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.

Politique Observation.

AN Embassadour who is imployed to make a Treaty of Peace, is chiefly bound to represent to them, with whom he treateth, the great inconvenicences unto which thich they expose themselves by continuation of the War. For as Interest is the onely rise from whence all the motions of Princes do flow, so he need not doubt but that Interest too will lead them to any thing, if he finds a means to perswade them that War will be prejudicial to them. He ought not to be unmindfull of letting them know, that a Prince may not either with Justice or Prudence make a War, but onely that he may obtain a most certain and advantagious Peace; as also that that Prince who would continue a War, after a Peace is offred to him, with those two conditions annexed, is as unreasonable as an Artificer, who after he hath given his work the best most curious form, that it is capable of, should however

still continue his care and pains, to perfect it, though unable to give it any other or better form then he hath already done.

This once done, it behoveth him to tell them in words tempered both with Prudence and Courage, that the successe of War is uncertain, and that many Princes have fallen down from their great hopes and victory into misfortunes and losses: That the divine Providence hath often permitted those Princes, who are over ob∣stinate for the continuing of Wars, to be rebuked with disgraces and shame. That the Holy Scripture giveth us a notable example of this truth in that of the Tribe of Benjamin, who refusing these overtures of Peace, which were made to them, by the rest of the Tribes, when they intreated them to abandon the Gibeonit••s, who had offended them, were shamefully overcome, and their Cities Pillaged; That many having given way to their Ambition to perswade them to the Conquest of their Neighbours. Have seen their own States exposed as a Prey to their particular enemies: That many things appear easie in discourse, which are difficult to be put in execution. That they are not the most generous Princes, who suffer themselves to be led on with Passion, to inlarge their Borders, but they who im∣ploy their powers with prudence and equity; That a Prince hath glory enough, if he can but give his Subjects the means of injoying that felicity which is the end of the Politique Government; which happiness being linked with Peace, he ought not at any time to refuse the accepting of it when proffered with advantagious condi∣tions: In fine, he will make a great impression upon their Souls to incline them to conclude a Peace, when to as he shall discourse to them, that Princes who are ambi∣tious of their neighbouring States, are like unto hunger starved appetites, who never satisfied, but desirous to devour all, do weaken and destroy their natural heat by the excesse of those meats wherewith they fill themselves; and that in the same manner it is with those, who not contented with that state and condition whereto their Birth or Fortunes had assigned them, suffer themselves to be hurried away with an insatiable desire of usu••ping upon others; and in fine, onely weaken and impoverish themselves, and their Subjects by a continuation of Wars, which layeth them naked to the cruelty of their enemies, inforceth them to leave their Lands untilled, squee∣zeth from them all their means towards the Contribution of the War, and some∣times too casteth them into rebellion, when as once they begin to be weary with the violences of the Souldiery: and adding to these misfortunes the constant attend∣ants upon War the want of all those good things which are so plentifully injoyed with Peace, it wil be a most efficacious means to cause them to lay down their Arms and to accept of that peace, which is so offered to them.