Politique Observation.
I Have formerly said, It were requisite that the Favourites of Princes should be nearly tyed to the Kings Interests, that they might be carried to whatever his Majestie should desire of them; and now I shall add, that it is not less then neces∣sary, to prevent their troubling of the State; for that the most part of such Ci∣vil wars have hapned by their means: But there are great obstructions and diffi∣culties in the encompassing it, seeing that it is not somtimes in the power of the greatest Ministers to retain them in their duties, what-ever advantages are prepared for them. And as eating doth but excite the hungers of starved stomacks, so those Riches which are given to them, do but make them more ambitious of other, and greater. It is the humour which doth possess most Princes Favourites, and is the cause which doth often engage their Masters in great Broyls. The most violent storms which turn all things up-side-down, are formed only out of Clouds drawn up by the Planets into the highest Region of the Ayr; and the greatest Revolts which have troubled the quiet of the people, and ruined whole Kingdoms, have proceeded from those suggestions which Princes Favourites (the Stars of the State) have raised in their minds, from whence they often get nothing but mud and dirt. Hath not the last age made it evident here in France, in the time of Henry the third, when as the Duke d' Alençon had not gone out of the Court, but by the perswasi∣ons of B••ssi and Semier, and some others his Favourites, who were troubled to see the government of Affairs in the hands of some who would not give them leave to do what they pleased? And if we look back a little more, shall we not find that Lewis the eleventh, whilest he was Daulphine, had not withdrawn himself the first time from Charles the seventh his Brother, but by the advices of Chaumont and Boucicaut, and their Partisans who could not enoure to see that his Neece the fair Agnes and Villiquier, should have so absolute a Power? Our own times have fur∣nished us with examples enough to prove this truth, which are so well known to all men, that I need not trouble them or my self to relate them. I shall only add this; that as Goldsmiths have a certain strong water to separate Gold from Silver, though incorporated by the Fire, that they seem to be the same Body: So the Favourites of Princes have certain Arts, which the malice of the Court teacheth them, the power of which is so great, that when they please, they will divide a Mother from her children, a Brother from a Brother, and generally all whom Na∣ture or Friendship had joyned together, in so strict a league, that one would have reasonably imagined nothing could have been able to have made a separation.