Nevv epistles of Mounsieur de Balzac. Translated out of French into English, by Sr. Richard Baker Knight. Being the second and third volumes

To my Lord the Cardinall, Duke of Richelieu. LETTER I.

MY Lord, being stayed here by some occasions, I suffer this hard necessitie with a great deale of paine, and account my selfe banished from my Countrey, being so long a time deprived of your presence. I de∣ny not, but the victorious and triumphant Newes, that comes continually from the Ar∣mie, gives me some resentment of joy, and that

the brute of your Name in all quarters, toucheth me very sensibly; but it is no perfect satisfacti∣on to me, to learne that by others relating, which I ought to know as an eye-witnesse, and I conceive so great a pleasure to consist, in the sight of your glory, that there is not a common Souldier under your Command, whose hap∣pinesse and good fortune, I doe not envie. But my Lord, though I cannot serve you with my bodily actions, yet I revere you day and night, with the thoughts of my minde, and in this so worthy an imployment, I never thinke the no∣blest part of my selfe, can doe service enough. Your Lordship, next to the King, is the eternall object of my spirit, I never turne my eyes from the course of your life; and if perhaps, you have Courtiers more officious than my selfe, and such as doe their duties with greater often∣tation and shew, yet I am most sure, you have no servant that is more faithfull, and whose af∣fection comes more truely from his heart, and is fuller of life and vigour. But to the end, my words may not be thought vaine, and without ground, I send you now a proofe of that I say, by which, you shall perceive, that a man that is himselfe perswaded, hath a great disposition to perswade others, and that a Discourse, foun∣ded upon the things themselves, and •…•…ated with the truth, both stirres mens spirits with greater force, and also begets a firmer beliefe, than that which is but feigned, and comes but in the nature of Declayming. This, my Lord,

is a part drawne out from the whole bodie, and a piece, which I have taken most paines to polysh; which, I freely vow unto you, that all the houres of a calmer leisure than mine, and all the powers of a more elevated spirit than ordinary, would have found worke enough, to bring to perfection. In it, there is handled, Of the vertue, and victories of the King; Of the Justice of his Armes; Of Royaltie and Tyran∣nie; Of usurpers and lawfull Princes; Of Re∣bellion chastened, and libertie mainteined; but because the Prince I speake of, is a stirrer, and makes no stay any where, and that in following him, I should imbarque my selfe in a world of severall subjects; I have therefore, prescribed to my selfe certaine bounds, which in his acti∣ons, I should never have met with: and after the example of Homer, who finished his Ilias with the death of Hector, though that were not the end of the warre; I have thought fit, not to goe further, than the taking of Suze, though this were but the beginning of the won∣ders, wee have seene of his. You know my Lord, that this kinde of writing, which I pro∣pose to my selfe, is without comparison, the most painfull of all other; and that it is a hard matter, to continue long in an action that must be violent, and to be violent in an action that must continue long. This prayse belongs pro∣perly to Oratours, I meane such as know how to perswade, how to please in profiting, and can make the people capable of the secrets of

Governning a Common-wealth. For as for Philosophers, that have written of this argu∣ment, their discourse is commonly so drie and meager, that it appeares, their intention was rather to instruct, than to reconcile; and besides, their style is so thornie and cumbersome, that it seemes they meant to teach none, but the lear∣ned. And in this, there is no more difficultie, than there is in healing of men that be in health. And for a man, to make himselfe obscure, there needs no more, but to stay upon the first notions wee have of truth, which are never, eyther wholly pure, or purely mingled, and which falling from the imagination upon pa∣per, leave upon it such a confusion, that it re∣sembles rather an informed abortion, than a perfect production. Besides, in the composi∣tion of a Historie, especially where the Poli∣tiques have to doe, an Authour is carried, and borne out by his matter, and the things being all made to his hand, which case him of the paines of invention, as the order of the time caseth him of the care of disposing; he hath lit∣tle to doe for his part, but onely to contribute words, which is by some made so small a mat∣ter, that when Menander was pressed by some friends to publish a worke of his, that he had promised: He made answere, it shall present∣ly come forth; for it is in a manner all finished and ready, there wants nothing, but to make the words. But in the perswasive kinde of writing, (besides, that there must be a better

choice made, and a stricter order used, in pla∣cing the words, than in simple Narrations, which for all their lustre and riches of expres∣sion, require no more but plainnesse, and fit termes) they which desire to attaine perfecti∣on, or indeed to doe any thing at all of worth, endeavour all they can, to put in use, and re∣duce to action, the most subtle Idaea's of all Rhetoricke; to rayse up their understanding to the highest poynt of things; to search out, in every matter, the verities lesse exposed to view, and to make them so familiar, that they who perceived them not before, may by their relation come as it were to touch them. Their designe is, to joyne pleasure to profit, to mingle daintinesse and plentie together; and to fight with Armes, not onely firme and strong, but also fayre and glittering. They endeavour to civilize Learning; drawing it from the Col∣ledge, and freeing it from the hands of Pe∣dants, who marre and sully it in handling: and to say the truth, adulterate and corrupt it, abusing this excellent and delicate thing in the sight of all the world. They seeke not to a∣voyde Rockes by turning aside from them, but rather by slyding gently over them, and rather to escape places of danger, than to shunne them. And to make it appeare, that nothing is so sowre or bitter, but that it may be sweetned and al∣layed by Discourse. Finally, they suffer them∣selves sometimes to be transported with that reasonable fury, which Rhetoricians have well

knowne, though it goe beyond their Rules and Precepts: which thrust an; Oratour into such strange and uncouth motions, that they seeme rather inspired, than to be naturall; and with which, Demosthenes and Cicero were so pos∣sessed, that the one of them sweares by those that dyed at Marathon, and of his owne autho∣ritie makes them Gods: the other, askes que∣stions of the Hilles and Forrests of Alba, as if they had eares, and were able to heare him. But if I were one that did come any thing neere so noble an end, (which I neither will nor dare beleeve) and that I were able to make stran∣gers see, that all things in France are changed for the better, since the happie Reigne of our King, who no lesse augmenteth our spirits, than he encreaseth our courage: yet it is not I that should merit the glory of this, but I must whol∣ly attribute it to the happinesse of my time, and to the force of my object. Howsoever, my Lord, if I cannot be taken into the List of lear∣ned and able men, at least, I cannot be denyed a place amongst honest men, and loyall servants; and if my abilities be worthy of no considera∣tion with you, at least, my zeale and affection, are better worth, than to be rejected. With which meditation, I am sometimes so ravished, that I doubt not, but my resentments must needs content you; and that it is no unplea∣sing recreation to you, to cast your eye upon a Philosopher in choler. And though true love content it selfe with the testimony of its owne

Conscience; and that I give you many proofes of my most humble service, which I assure my selfe, will never come to your knowledge; yet for your satisfaction, I desire you might heare me sometimes in the place where you are, and might see, with what advantage, I maintaine the publike cause, in what manner I controll false Newes that runs about, and how I stop their mouthes that will be talking in disparage∣ment of our affayres. It is certaine, that it is not possible our State should be more flourish∣ing than it is, or that the successe of the Kings Armes should be more glorious than it is, or that the Peace of the People should be more assured than it is, or that your Government should be more judicious than it is; and yet wee meete with certaine spirits, that are troubled with their owne quietnesse, are impatient of their owne felicitie, cannot be held in any good be∣liefe, but by prosperities that are supernatu∣rall; and longer than they see miracles, give no credit to any thing. If present affayres be in good termes, then they cast out feares of those to come; and when they see, the events prove happie, then they fall affrighting us with Pre∣sages. They take an Oath, to esteeme of no per∣sons, but forreyners; of no things, but farre fet. They admire Spinola, because he is an Italian, and their enemie; they cannot abide to prayse the King, because he is a Frenchman, and their Master. They will hardly be drawne to con∣fesse, that the King hath overcome, though they

see before their eyes, an infinite number of Townes taken; of Factions ruinated; eternall Monuments of his Victories: and more easily the King hath gotten the applause of all Eu∣rope, than these mens approbation. They would perswade us, if they could, that he had raysed his Siege before Rochell; That he had made a shamefull Peace with the Protestants; and that the Spaniards had made him run away. They doe all they can, to exterminate his History, and to extinguish the greatest light that shall ever shine to posteritie. I doubt not, but they cast a malicious eye upon my Booke; for presenting an image of those things which offend them so much. And they who beleeve Fables and Ro∣mances, and are in passion, for an Hercules or an Achilles, who perhaps never were; They who reade with extasie of joy, the actions of Rowland and of Reinold, which were never done, but upon Paper: These men will finde no rellish in a true History, because it gives te∣stimonie to the vertue of their naturall King. They can like well enough, that against the cre∣dit of all Antiquitie, Xenophon being a Grae∣cian, and no Persian, should frame Cyrus a life after his owne fancie, and make him die in his bed, and amongst his Friends; when yet hee dyed in the warres, and overcome by a wo∣man: and they can like well enough, that Pli∣nie should tell a lye in open Senate, and prayse Trajan for temperance and chastitie, who yet was given to wine, and to another vice so fowle

that it cannot honestly be named; but they can by no meanes like, that I, who am the Kings subject born, should say that of him, which no man can deny to be most true, and that being to make a patern for Princes, I should rather make choyce of his life, than either of that of Cyrus, which is fabulous, or that of Trajan, which is not the purest, that I may not speake of that of Caesar Bogia, which is all blacke with licenti∣ousnesse and crimes. Heaven it selfe is not able to give this kinde of people a Governour to their minde. Hee that was according to Gods owne heart, should not be according to theirs: They would not thinke Salomon wise enough, nor Alexander valiant enough. They are ge∣nerally enemies of all sorts of Masters; and ac∣cusers of all things the present time af∣foords. They make our heads ake with crying out, that there was no necessitie to make a war in Italy; but if you had stayed still at Paris, they would have cryed out much lowder, that it had not been honest, to suffer our allyes to perish. Because some of our Kings have made unfortunate voyages beyond the mountaines, therefore they will needs have it, that our King, though he follow not their counsels, should yet fall into their misfortunes. They accuse your conduct with old proverbs, because they cannot with sound reasons. They say, Italy is the Church-yard of the French: and being not able to observe the least fault in all your carriage in that countrey, they lay upon you the

faults of our aunestors, and charge you with the errour of Charles the eighth. Yet I con∣ceive that these mens sinne is rather of infirmi∣tie than of malice, that they are rather passionate for their opinions, than Pensioners of our ene∣mies; and that they have more need of helpe by Physicke, than of restraint by law. But it is a grievous thing to see, how the busie-bodies of our time, speake the same language, which Re∣bels did in times past; and abuse the happinesse of libertie, even against him, who hath procu∣red it unto us. They come continually, and tell me, wee are like to receive much prejudice by the discontent of such a Prince, that is gone from our side. And I answere them, it is bet∣ter to have a weake enemie that cannot hurt us, than hold a troublesome friend, that would doe us no good. They will by all meanes, that the King at any price, should succour Cazall; and I tell them, that he hath succoured it alreadie, by his conquest of Savoy: and that in the state as things now stand, it cannot bee taken, but to be delivered backe. They are not contented that you performe actions that are extraordina∣rie, they looke you should performe some that are impossible: And though there arise some∣times such difficulties in things, that they can∣not by any possibilitie be encountred; I say not, by defect in the undertaker, but by reason of re∣pugnancie in the subject; yet they will not take for payment, such reasons as wise men are satis∣fied withall, but they would have the King doe

that, which the Turke and Persian joyned to∣gether, were not able to doe. These things, my Lord, would put mee extreamly into passion, and I could never bee patient at such ex∣cesse of ungratefulnesse, if I did not re∣member, that there hath sometimes beene a spirit, so sullen, and so sawcie, that it dared to finde fault with the workes of God himselfe, and was not afrayd to say, that if hee had been of his counsell, as well in the creation as in the government of the world, hee would have given him better advice than hee tooke at first, or than hee now followes. After so immense a folly, you must not thinke it strange, if there be some Extravagants; and the vulgar at all times hath beene found but an unjust Iudge of vertue; and yet for all that, it hath never beene without admirers: and now, if those that have but little instinct, and can doe nothing but murmure, and doe not favour him, it is for us, my Lord, to testifie unto you, that reasonable men, and such as know how to speake, are of the better side.

Your most humble and most obedient servant, Balzac.

At Balzac, 4. Aug. 1630.