my 
Retrospect of French Literature— History and Biography. 643 
the army of Italy; but as his father ob- 
jected to such a distant expedition, Prince 
Thomas of Savoy was sent thither in his 
place. He then offered of his own ac- 
cord, to serve under Gaston, Duke of Or- 
leans, in Flanders, and make head against 
the Duke de Lorraine in the field, while 
the commander in chief laid siege to 
Tournay. 
Soon after this, he invested Dunkirk, 
and the Marquis de Leede with the gar- 
vison was at length prevailed upon to sur- 
render, on condition that they should en- 
joy all the honours of war. Amidst ‘this 
career of victory, he lost his father, Hen- 
ry de Bourbon, third Prince of Condé, 
on the 25th of December, and on his 
death succeeded to the titles of first 
prince of the blood, chief of the council 
of regency, grand inaster of France, and 
governor of the provinces of Burgundy and 
Berry. immediately after this, he call- 
ed himself, and was known by the appel- 
lation of, M. le Prince. 
in 1647, he placed himselfat the head 
of the army of Catalonia; but on his ar- 
rival at Barcelona, he found it destitute 
of artillery, money, and magazines. On 
the 27th of May, Condé opened the 
trenches beiore Lerida, ‘* to the sound of 
violins,” but the obstinate defence made 
by André-Brilt obliged him soon after 
to raise the siege, 
On his return to court, he expressed his 
discontent to the cardinal, who in his 
turn renewed his protestations of devo- 
tion and respect, and at the same time 
made him an offer of the command of 
whatever army he might please to choose. 
In 1648, commenced those disturb- 
ances, which are known in history by 
the title of “the war of the Fronde.” 
We are here told, “ that the injustice of 
Cardinal Mazarin, added to the vexatious 
conduct of the superintendant Emery, 
his creature, in a short time, produced an 
umiversal spirit of discontent. The peo- 
ple groaned under excesses and imposts; 
the “parliament became agitated; the 
grandees murmured; intrigues of every 
kind augmented; the Fvonde was formed; 
the famous arréé of union was agreed on; 
the prime minister beg: an to be alraid, he 
displayed his weakness and was more 
closely pressed than ever; the heads of 
all got warm; the flame extended on’ 
every side, and at length became gene- 
ral.” 
Meanwhile, the prince repaired to Pi- 
cardy, at the head of an ariny consisting 
' of 30,000 men, determined to commence 
the campaign with the siege of Ypres, 
which was forced to surrender notwith- 
standing the appearance of the archduke, 
On this he engaged that general on the 
plain of Lens, and after reminding his sol- 
diers of the actions at Rocroi, Fribourg, 
and Nordlinguen,obtained a signal and de- 
cisive victory, with the loss of only 500 
men. On the other hand, according to 
the account betore us, the enemy lost 
10,000 soldiers, 800 officers, 120 pair of 
colours, 38 pieces of cannon, and all their 
baggage. 
“ft would appear (says his descen- 
dant), to have been reserved for the yood 
fortune of the Great Condé, not only to 
conquer, but even to destroy the most for- 
midable enemy of France; to annihilate 
in less than two hours an army; and 
save an empire: such was the triumph of 
this hero. 
“This decisive and pened. SUCCESS, 
(adds he) seemed calculated to ensure 
the conquest of the Low Countries; but 
sO great was the fermentation within the 
kingdom, that the queen sent orders to 
the price to terminate the campaign lin- 
mediately, Before he obeyed, however, 
it was determined to obtain possession of 
Furnes, 4nd the Marshal de Rantzou was 
accordingly entrusted with the siege of 
that place. Butthe not acquitting him- 
self to the satisfaction of the prince, his 
highness himself repaired thither, and, 
while in the trenches received a musket 
ball, which luckily, produced no more 
than a slight contusion in the hip. His 
presence, “however, decided the fate of 
the town, for it immediately surrendered; 
va which he set-off for court. 
“¢ Services so Pepe ant deserved a 
distinguished return. The queen there- 
fore by, letters patent, dated in December 
1648, conferred, in the most honourable 
manuer, the sovereignty of the county of 
Clermentois, to be enjoyed by bint and 
his successors, with all the rivhts and pri- 
vileges appertaining thereto: a species 
of yecompence equally worthy of the 
achievements of agreat general, and the 
gratitude of a great king.” 
On his return to the capital, the Prince 
of Condé was courted by all parties; but 
he appeared determined from the very 
beginning to appertain to, neither of the 
factions. On the contrary, he declared 
himself as mediator, between, the queen 
and the Fronde, and actually persuaded 
her majesty to negociate with the parlia- 
nient, and issue the famous declaration, 
which appeared for a moment to appease 
all the troubles in the state. 
‘Notwithstanding his original intentions 
to 
