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.

Politique Observation.

THere is good reason to hope for the Conversion of a Prince, from the Prin∣cess whom he marries; Women have so natural an art to perswade men, and to lead them to what they desire, that there is hardly any thing impossible for them

to do: Their beauty alone hath such strong charms, that they imprint in the soul, by their eyes, all the affections they have a mind to, and the Love wherewith they are cherished, gives them so great a power, that if they have never so l••ttle ingenu∣ity, one cannot defend himself from their perswasions, and if it be thus true in ge∣neral, it is not lesse in the particular of converting their Husbands or the People who are subject to them. History, is so full of Proofs of this nature, that one must be altogether ignorant, if he knows not, that the divine Providence, hath di∣vers times made use of their means for this glorious purpose. Thus Clotil••a daugh∣ter to the Duke of Borgogn, was the occasion that Clovis one of our first Kings her husband, imbraced the Christian Religion, and banished Idolatry out of his States.

I••g••nd Sister to Childebert King of France, being married to Hermenegild, King of the G••ths, converted him to the Holy Ch••ist••an Faith.

Chie••umte, daughter to the King of Mer••e in England, married a King of the West Saxons made him become a Christian and she her self a Saint.

Th••••d••linda. wife to ••••g••lulph, King of the Lombards, perswaded him and a great part of his people, to lay by their false Gods, and to live under the L••ws of he Gospel.

Gizel, daughter to H••nry Duke of Bavier, and Sister to the Emperour, Henry the first, being married to Ste••h••n the first of that name, King of Hungaria, made him and his whole Kingdome resolve to in ••race the F••••th of Jesus Christ, and thus many others of the like examples do verifie, that Q••eens have ever had a great power in this particular, and the spirit of God which hath made use of them for such glorious effects saith, The unb••lieving Husband, shall b•• sanctifiedly the be∣lieving Wife. Heaven it self fights for them in such occasions when they labour for his glory, besides it cannot be denyed but that their Rbetorick is perswasive, that their accord do some time passe or currant and undeniable reasons, that their words are charms and that their addresse is able to master the greatest courages.

In the midst of this diligent care which the Cardinal took for the Interests of Re∣ligion and the State, his Prudence was not forgetfull of any thing which might bee thought in favour of the Kings Sister. It was agreed in respect of eight hundred thousand Crowns, which his Majesty gave her in marriage, that she should renounce all successions either Paternal, Maternal, or Collateral, which might befall unto her; and accordingly after she had received leave from her mother, the Queen Mother, so to do she did renounce, and the King of Great Britains. Embassador, did ratifie it, that in future no such pretensions might arise, to trouble the quiet of the Kingdomes, as formerly had been. Withall, he took such tender care of all advantages for her, that she could not suffer any inconvenience by any accident whatever.

It was agreed upon by his care, that the Prince deceasing without issue, the mo∣ny should be totally restored to her, to be disposed of according to her own will whether she did live in England or in France.

That if he had children by this marriage, there should onely be two thirds of her Portion returned, the other being moveable, that the last twenty of the third part, should be made a yearly rent to her, during her life, that her Dower should be eight hundred thousand pound sterling, por annum. returning French mony, at sixty thousand Crowns rent, which should be assigned to her in Lands and Houses, one of which should be such, and accordingly furnished that she might make her usuall residence there.

That the King of Great Britain should be obliged to treat her and her Family with that Port which was fit for one of her quality that there should be fifty thousand crowns in Jewels presented to her, by the King of Great Britain, as a marriage favour, which should remain to her and hers, as well as those which she then had, as also such as she should have in future.

That she should have the free disposal of Benefices and Offices, in those lands which should be given her in Dower, and that one of those lands should be a Dutchie

or an Earldome, that it should be lawfull for her in her Widdow-hood, to return into France, whether she had children, or not, that in case she should return, the King of Great Brittain should conduct her at his own proper charges to Callis, with such honour as should be fit for one of her quality.

That her house should be furnished with such dignity, and should be filled with as many Officers, as any Princess yet had, or as had been accorded to the Infanta of Spain, upon the late Treaty which had been proposed. Briefly, that for the as∣surance of these conditions, he, of the two Kings, who should be deficient to ac∣complish what belongeth on his part to do, should be bound to pay four hundred thousand crowns to the other, as a penalty for breach of them.

This was as much security as could be had for the present, but one thing is not to be forgotten, which was, that all the Treaty, all the promises given and taken, and all the Acts which were concluded on, passed in the Kings name, as the Person, to whom the marrying of the Princesses of the Bloud did really appertain, and which he might do according to his own pleasure, and upon such conditions as he should think fit; whereas they are onely concern'd to give their consents both to the Persons and Articles which are resolved on.

Custome, may raise obstacles against marriages and make them void▪ if there bee any defect of following the usual order which is prescribed. The Popes have found by the Canon Law, that they have this Power: Particularly Alexander the third, who when a Bishop asked him the Question, whether Marriage between the Chil∣dren of two Gossips were allowable, answered him, yes, in case the custome of the Country did permit it. But I shall say moreover, that the same Pope hath de∣clared that there might be such Customes in France, which might annull marriages, though on the other side, those of Rome may license them. According to that answer, which was made to the Bishop of Amiers, who desiring to know if a mar∣riage made with a Eunuch were good, was answered, that the general custome of the French Church, was to dissolve it, and he was contented so to permit it, though the Roman Church used the contrary. It is the Custome of France, that no Prin∣cesses or Ladies of great quality, whose marriages may be of concern to the State, may marry, but by and with the Kings order and consent. The second Race of our Kings furnisheth us with an example very remarkable, in the marriage of Judeth Widdow of Edmulph King of England, who being married without the consent of Charles the Bauld, with Bauldwin grand Forrestier, and afterwards first Earl of Flanders▪ he declared the said marriage to be nul by the Prelates & Clergy of France. assembled at Senlis, though she were at her own disposal, by her first marriage and royalty, though Pope Nicholas the first, would have pickt a quarrel at it, and have confirmed it. Some one perchance, not well informed, may suppose, that this Pope wanted courage, but there is no reason for it: seeing he had spirit enough to excommunicate Lotharius for marrying a second wife, leaving his first, though his Clergy at Merz and Calogue▪ did favour him to constrain him to quit his last Wife, and to receive his first; as also to dispossess two Bishops, who had Abetted the dis∣order; the true reason is, he knew that the Custome of France did not permit Ju∣dith to re-marry without the Kings consent. The third Race, affords us another proof, reported by a Historian▪ who deserves so much the rather to be credited, he being generally known for one of the enemies of France. It was the marriage contracted by Proxy, between Maximilian, and Anne of Brittain. It's true, it was not consummated as that of Judith was; but because it was concluded without the consent of Charles the Eighth one of our Kings. His Majesty making use of his Power, declared it Null, by reason of that default. In fine, it was allowed for naught, and both parties remained Free, Maximilian afterwards marrying Mar∣garet of Milan; and Charles the Eighth married the same Anne of Brittain, and no one doubted the validity of either of the marriages.

If these examples evince to us, the Antiquity of this Custome, and how the Church hath allowed of it, we cannot suspect or doubt, but that they are grounded upon just reasons, seeing the marriages of persons of such quality, are of great importance

to the State, and ordinarily are the originals of Peace or War, and serve for a Stair-Case to such, who aspiring higher then they ought, raise enterprizes against the So∣veraignty, as Cornelius Tacitus hath observed; it doth therefore rest safely to bee concluded on, that the Princesses of France cannot lawfully marry without the Kings consent. So that neither men or women who have had them in their posses∣sion, did never make a difficulty to promise, either by Oath, or any other assurance, that they would not contract them in any marriage without their consents and ap∣probation.

Philippes Auguste, took security of Mahaut, Countess of Flanders, that if it should happen that she and Eude the third Duke of Burgogn, should separate, she should not re-marry without permission. Philip Earl of Namur, promised the same King that he would not marry Jane or Margaret of Flanders, his Neeces, whose Guardian he was without his consent. Jane Countess of Flanders, promi∣sed by a particular instrument unto St. Lewis the King, that she would not marry with Simon de Montfort, but with his allowance. Jane daughter to Philip of Bur∣gogn, being delivered to King John, by the Treaty between him, and the Earl of Savoy, amongst other things it was then concluded, that she should be married where his Majesty should think fit•••• provided it were not to the Daup••ine his eldest son. And Francis Duke of Brittain, ingaged by a Treaty with Charles the Eight, not to marry either of his two daughters, without his advise, under the penal for∣feiture of two hundred thousand crowns of Gold, and for the greater security, he bound unto him the principallest Towns in his whole Dutchee.