Grotius having asked an audience of the King in the month of March, 1639[360], Count Brulon, Introductor of Ambassadors, waited on him to know what he purposed to say to the King, under pretence that when his Majesty was not previously apprised of certain affairs, he was too much affected by them.  Grotius answered, that he should say nothing disagreeable to the King.  Brulon wanting to enter into farther particulars, the Ambassador told him, he would follow his orders.  The audience, however, was granted:  he remonstrated to the King the necessity of sending speedy succours to the Duke of Weymar to enable him to penetrate into the heart of Germany, whilst Marshal Bannier did the same on his side:  and assured him, that the Queen was determined to embark the recruits and provisions for that General’s army as soon as the season would permit.  The King answered, that he had affairs in so many places he could not do at once all that he desired.

Grotius ascribed the King’s explaining himself so coldly to the offence taken by Cardinal Richelieu at the Duke of Weymar.  His Eminence wanted to prevail with that Prince to come and pass the winter at Paris, in order to enter into a closer connection with him, and to get from him the possession of Brisac.  The Duke, who was informed of his intentions, chose rather to remain in Germany, than to be near an absolute Minister whom it was dangerous to contradict.  It is said that from this time the Cardinal resolved to obstruct the progress of a Prince, whose ambition and valour filled him with apprehensions.  Grotius had a new audience of the King in the middle of April following, to represent to him the necessity of augmenting the army commanded by the Duke of Weymar, who had sent Erlac to court to obtain speedy succours.  The King promised that Erlac should be satisfied.

FOOTNOTES: 

[356] Ep. 1038. p. 468.

[357] Ep. 1064. p. 480.

[358] Ep. 1079. p. 485.

[359] Ep. 1090. p. 490. & 1093. p. 491.

[360] Ep. 1137. p. 514.

VI.  These were only vague promises which the Ministry never intended to fulfil.  The Cardinal had made no secret[361] of his desire to gain the Duke of Weymar by giving him his niece in marriage:  the Prince’s refusal and his desire to keep Brisac had so much offended his Eminence, that he even told Erlac that the Duke hearkened to bad counsels, and that his behaviour to France was not such as gratitude and civility required.  The malevolence of the French Minister[362] chagrined the Duke so much that he fell ill:  it was only a slight indisposition, but, however, he did not long survive it[363]:  a violent fever seized him at Neubourg, which on the fourth day cut off a Prince, whom Grotius calls the honour and last resource of Germany[364]:  the tenth of July, 1639, was the last of this illustrious personage.  It was at that time very doubtful[365] whether he died of the plague, which prevailed in those