History of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, illustrated by original documents. Translated from the German

Preface

. The work of which the following pages are a translation, is the result of enquiries conducted in the manuscript collections of the Paris Library, by one whose name will be, to every German scholar, in itself, security for merit both of conception and exe cution. The object of the Translator is simply to place at the disposal of the English historical en quirer, the results of the labour which the distin guished author of the history of the Hohenstauffen family has condescended to bestow upon a task, humble perhaps, when considered with reference to his abilities and reputation as an original writer, but the execution of which imposes an obligation upon the literary world. It is obvious that any merit to which the following pages can pretend, must consist exclusively in the value of the information they contain in illustration of the history of the periods, countries, and persons to which they refer. TRANSLATOR'S

PREFACE.

. VI The quaintness, the peculiarities, and the force of original phraseology, which add so much to the attraction of works like the selections of Mr. Ellis, even if partially transfusible into a first translation, are not to be looked for in a second; and a portion of the value of the originals which suffered diminu tion in Mr. Raumer's hands, has been, undoubtedly, nullified in those of a translator. In addition to the above deficiencies, these volumes are incomplete as regards the work of Mr. Raumer, inasmuch as various extracts from the copies of the Cottonian MSS. existing in the Paris collection, are here omitted. The object of Mr. R. was to place at the disposal of his countrymen, sources of historical information not accessible to their researches. The Translator's object is the same, and he has therefore omitted nearly all of the extracts from documents, the originals of which are to be inspected at the cost of a visit to our own Museum.

They appeared to him to form no essential portion of, Mr. Raumer's volumes, and at the same time, reference to the originals led him to the conclusion, that the task of making the extracts would tempt any one who undertook it, into a field of further research, which it would be far better to explore separately and more fully, if at all. A few notes have been added by the Translator, TRANSLATOR'S

PREFACE.

. VII not with the object or pretension of affording any very valuable, or recondite, or ample information on the events or persons to which they refer, but for the mere purpose of assisting memory, or saving casual labour of reference to the reader. With this view, they have rather been appended to passages with which the mass of English readers may be presumed to be least familiar, than to those with which the ordinary course of historical study must have made nearly all acquainted. February, 1835. CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

Letter VIII

Thirty Years' War.— The Elector of Saxony and Tilly. — Battle near Leipzig Oxenstiern and Bernhard of Wei mar at Paris Marshal Chatillon. — Discipline and Rules of War. — Prisoners. — Brienne's Writings. — D'Avaux and Servien. — Trautmansdorf , 60

Letter XV

Disposition of Don Carlos. — His sicknesses. — Fall at Alcala. — Incapacity. — Queen Isabella. — Her good qualities ; relations with Philip. — Marriage project for Don Carlos. — Project for Flanders. — Arrest of the Prince, his conduct, accusation, and death. — Different accounts of the same. — Letter of Philip. — Relation of Antonio Perez, &c. — Death of the Queen. — Reports. — Her funeral 123

Letter XVI

Granvelle's Memoirs. — Plansforthe Netherlands. — Spanish soldiers. — Bishopricks. — Heretics. — The States. — Orange, Egmont, and Hoorn. — Granvelle's removal. — Egmont in Spain. — His Letters to Montmorency. — Inquisition. — Ico noclasm. — Philip II. and Maximilian II. — Celibacy. — Phi lip's debts. — Alva's march. — Orange's retirement. — Emi grations. — Margaret's position. — Egmont's character, trial. — Alva's tyranny. — Medina Sidonia. — New disturbances. — Plans of reform. — Margaret's second appearance. — Alexander of Parma. — Archduke Ernest 165

Letter XVII

Relations between France and Spain. — The Massacre of Paris. — Philip's joy. — Flanders. — Alva's return to Spain. — Ne.w dealings with France. — War with England. — Bad condition of Spain. — The Court of Madrid, and Philip in old age CONTENTS.

Letter XXIII

Francis I., his cheerfulness and captiousness. — The Con cordatum and its consequences. — The judicial system and sale of offices. — The election to the Empire 239

LETTER XXVII.

Upon the death of Maraviglia or Merveille. — Relations of Charles V. and Francis, 1530 to 1535. — Claims of the latter on Milan 244

LETTER XXVIII.

Marino de Cavalli on Francis I. — The Dauphin. — The French Court. — The City of Paris. — The University and Military Establishment CONTENTS. XIII

LETTER XXIX.

Page Henry II. — Finances. — Religious Persecutions. — Paul IV. and his Nephews. — Carrero and Catherine of Medicis .... 261

LETTER XXX.

Carrero on Charles IX. — Henry7 of Anjou. — Francis of Alencon and Margaret of Valois. — An anonymous writer on Charles IX. — Renata of Ferrara. — The Abbess of Jovarre 269

LETTER XXXI.

Philip II. upon the French wars of religion. — Marriage of Henry of Navarre with Margaret of Valois. — Dealings with the Pope. — The Massacre of Paris. — Schomberg's embassy to Germany. — Hospital's last letter. — Alencon's plans. . . . 276

LETTER XXXII.

Pope Sixtus V. — His severity. — His treasure.— Affairs with Henry III.— The Ligue, Spain 288

LETTER XXXIII.

Old and new Ligue. — Influence of Philip II Character of Henry, Duke of Guise. — His Wife Catherine of Me dicis and Henry IV. — The Barricades. — Flight of Henry III Guise and the President Harlay. — The English Am bassador Stafford upon these affairs. — Debaucheries of Henry III. — Pasquinades on the French Court 296

LETTER XXXIV.

Murder of the Guises. — Justification of Henry III — In structions to his Ambassadors at Madrid and Rome. — Ac cusation and Justification of the Legate Morosini. — Murder of Henry III. — Letter of Henry IV. to his Am bassadors, and of the Duke of Mayenne to the King of Spain upon this Murder and the posture of Affairs CONTENTS. XIV

LETTER XXXV.

Page Instructions of Philip to his Ambassador at Paris. — Henry IV.'s Negociations in Italy. — Despatches of the Ambassador Maisse. — Views of Pope Sixtus V. — Condition of Henry IV. — Contest between Spain and the Pope. — Death of the latter 327

LETTER XXXVI.

Election and death of the Pope Urban VII.— The same of Gregory XIV. — Innocent IX. and Clement VIII 340

LETTER XXXVII.

The Sixteen in Paris. — Correspondence of the Duke of Parma and the Ambassador Ibarra with Philip II. — May enne and Guise. — Bellievre to Jeannin. — States Assembly and election of a King 346

LETTER XXXVIII.

States Assembly of 1593. — Circular of Mayenne Election. — Upon the deliberations and opposed Votes. — Feria and the Legate. — Negociations with Henry IV. — Delays and Complaints. — Proposals of the Spaniards. — Approximation between the Parliament and the Princes. — The Infanta. — The Salic law. — New proposals of the Spaniards. — The armistice — The Parliament for the Salic law Conten tions. — Henry IV.'s conversion. — New form of oath. — Ter mination of the States Assembly. — Boucher's preaching. — Elizabeth to Henry IV. on his change of religion. — Feria to Parma. — Henry IV. to Luxemburgh and Mont morency—Peace, War, relations with the Parliaments. — Hughenots. — Elizabeth, Rome. — Sultan Amurath to Henry IV 353

LETTER XXXIX.

Henry IV. and Elizabeth.— Instructions for Henry's Am bassador in London. — Peace of Vervins. — Two Letters of Elizabeth to Henry IV CONTENTS. XV

LETTER XL.

Page The Archduke Ferdinand to Philip III.— The Cleves' in heritance. — Assembly of Princes at Hall, in Swabia. — Preparations for war. — Flight of the Prince of Conde. — Negociations in Brussels. — Death of Henry IV 398

LETTER XLI.

Reports of the Nuncio, Ubaldini. — The Princess of Conde. — Peace or War. — Cleves succession. — Mediation of the Pope. — Death of Henry IV. — Ravaillac. — Regency, and conduct of Queen Mary. — Concini's Favour. — Sully's Fall. — Relations to the German Protestants 413

LETTER XLII.

The Jesuit Cotton upon Louis XIII 430

LETTER XLIII.

States Assembly of 1614. — Elections. — Opening. — Mode and kind of voting. — Sittings. — Cahiers. — Contest between the Orders. — Complaints of the Noblesse and the Clergy against the third Estate Reproaches. — Assembly and Parliament. — Finances. — Eloquence 438

LETTER XLIV.

Conde's affairs, his Feud and Arrest. — Mary of Medicis. — Death of the Marechal D'Ancre. — Louis XIII. and his mother. — Richelieu. — D' Ancre's malversations. — Conduct of the Marechale and her Son. — Luynes. — Disgrace of Vieuville 454

LETTER XLV.

Process of Chalais and Marillac. — Return of Mary of Me dicis. — Assembly of the Notables of 1626 CONTENTS.

LETTER XLVI.

Page Mazarin on the Fronde and the King's Journey from Paris. — Negociations at Ruel. — Pretended Attack on the Prince of Conde ERRATA. VOL. I. Page 18, last line but one of text,/or " 1820 ", read " J 520 ". 4-5, line 4, for " Wellenstein ", read " Wallenstein ". 53, line 5 from bottom, for ** Arnhim ", read " Arnheim ". 64, line 1, note, for " Receuil ", read " Recueil ". 143, line 5 from boltom,/yr " May 8", read " May 28 ". 299, line 3 from the top,^*' M on ", read " or ". 302, line 2, note,yi>?- " Chateanneuf ", read 6I Chateauneuf ". — — 424, line 7 from bottom, for Ci Prince ", read "Princess". 437, line 6 from bottom, for "bieuheureux ", read " bienheureux ". 456, line 11 from bottom, for " wells" read " walls ". VOL. II. Page 74, line 2 from bottom, htsert " of" after " those ". 83, note,yur "Renard ", read "Renaud". 14-0, line 9 from bottom,ybr " derived ", read " devised ". 175, line 8 from top,yb?- "King", read " Queen". 31 4*, line 3 from bottom, the No. of the communication should Le 23, and 20 should be added to all the numbers of the remainder of the Letter. 24-9, line 5 from top,_/> " 1821 ", read " 1621 ". 255, line 5 from bottom, for " but ", read " and ". LETTERS FROM PARIS.

Letter I. Addressed To Ludwig Tieck

To serve as Preface and Dedication Reasons for the Epistolary form of the Work, and the Scantiness of the Collectanea. — Friendly reception in Paris. — Distribution of the Materials. I have then in pursuance of your advice, and that of others, sent the letters of my journey to the press at Leipzick ; I shall, however, without doubt, give offence thereby to many. The publication of my historical researches in Paris requires less consideration, although I have been long in doubt as to the best mode and shape of bringing them before the public. For neither was it possible for me to work scattered B

LETTER I.

and isolated passages into a connected history, nor could I without great diffuseness and extravagant loss of time, append the necessary supplementary matter. I therefore hit upon the idea of distributing my ma terials into a series of letters, which, indeed, but half deserve that title, but which present various advantages and conveniences. Thus, for example ; that I can begin and end just where the relative quantity of my matter indicates, and in writing to you, can ad dress myself as to a reader well acquainted with his tory, and competent to understand and classify every thing without notes of explanation. In any case, you will recognize in the act of my dedicating these letters to you, a proof of old and faithful friendship, — though such be unnecessary. With very few exceptions, necessary for the con nection of the work, my communications are ex tracted from manuscripts totally unknown, especially from those of the Royal Collection at Paris.

I found there so remarkable an attention to my wishes, such inexhaustible patience for my troublesome ap plications, that I must return my heartiest thanks to the gentlemen officially employed in that establishment, and especially to Monsieur Champollion Fie geac, for having disclosed to me treasures, of the ex istence of which I was not aware. If, nevertheless, my results be less extensive and

LETTER I.

3 important than you, and others perhaps, expected, you must reflect, 1st, that some very illegible MSS. cost much time, and that others disappointed all expect ation: 2d, that I could not altogether neglect the present times, important as they are : 3rd, that my time of labour during a stay at Paris of only five months, was much shortened by a sickness which threatened to be fatal. — If you take all this into con sideration, and cast a glance over my letters relating to the present, I venture to hope, you will, on receipt of my last letter upon times gone by, bear me witness, that I have conscientiously distributed and applied my time. With the exception of what I explored which bore reference to the history of the middle ages, and which I am about to use principally for my history of the Hohenstauffens, my researches have been directed to the most memorable passages of the history of the 16th and 17th centuries.

I was, however, dependent upon the sources of information which presented themselves, and not in condition to fill up many in tervals, much to be regretted. For the man, however, who (under the impossibility of discovering anything utterly unheard of in modern history) takes delight in individual transactions, and a more particular unfold ing of divers occurrences, what I have to communi- B LETTER s. cate, in spite of its gaps and deficiencies, will I trust have some interest. The order in which I present you with my results, is not unconditionally prescribed by the matter. My object is to place together, as much as possible, pas sages, which are naturally connected, yet to avoid placing the most valuable in front; that the continu ation may not fall off in attraction compared with the commencement.

Letter II. The Anabaptists In Munster

I am entirely agreed with you in opinion that among the professors of each of the great sects of Chris tianity, noxious excrescences may shoot forth. This happens especially where principles, sound in them selves, enter into combination with false conclusions, and are pushed forward to extremes ; their assertors looking neither to the right nor left. After such fashion has the Catholic Church often fallen into ty ranny ; the Protestant sometimes into anarchy. In the one case, Will reigned under the name of Law, in the other, under the pretext of Liberty. In no in stance does the latter condition present itself in ruder deformity than in that of the Anabaptists, who, be ginning with the rejection of forms of lesser import ance, proceeded step by step, till at last they put forth a damnable phrenzy, and attributed to it all the pretensions of wisdom which was to redeem the world.

In the 99th volume of the MSS. of Du puy, there is a cotemporary letter in the Italian Ianguage respecting their proceedings at Munster, which appears to me worthy of publication. Although Munster (the letter states) is surrounded by the besieging forces of several princes, the Ana baptists defend themselves with obstinacy, and their sect increases day by day in Flanders, Holland, Frizeland, and Saxony, in the neighbourhood of Cologne, nay, in all Germany, after such fashion that we must fear the greatest disturbance and revolt. Some eight days after the city was invested, their prophet for the time being, (a tailor by trade,) John of Leyden, declared that he had a commission from heaven to be king of Israel and of righteousness, and to reign after the fashion of King David. At the same time, another Anabaptist, John of Waren dorf, came forward, and declared, God had com manded him to be prophet in the room of John of Leyden ; and as such, he predicted that John should go forth with an army, destroy and root out all other kings, princes, and authorities without mercy, but reign himself over the whole world.

Accordingly, the new king began his sovereignty, appointed his chancellor, marshal, chamberlain, council, and every usual appendage to a court ; kept a table on a large scale, and out of his eight wives, selected one from Holland, (the widow of a prophet who had fallen in battle,) as his queen ; who immediately provided herself with an extraordinary attendance of courtiers. Both, and in like manner their attendants, dressed themselves in silks and costly stuffs, mostly taken from the churches and the clergy. When the king rides out, he wears a suit of silver tissue, slashed, and lined with crimson, which is held together with buckles of gold. At his right hand, a page bears the bible ; at his left, another carries the sword. One of these two is a son of the Bishop of Munster. The king's head is adorned with a triple crown of gold, richly ornamented ; round his neck hangs a golden chain, to which a remarkable piece of mag nificence is attached.

It represents, namely, the ter restrial globe, over which a small cross of gold is suspended ; near this are to be seen two swords, one of gold, the other of silver, and this inscription : — " King of Righteousness over the whole world." The queen wears a similar ornament. For the purpose of audiences a great scaffold is erected in the market place, on which the king takes his place. Two steps downward at his feet stand the councillors. Whosoever makes any suit, kneels three times, and then prostrates himself in order to make his address. At the reception of the Holy Sacrament about -1200 persons seated themselves at table in the great square of the Cathedral, and were served with three kinds of food. The king and queen partook of certain hard baked pastry of flour, which they broke and distributed with these words : Take and eat, and proclaim the death of the Lord.

In like manner they dealt with the wine, and the company passed on what they received, saying: "Brother (or sister) take and eat, and so as Christ has given himself for me, will I give myself for you, and so as this bread is baked of many different grains, and this wine is pressed from many different berries, so are we all assembled and bound together." Hereupon followed certain prayers and laudatory psalms. The feast over, the king asked aloud whether all were ready to do the will of the Father, and to suffer for him ? All cried out Yea, Yea ! The new prophet then took up the word saying, His Majesty has com mand from God to send some of you forth to pro claim these wonders. The command of God (con tinued now a younger prophet) goes to this, that His Majesty must send deputies to the four towns of the realm.

He read out accordingly the names of those appointed to the mission ; six for Hassen broek, five for Warendorf, eight for Coesfeldt, and others for Soest. To every one the king gave a golden florin of his own coinage, and of the value of nine florins. The same evening they all started on their journey, and cried out every where with a loud voice, " Mend yourselves and do penance, the time is short and the Father merciful ; the axe is laid to the root, and ye shall perish like Sodom and Gomorrah, unless ye believe." Wherever the authorities caused these men to be brought before them, they cast their mantle on the ground, laid upon it one of their gold florins and said, " We are sent by the Father to pro claim the peace of God." If the inhabitants refused to admit, at their exhortation, a community of goods, these men bitterly reviled them, and said that the refusal was a contempt of their mission.

Some of their preachers have been taken, some of whom of their own accord, and others compelled by torture, have given information as to the fortifications of the town, and also have made disclosures as to their doctrine : according to the witness of the scriptures and all the prophets, those are righteous who hunger and thirst after righteousness with all their might, and are ready to die for it. Now, however, right eousness has not been preached to the people, and of four prophets two only are righteous, David and the Father; and two unrighteous, the Pope, and Luther worse than the Pope. If they are asked how they would shew their righteousness, since, against their own word, they have driven forth so many in nocent persons from Munster, and laid hands on their goods, their wives, and children? they an- , B swer; " Ye understand indeed to judge the face of heaven, but not the time.

The time is come when the meek and the pious shall possess the earth, even as the goods of the Egyptians were once made over to the people of Israel." Every one has in Munster from six to eight wives, with whom he lives till they become pregnant. Girls above the age of twelve are compelled to marry. Men who fail to live according to their duty with their wives, are beheaded: even the old women seek out husbands who are compelled to look after and pro vide for them. The Anabaptists destroy churches and cloisters, for such are, in their creed, only the market-places of Baal. They hold, that without prophets, it is impossible to understand the scriptures; they reject the Emperor and all superior authorities except God ; they wish to put to death all sovereigns on account of their unrighteousness; they apply many texts of scripture relating to our Saviour to their king, who occasionally, when he considers people to have of fended, strikes off their heads.

Letter III

Granvelle's Remains — John Frederick of Saxony and Philip of Hesse — Maurice — Investiture of the Milanese Charles V. — Ferdinand I. — Charles in Spain Francis I Eleanor his wife. Among the richest and as yet almost unexplored sources for the history of the 16th century, is to be reckoned the collection of documents left by Cardi nal Granvelle, and which are now deposited at Be sangon, to the amount of eighty-four folio volumes *. The learned librarian of that place has the intention of editing the most remarkable of them in twelve * Viz. twenty-four volumes memoirs, collectanea, letters, state manuscripts, &c, Granvelle. Eight of Morillon. Seven of Hoppers. One of the Embassy of St. Maurice in France. Five of Renard. Eight of Chantonnay. Eight of Champagnay . Three of Belfontaine. Two ofVergey.

Two vols. for the History of Riche lieu. Four Treaties of Peace and Compacts. One, Charles V. and Philip 2nd's Itinerarium by Vandenesse. A faithful summary of these MSS. prepared by the Abbe Boyzot of St. Vincent, is in the Royal Library at Paris. MSS. G. M. fourteen, two great vols. in folio. octavo volumes. Pending the execution of this specially meritorious undertaking, we may be allowed to direct attention towards it by anticipation, and to im part two extracts out of the instructive journal* which Vandenesse, (a kind of travelling marshal to Charles V.,) composed as an eye-witness. They relate, the first to the meeting which took place between the Emperor and the wife of the Elector of Saxony aster the battle of Mulilberg, and the second to the capture of the Landgrave Philip. I. In the year 1547, the 24th May, the Electress received permission from the Emperor to come to him.

The Margrave of Brandenburgh and the Arch duke of Austria betook themselves therefore to Wit tenberg, to conduct her thence. She appeared in a carriage, in mourning, accompanied by her eldest son, her brother-in-law and his wife, and four carriages full of women all dressed in black. In the Emperor's tent were his brother, Duke Maurice, the Duke of Alva, the Prince of Camerino, and other princes and lords. As soon as the Electress approached, she threw herself at the feet of the Empe ror, who however presented her his hand and caused f Sommaire des voyages faits par Charles V. depuis fan 1517 — 1551, recueillis et mis par ecrit par Jehan de Vandenesse, controleur ayant suivi leur majeste dans tous leurs voyages. his brother to lift her up. After this, one of her council presented her requests, which, among other matters, went to this, that her husband might not be carried away out of the country.

Hereupon she was answered: His majesty at present was come to no understanding on these tilings*. The Electress fell once more on her knees, and prayed the Emperor might have compassion on her and her children. She was then conducted by the Duke of Alva to her husband, with whom she remained for somewhere about half an hour, and then returned to Wittenberg, which city the Emperor, on the next day, inspected within and without, and also visited the Electress at the castle. On the 26th May the Elector was brought to the castle at Wittenberg, to remain there so long as the Emperor should abide in this neighbourhood. Five hundred Spanish arquebuziers under Alonzo Unio did duty as his guard. On the 3rd of June the Elector took leave of wife, children, and the inhabitants, and returned into the camp of the Emperor.

His second son accompanied him so far, made his respects to the Emperor, and excused himself that he had been unable, by reason of sickness, to appear sooner. He commended himself, * Sa Majeste, pour le present, n'entendait a ces affaires la. his father, mother, and their other children to the grace of the Emperor. On the 4th of June, in the presence of the Electors of Brandenburg, the Archduke of Austria, and seve ral princes and lords, it was proclaimed, that inas much as John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, had, on account of misdeed and high treason, forfeited the Electorate, and since his being taken prisoner had, by agreement, renounced the same, as well as the town of Wittenberg with its appurtenances, the Em peror, therefore, makes over the same on various grounds to the Duke Maurice, &c. In his, Maurice's, name, answer was made, that he received the gift with thanks and obedience ; that he had, however, never declared himself against the im prisoned duke in the view of succeeding to the Electorate, but only to serve the Emperor.

Although the prisoner had been guilty of rebellion and disobedience against the Emperor and King, yet might the latter have regard to the prisoner's children. He, Maurice, thanked the Emperor, that the elect oral dignity was preserved to the House of Saxony, and that he, the Emperor, had shewn grace to John Frederick, who had well deserved to lose his head. Hereupon the Emperor gave him his hand, and the Elector of Brandenburg pointed out to him his new place. On the following morning the Duchess left Wittenberg, and the new Elector made his entry into the town. II. June 19, 1547 — The Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg had for some days past much entreated the Emperor to have compassion upon the Landgrave of Hesse. After Charles had consented, and the points of the treaty had been established, these two conducted the Land grave, on the 18th of June, to Halle, and on the 19th, in the afternoon at five o'clock, into a great gallery, where the Emperor was seated on his imperial throne, under a golden canopy, and surrounded by princes and lords.

When the Electors with the Landgrave had approached to within about eight paces from the Emperor, the Landgrave knelt down, with his hands clasped, and his head inclined to the ground. His Chancellor, likewise kneeling, read out the Land grave's confession of his offence, and how he sur rendered himself to the hands and pleasure of the Emperor for grace or no grace. When this reading was over, and while both Electors stood beside the Landgrave, the Chancellor Seld made answer : that the Emperor excused him, out of regard for the Elec tors, and in respect of their intercession, both from capital punishment and perpetual imprisonment, in accordance with the conditions set forth in the treaty. Hereupon was the Landgrave committed to the Duke of Alva, who conducted him to the castle, and entertained him, together with the Electors, at supper.

Afterwards they brought him to a chamber under the guard of John of Grenarra, and two companies of Spaniards. From the 19th to the 23rd, the Electors made great intercession with the Emperor for the Landgrave, who complained much of his durance, and after many devices and debates, (devises et parlemens,) the Emperor caused the Electors to come to him and read the whole treaty concluded between himself and the Landgrave. It ran, that he surrendered himself into the hands of his Majesty, to his pleasure and mercy, and that the Emperor excused him the capital punishment he had merited, in regard to, and in favour of the Electors, restored to him his confiscated posses sions, and pardoned and remitted him his perpetual imprisonment, the which sufficiently shewed, that he was to be confined at the pleasure of the Emperor.