As this Prince's victories made even his allies uneasy, they were accused of contributing to his death. Cardinal Richelieu's enemies spread the report, without ground, that it was he who caused the poison to be given to the Duke, that he might get Brisac more easily; and the Swedish historian[368] seems inclined to think he was poisoned, without imputing it, however, to the Cardinal. "At the time of the Duke of Weymar's death, says he, there was a grand negotiation on foot to know whether Brisac should be yielded to France. Grotius pressed the Prince to keep it; and the refusing to yield that place disgusted France. He died soon after, not without suspicion of poison. The court of Vienna[369], to whom his death was of great advantage, was also accused of committing the crime: but these were all vague and ill-grounded reports, which consequently merit little attention." The Duke of Weymar's death[370] occasioned the greatest consternation among the Swedes; the army was left without a leader, the towns without a master, and for some time there was nothing but anarchy in the country where he commanded. This Prince placed the greatest confidence in Grotius, who had for him the most perfect esteem. When at Paris he was most intimate with the Swedish Ambassador[371], and deposited with him some valuable things which he would neither intrust to the King, nor to any of his subjects. FOOTNOTES: [361] Grotii Ep. 1153. p. 524. [362] Ep. 1140. p. 516. [363] Ep. 1226. p. 548. [364] Ep. 1207. p. 549. & 1224. p. 553. [365] Ep. 1223 p. 557. [366] Ep. 1254. p. 569. [367] Ep. 1249. p. 566. [368] Puffendorf, l. 11. sec. 39. [369] Le Vassor, l. 45. p. 265, 266. [370] Ep. 1216, p. 548. [371] Ep. 876 p. 384.