THE Memoires OF THE DUKE of ROHAN: OR, A true Narration of the most remarkable Accidents in FRANCE, From the death of Henry the Great, until the Peace made with those of the Reformed Churches there, in June 1629.
The first Book. Containing the troubles during the minority of the King.

AFter the death of Henry the Great, every one be­gan to think of his own affairs, the Queen to esta­blish her authority, the chief Ministers of State to maintain their own, by advancing hers, as being the easiest to be effected (by reason of the absence of the first Prince of the blood, the im­becillity of the second, and the misunderstanding that was be­tween the third and them:) and the other great ones to raise them­selves [Page 2] from that abject condition, the precedent raign had cast them into. Amid'st all which, hatreds were frequent, and the most subtle among them made use of the passion of others to ru­ine the authority of those that eclipsed theirs.

He that received the first shock, after the Regency was settled on the Queen, was the Duke of Sully, who by his services had ac­quired the honour of Principal Confident to the former King, and purchased the ill-will of most others: For a vertue, eminent, as was his, accompanied with the favour of his Master, is alwayes at­tended on by envie, a vice as frequent among men, as unworthy those who pretend any profession of honour. Many were very zealous for his ruine, and that for different reasons; The Chan­cellor Villeroy, and the President Janin, to confirm their own power in the government of the State, and take from among them a Man, whose exactnesse in the discharge of his Offices was their shame, so clear-sighted to discern, and so bold to discover their faults; The Count of Soissons out of some particular hatred he bore him: The Marquesse d' Ancre for fear he should nip his bud­ding fortune; and all the other Grandees, because they thought him too good a mannager of the Publick treasure; And the Prince of Conde when he came to the Court, by the instigation of the Marshal Boüillon, who bore him an inveterate malice, and drew on the Prince with hopes of confiscating his goods: A powerful mo­tive to set that Prince on work.

The chiefest means they used to remove him from the helme, were, to raise a jealousie in the Queen of the austerity of his hu­mour, who opposed her in her liberalities; and to perswade her, that, having need of the Popes favour to strengthen her authori­ty, she could not suffer one of the Reformed Religion, to have any hand in the Government of the State; Prevalent reasons with a Princess, who was a Forraigner little versed in State matters, jealous of her authority, and distrustful of all sorts of people: But in the end experience discovered it to be the ruine of the State; For the Grandees grew up to a height that diminished the Royal power; the Treasuries were drained, the Arsenals strangely di­spersed, and the comparison of that miserable condition of France with that flourishing one, the Duke of Sully left it in, clearly de­monstrates, how highly prejudicial to the State, was his removal from his employments in it.

The Marshal Boüillon, a man of great courage and understand­ing, able to procure great good, and no lesse mischief to a Com­mon-wealth, and who had been alwayes curbed by the late King, who was jealous of him, finding himself now at liberty, uses all manner of inventions, to make himself thought useful, and neces­sary: [Page 3] The first was to endeavour wholly to possesse the spirit of the Prince of Conde, whose kinsman he was, and to perswade him to become one of the Reformation, by that means to make himself the Chief, and Protector of a party, that was then very considera­ble; and with such industry carryed he on his Plots, that the Queen conceived great suspitions of him; and therefore to divert this blow, sought after him, who as soone as he had made his conditi­ons with her, effaces the desires he had infused into the Prince, to imitate the vertuous actions of his Ancestors; shewing him the thornes were in the way to honour, the perils, hardships and ad­verse accidents are met withal, in the pursuit of it; In short, the misery and poverty that accompany it, which proved most effectu­all reasons to disswade him from a designe so contrary to his nature.

The Duke of Rohan in the mean time, who was Colonel of the Switzers, was commanded away to the siege of Juilliers, taking with him a Regiment of the Switzers, and having the command of the French Army in the absence of the Marshal de la Chastre, who was the Lieutenant General. At his return from this expedition, he finds how cruelly they oppresse his Father-in-Law the Duke of Sully; and that, after they had taken from him the Bastille, to di­spose of the treasure in it, and his command of the Finances, to rob France with fuller liberty, they were now resolved upon his ut­ter destruction, so to deprive him of all means to resent such indig­nities: But seeing that it was beyond their skill by any ordinary wayes to blemish the administration of any of his Offices, the Marshal Boüillon, who had infected the Prince of Conde, and the Count of Soissons with the same malitious intention, contrived this designe for his ruine, viz. to procure a General Assembly of those of the Religion, which was granted to be held at Chastelle­raut on the five and twentieth of May, in the year 1611, in which he promised himself power enough to cause the Duke of Sully to be entirely abandoned, so that without any fear of those of the Religion, he might be arraigned before Commissioners impowered for his trial; and moreover, that by his industry he should so or­der the Assembly, and all the affairs of the Reformed party, that he should make himself the only man considerable: To bring this Project to passe, he vailes it with a pretence of much affection to those of the Reformation, and large promises of an Amelioration in their affairs; and communicates it to the Marshal de Lesdi­guieres, and Du Plessis Mornay in particular, by Bellugeon an atten­dant of Lesdiguieres, who when he had been with them, returnes with these following Instructions from Du Plessis.

• 1. That the Provinces be exhorted to choose for Deputies, the best qualified and most sufficient persons.
• 2. That besides those, others of eminency among them, be al­so desired by letters to that purpose to be there.
• 3. That the Deputies may have power to adhere to the plurali­ty of voices, and that the Assembly be not dissolved, till they have received full satisfaction.
• 4. That the demands of the Provinces be all founded expresly, or upon consequences deduced from the former Edicts and Concessions.
• 5. Amongst others, that the Edict of Nantes be revived again, and observed as it was made with us, but since abridged in many things without us.
• 6. That our Grants for the places of security be made good to us, and the entire number of the Garrisons restored us, half of which have been wrested from us.
• 7. That the places we have lost, either by the Governors change of their Religion, or otherwise, be also given back to us.
• 8. That all the places of security be continued to us for ten years at least, and that they be paid quarterly, fully, and up­on the place; and that no money be upon any pretence what­soever, removed from the places of receipt, till the said quar­ter be satisfied.
• 9. That it may regularly be obtained also, and had for provisi­ons for vacant Governments, considering the abuses which are, and may be there committed, to the prejudice of our safety.
• 10. That we may be permitted to repair and fortifie all such places, as time has thrown into decay, and which for want of reparations will become wholly unuseful to us: And that complaint be made, that under pretence of these Govern­ments, we are refused all other Offices and Dignities, con­trary to the expresse Article of the Edict.
• 11. That no resignations of such places of security be allowed of without the consent of the Churches, which are therein most concerned: The like also for Presidents, and Coun­sellors of the Chambers.
• 12. That we may have free liberty as before, to compose, print, sell, and disperse all manner of books concerning our Do­ctrine.
• 13. That if there be any Town, whose place for the exercise of their Religion is too remote from it, the King be petitioned to grant one nearer, that being under the eye of the Magi­strates, they may be lesse subject to the insolency of the People.
• [Page 5]14. That the Article concerning burying places, which makes way for so many Barbarisms, may be reformed.
• 15. That the Pensions allowed the Churches, considering the great number of them, may be augmented.
• 16. That the Jesuites may not have any residence in our places of security.
• 17. That those Preachers and Friers, who teach, that all those who communicate with those of the Reformed Religion, or that serve and assist them, are damned, may be punished, as seditious disturbers of the publick peace, and infringers of the Edicts, by which their Majesties have published their intentions, to reunite the affections of their people.
• 18. That we may be allowed two Masters of request, to be paid by the King, for the first time, and one Notary in every Parliament, or at least in the places of security, and to be payed by us.
• 19. That some place of security be demanded, as well in the Provinces where there are none, as where there are many of the Religion. But that it be referred to the pru­dence of the Assembly, to consider how far this demand be pressed.
• 20. That we may have a Grant for a General Assembly to be held every two years, for the renewing of our Deputies Ge­neral.
• 21. That it be expresly specified, that we may have two Depu­ties General in Ordinary at Court at the Kings charges, but to be nominated by the Assembly.
• 22. That the Provincial Deputies may addresse themselves to the Deputies General without any previous applications to be made to the Governours of the Provinces.

These Instructions were sent abroad among the Provinces, where every one according to the extent of his power, and credit got them received, and resolved on. The aimes of these Gentlemen were diverse; that of Du Plessis was sincere, that of the Marshal Lesdiguieres (as the whole course of his life has discovered) tend­ed only to his own interest; as also that of the Marshal Boüillon, who made use of the power of others to convert all to his own advantage: For having filled the Provinces with hopes of better­ing their condition, and made them enter into most strict resoluti­ons for that end, discovers all at Court, shews them to Villeroy, and to the Embassadors of England and Holland, to whom he also pre­tended much zeal for the Reformed Religion: And after this takes a journey to Sedan, that he might the better give the Court leisure [Page 6] to foster fears of the issue of this Assembly, and finde out meanes to render it ineffectual: His desires in this met a wished success; for at his return he treated fully with Villeroy, and having made his conditions for the Government of Poictou, worth three hun­dred thousand Livers, either for himself, or to be disposed of as he should order, and a hundred thousand Livers augmentation upon the Taxes of the common people, which by his appointment were disposed to several particular persons: he promises to change all the resolutions of the Assembly, and give it such an issue, as should highly content the Queen; which he confirmed by an irre­fragable Testimony; for revisiting the aforesaid Embassadours, and particularly Arsens, he begins a discourse concerning those of the Reformation, quite contrary to his former before his Voy­age to Sedan, viz. That during the Kings Minority they were better entertain a little patience, than thoughts of bettering their condition, and by that means justly purchase the Kings favour; that for his part he went to the Assembly with thoughts tending only to peace, and wholly bent to endeavour a submission of all to the pleasure of the Court. This much astonished Arsens, who conceived now that his composition was made, which he dissem­bled not at all to his friends: When he had made this progress, his favourites and creatures seconded it with discourses of the same nature, the better at a distance to dispose the people to a compli­ance with his desires: And because Chastelleraut was within the Government of the Duke of Sully, whose ruine he thirsted after, he caused the Assembly to adjourn from thence to Saumure, the gover­ment of Du Plessis, that he might the more oblige him to a con­junction with him.

Before the Session of the Assembly, he informs Du Plessis by several persons of quality that he would not be President of it; that though they elected him, yet would he not accept of the charge, and that it was his desire, he should impart this his re­solution to all he should see; for that he thought it very impro­per for any of the great ones to undertake it. This extreamely pleased them all, especially the Dukes of Rohan and Sully, who now cast their eyes upon Du Plessis, and assured him that they would carry it for him: But the Marshal Boüillon, coming the last of all, and after they had waited for him a day beyond the time prefixed, (though not without much murmurings, for that his mischievous designes began now to be discovered) visits Du Plessis, and tells him, that notwithstanding what had been said concerning the Presidentship, he now desired their nomination, for that he knew the Duke of Sully had with much boasting threa­tened to prevent him of it; that it was a thing that his many ser­vices [Page 7] to the Party had merited of them; and that in case they re­fused him the honour, he would be gone the next morning: This change of his minde wrought no alteration at all in the re­solutions of the Dukes, who found the greatest part of the Provin­ces disposed to their inclinations; so that whatever suit or parties the Marshal Boüillon could make, he had the voices but of six Provinces, and Du Plessis of ten; who when he took his place, had Chamier a Minister, chosen for his assistant, and Desbordes Mercier for Secretary. This election so nettled De Boüillon, that returning to his Lodging he brake forth into words of disgust, and threats of vengeance against all those that had hindred him of the Presidentship; finding well by this Essay, that he was now like to faile of all he had promised himself from the Assembly: However, obliged both by prudence, and the importunate solli­citations of those that were equally friends to them both, he recon­ciled himself to the Duke of Sully, whom he had before declared to be his greatest enemy.

The first thing the Assembly took into their consideration, was the disorder committed at Chastillon, contrary to the express Or­ders of the Marshal Boüillon and the Sieur Frere Commissioners appointed by the King for that particular affaire, for which the Marshal pretended so high a displeasure, that having dispatch'd thither Beauchamp, one of his Gentlemen, to enquire into the truth of the matter, he declared as his opinion, that it was fit the Assembly should choose Senas for their Deputy, to be sent to the Court with full instructions, and a strict charge to declare, That they would not treat of any thing with the Kings Commissi­oners, before reparation were made for that wrong: But that violent heat quickly abated; for he presently excused himself from medling any further in it, because his Commission was expired.

After this the Kings Commissioners had audience, who in all their discourses pretended, that the preservation of those of the Re­formed Religion was involved with, and necessary to that of the State, assuring them of their Majesties favour, that they would graciously receive all their Remonstrances and Petitions, cause their Edicts and Concessions to be observed, put those that had hitherto been neglected, in execution; and interpret to their ad­vantage, what was obscure in them. And lastly, That they left it to the choice of the Assembly, either to put their Papers into their hands, or send them to the Court, protesting, that which way soever they took, they should have a quick and favourable dispatch.

From these fair promises sprung no less fair hopes; and ac­cording [Page 8] to the instructions of the Provinces, were their papers prepared; the Marshal Boüillon not opposing one Article, having been the Author of those Propositions, which were put into the hands of Lusignan, Aubigny, and the other Deputies to exhibite the principal points of them to the Kings Commissioners, who, af­ter some debate declared, that they had not power to determine any thing concerning them: But going to the Assembly, advised them to make their addresses by Deputies to the King, to whom they would do them all good Offices; which was concluded on. At the election of the Deputies, there happened a great stirre, oc­casioned by the opposition of contrary factions, which made the Assembly resolve not to draw up their Instructions and Commissi­ons, before their nomination; that so they might either inlarge or restraine them according to the conditions of the persons cho­sen, who were La Case, Courtaumer, Ferrier the Minister, Mi­rande and Armet, who had no power to conclude any thing, but only to debate the propositions; and having explained them, to give an account of all to the Assembly, who would return them their resolutions thereupon: This restriction pleased not all the Deputies, much less the Marshal Bouillon, who now plainly percei­ved, that his design was broken.

While they were preparing their papers, there fell out two particular things worthy the observing. The first was on the seve­ral oppositions the Marshal Boüillon made to an Article, which the Duke of Sully as earnestly pressed, viz. That the Assembly should interess themselves in his cause, for that they endeavoured to deprive him of his offices for no other cause, but of his Religi­on, in which the Marshal proceeded so farre, as an attempt to make the son renounce his Obligations to his Father-in-law, which he violently pursued; especially one time going to visit him being sick, telling him that it was impossible, but that in the admini­stration of those great charges he had borne, especially in that of the Finances, when he was Comptroler of the Exchequer, there should be found some faults committed; though not by him, yet by his Officers and Servants; and that if the King should issue out a Commission to examine his actions, neither the Assembly, nor any other of the Reformed Religion ought to be offended at it; no, though the Commissioners should do him wrong, since it would be by the ordinary wayes of Justice that he received it, and that he thought the Duke of Rohan so honest a man, a true French man, and so great a friend to peace, that he would be nothing moved at it. This speech was but ill-received, and no better an­swered by the Duke, who told him, that the Duke of Sully's im­portant services deserved a better recompence, than to be exposed, [Page 9] as a prey to those that had disserved the State; that his actions in discharge of his Offices, free from all corruption, and misde­meanour, could not, by reason of his qualitie, be inquired into, but by a Court of Peers; and that if he were otherwise dealt withal, all his kindred, and especially he, his son in Law, with all their friends, would engage in his cause; so that after several Ses­sions, the Assembly proceeding to a determination of that Arti­cle, so much urged by the Provinces also, advised the Duke of Sully not to accept of money in lieu of his Offices, and especially, not to quit that of Grand Master of the Artillery, promising with­al, that if for that end they should use any undue, unlawful, and extraordinary procedures against him, they would publickly De­clare that they looked on the Duke of Sully's, as the same with the general interest of the Churches, and of Justice; and that therefore they were resolved by all just and lawful means to assist him: And of this the Deputies general had an express charge given them in their instructions.

The other was concerning Berticheres, one of the Deputies for the lower Languedoc, a Gentleman of quality, and of good parts, who in the raign of the late King, who was displeased at him, by reason of his practices, and intelligence with the Consta­ble Montmorency Governour of that Province, was somewhat un­handsomely turn'd out of his governments of Sommieres, and Ai­guemortes; to which having in vaine sought to be restored, he conceived this a favourable opportunity to make the Assembly em­brace his cause, for that they were both places of security; and, though they were in the hands of Gentlemen of the same Religion, yet he presumed they were persons, that had not given so great Te­stimonies of their zeale for the good of the Churches, as he had done; and that though he had been constrained to accept of a re­compence for his Command, yet was it only for that of Sommiers; but for Aignemortes he never received any thing; and that since his services to their party had drawn upon him this prejudice, it was but reason that they should own the Justice of his Cause: And forasmuch as he had brought with him Writings to verifie what he alledged, he moved the Assembly to appoint Commissio­ners to examine them, and make their report to them, that they might consider of them.

It is to be observed that this Berticheres made a great profes­sion of friendship to the Duke of Sully, who had done him many good Offices to the late King, so that he desired some of his chief­est friends for Commissioners, who made so favourable a report of his business to the Assembly, that in spight of the opposition made by the Duke of Boüillon, who stood for Arembures, to whom [Page 10] the Government of Aiguemortes was given, it was so well received by the Assembly, that the Deputies residing at the Court, were commanded to use all diligence in his behalf, it being a thing of general concernment, and of great consequence. When he had obtained this, he goes to the Court, where he steers a new course, and to arrive at his aimes, promises most powerfully to assist the Court-party, upheld by the Duke of Boüillon, in the Assembly, and by this means got a quick and satisfactory dispatch for his re-entry into Aiguemortes: Moreover in this journey he made the Consta­ble his friend, who embraced his cause with the same fervour, as if it had been his own proper concernment, and then returned to the Assembly: The issue of this affair shall be seen in its proper place: But let us now return to the general affairs.

When the Deputies of the Assembly were come to the Court, their first dispatch thence brought news of their fair reception, e­specially by the Queen, (who commanded them to put their pa­pers into the hands of Boissise, and Bullion, Counsellors of State) and of the favourable answers they had at several audiences recei­ved from the Council: But this was soon clouded by another message from them quite contrary to the former, which informed the Assembly, that the promise to have their Propositions answer­ed, and returned into their hands, was now interpreted to be after the nomination of the Deputies general, and dissolution of the Assembly: This highly displeased them who had already divul­ged among the Provinces, the good hopes they conceived from the first intelligence the Deputies gave them: But, forasmuch as it was a thing contrary to the use and custome of the Kings Council, in affaires of all sorts to send back the Deputies unanswered; and that in all their discourses with them there was no mention of any such conditions, the Assembly unanimously resolve not to dissolve before they had received an answer to their Articles; which the Marshal Boüillon seem'd to approve of, and promised his ut­most assistance to procure them a handsome returne concern­ing it.

But there was a great difference between the Letter, he shewed the Assembly, and that which he sent away, which intimated his opinion, that at least some of them should see the answers to their Propositions before their dissolution: But the assiduous endeavors of the Deputies proving ineffectual, they returned to Saumure, where Ferrier in the name of all the rest, made a relation of the particulars of their whole voyage, by which they perceived that Bullion was coming after with their Propositions answered; but that before his arrival their Majesties desired the Deputies general might be nominated; which notwithstanding was suspended.

When Bullion came, he confirmed what the Deputies had re­ported, protested to many upon his damnation, that the Propositions were most favourably answered; terrifies some with threats, whiles he fills others with hopes; and to encrease both their feares, and hopes, he shews the Patents he brought with him for the augmen­ting the pensions of Parabere, and others, and the Orders to can­cel those of the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize. The Marshal Boûil­lon for his part, employes all his Art to winne the Deputies of the Assembly by hopes of a general deputation, and by the power he had to dispose of the Tax imposed upon the common people now raised to an hundred thousand Livers more, the better to enable him to corrupt more men: The resolution also of the Assembly to send new petitions to their Majesties, that they might receive their answers before they dissolved, gave him an opportunity to play the notable Polititian: For though there was a very good understanding between the Marshal Boüillon and Bullion, yet pre­tended they a difference in their opinions; the one assuring them, that it would be but lost labour to importune the Court any more; the other encouraging them to it with promises of good successe; but his chief design was to weary some with delayes, that he might have the better opportunity to draw others to his party; and in the mean time covered all his projects with a pretence of zeale, that the simpler sort having less suspicion of him, might the more easily be intrapped: But failing in this attempt, he resolved with Bullion and his friends, to perswade their Majesties to write a let­ter (of which he sent them a draught) peremptorily comman­ding the Assembly to dissolve, revoking the Licence granted for their meeting, and declaring null all their past or future Acts: And forasmuch as their Majesties were informed, that all the De­puties did not agree in this obstinacy and disobedience, they com­manded those Deputies that would obey to proceed among them­selves to the election of six Deputies, who should receive from the hands of Bullion the propositions with their answers; which Let­ter was to be brought by one, that knew well enough how to play his Game. Bellugeon the Marshal Lesdiguieres his Agent, was made choice of for this employment, a fit Instrument to execute such a Commission, being a crafty fellow, void both of honor and honesty, whose subtle pate was alwayes busied about things condu­cing only to his own advantage.

Before he began this goodly journey, he takes his leave of the Assembly, falsly pretending, it was only to see his friends and kinred in Berry, and then goes out of the Town upon an ordina­ry Hackny, but soon after takes post: which being certified to the Assembly, as also his treacherous practices at Paris, together [Page 12] with the calumnies he aspersed the Duke of Rohan, and his friends withal, he was by them declared unworthy to be re-admitted to this, and for the future to any other Assembly: But forasmuch as he had the honour of being a servant to the Marshal Lesdigui­eres, they referred his futher doom to him. This censure infi­nitely vexed the Marshal Boüillon, who employed all the power he had to get it revoked, declaring that it was by his command that he had undertaken this journey, but all in vain; which so in­censed him against the Duke of Rohan, that they forbore to speak one to the other for a long time after.

It was not long before the effects of this voyage were seen; for the Letter for their dissolution contrived at Saumure, but di­spatched from the Court, came, and soon after Bellugeon, who de­clared that they should now receive full satisfaction: But when the Marshal Boüillon went up to the Castle, and shewed the Let­ter to Du Plessis, and La Force, endeavouring to gain their appro­bation of it, and the contents of it were fully understood by them, then were they filled with amazement and displeasure; which Boüillon perceiving, he thought it convenient that Du Plessis should impart the substance of it, to such of the Assembly as he thought fit, that together they might contrive some means to compose all differences. Bullion also promises to deferre the delivery of the Letter, out of a seeming desire to seek out some way for an acco­modation; and to that end desires a conference with Du Plessis, which being yielded unto, after some discourse, they agreed that in case they should proceed to a nomination of six Deputies, and rest satisfied with the answers were given them, he (although he had no Commission for it) should undertake to procure them satis­faction from their Majesties upon the foure or five principal Arti­cles, as, concerning the Chamber of Edicts at Paris, Provision for Vacant places, the payment of the remaining part of Nine score thousand Crowns, and the restoring of those places of secu­rity were taken from us; and all this to be done before the dissolu­tion of the Assembly; to which as Du Plessis was ready to make his report of this conference, Bullion sent him word, that he was in­formed, and that by very good intelligence, that there were some, who intended to take advantage of his discourses the day before; wherefore he retracted them, and desired he might be permit­ted to go into the Assembly to have the Queenes Letter read, and discharge his duty to the Commands he had received from Her.

This sudden change clearly discovered, that the end of this con­ference was only to amuse the honest party in the Assembly, the better to surprize them before any thing was agreed on, or that [Page 13] they were prepared for what they were to do, either in order to their dissolution, or the Deputation, and cheat them of the thanks and benefit of their pains: But both Boüillon and Bullion too, were not a little dismayed when they saw, that when upon the reading of the Letter Berticheres rose up, and said, That for his part, he would obey, and that it was fit that those that were of his opinion should likewise declare themselves; all of them with one voice cryed out, that they were more resolved upon obedience than he, but that the businesse should be further discussed, when the Commissioner was withdrawn, which was accordingly done.

But here it is to be observed, that notice being taken of the con­sultations which were commonly held night and day in the Mar­shal Boüillon's Lodgings, by five and twenty of the Assembly (which were all he could draw to a confederacy with him) where Bullion also was often present, the rest of the Assembly, to the number of fifty, with one consent conceived it fitter to yield to the necessity of the times, than to make a division, which would inevitably force them to accept for Deputies general, persons whol­ly devoted to the Court faction, and that they were better seek out some other way to redress their evils.

The Marshal Boüillon perceiving that the resolutions taken up by his Antagonists, had frustrated his hopes of procuring some creatures of his own to be chosen Deputies general, makes his applications by Proxy, to the Duke of Rohan, for his consent to the restoring againe of Bellugeon, and sharing the Deputation ge­neral between them two: In which the Duke of Sully also interes­sed himself, and so farre prevailed with the Duke of Rohan, that he caused an interview between them at his Lodgings, where the Marshal entreated him to abate his rigour towards Bellugeon, which he promised him to do: But as for sharing the Deputation, he was so averse from the very mention of it, that at the meeting on the day appointed for their election, the Duke of Sully openly blamed him for his obstinacy, telling him that he would ruine all by his wilfulness: But the issue discovered the contrary: For ha­ving assured himself of ten Provinces, he makes them agree to e­lect the six Deputies that should be nominated by the Ministers of those provinces; which succeeded according as he had designed it; for not one of those the Marshal would have promoted (to his extream discontent) were so much as named. Those that were chosen, were Montbrun, Bertheville, and Rouvray for the Nobili­ty; and Maniald, Boisseul, and Milletiere, for the Communal­ty: As for Bellugeont, though the Duke of Rohan no more oppo­sed him, yet was there much difficulty to revoke his censure; ma­ny [Page 14] times was it debated; at length, when a good part of the As­sembly were risen, those that remained, razed it out of their Re­cords: The Regulations for the Assembly were signed also, but the Marshal entred a Protestation under his hand and seal, not to ac­knowledge the Ministers for a third estate, or order.

And hence sprang the Original of all our mischiefs and divisi­ons; For the Marshal takes his journey to the Court, to receive a recompence for his services, and revenge himself upon all those that had opposed his designs, principally the Duke of Rohan, who feared him least, and had withstood him most of any; wherefore he layes a plot to out him of his Town of Saint John d' Angely, of which he was Governour, and place therein La Roche-beaucourt the King's Lieutenant in his roome, alledging, that if he were once deprived of that retreat, he would be unable to attempt any thing: On the other side, the Duke of Rohan, and his brother, at a Con­sultation held at Saumure before their departure thence, with those that were of their opinion, concluded that every one of them should give their respective Provinces an account of what had passed, and instigate them by particular Deputies to the Court, to make new Remonstrances of their aggrievances, which they so happily per­formed, that in spight of the contradictions of the Commissioners appointed for the execution of the Edict, the years following there came to Paris Deputies from twelve Provinces.

In the mean while the Duke of Rohan goes to divert himself at his houses in Britany, and so to the Assembly of Estates of that Province; At his return from thence he was informed of the con­spiracies laid at Saint Johns in prejudice of his authority; to di­scover which, and also to apply convenient preventions, he sends thither Haulte Fontaine, from whom receiving advice of the necessity of his presence, he hasts thither with all speed, and as he passed through Poictou, gave his friends intelligence of all, and sent Lou­driere to Rochel.

His unexpected arrival much daunted his enemies, who never­thelesse sent for Roch-beaucourt to come speedily to their relief; but the Duke of Rohan's friends, flocking in every moment, grew to such a number, as that Roche-beaucourt durst not stir, but conten­ted himself with giving the Court an account of what passed: Upon which information the King dispatches away La Fontaine to the Duke, in appearance to know what was the matter, but in ef­fect to confirm by letters, and encourage the Partisans of Roche­beaucourt, which the Duke, having treated him nobly, learnt out of La Fontaine, whom he returned with a faithful promise to wait upon their Majesties, with a free account of all his actions, upon their first commands, which within a few dayes after he received; [Page 15] And presently sets forward to the Court, taking with him, among others, Roche-beaucourt, and Faucault, whom he greatly suspected; and leaving in Saint John Haulte Fontaine with all necessary Or­ders and Instructions, that at his return, he might not finde his own gates shut against him. Being arrived at Court, he shewed the Queen by several instances, that he had behaved himself like an honest man at the Assembly of Saumure, and that he had opposed the Marshal Boüillon, for that he knew, that he took part with those of the Reformed Religion, for no other end, but to advance his own Interests, and render himself more considerable both of the one side, and the other, and that had he compassed his designes, she would have been the first would have felt the effects of his ar­rogance: But there were no eares open to his justification, (it being the constant humour of Princes not easily to be reasoned out of opinions, they have been prepossessed withal) so that seeing the time for the Election of a new Major for the Town of Saint John drew near, and that his abode at Court was to no purpose, he pretended that his brother was sick, upon which having got leave to be gone, he took post that very night; which fell out well for him; For the Marshal Boüillon having notice the next day of his departure, was very earnest to have him pursued, and brought back again; but he made such haste, as it was impossible to over­take him.

As he passed by Parc in the lower Poictou, he took Soubize a­long with him, advertised his friends in Poictou of what had hap­pened, and went to Saint John, whither Foucault, a Captain of the Garrison, whom he had taken with him to Paris, being sent away from the Court, was come before him, and had secretly as­sembled the Major and some others of that Cabal, to out the Duke of the Government, and for that end offered them two thou­sand men; which the Duke having notice of, presently upon his arrival at Saint John, he commanded Foucault, who was then a­bout three or four leagues thence, to return thither no more, and at the same instant sent away Tenis to their Majesties, to informe them of the just cause he had, not to allow the said Foucault any more accesse to Saint John.

The time for the Election of the Major being at hand, which is alwayes the Sunday before Palme Sunday, comes Claverie from the Court with an express, which signified, that by reason of the divi­sions of the Town, it was the Kings pleasure, for the repose of it, and the avoiding of factions there, that the old Major should be con­tinued, and that this precedent should not for the future any way impair the Priviledges of the Town; whereupon the Duke of Ro­han remonstrates to his Majesty, how that he was mis-informed of [Page 16] the condition of the Town, and of what consequence it was, both to his service, and the publick peace, that, according to their an­cient custome, they should proceed to Election of a new Major, hoping that this would be assented to, and for that reason sent his Secretary with this letter to the Court.

Now the Marshall Boüillon rightly imagining, that the Duke of Rohan would oppose the continuation of the old Major, as a thing highly prejudicial to him, engaged the Royal authority in it to the uttermost, that so he might either ruine him by his voluntary submission, or by obliging the King to force him to a complyance; So that two dayes after the arrival of Claverie comes Saint More, a younger brother of Montauzier, and brother in law to Roch-beau­court with another, and stricter expresse to the same purpose: But the Duke of Rohan knowing, that his own ruine would assuredly be the consequence of the losse of Saint John, conceived it least dangerous for him to secure the Town, and feared not to re­fuse all those Orders as prejudicial to the King's service, and to proceed to the Election of a new Major, according to the usual custome of the Town, out of three of the Corporation, whose names were sent by Deputies, constituted for that purpose, to his Majesty, to make choice of which of them he pleased; and for the security of the place, the Keys were, in the interim, put into the hands of the first Alderman.

The report of these things caused a great bustle at Court; Tenis, and Onglepied, whom the Duke some few dayes before, had sent thither, were committed prisoners to the Bastille; his mother, wife, and sisters were forbid to go out of Paris; and Propositions were also made of drawing down an Army to besiege him; On the otherside the Duke, well knowing the power of his enemies at Court, and that he was to expect a violent persecution from them, took great care to make all those of the Reformed Religion in France sensible; that the hatred conceived against him, was occa­sioned only by the resolution and constancy he had shewed to the good of their affairs; that his, and the losse of St. John, would draw after them their destruction also; that if their adversaries found this easily accomplishable, they would not stop their course in so fair a roade; and then prepares himself the best he could to make a brave resistance. But at length when all things were more ma­turely deliberated, the King's Council thought fitter to commit this businesse to a Treaty, and Themines was sent to the Duke to determinate the difference in a peaceable way: The result of his negotiation was, That, for eight dayes the Keyes of the Town should be left in the hands of the old Major, that they should pro­ceed to the nomination of three, out of which the King should [Page 17] make choice of one; and, that after this Election Roche-beaucourt and Foucault should be permitted to return again to execute their charges, provided, notwithstanding that the latter should presently quit the Town again.

Themines sent this agreement to the Court, where at first it was well enough liked of; but when it was communicated to, and scan­ned by the Dukes enemies, it could by no means be approved of: But Themines had orders sent him, to insist upon the return of Roche-beaucourt and Foucault, before the new Election, which the Duke of Rohan consented to; and thus, for the present, was miti­gated the heat of this affair, though the persecutions against the Duke of Rohan and his party continued in their former violence; especially at Court, where the Marshal Boüillon endeavoured, first to corrupt the Deputies, then to make divisions among them; and last of all to destroy their authority: And when the Provinces sent their Deputies to the Court to remonstrate their resentments of the ill impressions were given their Majesties of their loyalty, to vindicate themselves from the calumnies vented against them, and to obtain a grant of all their just demands, so necessary to their subsistance: The Marshal Boüillon perceiving, that neither his confederacies in the Provinces, nor the Commissioners pur­posely sent in to them, could hinder the deputations, turns now his whole endeavours to render their Negotiation fruitlesse, al­ledging, that it was a diminution of the Kings authority to give audience to an Assembly convened against his will; that, if their requests were yeilded to, and satisfaction given them that way, it would disgust the loyal part of his subjects, and reunite the now disjoyned Provinces with the Complainants; and openly disco­vering also great displeasure, that they should repay all his servi­ces with slights, and envie; imputing unto him, upon all occasions, what ever mischief befel them: So that, though he could not pre­vent their audience, he frustrated the contentment they hoped thence, telling the Deputies general freely, that what he did, was in tevenge of the affronts he received from the Assembly at Saumure.

These things passing thus, the Marshal Boüillon continues his ill offices to the interests of those of the Reformed Religion in ge­neral, and those of the Duke of Rohan in particular; and having obtain'd the Ambassadorship extraordinary for England to get the alliance with Spaine approved of there, feeds himself also with hopes by the means of that imployment, there to procure a dislike of the actions of the Assembly of Saumure: But the Duke of Rohan found an opportunity, by a Gentleman that attended on the Marshal in the voyage, to give the King of England a true information of all things; so that as to that particular, the answer [Page 18] he received, was, that if the Queen should be induced to infringe the Edicts made in favour of those of the Reformed Religion, so that it were manifest, that they were persecuted for their Religions sake; his Majesty required, in that case, that neither the League lately made with France, nor his present confirmation of the same, should be understood to their prejudice: For Nature teaches eve­ry one, when he sees his neighbour assaulted for a quarrel which re­lates to himself, to foresee what he may expect from the issue of it. As for his part, the King of England exhorted the Marshal to a re­conciliation with the Duke of Rohan, to whom also he intimated his pleasure in that particular: In reference to which, the Nati­onal Synod then held at Priuas, endeavoured it also, and for that end, besides the Deputies general, chose Du Moulin, and Durand, Ministers, and L' isle-gro lot an Elder, whose care and pains in it were so effectual, that the sixteenth of August, in the year 1612. the Marshals Boüillon, and Lesdeguieres signed these ensuing Articles, viz. That they would hearken to a sincere reunion, promising to submit their own particular interests to the common welfare of those of the Reformed Religion, by an Oblivion of all past in­juries: That they would freely renounce all resentments, and ani­mosities against any persons, and for what cause soever: That they would love and honour every one according to his ranke and quality, giving them upon all occasions, all testimonies of friend­ship, as far as the duty of true Christians, and faithful Subjects of the King should oblige and permit them. They farther also protested, that they desired nothing more, than by a firm Union and concord to see the Kingdom of God advanced, and the Churches flourish in a happy peace, under the obedience of his Majesty; and, moreover, to imploy all their power, that the authority of the Synods be not invalidated, nor the Discipline infringed; and that they would not favour, nor any wayes as­sist any particular persons or Churches, that by unjust or preju­dicial means should separate from the Union, and conformity to the Doctrine and Discipline received in the Churches. This Pro­testation was also signed by the Dukes of Rohan, Sully, and Sou­bize, La Force, and Du Plessis; to which they desired might be ad­ded these following Articles; viz. To cause this Act to be signed by the Governours of all places of security, and other persons of consideration in the Provinces, and that by the way of Conse­rence; and, that a Clause might be inserted, by which they should oblige themselves to observe, as well all Politique, as Ecclesiasti­cal order, and to restore and confirm the authority of the Deputies general in their charges.

But for all these goodly appearances, the persecutions against [Page 19] those of the Religion, and the Duke of Rohan, ceased not; which enforced them at last, upon the grievances of the Province of Xaintonge to call an Assembly of five Provinces, according to the regulation of the Assembly of Saumure.

Whiles these things were a doing, there hapned a new accident, which hastned the Assembly: Berticheres, supported with the power of the Constable, the Decree of the Assembly of Saumure, and the fa­vor of the Court, would needs repossesse his government of Aigue­mortes: But the Province, advertised of his demeanour by Saugeon (whom the Duke had sent thither purposely with a character of him) so ordered that affair, that, in spight of the Constable, they main­tained Arembures in it, and kept Berticheres out; which so incen­sed him, that he made Saugeon a prisoner at Ville-franck in Roü­ergue, which was more than he could do in his own government. When the Duke of Rohan, and the Province of Xaintonge heard this, they avowed the voyage, and owned the cause of Sangeon: The Assembly also met at Rochel, notwithstanding the ill usage, and traverses occasioned them by the Marshal Boüillon, who show­ed himself more their enemy, than all the Kings Council beside (notwithstanding his engagement passed to the King of England, and the Deputies of the National Synod) and instigated the Cler­gy of France to go to the Quetn, and hinder her giving any fa­vourable answers to those of the Religion, supposing that such ri­gor would force them upon extremities, & would make them appear guilty of a desire of war, and give him an occasion to interpose as a mediator for them at Court; that so, he might render himself useful to both parties, and whatever happened, still make up his own reckoning.

On the other side, Du Plessis tired with these persecutions, from which he himself was not exempted, and fearing what the issue of these disturbances would be, interposes for the composing of them, and comes to Rochel accompanied with Rouvray, one of the Depu­ties general, and brother to his son in law, bringing with him a draught of some Articles, not signed: But the successe of his ne­gotiation, not answering his expectation, he withdrew again, and with him, the Province of Anjou, (one of the five assembled) Ne­verthelesse, the other four continued well united, and by Messen­gers, desired the Duke of Rohan's presence at Rochel, to consult with them about what was to be done: When he came, it was re­solved, that they should send a Gentleman to the Queen, in the name of the Provinces, to accept, for the present, the offers had been made them, referring the pursuance of the rest to the Depu­ties general. But hearing, in the mean time, of the commotions at the Court, of a bold action committed in the assassination of [Page 20] the Baron de Luz, to the great displeasure of the Queen, and violation of her authority; the Assembly took the boldnesse to send Le Parc, d' Archiat, and Cressonniere to their Majesties, with protestations of their loyalty, and offers of their service, choosing rather to submit to their pleasures in accepting the offers made them, than to augment the present troubles by their importunities: Bessay also made a Speech to the same effect, in the behalf of the Duke of Rohan; and all were well received at Court: Thus end­ed this Assembly, which though continually traversed, as is before related, brought more benefit to the Publick, and comfort to the Duke of Rohan, than that of Saumure.

The Articles agreed on (and pretty well observed) were,

• 1. That the King's Atturneys should have Orders to receive the Attestations of the Ministers, without compelling them to add the Epither, Pretended, to the Reformed Religion.
• 2 That the Ecclesiastical persons should be permitted the enjoy­ment of the same liberty, they had in the raign of the late King.
• 3. That they have a Toleration of Provincial Councils, for the ordering of their Politick affairs, as in the late Kings time.
• 4. That the Ministers, as well as other Ecclesiastical persons in France, may be exempted from the payment of all Taxes and Subsidies, and that all necessary provisions to this effect, be given them.
• 5. That all the Edicts be published a new, together with a Decla­ration, confirming all Grants, Favours, and Concessions of the late King, with an Act of Oblivion, and a Decree, that all proceedings commenced against those of the Reformed Re­ligion become null, and as if they had never been.
• 6. That the Inhabitants of Rochel be permitted to enquire into the occasion of what hapned at Couldray; and be also freed from the jealousies they may justly derive from the two near approach of the Ships, and that, to that end, they be com­manded to ride farther from the shore.
• 7. That the Remonstrances of the lower Languedoc be received concerning Aiguemortes; that provision be made for it; and that, in the mean time, the place be committed to the care of Chastillon.
• 8. That the razing of Vessieres be suspended, and the Remon­strances of the Province of Languedoc, concerning that parti­cular, be received.
• [Page 21]9. That nothing be changed in the Mas d' Agenois in the lower Guienne, and that La Vessiere be replaced there.
• 10. That the Count of Panias be desired by letter, to continue the Captain Pre in his command under him, in Mansiete.
• 11. That the troops which are in Xaintonge, Poictou, and the pla­ces adjacent, be removed.
• 12. That Roche-beaucourt, and Foucault, be sent out of Saint John.
• 13. That the one of their Companies shall be given to the Duke of Rohan, and the other to the King's Lieutenant, which shall be placed there, in the place of La Roche-beaucourt, but with the approbation and good-liking of the Duke of Rohan.
• 14. That the Office of Serjeant Major of the place becoming void, either by death, or demission of the Officer, it shall be supplyed as the Duke shall please.
• 15. That the pensions of the Dukes of Rohan, and Soubize, shall be paid, both the arreares, and what shall for the future accrue.
• 16. That no violence be done to the friends or servants of the Duke of Rohan; that those that had pensions shall receive them, as before the Assembly of Saumure; and that no inju­ry be done to the Baron de Saugeon, but that he be restored to his liberty.

Whiles the Court raised these tempests in the Provinces, it self was not free from commotions. The Marshal d' Ancre, who had ingrossed the whole favour of the Queen, bred, and cherished divisions among the great ones, lest their union should obstruct his advancement; so equally ballancing all parties, that neither could over-poise the other, and continually fomenting envie and jealou­sies among them, lest their reconciliation should prove his ruine: They on the other side suffering themselves to be hurried on by the violence of passion, rather than led by the calmer conduct of reason, so that all the Princes of the blood were seen in op­position one against the other, and those also of the house of Lorraine, according as their present enjoyments, or hopes of future favour moved them: But at length the Prince of Conde upon the Queens refusal to give him Chasteau Trompette, raised a party of dis­contents, under pretence of reforming the disorders in the govern­ment of the State; The Marshal Boüillon the main contriver of this Party, managed it with such artifice, that he caused the Prince, the Dukes of Longueville, Nevers, Maine, and others, to absent themselves from the Court, whom he himself followed the last of all, and with the Queens consent too, upon the hopes he had given [Page 22] her of reducing all those Princes; And with such dexterity hand died he the affair, that he became both the Author and composer of it; in which there was one very remarkable thing to be taken notice of, which was, that he imparted the whole businesse to the knowledge of the Duke of Rohan's most faithful friends, and con­cealed it from his own, whom in other things he had alwayes tru­sted; for that he very well knew the corruption and falshood of the one, and the integrity and fidelity of the other.

The Prince with his Partisans retired to Mezieres, a Town be­longing to the Duke of Nevers, near Sedan; The Duke of Maine who was Governour of the Isle of France, with the Towns of Sois­sons, Noyons, and the Castle of Pierrefons; the Marquesse de Ceu­vres with Laon; all very considerable places, together with the Duke of Longveville, Governour of Picardy, with all the friends and servants they could muster in their governments joyning to the frontires of Germany, and Flanders, with the rest of the dis­contents in France, made up a very formidable party; to which I shall not adde, that upon the retaining of these Male-contents from the Court, the Duke of Vendosme being apprehended in the Louvre, and there detained prisoner; a few dayes after made his escape, and got into Britany his own government, where he made great preparations also.

Things being in this condition, the Prince writes a letter to the Queen, whose contents were nothing but complaints of the disor­ders committed in the State under her authority; that the Prin­ces of the blood, Dukes, Peers, and Officers of the Crown were excluded from the Publick affairs, which were managed by three or four only, who to maintain their own height, sowed divisions among the Nobility, lavishing the treasures, and at their plea­sure, disposing of them, the Arsinals and Frontire Garrisons, which were intrusted in the hands of strangers, who were in no wise re­sponsible for them; that they desired an Assembly of the States General, according to the Custome, during the Minorities of their Kings, in which the Queen should finde a legal provision made for the support of her authority, the preservation of the Lawes, and reforming all abuses that obstructed the administration of them. He writes also to the Parliament of Paris, and all the Grandees not yet confederated with him, to invite them to a Conjunction with his Party; and to the Deputies general also, telling them that those of the Religion were not forgotten in his Remonstrances; He sent also Le Maretz Lieutenant of his guards, to the Duke of Rohan to court him to arme in his behalf, protesting that he would not listen to any agreement, but with his consent: But the Duke who on the one side knew very well the credit the Marshal [Page 23] Boüillon had gained among his most intimate confidents; and on the other, remembring the continual ill offices he had received from him ever since the Assembly of Saumure; and being not un­jealous that the war was only declared in words, whil'st in truth they were already entred into a Treaty, resolved to send Hault­fontaine, in whom he reposed great confidence, along with Maretz, to make a discovery of the true posture of the Prince his affairs; and in the interim made his addresses by letter to the Queen, as­suring her, that he would continue united with the whole body of those of the Religion, to whom if she pleased to vouchsafe some satisfaction, she should reclaime her discontents at an easie rate.

In the mean while the Prince came to Saint Menchould, a strong place within the government of the Duke of Nevers, which he had secured; and there also arrived Hault-fontaine, where, in­stead of a war proclaimed, he found a Treaty well advanced; He was received with much honour, and admitted also to their Coun­sels; Upon his arrival, it was given out, that he came with an offer of eight thousand foot, and two thousand horse from his Master, on purpose to hasten the Treaty, and yet was he sent back to the Duke with an assurance that there should be none, and a request to raise armes: But Hault-fontaine assured him that the Peace was concluded, and that Amboise was to be given to the Prince, Menchould to the Duke of Nevers, and a round summe of money to the Duke of Boüillon, and that an Assembly of the States general was promised; which in a short time after was performed: And thus did their own private interests intercept their regard to the consideration of the publick.

The Duke of Vendosme, who, after his escape, had levied ma­ny men in Britany, and engaged himself in the fortification of Blavet, was much troubled to see himself thus forlorne: He sent Roche Giffar to the Duke of Rohan, with earnest perswasions to joyne with him, which were well mixed with faire promises in fa­vour of those of the Religion: But all could extract no other an­swer from him, than that the best counsel could be given him, was to digest, as well as he could, his dereliction, and in time, to com­ply, lest his obstinacy should draw upon him an inevitable ruine. But this advice had no operations upon his resolutions; though the Prince, when he came into Poictou, added his perswasions too, and endeavours to approve of his precipitation of the peace: The Prince was also very serious to see the Duke of Rohan, who to sa­tisfie him in that particular, came to La Roche des Aubieres in An­jou, where he shews him, how he had been forced to shuffle up a peace the best he could, for that the Marshal Boüillon, ambitious [Page 24] of all the thanks and profit, had debauched and seduced most of his party (speaking well indeed of none but the Duke of Nevers) so that he was constrained to accept of Amboise; That he hoped to procure an Assembly of the States General, in which his par­ty would be the most prevalent, for that every one in their Province, stickled hard for him; and that it was there, the af­fairs of the Kingdom should have a redress, and the Nobility enjoy their dignities, or else that they should have more forces, and a better pretence for a War; that though he had cast off many Gentlemen and Souldiers, yet he regarded not that much, for that he knew, France was alwayes well stored with discon­tents.

To which was answered, that the States would rather oppose his designs, and instead of augmenting, lessen his authority; for that the fear of evil, and hope of good, the most prevalent mo­tives upon the affections of men, were from the Queen, not him; and that the reason, why many refused to take Armes, though he commanded them, was, because he himself did not, but had made his peace; for which he was upbraided both by the Duke of Ro­han, and his brother; of which he excused himself the best he could, with many large protestations of friendship to them, and a high approbation of the Counsel they had given the Duke of Ven­dosme; and thus was their interview terminated: After which, the Prince to make his advantage of all, wrote to the President Ja­nin, that he had desired a meeting from the Duke of Rohan for no other end, but to break off the confederacy between the Duke of Vendosme and him.

This being past, all parties were very industrious to procure a no­mination of such Deputies in the Provinces, for the States Gene­ral, to be convened at Paris the winter following, as were most devoted to them; And in the mean while the King and Queen took their journey towards Britany to reduce the Duke of Ven­dosme: When they came to Poictieres, Villeroy dispatches to the Duke of Rohan one Villette (whom he knew to be a friend of his) to let him know, that their Majesties passing within twenty Leagues of him, would take it ill if he neglected to come and wait upon them, assuring him of a fair reception; and that it was such an opportunity to set himself right againe with them, as in prudence he ought not to let slip: Upon this encouragement he went thither, where, after a very good welcome given him, they engaged him to be present at the States of Britany to be held at Nantes, where all their propositions were answered with a free ass [...]nt to them, whether they concerned the Deputations for the States General, or the Duke of Vendosme, who was for [...]ed to [Page 25] present himself before them, and wholly submit himself to their pleasures. This done, they returned thence, it being presently after the Autumn, to Paris, whither a general curiosity carried every one to see what would be the issue of the States General. The Prince was in very good intelligence with the strongest party in the Parliament, occasioned rather by their hatred to the pre­sent government, than by any influence from his vertue or good conduct; for had his life and actions been in any degree propor­tionable to his pretences, and Remonstrances, he would have much disturbed the Queens government.

Come we now to the States, who assembled at Paris about the latter end of October, in the year 1614: where all things pas­sed according to the Queens desire, who notwithstanding dissol­ved them, without giving them any satisfaction at all: The Prince was faine to yield up Amboise againe, which he had got­ten at the Treaty of Saint Menehould; and that by the advice of the Marshal Boüillon, who thought by shewing the power he had over the first Prince of the blood, who only might lawfully que­stion the actions of the Queen, to render himself so acceptable and considerable, that of necessity he should be employed in the management of the publick affairs: But remembring that his ser­vices had been less recompensed than his disservices, and that men stood in awe of that aspiring spirit, so apt and ready for any great undertakings, he resolves to imploy it again to mischief; and ta­king occasion from the ill propositions made in the States, from the treacheries discovered there, by a pre [...]umption to establish the Papal in prejudice of the Royal Authority, from the Decree made by them for the consummating the Marriages with Spaine, from the prodigious greatness of the Marshal d' Ancre universal­ly envyed, and maligned, especially in Paris; and from the dis­contents the Deputies the States carried back into their provinces, all which things he so dexterously ordered for his purposes, that from that foundation he raised a broulliery of that importance, that even those that thought not at all of meddling in it, were insensibly engaged in the party.

The better to arrive at his aimes, the Marshal Boüillon drew into the confederacy with the Prince all the Grandees of the Kingdome, whom either some particular injuries received, or en­vy (the basest, yet most common vice of all) had discontented; handles the Parliament of Paris so handsomely, that the greatest part of them favoured his design, prevailed so farre upon the En­glish Embassadour, that he incited his Master to countenance his party, and made Rouvray, Desbordes-Mercier, and Bertheville, Deputies General from the Assembly of those of the Religion, per­sons [Page 26] of great abilities, and good repute, his own; shewing them the remedies he would apply to the disorders of the State, the advantages should thence accrue to those of the Religion in gene­ral, and themselves in particular; to wit, to the one the place of Embassadour into the Low Countreys, to the other the revenue of a Counsellor in the Chamber of Edicts; and to the third, the Depu­tation General; all very perswasive arguments.

When he had thus disposed his affairs, leave was granted for an Assembly to be held at Jergeau, the fourth day of April, which place was judged improper for a free debate, and attaining the ends proposed; wherefore it was removed to Grenoble the fifteenth of July, one thousand six hundredand fifteen, upon the instant request of the Deputies General, and the Provinces, and the as­surance the Marshal Lesdiguieres gave the Queen, that he would order all things so, that she should have no cause to feare the issue of it; which place, though the vast power, and well-known hu­mour of the Marshal might cast some umbrages of suspicion on it, could not however be refused, because that Dauphine was a Pro­vince, in which those of the Religion were most numerous and powerful, and where without danger they could not be dis­gusted.

Whiles these things were in agitation, great care was taken to incense the spirits of the Parisians, and with such effect, that the Parliament set forth a Declaration, inviting the Prince and Peers to joyne with them in their Consultations; which though they were checked for, yet desisted they not, but proceeded to the presenting of very bold Remonstrances to the King himself, whose substance was, that he ought not to begin the first yeare of his Majority with such absolute commands, nor accustome himself to such actions, which good Kings, as himself, very rarely had re­course to, and after an exaggeration of the great and signal servi­ces of their Court ever since its first establishment, and that all the weighty and most important affaires of the State were mana­ged by their Counsel, or that the Kings had repented it, they re­monstrate the displeasure they had to see that the Late States should endeavour to subvert the Fundamental Law of the King­dome, by rendering the Soveraign power of the King doubtful, and problematick; that for the suppression of such pernicious Maximes, and that his Soveraignty which he holds only and im­mediately from God himself, be not upon any pretence whatsoe­ver subjected to any other power, it were necessary to ordaine, that the Original Laws of the Nation, and the occasional decrees soun­ded on them be renewed and put in execution; and those held for enemies to the State, that would subject the Royal Authority to [Page 27] any forraign domination: Moreover they remonstrate also how necessary it were to continue the ancient Alliances, and forraigne Confederacies renewed by the late King; that the King should be also advised by the Princes, Officers of the Crown, and vete­rane Counsellours, persons experienced and interessed in the State, and that none be permitted to receive pensions of forraigne Princes or States: That all Officers be protected in the discharge of their duty: That for the future no survivances or reversions of Offices be granted: That the Military commands be not Vendible: That the governments of provinces, strong places, and principal Military commands be not conferred on strangers: That for the conservation of the dignity and splen dour of the Romish Religi­on, without derogating from the Edicts of pacification, and for the preservation of the priviledges of the Gallick Church, and re­ctifying the abuses crept into it by means of Suffragans and Coadju­tors, there be not suffered any multiplication of new Religious or­ders; and that Bishopricks be conferred on persons of good Fa­milies, and suitable qualifications, both for age and vertue: That the course of Justice be free, and all obstructors of it punished; and that the Kings Council upon applications made to them, may not abrogate any decrees of the Parliament; but that those who would sue for relief against them, do it by the usual and Legal wayes: That no pardon be granted to any Murtherers: That Edicts and Ordinances against Duels be observed: That the de­crees of the Kings Council be more stable, and not reverseable upon every occasion, either for money or favour: That the exa­ctions and irregularities committed in the Chanceryes of the Par­liaments, and Presidial seats, and Taxes raised without verifica­tion in Parliament be suppressed: That all societies of Coun­sellors of Estate, Intendants, and other Officers of the Finances, or Exchequer, together with all partnerships, be forbidden: That all publick gaming, and tippling-houses be suppressed: That provision be made against the abuses of treasurers, and the offen­dors punished; and that the excess of rewards be moderated: That the Government of the Exchequer be intrusted but to a few persons, as in the time of the late King: That the profusion of the treasures may be compued from this; that the Revenue is grea­ter now, than in the late Kings time, who spent every yeare in buildings and other expences, now taken off, three millions of Li­vers, and laid up two millions; that if those five millions had been laid up every yeare since his death, there would be in the Treasury twenty millions; besides the fourteen millions he left there, which, to the great regret of all good French men, are now consumed; extravagancies of such a nature, as will quickly [Page 28] send France a begging, if not remedied; which cannot be but by a strict inquiry into the actions of those that have been guilty of these male-administrations, of which they know their Majesties to be intirely innocent: Wherefore they most humbly implore their leave, to put in execution their decree made in March, one thou­sand six hundred and fifteen, promising to disclose to them things of great concernments to the State, which are yet hidden from them; by means of which, provision may be made for pre­vention of all these disorders: But in case that the evil Counsels, and crafty Artifices of persons interessed herein, shall hinder these Remonstrances of a faire reception, the said Parliament so­lemnly protests, That for the discharge of their consciences, for the service of their Majesties, and preservation of the State, they shall be obliged hereafter to nominate freely the Authors of these abuses, and lay open to the world their wicked comportments, that remedies may be applyed in due season, when the affairs will more conveniently admit of them, and his Majesty shall please to take better notice of them.

This Remonstrance wrought the designed effect, procuring the Parliament a sharp check, and affectionating them so much the more to the Prince his party: Hence ensued great animosities and very liberal discourses of all sides; and presently after, came Letters from the Prince to the King, the Queen, and all the Grandees both of the Court and Parliament, together with his Declaration, which resuming the business from before the War of Saint Menehould, complaines of the irregularities in the elections of the Deputies for the States general, of the elusion of the Ar­ticle proposed by the third Estate or Commons, for securing the life and authority of the King, against the designes of the Pope; of the excessive Offices and exorbitant power of the Marshal d' An­ere, and his extravagancies in the administration of them, pre­suming to deprive the Princes of their governments, and procuring Laws oppressive to the people, for the satisfying of his own ava­rice, and ambition, disposing of all the Offices of the Kingdome, as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal, infringing the liberty of the States, to which the Prince was forbid an access, causing the Parliament of Paris to receive a smart reproof for their Remon­strance; concluding the marriages with Spaine, without commu­nicating the business to those it ought to be imparted to, by such pactices slighting and deserting the Ancient Allyes of the Crown, and among others the Duke of Savoy; who, to the great disho­nour of France, is suffered to be trampled in the dust; causing a refusal of the propositions made by the Nobility to the States, for the observation of the Edicts of Pacification; attempting to in­duce [Page 29] the Clergy of France to sweare an entire observance of the Council of Trent: That it was most unreasonable that the Mar­shal d' Ancre, the Chancellour, the Commander de Sillery, Bul­lion, and Dole, Authours of all these violent actions, and mis­chievous Counsels, should be maintained in such an unlimited power: The Prince also further demanded, that before they pro­ceed to a consummation of the marriages with Spaine, some course be taken for regulating the Counsels, and reforming, and compo­sing the abuses and disorders in the State: About which, he had several conferences with Villeroy, to amuse and intrap him, ra­ther than out of an intention to contrive any remedies for them: At length upon the Summons given him by Pontchartraine, to the voyage into Guienne to consummate the Marriages, foreseeing thence the wrack of his hopes, and pretences of a good Reformati­on, he declares that the Armes he had raised, had no other aime than the preservation of the Kings authority, and the glory, and ho­nour of the Nation, inviting all good French men, both of the one, and the other Religion to joyn with him, and all the Ancient Al­lyes of the Crown, to favour him in so good a design.

When the Prince had published this Declaration, he made his Levyes in France and Germany, and took his Canon at Sedan: The King also raised an Army of ten thousand Foot, and fifteen hundred Horse, Commanded by the Marshal de Bois-Dauphin, to oppose the discontents, and with other Troops sets forward to­wards Guienne, attended on by the Duke of Guise, who was to conduct Madame the Kings sister to the Frontieres of Spaine, and there to receive the Infanta, and waite on her back to the King.

In the mean time the Prince earnestly sollicites the Assembly at Grenoble, by his Agent La Hay, who delivers them his Manifesto, and shews them the advantages would redound to those of the Re­ligion, in case the Assembly would comply with him in reforming the State, and opposing the matches with Spaine; and further en­gages himself not to conclude any thing, but by their advice. The Prince his party, nor their adherents, durst not open their mouths to second this motion; But yet the others imagining that from so important an opportunity they might with good reason derive strong hopes of obtaining some favour from the King, they depu­ted Champeaux, Desbordes-Mercier, and Mailleray, to him, who found him at Tours, and presented to him five and twenty Articles of greatest consequence to their Interests, humbly supplicating him to vouchsafe them some satisfaction thereupon. Of these De­puties, Desbordes-Mercier was of the Prince his faction, the other two were of the same opinion with the Duke of Rohan, who [Page 30] thought the first equally affected to him with the others; of whose abilities being very conscious, he reposed an entire confidence in him: He received Letters from him from Poictiers, which gave him notice of their dissatisfaction, and urged him to a conjun­ction with the Prince, assuring him that the Assembly would be well satisfied with it, and also do the like themselves: The other two Deputies governed by this, joyned in this intelligence, infor­ming him moreover, how much their Majesties slighted the As­sembly, so that adding to this, the refusal made him of the Sur­vivance, or Reversion of the Government of Poictou, (to which his father-in-law had given his consent) contrary to the solemne promises passed to him for it; together with the perswasions of his brother the Duke of Soubize, who was well affected to the Prince, he began to stagger a little: Besides, in his return to Saint John, from Saint Maixant, where he had been to see the Duke of Sully, he met a Gentleman belonging to the Count of Saint Paul, who desired his assistance to oppose the Marriages with Spaine; and was seconded by Saint Angel, Savignac, and Dora­dour, who in the name of all the Governours, and Nobility of the Religion, sollicited the same thing, and chose him for their General, confirming him with an assurance, that the Count of Saint Paul would deliver up Fronsac to La Force, as a pledge for the per­formance of his word.

The accumulation of all these things, to wit, the hope of Redeeming himself from the neglect and slights lately thrown upon him; the sollicitation of his brother, together with the desire he had to serve those of the Religion, overpoised his former resolu­tions, and sent him into Guienne, where he found that the Count of Saint Paul, with the Romish Catholicks, had made their peace, and a great confusion among those of the Religion; ne­vertheless, having gotten together La Force, Boisse-Pardaillan, Chasteau-neuf, Favas, and Pamissant, with others of the Reli­gion, it was resolved, that they should make use of the leasure af­forded them by the Kings stay at Poictiers, occasioned by the sickness of Madame the Princess, to prepare for a War; feeding themselves with hopes to raise an Army of six thousand Foot, and five hundred Horse, which at their first Rendezvouz amoun­ted but to six hundred Foot, and fifty Horse; nor could all their power ever bring more, than two thousand men together; so that the King easily, and without any interruption got to Bourdeaux, whence the Queen Mother dispatched Chesnay to the Duke of Ro­han, with very fair offers, upon condition that he would joyne with her: But neither he, nor Bois-de Cargois, who was depu­ted from the Assembly with the like Commission, could get any [Page 31] other answer from him, than, That he would not faile to make good his word, where he had engaged it: But this failing, the Queen endeavours to take off La Force, and Boisse-Pardaillan from him; As for the former, he conceived himself oblig'd to the defence of Bearn, and the other persisted in his inte­grity.

The Duke of Rohan's chiefest care now was to engage in the party he had embraced, all the Towns, and Communalties of the Religion, together with the Assembly General, whom by ex­press Messengers, he advertises, that upon the refusal of favou­rable answers to their propositions, and the earnest sollicitations of their Deputies, he had now declared in Guienne, and his bro­ther in Poictou, perswading them to own their actions, and ad­here to the Prince: The Duke of Soubize, who had staid at Saint John during the Kings abode at Poictiers, immediately after his departure, makes his levyes in Poictou, and Kaintonge, and sud­denly took the field with four thousand good Foot, and five hundred Horse, which were very opportunely ready to receive the Prince at his arrival there.

In the mean time the Duke of Guise conducts the Princesse towards Spaine, and brings thence the Infanta; whose voyage afforded the Duke of Rohan the opportunity to seize upon Le­ctour, by the assistance of Fonterailles, who let him into the Town, where, when he was entered, he besieged the Castle, and forced it to surrender, before the Duke of Guise could re­lieve it, or the Assembly of the higher Languedoc interrupt his de­sign: From thence he marches to Verdun and Mauvoisin, which he could by no means draw to his party; and thence to Montau­bane, which, though with much reluctancy, he got to declare for him: In this March he met with the Duke of Candale, who dis­covered to him his intention of embracing the Reformed Religi­on; after mutual complements they part, and the Duke of Ro­han keeps on his way towards Languedoc, to the Assembly, who by reason they had not the freedome they expected at Grenoble, were adjourned to Nismes, where his dexterous endeavours had such happy success, that maugre the power of Chastillon, which the vertue of his Ancestors had acquired him; he destroyed all his credit with them, made himself be acknowledged General of the Seuenes, and so prevailed upon the Assembly, that all the opposition Chastillon could make in it, or in Languedoc, could not hinder their conjunction with the Prince; whose Partisans seeing themselves backed by the Dukes of Rohan, Sully, and Soubize, at that time carried all before them; and Desbordes-Mercier, Crusel, and Novialle, were deputed to carry the Act of Union [Page 32] to the Prince, and get his signature to the Articles agreed on: whose substance was,

• To oppose the reception of the Council of Trent, and the marriages with Spain.
• To procure a reformation of the Council, and an observation of the Edicts made in favour of those of the Religion; and that they should not desert one another, lay down their Armes, nor hearken to any pacification, but by a mutual consent.

At Montauban heard the Duke the first news from the Prince, though he had dispatched several Messengers to him; and thither he sent him word, That, notwithstanding the opposition of a strong and well-marshalled Army, he had passed the Rivers of Marne, Seine, and the Loire; and that having gotten the start of the adverse Army, he was now marching to joyn with him in Guienne, desiring him to march towards the Dordoigne, and for the security of his passage, possess himself of some places upon that River; which he quickly did, taking among others, Soü­illac, one of the best passes on it, and beating up the Quarters of the Count of Lauzune's Regiment that was barricado'd in two great Villages.

But the Prince, instead of that, took the way of Poictou, where he very seasonably met with the Duke of Soubize; for he was very weak in Foot, and his whole Army so harassed, that had not the Town of Saint John received him, and the Duke of Sully at length, with much ado joyned with him, causing also all the places he held in Poictou to declare for his party, he would have been but in a sad condition.

In the mean while their Majesties return towards Tours, the Duke of Guise commanding the Army of the Marshal de Bois Dauphin, and the Duke d' Espernon, with another, having the charge of their conduct: All these conjunctions with the Prince, raised him from the contempt he lay under, to so considerable a height in the opinions of his Adversaries, that he is now sued to for an accommodation.

Now it is to be understood that the Marshal Boüillon and the Duke of Mayne, being more strictly ligued, and of greater intima­cy with the Prince than any of the whole party besides, and con­sequently more sought after by the Court, resolved to have a peace, and purchase their own conditions at the expence of the whole confederacy: In order to which, a Cessation of armes is a­greed on, and the Town of Loudun made choice, of for the place of Treaty; Invitations were sent also to the Assembly General, [Page 33] to draw as near to them as Saint Foy, where the Marshal Boü­illon was in great reputation: But the Duke of Rohan being ad­vertised by his brother of all their plots, discovered to his friends in the Assembly the whole mystery, and let them know, that it were expedient the Assembly should instantly remove to Rochell, where their authority would be greater, and their strength more considerable; and that for his part he was resolved to go to the Trea­ty, though not summoned to it, leaving Boesse Pardaillan, in his ab­sence to command in Guienne.

Before we proceed to the particularities of the Treaty, there are two very observable things to be taken notice of. The first was the Duke of Nevers his arming, without declaring for either side, but pretending as a Mediatour to enforce both parties to an accommodation, out of an apprehension he might give them to sway the ballance on that side he should incline to: A thing feasable by the King of England, or of Spaine, but a ridiculous attempt for him. The other was nothing more Judicious, and that was a resembling action of the Duke of Vendosmes, who by the King's Commissions had raised a considerable force, but joyned not with the Prince till after the truce; so that, he served for no­thing but to inhaunce the conditions of that party he declared for, and frustrating himself of all means to make his own, being of himself not considerable, attracts to himself the odium and malig­nity borne to the whole party.

At this Treaty there were present of the Kings part, the Mar­shal Briassac, Villeroy, the President d' Thou, d' Vi [...], and Pont­chartraine, who sedulously sought by sowing divisions among them, to weaken the confederates, and consequently lessen their conditions: The Prince, weary of the War, pretends nothing but a desire of peace, renouncing in appearance, all further thoughts of the publick affairs, and demanding only a satisfacti­on of the interests of particular persons, but resolving principal­ly to find his own there too: He had ingaged to the Duke of Vendosme, not to consent to any peace, unless he had the Castle of Nantes given him: To the Duke of Longueville he promifed the Cittadell of Amiens, and to those of the Religion, a confir­mation of the Edicts: But when the Duke of Mayne, and the Marshal Boüillon were arrived at their ends, they quitted all thoughts, but how to make the rest relinquish theirs, to effect which, they used all manner of Artifices, the most crafty and pregnant inventions could furnish them with: But the admirable constancy of the Assembly General at Rochell, and the firm union between the other Grandees, threw insuperable difficulties in the way to their designs.

But in the mid'st of these transactions, the Prince falls despe­rately sick, which caused a great confusion among them all, and made them more sollicitous to have this affair dispatched: The Duke of Sully was desired to go to the Assembly, and represent to them the dangers, that attended the present condition of things, whence he returned, with a full assurance of their good inclinati­ons to peace; which three dayes after, they confirmed by ten Deputies they sent with an express charge to supercede all former demands, that might retard the conclusion of the Treaty; con­fining themselves to an obtention only of all expedients, necessa­ry to confirm and secure to them their former Concessions: A­mong which were the continuation of the Assembly where it was, untill the verification of the Edict; the disbanding of the Ar­myes; the restitution of Tartas; and the dispatch of the Com­missioners appointed to put the Edict in execution, according as the Duke of Sully had promised them in the Princes name; which he clearly made appeare by his instructions, when the Prince re­ceded from the aforesaid promise: But the King's Commissioners encouraged under hand, insisted eagerly on the dissolution of the Assembly, which had like to have broken all, had not the Duke of Sully, pregnant in evasions to prevent mischiefs, firm­ly persisted in his endeavours to compose the business, offering another Writing to the Commissioners, which they approved of, and desired him to procure the Deputies of the Assembly their as­sent to it also, which, with the assistance of the Dukes of Rohan, Candale, and Soubize, he so happily endeavoured, that they assented to it, upon condition, that there might be an alteration of some termes; And forasmuch as the Commission of the Depu­ties was too restrictive, they joyntly sent an express to Remon­strate to the Assembly the necessity of terminating this affaire, and to that end desire such an enlargement of their power, as should oblige them to ratifie what they should conclude in their names, and with the advice of the Grandees of the Religion: The Duke of Sully thinking he had now finished all, carries the said Writing to the King's Commissioners, with whom were pre­sent the Dukes of Nevers, Maine, and Boüillon, who all con­firmed it, and after them the Deputies also: But when he retur­ned with it again to the Commissioners, they denyed what they had done; but yet as the Duke was going from them, they re­called him againe, and after much contestation came once more to an agreement: After which they all met at the Duke of Nevers his Lodgings, who treated the whole company at Dinner; where the King's Commissioners, for the third time, so altered the Writing, that there was nothing left of its first [Page 35] design; for which reason the Duke of Sully would no more trouble himself with it.

Whereupon the Prince caused the Grandees to be called to sign the Peace; he was yet so ill that he could neither under­stand it, when it was read, nor comprehend the difficulties yet to be surmounted: Nevertheless he called the Duke of Sully to know what hindered the signing of it, which being told him, he calls Villeroy, and having whispered something to him very soft­ly, presently declares to the Duke of Sully, that Villeroy had gi­ven him the Writing just as it was at first designed with the ad­vice and consent of the Duke; and without expecting the An­swer of the Assembly, or any reason to the contrary, signed it: Whereupon the Duke of Boüillon had many sharp contests, real, or pretended, and delusory, with Villeroy, for that he desired that the English Embassadour, who had been a great instrument of the Peace, should sign it too, which the other opposed as a thing neither handsome, nor honorable for the King to suffer.

This precipitate signing of the Peace by the Prince, occasi­oned great and general murmurings among the rest of the Party, that saw themselves thus deserted by those that were the Authors of the Warre: And the Duke of Boüillon, to enhaunce the price of the services he had done the King, bitterly inveighs a­gainst the Assembly, branding them, and all that should abet them, with the name of Rebells; offered to march against them, and declared that he should esteem for enemies to the State, all those that upon any pretence whatsoever, should refuse to signe the peace; But neither his, nor the threats of the Commissio­ners prevailed ought upon the others constancy. And because this brangling was a disturbance to the Prince, the whole com­pany removed to the Countess of Soissons Lodgings, where e­very one, all other difficulties being cleared, to avoid disputes for the precedency, subscribed his approbation a­part, and none, but the Prince, and the Deputies, signed the Declaration.

But when all was done, this War wrought no alteration at all in the publick affairs, but what was procured by those of the King's party, who made use of this occasion to revenge them­selves upon their enemies: So Villeroy, and the President Janin, whom the Chancellour de Sillery had formerly put by, that he might have the sole administration of all affaires, caused the seals to be taken from him, and committed to the President Du Vair: But Villeroy nothing advantaged himself hereby; for the Marshal d' Ancre, conceiving a jealousie, that at the Treaty he held cor­respondence with the contrary party, to out him of the Cittadell of [Page 36] Amiens, caused his Office of Secretary of State, to be given to Mangot.

When this business was thus concluded, every one departed, but diversely affected, and very ill satisfied one with another; and the next day came the full power from the Assembly to their Deputies to conclude the Peace. The Marshal Boüillon, and the Duke of Trimoüille, to insinuate themselves the more into the King's favour, engaged themselves to the Commissioners, by an Act under their hands and seals, to rout the Assembly, and all that should presume to justifie them, in case they refused to dis­solve, after the six weeks prorogation accorded them, was ex­pired.

If the number of the discontents on the Princes side was great, it was not less on the other: The favour of the Marshal d' Ancre was more insupportable to those, that upheld, than those that op­posed him: and he also perceiving himself more tyrannised by his creatures, than his enemies, made the late reconciled party believe he would enter into a firm and strict amity with them; which the Duke of Guise suspecting, he also, to cross the Mar­shal d' Ancre's aimes, seeks after an union with them too: And in order to it, makes his applications to the Marshal Boüillon; who fed him still with very fair words, and hopes, that in case he failed of his end at the Court, he might have a good occasion to intangle it in new perplexities.

Some dayes before the conclusion of the Peace, it was pro­posed in the Prince his Council, that the Grandees of his party should enter into an inviolable League amongst themselves, that two of them should alwayes in their turns, reside at Court, whi­lest the others kept at a greater distance from it; and that every one of them should embrace the particular interests of the others; The Marshal Boüillon rejected that Proposition, as unseasonable, for that, having occasion to dis-oblige the greatest part of them, he foresaw this might discover his intentions; and besides, he was yet desirous to derive his advantage from the merits, and e­steem of his services: But after the Treaty was concluded, him­self renewed the former proposal, which was then also as unsea­sonable, because their minds were now too much varied from what they were, and they so jealous one of another, that every one steer­ed his course by his own particular interest.

The Prince went to take possession of the government of Ber­ry, given him in exchange for that of Guienne; The Duke of Mayne, and the Marshal Boüillon to the Court, to try how the pulses beat there, but principally to reap the fruit of their ser­vices; The Duke of Sully to his government of Poictou; The [Page 37] Duke of Rohan to Rochell, to inform the Assembly of what had passed at the treaty of Loudun, and to procure a nomination of good Deputies general: But the Court Caball being uni­ted with the Prince his faction, and the hopes of favour, gratifications, and pensions, he gave to those that should incline to his will wholly governed them, so that Bertheville, and Mainald were chosen.

The Duke of Rohan seeing how he was hated at Court, and that the success of all things thwarted his projection, resolves to make an Essay upon the Duke of Sully for the government of Poictou, of whom when he had obtained a demission of it, his Patents were prepared, according to the tenor of the Articles of the Treaty, upon condition that he should go to receive them at Court, which he resolved to do; and there delivers himself free­ly to the Queen, telling her, that the slights she had thrown up­on him, had induced him to let her Majesty know, that he was neither voide of resentments, nor destitute of power; that, it was true, he had served and obliged a most ingrateful person, which he was very sensible of, and that if she pleased to vouch­safe him a pardon, and amnesty for his actions against her, and admit him again to her favour, he vowed that except the party of the Religion, he would devote his most faithful services to her, a­gainst all the world besides; of which offer and protestation she testified her belief by her acceptance of it.

But to return to the Marshal Boüillon; he employed the ut­termost strength of his whole abilities to gain an admission to the helm of State, declaring that he was the only man could, at his pleasure, rule, and dispose of the Prince, who was also the only person could prejudice the authority of the Queen, and that con­sequently his satisfaction, and employment would free them from any further apprehensions, whatsoever: But the Marshal d' An­cre, who had ingrossed all the power, being the only Favourite, and intended to change the whole Council, to place therein creatures of his own, thought it not convenient to suffer the intro­duction of such a one; which the other perceiving, stuffs the Princes head with new jealousies, to prevent his returne to the Court.

There were the Countess of Soissons of the one side, and the Princess of Conde of the other, that extreamly rejoyced at the report of the Prince his intentions to return thither; but all (so jealous were they one of another) agreed to divert him from them, unless it was by their means that he came; which he knowing very well, waved them all, and by the mediation of Rochefort, and the Arch-Bishop of Bourges, secretly made his [Page 38] peace with the Queen, fixing himself upon her, and to protect the Marshal d' Ancre, with the exclusion of his own party; pro­vided he might be solely intrusted with the management of the publick affairs, and made Chief of the Council of the Re­venew.

Coming to Paris against the good liking of those afore-men­tioned, he was welcomed with loud acclamations, and applau­ses, and resumed a great power in the State: The Duke of Ro­han, with the Queens permission, gave him a visit, and sharp­ly reproached him for signing the Peace, without expecting the Commission from the Assembly; which he excused, saying, that he was induced to it by an apprehension he had, lest the Duke should hinder their granting it; and when he afterwards under­stood that he was restored to the Queens favour, he told him he was very glad of it, for that he had now brought no other re­solutions with him, but to enjoy himself, mind his own affairs, and no more to intermeddle in any factions, but entirely to ad­here to the King, the Queen, and the Marshal d' Ancre: And when the dissatisfaction of the Great ones, and principally of the Marshal Boüillon, who was supposed to have an absolute power over him, was objected to him; his answer was, That he now very well perceived his drift, and the subtleties he used to per­swade him, that the welfare of the State consisted either in peace or War, according as he was pleased, or displeased, and that he would no more stoop to that Lure.

On the other side, the Marshal Boüillon though he saw him­self quite cast off, despairs not, but for fear of exasperating him, covers the displeasure he had conceived against the Prince, with a seeming approbation of all that he had done; and that his Counsels might be of greater validity with him, draws the Duke of Guise, with his brothers, and the Duke of Nevers, into an union with those of his party; taking advantage of the Parlia­ments, and Parisians hatred against the Marshal d' Ancre, and by the means of Luines, who now began to be the sole Favou­site, exposes him to the King's also; and communicated to ma­ny of the prime Nobility his design to secure the Court by the death of the Marshal d' Ancre, who had bartered away the King's Lieutenancies in Picardy, and the Cittadel of Amiens, together with that of Normandy, which the Duke of Monthazon had, and reserved to himself the government of Peronne, Mont­didier, and Roye: The Duke of Longueville, enraged to see himself disappointed of Amiens, and the rest of Picardy, pur­sues his design, loudly proclaims to the world his discontents, and the Intelligence he held with the Town of Peronne, enters it, and [Page 39] possesses himself of the Castle, before any one could stir to pre­vent him. Mangot, the new made Secretary of State in the place of Villeroy, is sent thither by the King, but to no purpose, for that the Castle was already delivered: At his return from this successeless voyage, the King, being advised to handle this business with all gentleness possible, sends the Marshal Boüillon, who made two journyes thither, but brought not back the satis­faction, was desired; and indeed his own particular aime was to confirm the Duke in his conquest, to the end that he might en­gage him, and his friends, in the design he still pursued. And one day, having assembled the chiefest of his Confederates, to consult about the killing of the Marshal d' Ancre, the Duke of Maine, who was supposed to the most zealous in the business, offered to kill him himself, provided that the Prince would be there, and that it was necessary to know his resolution therein; the Marshal Boüillon replyed, That they ought to beware of that, but that he would undertake to make the Prince avow the acti­on when it was executed, but that it was dangerous to impart it to him before, and that he should not by any means have any notice of it, till it were ready to be put in execution, that he might not have leasure to retract: But the obstinacy of the Duke of Maine carried it, and the Prince when he was acquainted with what they had resolved on, whether it was, that he feared the issue of it, or that for this once he would be a man of his word, that very Evening let the Marshal d' Ancre know, by the Arch-Bishop of Bourges, that he could by no means abandon the Duke of Longueville, and that he revoked the promise he had made to protect him: Whereupon the Marshal, the same night posted into Normandy; and there seeing himself forsaken by the Prince, and many of the Great ones, combined to assault him in the Court it self, contrived how he might prevent them: Informs the Queen by some of his Confidents, that the Prince deceives her, that the Marshal Boüillon amuses her, that many of the great Nobility were resolved to devest her of her authority, and that the business was already come to such a point, that she had no other remedy left her, but to seize upon their persons; on which she resolved, with Mangot the Bishop of Lueon, and Barbin, creatures of the Marshal: And on the first day of Se­ptember, upon a Thursday at noon, was the Prince arrested in the Louvre, by Themines, who for that action was created Marshal of France; and that which is very remarkable in this, is, That up­on the same day of the month, and of the week, and at the same houre was he born: They thought to have surprized the Duke of Maine, and the Marshal Boüillon there also; but the [Page 40] former lodging near Saint Anthony's Gate, had opportunity enough to escape; and the other being that day gone to a Ser­mon at Charenten, was advised by his friends to return no more; so they went to Soissons, and the Duke of Guise and his brother took the same way also; The Duke of Vendosme also fled to­wards La Fere; The Duke of Rohan, who at the very begin­ning of these commotions had quitted the Prince, was not how­ever without his fears, when he saw him carried away by The­mines, and that immediately upon it Saint Geran came to en­quire after him from the King. This arrest caused a great tu­mult in Paris, which was encreased by the Prince his Mother, and many Gentlemen, who animated the people of the Suburbs of Saint Germaine to plunder, and raze the Marshal d' Ancre's house, which they found so sweet an employment, that the pil­lage of it lasted two dayes; and indeed great prudence was it, not to oppose them in the heat of their fury: For the next day Crequi Colonel of the Regiment of the Guards, with one com­pany of them, and another of the Citizens, easily took them off from the prey, which in the height of the hurly burly would have proved a greater difficulty.

Their Majesties gave notice of this Mutiny to those of the Nobility that remained in Paris, and likewise to the chiefest of the Council; among whom, the Duke of Sully spake his mind freely, and declaring his dislike of the action, advised them to compose those differences by the intervention of the Pope his Nuncio, and other Embassadours, but so, as that the full pow­er to determine all should remaine still in the King, and the Queen his Mother. But this Council was disapproved, and the way of ferce made choice of: In the mean while the Marshal Boüillon sets all his wits on work, to engage the Duke of Guise somewhat further, offering to make him chief of a party, where he should command all that durst dispute the place with him: tells him moreover, that what they did, was to restore the first Prince of the Blood to his liberty, and take the King out of the hands of the Marshal d' Ancre, against whom the general ha­tred had evidently appeared by the burning and pillaging of his house in Paris, even before the King's face; that if they should speedily gather together their friends, and fire all the Mills about Paris, they should cause a greater insurrection there: But when he saw that these perswasions prevailed nothing upon him, and that he was treating for his return to Court, where he was of­fered to Command the King's Armyes; he then moved to have him stopped; which the Duke of Mayne would not give way to.

Thus all the Councils of the Marshal Boüillon were rejected, though they were very good; For, in extremities, things will not admit of tedious deliberations, and ballancings of future e­vents; and many times a rash attempt closely pursued, meets a fortunate success, when circumspection (in such a case) ever fails: Which clearly appeared here; for the Queen having drawn the Duke of Guise and his brothers, changes the Offi­cers of State, giving the seals to Mangot, the Office of Secre­tary of State to the Bishop of Lucon, the Intendancy of the Fi­nances, or Treasurorship to Barbin, appeases all popular tu­mults, and by a Declaration, verified in Parliament, crimina­lizes all that had absented themselves; Raises several armies, and gives the command of that in Champagne to the Duke of Guise, that in the Isle of France to the Count of Auvergne, and having made Montigny Marshal of France, and Governour of Berry, sends him thither, who secures the Province, and makes himself Master of the Tower of Bourges: The Marshal de Sou­vre does the like to the Castle of Chinon, which by the treaty of Loudun was given to the Prince. In the beginning of the yeare One thousand six hundred and seventeen, the Duke of Guise stormes some places held by the Duke of Nevers, which, with­out any great resistance made, he takes, and then prepares for the siege of Meziers. The Count of Auvergne also takes Pier­refons, and marches towards Soissons: And the Duke of Maine attempting to beat up the Quarters of the Duke of Rohan, Co­lonel of the light Horse-men, in Villiers-Cotrets received a shrewd repulse: In the mean time the Marshal Boüillon retires to Sedan, where he endeavours to strengthen himself with some forraign assistance: Thus were the affairs of the Princes but in a sad condition, even then when their deliverance appea­red by the death of the Marshal d' Ancre, which occasioning a change of the whole face of things, it will not be impertinent, in this place to insert a particular relation of it.

The unlimited power of Favourites is the ruine of a State: For either they change it themselves for their own ends, or else they give the ambitious opportunities to attempt it, or at least are they made the pretences of all the disturbances that happen in it: For seven years had the Marshal d' Ancre furnished France with such pretexts, and that great people, whom the raign of Henry the great had accustomed to a subjection to the govern­ment of their King himself, universally hated him, imputing all their mischiefs continually to him; So that his death filled every one with hopes of an amelioration: But those quickly va­nished, when they saw Luynes, a man of a mean extraction, cloa­thed [Page 42] with his spoiles, and at the first rise advanced to greater authority; who by the pass time, and delights he shewed the King in Hunting, and by his low submissions had raised himself to the highest place in the affections of a King, who was then but fifteen years old: A Prince very singular, and jealous of his authority, which yet he understood not at all, and more apt to believe the worst, than the best: It was a matter of no great difficulty to perswade him, that the Marshal d' Ancre aimed at a power would prejudice his, and that the Queen Mother was consenting to it, that she might continue the rains of Govern­ment, as in his Minority, in her own hands; For the insolen­cies which alwayes accompany great Favourites were exreame in the Marshal d' Ancre; and the Queen Mothers neglect of her sonne too apparent: So that Luynes having before hand dealt with Deagent the chief Deputy of Barbin, who was Intendant of the Finances, caused him that night to entertain the King with a discourse of the mischievous plots were contriving against him; and out of hopes of some great advancement, he made his treachery against his Master the foundation of the designe: Marcillac, his Associate, was he who had formerly betrayed the Prince to the Queen, and now betrayes her to the King: Des­plans an ordinary Souldier in the King's Guards, had a share in this employment too, for that he had been a servant to Bran­tes, who was brother to Luynes: In short, in the contrivance of this design were employed only base and infamous persons; but to Vitry Captaine of the Guards was the execution of it committed, who was commanded to kill the Marshal, and for recompence, was promised to be made Marshal of France; which accordingly he performed as he was entring the Louvre: At the same time were arrested also the Marshal d' Ancre's Lady, Mangot, the Bishop of Lueon and Barbin, and then were the Chancellour de Sillery, Du Vair, Keeper of the Seals, Villeroy, and the president Janin sent for to resume their Offices. After this were the Queenes guards taken from her, and some of the King's appointed to wait on her: A Gallery also that led from her Chamber to a Garden she had caused to be made, was bro­ken down; nor was she suffered, without leave, to see any thing, but the sad conversion of her authority and liber­ty, into a low and despicable condition, and miserable ser­vitude.

Expresses were sent into all parts to give notice of this change, all hostility ceases, every one returns to the Court, where all strive, who should soonest and most impudently renounce that, which but four and twenty hours before, they adored; It being [Page 43] the property of generous souls only to follow those in their ad­verse, whom they honoured in their more prosperous fortune; The Duke of Rohan got leave to visit the Queen-mother, the strength of whose constancy was still superiour to the violence of her pressures: And then, seeing himself regarded with a frown­ing eye, and taking small pleasure to see those he had so lately fought against to be the only welcome persons, goes into Pied­mont, where he arrived a little after the taking of Verseil, and passing the Summer there; he saw an action worthy to be ob­served, and related. Don Pedro de Toledo, after he had taken Verseil, which had endured a long siege, to refresh it, divided his Army into Montferrat, and the Dutchy of Milan, and quarters it about Alexandria, a Countrey abounding in corne, and all manner of necessaries: In the meane while the Duke of Savoy's Army recruited, and the Treaty of peace was still continued by the mediation of the Cardinal Ludovisio on the Pope's behalf, and Bethun on the King's; several conferences had they with Don Pe­dro; In the interim of which, the Marshal Lesdiguires, who commanded the relief sent by the King to the Duke of Savoy, to defend his States, but not to attempt upon the Duchy of Milan; having sent to discover how the Spanish Army lay, made a propo­sition to beat up the Quarters of two thousand men, that lay in Felissan, a Village that was but slightly barricadoed, and seated in the middest of all the other Quarters: proving by many rea­sons, that, though at sifirst ght the designe might seeme very hazardous, yet really was it not so, for that marching that way one night with all his forces, at break of day he beat up that Quarter, which hindered the Spanish Armies rallying, and was the reason that those he had left behinde him, having no retreat, were utterly lost. This motion took the wished effect; For the Duke of Savoy having appointed his Rendezvous at Ast, marched by a private way, which avoided Nice and La Roque, and came to Felissan, which was instantly begirt, and forced, for they had no need of the Canon, which Shomberg Marshal of the Camp, was bringing up with the Rear-guard, with which he was com­manded to take in a Castle, to secure the provisions, which he did: The next day was taken a place called Quatordeci, in which were four hundred souldiers: The same day the Duke of Savoy gives the Duke of Rohan three hundred horse, to cut off some Cavalry of the enemies, that were coming from Alexandria: As he was marching to execute that designe, he discovers 300. horse and 1200. foot marching from Cazal to Alexandria; He makes to­wards them with his whole party, but, notwithstanding he used all diligence possible, he could not reach them before it was [Page 44] dark, and that the enemy had sheltred himself in a very advan­geous hold; A proposition was then made for the incamping round about them, and sending that night for two thousand horse, that might be ready there to defeat them by break of day; and I be­lieve this project might have taken; But the consideration of lea­ving the rest of the Infantry at Felissan in the middest of the enemies Quarters, who might easily beat them up, caused them to resolve upon a retreat: So that after a dayes stay at Felissan, they marched towards Nice, which they surrounded, and in twice four and twenty hours, was the Town forced, and the Ca­stle surrendred, in which were near two thousand fighting men: The next day finding La Roque quitted, they pursue those that were of the garrison, who were all Switzers, whom they over­took, and made prisoners: Thus in the space of one week, were taken four thousand five hundred of the enemies army; which being so weakened: and the Duke of Savoy finding himself to be more than twenty thousand strong marching men, had design­ed to enter in to the Duchy of Milan; when lo, from France comes the conclusion of the peace, with a Command to the Marshal Lesdiguieres to get the Duke of Savoy's assent to it, which he effected: But return we now to the affairs of France.

Luynes seeing that so short a time had vested him with the en­tire spoyls of a most eminent Favourites seven years toyle, having the sole influence upon a young Prince of fifteen years old, whose Mother he had mortally offended, being himself but of mean parentage, and without any support in the Kingdom, not studied, nor any way versed in State affairs, and yet governing all with a most absolute authority, makes use of Deagent, and Modene as his chief Counsellors: And the next care he had, was to impose a Confessor upon the King, of an immediate de­pendance upon himself, so to awe him by their superstition (a powerful engine to work upon the spirit of a young Prince) and to place about his person petty inconsiderable fellows, who amu­sed him with childish toyes, and kept so close a siege about his per­son, that none could be admitted so much as to speak to him in private: After this he caused the Queen-mother to be conveyed to Blois, where she was most strictly guarded: And then, that he might enrich himself with her wealth also, proceeded to the arraignment, and trial of the Marshal d' Ancre's Lady; in which he used such unlawful sollicitations, and took such unusual cour­ses to procure her death, that at her execution, the former ha­tred of the Parisians against her was far exceeded by their passi­onate commiseration of her present calamities; caused Mangot to be confined to his own house; the Bishop of Lucon to be rele­gated [Page 45] to Avignon, and Barbin was sent to the Bastille; and then marries the Duke of Montbazon's daughter to strengthen him­self with an Alliance not obnoxious to envie; having for that rea­son refused the Duke of Vendosm's sister.

When he had ordered these things after this manner, he caused to be convened at Roüen, the most eminent of the Nobility, to­gether with the principal officers of the Parliaments (called the Assembly of Notables) that without parting from the King at all, he might put himself in possession of the government of Norman­dy; where the disunion of the Grandees, their infidelity, and pu­sillanimity, together with the base and servile spirits of the Offi­cers and Deputies of the Parliaments, present at this Assembly, confirmed the Authority of this upstart Favourite, so that every one yeilding to his yoak, he began now to think himself suffici­ent to dispose even of Fortune her self.

The Duke of Rohan, who was now allyed to him by his wife, who was of his family, courts him too, among the rest, endeavour­ing to reconcile him rather to the Queen, than the Prince, who from his Prison had already sent him Overtures and promises, that in exchange of his liberty, he would support him with his assistance, and fixe him in an impregnable condition; He told him, that he could not long, keep them both prisoners; that he that was there before, his advancement could have no colour to lay his restraint to his charge; and that it was an easie matter to hinder his deliverance, that the Queens condition was different, who one time or other would escape from him; for though she were kept also under guards, yet was it with more respect, and not as prisoner; and that such guards were not so secure: He added moreover, that if the Prince regained any power in the State he would be a more dangerous opposite than the Queen-Mother could, that he was of a good wit, quick, highly ambi­tious, and covetous; that though he was not of a vindicative nature, yet was he not obliging neither, nor had he the least friendship for any one; that being not able to detaine them both still in prison, it was necessary he should strengthen himself with the as­sistance of one of them; and that however he had displeased the Queen, yet would she prove his surer prop, for that she was not so prone to intermeddle with the affairs, as the Prince was; and the jealousies that were between the King and the Queen (which he knew well enough how to mould to his own advantage) would be his security against them both; Luynes seeming satis­fied with these arguments, encouraged the Duke by all means to mediate this reconciliation; who having a servant named La Fer­te, who was an intimate friend of Barbins, had by that means an [Page 46] opportunity to let him know the service he intended to the Queen his Mistresse, to which the Duke of Montbazon, Luynes his Father-in-law, was also much inclined. Barbin, (by the means of Bour­nonville, Governour of the Bastille, where he was a prisoner) gave the Queen intelligence of what had passed, advising her to write letters to the King, Luynes, and to the Duke of Montbazon; to the first, full of complaints of vindication of her self, and of respect; to the other two to do her all good offices to the King: the draughts of which letters were first carried to the Duke of Rohan, who amended them, and corrected the acrimony of some expressi­ons in them: But the Bishop who was to carry these letters, in who Barbin greatly confided, proved felse, and most perfidiously betrayed the whole plot; yet, according to the instructions he received from Deagent, made he several journeys to the Queen, but with treacherous purposes to work the ruine of her, and all else that had a hand in this businesse: But seeing that this design tended only to a reconciliation, and yeilded no colourable pre­tences to ground any accusation on, they flie to subtilties; and in Bournonville's name, desire a Ring from the Queen, as a testimony of her acceptance of his service, for that being brother-in-law to the Marshal Vitry, he could not otherwise believe she could have any good thoughts of him: The Queen, though somewhat surprized with this demand, yet could it not raise any jealousies in her, for that the Bishop who was employed in all these errands, was a creature of Barbins, made some difficulty to part with the Ring he desired, as unwilling to give any thing that was not wor­thy of her, but promised to have one bought purposely at Paris; But he importuned her so much, that she took one from one of the Ladies attending her, and gave it him: The Bishop carries it to Deagent, who kept that, and caused another to be made just like it, which he conveyed to Bournonville, as if she had voluntarily, and of her own accord sent it him: After this they infused jea­lousies into the King, that the Nobility had a design to surprize the Louvre to introduce the Queen, and restablish her in her former authority, and that all that were of the conspiracy, wore a blew Ring on their finger, which was the cognizance of the party: And Luynes one day shuts the Duke of Rohan into his chamber, where he entertained him with discourses, that the King was cer­tainly informed that he was alwayes much devoted to the Queens service, that he knew all his machinations for that end, and the secret negotiations of La Ferte; but of regard of his alliance to him, he had prevailed with the King to pardon him, and there­fore now it was fit he should tell him all: This proposition was with much disdaine rejected by the Duke, who replyed, that he [Page 47] was no Informer, and that he was glad they knew his actions which had no other aime than the King's service; that be confessed he was a servant to the Queen-Mother, and that it was the duty of every good Frenchman so to be.

After all these contrivances, and many others which never came to my knowledge La Ferte was taken prisoner, and committed to the Bastille, confronted with Barbin, and both of them were brought to their tryal; and notwithstanding the importunate sollicitations made in favour of them, and were admitted of purposely to in­tangle more people, the result of all was, the depriving Bournon­ville of the Bastille, the perpetual banishment of Barbin, and of La Ferte for five years, who, notwithstanding never stirred at all from his Master.

These violent procedures filled the Queen with great fears and jealousies, and made her more solicitous to free her self from this captivity, being now well assured that the hopes Luynes gave her of it, sometimes by Cadanet, sometimes by Modene were but only to amuse her, especially when she saw that the negotiation of Ar­noux the Jesuite and the King's Confessour came to nothing; this Jesuite made the King solemnly swear at Confession, never to dis­like what Lnynes did, nor to meddle himself with any State affairs.

The consideration of all these things made her at length re­solve to work her enlargement; and to effect it, by the advice of the Marshal Boüillon, she made choice of the Duke d' Espernon, whom she knew to be a man of great power, valour, and prudence: But he was displeased with her, and came to Court with full in­tention to side with the King; he must therefore be brought a­bout; which the Queens servants deriving much advantage from the Favourites ill conduct, very dextrously performed: And first, they terrifie Luynes with the great power, and haughty humour of the Duke d' Espernon; qualities not tolerable by one who aimes at a general adoration: On the otherside they exasperate the Duke, who was of a touchy nature, and unaccustomed to a base and servile subjection: The first occasion they took from his at­tempts to promote his youngest sonne to a Cardinalat, for the which he was the first upon the Roll, and received all possible as­surance of it, but was put by, by the contrivances of Villeroy, who preferred Marquemont: But Villeroy dying immediately after, he continues his pursuit, with great hopes still: But the Cardinal de Retz having made Deagent, and by that means gained Luynes, car­ried it; but not without obliging himself by promises unworthy a person of quality, with poor and infamous submissions, which he still so religiously observed, that being afterwards made Pre­sident [Page 48] of the Council, he seemed rather to do the duty of a Depu­ty to Deagent, than of a Cardinal.

This was opportunely seconded by another occasion derived from the Keeper of the Seals, Du Vair, who, hurried by his own pride, or the instigation of those that were desirous of new trou­bles, would needs take place at the Council-table, of all the Dukes and Peers of France: The Duke d' Espernon, as the most ancient that was then there, complains, in the name of all the rest, of it to the King, who took it ill from him, and the in­terest of the Gown-men, was preferred before that of the Peers of France: This stomached him so, that he brake out into many bitter invectives, even against the King himself; so that it was no hard matter to perswade him that there was a designe to send him to the Bastille, considering the late Presidents before his eyes: The Queens servants, (who would not discover any thing of their in­tentions to him while he remained in Paris) so handsomely im­proved his jealousies, that one morning very early, and without taking leave of any body, he goes thence to Metz. When he was there, Ruccelay, the chief contriver, and manager of the whole project begins with him, by moving a reconciliation be­tween him, and the Marshal Boüillon; and then imparts to him the Queens designe, with her request to him, to procure her li­berty, with many large promises annexed to it, of which, in such cases none are sparing: The almost insuperable difficulties and dangers of this enterprise, together with the ingratitude, the usual recompence Princes reward great services withal, at first startled, and caused some hesitation in the Duke of Espernon: But then the glory would attend the execution of so high and noble a designe, the indignation he conceived at the small regard was had of him, together with his desire of revenge, (passions predomi­nating in all great courages) overcame all the suggestions of his fears: When he had resolved on it, he proceeds in it with that caution, secresie, and good Fortune, that having made all neces­sary provisions for Metz, where the King, purposely to keep him at a distance from the Court, where he feared him, amused him with pretended and imaginary designes, he passes through France into his governments of Xaintonge, and Angoulmois, and there effected the Queen-Mothers deliverance, on the one and twen­tieth of February one thousand six hundred and nineteen, who came from Blois to Loches, a place belonging to the Duke, who there went to receive her with two or three hundred Gentlemen, who all conducted her to Angoulesme.

This escape of the Queen caused a great confusion at the Court, where it was conceived that her party was much more [Page 49] numerous, or that it might quickly swell to a bigger bulk; where­fore great preparations were made for war, that the ensuing peace might be more advantageous: The command of the Army to be sent against the Queen was given to the Duke of Mayne, who was thought to be the most an enemy to her, and most faithful to Luynes; and because it was conceived that it would be acceptable to him, to him also was committed the charge of the negotiati­on of Bethune: Sollicitations were also made in the behalf of the Bishop of Lucon (who till then had remained in exile in Avignon) for his return to the Queen, and inforced with promises made in his name, by his brother in Law Pont Courlay, to incline the Queen to such a peace as should shoot with the King's desires, and also to sowe jealousies between the principal authors of her de­liverance; in which he failed neither of his endeavours, nor suc­cesse. For Rucelay, who had as largely contributed to her liber­ty as any one, left her in discontent, and drew with him the Mar­quesse of Mauny, and Themines, who afterwards proved one of the greatest enemies to the Queen, who found her self but in a bad condition to engage in a war, by reason that many envied the gallant action of the Duke d' Espernon, few would submit to his imperious humour, and every one believed that all would end in peace, and were therefore unwilling to imbarque in an affair, by which they should gaine nothing but the King's displeasure, and hatred, whilest others carried away the glory of the enterprise: For which reason also the Duke of Rohan, being sought to, by the Queen, sent her word, that he was much troubled that he was not privie to, and imployed in the beginning of her designe; which if he had, he would have served her most faithfully: But being at Court then when she made her escape, he was commanded by the King to his government of Poictou, to preserve it in peace; that, for his part he would do her no harme, but advised her to make a peace, in which he was confident Bethune would serve her; and that being in full liberty, and security, she would have more favorable conveniencies to raise a greater number of servants and friends than at present: Schomberg did cleare otherwise for to en­deare himself beyond the other Zealots for her ruine; he laid a plot to blow her up by firing the Magazine at Angoulesme, which was happily discovered, and prevented. At length was a peace con­cluded, and near Tours was the interview between the King and the Queen-mother, to whom was given the government of An­jou, and for her better security, the Castles of Angiers, Pont de Cé, and Chinon.

Come we now to the affairs of Bearn, the sourse and rise of all our evils, which will retract our view as far back as the death [Page 50] of the Marshal d' Ancre, after which Du Vair, Keeper of the Seals, being restored to his Office; upon the sollicitations of the Bishops of Bearn, and imagining he should do so eminent an action, as would gaine him such reputation at Rome, would ad­vance him to the dignity of a Cardinal, he procured an order of the King's Council, for restoring to the Ecclesiastiques of that Countrey their goods that were formerly aliened by authority, and had for fourty, or fifty years been imployed for the maintenance of their Ministers, Academy, and the Garrison in the Fort cal­led Navarrins. La Force, then Governour of that Countrey, was at Court at the same time, and mainly opposed the Order, shew­ing the difficulties would obstruct it, and the inconveniencies might arise from it; which I conceive he did with very sincere in­tentions: But being over-powered, turns his desires to his own private advantage, and promises to promote the execution of it, upon condition he might be made Marshal of France, which was promised him: But either the difficulties he met with­all, or rage to see himself laughed at at Court, made him resolve to stand it out against all; In which he met with great oppositi­on in the Countrey, occasioned by those of the house of Benac, backed with the Count of Grammond, his deadly enemies, and by the politick practices of the Court, so that he was now hated by all parties for not doing what he might for the satisfaction of either.

The Duke of Rohan, who was his friend, patronized him still at Court, and, seeing that the Kings Commissioner Renard cast all the blame of the ill successe he had in his voyage upon La Force, used all means possible to compose the businesse, shewing that if the Province of Bearn should addresse themselves to the Reformed Churches of France, their particular might grow into a general cause, from whose circumstances might arrive some ac­cidents not easie to be remedied, and that it was the wisest course to quench this fire before it were throughly kindled: That it was most reasonable (since the thing was begun) that the King should receive satisfaction, and the Countrey also should be secured; and that partial persons were most unfit to be imployed in it: These reasons were the better relished, for that they already began to discover several Assemblies in the Provinces, and to fear the event of them: And now were things in so fair a way, that the Duke of Rohan had obtained a re-imbursement of the like sum of money restored to the Ecclesiastiques, to be had out of the next receipts; and in case of non-payment, permission was granted to the Coun­trey to seize again upon the goods of the Ecclesiastiques. But for as much as La Force found not his advantages in this accommoda­tion, [Page 51] he was easily induced to reject it, complaining to the Court, that to discredit him thus, was the way to disable him for any future services, and to those of the Religion, that it was an introduction to the ruine of the Reformed Religion in their Country: And notwithstanding that all the Churches of France, were, upon good deliberation, satisfied with this agreement, yet never could the people be induced to it, so that the dispute lasted till the Convocation of the General Assembly of those of the Re­ligion at Loudun, the three and twentieth of May, one thousand six hundred and nineteen.

Luynes in the mean time did all the ill offices he could to the Duke of Rohan, endeavoured to criminalize him, for buying the government of Maillezais, of Aubigny, and of a private house in Poictou which was very strong, and which he compelled him to pull down; having, but a little before it was razed, engaged some in an attempt to surprize it; and though those that had un­dertaken it, were taken as they were teady to put their designe in execution, yet ordered he things so, that he could not have ju­stice done upon them: After this, having released the Prince from the Bastille, to strengthen himself with his power against the Queen, and the Prince declaring himself an open enemy to the Duke of Rohan, the Duke resolves to adhere entirely to the Queens service, of which he went to Angiers to assure her; and understanding of the party was raising for her, he advised her not to stay there, but to remove to Bourdeaux; that her most faith­full servants were the Dukes of Mayne, Espernon, and Rohan; that being there, she would have a powerful Parliament to declare for her, and that there she was secure from any invasion before she had an army ready to dispute the field; that if she stayed at An­giers, and that if Pont de Cé were taken from her, she and her whole Party would be lost without one blow striking: that she ought to give the greater confidence to this Council, because it was to his own disadvantage, for that being so near the King, he was like to be the first would suffer.

To this she answered, That she much approved of his Reasons, but that if she should follow his advice, it would give the Duke d' Espernon suspitions that she intended to put herself wholly into the hands of the Duke of Mayne: Besides, the hopes the Coun­tesse of Soissons gave her from Normandy, built upon her Sonne-in-law the Duke of Longueville, who was lately made Governour of that Province, and was Master of Dieppe, and the Grand Prior who held Caen, and both of them had great correspondences in Roüen, prevailed so upon her, that she would by no means budge from Angiers: But desired that the Assembly at Loudun might be [Page 52] continued, which might have been effected, but then it must have been by making such a division as at Saumure; when the Duke of Rohan had conferred about it with the chiefest friends he had in the Assembly, and among others, with the Count of Orval, his brother-in-Law, who was very powerful among them, they concluded to accept of what the King offered, viz. With in six moneths to give the Assembly satisfaction in the affair of Bearn, and the restitution of Lectoure, one of their cautionary Towns, which if not performed, then should the Assembly convene a­gain within one moneth after, and that at Rochel: This very well pleased the Queen, to whom it was farther manifested, that this new Convocation, being in spight of the Court, to be in the most considerable Town of their party, where none but the most resolute would come, would firmly binde the Assembly to her, to­gether with all the Reformed Churches in the Kingdom; But withal they desired her, that in case any peace was made, they might be satisfied concerning their two demands touching Bearn, and Lectoure, which she promised.

Now, so violent and tyrannical was the government of Luynes, that it had wearied all the world, and even his best friends also, as the Duke of Maine; for whom, a little before, he had pro­cured the Government of Guienne, in exchange for that of the Isle of France; and not satisfied with this, he gives it to the Duke of Monthazon his father-in-law and seizes upon that of Pi­cardy with all the Fortresses there, and in lieu of it gives that of Normandy to the Duke of Longueville. Moreover, he and his two brothers were made Dukes, and Peers of France; and all vacant Offices, Ecclesiastical Benefices, and Pensions were ingrossed by these three brethren, and distributed among their poor kindred that flocked in to them, from the parts about Avignon: So that jealousie, and envie, together with the bad administration of the publique affairs had rendred them so odious, that every one betook himself to the Queens party; Even the Prince of Pied­mont, to whose marriage with Madam the King's sister, he had not long before occasioned; Luynes seeing himself charged on every side, but supported by the Prince, perswades the King to prevent the Queen his Mother; and whiles by divers messengers, he entertains her with hopes of an Accommodation▪ and corrupts, and seduces her followers, he makes fresh levies of souldiers; which she perceiving, does the like, and by the Vicount Sardigny sends a letter to his Majesty to let him know, how she is constrained to provide for the security of her person, to save her self from the fury of her enemies, who abusing his authority, imploy it to ruine her. This, with the advice of the Prince, hastens the King [Page 53] into Normandy, to secure that Province, which was in a tottering condition, and much enclined to the Queen; but his Presence, though accompanied with but a small force, soon settled all: Rouen is secured, Caën yeilded, Alencon also, and all the Nobility sub­mit. This happy and unexpected successe makes him proceed to Mans, and thence straight to Aagiers; Great was the confu­sion this caused in the other party, especially in the Bishop of Lucon, who not suffering the Queen-mother to go where her greatest forces lay, for fear lest she should get out of his tuition, makes her resolve upon a pitiful defence in a town of no considera­tion, and an enemy to her party, that so intangling her in a ne­cessity of submitting to an inglorious Accommodation, he might make his own peace upon better termes; which he did, and from that time he ever held intelligence with the King's party. More­over the Duke of Retz, whether it was, that his Uncle the Cardinal de Retz had gained him before, or whether his ap­prehension of the danger had altered his mind, most certain it is, that seeing the King's forces ready to fall on upon the works of Pont de Cé, of which he had undertaken the defence, upon an ima­ginary discontent that a peace was concluding without his privity, he suddenly quits them, and with all his troops repasses the Loire; Thus was Pont de Cé taken, and the Queen who had thirty thou­sand good men ready in Guienne, Poictoa, Xaintonge, and Angou­mois, was vanquished by five or six thousand only, and reduced to a necessity of accepting such Articles as her enemies pleased to vouchsafe her; according to which, and her own particular order, the Dukes of Maine, d' Espernon, Rohan, and Soubize laid down their Armes.

THE Memoires OF THE DUKE of ROHAN:
The second Book. Containing a Relation of the Warre against those of the Reformed Religion in France.

AND now are we arrived at the sourse of all our evils, and fatal commencement of the Warres against those of the Reformed Religion. The King, having thus happily put a period to this War, goes to Bourdeaux, where he suppresses the authority of the Duke of Maine, and commands the Bearnois that the late Decree be put in execu­tion: But they, neither knowing how to obey him, nor desend themselves, oblige him in person to a voyage into Bearn: And there it was they first began to slight and laugh at the performance of their parol engagements; For the next day after their arrival, and a solemne promise made to the Bearnois to preserve their pri­viledges entire, were they totally devested of them, by the re-uni­on [Page 56] of Beane to France, and changing, contrary to the engage­ment of their faith given the Governour of Navarrins.

Moreover it is to be known, that the Deputy general Favas, who was in pursuit of the government of Lectour in the behalf of his son, the more to induce the Court to yeild to his request, threatned to send to those at Rochel to convene the Assembly ge­neral, according to the power given them by the Assembly at Lou­dun: But seeing, that prevailed not to compasse his designe, and not considering how unseasonable it was, he writes to those of Rochel, from Bourdeaux, to cause the said Convention, advising them also to repair their fortifications; And thus are the publique continually swallowed up by private Interests.

When the King was returned to Paris, the Assembly general meets at Rochel, and Favas still followes the Court, to finde some means to accomplish his desires; His Majesty in the first place, forbids the holding of the said Assembly, next commands their dis­solution, and lastly declares them Traytors: The chief of those of the Religion, conceiving that great prejudice to them would attend their obstinacy, were of opinion that they were best to dis­solve upon certain conditions, of which they had hopes given them from the Court: But the Letters which Favas sent thence, together with the particular discontents of La Force, and Chastil­lon, by reason of the hard usage the one received in his Offices, and a desire the other had to have more, occasioned the continuance of the Assembly; whence the King took a pretence to prosecute his designes to the uttermost, to which, the basenesse, and trea­chery of the Governours of the Cautionary Towns facilitated his accesse.

It is to be observed, that before the Kings departure from Paris, the Dukes of Nevers and Maine were in great discontent retired into Champegne, and the Count of Soissons to Frontevault: The Duke de Luynes, that he might not leave such thorns in his back, was very desirous to reconcile them; and to move them to it, Fa­vas was sent to informe the Dukes, that he was now going to the Assembly with full satisfaction to all their demands, and that it would be prudence in them to comply, before the determination of that affair; the like speech was made to the Count of Soissons by Villarnoul, which wrought all their returns to the Court, and occasioned the reconciliation between the Cardinal de Guise, and the Duke of Nevers.

After the reducing of these Princes, the assurance Villarnoul gave of Saumure, the defection of the Governours of the Cauti­onary Towns in Poictou, the revolt of Pardaillan with a part of Guienne, that of Chastillon in the lower Languedoc, and that by the [Page 57] presence of the Duke de Lesdiguieres they were assured also of Dauphine; the King sets forth, not to a Warre, but a certaine Victory: The Duke de Luynes, lately made Constable of France, goes with him, who so absolutely possessed his Masters favour, that in the progress of this Warre, we shall see, not the intentions of the King, but the Treasons and disloyalties of this Upstart executed, who having by that means crept into a fortune, ruled all with a Soveraign power which he continued even to this death, leaving the King's Council such a Copy, whose imitation would prove the ruine of the Kingdom:

The first testimony of the lubricity, and insincerity of their words, was given at Saumure, which, to the violation of the Faith engaged in his Patent, was taken from Du Plessis Mornay: The same successe also had all the Townes in Poi­ctou.

The Dukes of Rohan, and Soubize his brother, who had oppo­sed the convocation of the Assembly, and earnestly endeavoured their dissolution, when convened, seeing such a rout, resolved not to abandon the party: The Constable, who was their kinf­man, many times sent to try their pulses; but neither his promi­ses, nor threats, made the least impression on their consciences, or fidelity: The last Messenger was the Colonel Arnaud, who brought them Letters from the King, full of perswasions to quit their resolutions, and intermixed with menaces of an inevitable ruine in case they obstinately persevered in them; and withal to let them know that the first siege would be that of Saint John d' Angely: But this journey had a double end; for, in case he pre­vailed not upon the two brothers, he had Orders to conferre with the Major General Auriac, who was then at Saint Julian, a­bout a quarter of a League from Saint John, with four thousand men, to cause him to put in execution a design he was entred on, by means of the intelligence he had with the Captaines, Galloix, and Vaux, and two of the inhabitants, whose names were Ma­sures, and Roquier, who had promised, if he would approach with his Troops, and fall in upon the Suburbs called Mata, and thence make up straight to the Gate, they would be ready there, with their confederates, and keep it open; which Auriac attem­pted the very next day after Arnaud's departure from Saint John: But the presence of the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize, both which were yet in the Town, prevented their success; Soubize was re­solved to abide a Siege; and Rohan three dayes after went to Ro­chelle, from whence he brought and put a thousand men into the Town, with above an hundred Gentlemen, besides two Barques laden with all manner of provisions; and then went back to Gui­enne.

He was desired by the Assembly to reconcile La Force and Pardaillan, to which the former was very much inclined, but the other would not so much as see the Duke of Rohan, by which he clearly perceived his engagement to the Court: La Force de­sired Rohan to take a view of the Communalties of the lower Guienne, that he might the better take order for the security of the division the Assembly had allotted him. From thence he goes to Bergerac, Saint Foy, Clerac, and Tonneins, and thence to Nerac, where the Chamber, or Court of Justice yet was, but must be removed, before they could secure the Castle, where the Court sate, and where the President, a Romanist, lodged; who after many contests, at length withdrew with one Gentleman, whom the Duke of Rohan gave him for his Convoy as far as Mar­mande: But the President made but an unhandsome return of this civility: For when he returned to Tonneins, he gave Vig­noles intelligence of it, who about a League from Tonneins lay in ambush for him, with six or seven score Gentlemen Voluntiers armed at all points, and three other Troops, who let them pass, and then the first Troop followed their Reare, the second mar­ched up to flanck them, and the third, which was the strongest, between the other two, that they might be ready to relieve the o­ther upon all occasions: The Marquess de la Force, who com­manded Rohan's light Horsemen, was left to make good the re­treat, with thirty of La Force his guard, whom he caused to a­light from their Horses, and thirty other Horse, among which there were but ten Cuirasses: The Marquess advertises Ro­han and La Force, that the enemy marched towards him, where­upon they face about, and advance, commanding him to charge them: But the first Troop instead of [...]eceiving the charge, flew off towards Vignoles; when presently half of La Force's Guards gave them a Volley, which killed and hurt about five or six Men and Horses, which made them keep off at a Musquet shot di­stance from them. The second Troop, which flanked them, per­ceiving a little Ditch between them and Rohan, fell off, as the first did: Which Vignoles seeing, advanced not at all with the third, so that without any further interruption, they kept on their way to Tonneins: Among the Troops of Rohan, and La Force, were there but fourteene Cuirasses; and of Gentlemen, and their servants, not above seventy six Horse.

After this, Rohan left La Force who very exactly knew the Countrey of the lower Guienne, and went from Nerac to Mon­tauban, fetching a compass of above five and thirty Leagues, by reason that the Marshal Themines lay in his way, and arrived there on the eighteenth of July, One thousand six hundred and [Page 59] twenty one: At Montauban he received intelligence that Nerac was besieged by the Duke of Maine, who commanded in to him the Marshal, and all the Nobility of Guyenne: La Force at the same time makes an attempt upon Caumont, surprizes the Town, and layes a fiege to the Castle; The Duke of Maine having a strong Army, resolves to releive it, and to continue the Siege of Nerac also, in which he had a fortunate success; and the Duke of Rohan, to divert Themines, lies down before Septfons, a place belonging to himself; and when he had drawn him thither, with above five hundred Voluntiers, he retired to Realville, and the Marshal to Puy-la Roque: whence, after three or four dayes abode there, he drew away againe, and the Duke went to Mon­tauban, to preserve the adjacent Countrey from the ravage and spoile intended by the Marshal, who followed him thither, where there passed between them some light skirmishes, of no great con­sequence.

Whiles the Duke of Rohan remained at Montauban, came news to him, of the rendition of Saint John, and also of Pons, which was sold by Chasteau-neuf, of the revolt of Pardaillan, the loss of Saint Foy, and also of Bergerac, by the treachery of Pardaillan, and Panissault; of the taking of Nerac by the Duke of Maine (who was drawing towards Gascony) which was fol­lowed also with the loss of Lectour, Leyrac, Mas de Verdun, Mau­voisin, and the Isle-Jourdan; all which places the Governours for money yielded up into the hands of the Duke of Maine. Nor did they behave themselves better in the lower Guienne: For Tournon, Mont-Flanquin, Puymirol, and divers other places were delivered by their Governours; and, which is most prodi­gious, Favas, that was then with the Assembly general, at Ro­chelle, commanded his sonne to give up to the King Castel-Ja­loux, and Castetz, two cautionary places, and remote from the King's way about twelve or fifteen Leagues. In short, of all that great Province, no place made any semblance of op­position but Clerac, which was well fortified and manned, there being in it (comprising the Inhabitants) three thousand figh­ting men.

These great losses made the Duke conceive, that seeing there had not been any resistance made in La Force's division, he should suddenly have the Royal Army upon him: Wherefore he takes care to provide for Montauban, marks some of the out­places necessary to be fortified, makes up the Regiment of the Count d' Orval ten Companies, reduces the Inhabitants into thirty, and orders all things fitting for a long Siege, and resolves himself to go to Castres, thence into the lower Languedoc, to [Page 60] raise up their dejected spirits there, and prepare some relief for Montauban.

He departs thence attended on by his own guards, and ac­companied by the Count d' Orval and his, fords over the River Tarn near the Isle of Albigeois, where he met with some opposition; at this pass, was the Captain of his guards wounded; the Captain, with some of the Count d' Orv [...]l's guards, and one of his Mules were killed, and his Gentleman of the Horse, had his Horse hurt: Thus passed they to Castres, whence the Count d' Orval returned to Montauban to expect the Siege.

In the mean while, the Duke of Rohan, that he might lose no time, sends to the Sevenes, and the lower Languedoc, for a supply of four thousand men, and he himself goes as far as Mil­laud, where he understood by the Messengers he had sent thi­ther, that though the people were generally well inclined, yet would the Artifices of the disaffected prevail over their good inten­tions, unless he himself advanced to the Sevenes.

Chastillon, at the same time, sent Briquemaut to the Duke of Rohan, to invite him to a conference, which he accepted of, and to that end advanced as far as far as Saint Hippolyte, where the said Briquemaut returns againe to the Duke from Chastillon, to let him know, that he very much wondred that he should enter into the divison allotted him, and that he suspected it was with a design to prejudice his authority: It was answered him, That certainly he had no good memory, and withal was shewn him the Letter he had written to the Duke, that the only expedient to drive him out of the Sevenes, and stop his passages into the lower Languedoc, was, not to impede the succours he had de­manded, which rather than faile of, he would encounter all difficulties whatsoever: that if he was desirous of an interview, he was very ready to satisfie him; and that if he would in per­son go to the relief of Montauban, as he had offered, he was confident, they two would be able to procure the peace of the whole Kingdom.

In short, after he had strugled with many difficulties, he drew at length four thousand. Foot out of the lower Languedoc, and the Sevines, and, with his own money raised a thousand more, with which he returns againe towards Millaud, from whence he sent Orders to Malanze, Leran, and Saint Rome, who in his absence commanded; the first in Albigeois, and Rouergue; the second in Foix; and the third in Lauraguais, to make ready the forces of the Colloques: He sent to Castres also, and upon his march caused all necessary provisions of meal, and bread, for the nou­rishment [Page 61] of his Souldiers to be made ready.

In the mean time the King having besieged, and by reason of their intestine divisions for want of a Commander in Chief, taken Clerac, and seized upon all the places about Montaubon, ex­cept Saint Antonin, sate down with his Army before Montan­ban on the one and twentieth of August, One thousand six hun­dred and twenty one, (where La Force, with his two sons, were gotten in) and sent the Duke of Angoulesme, with fifteen hun­dred Horse, and foure thousand Foot, to lie upon the River Tarn, and intercept the relief was preparing for Montauban; who made as if he would besiege Lombez, a place, about half a League from Realmont, where there was a Castle that comman­ded the Town, and held alwayes for the King. The Duke of Rohan, receiving intelligence of it from Malauze, and also of the conspiracy in agitation for the delivery of Castres, with all speed sends away Boye, one of his Colonels, with a thousand foot, and a faithful promise to follow him suddenly with the rest of the Army.

When Boyer came to Castres, he found that Malauze had drawn his main Body to Realmont; whither his coming also, with this supply, raised the Duke of Angoulesme from before Lombez; whereupon Malauze, instead of expecting the arrival of the Duke of Rohan, as he had commanded him, but suffering himself to be carried away with the importunity of the multitude, goes with one piece of Canon, which he drew out of Realmont, to besiege a Church that was Garison'd and Fortifi'd, called La-Fauch, which as Boyer was viewing he was slaine, and the Duke of Angoulesme at the instant the Church was surrendred, came and inclosed the rest of the party with his whole Army: After se­veral charges and skirmishes, in which Balauze behaved himself with much Gallantry, and Saint Rome also, in resucing him, (for he charged through the mid'st of the enemy, with fifty Gen­tlemen (many of whom he lost) they capitulated to march off with their Armes, all but their Canon; and, for the space of six months not to beare Armes for the party: Thus were all the for­ces with their Chiefs, and all the Nobility of Albigeois, and Laura­guais, disabled from any service for the remaining part of that, and untill March the year following.

The Duke of Rohan, for his part, loses no time, but advan­ces with his Troops, and while his Rear-guard was marching up to him, draws the Canon out of Millaud, takes Saint George a small, but well inclosed place, and Luzanson a private house lying between Millaud and Saint Afrique, in which there was a Garison that extreamly incommoded his passage; and [Page 62] had continued till he had cleared the whole way, had not the intelligence he received of the defeat at Fauch diverted him; that made him double his pace, so that he came very oppor­tunely to Castres; for Lombez was surrendred, Realmont was in Treaty, and the whole Countrey in a drooping condition: He cheered them up the best he could; yet all he could do, was not sufficient to get thirty Gentlemen, nor two hundred Foot toge­ther in all the upper Languedoc; So that his whole dependance was only on those he brought with him from the Lower Languedoc, and the Sevenes.

Another fear also perplexed him, lest in his absence, Cha­stillon should recall his Troops, to prevent which, he opposed a­gainst him an Assembly of five Provinces, viz. The Lower Lan­guedoc, the Sevenes, Vivaretz, the Upper Languedoc, and Dauphine, who impowered him to detaine the supplyes he already had, and to raise more in case he had occasion for them.

Things being in this condition, the Duke sends to discover what Fordes were passable and not guarded, furnishes himself with good guides, and formes his design to relieve Montauban, at the same time, by the way of Ville-nouvelle, by Saint Anto­nin, and of Ville-Bourbon by Carming. The first of which is five Leagues distant from Montauban, the other ten; so that he inten­ded to put in his greatest relief, consisting all of Foot, on that side; and the lesser, composed of Dragoons, and threescore Reformado's only, on the other.

In the interim of these actions, the Constable Luynes seeing that his Embassies sent to the Duke of Rohan by Saint Angel and Saludie, could not move him, nor the perswasions of the Duke of Sully, and Lesdiguieres those of Montauban, who still replyed, That they would do nothing without the advice and con­sent of their General, resolved at length to give them leave to send their Deputies to him (who were conducted by Desplans) to try if that might produce an accommodation, who came just as the relief was ready to march: And very opportunely too; for the Duke understanding by them, that they wanted nothing but men, and that if they had but a thousand, or twelve hun­dred more, they were confident they should be able to hold out all that Winter, he promised them that, with in eight dayes they should have the recruit they desired, gave them the Word, and Signal, and so they returned.

The Duke of Rohan had five hundred Dragoons, whom with hopes of pillaging the Countrey up to the very Gates of Thoulouse, he had encouraged to advance towards Puylaurens, Cuc, and [Page 63] Carmaing; but when they were all met at their appointed Ren­dezvous, he sent them orders, by one of his Gentlemen to march directly to Montauban, which orders were not observed, either by reason of too much consideration, or apprehension of the danger, though there were less on that, than on the other side.

As for the other relief, commanded by Beausort, one of his Colonels, it was better ordered: He marched from Castres in the evening, with about a thousand or twelve hundred men, comes to Lombez about one of the clock in the morning, where he stays till the next night, then fordes the Tarn at Grave, marches all night, and the next evening about five of the clock comes to Saint Antonin, without any ill rencontre at all: There he stays all the next day, and in the evening sets forward towards Mon­tauban.

But the falseness of the guides he had taken up at Saint Anto­nin, who betrayed him, forced him to return thither againe: Three dayes after they sent him a guide from Montauban, who safely conducted him over the River Veyrou at a Forde, and brought him very well within half a League of the Town; whence, notwithstanding the several parties both of Horse and Foot he perpetually met with between that and the Town, and the many Redoubts and trenches that obstructed his passage, he vanquish­ed all those difficulties, and put seven hundred men, and nine Colours into Montauban: But Beaufort himself came short of it, being taken in this brave action: And it is to be observed, that this relief which consisted all of Foot, marched every day almost eighteen Leagues in an enemies Countrey, forded through two dangerous Rivers, and passed through the mid'st of two Royal Armies that lay in wait to defeat them.

The Duke of Rohan took a double course to prosper the de­sign of this relief; one was by sending Calonges, and Des-Isles with Desplans to consult with those before Montauban, about some way of accommodation; the other was, by marching at the same time that Beaufort did, with forty Colours of Foot, and those few Horse he had, towards Lauraguais: So that when the Duke of Angoulesme was ready to pursue Beaufort with all his Cavalry, he received intelligence that the Duke of Rohan, with the greatest part of his forces, was upon his march for Laura­guais, which put such a Dilemma on him, that he knew not which way to turn; and in the mean time Beaufort passes through the mid'st of his Army, and the Duke of Rohan, the day follow­ing, return'd to Castres, and sent back his Troops to the places whence he had drawn them.

Calonges and Des-Isles were in the King's Quarters, when these supplies got in, and thence returned to Castres with Des­plans, who from the Constable carried the Duke of Rohan an in­vitation to an interview, which he accepted of; and notwith­standing the disswasions of the people of Castres, and almost eve­ry one that was about him, he went to Villemur, and had a conference with him at Reviers, about a League from Montau­ban, where after an exchange of many complements, the Con­stable led him aside into an Alley, and there began with him in this manner; I am much obliged to you that you have reposed such confidence in me; it shall not at all deceive you; you are no less secure here than in Castres: Being entred into your al­lyance, I cannot but be studious of your prosperity; deprive me not of the opportunity, during the favour I enjoy, to augment the splendour of your house. You have relieved Montauban even before your Soveraign's face, a glorious and heroick action; but abuse it not: It is high time for you to mind your own and your friends advantage; the King will never consent to a general peace; see therefore that you make conditions for your friends and servants, and let those of Montauban know that they have but a short reprieve from their ruine; that the Forts and Lines drawn about them, have barred up alwayes to their further re­lief that, unless they now accept of reasonable termes, to wit, either a Cittadel, Garison, or Demolition of all their fortifica­tions, you will utterly desert them: As for Castres, and the rest of the places in your division, propose what you please, and it shall be granted; and for your own particular, a blanck is offer­ed you, insert your own conditions. In vaine may you hope for any assistance from Germany; they have more need to crave, than lend aide; or from England; you know the peaceable humour of that King; or from within our own Kingdome; the Queene Mother has all her support from Spaine, Rome, Savoy, and the Jesuites, who are no friends to the Huguenots; and as for Mon­sieur the Prince, a piece of money swayes him any way; As for Monsieur the Count of Soissons, I have received Letters from him and from his Mother, who is ready to send him in to the King: As for the other Grandees of France, I doubt not but you receive encouragement from them; but 'tis with intention to purchase their own ends at your expence. I have, with much difficulty, hitherto hindred the confiscation of your estate and Govern­ments, I cannot longer oppose it; you must either resolve to fall under a certain and ignominious ruine, or to advance your house to a greater height than it ever yet knew: For if you persist in your obstinacy, the King will rather yield to all those of the Re­ligion [Page 65] besides, that he may have the satisfaction of making an example both of your person and family: But if you will now credit me, you shall break through these dangers with honor, and the favour of your King, and obtain whatever you shall desire, as to your own fortune, whose encrease I so much desire, as that it may be a support to mine.

To which the Duke of Rohan answered, I should be an ene­my to my self, if I desired not my Prince his favour, and your friendship; I shall never refuse either goods or honours from my Master; nor from you the Offices of a good Kinsman: I very well consider the danger I am in, but I beseech you also reflect upon yours; you are mortally and universally hated, for that you alone ingross that which is the object of every ones desire: The ruine of those of the Religion is not so near, but that they may afford leasure enough to the Male-contents to forme their parties, and those that will not openly declare for us, will yet comply in any thing that may tend to your destruction. The beginnings of the Warres against those of the Religion, have commonly been with great disadvantages to them, which yet the restless and vo­latile humour of the French, the discontents of those that ruled not, and strangers have many times repaired: If you can ob­taine a peace for us from the King, before the like mischiefs hap­pen againe, it will be much for his honour and advantage; For having subdued the party without the least check, without any appearance either of divisions within, or relief from without, he will oblige his conquered, and manifest to the world, that 'tis not the Religion he persecutes, but the Professours of it; for their pretended disobedience, will break the neck of all other factions, and, without any prejudice received, will return a feared and honoured Conquerour: This will also redouble your credit with him, and seat you in a condition above the reach of any attempt whatsoever: But if you drive things on to the extremity, and this torrent of prosperity continue not its course, as it is like to finde a bay at Montauban, every one will re-erect his spirits, de­pressed by the business of Pont de Ce, and our later losses here, and infinite perplexities will you be involved in: Consider that you have already gathered all the fruits, that either your pro­mises, or threats can produce, and that what is left of us fight for a Religion we believe to be the true one. As for my part I have already considered of the loss of my estate, and Offices, which if you have retarded out of respect to our alliance, I am obliged to you for it, but am fully resolved, and prepared for all extremities, being solemnly engaged by promise, my conscience also commanding me, not to hearken to any but a gene­ral Peace.

This Conference, because they would not admit of a gene­ral Treaty, proving ineffectual, the Duke of Rohan returned to Castres. The difficulties at the Siege of Montauban dayly en­creasing, the Constable listened to the better dictates of his se­cond thoughts, and renewed the Treaty: But the unsteadiness of his spirit, too fickle to perfect any thing, and the contradictions he met with from those that desired a continuation of the War, intangled him still in delayes, till the King was necessitated to raise the Siege of Montauban, on the eighteenth of November, One thousand six hundred twenty one, where La Force, and the first Consul Dupuy, a man of great authority and courage order­ed all things so exactly for the defence of the Town, and execu­tion of the publick resolutions, that they may worthily claime a great part in the honour of preserving the place.

The Duke of Rohan in the mean while, had sent his troops into the County of Foix upon the sollicitation of Leran, who with them took in some Castles and afterwards laid Siege to Va­reilles, which was relieved, and he, in some disorder, retreated to Pamiers: But seeing the King's Army now at liberty, having quitted the Siege of Montauban, he took care to provide for those places were most in danger; and remanded his Forces from Foix: Saint Florent, one of his Colonels, and a Kinsman of the Con­stables, to make his own conditions, had intended to seize upon Saint Espuel; and in pursuance of that design, and that he might with less difficulty be received into the Town, with his Regiment, counterfeited a Letter from the Duke of Rohan; But the Con­suls, forewarn'd of his purposes, refus'd to let him in; so that the stay he made thereabouts, gave the enemy an opportunity to preapare an Ambascade for him between le Mas and Revel, where in the night time he was totaliy defeated, without any resi­stance made of his side.

Mirambeau the eldest son of Pardaillan, perceiving that his father had compounded for Monheur, and Saint Foy, and that he was to deliver them up to the King as he marched by, en­ters and seizes upon Monheur, the news of which hurried his father thither, who treats him very severely; and thinking he had now entirely secured that place, returns to Saint Foy to make sure of that also: But God would not suffer his treachery to e­scape longer unpunished, raising up Savignac of Nisse, who lay in wait for, and slew him in an Inn in Gensac; whereupon Mi­rambeau in Monhour, and Terbon his brother-in-law in Saint Foy declared for the Party of the Religion: The King, having in­telligence of this alteration, sends speedily to block up Monheur, and marches after in person with the rest of his Army, besieges [Page 67] and takes it upon composition; During this Siege the Constable dyed of sickness; his death wrought a great change in the Court: The Queen-Mother, seeing her selfrid of her deadly enemy, be­gins to cheer up again; The Prince also returns to the Court, in hope now to Paramount it there; every one aims at the vacant place, and all remembrance of the designes contrived in the Con­stables life time was buried with him.

The Cardinal de Retz, and Schomberg, usurp the manage­ment of the State affairs, the Prince came to wait upon the King at Poictiers, who joyned with them, and so potent was their party grown, before they came to Paris, as that the en­deavours of the Queen-Mother, and all the Ancient Ministers of State, were nothing available to incline things to any propen­sity to peace. The Duke of Lesdiguieres, upon some commoti­ons raised in Dauphine by Montbrun, immediately after the Siege of Montauban, got leave to go thither, and takes order for their suppression. The Duke of Rohan also sent back all the Troops he had out of the lower Languedoc, and the Sevenes, whither we must now reflect, to see what this interim produced there.

Chastillon proposes to the Assembly of the five Provinces, the recalling of their Forces, upon pretence to relieve the lower Languedoc, which yet was no way invaded, but they rejected the proposition; so that, this invention taking no effect, as to pre­vent the Duke of Rohan of new supplies; he causes a new levy to be made (at which he was not present himself) which the Assembly gave way to, upon the engagement of the Captains to wait upon him, in case the Duke of Rohan should command them, which yet they refused to do upon his summons, saying, That they owned no General but Chastillon, but trifled away their time in besieging Alzon, a paltry Town of no importance. In short, Chastillon in all things, and places, opposed the au­thority of the Assembly, who, in requital (with the assistance of the people) devested him of all his power, forcing him to quit Montpellier, and retire to Aiguemortes, while they detain­ed his Son, and Mother-in-law. Berticheres who was chosen Lieutenant of the lower Languedoc, adhered to the Assembly, who having tasted the sweetness of their authority, would by no means hear of a General, but continued their government till the latter end of the year, that the people began to find it insup­portable; which they perceiving, elected the Duke of Rohan, who immediately set forward towards the Province, and came to Mont­pellier on New-years-day, 1622.

At his arrival there the Duke found the Provinces of the lower Languedoc, and the Sevenes, engaged in such broyles a­gainst the Assembly of the five Provinces, that he was necessita­ted to spend the whole month of January in endeavours to com­pose them: The Provinces declared that the Assembly had ex­hausted their treasures, of which they were resolved they should render them an account; and that, since there was a General cho­sen, they ought no longer to prolong their Session.

The Assembly on the other side, maintained, That they ought no account to any but to the Assembly general, from whom they derived their authority; that they ought to continue in full power, till a final determination of all affairs; that the Gene­ral ought to have no other Council but themselves; and that to them belonged the sole management of the Finances; that they were Superiour to the particular Provinces, who had nothing to do to supervise their actions, nor had they power of themselves to summon any Conventions; and perswaded the Duke to inter­dict them, as themselves, before his arrival, had intended to have done: But he, seeing the Province of the Sevenes was al­ready convened, and that the lower Languedoc was resolved upon the like course, endeavoured to get the Assemblies allow­ance of it, who instead of assenting to it, because they foresaw it would much impaire the continuation of their Session, resolved on other wayes to prolong it. And first of all they used all possi­ble means to possess themselves of the Castle of Sommiers, back­ed by Berticheres, who pretended a right to it, and addressed themselves to Chastillon for his assistance: But defeated of their purposes by the diligence of the Duke of Rohan, and the Castle secured, they turn their applications to the Duke de Lesdigui­eres, to whom they described the Duke to be an ambitious per­son, desirous to perpetuate the War, that he might continue his power; and declaring also, that they had rather submit to a peace with the King upon any terms, than to his Tyranny; and that if he intermedled further with them, he should be taught to know the limits of his power; But he refusing to hearken to them, and all their other attempts failing of the success they aimed at, they send Deputies to the Sevenes, and the lower Languedoc, where the Duke was, who to prevent a further rupture (which proved a matter of great difficulty, so much were the Provinces of Languedoc incensed against the Assembly) got them to allow of the actions of the Assembly of the five Provinces, to receive their Deputies into their protection; that there should be no peace concluded without provision for their security, but that they should forbear to Act as an Assembly, till the business were [Page 69] further determin'd by the Assembly general, to whom all par­ties were to send their reasons; and that two Deputies of the As­sembly of the five Provinces, should be of the Duke of Rohan's Council.

It is to be observed, that after the Duke's arrival at Mont­pellier, the Assembly that sate there, before his face, disposed absolutely of the Finances, and of all other affaires, made Laws, gave pass ports, and protections; and in all that time referred no­thing to his Council of War but one quarrel to be pieced up there; And when the Duke proposed to them a Convention of the States of all Languedoc to be held at Millaud, to consult about the raising of money, and to provide for the administration of Ju­stice, they stiffely withstood it, because they feared it was to abro­gate their authority.

When they had occasion to send to the Assembly general, the Duke moved that they would send joyntly with him and the other Provinces; but they were still for several Deputations, be­ing resolved to calumniate him, what they could; which they did sufficiently by their Envoy Babat a Minister, who recounted the wonders they did, before the Duke came among them, who had since confounded all by his ambition; that, he pursued his own, at the expence of the publick Interest; that having ruined Foix, and Albigeois, he would do as much to the lower Languedoc, where he began to fix himself, and play Rex; that they were better fall into the hands of the King, and entirely submit to his will, than to be subject to this Duke; and that at length they should be faine to recall Chastillon: That they should beware of coming under the power of Soubize, who desired nothing more than the dissipation of the Assembly general, and had already written to the Duke, that it was composed only of seven or eight pitiful Rascals; and for conclusion, that if they would but im­power them to continue their Session, they would curb the Duke well enough.

After the Convention of these Provincial Assemblies, the Duke of Rohan, considering, on one side, the preparations made by the Duke of Montmorency to invade him, the Levyes of the Duke of Guise in Provence, for the same purpose, Chastillon's plots to undermine him, and the Levyes of the Duke de Lesdigui­eres to invade Vivaretz; And on the other, the miserable con­dition he found the Provinces, he came to serve in, by reason of the many needless armings Chastillon had made there, to the great discouragement of the Souldiery, and ruine of their friends Countrey, whence the Troops never stirred, exhausting of their treasures, and stores of Salt, aggravated by the impossbili­ty [Page 70] of recovering more, by reason of Aiguemortes, which interce­pted their Commerce, he resolved with all speed to hasten his Levies.

Blaccons Lieutenaut of Vivaretz being in the mean while hard beset by the Duke of Lesdiguicrs, sollicites the Duke of Rohan for a supply of five hundred men, and withal, that he would make haste to follow them with his whole forces: Those of Be­darieux and Gignac, likewise demand some relief, for that the Duke of Montmorency had suprized Lunas, and forced Gressissac, both private houses, besieged Fougeres, and threatned also the above named places: The Duke, having no Forces on Foot, and two Armies upon his hands, excluding the Troops of Provence, goes to the Sevenes to try if he could thence pass five hundred men into Vivaretz; but at the straights near Villeneufve de Berg, were they repulsed, which obliged him to send to the Duke of Lesdiguieres, to see if he could by any means retard his advance: But, notwithstanding his Remonstrances, and the dead of Win­ter besides, he continues his march with six thousand Foot, and five hundred Horse; to make a Bridge over the Rhone, between Bay and Pousin, besieges Pousin, and batters it, which abides his assault, Blaccens gets in to it, and behaves himself bravely in the storme; at length, the place being ready to be lost, by the mediation of him, whom the Duke of Rohan had sent to the Duke de Lesdiguieres, was yielded to him, upon condition, that if the peace (they were now in Treaty on) were not concluded, he should again restore it to those of the Religion; that he should forthwith withdraw his Army, and should not make any further at­tempts in Vivaretz, nor Languedoc: And he for his part promised, as soon as possible, to send the President Du Cros to proceed in the Treaty for a Peace.

The Province of Vivarets Assembled at Privas, approved of all, and wrote to the Duke of Rohan, in favour of Blaccons, that he would confer on him the Government of Bay, which he granted.

The Duke, thus freed of the Army of Dauphine, thinks now of Victualling Gignac (which was well near starved, by reason of a Church well fortified, and strongly garison'd by the enemy, di­stant about a Musket shot from the Town, the whole Countrey found about them being enemies also) and advancing with his Army to oppose the progress of the Duke of Montmorency: In or­der to which he came to Montp [...]llier, where he presently fell sick of a Feavor, which lasted him fifteen dayes; In the mean while the President Du Cros, that at the beginning of his Malady came to see him, was cruelly assassinated in the Town, and Berticheres, by his or­der, Victualled Gognac,

Having recovered his health, about the beginning of March, and speeded his Levies, he took the field, before he was well able to endure it, Berticheres made a motion to attach the Tower Charbonniere, that opening that passage they might have Salt by that way, and consequently money to defray part of the charges of the War; Saint Blancart, Governour of Peccaix, seconded the Proposition, so that, that designe was concluded on; Chastillon presently had notice of it, and the Duke of Rohan was informed that Berticheres had faithfully promised him that he would ruine all his troops: Wherefore the Duke resolved to refer this busi­nesse to a farther debate; at which he urged against Berticheres the difficulty of the siege; Saint Blancart thereupon stood up, and said, That unlesse they resolved on it, he would comply with Chastillon, there being otherwise no possibility of their subsistence; so that he was constrained to yeild to it; and in the meane while he makes an attempt on Beaucaire, which succeeding not, by reason of the extream coldnesse, and tempestuousnesse of the night, it was executed in, he returned to the Tower Charbonniere, where he found that instead of advancing, they were driven off, and that they had suffered Chastillon to fortifie several intrench­ments he had made upon a Causey, which at first might have easily been forced, but would now require more than a moneths time to take them. Moreover, they had drawn off those souldi­ers the Duke had lodg'd between Aiguemortes and Charbonniere; all which he well considering, without imparting his resolution to Berticheres, sends to block up the Castle of Montlaur, that hin­dred the intercourse between Montpellier, and the Sevenes, and afterwards went in person to the siege of it, with intent to draw off the Duke of Montmoren [...]y from Bedarieux, who spent so much time in taking of Fougeres that he could not come early enough before Montlaur was taken by assault.

Immediately after this action was over, the Duke de Lesdigui­eres, impowered by the King, invites the Duke of Rohan to a per­sonal Treaty for a Peace, which he assented to, leaving his Army under the command of Berticheres; At Laval, between Barjac, and Saint Esprit was their interview, where they agreed on Articles to be treated on, and the Duke of Rohan, in his own, and the name of the Provinces of his Division, appointed Calongues, Des-Isles, Dupuy of Montauban, Du Cros of Montpellier, and La Boree of Vivaretz for their deputies: Both he, and the Duke de Lesdigui­eres joyntly advertise the Dukes of Boüillon, Sully, Trimoüille, and Soubize, La Fo ce also, and the Assembly general of this Treaty, that they might all send their Deputies to joyn with those of the Provinces; informing them withal, that as concerning Sauviture, [Page 72] and the places of Poictou, they could not conclude any thing, but must remit them to other things to be terminated by the King him­self: We must now leave the Deputies on their journies, to take a view of what passed in the lower Languedoc.

The Duke of Rohan returned to his Army, which he found at Castelnau near Montpellier; The Duke of Montmorency, with Cha­stillon, who was now joyned with him with his Gens d' armes, or no se men compleatly armed, and those of the Duke of Guise, which he had sent for out of Provence, had besieged Courvousée, two leagues distant from Montpellier, which the Duke of Rohan had resolved to relieve, but the place being yeilded the next day, he encamped at Saint John de Vedas, and Salle-neusve, and the Duke of Montmorency at La Veruve, Fabregues, and Saussan; a small river called Mousson, parted them, so that for six dayes toge­ther, both armies played only with their Canon one upon another, after which the Duke of Montmorency retires to Ville-neufve a small Town upon the Lake. The Duke of Rohan the same day drew off to other quarters also, and in his march summoned Saussan in which was left a Garrison, which yeilded the next morn­ing

Berticheres, whether it was that he feared the losse of his goods, or that he desired to ruine the Dukes Army, or that really he had received such intelligence, comes and tells the Duke, that for cer­tain the Duke of Montmorency had passed the Lake, and was marching towards Saint Gilles, an Abbey belonging to Berticheres, and a very convenient place for a Magazine; beseeching him to allow him fifteen hundred foot, and an hundred horse to prevent him, and that according to the intelligence he should receive from him, the rest of the forces might be in a readinesse to follow him; which the Duke granted him; and in the meane while, with two thousand men he had left, goes to besiege Saint Georges: But the Duke of Montmorency hearing that Sain Georges was besieged, and that the Duke of Rohan's army was divided, returns to relieve it, takes up his quarters at Saint John de Vedas, a league from Saint Georges, and by discharging of two piece of Canon, gives them a signal of the succours he had brought, and that very night es­sayed to put in two hundred men, who were briskly repulsed. The next day the Duke of Rohan, leaving three hundred men to conti­nue the siege, made choice of a very advantageous place to fight in, and there stayed all the day; and in the interim, sent with all speed to Berticheres to command him back. That evening came Blacquiere to him, with a Regiment out of the Sevenes, and the next day Malauze, with fourscore horse from the upper Languedoc, and Berticheres stayed not long behinde; so that the Duke being [Page 73] now three thousand foot, and three hundred horse strong, in the very sight of the Duke of Montmorency, raises his batteries, and takes the place, which was yeilded upon composition, the defen­dants lives only saved.

Berticheres was the second time like to have been the occasion of another great fault, by his obstinate affirming that the Duke of Montmorency was retreated to Ville-neusve, and had left five hun­dred men at the Bridge of Veruve, which might be easily cut off: The Duke of Rohan was of a contrary opinion, averring, that if he himself were gone off, he would not have left those foot to the slaughter; the other desirous to evidence what he had affirmed, leads him towards the Bridge, where they found some forlorne par­ties of Musquetires in the ditches, which they soone made them quit: But Rohan perceiving that Berticheres had engaged a Regi­ment too far, commands all his forces, both horse and foot, to ad­vance, and two field-pieces to be drawn after them; Berticheren closely pursues his designe, commands Blacquiere's Regiment to storme the trenches at the Bridge, and another Squadron to se­cond them: But this being but an extempore project, and executed without any precedent deliberation, was also without successe: For Blacquiere, and his Serjeant Major Randon being slaine with Mus­quet shot, the whole party retreated in disorder; and at the same instant the Duke of Montmorency drew all his Army into Battatia, firing two field-pieces on our men; Rohan made him the like re­turn from his side, and all the remaining part of that day was spent in Canonades, and light skirmishes; the river Mousson still separating the Armies, who in the evening drew off to their quar­ters: There were ten or twelve slain on either side; and the Duke of Montmorency the second time retired to Ville-neufve; whence, leaving his Troops in Garrison in the adjacent places he went to Pezenas; which the Duke of Rohan having notice of, takes with him provision for two dayes, and with two Culverins marches that night to Gignac, blocks up the garrison'd Church adjoyning to it, raises his battery in the open day, and after the first Volley took it upon capitulation, and having demolished it, returns to­wards Montpellier; taking his way through the Valley of Montfer­rant, where he took and dismantled Mattelais, and other little pla­ces, and fortified Churches, which yeilded his souldiers good boo­ty, which was the reason that some of the Troops of the Sevenes, finding themselves so near home, forsook him.

Montpellier thus freed from the inconvenience of the enemies Garrisons, made Usez desirous of the like benefit. Thither the Duke of Rohan marches, and upon composition takes Cerniers, a Castle whose situation did indifferently secure it from any battery, [Page 74] and Saint Suffret by assault: But as he thought to have made a farther progresse, he was prevented by a request from the principal inhabitants of Nismes, to come to their Town, to suppresse a Se­dition lately raised there; which with all diligence he did, lea­ving to B [...]rticheres the charge of his Troops, the greatest part of which deserted their colours, so that there were not left a thousand men together, Portes, having gotten together near two thou­sand men besieges Pruzillac, a paltry place, which had before been surrendred to Berticheres, who put in to it the Colonel Beauvois, who having handsomly defended it for two dayes, was at length for­ced, for want of powder, to give it up.

Chastillon at the same time comes before La Tour l' Abbé, near Peccaix, and belonging to Saint Blancart, which, either by the Cowardize or Treachery of Bousauguet who commanded it, was within the space of twice four and twenty hours, surrendred; So that Rohan, who had rallyed some troops for that end, had not lea­sure to relieve it, nor means any longer to keep his forces together, with which he had marced up and down for three moneths together without any pay, and made many sieges, both by reason of the re­fractoriness of his Colonels, and the approaching harvest, a season, in which the poor of the lower Languedoc gaine their whole subsistence.

To return to Nismes, It is to be observed that Brison had been protected and gratified by the Duke of Rohan more than any other, out of hopes he had to win him that way: But he, being of a na­ture on which no obligations could prevail, ingrateful, and pre­sumptuous, had, notwithstanding designed to possesse himself of Nismes, to make his own conditions withal; pretending a most transcendent zeal to their cause, and losing no opportunity to asperse the Duke with calumnies, openly declaring that he had be­trayed Pousin to the Duke de Lesdiguieres, and was the sole cause of the losse of Vivaretz. He conspired also with the Deputies of the Assembly of the five Provinces, who, instead of returning to their own homes, went from town to town irritating the people against the Duke of Rohan; and having now made sure of Brison, and his assistance in Nismes were resolved upon the first opportuni­ty to reassemble there, to oppose the authority of the Duke of Ro­han, who being informed that they were all met at Nismes, with intention to begin again their Assembly, sent one of his Gentle­men to forbid them, and to command the Deputies of Vivaretz to return to their Province, shewing them withal the Deposition of Babat, wherein the Deputies had most basely scandalized him, which Brison stoutly opposed; but found not the people any way inclineable to be led by his passion; So that, the Deputies were [Page 75] forced to be gone, and Brison to wait upon the Duke to excuse this procedure.

Whil'st he was upon his journey, the principal inhabitants of Nismes, making good use of his absence, took occasion to procure a Declaration of the general Council of the Town, that the Go­vernment of Brison was no longer supportable, that Rohan should be requested to approve of this result of their deliberations, and that they might be permitted to live under the sole authority of their own Consuls, till a more urgent necessity should require a Governour, and that then they would accept of any one he should please to place over them; and that he would with all speed re­pair to their town to prevent any disorders might survene: Where­upon he went thither, and there approved of and ratified this act of their Council. At the same time was there held an Assembly at Nismes to take order for the securing of their harvest; to whom Brison addressed his complaints; But the Assembly waved them, and approved of the determination of the Council, and the Dukes confirmation of it: Brison seeing he could not this way arrive at his aimes, goes to Montpellier, and in all places endeavours to stir up the people against the Duke of Rohan, attempting also by means of his Confederates to raise to sedition in Nismes; which the Duke having notice of, sends the Lieutenant of his Guards with a command to arrest him, where ever he should find him, who, after some time spent in the search of him, at length arrests him in Usez.

When Nismes was thus secured, order was taken for the le­yying, and paying of a sufficient number of Souldiers to preserve the Countreys about Montpellier, Nismes, and Usez from the spoyle, and ravage, the Duke of Montmorency had orders from the King to make in those parts, and also to send some supplies to Mon­tauban.

After the holding of this Assembly, it was thought fit that an­other should be convened in the Sevenes for the same cause; and forasmuch as the Duke of Montmorency already began to burne, and waste the places near Montpellier, Rohan to prevent farther mischief, left Laudez his Quartermaster-General with a Brigade of horse: upon the first approaches of Montreal Major-General to the Duke of Montmorency, at a contest about a Farme-house, the Adjutant seeing his son too far engaged, goes with some Mus­quetires to disengage him, whereupon Montreal charges him with above an hundered horse; but Laudez came very opportunely to his rescue, charged, and wounded Montreal with his own hand, made him flie, and pursued him fighting up to his own body, which was in so tottering a condition, that had Saint Andre the [Page 76] King's Lieutenant of Montpeller made use of that opportunity to charge them, he had utterly routed the whole party.

We must now return to the otherside of the Loire, and the De­puties the Duke of Rohan had sent to the Court: Those that were desirous of Peace, endeavoured to keep the King at Paris to ex­pect those Deputies, of whose speedy arrival the Duke de Lesdi­guires had given notice; for that the Chancellour, and the Pre­sident Janin, who were unfit for travel, could not otherwise be present at the Council, nor consequently be able to withstand the violent motions of those who were inclined to a prolongation of the warre, which they perceiving, omitted no inventions to with­draw the King from Paris, and on Palm-Sunday carried him by stealth, out at a back gate of the Louvre, just as if they were run­ning away with him, to keep his Easter at Orleans; whence, with­out staying for the Queen-Mother, he goes down the River as far as Nantes; the fortunate successe of the Duke of Soubize obliged him to take this course; who with two thousand men, in the mid­dest of all the Duke d' Espernon's forces, in Xaintonge, and Angoul­mois, of the Count de Rochefoucaults in Pictou, and Saint Lukes in the Islands had seized and fortified the Isle of Oleron, taken Royan, the Tower of Mournac, Saugeon, and several other places, totally defeated Saint Luke's Regiment, and at noone-day forced La Chaume, and took Les Sables: In short, he struck so great a ter­ror into the Countrey, that had not the King's arrival prevented him, he had absolutely made himself Master of the field: But before the arrival of the Duke of Rohan's Deputies, the condition of affairs in Pictou being much altered by the defeat of Riez, the retaking of Royan, and the Treaty commenced by La Force, they were remitted to the Queen-Mother, who stayed at Nantes, and from thence to the Chancellour at Paris, so that they returned without having effected any thing: The King keeping on his way in Guienne, concludes the Treaty with La Force, who for a Marshal of France his staff, and two hundred thousand crowns gave up Saint Foy, which he had injuriously gotten, and detained from Terbon Pardaillan's son in law: And he, and his sons gave up all the Of­fices, and Governments they enjoyed, without the privity of the Assembly general or the Duke of Rohan.

While this Treaty was in agitation, Tonneins, after a hand­some defence, was surrendred to the Duke d' Elbeuf; and Lu­zignan made a particular composition for Clerac, which he yield­ed also, so that the King came to Saint Antonin without any other opposition: The Inhabitants of Montauban, mindful of the good Offices they had received from those of Saint Antonin, though they feared they should disfurnish themselves of Souldi­ers, [Page 77] sent thither Saint Sebastien a Captain in Beaufort's Regi­ment, with what Souldiers they could spare to command the place: But his being mortally wounded, in an assault made up­on some out-works, which were carried by main force, together with the springing of some Mines, so terrified the Inhabitants, that in great confusion, and so suddenly yielded they the Town, that two hundred men, which they desired from Montauban, con­ducted by Salce, and Rousseliere found the place taken, where they were quietly let in by the enemy who stabbed many of them, before the rest could perceive that the place was lost. But at length discovering their error, they saved themselves the best they could; Salce and Rousseliere were taken, and not released but by the Arti­cles of Peace.

Those of Montauban fearing that from Saint Antonin the next visit would be to them, sollicited the Duke of Rohan for a Governour, and some supplies of men, who sent them Saint An­dre de Montbrun, who with great courage, and equal fortune made way for himself and five Hundred Men into the Town.

The King's approach to the higher Languedoc greatly dis­heartned the whole party, and gave those that were false among them an occasion to renew their intelligences; Every Town in particular, sent the same harsh message to the Duke, that unless he presently repair thither, the whole Countrey will be given up. This cast him into many anxious perplexities; for if he goes not whither he is called, the Countrey is lost; and if he does go, he leaves the lower Lauguedoc to a manifest hazard, where his ab­sence would give Chastillon an opportunity to revive his factions and conspiracies: And on the other side the Duke de Lesdigui­eres presses him with reiterated summons to a second interview: At length he resolves to relieve those that were most necessitated, excuses himself to Lesdiguieres, sends a renfort of Souldiers to Montpellier, to preserve their fields from ravage, by reason that the Duke of Montmorency had received a recruit of five Troops of light Horse, which Zamet brought him from the King's Army, and gives order for the levying of a thousand men for the higher Languedoc; whither as he was going with his own attendants on­ly, Chauve, Minister of the Church of Sommiers, a man of ex­emplary piety, and singular eloquence, comes to him at Saint John de Gardonnenque, and tells him that he knew, and that by very good information, that Chastillon, much displeased with himself for his former actions, was sore troubled to see the im­minent ruine of those of the Religion, whom, but for the af­fronts he had received, he had never deserted; and was confi­dent, [Page 78] that if he were handsomely dealt with, he would return a­gain to the party; to the great advantage of it, both by reason of the consideration of his person, especially in Languedoc, and of the consequence of the Town of Aiguemortes, which was in his hands. This was a device of Chastillon's confederates, who, knowing the reputation of this Minister, had abused him with these hopes, that the Dukes refusal to admit of him, might fur­nish them with more specious pretences on which to ground their detractions and new calumnies against him; which the Duke very well foreseeing, answers, That he was so farre from diver­ting his good intentions, or hindring a work of so general con­cernment, as the regaining such a person to their party, that, on the contrary, in any thing tending to their advantage, he would meet him more than half way: As for the command con­ferred on him, by reason of the other's absenting himself from the Province, as he had never sued for it, so neither was he so fond of it, as not to yield it up, whenever the Province that gave it him should think fit to revoke it; and that he wished with all his heart, that he would seriously and in good earnest, comply with his duty to his own, and the publick Interests; that for his part, he was contented with the command assigned him by the general Assembly at Rochell, in the upper Guienne, and the upper Languedoc, whither he was now going to provide a­gainst the dangers the King's approach gave them cause to feare, leaving the way open for Chastillon to return to those he had be­fore forsaken: However the duty he owed both to his imploy­ment, and conscience, obliged him to say, that there were yet many things in this case to be considered, and that the Province ought maturely to weigh, and every one in particular strictly to examine the importance and consequences of this affair, and principally Chauve himself, both by reason of his profession, and the charge he had now undertaken: But that the infallible tryal of his sincerity would be, whether he would effectively deliver up into the hands of the Province, the Town of Aiguemortes; for that if his pretences to serve the party were real and sincere, he would make no difficulty of it, but if feigned and fallacious, he would never dis-possesse himself of it: Chauve very well approved the motion, believing he would accept of it; and so re­turned.

The Duke foreseeing that in his absence this business would be moved again, gave an especial charge to Dupuy (whom he left his Agent in that Province) to take great heed, that nothing pas­sed there, to the prejudice of the publick or his Interest; to which end he gave him sufficient power, and instructions, ten­ding, [Page 79] chiefly to this, that if this proposition were started in any Assembly whatsoever, and that they should proceed to Treat on it with out the precedent condition, to wit, that the Garison of Aiguemortes should be first restored to the disposal of the Pro­vince, he should oppose it; and if they Treated on those termes, he should see that there were no foul play used, and that nothing were concluded without a previous performance of that con­dition.

This done, he proceeds in his journey to the higher Langue­doc, and arrives there just upon the taking of Saint Antonin, and so opportunely, that he prevented the Rendition of Lombez and Realmont, and revives the drooping and almost decayed spirits of the whole Countrey, in which he lost nothing but Carmaing, Saint Espuel, and Cuc (que) the first by treachery the other two by reason of their weakness were quitted by the inhabitants, and afterwards fired, as the Army marched by.

The King seeing, that the Countrey resumed their courages, advances further, carried on with the hopes the Duke of Mont­morency and Chastillon gave him, and chiefly of Montpellier, sen­ding all his Ammunition down the Rhone to the lower Languedoc; Blaccons revolt, who sold Baye to the King for twenty thousand Crowns, having opened the passage of that River: The Duke of Rohan on the other side gets before them, and enters Montpelli­er at the same time the King got into Beziers; leaving a thou­sand Foot with Malauze to assist him against the Duke of Ven­dosme, whom the King had left with an Army in the higher Lan­guedoc, as he had also the Marshal Themines with other Troops a­bout Montauban.

About the same time came a Gentleman to the Duke of Ro­han, from the Duke of Boüillon, with credential Letters, im­porting also his resentments of the miseries of those of the Religi­on; that he thought a Peace would have been concluded at Saint John; and afterwards at Montauban, that, since that he under­stood that he and the Duke de Lesdiguieres were in Treaty about it, that he advised him to conclude it upon any terms, provided it were general; for that being not able to dispute the field with the King, for want of forraign assistance, their destruction, though it might be retarded, would yet be inevitable, and that the longer the peace was deferred, the more disadvantageous would it be: Nevertheless if it was our ruine, that they had in­alterably decreed, that he would take the field with what forces he could make, to assist the party by a considerable diversion of the enemy; that he was in Treaty with Count Mansfeid, and that he desired three things of the Duke: First, that he would [Page 80] impower him to Treat with Forraigners: Secondly, that he, and the Provinces under his command, should oblige themselves to bear an equal share of the charge of the Levyes: Thirdly, that no Peace should be concluded without him; all which Propositi­ons were assented to, and the Gentleman returned well satisfied, having also received a faithful assurance, that if the peace were not made by the first of September, it should not be concluded with­out him, provided that with in the time limited he were certified of his acceptance of the conditions.

In the absence of the Duke of Rohan from the lower Langue­doc, the Council of that Province, composed at that time of the Deputies of the three Towns of Montpellier, Nismess and Usez, imagining that since Saint Antonin was taken, they might be the next the King would invade, and that though the fortificati­ons of Montpellier were already well advanced, yet was it unpro­vided of men and provisions, conceived it necessary to assemble the whole body of the Province, to order all; and Lunel was the place designed for the Assembly to be kept at; where when all the Deputies with Dupuy were met, and had debated, and resol­ved on what concerned the victualling and securing of Montpelli­er, and other places in case they should be besieged; the adhe­rents of Chastillon, of which there were many present, having made their party, thinking to make their advantage of this op­portunity, produced againe the Articles for his re-establishment: The Deputies of the three Towns, voluntarily, and of themselves opposed this overture, for fear of falling into the hands, and un­der the command of one, they had so highly offended, by de­vesting him of his charge; Protesting to the Assembly, that if they assumed any other debate than what concerned the executing of the Decrees already past, for the relief of Montpellier, and o­ther places, they would utterly desert them, and disavow all their future determinations; Dupuy in obedience to the command he had received, seconded this opposition, which Berticheres (Mo­derator of the Assembly, as being the Duke's Lieutenant Gene­ral) also much countenanced, alledging, that they had no power to Assemble, in the absence, and without the permission of their General; and that though they were now convened, yet was it with his good leave and approbation, and upon the present exi­gency of affairs, of which they had given him an account, and that this necessity being now taken off, they ought to forbear the debate of other particular matters, till his return.

Nevertheless the confederates aforesaid resolutely persisted in their design, renforcing every day their sollicitations, with hopes to procure at length a resumption of the suspended debate, [Page 81] and to carry it by plurality of voices, or at least by this means to take off Lunel, Aimargues, and Mauguio, which adhering to Chastillon, would raise his esteem at Court; of which when the Deputies of the th [...] Towns, and Dupuy had notice, they resol­ved, that at the first mention of it, they would object the interest of the Province of the Sevenes, which being a part of the Gene­rality of the lower Languedoc, it must needs be prejudicial to the common repose of both the Provinces, to determine that af­fair, without the others intervention or privity; wherefore they sent a true account of all that had passed to the Council of that Province then sitting at Anduze, together with their advice con­cerning what they conceived ought to be done by them in the behalf of their Province: The same Deputies also, with Dupuy, went to Berticheres to make sure of him, who faithfully promised to continue immoveable in his opposition. In the succeeding Ses­sions there were still some words thrown out by Chastillon's friends, concerning that subject, but they passed unregarded. In the mean while came the Deputies from the Assembly of the Pro­vince of the Sevenes, who made a large Remonstrance of the injuries their Province would receive from the change they would introduce in their proceedings, that it was an unheard of proce­dure, and that their Province could never suffer, that that of Languedoc, should by it self presume to abrogate the Decrees of the Assembly of the Circle, or five Provinces, in which the De­puties of the Assembly of the Sevenes had a joynt concurrence of Votes with those of the lower Languedoc; and moreover repre­sented to the Assembly their own Interests, and the inconveni­ences would ensue their submitting themselves to the power and conduct of a man, whom they had so highly provoked, by the suspicions they had of him; and in the last place protested, That in case the Assembly should proceed further, in the absence of the Duke of Rohan, or without his consent and approbation, they would absolutely disclaim them.

This opposition of the Deputies of the Council of the Sevenes, seconded by those of the three Towns, grounded upon their own, and the large Commission, and power of Dupuy something cool­ed the heat of those sollicitours, which yet in a short time after they resumed again; and importuned Chauve anew, to prosecute what he had begun; which he would by no means undertake, without imparting it to Dupuy; who after he had remembred him, upon what terms he had parted with the Duke of Rohan at Saint John de Gardonnenque, tells him that he would consider of it, and then give him his answer; and in the mean time had a con­ference about it with the Deputies of the three Towns, who thought [Page 82] it not unfit that Chauve, as of himself, and without any particular Commission, should sound Chastillon's inclinations, to discover whether he would yield to that condition of delivering up Aigue­mortes into the hands of the Province, which was then very op­portunely met, to receive both it, and him, with all assurance he could desire of an Amnesty, and the continuance of their respects to him: It being most apparant, that Chastillon, who they knew desired nothing more than to intrude himself among us, only to render himself more considerable, and his Interests more favou­red at Court, would never disfurnish himself of the only means left him, to procure a performance of the promises made him, and that thus they should also make him desist from his pursuit. When they had given Chauve their answer in these termes, he approved of it; and promised to comport himself according to their directions; and thereupon had a conference with Bansillon the Minister of Aiguemortes, who highly magnified the advanta­ges this re-establishment of Chastillon would produce to their par­ty in general: To whom Chauve replyed, That it would be im­possible to efface the impressions Chastillon's procedures had left in the whole Province, unless he supplied them with the means he had in his hands, by yielding up the Town of Aiguemortes to their disposal; which if he would do, they would evidence the con­tentment they had, to see a person of his quality return into the way from which he had digressed, by their promptness to serve and honour him, as they had formerly done: This discourse pleased not Bansillon at all, who told him, that he conceived that Cha­stillon neither would, nor ought to consent to this Proposition; that he had good reason to take heed of falling into those snares he knew were spread for him; for that having devested him of all power, they might the more easily dispose of him at their pleasure, or at least pay all his former service with the cold re­compence of Oblivion, or neglect; and that therefore he con­ceived the Treaty absolutely broken: Upon which, as Chauve was about to leave him, he told him, that he would give Chastillon an account of all, and him an answer the next day at the same place; which he did, and in effect conformable to his own pre­conceptions; which absolutely cleared the judgement of Chauve, and many others also, when he had given the Assembly a Summary of this conference.

In the mean while the Deputies of the three Towns incessant­ly sollicited Dupuy, to press the Duke of Rohan's return, repre­senting to him the condition of the Province, and the danger it was in of being ruined by the divisions sprung from this late Pro­position, and the delay his absence occasioned in the progress of [Page 83] their affaires: Whereupon Dupuy resolved, to make a journey himself to the Duke of Rohan: But yet he would not leave the Assembly, before he had gotten a promise from Berticheres, that there should be no more mention made of the aforesaid re-esta­blishment for eight dayes, by which time he should return a­gain from Nismes whither he pretended he was going; but in the mean time he goes by great journeys towards the Duke, whom he found at Pont de Camares, who having received from him an account of all passages, quitted all other things to return with all possible speed to the lower Languedoc: When he was come to Mirveis, he sent a Gentleman, with command to travel night and day to the Assembly, to let them know that he was within two days journey of them, and desired them to suspend all further de­bates concerning their affairs, till his arrival.

This unexpected news surprized the Assembly so, that in­stead of continuing their consultations, they went to meet him as farre as Sommieres, where when he had learned of them, what or­der they had taken for the raising of Souldiers, and supplying the Garisons with necessaries, he ratified what they had done, and so dismissed them.

Thus ended this tentative of Chastillon's friends to restore him to a repute with the Party: After which Rohan went to Montpellier, where he turned fifteen or sixteen of his chiefest Con­fidents out of the Town, and ordered all things necessary (as before he had done at Montauban) for a siege, both for ammunition, victu­als, and the fortifications.

It is to be observed, that in the Duke's absence, Americ the first Consul of Montpellier, and Carlincas his Kinsman, took oc­casion upon a defeat of two or three companies, near to Perolles, which Saint André had sent thither, while the enemy was plun­dering the Countrey thereabouts, to accuse him to the people, who had already a jealousie of him; and Berticheres, thoug his father-in-law, instead of assisting him, helped to thrust him out of the Town; not out of any affection to the cause, but of a pe­stilent ambition raigned among them; every one labouring to raise his own advantages upon the ruines of others, and better their conditions by delivering Montpellier to the King: But the seventeen dayes stay the Duke made there, and the discovery he made, by a Messenger of the President Faure, taken neare Nismes, that Berticheres Treated with the King, together with some Colonels, who were ordered for the defence of Montpel­lier; and the execution of Bimart, who was one of them, reduced things to a better posture; But yet these disorders re­tarded the Levyes, so that of foure thousand Souldiers design­ed [Page 84] for the defence of the Town, they got in but fifteen hundred.

It is moreover to be noted, that the Duke of Rohan seeing the great want of Ammunition in the Province of lower Langue­doc, and of time, and means to fortifie all their Garisons, pro­posed the dismantling of them, and the reducing of their forces to Montpellier, Nismes, Usez, and Sommieres; which the people then rejected, but have since, though too late, repented it; for their obstinacy drew upon them the loss both of their Estates and Liberties; for whiles they vainly trifled away their time and la­bour, in fortifying so many places, neither of them was fortified or defended as it ought, but both they, and the reliefs sent to them, which in the other places would have been of great use, were now made wholly unserviceable.

The King seeing that the care and diligence of the Duke of Rohan had defeated all the designes of those that would have deli­vered up Montpellier to him, staid some time at Beziers to ex­pect his Ammunitions, and to recruit his Army: And in the mean time sent the Marshal de Praslin to besiege Bedarieux, which he took, and dismantled; and then sent the Duke of Mont­morency to take in Mauguio, which the inhabitants knew not how to defend, nor yet would they quit it, nor spoyle the wines, as the Duke of Rohan had commanded them.

The Prince of Condé about this time came to the King's Ar­my, and thence went to besiege Lunel and Massillargues, within half a League one of another, and sufficiently stored with all necessaries, there being in Lunel two Colonels besides the Go­vernour, who all joyntly wrote to the Duke of Rohan, that if he would send them in but five hundred Souldiers, they would give a handsome account of the place: The Duke, when he had set­led Calonges in Montpellier, and left Dupuy his Agent there, in his name to provide all things requisite for the defence of the Town, went purposely to prepare the desired supply, and sent them in eight hundred men; but much to their regret; for the next day, though they had not suffered any the least extremity, and that the breach made was not considerable, they yielded themselves with all their Arms, and Baggage. Those of Massil­largues had done the like but a few dayes before: But the Arti­cles of Lunel were violated even before the Prince of Conde's face; for when the Garison marched out, they were beaten, dis­armed, stript, and a great part of them killed or maimed; and in this lamentable posture went they to Nismes and Sommieres, on which they brought so great a terror, that upon the appearance of the enemy before Sommieres, in which there were fifteen hun­dred [Page 85] men, they did even as bad as those of Lunel; and, which is a most shameful thing to be related, the Captains took two thou­sand Crowns, to leave their arms to the enemy.

The Town of Nismes alarmed by these sad accidents, sent Messengers to request a visit from the Duke of Rohan, which he willingly condescended to, but first got together as many Souldi­ers as he could at Anduze, which he left under the Command of Charce his Lieutenant General in the Sevenes, and of the Adju­tant General, who when they saw the Duke of Montmorency re­turn to the Sevenes, drew into a body about a quarter of a League from Anduze, at a Pass not easily accessible, which they fortifi­ed; and had not their care and diligence in furnishing Sauve and Aletz with two valiant and expert Commanders, and a thou­sand, or twelve hundred Souldiers, drawn out of Saint Hyppo­lite, and the places adjacent prevented it, those two Towns had been also lost: So that the good posture they were in, toge­ther with the Duke of Rohan's obstructing of Montmorency's pro­visions, which came a great way off, forced him, after a successe­less voyage, to return again.

In the mean time the Marshal Themines plundred all the Coun­trey about Montauban, burnt all their Countrey houses, and ob­structed their Vintage: But all this hindred not Saint Andre de Montbrun, their Governour, from drawing out his Canon, and battering, and taking many Castles, among others, Renié, and la Bastide, and storing his Town with Corne and Wine for a whole yeare: He had also several Skirmishes with the Gari­son of Montech, and others also, and still came off with honour and advantage.

The Duke of Vendosme also with seven thousand Foot, and five hundred Horse, sate down before Lombez; Malauze comes to Realmont with intention to relieve it; but conceiving it not te­nable against such a force, by reason of the weakness of the Town, and that the Castle which commanded it, was Garison'd by the enemy; contented himself after a long Skirmish, with­drawing off the Souldiers, as well inhabitants, as strangers; and abandons the town, which was burnt. From Lombez the Duke marches to besiege Briteste, a little place, weak of it self, and commanded almost on every side: Thither Malauze sent five hundred men under the Command of Faucon, one of Sesigny's Captains, who behaved himself very gallantly: He endured the Siege a month or more, beat them off in four or five assaults, was twice relieved with fresh supplies of men and powder; by Malauze, whose main body lay at Saint Paul and Miatte, a­bout a League and half from Briteste, and never had more than [Page 86] two thousand Foot, and two hundred Voluntiers on Horse-back, with whom, and by the means of the brave resistance of the be­sieged, he did so well, that the Duke of Vendosme, being com­manded by the King to come, and joyn his Porces with the Army that lay before Montpellier, raised the siege after he had spent two thousand Canon bullets on them, and lost fifteen hun­dred of his men; and those within the town three hun­dred.

The departure of this Army, freed the whole Country from much harm, and greater fears; and invites us to return to the lover Languedoc, where the Duke de Lesdiguieres, having exchanged his Religion for the honour to be made Constable of France, conceiving himself more capable now, than heretofore, to procure a Peace, sollicites the Duke of Rohan to another in­terview, who seeing the hopes he had grounded on the Count Mansfield, who was gone into Holland, had failed him, the more willingly complies with his desires. They met at Saint Pri­vas, where they agreed on all things, except the King's entry into Montpellier; whereupon he obliged the Duke to a journey to the Town, to propose it to them, with all possible assurances, they should desire, to testifie, that they intended not the least in­fringement of their liberties: But this to be done without any cessation of Arms, nor was the Duke allowed more than two dayes stay there, to perfect this negotiation; who, considering the danger Montpellier was in, unless supplied with a new renfort of Souldiers; for that the works being not finished, their defects were to be made up with an addition of more men, sends express Orders to his Adjutant General Sorle, to draw twelve hundred men, out of the two thousand he had with much adoe detained at Anduze, and by the Valley of Montferrant conduct them to Mont­pellier, the night ensuing the evening that he should get in there: But when the Captains and Souldiers knew that they were to be socked up in Montpellier, they all deserted the Adjutant, who came thither accompanied only with fifteen.

Those of Montpellier would by no means admit of the Propo­sition concerning the King's entry into their Town, fearing a sup­pression of their liberties, by reason of the Prince of Conde's ani­mosities against them; which the Duke perceiving, encourages them to stand bravely upon their defence, assuring them that he would provide for their relief, in which, for his part, he omitted nothing that might forward it: But as there is a vast difference between the promises, and payment of money, so instead of ten days, within which time he thought to have sent them aid, not­withstanding his journeys to Nismes, Usez, and the Sevenes, not [Page 87] without manifest hazard of his person, could he not, under five weeks, get four thousand men together; nor those neither with­out engaging himself by promises to most of the Captains; that they were not to be sent to Montpellier, but only that the con­sideration of their numbers might procure them a more advan­tageous Peace: So great was their consternation; and those that were desirous to get thither, were yet deterred by the ap­prehension of the difficulties, which really were very great; the King having then an Army consisting of twenty thousand Foot, and three thousand Horse; for the Constable, and the Duke of Vendosme had now joyned their's with the other Forces; besides, so great a way were they to go, and such difficult pas­ses had they to get through, that it was impossible to approach within three Leagues of the Town, without encountring the King's whole Cavalry; and moreover so great a scarcity was there of Proviisions, that they could not keep the Troops together, more than eight or ten dayes: Those of Montpellier of the other side, could no longer subsist for want of men, by reason of the excessive duty they were on, and therefore every moment sent they most important Letters for relief: To which may be added also a new Summons sent him by the Constable, who had before left the Court in some discontent for that he could not prevaile to obtain a Peace; yet now at his return was he in higher e­steem, both by reason of the Forces he had brought with him, and that the Prince, in his absence, had nothing advanced the Siege: All which the Duke considering, and that he was utterly destitute of hopes of any Forraign assistance, having newly re­ceived a Letter from the King of England pressing him to con­clude a Peace, and seeing no probability of any good to be done at home; every one being weary of the War, and labouring to purchase his own particular safety, with the expence of the pub­lick Interest; that the first Town should fall off, and embrace a particular Treaty, would totally frustrate all endeavours for a ge­neral Peace; that the least cross accident should happen to Mont­pellier, or the relief intended for it, would be irreparable; that the King could not want men, the Duke of Angoulesme being then at Lions with a recruit of eight, or ten thousand; and that, without a miracle, Montpellier could not be preserved: More­over, seeing that there were about the King two powerful par­ties; the one pressing the conclusion of a Peace, the other, the continuation of the War; and that the former could not subsist without a Peace, no more than the other without a War; and that the Chief of the latter, to wit, the Prince of Conde had deserted the Court upon the Composure of former differences, [Page 88] he conceived that those that promoted the Peace being alwayes neare the King, would take care to see it faithfully observed: This made him resolve upon another conference with the Con­stable, at which the Duke of Chevreuse was present; where all was concluded according to the Declarations and Breviates drawn up to that purpose: Which when the King acquainted the Prince of Condé with, he left the Court; and the Duke of Ro­han, with the Deputies of the Sevenes, Nismes, and Usez, went to Montpellier, where they all confirmed the Peace; the substance of the principal Articles of which was, as followeth:

• 1. A Confirmation of the Edict of Nantes, and of all Declarations and Articles Registred in the Parliaments.
• 2. A restoring of both the Religions to the places, where they were formerly exercised.
• 3. A re-establishment of the seats of Justice, Offices of the re­ceipts, and Officers of the Finances to those places and towns where they were before the troubles, except the Cham­ber of the Edict of Guienne, to Nerac.
• 4. Prohibitions to hold all Assemblies concerning civil affairs without leave, but an allowance of those relating to Ecclesia­stical affairs only, as Consistories, Colloques, National, and Provincial Synods.
• 5. A Discharge of all Acts of Hostility according to the tenor of the seventy sixth, and seventy seventh Articles of the Edicts of Nantes.
• 6. A particular Abolition for what happened at Privas before the troubles.
• 7. A cleare Discharge of all Persons liable to any accounts, and Officers, according to the seventy eighth, and seventy ninth Articles of the said Edicts of Nantes; as also of all Judgements, given against those of the Religion, since the Commencement of the present commotions, according to the fifty eighth, fifty ninth, and sixtieth Article of the second Edict.
• 8. A Confirmation of all Judgements, given by Judges of the Re­ligion, Constituted by the Superiours of the Party; both in Civil, and criminal matters.
• 9. A free Discharge of all persons of both Parties, without ran­some.
• 10. A restoring of all persons to their Estates, Liberties, and Pri­viledges, Offices, Honours, and Dignities, notwithstanding any former Gifts or Confiscations.
• [Page 89]11. And more particularly the King doth Declare, Ordaine, and Decree, That for the future there shall be no Garison kept, nor Cittadel built in the Town of Montpellier; but that his Majestie's pleasure is, that the charge of the Town shall be in the hands of the Consuls, and that there be no in­novations there, except the demolishing of the late fortifi­cations.
• 12. That all the fortifications of Rochelle, and Montauban, remain intire; and the moiety of those of the Towns of Nismes, Ca­stres, Usez, and Millaud.

THE Memoires OF THE DUKE of ROHAN:
The third Book. Containing a Relation of the second Warre against those of the Reformed Religion in France.

THe Peace thus concluded, the Prince gone from the Court, and his Faction, by his absence, and the death of the Cardinal de Retz quite de­cayed, every one began to have fair hopes of its continuance, and that, grown wise by our former miscarriages, we should now renounce all future thoughts of Civil broyles, and mind the Protection of the ancient Allyes of the Crown: But the beams of favour now reflecting solely on Puizieux, a man of a hot spirit, and whose whole ingenuity consisted in tricks and fallacies, he be­came more studious of his own, than his Masters geatnesse (a vice incident to all favourites) being carefull to raise himself some props at Rome, and very unwilling to give Spaine the least disgust; [Page 92] So that all Leagues with other forraigne Princes, were made with such respect to those two powers, as if we stood in fear of their displeasure: Nay, and to sooth the Popes Nuncio, who had al­wayes opposed the Peace, at the very beginning of it, would un­dertake to shew him, that it was not made to abate the presecuti­on, but to promote the ruine of those of the Reformed Religion. For immediately after the King's entry into Montpellier, the sense of the general Grant was inverted in most places of it, notwith­standing the several Remonstrances the Duke of Rohan made to oppose it: Nor were the Souldiers drawn away from Montpellier, though promised to be done immediately after the King's depar­ture; then was it put off, till his return from Provence, then, till he came to Avignon, and lastly till he should be at Lions; whence the Duke of Rohan having followed him to all those places, urg­ing their departure very earnestly, and perhaps too boldly, telling the King they should desist from farther razing the fortifications, if he revoked that command, returned with a Letter to Valence, commanding him expresly to do it. Nor did they forbear in their march through Dauphine to seize upon all the places that were in the hands of those of the Religion, though they had served the Kings party, the only recompence they had for fighting against their consciences, nor were any but those only, that were possessed by the Constable, exempt from this violence, which yet he pre­served with much difficulty, for had not the Marshal Crequi en­gaged to deliver them up after his death, they had then gone the same way with the rest. At Lions the Deputies of Rochelle came to wait upon the King, whence they carried back Letters to Arnaud Governour of Fort Lewis, commanding him, that within eight dayes after the Rochellers had performed what the Articles had en­joyned them, as concerning the demolition of their fortifications, he should cause the said Fort to be slighted also: but Arnaud re­ceived another of the same date, but a cleare contrary sence.

When the King went from Lions, towards Paris, the Duke of Rohan returned to Languedoc, really and sincerely to execute, what ever had been promised in the name of those of the Religion, touching that part of their fortifications they ought to slight. Go­ing to Montpellier, he found the Consulate of the Merchants changed, of which he complains to the Court, but in vaine: He delivers the Kings Letter to Valence, who promised to obey it; from thence he goes to Nismes and Usez, whom he presently sets on work; thence to the higher Languedoc, Montauban, Foix, and Roüergue, where at a conference with the Duke of Ventadour, the Count of Carmaine, the President de Caminade, and the Count [Page 93] d' Aquien, Commissioners, as he was for the demolishing the for­tifications, all things were agreed on between them and he for his part instantly set about them, delivering up also all Forts, and Towns that had been taken in the Warre, restoring also the ex­ercise of the Romish Religion to those places, where it had been formerly used.

Notwithstanding all which Valence, who, besides the four thou­sand men were in Montpellier, had four or five Regiments more, and three or four troops of light horse, had designed to surprize, with these the Sevenes under pretence of taking up quarters there, and by means of some correspondencies he had gotten among them; of which when the Duke had notice, from the principal Communalties of the Sevenes, who sent him their complaints of this infringement of the Peace, he wrote to them back again for answer, that he knew it was not the Kings pleasure, and there­fore that they should not receive them; and to Valencé that he should forbear those quarters till his arrival, least otherwise it should prejudice the establishment of the Peace: The Duke of Ventadour, the Count de Carmaine, and the President de Caminade wrote to him to the same effect; which he regarded not, but proceeded in his enterprise, the Towns of Sauve, and Gange re­ceiving his Troops, but all the other places, upon the Duke of Ro­han's Letter refused them: The Duke when he had put things in such a forwardnesse in the higher Languedoc, returns to Montpel­lier according to the agreement between him, and Valencé: But he was no sooner entred the Town, than made a Prisoner, and kept with a severe guard upon him: This caused a great astonish­ment in many, who could not imagine that this should be done without order; but being known at Court, it was not approved of there, for fear lest it should prove too great an obstruction to the raising of the fortifications; so that his liberty was presently ordered.

Whiles the Duke was under this restraint, Valence, contrary to the Articles of the Peace, divides the Consulate of Montpellier between those of the Religion and the Papists, and to effect it, used all manner of violence to the old Consuls, detaining them as prisoners one whole night in his own lodgings.

The Court gave the Duke of Rohan no better satisfaction con­cerning this, than the former breach of the Peace; receiving, in­stead of relief, advice, that to avoid the suspitions the lower Lan­guedoc had of him, he should remove to the higher, to execute the remaining part of his Commission: For Puysieux brother-in-law to Valencé, having cashiered Schomberg, and restored the Chancellour his Father, was now the only powerful man, and by [Page 94] drawing false glosses upon all the actions of Valence improved them all to his advantage, and upon all occasions thwarted the af­fairs of the Duke of Rohan, clouding all his attempts with inju­rious and sinister interpretations and jealousies: And yet upon the answer the Duke sent that he would not leave Nismes, nor the Sevenes till they were rid of those Troops that lay upon them, he quickly received an order to dismisse them: After which he de­parted towards the lower Languedoc, leaving those of Nismes very much unsatisfied of him, out of a perswasion that he was of in­telligence with the Court, and privie to all the violations of the Peace, and that his imprisonment was not real, but a delusory trick to palliate his other practices; The usual recompence per­sons of quality and honour derive from services done to the people.

When he came to Millaud he was informed, that the Duke d' Espernou had written to all the Towns held by those of the Re­ligion in Roüergue, to send him Deputies both of the one, and the other Religion, and that they should not proceed to the Election of their Consuls, (who are usually chosen at Whitsuntide) before they had from him known the King's pleasure therein; this caused a great confusion among them; but by the advice of the Duke of Rohan they proceed, notwithstanding, to their Elections, at the accustomed time, according to the Declaration of Peace, which imports, that in the Consulary Towns, held by those of the Re­ligion, nothing shall be innovated; and then sent their Deputies to the Duke d' Espernon to know what his pleasure was: Avoiding by this means, the injury intended to the Peace, and them in this particular.

This done, he goes to Castres, where he fixes his residence, and thence sends the King a perfect account of the entire execution of his Commission; humbly beseeching him, that, according to his Royal promise, the disgarrisoning of Montpellier, the demolition of the Fort Lewis, and the re-establishing of the Chamber (or Court erected in favour of those of the Reformed Religion) at Castres, might be no longer deferred: But instead of receiving Justice thereupon, contrary to the Act of Pacification, verified in several Parliaments, without any restrictions, or limitations, the engage­ments given underhand and Seale, re-iterated by several Letters, the Answer given to the Propositions of the Deputies general, and his Majesties answers to the Committee of the Parliament of Thoulouze, concerning the Chamber of Castres, the Garrison in Montpellier was continued, and a Cittadel also was erected there, the Fort Lewis was re-fortified, and the Chamber was removed to Bezers: But this was not all; The Tembles, or Churches of those [Page 95] of the Religion were still detained from them; The Parliament of Thoulouze made an Ordinance for dividing the Consulate of Pamiers, between those of the Reformed, and those of the Ro­mish Religion; vexes and torments particular persons, by im­prisoning their persons, and sequestring their estates for things they had, according to the tenor of the Declaration, been in­dempnified for: In short, the pressures of those of the Religion, since the Peace, were far heavier, than those they suffered in the time of the war. The Duke of Rohan continues his sollicitations at Court; and declared his mind so freely, that he was forbid any farther to mention of their affairs, it being the King's pleasure that they thould addresse themselves to the Deputies general, who also promised with all speed possible to send Commissioners into the Provinces to put the Edict in execution, and redresse all their grievances.

In the mean while the Galleys remained still at Bourdeaux, and the Duke of Guise came up with his Ships to the Isle of Re, which gave a great alarm to Rochelle, and made the Duke of Soubize, and the Count de Laval, to retire also to the Town: But this fear was quickly over; the Duke withdrawing thence, and sayling with his Ships towards Marseilles, followed by the Galleys, whose absence had much prejudiced the trade of Provence, imboldning the Pyrates so, that they took and carried away their Merchandi­zes even in sight of Marseilles. But the King discovering much displeasure against those that fled in to Rochelle, the Count de La­val, went to make his Apology at Court: But the Duke of Sou­hize, conceiving that way not honorable for him; and that his abode in Poictou, or Britany, could not be with any security, goes directly to Castres.

But let us now look after the Commissioners sent into Langue­doc to put the Edict in execution; Favier, Counsellor of State, and Saint Privat, were sent on this imployment; but, to make short, did nothing, either in the upper, or the lower Languedoc, tending to the case of those of the Religion; but removing to Pamiers, fell into a division concerning the businesse of the Con­sulate there, and each of them sent his opinion, and reasons to the Court: And thus passed the year one thousand six hundred and twenty three.

In the beginning of the year 1624. La Vieuville, whom the Chancellour had advanced to the Super-intendance of the Finan­ces, not enduring that his Benefactor should be his Competitour in favour, amongst other things complains of the disservices he and Puisieux had done the State, in preferring the interest and ad­vantage of Rome, and Spaine, before that of France; and that [Page 96] the acceptance of the Articles of Peace touching the affair of the Valteline, by the Commander de Sillery Embassadour at Rome, and brother to the Chancellour, was occasioned by instructions, which he (unknown to the King) had received from France, to that purpose: Whereupon the King, as easie to believe the worst, as hard to believe the best of any one, resolves to de­prive them of their Offices, and gives the Seals to Alligre Coun­sellour of State, and Puisieux his Office of Secretary of State, was shared among his other companions; and Vieuville remain­ed the only Favourite; who to improve their disgrace to his fur­ther advantage, caused all the Embassadours to be changed, placing creatures of his own in their rooms; and had like to have framed a Criminal Process against the Chancellour; who in a lit­tle while after dyed of grief and age; and the Keeper of the Seals was promoted to his place.

After this, the new Favourite, changing the former Max­imes, that he might the better discover the male-administrations, of those whose disgrace he had procured, caused the Treaty of the Valteline to be disowned; obtaines another more advantage­ous to the State; sets on foot the Marriage of Madame the King's Sister, with the King of England; renews the Leagues for the recovery of the Valteline, and rescuing it from the oppression of the Germanes: To which end Bethune was sent Embassadour ex­traordinary to Rome; the Marquess de Coeuvres to the Valte­line; Mansfield into Germany with considerable Forces; and the Constable with the Duke of Savoy against the Genoeses. This disposition of affairs gave fair hopes of great matters, which indeed had very prosperous beginnings.

And that there might be a good stock of money to carry on the Warres, an Inquisition into the Financiers was thought very expedient. And because Beaumarchais Vieuville's Father-in-law was the chiefest, and wealthiest among them, they resolved to disgrace him first: And in order to it, first of all they scattered little Pasquils against him; afterwards they dealt more boldly, and plainly with him, and every one, prognosticating, from the violent prosecution of his Father-in-law, that himself was not like to continue long, took liberty to exhibit accusations against him also, so that at length the King commanded him to be arre­sted, and sent to Amboise, where he was kept till he made an e­scape, without ever knowing the cause of his Imprisonment, and is now at his own house in full liberty, and security.

To this Favourite succeeded the Cardinal Richelieu, who owed his first introduction to State employments to his predeces­sour Vieuville. See how faithfully these Favourites serve one an­other: [Page 97] The King recalls Schomberg, and sets at liberty the Mar­shal d' Ornano, who by the instigation of Vieuville had been a little before committed to the Bastille. The support the Cardinal had from the Queen Mother, made his favour more lasting than the others, and encouraged him also to greater insolencies: For the King having a great aversion to the Queen, his Wife, and no less a jealousie of his brother, the Duke of Anjou, con­ceived that the Queen his Mother, would be of great use to him, to moderate, and compose these domestick jars, which more disturb the Palaces of great Princes than all their other affairs besides.

The Cardinal who now grasped the whole power of France, continues the Treaty begun with Forraign Estates, and consum­mates what his Predecessours had left imperfect. But Arnaud, Governour of Fort-Lewis, dying, and Toiras succeeding him in his commands, favoured by the Cardinal, and Schomberg, con­ceives greater hopes of ruining Rochelle, than ever Arnaud did; which were so earnestly embraced, as if they had not at the same time undertaken a War against the King of Spaine; So that the Rochellers, sadly reflecting upon the encrease of their persecuti­ons, and that the preparations to block them up by Sea were near perfected, and that the Forraign Engagements, nothing lessened the contrivances against their Town, apply themselves to the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize for their advice, and assistance; who were perplexed with many doubts about it, by reason of the divisions, and other defections they had experimented in the for­mer Wars, and that they were fearful of displeasing the English and Hollanders, because of the League lately made by them with the King, conceiving that from them they were to expect either their preservation, or their ruine: Nevertheless the ne­cessities of the Rochellers forced them upon a design, which the Duke of Soubize undertook the management of on Blavet, and the ships that were there preparing for the Siege of Rochelle, ho­ping that upon his success in the Attempt, the Allies, and Con­federates of France, would more easily incline the King to an Ac­commodation with the Rochellers, as well for the difficulties would obstruct the pursuit of his intentions against them, by reason of the losse of the Ships destined to that pur­pose, as also for his desires to continue the grand design of the League.

Upon this ground the Duke of Soubize about the latter end of the yeare departs from Castres to go into Poictou, where very se­cretly he makes ready five small Vessels; with which, notwith­standing the perfidiousness of Nouailles to whom he had intrusted [Page 98] the knowledge of the whole design, and who a little before it was ready for execution had discovered it; he resolved either to carry the Fort, or perish in the attempt. In the beginning of the year 1625, he sets saile from the Isle of Ré, with three hundred Souldiers, and an hundred Mariners, which gave the great Ship called the Virgin so brave a charge, that after some resistance, he himself boorded her the third man, with his sword in his hand, took her, and, presently after, all the rest.

After this he lands his Men, with a resolution to attempt the Fort, which upon Noüailles information, was newly re­inforced with fifteen or sixteen piece of Canon, and a stronger Garison.

The Duke of Vendosme who was Governour of the Province, and had made great preparations to block up the Duke of Soubize in the Port of Blavet, presently rallies up two thousand Foot, and two hundred Gentlemen, to force him in the Port, and with an Iron Chaine, and a Cable, as big as a mans thigh, stops the mouth of it, which was very narrow and close adjoyning to the Fort; So that Soubize for three whole weeks was locked up in it, ha­ving nothing to guard his ships, and man the Town of Blavet (whose advenue, which was very straight, he had cut off) with­al, but the above-said number of three hundred Souldiers; and was reduced to such an extremity, that the day before he got off, his great Ship called the Virgin, endured a battery of six pieces of Canon, and received an hundred and fifty shot.

Whiles he lay in this perillous condition, the wind, that had been, till then, still against him, changed, and Soubize seizing the opportunity, sent some Shalloupes mann'd with good reso­lute Souldiers, who, though all the while exposed to the fury of two thousand Musquet shot, with Hatchets cut asunder the chain, and the Cable, that barred the Port; By this means he got out with fifteen or sixteen ships, and lost but only two which were run aground on the Sands: In this Equipage he recovered the Isle of Ré, where having mended his ships, and gotten together a­bout fifteen hundred men, he seizes on the Neighbouring Isle of Oleron, where he staid to compleat his Army.

The Duke of Rohan, at the same time, had also made way for some attempts in Guienne, Languedoc, and Dauphine: But the Secretary Montbrun, as he was travelling with some over­tures from the Duke to his friends, was taken at Ville­neufve neare Avignon, and discovered all, which dashed the greatest part of his designs, and caused the three sons of Montbrun to retire to Anduze.

Presently was the news spread abroad, that Soubize his project was discovered, and broken; and the long time he was shut up in the Port of Blavet, greatly perplexed the Duke of Rohan, who had no other news of him, than what the common rumour brought, but saw him disowned by the Town of Rochelle, by the Deputies general also, and by all the persons of quality, that were of the Religion, at Paris, who more favouring the Court faction, endeavour'd to make all our Towns disclaim him.

During this interval nothing was attempted: The two El­dest of Montbrun's sonnes, discouraged at these unhappy begin­nings, make their peace, renounced the Duke of Rohan, and go into Dauphine, but the youngest named Saint Andre the most re­solute of them, came to Castres, and did what he could, though in vain, to encourage, and retain his Brothers in the Party.

The Chamber at Beziers, and the Presidial of Nismes also, together with all Officers of our Towns, make goodly Acts of dis­avowal, which they sent to the Court: But at length when the news came of Soubize's gallant and fortunate Sally out of the Port of Blavet, and that he was absolute Master of the Sea, they began to think otherwise of him, than as of a Pyrate; and the Baron Pujols was sent from Paris to the Duke of Rohan, the Co­lonel Revillas from the Duke of Savoy, and after them came the Baron of Coupet also from the Constable, to mediate an ac­commodation, to which the Duke was really enclined, and clear­ly did what lay in him to promote it, out of a desire he had to serve the King in his Wars in Italy: But either the perpetual and malicious contrivances at Court, against those of the Religion, or the bad Instruments employed in the Treaty, or the indisposi­tion, at that time, of the late King of England, and late Prince of Orange, to assist us, or all these things together, frustrated the negotiation of the success it might have otherwise had, and pre­vailed so with our Towns to make them disclaime the Duke of Soubize, that the Duke of Rohan, who till then would not stir, was now enforced to take up arms, to shew, that it was no defect of power, (as they imagined) but his zeal to pacifie and compose things, that had hitherto restrained him.

The first day of May he began with an attempt upon Lavaur, but coming an hour too late, he missed of his aimes there: yet was not this expedition wholly successeless, for in it he wrought all the Towns of Lauraguais to declare for him; and at his return to Castres, he found, that according to his order, the Marquess of Malanze was turned out of Realmont, which about a month be­fore he had possessed himself of: And here it is to be observed, [Page 100] that Malauze was sought after, as far as Auvergne, to be made Head of a party against the Duke of Rohan, for that the Town of Rochelle was divided, and the Common Council refused to joyn with Soubize: So that the Deputy of the Town, in all ne­gotiations, spoke only as from the common people, which party, the Magistrates, and Principal Inhabitants, still opposed: So that a very hard task had the Duke of Rohan, to reconcile, and unite the Town of Rochelle, and the other Corporations of the Religion, with Soubize. And forasmuch as it was very requisite he should go to bring about the Sevenes, and the lower Languedoc, where the Deputy of Rochell could not have audience; he convequed an Assembly of the higher Languedoc at Castres, by which being chosen for their General, he raised some Troops, established a Committee of the Assembly to order all affairs in his absence, and then sent Saint Andre de Montbrun with a Commission to be Go­vernour of Montauban, which after much reluctancy, at length de­clared also for the party.

This done, he goes thence with six hundred Foot, fifty Horse, and four score Harquebusiers, and marches towards Mil­laud: When he came to Saint Afrique, he was met by Couvrel­les, sent from the Town of Rochelle, and Soubize, to inform him of the entire conjunction of the whole Town with Soubize, and that, according to the Articles of Agreement, they had sent De­puties to the Court, desiring us to do the like, and to this end La Faye Saint Orse had brought the King's pass-ports for the prin­cipal Corporations; to which his Majesty was at length induced, after he had in vain essayed to divide the Dukes of Rohan and Sou­bize, and bring them to several Treaties.

When the report of this news was also brought to the Coun­cil, and that Couvrelles had represented to them the great divisi­ons of the Rochellers, and the factions sprung up amongst them, how extreamly desirous they were of peace, upon what hard con­ditions they had joyned with Soubize, and the ill order they took for their Navy, they conceived they had now no time to throw away upon tedious debates; and that (though Rohan li­ked not of their procedure in Treating with the Court) since Ro­chelle had begun, it was expedient, to shew that the party was well united, and ready to follow their example. Le Clerc, and No [...]llan, were chosen Deputies for Montauban, Dorson, and Madiane for Castres, Guerin for Millaud, and Forrain, and Milletiere, for Rohan, who desirous to extract what advantage he could out of this opportunity, to insinuate into the Sevenes, makes use of the King's passe-ports to induce them to call an As­sembly at Anduze; which happily succeeded: From Milland [Page 101] he draws his Forces to Saint John de Breüill, which made a flou­rish, as if they intended to stand it out: but when they saw him in a posture ready to storme their Fort, they instantly changed their note, and submitted. Hither came to him three Deputies from Vigan, to disswade him from marching thither, for that he would finde the Gates shut against him; to whom he gave no other answer, but that he would try whether he should or not: The next day he continues his way, and two Leagues from Vi­gan, met another messenger to the same purpose, who also added, in case he advanced, threatnings of effusion of blood: But this prevailing nothing on him, his adversaries courage failed them, and they drew back; So that without any difficulty he got to Vigan; whose gates thus opened, cleared all the way as farre as Anduze.

Whiles he was on his march, the Presidial of Nismes, and al­so the Chamber of Beziers, used all their skill (but to no end) to alienate the affections of the people of the Sevenes from the Duke; who having resolved on a journey to Nismes, was yet loth to put it to a hazard, without first sounding the inclinations of the Inhabitants, for fear lest so publick an affront, as a refusal to his face, should ruine his whole affairs. To this end he sent thither Saint Blancart, who having conference with some of his friends in the Suburbs, their advice was, that the Duke should suspend his coming thither, and that they would send their Depu­ties also to the Court, that the Town of Usez should do the like, with instructions conformable to those of the Sevenes; which ac­cordingly they performed, choosing Castanet for Nismes, and Vigui­er, Goudin, and Boisleau, for Usez.

The Dake of Rohan seeing, that he was excluded out of the Towns of Nismes, Usez, and Alez, convoques an Assembly of the Sevenes, at Anduze, the most numerous he could, where yet there were many wanting, from many of the Churches, espe­cially of the Colloque of Saint Germaine, where the Marquess des Portes mainly opposed him; and after he was declared General of that Country, he sent Caillou, Du Cros, Puyredon, and Pagesy, De­puties to the Court.

While these things were in agitation, the Marshal Theminns brought four thousand Foot, six hundred Horse, and Canon too, and with them a great terrour also upon the Countries of Laura­guais, and Albigeois; whereof the Duke being advertised by re­doubled messages, he sends back the Marquess of Lusignan, with all the Forces he had brought with him, and with all diligence hastens his levies of Souldiers, to be commanded by Freton, [Page 102] Saint Blancart, and Valescure, in which his endeavours met with such unhappy traverses, that instead of four thousand men, which was the number he aimed at, he could muster but half the number: Whiles these men were raising, he sent his Scouts to­wards Sommieres, resolving to attempt it with seven or eight hun­dred common Souldiers, upon this supposition, that Valance would not run the hazard of drawing out of his Garison, to re­lieve it, that it would be a means to make Nismes publickly de­clare for him; and that if he could have but twice four and twen­ty houres time, the whole Countrey would come in to him, and raise him to a condition able to force the Castle: But, as it is a danugeros thing to prefume on the defects of others, instead of relying on a mans own strength, the event clearly deluded his preconceptions; For though he had taken the Town, Nismes would not stirre to his assistance, nor could he get relief from the Sevenes time enough; Valence at the same time sent twelve hun­dred men, out of his Garison, to relieve the Castle, who from three of the Clock in the afternoon, till night, fought with Saint Blancart, who had lodged himself, with three hundred men on­ly, in a place of such advantage, that he could be no way for­ced, nor yet could he hinder the entry of the relief into the Ca­stle, by reason of the extream largness of the advenue: Which the Duke perceiving called off Saint Blancart into the Town; re­solving, that night, to draw off with the whole party also, which he did, carrying with him his wounded men; and among others Freton, who was wounded with a Musquet shot in the knee, of which he afterwards dyed: Saint Blancart in this conflict, when the relief enter'd the Castle, lost three Captaines, and some other Of­ficers.

After this, the Duke thought on nothing more, than hastning his Levies, that he might be in a condition to relieve the higher Languedoc; and taking order that his affairs in the Sevenes might not be prejudiced in his absence; to prevent which, he left a Committee of the Assembly, to direct the management of them; in which he engaged all that had any interest in the places of greatest consequence, and left Chavagnac his Field Marshal to com­mand all the Souldiery in that Countrey.

While these things were in agitation in the Sevenes, and the lower Languedoc, the Marshal Themines drew near to Castres to plunder, and spoyle the Countrey, which put the Council the Duke had left there, in such a confusion and feare, that they durst not give order for any thing at all, but left the whole bur­then upon the Dutchess of Rohan, who contrary to the natural and more tender disposition of her Sex, shewed so much care [Page 103] and resolution in all things, that, every one deriving courage from her example, the Marshal received several losses, being wor­sted in every skirmish before the Town; where Nougarede an old Gentleman of the Country got much honour.

In the mean while the Marquess of Lusignan marches towards Castres, with those Forces the Duke had given him to conduct thither; which when the Marshal had intelligence of, he drew off his Cavalry, and part of his Infantry, to fight him; whom he found lodged in Croisette, a Village two Leagues distant from Castres, where he stormed him, but found him so well Barrica­do'd, and resolute upon his defence, that after a furious assault, he was faine to retire with much loss, many of his men being slain and wounded; which when he had done, the Marquess of Lusig­nan retreated as farre as Brassac, and the next day, taking ano­ther way, marched with all his Troops into Castres, at noon day, Drums beating, and Colours flying, and without any opposition at all. This renfort, with some skirmishes that passed to the Mar­shal's disadvantage, made him, seeing he could do no further mischief to the Town, resolve to retire to Saint Paul, and la Miatte, which were sufficiently manned: Nevertheless Saint Paul made no resistance at all, but was taken in the open day with­out any battery raised, or siege formed, and the Souldiers all march­ed off to La Miatte, which they yielded also upon composition not to bear arms for six months.

This was the only check the Marshal Themines, by chance, gave us in Lauraguais, and Albigeois, where, when he had fi­red the aforesaid places, he made as if he would besiege Real­mont. But understanding that the Duke of Rohan was come hi­ther with above two thousand men, which he brought from the Sevenes, whose passage at Larsac, where he had defigned to fight him, since he could not prevent; he draws off all his horse and foot, marches up almost to Castres, firing all as he went, passes by Brassac, endeavouring to gain a commodious field for his Cavalry, between Cauve and Viane: But Rohan, having intelligence of it, makes such haste, that by incessant marches night and day, he got to Viane, before the other could be on his way thither; from whence he sent the Regiment of Valescure to Cauve, and his own guards, and the Captain Dupuy with his Cara­bines (for that his foot, was so tired they could not march) to Brassac.

The Marshal having now lost all hopes of preventing the Duke, and taking Brassac, goes forward, burning some Villages in his march, and comes with his whole strength, both of Horse, and Foot, in sight of Viane, where having drawn them up in Battai­lia, [Page 104] and seeing that the Suburbs of Viane, called Peiresegade, which lies at the bottome of the Town, and is divided from it, by the height of the hill, was not at all fortified, falls into it with all his Forces, takes, and fires it, and then retires to his Quarters: In this assault there was one Captain slain, another taken, and about five and twenty, or thirty Souldiers killed and wounded, Saint Blan­cart also had a light hurt; and the souldiers that were in the Sub­urbs drew up to the Town.

The Dutchess of Rohan, who by several messengers had sent to informe the Duke, of the Marshal's design to stop his passage, omits nothing on her part, but sends to all the Garisons, appoin­ting them a Rendezvouz at Brassac; which the Duke having no­tice of, he departs that evening, and comes to Brassac; where finding fifteen hundred Foot, and two hundred Horse; he re­solves, the next night to send out to discover the posture of the Marshal's Army, which lay at Esperance between Brassac and Viane, and according to the intelligence he should receive to fall into his Quarters the night following, with all his Troops, Saint Blancart by the way of Viane, and he himself by the way of Brassac. The discovery made, and the Scouts returning with in­telligeace that the Army lay there in great disorder, and in a place of great disadvantage to the Horse, the design to beat it up was concluded on; but the very day preceding the night it was to be put in execution, either upon notice given him, or that he foresaw their intentions, or that provisions failed him, he quit­ted those Quarters, and taking his way towards Vabres, went to lodge at La Bichenie: The Duke also rallyes all his Forces, and marches towards Croisette, and Roque-courbe, from whence he sent five or six hundred men into Realmont, and then divides all his Troops about Castres, to observe the posture of the enemy, who when they had refreshed themselves for some dayes about Lau­tree, march towards Lavaure, and there prepare for a march into Foix: The Duke goes into Lauraguais, puts some men in­to Britefle, sends the Regiment of Freton to Revel and Sourire, and that of Montiuz and Valescure, to Realmont, and as soon as he saw that the enemy steered his course towards Foix, he com­manded Saint Blancart, who was then at Puylaurens, thither with five hundred chosen men.

Lusignan, in the mean time, being informed that the Regi­ment of Lescure had taken up their Quarters in the Suburbs of Teillet, goes instantly to beat them up; breaks through their Barricado's, kills, and wounds about an hundred, takes one Cap­taine, and forces the rest to flie for shelter to the Fort; but had he come by night, as he did by day, not one of them had esca­ped; [Page 105] for there was a very great dissention between Grandval, who commanded the Fort, and Lescure, to whom he would ne­ver have opened his Gates in the night time; which was the reason that induced Lusignan to this attempt, in which Vales­cure, and Montluz, two Colonels were wounded, but not much: After this the Duke of Rohan returns to Castres, whither he com­mands Lusignan also; rallies what Forces he had, takes with him one piece of Canon, and Marches towards Realmont, both to give the enemy a diversion, and to enrich his Army with Booty.

The first place he fell upon was Sicurac, which endured five and twenty, or thirty Canon shot, but after he had fired the Town through the breach, they were faine to yield. This march of his made the whole Countrey look about them; The Duke of Ventadour got together about two hundred Horse, and two thou­sand Foot; The Marshal Themines also hies thither, with all his Horse, and the Regiment of Normandy; but both the one, and the other, being informed that the place was taken, went back again; and the Duke continues his course towards the Mountain of Albigeois and Roüergue, leaving his great Canon at Realmont, and taking with him only two little field pieces, that carried a Ball about the bigness of an Orange.

Those of Foix in the interim, sent him word, that the In­habitants of Caumont, Lesbordes, Samarac, and Camerade, were resolved to fire their own Towns, and retire, the former to Ma­zeres, the other to Azil, for that they wanted Souldiers to de­fend them; whereupon the Duke commanded thither Boissiere Lieutenant Colonel of Freton's Regiment, with five hundred men, many of whom, when they heard they were to go to Foix, forsook their colours, so that he went with two hundred and forty only, who got very well thither.

And here we may not pass over in silence a generous action of seven Souldiers of Foix, who resolved, in a poor mudd walled house called Chambonnet near Carlat, to wait for the Marshal Themines, and his whole Army, whom they there kept at a Bay two whole dayes; and after they had, in several assaults, killed forty of his men, seeing their ammunition was spent, and that he was drawing down his Canon upon them; they consulted how they might, the night following save themselves; to which end one of them goes out to discover how they might avoid the Courts of Guard; which when he had done, and as he was returning, the Centinel of the House espying him, and taking him for one of the Enemy, shot at him, and broke one of his Thighs [...]; Ne­vertheless he gave them an account of his discovery, shews them [Page 106] the way, and very instantly urged them to make their escape: But his brother, who was also the man had wounded him, almost mad with grief, resolves not to leave him, and tells him, that since he had been the unhappy instrument of his disaster, he would be his companion in what fortune soever befell him: The good nature of one of their Couzin Germains, moved him also to a resolution of embracing their destiny; so the other four at the request of these, and under favour of the night, after mutual embraces, save themselves; whiles these three, placing themselves at the door, charge their Musquets, with patience expect the light, and then most valiantly receive their enemies, of whom when they had slain a good number, themselves dyed freemen: The names of these poor Souldiers deserve a place in History, their acti­on being not inferiour to the most memorable, Antiquity can boast of.

But to return to the Duke of Rohan, who marches along the frontires of Roüergue, and takes a small Fort called Roque Ciziere, in which he left a Garrison; the same day he goes to another, called La Bastide, which he found deserted, as also some others which were pillaged, and burnt: From thence he goes to la Cauve, and in his way thence towards Augle, takes and burns some other small Forts; and then makes a descent into the Valley of Maza­vel, where he goes on firing more Forts, up as far as Saint Pons: And as he would have continued this progresse, in revenge of those places the Marshal of Themines had fired in his absence; he received intelligence from Bretigny, Governour of Foix, and from Saint Blancart also; that the Marshal Themines, and the Count de Carmain, Governour of the Province, had invested Azil, with an Army of seven thousand foot, six hundred horse, and nine peece of Canon; that there were in it seven hundred souldiers, people of the same Countrey, which they had sent thither, under the command of Captain Carboust, and Cap­tain Vallette, both experienced old souldiers; that they could not conjecture, what would be the issue of the Siege, for that the place was but weak, and the assaults most furious; but yet was it of that consequence, that if it should miscarry with those which were in it, there would not be men enough left to maintain the lower Foix, both by reason of the weaknesse of Pamiers, which would require a very strong Garrison, and also of the Intelligences the enemy had in it: But if he could spare them a recruit but of five hundred Men, they would engage themselves to keep the lower Foix, and would do their uttermost to preserve Azil.

This Intelligence diverted the Dukes resolutions, who thereup­on sent Lusignan with a party of Horse and Foot, to convoy the Canon back to Castres, and thence to Realmont, while he him­self with the residue of his Troops, with much difficulty convoys six hundred Souldiers to Revel, where when they had staid a day to receive some pay, he sent them under the command of Vales­cure into Foix, who conducted them very well thither; and then re­turns to Castres.

The difference between the Baron de Leran, and Bretigny, much perplexed the Duke of Rohan, for that, being Master of Carlat (which was but a League distant from Azil) it was in his power either to promote, or impede its relief▪ Whereupon he sent Villemore and Orose, Captains of his guards, to make him sensible of the injury he did himself, in obstructing the relief of Azil, by denying his Souldiers admittance into Carlat, com­manding them withal, in case the Baron would not submit to rea­son, publickly to declare to the people of Carlat the cause of their coming; which they so handsomely ordered, that he was com­pelled by the Inhabitants to yield to the Duke's commands, and to receive whatever Souldiers should at any time be sent thither, by his order, which proved no small advantage to Azil, and indeed was the only cause of its preservation.

While things were thus carried on in Foix, the Duke d' E­spernon, with fifteen hundred Horse, and four thousand Foot, advances towards Montauban to ravage the Countrey therea­bouts; and Soubize, to divert him, makes a descent into Medoc, where he took some Garisons: But understanding that Manti, with the Admiral of Zealand, named Haultin, were coming a­gainst him with forty good Ships of War, he re-imbarques, meets, fights, and defeats them, sinks five of their Ships, of which the Vice-Admiral of Zealand was one, and kills them more than fifteen hun­dred men.

The news of this defeat, made them change their note at Court, and whereas before they protracted the Treaty in expe­ctation of the issue of this fight, now, seeing it proved to their disadvantage, they conclude it, and send Deputies to the Rochel­lers, to receive their acceptance of it: Forain also goes to them from the Duke of Rohan, who, considering the indisposi­tion of the King of England, and the Prince of Orange, towards their party, advised them to accept of that peace their Naval Victory had purchased them; to which Soubize adds his perswasi­ons also; but the Rochellers very indiscreet in that particular, and according to the humour of people as insolent in prosperity, as deje­cted in adversity, refufe to hearken to it, without a present demoliti­on of the Fort.

In the mean time the King takes great care speedily to repair his Fleet, and obtains of the King of England seven great Ships; So that the delayes the Rochellers used in concluding the Treaty of peace, gave their enemies opportunity to corrupt some of the Captains of Soubize his Fleet, and among others, his Vice-Ad­miral Fozan: At the same time also the Duke of Montmorency resolves upon a descent into the Isle of Ré, and to make an at­tempt upon Soubize his Fleet which lay in the Foss de l' Oye, a Road joyning to the Town of Saint Martin de Ré; a rash and senseless enterprize in appearance, which yet treachery made feisible, and purchased it a far different Character.

Then came Milletiere and Madiane to Rochelle, with the Articles of peace agreed on at Fontainbleau; but it was then, when Soubize, who was in the Isle of Ré, sent them word thence, that the King's Navy were sayling towards him, and that with all speed they should transport themselves into the Island: At first, every one laughed at this Message, nay, and there were some in Rochelle offered to lay great wagers, that the English and Dutch Ships were called off again: Soubize reiterates his Messages, and for the last time summons them to his assistance: There were then in Rochelle eight hundred Gentlemen well moun­ted, and about eight or nine hundred Souldiers, of Soubize his Army, with the greatest part of his Officers, and among others the Counts of Laval, and Loudriere: Upon this last summons they all make ready to imbarque; but the Maior diverted them, perswading them that they were better to expect the morning, than run the hazard of the evening Tide, and so made them lose all opportunity to transport themselves; For the next morning appeared thirteen of the King's great Ships in the Road, which prevented their passage over: Soubize seeing himself thus aban­doned, lands all his Foot, which were not above fifteen hun­dred Souldiers, leaving only an hundred in his great ship called the Virgin; commands his Admiral Guiton, and his Vice-Ad­miral Fozan, not to stirre out of the Road, where they were se­cure, but there to wait his further Orders; And then divides his Army into three Squadrons, to secure those three places, which he conceived most obnoxious to danger, and where he thought it most probable that the enemies should attempt to land: But, notwithstanding all his care, he could not dispatch time enough, before Toiras had landed three thousand Foot, and fifteen hundred Horse; whereupon he resolved to draw all his men into a body, and fight him the next day, which accordingly he did: At the first onset he routed the Avantguard, and slew about three or fourescore of the most forward of them; but being relieved by [Page 109] the main body, Bellesbat who commanded Soubize his left wing, instead of seconding him, faced about, and plunged himself, and the whole party he commanded in the Marshes: This much en­couraged the Enemy, who now oppressed Soubize on all sides, whose Major General Verger-Malague, and some of his Captains being slain, the rest fled in such confusion, that all the Art and Industry of Soubize could not rally them againe; who yet that day, even by the confession of his enemies, justly purchased the reputation of a worthy Commander, and valiant Souldier. The remainder of his Troops he drew off to Saint Martin de Ré, where he made account to transport them againe to his ships, and once more try his Fortune in a battaile at Sea; But there he found, so great a terrour had possessed Guiton, that contrary to his express command, he had turned out the hundred Souldiers left in the Virgin; and that Fozan, with some Captains, com­bined in the same conspiracy with him, to intimidate the rest, had runne aground the best ships, and that the rest, seeing themselves thus betrayed, and abandoned, shifted every one, the best he could, for himself; all but the Virgin, in which there were only five Men left, but very resolute, who seeing four of the King's ships making towards them, resolved to stand it out against all extremities: The enemy came up to, grappled with, and boorded them, whereupon the Master, whose name was Du­rand, leaps into the powder with a lighted match, and blows up all the five Ships together, in which there perished seven hundred thir­ty six men.

In this accident there was one thing very remarkable, con­cerning one Chaligny a Gentleman of Poictou, and his son, who were two of the five left in the Ship: The father, before the fi­ring of the Magazine, being wounded, and disabled to save him­self by swimming, commanded his son to shift for himself, who, with much reluctancy, at length obeyed him; but the good man, being in the protection of God, was as well preserved, as his Sonne; for being, by the force of the Powder, carried up into the aire, he chanced to fall into a Shalloup of the enemies, without receiving any further harm at all, and was afterwards ran­somed.

Soubize finding his affairs in so broken a condition, leaves his Major General Le Parc d' Archiat, at Saint Martin d' Ré, and in a Shalloup gets to the Isle of Oleron, where he provides the best he could for the preservation of it, leaving five hundred men in the Fort, which he furnished with all necessaries, and then, with seven of his ships, which had retired thither, sets out to sea, and out of the reliques of his late Fleet, gets together [Page 110] two and twenty Ships, with which he passes into England to re­pair them: After which, Le Parc d' Archiat, made an honou­rable composition, which was also well observed, and drew off all his men from the Isle of Ré to Rochelle; But those that Soubize left in the Isle of Oleron yielded themselves basely, a thing not unusual after such routs; for it is not given to all men, to have their courages of an equal temper in adversity and pro­sperity.

This fatal accident did not so much deject the spirits of the Rochellers, as it elevated theirs at Court: For when Milletiere and Madiane, returned thither with the Rochellers acceptance of the peace, they would not endure any further mention of it; but to break them by a division, continued their old project of gran­ting a peace to the higher and lower Languedoc, excluding Rochelle, and Soubize.

While these things thus passed in those parts, they of Azil held out beyond the expectation of their friends, and the hopes of their enemies that besieged them, who from a battery of Nine Guns sent them in three thousand shot, and made three indif­ferent large breaches: But the enemy preparing to give them a general, and furious storme, Bretigny, and Saint Blancart, who had several times relieved them, resolved, now at this last push, to Rack all their powers for them; The conduct of this relief was undertaken by Saint Blancart, who got in to them with three hundred and fifty men, forcing, in his passage, a Court of guard which kept a Bridge, with the loss of one man only: The arri­val of this renfort silenced all disputes, among the besieged, con­cerning the command, which before had occasioned some divi­sions among them; but all acknowledging Saint Blancart for their Superiour, he so well ordered all things, that after the ex­pence of eighteen hundred Canon Bullets within the space ofthree dayes, the Marshal Themines gave them a fierce assault with his whole Army, commanding also five hundred Reformado's to dismount, and serve on Foot (there being many hundreds of people that had placed themselves on the tops of Mountains to behold this fight:) Thrice was he repulsed with the loss of above five hun­dred men; Within the Town the Capta in Vallette who comman­ded at one of the breaches was there slaine, some other Officers too, the besieged lost, together with seventy or eighty Souldiers slaine and wounded: But above all, either friends or enemies, Saint Blancart there Renowned himself, both by his prudent care and vigilance in repairing the breaches, and his Valour in defen­ding them, being alwayes ready in person at all places of grea­test danger; in this action surpassing even himself: The Mar­shal [Page 111] now thinks of nothing, but how to draw off his Canon; in which having spent two whole nights, and many of his Souldiers, which he lost in the Attempt; he drew off with the Fragments of his shattered Army towards Laura­guais.

This small success, together with the effect the Duke of Ro­han's continual sollicitations wrought upon the people of Nismes, inducing them to declare for his party, relevated his affairs out of the drooping condition they were in: Some of our Deputies then attending the Court, were about the same time sent to the Communalties to procure their acceptance of the peace, exclu­ding Rochelle and Soubize, which many ill affected zealously promoted, especially at Castres, where they had resolved to as­sent to it upon those terms: But Rohan arriving there in the nick, and urging their former resolutions to the contrary, made them alter their intentions, and then summoned an Assembly at Millaud, where the Towns of Nismes and Usez appeared by their Deputies, and all unanimously made an Act of acceptance joyntly with Soubize and Rochelle, and sent it to the Court.

The Duke who several times had experience of their endea­vours to surprize him, under pretence of Treating, stops not there, but goes to Nismes, and Usez, where he was received with great acclamations of joy; and having confirmed his Party in Aletz, by sending thither Marmeyrac, a Gentleman of the Country, to head them upon occasion, departs one night from Nismes, and comes the next morning, by ten of the Clock, to Aletz, where at first he found the gates shut against him, but the industry and diligence of Marmeyrac quickly got them open, so that now there was not any place in the lower Languedoc, or the Sevenes, that had not declared for the Duke of Rohan, who convened an Assembly of the Sevenes at Aletz, both to assure himself of the Town, and also of the Colloque of Saint Germain, which the continual sollicitations of the Marquess de Portes, and his faction, had still kept off from him; which obliged the Duke, in the interim, before the meeting of the Assembly, to make a step thither, where his presence was of great use, both to procure Deputations for the Assembly, and the conjunction of that Colloque with the others.

At the beginning of the Assembly the Dutchess of Rohan di­spatched Villette to the Duke her Husband, with intelligence, that, upon the assurance many Communalties had given of their readiness to accept of the offered peace, with the exclusion of Sou­bize and Rochelle, the Court party stiffely persisted in their for­mer resolutions, not to admit of any other, and had sent back [Page 112] some of their Deputies to declare their adherence to them; and that therefore it would concern him, to have a vigilant eye up­on their actions: This message had a sinister sence put upon it, and the Marquess of Montbrun, who a few dayes before came to Nismes, on purpose to insinuate himself into the affections of the people, found no better expedient to effect it, than vailing his intentions with a pretence of much zeal to the Religion, by for­ging scandalous accusations against the Duke of Rohan; which when he had notice of, and that Du Cros was come with the final determination of the Court, not to grant any peace, but with the exclusion of Soubize, and Rochelle; he took him with him to Nismes, convoqued a second Assembly at Millaud, and caused Nismes, and Usez, in his presence, to nominate their Deputies, and resolve in no wise to desert Soubize and Rochelle; from thence he went to Vigan, where he also caused De­puties, of the like resolution with those of Nismes and Usez, to be chosen for all the Sevenes; and with them all proceed together to Millaud.

While he was thus busied about these affairs, he receives news of Soubize from the Dutchess of Rohan, which assured him, that, within three months, the King of England would send a ve­ry considerable relief to Rochelle, desired him to make it known to the party, and to order things so, that they desert him not. When he came to Millaud, he understood that the higher Lan­guedoc had determined to accept of the peace, excluding Sou­bize and Rochelle, and that, had not the presence of Lusignan, and Saint Blancart, as they returned from Foix with the Troops of the Sevenes, very opportunely prevented it, they had sent their acceptance to the Court. This intelligence made the Duke carry on the Assembly as far as Castres, where when he had as­sembled the Province anew, and received the resolutions of those of Montauban, to the same effect with those of the Provinces of the lower Languedoc, and the Sevenes, he inforced the former to retract their late intentions, and to confirm the other Act of ac­ceptance, including Soubize and Rochelle: But to effect this, he was obliged to some extremities, securing the persons of seven or eight of the most eminent Citizens, whom he dispersed into divers places of Roüergue, and the Mountain of Albigeois; pub­lishing a Declaration of what he had done, as also the reasons moving him thereunto, together with the Decrees of the said Provinces, which were approved by all, except the Town of Puy­laurens, who resolved to stand upon their Guards, and not to open their gates to any of either side; protesting notwithstanding that they wodul not dis-unite from the party of the Religion.

When their affairs were brought to this pass, the Deputies were sent back to the Court with the final determination of the Provinces not to abandon Rochelle: And a few dayes after their departure, arrives a Messenger from Vivaretz, who informed the Duke, that Brison had taken Pousin, and some other places of less importance, and that all Vivaretz had declared for his party, and did beseech him to advow the taking of those places, and to confer the Government of Pousin, and the whole Province upon Brison, which he condescended to.

Not long after, the Dutchess of Rohan sends the Viscount Roussille to her husband, with intelligence that the Earle of Hol­land, and Sir — Carleton extraordinary Ambassadors from Eng­land, and Arsens extraordinary Ambassadour from the States of Holland, were arrived at Court to sollicite the King to sign the League, and make us accept the peace, which she believed was al­ready well advanced, and that she desired, if possible, to hear from him before it were concluded; to which the Duke replied by the same Messenger, that above all things the Deputies should en­deavour to preserve from demolition, the fortifications of Pousin; that that being obtained, and the Rochellers contented, the Com­munalties where he was, would rest very well satisfied: But be­fides the aforesaid Ambassadours, those of Venice and Savoy, in short, all that were interessed in the League, out of the hopes the King would sign it, interposed their mediation also, to hasten the peace; which the Ambassadours of England by a Deed in wri­ting, in the name of the King their Master, became sureties for the entire observation of; against which the Deputies of the Communalties having nothing to object, the peace was accepted by them, on the fifth day of February, eight dayes before the re­turn of the Viscount Roussille.

Whil'st the Duke was busied in composing the disorders of the higher Languedoc, he was alarmed by reiterated messages, that Nismes, unless his sudden presence prevented it, would be certain­ly lost, by reason of the divisions happened since the arrival of the Marquess of Montbrun, and his brothers there; who with ma­ny Artifices, and great diligence, had gained the populacy to them, and by seditions, and tumults, attempted to ingross the power of the whole Country, which the most eminent of the Nobility with­stood, so that the matter was now come to a formal quarrel, which, but by his presence, was not appeasable; this made him hasten his instructions for the higher Languedoc, where he leaves the Marquess of Lusignan, with four companies of strangers, whom he quartered in Castres, and then posts away to Nismes; where at his arrival, he met first of all with the Baron D' Aubais, whom [Page 114] the lower Languedoc had deputed to the Court; and afterwards with Montmartin, the Deputy General, who brought with them their late acceptation of the peace, and were now come to have it ratified; Mainald the other Deputy General, Du Candal, and Mailleray were sent to Rochelle, Novillan to Montauban, and Madiane to the higher Lauguedoc. Montmartin sollicites the Duke of Rohan to ratifie it at Nism [...]s, but by no means would he consent to any particular ratification; but summoned an Assembly to be held at Nismes, in which the Act of acceptance should with a general consent be confirmed on the fifteenth day of March fol­lowing; deferring it to a longer term, that he might in the mean time hear from Rochelle; in which interval, Montmartin goes to the higher Languedoc, to hasten the Deputies of that Province to appear at the time appointed: But he found that at Montauban the peace was already accepted, and that, without expecting the Convocation, all the higher Languedoc had also ratified it, send­ing their Deputies thither for forme only. The day before the Session of the Assembly, the Duke was informed of the Rochellers confirmation of it also; so that there remaining only the lower Languedoc, and the Sevenes to do the like, the Assembly drew up a general Act of Ratification, which Montmartin and Aubais with the Deputies of the Duke of Rohau carried to the Court; in this act only the Province of Vivaretz was not comprized, for that then they must surrender Pousin, which our Deputies could not preserve, because they had no Commission to make any demands concerning it before the peace was concluded; which was occasio­ned by the negligence of the Deputy of that Province, that gave not notice of the taking of Pousin, till many dayes after the de­parture of our Deputies towards the Court.

Thus was our peace concluded, where we must observe, that the King, out of fear of the supplies the Duke of Soubize had pro­cured in England, taking occasion from, and making very good use of the discontents of the English Ambassadours, sent Botru into England, who so well managed all, that during his Embassy, which lasted but three weeks, he obtained a Renvoy of new Am­bassadours thence to France, to conclude all things concerning the League, upon condition they should enforce the Deputies of the Religion to accept a peace, upon very ambiguous and uncer­tain terms, especially for the Town of Rochelle; who, in regard they had no hopes of any considerable relief from any other part, were of necessity obliged to be submissive to them. The Deputies al­so of the particular Provinces, to shew that they of the Religion prefer'd the advancement of the grand design of the League be­fore their own security, and to remove out of the way the pretence [Page 115] of the Kings Counsel for not signing it, while the War continued in France, did the like: But so resolute was the demeanour of the Dutchess of Rohan towards the English Ambassadours, and the Cardinal Richelieu, to whom he protested, that unless the Ambas­sadours interposed in it, nothing should be concluded, that, after she had neatly broken a particular Treaty of the Rochellers, carried on by their Deputies, whom the Court-party, and the Duke of Trimoüille had drawn over to them, she prevailed so far upon them all, that contrary to their former resolutions, they interessed them­selves in it. This shelter'd her from the malice of her enemies, and the Deputies from any blame that might be imputed to them from their Communalties, and also obliged the King of England, seeing that the peace was accepted by his advice, to see it faithful­ly observed, to which his Ambassadours more strictly bound them­selves by a formal Deed, signed, and sealed with their own Arms; so that the conclusion of our peace was an universal joy both to the Court, and all Forraign Ambassadours there residing; but fifteen dayes after, when contrary to the solemn protestations made to them concerning that particular, they saw also this Treaty in the Valtoline was concluded by the King, & the King of Spain, they were clouded with no less discontent; especially the English, when they perceived, that betrayed by delusory hopes, they had been made the instruments, to oblige us to accept a peace so much to our disad­vantage.

Thus did the French, in cousening the English, and all the Princes interessed in the League, deceive themselves also, having done nothing in this affair, that tended not to the advantage of Spain, the oppression of the Allies of the Crown, and the great detriment of France it self.

This is an account of the passaget in the second War; in the progress of which Rohan and Soubize were opposed by all the Grandees, even of the same Religion, whom either too much en­vy, or too little zeal, had aliened from their party, by all the Offi­cers of the Crown, and a great part of the most eminent of every Town, whom their own covetousness, and the allurements of the Courts had blinded; as for the Forraign Nations, the English and Hollanders contributed their Ships, and Germany it self stood in need of the assistance of others; so that it is no great wonder if a better peace could not be obtained; but yet was it much more ad­vantageous than the former, forasmuch as those of the Religion preserv'd their Fortifications, and got the King of Englands caution for the performance of it; God will assist us more powerfully, when our entire conversion to him makes us more capable of his favour.

THE Memoires OF THE DUKE of ROHAN:
The fourth Book. Containing a Relation of the third Warre against those of the Reformed Religion in France.

AFter the peace was thus accepted by those of the Religion, Brison only, who had not taken up Armes till towards the end of the War, seeing that a submission to the Trea­ty of peace would divest him of Pousin, a place upon the Rhone, which, nor long before, he had surprized, refused to be comprised in it; encouraged thereunto by the Constable Lesdiguieres, who after his return out of Piedmont, being in some disfavour at Court, and unwilling to return thither, but catching at all employments hat might colour his abode in his own Government, made very good use of this occasion, which he so well improved, that having spun out this affair for some months, he at length procured Bri­son [Page 118] an ample Pardon, and forty thousand Crowns, in lieu of that place, which was yielded up by him, and afterwards, by the King's command demolished.

This was the last Act of the Constable's life, which sud­denly after the termination of this affaire, crowned with many dayes and much honour, he yielded up at Valence: He was a Gentleman of Dauphine, who by his valour, prudence, and good fortune, having passed through all the lesser charges of the War, had advanced himself to the highest: And had not so constant and uninterrupted a course of prosperity, effaced, towards his latter end, all shame in him, so that, he dishonoured God, by his domestick, and infamous debauches, sullying his house with Adulteries, and publique Incests, he might have justly been parallel'd with the greatest Persons, Antiquity can boast of!

From this amicable composure of our Intestine differences, sprung faire hopes of the duration of our peace; which in a short time also withered: For it was contrary to the intention of those that aimed to raise their fortunes upon the ruines of those of the Religion: Amongst whom the Marquess de Portes was the most violent, who favoured by the command he had in the lower Lan­guedoc, left no way uneffayed to force the people upon some de­sperate course; of whom he exacted contributions as in the time of the War, though by the Articles of the Treaty, they were en­tirely abolished: But this being not enough to provoke a people harrassed with so many and yet smarting mischiefs, and cove­tous to enjoy the small repose they possessed, they fly to another invention; which was to ground a jealousie upon the Duke of Rohan's stay at Nismes, which many, out of a desire, either to conserve an old ill paid pension, or to purchase a new one, fo­mented with frequent calumnies, no week passing without some new accusations exhibited against him, upon which, and the fa­cility they proposed to themselves of expelling him the Town, they resolve to make him the object of their malice, fur­thering their design by an occasion taken from the annual electi­ons of the Consuls for Nismes, who are alwayes chosen at the later end of the year.

Whiles they so industriously labour his ruine here, they are nothing less remiss to procure it in the other Provinces, and in­deed over all France, striking at him by the National Synod, ap­pointed to be held at Castres as a place most animated against the Duke, for that during the last War, he had used some severity towards some persons of quality in that Town, that would have betrayed him. Thither was sent Commissioner Galand, a per­son [Page 119] without contradiction of very great abilities, but withal mercenary, and void of shame, or conscience, with instructions to disapprove the Duke of Rohan's late engagement in armes, to disadvow his forraign Intelligences, and, if possible, to get him ex­communicated.

The Duke seeing two such strong batteries raised against him, and threatning more danger than the War it self, prepares to defend himself against their violence: And forasmuch as that of the Synod seemed to be of greatest consequence, he endeavoured to secure himself against it, by procuring, in several Provinces of France, the election of such persons for Deputies, as were men of an inflexible integrity both to the Party and himself too, and draws up a Declaration, remonstrating chiefly the just cause he had to use such proceedings against those he had formerly expel­led the Town; for that he know that to be the principal crime they had to charge him with in the Synod: And forasmuch as the Town at a publick consultation had ordered their gates to be kept shut against him, and that he feared the like usage from them to any should come from him, he very privately made choice of an­other Minister, in the room of his own Chaplaine, to commu­nicate his Declaration to his friends, and to entreat Beaufort the Deputy of the Sevenes to deliver his Letter, which he had writ­ten to the Synod, with charge, that neither the one, nor the o­ther should discover themselves, but when it might be very sea­sonable; which happened well to him; for they were prepared to refuse admittance to any that should come from him; nay, Mar­met his Chaplain, though he protested, that he came only a­bout an affair of particular concernment to himself, could not be permitted any longer stay there, than of four and twenty houres.

On the fifteenth of September, in the year 1626, Chauve was chosen Moderator, Bouterouë Assistant, Blondel Pastor, and Petit an Advocate of Nismes Scribe. And now Galand bestirres himself against the Duke of Rohan, whose enemies in Castres are no less diligent in preparing the venome they had to poure out a­gainst the Duke in the Synod, animated also thereunto by the Commissioner Galland: But all their designes vanished into air: For the Deputies being before sufficiently satisfied with the rea­sons moving the Duke to proceed against them in that manner, made them not dare to present any bill against him to the Synod; who nevertheless could not conceale the displeasure they had con­ceived against those of Castres, with whom they disclaimed a­ny future reconciliation; so that they were now become a gene­ral abomination; and the only way to ruine any affaire, was to [Page 120] offer it to Galand's recommendation; And thus ended the Synod, where, by the Kings command, (that he might abridge those of the Religion, of their liberty of convening any Generall As­semblies) were chosen the Deputies General: The six nomina­ted, were the Count de la Suze, the Marquess of Galerande, and Beaufort for the Nobility: and for the Commonalty, Texier, Dupuy Deputy of Burgogne, and Bazin; of whom Galerande and Bazin were accepted.

This affair thus terminated, we must now reflect upon the Con­sulate of Nismes. The Presidial, or Soveraign Court of the Town, according to the humour of many Corporations, not brooking the Duke of Rohan so near them, joyned with a Party composed of many persons of Note in the Town, whom the Court faction had invited, and drawn over to them: But finding themselves yet too weak, by ordinary and Legal wayes, to pro­mote to the Consulate Creatures of their own, they resolve to engage the Royal power in it, and to effect it by wayes unusual and destructive to their own Priviledges, and contrary to the Articles of the late Peace. To which end, they send privately to the Court, where they obtain a Commission directed to the Chamber of Edict in Languedoc, to go and order the said E­lection of the Consuls; and that nothing might be omitted to forward their design, the Duke of Montmorency is sent from the Court into his government, who passes by Nismes, where he en­courages those of his Faction, which he strengthens with the neighbouring Nobility; and those he could not win to his Party, he forces to absent themselves from the Town, till the business was determined: And for as much as the Marquess of Montbrun to­wards the latter end of the former war, had gained some credit among the Populacy, he was also sent for out of Dauphine; for they hoped not only to make such Consuls as should be at their devotion, but upon the Dukes opposing himself against it, to hale him out of the Town, dead or alive: These things thus pre­pared, the day of Election comes; the Marquess of Montbrun also arrives at the time appointed, so do Monsac, DeSuc, and the two Deans (or Seniour Counsellors) of the Chamber, who were nominated Commissioners for this affair; who declaring their charge to the Deputies of the Town, receive for answer, their fixed resolutions, to maintain the Priviledges of the Town: The Common-Council of which meet according to their accustomed manner, in the morning to proceed to the said Election; whither the Commissioners go also; but finding the doors of the Town­house shut, are fain to return to their lodgings, where they de­clare against the proceedings of the Common-Council, and send [Page 121] about the Town to assemble the Inhabitants for a new Election; some refuse to stir, others go, but without any commotion in the Town were obliged to retire again.

Now the new Consuls enter not into their Office, till a moneth after the Election; so that the Court had leasure to send a Pro­hibition to those that were elected, forbidding them to meddle with the Office, and enjoyning the old ones to continue the ex­ercise of it, till it were otherwise ordered: notwithstanding which, when the first day of the year was come, the Baron d' Aubais, Genoyer, Saguter, and Pelissiere, according to the usual manner took possession of the Consulate; where we shall leave them in repose, to look further back upon the affairs, and view their propensity to new imbroylments.

When the Peace was concluded in the year 1626, it was con­ceived, that the Cardinal Richelieu's thoughts would be wholly bent on forraign affairs, of which he gave some semblant evi­dence: The Prince of Piedmont, then at Court, was nominated Leiutenant-General of the Kings Armies for forraign Parts; then hoped the Venetian Ambassadours, they should now see Italy freed from the Spanish oppression; the English that they would re­cover the Palatinate; and preparations were making (but in words only) for all these designs; of the reality of which if any one seemed to doubt, it was confirmed by a thousand oaths: But when a few dayes after the signing of the Peace with those of the Religion, unknown to all the Confederates, was signed also that of France with Spain; then brake forth complaints and discon­tents of the one side, seconded by excuses of the other, every one casting the blame upon another, especially upon. Fargis Am­bassadour in Spain, whose Wife, as if he had exceeded the limits of his Commission, was made to sue out his Pardon: but these pretences could not salve the distempers of the Confederates in­teressed in the League, which some of them afterwards upon oc­casions did discover.

The cause of this sudden and unexpected peace, was attributed to a desire the Cardinal had to live some time in quiet, that he might the better secure his own greatness. and that nothing might obstruct his pursuit of the design against Rochelle, where he intended to do great matters; or else to some Jealousie he had conceived of a new party, to be raised in France, under the com­mand of the Duke Anjou to ruin him; but whether it was the one, or the other, or both together, certainly the occasion of these ensuing factions, gave him fair colours for any design.

The Queen Mother desirous to marry the Duke of Anjou, would needs consummate the Match, designed by Henry the great, be­tween [Page 122] him and the Princess of Montpensier, which he was abso­lutely averse from; whether this aversion proceeded from him­self, or the suggestions of others, not desirous this treaty should take effect; which encouraged many to joyn with him. But the Prince of Condé, and his Wife, whom this marriage threat­ned with a remove so many degrees from the Crown, as the Duke of Anjou should have Sons; The Count of Soissons for the same reason, and out of hopes he had to marry that Princess himself: The Duke of Longueville out of Jealousie of the Duke of Guise, whose Sons were all Brothers to the Princess Montpensier; The Duke of Vendosme upon the same consideration, to which his Brother the Grand Prior of France added his discontents against the Cardinal, who had deluded him with promises of the Admi­ralty of France, which afterwards under another title, he reserved to himself; many of the chief Nobility out of particular Inte­rests; The Queen who feared the others fertility would preju­dice her in the King her Husbands and his Subjects affections; and the King himself induced by several apprehensions, opposed it: See here very considerable obstacles to be removed.

Nevertheless the Queen-Mother, who with good reason grounded on her own, & the Interest of the State, was very zealous for this mar­riage, despairs not, but begins her design with an attempt to gain the Colonel d' Ornano, who was formerly the Duke of Anjou's Go­vernour, and continuing still his Favourite had a great influence on him: To this end, she gets him made Marshal of France; but what ever promises these honours extracted from him, they quickly vanished, as soon as he saw the Princess of Conde, whose beauty and attractions raised in him so much love and vanity, as totally blinded him; so that being caressed and sued to of all hands, he lost himself in that Maze of felicity: the better to car­ry on his own designs with her, he pretends to the Queen-Mother that his services are wholly bent to effect her desires, and pro­cure her contentment, when really the charms of that Princess had drawn him entirely to her devotion; 'Twas she also governed the Queen, proposing to her the disrespect and contempt the Children of the Duke of Anjou would bring upon her; and that if he must needs be married, her Sister the Infanta of Spain would be a more convenient match for him: But all this while this Prin­cess hoped that having clearly gained the Marshall d' Ornano to her assistance, she should in the depth of this Labyrinth find out a way to conduct her own Daughter to the Dukes bed. See here three Parties in one, the Queens, and those of the two Princes of the blood, all which, though for different reasons, and which they concealed the one from the other, conspire to impede this [Page 123] match; and so strenuously prosecute their desires, that the Duke of Anjou absolutely refused her.

At the same time there hapned a private quarrel which was se­conded by many other: Chalais Master of the Wardrobe, having in a Duel slain Pontgibault, younger Brother to Ludde, Nephew to the Marshall Schomberg, and a Favourite of the Duke d' Elbeuf, caused a great division in the Court; the Duke of Anjou, the Count of Soissons, and the Grand Prior, undertook the protecti­on of Chalais; the Duke d' Elbeuf, with the whole family of Guise (except the Duke de Chevreuse) favoured the House of Ludde; this division lasted all the Winter; at length, Chalais ha­ving obtained his Pardon, and sensible of his obligations to his Protectors, gave himself up wholly to their Interests, and was of great use to continue the Duke of Anjou in his obstinacy against the marriage with the Princess Montpensier; The Prin­cess of Condé also diffident of the sufficiency of her power with the Queen, perswades her to engage the Dutchess of Chevreuse in her party, for that her own Interests lying with the other Par­ty, she feared lest otherwise she should divert her: But her will was easily brought to a compliance with the Queens; the sense of her great obligations to her, making her promise to sacrifice all her Interests to her commands and service. On the other side, the Queen-Mother passionately prosecutes the accomplishment of the Marriage; especially the Cardinal, hoping that to effect it against so many and great oppositions, would enlarge the Princess of Mone­pensiers obligations to him so, that his power would suffer no di­minution, though misfortune should alien even the Kings affecti­ons from him; the Princess of Conti, Sister to the Duke of Guise, and all their family bestir themselves mainly to the same end, and by the means of the Duke d' Elbeuf, who was a Friend of Baradas the Kings Favourite, or else of some other persons who engaged themselves in it, the King was also brought about to rel­lish the match too, out of an apprehension infused to him, that those three factions pretended only a rupture of the marriage, whereas, in effect, their design had no other aim but his ruin, to clap him into a Monastery, and marry the Duke of Anjou to the Queen: This impression made him now as zealously promote, as he had formerly opposed the marriage; earnestly importuning his Brother, and sending to the Marshall d' Ornano, who returned large protestations of obedience to his commands, but that as yet he could not discover any disposition in the Duke for it: Thus for some time was the Marshall caressed and sued to by all parties.

In the mean while, the opposite Party strengthen themselves [Page 122] [...] [Page 123] [...] [Page 124] with a supply of all such as hated the Cardinal, especially the Duke of Savoy, who, (desirous to repay him the ill office he had lately received by the conclusion of the peace with Spain, which exposed him to the inconvenience of a war with Genoa, and the ha­tred of Spain,) by his Ambassador the Abbot of Scaglia, proposes to the Duke a match with the Princess of Mantua, and by the same in­strument instigates him to rid himself of the Cardinal, as the only obstacle to all his designs; but the Prince of Condé, and the Prin­cess his Wife, seeing the King varied in his, had not courage enough to persevere in their resolutions for the Party they had un­dertaken, though they were most engaged to prevent the marri­age; but indeed so great a propensity was there in their natures to treachery and falshood, that without any difficulty was this change wrought in them: the one hoping to gain a piece of Land, called Dun-le-roy, and was a part of the Crown-land, to joyn it to his Dutchy of Chasteau-Roux; and the other, that she might not totally leave the Court the seat of her pleasures and contents; and the better to act their parts, the Prince comes to Valery, not far from Fountainebleau where the King then was, whither the Princess also makes several journies; after which the Marquess of Brezé Brother-in-law to the Cardinal, makes three voyages thither also, but very privately; to whom, as 'tis said he gave an account of all passages, adding to, rather then curtailing the relation of any particular, according to the custom of all Informers, that by such means hope to inhance the price of their discoveries.

About this time were intercepted several packets going into Spain and Savoy, which occasioned the securing of the Marshal d' Ornano, who was yet somewhat more ceremoniously dealt withall then or­dinary, in regard of his Master: The King one afternoon commands the Regiment of his guards into the Basse Court at Fountainebleau, under pretence of exercising before the Queens; but instead of returning to their quarters, they possesse themselves of all the advenues of the village, which was also surrounded by the Caval­ry: And the King going very early to bed, not long after rose again, sent for he Queen-Mother, the Cardinal, the Chancel­lour, and the Marshall Schomberg, with whom he resolved upon the Arrest, which was executed by the Captain of the Guard.

Whereupon the King sent instantly for the Duke of Anjou, to let him know that the reason of his imprisonment was, because he knew that instead of serving him according to his duty, the Marshall infused bad Counsels into him: at which the Duke was highly displeased, and to as little purpose discovered he his dis­gust [Page 125] both in words and gestures, flies in great fury at the Cardi­nal, demanding of him, if he had been privy to this design, who told him that indeed he was not ignorant of it; the same demand makes he to the Chancellour, who for not daring to advow the action, lost his seals a few dayes after, and was banished the Court.

After this Arrest of the Marshal, was Chaudebonne, a Domestick of the Duke of Anjou's sent to the Bastille, as also Modene and Deagent for their old faults: The Count of Chasteau-Roux, and the Chevalier de Jars were also banished the Court, suspected for having so great a dependance on the Queen and the Count of Soissons. The Marshal was sent to the Bois de Vincennes, and all the places under his Command seized on, the most considerable of which was Pont Saint Esprit in Languedoc: The report of this, made all the Princes and Great ones then at Paris, and in no little amazement at this accident, return to their attendance on the Court.

The Duke of Anjou persists still in his discontent, and is more averse then ever from the marriage with the Princess of Mont­pensier; But being yet destitute of any safe retreat, he is inforced to cover his displeasure with a dissembled accommodation with the Cardinal; and hunting often about Fountainebleau, resolves one day to go towards Fleury, and dine with him, who then lay there; but having notice of the Dukes intentions, and that it was only to do him a discourtesie, departs thence before day, comes to Fountainebleau just as the Duke was rising, and gave him his shirt.

This little discovery rouses the Cardinal, and makes him very sollicitous to provide against the storms impending over him: he understands moreover, that all contrivances against his life come from Savoy, that the Abbot of Scaglia is the chief Instrument imployed in it; that the Queen made use of the Dutchess of Chevreuse to animate the Duke of Anjou against him, that the Grand Prior irritated by a private discontent, is also one of the most violent against him, whereupon he resolves to ruine those he could, and to rid himself of the rest the best he could.

This was the ground of his irreconcilable hatred against Savoy, of the ruin of the Grand Prior, Chalais, & the Dutch. of Chevreuse. To compass his design, and prepare his way to the Government of Britany, which he coveted for its good Ports, and the conveni­encies to execute this new office of Superintendent of the Sea, which he had introduced to succeed the suppressed Admiralty of France, he suggests to the King, that the Duke of Vendosme grew too potent in Britany, considering his pretensions to that [Page 126] Dutchy in the right of his Wife, and the alliance he was entring into with the Duke of Retz, who was very powerful in that Province, and Master of two of the most considerable places in it; that the Grand Prior, the most zealous of all the Duke of An­jou's Partisans, was his brother; that it might be one day a most secure retreat for the Duke, and of dangerous consequence to all France, considering its situation both so near to England and Spain; and that it would be expedient to provide timely pre­ventions against such fatal accidents. This made the King re­solve upon a journey thither, and to ptepare himself for it, the whole Court removed back to Paris; but the better to conceal the intended voyage, they pretended only a journey to Blois; Never­theless the Grand Prior rightly conceiving that a further progress was designed, offers to seek out his Brother, and bring him to justifie himself against all accusations whatever; provided he might be secured by an engagement of their words, not to be inju­red in his person: this he imparts to the Cardinal, who approves of his design, fils him with hopes, but no promise of security, ad­vising him to procure that of the King, which he does, and so de­parts for Britany.

The Duke of Anjou was very unwilling to this Journey, but finding no evasion for it, at length resolves upon it: All the Court go, except the Count of Soissous, and the Princess of Montpensier, whom the sickness of their Mothers stayed behind. The King being at Blois, thither came the Duke of Vendosme and his Brother: For two dayes together the King made them infinite caresses, which the third night he closes with an Arrest by the Captain of his guards, and then sent them both Prisoners to the Castle of Amboise.

After this was done, the Cardinal, who had all this while stayed at one of his houses near Paris, comes to Blois, openly commiserating the misfortune of the Grand Prior, but not his Brother, in which the whole Court sympathize, for that the one was beloved, but the other hated; and that which most moved their compassion, was, that the Grand Prior had most innocently been the Instrument of both his own and Brother's disaster. The resolution for the voyage into Britany is continued, and also to press the Duke of Anjou to the marriage, who still opposed it: But some of his Party, fearing lest at length he might recede from his resolution, advise him to quit the Court: Some counselling him to take the way of Rochelle, others that of Metz: Moreover they send to the Count of Soissons for Balagny and Boyer, two trusty persons, the one to be his conductor towards Rochelle, if they took that way, and the other to treat with his Uncle the [Page 127] Duke of Villars Governor of Havre, that they might secure that Port to receive the forraign succours promised them. But as 't is usual in all dangerous enterprizes, mens hearts failing them, in­stead of executing their designs, they raise difficulties to over­throw them, so hapned it in this; For instead of going them­selves, they sent a Gentleman belonging to Chalais, to the Duke of Valette to know whether he would receive the discontents, and by that means gave him opportunity to evade a business, in which, had they surprized him, he had without resistance been engaged: For conceiving by this message that they were not well resolved, he sent them word, that the place belonging to his Father the Duke d' Espernon, he must first send to know his pleasure, before he could return them any other answer: This very well pleased those that disswaded his departure, especially Chalais who was of a mild temper, and naturally averse from faction; to which his friends had never inclined him, had not his spirit been too flexible to withstand their solicitations; so that seeing the trouble and dan­ger still increase, he grew very desirous to dis-entangle himself of the affair, and to that end, intreats the Commandeur de Valencé to assure the Cardinal, that he would renounce the Duke of Anjou's Interests, and become his servant; The Cardinal who desired nothing more, receives and cajoles him so handsomly, that he engages him by promise, to discover all the Dukes designs to him: This lasted a few dayes; but the inconstancy of his hu­mour, which yet was nothing mischeivous, hurrying him to ano­ther change; he repents of his promise, will discover nothing, and raccomodes himself with the Duke of Anjou; requesting the Commandeur to revoke the promise he had given the Cardinal in his behalf, who excuses himself of the employment, foretelling him, that it was the next way to a Prison or worse; But Chalais notwithstanding, persisting in his resolutions, got some other to carry his intentions to the Cardinal, who nothing relished the message, which recalled to his mind the business of Fleury, and gave him some Jealousies that it was the Dutchess of Chevreuse that had regained him, and therefore he thought it now time to dispatch him: Wherefore he causes him to be arrested and sent Prisoner to the Castle of Nantes; and Commissioners of the Parliament of Britany were appointed for his trial; at which he confesses, and accuses, what, and whom they please; thinking by that means (being little versed in criminal proceedings) to save himself, confirms also some flying reports of his engagement to kill the King who was helping him to bed; but he was condem­ned and executed for this only, that being a Domestick of the Duke of Aujou's, he had advised his Master to retire from the [Page 128] Court: But after all these weaknesses, seeing how ineffectual they had been to save his life, he dyed with much courage and constancy; At the same time also was Marcillac apprehended, and devested of his Government of Sommieres in Languedoc; Troncon and Sanveterre were also banished the Court, for presu­ming to disswade the King from the intended marriage: To which the Duke of Anjou, during those procedures, was anew urged; and his Favourites being already won, the Duke upon hopes of the Marshal d' Ornano's, and Chalais liberty, at length resolves upon it, and falling from one extremity to another, suddenly and privately marries the Princess of Montpensier, (who was purposely sent for from Paris with a gallant train) loves and caresses her, and now cannot live without her. Hereupon his Appanage was as­signed him, to wit, the Dutchyes of Orleans and Chartres (where­fore for the future we shall call him the Duke of Orleans) toge­ther with the Earldom of Blois; great in appearance, but seated in the heart of France, without any good place within the whole circuit of it, and of a very small revenue, his chiefest assignations for the maintenance of his house being out of the Treasury, that so they might at pleasure be taken from him.

The marriage thus consummared, they proceed notwithstanding to the execution of Chalais, inquiring also after informations a­gainst the Duke of Vendosme, especially whether he held not Intel­ligence with the Duke of Soubize, during the war in the year 1625. Commissioners also were appointed for the trial of the Duke, and his Brother the Grand Prior; but the one objecting the Priviledge of his Peerage, and the other of his Cross of Malta, they were at last sent to the Bois de Vincennes, without any fur­ther proceedings against them; only the Dukes houses in Britany were razed, and he was deprived of his Government of that Pro­vince, which was conferred on the Marshal Themines. 'Twas thought the reason that diverted the Cardinal from the design he had upon this Government, was, that having placed into Brest, one of the fairest and securest Ports of all France, one Sourdeac, a creature of his own, out of hopes to secure it to himself; the King without his privity, conferred that command upon a Souldier of mean quality, which vexed him so, that abandoning all fu­ture thoughts of the other, he resolved upon the purchase of Hauvre de Grace in Normandy.

Upon the Confession of Chalais, Messengers were also sent to Verger, a House of the Prince of Guymenés to confine the Dutchess of Chevreuse there, but she escaped that confinement by her de­parture before to Paris, where being informed of what had passed, she recovered, by great journies to Lorrain.

The voyage of Britany having thus succeeded, the King returns to Paris, where the Count of Soissons durst not expect his arri­val, but grown wise by the misfortune of others, travels into Ita­ly, where the Court-hatred pursued and persecuted him; For Letters were sent to Bethune Embassadour extraordinary for the King at Rome, that he should take care the title of Highness was not given him; to which Bethune having no other passion then for his Masters service, answers, that he would never be guilty of such a crime, but that if the Count of Soissons had offended the King, he ought to punish him in France, and not in that which would so much intrench upon the honour of the Crown; and that he would rather quit his employment, then do such a dis­service both to his Master and Family.

When the Court came to Paris, not a word was spoken of the Dutchess of Chevreuse her removal; Sardigny and Bonoeil were confined to their own houses, one being accused for advising the Count of Soissons to leave France, the other for his too great propensity to the Queens service. Attempts were made also to take the Chevalier de Jars, which having notice of, he prevented by his flight into England: About this time also the Marshal d' Or­nano died of the Stone, whose death occasioned several discourses.

We will now leave the Duke of Orleans to comfort himself with the embraces of his new Wife, for the losses and misfortunes of his servants; and the Cardinal to refresh himself awhile, after having dissipated so thick, and menacing a cloud, as hovered over his head, to come to the affairs of England; whither the Abbot Scaglia, four moneths before, was gone in quality of Ambassadour extraordinary, and carried together with his Masters, his own par­ticular passions, both being unanimously bent to spare nothing, that might purchase them a sound revenge upon the Cardinal, There he found the Duke of Buckingham of the same humour, whom he encouraged to procure the banishment of all the French attending on the Queen of great Britany, for that they cherished their Mistress in some froward humours, which many times occa­sioned differences between the King and her, alledging that Spain, France, and Savoy would be sufficient presidents to warrant the action; recounts the numerous factions and discontents he had left in France, the ill usage of those of the Religion, in whose In­terests the King himself was engaged, as being surety for the ob­servance of the last treaty of peace, and assures him of his Master the Duke of Savoyes complyance and fidelity upon all occasions; All these perswasions joyned with the urgent sollicitations of the Duke of Soubize, in the behalf of those of the Religion, moved the Duke of Buckingham to perswade the King his Master private­ly [Page 130] to send a Gentleman to the Duke of Rohan to inform him of his deep resentments that those of the Religion had by his means and intervention been deceived, that he now saw clearly, that in­stead of restoring Rochelle to its liberty, presecu­tions they suffered in Languedoc; that it was expedient they should address their complaints to him, that, being Caution for the late peace, he might have just occasion to demand reparation for the infractions of it, which if it was refused, he protested that he would employ the whole strength of all his dominions, and hazard also his own person to obtain an exact and punctual observation of the Edict for peace: But that since it was fitting, for the better Justification of his procedures, to begin with such formalities, he desires that he would send him over a Gentleman, by whom he might be fully informed and directed how to proceed.

The Duke who saw no humane means to preserve Rochelle but by relief from England, received this Message with all respect and ho­nour; and informed the Gentleman, that the Communalties of the Religion could not write to the King his Master neither in Ge­neral, nor in particular without being detected, which would crush the affair in its birth, that he would undertake that office for them all, by sending a Gentleman with a Letter, to implore that assist­ance of him, he was obliged to give them; who moreover should be fully instructed with the particular in observations of the peace, and what he thought was the most convenient course to be taken in reference to the war: With this answer the Gentleman returned, and a few dayes after, according to his promise, the Duke dispatcht St. Blancart with orders to go by the way of Rochelle, to see in what condition was the Citadel of Saint Martin in the Isle of Ré; which he exactly well performed, and after his arrival in England, obtained a conclusion of a war for our relief.

In the mean while the Duke of Buckingham causes all the Queens French Servants (except a Chaplain) to be cashiered, which made so great a noise in France, that the Marshall Bassom­piere was sent Embassadour extraordinary into England to com­pose the affair, and returned thence with satisfaction correspon­dent to his instructions and intentions: But the two Favourites ac­cord not at all; he of France causes the Marshal, being no crea­ture of his to be disowned, and the other procures a dissolution of the treaty.

Not long before, the taking of some Normande ships by the English, gave another occasion of difference; The Parliament of Roüen hereupon not receiving that speedy satisfaction they ex­pected, laid an Embargo upon all English Vessels in all their Ports, [Page 131] and the English upon the reciprocal and fruitless complaints of both Parties, made Prize of all the French they met with.

The Duke of Buckingham, who in all these affairs acted nothing out of affection to religion, or regard to his Masters honour, but only to satisfie his passion for some foolish Amours of his in France, upon these two occasions grounds a request to be sent Em­bassadour to France; Thus from the petty follies of the Court, springs the disturbance of whole Kingdoms, most of the mischeifs that infest them flowing from the particular Interests of Favourites, who trampling Justice under their feet, subvert all good policy, change the good Maximes of the State, and make their Masters but properties to support their greatness, wealth and revenge.

The Duke of Rohan jealous of this Embassie, sent one of his Gentlemen very privately to Paris, to observe the actions of Buckingham, and to encourage him in his former resolution: But the King would not admit of his Embassie, so that his design of Love being frustrated, he now followes the dictates of his rage, and since he could not see the object of his passion, resolves to shew the King his power, preparing all things for the war, in which, by his present care and assiduity, he redeems his former negligence and remisness; and that he might omit nothing that might further his design, the Lord Montague is sent into Savoy, and thence to the Duke of Rohan, where arriving very privately, he delivers his Credentials from the King, and from Buckingham, in whose names he assures himof the great preparations in Eng­land for our assistance, to wit, of thirty thousand men to be dis­posed into three several Fleets, the first designed for the Isle of Ré, the second coming up the river of Bourdeaux to land in Guienne, and the third in Normandy, to give the King a sound di­version there, whil'st he should be busied in Guienne; that the Rivers of Loire, Seine, and the Garonne should with good Fri­gots be kept closely blocked; that the Duke of Savoy would make an invasion either upon Dauphine or Provence, and moreover pro­mised the Duke of Rohan five hundred auxiliary horse, and the Duke of Chevreuse also the like number; that his desire was, that with those thousand horse, and the foot he should levy in Lakguedoc, he would march to Montauban, to rally those of the Religion in Guienne, and joyn with the English Army, that should make its discent by the River of Bourdeaux: To which he replyed, that immediately upon the entry of the English into France, and not before, he would engage himself to take arms, and procure the lower Languedoc, the Sevenes, Roüergue, and a part of the higher Languedoc to declare, and upon his own score to raise four thousand foot, and two hundred horse to march to Montauban; [Page 132] and moreover, if he had half the Cavalry promised him, he would undertake to joyn the English Army in any part of Guienne what, soever.

Mourague returned satisfied with this answer, and the Duke of Rohan began his preparations, which yet he could not make with that secresie, but that the Court had soon an inckling of them; so that his Mother and Sister had been made Prisoners, had they not sought their safety by flying to Rochelle, where they did emi­nently contribute to the defeating of the King's designs there; and as all contrivances against him, were clandestine and under­hand, so, for his part did he cherish those of the Religion in their discontens, especially concerning the Consulates of Nismes and Aletz, whose accomodations he prevented, so that he preserved those Corporations in a firm resolution to dare all extremities, ra­ther then suffer the least diminution of their Priviledges, and all the rest in a condition to adhere to them; And on the other side, the Court faction having interessed the Royal authority in the con­cern of those Consulates, would not in the least degree recede from their purposes.

When things were in this posture, about the twentieth of July comes the Duke of Buckingham into the Rode of Rochelle, with a brave Armado, in which were ten thousand men, with store of Canon, and ammunition for war, with all sorts of Instruments for Pioneers: which when the Rochellers saw, instead of receiving him whom they had so impatiently expected, they shut their gates and havens against him, to prevent the arrival of any one from him, to impart his Commission to them; for the Maior and those in authority were corrupted by the Court Party, and the poor people had neither strength, nor courage to admit him: So that Soubize was fain to go on shore in a Shalloup, and landing near to one of the Town-Gates with one of the King of Englands Secretaries, his Mother went straight to another, whither when the Duke was also [...]e, she went forth and drew him in by the arm, at which the People much rejoyced, and in great troops fol­lowed him to his lodging: When he was thus gotten in, he assem­bled the Councel of the Town, to whom the Secretary declared the substance of his Message after this manner; That the Duke of Buckingham had sent him to let them know, that by the command of the King his Master, he was now come in sight of them with a Gallant Army, ready to land where occasion should require; that that which induced his King to this, was his certain knowledge that the Councel of France, (corrupted by the house of Austria) conspired the ruine of all Christendom; which manifestly ap­peared in the affairs of Germany, which they have entirely ruined, [Page 133] especially by that permission was given to Count Mansfields Army to pass through France, which, as he was ready to march, was re­fused him, and was the destruction of that, and consequently of the German Army, in which twelve thousand English perished by famine; that since the King his Master had by his Ambassadours mediated a composing of the late War against those of the Reli­gion, and engaged himself for the faithful observation of the Ar­ticles of the Treaty, (and that too with the consent of the King of France) in which, those of the Religion had submitted to con­ditions too harsh for their present estate to bear; he had seen their Confederates of Italy deserted, and the Armies designed for their defence, employed to block up their Garrisons, and to reduce this Town to a Consumption by Famine, the continual cries of which place, and of the whole body of the Reformed party, having by the mediation of the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize, reathed his eares, and taking notice of the vast preparations at Sea, closely to begirt this Town, and that to that end, by an unrepresidented act of injustice, one hundred and twenty English ships, with all their Merchandize, Mariners, and Artillery, were seized on in time of peace; that for these, and many other reasons, compassionating their miseries, and heavy pressures, his promise also to see the Ar­ticles agreed on, performed, obliging him, he now offer'd them a powerful assistance both by Sea and Land, in case they will accept of it, and engage in the War with him, protesting not to prosecute any particular pretension or interest whatsoever, save only what was accorded to those of the Religion, for which he became Caution: That in case the Town refuse this offer, the Duke solemnly protests before God, and the world, that he holds his Master fully absolved of all obligations both of Conscience, and Honour; and that for his part, he shall dispose himself to execute the rest of the commands imposed on him by his Master, and that he desires their clear and speedy answer: This Harangue much moved the people, who saw no other re-sourse, nor hopes of deli­verance then from the English Arms; yet so prevalent was the faction of those that endeavoured the destruction of that poor, and miserable Town, that with much difficulty were they induced to re­solve on any thing; at length they sent their Deputies to the Duke of Buckingham, to give the King of England thanks for the care he took of them, and withall to let him know, that having heard, and well considered of his Message, representing his Ma­jesties good intentions to all the Reformed in France, of whom they were but a part; that being bound by their Oath of Union to act nothing but by a general and unanimous consent, they concei­ved their answer would be much firmer, and more acceptable to the [Page 134] King, if it were accompanied with that of the Duke of Rohan, and the rest of the Reformed party, towards whom they were now send­ing with all speed; beseeching the Duke of Buckingham favou­rably to interpret this Protraction of the demanded junction, and be a means that it may not be displeasing to the King of great Britain. In the mean time they would address their prayers, and vowes to God for the prosperous progress of his Arms to a plenary execution of the good, and holy intentions of his Majesty.

This answer had like to have drawn great prejudice on them of all hands; from the English, to see their great irresolution, and that they should need a spur, who could find no safety but in their courage, and audacity; from those of the Religion, inasmuch as they demanded their advice, not assistance; Thus in affairs of great consequence, Councels accompanied with too much circumspecti­on, are attended on by no less dangers; for they discover so much fear, as raises the courages of enemies, and depresses those of friends: The Duke of Soubize sent the Duke of Buckingham a particular account of this deputation, and answer, by Saint Blan­carte, and withall, an absolute assurance of the Town of Ro­chelle.

It is now to be observed, that when Soubize left the Fleet, to know the intentions of the Rochellers, two things were agreed on between him, and Buckingham: First, that the first descent should be in the Isle of Oleron, both for the facility of it, there being not above twelve hundred souldiers to oppose them, nor any fortress able to make eight dayes resistance; and also for the conveniencies of the place, abounding in corn, and wine, commodious for the maintenance of their Souldiers and Mariners, easie to be kept, and that once taken, and the English Vessels guarding the Sea, would in short time reduce the Isle of Ré to great extremities; whereas if they made their first attempt on the other, which was well sto­red with souldiers, sufficiently fortified to make a good opposition, the success of the attempt would be full of hazard, and the con­quest of uncertainty; the other was not to attempt any thing be­fore the Duke of Soubize his return: But when Saint Blancart came there to acquaint the Duke of Buckingham with the issue of his negotiation in Rochelle, he found the design varied, a discent into the Isle of Ré determined, and ready to be executed, which the Duke of Buckinghem also, not expecting Soubize his return, hastens; whether it was, that he feared lest Toiras, who had al­ready three thousand foot, and two hundred horse in the Island, should grow too strong, many of the Nobility, and great numbers of souldiers flocking thither from all parts; or that he was loth [Page 135] Soubize should participate of the honour of the action. At this discent there was a smart and gallant combate, the English, like a deluge, over-whelming all that opposed them, which greatly terri­fied the Romanists; and had he closely pursued the victory, and gone directly to the Fort, according to the advice of the Duke of Soubize, who was by that time gotten thither, he had found it em­pty both of provisions and souldiers; but the loss of five dayes idly trifled away, gave Toiras leisure to rally his scattered men, and to carry all the provisions, could be found in the Village, up to the Fort.

This only fault drew after it many mischiefs on the reformed party; in this fight was slain Saint Blancart, (who came thither soon enough to land the second man) deservedly lamented by his party, being a young man, whose piety, courage, and prudence emulously strove to renown him.

This discent of the English caused great commotions at the Court, and, had a sudden taking of the Fort succeeded it, probably a great alteration of affairs had followed: For the sickness, the King, about the same time, was surprised with, the general discon­tent of the Nobility at the Cardinals favour; the jealousie of those were but lately engaged with the Duke of Orleans; the abode of the Count of Soissons in Piedmont, and the Duke of Savoy's known desires of revenge, for his desertion by the French, were sufficient grounds for more than ordinary jealousies; and every one impatiently expected to know the fate of the Fort, that they might declare their affections; which the King well knowing, omitted nothing for its relief; fed the Town of Rochelle with hopes of an accommodation, provided they joyned not with the English, essayed to work upon the Duke of Rohan with offers of large sums of money, and dispersed Messengers to all the Reformed Towns, to render odious the discent of the English, and to draw from them such Declarations as might secure him against the fear of their conjunction with them; and prevailed with Montauban and Castres to send Deputies to the other Corporations to disswade them from it, and by this Argument, that Rochelle had not joyned with them.

The Duke of Rohan, who for a long while before had been acquainted with the Artifices of the Court, and particularly knew their Partisans in every Town, fore-seeing well that he could not hinder such Declarations, advises them to insert in them the gene­ral clause, under the benefit of the Edicts, and all other concessi­ons, that so he might in convenient season disengage them again, and with hopes of good news from Rochelle, engages them not to desert that Town. At length come letters thence, but such, whose [Page 136] contents answered not his desires; nevertheless he is obliged to make use of them; but how to extract any advantage out of them, was no small difficulty: If he should send them to every Town, they might occasion divers resolutions to be taken up by them, and possibly contrary the one to the other, which must needs cause great divisions; if before he took up Arms, he should con­veque an Assembly, none of the Corporations would dare send their Deputies, for fear of rendring themselves criminal, which would yet be a greater evil; he resolves therefore to conceal the let­ters he had received, & at the same time to write severally to all the principal Communalties of the Sevenes, (and unknown the one to the other, nor mentioning any Assembly) to send their De­puties to him to Nismes, to whom he had things to impart that much concerned them in particular; the same desire sent he to Vsez; hoping that when he had drawn the Provinces of the lower Languedoc, and the Sevenes to any good resolution, the rest of the Reformed party, or at least the greatest part of them, would easily follow their example. This invention succeeded well; for all the Deputies came at the time and place prefixed; but the Com­mission of the Deputies of Vsez, being not large enough, and fear­ing some treachery from that Town, he carried all the Deputies thither, and there formed an Assembly, not doubting, by his pre­sence, to confirm them to his party; this done, he recounts all the breaches of faith during the first War; all the infractions of the Edict of peace, made before Montpellier, (which occasioned the loss of that Town) the continuation of the siege of Rochelle; the detention of their goods, and the injust and cruel execution of many innocent persons, which was the cause of the second; which being composed by the inter vention of the King of great Britain's Ambassadours, they to obtain a condiscension of those of the Re­ligion to the Kings proposals, with the Kings consent, and in the name of the King their Master, became Caution for the perfor­mance of the Articles, which being no better observed than the former, the danger of Rochelle daily increasing by straitning their Port; the loss of their Franchises, and liberty of Commerce, by the repairing, instead of the promised razing of the Fort Lewis; by the fortifying the Islands, and storing them with Ammunition, and other provisions; by the building, collecting, and arming so many ships; by maintaining so many neighbouring Garrisons; by so many attempts upon the Town; by the subversion of the pri­viledges of Nismes, and Aletz, depriving them of their liberty of electing Consuls; by the manifold infringement of the Edicts in all points, and places, and towards all persons; that the conside­ration of all these things had obliged him to remonstrate their [Page 137] condition to the King of great Britain, to implore him, according to his Royal promises, to afford us some redress of our grievances; which so prevailed upon him, that after a fruitless tryal of all fair means, he had at length resolved openly to assist us, and to that end had sent the Duke of Buckingham with a gallant Army, whose beginnings were very prosperous: But that it was upon condition, that the lower Languedoc should joyn with his forces, and not listen to any but a General Treaty, and with the consent of the said King, and of the whole body of the Reformed Party within this Kingdom; adding moreover that the Town of Rochelle would not conclude any thing without them: And, with that, shewed them the Letters he had thence, telling them, that, considering the importance of the affair, he had thought it necessary to assemble the two Provinces of the Sevenes, and the lower Languedoc, that there might be a perfect harmony in their resolutions, which would never have been, had he sent those Letters to all the Towns seve­rally; that, moreover, he could not in time of peace convoque an General Assembly, whose only summons would then have proved its prevention: but that he was assured that the resolutions of those two Provinces would charm all the rest to an imitation: wherefore he conjured them to a serious consideration of the pre­mises, assuring them of his strict and perpetual adherence to them.

Whereupon they decreed that the Duke of Rohan should be desired to resume his charge of General of the Reformed Party, to make leavies of Souldiers and all other things he should con­ceive conducible to their good; that he be desired to form, as soon as may be a General Assembly, to continue during the war, for the direction and management of their affairs, that the oath of Union be renewed, with the addition of their Junction with the King of great Britains forces, and also of all other Princes, Lords and Gentlemen, that for the maintenance of this cause have, or for the future shall raise arms, with a subjunction of a promise not to accept of any particular peace, nor to consent or hearken to any treaty, but general, and with the approbation of the whole body of the Reformed Party, and of those Princes with whom they are, or shall be united.

This being done, they all depart: and Rohan gives out his Commissions, and, that he might not disgust the People, raises and arms his men at his own expence, appointing a day to make some attempts upon several places: And while he prepares him­self for the field, let us reflect upon the Isle of Ré, where we left the Duke of Buckingham, publishing a declaration to justifie his Masters proceedings, and advancing to quarter his army in the Town of Saint Martin de Ré, whence he began to straighten the [Page 138] Citadel, consistingof four Bastions not yet perfected; andhaving no out-works to defend it: This place he resolved to reduce, by starving it, presuming they had but small store of provisions in it; and that being Master of the Sea, he might easily prevent the entry of any recruits either of men or victuals; but being something too careless in blocking them up, he contents himself with stopping up the Haven with boats and beams laid a cross it, surrounding the Fort with his Army, and the Island with his Fleet, but disdaining to take a small Fort in the Island, which held for the King, and was seated on one of the best landing places in it: whence afterwards issued all the mischiefs that befel him.

Besides those errors, were committed also these, viz. that in­stead of raising a work towards the Sea, the only quarter to be seared a very frivolous and useless one was raised on the Land, and three Batteries, but at a distance, rather to affright, than hurt: A Well also was not well heeded, about five and twenty, or thirty paces from the Counterscarp, in which was only thrown a dead horse, and some stones to cover it; but the besieged know­ing, of what dangerous consequence that loss would be to them, disfurnishing them of water in the Fort, quickly uncovered it, and having well cleared it, fortified it with a work, which preserved it them during the whole Siege: The Guards also were not well or­dered towards the Sea; nor could the re-iterated advice of the Duke of Soubize ever induce them to divide their Ships, and place them before the Ports, where they would have much prejudiced the Romish Party. Nay, it was yet worse; for upon very light pre­tences, every day came one or other from the Fort, to speak with the Duke of Buckingham, and discover the condition of his Ar­my; and from that time, by the means of the Baron De Saint Su­rin and Montaut, were set on foot on divers Treaties, which were continued till such time, as the Duke of Buckingham dispatch'd one of his Nephews to the Court with the said Saint Surin, but for what reason, was not known to the Duke of Soubize.

Now for the better understanding of this Affair, it is to be known that Ré is an Island, lying about a League from Rochelle, seven miles in length, and of great fertility, especially in wine, and salt: There are in it, three principal Bourgs, or unwalled Towns, of which Saint Martin De Ré is one of the fairest of France, and seated on the best Rode of all that Coast: There is also a fair Port, which stretcheth it self all along the Town, like a little Arm of the Sea; and it was the mouth of that which the Duke of Buckingham blocked up, to prevent the introduction of provisions into the Fort: Between Rè, and Broüage lies another Island, called Oleran, as big, and populous as the other, but much [Page 139] more fruitful; in which the King had garrison'd a Fort, b [...]uil there by the Duke of Soubize in the former War, but of small consideration; had Buckingham seized upon this Island, where almost all the Inhabitants are of the Religion, he had then totally defeated the Fort of Rè of all means of relief.

The King about this time falling sick, was constrained to send the Duke of Orleans in his place, to command, and confirm the Army, which the Duke of Angoulesme had about Rochelle, where notwithstanding the Rochellers protestations by which they dis­owned any confederacy with the English, yet was their usage no­thing better, but they began now to begirt them more closely by Land, to retrench all manner of Provisions: but the main design of the Army chiefly reflected upon the Fort of Ré, to recruit that with men, and victuals, in which they spared no expence, neither of men, nor money; so that at several times they got in suffici­ent numbers to keep it till its entire deliverance.

The Rochellers, after they had osten, but in vain, renewed their protestations of fidelity and obedience, seeing that all their submissions, neither abated their sufferings, nor the malice of those who thirsted for their ruine, but only fomented divisions among those of the Religion, and furnished the ill-affected with specious pretences to exclaim against the others; at length remonstrate how that they had with-drawn themselves from the Crown of England, to subject themselves to that of France, the great priviledges they had acquir'd by it, their good services ever since, their immove­able fidelity, in which they had constantly persevered, notwith­standing the destruction of their Trade, the consuming of their Harvests, the devastation of their Countrey, the cruelties exercised upon their Citizens; in short, all those miseries which a licentious Army in many years can inflict upon their greatest enemies; and after this said repetition of their sufferings, openly declare for the English.

As for the Duke of Rohan, he also publishes a Declaration, containing the infractions of the two former peaces, the reasons he had to resent them, and makes his Addresses to the King of great Britain, who was Caution for the latter; protests that he has no other aime, than at the observation of the Edicts, which once granted, he freely offers to expose himself to a voluntary exile from the Kingdom, that so there might be no ground left for future pretences and jealousies. On the other side, the King also issues forth new Declarations, in which he promises an observation of the Edicts to those that shall persist in their obedience, a pardon to those that had flown from it, if within a certain time they re­turned to it, denouncing heavy securities against the persons, and [Page 140] estates of such as shall adhere to the Reformed Party; the Duke of Soubize was proclaimed Traytour; and the Parliament of Thou­louze, though it has no jurisdiction over the Peers of France, con­demned the Duke of Rohan to be torn in pieces with foure horses, proclaimed him ignoble, and set a price of fifty thousand Crowns upon his head, ennobling those that should assassinate him, which encouraged three or four unhappy Villains to attempt it; but they came short of any other recompence than a Halter, or a Wheel; it being not within the compass of any humane power, without an especial permission of the Divine, either to prolong, or shorten the life of any man.

These light skirmishes of the pen thus dispatched, come we now to the more fatal ones of the Sword; of all the designs con­trived, and promised to the Duke of Rohan to be put in execution upon divers places, in several Provinces, none took effect, but that of Corconne, the management of which, he had committed to the Lieutenant of his Guards, together with one named De Pize, (who in a short time after, gave it back to the enemy again) The chiefest obstacle of it was, the peoples refusal to allow of any such attempts, before an open Declaration of the War: So that at the beginning of this, there was not any Paltry Village, or Fort, that stood not upon his Guard; a thing not heard of in the former Ci­vil Wars, when men were more zealous for their Religion, more faithful, secret, and confident of their Commanders, to whom they gave so great respect, that their bare Tickets only were suffi­cient to engage them in a War, and to attempt the most considera­ble places of the Kingdom; whereas now the Irreligion and Dis­loyalty of those of the Religion, is more difficultly opposed, than the malice of their enemies.

About this time, Montague sent him an Express, importing, that the intentions of a Discent to be made in Guyenne, were al­tered, and that for this Summer the Duke of Buckingham would make no invasion but about the Coast of Rochelle; so that the King of great Britain discharged him of his promise to march to Montauban, leaving him at liberty, to make choice of what place he pleased for this Summers action; but that the Duke of Savoy, with whom he was, was of opinion, that he might make a more advantagious progress along the Rhone, than in any other quarter, and promised to give the enemy a good diversion in his: But all these designs were projected with reference to the taking of the Fort of Ré, of which there was not the least umbrage of a doubt. The Duke of Rohan took this Express into consideration, and would willingly have made his first Exploits in those quarters, had he not been necessitated to reclaim the Towns of Roüergne, [Page 141] and the higher Languedoc, who in his absence had been inveigled into resolutions contrary to his, and their determinations also sent to the King; so that nothing but his presence was capable to make them take Arms; which fixed him in his former purposes, for which he sent Montague his Reasons, assuring him however, that, if the Duke of Savoy would instantly take the Field, he would quit all other designs to joyn Forces with him; but that otherwise it would be expedient to remit that Affair till another time: And so, leaving the Baron D' Aubais, to command the lower Langue­doc, and a Council in the Sevenes, to govern their Affairs there; he marched with his whole Force, composed of four thousand five hundred Foot, and two hundred Horse, directly towards Millaud; and in his March, took Pont D' Arre, a private Gentlemans house, and Arigas a Church that was fortified, and very much incommoded the Bayliwick of Vigan; whiles he stayed at Saint John De Breüill, Alterac, and Guerin, two of his Partisans in Millaud came to meet, and disswade him from that attempt, al­ledging the difficulties attending it, and that as soon as Montau­ban and Castres had declared, they would do the like.

The Duke told them they had done very ill to come out of the Town, which they had left to the disposal of those that were disaffected to them; that it would be the ruine of his designs, and a President for all the Towns of Roüergue to shut their Gates a­gainst him; that he could not begin with Montauban, and Castres; for that Millaud lay directly in his way to them; and that he was resolved with all his Troops to get in, or ravage their whole Coun­trey; desiring them to go before, and give them notice of it: But they found how their absence had encouraged the adverse par­ty, who having shut the Gates of the Town, and those of the Bridge over the River Tarn, where they must of necessity pass, they could not obtain a re-admittance, but were enforced to return to the Duke with the newes; which yet stopped him not, who well saw the necessity of prosecuting this design; hoping that the sight of him would animate the people to an insurrection; who failed not his expectation: For having with much difficulty and peril, by reason of the depths and largeness of the River, passed over some of his Guards, who laying at the Gates of the Bridge on both sides, they at length fell down, and gave him free passage to the Suburbs, where taking some Horse, and his Trumpets, and in that Equipage marching round the Town, he so excited the peo­ple, that under the favour of the night, without any opposition, they meet all with their Armes, and forcing the Consuls to open the Gates, went themselves to conduct him into the Town.

This success made him way into all the Towns of Roüergue, [Page 142] and of the Mountain of Albigeois, except Brassac, and Saint Fe­lix Tower, where he left some Regiments with Vacqueresse, who had already blocked up this Tower, and having sprung a Mine, took it upon composition; whereupon Brassac, at the end of four and twenty houres yielded also: But Saint Germier, who carried on his business at Castres, behaved himself so ill, that he suffered himself, with all his Confidents to be turned out of the Town: This President made Realmont, Briteste, and the three Towns of Eauraguais; viz. Puylaurens, Revel, and Soreze refuse also to declare; so that he was fain to come with his Cavalry to Roque-Courbe, a little Town, about one League distant from Castres, and two from Realmont; whence he made several Essayes to re­duce those two refractory places; at Castres he prevailed nothing at all; at Realmont his perswasions met a more civil reception, and their Gates, that refused the Duke of Montmorency, admitted him; there he placed Maugis Governour, who had been most active in doing him this service, and very faithful to him in the precedent Wars.

The reduction of this place was some enlargement to him; thither he summoned the Colloque of Albigeois, which he wrought to resolutions conformable to his own; but before he could advance any farther, Puylaurens, or Revel must of necessity be secured; otherwise it were impossible he should adventure to go either to Montauban, or into Foix, being to march twelve or fifteen Leagues in an enemies Countrey, and that over great Plains too, having the Duke of Montmorency attending on him, who had drawn to­gether the whole strength of the Country to fight him, and was al­wayes double or treble stronger in Horse than he; it was once in his thoughts to cross the Tarn, but the late abundance of rain had made it unfordable; so that having no way but that of Laura­guais, and an Army before him, he could not put himself upon the hazard of that passage without some place of retreat. He be­gins therefore with Puylaurens, as a place whose example would invite all the rest; Terrieux, and Mauris, two, whose good ser­vices in the former Wars, made him repose a great confidence in, promised, that if he would give them five hundred pistols to di­stribute in the Town, they would procure his admittance; but, in­stead of performing what they had engaged themselves to do, they betray the whole design to the Duke of Montmorency, to the end he might surprize Cassagne, who with his own, and the Baron d' Aletz his company, and fifty of the Duke of Rohan's Guards, were commanded to execute it; to whom, when they came to the appointed Rendez-vous, the Traytors sent word, that it was not in their power to effect what they had undertaken; the others seeing [Page 143] themselves far from any retreat, Causse Caucallier, who had very good acquaintance, and Gaillard, a brother, in Revel, who with Des-Isles-Maisons were carrying on an infallible design there, and which wanted only two dayes to be put in execution, fearing the inconveniencies threatned by the great length of their retreat, made a desperate proposal to anticipate the time, and attempt it presently, which they all assented to, and succeeded so well in, that the people of Revel seeing Rohans Livery, imagining he himself was there, and Gaillard's brother, with some other of the Inhabitants, having seized upon a Tower, favoured their Es­calade, in which they met with no other opposition than some stones thrown at them: Thus they became Masters of the Town, the news of which made the Duke of Rohan resolve, instantly, and without any further delay to advance.

In order to which he caused fourty thousand loaves to be made, and leaving Roque-Courbe came with part of his forces, and lay at Arifat, a house not above halfe a League from Castres; the next day he marched to Narrez, where he appointed his general Ren­dez-vous, and quarters that night at Sajes, where he had intelli­gence that the Duke of Montmorency with all his troops lay be­tween him and Revel, whereupon, to disencumber himself of all the Carts he had to carry it, he distributed all the bread among his souldiers; and the next day having marched about a League, he discovered the Duke of Montmorency, with three or four hun­dred horse only: whereupon he rallies his men, and in good or­der marches in sight of him, keeping on his way to Revel, with­out any rencontre at all, and quartered about a League from Revel, where he arrived the next day early. The Duke of Montmorency takes up his quarters at Saint Felix, and other adjacent places, whence he might get the advantage of the way, whether he took that of Montauban, or of Foix.

The Duke of Rohan, in the meane time, intercepts a Letter written by the Consuls of Mazeres, and addressed to the President de Suc, importing the inclinations of that Town to joyne with the Reformed party, but that the Duke's presence was very re­quisite to promote the publique Declaration of their intentions; which he took into his serious consideration, and reflecting upon this, that he had yet three dayes march before his Army could reach Montauban, no retreat upon the way, that his journey thi­ther was not necessary, the English being engaged in other parts, and having good assurance of the entire affections of that Town, he thought fit to embrace this offered opportunity of reducing the whole Countrey of Foix to his party; This made him resolve upon that course, and, that he might get the start of the enemy, [Page 144] having caused his Souldiers to take bread for two dayes, and quit part of their baggage, he parts from Revel at midnight; but by reason of the badnesse of the weather that night, and the incom­modious advenews of the Village, where his foot lay, it was day before his Reare could get out of it; so that passing by Montcaus­son, where a troop of horse of the enemies were quartered, no­tice of their march towards Foix being given, it occasioned a slight skirmish, which yet retarded not the armies march: The same troop followed his Reare at a distance, till they came neare to a little Town called Soville, two Leagues from Revel, where the Duke of Montmorency was ranging his troops in Battalia, as conceiving it the most proper place to oppose the Duke of Rohan's passage, and fight him, by reason of a fair plain beneath it, very advantageous for his Cavalry, in which he was much superiour, and of a little, but very dangerous brook, all whose bridges he had broken down, so that he could not passe but in sight of him.

The Duke whose Army consisted of four thousand foot, & fifteen hundred good horse, made four Battalions of his Infantry, which he ranged in formes of Lozenges, leaving great intervals between them for his Cavalry who faced the enemies army, and could, as they marched, be easily ordered to charge them either in Front, Flanck, or Reare; and his baggage placed he in the middest of the four Battalions, resolving in that order either to passe, or fight him; But enquiring of his guides, if there were no other passage over the brook but that which the enemy possessed, they informed him, that upon the left hand of him there was a Ford near a little Castle, called de Jean, where the brook being narrow, there might easily be a bridge made for the passage of the foot: Thither then marched he directly, leaving the Duke of Montmorency's Ar­my on his right hand, and when he had gotten beyond him, very opportunely sends to take the Castle, which two hundred souldiers of Castelnaudary were coming to possesse, and would mightily have incommoded his passage. This done he disencumbers himself of his baggage, which he sent before over the brook to the Castle, and having gained a little hill, between the enemy and the brook, halts there, to observe the countenance of the Duke of Montmo­rency, and considering what he were best to do; Once he thought not to quit the advantage of that place, fearing to march over the brook by day, in view of an army that sought all advantages to encounter him, and might suffer as many as they pleased of his men to get over, and then charge the rest: On the other side, considering, that if he stayed there without provisions, in an enemies Countrey, an army attending him, and having five long Leagues to Mazeres, he feared it would be too great a burthen for [Page 145] his souldiers to support, so that, by the advice of all his Officers, he resolved to expose himself rather to the hazard of a battel, than the miseries of toyle and famine; and when the bridge was made, marched towards it, in the aforesaid equipage. Alizon who had the command of a troop of horse, and was nearest the Duke of Montmorency's Army, being placed upon a hillock, that gave him the prospect of the whole Countrey every way, let the Army advance too far before him, before he began to draw off; so that he was charged by two hundred Horse, who pursued him home to his Foot in great disorder, and had like to have Routed them too; but the Duke of Rohan's Guards, who were very opportune­ly on foot, and ready to relieve him, gave them a Volley, and at the same instant a sharp charge, and repulse; this beginning much animated Montmorency's Army, part of his Cavalry, with his Foot also, advancing with great shouts to the charge; but receiving a second repulse, and two of the Duke of Rohan's Bat­taillons coming up, with their Pikes charged directly to them, the Foot stayed not to expect them; but flying, cast away their Arms, and quitted the Field; they were closely pursued up to a Work, which hindred our discovery of what was on the other side of it, and saved the enemy from an entire defeat: For the Duke of Rohan would not suffer his mon to make any confused pursuit, because the Duke of Montmorency, who had not yet come up to the charge, was beyond that Work, with above three hundred Horse in Battalla; but commanded Leques only to ad­vance, to observe their posture.

The Duke of Montmorency, when he had rallied his Men, drew them off to Sovillé, and there Ranged them again in Bat­taila, but without any semblance of renewing the Fight: The Duke of Rohan, for his part, kept the Field more than a long houre, caused his dead to be buried, and thanks to be given to God; and then, without any interruption, passed the Brook, and kept on his way; but could not reach Mazeres till the next day at Noon, after he had been forty houres on horse-back: In this Fight he lost Causse-Caucallier, one of his Life-guard, one of his Pages, two Lieutenants of Foot, five or six Souldiers, and had thirty or forty wounded. Of the Duke of Montmorency's party, were lost many more, yet was it no bloody Incounter; and it is to be believed that this engagement of his was rather occasio­nal, than before determined; for it seems he had more reason to charge the Duke of Rohan in his passage over the Brook, than in any other part: But 'tis easier to correct the actions of others, when a man is out of danger of the blowes, than in the action it self, which requires a prompt and sudden execution, and af­fords [Page 146] not leasure to perpend, and weigh all events. The Duke of Montmorency had, at this Rencontre, but three thousand Foot, but he had six, or seven hundred Horse of his own, besides all the Gentry of quality of Languedoc, Roüergue, Foix, and some from beyond the Garonne.

When the Duke of Rohan came to Mazeres, all his men op­pressed with hunger, lassitude, and want of sleep, for refreshment, he found the gates shut against him, and the Magistrates utterly averse to receive him; but the common people at length took heart, and in spight of the Consuls, and most potent Inhabitants, let him in; where, after he had taken the best order he could for quartering of his Horse, he made provision for his Foot also. When the Duke of Montmorency heard of the indisposition of the people of Foix to joyne with the Duke of Rohan's Forces; he came and took up his quarters at Saint Gal­lelle upon the River Cers, which runs to Mazeres, a good league distant from Saverdun, whence he sent to inform them, that he was come thither with his Army for their assistance, that they should be of good courage, and not suffer themselves to be caught by the allurements of the Duke of Rohan; who for eight dayes together, was oppressed with the extremity of keeping all his Ar­my upon his own expence, and yet could he hardly furnish his Foot with one loaf a day each one; having no other place in Foix besides Mazeres, and the River Riege swollen to a height, that making it unfordable, cut off all communication with the upper Foix: So, that had these inconveniencies lasted but a few dayes longer, he had been in danger of perishing by Famine if he stayed; or by the Sword, if he returned; having no Ammuni­tion to defend himself withall: All these necessities pressing him, he sounded so many Fordes, till at length having found one between Saverdun, and Pamicz, which the Duke of Montmorency could not so suddenly reach, he resolves in this desperate condition, to make an attempt on Saverdun, where he knew the people were well-affected to him, and the lower Town being easie to be for­ced, he hoped that when he had taken that, fear would induce the other to an accommodation with him; which project had a wished success: To this end, he marches by night from Mazeres with a part of his Troops, and at break of day pas­ses the Ford; but with great difficulty for the Foot, by reason of the swiftness, and extream coldness of the River, which then also was swelled so high, that some of his Souldiers, and many of his Arms were lost in it; so that at last the Horse were necessi­tated to transport the remaining Foot behind them; which done, he marches strait to Saverdun; where first, by a Trumpet he [Page 147] summoned the Inhabitants to open their Gates; and upon their refusal advances, and, after, some Volleys of small shot, which neither slew, nor hurt any one, with the assistance of some honest persons of the Town, Ladders were mounted, and the place en­tred: The taking of the lower Town, mcuh confounded the ill­affected; some flie, others hide themselves, at length all cry out for mercy; and the higher Town also was surrendred on the 12th. of Novemb. 1627.

The same day Faucon, by the Duke of Rohan's order, with two hundred Men, secured Montmaur, a small Town, and Castle lying between Revel, and Mazeres; but of great consequence for the uniting Lauraguais, and Foix: This was effected by the intelligence of La Barte, whom the Duke of Montmorency had highly disgusted.

The Duke vigorously prosecutes these fortunate successes, and upon hopes of some Correspondents in Pamiez, on the 22th. of the same Month he shewes himself with his Horse before it, but had no other entertainment than what they sent him from their Musquets; whereupon he determined, the night following, to clap a Petarde to the Wall, to which he was induced by some of the Inhabitants, that had given him a meeting near the Town; instead then of returning to Saverdun, whither he was going, he retires to a Covert, half a league from Pamiez, forbidding his men to make any fires; thither he commands Goudin and Malmoirac, with their Regiments, whom he had before ordered to be in a readiness; but those that should have come out of the Town to conduct him to the place, and inform him of the true state of it, came not to the Rendez-vous; never theless Bruel, one of the Town, Author of this enterprise, and who knew well enough where the Petarde was to be fixed, being with him, he proceeded in the designed attempt, which was executed after this manner. Cassagne had the command and conduct of the Petards, which were carried by Gentlemen of his own, and some Officers of his Horse, who were seconded by Leques with thirty armed Men, and fifty choice Pikes, and Musquetiers; after whom marched Goudin, and Malmoirac, then the Duke of Rohan him­self in person: In this Equipage they come up to the Wall, where, notwithstanding the Allarme, and Volleys of shot, the first Pe­tarde was fixed, but the Breach being not large enough, a second was clapped on, which extended it to a sufficient wideness for an armed man to pass; whither the Inhabitants flocking to defend the Breach, Bazier the Engineer, took a small Granade, and threw it in through the Hole among them, where it broke, and spoiled the Thigh of one of the Defendants, and dissipated the [Page 148] rest; which gave the Assailants opportunity to enter the Breach; the first that entred, was La Tour Cenestoux; the second, was the Baron of Villemade, and after them, the whole Party. The taking of the Town in this manner, spread so universal a terrour over Foix, that some Forts, well stored with all necessaries, gave themselves up for fear. After this the Duke was received into the Mas d' Azil, and Carlat, by which means he reduced all those, that were of the Religion in the County of Foix, to his party; and probably had done much more, had the English enterprizes in the Isle of Rè prospered; whom it will be now expedient to look after.

The negligence of the English, gave opportunity to thirteen Barks, laden with provisions, to come up to the Citadel, where they arrived the sixth of September, about the Morning, and got off again the ninth following, carrying with them all the wound­ed and unuseful persons: The easie passage of these, encouraged others to the like adventure; but, the Guards being re-inforced by the Rochellers, some of them were taken, and severely dealt withall; and on the last of September, of fifteen or sixteen Barks which came up, seven were taken, and the rest put to flight.

On the twelfth of September came from England a Renfort of fifteen or sixteen hundred Souldiers, with a supply of all other necessaries; whereupon the Duke resolved to attempt the little Fort De la Prée, and turned some of his Canon that way; but this design was dashed upon a sudden, no man knows why.

On the sixth of October, the besieged, pressed by strong ne­cessities, sent out Montaud with offers to capitulate, in case they were not relieved with victuals the next day: This obliged us to double our Guards, and, as the winde sate, it was easie to con­jecture that the relief could not come but from Osonne; whereupon some ships were commnaded out to meet them, and prevent their passage; but, instead of that, the Captain of the Guard took another course, and went wtih his ships to the Fosse de l' Oye, while three and thirty Barks, seizing the opportunity, passed with­out interruption, and nine and twenty of them came up under the Citadel; where yet it is to be noted, that they could not come near the Land, but upon a great Flood, which comes but every fifteen dayes, by reason whereof the English might yet with much facility, have destroyed the relief; which though arrived, yet could not be unladen; so that Propositions were made to the Duke, assaulting them on both sides by Land, to fire the Barks with what was in them: which might have been done without any prejudice received from the Castle, by reason of the height of the [Page 149] Banks capable to shelter the Assailants: He seemed to approve of this motion, but took no course to put it in act; contenting himself only with trifling away the time in vain attempts to fire them by Sea.

When the relief was gotten in, Buckingham calls a Council, who resolve to draw off; so that on the twelsth of October, they began to re-imbarque their Armes, and other Ammunitions they had upon the Land: After this he sent for a Gentleman belon­ging to the Duke of Soubize, to whom he declared that the Council of War, considering how well the place was stored with all necessaries, the year so far spent, his Army much dimini­shed, and all his Provisions consumed, had conceived it neces­sary to draw off; The Gentleman endeavoured to disswade him from that resolution, shewing him that the Fleet which the Earl of Holland was conducting to them, would sufficiently repaire all those necessities; that the relief the Besieged had received could not last long; and that if vigilant guards were kept, they would be soon reduced to their former extremities; that his re­treat now he had engaged them, would be the loss and ruine of the Rochellers, who would cast all their displeasure and odi­um upon the Duke of Soubize, as the Authour of their destructi­on, and that it would be an irrepatable dis-reputation to the King his Masters Arms, to have attempted such an enterprise with so lit­tle honor and profit.

To all which Arguments he gave no other answer, than that his Captains would stay no longer; but yet, if the Earl of Hol­land came time enough, with his Fleet, he would endeavour to alter their minds: By which the Gentleman concluding that the Duke was fixed in his resolutions to be gone, gave speedy notice of it to the Duke of Soubize, who ever since the middle of Sep­tember had lain sick at Rochelle of a tertian Ague joyned with a great vomiting, desiring him, if possible, to post thither; which he did, and at his arrival in the Isle of Ré, uses all his Art to perswade the Duke of Buckingham and his Officers into a better humour, of which they gave him some small hopes; but he, nevertheless, seeing them still carrying their things aboard, assured himself they would not budge from their former purposes.

The King, in the mean time, being recovered of his sickness, comes in person before Rochelle; where his presence raised both the number and spirits of his Army, and upon intelligence how the Duke of Buckingham's was lessened, resolves to make a dis­cent into the Isle of Ré under the protection of the little Fort de la Prée, which had still held out. On the other side the English [Page 150] men's desire to return, having made them very careless of their guards, they suffered seven or eight pinnaces to steal up towards the Fort, and on the sixteenth of October they land four hun­dred men; the twenty seventh there came up ten more, and on the thirtieth five and twenty; whereupon the Duke of Bucking­ham rallies his Men; and, quitting the greatest part of the Tren­ches, marches by night, with what horse and foot he had, to prevent a discent already made, commanding out a forlorne of French, which not being seconded, were enforced to retire. The Merchants of Rochelle in the mean time, seeing what preparati­ons were made for his return, instantly sollicite the Duke to give them fifty or sixty tunnes of Corn he had upon the Shore, which he assented not to, till they had no leasure to carry it off, so that they fell to the enemies share: But before his departure, to shew that he had left nothing unattempted, he resolved to make one essay more, which resolution he grounded upon the report of some fugitives from the Fort, who averred that there were but eight hundred souldiers in it, and those too for the greatest part sick; that the Courtain towards the Sea had neither graffe nor Rampart, so that if he mounted his Ladders on that side, it might be easily forced. Without any further information, or batter­ing the Parapetts, he resolves to give a general assault, proposes it to the French Officers, desiring them to dispose the English Colonels to it, and in case they should stick at it, he would then make use of his power to command them. The attempt thus re­solved on, he prepares his men for the storm, assigning the En­glish and Irish their post on the land side, and the French mix­ed with English towards the Sea: Manuel conducted the ten first Ladders, but could mount but two, though his party beha­ved themselves with much gallantry and resolution; (but to at­tempt to force by Escalade above fifteen hundred Men in a Fort with four Bastions, well furnished with Artillery, and all other necessaries, was a way eternally to discourage his Souldiers, ra­ther than to lead them on to the purchase of any honour) but lea­ving many dead, and carrying off more wounded, they were forced to retire.

This repulse, together with the intelligence of the hourly encrease of the forces in the Fort de la Pree, hastned the Duke of Buckingham's raising the Siege, and his retreat to the Bay de l' Oye, to ship his men with more leasure and security: On the eight of November early in the morning the Drums beat for their departure at noon, and scarcely was the Rear Guard got out of the Town, but the King's Army appeared much stron­ger in Horse, and equal to the others in Foot; having this fur­ther [Page 151] advantage, to pursue a retreating Army, and seize all oc­casions which either the incommodity of the passes, or the usu­al disorders that attend such retreats might favour them with. At the pass de la Coharde, they made as though they would have charged them, but observing the good order of the English, and the advantage they had of the ground, after a long halt, both Armies marched off, the English keeping the plain, and the King's Forces the Sea coast: Beyond this pass was a hollow way, which crossing the Marsh, extended it self as far as the Bridge de l' Oye: At the entring of this the Squadrons began to be somewhat pressed, and to stand upon their defence; but the Van, and then the Body being got into it, the Rear-guard, charged by the Marshal Schomberg, was easily routed; in which defeat the English lost seven or eight hundred men, but the night approaching, favoured their imbarquing of the rest.

In this action the Duke of Buckingham committed two great errours; one was, The committing his retreat to the charge of fourscore Horse, which being forced in upon the Rear of their own Troops, broke, and confounded them; the other was, His omission to raise a Fort, or some other defenceable work at the entry of that hollow way, where he had still designed to make his retreat in case of necessity, which would absolutely have secu­red it.

At his departure, he assures the Rochellers of his speedy return to their deliverance, with a more numerous and better fortified Fleet, alledging the inconvenience of the season, and defect of provisions, as the only causes that obliged him to draw off; and promising them a quick and abundant supply of all necessaries for a long defence; and further desires some of their Merchants to follow him into England, that they might testifie the inte­grity of his affection and diligence, and that they might them­selves carry back the effects of his promises. Nevertheless when he drew near the Coast of England, himself took a fly-boat, sending the Rochelle Merchants to expect him at Bristol, desiring the Duke of Soubize to do the same at Portsmouth, where he would be as soon as he; and then steers his course towards Ply­mouth, where the Earl of Holland's Fleet rode. When he came thither, he gave order that the ships that there lay ready, and laden with Corn for the Rochellers, should be discharged, and the Provisions sold, upon pretence that they would be spoyled; which done he gets before to pre-possess the spirit of the King of great Britain, rejecting the blame of the errours committed in the expedition on those were no way culpable; So that when [Page 152] the Merchants came to exhibite their complaints against him, they were informed, it was the next way to make their condition worse: And when they importuned him for a quick dispatch of the provisions for the Rochellers, the Duke of Buckingham used no other excuse to answer their sollicitations, than that they were sold; and that which more amazed them, was his carrying a­way three hundred Tun of Corn, which he might have left them, till they could have been better stored. But notwithstan­ding all this, the Merchans addressed themselves to the King of England himself; to whom they represented their imminent dan­ger, and the great preparations making to consummate their ruine; imploring his Majesty to favour them with a good and speedy recruit of Victuals, that being the greatest want that affli­cted them; which once supplied, there was nothing else which they much feared: But if their enemies had leasure to block up their Port, their destruction was inevitable: All which the King answered with promises of a powerful and speedy relief, as­suring them moreover, that he would hazard all the Forces of his Kingdom, rather than suffer them to perish.

While they expect the effect of these promises, the Rochel­lers dispatcht their Admiral Bragneau with money, and express command to buy Corn, to lade both his own, and those other ships they had already in England, and to return with it with all speed: David, who was sent after him, with the like Com­mission, stores his ships with provisions, and very happily got back with them into Rochelle: But Bragneau, instead of execu­ting his Commission, goes directly from Plymouth, where all things were ready for him, to Portsmouth, under colour of fur­nishing himself at a better rate; and yet instead of doing that, goes to London, where puft up with vanity derived from the promises of the Duke of Buckingham, he minded nothing but an ambitious and covetous pursuit of the honour and profit of the Admiralty of the refugiated French, which at length he ob­tained, by the voluntary demission of it, which the Duke of Soubize made of it, in favour of the Rochellers, and to ease them of the extraordinary expences they were at; and yet notwith­standing, all the instant, and dayly sollicitations made to him to that purpose, could not induce him to be gone, till the difficulties of the passage grew so great, that he was at last forced to wait the departure of the other Fleet preparing for their relief.

This was the issue of this expedition of the Duke of Bucking­ham, in which he wracked both his own and his Countreys ho­nor, consumed much of the Rochellers provisions, and ruined the party he came to relieve.

The hopes this Victory gave the King of carrying the Town, made him more intent upon the Siege: The whole winter he spent in investing it by Land with Forts, Redoubts, and lines of Communication, and straightning it at Sea by a Bar extending from the point of Coreilles to Fort Lewis, in which he spared nei­ther cost nor pains.

The Bonfires the Romanists made throughout the whole Country of Foix, gave the Duke of Rohan the first light of these misfortunes, the certainty of which was afterwards confirmed by an express from the Duke of Soubize, who encouraged him still with hopes that, the next Spring they should return in a condition to wipe off the stains this affront had cast upon them.

At the same time the Duke of Rohan received two several Advertisements from the lower Languedoc; one was, that the Marquess de Portes, who had many confederates in the Colle­que of Saint Germain, having corrupted the Garison in the Castle of Florac, and gotten them to declare openly for him; Montredon, chief of the said Colloque, hasted thither, and cal­ling in the whole Province to his aide, had besieged the Castle, and in sight of the Marquess de Portes, who was come with two thousand men to relieve it, sprung two Mines, stormed, and for­ced it to surrender: The other was, that the Prince of Condé was coming down the Rhone towards the lower Languedoc, and that Brison was in Treaty with him about the Province of Viva­retz, which he sought by all means to intimidate; urging the Duke of Rohan's absence, and at so great a distance from them as an argument to inforce his design: This made him consider that it was best to preserve what they were already Masters of; conceiving that if he wintered in Foix, he should bring a famine on the Countrey, which had already had but a bad year, and was so little, and so remote from their other quarters, that if the Prince of Condé on one hand, and the Duke d' Espernon on the other, should joyn with the Duke of Montmorency, he should be blocked up on all sides: That if he went to Montauban it would be to small purpose, for that the English were now gone, and the Winter was come on, and moreover that there was no possibility for him to return thence again; so that he conceived the securest way was, to return towards the lower Languedoc to oppose the Prince of Condé there, and so preserve that Coun­trey.

But before his departure, he convened the Colloque of Foix, settles Beaufort in the Government of it, to the great satisfacti­on and joy of the Inhabitants; leaving with him his own Regi­ment [Page 154] (which consisted yet of eight hundred men) and his own Troop of light Horse-men; makes Rousseliere Governour of Sa­verdun; took order for the fortifying of some places, of which there were three very considerable, to wit Mazeres, Saverdun, and Carlat; and as for the Mas d' Azil, the good fortune they had to withstand the former Siege, gave them courage again to stand upon their defence.

The only perplexity he had was for Pamiez, being a great Town, not fortifiable, nor well peopled of it self; nor indeed were there enough of the Religion in all Foix to man it as it ought: The right course had been to dismantle it; but Men, with whom in Warres of such a nature a man must of necessity comply, are hardly perswaded to things of that kinde: But although this remedy could not be applied, yet he prevailed so far upon the Inhabitants, as to fortifie a quarter of their Town called la Mar­cadal, very conveniently seated, where he designed a handsom fortification; which done he appoints his General Rendez-vous at Mazeres, whence he marches by night, and returning the same way he went, comes to Revel.

The Duke of Montmorency having notice of his motion, goes to wait for him on the great Road to Montauban, whence he suddenly retired again to his quarters. The Duke goes from Revel, to the higher Languedoc, where re-assembling the Colloque he informed them of all he had done in Foix; encourages them to a constant perseverance in their fidelity; and establishes a Council for the direction of their affaires, untill such time, as he could send them a President for the Colloque, there being no man among them, that the rest would give place to, for that the Marquess of Malauze who had been formerly their Presi­dent, and would, without dispute, have again been accepted of, was now wholly bent against their Party; the Court having pre­vailed so farre upon him, as to make him oppose the Duke of Ro­han in that Province; which that he might the better do, he faines a desire to be reconciled with him, which he signifies by Letter to Beaufort; and afterwards, at his first meeting with the Duke, discovering some displeasure, that Castres was not yet joyned with the Party, protested that as soon as that Town, and Montauban, should do so, and that a General Assembly was for­med, he would also publiquely declare for them. This had a pe­stilent influence on the weaker sort, and gave the dis-affected among them, an opportunity to work much mischief among the people; For neither the Declarations of Montauban and Ca­stres, nor the convening of a general Assembly wrought any change at all in him, who continued still an enemy to the Re­formed [Page 155] Party; And dispatches also Villemade to Montauban to inform them of the cause of his return, to perswade them to de­clare, and to command the Souldiery, but in subordination to the Consuls: But this last proposition spoyled all the rest; no man being esteemed a Prophet in his own Countrey, so that they resolved [...]o assure themselves of a Governour before they would en­gage in the War.

After this the Duke returns towards the Sevenes, and when he came to Vigan, received very urgent dispatches from Viva­retz, with intelligence that Brison had quitted all the higher Vi­varetz, upon the approach of the Prince of Condé (although for want of Canon, he was not in a capacity to force the most inconsiderable Fott there) who had burnt and pillaged that poor Countrey; and that, if they had not speedy relief, it was to be feared that Privas, and the lower Vivaretz, would make their peace, to which Brison earnestly incited them; but upon notice of the Duke's return, and that he was coming in person to their relief, they re-assumed their courages, and maugre all Brison's disswasions, resolved to stand upon their guard; which obliged the Prince to pass into the lower Languedoc; whither when the Duke also came, he met with some Souldiers of Nismes, who had seized the Castle of Vauvert, which he caused them to quit, upon the advance of the Prince, who seemed to have an intenti­on to besiege it; unwilling to give him any occasion to stop there, knowing that his orders were to pass into the higher Lan­guedoc, and that his stay would prejudice a design he had upon the Citadel of Montpellier, which Bretigny David, for six months together, had managed with the Baron de Meslay, his Kinsman, and intimate friend; and eldest Captaine of the Regiment of Normandy, then in Garison in Mont­pellier.

Now, forasmmch as upon the arrival of de Fosse, the Regi­ments of Normandy and Picardy were to be drawn out of the Town, and others to be placed there in their rooms; Meslay who had there married one of the Religion, seemed much dis­contented at this alteration; and that he had not left his own to embrace the Reformed Party: Bretigny, on the other side, who very well knew his ambition, cherishes him in this humour, and at length tells him, that if he could contrive a way to make himself Master of Montpellier, it would be then in his own power to make himself satisfaction, and that withal he would be received into a Party, from which, by that means, he might obtaine whatever his own wishes could suggest to his Hopes. The other listens to him, and demands time to consider both of [Page 156] the thing, and the means to effect it, and both together con­trived expedients for mutual Interviews, and conveying intelli­gence, without suspition, one to the other. Not long after he tells him he was now resolved to undertake the business; Treats with him concerning the advantages and conditions he expected from the Reformed Party, and shews him the way he had to make himself Master of the Citadel; to wit, that being on the Guard every fourth day with his own Company, he could, with much ease, let in as many as he pleased into it: That for assu­rance of his fidelity he would give his Wife in hostage; and when the design was to be put in execution he would advance an hundred paces from the Citadel towards Bretigny, to yield himself up into his hands.

When all these things were communicated to the Duke of Rohan, he very well liked of them, for that the two lines of Communication, which conjoyned the Town with the Citadel, being made, and the Town Wall that separated them razed, as they were now at work upon it, the Town would not be able to defend it self; but withal he declared that he would never at­tempt this design, till that Wall were down, or, at least, great breaches were made in it, that so one and the same action might put them in possession both of Town and Citadel. The design thus concluded on, the Duke, for some dayes, deferres his march: But seeing they proceeded too slowly in raising the Walls, he departs, and advancing a little way from Roque-Courbe to pass into Foix, Meslay sends Bretigny word, that the affaire was now in a very good posture, and that it was necessa­ry it should be put in execution, before the Garison in the Ci­tadel was changed; Whereupon he is dispatched into the Se­venes, and the lower Languedoc, with all necessary instructions tending to the executing of the design, and an express charge particularly to impart it to Montredon, and to none else: But all was delayed till the arrival of the Duke of Rohan, to whom they then made new Propositions, that, at the same time the Citadel should be attempted without, he should storm the Town with two thousand Men, and also scale the Walls of Communi­cation, alledging, that when they should be Masters of the Ci­tadel, the time they must have to pass three or four thousand Men, through one gate, would give the Town too much leasure to arm themselves. This made him somewhat more cold in the business, and gave him great suspicions of the treachery inten­ded; whereupon he continued firm in his former resolution; in so much as Bretigny complained that he found him so refractory in a business able to revive their drooping Party: But he de­monstrated [Page 157] to him the danger of this last proposal, and that being once Master of the Citadel, nothing could hinder his taking of the Town also.

While the Prince of Condé was upon his March towards the higher Languedoc, the Duke of Rohan Rallies his Forces, ap­pointing the Rendez-vous to be on the 19th. of January a little above Claret, five leagues from Montpellier; where about two of the clock in the Afternoon, there met six thousand fighting men: Thence he sent a party of Horse to advance before the rest of the Army, as far as the Bridge of Saleson, which is about a league from Montpellier, to intercept all such as might give any notice of his approach: And then commands Bretigny, chief of the enterprise, to march with the Van, consisting of fifteen hun­dred Men, and divided into fix Squadrons; the three first were composed each one of thirty armed men, called out of the Vo­luntiers, and out of the best of the Cavalry, with Halberds and Pistols; and of fourscore others, half-Pikes, half-Musquitiers; every ten armed Men had their Officer, and carried with them Petardes, and Ladders, to force the Court of Guard in the Citadel; and two great Forks to keep up the Portcullis; the o­ther three Troops were composed of four hundred men, each one; and were ordered for a Reserve to the other: After these, marched the Duke with his Men at Armes, followed by all the other Squadrons, the biggest of which consisted not of above four, or five hundred men. When they came to the Bridge of Saleson, they found there the Baron de Meslay's Man, who as­sured Bretigny that all went well; whereupon, leaving all their Baggage on the other side of the Bridge of Saleson, with a hun­dred Souldiers only to guard it, they advance as far as the Bridge called Juvenal, which is about a Canon shot from Montpellier: Bretigny, by a bold Souldier, gives notice of his arrival to his Cousin, who so well knew how to fool him, that he returned with an assurance that all was well, and in a good condition, and that there was no difficulty in the matter: Whereupon he proceeds, not minding at all what had been so often recommended to him, not to enter the place untill Meslay was come forth to him, and had put himself into his hands; but his impatient desire to execute so brave a design, animates him, without this precaution, to enter the Citadel with six or seven and thirty men; those within not daring to let any more come in: For as soon, as they saw them plant their Forks to support the Portcullis, they cut a cord, by which means the Bridge was drawn up, and a Trap-door opened, whence most of those that were gotten in, fell down into a Trench, where they were all harque-busiered, the Musquitiers at the same [Page 158] time playing on those without; Montredon, who in Bretigny's absence was to command, and had received a charge to be at the Gate, and see them all enter in good order, drew off the Troops, and gave the Duke notice of their success, who had drawn up his whole Body in Battaila on the right, and left hand of the great Road-way, which he had left open for the retreat of those of the Van; who when they were all passed, he returned to the Bridge of Saleson, where making an Halt, he Rallied his Men, and then drew off into the Plains between Montpellier, and Lunel, quar­tering his Men in the best Villages thereabouts; not any one stir­ring out of Montpellier to pursue him, or observe his March. The next day he gave leave to the Troops, that came from the Se­venes to depart; and marched with those of the lower Langue­doc, to Saint Gilles, where he thought to have made an attempt upon that Garrison, but the violence of the cold forced him to send his Men into quarters.

This was the issue of that enterprise, in which Bretigny, and his brother were slain, with about twenty others, and sixteen or seventeen more were taken prisoners.

This Winter was the Duke of Rohan hardly pressed both in the upper Languedoc, and in Vivaretz; in the former of which was the Prince of Condé; who whil'st he prepared to invade the Province by open force, endeavoured also by secret practices to undermine the constancy of those Towns that had declared for the Reformed Party; so that the Duke of Rohans presence there, with his Forces, was absolutely necessary: And on the other side Vivaretz, since the Prince his March through it, was in a mise­rable condition; the higher Vivaretz being lost, with all that the Duke held upon the Rhone: And besides all this, the Duke of Ventadour in his Seigniories, and Messargues in those he held in right of his Wife, used extream cruelties, and violences a­gainst those of the Religion, seizing on their Estates, torturing their Bodies with Whips, and Bastinadoes, driving them to Masse; so that there came thence, to the Duke, frequent dis­patches, and Deputies, one upon the heels of another, to im­plore his presence, and the assistance of his Forces, to restore them to their liberty, which otherwise they should be inforced to purchase at any rate; considering also the divisions between all the Nobility of that Countrey, and Brison; assuring him also that they had taken care for the quartering of his Troops, as long as their necessity should require their stay there.

There happened yet another accident, which much obstruct­ed this Voyage; to wit, the unexpected death of Brison, which [Page 159] much enlarged the former divisions; for if the Nobility refused to submit to Brison, who had been already twice Governour of the Province, much more would they oppose his brother Chev­ricles, a young man, of small experience, and far short of his brothers conduct to govern the Province: On the other side the faction of Brison, which was the most prevalent in Privas, and Privas the most considerable place of all Vivaretz, chose Chev­rilles for their Governour; for that, being conscious of his weakness, they thought to rule all more absolutely, than under his brother, and to allow him what part they pleased, in the ad­ministration of the Affairs: To which must be added, that the Province of the lower Languedoc, which was to advance the Lea­vy-money, being highly interessed in the preservation of Viva­retz, and blocking up the Rhone, it being a River that with great facility and speed could convey all sorts of Arms, and Am­munition to the enemy, preferred this design, before that of the higher Languedoc; for which place Rohan had raised two Re­giments, of five hundred Men apiece, which was all they desired, in case he could not come himself in person: But the untoward humour of Faucon, to say no worse, much retarded this relief; for being designed for that expedition, after he had promised to go, and for that reason had received more Advance-money than was usually allowed; he endeavoured to corrupt his Captains, that so he might reject his merited blame on them; but being not able to prevail on more than one, he was at length constrained to declare openly that he would not go at all; so that the Duke could send but eight of those Companies with Caumette-Cham­baud, who commanded the other Regiment: But by reason of these difficulties, protractions, and the artifices used by Faucon to withdraw both Officer, and Souldier from this Voyage, those eight Companies could never amount to more than eight hundred men in the whole. The Duke thereupon caused Faucon to be secured, and tryed at a Councel of War, where he found more favour, than justice. 'Tis one of the greatest calamities that attend the Generals of Parties poor, and composed of Volunta­ries only, that they have no capacity either to reward the Noble, or punish degenerous and unworthy actions.

But to return to the Voyage of Vivaretz: The Duke of Ro­han raises four thousand Foot, and about two hundred Horse: But before he began his March thither, dismantles Saint Geniez, and other small places upon the River Gardon, within the Dio­cess of Vsez, lest the Romanists, in his absence, should possess themselves of them, and by small Garrisons take off the contri­bution of all that Country which was full of good Towns; and [Page 160] prejudice the passage from the lower Languedoc to the Sevenes: And then engages the aforesaid Provinces in a resolution not to hearken to any particular Treaty, but to communicate all occur­rences to him, as on his side, he promised the like, and never to consent to any without the privity of them, all the other Provin­ces, Rochelle, and the King of England.

When he had taken this course, he comes about the begin­ning of March, with all his Forces to Aletz, where he was sol­licited (even to a sedition) by the Inhabitants, to employ his Forces in taking in of Vezenobre, and Monts, two Garrisons that incommoded them; but having cleared himself of this impor­tunity, he advanced. His first work was to secure the Castle of Rousson, lying between Aletz, and Saint Ambroix; and after­wards, in his March, takes in Tharque, and Saint John de Marne sols, two places belonging to the Marquess de Portes, which yielded at sight of his Canon; the latter of these he dismantled, but not the former, being but a small Castle, and the usual residence of the said Marquess: Having cleared his way as far as Bariac, and being now upon the Confines of Vivaretz, he thought it necessa­ry to secure a Pass upon the River Ardache, for the advantage both of his advance and return. To this end he besieged the Castle of Salvas, situate on that River, which he blocked up with part of his Forces, whiles the other part, under the command of Au­bais, passed the River, both for the convenience of quarters, and provisions, as also that at the same time he might block up the Castle of Valon also: The Siege of Salvas lasted five dayes; for that the Canon, and other necessaries, to force it suddenly, were not yet come up; so that they contented themselves with breaking some of their Out-works, and then had recourse to two Mines which they sprung, and to good effect too; the base Court being taken, the Garrison retreated to the Tower, which was stormed on every side: Those within behaved themselves brave­ly, killed and wounded many of the Assailants, and among o­thers, the Colonel Goudin was hurt; but the Canon came up, and did such execution on them, that they were constrained to yield the next day after the assault.

Their example drew the Tower de Moulins, and the Castle of Valon also to a submission: The Duke caused the two Castles to be razed, preserving only the Tower of Moulins, which of it self was strong, and tenable by a small Garrison. To secure this pass, and clear all the way of Vivaretz, there remained only Ville-neufve de Berg, where the Governour Montreal had gotten together twelve hundred men; but notwithstanding that, the Duke was resolved, had it been possible, to attempt it; that [Page 161] so he might not leave any thorns behinde him: But he wanted Ammunition, having spent his small store at the Siege of Salvas; where the scarcity of provisions, and the nearness of some of his men to their own homes, had much diminished his Forces; and, which was worse, so little care had the Province taken in it, that there was nothing for them about Ville-neufve, so that he was fain to leave his Canon at Gorce, and for conveniency of quar­ters, to March with all his Troops to Privas, the Countrey ha­ving not had the least thought of any thing, but how to retort the blame of their want of Provisions one upon another, so that he had much ado to keep together those Souldiers he had left. The first exploit after his arrival in the Province of Vivaretz was the Siege of Choumerarg, performed by Chevrilles, and the Country Troops, whil'st his own refreshed themselves; it lasted three dayes, and then their Works being all battered, the place was yielded on the second of April.

The Duke of Rohan's designs in Vivaretz, were to place a Governour, and to compose all the divisions there; but principal­ly to secure a good pass upon the Rhone, both to draw the Tribute of the River to himself, and to facilitate the March of those For­ces which the Duke of Savoy had promised him: For which end some proposed to him Sojon, others la Voute, others Bajes, and Pousin; the inconvenience of the first was its situation, being in the higher Vivaretz, and so remote from Privas, that it could not be easily removed from thence; that of the second was, that it was a place belonging to the Duke of Ventadour, and being of it self weak, and not capable to be made good, would drain Privas of all its Ammunition, and consequently draw an affront upon that place, which would ruine his reputation, both with the adverse Party, and his own too: Wherefore he pitches on the latter, and begins with Pousin, which when Brison gave it up, was dismantled; but, to prevent our re-possessing of it, the ene­my had fortified a small Tower in the Castle, and raised a little Triangular Fort upon the Rivers side; he commanded Aubais by night, to possess himself of that part of the Suburbs which lies to­wards Lauport; and Leques at the same time to enter the Town: In the mean time he drew his Canon, whereupon the Fort was given up; but chiefly for that Leques had already taken the Tower, and from the advantages of it, and the Castle, played so furiously into the Fort, that none durst stir to shew himself in it.

Chevrilles with the Forces of the Province, at the same time besieges and takes Saint Aaban, which obstructed the pas­sage from Privas to Pousin; and Malmoirac was commanded [Page 162] to possess himself of the Town of Bajes, to secure it with Bar­ricadoes, and seize on all the Boats in the Port, which he happi­ly effected: This done, Aubais received command to attempt the two Castles of Bajes, which after their dismantling, had been again repaired; but upon the approach of the Canon, yielded: Which done, the Duke taking into his consideration the situation of both places, conceived that of Pousin to be the most conve­nient, both for the facility of being fortified, and the advantage it had to command the River; thither then he commanded to be brought all the Boats, and sent Leques with twelve hundred men into Dauphine, which brought so great a terrour on them, that many Towns sent him in voluntary contributions of Corn, Meal, and Bread, which was a great relief to his men, whom the avarice, and disaffection of Privas had exposed to great extre­mities; and, that he might lose no time, sets about the Fortifi­cations, to which the Countrey contributed so little, that he was fain to make Collections among his own Officers to pay the Soul­diers that wrought in them.

The Duke, during his abode here, sollicites those of the Religion in Dauphine to joyn with him; but in vain, the Count of Soissons amusing them with hopes that he would shortly appear himself in the head of them; whereupon he sent the Count some overtures to joyn with him, with four thousand Foot, and three hundred Horse in any part of Dauphine, he should please to ap­point; and that if he would bring but as many, he would engage himself in a short time to make him Master of the greatest part of Dauphine; but he had no other return than empty words, and com­plementary thanks, which made him think that the Count had rather make an inglorious peace with those he declared to be his enemies, than engage in an honourable War against them.

Whil'st he stayed at Pousin, he also received intelligence from the Duke of Soubize by Carlincas, that the Fleet designed to bring the Corn to Rochelle, would be there towards the latter end of May; but the other, from which they expected their en­tire deliverance, not till after the Harvest. Chevrilles, who saw the streights the Duke of Rohan's Forces were in, for want of pro­visions, proposes him to an attempt upon Cheilard, a small Town, belonging to the Duke of Ventadour, and seated upon the Confines of Vellay; It has large Suburbs, and a Castle, that commands them: All the Inhabitants of this, and the neigh­bouring places, are of the Religion, and till now had been se­verely persecuted by their Lord, even in times of peace; in order to the effecting of this design, he demands of him two Regi­ments, which were granted him: The Town he took with Pe­tardes, [Page 163] and with the two aforesaid Regiments invested a Castle, called La Chezé which is about a Canon-shot distant from Chei­lard, and upon the sight of two Faucons that were drawn up to it, was given up; with these Gunnes he begins to play upon the Works of the Castle of Cheilard; but the Pieces being not sufficient for Battery, he was fain to send to Privas for some bigger.

During this Siege, the Duke had intelligence from all parts, of the Duke of Montmorency's arrival in the higher Languedoc, who raised all the Forces he could to set upon him in his Marches, or to cut off his passage by taking Barjac: This newes made him resolve, no longer to defer his return; wherefore he writes to Chevrilles, that in case the Castle of Cheilard was not taken by a day, which he prefixed, he should send back the two Regiments; which so quickned his diligence in the enterprise, that the place was taken within the time limited him: And the Duke having gi­ven order for the razing of all the places he had taken, except Pousin; and left Chevrilles in a firm possession of his Govern­ment, sets out from Privas upon Easter day, and encamps that night below Mirabel; and as he was marching thence the next Morning by break of day, Aubais, that led the Van, informed him that the enemy appeared, both Horse and Foot, about Saint Germain, a large Town, indifferently well fortified, and distant about a quarter of a league from Ville-neufve; whence they al­so drew out fresh Souldiers: They were all the forces that Ven­tadour and Montreall could make in that Countrey, which alarmed not the Duke at all, while he was employed about those small Sieges. They made choice of that place, as the most ad­vantageous for them, the passage being strait, and the Dukes For­ces of necessity to pass within a Musquet shot of the Town, the passages to which, were very commodious to lodge Musquetiers in: But the Duke of Montmorency, being half a dayes March short of them, they only made a little skirmish, which made the Duke of Rohan desirous to pursue them, and force the Town, which he might have done, but was happily disswaded from it, lest the Duke of Montmorency with his fresh Forces should surprize him, while he was engaged, which would certainly have happened; for he came to Ville-neufve about two houres after they had got­ten over the pass, which was done with very good conduct and order; in this Rencontre there were some slain, and wounded on both sides: After this no enemy appeared; but the Duke when he came to Gorce, took his Canon, which he drew back to An­duze, where he gave his Troops some refreshment, which they ve­ry much wanted.

Mean while the Prince of Condé and the Duke of Montmo­rency joyning their Forces take the field, and march into Foix to attempt Pamiez, a great Town, but of no strength: The ill destiny of Beaufort impelled him to a resolution of defending it; to which end he calls in all his own, and most of the Forces of the Countrey; but, a breach being made, their confusion was too great to give them leave to think of any further resistance; those that were false among them, using all means to augment the others fear: Beaufort seeing this disorder, endeavoured to save himself by flight, together with Anros, but they were both taken, carried to Thoulouse, and there put to death: The town was pillaged, and all manner of licentious cruelties imaginable from Souldiers under such a Commander, were exercised in it: The taking of this Town much dismayed the whole Countrey, where no place escaped the attempts either of threats, or promi­ses; but the courage and fidelity of Rousseliere, whom the Duke of Rohan had made Governour of Saverdun, together with his sedulous industry to encourage others preserved the Province; and the Prince marched back, with his Army, into the upper Lan­guedoc: Then was the Duke of Montmorency fain to return to Vivaretz, to the assistance of his Partisans there; and the Duke of Rohan was with no less instances sollicited by the higher Langue­doc, to the same purpose.

The Prince his first exploit was the Siege of Realmont, a Town whose situation rendred it very considerable; well stored with Souldiers, and all sorts of Provisions, and which might have held out much longer, and very well expected the relief preparing for it: But neither did he begin the siege, till he had Treated with Maugis who was Governour of it; who, having corrupted the first Consul, the Colonel Chaumette, and his Sergeant Major, and made some shew of opposition for ten or twelve dayes, without any breach made, or consulting with his Captains, or the people, contrary to the Oaths they were mu­tually engaged in, at the enemies first coming before it, not so much as to make the least mention of surrendring, enters into a Capitulation, signes it, and presents it to the Town; who re­fusing to approve of it, he lets in the Besiegers at a Port, which was at his own devotion, whiles the rest were every one at their respective posts; so that great was the confusion there, and though by the Capitulation the Defendants ought to have mar­ched off with their armes, yet was that violated, and they dis­armed, Sigalon, and Huguet, two of Chaumett's Captains, with some other honest Inhabitants of the place, maintained a Basti­on, resolutely declaring to the World, that they had rather dye [Page 165] than quit their armes, which they carryed off, and with them as much honour due to their bravery, as the others did infamy, me­rited by their baseness. Great were the miseries of this poor Town, whence Men, and Women stript, and without any o­ther covering than their dischevelled haire, came to Roque-Courbe; where Saint Germier, and L' Espuguet, who had the conduct of the affairs of those of the Reformed Party in those parts, by means of the Correspondents they had in Castres, made use of this Barbarisme to provoke the people to an Insurrection, which had so prosperous an event, that notwithstanding the op­position of the President Montespieu, of the Advocate Gene­ral, the Consuls, and their adherents, the Walls were scaled, and the Town without the effusion of any blood taken, and the President, and the Advocate banished thence. Chavagnac at the same time came very opportunely into the Countrey, sent thither by the Duke of Rohan to command in chief there, where he was received, and, even in Castres it self, with an universal Joy.

For besides the delight all Novelties usually bring with them, the present state of affaires required a Governour; otherwise the Prince had carried all the Mountain of Albigeois before him; whereas now the greatest mischief suffered there was the loss of Cauve, which the Marquess of Malauze caused to be delivered up to him, in which place, contrary to his promise, he left a Garison: After this he made an offer at Viane, blocked it up, and raised a battery against it; but seeing that neither his threats nor promises made any impression on the Besieged, and that the Governour Eseroux, and Assas, whom the Duke of Ro­han had sent thither with four hundred men, seemed to be such as would give him a smart opposition, he raised his siege; and thence goes to attempt Castelnau and Brassac, places of no strength, but surpriseable even by unarmed men; Neverthe­less the former gave him the trouble to draw down his Canon, where the obstinacy of some, occasioned the loss of forty or fifty good Souldiers, who chose rather to submit to all extremities, than to observe the Orders given them by Chavagnac, to draw off as soon as they saw the Enemies Canon, which they might have easily done: This done, the Prince, not daring any more to look towards Viane, sends Linas to Saint Sever, a place of which he himself was Lord, to perswade the Inhabitants to sub­mit before he drew down his Canon; but seeing how ineffectual all his perswasions proved, he stayes there with them; where, after they had endured many Volleys of Canon shot, themselves made a breach in the Wall, and escaped by night. Thence he [Page 166] goes to a Conference with the Duke d' Espernon, at which they re­solved on the Siege of Saint Afrique.

But before we pass into the higher Languedoc, it will be ex­pedient that we speak a word or two of Montauban: This Town, though it was then governed by Consuls, and other Magistrates that were great Enemies to the Reformed Party, had neverthe­less great inclinations to joyn with them: This, the Duke of Ro­han himself at first hindred, being not willing they should de­clare before he came to them; and when after his return from the voyage of Foix, he desired them so to do, nothing obstructed it, but their want of a Governour: Whereupon the best part of the Town casting their eyes upon Saint Michel, a younger bro­ther of La Roche Chalais, and of Kin to the Duke of Rohan, who applauded their choice, they received him into their Town about May, and there, after that de Bergues, and Saint Foy, through many difficulties, and great dangers, had conducted thither, from the lower Guienne, fourscore, or an hundred Horse, and Viant a Company of Foot, and that he had all his necessary Provisions ready, on the four and twentieth day of June, they put him in possession of his Command. The first thing he did, was to order all things in a Militiary way; raising a Regiment composed of Voluntiers, such as had Asyled themselves there; and inrolling also in the establishment, those Horse that de Bergues had brought thither.

But before he could well settle himself in his authority he met with many rubbs, having for enemies, not only those that were of a contrary Party, but, even among his own, many rivals for the place, who under-hand did him many ill Offices: Some of these he surmounted by prudence and dissimulation; and to o­thers he was fain to apply open force, and the extremity of rigor: The most eminent example of which, was occasioned by three young Souldiers, Natives of the Town, whose names were Car­tié, La Forest, and Brete, who disgusted at a denial of some Offices they sued fo [...]; or else set on by some others, envious of his honour, entred into a conspiracy against his person, and to compass their design make a Party in the Town, to which they drew in many Giddy braines, and among them some of quality, as the sonnes of the Advocate Clerk, and the Counsellour de la Rose, which gave greater suspitions that this business was fo­mented by other persons, who, though they appeared not at all in it, yet were they the principal Agents. The pretence of this conjuration was the publique liberty, by which means having raised many of the people, they shew themselves in the head of them, with their Swords and Pistols in their hands, and in that [Page 167] equipage march to the Governours quarters, crying out Liber­ty, Liberty! and that it was high time to rid themselves of those that oppressed it: When they came near to his door, they were stopped by some of his guard, who so gallantly behaved them­selves in the defence of it, that they killed five or six of the Mu­tiniers, and among others Clerk, and La Rosse: The tumult spreading it self in the Town, the Consuls, with a great num­ber of the Inhabitants, haste down to the Governours; to whom when Saint Michel had recounted the Action, and justified the procedure of his Souldiers, all were well satisfied; and the Con­suls causing the said Cartie, La Forest, and Brete, Authours of the sedition to be apprehended, they were tryed, and condem­ned by the Council of Warre, which in favour of their re­lations in the Town, instead of hanging, caused them to be shot to death.

Saint Michel, whom this example of Justice had now fixed in his authority, thinks of enlarging his quarters; and conceiving himself strong enough in Souldiers, by reason of those that were fled thither for shelter, he undertook to put the Town of Cuasade in a posture of defence; and having put Chastillon a Gentleman of Angoulmois with eight hundred good men into it, he used such diligence in his fortifications, that in a very short space the place was made tenable; This the Prince, and the Duke d' Espernon had intended to besiege, but were diverted by the Siege of Creseil, which drew away the Prince with his Forces, so that the Duke d' Espernon was unwilling to engage alone in the Siege, but endeavoured to contrive some intelligences, and cor­respondencies within, that might help him to surprize it, in which even the Minister of that Church, whose name was Le Grand, who had deserted it in the very beginning of the trou­bles, was his great Assistant, informing him of the condition of the Town, and perswading him, as much as in him lay, to at­tempt it; but finding his design not feisible that way, he conten­ted himself only with an assault, which he caused to be made on the out-works, where he was so generously received, that, leaving many dead upon the place, and some Garisons in the adjacent Towns, he drew away again.

But return we now to the Duke of Rohan, who, from the be­ginning of the Siege of Realmont, was extreamly importuned to relieve it, for which he was diligently preparing himself; but after it was taken, he was as earnestly sollicited to march towards the higher Languedoc, so that there passed not a week in which he received not two or three dispatches, to that effect: On the o­ther side he found he should have much ado to gaine his Soul­diers [Page 168] consent to it; for that their late sufferings in Vivaretz gave them cause to fear they should meet with no better entertain­ment in this Voyage; so that to allure them to it, he resolves on a design upon Mirveis, a place upon the Borders of Roüer­gue, strong, and of great concernment to the Sevenes, where he knew all the Countrey would come in to him; assuring him­self withal, that, whatever his success should be in the at­tempt, having by this means drawn his men half way, he should with more facility perswade them to adventure on the rest.

Wherefore he sends for le Fesque, who first moved this de­sign to him, and perswaded him, that in taking the Town, he should also surprize the Captain of the Castle, and at one stroke carry both: He gave him Orders to take as many Souldiers as he thought he should have occasion for; but at the time ap­pointed for the execution of it, so violent and tempestuous was the weather upon the Mountain de l' Espernon, the place of Rendez-vous, that many of the Souldiers (though it was then Summer) died of the cold; so that they were faine to put it off till another time; which gave the enemy some jealousie of their intentions, and those in the Castle leasure to furnish themselves with many necessaries, and especially to recruit their garisons with Souldiers: Notwithstanding all which Le Fesque returnes thither again within two dayes, and fixing four Petardes to it, carried the Town: But, instead of presently investing the Ca­stle, and securing the Corn for the nourishment of the Army, every one fell a pillaging, and in the mean time the Chevalier Chamboux, with fifty men, got into it.

The Duke of Rohan in the mean time expecting the issue of this design at Nismes, gave Orders for the raising of the Mili­tia of the Sevenes, and principally of the two Regiments of Va­lescure, and La Roque, and sent away those of Lassayre, and Brenoux, commanding them by several wayes to march towards Mirveis, and, upon the first notice of the taking of the Town, to invest the Castle, and draw thither the small Canon that was at Vigan: He sent away also Goudin's Regiment to Barjac, which the Duke of Montmorency hovered about, as if he had some design upon it; with Orders also, in case necessity so required, to march into Vivaretz.

This done; he receives advice of the taking of Mirveis, and the disorders there committed: Whereupon he departs from Nismes, and steering his course thitherward, sent Leques post before him to compose and order all things there, When he came to Vigan, he met with a dispatch from the higher Langue­doc, [Page 169] pressing him more instantly than ever to hasten thither, otherwise the whole Countrey was in danger to be lost; where­upon he sent away Aubais with the Regiments of Sandres, Four­niquet, and Bimart, and three Troops of Horse: When Le­ques came to Mirveis; conceiving, that that Castle was not to be forced by so mean a Train of Artillery as they had there, he commands the Canon to be drawn to Nujolls, to secure a Castle standing upon a pass of great importance, which upon the ap­proach of it presently yielded.

After this, comes the Duke himself to Mirveis, and being of opinion with Leques that there was no taking of the Castle without a bigger piece of battery: Those that were at Millaud were proposed, as the nearest and most easie to be drawn thi­ther: Thither then he goes with a sufficient Convoy for them, but found it absolutely impossible to bring them; wherefore he commands Leques, by a Letter, to send with all speed to Anduze for the Culverin of Nismes; And in the interim determines to go himself to Saint Afrique, upon report of the Siege of Viane, which the Prince pretended to attempt; but as he was ready to set out, he received a Letter from Leques, which informed him, that upon a bruit spread among the Troops at Mirveis, that he was going towards Castres, and that there was a great relief preparing for the Castle, very many of the Souldiers had left their Colours, that the Inhabitants of the Town had sent away their goods, and that unless his sudden return thither pre­vented it, he would finde the Siege totally abandoned: This made him face about with all speed; and finding that the Let­ter he had written to Leques was fallen into the enemies hands, he sent another to Anduze for the great Culverin; and resol­ved now to see what would be the event of this Siege: In order to which he plants his Canon, and with them batters the Out­works that he might the more easily (in case there should be oc­casion for it) come to mining; and as he was giving Orders to storm the Castle-works the night following, there came Newes that there was a very considerable Body forming for the relief of Mirveis; that all Larzac and Roüergue flocked in to them; that there were twelve hundred drawn out of the Garison of Mont­pellier, and that from Beziers and Gignac, were sent many Souldiers also; and that their Rendez-vous was to be at Veiros, two Leagues distant from Mirveis: In effect the thing was ve­ry true, and moreover the Baron Puzols, who commanded the Duke of Montmorency's Life Guard, was already come thither with three hundred Horse, to undertake the charge of the whole relief which consisted of about two thousand Foot: This [Page 170] made the Duke defer the storming of the Castle, that he might provide to repel these succours; to which end he spent all that night in cutting a Trench across the hill, the only way they had to relieve the Castle, and caused his Canon to be drawn into a Redout; the next morning, the Majors General Leques and Boissiere, visit all the quarters, cause the Redout, and Trenches to be well-manned, and Ammunition to be delivered out to the Souldiers, and also give all necessary instructions to the Colo­nels; the Duke of Rohan himself stayes in the Parade place with Montredon, the Voluntiers, two Troops of horse-men, whom he had commanded to alight, his own Guards, and La Baume, with two hundred of his own Regiment, that he might be ready upon all occasions, to send relief to those that should need it; about Noon the Scoutes give notice of the Romanists approach, and suddenly every one betakes him to his Post, when presently after they shew themselves upon thetop of a hill, whence they sent down five hundred men in two divisions, which advanced boldly, and in good order up to our very Canon, which gave them a very harsh salute; besides which, they saw the Trenches well stored with men, and on the right, and left hand, Regiments marching up the Hill to environ them; this put them upon as sudden and nimble a retreat; being followed with Vollies of Musquet shot, up to the top of the Hill, where presently all disappeared, and by the disorder was to be seen among them, might be rather conjectu­red to flie, than to retreat: The next day every one took his own way, and the Duke returned to the intended assault; battering, the night following, the Pallisadoes of the Counterscarfe, all which were broken down; and then drew up to the very Graffe, from whence he bear the Defendants off their Works; who as he was approaching to the Wall, beat a parley, which they obtained, together with very honourable conditions. This Siege lasted three weeks; and when the Castle was delivered, there marched out one hundred and thirty Souldiers, that wanted neither Ammuni­on, nor provision.

When the Prince had notice of the reddition of Mirveis, and that the fifteen Companies drawn out of Montpellier, were upon their March to joyn with him, he resolved with the Duke d' spernon, upon the Siege of Saint Afrique; which when the Duke of Rohan was informed of, he would have gone to Millaud; but the next day, after the reddition of Mirveis, find­ing that he had no more than eight hundred men left, the rest being gone to refresh themselves, he was forced to go to Vigan; after he had gotten an engagement from them, that within ten days they should be all ready at any Rendezvous he should appoint [Page 171] them, to go to the relief of Saint Afrique; he sent dispatches also to Nismes, and Vsez, from whence he received a very good recruit.

In this interval, the Duke of Rohan had notice of what became of the second Fleet, which was dispatched from England, to supply Rochelle with provisions, untill the greater, designed for its entire deliverance, could be made ready. The story is this, The Duke of Soubize, seconded by the Deputies, and Merchants of Rochelle that were then in England, urges the King with such earnest and assiduous importunities, that he re­solved upon the victualling of Rochelle; for which, when all things were in a readiness, the Duke of Buckingham offered him the command of the Fleet; but understanding that there were but five men of War designed for their Convoy, and perceiving by so slender a provision of ships of war, that he intended to draw an affront, together with the whole blame of the Rochellers upon him, he refuses to accept it, but declared withall, that, if he would go in person, he would be ready to accompany him; Upon this his refusal, the Duke of Buckingham re-inforces the Fleet with five great ships more, and many other men of War; and being raised to the number of seventy in all, on the 17th. day of May, he sent them orders to hoise Sail, which they did under the command of his brother-in-Law, the Earle of Denbigh; soon as the enemy descryed them, they weigh Anchor, as if they in­tended to advance, and fight them; but on the sudden tacked a­bout again towards the same place from whence they came. Brag­neau took a French Pinnace at Sablenceau, where the Earle cast Anchor so near the Shore, that he thence received a Canon-shot into his own ship, which made him weigh Anchor again, and with the whole Navy remove to ride at a greater distance from the enemies Canon. Many dayes were spent in debates, and re­solutions never executed; so that some Merchants, that were there, urged him to attempt either to fight, or pass by them; but his Captains stiffely maintained that it could not be done, with­out exposing the English Forces to too great a hazard; only the Vice-admiral, and one Capta in Carre, shewed more forward­ness, and loudly exclaimed against the flackness of all the rest: Whereupon the French that were then in the Fleet, to the num­ber of two or three and twenty ships, and Barques drew up together, and seeing the backwardness of the others to resolve on any thing, come in a Body to the Earle of Denbigh, and pre­sent him a Petition signed by them all, by which they beseeched him to grant them four Merchant-men fitted for a fight, three fire­ships, and Souldiers to guard those ships that carried the provisi­ons, obliging themselves with that equipage to get into the town, [Page 172] and promising moreover, both in their own, and the names of the Rochellers, that in case any of those ships miscarried in the adventure, they should be payed for, according to a just estima­tion of their value. But to all this they received no answer, but evasions, and denials; whereupon the French sent Gobert, to the King of great Britain, with their complaints, and withall, to discover to him the facility of the passage, and the offers they had made: Mean while the Captain Videau takes a small Boat, and in it passes the Bay by night, carrying to the besieged a let­ter from Bragneau, which advised them not to rely any longer on hopes of relief from the English, who, at the same time, without any further attempt made, weighed Anchor, steering their course home-wards: When they came to the Isle of Wight, they cast Anchor there, and thence sent their Apologies into England be­fore them, grounded upon the impossibility of the enterprise, and the tenour of their Commission, whose most substantial words, and which imported a permission to fight, they pretended were interlined, although it was with the Kings own hand.

These excuses were easily admitted by the Duke, and those of his Gang, though others deduced from them but sad consequen­ces for the Rochellers, that poor and miserable people, that with such transports of joy beheld the arrival of the Fleet, with no less astonishment saw it lie idle for eight dayes entire, and then leave them in a greater dejection than before; and yet having received so many promises, and assurances of relief, could they not give credit to their Admirals Letter, but prepare a new dispatch to the King of England; who upon the newes of the Fleets return, as­sembles his Council, and resolves to send back Gobert to the Earle of Denbigh with new Orders to return again to the Rode of Rochelle, and there to expect a Renfort. About which time also came Bragneau with newes of the Fleets return, and two dayes after Clarke, who was sent to be of the Earles Councel, and Agent for the King in Rochelle, who when he had given in his relation of the affair, had his own house for his prison: But to hasten away this new relief for the distressed Rochellers, Orders were given to Captain Manners, & Captain Pennington, to expedite the building of ten great ships, of fifteen hundred, or two thou­sand Tun-burthen, made purposely to fight near the shore, not drawing more than seven or eight foot-water, and carrying two and twenty Guns a piece: The Duke of Buckingham, who desired not that any one should pry too narrowly into the projects he had against Rochelle, removed from the Court a Secretary that was very zealous for its deliverance, causing him to be sent to Portsmouth to prepare other Vessels, and buy Provisions, and Ammunition there, where he stayed till the departure of the Fleet.

But let us now see what passed at the Siege of Saint Afrique, a small Town, lying between two hills that command it, so that nothing can be done within, that may not from thence be disco­vered; neither did any till this time, ever think of fortifying it: But yet the importance of the place for preserving the Commu­nication between the higher, and the lower Languedoc obliged us to break the ground, which is there very maniable: But never did that Town expect the honour of an assault from the first Prince of the blood: The River Sorgue runs under the walls of it, and divides it from that part of the Suburbs, that lies towards Vabre, which of necessity was to be fortified also, it being easie for the enemy to make his approaches that way, and for that the River beating against the Walls, would not give way to any nearer for­tifications on that side: The whole fortification of this Suburbs was composed of Spurs, and little Flanquers, whose Trenches were four fathom wide, and the Parapet Canon-proof, behind it was nothing but a small bank instead of a Rampart; all that gave us hopes to be able to defend it, was, that there was room enough for us to intrench our selves behind it; besides, so strangely odde was the situation of that place, that without a great Army, there was no hindering of relief from coming to it, both from Millaud, Saint Rome, Tarn, and the Bridge of Cauvers.

Anbais, who was advanced as far as the said Bridge, that he might have an eye upon Viane, when he saw the Army bind its course towards Roüergue, divided his Forces into two parts, re­serving the stronger to himself, and sending the other to Saint Afrique, which the Prince came before on the eight and twenti­eth day of May; and having viewed it, conceived it intenable, and at that instant condemned it to the fire, and all manner of ex­tremities; nor yet indeed was it to be defended, but by a great number of men: Aubais very handsomly did his devoir, sending them from his quarters, as many men, and as much powder as they desired: La Baume, whom the Duke of Rohan had left with his Regiment at Millaud, for the same purpose did the like; so that in the very height of the Siege, there was no want of any thing; but there happening a difference between Vacaresse, and Bimart, Saint Estienne, and Sandres were fain to interpose, and reconcile them, who afterwards did very good service in the storm. The approaches, batteries, and breaches, being all made with in the space of eight or ten dayes, the Prince com­mands his men to make ready for the assault, and those within al­so prepare to give him a brave reception; who, though they had very good Works and Trenches, would not yet lose one inch of ground: There were within the Town, besides the [Page 174] Foot, the Baron d' Aletz, and Saint Estienne's Troops of horse; the best armed among them were placed at the Breaches, and all the other posts were well manned also: The whole Garrison con­sisted of fifteen hundred fighting men; the storm lasted five houres, was thrice renewed, and during it, one Culverin dis­charged about sixty shot upon one of the Breaches, which carri­ed off some legs, and armes; but could not save the Assailants from a repulse, who left four hundred dead upon the place, among which were La Passe, and La Magdaline, two Captains, and fourty other Officers, not comprising those that were wounded; of the Defendants there were flain about eight and twenty, and threescore hurt.

The morrow after the assault was made, came both from Millaud, and the Bridge de Cauvers, four hundred men more to Saint Afrique: The news of this quickly flew to the Duke of Rohan, at Mirveis, where he had three thousand Foot, and made what hast he could thither; having given order that Cha­vagnac, with the Forces of Albigeois, should joyn with Aubais, and fall upon the enemy on one side, while he did the like on the other; and the besieged, at the same time, were to make a sally upon their Canon: But that which he feared, came to pass, to wit, the Prince his raising the Siege: Then had the Duke a fair opportunity to pursue him, and then thought of no­thing that would prevent it: But the affairs of Castres summoned him thither, where Saint Germier, induced to it, by those that were disaffected to the Reformed party, opposed Chavagnac in his command: Those of Foix required his presence, to remedy the disorders fallen out there since the death of Beausort; the Town of Villaude would by all means that he should sit down before Cresseil, and sent Deputies purposely to sollicite him to to that effect; and on the other side, the Siege of Saint Afrique being now over, no body would stir a foot further; all alledg­ing the necessity of their return, to look after their Harvests, es­pecially those of Nismes, and Vsez, whose fields were threatned to be ravaged; and besides these, there were in the Army many Citizens, and Merchants, too delicate, long to endure the hard­ship of an Army: Vivaretz also cryed out for help, the Duke of Montmorency being fallen into that Province, with a strong power: Lyonnois also with Dauphiné, Vivaretz, and the lower Languedoc, importuned him to free the Rhone; on which the Duke had already besieged Pousin, and battered Mirabel.

Amidst these urgent follicitations on all hands, the Duke, it being impossible for him to divide himself amongst them all, re­turns to the lower Languedoc; sends Aubais to Castres, to com­pose [Page 175] the divisions there, and designs Saint Estienne with his Troop for Foix; whiles he with the rest of his Forces, to divert the Duke of Montmorency from Vivaretz, goes to Vezenobre, which by a long March he susprized, so disfurnished of men, that having with one Petard, taken the Town, the night fol­lowing he raised his Battery, and the next morning began to play upon the Castle, which he took by assault; but gave quarter to all in it.

This Siege wrought the wished effect; for the Duke of Montmorency, after he had taken Mirabel, instead of continu­ing his progress in Vivaretz, marched off to relief Vezenobre, which he thought would have held out much longer; but finding the business all eady over, he drew off to Beaucaire; and the Duke of Rohan, when he had given order for slighting of Veze­nobre, dismissed his Voluntiers, put his other Regiments into Gar­risons, and goes himself to Nismes, to put them in a posture to prevent the spoil the Duke of Montmorency had command to make there; but had written to the Court, that he could not un­dertake it with less than six thousand Foot, and five hundred Horse; for which care was taken, and he supplied with three Re­giments from Dauphine, and some Horse drawen out of the Army, the Marquess of Vxelles was then conducting to the relief of Ca­zal: These preparations made Nismes, and Vsez look about them, and promise good quarters to all the Horse and Foot should come in to their assistanee: The Duke of Rohan writ to those of the Sevenes, to this effect; but they came not so soon as they promised; nor did those of Nismes gratifie them as they ought; Nevertheless he goes to see what might be done, and pro­mises to preserve all their Corn, within a League of their Town, to wit, that which lies upon the Vistre (which is the richest land about Nismes) a small, but dangerous River; all whose passes he spoyles, and in all places of danger caused good Redoubts to be built; but as for the rest of their Fields, there was no possibi­lity of preserving them: And yet, had the Peasants observed what was commanded them, which was, to leave their Sheaves scattered upon the ground, they had saved a great part of them; which being made up in stacks, and the enemy coming to for­rage at the time they usually thresh out their Corn, (which is there done in the Fields) they were all easily consumed.

The Duke of Montmorency takes up his first quarters at Saint Margueriete, a good league from Nismes; and the next day lea­ving it on his left hand, came and lodged at Chaumette, and Saint Genies, three leagues distant from Nismes, and as farre from Vsez: Thence passes through the Towns upon [Page 176] the Gardon, and so gets into Vauvage, and took up his last quarters at Bernis and Vehas.

In this march, which lasted six or seven dayes, he burnt much Corn, and also many Villages; which done, he retires to Beaucaire (having not at all entred into the Territories of Nismes) and the Troops of Dauphine returned to joyn with the Marquess of Uxelles, all the Voluntiers went home; the forces of the lower Languedoc were sent into Garisons, and the Duke of Mont­morency himself went to Bezieres and Pezenas.

About this time came a Gentleman from the King of England to the Duke, which dispatch was occasioned by an apprehension given him, that since the return of the second Fleet, there were two Deputies with the Duke of Rohan, in order to a Treaty for peace; to divert which, he was commanded to tell him, that though that Fleet after an ineffectual Voyage were returned, yet there was now so strong a one prepared, and ready to set Saile, that he was confident it would be the entire deliverance of Ro­chelle; and that though God should not favour him in that at­tempt, yet would he never forsake the rest of the Reformed Party; Nay, although there should be no more left than the very person of the Duke, he assured him he would hazard all that he was Master of, for the preservation of that alone; desi­ring further to know of him what hopes he had of assistance from Italy and Spaine, that in case the King should press him too hard, he might be directed by him how to assist him, either by a diversion or otherwise: David, one of the Deputies of Ro­chelle was present at the delivery of this Message: To which the Duke replied, that he was so far from any thoughts of a Treaty, that he had again caused the Oath of Union to be renewed, to this effect, that none should hearken to any peace, but conjoyntly with him; and that he had already made known to him, the means he had to assist him.

This done, the Duke seeing the Duke of Monmorency's Troops lay scattered and dispersed in several parts, takes his turn also, and burnt all the Corn, and Countrey Houses belonging to the Inhabitants of Beaucaire, within Musquet shot of their very walls: And when he thought to make another inrode into the Marish-Countrey for Salt, he met, in a narrow place upon the Rhone, nearer home, two Barques convoyed by a Frigote, and laden with four and twenty thousand French Bushels, so that commanding some of his Souldiers to swim to the other side for a Boat, he transported many of his Foot to Camargues, that he might on both sides attaque the Frigote; but she soon for­sook her Merchandize, which was as quickly carried away: Be­sides [Page 177] this booty, they drove much Cattle from Camargues, and did much spoyle there also by fire. When the Duke of Montmo­rency heard of these excursions, he made haste to rally his for­ces, appointing them their Rendez-vous at Lunel. The Duke, in this expedition, going, and returning, marched above four­teen long Leagues, without making any long stay in any place; and got home again before any of the enemy could be gotten together; And happy was it for him; for he was but in an ill condition to fight; every Souldier being so laden with pillage, that he could never get any more to march in order, than three hundred souldiers, of la Baume's Regiment, which brought up the Rear.

When this expedition was over, the Duke was in great per­plexities, not knowing how to dispose of his Forces, especially his Horse: For he could now raise no more contribution for their maintenance, by reason that the Villages were all burnt: And the Sevenes was no Countrey for Horse: If he should go towards Castres, there was the Prince with his Army in the higher Languedoc, who had particular Orders to impede his passage; and the Duke of Montmorency had also a strict Com­mand, with his Forces to follow him, whither ever he should go: For it was feared lest he should go to Montauban, and raise those of the Religion in Guienne in favour of the English, whose coming they feared: If he went into Rouergue to no o­ther end but to eat them up, it would not be long ere their cryes would be heard; so that necessity now obliged him to undertake the siege of Creseil.

But before we go thither, it will not be amiss to say some­thing of Aubais his return to Castres; who though he made but a seeming accommodation between Saint Germier and Chavag­nac, the cause of the misunderstanding still remaining, and fo­menting their conceived rancour one against the other, so that the pretended reconciliation lasted not long; nevertheless his being there was to great purpose to oppose those that came to forrage and plunder those parts, where his brother Saint Esti­enne was unhappily slain, by their own Canon, which being not well spunged, as they were re-charging it, the Powder took fire, and killed him: He was a Gentleman of great courage, and zeal for his party, and was the next day to have gone into Foix, where they stood in great need of him.

The Marquess of Ragny, who commanded the Prince his Army, and had much ravaged the Countrey, goes, for his last exploit, to burn Mazamet, and to besiege Hautpont, whither Dupuy, a gallant Souldier, with the Inhabitants of Mazamet, [Page 178] were retired; but having, to no purpose, lain before it for the space of twelve dayes, he drew off to Brugiere, where he dyed.

And here it will be expedient to insert a word or two concer­ning Clausel, who coming from Piedmont, made the Duke of Rohan some propositions of assistance from Spaine; which, if de­manded, he was confident he might have freely, and in a large measure; for that having conferred about it with the Spanish Em­bassadour in Piedmont, he had given him very good hopes of it; telling him moreover, that it was the Interest of Spaine, to endeavour a prolongation of the Civil Wars in France; that they might with more ease compass their designs in Italy; that the Abbot Scaglia, the Dake of Savoy's Embassadour, was now in Spaine, and would contribute his utmost power to assist him in it; having already in England, and elsewhere, declared himself a great favourer of the Reformed Party, out of his implacable hatred to those that govern now in France.

The great exigencies the Duke was in for want of money, the Countrey being unable, aad the Towns unwilling to furnish him any more; neither could he expect any from England; nor had he received any thing from the Duke of Savoy, but empty promises, enforced him to seek out some way or other to sup­ply his wants; and in effect he saw none but this; which yet he durst not pitch upon, without the King of England's leave, fear­ing lest it might give him an offence, and consequently an oc­casion to desert him: Notwithstanding this doubt, yet would he not reject Clausel's proposals; but deferres his dispatch, till he could give notice of it to the King of England, and to his Embassadour then in Piedmont; from both whom he received very favourable answers; and then sent Clausel into Spaine; In­joyning him to declare to the King of Spaine, that if the con­tinuance of the War in France might be serviceable to his de­signes, upon condition he would afford those of the Religion a speedy and round supply of money, he would engage himself to protect it, as long as it should be agreed upon between them; but that otherwise he should be constrained to make his peace; that he should have the whole Winter to provide it, and that he would expect his answer till the next March: And forasmuch as that, immediately after the departure of Clausel, there came news of the loss of Rochelle; he sent two Messengers after him to let him know, that that accident had not any thing shaken his resolutions; but that he continued constant to his former pro­posals. Clausel passes through Foix into Spaine, where he was very well received, and heard; and had very advantageous Pro­positions [Page 179] made him also; All which good news he imparts to the Duke of Rohan; giving him good hopes of a prompt, and powerful assistance: At length having concluded the Treaty, he goes into Piedmont, to facilitate and expedite the execution of all things; and as he went, landed a Gentleman belonging to the King of Spain, who was to have brought the Duke a Copy of the Agreement; But he suffered himself to be taken at the Gates of Lunel, when he had but half a League more to go be­yond all danger, of which Rohan advertised Clausel, who when he came to Piedmont, gave the English Embassadour an account of all his negotiation.

Return we now to Creseil, a place about a Canon shot di­stant from Millaud, having a treble inclosure of Walls, one whereof environs the Town, and the two others the Castle, which must be forced one after another, for that there is no co­ming at the Castle, but through the Town; the farthest part of it being built upon a Rock of a vast height: It is true, the Walls that inclose the Town are not worth any thing, being ru­inous, and full of breaches, so that it were a shame to lie eight dayes before it, and not to take it: But he that has to deale with a people, to whom no design seems difficult, and when they come to put it in execution, make no provision of necessa­ries to effect it, will want no incumbrances: Rohan gives no­tice of his intentions to Alteyrac and Guerin, that without any noise, they might put all things in a readiness to effect them; and gave Alteyrac also Orders to block up the place, a day before he came with his Troops; that so he might surprize it at a greater advantage, when meanly furnished with Souldiers; which he did, but yet all their diligence could not prevent the entry of supplies into it.

When the Troops were all come up, the Siege was formed, and a battery of two Guns raised, which had not discharged six shot, before the Carriage of one of them flew all to pieces; and when that was mended, the like accident befell the other; so that the whole time, almost, was spent in repairing the Carri­ages of the Guns; and with such untoward Timber, that when all was done, they did but little better than before; so that the breach being not made large enough in one day, they were fain to remit the prosecution of their battery till the morrow, which gave the besieged leasure to repaire, and make it better than before: Nevertheless urged by the shortness of his time, the Duke commanded an assault to be made, in which he was re­pulsed. In the mean while the Duke of Montmorency, who with his Army, had still waited on the motions of Rohan, joynes [Page 180] with the Prince; and having disswaded him from his intended attempt upon Causade, and gotten together all the Forces of that Countrey, came with eight thousand Foot, and six hundred Horse to lie at Saint Geo ges, distant but a league from Creseil; of which, when the Duke of Rohan had intelligence, that very night he drew off his Canon, and the next day, having left Cre­seil again at liberty, drew up his whole Army in Battailla near Millaud; where about noon, the Prince appeared with his whole Army, which, when Montmorency had recruited the Gar­rison with men, and all other necessaries, marched off to their quarters.

This Siege did at least this good, that it preserved Causade, which was not yet in a condition to withstand so great a pow­er: The night following Rohan sends his Foot into Saint Rome upon Tarn, and into Saint Afrique; and seeing that both Ar­mies were so near him, he thought with his Cavalry, having no baggage to incumber them, he might reach Castres in one night: This he proposed to his Officers, who were of opinion, that it would be convenient to stay one day longer, to observe the countenance of the enemy, which totally frustrated his intenti­ons of passing that way; for as he was about to attempt it the next day, he found that Montmorency had prevented him, and waited for him on the way both with Horse and Foot; which made him instantly resolve to take with him all his Forces, and by great Marches got into the higher Languedoc, to besiege Aimargues, which he was confident (in case he found but the ordinary Garrison in it) a few dayes would make him Master of; It is a Town of an indifferent bigness, distant about four leagues from Nismes, and one from Lunel, seated in the best part of that Countrey, and upon a Flat, no wayes to be commanded, the mold also being soft, and tractable; and in short, accommoda­ted with all things necessary to make it a very brave place; it is also inclosed with fair Free-stone Walls, flanked with small Towers, and a large and deep Trench, full of water, on the outside of which were two or three half Moons, little, and ill made. To this end he sent Aubais to Nismes, to get the Ca­non in a readiness, and that he might the better conceal his de­sign, divides his Forces, and marches thither two several ways; he himself, with that party which he conducted, came thither first, and presently invests the place; the next day arrived the others also, and then he assigned every one their post, and en­tirely blocked it up: And without further delay sent to Nismes, to hasten away the Canon, which came also in good time: The night following, he plants them upon the Battery he had raised, [Page 181] and the next day, without the loss of one man, made a fair breach; and having made provision of ladders, for that the Walls, being but low in many places, are easily scalable, and the Trench in many parts passeable, he disposed his men for a general assault: When the Governour, the Marquess of Saint Sulpice, a younger brother of the house of Vsez saw these pre­parations, conceiving he had not men enough to defend him­self against the storm, he demands a parley; the Duke of Rohan sent him word, that he was much troubled that a young Gentle­man of his quality should be so unfortunately engaged in a place where from his first Essay he could derive nothing but disadvantage and dishonour: Nevertheless out of regard to the amity between their houses, he offered him as honourable conditions, as he him­self could have desired, which he accepted, and within an houre after marched out with his Garrison.

The Duke of Montmorency, while he was yet at la Caune, at the same instant received intelligence, both of the Seige, and taking of this place, and upon the re-iterated importunities made him, presently repaired thither to settle the Province, which the so sudden taking of Aimargues had much disordered. The Duke of Rohan mean while employes that little leasure he had in clea­ring the Countrey of those Paltry Forts, and Towns, which lay about Nismes, and Vsez; as the Castle of Vauvert, Mainne, Sargnac, Saint Bonnet, Resmolins, Ves, and Chastillon, which yeilded upon the approach of his Canon: All which he demo­lished, except Resmolins, which he was desirous to keep for that it might be useful to him when he should have occasion to look towards Ville-neufive by Avignon: But the conservation of Aimargues, and the Fortifications he had there begun, made him relinquish all other designs for the present, to apply himself whol­ly to that.

Whiles he was thus occupied, survenes the Duke of Mont­morency, threatning to besiege Aimargues, and preparing his Canon, and all other necessaries for it; which obliged the Duke of Rohan to draw towards it, and clap in twelve hundred Foot, where he designed also a Counterscarfe, Curtains, and half Moons, to be made for the security of those places which were weakest, and most liable to danger; and having summoned in the Militia of the Sevenes, he put six or seven hundred of them into the great Galargues, whither he caused ammunition-bread to be sent them daily from Nismes, commanding them to defend it against a party, but not to stay till the enemy drew down their Canon. Some weeks passed they in this posture; in the mean time the Duke of Montmorency despairing to do any good upon [Page 182] Aimargues, turns his design upon the Forces in Galargues; ap­points his Rendez-vous by break of day at the Bridge of Lunel, and that morning goes thence to invest them. The two that com­manded there, were Valescure, and la Roque, both gallant Gentlemen, the former very stiffely persists in a resolution to see their Canon, thinking by night, to draw off into Vauvage, a good Countrey for the Foot, and where all the Inhabitants were of the Religion; but this was contrary to the express order of the Duke of Rohan; who understanding that they were besieged, with all speed rallies his Troops, and comes to relieve them: The Duke of Montmorency on the other side, draws all the Garrison out of Montpellier; the Regiment of Normandy also, with seve­ral others, come to joyne with him. His Army with his Canon, he ranged in Battailla, in a place of great advantage: Rohan going to view him, that he might know whether he should at­tempt this relief by day, or in the night-time, findes him to be four thousand Foot, and four hundred good Horse strong, and so advantageously lodged that there was no coming at him in any good order, nor without passing within Pistol-shot of a dangerous Valley; which made him not discover his Troops, and defer ad­vancing with the relief till the night following: He incamps about half a league from the place, in a Valley near a Wood, leaving a Troop of Horse to observe the motions of Montmorency, and to hinder the discovery of his own Forces: About the close of the evening comes a Messenger from the besieged, to demand some assistance, whom he sent back again with another with him, to tell them, that when they should hear the Alarme on the other side, they should be ready to sally out at such a place as they should direct them; that they should finde five hundred selected men to receive them within Musquet-shot of Galargues; and that he, with the rest of his Army, would be within a quarter of a league ready to bring them off; that if they knew any better way to save themselves, they should acquaint him with it, and care should be taken of them; but, if they approved of this course, that they should make three fires upon the top of the Tower, that it might be accordingly followed. The Messengers got very well in, and the besieged also approve of the design; In witness whereof they give the signal of the three Fires, and pre­pare themselves for the Sally: The Duke of Rohan sent the five hundred men he had promised within two Musquet-shot, caused the Alarme to be given thrice, and yet no body stirred in Ga­largues, but all stayed till day; which being now pretty well ad­vanced, he drew off his five hundred men, who by a Volley of shot at their departure, let them know how near they had come [Page 183] to fetch them off: The Duke understood afterwards, that some of the Captains, who had bad legs, or lame courages, hindred their coming forth; whose fears flattering them with false and deceit­ful hopes, made them choose rather to submit to their enemies, than run the hazard of marching three or foure hundred paces with seven hundred men, with their Swords in their hands, which when they had done, they were sure to be received by five hun­dred more, and a quarter of a league farther by two thousand. In great choler, and with an extream regret did the Duke draw off again, the next day, knowing they had yielded themselves to be disposed of at the discretion of their Conquerours, if they procured not the surrender of Aima gues; which if they effected, then were they all to be set at liberty, and have their baggage re­stored to them: Valescure, and Baviere, were chosen Deputies, and sent with this goodly message to the Duke of Rohan, who made them both prisoners; but Valescure escapes, and gets into the Sevenes, to incite the Communalties there to an insurrecti­on, in case Aimargues were not given up again; others also went thither privately from Montpellier to the same end; Rohan fearing some commotions in that Province, goes thither too him­self, and takes with him the Deputies of Nismes and Vsez, as­sembles both the Provinces at Anduze, where he brought them to this resolution, that Aimargues should not be re-delivered, and that all those prisoners they already had, or for the future should take, should be treated with the same rigour as was used to those of Galargues; and that he might have his revenge, he sits down before Monts, with but two thousand men at most; five dayes did he lie before it, for that the incessant rain that fell, re­tarded the arrival of their great Canon from Anduze, for the space of three whole dayes together: But though the bad weather mischieved him on that side, it abundantly recompensed that In­jurv on another, swelling the two Gardons, so that four or five Regiments, which could they have come the direct way, had reached him in one dayes march, not able to pass the Rivers any other way, than by a Bridge, were fain to make four or five dayes of it; and he to prolong their journey, causes all the Boats, and Ferry-boats upon the Rivers to be broken, and a strong Guard to be kept at Saint Nicholas Porte; so that immediatly upon the arrival of his Canon, without further fear of any di­sturbance, he batters the Castle, and reduces the besieged, a hundred and fifty in number, to such ill terms, that they yielded upon condition to undergo the same punishment as should be in­flicted on those were taken at Galargues, perswading themselves still, that Hannibal, to whom the house belonged, and who was [Page 184] Bastard-brother to the Duke of Montmorency, would be able to prevail with him to save his Friends, and Allies: But Montmo­rency, to make his action more eminent at Court, having sent word that he had taken the prime Officers and Souldiers of the Sevenes, the King commanded that all the Colonels, and other Officers should be hanged, and the common Souldiers sent to the Gallies; which the Prince having notice of, would not give him leasure to let the Court know what had happened at Monts; so that he caused threescore and four to be hanged, which indeed were not all Officers; but many that were well clad, stiled them­selves so, out of hopes to finde better usage; see how many times men gull themselves: The Duke of Rohan also, for his part, caused the like number to be hanged, not sparing any for their quality, except some few, which he reserved, to fetch off some others, which Hannibal had gotten to himself, who were after­wards exchanged.

In the mean time Montauban goes on luckily with the War, in which that Town, without the assistance of any other, alwayes behaved it self best of any of the Reformed Party. Saint Mi­chel, before he engaged in any other enterprise, looks after the preservation of Causade, upon some jealousies he had of the Governour Chastillon; for that in all Military actions he disco­vered too much offeminacy, and too much disregard of things re­lating to the security of the Town; but principally for that he held too frequent correspondencies with those of the adverse par­ty, under pretence of procuring the enlargement of his brother, who had been a prisoner ever since the last peace: Neither was he without some suspitions of the others aime to out him of his Government, which made him begin to think upon some way to preserve himself in it, to which end he Courts the affections of the Souldiers, and people of the Town; but before he had well made his Game, he most imprudently declared publickly, that he would no longer own any subordination to Saint Michel, who to prevent, and crush this mischief in its birth, exhibited the Articles he had to charge Chastillon withall to the Council; whereupon it was ordered that he should be secured, and tried by a Council of War; which was neatly carried by Saint Michel, who very privately, and insensibly having gotten many Souldiers into Causade, and coming thither himself unthought on, with­out any the least commotion, seizes upon Chastillon, and car­ries him to Montauban, where he was for a time kept prisoner, and examined: But whether it was, that the proofs against him were not clear enough, or that they feared lest the punishing of him would be a discouragement to other strangers; he was set at [Page 185] liberty again; and Pontbeton was made Governour of Cau­sade in his place; who continued in that command untill the Peace.

Saint Michel having thus secured this Town, thinks upon taking in of many small Forts, and Castles, which were a great disturbance to Montauban; having now a fit opportunity offer'd him by the plague, that had driven away most of the Garrisons the Duke d' Espernon had left about him; in pursuance of which he drawes his Canon into the Field, and begins with the Castle de la Motte d' Ardne, and having battered, and taken it by as­sault, fired it on the second of September: When he came back to Montauban, he had intelligence of a great body drawing up, composed of the Countrey Forces, and some other Regiments also, sent for purposely to oppose his designs: On the 6th. of the same Moneth he lays an Ambuscade for them among the Vineyards of Dieu-Pantole, about two leagues distant from Mon­tauban, and with his Horse goes to draw them into it, and meets them in the plain of Castalans, and Saint Porquier, where the enemy, without expecting till the rest of their men were come up, or indeed staying one for the other, pursue him in disorder up to the very Ambuscade, where being once engaged, he char­ges them on every side, and leaves some four or five hundred of them dead upon the place, besides a great number of wounded, losing not above three or four of his own: Thence he marches up to the very Towns of Castalans, and Saint Porquier, and o­ther Villages, and Farms, which he fired, and then returns to Montauban. The next day he besieges the Castle of Ville-Dieu; which having endured the battery a whole day, yielded the next; those within it had their lives given them, but they remained pri­soners of War, and the place was burnt. On the 8th. of Octo­ber he went from Montauban to besiege Escaliez, about two leagues from Montauban; but those of that Garrison stayed no more for him, then did those of Blavet, both which retreated to Salvagnac; these two Forts he also burnt: And because Mouli­ere Governour of Villemur, had now his Regiment on foot, he was very desirous to invite him into an Ambush also, which he endea­voured to do, by firing the Mills of Villemur, which were in sight of the Town, whence yet none would stir out; in his re­turn thence he came before the Castle of Poulauron, which he forced.

The Garrison of Salvagnac being thus re-inforced with those of Escaliez, and Blavet, began now to grow insolent, and would no longer stand to the Agreement made with those of Montauban, to suffer them freely to pass, and repass; whereupon [Page 186] he laid an Ambush for them also; to allure them to which, he sent out sixty Horse, and fifty Foot, when presently came forth an hundred, or six score Souldiers, to gain the Ford upon the River Tescou, where they met with such entertainment, as very few of them ever went back again.

About the beginning of November sallied out sixty seven Souldiers from the Garrison of Loubejac, to lay an Ambush near Montauban, upon the great Road to Negrepelisse; which Saint Michel having notice of, drew out some Horse, and layed a Counter-Ambuscade in the way by which they were to retreat; and charging them in an open field, slew about threescore and four of them; and after this, took the Castle of Bourquet by Petard. Many other little actions passed there at Montauban, in which Saint Michel alwayes came off with honour.

It is now time to return to the lower Languedoc, whither presently after the taking of Monts, came the newes of the Reddition of Rochelle, after the long sufferings of that poor people, had given such large testimonies of their invincible constancy.

The Rochellers upon the retreat of the second Fleet, sent four several Messengers to England, with instructions all to the same effect; viz. To represent unto the King, the deplorable con­dition they would suddenly be reduced to, and minding him of his promises, to beseech his Majesty with all speed to send them some relief, assuring him withall, that how many, and heavy soever their pressures were, they would not submit to them, but wait his answer: La Grossetiere, who was one of the four, arrived there on the 15th. of June, and was sent back again with many fair promises on the 30th. but in his return was taken, carried to the King, kept a prisoner till the Town was taken, and was then put to death. The 10th. of July following came the second, and on the 14th. arrived the third; but the last, who came about by Holland, was some-what longer on his way.

Before the arrival of la Grossetiere, had the King of great Britain dispatch't la Lande with two other Souldiers, to give the Rochellers notice of the great supplies he was preparing for them; and after him was also sent Champfleury with the like as­surances, who got into Rochelle, but one day before the Fleet shewed it self in the Rode: The ships preparing for this expedi­tion being not yet finished, the Engineers pitched upon a new in­vention, to wit, the lotting out of three ships lined, and the decks covered with brick, and laden with stones of an immense bigness, and stuffed with barrels of powder, to make these Mines play effectually upon the Barricado the French had made in the [Page 187] Port: But the King of England very much unsatisfied with the flow progress of the Fleet, went himself in person on the last of July to hasten it, in which journey the Duke of Soubize wai­ted on him.

The Duke of Buckingham staying behind, sets his wits on work to find out some means to obstruct the sending away of the supplies, and to this end, endeavours by the means of the Vene­tian Residents in England, and France, to have some over­tures for a peace made: But seeing that took not, he resolves up­on a journey to Portsmouth; but before his departure, sends for Vincent, a Minister of the Church of Rochelle, and makes him write a perswasive letter to the Rochellers, to dispose themselves to accept of the peace the Duke of Buckingham was now procu­ring for them; which the Embassadour of Savoy having an inkling of, he plainly demonstrates to Vincent, that it was only an invention to retard the departure of the Fleet, and so defeated that project.

At length, on the 24th. of August, comes the Duke of Buckingham to Portsmouth, and on the 29th. arrived there fifty ships, some men of War, and others laden with provision, and ammunition: But on the second of September, the Duke of Sou­bize going to visit the Duke of Buckingham, as he had newly di­ned, he told him that just then he had received intelligence of the re-victualling of Rochelle, and that he was now going with the newes to the King; and as he was lifting up the Hangings to go forth of the Room, he was stabbed with a Knife, into the great Attery of the heart, by an Officer, whose name was Fellon, of which he fell, and dyed immediatly: Nor were the Duke of Sou­bize, and his followers free from danger, it being muttered in the Chamber, that it was a French-man had done this act; but Felton, who might have easily escaped, if he had listed, having not been observed by any one, voluntarily discovers himself to be the Authour of this Homicide; saying, that it was better that two men should perish, than a whole Kingdom. The next day the King makes the Earle of Lindsey Admiral, Morton Vice-ad­miral, and Montjoy Reare-admiral; the other commands were not changed, but the same Captains that were in the former ex­pedition, went also in this, with a greater force, but the same resolutions. After the death of Buckingham, it appeared that not half of the Ammunition and Provisions for the Fleet were yet shipped; and that should the prosecution of their business an­swer the slowness of the beginnings, there would be yet three moneths work more to do; but by the care, and presence of the King, more was now dispatch't in ten or twelve dayes, than in many [Page 188] weeks before; so that all things being now ready, they set saile on the eighteenth of September: That which made the Duke of Soubize conceive better hopes of this than the former Fleets, was the care and diligence used by the King, and the command he gave his Admiral, in his presence, not to do any thing without his advice; committing the charge of this expedition conjoyntly to them both.

On the nine and twentieth of September came the Fleet in­to the Rode of Rochelle, and after a calm, which continued all Sunday and Munday following, at night the Wind arose, and sate faire for a sight, so that about two houres before day, up­on the Admiral's firing of a Gun, they all set sayle, and at six of the clock in the morning began a fight, which lasted about three houres, in which, on both sides, were discharged three or four thousand piece of Canon, and that was all: The next day about the same houre was the fight renewed, but more tempe­rately, and at a greater distance, so that both those fights were concluded without any great loss to either side: On the third of October comes up to them Friquelet a Captain that had formerly served under the Duke of Soubize, and coming, as he said, from Tremblade, shews a Letter from the Captain Treslebois, desiring him to know of them whether they would hearken to a Treaty of peace or no; to which was answered, that he should shew his pass-port, or else that Treslebois should come up in his Shalloup between the two Fleets, and there let them know what he had to say; which, on the seventh of the same moneth, he did, with one whose name was de l' Isle, both who were remitted to Montague and Forain, who, finding that they had no particu­lar Commission, but came only to know whether the French would Treat apart, excluding the English, answered them, that that could not be, and so both retired to their own Parties: Ne­vertheless upon occasion of this interview the Admiral sent Montague with a Dutch Gentleman whose name was Kimphaus­sen, under colour of demanding of some Mariners, that were Prisoners in the French Fleet; but his going thither again the two dayes following, pretending they had promised to shew him the Barricado in the Port, and confessing, at his return, that he had not seen it, because the Tide did not serve, bred some jea­lousies, that he went thither upon some other design; And when, upon a report that there had Articles mutually passed between them, the Duke of Soubize complained that they had entred up­on a Treaty, unknown to him, and without the Privity of those that were principally concerned in it; it was flatly denied: But when the continual goings to and fro of Montague, had confir­med [Page 189] their suspicions of a Treaty, it was put off with this excuse, that they treated of things not relating to theirs, nor the Interests of France: And not long after, the Admiral sent Montague into England, with a pass which the Cardinal of Richelieu gave him.

On Sunday the one and twentieth of this moneth there hapned a remarkable passage; one Pojanne, a Captain that had former­ly served under the Duke of Soubize, a Villain covered with Crimes, and that had now redeemed his life, by the engage­ments he had passed to the Cardinal, to kill, or burn Soubize in his ship, sets saile out of the River of Bourdeaux, in a good ship of two hundred Tun burthen, and filled with Combustible matter; and, the better to palliate his design, passes as an ene­my, making prize of several French he met withal, and so gets up to the English Fleet; When he was come in among them, he tells them that he was come to serve the Party of the Religi­on as he had formerly done, and desires to be conducted to the Duke of Soubize who knevv him very vvell: With him vvas a Gentleman of Anjou, vvho, as he vvas going to Rochelle, had been cast upon the Coast of Spaine, there taken, and thence sent to the Cardinal, vvho finding him to be a bold and adven­turous person, promised him not only his pardon, but infinite re­compences in case he would accompany Pojanne in this enter­prize: The desire he had to save himself together with the per­swasions of his brother, who was a servant to the Cardinal, made him promise whatever they required of him: But when they came to the fleet, he unfolded the whole plot to Soubize, whereupon Pojanne was taken Prisoner, his ship and Prizes sei­zed on: And to prove that this Gentleman said nothing but truth, he offered to get through into Rochelle with the Cardinal's pass, and to return thence with a true account of the condition of the place: His offer was accepted of, and double Letters were given him, some of which he shewed to the Cardinal, im­porting a request to permit him to make this Voyage, and a pro­mise at his return to give him a perfect relation of his discovery. Thus he got in, and returned with other private Letters, which truly represented the state of Rochelle, which was so sad, that in case they were not relieved within two dayes, there would be none left alive in it, and that they were now upon the point of yielding.

On Monday the two and twentieth, about ten aclock in the morning the Fleets made as though they would engage, but the Captains failing of their promised duty, the whole time was spent in Canonades, without any prejudice to either party, and [Page 190] all the fire-ships were so ill-managed, that they were vainly, and to no purpose consumed: And in the mean time, in sight of that Puissant Fleet, so well stored with all necessaries, while the time slipt away, the passage unattempted, nor the Duke of Soubize his offers, to lead the way with the French, desiring the Admiral but to follow him only, accepted, nor those of the Count de Laval, while the others were engaged in the fight, to conduct the three ships lined with brick, and in which were the Artificial Mines, up to the Barricado; the famine finished its work in Rochelle; there being hardly a man left that could support himself without a staff; all that were left alive were so few, and so debilitated, that they had not strength to handle their Armes; so that on the same day the Admiral of England had resolved with his Council, once more to attempt the relie­ving of it, the Rochellers capitulated, and yielded on the 28th. day of October; and on the 10th. of November following, the whole Fleet left the Rode, and returned towards England: The miscarriages of this action being imputed to the refractoriness and disobedience of some particular Captains; some of them were confined to their own houses, and a Commission was issued out for their Trial: But in a short time after, all this vanished, and they received their pay as the rest did.

The Duke of Rohan's Mother, nor his Sister, would not suf­fer any particular mention to be made of them in the Capitula­tion; lest the occasion of the surrender should be imputed to their perswasions, or the respect borne to them; not doubting however, but that they should equally enjoy the benefit of the Treaty with the rest: But, the interpretation of Articles being commonly made by the Conquerours, it was the Judgement of the King's Council, that they were not comprised in them, since they were not mentioned in them: An unpresidentable severi­ty, that a person of her quality, of seventy years old, coming out of a besieged Town, where she and her daughter had lived three moneths together upon Horse-flesh, and four or five oun­ces of bread aday, should be detained Prisoners, prohibited the exercise of their Religion, and so strictly guarded, that they had but one servant allowed to attend on them: But all this rigour abated not their wonted courage and zeale to the wel­fare of their party: For the Dutchess sent to her son the Duke of Rohan a Caution, not to give any credit to her Letters; for that in this restraint she might be compelled to write things con­trary to her inclinations, and that the consideration of her mi­serable condition should not impell him to any thing that might prejudice the Party, whatever mischief befell her: A truly [Page 191] Christian resolution, and nothing varying from the whole course of her life, which though it had been a continued tex­ture of afflictions; yet, by the assistance of God, with such for­titude comported she her self in them all, that she has justly merited the applause and benediction of all good people; and will yield posterity a most illustrious example of an unparallela­ble vertue, and admirable piety. Thus this poor Town, once the Cabinet and delight of Henry the Fourth, is now become the Subject of the wrath and Triumph of his Son Lewis the Thirteenth: It was assaulted by the French, abandoned by the English, and buried in a grievous and merciless Famine; but in the conclusion, has, by its constancy, gained a more glorious Re­nown in succeeding ages, than those, whose uninterrupted prospe­rity makes them the envy of the present.

This newes caused a wonderful and general dejection a­mong the whole Party, every one casting about, how to make his own peace; and many made publick addresses to that end, alledging, that since Rochelle was now lost, for whose preserva­tion only they had taken up Armes, it was necessary that they also should make their own compositions, before a greater ex­tremity befell them; On the other side the Romanists, by means of the Confederates they had in the Townes of the Religion, infused suggestions into them, perswading them to a speedy compliance, and that their early submission, would procure them a better reception; offering withal, large recompences to those that could induce their Corporations to send their Depu­ties to the King, who at the same time also, published a Decla­ration, wherein he promised to receive again into his favour and protection, any particular persons, or Towns that should petition him to that effect.

The people wearied and ruined with the Warre, and whose spirits naturally stoop to adversity; the Merchants discontented at their loss of Trading; the Citizens grieved to see their hou­ses burnt, and their lands lie idle immanured, and untilled, all encline to a peace upon any terms whatsoever: But of all others the distemper of Castres was the greatest, by reason of the divi­sions between Chavagnac and Saint Germier, who supported by the Consuls, and others, who stayed in the Town purposely to mischieve the whole party, who played their game so well with the Council of Albigeois, that they procured Deputies to be sent to the Duke of Rohan, to desire his presence, without which their ills were irremedible, and to summon him, upon his pro­mises, to convene a General Assembly, which might, together with him, take care of the publique affairs; giving the Deputies [Page 192] charge to return with his answer as soon as possible, that accor­dingly they might resolve on what they had to do.

This resolution, as also the election of the Deputies, was made contrary to the advice of Chavagnac, one of them being a Kinsman of Saint Germiers, yet was he fain to submit to it for the present. The project of this message was grounded upon the impossibility they conceived of the Duke's being able to come to them; and upon a belief, that were the way open, yet would he never curb his own power by a General Assembly; so that upon his refusal they promised themselves a fair and plausible pre­tence, to make their own particular peace, or at least, that making the Assembly their own, they should compel him to as­sent to what they listed: Which the Duke of Rohan foreseeing, and having also, before the arrival of the Deputies, reflected on a General Assembly, as the only expedient, to preserve an en­tire unity among them, he condescended to all their desires; and that he might lose no time, took the Deputies with him to Nismes, where they made choice of Deputies for the lower Lan­guedoc; thence went they to the Sevenes, where they did the like, leaving the time and place for the Convention to his de­termination: He sent them also Orders into Vivaretz to elect their Deputies too; and then, having taken Order for the gal­lant fortifications he had begun at Aimargues, and all Gari­sons necessary to be kept in the two Provinces, during his ab­sence, he takes all his Horse, and five hundred Foot, and with them comes to Castres about the beginning of December, where he found Rousseliere, whom the Inhabitants of Saverdun had driven out of their Town, by means of La Plante, his Lieu­tenant there, who suffering himself to be seduced by their tem­ptations, had drawn the Garison out of the higher Town, and given it up into their hands: This was also much promoted by the mis-intelligence happened between Mazaribal (whom the Duke of Rohan, upon the death of Saint Estienne, had made Governour of Foix) and la Rousseliere; upon this occasion; for that Mazaribal his facility made him too much yield to the follicitations of some of the Inhabitants of Mazeres (whose vil­lainy was not then known to him, as he confessed afterwards, and that he took them for persons well-affected to the Party) to uphold the Enemies of la Rousseliere both in Saverdun, and Carlat; which made him requite his courtesie, by shewing fa­vour also to all against whom Mazaribal had any Picque; and to such a height grew their animosities one against another, that Mazaribal obstructed, as much as he could, the payment of the Garison of Saverdun, and gave free passage to the Souldi­ers [Page 193] that ran from la Rousseliere; which much elevated the spi­rits of his enemies, who cherished Mazaribal with hopes, that in case they could rid themselves of the other, they would re­ceive him into his place; but when, upon the expulsion of the other, he had a minde to go thither to reap the fruits of their promises, they reduced his train to a less number at the first, and shut their Gates upon him the second time; but protested notwithstanding to continue firm to the Party; which neverthe­less, when they had sufficiently secured the place, they utterly abandoned it, and presently made addresses by their Deputies, to the King. It was then (but too late) that Mazaribal clearly perceived the wicked intentions of la Rousseliere's enemies, whose Treachery he could not now sufficiently aggra­vate.

The first thing the Duke of Rohan did, when he came to Ca­stres, was to assemble the two Colloques of Albigeois and Lau­raguais, to acquaint them with the resolutions of the lower Languedoc, and the Sevenes, and to incite them, by the others example, to choose Deputies also for the General Assembly; the like was also done by Montauban, Foix, and Roüergne: After this he endeavoured to compose the difference between Chavagnac and Saint Germier, which was now grown into so formal a quarrel, that mutual challenges had passed between them: But though Saint Germier refused not to submit to a reconciliation, yet would he not condiscend to own Chavagnac, as his Superiour in the Town of Castres: But on the contrary he professed publiquely, and in private, and even in the Council-House, that he would oppose him in all things, and in all pla­ces. This made the Duke of Rohan think of removing him in­to the lower Languedoc; to which end he offered him a Troop of Horse, and an honourable allowance for himself and his re­tinue; but his Partisans, seeing that this tended to the dissipati­on of their faction, disswaded him from it, promising him with­all, that if he could find out any way to evade that employment, they would make him Master of their Town.

The Duke also, finding the great scarcity of Corn was in Castres, to supply that want, gets them to resolve to borrow ten thousand Crowns to buy some; and offered them, during his abode there, sufficient Convoyes to conduct it safe thither: But seeing that could not be effected, he seeks out some other way to supply the necessities of the Town: And understanding that there was a great quantity at Saint Amant, which lies in the Valley of Mazamet; he claps a Petarde to the Town, and [Page 194] by that means enters it, and besieges the Castle, which being hardly pressed, yielded also, and at three or four Convoyes, was the greatest part of the Corn carried to Castres: This exploit was performed by Chavagnac; He sent also for more provisions to some of the Religion, that living as Neuters, hoped by that means to secure themselves against all parties.

He caused Donaret the first Consul of Realmont, who was a great instrument of the taking of the Town, to be tried, and ex­ecuted; but with much difficulty, for that having married the President Montespieu's Neece (such persons seldom wanting In­tercessours) they were loth to pronounce a sentence of Death against him: After this, the Winter came on so furiously, that he could not proceed in his intended Designe upon Bras­sac.

Whiles he stayed at Castres, he also defeated two several ne­gotiations for particular Peaces: The first was carried on by Dejan a native of Montauban, who having formerly bought the Office of Provost of the Town, which the Corporation op­posed as a thing long before abolished, after a long suit, and a great expence of money he was faine to accept of what he had disbursed: This man being at the Court, had fresh hopes given him of this Office, in case he could effect any thing in this ne­gotiation: To this Lure he stoops, and having his Commission dispatched, comes away with two Letters from Galand; one for Montauban, and another for Castres. At the first place he was refused, and referred to the Duke of Rohan; and as for the se­cond, he durst not go directly thither, but approaches as near it, as Bouquiere, which is about a League from it, and thence Writes to Dupuy, to let him know that he was very desirous to speak with him about a business of great importance; but he sent him word again, That he could not do it, unless he would first acquaint him with the nature of it: Whereupon he essayes a second time to prevail with him, but in vain; so that not da­ring to come into Castres, he was fain to return again without any further satisfaction: Thus his Voyage bringing no advan­tage to the Court, was nothing beneficial to himself neither, who reaped no fruits at all of those many fair hopes were given him.

The other was managed by the Bishop of Mende, who was somewhat more zealous in it, as shall be seen in another place; but for the present he discovered himself thus far, and to the Duke of Rohan too; that being a servant to the Cardinal, he had received a Commission to Treat with particular persons, and Corporations, either severally, or conjunctively, and especially [Page 195] with him; that if he would hearken to him, he would procure him conditions, in which he should find what satisfaction he could desire; but if he would hear of none but a general Trea­ty, he must not expect so good; and so openly did he discover his purposes, that Saint Michel Governour of Montauban, fear­ing lest he should engage in a Treaty without his Privity, sent a servant of his own towards the Duke of Rohan, to observe what was done, that the intelligence he should receive of the trans­actions there, might direct him how to steer his course; vvho, vvhen he savv that the Duke vvould not listen to a Man not im­powered by any Commission, nor admit of any clandestine or particular Treaty, discovered himself, and told him, that he was sent to inform him from the Governour, that the Bishop had made some overtures to him concerning a particular Treaty for Montauban, but that he had rejected his Propositions; ne­vertheless if he had any inclinations to a general Treaty, he was very well acquainted with him, and could do him much service in it.

On the other side, the Bishop nothing satisfied with Rohan's answer; and rightly conjecturing, that his presence would be injurious to his design; resolves to have patience, untill his re­turn into the lower Languedoc; that in his absence he might the more effectually prevail upon the several Corpora­tions.

There remained nothing more now, than by a Provident fore-sight, to prevent all inconveniencies, might intervene at Castres, during his absence: To this end he settles in the Con­sulate persons of great integrity, and no less fidelity to himself, banishing from the Town three of the old Consuls, and some others also, of whom he had great jealousie; and placed there four Companies of Foot, for whose subsistence he also provi­ded: The business of Saint Germier was the only thing he could not handsomely cleare, because he had absented himself from the Town; which obliged the Duke of Rohan to make an Order, prohibiting Chavagnac, and the Consuls, to give him, or any of his brothers, any admittance into it; and, in case he came not in to them within the space of eight dayes, to Pro­claim him a deserter of his Party: He sent also a Company of Foot into Roque-courbe, and another into Viane; forbidding them also to receive Saint Germier and his brothers, and leaves three hundred Men, which he brought out of the lower Langue­doc, in Saint Amant, where, for their maintenance, he allotted them their proportions out of a part of the Corn was found there.

When he had done this, he went with the Deputies of the General Assembly towards Nismes, where he saw the storm was like to fall, and where his presence would be most necessary; and conceiving it also a very convenient place for the General Assem­bly, made no long delays after his arrival there, before he form­ed it.

The first and most important affair that fell under their con­sideration, was that of Castres: Saint Germier, after the depar­ture of the Duke of Rohan thence, animated by the Fugitives of Castres, and importuned by those of his Faction, that were left in the Town, whom his Mother, and his Wife, whose Sex priviledged their stay there cherished in their discontents, resolves to return thither again, and indeed he himself was the fourth man that came to the Gate, and meeting with no opposition there, he goes up directly to his quarters, where thirty or forty persons flocking to him, perswade him to go out into the Market-place, assuring him, that all the people would joyn with him, Chavag­nac, who was then at Church, having notice of his arrival, raises his Garrison, commands his own Troop to make ready, and resolves to charge him, wherever he should meet him; but his Lieutenant, l' Espuguet, being very opportunely mounted with about twenty of his men to go out upon a party, hearing the A­larme, goes directly to the place where Saint Germier was, and without taking any other notice of him, charged him bravely; in which action he received five wounds, and lost one of his men; but he slew and wounded many of the others also, whom he so scattered, and dispersed, that they had no more mind to rally again. Upon this rumour, the Consuls and Consistory in­terpose in the business, and instead of detaining him prisoner, too charitably mediate for his quiet departure again: This is that which usually ruines all publick affairs, the indulgence shewen to offenders, under the goodly pretence of piety and clemency, which in other mens matters every one cries out for, when as their own particular interests will not endure to hear them mentioned.

This mild comportment of theirs towards Saint Germier, instead of pacifying, renders him more haughty than before, puf­fing him up with a vain opinion, that this courtesie was an effect of their fear; so that encouraged by his followers, and by the assistance of many Thieves, and Villains, that had sheltered themselves in Roque-Courbe, he gets into it, drives out the Gar­rison, and makes himself Master of the place; the Assembly General fore-seeing the evil consequences this would pro­duce, sent a Deputy to Castros, with order to communicato his [Page 197] Commission to Chavagnac, and the Council of the Province, and to endeavour to compose this difference, by submitting it to the determination of Arbitrators; to the end they might not provoke Saint Germier to give away the Town; which being now in his possession, he laughed at all mentions of an Accommoda­tion; so that the Deputy at his return, reported to the Assembly, that all he had been able to do, was to confirm Roque-Courbe in their resolutions for the Reformed party, which they had anew engaged themselves by Oath, never to relinquish; but that for the present it was impossible to dispossess Saint Germier of it; but yet that there was great probability that a little patience, together with his imprudence, would give them what they aimed at; and in effect, a few dayes after, when he urged the Inhabi­tants to declare for the King, who knew well they must then sub­mit to a Romish Garrison, they turned many of his Faction out of the Town, which so terrified him, that thinking himself no longer secure there, he leaves the place also, and goes with them to Cam, a house not far from it; which when Chavagnac had intelligence of, he besieges, and takes him, and one of his bro­thers, with fifteen, or sixteen others, half Romanists, and half of the Reformed Religion, whom he sent to the Duke of Rohan: And yet after such actions as these, found he many Advocates, who deemed it too great a severity to detain him prisoner, till the peace, and seemed also much discontented that his whole equi­page was not restored him, and a Troop of Horse given him, that he might serve the party as formerly, and this was the conclusion of this affair.

And now the Bishop of Mende renewes the pursuit of his design, with an Essay upon Montauban, to which end he sent thither Vieres, a Gentleman of Quercy, who feigned himself to be of the Religion, and wrote to the Town to this effect, that being now going with the Kings Pass-port to wait upon the Duke of Rohan, with some proposals tending to the general advantage of them all, he would not proceed in his journey before he had acquainted them with them, which if they pleased to receive from his Relation, he was confident they would approve of them.

It was not thought fit to admit him into the Town, for fear of the danger might ensue; but yet the natural curiosity of the French, at such a time, when every one breathed nothing but de­sires of a peace; made them very sollicitous to know what he had to say: Wherefore they sent four Commissioners to receive his message, whom he told, that being of the Religion himself, he could not but be very zealous for the general welfare of their [Page 198] party, and that the Bishop of Mende having full power to treat, he was going from him, to the Duke of Rohan, and the general Assembly, with some propositions to that purpose; which, that they might be the better ressented, and that their Town might al­so have their part of the thanks, and benefit thence accruing, he advised them to send thither some Deputies also, offering the Kings Pass for their safe conduct; when this was reported to the Common-Council of the Town, they approved of the advice, and presently made choice of some Deputies, of which they also advertised the Assembly.

The Duke of Rohan had great jealousies of this Vieres, whom he had a long time I nown for a notable cheat; neverthe­less, with great impatience was this Address expected; the report of which being generally divulged, suspended all other thoughts, every one hoping to derive some advantage from it; three weeks passed without any further mention of it, at length came a dispatch from Montauban, importing, that they had receiv'd intelligence from the Bishop, that he could not obtain the Pass-ports promised by Vieres; but that if they pleased to send their Deputies to perswade the General Assembly to accept of such a peace, as the King should vouchsafe to accord them, and in case they refused to comply, that they themselves were resolved to submit to his pleasure, he vvould engage himself for the safe conduct of their Deputies: This discovered the vvhole fallacy to the Tovvn, and made them resolve anevv to remit all propositions for peace to the General Assembly, vvhich they exactly observed in that, made them by the Marshal de la Force, to this effect, that the King vvas resolved not to issue out any Declaration for a general peace; nevertheless, if they vvould Treat every one particularly, the King admitting of all such Treaties, and refusing a peace to no Tovvn, it vvould at last insensibly prove a general one.

When this business of Montauban vvas over, came a very ur­gent dispatch from Vivaretz, grounded upon this occasion, that the Army vvhich lay before Rochelle, after the taking of the Tovvn, vvent under the command of Toiras into Auvergne, to refresh themselves, and that they were now upon a March to­wards the upper Vivaretz, to go thence to Valence in Dauphine, there to wait the arrival of the King; this their so near approach, gave the whole Countrey a hot Alarme; especially Sojon, which Chevrilles about six Moneths before had seized, and for­tified; so that with great instancy they demanded a supply both of men and ammunition. The lower Languedoc furnished them with fifteen hundred men, the command of which was given by the Dake of Rohan to Saint André de Montbrun as his field [Page 199] Marshal, with whom were also sent the Horse belonging to Cas­sagne, who about three moneths before, was taken prisoner; to whom in this place I must give his merited honour, publishing to the World with what generosity he with-stood both the Menaces, and Flatteries of the Court; for, he being the first Consul of Nismes, and of great authority, and reputation there; they ho­ped by his means to raise a powerful faction there, and wholly take off that Town from their adherence to the Reformed Party.

But to return to those of Vivaretz, all whose fears the King's Army having transported with them over the Rbone into Dauphine, they countermand the Troops were coming to their assistance, which turned to their great prejudice; for that being now a bur­then to the Duke of Rohan, who knew not yet well how to dis­pose of them, he was feign to seek out some employment for them, between Vivaretz, and the Sevenes; and to this end he sent Saint André orders to make an attempt upon Saint John de Valle-Francisque; and for the more convenient prosecuting of a design upon Villeforte or Postes, to secure Genovillac, and Cham­berigand; he begins with Saint John, which he takes, as also the Fort of Chamberigand, and some other places, which were like to incommode him, and then takes up his quarters at Geno­villac; whence he marches with intention to block up Ville­fort; but finding the Marquess de Portes upon the way with a greater power than his, ready to dispute the passages with him; he forces him from them, and so advances to Ville-fort, thinking to have lodged his men in the Suburbs; but being not able to ef­fect it, he retires to Genovillac, and Saint Germain, and thence informs the Duke of Rohan, that his men would leave all their Colours, unless they were drawn off thence; whereupon he gives orders for their quartering at Saint Ambroix, Barjac, Valon, and la Gorce; that they might be in a readiness to march to Privas, upon any occasion should summon them thither.

In the mean time came to him new assurances from England, that he should never be deserted, nor any peace made, without comprising the whole body of those of the Religion in France in general, and his Family in particular; encouraging him also to a constancy in his resolution, and not to be dismayed at the loss of Rochelle: Prince Thomas also of Savoy sent a Gentle­man to him, to let him know, that if he continued in his former humour, and would advance towards him, he would give the King a handsome diversion in Dauphine, and meet him upon the Rhone with ten thousand Foot, and a thousand Horse; to whom he replied, that he was now in a better humour than ever, and [Page 200] ready to march upon the first summons he should receive from him.

The King in the mean time goes towards Dauphine, but because the plague was at Lyons Lodges at Vienne, and appoints the Rendez-vous to be at Grenoble, where preparation was also made of all things necessary for the relief and victualling of Cazal; the jealousies these preparatives raised in the Duke of Savoy, made him look about him in several quarters, there being an Army in Province ready to fall upon Nice; another in Bressia to keep Sa­voy in awe, and the King himself marching with the third to the streights of Susa, which is the Key of Piedmont; so that the Duke was fain to divide his Forces, that he might be ready to de­fend himself in any part where the storm should fall, and to call in the Spanish Forces to assist him in the defence of Susa.

The present state of affairs, gave great probabilities that the King would now have employments enough to divert him a long time from looking after those of the Religion; and upon occasi­on of some reports dispersed among the people of Nismes, that if they had any inclinations to sue for a peace, all necessary Pass­ports for their safe conduct should be given them; the Assembly took care to enquire after the Authours, and truth of these Ru­mours; but finding them to be all fictions, and the inventions of some Counsellours of the Presidial of Nismes, or of some of the Inhabitants that had been expulsed the Town; or of some of Aiguemortes, some of them set on by the Duke of Montmorency, others by the Marquess of Varennes, out of an intention to ruine them, by sowing divisions among them, rather than to procure them any good; the Assembly made a Decree, that all persons that had any proposals or overtures to make for a peace, should first bring them to the Assembly, that they might be examined by them, and improved to their advantage; expressely prohibiting also all persons from such clandestine, and malicious buzzing of reports among the people, to take them off from proceeding in the Forti­fications they were then upon.

And next they fell upon the consideration of a course to procure a firm and lasting peace; whereupon they laid down this for an in­fallible ground, that it could not be such, unless it were made conjoyntly with the King of England; neither could he him­self procure any upon so good terms, without a previous discent into France, whither he was now invited by so many considerable emergencies to favour him in the enterprise; the King being now at the other end of his Kingdom with his best Forces, prosecuting a design, was to be executed without it; where he should have to [Page 201] oppose him, the Forces of the Emperour, the King of Spain, and the Duke of Savoy. To this effect a letter was written to him in the name of the Assembly, and the Duke of Rohan, beseeching him to embrace this offered opportunity, and confirming the pro­testations formerly made by those of the Religion in France, not to engage in any Treaty, but conjoyntly with him: And for as much as their want of money was great, and that without some Forrain assistance, it was impossible to keep their men together, or advance their Fortifications, the Duke of Rohan was sollici­ted to write to Clausel, that they could no longer subsist without a supply of money, and that he should let the Spaniards know, that the peace of France could be no longer prevented, without a sudden recruit. It was also resolved, that they should endeavour to procure some private Pass-ports, that they might with more security send into England; upon assurance to be given to dis­pose all things to a peace: Du Cros of Montpellier, who, with the consent of the Marquess de Fosse, came to give the Duke of Rohan a visit, returned from him with the same promise, which was also confirmed by the whole Assembly.

Thus were they careful not to omit any thing that tended ei­ther to their own defence, or the procuring of a peace, even at such a time, when they had fairer hopes of good success in their affairs than ever; but God, who had otherwise determined of them, blasted all their projects: For the King, who left not Paris, to go to the relief of Cazal, till he had privately gotten an assurance out of England, which freed him from the fear of any invasion thence, whil'st he was engaged in that expedition, and made him confident of a peace with that Nation, excluding the Reformed Party, would not admit of any addresses from them, fearing lest they might prevail so far upon him, as to induce him to alter his determinations concerning them: To which may be added, that surprizing his enemies by a nimble march, in the dead of Winter, he easily gained the straits of Susa, and imme­diatly after the Town also; which brought so great a terrour on them all, that Don Ganzales raised his siege from before Cazal; the Duke of Savoy also, to prevent the loss of Piedmont, folli­cited for a peace, by which he was obliged to re-victual Cazal The King, that he might himself witness the performance of all Conventions, remained about a moneth longer in that Coun­trey: And then leaving Toiras with four thousand Foot, and five hundred Horse in Montferrat, and the Marshal Crequi with the like number at Susa, bent all his thoughts, and the rest of his Forces upon the War in Languedoc; in order to which he commanded the Marshal Schomberg to advance before to Valence, [Page 202] to receive the Forces that were coming out of Bressia, and the parts about Lyons, to cause the Train, and all other necessaries to be made ready, and to conclude a Treaty already begun with Chevrilles concerning Vivaretz: To the Duke of Montmorency, he sent Orders to besiege Sojon; to the Duke of Guise, that he should deliver up his Army to the Marshal d' Estrée, who had a Commission to march with it into the lower Languedoc, to ravage the Countrey about Nismes; not long after the King comes in person to Valence with a few Horse only, and a few dayes after, the Cardinal arrives also with the rest of the Army; out of which were drawn fifteen hundred Horse, and sent under the command of the Duke of Trimoüille, to joyn with the Marshal d' Estrée.

In the interim of these preparations the English Embassa­dour than residing at Thurin, gave the Duke of Rohan notice of the peace concluded there; but that it was not like to be of any long continuance; that the Army was now marching towards him, but in so tattered a condition, that if he could but stand the first shock, he would soon find such diversions made, as would be much to his advantage. Clausel encouraged him yet much more with promises of a sudden supply both of Arms and Money. Nismes, and Aimargues went but slowly on in their Fortificati­ons, Vsez a little better; but yet no Town would give quarter to any Souldiers, till they were upon the point of being besieged; which drove the Duke of Rohan to his usual way of offering to each particular Town to pull out for them, the Thorn, that pricked them: And first he addresses himself to Sauve, with over-tures of an attempt upon Corsonne, whither he goes; but findes it a matter of greater difficulty, than his information had given him cause to apprehend; for having battered their Works, the Walls were not to be scaled, but with Ladders of a very great length; so that those he had brought with him proving too short, he was necessitated to make all new again; which gave the Mar­shal d' Estrée, (urged by the Marquess de Fosse) leasure to march to the relief of it with six thousand Foot, and four hun­dred Horse; whereupon the Duke drew off again to Sauve; and the next day being desirous to view the Marshal's Army as it marched, and who then took up their quarters at Sommieres; it was demonstrated to him, that he could not get back again to Saint Gilles, but he must pass the Vistre near to Aimargues; or the Gardon, if he intended to go for Vivaretz, as it was repor­ted he did, at both which places he might with ease be discove­red, and with advantage fought with: The Duke, that he might not lose this opportunity, writes to Vsez for some more Forces, [Page 203] and sends Aubais to Nismes for the same purpose; Lesques goes to Auduze for others, accompanied by Goudin, and la Baume; he sent also to Saint Hippolyte, and the neighbouring Garrisons for more Augiliaries, appointing his general Rendez-vous to be at Vauvage; and he himself sets out by break of day with two thousand Foot, and fourscore Horse, to secure Canisson, a large, but unfenced Town, whence he might be sure to take his advan­tage which way soever the Marshal should take, but whether it was that he had the same design upon Canisson; or that he had intelligence of the Dukes marching thither with so small a Force; he found him also upon his march from Sommieres towards Canis­son; nevertheless the Duke having the advantage of the way, goes on directly to the Town, and there began to secure the a­venewes of it with his Van, that the rest, (considering he was pursued by an Army twice stronger than his own) might in good order possess themselves of the Town; but the extream heat of the day, and fame of the good Wine, wherewith that place a­bounded, had already drawn thither the greatest part of his Of­ficers, so that it was impossible for him to govern them; when on a sudden he heard many Musquets in his Rear, which was then skirmishing with five hundred Musquetiers, which the Marshal had sent before to try if they could break it; whil'st he, with the rest of his Army stayed upon a little Hill which gave him a view of all the Countrey, and what was done even in Canisson it self, whence perceiving the great and general confusion there, he gave Orders for a general assault: The Duke of Rohan com­manded Montredon to rally his men, together with Carlincas, Ensign of his Guards; whiles he himself draws out a hundred of his own Guard, whom he led up to the Castle of Canisson, which being seated on a little Hill, commands the Town, and circumjacent quarters, so that it is not easily assaultable on any side, enjoyning them strictly to look well to the defence of that place. This done, he goes round the Town, which he begins to fortifie with strong Barricadoes; just as he had finished his cir­cuit, he meets with Leques, Goudin, and la Baume, and tells them that of necessity they must resolve to defend the out-places, untill the Barricadoes were finished: Leques undertook the af­fair, goes to the head of his men, and seeing that the Souldi­ers that were in the Castle, had quitted it, hastes thither with o­thers, whom he placed in their rooms; and so eagerly disputed he his post without the Town, that when he would have retreated thi­ther, he found the enemy had intercepted his passage, so that he was fain to take the Field: La Baume was also served in the like kinde; as for Goudin, the Duke would not suffer him, by rea­son [Page 204] of his wound, to shut himself up in the Town; but when he had taken the best course he could to preserve his Foot, he drew off with his Horse to Nismes to hasten away the relief he had before sent thither to prepare.

In the mean while Montredon, the Major General, la Bois­siere, and Alizon, after they had from post to post, disputed the out-quarters, retreated into Canisson, where they had no sooner taken their several posts to defend, but they received a general and furious assault; but necessity animating the Defendants, they bravely repulsed the Assailants; and whiles they looked on, perfected their Barricadoes; then got the enemy into some hou­ses, which they began to break through, thinking by that way to open themselves a passage into the Town, but they were soon fired from that attempt; this storm lasted from Noon till Night; the Officers within behaved themselves with much gallantry, both in rallying, and encouraging their men; but Montredon, la Boissiere, and Alizon, who commanded in chief, got most honour in this action; both parties had their inconveniencies; those within wanted ammunition, those without provisions; so that, that very night the Marshal d' Estrée, offered the besieged a Parley, which they rejected, telling him withall, that they should soon see the Duke of Rohan there with fresh Forces, to make them remove farther off, and indeed that night had he sent two thousand men of Nismes, under the command of Aubais, to get as near Canis­son as possible, and to let the besieged know, that he was now come so far to their assistance; but he returned again, without giving them any notice of his arrival, either by Messenger, or o­ther signal made, as he was expresly commanded; none daring to adventure on the employment; and indeed, so straitly were they invested, that it was impossible for any one to get in to them; this much troubled the Duke, who having refreshed his Troops, resolved to go thither in person, and either save his men, or lose himself: To which end he sent Leques Orders to have the Gar­rison of Aimargues in a readiness to joyn with him; but whil'st he was preparing for their relief, came newes to him of the capi­tulation, which was made upon these termes, That the besieged should with all security march off to the Sevenes; that the Mar­shal d' Estrée, should not enter the Town of Canisson with his Army; but that the said Army should be drawn up in Battailla, at a great distance from the way they were to pass; that the wound­ed of both sides, which could not be carried off, should with all safety remain in the Town; and that for the performance of these Articles, Hostages should be mutually given, all which was pun­ctually observed on both parts; of the party of those of the Re­ligion [Page 205] were slain about fifty or sixty, and above double the num­ber wounded: of the Romanists were there four hundred slain, and eight hundred wounded.

This was the issue of this action, in which the Duke of Ro­han was very like to have received a check, would have proved fatal both to himself, and his Party too: But now imagining that it was not without cause that the Marshal so earnestly pur­sued this design; but that his Forces were intended for the Countrey about Nismes, he conceived he would again pass the Vistre near Aimargues, that he might the sooner recover his quarters at Saint Gilles, which made him desirous yet once more to see him; for which purpose he took two thousand of the Foot of Nismes, and his Horse, with whom he came to Aimar­gues; the next day he drew them up in a place between Aimar­gues and the Pass, with intention to charge him when he should be half over; which the Marshal having notice of, he changed both his design, and road, and lengthning his way a dayes journey, passed the River at Aiguemortes; and the Duke retur­ned to Nismes: And seeing the preparations were making on all hands for the invasion of the lower Languedoc, and the Se­venes, he got the Towns of the lower Languedoc to receive their Garisons; assignes the Regiments of Goudin, Fourniquet, and Bonal, to Nismes; those of la Baume and Faulgeres for Usez; and that of Sandres for Aimargues; After this, and the taking of the Fort of Sojon by the Duke of Montmorency, which cost him but three dayes time, though Chevrilles had promised to hold it out three weeks, the Duke of Rohan having learnt the particulars of the Treaty for Vivaretz, made by Chevrilles with the Keeper of the seals for twenty thousand Crowns; he thought it now high time to look after the securing of it; and sent Saint André de Montbrun with five hundred Foot, and some of Cas­sagne's Horse, to Privas, whither he got very happily, having defeated Montreal and l' Estrange, who waited for him at some untoward passes in his way, with a farre greater strength than his. At his arrival there, he found the Consuls with the Com­mon Council assembled at the Town House; who told him that indeed they had formerly wished for his company, but that at present, they having no need of any Souldiers, it would be but a burthen to them; and yet, that they might with the better grace refuse to admit his party into their Town, promisedto quarter them in the Villages that lay thereabouts; which Saint André perceiving, was the more resolute to quarter in the Town: Chevrilles who was then at Cheyla, was sent for in all haste, and coming thither the next day with those of his Faction, he [Page 206] presently assembles the Council of the Province, and of the Town too, to perswade them to request Saint André to return again, and that in case their intreaties were ineffectual, to in­duce him to it by the ill usage of his Men: which Saint Andrè having notice of, he goes in to the Assembly, and there de­clares that he was sent thither, by the command of the Duke of Rohan, who only had power to recall him againe; and that whatever their determinations should be, he would not stine a foot thence without his Order: When Chevrilles saw him­self thus fallen from his hopes, he tells Saint André, that in case the Town should be besieged, he would do them better service without than within the place; that he would raise fif­teen hundred men, and would put as many of them into it, as he should think necessary, and with the rest would forrage and cut off the provisions from the King's Army.

His proposition was well approved of, and on the morrow he departs: And not long after were there three Barques laden with Salt taken upon the Rhone: Saint André hasts thither, but came not time enough, for that some Frigots had already forced those that had taken them to quit their Prize: Nevertheless in this excursion he learnt that the King was come to Valence but with a small guard, believing, upon the information he had re­ceived concerning that particular from the Keeper of the Seals, that the Treaty of Vivaretz was absolutely concluded; but that finding that the coming of Saint André thither had altered the whole face of things there, he was now preparing for the Siege of Privas, which was to be blocked up with in four or five dayes: Large offers was he tempted with, even to the value of an hun­dred thousand Crowns, but his generous refusal of them shewed him to be a person full of honour and fidelity: At his return to Privas he makes them all resolve to abide a siege, engaging them also by an Oath, that the first man, that should but menti­on a Capitulation, should be put to death: Then he assignes to every one their respective posts; and Orders the repairing of the out-works, to which, before his coming, nothing at all had been done; nor yet could he begin them, but the very day be­fore the Town was invested, and yet such diligence used he in it, that some of them were made very defensible, and held out bravely.

The siege was scarce begun, when the Catdinal came up with the rest of the Army that stayed behind at Susa: He pres­ses Chevrilles to the performance of his engagement; who that he might not wholly lose the recompence of his Treason, desires to have a part in the honor of the Siege, offering to bring in with him 15. [Page 207] hundred men; his offer was accepted, and he comes in, but all alone: The next day came a Trumpet from the King (accom­panied with Argencourt) to summon the place: Chevrilles, who failed not to be at the place, whither the Trumpet was to come, sent one of his Captains to know what he had to say, which when Saint André was informed of, he hasted thither with all diligence, and sent him back again without any answer at all: Whereupon Chevrilles seeing him resolved not to give them time to deliberate, whether they should hearken to a Capitula­tion, or no, leaves them again the second time, carrying with him as many men as he could, and was alwayes the occasion that the Souldiers of Bouttieres went not thither to their assistance, amusing them still with promises to conduct them thither time enough, by this meanes ruining the endeavours of those whom Saint André had sent thither purposely to invite them to their assistance.

He was no sooner gone, but Brunel of Anduze, who com­manded five Companies of the Sevenes, confederating with the other Poltrons and Traitours, frames a conspiracy to kill Saint André in case he should refuse to furrender the place; and se­conded by some of his Faction, threatens to give him up, if he denied to comply with them: Whereupon it was thought fit by the Council, that he should have a conference with Gordes, which he had, but they could not agree upon the con­ditions.

After that the Cardinal was come up to them, they more closely blocked up the place on every side, made their approa­ches and batteries, and then gave it an assault, from which they were bravely beaten off with the loss of many of their men; yet did this storm so terrifie the besieged, that they in­stantly urge Saint André to give Gordes another meeting: But in his room was substituted, and sent Vennes a Captain in the Regiment of the Guards, who offered him very honourable terms for himself, and the Souldiers, but nothing at all for the Inha­bitants; all which he refused, protesting that he would never desert them: When Saint André, at his return, gave the peo­ple of the Town an account of the interview, it struck so great a terrour into them, together with those of Vivaretz, that they all quit the Town, and flie to Boutieres, leaving Saint André with five hundred men only to defend a place, which was not to be maintained under two thousand. In this extremity he con­ceives it his best course to draw off to the Fort of Toulon, where he might Treat with more security, it being impossible to force him there in any short time, or without the loss of a great num­ber [Page 208] of Men: About break of day Deffiat, Gordes, and Vennes, desire a conference with him, which he condiscended to; at which they make him no larger offers than of his own life only, in case he would abandon his Souldiers, which he generously re­jected, and returned to embrace the same fortune with them: When they saw this made not any impression on him, they sum­moned him once more to send some of his Officers to them with his final resolution: Brunel of Dauphiné offering himself for this employment, was accepted of; three journeys made he to them, in which time being corrupted by the enemy, he returns from the last with àn assurance of all their lives; but adding withall, that they would not give any thing under their hands, untill Saint André, with some of his Captains had cast them­selves at the King's feet to implore his pardon; and moreover that the Count of Soissons, who was to present him to his Maje­sty, had given him a strict charge to tell him, that he should haste to him with all speed, that he must not now lose any time; and that he did with much impatience wait for him: Where­upon he assembles his Captains, who all earnestly importune him to go; which when he scrupled at, they break out into o­pen reproaches against him, charging him with having ensna­red them in a danger from which he would not endeavour to free them: Forced by their invectives, he goes out with five Ca­ptains; Saint Preüil and Fourille conduct him into Saint Si­mon's Chamber, where, the Cardinal coming to him, told him, that since he was come forth, without any parole given him, he was now a Prisoner: Then was he forced to write to those in the Fort, to advise them to yield at diseretion, and that they should receive the same usage he did; who, refusing to cre­dit those Letters, or Brunel, who was sent with them, desire to see Saint André, who was conducted up to the Fort with a strong guard: As soon as they saw him, they imagined them­selves sure of their lives, and thereupon resolved to give up the Fort: Those that first entred it, fired some barrels of powder, purposely to colour the cruelty they were commanded to execute upon those that were in it: Saint André and his Captains were kept Prisoners: Thus were most that were in the Fort betrayed to their destruction; some of the Prisoners being hanged, and o­thers sent to the Gallies.

I have related the particulars of this affair, to let the world see how that the perfidie of Chevrilles, the two Brunels, and of the most considerable persons in Privas occasioned the miserable destruction of their Town, and a great part of the Inhabitants, ruined the relief of Languedoc, and frustrated those of the Re­ligion [Page 209] of an opportunity to obtain a very advantageous Peace; which, since the publication of that with England (which was made during this Siege) they had entred on a Treaty upon with the Marquess de Fossé, who was to that end impowered by the King's Commission: But the taking of this place, as little dreamt of by the Romanists, as those of the Religion (consider­ing their brave resistance at the beginning of the Siege) quite ruined that affair: For Du Cros had procured conference be­tween Aubais, Dupuy, and Lucan, Deputies of the Assembly general, with the said Marquess; and although at their first in­terview, he refused to proceed, unless they would recede from their demands, concerning the demolition of the fortifications; yet with more advantage might they have Treated, while the King was further off, and Privas held out, than when he should come into the Sevenes, and there discover the Factions, weaknesses, baseness, and Treacheries, that were too frequent among those of the Religion.

The loss of Privas, from whence was expected a longer op­position, surprized the whole Party with terrour and amazement; and put the Duke of Rohan in mind, that it was now high time to go to the Sevenes, to take Order for the security of that Pro­vince, and to oppose the first attempts that should be made up­on it: This Voyage was hitherto retarded by his fear to leave Nismes (which many endeavoured to seduce from its fidelity) till he had supplied it with Souldiers, which, untill compelled by necessity, they would not receive; and withall by reason that having resolved to leave Leques there to command in chief, in case it should be besieged, he durst not discover his intentions in that particular too soon, because he knew that Aubais aimed at the same command, and that he endeavoured by secret pra­ctices to render Leques odious to the people, and make himself to be desired by them: In the like perplexity was he for Usez, where Goudin ambitioned the Government, but was absolutely refused by the Inhabitants: Nevertheless, at length he sets out from Nismes, goes to Usez, and thence takes Faulgiere's Regi­ment with him to Aletz, and thence put it into Saint Ambroix, in hopes that the opposition that place would make, would give him more leasure to provide for the Sevenes, where he thought to have found a good sum of money ready raised, out of some Farms he had engaged for his Leavies; but the apprehension of the King's coming into those parts, made most of the Farmers refuse to disburse any: Upon their default he proposed another expedient, that the Bayliffs should advance the money for the Leavies, and that, for their re-imbursement both of the Principal [Page 210] and Interest, should be assigned them not only the aforesaid Farms, but also an imposition then newly laid upon the Coun­trey; but all these inventions, being not of force to extract any money out of their purses, the Duke was fain to address himself to the Communalties.

In the mean time the Marshal d' Estrée, and the Duke of Trimoüille began to ravage the Countrey about Nismes, where there passed many handsome skirmishes, in which, those of the Town (who killed and wounded twelve or fifteen hundred of the enemy) had alwayes the better, except one day, when some of the Inhabitants, too inconsiderately advancing, were surprized by the Horse, who dealt so roughly with them, that, besides those which were wounded, there remained forty dead upon the place, and had not Leques come in with fresh Troops, there had been much more mischief done: For his own part he was sorced from his Horse, which was killed under him; but the Forragers came not within Canon-shot of the Town.

The King on his side loses no time, but after the taking of Privas, sends part of his Army towards Gorce and Barjac, which were given up into his hands: Beauvoir and Saint Florent make their peace, and then turn Brokers for the places belonging to the Reformed Party: The former of them comes to Saint Am­broix, to perswade the Inhabitants, to imitate the example of Barjac; which the chiefest of them were so ready to consent un­to, that, had not the Souldiers interposed, the thing had been then done: Nevertheless they continue their correspondencies, so that upon the King's approach, though he had no Canon with him, nor could have any come up to him within eight or ten dayes, fear united the two Factions in the Town, who be­fore were at mortal odds, and both together force the Souldiery to a compliance with them, so that the Capitulation was agreed on, upon condition that the Souldiers should no more beare armes for the Reformed party: At which Article, when one of the Captains scrupled, the Duke of Montmorency told him, that none ever treated with the King upon any other termes, but that it was but a formality only, and obliged no man farther than he pleased himself: And then flatters one, and another, with promises of great rewards, if they would repaire to Aletz, and serve the King there, by joyning with the Count of Aletz, who had promised to give him up the Town: Thither then marched all the Souldiers from Saint Ambroix, where they excuse them­selves by revolving all the blame upon the Inhabitants, who compelled them to yield the place; promising withall, that not­withstanding [Page 211] the Treaty, they would serve the Reformed party, wherever they should be commanded. The Duke of Rohan was then at Aletz, but had no Forces ready for service, but the Re­giment of Foulgieres, and five or six new raised Companies; the King being then within three Leagues of him with all his Army, the people of Aletz very wavering, and uncertain whether they would stand upon their defence or no; and the Baron of Aletz, who had promised to deliver up the Town, that he might the bet­ter effect it, would by all means be Governour of it; but the Duke was desirous to place Aubais in that command, for that be­ing Field-Marshal, every one would have submitted to him, and promised to leave with him all the best men he had; but he excu­sed himself; for that being refused, the Government of Nismes, he had taken up a resolution, never to stay within any besieged place. Then offers he it to Assaz, to whose age and experience every one would have born an honourable respect; but he also absolutely refused it: Whereupon he speaks to Boissiere concerning it, whose modesty, not suffering him to think himself sufficient for it, made him refuse to accept of the charge, as Commander in chief; but offered to stay there as subordinate to Aubais, or any other the Duke should think fitting; so that in this extremity he was fain to leave there one Mirabel, an old G [...]tleman of Viva­retz, of a weak sight, and as feeble limbs: And when the King came to take up his quarters within a League of Aletz, the Duke of Rohan took the Baron d' Aletz with him, and went thence that very morning before the Town was invested; promising, be­fore his departure, to send them what supplies of Souldiers he could possible; of which he took so great care, that at several times he sent them in above fifteen hundred; besides the Garri­son was there before, which at length he raised to five and twenty hundred in the whole.

When the King saw himself frustrated of his hopes of gain­ing the place without force, he sent for his Canon, and, (that he might lose no time) began his approaches; part of the Town of Aletz is seated on a Plain, and the other so near the Hills, that they command above half of it; the River Gardon runs so near the Walls, that it is rather prejudicial, than useful to the Fortifications; for that being but a small Torrent, fordable in most places, and running so near the Town, it leaves no space for any Flanker to be made; nor could it be fortified with in the walles by reason of the houses which made a part of them; so that there was no way to secure that part of it, but by raising Works on the other side of the River, and Forts upon the little Hills, which command all a good distance from them, and must [Page 212] be joyned by a Line of Communication to two great stone-bridges, which cross the River. In short, it was a work of vast labour and expence, nor could the Town be kept, but by a great number of men, which was the reason it was never till then fortified; But the people now seeing that Anduze was fortifying, would needs imitate their example; a malady which raigned in most of the Communalties of the Sevenes, and this discovered its in­fection, when the Duke was absent, and upon his Voyage into Foix; who though he well knew there were already more fortifi­cations begun, then they had Souldiers to man, yet would he not cross them in their humour, for fear of vexing and discoura­ging them; there was yet this further mischief in it, that besides that, they took things beyond their power to accomplish; when once the first heat was over, they would not employ what they had as they ought, nor would they work, but when compelled by their fears; to which I must yet adde this, that when they were most intent upon the raising of these fortifications, it was impos­sible to perswade them to store themselves with other necessaries requisite to the defence of their Town; for in such designs one expence draws on another; and if one of these four things be wanting, to wit, Good Works, Ammunition, Victuals, and Souldiers, all other provisions are but vain and fruitless.

This being the condition of this Town, they were very much surprized, having neglected to raise a third Fort, which omission, the Duke willing to redeem, in great hast makes up one of Barrels, which flew in pieces at the first on-set, and on this side only did the enemy raise their Battery, between the Bridge, and the Duke d' Engoulesme's Garden; this first assault so terrified the Inhabi­tants, that they thought of nothing now, but how to make a handsome composition, to which they were incited, by the Ca­ptains that came from Saint Ambroix, and those of the Baron d' Aletz his Faction, whose sollicitations wrought such dangerous effects, that they made Holes in their Walls to let the Besiegers in; which being discovered, the breaches were repaired, but the offenders not punished; so that the mischief was only delayed, not remedied; and the disaffected made more industrious to con­ceal their Treacheries: Two or three of the aforesaid Captains upon their own request were sent to the Duke of Rohan, to in­form him how weak the place was, both in men and resolutions to stand it out, that the numbers of the Garrison there before, and of the recruits sent thither since, hourely decreased, by their continual slight from it; whereunto he replied, that what they had said, could not be; that he very well knew what Souldiers he had left there, and whom he had placed over them, that he would [Page 213] daily strengthen them with convenient supplies, both of men, and Ammunitions; and therefore perswaded them to return again to them speedily, to animate them by their presence; which they plainly refused, alledging once for all, that it was the next vvay to be hanged, considering their engagements to the Duke of Montmorency, vvhen they marched out of Saint Ambroix; whereup­on the Dake being informed that they had had secret conference with the Baron d' Aletz, and that they had agreed together that his Cornet Mesargues should be sent into Aletz, he com­manded they should be all apprehended, and sent Blacquiere thi­ther with a recruit of five hundred men, and an express com­mand to kill the first man that should but mention a surrender; but the malady was then past cure, the Townsmen having hid a­way the ammunition, and deserted the most necessary Work of terrassing that part of the Wall which was opposite against the enemies Battery, so that all he could do, was to protect the capi­tulation two or three dayes longer, and by that means save five and twenty hundred men, which had they been lost, as were those of Privas, it would have deterred all others from any fu­ture engagement; that which was most fatal in this reddition, was the Article semblable to that of Saint Ambroix, which disabled them from evermore bearing Arms against the King.

As soon as the newes of this was brought to the Duke of Rohan, immediatly he sent away Falquieres the Lieutenant of his Guards to Sauve, where the surrender of Aletz had struck a general ter­rour into the Inhabitants; the most considerable of which, out of hopes of obtaining good conditions for themselves, by the fa­vour of their Lord, the Count d' Aletz, denied to let him in­to their Town; but Falquieres, being of the place, and having much acquaintance in it, by the means of some Ladders he had procured, got in; but found the people so resolutely fixed upon an accommodation, that having seized upon the Castle, and a Tower which commanded the Town, and served it instead of a Citadel, told him openly, that they were now resolved to seek out some way to preserve what they had left, and not expose them­selves to an utter ruine.

In the interim the Count of Aletz, invited by those that had privately Treated with him, advances with three or four hun­dred Horse, within half a League of the Town, where when he understood that the arrival of Falquieres with his Souldiers, had prevented his entry into the Town, he sent a Trumpet to them, with offers of fair propositions; Falquieres could not by any means disswade, nor hinder them from sending back a Messenger [Page 214] again to assure him, that though they could not give him admit­tance at present, yet were they Masters of all the Forts; and that if the Duke of Rohan did not suddenly conclude a general peace, as he had promised them, they would, by his assistance, make their own in particular, not doubting but their example would allure the greatest part of the Sevenes to an imitation of them: To which the Count replied, that it was in vain to expect a General Peace; and that the Duke deluded them with that Airy fancy; but vvhil'st he made his ovvn, and that then he vvould leave them in the Lurch; that if they could be a means to dravv off any other corporations from the party, it vvould be much to the advantage of their ovvn conditions, and that they should have but a Garrison of thirty Souldiers only in their Castle, com­manded by himself; they assured him of their zealous endeavours to effect vvhat they had promised, and that vvithin tvvo dayes they vvould send him a further answer by a Messenger of pur­pose: Falquieres that had seen all these Envoys, and heard the free, and lond discourses of the people to him, sent the Duke of Rohan word, that unless he recruited him instantly with four hundred men at least, he should be turned out of the Town.

The importance of this unexpected newes perplexed him so, that he took aside three or four of his Officers, in whose fidelity he reposed most confidence, to impart it to them, and receive their advice thereupon; some of them at first sight conceived that the business was desperate, and irremedible, induced to this opinion by their experience in the precedent Wars, of the disaf­fection of that Town to the Reformed party; and that being now Masters of the Castle, they might at their pleasure let in the Enemy; that it would be a thing of great difficulty to send them any Souldiers; for that the people of Anduze, that very moment expected a siege, and had not sufficient for their own defence, would be very unwilling to part with four hundred men; that if the Duke of Rohan should go in person thither, which was the best expedient for it, they would presently raise, and diffuse a report, that he had abandoned all; so that it was to be feared, least his endeavours to preserve Sauve, should prove an occasion of the loss of Anduze; so that their advice was to send Falquieres and his party orders to defend themselves the best they could; and to promise them a good assistance, in case the King should draw towards them; but that for preservation of their stores, he would not charge them with any more Forces, un­till necessity should draw that burden upon them; others were of opinion, that the place was of such consequence, that the loss of [Page 215] it would draw after it all the Sevenes, up to Vigan, and cut off all communication between Anduze, and the lower Languedoc; so that the Duke of Rohan would be totally blocked up there, without any possibility of breaking through again; that the loss of it, as was that of Privas, and Saint Ambroex, would be wholly laid to his charge; and that it might be justly feared, lest the people of Anduze, who were known to have inclinations se­ditious enough, and had store of malignant spirits among them, should enter into conspiracies also against him; in short, that this extremity gave them a capacity to betray him, and therefore it were better to attempt to send four hundred men to Sauve, to preserve both himself, and the Town too.

This Counsel was accepted of, and thereupon he drew out all the Garrison of Anduze, and out of it chose four hundred men, to send to the relief of Sauve; but none would undertake the conduct of them, but the Adjutant-General Randon, nor he neither; but upon condition that (to secute his own honour) the Duke would allow him the liberty to retreat with them again, in case he saw the King's Army advance towards him; engaging himself nevertheless not to make use of it, unless enforced to it by some extremity; thus was he fain to expose his own, to save the honour of another.

Amid'st these perplexities, which were no small ones, the Court-faction in the Sevenes used many subtile inventions to induce the Communalties there to a particular Treaty, excluding the Duke of Rohan; the most dangerous of which, were; first, to hinder the march of the relief from Anduze to Sauve; terri­fying them with continual Alarms, that a part of the King's Ar­my was to cross the Countrey, which they would overwhelme with blood and fire, so that not a Souldier could be perswaded to stir from his house; the next was, without his permission to convoque an Assembly, to which were summoned only those they were sure would consent to a Deputation to the Court in the name of many of the Communalties for a particular peace; and the last was to asperse his honour, by scandalous insinuations, that Privas, and Saint Ambroix were given up by his especial order; that Blac­quiere was sent to Aletz for the like purpose; and that having made his own conditions, he would expose the people to a neces­sity of accepting such as the King should impose upon them; and in effect these, and the like defamatory rumours spread abroad, by petty, but very factious persons, that hoped by such means to raise themselves a fortune, raised a general murmur against him; for the people, (especially those of Languedoc) are naturally prone to believe the worst, of the best, and the best, of the worst [Page 216] sort of men; readily complying with such clamorous persons, as condemn the actions of other men, when as themselves do no­thing at all, but vail their hypocrisie with an indiscreet zeal, tend­ing only to sedition, and the subsersion of their Religion, and liberties.

The Duke was at the same time sollicited by often repeated Messages from the Provinces of the higher Languedoc, Foix, Mon­tauban, and Roüergue, both for men, and money. Mazaribal sends him word, that unless he were recruited with a hundred good men, and pay for them, it would be impossible for him to preserve Mazeres; and that without such a supply, or a peace, he should within one moneth be forced to quit the Countrey: Saint Michel, and the Town of Montauban, tell him, that the Prince, and the Duke d' Espernon, were drawing down to Ravage the Countrey about them, which they would inevitably ruine, unless he sent them some assistance to prevent it; but that with a thou­sand men at most, and money to pay them, which they earnestly importuned him for, they made no doubt bravely to repulse them. Chavagnac, and the Town of Castres remonstrate to him, that a Famine would inevitably surprize them, unless they quickly ga­thered in their Harvest, which they were incapable to secure, without a Renfort of a thousand Foot, and a hundred Horse, payed for two or three moneths; and money also to muster and discharge the Forces of the Countrey; that the Duke of Venta­dour, who with his Army lay round about them, had made them offers of very advantageous conditions, in case they would incline to a particular peace, which they hitherto had refused, out of hopes of a sudden, and effectual assistance, the want of which would necessitate them to submit to such a Treaty. Millaud also presents him with the same doleful Note; and Alterac, Gover­nour of the Town, plainly tells him, that without a fresh sup­ply of Souldiers, he could no longer undertake the charge of it; and all the rest of Vabres accord in the same demands, either of men, or a Peace.

The Duke of Rohan opprest with the hourely increase of such calamities, saw no other expedient for their remedy, but a General Peace, which also was attended with many difficulties; for he conceived that the King, seeing to what a low ebbe the af­fairs of the Reformed Party were sunk, would not abate one jot of the Article touching the Fortifications; and on the other side he very well knew, that though the people had no resolutions to stand upon, nor inclinations to prepare for a defence; yet would they never digest the demolition of their Works: If he should resolve to stand it out, and struggle with the the threatned extre­mities, [Page 217] then he considered, that if he quitted Anduze, all the Sevenes would be lost, and consequently all the Garrisons, up to the very Gates of Montauban, must submit; if he stayed there, he should draw a siege upon a place no wayes capable to sustain it; but if the King, waving that, should draw towards Sauve, the whole Countrey would come in, and every Communalty having made its peace, Anduze would be left all forlorn, and disfur­nished of Souldiers to maintain it: But the urgency of their af­fairs obliging him suddenly to fix upon some course that had least of danger in it, he pitched upon a General Peace; which, though accompanied with never so many disadvantages, would be yet bet­ter than an absolute dissipation of the Edicts, which would be the undoubted consequence of the particular compositions of the several Communalties; in order to which, he summoned an As­sembly of all the Communalties of the Sevenes to be held at Anduze, to dissolve that which was already convened without his permission; and at the same time sent Montredon to those that sate at la Salle, to demand a particular Peace; to let them know, that a Provincial Assembly, in order to a General Treaty, was convoqued at Anduze; and that, if they, notwithstanding his orders to the contrary, obstinately continued their Session, he had a command from the Duke to assemble the people of la Salle, to make known their refractoriness to them, and to require their as­sistance for the apprehending of their persons, and carrying them away Prisoners; his perswasions, with the annexed Menaces, made them at length dissolve; for Fear is oftentimes very perswasive.

After this the Duke sent for Caudiac, a Counsellor in the Chamber of Languedoc, who had already made several journies to the Court, in order to a Peace, and was now but newly re­turned thence; where he found that their only aime, and chiefest hopes now, were, a total dissipation of the party by particular Treaties; him he desires once again to return thither, and to tell the Cardinal de Richelieu from him, that he was a faithful Sub­ject of the Kings, that he desired nothing more, than the Tran­quillity of the State, and the Repose of his own party; and with, all, that both he, and the greatest part of them, would expose themselves and fortunes to all extremities, rather than submit to any Peace, but such as should be General, and Conformable to the former Edicts of pacification; that it was a thing of dange­rous consequence to force an armed Party, how small soever, from all hopes of safety, but what they ground upon their despair of any; and that if the King would vouchsafe to admit of a Gene­ral Treaty, and allow the General Assembly but four dayes time only to remove from Nismes to Anduze, and Pass ports for the [Page 218] safe conduct of their Deputies to come, and Treat with his Com­missioners; and that in the mean time all Acts of Hostility might be suspended, he was confident they should conclude a peace: Cau­diac cheerfully embraced the employment, and obtains the al­lowance of the four dayes, together with the desired Pass-ports, which he himself was commanded to carry back to the Assem­bly.

In the mean time every one is very sollicitous to draw his own particular advantage out of this small interval: The Kings party continue their practices in the Province; but with greatest ardour prosecute they the design of Sauve, whither, when Randon came with the four hundred Souldiers, the disaffected, to exasperate the others, oppress them with quartering, and that they might disgust the people with an apprehension of the Duke's under­valuing of them, quarrel at the person of Randon, as a man of too mean quality to command them; and when, according to his Orders he would have mingled his Souldiers with the Inhabi­tants, to strengthen their Guarders in all quarters, they would by no means suffer it in the Castle, but loudly objected their priviledges against that procedure, as an infringement of them; a prevalent motive to work the populace to any thing; so that upon this ill usage of theirs, Randon, unadvisedly told them, that in case they refused him the absolute command of their Town, he had Orders from the Duke of Rohan to quit it upon the approach of the King's Army: This inconsiderate expression, so indiscreet­ly let fall by him, and as nimbly taken up by the disaffected of the Town, had like to have ruined all; for they published strange Coments on it to the people, crying out, that the Duke had sent them men to abandon them, when they should most stand in need of their assistance, and that desired only to possess themselves of their strength, at their cost, to purchase themselves better con­ditions; so that upon occasion of these jealousies they called a Council, at which they resolved, to die all, rather than admit any stranger into their Castle.

In the mid'st of their deliberations came letters from the Duke of Rohan to convoque the Provincial Assembly at Anduze, to con­sult upon some Articles for a general peace; which mollified them so, that they nominated Deputies to send thither: But when the Council was dissolved, the disaffected exclaim against this as a trick of the Duke of Rohan to defeat their particular Treaty, and to surprize, and detain their principal Citizens at Anduze, until they delivered up their fortresses into his hands: whereupon they thought fit to send away the next day, but one Deputy only to sound the forde, and give them notice how things were carried, [Page 219] that accordingly thy might be directed in their comportments; and at the same time sent they another privately to the Count d' A­letz, to let him know, that the hopes they had newly received of a General Peace, made them yet defer the performance of what they promised; but yet that they suspected it for an invention on­ly to interrupt the progresse of the Treaty they were already upon; wherefore they beseeched him to clear them in that particular, as much as possibly he could, and to believe, that in case it were not real, that Sauve should be at his disposal, of which he might as­sure his Majesty, and that they had received Letters from the Communalties of Gange, Sunienne, and Vigan, impowring them to treat for them also; and that though Randon were in the town, yet could they at pleasure let him into the Castle, of which they were still the Masters.

The King conceiving, upon this newes, that with much facili­ty he might now possesse himself of the Sevenes, in all haste sent Caudiac word, that he should come back again to him, and let a­lone the general Assembly where it was: This Messenger found Caudiac, and all the Assembly on their way towards Anduze, so that much amazed, they returned the same way they came, and Caudiac, as little satisfied, goes to Aletz. In the meane time Ran­don, and Falquieres acquaint the Duke of Rohan with the final re­solutions of the people of Sauve, and the frequent Envoyes pas­sing between them, and the Count d' Aletz, and that unlesse sea­sonable preventions were applyed, the place would be certainly lost: whereupon he put his power upon the rack for a new sup­ply of souldiers for them; and that he might the more effectu­ally proceed in the application of his remedies, he sent to have the wound well searched by his Chaplain Rossell, who had been formerly Minister of that Church, and of great authority a­mong them: As soon as he came thither, and had gotten the Common-Council of the Town together, he presented them a true state of their affaires, shewing how near they were obtain­ing of a general peace, if they preserved the union of the Party, which particular compositions would divide and ruine; after all which their condition would be nothing more exempt from fears or hazard; that to introduce into their Castle, a Garison of a contrary Religion, was not the way to preserve inviolate those liberties they seemed so jealous of; that it was ill done to call those strangers, who were their kinred and neighbours, and had forsaken their own Houses, Wives, and Children, to come to their relief; that to refuse the Generals Orders, and to such persons, half the Guard of their Castle, when as they allow them that of their Walls, and Gates, was a diffidence ill groun­ded, [Page 220] and probably of dangerous consequence to the Party, con­sidering the present condition of things; that he very well knew it was publiquely reported, that the Duke of Rohan's forces had not acquitted themselves of their devoir in the Towns lately ta­ken; but that he was as certain that the contrary of it only was true; that at Privas the Inhabitants deserted the relief was sent to them; that at Saint Ambroix and Aletz, they compelled the Garisons to capitulate; and that all the misfortunes that befell those places, flowed from those who either corrupted by the e­nemy, or perswaded by their own feares, quickly diffused the contagion over all the rest; that they would do well to beware of such plagues, and for the future to yield a greater observance to the General's Orders.

But all these Remonstrances were not sufficient to open the Castle Gates to give admittance to the strangers, which when Rossel perceived, he made a Proposition, that the people should nominate a certain number of them, the third of which should be drawn out by lot to be there upon duty every one in his turn, four and twenty houres together. The Common sort approved of this way; but the Consuls, who disliked it, left the Council in distaste; saying, that since they could be no longer trusted, they would discharge themselves of their Offices: But they were called back again; and before the dismission of the Council, was the Guard established. After this Rossel visits Puyredon, one of the most eminent of the Town, both for Estate, Wisdome, and Courage, and his particular friend, and one that had discove­red a great affection to the Duke of Rohan, whom he presses so far, that he at length got from him a confession of the whole negotiation, between the Town, and the Count d' Aletz; and upon Rossels assuring him, that if they separated not themselves from the Party, a General Peace would be soon concluded; in which should be comprised the business of Reprisals (in which he was interessed to the value of twenty thousand Crowns) Puy­redon also promised him, that, whatever were the success of the Deputy sent to the Count of Aletz, he would order things so, that there should be yet nothing altered for foure and twenty houres.

When he had dispatched with these, he found that Randon, nothing pleased with the Agreement, threatned to be gone; but when he told him, that he could not be yet besieged for four dayes, that if he would have patience but for two of them only, he should be furnished with all things he could desire, he was then better satisfied; and Rossel departed from Sauve; and meet­ing on the way with the Deputy that had been with the Count of [Page 221] Aletz, he imparted to him the great hopes conceived of a Gene­ral Peace, to which he gave no other reply than only, God grant it; but turning his discourse to the Captain, that convoyed Ros­sel, he told him, that the Duke of Rohan had too long abused them by his policies, and that he endeavoured yet to amuse them with hopes of a General Peace, but only to frustrate their Communalty of the advantageous conditions they might receive from a particular Treaty; but that they were now resolv'd to give no further credit to him, knowing that all his talks of a General Peace was nothing but meer delusion, whereupon the Captain took him prisoner, and carried him with him to Anduze.

When Rossel came back to the Duke of Rohan, he gave the Duke an account of his negotiation, telling him, that all his en­deavours had no other effect than only somewhat to asswage the tumour, untill he in person should provide a better remedy for it; whereupon he immediately departed thence, and went towards Sauve: His arrival there much daunted the disaffected party; but they were now so farre advanced, that they knew not well, how to recede from their engagements: The second Consul fled to the Castle; the Duke sent to command him thence, which sum­mons he durst not disobey: When he was come thence, and the rest of the Council were assembled, that Duke acquainted them with the four dayes liberty he had obtained, for the adjourning of the general Assembly to Anduze; that he hoped to procure them such a peace, as should redound to their general welfare, provided, that, renouncing all diffidence and jealousies one of an­other, they preserved an entire unity among themselves; that he had borne armes these eight years past, upon no other design, but the defence of their Religion and Liberties; for which he had as cleare a zeal, as any of them; but that now he was to know of them, whether they would own him for their General or no, and as such would obey him; whereupon the people crying our, that they would submit to him, he resumed his discourse, tel­ling them that he would then go to the Castle, and place there such of the Inhabitants as he should think fit: The Consuls at first refused to follow him, pretending, that since they were not confided in, they would quit their Offices; nevertheless when they saw him go up to the Castle, and that all the people flocked after, they stayed not long behind him, who, when he had tur­ned out, the Guard was then in it, made choice of such a num­ber of the Townsmen, as he thought sufficient to keep it, obli­ging them by Oath to maintain it under the authority of their Consuls, and for the general good of the whole party, against all persons whatsoever; which gave great satisfaction to the people; [Page 222] /pg and when he had left in their Town a thousand men, drawn from Saint Hippolyte, Vigan, and other places, he returned the same day to Anduze.

The news of this came to Aletz as soon as Caudiac, and so net­led the King's Council, that they exclaimed against the Duke of Rohan for breach of promise, saying, that the King had not stir­red from Aletz, but that the Duke had been at Sauve, where he had secured, and furnished the Castle, and the Towers, with soul­diers; nevertheless they gave him Orders to return with all speed to the Assembly, but told him withall, that the King would not be obliged to any further stay at Aletz; Caudiac, who clearly saw that all this choler flowed only from the defeat of their design upon Sauve, replied, that the Duke had not bound himself by a­ny engagement not to stir from Anduze, but not to make any at­tempt upon the Towns of the adverse Party; and that to provide for his own, could not be interpreted any breach of promise: Af­ter this he went to the Assembly, whom he found much perplexed about the Article concerning the demolition of their fortificati­ons; for that, besides the Deputies formerly sent by them to the Assembly, the Towns of Nismes and Usez had sent others purpose­ly to oppose that Article, and, if it were possible, to draw in those of the Sevenes to fortifie them in that opposition.

Whereupon it was thought fit, before they proceeded to any conclusion, that they should have the opinion of the Provincial As­sembly of the Sevenes, that accordingly they might order their re­solutions; But that Assembly would determine nothing in it, with­out the advice of the Common-Council of the Town of Anduze, which they looked upon as a place the most concerned in the subsistance of the new-raised buildings, and fortifications, and most resolute to defend them: The Council reported their opi­nion to the Provincial, and the Provincial to the general Assem­bly; the sum of which, was, that considering the absolute necessi­ty that lay upon them, they should choose Commissioners to Treat about a peace, and that the management of the Article concerning the fortifications, should be referred to their discretions.

The Assembly general, unwilling to undergo the whole burthen of the Treaty, associate with them the new extraordinary Depu­ties of Nismes and Usez, and a like number of the Provincial As­sembly of the Sevenes, who altogether resolved to send their De­puties to the King to demand a peace, and to moderate that Article the best they could.

The Deputies haste away to the Court, where after several conferences had, they agreed on many things, but at the propo­sal of the aforesaid Article, the King's Commissioners would not [Page 223] endure the mention of any mitigation of it; but thereupon sent back the Commissioners, who reported all to the Assembly, to whom they plainly discovered that it was in vain to hope for any qualification of that Article, which seemed to be thrown in as a stumbling block among them; whereupon the Town of Anduze, and the Province of the Sevenes, being again consulted, they de­monstrated the inevitable ruine of their Province, unless a sudden conclusion of a General Peace prevented it; for that otherwise every one was fully resolved to compound for himself apart; and that the loss of their Province would certainly draw after it that of the lower Languedoc; that the fire was now at their doors, and that they had rather submit to that Article, than fail of a Peace.

Whereupon after a full debate of the business, it was at length concluded that they should admit of that Article; and thereupon the Deputies were returned fully impowred to Treat, and conclude a peace: Which done, the Duke of Rohan desired the Assembly to give their Deputies an express charge, that when they had per­fected their Negotiation for the Publick, they should then mind his particular concernments also, which they did.

Thus was the Peace concluded at Aletz, the 27th. day of June, in the year, 1629. The substance of the principal Articles of which, was as followeth.

• 1. That a General Pardon be issued out.
• 2. That the Edict of Nantes, and all other Edicts, Articles and Declarations registred in the Parliament-Rolls be put in force.
• 3. That their Temples, and Places of Burial be restored to those of the Religion.
• 4. That all Contributions imposed, during the present, or precedent Broyles, be taken off.
• 5. That they be also acquitted of all Arrears of Impositions, and Taxes laid by any Governours upon those of the Religion, to ex­empt the Romanists.
• 6. That they be restored to all their Goods moveable, and immove­able, notwithstanding any Gifts, or Confiscations.
• 7. That every one be permitted to re-possess, and re-edific his own house.
• 8. That all Judgements, both Civil and Criminal, given by those of the Religion, be confirmed.
• 9. That the ancient Orders used before the Wars be observed, both concerning the Consulates, and other Political Assemblies of the particular Towns.
• 10. That they be also discharged of all Accounts, so that the Cham­ber of Accounts may not demand any review of them.
• [Page 224]11. That all Courts of Justice, Offices of Receipt, and others, be restored again to those places, whence they were transferred, during the cate Wars.
• 12. That the Chamber of Languedoc be re-established at Castres.
• 13. That the Assembly of Estates in Foix be convened at the usual times.
• 14. That the Inhabitants of Pamiez be restored again to their Estates.
• 15. And that all Fortifications be demolished.

The Deputies Extraordinary of Nismes protested against this Peace, Declaring, that if they should accept of it, their Act would be disowned, and themselves killed, when they came home; and at their return, threw the blame of the whole business upon the pretended perfidy of the Duke of Rohan, and those of greatest trust about him, by whom they said they had been all sold; and having assembled the chief Officers, both Military and Civil, cause them to oblige themselves by Oath to stand it out to the last, and then sent to the Sevenes for some fresh Troops; when they had by this means drawn the Kings Army before the Town, the same persons, who were the Authors of this mutiny, to pur­chase themselves a reputation at the expence of their Fellow-Citi­zens, got themselves impowred as Commissioners to Treat for their Town, which derived no other advantage from it, than the spoiling of their Fields and Vineyards; and that which accrued to the Deputies themselves for disposing the Town, to supplicate the King to honour them with his presence.

The Town of Vsez without any hesitation at all, accepted the Peace at first; so did all Roüergue, the higher Languedoc, and Foix; nor was any place suspected to refuse it, but Montauban; where the Prince of Condé would not cease his plundering, untill the King had sent him a second Order to that purpose; and the Town it self, as the Cardinal marched that way, declared their acceptance of the General Peace.

This is an account of what passed in this last War, in which the assistance the Town of Rochelle had from England, served only to consume their provisions, and draw a Famine on the City; and the vain, and illusory hopes with which Spain, and Savoy, abu­sed the lower Languedoc, had like to have proved the ruine of the whole Party.

God, of his infinite mercy compassionating his poor Churches, hath yet intermitted their sufferings, that by a serious repentance of our faults, and a sincere amendment of our lives, we might at length attract as many benedictions, as our sins have pulled down calamities on them.