That Catholick Princes ought to hold good correspondence with Rome.

IT was not without great reason, what Antonio Peres once told the late Henry the Great, viz. that the French being unmatchable for courage, would undoubtedly conquer the whole earth, if to their natural valour, the favour of Rome, the mastery of the Sea, and a fix'd Council of able Statesmen were adjoyned: These three things make a Prince truly great: And the course of affairs now leadeth me to discourse of one of them, viz of the necessity of holding a fair correspondence with the Roman Sea, which I may well say is necessary, partly for the avoiding of those evils which may happen by want thereof and partly for the inducing the people by its approba∣tion to admit of the many and several undertakings in a State. The Empire of Souls, is both great and tickleth, if it were only in relation of those Anathemas which may be darted out against Princes. One of the most conspicuous church-lights, said, and that with great judgement, that the Thunders of the Church are to be feared, how unjust soever; and indeed so they are, because the execrations of Christ Jesus Vicar, are of great efficacy before God, who holdeth the Government of Kingdomes in his hands, and also because of the terrours they strike into the people, who concluding a Prince reproved by God, as soon as by the Holy Sea, do not only lose their respect, due to such rulers, but even run into disobedience and insurrection. Did not those Thunders in the times of the late League, kindle the flames, which did long con∣sume this Kingdom, what was it which brought Navar into the Spaniards hands, but the imbroils between Lewis the Twelfth and Julius the Second? Now if a good intelligence with the Sea of Rome, is security from such like misfortunes; it is no lesse an advantage to a State, in regard of its approbation of a Soveraigns enterpri∣zes, This is it which holdeth the people in quiet, which maketh them think the yoak of obedience to be easie, which preserveth the love of their Prince in their minds; and which rendreth contributions imposed by necessity, the more support∣able; and in general it may be said, that there is not any thing how bad soever, which they will distast, if approved by the Holy Sea, so great a respect doth Reli∣gion produce in the minds of men. King Numa had no better invention to make his actions received by the people of Rome, then by telling them, he did nothing but by the Counsel of the Nymph Egeria, who communicated the Will of the Gods unto him. No one is ignorant of the repute which the South-sayers had with the people of Rome, in perswading them to approve of their Consuls and Em∣perours designs and undertakings. Could then any more likely way be invented, Page  475both to justifie their undertakings, and incourage their Souldiers, then by telling them the Gods approved of them? Neither can it be doubted, but the Pope's ap∣probation is an effectual way to perswade people to like their Princes designs to live in quiet, and to be well satisfied with the Government under which they live. But how much then are the Popes obliged to be favourable towards France, which hath ever been their Refuge, their Asylum, their Prop and Protection? Besides, their Interests are the same with ours▪ seeing the French use not such under-hand shuffling as the Spaniards, and are far enough from such ambitious designs as the House of Austria, who are still contriving to oppress the Liberties of the Church, to subjugate the holy See, and to over-awe its Decrees; whereas the French en∣deavour only to preserve every one in his own Right, and to be contented with a good Pope, an honest and stout man, who will not suffer himself to be surprized by their Enemies, but shew himself a common Father to all, without procuring any ditriment to one, by the suggestion of another.