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.

JT is great wisedom in a King to preserve and increase as much as in him lies, the friendship of the Princes of the blood, it being most certain, that a good intel∣ligence and correspondence with them, is as advantagious to the State, as a breach with them is unfortunate and ominous. And as their greatest inclination is to com∣mand, so one cannot more oblige them, then by giving them imployment. But one ought to be well assured and carefull of their truth and fidelity, and that the stedfastnesse of their minds be not to be shaken by the dangerous suggestions of such as are about them, who are alwaies sure of endeavouring to render themselves agreeable, that they may instil into them more Ambition then they ought to have, and induce them to revolt with the Army, and those powers which are intrusted under their command. Isocrates did well advise Nicocles, never to prefer those of his blood to imployments, untill he was extreamly well assured of them; for that the desire of rule doth so much the more charm the kindred of a Prince, by how much they are neerer related unto him, as T. Livy very well observeth. Blood hath no tie so strong, ••hich ambition doth not oftentimes break, when it finds it self with Arms in its hand. They ought to be so much the lesse intrusted, by how much they have lesse true affection or friendship, as Plutarch hath verified by many ex∣amples in the life of Demetrius. If a King be obliged for any just reason to con∣fide his Armies into the hands of any Prince of the Blond, I imagine he must fol∣low

the Prudence of Tiberius, who when he sent Germanicus to command his Ar∣my into Syria, he recalled Creticus Syllanus from the Government of that Province, who was an intimate friend to Germanicus, fearing lest their intelligence and cor∣respondence might lend a helping hand to advance him into the power of Sove∣raignty; and placed in his room Cneus Piso, whose violent humour would make him oppose any designs of his, if they should be contrary to the duty of his Office. In a word a King ought (to such a person) to associate some one, whose valour and fi∣delity may be able to counterpoise or ballance any enterprizes, which hee may at∣tempt.