should be a generall peace now 'twixt the French people because of the businesse of the Valtolin where the Spaniard had a purpose to block out France in all places towards Italy which was very necessary to be prevented so that it was not fit to enfeeble France at this time by attempting to extinguish them of the Religion and to plunge the whole Countrey in an intestine war for it was as if one would cut off his left hand with the right This last counsell took more with the King and so he left no way unessayed to reunite all his subjects Hereupon to content the Reformists he caus'd their Temples to be reedified he appointed 60000. Franks for the payment of their Ministers and permitted them to call a Synod at Charenton with divers other acts of compliance provided that on their part they should entertain no strangers for preachers nor admit Ministers into politic Assemblies In these difficulties and anxious traverses of things the King made the Cardinal of Richelieu his principall Minister of State chiefe of his Counsell and Director generall under his authority in the government of the State He made this election by the advice of the Queen Mother principally nor was it an improper choice for the party had a concurrence of high abilities in him answerable to that transcendent trust and he prov'd as will appear by the sequele of things a succesfull Instrument though many doubt whether his Counsel was as succesfull to France as it was fatall to the rest of Christendom which he hath plung'd in an eternall war touching this we leave the Ingenious Reader a freedom of censure according as his judgement shall be guided by an unpartiall and unbiass'd relation of matters as they ly connected in the ensuing part of this story Thus our third Lustre concludes with the commencement of Richelieus greatnes The fourth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth VVE began the last lustre with the espousals of the Lady Christina second daughter of France with the Prince of Piemont this begins with the mariage of the Lady Henriette Marie de Bourbon the yongest Royall branch of Henry the Great and this was the first great act that the Cardinal of Richelieu performed after he was come to the superintendency of affairs of State France had two causes of perpetuall apprehensions of fear one external th' other internal The still growing greatnesse of Spain without and They of the Religion within doors which were made frequent use of by any discontented Princes upon all occasions and were cryed up by the Jesuits to be as Matches to set France on fire at any time Therefore the first gran dessein that he projected with himself was to clip their wings and diminish their strength by dismantling their Cautionary Towns and making them dismisse their Garrisons The Cardinal knew the King his Master did not affect them since the Treaty at Lodun wherein they forc'd him to put another interpretation upon his Coronation Oth then his conscience did dictat unto him or the Prelat who administred it unto him meant which appear'd in a churlish answer that he gave them not long after when he was solicited to prolong the terme of holding their Cautionary Towns as Henry the Third and Henry the Great his father had done Which answer was That what grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you nor love you To compasse that great work of taking from them their Garrison Towns it was thought very expedient to secure forren Princes from assisting them specially England and the united Provinces Touching the latter they were charm'd with money for in a fresh Treaty the King accorded them a million of Franks and six hundred thousand Franks every one of the two yeers next ensuing which they were to re-inburse the next two yeers that they should conclude a peace or truce with Spain The Holland-Ambassadors who were employed in this Treatie did promise the King that there should be libertie of conscience given the Catholiks at his Majesties request That the States should associat the French with them in the commerce of the Indies give them some choice ports for traffic and repaire some depraedations they had made by sea but the money being once got there was little care taken to perform these promises which were no more then parol engagements or rather complements whereupon an Ambassador was expressely sent to complain hereof but he effected little To secure England from succouring Them of the Religion the first overture that the Erl of Holland made for an alliance was yeelded unto to whom the Erl of Carlile was sent in joynt commission to conclude it The King told them that he took it for an honour that they sought his sister for the sole sonne of so illustrious a King his neighbour and Allie onely he desir'd that he might send to Rome to have the Popes consent for better satisfaction of his conscience and in the mean time the English Ambassadors might send for a more plenary power to England so in lesse then the revolution of nine moons this great businesse was propos'd poursued and perfected whereas the Sun ran his carreer through the Zodiac ten times before that Spain could come to any point of perfection This may serve to shew the difference twixt the two Nations the leaden heel'd pace of the one and the quicksilver'd motions of the other it shewes also how the French is more round and frank in his proceedings not so full of scruples reservations and jealousies as the Spaniard And one reason that the Statists of the time alledg'd why Spain amus'd the English and protracted the Treaty of the Match so long was that all the daughters of France might be first married to prevent an alliance 'twixt England and her There was a concurrence of many things that favor'd the effecting and expediting of this alliance some previous Offices and Letters of invitation from France wherein there were strains of extraordinary endearments wherewith the King of Great Britain corresponded also in an unusuall stile as appears by this Letter following Most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved good Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Although the deceased King of happy memory was justly call'd Henry the Great for having re-conquer'd by arms his Kingdom of France though it appertain'd unto him as his proper inheritance Yet you have made now a greater conquest for the Kingdom of France though it was regain'd by the victorious arms of your dead father it was his de jure and so he got but his own But you have lately carried away a greater victory having by your two last Letters so full of cordiall courtesies overcome your good Brother and ancient Ally and all the Kingdoms appertaining unto him for We acknowledge Our self so conquer'd by your more then
brotherly affection that We cannot return you the like onely we can promise and assure you upon the faith of an honest man that you shall have alwayes power not onely to dispose of Our forces and kingdoms but of Our heart and person and also of the person of Our son if you have need which God prevent praying you to rest assured that We shall not onely be far from cherishing or giving the least countenance to any of your subjects of what profession soever of Religion who shall forget their naturall allegiance unto you but if We have the least inkling thereof We shall send you very faithfull advertisement And you may promise your self that upon such occasion or upon any other which may tend to the honor of your Crown you shall alwayes have power to dispose freely of Our assistance as if the cause were Our own so upon assurance that Our interests shall be alwayes common We pray God most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved Brother Cousen and Ally to have you alwayes in his most holy protection Newmarket 9. of February 1624. Your most affectionat Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Iames K. The Critiques of the time did much censure this Letter in regard King Iames seems to dis-invest himself utterly of all Title to France thereby because he confesseth Henry the Fourth to have not onely reconquer'd it but to have a naturall right unto it in the said Letter The former Treaty for the Infanta of Spaine did facilitat also the hastning of this businesse and made it lesse knotty in regard that the matrimonial capitulations which in effect were the very same with those of the Infanta's had bin beaten and moulded a long time before upon the Spanish Anvill and so made smooth and passable They were in substance these that follow 1. That the French King should make it his busines to procure a dispensation from Rome within three moneths 2. That for the celebration of the act of affiancing the King of Great Britain should depute whom he pleas'd and that it be done according to the Roman rites 3. That the mariage be solemniz'd in the same forme as that of Queen Margaret and the Duchesse of Bar was 4. That she be attended to the Sea side upon the charge of France 5. That the contract of mariage be publiquely ratified in England without intervention of any Ecclesiastic ceremony 6. That free exercise of Religion be granted unto Madam her self and all her train and to the children that her servants shall have And to that end they shall have a Chappel in every one of the Kings Royall Houses or any where els where she shall keep her Court 7. That preaching and the administration of the Sacraments of the Masse with all other Divine Offices be permitted Her as also the gaining of all Indulgences and Jubils from Rome and that a Church-yard be appointed wall'd about to bury Catholiks according to the Rites of the Roman Church all which shall be done modestly 8. That she shall have a Bishop for her Almoner who may have power to proceed against any Ecclesiastic under his charge according to the Canonicall constitutions And in case the Secular Court shall seize upon any Churchmen under his jurisdiction for any crime which concern'd not the State he shall be sent back to the said Bishop who taking cognisance of the delict shall degrade him and so return him to the Secular power and other faults all Church-men under him shall be sent to him to be proceeded against accordingly or in his absence to his Vicar generall 9. She shall have 28. Priests of her House and if any be a Regular he shall be allow'd to weare his habit 10 The King of Great Britain and his son shall oblige themselfs by Oath not to attempt any thing upon the conscience of Madam to induce her to renounce her Religion 11. All her domestiques shall be Catholiques and French which she shall bring with her and in their roomes when they die she shal be allow'd to choose other French Catholiques but with the consent of the King of Great Britain 12. Her dowry shall be eight hundred thousand crowns whereof the one moity shall be pai'd the yeeve after Contract the other a yeer after and in case she survive her Husband the said dowry shall be entirely return'd her whether she desire to live in England or France 13. But if there remain any children of this mariage then she is to have back but two thirds of the said dowry 14. And in case Madam die before the Prince without children the moity of the said dowry shall be only return'd and in case she leave children all shall go amongst them 15. Madam shall be endow'd with a joynture of eighteen thousand pound sterling per an which comes to sixty thousand crowns and his Majestie of Great Britain shall give her besides the value of fifty thousand crowns in Jewels whereof she shall have the property as of those she hath already and of what shall be given her hereafter He shall be also oblig'd to maintain her and her House and in case she come to be a widow she shall enioy her dower and jointure which shall be assignd her in Lands Castles and Houses whereof one shall be furnish'd and fit for habitation and that the said joynture be pay'd her wheresoever she shall desire to reside she shall have also the free disposing of the Benefices and Offices belonging to the said Lands whereof one shall have the title of Duchy or County 16. That she shall be permitted whether she have children or not to return to France and bring with her her movables rings and jewels as also her dowry and the King shall be bound to have her conducted to Calice upon his charge 17. The contract of the mariage shall be registred in the Court of Parliament of Paris and ratified in that of England 18. All her servants shall take this following Oath I sweare and promise fidelitie to the most gracious King of Great Britain to the most gracious Prince Charles and to Madame Henriette Marie daughter of France which I shall most faithfully and inviolably keep And if I know of any attempt against the said King Prince and Lady or their estates or against the public good of the Kingdoms of the said King I shall forthwith denounce the same to the said King Prince and Lady or others who shall have it in charge This was the substance of all the Matrimoniall capitulations which were digested to 28. Articles with a penalty of four hundred thousand crowns upon either of the two Kings which should infringe any of them Besides these there were some privat Articles accorded in favour of the Roman Catholiks in England and Ireland but far from the latitude of a public Toleration Upon the ending of this great Treaty with France Iames the First of England and Sixth of Scotland ended his life
to sayle towards Rochell and seize upon the Islands of Ré Oleron In Oleron the English when they were in possession of Guyen made those famous Maritim laws which are observ'd by all the Western world to this day The Duke of Buckingham was chosen Admiral by Sea and General by Land of this great expedition who publish'd this following Manifesto to the world What part the Kings of Great Britain have alwayes taken in the affairs of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom and with what care and zeale they have labour'd for the good of them is manifest to all and the examples thereof are as ordinary as the occasions have been The now King my most honor'd Lord and Master comes nothing short of his Predecessors therein if his good and laudable designes for their good had not bin perverted to their ruine by those who had most interest for their due accomplishment What advantages hath he refus'd what Parties hath he not sought unto that by his alliance with France he might restore more profitably and powerfully the restitution of those Churches to their ancient liberty and splendor And what could be lesse hoped for by so strict an alliance and from so many reiterated promises by the mouth of a great Prince but effects truly royall and sorting with his greatnes But failings have bin such that his Majesty by so many promises and so straight an obligation of friendship hath not only bin disappointed of means to obtain Liberty and Surety for the said Churches and to restore Peace to France by the reconciliation of those whose breath utters nothing else but all manner of obedience to their King under the liberty of their Edicts that contrariwise they have prevayl'd by the interest which he had in those of the Religion to deceive them and by this means not only to untie him from them but also to make him if not odious unto them at least suspected in perverting the means which he had ordain'd for their good to a quite contrary end Witnes the English Ships not design'd for the extirpation of them of the Religion but to the contrary expresse promise was made that they should not be us'd against them in the last Sea-fight What then may be expected from so puissant a Prince as the King my Master so openly eluded but a thorough feeling equall and proportion'd to the injuries receiv'd but his patience hath gone beyond patience and as long as he had hopes that he could benefit the Churches by any other means he had no recours by way of Arms so far that having bin made an instrument and worker of the last Peace upon conditions disadvantagious enough and which would not have bin accepted without his Majesties intervention who interpos'd his credit and interest to the Churches to receive them even with threatnings to the end to shelter the honor of the most Christian King under assurances of his Part not onely for the accomplishment but also for the bettering of the said Conditions for which he stands caution to the Churches But what hath bin the issue of all this but onely an abuse of his goodnesse and that which his Majesty thought a soverain remedy for all their sores hath it not brought almost the last blow to the ruine of the Churches It wanted but a little by continuing the Fort before Rochell the demolishment whereof was promis'd by the violences of the soldiers and Garrisons of the said Fort and Isles as well upon the Inhabitants of the said Town as upon strangers in lieu whereas they should have retir'd they have bin daily augmented and other forts built as also by the stay of the Commissioners in the said Town beyond the time agreed on to the end to make broyles and by means of the division which they made to slide among the Inhabitants to open the gates to the neighbouring Troupes and by other withstandings and infractions of peace I say it little faild that the said Town and in it all the Churches had not drawn their last breath And in the mean time while his Majesty hath yet continued and not oppos'd so many injuries so many faith-breakings but by complaint and Treaty untill he had receiv'd certain advice confirm'd by intercepted Letters of the great preparation the most Christian King made to powre upon Rochell And then what could his Majesty of Great Britain do but to vindicat his honor by a quick arming against those who had made him a complice of their deceits And to give testimony of his integrity and zeale which he hath alwayes had for the reestablishing of the Churches an establishment which shall be dear and precious to him above any other thing This is the sole end of his arming at this time and not any particular interest Yet whosoever would doubt hereof let him consider the circumstance of times and disposition of affairs as they stand now with the King my Master For who will beleeve that he can have any dessein upon France or to have projected conquests here in a time so disadvantageous having now for his enemy one of the puissantst King of the world and if he had such a design surely he would have sent greater forces then I have now under command whereof if the number were known they would be judg'd but Auxiliaries only and that their ayme is no other but for the good of the Churches which for so many important reasons and considerations he finds himself oblig'd before God and men to protect and succour But if it be alledg'd that the King my Master hath been mov'd to take up armes for other respects as the detention and seizure of all the ships and goods of his subjects at Bourdeaux and other places of this Kingdom to the breach and manifest contravention of the peace 'twixt the two Crowns which in this point tend expresly to the irrepairable prejudice yea to the totall ruine of commerce in the rupture whereof the poore people of this Realme being not able to vent their Merchandises groans not onely under the burden of so many taxes and impositions but for the very necessities of life it self That the apprehensions the King my Master hath of the powerfull encrease of the most Christian King by Sea hath mov'd him to arme for preventing the growth thereof and lastly that being hopelesse of any accommodation of things he hath bin constrain'd to put himself in armes The answer to all this is that whosoever will search the Arrests prises and seasures which have bin made on both sides he shall find the King my Master and his subjects have hitherto profited by this breach and that it hath turn'd to their advantage In the second place he is so far off from being jealous of the pretended power by Sea and that he should have reason to hinder it that there needs no more then for him to grant when he thinks it fit Letters of Mart to his subjects and so these vain and feeble forces
staple of Sugars she urg'd also enhancement of toll new exactions and other pressures lastly she complain'd of strangers to be her Viceroys as Casimir the King of Polands brother was intended for her had he not bin intercepted in France In so much that it was easie for Spain to have bin a Prophetesse of this defection therefore her wonted policy and foresight was much questioned that she did not put out of the way and engage in some forren employment the Duke of Bragansa who was us'd to be perpetually almost at Madrid When the King of Spain told Olivares of this revolt and that there was a new King proclaim'd the Favorit slighted it saying Es Rey de havas Sir he is but a bean or twelfnight King but we find now he was far out of his account Never was there a generall Revolt perfected in so short a compasse of time for within lesse then a moneth Don Iohn of Bragansa was so settled in the Kingdomes of Portugall and the Algarves without any opposition at all or marke of strangenes as if he had bin King thereof twenty yeers together before The King of Spain writ a Letter to Bragansa now King to this effect Duke my Cosen some odd newes are brought me which I esteem folly considering the proof I have had of the fidelitie of your House Give me advertisement accordingly because I ought to expect it from you Do not draw a trouble upon your self and hazard not the esteem I make of your life to the fury of a mutinous rabble but let your wisdom comport you so that your person may escape the danger My counsell will advise you further So God keep you Your Cosen and King To which Letter this answer was return'd My Cosen my Kingdom desiring its naturall King and my subjects being oppressed with gabells and new impositions have executed without contradiction that which they had oft times attempted by giving me the possession of a Kingdom which appertains unto me Wherefore if any will go about to take it from me I will seek justice in my armes defence being permitted God preserve your Majesty Don Iohn the Fourth King of Portugall This put the King of Spain at such a stand having on both sides of him two sorts of subjects not onely risen up but quite cut off from him that as the Proverb runs in that Countrey he could not tell what wood to make his shafts of nor could Olivares which was held such a Santon know what Bead to pray upon or what Saint to addresse himself unto And certainly these were two mighty shocks to the Spanish Monarchy nor could they happen in a time more disadvantagious she having so many engagements abroad and having met with such ilfavor'd rancounters by Land and Sea of late yeers It is also considerable that this check at home befell her after well-neer an Age of a profound unshaken peace and desuetude of armes in Spain her self where civil war hath bin so great a stranger notwithstanding that she still bred soldiers abroad and found means to embroyle the world alwayes in some place or other Which makes some interpret this intestine war to be a visible iudgement fallen upon her from heaven for disturbing the peace of her neighbours But I have observ'd it to be the genius of a true Spaniard and I honour him for it not to bow and hang down his head like a bulrush at every puff of adverse Fortune nor to yeeld to the fury of the tempest but to rouse up his spirits more stiffly to resist Et contra audentior ire In this double trance the King was advis'd to apply his strength first to suppresse the Catalan the sturdy Montaneer and till that work were finish'd to stand onely upon the defensive part against Portugall who is not esteem'd so much a man Besides these disasters that befel the K. of Spain thus at his own doors he had another happen'd unto him in the Netherlands for his Brother Don Fernando the Cardinal Infante died in the beginning of his manhood at Brussells being of about the same age as his second Brother Don Carlos was of about 30. who died some yeers before the world did take occasion to wonder that these two Princes in the flower and prime vigour of their age should thus fall Don Carlos the yeer before he died desir'd of his brother to be Viceroy of Portugall which was denied him Moreover it was observ'd he drew more affection from the Spaniards in generall by the colour of his complection because he was black for one shall hear the people of Castillia sigh up and down and pray that God would please to send them a King once again of their own colour Moreover besides this popular affection he was extremely well beloved of the soldiers for whom he was alwayes ready to do good offices and they address'd themselves more to him then to any These circumstances made odd impressions in the minds of many which gave occasion of censuring and scattering of libells up and down touching his death whereof I thought it not impertinent to insert one here but not to impose a beleef upon the Reader thereby It was drop'd down in the Court at Brussels Fernando Carlos murió Y dizen fue su Homicida Quien a vos os desterró Lo que os aconsejo yo Es que a Bethlem no bolvais Hasta que muera Herodes Que la muerte os espera En la sombra que pisais Thus unspanioliz'd and rendred into English Charles died Fernando and they say He who Thee banish'd did him slay If to my Counsell thou give eare Again to Bethlem go not neare Till Herod's gone for death doth watch In thine own shadow Thee to catch This Revolt of Portugall was no great news to the French Cardinal who had his spirits walking there as well as in Barcelona and every where els He had this Spring wrought the Duke of Lorain to come to Paris where he arriv'd in indifferent good equippage considering how many bitter showers had fallen and weatherbeaten him before for he had arm'd five times upon severall desseins and Fortune alwayes frown'd upon him Which some hold to be a visible judgement fallen upon him as also that he is a kind of exile from his own ancient Princely inheritance for abandoning his first wife by whose right he came to the full and unquestionable possession of Lorain and cohabiting with another The King entertaines him with a magnificence sutable to his quality and the Cardinall is as busie as a Bee to give him all outward content The one sends him fifty thousand Pistols the other twenty thousand in a great bason When he came before the King he complemented for matters pass'd and kneeling twise the King takes him up telling him That he had forgotten all matters pass'd and for the future he would espouse his quarrells and interests and make them his own And so it seems he hath done for he hath so
the aire That the House where he was borne in Angoulesme should be raz'd to the ground and that none presume to build upon that piece of earth That within fifteene daies after the publication of this sentence his father and mother should quit the kingdome and never return that his brothers sisters uncles and others should never afterwards beare the name of Ravaillac under paine of being hang'd and strangled This dismall sentence was executed to the very height of torture and extended to the utmost length of time affection of sense and possibilitie of nature for there were waies invented to keepe him from syncops and fits of swounding Before at the beginning and in the midst of all his torments there could be no other confession extorted out of him though he was sifted with all the sagacitie that could be but that the motives which impell'd him to such a desperate attempt were certaine revelations that he saied he had had which he afterwards call'd tentations And that he thought he should do a work acceptable to God to take away a King that was a Favourer of Heretiques who went about by the armie he had then afoote to perturbe the peace of the Catholike church and make warre against the Pope The people in generall did love the deceased King so passionately that nothing but imprecations and curses could be heard ecchoing from them so that none did pray with him when he was upon the scaffold for the salvation of his soule and for his body when it was torne by the horses happie was he that could get any piece of it so that he was burnt in more then twenty places up and downe the Citie in severall fires so Nemesis had her glut Ravaillac being thus extinguish'd and as it were annihilated the next care of the Queene was to give rites of buriall adaequate to so glorious a King His heart the Iesuites had for he had promis'd them to be depositaries and guardiens of it in his life time notwithstanding that one of their Societie had once attempted to murther him so in extraordinarie pomp his heart was carried to la Flecle and his bodie to Saint Denis And Henry the third who had layn all the while at Compeigne was sent for to beare him companie so that as they had the like destinie in their death so they came to take their last lodgings the same time in Saint Denis whither they say no French King went with his good will The latter of the two whom we will call hereafter Henry the great that title being entayl'd upon him by the universall suffrage of all was condol'd with farre more regret then the former and divers to this houre weare a constant anniversarie mourning for him that day he was kill'd Amongst others her Majestie of great Britain continueth it who was then a cradle-infant and Barberino at that time Nuncio in France and after created Pope by the name of Vrban the eighth comming to congratulate her birth and finding that the Queen mother had bin better pleas'd if she had borne a male He told her Madame I hope to see this though your youngest daughter a great Queene before I die the Queene answer'd And I hope to see you Pope both which prophetick complements prov'd true and within a short time one of another A litle after Ravaillac was burn'd also the great Spanish Jesuit Mariana I mean his Book de Rege Regis institutione wherin he holds that a Tyrant or Hereticall Prince may be made away by violent meanes Moreover by the same arrest of Parliament the Colledg of Sorbon was commanded to publish their ancient Decree passed by one hundred fortie one Doctors of the sacred Faculty of Theology in the yeer 1413. which was confirm'd two yeers after by the famous Counsell of Constance viz That it is not lawfull to any for what cause whatsoever to attempt any thing upon the sacred persons of Kings and Soverain Princes Which doctrin and solemn Decree was then published to quell and confound that execrable position which was than dogmatiz'd and broach'd up and down viz That a Tyrant whosoever he be may and ought to be lawfully and meritoriously kill'd by his own vassall or subject whosoever he be and by that any means whatsoever principally by secret ambushes treasons flatteries or other such wayes notwithstanding any faith or oth whereby the subject is oblig'd to such a Tyrant c. Which tenet being then pronounced pernicious and hereticall impious and diabolical by the said Colledg and Counsell was now also by 150 choice Theoloques of the said Family adjudg'd to be an error against the holy Catholic faith and the fundamentalls of morality opening a gap to rebellion and atheisme to a violation of all bonds of humane obedience and government and tended to bring confusion and a Hell upon Earth The Iesuits were murmur'd at as Fautors of the foresaid opinion of Mariana whereupon Cotton then Preacher to the King publish'd a declaratory letter to vindicat their Society and shew their conformity of Doctrin to the foresaid Decree of the Counsell of Constance in which letter he protested in the name of the rest that that opinion of Mariana was a particular fancy of his own and so to be restrain'd to his person only That it is so disapprov'd and exploded by their Society that some of them have compil'd and expos'd to the open world sundry Treatises in confutation of it and condem'd it in two Provinciall Congregations held in Paris and Lion in the yeer 1606. where their Reverend General Claudius Aquariva was present and there the Soverain puissance and authority of Kings was acknowledg'd and in temporal matters to hold soly of God himself The substance of Father Cottons declatory Letter tended all to this effect though it gave not so full a satisfaction to all men This was that Cotton who was so much favor'd by Henry the Great which gave him occasion to Answer certain Deputies of Rochel upon a petition they once presented unto him That he could not hear them then for his eares were stopp'd with Cotton whereupon was made this Epigram of Him Quand le Roy fait ses pas Pere Cotton l'accompagne Mais le bon Prince ne scait pas Que le fin Cotton vient d'Espagne Thus English'd When the King abroad doth walk Father Cotton finds him talk But the good Prince doth not attain That the fine Cotton com's from Spain The formidable Army which Henry the great had rais'd was now disbanded by command and only 12000. kept still a foot in Champagny which were reserv'd to assist the German Princes who were then in motion of armes upon this occasion William Duke of Iuillers and Cleves being dead without Heir male the right of succession was debated by other Princes his allies but the Emperour alledging that the Duchy of Iuillers was a fief moving of the Empire invested Leopold his Cousin german in the possession of it who
those who daily meditat the abasing if not the ruine thereof or there must be means found to secure it The Kings intentions are to rule it so that his government may equall if not surpasse any time pass'd and serve for an example for the future The marvailous assistance which it hath pleased God to afford him hitherto when his affairs were in the most deplor'd case gives us hope that he will still persevere Being seconded with the sage counsels of the Queen his Mother with the concurrence of Monsieur his Brother who I may truly say is so fastned to his Majesties will and the interest of the State that nothing can separat him I see no reason at all to doubt of it since none but God Almighty can produce things of nothing therefore to come to so good ends of pure necessity either the ordinary expences of the Court must be diminish'd or the public receits augmented or perchance both must be done It is not fitting you 'l say to meddle with the necessary expences for the conservation of the State the very thought thereof were a crime yet his Majesty preferring the public before the privat is willing out of his own motion to retrench his House in things that touch his own Person leaving you to judge how the rest will be employ'd One might think that such retrenchments were not seasonable at this time because they use to alienat sometimes the affections of hearts But as the businesse will be carried great and small shall find their account and therein their satisfaction the most austere rules seem sweet unto the most tumultuous spirits when they have not in appearance only but in reall effect the public good and incolumity of the State for their sole aime Sir the Queen your Mother prayes that you would think it good to let her do that which your piety towards her would not permit you as much as to think of your self which is that she be reduc'd to a lower revenue then she had in the late Kings time it being true that she had not better'd her condition then when during your Majesties minority she rais'd the fortunes of others for the advantage of your Majesties service Different times require different and sometimes contrary courses that which is proper at one time may be impertinent at another In great tempests one must share his goods with the Sea to lighten the Vessell and avoid shipwrack prudence requires it that the whole perish not for casting away part the interest of particulars obligeth no lesse then that of the public there being nothing more true then what an ancient Prelat of this Kingdome said That 't is impossible the riches of private persons can subsist when the State it self is poore and necessitous By such husbandry the ordinary expences may be lessen'd by three millions It rests then to augment the receits not by such impositions that the people are not able to beare but by innocent means which gives place to the King to continue what he hath practis'd this yeer in easing his subjects by diminution of tallies To this effect we must come to the redemption of lands to Notaries and Registers and other morgag'd rights which amount to twenty millions a thing not onely profitable but just and necessary If this dessein take effect the people who contribut more of their bloud then of their sweat to the expences of the State shall be eas'd If there be need to resist a forren Invasion or some intestine Insurrection if God for our sins permit any more or to execute a dessein that 's profitable and glorious for the State want of money will be no losse of time there will be no need to have recours to extraordinary wayes to Court partisans and put hands in their purses who have them oft times full of the Kings moneys One shall not see the Soverain Courts busied to verifie new Edicts Kings shall appear no more upon their beds of justice unlesse it be to undo what they had done some other time In fine all things shall be at such a passe that hath bin long since desir'd by all good men and may continue so whole Ages One will say and perchance I may think so my self that 't is easie to propose good desseins and as pleasing a thing to speak of them but the execution is difficult Yet neverthelesse I dare speak it in the presence of the King having well thought of it there may be expedients found whereby within the compas of six yeers one may see the end and perfection of this work The King my Lords and Gentlemen hath Assembled you expresly to search and find them out to examine things and concur with him in resolution his Majesty assuring you that he will readily and religiously execute what shall be determin'd for the restauration of this State The sick sometimes die by too many remedies as well as none at all I am bound to tell you this by the by that to restablish this State in its first splendor ther 's no need of many Ordinances but real executions by this means this Assembly may close more speedily though she may be perpetuall for the fruit she shall produce few words and many deeds will testifie both the good intentions and judgements of them whereof she is compos'd The King doubts not but you will do what concerns your duty in this occurrence You shall know by the event that his Majesty will surpasse himself to procure the good of his Kingdome the glory of reviving it is reserv'd to the vertu of so great a Prince you are much bound to his goodnes that he hath vonchsaf'd to make you partakers thereof and for my particular I should be much bound to God if he presently took me out of the world upon the accomplishment of so high so glorious and holy a work As thus in things premeditated so in ordinary extemporall discours he had a pressing way of eloquence and exaggeration of speech which came from him in such a grave serious accent that it mov'd all along In so much that by his garb he seem'd to be rather an Italian then French seldom or never would reason thrust be out of her throne by any impetuous irregular motions seldome would his passions make any furious sallies the greatest fit of distemper that ever was discover'd in him was at the news of Wallesteyns death with whom he had held intelligence for betraying the Imperial Army so to pave a way for France to ascend the Empire He would easily break out into tears and tendernesse of spirit The prime perfection in him was his forecast he was quick-sighted and Eagle-ey'd in every corner of christendom He had Ecchoes in every Court which sounded unto him all the affairs of State in so much that he knew as well what was done in the Junta's of Spain in the Consistory at Rome in the Cabinet Counsels of England and Germany as if he had bin President of all
France Principall Minister and Director in chief of all affairs both of State and Warre c. having bin thrice General and once Generalissimo of three Royall Armies Questionlesse he was a man had a rare talent and rich intellectualls of a notable vivacity of spirit and constancy of resolution of a prompt yet profound imagination of a subtill discours yet solid judgement things which seldome meet in one subject under that Clime of pressing and powerfull reason and a tenacious memory in so much that all the faculties of his soule being summond to consult seriously upon any businesse they were enough to make a compleat Senat of themselfs Add hereunto that he had an admirable gift of elocution attended with state and gravity and very swaying as it went along Many examples could be produc'd hereof but we will instance in three only In a Complement in a Letter and in an Oration of his which may serve to make a judgement of the rest For the first when he had receiv'd the Cardinals Hat from Rome he attended the Queen Mother and told her as if he had been surpriz'd with a kind of amazement Madam I want words to expresse the thankfulnes of my heart to your Majesty all that I can say is that I will spend my best bloud and all my spirits in your service and this Scarlet which I weare by your goodnes shall make me always remember this vow For the second when the Queen mother was retir'd to the Netherlands out of a high displeasure against him he writ to her this ensuing Letter Madame I know my enemies or rather the enemies of this State not contented to have discredited me unto your Maiesty do endeavour also to make my attendance neere the King to be suspected as if my neernes to his Person tended to remove him from you and to separat what God and nature hath so closely conjoyn'd I hope by the goodnes of God that their malice will be discoverd that my cariage will be shortly justified and that my innocence shall triumph over calumny Neverthelesse Madame I shall account my self still infortunat in that I am made to cease from pleasing your Majesty and life it self is irksome unto me in the state I am in finding my self depriv'd of the honor of your favor and of that esteem which I valued more then all the greatnes of the earth and as those which I possesse proceed from your liberall hand so I cast and prostrat them all at your Royall feet Excuse Madame your own work and creature whatsoever shall proceed from your Majesties pleasure shall be receiv'd by me without murmuring and accepted with a thousand thanks But Madame out of that piety which is inhaerent in you be pleased to spare the purple of the Church wherewith you have adorn'd me which will lose its esteeme and lustre if your Majesty cast upon it such black spots How can it be that the most oblig'd of men should prove the most ingratefull And that my conscience my first inclination and interest binding me to your service I should now separat my self from it and thereby draw upon my self the name of Traitor to the best and greatest Queen upon Earth This Madame well consider'd should absolve me from all crime and free me from all suspition before your Majesties tribunal where I am almost condemn'd without being heard I appeal not from it in regard of the perfect obedience I beare to your will I only blame my misfortune but will not dispute with my Soverain Mistresse nor ask reason of her for what is pass'd nor do I intend to make use of the Kings favour or any ministers of his or of the remembrance of my former services against the bent of your indignation the very thoughts hereof would be a crime and opposit to my hopes which are to find glory in fidelity and safety in innocence I desire lesse to dragg my fortune in France or to cary it to Rome to see more lamentable ruines then mine own Wheresoever your Majesty shall be if I be not permitted accesse it will be death unto me and wheresoever I go it shall be to go out of the world yet I desire for my reputes sake and for the rank I hold in the House of God that it might be after the vindication of my innocence and if it be not too great a boldnesse after the recovery of your Majesties favor If fortune afford me this I shall little resent my going out of the Court nor out of the world because I die a thousand times a day since your Majesty gives out that I am not the same I was which is Madame Your Majesties most humble most faithfull and most obedient servant Armand Card. of Richelieu Concerning the third which discovers more then any thing the abilities of a Minister this Oration shall serve which he pronounc'd in the great Convention of Notables a new Court generated of the discontinuance of the old Assembly of the three Estates the King himself sitting there in Majesty Sir 'T is needles in my judgemetnt to represent unto this Illustrious Assembly the great Actions your Majesty hath perform'd within this yeer as well in regard the Lord Keeper hath acquitted himself very worthily of that task as also because they speak cleerly enough of themselfs And there is no man but sees that God hath been pleas'd to make use of that piety prudence and courage which he hath infus'd into your Majesty to work those advantages to France in so small a time which some held impossible to be done in an age Nor is there any need to let them know the vast expence these high actions have caried with them because every one knows that in matters of State great atchievements cannot be done with little charge and the numerous troupes of Combatants which your Majesty hath bin enforc'd to entertain at one time in sundry places as well within as without your Kingdom afford understanding men occasion to magnifie your power as well as to admire your vast expence There is not any amongst you my Lords who knows not with what purenesse this treasure hath bin issued and what necessity there was of it the probity of those who manag'd the finances justifieth the first point and the oppression of the Allies of this Crown and the rebellion of them who are Traytors to God in this Kingdom do sufficiently assert the truth of the second the desseins of some having bin no sooner projected then form'd to interrupt his Majesty in reducing France to her first splendor In so much that this State considering the utility she receives thereby together with her Allies have more cause to approve then complain of these charges Matters thanks be to God are now at a good point but one cannot promise that they will continue so alwaies and it were to want judgement to think that they must not be push'd on further Of necessity this Kingdom must be left expos'd to the attempts of