all this, in some occasions hee makes good use of them too. For as towards England he placeth none in any place of strength but firme Catholikes; so towards Spaine and Savoy he often gives charge to Protestants, as to la Force in Bearne, Desdeguiers and Boisse in Bresse,

Concerning the King himselfe, hee is a person wonderfull both in war and peace: for his acts in warre, hee hath manumized France from the Spaniard, and subdued the league, being the most dangerous plot that hath bin layd, weakening it by armes, but utterly dissolving it by wit, that is, by letting the Duke of Guise out of prison, and capitulating with the heads of it every one apart, by which meanes hee hath yet left a continual hatred among them, because every one sought, by preventing other, to make his conditions the better; so that now there remaines little connexion of it amongst the gentrie, onely there continues some dregges still among the priests, and consequently the people, especially when they are angred with the increase and prosperitie of the Protestants.

For his acts of peace, hee hath enriched France with a greater proportion of wooll, and silke, erected goodly buildings, cut passages betwixt river and river, and is about to doe the same betwixt sea and sea, redeemed much of the mortgaged demaynes of the crowne, better husbanded the money, which

was wont to bee drunke uppe two parts of it in the officers hands, got aforehand in treasure, armes and munition, increased the infantric, and supprest the unproportionable cavalry, and left nothing undone but the building of a navic.

And all this may bee attributed to himselfe onely, because in a monarchy, officers are accordingly active or carelesse, as the Prince is able to judge and distinguish of their labours, and withall to participate of them somewhat himselfe.

Sure it is that the peace of France, and somewhat that of Christendome it selfe, is secured by this Princes life: for all titles and discontents, all factions of religion there suppresse themselves till his death; but what will ensue after; what the rest of the house of Bourbon will enterprise upon the Kings children, what the house of Guise upon the house of Bourbon, what the league, what the Protestants, what the Kings of Spaine, and England, if they see a breach made by civil dissention, I chuse rather to expect then conjecture, because God hath so many wayes to turne aside from humaine fore-sight, as hee gave us a testimony upon the death of our late Queene.

The countrey of France, considering the quantitie, is the fairest and richest of all Christendome, and containes in it most of the countries adjoyning. For Picardie, Normandie, and Bretaigne, resemble England; Languedoc, Spaine, Province, Italie, and the rest is France.

Besides, all the rivers that passe through it, end in it. It abounds with corne, wine, and salt, and hath a competency of silke; but is defective in wooll, leather, mettals, and horses; and hath but few very good havens, especially on the north side.

Concerning the people; their children at first sight seeme men, and their men children; but who so, in negotiating, presumes upon appearance, shall bee deceived: compassionate towards their owne nation and countrey; loving to the Prince, and so they may have liberty in ceremony, and free accesse to him, they will be the better content that hee shall be absolute in matter of substance; impatient of peace any longer then whiles they are in recovering the ruines of warre; the presentnesse of danger inflames their courage, but any expectation makes it languish; for the most, they are all imagination, and no judgment, but those that prove solid, excell; their gentlemen are all good outward men, good courtiers, good souldiers, and knowing enough in men and businesse, but meerly ignorant in matters of letters, because at fifteene they quit bookes, and begin to live in the world, when indeed a mediocritie betwixt their forme of education and ours would doe better then either. No men stand more punctually upon their honours in matter of valour, and which is strange, in nothing else; for otherwise in their conversation, the custome and shifting and overspeaking, hath quite overcome the shame of it.