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.

That the right of presenting to Bishopricks, is one of the most ancient Privi∣ledges of the Crown, and what Bishops ought to be chosen for the good of the State.

AMong the Rights of this Crown, that of the presenting to Bishopricks, is one of the most signal, as most ancient. The Primitive Bishops of the French Church, who have been the most shining lights of our Faith, have acknowledged it from the beginning of this Monarchy, in the fifth Councel of Orleans, where they ordained that none should consecrate any Bishop, without his Majesty's consent, the practice whereof is so frequent in History, that nothing but ignorance can question it. Gregory of Tours reporteth, that Bishop Quintianus being dead, Gallus was substituted in his place, and created Bishop of Overgne, by his Majesty's means; and that after Gallus his decease, there was some design to elect one Cato, but that the Arch-Deacon Cantinus having prevented the King, and first acquainted him with the news of Gallus his death, was constituted Bishop in his place. He likewise re∣porteth that Nonnichius was established in the Bishoprick of Nantes, in the room of Felix, by the Kings Order; as also Vitus in that of Vie••na, that Childebert made St. German Bishop of Paris, Clodomir, Omatius, Bishop of Tours, Clotair St. Medard, Bishop of Vermandoi••, and Euphronius, Bishop of Tours. History is pregnant with the like examples, so that to cite them were but vain, those already alledged being sufficient to confirm it, which who can question, seeing our Kings have with their Crown received power to dispose of all things, which concern the good of their Kingdom, and tranquility of their people; and that the election of Bishops is not an act meerly Ecclesiastical, but as much reflecting on the good of the State, as the Salvation of Souls? Bishops have a great influence over the peo∣ples sprits, to draw them by the links of Piety and Religion, unto what they please, as experience hath evidenced, in the time of Lewis the Debonnair, who was almost Deposed by a Faction they raise against him, and as was afterward seen in Lan∣guedoc,

where five or six of them fomented a Civil War. The Empire of Souls i•• wonderfully potent, and its Arms though spiritual, are more to be feared them Pikes or Muskets. The Soul once mastered, the body will soon yeeld, the one is the inevitable consequence of the other; and for this reason is it that the promotion of Bishops hath ever depended on our Kings, and that it hath been judged very necessary to elect persons for those imployments, who may, indeed, be able to edi∣fie the people by their Doctrine and example, and altogether incapable of ind••n∣gering the publick. The happinesse of States dependeth much upon Religion, and the splendour of Religion, doth more depend upon the vigilance and care of Bi∣shops, next to the blessing of Heaven, the any other thing whatever. May they not indeed be called the foundation of it? Who doth more effectually fix the peo∣ple in the fidelity which they ow their Soveraigns, in obedience to Magistrates, in reverence to Parents, in respect to Justice, the rule of their conduct? Doubtlesse it is then very considerable in Government, not to chuse such persons as are inca∣pable of bringing these advantages to a State. I shall not in this place say any thing of the obedience they ought to shew to Magistrates; but only it is necessary that they be honest men; because if licentious they will be apt to do more hurt then good, and to neglect the restraining of the people, not that I shall approve of chusing such persons who are of an indiscreet zeal; for such persons designing to do too much good, do oftentimes raise great disorders, which themselves are unable to redresse. Preachers are so much the more deserving of this promotion, because the function of preaching, was primitively reserved to the Bishops, who communicated it unto Priests, only by way of priviledge, and that at sundry times in sundry places. The Bishops of the East, did first grant this power to Priests, as may be proved by the examples of Pierius and Chrysostome, who while they were yet Priests, Preached one in Alexandria, the other in Antioch, a thing not used in Affrick before St. Austine, who during his Priesthood, had the liberty of Preaching conferred upon him, by Bishop Valerius, a thing without President; and in Gaul this custom was introduced, about an hundred year after the Councel of Vaison.