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.

The Deputation of Father Berule, to his Holiness, to obtain a Dispen∣sation for the above-mentioned Marriage.

THe respect wherewith the King had ever honoured the Holy Father, made him resolve with the English Embassadours in the first Article of the Treaty, That in consideration of that diversity of Religion, between the Princess and the Prince of Wales his Majesty should send to his Holiness to procure a Dispensation before the Marriage were effected, to obtain the said Dispensation, the Cardinal propo∣sed to the King, to send Father Berule, Superior General of the fathers of the Oratory, and to commit the charge of it to him, as a person capable of such a ne∣gotiation and whose Piety (which amongst the People is extreamly recommend∣able) might take off all shadows or apparencies, which the weakness of their sen∣ses, or the malice of the Spaniards might raise abroad concerning it. It should seem he did fore-see that Fury, wherewith the Spanish Partisans writ against this marriage. So angry they were, that they had not prevented it, not reflecting, that for eleven whole years they had testified to the world, that they would have done the self-same thing. But that I may not be hindred by those outragious spee∣ches, which proceeded from those spirits puft up with Ambition, who then began to discover that France had a Minister capable to countermine them, and to oppose their unjust designs. I shall inform you, that the instruction, which was give to Father Berule was, to go to Rome with all diligence, and to obtain the Dispensati∣on from the Pope, to which purpose he was to represent to his Holiness, That the King of Great Brittain, having demanded the Princess Henrietta Maria the Kings Sister, in marriage, for the Prince of Wales his son, his Majesty was the more in∣clinable, to hearken to the Proposition, because hee looked upon it as a probable means to convert the English; as heretofore a French Princess married into Eng∣land, had induced them to imbrace Christianity. But that the Honour which hee owed to the Holy Chair, and in particular to his Sanctity, who had formerly held him at the Font of Baptism, in the name of Pope Clement the Eighth, had not per∣mitted him to conclude upon the Treaty, before the obtainment of his Dispensati∣on. That this Marriage ought to be regarded for the Interest, not onely of the Ca∣tholicks in England, but of all Christendome, who would receive great advantages by it, that there is not any thing of hazard for the Princesse, seeing she is as firm, as

could be desired both in the Faith a•••• Piety. That she should have a Bishop•• and eight and twenty Priests, to do all Offices. That she should have none but Catholicks in her Houshold. That the King of Great Brittain, and the Prince of Wales, would oblige themselves by Writing and Oath, not to solicite her directly or indirectly, neither by themselves, or any other persons, to change her Religion: Moreover, that there being nothing to be feared in relation to the Princesse, there were great hopes, that she might be intirely beloved by the King (who was well disposed already to become a Catholick) and by the Prince of Wales, That shee might the more contribute to their conversion, in regard that women have very great power over their Husbands and Father-in-Laws, when Love hath gotten any power in their affections. That for her part, she was so zealous in Religion, that there was no doubt but she would employ her utmost industry in so pious a design: That admitting God should not succeed her i••tentions either upon King James, or the Prince of Wales, there were hopes her Children might become restorers of that Faith which their Ancestors had destroyed, seeing she had the education and bringing of them up in the belief and exercise of the Catholique Religion until they were thirteen years old; and that their first seeds of Piety, having being instilled into their souls, and cultivated with carefulnesse, when they became capable of good Instructions, might infallibly produce stable and permanent Fruits, that is, so strong a Faith, as might not be shaken by Heresie in a riper age. And after all, That the Catholiques of England would forthwith receive great advantages by it, seeing both the King of Great Britain▪ and the Prince of Wales, his Son, would oblige themselves by wor•• and deed, not to hunt them out▪ or when they were discovered, to punish them: To free out of Prison all such as were layed up; to restore them their Monies and Goods which had been forced from them after the last Act, if they were possible to be had; and generally to treat them with more favour, than if the Treaty with Spain had gone on. Lastly, he had order to inform the Pope, that to render a greater respect to the Church, he had con∣ditioned, that the Princess should be affianced and contracted according to the Catholique form, like that which was observed they Charl••s the Ninth, in the Mariage of Margarice of France with the late King Henry the Fourth, then King of Navarr.

These things spoke in their own behalf, and were so eminently visible, that no doubt could be made of them. The Father Berule too, wanted neither Ability nor Good-will, but represented them to his Holyness with such dexterity, that his Sanctity gave him hopes of a favourable answer. 'Tis true, the Pope would not grant him a dispence without conferring with the Cardinals, that he might give no jealousie to Spain, who had been dealt with in the very same manner, when they desired a Dispensation for the In••anca, but they were of his own naming, and such as no one could think, were more subject to Passion than Justice. So they met di∣vers times about it, and though it were with the ordinary delayes of the Court at Rome (without which they esteem no affair, can be discussed and judged with Prudence or Majesty enough) yet in sine, they referred the expediting of the Di∣spensation to the Popes pleasure. All that was cross in the business, was barely this. Father Boriel•• being naturally addicted to refine all things, was perswaded, that there had not been assurances strong enough, obtained from the English for the securing and hindring the placing of Protestant Officers over the Princesses children; the solicitation of Officers to change their Religion; the continuation of forcing English Catholiques to take Oaths of Abjuration against the Catho∣lique Religion, and the holy See, though indeed it had been expresly concluded and agreed on, That the King of England and Prince of W••l••s should engage both by Writing and Oath, not to enforce them any more. However this induced both the Pope and Cardinals to think fit (not acquainting the ••ieur••d•• Bethune with it, though the Cardinals Prudence had tyed up the said Father B••rul•• in his Instructions, not to doe any thing without him) to oblige the King in the Instrument of Dupensa∣tion, to procure from the King of Great Britain new assurances in these parcicu••ars.

So that he following his own sense, and specious reasons, upon which he re∣lyed, his Holyness dispatched him upon those conditions, and sent him back to the King with all diligence.