Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Party Seeks a Leader

  • Chapter
Huguenot Warrior

  • 58 Accesses

Abstract

As a royal favorite the Duke of Rohan was bound by court etiquette to a monotonous attendance on the sovereign. Henry IV kept his young cousin constantly near him and required his presence at receptions and councils of state. “The Court passed the winter after their wonted manner,” the Chronicler Francois de Mezeray recorded disapprovingly. “Dancing, gaming, feasts, balls, and comedies, especially those of the Italians, were their daily diversions.” 1 In such an atmosphere Rohan could not possibly be happy. Young, active, and thirsting for glory, he felt that he should be learning his profession in order to qualify for the military rank to which his birth entitled him.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. François de Mézéray, A General Chronological History of France (London, 1683) p. 901.

    Google Scholar 

  2. It appears that the Ambassador may have confused Soubise with his brother. Zinzi Giustinian to the Doge and Senate September 13, 1606 in the Calendar of State Papers and Manuscripts Relating to English Affairs Existing in the Archives and Collections of Venice (London, 1840) vol. X (for 1603–07) p. 4. 01.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rohan to La Force, November 25, 16o6, in the latter’s Mémoires authentiques I, 448. According to Sir William Browne, Rohan sailed from Flushing on November 12, 1606. “Letter to Viscount L’Isle” printed in rgth report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission (London, 1936) III, 329. On his return Rohan severely criticized the conduct of the war in the Netherlands. Spinola, he said, had only 5,000 or 6,000 men at Groll against 12,000 of the Stadtholder’s army. Yet instead of giving battle Prince Maurice drew back and went into winter quarters. C. M. van der Kemp, Maurits van Nassau (4 vols., Rotterdam, 1843 ) II, 550.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Henry IV to Sully, November 29, 16o6 in the latter’s Mémoires (Petitot edition) VII, 142.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Arthur de La Borderie, Histoire de Bretagne (6 vols., Rennes, 1905–1914) V, 360.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pierre de L’Estoile, Journal X, 127.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Henri IV, Recueil des lettres missives (g vols., Paris, 1843–1876) VII, 856. The Marquis de Beauvais-Nangis, a perpetually disappointed courtier, reports that only two companies of light horse were subsidized by the King, one for the Duke of Retz and the other for Soubise. Mémoires (Paris, 1862 ) p. 108.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mercure françois I, 463–64.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Jean P. Hugues, Histoire de l’église réformée d’ Anduze (Paris, 1864) p. 183–84-Joseph Vaisette Histoire générale de Languedoc (15 vols., Toulouse, 1872–1893) XI, 907. See also a letter from President L’Estang to Chancellor Sillery June 3, 1610, printed in the “Preuves” of the set volume XII Columns 1622–1625. At Montauban the Pastor Michel Beraud demanded that the Catholic clergy be expelled as the only means of “assuring the tranquillity of the city.” Camille Daux, Histoire de l’église de Montauban (2 vols., Paris, 1882) II section 2 p. 14–15.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Duplessis-Mornay, Mémoires (1651 edition) I, 228. Unfortunately these worthy sentiments received far less publicity than did a remark attributed to Mornay by his enemies, “The King is minor, let us be major.” See a letter from Francis Aerssens, the Dutch Ambassador, to Mornay, March 3, 1612, and the latter’s reply March so, 1612, printed in the 1824 edition of Mornay’s Mémoires XI, 405, 409–411.

    Google Scholar 

  11. La Force to Villeroy on May 23, 1610, in the former’s Mémoires authentiques II, 274.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Philippe Corbière, Histoire de l’église réformée de Montpellier (Paris, 1861) p. 140–41.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jacques Merlin, “Diaire”, Archives historiques de la Saintonge et de l’Aunis V (1878) 158.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Duplessis-Mornay to the Duke of Bouillon, May 21, 1610, in the former’s Mémoires et correspondance (1824 edition) XI, 37.

    Google Scholar 

  15. On this expedition see “Les mémoires et recueil de ce qui s’est passé au voyage de Cleves et prinse de la ville et chasteau de Juliers en l’année 1610” Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 3706 f. 56–68.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Henri de Rohan, “Discours sur la mort de Henry le Grand” printed in his Mémoires sur les choses advenues en France depuis la mort de Henry le Grand, jusques à la paix faite avec les Reformez, au mois de juin 1629 (2 vols., Paris, 1665 ) II, cot. See also Anne de Rohan’s poetical lament for her cousin Stances sur la mort du Roy (Lyon, 1610 ).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Berthold Zeller, La minorité de Louis XIII (2 vols., Paris, 1892–1897) I, 224.

    Google Scholar 

  18. David de Ligues, Histoire de la vie de messire Philippe de Mornay seigneur du Plessis-Marly (Leyden, 1647 ) P. 417.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rohan to La Force June 29,1610, in the latter’s Mémoires authentiques II, 286. For once Duplessis-Mornay and Rohan were in agreement. “L’union ne fut jamais plus requise” he wrote in June 1610, “ny pour le bien de l’estat ny pour notre salut” Mémoires et corres-pondance (1824 edition) XI, 68.

    Google Scholar 

  20. The number of Calvinist churches declined steadily in the early decades of the Seventeenth Century. According to a census taken in 1598 by order of Henry IV there were 694 public churches, 257 fief churches, 800 ministers, 400 proposants (probationary ministers), 274,000 families of which 2,468 were noble — making a total of 1,250,000 souls. N. Weiss, “Statistique du protestantisme français en 1598” Bulletin de la société de l’histoire du protestantisme français XXXVIII (1889) 551–555. The Mercure françois lists 706 Calvinist churches existing in 1621, VII, 329–336. By 1626 the number had declined to 672, a few of which lacked pastors. “L’Estat des églises de pasteurs de France par provinces et colloques 1626” Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 20, 965, f. 29–34 vo.

    Google Scholar 

  21. For the strength of the Reformed party during the first decade of the Seventeenth Century consult a secret report addressed to the King in Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 3850, f. 26–31. For information on the security towns see Fonds français 4102, f. 121–127. For an idea of the structure of the Mi-partie chambers see an arrest of the royal council establishing one at Castres on January 27, 1604 Fonds Dupuy 323 f. 63–66.

    Google Scholar 

  22. L’Estoile, Journal X, 306–307.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Rohan, Mémoires (Michaud edition) p. 493. Doubtless Rohan was a severe critic but many others shared his judgment. Sully, Mémoires (Petitot edition) IX, 348, FontenayMareuil, Mémoires (Petitot edition) I, 117. Richelieu speaks of Bouillon as an “oracle of conspiracy.” Mémoires II, 316. President Gramond writes, `Bullion dubia fides; is (bellis civilibus innutritus, amans factionum, obscurus et implicitus) Regi suspectus aeque ac Sectae suae.“ Historiarum galliae p. 351. For a more favorable estimate of Bouillon consult August Laugel’s ”Le duc de Bouillon d’après des documents inédits, “ Revue des deux mondes XVIII (1876) 897–920; XIX (1877) 165–184.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Sully’s role in the abjuration of Henry IV is discussed in the note “Part de Sully dans l’abjuration de Henry IV” Bulletin de la société de l’histoire du protestantisme français II (1853) 115–116. The comments on his religious habits are taken from Benoit, Histoire de l’édit de Nantes II, 536.

    Google Scholar 

  25. François Annibal, duc d’Estrees, Mémoires (Paris, 1910) p. 44–45.

    Google Scholar 

  26. For a day by day, month by month, account of the proceedings of this assembly see the “Actes de l’assemblée générale politique de ceux de la religion pretendue réformée tenue à Saumur 1611,” Bibliothèque Mazarine MS 26o8. It will be referred to subsequently as the “Actes de Saumur.” The point discussed in the text is taken from f. too. The original brevet authorizing the Huguenots to meet at Chatellerault was issued on October 6,161o, the second changing the location to Saumur on May 2, 1611. Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Dupuy f. 79, f. 103. See also Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Brienne 222 nouvelles acquisitions 7193 f. 136–37 (entries for July 20–21, 161s) for details of the regulation setting up the assemblies of the circle.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mercure françois II, 74.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mercure françois I, 381.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Théodore Agrippa d’Aubigné, Mémoires (Panthéon edition) (Paris, 1836) p. 510.

    Google Scholar 

  30. The conversation quoted in the text is taken from Jacques Marsollier, Histoire de Henry de la Tour d’Auvergne, duc de Bouillon (Paris, 1719) p. 265–66.

    Google Scholar 

  31. For an idea of Marie’s strategy toward the Huguenots consult her “Mémoire servant d’instruction à Claude de Bullion conseiller du roy allant par le commandement de Sa Majesté à Saumur fait à St. Germain en Laye le III jour d’aoust 1611,” Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 4046 f. 78–79 vo.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Actes de Saumur.“ Bibliothèque Mazarine MS 2608 f. 125–54. See also the ”Décision prise en conseil par Louis XIII, prorogeant de cinq ans, à partir de janvier 1612 le brevet par lequel le roi Henri IV avait laissé aux protestants certaines places de sureté 23 juillet 1611,“ Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 4046 f. 61–62 vo.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Henri de Rohan, “Discours à l’assemblée de Saumur” in his Mémoires (1665 edition) II, 103.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rohan, “Discours sur l’état de la France durant ses persecutions de Saint Jean” in his Mémoires (1756 edition) II, szo-21. See the discussion of this in Wladyslaw Stankiewicz, Politics and Religion in Seventeenth Century France (Berkeley, 1960 ).

    Google Scholar 

  35. On August 27, î6i2, James I wrote to Sir Thomas Edmondes, his ambassador at Paris: “You shall labor with all earnestness to hasten also, as soon as can be, a sound and perfect reconciliation betwixt the persons of Bouillon and Rohan.” Thomas Birch, An Historical View of Negotiations between the Courts of England, France, and Brussels from the year 1592 to 1617 (London, 1749) p. 359. For Buillon’s mission to England, see “Le maréchal de Bouillon à la cour d’Angleterre,” Revue des documents historiques I (1873–74) 54–59.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Duplessis-Mornay, as always took the lead in appeasing Bouillon. See his letters to the Marshal in his Mémoires et correspondance (1824 ed.) XI, 459, 461, 464.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Ralph Winwood, Memorials of Affairs of State in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I (3 vols., London, 1725 ) III, 345.

    Google Scholar 

  38. My account of the events which follow is based principally upon a detailed contemporary account in the Mercure françois II, 381–86, on the correspondence of Sir Thomas Edmondes, the British ambassador to France, notably a long letter to Viscount Salisbury dated Paris, March 13, 1612 (O.S.) Public Record Office State Papers 78/59 f. 73–75, and three others cited below: two letters from Marie de Medici to La Force dated April 14 and May 7, 1612, which are printed in his Mémoires authentiques II, 347–52; and on Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Dupuy 343 which contains a detailed account of the Circle Assembly held at La Rochelle, f. 147–153.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Daniel Manceau, “Discours sur les différents arrivés à Saint Jean d’Angély en l’année 1612,” Archives historiques de la Saintonge et de l’Aunis IV (1877) 234. For Rochbeaucourt’s conduct at Saumur see Fontenay-Mareuil, Mémoires I, 154.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Levassor, Histoire du règne de Louis XIII.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Madame de Rohan to Duplessis-Mornay, April 4, 1612. MS Sorbonne 369 f. 186 vo.

    Google Scholar 

  42. See a copy of this letter from Marie to the council dated simply April, 1612, in which she also expresses her intention to “love and cherish” the religionists “provided they remain in their obedience to the crown.” Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 4046 f. 57–61.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Duplessis-Mornay to M Diodaty May 25, 1612, in the former’s Mémoires et correspondance (1824 ed.) XI, 434.

    Google Scholar 

  44. On this point see two letters from Chancellor Sillery to the Senate of La Rochelle February 21, 1612, and Marie to the Senate April 21, 1612, Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Dupuy 323 f. 129,130 in which the Queen guarantees to maintain the Edict of Nantes in its entirety provided the Huguenots remain loyal to the crown. Do not be misinformed concerning Saint Jean, she warned the burghers of La Rochelle.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Themines’ mission is discussed in a letter from Sir Thomas Edmondes to Viscount Salisbury, Paris, April lo, 1612 (O.S.) Public Record Office State Papers 78/59 f. 87–90; see also Fontenay-Mareuil Mémoires (Petitot edition) I, 161.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Sir Thomas Edmondes to Viscount Salisbury, Paris, April i 7, 1612 (O.S.) Public Record Office State Papers 78/59 f. 95–97. See also Madame de Rohan’s comments on this settlement. Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 15873 f. r 12.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Sir Thomas Edmondes to Ralph Winwood July 12, 2652, in Sir Ralph Winwood, Memorials of Affairs of State in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I (3 vols., London, 1725 ) III, 380.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Charles Pradel, “Une épisode des premiers démelés survenus entre Marie de Medicis et le duc de Rohan (le Baron de Saujon, 1612)” Mémoires de l’académie des sciences, inscriptions, et belles lettres de Toulouse 8th series VI (1884) 107–127.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Etienne Charavay, Collection des lettres, autographes et de documents historiques sur le règne de Louis XIII formée par feu M.A. Pecard (Paris, 1873 ) p. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Jacques Merlin, “Diare,” Archives historiques de la Saintonge et de l’ Aunis V (1878) 170–71.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Duplessis-Mornay, Mémoires et correspondance (1824 edition) XI, 462; Mercure françois II, 476–82.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Rohan decided to submit to the Queen on January 13, 1613. See Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Dupuy 343 f. 137–40.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Jack Alden Clarke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1966 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Clarke, J.A. (1966). The Party Seeks a Leader. In: Huguenot Warrior. International Archives of the History of Ideas / Archives Internationales D’Histoire des Idees, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1798-4_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1798-4_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8251-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1798-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation