peace not only for himself, but of the King of Spain also,
of whom he pretends to have power for that purpose; so
that it shall be the fault of the Court if a Generall peace be
not concluded. All this was represented by the said Mr.
Burin to their Majesties, as from the mouth of the said
Prince of Conde; but the Queen and Cardinall give little
heed to it, being fully bent upon carrying on the Warre,
Orders being issued out for Monies and strong Recruits
against the next Campania:
Their designes are laid especially for the reducing of the
City of Bordeaux, and the Province of Guienne this next
Summer; which they presume themselves in a faire way to
effect, having much weakned the Princes party there, by
drawing off Count D'Augnon, whose Agreement is (they
say) as good as made, though not fully concluded yet.
They have the like designe also to take off Mr Marcin by
great offers: And for matter of Force, the Duke of Candale,
the Kings Generall for those parts, prepares a strong
Army to appear in the Field with by the first of the Spring,
intending to set upon Bordeaux by Land, while the Duke
of Vendosme blocks it up by water; who the better to distress
them, and spoil their Trade, is designing to build a
Fort upon a little Isle seated in the middle of the River
Garonne, a little below that place where the Dordonne fals
into it.
On the other hand the Pr. of Conde proceeds vigorously
with his preparations, especially in Germany, whither hee
hath dispatched the pr. of Tarante by the way of Holland,
to expedite the Levies and bring them away. Nor doth he
want his Agents in most parts of France.
In the mean time many discontents increase here, which
makes the Cardinal keep close to the Louvre: He rules all
under the King while his Majesty himself is entertained by
delights and pleasures, the great Mask having been divers
times re-acted; and he shall want no recreation that may
divert his thoughts from medling with State-affairs, according
to the old practice of such as rule the Rost under yong
Princes.