, one of the bravest French officers in the seventeenth century, was
, one
of the bravest French officers in the seventeenth century,
was the son of Francis de Pas, head chamberlain to Henry
IV. descended from the ancient house of Pas in Artois, and
of Magdeleine de la Fayette, and was born June I, 1590,
at Saumur. He rose by his merit and birth to the highest
military offices, commanded the king’s forces twice as
chief, conducted the famous siege of Rochelle, where he
was taken prisoner, and contributed greatly to the surrender of that important place, through the intrigues of Mad.
de Noailles, his wife’s mother. Being afterwards sent
into Germany as ambassador extraordinary, he did great
service to the state, was made lieutenant-general of Metz,
Toul, and Verdun at his return, and died at Thionville,
March 14, 1640, of the wounds he had received the precceding year at the siege of that city, during which he was
made prisoner. His “Negociations
” were printed in Germany,