was at the Hostel de Gondy as that which was most capable to receive him and it was in this House of Gondy that whilst this great Prince was forming the designs of restoring his despis'd Authority of chastising the temerity and disobedience of his evil dispos'd Subjects of rendring his name venerable to all his Neighbours and of establishing the Peace of his Kingdom having already almost extinguish'd all the sparks of Division that had enflam'd it that I say an accursed Paâ—ricide in the Meridian of all his Glory and in the Crisis of all his Designs plung'd a murthering Knife into his Entrails Every one has heard who Iaques Clement was and the black story of his Bloody Assassinate but no one could ever yet penetrate so far as to discover by whom he was prompted on to this execrable Act. The King feeling himself wounded drew the Knife immediately from the Wound and strook it up to the haft in the Villains Face at which bustle betwixt them one of the Grooms of the Wardrobe who guarded the Closet Door into which his Majesty was withdrawn to give this wicked wretch a more private audience ran in to them as also did several Gentlemen who waited in the outer Room who all of them drawing their Swords by an imprudence in it self criminal if not excus'd by the violence of their Affections gave the Caitiffe an hundred Wounds whereby in a moment he vomited out a life that ought not to have been dismist till after the horror of a thousand torments The King feeling himself Wounded commanded the Duke of Espernon to be immediately sent for who was then at the Post nearest to the City putting some Troops in order which were to fall into the Suburbs of Paris but at this sad and unexpected news he ran in great confusion to the King's Lodging whom he yet found in the same posture wherein he had receiv'd his hurt with his hand still upon the Wound At which sight the Duke bursting out in tears as fearing a sinister event his Majesty gave him comfort by telling him he hop'd the Wound would not prove Mortal and saying to him further these very words Thou seest here my Friend the effects of my Enemies Treachery and Malice but I hope God will shortly enable me to bring them to condigne punishment To which the Duke returning no other answer than his tears they laid his Majesty upon a bed and search'd his Wound which the Chirurgeons at the first dressing apprehended not to be so dangerous as it was so that all that day was past over in this error but that night and the morning following the dolours of his Wound encreasing and at last growing to be extreme it was then judg'd that his bowels were pierced and that Death must necessarily and in a few hours ensue The King of Navarre had hasted with all diligence at the first bruit of this accident and being come to his bedside his Majesty said to him almost the same things he had said before to the Duke and talk'd of nothing the first day save of the exemplary punishment he would inflict upon his Enemies but his Wound being at last judg'd to be mortal and feeling in himself that he drew near his end all his discourse of Punishment and Revenge was turn'd into that of Pardon and Oblivion and certainly no Prince ever made a more Christian or a more constant end He declar'd upon his death-bed the King of Navarre nearest of his Blood and and consequently right Heir to the Crown provided he were a Catholick exhorting him at the same time to abjure his own Religion and to reconcile himself to the Holy Church commanding likewise the Duke of Espernon whom he held by the hand to serve him upon that condition after which and a Pious Resignation of himself he gave up his last breath in the middle of his victorious Army We are now entring upon a new Reign and one the Duke found very different from that wherein he had hitherto liv'd for he now not only saw himself stript of all kind of Favour but he further saw the envy and hatred of the whole Court directed against him He was now no more call'd to Council nor any longer entrusted with his Princes secrets but on the contrary every one labour'd to diminish that greatness to which his own Vertue and his Masters Royal bounty had already rais'd him But we shall see how he overcame all these difficulties and the Justice of this new Prince at last giving the Merits and Services of this vertuous man their due we shall see him not only support him in his own present Fortune but also encrease it by his daily bounty and so establish it in him as to empower him to settle it in his own Posterity So soon as the King was dead all the Roman Catholicks of quality in the Army assembled themselves together to advise what in this occurrence was to be done for the maintenance of the Catholick Religion in the Service of this new King And here their opinions were split into three several Councils for some there were who thought it fit absolutely to acknowledge the King without condition or reservation but those were very few Others there were who would absolutely abandon his Service and joyn with the League and those were fewer than the first But the third proposition and that which was concluded on by the most principal and prudent Lords of the Army amongst which were the Dukes of Longueville of Nevers of Espernon and of Luxembourg the Mareschals de Biron and d' Aumont the Marquis of Ramboâ—illet and many others was to serve the King and to tye themselves wholly to his Fortune provided his Majesty would please to give them some gracious assurance of his speedy Conversion Which being deliver'd to his Majesty as their determinate Resolution and the condition prescrib'd as it were by the King his Predecessor he wisely chose such a mean as seem'd necessary to him in this occasion for the establishment of the uncertain state of his Affairs and would by all means preserve that moderation and indifferency betwixt both parties as should by an equal hope in them both keep both his Catholick and Hugonot Subjects within the bounds of their duty His Answer therefore was That it would appear to all the world very easie and unhandsome in him to change his Religion only to satisfie his Subjects humour and to receive a Law from them in a thing which in its self of all other ought to be most free That he desir'd to be instructed and satisfied in his Conscience before he proceeded so far as to change his Religion That to this purpose he promis'd within six months to call an Assembly of men of known Piety and Learning and if occasion were a National Synod to whose final Decree he would absolutely submit and that in the mean time he would be careful to protect and maintain the Catholick Religion After divers
into the Dukes hands told him that nothing troubled him but that he knew not how to invest him into a more absolute Authority and that he could not adde a part of the Royal Dignity to his charge And it is certain that in giving the Duke the Governments of Metz Toul and Verdun his Majesty would have given them in Sovereignty and have demis'd to him the Title of the Crown but the Duke displeas'd with this proposition as an injury offer'd to his Obedience and Loyalty complain'd to the King that his Majesty honouring him with so noble an employment should go about to deprive him of the dearest Relation he had which was that of his Majesties most humble and obedient Subject an honour that in his soul he preferr'd before all titles of Sovereignty and all the advantages of Fortune his Majesty could prefer him to and thereupon receiv'd both the Governments and the charge of Colonel General under the Kings Authority From this new advancement the League as I have said before deriv'd their second pretense for the taking of Arms they look'd upon the Duke of Espernon's new Honour as an offence to their whole Party and the Duke of Guise took it for a particular injury to himself and thereupon openly publish'd That there were now no more Employments Riches or Honours save only for the Duke of Espernon and la Valette his Brother That the State was only impoverish'd by profusions made in their favour That they were the true causes of the peoples oppression That the Treasure set apart for the extirpation of Heresie was by them perverted to their own uses and particular profit That the greatest Dignities the most important Places and Governments of greatest concern were too many advantages for their ambition That whilst the Kings good Servants were neglected and kept under there were new Offices with unheard of Priviledges contriv'd and erected for them That if the power they had over the King were longer suffer'd they would equally ruine the State and Religion That the Duke of Espernon was therefore to be remov'd from Court if men desir'd to see an end of publick Miseries That his Majesty being deliver'd from his Counsels which were equally violent and interessed would doubtless for the future be more favourable to his good Subjects and better inclin'd to the Catholick Cause At the same time a Manifesto was publish'd by the Cardinal of Bourbon who was the declared Head of that Faction containing principally the foregoing complaints and immediately after follow'd the rising into Arms. The first design of the League was upon Metz as if they meant to strike at the heart of the Duke of Espernon's Fortune a place so considerable that the Duke had reason to look upon it as the surest foundation of his greatness neither did he in his latter years condescend to any thing with more unwillingness and reluctancy than to the surrender of that place that proposition seeming to him as though men were bent to the total ruine of his House nor could he ever have been perswaded to have stript himself of such a defense upon a less consideration than the investiture of his Son the Cardinal of la Valette into that Government who being younger by forty years than himself he might reasonably hope it would continue in his Family at least during his life but God was pleased to dispose it otherwise To make a right judgment of the importance of this place it will be necessary to consider its Site and condition and the share it has ever had in the Duke's Fortune does indeed require it should be something insisted upon Metz then is a City something bigger than Burdeaux or Orleans that is to say one of the greatest and the fairest in the Kingdom full of Inhabitants and those a rich and industrious people to whom the neighbourhood of Germany gives great facility to an advantageous Commerce She was in former times thought beautiful enough to be the Metropolis of Austrasia once the Inheritance of one of our Kings but when the Empire of Germany began to decline and that the Princes who were Subject to it began to withdraw themselves from their obedience every one being ambitious to be Sovereign in his own Dominions many Cities which were also in the same subjection allur'd by the tempting sound of Liberty follow'd the same example Of these Metz was one who for many years took leave to govern her self by her own Laws annually creating Sovereign Magistrates disposing absolutely of the Lives and Estates of her Subjects Coyning Money and in all things taking upon her the Authority of a Sovereign Jurisdiction in which condition she maintain'd her self till the Year 1552. that the Constable Montmorency passing with the King's Army that way totally freed her from all kind of Homage to the Empire and settled it under the Protection of the Crown of France 'T is true that King Henry the Second in whose Reign this Conquest was made continued to this City her ancient priviledges but withal to assure himself of his possession he did exceedingly fortifie it establishing a Governour of his own and causing a Citadel to be built which was mightily cryed up for one of the best and most exact of that time but this was before Sieges were turn'd into a Science and that the industry of man had left little to Fortune in this kind of War It does not now carry that Reputation and in this condition it was when the Duke entred upon his Government only with this difference that what it s own Laws had formerly perform'd by their own Virtue during its independency was now executed by his order under the Authority of the Royal Name the Duke as I have said before absolutely refusing to accept it upon other terms He annually appointed and created the Supreme Magistrate whom they call Maistre Eschevin and appointed him his Council and Judges who were to determine in Sovereignty upon the Lives Honours and Estates of all the Inhabitants but withal the Duke had Authority upon occasion to censure them had power to remove them from their Magistracy within their year if he saw cause or to continue them beyond their term if he thought fit It is then no wonder if he were infinitely respected in a place where all things so absolutely depended upon him but that which was indeed very rare and very commendable was that in so unlimited a power and in the course of above threescore years that this City continued in his Custody he behav'd himself with that Justice and Moderation that not so much as any one Citizen ever complain'd of his administration neither is there any now living that do not yet remember with a kind of delight the indulgence and sweetness of his Government Whilst the Duke stood seiz'd of a place of this consequence and so dispos'd to his service it was no easie matter to cut him off such a retirement being a sufficient refuge from all
mercy that there would afterwards remain the King of Navarre a powerful active and diligent Enemy back'd with great Forces within and ready to receive greater from without the Kingdom he conceiv'd it requisite to subdue him first that he might afterwards dispose of the Kings Affairs with less opposition so that he altogether fell from the extravagancy of his first demands and only insisted vpon the suppression of the King of Navarre which he call'd the extirpation of Heresie though it was in effect in order only to the establishment of his own Power The King had so openly declared himself an Enemy as effectively he was to this new Religion and it so much imported him to clear himself to his Subjects from those aspersions the League had cast upon him that he was now necessitated to declare against the King of Navarre in the most severe Form the League could themselves invent yet was it not without the greatest reluctancy imaginable that his Majesty was constrain'd to that extremity against a Prince whom as has been said before it was not his interest wholly to suppress but having lost the opportunity he once had whilst they were weak and inconsiderable of chastising the Heads of the League he saw himself now necessitated to grant them that he could no longer without apparent Ruine refuse His Wisdom then prompting him to submit to the necessity of Affairs he made a show of complying in all things with their desires and that he might with less difficulty encline the Duke of Espernon to consent to a resolution he had ever before been so much against he privately told him That he did not consent to those things that were exacted from him without very great Aversion but that he hop'd to reap from thence a signal effect and a very great advantage to his Affairs that the Party of the League was now too strong to be supprest by force that they had brought their Armies to the Gâ—tes of Paris and that Paris it self was corrupted in their Favour That he very well saw the time to chastise them was now past and that he now knew but too late what he had lost in letting the occasion slip wherein they might have been punish'd when he had advis'd him to it but that such an opportunity would certainly return again and that then his evil Counsellors should never disswade him from making better use of his time That in the mean time it was necessary to dissemble that they might the better look into their Enemies Interests to discover their weakness and to make use of that discovery to their ruine That there was no Party so strong that was not defective somewhere That it was necessary to discover where that defect lay and that it was impossible to make that discovery without engaging with and being interested in the cause they meant to overthrow That being Head of the League as they would have him declare himself to be he should be able to strew such difficulties in the way of their Designs as that they would find themselues perplex'd in every enterprize they should undertake Though the Duke of Espernon had much rather his Majesty would have defended his Honour and trampled Authority by the Arms of those few good Catholick Servants he had and to have joyn'd with the King of Navarre with whom he did not think an accommodation impossible and with such Foreign Forces as were affectionate to the Crown yet seeing it was now expedient to submit to the necessity of the time he humbly acquiesc'd in the good Pleasure of the King his Master In this posture of Affairs the King writ to the Queen his Mother that she might conclude the Treaty upon such Conditions as she thought fit and for a further testimony of his Candour and sincere intention herein sent the dispatch by the Duke of Espernon whom all the world knew to have the greatest power with him and the greatest Antipathy for the League to the end that the Lords of Guise might not in the least doubt the observance of a Treaty that was ratifi'd on his part by a person who liv'd in so eminent a degree of favour with him This employment of the Duke's though it was only intended to countenance the Queens Negotiation and to make it more easily succeed did nevertheless incense her in the highest degree against him She look'd upon his interposition as proceeding from a diffidence the King had in her and not daring to manifest her dissatisfaction to him she threw it wholly upon the Duke and took from thence a new occasion to augment the ill will she had formerly conceiv'd against him The Treaty was notwithstanding concluded at Nemours wherein the Lords of Guise had the full of their own demands whether against those of the Hugonot Party or in their own particular favour They were to command the Armies that should be set forth against the Hugonots and over and above the great and advantageous Governments they were already possest of the King delivered over twelve or fifteen of the best Cities in the Kingdom into their hands together with vast summes of money And then it was that men were undeceiv'd and that all men plainly saw they minded more their own private Interest and the establishment of their own greatness than they regarded the advancement of the Catholick Religion The Treaty then being concluded the Duke of Guise came to kiss the Kings Hands at St. Maur des â—aussez his Majesty so ordering it purposely to defeat the Duke of the Parisians applause from whence after the Ratification of the Articles the Duke return'd into his own Government of Champagne dismiss'd with some feign'd Demonstrations of Favour which was also on his part receiv'd with the same dissimulation From thence forward the King began with great artifice to spin out the violent designs of the League manifesting nevertheless such an animosity against the Hugonots and so firm a resolution vigorously to effect what had been concluded against them as he conceiv'd necessary to satisfie a people jealous of his sincerity and apt to take up new suspicions upon every instigation of their own corrupted fansie And in order thereunto he went to the Parliament in great Formality and State to cause an Edict to pass against those of the Reform'd Religion where after a revocation of the cautionary Towns of the Chambres Mi-parties of the liberty of Conscience and of other Concessions that had formerly been granted in their Favour they were prescrib'd by a day prefix'd either to abjure their Religion or to be declar'd enemies to the State and punishable to the last degree This first Act thus play'd his Majesty assembled the Provost des Marchands and the Eschevins of Paris to demand money of them for the prosecution of the War they had so ardently desir'd which he also propos'd to the Clergy who had shewed themselves no less zealous than they but finding both the one and the other equally
So that the two Factions that of the League and that of the Religion being equally weakned by his Valour and Conduct he then so establish'd those two Provinces in their duty that it was afterwards no hard matter for him to continue them in that posture of Obedience until the death of the King Whilst Mounsieur de la Valette was employ'd about these brave Services for the Crown Mounsieur de Villeroy a declar'd Enemy to the Duke his Brother was no less busie with all the ill Offices he could contrive to ruine both their Credits with the King Which though the Duke had long observ'd and as long forborn to take notice of yet could he at last no longer restrain himself from breaking out to a high and publick Rupture with him It was at St Aignan that it happened at the time the Army of Reiters were preparing to enter the Kingdom and that the King was consulting of the means to hinder their passage I have already given an account of the Animosities betwixt these two great Ministers and the Causes that produc'd them which perhaps I should not so punctually have done neither should I now do it had not D'Avila an Authour of great Repute for the History of that time enlarg'd himself more thatn ordinary upon this Difference as upon an accident very considerable and of great importance to the general Affairs that were then in agitation The Duke then and Villeroy being upon these ill terms the King at the especial instance of the Duke had assigned a summe of 20000 Crowns only for the entertainment of Mounsieur de la Valette's Army a proportion very inconsiderable for the great end to which it was design'd but very great considering the necessities the State was then in which mony Villeroy notwithstanding his Majesties Order having diverted to the Payment of the Grand Provost and his Archers the Duke discover'd it to the King in open Council complaining that a summe so disproportionable to the utility of his Brothers Services should be diverted to another use To which Complaint Villeroy who was present reply'd aloud in his Majesties Presence That what the Duke had said was not true It is easie to judge whether the Duke who was then rais'd to the highest degree of Favour were surpriz'd with so tart and so unexpected an Injury I have heard him say That in his whole life he was never so sensibly offended nevertheless he had so much power over himself as to forbear all kind of violence in the Kings Presence so much as from any extravagancy of words neither made he other reply to Mounsieur de Villeroy but this That the Presence of the King which had encourag'd him to give that Language oblig'd him to be Silent but that he should repent it The King both disquieted and displeas'd at this Quarrel and willing to interrupt them from proceeding further went immediately out of the Closet expecting the Duke should follow him but he staying behind and being now no longer aw'd by the Reverence due to his Majesties Person fell very severely upon Mounsieur de Villeroy for the words past some say he proceeded to high threats that he had his hand up to have strook him and that he gave him some very unhandsome language though I never heard the Duke confess so much in the many times he has discours'd of that business But Mounsieur de Villeroy immediately went and complain'd to the King of the Duke's Threats demanding Assurance and Protection from him where receiving no very satisfactory answer he waited time and opportunity by working his own revenge to procure his own Safety which happened not long after when we shall see the Duke's Valour frustrate all his Enemies Designs But let us in the mean time return to the general Business We have already observ'd that from the first insurrection of the League the King of Navarre not doubting but that all their preparations were chiefly intended against him had earnestly solicited all the Confederates of his Religion not only at home but in Foreign Parts to his aid but when he understood that by the mediation of the Queen Mother the Treaty of Nemours had been sign'd by the King himself at St. Maur he then foreseeing the storm that was ready to break upon him very well knew that he should infallibly be overwhelm'd without a speedy succour He therefore again press'd his Allies immediately to send their Forces if they desir'd to find him in a condition to receive the effects of their Assistance his Enemies so passionately precipitating his Ruine The German Princes spurr'd on by this new Solicitation and having yet been ancient Allies to the Crown of France would it should seem proceed with some shew of respect and thereupon concluded amongst themselves to send first an honourable Embassy to the King before they would engage in so important a Quarrel In this occurrence all the Court expected some Civil Remonstrance on the German Princes part but they soon found themselves deceiv'd for the Ambassadours either prevail'd upon by their Confederates in France or transported with their own Zeal to Religion and the passion they had for those of that Party having publickly reproach'd the King with his breach of Faith towards his Protestant Subjects it evidently appear'd that their design was not to mediate an Accommodation but to push things on to the decision of Arms by giving the King a premeditated Affront I have heard the Duke say that he was present at the delivery of this Oration and that the King justly nettled at so saucy an Embassy after having in the heat and apprehension of so great an injury spoken with greater eloquence than ever till that time he had heard him do he positively and for a final answer return'd the lye to whoever should reproach him with the breach of his Faith The Ambassadors dismiss'd after this manner fail'd not at their return home to exasperate their several Princes to the last degree who being before resolv'd upon a War made speedy and great Leavies and soon set such an Army on foot as they thought joyn'd to that the King of Novarre had already of his dependants should be able absolutely to subdue the Catholick Party in France The King as he very well foresaw what inconvenience the entry of such a multitude of strangers must of necessity bring upon his Kingdom so did he by all imaginable ways try to prevent their coming and seeing that nothing but satisfying the King of Navarre could possibly divert that mischief he once more try'd by the means of the Queen his Mother if possible to win him to a timely accommodation Which being by her undertaken after many delayes scruples and jealousies on both sides a Conference was at last concluded on at St. Brix a private house seated upon the Banks of Charente near Coynack but this Conference nevertheless being able to produce no good effect by reason of that invincible difficulty the difference of
of Pau without being able with all the submission he could use and with all the Interest he could make to reconcile himself to the Queen was now on his own way home in the same equipage he came when his servant looking accidentally back perceiv'd three men rush out of a Wood hard by and the two formost who were arm'd to come upon the spur directly towards his Master the third it seems being as it was afterward reported one of the Queens Domesticks sent rather to be a witness of than an assistant in the intended assasinate Mounsieur de la Valette at the first sight apprehending them for what indeed they were and their business for what really it was immediately commanded his Page to alight and having mounted his Horse spur'd boldly upon them with so much gallantry and success that he left them both dead upon the place I have often seen the Sword he made use of in this occasion and have often heard the manner of the action related to the Duke in the very same terms I deliver it here From this wise and valiant Captain the Epithetes with which all the Historians of that time have honoured the Vertue of this great man and from Iane de Saint Lary de Bellegarde Sister to the Mareschal de Dellegarde and Niece to the Mareschal de Termes were descended Bernard Iean Louis and another Iean de Nagaret and de la Valette the eldest in the year 1553. Iean Louis in May 1554 and the youngest died almost as soon as born They had likewise issue three Daughters Helene Catharine and Mary the eldest of which having engaged her affection before her Brother rose to favour with the Marquess of Rouillac a young Gentleman of good quality in the Countrey preferr'd him to many others her Brother afterwards offered to her The second was married to the Count de Bouchage Brother to the Duke of Ioyeuse fellow Favourite with Iean Louis from which match sprung Catherine de Ioyeuse now Dutchess of Guise The last married the Count of Brienne of the House of Luxemberg and she died without Issue within a few years after she was married The two Brothers Bernard and Iean Louis having been brought up in their Fathers House till the ages of thirteen and fourteen years were from thence sent to the Colledge of Navarre at Paris there to continue their studies where amongst other instructions they had particular charge often to see and diligently to observe Mounsieur de Villeroy then Secretary of State and a man lookt upon as an extraordinary person in that imployment Mounsieur de la Valette esteeming him for his intimate and assured friend hoped in him to establish such a friendship for his Children in their greener years as might one day be of great use and advantage to them so hard it is even for the wisest to foresee the events of things this very man proving at last amongst all the great Ministers that govern'd the Affairs of that time the only or the greatest enemy to their Advancement and Fortune After some years continuance of their studies at Paris the report of a War spread from all parts so enflam'd the noble courages of these two young Gentlemen that it was impossible longer to restrain them from the exercise of Arms. They considered Letters now as an obstacle to something nobler they conceiv'd themselves oblig'd to profess so that their Governour fearing some sally of youth should he carry too rude a hand over them was constrain'd to give Mounsieur de la Valette timely notice of the disposition of his Sons Their Father either unwilling to cross them in their first desires or loth to discourage so early and so generous resolutions and considering the maturity of their age now grown up to Man and fit to undergo the hardships of War upon the first intimation call'd them home to place them by his own side there to share with him the fortune of War which chanc'd to be about the beginning of the troubles that happened in the year 1570. Mounsieur de la Valette having by the great services he had done the King in his Armies attracted the envy or jealousie of the other Chiefs who were more diligent at Court than he was by their procurement sent away into his Government to oppose as was pretended the designs and enterprizes that those of the Reformed Religion daily practised in several parts of that Province And whether this were effectively the true or but the pretended cause of his dispatch into Guienne so it was that he was commanded there to reside which he accordingly did and during that residence perform'd many notable exploits to the advantage of his Masters Interest amongst which I cannot omit the mention of one that particularly relates to the honour of his second Son whose History I have undertaken and to whom his Father had given the name of Caumont by which we shall for some time call him In an encounter that happened near to Mauvasin whether Mounsieur de la Valette had carry'd his two Sons he charg'd so far into the Enemies Body that his Horse being kill'd under him he was himself in manifest danger of his life when Caumont seeing his Father in that peril threw himself desperately in amongst them and being well seconded by some few of the Troop behav'd himself so well as to disengage and bring him off paying in this first trial of his Arms by an act of no less Piety than Valour part of the obligation due to him from whom he had receiv'd his being And this was his first exploit He past some years at this rate under his Fathers Discipline but a Province was a Theatre too narrow for the acts his courage was likely to produce ambition began already to make him aspire to greater things which his Father perceiving and willing to encourage so generous a passion resolv'd to send him together with his elder Brother to the Siege of Rochelle that was then sitting down He was the rather enclin'd to send them to that place because he himself was to have no share in the honour of that action prevented by the jealousie of the Mareschals de Byron and Bellegarde who although they were both of them his near relations and the best reputed Captains of their time employ'd nevertheless their utmost interest to hinder Mounsieur de la Valette from serving in that occasion They very well knew his merit with the favour and esteem he had with the Duke of Anjou who was to command at that Siege and foreseeing that such a concurrent as he was likely not a little to eclipse the glory they intended to engross wholly to themselves they carried on their design with that dexterity that he was not so much as once call'd to that service This ill office was so much the more sensible to him as it made him lose the Mareschals Staff which had been promis'd him before an injury that no doubt he
would have discover'd how highly he had resented had he not been prevented by Death the Arbiter of all Humane Controversies All he could at that time do to let them see he understood them to be no friends of his was to forbid his Sons to see them or to be presented by either of them to the Duke of Anjou desiring rather they should receive that favour from the Duke of Guise a Prince with whom he had acquir'd a great interest as having oftern serv'd under his Command but most signally at the Battel of Dreux where he fought at the head of the Reserve with which when all other hopes were lâ—st the Duke won that day and wholly routed the Enemies victorious Army To him therefore he commanded his Sons to address themselves for their access to the Duke an occasion the Duke of Guise embrac'd with so much fervour and presented them after that obliging manner with that honourable mention of the Fathers great Merit and the great hope of his Sons that they could not possibly have chosen out a man that could more handsomly more obligingly or with greater integrity have perform'd so important an Office The infinite civility of the Duke of Guise together with the singular and natural art he had to acquire men to him gain'd Caumont so absolutely to his service that it was with no little reluctancy that he afterwards withdrew himself from him which nevertheless he was shortly after enforc't to do the divers interests that sway'd the one and the other looking so several wayes that it was not possible longer to continue their intelligence Their friendship began to grow cold before it came to an open Rupture Caumont not having receiv'd from the Duke that support and assistance he promis'd to himself from so powerful and so sincere a frined as he took him to be But that which strook the main blow was this The death of Mounfieur de la Valette immediately following the Siege of Rochelle his several Employments lay vacant by his decease which made Caumont repair to Court in hopes by the Dukes favour at least to obtain the charge of Camp-Master to the Light Horse for his elder Brother neither of them yet presuming by reason of their youth to pretend to the Lieutenancy of Guienne which the Duke of Guise not only peremptorily refus'd to intermeddle in but withal carried on the interest of some other pretenders with so much vigour and efficacy that in fine he excluded both the Brothers from all their Fathers employments Upon which unexpected unkindness Caumont retir'd so much dissatisfied with the Duke that since that time neither his Brother nor he ever had any complacency for the house of Guise The Brothers after this repulse spent some time at home in order to a settlement of their own private affairs which the quietness of that time a general Peace being before concluded gave them leisure enough to do But Caumont was impatient of this Countrey life and seeing there was now no more employment for his Armes he put himself into an equipage to go to Court to try if he could by his own endeavours obtain that for himself which the memory of his Fathers great services had not power to retain to his forgotten Family It was about the end of the Year 1574. that he undertook this journey King Henry the Third being then newly return'd from Poland a Prince inâ—â—â—nitely enclin'd to Peace and to that Catharine de Medicis his Mother being also wearied out with the former troubles they bent their â—oynt endeavours to the continuing of Affairs in the same quiet posture they then were to the extinguishing of all old discontents and to the avoiding all possible occasions of new They knew very well that none had power to beget new mischiefs or to disturb the present Peace of the Kingdom except the Duke of Alanson or the King of Navarre both which they politickly made as it were prisoners to the Court by the vigilancy of Spies though without Guards or other visible marks of restraint The King of Navarre as he whose Courage and great Qualities were more to be suspected had the stricter eye upon him and although he profest himself a Catholick yet his Fortune and Confederates obliging him to the contrary Religion they were in a perpetual jealousie lest he should at one time or another embrace the Profession and Party of those with whom his nearest concerns and chiefest interests lay The Queen Mother one of the most experienc'd Princesses of her time and a Woman whose Prudence and subtlety extended to all the Arts of Government knowing as well how upon occasion to order the allurements of Peace as to guide and govern the more important Affairs in the Tumults of War being no stranger to the amorous inclinations of the King of Navarre by daily invitations to Playes Masques Revels and other entertainments made the Court continually to shine in all the lustre and temptation of Beauty if possible to divert the designs and to soften the Martial humour of this Prince in the more delicate delights of vacancy and peace which kind of life it may easily be imagin'd could not be unpleasant to a man so young and so enclin'd as the King then was The Court being now nothing but jollity the whole Nobility of France had nothing else to do but to divide themselves according to their several inclinations into the Parties and Factions of these two young Princes amongst which Caumonts particular liking and Affection to his person and great vertues having enclin'd him to the King of Navarres side he was by him receiv'd with so infinite respect and kindness that in a very short time he stood equal to the best in the highest degree of Favour and trust Of which the King could not give him a greater testimony than by discovering to him his intended escape from Court and by commending thereby so important a secret to his fidelity and assistance Our Histories have glanc'd at the grounds upon which the King took this resolution which he shortly after executed with great secresie and a very slender train For pretending to go hunt in the Parks of Saint Germains he thence with only four or five of his greatest confidents of which number Caumont was one made his escape I have often heard him say that he thought himself so oblig'd by that favour that he had never separated himself from that Prince had not he first separated himself from his obedience to the Church He accompanied him in his retirement as far as Alenson whither the King was no sooner come but that his Physician invited him to be God-father to one of his Children The Ceremony was performed in the Hugonot Congregation and after their Directory as it may be presum'd it was beforehand determined it should be Whereupon Caumont taking the usual liberty the King had ever till that time freely allow'd him converted all the passages of that Ceremony into Mirth
and Laughter But the King afraid no doubt lest this should produce some effect that might hinder his main designs secretly chid him for what he had already done giving him caution for the future to forbear such railleries and to behave himself with more respect in occasions wherein he himself was so seriously concern'd Which sharp reproof giving Caumont sufficiently to understand that although the King did not as yet make publick profession of that Religion yet that he was notwithstanding so moderate and so lukewarm a Catholick that he only wanted a handsome opportunity to do it He resolv'd also to quit his service upon the first occasion that fairly presented it self An effect besides his own Devotion to the Church of a solemn Promise his Brother and he had joyntly made to their dying Father never to serve other than a Catholick Prince From thenceforward therefore he sought all opportunities civilly to disingage himself from the service of this King which soon after a light Indisposition of body gave him a handsome Pretense to do for finding himself not very well and continuing fome few dayes in the same distemper without any amendment he intreated leave to retire into the privacy and convenience of his own house for the recovery of his health which the King though he doubtless well enough understood the meaning of that request without any difficulty or the least shew of unkindness freely permitted him to do France began now to see it self threatned with the approaching troubles which the Duke of Alenson's and the King of Navarre's departure from Court happening much about the same time shortly after produc'd in the Kingdom neither could the Queen Mother notwithstanding her great vigilancy and care to prevent those disorders the discontents of these two Princes together with those of the Hugonot Faction were likely to bring upon the State with all her industry and prudence hinder men in that Crisis of Affairs from running into the tumult of Armes It was in this juncture of time that Caumont prepar'd himself for a second journey to Court He had had the honour to be known to the King first at the Siege of Rochelle and afterwards in his dependence upon the King of Navarre so that these preceding habitudes and acquaintance made him resolve to go and tye himself directly to his Majesties person and service Having therefore left his own house with this resolution he takes his journey to Burdeaux where the Marquess de Villars a great friend and an old companion in Armes of Mounsieur de la Valette his Father and now Governour of Guienne then resided and where he was not a little busie to provide against the disorders which at that time threatned that Province Caumont at his arrival gives him a visit acquaints him with the true design of his journey and withal offers his service if he had any to command him to Court Villars readily accepts his offer charges him with Letters of Credit to the King and the wayes betwixt Burdeaux and Poitiers being very difficult to pass by reason of the continual inroads of the Hugonot party he informs him of the particular state of the Countrey instructs him in the safest wayes he was to pass and finally gives him a full accompt of the posture wherein his Majesties Affairs then stood that he might thereupon receive new orders from the King and Council Caumont being glad to present himself to their Majesties with the advantage of so considerable a service departs throughly instructed in all the Affairs of Guienne from Burdeaux to Angoubesme where he further discourses about his Government with the Marquess of Rufee Governour of that Town and Countrey and by him findes matters there to be in no better a condition than those of Guienne Rufee had made a late denial of that place to the Heads of the Hugonot party to whom by the Treaty of Champigny made with the Duke of Alenson it should have been delivered up for a Cautionary Town He informs himself of the reasons of Rufees refusal in this case with other things that concern'd the Kings Service in that Countrey and continues his journey from thence to Poitiers by the houses of Gentlemen his acquaintance sometimes with Convoys but for the most part in the slender guard of his own inconsiderable train At last by short and wary journeys he arrives at Court which was then at Blois though with infinite difficulty and danger such was the disorder and confusion that rag'd in all the Provinces through which he was to pass I heard him a few dayes before his death relate all the particulars of this journey without omitting the least circumstance that befel him by the way not without admiration that a man after threescore and odde years should retain so perfect a memory of such petty accidents if such ought to be call'd so as gave a beginning to the establishment of so prodigious a Fortune Being come to Court he presented himself to the King deliver'd the several dispatches he had from Villars and Rufee giving his Majesty a particular account of all they had given him in charge The King immediately commanded him to address himself to the Queen Mother and to inform her fully of the same things being at this first Conference highly satisfied with his dexterity and judgement and mightily taken with his behaviour and the gracefulness he observ'd in whatever he said or did neither indeed could there be a more accomplisht Gentleman than he was at that age of two and twenty as I have heard men of great judgement say that very well knew him in those times His Conference with the Queen Mother prov'd no less to his advantage with her than that he had had with the King had done with him she was pleas'd to give him a gracious audience and to take a great liking to his Person so that the King coming as it was his constant custom in the evening to confer about business with her and asking her if she had seen Caumont and what her opinion was of him the Queen made answer That she had seen and discours'd with him and that it was upon men of his condition and merit that his Majesty ought to repose the Trust and Confidence of his most important Affairs which she said as not being unwilling to the end she might still keep her dominion over the Kings affections that Caumont though the King had many Favourties already should yet make one of that number that so his heart being divided amongst many might not too violently encline to one The King told her he was of her opinion and the approbation he found in her judgement having justified his own inclinations after he had entertain'd her some time with merits of the Father and the good qualities of the Son he from thenceforward took a resolution to receive him into a degree of favour and to place him near his own person Yet was it not immediately notwithstanding this
from whom she had receiv'd the knowledge of his Love at the same time confessing on his part the naked and undisguis'd truth the more to oblige her to deal clearly and candidly with him The Queen though at first she defended her self with many excuses and was very loath to betray her intelligence was at last as there are few secrets which are not communicative betwixt persons of so near relation overcome and confest that it was from St. Luc's Wife she had receiv'd that secret There needed no more to confirm the King in the prejudice he had before conceiv'd against St. Luc and his Majesty believing there was more of design than levity in this miscarriage from thenceforth conceiv'd a mortal animosity against him and was resolute to his ruine yet would he defer the discovery of his displeasure till Caumont's arrival who was now upon return that he might first know how ill an office his companion and friend had attempted to do him Caumont was no sooner return'd than the King ask't him what opinion he had of St. Luc's friendship who answered That he took him to be his best friend as he knew himself to be his and that there was a particular and strict friendship betwixt them The King told him he must no longer continue in that error and thereupon acquainted him with the whole story and with the resolution he had taken against him Caumont notwithstanding the ill Offices he had receiv'd fail'd not in this occasion to perform all the duties of a true friend but employ'd his power with the King to perswade his Majesty into milder resolutions but not being able with all he could say to prevail against the just indignation he had conceiv'd against him and seeing him exasperated to such a height as was like enough to transport him to the greatest extremities he gave notice to St. Luc speedily to retire from Court which he accordingly did and fled to Brouage This is the true story of his disgrace which I have received from a more faithful and less passionate hand than that of Aubignâ— It was at this same time of Caumont's return from Savoy that the King found himself engag'd in a more dangerous Affair than this before related The Hugonot Party began now to break out into open insurrection and their Rebellion was of so much the greater consequence by how much it interrupted and overthrew all the designs he had laid to establish the peace of his Kingdom The King having had and with great reason the greatness of the House of Guise long suspected to him had determin'd with himself but insensibly and with all security to abate that growing greatness and to bring his designs the better to pass and with the least noise he continually dispos'd all the great employments and most considerable Offices as they fell void into the hands of his own Creatures without distributing any part into the power of the Guises or of any that he knew depended upon them or that he suspected to be of their Faction The House of Guise easily enough penetrating into the depth of this design had fortified themselves more than ever in their Confederates and Friends to oppose by strong hand this project of the Kings and covering with the pretence of the Catholick Religion of which they had long assum'd to themselves the titles of Protectors either their Ambition or what they call'd by a more specious name the necessity of their Defence were ready to break out into open Arms. The King advertis'd of their designs was resolv'd to prevent them and for a time to lay aside his milder Maxims and to chastise their insolence with an armed hand but because he should have wanted means and strength if at the same time he should undertake the House of Guise the Hugonot Party which he also intended to cut off in due time should appear in Arms he tried to moderate the last by commanding all the Edicts that had been made in their Favour to be strictly and inviolately observ'd He granted to the King of Navarre all he could reasonably desire treating with him like a Prince that he neither thought it safe to raise too high nor that he had a desire absolutely to subdue A proceeding that in all apparence was likely to continue the Peace on that side And the King had very great reason to hope that this Prince and those of his party would at least give him leisure to suppress the Family of Guise who as they were dangerous to him were also their open and declared Enemies The suppression of which had at this time been a matter easie and inevitable had Affairs continued in this posture But all these considerations were over-rul'd and overthrown by so little means that certainly 't is worthy our astonishment to consider how light and how contemptible things will pervert the ordinary course of humane prudence The Queen of Navarre in this juncture of time retir'd from Court much dissatisfied with the King her Brother as she her self declares in her own Commentaries and as she was a Princess of a dangerous Wit a great Spirit and one that conceiv'd the highest point of generosity to consist in revenge she thought she could not do the King her Brother a more sensible injury whose designs she very well knew nor consequently better satisfie her own revenge than by stirring up the King her Husband against him Yet thinking her own interest too weak of it self to prevail in a thing of this consequence she thought fit to assault him where he lay most open to her and where he had the least power to defend himself Having therefore in her train a great many very fine women and such as were well disciplin'd in Love Affairs she won so far upon their obedience as that they behaving themselves according to her instructions towards the King her Husband and the young Nobility about him soon made as many Lovers as there were Servants attending his Person and by that means seated her self absolute Mistriss of that Court The King of Navarre pre-possest with these ill Councils resolv'd upon taking Armes which he did with that secresie that the blow was given before the noise was heard The design was great and vast as they usually are in all commotions but when it came to execution all their great projects ended in the surprisal of two important places The first was Cahors â—etard by the King of Navarre the other la â—eré by the Prince of Condâ— Mounsieur Chatillon in Languedoc nor Mounsieur Lesdiguieres in Dauphine not being able to do any considerable service for their party The King advertized of this disorder found himself necessitated to alter his first resolutions and to turn his thoughts to the present danger so that instead of pursuing the suppressionâ— of the House of Guise and their League he was constrain'd that time not only to wink at their Faults but to employ their Persons and make use of their Interestâ—y
with the Queen his Mother such persons as were of chiefest trust about him and whose Counsels he ever made use of in debates of greatest importance to deliberate and advise what in this posture of Affairs was best to be done These were the Dukes of Espernon of Joyeuse and of Retz the Chancellour Chiveruy Bellieure D'O Villeroy and Villequier The Duke of Espernon as the youngest being commanded to give his opinion first of the Proposition in hand freely Remonstrated That so long as the ambition of the House of Guise had contain'd it self within some moderate limits of respect to their Sovereign he had infinitely commended his Majesties Clemency that so long had wink'd at their faults expecting when Subjects of their quality and merit should come to themselves and see their own error That in the beginning of great Crimes Patience was almost a necessary Vertue and that it had often oblig'd such Offenders into their duty as it would have been a matter of some difficulty to have reduc'd by force but that this Patience had its bounds as well as other Vertues and that the excess of it degenerated into Vices of all other most pernicious to Princes That he would never advise his Majesty to cruelty because it was dreadful and inhumane though it often begot tht Sovereign power a more absolute respect That profuseness begot love at least in the receivers and that the other mistakes of Princes were seldom altogether unfruitful whereas an excessive toleration render'd them contemptible to all the world That from contempt men fell into hatred and from hatred ran headlong into attempts That above all things Princes should fear being despis'd which is infallibly destructive to Authority as on the contrary Fear and Respect supports it That it was his opinion the King without further deliberation should have recourse to Arms. That his Enemies not having yet the assistance of Strangers and the Forces they expected at home not being yet united would be easily supprest That his Majesty ought not to suspect his own strength in this occasion that so good a cause as his could want no Souldiers and that his own Royal Courage would give vigour and encouragement to all true Frenchmen to maintain his Authority not only against his Rebellious Subjects but against all the World The Chancellour Chiveruy the Duke de Retz and the Marquis D'O were of this opinion and the King himself had too much experience and too much judgement not to be of the same but the Duke of Ioyeuse Bellieure Villeroy and Villequier were of a contrary advice to whom the Queen Mother adhering the King who had ever a great deference to her Councils cool'd in the inclination he had to that of the Duke of Espernon and was over-rul'd into mildness and moderation which as they are usually the ruine of all Affairs of this nature so they prov'd to be of this They thenceforward therefore began to treat about this War and that by propositions not like those of a Prince to his Subject but such as were more proper betwixt enemy and enemy that stood upon equal ground The King before he would resolve upon the last remedy of Arms first caus'd the Duke of Guise to be sounded to try whether or no he would by fair means be prevail'd with to leave of those practices his Majesty very well knew he entertain'd against his Service and his own Duty which having in vain attempted and finding his obstinacy to be such as was not to be overcome by gentle wayes he presently dispatch'd away into Germany and Switzerland to make speedy Leavies both of Horse and Foot and conceiving he could not in the present necessity receive so prompt and so certain a succour from any as from the King of Navarre his Majesty would try if he could not gain him to his Interest that they might joyntly oppose the first fury of the League that erected it self to their common prejudice In which deliberation there was notwithstanding an almost invincible difficulty namely the difference of Religion for the King what need soever he had of the King of Navarre's assistance could never perswade himself to joyn with him in Arms if he were not first a Catholick wherein the respect to his Conscience prevail'd with him above the consideration of his Fortune and Kingdom This point therefore upon which so much depended was to be discreetly managed and the Duke of Espernon as Supreme in the Kings confidence was before all others chosen to treat with the King of Navarre about this great Affair which that it might be carried with the greater secresie the Duke pretended a visit to Madam de la Valette his Mother at Caumont whom he had never seen since his advancement to favour nor whom a rare example of Vertue and Moderation in a person of her Sex and Condition he could ever with all the instance he could use prevail with to come to Court nor perswade to leave the sweet repose of her own House nor the modesty and retiredness of her former life Things being thus ordered the Duke began his Journey from Court with a Train and Magnificence that is still remembred in all the places through which he past He had above 500 Gentlemen and many of those men of very great quality in his attendance so great authority and esteem he had already acquir'd neither did that authority and esteem ever decline but were his inseparable Companions during his whole life The King writ to all the places through which he was to pass to receive him with the same respect and to pay him the same honours they would do to his own person which was absolutely obey'd if not over-done the Duke receiving infinite and unusual civilities both at Orleans Poitiers Burdeaux Tholouse and in all the other Cities through which he pass'd At last he arriv'd at Caumont where he had the satisfaction of seeing his Mother who was no more dazled with the immediate sight of her Son's greatness than she had been before elevated with the report of it She discours'd with him of Affairs of State and of the advantages of his own Fortune with the Gravity and Authority of a Mother but of a Vertuous and Prudent Mother and I have heard him say That he receiv'd more safe and solid Counsels from the prâ—dent simplicity of that good Lady than from the subtlety and experience of the most practis'd Courtiers After having staid some days in her company and his chief business being not to receive a dispatch there he parted thence towards the King of Navarre who was then in the County of Foix. The King did him the honour to meet him as far as Saverdun where they had the first Conference The second was at Pamiers in the same County of Foix whither the Duke of Espernon who could by no means avoid the great crowd of Nobility and Gentry that came from all parts of Guienne and Languedoc to see him came so extraordinarily accompanied
that the King of Navarre who designing to continue the same honour to him intended to have met him a good way out of Town was advised to expect him on foot at the Gates of the City his own Friends and Retinue being too few to make up a number that might hold any proportion with that the Duke brought along with him In these two Conferences the Duke deliver'd what he had in Commission fortifying the propositions he had to make with so many and so powerful Arguments that the King of Navarre clearly satisfied of his own good discover'd at last a great inclination to perform what the King desir'd of him viz. his Conversion to the Roman Catholick Religion He evidently saw the eminent danger whereinto this great conspiracy of the League was likely to precipitate him with the advantages he might have by running the same fortune with the King of defending himself and his Interest by his Majesties Authority and Power Requelaure and many other persons of good quality about him fortifi'd him in this good deliberation but he was disswaded from it by a far greater number of the other opinion who represented to him the hard usage he had receiv'd at Court the hazards he had run in his own person and the persecution those of the Reform'd Religion who were his Servants and Friends had suffer'd from thence They did not stick further absolutely to impute all the hard measure the Hugonot Party had receiv'd to this King although the greatest violencies had been exercised upon them in the Reign of Charles the Ninth expressing as passionate a hatred against him as the League so impudently manifested in their Rebellious Actions And certainly the Misfortune of this Prince is never too much to be lamented nor the unsteddiness of his condition too much to be wondered at having his Kingdom divided by two Factions so directly opposite to one another that he could never serve himself by the one to defend himself from the other and both sides though implacable enemies betwixt themselves concurr'd nevertheless always in this that they both equally desired his Ruine At last after many Conferences the King of Navarre gave the Duke his final Answer at Pau whither he had invited him to come to this effect That he was the Kings most humble Servant that he would justifie himself to be so upon all occasions and that he would never separate himself from his Service and Interests if his Majesty did not constrain him to it by condescending too much to his Enemies Counsels but that he could not for any consideration of Honour Riches or any other advantages that could be propos'd to him depart from the Religion he had embrac'd and was so firmly establish'd in It was in this pleasant Palace of Pau and amongst the magnificences and delights that place then abounded in that the Duke had first the honour to see the Lady Catharine the King of Navarre's only Sister since Dutchess of Bar in whom the Duke's Merit who was then in the flower of his youth and the meridian of his favour made such an impression that she began from that time to honour him with her favour which she continued to him to her death And it is certain that the King her Brother who perhaps did not think himself so near that height of fortune to which he soon after arriv'd and who doubtless would have been glad to have engag'd the Duke absolutely to his Interests made him some propositions of Marriage with this Princess but the condition of the time and intervening accidents permitting that Treaty to pass no further the Duke was forc'd to content himself with the advantage of so glorious a friendship which was ever after dear and precious to him the whole remainder of his life The King of Navarre to multiply still more entertainments and favours upon the Duke would needs have him yet to give him the satisfaction of another visit at Nerac which the Duke could not handsomely deny though the Kings commands were something pressing for his return to Court and as it is likely the King of Navarre spun out the time that he might more maturely deliberate upon an Affair of so great importance so was it the Duke's interest to give him that leisure he desired if possible to make his negotiation succeed according to the King his Masters desire But in the end finding he could not overcome those traverses and difficulties that his Majesties enemies still strew'd in his way he prepar'd himself for his departure and then it was that opening the last and most secret part of his Commission he told the King of Navarre That though he had denied his Majesty the satisfaction he desired of him yet that the King nevertheless considering him as his Kinsman and next Heir to the Crown if God should please to dispose of him without Issue had given him in charge to let him know that he would be well pleas'd he should use his best endeauour to preserve himself in a condition to oppose the League that was confederated to the ruine of the Royal House and Line That since they could not unite their Arms to resist their common Enemies he should at least assure himself of the places already in his possession which his Majesty took to be much safer and much more at his devotion in his hands than those that should hereafter be possest by the League And that although in the present state of Affairs he could not openly favour his designs by reason of their difference in Religion nor avoid being instant for the restitution of those cautionary places that had been granted to him yet that he should nevertheless be very well satisfied with whatever he should do to his own advantage After this Declaration which was receiv'd by the King of Navarre with infinite demonstrations of Obligation and Respect the Duke took post for the Court at Lions where the King impatiently expected his return He was now arriv'd within view of the City and all the Court were mounted to honour his arrival the King himself having much ado to forbear going out to meet him when a strange and unexpected Accident was like to have turn'd all the Honours prepar'd for his welcome into the Funeral Pomp of his Obsequies For one of the Gentlemen who came out to meet him having accidentally intangled the Chape of his Sword in the Duke's Bridle the Horse took such a fright at it that he immediately ran away with his Master nor could the Duke stop him with all the art and force he had from throwing himself and his Rider headlong into a dreadful precipice the place very remarkable by the greatness of the fall and the wonderful escape is to this day call'd Espernons Leap neither was there any man present who did not confidently believe the Duke certainly bruis'd to pieces an opinion so firmly grounded in every one that the report of his Death was immediately carried to Lions which made as
great disorder The King willing upon this occasion of the Dukes Marriage to continue his Liberalities made him then a gift of four hundred thousand Crowns but the Duke had never other advantage by it than the bare testimony of his Masters good Inclinations towards him For the Treasury being either wholly exhausted or containing no more than was necessary to defray the immediate War the money could no ways have been rais'd but by a new Tax upon the People which would have bred new Discontents and though his Majesty notwithstanding desir'd such an Imposition might be laid the Duke a truer Servant to his Masters Interests than a Friend to his own would never consent but obstinately oppos'd it The Papers are yet to be seen amongst those that were found at his Death for an eternal monument of this good Masters Affection and for a testimony of the small accompt the Servant made of a Benefit that must be exacted with the clamours of the People and that was likely to pull down a popular Odium upon his Benefactor Amongst the preparations that were made for the Duke's Marriage the King was still intent upon his business not omitting any due care that might fit his Army to receive the strangers who were now upon their March under the command of the Baron de Dona and were already advanc'd to the Frontiers of Lorain There it was that the Germans first began to be sensible of those inconveniences his Majesties prudent Conduct had strew'd in their way which still as they advanc'd further into France where they promis'd to themselves a great abundance of all things upon the false hopes wherewith their Leaders were prepossest that the whole Court favour'd the King of Navarre and that they had only the Duke of Guise to wrestle with they found more and more to encrease upon them all things remov'd out of their way that should any ways contribute to the support of so great a Body And then it was that they plainly saw the vanity of those aiery promises that had been made them they found themselves in a few days opprest with hunger thirst and sickness their Arms with rust dismounted and useless their Horses unshod and themselves expos'd to all the other miseries with which great Armies in long Marches and in an Enemies Countrey are usually afflicted By which misfortunes their eyes being opened they began to fear and to foresee those that in a short time fell upon them but amongst all those difficulties that which troubled them the most was their encounter with the Duke of Espernon who whilst they were trying to find a pass over the River Loire having continually coasted them and attended their motion with eight hundred light Horse and five hundred Harquebusses on Horseback and having by his activity and vigilancy found an opportunity to beat up a Quarter of twelve hundred Light Horse and to take the Cornets from them they plainly saw by that action what they were likely to expect for they had been made to believe that the Duke was won over to the King of Navarre's Party a slaunder which having been first spread abroad by the League those of the Reformed Religion made good use of to encourage the strangers to enter the Kingdom but they having receiv'd so smart a proof of the contrary were now undeceiv'd and the more clearly they were convinc'd of their error the more did their fears encrease which begetting at first private mutterings and growing on to publick murmurs proceeded at last to an open Mutiny The Duke well enform'd of this disorder in the Enemies Camp began with great dexterity to manage their discontents to the King's advantage he treated therefore for an accommodation both with the Reiters and the Swisse the latter of which made up a considerable part of that Army all their Infantry almost being rais'd out of the Swisse Cantons pressing nevertheless with his flying Army the Rear of the one or the other at the same time that he disturb'd their March and their Quarters with his Armies entertaining them with overtures of Agreement putting them at once in fear of the King's Force and in hopes of his clemency by which different ways of proceeding to one and the same end the two Nations equally perplex'd at last hearkned to an Accommodation which notwithstanding was concluded only with the Swisse at that time and with them the Articles were agreed upon and Sign'd under the King 's good Pleasure the 18. of November 1587. Which being afterwards ratified by his Majesty they immediately retir'd into their Confines This great body thus separated from the Reiters the remaining Army was in such perplexity that there was now nothing but disorder and confusion amongst them so that their courages being abated by the extreme necessities they suffer'd by their being abandoned by their Confederates who made up the best part of their Army and by the fear of worse michiefs to come they now thought of nothing more than of retiring from the extreme danger they saw themselves envellop'd in and then it was that they hearkened in good earnest to the Propositions which were then offer'd to them afresh by the Duke though much harder than the former neither could all the Intreaties or Authority of their Leaders as well French as those of their own Nation prevail any thing or disswade them from concluding a composition and from retiring at last into their own Country The Articles with them were Sign'd the eighth day of December in the same year by the same Duke by which it appears that his courage vigilancy and Wisdom contributed not a little to the diversion of this dangerous storm and to the preservation of the Kingdom from so powerful an invasion as that of an Army consisting of forty thousand fighting men Yet is it not to be denyed but that the Duke of Guise did also very brave service in this occasion he defeated great numbers of them both at Vilmory and at Aulneau but in the condition they then were ruin'd and disarm'd by the King 's forecast beaten and Disunited by the Duke of Espernon's Skirmishing and Practices it infinitely much facilitated the Duke of Guise his Victories to have an Enemy reduc'd to such streights before he came to engage them But if the War was carried on with good success to the King in the forementioned engagements things succeeded much otherwise on his Majesties part with the King of Navarre for the Duke of Ioyeuse having precipitated the Battel of Coutras the advantage of his Forces having blinded him even to a Contempt of the Enemy an ordinary presage of Ruine to whoever is too secure of his Fortune he there lost the Battel with his Life the twentieth of October in the same year together with as considerable a number of Nobility and Gentry as have almost fallen in one day in any one Battel in France Some have believ'd that the King was neither so much displeas'd at the loss
by how much nearer they approach to truth this so touch'd him to the quick that he from thenceforward conceiv'd against the Duke a mortal and implacable hatred Neither was he long in finding out a way openly to express it for his Arms being his Tongue and his Pen reputed one of the most eloquent of his time he employ'd them both with all the rancour imaginable to blemish the Duke's Honour he set upon him with a thousand injurious Writings nor did he fail for so much as in him lay to stir up a popular Fury against his Life Neither did the Duke of Guise labour his overthrow with less vehemency on his part than the Bishop did on his and as he knew the Duke's Interest to be very great and his spirit inflexible and hardly to be reconcil'd so was he not content to endeavour his ruine obliquely and underhand but openly declar'd himself the Author of what he did the better to effect his desire And see the means he persu'd to work his purpose After the Reiters were driven out of the Kingdom the Duke of Guise accompanied with the principal Heads of his Party retir'd to Nancy where seeing the great Forces he had about him and promising to himself wonders from the precipitous affection of the People he resolv'd to prepare some Articles which should be presented to the King in the Name of the League Wherein as he conceivâ—d himself in a condition to carry by a high hand whatsoever he should propose he principally insisted upon the Duke of Espernon's removal from Court pretending him to be a great abettor of the Hereticks the better to colour the persecution he intended against him interpreting after this sort the affection the Duke had for the King of Navarre and for all the Royal Family though grounded upon principles far distant from being any ways interested in that Princes Religion as his actions ever had and then did most clearly demonstrate But as it was very unlikely that the King to satisfie his Enemies should consent to the disgrace of his beloved Favourite the Leaguers of Paris to impose upon him a necessity of accomplishing the desires of their Party conspir'd thenceforward to seize upon the person of the King that so they might remove all future difficulties that might lie in the way of their Designs neither did they fail much of executing that accursed Resolution The Council of sixteen was at that time first set up in Paris neither is any ignorant what that Council was how impudent their Proceedings and how great their Authority with the People even in the very face of the King himself In this Council it was one day agreed upon to seize upon the King as he came from hunting from the Bois de Vencennes and it had accordingly been executed had not the King advertiz'd of their purpose doubled his Guards at his return That Plot therefore failing there were divers other Ambuscado's laid for him during the Carnival that often put him in great danger of being made a Prisoner to his own Subjects which being all happily evaded by the timely information of one Nicholas Poulin a Lieutenant in the Provosty of the Isle of France who was privy to all these Cabals Many of the Court who as it is believ'd favour'd the Designs of the League endeavour'd to render Poulin's Intelligence suspected that the King discrediting his report might at one time or another fall into his Enemies snare But the Duke of Espernon in an occasion of this consequence making no difficulty of hazarding his own life to search out the depth of these practices franckly expos'd himself to infinite danger that so he might discover the certainty of so necessary and so important a truth Being therefore advertis'd by the same Poulin that the sixteen had concluded an Assassinate upon him himself at the Fair of St. Germains whither the Duke usually repair'd to divert himself with the entertainments of the season he resolv'd to run the hazard and accordingly went The Plot was to have been executed by the Scholars under whose name the Inhabitants of the Suburbs of St. Germains were order'd to slip in to fortifie the attempt all which being discover'd to the Duke it was certainly a dangerous and almost desperate adventure he thrust himself into and which must proceed from an unparallel'd affection and a vertuous care he had of his Princes safety to run so great a hazard in so critical a time when even the Court it self was corrupted in the Conspirators favour And the Duke might excusably enough have forborn going to a place where the danger was immediately directed against his own person and might have made the experiment and have penetrated into the bottom of this Conspiracy by another without endangering his own life and doubtless he had done so had he had only his own Interest to consider in the case but then things would afterwards have been left doubtful and the King's life had been still expos'd in the uncertainty of the truth of those cautions had been given him which the Duke resolv'd by all wayes imaginable to put out of future danger He went therefore to the place where he knew himself to be threatned with death but that could not affright him provided he might secure the life of his Master and being thither come found the intelligence had been given him to be punctually true neither did they fail much of effecting their design for a sort of young people being gather'd about him began to murmur and from murmuring grew lowder into clamours making shew at last as if they would proceed to execute what they threatned whereat the Duke not frighted with their noise put himself into a posture to resist the violence intended against him by which resolute carriage having with as much courage as good fortune disingag'd himself he leisurely retyr'd towards the Louvre not a man daring to attempt any thing upon him as if even his Enemies had been struck with a kind of reverence due to so brave and so honourable an Action After there was no further doubt to be made but that Poulin's intelligence was true and by how much the King's danger still encreas'd by so much the greater was the Duke of Espernon's diligence zeal and ardour for the security of his Majesties Person so that there passed not a night wherein sometimes with two sometimes with three or four Companies of the Regiment of Guards he walk'd not the Round into the most seditious Quarters of the City and if at any time he had notice of any extraordinary Assembly thither it was that he immediately repair'd with a stronger Party nor did he ever go to rest till he had first settled all things quiet and had carefully provided for his Masters safety So that it is not to be believ'd how many of the Enemies Conspiracies against the King's Person were countermin'd and frustrated by his vigilancy and diligence The sixteen seeing their Designs thus travers'd
Guienne and Languedoc the Friends he had in those two Provinces being enough to make his way through the one and the other should he be put upon a resolution of retiring thither The first propositions being accompanied with great and almost invincible difficulties the Duke wholly adher'd to the last advice and so far follow'd it as to retire to Angoulesme without joyning himself nevertheless though infinitely solicited so to do with the King of Navarre A thing impossible for him to resolve upon had he been so enclin'd for two Reasons First by reason of that Princes Religion and secondly because being a declared Enemy to the King his Master the Duke would rather have perish'd a thousand times than appear to favour much less to engage with such as he knew acted positively against his Majesties Service One of the Duke 's old Servants De Guez by name a man of fourscore and eight years old but notwithstanding so entire in his Judgment as discover'd nothing of the infirmities of Age gave me not long since a full Relation of all these Circumstances He was at this time about the Duke's Person and as one of his principal and most trusty Servants present at this Deliberation when the Duke asking his particular Opinion of all had been propounded to him De Guez told him that he believ'd the resolution he had already taken to be without all dispute the best provided it were put iâ—to speedy execution but that it was to be fear'd that whilst he stood deliberating with his Friends what was best to be done his Enemies who were very powerful and already resolv'd what to do might effect something to the prejudice of his Fortune and that the least moments were to be husbanded in a business of so great consequence as this An advice that being soon consider'd of by the Duke he immediately commanded that every one should make himself ready to depart within two days neither did he longer defer it but accordingly put himself upon his way to Angoulesme and that very seasonably as by the following discourse will suddenly appear But before the Duke left Loches he was presented with a discourse by way of Apology in the behalf of himself and his Brother against the Calumnies contain'd in the forementioned Manifest of the League a piece so eloquently couch'd and set forth with so many powerful and so pertinent Arguments that it is certain the Leaguers could afterwards have wish'd they had never assaulted the Duke by the way of writing that so they might not have drawn upon themselves so tart a Reply I forbear to transcribe it in this place because it would swell this Volume with things that are elsewhere and in better language than I should perhaps express it to be found But Mounsieur de Thou one of the most celebrated Historians of these latter times thought it a Discourse worth inserting at length in his History and having translated it out of the Original into his own elegant Latine has commended it to all the Nations of Europe where his works are read with an universal applause And although the Duke never thought of justifying his actions that way and that he had so little a share in this answer as neither then nor ever since to know his name who undertook his Quarrel and Interest with so friendly a Zeal a thing somewhat hard to believe that a man who would oblige the Duke at so kind a rate should deprive himself of the thanks justly due to so great an obligation he nevertheless took it upon him and publish'd it in his own name that all the world might be satisfied both with his and his Brothers Innocency and certainly it wrought upon all disinterested spirits impressions very disadvantageous to the covert practices of the League Having caus'd this Declaration to be publish'd he departed towards Angoulesme where he safely arriv'd in Iuly and where the several Orders of the City contented with great emulation which should give the greatest testimony of joy for his Arrival Being thither come the Duke would needs take up his Lodging in the Castle which although it was only a rude pile of stone and naked of all defense though by him afterwards fortified and made more conâ—iderable and though there was in the same City a Cittadel much stronger and more commodious commanded by the Sieur de Bordes a particular creature of the Dukes yet to shew the Inhabitants how entire a Confidence he repos'd in them he would rather choose to lie in the other and that with so much civility to the Town as that he permitted not one of the Souldiers he brought along with him so much as to come within the Walls of the City Two days after his Arrival the Sieurs Nesmond Chief Justice and Normond Consul of the City receiv'd dispatches from the King Sign'd by Mounâ—ieur Villeroy wherein his Majesty positively commanded them not to admit any whomsoexer with any Forces into their City without his express Order whatever they might pretend or what Commissions soever they should produce to the contrary And indeed his Majesty had been so importun'd to exclude the Duke from this important place being withal made to believe that he had only left Loches in order to a closing with the King of Navarre that being unwilling to have that Faction strengthened by so powerful and so active a Confederate he had consented to this dispatch but the Duke's diligence having prevented this command so frustrated the execution of it that whereas it had before had these orders come in time been a very easie matter to have kept him out it was now impossible to obey the Kings desire he being got in or to thrust him out again who had already made himself Master of the place The Consul notwithstanding communicated the Orders he had receiv'd to some of his Relations and most intimate Friends where the greater part of those he consulted about this business being enclin'd to the League and it is hardly to be imagin'd how strangely that contagion had diffus'd it self throughout the whole Kingdom no Family almost being without one or more of their Party no City without some notorious Ring-leader of their Faction nor no Province wherein their Interest was not grown to a formidable height it was soon resolv'd upon that since the Kings pleasure could not now be fulfill'd in the precise Form his Letters prescrib'd to propose to his Majesty other ways by which as they conceiv'd they might work as considerable if not a more advantageous effect for his service than they could have done by that it was now too late for them to perform The Consul therefore dispatch'd away to Court one Souchâ—t his Brother-in-Law a notable Leaguer and a bold Factious Fellow to acquaint the King with his Design which was to seize upon the Duke's person and to detain him Prisoner in the City till his Majesties further Order who accordingly arriving at Court and
repair'd to Tagent who to the Duke 's great astonishment had all this while stood an idle Spectator without once endeavouring to enter the Town to his succour 'T is true he sign'd the Capitulation which was all the share he had in this business But the Articles were no sooner Sign'd than they immediately fell to breaking down the Barricadoes the people retir'd every one to their own Houses and the Dutchess of Espernon was conducted to the Castle by the aforesaid Abbot Where being come after she had given the Duke her Husband some tender and affectionate testimonies of joy for his deliverance the first thing she did in return of the barbarous usage she had receiv'd was to mediate their Pardons by whom she had been so ill us'd with the Duke who though he had meditated a severe Revenge upon them who had committed so great an outrage against him was notwithstanding content to surrender his Animosities to the generous intercession of this Vertuous Lady He moreover set those he had taken Prisoners with the Consul at Liberty consented that Meré with the other Gentlemen of his Party should retire to their own Houses giving them a Convoy of Light Horse for their defense and by a notable effect of Generosity and good Nature having restor'd the dead Bodies of the Consul and his Brother to their Relations and Friends he permitted them to be buried with publick Obsequies Lastly he so franckly pardon'd all the rest of the Citizens that not any one of them who would afterwards live in Peace could ever perceive in him the least memory of any former unkindness but on the contrary receiv'd from him all the good Offices and gentle Usage they could expect from a man they had never offended by which exceeding Clemency and by the protection both the City and Country receiv'd from him for the space of fifty years which he afterwards held that Government he so won the hearts of that people that there was not one of them who would not chearfully have ventur'd Life and Fortune for his Service and who have not to this hour his memory in great Veneration as the Father Protector and Restorer of their Country The King of Navarre who was ever so intent upon his own Affairs as to let no occasion slip that he conceiv'd might any way serve to advance them foreseeing that after the Assembly which was to be holden at Blois he should certainly have all the Forces both of the King and the League bent joyntly against him had not fail'd to send to the Duke upon his retirement from Court a time very proper to have taken his Resentments in the heat had he been a Male-content with offers of as high and honourable conditions as he himself could possibly have propos'd if he would joyn with him To which the Duke equally firm in his Religion and Loyalty made answer that he did beseech his Majesty to reflect upon the infinite obligations he had to the King his Master and then he did assure himself that his own generosity would for ever condemn him of ingratitude should he abandon his Service for any persecution his Enemies could practice against him After which and many humble and respective thanks for his gracious offer he gave him plainly and freely to understand that he would rather perish than to live oblig'd to any other for his protection than to him who was the sole Author of his Fortune But this Prince not checking at this first refusal would yet try if in the business of Angoulesme by his own Actions and Presence he could not work more effectually upon the Duke than by the mediation of Agents he had hitherto done and to that purpose being advertis'd of this enterprize though at a time when he was upon the point to fall upon the City and Castle of Clisson in the lower Poictou very considerable places and which in all apparence he was likely to carry he nevertheless gave over the Design to come to the Duke's Relief A deliberation that some have believ'd was not so much intended to rescue the Duke from the danger he was in as to make use of that occasion in the Confusion the City then was to seize upon it to his own use and to reduce so considerable a place into the hands of his own Party But whatever his Design was he met intelligence by the way that the Duke had already disingag'd himself from his Enemies and was settled in a posture of safety by which though he found he should come too late to do the Duke any Service unwilling nevertheless to lose the thanks of his good intention he sent to congratulate with him for his happy Deliverance which he said was so much the more glorious to him as it was wrought out of himself and effected by his own Valour and Constancy advising him withal to consider how many of the like attempts he was to expect from his Enemies malice withal once more offering to joyn his Interests with his and to run the same Fortune with him in all hazards But the Duke answering still with the same civility and respect he had done before without suffering himself to be tempted from the duty he ow'd to the King his Master continued constant in his Resolution never to take part with any who were his open and declared Enemies In this place methinks the Duke of Espernon is chiefly to be consider'd to make thence a right judgment of the greatness and constancy of his mind He had scarce been seven years a Favourite when he saw the prodigious Engine of the League ready to fall upon him a body so formidable and so great as having already constrain'd the King himself to bow before it made all those of the Reformed Religion to tremble at its motion no Authority was able to stop it no Power to resist it yet could it never startle this young Dukes constancy But on the contrary though he saw himself forsaken by the King and expos'd to the malice of his Enemies though he saw the people in his own Governments rais'd in mutiny against him and all things as it were conspiring together to his Ruine yet could he not even in these extremities ever submit to the King of Navarre's Protection though offer'd and so handsomely offered to him but though alone in his own Quarrel at least without other assistance than of his Friends and Servants he had yet the courage to defend his own Interests and the Service of his Prince even against his Prince himself who was now become General of his own Enemies Yet had he ever so excellent a Government over himself as to do nothing contrary to his Conscience or his Duty So that not being to be mov'd either by the Menaces of the League or by the Hopes he might reasonably conceive from the assistance of those of the Reform'd Religion he subdu'd those two Passions that exercise the most absolute Empire over the minds of men
qualities in high esteem after his death And indeed he had so often and so generously employ'd those rare Endowments for the safety and honour of the Kingdom that his Vertue could never have been too highly commended could he have added the qualities of a good Subject to those other excellencies which rendred him one of the greatest men of his time A little before the Duke of Guise's death the King had dismist from Court the High Chancellor Chiverny and the â—ieures de Believre and de Villeroy Secretaries of State upon considerations that were then variously interpreted though the King would have the Duke of Espernon believe that the chief cause of Mounsieur de Villeroy's disgrace was the business of Angoulesme which his Majesty wholly laid to his charge and that the Duke might the better be confirm'd in this opinion the Sieur de Révol a particular creature of the Dukes one that was under him Comptroller of the Exchequer of Provence and that had no interest at Court saving his Protection was receiv'd into his Place His Majesty had no sooner absolutely determin'd the Duke of Guise's Ruine than that foreseeing the consequences so bloody an execution was likely to draw after it he dispatch'd away Colonel Alphonso Corso afterwards Mareschal d'Ornano to seize upon the Duke of Mayenâ—e at Lyons where he then resided which if it could have been in time effected his Majesty had in all apparence been secur'd from the greatest part of those mischiefs which this action afterwards produc'd but the Duke having receiv'd the news of his Brothers Deaths some hours before Alphonso's arrival was already in great diligence got to Horse and fled out at one Gate of the City as Ornano entred at another to surprize him and by that means first recovered Dijon and afterwards Paris without any impediment Where he was no sooner arriv'd than that laying aside that moderation he had euer manifested during his Brother's Life he declar'd himself Head of that Party he had ever till then to his great Reputation seem'd to condemn and drawing together all the Forces of the League that lay scatter'd up and down in several places he of them without stirring from Paris made a very considerable Army His Majesty easily judg'd that this storm would suddenly break upon him and fail'd not out of that foresight to call all his principal Servants about him which nevertheless made up but an inconsiderable Body and such as could no ways secure him from any attempt of the Enemy So that he was advis'd to send once more to the King of Navarre to intreat him to advance with his Troops to his succour which notwithstanding the King not being able to perswade himself to do his regard to Religion and the 〈◊〉 he bore to the Pope opposing that Council he only at that time sent Orders to the Duke of Espernon who had then a considerable Force on Foot to come over to him though afterwards and after many deliberations being also dispos'd to call in the King of Navarâ—e he sent to the Duke that before he put himself upon his march he should first go to this Prince to make the first overtures of this business to him The Sieur de Beaujeu was purposely dispatch'd to the Duke with these Orders which were no sooner receiv'd by him than he departed from Angoulesme to go to St Iean d' Angely where the King of Navarre then was and where having found him well dispos'd and very ready to do his Majesty the Service he desired of his Person and Faction he immediately made himself ready to go to the King who seeing his Enemies now ready to fall upon him had sent a new and instant Express to the Duke in all haste to come and joyn with him which express Order to satisfie with the greatest diligence he rather chose to leave the Negotiation he had already so successfully begun with the King of Navarre to the Dutchess of Angoulesme who soon after brought it to effect than one moment to defer his attendance on his Master in so critical a time and on so urgent an occasion All these great transactions hapned at Court after the Duke of Espernon had retir'd himself from thence into his Governments Neither was he in his retirement or in his choice of the place he retir'd unto either unactive in himself or in a Scene improper for his Majesties Service for he was no sooner disingag'd from the enterprize of Angoulesme but that he put himself immediately into a condition to awe many of his ill Neighbours in the adjoyning Provinces so as either to continue them in or to make them return unto their duty For which purpose having increas'd his Forces the first occasion he had to employ them was against those of the Religion who having beâ—ieg'd Periguex and upon the point to make themselves Masters of the place at the Duke's approach rais'd the Siege in great disorder and retir'd not without some considerable loss The Duke was after this preparing himself for greater enterprizes when Beaujeu brought him those foremention'd Orders from the King by whom having understood the great preparations the Duke of Mayenne made to come first to Blois and from thence to Touâ—s whither the King had then retir'd himself and knowing his Majesty almost naked of all defense and as it were expos'd to the violence of his Enemies he thought it necessary upon the instant to move with all his Forces that way and at the same time by a Gentleman to give his Majesty notice of his motion that he might receive his Majesties Commands upon the way By which Gentleman the King sent him presently word that the most important service he could then do him was to put himself into Blois For the Duke of Mayenne having resolv'd to make his first attempt upon that place either by the ruine of the Castle to revenge in part the death of his two Brothers who there last their lives or to make that City which by its vicinity to Tours was very proper to watch all advantages against the King his seat of War his Majesty conceiv'd there would be little security for him in Tours should his Enemy possess himself of that Post and had therefore bent all his care and endeavour to preserve it out of the power of the League His Majesty would have put the Mareschal de Biron into that place and afterwards he having excus'd himself the Mareschal d' Aumont but both the one and the other having refus'd the danger of defending and with unequal Forces a place that being in it self open on all sides was not well to be defended and that was to expect the first fury of the League to be bent against it his Majesty turn'd his thoughts towards the Duke of Espernon and knowing that the difficulty of the undertaking would be no little motive to make the Duke embrace it his Majesty sent him word that the Mareschals de Biron and d'
the Duke The King of Navarre says he being gone to visit the Duke of Espernon's Trenches the Duke shewing him-what he had done leads him through the middle of the space betwixt the Trenches and the Town in his Doublet only and that so unconcern'd and so open to the Enemies view that Houeilles the Duke's Cousin and Camp-Master as also another of his people fell dead at their feet when having gain'd a Guard commanded by Belangreuille they came out on the back side of that and pass'd within forty paces of the Courtine which play'd upon them all the while and laid two men more dead upon the place The King of Navarre and the Duke having at last gain'd the blind of a Garden Door Frontenack and another which other must be D' Aubigné himself who was Gentleman of the Horse to the King of Navarre earnestly solicited the Duke to retire which he was about to do by a way perhaps likely to engage them in more danger than before when the King of Navarre staid him by the Collar of his Doublet This is that he says but he adds after a thing wherein he is not so good a testimony as of the first and which is not so true viz. that the King being enform'd of this Action spoke highly against the Duke and in terms that nothing tasted of Favour and that so soon as he saw him he severely reprehended him and reproach'd him that he would have destroy'd his Brother 'T is true that his Majesty chid the Duke for his rashness telling him That he ought to reserve his Valour for better occasions and not so lightly to expose the Person of the King of Navarre his Brother and his own which were rather words of tenderness than distaste and it is likewise very true that the King of Navarre's Servants murmur'd highly at it endeavouring to possess the King that the Duke had not engag'd him in this danger without Design nay himself manifested something at his coming out of the Trenches for it was told the Duke that he should say to some of his people I think this man would be content to lose an Arm to have my Brains beaten out which was never the Duke's intention he being only spurr'd on by the inconsiderate heat of Youth and Bravery without any other Design From Gergeau the Army advanc'd towyrds Piviers which immediately open'd its Gates as also the City of Chartres surrendred at the first summon but Estampes stood out a Siege which being foon after taken by Assault some of the King of Navarre's Souldiers ran on in their prevailing Fury even to the Church of that Town there committing all sorts of insolence which the Duke being advertis'd of by the Guards he had plac'd at the Dooâ—s of this Church wisely foreseeing that the King of Navarre's people who for the greater part were men of the Reform'd Religion would not abstain from violation even of Holy things he ran thither himself to prevent further disorder where being come and seeing the Chalices and other Sacred Ornaments of the Altars in the hands of the rude Souldier not being able to endure that things dedicated to so Sacred Use should be profan'd after that manner he furiously drew his Sword and ran the first Offender in his way quite through the Body which by chance hapning to be one of the Dragoons of the King of Navarre's own Guard and in his own Livery the Complaint was immediately carried to him and by him as soon to the King of which the Duke having also notice he presently repair'd to his Majesties Quarter to make his defense There being come and his Majesty having demanded of him the reason for what he had done he gave him a particular accompt of the whole business Whereupon the King of Navarre told him with some bitterness That he had no Authority over his Souldiers and less over his Domesticks to which the Duke made answer with a respective but a manly boldness That the trust wherewith the King was pleas'd to honour him and the command he had given him in the Army invested him with sufficient Authority to chastise Impious and Sacrilegious Persons and that moreover every good man ought to assume that Authority in Offenses of so high a Nature Their Dispute was like to grow into hotter terms when the King impos'd silence both upon the one and the other not condemning the Duke's action nevertheless but desiring the King of Navarre to take care for the future that there might be no more offenses committed of that kind Thus by little and little secret discontents against the Duke crept into the King of Navarre's bosom which many envious of the Duke's greatness endeavour'd to augment neither was the Duke blind on that side nor was it without some affliction that he saw himself so ill requited for the sincere and uninteressed affection he had ever manifested for this Princes Service in his greatest adversity but having found by sufficient experience that the best Offices are not always the best recorded he contented himself with the conscience of his own integrity and ever paying the respect due to the Birth and Vertues of this excellent Prince in all other concerns of his command he exercis'd his Duty to the utmost height of Authority he had ever done The Army advancing daily towards Paris the Duke had order to make an attempt upon Montereau faut-Yonne which he carried by Petard neither was it a service of light importance for in the sequel of Affairs that which the Duke won in a few hours cost the King's Enemies many months and many good men to recover it From thence the Army being come to Pontoise the Duke had there the storming of a Suburb which was very well fortified committed to him and which notwithstanding he carried though with as much hazard as ever he tempted in any action of his life He was himself the first that leap'd upon the Rampire and though in this assault he had above a hundred men laid dead at his feet amongst which were many Persons of Quality and Command he nevertheless resolutely persisted in the Enterprize and forc'd the Enemy at the Swords point even to the Gates of the City whither he compell'd theâ— to retire and where having block'd them up he press'd on the Siege with that vigour and conduct that the place soon after surrendred upon composition Thus did the King find all things give place to his Arms as if Destiny had smooth'd and levell'd for him all the paths that lead to Death and Ruine and in this prosperity of his Affairs his Majesty resolv'd upon the Siege of Paris Already were the Swisse and new rais'd Reiters come up and joyn'd with the Body of the Army the Officers were dispos'd into their several Quarters and the King had taken up his own at St Clou and given the Guard of them to the Duke in order to a formal Siege His Majesties Lodging in this narrow Quarter
Messages of Treaty sent to and fro on either part it at last ended in this that many of the Catholick Lords submitting to his Majesties first Proposition what he had then promis'd by word of mouth was now only more formally drawn into a writing interchangeably deliver'd betwixt the King and his Catholick Subjects and Sign'd by the greatest part of Men of Quality that were then in the Army But the Duke of Espernon believing this delay of six months propos'd by the King to be no delay intended only to win longer time and that at last their hopes and expectations would be deluded demanded some further assurance than he yet saw of his Majesties conversion neither could he notwithstanding the importunities of all the Friends he had be drawn upon other terms to seal to that Writing And this was the true and only reason of his refusal and not what both Mounsieur de Thou and D'Avila have reported of it They say that the thing which made him refuse to seal to that Instrument was a contest which hapned betwixt him and the Mareschals de Biron and d' Aumont who should sign first these as Mareschals of France and in immediate command in the Army pretending a priority and he claiming a precedence as Duke and Peer a difficulty that might easily have been overcome had that been all But the cause proceeded from a principle of greater moment than the trivial contest of a â—light Ceremony The King however caus'd him by several hands to be over and over again solicited and importun'd to satisfie himself as other good Catholicks had done and as the Dukes were the best and the fullest Regiments of the Army and as his person and his example which were likely to be follow'd as they afterwards were not only by those under his own command but by many others of good quality in the Army altogether render'd him very considerable So did his Majesty by all sorts of perswasions and promises endeavour to detain him but all to no purpose 'T is true he acknowledg'd the King for lawful Successour to the Crown as he had sufficiently declar'd in a time when the greatest persecutions were practis'd against him and when he was only King of Navarre by which he had in part drawn the hatred of the Duke of Guise upon him And it is also true that he had all the reason in the world to desire that Prince should now become his Master whom he had all his life labour'd to raise to that Dignity to which he was now arriv'd But he thought the Ruine of the Catholick Religion inevitable should things continue in the posture they were now in which made him rather choose to expose himself to all those disgraces he knew his Enemies were preparing for him than to serve his own interests whose advancement he likewise saw infallible in so favourable a juncture to the reproach and prejudice of his own Conscience Fortified therefore still more and more in this resolution he caus'd his Troops to be made ready for his departure these at his first coming to the King consisted of six thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse which though they were now much diminish'd in the Service yet were they notwithstanding in such a condition as that there were hardly so many more French in the whole Army as he had under his sole command The Marquis de Rocquelaure and other of his intimate friends labour'd by all imaginable means to disswade him from his ill taken up resolution but not being able to prevail his Enemies would have perswaded the King to have met his obstinacy with a Stab a Counsel the Duke was as soon enform'd of But whether it was that he thought this generous Prince not to be perswaded into so foul an action or that he thought it at that time a thing not easie to be executed he had the assurance notwithstanding the caution had been given him to go take his leave of the King before he left the Army and to excuse his departure A Ceremony that was pass'd over in few words and I have often heard him repeat the manner of it to be thus The Duke took along with him thirty Gentlemen of his Train in whom he repos'd the greatest confidence and of these he left some at the Doors of the King's Lodgings and others upon the Stairs to facilitate his retirement if any foul play should be offer'd to him and himself with only two more in his company enter'd the Gallery The last Journey he made to Paris he hapned to lie in the same house and shew'd ús the place where he took his leave of the King This house did at that time belong to Mademoiselle du Tillet his old and intimate Friend a Lady illustrious for her courage and constancy and passionate for the Duke's Interests to that degree that he has had few friends who have justified their affection by so great and so continued a fidelity The King was at the one end of the Gallery when the Duke appear'd entring at the other whom the King no sooner perceiv'd but that coming up to him with an angry countenance and striking his stick with some vehemence upon the floor he said What Mounsieur d' Espernon it seems you have refus'd to Sign the Writing which has been Sign'd without difficulty by most persons of Quality in my Army as good Catholicks as your self do not you as well as they acknowledge me for your King To which the Duke made answer That he was his Majesties most humble Subject and Servant That there was not a person in his Kingdom who had more ardently desir'd to see him in the place where he now was should the King his Master die than himself had done That he would never do anything contrary to his Service that he had rather die than once to entertain so dishonest a thought but that he did humbly beseech his Majesty to excuse him if being of a Religion differing from that his Majesty profess'd he could not attend his person that being a thing he could not do without offering the greatest violence to his own Conscience The Duke had scarce made an end of speaking when he heard a noise of armed men behind him in the Gallery and then it was that he certainly believ'd these were the men appointed to kill him as he had been pre-advis'd but he was soon deliver'd out of that fear when he saw the King move forward with a smiling countenance to embrace them These were two Captains of the King 's Light Horse the one call'd le Baron de Sainte Marie du Mont a Norman the others name I have forgot who having upon their Guard which was at a good distance receiv'd intelligence of the Death of Henry III. were come in all haste to congratulate the King with his new Advancement and lighted at the Door of his Lodging were come up in the same posture the news had surpriz'd them in upon
their Guard to present their Duty The Duke taking this occasion to â—etire withdrew himself forthwith to his own Quarter but before he would absolutely depart he would first attend the Corps of the King his Master and Benefactor as far as Compeigne whither they were carried with very little Ceremony the disorders of the time not permitting greater and where having paid his last duty he return'd to overtake his Troops which were now marching upon the Road of Loches towards Angoumois The example of the Duke's departure was followed by many others so that in a few days the Army was grown so thin that the King had scarce any save strangers left in his Camp and even they in the end for want of pay disbanded as well as the rest and then it was that the Duke's Enemies with a redoubled malice spoke loudest in his disgrace and did all they possibly could to animate his Majesty in the highest degree against him There had already pass'd as you have heard some secret discontents betwixt the King and the Duke during the life of the late King amongst which the business of Gergeau and that of Estampes had made no little noise but to these many have added and likewise some endeavour'd to possess the King that the Duke ever impatient of a Rival in his Master's Favour and less able to endure his Majesty who was so much above him had in that time done all the ill offices he could invent to beget a mis-understanding betwixt the King and him such as might cause a separation and certainly so effectually had they labour'd with him as to make him believe too much by which they had so incens'd his Majesties mind against him that doubtless he would have bent his whole endeavour to the Duke's Ruine upon the late refusal he had made of his assistance had not the necessity of his own Affairs diverted his designs another way but all these evil dispositions though they still threatned worse consequences could not hinder the Duke from persevering in his resolution to retire As his departure was of infinite importance whether we consider it as to the Fortune of the King and Interest of the State or as to the Duke 's own particular concern and that there are few Historians of that or later times who have not taken occasion to blame the Dukes proceeding herein I think it fit to say something here in his vindication and to discover the reasons upon which he built that resolution which having receiv'd from his own mouth in the same terms that I shall faithfully deliver here every one may afterwards 〈◊〉 what judgment of the Action he shall in his own discretion think most fit He told me that a little before his departure many of his intimate friends had endeavour'd to disswade him from his Design by presenting before him the present juncture of Affairs so favourable as they said to the support of his immediate condition so generally envy'd by all that he could not himself have wish'd a more advantageous conjuncture That as it was principally by his means and assistance the King could build any probable hopes of effecting what he desir'd so were there present no advanâ—ages besides an indempnity and oblivion of all pass'd unkindnesses a thing in it self highly to be consider'd to which he might not reasonably pretend That he might now establish his own greatness in so sure a condition that it would be no hard matter to maintain himself for the future in the same height should the Kings humour chance to come about That all men plainly saw how much upon his departure or stay depended the standing or dissolution of the Royal Army That upon his concurrence with his Majesty depended that of the greatest part of the Catholicks and the Ruine of the League wherein were his most capital Enemies That by his assistance men might yet promise to themselves the reducing of Paris and in that the peace and settlement of the whole Kingdom That having in his hands the disposition of things of so great utility to the publick and so great honour to himself he neither ought to envy his Country those advantages not to deprive himself of the glory of so admirable a success These were considerations that in their own weight and laid home to him by men he knew to be his Friends were not unlikely to prevail and to have overcome his obâ—â—inacy as doubtless they had done had the Duke look'd no further than his own Interest and so he told his Friends who had so freely argu'd with him He told them that he was not so little acquainted with the business of the world that he did not well enough discern all those advantages they had propos'd as relating to himself That he did very well believe his Majesty assisted by his Catholick Subjects might reduce his Enemies to the point he desir'd but that from thence would infallibly ensue the subversion of the Catholick Religion which would likewise bring on the ruine of the State That instead of the Peace they propos'd to themselves after the League were reduc'd to their obedience they would see themselves engag'd in a more violent and obstinate War than before That those of the Reform'd Religion being grown more strong and having a lawful mighty and active King to head them would doubtless establish their own Religion in France and constrain the Catholicks to submit to whatever Law they would impose upon them That it was far better betimes to refuse to countenance the evil which lay concealâ—d under the apparence of a present good than to engage himself in mischiefs of so inevitable consequence and to forbear a while the fruits of a specious and alluring Peace to enjoy it at better leisure more permanent and secure That the King what promises soever he had made and what real dispositions soever he might have to cause himself to be satisfied within six months had nevertheless been prompted by those of his own perswasion to demand that respite for no other end than to keep the Catholick Forces about him that he might make himself Master of Paris That having done that which must necessarily put an end to the War and being wholly possest by creatures passionate for their ill receiv'd and new opinions he would certainly be continued in his Error by their restless practice That there was a necessity of a prompt and sincere Conversion not such an one as was to be hop'd for no man knew when and that then perhaps would be luke-warm and unsound That whensoever that should come to pass they should see him stake his Fortune his Friends and his Life for a Prince whom he did ever acknowledge undoubted Successour to the Crown That in the mean time he made no doubt but his Enemies as they use to do would lay all the disorders that should happen at his door and hourly incense the King against him with all the malice and artifice they could invent but that
excellent Lady in the six and twentieth Year of her Age after having manifested an indifferency for life becoming her masculine Courage and Resignation unto Death worthy her great Piety and Vertue The Sieur du-Masses Lieutenant for the King under the Duke in that Government dispatch'd a Courier to the Duke to acquaint him with his loss as also with the Dutchess her dying request unto him who after having given publick testimonies of his affliction than which nothing could be greater he vow'd to observe what she expected from his fidelity to the last hour of his Life A promise that he as faithfully observ'd though in the space of fifty years that he surviv'd this excellent Lady he was offer'd many and great advantageous matches which he still refus'd ever professing that the respect he bore to his dead Ladies last request did and should with-hold him from embracing a new Wife and fâ—om embarquing in a new Fortune Fortune had hitherto so favour'd the Duke in almost all his Enterprizes that his Affairs had been carried on with great prosperity and success and the Provisions he had drawn from the Province or bought with his own mony had kept his Army in so good Discipline and Obedience that the Provencials had tasted very little of the incommodities of War Yet wanted there not some unquiet Spirits who enemies to the peoples peace as envious of the Duke 's good Fortune endeavour'd by all imaginable ways to debauch from him the respect and good will he had by his noble carriage acquir'd from the greater part of the Country and from the better sort of men perswading them that his severe and hasty humour proceeded from a purpose he had to usurp an absolute Authority over them and rendring his best intentions so suspected to the people as made them at last refuse to pay their accustomed Taxes It was by so much the easier to corrupt these undiscerning spirits by how much a certain emulation has ever been observ'd to be betwixt the Provencials and Gascons as seems to have been hereditary if not natural to those two people So that the Provencials not being able to endure the dominion of those with whom they had ever disputed the prize of Glory and Valour were easily tempted to shake off the yoke that either was or was pretended to be impos'd upon them After therefore as has been said they had denied the Duke those Contributions which until then they had willingly paid most of the Souldiers of the Country who were in his Army retir'd themselves and some of the chief Nobility pretended to favour at Court by accusing him of inordinate Ambition though all his endeavour to make himself considerable in Provence was only in order to his Majesties Service The Duke seeing things in this ill condition would by force have reduc'd them to their former posture but this remedy which was by no means proper for the constitution of that people ripping up the memory of the severe punishments he had in such cases inflicted upon several men in divers places serv'd only to make them desperate in their disobedience and to incenâ—e them to the last degree Thus did all those who had manifested an animosity against the Duke begin to apprehend falling into his power amongst which the Leaguers were in the greatest fear who as their obstinate Rebellion had made their fault much greater than theirs who like Souldiers had defended Montauron so did they fear a worse punishment if worse could be than had been inflicted upon them They saw their City of Aix reduc'd to the last extremity neither would those within stay till they could come to their Relief The Count de Carces a particular Enemy to the Duke besides the hatred that diversity of interest does usually beget above all things dreaded to fall into his hands so that Friends and Enemies those who pretended to be Royallists and Leaguers conspiring together to hinder the Duke's further advancement he saw almost in a moment all Provence in Mutiny and Insurrection The King had already publickly embrac'd the Catholick Religion of which he had made open profession at St. Dennis the five and twentieth day of Iuly this same year whose Conversion having taken away all manner of pretense from such as had declar'd they forsook his Majesties Service upon no other accompt than the Interest of Religion the Inhabitants of Aix conceiv'd they could now no longer continue in their Rebellion without manifesting to all the world that they were sway'd by other considerations than those they had already declar'd to which the Count de Carces making use of this time and occasion adding his perswasions one while representing to them their Duty to their Prince and another the severity they were to expect from the Duke of Espernon animated as he must of necessity be by the hatred they had in this Siege express'd against his Person he at last prevail'd with them to send away speedily to the King to assure his Majesty of their Fidelity and Obedience This was the first thing that discover'd a disunion in the League of which though the Duke of Mayenne highly complain'd to the Count de Carces reproaching him with weakness and charging him with all the miscarriages that should after happen to their Faction yet was he deaf to his reproaches and the fear of falling into the Duke's hands as he was upon the point to do the City of Aix not being able longer to hold out being more prevalent upon him than the respect of his Alliance he resolutely persisted in his first Design But the Count de Carces was not satisfied with hindering the Duke from making himself Master of the City of Aix only the hatred he implacably bore him proceeding yet further and to contrivances of more dangerous consequence against him There was none who did not believe the King had a jealousie of the Duke's Designs amongst whom the Count de Carces who understood it better than the rest easily perswaded himself that his Majesty would not suffer the Duke to encrease his Reputation and Power in Provence by the taking of Aix one of the most important places of that Province And he further knew the Duke would as hardly consent to have his Conquest so near effected forestall'd and the prey snatch'd out of his hands So that in this diversity of pretensions he doubted not but that the King's aversion to the Duke as also his mistrust of him would be infinitely encreas'd which in the end succeeded as he had foreseen and projected The Estates of the Country assembled at Aix appointed Deputies to go make a tender to the King of the obedience of their City provided his Majesty would please to protect them against the Duke of Espernon whose power they said was grown formidable and his insolence not to be endur'd 'T is true he had acted vigorously against them but they would not say That had he proceeded with greater moderation they would ever
made he prepar'd the Army for a general assault The assault was accordingly given in the beginning of which Bedossan being slain Campagnol took upon him his Authority and Command giving the Enemy after two hours sharp fight a brave and notable repulse which notwithstanding the breach was so wide as was impossible long to be defended by so few men as he had left which made the Enemy by frequent Messages often put him in mind of what he himself knew as well as they by representing to him the desperate condition the place was in and his own inevitable ruine should be longer persist in his defense offering him at the same time conditions of Honour and Advantage if he would deliver up the Town but all to no purpose he had not put himself into that place with so much hazard of his life to depart thence in so great security the assault therefore was again renew'd and the Enemy again beaten back but coming up the third time with greater fury than ever before and bringing up still fresh Companies to succeed those who were beaten off Campagnol's men were in fine overcome by numbers and constrain'd to retire a thing their Captain scorn'd to do who though alone and abandon'd by all still fought with the same courage and vigour when his resistance how brave soever being too weak to stop the torrent of a victorious crowd he was at last rather overwhelm'd than overcome and by a multitude taken prisoner with this resemblance nevertheless betwixt his honour and disgrace that as he had appear'd single in the defense of the Town so was he also alone in his imprisonment the Enemy killing all that fled before them without humanity or respect of persons excepting of his who had so undauntedly stood alone in his defense wherein his Vertue was his refuge D' Avila attributes this Action to the Sieur de Matelet whom he qualifies Governour of Foix although Cardinal Bentivoglio in his description of this Siege Mounsieur de Thou and D' Aubigné make no mention of any such man Yet it is true that Matelet had so great a share in the business as ought not to be pass'd over without its due report of honour for the King having commanded him with an hundred Gentlemen of his Court to cut his way through the Enemies Army during the heat of the Assault and to put himself into the Town it was no fault of his that his Majesty fail'd of his desire he did what was by valour to be done though he was not so fortunate as to perform his Majesties command neither was the Enemies Army so thin but that they had men enough to maintain the Assault and at the same time to intercept such petty succours as those so that those hundred Gentlemen were almost all cut to pieces with very little resistance a panick fear having made them blind to their own safety and honour excepting Matelet who bravely fighting as fortunately escap'd Thus was Calice lost the King himself in a manner looking on after which Guines and Ham were carried without resistance successes with which Rhosne being yet unsatisfied he had moreover the confidence to undertake the Siege of Ardres which the same day that la Fere was surrendred to the King surrendred also to him as if he had been in fee with Fortune and that she had been oblig'd to give him all the respite was necessary for the execution of his Designs for in effect the same day that concluded the Cardinals Conquests had in all probability determin'd of his honour and put a ruinous period to all his Affairs had his successes gone on with never so little a slower pace The King in the whole course of his life was never perhaps more astonish'd and afflicted than at these disgraces and his great spirit was prone enough to prompt him on to an immediate revenge by obstinately settling himself to the recovery of the Places he had lately lost since the Cardinal 's sudden retreat had put him out of all possibility of fighting but his prudence laying before him the difficulty of the enterprize he rather chose to give his Army some refreshment which had been tir'd out with the tedious Siege of la Fere than anew to expose them to other dangers and such as were like enough to be the ruine of them all Wherefore having distributed them into the most commodious quarters upon the Frontier to be in readiness against the next fair season he left the Mareschal de Biron to command them with order upon the first opportunity to enter into the Enemies Country and to make them feel his Majesties Arms whilst himself retir'd to Paris to consult with his Subjects about the means he was to pursue in the vindication of his own and the Nations honour for the Attempts the Enemy had made upon his Crown and Kingdom The King being come to Paris and either not expecting or not finding that readiness or ability he expected in his own people who having been harrass'd and impoverish'd with past mischiefs were now very unfit to supply him with mony proportionable to the greatness of his designs he saw he must of necessity have recourse to Strangers his ancient Consederates and Allies to which purpose he dispatch'd away Ambassadors to Elizabeth Queen of England to the States of Holland and to some Princes of Germany during which Negotiations the Pope who from the month of September 1595. had given the King Absolution in the persons of Messieurs du Perron and d' Ossat his Majesties Agents at Rome desiring now to see an effectual re-establishment of the Catholick Religion in France and a reformation of such abuses as were crept into the Church during the disorders of the Kingdom resolv'd upon sending a Legat at this time to appoint what was necessary to be done for his entire satisfaction Neither was this the only though the principal end of this dispatch this good and holy Pope having further a design to set on foot a Treaty of Accommodation betwixt the two Crowns conceiving he did not fully discharge the Duty of the Common Father of Christians if after having given repose to the King's Conscience he did not also procure a good and lasting Peace betwixt two the greatest Princes of the Holy Church To this good end Cardinal de Medicis the Pope's Legat fail'd not according to his Instructions so soon as he arriv'd in France to offer some propositions of Reconciliation betwixt the two Crowns which though well receiv'd by the King yet did they not hinder him from making his preparations for a smart and vindictive War he had as has been said renew'd his Alliances with his Confederates and had further call'd an Assembly of several the most intelligent persons of his Kingdom by their joynt advice to find out the most easie and indifferent ways of raising mony upon his people for the prosecution of the War which Assembly by reason of the Plague which was that year
he had receiv'd from the King conceiving this business what gloss soever might be put upon it would be interpreted to his disgrace and would pass in the opinions of men at honour for a Bravado and an affront to him in his Government could by no means perswade himself to digest it which made him very important with the King that his Majesty would please to absolve him from so injurious a condition a thing the King who had him in great esteem would as willingly have done But his Royal Word being already pass'd to the Duke whom he knew to be as obstinate as the other in things wherein his Honour was concern'd and not knowing how at once to satisfie two so different humours matters were in all apparence going into as ill terms as at first when an accident fell out that soon took the Duke off all thoughts of that Solemnity The Dutchess of Bar the King 's only Sister hapned to dye at this time which gave the King occasion to write to the Duke of Espernon that he assur'd himself all such good Subjects and Servants as he was would rather lament with him for the loss of so dear a Relation than to think of Mirth and publick Solemnities of Joy at so unseasonable a time a command so much the easier for the Duke to obey by how much he himself had particular reason to be really afflicted at the death of that excellent Lady So that by this accident the Mareschal d' Ornano saw himself disingag'd from one of the greatest extremities he had ever found himself involv'd in it having been otherwise necessary for him either absolutely to disobey the King which he could not have done without incurring his disgrace or patiently to submit to an affront he himself had declar'd to be the greatest he could possibly receive and that 't is said he was resolv'd to have avoided by laying down his Commission such as were most perfect in his passionate nature being confident had it come to the push he would certainly have ransom'd himself from that submission at the price of his Fortune The Duke continued some time after this in Guienne and from thence returned into Angoumois where he spent the remainder of the year without being call'd thence upon any publick occasion All things as has been said were quiet and the King seem'd to be wholly taken up with the care of husbanding and filling his Exchequer wherein though some believ'd him to be meerly carried on by a natural inclination to the love of mony yet his designs which a few years after disclos'd themselves gave the world an accompt that there was more of design than avarice in the exact care he took to moderate the excessive expense had by his predecessor been introduc'd into the Kingdom The Duke of Espernon nevertheless could have wish'd his Majesty had been more open handed to the Garrisons in his Government those of Angoulesme and Xaintes being so ill paid that they could hardly subsist which putting him into an apprehension that those places become now as it were Frontier Towns since those of the Reformed Religion had made a kind of separation in the State of which Rochelle seem'd to be the Metropolitan City might be lost in his hands he continually represented to the King the danger those Cities were in but without being regarded at all which made him in the beginning of the ensuing year resolve upon a Journey to Court to try if in person and by word of mouth he could not prevail more than by continual importunities in writing he had hitherto done where being arriv'd and presenting himself before the King his Majesty as'd him in what condition he had left his Governments to whom the Duke reply'd That they could not possibly be in a worse the necessity of the Souldiery in Garrison being so great that he durst not undertake for the security of those places committed to his charge To which the King having made answer That they were us'd as others were The Duke who very well knew the difference his Majesty made betwixt his Catholick Garrisons and the neighbouring places possess'd by those of the Reform'd Religion took the liberty to tell him that those who had so inform'd his Majesty had given him a very ill accompt of his Affairs the Garrisons of those of the Religion who perhaps were arm'd to the prejudice of his Service being nothing in Arrear whilst the Catholicks who were firm in their obedience were ready to perish for want of pay The King nettled at so tart a reply and angry that the Duke should give him so publick a reproach in the discovery of a truth he had a mind for many reasons should have been conceal'd suffer'd himself to be so far transported by his passion that he could not forbear to tell the Duke He was perverse and importunate That he sought all occasions to displease him That he would have done him a greater kindness to have kept still at the distance he was at than to come into his presence only to offend him and for the close of all that he had long observ'd he did not love him To which the Duke without being thunder-struck at the King's anger which might perhaps have surpriz'd another man less confident of his Fidelity than he insisting upon the last words answered coldly but after a serious manner Sir your Majesty has not a more faithful Subject than my self in your Kingdom and I had rather die than do any thing contrary to the least particle of my duty But Sir for what concerns friendship your Majesty knows very well that is a thing not to be acquir'd but by Friendship At so bold and generous an answer there was none who was not astonish'd at the Duke's freedom and that was not ready to condemn his rashness though the King himself who knew how to put a just value upon great actions and how to interpret language of this nature was of a more favourable opinion and gave no reply but on the contrary reflecting upon what the Duke had said converted his indignation into esteem and interpreting what others thought temerity for an effect of honest liberty proceeding from a good conscience resolv'd to make himself belov'd by the way the Duke had laid him down and from that time forward began to use him much better than he had ever done Neither was the Duke wanting on his part but perceiving his Majesties good disposition towards him and adding the spur of affection to what he had formerly perform'd upon the meer accompt of duty he at last obtain'd so great a share in his Majesties favour and good opinion that before his death he receiv'd as many testimonies of his Royal good Will and Confidence as any other person of his condition whatsoever in the Kingdom This confidence began soon after to appear by the command the King was pleas'd to give the Duke over the Horse and Foot he sent into Limousin when tir'd
out with the continual disorders the excess of his clemency begat every day in his Kingdom he was resolv'd to take order once for all and by a severe and exemplary punishment to quiet the Rebellion some of Mounsieur de Boüillons Servants openly maintain'd after his departure out of the Kingdom in Perigord Quercy and Limousin The Mareschal de Boüillon was seiz'd of many very fair possessions and had many Friends and Servants in those Provinces where the Nobility Gentry and Commons being also naturally inclin'd to Arms it was no hard matter to perswade them into commotion The King had been given to understand that under the pretense of seeking protection only from the Protestant Princes of Germany and the Swisse Cantons the Mareschal endeavour'd to interest them in the Quarrel of those of the Religion in France by possessing them as it was said that since the King's Conversion their usage was far different from what it had formerly been and the liberty of Conscience far more restrain'd than it us'd to be Neither did his Majesty doubt but that all of his opinion in his Kingdom would easily be induc'd to follow the Duke of Boüillon's discontent who had acquir'd an absolute reputation among them He farther saw that many Catholicks made no scruple to joyn with him to the end they might re-enjoy the licence of War which would by no means be allow'd them in the better times of Peace He knew that great summes of mony were distributed for the raising of men which mony was suspected to come from Spain from whence all the intestine broils of his Kingdom had ever been countenanc'd and promoted Evil dispositions that being all joyn'd together were sufficient to produce great disorders in the State and to reduce the King in spite of his heart to the necessity of a Civil War His Majesty therefore thinking it very convenient to prevent all these disorders and to suffocate them in their Birth resolv'd to go in person to Limousin either by his Presence to appease or by his Authority to suppress the begun Commotions but to dispose them to their obedience if possible before his arrival to chastise some Offenders without drawing the Odium immediately upon himself and to reduce every one to his Duty he order'd the Duke of Espernon to go before with six Companies only of his Regiment of Guards and four Troops of Horse not doubting but with this little Body together with the Duke's Interest which was very considerable in those parts of which some places were under his own Government he would be able to give a better accompt of his Expedition than another perhaps could do with greater Forces And to the end that his Justice might accompany his Arms he joyn'd to the Duke Iean Iaques de Mesmes Segnieur de Roissy Master of Requests with Commission of Oyer and Terminer to sit upon the Life and Death of the Offenders This was he so famous for his Integrity and Valour that was afterwards Doyen to the Council of State where though the esteem every one had of his Vertue was very great yet was it no more than was due to his merit although afterwards in the progress of a long life he had this honour added to the rest he enjoy'd to see his name illustrated by a noble Posterity not any man scarce of his condition in the Kingdom having supply'd the State with so great and able Ministers The Duke having taken his leave of the King advanc'd into Limousin where he would have Crequy Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards to command in person the Forces he took along with him and where the most turbulent spirits at his unexpected arrival which by his diligence had almost got the start of any intelligence of his coming mediâ—ated nothing less than their defense some of the most advis'd fearing to have to do with the Duke or de Roissy appeal'd to his Majesties mercy and by the acknowledgement of their offense obtain'd their Pardon others retir'd themselves to the Duke de Boüillon to Sedan the most imprudent or the most unfortunate only falling into the hands of Justice Of which five or six suffer'd death though many others were punish'd by more moderate ways so that before the King's arrival at Limoges all those Countries that before breath'd nothing but Sedition and Disorder were now so calm and still that his Majesty had nothing to do but by his Clemency to settle Rebels newly reclaim'd from their Disobedience in their Duty and to reward his faithful Subjects by the demonstrations of his Grace and Favour The end of the Fifth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Sixth Book THE Affairs of Limousin that had taken up the Duke of Espernon the whole year having been compos'd with the facility you have heard the King return'd again to Paris attended by the Duke who had now nothing left to do behind The antiquated enmity that so many years had been nourish'd betwixt the House of Guise and him continued still which was ready to discover it self upon every light occasion and almost as oft as they met to come to a bustle betwixt them In all which disputes the Duke notwithstanding that that Illustrious Family by the greatness of their Birth and by their Offices in the State by their vast possessions in the Kingdom and above all by the great number of generous Princes of which it was compos'd as also by the potency of their Alliances made up a great part of the Court would never give them the least ground but ever sustein'd their power with great Spirit and Vigour neither did he want such a number of Relations and Servants as might secure him from the apprehension of the greatness of any He had sometime before this had a brisk dispute with the Duke of Guise the King being at Lyons which proceeded so far that the Duke of Espernon by the hands of la Pierre one of the Duke's Gentlemen receiv'd a Challenge from him though the Quarrel had been so publick and the Duke of Guise was so narrowly watch'd by his Friends that he could not get out into the Field wherein the Duke of Espernon was better serv'd by his who permitted him to go out of the City with Gohas whom he took with him for his second but being call'd back by the King's Command who would himself compose their difference that Quarrel was soon at an end There hapned at this time another betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Prince of Ioinville now Duke of Chevreuse and Brother to the Duke of Guise for this Prince having staid the Coach of a Woman of Quality at the outer Gate of the Louvre one night that the King had appointed a great Dancing at Court and the Duke coming out with the Duke of Montensier to go home the Ladies Coach so stopt the Gate that the Duke's could not possibly pass wherefore he commanded the Coachman to make way But the Duke of
was busie about the preparation for these solemnities the Prince of Condé and the Count de Soissons suddenly withdrew from Court whose retirement together with some discontent those of the Religion made shew of at the same time gave great apprehension that matters were likely to come to a speedy rupture but the wisdom of the Queens Council having apply'd seasonable remedies to this disorder if they did not absolutely take away the effect of what they fear'd they at least deferr'd deferr'd it so that the publick Peace was for this time secur'd The Queen caus'd the Princes to be treated with who were at last content to return to Court and to sign the conditions of the Marriage and those of the Religion having by this little disorder procur'd some inconsiderable concessions referr'd to a fitter opportunity the design they had to interrupt the main work which they conceiv'd would be infinitely prejudicial to their Interest and Safety I cannot in this place forbear another digression from my Subject to speak of the acquisition the Duke made at this time of one of the principal Servants he ever had in his Family and one whose merit made him afterwards very eminent at Court where he obtain'd no little Favour and Esteem with the King himself and this was the Sieur de Marsillac a Gentleman of as great valour and as graceful a presence as any whatsoever of his time This man had formerly had a dependence upon Balagny call'd the Brave of the Court whom Balagny had taken out of the Regiment of Guards where he trail'd a Pike to put him upon one of the boldest and most honourable Actions a Gentleman of his condition could possibly undertake and that was to carry a Challenge to the Duke of Eguillon since Duke of Mayenne This business hapned in the Reign of Henry the great who did not condemn him for it and though it was the first of this nature that perhaps had ever been known in France gave notwithstanding the Duke of Mayenne his Father no satisfaction therein what complaints soever he could make I have heard Marsillac himself tell the story He adventur'd a poor younger Brother as he was to go execute his Commission even in the Duke d' Eguillon's own Bed-Chamber whose generosity and freedom he could never sufficiently commend he doing him the honour to go out with him alone to give his friend satisfaction without other caution than his own bare word though he could by no means prevail with him to let him be further concern'd in the Quarrel being resolute to end the dispute without a Second the only thing whereof he could complain in the Duke's behaviour towards him though he gave him at the same time as much reason to magnifie the extraordinary and noble care he took to conceal the action from the Duke of Mayenne his Fathers knowledge He was in the house when the Challenge was brought and has often been heard to say that had he known his temerity he would have caus'd Marsillac to have been tost out of the Windows to have taught him what it was to bring a Message of that nature to a Prince from a private Gentleman and doubtless he would have been as good as his word he was so highly incens'd at the affront which perhaps serv'd for an example shortly after to the Baron of Luz in his challenge to the Chevalier de Guise As for Marsillac after the death of Balagny who was kill'd in a Quarrel being entertain'd into the Duke of Espernon's Service he obtain'd under him in the command of his Guard which he bestowed upon him so high a reputation and esteem that he was at last desir'd by the King where his Majesty gave him a Company in his own Guards and his deserts were infallibly raising him to a much higher fortune if at the same time the King express'd the greatest esteem and affection for him he had not at the Siege of Privas receiv'd a Musquetâ—shot in his head which as it determin'd his hopes was also the reward of all his Service We here with a new year enter upon a new disorder of which the immoderate greatness of Conchini was either the effectual or at least the pretended cause and doubtless his favour and insolence were rais'd to that excess as rendred him intolerable either of which are sufficiently odious in whomsoever they happen to befound but being united in him pull'd upon him the hatred or â—nvy of all sorts of men The most part of the great ones seeing themselves excluded from all knowledge of Affairs neither is it possible to satisfie all who will pretend to that priviledge cast their eyes upon the Prince of Condé to interest him in their discontents and the Hugonot Faction not being able without great jealousie to see the Marriage accomplish'd was no less ready than those Grandees to break into open arms The one and the other then being in such a disposition had joyntly by the negotiation of the Duke of Boüillon recourse to the Prince of Condé perswading him to oppose himself to Conchini's greatness to demand punishment for those evils of which he had been the cause and a Reformation in the State the old and common pretense of all such as would infest the publick peace The Prince had ever since the death of the Count de Soissons been in high consideration not only by reason of his quality as first but also as it were sole Prince of the Blood to which his admirable endowments rendred him no less conspicuous than did the preeminence of his Birth He was knowing dexterous and intelligent in all sorts of business beyond what could be expected from his age notwithstanding all which great qualities something yet being wanting that some conceiv'd was requir'd in a person of his eminent condition they had not allow'd him that share in the management of Affairs he either merited or at least desir'd an injury that he very much resneting and moreover animated by the perswasions not of the Duke de Boüillon only but also by the Dukes of Longueville Mayenne Nevers and Luxeâ—bourg who had every one a particular pretext for his defection made him suddenly depart from Court and retire himself to Mezieres in Champagne from whence should he be smartly laid to he might conveniently retreat to Sedan To this place he was follow'd by all the other discontented Lords as for the Duke of Vendosme who had likewise promis'd to do the same not being able to get clear of the Court so soon as he intended having been detain'd prisoner in a Chamber of the Louvre he nevertheless finding means to deceive his Guards escap'd soon after to his Government of Bretagne where he did what he could to fortifie the Faction by the interest he had in that Province This great number of discontents put the Court into strange disorder the old Ministers of State who had seen nothing of a Civil War for many years apprehending this would
some present repose but also to live in greater security for the time to come he resolv'd to take Religion into his assistance and by a principle of conscience to engage the Queen in an absolute dependance on his Majesties good will and pleasure To this end therefore he would exact from her an Oath in the presence of God and his Holy Angels the very words of the Declaration she was to make That she neither now had nor for the time to come would entertain other thought and desire than what should tend to the prosperity and advancement of the King's Majestie 's affairs That she would so long as she had life pay all the Duty and Obedience to his Majesty due as to her Sovereign Lord and absolutely resign her Will into his Royal power That she would have no correspondence neither within nor without the Kingdom in any thing whatsoever to the prejudice of his Service his Crown and Dignity but did and would disown all persons of what quality or condition soever that in her name should contrive any practice or conspiracy contrary to his Majesties pleasure That she would moreover discover all Propositions and Addresses inconsistent with his Service together with the persons themselves so addressing and proposing should any be so inconsiderate as to offer any such thing and impeach and make known whoever should be so evilly affected and that she would never desire to return to Court till the King should be pleas'd to order her so to do Which protestation was accordingly made betwixt the hands of Father Arnoux a Jesuit Confessor in ordinary to the King who had been expresly dispatch'd to the Queen to receive it Wherein we may discover the short-sightedness of humane Wisdom when this great Minister thinking by this expedient to settle himself in the security he so much desir'd engag'd himself even by his own precaution in new and greater difficulties than before For as on the one side Luines thought that through the perswasions of the King's Confessor he had captivated the Queen under the Empire of Religion she on the other side satisfied to the contrary by Father Suffran her own Chaplain and of the same Society conceiv'd she did not violate her Oath by attempting all ways to recover her freedom insomuch that making use of her enemie's credulity she pursu'd her business at greater convenience than otherwise she could have done Neither was this the only benefit she receiv'd by this declaration another signal advantage arising thence which was a very gracious Letter under the King 's own hand wherein to manifest how absolute a confidence he repos'd in her Word and Oath he gave her leave to go whither she pleas'd within his Kingdom which Letter serv'd afterwards as a pretense for her going from Blois as we shall see when we come to speak of that Affair Whilst at Blois the Court Agents were thus diligent to cheat themselves Rucellay was arriv'd safe at Sedan where he had acquainted the Duke de Boüillon with his Commission and wherein he fail'd not with his best Rhetorick to induce him to undertake the Queens deliverance But the Duke who had no mind to stir from Sedan where he thought himself so secure who was already wearied out with his late troubles who in the conduct of those troubles had run so great a hazard of his life and liberty and who likewise foresaw many great and almost invincible difficulties in the business propos'd would by no means be perswaded to engage in that Affair Contented therefore to serve the Queen Mother with his advice instead of that real assistance was expected from him he gave Rucellay this answer That being old and infirm as he was well satisfied with his present condition and upon so good terms at Court as to apprehend no ill usage from thence it would be a great indiscretion in him to deprive himself of the peace he now enjoy'd by engaging in a new Quarrel full of trouble and danger That he was notwithstanding the Queen Mothers most humble Servant of which truth the best testimony he could at present give was to point out to her Majesty a Neighbour of his a man of a vigorous Constitution though in a declining age Wise Valiant Rich Strong in a posterity of men capable of great things that was withal possess'd of many very considerable places both in the Heart and upon the Frontiers of the Kingdom and which was more to be consider'd than all who was so nettled with the ill usage he had receiv'd at Court that there was no doubt to be made but he would readily embrace any overture that would direct him to a just revenge In the conclusion of which Character he nam'd to him the Duke of Espernon Rucellay was not so ill read in Affairs but that he very well knew the person the Duke of Boüillon had propos'd was of all other the most likely to do the Queens business but besides that he had no order to address himself to the Duke of Espernon there had moreover in the time of his being at Court some difference hapned betwixt the Marquis de Roilhac the Duke's Nephew and himself wherein the Duke's Authority having protected Roilhac Rucellay had not receiv'd that satisfaction he might otherwise reasonably have expected for injuries of no ordinary kind These injuries therefore being still fresh in his memory made him very averse to any Treaty with the Duke neither was he ignorant how ill the Queen had us'd him at his departure from Court after the many and great Services that during her Regency she had receiv'd at his hands which altogether put him into a very great confusion All these considerations nevertheless laid aside either out of the desire he had to serve the Queen or to be reveng'd of the Favourites or to re-establish himself at Court which he hop'd would put on a new face in the change of the Queens Fortune he dispatch'd away to her with all diligence to acquaint her how the Duke of Boüillon had excus'd himself and of the advice he had given concerning the Duke of Espernon that he might thereupon receive her Majesties further Command This posting to and fro took up so much time that the Queens Letters of Credit to the Duke of Espernon could not come to Rucellay's hands till towards the latter end of Iuly nor he send them to the Duke till the month following I say send them Rucellay having no mind to sound the Foard himself nor to make the first overtures of that Treaty in his own person for the foremention'd reasons He therefore employ'd herein one Vincentio Ludovici a man in whom he repos'd an absolute trust and one who having formerly been chief Secretary to the Mareschal d' Encre after a long and very severe imprisonment he had suffred since the death of his Master had retir'd himself to Signy and put himself into Rucellay's protection Where living in expectation of some considerable employment
if as it was evident enough they yet retain'd a will to do it Yet would not the Duke of Espernon make any other advantage of this success than thereby the better to manifest to the King his submission and the confidence he repos'd in his Royal Goodness resigning himself up wholly into his hands but the Duke of Mayenne would not do so who on the contrary fearing lest the Duke de Luines whom he had highly provok'd having him at his mercy should take some notable revenge of the injuries he had done him could not so soon resolve to lay down his Arms. He could much rather have been content to have possess'd the Duke with the same apprehensions and to have engag'd him with him in some violent extreme thereby to procure their own conditions to which purpose he also sent to sound his inclination and to represent to him their common danger if they did not provide for the security of their lives and fortunes before they parted with their Swords out of their hands but the Duke sent him word again That his resolution was already taken and that as he had taken up arms for no particular interest of his own so he had laid them down so soon as he knew the Queen was satisfied That he hop'd his Majesties Clemency would easily extend it self to all his Subjects who should not obstinately persist in their disobedience That therefore he could give Monsieur de Mayenne no other advice than that he had taken himself which though it should not succeed well with him he had rather be ill us'd whilst he could justifie himself innocent than after having committed a fault that would render him criminal beyond all excuse By which answer the Duke of Mayenne seeing he had set up his rest in this determination and finding himself too weak alone to wrestle with the King's Name and Power he was in the end fain to submit and to return to his Duty wherein nevertheless his Majesty who knew after what manner both the one and the other proceeded as highly commended the Duke of Espernon as he blam'd the Duke of Mayenne One would have said that this great disorder in the Queen Mothers Affairs wherein so many persons and those of so eminent condition were engag'd only hapned to set a greater value and lustre upon the Duke of Espernon's conduct In the first War alone and unassisted by any he so manag'd the few Forces he had as without giving ground to his adversaries he ever kept himself in a posture to resist them and so as in the end to obtain reasonable Conditions not only for the Queen but also for himself and his friends without ever submitting to his enemies discretion whereas in this there was no reservation for any insomuch that of all the great men who were engag'd in this last business there was not one who lay not open and expos'd to the utmost severity of the King's justice had he been pleas'd to have proceeded against them 'T is true notwithstanding that his Majesty in his Clemency pardon'd every one but it was meerly an effect of his own goodness without any obligation upon him either by writing or the least promise at all The King assur'd of the Duke of Espernon's obedience and finding by his late signal advantages how much his own presence had contributed to the success of his own Affairs taking his measures from thence what he might promise to himself by the same method in other occurrences he resolv'd for the future to appear in his own Person upon all occasions of importance the better thereby to establish his Royal Authority in all parts of his Kingdom The Affairs of Bearne therefore being of such a nature as that his presence seem'd to be very necessary there he determin'd to move that way and even to go over into it if occasion should be In order whereunto being advanc'd from Pâ—ictou as far as Xaintonge he was pleas'd to permit that the Duke of Espernon should come to him to make his Apology for what had pass'd upon the borders of his own Government His Majesty therefore was no sooner come to Chizay but that the Duke de Beâ—legarde who was very well at Court and exceedingly solicitous of the Duke his Kinsmans Interest came to see the Duke at Aunay to assure him he might be very kindly receiv'd by the King The Duke had never so much as desir'd any such security so confident he had been in the King's bounty and his own deportment nevertheless confirm'd in the hope of so gracious a reception from so good a hand they departed together from the Duke's Lodgings to go directly to the King 's Where the Duke was no sooner seen to enter but all the Court flock'd to the novelty so that I have heard the Duke say that seeing the crowd there was to observe his reception and to hear what he would say for his excuse he strain'd his voice much louder than he us'd to do to satisfie the curiosity of the standers by telling the King in few words That he never thought it a disservice to his Majesty to serve the Queen his Mother but that since he had been so unhappy as to have incurr'd his Majesties displeasure he most humbly begg'd his Pardon protesting that the Grace he should be pleas'd to grant him upon this occasion should be the last of this nature he would ever ask of him so long as he had life there being no pretense nor consideration whatsoever that should ever have the power to separate him from any interest wherein he should see his Majesties name and person engag'd A promise that he from that time forward inviolably observ'd as we shall hereafter see The Duke was kneel'd down when he first began to speak but the King raising him at the first word and embracing him at the end of this short speech his Majesty reply'd That he was confident he would be as good as his word receiving him with great demonstrations of favour and esteem When after having entertain'd him some time his Majesty dismist him that he might go visit the Duke de Luines betwixt whom at their meeting there pass'd great civilities on both sides with many assurances of reciprocal affection And that very day the Duke executed his command of Colonel in the King's Lodgings receiving orders from the King 's own mouth to carry them to the Regiment of Guards The next day his Majesty commanded him to go prepare his entry into St. Iean d' Angely a City in his Government but held by those of the Religion and into which he had never till now been receiv'd so that he saw himself at the same time not only restor'd to his old Commands but also by a particular favour from his Majesty authoriz'd in places where as yet he had never been The Duke was surpriz'd at so extraordinary and so unexpected favours but much more when he understood it was in part through
ready to return upon the first orders he should receive That except what concern'd the interest of his Majesties Service he was Monsieur de la Force's Friend and Servant That he had not sought that employment against him and that he should be exceeding glad to hear his Majesty was satisfied with his submissions But that till then he should not delay a minute the execution of the Orders he had receiv'd no consideration either of his own his friends or any other person under the Sun being of force to divert him in the least from his Duty This first Embassy having therefore taken no effect it was soon seconded by another of which one Charles the principal Minister of Bearne was the Bearer This person in the quality of a Deputy from the Countrey was sent to represent to him the sterility of the Countrey the poverty of the Inhabitants and difficulty of the ways and the resolution of the people to make a smart resistance should they who were at present in as good a disposition as could be desir'd be urg'd to the last extremes but the Duke having flatly told him that the end of his expedition was to cause the King to be obey'd and to chastise all those that should rebel against him He was sent back very much astonish'd at so brisk a reply The Marquis de la Force that perhaps expected no better a success from his deputations having been well enough acquainted with the Duke of Espernon to know he was not a man easie to be impos'd upon would therefore make what preparation he could to oppose him but he found so general a fear and astonishment among the people that he evidently saw it was to hazard his own ruine should he expect the Duke's coming into his Government The Bearnois had no sooner heard the Duke's name but that they gave themselves for lost their haughty and declar'd insolence with which they had a few days before overthrown the King's Order and trodden his Authority under foot and their high Vaunts that they would defend their Religion and their Countreys liberty to the last man were converted into a Panick terror so that on a sudden whole Cities were left desolate men of the best quality among them with their Wives and Families seeking their safety in their flight out of a just apprehension of all the punishments an offended Prince might reasonably inflict upon a mutinous and disobedient people In this general consternation of the Bearnois the Duke drew near to Ortez the first City in Rebellion he met upon his way the Castle whereof was of it self very strong and had of late been moreover fortified and furnish'd with all necessaries of War which also shut up the pass of the whole Countrey and was of so advantageous a situation as was very easie to be defended but those within what countenance soever they had before put on of a resolute defense no sooner heard the Duke had sent for Cannon from Navarrens to force them but they presently surrendred without staying till they could be brought up This success was of no little importance to the Duke who had he met with much opposition in this first enterprize having but ten Foot Companies wherewith to form a Siege no Officers to serve his Artillery little Ammunition no Victual Money or any other means to subsist four days in a place had been in great danger of being stop'd from making any further progress into the Countrey All which difficulties though he had beforehand very well consider'd and foreseen he would notwithstanding try the experiment knowing very well that in matters of War all was not always to be expected from an enemy he either could or should do And from this success he took his measures of what he might promise to himself in reducing the other Garrisons nothing doubting from that time forwards but he should bring all his other enterprizes to an honourable and successful issue As the business of Ortez had given the Duke very good hopes of his expedition so it totally overthrew those of the Marquis de la Force who no sooner had intelligence of the surrender of this place but that he made haste to be gone that he might not be hemm'd in with the Duke's Forces whilst the Duke on the other side to make his advantage of the astonishment the Marquis his flight must of necessity leave the whole Country in advanc'd with all diligence from Ortez to Olleron where some fortifications had lately been made which were also at his appearing deserted without the least shew of opposition An unfortunate fellow a Souldier and a Provençal had been the main director in this work where he suffred himself to be surpriz'd so that the Duke who was oblig'd to make some example was not sorry this wretch should expiate for all the rest as accordingly he did being condemn'd by a Council of War and hang'd at his own Barricado where the poor fellow at his death lamented the ill fortune he had to be born a Provençal declaring he was sacrific'd to the Duke's antiquated hatred to those of his Countrey and that his Bitth was his greatest Crime though it was nevertheless altogether untrue After this there being neither judgment to be pass'd nor execution to be done the Duke went to Nay to Salies to Sauveterre and lastly to Pau where the fear of his severity that had before frighted every one from his habitation being converted into an absolute confidence in his Clemency and Goodness every one return'd to his own home The Cities which at his coming had been almost totally deserted were on a sudden re inhabited insomuch that from that time forward all the Duke had to do was only to receive the tenders and protestations of their obedience and to set down some Rules for their Civil Regiment which was order'd with so much Justice and Wisdom or so fortunately at least the equality of all things was so entirely preserv'd and he took such care to reconcile the Interests of Religion wherein the incompatibility had been so great before and had with so much heat fomented their divisions that both parties were satisfied with the equal shares he divided betwixt them in the publick administration since which time there has been no revolt nor commotion in that Province it having ever since continued in peace and obedience under the Justice of the Duke's Discipline which is there inviolately observ'd to this day And all this was perform'd in less than three weeks time his Journey thither his stay there and his return thence being in all not two months expedition neither did it cost the King twelve thousand Livers I having seen the Accompt of the Army which did not in all arise to that little summe 'T is true withal that the Duke reckon'd nothing upon his own account contenting himself with causing some Officers to be paid that at his instance had serv'd upon this occasion So that by the influence
him with such another shot but the Enemy having in these Skirmishes lost a great number of their best men and many of their Citizens a loss at which they were more concern'd than for the Gentlemen of the best quality of their party they at laâ—t resolv'd to make no more Sallies contenting themselves for the future with defending the circuit of their own Walls and preserving their City from the practices and intelligence the Duke maintain'd with some of the Inhabitants which was gone so far that those he had dealt withal were upon the point to deliver him up one of the Gates of the City when upon several conjectures the Magistrates having found out the truth at last they expos'd the parties whom they call'd Traytors to the violence of the people by whom they were all torn to pieces After the Rocbellers had taken a resolution no more to hazard their Forces in the Field some active spirits in the City impatient of lying idle and immur'd laid several designs to go further off to make trial of their Valour amongst whom la Noüe was one of the first and most eager though not the most fortunate in the execution of his design This Gentleman upon the intelligence he had receiv'd that the Count de la Rochefoucaust was parted from his Government of Poictou on purpose to come visit the Duke at la Iarrie had laid himself in ambush in the Forest of Benon to surprize him but the Duke advertiz'd of his March by the Countrey people who to preserve their Houses from firing and themselves from punishment never fail'd diligently to inform of whatever they could discover of the Enemies designs sending out his Company of Gens-d ' Armes took la Noüe in his own Ambuscado where after he had made all the resistance could be expected from a very gallant man he was at last constrain'd to give way to his ill fortune and to yield He was therefore brought prisoner to the Duke who for sometime entertain'd him in his Camp with all imaginable civility giving him leave moreover upon his parole to go see his Mother in Poictoâ— of which the King being inform'd his Majesty gave the Duke to understand he was infinitely dissatisfied with that favourable proceeding towards a man by whom he had been so often and so highly offended commanding withal that he should forthwith send him to the Prison belonging to the Parliament of Bordeaux that he might there be brought to his Trial. La Noüe in the mean time had surrendred his person to the Duke to disingage his word whom the Duke who could now no longer allow him the liberty of his Camp sent away by two of his Guard to the Castle of Angoulesme La Noüe in this condition and advertis'd of the express and reiterated Orders the King had sent to the Duke to use him no longer as a prisoner of War but as a Criminal and a Rebel began to apprehend he should at last be deliver'd up into the hands of Justice indeed and consequently thence forward began to think of making his escape as in the end either through the negligence or connivance of his Keepers he did by that means delivering the Duke from the perplexity he was in either of offending the King by insisting too long against his Majesties pleasure for this Gentlemans preservation or of giving his consent and assistance to the ruine of a man of his condition which he could very hardly have ever perswaded himself to do Whilst the Duke lay before this place he had several propositions made to him about the shutting up of the Haven for such of his Majesties Vessels as were commanded to lie in the mouth of this Channel finding they were not able to hinder the enâ—rance into it to any that had a mind to go in some other way was to be try'd to deprive the besieg'd of the benefit of this Pass Pompeo Targone therefore an Italian Engineer of great repute and that had long serv'd in the King of Spain's Armies in â—landers was sent to view the disposition of the place and to consider of the means by which the Port was to be rendred useless In order whereunto having long consider'd the nature of the Channel he propounded at last a Machine which was an Estacade or kind of floating Fort though the Duke could never relish that proposition always disputing it must be some solid body that could block up the mouth of this Harbour and demonstrating withal which way it was to be done The very same in truth they were at last fain to resolve upon after having made a vain and fruitless trial of all the rest I have yet by me a Copy of what he afterwards writ to the Duke of Angoulesme upon this very subject when that Duke commanded before the place So that I may confidently say the Duke of Espernon what by his own proper Forces as in his first expedition before Rochelle what by his conduct of the King's as upon this occasion and what by his advice as we shall hereafter see did no little contribute to the glorious reducement of this place The Duke did yet another thing before he quitted his Command which was not a little conducing to this great success The Isle of Maran was of so great importance to the execution of this Enterprize that it has ever been thought whilst the Rochellers should have it at their dispose a thing almost impossible to take that City by reason of the communication this Island gave them with Poictou from whence they might at great ease and without any impediment at all supply themselves at any time with all sorts of Relief The Baron de Chandolan a man of great quality and merit who at this time shew'd himself very affectionate to the King's Service was Governour of this Isle but he was notwithstanding of the Rochellers Religion so that the fidelity of a man who having Religion for his pretense might whenever he pleas'd and without any blemish to his reputation separate himself from his Majesties interest was not in reason altogether to be rely'd upon and the Duke also fear'd lest he might be perswaded into a thing he might do with great security and almost without reproach He therefore took up a resolution to possess himself of this Isle to prevent any inconvenience for the time to come and having receiv'd his Majesties command to do it by the best means he could contrive he rose from his Quarters one of the coldest nights in Winter a time when all the Ditches of the Island were frozen up and which the Duke therefore chose as it rendred his access more easie for the execution of his design He therefore commanded some Foot Companies to steal over silently and by single Files who that very night possess'd themselves of all the Avenues and in the morning having caus'd the Ice to be broken that he might himself pass over with his Horse he made himself Master of the Island
from him the vanity of a Title only they added much more to his effectual power That the Army being augmented by one half as it was to be there was no honourable exploit he might not be able to perform by such an addition of Forces since with so few as he had hitherto commanded he had to so glorious a pitch advanc'd his Majesties designs That his Majesty intended all things should be order'd by his wisdom and that this Prince's youth might be govern'd by his experience to the end that under â—o excellent a Discipline he might betimes be train'd up to the profession of Armes The Count also either of his own accord or by the King's order sent him the same complement at the same time but the Duke persisting never to have dependence upon other than Kings from whom he said and from no other all things by men of his condition were to be expected he humbly besought his Majesty to excuse him from this employment entreating Monsieur d' Herbaut to tell the King from him That he did not think himself Souldier enough to instruct this young Prince so well as he ought to be but that he likewise thought himself too old to begin to learn of any whomsoever After the Duke had sent the King this answer by Monsieur d' Herbaut and that he knew it had been well receiv'd he went himself the same day to his Majesty where he told him That he could never enough commend the good resolution his Majesty had taken in the Count's favour That he did with all his heart resign into his Majesties hands those Forces he had done him the honour to entrust him withal without diminution of number and some encrease of Reputation That of all the other Services he had heretofore perform'd for his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors in the long course of his life he had ever expected his reward from their bounty without importuning them with his demands but that he should not do so here being resolv'd to take upon him the boldness to make one request which as it would neither incommodate his Majesties Affairs nor impair his treasure he hop'd would not be deny'd and that was only that his Majesty would give him leave to serve about his own person in the simple condition of a Volunteer That his Governments of Xaintonge and Angoumois being secure whilst an Army should lie before Rochelle his presence would be altogether unnecessary there and that therefore he humbly begg'd he might partake of those dangers to which his Majesty was about to expose his own person and that though he was now grown old he found he had nevertheless strength and vigour enough remaining to dye in some glorious day with a Pike in his hand at his Majesties stirrop Which being said his Majesty embracing him in his arms return'd this answer That he did very freely grant him that recompense and that if he had many Servants on whom to bestow the like and who knew so well how to make use of it he should think himself a much greater Prince than he was That notwithstanding he did not receive him in the quality of a Volunteer as he desir'd but that he might assure himself he would ever afford him such a place in his Armies as that therewith he himself should be very well content And accordingly his Majesty having a desing upon Royan he dismiss'd the Duke with part of his Forces to begin the Siege In this sort the Duke quitted his employment at the Siege of Rochelle after having lain before it eight months compleat during which time the Army had receiv'd five Musters and yet complain'd of being ill us'd though I believe now adays they would be very well content to be so paid The Duke being approach'd near Royan mounted on Horseback to view the place This Royan was a little City built upon a very high Rock by the Sea-side inaccessible on that side towards the Water the height whereof breaking off the impetuosity of the Winds at the foot of the precipice afforded a very secure Harbour to so many Vessels as it could contain This Harbour was defended by an antient Castle rais'd upon the eminence of the Rock and in the midst of it a little way was levell'd that lead to the Harbour by one of the Gates of the City On that side towards the Land the situation was more even but there also so well fortified that in the opinion of all who view'd it either before or after the Siege it was one of the most tenable places for its circuit in France To which it had moreover this advantage that it was almost without danger to be defended forasmuch as after their out-works should be taken which could not be till after a long Siege the convenience of the Sea and the vicinity of Rochelle rendred their retreat at any time so easie and so secure that it was to be defended to the last extreme The Baron de Saint Surin a Hugonot and a Gentleman of great quality and valour though very young had in the beginning of these commotions surpriz'd this place from la Chesnaye one of the King 's Domesticks of the same Religion but infinitely zealous for his Majesties Service neither was he ignorant of the advantages of the place he knew what reputation he might gain amongst those of his own party and what recompense from the King himself after a long and obstinate resistance but la Mote Saint Surin his Brother the Count de Marennes his Brother-in-law and Navailles his Cousin having been taken prisoners at the Isle of Rheé and the King threatning to deal with them after another manner than with ordinary prisoners of War gave Saint Surin to understand that upon his determination depended the safety of his Allies The Duke of Espernon who had instructions from the King to manage this Affair with Saint Surin had to the King's menaces added so many advantageous propositions for the Governour in his own particular as had altogether brought the business to that pass that Saint Surin who had a great respect for the Duke of whom he was also very much esteem'd and entirely belov'd touch'd with a tenderness towards his friends and moreover very ill satisfied with the ill usage men of his condition receiv'd from those of their own party who were eternally expos'd to the capricious humour of the most abject rabble of Rochelle had made him an absolute promise to surrender the place The day was set the hour concluded and all things prepar'd for the execution the King's Forces were advanc'd towards the Town to receive it and the Duke's Guards appointed to guard the Gates of the City when Saint Surin more confident of his Garrison than he ought to have been made no difficulty to go out of the place to settle some Articles with the Duke he had not thought on before ' â— is true he had left his Lieutenant whom he had made firm to his own resolution in
where he arriv'd in the beginning of Iuly and where the first thing he did after his arrival was to commit the pretended Maire of Libourne to prison he having been advanc'd to that Magistracy in contempt of the King's Order The first President had herein his hearts desire neither did he fail to make use of this occasion to interest the whole Body in the affront which he said was the greatest violence imaginable upon their Authority a high Complaint whereof was immediately sent away to the Council The King though very much dissatisfied with the first President would not nevertheless absolutely countenance the Duke in the Justice he had executed in his own behalf but writ to him to set the Prisoner at liberty though that Letter could not prevail the Duke pretending to believe that this Command had been procur'd either at the importunity of some of the interested party or negligently granted as many times a Letter under the Privy Seal was not hard to obtain But the Cardinal become now as has been said all powerful in Affairs having undertaken to establish his Majesties absolute Authority which was in effect the establishment of his ownâ— upon the contempt of this order caus'd a positive sentence to be pass'd in the Council bearing date the 12th of August wherein it was order'd That the Prisoner should immediately be enlarg'd By which magisterial proceeding it was then believ'd as it was very likely that the Cardinal would exercise this severity towards the Duke that his will might no more be disputed not doubting but that after an example like this all the other great men of the Kingdom would acquiesce in his Commands This Arrest was directed to the Chief Justice d' Autry to cause it to be put into speedy execution without so much as forbearing to hear any Reasons the Duke could represent to justifie the demur he had given to his Majesties first Order His Sons who were at Court and le Plessis whom he had sent thither not long before upon several accompts us'd their utmost endeavour that the sending away of this Arrest so highly prejudicial to the Duke's Honour might be some time deferr'd they were vehemently importunate with the Queen Mother and the Cardinal to that purpose but all to no effect the Queen in so light though nevertheless so sensible an Affair totally abandoning the Duke's Interest who had so passionately embrac'd hers in so important occasions and the Cardinal being obstinate in his resolution all the favour they could obtain in this business was from d' Autry himself who was perswaded not to produce the Order but it was upon condition the Duke should enlarge the Prisoner as he immediately did and that too the Court would have him understand to be a special Grace After this manner then they began to reward the Duke's and his Sons Services they gave them things of no moment for the highest obligations and most current pay they were continually us'd at this rate and it is not to be believ'd what prejudice these inconsiderable things were to the Duke 's more important Affairs nor what encouragement it gave little people frequently to offend him It had therefore been to have been wish'd either that he could have supported these affronts in his Administration with a better temper or totally have retir'd himself out of their way but his great spirit that had never encountred any difficulty it had not overcome was impatient to be resisted by men who as they were single incapable of contesting with him being embodied would neither relent nor obey The Cardinal stung no doubt with the Conscience of having in so trivial a thing disoblig'd a man who had formerly been serviceable to him in so many important occasions would make himself Mediator betwixt the Duke and the Parliament and consequently dispatch'd away Guron to Bordeaux for that end with Instructions that joyntly with d' Autry he should labour an Accommodation betwixt them By Guron the Cardinal writ to the Duke that his Journey was absolutely upon his accompt and in his favour offering withal his Service in this and in all other occasions but these Complements were accompanied with no marks of honour and respect the Cardinal doubtless nettled at the little Ceremony the Duke had observ'd with him in his congratulatory Letter at his promotion to the Ministry leaving by his example but a very little space above the first line and concluding his Letter with only Your affectionate Servant Before Guron's arrival the difference had been already compos'd by the mediation of d' Autry but the Duke touch'd to the quick at the ill usage he had receiv'd from Court was not to be appeas'd with so light a satisfaction and I have ever thought that the injury he apprehended upon this occasion was perhaps the first if not the only motive that totally alienated his heart from the Cardinal's Interests which as you may have observ'd he once had in as high consideration as his own The Peace that had been concluded before Montpellier in the year 1622. had hitherto continued the Affairs of the Kingdom in some repose and though those of the Reform'd Religion express'd great dispositions to a new Commotion there was as yet no manifest breach so that men rather liv'd in expectation of fresh Alarms than in any disorder of open War When Soubize by an attempt he made upon the King 's Shipping at Blavet began first to break the Ice All the rest of the Party broke into Arms at the same time and the Duke of Rohan who had long been known to be the head of that Faction infecting all parts of the Kingdom which were affectionate to his cause with his discontents stirr'd them into Insurrection without ever moving from Sevenues and without meeting the least contradiction A promptitude in his Partizans so much the more to be wondred at as he commanded a sort of people whose obedience was only voluntary and from which every one conceiv'd himself to be dispens'd by all both Divine and Humane Laws Montauban was one of the Cities not only of Guienne but also of the whole Kingdom that engag'd the deepest in this Revolt the Inhabitants whereof by having had a Siege rais'd from before their Walls and by having baffled a Royal Army even when animated by the presence of the King himself being elevated to such a degree of Vanity as to think themselves invincible and their City a place not to be taken A presumption that it was nevertheless very necessary should be corrected and the people by some exemplary Punishment made sensible of their Crimes It should seem that the Duke of Espernon was by his Destiny call'd into Guienne only for this end he had formerly subdu'd the pride of Rochelle neither did the King doubt but that he would be as successful at Montauban and that his Vertue which had ever been fatal to the Capital Cities of those of the Religion assisted by his powerful Arms
condition till they had consum'd not only all provisions fit for the use of man but also all that the extremest hunger could compel the uncleanest creatures to convert to food they yet found they had not exhausted the King's Royal goodness who had enough left to pardon the miserable remains of those wretched people the length and sufferings of the Siege had yet left alive preserving so those that had try'd and had not been able to effect their own destruction and exercising his Clemency upon such as had no compassion of themselves To conclude he made himself Master of Rochelle that is to say absolute King of France which till this City was reduc'd he could not properly have been said to be This glorious year was concluded by this happy Victory a success by which all the occasions of those civil discords which the difference of Religions had hitherto almost continually fomented were so totally rooted up as gave us for the future leisure to prosecute our Forein designs wherein we have since been so fortunate as by the success of our Arms to be secur'd of a firm and last repose for the time to come if we can continue this good union and intelligence amongst our selves the breach whereof can alone encourage our Neighbours to attempt upon our Peace The King being yet before Rochelle and the Town upon the point of Surrender his resolution was absolutely bent upon reducing the remaining Cities of the Hugonot Party to the same obedience in order whereunto his Majesty sent a Letter to the Duke of Espernon to acquaint him with so much of his design as concern'd the Province where he had the honour to Command a Dispatch that was sent away by Servient who was to be both the Bearer of this Missive and the Interpreter of his Majesties further Intentions The Employment this Gentleman had been upon into that Countrey the preceding year about the business of the Carrick and the dexterity and prudence he had discover'd in the management of that Affair had made him by the King thought worthy of and sufficient for the Office of Intendant de la Iustice Police in Guienne with which he was at this time invested but that being such a Commission as is hardly to be executed in Provinces that have Parliaments of their own without intrenching upon or at least giving offense unto their Authority soon begot a feud betwixt the Parliament of Bordeaux and him which grew at last to such a height that Servient was fain to prefer a complaint to the Council of some affronts he had receiv'd from that Assembly whereupon he had granted him a Sentence of Prohibition together with a Citation of personal appearance against the first President de Gourgues and some other Members of that Court They must therefore of necessity appear and accordingly the first President came in at the appointed time where presenting himself before the King to justifie the proceeding that had occasion'd this Citation his reception was a little severe The King dissatisfied with him as was said upon other accompts commanded him to speak kneeling which the President making some difficulty to do as an unusual form the King rising from his seat pull'd him by the Robe to compel him to it 'T is said that even in this very act and the confusion the face of an incens'd Prince might reasonably have put any man into the President immediately recollecting himself spoke of the violence was offer'd to him with an Efficacy and Eloquence that astonish'd all that heard him and that was so powerful as to extract some gentle and satisfactory expressions even from the King himself but this was also the last lightning of his Wit and he seem'd to have mustred all his Forces for this one piece of Service ending his Life almost as soon as his Oration who though of a contemptible stature and an infirm constitution but of a strange vivacity and courage was so wounded with the sense of the King's severity that he was never after to be comforted but retiring already â—ick out of his Majesties presence dyed a very few days after He had this obligation to the Duke of Espernons unkindness that it discover'd in him a great many excellent qualities that would otherwise have been buried in his Ashes for had he in truth had nothing more to do than meerly to have exercis'd the ordinary functions of his place he would even in that capacity have met with concurrences enough to have disputed that honour with him but having had opportunity to manifest his courage in so mighty and dangerous a dispute his Eloquence in so many Illustrious Assemblies and his Zeal for the dignity and honour of his Fraternity in so many notable and important occasions has left behind him so fair a memory that he does at this day pass in the opinions of all that knew him for one of the greatest men that ever presided in that Court If the King's success in the reducing of Rochelle gave a high reputation to the Royal Arms the quick dispatch of that Siege was of no less utility to his other Affairs for every one imagining this Victory would have cost as many years as he was months about it that opinion was so generally receiv'd and concluded for so infallible a truth by all the neighbouring Princes that there was hardly one who had not propos'd to himself some advantage or other from this long diversion either to the prejudice of his Majesties Reputation or to that of his Affairs The King of Spain therefore the King of England the Dukes of Savoy and Lorain entred into a powerful League that every one might make his benefit of this Civil War Wherein Spain and Savoy doubted not without any resistance to possess themselves of the Territories of the Duke of Mantua an Ally and a Vassal to this Crown The design of the English was not only to relieve and reestablish the remains of the Reform'd Religion in France but also to revenge themselves for the losses they had sustain'd in the business of the Isle of Ré and the Duke of Lorain an ambitious and offended Prince propos'd to himself and that without much difficulty the usurpation of the three Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun which as they were naturally members of it would bring an equal addition of benefit and honour to his own Dukedom The last of the foremention'd Princes not daring to begin the quarrel staid expecting when the other Confederates should break the Ice in the mean time concealing his designs under a dissembled shew of Friendship and the King of England not well recover'd of the late Blow had no mind to declare without the concurrence of the Duke of Lorain so that whilst these two Princes sate still in mutual expectation which should lead the Field the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy falling smartly to work had by Arms so far advanc'd their designs that they had already possess'd themselves
those of the King embodied and acting by one sole authority could in a moment produce the effects of all their power it was no hard matter for the Cardinal to frustrate the attempts of all these Forein Princes and to repel even upon them themselves who were most active to destroy him the designs they had projected for his ruine If the Cardinal's wisdom was of great use to him as questionless it was upon this occasion it must likewise be confess'd that Fortune did no little contribute to his safety who from the extremities of the North rais'd him up a Prince one of the most eminent and great in all qualities both Military and Civil that latter ages have produc'd and that was the great Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden This Prince in truth inconsiderable enough had not his single Person and Valour in themselves been worth the greatest Armies undertook to invade Germany and to assault the Emperour in the heart of his own Dominions notwithstanding that this mighty Prince who had already subdu'd all the powers that were opposite to him possess'd that Empire compos'd of many Kingdoms in a greater degree of Sovereignty than any of his Predecessors who had sway'd that Scepter for many Ages before him had ever done These difficulties sufficient to have discourag'd and withheld the mightiest powers serv'd only for Spurs to the ambition of this generous and magnanimous Prince He entred then into Germany where at his coming he proclaim'd liberty to all the Princes and People a great allurement indeed but his large promises without some advantageous effects were not of force to draw many Partizans over to his side He sought therefore with great eagerness an occasion wherein to make tryal of his Arms which he knew was the only way to win himself Reputation and Friends and the Emperour who had no less Interest to stop the impetuosity of an Invader who came to brave him in the heart of his own Empire oppos'd to this Torrent and that under the command of the best and most fortunate Leaders he had his Army hitherto victorious over all the Forces they had met in the Field but the glory of all those Victories serv'd only to render that of the King of Sweden more illustrious which he obtain'd over these Conquerours at the Battel of Lipsick by which great and famous action having rendred his name till then almost unknown formidable throughout the whole Empire he ran from one extremity thereof to the other almost without any resistance at least without meeting any impediment that could stop his way The Cardinal as he had good reason rendred himself very facile and favourable to this Prince who seem'd to be come out of his Rocks and Desarts for no other end save only to defend his quarrel He assisted him therefore in the beginning with some few men and a little money which though not very considerable the Swede nevertheless gave so important a diversion to the House of Austria that having their hands more than full of their own Affairs they were far from being in any capacity of traversing their Neighbours designs If the Emperour had enough to do at home the King of Spain had no less need of all his Forces at the Siege of Mastrick and the Duke of Lorain depriv'd of the support of these two great Princes under whose shadow and protection he had taken Arms being of himself unable to withstand the King's Power was necessitated as he had done some time before to fly to his Majesties mercy By the Treaty of Vic concluded in the beginning of the year he had dâ—liver'd Marsal to the King by way of caution for the performance of his word and for this second of Liverdune he moreover assign'd to him Stenay Iamets and Clairmont upon which good security his Majesty having granted him peace he was constrain'd to observe it though it was only not long after to break it from whence ensu'd the loss of his whole Dukedom The Monsieur seeing himself thus defeated of all hopes of any Forein assistance his Servants assay'd to procure that for him at home they saw was not elsewhere to be expected to which end Letters from the Queen Mother and himself were presented to the Parliament of Paris to try if by that application they could interest that Assembly in their grievances and inveagle the Parisians into a good opinion of their cause but all in vain they practis'd moreover several discontented persons whose assistance consisting only of a very few men was also of no great effect the remains of the Hugonot party were likewise tamper'd withal but besides that they were reduc'd to such a low condition that they had greater need of some Potent Prince to protect them than that they were in any capacity to repair the fortune of a great Prince declin'd there was so good order taken to hold them in in all parts of the Kingdom that not a man amongst them durst once offer to stir The Cardinal having from the beginning of the year foreseen that the discontents of the Queen Mother and the Monsieur exasperated and fomented by strangers would infallibly bring a War upon the Kingdom had omitted no manner of precaution that might serve to frustrate their designs he had caus'd the Kings standing Regiments both of Horse and Foot to be reinforc'd had put sufficient Garrisons into all the important Cities had by very severe prohibitions forestall'd all such as were likely to engage with the Enemy and those of the Religion though already upon the matter subduâ—d being yet in some sorâ— even in their impotency to be suspected he had taken a particular care to make sure of them upon this occasion What difficulties soever the punctual execution of these Orders had strew'd in the way of the Monsieur 's designs and notwithstanding that he saw himself abandoned by his Forein friends sufficiently taken up with their own particular Affairs he thought nevertheless that the sole interest of the Duke of Montmorency who was absolutely at his Devotion would of it self enable him to execute his revenge for the injuries he had receiv'd Upon which assurance he entred the Kingdom in Iune accompanied only with two thousand Horse pick'd up of several Nations and two thousand Foot or thereabouts taking his way through Burgundy without making any discovery into what part of France he intended to retire and then it was that the King's Orders and dispatches were redoubled and sent with great diligence into all parts of the Kingdom to which it was probable those Forces would direct their March They seem'd principally to threaten either Languedoc or Guienne the Governours of which two Provinces having no great reason to be very well satisfied with the Court the Cardinal did not well know what to think of them nor what to promise to himself from their Fidelity in so critical a time Of these the Duke of Montmorency the more reason the Court had to be jealous of his
his Disease he dy'd environ'd by three of his Children several Divines and all his Domestick Servants the last whereof having with unparallel'd Care and Diligence attended him all the time of his Sickness continued still the same Services and Respect till they brought him to his Grave He was entred into the fourscore and eighth year of his Age by which long series of time he had had the advantage of seeing himself the most Ancient Duke and Peer of France the most Ancient Officer of the Crown the most Ancient General of an Army the most Ancient Governour of a Province the most Ancient Knight of the Order the most Ancient Counsellor of State and the Oldest Man of Condition almost of his Time The End of the Twelfth and Last Book of the Life of the Duke of Espernon FINIS Some Books Printed for Henry Brome at the Gun at the West End of St. Pauls Mr. Simpson's Division Viol in three Parts in Folio His Compendium of Musick in five Parts Octavo Bishop Saundersons Five Cases of Conscience Octavo Sir Kenelme Digby's Receipts in Physick and Chyrurgery Also his Cabinet opened for making Metheglin Sydar Cherry-Wine with Directions for Cookery Preserving Conserving and Candying Octavo The Complete Body of the Art Military both for Horse and Foot with the Art of Gunnery By Richard Elton L. C. and Thomas Rudd Chief Engineer to King Charles the First Folio Scarronnides or Virgil Travestié a Mock Poem Octavo Mr. A. Bromes Poems and Songs Octavo Dr. Browns Vulgar Errors and Urne Burial Quarto The Dukes Extraction * D' Avila * Mr. De Thoâ— D' Aâ—bignâ— Remarkable exploits of Iohn de la Valette the Dâ—â—e's Father Anno 157â— The first Exploit of Iean Louis called Caumont Anno 1573. Anno 1574. Caumonts first Jâ—urney to Court Anno 1575. 1576. The memoires of Queen Mar. Aubigné Caumont withdraws himself from the King of Navarre Câ—umont's second journey to Court and the beginning of his Favour Anno 1577. The King 's first Bounty to Caumont Caumont follows the Duke of Alenson in the War He goes to the Siege of Brouage His return from the Siege of Brouage to Court Anno 1578. Anno 1579. Caumont's Embassy to Savoy St. Luc's disgrace Anno 1580. Auâ—igâ—é Aubigné Câ—umont's high Favoâ—r Anno 1581. A proposition of Marriage for the Duke of Espernon The journal of Henry the third Anno 1582. The two Favourites made Dukes and Peers of 〈◊〉 Anno 1583. The state of Affairs at Court and the Kings condâ—ct The Duke advances his own Relations Anno 1584. The first commotion of the League Anno 1585. The King sends the Duke of Espernon to treat with the King of Navarre D' Aâ—â—igné The League makes the Duke of Espâ—rnon's Voyage a Pretense to stir up the people The Duke of Guise attempts to win the Duke of Espernon to his side by giving him his Daughter The second pretense of the League The Office of Colonel General of France erected The Duke of Guise's complaints The League takes up Arms. The description of the City of Metz and iâ—s importance * 〈…〉 Sheriff The Progress of the League The Rupture betwixt the Duke of Espernon and Villeroy The Duke of Guise approaches with his Army near Paris The Queen Mother sent to Treat of a Peace The Treaty concluded at Nemours The War begun by the King against the Hugonots Chambres Mi-parties were Courts of Justice establish'd in divers Cities of France in favour of the Hugonots of which Religâ—on the one half were and the other half Catholicks The Duke of Espernon sent with an Army into Provence Anno 1586. New discontents betwâ—xt the Duke Mounsieur de Villâ—râ—y The entry of the Reiters into France and the Kings prudent conduct in this War * Arrierebans which upon examination I find to be in effect the same thing with our Train-bands Mâ—smoires de la Ligue Anno 1587. The Marriage betwixt the Duke of Espernon and Marguerite de Foix and de Candalle Aâ—â—igné Thoâ— Bemâ—â— The Dâ—ke's Estate at hâ—s Marriâ—ge The Reiters enter into France The Duke Beats up a Qâ—arter of the German Horse De 〈◊〉 de Liguâ— The Reiters come to Composition and retire The loss of the Battel of Coutras The Duke of Espernon gratified with all the Offices vacant by the Death of the Duke of Ioyeuse As also those of Bellegarde kill'd at that Battel Des Memoires de la Ligue Mounsieur de la Valette Defâ—â—â—â— part of the Foreâ—gn Army De â—hou * The same who in D' Avila is called Alphonso Corso Anno 1588. D' Avila A Conspiracy of the sixteen upon the Kings Person Du journal de Henry III. * D' Avila says but seven De Sâ—rres says eight The Barricades The King retires to Chartres The Duke of Espernon's arrival at Chartrâ—s Contradictions amongst the Historians about the Duke's Reception at Court The League Print a Manifest against the Duke of Espernon and his Brother The Duke resolves to give way to the time and to retire Several opinions upon the Dukes retirement The Dâ—ke reâ—â—â—â— into his Governments The Dâ—ke of Guise comes to Court * De Guez was Balâ—â—c's Father The Duke publishes an Answer to the Manifest of the League The Duke arrives at Angouâ—esme The King commands the Inhaâ—itants of the City not to receive the Duke But too late Anno 1558. The Conspiracy of Aâ—goulesâ—â—e against the Duke of Espernon * In whâ—ch Lâ—bel the Duke of Espernon was compared to Pierce Gaveston as Iâ—an de Serres reports * An Alâ—rm Bell which it is the custom in France to ring upon any Tâ—mult or Insurrection The end of the Action The King of Nâ—varre endeavours to draw the Duke over to his Party The Duke excuses himself The King of Navarre tries again to perswade the Duke but in vain The Affairs of the Court during the Duke's absence The Duke of Guise in suspense whether or no he should pursue his Designs The Duke of Guise confirm'd â—n his first resolutions The King resolves upon his death New Ministers chosen after the Duke of Guise's Death The Duke call'd back to Court Anno 1589. Some actions of the Duke during his retirement The Dâ—ke's Forces A generous act of the Duke D' Avilaâ— Mâ—â—â—sieur 〈◊〉 Thoâ— The Duke re-inforc'd by new Supplies The Command of the Rear-guard reserv'd for the Dâ—ke of Espernon The Duke's arrival at the Army and his favourable reception Mâ—unsiâ—â—â— de 〈◊〉 He enters into higher favour than ever The King 's generous Resolution The King marches from Tours to Paris The King of Navarre's first aversion for the Duke of Espernon Encrease at the Siege of Estampes The taking of Montâ—reaâ— faut-yonne The Surrender of Pontoise The Siege of Paris and the death of Henry the Third Several Propositions about the new King amongst the Chiefs of the Army The Lords Catholick send his Majesty their Resolution His Majesties Answer The major part of the Catholick Lords submit to the
cold in the business after he had reproach'd them with their unseasonable violence which he said had hinder'd him from bringing about by easie and infallible ways the utter extirpation of Heresie a thing he more earnestly desir'd than any of them he told them flatly that since by them this business was first set on foot it was reasonable that they who had been the promoters of it should likewise be at the charge of the War His Majesty thought by grasping thus at their purses to take off their edge of fighting and by representing to them the charge and incommodities of War he should at the same time imprint in them a hatred and aversion to it But what reasons can prevail with a pre-possess'd and exasperated multitude The people displeas'd at the difficulties the King laid before them and sufâ—ering themselves to be seduc'd by the malepert Preachers of the League who by their seditious Sermons had soon perswaded them into commotion impos'd upon the King a necessity of beginning the War and forgetting the respect due to the Majesty of their Prince gave him in plain terms to understand that he should not be safe in his own Louvre if he did not forthwith betake himself to Arms. The condition of the time and the conditions of the Treaty lately concluded with the League equally obliging the King to fall into speedy action and also to serve himself with some of the Heads of that Party in this Expedition his Majesty to comply with his own necessity and likewise to satisfie that Article dispatch'd the Duke of Mayenne into Guienne against the King of Navarre the Duke of Guise himself desiring to remain in his Government of Champagne to guard the Frontiers and that he might have in the other Armies He was also to set on foot such persons as he knew were faithful to him He sent the Mareschal de Biron into Xaintonge against the Prince of Condâ— and the Duke of Ioyeuse into Languedoc reserving for the Duke of Espernon as a Servant in whom he repos'd the greatest trust the Employment of Provence A Government which being a little before left vacant by the Death of the Grand Prior of France Bastard of Valois had been conferr'd upon him and a Province wherein of all other his Majesties Authority had the greatest need of support having formerly been much weakned by the two contrary Factions that divided the State Whereof one was commanded by the Sieur de Lesdiguieres Head of the Hugonot Party and the other by the Sieur de Vins the Kings Lieutenant there but a man very partial to the League His Majesty therefore desiring amidst the confusion that was made by these two Parties to secure the Countrey to himself sent thither the Duke of Espernon with a good Army appointing Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother for his Lieutenant in that Service neither was he deceiv'd in his choice for in less than four months time Province and Dauphiné were wholly settled in his obedience the only part almost of the Kingdom where his Majesty was effectively and truly serv'd and had he had many more such Servants to employ his Affairs had certainly and in a very little time chang'd their face and the Royal Authority been rescued from the Rebellious Insolence that trod it under foot in most Provinces of France The Office of Colonel General having given the Duke absolute Authority over the Infantry there was great contest amongst the old Regiments which should be preferr'd to follow him in this action in which he made shift to satisfie the ambition of the greatest part his Majesty who gave him absolute power in matters of greater difficulty being content that his best Souldiers should serve under his trustiest Captain so that he drew out a good part of the Regiment of Guards of that of Ficardy and Champagne with other Companies out of other Regiments to the number of ten thousand Foot to which was added twelve hundred Horse and twelve piece of Cannon with their Equipage The Duke having about the end of Summer led his Army into Provence put them immediately into vigorous Action Vins was the first he undertook who having before been worsted by Lesdiguieres was in no condition of making any great resisâ—ance and Lesdiguieres though victorious over the League finding yet himself too weak to oppose the King's Army conducted by so experienc'd Commanders by withdrawing into his own strength gave the two Brothers liberty to make themselves Masters of Seynes Breoules Chorges and many other Considerable places as well in Provence as Dauphiné with wonderful expedition so that by these successes the two Factions which had so long afflicted those two good Provinces being equally supprest the Duke had leisure to return to Court where his presence was not a little necessary to countermine such Practices of which Mounsieur de Villeroy says in his Mesmoires the Duke suspected him to be Author as were by his Enemies set on foot against him Neither did the Duke need to make any great difficulty of retiring from Provence considering the good posture he had brought Affairs into and that he left his second self upon the place not only in fidelity and zeal to the King's Service but also in valour and experience namely Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother a man whose Vertues had acquir'd so great a Reputation with all worthy men that he is never to be spoke of without very worthy mention and the highest Characters of Honour But the Duke had no sooner turn'd his back of Provence and taken back part of the Army with him than the contrary Factions encourag'd by this Division of the Army made head anew so that it was necessary to set another Army on foot to oppose them the care of which now wholly rested upon Valette nor did there need a more active and experienc'd Captain His principal Exploits were against the League to whose succour the Duke of Savoy came in person an ambitious Prince and one that watching all opportunities of enlarging his own Dominion had from the Leagues first taking Arms joyn'd himself with the Countess of Saut the Sieur dâ— Vins the Compte de Carses and other persons of Quality of that side neither has he what Treaties of Peace soever have been concluded with the League ever desisted from his first design of keeping that Countrey by force of Arms. But la Valette after having won from him the so celebrated Battel of Vignon did so uncessantly press upon him and in several other encounters obtain'd so many advantages over him that he forc'd him to retire beyond the Alpes and to let Provence alone Neither did Dauphiné escape his diligence for Lesdiguieres finding himself too weak to meet him in the Field gave him opportunity to withdraw Geyssens from the Cittadel of Valence which he held in the name of the League having been plac'd in that command by the Duke of Mayenne and to recover Gap into the King's Obedience
he hop'd his Majesty would himself one day commend his Zeal to Religion which ought to be the first thing in every good man's prospect and which was also his sole object in that resolution wherein he would live and die That he was retiring into his Governments where his Actions should justifie the integrity of his heart and that he would there serve the King to his utmost power by making Warre upon those whom he knew to be enemies to his Service This was the Duke's Declaration to his private Friends to which his Conduct afterwards was so conformable as sufficiently demonstrated to all the world that he was possess'd with a better spirit than that of Ambition 'T is true his determination was in it self positive and bold and he had reason in all apparence to apprehend a dangerous issue and has himself ever acknowledg'd that according to the Maxims of humane Prudence he herein committed a dangerous error but that having nothing but the sole interest of Religion for his aim he had reap'd greater advantages by it than he durst have propos'd to himself from any other resolution and that he did believe it was from this fountain he since deriv'd all the successes of his Life of which the most signal was that his Majesty himself after some time having pierc'd deeper into the candour of his intention receiv'd him into as high a degree of Favour as any of his other Servants but it was not until he had first receiv'd many infallible and continual proofs of his Loyalty and Affection Having after this manner deserted the Army he soon arriv'd at Angoulesme where the first thing he did after his arrival was to send the Pope an accompt of his proceeding and that he had been constrain'd to quit the Army being bound so to do out of his respect to the Catholick Religion It was also requisite he should by a Declaration purge himself from the Calumnies cast upon him by the League who had deliver'd him to the people for a grand Confederate with the Hereticks But other particular correspondencies he had none for of all Foreign Princes the Popes were only they with whom he ever held any intelligence and whatever has been said to the contrary he ever preserv'd his fidelity unspoâ—ted from the practices of other Princes who daily tempted him with no contemptible offers to an intelligence with them a vertue not to be pass'd over in this part of his Life without a worthy mention it being in a time when few of the great ones of either party had so temperate a respect for their duty the misfortunes of the time and the various Factions that divided the Kingdom seeming as it were to give every one liberty to fortifie the interests of his own party by all the Friends and Confederates he could make The Duke having engag'd himself before his retirement from the Army to serve the King by all the ways he could would now sit no longer idle but gave immediate order for the recruit of his Troops and the experience of what had formerly past having given him sufficiently to understand what confidence was to be â—epos'd in the people he was now resolv'd no longer to depend upon their giddy and volâ—ble humour nor no more be subject to such commotions as his Enemies might attempt to raise amongst that credulous and mutinous rabble He therefore caus'd a considerable Fortification to be speedily rais'd at the Castle of Angoulesme the King having given him leave so to do as also to raise what mony was necessary to the perfecting that work upon the Province He likewise rais'd another at Xaintes so that in a short time he secur'd himself from all Surprizes like that of St. Laurence but he had scarce time to settle this good order in his Governments when he was call'd away to look after other and those very considerable Affairs that immediately concern'd the safety of the Kingdom All the Provinces of the Kingdom being divided betwixt the King and the League it was to be expected that the great Cities would likewise â—andy within their own Walls and stand up for the one party or the other as mens passions or judgments enclin'd them to the cause Of this number was the City of Limoges where the Bishop who was of the Family of Marthoine assisted by the Sieurs de Pompadou de la Guâ—rche de Rastignac de la Chappelle Biron and many other Gentlemen of Quality favour'd also by many of the Inhabitants labour'd all he could to make the Town and City declare for the Duke of Mayenne and his Faction wherein nevertheless he at first met some difficulty but proceeding from perswasions to open force he by the assistance of those Gentlemen made himself Master of the City and was upon the point to have made himself also Master of the Town when the Count de la Voute eldest Son to the Duke of Ventadour put himself into it and made all possible resistance to preserve it out of their hands Yet had he not his Party being so much the weaker been able long to have held out had not the Duke of Espernon advertis'd of this disorder come in to his timely succour But at the report of the Duke's arrival the Leaguers immediately dispers'd themselves abandoning the City they already possess'd as he afterwards turn'd all suspected persons out of the Town and settled it so well by the prudent order he establish'd there that it never after started from its duty but on the contrary continued so firm and maintained it self so well that it was almost the only City of the Kingdom which tasted not of those miseries with which the Civil War by taking re-taking plunder and other mischiefs infested all other Cities of France a happiness that place principally owes to the timely succour it receiv'd from the Duke of Espernon's vigilance and care The example of the Capital City contain'd almost all the lesser Cities of the Province in his Majesties Obedience neither was there any except that of St. Germain which refus'd to keep within the limits of its Duty but that declaring for the League constrain'd the Duke to turn his Forces that way to reduce it Puiferrat a Gentleman of the Country commanded there who after some vollies of Cannon shot surrendred upon conditions that he and his Souldiers should have free Quarter and march away with Bag and Baggage a capitulation notwithstanding very ill observ'd to the Duke 's great displeasure who having appointed the elder Sobole's Troop of Light Horse for their Convoy without considering their Officer had been kill'd at the Siege the Cavaliers incens'd at the loss of their Captain reveng'd his Death upon these miserable people and cut them almost all to pieces A cruelty some Authors have laid to the Duke's charge though very unjustly for had his generous heart been capable of committing so dishonourable a crime what advantage could he have propos'd to himself from so â—oul a