so much wanted This occasion'd an Assembly which met two Days after at the Town-House where were a great many Persons who in some manner represented the States general of whom a Convocation had been demanded of your Majesty and which you had promis'd to free your self of their Importunities But as you had there your Creatures as well as the Prince had his while they were disputing what Resolutions to take the Mutineers broke open the Doors and kill'd some of the Deputies an only Son of a Councellor of the great Chamber a considerable quality in that time was with some others slain This Murder having caus'd great Confusion those of your Majesty's Party put Paper in their Hats to be known by one another the other Party wore Straw in theirs which Mark some of the greatest Lords in your Court were forc'd to wear as well as others in Paris They that put Straw in their Hats quickly became the stronger Party and falling upon those that wore Paper the Mareschal de L' Hopitall Governour of the City had much ado to save himself Many were of Opinion that it was the Prince of Condé who stir'd up this Tumult and wou'd have charg'd it on Cardinal Mazarin to render him the more Odious but whether the truth were discover'd or People begun to be weary of disobeying their Master every one thought of making Peace with your Majesty the Duke of Orleans made Propositions to you and so did the Parliament but you found them so high and so void of that respect which was due to you that instead of hearing them you were so angry with the Parliament that you remov'd it to Ponthoise This Action accompany'd with many other of the like Nature quite astonish'd the Mutineers the Prince of Condé nevertheless endeavour'd to warm his Party again who were ready to leave him But the Parliament being upon the point of turning their backs upon him as well as your Uncle the Duke of Orleans he threw himself into the Arms of the Spaniards Your Majesty made a prudent use of this Conjuncture and to unite all Parties you feign'd to send Cardinal Mazarin away a second time whom many made the pretence of their Rebellion so that no longer having a Cloak to cover it they all resolv'd to return to their Duty provided your Majesty would grant them a general Act of Oblivion you did not think sit to refuse it and the Duke of Orleans being retir'd to Blois a Town assign'd him for part of his Appanage your Majesty had now no more to do but to return to the Capital City of your Kingdom You were humbly importun'd to do it by your Parliament and in the Name of the Clergy by the Coadjutor who according to the promise given him had been made a Cardinal and who came expresly to wait upon you at Compiegne your Majesty call'd a Council there to be advis'd whether you should not cause him to be Arrested to punish him for his breach of Faith in not performing the Promises he had made you But it was thought sit first to make a firm settlement of your Authority and when that was done you would be much better able to do what you thought good 'T is indeed Prudence to let things ripen and to do a thing out of season is to spoil all Some blame the Prince who might have had your Majesty's Pardon had he sought it in a decent manner because he took a fancy to follow the Duke of Lorrain's example who pillag'd and plunder'd Friends and Enemies without any distinction but it is not to be believ'd that a Prince of his Birth and great Mind cou'd have any Thoughts unworthy of the one or the other yet he ransack'd the Frontier of Campagne as he went off and after he had taken Rhetel and St. Menehout he retir'd to Namur He had there some Conference with a Minister of the Arch-Duke's who before he wou'd let the Prince come to Bruxells would know whether he would give him the Hand This Proposition made the Prince sensible to what Displeasures he had expos'd himself by his Disobedience but his great Courage not suffering him to hesitate what answer to make he sent the Arch-Duke word that the Honour he had to be the first Prince of the Blood of France had too well taught him what was his Right for him ever to part with it He therefore pretended to take place of the Arch-Duke were he not in the Low-Countries where he represented his Catholick Majesty in that Quality he would give him the upper Hand when he went to visit him but when the Arch-Duke in his turn came to see him he expected the same The Arch-Duke was not pleas'd with so haughty an Answer and believing that after what the Prince had done there was no more returning for him into France he insisted upon the Prince's giving him place every where to which the Prince wou'd never consent The thing at last went so far that he caus'd the Arch-Duke to be told that unless he accepted the Offer he made him he would in eight Days be gone and that he was not yet so to seek but he knew very well where to go the Arch-Duke was then forc'd to let him have his Will but seeing it was much against the Arch-Duke's it shew'd the Prince what Inconveniences attend a Man's forsaking his own Country and going into a Foreign Court especially when a Man is look'd upon as a Rebel and is oblig'd to buy his Protection whatever the Price be he must pay for it He had the same dispute with the Duke of Lorrain who liv'd for the most part at Bruxells and many times 't was thought they wou'd come to Blows but 't was hinder'd by their Friends without undertaking to decide the Difference about eithers Pretentions for the Duke of Lorrain wou'd not endure any Competition and the Prince of Condé cou'd not hear of giving place without falling into great Passion but that which gave him the greatest Distaste in that Court was that Prince Francis the Duke's Brother did likewise dispute Precedency with him which caus'd such Heats as were not like to end without Fighting That which most anger'd the Prince of Condé was that the Arch-Duke wou'd not regulate the business tho' the Prince pray'd him to do it confiding in the Justice of his Cause The Arch-Duke had a mind to mortify the Prince of Condé and would not disoblige Prince Francis whom he resolv'd to keep still with him especially at that time when he fear'd he wou'd be gone into France where many endeavours were us'd to gain him See what unexpected Displeasures Men meet with when they put themselves into the Service of a Foreign Prince but 't is otherwise when a Man stays in his own Country where the Place due to his Quality is not only regulated but it is also the Sovereign's Interest to do nothing to the prejudice of a Prince of his Blood 'T is but just a Man should do
Majesty according to the Example of the King your Father and of Henry IV. of glorious Memory had assisted against the Spaniards made Peace with them Your Majesty notwithstanding all this maintain'd the War in Catalonia with a great deal of Reputation you rais'd the Siege of Flix which the Enemy had invested and made your self Master of Tortose in sight of the Enemy's Army Commanded by Mello who went out of Flanders thither and had it not been for the Rebellion of your Subjects to how great a pitch had your Glory been rais'd It was very much increas'd by the Victory your Navy had in the Mediterranean tho' it was much Inferiour to that of the Enemys for it consisted not of above twenty nine Vessels when they had Forty Two Notwithstanding this Inequality did not hinder you from sinking Three and had not Night came on they had reason to fear the loss of more So many Affairs and of so great consequence were enough to take up your thoughts and seeing they always tended to the good of your State you minded what pass'd in Poland where the Glory of your Name frustrated all the Spaniards Endeavours to have a King elected that should be a Friend to their Interest But they were baffled in their Design for Casimire Brother to the deceased was preferr'd before the Person the Spaniards propos'd for which he was wholly obliged to your Majesty CHAP. II. Containing what pass'd from the Paris War to the Peace of the Pyrenées THE Parliaments Attempts daily encreasing notwithstanding the continual care your Majesty took to suppress them it would have been weakness to have longer dissembled your Resentments which made you resolve to punish the Offenders You left the City of Paris ingag'd in the Rebellion and retir'd to St. Germains in Laye you caused Paris to be block'd up by your Flanders Army commanded by the Prince of Condé This punishment ought to have made the Mutineers return to their Duty but their Boldness equal'd their Disobedience and after they had stirr'd up other Cities of your Kingdom to take their part they rely'd on their own Strength to relist your Majesty Scarce one even the Coadjutor himself forgetting his Character but rais'd a Regiment against you The Duke of Beaufort who had escap'd out of Prison was likewise one of your Majesty's mortal Enemies the Prince of Conti Brother to the Prince of Condé also took Arms against your Majesty the Dutchess of Longueville his Sister with the Duke her Husband fell in with the Parliament and she by her Beauty drew in the Prince of Marsillae who had more mind to her than to signalize his Disobedience but this Passion LOVE which blinds Men to that degree that they know not themselves made him forget that respect he always had for your Majesty and in which he was better instructed than others because he had an infinite deal of Wit This was not the only mischief which Love did your Majesty the Jealousie which this Prince of Marsillac had against the Husband of the Dutchess together with the fear he had his Passion might be discover'd would not let him rest till he got into Normandy where he made that Province revolt being Governour of it We see what Springs Love sets a going which we often attribute to Ambition for want of searching things to the bottom but it is a dangerous Passion and very much to be condemned when a Mistress makes us fail in our Duty to our Soveraign to whom we are so closely ty'd that we cannot be unfaithful to him without being so to GOD. The Bloccade of Paris had not the Effect your Majesty expected and tho' that great City suffer'd extremely yet the Parliament continued so great an Aversion to your publique Minister that they were so Bold as to require his being sent out of the Kingdom before they would lay down their Arms. This insolent Proposition was accompanied with others of the same nature but since the Resolution of these Mutineers did not answer the Hopes they had of giving Law to your Majesty they had Recourse to the Enemies of the Kingdom to procure Bread which they very much wanted for your Majesty had shut up the City so close that it was at an excessive Price and without speedy Relief they were ready to fall into extreme Necessity Your Majesty cannot reflect upon these terrible Marks of Rebellion without being sensibly toucht with them and seeing it was of great Consequence to you not to suffer your Enemies in that unhappy Conjuncture to enter into the Heart of your Kingdom you did that which brought the Parliament again to themselves you sent a Herald at Arms to make some Proposals to them whereupon the Parliament being assembled they thought in some manner to repair what had been done in sending back the Herald without hearing him but at the same time assured your Majesty they had refused him Audience out of the profound Respect they had for you because they could not pretend to receive such a Person as was never us'd to be sent but to Soveraigns This returning to their Duty gave your Majesty occasion to exhort them to do better for the future than they had done at present and the Conjuncture requiring that you should seem not to resent the bold Attempts they had made on your Authority you granted a general Amnesty to the Parliament and to those that had follow'd their Party Your Enemies did not fail to take Advantage of these Disorders the Duke of Lorrain whom the King your Father had driven out of his Country for having often fail'd of performing the many Promises he had made him entred again into it and made himself Master of many Towns he was likewise almost assured of retaking Nancy from which Marquess de la Ferté's Avarice had diverted all manner of Provisions But when he saw that it might cost him his Head he quickly came and caus'd all the Harvest of Corn and Fruit thereabout to be carry'd into it and thereby made some amends for the Fault he had committed upon which your Majesty and all other Monarchs may make this Reflection That when a Subject prefers his own private Interest before his Prince's he is not only unworthy of any Favour but is likewise responsible for all the Evils the People suffer For 't is plain that what they do suffer is from such Men in Authority who care not how they Ruin 'em to Inrich themselves However your present Circumstances did not then permit your Majesty to take such Order in that Case as at another time you might have done Beside this Marquess behaved himself so Prudently on other Occasions that his Wisdom and Courage in some measure excus'd his Covetousness The Parliament did not cease to pursue their Designs tho' your Majesty had had the Goodness to pardon them yet they were not altogether so bad as the Parliament of England who were so wicked as to cut off their King's Head Your Majesty was never seen
offer'd to absolve you from your Oath but the tenderness of your Conscience would not suffer you to grant what he desir'd You thought that when once People believ'd your Pardon might be obtain'd by Mediation those disorders would never cease to which your Majesty was fully resolv'd to put an end Beside you would not let it be said that Recommendation had a greater Power over you than Justice Your Majesty could not endure your People shou'd give Law to you concerning your Mininister Cardinal Mazarin's return You retir'd a second time from Paris The Duke of Orleans your Uncle would not follow you neither would the Prince of Condé who a few Days after possest with a Panick Fear he should be Arrested left the City and being gone to his House at St. Maur you did all you could to cure him of this Suspicion but because when a Man knows himself guilty he never thinks himself secure from Punishment he went into the Country and retir'd to Montrond The Prince of Conti the Prince Marsillac and some others at the same time took up their Quarters in Guyenne The Duke of Rochefoucaut having stir'd up some Troubles in Poitou you had those two Provinces to reduce as well as the City of Paris which openly declar'd against your Majesty The Pretence of all these Revolts was that you would have Cardinal Mazarin return against your Word given to the contrary But seeing most of the Heads of this Party had promis'd you to consent to his Return for Favours done them you could not believe that was the true Reason You plainly saw that Ambition had a greater share in their Disobedience than the Hatred they had for the Cardinal It was easie for the Spaniards at this time to do their Business They re-took most of the Places you had conquer'd since you ascended the Throne But your Majesty thought the safety of your Kingdom to be of greater Consequence to you than any thing else You ran to the Place where there was most Danger you went into Poitou after you had in Person reduc'd Berri where the Prince of Condé had rais'd some Troubles You declar'd him a Rebel and a Disturber of the publick Peace with all his Adherents But this made none of 'em return to their Duty and your Authority was so little regarded that in two Months time the Parliament wou'd not register your Declaration tho' their Interest were different from the Prince of Condé's and with whom they did not act in concert The strongest Cabal which took part with your Majesty was that of the Duke of Vendosm and the Coadjutor But you were necessitated to buy both which was by giving one the place of Admiral of France and by promising the other you would nominate him for a Cardinal's Cap at the next promotion that should happen You thought these Favours nothing in comparison of the Services these Men cou'd do you in so nice a Conjuncture especially in relation to Paris which had not yet declared for the Prince of Condé and where they had many Friends Your Presence in Poitou quickly suppress'd the Rebellion there the capital City of that Province open'd its Gates to you and the Cardinal being come thither to you with some Troops which he had rais'd in Germany you forced the Rebels to quit the Siege of Coynac you drove them also out of some Posts they had possest but could not reduce 'em in Bourdeaux for the Prince of Condé who was come thither had infus'd new Courage into those who before seem'd dispos'd to submit to your Majesty In the mean time Paris which went nearer your Heart than any thing else seeing Cardinal Mazarin return publickly declar'd for the Prince of Condé Monsieur the Duke of Orleans likewise acted against your Majesty tho' he had many times said he was not to be suspected for his not being at Court But how cou'd he clear himself from Suspicion who had hearken'd to evil Counsel all his Life and alway had near him the Bishop of Langres who was enrag'd to miss the Cardinal's Cap which had been so often promis'd him Beside Mademoisolle de Montpensier who had a great desire to be Marry'd feeding her self with the hope the Prince of Condé gave her she should have his Son spoke for him to her Father without making any Reflection that she was old enough to be the Mother of him she had a mind to make her Husband Among so many declared Enemies there were some secret ones whom your Majesty did not distrust but on the contrary had reason to think them your most Faithful Subjects The Duke of Beaufort for a time was one of this Number notwithstanding all you had done for him and his Family But weary of wearing the Foxes Skin he put on the Lions and took the Field against your Majesty The Coadjutor did not declare himself so openly but vex'd to see that by Cardinal Mazarin's Return he was never like to come into his place did underhand all he could to ruin him tho' he was sure it would very much displease your Majesty The Jealousie which arose between the Duke of Beaufort and the Duke of Nemours who were both joyntly to command an Army gave your Majesty an Opportunity to draw near to them that you might take some Advantage of their division But the Prince of Condé prevented you by passing incognito through all the Provinces beyond the Loire and by putting himself at the Head of the Army where his Presence was necessary to settle a right understanding between the two Princes of whose disagreement the only cause was their Ambition to command singly and exclusively to one another Your Majesty did all you could to have taken the Prince in so long a March and where there were so many Rivers to pass you set guards upon all the Fords and sent out many Parties into the field which was all you could do But since all the care in the World is to no purpose where Men will be false and treacherous Bussy Rabutin let him pass so that he came safe to his Army which was then near Chatillon upon Loin Your Majesty who knew not at first in what manner he had escap'd thought to repair this Blow by a Battel wherein you hop'd to have the better The two Armies join'd near Bleneau where the Avantguard of yours commanded by Mareschal Hoquincourt was so ill treated that if Viscount Turenne had not come to his Relief your Majesty who was at Gergeau had been in danger of being taken But his Experience having placed you Beyond a narrow Pass he defended it with so much Courage till Night came on that the Prince who promis'd himself an entire Victory could he have pass'd the Defile was oblig'd to be contented with that advantage he had gotten Your Majesty was happy that the Prince had then so great a desire to go to Paris where he thought this new beam of Glory would procure him a Reception with some kind of Triumph 'T is
certain that Ambiton was not the sole cause of this Voyage and that Love had a great part in it For he had given up his Heart to the Dutchess of Chatillon and the desire he had to see her made him lose the Advantage he might have drawn from this Victory This was a Fault which many great Princes commit and 't is a Miracle if they conquer their Passion The Prince of Condé is not the only Person that hath been faulty in this kind and your Majesty knows that there is a Prince beside him whose Reputation is much greater than his that is fallen into the same Fault A Man may be in Love and yet do his Duty for tho' it be dificult yet 't is but to remember that every one hath his Eyes upon what he doth and nothing can stop their observation A Prince who hath care of his Honour will never suffer such hold to be taken of him he will rather conquer himself for a time than give the least Stain to his Reputation Beside an Opportunity once lost is not easily retriev'd whence we are to conclude that when a thing can be done it never ought to be put off till to Morrow The Prince of Condé's Absence gave your Majesty an Opportunity to recruit your Army with ease so that in some time after it was again in a Condition to be fear'd The Duke of Orleans who had wholly declar'd himself against your Majesty fearing to be run down sent to his Brother-in-Law the Duke of Lorrain for his Assistance and the Spaniards who every Year hir'd his Troops consented to it He enter'd France and march'd toward Estampes which Viscount Turenne had besieg'd The Place of it self was not considerable but being defended by a good Garrison it held out longer than People thought it wou'd so that the Duke of Lorrain might have come time enough to have reliev'd it which much troubled your Majesty but according to his ordinary Practice being more us'd to Plunder than to Fight he made such little Marches that the Place was taken before he came to it Viscount Turenne in perfect spite march'd against him and forc'd him to repass the Seine he encamp'd at Villaneue St. Georges where without great disadvantage he could not be forc'd to fight he pillag'd all Brie as well as the plain Country about Paris for which he had the Curses of the Parisiens who flatter'd themselves he was come to relieve and not to Plunder 'em But all their Complaints were to no purpose your Majesty who was as much concern'd as they seeing they cou'd not be ruin'd without your being sensible of it endeavour'd to gain the Duke of Lorrain that he might cease pillaging the Country there was some appearance of prevailing with him your Majesty having wherewith to tempt him for you were possest of his Country which you offer'd to restore upon reasonable Conditions But he lov'd ready Money better than Offers so advantagious to him your Majesty having granted him a Pass he went out of the Kingdom to their great astonishment who called him in Your Majesty was likewise much surpris'd not believing a Prince of his Birth cou'd act in such a manner upon so base an Account But Kindness to his Children which he had by the Princess de Cantecroix made him think of nothing but getting Money seeing he cou'd not settle the Country of Lorrain upon 'em for two Reasons the one was because it was his Wife's Inheritance the other was he had those Children not by his Wife and therefore being incapable of succeeding him he resolv'd to give them Portions in Money for their Maintenance The King of England the unfortunate Son of a more unhappy Father who was come to seek Refuge and Relief from your Majesty serv'd you perfectly well in this Treaty which troubled you very much till it was ended For if the Duke of Lorrain wou'd he might have put Viscount Turenne hard to it whom you thought for some time in great danger because he was come too near his Camp but he happily got out of the Briars by his admirable Conduct which gain'd him a great deal of Reputation as well with the Enemy as among his own Souldiers Your Majesty having made a good end of so difficult an Affair gave no leisure to the Rebels and by your Presence so encourag'd your Army that the Prince of Condé saw himself and his Troops ready to fall into your Hands For you pursued him so hotly that he was forced to possess himself of the Bridge of St. Cloud by which he thought to avoid a Battel but your Majesty having laid a Bridge over the Seine he saw himself ready to be attaqu'd in Front and Rear he then got under the Walls of Paris and march'd round it to get to Charenton Viscount Turenne who observ'd it follow'd him so close that he begun to charge his Reer near Port du Temple and Port St. Martin which oblig'd him to hasten his March and being come to the height of the Fauxbourg St. Antoin he made use of some Retrenchments which Chance afforded him they having been made to secure the Citizens against the Thievery of the Duke of Lorrain's Troops There he lodg'd his Foot in better Order than the shortness of the time seem'd to permit and drew in his Cavalry he sent the Duke of Beaufort into the City to perswade the Citizens to let in and secure his Baggage and declare for the Prince But the Fear the Parisiens had to be pillag'd made them shut and place Guards at their Gates The Prince of Condé when he saw this rang'd all his Baggage along the Ditch and caus'd Holes to be made through the Houses where he saw your Forces advance Your Majesty was posted at Menill to see this Attack which would have rejoyc'd your great Heart had it been to fight with your Enemies and not against your Subjects The Onset was furious and your Troops having forc'd the Retrenchments Vicount Turenne brought up his Canon to a Place call'd the Throne because one had been there erected to receive your Majesty when after your Marriage you made your entrance into the City The Prince of Condé did all he cou'd to sustain your Peoples Efforts who encourag'd by your Presence did Wonders and God who would not suffer the Rebellion to continue gave your Majesty an entire Victory so that the Prince of Condé had been utterly lost if Paris had not open'd its Gates to him where he sav'd his remaining Troops Mademoiselle Montpensier did the Prince this Service and caus'd the Canon to be discharg'd upon your Majesty and your Minister who was very near you This Victory astonish'd the Parisiens and those who were of the Prince of Condé's Party your Majesty having some faithful Subjects in this great City who made People sensible how much they had fail'd in their Duty to your Majesty so that they were a long time in suspence before they agree'd to give the Prince that Assistance he
he let himself down by it and got away upon a Horse purposely brought thither Some thought his Design was to go to Paris there to foment new Disorders but his Horse falling on the Pavement of Nantes which is very bad he fled to Machcoul a Castle which belong'd to the Duke of Rets his Brother Mareschal Meilleray prepar'd to go thither and besiege it which made the Cardinal go thence to Bellisle The Mareschal would likewise have follow'd him if your Majesty would have given him leave but one Reason of State why you would not permit him was because you fear'd that the Mareschal who was very powerful in that Province would not keep it for you and that after your Endeavours to put things into good Order you your self might be the occasion of new Disorders But seeing it had been a kind of braving your Majesty to have stay'd in your Kingdom after he had been so unhappy to incur your Indignation he went into Spain and from thence to Rome from whence your Majesty would not suffer him to return till he had given you the Satisfaction you expected Indeed it concerns the Majesty of a great King not to suffer a Subject to beard him but to reduce him to his Duty otherwise it would be an Example to others of dangerous consequence Your Majesty knowing that the Spaniards had not well recover'd their Rout at Arras hasten'd to take the Field where after having taken Landrecis Condé and St. Guillain the Arch-Duke was so allarm'd that he thought every Moment you would attack him in Bruxells the fear of it made him employ ten thousand Peasants to make a kind of Fortification about it and 't is for your Majesty's Reputation Posterity should know it because it cannot but take notice that after the Arch-Duke had made you tremble in your Capital City of Paris you should do the like by him in so short a time and that you must be a great King to do such Miracles But what I can say is That you forget nothing which is for the publick good of your Kingdom and that then you knew as well how to Treat as to make War It plainly appear'd in the Treaty you made with Prince Francis whose Design you discover'd by his letting the Lord Inchequin who manag'd all his Affairs fall into your Hands at the Rout of Arras For instead of thinking he was taken Prisoner by chance you concluded it to be a premeditated Contrivance which made you stand so stiff upon the Propositions that Lord then made Who still pretended all that he said was from himself without having any Order from the Prince his Master But even from his Feign'd Story your Majesty rightly judg'd necessity oblig'd him to treat with you which shew'd you a prudent and well advis'd Prince seeing to conclude only from appearances is the way to be deceiv'd in all a Man doth It were to be wish'd your Majesty had been able to be present in all your Armies as well as in that of Flanders you then had seen with your own Eyes in what manner things went you might then have weigh'd all Enterprizes before you gave your consent to their being put in execution but seeing your knowledge of Places and your Enemies Forces were but imperfect you met with a check in Italy of which only Cardinal Mazarin's easiness can be accus'd He was so fast tyed to his own Country notwithstanding all the Wealth and Honours he had heap'd in France which ought to have made him forget it that he endeavour'd to get a Husband there for the Sister of the Princess of Conti and the Dutchess of Mercoeur but of all those that presented themselves he lik'd none so well as the Duke of Modena This Allyance the Cardinal represented so considerable to your Majesty as if he had no other end than drawing in this Prince to espouse your Interest so that he prevail'd with you to give the Duke the command of your Army in that Country jointly with Prince Thomas and these two Generals being joyn'd broke the Marquess of Caracene's Measures who design'd to surprize Regio which so rais'd their Courage that they thought themselves in a condition to besiege Pavie But they were forc'd to quit the Siege which had very much lessen'd your Majesty's Glory if that which happen'd elsewhere had not repair'd your Reputation for beside that which you did in Flanders your Army in Catalonia did not only preserve its Conquests but enlarg'd 'em For it seis'd upon Cap-daquiers and being enter'd into the Campourda put all under Contribution home to Gironne The Fault whereof your Minister was guilty in Italy was not the only one of which his Ministry may be accus'd he was very fond of a Maxime which no body but himself approv'd and which your Majesty suffer'd because you had so much confidence in him he employ'd in all your Affairs two Persons instead of one which was always the Ground of perpetual jealousie between 'em and which must necessarily produce very ill Effects For two Men with equal Power and Authority look upon one another as two Enemies tho' they seem not to do it and they will never let slip an Opportunity of doing one another an ill turn they are never better pleas'd than when one of them doth a Fault and they commonly suborn People to procure each other's Ruine To redress this is very difficult but 't is absolutely necessary for the good of your Kingdom Your Majesty is far from liking this Maxim you know that the most perfect Government is that which comes nearest to GOD's and therefore you give absolute Power to those that act under your Orders 'T is enough that they render you an Account of what they do but you do not put Persons in equal Ballance one with another if you did you should be sure to be but ill served for if they that have Commission to do a thing do it not with all the Authority of their Master they are always ill obey'd Beside if two Persons have Power to command the same thing one usually crosseth what the other undertakes their differing in Opinion produceth this Effect as well as the Jealousie which is between 'em so that we ought to conclude a State is ill govern'd where there are so many Masters We likewise see that Monarchical Government is counted the most perfect and that the best Policy'd Republicks are those where there is the least Confusion Whatever was the matter this Disorder reign'd in your Revenue and in your Armies you know that in Italy there were two Generals in Flanders likewise Cardinal Mazarin was pleas'd this Year to joyn two Men together whose Humours and Inclinations were quite contrary to one another's I mean Viscount Turenne and Mareschal de la Ferté who could never agree and who also had lately quarrel'd The Mareschal took out of the Viscounts Hands a Prisoner under pretence of exchanging him for one of his Men taken by the Enemy but in truth it
you fell in Love with the Eldest of Cardinal Mazarin's four Nieces then at Court you lov'd her so desperately that they who had not the Honour to know you believ'd your Passion would make you forget your Duty to your self This Niece fomented your Passion cunningly enough and every day more and more to enflame you us'd those Arts which crafty Women practise who are proud of their Conquests But your Majesty instead of running into the Snares she laid for you consented she should be Marry'd and saw her part notwithstanding all her tender Reproches and tho' your own Heart told you you were cruel to your self in resolving not to enjoy in the Condition you then were the sweetest of all the Pleasures of this Life This Victory over your self was follow'd by another relating to the same Person The Pleasures which she had tasted at Court and perhaps also the Remembrance of your Majesty which she could not blot out of her Mind having made her not live so very well with her Husband she quickly return'd into France Many believ'd that she had great Hopes that the Fire which had been so quick and ardent would be easily rekindled She was therefore returning to Court with full Sailes but your Majesty having Notice of it sent a Courrier to tell her she must retire into a Monastery I know very well Sir I have antedated the time when this past and to do things in order I should not have spoken of this in this Place but the connexion which is between this Circumstance and the other I have mention'd would not suffer me any longer to forbear speaking of it I do not undertake to write your History in due Method therefore this Transposition may be pardon'd Your Majesty having no confidence in the inconstant and unquiet Humour of the Duke of Lorrain and fearing he might enter into Cabals which might be to your prejudice you design'd to Marry his Nephew Prince Charles who was right Heir to the Dukedom of Lorrain and Bar to some Person in France His Father who stay'd in Paris was ravish'd that your Majesty had so good Intentions for his Son whose Uncle without you could never be brought to do him right He propos'd to you his Son 's Marrying Mademoiselle Montpensier and your Majesty consented to it because it was indifferent to you what Lady he chose provided he put it out of the Duke of Lorrain's Power to do you any mischief Mademoiselle who had willingly hearkend to the Proposal that had been made her of the Duke d' Anguien who was then but a Boy was much more pleas'd with this of a Handsom Prince and of an Age more suitable to hers She grew so much in Love with him that she became jealous of her Sister whom the Prince of Lorrain could have better lik'd had she not been design'd by your Majesty for another you had indeed promis'd her to the Duke of Tuscany eldest Son to the Duke of Florence who not long after Marryed her She and the Prince of Lorrain tho' both knew they were not born for one another could not refrain from being often together and the Prince growing daily more and more enamour'd of her gave her a Picture which he had from Mademoiselle Montpensier The Vanity which all Women have to boast of their Conquests especially when they think they can vex a Rival made her discover what the Prince had given her tho' it concern'd her very much to have kept the thing secret Your Majesty did not like it and she being to go so speedily into Italy to be married it was not fit her Husband should suspect her guilty of any amorous Intriegue but all those Reflections did not hinder her from making this false step So true is it that Youth Prudence and Love very seldom keep Company Mademoiselle Montpensier no sooner knew this but she broke with Prince Charles his Father who was extreamly troubled that his Son should miss in all respects so considerable a Match did what he could to bring the Business about again but Mademoiselle whose high Spirit was answerable to the greatness of her Birth despis'd all the Promises which were made to appease her Your Majesty would not force her tho' you thought this Marriage necessary for the good of your State In the mean time Prince Charles having lost so good a Fortune by his own Fault some body propos'd to him the Dutchess of Longueville newly become a Widow and who was very Rich Were it that the Prince could not forget the Dutchess of Tuscany or that the Widow had some Defects he did so little relish the Proposition that he could not make one Step towards her The Duke of Lorrain who could not part with his Dukedom was much troubled that his Nephew should marry Mademoiselle Montpensier tho' it appear'd 't was a thing to which he had given his consent But knowing his aversion to the Dutchess of Nemours he press'd him to marry her purposely to clear himself from the Suspicion your Majesty had of his playing a Thousand Tricks to hinder the other Match with Madam Montpensier But the more Pains he took to bring him to it the further was Prince Charles from it yet he felt in himself an Inclination for Mademoiselle Nemours the Dutchess's deceas'd Husband's Niece who had somewhat more than her Aunt to engage the Prince so that at last he became so entirely hers that he quite forgot the Dutchess of Tuscany Your Majesty being told of it by the Prince's Father who at first did not approve of this Match because he valued Wealth more than Beauty your Majesty made him consent to it and there was no Qestion of your making the Duke of Lorrain do the same But the little disposition he had to give him his Estate made him make a thousand Excuses which your Majesty finding very frivolous and without any Foundation you told the Duke if he did not take a Resolution conformable to your Will and to Reason the thing should be done without consulting him any further This Declaration was like a Clap of Thunder to him and believing it was impossible to prevail with your Majesty to altar your Resolution he offer'd to declare you Heir to all his Dominions if you would grant him the Honour of your Protection against his Nephew His Design in making this Proposition was to deceive your Majesty and having cunningly insinuated that his Nephews Right and Title to the Dukedoms of Lorrain and Bar was not so firmly establish'd but that he could dispute it with him and quoting some Precedents to prove the Salique-Law was still in force in his two Dutchies your Majesty treated with him and left the Prosecution of the Marriage with Mademoiselle Nemours which wanted nothing but Consummation all the Ceremonies having been perform'd by Proxy See how Interest sometimes works upon great Souls as well as upon those of meaner Quality which yet is not so pardonable in them because they ought to have more care
your self that you should effect this Business by your Power press'd the Duke of Lorrain according to this Treaty to put into your Hands the Town of Marsall and because he doubted what Resolutito take you threatned by Force of Arms to make him do it But notwithstanding all your Threats he continued irresolute and you went towards Lorrain with so great a number of your Nobility that never were so many seen together at one time You found the secret of making People pay that Respect which was due to your Majesty by the Favours you so seasonably bestow'd and which engag'd a great Number of Gentlemen to wait on you who in the time of your Minority would not have taken the Pains to have gone out of their Doors Your Court shin'd brighter than ever it had done and the more for the many Blue Ribbands you made which were no little Ornament about your Person Soon after this you also created a great many Dukes and Peers wherein you shew'd a great deal of Policy for most of the Grandees who had no mind to this Dignity kept close to your Majesty to avoid the like Reward The Prince of Condé who at his Return thought to find you the same you were in Cardinal Mazarin's time was much surpriz'd to see you so different from what he thought you He look'd so little in your Majesty's Presence and you took so little notice of him that scarce any body would believe when they saw him this was the Famous Rebel that had been so much talkt of But you took Pleasure to mortifie him at his first coming to make him leave his Proud Humour of expecting to be every where Lord and Master If you made the Prince of Condé tremble I need not say his Example taught others not to depart from that Duty which by their Birth they were oblig'd to pay your Majesty All Persons appear'd in your Presence with a Respect that added Lustre to your Royalty and gave it quite another Figure than it had in the time of which I have already spoken The Desire every one had to please you made People apply themselves to that which before they scorn'd to do All the young Gentlemen of good Families listed themselves either in your Company of Musqueteers which your Majesty had again set on foot or in your Regiment of Guards and seeing you took delight in all that look'd like War which your greatest Enemies cannot deny you spent a great part of your time in disciplining this Company so that If I may make a Comparison which perhaps some will not like I will presume to say never did any Spanish Jennet better perform the Exercises of Manage under a skilful Rider than this Company did every thing that was commanded by your Majesty Of this I can yet say more which others observ'd as well as my self and by which a Man might judge what you one Day would be able to do seeing you did it in your Youth What could those Seven or Eight Hours together signifie which your Majesty stay'd in the Court of the Louvre exercising that Company in the depth of Winter But the Application wherewith you would in time to come do your Duty and that you would despise both Heat and Cold when you design'd to get Glory But yet it cannot be said this was a domineering Humour in your Majesty because you took the like care of all that concern'd your Royalty I have already said your Majesty commanded me to bring you Cardinal Richelieu's Memoirs the esteem you had for the Memory of that great Man and your own sincere Piety without Ostentation inclin'd you to perfect what he had so happily begun which was the extirpation of all the Hereticks in your Kingdom But your Majesty knowing that it is very dangerous to pass from one Extreme to another you have by little and little so prepar'd things to ripen that in Twenty Years time the Work may come to Perfection Your Majesty's Presence brought the Duke of Lorrain to a fix'd Resolution he having agreed to the Terms upon which he was to deliver the Town of Marsall to your Majesty You came back from Metz in so little time that the Post could not make more haste you having order'd the best running Horses in your Stables to be laid on the Way Every one took the Liberty of enquiring why your Majesty made such Haste and as there are always some that guess right what you intended to keep secret was presently talk'd of all the Town over Which ought to teach Princes not to undertake any thing which they would not have People know For they cannot with all their Power keep Mens Curiosity from prying narrowly into all their Actions Your Majesty being pleas'd with my Services I took the Liberty to lay before you all that Cardinal Richelieu had design'd for the Glory of your Realm There was nothing of so great importance in his Papers as Trade and Navigation but neither could be maintain'd without making your self strong at Sea which was properly your Majesty's Work To me you committed the care of this as well as of your Buildings wherein there were great Disorders I acquitted my self in both to the best of my Power In the mean time your Majesty having thought sit to attempt something on the Coast of Gigeri the Success whereof promis'd great Advantage to the Trade of the Levant and to your Majesty's Reputation in that Country you caus'd some Troops to pass into Provence where Vessels lay ready to receive ' em They were safely Transported and Landed almost without any Opposition made by the Barbarians But the chief Commanders on whom you rely'd having taken ill Measures the Business miscarry'd tho' well design'd and better digested For 't is not enough for a thing to be so well order'd in Council as that none can object against it unless it be likewise well executed So that a Prince cannot take too much care to make a good choice of those he employs seeing his Reputation depends upon it especially when his Enterprises lie so far off that he is not able to remedy the Faults that are there committed Some would make me believe that Monsieur Tellier was not well pleas'd with that free access I had to your Majesty's Person nor with my being trusted with what concern'd the War He would have had your Majesty chuse more experienc'd Officers in whose Hands the Bâ—â—â—ness would have prosper'd better but tho' I have heard such Reports I will do him right and I had rather attribute that which happen'd at Gigeri to Fate which sometimes ruines the best laid Designs rather than wrong Monsieur Tellier's Reputation To make that Misfortune yet greater the Vessel upon which the Chief Officers of the Regiment were embarqu'd was so Leaky that it sunk which extreamly troubled your Majesty My Enemies who must be many after that which I have said would have imputed the Misfortune to my Fault pretending that I having the Oversight of the Marine
your People you Establisht the Grands-jours that is a certain number of Justices in every Province where they were to take Cognizance of those that were guilty of vexation Many were Imprison'd others ran away and some having been punish'd by demolishing their Castles or by the loss of their Heads you got the love of all your People who found themselves freed from Slavery by your Justice Behold how a wise and a judicious King doth at one and the same time his own and his Subjects business Your Majesty did not tell them that what you did was as much for your own sake as for theirs but on the contrary it was necessary they should believe all you aim'd at was only to deliver 'em from Oppression Otherwise as they would have thought you had not merited much from them so certainly this was the way to meet with no opposition from the common People for could the Gentry have perswaded them you had other designs it was to be fear'd they might have mutually assisted each other which perhaps might have given your Majesty trouble When a King would lessen the Power of his Nobility he must irritate the common People against them which is not difficult because Noblemen are naturally inclin'd to domineer 't is easy therefore to make the Multitude Jealous of ' em Now seeing the Nobility can be so easily humbled they should renounce all kind of Cabals especially such wherein the People are engag'd For the Nobility ought to believe they have no Enemy greater than the Common-People what Countenance soever they carry toward 'em Tho' the People may in appearance shew them Respect yet they are in continual fear of their Lording it over 'em from which they still seek to be freed Undeniable Truth makes it evident that their Interests are directly repugnant to one another's which plainly proves that the Nobility cannot hope for any Advantage but from a perfect Union with their Prince whose Interest likewise 't is to use them well They ought alway so to agree that 't is not possible to divide ' em The Foundation of this Union ought to be perfect Obedience on the Subjects part and a just Retribution on the Soveraign's they ought to do their Duty and he must do his The other thing which your Majesty did for your own and your Peoples Good was to take away the Abuse crept into the Sale of Places of Judicature grown to that heighth I have already mention'd which was the Reason why those that had Places were so Proud and why many made necessitous by paying Interest for the Money they borrow'd to buy their Offices did not scruple the selling of Justice This was a nice Business because what Regulation soever your Majesty made they were to speak properly both Judges and Parties for they were to register the Edict But if a Man were to judge what would be done now by what had pass'd heretofore there was no likelihood the thing would succeed because this would be a considerable Prejudice to them by lessening the value of their Places when some Years before they rebell'd only for retrenching their Wages But your Majesty going to the Parliament accompanied with Four Thousand Men as soon as you presented to them the Edict they not only Register'd it but also gave your Majesty Thanks for the care you took to reform the Abuses which were crept into your Kingdom I do not pretend to perswade your Majesty that these Thanks were given you willingly for I believe they were a little forc'd and that the Four Thousand Men you had with you did more contribute to the Parliaments Gratitude than any esteem they had for your Government However this serves to let all Princes know that there are proper Seasons to cause their Will and Pleasure to be obey'd and that at other Times 't is dangerous to require it They must therefore undertake no more than they have Strength to perform for their being born Soveraigns is not enough to enable them to command absolutely they are more than others subject to the Vicissitude of Times and Fortune hath as much Power over them as over the meanest of all their People A Prince ought likewise to be very Prudent because the Failings of a private Man can at most but prejudice himself and his Family but when a Prince doth ill he sometimes involves his whole Realm in such fatal Consequences as can never be remedy'd The Jansenists endeavour'd again to stir up new Troubles in the Church which oblig'd the Pope to condemn their Doctrine a Second Time Your Majesty follow'd his Example and shew'd the more Circumspection in this Affair because you saw the Consequences of it might be considerable Some Persons of the best Quality in your Court had suffer'd themselves to be seduc'd as well as some Religious Societies whose Heads were so full of it that you were forc'd to employ your Royal Authority to bring 'em again to their right Senses They suffer'd very much before they could resolve to acknowledge their Errour So true is it that People are very obstinate in Matters of Religion and there is nothing more dangerous than Contests about it under pretence of Devotion The Clergy by your Command assembled at Ponthoise as well to remedy this Abuse as to take necessary Resolutions concerning other Matters of great Importance then before ' em They were extreamly pleas'd with the Piety wherewith you enter'd into their Interests which likewise procur'd you the Esteem of your People because there is nothing gives a Prince more than his rendring to God that which is his due Many things contributed to celebrate your Name both at home and abroad One single Ship of yours fought with so much Resolution against Thirty Three Turkish Galleys that they left the Vessel not being able to take it The Succours which you sent to the Hollanders against the Bishop of Munster who had attack'd 'em kept 'em from receiving an Affront For tho' their State in it self was more Powerful than his yet after the Peace they made with Spain they took more care to maintain their Trade than the Reputation they had gotten by their Arms and there fore they were in a much different and weaker Condition than they had formerly been People are very much deceiv'd that think their Strength consists in Riches they are indeed needful to make a State Powerful but 't is an Army that â—s more necessary and without which it cannot subsist A Country ought to have Souldiers enough to defend its Frontiers and likewise to keep its Neighbours in Awe For if they see a Country so weak that they may without Fear invade it 't is Folly to trust to their Promises or Treaties If People will live in Peace they must take care not to be despis'd the Richer and more Flourishing any People are the more jealous they ought to be of their Safety For there are so many who will envy their Prosperity that some of their Neighbours will endeavour
Nature must not be put into the Hands of Partizans whose only Business being to get Money persecute true Gentlemen who have none to give 'em and substitute Plowmen in their Places if they have ready Money to buy the Priviledge they have to declare whom they please Noble This is an Abuse not to be suffer'd and which will lose your Majesty the Love of your Gentry when they have just Reason to complain that the Persecution they suffer is not to discover who are Ignoble and no Gentlemen but to pick the Pockets of those who really are so It is much better such an Inquisition should be made by your Attorney-general and his Substitutes and that you should appoint Receivers into whose Hands the Fines of such as are found and condemn'd to be no Gentlemen should be paid and by them brought into your Majesty's Treasury If this Course were taken your Majesty can never be reproached with delivering up Widows and Orphans to Blood-Suckers but all you do will appear Just then you will find a great many Gentlemen of a new Impression who owe their Gentility to their Money So that after having bought a Quality which doth not belong to 'em 't is but reasonable to make 'em pay something more for their Usurpation because your Majesty is oblig'd to punish all those who make use of Ill means to obtain their Ends. The Command your Majesty gave me to fill your Coffers made me think of an Edict which appear'd profitable to the Publick and really is so if it be seriously consider'd It was to establish a Controul upon all Acts and Proceedings in Law Courts to prevent the Tricks and Cheats heretofore practis'd in them by Antedates And tho perhaps it might not keep Sergeants from playing the Knave because by this Controul they might render their Declarations and Falsifications more Authentick yet all imaginable Care was taken against it by obliging them to get Witnesses to testifie all they did which I think was a certain Remedy against any ill that could happen by Antedates Your Majesty finding it very Reasonable and Just establish'd this Controul throughout the Kingdom tho' in many Places it met with opposition whether from Judges that did not like it for Reasons I do not understand or that it displeas'd some particular Persons whose Genius did not reach so far as to understand of what consequence things are to them But your Majesty was forc'd to do them good against their Wills That which I thought very strange was that the Parliament of Thoulouse were in this guilty of a Fault for which tho' your Majesty pardon'd the whole Body yet you thought fit to punish the Particular Member who was most culpable that the Punishment of one might serve for Example to the rest there would otherwise be still Danger of relapsing into the like Offence The Matter of Fact was this That Parliament had given Judgment that a Horse should be restor'd which had been sold for the Payment of a Fine Order'd by the Edict to be levy'd on such as offended against it Now this was a very insolent Sentence because it did indeed nullifie the Validity of your Majesty's Edict or at least so little regarded it that it was in a manner to say no body should submit to it unless he pleas'd But seeing in such Cases nothing ought to be done imprudently lest your Majesty's Authority be made use of to no purpose I caus'd the first President to be told who had not medled in the Business that if the Sentence they had pass'd were not revok'd they must expect to be all Fin'd which it was his Interest as President to prevent and on whom the Fault would be laid tho' he were Innocent I wrote likewise to your Attorney General and to your Advocates without whose Knowledge the Sentence had pass'd that they should take better heed another time to do their Duty and having a little reprov'd 'em the first President assembled the Parliament in his own House where the Farmer-general of your Majesty's Demeans was by my Order present He desir'd to speak and the Assembly having given him leave he told them That no Reparation could be made for the Fault they had committed but by a Revocation of the Sentence that had been given I was indeed desirous to spare your Majesty the trouble of punishing them Beside when a Minister can save the Appearances and not bring his Master's Authority into dispute 't is Prudence in him so to do The Parliament would fain have shifted off this Affront by proposing many Expedients whereby they thought to have saved their Credit But the Farmer stuck close to his Proposition so that the Parliament to avoid the punishment due to them revok'd the Sentence they had past I did not acquaint your Majesty with this Business till it was ended because when I took upon me the Administration of your Revenue you declar'd you would trust to my Fidelity in all things relating to my Function And indeed whoever you chuse to execute that Office his Authority must be absolute otherwise he can never discharge the Duty of his Place Your Majesty in Affairs of this Nature should consult none but such as are of your Council for if you call in Judges of Courts to advise you I dare say you will be sufficiently abused Lawyers understand nothing of the Business but will be sure to perplex it they will start a Thousand Difficulties about the Point of a Needle which by all means is to be avoided because in the Finances all the Secret is Expedition To prove it I will mind your Majesty of that which I suppose you cannot but remember You made Monsieur de la Reinie Governour of Paris and that this great Capital City of your Kingdom which for its Beauty Grandeur and Wealth deserves to be the Metropolis of the whole World might be better govern'd than formerly it had been I say Monsieur Reinie who by his Place was to have the Particular Inspection and Oversight of all that past in it would have oppos'd my requiring Security for a Duty belonging to your Majesty which was to be paid for Scoops to clear Boats of Water He fancy'd because it concern'd the Fish-Women and other such clamarous People it would raise a Tumult His Fear was not to be blam'd because he meant well but he was mistaken for no body stirr'd and your Majesty had the Duty quietly paid I could quote many Examples of this nature whereby your Majesty would see that such Peoples Understanding reacheth no farther than their Trade and the reason is because their Imaginations are false they fancy Bugbears in every thing and fight with their own Shadows they think that in your Finances 't is as in a Law-Suit a Man ought to be always upon his Guard against the Subtelties of a litigious Petty-fogger They deceive themselves more than others and rather than they will depart from their Maxims they will consent the Government should be turn'd upside
Obstacles were remov'd which he met with because her Father and Mother were dead that you ordered him to dispatch Courier upon Courier to bring your Majesty Intelligence how things went He who was first sent to give you notice the Contract was sign'd went as was usual to Monsieur Pompone Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which Place you bestow'd on him when he least dreamt of it and for which he was oblig'd to Monsieur Tellier who fearing you would have given it to Cardinal Donzi or to the President de Mêmes who both stood for it and that their Merit would have eclips'd his Son's who was not yet in his full Lustre He therefore imploy'd his Credit with your Majesty in Favour of Monsieur Pompone since which Monsieur Louvoy hath been still designing to unite this Secretaryship to his pretending to your Majesty he ought to do the Business of both and that the Secrets of the War and of Foreign Affairs ought to be in the Hands of one Person Your Majesty had the Goodness to communicate to me what had past Whereupon I took the Liberty to say that it did not become Monsieur Louvoy to be so Ambitious That it appear'd by what he desir'd he had an itch of commanding others which perhaps another Monarch wou'd not like That by his Carriage he gave People occasion to think nothing cou'd satisfie him till you had put your Crown upon his Head and that if I were in your Place I would give him such an Answer as should teach him to know himself so well as never for the Future to make the like Request In this Condition were things when my Brother sent me a Duplicate of the Letter he had written to your Majesty but which Monsieur Pompone had not yet deliver'd because he was in the Country looking after his Building I complemented your Majesty thinking I should tell you nothing but what you already knew your Majesty answer'd Monsieur Pompone had given you no notice of any thing and that you wonder'd at it When Monsieur Pompone return'd and would have excus'd his Fault your Majesty told him he might go home again since he had so much Business of his own and that you would put another in his Place that should take more care to do his Duty And at the same time sent for me and told me that you wou'd give Monsieur Pompone's Place to my Brother I thank'd your Majesty and dispatch'd a Courier to Munick to acquaint my Brother with the good News I know very well what a Story some made of this Business It was said I held Intelligence with my Brother and that I receiv'd a Letter from him before Monsieur Pompone had any and that we play'd him this Trick to get his Place But I appeal to your Majesty who better knows than any Person whatever the Truth of all that pass'd in this Affair This Favour which your Majesty did me was a new Subject of Jealousie for Monsieur Louvoy But not daring publickly to shew his Malice till he had a fit Opportunity he soon met with one at least he thought it such seeing he did not fail to speak against me to your Majesty you daily went on with the Works at Versailles or to say Truth you were re-building it new from the Ground For you had twice pull'd it down to build it according to a new Model that had been given you But tho' it be not usual to see a Floor fall in a new built House there did one sink which alarm'd the whole Court every one being sufficiently frighted Monsieur Louvoy made a greater Noise about it than any body else and I knew he indeavour'd to perswade your Majesty that I was not so Honest as I should he in my Overseer's Place of your Buildings That I and the Workmen agreed together or else it was impossible your Majesty could be so ill serv'd As you did me the Justice not to believe it so you had the Goodness not to tell me what he had said but being inform'd of the Discourse he had with your Majesty I was quickly even with him in telling you that if to prove a Man a Knave who had the oversight of others there needed no more than to shew that those who were employ'd by him did not do their work well Monsieur Louvoy was more faulty than I for he had ordered many Fortifications to be erected which were no sooner finish'd but under specious Pretences were pull'd down again and that in many of your Garrison Towns it was observ'd things were done and undone without seeing any necessity for it That your Majesty knew that I had done nothing but by your Command and that I never in my Life propos'd of my self the pulling down any Building That Builders and Workmen had play'd the Knaves could not be deny'd but I made them at their own Charge build up again not only what had fallen down but that also which should be found defective And it were to be wish'd the like would be done for your Majesty in all Places where Faults may be found Particularly at Tournay where the Engineers have done nothing well They made a Ditch much wider than it should have been but he that set them to Work never found fault with them till your Majesty spoke your self of it But instead of doing what was necessary and mending the first Fault they committed a Second much worse by making a Fausebray in the Ditch which render'd the whole Fortification so defective that unless all were new done the Place would never be worth any thing My Brother to whom you gave the Government of it and who understands these things better than I do can testifie what I have told your Majesty By which you may conclude that If I am Faulty your Minister is much more than I am who believes he knows much more than Monsieur Vauban and all the Engineers in Europe All that was to precede the Dauphin's Marriage being now agreed on your Majesty sent the Duke de Crequi First Gentleman of your Bed-Chamber to Munick to carry the Marriage Presents to the Princess of Bavaria They shew'd your Majesty's magnificence and dazl'd the Eyes of all her Brother's Court. To whom the Dauphin sent his Procuration who as his Proxy espoused the Princess She parted to come for France and being arriv'd at Schelestat she there found the Duke and Dutchess of Richelieu to whom your Majesty had given the Government of her Househould She receiv'd their Respects in so proud and haughty a Manner that the Dutchess of Richelieu wrote me that very Day if she had known what she had now seen she would have pray'd your Majesty she might still have waited on the Queen your Wife as she did before All the Court and especially your Majesty had so great an Opinion of this Princess that I durst not tell you what had been written to me I thought it best to stay till you your self had seen her
which would be suddenly because you had fix'd a Day to go and receive her in Champagne You and your Queen went near Fifty Leagues to meet her but I know not whether your Majesty thought your self paid for your Pains since it was impossible for you not to observe this Princess's Pride of which the Dutchess of Richelieu had given me Notice For my own Part I saw it but too well when I had the Honour to pay my Respects to her she scarce vouchsaf'd to hear what I said and I should certainly have been more troubled if I had known she had treated Monsieur Louvoy any better But I my self was a Witness with what coldness she receiv'd him and all other Persons of Quality Your Majesty whose Prudence is to be admir'd in all things some Days after begun to praise the Queen your Wife and said in her presence she had so gain'd the Love of all the French by her Courtesie and and sweet Disposition that they lov'd her better than they did you The Dauphiness who had Wit knew well enough that this discourse was intended for her But it being very difficult to reform those Faults which are natural to us she could never bring her self to that affable and gracious Air which gains the Hearts of the French Nation and which they value a thousand times more than they do any other thing This Marriage follow'd that of Mademoiselle de Blois a very beautiful Princess in whose Praise I should be large were it not that some would say I thereby design'd to recommend my own Wife who had the Care of her Education She marry'd the Prince of Conti the Son of him of whom I have already spoken who died about the Year 1666. and was Governour of Languedoc which Government your Majesty afterward bestow'd upon the Duke de Vernevil who was very old so that this young Prince hoping after the Duke's Death you would gratifie him with it behav'd himself very dutifully to your Majesty but did not treat the Princess his Wife so well I took the Liberty by your Majesty's Order to tell him of it You said he ought to set a greater Value upon so beautiful a Princess and whose Wit was equal to her Beauty But the ill Company he kept made him deaf to all I represented which so much displeas'd your Majesty that when the Duke of Vernevil died you gave his Government to the Duke of Main This shews us that in a Court virtuously govern'd men must be virtuous if they expect Rewards No Man should value himself upon the greatness of his Birth nor upon the Protection he naturally ought to have A Monarch regards neither who as your Majesty regulates all his Actions according to Merit and Justice In such a Court as yours a Person of great Birth who doth not do his Duty is less regarded than another because he hath been better taught Your Majesty will know all that he doth and of what he is capable which is the Reason why your Majesty makes so little Account of some Persons who by the Rank they hold in the Kingdom one would think should make a better Figure than at present they do But 't is a difficult thing to be both Young and Wise When the Prince I now speak of shall come to riper Years I will undertake that your Majesty will be better pleas'd with him No young Person is free from Faults and the deceas'd Prince of Conti who died like a Saint was guilty of more than his Son There is no remedy against the Follies of Youth I can give your Majesty a Proof of it in my own Family be pleas'd to cast your eyes upon my Son I have been many times forc'd to treat him very ill without being able to do any good upon him nothing but time wrought his change so that he would have put me out of all patience if I had not had enough to wait till his understanding grew riper It was in this year that Monsieur Fouquet died at Pignerol whom you condemn'd to perpetual imprisonment instead of the Banishment to which he was sentenced He bore his disgrace with a constancy which could never be expected from a man who in the midst of the troublesome affairs of his place mingled all the pleasures I should rather say all the Debaucheries of Youth but God gave him the Grace to recollect himself and die a good Christian Whence we ought to conclude that God knows better than we what is fit for us and that we are not sensible of our own wants when we murmur against Providence since we oftner lose our selves in prosperity than in adversity but nature is so corrupt that we would have the way to Heaven strew'd with flowers instead of the thorns we meet in it The Peace was already become a burden to Monsieur Louvoy tho' it were so lately made that people scarcely had had time to reap the fruits of it He advis'd Your Majesty to make your self Master of Strasbourg and Casal but seeing he knew that to attempt it would again Arm all Europe he sent persons he could trust to both those places with Bills of Exchange for very great Sums in hopes to succeed in their Negotiation While this was transacting Your Majesty resolv'd to send your Fleet against the Corsairs of Tripoli under the Command of du Quêne who was another de Ruiter Eight of their Ships not being able to recover the Port from whence they came retreated to Chio where they thought themselves safe because that Island was under the protection of the Grand Seignior with whom they believ'd Your Majesty would never willingly have any Quarrel But du Quêne knowing that by the Treaty of Commerce which you had made with the Turk he was not to give any Retreat to those Pyrates he fell upon 'em and beat 'em to pieces with his Cannon This boldness of du Quêne occasion'd great trouble to your Embassador at the Port where he was very ill treated and had been us'd much worse had he not pacified the Grand Seignior with very considerable Presents You had no mind to consent to it yet knew there was a necessity for it when you consider'd your Dominions were too far distant from his to make him sensible of your Power Besides if you had not prevented what he threatned you might have lost the advantage you made of the Levant Trade so that a Prince is as much obliged as a private man to have a regard to his interests which are often of such consideration that he is in prudence bound to dissemble many things The secret Negotiation concerning Strasbourg and Casal had all the success Monsieur Louvoy could wish These two considerable places deliver'd themselves into Your Majesties hands without striking a blow But though they made so great an addition to your Power that it seem'd you now made all Europe tremble yet I know not whether I may Congratulate Your Majesty upon it seeing it hath done that
be said that can better please you Many Churches rebuilt at your Charge others to which you have added more Maintenance to supply their wants Blasphemers severely punish'd the Poor relieved and many things of the like kind which for brevity's sake and not to be thought a Flatterer I do not mention are all convincing Testimonies that the Glory of God is your Majesty's chief care Though in this you have done no more than what all the World is bound to do yet I say 't is your Majesty's Duty more than another Man's not only because as you are a Soveraign you are oblig'd to give good Example to your Subjects but because you cannot omit the doing of it without being very ingrateful to God If your Majesty will but cast your Eyes on the Favours you have receiv'd from him you will see many things which require an Eternal Acknowledgement I do not speak of such things as are common to you with all men but reflect if you please on those Blessings which God's Providence hath in so particular a manner pour'd out upon your Majesty How are you bound to thank him for your Miraculous Birth his giving you Being to fill the noblest Throne upon Earth is one of the least of his Favours and to draw you doubly I may say out of nothing as he did after the Queen your Mother had been Barren three and twenty Years is a Blessing that cannot be forgot without double Ingratitude If you follow step by step what God hath done for you you will find his Protection over your Person hath been very singular Remember that almost universal Rebellion of your Kingdom that Confederation of the Parliaments against your Authority the insolence of your People and how easily you quell'd these Monsters You will then confess this was not the Work of Man but the Hand of God If after this you call to mind the Fidelity of your Commanders and Souldiers even to the prejudice of their Ancient Rights and that Victory still wedded to your side forc'd the Spaniards to yield to the Peace of the Pyrenees notwithstanding their great aversion to it You will see that this likewise was a Favour of Divine Providence which never forsook you How can you chuse but be thankful for the Miracle it wrought in recovering you from that terrible Sickness which I have already mention'd I know God made use of Natural Causes to which impious Men attribute all that is extraordinary but by their leave there was something more in that recovery for you were not only given over by your Physicians who I confess are many times mistaken but you were more than half dead as those that were present did verily think and can testifie I spoke Truth when I said your Curtains were drawn If your Majesty please let us follow the course of your Life and see whether that which happen'd after this be Natural Do you in good earnest believe that so regular and mature a Judgment as appear'd in you presently after the Cardinal's Death notwithstanding the ill Education he gave you was only the Gift of Nature 'T is to God alone you are indebted for it and to whom you are to return thanks 'T was not in your Power to make your self wise especially in a Court where you were suffer'd to do what you would and where none but Women had the care of your Education What shall I now say of the Wars wherein you have been engag'd by evil Counsel and if I may dare say so by your own Ambition And yet how happily are you come off All these Miracles are from Heaven God having sent you into the World that you might Glorifie him by your Actions and hath more particularly engaged you to praise him by many Obligations heap'd upon one another If you do not do that which God expects from you what will all the World say that know the Chararacter of a good Man is to be Grateful As it is your Majesty's Obligation so 't is your Interest to be thankful For if a Prince take no care to give to God that which is his due how can he expect his People should do their Duty to him whose greatest Glory is to be the living Image of God upon Earth If he thinks to be obey'd because as a Master he commands others and believes his Subjects must Love or fear him because Reward and Punishment are in his Hands he is much mistaken For the Power of a Prince be it never so great would quickly be brought to nothing if those that obey him did not do it for God's sake who is greater than he 'T is Religion that first made Subjects fear their King and still continues that Fear As a Tree which doth not continually receive Nourishment from the Earth grows dry and withers by degrees so take away Religion in a Kingdom the Respect and Fear of a Soveraign which Subjects suck in with their Milk insensibly decays till it be quite Dead whence follow a thousand Mischiefs greater than can be Imagin'd or express'd and then neither Hope of Reward or Fear of Punishment can prevail with Subjects to do their Duty A Wretch that doth not believe in God thinks there is much more to be got by Disobedience and Rebellion than ever he could expect from his Prince and what Effect can the fear of Punishment have upon him who believes there is no other World beside this and that one quarter of an Hour will put an End to all his Pain Not to give God his due is to open a Door to all manner of Wickedness and a Prince thereby exposes himself to the Hazard of being driven out of his Kingdom Look but upon the Ottoman Empire which is much more subject to revolutions than any other Kingdoms because the greatest part of its Subjects think the Religion they profess to be meer humane Invention and when a Man once comes to that Belief 't is a very hard matter to conquer his Prejudice and raise him up to the Knowledge of the true God Besides such an Opinion blinds and makes Men so brutish as to attribute all things to Nature and 't is extremely difficult for 'em to find the way out of their error Let us come a little nearer and see what hath been done in England the want of Religion in that Kingdom was the cause of all that happen'd there since the time of Henry the 8th the introducing of so many Sects brought the People at last to dip their hands in their King's blood Come we now to your own Kingdom where we may observe the same disorders in the reign of three or four Kings one after another If you would know the reason read but their History One was a Blasphemer instead of punishing that sin in his Subjects Another was an Atheist and so of the rest So that their Subjects who had very little more Religion than they attempted to dethrone ' em These Confusions lasted till the Reign of the Deceased
King your Father The Vicious Lives of the Clergy cannot be remember'd without horror A Bishop never visited his Diocess but to receive the Rents due from his Tenants if he stay'd there 't was to enjoy a Mistress whose company pleas'd him and when he was weary of her he return'd to Paris to find another upon whom he spent that which he should have given to the Poor with the rest he kept Horses and Hounds an abuse so general amongst 'em that he was accounted covetous who did not live at this rate I have also heard my Deceased Father say that when he was young Bishopricks were bestow'd usually to gratifie Favourites who had procur'd 'em with part of their Revenues they knew how much they were to give and the rest was for themselves The same thing was practic'd with relation to Abbies and I may say all the Benefices in France The Monks who liv'd at their ease spent their overplus very scandalously but lik'd the Trade so well that in spite of all reproof they would not leave it Cardinal Richelieu who knew that the first and most important care of a Minister of State is to establish Religious Worship especially among those whose good or evil example is of great consequence in a Kingdom apply'd himself entirely to it God blest his Endeavours and 't is to him we are indebted for our present better change Your Majesty hath likewise done your part in not bestowing favours but upon those who for their good behaviour and learning are worthy of 'em for your Majesty well knows that they who are to be set over others should be able to teach and instruct them seeing want of good Precepts may be the cause of as much mischief as ill example By the particular knowledge I have I am a daily witness that in the distribution of Benefices and other favours your Majesty will be inform'd not only of the good lives and conversation of those persons that are propos'd to you but also of their other requisite qualifications Now after this knowledge I have nothing more to say than to exhort your Majesty to continue the Conduct you have shewn since your coming to the Crown for nothing so much prevails with Subjects as the good example of their Soveraign Your Majesty's present Exemplary life will be a Spur to those who are so lazy as not to keep pace with your Majesty in the good way you are going Endeavour above all things to keep from your heart Slanderers and Hypocrites whereof the number is much greater than you imagine The first like love insinuate themselves by degrees into Mens minds but kill as soon as they take possession a Detractor gets into the heart of a Prince by pretending his interests are dearer to him than his own and when he hath infus'd his poyson he will never let him rest till he hath made him suspect the fidelity of his best servants Hypocrites are yet more dangerous because under colour of Devotion they infect you with mischievous Maxims whose venom 't is impossible for you to discover There are other Vices which tho your Majesty ought not to suffer yet they are not so prejudicial to your Government A Man that minds nothing but pleasing his senses hurts no body but himself a Drunkard is in the same case and so are others of the like nature so that the service of God a part the Commonwealth is not concern'd If it suffer any thing 't is because God who is just doth not usually bless those places where such disorders are permitted and I attribute all the Misery of Flanders to their Idolatry I cannot without indignation see them pay so much veneration and respect to an Image of the Virgin Mary or of some other Saint and yet have no regard at all to the Holy Sacrament that is upon their Altars 'T is the Monks that are the cause of this abuse which they had heretofore establish'd in France but that it doth not reign there so much as in former times we are to thank the Hereticks It was one of their complaints against the Roman Church and the people who in those days liv'd in very great ignorance now they are illuminated know they were in the right the Monks themselves never doubted it and the thing is too clear of it self to be any longer a block of offence Nothing but interest hath prompted 'em to make such a change in Religion and to load us with Indulgences and Fraternities They at first wrought upon the minds of weak Women to establish their Maxims and then infus'd them into their Men who as I have said were so ignorant as not to perceive the snares that were laid for them If these Monks had kept close to the first rules of their institution this abuse could never have crept in it came in first by Confessions which by degrees they have now apply'd to themselves through the secular Priests neglecting their duty the care also they take to get Customers to their Churches by things which attract the eyes more than the heart hath drawn people from their Parish-Churches to which by the Canons they are oblig'd to go under pain of mortal sin So that we see 'em deserted and empty while the Churches of Covents have not room enough to contain those whom curiosity or dangerous zeal hath allured thither but God be thanked we begin to know better what is our duty 't is your Majesty's part to remedy other abuses God having put power into your hands to root out the Tares which grow amongst the good Corn. The means are easie and the putting it in practice absolutely necessary both for the good of your Subjects and the security of your State for the good of your Subjects you should not suffer Monks to meddle with what they have nothing to do entring into the Secrets of Families where they often make strange work And for the security of your State how can you expect it where they that are bound by an Oath of Fidelity to the Pope must prefer his Interests before yours which will occasion greater inconveniencies than you can imagin this will appear to be a manifest truth if you call to mind what past in the Reigns of Hen. 3. and Hen. 4. of which I need say so no more since Your Majesty knows what then happen'd better than I do The surest way to prevent these two inconveniences is first to destroy these Monasteries or at least not to suffer such a multitude of 'em but since this will be a difficult thing for Your Majesty to do though your power be so great yet I think it may be compass'd if Your Majesty please first to establish again among 'em the ancient Discipline of their Founders wherein they are very remiss 2dly If you forbid them taking Confession whereby they insinuate themselves into Women out of whom they wire-draw the Secrets of all Families 3ly If you suffer none to take upon 'em the habit till they shall be of
gnaw and grate your Subjects and I will maintain they cost your People every Year above Two Hundred Millions I will think what course may be taken to remedy so great a Mischief but I cannot pass by other Leeches no less decryed than these I have mention'd tho' somewhat more serviceable and useful to the Publick I mean the Gens d'Affaires that is the Bankers whom the People think to be the Instruments of all their Misery And indeed in so thinking they are not altogether deceiv'd I confess this Abuse may be more easily reform'd than the other but cannot be totally supprest I will say more of it but must first speak of those things wich ought to precede it The Tradesmen as well as Husbandmen and Labourers are included in that which is call'd the Third Estate but indeed they should be separated and have a Place by themselves since 't is not just that they who take so much Pains to preserve the Kingdom should be mingled with a company of Pettifoggers whose business it is to destroy it I know your Majesty is too Prudent not to protect and in all things concur with them to make Trade and Tillage flourish Were I not oblig'd to observe order in my Discourse I would here more largely shew what Advantages your Majesty may procure them But seeing I must not go before those of whom I have first spoken I return again to the Clergy who take Place of all the other Orders of the Kingdom CHAP. XI Of the Clergy PIety is so absolutely necessary to an Ecclesiastick that your Majesty hath all the Reason in the World not to bestow Benefices but on such as appear to be good and virtuous Men. But seeing People know how to dissemble when 't is for their Interest and Advantage we should not always judge by Appearances but strictly examin and enquire into their Lives and Conversations The Universities and Seminaries establish'd for this purpose are of very great Use and Benefit for tho' many come to them with dissolute and worldly Minds yet they are in a fair way to be reform'd by good Example which they have daily before their Eyes But I think there should be a certain time limited for Peoples staying in those Seminaries to which all Persons of Quality as well as others should be subject and none by any Priviledge exempted For 't is not by long living in Universities but by coming abroad and conversing in the World that many things are learn'd necessary for a Clergy Man to know and which he can never so well learn any where else Pluralities are now grown common But still condemn'd by tender Consciences Those that are scrupulous question whether the going from one Church to another ought to be suffer'd Because as a Lay Man is forbidden to change his Wife or to have more than one at a time so a Clergy Man ought not to have two Livings or to commute that which hath been given to him The Covetousness of Church-men and of other Persons of Consideration join'd with that necessity which hath often oblig'd your Majesty and your Predecessors to reward their good Services first introduc'd this abuse of Pluralities But your Majesty will do well to consider what ill Consequences attend it against which a timely Remedy must be provided Ecclesiasticks well born and bred high are seldom sit Persons to edifie the People for having liv'd in very great abundance and kept the great Men company they must needs retain some of their Vices Their Tables and their Stables consume the Patrimony of the Poor and if in the midst of their Plenty they chance to cast their Eyes on a poor Wretch they command he should be taken out of their sight instead of taking pity on him Were Church-mens Possessions proportion'd to their Character they would live more frugally and give less Scandal Great Riches often ruin Men and if what the Gospel says be true that whatever a Clergy-man's Revenue be yet he ought to take no more of it to his own use than necessity requires how dangerous then must it be to have a Hundred or Fourscore Thousand Livers Yearly Rent which we see many Church men do enjoy Did they bear any part of the Burthen of the State your Majesty would be oblig'd God's Portion set apart to reward their good services but as they are in that respect unprofitable Members of the Kingdom so being priviledg'd by their Character they load others with paying Tythes and other Duties While with great care they free themselves from the Burthen which in justice they ought to bear Your Majesty in so large a Kingdom as yours hath need of a great number of good Servants and you would have wherewith all to reward 'em if you divided among many what you sometimes give but to one and yet not content him You should above all things consider that the Service of God and the Salvation of an infinite number of Souls are brought into danger Riches are a Rock upon which many a Man hath been wreck'd and rich Churchmen for the most part make an ill use of their wealth and become a Scandal to their Diocess whereas if a Bishop had but a competent Revenue he would employ it in things profitable and tending to Edification To put things into this State there is no necessity to take away the Revenue belonging to Bishopricks and Abbies but to oblige those that are worth more than Ten thousand Livers Rent to maintain a Vicar or School-master in Parishes which have none but where one is very necessary For when People are poor and not able to bear a new Charge without being over-burthen'd their Children will want instruction and Ten thousand Livres a year are more than a sufficient maintenance for a Bishop or an Abbot the Service of God doth not require their having such rich and sumptuous Equipages nor such Magnificent and Dainty Tables In the time of the Primitive Church Luxury did not raign so much among 'em and then there were more Saints than Bishops or Court-Abbots Another good effect that would be wrought by lessning the Revenue of the Clergy is that Persons of Quality who enter into Orders upon no other score but to have part of the Wealth that belongs to the Church would not take upon them the Priesthood unless they were truly call'd to it So that for the future there would be none in the Church but Men of great Zeal and Piety whose Example only would be sufficient to invite others to the same life for nothing more prevails on Men than to see what good Lives those lead who are their Superiours CHAP. XII Of the Nobility or Gentry THE Gentry were heretofore very considerable in France and Your Majesty's Enemies so dreaded their Valour that when they were known to be in your Armies the Enemy was still unwilling to come to a Battle but of late the Gentry have lost much of their Lustre and are fallen into so great Poverty that 't is
the Overplus That would be to revive the Ministry of Monsieur Fouquet and open a Door to all the Abuses that were committed in his time A Farmer that looks forward and considers what may happen hereafter must not by bold Frauds make too much haste to be Rich and hazard the undoing of himself and his Children after him There may a time come when he shall be call'd to a strict Account and be forc'd to disgorge all he hath swallow'd and rot in a Goal He were much better for his own Peace be contented with reasonable Gain In farming out your Majesty's Revenue it is necessary that the Person on whom you rely to do it should never depend on the Fidelity of the Commissioners For let him be never so cautious they will if possible deceive him in their Accounts they will dextrously charge too much or too little as they see their Advantage and sometimes between the Intendant of the Finances who hath Power to let them and the Farmers that rent them there may be so Good an understanding as to divide the Cake and defraud your Majesty To prevent this there should always be join'd with the Farmers an honest Man who may be confided in he will be a continual Spie upon the rest and be so distrusted by them that they will be afraid tho' they have never so much mind to do your Majesty Wrong It being impossible for a Comptroller General to know of himself all the ways and means which may be us'd to raise Money he ought to deal faithfully with those that give him information how it may be done I always without respect of Persons gave Rewards to those that brought me any good Memorials or Proposals to that purpose 'T is the way to sharpen Mens Wits and to discontent such Men may be very prejudicial to your Majesty's Affairs Their Papers must be examin'd to see what is good and what is bad in their Proposals I would fain know what a Minister of State could do if he were not sometimes assisted by other Mens advice he will find it so much trouble to look over and rectifie those Memorials that are brought him that he will hardly have time to sleep quietly There are sometimes hard Bargains where a Company loses considerably notwithstanding the Allowance that is made 'em As when Commodities are assign'd to 'em for Payment which they cannot sell or put off The Case is then the same as if nothing had been given them A Minister of State ought on such Occasions to do them Justice and not let 'em suffer For if your Majesty will have Money you must protect and not Persecute those that are to furnish you with it for if they are to advance it 't is requisite People should believe they are Men of Substance and in a good Condition when once they think the contrary they will be wary how they part with their Money to those that are upon the brink of Ruin I remember a Conjuncture of this nature since I have been in the Post to which your Majesty was pleased to prefer me but I presently apply'd a Remedy It was in the Year 1670. when People kept their Purses sast tied and there was little or no Money stirring The Bankers came daily and told me their Credit was quite lost that People thought them engag'd in ill Bargains and would trust 'em no longer I then did two things which succeeded very well first I appointed Persons to enquire what Losses they had sustain'd with a Promise that when I knew what really they were I would make 'em Satisfaction Next I sent for the Principle Agents of the Bank and after having had your Majesty's Consent I distributed Three Millions among 'em which they presently employ'd in Trade They that knew not whence the Money came concluded presently that these Men would never run the Risque of so great a Summ but upon very good grounds they immediately follow'd their Example and People universally began again to open their Purses In a time of scarcity especially of Wine the like inconvenience may happen because they that farm the Duties upon it would be undone if there were not some allowance made them proportionable to their loss Now not knowing how it will go with them till your Majesty's pleasure be declar'd how much they shall be abated every one keeps his Money in his hands and all the Banks are shut up at once they likewise who are Sub-farmers will pay nothing because they also expect an abatement pretending they are not able to pay when sometimes they have a great deal of Money in their hands which they will not part with tho' you should Quarter Souldiers upon them or send them to Prison To avoid this which in time will be extremely prejudicial to your Majesty's Affairs your Minister must appoint Commissioners to make him a true report of the state of Affairs but they must never be chosen out of the general Farmers because that would be to put Your Majesty's Concerns into the hands of suspected Persons not to be trusted Who under borrow'd names are often partners with the Sub-farmers and will be sure to aggravate their losses pretending them to be much greater than in truth they are And when they are not concern'd will not trouble themselves let what will happen Your Majesty must forbear as much as possibly you can and the state of your Affairs will permit the imposing of any new Taxes but there is one that hath not yet been laid which I think very just and necessary and will be so far from doing hurt that it will certainly do a great deal of good All France is of late years so over run with Luxury and Vanity reigns every where to that degree that 't is impossible to know a Peasant from a Gentleman a Citizen from a Magistrate or the Rabble from Citizens Their Families in the mean time suffer and 't is an abuse which Your Majesty is oblig'd to suppress not only that Mens several conditions may be distinguish'd but also to keep them from being miserable A bare Law in this Case will be but an uncertain remedy because we daily see Laws last but a little time and are frequently broken as soon as made Your Majesty must therefore lay a Tax upon all those that wear Clothes beyond their Quality and you must by an Edict declare who may wear Gold and Silver who Silk and so downwards and that they who ought not to wear Gold or Silver and yet presume to do it shall pay so much and they that wear Silk or any other forbidden Stuff so much This imposition will make all People live within compass according to their condition or will be a very considerable Income to Your Majesty for if you oblige those to pay a Crown or two that contrary to the Law wear Gold or Silver and those to pay a little less that wear Silk Lace or whatever else shall be prohibited how many that by the Law ought
but 't is not reasonable that more than two thousand Families should perish for the sake of a few The Council is full of instances of the like kind and your People have reason to expect you should favour the oppressed The Books that are brought from Paris are so very dear that poor People are not able to come up to their Price A poor Parson whose living is worth but a hundred Crowns a year hath as much need of Instruction as he who hath two thousand and if it be expected that he should Preach and do his Duty he must not be trod under foot The only thing that can be objected against so good and just a Regulation is that Your Majesty may have reason to lessen the number of Booksellers for Libels are now so frequent and common that Bookselling may be thought a Trade more pernicious than profitable to the Government When there are fewer Book-sellers the Authors of these Libells may be discover'd It may also be necessary to bring all that sell Books to so low a condition as to force them to follow some other Imployments for indeed there is no need of so great a number Learning and Letters will flourish without it But whatever Your Majesty's intention be you may do as is done in Spain where Books are Sold at a Price certain and he that Prints them is not permitted to put such a rate upon them as they that have need of them think unreasonable CHAP. XVI Of Husbandmen and Tillage TIllage and Husbandry being the great Wealth of the Kingdom your Majesty is not only concern'd to contribute all you can to the maintaining of it in its present condition but if possible to put it into a better In many Places of the Kingdom a great deal of Land lyes Untill'd because the People are very poor and have not Beasts or Cattle to Manure it nor any other means to improve it To relieve and help your People in a business so necessary Your Majesty would do well to lessen the Taxes a Burden under which they are ready to sink and lend them Money to buy Cows and Sheep Five or six Millions dispers'd among the Provinces would make them all flourish and Your Majesty would be the first that would reap the benefit of it for as soon as your People are in a better condition they will be the better able to aid and assist you One of the greatest causes of the Sterility of the Earth is the Poverty of those that should cultivate it for we see one and the same Soil produce more or less as it is well or ill Plow'd and Dress'd Therefore it will not be enough for Your Majesty to give Husbandmen Money to buy Cattle if they still want Horses I call such poor Jades as are hardly able to draw a Plow want of Horses For when the Earth is but scratch'd up and not Plow'd deep enough what Crop can it produce your Majesty must therefore give 'em Money to buy better and stronger Horses and the rather because you your self will find the benefit of it Let them have Mares of a good size and they will bring Colts that will serve to mount your Cavalry and then there will be no more need of going into Switzerland or Germany to buy Horses of Stature for that purpose They likewise that keep Stallions must take more care of them than they have done hitherto 'T is therefore my opinion that they should be put into the hands of Gentlemen who know best how to order them and 't is more their business than theirs who now keep them But the Summ which Your Majesty hath hitherto been pleas'd to lay out for this purpose is not sufficient for it Fourscore and four Stallions in the whole Kingdom are but enough for two or three Provinces and there are others which are very proper to keep Races to breed by FINIS Appanage signifies the Portion given to the King of Franc's younger Children * Finances signifie all Taxes and Dutys whatever paid to the King to make up his Revenue * Farmers of the King's Revenue * The Town-House like the Guild-Hall of London * Sixteen Millions of Livres computed At 12 Livres to the Pound Sterling amounts to One Million Three Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Three Pounds Six Shillings and Eight Pence * A Term in the Church of Rome for the Sacrament which is given to People at the point of death * Judges or Officers of Justice sent by the King into the Provinces * A gentle word for Persecuted but 't is the Author's and must be faithfully render'd He makes some amends for it at the end of the Paragraph * A kind of Hospital in Paris where the Blind are allow'd to beg at their Church-doors and at the corners of Streets * There being a Duty laid on Wine resembling our Excise what is made and consum'd like Beer and Ale brew'd in Private Families is exempt from all Duty But by this Tax there is only an allowance of so much Wine to every Family proportionable to their Number and if they exceed that Allowance the Officer returns Trop bu and they pay Excise for the Overplus †A Tax much like our Toll which is taken at the Gates of Paris and of other Cities for all sorts of Provision and Merchandize that enters therein * The King's Officers who makes the Assessments of all Taxes and Aids within their several Provinces and judge and regulate aâ—l Differences relating thereto * The Lawyers * La Noblesse properly signifies the Ancient Gentry who all call themselves Noble in France * A Monastery for Women of Quality out of which they may Marry or go again into the World * A Word of Ignominy and Reproach in France * Is the Sixtieth part of the Price of any Office in the Law or the Finances which is annually paid to the King by all Officers that they may have leave to sell or to dispose of their Places during that Year and when an Officer dies without paying la Paulette his Heirs lose the Benefit of his place It takes its Name from Charles Paulet who invented it about the Year 1600 and was authoriz'd by an Arrest of the Privy Council the 12th of Dec. 1604.
have been very much troubled to see a Peace broken upon which she had set her Heart You oblig'd the Bishop of Munster to make Peace with the Hollanders but you found it more difficult to bring the Duke of Lorrain to any compliance with your Majesty tho one would have thought by the Mortifications you had given him he would have been more flexible This Duke who was a Riddle to all Mankind came after the Business of Marsall to Paris where he seem'd to have so little Sence of the ill condition of his Affairs that he would have marry'd a mean Citizen's Daughter that was one of Mademoiselle Montpensier's Domestick Servants and the Business was so far advanc'd as to come to a Contract of Marriage But your Majesty was requested by his Friends to interpose your Royal Authority to hinder the Match The Duke's Relations had again recourse to your Majesty in another Business of the same Nature but somewhat less Shameful because the Woman he courted was the Daughter of a Gentleman Your Majesty being extremely angry that the Duke would so dishonour himself commanded the Maid's Father not to suffer his Daughter to marry him The Duke at last seeing your Majesty would not let him marry so Dishonourably in your Dominons went to seek a Mistress in his own where he marry'd the Daughter of Count Appremont she was hardly Thirteen Years of Age and he above Threescore Having gratify'd his Love his next Business was to satisfie his Ambition which would not suffer him to live quiet a Moment He begun to make Levies under pretence that the Elector Palatin committed hostilities upon his Frontiers Your Majesty by your Authority appeasing that Disorder he had no other Pretence to continue in Arms yet his Falshood still readily furnish'd him with another as oft as your Majesty gave him Reasons why he ought to prefer your Frienship before all other Considerations Your Envoy often discours'd him upon that Subject and told him that since he had so often abus'd your Majesty's Patience it was to be feard you would deal with him as he had deserv'd But he seem'd to be or indeed was insensible or did not remember what had past For he could not resolve to do what your Majesty requir'd of him tho' he knew there was not any Body in all Europe that could take his Part and save him from being ruin'd if your Majesty should once fall upon him While this Business was in agitation Louvoy doubled his Endeavours to perswade your Majesty to undertake the War of Flanders whereof he pretended the Success must be Infallible because the English and Hollanders were engag'd in a War wherein your Majesty had taken part with the Dutch more out of Pollicy than any real Intention to assist your ancient Allyes For if you resolv'd to conquer the Low Countreys it was not likely this Allyance would continue long because the Dutch were highly concern'd not to suffer a Potent King to become their Neighbour So that what you had done in taking their part was only to keep up the Quarrel the longer between them and the English and that it should not end unless you were call'd in to the making up a Peace for your Design was to know what pass'd that you might not take false Measures Indeed your Conduct was suitable to your Interest and the Succours you lent the Dutch were neither proportionable to your Forces nor to the Promise you made them of doing your utmost to enable 'em to beat their Enemies You declar'd your self for 'em but they beginning to suspect the great Preparations you made thought it better to make a Peace with the English than to prosecute the Advantage they had and which gave them a prospect of greater after that fatal Disaster which befel the English by the burning of Three Parts of the City of London which cast the Inhabitants into so great a Consternation that the Dutch if they pleas'd might have done their Business Nevertheless you did yours for you drove the English out of the Island of St. Christopher's and took from them the Fort they had built but resolving no longer to delay the War of Flanders you went thither in Person at the Head of a brave Army The Spaniards were sufficiently frighted and not without Cause for your Majesty had taken care ever since the Peace of the Pyrenées to keep your Troops in as good Martial Discipline as if they had been continually in the Field You caus'd them to be frequently muster'd you cashier'd all that were unfit for service and discharg'd those who had Listed themselves in your Guards on purpose to be free'd from paying Taxes this Reform went so high as Officers many of whom were never in Service and were much fitter for a Court than to look an Enemy in the Face Turenne commanded this Army under your Majesty and the Confidence you repos'd in him made you prefer him before all others to teach you the Art of War wherein you look'd upon him as the most experienc'd in all your Kingdom Therefore to reward his Services and to let all the World see how great an esteem you had of his Conduct and Courage you declar'd him Camp Mareschal General of your Armies a little before the Peace between the Two Crowns a Title that set him above all the Mareschals of France and which in some manner reviv'd the Place of Constable which was supprest after the Death of the Duke de Lediguieres who was the last that enjoy'd it The Confidence which you had in this great Man displeas'd Monsieur Louvoy whose Ambition was already grown to that heighth as not to be willing your Majesty should consult with any body but himself But he had many bitter Pills to swallow Your Majesty sometimes stay'd till Noon shut up with Turenne while Louvoy waited in your Antichamber This begot in him that Hatred which he always had for Turenne and which hath been often prejudicial to your Majesty's Affairs as I shall make appear in the sequel of this Discourse Upon which be pleas'd to permit me to make a Reflexion which your Majesty will find very Just viz. That there is nothing so dangerous as the giving too much Credit to Men puft up with Pride and vain Glory The Reason is because such Men still envy the Reputation others deserve for their good Counsel and disparage every thing which proceeds not from themselves wishing nothing should prosper rather than the Glory of it should be attributed to another So that a Prince cannot be too reserv'd and cautions in the choice of a Minister for tho' he should find in him all the Qualities requisite for so great an Employment yet if he hath not that of preferring the Publick before his own Private Interest 't is vain to expect any good from him To perform the Duty of a Publick Minister a Man ought to be Proof both against Love and Hatred and do nothing but for the Publick Good What is done
for other ends may prejudice his Master whose Service requires that his Minister should not be subject to any Passion The Spaniards upon your Majesty's approach blew up the Fortifications they had made in a new Place which they called Charleroy So that in less than Eight Days they demolish'd all that which with Prodigious Labour they had been building a Year at the Expence of more than Three Millions Your Majesty resolving to continue the Fortifications they had begun to keep a Pass upon the Sambre where this Place is scituated made your Army work so hard that in Three Weeks the Place was made defenfible After this you went on and in so short a time as is almost incredible you took the Towns of Aoth Tournay Douay and the Forts round about it Oudenard and Alost likewise submitted to your Arms while the Mareschal d' Aumont took in Armentieres Bergues Furnes Dixmude and Courtray The English and Dutch hasten'd to clap up a Peace but your Majesty keeping on your Way besieg'd Lisle wherein were Four Thousand Men all regular Troops and Ten times as many Burghers able to bear Arms which made the Spaniards believe you could not take the Town having call'd to their Relief Count Marcin who commanded their Army He drew near the Place to fall upon you and thought you so weaken'd as to be easily beaten but your Majesty having in a little time taken the Town so totally defeated Marcin that he was forc'd to save himself on Foot through a Marish This Victory promis'd you more the Season not being yet far advanc'd But your Majesty was so set upon returning to Paris that you contented your self with what you had done There is a Time when a Man will prefer his Pleasure before his Business which however much lessens his Reputation For the least failing in the Life of a great Man is a Stain which clouds the Glory and Lustre of his Actions But who in this World is free from Faults Especially when they proceed from a Passion to which Heroes are usually more inclin'd than other Men. Your Majesty's Success augmented your Minister's Reputation who became so proud of your Favour that he did all he could to ruine me But your Majesty was just to me notwithstanding all his Endeavours and in truth your Majesty was bound to protect me since it was for you alone I expos'd my self to the Hatred of the People I had advis'd you some Years before to suppress a a part of the Rents of the Hotel de Ville which were establish'd on so small a Consideration that the very Arrears they demanded exceeded the Principal they were bought for So that one might properly say there was Money due to your Majesty instead of your being in Debt But seeing it would have made those People desperate who were concern'd therein had your Majesty supprest that Fund which you might have done with very great Justice you resolv'd I should only fright them to retrench those Rents that they might not be so chargeable to your Majesty for the future But People will be blind where their Interest is concern'd for I was like to be torn to Pieces by the Multitude particularly being one Day with the Chancellor some of 'em were so bold to threaten me I pretended I was willing to hear what they had to say that I might know their Names and your Majesty might cause 'em to be imprison'd which I thought would keep 'em in Awe However they continu'd to insult me every Day so that my Deputies who were more terrify'd than I did all they could to perswade me to meddle no more in the Business The Zeal I had to serve your Majesty made me take little notice of my Servants Fear which was so great that one of them who was a very industrious Fellow but guilty of beeing a little too much given to Wine which was his greatest Fault started one Night out of his Sleep fancying some of the Hotel Ville Men were come to cut his Throat The Fumes of the Wine had so clouded his Brain that he did not perceive his Fear proceeded only from a Dream so that he put all my House into an Uproar which frighted my Wife and Children I awak'd with the Noise he made and had I believ'd my Wife and Servants I had run out of the House to save my self But thinking it fit to know first what was the Matter I quickly perceiv'd it was but a Drunkard's Vision so that my House was quiet again Next Morning I turn'd him away because I resolv'd not to keep him after he had caus'd such a disturbance in my Family especially after I had so often told him if he did not mend I would not keep him any longer But there are some things to which People are so addicted that they cannot leave 'em if they would especially when they are become habitual Drinking is one of those Habits which the older a Man grows the more subject he is to it the Reason is because the Natural Heat decaying he fancies that Wine gives him new Strength whereas the excess of it takes away that which he hath yet left The cause is not the same in Mens Inclinations to Women which for a natural reason cannot be so great when Men grow Old as when they are but Five and Twenty Of all the Passions wherewith Men are Troubled I know none so dangerous as this beside how little doth it sute with those who find themselves totally disabled by Age. Whence we ought to conclude that we must endeavour from our very Infancy to conquer this Inclination especially when we consider it renders a Man unsit for every thing and consequently is to be trusted in nothing Your Majesty doubting that your Neighbours would grow jealous of your Conquests made a League offensive and defensive with Portugal which by the Succours you lent kept it self from falling again under the Dominion of the Spaniards of which they often complain'd during the Peace because your Majesty was oblig'd by one of the Articles of the Pyrenean Treaty not to give Portugal the least Assistance But 't is in vain to Promise some things which Men when they promise know they can never perform and which are always to be reckon'd in the Number of those Things which are directly contrary to the Interest of a Crown So that Whatever Allyances are made between neighbouring States their Promises last no longer than they are for the Common and Publick Good There is litle ground therefore to depend upon 'em and they that do deceive themselves The Duke of Lorrain who had always mischievous Designs against your Majesty was by your Precaution render'd utterly unable to put 'em in execution You made him much against his Will lend you his Troops to assist you in your Conquests This made him endeavour to stir up the Spaniards and Dutch against you who envy'd your Prosperity and enter'd into a Treaty with the Kings of England and Sweeden to compel