Memoires of Monsieur le Duc de la Rochefoucault, containing the Intrigues for the Government af­ter the Death of Louis XIII.

THE Persecution which I suf­fered during the Authority of Cardinal Richlieu, being ended with his life, I thought of returning to Court. The King's Sickness, and the little Inclination he had to trust his Children and State with the Queen, made me hope that I should quickly find considerable occasi­ons of serving her, and giving her at that juncture of Affairs, the same marks of Fidelity which she had received from me in all the Occurrences, wherein her Interests, and those of Madam de Che­vereuse, were contrary to Cardinal Ri­chelieu's. When I came to Court, I found it as submissive to his Will af­ter his Death, as it had been during his Life; his Kindred and his Creatures there had the same advantages which he had procured them; and by an ef­fect [Page 4] of his Fortune (whereof you'l find very few Examples) the King (who hated him, and wish'd his Ruine) was forced, not only to dissemble it, but also to Authorize the Disposal, which Cardinal Richelieu made in his Will, of the principal Charges, and most important Places of his Kingdom. He also chose Cardinal Mazarin to succeed him in the Government of Affairs, and so was assured of Reigning much more absolutely after his Death, than the King his Master could do all the 33 Years that he enjoy'd the Crown. Notwith­standing the King's Sickness being des­perate, there was some probability that things would e're long change, The Kings Brother, so called. and that the Queen, or Mon­sieur, coming to the Regency, would be reveng'd upon the Remains of Cardinal Richelieu, for the Injuries▪ which they had received from him.

Cardinal Mazarin, Monsieur Chavig­ny, and Monsieur de Noyers▪ who then had the greatest share in the manage­ment of Affairs, resolved to prevent this mischief, and to make use of the Power which they had over the King's Mind to oblige him to declare the Queen [Page 5] Regent, and to Reconcile themselves to her by this Service, which ought to ap­pear so much the more considerable to the Queen, as she believed the King far from any such thoughts, by reason of the little inclination he always en­tertained for her, and because of the League, which he believed she yet had with the Spaniards, by the means of Ma­dam de Chevreuse, who had fled into Spain, and was then at Brussels.

Monsieur de Noyers was the first who gave the Queen hopes that they might win the King, by his Confessor, to E­stablish her Regent, thinking thereby to tye her strictly to him, and to ex­clude Monsieur de Chavigny, whom she most favoured in Cardinal Richelieu's Life-time; but Monsieur de Noyers soon found himself far from his designs; for the Confessor had Orders to withdraw, and he himself was afterwards turn'd out. It seem'd to me that this Change did not at all lessen the Queens Hopes, and that she expected from Cardinal Maza­rin, and Monsieur de Chavigny, the same Service which Monsieur de Noyers de­signed to pay her; both of them every day gave her all the assurances of their [Page 6] Fidelity that she could desire, and she expected a proof thereof, when the Kings Sickness growing to such a height that there remained no hopes of Cure, gave them an opportunity of proposing to him to regulate every thing whilst his Health would permit him to choose a Form of Government himself, which might exclude from the management of Affairs all those whom he held suspe­cted.

This Proposition, altho it was appa­rently against the Queens Interests, did notwithstanding seem to him too favou­rable to Her. He could not consent to declare her Regent, and also could not resolve to share the Authority be­twixt her and Monsieur. The Intelli­gences which he suspected her guilty of, and the Pardon which he had but just before granted to Monsieur for the Trea­ty of Spain, held him in an Irresolution which he could not have overcome, if the conditions of the Declaration, which Cardinal Mazarin and Monsieur de Cha­vigny proposed to him, had not furnish­ed him with an expedient to diminish the Queens Power, and render her in some manner dependent upon the Coun­cil, [Page 7] which he intended to establish. Not­withstanding the Queen and Monsieur who had had too many Testimonies of the Kings A version, and who almost e­qually suspected that he would exclude them from the management of Affairs, sought all manner of ways to acquire it. I was informed by Monsieur de Cha­vigny himself, That being sent to the King from the Queen, to beg his Pardon for all that she had ever done, and also for having displeased him in her Con­duct, beseeching him particularly not to believe that she had any hand in the business of Chalais, or that she had the least design of Marrying Monsieur after Chalais had killed the King: To which he answer'd Monsieur Chavigny (with­out being moved) In the condition I am in I ought to pardon her, but I am not bound to believe her. Every one presently then thought they had a Right to pretend to the Regency, to the ex­clusion of one another; and if Mon­sieur was not long of that mind, he at least believed that he should be decla­red Regent with the Queen. The hopes of the Court, and of all the Kingdom, were too different, and all the State (which had almost equally suffered du­ring [Page 8] the Favour of Cardinal Richelieu) expected a change with too great an im­patience not to receive with joy a Tu [...]n from which every one hoped an advan­tage. The different Interests of the chief Men in the Kingdom, and the most considerable in the Parliament, obliged them to side either with the Queen or Monsieur; and if the Inter­ests which they made for them under hand did not break out more, it was be­cause the King's Health, which seemed something repaired, made them fear lest he should be advertised of their practi­ces, and make the provident cares which they took to establish their Authority after his Death, to pass for a Crime. It was in this juncture that I believed it would be of importance to the Queen to be assured of the * Duke The now Prince of Conde. d'Anguien: She approved of the Proposal I made of gain­ing him to her side, and being a very particular friend of Coligny's, in whom the Duke d'Anguien wholly confided, I represented to them both the advan­tages that would accrue to the Queen and the Duke d'Anguien, if united, and that besides the particular Interest of op­posing the Authority of Monsieur, that [Page 9] of the State also obliged them to it. This Proposition was advantagious enough to the Duke d'Anguien to make him readily accept it, therefore he ordered me to endeavour all I could to bring it about; and because the commerce I had with him might perhaps be suspected by the King of Monsieur, especially at a time when they had but just before given him the Command of the Army and that by all means it was of great im­portance to keep it secret, he desir'd me, to give the Queens Answers only to Co­ligny, and that we should be the only Witnesses of their Intelligence. There were no Articles of Agreement in wri­ting; Coligny and my self were intrusted with their Promises, which were, That the Queen would grant the Duke d'An­guien the favour of being preferr'd be­fore Monsieur, not only by the marks of her Esteem and Confidence, but also in all the Employs, from which she could exclude Monsieur, by such expedients agreed upon betwixt them as might not engage him to an open breach with the Queen. The Duke d'Anguien promised on his part to be inseparably united to the Queens Interests, and make his Ad­dresses to her alone for all the favours he [Page 10] desired at Court. The Duke d'Anguien departed soon after to command the Army in Flanders, and give a Beginning to those great things which he so glori­ously accomplished. The King, whose Sickness augmented daily, being willing to give at the end of his Life some marks of Clemency (either out of Devotion, or to testifie to the World, That Car­dinal Richelieu was more to blame than himself for all the violences which were done since the Queen Mothers disgrace) consented, That the most considerable of those who had been Persecuted, should return to Court, to which he was the more willingly disposed, because the Ministers foreseeing many disorders, en­deavoured to oblige People of Quality to secure themselves against all that might happen in a Revolution like this that threaten'd them.

Almost all that had been banished the Court returned, and as there were many who were bound to the Queen, (either by the services they had done her, or by that Bond with which Dis­grace ordinarily unites persecuted per­sons) there were few of them, who had not so good an opinion of their ser­vices, [Page 11] as to expect a recompence propor­tionable to their Ambition; and many believed that the Queen having promi­sed them every thing, would continue the same opinion of them in her Sove­reign Authority, which she had in her Disgrace.

The Duke de Beaufort was the Man who entertained the greatest hopes: he had of a long time been most parti­cularly devoted to the Queens Interests, and she gave him so publick a Proof of her Confidence in him, in making choice of him to take care of the Dauphin and the Duke of Anjou, one day when they thought the King was a dying, that it was not without reason that they began to consider his Credit, and to find a great deal of likelihood in the opinion he en­deavoured to give them of it.

The Bishop of Beauvais (who was the only Servant of the Queens, whom Cardinal Richelieu thought too inconsi­derable to put away from her, and who by his assiduity had found an opportu­nity of ruining almost all those whom she had a kindness for) was of opinion, That he ought not to oppose the Duke [Page 12] of Beaufort's favour, and therefore desi­red to strike in with him to ruine the Contrivances of Cardinal Mazarin, who began to get ground; they perswaded themselves that they could easily accom­plish their designs, not only from the o­pinion they had of their Credit, and the experience which the Bishop had made, how easily he had ruined such as were more considerable to the Queen by their Services than Cardinal Mazarin, but al­so because being Cardinal Richlieu's Creature, they thought that this Rela­tion alone would exclude him, and that the Queen had too publickly condem­ned the Conduct of Cardinal Richelieu, to continue in the management of affairs one who was put in by him, and who was the Author of the Declaration which the King had just before issued out, whereat the Queen seemed displeased to the last degree.

This confidence made the Duke de Beaufort and the Bishop of Beauvais, neglect many precautions, during the latter end of the Kings Life, which would have been necessary to them after his Death, and the Queen also was at this time not enough resolved to receive the [Page 13] Impressions which they would have given her.

She concealed her Mind from me less than from any body else, because I ha­ving had no Interests but hers, she was not jealous that I would joyn with a­ny Party but what she her self should choose.

'Twas she, who desired me to be the Duke de Beaufort's Friend in a Quarrel with Marshal de lay Meilleray; and or­dered me to see Cardinal Mazarin, that she might avoid the occasion of being complained of by the King, who was perswaded, that she hindered her Ser­vants from visiting those, whom he had confided in: So that I, not being at all suspected by her, might know more easily then any body, what Impression the reasons of both parties made upon her Mind. She began to fear the im­perious and haughty humor of the Duke de Beaufort, who not contenting himself to uphold the pretensions of the Duke de Vendosme his Father, to the Govern­ment of Britany, upheld also the preten­sions of all them, who had suffered un­der the Authority of Cardinal Richlieu, [Page 14] thereby not only to engage all people of Condition, for their particular inte­rests, in a Cause, which to them seem­ed just, but also to have a pretence of striking at Cardinal Mazarin, and by filling the Principal Offices of the State, to make Creatures, and give such re­splendent marks of his favor, that the cause thereof may be attributed to all, that was most capable of satisfying his Ambition and Vanity.

On the other side, the Queen con­sider'd, that after having trusted her Children with the Duke de Beaufort, it would be a fickleness, which all the World would condemn, to see her pass, in so short a time, from one ex­treme to the other, without any appa­rent Reason.

Mazarin's and Chavigny's fidelity were not known to her enough, to be assured, that they had no hand in the Declaration, and thus finding doubts on all sides, it was not easie for her to take any resolution, which she should not repent of afterwards. Notwith­standing the King's Death obliged her to it; and the World quickly learnt [Page 15] that Cardinal Mazarin's cares had had the success he wished; for at a time, when 'twas thought, that the Queen look'd upon him as the Author of the Declaration, all the displeasure fell up­on Monsieur Chavigny, and whether Cardinal Mazarin was innocent, or that he justify'd himself at his Friends cost, who was, in appearance, no more guilty then himself, whichsoever it was, he, in fine, stay'd in the Council.

But as I do not pretend to write all the particulars of what passed at this time, and that what I do at present is rather to keep in my Memory some Cir­cumstances which I have seen, for which some of my Friends have had a Curiosi­ty, than to make them publick; I will be content to report only what concerns my self, or at least the things whereof I have been a Witness. Soon after the Kings Death, it was easy for me to know the encrease of the Cardinals Credit, and the diminution of the Duke de Beauforts; both appeared in the confi­dence the Queen owned she had in the Cardinal, since he being directly oppo­site to the Duke, the Power of the one must entirely ruine the other.

[Page 16]Notwithstanding the Court was yet very much divided, and they stayed for the return of Madam de Chevreuse, as the decision of all, they did not look upon her as one who would be contented to support one of the two Parties, but as one that would certain­ly ruine that which depended least up­on her; I had less reason than others had to judge so advantageously of her Authority.

The Queen, who had always testified to me the Friendship she had for her, had for some time spoken to me of it with Coldness enough, and the uncer­tainty I saw her in, whether she should let her return to Court, made me doubt no longer if the Bishop of Beauvais's ill Offices had not made as great an Impres­sion against her, as against all the rest whom he had attempted to ruine.

The Queen had already ordered me to visit Cardinal Mazarin, and though she approved the Declaration I made to him, That I could not be his Friend and Servant, but so far as I saw him adhe­red to the Queens Service, and whilst he did in great and little things what [Page 17] might be expected from an honest man, and one worthy the Employ he had; yet I knew that she wish'd I had spoke to him with less reserve, and had pro­mised him every thing as easily as many others, who were the more readily en­gaged to do so, because they were re­solved not to stand to any thing, but so far as their Interest oblig'd them: not­withstanding she appeared satisfied with my Visit, and testified, That she desi­red nothing more of me than what I had done.

At this time there was notice of Ma­dam de Chevereuse's return into France, and the Queen seemed to me to be more unresolved than ever about her return to Court, not as if I believe she was de­tained by any difficulty there was in it to grant her this favour, but that Car­dinal Mazarin should mediate to obtain it for her, and that Madam de Chevereuse should be obliged to him for having mo­ved the Queen to overcome those rea­sons which kept her out, which were a particular Clause in the Declaration, and a strange aversion the King decla­red he had against her, when upon his Death-bed.

[Page 18]I asked leave of the Queen to go to meet Madam de Chevereuse, which she the more willingly granted me because she thought I might dispose her to desire the Cardinal's Friendship, since I saw very well that it was one of the things the Queen most desired.

Montague, who was more for the Car­dinal's Interest, was sent to her to make her Propositions, which were in conse­quence of some others which were made her in Flanders by the same Man, two or three Months before the King's Death.

I met with Madam de Chevereuse at Brye, and Montague, who arrived there some time before me, had all he desired to make his Designes take effect, She presently told me, That she suspected him, either because she really wanted Confidence in him, or because she be­lieved I would be unwilling to share hers with a man whom I did not know my self, and whom I had no great rea­son to esteem upon the report of others.

She desired me not to speak to her before him, but because it imported her to be informed of the state of the Court, [Page 19] and how the Queen stood inclin'd, and because I saw she would undoubtedly mistake both, if she judged by her own knowledge, and by the thoughts the Queen once had of her, I thought my self obliged to represent to her how things seemed to me to be, and to assure her, That the Queens thoughts being far different from what she had seen them, it was necessary to take other measures than those she had hitherto acted by.

That the Queen was entirely resolved to make use of Cardinal Mazarin, That it was hard to judge otherwise than by events, whether that was good or bad Council, because he being Cardinal Ri­chelieu's Creature, and united to his Re­lations, it was to be fear'd he would au­thorize the same Maxims, but withal, That he having had no hand in his Violences, and being almost the only Man who had Knowledge in foreign Affairs, I doubted if in the necessity the Queen and State was in for one capable to manage them, she could easily be pre­vail'd with to exclude Cardinal Mazarin; besides, That I saw no body whose Ca­pacity or Fidelity was so well known [Page 20] that one would wish him setled in an Imployment so difficult and important as this.

Therefore it was my opinion, that she should not by any means signifie to the Queen, that she returned to her Court with a design to Govern her, because it was apparent, that her enemies made use of this pretext to her prejudice.

That she must by her care and com­plaisance work her self up to the same pitch she once was at, and that then join­ing with Madam Senecy, Madam Haute­sort, and the rest of those in whom the Queen confided (who had all given me their word, that they would entirely adhere to her Interests) she would be in a condition to ruine or protect the Car­dinal according as his preservation or ruine would be beneficial to the publick.

Madam de Chevereuse told me that she approved of my advice, and pro­mised me positively to follow it; she came to the Queen with this Resoluti­on; and although she was received with many marks of Friendship, I could without great difficulty observe a diffe­rence in the joy she had to see her, from what she formerly had, when she spoke to me of her, and I perceived by cer­tain [Page 21] defects, she took notice of in her person, that the ill offices, some had done her, had made too great an im­pression. Madam de Chevreuse notwith­standing slighted them all, and thought that her presence would in a moment take off all that her enemies had done against her when she was absent.

She was strengthened in this opini­on by the Duke de Beaufort, and they both believed, that being united, they might easily ruin Cardinal Mazarin, be­fore he had time to fix himself.

This thought made Madam Chevreuse receive all the advances of Cardinal Mazarin, as so many marks of his weak­ness, and believe, that she answered them enough, if she did not openly de­clare she designed his ruine, but only to procure it by establishing Monsieur Chateau-neuf in the management of Af­fairs.

She thought her self also obliged to uphold my Interest, and seeing the Queen designing to confer upon me some considerable settlement, she was very urgent to procure for me the Go­vernment of Havre de Grace, which was in the Duke de Riohlieu's hands, that by getting me the Estate of this Fa­mily, [Page 22] she might begin its persecution and ruine.

In the mean time Cardinal Mazarin seeing very well that the Queen was not longer in a condition to under­take an affair of this importance, with­out making him a party in it, thought it enough to hinder it, by saying, that he with all submission would approve of what the Queen should think best, but that he thought himself obliged, not only in gratitude, which he owed that family, but also for the Queens Interest to repre­sent to her the reasons she had to uphold the House of Richlien, that he wished al­ways that she would approve them, but that he did not think he had reason to complain if his advice was not follow­ed.

He did not declare himself so openly upon the return of Chasteau-neuf, either because he believed him so ruined in the Queens favor, that he thought he might give her this mark of his moderation without any danger, or because she was far enough from restoring him to the management of affairs on her own head, without his making some endeavors for it; but in fine, he was contented to let the Chancellor act, who (being obliged [Page 23] for his own preservation to keep ou [...] Monsieur Chasteau-neuf, (who could not return to Court without taking the Seals from him) had taken all imaginable care to make the Queen sure by the means of one of his Sisters, who was a Nun at Pontoyse, and was also Sister to that Mountague I have already mention­ed.

In the interim all these delays vexed Madam de Chevreuse to the last degree; she look'd upon them not only as Car­dinal Mazarin's Artifices, (who by this accustom'd the Queen not to grant her immediately what she desir'd,) but as they diminish'd, in the opinion of the World, the Reputation, she would give it of her credit; she oftentimes let the Queen know she was dissatisfied, and in her complaints always intermingled some sharp thing against Cardinal Mazarin; she could not endure to speak to him, for what she desired of the Queen, and she made it appear, that she had rather receive no favours, than owe a part of them to the Cardinals mediation. He on the contrary, who saw, that this conduct of Madam de Chevreuse did more [Page 24] perswade the Queen that she desired to govern her, than all that he had hither­to made use of to make her believe it, took very different ways to ruine her.

The War of Paris.

IT is almost impossible to write a very just Relation of the past Troubles, because those, who caused them, having acted out of ill Principles, took care to keep them secret to the World, for fear Posterity should accuse them of having sacrificed their Countrys Happiness, to their private Interests; be­sides it's very difficult for him, that writes the affairs of his own Age, to keep his Passions so pure, as not to aban­don himself to hatred, or flattery, which are the ordinary Shelveꝰ that shipwrack Truth; as to my self, I de­sign to make an impartial Rehearsal of what is past, and leave to the Readers an entire liberty to praise, or to con­demn.

France in the Year, 1635. declared War against the House of Austria▪ and Fortune favoured so great an Under­taking [Page 26] with so much success, that she was victorious wherever she bore her Arms. We pierc'd into the heart of Flanders, having subdu'd all the River of Lys, we extended our Conquests in Germany as far as the Danube, by the fa­mous Battel at Norlingue; Milan was the Theater of the War with Italy, and on the side of Spain our Conquests had not been bounded by Russilion and Ca­talonia, but for Lerida, which was the fatal terme thereof.

These Prosperities, which begun in the late Kings time, continued with more splendor for the first five years of the Regency, which were so famous for brave and glorious Victories, that it was a wonder, how they could gain such considerable advantages over Stran­gers, in the time of a Kings Minority, usually exposed to Civil and Domestick Wars. But as it is the fate of our Na­tion to grow weary of its own happi­ness, and to fight against it self, when it finds no opposition without, or because God hath set to Empires certain bounds of Power, and duration, which are be­yond the jurisdiction of Men, we lost in one Campagne, by our Divisions, the greatest part of the Conquests; which [Page 27] we had gain'd in many years; but be­fore I enter into a Narration of these Troubles, it will be seasonable to tell you how things were govern'd in the Cabinet Council.

The Kings Council in the Queens Re­gency were the Duke d'Orleans, Monsi­eur le Prince, and Cardinal Mazarin, the rest of the Ministers, as the Chancellor, Monsieur de Longneville, the Superin­tendent Chavigny and Servien, had little Authority there.

The principal Affairs were ruled by the Council of the Princes, and the Cardinal, which last had the oversight of all, because of the confidence the Queen reposed in him.

The Princes of the Blood were strong­ly united to the Queen, and this Union produced the publick happiness, inso­much that by this all the hopes of a change being taken away (to which our Nation hath a natural propensity) every one aspired by honourable servi­ces to make his Fortune. Cardinal Ma­zarin kept up this right Understanding betwixt them, it being useful to his preservation; and when one of the Princes aspired to be greater, he quali­fied him by the opposition of the other, [Page 28] and by thus ballancing their Power, he rendred his own, without comparison, the most respected.

Besides he had procur'd the Duke d'Orleans the Government of Languedoc▪ and had made the Abbot de la Reviere, his chief Minister, so absolutely his Creature, that he look'd upon all ways (besides the Cardinals favor) to his ad­vancement to the Cardinalship, as dan­gerous as Precipices.

As to the Duke d'Anguien, he satisfied his Ambition with the Government of Champaine and Stenay, and the Com­mand of the Armies, which he procu­red for him; add, that the Cardinal, being of a nature mild enough, was the less to be apprehended, and the Princes by intermedling less in the ma­nagement of Affairs, might throw all upon him without Envy.

Now, as he foresaw, that the Union of the Princes and their Authority would weaken the Queens, he skilfully put into their heads suspitions of jealousie and distrust one of another, which he scat­tered again seasonably for fear they should come to a breach; for being the Author of their differences, it was easie for him to be the Arbitrator of their [Page 29] reconciliation, and derive the whole merit thereof upon himself. As to the other Nobles of the Kingdom, since they had no Power, their good or ill will was not at all regarded.

This was the condition of the Court, till events breaking this Union, so ne­cessary to the State, brought upon it most fatal mischiefs.

Before I relate them, I must take no­tice of the Prince of Condy's death (hap­pening just before these troubles) which was so much the more considera­ble, because it was the common opi­nion, that if he had liv'd, he had pre­vented them by his Prudence and Au­thority, which gave a check to the Mi­nisters, and was revered by the Parlia­ment.

The Union of these Powers was so solid a pledge of the Tranquillity of the Kingdom, that it gave the Ministers too much confidence, and encouraged Emery, Superintendent over the Kings Revenue, to levy great Taxes. Now because this Conduct, although colo­red with a Foreign War, and the De­fence of the State, was introduced in the time of Cardinal Richlieu's Ministry, and was but a consequence of that, it [Page 30] will not be impertinent to speak there­of. This Minister, whose absolute Po­lity had violated the antient Laws of the Kingdom, to establish the immoderate Authority of his Master, which he was the dispenser of, look'd upon all the Rules of this State as forced Concessi­ons, and bounds imposed on the power of Kings, rather than a solid Foundati­on of governing well; and because his ve­ry long Administration was authorized with great success, during the life of the late King, he quite chang'd all the forms of Justice, and the Kings Revenues, and introduced the Royal Will for the Sovereign Tribunal of the Lives and Estates of Men.

This so violent method of Govern­ing continued till his death, and the King (surviving him but a few months) left to the Queen with the Regency the establishment of his Orders for the Taxes which seemed necessary to main­tain the charges of the War.

Her Majesty, being in the beginning of her Regency constrained to be expensively Liberal, drain'd her Ex­chequer; whereupon Emery was obliged to put in practice all the Expedients, his Wit could invent, without being re­strained [Page 31] either by Justice, or pity, or the despair into which he might drive the People.

To this end, after having consumed the Peoples Estates by new Subsidies, he, extends his Arts as far as the Cities, Taxes Rich and Poor, Creates new Offices, Seizes the Publick Rents, forc'd them to give him Credit, prepares more new Edicts, and by this rigorous imposition upon Estates in every kind, drove the Companies, Commonalties and Cor­porations into a secret Revolt. In fine, all Springs being drain'd dry, he would have seiz'd the Revenues of the Chambers of the Courts of Aids, and the great Council, who complained to the Parliament, which thereupon made the famous Arrest d'Union.

This Act was a signal to all the dis­conted; the Renters, the Treasurers of France, the Kings Secretaries, the As­sessors, the Officers of the Taxes, and of the Impost of Salt in France. Gabelle; In fine, people of all condi­tions, repaired thither, expo­sing their Griefs to the Parliament, de­manding reparation.

[Page 32]The Names of the Farmers, and of Emery fell under a publick Curse, every one cry'd out against the violent ex­action of the Customers, the unbound­ed Power of the Intendants, the Cruel­ty of the Soldiers, the rigorous force used to the poor people, by the selling of their Goods, and the imprisonment of their Persons, and the heavy weighty Taxes; in a word, against this oppres­sion, as great to the last degree, de­structive of the Lives, Liberties, and Estates of all the Kings Subjects.

The Parliament appearing sensible of the publick miseries, received the Peti­ons of the afflicted People, offered to do them Justice, and by professing that they bore a part in their sufferings, gained their affections to that degree, that they looked upon them as their Revenging and Redeeming Gods.

I don't pretend to give a recital of the Assemblies of the Chambers, of the matters they treated of there, of the Counsels and Results of their Confe­rences, and of the Remonstrances of the Company carried to their Majesties by the chief President Moles, there are Memoirs enough filled therewith, it suf­fices [Page 33] to say, that there were three Par­ties in the Parliament.

The First was that of the Frondeurs, a Name given in Raillery to those that were against the Court. These People being Zealous to stop the course of the present Calamities, had the same Ob­ject, though from a different Motive, that those had, who were Interested by their Fortune, or particular Hatred against the Principal Minister.

The Second Party were the Maza­rins, who were perswaded, that they ow'd a Blind Obedience to the Court; some out of Conscience to maintain the Peace of the State, others out of Re­spect to the Obligations they had to the Ministers, or Interest with the Men in Business.

And the Last were such, as Con­demn'd the Violence of the First, yet approved not the Coldness of the Se­cond, but kept themselves betwixt both, to act upon occasion, either ac­cording to their Interest, or their Du­ty.

Thus the Parliament was divided, the greatest part whereof (who at the first had no love for Innovations) yet for want of Experience in the Affairs [Page 34] of the World, were very glad to be Commissioners for Regulating the A­buses, that were Crept into the Go­vernment of the State, and to see them­selves Mediators betwixt the Court and the People.

It was insinuated into them, that this Imployment gave consideration and lustre to their Persons; that Cha­rity oblig'd them to succor the Distres­sed in their Pressing Necessities; and that the Duty of their Charges, which were instituted to Moderate the Ex­treame Power of Kings, and Oppose their Irregularities, prompted them to it; That they ought to know, that the Ministers of France, were, of late years, perswaded, that it was to Reign Pre­cariously, if their Power extended on­ly to permitted things; That the Laws are stifled by Fear and Justice, by Force. That, to our Misery, our late Kings left the Management of the State so much to them, that they became themselves a Prey to their Passions; That the time is come when they must revive their Antient Orders, and that Harmonious Relation which ought to be betwixt a Lawful Command, and a Reasonable Obedience: That for this end the [Page 35] People Invoked their Justice as the on­ly Refuge to prevent their extreme Oppression; That so Holy a Commissi­on, approved by Heaven, and follow­ed with Publick Acclamations, would Skreen them from all fear; or if there should be danger, that it is the pro­perty of Eminent Vertue to signalise it self in a Tempest, rather than in a Calm; and, that Death, which is com­mon to all Men, is distinguish'd only by Oblivion, or by Glory.

These Venemous Discourses made so much the greater Impressions on their Minds, because Men have a Natural Inclination to believe whatever flatters their Greatness; so that they suffer'd themselves to be charm'd with the fine words of Tutelar Gods of their Coun­trey, and the Restorers of Publick Li­berty.

He that infus'd this Poyson into them, with most Artifice, was Longueil, Counsellor in the Great Chamber, who, being push'd on with a Spirit of Ambi­tion, to advance his Fortune in the Publick Divisions, was in Private Clubs for some years, prepared, with some of his Confederates, to Combat the Power of the Favorites, under the co­lor [Page 36] of the Kingdoms Good, insomuch, that in the birth and progress of these Troubles, he was Consulted as the Ora­cle of the Frondeurs, so long as he was constant to his Party.

Notwithstanding, the Parliament pre­tending to apply themselves to Reform the State, met every day, They had al­ready suppressed the New Edicts and Laws, Revoked the Intendants of the Provinces, and Restored the Treasurers of France, and the General Assessors, to the Execution of their Offices: and further pretended, to exact an Ac­count how the last Levies, since the Regency, were Employ'd, and insensi­bly Attack'd the Cardinals Administra­tion.

On the other side, the Court omit­ted nothing that might be serviceable to dissolve their Meetings; the Duke of Orleans, the Chief President, and the President of Mesmes represented the consequence thereof to be prejudicial to the General Peace; the Enemies fan­cied to themselves a Triumph, which should repair their former Losses; and notwithstanding the▪ King had Autho­rised all the Acts which the Company had Proposed to him, yet the Mild [Page 37] Methods were ill represented, and pass'd for Marks of weakness and fear, which made the Cardinals Enemies more active and eager to push at him.

At this time Monsieur le Prince commanded the Kings Army in Flan­ders; he had taken Ipres, but whilst he Besieg'd that, the Spaniard sur­priz'd Courtray, and gained other small advantages: But as his Genius is great and successful in War, he found the Spanish Army on the 21 of August on the Plains of Arras, and Lens, Fought it, and obtain'd a Famous Victory.

The Duke de Chatillion, who had bravely signaliz'd himself there, came from him, to bring the News to Court.

The King's Council look'd upon this great success as an extraordinary Pro­vidence, which they might use, to stop the course of the Disorders which time and patience increased, and resolved to secure such of the Parliament as were the most active, chiefly Broussel Councellor in the Great Chamber, a person of antient probity, of compe­tent abilities, and one who was grown old in hatred to the Favorites.

[Page 38]This Man, inspir'd with his own O­pinions, and the Perswasions of Long­veil, and others, who had gained cre­dit with him; first gave the most rigo­rous Counsels, which were followed by the Cabal of the Frondeurs, insomuch, that his Name made a noise in the As­semblies of the Chambers, and he was made Head of this Party in the Parlia­ment; being the more in Credit with them, because his Age and Poverty plac'd him beyond the Strokes of En­vy.

Now seeing the People, who stirr'd not from the Palace, when inform'd that he so mightily concern'd himself for their Relief, lov'd him extreamly, and gave him the Gilded Title of their Father; to secure him must needs be a bold action; and as it might be very advantageous, so it might be of dange­rous consequence (as we shall see here­after.) Nevertheless it was happily exe­cuted, by Comings, the Morning that they Sung the Te Deum at Noterdame Church, for the Victory at Lens, while the Company of the Guards were rank­ed on each side of the Street, and was conducted out of the City with Blan­menil, to be transmitted to.....

[Page 39]Two hours after the Report of Brus­sels being taken was spread abroad, the most considerable Burgesses came to the Palais Royal, where they dissembled the excess of the Disorder; and those who were afraid to go thither, had the complaisance to tell the Queen, That it was only some Rascally Fellows, whom they would quickly reduce into better order.

The Coadjutor of Paris, who, till then, did not appear upon the Stage, and kept himself within the bounds of his Profession, was to offer his Service to the Queen, from whom he conceal'd nothing of what pass'd, but his Offers and Advice were both rejected: he ap­parently employ'd the Dignity of his Character, and his Perswasions, to calm the Storms, and after came to the Palais Royal to give an Account of the Sediti­on; where, having not received the Satisfaction he expected, he conceived a hatred against the Cardinal, which, with his being refused to Treat for the Government of Paris, was the Cause (or at least the Pretence) that he so much Interessed himself for the Faction opposite to the Court.

[Page 40]Notwithstanding, the Queen, who is naturally uncapable of Fear, com­manded the Marshals of La Meilleray, and the Hospital, to take Horse with their Friends, to ride through the Streets, and restrain the People by some Example of Justice; but they found the Mischief so great, that they could not execute their Orders. So that they were reduc'd to hope, that the Night might appease the Tumult (as it did,) but the morning after, an Accident kindled the Fire, which was almost quench'd.

The Chancellor going to the Palais, to carry the Kings Declaration, which forbad the Chambers to Assemble, was perceived by some of the Mutinous Rabble: his Person odious to the Pub­lick, and the Errand he was sent on, animated a Croud of People, to run af­ter his Coach, which they forc'd to fly to the Hotel de Luines, where they sought him, to Sacrifice (as they call'd him) This Mercenary Soul, the Protector of the Impositions, laid on so many ruin'd People, by the Edicts which he had Sealed.

Notice of the Condition he was in was brought to the Palais Royal, from [Page 41] whence the Marshal de La Meilleray came with some Companies of the Guards, who Discharg'd upon the Se­ditious, and deliver'd the Chancellor; but this was a Signal for the City to take up Arms; for, at the same time, the People shut up their Shops, put Chains cross the Streets, and Barrica­does almost to the Palais Royal.

During this uproar the Parliament consulted about the Imprisonment of their Members, with the more courage, because they saw the People Rise in fa­vor of them; and, without doubt, if the Chancellor had come to the Pa­lais with his Commission, they would have detein'd him as Reprisal.

It was Order'd, by common consent, That the Parliament should instantly go in a Body to beseech their Majesties to set at Liberty their Members. They found the People up in Armes in the Streets, some Threatning them, if they brought not Broussel back; others Con­juring them to fear nothing, and that they would die for their Preservation; and all together Protested, that they would not lay down their Armes till they saw the Father of their Coun­trey.

[Page 42]The Parliament, after having been introduced into the Great Closet in the Palais Royal, where their Majesties were, accompanied with the Duke of Orleans, the Prince of Conty, Cardinal Mazarin, the Nobility of the Realm, and the Mi­nisters of State, the Chief President Represented, how much the Company was concerned for the Imprisonment of their Fellow Members, and shew'd their Humble Addresses for their Liberty, which were Seconded with the Vows of a Hundred Thousand Armed Men, who demanded Monsieur Broussel.

The Queen Answered, That she won­der'd they should keep such a stir about a simple Counsellor, when the Parliament said not a word against the Imprisonment of the late Prince.

The Chief President, and the Presi­dent of Mesmes Replied, That in the Posture things were now, there was no time to deliberate, and that there was an absolute necessity of submitting to the Peo­ples will, who would not hearken to the Magistrate, had lost all Respect and O­bedience, and, in fine, were the Ma­sters.

The Queen Answer'd, That she would remit nothing of her Severity; that ha­ving [Page 43] in her hand the Sacred Depositum of the King her Sons Authority, she would never consent to its Violation, by yield­ing to the Passions of the Multitude; that the Parliament should Remonstrate to the Seditious their Duty; that those who had rais'd the Mutiny should endevor to lay it; and that one day the King would know how to make a difference betwixt the Loy­al, and the Enemies of his Crown.

These Gentlemen were still urgent, but in vain; Her Majesty always con­tinuing in an absolute Denyal, so that they return'd to the Palais to con­sider upon the Refusal. When they came to the first Barricade, the Rab­ble Askt them, If they had obtain'd Broussel's Liberty? and seeing by their Countenances that they had not, in a Rage sent them back to the Palais Roy­al, Threatning, that if it was not Granted them in two hours, they would go in Armes to Beg it of the Queen, and would exterminate the Ministers who were Authors of the Se­dition.

These Gentlemen return'd, to Repre­sent what they had seen and heard; and added, That since they could not overcome their Disobedience, neither by [Page 44] Reason, nor Force, She must submit, un­less she would hazard the Crown.

Upon this they call'd a Council, wherein the Duke of Orleans and the Cardinal Advis'd, contrary to the Queens Opinion, That Liberty should be granted to the Prisoners; which they immediately declared to the Parliament, and the Parliament to the People; who, notwithstanding all the Assurances could be given them, were so jealous, that they would not faithfully perform what was promised, that they remain­ed still in Armes, expecting the Arrival of Broussel; who, no sooner appeared, but was Saluted by all the Musqueteers, and Accompanied with Publick Shouts to the place where he and Blanmenil received the Compliments of the Com­pany, and from thence was conducted by the People to his Lodging, with de­monstrations of a Joy so great, as if every one in the Liberty of Brussel had that day gain'd a Glorious Victory.

This is the Famous Day of the Barri­cades, which was caused not so much out of an Affection the Publick had to Broussel as out of an Inveterate Ha­tred, which they, for some years, enter­tained against the Government: a hatred [Page 45] so great, that they only wanted an op­portunity to shew it. It is not easie to determine, whether this Counsel of de­taining the Prisoners was safe, according to the Rules of Policy; for, on one side, if we consider the Rudeness, not to say Violence, of the People, so great, that an Attempt upon Royal Majesty was to be feared; it will seem, that Prudence could not advise any other Method but Mildness, since they want­ed Power to reduce them: On the o­ther side, to Acquiesce to their Fury, would give a Mortal Wound to the Princes Authority, and, as it were, pre­pared a Triumph for the People over Soveraign Dignity: Upon this some said, That it would have been much bet­ter to have carried the King to St. Ger­mains, there to expect all sorts of events, rather then to Prostitute Royal Dignity to the Capriciousness of a Multitude. But the Duke of Orleans and the Cardinal, naturally Friends to Moderate Coun­cils, thought of nothing but delivering themselves from present danger. How­ever it be, it is evident, the Parliament from this day got ground of the Court; and a great many People of Quality, either out of Interest, or a desire of [Page 46] Innovation, solemnly engaged for the ruine of the Chief Minister.

Now seeing he was, during all the Troubles, the Object of Publick Invect­ives, and both Pens and Tongues took the greatest Liberty to defame him; it will not be amiss to report the best founded Accusations against him, and also his just defences. 'Twas objected against Cardinal Mazarin, That it was a strange and shameful thing to France, that a Stranger, and one who by Birth was a Subject of Spain, should be its Principal Minister, even with a Power so absolute, that he was the Arbiter of War and Peace; that of his own head he distributed Honors, Offices, Benefi­ces, in fine, all sorts of Favors, not with respect to Merit, or Services, or Quali­ty, but to the devotion they paid his Person, which was the true qualificati­on to obtain them. That for his Am­bition, he had carried the Armes of France into Tuscany, at an extreme charge, and to no advantage; and that he would not have assisted the Duke of Guise in the Revolt of Na­ples, but for his own Interests. He would not accept the Treaty of Peace concluded on at Munster, and eluded it [Page 47] by the Ministry of Servien his Secreta­ry. That by his Jealousie he would have destroyed the Marshal Gassion, when he dyed, and also Monsieur le Prince in Catalonia, because his Birth and Reputation overclouded him. That by his Edicts he had drained France of its Money, to send it into Italy. That after the death of the Duke of Breze, he assum'd the same Power at Sea that he did at Land. That he was only knowing in Forraign Affairs; moreo­ver that he had lost us the Reputati­on of Fidelity amongst our Allies. That Cardinal Richlieu had set him up du­ring his Ministry; and as to his Parts, he was a Man of no Judgment, of which the confusion whereinto they were fal­len was an evident Proof, since of a Peaceable State it was become divided and full of Revolts; That he would Govern the Kingdom according to For­reign Maxims, no wayes proper to our Nation; and the Court by Addresses so openly observed, that they turn'd him into contempt; in sum, that he was not capable of so great a Burthen, and that he had lost his credit in the Minds of the People.

[Page 48]To these Accusations it was Answer­ed, That it is no new thing for stran­gers to have a share in the Govern­ment of the State, witness the Cardi­nals of Lorrain, and Birague, the Duke of Nevers, and the Marshal of Rets; That Cardinal Mazarin was chosen Car­dinal by the Interest of France, after he had done it considerable Services; that Cardinal Richlieu who knew his Parts, destin'd him his Successor in the Mini­stry, foreseeing the Advantages would accrew to the State thereby. That the late King, who was a competent Judge of Men, after the Cardinal's Death, made him President of the Council; That the Queen coming to the Regen­cy, meerly out of Necessity, and in con­formity to the late Kings Will, conti­nued him so. That this choice was approved by all the Wise Men in the Kingdom, and also the Allies of the Crown; that having answered by his Services the Queens expectati­on, she could not abandon him with­out failing in her Duty to the State, and Gratitude to so useful a Servant. Moreover, that all the Favors were disposed of with the consent of the Princes, and that he was so far from [Page 49] favoring those who were devoted to the Interests of the Court, that it was a common complaint, that in the di­stribution, he had, before all others, consider'd the Servants of the Duke of Orleans and the Prince, and that all Affairs were proposed in Council, and finally resolved on there. That the Accusation of his opposing the Conclu­sion of the Peace, is but an Idle Fancy; since, beside the General, his own parti­cular Interest obliged him to crown a Negotiation glorious for so many great Events, by a Treaty, which would have Eternis'd him in the Peoples Affecti­ons: but, the Truth is, the Spaniards al­ways oppos'd it, which he calls the Duke of Longueville, and even the Prin­ces to witness, That the Expedition of Orbitel, and Portolongone was the most advantageous that France could make, to bring the Enemies sooner to a ready Peace, because these places kept in sub­jection the King of Spain's States, which are in Italy: That the Independance which the Duke of Guise affected in Naples, kept him from solliciting the Cardinal to succor him. That Mar­shal Gassion would have establish'd a particular Covernment in Flanders, very [Page 50] little depending upon the Court; and that Monsieur the Prince never com­plained that he did not assist him in Ca­talonia, and in all his Campains, as much as he could. That he was con­strained to seek for Supplies by Edicts, to furnish the Charges of the War. That notwithstanding the Taxes were diminish'd, and that time had but too much verify'd, that this Transportati­on of Money into Italy, was a Lye, in­vented to Defame him; as to the rest, That he had managed with success enough the Interests of the Princes of Europe for Twenty years; and that if the good Intelligence betwixt France and the United Provinces had ceased, it was by the corruption of some particu­lar persons, who had been Suborned by Money from Spain; as to the Admi­nistration of the State, he had follow'd Cardinal Richlieu's Maxims, excepting only in the Cruelty of Punishments; And that if he had been obliged to pro­mise more then he gave, it was because the number of those that serve in France is great, and of pretenders yet much greater. That the State was ne­ver in greater prosperity then during his Ministry: and that if in the Great [Page 51] Expeditions, the Honor of the Executi­on was due to the Generals, that of the Design belonged to him; that France would have yet preserv'd its Peace, if every one had conspired to it according to his Duty, if the People had not been drawn from their Obedience by the suggestion of Male-Contents; or rather if the Parliament, which ought to be an Example of Obedience, had not open'd and led them the way to Rebellion. That the Post he is now in hath been always exposed to the strokes of hatred and envy in all States; and that it is not an extraordinary thing, if they one while taxe his Ambition, ano­ther while his Inability; that at least he is happy in this, that Calumny, in its most Poysonous Design, hath not thrown the least Suspition upon his Fi­delity.

During the time of this Commoti­on, Three things hapned, which were of unlucky consequence.

The First was, The Duke of Beau­fort's escape out of the Dungeon of Vincennes, where he was Prisoner from the beginning of the Regency, for [Page 52] Reasons which are not within the com­pass of my Subject; but because he held a considerable Place in the Wars by the Affections of the People of Pa­ris, it is not impertinent to Remark it.

The Second was that upon a Quarrel that hapned at Feuillians, betwixt the Life-Guard, and the Sergeants of the Grand Provost, the Marquiss deGesures, behaved himself so, as displeased the Cardinal, who sent him order to retire, and Char­rost and Chaudenier to undergo the pu­nishment of the Baton, who refused it; upon which their Offices were gi­ven to Gerse and Nouailles; and there­by the Friends and Kindred of the dis­graced were incensed against the Cardi­nal, at a time, when no body spared him, either in Deed, or Word.

The Third was, The Imprisonment of Chavigny, which deserves a particu­lar Relation.

This Minister, so considerable in the late Kings Reign, was united with Car­dinal Mazarine, by their mutual Inte­rests, which is the only Bond at Court, [Page 53] and the most certain Rule of Friend­ship; after Cardinal Richlieu's death, the King divided his Affairs betwixt them two, and the Denoyers, whom they ruin'd presently, and remained in a strict Union till the Regency. The Queen, who had been Persecuted by the late Cardinal Richlieu, took an A­version to Chavigny, and wish'd his Ru­ine. Cardinal Mazarin, either by good Fortune, or by his Address, or rather by the Interposition of my Lord Moun­tague, and Beringhen, was not only con­tinued near her Majesty, but the en­tire Management of Affairs conferr'd upon him: Now though Chavigny ex­pected to be greatly protected by him, in his fall, yet he endeavored only to mitigate it, and to defend him from falling into absolute ruine, because Fa­vor as well as Love, cannot endure to be divided, or to admit of a Rival; They devested his Father of his super­intendency, and himself of the Office of Principal Secretary of State; only they left him the vain Title of Minister, with admittance into the Council, but without any Imployment, or Respect. This is all the Cardinal gave to his antient Friendship, to the strict obli­gations [Page 54] wherein Men often play the Bankrupts in the World. Chavigny net­tled with this ill usage (which he dis­sembled for five years, with very much prudence) design'd to make use of the present conjunctures, and to be re­veng'd, by raising himself upon the Cardinals ruin; to this end judging, that Monsieur le Prince, after the Battle at Lens, could do what he would at Court, would give Laws to the Court: he declared his thoughts, concerning the present state of Affairs, to the Duke of Chatillion, at his re­turn from the Army, whom he found dispos'd to hearken to him, from a ha­tred he had to the Cardinal, who made him languish with the expectation of a Marshal Staff: but as Prudence ordina­rily sleeps, and unbends it self in the ex­cess of our Passions, he intrusted the same secret to Perrault, but when he found that it took not as he desired, he Re­pented of it, and proved to his cost, that he, to whom you tell your secret, becomes Master of your Liberty. Per­rault having reason to fear the Genius of Chavigny, if he came near the Prince, told all their discourse to the Cardinal, who caused him to be made Prisoner [Page 55] by Drouet, in the Castle of Vincennes, whereof he was Governor. This Im­prisonment gave occasion to the Pub­lick (who knew not the secret) to tax the Cardinals Ingratitude; and his E­nemies in the Parliament represented this Action in very black colors.

About this time they put Emery out of the Exchequer, which was but an ineffective Remedy, because the mis­chief had made too great a Progress to stop in his person, and the pretence of Reforming the State was chang'd into a firm Resolution to ruine the Cardi­dal. For, as the Authority of Princes and Ministers, is kept up only by Fear, or Admiration, his weakness rais'd him Enemies, whom he never offended. Brus­sels, Charton, and Viole, did, in effect, point him out in the Assembly of the Chambers; but Blanmevil the President of Noujon nam'd him, and there was order'd a solemn Deputation to the Duke of Orleans, to Monsieur the Prince, and to the Prince of Conty, to beseech them to joyn with the Company, and bring effective Remedies to the Mis­chiefs which threatned the State.

The Court was at Ruel at the time of this Declaration against the Cardinal, [Page 56] who was touch'd to the quick with it, to see himself necessitated to throw him­self into the Armes of Monsieur le Prince, and to secure his shaking for­tune by his support: The Prince, who could not enjoy the fruit of his Victo­ry at the Battle of Lens, because of the Disorders of Paris, was reduc'd to bound his Conquests with the taking of Fur­nes, where good Fortune preserved him from the Shot of a Musquet, which he received in the Trenches, for it hit him on the Back, in a place where his Belt was doubled, which deadned the stroak of the Bullet. Immediately af­ter it was taken, he had orders to re­turn.

At this time he was look'd upon by all the People with admiration; for be­sides that this new Laurel, which he had acquir'd by his pure Valor, gave a great addition to his Glory, he had no hand in the present troubles, and both Parties look'd upon him as their Defender, or at least as the Arbitrator of their Differences. It also look'd as if Fortune invited him to entertain more ambitious designs, because the eb­bing state of the Court, and Publick Admiration, equally concurr'd to his [Page 57] Advancement; but as he was naturally inclin'd to keep within the bounds of Duty, he was not very industrious to manage the General Love. He admit­ted into his confidence two persons of Quality and Merit, who were of oppo­site opinions, viz. the Duke of Chatilli­on, and Marshal Gramount; The first, whose Family and Person were strictly united to the Prince, advis'd him to de­clare himself for the Parliament, or at least to make himself Moderator of the Differences with all the Neutrality pos­sible; The other, by all sorts of inte­rests, bound to be on the Courts side, employed his perswasions to induce him to be of his Party. Upon this oc­casion he did violence to his Nature, which is something averse to such tem­perate methods, and Wrote, together with the Duke of Orleans, to the Par­liament, to desire them to send Depu­ties to St. Germains, that they might put an end to the Divisions in a Conference. So many Relations give an account of what pass'd there, that it would be a superfluous Repetition, and I need on­ly to remark, that the Deputies would not consent that the Cardinal should assist at it; and, that at the first [Page 58] interview, the Prince was hot upon Vi­ole, for having first propounded the Li­berty of Chavigny, because he was of o­pinion, that they should decide the Matters in Controversie, and agree up­on Rules necessary for the Drawing up of the Kings Declaration, by vertue whereof Chavigny would recover his Liberty, as it happen'd by this Authen­tick Declaration of the 28th of Octo­ber.

After this Declaration, which gave some respite to the Publick Divisions, there happen'd some Court Disputes, which, for a while, disturb'd the Uni­on that was in the Council, and thus it was. From the beginning of the Regency, the Abbot de la Riviere pos­sessing absolutely the favor of the Duke of Orleans, aim'd at a Cardinals Cap; and Mazarin, to make him more sure to his Interests, gave him more hopes of it, the execution whereof he still evaded, judging it not at all conve­nient to have a person of the same Dig­nity with himself in the King's Council, but from time to time he procur'd him Benefices to preserve his good Will; nevertheless at the Birth of these trou­bles, the Abbot urged him so vehe­mently, [Page 59] that he could not avoid giving him the Nomination of France for the Cap, because he stood in need of the Duke of Orlean's Protection: but he believed, that either there would be oppositions at Rome, which he might underhand foment, or else that time would produce opportunities at Court, to hinder it from taking effect. The Abbot sends his Agent to his Holiness, who gave him assurance of his Promo­tion to the first that fell; and in ex­pectation of this he brought his Master to preserve the Cardinals so much tos­sed Fortune from Shipwrack. When he saw himself at the height of his de­sires, the Prince of Conty, who was not yet declared for the Cardinals Cap, any more then as it was an extraordi­nary Promotion, more honorable for his Birth, begg'd, at the perswasion of the Court, the King's Nomination for the first. It could not be refus'd him, and the competition of Rivier was too weak to dispute the Preference. So that not being able to blame the Prince of Conty, he taxes the Cardinal, detests his Ingratitude, and obliges the Duke of Orleans not to speak to him any more.

[Page 60]Now, as he thought of nothing but the means whereby he might break off the Nomination of the Prince of Conty; He attempts to do it by Monsieur the Prince, and proposed to him by Vi­nevil, that in case he would take off his Brother from desiring the Cap, his Roy­al Highness would procure him what Government soever he would. He an­swered Vinevil, That he had an Estate, an Offices great enough to maintain him with his Services and Fidelity; that if he had more, he might justly be­come suspected of the King, who would aim at nothing so much, as to ru­ine him, if he became Great; and that his Fortune was in a condition, that wanted nothing but Moderation in his desires. I thought these so vertuous words worthy to be reported, to shew, how much Inconsistant Man is with himself, and how much his Mind is subject to change.

During this Division the King came from St. Germains to Paris, where the Duke of Orleans gave continual Marks of his anger against the Cardinal, he went very little to the Palais Royal; there was nothing resolv'd on in Council; [Page 61] all the Male-contents repair'd to him; he hearkned to the Frondeurs of the Parliament; in fine, the Quarrel must have either ended in the greatest vio­lence, or be accommodated. The Mar­shal d'Estree, and Senators, persons of credit, took upon them to try if they could bring both to an agreement; They represented to the Duke of Or­leance, that this misunderstanding be­twixt the Queen and him could not continue longer without ruining the State; and that the cause of it was dishonorable to his Royal Highness; that Monsieur the Prince would gain a notable Advantage by it, because he would be obliged in Honor to his Fa­mily, and his own Greatness; to take the Queen into his Protection, and she to fly to him as her only refuge; that he being of a hot nature, would re­duce things to the greatest extremity; and that it was already talk'd that he was coming with the Regiment of Guards to force the Palace of Orleans, to reduce that company of Seditious which were about his Person: They Remonstrated to la Riviere, if he would pretend, for his private Interest, to make a division in the Royal Family, [Page 62] and cause a Civil War; If it was reaso­nable that he should be offended, be­cause a Prince of the Blood was pre­ferr'd before him? That he would be­come the object of the hatred and ven­geance of Monsieur the Prince, and of all his Family; that the load he laid upon his Master, was too weighty, that he would quickly be weary of it; or that if he broke off with him, his favor would become a prey to others; and as to the Cardinalship, that the Prince of Conty would either give it over, or the Court demand two Caps for the First Promotion.

The two Commissioners of the Court found the Minds of the Duke de Or­leans, and de la Riviere very well dis­posed to understand their Reasons, for Time had done much towards an Ac­commodation, and this Minister was al­ready perswaded by his own fears, that things ought to return to the same de­gree of concord, that they were at be­fore, and so they did upon this Agree­ment.

The Declaration agreed upon by the Kings Council and the Deputies of [Page 63] the Soveraign Courts seem'd to secure the Repose of the State, and to quench the least sparks of Fire which threatned it; but the Ambition of those who ha­ted the present Government, and de­sired Innovations, had taken too deep root in their Minds to keep within the bounds of Mildness; So that they omitted no endeavor, or practise, where­by they might incite the Parliament and People to disturb it. They represented to them, that this great business of the Barricadoes, this Victory of Subjects over their Soveraign, this Diminution of Royal Authority, the Publick Invect­ives against the Cardinal, would never be forgotten. That his want of Power made him at present prudently dissem­ble his Resentments, but that they would break out with so much the greater violence: That it was never heard, that so powerful a Minister was ever attack'd, without being ruin'd to all intents and purposes: that he stayes only for favorable occasions; a Division in the Parliament, a change in the People, the King's Majority; in a word, the Benefit of Opportunity, which can­not be wanting to him who absolute­ly disposes of the Royal Power; that [Page 64] therefore they must make use of the present junctures, if they would get rid of so dangerous an Enemy. That the Duke of Orleans was a sober Man, and one too knowing in the Affairs of the World, to oppose an universal con­course; That Monsieur le Prince will bethink himself, that the true Refuge for Princes of the Blood, and his own Reputation against the jealousie of Fa­vorites, must be the Publick Love of the People; so that at the most, to please the Queen, they will appear to defend her, but weakly, and with reserved­ness.

Lastly, That they must consider, that the Declaration which was extorted from the Court, when in a weak con­dition, and which will be of force no longer, then while it continues so, is a Necessity, not a Sincere Friendship, in the heart of the Queen, who but waits the Moment to Revenge her self.

Those who dispersed such Discourses in Parliament, and who declared most against the Court, were after Broussel and Longueil, the President of Noujon and Blanmenil, Enemies to the Cardinal, [Page 65] because of the disgrace of the Bishop of Beauvay their Uncle, and because their Cousin was refused to be made the Coadjutor of this Bishoprick, and Viole, because they broke the promise they made him to be Chancellour to the Queen, but the person that at this time by the instances of his friend in Parliament, and his Emissaries among the people, laboured with most success to make a party to their Association▪ was the Coadjutour of Paris. This man who had joyned too many excellent, both Na­tural and acquired Qualities, that defect which the Corruption of minds makes to pass for a Vertue, was tainted with an extreme ambition, and an unbound­ed desire of increasing his Fortune, and Reputation by all sorts of ways, so that the Constancie of his undaunted Cour­age, and mighty Genius found a sad and unhappy object, which was the troubles of the State; and a Compassion to the Capital City, whereof he was Arch-Bishop. Now judging that this Party could not Subsist with out a Head, he cast his eyes upon Monsieur le Prince, whom he Assaulted with such strong rea­sons, that it was reported, he was per­swaded by them, or at least seem'd to be [Page 66] so, even to give his word to Broussel, and Longueil to put himself at the Head of them. But whether it was that he did not engage his word, and that the Duke of Chatillion, who Negotiated for him with the Frondaurs, had advanced so farr on his own head without his Orders, or rather that the Prince had expressely given it to hinder them from addressing themselves to the Duke of Orleans, during his discontent, howe­ver it was, he undeceived those who suspected Him of Favouring his De­sire.

The Coadjutor seeing himself dis­appointed, having a Head of this Im­portance, turn'd his hopes upon the Prince of Conty, whose Birth alone was of Great Consequence in the King­dom. This Prince was dissatisfied be­cause he was not one of the Council, and much more because the Prince set so little esteem upon him. But being entirely Governed by the Dutchess of Longueil his Sister, (who was net­led at the Indifference which Monsieur the Prince shew'd to her) he abandon|'d himself without reserve to her Opi­nions. This Princess, who had a great [Page 67] hand in the sequel of Affairs, had all the advantages of Wit, and Beau­ty to so high a Degree, and with so many charms, and so generally liked, that nature seem'd to have been pleased to frame an accomplish'd and perfect Work. But a Blemish, which is rarely or never seen in a Princess of this merit, somthing dark­ened these fair Qualities, which was far from prescribing to those who had a particular Adoration for her, she trans­formed herself so very much into their sentiments that she was not sensible of her own.

At this time the Prince de Marcillac had a place in her Affections, who joyn­ing his ambition to his Love, inspired her with a desire of intermedling in A­ffairs, tho she had a natural Aversion to it, and made use of the passion she had to be reveng'd on Monsieur the Prince, to set the Prince of Conty against him. The Coadjutour was happy in his project, to see the Brother and Sis­ter disposed to Unite themselves with the Frondeurs, by a Treaty into which the Duke of Longueville was drawn, be­ing push'd on with the Hopes that the Parliament would bring about his ill [Page 68] grounded pretensions to be a Prince of the Blood.

The Court seeing that the Designs of their Enemies, prevailed to that Height as openly to demand the Car­dinals ruin, put all their hope in the Duke of Orleans, and Monsieur le Prince, and thought that their Union, with their Majesties would reduce them into Order. Now because the mischief had taken such deep root, that there was required a great deal of force to pluck it up, they judg'd that the tem­perate Nature of the Duke of Orleans, was not so proper, as that of Monsieur le Prince; which was incapable of all Moderation: Add to this, that his Re­putation in the Wars, the Splendor of his Victories, the Forces of his Troops would strike terrour into peoples minds, so that they applyed themselves parti­cularly to gain him, to espouse a cause so just. The Queen to this end made use of very pressing perswasions, to Wit, Tears, and most affectionate words, tel­ling him that she look'd upon him as her Third Son. The Cardinal pro­mised him that he would all his life de­pend upon his Will. The King himself [Page 69] bracing him, told him that he recom­mended to him the saftey of his State and Person. So that the Court consi­der'd him, as the Principal Defender of its Fortune: but those who determin'd him, were Marshal Gramont, and le Tel­lier; by these or the like Arguments, they represented to him, that by little and little, the Parliament would Usurp the whole Authority: That instead of bounding their Ambition within the Declaration of the 28 October. they would not only be judges of the Affairs of War, but also took upon themselves a power to turn out the Minister, that at the same time they might set up a new one of their own chusing, and further that frequent Mutations are Pernicious to Kingdoms, nay that it is sometimes better to suffer an ill one, than to change him; that it is ten thousand to one, but if an usurpation, (the like whereof was never heard of till now) be tolerated, they will assault priviledg'd persons and nothing be sacred enough to secure it from Violation; by this licentiousness, that the Counsellors would be in a fine Condition, if they should impose Laws upon Kings and the Princes of the Blood, miserable if they received them. That [Page 70] this new practice shock'd the Monarchy, which is absolute and independant, and contrary to the Constitutions of France, and even to the Institutions of the Par­liament; that if there be abuses in the Kingdom, they ought to be reformed by the Assemblies of the General States; and not by the Decrees of a Company, whose suffrages are rather counted than weighed. That when ever the Parlia­ment went beyond their Duty, they were severely corrected, sometimes by the late King, sometimes by Henry the Fourth, and Charles the Ninth, and o­ther Kings their Predecessors, upon occa­sions less dangerous than this. That Great Kingdoms cannot be supported by remiss Councils, but must give a proof of their Courage and strength, and that the justice of Kings consists in their Power. That He the Prince, was in­terested in the person of the Cardinal, to oppose an enterprise which tends to the Destruction of the Royal Family; and that if the Duke of Orleans, and his Highness would not stand in the Gap, the Queen would be forc'd to go with her Children, to Implore the Help of the Princes that were Allies to the Crown: Besides, that Monsieur le [Page 71] Prince must think that the Innovations made by the Parliament, since the De­claration wounded the Establishment of the Peace.

These Discourses, which represented the thing very lively, made such an Im­pression on his Spirit, that he would not hear of a neutrality, without ever so much as thinking that he might lose the peoples Affection. It is certain, that Great Minds, like this of Monsieur le Prince, produce great Vertues, but are eminent also for great Defects: By an Invincible Excess of Passion, he ruin'd all the Advantages Fortune had, even to Envy, added to his person, which were such, that the would have surpass­ed the glory of the greatest men in for­mer Ages, if Piety, Justice, and Solidi­ty had been answerable to that Exces­sive Valour, that incredible Constancy in Adversities, and that sparkling Wit which were remarkable in him. Mon­sieur le Prince might have rendred himself ador'd by all the World, if he could have manag'd himself with a de­sign to have treated his Affairs with calmness; but instead of this he was forc'd by his rash conduct to have re­course [Page 72] to means, which brought him to strange Extremities. He went with the Duke of Orleans to the Parliament, and push'd on by his ill Fate, as soon as Vi­ole had invoked the Holy Spirit to illu­minate the Princes in their Consi­deration of the Cardinals Conduct, Monsieur le Prince rose up and bid him hold his tongue; this inconsiderately raised a murmuring amongst the Young Counsellors, with which he was fir'd in­to a passion, and threatned them with his hands and words. At this time he lost the Affection of the Company, and when this Action was spread abroad, the esteem his Victories gain'd him was chang'd into Fear, and the love of his Person into Hatred, not to say Excera­tion, from which he recovered not but by particular good Fortune.

And now being interested in a quar­rel of his own, as well as of the Courts, he hearkned to all propositions that were made him for reducing the Par­liament: They tell him that the speedi­est and surest way was to besiege Paris, that by stoping all the Avenues, the people would be starv'd in three Mar­ket days, and so rise against the Parlia­ment, [Page 73] and accuse them of being the Authors of all their miseries. In fine that the Parisians were without any to head them, without Soldiers and accustomed to soft ease; he relish'd these Reasons, which seemed strong to him, because a­nimated by his Fury, to which nothing was impossible; so that he made him­self the Head of the enterprise to be­siege Paris, under the command of the Duke of Orleans, who at first opposed this design; but the sollicitations of the Queen, the perswasions of the Abbot de la Riviere, and the willful Resoluti­on of Monsieur le Prince, overr [...]ulled his own Opinion, and the contrary ad­vice of the Dutchesse of Orleans: This being resolved on, Monsieur le Prince and the Marshal de la Meilleraye, pro­posed (that they might gain their end more speedily) to seise upon the Isle of St. Louis, the Port St. Antonie, the Arsenal, and the Bastile, and also to put their Majesties in the Bastile; but either because this proposition was not well enough grounded, or because they were afraid of exposing the Kings person, they rather chose to quit Paris, than to besiege it.

[Page 74]After his Majesty had solemnized the Festival of the Epiphany, at the Marshal Gramont's House, the King retired to the Cardinal's Palace, from whence he de­parted the next day at three a Clock in the Morning, with the Queen, Cardinal Mazarin, and all the Court, except Ma­dam de Longueil, to go to St. Germains, whither the Nobility and all the Mini­sters likewise came the same day, and pre­sently in a Council that was held, the Blocking up of Paris was Publish'd and talk'd of by all the Court.

This Departure, or rather Escape, was joyful News to the Factious, and was by no means approved of by wise Men, who esteem'd it unbecoming Sovereign Dig­nity, which Princes ought to be jealous of, since the splendor of the name of King is the chief thing that awes the People into Respect.

The Parisians were not so much startled as was imagined they would be: on the contrary, as if they had taken courage from the condition they were in, they declared, That they were pre­pared for all the Consequences that threatned them; and fear did not keep [Page 75] them from railing against the Cardinal, Monsieur le Prince, the Queen, and all those whom they believed to have ad­vised this departure, which they called a Rape of the King.

The Parliament appeared less con­stant in this accident, because they fore­saw the Consequences of it better, and after the first Assembly, they deputed some of the Kings Council to carry their Submissions and Offers, which, though very advantagious, yet were sent back without being heard, so much was all the Court possessed with a vain hope that the Parisians would yield too with a blind obedience upon the first Alarm of the Siege; but they were quickly un­deceived, for the day after (which was the eighth of January) that the King's Council had made their Report, so that they could no longer question the de­sign of the Court, the Parliament de­clared the Cardinal an Enemy to the Go­vernment, and issued out Commissions to levy Soldiers; the Companies volun­tarily taxed themselves, they laid in a­bundance of Provisions, and the people with a great deal of ardor stood to de­fend the City: So true is it that Fear [Page 76] oftentimes begets Courage, and that nothing Arms the Hand more power­fully than Despair.

Notwithstanding Monsieur le Prince, with six or seven thousand Men, who were the remainder of the Army of the last Campaign, block'd up Paris, posses­sing themselves of Laigny, Corbeil, Saint Cloud, St. Denis, and Charenton, a thing Posterity will admire, but never believe, That he should by his Conduct and Vi­gilance block up the greatest and most populous City in Europe; when at the same time there were so many Princes and Lords in it, with an Army stronger than his. Now as the Court never wants Malecontents, the Duke d'Elbeuf, his three Sons, the Duke of Brisac, and the Marquiss de la Boulaye, first offered them­selves to the Parliament, who had no sooner installed the Duke d'Elbeuf in the Office of General of the Army, but news was brought them that the Prince de Conty and the Duke de Longueil, accompanied with the Prince de Mar­cillac and Normonstier, were that night privately come from St. Germains, and lighted at the Hotel de Longueil, who came to declare themselves for the Pa­risians, [Page 77] according to the Agreement which they had made with the Coad­jutor. This their sudden arrival gave occasion to some controversy, which was ended by the nomination of the Prince of Conty for Generalissimo, and of the Duke d'Elbeuf for General, with whom the Duke de Bouillion and Marshal de la Motthe were joined in equal pow­er. Monsieur de Longueil would not take any Employment, but of as­sisting the Prince of Conty by his Coun­sels, esteeming himself above the last, and not able to be equal to the first. The Prince of Conty had great difficulty to justifie the sincerity of his Intentions, because the Publick, who were igno­rant of the misunderstanding betwixt him and Monsieur le Prince, who was the real head of the Enterprize against Paris, could not think themselves secure of him; even Provost, a Counsellor of the great Chamber, gave himself the li­berty (as if this mutual Confeder­ation against their Duty inspired him with boldness) to be disrespectful to a Prince of the Blood, Never­theless Madam de Longueville was requi­red to live in the Hotel de Ville, to be an Hostage for the Fidelity of her Bro­ther [Page 78] and Husband to the People, who naturally distrust great Men, because they are ordinarily the Victims of their Interest.

This departure of Monsieur le Prince de Conty, and of Monsieur de Longue­il, from St. Germains▪ was a mighty surprise in it self, but became much great­er by raising a jealousie that Monsieur le Prince was of the Party, which put the Queen and the Cardinal into extra­ordinary fears, though they were quickly removed by his return from Charenton. He storm'd and was incensed against them with the greater heat in this quarrel, that he might be reveng'd on his Relations, who he believed ought to depend absolutely on his Will. 'Twas said, That at this time the Cardinal re­solved to leave France, thinking it im­possible for him to be safe in the midst of all these Tempests, and destitute of support. But the Prince encourag'd him, and engaged his honour to the Queen, That he would perish, or bring him back to Paris triumphant over his Enemies. In the mean time the Party in the City got no small strength by the Declaration of a Prince of the Blood, [Page 79] whose quality was of great consequence in the Kingdom, and of another Prince who was almost absolute in his Govern­ment of Normandy; the Marshal de la Motthe also rendred himself considera­ble in the Army, and the Duke of Bouillion incomparably more so by the great Knowledge he had in the affairs of the World, and his strict Alliance with his Brother Marshal Turenne, who commanding at this time the Army in Germany, it was presumed would Sacri­fice his Duty to the raising of his Fa­mily, and to the Peak he had against the Cardinal. Monsieur le Prince indeed, who took these two Brothers for his Friends, wrote to the Duke de Bouillion, fearing lest he should think that the re­treat of the Prince de Conty, and of Longueil, was contrived with his con­sent, and therefore he was willing to undeceive him, and conjured him to return to St. Germains, where he would procure him all the satisfaction possible to his Interests. Monsieur de Bouillion shewed this Letter to the Parliament, and the Ministers being informed, That Marshal Turenne stood ill affected, the King and Monsieur le Prince, who had great Interest amongst the Troops in [Page 80] Germany, wrote to the Colonels to ob­serve his Commands no further, and to abandon him, which took effect and was the safety of the Court.

At this time likewise the Duke of Beaufort arrived at Paris: He had ab­sconded in the Provinces beyond the Loire since his escape out of Vincennes, and found this favourable occasion to set him up again in the World. He came to offer his service to the Parliament, who cleared him from the Accusation of having conspired against the Life of Cardinal Mazarin, admitted him Peer of France, and made him one of their Generals. Now although his Genius was none of the most raised, yet his Presence, his Language, and his popular Air, with a Conduct adroit enough, gain'd him the love of the People of Paris, and the rather, because they thought him irre­concileable to the Cardinal for impri­soning him, from which he would ne­ver change till he was necessitated by the revolution of Affairs to be reconci­led unto him. In the mean time the King's Army possessed all the Posts about Paris, and though the Parliament were more in number, yet the Generals never [Page 81] made an attempt to open a Passage, insomuch that the Provisions came in with difficulty only by Brie; for Monsieur le Prince could not put a Ga­rison in Brie Comte Robert, without di­viding his Forces, and had also quitted Charenton, which the Prince de Conty possessed himself of, fortified, and put into it 3000 Men under the Command of Cauleu.

This made Monsieur le Prince resolve to attack this Post, which secured the Provisions of the Parisians, and also to give terror to his Arms. Thither there­fore he went on the eighth of February, with the Duke of Orleans and all the Princes and Lords of the Court, and committed the Assault to the Duke de Chatillon, whilst he himself went to an adjacent Hill to hinder all relief from Paris. The Duke executed his Orders with all the Valour possible, but at the last Barricade he received a Musquet Shot through his Body, of which he died the next day, lamented by both Parties for his excellent qualities, in the flower of his age, and just upon his en­joyment of the Honours which his Ser­vices had acquir'd him. The taking of [Page 82] this, as it very much diminish'd the Honour of the Generals and Forces of the Parliament, so it was lookt upon as miraculous in the Person of Monsieur le Prince, to have carry'd a place in the presence of an Army, and at the Gates of Paris, from whence ten thousand Men in Arms came out to be Witnesses of it. This Battel, and those of the Bois de Vincennes, of Lagny and de Brie, (in one whereof the young Duke of Rohan, shewing himself the worthy Successor of his Father's Vertue, lost his Life) being all disadvantageous to the Parisians, inclined them to some thoughts of a Peace, which, notwithstanding it was difficult to effect, because of the diffe­rent Interests in the Parilament, which hinder'd it. The number of those who were disaffected to a Peace, though in­ferior to the other, yet appeared more, because they disguised their Hatred and Ambition with the name of Publick Good and Safety, which is not to be found, said they, in an agreement with the Cardinal. The more moderate durst not shew their good intentions, be­cause (besides the danger in doing so) they would have been eluded, and it was better to stay till the minds of the [Page 83] people were a little wearied, & the strength and hopes of the Party more weakned, before they declared themselves. As for the People, the richer sort would not expose themselves to the Multi­tude, which having not suffered much from necessity, and being animated by some People of quality, was glad enough of this pretence for War, and cried out against such as desired a Peace. All the Generals (except Monsieur de Beau­sort, who wholly devoted himself to an hatred of the Cardinal, and love of the People, whom he design'd to make use of afterwards) contrived their par­ticular Reconciliation, and every one had his private Friends at Court to make his conditions better.

Monsieur d'Elboeuf held Correspon­dence with the Abbot de la Riviere from the beginning; Monsieur de Bouillon, with Monsieur le Prince, and the Mar­shall de la Motthe was engaged with the Duke de Longueville, who was re­tired into Normandy, where he fortified himself with Arms, Men, and Money, to make his Treaty more advantageous by the mediation of Monsieur le Prince. As to the Prince de Conty, because he had no inclinations but what his Sister inspi­red [Page 84] him with, who was cruelly affronted and slandered by the injurious discourses of Monsieur le Prince about her Con­duct, time alone must allay these heats, and the necessity of Affairs bring this Family to a reconciliation, as it quick­ly did. The Coadjutor only was the principal Promoter of this War, wherein he had but too much desecrated his Character amidst Sedition and Arms, which banish't from his mind all thoughts of Peace, and thwarted every thing that spoke in favour of it, because he found not wherewith to satisfie his Ambition. On the other side the Court swell'd with good success, and the glorious Warlike Actions of Monsieur le Prince, expected yet greater from him, and would impose too rigorous conditions on the contrary Party: so that apparent necessity was a Sovereign Law which determined both Parties to a Treaty of Peace, besides that Civil war being contrary to the nature of all the World, every one was ready to return from his errors and ani­mosities, it being the humour of our Nation to become Dutiful with the same levity that it becomes Mutinous, and to pass in a Moment from Rebellion to O­bedience.

[Page 85]And now see the present occasion that was offered. The King, on the 20th of February, sent a Herald, clad with his Coat of Arms, his Staff cover'd with Flower-de-Luces, accompanied with two Trumpetters: He came to the Port St. Honoré, and said, That he had three Pacquets of Letters to deliver to the Prince of Conty, to the Parliament, and to the City. The Parliament being advertis'd thereof, determin'd not to receive or give him Audience, but to send the King's Council to the Queen, to tell her, That their refusal was purely a mark of Obedience and Respect, since Heralds were not sent but to Sovereign Princes, or to Enemies; That the Prince of Conty, the Parliament, and the City, being neither, beseeched her Majesty to let them know her Pleasure from her own mouth. The Kings Council were well received by the Queen, who told them, That she was satisfied with their excuses and submissions, and that when the Parliament return'd to their Duty they should experience the effects of her Kindness, and that the Persons and Fortunes of every one in particular, not one excepted, should find there their security. the Duke d'Orleans, and Mon­sieur [Page 86] le Prince gave them the same as­surances. Many material reasons were the cause that the Court was so ready to be indulgent; for besides the constan­cy of the Parisians, the difficulty of rai­sing Men and Money, the Revolt of Gascony, Provence, and Normandy, and of many other Cities which followed the Parliament, as Poictiers, Tours, An­giers, and Mant, you must know there was yet a more pressing Motive. The Prince of Conty, seeing that the Army in Germany had pass'd the Rhine to come into France against Monsieur Turenne, and that his Party could not subsist without a powerful foreign Aid, had sent the Marquiss de Noirmoustier, and Laigues, to the Arch-Duke, to invite him to joyn his Forces to the Party of Paris, to constrain the Ministers to con­clude a general Peace. The Spaniards resolved not to slip so favourable an opportunity to foment our divisions, and make an advantage thereof, either by a Treaty, or the continuation of the War. To this end the Archduke sent a Deputy to the Parliament, who gave him Audience after he had deli­vered his Credentials, not without some blot to this Society, if necessity of de­fence [Page 87] had not pleaded its excuse. In his Audience he declared the Catho­lick King's joyning with this Company for a general Peace, which should be the sole end of his Forces Entry into France, and not to take advantage of the weak­ness of the Frontier, and that he found more security in treating with the Par­liament than with the Cardinal, who had broke it, and who was a declared Enemy of the State: And indeed Vau­fourle, sent from the Court to the Mi­nisters of Spain in Flanders, to insinuate some Propositions for a Peace, was not favourably heard, and they inclined to the Parliaments side, to relieve this Par­ty which was going down the Wind; so that the Offers of the Archduke to the Faction of Paris (which he per­form'd by his actual entry into France, (accompanied by the two Agents of the Prince of Conty, with fifteen or sixteen thousand Men) giving a just apprehen­sion to the Court, made it suddenly re­solve to accommodate the affair of Paris. The Taxes were out; it was extreamly difficult to get Money; their Troops perished, either by the Avarice of the Officers, or for want of subsistance, or the dissatisfaction of their Generals; [Page 88] and their Arms grew into discredit. In fine, the minds of most were disgusted, either because they smarted under the inconvenience, or because it is the na­ture of people to be soon wearied with a War which they undertook in passion. The Premiere President, and the Presi­dent of Mesme, who had by consent acted underhand with the Ministers during all these commotions, managed with Ad­dress these dispositions to advance a Trea­ty for Peace; and as they were deputed, together with others, to carry to the Queen the Letter of the Arch-duke, and the Credentials of his Envoy, and to justifie the Company for having gi­ven him Audience, but withal to ac­quaint her, That they would not de­termine upon an Answer without know­ing her Pleasure, they had a Conference apart from the other Deputies with the Duke of Orleans and Monsieur le Prince, wherein they Treated for a Peace. When they were together, the Deputies insist­ing upon the opening of the Passages, the Princes promised them to open one as soon as the Parliament gave full power to their Deputies to Treat for a Peace. Now though this secret Conference made the Parliament, and the People, who [Page 89] were at the Door of the great Chamber, to murmur, yet the Premiere President, who never wanted Constancy upon oc­casion, nor Zeal for the publick Good, having said, That it was only to get an Answer from the Queen, who was in­censed at the Company for having received the Spanish Envoy, persuaded them to give a full Power, without the restriction of the Arrest of January 18. against the Cardinal and foreign Mini­sters, giving them in charge the Interests of the Generals, and the Parliaments of Normandy and Provence, who were Con­federates with the Parliament of Paris, with whom the other Deputies for the Companies of the Chambers of Accounts, of the Courts of Aids, and of the Hotel de Ville, were joyned.

Whilst this famous Deputation was in their way to St. Germains, their Maje­sties and the two Princes had sent some Persons of Quality to the Queen of Eng­land, to condole the fatal Death of the King her Husband; and Flammarin, who was one of them, made a visit from the Abbot de la Riviere to Prince Marcillac, who lay Sick of a Wound which he re­ceived in the Fight at the Brie Comte [Page 90] Robert; The Count de Grancey, in this Visit, made some secret Overtures ad­vantagious to the Prince of Conty, namely that he should be admitted into the Council, and have a strong place in Champaine, provided that he would agree to an accommodation, and desist from his nomination to the Cardinalship in favour of this Abbot. This Propo­sition, made with the consent of Mon­sieur le Prince, who desired to reunite the two Families, was approved of by Monsieur de Marcillac, and soon after by the Duke de Longueville, and the Prince of Conty. At this time the Duke de Longueville was perswaded by Mon­sieur le Prince to retard his Supplies for Paris, and to Treat with the Court upon a Promise of the Pont de l'Arche, and a great Charge, for which he was his Sure­ty. Monsieur de Bouillon had also some assurances given to him and Monsieur Turenne by Monsieur le Prince, but ei­ther because he did not very much con­fide in him, or because he entertained other hopes, he put all the obstacles he could to the conclusion of the Peace: So rare is Fidelity in Civil War to the mutual tyes and correspondencies which are found amongst People of different [Page 91] Parties, and there are always particular Treaties which precede the general one, because the secret Agreements of heads so considerable, seeming to preserve only a respect for their Party, necessitate the most Zealous to acquiesee in the Peace, or to shew a shameful weakness.

Notwithstanding the Conferences at Ruel had like to have broke up, upon the Queens nomination of the Cardinal for a Deputy in conjunction with the two Princes: Those of the Parliament not being willing to admit him, because he had been condemned, they therefore made use of this expedient, to negotiate by two Deputies for each Party, which were the Chancellor and le Tellier for the Court, and the President Coigneux and Viole for the Parliament. At last, after many Debates and Contests, they agreed upon a Peace, wherein, though the Cardinal was preserved, yet he com­plain'd to the Princes that he was put sub hastà (as it was term'd in ancient Rome) that is, set to sale, and that they had made him restore his Moveables and Habits, Clothes sold by an Arrest of Par­liament. This necessity appeared to them little important, in respect to the [Page 92] Necessity they lay under because of the approach of the Spanish Army. The prin­cipal Articles were, that they should send back the Deputy of the Arch-Duke without an Answer, a general pardon for all the Party, all the Declarations and Arrests since the sixth of January to be repealed and annull'd, and the Seme­stres of the Parliaments of Normandy and Provence, suppressed upon certain conditions: Those who were Enemies to this Peace, took a pretence from some of the Articles to decry it, especially the Coadjutor, who was incensed, that the War which was here begun by him, should be concluded without him; and that instead of all the Advantages which his Ambition had fancied to him, he reap­ed nothing but the shame of having la­bored to subvert the State.

He was strictly associated with the Duke de Beaufort, whose credit he made use of in all Occurrences; and in this he forgot nothing to render the Treaty o­dious to the People, the Parliament and the Generals: He represented to them, that this War being made onely to re­move the Cardinal, he was nevertheless preserved by this Peace; even the Ar­rest [Page 93] of the eighth of January against him and Foreign Ministers was revoked, and then where is the fruit of so much pains and sufferings, and will not the Parliament fall under the Peoples con­tempt by such a remissness? And also that the Generals abandoned themselves to their private Interests in prejudice to the Union, but that which with some shew of reason exasperated them most, was, that the Cardinal signed the Treaty, the greatest part saying, That he having signed it, it became null, because the Conference was against him, and that there was reason to wonder that the De­puties should suffer a condemned man to confer and to sign with them. He and his Emissaries, by such like Discourses, provoked the Parliament and People, who threatned the Deputies with the utmost Extremities. As soon as the Pre­miere President began to read the verbal Process, and the Articles in the Assem­bly of the Chambres, he was hindred by the great clamours and murmurs of the Councellors, and the complaints of the Generals. But the wisest part of the Parliament, either ballancing the Incon­veniencies of a Civil War, with the hard­ness of the Articles, or because they per­ceived [Page 94] that it was the Ambition of the Coadjutour, and of some particular per­sons that inspired them with this averse­ness, judged the Peace necessary. The Company thought of sending back the same Deputies to St. Germain, to reform the three Articles without speaking of the Cardinal, and to treat of the Inte­rests of the Generals, who should be in­serted into the same Declaration.

This pretty mild Advice was propo­sed by Broussel, and for that reason fol­lowed by the Frondeurs and the Maza­rins, not without some (it may be, un­just) suspition, that a secret promise of the Government of the Bastile, had at this time mollifyed the good man, so few are there who are proof against the charms of Interest! When the Coadjutor saw that the Parliament in the Reformation of the Article, did not insist against the Cardinal, he perswaded the Prince of Conty to send some one from him, and the rest of the Generals to the Confe­rence at St. Germain, (which was held principally for the Interest of the Ge­nerals) to propose, that they would re­nounce all their pretentions (provided that the Cardinal would resign up the [Page 95] Ministry of State) and at the same time to beg the Parliament to order their De­puties to insist upon that in conjunction with them. To this end, the Prince sent the Count de Maure to St. Germain, and asked the company to joyn with him, who granted it: But because there was no mention made thereof in the first Treaty, and also that the Duke de Bris­sac, Barriere, and Crecy, the Deputies of the Generals had made other Propositi­ons for their Interests, and because they had already tasted of the Fruits of the Peace, by the restauration of Traffick, and the Cessation of all Acts of Hostility. The Queen and Princes answered to the pressing Instances of the Count de Maure, that they would never consent to re­move the Cardinal, and that the preten­sions of the Generals either were Acts of Grace, Favour, or were due in Justice, that those in Justice due should be pre­served for them; but for such as were only Acts of Favour, they should be con­ferred on such as deserved them most, and depend purely on her Majesties pleasure: So that all their pretensions being for the most part ill grounded, came to no­thing; and there was only the Prince de Conty who had Danvilliers, the Duke de [Page 96] Lougueville who had the Pont de l'Arche, and Brussel who had the Bastile, which also was not performed till some time af­ter, and some arrears of Pensions put in­to the Bargain. As to the Parliament, it was satisfied with the Reformation of the three Articles which the Deputies de­manded, and Her Majesty dispensed with their coming to St. Germains, where she was to keep her seat of Justice. The Deputies came to Paris, where the Chambers being assembled, the Kings Declaration for a Peace was ratified, and it was Ordered, That their Majesties should be thank'd for the Peace they had been pleased to give their Subjects.

This was the end of the War, where­in neither Party having got the better of the other, neither of them obtained what they at first proposed to themselves. For the Parliament and the Cardinal re­mained in their former splendor, and the present state of Things was not at all chang'd, notwithstanding the Peace which for some time put a period to all the Horrors of a Civil War, was receiv'd with an universal Joy, except amongst such as grow sick of publick Tranquility, and have no way to advance themselves [Page 97] but by Factions, and establish their Safe­ty and Fortunes in the Shipwrack of o­thers. But the Fire of Civil War was not quite extinguish'd by this Peace of the Parliament, it soon after kindled a­gain, and flam'd out with more violence in the principal Provinces of the King­dom. And certainly, it was difficult for the Queen to pay an Acknowledgement proportionable to the great Services which Monsieur le Prince had done her, and for Monsieur le Prince to contain himself within a dutiful Modesty, after having so usefully served her: for Debts of this nature being almost impossible to be paid, ordinarily produce hatred in the mind of the Soveraign, and at the same time inspire Subjects with thoughts of domineering, which are not to be en­dured: Now as the Cardinal had chief­ly reap'd the fruit of Monsieur le Prince's assistance, so he was the most exposed to his complaints, demands, menaces, and ill humour.

Sometime before the Troubles, the Cardinal desiring to establish the Seat of his Fortune in France, that he might strengthen himself by great Alliances, cast his eyes upon the Duke de Mercaeur; [Page 98] whom he design'd to marry to one of his Nieces; he gave him leave to come to Court, and the Duke de Ven­dosme to return to one of his Houses; and also gave over persecuting the Duke de Beaufort. This made the more quick-sighted judge, the Cardinal, who foresaw how burthensome the pro­tection of Monsieur le Prince would in time be to him, attempted all possible ways to make a shift without it; and yet he hoped by appeasing the Discon­tents of the Regency, and getting new supports, to free himself from depend­ing upon him. This project was inter­rupted by the War, and set on foot a­gain soon after the Peace, when the Court being at Compeigne where the Duke de Vendosme was. The Cardinal o­mitted no care to make it take effect: The Queen spoke of it to Monsieur le Prince, who durst not contradict the Proposal, either because he foresaw not, or slight­ed the consequence; or rather, because he feared the Breach that would happen upon this refusal. But Monsieur de Lon­guevil (who was restored to his Brothers favor, and had greater power over him than before) induced by reasons which respected his own pleasures more than [Page 99] the advantage of Monsieur le Prince; let him see the Cardinals intention, ex­aggerating his Ingratitude for allying himself with the House of Vendosme, which was an enemy to his. And indeed, Monsieur le Prince was so very much touched with his Discourses, that, con­trary to the Rules of Policy, he kept not himself within bounds when he spoke of the Cardinal, and spared no Ralleries and Invectives against his Person, and the intended Marriage. The Cardinal, to whom this procedure was not unknown, complained mightily of the opposition which Monsieur le Prince made against the Marriage of his Niece, which the Duke de Mercaeur, since he opposed not the Marriage of Madamoiselle d'Angou­lesme with Monsieur de Joyeuse, affecting by this comparison an equality which was then unseasonable: So that their hearts being exasperated one against an­other, Suspitions, Jealousies, and evil Reports, which Courtiers are seldom niggards of, in the dissentions of the Cabinet Council, incensed them more, and produced very different thoughts of Revenge. For Monsieur le Prince satis­fied himself with Contempts, which are frequently Impotent, whil'st the Cardi­nal [Page 100] with a deep Silence, made great pre­paratives, and laid foundations for his Ruine; but notwithstanding, both of them shew'd very little coldness, yet this Alienation took its original from the strict and daily communication that they pass'd betwixt them during the War; by which (as it is ordinary enough for e­steem to be lessened by familiarity, which discovers all intirely and without reserve, chiefly in the Exercises of good or ill Fortune) the Prince lost a great deal of the Respect which he once had for the Cardinal; and being no long­er restrained by the awe of his tot­tering Power, playd upon his defects be­fore the Duke of Orleans, and the Cardi­nals confidents. These, with little fi­delity to either of them, after having made their Court to Monsieur le Prince, gave an account of his bitter Railleries to the Cardinal; the remembrance whereof gives spurs to his Revenge, and will never be blotted out of his mind. Besides, the Cardinal discovered, that he could not firmly rely upon the Friendship of Monsieur le Prince, who was rather governed by his capricious­ness, than by reason and his interests; and that this scornful humour, instead of be­ing [Page 101] restrained, increased daily; so that not being able to gain him over, he re­solved to ruine him. Add to this, that Concord and Power being incompatible in the same place, the Cardinal could not brook a Superior at Court, nor the Prince an Equal: But that which entire­ly broke off the Bond of Friendship be­twixt them, was, That the Cardinal be­ing justly enough perswaded, that he could not engage Monsieur le Prince to persevere in his Interests, but by pre­tences of new Establishments, did either by himself, or by his Creatures, make him some Proposals, with the hopes whereof he entertain'd him for some time, but at last eluded them. The Prince enlightned enough by his own Judgment, and it may be by those of his Acquaintance, perceived the Cardi­nals insincerity, which he no longer doubted of after such a Rencounter as this that follows.

The Cardinal having put Monsieur le Prince upon gaining le Montbelliard, and having sent d'Herval on a pretence to Treat thereof, but with private Or­ders to conclude nothing, d'Herval ad­vertis'd Monsieur le Prince thereof, who [Page 102] could not dissemble it; and following the Spanish Proverb, Despues quae te erré nunca bien te quiese: and it was no won­der, if the Cardinal being jealous that Monsieur le Prince would not fail to re­venge himself, design'd to prevent him, even at the cost of those great Obligati­ons which he had to him, seeing that in matter of Policy all means proper to preserve Authority, provided they be sure, are reputed Honest and Lawful.

From this Discourse it is easie to see that the Cardinal was willing to make use of all the events to throw Monsieur le Prince upon Precipices, and thus it proceeded. The Peace not being yet declared, it was judged inconvenient to the wellfare of the State, as well of the Provinces, as of the Frontiers, for the King to return to his Capital City. The Ministers could not resolve so quickly to put themselves amongst a provoked Multitude which they had but just be­fore Besieged; and because the Cam­paign drew near, it was made a pretence to go to the Frontiers, there to prepare for some considerable Enterprise, that in the interim Time might calm their Spirits, and the remembrance of things [Page 103] past be worn out. And indeed, their Majesties and the Duke of Orleans, and the Council went to Compeigne, but Mon­sieur le Prince thinking it would be for his Reputation to shew himself to a Peo­ple, who had laid so many Curses upon him, came to Paris, and shew'd him­self in the Streets alone in his Coach: there he attracted the Respect and Fear, rather then the Resentments of the Peo­ple: So much doth Valour charm even those whom it wounds: The greatest part of the Parliament, and the princi­pal of the Party visited him; for five or six days after which, he returned to the Court, where the Joy the Cardinal had to see the way to Paris made open for him, was allayed by a jealousie over the least of his Actions. At his arrival, the Cardinal desiring to remove so danger­ous a Rival, proposed to him the Com­mand of the Army of Flanders, which he would not accept, because he had ta­sted the pleasure of Ruling in the Cabi­net Council: He had also a design to go to his Government in Burgundy, to pa­cifie the Troubles in Guyenne and Pro­vence, which were up in Arms because of a mis-understanding betwixt the Gover­nours and the Parliaments: But the Car­dinal [Page 104] and la Riviere did what they could to hinder his Mediation (to the Authority whereof, the parties concern'd referred their Differences) for fear it should give any addition to his Power. During this stay at Compeigne, the Prince de County, the Dukes of Nemours and de Candale, Monsieur le Prince and Mar­shal de Turennes, who has struck in a­gain with all people of Quality, re­paired to him, when they were in company, and full of Mirth, he never dissembled his contempt of the Cardi­nal and the Duke of Vendosme, and the aversion he had to the Marriage of the Duke de Mercaeur; nay, even went so far as to railly the Royal Authority, whereof he had but just before been the strongest support, but rather out of a hatred to the Cardinal, than out of any design he had to Raise his own upon the Ruines of that.

This manner of Behaviour from that time, gave the Cardinal some thoughts of attempting against his Liberty, if he durst have put them in Execution; but amongst many Reasons which restrain­ed him, that of his Friendship with the Duke of Orleans, was an obstacle to this [Page 105] Design: For Monsieur le Prince had in the late Affairs treated his Royal High­ness after such a manner, that he took off all the Envy that his extraordinaay Reputation might create in him, by par­ticular Honors and Respects, in leaving to him the out ward marks of Command. Add, that the Abbot de la Riviere, to whom he promis'd that the Prince de Conty should not▪ traverse his Nomina­tion, was a certain Security for his Ma­sters Affection. Monsieur le Prince left Compeigne with this good understanding betwixt them, to go to his Government: The Cardinal took his leave of him very well attended, as if he was afraid to trust his Life with him who had ventur'd his for his preservation, so frail are the tyes and friendships of the Court, and the least Accidents expose them to the great­est Changes. At parting, he desired the Commander of Souvrè, le Tellier, and others of the Cardinals Confidents, and charged Marbille his own Servant to tell him, That he could not be his Friend, if he thought of this Marriage. The Car­dinal being vexed at the heart to see himself constrained to publish to the World, a dependance so submissive, as if the Will of Monsieur le Prince was the [Page 106] only Rule to which he must conform his Interests, defended himself from it with vehemence enough; alledging, That having imparted this Allyance, approved by the Queen and his Royal Highness, to Rome, and all the Princes of Italy, he could not desist from it without shame and dishonor: So that being ballanc'd betwixt the Reputation of the World, and the fear of Monsieur le Prince, he could not resolve either to break off, or to conclude this Marriage: but follow­ing the Genius of his own Nation, which was very Ascendant in him, he waited the benefit of Time. In the mean while we were obliged to send out an Army in­to the Field, to deface the Infamy of our Civil Wars, and raise the Reputation of our Affairs. A strong Army was set out, made up of the Troops of Germany, (with which a Peace was just before con­cluded) whereof Comte d'Harcourt was the General, who had orders to lay Siege to Cambray. This Success, besides the Publick Interest, was of advantage to the Cardinal, who intended to re­establish himself in his ancient Lustre by a glorious Conquest; with the thoughts whereof he was the more pleased, because Monsieur le Prince had no hand either in [Page 107] the Design or the Execution; also to make the Honor of it more entirely his own, he went himself from Amiens, where the King was, to the Siege, rather out of Ostentation, than for any good effect that it had, contenting himself to distri­bute some Presents of little value, which served only to discredit him in the Ar­my, and expose him to their publick Railleries: But his Fortune look'd upon him with an evil Eye this year, Cam­bray was relieved, and this Enterprise turned to his dishonor.

This Event raised the Party of Paris, and revived their Violence, though they were always actuated with the same A­nimosity against the Cardinal. For he having made no endeavors to gain the Coadjutor, the Duke de Beaufort, Lon­gueil, and the most in credit with them, they kept up (notwithstand­ing the Peace) the Peoples and the Par­liaments hatred against him, as quick and active as in the time of the War, that hereby they might render themselves necessary at the Kings return to Paris, and make their Conditions better; even the Prince de Conty, by the advice of Prince de Marcillac, though that which [Page 108] was agreed upon in his favor at the Peace, was fully performed, forbore not to head this Party, and to shew himself the Cardinals enemy, that he might by this render himself more considerable.

Besides, He being intirely devoted to the Will and Pleasure of Monsieur le Prince, who by his power procured for him Danvilliers, and brought him into the Council: it was for their mutual In­terest, that he should keep up his cre­dit at Paris, during all the Storms at Court. So that at this time the Kings Authority was as little respected as be­fore the War, because its only support is Fear or Admiration, both which were lost: and the Publick were no less vio­lent against the Chief Minister, expect­ing that he should become sensible of the little Power he had since he broke with Monsieur le Prince: Notwith­standing, as he wanted not such who by false Flatteries suggested to him, that the Party of Paris was baffled, even in Paris it self, and that his prevailed there: he made a tryal thereof by Jarzè, who re­ceived an affront from Monsieur de Beau­fort at the Jardin de Renard, wherein the Duke de Candalle, Boutellier, and o­ther [Page 109] Persons of Quality, were concern­ed: hereupon some Challenges follow­ed, which went no further than the dis­arming of Monsieur de Beaufort: A Ren­counter which stirred up all the Fronde into an almost universal Insurrection a­gainst the Cardinal and his Partisans: Then the Cardinal being undeceived of all the Errors they had perswaded him into, and foreseeing that (how averse soever he was to it) he could not pro­long the Kings return to Paris, who was pressed to go by the Princes, and the necessity of Affairs, wholly employ­ed his Thoughts upon what might con­tribute to his safety: with respect to the Prince de Conty and Monsieur de Lon­gueil, he engaged his Word to Prince de Marcillac, to procure him the Honors of the Louvre, which the greatest Fami­lies in the Kingdom enjoy: He forgot no promises to the Dutchess de Montba­son, who had an entire and absolute Au­thority over the Duke de Beaufort. He at this time promised the Superintenden­cy to the President de Maisons, Brother to Longueil: and as to the Coadjutor, he being in League with the Marquess de Noirmoustier, de Laigues, and the Dutchess de Chevereuse, who in he Troubles re­turned [Page 110] from her Exile in Flanders to Paris, the Cardinal enter'd into a Con­ference with her upon his account, so that the Upholders of this party being cool'd by his Treaties with them, were glad enough to cover the weakness of their credit, which would have appear­ed, if they had attempted to oppose the concurrence of so great a number as de­sired the Kings presence at Paris.

But the Cardinal, though he stood in need of the support of Monsieur le Prince for his re-establishment, yet (ei­ther because he believed he could make a shift without him, by the means of these new Practices, or indeed because he could no longer endure the Yoke of his Obligations which he thought lay too heavy upon him) kept only a civil correspondence with him during his ab­sence, treating him like a suspected Friend. Monsieur le Prince, to say the truth, now saw the prosperities of the Court, for which he was before so blind­ly passionate, not without some regret, he was vexed at the Siege of Cambray, and was glad when he heard it was rai­sed. The troubles of Guyenne and Pro­vence, with the difficulties of the Kings [Page 111] return to Paris, pleas'd him well enough and the more, because he saw into the Cardinals Intentions, who thought of nothing but how to surmount the pre­sent Obstacles, and to regain an absolute and independent Authority; neverthe­less, he fomented not his Discontents ei­ther in private or publick, as if he had a mind to let his Resentment sleep a­while, that it might afterwards break out with the greater Violence: On the contrary, upon his return from Burgun­dy to Paris, before he had seen the Court, he powerfully sollicited his Friends to receive the King with the Cardinal, and testified the same earnest­ness as if it had been for his own Inte­rests; it may be, because he took a pride to perfect so glorious a Work as that of re-establishing him; or because he vainly flatter'd himself, that so great a Service would be always present to the Eyes of the Queen.

He staid till the Court returned to Compeigne, where he receiv'd more De­monstrations of Friendship than when he went from thence, either to make him remit something of his averseness to the Marriage, which was the fatal cause [Page 112] of their division; or rather, that he might act with his wonted vehemency at the Kings return to Paris, which was look'd upon by all the Provinces as the Seat of the Empire.

When the King made his Entry with the Queen, and all the Royal Family in the same Coach, the Cardinal was in one of the Boots with Monsieur le Prince, who by his Presence encouraged him a­gainst those Fears which he might justly apprehend, when he saw himself in the midst of an incredible Croud of People who had so much horror for his Person; but only the joy of seeing the King again, possessed every mans mind, whence they banished all thoughts of the late Trou­bles and Enmities: When their Maje­sties were come to the Palais Royal, they accepted the Submissions of the Duke de Beaufort, and the Coadjutor; and Monsieur le Prince concluded so fair a Journey, with telling the Queen, That he thought himself happy since he had now fulfill'd his promise which he made to bring the Cardinal back to Paris: Her Majesty answer'd, ‘Sir, This Ser­vice that you have done the State, is so great, that the King and my Self would [Page 113] be ungrateful, if we should ever hap­pen to forget it.’ A Servant of Mon­sieur le Prince's who heard this Discourse, said, That he trembled to think of the Greatness of this Service, and feared that this Complement would one day be look'd upon as a Reproach. Monsieur le Prince answer'd, I don't doubt it, but I have done what I promis'd.

The Retreat of the Duke de Lon­gueville to his Government of Normandy, during the War of Paris, 1649.

AS the Duke de Longueville was go­ing into the Old Palais, he met with Monsieur de St. Luc, who was sent to St. Germains to the Marquess d'Hectot, to endeavor to bring him over again to the Court Interest: He told him, with a Countenance full of Joy, St. Luc, It is not long since I hated you mortally; and I Sir, answered St. Luc, hate you no less at present than you▪ then hated me: If I had not been deceived, You would not have been here; and if you had not been deceived first, I should not have [Page 114] been suffer'd there. This short Discourse being ended, Monsieur de Longueville de­sign'd to go to the Parliament, which was met to consult, whether they should receive him or no. Some of his Friends were against his going, alledging, That he both expos'd himself and the Party; some were sent up to the top of a high Tower, to observe how the People stood affected; and when it was told him that they heard shouts of Joy on every side, he immediatly went out accompanied with those that attended him, and pre­sented himself at the Palais: After ha­ving received a thousand Acclamations all the way as he pass'd, he surprised the Gentlemen of the Parliament, who ne­ver thought of so unexpected an Adven­ture, and after having taken his Place, spake after this manner, ‘Having always very much honored and loved you, I am come with all the Danger that a Man of my Quality can expose himself to, to offer you my Estate and my Life for your preservation: I know that the greatest part of Governors do not use to do so, but when they have reaped all the Benefits of your Services, that they could get from you in a time of Peace, they abandon you as soon as [Page 115] they see you in Danger: As for me, who have a thousand Obligations to you, I pretend here to acknowledge them, both as a Governor, and as a Person sensibly obliged, I come to do you all the Service I am capable of in a Con­juncture so dangerous.’ The Primier President making no answer to this Speech, and shewing by the trouble in his looks how much the Presence of the Duke afflicted him, all the Gentlemen gave him Testimonies of their Joy, who were animated by the mouth of a Coun­sellor of the Great Chamber, called Monsieur — who made him this fine Speech: ‘The same difference which was betwixt the Wolf and the Shep­herd, Most Courteous Prince, is ob­servable betwixt the Count d'Harcourt and your Highness on such occasions as these; the Count d'Harcourt came ei­ther like a Wolf, or like a Lion, but al­ways like a ravenous Beast to devour us; we would not open the Doors to him, for fear of receiving an enemy in­to our Bowels; we in favor let him take a turn about our Walls, which he did, casting on us Eyes all sparkling with an­ger, tanquam Leo rugiens: For you, Great Prince, you are come like a true [Page 116] Shepherd to shelter all your Flock, Bo­nus pastor ponit animam pro ovibus suis: It is too true that you do so, atque ideo, Mon Seigneur, we commit to you the keeping of this City, and the safety of all the Province; it is your part to be careful of our Preservation, and ours to help your Cares with all the assi­stance that is in our power.’ The Speech being ended, Monsieur de Longueville rose up, and after he had saluted every one in particular with his ordinary Affable­ness, went out of the Palais, accompa­nied by his Friends and followed by the People, who conducted him with new Acclamations.

The Gentlemen of the Parliament re­flecting upon the Joy which the Bur­gesses expressd to see their Governor, began to fear an absolute Slavery; and to hinder this Calamity, designed to make their terms with him: but whe­ther Monsieur de Longueville perceived their Intention, or because he would bring them into an intire confidence in him, he was willing to prevent, and to assure them, That they should always have the disposal of every thing. He told them, That the Affairs he was a­bout, [Page 117] were properly the Parliaments and not his own; that he desired not, nor ought to have any other Imploy­ment, then to lead an Army for the good of the State, and their particular Services; that all the Taxes should be made by their Orders; that they them­selves should establish Commissioners of their Company for the Receipt and Di­stribution of the Publick Treasure; and in fine, as they had the principal Con­cern in the success of Affairs, it was rea­sonable that they should have a share in all the Counsels. These Gentlemen gave him Thanks for the Honor he had done them; assured him, That they would issue out as many Arrests as he would, without examining any thing; that be­ing the Kings Tutors, they would at their pleasure dispose of their Pupils Estate; that they would hazard every thing for his Service, on condition that he would suppress the Semestre, & reduce the Com­pany to their antient State. The Primier President and the Advocate-General, finding that they could do the King no Service, went to St. Germains, to give an account how little Power they had.

[Page 118]In the interim Monsieur de Longueville, who saw himself sure of the People and the Parliament, thought of nothing but raising an Army: And though he had yet laid no Foundation, he would al­ways be distributing Offices to amuse the People, and they began to Marshal an Army which was but then in imagi­nation: The most Considerable of them being Assembled, he gave them thanks for the Zeal they testifi'd in his Service; that for his part, He would all his Life acknowledge the Affection of those that did adhere to his Fortune; and in the mean time, That he might oblige them by Essential Favors, he was ready to confer upon them the most important Im­ployments that he had. At these sweet Words, all those Illustrious Persons made their profound Reverences: Some time after was spent in Complements, which insensibly ended in assurances of Fide­lity and Protestations, to spill the last drop of their Blood. Afterwards, there pass'd many fine Discourses of the present state of Affairs, and some possessed with a zeal for the Party, proposed this weighty Advice: Why, said they, should we not strike the Iron while it is hot? You have, Sir, a great many of [Page 119] the Nobility about you, and a great many young Men in the City; you may make a Body of Gentlemen, another of their Valet de Chambres; to which you may joyn the Cinquantain and your Guards, two great Battalions of the best Burgesses, and with these Troops surprise the King at St. Germains: Yes, answer­ed Monsieur de Longueville it shall be so; but being it is our principal Enterprise, we must consider how to carry it on well, we will talk of it in our first Con­sult: In the interim, to avoid Confusi­on, which ordinarily ruines all Parties, we must distribute the Offices, that eve­ry one may be assured of his Imploy­ment. Varricarville refused to take any, having read in a Rabby, who advised him to feed upon Herbs, That a Man should not embarass himself with any business, notwithstanding his aversion to the Favorites not suffering him to be useless upon these occasions, he would needs take care of the Politick part, and regulate all things according to the Me­moirs of the Prince of Orange: But as there always happens a hundred Misfor­tunes, he had forgot at Paris a Manu­script of Count Maurice, from whence he took all his great Notions for the Ar­tillery [Page 120] and Provisions, which probably was the reason that there was neither Ammunition nor Bread in this Army. Saint-Ibal beg'd the honor of bringing in Enemies into France, and 'twas an­swer'd, That the Generals of Paris would reserve it for him: He demand­ed a full Power to treat with the Polan­ders, Tartars, and Moscovites, and the entire disposal of all Chimerical Affairs, which was granted him. The Count de Fiesque, fertil in Military Visions (be­sides the charge of Lieutenant General which he had from the Parisians) ob­tain'd a particular Commission for the beating up of Quarters, and other sud­dain and brisk Exploits, which might be resolved on with singing of a Ballet, or Dancing a step or two. The Mar­quess de Beuvron was made Lieutenant General, on condition that he would stay at the Old Palais, the Place and Go­vernment both being of so great Impor­tance, that they could not be preserved with too great care. The Marquess de Matignon, always remarkable for his Conceitedness, and at present famous for the memorable Siege of Vallongne, commanded the Troops of Constantine, saying, That he would have his little [Page 121] Army, & depend upon Monsieur de Lon­gueville, no more than Walsten did on the Emperor. The Marquess d'Hectot beg­ged the Command of the Cavalry, which was given him, because he was better Mounted then the rest, and was about the age of Monsieur de Nemours when he Commanded it in Flanders, and had an embroider'd Coat exactly like his. Ansonville was chosen Gover­nor of Roan, because he was a Man that very civilly understood War, and as fit to harangue the People Soldier-like, as le Plesis-Besanson. The Governor was made Marshal de Camp, that he might not be under the Command of others; and the Marshal de Camp was made Go­vernor, that he might not be obliged to leave the City, so that one of his Max­ims was, That he ought not to stir out upon any account whatsoever; alledging, That a great many considerable Towns were lost by their Governors absence. Hannerick and Cumenil, desired to be made Marshals de Camp; Hannerick claimed a right to it, because he had like to have been Ensign in the Kings Army. Cumenil, because he narrowly miss'd being Maistre de Camp in the Re­giment of Monsieur de Bocaule; he could [Page 122] not say that he had ever seen an Army in the Field, but he alledg'd. That he had been a Hunter all his Life, and that Hunting being an Image of War, accord­ing to Machiavel, forty years Hunting were as good as thirty Campains at least; he would be a Marshal de Camp, and he was so. Flavacourt said, That to be a good Captain, a Man must have run a­way as well as have gained Victories, as Barriere observed out of the Book of Monsieur de Rohan; this being so, he pretended that no body could dispute with him the advantage of his own Ex­perience; and all the World remember'd very well the Disorder he was in when d'Estartè was taken Prisoner, they would have given him the Command of the Artillery at St. Euremont; and to say truth, out of an Inclination for Mon­sieur St. Germain, he had a mighty de­sire to serve the Court, by undertaking a considerable Charge which he under­stood nothing of: but since he promis'd the Count d'Harcourt not to take any Employment, he kept his Promise, as well for his Honors sake, as that he might not resemble the Normans, who had all of them broken their word: These Considerations made him gene­rously [Page 123] refuse the Money that was offer'd him, which indeed was never paid him. Campion was not ambitious of great Em­ployments, he only begg'd to be Mar­shal of a Squadron to learn the Trade, confessing ingeniously that he had no skill in it, but valued himself mightily for his knowledge of the Country, even to the little Brooks and By-ways, which Knowledge he arrived to by Hunting with Monsieur de Vendosme. Sevigny was content with such another Office, but he was gull'd by his moderation when he saw there was no necessity of being a skillful man to be a Marshal de Camp: beside, he set up for a Buffoon, and had the honor to make his Highness laugh. Rucqueville, an ancient Servant, would do nothing, and his long experience in War became useless, under pretence of being troubled with Vapors. Monsieur de Longueville, to sweeten his discontent because he was not Governor of the Court, augmented his Pensions, but in vain. Rucqueville professing generously, that he was ready enough to take his Ma­sters mony, but to speak ill of him he would not do it for the world. Barbarousse remained a long time Neuter without taking either side, Boncaeur keeping him [Page 124] still in suspense by the friendship of Mar­shal Gramount: yet during his long con­sideration, he forbore not to raise him­self insensibly by doing of good offices, and joyfully flatter'd himself with the va­nity of an undeserved Repute: After­wards being informed by Letters from his Friends that they seriously endeavor­ed a Peace, he designed to quit this timerous Neutrality: He had Caesars opinion to fortifie his Courage, which was yet drooping; and when he came to pass the Reubicon, he made a full stop as this great Captain did, and after ha­ving thought a little, cry'd out like him, I have pass'd the Reubicon, there is but one dangerous cast to lose all: upon this he went out immediately in a violent bussle without any consideration of Bon­caeur, without any regard to his little Henry, (well knowing that the sight of Wives and Children, can soften the fier­cest Courage and the bravest Minds) or without saying a word to any of his Friends, he went to the Duke de Lon­gueville, and thus accosted him: I have always been your servant, but not with so particular a Zeal as that which obliges me to serve you in this Juncture; from this day I will embrace your Interests, [Page 125] and▪ am come to assure your Highness, that I devote my self intirely to you.

The Joy the Duke at this time felt was great, and like those which being too big to keep within the Breast, do ordinarily break out and make an Im­pression upon the Face. But it was ve­ry much allayed, when Barbarousse thus explain'd himself.

The Declaration I have made is not so general, but I must add to it one condition; I intend to stay behind when you go to the War, which ought not to be attributed to want of Courage, but to an unhappy deten­sion of Urine, which hinders me from riding: Not that I will be useless in the Party, I will Negotiate with Madam de Matignon, for whom I have always had some kind of Gallantry; and besides, see­ing you have no body here that knows how to make Relations, I will undertake the care of publishing your Exploits. These last words cheer'd up the Princes heart again, for to say truth, there was great need of a Gazetier, and he was glad to find one so knowing in Narratives.

[Page 126] Fonterailles came just in the nick to see the great occasion of de la Bouille during his abode in Normandy, the Duke de Longueville communicated every thing to him, as well as to Varricarville and the Count de Fiesque; but Fonteraille could not relish this Confidence well, fearing to engage himself too far in the Interests of the Prince, and to become the Confident of a second Enterprise upon Pontoise. So just an apprehension obliged him to strike off, and to carry with him the Count de Fiesque, to whom he represented, That since they govern­ed their General so absolutely, all the Disorders that happened, if he should carry things to extreams, would be laid at their Door.

The Duke de Retz, from whom they expected such great Supplies, came ac­companied only with a Page that carried his Arms, and his two faithful Squires. Some began to talk, when they saw him come without Troops, but they were quickly satisfied, when he shew'd them a long List of all the Bretons, who de­manded Employment: It would cost no more then Two hundred thousand Crowns to equip these Bretons for the [Page 127] Campaign, and for want of so little money, the Authority of so great a Lord signified nothing. It is true, he pro­mised to pay it with his Person, and to serve as Duke and Peer in the Army of Roüen, with the same diligence as he had done in that of Flanders: Besides, he assur'd them that Montplais [...]r would come quickly, and also give them some hopes of being more secret; moreover, that Bell-Isle was in a very good condition, there was a Garrison in Machecours, and a strong Guard kept at Nommiral. His manner of living with the Officers was altoge­ther obliging, and whosoever was hap­py enough to have a Buff-coat, or a short Cassock of black Velvet, might be as­sured of his Friendship.

You see the different employments of the most Considerable in the Party. If any body wonders that I have given him no account of their Actions, it is because I am exactly true, and as I saw nothing else, so I have said nothing more; in the mean time I think my self happy for having acquired a hatred to these Troubles, more from Observation than my own Experience. It is a Trade for mad and miserable Men, with whom ho­nest [Page 128] People, and such as are well to live, ought not to intermix.

Fools come thither every day in crouds, the proscribed, the miserable throng in from both ends of the World. Never was there so many entertainments of Courage without Honor; never so many fine Discourses and so little Sence; never so many Designs without Actions, so many Enterprises without Effects; all were Imaginations, all Chymera's, no­thing true, nothing real, but necessity and misery.

Thence it comes to pass, that private Persons complain of the great Men that they deceive them; and the great Men, of private Persons that they abandon them. The Fools are disabused by Ex­perience, and withdraw: The Miserable, who see no change in their Condition, go to seek elsewhere some other mis­chievous Affairs, as much discontented Heads of the Faction, as with the Favo­rites at Court.

The Recapitulation of what was said above, together with the Imprisonment of the Princes.

What passed after the Imprison­ment of the Princes, till the War de Guyenne.

THe Imprisonment of Monsieur le Prince, added new Lustre to his Glory, so that he came to Paris with all the Splendor that a Liberty so advan­tageously obtain'd could give him. The Duke d'Orleans and the Parliament had forced him out of the Queens hands, Cardinal Mazarin had hardly escaped the People's, and left the Kingdom load­ed with publick contempt and hatred. In fine, the same People who but a year before made Bonfires for the Misfortune of Monsieur le Prince, besieged the Court in the Palais Royal to procure his Liberty; every one believed, that his disgrace might be laid upon his Hu­mour and Conduct, which brought up­on him so much hatred, and all equally [Page 167] hoped, that his Presence would settle the Kingdom in Order and Peace. Things were thus disposed, when Mon­sieur le Prince arrived at Paris with the Prince de Conty and the Duke de Lon­gueville, an infinite croud of people came to meet him, as far as Pontoise: He was met by the Duke d'Orleans in the Mid-way, and was conducted to the Pa­lais Royal in the midst of this Triumph and publick Acclamations: The King, the Queen, and the Duke d'Anjou, were there only with the Officers of the House; and Monsieur le Prince was received like one, that was rather in a condition to give than to beg Pardon. This Inter­view pass'd in ordinary Civilities, with­out discovering the least anger on either side, and without discoursing upon Af­fairs. But the Queen, too impatiently, desired the Cardinals return, not to at­tempt all sorts of ways to dispose Mon­sieur le Prince to it: She offer'd by the Princess Palatine to enter into a strict League of Friendship with him, and to procure him all manner of Advantages. But because it was in general Terms, he answer'd her with Civilities, which laid no tye upon him: he also thought that it was an Artifice of the Queens to renew [Page 168] the general Dislike against him, and by rendring him suspected of Monsieur d'Orleans, the Parliament and the Peo­ple, to expose him to fall into his for­mer Misfortunes. Moreover, he con­sider'd that he came out of Prison by a Treaty signed with Madam de Chevreuse, by which the Prince de Conty was to marry her Daughter, and that it was principally because of this Alliance, that the Frondeurs and the Coadjutor of Pa­ris confided in him. This Considerati­on had also the same Effect upon the Keeper of the Seals, de Château-neuf, who was then President of the Council, and was inseparably bound to the Dutchess de Chevreuse: Besides, this Cabal seemed to continue in the same Force and Cre­dit it was before; She offer'd him also the choise of any Preferments for him­self and his Brother, and Monsieur de Château-neuf had but just before re-esta­blish'd them both with the Duke de Lon­gueville in the exercise of their Offices. But in fine, Monsieur le Prince found it dangerous and shameful to break with those from whom he had received so ma­ny Advantages, and who had so power­fully contributed to his Liberty.

[Page 169]Though these Reflections balanced Monsieur le Prince, yet they changed not the Queens design, she all along de­sired with the same earnestness to enter upon a Negotiation with him, hoping either to tye him firmly to her Interests, and thereby secure the Cardinals return, or to render him again suspected, for all that he did, by his party: In hopes of this, she pressed the Princess Palatine to make Monsieur le Prince declare what he would desire for Himself and his Friends, and gave him so much hopes to obtain every thing, that he resolved at last to Treat, and privately to see Servien and Lyonne at the Princess Palatines: He desired also, that the Duke de la Roche­foucault should be there, and made the Prince de Conty and the Dutchess de Lon­gueville acquainted with it. The first Project of the Treaty which the Princess Palatine proposed, was, That they would give Guyenne to Monsieur le Prince, the Lieutenancy General to whomsoever of his Friends he pleased, and the Govern­ment of Provence to the Prince de Couty; that they would gratifie those who had followed his Interests; that they would require no more of him, than to go to his Government, with any of his Troops [Page 170] he pleased to choose for his safety, that he should stay there without contribut­ing any thing to the Cardinals return, so that he opposed not what the King should do to bring him back, that, how­ever it happen'd, Monsieur le Prince should be at Liberty to be his Friend, or Enemy, as his behaviour gave him occa­sion to love, or hate him: These Condi­tions were not only confirmed, but also increased by Servien and Lyonne; for up­on Monsieur le Princes request to joyn the Government of Blaye, to the Lieute­nancy General of Guyenne for the Duke de la Rochefoucault, they gave him all the hopes he could desire. It is true, they demanded time to treat with Monsieur d'Angoulesme for the Government of Pro­vence, and perfectly to dispose the Queen to grant Blaye; but it was only that they might give an account to the Cardinal of what passed, and receive his Orders; they declared also the Queens unwilling­ness to the Marriage of the Prince de Conty with Madamoiselle de Chevreuse, but they gave them not occasion to discourse any further upon that matter, and only let them know, that the engagement they had made with Madam de Chevreuse, was too strong to admit of expedients [Page 171] for breaking it: they insisted not upon this point, and parted in such a manner, that one might have reasonably believed, that the League betwixt the Queen and Monsieur le Prince was upon the matter concluded. Both of them were almost equally obliged to keep this Negotiati­on secret, the Queen had reason to fear increasing the jealousie of the Duke d'Orleans, and the Frondeurs, and to contradict, so soon and without any pre­text, all the Declarations which she had but just before made to the Parliament against the Cardinals return. Monsieur le Prince also was obliged to use no less Caution. The noise of his Treating would make his Friends believe, that he had done it without their having any benefit by it, and from that time would furnish the Duke de Bouillon and Marshal Turennes, with a just pretence to quit his Interests. He would render himself irreconcilable to the Frondeurs and Ma­dam de Chevreuse, and presently renew the fearful Image of the late War in the minds of the Parliament and People. In fine, this Affair continued for some while without being discover'd, but the time which they took to conclude it in, soon produced occasions to break it off, and [Page 172] carry things to those Extreams which we have since seen them in. The Court was then divided into many Cabals, but all were unanimous to hinder the Cardi­nals return; notwithstanding their Con­duct was extreamly different, the Fron­deurs openly declared against him, whil'st Château-neuf, the Keeper of the Seals, pretended to be strictly engaged to the Queen, and at the same time was the most dangerous enemy the Cardinal had. He believed this Conduct the surer to remove him, and possess himself of his place, because he affected being of the same mind with the Queen to hasten his return. The Queen, for her part, gave the Cardinal an exact account of every thing while he was retreated, and aug­mented his Power since his absence; but because his Orders came slowly, and one often contradictory to an other, this di­versity brought Affairs into such a con­fusion, as admitted of no redress.

In the mean time the Frondeurs press'd the Marriage of the Prince de Conty and Madamoiselle de Chevreuse, they were jealous of the least delays, and already suspected Madam de Longueville, and the Duke de la Rochef ucault, of having [Page 173] a design to break it off, for fear Madam de Chevreuse, and the Coadjutor, should get the Prince de Conty out of their hands. Monsieur le Prince also dexte­rously increased their suspicions of his Sister, and the Duke de la Rochefoucault, thinking that so long as they were of this Opinion, they would never disco­ver the true cause why the Marriage was delay'd; which really was, because the fore-mentioned Treaty of Monsieur le Frince with the Queen, being neither fi­nished nor quite broke off; and having had notice that Monsieur de Château-neuf would be disgrac'd ere long, he intended to wait the event of all these things, ei­ther to conclude the Marriage, or make his Court to the Queen by breaking it off; and to see whether the Cardinal would be ruin'd by the Keeper of the Seals, or the Keeper of the Seals be turn­ed out by the Cardinal. In the mean time, they sent to Rome to get a Dispen­sation for nearness of Blood, the Prince de Conty expected it with impatience, both because the person of Madamoiselle de Chevreuse pleased him, and because the changing of his Condition had at least the Charm of being new, a Charm which he never had the power to resist. Ne­vertheless, [Page 174] he hid his thoughts from his Friends with all the Art he could, and feared above all things lest Madam de Longueville should perceive it, and ruine the vain hopes of a shameful and ridiculous passion, which he would make them believe he was inspired with. In this perplexity, he secretly desired the President Viole, who was to draw up the Articles of the Marriage, to accord what points soever they contested, and to overcome all the difficulties that might impede it. At this time the Keeper of the Seals, de Chauteau-neuf, was in dis­grace. The Primier President succeed­ed him, and the Queen re-establish'd Monsieur de Chavigny in the Council. She thought, because he return'd with­out the mediation of any body, that he would owe the obligation entirely to her self; and indeed so long as Chavigny ho­ped to gain a confidence with the Queen, he never came near Monsieur le Prince, nor any of his intimate Friends: but from the moment he perceived that no­thing could alter the Queens affection to the Cardinal, he secretly renewed his Friendship with Monsieur le Prince, and from that time believed, that this union would advance him to every thing his un­bounded [Page 175] Ambition prompted him to de­sire: His first thought was, to oblige Monsieur le Prince to impart the Treaty he was agitating with the Queen to the Duke d'Orleans, that he might help him to break it off. Afterwards, he required Monsieur le Prince to remove Madam de Longueville, and the Duke de la Ro­chefoucault from all particular and secret knowledge of his Designs, though he owed to them both as great Confidence as Monsieur le Prince reposed in him. Whil'st Chavigny acted thus, the remo­val of Monsieur de Chateau-neuf increas­ed the diffidence of Madam de Chevreuse, touching the Marriage, which she impa­tiently desired, she found her self no longer in a condition to procure of Mon­sieur le Prince and his Friends, the esta­blishment to which he was engaged, and in the mean time Madam de Rhodes had by her order agreed with the Duke de la Rochefoucault, that these very Establish­ments, and the Marriage, should be per­formed at the same time, and be recipro­cal Pledges of the fidelity of both par­ties: But as on one side Madam de Chev­reuse saw her hopes diminish with her Credit; so on the other side, they were increased by those testimonies of Passi­on, [Page 176] which the Prince de Conty gave to Madamoiselle de Chevreuse. She gave him a thousand uneasinesses, which he hid from his Friends, and chiefly from his Sister, He had very long and particular Conferences with Laigues and Noirmou­stier, which, contrary to his custom, he gave an account of to no body. In fine, his conduct appeared so extraordinary, that the President de Nesmond, a parti­cular Servant of Monsieur le Prince, thought himself obliged to advertise him of Prince de Conty's design: He told him that he was going to Marry Madamoiselle de Chevreuse without his knowledge, and without a Dispensation; that he absent­ed himself from his Friends, to get an opportunity of treating with Laigues, and that if he did not speedily prevent it, he would see Madamoiselle de Che­vreuse would rob him of his Brother, and complete the Marriage, at a time when 'twas believed it was more for his Interest to hinder it. This advice put him out of all doubts of the thing, and without ask­ing any Bodies advice, he went to the Prince de Conty, and beginning his Dis­course with railleries upon the greatness of his Love, ended it with speaking of Madamoiselle de Chevreuse, the Coadju­tor [Page 177] Noirmoustier and Commartin, all that he thought capable of disgusting a Lover or a Husband. Without any great difficulty he accomplish'd his Design, for the Prince de Conty, either because he believed what he said to be true, or be­cause he durst not shew that he doubted of it, thank'd him immediately for his good advice, and resolved never to think of Madamoiselle de Chevreuse more; he also complain'd of Madam de Lon­gueville, and the Duke de la Rochefou­cault, for not having told him sooner what the World talk'd of her: hereup­on they endeavored by all ways to break off this Affair, without exasperating the other party; but the Interests were too great, and the Circumstances too pro­voking, not to revive and increase the an­cient hatred of Madam de Chevreuse and the Frondeurs, against Monsieur le Prince, and all those whom they suspected to have had a hand in what was lately done.

Nevertheless, the President Viole had Orders to go to Madam de Chevreuse, and try if he could handfomly disingage Monsieur le Prince, and the Prince de Conty, from the promises they had given for the Marriage: they themselves were [Page 178] both of them to go to wait upon her the day after, but either because they knew not how to have the confidence to visit one whom they had so sensibly dis­obliged, or because the two Brothers who quarrel'd every day for the least things, could not then agree about the manner of paying their Visit, In fine, neither they themselves nor Viole waited on her; and the Affair broke off on their side, without endeavoring to keep any moderation, or to make the least pretence. I cannot tell whether it was by Chavigny's advice that Monsieur le Prince accepted the Government of Bur­gundy, in exchange for that of Guyenne; but this Treaty was at last concluded by him, without mentioning what he be­fore demanded for his Brother, the Duke de la Rochefoucault, and his other Friends.

In the mean time, the Counsels of Chavigny had the success he desired; he alone was Monsieur le Prince's Confident, and had perswaded him to break off his Treaty with the Queen, contrary to the advice of Madam de Longueville, the Princess Paelatine, and the Dukes de Bouillon and de la Rochefoucault. Servien and Lyonne were on both sides in this [Page 179] Negotiation, and were afterwards dis­carded. The Queen deny'd that she ever heard of the Proposition of Blaye, and accused Servien for having done it on purpose to make the Demands of Monsieur le Prince so high, that she could not possibly grant them. Monsieur le Prince again complained of Servien, for either entring into a Business with him by the Queens orders, upon condi­tions which she never had knowledge of, or for having made so many vain Pro­positions to amuse him with the pretence of a sincere Treaty, which was really nothing, but a premeditated Design to ruine him. In fine, though Servien was suspected on both sides, it diminished not the disaffection that begun to arise betwixt the Queen and Monsieur le Prince, which was almost equally fo­mented by all that came near them: they perswaded the Queen, that the dif­ference betwixt Monsieur le Prince and Madam de Chevreuse, would reunite the Frondeurs to the Cardinals Interests, and that things would ere long come to the same pass they were in, when Monsieur le Prince was Arrested. He, on the o­ther side, was hurry'd on by many dif­ferent Interests to break with the Cou [...]t▪ [Page 180] He found no security in the Queen, and was afraid of falling again into his first disgrace. Madam de Longueville knew that the Cardinal had made her Husband hate her, past all hopes of reconciliation, and that after the Impression he had given him of her Conduct, she could not go into Normandy to him, without either exposing her Life or her Liberty: Not­withstanding, the Duke de Longueville would by all means have her come, and she had no way to avoid so dangerous a Journey, but by inciting her Brother to quit the Court by an open breach with it, and to prepare for a Civil War. The Prince de Conty had no particular aim, nevertheless he followed the Opinions of his Sister before he knew them, and would have a War, because she prevent­ed his taking upon him a Profession which he had no inclination to. The Duke de Nemours also counsell'd it with a pressing earnestness, which proceeded not so much from his ambition, as from his jealousie of Monsieur le Prince; he could not bear his seeing, and loving Madam de Chastillon; and because he could no way hinder it but by separating them for ever, he believed that the War alone would effect it. And this was the [Page 181] only motive he had to desire it. The Dukes de Bouillon and de la Rochefou­cault were much more averse, for they had by a fresh experience try'd to what invincible Labours and Difficulties they expose themselves, who would support a Civil War against the presence of their King: they knew with what Infidelities they were threatned, when the Court by Proclamation promised rewards to those that would submit, and gives Interest­ed persons a pretence of returning to their Duty: they knew also the Trea­chery of the Spaniards, how vain and deceitful their promises are, and that their true Interest is not, that Monsieur le Prince, or the Cardinal, should be at the Helm in the management of Affairs, but to foment the Quarrel betwixt them, and so advantage themselves by our Di­visions. The Duke de Bouillon also ad­ded the consideration of his private In­terest to that of the publick, and hoped he might do a thing meritorious in the Queens eyes, if he contributed to restrain Monsieur le Prince within the bounds of his Duty. The Duke de la Rochefou­cault could not so openly declare his A­version to this War: He was obliged to follow the Sentiments of Madam de Lon­gueville, [Page 182] and all that he could then do, was to endeavor to perswade her to a Peace. But the Conduct of the Court and of Monsieur le Prince, soon gave occasi­ons of Diffidence to both parties, the consequence whereof was fatal to the State, and to most of the great Fami­lies of the Kingdom; it ruin'd almost in a moment, the greatest and most splen­did Fortune that ever dignified the Head of a Subject. Whil'st things were on all sides disposed for an entire Ru­pture, Monsieur le Prince sent the Mar­quis de Sillery into Flanders, under a pretence of disengaging Madam de Lon­gueville, and Marshal Turennes from the Treaties, which they had made with the Spaniards in order to procure his Liber­ty, but really with an Order to take Measures with the Count de Fuensal­daigne, and know before-hand what as­sistance Monsieur le Prince might expect from the King of Spain, if he should be forced to resolve upon a War. Fuen­saldaigne answered him to this, accord­ing to the usual custom of the Spaniards, and by promising in general much more than he could reasonably ask, omitted nothing that might engage Monsieur le Prince to take up Arms. On the other [Page 183] side, the Queen had made a new Treaty with the Coadjutor, the principal foun­dation whereof, was the common ha­tred they had to Monsieur le Prince. This Treaty was to be kept secret, both for the Queens and the Frondeurs Interest, because she could expect no service from them, but by the Authority they had a­mongst the People, which they could preserve no longer then while they be­lieved them the Cardinals enemies, both parties equally thought their safety con­sisted in the Princes ruine: they also of­fer'd the Queen to kill him, or to take him Prisoner; but she aborr'd the first proposition, though she willingly con­sented to the second. The Coadjutor and Lyonne went to the Count de Mon­tresor's, to consult about the means of executing this Enterprise: They unani­mously agreed that it should be attempt­ed, but could neither resolve upon the time, nor the manner of doing it. Now either because Lionne feared the Conse­quences thereof for the State, or because he considered the liberty of Monsieur le Prince, as the greatest obstacle to the Cardinals return, which he desired to hinder, he one day discovered to Mar­shal de Grammont, all that was resolv'd [Page 184] upon against Monsieur le Prince at the Count de Montresor's. Marshal de Gram­mont kept the secret no better then Li­onne, for he told it to Chavigny, after having engaged him by all manner of Oaths not to reveal it, but Chavigny im­mediately gave notice of it to Monsieur le Prince. He for some time thought that they had raised this report of Ar­resting him, only to make him quit Paris, and that it would be a weakness to take the Alarm, seeing the People so zealous­ly adhering to his Interests, and finding himself incessantly accompanied with an infinite number of the Officers of the Army, of his own Troops, of his me­nial Servants, and particular Friends: with this confidence he alter'd not his Conduct in any thing, save that he re­solv'd, not to go any more to the Louvre; but this precaution could not secure him from putting himself into the Kings power, by an Imprudence which can't be blam'd enough: for he went to the Cours de la Reine in his Coach, at the same time that the King pass'd that way in his return from Hunting, followed by his Guards and his Light Horse. This Rencounter, which might have destroy'd Monsieur le Prince, at that time produc'd [Page 185] no such effect: The King went on his way, and Monsieur le Prince went out of the Cours, that he might not give him any time to lay a Design against him. We may believe, that they were equally surprised with such an extraordinary ad­venture, and that they were quickly af­ter sensible that both of them had made a considerable fault: the King, in not taking a resolution immediately to Ar­rest him; and Monsieur le Prince, in exposing himself to such a danger, with­out perceiving it till it was out of his power to avoid it. The Queen and the Frondeurs comforted themselves for the loss of so fair an occasion, with the hopes of seeing their project soon take effect: In the mean time, the continual advice which Monsieur le Prince had given him on all hands, began to per­swade him, that they really intended to secure his Person: and therefore he re­conciled himself to Madam de Lon­gueville, and to the Duke de la Rochefou­cault; nevertheless it was some time, for all that they could do to make him re­solve, ere he would take warning to look to himself. At last his Fate would have it, that after he had obstinately resisted so many apparent Conjectures, and cer­tain [Page 186] Intelligences, he was alarm'd with­out reason, and by a new fault did what he had refused to do at the advice of his Friends; for one time when he was laid in bed talking with Vineuil, he recei­ved a Note from a Gentleman called Bouchè, who sent to Advertise him. That two Companies of the Guards were in Arms, and going to march towards the Fauxboug St. Germain: This News made him believe, that they were to be­set the Hotel de Condè, so that without ever considering that they often imploy­ed these Companies to guard the Gates, and to exact the payment of Entries (as indeed they were then commanded only for that purpose) he thought they were intended against his Person: upon this, he got on Horse-back with all the haste imaginable, and being only attended by six or seven, went out by the Faux­bourg St. Michel, and for sometime staid in the High Road to hear news of the Prince of Conty, to whom he had sent notice of his departure: But a second Alarm, yet more ridiculous then the first, obliged him to quit his Post: He heard a great many Horse trotting to­wards him, so that thinking it was a Squadron sent out to seek for him, he [Page 187] retreated to Fleury near Meudon; but these Troops which made him quit the Field, proved to be nothing but Higle [...]s that marched all the Night for Paris. As soon as the Prince de Conty knew that Monsieur le Prince was gone, he sent word to the Duke de la Rochefoucault, who went to him: but Monsieur le Prince obliged him immediatly to return to Paris to give the Duke d'Orleans an account of the reason of his Departure, and retreat to St. Maur. This action of Monsieur le Princes produced amongst People, what great news is wont to do, every one made different Conjectures, and laid different Designs; the appear­ance of a Change gave Joy to the Peo­ple, and Fear to all those that were esta­blish'd in Places. The Coadjutor, Ma­dam de Chevreuse, and the Frondeurs, be­lieved, That the Retreat of Monsieur le Prince would unite them to the Court, and increase their Esteem by the need they would have of them. The Queen, doubtless, foresaw the mischiefs which threatned the State, but she could not be afflicted with a Civil War that ad­vanced the Cardinals return. Monsieur le Prince feared the Consequences of so great an Affair, and could not resolve [Page 188] with himself to embrace so vast a design. He distrusted the unconstancy of them who push'd him on to a War, and judged well, that they would not long help him to sustain the weight of it. The Duke de Bouillon silently broke off from his Interests, and Marshal Turenne had al­ready declared, that for the future he would have no concern in them. The Duke de Longueville had a mind to be at quiet; besides, he was too ill satisfied with the Lady his Wife to contribute to a War, which he thought her the prin­cipal cause of: Marshal de la Motthe shift­ed off from his word that he once gave, to take up Arms. In fine, so many Rea­sons, and so many Examples, would doubtless have inclined Monsieur le Prince to reconcile himself to the Court, if he could have confided in the Queens or the Cardinals words. But the horror of his Imprisonment was yet too fresh in his mind, to expose himself upon such pledges, the value whereof his own Ex­perience had so often given him cause to know: Besides, Madam de Longueville, who was again pressed by her Husband to come into Normandy, could not avoid the Journy, if the Treaty of Monsieur le Prince was once concluded. Amidst [Page 189] so many contrary thoughts, the Duke de la Rochefoucault would needs undertake to secure Madam de Longueville from the persecution of her Husband, and per­swade Monsieur le Prince to Treat with the Court; within a few days after Mon­sieur le Prince arrived at St. Maur. Mar­shal Grammont (with whom he refused to Treat in particular) came to him from the King, to demand the reason of his Retreat, and to invite him to return to Paris, with a promise that he should be in safety there: Monsieur le Prince an­swered him before a great many people, that tho Cardinal Mazarin was retreated from the Court, and Servien, le Tellier, and Lionne, were ordered by the Queen to withdraw, yet the Spirit and Maxims of the Cardinal ruled there, and that having suffered so hard and so unjust an Imprisonment, he had found by experi­ence, that his Innocence could not esta­blish his Safety, which he hoped to find in a retreat, wherein he would preserve the same Thoughts (which he had so often given evidence of to the World) for the good of the State and the glory of the King. Marshal Grammont was surprised and vex'd with the Discourse, he thought to have enter'd upon the [Page 190] matter in hand with Monsieur le Prince, and begun some Negotiation betwixt the Court and him. But he had no reason to complain if Monsieur le Prince refused to give credit to the promises he made him for his safety, since Lionne had made choice of him to intrust with the Reso­lution they had taken at the Count de Montresors, to Arrest him a second time. Monsieur le Prince de Conty, and Madam de Longueville, came to St. Maur assoon as Monsieur le Prince, and at the begin­ning this Court was as great and as full of Persons of Quality as the Kings: they had all manner of Divertisements, which they made use of to a politick end; and Balls, Commedies, Plays, Hunting, and good Chear, drew thither an infinite number of those uncertain people who always offer their Service at the begin­nings of Factions, and betray and aban­don them ordinarily, according as their Fear or their Interest incites them. Ne­vertheless, they thought that this great number might break the Measures which they might take to attack St. Maur; that this, upon any other occasion, useless and inconvenient Croud would be ser­viceable on this, and give some reputa­tion to their Affairs. Never was the [Page 191] Court divided into so many different In­trigues, as at this time; the thoughts of the Queen, as I have said, were set up­on the Cardinals return; the Frondeurs aimed at Chateau-neuf's, for they thought him necessary to accomplish their De­signs: they judged, that if he was once more re-establish'd, he could more easily under-hand traverse the Cardinals re­turn, and get possession of his place if he chanc'd to fall. Marshal de Villeroy contributed as much as possibly he could, to dispose the Queen to it; but this Af­fair, as all others, could not be resolved on without the Cardinals consent: whil'st they expected his Orders at Court, about the present Affairs, Mon­sieur le Prince was yet dubious what side he should take, and could not resolve either upon Peace or War. The Duke de la Rochefoucault observing the Prin­ces mind so uncertain, thought that he might make use of this Juncture to en­gage Madam de Longueville to go into Normandy, and perswade Monsieur le Prince to hearken to Proposals for an Ac­commodation. With this Design he shew'd Madam de Longueville, that there was nothing but her separating her self, that could hinder her from taking the [Page 192] Journy she so much feared; that Mon­sieur le Prince might easily deny her the protection he had till then given her, having so fair a pretence as that of recon­ciling a Wife to her Husband; and above all, that if he intended thereby to ob­lige Monsieur de Longueville, they would also accuse her alone as the Fomenter of the disorder: that she would many ways render her self responsible both to her Brother and to the World, for kindling a War in the Kingdom, the Events whereof will be fatal to his Family, or to the State: for the preservation of both, which she was equally interested, he fur­ther represented to her, That the ex­cessive Expences, which Monsieur le Prince would be obliged to lay out, would neither leave him the Power, nor it may be the Will to supply hers; and that since she could get nothing from Monsieur de Longueville, she would find her self reduc'd to insupportable want. Lastly, That to remedy so many incon­veniencies, it was his advice, That she should desire Monsieur le Prince, that he would be pleased to let Madam la Princess, the Duke d'Anguien, and her Self, retire to Montrond, that they might be no trouble to him if he should be ob­liged [Page 193] to march suddenly, and also be free from the guilt of partaking in the dangerous Resolution he was going to take, either to set the Kingdom on fire by a Civil War, or to trust his Life, his Fortune, and his Liberty, to the doubt­ful Faith of Cardinal Mazarin. Madam de Longueville approved of this Advice, and Monsieur le Prince was willing it should be followed soon after. The Duke de Nemours began to abate his first vio­lence, and though all his passions were still alive, yet he did not demean himself so violently as he did at first. The Duke de la Rochefoucault design'd to make use of this occasion to sound his Thoughts; He let him know, that they could never find any Interest in a Civil War; that Monsieur le Prince might very well ru­ine their Fortune by ill success, but ne­ver advantage them by good: That the same Resolution which hinder'd Mon­sieur le Prince from taking up Arms, would likewise hinder him from laying them down after he had once taken them up: That he would not easily find safe­ty at Court, after he had offended it, since he could not meet with it at a time when he had attempted nothing against it. Lastly, that besides the difficult Hu­mour [Page 194] of Monsieur le Prince, which he had to manage, he should consider, that by removing him from Paris, he removed himself too, and put his Fate into the hands of his Rival. These Reasons found the Duke de Nemours disposed to receive them, and either because they let him see further into things then he had done till then; or out of a Levity, ordinary to men of his age, his desires became quite contrary to what they were before, and he resolved to contribute to a Peace, with as much earnestness as he had till then labored for a War; therefore he consulted with the Duke de la Rochefou­cault about the Measures they were to take in order to their mutual acting in this Design. In the mean time, the Queen was more and more incensed a­gainst Monsieur le Prince. The Frondeurs sought all manner of ways to be reven­ged on him, though in the interim they lost their credit amongst the People, who thought they were in League with the Court. The hatred of the Coadjutor particularly broke out with violence a­gainst the Duke de la Rochefoucault, he, as I said, attributed the Rupture of the Marriage of Madamoiselle de Chevereuse chiefly to him, and thinking every thing [Page 195] lawful that could but ruine him, forgot nothing that might engage the Duke de Longueville to do it by extraordinary and shameful ways: His Coach was also set upon three times in the Night, and he could never know who they were that had a hand in so frequent Assaults. All this Animosity notwithstanding, hinder'd him not from endeavoring, together with the Duke de Nemours, to gain his Defign; to which Madam de Longueville also assisted, from the time she was assured to go to Montrond. But their minds were too much heated to hearken to rea­son, and all Parties in the end experien­ced, that neither of them understood their true Interests: Even the Court, which Fortune alone sustained, often made considerable faults, and the Con­sequence made appear, that both the Ca­bals were supported more by the defaults of the opposite party, than by its own good Conduct: In the interim, Monsieur le Prince employed all his Arts to justifie his Intentions, both to the Parliament and the People, and seeing very well that the War he was going to undertake, wanted a Pretext, he endeavored to find one in the procedure of the Queen, who had recalled to her Servien and le Tellier, [Page 196] after she had discarded them at his Re­quest. He endeavor'd also to perswade the World, That their return was not so much to offend him, as to contrive the Cardinals: These Reports being noised abroad amongst the People, made some Impression on them. The Parlia­ment was more divided, the Primier President became Monsieur le Prince's Enemy, thinking he contributed to the putting him out from being Keeper of the Seals; those who were gained over to the Court joyned with him, but the Conduct of the Frondeurs was more re­served: They durst not appear well­affected to the Cardinal, though they really desired to serve him. Things were thus when Monsieur le Prince left St. Maur to return to Paris. He belie­ved himself in a condition to stand against the Court there, and that his high and bold demeanor, would give reputation to his Affairs. At the same time he sent away Madam la Princess, the Duke d'An­guien, and Madam de Longueville, to Mon­trond, with a resolution to go thither himself soon after, and from thence to Guyenne, where they were well disposed to receive him. He sent the Count de Tavanes to his Troops which served in [Page 197] the Army of Champaigne, with a Com­mand to march them in a Body to Stenay, as soon as he sent him Orders: He also laid Provisions into his Fortified pla­ces, and had Two hundred thousand Crowns ready Cash: thus he prepared for a War, though he had not yet en­tirely laid the Design: Notwithstand­ing, at his return, he endeavored to en­gage people of Quality into his Interests, and amongst others the Duke de Bouil­lon, and Marshal Turenne, they were both particular Friends to the Duke de la Rochefoucault, who forgot nothing to induce them to take the same party which he saw himself obliged to follow. The Duke de Bouillon then seem'd to him to be unresolv'd, he being willing to find his Security and Advantage, because he almost alike distrusted the Court and Monsieur le Prince, intended to see the Affair engaged before he would declare himself. Marshal Turenne on the con­trary, spoke to him always in the same manner since his return from Stenay. He told him, That he had no reason either to thank, or to complain of Monsieur le Prince, for not having imparted to him some things wherein indeed he had no mind to have been engaged: That he [Page 198] thought himself obliged to forget no­thing, that might contribute to the Li­berty of Monsieur le Prince, but he pre­tended that the engagement he had to him, ought to cease with his Imprison­ment, and so he might make new Alli­ances according as his Inclination or Inte­rest moved him. He added also, That Mon­sieur le Prince had not imploy'd him in any thing since his return to Paris, and had been so far from taking his Measures by consulting with him, and making him a Confident in his Designs, that he not only removed him from his Counsels, but also chose to let those very Troops who had but just before fought for him under his Command, perish, rather than to speak one word to get them Winter Quar­ters. These were the Reasons why Mar­shal Turennes refused to follow the For­tune of Monsieur le Prince a second time. The Duke d'Bouillon in the inte­rim, who avoided as much as he could to declare what he would do, found him­self hard enough put to it not to answer precisely. Monsieur le Prince and he, chose the Duke de la Rochefoucault to be Mediator betwixt them, but because he would not be Surety for the Word of ei­ther of them, and knew well, that a Post [Page 199] like this, is always nice, having to deal with people who are to agree upon so many important and different Articles, he engaged them themselves to tell their Opinions before him. It happened, con­trary to the usual custom of such inter­views, that their conversation ended without any distaste, and both of them remained satisfied, without being tyed or engaged to any thing. At that time, it seemed, the chief aim of the Court and of Monsieur le Prince, to render the Par­liament favorable to them. The Fron­deurs affectedly pretended to have no o­ther Inrerest but the Publick's, and un­der this pretence, they clash'd with Mon­sieur le Prince in every thing, and oppo­sed all his Designs; at the beginning they acted with some reservedness, but seeing themselves openly incouraged by the Court, the Coadjutor had the vani­ty openly to declare himself Monsieur le Prince's enemy: from that time, he not only beyond all moderation thwarted whatsoever he proposed, but also never went to the Palais without his Friends, and a great number of Armed men to at­tend him. This insolent and haughty procedure, did not without reason dis­please Monsieur le Prince, who thought [Page 200] it no less insupportable to be forced to go well attended to the Palais, that he might dispute the way with the Coadju­tor, than to go thither alone, and so ex­pose his Life and his Liberty into the hands of his most dangerous enemy: therefore he believed, that he ought to prefer his safety to every thing else, and resolved to go no more to the Parliament without being accompanied by all that were of his Interest. The Queen was glad to see a new subject of Division a­rise betwixt two men, whom she almost equally hated in her heart: she imagin­ed, that the Consequences of it would be such, as to give her hopes of being revenged of one by the other, or to see them both perish; nevertheless, she in appearance gave her protection to the Coadjutor, and permitted him to be guarded by a party of the Kings Gens­d'armes, and his Light Horse, and by the Officers and Souldiers of the Regi­ment of Guards. Monsieur le Prince was attended by a great many Persons of Quality, and many Officers, and by a croud of People of all Professions, who never left him since he return'd from St. Maur: This confusion of People of different Parties, being all together in [Page 201] the great Hall in the Palais, made the Parliament fear lest some disorder should happen, which might involve every one in particular in the same danger, and no body be capable of appeasing it. To prevent this mischief, the Premier Pre­sident resolved to beseech Monsieur le Prince not to come to the Palais any more thus accompanied; but one day, when the Duke d'Orleans was not there, and Monsieur le Prince and the Coadju­tor were come with all their Friends, the number and animosities on both sides seemed so great, that it augmented the Presidents fear: Monsieur le Prince also spoke some provoking words, which he addressed to the Coadjutor; but he answer'd them without concern, and da­red publickly to say, that his Enemies could never accuse him of breaking his word, and that now adays there are few persons exempted from this fault: by which words he plainly pointed at Mon­sieur le Prince, and reproached him not only for breaking the Engagements he had enter'd into with the Frondeurs, a­bout the Marriage of his Brother with Madamoiselle de Chevreuse, but also al­ledged the business of Noysi, when the Prince de Conty, Madam, and Madamoi­selle [Page 202] de Longueville, and the Messieurs of Retz, laid the foundations of the War of Paris, and Monsieur le Prince pro­mised to head them; not to remove the Cardinal, as the Publick intended, but only to make his Conditions better with him, and have the merit of securing him from mischief, which so powerful a Ca­bal was not able to do. These Reports being noised abroad by the Coadjutors adherents, and also renewed so boldly before the Parliament when assembled, and before Monsieur le Prince himself, might have made him more sensible of the Affront, than he at that time appear­ed to be. He mastered his Resentment, and gave no answer to the Coadjutors Discourse. At the same time some came to advertise them, that the great Hall was full of Armed men, who being spurr'd on by Interests so opposite, would certainly create very great Disorders, if they were not speedily prevented. Upon this, the Primier President told Monsieur le Prince, that the Company would be infinitely obliged to him, if he would order those who followed him to with­draw; that they were assembled to re­medy the disorders of the State, not to augment them, and that no body would [Page 203] believe they were so entirely free to speak their Opinions, as they ought to be, so long as they saw the Palais (which should be the Asylum of Justice) serve as a place of Arms for all that were capable of raising a Tumult and Sedition. Mon­sieur le Prince immediately offered to make his Friends withdraw, and desired the Duke de la Rochefoucault to send them away without disorder: The Co­adjutor rose, and said, That he was going to do the same by his: And he really did go out of the great Chamber to speak to his Friends; the Duke de la Rochefou­cault went eight or ten paces behind him, and was yet in the place called the Par­quet des Hussiers, when the Coadjutor was got into the great Hall; as soon as they saw him, all his party drew their Swords without any reason, and Mon­sieur le Prince's Friends did the same, e­very one rang'd himself on that side he was to serve, and in an instant the two Parties came within the length of their Swords to one another; and yet amongst so many brave men, animated by so ma­ny different hatreds, there was not one that made a pass with his Sword, or shot off a Pistol: The Coadjutor seeing so great a Disorder, intended to withdraw [Page 204] and return to the great Chamber; but coming to the door, which goes from the Hall to the Parquet des Hussiers, he found the Duke de la Rochefoucault possessed of it: nevertheless, he attempted to force it open, but it being only half shut, the Duke de la Rochefoucault, who held it, just as the Coadjutor enter'd, clapt it too and catch'd him by the middle, keeping his Head on the side of the Par­quet, and his Body in the Hall. This opportunity might have tempted the Duke de la Rochefoucault, after all that had pass'd betwixt them: General and particular Reasons push'd him on to de­stroy his most mortal enemy, besides the easiness of revenging himself, by reven­ging Monsieur le Prince for the affront and reproach which he had but just be­fore received: he saw also, that the Life of the Coadjutor ought to pay for the Disorder which he was the cause of; but he likewise consider'd, that they had not yet struck a stroak in the Hall, and that no body came against him to defend the Coadjutor, and therefore that he had not the same pretence to assault him, which he might have had if the Fight had been begun; besides, the Servants of Monsieur le Prince did not imagine [Page 205] of what importance the Service was which they might do their Master in this juncture. In fine, one because he would not do an action which might look like cruelty; and the rest, for want of re­solution in a great Affair, and capacity to go through with it, gave time to Cham­platreux, the Primier Presidents Son, to arrive with an Order to disengage the Coadjutor, and free him from the great­est danger he was ever in. The Duke de la Rochefoucault seeing him in the hands of Champlatreux, returned into the great Chamber and took his place: the Coadjutor came thither at the same time, with all the trouble that an acci­dent like this which he had escaped, could give him, he begun to complain to the Assembly of the violence of the Duke de la Rochefoucault; he said, that he had like to have been assassinated, and that he held him at the Door only to expose him to whatever attempt his E­nemies would make against his person. The Duke de la Rochefoucault answered, That Fear must have certainly taken away his liberty of judging of what pass'd at that time, otherwise he would have seen that he had no design to kill him, since he did not do so, when he [Page 206] had his Life in his hands a long time; that indeed he was possessed of the Door, and hindred him from entring, because he believed not that he ought to expose Monsieur le Prince and the Parliament, to the Disorder which his men raised when they saw him come, purely to prevent his fear. This Dis­course was also followed with some inju­rious menaces which he publickly threat­ned him with, insomuch that the Duke de Brissac thought himself obliged to answer him. The Duke de la Roche­foucault and he appointed to Fight that very day without Seconds, but because the occasion of their Quarrel was pub­lick, it was instantly made up by the Duke d'Orleans. This Affair, which in all appearance was like to produce ill Consequences, put an end to that which might have most contributed to Disor­ders, for the Coadjutor avoided coming again to the Palais; and so being no more where Monsieur le Prince was, he had no occasion to fear an Accident, like this which he had so narrowly escaped. Nevertheless, Fortune, which rules men more than their own Conduct, brought these two together at a time when they least thought of it, and in a condition [Page 207] far different from what they had been in at the Palais; for one day when Mon­sieur le Prince went abroad in his Coach with the Duke de la Rochefoucault, and was followed by a prodigious croud of people, he met with the Coadjutor dress'd in his Episcopal Robes, and go­ing a Procession with a great many Shrines and Relicks, Monsieur le Prince immediately stopp'd, to shew more Re­verence to the Church, and the Coadju­tor walking on till he came over against Monsieur le Prince, made a low bow, and gave him and the Duke de la Rochefou­cault his Blessing; both of them received it with all the appearances of Respect, though neither of them wish'd it might have that effect the Coadjutor desired; at this time the people who followed MOnsieur le Prince, being moved with such a rencounter, cryed out against the Coadjutor, and were ready to pull him in pieces, but that Monsieur le Prince sent out his men to appease the Tumult, and reduce them into order.

The War of Guyenne.

THe War in Gascony. Guienne was maintain'd much more by the vi­gilence and reputation of the Prince of Condy, than either by the number or the valour of his Soldiers; and the Count de Harcourt had already repair'd by his Conduct and Fortune, all the disadvan­tages that the Defeat of the Marquis de St. Luc at Miradoux had brought to the Kings Army; the Siege of Miradoux was raised, the Prince of Condy's Guards, with three or four hundred Horse, were taken in their Quarters, where Persan, and the Prince of Condy himself, with the rest of his Troops, were forc'd to quit his Post, for to pass the River of Garonne to Bouc, and from thence to re­tire himself to Agen; but the Divisions which were in the Town, made the Prince soon sensible that it would remain on his Party no longer than he retain'd it by his presence, or by a strong Gar­rison: 'twas therefore to secure it by this last means, that he resolv'd to put into it the Regiment of Infantry de Conty, and [Page 209] to make himself Master of one of the Gates of the Town, whereby he might take away from the People the liberty of refusing a Garison; but this Design not being secret, it was immediatly spread through the whole City, and in an instant all the Citizens were in Arms, fortifying themselves with Barricado's; of which the Prince of Condy being in­form'd, got strait on Horse-back for to hinder the Sedition by his presence, and to secure the Port de Grave till he could put it into the possession of the Regi­ment that was marching towards the Town. But the arrival of the Soldi­ers increased the disorder, instead of ap­peasing of it, they having entred the Town, halted in the first Street, and tho both the Prince of Condy and the Prince of Conty, and the Officers, us'd all pos­sible means to calm the disorder, yet the Streets, for all they could do, were in­stantly all Baricado'd; the People not­withstanding still preserv'd their respect for the Prince of Condy, and for the rest of the General Officers, though the Peoples disaffection to them increas'd in all those places where they were not pre­sent. It being impossible for things to remain any longer in this condition, the [Page 210] Souldiers were possessed of the Port de Grave, and half that Street which led to it: the People were up in Arms, all the Streets Baricado'd, and Guards set every where.

The Night coming on, which aug­mented the Confusion, and the Prince of Condy seeing himself reduc'd either shamefully to quit the Town, or else to plunder and burn it; but he found on which soever he should determine, it would apparently ruine his Affairs; for if he left Agen, the Kings Troops would be receiv'd into it; and if he burnt it, that severe usage would insence the whole Province against him, the most considerable Towns whereof were still firm to his Party: which reasons induc'd him to attempt an Accommodation that might in appearance preserve his Autho­rity, and serve him for a Pretext to par­don the people of Agen. The Duke de la Rochefoucault wrought upon the prin­cipal Citizens to retire themselves to the Town-House, and there depute some one of them to go to the Prince, and intreat his pardon, and to beseech him to come to their Assembly, to pre­scribe to them what means he should think fittest to preserve the Town, in [Page 211] the Submission and Fidelity that they had sworn to him. The Prince went thither, and assur'd them, that his inten­tion always was to leave them their Li­berties intire, and that that Regiment was only enter'd to ease the Citizens in the keeping of the Guard; but since that they desir'd it not, he would be content it should go out again, if so be that the Town would maintain a Re­giment at its own expence, the Officers whereof should be at his disposal: They willingly accepted the Conditions, and threw down all their Barricado's. The Souldiers march'd out, and the Town was in quiet, and seem'd in as much sub­mission as it was before the Disturbance. But the Prince of Condy, not being wil­ling to trust to appearances, staid some time at Agen, to re-establish the Town in its former state; in which time he re­ceiv'd the News, That the Army from Flanders (under the Command of the Duke de Nemours) and the Troops of the Duke d'Orleans, Commanded by the Duke of Beauford, were joyn'd, and on their March toward the Loyre. Never­theless, this Joy was mingled with many unquiet Thoughts; for on one side he saw in the middle of France, a Spanish [Page 212] Army, that he had so long expe­cted, and which could either Relieve Montrond, or come and joyn him in Guy­enne; but at the same time he knew that the division between the Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort, was come to a very dangerous Extremity. They could not agree if together, that their Forces, when separated, were not able to main­tain the Field against the Kings Army, Commanded by the Marshals of Turenne and d'Hoquincourt, and Fortified by the Troops which the Cardinal had brought, but much more by the Voyage of the Court: The Orders of the Duke de Ne­mours, was to pass the Loire and re­lieve Montrond, and then march straight away to Guyenne; but those which the Duke de Beauford had receiv'd from the Duke d'Orleans, were intirely opposite: for Monsieur could not consent that the Army should be so far from Paris, for he apprehended, that either the People or the Parliament might change their minds, when they saw the Duke de Ne­mours pass with his Army into Guyenne, and the King's Forces remain in their Neighborhood. The Coadjutor of Pa­ris, in whom Monsieur more confided than in any body, seconded this Ad­vce, [Page 213] and still increased the Fears and the natural Irresolutions of that Prince, for by detaining the Army on this side of the Loire, he not only made it useless to the Prince of Condy, whose Enemy he was, but he render'd himself more considerable at Court, by shewing them, That being so much master of Monsieur's Counsels, it was in his power either to advance or retard the progress of the Army: and thus he made use of all sort of ways to obtain the Cardinals Cap. Neither was Chauviny's Designs less on his side; for he pretended to govern Monsieur in the letting him know, that he govern'd Monsieur le Prince, and assur'd himself to become Master of his Counsels, by shewing of him that he was Master of Monsieur's: But his projects stopt not there, for from the beginning of the War he had taken his Measures to become Negotia­ter of the Peace, to which end he joyn'd himself to the Duke de Rohan, believing that he might be equally useful to him, both with Monsieur, and with Monsieur le Prince: He thought also, that he had taken all necessary precautions, as to the Cardinal, by the help of Faber; a [...]d as he set no bounds neither to his Ambition [Page 214] nor his Hopes, he doubted not, having made the particular Peace, but that he should be chosen to go along with the Cardinal Mazarin to conclude the ge­neral; and then he believed, in making use of the Reputation that Monsieur le Prince was able to give him among the Spaniards, he should acquire all the me­rit of the good success, and that the Cardinal on the contrary, would return loaden with shame, and accus'd of all the mischievous Events, and so re-enter into the management of Affairs, either with the Glory of having made the Peace, or else with the Advantage of having publish'd to the World, that the Cardinal had hinder'd it. In prospect whereof, he writ several times to the Prince of Condy, to press him to leave Guyenne: he represented to him how needful his Presence was in the Army, that if he let that be destroy'd, all hopes of Recruits would be lost; and that Marching into the Heart of the King­dom, and even before the Kings Face, he would in a moment, not only re-esta­blish Guyenne, but also all the rest of his party. The Prince of Condy yielded easily to Monsieur Chavigny's perswasi­ons, but the chiefmotive which induc'd [Page 215] him to it, was the desire he had to quit Guyenne, in a time when the weakness of his Army forc'd him continually to de­cline the Count d'Harcourt: He commu­nicated his Design to the Duke de la Ro­chefoucault, and Marsin, they both alike represented to him what there was to be fear'd, and what to be hoped in it, but neither of them would venture to give him their advice concerning it, but both immediately begg'd, that he would give them leave to wait upon him; he chose the Duke de la Rochefoucault to go along with him, and left Marsin with the Prince of Conty, reposing intirely upon him the design to maintain his Interest in Guyenne; and not only to preserve Bourdeaux in spight of all the divisions that had been fomented amongst the People, and in the Parliament, but also, to take care that the different Interests of the Prince of Conty, and Madam de Longueville, might not increase their mis­understandings, and so hasten the loss of the Town. The state of Affairs in the Town was thus, The people were divi­ded in two Cabals, one whereof con­sisted of the richest Citizens, whose o­pinion was, That they ought to main­tain the authority of their Magistrates, [Page 216] and make themselves so powerful and necessary in the Town, that both Mon­sieur le Prince and the Parliament might look upon them, as those who were most capable to serve them: The other Cabal was form'd of the poorest & most seditious, who often assembling, though without any design, in a place near the Castle of Ha, call'd Horme; from thence took the name of Hormees. The Prince of Conty, and the Dutchess of Longue­ville, much more for their particular In­terest, than for their Interest of the party, supported that Faction, and made it much more powerful in Bourdeaux. They both labored alike to accomplish this Design, though for quite different Reasons: The Prince de Conty inclin'd to Peace, through his natural fickleness, which chiefly made him hate the War, because he had so earnestly desired it; he alledg'd afterwards, that Monsieur le Prince, after having set his hand that he would not Treat without his being made Governor of Province, was now abso­lutely gone from his Word in what concern'd his Interests; but the princi­pal reason of his disingaging himself, was, that all those about him (being gain'd by the Cardinal Mazarin) perswaded [Page 217] him gloriously to break with the Dut­chess de Longueville, upon pretexts which the near Alliance and Interest of Blood oblig'd him to conceal. As for the Dutchess de Longueville, she then believ'd her self irreconcilable with her Husband; she had made many fruitless attempts to return to Court, by the Princess Palatine; she beheld the Prince of Conty transported with rage and jea­lousie, which had been much more par­donable in a Lover, than a Brother: Moreover, she knew if the Prince of Condy spoke less of her behavior than he, that he had not a more advantage­ous opinion of it: He was inform'd how she design'd to ruine his Party, by very extraordinary ways, for the Interest of the Duke de Nemours; and also fear'd, that if she took a like Inclination to an­other, she was liable to be carried to the same Extreams if he desir'd it. Seeing her self then equally ruin'd on either side, she now believ'd that she had no way left to restore her self, but to make her self a party in Bourdeaux, which might be powerful enough to give her a new Reputation, either with the Prince of Condy, or with the Court; in view whereof, she found nothing so advan­tageous [Page 218] to her Design, as to joyn with the Hormees, and to engage herself with the most considerable of them. Neither was the Parliament more united than the People; those who were against the Court were divided into two Bodies, one whereof was call'd the Great, and the other the Little Fronde, although they both agreed to be of the Interest of Monsieur le Prince; they were very opposite in all other things. In the beginning the Army joyn'd with both the Fronds, but often separated from them, which Changes were managed by different Interests, which commonly makes men act in that manner. But at length the Prince of Conty, and the Dutchess of Longueville increas'd the Credit and the Insolence of that Facti­on so high to gain it to themselves, that they advanc'd the ruine of the Party, by putting the Parliament and the rest of the People in dispair, and giving occa­sion to so many Plots, and to all those private Intelligences with the Court, which since put Bourdeaux into the Kings power. The Prince of Conty made use of these Divisions to ruine his Sisters credit, and the Dutchess of Longueville endeavor'd to establish it in Bourdeaux, [Page 219] to retrieve what she had lost with the Prince of Condy; but he who foresaw what Inconveniencies such opposite O­pinions would produce in his party, and who believ'd moreover, That the Dis­contents and Divisions increased by his absence, left Marsin, as I said, to put a stop to these great Disorders, and on eve­ry occasion to take care, that neither the Prince of Conty, nor the Dutchess of Longueville, undertook any thing that might be prejudicial to him, during his absence; therefore as soon as he had re­gulated the Affairs of the Army, with Marsin and Laisny, as also the Cabals of Bourdeaux, and those in his own Fami­ly, he left the Prince of Conty behind him at Agen; and leaving all things un­der his management, he desired him to follow the Advices of Marsin and Lais­ny: He seem'd also to repose a great con­fidence in the President Viole, but to speak the truth, he did not think he left one man behind him in Bourdeaux, that was really true to his Interest, but only those two that I have named. Things being thus settled, he prepar'd to quit Agen, to go and joyn Monsieur de Ne­mour's Army: This Journy was extream­ly long, and so full of Difficulties, that [Page 220] he could not reasonably hope to sur­mount them. The Count d'Harcourt was Camp'd nigh Agen, and there was too many in the Town gain'd by the Court, not to inform him of Monsieur le Prince's departure, those of his own party had before suspected it, insomuch that it was reported, even before he had resolv'd it himself; he was to go near six score Leagues, and all the way upon the same Horses, so that the Count de Harcourt might not only send a party to pursue him, or give advice to the Court of his going, but also send to all the Towns and Garrisons to stop him. More­over, he could not confide a matter of such Consequence to many, and a few were not capable to accompany him with safety: It was necessary to perswade the World, that he was only going to Bour­deaux, and to hinder the Officers of the Army from waiting upon him thither, upon pretences which could give no cause of suspecting what he design'd: for which reason he left the Prince of Conty at Agen, and pretending to go to Bourdeaux for two or three days, only he gave Orders to all the Officers and Voluntiers, to stay at Agen with his Bro­ther. From whence he parted on Palm [Page 221] Sunday, about twelve of the Clock, ac­companyed by the Duke de la Roche­foucault, le Prince, de Marcillac, Guitault, and Chavinac, Gourville, and one valet de Chambre: The Marquis de Levy wait­ed with Horses for him at Langez, where he found also Bercénes, Captain of the Duke de la Rochefoucault's Guards. And as the Marquis de Levy had a Pass from the Count d'Harcourt, to return home with all his Train to his own House in Auvergne, the Prince of Condy, and those that accompanyed him, follow'd him as his Attendants, and were to go for the same Servants whose Names were writ­ten in his Pass, though they were re­solv'd never to make use of it. What was most severe in this Journy, was, That our extraordinary haste oblidged us to Travel both Day and Night, and almost always upon the same Horses, without ever staying any where above two hours in one place, either to sleep or eat: They lodg'd at two or three Gentlemens Houses, Friends of the Mar­quis de Levy's, to take some small rest, and to see if they could buy any Horses: But these Gentlemen so little suspected Monsieur le Prince to be what he was, that once at Dinner, when Men com­monly [Page 222] speak their Thoughts more freely than at other times, he heard things of some of those that were nearest him, which till then it may be he never knew. At length, taking his way through the Vicounty of Turenne and Charlus in Au­vergne, he arriv'd on Saturday night at Bac-d Alier, two Leagues distant from la Charity, where he past the River de Eoire without any interruption, although that two Troops of Horse lay in la Charity, Commanded by Bussy Roba­tin: From thence he dispatch'd Gour­ville in all haste to Paris, to inform his Royal Highness and Chavigny of his com­ing. He staid all Easter Day in Cosnes, where a Guard was kept; and as the Court was but at Gien, he pretended that he was going thither, with the rest of his Companions, to wait their Quarter upon the King; nevertheless, finding that they could not long keep the Highway to the Court, without being known, they resolv'd to quit it, and take that which leads to Chatillon, and he began to think he had reason to repent his neglecting it so long: For meeting two Couriers, whereof one knew Guitaut, and though he did not stop to speak to him, shew'd concern enough in his Face to make [Page 223] them think that he suspected Monsieur le Prince to be there, which he presently after discovered to be certainly true. For afterwards meeting with Monsieur le Prince's Valet de Chambre, who had staid behind, he stopt him, and by making him believe he would kill him, he per­ceiv'd that his suspition was well found­ed; which accident made Monsieur le Prince resolve not only to quit the High Road that very time, but also to leave Bercennes, Captain of the Guards, to the Duke de la Rochefoncault, amongst the rubbish of a ruin'd House, near a Bridge, to kill the Courier in case he took that Road, which appear'd the way he must go to give notice to the Court, of the Prince of Condy's Journy. But Fortune led his steps another way, so that he carried in haste to Gien the News of what he had seen. St. Maure was presently dispatch'd with twenty chosen men to watch for Monsieur le Prince, in the way between Chastillon and the Duke de Nemour's Army, with order to take him either alive or dead. The Prince of Condy, although he saw that this Incounter must inevitably dis­cover his Passage, march'd with full speed towards Chastillon: But as we were [Page 224] forced to go that day Six and thirty Leagues upon the same Horses, the ne­cessity of Baiting made us lose much time, and gave St. Maure what he wish'd for, to overtake us. Another accident also had like to have caus'd Monsieur le Prince to be taken, for being come to the Canal de Briare, he met the Quarter­masters of two or three Regiments of Horse, who came thither before for Quar­ters; and as the main Body advanc'd from different parts, it was difficult to take any way secure. Chavaignac, who was acquainted with a Gentleman na­med la Bruslery, who liv'd near that place, taking Guitaut with him to get somthing for the Prince of Condy to eat. But as that was a day destin'd to Adven­tures, as soon as ever Chavaignac went out of the House to seek for the Master of it, and to invite Guitaut in, an Of­ficer of the fore-mentioned Regiments came thither; and all that the Mistress of the House could do, in the Fear she was in, lest some disturbance might ar­rive in her House by the meeting of Men of different Parties, was to send her Daughter to meet Guitaut, and tell him, That an Officer of the Kings Army was just come into the House, Whil'st [Page 225] this happened, Monsieur le Prince, who staid expecting Chauaignac and Guitaut, could remain no longer in the place that they had left him in, because of the ar­rival of the Souldiers, he sent his Valet de Chambre before to Chastillon, to tell the House-keeper to have the Park gates open, so that he had no body left with him but the Duke de la Rochefoucault and the Prince de Marcillac. They went nevertheless still on towards Chastillon, the Prince de Marcillac rode about one hundred yards before, Monsieur le Prince, and the Duke de la Rochefoucault follow­ed him about the same distance, that ei­ther of them might give him notice if any danger approach'd, which might give him the advantage to save himself. They had not rode on far in that po­sture, when they heard the noise of shooting off Pistols, that way which the Valet de Chambre was gon, and immedi­ately there appeared four Horse-men up­on their left hand, who came Trotting up towards them: They undoubtedly believ'd they were pursued, therefore concluded to Charge these four men that advanc'd toward them, and Faced about with a Resolution rather to dye than be taken: But being come nearer, they [Page 226] perceived it was Chavaignac, who, with three other Gentlemen, had been seeking after them, and from thence they all ar­riv'd at Chastillon without any further danger. And there the Prince of Condy heard news of his Army that he was going to joyn; he was told that it was not far from Lory, near the Forest of Orleans, about eight Leagues distance from Cha­stillon. He was told moreover, That there was ten or twelve Light-horse of the Kings Guard, besides several of the Kings Officers, lodg'd in the Town of Chastillon; wherefore fearing to be dis­covered, he parted from thence for Lory in all speed about Midnight, with a Guide, but the Guide had like to have been the cause of his being taken; for after having travelled a long time, he found they were not above a little League from Gien, when quitting that Road, to go into that which leads to Lory, Monsieur le Prince passed within thirty yards of the place, where Saint Maur waited for him; and whether it was that he knew him not, or that he durst not attack him, nothing inter­rupted his passage to Lory, where he had certain intelligence of his▪ Army, which lay but two Leagues from him: [Page 227] He would have staid to have baited his Horses at Lory; but although he still took the same care to disguise himself, that he had done all the rest of the way, Both he and the Duke de la Rochefou­cault, were known by some of the In­habitants of the Town, many whereof were the Kings and the Duke d'Orleans's Servants; but that rather prov'd ser­viceable to him than hinder'd him, for some of them got on Horseback, and bore him company to the Army. He met the Van-Guard at the entry of the Fo­rest of Orleans, where some of the Horse ask'd him, Who comes there? but im­mediately knowing of him, the whole Army was in so great Surprise and Joy, that it cannot be express'd, for it never had more need of him, and never less expected to see him. The animosity be­tween the Duke de Nemours, and the Duke de Beauford still increased, inso­much, that the hopes of the party daily diminished by the Divisions that were a­mongst the Heads of it, and at a time when the approaches of the King and his Army, ought to have made them prefer the Publick Interest before Pri­vate Quarrels, to make an end whereof, was of too great Importance to Monsieur [Page 228] le Prince, not to endeavor it with all imaginable eagerness; and what plain'd his way, and made it more easie for him to perform, was, That his arrival taking away from them both, their chief Com­mands, it also took away the principal Spring which fed their Jealousie and Ha­tred. Things being in this posture▪ the Army march'd to Lory, where it rested one day, and then march'd forward three or four more; in which time they came to the Walls of Montargis, which yielded without the least resistance; but they soon quitted that place, which be­ing stored with Corn and Wine, might be serviceable in time of more need: besides, it would be an example of their moderation, which might produce ma­ny advantageous Effects to the party in other Towns. The Army march'd from Montargis to Chasteau-renard, where Gourville arriv'd at the same time from Paris, to inform the Prince what his Friends opinions were, how he ought to carry himself towards Monsieur and the Parliament: Their Counsels were quite different, for some of them advised him to stay with the Army, representing to him, That the whole Resolutions of Monsieur and the Parliament, always [Page 229] depended upon the event of this War, and that as long as he was at the Head of a Victorious Army, the Power of the King would be in his hands, instead whereof, his going to Paris would de­prive his Army of all the Reputation which his presence gave them, and would oblige him to leave the Com­mand of it to those same people, whose Divisions and Incapacities were before upon the very Brink of producing so great Disorder. Chavigny, on the con­trary, sent positively to Monsieur le Prince, that his Presence was absolutely necessary at Paris, that the Cabals of the Court and of Cardinal de Rets, daily increased in the Parliament, and un­doubtedly they would draw the Duke d'Orleans in to them; if Monsieur le Prince came not himself to free him from the dependance he was now in, and to put the Duke de Rohan and Chavigny in possession of a place, for which without his presence, they could not contend a­ny longer with the Cardinal de Rets. But the Dispute ended, in that they both concluded it was the best course now to fall upon the Kings Army. At this time the Prince had advice, That the Marshal d'Hoquincourt's Brigade was still [Page 230] in quarters, separated from the rest of the Army very near Chastean-Renard, & that the next day they were to joyn with the Marshal de Turenne, which made him resolve to March that very moment with his whole Army, straight to attack the Marshal d'Hoquincourt, before he could have time to draw his Troops together, and retreat to the Marshal de Turenne; which Attempt prov'd very successful. On his first approach, he fell upon two of their Quarters, which gave the Alarm to the rest, but that hinder'd him not from being presently Victorious over five, whereof the four first made small resistance: But the Marshal d'Hoquin­court drawing himself up in Battle with Eight hundred Horse, upon the side of a Brook, where they could not pass over but one by one, upon a Bank of Earth very narrow and much broken, seem'd as if he would Dispute this Pass with them; beyond which, the rest of his Men were Quartered that they were go­ing to attack: But when he saw that those under the Command of the Duke de Nemours, and three or four others were pass'd, he retreated behind the Quarters, leaving them to be plunder'd, and rang'd himself there again in Battle, [Page 131] to try if he could take his time, and Charge them in the heat of the Plunder. Those Quarters there, made no more re­sistance than the others had done, but the Houses being all thatch'd, as soon as they had set them on Fire, they gave so great a Light, that it was easie for the Marshal d'Hoquencourt to discern the number of men that were pass'd over, and perceiving that there was not above One hundred Horse, he advanc'd with above Eight hundred to attack them. The Prince of Condy, who saw the Force of that Cavalry just coming to break upon them, presently made a Squadron of those that were about him, and went to meet the Enemy, though with so un­equal a number, that it appear'd as if Chance had drawn them together in that place, all the General Officers of his Army, to shew him how much one un­prosperous Event was capable to make him lose, the first Rank where he him­self was, was compos'd of the Duke de Nemours, the Duke de Beaufort, and the Duke de la Rochefoucault, the Prince de Marcillac, the Marquis de Clinchant, who Commanded the Spanish Troops, the Count de Tauanes Lieuten. General, Gui­tault, Gaucourt, and several other Officers: [Page 232] The two Squadrons discharg'd upon each other very close, without one man stirring a foot; but two others engaging presently after, that which Monsieur le Prince was at the head of, the Duke de Nemours received a Shot with a Pistol quite through his Body, and had his Horse killed under him. The Prince of Condy's Squadron not being able any longer to maintain their Ground against two so violent Charges, foot to foot, broke, and retreated One hundred yards in disorder, towards the Quarter which was on Fire; but the Prince, and the rest of the General Officers that were with him, geting again to the head of it stoptit, and the Enemy was satisfied with making them retire, without pressing it any fur­ther: There was only some few Officers and Horse that advanced, and the Prince de Marcillac, who was a dozen or fifteen yards behind the retiring Squadron, turn'd about to an Officer, and kill'd him. Between the two Squadrons, the Prince of Condy, as was said before, stop'd his men, and made them face about to the Enemy, which durst not push the advantage they had gain'd for fear they should be back'd with Foot. This disorder had given time to a Squa­dron [Page 233] of thirty chosen Men to pass the Brook: The Prince of Condy immedi­ately put himself at the head of them, with the Duke de la Rochefoucault, and attack'd the Marshal d'Hoquencourt in the Flank, while the Duke de Beaufort charged him in the Front, with a Squa­dron that the Prince had left him for that purpose, which totally overthrew the Enemy; some whereof flew into Bleneau, and the rest they pursu'd three or four Leagues towards Auxerre, without ever endeavoring so much as to rally: They lost all their Baggage, besides Three hundred Horses that were taken. The Vi­ctory had been much greater, but that Monsieur le Prince was informed, that the Marshal de Turenne's Army was come in sight. This News made him return back to his Foot which were scattered about to Plunder; and after having rallied his Men, he marched toward the Marshal de Turenne, who had drawn up his Army in a large Plain, within less then Musket shot of a far extended Wood, through the middle whereof the Prince of Condy's Army was to pass, to come to him. This Passage was wide enough of it self for ten Squadrons to march in a Front; but as it was a very Marshy Ground, they [Page 234] were oblig'd to make so many Ditches to drain it, that they could not march to the Plain without breaking their Ranks. The Prince of Condy, seeing that the plain was possessed by the Ene­my, put his Foot upon the Right hand, and the Left into that part of the Wood which was nighest the Enemies Army, to force them to a greater distance. This work'd the effect that he desired, for the Marshal Turenne, fearing to be endamag'd by the Musqueteers, left that Post and went to take another a little farther off, and upon a higher Ground than Mon­sieur le Prince; but the removal which he made for that, perswaded Monsieur le Prince that he was retiring for Gien, and that he might easily cut them off in the disorder of the Retreat, before they arrived there: For which reason he Advanced his Horse, and made six Squadrons pass unrank'd in all haste to enter upon the Plain; but Marshal Tu­renne considering what a disadvantage it would be to give Battle upon the Plain to Monsieur le Prince's Army, heightned with Victory, and also strong­er than his own, rather chose to return with their Swords in their hands, and fall upon the six Squadrons, to defeat [Page 235] those that were pass'd, and to stop the rest from passing. Monsieur le Prince, who judged what he intended, first pass'd his Horse, and then those who were un­rank'd for that purpose, hindering the Enemy from approaching without great disadvantage, so they were content on both sides with only advancing the Ar­tillery, and for a long time playing the Canon at each other, the success where­of prov'd not at all equal; for besides that, Monsieur de Turenne had a much greater number of Canon, and better serv'd than the Enemy; they had also the advantage of the highest Ground upon them. Moreover, Monsieur le Prince's men being inclosed within the passage that parts the two Woods, there was scarcely any Shot that did not execution, insomuch that there was kill'd sixscore Horsemen, besides several Officers, a­mongst which was Maré, Brother to the Marshal de Grancy. And in this maner they pass'd the rest of the day. About Sun-set, the Marshal de Turenne retreat­ed towards Gien. The Marshal d'Hoquen­court, who since his Defeat had joyn'd with him, staid in the Rear-Guard, and going with some Officer to withdraw those Squadrons which were nighest the [Page 236] Enemy, he was retain'd by Monsieur le Prince, who sent to tell him, That he should be very glad to see him, and that he might advance upon his word. He did what Monsieur le Prince desired him, and advanced, accompanied only with some few Officers; and Monsieur le Prince had the Dukes de la Rochefou­cault and Beaufort, with two or three more who waited upon him. All their Conversation pass'd in Civilities, and in Raillery on Monsieur le Prince's side, and in Justification on the Marshal d'Hoquin­court's, concerning what had hapened to him that day, complaining extreamly of Monsieur de Turenne, though one may say with Justice, he did that day two Actions great and bold, whereof the Success was the cause of his own Safety, as also the preservation of the Court; for assoon as ever he knew that the Mar­shal d'Hoquincourt's Brigade, which was to joyn with him the next day, was at­tack'd. He march'd with a very few men to that place where Monsieur le Prince found him drawn up in Batalia, every minute expecting the rest of his Souldiers, exposing himself thereby to have been inevitably defeated, if Mon­sieur le Prince had march'd straight to [Page 237] him, instead of pursuing two or three Leagues, as he did those Troops that he had routed in the night; he preserv'd also that same day the rest of the Kings Army, with eminent Valour and Con­duct, when he turn'd upon Monsieur le Prince's six Squadrons who had pass'd unrank'd upon the Plain, by which Acti­on he stop'd an Army which would un­doubtedly have cut his quite off, if it could but have drawn up in the same Plain. The Kings Army being retreated, Monsieur le Prince, with his, took the way that leads to Chastillon, and went that Night and lodg'd in Quarters upon the Canal de Briare, near la Bruslery, and the next day arriv'd at Chastillon with all his Army, whereof two days after he left the Command to Clinehant and the Count de Tauanes, and went to Paris with the Dukes de Beaufort and de la Rochefoucault. This Journy prov'd of greater impor­tance than at that time he thought it was, for I am perswaded, that the only desire to go to Paris, and there to receive the general applause which his success in so dangerous a Journy, and in obtaining so great a Victory had merited, made him incline to Chavigny's Reasons, who real­ly endeavor'd to support himself by the [Page 238] Presence and Authority of Monsieur le Prince, & to possess the place, the Cardinal de Rets held with the Duke de Orleans: he hoped, as I said before, to make him­self not onely equally considerable to these two Princes, in perswading of them both that he was the real cause of their Union, but believing, that that was the easiest way to succeed in the project which he had laid with Faber; there­fore he press'd Monsieur le Prince to come to Paris, to oppose all the Attempts that Cardinal de Rets made upon Mon­sieur, as also to increase the good will of the Parliament, who had by an Act which they made, set a price upon Car­dinal Mazarin's head: Whatsoever e­steem Mounsieur le Prince had of Cha­vigny's Advice, he still followed it, he was receiv'd in Paris with so many Ac­clamations and Testimonies of publick Joy, that he believ'd he had no reason to repent himself of his Journy. Things remain'd in this state for some time, but the Army wanting Forrage about Cha­stillon and Mountargis, and not daring either to come nigher, or go farther off from Paris, it march'd to Estampes, where they believed it might remain some considerable time with surety, and [Page 239] abundance of all things. The Duke de Nemours was not cur'd of his Wounds, when news was brought to the Prince of Condy, that some of the Kings Troops, commanded by the Count de Moissens, and the Marquis de St. Mesgren, Lieute­nant Generals, were marching from St. Germains to St. Cloud, with two pieces of Canon, with design to beat off a hun­dred men of the Regiment de Condy, which had Fortified themselves upon the Bridge by breaking down one Arch of it; this news made Monsieur le Prince get on Horseback, and go thither with only those who were about him. The noise of which being spread through all Paris, all the People of Quality came after him to Boulogne, who were follow'd by eight or ten thousand Citizens in Arms. The Kings Forces contented with Firing some few Shots with their Canon, retired without ever attempting to make them­selves Master of the Bridge. The Prince of Condy, who was resolv'd to make an advantage of this good disposition of the Citizens, having given them Offi­cers, marched them to St. Denis, where he heard there was a Garrison of Two hundred Swisses: He arrived there just a­bout the closing in of the Day: Those [Page 240] who were in the Town, having taken the Alarm, instantly yielded it up to the Besiegers.

Monsieur le Prince being in the mid­dle of Three hundred Horsemen, con­sisting of those he believ'd the bravest and most couragious of his Party, the Swisses indeavored to defend some Bara­cado's in the Town, but being too vio­lently press'd, they retreated into the Abby, where two hours after they yield­ed themselves Prisoners of War: There was no manner of rudeness offered, ei­ther to the Inhabitants or the Convents. Monsieur le Prince retir'd to Paris, lea­ving Deslandes, a Captain in the Regi­ment de Condy, with Two hundred men in St. Dennis, which was retaken the same night by the Kings Forces, but Deslandes retir'd into the Church where he held out three days: though there was nothing in this Action very considerable in it self, by any Circumstance, yet it in­creased the Citizens affections to Mon­sieur le Prince; and they were so much the more liberal of their praises to him, as every one thought himself a witness of his Courage, and of the Danger which he believed he ran on that occasion. The [Page 241] Duke de Rohan, and Chavigny notwith­standing, still pursu'd their first Design; and took the advantage of so favourable a juncture, to make propositions of Peace: they believ'd that the Court would fulfill with all sincerity, those things which they knew Faber had only made overtures to them of to ingage them with the Cardinal, who indeavoured to make use of them, to draw the Duke of Orleans and Monsieur le Prince into that abysse of negotiations, whereof the bot­tom was never seen, and alwayes proved the means of his preservation, as it was the ruin of his enemies; to say truth, from the very first day of Monsieur le Princes Arrival, Intrigues, and Cabals, were re­ceived on every side; and whether he was weary of maintaining so laborious a War, or that staying at Paris had giv­en him both an inclination and a hope of Peace, at length he quitted for a time all other thoughts, but only to seek all means to conclude it as advantagi­ously as he had designed. The Duke de Rohan and Chavigny, gave him great hopes, to oblige him to lay upon them the care of this negotiation, and to per­mit them to go with Goulas alone to St. Germains, Loaded with his and the [Page 242] Duke de Orlean's interests: it was also pro­posed to send the Duke de la Rochefou­cault, and Monsieur le Prince desired it for many reasons, but he excused him in that he believed the Peace to be already concluded between Monsieur and the Court, by the secret meditation of Ca­vigni, without Monsieur le Princes hav­ing any share in it; or that it would not be then concluded, not only because Mon­sieur le Princes pretencions were great, but also that the Duke de Rohan and Chavigny would secure their own, whereof I have already spoken, preferring it before the rest. So the Duke de Rohan, Chavigny, and Goulas went to St. German with express command▪ not to see Cardinal Mazarin, nor treat of any thing with him: Monsieurs demands consisted Principally of the ex­pulsion of the Cardinal, but those of Monsieur le Prince was of greater extent, because having engag'd both the City & Parliament of Bourdeaux, & a great num­ber of persons of Quality in his party, he made many particular treaties with them, in which he engaged himself not to make any with the Court, without compre­hending their interests in the manner that I shall relate to you hereafter: there was no body doubted of these Gentelmens [Page 143] success in their Journey; besides there was no likelyhood that a man so capable as Chavigny was, and so knowing both in the Court, and the Cardinal by so much experience, would ingage himself in so weighty a Negotiation, (having managed it three Months) without be­ing assur'd of the Success. But this opini­on lasted not long, for they found by the return of the Deputies, that they had not only treated with Cardinal Mazarine, a­gainst the express order, that had been gi­ven them; but also in stead of demanding for the Prince of Condy, what was in their Instructions; they insisted Principally up­on establishing a necessary Councel, in form almost like that which the late King ordered just before he dyed; only with this addition, that they should perswade Monsieur le Prince to give his consent, that Cardinal Mazerin should go instead of himself with Chavigny, to treat about the generall Peace, and that he might return again into France, after it was concluded, as these Propositions were far both from the Interest, and intentions of Monsieur le Prince; he received them mightily dissa­tisfied with Chavigny, and resolved from thence forward, never to let him know of any of his secret Treaties with the Court: [Page 244] to which end he sent Gourvill with an in­struction framed in the presence of the Duchess of Chastillon, and of the Dukes de Nemours and Rochefoucault: the contents whereof were as follows; First that all the Negotiations which had passed that day, should be null; and that a positive an­swer was required to every point, I, or no; it being impossible to be more moderate upon any one; therefore as nothing but sincere dealing was intended, he would promise nothing that he would not justly perform, but then he would be secure of every thing that should be promised him. It was demanded that Cardinal Ma­zarin might instantly go out of the King­dome; and that he should retire to Bou­illon, and that the power of concluding the general Peace should be conferr'd up­on the Duke of Orleans and himself; and that they might immediately proceed in it, to which end he would yield to any condition that should be just and reason­able, and that he might send into Spain to agree the place of Conference; That the Council should consist of People not sus­pected, whom they shou'd consent to; that the high Treasurer should be discharged from his Office, and that the Treasury should be govern'd by faithful Officers; [Page 245] That all those who had serv'd either the Duke of Orleans, or the Prince of Con­dy, should be restor'd to their Estates and Offices, Governments, Pensions and Assignments, which should be secur'd upon good Funds▪ as also the Duke of Orleans, and the Princes; That the Duke of Orleans should be satisfied in what he should desire on his part, either for himself, or his friends; That all the Soldiers and Officers which had follow'd the Princes, should be treated in the same manner as they were before, and should be in the same esteem which they had ever been; That those things might be granted to the Town of Bourdeaux, which they had ask'd before the War, and for which they had sent Deputies to the Court; That they should yield that the Taxes might be moderated in the Country of Guienne, which should be sincerely consented to; That the Prince of Conty might be allow'd to treat with Monsieur d'Angoulesme about the Go­vernment of Provence, and that he might either give him his Government of Champagne in exchange, or sell it to whom he should think fit, to give him the Money for it; and for the surplus of the Money, that he should be assisted [Page 246] as it should be judg'd most convenient That the Government of Auvergne should be given to the Duke de Nemours; That permission might be given to the Presi­dent Viole to treat about the Place of President Au, Mortien, or of Secretary of State, and that they should give their Words that he should be the First; and that a Sum of Money should be or­der'd that minute to make the recom­pence more easie, that the Breviat which the Duke de la Rochefoucault demanded like that of the Messieurs de Boulogns, and de Guimené might be granted him, as also the Government of Angoulmois, and of Xaintonge, or else the sum of Six score thousand Crowns given him, be­sides Commission to treat for the afore­said Governments, or any other what­soever; That a Breviat should be given to the Prince de Tarante, concerning his Rank, the same as that of Monsieur de Bouillon's; and that he shou'd be put into immediate possession of it, and that they should make him satisfa­ction for all the losses he had sustained by the taking and raising of Tailleb [...]urg, according to the estimation that he should give in; and that Mon­sieur Marsin, and Monsieur de Dognoin [Page 247] should be Mareschals of France, that a Patent for Duke should be given to Monsieur de Montespan; That the Duke de Rohan should be restor'd to his Govern­ment of Anjou, and Angers, and have the Bridge of Cé, as also the Jurisdiction of Saumeurs deliver'd to him; That the Government of Berguerac, and St. Foy, should be given to Monsieur de la Force, and the Reversion to Monsieur de Chasteau-neuf; and also Monsieur le Marquis de Persan might be assur'd to be made Knight of the Order of the Holy Ghost the first vacancy; and that a Breviat might be given him to that pur­pose, as also the sum of Fifty thousand Crowns to buy him a Government; to which was added a promise to lay down Arms, and unfeignedly consent to all the advantages that Cardinal Mazarin should propose for his Justification; and for his return in three Months, or till such time as Monsieur le Prince having agreed upon every particular of the ge­neral Peace with Spain, being upon the place of Conference with the Spanish Ministers, should send word that the Peace was ready to Sign, which he would defer Signing till Cardinal Ma­zarin was return'd.

[Page 248]The Cardinal gave ear to these Pro­positions of Gourville, and appear'd ve­ry willing to consent to them, either be­cause he really intended to agree to what was propos'd, or because he was willing to have the obstacles seem to come from some other; but the Duke de Bouillon, who was in fear that the Peace should be made without his ha­ving the Dutchy d'Albret, which was to be given up to him by Monsieur le Prince, as part of his satisfaction for Se­dan, told the Cardinal, that since he be­lieved it just to oblige the Friends of Monsieur le Prince, who were his sworn Enemies, he could not but think it yet more reasonable to do justice to those (who had assisted him, and maintain'd his interest against Monsieur le Prince, and against whom he could find nothing to say) rather than to the Dukes de Ne­mours, and la Rochefoucault, Marsin, and others. Therefore for his part he thought that having so considerable an Interest, as the Dutchy d'Albret, nothing ought to be concluded without obliging Monsieur le Prince to satisfie him concerning that. With whatsoever intention the Duke de Bouillon offer'd these Reasons, they stopt [Page 249] the Cardinals proceedings, who sent Gourville to Monsieur le Prince to raise this difficulty; but though all great affairs are subject to delays, this Peace had more reason than any other, because it not only depended upon so many dif­rent interests, and regarded so many op­posite Parties, which endeavor'd to break it; but above all, because it was mana­ged by the Prince of Condy on one part, and Cardinal Mazarin on the other, who though they had sundry qualities di­rectly opposite, yet still they agreed in many things, and particularly to treat of all sorts of Affairs, with unlimited Pretentions; so that as soon as ones de­mand was granted them, they still be­liev'd it in their power to obtain more, and so much perswaded themselves that all was due to their good Fortune; that the ballance could not hang long enough in a just poise betwixt 'em, to give them time to resolve of a Treaty, and to conclude it; besides, many other obstacles were join'd to these; it was the interest of the Cardinal de Rets to hinder the Peace; because it being made without his having a hand in it, and the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Con­dy being united to the Court, he would [Page 250] be left expos'd without protection; then again, Chavigny enraged at the ill suc­cess of his Negoation, being exasperated both against the Court, and Monsieur le Prince, rather wish'd to see the Peace not effected, than to see it concluded by any other Expedients than his own; I cannot tell the conformity of Interests which was then between the Cardinal de Rets, and Chavigny, which made them act unitedly to oppose the Treaty of Monsieur le Prince, or if either of them moved the Duke of Orleans to act in it; but I have been since inform'd by one whom I ought to believe, that even at the time that Gourville was at St. Ger­mains, the Duke of Orleans sent to Car­dinal Mazarin by the Duke d'Anville, to forbid him to conclude any thing with Monsieur le Prince, for that he alone would have the merit of making the Peace with the Court; and that he was ready to submit himself to the King, and by that to give an example, which should be follow'd both by the People and the Parliament of Paris; There was appea­rance that a Proposition like this should be preferr'd before all the rest, and to say truth, whether it was for this reason, or whether it was for that which I have [Page 251] already said, of the natures of Monsieur le Prince, and the Cardinal, or, as I al­ways believ'd, that the Cardinal was ever against the Peace, and that he only made use of those Negotiations, as so many snares wherein to take his Ene­mies. In fine, things in a little time grew so confus'd, and were so far from coming to an issue, that the Duke de la Rochefoucault was against any of his Peoples having farther concern in a Negotiation which ruin'd his Party; therefore he charg'd Gourville to press the Cardinal to return a positive answer, the second time he went St. Germain, with order to return no more thither. Besides, though the Prince of Condy himself was never constantly fixt for a Peace, he was continually oppos'd by the different Interests of those, who en­deavoured to divert it; the Enemies of Cardinal Mazarine thought themselves not sufficiently reveng'd, if he stay'd in France, and Cardinal de Rets, judg'd that an Agreement with the Prince of Condy would take away from him all the esteem he was in, and expose him to his Enemies; but on the contrary a War could not last, but that it must either destroy Monsieur le Prince, or force [Page 252] away Cardinal Mazarin, and then he alone possessing the Duke of Orleans, might by that means make himself con­siderable at Court, and from thence make his advantage. On the other side the Spaniards offer'd the Prince of Condy whatsoever they thought most capable to tempt him, exposing all to pro­long the civil War: his nearest Relati­ons, his Friends and menial Servants buoy'd up this Sentiment by their par­ticular Interests. In fine, all was divi­ded into Cabals, either to make the Peace, or continue the War, the most refin'd and most judicious Reasons in Politicks were by both Parties set in view of Monsieur le Prince, to incline him to their side. When Madam de Chastillon invited him to a desire of Peace by a more pleasing means, she believed that so great a good ought only to be the ef­fect of her Beauty, and adding Ambiti­on to the design of a new Conquest, en­deavoured at once to deprive the Court of the advantages of the Negotiation, and triumph over the Heart of Monsieur le Prince; neither were these the only reasons which produced these thoughts, the Interests of Vanity and Revenge, had no less a part in them, the emula­tion [Page 253] which Beauty and Gallantry often brings forth amongst Ladies, had caus'd an extream hatred between the Duchess de Longueville and Madam de Chastillon; which though for a long time they had hid, at length it broke out openly on both sides, and Madam de Chastillon not only extended her Victory to oblige Mon­sieur de Nemours to break off all Com­merce with the Duchess de Longueville with the most exasperating and publick circumstances, but endeavoured also to take from her the knowledge of all affairs, that she alone might govern the Actions, and Interests of Monsieur le Prince: The Duke de Nemours, who was deeply en­gaged with her, approv'd of this De­sign, for he thought that he could go­vern Madam de Chastillons behaviour towards Monsieur le Prince, and that she being able to inspire him with what­soever sentiments she pleas'd, he should govern Monsieur le Prince by the power he had over her. The Duke de la Roche­foucault had at that time a greater share than any one in the secrets of Monsieur le Prince, and was also in a strict Bond with the Duke de Nemours, and Madam de Chastillon; he knew how irresolute the Prince of Condy was about the Peace, [Page 254] and apprehending what really after­wards came to pass, that the Spanish, and the Duchess of Longueville's Cabals would join together to remove Mon­sieur le Prince from Paris, where he might daily treat without their participation, he also believ'd that Madam de Chastillon's design would remove all obstacles to the Peace, for which reason he perswaded Monsieur le Prince to join with her, and to make her a Present of Merlou; he also work'd her to manage Monsieur le Prince, & the Duke de Nemours in such a manner, that she might keep them both, and make the Duke de Nemours approve of that League, which he ought not to suspect, since nothing was to be acted that he was not to be inform'd of, and no other use to be made of it than to advance him to the principal management of Af­fairs; this design being fram'd and guided by the Duke de la Rochefoucault, he had almost the entire disposition of it; and thus all four finding equally such advantage in it, it had at length without doubt found its propos'd suc­cess, had not fortune oppos'd it by so many unavoidable accidents: Never­theless Madam de Chastillon appear'd at Court with all the lustre, that her new [Page 255] Trust could give her; she went thither with so general a Power to dispose of Monsieur le Prince's Affairs, that it was rather taken for an effect of his com­plaisance to her, and a desire to flatter her vanity, than for any real intention of accommodation; she return'd to Pa­ris with mighty hopes, but the Cardinal drew solid advantages from this Nogo­tiation, for he gained time by it, and in­creas'd the suspition of the opposite Ca­bals, as also delay'd Monsieur le Prince at Paris, till such time as he should lose Guienne and his other Holds; and that the Kings Army commanded by the Ma­reschals de Turenne and d'Hoiquincourt, kept the Field, whilst his was retir'd in­to Estampes; neither did it remain long there without receiving a considerable loss; for the Mareschal de Turenne's be­ing inform'd, that Madamoiselle passing by Estamps had desir'd to see the Army drawn out, march'd straight thither, and arriv'd at the Suburbs before the Enemy, who was lodg'd in it, return'd, and was in a condition to defend their Quarters, which was forc'd and plunder'd, the Mareschals de Turenne and d'Hoiquincourt retir'd back to their Camps, after having kill'd 1000 or 1200 Men of the Princes [Page 256] choicest Troops, besides many which they carried away Prisoners.

This success increas'd the hopes of the Court, and gave birth to the design of the Besieging Estampes and all the Army that was in it; and how difficult soever this Enterprize appear'd, it was resolv'd, on, for their hopes depended upon dis­heartned Soldiers, and divided Leaders the Towns being open in several places, and every where ill fortifi'd and impos­sible to receive relief from any but the Duke de Lorrain, with whom the Court believed they had made an Agreement; but for all this, in my opinion, they con­sider'd less the event of the Siege, than the Reputation so great an Enterprize wou'd give to the Kings Forces; and the truth of it was, that though they still continu'd their Negotiations with such eagerness, and that Monsieur le Prince so extremely desir'd a Peace, it could not be reasonably expected, till such time as the success of Estampes had regulated the Propositions; In the mean while the Adherents to the Court made use of this conjuncture to gain the People, and to make a Party in the Parliament; and although the Duke of Orleans appear'd very firmly united to Monsieur le Prince, [Page 257] he had nevertheless daily Conferences in private with the Cardinal de Rets, who was bent to destroy whatever resolutions Monsieur le Prince perswaded him to take. The Siege of Estampes still conti­nued, and although the Kings Army made no considerable progress, the noise that it made through the whole Kingdom was advantagious to the Court, inso­much that Paris expected the Succors of the Duke of Lorrain, as the only preser­vation of the Party; he arriv'd at length, after so many delays, and after having given suspition of his Agreement with the King; but his presence soon put a stop to that opinion for a time, and he was receiv'd with all marks of joy; his Army was encamp'd near Paris, and all other dis­orders were suffer'd without complaints.

At first there was some coolness between Monsieur le Prince and him for place, but seeing that Monsieur le Prince was reso­lute, he declin'd his Pretentions, so much more easily, in that he had only rais'd this dispute to gain time to make a secret Treaty with the Court, to raise the Siege of Estampes without hazarding a Battel, which was concluded by the Duke of Lorrain, without ever acquain­ting either Monsieur, or Monsieur le [Page 258] Prince with it; the first news they heard of it was that their Troops were march'd out of Estampes, and that the Kings Army was remov'd from thence, and the Duke de Lorrain retir'd into Flanders, pretending that he had fully perform'd the King of Spain's Orders, and also the Word that he had given to Monsieur: This news surpriz'd every body, and made Monsieur le Prince re­solve to join his Forces; fearing lest the Kings Army shou'd fall upon him in his march, he left Paris with 12 or 15 Horse, exposing himself to be taken by the Ene­mies Party, and having join'd his Army, he march'd to Ville-juif, where they quarter'd, and from thence pass'd to St. Cloud, where they remain'd, in which time not only the Harvest was destroy'd, but also most of the Houses thereabouts were reduc'd to Ashes.

With which proceedings the Parisians were so dissatisfied, that Monsieur le Prince had like to have receiv'd fatal marks thereof in the Battle of St. Antoine.

Nevertheless Gaucourt had secret Con­ferences with the Cardinal, in which he declar'd that a Peace was desired with all earnestness, and went so far as to agree upon the principal conditions, but he so [Page 259] much insisted upon those lesser points, that he became suspected, not to intend to treat; this new uncertainty gave new strength to all the Cabals, and an appearance of truth to all the reports that were spread amongst the People▪ Paris was never in so great an agitation, Monsieur le Prince's thoughts were never so divided, which to resolve of, Peace, or War: The Spa­niards endeavoured to remove him from Paris, to hinder the Peace, and the Duchess de Longueville's friends contri­buted all they could with the same de­sign, to remove him also from Madam de Chastillon, and likewise Madamoiselle aim'd at the same mark with the Spani­ards, and the Duchess de Longueville, for on one side she desir'd the War should continue, to be reveng'd upon the Queen, and the Cardinal, who had opposed her being married to the King; and on the other, in hopes to force Monsieur le Prince to leave Madam de Chastillon, that she might have as great a share both in his esteem, and trust, as also to win him, who was most in her affection. She rais'd Men in his Name, and promis'd to furnish him with Money to levy more.

[Page 260]These Promises joyn'd to those of the Spaniards, and the Artifices of the Du­chess of Longueville's Friends, remov'd from Monsieur le Prince the thoughts which he had of a Peace; but that, which in my opinion put him the farthest from it, was not only the little confidence he could repose▪ in the Court afterwards, but (what can hardly gain belief of one of his Quality, and Merit) a vast de­sire of imitating the Duke of Lorrain in many things, and particularly in his me­thod of treating his Soldiers, and Offi­cers; he was perswaded that if the Duke de Lorrain being robb'd of his Country, and with so much less advantage than he had, could make himself so conside­rable by his Army and Money, he who had such infinite Qualities above him, would make a progress proportionable, and in the mean time might live entirely conformable to his own humour.

This is the real motive which induc'd Monsieur le Prince to join with the Spa­niards, and for which he renounc'd all that his Birth and Services had acquired him in the Kingdom, though he laboured to hide it as much as was possible, by shewing still the same desire for the Peace, which was still pursued with [Page 261] fruitless Treaties: The Court went to St. Denis, the Mareschal de la Ferté join'd the Kings Army with those Troops which he had march'd out of Lorrain; Mon­sieur le Prince's Army, weaker than the least of the two Bodies which oppos'd him, till then had maintain'd the Post of St. Cloud, that he might make use of the Bridge to shun an unequal fight; but the arrival of the Mareschal de la Ferté enabled the Kings Army to divide, and attack St. Cloud on both sides, having made a Bridge of Boats about St. Denis, which made Monsieur le Prince resolve to leave St. Cloud with design to gain Charenton, and to post himself in that neck of Land, where the River of Marne joins with the Seine; he march'd his Army the first day of July about the close of the evening, hoping to reach Charenton before the Enemy could over­take him; he march'd by the Queen-Mothers Court, and by the back-side of the Town from the Port St. Honoré to the Port St. Antoine, to come in there in­to the Road to Charenton.

He would not ask to pass through Paris, for fear it should be refus'd him, and a refusal at such a time as that, wou'd have made the ill condition his [Page 262] Affairs were then in, too visible, besides he fear'd that if he should obtain it, his Army might scatter in the Town, and would not be got out again if there were occasion; The Court was immediately inform'd of his march, and Mareschal Turenne went the very minute with all his Forces to attack him, and to stop him, till such time as the Mareschal de la Ferté, who was following, had time to arrive. In the mean while they carried the King to Charonne, that there, as up­on a Theatre, he might be present at an Action, which in all appearance, would be the inevitable ruine of Monsieur le Prince, and the conclusion of all the dis­order, and which really prov'd one of the boldest, and most dangerous that was ever seen in War; where the great and extraordinary qualities of Monsieur le Prince appear'd with all advantage, and Fortune her self seem'd to court him in this action, and claim'd a share in the success, wherein both Parties extolled his Valour, and his Conduct, for he was attacked precisely at the time when he cou'd make use of those Trenches which the Citizens of the Fauxbourg de St. An­toine had thrown up to fortifie them­selves from being plundered by the [Page 263] Duke de Lorrain; he had only this place in all his march (which he endeavour­ed to reach) where he could hinder himself from being entirely defeated; some Squadrons of the Reer-guard were charg'd in the Fauxbourg de St. Martin, by those whom the Mareschal de Turenne had detach'd to amuse him, which re­treated disorderly within the Entrench­ment of the Fauxbourg de St. Antoine, where he was drawn up in Battle.

He had scarcely time enough for this, and to set men to maintain all the places by which he might be attacked, he was forced to place the Baggage upon the Ditch de St. Antoine, because it was refus'd entrance into Paris, which also had pilla­ged some of his Wagons, for the Court-Party had so managed it, that they stood as Neuter, and Spectators of the event.

The Prince of Condè kept still about him all his own Servants, and all the Gentlemen of Quality that had no Com­mand, who were about thirty or forty in number. The Mareschal de Turenne prepared to attack him with all the haste, and confidence of a Man that believ'd himself secure of Victory; when the Men whom he had detach'd were about [Page 264] yards from the Entrenchment, Monsieur le Prince sallied out with the aforenam'd Squadron, and with his Sword in his hand, entirely defeated the Battallion that came to attack him, and took some of the Officers Prisoners, carried off their Colors, and retired again into his Re­trenchment.

On the other side the Marquis de St. Mesgrin attack'd the Post that was de­fended by the Count de Tavannes Lieu­tenant-General, and Langes Mareschal de Camp, where the resistance was so great, that the Marquis de St. Mesgrin, seeing his Infantry decline, transported with heat and passion, advanced with the Kings Light-Horse, into a narrow Street, which was barricado'd, where he was kill'd with the Marquis de Nan­toüillet, le Fouilloux, and others; Manch­ing was there wounded, whereof he dy'd some time after.

They continu'd the Attacks on both sides with extream vigor, and the Prince of Condy charg'd the Enemy a second time with the same success that he did the first; in what place soever he went, though he found himself in the middle of Fire and Arms, he gave Orders with an eveness of Mind; which is so rare, [Page 265] and yet so necessary in a time like that: At length the Kings Army forc'd the last Barricado of the rue due Cours, which leads to the Bois de Vincennes, and was entred into Battalia as far as the Market House of the Faux-bourg St. Antoine, when the Prince de Condè made a violent Sally, charg'd them, and cutting in pie­ces all that withstood him, regained that Post, and beat off the Enemy, who was nevertheless Master of a second Bar­ricado, which was in the Street that leads to Charenton, about forty yards beyond a large open place, which is just by the same Street: The Marquis de Noüailles having possess'd himself of it, the bet­ter to defend it, made holes through the houses round about, and set Musque­teers in them, as also in all those Houses of the Street through which they must pass to come at the Barricado. The Prince of Condy had a design to dislodge them with his Infantry, and to beat them off with a greater violence, which was really the way he ought to have taken; but the Duke de Beaufort not being one of the nearest to Monsieur le Prince, and growing dissatisfied that the Duke de Nemours was always so, press'd Monsieur le Prince to attack that Barricado with [Page 266] his Foot already weary, & repuls'd, which instead of marching toward the Enemy, lean'd themselves against the Houses, and wou'd advance no farther.

At the same time a Squadron of the Flemish Troops, which was posted in a Street, one end whereof came to the cor­ner of the aforementioned open place, on the Enemies side, not being able to stay there any longer for fear of being cut off when the Enemy should be possess'd of the adjoining Houses, came in­to the middle of it. The Duke de Beaufort believing it to be the Enemy, propos'd to the Dukes de la Rochefou­cault and Nemours, who were just come thither, to go and charge them; so they gathering together, the Voluntiers made towards them, and expos'd themselves to no purpose amidst all the firing both from the Barricado, and from the Houses round about, for coming nearer, he knew 'em to be of his own Party; but at the same time perceiving an astonishment amongst those that defended the Barricado, the Dukes de Nemours, Beaufort, and de la Rochefoucault, and the Prince de Marcil­lac push'd at it, and beating the Enemies from it, they seiz'd it, and kept it their own selves, when the Infantry which [Page 267] was commanded wou'd not assist them. The Prince de Condy maintained his ground in the Street, with only some of his friends who follow'd him. In the mean time the Enemy, who were pos­sess'd of all the Houses in the Street, see­ing the Barricado kept only by four, had undoubtedly retaken it, had not the Prince of Condy's Squadron oppos'd them; but their being no foot to hinder the Enemies shooting from the Win­dows, they began to fire upon them from every side till they had made them quit the Barricado. The Duke de Nemours for all his Arms, received thirteen wounds, the Duke de la Roche­foucault receiv'd also a Musket-shot up­on his Face a little above the Eyes; which blinding him, oblig'd the Duke de Beaufort, and the Prince de Marcil­lac to retreat to carry off the two wounded; they were pursued, and the Prince de Condy advancing to succor them, and give them time to get on Horseback, left the Post again to the Kings Forces, which just before he had gained from them: Almost all that fol­low'd them into the open place were either kill'd or wounded. Amongst the rest there fell the Marquis de Flame­rin, the Count de Castres, and Bercennes, [Page 268] Captain of the Duke de Rochefoucault's Guards, the number of the Officers dead and wounded on each side were so great, that each party appear'd rather to think of repairing its losses, than of attacking the Enemy: but this pause prov'd nevertheless more advantageous to the Kings Forces, for though they had been repuls'd as of­ten as they assaulted, nevertheless the Mareschal de la Ferté, marched with all speed, and prepar'd to make a new at­tack with his Army, which was fresh and entire, when the Parisians, who till then had been only spectators of so great an Action, declared themselves for Mon­sieur le Prince; they had been so blind­ed on one side by the Policy of the Court, and on the other by that of the Cardinal de Rets, as also being so much perswaded that Monsieur le Prince had concluded the particular Peace without including their Interests, that they con­sider'd the beginning of this Action to be done with Cardinal Mazarin's consent▪ & the Duke d'Orleans confirmed them in that opinion by giving no Orders in the Town to succor Monsieur le Prince; the Cardinal de Rets was always about him, who still encreased the trouble, and ir­resolution of his mind, by framing diffi­culties [Page 269] in every thing he undertook:

On the other side the Port de St. An­toine was guarded by a Regiment of the Citizens, the Officers whereof being gain'd by the Court, hinder'd every bo­dy almost from either going out, or coming in. In fine, there were but few in the Town that inclin'd to receive Monsieur le Prince into it; when Ma­damoiselle, by using all her Power with her Father, at length drew him from that Lethargy, in which Cardinal de Rets still held him, and prevailed upon him so far as that she carried his Orders to the Town-house for the Citizens to take up Arms, and at the same time commanded the Governor of the Bastille to fire the Cannon upon the Kings Army; then go­ing her self also to the Port de St. An­toine, she dispos'd the Citizens not only to receive Monsieur le Prince and his Ar­my, but even to sally out, and skirmish till such time as his Army was enter'd in; but what yet mov'd the People more in favour of Monsieur le Prince, was to see so many Persons of Quality brought in, either wounded, or dead; the Duke de la Rochefoucault endeavour'd to make the best of this opportunity to serve his Party; for though his Wound had al­most [Page 268] blinded him, he rode from the Place where he had been hurt to the Fauxbourg St. Germain, exhorting the People to succor Monsieur le Prince, and from that time to be more sensible of their designs, who had accus'd him of treating with the Court, which then work'd the effect that was desired; for Paris was never more inclin'd to serve Monsieur le Prince than it was at that time.

In the mean while the noise of the Cannon from the Bastille made Cardi­nal Mazarin conceive two very different opinions; for at first he thought that Paris had declar'd it self against Mon­sieur le Prince, and that he was going at once to triumph over the City, and his Enemy; but when they saw that they fir'd upon the Kings Forces, he sent Or­ders to the Mareschal of France to re­treat, and return to St. Denis.

This was one of the most glorious days of Monsieur le Prrinces life, his Valour and Conduct never had a greater share in his Victory; and one may say, that so many Persons of Quality never led on a smaller number of Men. All the Colors they took were hung up in Nostredame Church, and all the Officers, that were [Page 271] taken Prisoners, were dismiss'd upon their Parols; The Negotiations for Peace still continu'd, and each Cabal was la­bouring either to make, or hinder it ac­cording to its Interest; as for Monsieur le Prince, and the Cardinal, they were neither of 'em resolved whither they should conclude it or no. Monsieur de Chavigny in all appearance was now well again with Monsieur le Prince; it was hard to say what opinion he was of till then, because his natural fickleness made him every day directly opposite to the other; for when he was in hopes to de­stroy the Cardinal, and re-enter into the Ministry of Affairs, his Counsel was to push things to the last extremity, but would have them beg a Peace upon their knees, as often as he imagined that his Lands would become the Prey of the Soldiers, and his Houses raz'd; but still in this juncture he was of the same opinion with the rest, which was to make the best of the good dispositi­on of the People, and to propose to them a meeting at the Town-house, to resolve that Monsieur le Prince should be made Lieutenant-General of the Crown of France, and to associate themselves inseparably to remove the [Page 272] Cardinal; and that the Duke de Beau­fort should be made Governor of Paris instead of Monsieur de l' Hospital, and Broussel-Provost des Marchant in the place of Monsieur de Febure; but this Assembly, wherein it was believ'd would consist the security of the Faction, prov'd one of the principal causes of its ruine▪ by a violence, that in all probability might have destroyed every Man that was in the Hostel de Ville, and have made Monsieur le Prince loose all the advanta­ges that he had gained in the Battel of St. Antoine.

I cannot say who was the Author of so pernicious a design, for all disown'd it alike; but when they were met in the Town-house, there gathered together a company of all sorts of People in Arms, which came crying to the very doors, That not only all things should pass ac­cording to the intention of Monsieur le Prince, but likewise that all those who depended upon the Cardinal Mazarin, should that very minute be delivered up. This noise at first was only lookt upon as an ordinary effect of the impatient Rabble; but seeing the Crowd and Tumult increase, and that even the Sol­diers and Officers bore their part in the [Page 273] Sedition, and at the same time began to set the Doors on fire, and shoot in at the Windows; all that were within, be­lieved themselves alike utterly lost.

Many to evade the danger of the Fire and Shooting, exposed themselves to the fury of the People; there were many kill'd of all sorts, and of both Parties, and every one believed that Monsieur le Prince sacrificed his Friends, that he might not be suspected, to have destroy'd his Enemies; not the least part of this business was laid to the Duke d'Orleans charge, and all the hatred for it fell upon Monsieur le Prince, though I believe they both made use of the Duke de Beaufort to injure those that were not of their Parties, but in reality, not one of them had the least design to hurt any body; Howsoever it was, they presently appeas'd the Disorder, but could not blot out the impression that it had made in the Peoples Minds.

It was propos'd afterwards to esta­blish a Council which should consist of the Duke d'Orleans, the Prince of Con­dy, the Chancellor of France, and of all the Princes, Dukes and Peers, Mares­chal of France, and the general Officers of the Party, where two Presidents au [Page 274] Monsieur should have always place from the Parliament, and the Provosts of the Merchants from the City, to judge de­finitively in all Cases Military, and Civil.

This Council increas'd instead of di­minishing the Disorder by the pretenti­ons of taking place in it, and the Con­sequences of it were at length as fatal, as those of the Assembly in the Town-House; for the Dukes de Nemours and Beaufort, either had not so clearly for­got their pass'd Differences, but that they still bore a grudging to each other, or else by the Interests of some Ladies, quarrelled for Precedence in the Coun­cil, and fought on Horseback, where the Duke de Nemours was kill'd by the Duke de Beaufort his Brother in Law; his Death moved both compassion and sorrow, in all who knew him, and even the Publick had reason to lament him: for besides his great and eminent Qua­lities, he contributed all that was in his power to the concluding of a Peace, for he and the Duke de la Roche Fou­cault, had renounced all the advantages that Monsieur le Prince had engaged to obtain for 'em in the Treaty, that it might be so much the more easily con­cluded, but the Death of one, and the [Page 275] Wound of the other gave the Spaniards and the Dutchess of Longueville's Friends all the opportunity they could desire; They no longer apprehended, that the Propositions for inviting Monsieur le Prince into Flanders would be disputed, they dazled him with hopes, and now Madam de Chastillon appear'd less char­ming, because there was no longer that illustrious Rival to combat in her Af­fection, nevertheless he did not at first reject the propositions of Peace, though he still took his measures for War; he offer'd to the Duke de la Roche Foucault the Duke de Nemours's Command, which he could not accept, because of his hurt, so he gave it afterwards to the Prince de Tarante.

Paris was then more divided than ever, the Court daily gaining one or other of the Parliament, or People; the Slaughter, which hapned at the Town-House, appeared horrible to all Men: the Army durst not keep the Field, and its quartering in Paris increas'd their dissaffection to Monsieur le Prince: in fine, his Affairs were reduced to the worst estate they could be in, when the Spaniards equally desiring to hinder either his Ruine or Advancement; that [Page 276] they might prolong the War, ordered the Duke de Lorrain to march a second time to Paris, with a body of Men con­siderable enough not only to put a stop to the Kings Forces, but to invest them in Villenuefue St. George; they also sent word to Paris, that the Enemy should be constrain'd either to give Battle, or to die for hunger in their Camp.

This hope flatter'd Monsieur le Prince, who thought to draw great advantages from the event of that action, though the truth of it was, the Mareschal Tu­renne wanted no Provisions, and had al­ways liberty to retreat to Melun, with­out hazarding a Battle, which he did, without finding any resistance; whilst the Duke de Lorrain was at Paris, and Monsieur le Prince lay sick of a violent Fever, at the same time Palluau joyn'd the Forces under his command with the Kings Army, after having taken Mon­trond, in which the Marquis de Persan had been block'd up from the beginning of the War by a small number of Men, commanded by the Count de Palluau; but the Garison growing weak, they as­saulted it, and took it with less resistance, than could be expected from so gallant [Page 277] Men, in one of the strongest places in the World, the loss whereof ought so much the more to touch Monsieur le Prince, in that it happen'd by his neg­ligence, since that in the time when the Kings Army lay toward Campaigne, he might easily have reliev'd Montrond, whereas his Army ruining all about Pa­ris, so much increas'd their hatred to him.

Though Monsieur le Prince's Distem­per was violent, yet it was less fatal to him, than to Monsieur Chavigny, who one day having been very eager with Monsieur le Prince about clearing some things, went back sick of a Fever, whereof he dy'd a few days after; his misfortunes ended not with his life, and death, which ought to put a period to hatred, rather seem'd to awaken it in his Enemies; they imputed to him all man­ner of Crimes, but particularly Mon­sieur le Prince complain'd, that he had given ear to the propositions of the Ab­bey Fouquet, without acquainting him with it (though he had writ to him to do it) and that he had promis'd to re­mit some part of the Articles, which he could not consent to; Monsieur le Prince also publish'd Copies of a Letter which [Page 278] he intercepted from the Abbey Fouquet, of which I have seen the original, where he sends word to the Court, that Goulas would certainly perswade the Duke d'Orleans to break with Monsieur le Prince, if he did not accept those con­ditions of Peace, which were then of­fer'd him, and some Copies that Mon­sieur le Prince gave with his own hand, he writ Chavigny's name in the place of Goulas, and so accus'd him of betraying him, without giving any other Proofs than the false Copies of that Letter writ­ten by the same Abbey Fouquet, with whom Monsieur le Prince treated every day, and gave Chavigny an account of it.

I can attribute so extraordinary, and so unjust a proceeding to no other cause, than the extreme desire that Monsieur le Prince had to continue the War, which being oppos'd by his Friends, made him alter his behaviour towards them, and wholly confide in the Spaniards; he be­gan from that time to take his measures, in such a manner, that he might depart with the Duke of Lorrain, and to say truth, his Conduct had made this Coun­cil so necessary, that he had now no other choice to make, for Peace was too [Page 279] generally desir'd at Paris for any one to live there securely who design'd to oppose it.

The Duke d'Orleans for his part, who had always desir'd the Peace, and who still apprehended the mischief that Mon­sieur le Prince's presence might draw up­on him, contributed the more willingly to remove him, in that he knew he should then have a greater liberty to make his particular Treaty.

Though all things were thus in confu­sion, they did not interrupt the ordinary course of the Negotiations, for at the time that Cardinal Mazarine left France, in hopes to root out all preten­ces of a Civil War, or to shew that Mon­sieur le Prince pursued other aimes than his removal, he sent Anglade Secretary to the Duke de Bouillon to the Duke de la Rochefoucault, and whether it was that he had really a design to treat, in hopes to make his return more easie, or that he design'd to draw some advantage by shewing the World that he desir'd a Peace; at length Anglade brought much more ample conditions, than any before, and almost the same that Monsieur le Prince had demanded, but they were also refus'd, and his destiny, which [Page 280] drew him into Flanders, never let him see the Precipice till it was no longer in his power to retire; at length he depar­ted with the Duke de Lorrain, after ha­ving in vain contrived with the Duke d'Orleans to oppose the Queens being received into Paris; but his reputation was not then in a condition to lye in ballance with the Court, he received or­ders to leave Paris the day that the King was to make his entry into it, which he instantly obeyed, that he might not be a witness of his enemies triumphs, and of the publick joy.