The Requests of divers Lords for Monsieur de Montmorency, his life and liberty.

ALthough his Majesty had pardoned the common fry, yet the Duke of Mont∣morency being their chief Ring-leader, there was small likelihood of passing by his Delinquency, without due punishment, unlesse it were purposely to give all other Governours free liberty to rebell as often as they pleased, consi∣dering how it was by the chance of War, and his own only rashness, that he fell into the hands of his Majesties Officers. For this reason it was, that the King comman∣ded him to be carried to Tholose (whither his Majesty came not long after) im∣prisoned in the Town-House, and sent a particular Commission to the Parliament to prosecute his Indictment against him. He was examined, witnesses produced face to face, according to course, neither was there any great difficulty in proving such things as made him guilty of death; he having been taken with his Sword in his hand, against the King, as himself confessed (adding with tears in his eyes, as is usual with all persons of quality, when they find themselves convicted; That if it would please his Majesty to pardon him his life, he would not desire to obtain it unlesse to lay it out in his service, and that he might expiate part of his Crimes, with his Blood. Sundry persons of quality, and amongst others, the Princesse of Conde his sister; the Cardinal de la Valette, and the Dukes d' Espernon, and de Cheureuse, were very earnest with the King to obtain his pardon, and Monsieur himself sent the Sieur de Lavaupot, to cast himself at his Majesties feet, and to Pe∣tition in his behalf. But what likelihood was there, of passing by so hainous an offence without chastizing it? What reason was there to give life unto him, who had indeavoured to raise all the Grandees in the Kingdom, with whom he had the least acquaintance, who had used his utmost to ingage one of the chief Provinces of the Kingdom in a Rebellion, who had induced Monsieur to march in Arms through all France, that he might the better countenance his designs, who had introduc'd the Spaniard, who had had the boldnesse to procure the States of the Province to authorize his Rebellion, who had raised all the Souldiers he possibly could against the King: briefly, who had left no stone unturn'd which might any ways contri∣bute to the advancement of his pernicious designs? What reason can there be al∣ledged sufficient to excuse such a crime? It was not a fault committed by mistake, or rashly, but a designed contrivance deliberated and discussed; for the effecting whereof, he had bent all his wits, and set all his Engines on work, for above seven or eight moneths together. His name was indeed honourable, in regard of his Ancestors, but he deserved no honour for having been deficient in following the Copies of their Loyalty, was his family illustrious, his Crime was of the greater consequence and the more dangerous for persons of his quality, especially such as had raised great advantages by the favours conferr'd upon them, and the punish∣ment of his offence ought to be exemplary, to warn the Nobility to contain them∣selves within the bounds of their duties, and within the limits of fear of his Maje∣sties Justice. He had indeed done his Majesty service in two or three occasions, but not such as were any way considerable, with that of this his attempt, which strook at the root of the Kingdom, which forced the people from their obedience, which tended to the destruction of his Majesties authority, and the ruine of his Subjects. What would strangers have said at the report of such excessive Clemency, far diffe∣rent from those prudent severities which themselves frequently exemplifie unto us, upon the least commotions in their own Countries? Had it not been a wilfull blindnesse in matters of State, and the establishment of the publick quiet to have suffered such a Rebellion to passe unpunished? To say truth, he must have no lon∣ger been a King, had he tied up the hands of Justice, and hindred her from prose∣cuting those Orders prescribed by the Laws on such occasions. Thus the Marshal de Chastillon, going to wait upon the King, with intent to join his request with Page  514others in his behalf told him, that the countenance and eys of those who supplica∣ted him, did sufficiently declare, that his Majesty would oblige very many persons, if it would please him to pardon Monsieur de Montmorency's life, but was answer'd with a Prudence well-becomming his Majesty that he should not be King, if his sen∣timents were such as those of private men.