The holy court in five tomes, the first treating of motives which should excite men of qualitie to Christian perfection, the second of the prelate, souldier, states-man, and ladie, the third of maxims of Christianitie against prophanesse ..., the fourth containing the command of reason over the passions, the fifth now first published in English and much augemented according to the last edition of the authour containing the lives of the most famous and illustrious courtiers taken out of the Old and New Testament and other modern authours / written in French by Nicholas Caussin ; translated into English by Sr. T.H. and others.

The DESIGN and ORDER of the Book.

TO speak properly, we have but two great Books, the Heaven and the Bible, which never perish; The others have an Air, and a certain continuance amongst men, and at the last arrive unto their period; But the most part of those who at this day do write, do come into the world, as drops of rain into the Sea, of which the Ocean takes no notice, neither of their coming in, or their going out. In so great a croud of Writers, I have put forth my first Tome of the HOLY COURT, as under that consideration, esteem∣ing that I brought but a little dew, into a great River, and having spoken some Truths by the way; I should bury my self, from my birth, in the Tomb of so many Books, which is excusable by the law of necessity, and honourable by the multitude, and the qualities of those that write.

Howsoever, I see that GOD, who governeth our lives and our pens, hath been pleased that this Work should be had in some respect, and having exceeded the merit of the Authour, it should also exceed his hope, producing some fruit, and withal some comfort to my travels, which I cannot now judge to be ill employed.

This hath again put my pen into my hand, to follow the continuation of it, to which so many personages of Honour have brought so many reasons to induce me, that having but little lei∣sure to undertake this second Work, I have had the less boldness to refuse it.

Those who complain, that my pen hath not swiftly enough followed their desires, are to re∣member, that though Slowness be a mother a little to be blamed, yet her Children are not de∣formed; The bringing forth of good Books ought not to resemble that of Birds, concerning which an Ancient writeth, that they come out of the Belly of their mother before they are born; we ought to give them form, and a long time to foster them in the Mind, before they appear in publick; For in precipitation it is a poor attempt to be able onely to hope for nothing, but to erre hastily, to repent at leisure. I do more fear the Reproches of precipitation, than delibera∣tion, for in this mortal condition wherein we live, our most perfect Actions are but heavy as∣says, and the most gross proofs of perfection.

This may be said without any diminution to the merit of some celestial Spirits, who make promptitude and goodness to march together with an equal pace, it being not expedient, that those who cannot follow them, should glory in the infirmities contrary to so great abilities. For me, I content my self with the approvement and admiration of other mens works, reserving no∣thing but industry for my own. And though for all my pains I cannot of my self find in my own work satisfaction enough to content the Readers, whom I acknowledge so favourable to me, yet so it is, that I find I have brought something which bears some correspondence with their desires.

This I can assure them, that the contraction of the precepts which I have drawn into so few words, being able to stretch them into Volumes, are not without their profit, and that Histories are made most choice of in that nature, where (besides their majesty which lays forth the most specious affairs of the Estate of Empires, since the beginning of their Christianism) they have a certain sweetness with them, which sound spirits will find to be so much advanced above all Fa∣bles and Romances, as the pleasures of Truth do surpass all illusions of Sorcerers.

You shall here perpetually observe a great Theater of the Divine Providence, where (God knows) I have no other Design, than to advance Virtue, and to beat down vice, without reflect∣ing on any of the Personages of these times, no more than if I wrote under the reign of Charle∣maigne or S. Lewis: I must intreat these spirits of Application, which know not how to behold a work, without making it subject to their own fancies, imagining every letter to be the Ecchoes of their own thoughts, that if they have any Commentary to produce, they would rather make a gloss upon their own Dreams, than on my Books. We live not yet (God be thanked) in an Age so miserable, that we dare not sacrifice to Truth without a disguise, seeing it is the glory of our Grandees, that we may openly make war against Vice, as against an enemy, and not of our party.

For, to speak sincerely, having laid my first Tome at the feet of the sacred person of our great King, I considered what great and glistering lights there were in all their Orders within his Court, which might serve as Models for my Treatise, but to avoid the affectation of all compli∣ance with this world, I did expresly forbear it, my own nature and my long Robe having so far

estranged me from all worldly pretences, that it would be a disease unto me, but to salute a man, if he had not Heaven and the Stars to return me for it.

As concerning the manner of writing which I have observed, I shall easily confess unto my Reader, that it proceeded rather from my Genius, than from Art, and though I have been curi∣ous enough to observe whatsoever the Greek or Romane Eloquence hath happily brought forth, yet I must acknowledge, that there is a Ray of God himself, which entering into our spirit, and mingling with our nature, is more knowing and effectual, than all precepts whatsoever. And this I can affirm for the instruction of youth, to those who have demanded my advice, concern∣ing the qualities and conditions of stiles. It is true, I have perused variety of Books written in all Ages, and I have acknowledged that the most sensible amongst them, have been raised both in their conceptions and their words, above the common reach, and alwayes without affectation. Others have been passionately taken with some fine niceties, which are the capital Enemies to perswasion, and above all, to be eschewed in the Discourses which are made of Piety, whose nerves they do infeeble, and whose lustres they do foil; we may see that those, who from the chair do speak unto us, either by account or by writing, although it be with terms discreet enough, yet they leave a less impression on our hearts, and sometimes are so violently carried away to serve their own reputation, that they forget their engagements to the Truth. We may observe some, who through too much spirit, seek out by-ways of conceptions of common sense, and extravagant words, and so strongly adore their own thoughts, that they can suffer none but themselves on their own paper, which is the cause, they seldom meet with the right use of humane understanding, being the true Citizens of Plato's Common-wealth, capable to controul all things, but to per∣form nothing. Others there are, who glory in a sterility, and are willfully angry against God, because in some part of the Heavens he placed so many stars. These can endure nothing that is generous, without snarling or biting at it. They conceive Beauty and Light to be blemishes, be∣cause they are above their capacities. Lastly there are some, who in their continual Allegations, do so lay forth themselves in the praise of others, that they make their Discourses like those pi∣ctures of Helena, which are all of gold: There is nothing but Drapery to be seen, you cannot distinguish the foot from the hand, nor the eye from the ear. But I will enter no further in∣to the consideration of our times, having learned rather to respect than censure the indifferent Works of our Writers. But to speak soundly, I never thought it expedient, either to perswade unto, or to follow the same fashions. And as in this work I have not altogether renounced the learning and the ornaments, which I thought to be convenient, but have inchased them in it, so I would not fill my papers with Quotations and strange Languages, this Labour being under∣taken rather to perswade the Great-ones unto Virtue, than to fill the Extracts and Annotations of the Students.

I have so moderated the style, without letting my self loose to the empty language of Com∣plements, which had been beneath my Subject, that I conceive I have rendered it easie to be un∣derstood, even to those apprehensions which make no profession at all of learning.

It is the onely Design that I have, to speak so as to be understood, perswading my self, ac∣cording to the saying of Philo, That Word and Thought are two Sister germanes, and that the youngest is born, onely to make the eldest known. I study more for weight of sentences, than for ornament of words, pretending nothing to the glory of mundane Quills, which we see every day appear amongst so many Authours of this Age, who would be more perfect, if they would apply themselves to more grave subjects, and in some fashion imitate the Sun, who being admi∣red thoughout the whole world, doth not know how to admire it self.

Nevertheless it often comes to pass, but not to the more lofty Writers, who are ordinarily in∣dued with more modesty, but to certain men extreamly profane, to idolize their own inventions, to condemn all Treatises of worth, and to esteem, that one cannot be eloquent in our tongue, if he writes not Vanity or Impureness.

Certainly, if a question were made to judge of the French eloquence, the riches of Babylon are not so exquisite, that they may stand in comparison with the beauties of Sion. As long as letters and men shall continue, there shall continue the praises of so many excellent Books, which have come from the hands of so many Illustrious Prelates, and other qualified persons, nay, and of the secular State, who have exercised their style on chaste and honourable Arguments, and worthy all commendation. I speak this by the way, having at this time no design to enlarge my self on the recital of the number of those able men, who have now the pen in their hands, nor praise those of my own Robe, who have given their holy labours to the publick, and who I know may be followed by a great number of excellent Spirits of the same society.

For that which concerns me, I am acquitted of my promise, and I conceive, that I have suf∣ficiently

expressed in these two Volumes, the whole reach of my Design; for the rest, I conceive that the Books of Devotion which are to be made publick, ought to be rare, and to be very well digested, because there is already extant so great a number of them, that the number of the Authours will suddenly exceed the number of the Readers.

Satiety will cast a cloud on the brightest Beauties, and though a thing may be very good, yet we ought not to surfet with the excess thereof, for fear that good Offices be turned into mispri∣sions, and Charity render it self too importunate. But so it is, that we must confess that Pieces well wrought, are never seen in so great a number, as to bring any fastidiousness to them who do know their merit.

Here do I stop my pen, and if there appears any worth in this Volume, I look upon it as on the Mirrour planted on the wall of a Temple in Arcadia, where those that beheld it, in stead of their own face, saw the representation of the Divinity which they adored.

Even so in all this which may bring any profit to the Reader, I see nothing of my own, but I acknowledge the Father of lights, who is the Beginning and the End of all which we do make praise-worthy. And I beseech him, if there be found any thing attractive in these Discourses, that He will, like the Load-stone, draw up the Readers, and carry them to the love of their Crea∣tour, to whom is due the tribute of all honour, as to him who is the Beginning of all Perfection. It is indeed the onely consolation which we can receive from our labours. For, not to dissemble the Truth, he that cares more to write than to live, flattering his pen, and neglecting his con∣science, shall have work enough to defend himself from the Scurf, the Rat, and from Oblivion. And when in a passionate life he shall carry with him the applauses of the world, it shall be as a small sacrifice unto him of smoke abroad, to lodge a fire and tempest in his own house.

It is reported, that the Stars contribute their beams to enlighten the Infernals, and I can af∣firm, that all the lights of Understanding and Reputation, shall serve onely to inflame the tor∣ments of a reprobate soul, who shall shut his eyes against God, to open them onely to let in Vanity.

In the end, after many Editions of the HOLY COURT, as I desired here to put the last hand to it, I am now retired into the solitary place of Quinpercorentin, for the love of the truth; where the honesty of the Inhabitants have made me to find it as my Countrey, which other men have taken for a place of banishment: There on the banks of the Ocean, at the feet of a Saint, who is the Tutelar of the Village, perceiving that God had sweetened to me all the bitterness both of men and of the times, by the infusion of his Paternal Consolation, I have composed more Treatises, both of Doctrine and Piety, to render in some sort, my silence profit∣able to the publick, of which one day I will give a good account unto my Readers, if God shall grant me life.

Amongst other things, I have digested into good order, this Work of the HOLY COURT, and I have enriched it with a remarkable Augmentation of the Lives and Elogies of the Illu∣strious Personages at Court, as well in the Old as the New Testament.

Now I do produce it to the light, after that by the singular favour of Heaven, the ob∣stacles are removed, and Truth acknowledged on the Throne of Lights, with which God hath round environed it.