both this and another mistake which I had committed. One of the chief artifices of the financiers was to make the expenses of the current year appear to be much more than the receipts, and to anticipate the revenues of the following year, by which means the expense of the next year, and of all the rest in succession, were thrown into confusion, from which these men drew many advantages, particularly that of appearing never to have money which was not pre-engaged long before, and of being able to allege this excuse to the king, and all those whom they were not inclined to pay. In the second place, they made use of that money; and, to conclude, they paid off the old debts at a very low price, and yet charged them entire in their accounts. This negligence of mine cost the kingdom this year two millions.

This fault I corrected the following year, during my residence in Brittany; so that from that time forward the receipts and expenses exactly agreed: and in the mean time, to fill up the deficiency which my mistake had made, I took the parties casuelles, les gabelles, the five great farms, and the toll of the rivers, out of the hands of the Duke of Florence, who held them under the names of Gondy, Senamy, Zamet, Le Grand, Parent, L'Argentier, and other old managers, who had no share in the new finances; and I increased these farms with two millions that had been lost by miscomputation. The contractors for the finances and their associates of the council were thunderstruck at this last blow; but for this time their spite vented itself in smoke, the king having supported me for some time in a manner so conspicuous, as sunk them all into inactive despondency. The consequence of his conduct to the assembly was, that he was made master, not only of the pretended Council of Reason, but likewise of his own, whose authority was now declining; and he had no longer cause to fear that his designs would miscarry, as formerly, by their obstruction.

The design in which he was then actually engaged was the siege of Arras, which had been proposed in the council of war, which, excepting only the secretary, consisted merely of men of action: it had there passed without opposition; but the resolution was kept secret, because only by concealment Icould we be assured of success. That the merchants with

1596.]

MEASURES FOR PROVISIONING THE TROOPS. 27

whom I agreed for supplies of all necessary provisions might know nothing of the matter, I named to them a great number of cities along the whole frontier of Picardy, and Arras among the rest; at any of which they bound themselves to deliver, during the whole campaign, fifty thousand loaves a day. Santeny, Robin de Tours, Mauleville, and Lambert, chevalier de Guet d'Orleans, engaged likewise for the conveyance of everything else, and particularly of twenty-five cannon. The contract was made at so low a rate, that if the misfortune that happened at Amiens a short time after had not obliged us to draw thither the forces designed against Arras, the contractors would have been considerable losers, but, as it happened, they made a reasonable profit.

BOOK IX.

[1597-1598.]

Diversions at court-The Spaniards surprise Amiens-Rosny contrives the means of retaking this place-He is put at the head of the council cf finances in the king's absence-His labours in the finances, and disputes with the council-The siege of Amiens, all the necessaries for which are supplied by Rosny-The Protestants mutiny during this siege Their designs-Death of Saint-Luc-Henry promises Rosny the post of grand master of the ordnance, but gives it to D'EstréesRosny made governor of Mantes-The Spaniards attempt in vain to succour Amiens-It is taken-An account of Henry's letters upon different subjects-Enterprises after the siege of Amiens: some fail, others are executed-Negotiations for a peace-Henry IV. goes into Brittany-Cabals of the Calvinists to obtain a favourable edictHenry gives audience to the English and Dutch ambassadors, who cannot prevail upon him to continue the war-Edict of NantesHenry's conversation with the Duke of Bouillon-A singular conversation between Henry IV. and Rosny upon the dissolution of his marriage, and his passion for the Duchess of Beaufort-Henry returns to Paris-Goes to Picardy-Conclusion and ceremonies of the peace of Vervins.

THE preparations that were making for war did not prevent their enjoying at Paris all the amusements that winter commonly brings along with it. The gentleness of the government secured the tranquillity of the public, who tasted all the sweets of it, without any of that alloy which for so long a time had embittered all their pleasures. Gallantry, shows, play, took up the time of the courtiers; and the king, who liked these diversions through taste, permitted them through policy. Monsieur and Madame de Fervaques entreated me to allow of the addresses of Monsieur de Laval,* the son of

William de Hautemer, Count de Grancy, Lord of Fervaques, who afterwards became a marshal of France. His wife was Andrée d'Allegre, widow of Guy, Count de Laval, whose son was likewise called Guy, the twentieth of that name, Count de Laval, de Montfort, &c., who was some time after killed in Hungary; in him ended that branch of Laval, or rather of Rieux, which continued only in the female line, for this Guy, Count de Laval, was of the house of Čoligny.

1597.]

DIVERSIONS OF THE COURT.

29

this lady, to my eldest daughter. I referred them to the king, without whose consent I could not now dispose of my daughter, since it had been proposed by the princess to marry her to Monsieur de Rohan, with whom the king being at that time offended, he approved of Monsieur de Laval.

From engagements of this nature, the court had every day the pleasure of a new entertainment, the most splendid of which was given by the constable, at the solemnity of baptizing his son. This was the pretence; but it was well known that one of the most beautiful young ladies of the court, and who was afterwards married to an old man, was the real object of these gallantries. Montmorency chose from amongst the courtiers, twelve noblemen for his ballet, who he thought would appear there with the greatest magnificence, and prevailed upon the king to lay his commands upon me to be of this number. The elegance and propriety with which it was conducted, and which is the very essence of these sort of diversions, was superior to anything I had ever seen of the kind. This entertainment was universally allowed to have greatly excelled all that went before it; it was likewise the last, and an unfortunate event happened at the conclusion. I retired about two in the morning, and had been an hour and a half in bed, when I saw Beringhen enter my chamber, with the utmost consternation painted in his countenance: he could but just tell me that the king wanted me, and assure me, in answer to my inquiries, that no accident had happened to his person; for this was the first question I asked, and his reply comforted me beforehand for the misfortune, whatever it might be, since I saw none that was absolutely irremediable but such as threatened his life. I put on my clothes hastily, and ran to the Louvre in great anxiety of mind: upon my entering the king's chamber, I saw him walking about very fast, his arms folded, his head reclined, and all the marks of a deep uneasiness* impressed on his

"Being as it were thunderstruck at this, and yet looking up to heaven as he commonly does more in adversity than prosperity, he spoke aloud, 'This blow is from heaven!' Then, pausing a little, said, I have sufficiently acted the part of King of France, it is time now that I assume the character of King of Navarre:' and turning to the marchioness, who wept, We must quit our present warfare, and take horse to engage in another.'" (L'Etoile.)

countenance. The courtiers stood in different corners of the room, leaning against the arras, without uttering a single word.

The king coming to meet me, pressed my hand with great emotion, crying, "Ah, my friend, what a misfortune! Amiens is taken!" I confess, I continued immovable, like all the rest, at this unforeseen blow. A place so strong, so well provided with everything that was necessary, so near to Paris, and on the side of Picardy the only key to the kingdom, to be taken so suddenly, ere we could be informed that it was threatened with an attack! The thing was almost incredible, and the general consternation appeared to be too well grounded. However, I took my resolution immediately; and while the king, who had received this news as he was preparing to go to bed, related to me the manner in which the Spaniards with some sacks of walnuts had surprised this important place,* I reflected that, instead of increasing to no purpose the general dismay, prudence suggested that, in the present circumstances, it was necessary to keep up every one's spirits, and to comfort the king. I therefore told him that I had in good time just put the finishing stroke to a scheme, by which not only Amiens, but several other places, would be restored to him without much difficulty.

This hint alone seemed on a sudden to have robbed the late misfortune of half its force; and although it did not hinder the king from reflecting on all the difficulties of an enterprise which might have very fatal consequences, yet, as the astonishment the courtiers were in left them nothing to

* It was on the 11th of March. Hernand Teillo de Portocarrero, a Spaniard, the author of this scheme, had disguised like countrymen and country women, carrying goods to market, about thirty Spaniards, who stopped up one of the gates of the town, and amused the guard by overturning at the entrance thereof a cart loaded with sacks full of filberts, one of which became untied; and during this time some Spanish troops, who lay concealed behind the hedges, marched up, and putting the guard to the sword, made themselves masters of the town. (See an account of this in all the historians, under the year 1597.) Hernand Teillo was killed in bravely defending this town against Henry IV. He used to say that the three greatest commanders he knew were, Henry for the conduct of a large army, the Duke of Mayenne for the siege of a town, and Marshal Biron for a battle. (Matthieu, tom. ii. liv. ii. p. 232.)