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.

VIgilance is the savegard of Armies, and he who commands a siedge is the more obliged to watch that he may sustain the enterprises of the besiedged, in re∣gard the wisest then attempt them, when they are least suspected. Negligence

and Victory do never any long time go hand in hand together, and the least care∣fulnesses do often turn the scales in War. Those campes which are garded with most circumspection, are the most secure, and he who is not alwayes in a way of defence, puts himself into eminent danger; That General who lets his forces sleep without good gard, commits the care of them and their lives to fortune. Iphicrates one of the most famous Captains of Athens was far enough from committing this fault, for his Souldiers kept the same gard in peace, and with the same stricttnesse as in War, their arms being alwayes ready by them to fight. At first it was woundred at, but the reason he alledged, was, That a man may be never surprised, he ought always to be in fear. By this means after the shame of a rout, he will not be forced to say, I did not think there had been any thing to fear. If a General hath reason at any time to be upon his gard, more especially ought he to be so then, when there are propositions of peace in treaty; for one of the most usual wiles, which great Captains use, is that of proposing some treaty whereby they might make advan∣tage. Thus Pope Julius the second, that he might gain time, to prepare himself against the Duke of Ferrara, amazed King Lewi••h the twelfth with the apparencies of a fair accommodation. In the like manner Ferdinando Arragon sent Philip Arch-duke of Austria to amaze the same King by a treaty of Peace, which they swore unto, that they might hinder him in consideration thereof from making ne∣cessary preparations for the assisting of his own party; who by reason thereof were forced to leave the Kingdome of Naples; and Ferdinand made it evident that to that purpose was his designe, for he could not afterwards be perswaded to ratifie the treaty. Nothing is so safe as to treat a pear with distrust, and he who so doth, hath a double advantage by it, first by depriving his Enemy of all hopes to surprise him, and secondly because the good order in which he keeps his Forces, gives him the credit to obtain more beneficial articles.