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.

The King maketh a Declaration to Depose three Officers, two of the Parliament of Paris, and one of the Chamber of Accompts, from their Charges.

SHortly after, Monsieur le President Seguiers, promotion to the Seals, the ill conduct of President Cogneux, the Sieur Deslandes, Councellor of the Parlia∣ment, and the Sieur de Monsigot, Master of the Chamber of Accompts of Paris, forced his Majesty to deprive them of their Offices. I have inserted in the History of the fore-going years, the Rebellious acts in which they ingaged themselves; and in this I shall adde, that it being a shame for his Majesty, and unbefitting the repu∣tation of the affairs of France, to suffer the chief Officers of the Parliament of Pa∣ris, and a Master of the chief Chamber of Accompts in the Kingdom, to live abroad in Forraign parts, avoiding the punishment due to their Rebellion, and with the marks of their authority still about them, as if they had been innocent; his Maje∣sty resolved to depose them; for the more orderly doing whereof, he went to the Parliament of sit in the Seat of Justice, and publish a Declaration, with expound∣ing the Ordinance of Blois where it is said, that all guilty of High-Treason, par∣ticularly, his Majesties Officers, should never be restored to their Offices; Decla∣red, that it ought to be understood of Officers condemned of Rebellion or Trea∣son, as well by default and contumacy of those who were present at their Tryals; there being no reason to suffer those who had had their hands in conspracies and intelligences prejudicial to his Majesties service, to injoy their dignities, those rays of his Majesties power; and moreover, that the twenty eighth Article of the Or∣dinance of Molins, more ancient then that of Blois, where it is specified, that

those who are condemned by default and contumacy, may have five years time to acquit themselves, should not be interpreted in favour of them; his Majesty requi∣ring, that judgement once pronounced against Traitors, though condemned by default or contumacy, should after publication be put it execution, as to the con∣fiscation of their offices only, without being restored either by Letters or other∣wise. This very Declaration suppress'd the offices of President le Cogneux, and the Sieur Deslandes as guilty of High-Treason, whereof they were condemned by contumacy; they were unworthy of any favour, in regard his Majesty had given them a moneths time to recollect themselves, and to return into the Kingdom, which they had neglected to do. Besides, the King published his Letters Patents to create the like offices, and conferr'd that of the President a•• Mortier, upon the Sieur de Lamoignon. formerly President of the third Chamber of Inquests; and pla∣ced the Sieur de la Hage de Vantelay, Councellor of the grand Counsel, in that of Counsellor of the Parliament. His Majesty caused them to take their Oath in his Presence, and then to take their places. Monsieur le Comte de Soissons, went in his Majesties behalf to the Chamber of Accompts, to cause the like Declaration to be published against the Sieur de Monsigot, and his Letters Patents by which Le Sieur des Rues, was established in the office of Master of Accompts. Thus his Majesty ou∣ted three Rebellious Officers, and taught the rest that they having no Authority but what depended upon his pleasure, they should be sure to be deprived of it, if once they should be sound unworthy by Revolts.