Some Historical REMARQUES OF THE LIFE of the Famous Cardinal MAZARINI.

IT might pass for no great misadventure, (in imita­tion of Philosophers, and those Mathematicians who to describe the Globes and the [Page 76]Government of the Universe have assigned Termes and Names to the great and Princi­pal Parts thereof) if in the Ele­ments of Humane Policy which hath ordered and disposed the Affairs of Christendome, in its Modern Administration, we give to its chief Motion the Name of MAZARINI whose Designes and Actions were the Supreme Intelligences the Poles and Hinges by which so many wonderful changes and vicissitudes have been Rolled upon the World.

And he may properly be also called that Altern Lumi­nary which upon the setting of the Glorious Richelieu, arose in [Page 77]the French Horizon, and with Ʋniversal Splendor pierced in­to the most Recondite and Ab­struse Mysteries and Cabals of State, and influenced and Go­verned their Transactions; Like the Moons Opacous Body his Gleamings and Glitterings and uncertain lights dazled the Eyes of the World, while his dark Intrigues were reserved and concealed in himself.

He was Fate it's self in a Hu­mane shape, which dispensed Events and favoured or crossed all Counsels and Designes ac­cording to his Pleasure; nothing succeeded without his Concur­ring advice and assent, and no­thing failed with his auspici­ous [Page 78]Encouragement. To so near a resemblance herein, that he was able to clue glorious and most wonderful Effects through dark Labyrinths of Time and Adver­sity, and appoint the hour and minute of their Termination.

He was a dark. Lanthorn whose Lucidations discovered all before him, and concealed his own Mysterious Practises; the Oracle of State, which no Sword or Wisdome could re­solve, He could turn the Edges of the sharpest Steel, and blunt the Points of the acutest Wits, neither Mars nor Mercury could prevail against Him.

In vain therefore it is to think to give any competent [Page 79]Character of Him, who sur­mounted the capacity of the ablest Personages Christendome e're enjoyed, and who may be reckoned for one of the Won­ders of the World.

As he may in some sort also be said to have been a Monarch himself, having governed France absolutely in the Re­gency and Minority of the Pre­sent King and Queen Mother in very difficult and perplexed Times, and yet he was but a stranger, and a new commer to that Court and Country in a very private condition, which His Fortune and M [...]it equalled after to the highest Advance­ments any Publique Minister ever attained.

It's true, he had an Excellent Master and Pattern the afore­said Richlieu, who doubled his Faculties upon him at his death, commending him to the King as he had done before to the Queen, as the only fit and able person to undertake His Affairs. The main Scope whereof was the Ruine of the House of Austria, and the Ad­vancement of the French Great­ness upon it, to an Universal So­veraignty.

And it will not be ungrate­ful I suppose to the Reader to shew the Parallel and Diffe­rences between these Eminent Statesmen, (the latter exactly treading in the steps of the For­mer,) [Page 81]without any ambitious Hope or design of expressing them in their due proportions, but only to serve an ordinary Curiosity.

Cardinal Richlieu was born at Paris, and so a Native of that Kingdom, and of Noble Ex­traction, which rendred him to the observation of the Queen Mother, who took him into her service and preferred him to the Bishoprick of I uzon, where at her command he wrote a Book of Con [...]roversies, and Therafter to the King, who pro­cured him a Cardinals Cap from the Pope (Paul the fifth, is reported upon viewring him to have said, that he would one day [...] [Page 82] would prove the greatest cheat in the World.) He highly meri­ted his Preferments of the King, by his taking of Rochel, which caused such an obliging confi­dent affection in the King to­wards him that he left the total direction of Affairs to him, but that Interest in the King was very ungratefully mana­ged against the Queen Mo­ther who raised Him, and all her Party or Dependants, the Queen he forced into a disho­nourable and wandring Exile; and to rid himself of Her and the Intrigues against Him, He cut off the Marshall Marillacis head her great Favourite, and ruined all such of whom he had [Page 83]any jealousie. He was belo­ved by the most zealous Pro­testants and hated by the most zealous Catholiques, and never pardoned such as had offended against him. He gained the Dutchy of [...]urain by sine po­licy, and sudden force in­tending to [...]ine the Hous [...] of [...], the successors or Char­ [...]n, in order to the sa [...]e destructive Design un [...], the House of Austria, designing to have seized also the L [...]w Countries, upon which bottome the War with Spain in 16 [...]. was begun and continued till his death.

He assisted the Duke of Ne­ver, in his succession to the [Page 74]Dutchy of Mantuua, and made an alliance with the Swedes and the Protestant Princes; and yet notwithstanding ruined the Hugonites in France.

He was an enemy likewise to the Princes of the Blood, espe­cially the Count of Soissons, who deserted the Kingdome and joyned with the Spaniard; His Party with him published a Manifesto against the Cardinals male administration, yet he continued in the Kings favour and firm assurance there­of, and for attempts and under­minings thereof by the perswa­sions of the King to a peace, he caused Monsieur le Grand and De Thou, two Eminent Noble­men [Page 75]to be beheaded at Lions; which last sanguinous Action loosned him from his former fixedness in his Masters breast, whose coldness towards him raised Damps in his own, which with other distempers fomented and fed by this, ex­tinguished his life on the 4^th of December 1642.

He was accused of having Embroyled England, to the end that it might be in no condition to hinder his sei­zing of the Low Countries, and this by most unjust and Ma­ligne practises (though varnish­ed over with its like intermed­ling in the businesse of Rochel) and of setting all Europe in ge­neral [Page 86]by the ears, though he can­not be deprived of the glory and praise of having done the Kingdom of France Superlative services though it were with the huge oppression of the poore people, he lived in great anxi­ety and sear, having perpetual apprehensions of the mischiefs he had done.

His death was not overmuch lamented, and such as had ei­ther feared him, or fled his per­secution returned into France, and by the Kings Grace repos­sest themselves of their Charges and Estates. He died wealthy and rich, seized of severall Go­vernments and Offices and Ti­tulado'd with Dignities and [Page 87]Secular Honours, leaving a Peerage and Dutchy to his Ne­phew Duke Richleiu now sur­viving; and was buried with a publique sumptuous Funeral a little before the death of Lewis the 1 [...] which happened in the beginning of the year 1643. after he had declared the Q [...]een, Regent and recommen­ded Cardinal Mazarini to her, who suffered no Eclipse or Di­minution of Lustre in the clou­ded close setting of his Patron Richleiu.

And we shall now perceive this Apotype and Copy of this great Exemplar Cardinal Ma­zarini who was (as hath been objected to, and reported of, [Page 78]him frequently) a Sicilian by birth, and so a Native Subject of the King of Spain, but took his Priesthood at Rome as did Richleiu, and by his good For­tune conducted to France, into which Court he cunningly insi­nuated himself, and gained the favour and knowledge of the Cardinal, who employed him in transacting his Affairs at Rome, and as his Envoy or Minister for that peculiar Negotiation, while he found it convenient to dispose of him for his better service, and prefer him to the Queen, as her Secretary, by which means he might fasten a sure Intelligencer of whatever should be contrived against [Page 79]Him, and continue and cherish those good correspondencies between her Majesty and Him­self.

And so true and faithful a Servant did he carry himself in that preferment, and so pru­dently and wisely for himself, that he preserved the entire fa­vour of their Majesties and the Cardinal, without any suspicion of a partial study in things of a nice and dubious adherence.

For as he had by his Birth the disadvantage of Alliance and Interest, so had be the un­observed unbusied and serence way of beneficing and engaging the means to his Grandeur which he saw designed for him [Page 90]by so Potent and concerned In­ductions to the secrets of the Government; so that there was little odds between the Locality of their Extractions but what ambitious Envy a­gainst the one, and contemp­tuous Hatred against the other ineffectually signified.

By the aforesaid direction of the King at his decease he now managed the State, and in pro­secution of Richleius Design, (Sacrated to him by the Merit of his Advancement) resumed the next Summers Expedition of 1643. with more violent Effects, the tediousness of the former having wearied Lewis the 14^th of his life.

The first signal Action of his Administration was the reliefe of Rocroy, which Don Francisco de Mello a Portuguese (then Governour after the death of the Cardinal Infanta of the Low Countries under the Spanish obedience) went to besiege with a gallant Army, but having declared the Duke of Albuquerque (a Portuguese like­nese) General of the Horse, who was a very young man and raw Souldier, the Officers took so much offence thereat, that they quarrelled themselves into a discomfiture so that all their Foot were presently worsted and defeated by the Duke of Anguien now Prince of Conde [Page 82]a person that could not, would not be debarred from Military employment, and was suffered to run his venturous fate in this service for other guesse effects then a braving Experience, which after wards threatned the Fortunes of this Great Cardinal.

This Victory was very great and most opportune to ingrati­ate His Administration with the people which voyced up like­wise his favourite, General or Marshall Gassion a Protestant besides, who after took in Theon­ville. Of whom further.

This successe was also the more officious to him for that it removed the said Francisco de Mello from the government [Page 83]of the low Countries, the Mar­quess Casiel-Rodrigo being substituted thereto, till the arri­val of the Arch-Duke Leopold from Germany, as if Fortune in­timated that other Ministers of State were inferiour to his Emi­nence, and could not consist nor stand with his insuperable Poli­cy and felicity of Government.

His aims were no less upon Ger­many pursuing the old League with the Swedes, then on Flan­ders, though with different suc­cesse. For the remainders of the Duke of Saxon Weymars Army being recruited and reinforced by the French, marched towards Bavaria, intending to swallow that Dutchy, but here fortune [Page 94]faltered, for the Duke of Ioram and John de Wert accompanied by the Baron of Mercy the Ba­varian General, so rudely ac­costed them, that the French lost 400 Officers and of them the gallant Marshal Guebriana, and 6000 Souldiers, and with speed were forced to return to the Rhine

These 2 Battles of Rocroy and Dutling within so short a space of 6 Months were almost as sig­nal as any in the Swedish or Flandrian War, and made the world suppose to the Cardinals advantage, that he would direct and govern the Armes of France in their own natural way of sudden and sprightly reso­lution [Page 95]and push at a speedy con­quest and Decision.

The prudent Cardinal knowing how the pleasure of this Victory might transport the Duke of Lorrain, having highly vindicated and revenged him­self of the French affronts (to feed the humors thereof, and charm the opportunities of this success) proposed a Treaty with the said Duke now as more facile to an accomodation, since he stood upon as aequall if not higher ground: but the Duke being slur'd before by Cardinal Richlieu upon the same account at his last journy to Paris by the like offers would not venture another [Page 86]Flam, but fell into the low coun­tries to winter quarters & gave the Cardinal leave to undertake another Composure.

And that was between the King of England and the mem­bers at Westminster by the out­ward solemn Embassy of Prince Harcourt and as well enter­tained by them as intended by him; (the Members quarrel­ling at his Credentials as not amply and in form direct­ed to them, and affronting him by a search and seizure of his pa­pers as he was going to Oxford) for he bound himself up to the Dictates and Methods of Car­dinal Richlein, which was by any means to continue our divi­sions; [Page 97]and the effect of this splendid whither go ye mani­fested no more, when the said Prince Harcourt, departe hence, without so much as one praliminary or word treated of tow [...]rd an agreement.

And as his averseness to the English Nation was m [...]erly Politique & hardly discovered in him, so had he a natural dis­like of and Antipathy to the N [...]et, easily to be observed va­rying and counterchanging the interest of France whi [...]h thi­ [...]herto had maintained an indis­soluble Le [...]gue and Amity with Scotland; whether prompted to it by his Generosity a vertue relucent enough in him which [Page 98]abhorred their disloyal practi­ses, or from a vile contempt of their Condition, and the dictates of Prudence which disobliged any confidence in that Nation (as they then went in the worlds Repute) is not determinable.

But most certain it is that some grounded radicated pique and quarrel he had against that people, for that the Immortal Marquesse of Montross of Fa­mous Memory was put by his Command of that Kings Guard which had been promised him, meerly by this Cardinal, al­though he brought with him the greatest Merit that Loyalty, Conduct and Courage did ever lay claim to.

As little indulgent he was in­deed to the admission of any stranger into places of Trust, no not his own Countrymen of Italy, as knowing one was enough and thought by the Princes of the Blood and the Nobility to be too many, serving himself altogether of Frenchmen, except for Forrain Intelligence, for which he had Emissaries and Pensionary's of all Nations.

And now we will return to some other Passages of his Ad­ministration as to the War he maintained yet with the Empe­rour and King of Spain in the year 1646. when the Duke of Orleans was Generalissimo, (the Cardinal studying to busie the [Page 100]Princes of the Blood in Military Actions, out of the Kingdome) and the aforesaid Duke of An­guien his Lieutenant General.

That years greatest Campa­nia fell upon Flanders where a Decision of the quarrel for those Provinces was resolved upon, by taking the chiefest Towns of Importance in the Heart of the Country, which would give the Spaniard a mortal blow; having prepared for it, by many succes­ses to the Hollanders as well as the▪ selves the year before: for that the Spaniards losse of Graveling and the Sasse of Gaunt, the two main Frontier Defences both ways, laid the [Page 101]Country open to an intire Con­quest.

Courtrack was first taken within twenty miles of Gaunt, but victuals growing seant, by the multitude of such an Army, they retreated towards the Sea­side to be supplied by the Hol­lander and took in Berghen St. Wynox by Dunkirk, besieged Mardike suprized from them the Winter before, but lost ma­ny gallant brave persons of the French No ility, and some four thousand men before it, and yet could not carry it till Van­trump with his Dutch Fleet blockt them up by Sea.

Dunkirk and Fuernes follow­ed the same Fortune, so that no­thing [Page 102]was thought now able to withstand the progress of the French Armies to Antwerp, which the Cardinal by earnest expresses and instances desired the Prince of Orange to besiege promising him 6000 Men to his assistance; but the Dutch jealous of the French for former Rea­sons, and suspecting the Cardi­nals reaches, and not willing to spoyl the Trade of Amsterdam which must return again to An­twerp, would by no means ap­prove of the design.

Nevertheless the Prince of Aurange (Marshal Gassion and Rantzaw having driven back Piccolomini the Emperours General and secured the passage [Page 103]by the Channel between Gaunt and Bruges) came with his Army and complemented the Duke of Orleans with a visit, and returned with booty and plunder into the Land of Wasse and there took in Hulst in Octo­ber the last admirable felicity of that great Captain.

So succesful were the endea­vours of this great Cardinal, that no doubt was made of re­ducing the Countries which France pretended to have been wrested from her some ages be­fore, and so accomplish a total Soveraignty over all Belgia in process of time; when the Prince of Aurange the great wheel of the Holland War, by [Page 104]the insinuations and perswasi­ons of the right honourable George Lord Goring Earl of Norwich deceased, was at last in­duced to hearken to an accom­modation, which having been laboured at Munster by Depu­ties of all the concerned Prin­ces and the Arbitrators, was in 1648. by that Princes single Condescention (such a com­mand had his Fortune upon Christendome) concluded and ratified on January the 8th and the French left to stand up­on their own legs (after many instances made to the Contrary by Monsieur de Servient the French Ambassadour at the Hague to no purpose) the Swedes [Page 105]and Hollanders returning to their repose after a m [...]st tedious War which the Ambitious Cardinal preferred b [...]fore a most just honourable and necessary Peace for the impoverished Subjects of France.

Notwithstanding he obtained by this Munster Treaty from the Emperour in satisfaction of his charge and expence in the Swe­dish War, the strong Town of Brisack and most part of Alsa­tia, bordering upon Lorain, no small addittament of Territory, besides the s [...]curity thereby of his acquests in Lorain; and his rights in the 3 Bishopricks of Metz, Thoul and Verdun.

Maintaining and keeping al­so [Page 106] Portolongone and Prombino in Italy taken by his Arms un­der the Conduct of Prince Tho­maso, as also his Conquests in Cataloma, where the War was continued with various success under the several Commands of Marshal de Motte, The Prince de Harcourt, de Conde, and Mar­shal de Schomberg, to the con­tinuance of the Catalonians in their revolt.

He retained likewise what he gained in Flanders, with a re­solution to improve the French Flower de Lyzes in that Coun­try, where they had formerly flonrished, looking with an e­vil eye upon the Dutch for a­bandoning their League, and [Page 107]evil-intreating of their Subjects in their Trade and Naviga­tion, which showed how much he was displeased with this peace, which he foresee would breed ill humors in the State, and some envious designes a­gainst his Person and Authority therein.

The said year 1648. on the 29th of August he was fortuna­ted with another Victory at Lens in Artoys against the Arch-Duke Leopold gained by the valour but allayed by the death of the gallant Marshal Gassion, slain with a bullet (as most men thought) treache­rously by some great person near him, who shall be nameless. [Page 108]This noble Captain was a Con­fident of the Cardinals, and proved a greater losse to him then was at present imagined, but his sagacity and prudence seasonably provided himself with another Martialist.

Hitherto the Cardinal had car­ried all things evenly without any intestine Commotions or open disturbances, & to his great Reputation and Honour: but the influence of the late gene­ral peace which stilled and dul­led the minds of most men, like a comprest heavy vapour broke out into a violent Earthquake at home, and gave the Spaniard leave to respire after a war on both sides of his Provinces for [Page 109]thirteen years together, but be­laid this great Agent of Chri­stendom with very importunate s llicitudes.

Some Cabal now on foot against him cherisht by the Princes of the blood, and managed chiefly by the Prince of Conde, had obliged him by the Queen Regents Order in September 1648. to commit the Messeiurs de Brussels de Charton and de Blanckmesnel Presidents of the Parliament, whom the people much respected and look't up­on as Patriots, to the Bastilt of Paris, whereupon they began to cry Alarum and ran in Herds [Page 110]down to the Palace Royal (in the nature and to the Event of our unhappy Tumults in 1640) requiring the Liberty of the said Gentlemen: the Shops were shut up, the Chains made fast, and all the approaches barri­cado'd, so that Paris seemed to be in more disorder now, and the danger greater then that which happened in the Reign of Henry the 2d nor did the up­roar cease till the Queen was constrained to release them. And so the discontent was for a while husht up, being a fore­runner to greater mischiefs, and a seeming calm cast upon the surface of the Kingdom, while [Page 111]it violently laboured for a free Vent through the turbulent blood of the Princes.

Which happened on the 28 of December in their Christmas time 1649. when in the Even­ing the Queen, the King and Duke of Anjou with the Cardi­nal departed from Paris; which secret Retreat gave the Parisians another Alarum, for imagin­ing that the Queen would re­venge her self of the former com­motion, they took up Arms again with as much Heat as they had done before, and raised their respective Militia's and Forces under the Command of the Dukes de Elbeuf, Beaufort, Bouillon and the Marshal de la [Page 112] Motte, their chief General be­ing the Prince of Conty.

The Queen Regent and King raised Forces also, there fl [...]ck­ing to him many from all parts to reduce the Parisians to rea­son, he had alread seized up [...]n the Approaches, and some hot Skirmishes were made in one, whereof the Duke of Rohan was slain, he pretended to be the Son and Heir of that most Fa­mous Souldier and Scholar the Duke of Rohan the Head of the Protestant League.

By this means the King pos­sessed himself of St. Dennis, Meredon, Corbett, and Lagny near the City, who fearing the due punishment of their disloy­alty, [Page 113]and the revenges of the Cardinal and animated by their Leaders, & the Nobility, invited the Archduke Leopold to their assi [...]ance, declaring their into­lerable burdens under the pres­sures of a t [...]dious War, and the oppressions of the said Car­dinal.

Upon this invitation the Archduke advanced, and to fa­cilitate his Design caressed the Country as he passed, suffering not the least spoil to be commit­ted upon their Goods or Cattel, but by the advice of the Duke of Lorain, he prudently retired and prevented the stops of his return, remembring that of [Page 114] Curtius, Gratiarum actiones apud hostes supervacaneas esse — aut prorsus nullas, That the thanks of an Enemy are alto­gether vain and unprofitable, or not to be expected or rely­ed on.

For the wise Cardinal to di­vert this storm which would shiver Him if he met and with­stood it singly, vailed the Kings and Queens Authority to this Exigence, Counselling the Queen to conclude with the Princes without any delay; which advice was suddenly ex­ecuted, and thereby the Arch-Duke having lost 2000. Horse for want of forrage and by the celerity of his expedition, was yet [Page 115]fain to make more hast out of the Kingdome then he did into it, although he had saved Paris from a very forward Ruine.

By this Agreement the Citi­zens of Paris were pardoned and restored to all their Privi­ledges and Franchises and the Army of the King and his mu­tineers dispacht under the Prince de Harcourt to make an in-road into Flanders, who coming before Cambray were content to dislodge at the ap­proach of the Arch Duke, whose Leivtenant General the Mar­quess S'sondrate took in Ypres after a gallant defence made by the French, while Harcourt took Conde and laid wast the [Page 116]Country of H [...]nault and part of Fra [...]ant to the fright of the Ci­ty of Brussels it self.

This was one of the finest extri­cating fineries he manifested in so sudden Schazardous an emer­gence which else would have sunk him immediatly, and the Kingdome together; no small advantage of this occurrence that it complicated the Mon­archy of France with his parti­cular Fate, and showed that its glory and safety were redevable to his single Concern.

The Cardinal well knew where those Arrows were for­ged, and therefore having so triumphantly and nimbly sur­mounted this shock & encoun­ter, [Page 117]he used the like diligence to be before hand with his Ene­mies for the future, and here­upon the Princes of C [...]nde and C [...]nt [...] next Princes of the bloud Royal after the Duke of Orleans together with the Duke of Longueville their brother in law and the Duke of Beaufort, were upon a sudden made prisoners in the Castle of [...]incennes, with several of their servants secured and removed from them; this happened in 1650.

The Princesse of Conde re­tired her self to Bourdeaux (where the Duke of Bouillon & many Lords came to her) who for the hatred they bore the Car­dinal and the Duke of Espernon, [Page 118]who stuck fast to the King, were welcomed by her and the Town, as well as the Viscount Marshal Turenne upon the same account at Brussels.

The Dutchesse of Longueville got aboard in a Vessel which lay off before the Haven of Deip, and thence passed to Hol­land, and so to Luxenburgh to communicate intelligence and make a streight Allyance with the Arch Duke.

This was a potent Combina­tion, wherein most of the great men of the Kingdome, with the generality of the people were engaged against the Cardinal and which would have ruined the greatest Minister Europe ever [Page 611]had, were it not that his wisdom and policy were paramount and above the reach of Fortune, which had little to do with his Felicities.

First therefore the King pub­lished a Manifest concerning the detention of the Princes, to give Satisfaction to the world of the justice and necessity thereof, the cheif points of which declarati­on were the Prince of Conde's too great power and exorbitant Ambition, that had proceeded so far as to invade the royal Pre­rogative.

In answer to this the Marshal of Turenne being in Stenay (and having agreed with the Arch-Duke for the manage of the [Page 86]war) beat his drums and listed forces, declaring with the said Arch Duke, that neither Party would lay down their Arms till the Princes were released, the Duke of Lorain restored to his Estate, the Cardinal banished, & a firm peace concluded between both Crowns; but the Cardi­nals Dexterity and diligence bafled all these designments, and turned their Resolutions into prayers and intreaties for most of the same things at his own hands.

The Parliament of Bourde­aux also renewed the Order and Arrest given against the Marquess de Ancre the Favou­rite of the former Queen Mo­ther, [Page 121]whereby it was declared that no Stranger (by reason of his Enormous Administration) should ever have thereafter the great Ministry and Intendency of the Kingdom.

The Marshal Turenne with the Arch-Duke attaqued Guise and notwithstanding terms and propositions of Peace publique and private, resolved to prose­cute the war, while the King seizeth upon the Princes Go­vernments and places of strength in Normandy, and final­ly by the Artifices of the Cardi­nal and the power of the Duke of Espernon, possesseth himself [Page 122]of Bourdeaux, which danger­ously threatned his Crown, where he entred with triumph and with the same returned to his City of Paris.

And now the second time had he quieted and laid the en­vious Rage of his Enemies a­gainst Him, when the Duke of Orleans the Kings brother un­dertook the Princes Interces­sion and Vindication, which he procured to be decreed by the Parliament of Paris, who in a body came and presented their Arrest in favour of the said Princes, to the Queen; which Authoritative Reversement of those proceedings and severe [Page 123]restraint the Princes had suffer­ed, with universal outcryes against the Cardinal as the Au­thour and Contriver of those injuries and other mischiefs to the Publique, by his continu­ance of the War and oppression of the people, now at last forced this able Pilot to abandon the Steerage of the State, and to consult for his security, which the liberty of the Princes danger­ously threatned.

The Princes were set at liber­ty by Marshal Gramment who was Commanded to see it done, and made their entrance into Paris the sixth of February [Page 124]when the streets rung again with the noise of Live the King, Live the Princes, no Mazarine; eve­ry one accusing him of Exhau­sting the Revenue, &c. and of the mischiefs which embroiled the State, but he had plaid his Cards so, that they ceased not with his departure.

Nevertheless to Honest his Retreat and take off the disho­nour of it, he got the King and Queen to give him their Conge or leave for this his retirement, giving his Enemies full swinge to act their Exorbitancies, with­out any Treasure to mitigate that acuteness the people must suffer under those necessities of [Page 125]mis-rule, while he had where­withall to loosen their combi­nation and divide their inte­rests into Atomes, and so make his return infinitely more glori­ous, then his Exit was disgrace­ful.

His passage out of France was by Peronne, Sedan and Dinant where he staid some dayes, and thence to Leige or Luyck and so to Bruel to the Elector of Colen who received him according to his quality, he having refused the like offers of civility from the Spaniards. Yet such was the present hatred of him in France, that even those who shewed him any respect in his way to [Page 126]this Exile, were informed a­gainst as Enemies to the King and their Country, most of the Parliaments of France De­creeing against Him.

And now returned the Mar­shall of Turenne, the Count of Grand Pre and the Dutchess of Longueville, being welcomed with their Troops, while the Cardinal secretly listed men in Luyckland for the Kings Ser­vice, which now went very backward in Flanders, for the Marquess Sfondrate re-took Fuerues and Wynoxberg; and the Impositions and clamours of the people were as great as ever.

To raise these discontents to another Sedition and Rebelli­on, the Prince of Conde gave out a Rumour of another De­sign to seize him and his Bro­ther, and so all things were put in the same hazard as before at the Cardinals departure, for though the Queen protested there was no such Design by an Express sent after him, which brought him back to Paris up­on condition that Monsieur Ser­vient and le Tellier should be discarded, as being the Cardi­nals Creatures; yet he returned to the same suspicious humour and hasted to St. Maur and thence to Burdeaux, which again [Page 128]received and readily declared for Him.

The King to prevent his [...]Lavies and increase there (ha­ving been newly declared Major the 27th of August 1651 by the Chancellour of France in Parliament as being fourteen years of age) followed after him to Poyctiers, and seeing no reme­dy but in the prudent Counsels of the Cardinal, against this am­bitious dissatisfaction of the Princes, sent for Him to come to them thither, which he o­beyed: and the Prince of Conde▪ dealt with the Archduke in like manner; Mazarin being now declared Traytor, his Goods [Page 129]to be Confiscate, his fine Libra­ry sold, and fifteen thousand pound Sterling offered to any body should bring him either alive or dead: and at the same time the Duke of Nemours with Spanish Forces entred Pi­cardy.

This Restitution of the Car­dinal, was then one of the won­derfullest Changes and Affairs of Christendome, though it were but an ordinary Effect of his prudence which plainly fore­see this glorious Event of his secess and departure.

France that had leaned so long upon his Shoulders, could [Page 130]not chuse but misse her suppor­ter, and unaccustomed to new Props, was in danger of an irre­coverable fall. Yet when he had Sampsons opportunity of pulling the stately Frame of Go­vernment upon the Head of his Enemies, who triumphed at his disgrace, the kindnesse of his Revenge rather strengthened the Fabrick and raised it higher.

Necessity that injures and insolently crosseth other men, officiously served His Fortune, France could not be safe with­out Him, the Engine of the Go­vernment was discomposed and in pieces, and none but his [Page 131]skilful Hand could set it right and in order, which he did sud­denly and invisibly by securing the Kings Interest and Sove­raignty, & dividing and perplex­ing the Princes, particularly by moderating and in some sort neutralizing the Duke of Or­leans.

The main Intrigue whereof was the gayning the Marshall Turenne over to the Kings Par­ty, who had constantly followed the Fortune of Conde, and ap­peared the Cardinals most avowed and formidable Ene­my; but nothing it seems was insuperable or unfeasible to Him, who could reconcile [Page 132]Contraries, and out-doe Na­ture, with the Elixir of his Brain.

So that the Princes were con­strained to invite the Archduke and Duke of Lorain to the other Expedition for Paris, which threatned the ruine of one of the Parties; but such was the favour of Fate towards this her great Instrument and Agent that she opportunely interposed the Authority and Mediation of our Soveraign the King of Great Britain then at Paris which superseded the fierce and sanguinous Resolutions of the Princes, and saved the Cardi­nal the Emergent Hazard of his [Page 133]Felicity. Which Courtesie how he requited, is one of the most Envious Enquiry's and the blackest darkest passage of his whole Administration.

By the said Intercession the Duke of Lorain, with other sa­tisfaction, retreated into Flan­ders, whither not long after perforce followed the Prince of Conde and his Partisans, and the King trinmphantly entred Paris with the acceptable insinuati­ons of his Grace and Pardon, solemnly thereafter published; Nothing was wanting to com­pleat the new settlement but the Duke of Orlean's (the Kings Uncles) presence at Court, now [Page 110]absenting and retiring himself thence, which was one of the difficultest and nicest Punctilio of State the Cardinal ever met with.

Being thus again Culminant and placed in his former Crb, he resumed the War with fresh vigour, and with two Eminent Successes the taking of Stenay whither he carried the King in Person, and the Victory at Ar­ras 1654. re-stated and reco­vered the Honour of the Puis­sance of France.

It will be unnecessary to mention the Chain of Successes which followed them in Flan­ders, as it will be rudenesse to abrupt and disjoyn It with his [Page 111]League with Cromwel and his Cunning destructive Design of Jamaica which he put into that Usurpers Head, because they press too near upon His Memo­ry, and are every mans obser­vation and publique Dis­course.

But most certain it is, he joy­ed not our late Miraculous Re­stitution, nor did he foresee it at that Distance which timed and Governed all his other Consultations, for his Politiques were like China Metal prepared and refined by years; though upon the E­mergent and sudden Crisis thereof, at the Death of Oliver Cromwel he Complemented [Page 136]Her Majesty the Queen Mother, with the undoubted Hopes of Her Families Restau­ration; the Effect whereof settled such a Melancholy in his Creature Monsieur Bourde­aux Neufville the French Re­sident here, that he endured not to survive it

For a fit Conclusion: Na­ture favouring the fair & good­ly Structure of his Glory, and in an obsequious complyance to his Fortune and Prudence with all other things had so humbly served and obeyed, prolonged his life (whose Lamp in a San­guine Constitution the great drayner of the spirits, and venti­lated [Page 137]with so much Ayre of bu­sinesse was never thought of such a Continuance and Du­ration) till he had setled and Established that Kingdom in the greatest and potentest Con­dition the World ever saw it; and after he had restored to it a most glorious Peace, from a War of twenty seven years standing, and rendred his Prince the most Signal and incompa­rable Services, having annexed and Established on the Crown by the GENERALLL TREATY in 1659. the Counties of Roussillon, Haynault and Artoys with other advanta­ges and Dependencies.

Having also lived to see the glorious Effects of his Tuition and Education of the present King; as if Nice and Curious Fortune scorned to exhibite and continue so rare a Masterpiece of Government to the World in vain; or that a Phenix should rise but out of his Ashes.

He was by Fate intended and designed for the Troubles and Dangers of France, to the Redresse whereof he was sole­ly Competent, and they being Composed, His work was done, and He dyed when there was no need of His Life; If per­haps he prevented not some af­terclaps of that Storm which [Page 135]impends at present upon one of his greatest Confidents and Pri­vadoe's, and Loures upon many other of His Dependants and Retayners.

Fortune was so much his Familiar that even his Plea­sures and Vacancies were en­tertained by Her, His greatest recreation being Playe, or Gaming both at Dice and Cards, or any other Sport; at all which he was very lucky, and took great delight in suc­cess; but many times he did not owe it either to Chance or any Cunning but that of his Play-fellows Design, who [Page 134] [...] [Page 135] [...] [Page 140]knowing his Winning and Thriving Humour, would play Booty against themselves; and by their Losse make great Ad­vantage; For he that had a great Suit at Court or aymed at any High Preferment, had no readier way to effect his Business then by an Opportu­nity of playing with the Car­dinal, to whom a losse of a thousand Pistols was worth a Bribe of ten thousand, and en­gaged him more easily and surely then any friends or other money whatsoever.

So that in Effect He lost by his Gaines, his indis­creet [Page 141]Avarice being eluded by the tickling Vanity of Con­quest, and the pleasing Am­bition of a good Hit.

But it seemed to Him a kind of a more Noble Oppression to drayn Gentlemen of all their money (as it also famed his Generosity in recompen­sing them with Offices) alike to that he exercised over the Commonalty, without redress or mitigation during his whole Administration; by which he heaped such vast sums of Money, computed by his Testa­ment foregoing; and yet there is a report of twenty five thousand [Page 148]millions of Liures, which is two Millions and a halfe of pounds Sterling, to be yet concealed by his Heyres and Executors more then was any manner of way disposed of by Him.

And yet nevertheless His Death was not sung with the Dirges of revengeful Ribaldry as was his Predecessors Richlieu, though he had more Potent and impotent Enemies.

At home he was reconciled (to view) with the Prince of Conde, who was willing to en­tertain his friendship, as he was ikewise respected by the King of Spain, and Dou Louis de [Page 149]Haro: onely the Pope who al­wayes took him for the great disturber of Christendom, and the sole Opposer of the general Peace (his own great design at first) the War giving him op­portunity of raising and prefer­ring his Confidents and pilla­ging the people, did now upon the Conclusion of it very much more suspect and Malign the Cardinal, first for taking the glory of that Affair to him­self, and then designing a worse War upon the Church of which he was sensible some long time before the present Rupture and Turkish Invasion.

This Nativity being shewed me by that ingenious and fam'd Artist Mr. John Gadbury, and knowing what particular respect is had by great Men to those Schemes of Ge­niture, I thought it would be accep­table to prefix this; being declara­tory of the main Concerns of this the Cardinals life Secundum Artem.

THe Nativity of this great States-man was pab­lished by a Pretender to Astro­logie in England, some ni [...]e years since, but falsly: for the Scheme thereof is no less then nine Degrees in the Medium Coeli, and seven in the Ascen­dent, distant from the Truth; as by this Correction following appears,

• (1.) In the thirty fourth year of this Persons Age, he be­gan to be greatly noted, and to live in Favour of the greatest Persons in the place he inhabi­ted: he had the Medium Coeli ad Trine Venus; a fit Direction [...] lay a Foundation for future Honour.
• [Page 152](2) In the year one thousand six hundred and forty he began to rise into great Favour at the French Court, and this in the moneth of November: The Me­dium Coeli had but lately passed the Sextile of Jupiter by Dire­ction, and Jupiter in that moneth upon the Ascendent at Birth, and Venus upon the place of Direction; both very emi­nent Transits.
• (3.) In the year one thou­sand six hundred forty and three, and forty one of his Age, he had the Ascendent directed ad Trine Sol, & Sextile Luna: at which time the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and Commo­nalty [Page 153]so cryed him up, that he began to be, and indeed was, in greater request then the King; for the King was then but a Childe of five years old.
• (4.) In the 49 and 50 years of his Age, he was de­vested of his Honor and Great­ness for a time; and by the means of an enraged Nobility, &c. was banished, He had then the Sun ad Conjunction Mars, & Luna ad Quartile Mars by Direction; which should also have given him a very violent Fever: but I cannot inform my self thereof.

Lastly, In the year 1660. in the Moneth Febr. he dyed: some say of a deep Melancholy, others of a Fever; the last is not without Reason, nor yet the first in a sense; therefore I believe he participated of both. The Ascendent was directed ad Opposition, Mars, and Saturn upon the Opposition of the Moons Radical place.