Politique Observation

THE Affairs of Christendome, were brought to that passe, that the two Crowns of France and Spain, did partake with the Interests of all other Princes. The one is bound to assist those who are assaulted by t'other, and never did either of them attempt any thing which ought not by reason of State bee opposed by the t'other. If any one ask a reason hereof, it may be ascribed to that emulation, which for above a hundred years hath been nourished between them, so that neither can indure to see t'other increase his strength or power; but to speak more rightly, the reason is not one and the same between France and Spain, for that either of them have their particular motives. The Spaniards like the Lacedemonians, have fixed the highest part of their Monarchy, not in that which is so much just as profitable for the inlarging of it, and consequentially, they do easily violate all Rights and Justice, not reflecting, that the Common-wealth of the Lacedemonians, stood but a little while, it being setled upon so ruinous a Foundation, which was the de∣struction of their Power: Now with France it is quite otherwise, whose State be∣ing grounded upon Justice, doth not hurry them on to snatch up their Arms, but onely when their own defence or that of their Allies calls them to it. France hath no design but to preserve it self. Spain to increase it self; France knoweth that safe∣ty consists in an equal ballancing of the Powers and strengths of one another; and therefore it is, that France thinks her self concern'd to obstruct Spains growing too Potent, that he might not pretend to have any advantage over her, or her Allies. Spain on the other side, which hath long since formed and contrived a design of ma∣king it self master of all Europe, conceiveth that there is wrong done him, if at any time France doth uphold her Allies in their just Possessions of their Estates, or take up Arms for their defence. Now to cement them in this dispute, either of the two Crowns have their Allies, which are tied to them by several Bonds, that is, by diffe∣rent considerations France hath such for her Allies, who suspect the Power of Spain, and fear they shall be set upon by it: Spain hath others, who take part with the In∣terests of the House of Austria, as issued from thence by some relation or other, and who are so far from France, that being not easily releeved, they are forced to keep all fair with them, and serve them in their designs, under the hopes, that by this means they may at least procure that favour, which the Cyclop promised Ʋlysses. In this last from I range the Italians, who having experimentally found how little favourable the Protection of France hath been, hath been to them, by reason of their distance from one another, and the difficulties of passing Forces in∣to their Country, do tie themselves so much the stricter to the Spaniard, it being easie for him to seize upon their States, Milan and Naples lying so neer upon them. Experience hath made it evident, that they were never faithfull to the French. They have sometimes ingaged our Kings in enterprizes, by allying themselves with them, but after they had occasioned great expences, and all to no purpose, they fell off from their words, as Lewis the Moor, Duke of Milan, and then he of Milan who presently turned tayl to the Interests of Henry the 2d. though he had secured him from the violences of the Emperour. The onely means to unite them really with France, and to draw them off from the Interests of Spain, whom they have no great inclination to, were to have a free open Passage for the Souldiers, which might be quickly dispatched from Languedoc and Province, which happiness France now hath by the Prudence of the Cardinal, in the possession of Pignerol.