Paris, May ye 19-29, 1669.
My Lord,
. . . . . .
Ever since that Monsieur de Ruvigny was in England last, and upon the
information he gave, this King had a very great desire to seize if it
were possible this Roux de Marsilly, and several persons were sent to
effect it, into England, Holland, Flanders, and Franche Comte: amongst
the rest one La Grange, exempt des Gardes, was a good while in Holland
with fifty of the guards dispersed in severall places and quarters;
But all having miscarried the King recommended the thing to Monsieur de
Turenne who sent some of his gentlemen and officers under him to find
this man out and to endeavour to bring him alive. These men after foure
months search found him att last in Switzerland, and having laid waite
for him as he came out from Monsr Balthazar’s house (a commander well
knowne) they took him and carryed him to Gex before they could be
intercepted and he rescued. This was done only by a warrant from
Monsieur de Turenne but as soone as they came into the french dominions
they had full powers and directions from this court for the bringing of
him hither. Those that tooke him say they found no papers about him, but
that he desired them to write to Monsr Balthazar to desire him to take
care of his papers and to send him THE COMMISSION HE HAD FROM ENGLAND
and a letter being written to that effect it was signed by the prisoner
and instead of sending it as they had promised, they have brought it
hither along with them. THEY DO ALL UNANIMOUSLY REPORT THAT HE DID
CONSTANTLY AFFIRME THAT HE WAS IMPLOYED BY THE KING OF GREAT BRITTAIN
AND DID ACT BY HIS COMMISSION; so that the general discourse here in
towne is that one of the King of England’s agents is in the Bastille;
though att Court they pretend to know nothing of it and would have the
world think they are persuaded he had no relacion to his Majesty. Your
Lordship hath heard by the publique newes how overjoyed this King was
att the bringing of this prisoner, and how farr he expressed his thanks
to the cheife person employed in it, declaring openly that this man had
long since conspired against his life, and agreable to this, Monsieur,
fearing that My lord Ambr. was come to interpose on the prisoner’s
behalfe asked him on Friday last att St. Germains whether that was the
cause of his coming, and told him that he did not think he would speake
for a man that attempted to kill the King. The same report hath been
hitherto in everybody’s mouth but they begin now to mince it att court,
and Monsieur de Ruvigny would have persuaded me yesterday, they had no
such thoughts. The truth is I am apt to believe they begin now to be
ashamed of it: and I am informed from a very good hand that Monsieur de
Lionne who hath been at the Bastille to speake with the prisoner hath
confessed since that he can find no ground for this pretended attempting
to the King’s life, and that upon the whole he was of opinion that this
man had much better been left alone than taken, and did look upon what
he had done as the intemperancy of an ill-settled braine. And to satisfy
your Lordship that they are nettled here, and are concerned to know what
may be the issue of all this, Monsieur de Turenne’s secretary was on
Munday last sent to several forreigne Ministers to pump them and to
learne what their thoughts were concerning this violence committed in
the Dominions of a sovereign and an allye whereupon he was told by one
of them that such proceedings would bring Europe to the necessity of
entering into a Croisade against them, as formerly against the infidels.
If I durst I would acquaint your Lordship with the reflexions of all
publique ministers here and of other unconcerned persons in relation
to his Majesty’s owning or disowning this man; but not knowing the
particulars of his case, nor the grounds his Ma’ty may go upon, I shall
forbeare entering upon this discourse.. ..
Your Lordships’ etc.
P. Du MOULIN.
*State Papers, France, vol. 126.
**Ibid.
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Note II. Paper endorsed ‘Mr. Montague originally in Cypher. Received May
19, ‘69. Read in foreigne Committee, 23 May. Roux de Marsilli.’*
I durst not venture to sollicite in Monsr Roux Marsilly’s behalfe
because I doe not know whether the King my Master hath imployed him or
noe; besides he is a man, as I have beene told by many people here of
worth, that has given out that hee is resolved to kill the French king
at one time or other, and I think such men are as dangerous to one
king as to another: hee is brought to the Bastille and I believe may be
proceeded against and put to death, in very few daies. There is great
joy in this Court for his being taken, and a hundred thousand crownes,
I am told very privately, set upon his head; the French Ambassador in
England watcht him, and hee has given the intelligence here of his being
employed by the King, and sent into Switzerland by my Master to draw the
Swisses into the Triple League. Hee aggravates the business as much
as hee can to the prejudice of my Master to value his owne service the
more, and they seeme here to wonder that the King my Master should have
imployed or countenanced a man that had so base a design against the
King’s Person, I had a great deal of discourse with Monsieur about it,
but I did positively say that he had noe relation to my knowledge to the
King my Master, and if he should have I make a question or noe whither
in this case the King will owne him. However, my Lord, I had nothing to
doe to owne or meddle in a buisines that I was so much a stranger to....
This Roux Marsilly is a great creature of the B. d’Isola’s, wch makes
them here hate him the more. The Spanish Resident was very earnest with
mee to have done something in behalfe of Marsilly, but I positively
refused.
*State Papers, France, vol. 126.
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Note III. [A paper endorsed ‘Roux de Marsilli. Read in for. Committee,
23d May.’]*
Roux de Marsilly came hither when your Majesty had made a union with
Holland for making the Peace betwixt the two Crownes and when it was
probable the opposition to the Peace would bee on the side of France.
Marsilly was heard telling of longe things but noe proposition made to
him or by him.
Presently the Peace was made and Marsilly told more plainly wee had no
use of him. A little summe of money was given him to returne as he said
whither he was to goe in Switzerland. Upon which hee wishing his Ma’ty
would renew his allience wth the Cantons hee was answerd his M’ty would
not enter into any comerce with them till they had sent the regicides
out of their Country, hee undertooke it should bee done. Seven or
eight months after wth out any intimation given him from hence or
any expectation of him, he comes hither, but was so coldly used I was
complained off for not using so important a man well enough. I answerd
I saw noe use the King could make of him, because he had no credit in
Switzerlande and for any thing else I thought him worth nothing to us,
but above all because I knew by many circumstances HEE WAS ANOTHER MAN’S
SPY and soe ought not to be paid by his Majesty. Notwithstanding this
his Ma’ty being moved from compassion commanded hee should have some
money given him to carry him away and that I should write to Monsieur
Balthazar thanking him in the King’s name for the good offices hee
rendered in advancing a good understanding betwixt his Ma’ty and the
Cantons and desiring him to continue them in all occasions.
The man was always looked upon as a hot headed and indiscreete man,
and soe accordingly handled, hearing him, but never trusting him with
anything but his own offered and undesired endeavours to gett the
Regicides sent out of Switzerland.
*State Papers, France, vol. 126.
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