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.

Prosecution of the Historie.

THe Abbot of Scaglia was one of the Prime men in this confederacie, by the Duke of Savoys means, who desirous to reveng himself, because the Treaty of Mouson had been concluded without his knowledge; made choise of him, as a person capable to embroyle things, who went about it the more passionately, because he was offended with the Cardinal, for having driven him out of France, for making of cabals, against the State. His first voyage was into Holland, to see how they stood inclined, and to draw them into the league. But meeting with some there who negotiated his Majesties affairs, he could make but little progress in it, his reasons not being seconded with that mony which theirs was. Thence he went for England where finding their minds according to his own desire, he still used his best endeavours to drive on the quarrel; which being once con∣cluded, The King of England sent about the month of April, the Lord Moun∣tagu, to take particular orders for execution of it, both in Savoy and Lorrain, and with the Duke of Rohan. It was needful to have some pretence to disquite Mon∣tagues Journy, and no one was thought more fit, then for him to pretend he was desperately in love with Madam de Cheurcuse then in Lorrain, with whom he was to discourse, that he might be fully informed of all the Factions at the French Court, the Chief of which kept a strict correspondence with her. So he began his Treaty with the nearest State first and that was Lorrain; besides Buckingham had a particular intercourse with Monsieur de Lorrain by Madam de Cheureuses means, and all that he might fully know the State of the Intreagues of France, He having found the Duke much exasperated, and that he only wanted an oportunity to let the King feel effects of his anger, he ingaged to him to enter upon France, at the same time that the English Fleet should land there: The Duke also gave him hopes, that his attempts should be the more considerable, in regard the Emperour, who he was assured did blow the coals of the French Faction, would send him Forces for his assistance being at last fully instructed, and having disposed the Duke of Lor∣rain to the doing whatever he could demand, he went into Languedoc, where meeting the Duke of Rohan, he gave him an accompt of their whole design, who being thus filled with hopes of potent succours from England, Savoy and Lorrain, he resolved to rise at the same time with the rest. Thence he went to Savoy where

the Duke animated against France, and particularly against the Cardinal, his only work there was to receive the Dukes assurances, of entring upon Dauphine as soon as the English put to Sea, to which purpose part of his Forces, were already upon their march: He presently dispatched one to the Duke of Rohan, to assure him of the assistance of six thousand foot, and five hundred Horse, exhorting him to be careful and courageous, for that their business was in a good condition. They fancied to themselves, that they did all ready cast that thunder bolt with which they ruined the whole Kingdom of France. Mountagu shortly after returns through France to Lorrain, but the King was not ignorant of his Intreagues, having had a continual watch upon him foure months together, that he might snap him upon his return, and learn more particularly, by the contents of his Papers, the quality of his negotiations; and accordingly he was very fortunatly taken upon the Borders of the Kingdom by the Marquis de Bourbonne, whom his Majesty had commanded to apprehend him. About him was found a little cabinet of papers which con∣tained the depth of his employment, and it was the happier for France, that he was so improvident to carry such papers about him, which could only serve to cause him be taken and put to great trouble, It was about the end of September that he was arrested and at first carried into Coffie. The Duke of Orleans hearing of it, took his part, made a great noise, about it, and fancying to himself that the En∣glish were landed in the Ile of Ree, that they and the Marshal de Thoyras were close ingaged together, he dispatched the Sieurs de Ville and de Leven-Court, one in the neck of t'other to the Queen Mother, then at Paris in his Majesty absence, to demand Mountagu of her; and in case she did refuse it, to let him know it within foure and twenty howers time, protesting withal, that he well knew how to carve his own satisfaction, for this injurie which he pretended had been done him, because he said Mountagu had been taken in his territories. He had at that time his Arms in his hand to second the English and Duke of Savoy, and at the same time that he send to the Queen Mother he resolved to besiedg Coffie, where Mountagu was then Prisoner, as also to assault divers other Frontier Towns, whilst his Majesty was busied in resisting the English: But the dilligence used in removing of Mountagu from Coiffie to Paris, together with the defeat given the English at Ree, as shall anon be declared, made him and the Duke of Savoy too, change their resolutions for that they found the King in a condition able to deal with both of them at once.

They were likewise told that in case they would oblige his Majesty to come out of Poictou, they might both of them pay the charges of his Journey: So the Duke of Savoy turned his design upon Genoua, which he thought to surprise, by a Stra∣tugem which had been contrived, and the Duke of Lorrain was contented to be quiet upon assurance given him, that Mountagu should be set at liberty, soon after his Majesties return to Paris.

His anger was like storms which after much noise, are quelled in a moment she resolved without any great intreaty, to expect the Kings return to Paris, whither he soon after arrived: Mountaigu's Person not being so considerable as his Papers, from which there had been discovered as much as was desired, his Majesty brought him out of the Bastile and delivered him up unto him reserving that punishment for another time which he had resolved for the Duke of Lorrain, and which he had deserved by his engaging in such intreagues. In the mean time the King was very glad to see in these Papers, that the Duke of Savoy knew of the English design to land in Ree, that he had promised to assist them; That he had perswade the Duke of Rohan to revolt; that he had assisted him with succours; That he had ingaged to fall upon the Dauphine with six thousand foot, and twelve hundred Horse. There was by them likewise discovered the design which the English had projected against Toulon, for the sending certain Ships pretending to trade in the Levant, and how the Duke of Savoy engaged to assist them with men and Gallies; That the same Duke had a hand too in that attempt which was afterwards made against Mont∣pelier; That he had intended to have surprised Brecon and Valence, and besides all

this there were amongst them divers bloudy Manifests against the King, his Ministers of State, and the Government of his affairs.