both of the one and the other party into the Low-Countries made himself Mediator of the peace and obtained it by an Edict which was concluded after the Conference of Fleix This peace was the cause of almost as many evils to the Estate as all the former Wars had been The two Courts of the two Kings and the two Kings themselves plunged themselves in their pleasures with this difference however that our Henry was not so absolutely lull'd asleep with his delights but he thought sometimes of his affairs being awakened and lively reminded by the Remonstrances of the Ministers of his Religion and by the reproaches of the old Captains of the Hugonots who spoke to him with great liberty But Henry the third was wholly overwhelmed with softness and feebleness he seemed to have neither heart nor motion and his subjects could scarce know that he was in the world but because he dayly charged them with new Imposts all the money of which was disposed to the benefit of his Favorites He had always three or four at a time and at present he began to cast his graces on Joyeuse and the two Nogarets to wit Bernard and Jean-Lewis of whom the eldest died five or six years after and the youngest was Duke d' Espernon one of the most memorable and most wonderful Subjects that the Court had ever seen elevated in its favour and who certainly had qualities as eminent as his fortune In the mean time the excessive gifts which the King gave to all his favorites excited the cries of the people because they were trampled on and their monstrous greatness displeased the Princes because they believed themselves despised in such manner that they rendred themselves odious to all the world and the hate carried to them fell likewise upon the King whilst that violence which they obliged him to use towards his Parliaments to confirm his Edicts of Creation and Imposts augmented it yet more for if his Authority made his Wills pass as absolute he drew the peoples curses and if the vigour of the Soveraign companies as often happened stopt them he attracted their disdain The people who easily licentiate themselves to Rebellion against their Prince when they have lost for him all sentiments of esteem and veneration spoke strange things of him and his favorites The Guises whom the Minions for so the favorites were called opposed in all occasions endeavouring to deprive them of their Charges and Governments to re-invest themselves were not wanting to blow the fire and to increase the animosities of the people particularly of the great Cities whom favorites have always feared and who have always hated favorites These were the principal Dispositions to the aggrandizing the League and to the loss of Henry the third It is not to our purpose to recount here all the intrigues of the Court during five or six years nor the War of the Low-Countries from which Monsieur brought nothing but disgrace It is onely necessary to tell that in the year 1684. Monsieur died at Castle-Thierry without having been married that Henry the third had likewise no Children and that it was but too well known he was uncapable of ever having any by reason of an uncurable disease which he contracted at Venice in his return from Poland See here the reason why as soon as Monsieur was judged to death by the Physitians the Guises and Queen-Mother began to labour each on their side to assure themselves of the Crown as if the succession had been open to them for neither the one nor the other accounted for any thing our Henry so much the rather because he was beyond the seventh degree beyond which in ordinary successions is accounted no kindred and because he was not of that Religion of which all the Kings of France have been since Clouis and by consequence incapable to wear the Crown or bear the Title of Thrice-Christian Adde to this that he was two hundred Leagues distant from Paris and as it were shut up in a corner of Guyenne where it seem'd to them easie to ensuare him or oppress him The Queen-Mother had a design to give the Crown to the Children of her Daughter married to the Duke of Lorrain whom she would have treated as Princes of the bloud as if the Crown of France could fall under the command of the Spindle Nor was she carried to this onely out of the love she had for them but out of a secret hatred she had conceived against our Henry because she saw that contrary to all her wishes heaven opened him a way to come to the Throne Besides she was too much deceived for so able a woman to believe that the Duke of Guise would favour her in her design there was much appearance and after affaires sufficiently testified it that seeing himself persecuted by the Favorites and ill treated by the King himself for their sakes he had thoughts to assure the Crown for his own head For ill treatments work at least no other effect then to cast into extreme despaire Souls so Noble and Elevated as that of this Prince But he knowing well that of himself he could not arrive at so high a pitch and that specially because it would be difficult to divert the affection which the people of France naturally have for the Princes of the Bloud he advised himself to gain the old Cardinal de Bourbon who was Uncle of our Henry he promised him therefore that the death of Henry the third Arriving he would employ all his power and that of his Friends to make him King and that good man doting with age permitting himself to be flattered with these vain hopes made himself the Bauble of the Dukes Ambition who by this means drew to his party a great number of Catholiques who considered the house of Bourbon The Question was if the Uncle ought to precede the Son of the Elder Brother in the Succession and to speak truth the business was not without some difficulty because according to the Custome of Paris the Capital of the Realm and many other Customes collateral representation hath no place This point of right was diversly agitated by the Reverend Judges and many treats were had some in favour of the Uncle and others of the Nephew but these were but Combats of words the sword was to decide the difference It seemed to many great Polititians that the Duke of Guise acted contrary to his own interests and design by acknowledgeing that the Cardinal of Bourbon ought to Succeed to the Crown this being to avow that after his death which could suffer no long delay it would appertain to our Henry his Nephew Henry 3. knew well his design or rather was advertised of it by his Favorites who saw in it their certain ruine and therefore so much desired to bring back the King of Navarre to the Catholique Church to the end he might deprive the Leaguers of that specious Pretext they
of his Conversion and in the mean time they would continually keep him as it were besieged by those strangers forces In effect Elizabeth who had zeal for the Protestant religion interested her self very strongly in the cause of this King daily generously assisted him and strenuously sollicited the German Princes to coâ—cur with her At the same time the Hugonots pressed with all their force that he would grant them an Edict for the Free exercise of their Religion they pursued it so strongly that he was forced to accord it them and they sent it to the Parliament sitting at Tours but they could never obtain it to be confirmed by them but with these words by proviso only shewing themselves as much enemies to this false Religion as they were to the factions of the League During this time Pope Sixtus 5. died leaving in the Treasury of the Church Five Millions of gold which he had heaped up He was much disgusted at the League and stretched forth his armes as much as he could to our Henry to recal him into the Church whilst the League endeavoured to shut the gates against him that they might exclude him from his Royalty To Sixtus succeeded Urban 7. who held the Seat only thirteen daies and to that Urban Gregory the 14. who being of a violent spirit and a Spaniard by inclination zealously embraced the party of the League as we shall see hereafter I silently pass over divers enterprizes made both by one party and the other The Parisians made one upon St. Denis The Cavalier d' Aumale one of their Chiefs whom they called the Lion Rampant of the League was killed in the midst of the City when he had made himself almost master of it The King on his side made an other attempt upon Paris It was called the battail of the Flour because he was to surprize the City under pretext of a Convoy of Flour or Meal carried thither but it was discovered and obliged the Duke of Mayenne upon the vehement cries of the Sixteen to receive four thousand Spaniards into the Garrison which retarded for more then a year the reduction of Paris It is convenient to understand that neither the one nor the other party having any foundation to keep continually their Armies on foot they only as we may say made War by intervals When they had been three months together they retired and then re-assembled again and according as they were stronger or weaker made their enterprises The King having Rendezvouzed his besieged the City of Chartres where la Bourdaisiere commanded There was but a small Garrison within yet however the siege was long difficult and bloody It s length gave subject to the third party to continue many dangerous intrigues but the taking of that place repressed them for some time He restored the Government to Chiverni Chancellour of France who had had it before the League seized it After this the Duke of Mayenne who beheld himself in no very good Estate following the Counsel of the Duke of Parma renewed a Conference for peace which ending without doing any thing the Princes Lorrains and the Principal Chiefs of the League held a general Assembly at Reims It was resolved that they being altogether too weak to resist the King and wanting money it was absolutely necessary to unite themselves more firmely with Spain then they had formerly done and to this Effect they dispatched the President Janin to Philip the second This President was a man of a strong brain and a good French-man who laboured for the League and for the Duke of Mayenne but who would save the Estate by saving the Religion so that he well endeavoured to serve himself of the Spaniard but he would not serve them or procure their advancement Yet we cannot doubt but as he had his ends they had likewise theirs and that they designed to make good their expences laid out for the League on the Kingdom of France The Spaniard had for Aid and Second in his design the new Pope Gregory the 14. who yet went on more swiftly and with more heat then he for without having regard either to the Letters which Monsieur de Luxembourg after Duke of Piney writ to him on the part of the Princes and Catholick Lords which were in the Kings party or to the submissions and three humble Remonstrances made him by the Marquis of Pisany who was there at Rome deputed from them he strenuously embraced the party of the League entertained correspondence with the Sixteen receiving Letters from them and writing to them and which is more he prodigally wasted that treasure which Sixtus 5. had heaped up to raise an Army of twelve thousand men giving the Command to Count Hercules Sfondrato his Nephew whom he made expresly Duke of Montmarcian to authorize him the more by this new title He accompanied this Army with a Monitory or Bull of Excommunication against the Prelates which followed the King and sent it by Marcelin Landriano his Nuntio with great quantity of Silver to the Sixteen of Paris to be distributed among them and the Chiefs of the Cabals in the great Cities The Parliament at Tours having had advice of this Monitory caused it to be torn by the hand of the Common Scavenger and decreed an Arrest against the Nuntio That at Paris on the contrary annulled that Arrest as being said they by persons without power and commanded that the holy Father and his Nuntio should be obeyed After all these Bulls produced no great effect at present and the Cardinal of Bourbon tormented himself in vain to make the assembly of the Clergy which was held at Chartres declare against the Arrest at Tours Nor did the Army of the Pope do any great exploits but was almost quite dispersed ere it came to render any Service The same arrived not to those Troops the King had caused to be raised in Germany by the Viscount of Turenne They served the King well in his affairs and gained him notable advantages In recompence he honoured this Lord with the Staff of Marshal of France to render him the more capable to Espouse Charlotta de la Mark Dutchess of Bouillon and Sovereign Lady of Sedan who though a Hugonot had been puissantly sought to both by friendship and force by the Duke of Lorrain who desired to marry her to his Eldest Son the Marquis du Pont. The King made this Match to oppose a man to the Duke of Lorrain who helped to sustain the League Of which the new Marshal acquitted himself having among other fair exploits surprized Stenay the night preceding his Nuptials The King had another great Captain in the Daulphinate which was Lesdiguieres who held that Country having reduced the City of Grenoble and who saved Provence for him of which the Duke of Savoy thought to seize himself and dismember that piece from the Crown This Duke being Son-in-law to Philip the second King of
Poictiers becoming vacant Rosny very instantly besought him to consider in this occasion one named Frenouillet reputed a knowing man and a great Preacher The King notwithstanding this Recommendation gives it to the Abbot of Rochepozay who besides his own particular good Qualities was Son to a Father who had served him well with his Sword in his Wars and with his knowledge and spirit in Embassies Some time after the Bishoprick of Montpellier became vacant the King out of his own proper motion sent to seek Frenouillet and told him that he would give it him but on this condition that he should acknowledge no Obligation but to himself By which it may be seen how he in some sort considered the Recommendation of Rosny but it may likewise be perceived that the power of that Favourite who caused so much jealousie in the world was bounded I call him Favourite by reason that he had the most splendent Employments though to speak truth he had no pre-eminence over others of the Council for Villeroy and Janin were more considered then he in Negotiations and Forraign Affairs Bellievre and Sillery for Justice and Policy within the Kingdome and it is not to be imagined that those people did in any manner depend on him There was onely one head in the Estate which was the King who alone made all his Members and from whom onely they received spirits and vigour About the end of this year the Duke of Savoy thinking to revenge himself and repair the loss of his County of Bresse on the City of Geneva attempted to take it by storm The Enterprize was formed by the Counsels of the Lord of Albigny and the Duke having passed the Mountains believed it infallible D' Albigny conducted two thousand men for this purpose within half a League of the City yet was not so rash as to engage himself but left the conduct to others More then two hundred men mounted the Ladders gained the Ramparts and ran through all the City without being perceived In the mean time the Burgesses were awakened by the cries of some that fled from a Guard which had discovered the Enterprizers and as soon beheld themselves charged by them The Gunner who was to have broken a Gate within to cause those without to enter was unhappily slain after which they were weakned on all sides The greatest part endeavoured to re-gain their Ladders but the Cannons on the Flankers having broken them in pieces they were almost all slain or broke their necks by leaping into the Ditch There was thirteen taken alive almost all Gentlemen amongst the others Attignac who had served as second to Don Phillipin bastard of Savoy They yeilded upon assurance given them that they should be treated as prisoners of War But the furious cries of the common people who represented the danger wherein their City was of Massacres Violation universal Destruction or perpetual Slavery forced the Council of this little Republick to condemn them to the infamous death of the Gibbet like to Thieves Their heads with fifty four others of those that were killed were stuck on Poles and their bodies cast into the Rhone The Duke of Savoy confused with such ill success and much more with the reproaches of all Christendome for having endeavoured such an Enterprize in time of absolute peace repassed the Mountains in haste leaving his Troops near to Geneva and endevoured to excuse himself to the Suisses under whose protection that City was as well as under that of France for having attempted to surprize it saying That he had not done it to trouble the repose of the Confederacy but to hinder Lesdiguieres from seizing it for the King The Dukes of Savoy have for a long time pretended that this City appertained to their Soveraignty and that the Bishops who bore the title of Earls and were for some time Lords of it held it from them which is however a thing that the Bishops never acknowledged always maintaining that they depended immediately on the Empire The City on their part sustained that it was a free City and not subject in temporal things neither to their Bishops whom they quite drave out in the year 1533. when they unhappily renounced the Roman Catholick Religion nor to the Duke of Savoy but onely to the Empire for which reason they always bore the Eagle planted on their Gates Both one and the other have very specious Titles to shew their rights but for the present the City of Geneva enjoyed full liberty and had for above sixty years being become an Allie of the Cantons of Switzerland Now the Suisses were comprehended in the Treaty of Vervin as Allies of France and by consequence so was the City of Geneva and the King had sufficiently declared it to the Duke of Savoy notwithstanding which he ceased not to attempt this Enterprize hoping that if it succeeded the King of Spain and the Pope would sustain him in it and that the King for so small a thing would not break the peace The Genevans furiously incensed against him began to make War couragiously entred his Country and took some little Towns They hoped that the King and the Suisses would second these motions of their resentment and that all the Princes of Germany would likewise come to their assistance But the King desired to keep the peace and was too wise to kindle a War in which he could not make Religion and Policy agree or unite the Honour and Interests of France obliged to protect its Allies with the good favour of the Pope moved by his duty to the ruine of the Hugonots He therefore sent de Vic to assure them of his protection but with order to let them know that Peace was necessary for them and War ruinous and that they ought to embrace the one and shun the other And they having little power for so much anger and not being able to do any thing without his assistance were constrained to consent and enter into a Treaty with the Savoyard by which it was said that they were comprized in the Treaty of Vervin and that the Duke could not build any Fortress within four Leagues of their City It happened almost in the same time that the City of Mets rose against the Governour of that Citadel He was called Sobole who having been made Lieutenant by the Duke of Espernon to whom Henry the third had given the Government in chief had deserted this Duke I know not for what consideration and had taken provision of the King He had a Brother who seconded him in the Charge of this Government During the last War against Spain these two Brothers had accused the principal inhabitants of Mets for having conspired to deliver the City to the Spaniards There were many imprisoned some put to the rack but none found culpable so that all the Burgesses believing with reason that this was a Calumny conceived a hatred against these Soboles and drew up
of Duke William said likewise that it preferably appertained to him because it was concluded in the contract of the marriage of that Lady that in case an issue Male were wanting to the house of Juliers the Succession should return to him and his descendants Now that arriving it necessarily followed that the Succession was open to him The Duke of Nevers pretended likewise to the Dutchy of Cleves as he alone carrying the Name and Arms of Cleves and the Count of Maulevrier for the same reason demanded the County de la Mark for he was the Eldest de la Mark and in this quality he pretended likewise to the Dutchy of Bouillon and the Signory of Sedan which were held by the Viscount of Turenne Marshal de Bouillon The Emperour said that all the pretensions of those concurrents were ill founded for that those Lands being Fiefs Masculine could not fall to Daughters but in default of Males were devolved to the Empire and therefore he to have the disposal of them And upon this right he secretly gave the investiture to Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasbourg and sent his forces to seize those lands under pretext of Right and in the mean time assigned the parties to appear before his Imperial Majesty to give in their reasons The pursuits of the Duke of Nevers and the Count of Maulevrier were not very hot because they were made understand that the Fiefs they demanded were united and could not be dismembred The Right of the Marquis of Brandenbourg and that of Newbourg being most apparent the greatest contestation was between them The Landgrave of Hesse their common friend became Mediator for them and made them pass a transaction to decide their difference friendly without imploying their forces except against Usurpers the administration of the Succession remaining equal and common amongst them saving the Rights of the Emperour But in the mean time Leopold of Austria arrives with his forces and seizes Juliers The two Princes resolved to drive him out sought assistance on all sides and particularly implored the Kings to whom they sent the Prince of Anhalt with the Letters of the Electors Palatine and of the Duke of Wirtenbourg who assured him that his Arms would be just powerful and by the grace of God victorious The Prince of Anhalt without doubt discoursed with him of many other things touching the great design The King gave his person a most gracious reception and received his propositions with an unparallel'd joy he answered him in terms as obliging as he could that he would march in person to the assistance of his good Allies and that till such time as he could mount on horseback with an Equipage befitting a King of France he would dayly make some Troops advance which he did about the end of the year 1609. But moreover he prayed him to let the Confederate Princes understand that they would do him great wrong if they thought that he intended any prejudice to the Catholick Religion in that Country for he desired above all things that the Exercise of it should be conserved in the same estate it was before the death of Duke William who was a Catholick but Brandenbourg and Newbourg were Protestants The Emperor likewise sent to him Ambassadors one of his chiefest Confidents intreating him not to favour the rebellion and injustice of these Princes and to consider that he could not assist them without doing wrong to the Catholick Religion Henry the Great answered him That being the Thrice-Christian King he should know well how to maintain and amplifie it but that he acted not to that intent that the question was onely about succouring his friends in which he should never be wanting so long as he had life During the whole Winter he gave order for all preparations for this Expedition which was onely the cover to a greater Being resolved to pursue himself the success he had deliberated before his departure from the Kingdome to establish so good an Order for the Government of it that no trouble could arrive For this effect he believed that the best way was to leave the Regency to the Queen but because he knew that she was governed by Conchini whom he did not at all love he would have her assisted by a Council composed of fifteen persons to wit the Cardinals of Joyeuse and du Peronne the Dukes of Mayenne Montmorency and Montbazon the Marshals of Brissac and de Fervaques Chasteau-Neauf who should have been Keeper of the Seals of the Regency for the King would take his Chancellour with him Achilles de Harlay first President of Parliament Nicholas first President of the Chamber of Accounts the Count of Chasteauvieux and the Lord of Lian-court two wise Gentlemen Pontcarre Counsellour of Parliament Gesvres Secretary of State and Maupeou Controuller of the Revenues Moreover he would establish a little Council of five persons in every one of the twelve Provinces of France to wit one person for the Clergy one for the Nobility one for Justice one for the Revenues and one for the Body of the Cities and these twelve little Councils should have correspondence with and dependence on the great one which should have taken its resolutions from the plurality of voices the Queen having onely hers Nor could it indeed take any but according to the general Instructions formed by the King or without his Majesties being informed of it if it were a thing which his Instructions did not clearly enough explain Thus though absent he kept the Reins of his Government and tied up the hands of the Queen for fear lest she should take too much Authority or have been induced to abuse her Command Whilst he applyed his spirit to these things some persons amongst others Conchini and his wife put it into the spirit of the Queen that she should to acquire more dignity and splendour in the eyes of the people and more advantagiously to authorize her Regency be installed and crowned before the departure of the King For the same Reasons that she desired it the King found it not agreeable to him besides that this Ceremony could not be made without a great deal of expence and without loosing much time which would keep him at Paris and retard his designes He had an extream impatience to depart from that City I know not what secret instinct pressed him to be gone as soon as possible but for this reason the Instalment troubled him yet he could not refuse this mark of his affection to the Queen who passionately desired it Sully recounts that he heard him say more then once My Friend this Instalment presages me some misfortune they will kill me I shall never depart from this City My Enemies have no other remedy but my death they have told me that I should be killed at the first great Magnificence that I make and that I should die in a Coach this makes me often times
not that they should call him Monsieur or Sir a name which seemed to render Children strangers to their Fathers and which denoted servitude and subjection but that they should call him Papa a name of tenderness and love And certainly in the Old Testament God took the names of Lord the Mighty God the God of Hosts and others to set forth his greatness and power but in the Christian Law which is a Law of Grace and Charity he commanded us to make our Prayers as his Children by those sweet words Our Father which art in Heaven There remains at present that we put here a Summary recapitulation of the Life of this great King and after erâ—ct an Eternal Monument to his glory in the name of all France which can never sufficiently acknowledge its Immortal obligations to his Heroick vertue He began the first motions of his life in the Camp at the Sound of Trumpets his Mother brought him into the world with a wonderful courage his Grand-father inspired strength into him the first day he saw him and he was brought up to labor from his tenderest infancy The first knowledge that age gave him was to resent the death of his Father killed at the siege of Rouen and to see himself encompassed with dangers on all sides distant from Court his friends dis-favoured his servants persecuted and his ruine conjured by his enemies His Mother a generous and able woman gave him excellent instructions for Morality and Policy but very ill ones for Religion so that he was a Hugonot by Engagement and not by Election And he often professed that he was not prepossessed that he should be ready to clear and â—ay himself open and that if they could make him see a better way then that he followed he willingly and faithfully would walk in it but that till then he was to be tolerated and not persecuted At the age of fifteen years he became chief of the Hugonot party and gave such sensible advices that the greatest Captains had cause to admire him and to repent that they had not followed him He passed the first flowers of his youth part in Arms and a part in his Lands of Gascoin where he remained till the age of nineteen years He was then enticed to come to Court by a Marriage as illegitimate as cruel for we may say that the present Nuptial was the suddain death of his Mother the Feast the general Massacre of his friends and the Morrow of his Marriage his Captivity which endured almost four years at the mercy of his most cruel enemies and in a Court the most wicked and most corrupted that ever was known His courage was not at all weakned by this servitude nor could his soul be infected among so many corruptions But the Charms of the Ladies which Queen Katherine made use of to retain him begat in him that weakness and vice which indured all his life not to refuse any of those desires their beauty inspired To withdraw himself from the servitude of the Court he cast himself into the snare of his ancient party and of the Hugonot Religion He received all those troubles and all those perplexities which the Chiefs of a Civil War make proof of his dignity of General not dispensing with the pains and dangers of a simple Souldier Thrice did he oblige the Court to grant him Peace and Priviledges to his party but thrice they violated them and he several times beheld seven or eight Royal Armies make head against him His valour which had already appeared in many occasions signalized it self with great Renowne at the Battail of Coutras This was the first important blow that he struck on the head of the League A little after it having assembled the Estates at Blois to Arm the whole Kingdom against him and exclude him from the Crown of France the Guises who were believed the Authors of this Tragedy were themselves made the terrible Catastrophe but which filled all with flame blood and confusion The Duke of Mayenne Armed himself to Revenge the Death of his Brothers and the King almost quite abandoned and shut up in Tours was enforced to call him to his aid Our Hero passed by all distrusts and all fears some would have infused into him to take the part of his Soveraign They marched to Paris and besieged it but upon the point to enter Henry the third is Assassinated by a Monk The right of Succession calling our Henry to the Throne he found the way crossed with a thousand terrible difficulties the League in head against him the servants of the defunct King little affected to him the Grandees every one for his particular ends The whole Catholick Religion Leagued against him without the Spaniard the Pope the Savoyard the Lorrainer within on one side the people and the great Cities on the other the Hugonots who tormented him with their continual distrusts He could not advance one pace without finding some obstacle so many days so many battails His subjects endeavoured to overthrow him as a publick enemy and he endeavoured to regain them like a good Father In his Closet and in his Council there were only displeasures and bitternesses caused by an infinity of discontents treasons and pernicious designs which were from moment to moment discovered against his Person and against his Estate Every day a double Combat a double Victory the one against his enemies the other against his followers using Prudence and Cunning where Generosity would not serve At Arques he made it appear he could not be overcome and at Yvry that he knew how to vanquish Every where where he appeared all yeilded to his Arms The League dayly lost places and Provinces It was beaten by his Lieutenants in other places as by himself in the heart of his Kingdom He had forced Paris if he could have resolved to loose it but by sparing it he absolutely gained not onely its walls but its hearts The Duke of Parma stopt a little the progress of his successes but he could not change their course Vertne and Fortune or rather Divine Providence seemed linked together to crown him with Glory God visibly assisted him in all his designes and preserved him from an infinite number of treasons and horrid attempts which were dayly formed against his Life In fine he overthrew the intentions of the Thirdlings and prevented the resolutions of the Estates of the League by causing himself to be instructed in the Catholick Religion and re-entring into the bosome of the holy Church When that pretext of Religion was wanting to his enemies all the party of the League mouldred away Paris and all the great Cities acknowledged him the Duke of Mayenne though very late was constrained to become his subject and return to his duty and all the Chiefs of the League treated separately This shew'd a great deal of prudence and cunning in the King to receive them thus disjoyntly for if they had all together made a treaty of common
sends forth enlivenings and joy into the eyes of all that behold it To continue the Metamorphosis I will yet say that so many wise Laws which he made for Justice for Policy and for his Revenues so many good and useful Establishments of all sorts of Manufactures which produced to France the yearly profit of many Millions so many proud buildings as the Galleries of the Louvre the Pont-neuf the Place Royal the Colledge Royal the Keys for Merchants of the River Seine Fontain-bleau Monceaux St. Germain so many publick works Bridges Causwaies Highwaies repaired so many Churches rebuilded in many places of the Realm should be as the Ingravements and Imbellishments Let us Crown then with a thousand prayses the immortal memory of that great King the love of the French and the terror of the Spaniards the Honour of his age and the Admiration of Posterity Let us make him live in our hearts and in our affections in despite of the rage of those wicked persons deprived him of life Let us shout forth as many Acclamations to his glory as he hath done benefits to France He was a Hereules who cut off the Head of the Hydra by overturning the League He was greater then Alexander and greater then Pompey because he was as Valiant but he was more Just he gained as many victories but he gained more hearts He conquered the Gaules as well as Julius Caesar but he conquered them to give them liberty and Caesar subjugated them to enslave them Let his Name then be raised above that of the Hercules the Alexanders the Pompeys and the Gaesars Let his Reign be the Model of good Kings and his Examples the clear Lights to illuminate the eyes of other Princes Let his Posterity be Eternally Crowned with the Flowers de Lis Let them be alwaies happy alwaies Triumphant And to compleat our wishes let Lewis the Victorious his Grand-child Resemble or if it be possible Surpass him FINIS The Life of Hen. the Great divided into three parts The first The second The third His Genealogie Who Antho. de Bourbon his father was a Peter sixth Son to Lewis le gross espoused Isabella Heiress of Courtnay and took both Name and Arms a fault very prejudicial to his posterity b The branch of Bourbon produced many among others that of Vendosme Charles Duke of Vendosme had Anthony and six other sons Who Jane d' Albret his Mother was 〈◊〉 of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme and Jane d' Albret married at Moulins 1547. 1552. Henry the Great conceived at la Fleche 1553. His mother sings at her delivery of him He cries not at his birth So soon as born his grandfather carries him into his chamber he rubs his lips with Garlick makes him taste wine The Spaniards Raillery concerning the birth of his mother Her fathers Reply to it 1554. Baptism of Hen. 4. His godfathers and godmother He was hard to bring up He had for Governess Madam de Miossens His grandfather permits him not to be nourished delicately * It hath been said that he was ordinarily nourished with coarse bread beef cheese and garlick and that oftentimes he was made to march with naked feet and brre headed The death of Henry d' Albret 1555. His daughter son-in-law succeed him and retire from the Court. 1557. 1558. 1559. Death of King Henry the second Francis 2. succeeâ—s Divisions at Court 1560. Death of Francis 2. Charles 9. succeeds Queen Katherine declared Regent and the King of Navarre Lieutenant-General of the Realm 1562. He is killed before Rouen 1562. The Queen his wife returns to Bearn and embraces Calvinism 1566. She taâ— her son from the Court and gives him a Master instructs him in ill Doctrine 1567. Henry Prince of Navarre declared chief of the Religion 1569. Louys Prince of Condé his Uncle his Lieutenant with Admiral Coligny A judicious action when yet an infant b This Duke of Anjou was King after Hen. 3 Another action very judicious at the battle of Jarnac Lewis Prince of Condé slain After his death the Admiral commands all He hazards the battle of Montcontour Our Prince impatâ—ent to engage but hindred Gives marks of his judgement 1570. He with the Admiral continues the War The peace of Arnay-le-Duc 1571. A Resolution to entrap the Hugonots and exterminate them Death of Jane d' Albret Her son takes the quality of King of Navarre He marries the King of France his sister Massacre of St. Bartholomew The grief and fear of our young King He is constrained to turn Catholick 1572. His great dangers troubles at Court His wise prudent conduct He contracts friendship with the Duke of Guise He shuns contention with Duke d' Alenzon but lets himself be overcome by the beauty of Ladies which was his greatest weakness 1572. He fell not into any other of the horrible Vices of the Court. 1573. The Duke of Anjou besieges Rochel and carries the King with him The siege raised by the election of Duke d' Anjou to the Kingdome of Poland 1574. Charles 9. falls mortally sick at Bois de Vincennes A league made at Court into which Henry enters The Queen-mother discovering it causes him the Duke Alenson c to be arrested and la Mole Coconas Tourtray to be put to death The Chancellour would examine the King of Navarre Charles 9. near his death sends for him 1574. Queen Katherine alarm'd would affright him After the death of Charles 9. she seizeth on the Regency The two Princes set at liberty The Prince of Condé was in Germany The King of Navarre cannot escape as he desires He falls in love with a Lady The Queen-mother alluminates all the factions and civil wars 1575. Conspiracy against Henry 3. who confides in our Henry Henry 3. anointed and espoused to Louis de Lorrain Familiarity between our Henry and the Duke of Guise The Queen-mother breaks this union Henry 3. falls very sick a Francis 2 died of an Aposthume in his ear which was believed to come of poyson A noble and generous action of our Henry 1575. 1576. Monsieur departs from Court and joyns with the Hugonots Our Henry could not soon follow him but at length saves himself at Alenzon Peace made with Monsieur and the Hugonots 1576. Our Henry again turns Hugonot He is received into Rochel and after goes into Guyenne The gates of Bourdeaux shut against him The birth of the League These Leagues a fair path for the ambitious to rise by The Duke of Guise makes himself chief of the League The War of Monsieur his joyning with the Hugonots the cause of the League The Cities of Picardy begin it and why Christopher de Thou hinders its procedure at Paris The Leaguers oblige the King to call the Estates They assemble at Blois War resolved against the Hugonots Henry 3. declares himself chief of the League 1577. He raises three or four Armies against the Hugonots The Queen-mother obliges him to grant them peace 1578. She makes a voyage to Guyenne
order in the Revenues Effects of this good management of Rosny * A general place for receipt of Revenues whereof there be 20. in France viz. Paris Rouen Caen Nantes Tours Bourges Poictiers Agen Tholouse Montpellier Aix Grenoble Lyons Dijon Chaalons Amiens Orleans Limoges Soissons Moulin Expedients to hinder those of the Council to share with the Farmers The Collectors exclaim against Rosny but he derides them 1599. The King cannot yet provide for the Reformation of the Clergy His abuse of Benefices Remonstrance of the general Assembly of the Clergy to the King The Kings answer He had need of great Prudence to conduct himself with the Pope and with the Hugonots Edict of Nantes granted to the Hugonots The Parliament with great difficulty confirm it The King shews all respect â—o the Pope Cause of the Dutchy of Ferrara Caesar bastard of Ferrara would maintain it The Pope makes war against him The King offers his sword to the Pope Caesar quits Ferrara remains Duke of Modena Many Hugonots converts The King takes the young Prince of Conde from the Hugonots and causes him to be instructed in the Catholick Religion Marriage of the Infanta of Spain and Ratherine sister to the King Qualities of Katherine why the King married her to the Duke of Bar. The marriage made in the Kings Closet The Pope troubled at the Duke of Bar for this marriage Death of the Dutchess of Bar. The Duke of Joyeuse re-takes the habit of Capuchin The Marchioness of Bell ' Isle turns Feuillantine Duel of de Crequy and Phillipin bastard of Savoy The Apparition of the great Hunter to the King hunting at Fountainbleau What these fantasms may be The fair Gabriella demands the King to espouse her and legitimate his Children He feeds her with hope She in the end obliges the King to demand Commissioners of the Pope to judge of the divorce of Margaret The King remains at Fontainbleau to do his Easter-devotions and sends the fair Gabriella to Paris * A service in the Roman Church used three days before Easter which are called Les tâ—ois Jours de tenebres She dies in a strange manner The King comforts himself conserves an extream tenderness for her Children Queen Margaret presents a request to the Pope to dissolve her marriage The Lords and Parliament beseech the King to take a wife He presents his request to the Pope as well as Queen Margaret The Pope appoints Commissioners who pronounce the dissolution of the marriage After which Queen Margaret comes to Paris Her inclination 1600. Maria de Medicis demanded for Hen. 4. The contract of the marriage at Florence and the Nuptials Solemnized by Proxy The King falls into the snares of Madam d'Entragues afterwards March ioness of Verneuil A good reflection concerning flatterers The King gives an hundred thousand crowns to Madamoiselle d' Entragues Her cunning to bring him to her designs She gets a promise of marriage from him Sully tears it but the King makes another He pursues at Rome the decision of the Marquisate of Saluces How that Marquisate appertained to him How the Duke of Savoy seized it An accommodation spoke of He offers it to be held at faith homage By the Treaty of Vervin the business is remitted to the Popes Arbitration The Pope refuses farther medling with the Arbitration why The Duke of Savoy strives to gain time He would come to France to confer with the King What might be the motives of his voyage His Train The King causes him to be well received every where He passes Lyons Arrives at Fontainbleau where the King is His address to gain confidence with the King who is as subâ—ile as himself and carries him to Paris Overture of the Centenary Jubilee at Rome Great Demonstrations of friendship between the King and Duke How the Duke lived in the Kings Court. The King shews him his Parliament * A place I suppose so called which looked into the Parliament-House and where they might see and not be seen Yet the King releases not to him the Marquisate * The French hath it Prendre le Change which is taken for flying out at a wrong Deer like hounds of Riot The Duke not succeeding it is believed he endeavoured to debauch Byron by the means of Laffin The vanities of Byron become insupportable He esteems himself more then the King who takes disgust at it A good and important Reflection The Duke causes to be carried to Byron some disadvantagious words of the Kings The King proposes to the Duke the exchange of the Marquisate for la Bresse The Duke seems not a verse but takes three moneths to consider He takes leave of the King who accompanies him to Charenton Some had counselled the King to arrest him The Kings noble Answer The three months expired the King presses the Duke to chuse either the change or the restitution The Duke presses the Council of Spain to help him The Count of Fuentes comes to this purpose to Milain but too late The King again presses the Duke to chuse the change or restitution He promises positively to surrender the Marquisate But when the King sends his forces he takes off his mask and refuses The King declares war against him He gives advice of it to the neighbouring Princes * Julius Caesar would never let the tenth Legion fight but with him Byron conquers all la Bresse The Pope Alarm'd at this War sends to the King The Kings good and Christian answer The King enters Savoy Yet the Duke stirs not He trusts some vain predictions of Astrologers or to Byron much incensed against the King In fine the Duke takes the field but does nothing The Citadel of Montmelian taken and that of Bourg and fort St. Katherine The King visits Geneva The Pope endeavours a peace and sends to that purpose his Nephew Legat. The King comes to Lyons where his Queen expected him The Legat likewise comes and the Ambassadors of Savoy 1610. The peace agreed signed and published at Lyons They both gain by the exchange After the King goes to Paris followed by the Queen He carries her to see his buildings He divertised but never employed himself about buildings An excellent reflexion Count Fuentes would surprize Marseilles to break the peace His people might be intrapped by counter-intelligence but the King will not The Spaniards turn their Arms against the Infidels The Duke of Merceur commands the Emperoâ—rs forces and dies Gentlemen of the Ambassador of France in Spain kill some Spaniards The Magistrate violates the freedom of the Ambassadors house and takes them out Discourse of the freedom of Ambassadors Palaces The King being offended recals his Ambassador And goes in haste to Calais to visit his Frontier The Pope undertakes to accommodate the difference and doth it The Arch-Duke besieging Ostend sends to complement the King * This siege lasted three years three months and three days The King returns the civility to the Arch-Duke The Queen of England
THE HISTORY OF HENRY IV. SURNAMED The Great King of France and Navarre Written Originally in French By the Bishop of Rodez once Tutor to his now most Christian Majesty And made English by J. D LONDON Printed by James Cottrel for Samuel Speed at the signe of the Rainbow near the Inner Temple-gate in Fleet-street 1663. To his Sacred Majesty CHARLES THE SECOND King of Great Britain France and Ireland Dread SIR WIth all that humble Reverence that becomes a Low but Loyal Subject and Servant to his Soveraign Lord and Master cast I at Your feet this present Address Those Stars that move in the Lowest Orb receive their light and lustre from the Sun as well as those that wander in a more exalted heaven and therefore may possibly be capable to return some grateful Influences though not in so great a quantity yet in a quality as pure and candid However all my courage could not have inspired me with a presumption to present any thing of mine to so glorious a Majesty had it not born in its Frontispice the name of HENRY THE GREAT Your Royal and Renowned Grandfather a Prince of so Sublime a Virtue of so Heroick a Courage of such Activity in War and such Prudence in Peace that he justly became both the love and terror of the age he lived in And Great Sir give me leave to tell you that never did the Life of any Prince since the Creation bear so equal a Parallel with Your Maiestie's as that of this Renowned King If your miseries and misfortunes have exceeded his God hath made it by evident Demonstrances appear that he intends to make your Glories and Happiness as far surpass those of your Royal Grandfather You both had Leaguers armed with Rebellion Obstinacy and Ambition under a Cloak of zeal to Religion to oppose you and you both assisted by a Miraculous Providence of Heaven overcame them You both by Arms long strugled for your Rights but as if God had intended you both for true Fathers of your Countries and the Foundations whereon he would settle an absolute happiness in your Kingdoms so long afflicted with Civil Wars and those terrours which attend them he brought you both to spotless Thrones unbesmeared with blood How soon was France redeemed from those plagues it so long had endured at the entrance of the Great Henry into the Chair of Royalty who as a Rising Sun darted forth those Salutiferous rayes which shone upon and enriched the remotest parts of his Territories How soon were all Factions dissipated and how soon did he by his Prudent Conduct reconcile the most obstinate Spirits In fine in how short time was France from a Den of Atheists Theeves and Robbers become the Nursery of Piety Arts and Industry England Dread Soveraign suffered under the same Fate her neighbouring Sister had long since been Subject to when Heaven was graciously pleased to restore you to your Crown And you have already made us not onely hope but see that you have designed to restore to us such happinesses that we cannot justly envy those which France enjoyed under her beloved HENRY How well have you setled both our Church and State How well have you reconciled our Dissentions with how much too great a mercy give me Sir leave to fear so have you pardoned the most obstinate of your enemies and how may we hope if the malice of those obstinate Spirits yet disturb not our Tranquillity to enjoy under your Government the most happy and flourishing daies that ever Great Britain beheld But Sir that I may conclude and not seem tedious to your Majesty may the God of heaven inspire into the hearts of your people a true sense of your goodness and paternal love to them may he correct the improbous malice of those who yet dare to be your enemies may he incline you still to prosecute such Maximes of good Government both in Church and State as may make both equally Flourish may he Augment your Glories and raise them above those of your Grand-father HENRY the Fourth may he bless us all by giving you a long and happy Reign and when that misery though late arrives us of losing you may we yet be made blessed in that Succession from your Loynes that may endure for ever Thus Prayes SIR The humblest and faithfullest though the meanest of your Majesties Subjects and Servants J. D. The Translator to the Reader BEhold here a History compiled by one of the most able and let me testifie thus much one of the most moderate and impartial Pens of Europe It was fitted for the hand of a King and is the Life of one whom his own Actions will declare to have better deserved the name of Great then that proud Macedonian who wept that he had no more Worlds to conquer For though he gained not such signal Victories nor over-ran so many Countries yet he was possessed of more Vertues then the other of Cities and Vertue is the fairest Mother of true Greatness But Reader I forestal thy delight in its Reading go on therefore but with Deliberation J. D. THE AUTHOR TO THE READER READER THis History of Henry the Great is onely a small part of the Summary or Epitomy of the general History of France which I have composed by the command of the King and for the instruction of his Majesty It having been my intention onely to gather together all that might serve to form a great Prince and render him capable of Reigning well I have not thought it convenient to enter into a particular Recital of things or to recount at length all Wars and Affairs as Historians do who are to write for all sorts of persons I have onely took the Sum and recounted those Circumstances I have judged the fairest and the most instructive leaving apart all the rest to shorten matter and to give in epitomy an account of all that passed which might inform the spirit of the King without surcharging his memory This hath been my designe if it hath not succeeded so well as could be wish'd I hope READER that my Endeavour will appear praise-worthy I doubt not but there are in this Work some Mistakes which I may not have perceived but which cannot escape Eyes more clear-sighted The History is accompanied with so many Circumstances that it is almost impossible not to be deceived in some Yet I believe I have written nothing for which I have not my Warrant And if you finde in any Author the contrary of what I have said I intreat you to consider that our Historians do in many things so differ among themselves that who takes the judgement of one must necessarily contradict the other In this diversity I have followed those whom I believed the best and most assured I acknowledge likewise that I could not refrain borrowing from them whole Paragraphs where they have pleased me and that I have thought I could better explain my self by their Expressions then my own However if this be a
fault it is but a light one and ought to be pardoned since ingenuously confest For other more remarkable ones I may have committed I presume on your goodness that Reader you will not treat me with the utmost rigour but that you will have as much indulgence for me as I have in this Work had Zeal for the Service of my King and Affection for the good of France THE HISTORY OF HENRY the Great King of France and Navarre To the King SIR THat Respect and Love which all good French-â—â—n have still conserved for 〈…〉 happy Memory of King Henry the Great your Grandfather represents it self as fresh to their remembrance as if he still reigned and Renown conserves the Splendour of his fair Actions in the Hearts and Mouthes of Men as lively and entirely as in the time of his Triumphs But we may say moreover when we consider your Majesty That he hath regained a new Life in your Person and that he makes himself dayly be seen under a Visage yet more August and by Vertues which appear as redoubtable to the Enemies of France as they are sweet and charming to its People In truth Sir that praise-worthy Impatience which your Majesty hath testified when I presented our History to your reading to come to this glorious Reign and for it to leave behind seven or eight others of Kings that preceded him is a most certain proof that you desire him for your Model and that you have resolved to study his Conduct and conserve it in the Government of your Estates Your happy Birth and your Inclinations wholly Royal lead you to it The Hopes and Votes of your Subjects agree to it The Necessities of your Kingdom afflicted with the Miseries of the longest War it ever sustained oblige you to it and Heaven hath disposed you to it by so many Graces and eminent Qualities that it would be difficult for you not to follow the â—air Pâ—â—â—â—â—ples of this great Monarch I dare likewâ—â—â— say and I may speak it with truth that it will not be impossible for you to surpass him if you enforce your self to improve well all those Advantages wherewith Heaven hath endowed you above other Princes of your Age. Yes Sir he hath to you as well as to the King your Grandfather given a generous Soul good and beneficent a Spirit elevated and capable of the greatest things a Memory happy and facile a Courage Heroick and Martial a Judgement neat and solid astrong and vigorous Health but he hath moreover given you one Advantage this great Prince never had that is A Majestick Presence an Air and Port almost Divine a Person and Beauty worthy the Empire of the Universe which attracts the Eyes and Respects of all the World and which without the force of Arms without the authority of Commands will gain you all those by whom your Majesty shall make your Self be seen I will not speak of the Prosperities of your Estates since your happy Advancement to the Crown how you have been proclaimed Conquerer as soon as King how by the assisting Counsels of your great Ministers your Frontiers have been extended on all sides and your Enemies everywhere defeated but I ought not to forget that singular Grace which Heaven hath conferred on you by instructing you in the Catholick Religion and in true Piety by the continual Diligences and Examples of the Queen your Mother tâ—â—â— which was without doubt wanting to the Youth of our Henry You cannot Sir with so fair Dispositions with so many super-excelling Favours of Heaven be confined beneath the Glory and Reputation of this great Prince Remember if you please that you have done me the honour to tell me more then once that you ardently aspire to a like Perfection and that you have no greater Ambition All France who at present have their Eyes upon you rejoyce to see the Effects already second your Desires and that you strive as puissantly to imitate as you have passionaaely desired to hear the Recital of so fair a Life Your Majesty knows that Wills pass but for Weaknesses when they render not themselves efficacious and are so far from being worthy praise that they condemn those who have them so much the more because they see well what they ought to do and have not the heart to attempt or enterprize it The way of Vertue at first glance seems rude but it conducts to the Temple of Glory where it is certain we arrive not by simple Thoughts and idle Discourses but by Labour Application and Perseverance I have often taken the Liberty to represent to your Majesty That Royalty is no Infant-Mystery That it consists almost altogether in Action That a King ought to make his Duty his Delights and That he ought to know how to Reign that is how to hold himself the Helm of his Estate the better to Conduct them with Vigour Wisdome and Justice Who knows not that there is no Honour in bearing a Title without executing the Functions of it That it is in vain to have acquisted the best Knowledge without labouring to reduce it into practice That it is ridiculous to propose to our selves a great Model unless it be effectually imitated And in fine that it is nothing to understand by heart all the Maximes of Policy if we apply them not to their right Use Without lying he that hath Eyes and will not open them who hath Arms and will not take the pains to move them is in a worse estate then the Blinde or the Cripple I cannot dissemble Sir that unspeakable Joy I have sometimes conceived when I have understood from the Mouth of your Majesty that you would chuse rather never to have wore a Crown then not your Self to govern it but resemble those Infant-Kings of the first Race who as all our Historians say served onely as Idols to the Majors of their Palace and who had had no Name but onely to mark the year in the Chronologie But it will be enough to make France know how much your Majesty condemns that sleepy Lethargie to tell them that you are at present resolved to imitate your Grandfather Henry the Great who hath been the most active and most laborious of all our Kings who hath dedicated himself with most Diligence to the Management of his Affairs and who hath cherished his Estates and People with most Affection and most Tenderness This is to declare that your Majesty hath taken a firm Resolution to put your hand to the Work to know both the inside and outside of your Realm to preside in your Counsels to give feet and motion to all Resolutions to have a continual Eye over your Revenues to cause a true faithful and exact Account to be given to distribute Graces and Recompences to those of your Creatures shall prove worthy in fine fully and amply to enjoy your Authority It is thus the incomparable Henry acted whom we are about to see reign not onely in France by right of Blood but over
That force could not justly be employed against him who so far submitted himself to reason and the greatest part of the Nobility approved this generous procedure and proclaimed aloud that the Duke of Guise ought not to refuse so great an honour That Duke wanted no courage to accept the Defiance but he considered that drawing his sword against a Prince of the blood was in France accounted a kinde of Parricide that otherwise he could willingly have reduced the cause of Religion and of the Publick to a particular Quarrel He therefore prudently answered That he esteemed the person of the King of Navarre and would have no controversie with him but that he onely interested himself for the Catholick Religion which was threatned and for the tranquillity of the Kingdome which onely and absolutely depended on the unity of Religion His other Action was thus Having understood the noise of those paper-Thunder-bolts which the Pope had thrown out against him he dispatched one to the King to make his Complaints to him and to remonstrate to him That this procedure concerned his Majesty nearer then himself That he ought to judge That if the Pope took upon him to decide concerning his succession and should seize to himself a right to declare a Prince of the blood unable of the Crown he might afterwards well pass further and dethrone himself as Zachary is reported to have formerly degraded Childeric 3. Upon these Remonstrances the King hindred the publication of those Bulls in his Dominions But our Henry not contenting himself there with knowing himself to have friends at Rome proved so hardy as to fix his and the Prince of Condé his opposition at the corners of the chiefest streets of the City by which those Princes appealed from the sentence of Sixtus to the Court of Peerage of France giving the Lye to whoever accused them of the crime of Heresie offering to prove the contrary in a general Council and in the end professing that they would revenge upon him and upon all his successours the injury done their King the Royal Family and all the Courts of Parliament It could not but be supposed that this opposition would incense to the utmost the spirit of Sixtus the fifth and indeed at first he testified a very furious emotion However when his Choler was a little asswaged he admired the great Courage of that King who at such a distance had known how to revenge himself and fix the marks of his resentment even at the gates of his Palace in such manner that he conceived so great an esteem for him so true is it that Vertue makes it self be reverenced by its very enemies that he was often afterwards heard say That of all those who reigued in Christendome there was none but this Prince and Elizabeth Queen of Enland to whom he would have communicated those great things which agitated his spirit if they had not been Hereticks Nor could all the prayers of the League ever oblige him to furnish any thing towards the charges of this War which possibly overwhelmed the greatest part of their Enterprizes because their hopes in part depended on a Million which he had promised them Now as on their side the Chiefs of the League endeavoured to engage on their party all the Lords and Cities they could our Henry on his part re-united with him all his friends both of the one and the other Religion the Marshal of Damville-Montmorency Governour of Languedoc the Duke of Montpensier Prince of the blood who was Governour of Poictou with his Son the Prince of Dombes the Prince of Condé who held a part of Poictou of Xaintonge and of Angoumois the Count of Soissons and the Prince of Conty his brother Of these five Princes of the blood the three last were his Cousen-Germans the two first were removed one degree further and all professed the Catholick Religion save onely the Prince of Condé He had likewise on his part Lesdiguieres who from a plain Gentleman had by his Valour elevated himself to so high a point that he was Master of the Daulphinate and made the Duke of Savoy tremble Claudius de la Trimouille who possessed great Lands in Poictou and Brittany and was sometimes before turned Hugonot that he might have the honour to marry his Daughter to the Prince of Condé Henry de la Tour Viscount of Turenne who either out of complacency or true perswasion had espoused the new Religion Chastillon son to the Admiral of Coligny la Boulaye Lord Poitevin Rene chief of the house of Rohan George de Clermont d' Amboise Francis Count of Rochefoucaud the Lord de Aubetterre James de Caumontla-force the Seigneurs de Pons Saint Gelais-Lansac with many other Lords and Gentlemen of remark all or most of the new Religion At the same time he dispatched to Elizabeth Queen of England and to the Protestant Princes of Germany such able Agents that they joyned all together in a strong Union The One to maintain the Other so that all these being united all things arrived contrary to what the League expected and our Henry found himself fortified in such manner that he had no longer any apprehension of being oppressed without having the means to defend himself I shall not make here a particular Recital of the Actions either of the one or the other party during the years 1585. and 1586. because I have observed nothing very considerable King Henry the third was extreamly perplexed at this War which was maintained at his expence and to his great prejudice since they disputed the succession he yet living and well and already considered him as one dead He loved neither the one nor the other party but did so much cherish his Favourites strange blindness that he could have desired had it been in his power to have parted his Estate amongst them The League on their side pretended to have power enough to carry it and our Henry hoped to frustrate the designes both of the one and the other The Queen-mother having other wishes for the children of her Daughter married to the Duke of Lorrain promised the King to finde means to calm all these tempests To this purpose she procured a Truce with our Henry during which an Interview was agreed upon between him and her at the Castle of St. Brix near Coignac where both the one and the other met in the month of December There was some difficulty to finde security both for the one and the other but especially for the Queen-mother who was wonderfully distrustful Our Henry hereupon did an Action of great Generosity which he managed in this manner There had a Truce been agreed upon for the security of this Conference in such sort that if either party broke it they were in fault and might justly be arrested now some of our Henry's followers feigning to be Traytors had enticed some of the Catholick-Captains too greedy of the booty to Fontenay which they
Authority of the King and assurance of Rewards but the better half of it was composed of new Troops which wanted Order and Discipline It had a General without Authority an hundred Chiefs in stead of one and all young people elevated in the Delights of the Court having sufficient Heart and Courage but without any Experience The other on the contrary was composed of all the choice men of its party the old remnant of the Battails of Jarnac and Montcontour people bred up in the mystery of War and hardned by the continual endurance of Fights and Adversities It had at its Head three Princes of the Blood the Chief of them well obeyed and reverenced as the presumptive Heir of the Crown the love of the Souldiery and hope of all good French-men besides it was armed with a necessity either to overcome or die Armour of more proof then either Steel or Brass Orders being given the King of Navarre called all his Chiefs and from a little rising ground exhorted them in few words but such as were agreeable both to his Quality and the time taking Heaven to witness that he fought not against his King but for the Defence of his Religion and Right Afterwards addressing himself to the two Princes of the Blood Condé and Soissons I shall say nothing else to you said he but that you are of the house of Bourbon and if God live I will now shew you that I am worthy to be the first-born of that Family His Valour that day appeared above that of all others He had placed on his Head-piece a Plume of white Feathers both to make himself known and because he loved that colour so that some putting themselves before him out of designe to shelter and defend his person he cryed out to them To your Quarter I pray you and do not shadow me for I would appear A Bravery without doubt absolutely necessary for a Conquerour but which would be temerity and an unsupportable fault in a Prince well established He broke the first ranks of the Enemy and took Prisoners with his own hand and came even to handy-gripes with one named Chasteau-Reynard Cornet of a Company of Gens Arms saying to him Deliver thy Colours The Battail being gained some having seen the Flyers who made a halt came to tell him that the Army of the Marshal of Matignon appeared he received this News as a new subject of Glory and turning bravely towards his people Let us go my Friends said he this will be a thing never before seen two Battails in one day It was not onely his Valour made him worthy to be admired in this occasion it was likewise his Justice Moderation and Clemency for his Justice we may recount what follows He had debauched the Daughter of an Officer of Rochel a thing which had dishonoured that Family and very much scandalized him among the Rochellers A Minister as the Squadrons were almost ready to go to the charge and that the Prayer was to be made took the Liberty to remonstrate to him That God could not favour his Arms if he did not before demand pardon for that offence repair the scandal by a publick satisfaction and restore Honour to a Family he had deprived of it The good King humbly hearkned to these Remonstrances fell upon his Knees demanded of God pardon for his fault prayed all those who were present to serve as witnesses of his repentance and to assure the Father of the Maiden that if God gave him the grace to live he would repair as much as possible the Honour he had deprived her of So Christian a submission drew tears from all the Assistants nor was there any who would not have ventured a thousand Lives for a Prince who so cordially inclined himself to do Reason to his inferiours Having thus overcome himself God made him Conquerour over his Enemies and who knows but that he exalted him because he so Christianly humbled himself The Enemies Army was wholly defeated with the loss of five thousand men all their Cannon baggage Ensignes and all their chief Commanders were taken Prisoners except two or three among whom were the Duke of Joyeuse and of St. Saviour his brother who were found dead on the place That night our Conquerour finding his Lodgings full of Prisoners and wounded persons of the Enemy was constrained to cause his Bed to be carried to those of Plessis Mornay but the Body of Joyeuse being laid forth on the Table in the Hall he was there forced to mount on high and there while he supt were presented unto him the prisoners fifty six foot-Ensignes and twenty two Standards and Cornets It was a fair and glorious Spectacle for this Prince to have under his feet that Enemy who had obtained from the Pope the Confiscation of his Territories to see his Table environed with so many Noble Captains and his Chamber tapistred with Ensignes But to speak truth it was much more agreeable to generous Souls to see that amongst so many subjects of Vanity and Pride and in so just resentments of those bloudy injuries done him things which often transport the sweetest Souls to insolence and cruelty there could not be observed either in his words or countenance the least sign that might breed any suspition that either his Constancy or Goodness were ever so little altered but on the contrary shewing himself as Courteous and Humane in his victory as he had shewed himself brave and redoubtable in fight he sent back almost all the Prisoners without ransome restored their baggage to many took great care of the wounded and gave the body of Joyeuse and S. Saveur to the Viscount de Turenne who was their Kinsman and dispatched the next morning his Master of Requests to the King to intreat peace of him from whence it was judged that so great a courage would overcome all its enemies and that nothing would be capable to renverse his fortune whom so great a prosperity was not able to move He was however blamed for not having hotly pursued his victory and for having permitted that Triumphant Army to break by not again employing them in some great exploit It was believed and there was much appearance for it that he would not press things too forward for fear of too much offending the King with whom he desired yet to keep some measures hoping daily that he might reconcile himself to him and return to Court where it was necessary he should be that he might be in a condition to take the Crown when Henry the third should dye In fine were it for this reason or other he retired into Gascoigne and from thence into Bearne under pretext of some affairs carrying with him only Five hundred horse and the Count of Soissons whom he kept neer him out of hopes to make him Espouse his sister The Prince of Conde returned to Rochel and Turenne to Perigord In the mean time that great Army of
and attended onely by one Page passing the Bridge went to give a visit to the King They entertained one another a long time in two or three Conferences in which our Henry gave great marks of his Capacity and Judgement Their Resolution in sum was to raise a puissant Army to assault Paris which was the principal head of the Hydra and gave motion to all the rest a thing easie for them to do because the King expected great Levies from towards the Switzers whither he had sent Sancy for that purpose adding that the designe of the siege being published it would infallibly draw a great number of Souldiers and Adventurers out of hopes of so rich a pillage The two Kings having passed two days together he of Navarre went to Chinon to cause the rest of his Troops to advance who hitherto had refused to mingle themselves among the Catholicks During his absence the Duke of Mayenne who had taken the Field fell upon the Suburbs of Tours thinking to surprize the City and the King within it by means of some intelligence The Combat was very bloody and the Dukes designe wanted little of taking effect but after the first endeavours having lost the hopes to compass it he easily retired Afterwards the Kings Troops being wonderfully increased they marched conjoyntly he and the King of Navarre towards Orleans took all the little places thereabouts and from thence descended into Beauce and drew together all of a suddain towards Paris All the Posts round about it as Poissy Estampes and Meulan were either forced or obtained Capitulation in which they desired no other security then the word of the King of Navarre to which they trusted more then to all the Writings of Hen. 3. So great a profession made he of keeping his word even to the prejudice of his interests Let us consider a little the different Estate to which these two Kings were reduced by their different conduct The One for having often broken his Faith was abandoned by his Subjects and his greatest Oaths found no belief amongst them and the Other for having always exactly kept it was followed even by his greatest Enemies in all occasions he gave marks of his Valour and Experience in point of War but above all of his Prudence and of those Noble Inclinations he had to good and to oblige all the world He was always seen in the most dangerous places to accelerate Labours animate his Souldiers sustain them in Sallies comfort the wounded and cause Money to be distributed amongst them He observed all inquired into all and would himself with the Marshal of the Camp order the Lodgings of his Souldiers He observed strictly what was done in the Army of Henry 3. where though he often found faults he concealed them out of fear to offend those who had committed them by discovering their ignorance and when he believed himself oblito take notice of them he did it with so much Circumspection that they could not finde any reason to take it in ill part He was never niggardly of giving praises due to Noble Actions nor of Caresses and generous Deport to those came near him he entertained himself with them when he had time to do it or at least so obliged them with some good word that they still went away satisfied He feared not at all to make himself familiar because he was assured that the more men knew him the more they would esteem him In fine the conduct of this Prince was such that there was no heart he gained not nor no friend he had who would not willingly have become his Martyr Paris was already besieged the King lodged at St. Clou and our Henry at Meudon keeping with his Troops all that is between Vanvres to the Bridge of Charenton Sancy was already arrived with his Levies of Suisses and they laboured with Orders to give a general Assault to the end they might gain the Suburbs beneath the River The Duke of Mayenne who was in the City with his Troops expecting those Supplies the Duke of Nemours was to bring was in great apprehensions that he should not be able to sustain the furious shock was preparing when a young Jacobin of the Convent of Paris named James Clement spurred on by a Resolution as devilish and detestable as it was determinate smote King Henry the third with a blow of a knife in the Belly of which he died the morrow after If the frantick Monk had not been slain upon the place by the Kings Guards many things might have been known which are now concealed Our Henry being advertized late in the Evening of this mournful Accident and of the danger in which the King was came to his Lodging accompanied onely by five and twenty or thirty Gentlemen and being arrived a little before he expired he fell on his knees to kiss his hands and received his last Embraces The King named him many times his Good Brother and Legitimate Successour recommended the Kingdome to him exhorted the Lords there present to acknowledge him and not to disunite In fine after having conjured him to embrace the Catholick Religion he gave up the Ghost leaving all his Army in an astonishment and confusion which cannot be expressed and all the Chiefs and Captains in Irresolutions and different Agitations according to their Humours Fancies or Interests The Second PART OF THE LIFE OF Henry the Great Containing what he did from the day he came to the Crown of France until the Peace which was made in the year 1598. by the Treaty at Vervin THE Death of Henry the third caused an entire change in the face of affairs Paris the League and the Duke of Mayenne were transported from a profound Sadness to a furious Joy and the Servants of the Defunct King from a Pregnant Hope to see him Revenged to an extreme Desolation This Prince who had been the object of the peoples hatred being now no more it seemed that that hatred should cease and by consequence the heat of the League relent but on the contrary not only all those who composed that faction but likewise many others who had held it for a Crime to League themselves against Henry the third their Catholick and Legitimate King believed themselves in Conscience Obliged to oppose themselves against our Henry at least till such time as he should return into the bosome of the true Church a qualification they believed absolutely necessary for that him should succeed Charlemagne of S. Lewis So that if the League lost that heat which hatred gave it it gained one much more specious from a zeal to Religion and had likewise a most plausible pretext not to lay down Arms till Henry should Profess the Religion of his Ancestors It was very difficult to judge whether the point of time wherein this unhappy Parricide arrived were good or ill for him for on one side it seemed that Providence had not drawn him from the
utmost parts of the Kingdom where he was like a banished man and led him by the hand to the fairest Theatre in France but only to make known his goodness and virtue and put him in an Estate to gain that Succession to which had he been absent he had never been called But on the other side when the multitude of his Puissant enemies which armed themselves against him are considered the small Treasure and few Forces he had the Obstacle of his Religion and a thousand other difficulties it could not be certainly judged whether the Crown was ordained for him to enjoy or fallen upon his head to crush him in Pieces and there might be reason to say that if this Conjuncture Elevated him it was upon a Throne trembling and erected on the brink of Precipices Whilst Henry the third was in his Agony our Henry held many Tumultuary Councels in the same lodgings with those whom he Esteemed his most faithful Servants So soon as he understood he was expired he retired to his quarter at Meudon and attired himself in the mourning Purple he was presently followed by a great quantity of Noblemen who accompanied him as well for Curiosity as affection The Hugonots with those Troops which he had led presently swore Allegiance to him but this number was very small Some of the Catholicks as the Marshal d' Aumâ—nt Givry and Humieres swore Service to him until death and that willingly without desiring any Condition of him but the greatest part of the others being either estranged by inclination or exasperated by some discontent or else believing now to have found the time to make their Services be bought kept at a greater distance and held several little Assemblies in divers places where they formed a number of Fantastick designs Each of these proposed to make themselves Sovereigns of some City or some Province as the Governours had done in the decadence of the house of Charlemagne The Marshal of Byron among others would have had the County of Perigord and Sancy not to reject him spoke to the King This Proposition was very dangerous for if he denied it he incensed him and if he accorded to his demand he opened the way to all others to make the like and so the Kingdome would be rent in Peices It was only his great spirit and understanding which could walk safely in so dangerous a path he therefore charged Sancy to assure him on his part of his affection of which he would willingly in time and place give him all the markes a good Subject could expect from his Sovereign but at the same time he furnished him with so many puissant reasons wherefore he could not accord to what he desired that Sancy being himself first perswaded found it not difficult to work the same effect on the spirit of Byron whom he obliged not only to renounce that pretence but likewise to protest that he would never suffer any peice of the Estate to be dismembred in favour of whomsoever We may without doubt conclude that the great Henry did reason puissantly and that he explained his reasons in the best manner since he could in occasions so important perswade such able Spirits against their proper interests Byron being thus gained went with Sancy to assure themselves of those Suisses which Sancy had brought to the deceased King but who being of the Catholick Cantons made some difficulty to bear Arms for a Hugonot Prince and that without new order from their Superiour As for the French Troops of the Defunct King it was not so easie to gain them The Lords who Commanded them or who had their Chiefs under their dependance had every one divers designs one would have one thing and the other another according to their several interests or Caprichio's There were six Princes of the house of Bourbon to wit the old Cardinal of Vendosme the Count of Soissons the Prince of Gonti the Duke of Montpensier and the Prince of Dombes his Son which in stead of being his firmest Prop gave him no little inquietude because there was none of them which had not his particular pretence which proved to him a continual Obstacle Many of the Lords which were in the Army were not very well intentionated particularly Henry Grand Prior of France Natural Son to Charles the ninth after Count of Auvergne and Duke of Angoulesme the Duke of Espernon and Termes Belle-garde who out of the fear they had formerly had lest he should deprive them of the favour of their Master had opposed him in divers Rencounters For the Courtiers as Francis d' O and Manou his brother Old-Castle and many others they knowing that our Henry detested their Villanous Debaucheries and that he would not prove a person of so ill management as to lavish out his Revenues to supply their Luxury had no great inclination for him Nevertheless hoping to find things better they resolved to declare in his favour but with such Conditions as should restrain and bridle him and in some manner oblige him to depend on them For this purpose there met an Assembly of some Noblemen at d' O's Palace a man Voluptuous Prodigal and by consequence not very scrupulous but who at present made Conscience a Cloak to render himself necessary who there resolved not to acknowledge him till he were a Catholick Francis d' O accompanied with some Noblemen had the confidence to carry to the King the Resolutions of this Assembly and added a studied discourse to perswade him to return to the Catholick Religion but the King who had already past over his greatest fears made them an answer so mixt with sweetness and gravity with spirit and reservedness that Couragiously repulsing them without too severely taunting them he testified to them that he desired to conserve them his but that after all he feared not much the loss of them Some time after the Nobility after divers little Assemblies held a great one with Francis de Luxembourg Duke of Piney There many Propositions being made at last the Dukes of Montpensier and Piney subtilly Matraged the Spirits and Steered the Opinions of the most importunate to this Resolution That they would acknowledge Henry for King upon these Conditions 1. Provided that he would cause himself to be instructed for they presupposed conversion must necessarily follow instruction 2. That he should not permit the exercise of any but the Catholick Religion 3. That he should neither give charge nor employment to the Hugonots 4. That he should permit the Assembly to depute Agents to the Pope to let him understand and agree to the Causes which Obliged the Nobility to remain in the Service of a Prince separated from the Romane Church The King had the knowledge of this Resolution from the Duke of Piney he thanked them for their zeal for the Conservation of the Estate and the affection they had for his person promising them that he would sooner
lose his life then the remembrance of those good services they had rendred him and granting them easily all the points they demanded only the second In stead of which he promised them to re-establish the exercise of the Catholick Religion through all his Territories and to remit the Ecclesiasticks into the possession of their Estates and of this he caused a Declaration to be ingrossed which after all the Lords and Gentlemen of Note had signed he sent to be confirmed by that part of the Parliament which was at Tours There were many who signed it with some regret and others who absolutely refused it among whom were the Duke of Espernon and Lewis d' Hospital Vitry This last disturbed as it was said by a scruple of Conscience cast himself into Paris and gave himself for some time to the League but first of all he abandoned the Government of Dourdan which the Defunct King had given him Such were then the Maxims of persons of true honour in the Civil Wars that in quitting one party which ever it was they quitted likewise those places they held and returned them to those had conferred them The Duke d' Espernon protesting that he would never be either Spaniard or Leaguer but that his Conscience would not permit him to stay with the King demanded leave of him to retire to his Government The King after having in vain endeavoured to retain him gave him leave with many Carresses and prayses but so much was he in his heart troubled at his abandoning him that it hath been believed he conserved against him a secret resentment so long as he lived The Duke of Mayenne was not a little troubled in Paris what resolution he should take he saw that all the Parisians even those who had held of the party of the Defunct King had fully resolved to provide for the security of Religion But that however they would all have a King contrary to some of the Sixteen who imagined they might form a Republick and turn France into Cantons like to the Suisses but those were neither sufficiently powerful in Number Riches or Capacity to Conduct such a design So that the most part of his friends counselled him to take the title of King but when he went about to sound this Gulfe he found that this proposition was neither agreeable to the people nor yet to the King of Spain from whom he received and was to receive his Principal stay and means of Subsistence Hereupon two other Counsels were given him the one to accord willingly with the new King who without doubt in the conjuncture wherein things were would grant him most advantagious conditions The other that he should by Declaration publish to the Catholicks of the Royal Army that all resentments remaining Extinct by the Death of Henry the third he had no other interest then that of Religion That that point being of Divine obligation and regarding all good Christians he summoned and conjured them to joyn with him to exhort the King of Navarre to return to the Church upon which they promised to acknowledge him immediately for King but if that he refused to do it they protested to Substitute in his place another Prince of the blood This advice was the best And indeed it was proposed by Jeannin President of the Parliament of Burgongne one of the wisest and most Politick heads of his Councel and who acted in his affairs without Sleights or Stratagems but with great judgement and singular Honesty The Duke of Mayenne equally rejected both these advices and took a third to wit the causing the old Cardinal of Bourbon who was at present detained prisoner by order of our Henry to be proclaimed King still reserving to himself the quality of Lieutenant-General of the Crown He published after several Declarations one of which he sent to the Parliament the other to the Provinces and the Nobility inviting them to endeavour to deliver their King and defend their Religion At the same time the King tried by divers Negotiations and caused him to be exhorted rather to seek his advancement by his friendship then by the troubles and miseries of France But to this the Duke answered that he had engaged his Father in the Publick cause and given Oath to King Charles the tenth for so they called the old Cardinal of Bourbon who was named Charles to whom according to the sentiment of the League the Crown appertained as to the nearest Kinsman of the Defunct And in the mean time he entertained Plots and Conspiracies in the Royal Army where his emissaries from day to day debauched many persons even of those whom the King believed most assured There were many Generous enough to resist the temptations of Silver but nothing was proof against the intrigues of the Ladies of Paris who cunningly attracted the Gentlemen and the Officers in the City sparing nothing to engage them The King knowing that there daily remained some catch'd in these snares and having just reason to fear that those which returned tempted by their Mistresses might bring back some perâ—itious designs and the Duke of Nemours being upon the advance with his Troops to joyne with the Duke of Mayenne the Duke of Lorrain being likewise to send his having cause to doubt his retreat might be cut off on all sides found it convenient to discamp from before Paris But before he dislodged he writ to the Protestant Princes to give them an account of what he did and to assure them that nothing should be capable to shake his Constancy or separate him from Christ and he spoke at present according to his thoughts and Conscience not having any desire to change which yet the Ministers of his Religion would not believe but watched him so close on this Subject that they became importunate It was oertainly an unspeakable trouble which continually for three or four years he was forced to undergo to hear on one side the exhortatious of those people and on the other the most instant Remonstrances of the Catholicks for it was necessary he should allay the distrust of the first and entertain the second with continual hopes of making himself be instructed How much prudence had he need of how much patience with how much jugdement and policy must he manage such great differences Certainly he could not do it without imploying all the powers of his Spirit and experience And he well knew how far it was necessary for a Prince to have his Spirit happily exercised and to be well instructed how to Negotiate and Speak well to be able at his necessity to serve himself of his talent Without falsity he might well at present praise those who having had the care of bringing him up had formed him in his youth to the Management of affairs to Treating with men and to the gaining the affections of all the world Those last devoirs he desired to render his Predecessor served as a fair
to Mass whether he would or not He was so much affrighted at it or feigned to be so that he took the Field gathered together his surest friends and caused the English Forces to come and lodge in the Suburbs of Limay At the same time the Duke de Feria Ambassador from the King of Spain to the States-General arrived at Paris he presented to them a very civil Letter on the part of his Master and made them a large Speech by which he exhorted them to expedite the naming of a King offering them all assistance both of men and monies In effect the King of Spain passionately desired the chusing of one because as we have said he would give him in marriage his Daughter Isabella whom he singulaâ—ly loved It was therefore now time that our Henry should either publish to the world that he would persevere in his Religion without wavering in which case he must resolve on a War of which possibly he might never see the end or return into the bosome of the Catholick Church The Spaniolized Leaguers feared above all things this change which would take from them all pretext the good Catholicks ardently wished it they onely feared lest his Conversion should be feigned the rigid Hugonots endeavoured to divert him threatning him with the Judgements of God if he abandoned said they the Evangelical Truth But all Polititians both of the one and the other Religion counselled him not to delay it They told him that of all Canons the Canon of the Mass would prove best to reduce the Cities of his Kingdome they besought him that he would serve himself of it and to their Prayers they added Threats to abandon him and to retire themselves being wearied with consuming themselves in his service for the Capricio of some obstinate Preaching-Ministers who hindred him from embracing the Religion of his Predecessors Besides these humane Motives God who is never wanting to those who seek him with submission cleared his understanding with his holy Lights and rendred him capable to receive the saving instructions of the Catholick Prelates This resolution taken he immediately gives advice of it to the Deputies of the League in the Conference of Surene It cannot be imagined how great was their astonishment nor how the Duke of Mayenne was surprized for they least of all expected to hear this News The Spaniards and the Legat having advice that he was about to convert pressed the Estates more vehemently to elect a King and seeing that the French would not accept of any but one of their own Nation they proposed that their King should name a French Prince who should reign wholly and individually with the Infanta Isabella When the Parliament understood this and that the Estates were not averse to this Proposition that great Body though captive and dismembred remembring its ancient Vigour ordained That Remonstrances should be made to the Duke of Mayenne that he should maintain the Fundamental Laws of the Estate and that he should hinder the Crown the Lieutenancy of which was committed to him from being transferred to Strangers moreover declaring null all Treaties made or that should be made which should be contrary to that Law of the Estate It was suspected that this Arrest was made by Collusion with the Duke of Mayenne but Villeroy the greatest States-man of the Kingdom gave this Testimony for the Parliament that it took the counsel from himself Having no other Motives then those of Honour and Duty as persons who would chuse rather to loose their lives then be wanting either of the one or the other by conniving at the renversement of the Laws of the Realm of which by their institution they are Protectors and obliged to maintain them by the Oath given them at their Reception These words are all very memorable The Vigour of this Arrest made all those good French-men which were in Paris and in the Estates take heart and at the same time the taking of Dreux which the Kings Army forced caused a great astonishment among the most passionate Leaguers Nevertheless the Spaniards ceased not to pursue their designe The Duke of Mayenne thinking to stop their course made excessive Demands before any proceed should be made to the election of a King but that they might come to their point they granted him all and in the end they declared that their King would name to the Estates the Duke of Guise to whom he would give his Daughter in marriage and all forces necessary to assure him the Crown if they found it convenient to give him their Suffrages and elect him Never was man more astonished then the Duke of Mayenne when he saw that he should be constrained to obey his Nephew and that his Authority must end His Wife yet more impatient then he could not refrain from making appear her despite and jealousie and rather then suffer that they should confer the Crown on this young Prince she counselled her Husband to make peace with the King at any price whatsoever He was in effect resolved to do all things rather then raise his Nephew above himself and therefore he employed all sorts of means to hinder him and to this purpose he concluded a Truce with the King notwithstanding the oppositions of the Legat and Spaniards In pursuance of this Truce the King came to St. Denis where there met many Prelates and Doctors by whose care he caused himself to be instructed An Historian reports that the King causing a Conference to be held before him between the Doctors of the one and the other Church and hearing a Minister grant that one might be saved in the Religion of the Catholicks his Majesty breaking silence and speaking to the Minister How said he do you agree that one may be saved in the Religion of these Gentlemen The Minister answering that he doubted it not so that they lived well the King very judiciously replyed Prudence will that I should be of their Religion and not of yours because being of theirs I may be saved both according to their opinion and yours but being of yours I can be saved onely according to your opinion but not according to theirs Prudence therefore teaches me to follow the most assured And thus after long instructions in which he would amply be cleared in all his Doubts he abjured his Errour made profession of the Catholick Faith and received Absolution in the Abby-Church of St. Denis in the moneth of July by the Ministery of Renaud de Beaune Archbishop of Bourges That Evening the whole Champaign between Paris and Pointoise was made shine with fires of Joy and great number of Parisians who had flocked to St. Denis to see this Ceremony brought back an entire satisfaction and fill'd the whole City with esteem and affection for the King insomuch that they called him no longer Bearnois but absolutely King The Estates of Paris sate no long time after The Duke
soon converted into a Frugality very necessary for the State He had chosen for his Council very able and faithful Ministers as Chiverny Bellievre Sillery Sancy Janin Villeroy and Rosny I speak not here at all of his gallant Men for War as the Marshal of Byron Lesdiguieres Governour of the Daulphinate the Duke of Mayenne the Constable of Montmorency the Marshal de la Chastre the Marshal d' Aumont Guitry la Noue and many others of whom he served not himself in the Administration of State-affairs though he often entertained himself with them and for their honour sometimes communicated to them things of consequence demanding their advice The Chancellour of Chiverny who had been raised to this charge under the reign of Henry the third was a man cold dissembled and considerate but as his Enemies said he was a much better Pleader then Counsellour of State He died the year following and in his place the King constituted Pompone de Bellievre a man perfectly accomplished in the knowledge of the Rights and Interests of France and a most expert Negotiator as he well shewed in the Treaty of Vervin He was old when the King gave him this Charge and therefore said himself That he onely entred into it to go out of it He counselled the King to make a severe Act against Duels He established a very good Order in the Council and ordained That none should be received Master of the Requests but who had been ten whole years in one of the Soveraign Companies or sixteen in other of the Subalternate Seats Nicholas Bruslard de Sillery President of the Cap to the Parliament of Paris who was his Son-in-law and who had been his Companion at Vervin was of a spirit sweet facile and circumspect It hath been said that the Publick never beheld any passion either in his Countenance or Discourse Harlay-Sancy was a man free bold and dauntless who feared no person when he acted for the service of the King but he was a little rugged and spoke to him too freely witness what he said concerning Madam Gabriella who knew how to return it to him As for Janin President of the Parliament of Bourgongne and Villeroy chief Secretary of State they had both taken part with the League and yet very profitably served both the King and France having in what they acted endeavoured onely for the defence of the Catholick Religion and not been moved out of a spirit of faction They had hindred the Spaniards from planting themselves in this Realm and the Duke of Mayenne from absolutely casting himself upon them as his despair had often perswaded him to do They agreed both in this point that they loved the Estate and Royalty with passion and that they had great judgement but for the rest of their humours they were very much different Janin was an old Gaul who would manage his Affairs by the ancient forms according to the Laws and Ordinances a good Lawyer firm and resolute who went directly towards his end and who knew no subtile turnings and windings but entirely loved the publick good Villeroy was one of the wisest and most exact Courtiers that was ever seen he had a spirit clear and neat which would unravel with an incredible facility the most embroyled Affairs explain them so agreeably and intelligibly as nothing more and who turned them as himself pleased He was wonderfully active withal and most excellent at finding Expedients taking his business by so sure hold that it was difficult to escape him The King often conferred with these Counsellours for they were now so called and not Ministers as they had been for above thirty years before He spoke to them of his Affairs sometimes to be instructed and sometimes to instruct them which he did either in the Council-chamber or walking in the Gardens of the Tuilleries Monceaux St. Germain and Fontainbleau He discoursed often with them apart calling them one after another and he did so either to oblige them to speak to him with more liberty or not to tell them all together what he would onely tell to some particularly or for some other reason which he without doubt deduced from good policy He said That he found none amongst them who satisfied him like Villeroy and that he could dispatch more business with him in an hour then with the others in a whole day As for Maximilian de Bethune Baron of Rosny and after Duke of Sully he had been bred up with the King in the Hugonot Religion and the King had known his capacity and affection in divers affairs of consequence but above all that his genius carried him to the good management of Revenues and that he had all qualities requisite for that purpose In effect he was a man of good order exact a good husband a keeper of his word not prodigal nor proud nor carried away by vain follies or expences or play or women or any other things not convenient for a man entrusted with such an Employment Moreover he was vigilant laborious expeditious and one who dedicated almost his whole time to his affairs and little to his pleasure and withal he had the gift of piercing into the very bottome of matters and unravelling those twistings and knots with which Treasurers when they are not trusty and faithful endeavour to conceal their deceits We have already said how the King desired above all things to provide for a good Government in his Revenues and the reasons for which he had been obliged to leave Francis d' O in the charge of Superintendant After this man was dead he gave that charge to five or six persons whom he believed both capable and honest men he was perswaded that he should be better served by them then by one alone imagining that they would serve as checks and controulers to one another But the quite contrary happened every one discharged himself on his Companion nothing was advanced and if any would act the others were not wanting to cross him by their jealousies so that they only agreed in this point that every one looked that his Salary was well paid him which cost the King six times more then if he had had only one Superintendent whilst he drew no profit from this multitude Knowing then that so many people did onely imbroil his Revenues he returned them again into the hands of one and this was Sancy But a short time after finding him more proper for other Employments then that he gave him Rosny for a Companion and after made Rosny alone Superintendent Rosny before he entred into this Charge was provided with all necessary knowledges to acquit himself well of it he knew perfectly all the Revenues of the Kingdom and all the expences which were necessary He communicated all he knew to the King who on his part had likewise studied all these things so that an hundred Crowns could not be laid out but he would
but I with my Gray Jacket will give you good effects I am all Gray without but you shall find me Gold within I will see your desires and answer them the most favourably I can possible All his Prudence and all his Address were not too much to teach him to govern himself so that both the Catholicks and Pope might be content with his Conduct and the Hugonots have no cause to be alarmed or cantonize themselves His Duty and his Conscience carried him to the assistance of the first but Reason of State and the great Obligations he had to the last permitted him not to make them despair To keep therefore a necessary temperature he granted them an Edict more ample then the precedent It was called The Edict of Nantes because it was concluded the year before in that City whilst he was there by this he granted them all liberty for the exercise of their Religion and likewise license to be admitted to Charges to Hospitals to Colledges and to have Schools in certain places and preaching every where and many other things of which they are since deprived by reason of their Rebellions and divers Enterprizes The Parliament strongly opposed it for more then a year but in the end when they were made understand that not to accord that security to the Hugonots who were both powerful and quarrelsome were to rekindle new War in the Kingdom they confirmed it On the other side to sweeten the Pope who might be troubled at this Edict the King shewed him all possible manner of respect and strenuously embraced his interests as appeared in the action of Ferrara in the years 1597. and 1598. This Dutchy is a Fief Male of the holy Seat of which the Popes had formerly invested the Lords of the house of Est in charge of its reversion in default of legitimate Males Alphonso d' Est second of that name and last Duke died in the year 1597. without Children and had left great Treasures to Caesar d' Est Bastard to Alphonso the first his Kinsman He had done what possibly he could to obtain the Investiture of the Dutchy on this Bastard who not able to obtain it yet ceased not to take possession of it after the death of Alphonso the second resolving to maintain it by force of Arms. Clement the eighth was obliged to make War against him to dispossess him the Princes of Italy took part in the Quarrel and the Dukes of Guise and Nemours were upon the point to undertake the defence of Caesar whose near Kinsmen they were being the issues of Anne d' Est Daughter of Hercules the second Duke of Ferrara and of Madam Renee de France for that Anne in her first marriage had espoused Francis Duke of Guise and in her second James Duke of Nemours The King of Spain likewise favoured him underhand not desiring that the Pope should grow greater in Italy by the re-union of that Dutchy But Henry the great was not wanting to take this occasion to offer his Sword and his Forces to the holy Father The Allies knowing it were extreamly disheartned and he constrained to treat with the Pope to whom he surrendred all the Dutchy of Ferrara There remained to him onely the Cities of Modena and Regia which the Emperour maintained to be Fief of the Empire and of which he gave him the Investiture From whence came the present Dukes of Modena If the heat which the King testified in this occasion for the interests of the holy Seat sensibly obliged the Pope that care which he made dayly appear to bring back the Hugonots into the bosome of the Church was no less agreeable to him He acted to this purpose in such a manner that from day to day many of the most understanding and of the best quality were converted But that which was more important was his taking the young Prince of Conde from the hands of the Hugonots who had kept him diligently at St. John d' Angely ever since the death of his Father which happened in the year 1587. and brought him up in the false Religion with great hope to make him one day their Chief and Protector The King considering how it would be both prejudicial to the safety of the young Prince and to his own interests to leave him longer there knew so well how to gain the principal of the party that they suffered him to be brought to Court and he gave him for Governour John Marquess of Pisani a Lord of a rare merit and of a wisdome without reproach who forgot not to instruct him well in the Catholick Religion and in the truest sentiments of Honour and Vertue He was yet but seven or eight years old when he came to nine the King gave him the Government of Guyenne loving him tenderly and cherishing him as his presumptive Successour During this calm of the peace nothing was spoken of but rejoycings feasts and marriages That of the Infanta of Spain Isabella-Clara-Eugenia and of the Arch-Duke Albert was solemnized in the Low-Countries and that of Madam Katherine sister of the King with Henry Duke of Bar eldest son to Charles the second Duke of Lorrain at Paris Katherine was forty years of age more agreeable then fair having one Leg a little short She was very spiritual loved Learning and knew much for a woman but was an obstinate Hugonot The King feared lest she should marry some Protestant Prince who by this means might become Protector of the Hugonots and be like another King in France by reason of which he gave her to the Duke of Bar thinking moreover to gain more belief among the Catholicks by allying himself with the house of Lorrain Before this he had used all possible means to convert her even to the employing of threats but not being able to do it he said one day to the Duke of Bar My Brother it is you must vanquish her There was some difficulty about the place and the Ceremony of Celebration of this marriage the Duke would have it done at the Church and the Princess by a Hugonot-Minister The King found a mean he caused it to be done in his Closet whither he led his Sister by the hand and commanded his natural Brother who had for about two years been Archbishop of Rouen to marry them This new Archbishop at first made some refusal of it alledging the Canons but the King representing to him that his Closet was a consecrated place and that his presence supplyed the default of all solemnities the poor Archbishop had no longer power to resist him This Marriage being made for the good of the Catholick Religion it seemed that the Pope should have been content Nevertheless not willing to suffer an ill that a good might come of it he declared that the Duke of Bar had incurred Excommunication for having without the dispensation of the Church contracted with an Heretick nor ever could the Duke
demolished it After the taking of this the King would visit Geneva so famous for being one of the Ramparts of the Protestant Religion Theodorus Beza the chief as well in age as in Doctrine of all the Hugonot Ministers made him a Speech in few words The Marshal de Biron having considered the place which the inhabitants had been forty years fortifying with great care and expence whether to make himself esteemed a great Captain or to shew the great zeal he had for the Catholick Religion boasted he could take it in twenty days A speech the King was not pleased with because France had taken it undeâ— its Protection since the Reign of Francis the first and was obliged to defend it against the Duke of Savoy who pretended that Seignory belonged to him In the meantime the Pope desiring above all things to extinguish the fire of this War had dispatched towards the King and towards the Duke his Nephew the Cardinal Aldobrandin who incessantly laboured to make a peace His greatest difficulty was to find knots strong and sure enough to hold the Duke of Savoy for those of his promises and his faith were so uncertain and so slippery that he could not trust them At the same time the King whose thoughts of his marriage the War had not interrupted imbarqued on the Rhone and went down to Lyons where the Queen his new Spouse was arrived and expected him The Legat would not discontinue the Treaty of peace he followed him to Lyons for that purpose where he made his entrance fifteen days after the Queen The Ambassadors of Savoy followed him but their power was given in such terms that the Duke might find ways to disavow it However when they saw the Citadel of Bourg reduced to extremity they instantly sollicited the Legat to renew the first earnests of the Treaty But he would do nothing till they had given it him in writing that they besought it for the good of their Masters affairs When the Articles were drawn up and agreed they were signed on the one part and the other and the peace was published at Lyons the seventeenth of January 1601. by which the Duke yeilded to the King and to his Successors Kings of France the Country and Seignories of Bresse Bugey and Veromey and generally all that appertained to him lying along the River Rhone from the egress of Geneva as likewise the Bailiwick and Barony of Gex and that in exchange of the Marquisate of Saluces which the King absolutely left to him both for himself and his The Treaty agreed likewise that all the places taken by the King from the Duke of Savoy should be restored but all the Kings pretended rights against the said Duke should be reserved to him according as was contained in the Treaties of Cateau in Cambresis and of Vervin By this exchange both the one and the other equally gained The King for a Marquisate of little extent distant from all his Territories and encompassed by those of Savoy and which he could not keep but by great Garisons which would consume twice more then the Revenue it yeilded gained a Country of more then twenty five Leagues extent which was bounding upon his which enlarged his Frontier in which he had eight hundred Gentlemen and which was very fertil and abundant principally in pastures to nourish Cattel The Duke appropriating to himself the Marquisate took a troublesome Thorn out of his foot or rather a Sword which pierced through his body and put himself in security For whilst the French held it he durst not go out of Turin but with three or four hundred horse for his Convoy and he was forced to maintain great Garisons in the midle of his Country The Treaty being signed the King departed from Lyons by Post to return to Paris whither the Queen followed him by little journies Some time after her arrival he led her to see his buildings of St. Germain in Laye This was one of his delights and certainly a very innocent one and which agrees well with a powerful Prince after he hath paid his great debts and eased his people of their heavy load of oppressive Impositions For by raising these proud Edifices he leaves the fair marks of his greatness and riches to posterity he embellishes his Kingdom attracts the admiration of his people makes strangers know that his Coffers swell with Treasure gives life and bread to a great number of poor handy-crafts-men labours profitably for his own conveniency and for that of his Successors and in fine makes Architecture Sculpture and painting flourish which have ever been infinitely esteemed by all the most Polite nations of the world Our Henry took not this divertisement but to recreate his spirit after labours and not to imploy it For he had his soul too great and his genius too elevated to dedicate it self wholly to such mean things much less to fix it on vain amusements It is true that he built that he hunted that he was merry but this was without diverting himself too much from his affairs without abandoning the helme of his estate which he held as firmely and diligently during the Calme as during the Tempest Moreover he had a care not to grow sleepy whilst it was fair weather which is often deceitful for besides that a good King ought to labour within his Estate during peace as well as without during war he knew that the Spaniard and the Savoyard still grumbled and contrived in their hearts some enterprize against him The Count of Fuentes having raised a great army to assist the Savoyard was troubled that the peace had deprived him of the occasion to employ them Some places he had taken in Picardy during the War between the two Crowns had created a vanity in him and made him believe that he should alwaies gain the advantage over the French At the same time the King of Spain had put to sea a Naval Army commanded by one Doria which had without doubt some designe on Provence if the peace had not been made And though it was concluded Fuentes ceased not to make an attempt of an enterprize upon Marseilles to cause a rupture Those with whom he held intelligence to this purpose offered the King to draw fix or seven hundred men into the snare and keep them prisoners or cut them in pieces But the King judged not so little advantage to countervail the giving subject to the enemies to break the peace and to re-enter into a War which might have proved very dangerous they being so powerfully Armed Moreover he feared lest there were still in his Estate some fire concealed under the embers which on the noise of a War might more facilely make their attempts upon his person For to tell the truth he had more reason to fear their Knives and Daggers then their Swords He therefore wisely dissembled this enterprize and answered the Marseillians That he knew not how to
Justice is denied them they may do it themselves and have recourse to force when their prayers cannot prevail This is the cause of almost all seditions and this is it which made all those beyond the Loire incensed at this imposition drive away the Factors and which is more kill some of them The Farmers on the other side sharpned the mischief by their furious threats that they would dismantle the rebellious Cities that they would build Citadels to keep them in awe And I believe that these Gentlemen did desire it should be so not out of love to the Kings Authority which they had still in their mouths but for their proper revenge and particular advantage The King having advice of these Commotions fearing left they were raised by the Emissaries of the faction of the Duke of Byron which he had then newly discovered a little after Easter departed from Fontainblean came from Blois and from thence to Poictiers There he favourably hearkned to the complaints of his people and remonstrated to the Deputies of the Cities of Guyenne That the Imposts raised were not to enrich his Ministers and Favourites as his Predecessour had done but to support the necessary charges of his Estate That if his demeans had been sufficient for it be would not have taken any thing out of his Subjects purses but since he had first employed all his own it was just they should contribute some of theirs That he passionately desired the ease of his Subjects and that none of his Predecessours had so much desired their prayers to God as he to bless the increase of his Realm That those Alarms given them that he had a designe to build Castles in the Cities were false and seditious for he desired to have no other Forts then in the hearts of his Subjects By these sweet Remonstrances he calmed all the seditions without having need of chastising them save onely that the Consuls of Limoges were deposed and the Pancarte for so it was they called the Sol pour livre established But this was onely for the honour of the Royal Authority for soon after this Prince the most just and best that ever was knowing the extream Vexations it caused revoked and utterly abolished it The second thing which gave him yet more trouble and which was capable to overthrow his Kingdome if it were not remedied was The Conspiracy of Marshal Byron It is to be understood that Laffin had been the principal Instrument of intelligence between the Marshal and the Duke of Savoy he had carried and re-carried Letters and had had some Conferences with the Duke and with the Count of Fuentes so that he understood the whole intrigue But seeing that there was no assurance in the words of the Savoyard and that Byron began to shake he resolved to discover the whole plot to the King were it that he feared lest if he should too long delay it it might be discovered other ways or that he hoped by this service to gain a great recompence and restore himself to the Kings favour with whom he stood on very ill terms Having laid this designe he employed the Vidame of Chartres his Nephew to obtain from the King his Grace and Oblivion of all passed on condition that he discovered to him the Complices of the Conspiracy and furnished him with proofs He had preserved several Letters committed to his keeping but they said not enough nor spoke so clearly as to make a Conviction But to pass an absolute one see what he did Byron had some Notes written with his own hand wherein the Conspiracy was laid down in Articles Laffin remonstrated to him that it was an imprudence to keep them and to communicate them because his writing was too well known that it would be more secure to make a Copy and burn the Original Byron approving his counsel gives them him to transcribe He indeed transcribes them whilst Byron lay on his Bed afterwards giving him the Copy and ruffling up the Original he makes shew of casting it into the fire but by a premeditated cunning he casts in some other Papers and keeps them A thing of this importance deserved well the care of Byron himself in its burning but he not taking it because God so permitted that negligence cost him his life as we shall see After this Laffin continuing still his devices to endeavour yet to gather some more particular secrets he went disguised to Milan and conferred with the Count Fuentes but this close and able Spaniard finding well that he would betray them shewed himself more reserved It hath been reported that Laffin having knowledge of this distrust was fearful lest he should make him away and therefore returned by the unusual and unfrequented ways of which the Duke of Savoy being advertized by Fuentes kept prisoner the Secretary of Laffin named Renaze for fear lest he should go serve as a witness against Byron In their Conferences they had proposed to dismember the Kingdom of France That the Duke of Savoy should have Provence and the Daulphinate Byron Bourgongne and la Bresse with the third Daughter of the Duke in marriage and fifty thousand Crowns for Dower some others should be Lords of other Provinces with the quality of Peers That all these little Soveraigns should hold their right from the King of Spain That to compass this designe the Spaniards should with a puissant Army enter the Kingdom and the Savoyard with another That they should cause the Hugonots to stir and at the same time revive many discontents in several places and animate the people already much incensed by the Pancarte or Tax of a Sol pour livre All these propositions say some were made in the time of the war against Savoy and the Marshal of Byron grown outragious at the Kings refusal to give him the Citadel of Bourg had not only lent his eare but had engaged himself very far in these damnable designs However he seemed to have repented himself for he had confessed them to the King walking with him in the Cloister of the Cordiliers at Lions and had demanded pardon of him but he had neglected to take an abolition or script of indempnity contrary to the advice of the Duke d' Espernon who was more wise and considerate then he But a little after repenting himself for having repented he was returned to his first fault and yet entertained correspondence with strangers Moreover he spoke of the King with little respect abasing the splendor of his worthy actions glorifying his own and boasting that he had put the Crown on his head and preserved France In fine all his discourses were onely Bravadoes Rhodomontadoes and Threats All this was reported to the King It was told him that he undervalued his great acts extolled the power of the King of Spain praysed the wisdome of that Princes Council his liberality in recompencing all good services and his zeal to defend
several Petitions of complaint against them accusing them of a great number of Exactions and Cruelties The Duke d' Espernon who without doubt sustained these Burgesses at the Court was sent by the King to accommodate this difference The Soboles who had offended him no longer trusted him they would not permit him to enter into the strongest Citadel nor let the Garison go out to meet him so that being justly incensed he envenomed the plague instead of healing it and animated the inhabitants in such a manner that they Barricadoed themselves against them The King who knew that the least sparkles were capable to kindle a great fire was not content to send La Varenne but went himself being moreover willing to visit that Frontier Sobole gave the place into his hands and he gave it to Arquien Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment of Guards with the Quality of Lieutenant of the King to command in the absence of the Duke d' Espernon Governour who had no great power so long as the King lived The King passed the Feast of Easter at Mets. Whilst he was there he hearkned to the request which the Jesuites made for their re-establishment He referred the doing them Justice till he should come to Paris and gave leave to Father Ignatius Armand and Father Coton to come to sollicite their cause They were not wanting to do it and Father Coton being of a sharp and witty discourse and a very famous Preacher gained so soon the favour of all the Court and pleased the King so well that he obtained from his Majesty the recalling of the Society into the Kingdom contrary to the opinion and advice of some of his Council He then re-established them by an Act which he caused to be confirmed in Parliament and caused to be thrown down that Pyramide which had been erected before the Palace in the place of the house of John Castel where there were many writings in Verse and Prose very bloody against these Fathers Thus was their banishment gloriously repaired and after all the King kept with him Father Coton as his Chaplain in Ordinary and Confessor and Director of his Conscience This was not accomplished till the year 1604. In these two years of 1602 and 1603. we have yet three or four important things to observe The first that the King at his departure from Mets went to Nancy to visit his Sister the Dutchess of Bar who died the year following without Children The second that he renewed the Alliance with the Suisses and some months after with the Grisons notwithstanding those Obstacles by which the Count of Fuentes endeavoured to oppose it The third was that in returning to Paris he received news of the Death of Elizabeth Queen of England one of the most Illustrious and most Heroick Princesses that ever Reigned and who Governed her Estate with more Prudence and Power then any of her Predecessors had ever done She was Daughter to King Henry the eighth and to that Anne of Bullen for whose love he had left Katherine of Arragon Aunt to Charles the fifth Emperour his first wife There was nothing wanting to the happiness of her Kingdom save the Catholick Religion which she banished out of England And we might give her the name of good as well as great if she had not dealt so inhumanely as she did with her Cousin-German Mary Stuart Queen of Scotland whom she kept eighteen years prisoner and after beheaded induced to it by some conspiracies which the Servants and Friends of that poor Princess had made against her person The Son of that Mary named James the sixth King of Scotland being the nearest of the blood-Royal of England as Grandchild to Margaret of England Daughter to King Henry the seventh and Sister to Henry the eighth married to James the fourth King of Scotland succeeded Elizbeth who had put his Mother to death He caused himself to be called King of Great Britain to unite under the same title the two Crowns of England and Scotland which indeed are but one Island formerly called by the Romans Magna Britania The Alliance of so powerful a King might make the balance incline to which side soever it were turned either of France or Spain For which reason both the one and the other immediately sent Magnificent Ambassadors to salute him each endeavouring to draw him to his side It was Rosny who went on the part of Henry the Great he obtained all the favourable Audience he desired and the confirmation of the ancient Treaties between France and England The Ambassador of Spain found not such facility in his Negotiation the English appeared resolute The Spaniards were forced to yeild that the place of the Treaty should be appointed in England and to grant the English free Taffick in all their Territories even in the Indies and give them liberty of Conscience in Spain so that they should not be subject to the Inquisition nor obliged to salute the holy Sacrament in the streets but onely turn from it France was in a profound peace as well without by the renewing of the Alliances with the Suisses and with England as within by the discovery of the Conspiracies which were quite dissipated the King enjoyed a repose worthy his labours and his past travail made his pleasure more sweet However he was not idle but was seen daily employed for he endeavoured with as much diligence to conserve peace that divine daughter of heaven as he had used courage and valour in making War He was often heard say That though he could make the house of France as powerful in Europe as that of the Ottomans was in Asia and conquer in a moment all the Estates of his neighbours yet he would not do so great a dishonour to his word by which he was obliged to the keeping of the Peace His most ordinary divertisements during this time were Hunting and Building He at the same time maintained workmen at the Church of the holy Cross at Orleans at St. Germain in Laye at the Louvre and at the Place Royal. The Nobility of France during this peace could not live out of action some passed their time in Hunting others with Ladies some in Studies of Learning and the Mathematicks others in travelling into Forraign Countries and others continued the Exercise of War under Prince Maurice in Holland But the greatest part whose hands as it were itched and who sought to signalize their valour without departing from their Countries became punctilious and for the least word or for a wry look put their hands to their swords Thus that madness of Duels entred into the hearts of the Gentlemen and these Combats were so frequent that the Nobility shed as much blood in the Meadows with their own hands as their enemies had made them lose in Battails The King therefore made a second and a most severe Edict which prohibited Duels confiscating the
caused likewise the Registers of Parliament and of the Notaries to be taken off the File with all informations which might conserve the memory of his Crime By this see an example how time causes a mutability in all things and how it changeth the greatest hatreds into the greatest affections and on the contrary transmutes the strongest affections into mortal hatreds By searching into the plot of the Marchioness her Father to deliver her with her Children to the Spaniards the designes of the Duke of Bouillon were likewise discovered who at present was the onely person could give the King any trouble in his own Kingdom It is most certain that this Prince had conferred on him very considerable Favours having given him the Staff of Marshal of France and procured him the marriage of the Heiress of Sedan and this Lord had likewise very well served him in his greatest necessities But after he saw him converted to the Catholick Faith he diminished much of his affection and moved partly by Zeal for his false Religion and partly by Ambition he conceived vast designes of making himself Chief and Protector of the Hugonot party and under that pretext make himself Master of the Provinces beneath the Loire It was believed that for this effect he had much assisted to exasperate the spirit of the Marshal of Byron and that he had made a Treaty with the Spaniard who was to furnish him with what money he desired but not with forces for fear of rendring himself odious to the Protestants It was but too visible that after the conversion of the King he had instantly laboured to beget distrusts and discontents in the spirits of the Hugonots and to unite and Rally them together that they might make a body perswading himself that that body must necessarily have a head and that they could chuse no other but himself And for these Reasons so many Assemblies were made and so many particular and general Synods of those of this Religion held wherein nothing was heard but complaints and murmurs against the King whom they continually wearied with new Requests and Demands Moreover it was found that this Duke had Emissaries and Servants in Guyenne and particularly in Limosin and Quercy who held private Councils among the Nobility distributed money and took oath of those who promised him service and had formed designes against ten or twelve Catholick Cities The King judging that he ought to dig up the root of this mischief before it extended farther and not knowing indeed to what it might extend resolved himself to go and remedy it He departed from Fontainbleau in the month of December having sent before Jean-Jacques de Mesmes Lord of Rossy to make process against those that were culpable Immediately all this conspiracy flew into smoak The best advised came to the King to cast themselves at his feet The chief Agent of the Duke of Bouillon being advertized that there was order given to arrest him brought his head to the King and told him both all he knew before and all that he did not know The others either fled out of the Kingdom or else hid themselves Five or six unfortunate persons being taken were beheaded at Limoges and their heads planted on the tops of the Gates their bodies burnt and the ashes thrown into the Air. Three or four others suffered the same punishment at Perigord There were ten or twelve condemned for Contumacy and their Effigies hanged up amongst others Chappelle-Byron and Giversac of the house of Cugnac But in all these procedures there were found no proofs by writing nor yet by any formal deposition against the Duke of Bouillon so cautiously and subtilly had he carried his business Before these executions the King having made his entrance into Limoges returned to Paris He passionately wished that after this the Duke of Bouillon would acknowledge and humble himself For if he remained impenitent he was obliged to prosecute him to the utmost and if he did prosecute him he offended all that great body of Protestants which were his faithful Allies He employed therefore underhand all means which he could devise to induce him to have recourse to his Clemency rather then to the intercession of strangers which a Soveraign could not agree to in the case of his Officer and Subject The Duke desired as much as he to draw himself out of this trouble but he believed he could not finde security at Court because Rosny who was not his friend and who had conceived some jealousie to see him more authorized then himself in the Hugonot party had so great credit with the King So that after many Treaties and Negotiations the King resolved to go seek him at Sedan with an Army Rosny laboured with great Zeal to make preparation for this Expedition The King confided much in him and by honouring him desired to testifie to the Hugonots that if he assaulted the Duke of Bouillon it was not against their Religion but the Rebellion he made War For this purpose he erected the Land of Sully into a Dutchy and Peerage wherefore we shall henceforward call him Duke of Sully His thoughts were that the King should pursue the Duke of Bouillon to the utmost Villeroy and the rest of the Council were of a contrary judgement they would not have the Siege of Sedan hazarded because the length of that Enterprize might possibly revive divers factions in the other corners of the Kingdom give time to the Spaniard to assault the Frontiers of Picaray to the discontented Savoyard to cast himself with the Forces of the Milanois on disarmed Provence and to the Hugonots and Protestants of Germany to come to the assistance of their friends The King well foresaw all these inconveniences and therefore having advanced to Donchery during the absence of Sully who was gone to provide Artillery he treated with the Duke of Bouillon and received him into grace on condition that he humbled himself before his Majesty and received him into the City of Sedan and delivered up the Castle to him to keep it with what Garison he should think fit for foâ—h years These were the publick Conditions but by the secret Articles the King promised the Duke to stay but five days in Sedan nor to put but fifty men in the Castle which should immediately depart upon humble supplication made by the Duke All these things were faithfully executed and without the least distrust either on the one side or the other The Duke came to meet the King at Donchery where he besought his pardon The King received him as if he had never been faulty and five or six days after entred into Sedan where he stayed onely three days and then returned to Paris The Duke accompanied him as far as Mouson passing then no further but some days after when he understood that the Parliament had confirmed his pardon in which were likewise comprehended his
Louvre and demanding his opinion of it The Escurial is much another thing said Don Pedro. I believe it replyed the King but has it a Paris about it like my Gallery One day Don Pedro seeing at the Louvre the Kings Sword in the hands of one of his followers advanced to it and putting one knee on the ground kissed it rendring this honour said he to the most glorious Sword in Christendom During the truce of eight months of which we have spoken the President Janin incessantly laboured for a Treaty There were two great difficulties one that the King of Spain would not treat with the United Provinces but as with Subjects and they would have him acknowledge them to be free and independent the other that the Prince of Orange whose power and authority would be extremely weakned by the Peace opposed it by a thousand Artifices being sustained in it by the Province of Zealand who ever desired War and by some Cities of its faction These two obstacles were in the end surmounted The Spaniard yeilded to the first and acknowledged that he owned the States for Free States Provinces and Countries and about the second the King spoke so high to the Prince of Orange that he durst not stop the course of the Treaty It ended no longer however in a Peace but onely in a Truce of twelve years which was free and assured Commerce on one part and on the other The renown of this accommodation carried the Kings glory throughout all Europe The Duke of Venice told our Ambassador in the Senate That that Signory entred into new admiration of the prudent conduct of our King who never deceived himself in his undertaking nor never gave blow in vain that he was the true upholder of the repose and felicity of Christendom and that it had nothing of happiness to desire but that he might reign for ever An Elogie so much the more worthy and glorious because we may say with truth that Venice hath still been the Seat of Politick wisdome and that the prayses which came from that Senate are as so many Oracles The Friendship and Protection of this great King was sought on all sides all was referred to his Arbitration and all implored his assistance And as he was equally powerful as wise feared as loved there was none who durst contradict his judgement or assault those whom he protected But he was so just that he would not enterprize any thing upon the Rights of another nor maintain the Rebellions of Subjects against their Soveraign A certain proof of which he gave to the Maurisques It is known how heretofore the Moores or Sarazins invaded all Spain towards the year 725. The Christians with the aid of the French had regained it from them by little and little so that there remained no more then the Kingdom of Granada which was little in Extent but very rich and extremely populous because all the remnants of that infidel Nation were retired into that little space Ferdinand King of Arragon and Isabella Queen of Castile finished the Conquest of that Kingdom in the year 1492. and so put an end to the Government of the Moores and to the Mahumetan Religion in Spain constraining the Infidels to take Baptism or to retire into Affrica Now as those who had thus professed the Christian Religion had done it perforce they for the most part remained Mahumetans in their hearts or Jews for there were many Jews amongst them and secretly brought up their children in their incredulity To which likewise the Spanish Rigor did much contribute putting great distinction between the new Christians and the old For they received not the new ones either to Charges or Sacred Orders they allied not themselves with them and which is worse made a thousand avanies upon them and oppressed them with excessive â—mposts So that these unfortunate people seeing themselves thus trampled on and being too weak of themselves to loosen themselves from their Yoak they resolved to address themselves to some strange power but which should be Christian because that of the King of Morrocco or the other Princes of Affrica would have appeared too odious To this effect they had secret recourse by Deputies to our Henry when he was then but King of Navarre Afterwards in the year 1595. when they saw that he had overcome the League and had got the upper hand in his affairs they again implored his Protection He hearkned favourably to their propositions sent disguised Agents into Spain to see the Estate of their affairs and made them hope that he would assist them And truly he might have done it since then he was in War with the King of Spain and it is lawful to make use of all sorts of Arms to defend our selves against our enemies But now being returned this year 1608. to sollicite him instantly to accept their propositions and offers and to hear the answer from his own mouth he plainly let them know that the quality of thrice-Christian King which he bore permitted him not to undertake their defence so long as the peace of Vervin lasted but that if the Spaniard should first openly infringe it he should have just cause to receive them into his Protection Their Deputies having lost all hopes on this side addressed themselves to the King of England whom they found yet less disposed then he to lend them assistance In the mean time their plots having taken wind in the Court of Spain caused both fear and astonishment for they were near a million of souls and were possessed of almost all the Traffick particularly that of Oiles which is very great in that Country King Philip the third found no other secure way to hinder the dangerous effects of their conspiracies but banishing them quite out of his Territories which he did by an Edict of the tenth of January in the year 1610. which was executed with much cruelty Inhumanity and Treachery For in Transporting these unfortunate people into Affrica as they had demanded part were drowned in the Sea others despoiled of all they had so that those who remained to depart perceiving the ill Treatment of their Companions fled towards France one part by land to St. John de Lus to the number of one hundred and fifty thousand others in French Vessels who brought them into divers ports of the Kingdom But to speak truth those who came by land were not much better treated by the French then the others had been by the Spaniards for in crossing the Countries they were almost all robbed and stript and their Wives and Daughters ravished so that finding so little safety in a Country wherein they believed they might find refuge they embarqued by the Kings permission in the Ports of Languedoc and crossed over into Affrica where they are become implacable and most cruel enemies to all Christians There remained some families in the Maritime Cities of the Kingdom
as in Bourdeaux and Rouen where it is suspected there is yet some of their Children who privately follow the obstinacy of their Fathers Much contrary to the taking the protection of these Infidels the King was about very great designes for the glory and extent of the Christian Religion towards the Levant But he would not declare himself till he had so ordered the Affairs of Christendome that there should be no fear of any trouble or division and that it might make use of all its forces against so powerful an enemy as the Grand Signor Out of these thoughts he had sent three or four Gentlemen into the Levant who under the pretext of travelling and visiting the holy places might take notice of the Country the disposition of the people the estate of their Forces the Garisons and Government of the Turks Which having well considered he promised himself that after having composed the interests and procured the union of the Christian Princes he might in three or four years at most ruine this power esteemed so terrible and that with an Army of five and thirty thousand foot-men and twelve thousand horse onely Alexander the Great not having had more Forces to destroy the Empire of the Persians which without doubt was greater and more powerful then that of the Turks I shall declare what his great designe for the re-union of Christendome was when I shall in brief have observed some important things which passed in the three or four last years of his Life As he laboured diligently to heap up money the Nerves of War so he hearkned to all Propositions made for the gaining it so much the more willingly because his designe was to abolish all Taxes and Impositions The first could not be done without much diminishing his Revenue so it was necessary to find some other foundation in its place Now this stock or foundation was the Demains of the Crown which he would entirely disengage encrease by a great quantity of new rights and particularly by that of the Greffes which had been quite withdrawn for five or six years but had brought him fifteen Millions a year But when he was dead Queen Mary de Mediâ—is re-engaged it fâ—rther then it was before It is certainly worth our wishing that this sacred Patrimony of the Crown might be regained and that care were taken to re-gather this Mass which the Law of the Realm and the diligences of so many wise Heads have made and composed for the space of so many Ages to maintain our Kings with splendour and magnificence without being a charge to their Kingdome except in great and urgent necessities As for the Impost our Henry had a desire to buy from the particular Owners all the Salt-Marishes of Poictou and Britanny and then when he had them in his hand sell the Salt upon the place at what price he pleased to the Merchant who should again retail it through the whole Kingdom as they do Corn without any constraint or imposition In this manner there had been no need of so many Officers Overseers Controulers Factors and a hundred other people which without fallacy amounted to near twenty thousand all fed and paid at the expence of the King and Publick and against whom he had often very great complaints Thus the poor Country-people would not be burthened by them with imposed Salt constraining them will they nill they to take yearly a certain quantity and it is certain the people would have had it four times better cheap then they have and the King have raised much more money then he doth without expence without pains and without the vexation of his subjects Now the King seeking means to fill his Coffers and to finde some other way then Taxes it must be acknowledged that he made some Imposts and likewise some creation of Officers but that he removed many things which gave cause of complaint to many persons And moreover to pay his ancient Debts and acquit himself of the recompences and pensions due to those which had served him in his Wars against the League he was constrained to pass for their profit the advice of several things which they proposed so that he loaded himself with that envy and those reproaches which ought more justly have fallen upon those people then on himself But those who knew his intentions blamed him not as did the others for they called that good husbandry and wise oeconomy which some termed avarice and insatiable covetousness Moreover though the will of this Prince was very good for the ease of his people and for the grandeur of his Estate nevertheless it cannot be denied but he was sometimes deceived in the choice of the means and that all those whereby he furnished himself were not always as innocent as his intentions He had two particularly of which the one made some noise but never succeeded and the other was of very dangerous consequence The first was an inquisition of the Rents of the Hostel de Ville by which he pretended to make those loose them who had ill gained them and this in it self was very just but most part of the Rents having changed Owners or been parted he must of force trouble an infinite number of Families so that all Paris was moved at it and the Landlords had recourse to their Provost of the Merchants This was Miron who was likewise Civil Lieutenant a man very zealous for the service of the King as he had demonstrated in several occasions but withal a very honest Man and one whom no interest in the world could bribe against the peoples whose Magistrate he was In sum he sustained it stoutly he spoke in the Assemblies of the Hostel de Ville acted with the Superintendent with like vigour and made Remonstrances to the King But in these Remonstrances too much heat transported him to make some odious Comparisons not of the Kings person but of some people of his Council The Louvre stormed the people of the Court cryed out that he had blasphemed those whom he had taken notice of in his speeches And those who were interested in this inquisition after Rents used all their endeavours to incense the King and to perswade him to punish rigorously this boldness On the other side the people having understood that their Magistrate was threatned took fire sooner then it was believed the Burgesses came in troops about his house to defend it Miron instantly entreated them to retire and not to make him Criminal He remonstrated to them that he feared nothing that they had to do with a King as sweet and just as he was great and wise and who would not let himself be carried away by the perswasions of ill Counsellors Upon this those who wished him ill employed all their endeavours to engage the King to take him by force and to make valid his supreme Authority but he wisely answered these people That
when I am in one be assaulted with tremblings and be fearful in despite of my self They counselled him to shun these ill Prophecies to depart on the morrow and leave the Instalment to be done without him but the Queen was extreamly offended and he good and obliging remained onely to content her The Instalment was made at St. Denis on the 13 of May and the Queen on the 16 of the same moneth was to make her entrance into Paris where there were erected Magnificent Preparations to honour this Feast Already had the forces of the King met at their Rendezvouz on the Frontiers of Champagne Already had the Nobility who were come from all parts sent their Equipages The Duke of Rohan was gone to gather together the six thousand Swisses and there were gone fifty piece of Cannon out of the Arsenal Already had the King sent to demand of the Arch-duke and the Infanta in what manner they would that he should pass their Country either as a Friend or an Enemy Every hour of delay seemed to him a year as if he had presaged some misfortune to himself and certainly both Heaven and Earth had given but too many Prognosticks of what arrived A very great Eclipse of the whole body of the Sun which happened in the year 1608 A terrible Comet which appeared the year preceding Earthquakes in several places Monsters born in divers Countries of France Rains of blood which fell in several places A great Plague which afflicted Paris in the year 1606 Apparitions of Fantosms and many other Prodigies kept men in fear of some horrible event His Enemies were at present in a profound silence which possibly was not caused onely by their Consternation and by the fear of the success of his Arms but out of the expectation they had to see succeed some great blow in which lay all their hopes It must needs be that there were many conspiracies against the Life of this good King since from twenty places advice was given of it since both in Spain and Milan a report was spread of his death by a printed Paper since there passed a 〈◊〉 eight days before he was assassinated through the City of Liege that said that he carried News to the Princes of Germany that he was killed since at Montargis there was found a Billet upon the Altar containing the prediction of his approaching death by a determinate blow since in fine the report ran through all Prance that he would not out-live that year and that he would die a tragick death in the fifty seventh year of his Age. Himself who was not over-credulous gave some faith to these Prognosticks and seemed as one condemned to death So sad and cast down he was though naturally he was neither melancholy nor fearful There had been at Paris for about two years a certain wicked Rogue named Francis Ravaillac a Native of the Country of Angoumois red haired down-looked and melancholy who had been a Monk but after having quitted the Frock he before professed was turned Sollicitor of businesses and come to Paris It was not known whether he was brought hither to give this blow or whether being come out of some other designe he had been induced to this execrable enterprize by those people who knowing that he had yet in his heart some leven of the League and that false perswasion that the King was about to overturn the Catholick Religion in Germany judged him proper for the blow If it be demanded who were the Devils and Furies who inspired him with so damnable a thâ—â—ght and who spurred him forward to effect his wicked disposition the History answers that it knows nothing and that in a thing so important it is not permitted to make pass suspitions and conjectures for assured truths The Judges themselves who examined him durst not open their mouths nor ever spoke but covertly But see here how he executed his wicked designe On the morrow after the Instalment being the 14 of May the King went forth of the Louvre about four a Clock in the Evening to go to the Arsenal to visit Sully who was indisposed and to see as he passed the preparations made at the Bridge of Nostre-dame and the Hostel de Ville for the reception of the Queen He was at the bottom of his Coach having the Duke of Espernon by his side the Duke of Montbazon the Marshal of Lavardin Roquelaure La force Mirebeau and Liancour chief Esquire were before and in the Boots His Coach entring out of the street of St. Honorio into that of the Ferronnerie or Ironmongers found on the right hand a Cart laden with Wine and on the left another laden with Hay which causing some trouble he was constrained to stop for the street is very narrow by reason of the shops builded against the wall of the Church-yard of St. Innocents King Henry the second had formerly commanded them to be beaten down to render that passage more free but it was not executed Alas that one half of Paris had not rather been beaten down then it have seen this great misfortune which hath been the cause of so many infinite other miseries The Foot-men being passed through the Church-yard of St. Innocents to avoid the trouble and no person being near the Coach this wicked person who for a long time had obstinately followed the King to give his blow observing the side on which he sate thrust himself between the shops and the Coach and setting one foot on one of the spokes of the wheel 〈◊〉 the other against a stall with an enraged resâ—â—â—tion gave him a stab with a knife between the second and third Rib a little beneath the heart At this blow the King cryed out I am wounded But the Villain without being affrighted redoubled it and struck him in the heart of which he died immediately without so much as casting forth a sigh The Murderer was so assured that he yet gave a third blow which light only in the sleeve of the Duke of Montbazon Afterwards he neither took care to flee nor to conceal his knife but stood still as if to make himself be seen and to glorifie or boast in so fair an exploit He was taken on the place examined by the Commissioners of Parliament judged by the Chamber of Assemblies and by sentence drawn by four horses in the Greve after having had the flesh of his breasts his arms and thighs drawn off with burning Pincers without his testifying the least emotion of fear or grief at so strange tortures Which strongly confirmed the suspition had that certain Emissaries under the mask of Piety and Religion had instructed and inchanted him with false assurances that he should die a Martyr if he killed him whom they made believe was the sworn enemy of the Church The Duke d'Espernon seeing the King speechless and dead caused the Coach to turn and carried his body to the Louvre where he caused
and carries with her her daughter Margaret The King of Navarre looses Agen and la Reole by two follies of youth Two exquisite Reflections Queen Margaret did not over-well love her husband nor he her but he draws advantages from her intrigues The Queen-mother Monsieur the Guises weary of the peace 1579. They under-hand perswade the King of Navarre to a Rupture which proves very disadvantagious to him Monsieur procures the peace Of much damage to the Estate being the cause the two Henries plunged themselves in pleasure Henry 3. hath favorites who prejudice his affairs Dispositions to the League to the loss of Hen. 3. 1584. a Monsieur intending to surprize Antwerp and treating ill the people of the Low-Countries who had called him was driven thence The death of the Monsieur begets thoughts of a Successor to the Crown The Queen-Mother designs to give the Crown to the children of her daughter married to the Duke of Lorrain A belief that the Duke of Guise hoped to Reign himself Henry 3. knew his design or was advertized of it by his favorites He sends the Duke d'Espernon to the King of Navarre to oblige him to return to the Catholick Church but he refuses The Duke of Guise profits himself of it The League Established at Paris The Pope disapproves it It is turned against Henry the third The Treaty of Joinville where the Spaniards enter into the League furnish money The League seize many places The Queen-mother enters into conference with Guise who breaks it when he sees himself in an Estate to fear nothing The King astonished grants him all he desires 1585. Pope Sixtus 5. excommunicates the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde The vertue of our Henry awakened He doth two noble actions He defies the Duke of Guise to single Combat Why the Duke of Guise accepted not the defiance The other gallant Action of our Henry He causes to be fixed up at the corners of the chief streets of Rome oppositions to the sentence of Sixtus 5. who at first is incensed but afterwards conceives a great estèem for him The King of Navarre makes a League to defend himself 1586. Henry 3. hated both the League the Hugonots and loved none but his favourites The Queen-mother endeavours an accommodation with the King of Navarre The Interview and conference at St. Brix A noble generous Action of our Prince His constancy in the whole conference A handsome answer to Duke de Nevers Conference at St. Brix produceth nothing Dances and Feasts in the Courts of the two Kings Blaise de Monluc Marshal of France who writ in these times says in his Memoires That whatever affair there were of force the Dancing was still to go forward 1587. An Army of German Protestants enter France It is followed by the Duke of Guise It doth nothing to purpose The King of Navarre would joyn with them but the Duke of Joyeuse makes head against him with an Army The Duke overtakes him near Coutras What the Army of Joyeuse was What that of the King His Exhortation to his Army and to the Princes of the Blood His valour bravery An Action of great Justice and Christian Humility The Battail of Coutras which he gains Joyeuse slain His moderation and admirable Clemency in his Victory He pursues it not and wherefore Defeat of the German horse The rest of that Army retire 1588 Prognostications of the evils of the year 1588. Death of the Prince of Conde The King of Navarre much afflicted But in his affliction puts his trust in God The League rejoyce The Hugonots afflicted Sentiments of Hen. 3. The Duke of Guise presseth him to give him forces to exterminate the Hugonots The Duke of Guise much loved and Hen. 3. much haâ—ed D' Espinac Villeroy become friends to the Duke of Guise and why The ill Conduct of Henry 3. The Conduct and employs of the Duke of Guise What the sixteen were The King would punish them The Duke of Guise hastes to defend them The King retires to Chartres The league becomes Mistriss Paris The Parisians send Deputies to the King The King pardons all so they lay down Arms. The Duke of Guise demands the expulsion of Espernon which is in the end granted And after comes to the Court at Chartres The Estates of Blois The death of the Guises Death of Queen Katherine de Medices Different Judgments concerning the death of the Guises Our Henry speaks very wisely He changeth not his Conduct 1589. Henry 3. amusiag himself too much at Blois the League is re-assured and grows furious The Parliament imprisoned in the Bastille by Bussy le Clerk forced to swear to the the â—eague A part remains at Paris and the others go to the King who transfers all to Tours Those of the Parliament remaining at Paris make process against Henry 3. An excellent reflection for Kings Henry 3. excommunicated by Pope Sixtus 5. The Duke of Mayenne assures himself of Burgongne and Champagne and comes to Paris He takes the quality of Lieutenant-General of the Estate and Crown of France they likewise break the Kings Seals Henry 3. for fear retires to Tours He in vain endeavours to appease the Duke of Mayenne He in the end calls the King of Navarre gives him Saumur The King perswaded by his friends not to trust him Yet he resolves to go arrive what will to which purpose he passes the River Cher. His interview with the King at Tours He repasses the River and lies in the Fauboâ—rg but on the morrow visits the King alone They resolve to besiege Paris Duke of Mayenne wants little to surprize King Hen. 3 â—â— Tours Great and profitable Reflections made on the different Conducts of Hen. â— and the King of Navarre Paris besieged King Hen. 3. killed by a Jacobin Our Henry comes to visit him dying What the King said to him and those present 1589 Change caused by the Death of Hen. 3. Problem if Hen. 3. died in a time favourable to Hen. 4. or not Henry 4. holds many Councels Same Catholicks acknowledge him but most refuse Some design to make themselves Sovereigns The Marshal of Byron among others but the King made him forgo his desire Byron and Sancy assure the Catholick Suiss to the Kings Service What was the disposition of the Princes of the blood towards the King Many Lords in Camp and Court ill intended Assembly of Noblemen at d' O's who would have the King converted d' O carrys him word of it The King answers them hansomely and couragiously Another greater Assembly resolved to acknowledge him provided he will permit himself to be instructed The Duke of Piney carries their resolution to the King who agrees to it and grants a Declaration touching the exercise of the Catholick Religion through all his Territories Many sign it with regret and others refuse as Vitry who becomes a Leaguer And the Duke of Espernon who retires The Duke of Mayennâ— troubled what party to take Two
Secretary His punishment The Ambassadours Secretary arrested Several discourses concerning Ambassadours priviledges The King forbids any process against the Secretary The Ambassadour makes a great noise and threatens his Kings resentment Treason of the Luquisses A fool makes an attempt on the Kings person Those who desire war whet the Kings spirit upon these Conspiracies Character of Philip 3. of Spair A good profitable reflection In what the courage of a Soveraign principally consists The goodness of Henry the Great But the King hastens not the War He makes himself Arbitrator of the differences of Christendom 1606. After the death of Clement 8. he causes to be chosen Leo xi who soon dies and Paul 5. succeeds A great difference between Paul 5. and the Venetians The Venetians had made a law to bound the Acquisitions of the Clergy They make other Decrees Paul 5. offended at these Decrees He sends Briefs to revoke them He Excommunicates the Senate They declare his sentence of Excommunication null and abusive 1607. Henry the great undertakes to accommodate the difference He sends to this purpose Cardinal Joyeuse who concludes an accommodation The Pope absolves the Signory There was nothing but the reestablishment of the Jesuites not obtained 1608. The King endeavours an accommodation between the Hollander and Spaniard He underhand assists the Hollander with men and money Janin sent for this accommodation They come presently to an eight months truce The King makes an offensive and defensive League with the Hollander The Spaniards Alarm'd at this League Don Pedro de Toledo makes great complaints to the King Things very curious which passed betwixt the King and Don Pedro. Their entertainments Lively and quick replies Don Pedro kisses the Kings Sword Two obstacles in the Treaty of the Hollanders surmounted by the King The Treaty ends in a twelve years Truce Great praise given by the republick of Venice to our Henry All desire his friendship and protection He will not protect Subjects against their Soveraign What the Maurisques were The Spaniards treat them ill * An avanie is when by a false accusation money is forced from any person They demand assistance of Henry the Great He refuses it The King of Spain banisheth them all They are horribly ill Treated by the Spaniards and by the French They are carried into Affrica but some stay in France The great designe of Henry 4. for the extent of the Christian Religion in the Levant He sends some to spy the Country He seeks means to raise mony without burthening his people He would disengage his demain * The Greffes is a due to the King of 63 â— 9 d. Tours upon the sale of wood in several places and take off the Impost by buying the Salt-Marishes He is constrained to acquit himself of old scores to make some new imposts creations He makes not always use of innocent means Inquisition of the rents of the City-house cause disturbance * Hostel de Ville is the same at Paris as Guild-hall at London Miron Provost of the Merchants sustains the interest of the people Some would incense the King against him The people rise to defend him The King counselled to take him by force The Kings wise answer worthy a great Polititian He will not pursue this business of the Rents Establishment of the Paulete Justice formerly administred in France by Gentlemen How it fell into the hands of the Plebeians who made profit of it The Parliament of France meddle with particular affairs and is made sedentary at Paris They make all other Judges subalternate to them The number of the Officers of Parliament small How Offices became vendible under Francis 1. * He had often said that fat Boy would spoile all and Henry 2. How this might be remedied But on the contrary is made incurable by the Paulete Which causes great abuses 1609. Marriage of the Prince of Conde And of the Duke of Vendosme What were the Kings divertisements He loved Play too much He was extremely given to women This passion made him do shameful things Three or four of his Mistresses This causes often contentions with his wife And hinders his great design What that was The means with which he served himself to put it in Execution To this purpose he grants an Edict to the Hugonots and pays his debts Which regains the reputation and credit of France He joyns to him all Christian Princes by promising his conquests He reunites them by accommodating their differences The Princes he made his friends How he would have accommodated the Protestant Princes with the Pope He treats with the Electors With the Lords of Bohemia Hungary Poland With the Pope Model of the designe of Hen. 4. He would part Christendome into fifteen equal Dominions To wit eleven Kingdoms and four Republicks What the Pope had had The Signory of Venice The Italian Common-wealth Duke of Savoy Republick of the Swisses The Low-Countries Kingdome of Hungary The Empire with free election Bohemia Hungary elective A general Council of sixty persons Three others of each twenty Order to hinder tyranny and rebellion and to assist the Provinces adjoyning to Infidels Three general Captains two by Land and one by Sea to war against the Turks What forces what train None but the house of Austria had suffered by this establishment In Italy the Pope Venetians and Savoyard would consent In Germany many Electors and had chosen the Duke of Bavaria Emperour In Bohemia and Hungary the Lords and Nobility The business of Cleves happens to give a beginning to the great designe The Cities of Flanders should revolt The Kingâ— Army should have lived in great order The King would have reserved nothing of his Conquests He had with other Princes prayed the Emperour to rerestore the Cities of the Empire to liberty Bohemia Hungary Austria had made the same request The Duke of Savoy had demanded the Dower of his wife from the Spaniard The Pope and Venetians to become mediators of the difference of Navarre Naples Savoy c. And the King had yeilded his right They had perswaded the King of Spain or else forced him The great Prudence and moderation intended by the King in the pursuit of his design The preparations he made The forces he had The Prince of Oranges Army That of the Electors German Princes That of the Venetians and Savoyard His Exchequer for defraying this great designe He would make the War powerfully that it might be short Great appearance it might have succeeded having no Princes to oppose it but the Dukes of Saxony and Florence What was the business of Cleves and Juliers Death of John Duke of Juliers without issue His succession disputed by many particularly by Brandenbourg and Newbourg The Emperour said it was devolved to the Empire He invests Leopold of Austria who whilst Brandenbourg and Newbourg dispute seizes Juliers They implore the Kings assistance who promises to march in person But tells him he intended to conserve the Catholick Religion in that Country Answer made to the Ambassador of the Empire He establishes good order in the Kingdom before his departure Leaves the Regency to the Queen but gives her a good Council He establishes little Councils in the Provinces who refer to the great one 1610. Some put it into the spirit of the Queen that she should be installed before the Kings departure He though unwillingly consents The instalment of the Queen Many Prognosticks which seemed to presage the death of Henry 4. Advice from several places that his life should be attempted He seems to believe them and fear Who Ravaillac was He is induced to kill the King but it is not known by whom The King departs the Louvre to go to the Arsenal What persons were with him His Coach stopt in the street of the Ferronnerie Ravaillac killeth him He is torn with burning pincers and drawn in pieces by four horses The Kings body opened and found that he might yet live 30 years He is buried at St. Denis The Queen made Regent The great desolation in Paris when they knew of the Kings death His age and the time of of his reign His two wives Margaret and Mary He had three Sons by Mary and three Daughters He had eight Natural children of divers Mistresses Two Sons and a Daughter of Gabriella A Son and a Daughter of the Marchioness of Verneuil Of the Countess of Moret one Son Of Madam d' Essards two daughters He loved all his children and would have them call him Papa Summary recital of the Life of Henry the Great Parallel of his adversities and prosperities * There are more then fifty conspiracies against his person His adversities whet his spirit and courage Why Princes who come young to the Crown seldome learn to govern well Those who come to a Crown at greater distance and a more ripe age are more capable and better The reasons of it A mystick Crown to the glory of Henry the Great
the true Religion The King answered plainly and prudently to those that made him these reports That he knew the heart of Byron that it was faithful and affectionate that in truth his tongue was intemperate but that in favour of those good actions he had done he could pardon his ill discourses Now two things compleated his loss and obliged the King to search into the very bottom of his wicked designs The first was the too great number of his friends and the affection of the Souldiery which he made boast of as if they had been absolute dependants on his Command and capable to do whatever he would The second the most particular friendship he had with the Count d' Auvergne brother by the Mothers side to Madamoiselle d' Entragues who was called the Marchioness of Verneuil For by the one he begat a jealousie in the King and made himself be feared and by the other he rendred himself odious to the Queen who imagined and possibly not without cause that he would make a party in the Kingdom to maintain that Rival and her Children to her prejudice Now the King desiring to search the farthest he could into this affair sends for Laffin who comes to Fountain-bleau more then a month before the King departed towards Poictou He had at first some very secret entertainments with him afterwards very publick ones and gave him great quantities of Papers amongst other those Memoires or Notes written by Byrons own hand of which we have before spoken That which Laffin revealed to the King begat great inquietudes in his spirit so that in all the voyage of Poictiers he was observed extremely pensive and the Court after his example was plunged in a sad astonishment though none could divine the cause of it At his return from Poictiers to Fountainbleau he sent for the Duke of Byron to come to him The Duke at first doubted to go and excused himself with many weak reasons He presses him and sends to him some of his Esquires afterwards the President Janin brought him word that he should receive no harme which was provided he put himself into an estate to receive grace and aggravated not his crime by his pride and by his impenitence Byron knew that Laffin had made a voyage to Court but he was more assured of that man then of himself Moreover the Baron of Lux his confident who was then there had told him that Laffin had without doubt kept his Counsel and not revealed any thing which might hurt him De Lux believed so because the King after having entertained Laffin had told him with a merry countenance I am glad I have seen this man he hath eased me of many distrusts and suspitions of spirit In the mean time the friends of Byron writ to him that he should not be such a fool as to bring his head to the Court that it would be more secure for him to justifie himself by Attorny then in person But notwithstanding this advice and against biting of his own conscience after having some time deliberated he took post and came to Fountain-bleau now when the King no longer expected him but prepared to go seek him The Histories of that time and many other relations recount exactly all the circumstances of the imprisonment process and death of that Marshal I shall content my self to relate onely the chief The insolence and blindness of this unhappy man cannot be sufficiently admired at nor on the contrary the goodness and clemency of the King be enough praised who endeavoured to overcome his obstinacy Confession of a fault is the first mark of repentance The King taking him in private instantly conjured him to declare all those intelligences and Treaties he had made with the Duke of Savoy engaging his faith that he would bury all in an eternal oblivion That he knew well enough all the particulars but desired to understand them from his mouth swearing to him that though his fault should be greater then the worst of crimes his confession should be followed by an absolute pardon Byron in stead of acknowledging it or at least excusing himself with modesty as speaking to his King who was offended insolently answered him that he was innocent and that he was not come to justifie himself but to understand the names of his back-biters and demand justice which otherwise he would do himself Though this too haughty answer aggravated much his offence the King ceased not sweetly to tell him that he should think farther of it and that he hoped he would take better counsel The same day after supper the Count of Soissons exhorted him likewise on the part of the King to confess the truth concluding his Remonstrance with that sentence of the Wiseman Sir know that the anger of the King is as the Messenger of Death But he answered him with more fierceness then he had done the King On the morrow morning the King walking in his Gardens conjured him the second time to confess the Conspiracy but he could draw nothing from him but protestations of innocency and threatnings of his accusers Upon this the King felt himself agitated even at the bottom of his soul with divers thoughts not knowing what he ought to do The affection he had born him and his great services withheld his just anger on the other side the blackness of his crime his pride and obstinacy gave reins to his justice and obliged him to punish the criminal Besides that the danger with which both his Estate and Person were threatned seemed impossible to be prevented but by cutting off the head of a conspiracy whose bottom was scarce visible In this trouble of spirit he retired into his Closet and falling on his knees prayed to God with all his heart to inspire him with a good resolution He was accustomed to do thus in all his great affairs esteeming God as his surest Counsellour and most faithful assistance At his coming from prayers as he said afterwards he found himself delivered from the trouble wherein he was and resolved to cast Byron into the hands of Justice if his Council found that the proofs they had by writing were so strong that there need no doubt be made of his Condemnation He chose for this purpose four persons of those which composed it to wit Bellievre Villeroy Rosny and Sillery and shewed them the proofs They all told him with one voice that they were more then sufficient Yet after this he would make a third trial on this proud heart He employed this last time Remonstrances Prayers Conjurations and assurances of pardon to oblige him to acknowledge his crime but he answered still in the same manner adding that if he knew his accusers he would break their heads In fine the King wearied with his Rhodomontadoes and obstinacy left him giving him these for his last words Well then we must learn the truth in another place Farewel Baron