The Reasons and Causes of Monsieurs Retirement.
AS it is natural to seek pretences for the hiding of faults, so Monsieur gave di∣vers reasons of his departure, for his own justification. Those Grandees who complain of a State where they are born, cannot better be compared then to those who are in a deep water, where they lay hold on every thing to secure themselves from danger. He first of all complained of the disorders in the State, a thing usual in all those that revolt, as if the true reason of their discontent were not known; when the truth is, nothing but their own particular interest withdraws them. They who had been with him, should have informed him what alterations the Cardinal had made in France, since he first came to the State. He found it in the most de∣plorable condition that could be, by the ill management of certain Ministers, who unable to second the Kings prudent and generous intentions, had cast all things into confusion. The Hugonot party was then so strong that they would shake off the yoke of obedience at their own pleasures. The Princes of the Bloud, would usu∣ally revolt upon the least discontents. The Governours of Provinces were like so many petty Kings. The Kings family was maintained by two or three years advance of the Treasury before hand, exhausted to inrich those who were factiously inclined, and without any honour to the King. The Allies of the Crown were left to the mercie of their enemies, of whom the Kingdome stood in fear. The case was now altered, the Heretick faction was brought upon their knees, the Princes of the blond were forced to live in obedience, the Governours of Provinces durst do nothing but what was just, the Treasuries were well regulated and employed for the Kings Honour and State. In short, the whole body of France heretofore sick and lan∣guishing, began to recover strength, with assurance of perfect health, when as its Forraign and Domestick enemies did not at all divert the Cardinals designs. All these things were so apparent, that the Cimmerian darknesse could not hinder the sight of them, but who knows not that the strongest reasons cannot touch them, who are over-mastered with Passion, as we have reason to beleeve they could not those about Monsieur, seeing they were so blind in perswading him to a course so directly contrary to that which the Cardinal had projected for the establishment of the Kingdom? They should have learned that as the Planets do not immit their in∣fluences here beneath, without causing of great alterations in the world; so neither do the Princes of the Blood ever separate themselves from their King and Country, but they cause great troubles and disorders, and in case there were any others in the State, this were to remedy it by a worse, a thing contrary to the Laws of Prudence; but a thing not much by them regarded, so they could but overcome their Masters spirit, that they might afterwards lead him to whatever they desired.