enployed in July, 1631, in fortifying that city. A question had arisen between him and the Duke de Candales upon his refusal to attend a Council of War unless he were given the precedence, and Zorzi, the "Proveditore Generale," was directed to take Rohan's opinion separately.

On the 17th October, Rohan was summoned to appear in the Senate where a communication which had been made to the Signor d'Avo, the French Ambassador, respecting the levies, was read to him, and in which his zeal and fidelity were highly commended,1 and reliance expressed upon his efforts to serve the Republic.

A despatch addressed to the Venetian Ambassadors in Spain and other countries, read in the Senate on the 29th Nov. 1631,2 stated that Rohan had entered into communication with the Grisons who were aiming at independence under the protection of France. These proceedings on his part rendered some observations necessary, and moved the Senate to inform their representatives abroad of the true state of things-not in order to justify the conduct of the Republic, which would not be consistent with the dignity of a free state (decoro di sua libertà); but that they might, if necessary, meet and expose any doubts as to the rectitude of their intentions. "The Signor de Rohan," they declared, "came to Venice when the King of France considered it desirable that he should leave "his kingdom (hebbe per buona la lontananza di lui dal Regno). "It was only to please His Majesty that he was retained as a "stipendiary by the Republic, which, however, had never had "occasion to avail itself of his services. The Grisons being "desirous of having him with them, he had asked for "permission to leave. As he was in the pay of the State, "the Senate had hesitated to grant it; but being again pressed by the Grisons he had gone off to them. This was the whole truth. Rohan had not joined the Grisons either "with the permission of the Senate or by its instructions, nor in any official capacity."

The next document relating to Rohan which I have found in the Venice Archives is a letter addressed by him on the 8th March, 1632, from Coire to Alvisi Zorzi, in which he says that, having left Venice without a public or formal leave, or licence, and without stating his reasons for so doing to the Senate, it could only be supposed that he had done so in

conformity with what he considered the desire of the Republic, for whose service it was necessary that he should have thus acted rather than publicly (alla scoperta.) Under these circumstances it would be a great breach of duty on his part not to find some means of quietly (senza strepito) informing the Republic of matters of importance. After much reflection he had thought it best to address himself to His Excellency as its highest representative.

Rohan appears to have been unable to procure the promised levies for the service of the Republic, but he continued to receive his stipend. In a letter to the Doge, from Coire, on the 20th Nov., 1633,' he says that having heard that His Serenity had determined to fill up, very shortly, some military posts that were vacant, he would do himself as well as the Republic in whose intimate service he was, injustice, if he did not offer himself for one of them-especially considering the considerable stipend he had been receiving for many years. He then asks for some employment, and expresses a hope that his birth, his various commands in war, his long experience in such matters, and the many events (accidenti) of his troubled life, would be taken into consideration.

Rohan in a letter to Zorzi from Coire, dated Dec. 10,2 makes a further request for employment, adding that he would not seek to obtain it by plotting and intriguing (ne con broglio ne con intrighi) but by rendering extraordinary services to the Republic. In the same letter he states that the troubles which had arisen amongst the Swiss, would soon cease if the King of France would send money, as he had advised His Majesty to do. The Spaniards were seeking to encourage divisions amongst them in order to counteract the policy of His Majesty, and were intriguing to deprive him (Rohan) of his employment, asserting that he showed partiality to Zurich and the Catholic Cantons. His enemies were availing themselves of this pretext to endeavour to excite the suspicions of the King. To believe that he had fomented divisions among the Swiss was too ridiculous, as union was absolutely nocessary to the country. Without it they (the Swiss) could do nothing.

Louis XIII having, in Aug. 1633, decided to interfere in the affairs of the Valtelline, and to send troops against the Spaniards, who were endeavouring to obtain possession of that valley and the Grisons, gave the command of the army to Rohan. Space will not allow me to follow the campaign of Rohan during this war, in which he obtained several signal victories over the Spaniards, and shewed great military Appendix xiv. Appendix xv.

2

capacity. A full account of them is given in his letters and those of his secretary, Benedetto Priolo, to Zorzi, with whom he was in constant correspondence, although he was no longer in the service of the Republic. I have given a list of these letters, with a short notice of their contents, so that anyone interested in the events to which they refer may readily find them in the Venetian Archives.

In August 1636, Rohan was suffering from an illness, apparently a dangerous fever, which threatened his life. On the 30th of the month, Priolo, writing from Sondrio to Zorzi, says "To-day we see the Duke (Rohan) brought, after his "many troubles, to the end of his life. The King will lose in "him a great commander, and the Republic a servant passion"ately devoted to its service. In the height of this great "grief the only consolation that remains to me is the reflection that he dies full of glory and honor. I will issue orders to "have his body taken to France with all the pomp worthy of the greatness of such a Prince. I will myself go beforehand "to give an account of everything to the King and the "Cardinal (Richelieu)."

On the previous day M. de Roqueservière, apparently an officer of rank in Rohan's army, had written the following letter to Zorzi, which I give in its original orthography. Monseigneur,

Depuis m'etre donne l'honneur descripre a vostre Exellence Monseigneur le Duc de Rohan est Touiours demeure de mesme en sa santé et na point de (MS. illegible) de ces forces. Néantmoings Mr. de Prioleau est Touiours dans l'opignion quil nen sauroit rechaper et a de son coste deux autres medesins, que sont de son opignon, mais le quatriesme qui est Mr. le Roux, en a Tousiours bonne esperance hiere Mr. de Laguer, Mr. de Leques, et Mr. Prioleau le voleurent entrentenir des affaires de la Cour et apres les avoir escoutes avec patience, il leur respondist, il nest plus Temps ie suis tres humle serviteur de Monsieur le Cardinal et tres humble et tres obeissant sibviteur du Roy. Lessez moy en repos et se tourna de lautre costé. Iay entrentenu particullerement M. de Prioleau Lequel ma dict quel parloit de lettres de creance du Roy, et de M. le Cardinal a Mondict Seigneur mais que le voyant en lestat quil est il ne diroit pas ung sul mot de sa Creance. Les lettres ont este ouvertes, par celles il est ordonne a mon diet Seigneur dagir puissement contre les espagnols, avec promesse quon luy faict de ne le lesser doresnavant plus menquer de Rien et quon luy fournira dequoy avoir de bons cauous et toutes les choses necessaires quil sauroit desirer, ce qui est tout contraire a ce que lay escript a vostre Exce. par ma derniere ie ne say a quil dessaing M. de Prioleau et Isaac dirent ceste nouvelle en arrivant.

li semble que la peste et les fiebures commensent ung petit a ce diminuer pourveu que dieu nous conserve nostre patron nous nous mettrons enchores un fois en estat de combatre mais autrement tout niroit pas bien que est tout ce que ie puis dire pour le present a Vostre Exce. en l'assurant que ie suis

De Vostre Excellence,

Tres humble tres obeissant et tres fidelle seboiteur Roqueservière.

au camp de Sondrio.

29 Aoust, 1636.

1See Appendix xvi.

On the 31st August, Priolo begs Zorzi,1 as there were no materials in the camp for embalming the body of Rohan, to allow the apothecary at Edolo to meet the treasurer of the Duke's household on the Venetian confines, in order to arrange for furnishing them, so sure was he that his master's end had

come.

On the 1st September, however, a great and sudden change took place in Rohan's condition which M. de Roqueservière thus quaintly announces to Zorzi."

Monseigneur,

Il semble que dieu veult resussiter Monsiegneur le Duc de Rohan; hiere non seulement ses medesins, mais touts ceux qui le servent, croyoint quil ne passeroit pas la nuit. Mais au matin, il a commense a reprendre vigeur, et ce porte beaucoup mieux quil navoit faict il ya dix Jours, on luy a tiré du sang de la cheville a ce Matin, et du despuis les medesins dizent que son poux se ranforce de moment en moment, et quilz ont quelque esperance de sa guerison.

Je donoray advis a Vostre Excellence de Temps en Temps, de Lestat de sa santé, de france despuis ma derniere nous navons rien a prins de nouveav, au premier Jour on faira faire la montre à cette armée, que est Tout ce que ie puis dire pour le present a vostre Exellence en l'assurant que je sebay toute ma oye.

Monseigneur De Vostre Excellence,

Tres humble tres sobeissant et tres fidelle serviteur,

Au Camp de Sondrio ce premier Septembre, 1636.

Roqueserviere.

On the 4th Sept. Priolo wrote "This letter will inform "your Ex of a great miracle. The Duc de Rohan is resus"citated. The physicians had already abandoned him, already 'he was speechless, already his teeth were clenched, already, "I may say, he was almost dead. All of a sudden he moved, "and he began to speak to me. The fever, however, remains,

"and he is so weak that he is still in danger.""

On the 19th Sept. Priolo informs Zorzi that the Duke was gaining strength daily. He had left his bed and could walk sufficiently well about his room. Fireworks and other demonstrations of public joy for his recovery were being prepared. He had restored to liberty all the prisoners and had released, without ransom, the Count of Valenza, requesting him to tell the people of Milan that he was not dead, but that they would hear of him again. In the height of his illness he had ordered his heart to be given to his daughter, and his body to be conveyed to the city of Rohan in Brittany. He bequeathed his sword to the Republic of Venice, and his arms to the

Canton of Zurich.3

66

In the Archives I found the following letter addressed,_on the 16th Oct., to Zorzi by a French priest or monk, one Fra Mauritio, who pretended that Rohan had been converted to the Roman Catholic faith; "I have sent your lordship's letter "to Mantua, and having come, for certain private affairs, to "Lovere in the district of Bergamo, I found there our friend "Father Raimondo, guardian (custode) of the provinces of "Aquitaine; who, by order of the Ambassador of His Most Christian Majesty, had remained for twelve days in the "Valtelline, as Rohan refused to make profession to him of "the Holy Catholic Faith. The Grisons having become suspicious of him, he was compelled to defer his attempt, 'which nevertheless will succeed, for as soon as the Duke "rose from his bed he proceeded to the Church of the Capuchin "fathers to return thanks to God and the most Holy Virgin, to "whose holy house at Loretto he had vowed himself, whilst "during his illness the only thing he was heard to say was, "that he believed in the authority of the Pope and of the Holy Catholic Church. This, illustrious Sir, you may consider most certain and true. Rohan is now in Coire with "only eight companies of cavalry to concert with the Grisons. "Twelve thousand pistols (doppie) have passed through this "place (Lovere), sent by the French Ambassador from Venice "to the Valtelline."1

No mention is elsewhere made, as far as I am aware, of this conversion to the Roman Catholic faith of Henri de Rohan, and I suspect that the good father invented the story.

On the 12th Sept., Rohan himself announced his recovery to Zorzi, and begged him to convey to the Doge his thanks for the interest which His Serenity had shewn in him during his illness. His signature to the letter is almost illegible, proving that he was still ill.

Rohan had been incessantly engaged in endeavouring to reconcile the Swiss Protestant and Catholic Cantons; but without success. The Grisons gave him especial trouble. They refused to receive the French troops, and demanded the cession to them of the Valtelline. In Dec., 1636, Rohan had gone to Coire to conclude a treaty with them, duly accepted by the assembly of the Grisons, which had met with this object at that place. The "Treaty of Tozano" had been scarcely agreed to, when the Grisons, by a gross act of treachery, seized and imprisoned Rohan, and compelled him by force to sign a convention surrendering to them the Valtelline, and

1 Appendix xx.