Sieur de Bethune once and again dexteriously hinted to him a reason which could admit of no reply which was this That the Valtolines could not with Justice assume the liberty of putting themselves under the domination of any one whoever he were they being born true and natural Subjects to the Grisons and that the King his Master would never give way to it He well knew that to put the Valtoline into the Popes hands would be the same thing as if they were given up to the Spaniard for that the Popes are either by affection or fear more inclined to the Spaniard then to the French But it was very ridiculous to see the Artifices which the Deputies did use to perswade the Sieur de Bethune that the Proposal they had made was for the Kings advantage They several times protested to him that they themselves and all the rest of the Valtoline did bear so great a submission to his Majesties judgment that they would wish for nothing else but onely that his Majesty would pass his word for the Grisons accommodation which if he would they would then do whatever he would command them But in conclusion they added that his Majesty would be pleased with their resolutions of neither submitting themselves to the Grisons or Spaniards Because they evidently knew there would be little security or advantage to the French either in one or t'other of these expedients withall that to oblige them to come under the Grisons were to force them to flie to the Spaniards which if his Majesty should do they must of necessity run to them for assistance for that they could not trust themselves under the Dominion of the Grisons for that there was not any other Prince neer them from whom they might receive a more ready or favourable relief That they would full willingly have desired his Majesty to protect them but that they doubted it would be a means to ingage his Majesty in a perpetual War in their Country against the Spaniard who would never consent to it and that all these considered there could not any other party be found out more proper or fit then the Pope and that France had some reason to accord to it in respect that the Pope shewed himself very favourable to the French Interests The Sieur de Bethune answered them with Civilities nothing inferior to theirs assuring them of the affection which his Majesty did bear to their concerns and obliging them to be confident he would never abandon them and that his Majesty would never consent to any Peace by which they should not have a full and perfect Freedom for the exercise of their Religion But as to the ground-work of the business he discovered to them that in case they could find a means to be assured of this Liberty that then they had no reason to exchange Masters and especially seeing they were not in a condition to dispose of themselves He openly professed to them That his Majesty did not pretend in the least to the Supream Power over them but that his resolution was to preserve them to the Grisons procuring to them full Liberty for the free exercise of their Religion and that he would never consent the business should be ended upon other terms This answer was both resolute and full of Justice but however as Passion takes away the use of Reason so they seemed not to apprehend the reasonableness of it as also they thought good That the Spaniards should cause a second discourse to be writ by a Prelate of Milan in which they indeavoured to clear by several reasons which were willingly assented to by the Pope That the King had no right in the Valtoline to hinder their giving up themselves to the holy See so unjust and unreasonable is the inconsiderate zeal into which men do sometimes suffer themselves to be carried for Religions sake Politique Observation ZEal is a Passion very commendable when it is confined within the limits of knowledge and Charity but without this it passeth onely for an unreasonable fury not a vertue The Apostle would have it accompanied it with these two qualities and judgeth it to be blame worthy if without them Indeed it is like Oyl cast in the Fire it provoketh and raiseth up such heat in their Courages that it hurries them both beyond Reason and Justice That people which knoweth not how the son of God hath commanded to honour all Kings of what Religion soever they be as they who are established by his hand of which himself shewed an example as also his Apostles do animate themselves with an indiscreet zeal for the Interests of Religion if they follow any wayes contrary to them they do easily suffer themselves to be hurried on to shake off the yoke of Obedience to take up Arms to resist them to conspire against their persons to ruine all with Fire and Sword and to over run the whole land with those mis-fortunes which ever attend on Civil Wars This is that which made the learned Origen to say the zeal of God is nothing worth if it be not accompanied with the knowledge of God introducing the Jews for an example who by an inconsiderate zeal for Gods glory made themselves culpable of the most horrible Sacriledge that ever was yet heard of against his Son I shall add onely this that such a zeal is not onely unprofitable for Gods service but also very dangerous and prejudicial to the good of those States and Churches where it is by that heat of it which hurries on to extremities and serves for a Torch to kindle Civil Wars which undermines the Foundations of States and Religion it self and furnisheth them whom it possesseth with pretences for the doing of any thing which Fury it self can be capable of The Hollanders send Deputies to his Majesty to ingage him in a League offensive and defensive against the Spaniard VVHilest the Legate was at Fountain Bleau the Embassadour of Holland came thither upon very different thoughts he onely designing to bring things to a peaceable conclusion but they to ingage the King in an Offensive and Defensive War against the Spaniards and desire him to fall in upon their Countries There had been a Defensive League made with them the fore-going year which was sufficient to entertain all the Spanish Forces in those Countries and to give advantage to the States to make some further progress But as it is troublesom to continue a War any long time without obtaining some Victories they having lately lost the Town of Breda for want of good Conduct made it their earnest desire to the King that he would declare a War against the Spaniards that they might be revenged on them The Embassadour represented to the King and the Cardinal that the States Signiories and Lordships were not the onely places the Spaniards had designed to invade but that France too was comprised in the same design that the attempts which they had made but lately in Germany in the Valtoline
the State into Factions They also proposed to his Majesty to admit into his Council a certain number of Gentlemen to bring them up to do him the more service by the knowledge which they might get in State affairs and in conclusion they gave his Majesty most Prudent Counsel concerning the ordering and decreasing of the taxes for the suppressing of divers useless Officers for the redemption of his Lands which were in Mortgage by paying them in whose hands they were the monies lent upon them or full Interest out of the account of the Revenue to settle an order in the Treasury to prevent all future relapses for the settlement of Commerce both by Sea and Land for the distribution of charges as well millitary as others which have dependance on the Chief Officers of the Crown it being improper that they should be bestowed by any but the King himself And these were the Chief things then brought into debate before them and resolved on So their was a Paper drawn up of those things which they proposed to his Majesty the most part of which appeared so reasonable and judicious that they have ever since served for Maximes and a Rule for the Goverment of the State The Cardinal having put them in practise one after another as fast as ever the Civil warres the Factions at Court and the attempts of the house of Austria upon France and it's Allyes would give way for it Politique Observation HE who would settle a discomposed Kingdom must resolve upon the course whereby to do it with the advice of the States or at least of them who have gotten a great reputation of by experience in Affairs by their qualities and conditions or the great understanding they are Masters of On such an occasion divers have had recourse to an Assembly of States which because they are ordinarily accompanied with confusion by reason of the multitude besides the great expence which they draw on I should think it much more proper to make use of a selected Assembly who are the only persons whose opinions serve for guides to the rest now no one can doubt but that their advices will be very necessary for a State on such an occasion for that those great persons are like so many twinkling starres whose counsels are replenished with so much light that they soon make their Judgments of with is fit to be done to shine forth Not to need Counsel is to be more then man and not to make use of Counsel in affairs of concern is to be lesse then man God is not contented only with overuling the Elementary World and to make it fruitful in all kind of Science by the influences and light of the Sun but he hath imparted some share of his Luster to the other starres and hath asigned so considerable a proportion of work to them that every one reputeth them in part to be the universal causes of all sublunary things so it may safely be said too that God creating a Minister in a Kingdom whose Souls he replenisheth with any extraordinary part of understanding doth not however forbear to bestow some light upon others too though peradventure inferiour both for sufficiency and quality that they may contribute with him to the General good by the particular knowledge which he may infuse into them and by the Counsels wherewith he may inspire them And if their advices may be of use in a Kingdom they cannot be lesse advantageous unto a Minister on such an occasion in which the angring of divers persons cannot possibly be avoided There never yet was any reformation for the publique good but many particular private persons were angred at it They who Judg of all things by their own private Interest are ever discontented and conceive no little ill will against that Minister who is guided only by his own will and direction Whereas if it were done by those whose wisdom is esteemed and whose Prudence is respected it would silence all men and make that sweet and easie which else would be bitter and insupportable It is very dangerous it for a Minister to undertake great enterprises upon his own head only For good successe is not inherent in any man seeing all are subject to Deficiencies in Actions and inconstancy withall it is not to be doubted but that the greatest part judging of things by the event would charge him home with blame if any misfortune should happen How many great men who promised themselves high matters have seen the successe fall contrary to their expectations and have been exposed to the disgraces of their King and People for their ill successe which might have been secured too had they but proposed their designs and taken good advice upon them in a Counsel of the most considerable Grandees in the State Hee who attempts nothing without good advice secures himself from any ill accident whatever Tiberius thought in no derogation from his honour to acquaint the Senate with every affair though never so little considerable Anthony the Debonair never took any thing in hand either in Peace or War which he did not first communicate to several wise men protesting that it was more reasonable to accommodate his opinion to their advices then to oblige them to follow his Will The Sieur de Baradas removed from Court ABout this time was Baradas removed from the Court a person who had been much in favour with the King He had been the first Gentleman of his Chamber and chief Querry of his Majesties little Stable And as great favours puff up the mind and destroy the judgement of many if not qualified with a great underâ—â—anding he did so much forget himself that he would oftentimes make himself Master of the Kings Will and interpose in matters of concernment in which he had neither ability or authority His Majesty was much grieved at it being a Prince who did not delight to see that they whom he favoured should abuse themselves and be defective in that respect which is due unto him but it one day fell out that he being too importunate to perswade his Majesty to bestow a very great place upon a certain Kinsman of his who must of necessity be dayly attending upon his Majesty being a person too whom his Majesty did mislike his Majesty resolved to deprive him not onely of his Offices or Charge which he held neer his person but of that extraordinary familiarity wherewith he had formerly honoured him and accordingly commanded him to retire to his employment in little Bourbon of chief Querry an Office of no small advantage But as nothing is so displeasing to Favourites as to find themselves cast off he was so transported by it that he suffered himself to be deprived by despair of that little judgement which he had There need no other indiscretion be alledged but that one thing which he did in his Majesties Chamber when the Governour of Souvre came in thither whom he supposed one of the causers of his
served to set off with advantage the wonders of his Conduct and he hath ever dispelled from us all those Tempests of Mis-fortunes which have threatned France He hath the Honour to be Son to a Father to whom a thousand ill strious acts have acquired the quality of Great And I think it may be said with truth if Fortune dâ—id set limits to Philips Conquests that there might be some subjects for his Son Alexander to shew his courage on Heaven did also set bounds to the glory of that grand Prince in suppressing civil wars that our Lews the Just might have occasion to triumph over Heresie and curb in the Ambition of the house of Austria In prosecution of these two designs he began to overcome as soon as ever he knew how to mount on Horse-back That he replanted the Standard of the Cross in Bearn that he disarmed Heresie over all the Kingdom that he hath so often made the Spaniard and King of Hungary to let go their Holds and that he forced them to relinquish the design which they had so long projected of universal Monarchy Heaven seems to have made a Bargain with him that he should overthrow whatever resisted him that his actions should be as so many miracles and that his reign should be full as happy in the obedience and love of his Subjects as illustrious by his victories and triumphs Which being so how can we pass by so many glorious Actions without publishing his Wisdome and Generosity were not that not onely to deny to his Valour the praise it justly vindicates but even to deprive Posterity of an example whereby it might learn what no books of Policy can teach It is not fit to publish the secrets of a Prince but it is just to declare his vertues And if the first be forbid by the Laws of Secrecy the acknowledgement which is due to their merit and the zeal of the Publick good obligeth us to the secoâ—d This is the principal reason which hath invited me to publish the glory of his reign and I would condemn my Pen to perpetual silence if it had been mute on this occasion so necessary will it be to those who shall govern France in future Ages to follow those footsteps which he hath left behind him I confess I am not able to find words equal to the greatness of his Actions but I had rather want words then acknowledgements for my King and affection for my Country but I shall nevertheless hope to acquit my self so much the more fortunately as the heroick Actions of great Princes have often rendred those eloquent who have undertook to write them A Prince who would signalize himself by an extraordinary conduct ought to chuse Ministers who are sufficiently able to assist him with their counsels and to put them in execution For the better choosing of whom I think it convenient to observe with T. Livy that there are three sorts of them The first Eminent who are able to govern all by their own discretions and who have a Prudence vigorous enough to advise of themselves whatsoever is necessary for Government without being beholding to others who see all penetrate into all judge of all and whose Genius is strong enough to bear up the weight of the greatest affairs The second may be called Indifferent who have not sufficiency enough to judge of all things or to execute them but have a good capacity to apprehend the judgements of others in their Counsel and so to govern affairs by their directions that they are often times successefull in the greatest enterprizes The third and last have so little Judgement that they are neither able to manage affairs by their own or the advices of others whence it happens that they are apt to commit very deplorable faults and to put all things into Confusion Of the first rank ought a Prince to choose his ministers if he would design any great attempts or carry them on to a good success If he himself too be of this number they will bring wonders to passe if he be not he hath so much the more need to have persons of this temper neer him For God who hath naturally subjected little things to great seems to have given Letters Pattents to eminent spirits to govern if not by their Authority at least by their Counsels the rest of Mankind It is a dangerous fault to choose Ministers at a venture and for that reason Aristotle blamed the Athenians who chused their Magistrates by Lot it being absolutely necessary to elect them by Prudence and still to prefer the most capable The Proverb saith Ex quolibet ligno non fit Mercurius a Sowes Ear wil not make a Silk-Purse and true it is that not all are proper for all affairs Men must be fitted to their Commissions least they not having abilities proportionable do not onely ruine the most glorious designs but withall make them end in great mis-fortunes If men have never atchieved any thing greater then States and Empires surely they cannot do any thing more glorious then to govern them well and since Causes ought to be proportioned to effects it is necessary to imploy great Persons in great places That sight which should pierce into the remotest Objects should be the sharpest That Arm which should throw furthest ought to be strongest that light which should shine in many places ought to be liveliest and generally all causes which should have most force in their operation should have most vigour in then power Which being so ought not the understanding of a Minister to be quicker then that of others seeing be is to dive into truths His Memory ought it not to be stronger seeing it ought to preserve more Species ought not his Soul to be more capable seeing it ought to be more Universal ought not his Wisdome to be greater since he must comprehend more reason and ought not his Prudence to be more perspicacious seeing he is obliged to provide for the greatest and most important affairs An ordinary capacity of mind is sufficient for the guiding of a private life but he who hath the charge of governing a State ought to surpass all others in the strength of his Genius God who is the first reason and mover of Nature may be his example in this kind and of necessity who so doth serve next under him in the Administration of a Kingdome ought to be indued with a more vigorous wisdome then others that he may be as the understanding Soul in a civil Society and a guider of all others motions by his own Councels Not to follow this rule were to put all into confusion and disorder and one of the greatest vanities which is under the Sun saith the Spirit of God in the Scriptures is To place Fools upon the Tribunal and to leave Wise men standing upon the ground It were to set a Sailor to the Helm and the Pilot to the Oar it were to commit the guidance of the Primum mobile to the
exactly observed that it was impossible any more to abuse the Kings Monies as formerly they had done so that the Treasury was not only acquitted of those advances which had been made but was afterwards filled with such great sums that France had never seen the like Politique Observation THe King who designs great matters and wants store of monies to execute them doth onely attempt vain enterprizes The most part of Politicians have alwaies been of opinion that the Riches of a Prince are the Nerves of War because as it is impossible for a man to go or stand without Sinews so it cannot be expected that an Army should subsist or that Souldiers should do their duties if there be not good store of monies to pay them and to provide all necessaries for them There is not onely Machiavel who denieth this Position against the Authority of Dion Quintus Curtius Vegetius Cicero and Plutarch who is of opinion that money is not a Nerve in War But besides that the Judgement of these great Sages of Antiquity is at least as considerable as his opinion So I find not that those reasons of his are solid enough to overthrow so commonly received a maxime I must confess with him that War may sometimes have a good successe though the Souldiers be but ill payed because the Authority of a grand Commander and their own Courages may very much animate them but as that doth but seldome happen so there cannot be any certain conclusion deduced from it There is hereof a notable example in the Battel of Pavy where the Imperialists despairing to perswade their Army to fight by reason they were so ill paid the Marquesse of Pescaire took the resolution on himself to exhort them and infused such mettle into them that they went on with great Courage and got a great honour over the French But that Prince who would deduce an absolute Rule from this example or any of the like nature and shall follow them in his Conduct shall onely prepare himself for his own Confusion and Ruine Experience having made it evident on a thousand occasions that it is unreasonable to hope for a happy success in matters of War though never so inconsiderable without great practice I know that it is not money onely which conduceth to the carrying on of great exploits but that good Souldiers are also necessary an experienced old Commander courteous generous able in Counsels quick in executions beloved by the Souldiers and indued with several other qualifications necessary for command But besides all this though a General and Souldiers should be thus accomplished yet unlesse there be good sums of monies nothing can be really attempted For how can a Prince without this satisfie several Souldiers and Commanders How can he without this make his preparations of Victuals Provisions Ammunitions Artilleries and other things which cannot be had without great expences And in case his Forces shal be cut off or destroyed how can he make Recruits or new Levies Charles the eighth having great occasions for Souldiers to raise the Siege of Navar sent the Bayliff of Dion to raise it but having no money he could procure no Souldiers In the mean while the King accorded with the Florentines for the restitution of Pisa and several other Towns in Hostage by which means he received great store of monies of which he sent a small part into Swizzerland and the Bayliff who onely demanded ten thousand men brought twenty thousand with him The Assembly of the Clergy for the Condemnation of certain Libels sent abroad by the Spanish Ambition ALL the rest of the year at least after May the Bishops and Clergy of France were assembled at Paris The chief intent of this meeting was for the renuing of that contract which they made every tenth year with the King for the payment of those Rents which are imposed upon them But this was not the onely worthy imployment which entertained them the affection which they alwaies had for the King would not let them give way to the permitting those infamous Books abortives of the Spanish Ambition which had been sent into France There need no more then onely to read them and it would soon be apparent that they were full of seditious Doctrine That they were published onely with design to diminish the Kings Authority to detract from his Majesties glory to raise Wars amongst strangers to stir up the people to sedition and to kindle a flame of War in France The Contents of them were replenished with a thousand specious pretences of Religion These generous Prelates soon discovered their designs and made it apparent that they were like Apothecaries or Mountebanks Boxes which are marked on the outside with the title of some healing Medicine but have within nothing but what is very dangerous and hurtfull They condemed the Authors of them as enemies to the publick quiet and seducers of the people to sedition putting them in mind that God had commanded them to honour Kings as Lieutenants of his power and required them to be in a straight obedience by shewing honour and respect to his designs and Justice whom God had placed over them for the good and happiness of France and not contented with having thus verbally expressed their affections to his Majesty they testified their zeal and fidelity to him by granting him six hundred thousand Crowns upon the Churches of France as a contribution toward the Wars in which the State was ingaged as also to preserve Religion in its splendour and to maintain the glory of the Crown It cannot be denyed but that many poor low spirits grumbled at it who considering but one of those ends for which Lands were given to Churches began to oppose it as if the Church which is part of the State were not bound to contribute to the good of those Corporations of which they were members and as if the publique necessities were not more considerable than the private profits of some particular people who often employ their Revenues to bad uses Politique Observation KIngs may lawfully compel Eccleasiastiques upon an important occasion to contribute to them some part of their Revenues for the maintenance of the State seeing the goods of the Church are upon such necessities in the same condition with those of others They are not exempted from ordinary contributions either by the Son of God or his Apostles for when as they lived on the earth the Church had not any immovable Goods and it is from the favours of Emperours and Kings that she hath since obtained that priviledge it was never granted to her but only that they might be employed on the publique extraordinary necessities of the State They are only tyed by Religion not to exact it though they may by absolute authority force it for if they might not make use of the Churches Goods in a case of urgency their Soveraign power would be of little worth And Soveraigns not compelling them in this harsh manner doe so much
his presence as his predecessours had used to do who have ordinarily deposited their power into the hands of this assembly as being the chief of the Kingdome and that to which they have alwayes given most power and authority with intent that the people might the more readily give obedience to them Now this Parliament consisting of a great multitude which cannot be without many diversities of opinion some of them made Remonstrances to his Majesty upon several of the Articles presented to them and beseeched his Majesty would grant them time to consider of them The Lord keeper in his lofty humour thinking nothing like his own judgment was offended with them who would contradict what he had resolved on and believing he had another Egerian Nymph which would not let him conclude on any thing but what was conformable to the will of Heaven he perswaded his Majesty with his utmost power not to grant them the time they desired for deliberating on the Articles proposed to them But his Majesty who knew that the greatest Monarques ought to accompany their Authority with Meekness as well as Justice granted them their desires of six month's time to consider of them and to draw up their Remonstrances which however were to be referr'd to his Majesties disposition and judgment Politique Observation AMongst the many and sundry powers which are in the Persons of our Kings as so many Glorious Rayes which encompasse their Majesty Justice is one and one of the greatest Suster The Scepter which they carry in their hand is an Index of it and seems to say that their will is the Rule by which their subjects must be govern'd whence a Lawyer defining Law confoundeth it with the will of the Prince declared to his subjects It is true they hold Justice in their left hands that they may remember their Commands ought alwayes to be accompanied with Equity But besides all this they are not bound to give an accompt to any one It is onely God from whom they receive t heir Scepter and it is to him only that they are to be accomptable for the Reason of those Laws which they establish Their power is high and so absolute that there is no refusing of what they ordaine and indeed their Laws are of force and power not so much because they are Just as because they are by them commanded However Prudence obligeth them to be advised by their Parliaments whensoever they would make any Laws or Ordinances This was the ancient form as History observeth when any General Ordinances were to be established and this is it which maketh the people receive them with the more submission and willingness for nothing is so acceptable to them as that which carrieth the least shew of absolute Soveraignty and besides Kings do no lesse Rule their people by Prudence then Power Now this Prudence requireth that nothing ought to be acted but by the deliberation of those who are to give a Credit to it for the observation and obedience which is expected to be payd unto it All our Kings have allowed their Parliaments to make Remonstrances and give their opinions as occasion should require Indeed they have alwayes done it with great submission and respect as being a thing without the limits of their power Sâ—lomon the wisest of Kings saith It is a folly to play the Wise man before a Kings presence in the seventh of Ecclesiastes and Quintus Curtius did much extol Ephestion that giving his opinion or Judgment before Alexander he alwayes did it with such great respect that every one who beheld him might know he did not speak as his due but as an Honour permitted to him and no more Some Kings it must be acknowledged are not thus absolute but are dependant either upon their States or people and the reason is because they first accepted of the Crown upon such and such conditions But the thing is not so with ours they are onely accomptable to God for what they do and do acknowledge no other Superior in any thing which relateth to their Temporal Government as St. Gregory said of our French Kings they are saith he as Eminently above other Kings of the Earth as they are above inferiour men The King before he goeth into Piedmont findeth the Hugonots in Languedoc ready to rise he compelleth them to lay down their Armes and to declare in form before his Parliaments and Judges that they will live in all duties and obedience hereafter ONE thing more remained to be considered before his Majesties Journy into Italy which was this The Hugonots in Languedoc could not resolve to live in that absolute submission which they owed unto his Majesty notwithstanding they saw the proud Walls of Rochel thrown down before their faces which might have served them for a sight of fear and confusion His Majesty was advised of what assistance they had demanded from Spain England Holland and other places That several of those Town 's accorded to them for their security were resolved to revolt and resist his Majesties Armes if he should attempt to ruine those Walls which were the Protectors of their Insolent Rebellions Whereupon the Cardinal perswaded his Majesty that it was obsolutely necessary to reduce those places to their obedience and his own mercy before he passed into Piedmon as also to make a Declaration importing an express Command to all Heretiques who either were or had been in actual Rebellion against his Majesty that they should lay down their Armes return to their duties and make Declarations of their future obedience in ample manner and form before his Parliaments or the Judges Presidiaux dwelling next unto them and that all Towns should send their deputies to make protestations of their fidelity promising them on the word of a King that upon their so doing they should quietly enjoy their goods and the Liberty of their pretended Religion but protesting that if they should refuse so to do and continue in their obstinacy and Rebellion without regard had unto his grace and mercy that he would then proceed to punish them as for de crimine laesae Majestatis from the greatest to the lowest ordaining and requiring that their goods and persons should be proceeded against accordingly and in the utmost rigour of his said Declaration His Majesty caused his said Declaration to be read in Parliament himself being present which put a stop to all the Hugonots affairs until after the taking of Suze Politique Observation HAppy is that Kingdome whose people live under one Law and the same Religion for the least Diversity which is in either of those two parts breedeth unfortunate disorders in the whole If any should be so unhappy as to fall under either of those Afflictions they may learn how to remedy it by this Declaration of his Majesty which produced most admirable effects in hindring the progresse of the present Rebellion It cannot be denied but that Kings have an absolute power to compell their subjects who are Heretiques
to forsake their false and turn unto the true Religion and in case they become obstinate to punish them by the Ax. Heresie is a Crime laesae Majestatis Diviâ—ae and as Heaven hath endued them with no lesse Authority to punish those offences committed against God then those against their own persons so it cannot be doubted that they have an absolute and Just power to punish Heresie with all the severity that it deserveth But however discreet Princes have alwayes used much moderation in this particular because they ever conceived violent means were proper in the first growth and when it might quickly destroy Heresie without any likelihood of its springing up again but that being once spread abroad and increased Rigors and Severities would more fix and confirm it besides the confusions and disorders which would follow in the State by such cruelties and punishments It should seem that for the confirmation of this their judgment the Son of God prohibited his Disciples from picking out the Tares from the wheat which grew together in the field and were hard to be divided it being most certain that it is full as difficult nay no lesse impossible to exterminate Heresie when multiplyed without great confusion even to the State where it is and some trouble to the true Church it self But granting all this to be so yet the Laws of Prudence do not allow of at least whilst a Prince may avoid it that he should grant them any Towns or Places for the excercise of their Heresie for that were to divide his Kingdome to nourish an Enemy in his bosome to foment a Rebellion against himself and to furnish them with arms and means to cut his own throat It is also to give advantage unto strangers who are still fishing in troubled States and hindreth a Prince from assisting his Allyes when their necessities and his own Interests invite him to it and in fine it were to expose himself the true Church and Professors of true Religion unto a thousand affronts and tyrannies That Prince who allows them but weapons submits himself to greater troubles the he is aware of but he who employeth his power to destroy them doth an Act not onely of Religion and Generosity but also of great Prudence and discretion The Kings departure on the fifteenth of January in the year one thousand six hundred twenty and nine towards Piedmont THe same day that his Majesty went to the Pallace to publish his Declaration Ordinances and to cause the Power which he had comitted to the Queen his Mother to be read he likewise departed out of Paris towards Cazal But I may not passe by the observation of a singular act of Prudence in his Majesty who had already advanced the most part of his Forces to Auvergne under the command of Monsieur de Thoyras immediately after the taking of Rochel that be might every day draw them neerer and neerer to the place where he intended to make use of them insomuch that he lost not one hours time upon which he knew the successe of affairs did often depend His Majesty desired to go by the way of Bourgogne and Champagne as well to avoid the sickness which was very hot upon the Road of Lion as also because he had not as yet passed by the Towns of Troyes Dion or Chaal us Where he made his entrance with great Splendour and Magnificence shewing the people by this what respect they were obliged to shew unto him Politick Observation WIse Polititians have not thought it proper for a King to let himself be often seen by the subjects yet they have all concluded it fit that he should visit at least once the principal Cities of his Kingdome This gives them an acquaintance of the people whom they are to governe and the magnificence with which they are accompanied makes impressions of obedience in the thoughts of their subjects Which magnificence doth so much the more contribute to beget respect because the people are often guided by their own sences and Kings ought not to neglect occasions of making themselves reverenced and esteemed The Sun is venerable in our eyes by reason of his lustre and Splendor and with the vulgar nothing doth breed so great a reverence towards the persons of their Princes as the pomp where with they are accompanied whence it comes to passe that many have been of opinion that a King ought not to make himself be feared yet none ever thought but he was obliged to use all means to beget a respect and obedience toward him Humility is a virtue which in this particular is to be dispenced with because the meanuess of his train or reception could diminish the respects of his people and for this reason it is that God hath obliged them to enforce that honour which is due unto them and to maintain themselves in a State correspondent to their Majesty in reference whereunto the wisest Kings would not permit any to approach near their persons but with great respects and seldome would appear in publick but when with great attendance The ancient Kings of the Persians Medes and Judians required their subjects to salute them prostrate on the ground Amongst those of China they are adored like Gods others are served upon the knee and suffer themselves to be seen but seldome and then with great Ceremony too and men do the more readily reverence them in regard God Almighty hath stamped his image upon them for their greater honour and that there is still something in their face that speaks them more than humane The Duke of Lorrain comes to visit the King before his departure and promiseth after his return to come and do him homage for the Dutchy of Bar. WHiles the King was at Chaalous the Duke of Lorrain came thither to wait upon him hoping that by his bare complements civilities he might satisfy his Majesty without doing homage for the Dutchy of Bar which was in his possession by the death of his predecessour The King had often called upon him to do his homage knowing that as God had put the crown upon his head so he was by it obliged no lesse to preserve the Authority which he had given him over stranger Princes then over his own subjects The Duke refused it not but pretended that the Dutchy of Bar belonged to him in chief as also that of Lorrain by virtue of a certain Salique Law which had been likewise confirmed by those of his Family and was yet to be seen amongst his old Record and thereupon would do homage in his own name and not in his wifs to whom really it belonged The King who could not endure injustice would not permit that the Dutchess his wife who had put the Ducal Coronet upon his head should be so dealt with but resolved that either shee should do the homage or he in her name Upon this account it was that he came to assure his Majesty he would suddenly after his return acquit himself of the
of necessity He is more apprehensive of the discredit to loose an occasion of glory then of the mis-fortune and is alwayes more careful to preserve his honour than his life his courage fortifies him and makes him confident of the means dictated by his prudence he doth not fight rashly with his eyes shut as the Andabates or precipitate himself into dangers without looking what is necessary to secure himself but guiding his courage by reason he takes such Order as is fit and needful and then engageth without fear There is no courage so commendable as that which is accompanied with prudence and when the heat of Anger exciteth an obligation to repel al obstacles his reason ought to serve him in examining his designs his prudence to make choise of those means which are most likely to obtain an happy successe and his Anger to make him quick in action Last of all he delay not the exposing himself to combates where his prudence tell him there is not any danger but knowing that fortune is the friend of courage and doth often favour the bold he assaults his enemies as soon as ever his prudence hath given Orders for the fight he carrieth deeply engraved in his heart that saying of Salust They who are most fearful run most hazards and sure it is confidence is a rampart and every thing gives way to him who fals in with courage as every thing repelleth him who is carried away with cowardize To apprehend resistance is to be half overcome and he who scornes danger is half master of his enterprise Valour is very needful for the obtaining of an happy successe in all afâ—airs Fire is the noblest of all the Elements because it worketh quickest and nothing resisteth it and that man is most to be commended for his courage who acteth the most boldly and whom no dangers are able to affright It is also true that resoluteness doth oftentimes bring a good issue where prudence and counsel had no part whence it 〈◊〉 appears that in many affairs of war long deliberation is unnecessary and often prejudical in the successe of attempts besides the diminishing of his honour who conducteth them Something must be ventured and where there is no clear demonstration of a good successe there a good resolution seconded with judgment will go far which once concluded on then comes action into play and the sword to execute The Prince of Piedmont comes to Suze with full power from the Duke of Savoy to Treat with the King PResently after this victory the King sent to summon the Governour of the Fort Jaillon belonging to the Duke of Savoy bordering upon Suze to surrender he refused it but not long after fled with 300 men into the mountains and left the Fort to the Country people who left it to the King who put â—00 Soldiers in guard there At the same time his Majesty caused some forces to march to Roussillon a league and half from Suze being in all about an 1000 foot and 2000 Horse under the Command of the Marshals de Creiquy and Bassompierre who were saluted by those in the Cittadel of Suze with about 1000 musket and 200 great shot but no hurt onely the wounding of about a dozen men This insolency of theirs made his Majesty resolve to assault the Cittadel and for that purpose the Regiment Estissac was drawn out upon the top of Mount Brunet which adjoyneth to it In the mean while hearing that the Duke of Savoy began to repent his being engaged with the Spaniards and opposing of the French fearing belike and that not without good reason that his State would be seized on as a punishment of his rashness his Majesty sent the Sieur de Seneterre towards him to understand with he did intend to do and to let him know that if he would hearken to an accomodation that his Majesty out of his natural goodness and in consideration of Madam his Sister would forget what was past without making any other advantage of his victories onely for the assisting of his design to raise the siege of Cazal he expected to be assured of the passages for the conveyance of victuals to his Army and to be furnished with all things to revictual it paying for what he had The Duke thought himself very happy to be quiet upon such slender terms and presently dispatched the Prince de Piedmont towards the Cardinal to make the Treaty inpowering him to give his Majesty all content The Prince came to Suze and the same day it was concluded with Monsieur the Cardinal that the Duke of Savoy should give free passage through his Country to the Kings Army that he should furnish the markets both to Cazal and back again that he should contribute to the revictualling of Cazal by furnishing victuals and munition of war for which his Majesty should pay him withal that in future he should open such passages as the King should desire and should set out as many Soldiers for the securing of Montferrat if need were as his Majesty should think fit that for the better assurance of his promise his highness should presently deliver the Cittadel de Suze a the Fort de Gelasse into his Majesties hands and shortly after things being thus concluded he came to salute his Majesty and rendred him all kinds of respect Politique Observation NOthing is so requisite in a Prince as to attempt all things with Justice and such as are within his power without this he will inevitably fall into confusion and see himself exposed to as much shame as he proposed glory Imprudence is the spring of ill successe and rashness throws a Prince into the Gulph of confusion it inforceth the courages of those who have more heat than judgment charming them with a certain show of glory for which it makes them hope but indeed onely to engage them in greater disasters True generosity consisteth not in a blind impetuous rage which adventures upon all without considering the power or weighing the design by the Laws of prudence but it follows a medium between defect and excess Holding the head too high doth oftentimes throw down into praecipices and the want of prudence is no lesse dangerous for it oftentimes obligeth to discover not onely a deficiency of power but also of heart That Prince is greatly to be blamed who falls upon a King incomparably more powerful than himself and who pretends with an handful of men to oppose that which at last he will be forced to grant It is no shame for necessity to take the Law of one that is more powerful but if power prevail the who is forced to it is discredited with interest besides in passages how strait or difficult soever they be he cannot be able to defend himself from the danger which is falling on him unless he be very strong seeing that enemy who comes to assault him with a great Army will at last force him although they loose some men in the gaining it Commonly there
for whilest they who are possessed with it indeavour to execute their wills upon persons in power upon the least resistance they she out into extremities and by force attempt to repel force but who are more prone to revenge then women their natural fearfulnesse doth the more easily ingage them because they attribute the most part of their faults unto some neglect or dis-esteem They have not wit enough to dissemble those many defects which are in them though it were most for their advantage especially in such miscarriages as happen more by their weaknesse then malice Their Soul is offended at the least touch whereas great personages ought to know that it is more glorious to pardon then to punish Briefly the irresolution which they discover in all their actions and which they cannot for their lives hide is the cause of a thousand disorders especially when any one ingageth to follow their advices and directions now they counsel one thing and by and by another then they know not what to resolve and the least difficulty they meet with maketh them change a thousand times over Not but that they have a reasonable Soul as well as the greatest Princes that have governed on the earth but are as it is said of the Flowers of Aegypt alwaies soaked with the vapours of Nile which being grosse and earthy are the cause that they do not yeeld such fragrant smels as those in other Countries just so their Souls being troubled with a thousand Passions which proceed from their weaknesse and violence are unable to produce such generous Counsels as those of men who are endued with a stronger and more vigorous constitution I could alledge several other reasons but I shall content my self with that saying of God himself speaking by the mouth of Isaiah the Prophet The Government of women saith he is one of those afflictions wherewith heaven punisheth Mankind and that other amongst the Verses of the Sybils A Womans Reign shall be esteemed as the overthrow of the whole world Prosecution of the Subject THE King both Prudent and Just would not condemn Monsieur where he was not guilty and yet that he might give some satisfaction to the Queen Mother and not diminish the Authority which he had committed to her in his absence by a dis-owning of her he resolved on a â—edium which was this he sent the Comte de Noient unto Monsieur then at Orleans to tell him that his Majesty would be very much pleased if he would send unto the Queen Mother to beseech her to let the Princesse be freed from the Boys de Vincennes and at the same time he writ to the Queen Mother that she had done discreetly to hinder Monsieurs marriage for which he thanked her and assured her he could not willingly consent to it Whilest she was against it onely he desired her to deliver the Princesse from the Boys de Vincennes in case Monsieur should desire it of her This was as respectfull and satisfactory as the Queen Mother could have desired for the King did not condemn her proceedings but seemed to beleeve her information that Monsieur would have married the Princesse Maria without his Majesties permission and did moreover so confirm her Authority that he would not of himself order the Princesses being set at liberty but referred it to her whole dssposalâ— and desired she would rather not do it unlesse at Monsieurs intreaty Yet notwithstanding all this those who got the Mastry over her soul were become so dexterous in putting into her such thoughts and motions as were proper for their own interests and designs onely that they perswaded her this answer of his Majesty was a disguisement and not ample enough to justifie her Procedure and that it was in some kind a disowning of her They who were the craftiest amongst them durst not openly as yet accuse Monsieur the Cardinal unto her or â—ot contributing his utmost power in the procuring her a full satisfaction in this businesse lest they should have split themselves upon that Râ—ck which they designed for his destruction but they insinuated unto the Queen Mother that it had not been much amisse if the Cardinal had perswaded his Majesty to send the Princesse Mari out of France without any more ado because now Morsiâ—ur might still watch his opportunity and marry her By this they knew that no Logick could so soon learn the deducing of consequences as that of a Womans choiler and ambition which can quickly do it without teaching and thus it cannot be imagined what and how many contrivances and devices they made use of to incense her against the Cardinal who in the mean while imployed his utmost both of Prudence and Justice to hide the violence of her Proceedings Politique Observation VVHen it happeneth as oftentimes it doth that Ministers are to redresse the disorders committed by Grandees who are persons tenderly to be dealt withal they ought to follow the example of the wise Pilot who though the Wind be contrary yet he so ordereth his Sails by turning and winding too and fro that he neverthelesse goeth on in his voyage It is with them as with Mettals the noblest are the most flexible and if they want discretion and addresse to bend and comply when occasion is they will be sure to meet with enemies who will stick upon their skirts If there be any Ulcer in their minds they must never open it with Iron unlesse there be first of all some soft cotten tied about it though in a case of extremity I must confesse they are bound to make use of fire and Rasors to cut and burn out that which corrodeth within them or grateth without them Great freedom of speaking the naked truth is not proper in a Court or amongst Grandees with whom all kinds of devices and Artifices are to be used for the disguising of it nay some disguise it how you will do not willingly love to hear it The respect which is paid unto them in this kind is not so much a bare complaisance or simple submission as an effect of a good judgement which knoweth that their discontent doth often raise great broils in the State which by this means are prevented because it keepeth them from anger and allayeth any of their heats and emotions When Ministers are as oftentimes it happeneth to treat with Women who are persons of quality and concernment in affairs they ought to remember there is no way to satisfie them but by doing whatever they desire good or bad their Souls being uncapable of bearing a denial how just and reasonable soever when as they are once bent upon it wherefore it is not safe to discommend their Proceedings unlesse they have a mind to have their eyes scratched out But at last Prudence doth oblige them to do that which is fittest and most proper to be done so that having once done that which is just and reasonable they ought to sit still and leave the rest to Gods Providence who is
infirmity and another injunction made to the Bayliffs in the year thirteen hundred and four commanding all Prelates and Ecclesiasticks who were bound to attend his Majesties service that they should be ready to wait on his person These examples may serve to demonstrate that Prelates have heretofore been accustomed to serve our Kings so that there cannot be any just exceptions made against their following of his Majesty in Arms. Politique Observation THe General of an Army being the second person of a Kingdom had need be indued with all the qualities necessary to the King himself but those which do most contribute to his glory and the good successe of the Armies under his command are Prudence Courage and Reputation Prudence is like the eye which beholds those things that are proper to be done and what is fit to be commanded Courage is that which executeth them and Reputation is like the soul in couragious Battels which gives motion to the Souldiers with so extraordinary a generosity that it is easie to know when they are commanded by a General in whom they have a confidence Prudence is necessary for him to deliberate with judgment what is sound and fit and to command them to good purpose which teacheth him to keep his Army in good order which acquainteth him with the humour and disposition not onely of those Officers who command under him but likewise of his Souldiers that he may the more readily know how to command them upon his designs which teacheth him the observation of military Laws which helpeth him to foresee and prevent great dangers which gives him means to judge of Treaties and make advantages of them as occasion shall happen which furnisheth him with resolution to prosecute his designs with courage of mind to bear mis-fortunes and with moderation in good successe These are some of those effects of that Prudence which is requisite in a General I could add a thousand other subjects in which it is needfull but for the present I shall onely say in general terms that Prudence ought to be the rule by which he squareth all his actions Thus did the Egyptians acknowledge it for an inseparable companion of command whiles they represented it by an eye placed over a Scepter If a General have need of Prudence surely Courage is no lesse necessary for him that he may break through all obstacles which may happen for the assaulting of his enemies with rigour that he may adventure upon dangers without fear that himself may be in the fights and that in his own person he may lead up his forces to infuse the greater resolutions in them It is not that he should rashly run into dangers but to look them in the face and to send others on without apprehension of fear It is an errour in young men who think that a General cannot be couragious unlesse he run madly into dangers that were rather fury and would procure him the discredit of being rash rather then the honour of being couragious If he had an heart without judgement to what purpose were it He being the Soul of War and others lives depending on his he is bound to preserve himself for the preservation of others Not that he ought to be absent when orders are to be given or his Souldiers incouraged but that he ought not to run headlong into the heat of the Battel unlesse when he finds the Victory wavering and that his example is requisite to renew the courage of his Souldiers and to carry the day by some extraordinary attempt In such occasions he may adventure himself else not His staffe of command being to force others on and the Sword in the Souldiers hand to execute his commands Lastly Reputation is requisite in a General for without it the Souldiers have not any confidence in him whereas when they once esteem him it intitles him to a greater power over them then any other thing when they shall have oftentimes seen him break through dangers they will not flinch at any thing The Sun his vigour maketh all things the more fruitfull and it is most certain that the reputation of a General is that which makes him more resplendant amongst his forces and adds a great life to his commands The Souldier moves but by halfs under a low spirited Commander and is hardly perswaded to any extraordinary enterprises He seems onely to have Arms for his own defence but when his Commander is a person of reputation it is far otherwise I am of the same judgement with him who said Opinion hath so great an Empire that it governs the whole world at least it is so far true for that virtue her self would have but small authority in commanding without being beholding to her Thus an ancient and that wisely held that the happinesse of successe was the daughter of authority and of the reputation of great men The End of the First Book THE HISTORY OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE Cardinal de Richelieu Second Part. Anno 1630. IF Antiquity hath made Afrique to passe for one of the most wonderfull Countries of the World because it every day produceth something which is both new and Monstrous I am most confident that this years History will enforce the judgments of those who shall consider it to confesse that Europe runs the same Parallel and the extraordinary diversity which is here met with is ground enough for it seeing every Sun brings to light somewhat which is not common and seems to give a new face to all State affairs Bellona sets all parts on fire with the flames of War Peace endeavoured which all it's might to extinguish it in Italy Honour and disgrace breed strange effects Ingratitude will cause us to behold such Monsters that the Age to come will want faith to believe the qualities of them Love and hatred will a like strenuously act their parts The Stars of Heaven in their malignities one against t'other seem to conspire the ruin of Nations and Armies In a word there is not any one thing which a man may call strang or unheard of but I find acted to the life in this years compasse not to say in Europe but even in France it self If should seem that Heaven which cannot justly be more admired at for any thing then that of its various twinking lights the Stars is sometimes delighted to shew us an extraordinary diversity in Negotiations of States and partly to afford those who govern fit opportunities to testifie their Prudence to the World The Divine wisdom permits their Splendor to be somtime Eclipsed with thick clouds which are soon after dissipated and blown over to make their light appear the more glorious Such is the condition both of Kingdoms and particular men that they are both equally subject to the changes of Fortune But as the wise and prudent Pilot saves and keeps his vessel in the greatest and most violent storm not losing his judgment either at the flashes of lightning or the claps of Thunder which
prudence or intelligence to discover and detect him nor force and power to punish and chastise him Prepositions of Peace made by the Nuntio Pauzirolo on the Duke of Savoy's behalf to the Cardinal Richelieu ONe other device the Duke had by which he verily imagined to surprise and allay the Vigilance Prudence of the Cardinal incausing his troops to advance together with the Artillery and Ammunition which was to send him every day new Propositions of Peace sometimes by the Nuntio Pauzirolâ— who had no power to conclude any thing otherwhiles by Mazarini another Lord of his Court but never consenting to the Kings demands without which he knew his Overtures would never be admitted The King was positively desirous to have the Passages free and open for him to succour the Duke of Mantua as often as need should require and the Duke of Savoy as peremptorily denied it alledging that the Emperour never would consent that the Princes of Italy should undertake his Protection with and against the whole world and that the Spaniard never would give way that he should entertain any French Troops in his service which were however very needfull for the surety of his Estate it being impossible for him to raise a sufficient party in his own Dukedom The Cardinal long before had sounded the vanity of all these propositions which did no way prevent his care of giving all necessary Orders for the carrying on of the War never would he stop his ears to any Proposals of Peace but used his utmost indeavours to obtain such conditions as without them the King neither would or could with his honour quit his Arms. And indeed had a Peace been concluded without such terms it had been but of a short continuance for that it had onely given opportunity of time to the Spaniard and the Duke of Savoy to fortifie the Passages and render themselves Masters of the Dukedom of Mantua with the greater ease a design which France could not brook though the hindrance and prevention of it was at that time most difficult to bring to passe Politique Observation MOst certain it is that by how much a War maketh a State to be lamented by so much Peace is to be wished for and imbraced Peace is the most sweet bond of humane society the delight of nature the nurse of good Laws of Order and Policy it peopleth Desarts and maketh the Land fruitfull every one finds it the more agreeable by its being accompanied with safety and aboundance On the other side War is a fatal source of mis-fortunes the desolation of Countries the demolition of Cities the destruction of Nations and the cause of all sorts of miseries There are I must confesse two Occurrences in which War is better then Peace The first when that Peace cannot long last for who can imagine that a man would take any great care to obtain that which he doth verily conclude will be as soon lost Such was Archidanus his advice when he disswaded the Lacedemonians from making a Peace with those of Thâ—bes in Isocrates opinion wise Princes make a War for the procuring of more certain and established Peace to their estates and Countries and they indure without regret the troubles of a War that they may the longer enjoy the Tranquilities of a Peace and most certain it is that the Arms which are in the hands of a wise Prince do much contribute to ferment and fix it Besides the most wise men have ever preferred War before Peace on all such occasions where no accommodation could be made but to the prejudice of the Kings honour or estate Peace is not to be wished for but upon honourable conditions not onely because the Glory of a Prince is to be preferred before all things but because without this he hath but a slender assurance of any thing it being apparent that whosoever doth patch up a Peace with any confusion or disorder will quickly be the first that shall break it to recover his lost honour and reputation As you may find in T. Livius the Carthaginians did after the ratification of the Treaty upon the first War with the Romans The Revictualling of Cazal AFter all this jugling the Cardinal was forced to break with the Duke of Savoy but his Courage was still governed by his Prudence though he did not beleeve that the Kings enemies would accept of those very conditions of Peace which themselves proposed Now the reason why he would not so soon break off the Treaty was because he would cast the blame on them and their party and that the Kings Army might appear with more Justice on its side who had prosecuted their desires or Peace so long as they might with their Honours endeavour the obtaining of it moreover that by this means he might pierce into their designs as also to revictual Cazal which he could not have done should he have fallen out with the Duke as soon as there was an occasion offered for it For though the Duke had not force enough to carry away the Victory from the Kings Army he had however sufficient to hinder the transport of any releef to Cazal without which the Souldiers there could never have endured the Siege and for which Spinola had began his preparations and to skirmish with them in Piedmont and there to hold him play untill his enemies had began the Siege and fortified themselves in their Trenches which would be in a short time impregnable As soon as Cazal was thus victualled and that he was not able to procure an honourable Peace his Zeal and Courage for his Majesty was not then longer able to break the insolencies of his enemies which till then his Prudence and discretion caused him to passe by and take no notice of at all Politique Observation IT is not alwaies fit to break off a Treaty of Peace as soon as one dispairs of concluding it But I think it very expedient and a matter of great concernment to prolong it as long as honourably one may provided he get any advantage by it And as Salust in his Oration of Philippus against Lepidus hath well observed a man ought principally to have a care that in Treaties he do not testifie his desires of Peace with too great an Ardour or Affection because that were an assured sign of fear and weaknesse the knowledge of which gives a considerable advantage to ones enemies Though in a Treaty of a Peace a Prince reap no other benefit then this one to wit the sending abroad with more liberty his intelligences into his enemies Quarters under pretence of Conferences there to find out his enemies designs yet the advantage were not despicable In this Overture the Cardinal was not behind hand with them in any of these particulars for there passed not any day in which he did not send to visit the Duke of Savoy by persons both of great quality and judgement well knowing that men so qualified are capable in their negotiations not onely of knowing
which doth hinder the observation of it The King sends an Embassadour to the Diet of Ratisbonne THe Cardinal knew it full well when he proposed to the King to send the Sieur de Lyon to the Diet at Ratisbonne where the Treaty was concluded And on the contrary he knew that in great affairs something must be hazarded and that this Negotiation would alwaies serve to discover the Emperours designs as well as many others the Princes of Germany who desired protection from his Majesties Arms. That if a Treaty were made which were impossible to execute it would however serve for an induction to make a better because it prepared their minds and did hinder the advancing of such Troops as the Emperour was sending into Italy Politique Observation A Prudent Minister never proposeth one only end in his Actions but imitating as much as in him lieth the series of the Divine Prouidence aspires to many things at the same time that he may not do any thing which is vain or to no purpose His Eye is not alwaies fixt where his mind is so though he be not sure of effecting what he saith yet he is still ready to execute what he thinks He is acquainted with all the Turnings which lead to the Conclusion of his Designe and with all Trap-doors to carry him to his wished for end without giving to the world any just cause but of esteem and admiration This being one of the sublimest points of prudent Policy by which he never goes less then his Word It is true this kind of Prudence is not proper but for a grand Genius and such as are of extraordinary fine and subtile spirits But who so is endued therewith may well vaunt that he hath an assured means to prevent several inconveniences and to give a happy issue to divers affairs without which it were impossible to accomplish either the one or th' other After all he ought to be vigilant and careful that his Prudence be accompanied with Fidelity that he may be exempt from all blame and that will render his conduct as it were Invincible and will acquire him more respect then without so that no one being able to penetrate into the moity of his Designes they will however trace him in many places where he is not but will never find him in any where he is not prepared to defend himself The French Army Embattel in view of Cazal THis being resolved the Marshal of Scomberg whose turn it was to command the Army advanced with all diligence and on Octob. 26. came within sight of Cazal He plac'd them in Battalia on th' other side the Brook Gattola and after publike Prayers which are usually made on such occasions marched directly against the Enemy whom they found intrench'd in a circumvallation of six miles about and well finished but which served only to augment the glory of the French Army Politique Observation THe King had observed in the Beginning of the War with Savoy notwithstanding the fair Proposals of Peace which Mazarini had made that it is great Prudence in a General though to hearken to them yet not to forbear the carrying on of the War and to shew all sort of Couragiousness and Hardship following herein the counsel of Archidamus in Isocrates who ever made most honourable conditions by this means As it is Action which sets off an Orator and makes him more powerful to perswadeâ— as Demosthenes answered one who question'd him concerning the perfection of Eloquence so it is Action too which doth most powerfully perswade an Enemy to make a Peace It is not reasonable for a General to lie still without action any long time together the only time to do is after a Parley and such action it is which acquires him the glory of being esteemed Valiant The only shewing of a good mind to be in Action and putting an Army into Battalia doth strike fear into an Enemy He ought in a long Treaty to shew that his Courage maketh him despise any danger and as he proposeth nothing but to vanquish so he feareth nothing but not to overcome He ought not to have any apprehensions of the Inconstancies of Fortune but to hope that his Courage may enforce her to be favourable It is good that his Prudence should carry him to take time for deliberation but that done his Courage ought to furnish him with wings to advance his designe with the greatest celerity and promptness seeing he shall never have any good progress who spends too much time in considering of hazards and that many have oftentimes turn'd their affairs by taking too much time for Consultations It is an act of Judgement to begin with coldness but to prosecute with heat and ardour when things are once brought to the point of being put in execution The fearful are most ordinarily overcome War is a thing which acquires Glory from the most difficult enterprises and those Battels wherein the greatest dangers are do render a man the more honourable Cardinal Mazarini accomodateth the Affairs of Cazal with dexterity between the King and the Spaniard AS soon as ever the Army approached within six hundred paces of the Spanish Trenches Mazarini came galloping out and finding the Marshal de Schomberg told him that the Spaniards had accepted of certain Propositions which he had made to them and that he doubted not but he would likewise consent to them for the good of the Peace They were to surrender the Town and Castle of Cazal which were depositated in their custody They were to march out of Montferrat but instead of delivering them into Monsieur du Maynes hands to whom they might have surrendred them until his Father had receiv'd the Investiture of the Dutchy they would deposite them with an Imperial Commissary who should transmit them over to Monsieur du Mayne or to such as he should appoint on November 23. upon which day the Investiture was promised They consented for the greater security of the Treaty that the Imperial Commissary should carry none but his own Train into Cazal and that he should not meddle with any thing but only to give the Word The Propositions were taken into deliberation by the Marshals de la Force de Schomberg and de Marillac who considering that the King designed nothing more then the re-establishment of Monsieur de Mantua in his Estates and the setling the Peace of Italy did consent to them seeing they had the advantage to make them first lay down their Arms who had first taken them up An advantage which is no little one as Thucydides testifieth in his History In prosecution whereof they prevented the Army from advancing and breaking in upon the Trenches though it were with great difficulty the Courage of the French not being able to endure that the Spaniards should make theâ—â— take the pains to come so far and not give them a memento Soon after the Spaniards marched out of the Town and Castle the French out of the Cittadel and the
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
from Rome unsatisfied They might easily have obtained as heretofore thundring Excommunications against France and have exposed the Kingdom to ruine had Gregory the Fourteenth been yet alive but we do not now live in those times The Masque of Religion wherewith the House of Austria use to cover their designs is now taken off and the Cardinal who knoweth of what concernment it is for States to hold Rome in friendship was not backward both for the good of the Church and this Kingdom to inform his Holinesse of the design contrived by the House of Austria for the over-running of Italy and bringing the Holy Sea into such subjection that themselves might overaw the Censures Decrees and Excommunications of the Church so the Pope convinced of the truth hereof was not possibly to be surprized but blamed the German Princes for exposing their States to such miseries in behalf of the ambitious design of the House of Austria and on the contrary commended his Majesty for his readinesse and willingnesse to protect the Church and those very Princes in case they would recede from their wicked designs That Catholick Princes ought to hold good correspondence with Rome IT was not without great reason what Antonio Peres once told the late Henry the Great viz. that the French being unmatchable for courage would undoubtedly conquer the whole earth if to their natural valour the favour of Rome the mastery of the Sea and a fix'd Council of able Statesmen were adjoyned These three things make a Prince truly great And the course of affairs now leadeth me to discourse of one of them viz of the necessity of holding a fair correspondence with the Roman Sea which I may well say is necessary partly for the avoiding of those evils which may happen by want thereof and partly for the inducing the people by its approbation to admit of the many and several undertakings in a State The Empire of Souls is both great and tickleth if it were only in relation of those Anathemas which may be darted out against Princes One of the most conspicuous church-lights said and that with great judgement that the Thunders of the Church are to be feared how unjust soever and indeed so they are because the execrations of Christ Jesus Vicar are of great efficacy before God who holdeth the Government of Kingdomes in his hands and also because of the terrours they strike into the people who concluding a Prince reproved by God as soon as by the Holy Sea do not only lose their respect due to such rulers but even run into disobedience and insurrection Did not those Thunders in the times of the late League kindle the flames which did long consume this Kingdom what was it which brought Navar into the Spaniards hands but the imbroils between Lewis the Twelfth and Julius the Second Now if a good intelligence with the Sea of Rome is security from such like misfortunes it is no lesse an advantage to a State in regard of its approbation of a Soveraigns enterprizes This is it which holdeth the people in quiet which maketh them think the yoak of obedience to be easie which preserveth the love of their Prince in their minds and which rendreth contributions imposed by necessity the more supportable and in general it may be said that there is not any thing how bad soever which they will distast if approved by the Holy Sea so great a respect doth Religion produce in the minds of men King Numa had no better invention to make his actions received by the people of Rome then by telling them he did nothing but by the Counsel of the Nymph Egeria who communicated the Will of the Gods unto him No one is ignorant of the repute which the South-sayers had with the people of Rome in perswading them to approve of their Consuls and Emperours designs and undertakings Could then any more likely way be invented both to justifie their undertakings and incourage their Souldiers then by telling them the Gods approved of them Neither can it be doubted but the Pope's approbation is an effectual way to perswade people to like their Princes designs to live in quiet and to be well satisfied with the Government under which they live But how much then are the Popes obliged to be favourable towards France which hath ever been their Refuge their Asylum their Prop and Protection Besides their Interests are the same with ours seeing the French use not such under-hand shuffling as the Spaniards and are far enough from such ambitious designs as the House of Austria who are still contriving to oppress the Liberties of the Church to subjugate the holy See and to over-awe its Decrees whereas the French endeavour only to preserve every one in his own Right and to be contented with a good Pope an honest and stout man who will not suffer himself to be surprized by their Enemies but shew himself a common Father to all without procuring any ditriment to one by the suggestion of another The Cardinal endeth a difference between the Bishops and Friers NOt long after the Kings return from Lorrain the Cardinal undertook to compose a difference between the Bishops and Friers which had made a great noise for sundry ages together The Friers relying upon their priviledges obtained from the holy See pretended to have power both to Preach and Confess without permission from the Bishops and the Bishops unto whom all people within their Diocess are subject by common right did perpetually thwart that pretension They could not down with the Friers Priviledges alledging they ought to be declared void as being oppugnant to the primitive constitutions of the Church which ought to be preserved in the same model for the continuation thereof in its pristine splendour This quarrel had been especially fomented during the last year by reason some Books had been published in the name of the English Catholiques which preferr'd the Monastical life before that of the Prelats and seemed to imply that Friers were more necessary at least more useful to the Church then the ordinary Pastors To say the Truth these Propositions were bold and without offence to any one may safely be termed rash and inconsiderate But that likelyhood was there of composing these differences Was it probable that the whole Society of Friers would relinquish the priviledges they had obtained from the holy See On the other side What reason was there that the Prelats should have so little authority over them in Administration of Sacraments and the Word of God seeing in the Primitive times Friers were only mix'd amongst the Laity and addressed themselves unto the Bishops Congregations to receive the Sacraments from their hands or those who executed their charge No one but the Cardinal could give an end to these differences there being not a man who durst so much as make a a Proposal whereby each party might receive satisfaction neither did he wave the trouble but willingly took it upon himself though he was
and indeed he had discharged himself with such courage and integrity that neither the noise of greatnesse nor the sight of riches could ever so blind or affright him as to surpize him His Majesty most certainly could not intrust his Seals in any honester hand then his The great Revenues he possessed rendred him incapable of that corruption which is annexed unto a necessitous fortune yet this happy incapacity conjoined with such virtue made him so much the more proper for that office in regard no one would dare to tempt him with money who abounded both in riches and vertue If his integrity made him immoveable in point of Justice the solidity and penetrating vivacity of his spirit secured him from all possibility of a surprise these two qualities permitting him to incline to no part but that of truth Disguisements and Artifices could never form any Clouds thick enough to hide any thing from his judgement Oftentimes hath he been seen to disguise darknesses and obscurities in the discoveries of great offences Withall the Sciences which he hath acquired in an high degree had added no smal perfection to the natural endowments of his mind for that his family were both learned and honest When age had first given him the use of Reason his kindred had taught him that Sciences give much lustre to a man of Eminence that they not only draw him from a stupid and savage life but refine him furbish him and make him capable of all things more sweet more civil more courteous more venerable and more worthy of honour and in fine when he came to a riper age whereas common spirits satisfie themselves with learning some one Science conformable to their inclinations he dived into the secrets of all and became very accomplished in them there being nothing so high which passed his capacity He had penetrated into the difficultest questions of Philosophy and Divinity the Law was his usual employment the Mathematicks his diversions with History he was familiar eloquence was natural to him for before he had learned the rules of it his discourses were so replenished with the strength of reason with the purity of words the sweetnesse and elegance of expression that his language was bewitching These things were not a little considerable in the election of a Garde de Seaux who being his Majesties mouth to express his intentions in all great Assemblies is bound to speak royally that is in terms becomming the Majesty of his Master I will not say any thing of his Piety though that be so much the more considerable in a Statesman as it is the foundation of a Kingdomes happinesse because it is a subject too large for me to ingage in my discourse of his merit being by accident nor will I trouble my self to give you a description of the experience he had gotten in the Offices of a Councellour a Master of Requests Judge in divers Provinces and President au Mortier his conduct and reputation have sufficiently made it known only this these things concentring in him seemed as it were to conspire to force his Majesty to chuse him Minister of his Justice I shall adde that if his Soul was replenished with all these qualities necessary in a great man the King well saw the graces had indued his body with all that could render him lovely or acquire him respect and authority He was alwaies gravely modest his discourse serious his conversation agreeable and profitable his patience in all affairs and all pleadings invincible the complaisance wherewith he answered was truly admirable yet such that he could never be won to abate from Justice or his Majesties service There need no more to love him but only to see him the charms of his words rendred that severity which Justice obliged him sometimes to use so taking that none could be offended at it I would adde more if the Laws of his Majesties History would permit me though in some sort it were not to desist from his Majesty's commendation seeing there is not any thing which doth more apparently denote his Majesties wisedom then the virtues and eminent qualities of his Ministers his noblest creatures Qualities necessary for a Chancellor and Lord Keeper SEeing the Chancellor and the Lord Keeper who holdeth the place of Chancellor executeth that change and ought to succeed him as the chief Officer of the Crown the eyes of his Majesties Justice the Depositories of his Seals the Ministers of his Councels the Organs by which his Majesty useth to declare his intentions and pronounce his judgements doubtless he ought to be eminently qualified with all those parts which may render a man signally remarkable It matters not much whether the Potters who work altogether in clay be dextrous because whatever he spoils is of small value but otherwise it is with men who are in the chief Offices of a State none of their faults are little and their actions are of consequence and for this reason ought they to bee replenished with all sort of perfections France hath ever had as other States certain families supporters of its glory who have served like Pillars to uphold its greatness and seem to have been destined by Heaven to preserve the beauty of its Flower de luces the puissance of its Kings and the glory of its Crown against the injuries of time A chief Minister of the Kingdom when descended from such an house hath a notable advantage by it seeing his very name carries and Hereditary credit with it which Plaineth out the way to all great actions at least I think it fit that his vertue should be authorised by the Nobility of his blood seeing his illustrious birth will acquire him such an opinion as an upstart how prudent or vertuous soever will hardly acquire but after the shewing of many proofs of his deserts If Nobility without Virtue be but a subject of reproach in regard a man deviateth from the example of his Ancestors it cannot be gain-sayed but that Virtue without Nobility carrieth little credit with it but where Nobility and Vertue meet in one subject they advance that man to an high degree and render him worthy of all eminent dignities Among the rest of those virtuous qualities or indeed in the Front of them which ought to set off a person of quality this I account the chiefest that he be indued with an high natural ability and that clearnesse of judgement which dissipateth the Clouds of falsities discovereth truth and going before Justice ushereth it in as some Stars do the Sun Learning ought to go hand in hand with this ability seeing natural parts without improvement are so much the more dangerous in regard they are subject to failings and like the fruitfulnesse of a field which if not cultivated serves only to produce the more Thorns Amongst the Sciences those of Justice and Policy are most needfull for that they are the true Objects of Chancellours and Lord Keepers those are the Fountains from whence they man derive the
difficult He much blamed the Marquesse de St. Chaumont for suffering himself to be surprized especially after he had been advis'd by the Cardinal to have a great care of all those who should travel upon the Road because she might probably passe by him in some disguise to which he return'd this answer that they should rely upon his diligence Monsieur Duc d'Orleans received no great satisfaction from it fore-seeing that this Princess would be a new Obligation to tie him to the Low-Countries but the Laws of Civility and the consideration of the Spaniards who he was forc'd to content perswaded him to seem very glad of it He presently dispatch'd the Sieurs de Fontain Chalendre de Rames and de Lavaupot to Thionville who were followed by the Duke d'Elboeuf and the Sieur de Puy-Laurens they met her upon the way and Monsieur in person went with much affection to receive her as far as Marshe and accompanied her from Namour to Bruxelles with all the honour and endearments she could desire That day that she was to go into Bruxelles the Infanta with the whole Court went to receive her half a League from the Town and meeting they both alighted from their Coaches to salute her the Infanta kissed her and then taking her by the hand led her into her own Coach where she alwaies gave her the right hand Comming to the Gate of Bruxelles the Companies of the City gave her a Volley of small shot and the Magistrates went to welcome her she alighted in company of the Infanta at the Queen-Mothers who testified much joy for her arrival and kissed her and after half an hours entertainment the Infanta carried her to her own lodgings which she had prepared two dayes before with very rich Furniture her soul being no lesse replenished with Magnificence then Piety The Princesse Marguerite could not forbear the expressing her content so sweet it is to attain any eminent point of honour after the running of great hazards but often repeated that she could never have beleev'd what History relateth concerning fugitive Princesses had she not her self experimented it The Infanta did dayly indeavour to augment her joy by her great care and the Presents she sent her in which the quaintnesse of her fancy was no lesse admirable then her liberality Nothing is more ingenious then Women to attain their Designs VVOmen of all creatures are the most dexterous in contriving their designs their natural sprightlinesse of imagination furnisheth them with a thousand expedients and proposeth all kinds of overtures with such probabilities of happy successe that they are easily inflam'd with a desire of trying them This desire maketh so great an impression upon their Passions that in case any obstacle present it self to divert them they never want anger which so disturbeth them that they admit of no rest untill they have surmounted it and obtain the ends which they propose to themselves This their violent apprehension augmenteth the fruitfulnesse of their conceptions and as the heat of the ayr doth every day disclose new productions in the bosom of the earth so their ardent desires beget new expedients in their minds carrieth all their thoughts conducteth all their motions guideth all their affections and so disposeth of all their power that they neither think desire discourse or do any thing but what tendeth to their ends they sleep with the consideration of those means which may conduce to their own ends the desire of executing them awakeneth them in the morning and as they have little diversions in the day time they have no greater delight then to discourse with them in whom they put their confidence Men who are imploy'd in great affairs have their imginary faculties more barren and granting them to be as fertile as those of Ladies yet the diversity of their imployments doth so divert them that it is impossible for them ever to be ruminating upon the same Subject but otherwise it is with Ladies especially those of quality who have nothing to do but to please their own fancies I might likewise adde that the defect of Prudence which is evident in most of them is in some sort to their advantage because it gives them more courage to execute than the wisest of men whose judgement makes them fore-see many inconveniences which women do not at all apprehend Besides the respect which every one beareth to their Sex seemeth to take away alâ—â—ear from them by perswading them that the worst that can befall them is but to discover their Sex and quality and that once known not any person of quality will use them uncivilly Amongst the many inventions which they have used to save themselves by flight or to obtain their desires that of changing their habits is one of the most frequent So Laodice the wife of Mithridates unwilling to forsake her husband when vanquish'd by Pompey cloath'd her self like a man and follow'd him a long time as if she had had an indefatigable body and courage Semiramis knowing most people impatient of the Government of women left off her usual habit after her husbands death and assum'd that of the Kings the better to preserve the government in her hands during the nonage of her son Ninus Doth not History record the same of divers Persian women who in the habit of Souldiers followed their Husbands to the Wars between the King of Persia and Selim the Turkish Emperour We read that divers Germans went to the Holy War with the Emperour Conradus cloath'd and accoutred like Cavaliers with as much valor as Amazons The Treaty made with Monsieur de Lorrain and how after all his difficulties he was forced to put it in execution THe advantages which the Kings Army had obtained upon the Duke of Lorrain produc'd those effects of which the Cardinal had given his Majesty great hopes He dispos'd himself to grant all that could be desir'd according as the Army made its progresse He was forc'd to send to Cardinal of Lorrain to his Majesty at Neufville to offer him the new Town of Nancy but his Majesty being not ignorant that leaving the City in his hands would give him the occasion and means to re-commence his imbroyls when ever those who had ingag'd him should send him a powerfull assistance would not be perswaded to assent thereunto He then sent again the same Cardinal with full power to deliver him both the Towns of Nancy in Deposite upon such conditions as should be resolv'd between him and Monsieur the Cardinal This was as much in apparence as could be desired but Monsieur the Cardinal too too well inform'd of the Dukes wavering homour to trust him was not backward to tell the King that he thought it not fit to rely upon it or to be certain of any thing untill the Gates of Nancy were opened that his forces might take possession of it so that the works of the Siege were prosecuted with all diligence yet at last the Cardinal having full power from
cuts and rends the air on every side So likewise a great Minister cannot be moved at any shocks of Fortune his courage never permitting her to Triumph in the least over his resolution or to Byas him from the Laws of Prudence the rule of all his conduct and this it is you will find our Cardinal to practise in all and every the transactions of this year The Promotion of the Arch-bishop of Lions and Monsieur Bagny to the Cardinalship I Will begin with the Honours which the King procured his holiness to bestow with the Cardinals Hats on the Arch-bishop of Lions and Monsieur Bagny the Popes Nuntio The great Worth of the former at the least equalized that honour of the Cardinalship and his sublime vertue made it apparent to all the World that to have left him in the solitudes of a Cloyster had been a great injury and wrong to the whole Church I shall not need say more of him then that he was the Cardinals Brother seeing that qualification were sufficient to render him capable of so eminent a dignity The King who slips not any occasion of acknowledging the services which he had done both to his Person and Estate could not endure to see him have a Brother in the Church and not advanced to the utmost degree of Honour which the French are capable of and the Pope had but too much assurance and knowledge of the great advantages he had procured to the Church so that he could not do lesse then honour his Brother with a hat seeing it was not in his power to raise himself to any higher Eminency It s true by the Laws of the Roman Court it is not permitted that two Brothers be Cardinals at the same time But as these Laws are not so considerable as those of gratitude and acknowledgment so his Holiness did not so much as once scruple at it And for that which concerns Monsieur de Bagny besides the custome of ordinarily conferring the Cardinalship on such as have for some time resided neer his Majesty in the quality of his Holiness Nuntio which seems to give him some right or claim to the Hat His own Worth which rendered him deserving in the judgments of all the Grandees in the Kingdom not only of the Cardinalship but even of the Papal Miter every one predicting that he would one day wear is invied nay enforced the King to contribute his utmost to obtain it for him and not only that but the quality of his Genius caused every one to conclude that he would one day be very considerable in the Court of Rome when before he had arrived to that pitch of Honour he could not but be very advantageously useful to the Interests of France which upon frequent occasions depend upon their well management in the Consistory Politique Observation ALthough the Cardinals are not regarded in France but as Princes who are strangers Yet this their promotion doth not render them lesse useful or important to the State they being more considerable then other Princes of the same condition by reason of the affairs which are daily negotiated with his Holiness the Pope and indeed ought to be respected as the principal conservators under the King of the Liberties and Franchises of the French Church and State they being his Majesties Chief Ministers in Ordinary neer the Pope and it hath been alwayes held necessary that there were some one of this quality either a French man by Nation or at least very affectionate by Nature to the Interests of France who might cordially advance the designs and concerns of the French King and Church with his Holiness the Pope And from hence it came to passe that if they were naughty French little affectionate either to the State or his Majesties Person or infected with the Maximes of Spain that great Inconveniences befell as hath been heretofore seen and for my particular I believe it to be safer for his Majesty to permit France to be with out any rather then such Cardinals But we live not in an age which hath any reason to complain of such an unhappiness seeing France oweth the restauration of its greatness and glory to the Cardinal as to the Prime and first of second Causes which Act under the King for to him chiefly belongs the Honour in that he had so great an influence upon the Popes disposition that he gave the Italians themselves a just occasion to say that his Holiness was turned Cardinal The dispatch of the Marshal d' Etree to the Commonwealth of Venice concerning the Affairs of the Duke of Mantua I Shall passe from the consideration of those reasons of State which might be made upon the aforesaid Lords Promotion to the Cardinalship that I may tell you how about the end of the foregoing year Fortune being become seldome favourable to the house of Austria or their Arms the Imperialists found themselves so oppressed with diseases and incumbred with sicknesses and necessities that they were enforced to raise the siege of Mantua But it was as if they had only withdrawn themselves into their Winter quarters The Duke of Mantua was vigilant for the preservation of his State and well knew the ambitious humor of Spain which had sought all occasions for fifty years past to render themselves Masters of Italy and would not now bee wanting to reassume their former design in causing new Troops to come from Germany and in giving better Orders and Instructions then heretofore that they might give new life to their intentions and designs This moved him to make addresses to the King that he would be pleased to interpose his Authority with the Venetians to induce them to raise an Army and make themselves Masters of the field which would discourage the Imperialists to return or make any more approaches towards Mantua This request of his was granted and the Marshal d' Estree dispatched towards Venice about the beginning of January to treat there concerning those succours with order to retirs himself into Mantua after the conclusion of his Embassie according as the Cardinal had perswaded the King to be most proper before he had began his Journy thither And thus it being business of no small importance for the Venetians to hinder the Spaniard from seating himself so neer them as Mantua His Dominion being like the Eagles Feathers which frets and eateth away those which are next and neerest unto it they readily imbraced the protection of the said Duke of Mantua and chose the Duke of Candal for their General and gave him after many importunities continually suggested by the Marshal d' Estree about twelve thousand foot and three thousand Horse to which were joyned the Regiments of Candale and Valette which were about three thousand men a piece sent by the King Politique Observation IT is very necessary to know the designs of an Enemy before he be in a condition to put them in Execution and this foresight is so much the more commendable by how much it