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 there ought to be other assurances taken then bare words from an in∣cens'd Prince, who hath oftentimes broke his word.

IT is necessary to take other kind of security then bare words, from a Prince who hath often failed of his word, & especially, who is known to be incens'd, & passio∣nately desirous of revenging the punishments he hath receiv'd. His apparent submis∣sions in matters of accommodation, are effects rather of his weakness then good wil; and as Passion rather treadeth under foot the Laws of honor and justice, it will after∣wards make no difficulty to break its promises, if it find any overture to evade them, and re-assume its lost advantage. Asdrubal may serve for an example, who finding himself so block'd up in Spain, by Claudius Nero, that he must unavoidably die with famine in his Trenches, or fall under his Arms in a disadvantagious battel, sent him very fair Proposals of Peace, and in the interim, found away to escape his hand. Nero indeed angry for being thus surprized, for which he had been blam'd at Rome, made him afterwards suffer in the Marquisate of Ancona for his Treachery; but besides, that this was not without indangering his whole Army, yet had it been a shame to suffer himself to be deluded by his enemy, under shew of accommodati∣on. Pope Julius the Second, that he might amuse Lewis the Twelfth, sent his Nuncio's to Treat a Peace, and conclude it, that he might gain time to make a League offensive with the Venetians and King of Aragon aginst him; but let us look back again into the examples of Antiquity. Mark Anthony, held Fraates besieged in Priaspe with full assurance of taking it in few days. Fraates sent his Embassadours to him, that it was thought a Peace might easily have been con∣cluded

between them. Mark Anthony gave them present Audience, and with∣all, sent other Embassadour to Fraates to conclude it; but Fraates continuing his Treachery, made great complaints unto them of Mark Anthony; and in conclu∣sions, added, that as often as he should withdraw his Army, from the place where∣in he was incamp'd, he would be content to make a Peace with him. Mark An∣thony hereupon presently withdrew his Forces, without breaking down his Tre∣ches, or carrying away his Engines of War, he had not march'd far from his Camp, before the Medes sallied out of Priaspe, mastered it, and destroyed all his Engines, which he had inconsiderately left there, though peradventure not with∣out hopes that he might be there soon enough to defend them, in case the Medes u∣sed any Treachery. Besides, part of Mark Anthony's Forces were cut off when he led them back again to the Camp, so that he was forc'd to relinquish that design with shame and losse, and by his example, taught all Princes not to be over-credu∣lous of an Enemies promises.