The Cardinal is declared Generalissimo of the Kings Armies in Italy.

THe spirit of division which had till then kept Monsieur from the King, gave great hopes to the enemies of the State, to advance their designs in Italy. They doub∣ted not of inflaming a civil War in France, which might so divert his Majesties Ar∣mies, that he could not have the leisure to come up to them a second time. The Duke of Lorain offered Monsieur as many forces and money as he could desire, and the Duke of Savoy who never yet escaped a broil, sent twice to him to com∣plain, that he being so much his servant, he should take any other country for his retreat, and to offer him his, with protestation of quitting the Soveraign authority to him; nay, that he would even forsake it, to make him absolute Master thereof, as also of himself and children to be disposed at his Will and Pleasure. These Of∣fers were sufficient to have charmed any Soul, had he been at that time so distrust∣full as after he was; but he rather chose to follow those just reasons which the King had proposed to him, and to submit himself to his pleasure. All that forraign facti∣on was wonderfully surprised at the news of his accommodation; and the Cardinal who stayed his Army from advancing into Italy, onely in expectation of his return, perswaded his Majesty no longer to defer his resolution, that the Spaniards might not make any further progresse. The King desired to go in person, he being too couragious to entertain himself in a Chamber, whiles his Armies were in the field. But the Cardinal who foresaw that the unseasonableness of the time might indanger him, advised him to stay some time, and offered himself to undertake that imploy∣ment. The King received this Proposition as an assured testimony of his fidelity, but such & so tender was his affection to him, that he could hardly be perswaded to part with him, he being as much grieved to consent to his departure from him, as he was heretofore joyed for his return, as was seen by all the Court at Rochel, Privas, and Fountainbleau. Yet at last his Majesty knowing how important the assisting of Mon∣sieur de Mantua was, as also how much the glory of his Armies and Authority were concerned in it, could not intrust them with any but the Cardinal, who was not onely the chief Minister in his Counsels, but also the greatest Commander in his Kingdom. He knew in what reputation he was amongst strangers, & what Courage his presence infused into the Souldiery. Of his Prudence he was assured, having oftentimes seen his Enemies Plots discovered by him, & prevented before ever they were ready to be put Page  314in execution. His good conduct too he could not be ignorant of, he having by often experiment found it to be exact and excellent, and such as was to be preferred be∣fore any other. In fine, he could not doubt of Victory, whilest his Army was in∣couraged by so brave a Commander. These were the reasons which induced his Majesty to give him that command of Generalissimo. As soon as he had received his Commission he departed from Paris, being about the latter end of the year, which his Majesty intended to celebrate by as famous an Act as he began it. As great exploits beget emulation, so some there were who muttered that such an im∣ployment should be conferred on a Cardinal, an Ecclesiastical person, but they be∣trayed their own ignorance; who knew not that History affords us divers examples of several Cardinals, who at sundry times have commanded Armies. Spain in the time of King Alphonsus, made use of the grand Cardinal Albornoz, who followed him through the midst of the most bloudy Battels. Then Ferdinand and Isabella imployed the great Cardinal Ximenes, General of their Armies in Affrick. Italy hath had many Cardinals out of the families of the Colonni, the Vitilesci, the C•∣r••ffi, the Fregosi, who have shewed their valour in Armies, that we might know, that as the Romans with their long Robes, did heretofore Conquer the greatest part of the Universe, so that that habit was not inconsistent with Victories. Be∣sides the ignorance of those Censurers could not bee excused, seeing they knew how that the ancient Laws of this Kingdom do oblige several of our Bishops to fol∣low his Majesty in person to the Wars, as also that they are bound to it by the Te∣nures of their Temporal Estates. It is to be seen in Hugon and the Chronicle of St. Dennis, in the year, 1209. that Philip Augustus being at War with the English, called upon all the Bishops to accompany, which they did accordingly; and after∣wards that the Bishops of Orleans and Auxerre, seeing the King was not there, re∣turned back again, they pretending themselves not obliged to it, unlesse when the King were there in person: The King seized upon their Temporal Estate, which they complaining of at Rome▪ could have no other redress, but that they ought to obey his Majesty, the Pope being unwilling to break the customes of the Kingdom, neither were they restored to the enjoyment of their goods, untill they had pay∣ed their Fines for it. In the same manner, I have seen an Act of the Bishops of Aux∣erre, dated in the year one thousand two hundred twenty and two; by which he confessed himself obliged to send to the War of the Albigeois, being unable to go thither in person, by reason of his infirmity; and another injunction made to the Bayliffs in the year thirteen hundred and four, commanding all Prelates and Eccle∣siasticks who were bound to attend his Majesties service, that they should be ready to wait on his person. These examples may serve to demonstrate, that Prelates have heretofore been accustomed to serve our Kings, so that there cannot be any just ex∣ceptions made against their following of his Majesty in Arms.