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 Cardinal is extraordinary careful to make a good understanding between the King, Queen Mother, Monsieur, and the Princes of the Blood, and others.

AS the Tyes of Birth are but of small force, if not cherished with Affection, so the Cardinal could not be satisfied with setling the King in his Authority over the Princes, but took extraordinary pains, to continue them in a good un∣derstanding with his Majesty. The Queen Mother was the chief of all those who had the honour to be of the Royal House, so he used his utmost power to tye her fast to the Kings will. He did the more readily undertake this trouble, because he had for several years, received sundry testimonies of her favour, and he would gladly have acknowledged them by his services; and it sorted so happily, that it may safely be said he did in it repay all her obligations a hundred times over; but it was no smal matter to be brought to pass; for he was to combat with the Queen Mothers in∣clinations, & the jealousies which the King had with some reason entertained against her. From the time that the Queen Mother had govern'd France in the quality of Regent, she had not as yet renounced the Conduct of Affairs; though the care which one is bound to take for the Government of a people, be accompanied with a thousand pricking vexations, yet so it is, that the splendour wherewith it is atten∣ded, hath such powerful charms, that the discreetest souls, and least ambitious, have much ado to defend themselves against them. The knowledge he had of her inclination still to conserve that power to her self, was a great impediment to his work: And the King, in whose hands the onely supream power resides, was so much the more jealous of it, for that it is ordinary with Grandees to be suspitious of their powers; and that with so much the more reason, for that Justice doth not permit that one should divide the command with them.

The Cardinal meeting with things in this conjuncture, used his utmost industry to overcome the Queen Mothers inclinations, being assured that it would be after∣wards easie to dissipate those suspitions of the King. He insinuated into her soul with all sweetness and address, the truth, which ought to be the foundation of their good correspondence, letting her see, that she ought not to think it any strange thing, that the King should desire to be Master, or that all Affairs were revolved by his order, for that by his birth the Laws of the Kingdom did give him that Authority which no one had any right to deprive him of. He used indeed his ut∣most address to impress this truth in her, letting her see, that she ought not to pretend to any part of it; That the King quitting all his suspitions, would give her more then she could wish, seeing he was so naturally inclined to pay her all manner of respects. The Queen Mother, who did then much esteem of his counsels, did beleeve him, and she received such advantages by it, that by letting his Majesty see by her conduct, that she did no longer think of the Government, he restored her into so absolute an Authority, that she had all sort of power in the management of Affairs.

This was a very great advantage, procured to her by this grand Minister, and which surpassed all those favours which he had at any time received from her Ma∣jesty. The State too did not receive less profit by it; for that this good correspon∣dencie which united the Affections of the King, and Queen Mother, did put an end to all those Cabals which had formerly divided the whole Nation, so that the Forces of it would not now fly out any more into parties, but remain entire, to op∣pose the Ambition of Strangers.

The Cardinal, that he might the more confirm this Union, and make it the stronger, perswaded the King to take Father Suffren for his Confessor, who had been so for a long while to the Queen Mother, assuring himself that this good person, whose soul was so affectionately inclined to Peace, replenished with Piety, and voyd of Ambition, being the Depository of the secrets of their Consciences, would not be a little conducing to the dispelling of those little suspitions which might arise between them, and that he would have somwhat the more power, in regard women are naturally addicted to be perswaded by their Confessors.

Next to the Queen Mother, Monsieur was the most considerable person in af∣fairs, as also the most capable to raise Divisions in the Kingdom, as many Princes of his Place and Birth had done, who not being able to stay for command untill the time prescribed by the Laws both the Nature and the Kingdom, run out at the perswasion of those who were near them, to seise on the Government. The Car∣dinal therefore was no whit less industrious to tye him too unto the Kings Interests. There was no great need of any extraordinary diligence to bring it to pass, Justice having infused into him with his birth, all those inclinations and dispositions which were proper for him to have towards his Majesty. All which the Cardinal very well knew.

Neither was he ignorant, That Princes of his condition are usually carried away from their duties by those who are attending near upon them; so that he likewise made himself sure of the Colonel d' Ornano, who had the honour to be nearest to his person, and upon whose advice Monsieur did more relye then any others. Now knowing that this soul naturally ambitious, was not to be captivated by other tyes then those of Greatness, he perswaded the King to bestow on him a Marshals Staffe of France, conceiving that this Qualification would force him to become his Majesties very faithful servant. Monsieur the Prince, had the honour to be the first of those of the Blood Royal, and the Cardinal thought it no lesse expedient to gain him, and satisfie his humour, by giving him a part in Affairs, and the content which he might pretend to in his Interests. He had a great conflict with the Queen Mothers spirit, but at last with a handsom address, he let her see, that there could be no certain quiet and repose in the State, without a good understanding between the King her son and him, and that it was to contribute to his own greatness, not to leave the Prince in those discontents whereunto he had been reduced, and which might in time carry him on to the making of Cabals, and raising of new emotions. But whatever reasons he could then alledge, she would not be induced to assent to his coming to the Court; nevertheless the Cardinal so dealt with the King, that his Majesty in some Letters to him, gave him extraordinary expressions and testi∣monies of his Favour, sometimes by asking his advice, as occasions should present, as also by taking a particular care for the expediting of his Affairs, which was ac∣cordingly effected; and the King writing to him, assured him of his kindness to∣wards him, and desiring his opinion of the Affairs of the Valtoline, of the Hugo∣nots, and the War of Italy. By this he received an entire content and satisfaction, so that from thence forward he began to order himself with more affection to his Majesties Inclinations, then formerly he had done. This strait union which the Cardinal tyed in the Royal Family, was an assured foundation of the Nations Peace, and cut off all hopes that any troublesome spirits might have to embroyl it.