The history of the government of France, under the administration of the great Armand du Plessis, Cardinall and Duke of Richlieu, and chief minister of state in that kingdome wherein occur many important negotiations relating to most part of Christendome in his time : with politique observations upon the chapters / translated out of French by J.D. Esq.

The Sentence of death passed against the Sieur de Chalais.

THe King comitted the tryal of Chalais rather to a Chamber of Justice than any private Court not onely because he would have it expedited, it being improper to be delayed, but also to keep private the names of his Confiderates and their designs, which were dangerous to be published. His Majesty made the Lord keeper Marillac President, and appointed for Judges the Sieurs de Cusse and Brie Presi∣dents of the Parliament of Britain, The Sieurs Fonquet Marchant, Chriqueville Master of Request, and six Councellors of the Parliament of Britain. They met several times for instruction of the Processe. Chalais was often times examined, and having found by discourse with several people with whom he conversed, that there was full information made of all his wicked designs, he confessed not onely what was conteined in Monsieurs Declaration, but withal divers other things of which Lorrain accused him, and which were testified by Monsieur de Bellegarde, Le Sieur d'Effiat, by the Maust exempt, who had the charge of his person, and by one of the Life-guard, to all which he made no denial being brought face to face. He discovered the Major part of his Associates, he confessed that he would have carried Monsieur from the Court, that he would have perswaded him to take up arms, to hold Intelligence with the Governours and Hugonots, to make him∣self Master of Havre, Mets, and diverse other places of the Kingdome, and with∣al that being once at a Council, where the grand Prior and those of his faction were present, he proposed to them to take the Marshal d'Ornano out of prison, to poniard the Cardinal, and then to fly into Flanders; thinking that this once done, they might easily obtain all their desires. There were several other charges pro∣duced against him, and amongst others, certain letters from the Sieur de Moison the Kings Resident with the Countesse of Hanault in Germany, and of the Sieur de Vatembourg his Majesties Resident with the Emperour, by which they gave advice of the Marshal d'Ornano's conspiracy, of certain letters which Chalais had writ to the Dutchesse de Chevreuse in Biscay, in which there were discourses to the Kings dishonour, and also certain letters in characters to the same Lady, the Declaration of Monsieur the Kings Brother, and the informations of the Vice-Seneschal de Moulins.

These enermous crimes rendred him guilty and worthy of death, in regard he was the Kings Domestique Servant, and that he had the honour to be in a charge, which obliged him to be alwayes near his Majesties person. Justice could not save him, and the several relapses, which proceeded from the fiercenesse and ambition of his Spirit, tied up the Kings Arms from mercy. So this Chamber of Justice con∣demned him to be attainted and convicted decrimine lesae Majestatis, and to be be∣headed in the Befroy of Nantes; That his head should be put upon a spear over the

gate of Sanvetour, that his body should be quartered into four parts, and hung upon the four principal places of the City, that his posterity should be ignoble and of the Yeomantry; His houses raized, and that for the farther discovery of all his Abettors, he should be put on the Rack. But the Kings clemency, seconded by the affection, which he alwayes had for him, moderated the judgment, and onely commanded his head to be cut off, and that they should shew him the Rack, but not torture him.

They, who understood not, that the whole Intreague was discovered, or that there were sufficient poofs to convict him, were astonished, that he should so freely confesse those crimes, whereof he was accused, and withal some were so bold, to report, that he had confessed his crimes thus frankly, upon the Cardinals sug∣gestian, and perswading him to believe, that it was the onely means to obtain the Kings favour, the attainment of which, he gave him great cause to hope for. But there need no other proof for conviction of this lye, than the answer which Chalais made to the Sieurs des Cartes & de Lourie, Councellors of the Parliament, both persons of a clear reputation, and entrusted to exame him: after judgment had passed upon him; who having told him, that a report was spread abroad, that he had con∣fessed his crimes wherewith he was charged, partly through fear and partly through hope of life, conjured him, he being now shortly to render an account of his actions before God, to discover, if it were so or not, or if he had impeached any one in prejudice to the truth and his conscience; and had no other answer from him, but that, what he had said, was truth, excepting onely, where he had in anger spoke too hardly against Madam de Chevreuse, who had given him no reason for it▪ and that he should be very wicked and sencelesse to discover so many horrible crimes, to clear himself and charge innocent persons, and all for the satisfaction of another mans passion. This proof was so much the more certain, in regard it proceeded from the last passages of his life, in which he testified, that he would dispose himself by a true repentance, to obtain pardon from God of his faults. There was hereupon great reason to admire the Kings clemency, seeing that he might in justice imprison and punish diverse Grandees of the Court, whom he had accused, who were no small number; but his Majesty in stead of Publishing their design was pleased to punish all their great faults in one man onely, keeping some in prison and sending Madam de Chevreuse into Lorraine, not having ground to hope that she could live in the Court and not raise new broyles.