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LETTER XX. To the Cardinal de la Valette.
My Lord,
THE Sieur Ferrier being gone to visit the Mareschal de la Force from the King, about an Affair which he will communicate to you, I thought my self oblig'd to inform you by him, what his Majesty's Thoughts are in relation to your self, I mean about the commanding of his Troops, which he order'd to meet about Langres. You must know then, he's so perfectly satisfy'd, not only with your Affection to the Prosperity of his Affairs, but with your Merit and Experience, that of his own proper Motion he form'd this Resolution, not judging it fit that a Person of your Condition shou'd remain in his Army without Authority. I am so much the more pleas'd at the choice he has made of your self upon this Occasion, because it will give you an Opportunity to discover your Worth to the World every Day more and more, and I am assured you will fully answer the Opinion and Confi∣dence that has been always repos'd in you. In the mean time I desire you to depend upon my Affection as fixt and immoveable to you: No Man living more esteems you, or wishes your Happiness with greater Zeal than my self, who am,
My Lord,
Your, &c, RICHELIEU.
Neufchastel, May 15, 1635.
P. S. You will do well to consider deliberately what to enterprize with the Army that you are to com∣mand. The Sieur Ferrier will tell you how many different Thoughts we have had of that Matter here. If we cou'd but beat Monsieur de Lorrain with the Troops that the Mareschal de la Force commands in those Parts, then we ought to em∣ploy