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or its prime cause。
It is above 1；200 years that France has been governed by kings； but they were not as absolute at first as they are now。 Indeed； their authority was never limited by written laws as are the Kings of England and Castile； but only moderated by received customs； deposited； as I may say； at first in the hands of the States of the kingdom； and afterwards in those of the Parliament。 The registering of treaties with other Crowns and the ratifications of edicts for raising money are almost obliterated images of that wise medium between the exorbitant power of the Kings and the licentiousness of the people instituted by our ancestors。 Wise and good Princes found that this medium was such a seasoning to their power as made it delightful to their people。 On the other hand； weak and vicious Kings always hated it as an obstacle to all their extravagances。 The history of the Sire de Joinville makes it evident that Saint Louis was an admirer of this scheme of government； and the writings of Oresme； Bishop of Lisieux； and of the famous Juvenal des Ursins； convince us that Charles V。； who merited the surname of Wise； never thought his power to be superior to the laws and to his duty。 Louis XI。； more cunning than truly wise； broke his faith upon this head as well as all others。 Louis XII。 would have restored this balance of power to its ancient lustre if the ambition of Cardinal Amboise；＇George d'Amboise； the first of the name； in 1498 Minister to Louis XII。； deceased 1510。＇ who governed him absolutely； had not opposed it。
The insatiable avarice of Constable Montmorency＇Anne de Montmorency； Constable of France in 1538； died 1567。＇ tended rather to enlarge than restrain the authority of Francois I。 The extended views and vast designs of M。 de Guise would not permit them to think of placing bounds to the prerogative under Francois II。 In the reigns of Charles IX。 and Henri III。 the Court was so fatigued with civil broils that they took everything for rebellion which was not submission。 Henri IV。； who was not afraid of the laws； because he trusted in himself； showed he had a high esteem for them。 The Duc de Rohan used to say that Louis XIII。 was jealous of his own authority because he was ignorant of its full extent； for the Marechal d'Ancrel and M。 de Luynes were mere dunces； incapable of informing him。 Cardinal de Richelieu； who succeeded them； collected all the wicked designs and blunders of the two last centuries to serve his grand purpose。 He laid them down as proper maxims for establishing the King's authority； and； fortune seconding his designs by the disarming of the Protestants in France； by the victories of the Swedes； by the weakness of the Empire and of Spain； he established the most scandalous and dangerous tyranny that perhaps ever enslaved a State in the best constituted monarchy under the sun。
Custom； which has in some countries inured men even to broil as it were in the heat of the sun； has made things familiar to us which our forefathers dreaded more than fire itself。 We no longer feel the slavery which they abhorred more for the interest of their King than for their own。 Cardinal de Richelieu counted those things crimes which before him were looked upon as virtues。 The Mirons； Harlays； Marillacs； Pibracs； and the Fayes； those martyrs of the State who dispelled more factions by their wholesome maxims than were raised in France by Spanish or British gold； were defenders of the doctrine for which the Cardinal de Richelieu confined President Barillon in the prison of Amboise。 And the Cardinal began to punish magistrates for advancing those truths which they were obliged by their oaths to defend at the hazard of their lives。
Our wise Kings； who understood their true interest； made the Parliament the depositary of their ordinances； to the end that they might exempt themselves from part of the odium that sometimes attends the execution of the most just and necessary decrees。 They thought it no disparagement to their royalty to be bound by them；like unto God； who himself obeys the laws he has preordained。 ＇'A good government： where the people obey their king and the king obeys the law'Solon。 D。W。＇ Ministers of State； who are generally so blinded by the splendour of their fortune as never to be content with what the laws allow； make it their business to overturn them； and Cardinal de Richelieu laboured at it more constantly than any other； and with equal application and imprudence。
God only is self…existent and independent； the most rightful monarchs and established monarchies in the world cannot possibly be supported but by the conjunction of arms and laws；a union so necessary that the one cannot subsist without the other。 Laws without the protection of arms sink into contempt； and arms which are not tempered by laws quickly turn a State into anarchy。 The Roman commonwealth being set aside by Julius Caesar； the supreme power which was devolved upon his successors by force of arms subsisted no longer than they were able to maintain the authority of the laws； for as soon as the laws lost their force； the power of the Roman Emperors vanished； and the very men that were their favourites； having got possession of their seals and their arms； converted their masters' substance into their own； and； as it were； sucked them dry under the shelter of those repealed laws。 The Roman Empire； formerly sold by auction to the highest bidder； and the Turkish emperors； whose necks are exposed every day to the bowstring； show us in very bloody characters the blindness of those men that make authority to consist only in force。
But why need we go abroad for examples when we have so many at home？ Pepin； in dethroning the Merovingian family； and Capet； in dispossessing the Carlovingians； made use of nothing else but the same power which the ministers； their predecessors； had acquired under the authority of their masters； and it is observable that the mayors of the Palace and the counts of Paris placed themselves on the thrones of kings exactly by the same methods that gained them their masters' favours；that is； by weakening and changing the laws of the land； which at first always pleases weak princes； who fancy it aggrandises their power； but in its consequence it gives a power to the great men and motives to the common people to rebel against their authority。 Cardinal de Richelieu was cunning enough to have all these views； but he sacrificed everything to his interest。 He would govern according to his own fancy； which scorned to be tied to rules； even in cases where it would have cost him nothing to observe them。 And he acted his part so well that； if his successor had been a man of his abilities； I doubt not that the title of Prime Minister； which he was the first to assume； would have been as odious in France in a little time as were those of the Maire du Palais and the Comte de Paris。 But by the providence of God； Cardinal Mazarin； who succeeded him； was not capable of giving the State any jealousy of his usurpation。 As these two ministers contributed chiefly； though in a different way； to the civil war； I judge it highly necessary to give you the particular character of each； and to draw a paral