This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
I Have sent to the Kaimacham, an Account of the Death of Cardinal Richlieu, with some Passages relating thereto, wherewith I thought it not proper to Interrupt thy Diviner Thoughts.
This Great Minister, died the Fourth of this Instant Moon, being the last of the Year, in his Palace at Paris. His Body is Interred in the Chappel of the Colledge of Sorbon, where he finish'd his Studies, and attained the Degree of Doctor in Theology. He
has left behind him a prodigious Estate, a∣mounting to a Million of Crowns Yearly; which he has bequeathed in Legacies to his Kindred, Friends and Creatures. And, as a particular Demonstration of his Gratitude to the King, he has made him Heir of his Car∣dinal-Palace, in this City, with all the Plate and Furniture in it. And, at the last Visit the King made him (which was a little before his Death) he presented him with a Stone worth a Hundred Thousand Crowns of Gold. Upon which, 'tis discoursed, that the King will settle a Yearly Revenue on a certain Number of the Sorbonists, to celebrate Mass daily for the Cardinal's Soul, during the Space of One Year, and once a Year afterwards on the Day that he died. For, these Infidels ap∣proach thus near the True and Ʋndefiled Faith, in that they have Hopes of Immortality, be∣lieving the Resurrection of the Dead, and, that the Prayers, Alms, and Good Works of the Living, do atone for the Sins of the De∣parted; as our Holy Doctors teach, and, as is the Practice of the Mussulmans throughout the World.
This Cardinal, was richly endowed by Nature, having a firm Intellect, vigorous Spirit, quick Apprehension, solid Judgment, faithful Memory, and a most prevailing Way of Discourse. A Man highly serviceable to his King and Country; and therefore de∣serving better of the French, than those Scandalous Reports and Libels which were every where industriously spread abroad, to
lessen his Fame. Yet, there wanted not those who strewed Flowers on his Grave, and Per∣fumed his Ashes with Encomiums and Pane∣gyricks. In this he shared the common Fate of the Great, that he was Malign'd and En∣vied Living, but honoured with the Tears of his very Enemies when Dead.
There is one Fault to be found in his Con∣duct, without appearing too Censorious, That he being a Man consecrated to the Service of the Altar, should so often take the Field, and divesting himself of the Peaceful Robes of Religion, should clothe himself in Steel, de∣lighting more in the Smell of Gunpowder, than that of Incense; and preferring the Noise of War, to the Hymns and Antiphons of the Church: Not, that Religion is incompatible with Valour; and, to fight for ones Country, is not as Lawful and as Pious, as to pray for its Prosperity. Our Holy Law, the Celestial Pat∣tern of Truth to the World, exhorts us to Cou∣rage. And all True Believers are assured of the Joys of Paradise, of unfading Crowns, and eter∣nal Felicities, if they lose their Lives in Defence of the Sacred Empire, and the Book of Glory: Our Immortal Lawgiver, giving us his own Example, when he laid the Foundation of the Greatest and most Illustrious Empire in the World, in the Wounds of his Enemies, cementing the Work with the Blood of Mil∣lions of Infidels. Nor has the Superstructure been carried on by any other Methods, than those of perpetual War, with the Nations who will not submit to our Victorious Sultan,
the Invincible Lord of the Earth. But, the Messenger of God never required the Imaum's or Dervises to take the Field; leaving Arms only to Secular Men, and the Alcoran to the Religious.
I forget that I am speaking to him, whose Repose and Tranquility is the special Care of Heaven, who is not to be disturbed by Emperors. Therefore, in profound Reve∣rence, I salute thy Holiness with a dutiful O∣beisance, and so withdraw my Pen.
Paris, 4th. of the last Moon, of the Year 1642.