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 English attempt the Relief of Rochel, but in vain.

THE English Fleet lay eight days at Anchor, without moving a Ship, they ha∣ving agreed upon the order of fight with those of Rochel, who had promised by their Deputies to sally out both by Sea and Land to second them; but they could find no opportunity to send them notice of it; besides the ill welcome they recei∣ved at their first entertainment, made them resolve to attempt nothing without a good information how they might escape those obstacles, which they understood were prepared ready for them in the Channel. For being come near about the Chef de Bay, they were received with a Volley of about fifty short from the Point there; forty of which did execution upon them; especially upon one, in which and English Collonel and divers of his Company were killed. This Battery indeed consisted of 9 peece of Cannon, and was raised there by his Majesties own direction, though contrary to the advice of his Generals.

But for all this, there was one Captain Braignant a Rochellois, in companie with them, who offered to attempt the passage in a small Boat with Oares, crosse the Kings Fleet, and over the Channels, to give those of the Town information of what orders they were to observe: The English approoved of it, who making use of the darkness of the night, went and mingled himself with those of the Kings Fleet under pretence of enquiring out for a Galliot, & so well played his part, that he got into Rochel. Presently the Rochellois made Bonefiers upon the tops of their Towers; The day following, they set up three Ensigns, one white, t'other red, & the third Blew; the English did the like. The King seeing of it, presently drew out his Armie into Battalia; which had bin during the eighth dayes last past much recuited, by the accesse of divers Volunteers, who had come in from all parts; and his Majesty had the pleasure to behold with what eagernesse, every one desired to be engaged with the Enemies: Hereupon the English Fleet seeing the Sea smooth, and their Ships mooved with a fair Gale, came up toward his Majesties Fleet, about Cannon di∣stance; turned about their Ships and discharged their Broad-sides, the like did the Rochellois; and the Kings Ships were not long before they set out to receive them, where they behaved themselves with such courage that the English had no reason to believe, they had lesse resolution now, then they had lately shewen at the Ile of Re; that which most of all troubled them was, they were not ignorant, with what obstacles they were to encounter, in the Channels that they were to break through three Rayles, two of Vessels floating on the Sea, and linked toge∣ther by Chains and Anchors; and a third several Vessels filled with stones and sunk before the Bank; the Channel too was covered all over, with Vessels full of Soul∣diers and Voluntiers of the Nobility, all eager of fighting with them; besides they were to avoyd the shot which would thunder in upon them from both sides of the shore, by the Bank; al these difficulties made them dispair of doing any good upon it, and that time the water was too low, for their Ships, in which their chief strength consisted, and their design could not be excused, but at high-water, because when the Sea began to ebb, their Vessels of burden would remain as the mercy of his Ma∣jesties great Guns, insomuch that all things duely considered, they concluded it im∣possible for them to break thorough.

On the other side the Rochelois who had promised them to Sally out, and do miracles, did not appear at all, for they had found, that it would be impossible to make way thorough to the Bank, there being so many Vessels full of Souldiers & Volunteers, to be fought with; insomuch that the Earl of Denbigh what out of an∣ger, and what out of despair, resolved to draw off: many complaints he made against the Rochellois, as that they had deceived the King his Master, in assuring him that it was easie to passe into their Port, and not informing him, of those ob∣stacles, which he was to provide against, and with forces the King of France had a board his Ships, & Vessels to fight with his Souldiers; but yet al his complaints could not secure him, from being much blamed: all that he did, before his going off, was, he had sent out a Fire-ship with Petards and the like, from which he expected great matters, as that it would burn all the Ships it came neer: but it happene to work sooner then his enginers imagined; so that they being unable to get of the Barque which was fastened to it, they burnt their Vessels, and themselves, without any re∣lief or succour.