A German diet, or, The ballance of Europe wherein the power and vveaknes ... of all the kingdoms and states of Christendom are impartially poiz'd : at a solemn convention of som German princes in sundry elaborat orations pro & con ... / by James Howell, Esq.

THE ORATION OF RODOLPHUS MAXIMILIAN Duke of Saxony, of Angaria and Westphalia, &c. Against Francé.

Most Splendid and Illustrious Auditory,

WE read that Actius Syncerus Sarmazarius a most Ingenious Poet, who was next Maro for his muse and Monument,

—Musâ proximus et tumulo,

being buried hard by Virgil, when he had made that fa∣mous Hexastic, Viderat Hadriacis Venetam, &c. in honor, and to the glory of the Citty of Venice, the Senat for every verse gave him in lieu of reward 100. Zecchins of gold: Now, if Sarmazarius merited such a gift, what guerdon do you deserve my Illustrious Cosen Prince Ioachim Ernest, who have given France so gallant Elo∣giums? for whatsoever may be laudable or glorious you have confer'd it up∣on that Countrey with such a prodigality of affection, and high straines of Eloquence: surely you merit no lesse then to be Peer or high Constable of France for it. But under favour you have omitted one thing which Bodin re∣ports to have Aristotle speak of France, his words are, Ne{que} tamen verum est quod Aristoteles scribit, nullos in Gastia Hispanis proxima reperiri asinos—that ther are no asses found in France though next to Spain; Indeed Aristotle was much misinform'd therin; for if he liv'd now, and made the tour of France, he wold find more asses there then in all Europe besides, for all the common peeple and poor peasans of France are all made asses of, by the insupportable burdens they bear of so many impositions and tallies: But wheras Bodin among other ex∣travagancies falls a praising the asses of his Countrey, that distic may be not impertinently applied unto him.

Dum laudas Asinos Patriae, Bodine, quid Erras? Ignotumne tibi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 erat?

But wheras, noble Cosen, you have extoll'd France so highly, and suffer'd your self to be transported so far with her praises, 'tis tru she may be outward∣ly fair, but she is foul within, take off the gay saddle you have put upon the horse, and you will find his back all gaull'd; take off those paintings you have

with so much art put upon France, and I believe she will look but very homely.

Monsieur de la Noüe one of her own children will tell you, that as a rapid torrent never stops her furious course till she be swallow'd in the Sea; so the French being snatch'd away by the torrent of their Enormous vices, will never rest till they find their graves in the gulph of perdition. The same Author will whisper you in the Ear, that France is possess'd with 3. furies, viz. with Im∣piety, Injustice, and Corruption of discipline, the first gnawes the conscience, the second gaules the Cominalty, and the third raignes among the Gentry.

For Impiety, let that horrid massacre on St. Bartholomew's bear witnesse, at which time brother did butcher brother, the son the father, and children their mothers; Is it possible that a race of peeple adoring one God, born in one Countrey, fellow subjects to one King? Is it possible that a Christian peeple trusting in the same Redeemer, govern'd by the same Lawes, eating the same bread, breathing the same air, shold prove such tygers? Thuanus President of the Parlement in Paris abhors the very memory of it, applying most appositly those Verses of Papinius, and cryeng out,

Excidat illa dies aevo, nec postera credant Saecula, nos certè taceamus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 obruta multa Nocte tegi propriae patiamur crimina gentis.

Let that black day be raz'd out of our Calender for ever, that it may die with us, and never com to the knowledg of our Nephews. And, which doth ag∣gravat the thing▪ what a horrid thing was it that Charles the ninth shold give way that this butchery shold be done at the Nuptials of his own Sister the La∣dy Margaret of Valois, and Henry of Bourbon King of Navarr. In so much that, as one sayed, ther was more bloud spilt, then wine drunk at that wedding; Nor did this effusion of innocent bloud end in Paris, but it went all the Kingdom over; And among others that had a hand in tracing this massacre, ther was a woman that was chief, and where women are in any conspiracy ther must be bloud, and this was Katherine de Medicis: a certain Poet doth descant wittily upon the humor of that Queen.

Tres Erebi Furias ne posthac credite Vates; Addita nam quarta est nunc Catharina tribus: Quòd si tres Furias a se dimitteret Orcus, Haec Catharina foret pro tribus una satis.

Speak of Three Furies now no more in Hell, Katherin doth make Them fower, and bears the bell, But if all Three were thence dismiss'd, this One Wold be enough for Pluto's Realm alone.

About this time France did swarm with Magicians, insomuch that Trisalca∣nus their ringleader being condemn'd therfore to suffer death, confess'd that ther were above 30000. of his Camerades in the Kingdom; and 'twas ob∣serv'd that Queen Katherine wold often confer with som of them: 'Tis ob∣servable what Theodore Beza sayeth of a new Star that appeer'd the November next after this massacre in the Asterisme of Cassiopaea so refulgent, that it went beyond Iupiter in his perigaeum for brightnesse, and Gemma Frisius affirms, that since the birth of Christ, and that Herod murther'd the children, ther was ne∣ver such a phaenomenon seen, whether you respect the sublimity of the sign with the splendor and diuturnity of the Star; Among these sanguinary assassinats old Coligni the Admiral was pistoll'd, with Telinius his son in law, with divers Noblemen mor; Peter Ramus also was dispatch'd, having no fallacy in all

his new logique to escape death, and above 20000. more: Nor had the King any remorse of sorrow for these murthers, but he was so far from it, that he caus'd new medals to be made in memory of the day, after the custome of the Roman Emperours, with this Motto engraven, Virtus in Rebelles, et Pietas excita∣vit justitiam▪ Carolus nonus Rebellium domitor, Valour and piety excited Justice against Rebels, Charles the ninth the Tamer of Rebels; besides, the Parlement of Paris did inorder that ther shold be an anniversary celebration of the day.

And as Charles the ninth was branded for this massacre, (and died a little after a young and lusty man, which was held a judgment fallen upon him from the text that sayeth, the bloody man shall not live half his dayes) so his Successor did do a most unchristian and ignoble act, for to bear up against the House of Austria he introduc'd the common Enemy of Christendom the Turk into her bowels, by a solemn league struck betwixt both, and what a world of mischief did Ahenobarbus Solymans General in many parts of Italy by vertu of this con∣federacy: And this league must be countenanc'd and confirm'd by publique writing and examples; How A•…•…a King of the Jewes, sought help of the King of Syria against the Israelites; How David who was so great a Prophet as well as King, being ill entreated by Saul, fled to Achis for to succour an Idolater; How Constantine the Great made use of the Goths, and Narsetes of the Longo∣bards; how Henry and Frederic Kings of Castile made the Sarracens their Auxiliaries, And that other Christian Princes employed Pagans and Hea∣thens and took them in pay; What a rabble of rogues did follow Monsieur Monluc, the very scumm of the peeple, so that it grew to be a Proverb, that a pack of raskals were call'd les Laquais de Monluc; And he was us'd to say, tha•…•… one may make arrowes of any tree against the Enemy, and if he could he wold evoke and employ all the infernal legions of devils for the destruction of him of whom he was in danger; but a little after his conscience troubled him for that prophane speech, saying, Dieu me le pardonne. Confessing that since that confarreation 'twixt Christians and Mahumetans matters went from bad to worse with France▪ And indeed Antoine du Pré who then was Chancelor, refused to subscribe the transactions which pass'd 'twixt Francis and Solyman, it wold prove so great a scandal to Christianity, and an indeleble blemish to France; And matters succeeded accordingly, for this ignominious League did not only turn to the dishonor but detriment of France afterwards, for she lost all she had in Italy, sand it prov'd so ominous, that Henry Francis his son was immaturely and un∣luckily kill'd at a tournement, leaving the Crown most deeply laden with debt, and two young Sons under the tutele of the foremention'd Katherin, who de∣scending from the House of Medici could make philtres as well as compound potions for whom she listed; And Henries two Successors as they were short liv'd, so they came far short in vertu and gallantry of other Kings of France; Then come's Henry the third, having stoln away surreptitiously out of Poland, els he had bin sent away, for they had had too much of him. This King spent the publique treasure in voluptuousnesse and vanities, his very doggs and hawks stood him in an incredible summ, he was the first who had his table rayl'd about when he did Eat; He had so profusely exhausted the publique demeanes that in an Assembly of the 3. Estates at Blois, he desir'd them to advise of som means to acquit his Crown which was engag'd in above a hundred millions of gold.

A little after this that horrid Hydra, that mystical and many headed Mon∣ster the Ligue began to rage, this hideous Monster did not onely like your In∣dian Serpents, as Pliny reports, swallow up bulls and beasts, but it destroy'd whole Provinces: Good God in what a fearful and frantique condition was poor France at this time, as if all the Furies of hell had bin let loose to di∣stract and torment her; Ther were base Mercenary preachers set on work to powr oyl upon the fire, to encrease it, rather then water to quench it; Among

others, Gul. Rose, Hamilton, Bernard, Christin, with divers more did bellow out nothing but war, and belch out bloud; Nay the College of Sorbon which will be an everlasting reproch unto it, did passe a solemn decree, that the Kings name, and the prayers that were appointed for him in the Canon of the Masse shold be expung'd: At last the French madnes being com to the highest cumble of wickednesse, the Parisians sent a young cut-throat, a couled Fryer to murther their anointed lawful King, his name was Frere Iacques Clement, wherof ther was this pertinent Anagram made, c'est l'enfer qui m'a cr•…•…é, 'tis Hell that crea∣ted me: But he did his busines, and butcher'd the King with a long knife he carried in his sleeve so dextrously, as if he had bin brought up to the trade, but he was instantly hack'd to peeces. Thus the Valesian line extinguish'd; And remarquable it is, what a vision the King had in his dream not long before, for he thought that he was torn by Lions, wherupon he commanded the next day, this dream having made such a deep impression in him, that those Lions and young Cubbs which were in the Louure shold be presently kill'd, which was done accordingly. Ther was an Epitaph put upon this Henry, which I think it not impertinent to impart unto this Ingenious Auditory.

Adsta Viator, et dole Regum vicem, Cor Regis isto conditum est sub marmore, Qui jura Gallis, jura Sarmatis dedit▪ Tectus cucullo hunc abstulit sicarius Cùm magno potens Agmine cinctus fuit, Abi Viator, et dole Regum Vicem.

Paraphrastically thus in English,

Whether thy choice or chance thee hither brings, Stay passenger, and wayle the fate of Kings, This little stone a g•…•…eat Kings heart doth hold Who rul'd the fickle French, and Polaques bold, Whom with a mighty warlike host attended With fatal steel a couled Monster ended. So frayl are even the highest earthly things, Go passenger, and wayle the happ of Kings.

Now, though that nefarious conjuration of the Ligue was partly dissipated by the fortitud and felicity of Henry the 4^th. yet this inundation settling it self so long upon the fair continent of France, left a great deal of scruffy odd dreggish stuff behind it, as it happens often when the pestilence ceaseth, the in∣fection may a long time continue in beds and clothes; For though it happen'd 22. yeers after, yet it was by one who was impell'd by the Genius of the old Ligue, (and he must needs go whom the devil drives) that Henry the fourth was kill'd by Ravillac; so in revolution of not much above half an age ther were 3. Henries all Kings of France died violently, two by knifes, and the first by the splinter of a Lance, all contemptible instruments; the first was kill'd on horse∣back, the second in his closet, the third in his coach. Now, as all is not gold that glisters, no more was the last Henry so Peerles a Prince as he is cryed up to be; we know well how he shrunk from that Religion he had professed nere upon forty yeers, how it was his common practise to lye 'twixt other mens sheets, what a nomber of known natural children he left behind, besides those that were fa∣ther'd by others; We know how he repudiated his first wife of better Extraction then himself, and being all gray maried a young Princesse to whom he mought have bin a granfather for age: We know also how he wrought Birons head to be chop'd off, and others who were the chief that put the French Crown upon his head; How he broke with Queen Elizabeth of England in the perfor∣mance

of many promises, who had done him such signal courtesies, &c. I will conclude this period of my discourse with a proverb worth the knowledg▪

Quand Italie sera sans poison, Angleterre sans trahison, Et la France sans guerre, Lors sera le monde sans Terre.

When Italie doth poyson want, And Traytors are in England scant, When France is of Commotions free, The World without an Earth shall be.

I com now most noble Auditors, to the third Ery•…•…nis or Furie of France▪ Injustice▪ Injustice, and this fury compar'd to the first may change places with her, and take the precedency; ther is nothing so great an opposit, and pro∣fess'd enemy to the Queen of Vertues as Injustice, she is covetous, revengeful▪ and ambitious in the superlatif degree, yet she goes commonly under the holy, and wholsom name of Justice wherwith she doth vayl and varnish all her acti∣ons, and yet while she palliats her proceedings she doth perpetrat a world of mischiefs, of rapine, of tyrannical exactions, and extorsions, with a thousand villanies more, she spares the nocent, and so wrongs the innocent; nay she spils the bloud of the guiltlesse oftentimes, and swallowes bribes by gobbets; Her brain is alwaies at work to find new Monopolies, new projects, new devices to rack and rend money, to grind the face and excoriat the poor peasan that she leaves him neither eyes to bewayl, nor toung to bemoan his misery; This Henry the 4^th found to be true, for he observ'd that ther was a double tribute us'd to be payed, one to the King, the other to his Officers, but the first was made in∣tolerable by the second; so that it was impossible but that both Prince and peeple •…•…hold be abus'd: wherof in the last civil warrs ther was a notable instance hap∣pen'd in a president of Normandy, who being inordred to raise 30000. Crowns upon the Reformists, it was discover'd that he had levied 300 thousand crowns in lieu of the 30.

But among other ocasions and bayts of Injustice in France, the nundination and sale of Judiciary offices which lye prostant for him who gives most, is one of the greatest and dishonorablest, for it is lawful for him who buyes to sell again, Insomuch that it often falls out that they who buy by detayl do sell again in grosse: Others clean contrary do buy in grosse and sell by detayl, as But∣chers use to do in buying a beast for the slaughter▪ whom they afterwards cut into parts, and haply make one quarter to pay for the whole. It is recorded by a modest Author, that in the compasse of 20. yeers ther came to the Kings coffers above 26. millions of crownes this way; And they wold justifie this by the example of the Venetians, who to support the war they had against Lewis the twelfth, they rais'd 5. millions by selling Offices by outcry under a spear to the highest bidder, and by this way they were said to have levied 100. millions since to preserve S. Marks bank from breaking: But the rate of Offices in France is mounted now to its highest pitch, La vente des Offices aujourdhuy est montés a sa periode. A President's or Attorney Generals place is valued at about 20000. franks, 2000. l. sterling, which the poor client in a short time payes treble again.

It was a brave law of Theodosius and Valentinian, that none shold be promoted to publique honors, or Magistracies for money, but for merit, and that the party advanc'd shold be liable to an oath that he came to his place with clean hands▪ without gratuity, price or compromise directly or indirectly. Now as Covetous∣nesse is sedulous▪ so she is ingenious, as appeers by the Edict of the Paulette, wherby it is enacted, that if the Officer doth not transmit it to another 40. daies before he dies▪ the Office returns to the King▪ therfore to be free of this casualty

they either give the more at first, or they give an annual pension wherby most of the places of Judicature in France are not onely vendible, but hereditary. This was the device of one Monsieur Paulet at first, therfore when one hath bought an office he useth to say, j'ay Paulette, or j'ay payé la Paulette.

Besides this institory and marchandising way of handling Justice, 'tis incre∣dible what multitudes of gown'd cormorants ther are in France, as Advocates, Proctors, Scribes, Clerks, Solliciters, who prey upon the poor Client, and suck his vital spirits, they are call'd the souris de Palais, the mice of the Court, and the Judges the ratts, they are as thick as gnats, and able to corrupt ten worlds: Stephen Paschasius recordeth, and he was a man of great ingenuity and inte∣grity, that the King of France might raise an Army of 200 thousand Scribes or Chicanears as they term common Barretors, and Clerks, and VVolfangas Prisbachius thinks ther are more of those in Paris alone, then in all Germany, which is estimated to be two parts in three larger then France: ther's not a word, syllable, or letter of the Law, but they will draw you arguments of strife from them, for the propagation of Pleas.

Nor is Justice lesse abus'd there by the multitude of Lawes which is beyond belief, which the subtile capacities and working brains of that peeple use to wrest, and distort as they please, making therof a nose of wax; As also the revocation of Ordinances and Arrests, which is so frequent among them; In so much that as Baudius observes, the high supreme Court of France whose au∣thority was held so sacred, doth retain little of its pristin ancient Majesty, the King Edicts which they verifie being so commonly repeal'd.

Now, as in a working tempestuous Sea ther is not a drop of water stable and quiet, but one wave struggles, and thrusts one another forward and back∣ward, Or as a Shipp under sayl wrestleth as she makes her way with the tum∣bling billowes, so France may be sayed to be over-whelm'd with an Ocean of confusion.

And as France at home is so subject to acts of oppression and injustice, so whensoever she hath taken footing in any Countrey abroad, her children shew themselves what they are, and who was their mother, by ther insolencies, and extortions; They corrupt the manners of all Nations where they com, with their fashions and levity; They do not only corrupt the mind, but they in∣fect the body with their foul disease, and leave stigmatizations behind them.

Had the French administred justice in Sicily, or had they comported them∣selves with that humanity, prudence, rectitude and moderation they shold have done, the Sicilian Vespres had never happen'd, when the Natives patience so often abus'd turn'd to fury, and made a solemn conjuration to free themselves of them for their tyranny, violation of virgins, scortation, ravishments, stu∣pration, and insupportable taxes, wherupon by a national unanimous con∣sent, and at the sounding of a bell they dispatch'd 8000. French into the other World, not sparing the pregnant wombs and embryos, ther was such a mortal hatred generally conceived of the Nation, Having pittifully complain'd to the Pope Nicolas the third a little before, imploring him that he wold cast out of Sicily that ill spirit wherwith she was so miserably possess'd; so Charles Duke of Anjou brother to St. Lewis, having tyranniz'd in Sicily 17. yeers was sud∣denly put out of his new Kingdom, and the society of mankind all at once, with all his proling Countreymen; And he was ejected the same way as he entred, which was by bloud, for when King Manfredus was defunct, a young Prince Conradinus, the lawful Heir descended of the Imperial stemm of the Hohenstauffens was to succeed, but he was betrayed by a Fisherman and sur∣priz'd; and together with the Austrian Duke Frederique he was barbarously butcher'd. Which made an Italian Author expresse himself pathetically, Ve∣ramente di sasso sarebbe coluy che non fosse—Truly he shold be made of stone that wold not be mov'd at such a cruel tragaedy, that so hopeful a young King

descending from so many Caesars, with such a valorus Duke being both but youths, shold be so basely made away, and that by the councel of a Pope Cle∣ment the fourth, which aggravat's the businesse much.

Ther is another pregnant example how the State of the United Provinces having made a voluntary election of the Duke of Anjou for their Governor, being induc'd therunto by the Letters of the Queen of England, how unjustly, perfidiously, and ingratefully the said Duke did carry himself with his train of ruffling French, by attempting in a proditorious way to make himself absolute and independent, but the cocatrice was crush'd in the shell, and his design fru∣strated, yet for his person and domestiques he was suffer'd to depart civilly, and peaceably, though ingloriously in point of reputation to himself and his Countrey; This was the reward the French gave the Belgians, notwithstand∣ing that among many other demonstrations of confidence, affection and trust, they had made him Duke of Brabant, and given him the title of Governor, which titles he wold not desert, but wold have them to his death, which hap∣pen'd a little after; such are the humors, such the ambition of the French, which made Henry Fits Allen Earl of Arundel, who first introduc'd the use of Coaches into England, disswade Queen Elizabeth from matching with the said Duke of Alençon, because he had had sufficient experience of the inconstancy, arrogance and levity of the French, and that few of them had upright and just hearts.

Nor do the Kings of France pay the debts, or hold themselves bound to per∣form the promises of their immediat predecessors, for they say that they come to the Crown not as much by Hereditary as Kingly right; as appeers by the an∣swer which Lewis the 12. gave the Parisians, who humbly petitioning for som Armes and Canons which they had lent Charles the 8. he told them that he was not Charles his Heir, much lesse his Administrator: So the Swisses demanding of Francis the second, a return of those large sommes which they had lent his father, receiv'd this short injust answer, that he was not tied to the solution of any mans debts.

Nor do the French wher they com bestow the Indian disease, and infect the bloud of their Neighbours; but in one part of France they have another disease as bad and more ugly, which is the leprosie, for in the South parts towards the Pyrency Hills in the Countrey of Bearn and other places, ther is a despicable kind of peeple call'd the Capots; and in another dialect Gahets, most of them being Carpenters, Coupers, Tinkers, or of such mean mechanique trades, whose society all men do shun and abominat, because they use to infect others with their leprosie, therfore they are not permitted to enter into any Towns, and hardly to live in the Suburbs, they have distinct stations apart in Churches; when any dye they can leave no lands but only their moveables to their Chil∣dren, scarce having the same priviledges in their own Countrey, that Iewes have in Italy and Germany.

But to resume the threed of my discourse a little before, if the Kings of France be not tied to pay the debts and legacies of their parents and predeces∣sors, what law of honesty do we think can bind the vassals of France to do so? Caesar and Tacitus had felt the pulse of this Nation sufficiently, when they call them Levissimum hominum genus, a most light race of peeple, that they have more of imagination then judgment, more words then common honesty. Yet Francis the first could vapour, as Lipsius hath it of him, Etiamsi fides toto Orbe exularet—although Faith shold be banish'd from among mortals, yet she shold be found among Kings, who shold be tied to performance by her alone, and not by fear. You pleas'd to say, Noble Cosen Ernest, that the Kings of France never die; shall they be eternal, and their faith so mortal? I am not ignorant that Bodin goes very far in the commendation of the French, being transported with passion more then judgment, and therin he shewes himself to be of a tru French humor; And he thinks to do her right by wronging her

neighbours, specially the Empire and Germany; He calls the Germans stupidos et rusticos, plus roboris quàm rationis habentes, leves, suavitatem orationis et Vene∣res respuentes, &c. I say he calls the Germans doltish and stupid, having more strength then reason, they are light, and averse to sweetnesse and elegancy of speech, that the German Princes are feudatary to France, and their Emperour to the Turk, with such like calumnies; Bodinus herein shew'd himself a base, and ignorant sciolist, and his lies are so notorious, that they are not worth the answering, nor worthy of the indignation of a German Prince; for my self I hold them to be like a brute beast besmattring a Traveller upon the high way with dirt, for which the Passenger is not angry, nor doth he respect it coming from an irrational animal, and such a beast may Bodinus be in aspersing the Ger∣mans as he doth.

The third Furie which possesseth France is her temerity and unadvisednesse most commonly seen in her Actions, which as Caesar, who was not only a Tra∣vellor, but a Conquerour, and dweller there, saith, Gallorum Genti temeritas est innata, Rashnes is innated in the French Nation: And as we read of moving Ilands, so the French is not only stirr'd, but toss'd perpetually with the waves of Temerity and lightnes; especially when the Circian or Southern wind blowes; Augustus made his vow unto the Gods that it should not blow upon them; For the French have a whirlwind in their brains, they have quicksands in their breasts, which tosseth their Councels, and cogitations to and fro.

The Physitians dispute whether the Worms that are engendred in man out of putrefaction proceed from the stomack or the belly; but I am of opinion that in French bodies those Magotts are generated in the brain, rather then any place of the microcosm besides. To confirm which tenet I will produce one of their own Authors and Countreymen who shold be best acquainted with their Genius, It is Alexander Pontamarinus in his description of the French Nobility; and no Limmer could put them out more to the life, when he sayeth, La jeuno Noblesse de France est d'un estrange humeur, elle ne se plaist que d'une especce de migno∣tise, où elle rend plus preu•…•…e de lascheté que de valeur; Elle est tellement imbue de je ne sçay quel Esprit de mespris, que tout son maintien n'est qu'un continuel desduin; Elle á plus de mouuement aux espaules, plus de bricolles aux pieds, plus de singeries aux mains, et de tournoyement en la teste qu'il n'y a de goute d'eau en la Seine; Elle se contrefait, elle se deguise, elle begaye au lieu de parles▪ Elle pantalonne a cheval, et se comporte en toutes ses actions si ridiculement, qu'vn Penitre ne scauroit auec plus d'artifice esbaucher la d'un figure fol que ce ce pouure gentilhomme François en donne tesmoignage; Et piu•…•… oyes le discourir, c'est luy qui ne craint personne, et na iamais appris de se faire Craindre, c'est luy qui bat tout le monde, et il ignore le moyen de se defendre, C'est luy qui est bien a cheval, et il ne scait pas tenir la bride; C'est luy qui scait bien Entretenir les dames, et les fiiles de chambre se mocquent de ses discours; Bref, c'est luy mesme qui est la fable du peuple, l'ordinaire, pitiè des honestes gens, et le scandale de sa lignee; Va-il par la rue il ne fait pas vne demarche qu'il ne negarde en arriere pour se glorifier en l•…•… suite de ses valets; Chasque fois qu'il aurá les yeux sur ses souliers, il postera la main sur le collet de sa chemise, Homme sot et miserable: This character of a French Gentleman is rendred as wittily in Latin. Nobilis Gallus in delicias et inertiam quàm magnanimitatem est proclivior, cum perpetuo rerum Omnium fastidio, ubicum{que} in inimicis pedum, manuum{que} gesticulationibus, scapularum motationibus, capitis vi∣brationibus prodigiosè frequens; I•…•…cessu, vestitu, Sermone, et in omnibus actioni∣bus ita ridiculus, et histrio, vt omnem consummatissimi Fatui indolem, et personam exactè representet; Si coll•…•…quii res sit hic ille est qui prosternit omnes, sed qui modum se defendendi ignorat; Ille est qui omnium optimè regit equum, sed qui frenos mode∣rari adhuc nescit; Ille est qui Ginecaei applausum sibi vendicat, sed quem a tergo s•…•…mularem multa ciconia pinsit; Summa, Ille est fabula vulgi, bonorum miseratio, ordinis sui macula; si verò deambulationibus per vrbem indulgeat, sine stultitiae scen•…•… id n•…•…n facit, modo vno vix gradu promoto ad pedissequos oculos rejicit gloriosulè se prae∣dican•…•…▪ mod•…•… in calceis mir acula quaerit, modò indusii collare manibus terit, Homosto∣lidus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 publicis Christianorum supplicationibus includendus.

The French Gentleman is a thing of an odd humour, he pleaseth himself in a kind of fantastiquenesse, which discovers more of softnesse, then manhood, he hath ever and anone such a slighting way, that all his carriage is but a kind of perpetual disdain; He hath more stirrings about his sholders, he fetcheth such stroakes with his feet, he hath such apish motions in his hands, he hath such windings of his head, that ther is no member at rest about him; He counterfeits, he disguiseth, he gapes and lisps insteed of speaking; He doth so pantonolize it on horseback, and comports himself in all his actions so ridicu∣lously, That an expert Painter cannot draw a fool with more artifice then this poor French Gentleman doth it really and to the life: Hear him discourse and he will tell you that he fears no body, yet never learnt any body or boy to fear him; It is he who could beat all the world, yet knowes not how to defend himself against a pigmey; It is he who is the only man on horseback, yet haply he knowes not how to hold his bridle: It is he who is the only entertainer of Ladies, and yet the Chambermaids make mowes at him. In fine, 'tis he who can hold excellent discourse, yet he is the by-word of the peeple, the pity of honest men, and the reproach of his family: Doth he march in the streets, he scarce makes two steps, but he looks back to behold his Laquay strutting behind him, he hath his hands often upon his locks, and his eyes upon his shooes; O poor sot, fit to be pray'd for in all Churches that he recover his wits.

Thus Pontamarius in his Protean Academy doth describe and characterise a true Monsieur, though he was one himself: Among their liberal Sciences dicing and carding are two wherunto they are excessively addicted, and many of them hereby bring a milpost to a thwittle, and a noble to lesse then ninepence: A Physitian's son, when I was in Paris, lost in one night above 60. thousand Crowns; nor do young gallants only, but Schollers, Lawyers, and Marchants of all sorts frequent this school of fortune. One Ionas kept a gaming house in the Suburbs of St. Germain, that som daies and nights he had above 1000 franks to his box. And as the French are thus extremely given to gaming, so in the Academy of Venus they are the greatest practitioners of any peeple, the other us'd to wast their estates, but this consumes their bodies, and commonly ther is no French Gentleman but is a Surgeon himself of the Venerean disease, which makes him carry his salve box and implements alwaies about him for fear he get a clapp. Som parts of France have bin proverbially infamous for this kind of turpitude; among other, Marseilles in Province is one, wherof the Greeks have a saying, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sayl to Marseilles if you desire your choice of whores; They us'd also there 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to make use of boyes, but this ne∣fandous custom they had from the soft Greeks▪ who had a colony there so many ages, and infected their neighbours with it; Indeed ther is no Countrey where Venus keeps so great a Court, and where they go sooner to it, so that som wo∣men cannot tell when they were mayds: And as the French are observ'd to be thus extraordinarily salacious, and given to this kind of lux, and wantones with such a strong propensity of nature; so is their language fit for such effeminacies and soft plesures, which language is but squama latini Sermonis, et rubigo trivia∣lium barbarismorum, she is but the scales of the Latin, and rust of other old toungs. I know that many distinguish thus among languages, that it is fittest to speak to God in Spanish for the Majestie of it, to Princes in Italian for the gravity of it, to the enemy in Dutch for the manfulnes of it, to women in French for the softnes of it. Ther is a tale of a German Ambassador to Charles the fifth, who being ordred to deliver his Embassie in high Dutch, a Spanish Don being attending the Emperour, and then at the audience, observing the strength and severity of the language, said in a kind of passion, Voto al' Antichristo—I swear by Antichrist I think it was high Dutch that God Almighty spoak when h•…•… ejected Adam out of Paradice, and caus'd an Angel with a flaming formidable sword to be Porter that none should re-enter: Wherunto the German acutely answer'd, that he esteem'd the Spanish language for her subtlety to be that which th•…•…

devil us'd when he seduc'd our poor granmother Eve; Ther is another story of Langas sent Ambassador from Ferdinand the first, to Poland, who convers'd much with Don Pedro Ruyz a Spaniard, and privy Councellor to Caesar, and being both one day at dinner, and the said Don Pedro hearing Dutch much spoken in a dispute at the table, and listning to the high though harsh accents and pronun∣tiation of it, broke out into this speech, Me thinks the Germans do not speak but thunder, &c. But let us still love our maternal Language, and not be allur'd by those loose lascivious toungs of Spain, Italy, and France especially which serves chiefly to make wanton loves and complements, to compose amorous sonnets, and attract femal bewty, or frame such odd Romances, and hyperbolical sto∣ries, as Amadis de Gaule, and such like; what a world of wanton books are ther in French which tend chiefly to amuse the understanding with vicious thoughts, and to corrupt maners? what stories they have of adulterious loves, of un∣bridled lusts, what stratagems do they relate of such things? teaching that Vowes made by the goddesse Venus are not obligatory, according to the Poet when he gave Councel to one that was desperatly in love,

Nec jurare time, Veneris perjuria Venti Irrita per terras, et freta longa ferunt.

Such books are fitter to be made a sacrifice to Vulcan, then kept in Gentlemens studies, or to be transported to Sicilie, where parents are put to a perpetual kind of watching to preserve their daughters from being stollen away, and suborn'd; The Lacedemonians by a vertuous law caus'd the works of Archilochus, though a very ingenious and great Poet, to be banish'd from their Citty, because the reading therof might deprave the pudicity of their youth, least more hurt might com by the wantonesse, then good by the wittinesse of the verse. O most pru∣dent and provident act! but how few such Lacedemonian Patriots are found now a dayes, specially in France? But the French Venus is not only a smooth pratling gossip, but she is also profuse and luxurious. I pray hear what Ammia∣nus Marcellinus speaks long since of the French, Vini avidum genus, affectans ad vini similitudinem multiplices potus—A race of peeple greedy of wine, and affecting according to the similitude of the wine multiplicity of compotations, they are quickly transported with excesse this way; I will produce one example of a notable wine-bibber, which was Rablais, who though he was very well in∣structed both in the Greek and Latin toungs, and an excellent Physitian, with other choice parts, yet at last leaving all other serious studies, he did totally inslave himself to Epicurisme, to gluttony, and drunkennesse, in which humors he belch'd out that Atheistical kind of book which goes under his name though under pleasant notions able to turn ev'ry Reader therof to a Democritus: As I have instanced in a man (wherof ther might be produc'd thousands in this kind) so I will bring before you a woman a rich widow who liv'd hard by Bourdeaux, who was got with child while she was in a deep drunken sleep, who beginning to swell thought it was onely a tympany, but her Physitians told her she was with child▪ wherupon she caus'd it to be openly publish'd in the Church of the Parish, that if he who got her with child wold confesse it, she wold take him for her husband herupon; Herupon a yong Vineyard man who was us'd to frequent her house, did confesse that he had done it as she slept in a chair one night by the fire side, having drunk much wine upon such a holiday, so she married him, and he thanked Bacchus for it. 'Tis tru, that Virgins use not to drink wine in France, it being a great dishonor if they shold, only they give somtimes a tincture to a glasse of water with some few drops of claret, but Bacchus goes down smooth∣ly the married womens throats.

And as for drinking, so for eating also the French are inferior to none in point of excesse, and indeed they seldom make sacrifices to Bacchus, but they have Ceres with it; Bishop Reginald Belney a man renowned for eloquence

and learning, us'd to eat at ev'ry 4. hours end night and day, which was six times ev'ry natural day: And indeed they hold it no disparagement in France among the best sorts of Ladies, to be alwaies eating somthing or other as they go along the streets in their Coaches: And 'tis a common saying in France▪ Com lets go to dinner quickly, that we may have time enough for a collation in the af∣ternoon, and so go in a seasonable hower to supper, to take afterwards a nuntion, and so go to bed betimes, that we may rise early in the morning to breakfast.

Other Nations eat, and chew their meat, but divers of the French do devour and swallow it up whole, and after they have eaten their pottage, it is common among som to lick the dish and their fingers afterwards. I com now from their diet to their clothing; good Lord, was ther ever any Nation so mimical, so fan∣tastique, and variable in their vestments? I know they are greedy of change, and gaping after novelty in all things, but for their apparrel, nor Proteus, nor Vertumnus, nor the Camelaeon was so transformable; In the Kings Court the fashion of the sute you put on in the morning growes obsolet in the evening, and their brains are at labour in the night to find som new mode for the next day. But this alteration and variety of fashions though it impoverisheth pri∣vate men, yet it tends much to the Kings emolument; for Thuanus avoucheth that this liberty of vestments brings the King in above 300 thousand crownes yeerly, by those stuffs that are brought in from Italy, and other places; yet ther have bin Edicts and sumptuary lawes enacted often touching apparrel, but such is the humor of the Nation, and their elboes so itch ever and anon for new fashions, that no lawes were ever observed long; nor is this to be soly imputed to a desire of change, as much as to an innated National pride which raigns in the French. Then came up to foment this pride, sale of honors and offices, nay, the highest dignity of all, which is St. Michaels order, was prostant for money, which made Tiercelin a Knight of very ancient Extraction to say, that the Conchyliatus torques, the order of St. Michael was becom a coller now for ev'ry asse.

To raise this pride higher, the use of Coches was introduc'd in the raign of Francis the first, by Iean de laval a Gentleman of noble extraction, who being of a corpulent and unweldy constitution, was the first who had one made for him; yet we read, that in Henry the seconds time which was a good while af∣ter▪ ther were but two Coches in all Paris, one for the Queen, and another for his base daughter. But now their nomber is so monstrously increas'd, that one may say ther be as many Coches in Paris, as ther are Gondolas in Venice, and indeed no place wants them more, Paris being one of the dirtiest Townes in Christendom, nor is it an ordinary but an indeleble oily coagulated dirt whose spots cannot be wash'd off with any sope, and the sent of it so strong, that one may smell the dirt of Paris 10 miles before he comes at her if the wind be in his face.

Moreover as the French grow quickly in love with any thing, so are they soo∣ner cloyed therwith then any other; And for their affections one to another and towards strangers they are soon hot, and soon cold; they will take a pet at any thing, and pepper in the nose though their bodies be not pepper proof all over; An inquiet Nation, and enemies to tranquillity, impatient of peace untill they have recover'd the ruines of war, lovers of stirrs and motion, which makes his next neighbour the Flemin to have this proverb of him, Quand le François dort, le diable le berse: When the Frenchman sleeps, the devil rocks the cradle. Ther is not a more sanguinary and barbarous rabble in the World then in France, 'tis an ordinary thing to digg one out of his grave and dragg him up and down in peeces, as among others they did the Marquis of Ancre, whose death and the manner of it redounds infinitly to the dishonor both of King and peeple. The King having commanded him to be kill'd in his own House the Louure, whose walls were besprinkled with his bloud, and King•…•… Courts shold be sacred places, and then a thing which prov'd ridiculous to all

the world his proces was made after his death: Nor were any of that base ra∣scality punish'd who broke into the Church, and into his mortuary, whence they pull'd him out and dragg'd him like a dogg up and down the channels, and then hanging him to a gibet by the heeles, they hack'd his body in ma∣mocks, notwithstanding that he was neither arraign'd, convicted or con∣demn'd, but death is not sufficient to satiat the French malice: What an in∣human thing was it? an act that a Wild Arab wold never have don▪ to roast a man alive in the market place at Bourdeaux without any form of law. Gaspar Coligni writ in a letter of his to Charles the ninth, C'est le naturel de Francois. It is given by nature to the French, that if they cannot find an enemy abroad they will make one at home; They seldom rob but they kill; and 'tis safer to fall into the hands of any then into a French pyrat's, for ther is no mercy with them, but all must overboard; what horrid barbarismes have they committed at the plundring of Towns? how have they ravish'd Nunns at the altar, not sparing any sex, as Tillemont of late yeers can bear testimony; Nor are ther any peeple so contentious, so quarelsom, so malitious and bloudy among them∣selves at home and abroad. It is the saying of Montagne, Mettez trois Fran∣cois aux deserts de Libye ils ne seront pas vn mois ensemble sans se harceler, et esgra∣tigner, put three Frenchmen in the deserts of Lybie, they will not be a month together but they will scratch one another; nay the least ocasion in the World will make them thirst after one anothers life: For upon the least affront or surmize of affront, ça Ça, they must presently to the Field and seek one ano∣thers hearts bloud: And ther be more monomachyes and duels fought in one yeer in France, then in 20. yeers all Christendom over; St. Lewis had damn'd this fury of single combat to Hell, but Philip de Valois fetch'd her out again. Ther have bin 20. Edicts of late yeers against it, but the French are possess'd with such spirits, that they care not for body or soul to preserve a lit∣tle puntillo of supposed honor. But Francis the first brought monomachy to be very frequent by his Example, when he defied Charles the Emperour in the Consistory at Rome for giving him the lye to a duel, insomuch that the lye hath bin ever since a mortal word; It being the principle of that King, that he could not be a good man who return'd not the lye with his sword.

But, most noble and highborn Cosens, som may haply admire that I shold perstringe the French peeple thus sharply, considering that they are extracted from Us, and branches of the great German Tree. 'Tis tru they are so, but as the Poets sing of Circe, that she transform'd men to beasts, so the clime of that Countrey hath quite metamorphos'd, perverted and quite aliena∣ted their primitive natures & dispositions, Gallia hath prov'd a Circe to Germany herin; Or as ther be som Fountains in Italy and elswhere, which have that quality as to turn stone to iron, so have the Germans which went to France dege∣nerated from themselves by a strange kind of transmutation of nature.

You may please to hear what one of themselves confesseth in these words, Les Francois passans le Rhin ne cesserent de tourmenter les Gaules, jusques a ce que les Francois les ayans tous sinon chessé du moins appaisé les vns, et forcer les autres a faire jo•…•…g, y establirent en fin leur domination; lesquels reprenans, comme par droit de legitime succession avec les Commoditez du pays le bien et le mal, tant de l'insuffi∣fance, que de la pen discrete legereté de ces peuples anciens, n'ont esté moins signatez pour vn semblable naturel guerrier, que pour les grands troubles, et trop animeuses di∣visions les quelles ont assez souuent approché l'estat de sa ruine.

This a pure Frenchman acknowledgeth; The French passing the Rhin did not cease to torment the Gaules, untill the French having if not chac'd away, yet at least induc'd som, and forc'd others to the German yoke, they establish'd ther at last their domination—

To travel a little further in France they, say, Se Clementissimo aere frui, ne•…•… ulla caeli gravitate flagellari, they say that they enjoy a most mild air, nor are beaten by any inclemency of heaven. Sure this cannot be tru, for Claudian

saith, that Gallia is nive ferox, that France hath fierce snowes; Petronius hath a proverb, gallica nive frigidior, colder then French snow; Diodorus saith, that the French frost is so strong and contumacious, that Rivers have bin pervious for whole Armies to passe over dry foot both for Cavalry and Infan∣try. Nay of late yeers in the siege hefore Amiens it was so bitterly cold, that the wines did freeze in the cask, and was sold in cakes and by weight unto the Soldiers.

And for the wholsomnesse of that clime, sure it cannot be so far, it is found by experience, that the French both men and women are more subject to ver∣min, to the itch and scabs then any other peeple.

But the greatest thing they glory of, is, that France is so fertile and exube∣rant a soyle that it may be call'd a Copia Cornu of all things (I confesse indeed ther are in France of horns) and that ther is not any part that is altogether barren; but in point of fertility. This cannot be so generally tru; for in Burgundy not far off, ther is a Town call'd Orgelet, wherof ther is a proverb, that ther are there fields without grasse, rivers without fish, and hills without groves: betwixt Bourdeaux and Bayon you traverse such a tract of sandy ground, that one wold think he passeth through the deserts of Arabia, when he goeth over les landes de Gascoigne, for so they are call'd vulgarly; ther are divers large tracts of gronnd which are as bad, In so much that Bodin inge∣nuously confesseth, Exploratum est deserta et inculta loca si aquas et vias iis ad∣jungamus duos Galliae trientes auferre; It is is found and explor'd, that the de∣sert and untill'd places, if we add to them waters and wayes, make up two thirds of France; Then he confesseth that ther is such a scarcity of great timber trees, that not only for building of Ships, but for erecting of ordinary houses they must be beholden to other Nations.

Is this that incomparable fertility of France you speak of, Cosen? is this that land of promise? what a bragging do the Bourdelois keep of their grove of Cypres for the honor of which it was a custome that no ship shold go out of the Port with wine till the Magistrat had given him a branch of Cypres tree, for which he was to pay such a gabel; yet this Grove wherof they vaunt is scarce seven acres in all.

But Salt is the great staple Commodity of France, yet I pray be pleas'd to hear what Lemnius speaks thereof, Majores nostri salem confecerunt uberrimo sanè questu, non ex aqua marina solis ardore in salem concreta at{que} indurata, qualem ex Hispaniis & Galliis ad nos perfertur, sed ex maritimis glebis exusti at{que} in cinerem redactis quem infusâ aqua minutatim in salem reducebant splendidum ac nitentem nec alio salis genere tota Belgica ad nostram us{que} memoriam usa est. Qui conficiendi sa∣lis modus cum inducto externo inolesceret excogitatus est alius non minus quaestuosus, scilicet advecto ex Hispaniis at{que} Aquitanico sin•…•… rudi ac nigricante sordido{que} sale, exempto limo, excoctis{que} sordibus candidissimum id nostrates efficiunt rebus conservan∣dis ap•…•…issimum. Sed alter ille modus facilè in usum revocari potest, si externus sal hostili odio denegetur, aut ex quavis alia causa copiam nobis deesse contingat.

Our Ancestors made Salt with much profit, not of Sea water crusted by the heat of the Sun and so obdurated, such as is brought us from Spain and France, but out of maritime glebes burnt, and reduc'd to Cindres, which powring ther∣into a small portion of water by drops, they brought to be splendid and pure Salt, nor did all Belgium use any other Salt until our memory▪ Which mode of making when it grew out of use, a new extern way being introduc'd, ther was another no lesse gainful way invented; Which was that a rude and blackish sordid kind of salt being brought over from Spain, or Aquitane Coasts, the dreggs and filth being excocted, we brought it by our art and industry to be candid and beautiful, and most fit to conserve things; but the t'other way may be revived again very easily, if forren salt shold be denied us in case of enmity or otherwise.

Now although 'tis confess'd, that France abounds with Salt, and in that

point may be sayed to be a sweet Countrey, yet the Inhabitants pay dear for it, for the King makes neer upon 20. millions of Franks ev'ry yeer of the ga∣bel of salt (as it was spoken before) which are two millions sterling; In so much that although France have such plenty of Salt, yet it is cheaper in any other Countrey. For it is found that the Marchant hath it at lower rates on the Sea side then the Peasan in the Countrey, which makes the Hollander often∣times bring thither French Salt back again and gain by it. One shall see som∣times the poor Roturier or yeoman to go from the market with his pockets cram'd with salt to avoid paying the gabel, and women steal it home in their purses.

Now touching such an affluence of all things in France, besides which you insist upon, my Noble Cosen, it may be so, but then surely ther is the worst kind of government there upon earth, and the most unproportionablest divi∣dent made of that plenty, for I dare avouch France doth abound with beggars more then any Countrey under the Sun. One cannot ride upon the high way but he shall have swarmes of little mendicants sing before his horse head, as also when he remounts the next day; The poor Vigneron, and Husbandman go in their wooden shooes and canvas breeches to Church upon Sundayes, and if their wifes have a buckram petticot she is brave. Therfore wheras you say that France is the freest and frankest Countrey in the World, and that she draws her etymology thence, she may be so to strangers and passengers, but for the Natives I beleeve they are the arrand'st slaves upon earth, they are of a meer asinin condition, not only in relation to the King who so grinds their faces with taxes, but they are villains also to their Lords: I will produce one example for all; The Lord of Chasteauroux or red Castle in Berry had a Tenant, that by his industry became Bourgesse of Paris, Le seigneur vendica son serf, qui s'estoi•…•… retiré et obtint la provision, the Lord in open Court demands his slave, which the Court could not deny, and so pass'd sentence accordingly.

You say, noble Cosen, that France is adorn'd with all vertues, truly I do not see how vertue can cohabit where such furies do tyrannize; I am sure that Scaliger speaks of som parts of France, quae ab omni humanita•…•…e et literis vasta est, ubi librorum et bonorum hominum maxima solitudo est. Som parts which are void of all humanity and literature, where ther is a kind of solitude and wil∣dernesse both of books and good men.

Touching the magnanimity and prwoesse of the French, 'tis tru they did achieve som brave things while the German bloud continued fresh in them, and untainted; Cicero saith, that Caius Marius by his divine vertu and valour, influentes in Italiam Gallorum Copias repressit, that he repress'd those swarmes of French who rush'd into Italie, but Caesar, who was a better Historian then Cicero saith, they were Cimbri and Teutones both which are High Dutch, as also those which Brennus brought to sack Rome, and afterwards took Delphos from the Greeks.

Touching the French courage we know the trite proverb, that the French are at the first onset more then men, and afterwards les then women; Indeed Florus sayeth, Habent eorum corpora quiddam simile cum suis nivibus, quae mox vt caluêrs pugnâ statim in sudorem eunt, et levi motu quasi sole laxantur; The French bodies bear some analogy with their snowes, for as soon as they are heated in fight they vapour into sweat, and they are as it were thaw'd by the Sun at the least motion.

But your Highnesse seems to extol mightily the power of the French King, indeed 'tis an old saying, that Gallum in suo sterquilinio plurimum posse, The cock (Gallus) can do much upon his own dunghill. But this power is not so superlatif if we descend into the truth of things, for touching the demeanes of the Crown, the King cannot alienat one acre therof without the consent of the three Estates, as ther is a pregnant example herof in the Assembly of Blois, where Bodin lost the favour of Henry the third about this debate: For the

French King is by the law but an Usufructuary of the Crown possession; nor could any of them be sold for the redemption of King Iohn in England though it was then propos'd, nor of King Francis in Spain, though this was the greatest ne∣cessity that could be. We well know how often the Parlement of Paris hath clash'd with the King, and rejected his Edicts; Nor is the single testimony of the King valid enough in France to take away any ones life, ther was a notable example herof in Henry the seconds raign, who when he had commanded an Italian servant to be clap'd in prison, and had solemnly sworn that he had found him in a most foul offence, yet the Kings affidavit could not prevail with the Judges, but they releas'd the prisoner. But now the integrity and stoutnesse of those brave ancient Legislators and Judges in times past is much diminish'd, because Kings do use to lend their eares to Parasits, Sycophants, and Buffons rather then to Helvidius Priscus, Monsieur Lavacre, or such Sages. Ther is a tale of Bajazet the first, that he had an Ethiop born in India about him, and having upon a march one day his tent pitch'd nere a high tree, he call'd the Ethiop and sayed, Dre Areb, if thou lov'st me go up to the top of that tree, the Indian scambled up presently, so the Emperour sent presently for som to hew down the tree, the poor Ethiop begging his life all the while, and that his Coun∣sellors wold intercede for him, but nothing prevailing, the Ethiop pull'd down his breeches, and with his Excrements and Urine did so beray the hewers, that they gave over work, and in the interim the Ethiop gets down, telling the Turks Counsellors, Wold all such Privy Counsellors as you were so beray'd, whose oouncel cannot do as much as my Excrements. The French Kings use to have many such weak Councellors.

Touching the unlimited power the French Kings have to make pecuniary Le∣vies and lay taxes, I pray hear what Philip Comines sayeth, one of Lewis the xi. chiefest Councellors of State, and whom he employ'd in the most intricat and arduous ocasions, Nemo omnium est Principum qui jus habeat vel teruncium vnum exigendi a suis praeter constitutum annuum censum nisi populus assentiatur, sunt quidem principes quibus hoc frequens est in Sermone vt dicant habere se privilegia vt quantum velint exigant a populo, Galliarum vero Rex omnium minimè causam habet vt istud de se jactet, nec enim vel ipsi vel cui vis alii licet. Ther is no Prince that hath right to raise the least farthing of his subjects besides his settled re∣venues, without the peeples consent; 'Tis tru, ther are som Kings who have it frequently in their mouthes, that they have such praerogatives to impose what they please, but the King of France hath the least cause to vaunt thus of him∣self.

The Exorbitancies of the French Kings this way hath bin the ground of all the warrs that were wag'd pour le Bien public, for the common good which have harass'd France so often; Charles the Grosse herby came to such an extreme exigence that being overcom by Arnosplus he begg'd his bread of him to pre∣serve him from starving, and so obtain'd of him a small pension in Germany. Neverthelesse, though a clowd of examples of this kind could be produc'd, the Kings of France do still use to flay their sheep, insteed of shearing them; witnesse the last King who assum'd to himself the Epithet of Iust, and God knowes he least deserv'd it of any, having exacted more of his people by extrajudicial wayes then any of his predecessors ever did, to maintain a groundlesse warr against the Spaniard by the advice of an ambitious and bloudy Cardinal, whose heart was as red as his habit, and of a deeper sanguine die. Now as we read of a Town in Spain that was undermin'd by Coneys, of another in Thrace that was undermin'd by Mol•…•…e of another in Greece ranvers'd by Frogs, another in Ger∣many that was subverted by Rats, so I beleeve that ther are in France many such Cunnies, Moles, Froggs and Rats, I mean ambitious and sandy brain'd syco∣phants, that will undermine, ranverse and tumble to destruction their own dear Countrey; and Pope Gregory could prophecy so much of Richelieu when he came to confirm'd Bishop of Lucon to Rome at 20. yeers old, of whom he said

when he had perceiv'd his genius by his discourse, This man will overturn the World; nor is this Cardinal inferior unto him awhit, but his head and his hat are altogerher as red; He treads directly in his stepps, and so doth the Queen in her husbands against her only Brother: In so much that truly, if I appre∣hend any thing, one may see France running post to her own destruction.

Wheras you alledg that the Kings of France are such divine Physitians in curing the Struma, I pray be pleas'd to hear what Petrus Crescentius a famous French Doctor affirms, Multoties se vidisse Reges pro more tangere strumosos, sed qui inde sanatus fuerit, vidisse neminem; He had seen often som of the strumatical disease touch'd by Kings, but he saw not any cur'd meerly by the touch: I am of opinion ther be waters in Moravia that can do the cure better, being of a saltish, bituminous, chalchanthian vein, and 'tis more probable that God and Nature shold infuse more vertu to those mineral Waters, then to a mans fingers.

All these things being unpassionatly considered and well ponder'd, I do not see how the Countrey of France or her King, considering the slavery and po∣verty of the peeple, the unequal distribution of the public weal and blessings of the land, with sundry other reasons and solaecismes in Government before mentioned, I say, I do not see what hopes or reason France may have to expect and demand the preheminence of the rest of the Europaean Provinces.

Dixi.