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.

HUnting is a kind of war, not onely, not misbeseeming, but sometimes very co∣mendable in a Prince. It was Xenophons advice in his Cyropaedia, It teacheth them, saith he, to rise betimes, It inures them to heats and colds, habituates them to riding and all other labours. The resistance which salvage beasts make against them teacheth them to fight, and to use their Weapons seeing they ought to observe a time when to beat them, when to prevent them, and to have the free command of their body to cast themselves to and fro when once they come up upon the pursuit. Doth not the chasing of those who may endanger them accustome them not to fear any perils? I have often observed that those Princes who are great hunters, have been likewise esteemed very valiant. History tells us so in the examples of Ʋlysses, Pelopidas, Pompei, Alexander. The Prince of Roman eloquence, saith that a man at

hunting useth a kind of military exercise. Plinius Secundus thought it the more agreeable for Princes, it being a solitary and silent exercise and giving them leisure to think on their State affairs; to which give me leave to add one effect more which renders this recreation very commendable in Kings, and that is, it keeps them from vice. It is reported that Hippolytus. Theseus his Son, did use this diversion to live chastly and avoid idlenesse, the source of all vices and evills. The Poets feigned that Diana spent most part of her time in that manner in the company of Arethusae, Calista, Cranae and divers other Nymphs, who were all desirous to preserve their virginities, each of them knowing, that they were exposed to many Shipwracks, by the divers companies with whom they conversed. Plutarch observed upon the life of Pompey, that this great conquerour imagined that Princes get no little honour by this exercise, and after he had vanquished Domitius in Affricque, and reduced all in those Countries to his power, himself spent some dayes in hun••ing Lions and Ele∣phants, to the end, quoth he, that the stoutest beasts themselves might not be ignorant of the Romans good fortune and courage,