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.

The Cardinals Riches not to be envied;

NExt of all these factious spirits would have the Cardinal's possessing of his Ma∣jesties favours to pass for a great crime, although his free humor acquits him to every one from the guilt of covetousness, and concludes him to be so naturally generous, that he values not all the goods of the world, but only in order to the well disposing of them. The place which he holds under his Majesty in the State, necessitateth him to great expences; and without them, sure it is, that both he, and all those who are in the same employment, would fall into dis-esteem, and that inevitably, unless they be accompanied with some splendour, and extraordi∣nary magnificence; else how should they cause his Majesty to be obeyed? Those charges once defrayed, the rest he doth employ in good uses, to the poor, o•• some actions becoming his virtue and bounty. Ought his moderate estate to be envied, who hath done so great services for France? We have in our times beheld a young Prince, whose name is fatal to this Crown, enjoy more profits then he at four years old; we have seen a Treasurer of the Exchequer buy himself out of a disaster, by giving the King two millions of Livres, which was but a sixth part neither of his estate: We have know two Jewellers enrich themselves with be∣tween four and five hundred thousand Crowns, during the Queen-Mothers Re∣gency Is it not then unjust to complain of those favours which his Majesty hath conferred upon him, and wherewith he hath alwaies assisted his Majesty in the wars, when the monies of the Exchequer could not be brought in time enough? Is he as rich as the Prince of Kemberg, the Emperour's Favourite at this day, who of a private Gentleman of Styria, hath gotten five hundred thousand Crowne per annum in two Provinces, which his Master gave him opportunity to effect, permitting him likewise ••o gather Contributions from the Imperial and Hans-Towns, and causing his expences to be defrayed by his own Officers, which could not but exceed an hundred thousand Crowns per annum? The most part of the Cardinals Revenues are in Church-livings, which are no waies chargeable to the people, and ought the lesse to be envied to him, in regard he hath deserved them, and much more from the Church by his services, and that he employs them for the relief of the poor, with honour, not prodigality in his own Family. We shall not find that his moveables would amount to so much as those of the Cardinal d' Amboise

did at his death. To conclude, could his services be rewarded with money, his actions have made it apparent he deserves much more. His chief end was only to have the glory of serving his Master, neither did he regard such low recompences. He hath often refused gifts which the King hath proffered him, and the greatest care he took for money, was to see his Majesties Treasures well ordered, when as before they were squandred away in frivolous gifts, and superfluous expences, lit∣tle tending to his Majesties glory: So that since his coming to the management of affairs, there was less expended then before, though there was a necessity of main∣taining continual Armies both at home and abroad.