hard to know who are truly Noble There are some Politicians who pretend this to be for Your Majesty's advantage because if the Nobility were as flourishing as in times past Your Majesty's Power would not be so firm and stable as now it is But such Maxims look more like the Politicks of Machiavil than those of a great King A Kingdom built on the love of the People is of much longer duration than that which is founded on Tyranny The times are not always the same in a state and when they come to change 't is to be fear'd that they who have been ill u'd will shew their discontent by some signal disobedience I have observ'd divers Subjects of Complaints among the Gentry the first is That they are drain'd and consum'd by the War and their Services very ill rewarded The second is That the Intendants uphold their Vassals against them by protecting them often very unjustly The third is That under specious pretences they are made a prey to the Covetousness of the Partisans who design their ruin The fourth is That the rank which they have always held in the Monarchy is now very little regarded and that Your Majesty respects them no more than if they were born of the lees of the People As to their first complaint I think it not well-grounded for Your Majesty as powerful as you are is not able to reward all the World Gentlemen ought to consider the Creation you have made of the Companies of Cadets and the Establishment of the House of St. Cir which is in some sort a reward for their Services since it frees them from the Charge of their Children who are maintain'd at your Majesty's Expence and put into a condition to be several ways preferr'd by an Education suitable to their Birth If they pretend these Rewards are not distributed according to Merit and that Monsieur Louvoy disposes of them upon all occasions as he thinks fit this is what your Majesty cannot help because 't is impossible that you can take notice of all things or know the merit of every Officer in the several Armies you have so far distant from you Your Majesty must in this particular trust him who hath the Charge of the War and if he impose upon you 't is he only can be blam'd The second complaint indeed seems more just and reasonable for as a Gentleman is not suffer'd to oppress his Vassal so the Vassal ought not to fail of paying all due respect to his Lord. But because the one more rarely happens than the other the Lord is most commonly suspected to be the wrong doer and he who hath the power in his hands is more like to be guilty of vexation than he that hath none So that the Gentleman is generally the person condemn'd which cannot be always justified since there is nothing so insolent as a Peasant that knows he hath some body to back and protect him 'T is difficult in such Cases to determine on which side the right lyes for if a Gentleman should be believ'd on his word we should often run the hazard of being deceiv'd and if credit should be given to a Peasant we cannot be assur'd he speaks truth All that I know to be done in such a Case is that every Intendant should make it his endeavour to search out the truth if possible before he order any Information or Process for such an order gives great distaste to an innocent person especially when he is prosecuted by one that is his inferiour and owes him respect But that this expedient may not delay the speedy doing of Justice let the false accuser be exemplarily punish'd and on the other hand let not the person accused be so far indulg'd as to be permitted to oppress any body that hath just Cause of complaint For the third I confess there is very good Ground and against which nothing can be alledged I have heretofore told Your Majesty that the manner of inquiring who are noble and who not is very vexatious and chargeable to Gentlemen To prevent the like trouble for the future 't would be a better expedient how to know them to make one general exact search but not by the Partisans And when such a search is made let there be a Catalogue or List Registred of all that are Noble in every Province and let them and their Descendants be for ever after free from all other searches To hinder Plebeians from pretending to be of a good Family that may be extinct let every one be oblig'd to give in a Note of all that are Baptized or Buried in his Family If this course be taken no body will be able to make himself a Gentleman that is none and for those that shall for the future be made Noble let them be oblig'd to have their Patents Registred If Your Majesty think fit to make such an order and oblige every one to the strict observation of it you will not only get the love of your Nobility but do an act of Justice For to say truth a Gentleman who hath been at a great deal of trouble and charge to get out of the hands of the Partisans must think it very strange to see himself in a little time plagu'd again in the same manner and under the same pretence he was before Others likewise give Gentlemen a great deal of trouble concerning the Tenure of their Lands and tho' they know that upon former Inquisitions they have made out their Titles yet require them to do it again There ought to be some standing rule establish'd once for all to settle the repose of the most considerable Order of Men in your Kingdom Your Majesty is more concern'd to do it than you imagin they are the chief support of your Crown and did they not give good example to others by their zeal in your Service all would quickly be turn'd Topsie-turvy Though your Majesty hath done a great deal for the Gentry as I have already shew'd yet you are obliged to do more which might be easily done if you would oblige the Nunneries to receive young Women that desire to enter into Religion without a Portion It would ease their Parents of a burden and be an advantage to Your Majesty for that Money which is now given with Daughters might be bestow'd on the Sons and consequently enable them to serve in your Armies which would be a great help to the Gentry and silence many of their Complaints It must be confest they are not much the better for the Establishment of St. Cir. That is but as a drop of water to one that is thirsty and the House is not able to entertain the hundredth part of the Women that would seek a retreat there How many Maids for want of such a refuge lead sad languishing lives and yet are happier and wiser than others who are oblig'd by Poverty to marry very mean Men and work for their Living However such a retreat as this is much
totally defeated that they have never since been able to recover their loss But without robbing that Prince of any part of his Glory we may say That this success was owing to none but God for had he not taken your Majesty into his Protection the Enemy might have advanced to the head of a narrow Way through which the General must have past in their presence They might also have fallen upon him when by the inconvenience of the Ways he was oblig'd to divide his Army But beside all these Difficulties there was an apparent danger in giving Battel for had it been lost the Enemy might have march'd to the very Gates of Paris But 't is sometimes God's Will that neither Party shall think of doing that which they should do and then he leads those step by step whom he hath resolv'd to protect The happy success of this Battel of Rocroy was follow'd with a Joy that was the more sincere because your Subjects had a tender Love for your Majesty and the Queen your Mother The Persecution she had suffer'd as well as Mary de Medicis during Cardinal Richelieu's Ministry procur'd your Mother a great deal of pity and as Pity is usually accompany'd with Esteem the more unhappy she had been the more People resolv'd to follow her Fortune However it ought to be observ'd it was otherwise with Mary de Medicis for all People saw her departure out of the Kingdom with dry eyes no body was concern'd but her own particular Servants and Domesticks Upon which may be made this very good Reflection That Princes soon lose the Love of their best Subjects by their ill Government She had shewn too much Favour to Mareschal d'Ancre and his Wife both of her own Country to be pity'd by the People And as in France as well as in other Places they do not love to obey Strangers the Grandees murmur'd at it and left the Court because the Queen little regarged their Complaints The King your Father also grew jealous of their Power which caus'd the Assassination of the Mareschal and the tragical end of his Wife However it was very ill digested and God be thanked we have not seen your Majesty's Reign stain'd with any thing like it A King never doth well to dip his Hands in the Blood of his Subjects When they deserve Punishment they ought to be legally prosecuted in a Court of Justice which perhaps sometimes cannot be safely done when a Subject becomes so great that his Master hath just cause to be afraid of him Wallestein was such a one and therefore the Emperour Ferdinand III. was excusable for commanding he should be kill'd Henry III. had the same reason to rid himself of the Duke of Guise when he was upon the point of usurping his Kingdom and shutting him up in a Monastery But except in such cases a Criminal is to be put into the hands of Justice not only for the Prince's own sake but because it is necessary the People should know that the Person is guilty Henry IV. took this course with Mareschal Biron for tho' he fear'd that if Biron perceiv'd his Designs were discover'd he might raise Troubles in the Kingdom yet that did not hinder the King from having a greater regard to what he ought to do for his own sake than for what might thappen The Queen your Mother SIR had done well had she taken example by that which befel Mary de Medicis she had not then brought the State as she did within so near being lost by the choice she made of Cardinal Mazarin to succeed Cardinal Richelieu His being a Stranger made all your Subjects forget the Obedience that was due to their Soveraign It was to no purpose to tell them He had already done great Services to the Crown and was still able to do greater because he understood foreign Affairs better than any other Person which indeed is absolutely necessary for a Publick Minister But they fancy'd these Reasons not so good as their own nor could they be beaten out of their Opinion That he being born a Subject of the King of Spain was never to be trusted And accusing the Queen-Mother of being more a Spaniard than a French-Woman they seem'd to repent the Pity they had had for her which appear'd in their confessing Cardinal Richelieu had reason to persecute her tho' all the Sufferings she had endur'd had no other foundation than a pretended private Intelligence she kept with the King of Spain her Brother But so People might satisfie their Passion they car'd not at what Price they did it I have reason to call all that Passion which was done a little after the Death of the King your Father since it is certain that your Subjects do not alway call Reason to their Aid If they had they would have seen that the Queen your Mother was not so much to be blam'd as they thought seeing she had preferr'd before others a Man that was able to keep up the Reputation the Crown had gotten in foreign Countries and knew what course was to be taken to meet there with success 'T is that which all the World doth not know tho' it be a thing of very great Consequence My Brother whom your Majesty Honour'd with making him Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs took the liberty many times to represent it to your Majesty but the Marquess Louvoy who hath Maxims very contrary to those Great Men's who have preceeded him in the Administration of the Kingdom destroy'd in a moment all that he strove to do But I know not whether the Marquess will always have Reason on his side because he makes use of the Strength only of your own Subjects which Cardinal Richelieu who knows as much as he did not do when he carried the War into Germany made Catalonia and Portugal revolt and led the way to the low'ring of the House of Austria Indeed tho' your Kingdom be very powerful and your Majesty hath a third part at least increas'd its Strength by your Conquests yet 't is contrary to good Sense to exhaust all its Forces Your Majesty will be better able to maintain the War by arming other Princes in your Favour But to do that you must treat them like Soveraigns as they are and not pretend as Monsieur Louvoy doth because they are your Majesty's Inferiours they ought to look upon themselves as Slaves Your Majesty perhaps knows not what Answer he made to the Elector Palatine's Envoy who complaining at the beginning of the Holland War That his Master was no better treated than those who were actually in Arms against you the Marquess told him That it did not become such a petty Prince as his Master to make so great a Noise about so small a Matter That your Majesty was not bound to give an account to any Man of your Actions And That the Elector's standing so much on his Points was the way to lose the Honour of your Friendship Such great Words SIR may
Affairs ought to have taken care the Vessel had been good but it having been visited by experienc'd Shipwrights before it was put to Sea your Majesty who doth Right to all the World was not at all displeas'd with me The Fault was that the Ship had not for a long time been in Service which doth Vessels more harm than if they were continually at Sea This ill News because it came after that which is better did not make that impression which otherwise it might have done upon your Majesty's Mind You were pleas'd with the good News you receiv'd out of Hungary where your Arms had acquir'd you no little Glory and where without them the Emperour who had already receiv'd a Check had been totally defeated For when the right Wing of his Army had been beaten by the Turks which gave them hopes of an entire Victory your Troops which were in the Left charg'd so bravely that they trod down all that oppos'd 'em and having by their making a Stand renew'd the Fight they beat the Turks shewing so much resolution and Courage that the Emperour instead of returning them Thanks grew Jealous of 'em and instead of resolving to improve the Victory which had caus'd a great Consternation among the Turks he made a precipitate Peace as if he had been afraid your Trops would have taken his Crown from him These two particular Events of good and bad Fortune hinder'd your Majesty from mounting to that high pitch of Glory where you now are The excellent Order which you setled ev'ry where throughout your Kingdom which was still sensible of the Abuses which in Cardinal Mazarin's Time had crept into it are an evident Proof that you were a great King You reform'd the Order of St. Michel which before that of the St. Esprit was the Reward wherewith Kings your Predecessors honour'd the greatest Men in their Kingdom but was so little estem'd after the Institution of the other that all Sorts of People were indifferently receiv'd into it and at last became like the Order of the Star which in time was so despis'd that one of your Predecessors to make it more Vile and Despicable bestow'd it upon the Archers of the City Watch. Your Majesty prudently resolv'd to reform this Abuse especially because the Order of St. Michel is joyn'd to that of the St. Esprit and that the Knights of this last Order could not be receiv'd into it unless they had been before of the first However I must say that your Majesty did not so throughly purge it of the mean Persons that were in it but that some still remain For it is the inevitable Misfortune of all Princes that when they rely wholly upon others it would be a wonder if Favour or Faction should not prevail against Justice Therefore if Princes would have things done according to their own directions they ought to overlook those they depute to see their Pleasure perform'd For if they trust wholly to their Fidelity 't is the way to have their work but half done Your Majesty for the good of your Kingdom Incorporated likewise a Company for the Trade of the Indies and indeed a Kingdom cannot flourish so long as that Trade is driven by Strangers It should be taken out of the hands of the English and Dutch who were suffer'd by your Predecessors to be the sole Masters of that Commerce This Establishment very much displeas'd those two Nations who were so jealous of one another that after some coldness they were ready to quarrel 'T is Interest that sets all People together by the Ears After some flashes of Lightning followed Thunder and after a Breach the English and Dutch came to an open War Your Majesty offer'd to both your Mediation that things might go no further but the English who pretend to the dominion of the Sea and to impose Conditions upon all others stood so stiff upon their Points that your Majesty thought your self oblig'd to take the part of your Ancient Friends against the Old Enemies of your Crown Your Majesty put out a Fleet at Sea in favour of the Hollanders and equipp'd another at the same time against the Algerines The Duke of Beaufort who commanded it having receiv'd your Orders fought the Algerines with such success that he beat them twice in three Months he took several of their Ships among which was the Admiral This Advantage wrought a good Effect among those Barbarous People who endeavour'd to lessen your Reputation by what had happen'd at Gigeri But that which increas'd their Terrour was your setting out new Ships on the Ocean and in the Mediterranean which made all Europe think that in a little time you would be in a Condition not only to dispute the Empire of the Sea with the English but with any other Nation whatever Beside these Ships which considerably increas'd your Fleet you had Magazines full of Stores Materials and Workmen you wanted no Seamen or Pilots so that it was thought you intended to dispute that Dominion which belongs only to him that is strongest I do not pretend to magnifie my self by what I have said tho' I have done the best I could in it To speak the truth I must confess this Design was not mine I did but finish what Cardinal Richelieu first began I know it was he that put the King your Father upon augmenting his Power at Sea or I should rather say to make himself known there For before him all his Predecessors even Henry the 4 th himself had not one single Ship But this Project was but lamely carried on under the ministry of that great Man so that it may be truly said the Glory of it was reserv'd for your Majesty About this time your Majesty did two things very much for the good of your self and People and which the deceased King your Father attempted in vain You reduc'd Persons of Quality and those of the Long Robe to perfect Obedience You did the one under the pretence of Justice the other by your absolute Power Many Gentlemen by the licentiousness of the times had usurp'd so much Authority that they were in their Provinces like so many petty Tyrants and made all tremble under ' em The Judges in those Provinces who were bound by the Duty of their Places to oppose such Innovations did not dare to do it in a time when they fear'd to be run down Beside they were unwilling to concern themselves for People commonly prefer their private Interest before the publick good They were afraid to contest with those petty Kings of the Country so that they stirr'd no more than as if all that past had been indifferent to ' em But your Majesty who thought your self oblig'd not to suffer such Abuses because none but you could pretend to Supremacy being bound to protect your Subjects and secure them from Violence your Majesty I say not being any longer able to suffer what was derogatory to your Authority and so contrary to the Peace of
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
Thunder in his Hands which will do more Mischief than your Majesty's great Guns tho' perhaps it may not make so great a Noise The People are generally very credulous on such Occasions and your Majesty is too clear sighted not to foresee the ill consequences of it Rome's Fulminations have caus'd the overthrow of very great Kingdoms and your own have felt such furious Shocks as hath requir'd more than a Day to recover it History is full of such Events and tho' your Majesty's Glory and Power secure you at present from fearing the like yet you ought to look on your Heirs who tho' they inherit the one may not have the good Fortune to acquire the other CHAP. IX Of the Love which a Prince ought to have for his Subjects and of Taxes NOthing doth better prove a Prince's Love to his People than his reflecting why they have made themselves his Subjects and given him power over them Every thing hath a Beginning and seeing we own Pharamond to be our first King it is evident we had none before him or at least have no Knowledge left of any when the Gauls were under the Dominion of the Romans much is said of some famous Captains among the Gauls but that was all the Title they had that of King being never given to them We do not read they commanded any where but in the Army and when their Enemies retir'd they return'd to a private Life If they were esteem'd and respected above others it was for their Valour and not for any Authority that still remain'd in their hands since they had none but when they were in Arms. The great struggles the Gauls had to preserve their Liberty which they had taken so much pains to obtain made them think of chusing a Master but such a Master who had only the Name and was so far from making himself a Tyrant that he concurr'd with them to keep 'em again from falling into Slavery Without doubt had they thought that he on whom their Choice was fall'n would treat them as their Old Masters the Romans had done they would certainly have soon set Bounds to his Authority The Establishment of Royalty was at first properly no more than the election of a Soveraign who was to be universally obey'd for the Publick Good and who was to have the same Affection for his Subjects that a Father of a Family hath for his Children and Servants And tho' in later times there have been great changes in Monarchies we ought to return to their true original Constitution No body can be in Love with arbitrary Power and had it not been introduc'd among the Turks their Emperours might have sat more securely on their Thrones A Prince should endeavour to reign in the Hearts of his People by Love rather than subject them to his Will by Power Many Kings have pretended to a despotick Power of doing what they pleas'd but that gave occasion of calling together the States or such Assemblies as in some places are term'd a Parliament or Diet. But call 'em by what Names you please they are still but the same thing seeing they represent the whole Body of the Kingdom composed of the Clergy of the Nobility and of that which is called here in France the Third State Such for Example are the Parliaments in England but our Parliaments in France are Courts only establish'd to administer justice to your Majesty's People In your Minority the Parliament of Paris pretended to meddle with Affairs of State which was an Usurpation upon your Majesty's Authority for which you had just Reason to punish them Good Princes have always been the Protectors of these Assemblies of the States in this Kingdom and of Parliaments and Diets not being concern'd whether they were assembl'd or no because they never intended to do any thing but what was for the Good of their People And to speak properly these States and Parliaments are the People's Guardians but those Princes that have a Design to take away their Subjects Liberties and to introduce Arbitrary Government are always afraid of Parliaments because they are a Rock on which usually their Desires and Hopes split I will not say 't is fit these Assemblies should meet as often as they do in England because by the length of their Debates Opportunities are many times lost that can never be recover'd Nor doth it become Subjects to have the Wardship of their King If it were to be permitted it ought to be at most but in very important occasions and where it seems necessary that all the Orders of the Kingdom give their Consent in all other things the Prince with his Council may be a sufficient Judge it being to be presum'd he will do nothing but for the good of his People If it were proper in this place to ask whether a Prince's Council ought to be agreeable to his Subjects and consequently whether your Majesty's Subjects had reason to press you to banish Cardinal Mazarin it would be a very ticklish nice Question For as it is the Peoples Interest and Concern that no body should give Evil Counsel to your Majesty so on the other hand many Inconveniencies might happen if a Prince should have no Council but such a one as his People like for that were to reduce Monarchs to the Condition of being Soveraigns only in shew But since what we treat of here is quite another thing I will only say that the Consequence which results from the Establishment of the States cannot possibly be deny'd which is that a King ought to have a very tender Affection for his People which he is oblig'd never to depart from The Reason is because there had been no need of such an Establishment if they should have had Power to do what they thought good But seeing such Assemblies were created to be as I may say Guardians and Protectors of the People and have right to interpose their Mediation with the Prince that nothing may pass to their Prejudice It is an infallible Proof that Princes ought to be Fathers to and not Tirants over their Subjects Otherwise the Convocation of the States and Meeting of Parliaments must have been created to favour the one and to take away the Rights of the other Now whoever saw an Assembly of the States accus'd for assuming to themselves an Authority that was not due to them But that Suspicion falls often upon the Princes and many of 'em are not able to defend themselves from it If it plainly appear by what hath been said that Kings have an Obligation to their People that which remains to be said will no less clearly prove it if we examine what are the Obligations of the one and of the other We shall see that if Subjects be bound to obey their Prince the Prince is oblig'd to love and protect his Subjects A Prince to speak properly is in his Dominions that which the Heart is to all the Parts and Members of the Body If the Heart be
sick the whole Body presently resents it if any part of the Body be ill the Heart at the same time suffers Therefore to be in perfect Health there must be between the Heart and all parts of the Body a constant Union and Agreement and they must in their several Functions mutually help each other Between a King and his Kingdom the Case is the same There must be a perfect Harmony and Agreement between him and his People As the Heart gives Motion to all parts of the Body so doth the Prince to all the Actions of his People And as the Heart receives Succour from all the parts of the Body to keep it in a vigorous and healthful state that the whole Body may enjoy the same so ought a King to receive Aid from his People to support his Power and Authority that he may preserve their Peace and Welfare If this be an indisputable Truth which no Man can doubt then this Agreement between a King and his Subjects depends solely upon himself for if he be just his People will certainly be obedient Now to be just is to do every individual Subject right and not to suffer the Strong to oppress the Weak Your Majesty seems to have sufficiently provided against it by the good Laws you have made and by sending Magistrates into the Provinces to see them put in Execution But the Question is whether this is sufficient and whether there be not greater Outrages committed in your Majesty's Name and under your Authority than were to be feared from the Great Men of your Kingdom For 't is you Sir that are stronger than the strongest and if the Power of others be suppress'd to make your Majesty 's the greater yet you ought not to do any thing that is unjust The Covetousness of the Partisans is so intolerable that provided they can fill their own Coffers they care not what Reproach they bring upon your Majesty Your Council sometimes goes too fast in making Orders to authorize their Extortions Your Council's chief Care is to please you in all things they think are for your Advantage without ever examining what are the Rights of your People I have observ'd in some Cases their blind-fold Complyances which I may boldly call criminal since they violate Justice which your Council ought to defend Your Majesty knows I have often oppos'd such Orders for as I will always be for that which I believe is Just so I will never consent to that which I think is not so Your Majesty may remember when the Duty of Trop bu came to be debated I did as much oppose it as possibly I could and could I have prevail'd it had never been ordain'd I knew the injustice of it notwithstanding all the fine Colours some endeavour'd to put upon it but at last it made such a Noise that your Majesty thought fit to revoke this new Tax There are some of this nature which still remain but here are such Complaints and Outcries again 'em that they cannot last long One of this kind is the making People in some places pay two several Taxes which are incompatible as in Cities and Towns whose Payments by Composition are limited to a certain Summ to require the Payment of the Droit d'entrée and the Taille too Tho' your Majesty doth not enter into a strict examination of this Matter yet you are made responsible for it as well as my self Some think this is done by your Majesty's express Order and by my Advice But the Governers of Provinces have more hand in it than any body the desire they have to make their Court to your Majesty by increasing your Revenue is the reason of their being Instruments to vex the People They become so because the Council out of which they are taken and whose Members are design'd to succeed them think it is to do themselves wrong not to follow their Orders All Causes which concern your Majesty's Rights come ordinarily before the Elus and then what Justice can your People expect when they plead before Judges who are in Truth Parties For there is not an Elu in France that is not a Pensioner to the Partisans which is an Abuse your Majesty is bound to reform and you know I have often spoke to you of it The Case as to the Intendants is somewhat more nice because it is necessary for the good of your Kingdom that in those Posts there should be none but such as are zealous Promoters of your Majesty's Interest For otherwise your Affairs would soon be in an ill Condition That which ought to be observ'd by them is that they should not by flattery aggravate things and 't is your Majesty's and your Council's part not to countenance their being Favourites Their so passionately desiring to heap up Riches is that which begets the good understanding and secret correspondance which is always between them and the Partisans therefore to rectifie this abuse your Majesty ought not only to chuse Persons capable of the Imployment but likewise those that are able to maintain themselves in it without doing any thing that is base or unworthy For as a King hath the Glory of all the good that is done in his Kingdom so he ought to bear the Shame of all that is ill done Now seeing all these things contribute either to the Love or Hatred which People have for their Prince he ought to be careful that his Subjects be as little charged as possible with new Impositions and he should also be very circumspect in his Examination and Choice of those Persons with whom he trusts his Authority CHAP. X. Of all the Kingdom in general WHen I attentively consider the Kingdom and in what manner it is compos'd and settl'd I find in it Six different Estates of People which all except one contribute to its Grandeur but that one is so far from it that it is rather like to prove its utter ruin The 1. is the Clergy The 2. the Nobility and Gentry The 3. is that which we call the Third State in which are compris'd all those that are concern'd in the administration of Justice The 4. the Men of Business The 5. the Merchants or Tradesmen The 6. Husbandmen and Labourers The Clergy can never be thought an unprofitable Member of the Kingdom since their business is to maintain Religion which if taken away or neglected I have already shew'd what irremediable Mischief will follow The Nobility likewise is a Body that doth not only give Lustre to the Monarchie but is the firmest Support of it He considers things but superficially that thinks the Gens de justice that is all concern'd in the administration of Justice to be more useful and necessary than the Clergy and Nobility whereas they are so far from being necessary in the State that they are rather the ruine of it The multiplicity of Royal and subaltern Courts of Justice the Bailywicks Presidial Courts and the Parliaments are so many Blood-suckers They
Manufactures in your own Kingdom So that the French have now at home that which they were obliged with great Expence of their Money to seek for abroad and what is yet more this hath your Majesty done of your self without receiving the least light or advice from others You were Educated very tenderly amongst Women I cannot forbear saying so because it would rob your Majesty of that Glory which is your due when it is known that notwithstanding so ill an Education you are become that which we now see you are I have yet a great deal more to say of those many things your Majesty hath done which appear so great and surprising considering what I have just now said of your Education But I pass that by to keep my self to the Subject I have here proposed I must tell you with all the Respect I owe your Majesty that the only thing wherein you can be blamed is that you are too good to and put too much confidence in those on whom you rely in some of your Affairs It is not to shew my own Parts that I pretend to find fault with other Mens Actions Perhaps I am more subject to Faults than they but the Zeal I have for your Majesty's Service will not suffer me to be longer silent Be pleased therefore to let me give you the History in short of all that hath past in your Majesty's Reign and shew you wherein I think you have been ill serv'd Be also pleas'd to let me tell you by what means I Imagine you may yet make your Kingdom more Glorious I mâ—st humbly beseech your Majesty to pardon this Liberty and to believe I would never have presum'd to have said any thing on this Subject were it not that I cannot better testifie my Zeal to serve your Majesty That which more particularly obligeth me to tell you my Thoughts is That I find my self daily declining and that according to all appearance I have but a very little longer time to do you any Service Curts and Night-watchings shorten Men's Days and I have toil'd enough since your Majesty was pleas'd to trust me with the Management of your Revenue to think 't is now time to leave my Place to another How happy should I be if in dying I could persuade your Majesty to believe That I am what all Days of my Life I have been with most profound Respect SIR Your Majesty's most Humble Most Obedient Servant and Most Faithful Subject J. B. Colbert A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS CONTAINED In this Volume CHAP. I. COntaining a brief Recital of what pass'd in the Reign of Lewis the Great from his first coming to the Crown 'till the Year 1649. in which the Paris War began CHAP. II. Containing that which pass'd after the War of Paris 'till the Peace of the Pyrenées CHAP. III. Containing that which pass'd after the Peace of the Pyrenées to the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle CHAP. IV. Containing that which pass'd after the Peace of the Pyrenées to the Holland War CHAP. V. Containing that which pass'd after the War of Holland till the Treaty of Nimeghen CHAP. VI. Containing that which pass'd after the Treaty at Nimeghen to the Year 1684. CHAP. VII Which endeavours to shew that all those very particular Favours which his Majesty receiv'd from GOD oblig'd his Majesty to render to GOD all that was due to him and that no Kingdom could prosper without the Fear of the LORD CHAP. VIII Of the Obedience which is due to the Pope CHAP. IX Of the Love which a Prince ought to have for his Subjects and where somewhat is also to be spoken of Taxes CHAP. X. Of all the Kingdom in general CHAP. XI Of the Clergy CHAP. XII Of the Nobility CHAP. XIII Of People belonging to the Courts of Justice CHAP. XIV Of Men of Business CHAP. XV. Of Merchants and of Trade CHAP. XVI Of Husbandmen and Tillage THE TESTAMENT OF M. John Baptist Colbert CONCERNING GOVERNMENT CHAP. I. Containing a brief Account of the Reign of Lewis the Great from his coming to the Crown 'till the Year 1649. in which the War of Paris began DID not your Majesty know so much better than I do that what is most necessary to make a Kingdom flourish is a perfect Harmony and Agreement between all its Members I would presume to shew here what Care a Prince ought to take that there be no Discord or Division among 'em But since this depends upon a right Establishment of Subordination your Majesty is better able than any Man to order that as it ought to be who so well understand to act the Part of a King that 't is enough to distinguish by your Air and Mien that you was born to Command We see then what it is that gives Beginning to a Kingdom 's Prosperity and what it is continues it For if he that is the Soveraign doth not know or is not able to do what he ought he must then have a Minister under him And because the same Respect which People have for his Master is not usually paid to him thence arise those Canvasings and Contests that frequently turn to Rebellions and sometimes cause the total Ruin of a Kingdom The Reign of the King your deceased Father was full of such Accidents The Royal Family was so divided that the Mother was against the Son and the Son against the Mother the Brother likewise sought to destroy his Brother and his King The other Princes of the Blood stood not much better affected All which proceeded from his Majesty's giving so much Power to his Prime Minister that the Princes thought it was he that did all as they had great reason to believe otherwise the Queen-Mother had not been so abandon'd as to die at Cologne in such distress that she had not the one half of what she wanted to relieve her Necessities Your Majesty's Minority was expos'd to the same Inconveniencies because you were not then able to direct your Affairs The Queen your Mother when the King died found them embroil'd and in so great confusion that it was not possible for a Woman to reduce 'em into order Your Father when he died left no Prime Minister Cardinal Richelieu who with a great deal of Reputation discharg'd the Duties of that Place had left it vacant four or five Years A thousand People expected to succeed him in it and tho' all France did agree That among so many there was hardly one to be found worthy of the Ministry Yet so great a number of Competitors striving to obtain it occasion'd by your Father's limiting the Queen his Widow's Power who should have been Regent made the Spaniards think our Disorders might turn to their Advantage they then besieg'd Rocroy which they believ'd they should quickly carry and enter into the heart of the Kingdom But God confounded their Pride by the loss of a Battel given them by Louis de Bourbon Prince of Condé then call'd Duke of Anguien wherein they were so
imprint on Mens Minds a magnificent Idaea of your Power But ought your Majesty to be contented with it Would it not turn more to your Advantage that your Justice should be extoll'd rather than proclaim the Condition you are in at present to oppress your Neighbours That has never been the way to enlarge Empires The Romans who boasted themselves Masters of all the World had more regard for their Allies than your Minister hath for yours To subject them requires more address 'T is better Policy to weaken 'em by War of which let 'em suffer the Inconveniences but reap none of the Advantages Conquests are not ordinarily made for them tho' they are the Baits wherewith they are usually tempted and drawn in They may be wean'd from their part in them under specious Pretences As in the last War when your Majesty made the Neighbour-Princes restore the Places they had taken from the King of Sweden and which the Emperour did not oppose because it was his Interest that those Princes should not increase their Power and which was all the Reward he gave them for taking his part I know not whether that which I have now said be a Digression because it hath carried me from my Subject But I could not find a sitter place for it than here and the reflexions to be made upon it are of as great consequence as those I have yet to make on the choice the Queen your Mother made of Cardinal Mazarin To excuse her preferring him before others three Reasons were given The First was because he was acquainted with Foreign Affairs the Second was That not being a Native of France he had no kindred or Relations to enrich the Third was That more People would have been displeas'd and dissatisfy'd had he been a French Man But these Reasons are so weak that I believe they do not much sway your Majesty as for the First if Cardinal Mazarin knew Affairs abroad he was ignorant of those at home which were as necessary to be known as those that were Foreign and indeed the Inconvenience is visible seeing that which comes nearest the Heart is of much greater consequence than that which lyes remote from it Beside the knowledge of Foreign Affairs is not so very difficult to be acquired the Situation and the State of Countries is the greatest part of it and by that a Man ought to regulate himself The Second Reason is not better but the contrary for there are a hundred things to be objected against it A Stranger hath as great a desire as any other Person to enrich his Kindred in what place soever they be Beside he can send for them when he finds himself well setled Three of his Nephews and seven Neices who came quickly into France are an undeniable Testimony of this Truth and a Minister could hardly have been taken out of any other Family wherein there was to be found a greater number of Kindred and Relations But a greater Inconvenience in the Choice was that he being a Foreigner and not certain how long he should keep his Post would be every Day transmitting into his own Country that which might plentifully maintain him in case he fell into disgrace Beside it was not to be supposed that a Stranger could be so well affected to France as one that sucked in the Love of his Country with his Mothers Milk to which I will add that seeing he was not Married nor in a condition ever to be so he could not look upon France as a Country wherein he himself or his Posterity could ever hope to be setled The Third Reason is much weaker than the other Two which was that when in so great a Kingdom as your Majesty's People of very great Quality and Merit see the Ministry put into the Hands of a Stranger Who is he that hath so ill an Opinion of himself as to believe he doth not better deserve it than a Man to whom no body is related Whose Manners and good Qualities are not known and to whom were People never so much convinc'd of his Merit they would not be so just as to give him his due For my own part I believe the Queen your Mother had some other Reasons than those alledged for her Choice Perhaps it was because other Pretenders did not make use of her Interest to obtain the Place and consequently foreseeing they would not thank her she for that Reason made the Choice she did But whatever it was her Majesty quickly saw so many new Troubles break out that tho' she had been us'd to the like in the Reign of the deceased King yet she was very much surpris'd Their beginning seem'd not so much to be fear'd because among all the Malecontents that openly declared themselves there was neither a Duke of Orleans or a Prince of the Blood as there was in the time of Cardinal Richelieu's Ministry But it was in this Men were most deceived for Popular Commotions are more difficult to be appeas'd than those wherein some great Person is ingag'd for he by some particular Favour seasonably bestow'd on him is usually bought off from doing farther Mischief whereas many Arts are to be used to calm a mutinous Multitude and especially when they have taken a fancy to Command The Revolt of which I shall hereafter speak to your Majesty was of this kind for the Parliament of Paris was concern'd in it though they decreed the Queen your Mother should have the Tuition of your Majesty with a more ample Power than that which the deceased King by his Declaration left her yet this being done by the solicitation of her chief Almoner the Bishop of Beauvais who had a great many Friends and to whom she had given hopes to be first Minister as soon as he saw himself deceived and not able to undoe what he had done he did all he could to stir up Enemies against her Her Majesty who had a great Soul and worthy of her high Birth thought this was but a Wave which would break of it self and whereof she was not so much as to seem to take any notice nevertheless still aiming at your Majesty's Grandeur she gave Orders to the Duke d' Anguien who after the Battel of Rocroy had given the Garrison of Landrecis great Liberty by demolishing certain Castles that straighten'd it to lay Seige to Thyonville Mareschal de Guebriant who was on the other side of the Rhine endeavoured to amuse the Enemy that they might not relieve the Place nevertheless Mello who had gotten together the scattered Troops of the Spanish Army joyning with General Bek resolved the Place should not be taken without Blows But your Majesty's Fortune supported by the Duke d' Anguien's Valour frustrated all their Endeavours so that this Conquest which made such a Noise abroad began to make your Reign so Illustrious that your Allyes who fear'd the Death of the deceased King would make a change in your Affairs did now again begin to take Courage It was
was to hang him in revenge for a Lorrainer in your Majesty's Service whom they had put to Death The Mareschal had reason to do it and no body can say the contrary for otherwise no Lorrainer would take Arms to serve you but your Majesty will confess that Viscount Turenne had just cause to complain of the Mareschal's abusing his Credulity and tho' it concern'd your Service yet there is no Pleasure in being made an Instrument to the bringing a Poor Man to the Gallows These two Generals whose Army consisted of Thirty Thousand Men resolving to imploy it in some glorious Enterprize thought none greater than the besieging of Valenciennes each took his Quarter opposite to one another Your Majesty instead of expecting every Moment to receive News of the Town 's being taken heard that Don John of Austria in the Arch-Duke's room was marching with the Prince of Condé to relieve it Viscount Turenne who always us'd to be cautious and stand upon his Guard was now in so good a Posture that Don John to succeed in his Design thought the best way was to fall upon Mareschal de la Fertè's Quarter Turenne who spent a great deal upon Spyes acquainted the Mareschal with it and offer'd to send some Troops to help him to repulse the Enemy but his Jealousie would not let him accept the Offer so that Don John tho' he did not find him unprovided yet he fell upon him with so much Advantage that he defeated the Mareschal and took him Prisoner Don John would have gon on and attack'd Viscount Turenne's Quarter but he was ready to receive him in so good Order that he saw he had to do with another guess Man than the Mareschal Turenne retreated to Quesnoy where he stay'd to expect those that fled and kept so good a Countenance that Don John durst not offer him Battel but thought it better to take the Town of Condé which Turenne could not relieve but to repair that loss he made himself Master of Capelle which your Majesty had no opportunity to re-take since you lost it Another not so couragious as your Majesty would have been very much troubled with the ill Success of this Siege and would have vented his anger upon the Prisoner but you did not only appear unmov'd in this reverse of Fortune but took it upon your self to justifie the Mareschal's Conduct whose Ransome you also pay'd for you are always bountiful to them that serve you and the greater their Misfortunes are the more consideration you have for ' em You were not so ill treated by Fortune in Italy this Year as you were the last Your Army commanded by the Dukes of Mercoeur and Modena took there the Town of Valence in sight of the Spanish Troops who durst not come to a Battel In Catalonia you likewise maintain'd the Honour which your Arms had there acquir'd so that the Lustre of your Crown obscur'd that of Spain and every one strove to be your Allye Indeed you forgot nothing to make your self considerable and the Swiss your antient Allyes falling out among themselves you by your Mediation happily ended their Differences For your Majesty knows that nothing is to pass in Europe without your taking notice of it and that such great Princes as you ought so to interpose their Authority that no body may take Arms without their consent You receiv'd into your Dominions the Queen of Sweeden who had resign'd her Crown to her Cousin-German she was extremely pleas'd with the Reception you gave her but you were not so with her Proceedings for in one of your Royal Houses she caus'd one of her principal Officers to be assassinated who it seems had displeas'd her they who pretend to penetrate into secrets believe there was some Mystery between them and that the Gentleman's Indiscretion was the cause of his Misfortune Discourses so much to the Dishonour of this Princess with the little satisfaction you had in what had happen'd put her upon parting sooner than she intended she went to Rome the place she had chosen for her Retreat and there having abjur'd her Religion she found that there are a thousand Disgusts in a private Life which People who never tasted any before would never have expected Your Majesty about this time was ingag'd in so nice a Business that you never met with the like since you ascended the Throne I mean that of the Jansenists a Sect so much the more dangerous because it cover'd it self with the Cloak of Piety It was condemn'd at Rome and then you thought you were not to tolerate it in your Dominions so that you would not permit those to stay who would not subscribe to the Pope's Decree But their Faction being strong tho' they were out of your Kingdom they kept intelligence with some in it all Paris was full of their Books and People ran so eagerly to read 'em that they said Rome was mistaken in condemning 'em Their manner of Living wrought much upon the People in their Favour for they did nothing in appearance but what tended to Perfection and all that could be objected against their Doctrine was that they made the Gates of Paradise too narrow It was indeed dangerous to hear 'em for their Words were perfect Honey to purify'd Souls and those were hardly able to return from their Errours whom they had once thrown into Despair But your Majesty believing you were not concern'd to enter into a thorough examination of such matters kept close to the Pope's Decree and order'd the Sorbonne to confute their Writings which were Publick They took great Pains to do it but some Doctors refusing to submit to the Opinion of others conformable to what had been decreed at Rome they were expell'd the Colledge which was approved by your Majesty because 't was the only way to suppress the Schism which was ready to break out Indeed a Wise and Prudent King ought to cut off the Current of all Innovations especially in matters of Religion whereof the Consequences are always greater than in other things unless it be done there can be no safety either for Kingdoms or Consciences and it would be in the Power of every false Zealot to make a Religion according to his own Mode he would not fail of having Disciples provided he carry'd things to extremity for the Mind of Man is of that Temper that at first sight he finds himself taken with great Respect for those things which he thinks most perfect without considering that when they are carry'd to so high a Pitch they are far above the reach of Humane Frailty to which there ought still some regard to be had Your Majesty soon after undertook the Siege of Cambray and tho' it were with your usual Prudence and therefore might hope for good Success yet your Conduct was forc'd to give place to Fortune the Enterprize wholly depended upon Diligence and Your Majesty made account your Lines should be perfected before the Enemy who was a pretty way off should
Divinity There is no Prince be he never so little that will suffer those to whom he commits his Authority to be despis'd and there is nothing more common than to pay them the respect they require from us This is not only observ'd to the Governour of a Province but even to the meanest Judge and proceeds from the Character wherewith the Prince hath honour'd them in which 't is his Interest to support them how can it then be believ'd that God is less jealous of that Authority which he hath intrusted in the hands of his Ministers and upon which depends the safety of Religion I know very well that the Kings of the Earth are the Lord 's Anointed and for that reason are exalted above all other Men but yet they must know their Rights are distinct and different from those of the Church and as the Church never allows Subjects upon any account to be disobedient to their Prince so a Prince ought not to permit his People to refuse paying Obedience and respect to the Church If the Church had continued in the state it was in in the time of the Apostles and had not joyn'd the Sword to the Mitre things would have been in another condition than now they are but since what hath been done hath been by God's permission we ought to submit to what he hath ordain'd and not give a new occasion of scandal I know that Churchmen have gone beyond the bounds of their Duty and that Bishops and Popes have had their faults yet by whatever they have done they cannot lose their Character and since it is to this Character our respect is due they cannot by any of their actions lose or be depriv'd of it The case is the same with Crown'd Heads who tho' they do not their Duty yet Subjects cannot dispence with the obedience they owe them Would to God Sir your Ministers had well consider'd this Truth they would not then have exalted the Authority of your Crown so far above that of the Mitre I very much doubt whether Equity hath been the rule of their Actions Had I been Learned and able enough to have decided this great Controversie which you have had with Rome concerning the Regale and some others that have follow'd it I would have determin'd the question positively without a perhaps and speaking doubtfully but I confess my self too ignorant to give a definitive Judgment in things above my reach Now if any ask since I confess my incapacity why then do I condemn rather than approve what hath been done I pray Your Majesty to consider that you have had not only Rome against you in this business but many Bishops and Doctors of your own Kingdom who have been always thought examples of Piety and Vertue and have liv'd very exemplarily We see also they have chosen to suffer Exile and Imprisonment rather than submit to that which they believe is unjust to say that what they have done is because they are opinionative and obstinate is to impose only upon the simple for wise men are of another mind Is it likely they could premeditately design to displease their Master especially you that are the greatest King upon Earth and so much respected and esteem'd by all your Subjects It is much more reasonable to think that Your Majesty seeing these things with those persons eyes on whom you relye the desire they have to make themselves necessary hath put 'em upon doing what they cannot justifie before an Impartial Tribunal They do not consider that they expose Your Majesty to new Enemies whose number they need not increase since you have already made your self too many by your Conquests would they but reflect upon what some persons at least as wise as themselves who have grown old in Embassies have represented to the Kings your Predecessors they would proceed a little more warily he deceives himself who weighs what he undertakes only by the power of him for whom he acts if Justice do not hold the Ballance it were a thousand times better nothing had ever been attempted I would fain have these Great Politicians tell me with what Lawrels they have Crown'd Your Majesty by the Banishment and Imprisonment of so many Pious and Learned Persons whom the Pope in his Bulls hath not only declared to be such but hath likewise exhorted them to suffer for the love of Truth I wish they would also tell me what Victory they expect by those Orders of Council which might I dare say so do without any regard had to the Bulls of his Holiness so insolently command the Literal execution of all that which they in the fits of their Frenzy have decreed There are milder ways and more befitting a Most Christian King to determine those Differences which may happen between Your Majesty and Rome It doth not become a Son to rebell against his Father who is to be disarmed by Kindness and Submission rather than by holding a Cudgel over him Tho it be glorious for a Man to have the better of his Enemies yet it is shameful to desire like a Master to command those to whom he owes obedience and respect So that should Your Majesty take Rome and conquer all the Ecclesiastical State yet you are prudent enough to know you would get the same reputation by it that Charles the Fifth had in the like occasion faithful and impartial Historians have represented him to be a Prince that had no Religion and who never kept his word and tho they that flatter him most have been forc'd to cast a Veil over his taking of Rome yet the foulness of that action appears plainly through it I know very well there will be a gloss set upon what Your Majesty doth to secure your Glory but you will not find that all Pens are to be bought and kept in your Pay there will be some left that may go to the bottom of this business and give the World a true account of it Slander is generally better receiv'd than Truth and if it be true as we must agree it is that the greatest Kings cannot hinder People from taking the liberty to examine their actions how many will say that a Prince had better see with his own eyes than trust to other Mens Besides when a Man is about to do a thing he ought to consider what may be the end and the consequences of it I would ask the Archbishop of Paris and all others on whose advice Your Majesty relyes in Ecclesiastical Matters what is to be got by Quarreling with the Pope certainly nothing for if Religion be not totally destroy'd by it all your Attempts against his Holyness will recoil back upon you The Reason is because Europe cannot continue in the same State it is now and the Pope's Authority being so great as it is as well in Temporal as in Spiritual Cases he becomes an Enemy to you no only in his own Person but in that of his Successors and a dangerous Enemy who hath