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 Traffique at Sea established.

DUring all these civil and forraign broyls, the Cardinal was intent upon repai∣ring those losses which France had sustained in the late Wars, and upon setling such an Order in the three States, that happinesse might succeed their miseries and abundance those wants which they had undergone; in this, he imitated the wise Physitian, who having recovered his Patient, maketh it his work to restore his for∣mer strength. There onely wanted this one thing to the compleating of it. That

they upon whom the executing of his designs did depend, would lend their assist∣ing hands to it. Now Commerce at Sea, being one of the chief Fountains of a Nations riches, he made it his first care to settle that in a safe course, which his Ma∣jesty having assented to, he gave notice of it to the Undertakers, and that he should be glad to see them enter into Companies and Partnerships; assuring them, that they should have all possible assistance from him, and that he doubted not but they might in time, receive as great advantages by it, as the Hollanders did by that which is setled amongst them, or as the Spaniards did from the Mines of Peru. There wanted not divers who were ready to adventure on such a design, Montmor in the name of one hundred others, presented to the Councel, Articles of esta∣blishment for a Company, to Traffique both into the East and West, by Sea and Land. He proffered in their behalf to raise a stock of six hundred thousand Livres, and that the moyety of the profits thereof, should stil go towards the increasing of the said stock: That he would expend the sum of six hundred thousand Livres in building of ships and setling the ground-works of their Trade. These Proposals were very advantagious; his Majesty approved of them, and commanded the Car∣dinal to conclude upon the Articles with the Company. So they had divers Privi∣ledges and Liberties granted to them, in regard of Forraign Wars, and the Wealth which followeth Traffique, as also in consideration of the accruement of power and shipping by Sea, which was no slight matter, for that the Spaniards, English, and Hollanders had become very potent at Sea, by this means, and have often there∣upon fallen in upon our Coasts at their own pleasures. The Cardinal withall, per∣swaded his Majesty, at the same time, to lay out a great sum of money, to buy Ships both at Amsterdam, Denmark, and other places of France, to defend themselves from the like incursions.