relation, the Abbé de Montesquiou, all the letters and papers of
the Sieur de Lestang, which consisted in many letters, of which I
have kept a list, containing shortly the subject of each letter.
These letters only show his journeys backwards and forwards; there
are some of them in which he is advised to take care of himself;
one, among others, is from the Ministers of Mantua, informing him
of the joy of the Duke at his prosperous return from France, and of
his having sent a boat to Placentia for him, in order that he may
come to him more securely and more conveniently. He had many other
papers, among which I have seen nothing of consequence, except a
Spanish cypher, which he confesses to have come from the Count de
Melgar.[279]
I made him relate before me to the Abbé de Montesquiou, all that he
had done since his return from France, without interrupting him;
having, nevertheless, let him know, before I permitted him to speak,
that we were perfectly well-informed of his villainy, in order to
see what colour he would give to his bad conduct. He says, that on
his return from France, he went to Turin, where, from gratitude to
that court, which had done him the honour of making use of him in
many affairs, he thought himself obliged, on account of civility, to
see the President Turki;[280] that it was true, in talking of news
and of the state of affairs at present, he allowed him to discover
that something new was about to take place in Italy; and that the
aforesaid President, in the course of the conversation he had with
him, gave him to understand that he had no doubt there had been a
treaty made respecting Casale. It is thus that the Sieur de Lestang
relates what he did at Turin, in order to excuse his treachery
there, of which you, Sir, are already perfectly well-informed,
as well as of the money he received for it. This was the first
discovery that had been made of this affair, which hitherto had been
conducted so secretly.
From Turin he went, by Placentia, to Mantua, to join his master,
whom he found still well-intentioned for the completion of the
affair. Even two days after his return, having fallen ill, the
Duke of Mantua came to see him; and he took this occasion to make
him sign the ratification, and to write a letter to the Governor
of Casale, in which he recommended him to do all that should be
told him by the Sieur de Lestang. Another letter, in form of a
command, was written to the aforesaid Governor, to receive the
troops of the King; in a word, he was provided at this moment with
all things necessary for the entire conclusion of this affair. A
few days afterwards, he was informed that his master had changed
his resolution; and that it was even his intention to take out of
his hands all that he had done and signed, which could render the
treaty valid. That the Duke of Mantua began by saying that nothing
had been done in this business with his participation; and that he
disavowed entirely all that he, the Sieur de Lestang, had done. This
prince could not then do otherwise, the Spaniards and his mother
being so particularly informed of this transaction, that they showed
him exact copies of the whole treaty. (These they had acquired,
either by a second piece of treachery of the Sieur de Lestang, or
through the court of Savoy.) The Sieur de Lestang says, that, under
divers pretexts, he always eluded giving up the originals to the
Duke of Mantua, in order that he might himself remain master of the
affair; and that he had not despaired of being able to complete it,
by contriving expedients to enable him to surmount the obstacles
that had occurred; as well as through the intelligence that existed
between him and the Governor of Casale.
He says, that the Spaniards, knowing he was master of these papers,
had made him considerable offers in order to obtain them. That the
Spaniards being so well-informed, he thought it necessary to make
a false confidence to them on the subject, in order to amuse them,
by telling them that the affair had entirely failed; hoping by
this confidence, to diminish their suspicions, and the precautions
they might have taken to prevent his profiting by the advantages
which his intelligence with the Governor of Casale gave him for
the conclusion of the business. That he even took this cypher, of
which I have before spoken, from M. de Melgar, in order to make this
false confidence the more credible to him. Thus it is that this
rascal pretends to escape the accusation that has been made against
him on account of the Spanish cypher, which has been found in his
possession.
He has told us positively, that the Duke of Mantua was poisoned at
the house of an individual named Le Romain, at Venice, where he
went to drink iced water; that the deed was done by the Spaniards,
and the poison administered by one of his own domestics; that this
prince could not live more than three or four months. He says
that he learnt this from the Spaniards, with whom he kept up a
communication, for the purpose of amusing them.
In the midst of these events, he says that he agreed upon the
rendezvous of Incréa, where he was to meet d’Asfeld, on the 7th
March, for the exchange of the ratifications; after which he did
not doubt but he should be able to conclude the affair, having all
the orders necessary, besides his intelligence with the Governor,
so that he could not have found any obstacle, nor any difficulty;
that in going to the before-mentioned Incréa, he had been searched
and robbed, on the frontiers of the Brescian and the Milanese; that,
notwithstanding, having remained master of his papers, which were
concealed in a saddle, he had afterwards continued his journey as
far as Buffacore, where the arrest of d’Asfeld was confirmed to him
in a manner he could no longer doubt; that M. de Villars, who was
still Ambassador at Turin, having no knowledge of this affair, and
being doubtful himself, whether, if he came to Pignerol, I[281]
should place confidence in him, he took the resolution of going back
to Venice, to inform M. de Pinchesne of all that had happened, and
to concert new measures with him; that upon a simple letter of the
Abbé d’Estrades, who sent him word it was necessary they should have
an interview, he had not lost a moment of time in going to Turin;
that with the consent of the aforesaid Abbé d’Estrades, he had been
at Asti, for the purpose of managing a secret interview with the
Governor of Casale, at a mile from Moncalvo, in order, by promising
him great recompenses, to engage him to receive the troops, when,
for the saving of his honour, he should have received an order from
his master, and been shown that he had made a treaty with the King.
He says that he left him in a very good disposition. That afterwards
he returned to Turin, where the Abbé d’Estrades proposed to him an
interview with me, in which I arrested him.
This, Sir, is the simple and true recital of what the Sieur de
Lestang has told me, which confirms me in the belief that he is a
thorough rascal; not having been able to give me any good reason
why he discovered this affair to the President Turki, when he
passed through Turin; or why he concealed from M. de Pinchesne his
communication with the Spaniards, his acceptation of their cypher,
and his interviews with an Inquisitor of State at Venice; if, as he
says, he only did these things in order the better to advance the
affair in question.
I have made him write three letters for the purpose of getting
possession of the original papers which are at Padua, which have
been put into the hands of the Sieur Giuliani, by the advice of
the Abbé d’Estrades, who places an entire confidence in him:
he will make use of these three letters as he shall judge most
fit, according to the disposition in which he shall find the
father of the Sieur de Lestang. The first is only a letter of the
Sieur de Lestang to his father, in which he acquaints him, that
there are reasons which oblige him to remain at Turin, or in the
neighbourhood, but that he may place an entire confidence in the
Sieur Giuliani, and deliver to him such and such papers, of which
I have made him give the inventory to the Sieur Giuliani. The
second acquaints his father with the real state in which he is,
and that it is important, as well for his life as his honour, that
his papers should be immediately delivered into the hands of the
Sieur Giuliani. In the third, which is the last to be made use of,
in case the two first have no effect, he desires him to come to
Turin; and tells him that at the house of the Abbé d’Estrades he
will be instructed where he is, and the means to be employed to
speak with him. The Sieur de Lestang has no doubt of being able,
in this interview between him and his father, to persuade him to
all he may wish. I have inspired him with so great a fear of the
punishments due to his bad conduct, that I find no repugnance in
him to do all that I require of him, and he appears sincere in the
wish of obtaining the delivery of the papers, which will be sent
to M. de Pinchesne at Venice, in order to avoid any accidents that
might happen to them in so long a journey as that from Padua to this
place, or to Turin.
I place no confidence in what this rascal tells me; nevertheless I
think it right to inform you, Sir, that he declares positively that
the Governor of Casale is his friend, and that, by promising him a
considerable recompense, and by furnishing him with a pretext to
save his honour, which may be done by giving him the order of his
master, (which the Sieur de Lestang says is at Padua,) to receive
the King’s troops, we can make him do whatever we wish. That he
can deliver up the town, and that the Governor of the citadel is
his intimate friend, whom he can persuade to do whatever he shall
order him. As for the castle, which I saw when I was passing through
Casale, it is rather a sort of little citadel than a simple castle.
The Sieur de Lestang says, that assuredly the governor of it will
not submit himself to the orders of the Governor of Casale, although
the latter has the command over him, because the aforesaid governor,
whose name is Vialardo, is entirely devoted to the Spaniards; that
this is a thing which he has heard from the Spaniards themselves,
and that on the least change at Casale, or the march of troops
towards it, the Governors of Valenza, Novara, and Pavia, have orders
to send detachments of their garrisons to the aforesaid Casale, and
that they will be infallibly let into the place through the castle.
This Vialardo is brother of a secretary of the Duke of Mantua,
who bears the same name, and who is also entirely in the Spanish
faction.
However, when we shall have obtained possession of the papers, it
is not impossible but we may be able to contrive something with the
Governor of Casale, if he is in those sentiments that the Sieur de
Lestang ascribes to him, and if he is the master to receive troops
in the town and citadel. This affair, if conducted very secretly,
and with the rapid march of a regiment or two of dragoons, might
take the Spaniards so much by surprise, that they might not have
any sufficient means in their power to be able to counteract it.
If we were masters of the town and citadel, and had as large a
number of troops as that which was destined to the execution of
this affair, I am certain that the castle could not prevent any
resolutions that we might wish to take. We might receive upon this
subject important intelligence from an interview with the Governor
of Casale. The difficulty is how to contrive it so as to discover
his intentions, without the negociations passing through the hands
of our rascal, in whom we cannot place any reliance. But, when we
have the papers, if this affair was despaired of as far as regards
the Duke of Mantua, and that the King thought that the plan I send
to you, Sir, was worth trying, I would concert what was to be done
with the Abbé d’Estrades, according to the orders I should receive
upon the subject. I beg pardon, Sir, for troubling you with so long
a letter; but I could not acquaint you in fewer words with the
conduct of the Sieur de Lestang, and with what has passed between
him and me.
I am,
With all the respect which is due to you, &c.
C.[282]
[279] The Governor of Milan.
[280] One of the ministers of Mary Jane Baptista of Nemours,
Duchess of Savoy; he was in the interests of the House of
Austria.
[281] Catinat.
[282] Catinat. From the work of M. Roux (Fazillac).
No. 88.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
St. Germain, May 10, 1679.
YOUR letter, Sir, of the 22d of last month serves still more to
confirm the treachery of the Count Matthioli, of which we had even
before had too many proofs. He was, in fact, arrived in Piedmont,
and had seen the Abbé d’Estrades. It is impossible to conceive the
insolence of his daring to show himself, at a moment when all Italy
rings with his perfidy. However, it is to be wished that he should
deliver up the ratification of the Duke of Mantua, if it is true, as
that Prince states, that he has still got it in his hands; If the
Sieur Tarani[283] has more fidelity than him, it would be desirable
he should have the confidence of his master, and should dispose him
to satisfy His Majesty, by showing him that it is dangerous to break
promises which have been so solemnly made to him. * * *
I am, &c.
POMPONNE.[284]
[283] This probably is a mistake for Varano, whose name has
been frequently mentioned in the former part of this
correspondence.
[284] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 89.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Interviews between the Duke of Mantua and the Senator
Foscarini.
Venice, May 13th, 1679.
SIR,
I BESEECH you very humbly to be persuaded that I will not fail to
execute, with all the exactitude and zeal possible, the orders which
it has pleased you to give me, (in the letter which you have done
me the honour to write to me on the 26th of last month,) to inform
you of all that shall come to my knowledge respecting the affair of
Casale, and on the subject of the Count Matthioli. The annoyance I
had, at not being able to discover what brought the Duke of Mantua
to Venice, the last time when, as I sent you word, he came there,
obliged me to redouble my endeavours to try and learn something
upon the subject; and at last they have not been in vain, since
I know at present, so certainly that I cannot doubt of it, that
this prince had, during that time, two long conversations, in the
Convent of the Capuchins, with M. Foscarini, a sage and a grandee,
who is the person named by the Republic, to continue the history
which the Procurator Nani was about, and who is one of the most able
men of this state: in which this senator represented to him very
strongly how dangerous it would be for him and for all Italy if he
gave up Casale to the King, as it was said he had the intention to
do, and had even made a treaty for that purpose with His Majesty,
and that the Republic hoped he would not take a step so prejudicial
to all the princes of Italy; to which I know that the Duke of Mantua
answered, that he knew his own interests, and that assuredly he
would never voluntarily give up Casale to the King; but that His
Majesty was the most powerful Prince in Europe, and in a condition
to attempt every thing, without its being easy to prevent him; that
it would be therefore necessary to seek for the most proper means
to do this, which, however, could not be hoped for, without having
considerable troops to oppose to his, in case he wished to attempt
some enterprise; that of himself he was not sufficiently powerful to
resist His Majesty; that it was for those, who had as much interest
as himself in the preservation of that place, to find the means of
preserving it, without which he would not answer for what might
happen; and that the fault even could not be attributed to him, but
to his bad fortune and to his want of aid.
I know, besides, that the ministers of the Republic consider it
certain that Casale is to be attacked by the King, and that they
say they have this intelligence from such good authority, that they
cannot doubt of it.
* * * * * *
I cannot, Sir, refrain from testifying to you the joy I felt in
learning this week, by a letter of the Abbé d’Estrades, that the
Count Matthioli has been carried prisoner to Pignerol, and that thus
this rogue will no more be in a condition to execute, every day,
fresh perfidies.
I am, with the most respectful submission, and all the attachment
possible,
Sir,
Your very humble and very obedient Servant,
DE PINCHESNE.[285]
[285] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 90.
LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS.
Orders to treat Matthioli with severity.
St. Germain, May 15th, 1679.
I have received your letter of the 6th of this month, which requires
no answer, except to say that you will have sufficiently seen by
my former letters, that it is not the intention of the King that
the Sieur de Lestang should be well-treated, nor that, except the
absolute necessaries of life, you should give him any thing that may
make him pass his time agreeably.
I address to you a packet of importance for M. de Richemont, which
I beg of you to give into his own hands, and to tell the Commissary
du Channoy, not to send away the courier who carries him this, until
you shall have given him the answers he is to bring back.
DE LOUVOIS.[286]
[286] From the Archives of France.
No. 91.
CATINAT TO LOUVOIS.
Plans of Catinat for obtaining possession of Casale.
Pignerol, May 16th, 1679.
I send you, Sir, the second examination of M. Matthioli, according
to the order which I received to that effect, by the extraordinary
courier you sent to this place. You will find it little different
from the first. I put him into the greatest possible fear of the
torture, if he did not tell the truth. One sees very well by his
answers that his conduct has been infamous. I see no good reason
which can excuse him for having had such intimate communication
with the Court of Savoy, with the Abbé Frederic (the resident of
the Emperor at Venice), and with Don Francis Visconti, one of the
partizans of Spain, without any participation or correspondence
upon the subject with M. de Pomponne, the Abbé d’Estrades, or M.
de Pinchesne; this fact prevents my having any confidence in him.
Nevertheless he persists, with the utmost obstinacy, in declaring,
that the Governor of Casale is well-intentioned; that this Governor
sees very well that the Duke of Mantua is a lost man; that he
sees also that there cannot happen any change in the Court of
Mantua, without his being removed from Casale; and that he is a
man who would be accessible to any offers that might be made him;
this is what he, Matthioli, is willing to stake his life upon;
that if he is furnished with a specious excuse for receiving the
troops of the King, he will assuredly do it, which will be easy,
when we have the original papers which his father is to deliver
into the hands of Giuliani; that provided the Governor is not
absent from Casale, he, Matthioli, will find means to contrive an
interview between this Governor, me, and himself; and that I shall
both see and understand the means of rendering the King master of
Casale. As I know beforehand that I am conversing with a rascal, and
that it is almost of necessity, if his propositions are adopted,
that he should himself be again employed in this affair, I cannot
bring myself to answer for him in any thing; nevertheless I have
thought it right to communicate all this, Sir, to you. When the
King once has possession of the papers, my having an interview
with this Governor is a step that would not hazard any thing; I do
not see any inconvenience in it, except the chance of the Sieur
Matthioli’s escaping, on account of the degree of liberty which must
in that case be permitted to him, however vigilant I might be in
watching him. I should be obliged to go with him to Asti, where he
is acquainted with a Dominican monk, who would carry to Moncalvo a
note to a physician whose name is Viveti; this Viveti would go to
Casale to inform the Governor of the place of rendezvous, which had
been settled for our interview with him. But it is almost impossible
in all these proceedings to answer for the person of Matthioli:
as there is, therefore, this inconvenience in the plan, the Abbé
d’Estrades could, if it is the King’s wish that any proposition
should be made to this Governor, according to the orders he should
receive, have him spoken to, and his intentions sounded by some one.
I beseech you, Sir, to be persuaded that in this affair I place my
own interest beneath my feet, and that I only venture to make you
proposals upon the subject, from the desire I have that the affair
should succeed to the satisfaction of the King.
* * * * * *
As the papers which are at Padua are to be sent, at least I believe
so, to M. de Pinchesne, in order to avoid any accidents that might
happen to them by bringing them straight to this place or to Turin,
I will take measures to set off from hence as soon as I shall know
they are delivered to M. de Pinchesne. As you, Sir, may perhaps wish
to send me word of any new determinations that may have been come
to with regard to this affair, in consequence of which I might be
of some utility here, I take the liberty of informing you, that I
shall remain at Pignerol till the 9th or 10th of June. If you do
not honour me with any order between this time and then, I shall
execute that you have already given me of returning to France. I
should be obliged to you to let me know where I am to go, whether
straight to the Court, or to Dunkirk, where my company is, or to
any other place where it shall please you to order me. I shall take
great precautions to conceal myself, and not to appear before the
relations of Messrs. Fouquet and Lauzun.[287] I cannot, however,
answer for it, Sir, that they will not write word of my being here.
I did not take any measures for the Ambassador being present at this
last examination, because I had been before particularly informed by
him of all the proofs there were against Matthioli.
I am with all the respect, &c.
C.[288]
[287] Fouquet and Lauzun were at this time still prisoners at
Pignerol. The former died in 1680, and the latter was released
from his confinement the same year.
[288] Catinat. This letter is extracted from the work of M.
Roux (Fazillac).
No. 92.
Second Examination of Matthioli.
The Count Matthioli being asked what happened to him when he passed
through Turin, replied, that he had been to visit the Marquis
of Saint-Thomas; that as he was ill, he could not see him; that
afterwards he went to the President Turki, whom he found full of
suspicions respecting his journey into France; and that as he is an
insinuating and adroit man, he engaged him insensibly to talk of
the affairs of the Duke of Mantua and of Casale; that it is true,
that being taken by surprise by the ingenuity and cunning of the
aforesaid President, and by the affection which he pretended to show
for the interests of France, he confided so much in the aforesaid
President, that it was impossible for him to doubt but that there
was some treaty made respecting Casale; that it is true, that he
received two thousand livres from that Court,[289] but that it was
rather as a mark of gratitude for some services he had formerly had
the honour of performing for it, than as a recompense for any thing
he then confided.
He says that the President Turki begged him, when he left Turin, to
write to him carefully all the progress of this affair; that he, the
President, had written to him several times after this to Venice,
asking for intelligence upon the subject; to which he had always
answered that the affair would not take place, in order to diminish
the opinion he might have had, from his former answers to him, of
there being a treaty respecting that place.
Being asked where he went from Turin, he replied, that he took
the road to Placentia, where he found letters from Don Nevani
and Cabriani,[290] which were only to testify their joy at his
return, and to tell him that the Duke of Mantua waited for him with
impatience, and that they had sent a boat to meet him, in order that
he might be able to embark upon the Po.