Colonel Ornano is made Prisoner in the Bastile, and thence sent to the Castle of Caen.

VVHilest the King negotiated these two important Treaties, and that the Car∣dinal gave a happy progress to them by his Counsails, the Marquis de la Vieville, who for the two last years had a great hand in the affairs, inform'd the King, that the Colonel d' Ornano, Governour to the Duke of Orleans, his Bro∣ther, took such a course as would in time trouble the State: The he had not for∣got any artifice to render himself agreeable to the Monsieur, and to gain such a power over his spirit, that the Honour which he had to be his Governour gave him a great power in his Family: That before he had gained the Mounsieurs af∣fection, he made his brags openly, that he would get the Mastery over him, to the intent he might raise his fortune to a higher pitch: That he began to sow di∣strusts in the mind of that Prince, and to extinguish the seeds of that Respect, Love and Obedience which Nature had given to him in creating him: That he took advantage of his good favour, to make himself feared; and that he vaunted to have done many things contrary to his duty, of which there were many particulars, and that he was observed to take great care to hold Intelligence with the Grandees of the Court. This was so much the more to be feared, for that the greatest misfortunes, and the most part of Civil Wars have no other begin∣ning, then misunderstandings of Princes against their Kings. The King thought good to impart it to the Cardinal, and having demanded his advice, of what was proper to be done in that occasion, he did not at all dissemble the danger, it would be, to permit this procedure of the Colonel: But the moderation of his spirit would not suffer him to carry him on to use such violent remedies as others did advise him to; but on the contrary, he represented to him, that the Laws of Mercy obliged Kings to pardon the first faults of Grandees, provided that they would confesse their errors, especially if there be a meanes to prevent any conse∣quence of danger: That the wisest are sometimes subject to miscarriages, and are also capable to repent them; and afterwards to doe great services: That the mo∣deration which many wise Princes have shewed towards such offenders, hath made them more faithful and affectionate then those who never committed any miscar∣riage at all: That this Repentance, was the more reasonably to be hoped, from the Colonel d' Ornano, who till then had lived within those limits, which ought to be observed by those of his condition, that his Father had given him a good ex∣ample, by those services which he had done until his death: That he had in∣deed forgot himself, but that his omission might be remedied which seemed to deserve pardon so much the more, in regard it is almost impossible for the greatest part of Mankind not to forget themselves, whenas fortune shall advance them into a place of Eminency: Moreover there was reason to hope, that the onely removing him for some time from the Monsieur would make him reassume his for∣mer countenance, would make him sensible of his fault, and he himself would easily be induced to judge that this embroyl wherein he had suffered himself to be surpri∣sed would undoubtedly precipitate him into utter ruin, instead of raising him into a higher condition.

This counsel was accompanied with a much Prudence as Moderation; and the Page  20King, who is ever carried of himself to follow the best advice, onely commanded the Collonel d' Ornano, to retire himself to his Government of Pont-Sainct-Esprit, untill he were permitted to return to the Court, but the Collonel being confident, that there were nothing but surmises and conjectures against him, had the boldness to refuse obedience to this order, perswading the Monsieur to keep him near him, and to procure from the King by any extraordinary instances, that he might not be forced from the Court. The Monsieur beseeched his Majesties with all possible af∣fection. However, the King gave him to understand, that his removal was very necessary to divert those mischiefs which he did not yet suspect, especially to preserve that neer friendship, wherein they had alwaies lived: So he had nothing to reply, and his Maiesty to punish the insolence, which had given so much boldness to the Collonel d' Ornano to resist his Majesties will, commanded him to be made Prisoner in the Bastile, and shortly after in the Castle of Caen.

The displeasure which he conceived at his Imprisonment opened his eyes, he lookt upon his fault with so much resentment, that there was not any protestation of fide∣lity left unmade by him, from his friends to his Majesty; and finally, having re∣course to the Cardinals intercession, that grand Minister, whose Counsels are ne∣ver accompanied with rigour, unless, when he is inforced by Justice, dealt so with his Majesty, that at last he procured his liberty. After the Marqness de la Ʋiville who had diverted him, had been so unhappy, his Majesty caused him to be brought out of Prison, and beleeving his Promises, restored him in his place with the Mon∣sieur; and withall, gratified him with a considerable sum: Whereas he, instead of making any advantage of his imprisonment, of his Liberty, or of the Benefits, which he afterwards received; threw himself upon the Intregues of women, and some Fantastical hair-brain'd young men, who put it into his head, that he was much redoubted on his Masters accompt, which made him conceive so great a vani∣ty, that he boasted in many places, that he would further those motions which some Grandees made to the Monsieur, to carry him from the Court, unless himself were made a Marshal of France.