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.

ALthough Dissimulation is commonly esteemed a vice amongst private persons yet it is so much the more needfull amongst great Princes, in regard their de∣signs ought to be kept more especially secret. The discreetest Princes never look that way they design, and though they alwaies effect their thoughts, yet they sel∣dome speak what they think; they who apply themselves to reading are more fit to entertain good company than for high enterprizes, seeing the Government of a State is a Stage upon which the Actors oftentimes ought to change their Masks and habits: They who can best of all cloak their designs are the most ingenious, and do oftnest attain their ends; hence it is, that he who hath any thing to do with a crafty companion, hath work enough to look about him. Who knoweth not, that if all truth were necessarily to be told, nothing would remain unknown, which if so, the highest enterprizes would be successelesse, it being most certain, that the discovery of an affair, is like an Alarum to summon together the strongest opposi∣tions?

It is allowable to keep that a secret which may be advantagious to our selves, or our friends, and cannot injure any one. It is great Prudence not to discourse it with those whom a man suspects, and absolutely to disown it to all others. Thus Lewis the Moor, Duke of Millan, having made a Treaty with Charles the Eighth, to give him passage into Italy, and to favour his designs did constantly deny it to the King of Naples, the Pope, and Peter de Medicis, although the report of it was common, and some signs of it almost indubitable: Whereupon, he denying it so confidently, they remained a good while in suspence, without knowing what to conclude. The denying of a design with asseveration, doth insensibly leave some doubt in the most determinate minds to believe it; and although the protestations made to the contrary do not gain an absolute belief, yet do they commonly delay obstructions which might be raised, and put off those enterprises which would be set on foot to hinder them.