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 Creation of Knights of the Holy Ghost.

THe King had for many years, receiv'd so many proofs of the valour of his Nobility, that he could not refuse them the honour of being Knights of his Orders; and his Majesty who hath a particular inclination to recompence valour, resolved to grant them this honourable reward. He was confirm'd in this resolution by Monsieur the Cardinal, who represented to him that the French Nobility could not be tied to his service, by any stricter Banes then those of honour, and that this would not a little augment that courage and fidelity, which they had as often as occasion required, discovered unto him; so that finding him∣self at leisure about the beginning of the Spring, and without a necessity of being over early in the field, he resolved to perform the Ceremony of the Knights of the Holy Ghost, and to fill up all the vacant places. It is impossible in such affairs to content all men, because there are never so many places vacant, as men who think their services worthy of that honour. All that can be done, is to prefer those who are most considerable, either for their birth, their services, or the par∣ticular inclination of the Prince, who in such things ought to have his own liberty. His Majesty took this course, but that he might totally follow the Orders of the Primitive constitution▪ he gave a Commission to the Cardinal de Lyon, great Alm∣ner of France, and Commander of the Order, to inform him of their Religion, Life, and Works, who were proposed, and to send him his informations seal'd up. The next thing his Majesty did, was to assemble the Chapter of the Order at Fountainbleau, where the Ceremony was performed, and where all the Knights met, and told them by the mouth of the Sieur de Bullion, Lord Keeper of that Or∣der, that he should be very glad before the Creation of the Knights, to have their opinions about the Rebellion and Felony of the Duke d' Elboeuf, and the Marquess de la Vieville, who being fled out of the Kingdom, and having born Arms contra∣ry to his Majesties service; and consequently broken the Statutes of the Order, had rendred themselves unworthy of Knight-hood, and deserved to be degraded; the Sieur de Bullion, adding that his advice was, to follow the example of Charles Duke de Bourgogne, towards Charles Duke de Brabant his cousin, viz. to erase their Arms, and that in their Escutcheon should be inserted their judgement and degradation. All the Knights were of the same opinion with the Lord Keeper, excepting only the Marquesse de Trajanel: So that the judgement of their degra∣dation was pronounced and executed before the new Creation. In prosecution of this judgement, his Majesty caused the Role of those whom he would have of this Order to be read aloud, and nominated eight Knights to assist at the tryal of the

proofs of their Nobility, Life, and Manners; and the proposing the difference which was between those who were Dukes and Peers, and those who were only Dukes, concerning their order and place in the Ceremony; it was ordered that all the Dukes in general should march according to the Order of their Creation, be∣cause the Peers hold no place in Assemblies. It was likewise decreed, that if any of those who were name to be Knights, did not appear at the time of the promo∣tion to receive their Order, it should not be sent unto them. The 14 of May was the day assigned for the Ceremony, and his Majesty being there punctually follow∣ed the Statutes of that Order, and conferred it upon

• Monsieur the Cardinal of Richelieu,
• The Cardinal de la Valette.
• The Arch-Bishop of Paris.
• The Arch-Bishop of Bourdeaux,
• The Arch-Bishop of Narbone.
• The Duc de Longueville.
• The Comte d' Harcourt.
• The Comte d' Alets.
• The Duc de la Trimouille.
• The Duc de Vantadour.
• The Duc d' Alvin.
• The Duc de Brissac.
• The Duc de Candale.
• The Duc de la Valette.
• The Comte de Tonnerre.
• The Mareschal d' Estree.
• The Sieurs de Vaubecourt, & de Sene∣terre.
• The Vicomte de Pompadour.
• The Marquis de Nesse.
• The Marquis de Gordes.
• The Comte de Lannoy.
• The Marquis de Varennes.
• The Mares••hal de Breze.
• The Comte de Brassac.
• The Comte de Noailles.
• The Sieur de Popanne.
• The Marquis de Fossez.
• The Marquis de Bourbonne.
• The Vicomte de Pollignac.
• The Vicomte d' Arpajon.
• The Marquis d' Aluye.
• The Comte de Saulx.
• The Comte d' Orval.
• The Sieur de St. Simon premiers Escuyer.
• The Baron de Pont-Chasteau.
• The Sieur de Pont-Courlay.
• The Sieur de la Messeray.
• The Marquis de Mortemart.
• The Sieur de Villequier.
• The Comte de Teurnon.
• The Sieur de la Mailleraye.
• The Comte de Tianges.
• The Marquis d' Ambres.
• The Comte de Parabere.
• The Sieurs de Montcaurel, &
• ...De Liancourt.
• ...De St. Simon l'aisne.

I will not trouble my self to describe the particulars of the Ceremony; it is be∣yond my design; only for conclusion, I will say his Majesty by this conferring of Honour, shewed that he did as well acknowledge, as know the services of his No∣bility.