An Assembly at Paris, to redress disorders of State.

THe setlement of Trade was sufficient to bring great profit to the Kingdom, but it was likewise necessary, to use divers other means, for the raising of it to it's height and greatness. The King had long before concluded on it, but finding himself unfurnished of a Minister, to put it in execution, the affairs had still con∣tinued in some lameness, until at last seeing himself assisted by the Cardinal he re∣solved to assemble the Chief Officers of his Kingdom, especially those who had acquired most experience and shewed best conduct in affairs. And for the better resolving upon the means, he appointed them to attend him a Paris, where being met together, his Majesty himself opened the reasons of their Assembling, upon the second of Dece•ber in the Thuill•ries; He was pleased to tell them, That he had called them together to provide some remedies against the disorders of the State, and that the Lord Chancellor should farther acquaint them with the rest of his de∣sires; and the Lord Chancellor beginning his speech, represented to them, the great disorders that had crept into the Kingdom, whilst the King was imployed abroad to repel his enemies and the great expences he was at for the keeping up of his Armies: and then told them that his Majesty was resolved for the establish∣ing of the Kingdom in its ancient splendour, to employ powerful redresses, and so to regulate his Treasuries, that there might alwayes be a sufficient foundation to supply the occasions of the State, without being forced to overcharge the people as of late: He gave them to understand, that the King was contriving to lessen the expences of his house, and even those which he was at for the paying of several Garrisons in places of no importance which he was resolved to dismantle: To settle Trade with •ll possible advantages, for the enriching of his subjects: So to govern his Souldiers both in garrison and the field, that his subjects might be no more op∣pressed; upon which it chiefly was, that his Majesty had desired their advices. When he had concluded, the Cadinal made a most excellent speech, in which his eloquence was no lesse to be admired at then his prudence. He laid before that Page  149Illustrious Assembly, how visibly God had made use of his Majesty to atchieve that in a little time for the publique good, which many thought impossible to have been effected in an age. He gave them to understand, that as there had been great charges and expences, so the King and Queen had received very great advantages by it, in relation to that Honour and Glory which is due to them; and that if any good successe had at any time happened, it was only the dawning of those resolu∣tions which his Majesty had taken, for the easing of his people, and restating the Kingdom in its former Splendor. That as only God can make something out of nothing, so it was necessary to lay a good foundation in the Treasury, and to that end, to cut off from the extravagant expenses, and add to the receipts, or in∣deed to do both at once. He shewed them, how that every one, regarding the advancement of his own private Interest, it might possibly provoke some to anger, if their expences were moderated; but he added withal, that no one could justly complain at it, since nothing was to be preferred before the Publique good, and that the King and Queen Mother, were both resolved to give a good example, by contracting the expences of their families.

He told them, that if in great tempests there was sometimes a necessary to part with the goods, to ease the vessel and defend her from shipwrack, prudence did direct the like thing in a State; Which ought not to be cast away for the preserva∣tion of any ones particular good, and that they themselves were bound in reason to conform themselves to the resolution thereof, for that it is impossible private and particular mens plenty and Riches, should long last, when the State is poor and needy, in fine, he told them, that setling a good government in the Affairs and Treasuries, they would in a very few years find, both the King and Kingdom raised to a greater pitch of glory, then ever it had formerly been, but he added, it would not be so necessary to order such things unlesse they were really put in execution; That the glory of setling the Nation being reserved for his Majesty, they who were deputies ought to esteem it a great Honour done them, in that he gave them part of it, and that for his own particular, he should esteem himself most happy to dye in the prosecution of so glorious a design.

After this first overture, the King sent divers proposals to the Assembly by his Solicitor General, upon all which such courses were resolved, as were thought most necessary for the setlement of the State. But it was first of all concluded, what order should be observed in the levying of men, as also for the maintaining of them, in such order, that the Country man might not be injured by them. It was thought fit to keep two Armies in readiness of between eighteen and twenty thou∣sand foot, and two thousand Horse, as well to secure the Publique Peace, as to support the Kings Authority, and also to keep Forreigners in a due respect. It is true, there were sufficient means found out to prevent the peoples damage, but it was to be doubted, that the Souldiers would not so readily observe those commands which his Majesty had been so careful to order. Next of all it was considered, what unnecessary expences of the State should be cut off, as well to pay off two and fifty Millions of Livers, which the Exchequer was indebt, as also to acquit the charges of the Nation without increasing the taxes. In order to which it was thought fit to contract the expences of the King and Queens Families, according to the resolution taken before the late Kings death: Not to exceed the sum of two Millions in Pensions, which was the sum appointed by the late King Henry the Great for that business, and lastly the Assembly proposed to his Majesty, the dis∣mantelling of a great number of strong places, which being in the heart of the King∣dom, or at least remote from the Frontiers, did only serve to countenance Rebel∣lions, and consume a vast sum of mony for payment of the Garrison Souldiers, and building unnecessary Fortifications. There was also care taken, (with refe∣rence to his Majesties good pleasure) for the relief of divers poor Gentlemen, Cap∣tains and Souldiers, wounded in his Majesties service; And at last the Assembly made earnest request to his Majesty, that he would for the future prevent, those revolts of the Grandees, which were commonly made every year to the great trouble of Page  150the State, and that he would punish some for example sake, who had the Bold∣nesse, to take up Arms against his Authority, or to divide the State into Factions. They also proposed to his Majesty to admit into his Council, a certain number of Gentlemen, to bring them up to do him the more service, by the knowledge which they might get in State affairs, and in conclusion, they gave his Majesty most Prudent Counsel concerning the ordering and decreasing of the taxes, for the sup∣pressing of divers useless Officers, for the redemption of his Lands which were in Mortgage, by paying them in whose hands they were; the monies lent upon them, or full Interest, out of the account of the Revenue, to settle an order in the Trea∣sury to prevent all future relapses for the settlement of Commerce both by Sea and Land, for the distribution of charges as well millitary as others, which have dependance on the Chief Officers of the Crown, it being improper that they should be bestowed by any but the King himself. And these were the Chief things then brought into debate before them, and resolved on. So their was a Paper drawn up of those things which they proposed to his Majesty, the most part of which, ap∣peared so reasonable and judicious, that they have ever since served for Maximes and a Rule for the Goverment of the State; The Cardinal having put them in practise one after another, as fast as ever the Civil warres, the Factions at Court, and the attempts of the house of Austria upon France and it's Allyes would give way for it.