so eminent a degree. Indeed the whole Court was astouish'd to see the King ad¦vance him to that dignity, openly saying, that the extortions he had used in his im¦ploiments were his most remarkable actions, they accused his courage, nor could they dissemble their opinions, that such honours were not used to be conlerr'd on persons of his temper. The late King, H••nry le Grand, did ever slight him, nor did he ever appear at Court, but under the Queen-Mothers Regency, who had given him a Wife of one of the Daughters of a branch of the House of Medicia, before the Crown of Florence had been setlet on that family; and who besides the honour of his name, had nothing which could intitle him to any great actions. Running at the Ring war then much in fashion, where his diligence got him more credit then any fight he had ever seen. The first command he had was under Mon∣sieur de Angoulesm, were he was Commissary of the Victuals, which he dischar∣ged so untowardly, that the King had then punished him upon divers complaints made against him, but that the Cardinal interposed in his behalf. The building of the Cittadel of Verdun was the next thing intrusted to his care, but he presently fell to make such exactions upon poor mens labours, that some particulars thereof al∣ready proved, besides what is yet in dispute are prodigious. The Garrison being once established, he robb'd the Souldiers, as much as the Builders; and being Liev∣tenant of the Country, he went on to that height, that he exacted from the Villa∣ges, whatever was necessary to be spent in his house, divers Towns payed him year∣ly compositions, raised by compact, that they might prevent the quartering of his Souldiers; others agreed to provide necessaries for his house, which however, for the most part, were delivered but once in kind, and then altered into sums of ready mony. If any Town made the least resistance or grumbling, the inhabitants were sure to be ruin'd and plundered by his Souldiers, who knew they should not be cal∣led to account for it, but rather that they should be countenanced for it, by him who set them on work. This trade did he drive, and that so publickly over all the extent of his power, as if the King himself had approved thereof; neither was there want of any proof to make evident at his Tryal. In the year 1627. he was im∣ployed at Rochel, where the credit he got was so little to his advantage, that the Commander de Valance, who calleth every thing by its right name, talking one day unto the King of a man without courage, openly said, that he was no more a coward then Marillac. About that very time was it, that he indeavoured by his Letters, and the designs of those of his Cabal, to sow the Seeds of discontent be∣tween the Queen-Mother and the Cardinal, which have proved so unhappy to the whole Kingdom; and he continued to foment that fire with such care and addresse that the sparks of it are not yet quite extinguished. During the Kings abode in Italy, the Cardinal to please the Queen-Mother, procured the command of the Army in Campagne, to be conferred upon him, where he robb'd the Souldiers of their very bread with such boldnesse, that he sometimes exacted a third, frequent∣ly a quarter, but never miss'd a fifth; and when he was commanded with his For∣ces into Italy, he delayed the time with excuses, either that he might crosse the Kings designs (which they of his Cabal much desired) or because he would not divide that command with another, on t'other side the Mountains, which himself injoyed alone in Campagne; insomuch, that his Majesties affairs had fallen into extream disorder, had it not been for the Prudent Conduct of the Cardinal and Generals who commanded the Army in Italy. Succeeding Ages will hardly be∣lieve, that such excesses were put up so long together, especially if they compare it with preceding times, where the Marshal de Gie, descended from one of the best houses of the Kingdom, and a person intrusted with great imployments under three several Kings, where the Admiral Chabot, one of the most valiant of those times, and one who governed the State with Anne de Montmorency, where the Marshal de Biez, the Chancellour Poiet, Jean de Montaign, Grand Maistre de France, Pe∣ter des Essart•• & Semblance, were severally punished for the same, and yet much lesse crime of purloining the Treasure. But these things were all connived, at in∣consideration of the Queen-Mothers, whom the Cardinal would not provoke,