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 taking of Chambery from the Duke of Savoy.

HOwever the King assembled his Counsel, to take advice whether it were not propper, to prosecute the Victories of his Army, and to make himself Master of all Savoy, and so secure himself more and more, of the Passes. Many offered to his Majesties consideration, that the Duke of Savoy and Marques Spinola, would never hearken to any Peace, but by necessity, and to regain Pignerol, having until that time refused to do it, but upon dishonorable terms for his Majesty; That there was little reason to trust him; as to that of the Duke of Mantua, for whose sake the War was begun, or to believe that the Peace might be of some continuance. And on the contrary; there were good grounds to apprehend, that they would not conclude a Peace, in that weak condition, to which they were then reduced, but onely that they might bring to passe their Intentions upon the Duke of Mantua, so that the King should still keep Pignerol, which would give him a free entrance into Italy, that his Majesty might with more ease take in Montferrat, as occasion should serve. That Princes not having any Juster titles to those places, which they possess, then the conquest of them in a just War, his Majesty should not acquit that which makes him so considerable in and to Italy, being by it able to march into it, when and as often as he pleased, and to set bounds to the Spanish Ambition, who would find work enough to do, so long as his Majesty continued Master of it; that it would serve to Curb the Duke of Savoy, who did nothing but commence and create every year new broyles and troubles. In fine that it was absolutely need∣full to enter upon Savoy, because the Duke would infallibly besiege those places which had been taken, if his Army were not other wayes diverted; and in case he should not besiege them, his forces would be coasting of it from one end to t'other of Savoy, and indanger the Passages, at least disturb them, which were of necessity to be preserved; for that Spinola had risen to besiege Cazal, at the same time that the Cardinal marched towards Grenoble. Could there be more just or important considerations? did they not deserve to be regarded and lookt after? Could any one with reason say that the Peace was in the Cardinals power, when the Duke of Savoy would not conclude it, without the surrender of Pignerol? the Importance of which Place was so great as shall be anon discoursed more at large. Indeed such things might take with Women (whom the noise of a Cannon terrifies) to juduce them to deliver up a place of such concernment into the hands of the Spaniards and Duke of Savoy, who had made it evident, no trust could be reposed in him. But certainly it would not at all move a great Minister, whose discretion was incompara∣ble, and who was so far from being terrified into any thing, that he struck a terrour into all the World, having Reason and Justice on his side. Would the Treaty which should be now concluded with them, be of any longer durance, then that of

the last year, which they broke without any fear or wit? Will a wise man trust one who hath deceived him, and broke his word in that very same affair? And this Ca∣lumniator (who cares not what he writes whilest he endeavours to detract from the Cardinals glory,) can he lay the blame on the Cardinal, for the continuation of the War? Caz••l would be no more the Duke of Mantua's, if the Peace had been concluded with the delivery of Pignerol. Thus the King who knew better then any of his Counsel, the Importance of these reasons, was not at all moved at it, but resolved to depart 2 dayes after to set upon Savoy, and accordingly upon the 13 of May he advanced, without delay, together with the Marshals of Crequy, Bassom∣pierre and Chastillon, giving the command of the vantguard of his Army to the Marshal Crequy, with order to march before Chambery, which was put in execu∣tion, with so much diligence, that the 14 of May the approaches were made; the suburbs reduced without resistance, and the Town summon'd to deliver. After they had obtained by Composition of his Majesty, the same Articles which were granted them by the late King when it was taken in the year 1600. they opened their Gates to his Majesty upon the 18 of May, into which his Majesty then made his Entrance.