The Duke of Savoy enters into a League with the Governor of Milan, to fall upon the States of the Duke de Nevers and Mantua.

WHilest his Majesty was thus ingaged before Rochel and in Languedoc, the Duke of Savoy, and Do•n Joncales de Cordona, Governour of Milan, seeing the Duke of Nevers had taken possession of the Dutchesse of Mantua and Montfer∣rat made a League together. The Articles imported that the Duke of Savoy should indeavour to make himself master of all the places in Montferrat, excepting Casal, Po•t Desture, Nice, Aqui, and some other places, and that the Mar∣quesse de Montenigro, should fall in upon the State of Mantoua, and get what he could there. The Emperour being wrought to it, by the Spaniards, commanded without regard had to the Duke of Nevers submissions, which he had sent to him by the Arch-Bishop of Mantua, that those Dutchies should be in sequestration until the claim of Prince Gastles, who pretended himself heir to them, were ad∣judged and determined, and sent the Comte J•an de Nassan, in the quality of an Imperial Commissary, to seize on them, and there to fortifie himself that the King nor Princes of Italy might enter upon it. In brief, the Duke of Savoy having his Army ready, upon the first news of Duke Vincents death, seized upon Albe, Sainct Damien, Dian, Trin, Gabian, and Motecalvo; Don Joncales, went with his Army to Casal, where finding himself opposed, he made himself Master of the adjacent places; and the Marquesse de Montenigro invaded Mantua to get what advantages he could. The Duke of Matnua hereupon, dispatched one in all hast unto his Majesty, for those succours which had been promised to him; and in the mean time he himself had raised an Army of about twelve thousand foot, and Page  257two thousand horse; part he sent into Montferrat the rest he kept in Mantua and thereabouts, to binder the Marquesse de Montiningro's progresse in the Man∣tu••. The King being informed of these violent emotions, permitted all Mon∣sieur de Mantua's friends to go to his assistance, and his Highnesse to ralse what Forces he thought fit in the Kingdome of France; insomuch that shortly after the Marquesse de Beuuron, carried with him store of French over the Mountains of Savoy, who cast themselves into Cazal, and so incouraged the inhabitants that Don Joncales began to lose his former hopes of so speedily taking it. The Sieur de Guron was likewise sent by his Majesty thither presently after, who so got the good Will of the people there, that they parted willingly with any thing they had; nay the Women would deliver up their Rings and Jewels, that the Souldiers might not want their pay. The Spaniards in the mean time were not idle, but used their best indeavours to gain the place, but were alwaies repulsed with such courage that they never went off but to their great losse. The Marquesse de B•uuron made divers Sallies upon them, and did as often put them to disorder, but was at last killed, af∣ter he had on many occasions testified, that fear had no corner in his heart, and that his courage could have make him withstand a Puissant Army with a handfull of men. The Sieur de Guron commanded in the town after his death, where he so behaved himself, that the Townsmen were perswaded to hold out in expectation of relief from France.

The King having give leave to the Marquess d' Ʋxelles, to make Levies for Monsieur de Mantua, he had at last raised as many as he thought would be sufficient for the business, which was about fifteen of sixteen thousand men effective. The Rendezvouz was appointed in the Bailiages of Ambrun, Gap and Briancon, where be∣ing all come together, they who had the orders to make the muster, and pay them, and make provisions necessary for their passage over the Mountains, were so neg∣lectfull, that they were forced to stay thereabouts in those Bailiages about twenty dayes time, during which they committed many insolencies and wasts, which the Marquesse de Ʋxelles finding he was almost in despair, to see such disorders, all that he could do to remedy it, was, he procured the Country people to provide a certain quantity of Provisions both for Man and War, and to carry them after the Army over the Mountains, some part of their money he paid them down in hand, and for the residue he obliged himself in his own name to pay them, upon the first Muster. Whereupon he began to march, and on the twenty seventh of July, en∣tred into the Mountains, where he no sooner appeared, but the Duke of Savoy came up to them and opposed them where-ever they went. The resistance which he here met, did not very much trouble him, for he often beat them before him; but it was his mis-fortune, that the Provisions promised by those of Dauphine, did not follow the Army; insomuch that the Souldiers having marched some dayes without any bread, he was at last forced to resolve upon returning back again; their retreat indeed was honourable enough; for the Sieur de la Ferte Marshal de Cam∣pe facing the enemy with three Regiments upon the tops of two Mountains, gave op∣portunity to the rest of the Troops to retire into Dauphine, which the Duke of Sa∣voy could not perceive untill they were quite gone.