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.

ONe of the greatest difficulties, to which a man can be brought in ordinary seiges is the inability of sending intelligence to them, from whom he doth expect relief; and one of them greatest cares of the who besiege a place, is to stop all wayes that nothing way passe in or out. Some have made use of the night for this purpose as the Goths did, when they would send news to Vitigez, being besieged in Ormuz, by Belligarius; they made a great noise at one of the Gates, pretending as if they would sally out upon their enemies, to the intent that Bellisarius might draw all his Forces theither and leave but a few at that quarter, by which they designed to send away their Messenger. A Stratagem indeed very advantagious, when mana∣ged with prudence. The same Goths, as Procopus reports, used another devise upon the same occasion to send news to Vitigez, which was, They corrupted some sentinels for mony, an invention easy to be practised in civil wars, where both par∣ties are acquainted with one another. But that which is the most certain way, which they who are besieged may make use of, to send a broad intelligence, ought to be guided by discretion, according as occasions present themselves, and exe∣cuted them with all possible addresse; for it is an art, not to be laid down by cer∣tain Rules, neither can it be learned by precepts; but natural industry infuseth it by diverse instincts, and experience teacheth it in war. I shall onely add that there

are sundry and divers means to be met with in History, which great Captains have used on this occasion. The Campany being besiged by the Romans, sent a man, who counterfeyted himself mad, with letters for the Carthaginians in his girdle, Hircius Consul, writ to Decius Brutus then besieged in Modena by Antonius, and sent his Letters made up in lead, fastned to the Arms of those who swam over the River. The same man did some times keep up Pidgeons in the dark without giving them to eat, and then finding them almost famished, carried them as near the place as possibly he could, then let them go; which flying to the houses with their letters about their necks, were either taken down or killed by Brutus. Justine reports that Harpagus, that he might conveigh Letters to Cyrus, put them up in the belly of an hare and sent them by a faithful Servant, who passed through King Arbactus guardes for an Huntsman.

Others have used as many different devised, as their wits and opportunities could attaine to. That which ought to be observed, is this, that such Letters ought not to be writ in Characters or such cyphers which are legible. We are not now in Caesars dayes; who designing to send Cicero word that he was at hand to relieve him, writ to him onely in Greek: At this time there are no cyphers, which are not easily found out. It were fit that they were like the Characters of Chinenses, which signifie things not Letters, who writing as many different Characters as there are things, it must needs be an hard matter to decypher them. These Cha∣racters, too for the greater security should be writ with the juyce of Limmons or Onyons between the Lines of Letters, in which there is nothing of concern, be∣cause that which is writ with this juyce cannot be read, but by water or fire. It were not amisse too, if he who is Governour, before the siedg, agree with him to whom he would send intelligences of the manner he would write to him, and there might be onely certain words in each line, which composed together should dis∣cover his thoughts, and yet taken with the rest, would be thought to treat of other businesse than that which is really intended.