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.

Monsieur de Montmorency's Discontents.

THe Duke of Montmorency, was the man who had ingaged Monsieur to come into Languedoc, giving him to hope for great assistance in those parts, and that himself had credit and power enough to arm all that Province in his be∣half. He had been much discontented from the year, 1629. when the Esleus were established of such concern, was the Creation of those new Officers unto him; for they were then impowered to impose the Contributions upon the people which formerly belonged unto the States, and especially the Governour. Who sometimes would exact a hundred thousand Livres for his own share, which losse he could ill brook, by reason he was used to make great expences: It is true in∣deed, the Sieur de Emery, Intendent of the Treasuries, being sent into Langue∣doc to execute the Edict, about the year 1631, found a means to content him, which was to levy the said Contributions, by certain Commissioners, from whom the King should receive as great advantage as from the Esleus, and yet who should act nothing but by direction from the States, and thus had the Governour of the Province still liberty to make his usual profits: But the Marshal d'Effiat Super-in∣tendent of the Treasuries, could not approve hereof, either by reason of the dis∣gusts which happened between them whilest they commanded the Army together in Piedmont; or else because it was not just that the Governours of Provinces, should raise such sums upon the people, already too much oppressed, and that without any benefit to the King: So that Monsieur de Montmorency's Discontent, rendred Monsieur de Emery's Proposal of accommodation of no use. Besides, he was resolved to prosecute the Office of Marshal General of his Majesties Camps and Armies, which would have conferred upon him, almost all the Functions of Constable, which he could not obtain, upon just considerations, he having ever shewed more of Courage then Prudence in his Conduct. The Refusal hereof was the more sensibly resented by him, in regard his birth and the honour his Ancestors had in being Constables, perswaded him that he deserved it. These were the chief causes of his discontents, which ingaged him to revolt; whereunto may be added, his Wifes perswasions, who being an Italian born, for which and her particular merits rice Queen-Mother much honoured her, she so dealt with him, that he im∣braced her interests; and consequently, Monsieur who was then strictly leagued with the Queen-Mother, for to ruine the Cardinal. For most certain it is, she did very much contribute to ingage him in those designs, unto which, he was of him∣self sufficiently inclined, having naturally more fire then earth in his temper: Be∣sides, he verily believed, that the great acquaintances which his fore-fathers Gover∣nours of that Province, for a long tract of tis••e, had left unto him, together with what himself had acquired, would enable him to dispose the Cities, the Nobility, the States and people, as himself pleased, whereby he might raile the whole Pro∣vince as one man, and being then countenanced by Monsieur, that he might force the Cardinal, and suppresse the Edict of Esleus, and to obtain for him what ho∣nours he should desire. In order to this design, he used his utmost indeavours with the Bishops and Nobility of Languedoc, to oblige them to him, well know∣ing, that the people are like the small stars in the Firmament, which having no particular motions of themselves, are guided by the higher Orbs. This his design succeeded according to his own wish, yet not without much detriment to his glo∣ry; it being most certain, that the readinesse he met in many to imbrace his Pro∣posals, was another tye to ingage him in that Revolt. His Majesty and the Car∣dinal had particular notice of all these Passages, it being impossible that such con∣trivances should long be kept secret. The Laws of Justice obliged his Majesty not to delay the punishment due to the Authors of them; but the Cardinal, consider∣ing that Soveraigns ought not to be severe in such affairs, untill a trial of fair means perswade his Majesty to indeavour by the mediation of some ingenious person, to set him right again in his former duty, and not only for that reason, but

because he thought it an act becoming a generous Prince, to preserve a man of his quality from a shipwrack, which had not fallen upon him, but in regard of an inconsiderate heat and fury. He gave the Arch-Bishop of Arles, and the Sieur d'Emery instructions and orders to go to him, to tell him from his Majesty what causes he had given of suspition, that he should have a care of himself, that if he regarded his duty, he would find it not to be lawful for a private person to order and govern the State as he should think fit, such power being only Regal: That if the good of the Province were in question, War and Rebellion were but two ill remedies to redress the grievances and disorders thereof. That if he designed to raise his Fortunes, Revolt was but an ill Foundation, and would be his infallible ruine, seeing his Majesty had hitherto oretopt all his neighbors, and would doubtless do the like by him, when-ever he should begin to stir. That in conclusion his Birth did lay an obligation upon him of being loyal, seeing his Ancestors had inviolably adhered unto their Kings Interests; And that he could not but injure himself, if he should eclipse the glory they had left him, by actions contrary to theirs. These Reasons were too weighty and just not to remove him from his designs, had he never so little considered of them; but discontent and passion had taken such deep root in his soul, that he had not the power to reflect on them; rather he stoutly disowned that he had any project in hand against the service and obedience which he owed unto his Majesty; yet at the same time he persisted to make sure of all such as might be useful to him in his designe. Oh what blindness and strange re∣sistance was this! But who will not then bless himself at the Cardinal's goodness, which cannot without great reluctancy, perswade his Majesty to any rigorous pro∣ceedings, how just soever; who would not accept of this resistance, but induced his Majesty to give new Orders and Instructions in that particular, unto the Sieur de Sondeuil, thinking perchance that he would sooner hear him then any other, be∣cause he had ever admitted him into the first place of his confidence? The King caused him fortwith to set forwards, as soon as he had received the Cardinal's di∣rections what to say unto Monsieur de Montmorency, to disswade him from his de∣signs, and to keep him off from that Revolt, in which if he ingaged, be would even force his Majesty to destroy him. When he arrived to him, he used all his Rhetorique, his utmost care, affection, and address, though to no purpose; his Resolution being fixed, and himself then engaged to and with divers other persons.