Royal City is likely the best Map of the Country wherein it stands so may Paris be esteem'd the most exact Compendium of France Paris is a City in a Ring Paris site Edifices c. whereof the Louvre or Palace of the King is the Diamond And truly considering the vastnesse of its circumference so incomparably built all of the living Rock whereupon it is seated which for beauty easie working and lastingness renders it a preheminence above many more costly Materials I think no City in the whole world equalizes it I have seen Naples Rome Florence Genoa and Venice all stately Cities and full of Princely Fabricks but then I compare the extent and here are many Centuries of Noblemens Houses both within the Town and the Environs which altogether approach if not exceed the best of them This I will boldly affirm that for the Streets Sububrs and common buildings it infinitely excels any City else in Europe for publick Edifices some of the Hospitals are fair Foundations and handsome Piles but the Convents and Churches come far short of the Towns before recited yet that of the Sorbonne and Jesuites are not much inferiour to some of the best and most modern Pieces of Architecture extant The River of Seine The River of Seine which divides it is nothing comparable for sweetnesse and good condition to our Royal River of Thames yet it would deceive any man in the use when he shall seriously examine and consider the huge Vessels of burden though not Ships it brings up full of Commodities and necessary Provisions In conclusion Paris wants nothing but clean Streets and a redresse of the multitude of Coaches Laquays and throngs of Mankind with all which Number of people c. in Paris too great it is generally so pestered that it appears a miracle to me how so many backs are clothed and bellies maintained in a Town of no eminent Staple as you may behold in one day if you walk the streets and publick Carfours Most of the Houses ordinarily harbouring six True cause of our reproaching their Nastinesse as often ten families betwixt heaven and hell the Garrets and the Cellars and this I take to be the true cause of that Nastinesse which we usually impute to the Nation Persons of Quality Persons of quality more neat and sumptuous then any in England and such as have room enough being far more proper and sumptuous in their houses then the best of us here in England however we arrogate the contrary Touching the Extent of this City The extent of Paris and London difficult to be compared and why it hath been and is still a great controversie amongst our Countrey-men Travellers which is the larger This or London every one speaks according to his inclinations But the figures of them both are so different that it would be a very difficult matter to reconcile them by making an exact tryall and peradventure all things considered there is as yet no very great inequality but if we may conjecture from the buildings at present Prodigious increase of buildings and prodigious enlargement of their Suburbs on all sides what a little time and Peace will render it it must without doubt in a short time outgrow the contention and far exceed it for I finde no end of their erecting not onely of particular houses but even of whole streets and those so incomparably fair and uniform Beauty of the now new Edifices of Paris that you would imagine your self rather in some Italian Opera where the diversity of Scenes surprise the beholder then beleeve your self to be in a reall Citie This is onely to be observed in their prime Builddings and Palaces that the best Fabricks commonly promise less towards the Front or Street then you will finde them within the Court which is caused by the high walls and tarraces that thwart them a piece of Modestie which in other Appearances and outsides they do not usually practise But what our City of London hath not in houses and Palaces London for Shops Taverns other drinking Schools and Noise exceeding all Câ—â—ies of the world she hath in Shops and Taverns which render it so open by day and cheerfull in the night that it appears to be a perpetuall Wake or Wedding to the beholder for so mad and lowd a Town is no where to be found in the whole world The Government and Policy of this Prevesté is exercised by Judges GovernmeÌ„t of Paris called Lieutenants Civils and Criminels who for purchasing their Offices of the Court sell their Justice at extraordinary rate to such as have use of that rare Commodity Prevost of Merchandâ— They have also a Prevost of the Merchands les Eschevins which is an Office more resembling our Recorder and Sheriff then Major Likewise the Archbishop hath a spirituall jurisdiction here Archbishop of Paris c. as also some particular Abbots and Priors And with all this I cannot say it is well governed the disorders of every day and night will convince me Disorders of Paris in the night how they might be prevented if I should when so many execrable Murthers and Villanies are committed in the streets an inconvenience which might yet be easily prevented if they would but imitate our Policy and form their Watches of constant and responsible persons Neither is the strength of this renowned City any thing considerable in stresse of a Siege Strength of Paris nothing in a siege or respect of other naturall advantage save onely fire nay so open it is to the Conquerour that Sr Denys which lies but two leagues remote from it hath oftentimes been the Frontier of France had not the late Mareschal de Gassion as deerly Mareschal de Gastion preserved Paris from the Spanyard as bravely purchased their Liberty at the signal battel of Rocroy the Spainyard 't is beleeved might without the least obstacle have marched up to the very gates of Paris But the incomparable Aire of Paris is that which fortifies the Inhabitants The Aire of Paris celebrated so that very seldom hath a Plague or other Epidemical Contagion made here that havock and lamentable devastation which it so frequently doth in our putrified climate and accidentally suffocated City contrary to that Vulgar but most false Tradition which I find in every mans mouth The ordinary tradition amongst us that the plague is never out of Paris refuted that the Pestilence is never out of Paris but this besides the siccity of the aire many Naturalists ascribe to the over sulphurous exhalations of the streets and dry attracting quality of the Plaster Quality of the Plaster of Paris which bears or gives the Name to this goodly city Cert è id firmissimum Imperium est quo obedientes gaudent Thus Sir by the assistance of your Patience I have adventured to draw the Curtain discovering a very ample Theatre in a short time and represented it in as narrow a Circumference as those Artists who introduce a multitude of species through an Optick into some dark room or closet And the similitude peradventure will not appear unapt when you consider the reversed Method and confused Stile in which it is described But as writing of Histories is not my Trade I know you have not commanded me to undergo this Task to make thereby any advantage of my Imperfections but approve mine Obedience And now although I doubt not but many able Persons have most excellently treated upon this very Subject appropriated to their Times yet I will be bold to affirm and that sans vanitie none hath lately performed it with greater faith succinctnesse and in more natural Colours For hee that will truely comprehend the Government and Genius of this Kingdome must prospect and look out every day for new discoveries France being now no more the thing it was forty yeers since then the garb and fashion at that time to the habit and Mode now in use amongst them equally as different as incomparable And in truth to disabuse the World the complexion and Crasis of this Body Politick is of so high concernment to the health and good estate of our poor Nation that to presevre her in entire habit and Constitution there can never be too often inspections into the State and Regiment of this Kingdom This is the opinion of Paris this 15 of Febr. 1652. Stilo novo Sir Your most affectionate Friend and most obedient Servant J.E. FINIS
considerable Armada of handsom Gallies in most of their Mediterranean Ports as at Toulon Marseilles and other places which are Vessels of excellent use and service upon those Seas On the Ocean I confess both their Shipping and Traffique have been alike trivial and yet of late they have greatly augmented their Fleet especially since the time to our Nations egregious shame and dishonor that they have made so large inroads and gaps into Flanders Late Acquists towards the Sea Coasts Witness those strong Towns and Havens of Dunkirk Mardike c. Stout Forts and very commodious Harbors for shipping so that a little time if we will still suffer it may likewise furnish them with Ships enough to make them stand in a bolder competition with their Neighbors But the more principall Nerve of the French Power consists in his Forces at Land Land Forces and amongst them as hath already been touched chiefly his Cavalry which is of strength and spectacle both of admiration and gallantry Cavalry of France the best of Europe they being for the greater part composed of Gentlemen who generally so bequeath themselves to this service that hee who amongst them hath not made two or three Campagnas as they use to term it by that time he is 18 yeers of age is esteemed as a person lasche that is of a soft education and small repute Besides The Horse an exercise proper to the French youth Their Academies and other Gymnasticks the Horse is an exercise unto which they have so naturall a disposition and addresse that the whole earth doth not contain so many Academies dedicated chiefly to this Discipline other martiall Gymnastiques wherein they handsomly attain to competent perfection in whatsoever is active and proper for their youth and inclinations And what incomparable souldiers this Country hath in all ages bred Souldiery of France commended we need look out no further for testimony then their many past and present Acquisitions and Enterprises under Harcourt Condy Gassion and infinite others besides what is no trivial mark of our assertion the multitudes of such who are at present imployed in the Services of Forraign Princes Very undenyable it is Spanish and Fr. Insantry compared that the Spanish Infantry is too hard for the French Foot for the Peasants of France of whom they should naturally consist are thought and that upon good grounds to be more then accidentally improper and mal-adroict for that service Howbeit we finde and that by quotidian experience that Custome or something else more propitious hath much altered and reformed their Natures even in this particular instance And for ought I perceive they keep what they have gotten and become as good Soldiers as those who brag so much of their lowsie and tenacious Epitheton But I must confess how few Indigene and naturall Spaniards serve now against them all the old brave foot having been for the greater part slain or continued unrecruted at and since the signal Battel of Rocroy where thogh with their own destinies they bravely made good that general and worthy repute which the world hath of the Infantry of that Nation And however had this reproach a more solid ground A saying of Machiavel yet that saying of Machiavel in his Ritratto That Le Fanterie che si fanno in Francia non possono esser buono per che gli è gran tempo che non hanno hauuto guerra e per questo non hanno sperienza alcuna c. Is now no more an Argument Then that the premises being changed the Conclusion must needs remain considering that the Cause being taken away through their present exercise and perpetual War the Effect and Defect cannot of consequence ensue as we have already sufficiently proved or admit it were yet so I hope the Suisse and other faithful Mercenaries to that Crown abundantly supply all these wants and prejudices most of which yet notwithstanding for my part were I think first hired rather out of consideration of diversion and since custom then otherwise out of any pure necessity That likewise which made the Armies of France so inconsiderable for native Foot Soldiers may with much reason too if we please be attributed unto Lewis the Eleventh his disarming of the Commons Consequence of disarming the Commons by which advice the King indeed became more absolute at home amongst his Vassals but a great deal less formidable abroad amongst his Enemies And herein it was that his Neighbors stood him in stead Another thing rendring this Kingdom very considerable for an Army is France abundant in people and Victuals their Prolifique multiplying for Europe embraceth not a more populous Nation nor more abounding in Victuals which is the belly of that cruel Beast called War so Fertil I say it is That when Charls the fift entred into France by Provence and afterwards by Champaigne it nourished besides the many Garrisons thereof more then an Hundred and fifty thousand Ravenous Soldiers and even in the time of Charls the sixth there were found in this Kingdom Twenty thousand Horse and Thirty thousand Foot all consisting of strangers and Fifteen thousand Horse and One hundred thousand Foot all of Natural French And verily when we have seriously surveighed the complication of Enemies which once invested this Kingdom when for Extent and Command it was far inferior to what it is at present since the English have been dispossessed Navar adjoyned and other additions of great strength I say when England Germany Spain and Italy invaded it on all parts in the Reign of Francis the first as it will appear how potent and able this Kingdom united is to defend it self So doth the consideration of it seem to me most strange and altogether portentous Adde to these advantages Store of Arms Ammunition and Artillery their store of good Arms and Munition excellent Artillery many famous and well furnished Magazines in sum Why should I farther tire you with particulars when their present Exploits and almost continual Triumphs have planted the Flower de Lyces where ever they break ground Witness those renowned adventures since Charlemaigne Ancient and late Acquists St. Lewis Charls d'Anjou Charls the eighth c. whose Heroicque Atchievements and glorious Trophies have filled all Histories and Countreys even as far as Asia her self witness their Expeditions and Successes at Jerusalem in Egypt Barbary Cyprus Greece Naples Saxony Hungary and sundry other places even in these our times and before our own doors witness all their late Acquists and Conquests in Catalunia Spain Italy Flanders c. Besides the Signal Battels and Sieges of Nordlingen Rocroy Perpignian Theonvil Arras Dunkirk c. Not to repeat the miraculous or rather ingenious reduction of La Rochel Montpelier and other impregnable holds appertaining to the Protestants So that if now we see them begin to decline and refund what they have so hastily swallowed down it is but the common fate of all
humane undertakings The common fate of all humane Enterprises all things having a period in this World that had a beginning And now Church neer a third part of France albeit the Church who is neer a good third part of France doth in most places as the Proverb goes neither lose nor defend any thing yet here in times of publick and emergent necessities have they been made contribute most bountifully towards the maintaining of Armies and Supplyes Nor are the Frontiers Frontiers Maritime coasts how fortified at present and Maritime coasts of this Kingdom so ill fortified now as in former times but there hath been of late so through a reformation and care had in that regard that it were hard to call to minde a considerable place at present but is capable to support a long and strenuous resistance especially those Harbours and Keys of the Countrey which respect our Coasts as Haver Calais Diepe and divers other places of Importance In fine State of Fr. at present France is at this present grown to that stature so well planted and commodiously laid to it self that but for their own madnesse and the feared fate of these times which already begins to work in the reall Interest balance with her Neighbours High time that a Non ultra were fixed to her greatnesse it were high time she were now a little observed and a Non ultra fixed unto her proceedings and future aspirings Nor doubt I at all but if the Low Countries were able to preserve her Neutrality but England with Spain as poor and contemptible as she is now grown may one day so exercise this ambitious Kingdom as she may be glad to contain her self within her own Confines without molesting or incommoding of her Neighbours I deny not The greatness of Spain suspicious and how far it concerns us that even the greatnesse of Spain her self were as much to be apprehended equally as dangerous did not her accustomed swelling and unnatural Plethory most certainly incline to a Tympanie rather then shew it proceeded from any strong and sane constitution their overgrasping humour The humour of the Spaniard likened being much like his who desiring a good handfull of sand by griping it over hard loseth more through his fingers then he can carry away in all his palm England's best bulwark and balance So that in this case our onely best Bulwark is France and vice versâ oppos'd to their power Spain so long as this antipathie amongst them continues and they remain in one entire bodie For this cause it was Qu. Elizabeths policy and for no other that Queen Elizabeth would very wisely by no means consent to that offer of Cantonizing this Kingdom when in the time of the late League she was offered a considerable share But on the other side Danger in the Accession of the Low Countries to Fr. the Accession of the Low Countries to this Empire were beyond all comparison more perillous then if they had also never started aside from their lawfull Master and this by reason of their Situation Vicinity Ports Traffick Towns of defence the infinite disadvantages whereof we should soon acknowledge to our cost and ignominy As touching the Protestants they are yet so numerous in France That the Spaniard hath no pretence to alienate the French subjects by his instruments the Jesuits and why and the Roman Catholicks so averse in that point as there can never spring up the least appearance of hope that the King of Spain should ever pretend any thing in this Country by way of inclination or defection however the late Jesuites notwithstanding all those strict Edicts and Bans made against them begin to swarme and re-establish themselves And so I have done with the more generall remarks worthy your consideration I shal onely say a word or two of the people and of Paris in particular and so finish this task Genius and nature of the people Concerning the Nature and Genius of the Inhabitants that which the Prince of Politicians gives out of the French where he affirms that I Francesi sono per natura piùfieri che gagliardi ò destri Upon what Cesar of old said of the Galli Insubres Caesars saying of the Galli Insubres that in the beginning they appeared more then Men but proved in the conclusion lesse then Women retains in it still something of their present promptnesse and as sudden discouragement Upon which observation the fore-cited Florentine notably adviseth Chi vuole superare j Francesi si guardi dal primo loro impeto c. That he who would vanquish the French should be sure to withstand and break their first brusk and onset because they usually rush on upon danger like a torrent and in a desperate fury when they first charge and joyn battell French fury at onset but as nothing which is violent is permanent so expectation as soon ruines and utterly daunts their courage But as for their Intellectuals and more noble part such of them as dedicate themselves to Letters and Erudition Learned men in France prove as polite Scholers and as trim Wits as any Italian of them all The greater part of them I confesse and ordinary Pretenders please themselves more in Analyticall and cursory speculations to which one may take post at every pillar in the streets Pedantry of some professors where you shal never fail of some bragadocio Hippias who like some Intellectus universalis professes and will undertake to render any man an exact and perfect Philosopher Divine Orator Chymist or to teach him all Languages and indeed what not within the space of a month or two which kind of Table Method and Lullian art renders many of them even to the very Mechanicks most egregious talkers and intolerably pragmaticall Add unto this Their leveling of learning their levelling of Learning and laying all Authors in common by their intemperate Translations having but of very late put all the Orations of Cicero into French as it is long since that the Poets have been made Orators for there is nothing more frequent then the turning of them into prose Amongst the Faculties of Paris The Faculties of Paris there are some good and dextrous Divines but their School Exercises are dull and perfunctory things in competition with what was wont to be performed here in our Vniversities Generally Physicians Chirurgians of Prance their Method and ill successe the Chirurgians of France are Pretenders to Physick and the Physician as great a friend to the Emperick especially in point of Phlebotomie which is their Panacea for all Diseases And albeit they have bred some able and accomplish'd Proficients of all these kindes yet their common practice in tedious and Chronique as well as acute diseases imports them rather to a sudden ease of the patient then any intire recovery or security from relapse for they study more to weaken and enervate the
merit in field and successfull Atchievements high extraction and extraordinary parts prompt him sometimes to Enterprises beyond the duty or praise of a Loyal subject for their lives not a more Ambitious young man upon earth having outlived his imprisonment once chased his enemy the Cardinal and not satisfied with this revenge or what ever other assurances the State can render him puts fair by a fresh Rebellion to speede a prosperous Traytor or perfect his Infamie His brother is Armand de Bourbon Prince of Conty Prince of Conty his Character seemingly designed for the Church but susceptible of any other advantage a prince of a weak fabrick and constitution but sound intellectuals They have likewise a Sister called Mary Wife to the Duke de Longuevill How the daughters of France have been disposed of into England Spain Savoy Mantoa daughters of F. how disposed of c. will be here superfluous to relate The naturall issue of the K of F. how esteemed Touching the Natural issue of the Kings of France who are ever in this kind Country in very great Reputation and place sutable to their birth by their fathers side I cannot learne that the late King had any nay it is reported he did so abhorre Paliardize that he scarce thought any other act to be sin in comparison of it contrary to the opinion of his wise Counselor and Cardinall de Richlieu who as I have sometime heard did use often to say that a Concubine was the honest mans recreation a Priestly Aphorism and spoken like a Churchman Now to say something of the Soveraignety of the Kings of France The Soveraignty of the French Kingdome how it became so absolute we will step a little back and see by what meanes and degrees it became so absolute Whilst the Nobility of France were in a manner free and independent Princes for such was heretofore the most part of them how are Histories loud with their carriages and deportment towards their Soveraigns What checks upon every occasion were they ready to give them Witnesse those frequent impresses of a certain Duke of Gienne Bourbon Bretagne and others of the same rank nor hath these later times exempted the Crown it felf from the dangerous consequences which so many fortified Towns Governments and Places of importance have so often menaced and in effect notably brilding the head of Majesty untill the defunct and great Cardinall de Richlieu found out a speedy and fortunate expedient to reduce them to obedience C. de Richlieu his subtility in reducing it to that independency and that not onely by subjugating the Posts themselves which he performed by strength but likewise by so dextrously interessing the Gentry and refractory Nobility both by honours and blood to the Court and his faction which he did by policy In fine he so handled the Cards that the better sort of people became tractable out of meer respect to their Relations and the meaner by an inevitable constraint as well as the example of their Chiefs were compelled to a due submission so that now the Sovereignty of France is become so Independent and absolute that albeit it do still reteine a shadow of the ancient form yet it is duly considered a thing heavenly wide and different The Kings absolute power both For in the Kings sole power it is to resolve of and dissolve warrs by him are the Lawes interpreted Letters of grace of Naturality and other Acts given out he it is imposeth Taxes from which by a speciall decree the Church her selfe is not exempt In Church and State nay albeit the Pope his own holinesse consent not from all whose Ecclesiasticall Censures Fulminations and Anathema's he esteems himselfe also priviledged and therefore nominates all Spirituall persons to their preferments and dignities Notwithstanding all this the handsomer to disguise and apparell these his volunties and render them at the least specious proceedures of Justice Thouâ—h under colour of Justice he permits none of his Edicts to passe as authentick untill the Court of Parliament who is absolutely at his devotion have first verified them a favour this likewise out of complement too Complement non tam necessitatis quam humanitatis as a Civilian whose glosse it is hath warily termed it Parliament of France a name only So that as for the Parliaments of France besides the name and Formality there is in truth now no such thing in Nature which together with their ancient liberties how deservedly they lost them may be easily discovered in their frequent Rebellions In a word he who would perfectly and without more adoe understand by what Law and Rule the Kings of France impose on their Vassals may see it summarily yet very legibly ingraven by that forementioned Cardinall upon that excellent Artellery which defend his Majesties Citadell at Haver de grace in Normandy where you may run and read the best of Tenures as the times are now in this Epigraph RATIO VLTIMA REGVM though for this slavery of theirs they may in some degree thank our Country-men By what means discomposed whose forces being embowelled amongst them hindred the Assembling of the Three Estates as they should have done whereupon the King being necessitated to make his simple Edicts passe for Authentick Laws although this power were delivered to him during his wars only was the reason why the people could never recover or seize on them since A Jewel this of too great value some think to bee intrusted to one person upon what pretence or necessity soever To the King and his immediate Issue in dignity and rank are the Dukes and Peers of France But first It is to be observed that the Princes of the Blood of this Kingdom possess their Lands and Revenues under the name of Appanage Their Estates revertable to the Crown by Appanage and not as absolute Proprietaries by which means all their Estates return again to the Crown by the right of Reversion to the end that the domaine abide intire and for other the like reasons the Duke of Sully Henry Richmont heretofore called Bois Belle on which there hangs a Story only excepted We will passe over their original which would be extreme difficult to investigate Their Originall Authority and proceed to their Authority which was first established by Hughes Capet and his descendants who thereupon obliged them to hold their Lands of the Crown immediately by which means he also gained many that before were disaffected to him as the Earls of Flanders the Archbishop of Rheims and divers others who had been at the first great opposers of this Vsurper Now of these Peers there were at the first Twelve onely ordained and Number to wit six of the Spiritualty and as many of the Temporalty but at this day their number is become indefinite depending solely on the pleasure of the King And these are so named not for that they pretend to any equality of
these Secretaries is for Expeditions altogether forraign one for affaires Ecclesiasticall and benefices a third for matters only appertaining to the Kings house and the fourth serves for affairs and concernements of war and thus have they the whole Kingdom so cantoniz'd betwixt them that upon all particular Exigences of the Provinces every one knows his division In Court and presence of the King they waite alternatively by Months for he uses them likewise in affaires of the cabinet which for not being matter of State hee will not have made known or divulged Lastly Masters of Requests The Masters of Request of whom there are at present no lesse then seventy are as it were Assessors of the Chancellour and compose the body of the Court of Parliament of which we shall shortly speak and have their Seats next to the Counsellers but not exceeding four at a time In absence of the Presidents they preside also in many other Judicatures and Bailliages these make report and sign the Request of Justice and sometimes the affaires of the Exchequer they are likewise many times chosen for Extraordinary Embassades as wel as Commissioners for his Majesty in the Cities and Provinces where they judg and determine upon all affairs of the Crowne with most absolute power and authority The rest of the Officers more immediately belonging to the Kings Revenue I have touched at large already I come now to the Parliaments of France of whom there hath hitherto been so much talke The Justice of France in the equal dispensation whereof should be the glory and diadem of a Prince in Peace Parliament of France as is the multitude of people his visible strength in warr is doubtlesse very good but wonderfully ill executed which happens through the sordid corruption of such as dispense it for mony and favour without which there is nothing to be hoped for in this Kingdom and good reason there should bee some gaine made of that which the dividers thereof buy so dear purchasing their places and offices at such excessive charges that they are constrained to fell their Vertue to him who bidds most for it But this is not I suppose the only Monopoly which drives that trade by whom established Philip the Faire established the Parliament of Paris for before it was Ambulatory and onely observed the motion of the King whither both Ecclesiasticks and seculars repaired As it is now constituted it is composed of Five houses or chambers La Grand Chambre hath twenty five Counsellers La grand chambre des Enquests who take cognisance of affairs of highest Consequence and of five Chambres des Enquests to either of which there is also about the same number of Counsellers likewise two other Chambers one whereof is called La Tournelle La Tournelle wherein are pleaded only matters Criminall composed of two Counsellours of the Grand Chambre and of two of every Chambre des Enquests The Chambre del ' Edict that is of the Edict of Nantes which only toucheth the affaires of the Protestants and is also composed of two Counsellers out of each of the six other Chambers who are nominated every second year by the Chancellour and the Protestant deputy Generall De l' Edâ—ct for the Protestanâ—s Pâ—esident au Mortâ—er because there standeth a cup â—ade in fashion of a moâ—â—er over the mantling of the Arms in lieu of a wreath and helmet In the great Chambre presideth the President au Mortier who presenteth the ancient Dukes and Peers these presidents are Counsellers of State the first day of their reception and have about their neck an hood of velvet lined with furr from whence some affirme they derive their name they are now in number seven or eight having of late been encreased To all the other Chambers of Parliament there are likewise Presidents Presidents Conseillers Advocats â—rocteurs viz. two at the Tournelle and one at the Edict To each Chambre des Enquests are two but these last for being only commissionated Counsellers have no places as presidents in ful assemblies of Parliament Besides presidents and Counsellers there is moreover a Procureur and two Advocates General who intervene in all Causes which concern either the King or State besides an Infinity of other Advocates who are rather to count by mâ—â—titudes then numbers established only the proctors have of late years been reduced to about 600. There is likewise a Greffier en chef or clerk of the Parliament Clerk of the paâ—liaâ—eâ—t one of the most luerative charges of France as esteemed to be no lesse worth then an 100 Crowns of Gold a day This office having now successively remained in the family of Monsieur du Tillet neer three hundred years we could not passe his name in silence Lastly of Commises Searjeants Vshers and under officers there are in very great numbers All the Officers of Parliament wear a long Gown Robâ—rs of the Officers of Parliaâ— and square cap but the Presidents au Mortier and Counsellours upon solemn occasions put on Robes of scarlet which are trimmed with black velvet The Solemne Arrests or Acts of Parliament are pronounced four times the year Arrests of Parl. when pronounced viz. on Christmas Eves eve on the Tuesday before Easter on Whitson Eves eve and the seventh day of Sept. till which from the morrow after the feast of St Martine it continues but the Parliament doth not open untill such time as the King renews their Commission there are besides Paris Cities besides Paris that have parliaments these nine Cities which have Parliaments 1 Toulouse 2 Roüen 3 Bourdeaux 4 Dijon 5 Grenoble 6 Aix 7 Rheims 8 Pau. 9 Mets. Whose Constitution and Composition are alike to that of Paris In what they differ from the Par. of Paris except that of Mets and Roüen whose President and Counsellers of late serve semestraly that is half during one six months and halfe the other some of the Parliaments also have no chamber of Edict as Rheims and Dijon so that the Protestants of those parts repaire to Paris to plead and in Toulouse Bordeaux and Grenoble for default thereof those of the Religion have established them Chambers Miparties that is of equal numbers of Romanists nor have the other Parliaments so many chambers of Enquests as not in truth needing them Likewise this Prerogative hath the Parliament of Paris Prerogative of the P. of Paris that it hath the sole honour to be called the Court of Peers for here only can they of right be judged yet this priviledg was not able to protect them at what time the late great Cardinal de Richlieu made bold to infringe it when it served to his purpose In all these Parliaments aforesaid the Advocates plead covered How the Advocates and proctors plead but the Prectors both bareheaded and kneeling Moreover the businesse of the Parliament of Paris besides the verifying of the Kings Edicts Ordinances and letters Patents as hath
been already touched is the dispensing of all other Justice Civill and Criminall here the Appanages of the crown are regulated the erection of new dignities Modification of the Popes Legats Commissions procedures to Banishment Letters of naturalty Pardons and the like supream transactions of State have their genuine and naturall source The Bishops in Parliament have right of place Bishops and ecclesiasticks in Parliament have place no deliberative Voice except B. of Paris and abbot of St. Denys but no deliberative Voice except only the Archbishop of Paris and Abbot of Saint Denys Thus much shall suffice to have been spoken touching the Parliaments The Chamber of compts which comes next in order is a jurisdiction and Court apart Chamber of compts its high authority and number that concernes judges the accompt of all the Receivers Treasurers and officers paid into or received out of he Kings Exchequers for which cause all their Letters Edicts Ordinances c. are read registred and verified Here it is that homage for Feifs moving from the Crown are acknowledged It hath belonging to it ten Presidents Monsieur Nicolas who is the first having from Father to Son conserved this charge neer two hundred years in his Family hath refused for his charge 1400000 Livers which the late D'Emery offered him for it To it also appertaineth seventy Maistres des compts eighty Auditors in fine it is a Court of that high Authority that it hath sometimes stood even in competition with the Parliament it self There are eight of these in France Chambers des Requests du Palais Besides this Court there are likewise the two Chambres des Requests du Palais where is pleaded the Priviledg of the Royall offices and household and therefore they consist of Counsellers of parliament c. The Cour des Monnoyes composed of three Presidents Cour des Monnoyes twenty four Conseillers these concerne the Mint in all particulars Mint Also the Admiralty Admiralty and Table de Marbre called the Table de Marbre instituted for Maritime affaires And lastly Les Eaux Forrests Waters and Forrests with some other inferiour courts wherof we have already sufficiently spoken elsewhere And so I am come out of Westminster-hall to the other two of our three ancient Officers viz. the Connestable and Mareschall of France being the last of our division and will naturally lead us to discourse something of the Militia The Connestable Military officers and first the Connest able of F. albeit an office to a greater then which the King himself can promote no subject yet for that it is not a charge which is always in being but upon extraordinary Emergencies and grand occasions will be needlesse to say more of it then that this Office holdeth ranke immediately after the Princes of the blood The D. of Orleans is as it were Connestable now and in Parliament it is before the Dukes and Pairs The Connestable therefore is chief superiour and Generalissimo over the Armies of France for which respect he hath his jurisdiction in the Court of the Table de Marbre but at this day the Mareschals supplying this high office although properly speaking but his Lieutenants come next to be spoken of Mareschals de Fr. The Mareschals de France or rather so many Generals are the onely persons of Enterprise and Action in their Armies both at home and abroad being commonly men who are elevated to those Charges purely by their own Valour and Demerits so that as their number is indeterminate so there is no Souldier of what condition soever but may possibly by his vertue aspire to this preferment I said even now that their Jurisdiction did much resemble that of the Connestables nor can they be devested of this honour during their lives Before these Mareschals are determined all matters of private quarrels and defies incident to the Noblesse for which cause they have their Provosts or Lieutenants in all the greatest Cities of the Kingdome They bear in their Atchievements a Truncheon Salterwise azure semeéd with Flowr de lyces or Finally Last divisioÌ„ which is the last part of our division the three Modern Offices of the Crown viz. 1. The Admiral of the French 2. Le Colonel de l' Infanterie 3. Le Grand Maistre de l'Artillerie In the first place the Admiral who holds likewise his place during life is Generall of all the Kings forces by sea Admirall and under him are al the Marine jurisdictions The charge hath in times past been divided unto more both Guyenne and Provence having enjoyed theirs apart but the defunct Cardinall de Richlieu who hath left this high office to his Nephew united them all under one his jurisdiction also is at the Table de Marbre where for being but subalternate judges their places in Parliament is at the lower end The charge is now in the person of the Queen Regent some say the Duke of Vendosme likewise the General des Galeres hath here his seate General des Galeres which is a place of very notable gaine and Authority on the coasts of the Mediterranean seas where his Majesties Gallies do both harbour and ride Colonel of the Infantry Next is the Colonell of the French Infantery which is a charge one of the most considerable in all respects of France especially for Gain receiving eight solz every Muster for every souldiers head his authority being generally over all the French-foot Masters of the Camp and hath for his Lieutenant Colonels the Maistres de Camp under his name issue all Ordinances of Warr. There is likewise a Colonel General des Suisses Colonel General des Suisses who hath jurisdiction over all those Mercenaries as well those of the Kings Guard as those who serve in the field and in the Garison of which there are constantly about eight thousand in this Dominion Last of all Grand Maistre de l'Artillâ—râ—e the Grand Maistre de l'Artillerie which is a charge equal with a Mareschall of France under his tuition and conduct is the Arsenall of Paris all the Cannon and Ammunition of warre in the Kingdome for which cause he hath his Lieutenants Captains and other officers belonging to the Carriages in great number besides all this he hath the management of five millions of Livers together with the arbitrary disposition of above eight hundred Officers of all which he is obliged to no particular accompt Grand pricurde France Mr. of the Religion of Malta There is likewise the Grand Prieur de France which for being a quality of high reputation is not to be pretermitted The Mastership of the Religion and Order of Malta for the French being not lesse worth then 10000 pounds yearly his ordinary Residence is at the Temple a quarter in the town of Paris as is that of ours in London so called Counsell of War The Councel of Warr is commonly held in the Palace of the Duke of
Orleans as being Lieutenant General of all the Kings Forces and therefore little remote as hath been said from the dignity and charge of high Connestable Thus we have done with the Courts and Officers of France now we will take a Prospect of the Forces The King of France hath commonly four Armies in field Constant armies of Fr. viz. that of Flanders of Germanie of Italy and that of Catalogna wherein the King Queen Monsieur the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Orleans Princes of the Blood and Mareschals of France have their severall and individuall Companies whose Lieutenants enjoy many singular precedencies above other Officers of the Armies All these consist of well armed horse The light horse are at present commanded by the Master of the Camp Light horse and other forces under continuall pay The King hath commonly under pay about a hundred and forty Cornets of cavalry distributed into 56 Regiments besides of Strangers twelve Of Infantry the King hath two hundred and ten whereof some Regiments have thirty Companies and every company payed for eighty men effective Moreover his Majestie hath divers Regiments of strangers whereof enough hath been said in the beginning The Armada Naval may be composed of about twenty men of Warr and as many Gallies Armada Naval I have shewed you before how these Forces are payed and therefore we will proceed to the Governours of the Provinces as being likewise Men of Armes The Governours of Provinces have their Commissions which are simple and depending on the pleasure of the King verified in Parliament Governours of provâ—nces cities and sorts where they have their seats next after the premiers presidents they are in some degree equivalent to our Lieutenants of the shire but exercise a much more vigorous power which is yet restrained to matters of Armes for in other justice they meddle not at all So likewise the Governors of Cities Fortresses and places of strength all which are chosen of persons of Blood Valour and merit But before we altogether quit this subject of Armes it wil not be impertinent to say somthing here of the order of Knighthood in France I shall not much amuse you with those orders which are so far antiquated Orders of Chevalrie in France that even the Heralds themselves can scarcely render us any certain accompt Such is that which is named de la Genette Instituted by Charls Martel or the Order de l'Estoile by King John the Order of the Croisant Porc Espic nor much concerning the order of Saint Michael it self Instituted 1469 by Lewis the eleventh although not many ages since first instituted and for a long while the principal Order in the Kingdome composed but of 36 because as the manner of this Nation is to be as soon weary of their new invenons as children are of Rattles they begin to have this Order already in contempt Ordre de S. Michael albeit the chain and pendent badg be commonly reserved in the Coat Armours together with that which is now in Vogue and next ensues Ordre du S. Esprit Institution L'Ordre du S. Esprit was instituted on new years Day Anno 1579 by Henry the third and honoured with that name because he was both born and afterwards Elected King of Polonia on Whitsonday This Prince restrained the number also to thirty six but that is likewise as indefinite as it pleases the King however it remaines yet the Order of greatest esteem and therefore let us look a while upon the Ceremonies of the Inauguration The day of their Reception they appear all in Cloath of silver Reception their cloaks especially the capes cut a l'antique of black velvet which they put off and change to receive on them a robe of green Velvet ful of Embroydred tongues of fire then remaining on their knees the King hands between the palmes of his own striking them lightly upon the shoulder and kisses their Cheeke Ordinarily they wear a Flame Order or Orange colour Crosse of velvet upon the left side of their cloakes in the midst whereof is embosted a dove of silver and about it a glory of Rayes like that which our Knights of the Garter in England do wear as having first assumed that mode from the French albeit for Antiquity of the Order ours stands much before it About their bodies likewise they wear a blew ribbon which of late they have watered and at the end of that a Crosse of Gold in the midst whereof there is ennamailed a White Dove and this is all which I finde observable We have been hitherto very silent of the State Ecclesiastick in particular State Hierarchical which although it come last in Order yet was it one of the first in mine intention as consisting of Persons who besides their qualities both for Extraction and Letters possesse alone one third part of the total Revenue of France The Arch Bishops of this kingdom are in number fifteen Archbishops Bishops whereof he of Lyons is the Primate and Metropolitan and some of these be Peers Bishopricks two hundred and one Of this Hierarchy is composed l' Eglise Gallicane L'Eglise Gallicane which by the concordats made with the Pope hath sundry rights and priviledges extraordinary which for that they are not much incident to our discourse we will purposely omit and content our selves with what hath been briefly spoken Having thus as I was able finished my designe and your request with what succinctnesse perspicuity I might for herein I am obliged to some Relations more discourses and a little experience I will make bold the better to let you understand the full nature of things as they subsist and are govern'd at present to reassume the Argument deliver you the best and more solid opinions of men concerning the particulars already spoken of The Government of France doth at present rather totter then stand upon the late great Cardinals substruction Present Government of France Q. Regent the Queen Regent having ever since his decease continued in the principall ministry of State affairs Card. Mazatini Her favourite Mazarini a person of to speak with the world farre greater fortune then either extraction or vertue however he hath steered this great vessel of Monarchy a long time and that amidst so many stormes and in such foul weather as whether his craft or courage exceeds it is not yet decided certaine it is that as he hath longer held in then by some wise men it was judg'd he could so some late actions of his interpreted to have been ingratefull enough make othersdaily coÌ„fident of his absolute ruine and in truth he doth play so hazardous a game at present that as the hand is universally turned it were great odds to lay on Confusions side so prodigious a fatality now threatning Princes that if France compose not suddenly these calamities I am confident will epidemically visite Europe for a time And why it should
be that this active Nation have endured so many Strangers to governe them thus in cheif Government by strangers incident to this monarchie I am much to seek for a reason when I steadily behold the universal promptnesse of the Noblesse unlesse peradventure to avoid emulation at Court 'twixt so many greater Princes and Subjects as might else pretend to highest Authority they rather submit themselves to the meanest Alien But this by way of glosse and species not opinion The subtill have ever been too hard for the simple and though the law deny women succession to the Crown yet the Fate of the kingdome and addresses of the sex furnish'd them a title which hath fully recompensed for that injury The Noblesse of France comprehend the Gentry Noblesse of France and Gentry the same thing under one and the same common term nor indeed is there in any Kingdome save ours onely that severe distinction of Minores and Majores amongst the Nobility a difference which some think neither suits with true policy or justice But quitting this decision to whom it belongs we are as I said in this Dominion to take the Noblesse that is the Gentry for the sole visible body and consequently the Plebeians of a far more vile Plebeians their misery and naturally slavish genius then they really are in any part of Christendome besides which meannesse of spirit I easily conjecture to have been long since contracted from the over severity and liberty of their Superiors their incomparable paucity and excessive oppression Other immunities besides the fore rehearsed which the Nobless enjoy in France is that with their Pensions and Governments they are likewise exempted from all Contributions upon their own demains which doth so far oblige them to their Prince that there are none which render him such real and considerable service upon all urgent and brisk occasions Service the Nobâ—lity of France â—â—eld their Prince Ban and Arâ—erâ—Ban as do the Gentry especially at what time the Ban and Arrier-Ban be summoned to their several assignations And to this Heroique life of the Field Chevalry tâ—eiâ— general profession they are generally addicted as being thereto excellently disciplined from their very Cradles by which means certainly they become the best esteemed and most adroict Cavalry of Europe nor doth this early education of them abroad prejudice the State at home for being kept and dissevered from projecting of commotion in the Country Rebellions for the most part improsperous in France and why their Rebellions have been for the most part though frequent yet improsperous so considerable a party ever remaining with the Prince whose personal presence with them in the Field gives an extraordinary life and loyalty to their Actions As touching the Plebeians or Roturiers of France Commons their litigious nature in France truly I esteem them for the most miserable object that one may likely behold upon the face of the Earth especially those which live towards the Frontiers so immeasurably exhausted by Taxations Gabels Impositions Spoyls and Contributions unto which they are generally obnoxious The rest of the two first Estates together with al their dependants living onely upon their Revenues remain free and exempt but that which addes not a little to their Ruine is for all this their extraordinary litigious nature and vindicative disposition especially those of Normandy Bretagne Gascogny and Provence so that what with the premises delay of their Process and the abominable corruption of Justice this rank of people seldom or never arrive to any considerable Fortune or Competency by their own wit or industry as do so many of our Yeomen and Farmers in England Farmers in England By these means also their spirits becoming so abjectly debased they are not able to afford their Prince that ready service in matter of Arms as indeed their multitudes and necessities both promise and require To supply which defect in all Expeditions of Consequence the King makes use of the Gascons and Biscaians Auxiliaries in the French Armies who being bred about the Confines and Frontiers of Spain are much the better Soldiers and esteemed for the best Infantry of France as also of the Dutch Scotch Irish Italian and others in whom together with the Suisse a most principal Ingredient consisteth their greatest Foot confidence the more considerable part whereof being mercenary Auxiliaries and very frequently left in great arrears might peradventure administer to Politicians sufficient cause of suspition and discourse but the event having hitherto for many ages past been nothing prejudicial takes away any farther occasion of dispute The People of Trade and Mechanicks Mechaniques of France are nothing so contemptible as the commonsort of whom we have spoken a little many of them living very decently and handsomly in their houses especially the better sort of Merchants Merchants who are better furnished then the rest howbeit in competition with our Country-men of the same quality to be esteemed in truth but as mean Mountebanks and inconsiderable Pedlers Those of greatest Wealth and Commerce being some crafty Italian or Portugues who during the time of the late and present Cardinal have amassed very considerable Estates and great Riches And here we may properly observe That no Gentleman will in France binde his yongest son to any Trade or Mechanique Calling whatever under that of a Military life Apprenâ—isage câ—unted a diminution of honor in France as esteeming every Apprentisage and subjection a stain and diminution to the Honor and Dignity of his Family the like also they for the most part observe in their Marriages and Alliances but herein the German is most religious The Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom differ much from the garb of living in England Noâ—ilities Garbe of living in France both within and till of late without doors They have many of them vast estates either in Lands or Offices the Revenues whereof they chuse rather to spend at Paris and other great Cities in a specious Retinue of Coaches Pages and Laquaies then suffer themselves to be eaten up at home in the country in the likenesse of Beef and Mustard among their unthankful Neighbours This affection of theirs to reside for the most part in the chief Towns of the Kingdom Corporations is the reason why the Corporations are little considerable as not daring to be brewing and hatching such Factions as where the Gentry and civiller sort of Mankinde are universally given to solitary and unactive lives in the country Besides the Gentlemen are generally given to those laudable Magnificencies of Building Magnificence of the Nobility Gentry and furnishing their Palaces with the most precious Moveables much of the luxe and excesse of Italy being now far entred amongst them as may well serve to exemplifie when in the Dutchess of Chaulmes her Palace neer the Place Royal in Paris the pennaches or tusts of plumes belonging to one of her beds onely is estimated worth fourteen
thousand livers which amounts to neer a thousand pounds sterling of our money Every great Person who builds here Great pretenders to learning however qualified with intellectuals pretends to his Elaboratory and Library for the furnishing of which last he doth not much amuse himself in the particular elections of either Authors or Impressions but having erected his cases and measured them accords with a Stationer to furnish him with so many gilded Folioes so many yard of quarto's and octavo's by the great till his Bibliotheke be full of Volumes And yet some of them both have excellent books and are very polite Scholers but the Noblesse do not naturally so addict themselves to studie as the Gown-men do accounting it a life so contemplative and below their spirits Physick and Law despised by the Nobility of France that no Gentlemans necessity whatsoever shall easily engage him to seek any support either by Physick or Law both which Professions are as in truth they highly merit in very laudable esteem and reputation amongst us in England The State Ecclesiastick comprehending that of the Religion is of two sorts State Ecclesiastick of France the greater part whereof being Pontificians and the Protestants Protestants commonly called those of the Religion and by them with this adjunct Preâ—endue Reformée who exercise the Doctrine and Discipline of Geneva The Roman Catholicks of France are nothing so precise Roman Cathâ—lâ—cks of Fraâ—câ— how they differ from others of the same Religion secret and bigotish as are either the Recusants of England Spain or Italy but are for the most part an indifferent sort of Christians naturally not so superstitious and devout nor in such Vassallage to his Holinesse as in other parts of Europe where the same opinions are professed which indifferency whether I may approve of or condemn I need not declare here As for the poor Protestants Protestants how eclipsed weakned of late they are now so inconsiderable since the late Successes of the Cardinal Richlieu and especially our Nations reproach and their misfortune at La Rochelle that for the present they possess no one place of strength or any other singular immunity above others as being defeated of all Eminent Persons either of Birth or Charge who might be able to defend or Counsel them at need the Court having now rendred most of them Proselytes by Preferments or Interests or other effectual means Howbeit such as remain and of which too there are likewise a very considerable body are permitted peaceably to enjoy their Consciences upon renovation of the late Edict of Pacification and are undoubtedly in case of any considerable Rebellion capable to form a very ballancing and pondrous party but with nothing that front and confidence which within these twenty years past they might have done when they durst even beard the King The cause of 〈◊〉 and protect such as retired to them from his displeasure in most of his now strongest Towns and places of Importance But the Scean is now much altered and they shrewdly contracted especially since the stir under that late and incomparable person the D. of Rohan the folly of their own private Interests having evidently proved their fatal destruction as it is most frequently seen to fall out first or last amongst all contrivers of Civil and Popular Dissentions Fate of civil dissentions Little Schism amongst the Protestants betwixt themselves and why However thus far I must needs vindicate the Protestants of France That we finde not amongst them those frequent Schismatiques and broachers of ridiculous Enthusiasms as abound amongst us every particular so unanimously concurring with their Pastor That in truth they are herein not unworthy to be commended though that vertue likewise were the more estimable were it not certainly constrained by the vigilancy of their Antagonists who watch all advantages to discom pose and defame them To be short though they have lost many great ones and much strength and that the form of their Discipline invite few yet the light of their attempts hath invited so many to look into the reason of things beyond the mask of Tradition and mystery of Policy that it is both thought and well known That even divers of those who are persons of greatest eminency both in Church and State Inclinations of many great ones to a Reformation have so good an inclination to change some points of the received opinions That were it not more out of secular consideration to lose their preferments then any other inconveniency many of them would openly profess themselves Jansenianists Jansenianists Moulinists Moulinists c. Whose opinions as they infinitely propagate amongst them so do they come on a great way towards a Reformation The Forces of France is that which renders it as indeed it doth Forces of France all other Kingdoms most formidable abroad and secure at home The Frame and Positure of the Continent Advantageous site of France situated as it were in the Navel of all the Christian World qualifies it to collect unite and dispose of her forces for it hath Spain and Italy before it England behinde The Seas upon the right and Germany upon the left-hand at one corner the Neatherlands and the Cantons of the Suisse at the other all of them potent considerable and active Neighbors and where they intermit it is a worthy prospect to behold how Nature hath served and defended her with the Pyrenes Alps Ocean and Mediterranean Seas whilest she sitting secure from any subitaneous irruption or natural pretension may well be pronounced a fair and most Just Empire and especially since the later accession of Bretagne Guyenne Normandy once the goodly portions of the English and Bourgogne who are now all of them under one Prince as having enjoyed heretofore every one their proper Dukes by whose favor or spleen there was always a facile entrance for any potent stranger to disturbe the rest of the Kingdom the consequencies whereof have filled almost every modern Chronicle And to the stronger twisting of this Cord such prudence hath been had of late times that all those great and powerful houses remain now no more divided as still amongst the Princes of Italy and Germany the Cadets and yonger Brothers Cadets and yonger Brothers all Soldiers of Fortune minding for the most part no greater preferments then what they cut out with their Sword and merit in Field by being Soldiers of Fortune As for the Forces by Sea Francis the first reproached and why as it was never great so we do not read That ever any signal action hath been atchieved by any of their Navigations for which cause Francis the first was once pritty well resolved to make use of the Turk and call in that stout Misercant to the eternal reproach both of that Prince and Nation notwithstanding at this instant Maritime Forces and Havens their Maritime strength is not totally so contemptible having a very stately and
I would have the Principall aboad of a Gentleman to be not only in Relation to the Court and exercises acquired in that City but also in respect to his expenses This may seem a Paradox to some but for my part I never found any wood to a great town and when my Traveller hath cast it up and made a true Audite of all Extraordinaries he will find what for removalls and what for the perill of disbauched and frequent collationings for in all other little towns his acquaintance will be universall the English perpetually intervisiting with a grosse ingredient of Dutch a very little or inconsiderable disproportion in the total Accompt Thus I propose France in the last place for many other respects which here I purposely omit to enumerate that I may avoid the taedium of so long a discourse but especially for this that our Traveller may have the more time and resolution to conquer the Language and go through those hardy and most eminent exercises which are there to bee learned in their choicest perfection and native lustre after which with a competent tincture of their best conversation for the over reservednesse of the Italian and severity of the Spanyard as well as the blunt garb of the Dutch would in an Englishman be a little Palliated for fear it become affected he may return home and be justly reputed a most accomplished Cavalier To the other part of your Request Sir that I should give you some touches of the Low Countryes and other places besides the wrong I should do to those perfect relations already extant observing them at a time when my judgment was not altogether so mature my self so much a Dutch Traveller as I have before rendred you the Character I had rather make an Apology for what I have already and promise yet to say then proceed to depose allegations under mine own hand of the losse of so much precious time and betray mine Ignorance Touching Italy the States are so many and their policy so different that it would cost me more leasure then I have now to spend to reduce and discipline my scattered papers and such indigested collections as require a more formal Method and indeed a better pen. Nor could your Servant in truth have been possibly induced to discover thus far his egregious imperfections did not your Arguments carry in them some specious reproach as well as your Person so great an authority over me when you please to perswade your self the Advantage I must needs say you have had by my extraordinary Relations to Persons of affaire as well as what I might happly in this case gather lawfully out of such as have the latest written on this Subject So that however and as indeed the very truth is I was least of all inquisitive how others were governed finding it so difficult a Province to Regulate my self yet mine endeavor to pacifie your importunity and render you a demonstration of mine inabilities to coÌ„ply with any future expectation of this Nature hath in fine extorted this from me as an intire resignation sacrifice of my reputation to that obedience which I professedly ow you ever more preferring the satisfaction of so noble a Friend to the very promulgation of my own shame and most visible imbecilities So then to approach our purpose seeing all those Nations before spoken of and several governments seem at this instant Epoche of time to conspire as it were and deferr to the present Grandezza of the French Empire as likewise considering in what Relation we of England are concerned I have esteemed it best meriting my reflections and your patience to finish and dresse this Peece as judging it most worthy the consideration ERRATA's committed in absence of the Author almost the whole time this Book was in Presse the ingenuous Reader is desired to reform thus Page 8 in marg for ate read late pag. 10 in mar r. Character p. 27 r. Mareschal p. 32 l. ult a betwixt Deüanes Tailles p. 34 lin 9 a parenthelis at certain c. pag. 16 r. Treasurers p. 36 r. of the Tailles p. 50 r. which is drivin of that Trade pag. 51. lin 1. a parenthesis at for c p. 52 in mar r. Cap. p 53 r. whom we p. 56. after Legate dele p 57 r. it will be c p. 6â— r France p 62. r. each Souldiers head ibid. read in Garison p. 68. r. their hands p. 69 r. but for that p 70 after State Affairs dele Ibid. r. of far greater c. p 73 r. poverty p 74. r. obiects p 78 r. are estimated p. 81. dele or before interests p. 87 for of strength r. a strength p. 90 r. must of consequence c. with divers â—o her misinterpunctations The STATE OF FRANCE I Will begin with a saying of Nich. Machiavels saying of France Machiavel La Corona è li Regi di Francia sono hoggi più richi più potenti che mai The Crown and Kings of France are at this day more opulent and mighty then ever they were so that Prince of Polititians a great while since and without controversie had he any reason to give it out so in his time we have much more to affirm the same in these our dayes wherein they have emerged as it were the sole victorious and Flourishing Nation of Europe in whose bosome Nature hath even built this goodly Kingdome That where a Soveraigne Prince is able to maintain an absolute and unarbritrary jurisdiction over his subjects Victory and greatnesse the effect of soveraigne power and prudent Councell managed with an active and prudent Councell there and rarely elsewhere doth victory and greatnesse blesse and favour a Nation with any permanent success is a verity most demonstrable whether we reflect on the present Age From the example of the Romans Athenians or those frequent Examples of the Romanes and Athenians whose desertion and abandoning of their Royall superiours fomented such confusion and distraction amongst the Noblemen and Plebeians as could never be afterwards composed even to the ultimate destruction and lamentable catastrophe of those most illustrious Republicks But in vaine do wee seek for other Instances of this great Truth then the present progression and almost quotidian conquests of the now flourishing Ottoman Family which and Ottomanians though now a dangerous Truth as it is the most invincible upon earth so must we needs acknowledg it to be the most independent and absolute which these later times have likely produced unto us But for that this is a Verity which may now adayes cost a man his Teeth to lose nothing else in the pursuit I shall prosecute it no further then may serve to illustrate what it is which hath of late rendred so potent and aggrandized this present aspiring formidable Monarchy France of which I shall next essay to give a brief Character And now as in description of Bodies naturall Dissections begin ever with the supreme
and more noble Regions so in anatomising the Kingdom of France which consists of a Body Politick I will commence with the Head that is the King The Kings of France absolute since Lewis the 11. his saying whom here I may call as Absolute since Lewis the Eleventh hath so long since to use his own expression put them hors de page that is freed them from that grand authority which till his time the Parliament indeed exercised over them so that now the same reason which moved the late kings to depose or translate Saint Denys their ancient Patron S Denys the patron of F. deposed to gratifie the B. Virgin and to put his Kingdome formally under the protection of the blessed Virgin is esteemed good reason For with these words of course the Secretary it seems concluded the Arrest whereby it was conferred which gave many occasion to reproach it and sufficient Logick for all his present Commands whatsoever Car tel est nostre bon plaisir for such is our good will and pleasure Sic volo sic jubeo Stat pro Ratione Voluntas For so we will so we command Our will do's for our Reason stand The Monarchy of France from a Democratick state was founded Anno The Monarchy of Fr. when founded 420. and hath continued it self under three severall Races viz. of Meroüese cont nued under three Races Charle mayn son of Pepin and lastly Hue-capet from whom this Royal house of Bourbon derives its succession branched from Robert Earle of Clermont fourth son of Saint Lewis so that the King at present Reigning is the sixty fifth Monarch of France without that any of the Feminine Sex hath ordinarily intervened no woman intervening as they affirm at least From the Salick law being a meer pretence to invalidate the title of England from a very inveterate Law which they intitle the Salique being indeed but a meer Romance of their own feigning a piece of legier de main by which they have so long pretended with the great shadow of Justice to elude and invalidate the title of our former and ancient Kings of England as to succession in the right of their Mothers and Wives Touching that other Legend of their Sainte Ampoule as well as their Sainte Ampoule which in the time of Cloüis first Christian King of France was as they give out brought by an Angel from Heaven reserved at Rhemes for the Royal Chrisme we will give it leave to passe as a vulgar yet not impolitick errour or impertinent tradition The Daughters of Fr. sometimes married to private persons yet reserve their Titles and Surnanes however by the device aforesaid the Daughters succeed not to the Crowne some of them having oftentimes martied themselves unto private men but still reserved their Titles together with the Surname of France which it seems is an honour permitted them during life to shew from what stock they originally derived And the Queens admitted to the Regency during the minority of the Kings Notwithstanding this the Queens of France are usually admitted to the Regency during the Minority of the King which is at the age of fourteen years in choative until which term they with their counsell administer the publick Affairs of State without equall or Controule Concerning the Title or adjunct of the Kings of France The title of the F. Kings which is most Christian and eldest son of the Church they make no smal boasts for not having been a complement as they name it sent them from Rome as were those of other Kings but descended time out of Mind from their own vertue merits and Piety The Eldest son of France is during the life of his Father of his eldest son called the Dauphin from a stipulation as it seems made with Vmbert who bequeathed that Province conditionally to Philip de Valois To speak something particularly of this little-great Monarch Lewis the fourteenth born Sept. Birth and Character of the present King 5. 1638 after the Queen his Mother had been above twenty yeers without Issue as his production was almost miraculous not to repeate here any bold disquisitions with those who give themselves a liberty in these days to speak evil of dignities so is his person a Character doubtless of no lesse Majesty and fair hopes and certainly if his Education be fitted to the prognosticks of his Nature he cannot but emerge a Prince of singular Qualities and egregious perfections This I am willing to adde from that Mechanick and Artificial breeding Artifice of the French Queen and publick ministers in the are kings Education which men conceive some of his progenitors and neerest relation received that so not being altogether so dextrous and knowing in King-craft as their high calling required they might with less suspicion and more ease suffer themselves to be governed by the counsels and inclinations of such whose mystery and ambition it hath ever been to continue by this means their Greatnesse and reinforce their Authority This present King hath one onely Brother Duke of Anjou his Character who is called the Duke of Anjou but more frequently distinguished by the name of Monsieur a child of an extraordinary prompt and ready spirit The other principall branches of this Royall Family Duke of Orleans his character are in the first place Gaston Jean Baptist the Kings Vncle and Duke of Orleans Lieutenant General of the K. and Governor of Languedoc the same who during so many years as his Brother was without off-spring had those fair hopes of a Crown which however his merit and abilities for such a jewel be commonly disputed to his no great advantage certainly there is no man alive in competition with him for his exquisite skill in Medailes Topical memory and extraordinary knowledge in Plants in both which faculties the most reputed Antiquaries greatest Botanists do and that with reason acknowledg him both their Prince and superiour The Eldest daughter of this Duke is Anne Marie D'orleans Mademoiselle her character particularly called Mademoiselle Sans queüe per eminentiam as being the first in praeeminence and after the Queen greatest Lady in France to give whom the Epithetes of her great worth were to spoile all her sex of their Praises and make her as much envied as she is indeed justly to be admired The next in Blood and Ranke is Loüis de Bourbon the Prince of Condy Prince of Condy his descent and haracter the son of Henry de Bourbon who to so little purpose was yet so miraculously saved in the last bloudy and inhumane Parisian Massacre This Prince is Grand Maistre of France Governour of Bourgongne and Bery descended by a direct line masculine of Francois de Bourbon second brother of Antonee of Bourbon Earle of Marle afterwards Duke of Vandosme and King of Navarr the Father of Henry the Great and of Charlot Catherine de la Trimoüille his second Wife A Prince whose