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.

ITs usual amongst Princes who would deny any thing to their Allies, rather to pre∣tend an Impossibility, or at least a most extraordinary difficulty, then point blank to refuse them, & it must be granted for a prudent put off, when such excuses are not contradictory to any promises formerly made, which if they be they rather serve to condemn them of injustice. If any great or notable losse insue, as the destructi∣on of an Army, or the breaking a design, it renders them for enemies, and admi∣nisters a good reason of commencing a War upon the Authors, without breaking any Treaty. He being reputed the first breaker of the Peace, who gives the first occa∣sion by his unjust Combinations and Practises, not he who first takes up Arms. As Procope the Armenian Embassadour, suggested to Cosroes King of Persia, when he advised him to take up Arms against Justinian. Indeed he who would serve himself with such excuses, had need be well assured, that he is the stronger, for admitting him to be the weaker, the punishment of his falsenesse will be unavoidable, there being no one thing so difficult, as for a weak and low person to attempt and enter∣prise the deceiving and crafty undermining of others who are more able, and want neither prudence or intelligence to discover and detect him, nor force and power to punish and chastise him.