The Marquess of Rhosny went into the Closet, passing by the Duke of Biron without taking notice of him, and after he had stayed there about half an hour, he came and saluted the Duke of Biron, and told him the King asked for him; there he was exhorted not to conceal what time would ere long discover, and of what he was so well informed, that the desire he had to know it from himself, was meerly because no body else should take notice of it. The Duke of Biron who thought that la Fin had revealed nothing, stood still upon the protestations of his own innocency, beseeching the King to do him justice, of those who went about to oppress him with unsufferable calumnies, or to permit him to do himself reason. The King carried him to the Tennis-court, where the Duke took upon him to order the match, and said that the Duke of Espernon and himself would hold it against the King and the Earl of Soisson, the Duke of Espernon answered presently: you play well, but you do not make your matches well; which was observed by the King and the standers by. Supper time being come, he did sup at the Table of the great Master, to repare the fault he had done in the morning. Every one did perceive that he was not contented, for he eat little or nothing, and no body spoke to him, every one holding him already for a cast-away. The King in the mean while was walking in his Chamber, meditating some great resolution, and he was heard to say these words, he must either bow or break.
That evening past away so quietly, that many thought it would be a Thunder with much noise and little hurt. The King commanded the Earl of Soissons to go to the Duke of Biron, and to do his best to break the hardness of his heart, and to draw the truth out of him; he went and intreated him to satisfie the King in what he desired to know from him, and to be afraid of the Kings displeasure and indignation. The Duke of Biron for answer told him, that the King could not complain but of the good services he had done to him, and that he himself had great occasion to complain of the King who mistrusted him after so many trials and experiments of his faithfulness, and that he should never have more of him then he had at his first coming; the Earl of Soissons, seeing his obstinacy, left him.
The next day early the King walking in the little Garden, sent for the Duke of Biron, and spoke to him a great while, thinking to overcome his obstinacy, and to give him means to escape the danger he was running into; he was seen a great while with his Hat off, his eyes lifted up to Heaven, smiting his breast, and making great protestations to uphold his innocency; there appeared then in the Kings face a great deal of anger, and in that of the Duke of Biron a great deal of fire and violence, all his words were nothing but threatnings, lightnings, ruines, and Hell against those that had spoken ill of him; from thence he went to dinner, and met with a man who brought him a Letter, to advise him to look to himself, he shewed it to the Captain of his Guards, and made slight of it, and said, he would be beholding to his valor for his life, and not to a flight; all the afternoon the King stayed in the Gallery, and spoke four hours to the Lord of la Curée, the Queen being present and speaking never a word; the King was in a great perplexity of mind, before he could resolve himself. The Lords of Vileroy, Sillery and Geure were seen often to go to and fro, which made some suspect, that it was to begin by the execution in so great a crime; but the King was against that, such proceedings had been blamed in his Predecessor, he would have every body to know that he had authority and power enough to exterminate his enemies, according to the Laws.
The resolution was taken to have him arrested, and also the Earl of Auvergne, the King would not have them to be taken in the Castle, but in their own Lodgings; the Duke of Biron, who was in some suspicion of it, and had prepared himself to what he could, neither prevent nor hinder, did imagine that there was no fear of any thing in the Kings Chamber, and that all the danger should be at the going out, and therefore by time had provided himself with a short Sword, with which he promised to make himself room through all dangers. They represented to the King, that if he were Arrested any where but in the Castle, it could not be done without bloodshed, and that it was no matter where the Lyon was taken, so that profit might arise of his prize.
It was perceived that in the same Gallery the King sent for Vitry and Pralin, two Captains of his Guards, and gave them the order he would have to be observed for the execution of his commands, and then called for his Supper. The Duke of Biron was at supper in the Lord Montignys Lodging, where he spoke more highly and bravely then ever of his Deserts, and of the friends he had made lately in Switzerland; then began to fall upon the praises of the late King of Spain, extolling his Piety, Justice and liberality; Montigny stopt him, saying, that the greatest commendation that could be given to his memory, was, that he had put his own Son to death, for endeavouring to trouble his Estate; this word stopt those of the Duke of Biron, who answered only with his eyes, and thought upon it with some amazement. After supper the Earl of Auvergne and the Duke of Biron came to the King, who was walking in the Garden, the King making an end of his walk did invite the Duke of Biron to play at Cards, they went into the Queens Cnamber, the Earl of Auvergne passing by the Duke of Biron told him softly, we are undone; the Game begun at the primara, the Queen was one of the Gamsters, the Duke of Biron another, and two more. The King went into his Closet, divided between two contrary passions; the love he had formerly for the Duke of Biron, the knowledge he had of his valour, and the remembrance of his services, excluded all thoughts of his Justice; on the other side, the fear of troubles in his Estate, the horrid effects of so unnatural a conspiracy did accuse his Clemency of cruelty, if he went about to prefer the particular good to the publick, he prayed to God to assist him with his Holy Spirit, to appease the troubles of his soul, and to strengthen him with a Holy resolution, that he might do what was for the good of his people, upon whom he Reigned by his only Grace; his prayer being ended, all the difficulties that troubled his soul vanished away, there remained only a firm resolution, to put the Duke into the hands of Justice, if he could not draw the truth out of him; the Game went on still, the King took sometimes the Queens Cards, expecting the appointed time. The Earl of Auvergne was gone to his Lodging, the King sent for him, and walked in the Chamber, while the Duke thought upon nothing but his play. De Varennes Lieutenant of his Troop faining to take up his Cloak, whispered him softly that he was undone; this word did trouble him so much, that he neglected his play, and oversaw himself, the Queen gave him notice of it; the King did bid them to give over playing, and commanded every one to retire, he went into his Closet, and took the Dake of Biron with him, whose good and bad fortune depended from an answer pleasing his Majesty, who bid him once for all to tell what he had done with the Duke of Savoy and the Earl of Fuentes, assuring him, that his clemency should be greater than his fault. The Duke of Biron answered the King more proudly than ever, that it was to press an honest man too much, that he never had any other design, but what he had told him already. Would to God it were so, said the King. You will not tell me: Farewell, good night.
As he went out of the Closet, and had passed the Chamber door, he met Vitry, who with his right hand seized upon the Hilt of his Sword, and with his left upon his right Arm, saying, The King hath commanded me to give him an account of your Person, give up your Sword. You jeer, said the Duke. No my Lord, he hath so commanded me. The Duke of Biron answered, I pray thee let me speak to the King. No my Lord, the King is gone to Bed. He saw the Duke of Monbazon, and desired him to intreat the King, that he might surrender it into his own Hands. The King sent word to Vitry to obey his commands. The Duke was fained to suffer his Sword to be taken from him; saying, My Sword that hath done so many good services! Yes my Lord, give me your Sword, said Vitry. To me, said the Duke, that have served the King so well, that my Sword should be taken from me, my Sword that hath made an end of the War, and given Peace to France, that my Sword, which could not be taken by my Enemies, should be taken away by my Friends. All these complaints availed nothing; he ungirted his Sword with his left hand, and gave it to Vitry, looking about if he could seize upon any other, but care was taken for that.
When he saw all the Guards in order in the Gallery, he thought he should have been Massacred upon the place, and cryed to them, fellow Souldiers give me a little time to pray to God, and let me have some Firebrand or Candlestick in my hand, that I may have the Honour to die defending my self. He was answered, that no Body would offend him, that his best defence was to obey the King, who commanded to lead him to Bed, you see said he, how the good Catholicks are used. He was carryed into the Arms Closet, where he neither slept nor lay down, but past the night in blasphemies against God, and reviling words against the King.
Pralin was staying for the Earl of Auvergne at the Castle Gate, and when he offered to go out to his lodging; stay my Lord, you are the Kings Prisoner. The Earl astonished, answered I, I? and Pralin answered, yes my Lord, you, I Arrest you by the King, and make you his Prisoner, give up your Sword, take it said the Earl it never killed any thing but Boars, if you had given me notice of this, I should have been in Bed and asleep two hours ago.
The next day about dinner time the Duke of Biron sent word to the King, that if he did not take care of the Province of Burgundy, it would be lost, because the Baron of Lux would let in the Spaniards as soon as he should have notice of his detention. The King was very much offended at this message, and said, see the impudence and boldness of the Duke of Biron, who sendeth me word that Burgundy is lost, if I do not look to it. His obstinacy hath undone him, if he would have confessed the truth of a thing that I have under his hand, he should not be where he is. I wish I had paid 200000. Crowns, and he had given me the means to forgive him. I never loved any man so much, I would have trusted him with my Son and my Kingdom. ’Tis true, he hath served me well, but he cannot deny but that I have saved his life three times; I rescued him once from the hands of the Enemy at Fontain Francoise, so wounded and astonished with blows, that as I plaid the part of a Souldier to save him, I was also fained to make that of a Captain to make the retreat; for he told me he was not in a case to do it.
The Saturday next the prisoners were carryed to Paris by water, and put into the Bastille in several Chambers. The Duke of Biron was put into that, called of the Saints famous, for the Prison of the Constable of Saint Paul, executed in the time of Lewis the XI. and the Earl in the Chamber above him.