out in hopes of succour or assistance seeing those very persons who had ingaged them in the War had already made their Peace These Deputies upon their first comming began to execute the design for which they came to wit to dispose the Chief of the City to submit as they had done The next morning the Sieur de Guron came to the Town house where he discoursed to them with such Eloquence Ingenuity and Address that he made a good Impression on them He related to them the many victories and good success which had alwayes accompanied his Majesties Arms the mis-fortunes of Rochel and Privas which they too could not possibly avoid if they persisted in their Rebellion he likewise told that his Majesty was fully resolved not to suffer any people or places in his Kingdome which were not in his power and under his obedience Next of all he acquainted them that his Majesty did passe his word to them for enjoyment of their goods and the exercise of their Religion whilst they for their parts continued in their duties and obedience and lastly he gave them to understand how inviolable an observer the Cardinal was of his word and he conjured them to be absolutely confident of whatever the Cardinal should promise to them They were generally so touched with this discourse that they presently seemed to be as much inclined to Peace as formerly they had been to War The Deputies of Nismes seconded the Sieur de Guron's speech and were not wanting to acquaint the people unto what mis-fortunes some other Towns of their party had been reduced The Peace and quietness which they enjoyed by the Kings bounty the deceits of them who had engaged them in this War by their great hopes of succors which were now vanished seeing their head had made his Peace with his Majesty That the great victories which his Majesty had of late obtained might sufficiently let them see that nothing was able to resist him and that this had been the chief reason which had induced them and those of their City to cast themselves at his Majesties feet and that after had had the honour to confer with the Cardinal they admired the incomparable virtues which were so eminently apparent in him experimented his meeknesse and been sensible of the truth of his promises they could no longer defer their resolutions but had great hopes of receiving as many favours by his bounty as they had heretofore suffered mischiefs by the ambition of those whom they had chosen for their heads It cannot be expressed how great an impression these reasons made upon the people However their Rebellion having taken a deep root in them they could not resolve till after two dayes to send their Deputies to the Cardinal neither would they give any other answer to the Sieur de Guron onely beseeched him that their Deputies might have the honour to wait upon him Thus was their final submission reserved by Heaven for the Cardinals Prudence who alone was able to produce so admirable an effect Politique Observation THE fear of those miseries which usually accompany revolts is of greater efficacy to reduce a people to their duty then any other reasons whatever As nature hath given them a rude and unpolished spirit so the respect and obligations which they owe their Princes can hardly make any impression upon them but he who can once possesse them with fear may do what he will with them Whence it is that they are not so much to be perswaded by reason as forced by the apprehension of rigors inevitable if they consent not to what is required of them Tacitus in his History doth notably well describe these qualities of theirs when he saith That thought they have extraordinary forces yet nothing is so cowardly so fearfull nor so wavering if they be not led and animated by a generous Commander That as they cast themselves upon enterprises with fury so do they faintly abandon them and fall into disorder upon their first apprehension of danger and that holding no mean in their actions whilest they are fearlesse they are no sooner at a stand but they may be wrought to any thing Titus Livy spake with no lesse knowledge of them when he said the nature of a people is either to serve too abjectly or to command too insolently they being incapable of any medium Now when is it that they command with too much insolence but when they find themselves of the stronger party and that they fear nothing and on the other side when do they creep with too much abjection and servitude but when they are abased and pulled down by rigors or chastisements Upon this ground was it that Drusus went into Panonia to appease a great sedition but finding all fair and gentle means were to no purpose he made use of force and power which they no sooner felt the smart of but they returned to their former submission and obedience Now the surest and safest way to touch a people with fear is not to be too hasty upon them in their first heat and fury but to let that a little passe over for nothing doth more decrease and allay them then time they being like the Sea which of it self is calm and quiet yet however subject to great storms and agitations when the impetuous Winds begin to stir up its Waves and to arm them with fury against one another but returns to its own calmnesse when the winds once cease to move it Thus it is with the rabble of themselves they are not capable to act or stir but when they suffer themselves to be carried by the suggestions of some sedicious furious spirit Oh how do they then rage and rave No violent thing can last long neither indeed can their fury hold out if once they who first raised them forbear to lead them and then if in this nick of time they are threatned with punishments and see a power able to force them you may presently lead them to what you will so great an influence hath that Passion of fear over their low and narrow hearts Montauban Surrenders to the Kings Obedience THe Deputies of Montauban came to Pâ—zanas in company with the Sieur de Guran at which place the Cardinal then was They had Audience upon their first desire and made all protestations that could be imagined of a firm and strict obedience unto his Majesties will and pleasure but stood stifly in demanding that their Fortifications of the Ville Novelâ—e and Bourbon should be left standing and seemed as if they had condiscended a very great deal in permitting their out-works to be slighted But the Cardinal returned them answer in that strain and garb which was proper for a General and one who represented the person of the King That he did much admire after they had understood his Maâ—esties intentions by the Sieur Guron they should thus come to treat as if it were upon equal terms and exempt themselves from the conditions of other Towns
any other mans of what condition so ever he be That this constraint is repugnant to the safety of Kings of which in History are many examples especially in these latter ages These reasons were very considerable but withall the Marquess D' Effiat followed them home with such address and vigour that they made the same impressions upon the Kings as they had done upon his Embassadours minds who indeed did much contribute by their Letters to bring it to a resolution Articles of Marriage between the King of Great Britain and the Princess Henrietta Maria of France THe Negotiation was so fortunate that the King consented to all those Articles which were demanded in behalf of the Catholicks and accordingly his Majesty gave command to his Embassadours to accord it and on the 10th of November they were signed by them with the Cardinal upon these conditions That the Kings Sister should have all manner of liberty to increase the Roman Catholick Apostolick Religion together with all her Officers and their children that to this purpose she should have a Chappel in every of the Kings houses a Bishop and twenty eight Priests to administer the Sacrament Preach Gods Word and doe such other Offices as their Function required That the children which should be born of this marriage should be brought up in the Catholick Religion untill the age of 13 years by the Princess That all the Domesticks which she carried into England should be French and Catholicks chosen by the most Christian King and they dying she might take others into their place French and Catholicks by and with consent of the King of Great Brittain Moreover that both the King of Great Brittain and Prince of Wales his son should bind themselves by oath not to attempt by any means whatsoever to make her change her Religion or to force her to any thing which might be contrary to it and should promise by writing upon the faith and word of a King and Prince to take order that all those Catholicks as well Ecclesiastick as secular which had been imprisoned since the last Act made against them should be set at liberty That the English Catholicks should not be any more hunted after for their Religion nor constrained to swear any thing contrary to the Catholick Religion and that such seizures of their Goods as had been made since the last Act should be restored to them And generally that they should receive more liberty and favour in respect of the Alliance with France then had been promised them upon the Spanish Treaty This was as much as could be desired for the present in behalf of Religion until the Princess who was indued with all the qualifications both of Body and Soul which could render a Princess beloved should have acquired a good power over King James his spirit and the Prince of Wales her husband and so finish the remainder which the King expected both from her zeal and behaviour with the more confidence because Ladies have a great hand over their husbands and Father in Law when they are once intirely loved by them Politique Observation THere is good reason to hope for the Conversion of a Prince from the Princess whom he marries Women have so natural an art to perswade men and to lead them to what they desire that there is hardly any thing impossible for them to do Their beauty alone hath such strong charms that they imprint in the soul by their eyes all the affections they have a mind to and the Love wherewith they are cherished gives them so great a power that if they have never so lâ—ttle ingenuity one cannot defend himself from their perswasions and if it be thus true in general it is not lesse in the particular of converting their Husbands or the People who are subject to them History is so full of Proofs of this nature that one must be altogether ignorant if he knows not that the divine Providence hath divers times made use of their means for this glorious purpose Thus Clotilâ—a daughter to the Duke of Borgogn was the occasion that Clovis one of our first Kings her husband imbraced the Christian Religion and banished Idolatry out of his States Iâ—gâ—nd Sister to Childebert King of France being married to Hermenegild King of the Gâ—ths converted him to the Holy Châ—istâ—an Faith Chieâ—umte daughter to the King of Merâ—e in England married a King of the West Saxons made him become a Christian and she her self a Saint Thâ—â—dâ—linda wife to â—â—gâ—lulph King of the Lombards perswaded him and a great part of his people to lay by their false Gods and to live under the Lâ—ws of he Gospel Gizel daughter to Hâ—nry Duke of Bavier and Sister to the Emperour Henry the first being married to Steâ—hâ—n the first of that name King of Hungaria made him and his whole Kingdome resolve to in â—race the Fâ—â—th of Jesus Christ and thus many others of the like examples do verifie that Qâ—eens have ever had a great power in this particular and the spirit of God which hath made use of them for such glorious effects saith The unbâ—lieving Husband shall bâ— sanctifiedly the believing Wife Heaven it self fights for them in such occasions when they labour for his glory besides it cannot be denyed but that their Rbetorick is perswasive that their accord do some time passe or currant and undeniable reasons that their words are charms and that their addresse is able to master the greatest courages In the midst of this diligent care which the Cardinal took for the Interests of Religion and the State his Prudence was not forgetfull of any thing which might bee thought in favour of the Kings Sister It was agreed in respect of eight hundred thousand Crowns which his Majesty gave her in marriage that she should renounce all successions either Paternal Maternal or Collateral which might befall unto her and accordingly after she had received leave from her mother the Queen Mother so to do she did renounce and the King of Great Britains Embassador did ratifie it that in future no such pretensions might arise to trouble the quiet of the Kingdomes as formerly had been Withall he took such tender care of all advantages for her that she could not suffer any inconvenience by any accident whatever It was agreed upon by his care that the Prince deceasing without issue the mony should be totally restored to her to be disposed of according to her own will whether she did live in England or in France That if he had children by this marriage there should onely be two thirds of her Portion returned the other being moveable that the last twenty of the third part should be made a yearly rent to her during her life that her Dower should be eight hundred thousand pound sterling por annum returning French mony at sixty thousand Crowns rent which should be assigned to her in Lands and Houses one of which should be such and accordingly furnished that she might make
summs of money or assist him with Ships according to the Proportion of that which was lent them That they should cause such French Regiments as should be entertained in Holland to be conducted to Calais or Diepe And thus in one and the same moneth the Cardinal made his entrance upon the Administration very remarkable by the resolution of the Match with England which ingaged the King of Great Brittain in his Majesties interests by the entertaining of the Spanish Forces in the Low Countries by which he diverted them from assisting the Valtolines so powerfully as otherwise they had done Politick Observation IF Marriages serve to augment the Power of a King certainly those Alliances which are made with neighbour States for reciprocal assistance in War do no less contribute towards it provided they be well established Two States well united are undoubtedly stronger then one alone and as an ancient Author saith if an enemy should prevail against one yet two would be able to oppose him Partnership is that which inricheth Merchants in Trading and Alliances enable Princes to make forraign invasions with their Forces and if there be such profit to be made out of it I suppose they are very necessary for the divine wisdome hath so disposed all Kindomes that they have all need one of another Aristotle saith nibil pâ—r se subsist it nothing is able to subsist by it self onely and if in the Microcosm every part is needfull for one another not excepting the most noble God hath also imparted Power to Soveraigns with such equality that they are never able to increase it without mutual assistance from one another Upon this foundation it is that all Alliances are established It is absurd to beleeve that the bare friendship of Princes can be a sufficient Bond seeing that it is interest which onely ties them effectually as is apparent to all men for that they usually break them when once they appear against their concernments If ever there be occasion to unite them together it is chiefly when there is danger of a common enemy and that they would hinder his growing strength and prevent him from making attempts upon their bordering neighbours and consequently upon themselves In fine it was upon that score that the Iâ—alian Ambassadors perswaded King Antiochus to league himself with them against the Romans representing to him that if he did not keep them in continual exercise they would render themselves Masters of his Allyes and then enter upon his own Country too And it was for the same reason that the Princes of the house of Orleans finding themselves too weak to make head against the Burguignions allied themselves with the English though otherwise they hated them and that Ferdinand King of Naples allyed himself with Lewis Sforza Tutor to John Galeazzi his Nephew and Laurence de Medicis that they might oppose the French who then threatned them Colonel Ornano is made Prisoner in the Bastile and thence sent to the Castle of Caen. VVHilest the King negotiated these two important Treaties and that the Cardinal gave a happy progress to them by his Counsails the Marquis de la Vieville who for the two last years had a great hand in the affairs inform'd the King that the Colonel d' Ornano Governour to the Duke of Orleans his Brother took such a course as would in time trouble the State The he had not forgot any artifice to render himself agreeable to the Monsieur and to gain such a power over his spirit that the Honour which he had to be his Governour gave him a great power in his Family That before he had gained the Mounsieurs affection he made his brags openly that he would get the Mastery over him to the intent he might raise his fortune to a higher pitch That he began to sow distrusts in the mind of that Prince and to extinguish the seeds of that Respect Love and Obedience which Nature had given to him in creating him That he took advantage of his good favour to make himself feared and that he vaunted to have done many things contrary to his duty of which there were many particulars and that he was observed to take great care to hold Intelligence with the Grandees of the Court This was so much the more to be feared for that the greatest misfortunes and the most part of Civil Wars have no other beginning then misunderstandings of Princes against their Kings The King thought good to impart it to the Cardinal and having demanded his advice of what was proper to be done in that occasion he did not at all dissemble the danger it would be to permit this procedure of the Colonel But the moderation of his spirit would not suffer him to carry him on to use such violent remedies as others did advise him to but on the contrary he represented to him that the Laws of Mercy obliged Kings to pardon the first faults of Grandees provided that they would confesse their errors especially if there be a meanes to prevent any consequence of danger That the wisest are sometimes subject to miscarriages and are also capable to repent them and afterwards to doe great services That the moderation which many wise Princes have shewed towards such offenders hath made them more faithful and affectionate then those who never committed any miscarriage at all That this Repentance was the more reasonably to be hoped from the Colonel d' Ornano who till then had lived within those limits which ought to be observed by those of his condition that his Father had given him a good example by those services which he had done until his death That he had indeed forgot himself but that his omission might be remedied which seemed to deserve pardon so much the more in regard it is almost impossible for the greatest part of Mankind not to forget themselves whenas fortune shall advance them into a place of Eminency Moreover there was reason to hope that the onely removing him for some time from the Monsieur would make him reassume his former countenance would make him sensible of his fault and he himself would easily be induced to judge that this embroyl wherein he had suffered himself to be surprised would undoubtedly precipitate him into utter ruin instead of raising him into a higher condition This counsel was accompanied with a much Prudence as Moderation and the King who is ever carried of himself to follow the best advice onely commanded the Collonel d' Ornano to retire himself to his Government of Pont-Sainct-Esprit untill he were permitted to return to the Court but the Collonel being confident that there were nothing but surmises and conjectures against him had the boldness to refuse obedience to this order perswading the Monsieur to keep him near him and to procure from the King by any extraordinary instances that he might not be forced from the Court The Monsieur beseeched his Majesties with all possible affection However the King gave him to understand that
left his Glory and Reputation fresh and alive in the memories of all who knew him After his death his Majesty gave the Chancellorship to Monsieur de Halligre which was done by the Cardinals advice who would by no means divert his Majesty from raising of him unto this utmost pitch of Honour which was usually accorded unto such as were Treasurers at that time and upon such an occasion not that he was ignorant that his Age rendered his Mind somewhat too weak for the weight of such a charge for the well performance of which it was not enough barely to have acquired the Ornaments of a singular Honesty which was however very commendable But he could not resolve to dis-countenance him it being his first entrance upon the Administration and early dayes with him so that he rather aimed to supply the others defects by his own proper ingeny which was able enough to defend the State from suffering as to hinder him from his advancement withall he hoped that giving him often the honour of admitting him to be neer him he might form him by his Counsels and render him more capable and vigorous in the trans-acting of great Affairs He though too that his redoubled cares for some small time might be requited in future which invited him to take that trouble upon himself as also because he would not cast off a person whom he found Keeper of the Seal and in reputation of a Sublime virtue Politick Observation TO judge with certainty of the ability or insufficiency of a man for management of great affairs is a thing very difficult If it often happens that the most active souls do not well away with affairs of little concernment it is not lesse common to see some who make themselves be admired as in indifferent imployments who being raised to those of a little higher degree acquit themselves very badly To verifie which Vespasian being over-seer of the Scavangers before he came to the Empire committed so many mis-carriages that the Emperour commanded his cloaths to be daubed all over with filth and dirt but when Fortune had once raised him up to be Soveraign he soon made it evident that the evil conduct for which he was once blamed proceeded from nothing but to shew that he was not born for love and mean actions Men of great merit behave themselves so negligently in small low imployments that they give but a slender character of their abilities On the other side some have attained to a great reputation in the discharging of small affairs and in prosecution of time being advanced to those of greater weight have found their ruine and confusion in them Galba may serve for an example of it seeing before he was Emperour he shewed so much Prudence in the dispatching those affairs which were committed to him that every one conceived a very great esteem of him but being come to the Empire he soon lost it If any one demand a reason of it I suppose there is none but this that as there ought to be a proportion between Causes and Effects that they may operate within the Sphere of their power so men ought to be adopted to charges in imployments conformable to their capacities and sufficiencies for that mens minds have certain bounds prescribed to them within the limits of which they are able to acquit themselves with credit and applause but if you advance them above or depresse them below those Spheres they shew nothing but debilities and mis-carriages It was in this respect that Tacitus speaks of Poppeus Sabinus when he said that he was sufficiently capable of those imployments which were intrusted with him but not of any higher Titus Livy was not much out of the way too when speaking of the Dictatorship of Lucius Quintius Cicinnatus he said that he had a courage equal to his charge but not great enough to be General of the Army Now in this incertainty it should seem to relish somewhat of injustice peradventure too of imprudence in a Chiefe Minister to oppose the advancement of a man whom hee finds in imployment and in the reputation of an honest integrity It would relish as I said of Injustice because his integrity and conduct reduct represent him for deserving and of imprudence too because vertue having the property of pulling down a hatred upon those who oppresse it it will certainly gain him the dis-esteem and dis-affection of the people should he have hindred the t'others good fortune besides the noblest glory of a powerfull man consists in being able to hurt but at that same times to do most good to all men especially to those who are vertuous A man may easily be perswaded that a Minister is vertuous if he favours persons of merit and on the contrary that he hath none but wicked designs if he bring them into disgrace and of this he ought to take the greater consideration upon his first entrance into the Government because he hath then the fittest opportunity of gaining upon the Peoples affections Alexander knew of what concernment this particular was when as a certain Lord of his Retinue complained that he gave no estate to any but persons of great vertue he was answered by him that he courted vertue that she her self might pay him Homage over all the world Enquiries into the Misdemeanours of the Finances THE Sieur de Marillac being honoured with the Super-intendency of the Finances his unquiet spirit could not rest long time without giving some object to his violence the Finances he levelled at and soon set them into such confusion that they who behaved themselves in their charges with the greatest innocency knew not where to hide their heads It is true that it was so much the more important to the good of the State to represse those mis-demeanours of many who did openly squander away the Kings monies which are the Sinnews both of the State and War in that their ill management did necessitate the imposing of new Taxes upon the People in that they deprived particular men of such summs as the King had granted them not onely by way of gratification but sometimes of justice and in that these unjust dealings gave means to many amongst them to make vast expences a dangerous example to the publique Yet should hee have had for-born driving those enquiries to that height which he did and from infusing into the Kings Soul such a sharpnesse against them that they all past for criminals indifferently together in his Majesties opinion The order which was followed was this There was out of each Parliament one Councellour elected by them who was reputed of extraordinary integrity to be formed into a Court of Justice to them were joyned certain Masters of Requests and two Presidents of the Chamber of Accompts of Paris Leave was given to all Informers who would appear to give in their complaints against any Officer or his Deputy to the Procurator General and there was so exact an Inquisition made of all
being arrived and presented to his Holiness by the Sieur de Bethune he supplicated his Holiness on his Master behalf that he would bee pleased to grant him the dispensation for it The Pope receiv'd him with such honour as is due to those who are sent from the first of Christian Princes and as to that which concern'd the dispense his Holiness told him that he having already accorded one of the like to the Spaniards when as the Match with the same Prince was upon the point of conclusion with the Infant of Spaine he had done it with the advice of the Cardinals then and could not now conclude it without acquainting them with it but however promised him that they who were suspected to be against the French interest should not be called to the consultation but that others which favoured it should be put in their places but withal to testifie his good will to the King he would do one thing which he had not accorded to the Spaniards that is he would convocate the Consistory of Cardinals in his own presence that he might give the quicker dispatch to it Within in a few dayes after he named the Cardinals but he was not so good as his word in convocating them before himself whether it were that so extraordinary a grace might have exasperated the Spaniards with whom he had no great mind to embroyl himself or because he imagined the Cardinals would not meet with any so great difficulties as might require his presence for the granting of the dispense and this was as much as passed upon the first motion though afterwards many disputes did arise either because it is ordinary with those who judge of affaires in the Court of Room to seek all advantages for Religion and to raise questions where there are none that their final results may be the more vallid or else because Father Berule treating with the Cardinals in private had perswaded them to ad some other things in the dispense then had been concluded in the Articles These difficulties thus risen ingaged the Sieur de Bethune who understood not whence they came to joyn himself to the Father Berule and that he might overcome them he often represented to his Holiness that the great zeal his Master had for the Church had induced him to take a great deal of paines for the obtaining the most advantageous conditions in the Articles that could be hoped for by the English Catholiques That the Spaniards having consented that such children as should be born of this Marriage should be brought up by the Queen only until their age of twelve yeers but the King not contented with that had obtained it until the thirteenth yeer which was no inconsiderable businesse because in that age it is that children take such impressions of Religion as will not easily be rooted out in future He was not deficient in representing to him both the hapiness and glory that it would for ever be to his Popedom if the eldst son who should be born should religiously preserve those instructions in his riper age which the Queen should give him and at last establish the Church of England in it's liberty and splendour That the fruits of this Alliance were to be considered by the advantage which might happen by it hereafter especially seeing in the last Article the King of Great Brittany promised to treat with more sweetness and allow more liberty and freedom to the Catholiques in behalf of the alliance with France then otherwise he would have done for that of Spain that he was bound by oath to perform it that it was true the Spaniards had demanded more that is a publique Church in England but withal they could not procure it to be granted and that indeed there was not any thing more to be expected then what had been alreaded concluded that all which is to be wished is not alwayes possible and after all that the three principal things which ought to be considered had been agree to which was the assurance of the Princess her conscience the education of such children as God should blesse her with and the liberty of Catholique he also went and related the same to the Deputies At last after three several meetings upon the business they thought so much had Father Berule possessed them with hopes when he discoursed with them in private that neither they nor the Pope himself could safely grant the dispeâ—se according to those Articles which had been concluded between the two Crowns but they would needs have this added that those servants who were to wayt upon such children as God should give to the Princess should be Catholiques and chosen by her during the age that they were to be under her goverment That the English should not by any means endeavour to draw off the Princesses servants from the Catholique Religion nor those of the Messieurs her Children whilst they should remain with her Lastly that the King of England should swear not to fail in either of those two things and that the King of France should promise his Holiness to cause those Articles to be observed to which the King of England should oblige himself The Sieur de Bethune did much wonder that they should so earnestly ad those Conditions to the Articles which were not only capable of retarding but also of quite breaking of the match and consequently bring the English Catholiques into a greater persecution then ever But all was an effect of Father Berules zeal which was a little too hot and which prepossessed both the Pope and Cardinals with such strong impressions that they were irresistably bent upon it this good man making it appear by his transaction that the most spiritual men are not alwaies the most proper persons to be imployed in negotiation of State by reason of the subtlety of the spirits which do refine things a little too much and their perverseness in opinion which is common to them with all others and which doth often keep them off from complying with the Lawes even of a necessity it self Politique Observation IT is a great Imprudence in an Embassadour to move contrary to his Instruction and to raise difficulties in a business which is committed to him by following his own sense Orders are to Embassadours as Compasses to Pylots and as a Pylot exposeth himself to the danger of Shipwrack when as he will take no other guide in his voyage but his own Caprichio so an Embassadour endangereth the success of his negotiation if he doth neglect to follow those Orders which are given to him he ought to consider that the person who imploys him hath more knowledge of the Affair then himself That he not having given him a full Liberty to do whatsoever he should think fit those are the onely means which he is commanded to follow that must guide him to the end of his Affair and that if he doth not adhere to them he doth not onely run the hazard of losing himself but also
already made in respect of Religion the Princess and her servants and the Liberties of the English Catholiques and seeing that this new Oath was comprised too in some sort in the first Oath That there was sufficient provision made both in relation to Religion and Liberty of Conscience for her Domestiques and Children seeing they were to remain mayn with the Princess as well as the children which being so it would of nenessity follow that there could be no trouble brought on them in respect of their Religion He told him likewise that the King his Master being bound to his Holiness for the observation of those things which should be agreed to by the King of Great Brittain was an assurance not lesse valid then that of an heretique King That his Majesty had commanded him to supplicate his Holiness with all earnestness and not rest barely there but to tell him that his Holiness was the more obliged to grant him his request seeing he begged the confirmation of it rather out of respect then necessity seeing that several famous Doctors were of opinion that Catholiques in Heretiques Countries might freely contract Mariages without any dispense These were the chief reasons which the Sieur de Bethune represented to his Holiness and likewise to the Cardinals who were deputed in the businesse of the dispense They soon apprehended the Justice and importance of them and testified a great readinesse to do that which was desired of them The Pope sent word to the Cardinals that they should give a quick dispatch to the business that he desired to give the King all the satisfaction he could wish for both that he might acknowledg those great benefits which his Majesty had procured to the Church as also because he knew there could not any other thing be desired from those of England Accordingly they met together and concluded on it as the King desired and dispatched it with a great deal of diligence to the Nontio that it might be delivered to the King who as quickly gave intelligence of it to the King of Great Britain Politick Observation JT is not ever expedient in a design to propose the utmost advantage it being sometimes necessary to leave a little to be hoped for from time No Affair can oblige to the making of Resolutions contrary to honour and justice but several things may intervene to obstruct the effecting of all that might conduce to the good of a great Enterprize He who doth not take this truth for a rule in his Conduct will be subject to commit great faults and will in it Proclaim aloud to the World That he is ignorant of the many difference between Gods and Mans Will he doing whatsoever best pleases him but the latter is obliged to necessities and bound to proportionate his resolution according to the Possibility of things Thus though it be allowed such men on whom the dispatch of Affairs dispends to raise up some scruples and difficulties whereby to enhance the price and esteem of the thing doing it being usual with most men little to regard those Offices which are granted with ease yet when it is once evident that the present time and conjuncture of Affairs will not consist with the longer denial of what is desired from them they then ought to comply and apply themselves to the effecting of it For what refuse they shall afterwards make will appear rather to proceed from a spirit of contradiction then that of Prudence The death of James King of Great Brittain and the Mariage between the Prince of Wals his Son and the Madam Henrietta Maria of France DUring the negotiation for the dispense King James of Great Brittain fell very sick at Theobalds twelve miles distant from London After he had passed over three weekes with a Tertian Ague which weakned him exceedingly much he caused the Prince of Wals his Son to come unto him and discoursed to him with a great deale of reason and recommended to him those Officers who had faithfully served him But especially his little grand children the Infants of the Electrix Palatine his daughter encouraging him to make use of that power which he should leave him for the re-establishing of them in their Fathers Dominions and then finding himself declining into his Agony he gave him his blessing wishing him a happy prosperous and successful enjoyment of those Kingdoms which he should shortly leave to him About the end of March he died at which instant the Heralds according to the custom of England proclaymd the Prince of Wals King of Great Britain who presently took the ordering of all affairs upon him He having a great desire to be married the first thing he did was to dispatch full power to the Duke de Chevreuse to betroth and espouse the Princess in his name The King too desired to see an end of the businesse so that upon the first arrival of that power the execution of it was no longer deferred The Betrothments were made in the Lovre on the eight of May in the presence of the King the Queens all the Princes and great Lords of the Court by the Cardinal de la Rochfaucaud who likewise celebrated the Marriage Ceremonies on the Sunday following being the eleventh of May in the Church of Nostre Dame in the quality of Great Almoner I shall not need to relate with what magnificence these things were done only I shall say nothing was omitted The Espousals were made upon a Theater raised for the purpose over the great door of the Church Then the Masse was said with great Ceremony where the King and three Queens were assistants Though the Duke of Chevreuse and the Extraordinary Ambassadors of England were not there who after they had wayted on his Majesty to the door of the Quier retyred to the Arch-Bishops Pallace during the Masse as representing the King of Englands Person who was of a different Religion but they went again to receive his Majesty at the same door as soon as Masse was ended and to wayt on him to the Arch-Bishops hall where the King dined with the Queens his Mother his Wife and his Sister the Duke of Chevreuse the Earles of Carlisle and Holland the Ladies Dutchesses of Guise Elboeuf and of Chevreuse with the most magnificencies that the best versed in Royal Ceremonies could invent There were Bonfiers made all the while throughout Paris and the Cannons made such a noyse as if Heaven and Earth would have come together The Duke of Buckingham is commanded by the King of Great Brittain to go over into France and to conduct the Queen his Wife over to him THese things thus past the Duke of Buckingham the King of Great Britains favorite was commanded to go into France to desire the King that the Queen his Wife might set out from the Court assoon as might be to come to him He arrived at Paris about the end of May and during that little stay which he made he was entertained with all imaginable Magnificency
against them The knowledge he had of her inclination still to conserve that power to her self was a great impediment to his work And the King in whose hands the onely supream power resides was so much the more jealous of it for that it is ordinary with Grandees to be suspitious of their powers and that with so much the more reason for that Justice doth not permit that one should divide the command with them The Cardinal meeting with things in this conjuncture used his utmost industry to overcome the Queen Mothers inclinations being assured that it would be afterwards easie to dissipate those suspitions of the King He insinuated into her soul with all sweetness and address the truth which ought to be the foundation of their good correspondence letting her see that she ought not to think it any strange thing that the King should desire to be Master or that all Affairs were revolved by his order for that by his birth the Laws of the Kingdom did give him that Authority which no one had any right to deprive him of He used indeed his utmost address to impress this truth in her letting her see that she ought not to pretend to any part of it That the King quitting all his suspitions would give her more then she could wish seeing he was so naturally inclined to pay her all manner of respects The Queen Mother who did then much esteem of his counsels did beleeve him and she received such advantages by it that by letting his Majesty see by her conduct that she did no longer think of the Government he restored her into so absolute an Authority that she had all sort of power in the management of Affairs This was a very great advantage procured to her by this grand Minister and which surpassed all those favours which he had at any time received from her Majesty The State too did not receive less profit by it for that this good correspondencie which united the Affections of the King and Queen Mother did put an end to all those Cabals which had formerly divided the whole Nation so that the Forces of it would not now fly out any more into parties but remain entire to oppose the Ambition of Strangers The Cardinal that he might the more confirm this Union and make it the stronger perswaded the King to take Father Suffren for his Confessor who had been so for a long while to the Queen Mother assuring himself that this good person whose soul was so affectionately inclined to Peace replenished with Piety and voyd of Ambition being the Depository of the secrets of their Consciences would not be a little conducing to the dispelling of those little suspitions which might arise between them and that he would have somwhat the more power in regard women are naturally addicted to be perswaded by their Confessors Next to the Queen Mother Monsieur was the most considerable person in affairs as also the most capable to raise Divisions in the Kingdom as many Princes of his Place and Birth had done who not being able to stay for command untill the time prescribed by the Laws both the Nature and the Kingdom run out at the perswasion of those who were near them to seise on the Government The Cardinal therefore was no whit less industrious to tye him too unto the Kings Interests There was no great need of any extraordinary diligence to bring it to pass Justice having infused into him with his birth all those inclinations and dispositions which were proper for him to have towards his Majesty All which the Cardinal very well knew Neither was he ignorant That Princes of his condition are usually carried away from their duties by those who are attending near upon them so that he likewise made himself sure of the Colonel d' Ornano who had the honour to be nearest to his person and upon whose advice Monsieur did more relye then any others Now knowing that this soul naturally ambitious was not to be captivated by other tyes then those of Greatness he perswaded the King to bestow on him a Marshals Staffe of France conceiving that this Qualification would force him to become his Majesties very faithful servant Monsieur the Prince had the honour to be the first of those of the Blood Royal and the Cardinal thought it no lesse expedient to gain him and satisfie his humour by giving him a part in Affairs and the content which he might pretend to in his Interests He had a great conflict with the Queen Mothers spirit but at last with a handsom address he let her see that there could be no certain quiet and repose in the State without a good understanding between the King her son and him and that it was to contribute to his own greatness not to leave the Prince in those discontents whereunto he had been reduced and which might in time carry him on to the making of Cabals and raising of new emotions But whatever reasons he could then alledge she would not be induced to assent to his coming to the Court nevertheless the Cardinal so dealt with the King that his Majesty in some Letters to him gave him extraordinary expressions and testimonies of his Favour sometimes by asking his advice as occasions should present as also by taking a particular care for the expediting of his Affairs which was accordingly effected and the King writing to him assured him of his kindness towards him and desiring his opinion of the Affairs of the Valtoline of the Hugonots and the War of Italy By this he received an entire content and satisfaction so that from thence forward he began to order himself with more affection to his Majesties Inclinations then formerly he had done This strait union which the Cardinal tyed in the Royal Family was an assured foundation of the Nations Peace and cut off all hopes that any troublesome spirits might have to embroyl it Politique Observation THat Minister who would attempt any great designs abroad is bound to settle all at home by a strong uniting of the Royal house The harmony of the prime Qualities is that which preserves our bodies in a convenient health If one should assault the other the Natural Justice is violated and the Union dissolved which once so the whole frame falls to nothing Who knoweth not that the Union of Grandees especially those of the Royal Family is the most sure foundation of Peace and Welfare to a State They may not be disjoyn'd from their King neither may any one of them attempt upon his Crown but Justice will be offended and their Union broken which once so the State is soon exposed to manifold dangers and misfortunes This was the opinion of Misipsa in Salust and Cyrus instructing Cambyses his own Son advised him alwaies to be in friendship with his kindred and to give them such advantages as may content them because it will make him be well beloved by his Subjects who imagine that a Prince who doth not
contained the depth of his employment and it was the happier for France that he was so improvident to carry such papers about him which could only serve to cause him be taken and put to great trouble It was about the end of September that he was arrested and at first carried into Coffie The Duke of Orleans hearing of it took his part made a great noise about it and fancying to himself that the English were landed in the I le of Ree that they and the Marshal de Thoyras were close ingaged together he dispatched the Sieurs de Ville and de Leven-Court one in the neck of t'other to the Queen Mother then at Paris in his Majesty absence to demand Mountagu of her and in case she did refuse it to let him know it within foure and twenty howers time protesting withal that he well knew how to carve his own satisfaction for this injurie which he pretended had been done him because he said Mountagu had been taken in his territories He had at that time his Arms in his hand to second the English and Duke of Savoy and at the same time that he send to the Queen Mother he resolved to besiedg Coffie where Mountagu was then Prisoner as also to assault divers other Frontier Towns whilst his Majesty was busied in resisting the English But the dilligence used in removing of Mountagu from Coiffie to Paris together with the defeat given the English at Ree as shall anon be declared made him and the Duke of Savoy too change their resolutions for that they found the King in a condition able to deal with both of them at once They were likewise told that in case they would oblige his Majesty to come out of Poictou they might both of them pay the charges of his Journey So the Duke of Savoy turned his design upon Genoua which he thought to surprise by a Stratugem which had been contrived and the Duke of Lorrain was contented to be quiet upon assurance given him that Mountagu should be set at liberty soon after his Majesties return to Paris His anger was like storms which after much noise are quelled in a moment she resolved without any great intreaty to expect the Kings return to Paris whither he soon after arrived Mountaigu's Person not being so considerable as his Papers from which there had been discovered as much as was desired his Majesty brought him out of the Bastile and delivered him up unto him reserving that punishment for another time which he had resolved for the Duke of Lorrain and which he had deserved by his engaging in such intreagues In the mean time the King was very glad to see in these Papers that the Duke of Savoy knew of the English design to land in Ree that he had promised to assist them That he had perswade the Duke of Rohan to revolt that he had assisted him with succours That he had ingaged to fall upon the Dauphine with six thousand foot and twelve hundred Horse There was by them likewise discovered the design which the English had projected against Toulon for the sending certain Ships pretending to trade in the Levant and how the Duke of Savoy engaged to assist them with men and Gallies That the same Duke had a hand too in that attempt which was afterwards made against Montpelier That he had intended to have surprised Brecon and Valence and besides all this there were amongst them divers bloudy Manifests against the King his Ministers of State and the Government of his affairs Politique Observation TO be imployed without good cause for the troubling of a Forrain Princes State is a Commission as little happy as honourable If it tend to the Arming of his subjects against him It hath ever had such ill successe that one may say of him who arms them that in shaking the Pillars of the State Justice and obedience he only burries them in their own ruines If it be for the making of confederacies with neighbouring Princes to make a war upon another they last so little that there is not any hopes of more expectation from them Either of the Chiefs would have more power in the Army then his companion Then comes distruct between them no one obtains any glory which t'other doth not envy nay and hinder too if he can Great designs raised upon such weak grounds fall to ruine like structures built upon a foundation of sand War is of it self so uncertain that he who begins it is not sure to gain any thing by it A Command mis-apprehended an Order ill executed an enterprise not well timed an inconsiderate rashness and in short one poor single word may sometimes put a whole Army to the rout Besides negotiations being often considered by their Events all the blame will be assuredly laid in his dish who first perswaded to the design On the other side God favoureth Just Arms and vallour signifies nothing saith Bâ—llisarius without Justice so that he who ingageth any without a lawful cause may expect nothing but mis-fortune and confusion But to waht dangers doth he expose himself whilst he passeth thorough his States against whom he attempteth to make a war Not to stop him were a madness in any Prince and a greater not to punish him for his rashness But admit he escape that mis-fortune his very Commission is contemptible seeing it usually brings trouble and charge to his Country I have ever much esteemed of Phocions words in Plutarch to Leosthenes who in an Oration endeavoured to engage the Ethenians in the Lamian war after Alexanders death Thy speech quoth he is like a Cypres large and full but beareth no fruit for just thus thou makest the people conceive victories and thy words puff them up with signal advantages but indeed there is not any just ground to hope for any certain fruit from such a war tending to the States good so inconstant misfortunate and expensive are all wars whatever What did all those turbulent Souls carry away but blame and misfortune who employed their whole time provoked to it only by their particular passions any unjust reasons to raise wars amongst Princes The Count de St. Paul may serve for a notable example in this kinde After he had spent all his dayes in Broyles and turmoyles his glory vanished like smoak and at last he payd for those Treacheries by death which he had put upon Lewis the Eleventh In the same manner Savanorolla had passed for a Saint amongst the Florentines but for that seditious Spirit which animated him against the house of Medicis and excited him to make a war even against his own Cittizens but the blame he reaped by it sullyed all his glory and in my opinion whoever engageth himself in such a Commission may not expect any greater honour by it Turbulent Spirits clapt up in the Bastille THese Forrain designs were not a lone to be feared there were divers other Grandees of the Kingdom sediously disposed who had some notice of
the intended siege of Rochel The Major part of them foresaw that in case Rochelle were taken they must then of necessity live in an exact obedience That it would carry with it an absolute ruine to all the Hugonot party and that there would be no more means left them to rise up against the Kings authority in future when they had a mind to procure any thing by force neither were they a little startled at the assurance of the design his Majesty had resolutely taken of carrying the place The Grandees have alwayes thought the encrease of the Royal Power a diminution to their own private authorities and they of France were not ignorant that in case the Hugonot party were destroyed they had then no game left to play but that of submission This induced some of the most factious to cast out such discourses as could only be deemed the Symptoms of a Revolt though as yet there had not been any apparence of a formal contrived design The King had learn't from some of the old Court that that which hindred the taking od Rochel when as Charles the ninth besieged it was only the little inclination which many of the Grandees then at the siege had that it should be taken as the Marshal de Montlue testified on the place by divers letters So that he resolved to prevent this inconveniency neither was it lesse needful to prevent the growing of this cabal least they should by joyning themselves with the Hugonots and strangers force his Majesty to draw off his Armies and to attend their motions The wise and discreet resolution which his Majestie took to give an assured remedie hereunto was to clap up in the Bastille several sedicious turbulent persons who began to speak aloud such things as neither the Laws of obedience or respect could allow of but with order that they should be well treated and want nothing it being his Majesties desire only to prevent them from doing any hurt The Marquis de Rouillat de Bounivet de Montpinson d' Oy were first of all secured and shortly after Fancan and La Milletiere with other inferiours to keep them Company which made them perceive who had the good Fortune not to be interressed in any of these Broyles that the King was no more to be dallyed with and that it would become them to live within their limits and that they could not avoyd lodging in the same place if they gave any cause of suspition by their behaviour Thus every one for love or fear was quiet and the King had the freedome to continue his preparations for the siege of Rochelle Politique Observation A King is no lesse obliged to search after those who are able to trouble the repose of his State then those who are able to serve him It is needful for him to have certain marks both for one and t'other that he may judg of either Now amongst them who are able to ingage in a Faction he ought to make little account of such who have great stirring Spirits but little Prudence for they of his Temper are usually wicked ambitious Lovers of Novelties insurrections and all sorts of intreagues Grobus would needs have us esteem Alcibiades for a person of this condition when he represented him to be as exquisite in his vices as his virtues and T. Livy puts Hannibal amongst the same number when after a recital of his vertues he addeth that his vices were full as eminent On the other side he ought to be vigilant over those who are ready to undergo any meannesses upon hopes of getting any advantage or greatnesse as Caesar did according to Dions report who condescended to bestow imbraces beneath the quality of his person on mean and base men if he found them any ways conducing to the advancing of his Power In this last age Mâ—nsâ—eur ae Guise hath done the same thing in the eyes of all men but was slain at Blois in his attempt of making himself Master of the French Crown Withall he ought no lesse distrust those persons of quality who are grown poor or who have been laid by from imployments and affairs For Tacitus on the life of Ottho saith there is not any one thing which persons of Courage and Quality do suffer with more regret then that of poverty do we not read that poverty was it which gave so much boldnesse to Sylla in his attempts That Cneus Piso was ingaged in all his undertakings by his being reduced to extream necessity and of doing those things which were unworthy of his Birth Then hee ought to be no lesse watchfull of those who comporting themselves to the present times change their Fashions when they please who of Lyons turn to be Lambs and from Lambs become Lyons again and this with much facility all to make advantage of whatsoever comes uppermost to swim with the stream and to join their Interests with those onely from whom they have expectations of gain and advantage He had need be jealous of those who under pretence of their own private Affairs passe from one Country to another without any apparent reasons for it of such as onely converse with turbulent minds of such as seem to be discontented at affairs of such as are in debt or have received some distasts in their private interests I could produce examples to fortifie the reasonablenesse of all these several propositions and how that all these sorts of persons ought to be suspected if the brevity of these Maxims would give way to it But making profession of being short I shall onely for conclusion say that both Prudence and Justice oblige to make sure of such persons especially on the least occasion given to suspect that they are disposed to ingage themselves in any Intreague The least delay which shall be given them will onely fix them so much the more whereas the dispatch in securing of them rather sooner then later is a kind of Pitty for that it warranteth them from a more severe chastisement by preventing them from falling into greater Crimes Ambition Covetousnesse Revenge and Poverty meeting in a turbulent Factious Soul never let him be at rest or free from some embroyl or other if he be not curb'd in either by force or necessity And when it shall so happen that he may be of himself perswaded to keep within his duties yet it will be lesse inconvenient to make sure of him by a just rigour then to leave him in a licentiousnesse of ill-doing by too imprudent a compassion Differences between the Duke of Espernon and the Parliament of Bourdeaux reconciled by the discreet fore-sight of the Cardinal THere was about the same time ground enough to suspect lest the bitternesse which had about a year since disunited the Duke of Espernon Governour of Guyenne and the Parliament of Bourdeaux might prejudice his Majesties service in this juncture where it was needfull that all his Arms and Justice might concenter to stifle rebellion in its birth and to keep
clearly evince the Catholique truth to him and his own error as himself hath since often acknowledged It was not riches nor honor which induced him to change his Religion for he was both born rich and great but it was the only knowledg of Truth which perswaded him to it neither did he that until a most particular and exact satisfaction in all things The King was overjoyed at the newes of it never was any spoil or Trophee of an Enemy so welcome as this Victory and the more to testifie his real joy for it his Majesty promised him that the next Feast he would receive the Communion with him as also the Sieur de la Curee being dismissed of his Charge of Master de Camp which his age had made him uncapable any longer to perform his Majesty honoured him with it studying to shew to all his Subjects in his person how dear their salvations was unto him Politique Observation IF it be a work of Justice to chastise rebellious Heretiques by the sword it is no lesse charitable to labour for their conversion by letting them see the truth for the better discovering of which much charity clearnesse of spirit and profound Doctrine are required a Soul not well informed instead of allaying raiseth more doubts insomuch that knowledge hath as great a part in the Church as the Sun in the Firmament and just as it is difficult to restore a Traveller into his right way during the night untill the Sun appear to instruct him where he is so neither can a man of understanding be disabused unlesse it be by Doctrine at whose light a knowing Genius makes him perceive that he is at the brink of a Precipice and far from being in the right way to Heaven But amongst those for whose conversion it is requisite to labour no doubt but the chief men are first to be attempted for if the Stars continually follow the motions of the Heavens unto which they are affixed it is in like manner as common for men of mean quality to follow as well the Religion as the interest of the Grandees The people of Rome being once in a Mutiny retired to the Capitol upon an accident which befell Virginius were easily appeased by the Senate by reoson as T. Livy saith that they had no Leader there that durst speak a word in answer to those who had been sent unto them For my part I hold it for certain that it will be no more difficulty to reclaim an Heretique Faction who should rebel without a powerfull Commander But I likewise think it necessary besides Doctrinal instructions not to spare either money or dignity for the gaining of those whose Birth renders them capable of such qualities Temporal interests do much conduce to Spiritual and though the advantages of Fortune be not the chief motives of conversion amongst them who are strictly Religious yet it is most certain they are no mean inducements thereunto Thus Justinian according to Evagrius converted many Heretiques by dispersing store of monies amongst them And the Emperour Leo the sixth made use of the same device for the gaining of many Jews and there need no more but the example of Constantine de Bergo the Portugal Viceroy in the Indies who drew a number of those people to the Christian Religion by the carresses and favours which he shewed to them that were newly baptized Soubize and the Deputies of Rochel obtain a third saccour from the English but in vain WHilest the Duke of Rohan was making divers attempts in Lauguedoc and used his utmost indeavours to preserve those Towns of which he was become Master The Sieur de Soubize and Deputies of Rochel were negotiating in England for a third assistance they hoped to obtain it without any great difficulty for that Buckingham incensed as hath been formerly related did every day rig up move ships and raise new Forces but they found it a hard task both in regard of the troubles in which Buckingham was then involved by reason of the complaint made against him in Parliament as also of the impossibility to remove the obstacles in the Channel according to what the Earl of Denbigh had related yet at last Buckingham having overcome all his enemies devices and contrivances by the favour in which he was with his Majesty of Great Brittain had perswaded him to Embark the Army then on foot and to give him leave to command them in his own person to which end all things were put in order for a present dispatch But as God over-ruleth mens designs he was pleased by Buckingham's death to put an end to this storm he being assassinated by one Feltou an English man discontented because the Captains place of the Company whereof he was Lievtenant had been twice vacant and both times given over his head to another and who by hearing what complaints there were made against him by the Parliament imagined that by revenging his own quarrel he should likewise do his Country good service in it yet for all this the Deputies would not be denied they continued their instances perswading the King of Great Brittain that the forcing of the Bank was easie if resolutely attempted and that the glory of his Crown did in some sort oblige him to make one more attempt and that more vigorous then the former The Fleet was then resolved to put forth and there were added three other ships full of stones and some other with dung which were to be set on fire when they entred the Channel to the intent the smoke might hinder them from the sight The Sieur de Soubize the Comte de Laval and all the French Rebels then in England composed the Van-guard next to them followed those Vessels which were for the relief of Rochel next went the Body of the Army commanded by the Earl of Denbigh General of the Expedition and on the twenty eighth being Thursday they arrived at Glonne The Cardinal having notice of it the very same night dispatched a Courier to his Majesty to acquaint him with it who presently made himself ready got on horse-back and came to the Camp and after some discourse with the Cardinal he sent to discover the Enemy as also to call the Voluntiers who were disperced some here and some there to be in a readinesse together This once done his Majesty visited all the Quarters of the Army that he might put every thing in good order and got himself an immortal glory by his travel labour and diligence by those dexterous orders which he dispatched both as to the Sea and Land by his raising of Batteries designing of Plat-forms and levelling of the Cannon with his own hand Upon Saturday the thirtieth the English Fleet came up to the Road of the Chef de Bay and some few of them came before to draw out the French to fight but the Kings Vessels having order not to stir because they were onely to hinder the Passage into Rochel not one of them moved on Anchor onely
Their weakness is the Kings strength neither can they increase but his must diminish He who intrusteth them with power raiseth a dangerous enemy against himself The Sun is but one and all the Stars receive their light from him yet upon condition that he may at his pleasure deprive them again of that splendour just so is it with Princes their greatnesse proceedeth from the King and he may despoil them of all their honour in a moment if once they recede from the due respect they owe unto him The Riches which he bestoweth on them are for the discharging of those expences which are proper for persons of their eminency not for the upholding of Factions and abetting of Revolts What advantage did Charles of France take in Normandy given to him for Appanage towards making a War against Lewis the Eleventh his Brother And the States assembled at the same time at Tours did much admire his Majesty would so give it to him but advised him to recall it and grant him onely an Annual Revenue some in Lands and some in Pension in lieu of his Appanage Who did ever bring into so many eminent dangers as the Appanages of Berry and Bourgogne Were not these two Provinces the retreats of all discontents Were not the Courts of those two Dukes the Forges where all the Thunderbolts that were afterwards thrown about the Kingdom were formed and contrived Were not there the springs of all dissentions discontents and civil wars And were not they the persons who brought in the Kings of England and Dukes of Britain onely to favour the designs of their Ambition The Cardinal is declared Generalissimo of the Kings Armies in Italy THe spirit of division which had till then kept Monsieur from the King gave great hopes to the enemies of the State to advance their designs in Italy They doubted not of inflaming a civil War in France which might so divert his Majesties Armies that he could not have the leisure to come up to them a second time The Duke of Lorain offered Monsieur as many forces and money as he could desire and the Duke of Savoy who never yet escaped a broil sent twice to him to complain that he being so much his servant he should take any other country for his retreat and to offer him his with protestation of quitting the Soveraign authority to him nay that he would even forsake it to make him absolute Master thereof as also of himself and children to be disposed at his Will and Pleasure These Offers were sufficient to have charmed any Soul had he been at that time so distrustfull as after he was but he rather chose to follow those just reasons which the King had proposed to him and to submit himself to his pleasure All that forraign faction was wonderfully surprised at the news of his accommodation and the Cardinal who stayed his Army from advancing into Italy onely in expectation of his return perswaded his Majesty no longer to defer his resolution that the Spaniards might not make any further progresse The King desired to go in person he being too couragious to entertain himself in a Chamber whiles his Armies were in the field But the Cardinal who foresaw that the unseasonableness of the time might indanger him advised him to stay some time and offered himself to undertake that imployment The King received this Proposition as an assured testimony of his fidelity but such so tender was his affection to him that he could hardly be perswaded to part with him he being as much grieved to consent to his departure from him as he was heretofore joyed for his return as was seen by all the Court at Rochel Privas and Fountainbleau Yet at last his Majesty knowing how important the assisting of Monsieur de Mantua was as also how much the glory of his Armies and Authority were concerned in it could not intrust them with any but the Cardinal who was not onely the chief Minister in his Counsels but also the greatest Commander in his Kingdom He knew in what reputation he was amongst strangers what Courage his presence infused into the Souldiery Of his Prudence he was assured having oftentimes seen his Enemies Plots discovered by him prevented before ever they were ready to be put in execution His good conduct too he could not be ignorant of he having by often experiment found it to be exact and excellent and such as was to be preferred before any other In fine he could not doubt of Victory whilest his Army was incouraged by so brave a Commander These were the reasons which induced his Majesty to give him that command of Generalissimo As soon as he had received his Commission he departed from Paris being about the latter end of the year which his Majesty intended to celebrate by as famous an Act as he began it As great exploits beget emulation so some there were who muttered that such an imployment should be conferred on a Cardinal an Ecclesiastical person but they betrayed their own ignorance who knew not that History affords us divers examples of several Cardinals who at sundry times have commanded Armies Spain in the time of King Alphonsus made use of the grand Cardinal Albornoz who followed him through the midst of the most bloudy Battels Then Ferdinand and Isabella imployed the great Cardinal Ximenes General of their Armies in Affrick Italy hath had many Cardinals out of the families of the Colonni the Vitilesci the Câ—râ—â—ffi the Fregosi who have shewed their valour in Armies that we might know that as the Romans with their long Robes did heretofore Conquer the greatest part of the Universe so that that habit was not inconsistent with Victories Besides the ignorance of those Censurers could not bee excused seeing they knew how that the ancient Laws of this Kingdom do oblige several of our Bishops to follow his Majesty in person to the Wars as also that they are bound to it by the Tenures of their Temporal Estates It is to be seen in Hugon and the Chronicle of St. Dennis in the year 1209. that Philip Augustus being at War with the English called upon all the Bishops to accompany which they did accordingly and afterwards that the Bishops of Orleans and Auxerre seeing the King was not there returned back again they pretending themselves not obliged to it unlesse when the King were there in person The King seized upon their Temporal Estate which they complaining of at Rome could have no other redress but that they ought to obey his Majesty the Pope being unwilling to break the customes of the Kingdom neither were they restored to the enjoyment of their goods untill they had payed their Fines for it In the same manner I have seen an Act of the Bishops of Auxerre dated in the year one thousand two hundred twenty and two by which he confessed himself obliged to send to the War of the Albigeois being unable to go thither in person by reason of his
birth which was every day apparent by her conduct whilest shee had the management of affairs as also because she every day fancied to her self that she did see Forrainers enter into France with their Swords in their hands burning and killing all and turning the State topsie-turvie These Panique fears made her earnestly desire to see the King and because the wayes were difficult for one of her sex to passe she dispatched one to his Majesty beseeching him with all earnestness that she might have the honour to see him The King who took a most particular care to render her all respects and compliances which might be agreeable to her presently departed from the Camp at St. Pierre to give her this satisfaction though for the good of his own affairs and for his health's sake it had been more proper to have deferr'd it to a more seasonable time It cannot be imagined how many artifices the Queen Mother imployed to stay him at Lyons without considering the news which came from the Army how that many of the Souldiers believing the King would not return any more had disbanded the very same time that they perceived his Majesty went from thence and by this means did put the successe of affairs in hazard for that the Companies were diminished to nothing Politique Observation WOmen are capable of ruining the most important affairs in a State if they have but power to execute their passions History is pregnant with examples which verifie the many evils they have caused whilest the Government of Kingdomes hath been in their hands Fear which is natural to their sex takes them off from approving the Wars be they never so just be they never so necessary for the glory and advancement of the State Their Conduct is founded more upon Passion then Judgment and they look not into any Reasons caring not so they may arrive to the end of their designs and not at all reflecting on the consequences which attend it There is not any blast of wind or flames like the Passion of a Woman especially when shee is filled with hatred as the Queen Mother was who would have been very glad to have seen the Cardinal perish in this design and which shee hoped to see if his Majesty did but leave him there alone The Resistance which they find against their wills serves to augment their hear and the very contradition converts their designs and desires into fury whence an Antient very wisely said that Womens Counsel is not to be made use of in Publique affairs but as Medicines to which a man hath recourse in extream necessity and when all other means fail The Queen Mother continueth her anger against the Cardinal THE King had too much knowledge and experience to be moved by all the Instances made to him so that he departed three dayes after to return to St. John de Morienne But the Queen Mother was aggrieved thereat so much the more sensible by how much shee had earnestly desired to stay him neer her And the Lord Keeper who omitted no occasion to exasperate her mind against the Cardinal raised thence great advantages to infuse into her Spirit new resentments of hatred and anger against him The displeasure which he conceived in his particular to see the War was carried directly against the Spaniard whom he had alwayes openly favoured raised up new inventions in his mind to stir up the anger of this great Princesse entertaining her in all those thoughts which might serve to reinflame her The opinion which he had of his own judgment and of his own thoughts which he adored as so many revelations with held him from stooping to the Cardinals prudent conduct Though discretion and the acknowledgment which he was obliged to shew of that high Honour to which he had raised him should have perswaded him that he had strong Reasons importing the good and glory of the Estate which carried him on to continue the War Politique Observation IT is very dangerous for a States-man who hath any share in the Government of affairs under the conduct of the Chief Minister to be too much wedded to his own opinions All the Orbes follow the motion of the Primum Mobile and as we should soon see the World revolve into it's first Chaos if they should clash so can there follow nothing but confusion in Kingdomes when the inferior Ministers would carry on affairs by wayes contrary to those of the Chief He wants Judgment who doth not accomodate himself to the principal Genius which hath the ordering of all affairs and deserves as much blame as Fabius Maximus who almost overthrew the Commonwealth of Rome by opposing himself with too much violence against Scipios expedition into Affrique It is good to conform ones self to the opinion of those who guide the Stern and though it be permitted us to give some Place to our own thoughts neverthelesse it never ought to arrive to that height as to hinder us from following their resolutions or paying them our respects and endeavours It is true the Prudence of a States-man is too remisse who makes himself indifferent to all he ought to resemble a skilful musician who sometimes sets up one string and le ts down the others But however if he depend upon another he is obliged to follow rather his then his own Judgment not forgetting that his degree is inâ—eriour and that in diversity of opinions submission and to know to how to yeild are Marks of a wel-tempered soul and that the most generous spirits are the most universal and the readiest disposed to all that another would have This condiscending not being an effect of debility but of Respect whereas obstinacy and perverseness in maintaining ones opinion is a dangerous sickness of the mind and more proper to Pedants then to persons of affairs The establishment of the * The yearly râ—nt payd by the Officers of Justice to the King Droict Annuel THe care which the Cardinal had of Forraign affairs never took off his thoughts from the concernments within the Kingdome The late King Henry the Great haviâ—g hatched grand designs for the glorâ— of Frâ—nce had occasions for monies and thought it necessary to establish the Droict Annuel Hence he raised great sums but prejudicial to the people because it gave way to all Officers of Justice and of the Treasury to keep the free disposal of their Offices they paying every â—eâ—r a certain Tax to the * A Treasâ—ry â—o calleâ— from the Casualty of the â—ncomes Parties Casuelles and the liberty to continue the Sale of Offices which were introduced since the time of Francis the first who finding himself obliged to make a Vertue of Necessity was constrained to create many Officers which were continued from the time of Henry the second who created the Sieges Presidiaux and many other Officers which have remained even to this present The Cardinal who had no other end in the Honour which the King had done him to continue
Majesty the Enemy would have taken a great advantage of it and that also the Souldiers of whom a great number had been destroyed by the plague would quickly lose their Courage perswading themselves that Montferrat would be abandoned after his departure He was sufficiently informed that the Lord keeper Marillac had such an influence upon the Queen Mothers soul that he had perverted that affection wherewith she had other times honoured him into a mortal hatred and that this old imbroyler whom the Combination had heretofore taught to extract of Quintessence from the very Spirits had no other design then to imploy all his power which such a Mother might have over so good a Son as the King was for to ruin him in the honour of his good opinion and favour and to raise himself if it were possible upon this ruin of his Fortunes even to the highst degree of the Administration However he had testimonies too infallible of the Kings bounty which he could not distrust for that his Majesty was better informed of his faithfulness then any other person whatsoever The same passion which he had for the glory of the King and the good of France which stayed him at the Siege of Rochel whilst the King went to Paris and which carried him to Privas and Languedoc to reduce the rest of the Hugenots Villages into that fidelity and obedience which they owed to his Majesty whilst at the same time he knew that the same Lord keeper and those of his Cabal did then lay the first foundations of his disgrace in the Queen Mothers Spirit made him now resolve to remain in Morienne though full of the Plague to preserve if it were possible the Army in such a condition that they might march to Cazal and to keep up the courage of the Souldiers Politique Observation THE greatest testimony of fidelity which Minister can give is to renounce his own Interests for the glory of his Master One cannot doubt but that he was obliged to hazard his Fortunes for his service seeing that he gave it him but not his blond and life too However as there are no stronger or more natural inclinations then those which carry a man to love that which concerneth him so he could not give more certain proofs of the true passion which he had for his Prince the to prefer the Glory of his Crown of his Power before all the advantages which he hath received from Fortune But as this is the best Touch-stone by which one can judge of the sincerity of his Affections so one is obliged to esteem him so much the more after the shewing of such a proof for this true affection is a rare thing in the Courts of Kings Every one sacrificeth to his own Interests Greatness is honoured with so much esteem that no one but stoops to it and abandoneth all things to attain it Whatever obligation there is to love Kings yet they are the men who have the fewest true friends and if their service bring the least prejudice to any man's Fortunes they will soon find themselves deserted They are ordinarily loved as the Sun with which one is glad to be enlightned so long as his light and influences are favourable but shuts too the Dores and Windows not so much as to see him if his heat as in Summer doth but a little incommodate or trouble one The Marshal de Marillac would not let the Army march out of Champagne toward Italy THE Marshal de Marillac was so far from this kind of fidelity and Passion for the Kings service that on the contrary though his Majesty sent divers expresse commands to him to march with the Army which he commanded in Champagne into Italy he sought out continual delayes that he might excuse it That Ambition which possest his Soul would not permit him to let others partake with him in the charge of General which he had alone to himself in that Province and the great gains which he drew from the Quarters and Souldiers He would have made the whole World believe that the Emperor would make an inroad into France as soon as he should draw off from the Frontiers and after he had sent divers times that he would march the next day he would presently dispatch another post after him to send new excuses but very frivolous for his longer delay The passion which he had for his own Interests hindered him from considerating that besides the obligation which he had to obey the King it had been resolved upon in the Counsel of War to relieve Cazal upon the supposition that the passage was open and in order to those commands which were sent to him and that his defect in following those orders which were given to him did put all affairs into confusion by his perversnesse He reflected not on any thing of all this untill about the 9 or 10 of Aug. though he could very easily as by command he ought have been at Suze the beginning of Jâ—ly So Cazal had infallibly been relieved the beginning of August 20000 Frenchmens lives had been saved who dyed that Autumn in Piedmont and there had been no necessity of making a Cessation at Cazal which nothing but the successe could render excusable Politique Observation THE soul of the ambitious is so charm'd with his own Interests that having no other end then his greatness he cannot resolve to do any thing which may tend to the diminution of it be it never so little This humor is so lofty that he esteems himself unhappy if he have not all and as he doth regard nothing but to render himself considerable he is not only dangerous to be chosen for a friend but to be confided on in the conduct of publique affairs Ambition teacheth him to become disloyal and there are not any Laws which it doth not make slight not excepting those of Religion it self he establisheth the place of his repose upon the highest pitch of Fortune and as he hath heard it reported that all things tend naturally to the Center with violence so he aspires to that with such ardency that he doth not fear to make the very disorders of publique affairs to be the steps by which he will raise himself Whereas a well regulated mind looks after the greatnesses of Fortune only by the wayes of Honor and Merit Artifices of the Lord Keeper and of the Marshal de Marillac his Brother AT last the courage and fidelity of the Cardinal could no longer oppose the violence of the Plague and other diseases which had consumed two thirds of the Souldiers So it was the more needful to raise new forces or rather to form the body of a new Army for that Cazal began to be close prest upon by the Spaniard The Cardinal found his presence was very necessary in France to dispatch such forces over the Hils and to take order for the sending of monies and victuals both which were for the most part raised by his credit All which
they were procured and bestowed upon him as so many just recompences of his services or to ingage him to do others of more importance as the effects of a pure liberallity But after all either these indeavours these cares these services these respects or these submissions could mitigate that sharpnesse which had taken possession of her spirit They wrought for some time so much upon her reason that she kept all fair and seemed not to be displeased but assoon as she was arrived at Paris her Passion revived and to that height that she removed out of her family Madam de Combalâ—t and Monsieur de la Meâ—lleray and in prosecution her passion carried her to commit and act unheard of violences upon the Kings disposition to induce him to destroy this incomparable Minister without whose Prudence France it self had been destroyed Politique Observation AS Women do not ordinarily love men though the most amiable with or by reason the only instinct of their passion making a deeper impression in their souls then the merit or worth of those whom they address themselves to love so there is no reason which is able to root out any hatred which they shall once conceive They easily passe from one extremity to another upon those Wings of Inconstancy which nature hath given them with their births and the changeableness of their humour is easily known by the pride which they take to hate such persons against whom they have once taken any impression and of which there is not any hopes to cure them by any lawfull waies The strongest reasons of truth passe in their opinions for Artifices and the most humble submissions do not at all touch their high minds and the greatest in stances make them the greater Rebels They being of the same humour with fortune who doth ordinarily bestow her favours upon those who least seek after them The constancy of the Cardinal against those who would remove him out of the Kings Favour JT cannot be denied but that the Cardinal was affected with such apparent grief on this occasion as cannot be imagined and as it is not generosity but a poorness of spirit to a shew an insensibleness on such occasions so in the Cardinals face one might see all the lively marks of displeasure It was not the apprehension of losing his fortune that did touch him for he had learnt by a long experience that the greatest happinesse of this life is not confined to the greatest honours and that those who govern an Estate are like the Celestial Bodies which receive much honour from the earth but have no rest at all so that he had most readily renounced all according as he supplicated his Majesty if his Majesty would have thought it fit who too too well knew of what concernment he was to his State It could not be that he did suspect his Majesties goodnesse or constancy to whom hee knew his fidelity was better known then to all the rest of France and of whose affection he had so many daily testimonies that he could not but without great blame have him in any doubt at all But as Innocence cannot without trouble passe for guilty so the vice of ingratitude with which the Queen Mother did strive to sully his glory made it so much the more insupportable by how much lesse he had deserved it He was not to learn that the power of Grandees was potent enough to insinuate into the peoples minds their particular thoughts for infallible truths and that she might in France and to posterity make him passe for an ungratefull servant of those favours which she had conferred upon him It was for this that he could not imagine no more then he Kings loyal servants that after he had given canse to the whole World to admire him the Artifices of some seditious spirits would be able to counterpoise his glory Ingratitude is a deficiency of that acknowledgement which one ought to have for good Offices so that who so confesseth himself to be indebted cannot be accused But surely he cannot be called ingratefull who hath no greater desires then of paying eternal service to those from whom he hath received obligations and who hath no more apparent grief then to see the malice of his enemies able to remove him from the opportunities of so doing But what appearence can there be of casting this infamous quality in his teeth who hath paid all imaginable services to his very enemies onely that he might make ' them Mediators of his Reconciliation which would inable him to imploy the rest of his life to serve her who had obliged him Can he be called ingratefull who would lose the first place of Honour in a State to preserve that which he had formerly possessed in the good opinion of his Benefactâ—ix seeing he could not make a more perfect demonstration of his acknowledgement And now cannot the whole Court bear witnesse that all this was but one part of the care which the Cardinal took to recover some part of the honour of the Queen-Mothers good opinion He whom she made his principle accuser never durst disavow it in his writings But not welâ— knowing how to describe his ingratitude he would fain make him passe for ingratefull because he did not adhere to and follow all the Queen Mothers sentiments in State affairs as if a Minister could with Justice prefer the opinion of such a person as she was before the Kings service And as if the condiscendence which he should make to the Queen Mothers will would not be one of the greatest defects in a person of his Trust It is true that her birth might oblige him to extraordinary services but they never ought to run counter to the fidelity due to his Master which commands him to passe by no occasion of preserving or augmenting his glory He is obliged to know what is due by way of recognition to those who favour him and what is due by Justice to the King his Master and never to prefer the acknowledgement of of particular kindnesses before the Interest of the State which is entrusted to his conduct He would perchance have him pass for ingrateful because he did not discover some important secrets to the Queen-Mother which was only in matters contrary to her opinion as if secrecie were not the soul of counsel as if to reveal a thing were not evidently to obstruct the execution of a Designe The sagest Polititians have said He is the wisest King who after he hath caused divers expedients to be proposed communicates his resolution of what shall be done but only to a few persons Politique Observation HAtred which hath no just foundation is so inconsiderate that it proposeth Chimeras for very plausible nay strong reasons without regarding that they will not be credited but by such spirits as she hath got the possession of when Truth doth not furnish it with solid reasons it attempteth to make pretenses pass for currant lawful causes There are no
but so full of dissimulations of which the Court is the most perfect School that great Princesses can so much the less easily defend themselves from them in regard the most part of those who come neer them do hardly ever tell them any truth at all The Cardinal indeavoureth to restore himself into the Queen-Mothers good Favour AS there never yet was any Soul more gratefull or more respectfull then the Cardinal so it cannot be expressed with what grief he indured the Queen-Mothers anger and to how many submissions he stooped that he might recover her good favour Shortly after St. Martins day she used her very utmost power over the Kings inclinations to destroy him insomuch that she would not indure to see him But he having resolved it to be his greatest Felicity next that of serving his Majesty to render all testimonies of his fidelity and of that great Passion which he had for her Glory pretermitted no invention to get the honour of seeing her Sometimes he would addresse himself to Father Suffren the guide of her Conscience and beg him with signs of extraordinary grief that he would zealously use his utmost power to procure him that satisfaction and to re-estate her mind in her first kindnesses to him which some of her Confidents had now diverted The Good Father did it so much the more readily perceiving that this bitterness of the Queen-Mother did set the whole Court into Factions that it did divide the State raised combinations and fomented parties against the King himself he represented to her that God commanded her to moderate her hatred and to behold him with respect who had done such eminent services for the King her son but it was to little purpose for he could not at all discover any disposition in her tending to follow his advices The Cardinal accepted with much affection those offers of the Cardinal Bagny his Holinesses Nuntio a Prelat not lesse recommendable for the greatnesse of his Soul then that of his dignity to attempt and indeavour with her upon the same score There could not be any thing added to that great care and prudence which he used to allay her Passion at last he obtained this advantage that she condiscended to see him and to promise him she would forget what was past The meeting was at Luxenburg Palace where the King was present But she discovering by her eyes her words and actions that there was nothing but apparencies in her reconcilement he was necessitated to make use of a more potent cause for the obtaining of that which neither the Piety of Father Suffren nor the Quality or Merit of Cardinal Bagny could attain to The King took the pains upon himself to speak to her once and again with great earnestness conjuring her to him whom she was equally obliged to as himself to acknowledge him for her most faithfull Servitor and for a Minister capable of executing several great designs of which he had already laid the ground-work He beseeched her to re-assume her former familiarities with the Cardinals to assist at Councels where of late she would no more appear and his Majesty pressed her so vigorously that she could not deny him which his Majesty had been sensible of two or three several times It is true some have been bold to say that they who nourished her mind with this sharpnesse advised her to stoop in this particular to his Majesties will that he might gain a greater power over his Soul and that she might gain a greater power over his Soul and the she might find out new occasions fit to destroy the Cardinal But for my own part I can never believe that her goodness could credit them in this point I shall only say this much indeed the Passion which she conceived against him was so violent that she could not long forbear so much did his very sight torment her and that in effect this meeting was a recommencing of it The Marshal de Schomberg interposeth THe Marshal de Schomberg whom she had heretofore much honoured with her Counsels being return'd from Piedmont imagined that he might perchance work somewhat upon her mind he resolved accordingly to assault her with all kinds of reasons and so evidently to demonstrate to her the wrong she did her self that he would force her by the consideration of her own interests to give up her self though she would not do it either for the Love or Respect which she owed the King He knew belike that interest was the breach by which all great Personages are taken He beseeched her first to consider the great benefits which she received by his Counsels and that whilest she had followed them she was becom the most glorious Princesse of the World whereas now she was in a maze by having adhered to the advices of hers and his enemies It is true Madam would he sometimes say he ever perswaded you cordially to love the King to have no other then his interests and to be inseparably united with him for that he well knew all your greatness and quiet depended upon it whereas they who now advise you put other imaginations into your Majesties head but she would not yet see to what pitch of extremity they had then brought her He entreated her to open her eyes and to recollect with a difference she found in the effects and made her apprehend and confess that she could wish for nothing which she might not make her self sure of if he did but continue in a strict union with his Majesty and the Cardinal That if she desired any authority from the King he had beseeched her to assist in the Councels only to give her all kind of respects and distinctions and had in a manner divided his power with her That if she desired Gratifications the Cardinal had never been backward to pay them unto her The great zeal which he had to serve her did even transport him to tel her that her separating her self as she did from the King would force the King to withdraw himself from her which if it should so happen she would lose all her power and the people themselves would no longer pay her their usual respects These reasons were so potent and considerable that there was nothing could be alledged against them and the Queen-Mother had accordingly believed them but that some factious spirits about her perswaded her that she should add to her authority and greatness if she could make herself Mistress of this one affair and thus they easily re-inflamed that fire which the other had taken a great deal of pains to extinguish though in never so little a manner In fine she became inflexible and those unworthy miscreants brought her to that passe that she refused his Majesty when he entreated her to pardon the Cardinal which she was so much the more obliged to have done he never having really offended her at all Politique Observation NOthing is more easily effected then to infuse violences into the minds of
great men when they are once perswaded it is necessary for the preservation of their Authority There is not any thing but only power which advanceth them above other men and they are easily led by it to ruine every one whom them conceive to hurt them But above all women are most subject to this fault in regard they are weaker and more wedded to their Passions then men are The natural levity of that Sex makes them passe with little adoe from the extremity of love to that of hatred not being able to keep a medium It is enough to ingage them not to do a thing if you do but earnestly entreat them to do it especially if they be but a little provoked to anger Such entreaties as are made to them when so affected cause them to passe from that of Anger to Fury and when they cannot dis-allow of the thing which is entreated of them yet it is enough to deny it if they love not the person who desires it Rigour hath a greater Empire in their Wills then Submission And they whose Souls seem to be more heightned then others are so much the more to be feared they having more mettle then conduct it is impossible ever to root out of them any jealousies which they have once conceived and their humours are so fixed in suspicions that it is almost impossible to defend ones self from them by lawfull means If the beauty of their countenances give them an almost absolute dominion over the minds of men yet the weakness of their Sex doth subject them under the commands of all and every Passion especially that of hatred from which it is impossible for them to dis engage themselves after they have once given it admittance into their breasts Although I look upon all Queens as exempted from the major part of their qualities by reason of the particular assistance which they receive from God who considereth them as his own Images here beneath yet it is very rare to find any who are not liable to that violence which is inseparable from their Government And this is one of the reasons upon which Aristotle groundeth that saying in hâ—â— Politiques that they are not proper to govern States In regard Clemency is known to be one of their chiefest Pillars It is also most assured that such as are born with a more generous temper then others are the more to be scared for being unable to direct with Prudence they fortifie themselves with rigour and become inflexible towards those of whom they have conceived the least suspicion Monsieur the Kings Brother disapproveth of the Queen-Mothers Intreagues MOnsieur Brother to the King was not ignorant that the Queen-Mother was in the quality of a subject as wel as in that of Mother to his Majesty and that therefore she was bound to obey him in every thing which absolutely concern'd the good of his Kingdom so that he could not approve of her opposing his will and pleasure neither was he backward of testifying his dislike of it to the King The discourse which he made of it did give no little satisfaction to his Majesty who was resolved not to let pass any opportunity which might conduce to the firm establishing of him in his due respects especially seeing Monsieur himself had confirmed him in it by his protesting to the Cardinal that he loved him as a person whom he thought necessary for the good of the State Yet we know that the favourites of great Personages do sometimes pervert their best inclinations and are the common instruments made use of to divert them from their duries therefore the King concluded it very fit to make sure of Coigneux le Sieur de Puy-laurence Monsigot whom Mansieur principally confided in he knew there was no chain which could tie the major part of such people stronglier then good Offices and accordingly he resolved not to wave or let slip any time to advance them and to hold them off from being gained by such as were already ingaged in any Faction His Majesty caused three hundred thousand Livres to be given to Monsieur de Puy-laurence that he might buy the Dutchy of Anville He granted to Coigneux an Office of President au Mortier of the Parliament of Paris with hopes of a Cardinals Cap which his Majesty had also writ for to the Pope Monsignot had fifty thousand Livres for his share and each of them received these gifts with such handsom actions and expressions of thanks that they made a thousand protestations of preserving and continuing their Master in a strict intelligence and obedience to his Majesties will and pleasure Politique Observation IT is very important for a Kings service to make sure of those in whom the Princes of the blood do most confide It is the only means to keep them within compass and they are only able so to dispose them for that they do make such impressions upon their spirits as shall carry them when and where they please to incline them Princes commonly are notwithstanding the greatnesse of their Souls which they receive with their birth more addicted to their pleasures then their affairs whence it happens that they do not give themselves time enough to examine of what qualities any things are or whether fit to be ingaged in or not but remit the particular care of that to those whom they confide in and are contented when things come to be acted if they do but hear them tell them they are good and they had rather suffer some disorders in their houses then lose a quarter of an hours passe-time These are they who share the government with Princes whiles they impose on them the burthen and so divide the honour of commanding thinking on nothing but delights and supposing that as their births hath created them the chief in the State so Fortune cannot but be propitious to them for the obtaining of whatsoever is necessary to give them a continual subsistance It is for this reason it cannot be doubted that it were necessary to keep their Favourites obliged very strongly to the Kings service and to be dependent upon his Majesties will and pleasure that they may be made use of as occasion shall present themselves for the good of the State In Spain none are allowed to the Kings Brothers but such as are belonging to the Kings themselves which are changed too very often lest a long continuance in their service might in time beget too strong a confidence and draw them off from the first ties of their obedience For this reason it is that there ought no great deliberation to be had for the removal of such from them who are experimentally known to ingage them in affairs prejudicial to the good of the State for the great compliance in permitting them a longer continuance neer them will soon produce very dangerous effects Their removal peradventure may seem harsh to Princes but it is better they should be displeased then the whole State be indangered
shall not be able to surmount and though at the very instant a storm be over our heads yet it assureth us that it will not last long but that a calm will soon follow If we are to begin a war it makes us see an Army already in the Field which nothing can resist If any enterprise threaten us with miscarriage it perswadeth us that we shall soon see some alteration in affairs setting before our eyes the examples of many who have been raised out of great misfortunes to greater glories and honours Thus it is this same Hope which fortifieth the most dejected Courages animates the most astonished men with new souls and recruits the resolutions of them who were even languishing Have we not seen it serve for an Anchor to the most miserable to keep them firm in all Tempests when they have been upon the point of being overwhelmed and for a North Pole to guide them to their desired Haven Hope is that which preserveth necessary vigour for the executing of hazardous designs our own Wishes never last so long as Hope doth for we soon disclaim our Designs if we once believe they will not take effect It hath alwaies been known for the Mother of Valour and for a vital Spirit which animateth the heart to great attempts The charms of Hope are very powerful but they are also dangerous and much like the Egg of an Aspick which is very pleasant to look on by reason of that diversity of colours wherewith Nature hath been pleased to paint it but within it is full of deadly poyson of which time brings forth a most venemous serpent For if in Enterprises there be nothing so dangerous as a mis grounded Hope yet the pleasure wherewith it entertains our minds in matters of Revenge is very dear to us and makes us pay high Interest for it It is the miserable man's Treasure and somtimes too it is an addition to his miseries It is not enough that a hope be conformable to our desires but it ought to be laid by when it is grounded upon the assistances of some persons who are easily to be ruined or upon an Insurrection of a people who every day change their resolutions whom a little fear disarms and who this day love him whom but a little before they could not endure at all The King entreats the Queen-Mother to desist from her Intreagues THough the inflexible stubbornness of the Queen-Mother was able to provoke the most patient Courages yet the goodness of the King could not be overcome by it Whilest she was at Compeigne whither she followed his Majesty he still made new attempts to surmount her resistance He was not backward to let her daylie see by his frequent conjuring her and that with a great tenderness of heart which did evidently convince to her that he neither wanted Respect or Affection for her that she would much oblige him if she would but recede from the evil advices of those who lived about her and who only desired a separation between them for their own Hatreds or private Interests He proffered to her to set the Marillacs at liberty if her content depended upon it though otherwise they had deserved to be punished and indeed he valued nothing in respect of her affections He often beseeched her to love the Cardinal for his sake and made her see that she was obliged to it seeing she knew better then any one how beneficial he was to the State and that he had alwaies faithfully served him He was not deficient to let her perceive That the grief which this great Minister had to find himself in her disfavour was a most pregnant testimony of the affection which he had for her service and that he did sufficiently oblige himself to an eternal fidelity by those publike acknowledgements of the Favours which he confessed to have received from her goodness and that all her eagerness against him could not obliterate the remembrance of them and at last that he might pretermit nothing which might move her he caused new perswasions to be made to her by the Sieur de Chasteauneu'f Lord Keeper of the Seal and by the Mareschal de Schombergh that she would be assistant at Counsels and recede from those underhand Intelligences which she might have with Monsieur But they could procure no other answer then that she was weary of medling with affairs and that she would not have any more to do in the Counsels testifying apparently by this answer that positive resolution which she had taken of following the wicked Designs of those who had engaged her so that after all these endeavours the King was only touch'd with uncomfortable grief that he could work no more upon her but his sorrow was accompanyed with this satisfaction that he had omitted nothing which might properly conduce to the obtaining of his Designe Politique Observation AS there is nothing which causeth greater misfortunes in a Kingdom then Divisions of Princes of the Blood so there is no greater care ought to be had then for prevention of such differences Physitians have alwaies hopes of life whilest the noble vital parts are uncorrupted but they once tainted they look for nothing but death and the greatest Politicians have been of opinion that no very great misfortune could happen to a State whilest the Princes of the Blood who are like the vital parts live in that decorum and obedience which is due to the King But on the contrary they begin to fear and distrust if once they see them falling back and dividing Parties into Factions against their King's Authority But more especially because their disorder is attended with confusion at home and gives great advantages to strangers abroad Other heads of Revolts are easily wrought upon by satisfying their own private interests But it is a hard matter to unite those of the same Blood after a defiance shall have once seized on their minds From hence it is that Micipsa in Salust saith the greatest force of a Kingdom doth not so much consist in Arms or in the richnesse of Treasuries as in the good intelligence of the chief Nobles which can neither be subdued by Arms nor corrupted by Monies but especially in the friendship of Brothers whose Blood ought to render their union indissolvable The Kingdom of Cyprus had not been ruined as Justin relateth it but onely by the dissentions of two brothers The whole East had not been subjected to the Roman yoke but by the mis-understandings of those Princes who ruled in those Countries And no other misfortune made way for Pompey to make him Master of Judea then the contention of Hircanus and Aristobulus who in envy of one another pretended to possesse the Crown Philip well knew of what consequence love between brothers was when as beholding the small kindnesse between his sons Porseus and Demetrius he so often commanded them to love one another representing to them that Eumenes and Attalus at the beginning were so small that they were
attempt against the King's Authority Nothing is of greater concern to their Interest than the Publike good and quiet And indeed History doth furnish us with frequent examples of their Removals from Court and being subjected to other punishments when either their own ill deportment or the Publike good hath required it None but Kings themselves are above the Laws and seeing their Majesties both Wifes and Mothers have with the qualities of Queens that of Subjects they are not priviledged from those rewards which are ordained by the Laws Helen wife of Menelaus returning to Sparta upon the ruine of Troy was soon banished for having occasioned so many misfortunes The Emperour Honorius returned Placida back unto Constantinople she being suspected of holding correspondence with his enemies Irene the wife of Constantine the fifth was condemned to perpetual banishment by Nicâ—phorus her Sons Successor Martina wife of the Emperour Heraclius was forced to undergo the like sentence by Decree of the Senate for having put to death her Son in law Constanâ—ine the younger Our own History hath plenty of the like examples Lewis the twelfth removed his Wife from the Court and divorced her upon suspicion of her loyalty Charls the seventh sent his Mother Isabel of Baviers unto Bloys and thence unto Tours to hinder the growth of those wicked contrivances which were hatched by some certain discontented ones under her name he likewise seized on her Jewels and Money by the Constable d' Armagnac and committed her to the guard of three men without whose leave she could not speak with any one whatever in which condition she continued until the Duke of Burgogne came to relieve her The satisfaction of one only person is of so little consideration if compared with the good of many millions committed to the care of a King and for which he must be one day accountable before him who hath only constituted him over them that he might watch for their good There is not any obligation great enough or consideration just enough to excuse a King from preventing the beginning or stopping the progress of any evil which seemeth to threaten his people This Rule is so general that it admits of no exceptions Besides if a King as doubtless he is be obliged to lay down his own life for his Subjects good how much more reason hath he a fortiori to prefer it before any other respect whatever The late Queen Catharina de Medicis said and that with great judgement A King ought to have the same Jealousie of his Authority as a Husband is obliged to have of his wife The chief Leaders of this Cabal secured AT the same time that the King departed from Compeigne and had requested the Queen to pass away some time from the Court there were Orders given out for the securing of the Principal Authors of this Cabal Those Ladies who were interested in it were commanded to withdraw themselves The Marshal d' Bassompierre L' Albe de Foix and Doctor Vautier were sent to the Bastille where they received not any violence at all The Princess de Conty the Dutchess d' Elbaeuf d' Ornano and Desdiquieres were commanded to retire to their own houses The Princes Governours and other Lords then absent from the Court were so fairly dealt withall that there was only course taken that they might hold no further correspondence with the Queen-mother by having an eye upon their actions and telling them that they would force his Majesty to punish them in case they did not surcease their Intreagues and Factions What greater moderation could possibly have been used and what greater Clemency could there have been shewed towards those Factious persons who had sowed discord in his Majesties family held intelligence with strangers attempted to raise civil Wars in the Kingdom who had openly found fault with his Majesties Government traduced his most glorious and just actions and who were come to that passe of insolency that they would compel his Majesty to destroy him whom he cherished as the worthiest instrument of his Glory But had they been continued neer the Queen-mother where they might have gone on in their agitations what would they not have done and to what extremities would they not have been transported Notwithstanding all this she complained aloud that all those in whom she could put any confidence were taken from her and earnest entreaties she made that Vautier might be restored to her as a person whom she pretended necessary for her health which was denied he being one of the prime fire-brands of the whole faction and one who instead of pacifying her Majesties spirit as the Cardinal had but lately obliged him by promising him very great advantages if he did effect it had added fuel to the fire and aggravated the violence of her Passion but that she might not have any just cause to complain she was offered to take her choice of above a hundred Doctors of Physick in and about Paris most of them much more able then him Politique Observation IT is not reasonable to suffer them who are factiously inclined to rove at their own liberty seeing Prisons are only made to restrain them who abuse it against the Publick good In vain have the Laws ordained this means to stop the progress of their malice if they be not put in execution What colour can there be not to confine them who are troublers of the peoples quiet It is hard to secure all who have had their hands in a Faction and indeed it were not peraduenture fit so to do but however the Ring-leaders must and ought to be restrained It is very dangerous to wink at them lest the people apprehend too much mildnesse and besides the favour which is shewed to them and serves onely to give them time so to settle and contrive their designs that afterwards it will be to little purpose to oppose them Mucianus Vitell us was much commended in the daies of old for having commanded his own son to be put to death that he might quench the flames of a War in its Cradle The Duke of Alençon having conspired against Charls the seventh in the yeer 1474 was not onely imprisoned but condemned to death And the Duke of Bourgogne supplicating to obtain favour in his behalf by alledging that he was of the Blood Royal and that his Ancestors had done great services to the Crown was answer'd by the King that as for being of the Blood Royal he was not the lesse worthy of punishment seeing he was the more obliged to have been loyal to it and as for those services which his Predecessors had done they ought not to be regarded in relation to him seeing he had not followed their good example Charls the Fifth not only shortned the liberty but the life too of a Gentleman who had dictated a Letter to those of Gaund in which they intreated Francis the first to assist them against him Philip the second King of Spain stood not in expectation untill
this But without making of comparisons it shall only suffice to say this complaint was ridiculous seeing the Cardinal had at that time only two places which were of any importance and his Kindred as many whereas some great Houses of France had more Besides what cause of Jealousie could there be seeing he was every week twice or thrice at least with his Majesty and still brought with him a surrender of his Offices it being in his Majesties power not only to dispose of his Charges but of his Person likewise He had indeed over and above the Government of Bretagne But how Was it not at the earnest intreaties of those of the Country who considering themselves to be invironed with Ports concluded that he could most effectually establish their Trade by means of his Superintendency upon the Sea which had been much decayed during the late Governours times because of the frequent differences between them and the Admirals of France each of them pretending to command upon the Sea coast That which made these factious exclaim more loud then all the rest was because his Majesty had discharged some Governours from their places and committed them to him But what Was not his Majesties so doing a piece of great Discretion when he foresaw the ruine of the Kingdom by the little obedience of such Governours who having the possession of Towns and Places in their Families a long time together would hardly be perswaded they were beholding unto his Majesty for continuing them unto them but would presently fly out into Rebellion upon the first noise of any insurrection Hereupon his Majesty resolved to punish them according to their deserts and deprived some of them of their Offices and Governments with intent of bestowing them on such persons of whose fidelity he was well assured as upon those of the Cardinals Family who were never seen to intermeddle in any Cabal against his Majesties service and who knowing the honour of his Majesties favour to be the only support of their Fortunes were careful of not being ingaged in such Designs as might make them unworthy of it The advantage which this alteration brought with it was soon after apparent for how would it have been if one had continued Governour of Brest if another had kept his Government of Brouage and if Calais had not been dispossessed of its Commander would they not have served for so many Citadels and Magazins to countenance all Revolts which they designed And what I pray is become of all those places which were entrusted with the Cardinal or his Allies Have they not continued in their Obedience to his Majesty and those who engaged the Queen-Mother and Monsieur in their differences could not dispose of any of them according to their own desires And that indeed was the only and chief motive of their complaints Politique Observation NOthing gives greater tranquility to a State then the disposal of Governments into the hands of such persons whose affection and fidelity are well known unto their Prince The experience which France hath so often had hath been too sad to be forgotten seeing the most part of Civil wars nay of Forraign too had not been broached but by the defect of Governours more solicitous of their own Interests then of their Masters glory and service Few are the Grandees who are not discontented if they have not Governments conferr'd upon them nay if they have not some kind of assured settlement in their Commands that their Authorities may be greater A King therefore is obliged to be the more inquisitive whether with their Gandeur they have loyalty and zeal for his service otherwise it were only to give them the means of combining one with the other to raise Factions and to diminish the Soveraign by advancing their own private power Admit they be discontented 't is without cause for no one hath any right to prescribe a Law to his Prince how he shall chuse such persons as he is pleased to employ in his service It is prudence not to regard such discontents they are inconsiderable when the publike Peace is in question A King cannot distribute his Governments with more discretion then by intrusting them with such persons whose loyalty is impregnable and who he is assured will never interest themselves with any party but his own if any Division should arise Now of whom can he better be assured then of such a Minister of whose fidelity he receives daily testimonies and who when he sees him brings with his Person all the Governments and Charges which have been conferred upon him As for those related to him seeing they absolutely depend upon him and that their Power is as his own dependant upon his Majesties good favour they are equally obliged to be faithful For this reason it is that the greatest Princes have not only not been backward to bestow the chief Governments upon them but have looked upon it as a thing very necessary for their service Touching the distribution of Governments I add That a King is obliged what he may to displace those persons who have enjoyed their Offices any long time unless he be very well assured of their fidelity they are so used to hold them when long continued that the fear of losing them doth oftentimes engage them in some Faction which gives them hopes of a longer continuance Besides when not received by his Majesty but his Predecessors they are the sooner ingaged in a Faction because they think not themselves beholden to him for them Withal in processe of time they get so absolute a Power that somtimes it exceeds their Masters it being usual that long command is accompanyed with pride and insolence Hence it is that in the most politique States their Governments were never but temporary Rome lost her Liberty by continuing her Magistrates too long in their Power and Caesar could never have mastered his own Country but by acquiring too great a Power over the souldiers by his long command The Cardinals Riches not to be envied NExt of all these factious spirits would have the Cardinal 's possessing of his Majesties favours to pass for a great crime although his free humor acquits him to every one from the guilt of covetousness and concludes him to be so naturally generous that he values not all the goods of the world but only in order to the well disposing of them The place which he holds under his Majesty in the State necessitateth him to great expences and without them sure it is that both he and all those who are in the same employment would fall into dis-esteem and that inevitably unless they be accompanied with some splendour and extraordinary magnificence else how should they cause his Majesty to be obeyed Those charges once defrayed the rest he doth employ in good uses to the poor oâ— some actions becoming his virtue and bounty Ought his moderate estate to be envied who hath done so great services for France We have in our times beheld a
Majesties Forces should have free passage through his Country In consideration whereof the Cardinal undertook in his Majesty's behalf to surrender the City and Castle of Bar unto the Duke as also the City and Castle of Saint Mihel Pont-a-Mousson and generally what-ever his Majesty had taken from him to with-draw his Forces from Lorrain and to protect the Person and Estates of the said Duke against all persons without exception The Cardinal perswaded his Majesty to confirm these conditions which could not be well misliked they being advantagious for the glory of France and leaving his Majesty at full liberty to go and chastise them who abusing Monsieurs name had set the Kingdom in an uproar And thus was the Treaty of Liverdun signed upon the 26. day of June This Treaty being thus concluded the King went to Pont-a-Mousson where the Cardinal de Lorrain came to meet him and to give caution for performance of his Brothers promises in order whereunto Stenay was put into the possession of the Sieur de Lambertie Jametts of the Sieur de Plessis who entred with their several Regiments into them and the King surrendred what places he had lately taken in Lorrain From thence the King went to Sechâ—pre whither the Duke came to wait upon him testifying himself to be sorrowful for having given his Majesty any cause of discontent and beseeching him to forget what was pass'd The King receiv'd his Highness with all demonstrations of kindness assuring him he should no more remember what was pass'd and hoping his good conduct for the future would never give him occasion to think of it hereafter The Duke was not backward to make many protestations though he little intended to perform any part of them In conclusion his Majesty returned into France and so to Paris chusing rather to follow the instigations of his goodness then of distrust which he had however cause to return Politique Observation IT is ever more commendable in a Prince to exceed rather in credulity then jealousie especially if it be not to his disadvantage whereas on the other side Distrust is praise-worthy in Treaties with a person not to be credited and where an easie Belief may breed inconveniences It is equally bad to believe no man and to believe every man and as it is prudence not to trust a man whom there is cause to suspect so it is a signe of courage not to fear where there is no cause of distrust It somtimes hapneth that confidence breaketh the courage of an enemy reduceth him to his devoir and forceth him to relinquish his Designs For as distrust doth extreamly much dis-oblige the truest friends so confidence hath such charms that it is able to captivate the most mortal enemies Mens passions are not unconquerable somtimes clemency and bounty may effect more then force and violence A soyl though bad of it self and apt to produce nothing but Thistles and Brambles yet when cultivated and manured with industry may bring forth good grain and spirits though naturally deceitful and false yet may be reformed by reason and generous dealing The Venetians did heretofore shew a notable example hereof when having taken a certain Prince of Mantua prisoner who extreamly much slighted them and had sworn their ruine they not only restored him to Liberty but withal made him General of theâ—r Armies and he finding himself overcome by so great a confidence layed out the utmost of his care and courage to serve them And th'Emperour Augustus by his confidence in Lucius Cinna accused for having designed to murther him so absolutely wrought upon him that he had not afterwards any person more faithful or affectionate to his service Monsieur goeth into Burgogne WE have before declared how the King being just upon his March into Lorrain Monsieur pass'd by with his Forces The sight of his Majesty's Forces hindred him from making any great stay as also from carrying the Duke of Lorrain's Troops along with him which he intended and was a thing very necessary in order to his designs because the business in Languedoc was not yet so forward as was expected From Lorrain he went into Bassigny and quartered at Andelot on the 13 of June where they who abused his favour and made use of his Name published the most seditious Libel that was ever yet heard it was fraught with infinite protestations of doing his Majesty service their usual pretexts who imbroyl the State As if to trouble the whole Kingdom to besiege Towns and Cities to oppress his Subjects to seize on the money belonging to the Exchequer to engage the Nobility in a Revolt were to do his Majesty service and all this expresly against his Majesty's command and inhibition Were not these Protestations a specious veyl wherewith Monsieurs followers endeavoured to hide the impatiency of their spirits when they saw those predictions which foretold the King's death above two years before come to nothing upon which they built all the hopes of their advancements That indeed was the true cause which induced them to spread those libellous calumnies against the Cardinal with such absurd exaggerations that they made them incredible so true it is that slanders of excess and contrary to any probable appearance make but small impressions upon them who are masters but of never so little reason Indeed who could well believe him to be a disturber of the Publike peace an enemy to the King and Royal Family as they published in their Manifest who in fifteen days time procured by his prudent conduct so many glories for France and his Majesty in Lorrain What probability was there to perswade the world that he would make himself Master of the State as they endeavoured to convince unto Monsieur who had used such great industry to cause his return into France when he first left the Kingdom and who never stirred towards Piedmont until his return was certainly concluded And in the end he forced them to dis-own that imputation by his perswading the King to shew him so much clemency and such extraordinary magnificence to oblige him to a second return What reason could they then have to take up Arms upon his accompt They had not any the least just ground for it which is evident to all the world neither were all their slanders able to sully his glory in any particular what-ever But rather on the contrary as Musk and Civet acquire a pleasant and delightful smell amidst the dunghil and Ordure by the same Anti-peristasis that fire is hottest in the coldest of Winter so all their slanders proclaimed against him serv'd only to increase the sweet odour of his Reputation which his Services and Qualities more then humane had acquired unto him That I may say somthing touching his own particular resentment it is most certain his soul was more affected with compassion for France then concern'd for his own Interests amidst all those Thunders which did not much trouble him All the vain attempts of those storms did but redouble his
like to loose him who in the conduct of his Majesties Arms and affairs had established her in the highest point of glory she had ever yet been His Majesty was not only tenderly affected thereat but exceedingly afflicted far otherwise it was with strangers the most ambitious of who were perswaded to beleeve he was dead If they apprehended any joy thereat much more did the factious spirits of the Court begin to lift up their heads perswading themselves this Sun once set they might rise with more lustre and among the rest le Garde des Sceaux de Chasteauneuf instead of bewailing with tears of blood the losse of him who had obtained all that honour for him which he possessed and who had preserved him maugre the malice of his many enemies suffered himself to be so vainly puft up with the hopes of succeeding in his place that he began to act the chief Minister to issue out Orders which concerned him not and to ingage himself in Cabals with such persons who not onely hated Monsieur the Cardinal and passionately wished his death but had evill designs against the State The Cardinal had ever prevented him from ingaging very much among them by the strict hand which he kept over him and by curbing in his vanities but being once got out of his sight he lost himself by setting too forward in affairs and inconsiderately precipitated himself into disgrace by aspiring unto too much honour Politique Observation NOthing is more ordinary with men then to be bewitched to great imployments This was one of the chief reasons that the Ancients painted Fortune blind for few persons there are who can keep a medium in great Offices There are none but eminent genius's who can secure themselves from certain ebullitions which do as it were naturally arise from extraordinary prosperity and do cause most men to fall from favor to ruine Ambition and Vanity do every day ingage those whom Fortune smiles upon in new designs to rise higher and in case they want lawfull ways they refuse none which flatter their Passion when they find themselves most fix'd in their power then do they most despise that of the law and assume the licentiousnesse to advance themselves by any means whatever the higher they are mounted the sooner they forget those who have exalted them and they are industrious to destroy their Benefactors that they may injoy their honours That which is most deplorable is neither age nor time can cure this Court-sicknesse but on the contrary it doth dayly acquire more force and deeper root in ordinary spirits who are the more apt to esteem their own deserts from the time of their experience Hence it is that they can nerver be sufficiently rewarded This is that which hath ever been a maxim with me a gâ—eat rise is commonly the first step to misfortune especially to a man who is not indued with an extraordinary conduct to curb his Passions and preserve his soul in modesty neither did I ever think any man the happier for being in great Offices he hath more trouble for the time to come then satisfaction for the present the superabundant cares the troubles and discontents which accompany him day and night and his insatiable passions which do incessantly solicite him to aspire unto more force him to deny himself the enjoyment of what he hath that he may arrive unto what he hath not Happy is the man who is content with his own condition he is Master of more injoyments and tranquility then those who afflict themselves in their greater pretensions and on the contrary there is no person more unfortunate then him which knoweth not how to bound his desires nor to acknowledge his good fortune ANNO 1633. The Arrival of the Cardinal at Paris after his sicknesse at Languedoc IT is reported that the people of Thule grieved with the Sun 's long absence who for the space of 40 daies leaveth them in an absolute darknesse did heretofore go up to the tops of the Mountains when first they saw the morning Usher him in to welcome his approach with a thousand shouts of joy and offered sacrifices to him It should likewise seem that most men of quality at Court or in Paris the beginning of this year impatient of once more seeing the Cardinal who every one considered as a most propitious star on whose Prudence the King hath often said the happinesse of his State depended would imitate the like actions at his arrival Heaven which is frequently pleased to mingle some evills with the prosperities of this life had sent this grand Minister together with the joys of those happy successes which his Counsels had obtained for his Majesty in Languedoc and Lorrain a very dangerous sicknesse to the great grief of all such who were any whit desirous of the good of France but Passions changing with Objects joy succeeded their grief when it was once known that he was returning indifferent well and the desire which all considerable persons had to see him invited them out to meet him so that they rode from Paris to Roche-Fort a small Village belonging to the Duke de Montbazon where he was to rest before he came to Paris which was covered with Horses and Coaches fâ—ll of Nobility Divers went to meet him as far a Estamps and others to Orleans but who will not be surprized to hear that the King himself was pleased to honour him so far as to visit him at Rochefort and to shew him the testimonies of so particular an affection that nothing could be more visible or obliging Hardly had the Cardinal alighted when the King arrived His Majesty impatient to see him went up into his Chamber by a back-stair which was the nearer way whil'st this grand Minister hearing of his comming went down the great stairs with more diligence then his strength would well bear so that instead of meeting that agility which is natural unto the King caused him to go down again and after some hindrance by the presse of the Nobility they at last met in the Castle Court The Cardinal approaching his Majesty cast himself at his feet but the King presently raising him with one hand imbraced him with the other so tenderly that most of the beholders could not forbear tears of joy each one professing that it was impossible to see testimonies of a more cordial favour from a Master or more respectfull affection from a servant Such were the sentiments both of one and the other that at first they were speechlesse but having recovered the liberty of their tongues the King told him that he received as much joy to see him in so good plight as the enemies of France had at the false report of his death that this testimony of their hatred was a new instigation to augment that esteem he ever had on his services and that he should not recommend any thing with more earnestnesse unto him then the being carefull of his own health The Cardinal answered he
young Prince whose name is fatal to this Crown enjoy more profits then he at four years old we have seen a Treasurer of the Exchequer buy himself out of a disaster by giving the King two millions of Livres which was but a sixth part neither of his estate We have know two Jewellers enrich themselves with between four and five hundred thousand Crowns during the Queen-Mothers Regency Is it not then unjust to complain of those favours which his Majesty hath conferred upon him and wherewith he hath alwaies assisted his Majesty in the wars when the monies of the Exchequer could not be brought in time enough Is he as rich as the Prince of Kemberg the Emperour's Favourite at this day who of a private Gentleman of Styria hath gotten five hundred thousand Crowne per annum in two Provinces which his Master gave him opportunity to effect permitting him likewise â—o gather Contributions from the Imperial and Hans-Towns and causing his expences to be defrayed by his own Officers which could not but exceed an hundred thousand Crowns per annum The most part of the Cardinals Revenues are in Church-livings which are no waies chargeable to the people and ought the lesse to be envied to him in regard he hath deserved them and much more from the Church by his services and that he employs them for the relief of the poor with honour not prodigality in his own Family We shall not find that his moveables would amount to so much as those of the Cardinal d' Amboise did at his death To conclude could his services be rewarded with money his actions have made it apparent he deserves much more His chief end was only to have the glory of serving his Master neither did he regard such low recompences He hath often refused gifts which the King hath proffered him and the greatest care he took for money was to see his Majesties Treasures well ordered when as before they were squandred away in frivolous gifts and superfluous expences little tending to his Majesties glory So that since his coming to the management of affairs there was less expended then before though there was a necessity of maintaining continual Armies both at home and abroad Politique Observation RIches are the least rewards which Kings can bestow upon their Minister for that in themselves they are the least of all other goods Can any one deny Kings to be much indebted to their Ministers seeing they are the most worthy Instruments of their glory and that by their endeavours it is that they effect such exploits as render their memories immortal For how much are such riches beneath such great services They are Fortunes may-games and only useful to pass away the necessities of life most commonly they bring more care then pleasure with them and are equally common with the greatest persons and those who never obliged the State by their services to reward them The Geese of the Capitol were well fed at the expence of the Common-wealth because by their noise they discovered the surprisal which the French intended A Dog that set upon certain sacrilegious men was maintained at the Publike charge An Horse that carried his Master out of danger was for ever freed from labour And shall not a grand Minister after the rendring most signal services to his Master and Country be rewarded with more then common advantages I may add that it is necessary for a great King to confer great benefits upon a Minister whom he hath found faithful and couragious in those things which relate to his service whereby he may give him more authority and power to go through with all sorts of enterprises tending to his glory The greatest genius hath occasion of them to make himself potent in affairs and without them his vigour will be feeble He is compelled to stifle a thousand noble exploits in his thoughts for want of means to bring them forth It is well if he be indued with generous inclinations but if impotency assault him it dis-incourageth him Besides the affairs of the world are so disposed and mans thoughts so fixed that all yeild and give place to riches They may all and do all amongst men and we see them acquire as much credit and authority to their owners whereas they who are destitute of them are inconsiderable To wave these acknowledgements due to Ministers who is ignorant that Royal Majesty attracts no less glory from liberality then justice One of those perfections which render God most worshipful to men is his Bounty that inexhaustible fountain of all good things which like the Sun disperseth his favours like so many rays upon the earth and is as beneficial as active The gifts which Kings bestow carry with them as much credit as profit to the receivers they bind the affections of their servants not by their worth but as so many testimonies of good will the greatest Bond which ties them to their service Liberality in a King is properly termed magnificence they being obliged to do great good and nothing is more beseeming their Majesties then bestowing great gifts The perfection of the work is an assured mark of perfection in the workman whence certain it is that God acquired more glory when he created men and angels the chief workmanship of his hands then when he made other creatures Equally true it is that that which makes the riches of Kings more admired is the establishing of some great Families and our Ancestors did not acquire greater glory of being rich and â—iberal then by the greatnesse of their Favourites Houses which remain as so many monuments of their magnificence Prosecution of the Subject IT is an ancient judicious saying that as Roses grow upon Thorns so truth is ordinarily made to appear amongst the sharpest calumnies for they that find themselves concern'd are compelled to discover it for their own justification so those factious spirits who indeavouring to offend the Cardinal abused the goodnesse of the Queen-mother and Monsieur makes me take notice of those truths which their malice constrains me to publish But as they did not with only two accusations cease from their reproaches we shall have occasion to discover the rest of their falsities They would have the World believe that this eminent Minister of State had so great a dominion over the Kings spirit that his Majesty gave an absolute credit to all he did and was wholly moved by his influences and that all affairs depended on his Empire over him But all Europe knew sufficiently that his Prudence and Generosity equalled his justice and these seditious people seemed like those that shoot against Heaven and see their Arrows fall back again at their feet Nay I am confident they themselves had not that opinion of his Majesty they being in their attendances too near his person to be ignorant how impossible it is to draw him to any resolution without strong and pertinent reason and that Heaven hath so enlightned his spirit that he can discern
the depths of the most great and mysterious affairs But they only publish these things for a pretext of their mutiny by the example of some in the last age at Rouen and Valence O strange fury to render that a weaknesse in the most puissant King of the World which is a true effect of his wisedom when he saw in the Government of his estate that no affair whatever presents it self of which the Cardinal doth not fore-see the end consequences and causes that there is no inconveniency which he doth not remedy no danger which he doth not both prevent and secure that there is no difficulty which he finds not the means to compasse and that he never proposed any enterprise which he did not happily bring to passe Why then should not his Majesty follow his Counsels seeing his spirit is as it were forced by the solidity of his reasons to apprve them Politique Observation AS a King cannot too much confide in a Minister when he is throughly assured of his prudence and fidelity and if himself be of excellent parts he will not scruple it it being an assured signe of judgment to conform a mans actions to the counsel of wise men so he ought to trust him the more cheerfully in affairs of mean consequence when the temper of his genius assures him that he will acquit himself with honour And that is unbeseeming a great Monarch to trouble himself with trivial matters He who is not happy enough to have a Minister thus able is compelled to take the conduct upon his shoulders but surely he is much to be pityed God having not put the Crown upon the Head of Sovereigns to entertain their minds with trivial affairs Tiberius one of the greatest Monarchs that governed the Romane Empire being retired for his greater quiet into the Isle of Cherreâ— writ a Letter to the Senate wherein as Tacitus observeth he complains that he was troubled with all sorts of affairs and gave them to understand that neither Aedile nor Praetor nor Consul should have any access unto him but in matters of great concernment Thus Themistocles one of the greatest Statesmen of of his time said as Plutarch acquaints us that as the Ship of Salavere which may be likened to the Bicentaure of Venice never Launched out into the Sea but for the reception of Princes or some extraordiniry occasion So the Common-wealth of Athens should not make use of him but in high and difficult matters Now as for matters of great consequence it will be his advantage to be directed by his Counsel he having often made appear that his prudence is furnished with most infallible means to bring them to an happy issue The honour which herein he doth him is so far from taking off from his own authority that on the contrary it doth rather raise his greatness and advanceth his affairs to that pitch which himself would most desire for his glory It is dangerous presumption in any Prince to be wilfully bent upon his own judgement such an one is in a Road that leads directly into ruine The necessity of counsel is not to be avoided they ought to remember that God who is solicitous to keep the greatest Monarks within the bounds of modesty and humility hath as well subjected them to the necessity of Counsel as the rest of men unto them The most Prudent are alwaies the most stayed and it is generally agreed that to be wedded to ones own opinion contrary to the sences of great men is an assured mark of want of discretion because every one is blind in his own affairs I may hereunto adde that this stayednesse is a bond which themselves impose upon their own absolute power whereby they are bond which themselves impose upon their own absolute power whereby they are preserved within the limits of their duty not suffering themselves to be transported by the impetuousnesse of their passions Nature hath not formed Princes more then other men so perfect that they should alwaies swim in the right stream and never erre unlesse they have some one who may serve them for a guide The greatest Princes are most subject to be singular in their own opinions they having more authority it being most certain that a great power doth easily transport the mind into licentiousnesse It is my opinion that no greater harm can betide them then to want some person neer them whom they respect and who may have the liberty of advising them as he shall find most expedient whose advice they may follow with a respectfull condiscention Prosecution of the Subject THese Factious persons were not backward to hit the Cardinal in the teeth with the impositions charged upon the people noâ— that he was either the cause of them or that they were excessive but because they knew that this complaint was a fit Trumpet to raise sedition and such as all they who had ever raised any revolts in France had made use of True it is they were charged with some impositions but besides that they were not excessive they were absolutely necessary Never was there yet that time when the people dâ—d not apprehend their burthens to be extream It is a burthen to them to demand part of that for the King which they got not but with pain nor do injoy in any great plenty But it is without cause for that the impositions were necessary and there was not any mis-government in the disposal of the treasures Now that those Impositions so much cried out upon were unavoidable cannot be doubted because those Wars and Designs began after his comming to the Administration In consideration whereof those Charges imposed where absolutely necessary They were ingaged to allay the factious insolency of the Hugonots to succour Allies to suppresse the ambition of the house of Austria who after the invasion of our neighbours would assuredly have made their attempts upon this State This being so who can deny them to have been necessary which admitted the Impositions could be no lesse and I may safely add that those very factious spirits themselves were oftentimes the causes of raising the Taxes by causing more by half to be expended in the Wars of Piedmont by the delays they gave the Troops in detaining them so long besides they forced his Majesty to keep an Army a long time on foot purposely that he might watch and prevent their designs Wars and Taxes do constantly march hand in hand and the same pace poverty serving only to bring an Army into disorder if it be a fault to make the people contribute to the charge it is much more blame-worthy to see a State laid open to their enemies The peoples misery is an incommodity which is soon outworn in a good Country where a good Harvest puts them in statu quo prius but it is not the same in the advantaâ—es which the enemies of France are permitted to have there is need of a sufficient foundation to maintain the charge of the War I assure