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.

Artifices of the Lord Keeper, and of the Marshal de Marillac his Brother.

AT last the courage and fidelity of the Cardinal could no longer oppose the violence of the Plague and other diseases, which had consumed two thirds of the Souldiers: So it was the more needful to raise new forces or rather to form the body of a new Army; for that Cazal began to be close prest upon by the Spaniard. The Cardinal found his presence was very necessary in France, to dispatch such forces over the Hils, and to take order for the sending of monies, and victuals, both which were for the most part raised by his credit; All which began to be scarce by the unworthy Artifices of the Lord Treasurer & his Brother, and those of his Cabal. He found himself obliged to return, to the King at Lyon. Where it was a very great

satisfaction to him, to find his Majesty in sy good health, after the apprehensions which he had, lest those fits of a Feaver might have ended in some more dangerous sickness; but one cannot imagine how sensibly he was troubled, to find the Queen Mothers Spirit so extreamly exasperated against him, though the King indeed un∣dertook his protection upon all occasions. He believed that the Lord Keeper who had ravished from him the good will of his Mistress, was able to re-estate him in it again, and though it be very difficult to pay honour and respect to a person, who can∣not be called other then a Monster of Ingratitude, yet he went several times to wayt upon him, and endeavoured by all sorts of kindnesses and good Offices, to draw him to acknowledge the service which he owed, and the great obligations which were due to him. Now although Honor and good Actions break even rocks, and are the most powerful means which a man can imploy to move the mind, yet Ambition, which had taken up the possession of this turbulent man, so hindered him, that he could not addresse himself to any thing, but a constrain'd dissimulation, which under the appearance of a counterfeited compliance, concealed that fire, which could never be extinguished after the Combination, and which then consumed him in so blind a passion, that he preferred the Interests of Spain before those of his own Country, and did a thousand things unworthy of his quality. The Honor and fa∣vours which the Cardinal did him, could not, as I said, quench that seditious fire, which insteed of being put out, lay raked up under the Cinders of a dissembled and counterfeited Soul. Insomuch that the Soul of this make-bate, could not rest, but continued and kept up those Cabals neer the Queen Mother, not only blowing up her passion that it might not entinguish, but sometimes casting Oile upon it, but with such dexterousnesse, that there were not any, but such as were very neer this great Princesse, which could ever perceive it.