Since that time the French Embassador received no Letters but they were presently imparted to the Spanish Councel: But the Lord la Rochepot being called back into France, L’Oste lost the conveniency of prosecuting his Treasons, and consequently the hopes of his promised reward, therefore sought means to come again into his first Masters, that is, Villeroy’s service, but he was a while kept back from it by reason of a difference between his Mother and Villeroy, about some rest of Accounts; but L’Oste had rather take that loss upon him than to be deprived of that occasion. The Embassador himself gave him a large Testimony Of his ability and faithfulness, and was Instrumental for his re-admission into that service.
Thus being re-established, he became more diligent and sedulous than ever before, and not only writ more Letters than any of his fellows, but also offered them his service to help them, that he might have a more perfect knowledge of all transactions, and so impart them to the Spaniard, and so visited and conferred with Taxis the Spanish Embassador at Paris, and after that with his successor, Don Baltazar de Cuniga, with so much cunning and secrecy, that the Councel of Spain received his Letters, before des Barreaux the French Embassador at Madrid, could receive those of the King.
Des Barreaux sent word to the King, that when he propounded any thing, according to his Majesties command, to the Councel of Spain, he found them always preadvised, and could not find out by what means; certainly said the King, there must be some in my Councel that keep a strict intelligence with the Spaniard, and I can not tell whom to suspect. Providence doth often draw good effects out of the worse causes, and permitteth that the wicked should disclose one anothers wickedness, as a Nail driveth out another. Loste had revealed himself familiarly to one Raffis, formerly Secretary to the Lord Lansac, a fugitive into Spain, for many Treasons, and exempted from pardon; but the Spaniard had begun to cut him short of his former Pensions, since the Treason of the Baron of Fontanelles, Governour of Dornavenest in Brittanny, in which the said Raffis had been a principal Actor, though in vain, so that since, the Councel of Spain looked upon him as an unprofitable servant, and withdrew their Pension.
Raffis finding himself near a great want and misery, thought this occasion might be a means to prevent it, and to procure his return into his native Countrey, by doing so great a service to his Prince; therefore he went to one of the French Embassadors most faithful servants, and told him his grief, for having had a share in so many Treasons and Rebellions in France, which he acknowledged God had into his particular protection, that he was resolved to blot out the memory of them by a notable service done to the King and Kingdom, but that could not be, unless he had first obtained pardon for all his former misdemeanors.
This being told to the Embassadour, he heard Raffis, who told him in general that the King was betrayed, and his most secret Councel bewrayed, but that he could not name the Traitor, no not to his Majesty himself, before he had his pardon: that being done, he would wholly withdraw himself from those whom he knew certainly to be enemies to the Kingdom. The Embassadour sent an express to the King to give him notice of it. The King sent him full power to treat with Raffis, with promiss to ratifie whatsoever he should promiss to Raffis; Raffis could not make good his accusation, but by two Letters written by Loste, to a great friend of his, named Blas, which Letters he knew to be in a Box of Blas, who lodged with him; therefore upon some pretext or another, they found means to send Blas as far as l’Escurial. In his absence Raffis and Descardes Secretary to the Embassadour, broke open the Box, and took out the Letters, by which Loste did much magnifie the liberalities of Spain, as being above his desert and expectation; with this proofs and the Embassadors Letters, Raffis fained to go to a Monastery near Madrid, and there make his devotions upon Palm-Sunday, as he was wont to do, but he went directly to Bayone, where he met with Discardes upon a set day. Blas came back after Palm-Sunday, and finding his Box open, and his companion run away, he suspected the matter, and gave notice of it to the Spanish Ministers, who presently dispatched two Courriers to the Spanish Embassador at Paris, to give him notice that a man was gone from Madrid; who would discover Loste and his practises, therefore he should give him notice of it, and bid him look to himself, and that in case he should be taken, to keep secresie.
Descardes and Raffis came to Paris the Wensday after Easter, and carried themselves with all faithfulness in this occasion, but not with all the prudence that could have been desired. Villeroy was going the same day to lie at his own House, between Paris and Fountain-bleau, where the Court was then; they met with him at Juvisy, and waited on him as far as Villeroy, but told him nothing of the occasion of their coming by the way, till they presented him with the Embassadors Letters, which was a notable fault, for he would certainly have neglected all other business to secure his man, who was then doing his devotions at the Charter-house of Paris.
The next day Villeroy was the first that told the King of the coming of Raffis, and of the perfidiousness of his own servant. As he was going back to his Lodging, notice was given him that two Spanish Courtiers were arrived at the Post-house; he commanded one of the Commissioners of the Post-house, that he should cause them to withdraw into a Room, and that no body should speak with them; he charged also Descardes, that he should spy the coming of Loste, that he should keep him close company, and send him presently notice of his arrival. The Commissioner and Descardes did commit here another great fault, for Loste being come to the Post-house about noon, this silly Commissioner told him that there were arrived two Spanish Courtiers who asked for him, that they had Letters for him, and more then that, suffered him to go into their Chamber and see them, he saluted them, and one of them whispered him in the ear that he was undone if he did not save himself presently, and that Raffis had discovered him; fear and astonishment with his guilty conscience, persuaded him easily to look to himself.
Nevertheless, he settled his countenance the best he could, he went out with an intention to take his Horse again, which he had sent before, and so save himself; Descardes and Raffis perceived him, Descardes came and saluted him, and thinking perhaps that he was strong enough to give an account of him, neglected to send word to Villeroy, who was then in his Closet with the Bishop of Chartres; Descardes presence was a great thorn in Loste’s foot, to be rid of him, he said he was going to his Master, who stayed for him; Descardes offered to accompany him: he answered, he had not dined, and that believing it was past Dinner time at home, he would go into some Cabaret to look for a Dinner, the other answered I have not dinned neither, we shall dine together. Loste found another excuse, and said my Boots hurt me, I pray give me leave that I may go and pull them off; Descardes answered, he must needs drink with him. Thus arguing together, they came to Villeroy’s Lodging, where Descardes thinking to have him sure, left him in the Room, not knowing that the Spanish Courtiers had talked with him, and came near the Closet to give notice of it to Villeroy; but as soon as he saw himself rid of Descardes, he went down into the Stable, and finding his Horse yet Sadled he Mounted, and with all speed rid to Paris; Villeroy in the mean time having notice that his man was come, he commanded they should bring them in; but he was not to be found, nor his Horse neither, no body knowing which way he was gone. Villeroy told the King that his man was escaped, they sent after him on all sides, and Villeroy particularly sent all his Servants after into all the ways. Loste coming to Paris about nine of the Clock at night, went to take counsel of the Spanish Embassadour, and before day, went out habited like a Spaniard, with the Embassadors Steward, and took his way towards Meaux, with an intent to get into Luxembourg by Poste.
That every one might endeavour the apprehending of that Traitor, it was spread abroad that one of Villeroy’s Secretaries had attempted upon the Kings Person, and notice was given of his Stature, Age, Cloaths and Horse. The Sheriffs of every Countrey were in quest, and all Post-Masters were forbidden to let out any Horses, but that of Meaux had notice of it too late; Loste was got on Horseback already, but assoon as he began to gallop, his Horse fell to the ground, and was an ill Omen to the Rider; he got up again, and shewed so much fearfulness in his Countenance, that the Postillion himself thought he had committed some notorious villany, which he did run for. Being come home, he gave notice of it to his Master, who suspecting him to be the man enquired off, he gave notice of it to the Sheriff, who presently made after him at the second Ferry of la Ferte soubs Jouare, where he was Crossing the River; the Sheriff cried after the Ferry man to come back, but the fear of his life, which the two run aways put him into, prevailed upon him, above the Sheriffs commands, being got over, and judging that their Post-Horses should be quickly overtaken by those of the Sheriff, they forsook them and the Postillion; and trusted to their heels in the darkness of the night among the Bushes and Brambles that are upon the River Marne. The Sheriff scattered his men all about, caused fires to be made, and raised up all the Countrey people thereabout; the Spaniard ran over the Champion Countrey, and Loste went from Bush to Bush, and whether accidentally or wilfully he fell into the River Marne, where he was drowned; the next day his Hat was found between two posts, and his body two days after not far from that place.
Thus you may plainly see the full event of those two famous Prophecies, contained in this sixth Stanza.