The lives of all the princes of Orange, from William the Great, founder of the Common-wealth of the United Provinces written in French by the Baron Maurier, in the year 1682, and published at Paris, by order of the French King ; to which is added the life of His present Majesty King William the Third, from his birth to his landing in England, by Mr. Thomas Brown ; together with all the princes heads taken from original draughts.

Philip William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, and Eleanor of Bourbon his Wife.

THis Prince was Godson to King Philip the Second; and when Prince William his Father was forced to take Arms in his own Defence, he studied in the Colledge of Lovaine: where, amongst other priviledges, it is not permitted to arrest any person upon what account soever. Notwithstanding this, Iohn Vargas, a Spaniard, accompanied with several Souldiers of the same Nation, took him thence by force, pursuant to an Order from the Duke of Alva; in spite of all the clamours of the Rector of the University, who complaining vehemently and in good Latin, that their Priviledges were violated, was answered by Vargas very incong•…•…uously in this Barbarous expression, Non curamus Pri∣vilegios vestros.

The Prince of Orange his Father complain∣ed of it by Publick Manifesto's, which set forth the Cruelty of the Spaniards; and pro∣ved that there were neither Laws nor Privi∣ledges, nor Innocence of Age, that could exempt any person from their Tyranny.

This poor Child was carried Prisoner into Spain at 13 years old, and shut up in a Castle in the Country, where he could have no Education, and where he pass'd the greatest part of his time in playing at Chess, which the Governour of the Castle had taught him. Towards the end of his Imprisonment, which was about 30 years, they allow'd him a little more Liberty.

This Prince was naturally Complaisant; his Body sat, and wore a very large Beard. Being carried young into Spain, he continued a Catholick; so the Spaniards, to justifie this unjust detention, said they had brought him thither only to preserve him from the poyson of Heresie, and to keep him in security from it. During his stay in Spain, the Captain who guarded him having spoke much to the disadvantage of Prince William his Father, this generous Son, push'd on by affection for his Father, which animated him to resent∣ment, took him about the middle, threw him out of the Window, and broke his Neck. He thought that so bold an action would bring him into trouble: and indeed upon this occasion there were different ad∣vices given in King Philips Council, but at last it was resolved to use mildness, and in∣dulgence in this encounter; Gabriel Osorio, a young Gentleman, who was present at the action, having reported it in favour of the Prince, said the Governour had been want∣ing in his respect towards him; so this death

was allowed to his just resentment. The Prince thought himself so obliged to Osorio, for this favorable representation which he had made of him, that he ever after kept him near his Person, and bestow'd on him a great many favours.

At last, King Philip II. either moved by so long a Captivity, or weary of punishing the pretended Iniquity of the Father upon the Son that was Innocent, or rather hoping that his deliverance would raise jealousies and divisions amongst the Brothers of the House of Orange, (as the escape of Monsieur de Guise, from the Castle of Tours, had caused amongst the heads of the League) re∣solved to release him, after so long an Im∣prisonment.

Then Count Maurice shewed upon this occasion, that he had a Soul that was whol∣ly disinterested, and let him enjoy all the Estates which were then in his Possession, as Breda and other places; and Madam the Countess of Holoc, his Sister by Father and Mother, used him very generously, making him a Thousand fair Offers, and rich Pre∣sents, upon his arrival in the Low Countries, where they two met at Cleves; but Count Maurice for fear of being suspected, satisfied himself with visiting him by an Envoy.

Prince Philip came into Flanders with Al∣bert the Arch-Duke, who a little while after sent him back to Spain, to bring the Infan∣ta Isabella (afterwards his •…•…se) into the

Low Countries, to whom her Father Philip gave in Marriage, the Soveraignty of the Seventeen Provinces; all Europe was very much astonished, that the Son of a man so odious to Spain, should be chose to execute so im∣portant a Commission, which could not be given him without a large Testimony both of Esteem and Confidence. He lived after∣wards in the Court of Brussels with the Arch-Dukes of Flanders: for the States of the United Provinces conceived such a distrust of him by reason of this employment, and be∣cause King Philip had reestablished him in his Lands, situated in the Spanish Low Coun∣tries, and in the Franche Comte, which had been confiscated; that they would never let him come to visit their Provinces, much less to continue there, though he had often testi∣fied his desire of it.

He never appeared there before the Year 1608, when the Truce with the Spaniards was almost concluded; and in this Journey he did nothing else but re∣concile the Princess Emilia his Sister, with his Brother Count Maurice, who would ne∣ver see her since her Marriage with Prince Emanuel of Portugal, because it had been con∣cluded without his consent.

He married Eleanor of Bourbon, the Sister of the deceased Prince of Conde, a very vir∣tuous Princess, by whom he had no Children. This Marriage with the first Princess of the Blood of France, put him in possession of his

Principality and Town of Orange, where the Sieur de Blacons who was Governor of it, as being a Kinsman of Monsieur the Marshal des Lesdiguierres, who commanded absolutely in Dauphiny, would not let him enter; but the Sieur de Blacons, had so many express or∣ders from the King to leave the place; and Monsieur des Lesdiguierres had an order to make them be precisely obeyed, that at last the Prince saw himself possess'd both of the Place and his Soveraignty; for before he had been look'd upon as an Enemy, having followed the Arch-Duke Albert when he was at Calais, and would make King Henry IV. raise the Seige of Amiens.

Prince Philip farther confess'd to his most intimate Friends, That in his whole Life he was never in so great pain and such strange uneasiness, as at the time when the battle of Newport was fought; for the Arch-Duke, who presumed very far upon his own Forces, think∣ing them as much superior in Valor, as they were in Number, to those of the Hollanders, had boasted, that if he had gained the day, he would send the two Brothers, Maurice and Henry Frederick, bound hand and foot as his Prisoners into Spain. So he sent out his Scouts on every side, kept all his Horses rea∣dy sadled and bridled in his Stable, and his People all in a condition to retire suddenly into some place of safety, thinking that his Brothers being lost, he likewise must perish by the Spaniards: so that during the whole

fight he was at his Prayers, and made ardent and continual Vows that his Brothers might obtain the Victory.

During the Truce, which was concluded for 12 years, he made a Voyage into Holland, in the Year 1615, with Madam the Princess his Wife, and they lived generally at Breda. My Father had the honor to see them, and converse with them often, and he was so far in both their good graces, that they helped him to overthrow a great many calumnies which had been invented to draw upon him the indignation of Monsieur the Prince of Conde, and several other Lords and great Per∣sons of the Kingdom, who during the Mi∣nority of the late King, had been several times in Arms upon diverse pretences; it hav∣ing been told them by my Fathers Enemies that during these commotions, he had acted with too much heat and violence against them, having caused several Vessels full of Arms to be seized, and stopped divers Offi∣cers from Holland, who would have come over to their Service; to all these disobliging actions were added some discourses to the disparagement of these great Persons, which my Fathers Enemies had likewise im∣puted to him.

These Princes had so far given credit to such Impostors, that not being able to seize upon my Fathers Person, they testified their resentment by sacking his Castle of Fountayne Dangé, near Chateleraut, which they pillaged

by their Troops; but Mary de Medices, the Queen Mother, who had knowledge of this disorder, being then at Poitiers, made him ample satisfaction; so that he had no further loss, than of several original Papers, and an∣cient Titles which were not in her Majesties Power to repair.

The King himself upon this occasion wrote to my Father as follows,

Monsieur de Maurier,

Then after this are two pages in Cypher.

AS for what remains, I am very sorry that your House has suffered for the Services you have rendred me. I will takecare of my Servants, and encourage them to do well by the Protection which I give both to their Persons and Estates. The Sieur de Puysieux may acquaint you with what I have ordered upon this account; continue only to serve me with care and fidelity as you do at present, and you shall receive both the Honor and the Profit of it. I pray God keep you Monsieur de Maurier, un∣der his holy and safe Protection. Written at Poi∣tiers, Jan. 20, 1616. Signed Lewis, and a little lower. Brulard.

The Queen likewise wrote him the follow∣ing Letter.

Monsieur de Maurier,

THE King, my Son, answers your dispatch by this Bearer, whose intentions I am assured you can so well execute, as they may produce the effect which we desire, pursuant to your good Coun∣sels; we confide therefore in your affection and care in this encounter; nor shall I add any further Com∣mand. You know likewise what considerations he has made you, for the House which you have lost in his Service; to which, if you continue firm with the same fidelity and diligence, you shall receive all possible Content and Advantage. I pray God keep you Monsieur de Maurier in his holy and safe Protection. Written at Poitiers the 20^th of Janu∣ary, 1616. Signed Mary, and a little lower Brulard.

Monsieur de Puysieux writ to him likewise, towards the end of a long dispatch.

AS to what concerns your Interests, and the loss and damage you have sustained in your House of Fontayne, I have not been wanting to represent it to their Majesties, in all those circumstances which were requisite; at which they are much con∣cerned, and do not intend that any of their Servants shall suffer upon account of the good services they have rendred them. They have ordered you 2000 Crowns for a Recompence of your loss, and would have you know, they do it upon that consideration; and have thought fit to encrease your Pension to 1000 Crowns a Year. I wish I could still testifie more to your content, the extream desire I have of

serving you, that you may know that I am truly your very humble, and very affectionate Servant,

From Poitiers, Jan. 20^th 1616.

Puysieux.

Prince Philip, and Madame his Princess, had so much goodness as to disabuse the Princes and Grandees, who had raised a war, which they called the War of the Henrys, be∣cause the greater part of the Heads of that Party were so called; Mounseir the Prince was called, Henry of Bourbon; Monsieur du Mayne, Henry of Lorrain; Monsieur du Longe∣ville, Henry of Orleans; and the Duke of Bo∣villon, Henry de la Tour. They told them all, that these injurious Speeches were pure in∣ventions to animate them against my Father. They acquainted them likewise that whilst he acquitted himself of his duty, he all along continued to preserve that respect which was due to them; That for what remained there was no reason to object it to him as a crime, to have served his Master faithfully. And that he could not without betraying his trust, and endangering his own ruine, but execute such orders as came to him from Court.

I remember that I saw them at our House in my infancy, and particularly the Princess, who had the goodness to make very much of us, and did my Father the favor to think fit, that one of my Sisters, who was born at that time, should have the honor of bearing her Name of Eleanor: She was presented in

Baptism by Prince Henry Frederick of Orange, who was her Godfather. This Daughter was married to the Baron de Mauzè, near Rochelle, Brother to the Marquess de la Ville∣dieu, and died without Children, in 1660. She was a Woman who painted the best in France, and writ the most correctly, whose Letters were all of a vigorous and masculine Stile, without one word that was unneces∣sary.

Prince Philip died at Brussels, in the begin∣ning of the Year 1618. He had the He∣morrhoids very much in•…•…amed; and Gregory a German Chyrurgeon having hurt him with the Syringe whilst he gave him a Clyster, a Gangreen insued, and it was impossible to save him. The Princess his Wife died like∣wise in the same Year.

After his Death, Count Maurice his Bro∣ther took upon him the Quality of Prince of Orange, and inherited his whole Estate; whereas before he was contented with the bare Title of Count.