sent to the King Condé to make his quarrel more colourable and being heightned by the said Arrest of the Parliament of Paris added divers Articles more to his Manifesto viz. 1. That further research be made for the assassinat of Henry the Great 2. That a reformation be made of the Kings Counsell 3. That the grievances of the three Estates be answer'd with divers other They of the Religion were yet Neutrals and thinking to fish in these troubled waters propos'd these high demands 1. That the independence of the French Crown be declar'd 2. That the Counsell of Trent be never publish'd in this Kingdom 3. That his Majesty shall be desir'd to declare that upon his Coronation oath for extirpation of heresies he understood not or comprehended his subjects of the Religion 4. That in all public Acts it shall be inserted no more the pretended reform'd Religion but only Religion 5. That their Ministers shall be payed by the King c. These with divers other Propositions were first made at Grenoble where the King permitted them to Assemble but Lesdigueres could not endure them there therefore they remov'd to Nismes and thence to Rochell notwithstanding that the King commanded the contrary The Prince of Condé had an Agent in the Assembly who much press'd them to enter into the ligue with him which they did at last and writ a Letter to the King of the cause of their conjunction with Condé And as the King was importun'd by them of the Religion one way so was he sollicited by the Roman Catholiques of Bearn on the other side that his Majesty would please to restablish them in the possession of their goods whereof they were depriv'd by Iane d'Albret his paternal granmother Amongst these counter-distractions there came news unto the King that the 6000. Suisses which he had from the Protestant Cantons had quitted his pay and party and return'd to their own Countrey by the perswasion and practises of them of the Religion Madame the Kings sister being recover'd He went to Bourdeaux where the Spanish Ambassadour came to demand her for the Prince of Castile The Duke of Guise had a Procuration to marry her the next day which he did the Cardinal of Sourdis officiating and the pietie of the King much appear'd in the ceremony because he commanded the Cardinals Chaire should be put on a higher ground then his The same day the Duke of Lerma married the Infanta of Spain in Burgos for the King of France These nuptial ceremonies being perform'd Madame now Princesse of Castile departed from Bourdeaux conducted by the Duke of Guyse and in regard a rumor ran that they of the Religion as also the Count of Grammont with others who were said to have ligu'd with Condé had way-laid the young Bride the King commanded all the Regiment of his gard to attend her putting himself in the interim in the hands of them of Bourdeaux The exchange of the two Princesses was made upon a river call'd Bidasso hard by St. Iohn de Luz which separats those two mightie Kingdoms there were two stately Barges to waft them the Spaniards on their side had a huge vast globe representing the world rais'd upon a pavilion very high which made an ostentous shew The Duke of Guise took exception at it and protested he would never bring o're the Princesse till it was taken down which was done accordingly The next day the young Queen came to Bayon where Luynes then favorit to the King attended her with a Letter all written by the King himself in these words Madame since I cannot according to my desire find my self neer you at your entrance into my Kingdom to put you in possession of the power I have as also of my entire affection to love and serve you I send towards you Luynes one of my confident'st servants to salute you in my name and tell you that you are expected by Me with much impatience to offer unto you my Self I pray therefore receive him favorably and to beleeve what he shall tell you Madame from your most deer friend and servant Lewis Luynes deliver'd her also from the King two rich Standards of Diamonds which she receiv'd and kiss'd and from her table at Supper She sent a dish of meat unto him In the morning She return'd this Answer to the King Sir I much rejoyc'd at the good news Luynes brought Me of your Majesties health I come therewith being most desirous to arrive where I may serve my Mother and so I am making hast to that purpose and to kisse your Majesties hand whom God preserve as I desire Anne Being come afterwards to Bourdeaux they both receiv'd the nuptial benediction in magnificence according to the qualitie of the act and the persons and medals were made and thrown up and down with this Motto aeternae foedera Pacis pledges of eternal peace but the Poet that made that peece of verse for a Motto was no good Prophet for the eternal peace he spoake of lasted not many yeers between the two nations who notwithstanding that nature hath conjoyn'd them neer enough in point of local distance there being but a small river whereon the two Princesses were exchang'd that severs them yet there is no two people on earth are further asunder and more differing in disposition affections and interests being herein right Antipodes one to the other By this alliance is verified the saying of the Italian that Kings may wed but kingdoms never It appears also hereby what a hard destiny and sorry condition attends the daughters of Soverain Princes who are commonly made sacrifices of State and oblations for Politicall respects being also to be maried to aliens and oft-times to husbands of a different Religion they are wood by Proxy they must choose by picture fancy upon trust and tied in a knot indissoluble to one they never saw but in effigie perchance and afterwards they must be contented to be unpatriated disterr'd and as it were banish'd for ever from their own sweet native soyle and the ayr they first breath'd yet as the Civilian saith although they are the end of the House whence they come they are the beginning of that wherein they enter While the King was celebrating his nuptials in his town of Bourdeaux by divers inventions and exercises of pastime and pleasure as masks tilting playes bals and dances Condé with his Confederats leads another kind of dance up and down France but while he danc'd and revell'd thus the poore Countrey sung lachrymae being pitifully oppress'd torn and harass'd in most parts there being six or seven armies in motion on both sides he encreas'd mightily by concourse of partisans by conjunction of them of the Religion and by divers successfull rencounters The King on the other side was at a very low ebb having exhausted that two millions and a half of liures he had taken himself in person out of the Bastile and being put to hard shifts to get money to
defray his ordinary expences the town of Bourdeaux to her eternal glory shew'd herself carefull of his honor and supplied him Add hereunto that two whole armies fell from him that of the Suisse consisting of 6000. and that under the Duke of Vendosm being the greater of the two the one only left him the other turn'd against him and the whole body of them of the Religion declar'd it self against him and actually help'd the other side Moreover his Parliament at Paris would not verifie his Edicts Yet in the midst of all these straits He marcheth resolutly from Bourdeaux with his new Queen to joyn his army with Bois Dauphin with a purpose either to present battaile to the adverse party or to draw them to a treaty Espernon met him in the way with 4000. foot and 500. horse The Duke of Nevers did very much labour and made journeys to and fro for an accommodation and his endevors took so good effect that a Conference was agreed on at Lodun where Commissioners were appointed and did meet on both sides in the interim the Duke of Guyse perform'd a notable exploit with 2000. of the Kings prime horses wherwith he set upon three Regiments of Condés at Nantueil which he slew took and put to flight carrying all their colours to the King for a present Hereupon a suspension of arms was accorded through all the Kingdom except in Anjou Perch and the frontiers of Britany where Vendosm continued all acts of hostility notwithstanding that he had his Deputy at the Conference The King was then advanc'd to Chastel le Heraud where Villeroy deliver'd him the Articles of the Truce sign'd by the Princes and where a Legat came from the Pope to deliver him the Imperial Sword and to the Queen the Rosetree of flowers and leaves of gold Thence the King went to Blois where after a long debate an Edict of Pacification was publish'd upon the Treaty of Lodun which consisted of 54. Articles wherein all the Princes with their adhaerents as also They of the Religion found satisfaction and divers persons of base condition were nominated therein which the world cryed shame upon By this Edict the King approv'd of all actions pass'd as having bin done for his Service and by consequence tacitly disadvow'd what He and his Counsell had ordain'd to the contrary The former Arrests of the Court of Parliament of Paris which the King had suspended were reestablish'd and they of the Counsell of State annull'd and many high demands were accorded to them of the Religion The Chancelor Sillery and divers others who were the Kings Favorits before were outed of their offices Besides the said Edict there were also secret Articles condescended unto containing rewards and honors to some particular men in lieu of punishment and they were presented in a privat close way to the Parliament to be verified with the gran Edict The Court wav'd them a while but afterwards by expresse commandment of the Kings and by a Declaration he made that those secret Articles contain'd no more then what was granted in the secret Articles of the Edict of Nants already verified by the same Court the businesse pass'd though with much reluctancy for if those of Nants were verified what need these being the same have a second verification This as it were enforc'd Verification was accompagnied with Letters Patents from the King in special favor to the Prince of Condé and others Letters in favor of them of the Religion by which his Majesty declar'd not to have understood his subjects of the Reform'd pretended Religion in the Oath and Protestation he had made at his Coronation to employ his sword and power for the extirpation of heresies which put the world in an astonishment because it made the meaning of the Taker of that Oath and of the Prelat who administred it to differ This turn'd afterwards rather to the disadvantage then the benefit of the Demanders for those hard and high termes which reflected so much upon the conscience of a yong King stuck deep in his breast nor could he ever digest them as will appear in the ensuing Story Nor was his honor thought much to suffer hereby being newly come out of his nonage little vers'd in the art of Government and having not attain'd that courage and yeers which use to strike awe into Subjects This shrew'd tempest being pass'd the weather broak up and clear'd And the King brought his new Queen to Paris having surmounted such a world of difficulties and waded through a sea of troubles he had bin absent thence neer upon a twelvemoneth therefore you may well imagin with what joy and triumph the Parisians receiv'd him Observable it is that in this voyage the King notwithstanding that he had condescended to hard capitulations yet he attain'd his main ends which was to perfect the Alliance with Spain and to fetch home his wife in safety which he did maugre the great Martiall oppositions that were made by most of the Princes of France who malign'd the match In this yeer there happen'd some ill-favor'd jarrs in Italy twixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantova about Monferrat The King employed thither the Marquis of Coeuures to compose the difference but he return'd without doing any good notwithstanding that the Ambassador of his Majesty of Great Britain joyn'd with him He sent afterwards the Marquis of Rambovillet who caried himself with more addresse for he tamper'd with the affections of the French and Suisses which made the better part of the Duke of Savoys army with such dexterity that the Duke entring into a diffidence of them hearkned to a Treaty Don Pedro de Toledo then Governor of Milan was arm'd for the Mantovan and by this Treaty both Parties were to disband in the interim if the Spaniard attempted any thing upon Monferrat France should assist his Highnes of Savoy But the Spaniard though he attempted nothing yet he reinforc'd his Troupes which struck an apprehension of fear into the Venetians who of all Nations are most eagle-ey'd to foresee dangers because there was a small difference twixt them and the Archduke of Grats about the Uscochi which made them confederat and co-arme with the Savoyard there were great Forces on both sides and Don Pedro took Verselli Damian but his Majesty of France employ'd thither Mons. de Bethune who procur'd a Treaty in Pavia to that end which took effect but the Spaniard afterwards delaying to give up Vercelli Modene Luynes kinsman was sent thither who did the work The difference also twixt the Republic and the Archduke of Grats was accommoded by French intercession so that in lesse then a twelve moneths four Ambassadors went from France to Italy About this time the Lord Hayes afterwards Earl of Carlile came in a very splendid equippage to Paris to congratulate in his Majestie of Great Britain's name 1. The alliance with Spain 2. The arrivall of the new Queen 3. The Kings return to Paris 4. The end
early beames being the moneth of May corresponded with the verdant time of his age being not yet full nine yeares old so he was cradled first in the Fall and came to the crowne in the Spring The report of the monstrous parricide committed on the person of Henry the fourth did penetrate all hearts and made a strange kinde of consternation to seise upon the minds of men though it was no new thing in France to have their King torn away from them so for it was fresh in the memorie of many thousands how two and twentie yeares before Henry the third was dispatchd in that manner though the Assassin found his tombe in the very place where he did perpetrate the fact The Court of Parliament suddenly met that afternoon and declared Dame Mary de Medici Queene Regent which was the next day confirmed by the young King himselfe sitting on the bed of Iustice This was done without any opposition or scruple at all for King Henry had designd her for Regent before during his absence in the warres and the reverence that all had to the judgement of so wise and welbelovd a King advantagd the worke with a favourable conjuncture of some other circumstances for both the Princes of the blood were then absent the Count of Soissons was farre up in the Countrey where he had retird not without some discontentments The Prince of Conde was in Italy to whom an expresse was suddenly sent but the Count of Fuentes then Governour of Milan had given him the newes before of King Henries death and as some say labourd to infuse into him some aspiring thoughts for the Protectorship and so to embroyle France which tooke no effect There were also two great armies afoote one under L'esdigueres in Dauphine the other under the command of the Duke de Nevers in Champany ready to suppresse any insurrection The Queen mother being thus establishd in her Regency shee put three things in present consultation 1. The securitie of the Kingdome 2. A satisfaction to Iustice for the Assassinat 3. The obsequies of the dead King For the first it was thought fitting to re-publish the Edict of Nants in favour of them of the Religion And now the Author craves leave to give this advertisement by the way that though his intent be to draw as well as he can the Acts of this King to the life yet the Reader must not expect to have them here in their full length and in all their dimensions He must not thinke to finde Edicts Declarations Articles of Treaties Letters and such like in their entire bodies here He leaves that to the French Chroniclers such publike exemplarie precedents being more proper and usefull to the people who live under that government yet care will be had to insert here the substance of all such acts and not to pretermit any thing that is materiall and conducing to the exactnesse of the storie The first act of State as I said before was the reviving of the Edict of Nants to content them of the Religion who after the King are the powerfullest bodie in France having so many strong presidiarie townes for their securitie insomuch that they may be said to be a kinde of Republike in a Realme yet France receives this advantage of them that they are a meanes to keepe the King more narrowly within his bounds and make him more cautious in his actions They may be said to be like goats among sheepe whose smell keeps them from the shakings and other diseases so they keep the regall power from excesses In the Declaration wherein the foresaid Edict was incorporated there was also some clauses of compliance that reflected upon the Citie of Paris which was also to be pleasd Then the Princes of the blood were invited and expresses sent for them to come to the Court Governours of provinces were permitted to remain still in their commands and divers other acts of compliances and policie pass'd for prevention of discontentments and insurrection Concerning the second which was a satisfaction to Iustice and how Ravaillac should be offer'd up as a victim to her much paines were taken At his first examination they would have perswaded him that the King was not dead but like to recover whereat he smil'd saying that he knew well enough the worke was done for t' was not he but the hand of heaven that had don 't Then being ask'd how he durst embrue his hands in the bloud of Gods anointed the most Christian King and his Soverain naturall Prince at the word most Christian he smild again in a sleighting manner Being search'd there was found about him a paire of beads and a heart made of cotton with a piece of wood in 't which he was made to beleeve was a part of that very crosse whereon Christ suffer'd All meanes imaginable were essayed to make him discover if he had had any instigators or complices in this infandous plot but he still answerd positively and constantly he had none at all saying he durst never speake of it to his Confessor for feare of discovery for so he might have bin punish'd for the will without the deed yet a Iesuite and a Cordelier who were his ghostly fathers were strictly examin'd but nothing could be had out of them Hereupon there rose a nice question amongst the Divines whether the Priest be bound to reveale the confession of his penitent but 't was onely propounded and so left problematicall and indecided for that time Every one did whet his invention to devise some exquisite lasting torment for Ravaillac The Butchers of Paris who are habituated in bloud propos'd a way to flay him and the torture of excoriation should continue three daies Others gave the draught of an instrument in form of an Obelisk where he might be press'd and the torment should last a long time Others found out a way to have his body cut quite off from his hips downward and his bowels to be clap'd presently upon a hot yron plank which should preserve the other halfe of the body in pangs of agonie a long while But the court of Justice thought it not fit to invent or inflict any other punishment upon him but what the lawes allowed therefore he was condemn'd to be carried in a tombrell naked in his shirt with a flaming torch of two pound weight in his hand to the common place of execution where holding the knife wherewith he had perpetrated that most abominable parricide his hand should be first pierc'd with the said knife and so to be burn'd with fire of sulphur upon the stage That he should have buskins fill'd with boyling oile applyed to him That he should be pincer'd in the paps thighes and braun of the legs and that boyling lead should be powr'd into the one burning rozin into the other and wax melted with sulphur into the third That his body should be torn afterwards by horses all his members burn'd reduc'd to cinders and thrown into
of Indexes untill it be corrected and the correction approv'd according to the rules of the Index In the said Decree the word respectively some imagined to be inserted of purpose as an evasion to shew that the Jesuits do not absolutely condemn the doctrin of Becanus but only as it invades the Prerogatives of the French Crown They of the Religion as I told you before suspected some ill consequences of the crosse Match with Spain and feared it would prove crosse to them in time Moreover the Princes of the bloud and others repin'd at the power of D' Ancre whereupon the Duke of Bovillon prime Marshall of France and prime Machinator of this tumult came to visite the Prince of Conde and made a solemn studied speech unto him as followeth My Lord it would be impudence in me to represent unto you the deplorable estate of France whereof you have more knowledge then I or to touch the arrogance of Conchiny which you must needs daily resent or to make his power suspected which is the next dore to tyranny or to exhort you to oppose his pernicious desseins The consideration of your own safety with that of France is enough to rouze up your generous thoughts and to administer Counsell to you who are the most judicious Prince of Europe Moreover in such a manifest and urgent affair as this ther 's no need of Remonstrance consultation or exhortation but to apply some sudden and actuall remedy Therefore I addresse my self now to your Excellence not onely to offer you my means but my person as also 100000. men who would esteem themselves happy to serve you and will hold it a glory to employ their bloud to the last drop under your conduct for the good of the State and your just defence against this Faquin Florentin this Florentine porter who plots the ruin of all those Princes and Peers of the Kingdom who would oreshadow his advancement and hinder to establish his tyranny The difference of Religion which we professe ought not to empeach a strong and solid union between us in the conjuncture of so common a danger considering that while we endeavour our own safety we secure the State generall and incolumity of our Countrey which are conditions inseparable from the Kings service whose Sacred Person is not safe enough under the irregular ambition of a stranger which his Majesty himself begins now to perceive and seeing his liberty engag'd fears the ambition of this tyrant and will find himself oblig'd to those that can rid him of him My Lord you are well assur'd that the greatest part of the Princes finding themselfs involv'd in the same interest with you are touch'd with the same resentments and dispos'd to joyn with your Excellence in a project as glorious as necessary For doubtles the Gentry of France in whom consist the sinews of our armies being naturally averse to the commandements of a stranger will run unto you from all parts to assist you with their armes Touching the Towns you need not doubt but a good part of them which are under the Government of the Princes will declare themselfs for you And I give you certain assurance that They of the Religion which are the strongest and best provided with soldiers artillery ammunition and victualls of any other will declare themselfs for your party as soon as you shall publish your laudable intentions by some Manifesto It concerns your Excellence therefore my Lord to take hold of Time by the foretop for the restauration and safetie of the State in generall and your own in particular and of all the Princes and Gentry of the Kingdom But if you let Occasion escape you know that she is bald behind and you shall never be able to catch her again Besides the Armies which you might justly raise now during the Kings minority and by reason the government is usurped by an Alien who hath not so much as the quality of a Gentleman wold be hereafter felony and treason under the majority and liberty of our lawfull Monark The Prince was a subject fit to be wrought upon and ready to receive any print for he could not brook the exorbitant power of D' Ancre therefore having assurance that the Dukes of Nevers Main Longueville Luxemburg and the said Bovillon would follow him he retires to Mezieres upon the frontire of Champany he made choice of that place because it was his Patrimony and that he might have a sure Rendevous of Sedan if need required The Duke of Vendosme thinking to retire to Britany was arrested in the Louure but he got loose by a trick and the Chevalier his brother was sent to Malta The foresaid male-contented Princes recruted dayly in Champany But had the young King got a horsback and pursued them presently though with a petty Army the Countrey wold have riss with him and so he had prevented their encrease and driven them in all probabilitie to Sedan where he might have kept them in exile with a small Army on the frontires And his Counsell was much tax'd for not advising him so But in lieu of arms he sent Ambassadors and Epistles after them to perswade their return or if they refused to amuse them till he might raise forces sufficient to encounter them to which end he sent to Swisserland for 6000. men but Bovillon by his artifice hinder'd that design from taking its full effect Thus a fearfull storme was like to fall on France for the male-contents dispers'd themselfs to divers strong holds Longuevill went to Picardy Main to Soissons Bovillon to Sedan and Vendosme was as busie as any other to raise the Countrey in Britain Conde continued still at Mezieres nor could any Letter from King or Queen Regent sent by the Duke of Ventadour reduce him He writ to the Queen That the ill government which he imputed not to Her but to ill Counsellors were the cause of his retirement who because they might have the sole direction of things hindred the convocation of the States generall which were used to assemble always in the Kings minority he complain'd that the mariages with Spain were precipitated that the authority of the Parliament was diminished the Church-men trampled upon the Nobles undervalued the people laden with gabells and tallies divisions sowed in Sorbon and the University with divers other soloecismes in the present Government In his conclusion he insists much upon the convocation of the States generall of the Kingdom sure free a suspension of the mariage with Spain and so concluds with much complement These were specious pretences but they were as so many imaginary lines drawing to one reall Center which was the Marq of Ancre who indeed was the sole grievance and not He neither but his power and privacy with the Queen Regent which they thought to demolish by Arms. The Queen Regent in her answer to Conde reprocheth him that he had not imparted these things privatly to her to whom he had perpetual
to detain still the possessions of the Church 2. Others thought it was fit to give the King some contentment but in appearance only and to verifie the Edict assuring themselfs that it could never be put in execution it would meet with so many difficulties 3. Others thought it best to delay the verification to another time The King understanding that they were thus chopping of Logic and that the Synod also which was there then sitting did mainly resist the verification of his Edict He resolves to go thither himself though many disswaded him from the journey by reason of the uncouth wayes the sory lodgings the waters in some places poyson'd by Sorcerers and the scarcity of provision in the Lands of Bourdeaux But none of these reasons could deter the King therefore he prepares for his voyage and in the interim he sent a person of quality to the Rochellers to acquaint them with the Elusory answers which the Bearnois made to his commands and therefore he advis'd and requir'd them to have nothing to do in this busines They of Rochell little regarding what the King said but undertook the protection of the Bearnois The King being advanced in his journey neer Pau the Inhabitants sent to know how he would be receiv'd the King asked if there were ever a Church in the Town if there were he would enter as their Soverain if not he would receive no honor in a place where God Almighty had no House to be honor'd in so he entred without any Ceremony They of the Religion making three parts of the people forbore to send Commodities to Pau Market during the Kings sojourn there to constrain him to go away the sooner so that his train made hard shift to subsist all the while He goes thence to Navarrenz seven leagues neerer the hills a strong tenable place having 45. peeces of Ordnance and 40. Culverins the old Governor Bertrand de Sales sent the keys of the Town to the King where he peaceably entred contrary to all expectation he put in a new Garrison of French there and plac'd another Governor giving for recompence to the old 60000. Franks He also caus'd Masse to be sung there which had not bin done fifty yeers before so having settled all things at Navarrenx he return'd to Pau where the great Church which they of the Religion had turn'd to a Temple was restor'd to the Priests and two thousand crowns given for satisfaction In fine having cast the Church into its old mould and the Military with the Civill Government into a new and leaving a competent strength with La Force to preserve both he took post and came safely and triumphantly to Paris in a few dayes The Bearnois made their addresses to the French Churches and exhibited their complaints unto them and for their justification they alledg'd two reasons One was a possession of fifty yeers continued without interruption of those revenues the King had ravish'd them of The second was an Ordinance of the States Generall of Bearn confirm'd by a Declaration of Henry the Great to that effect The Roman Catholiks answer'd That for the possession they speak of it was violent and accompagnied with rebellion and felony Touching the Assembly of the States Generall which they urg'd it was altogether illegal because the first and most noble part which was the Clergy was excluded by a cruel persecution and for Henry the Great he was then himself a persecutor of the Catholiks The French Reformed Churches which are neer upon eight hundred did much resent the usage of the Bearnois thereupon there was a great Assembly held at Loudun without the Kings permission wherein they resolv'd to assist their brethren of Bearn They drew up Cayers or papers to present unto the King containing sundry demands 1. The first that his Majesty would please to revoke his arrest given in favor of the Ecclesiastiks of Bearn 2. A continuation of their Cautionary Towns foure yeers longer the time being now expir'd 3. They demanded leave to change two Governors which were turn'd Catholiks When these Papers were presented to the King he sent their Deputies word by Condé and Luynes that his will was that first of all they should separat the Assembly and six moneths after their separation they should be favourably answer'd They prai'd this promise might be digested in writing to an Act they were answer'd That it was an indecent and derogatory thing for a Monark to treat in that manner with his subjects as if his word were not sufficient The Deputies receiv'd little satisfaction in this so they returnd to Loudun wher the Assembly continued still notwithstanding two Declarations publish'd by the King wherein they were commanded to separat upon pain of being proclaim'd Traytors They little valu'd the Kings Declarations but dissolving their Assembly at Loudun they sent summons up and down to meet at Rochell where in a greater eagernes and zeal to the Cause then before they solemnly conven'd notwithstanding another new Prohibition of the Kings verifi'd by the Court of Parliament in Paris Hereupon the busines was put into deep deliberation at the Counsell of State whether the King should declare war against the whole body of the Religion or particularly against those that had met at Rochell and the latter opinion took place for these reasons 1. First it could not stand with justice to force consciences to quit that beleef which had bin so long tolerated 2. Secondly that declaring a war against the whole body of them of the Religion might bring in forren ayd 3. Thirdly that if a war were pronounc'd in generall many of the Kings best servants would be involv'd therein and provok'd as the Duks of Trimoville Bovillon Lesdigueres Suilly Chastillon Brassai Montgomery Blamville with divers other of his best sort of subjects The King in regard his Treasury was much drain'd was loth to plunge himself in a serious war again the Rochelers therefore to comply with them he accorded a continuation of their cautionary Towns for five yeers longer notwithstanding that they demanded but foure He also gave them leave to change the Governor of Lectour Castle and to choose a new Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris two things they insisted much upon but they prevail'd little with them unlesse the late Edict of Bearn were revok'd Hereupon the Gran Assembly at Rochell reinforc'd it self and went on more roundly then ever there were also up and down the Countrey divers other meetings as Synods Colloquies Circles and demy-circles which conven'd and consulted They of Rochell went higher and higher they had a new public sealemade they establish'd a new Court of Admiralty and stamp'd new Coines They made 47. Ordinances which were printed and commanded to be strictly observed through all the Reformed Churches They nominated Governors of Provinces and impos'd taxes at pleasure The King was much incens'd at these traverses yet nothing could move him to declare war against the whole body of them
in so much that he would give no generall pardon but reserv'd five for death and there were most pittifully drown'd and kill'd in the Town above 800. whereof there were above 200. Gentlemen The King having reduc'd Clayrac though it cost him dear his thoughts then reflected upon Montauban which after Rochell was the prime propugnacle and principallest Town of security They of the Religion had in the whole Kingdom There was a Royall summons sent before and it was accompanied with a large persuasive Letter from the Duke of Suilly who was one of the chiefest Grandes they had of the Reformed Religion to induce them to conformitie and obedience some interpreted the Letter to a good sense but the populasse by the instigation of the Ministers would not hearken to it This was that Duke of Suilly that had bin a Favorit to Henry the Fourth whom he had reduc'd from a Roman to be a Reformist when he was King of Navar onely and perswading him to become Roman again the Duke bluntly answer'd Sir You have given me one turn already you have good luck if you give me any more Thereupon the siege began and the great Duke of Mayn who had newly come with additionall forces to the King began the first battery and spent 500. Cannon bullets upon them a breach was made but with losse of divers men of note amongst the Royallists the Marquis of Themines breath'd there his last And not long after the brave Duke of Mayn himself peeping out of a gabion within his trenches was shot by a common soldier from the Town The Parisians were much incens'd for the losse of the Duke of Mayn therfore as some of the reformed Religion were coming from Charenton-Sermon they assaulted them in the way hurt divers kil'd some and going on to Charenton they burnt the Temple there but a few nights after two great bridges ore the Seinn were burnt quite down to the water in the City of Paris and a great store of wealth consum'd and it was interpreted to be a just judgement from Heaven for burning of Charenton Temple The Duke of Angoulesm was sent to counter-car the forces of the Duke of Rohan who was then in motion in Guyen and Angoulesm was so succesfull that he gave him a considerable defeat by taking the strong Fort of Fauch in defence whereof 400. of the Reformists were slain The contagion rag'd furiously in the Kings Army before Montauban and divers persons of quality died of it amongst others the Archbishop of Sens brother to Cardinall Perron and the Bishops of Valentia Carcassona and Marseillis and Pierre Matthieu the Historiographer added to the number of the dead This with the approach of Winter caus'd the King to raise his siege from before the Town having lost above five hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen of qualitie besides thousands of common souldiers During this pertinacious siege before Montauban there was a remarquable thing pass'd which was this There was a cunning report rais'd in the Kings Army that Rochell which was then also beleaguer'd by the Count of Soissons and the Duke of Guyse the first by Land the other by Sea was rendred upon composition this report was made to fly into Montauban which must needs strike a shrewd apprehension of fear into her they of Rochell hearing of it articled with Master Hicks an English Gentleman now Sir Ellis Hicks who spake the Language perfectly well that if he would undertake to carry a Letter into Montauban he should receive a noble reward Master Hicks undertook it and passing through the Army that was before Rochell came to Tholouse where my Lord of Carlile was then Ambassador extraordinary Master Hicks meeting with Master Fairfax a young Gentileman brother to the now Lord Fairfax he did associat much with him They both went to see the siege before Montauban and being Gentlemen and thought to be of the English Ambassadors train there was little heed taken of them They got one day between the Kings Trenches and the Town and Hicks being very well mounted told Fairfax If you love your life follow me so he put spurs to his horse having showers of shots powr'd after him he came safe to the gates of Montauban and so he deliver'd the intrusted Letter which brought news in what a good posture Rochell was this so animated the besieged that the next day they made a sally upon the Kings Forces and did a notable execution upon them and a little after the Siege was rais'd so Master Hicks besides the honor of the act had a guerdon equall to the importance of the service and danger of the attempt but Master Fairfax who was inscious of the dessein staying behind and being apprehended was put to the torture and a Diaper napkin dipt in boyling water was squeaz'd down his throat whereof he died a hard destiny of a most hopefull young Gentleman Within the compasse of this yeer there died Paul the Fift Philip the Third of Spain the Arch-Duke Albertus in Flanders Cosmo de Medicis Gran Duke of Toscany and Cardinall Bellarmin To whom may be added also the Duke of Luynes Lord high Constable of France who died in Longuetille a small Town in Languedoc of the purple feavor He was one of the greatest Favourits for so short a time that ever were in France since the Maires of the Palace from whom Emperours afterwards issued His Countrey was Provence and he was a Gentleman by descent though of a petty extraction In the last Kings time he was preferd to be one of his Pages who finding him a good waytor allowed him three hundred crowns per an which he husbanded so frugally that he maintain'd himself and his two brothers in passable good fashion The King observing that doubled his pension and taking notice that he was a serviceable instrument and apt to please he thought him fit to be about his son the Dauphin in whose service he had continued above 15. yeers by a singular dexteritie he had in Faulconry he gain'd so far upon the young Kings affection that he soard to that high pitch of Honor. He was a man of a passable understanding of a mild comportment humble and debonnair to all suters but he was too open in his counsels and desseins he had about him good solid heads who prescrib'd unto him rules of policy by whose compasse he steer'd his cours He came at last to that transcendent altitude that he seem'd to have surmounted all reaches of envie and made all hopes of supplanting him frustrat both by the constant strength of the Kings favor and the powerfull alliances he had got for himself and his two brothers He married the Duke of Montbazons daughter his second brother Cadenet the Heiresse of Pequigny with whom he had 9000. pound lands a yeer His third brother married the Heiresse of Luxemburg of which House there have bin five Emperors so that the three Brothers with their alliances were able to counterbalance
should be a generall peace now 'twixt the French people because of the businesse of the Valtolin where the Spaniard had a purpose to block out France in all places towards Italy which was very necessary to be prevented so that it was not fit to enfeeble France at this time by attempting to extinguish them of the Religion and to plunge the whole Countrey in an intestine war for it was as if one would cut off his left hand with the right This last counsell took more with the King and so he left no way unessayed to reunite all his subjects Hereupon to content the Reformists he caus'd their Temples to be reedified he appointed 60000. Franks for the payment of their Ministers and permitted them to call a Synod at Charenton with divers other acts of compliance provided that on their part they should entertain no strangers for preachers nor admit Ministers into politic Assemblies In these difficulties and anxious traverses of things the King made the Cardinal of Richelieu his principall Minister of State chiefe of his Counsell and Director generall under his authority in the government of the State He made this election by the advice of the Queen Mother principally nor was it an improper choice for the party had a concurrence of high abilities in him answerable to that transcendent trust and he prov'd as will appear by the sequele of things a succesfull Instrument though many doubt whether his Counsel was as succesfull to France as it was fatall to the rest of Christendom which he hath plung'd in an eternall war touching this we leave the Ingenious Reader a freedom of censure according as his judgement shall be guided by an unpartiall and unbiass'd relation of matters as they ly connected in the ensuing part of this story Thus our third Lustre concludes with the commencement of Richelieus greatnes The fourth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth VVE began the last lustre with the espousals of the Lady Christina second daughter of France with the Prince of Piemont this begins with the mariage of the Lady Henriette Marie de Bourbon the yongest Royall branch of Henry the Great and this was the first great act that the Cardinal of Richelieu performed after he was come to the superintendency of affairs of State France had two causes of perpetuall apprehensions of fear one external th' other internal The still growing greatnesse of Spain without and They of the Religion within doors which were made frequent use of by any discontented Princes upon all occasions and were cryed up by the Jesuits to be as Matches to set France on fire at any time Therefore the first gran dessein that he projected with himself was to clip their wings and diminish their strength by dismantling their Cautionary Towns and making them dismisse their Garrisons The Cardinal knew the King his Master did not affect them since the Treaty at Lodun wherein they forc'd him to put another interpretation upon his Coronation Oth then his conscience did dictat unto him or the Prelat who administred it unto him meant which appear'd in a churlish answer that he gave them not long after when he was solicited to prolong the terme of holding their Cautionary Towns as Henry the Third and Henry the Great his father had done Which answer was That what grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you nor love you To compasse that great work of taking from them their Garrison Towns it was thought very expedient to secure forren Princes from assisting them specially England and the united Provinces Touching the latter they were charm'd with money for in a fresh Treaty the King accorded them a million of Franks and six hundred thousand Franks every one of the two yeers next ensuing which they were to re-inburse the next two yeers that they should conclude a peace or truce with Spain The Holland-Ambassadors who were employed in this Treatie did promise the King that there should be libertie of conscience given the Catholiks at his Majesties request That the States should associat the French with them in the commerce of the Indies give them some choice ports for traffic and repaire some depraedations they had made by sea but the money being once got there was little care taken to perform these promises which were no more then parol engagements or rather complements whereupon an Ambassador was expressely sent to complain hereof but he effected little To secure England from succouring Them of the Religion the first overture that the Erl of Holland made for an alliance was yeelded unto to whom the Erl of Carlile was sent in joynt commission to conclude it The King told them that he took it for an honour that they sought his sister for the sole sonne of so illustrious a King his neighbour and Allie onely he desir'd that he might send to Rome to have the Popes consent for better satisfaction of his conscience and in the mean time the English Ambassadors might send for a more plenary power to England so in lesse then the revolution of nine moons this great businesse was propos'd poursued and perfected whereas the Sun ran his carreer through the Zodiac ten times before that Spain could come to any point of perfection This may serve to shew the difference twixt the two Nations the leaden heel'd pace of the one and the quicksilver'd motions of the other it shewes also how the French is more round and frank in his proceedings not so full of scruples reservations and jealousies as the Spaniard And one reason that the Statists of the time alledg'd why Spain amus'd the English and protracted the Treaty of the Match so long was that all the daughters of France might be first married to prevent an alliance 'twixt England and her There was a concurrence of many things that favor'd the effecting and expediting of this alliance some previous Offices and Letters of invitation from France wherein there were strains of extraordinary endearments wherewith the King of Great Britain corresponded also in an unusuall stile as appears by this Letter following Most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved good Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Although the deceased King of happy memory was justly call'd Henry the Great for having re-conquer'd by arms his Kingdom of France though it appertain'd unto him as his proper inheritance Yet you have made now a greater conquest for the Kingdom of France though it was regain'd by the victorious arms of your dead father it was his de jure and so he got but his own But you have lately carried away a greater victory having by your two last Letters so full of cordiall courtesies overcome your good Brother and ancient Ally and all the Kingdoms appertaining unto him for We acknowledge Our self so conquer'd by your more then
would acknowledge him the greatest man of Europe were he not born for the ruine of our party and the abolition of the Reformed Religion This young generous warlike King though too much zealoused to Popery following in every thing the counsels of this Priest as Oracles can we doubt but our defence though lawfull as being for Religion and liberty of conscience be not an occasion to him to advance our destruction under pretext of rebellion and felony After all that Gentlemen you must consider that the taking of Rochell hath extinguish'd all Factions throughout the Kingdom which commonly serv'd to the encrease of our party In so much that of three hundred places good and bad which we had formerly in our hands we have not 30. remaining without rents without soldiers or means to put into them all together as many men as would serve to preserve one alone For although our Parsons cry out daily in their Chaires that we ought not to despaire of heavenly succour yet receiving every day proofs of the wrath of the Eternal there is more appearance to expect punishment for our sins then miracles for the re-establishment of our affaires Peradventure you will promise your selfs some great assistance from strangers and specially from Protestants whom the conformity of Religion which ties them to our interests may oblige to assist us in so urgent necessity But I pray consider that the Germans have enough to defend themselfs from the oppression of the Emperour consider the elusions of the Hollander the impuissance of the Savoyard who hath bled at the nose the lightnes of the English who have concluded a peace with France without comprehending us who were the sole object of the war And if you stay for the offers of Spain which loves not our Nation and our Religion lesse know that he studies how to engage us so far against the King that we may become incapable of his grace and that the succours wherewith he will supply us which is but a little money will not serve but to prolong our ruine by enfeebling France by our Civill Wars and intestine broyles For my self I am now as much solicited as ever to abandon you and to take advantagious conditions of his Majesty but I shall never hearken to any thing but wherein you may find your satisfaction in a generall Treaty for the whole Cause as also particularly for your Towns If your wisdoms find it to purpose that it be more expedient to seek our conservation with the exercise of our Religion and liberty of our consciences within the obedience which we owe to our lawfull Prince then in resistance which though just of it self is held by the Enemies of our Faith no other then a Rebellion and high Treason whereby under a more specious pretext to exterminat and destroy us Or if contrary to all appearance of human reason you take a resolution to stiffen your selfs against so victorious and invincible a power I resolve also to incur all hazards with you though I am sory that neither the advancement of the Faith can be found in my resolution nor your security in my danger nor your safety in my losse This studied speech with the sense of the late ill successe and of the Kings power wrought so far upon the Assembly that it extorted a willingnes to submit unto a Treaty which was propounded accordingly so a little after there was a generall peace concluded with the Reformists and the King being in Languedoc where the Plague after this scourge of War was very rife he went therefore himself to Paris and left the Cardinal behind to consummat all things who amongst other places entred Montauban where Espernon met him and reentred into a perfect friendship with him Montauban following the example of all the rest of the Towns dismantled herself of all new fortifications and restor'd the Church lands c. The Cardinall being return'd to Paris the Peace with his Majesty of Great Britain was solemnly renew'd and sworn unto but they of the Religion took it ill that there was no mention at all made of them in the Treaty they having bin declar'd to be the object of Englands last war with France All the Princes were commanded to be at this Ceremony and because a difference did arise for precedency 'twixt forrein Princes of souverain Houses and the naturall sons of Kings a provisional Order was made by the Privy Counsel That every one should take place according to his seniority of age Thus our fourth Lustre of the life of Lewis the thirteenth ends with an Olive branch of a double Peace one with a forren Prince the King of Great Britain which was solemnly sworn unto by both Kings Sir Thomas Edmunds being Ambassadour for the one and the Marquis of New-Castle de Chasteau neuf for the other The second Peace was concluded with his own subjects the whole Body of the Religion whom he had now reduc'd to an exact rule of obedience having seiz'd upon dismantled and secur'd all their praesidiary Towns which were neer upon fifty whereof Montauban was the last that left her Mantle So that they must hereafter depend no more upon Garrisons but Royall Grace A mighty work then which nothing could conduce more to make him so absolut a Monark Thus ends the fourth Lustre The fifth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth THe King having with such a strong hand put a period to the Civill Wars in his own Kingdoms by debelling his subjects of the Religion and utterly disabling them from banding against him for the future in dismantling all the tenable Towns they had for their security and disguarding other places they held to the number of three hundred of all Military strength whereby he brought them to depend totally upon his favor for their liberty and the performance of the Edicts granted in their behalfe he now thinks upon another march ore the Alps for the support of the Duke of Mantova once his vassall and still partly so being a Frenchman by birth though not by extraction And this he might now do with lesse fear then formerly having quieted and secur'd all things in France according to the saying Frustrà foris agit bellum qui domi timet incendium He vainly combats abroad who fears combustions at home The Duke of Nevers being now settled in Mantova the French grew powerfull in Italy which the Spaniard could not well disgest Thereupon a Ligue was struck 'twixt the Emperour and him whereinto the Duke of Savoy entred afterward The Emperor questions the Duke of Nevers about Mantova though not for the Title yet for the investiture which he was to receive from him Hereupon he sends an Army to Italy under the command of Colalto a great Captain and Marquis Spinola a greater was Generall for the King of Spain nor was the little Duke Emanuel of Savoy inferior to either who after Henry the Great 's death assum'd to himself the title of the