Bloody cruelties of a Caligula and Nero than to take Arms to Resist such abominable Monsters If any say that these two never had their like I will grant it But they that follow too near the Politicks of Philip II. of Spain and Charles IX of France will find some there like them Is it not lawful to defend one's Life and Liberty against such Tyrants I confess t is often better to bear the inconvenience of a bad Prince to a certain degree than to raise a Civil War A good Prince is a great Rarity The World would never be in Peace if it were lawful to take Arms as soon as a Prince ceases in all Instances perfectly to do his Duty But that a King who loads his Subjects with heavy Taxes to Indulge a boundless Luxury and Ambition who Sacrifices without Remorse the lives of a million of Men to his Vast and Unrighteous designs who Ruins at pleasure the Nobles of his Country who overthrow's the Priviledges of Princes and Great Noble-Men who Orders that his Edicts how contrary soever to the publick Good shall be Registred before there can be any Remonstrances made who shuts up the mouths of Parliaments who Banishes and Imprisons without any legal Process those who testifie their dislike of his Usurpations upon his Subjects and his Neighbours who abolishes without all Reason the most sacred and inviolable Laws who thinks it meritorious to make a million of Men miserable because they won't renounce a Religion which I may say they have had the liberty to be Born and Bred up in who does his utmost to enslave a Nation which has been always Free that such a Prince as I describe is better than a Civil War undertaken and carried on with wisdom and discretion so that one might hope for some redress of those miseries which would be but increased by patiently enduring of them this is the thing the Cardinal du Perron will never persuade Men of Sense to believe with all his Skill and Rhetorick Answer of Mary de Medicis to the Prince of Conde Mercure Francoise 1614. Mary de Medicis returned a large Answer to the Prince de Conde in Form likewise of a Manifesto to clear her self from his Imputations and to shew the irregularity of his Conduct who accus'd her If her Majesty does not make the best Defence with respect to some Articles yet with respect to others she gives good Answers enough The greatest number of those Disorders which the Prince Complains of began before the Regency The Avarice of Conde himself and of the Lords put her under a necessity of wasting the Treasure which had been heap'd up by the late King They increased the number of Malecontents form'd Cabals threatned to Rise So that she was obliged continually to give them Money to appease some to retain others To what purpose did the Prince begin to Complain now in the Fourth Year of a Regence which was now expiring Had he not done much better to have employed that Reputation and Authority which the Quality of first Prince of the Blood gave him in endeavouring to Establish a good Council and to regulate the Administration of Affairs But instead of applying himself to that which was of absolute necessity he spent his time in Intrigues to remove one or prefer another His irresolution and mildness of Temper made him a Cully to all the Factions that were on Foot at Court during the Minority of Lewis the XIII Nevertheless Mary de Medicis fearing lest the Prince should strengthen his Party by reason of the general Discontent of Men of all Ranks through the Kingdom Judged that the surest way to allay the begun Heats and Animosities was to promise in her Answer to the Prince of Conde an Assembly of the States of the Kingdom in order to redress every thing which they Complained of This experiment succeeded well The Faction of the Prince was weakned and her Majesty took Care that the Assembly of the States should not entirely answer their Expecttations But she did not so far rely on the way of Negociation resolv'd on in Council nor upon the assurances of the Mareschal de Bovillon that she had no thoughts of having an Army ready to Fight the Prince of Conde Mary de Medicis raises Six thousand Swisses in case they refused the advantageous accommodation which was proposed to them by the President of Thou whom the Queen sent for that purpose into Champagne This Magistrate whose integrity and ability the Princes and great Lords had a Respect for had a Conference with them at Soisson in which he endeavoured to adjust the matters in dispute between them and the Queen To secure herself against the Fears of the Malecontents it was resolv'd to send away the Colonel Galatis into Switzerland to raise Six thousand Men of his own Nation But the Duke of Rohan who was made Colonel General of the Swisses by the late K. was suspected by the Queen She did not dare to trust him with a Body of Troops in which the chief strength of the King's Army was to consist Mary de Medicis she thought convenient to make another Colonel General of the Swisses in the Room of the Duke of Rohan and to give him