The history of the government of France, under the administration of the great Armand du Plessis, Cardinall and Duke of Richlieu, and chief minister of state in that kingdome wherein occur many important negotiations relating to most part of Christendome in his time : with politique observations upon the chapters / translated out of French by J.D. Esq.

Politick Observation.

IT is no new thing to see the Publick Exchequer ill governed. The Treasury was common amongst the Greeks, as Polybius and Chirisophus, in Zenophon witnesse, the latter of which reproacheth them with it, that there was hardly a man amongst them of any mark, who might not be reproved for it. Aristides general Treasurer of Athons, manifested publickly, that all those who had managed the Treasury of that Republick, not onely in his time, but before, had robbed them of a good quantity, not so much as excepting Themistocles. Gylippus, did divert a great part of those Riches; which Lysander had hid by a Slaves means of his, under the Tyles of his house. When he sayd, if one should look in such a place, he might find good store of Owls; meaning Gold and Silver, upon which the Grecians stamped an Owl, by reason of the Athenians, which was accordingly sifted out, and deliver∣ed into the hands of the Ephores, who punished him very severely for it. For the same fault amongst the Romans, was Sylla accused by Consorinus, who grounded his indictment upon this, That he having but little wealth left by his Father, inso∣much that he was forced to lodge in a hired house, and was now become excessively rich. It would be easie to produce many of the like examples, not but there have been in all ages, honest, upright men, in whose hands the Publick Treasuries have been regulated, with much fidelitie, and who have not deserved lesse praise then Pericles, of whom Thucydides reports, that he had not increased by one onely dragm of Silver, the Estate which his father left him, notwithstanding the great imployments he had in the Treasuries. But I can tell you, there have been some Persons in the Ages last past, who have made so little difficulty of diverting the Trea∣sury, that they have gloried in being made rich by it.

If this Crime then be so ancient, the use of punishing them, being once convict is as old, the Grecian and Roman Laws assure us of it, in the examples of Gylippus, Lisander, and many others; but must he not needs be very imprudent, who would not punish them at all, seeing the defrauding of a Treaty, is a Poyson, which depriveth the State of the use of her Sinews and Muscles: And lastly, which decays its vigour, that it is rendred uncapable of attempting any thing either great or glorious. Ves∣pasian, as Suetonius saith, inforced the Receivers of his Treasury, to render an ac∣compt of what they received from their fathers, and to restore him the surplusage, as if they had robbed him of it.

The Laws of France are more severe, and they have been often executed, against the greatest of the Kingdome, amongst others, Father de la Berche Engneraud de

Marigny, le Sieur de Giac, & Camus de Beaulieu, were convicted of this Crime, under King Philip, Lewis his son, and Charls the 8th. and accordingly condemned to die for it.

Philip de Valois made an Assembly very remarkable, of the three States, in which it was resolved to make the Treasurers, render an accompt, and to intrust the dis∣posal of the Publick Money, into the hands of the Ecclesiasticks and Noble Men; who it was hoped, would manage them with more Fidelity. In fine, a Commission was granted to the Abbots of Marmostier and Corby, and they had joyned to them for Counsel, four Bishops, and four Knights. Pierre des Essars Treasurer of France, was then clapt up in Prison, and severall Financiers condemned to pay great Fines.