Complete Works of François de La Rochefoucauld by François de La Rochefoucauld

Author:François de La Rochefoucauld [La Rochefoucauld, François de]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Delphi Main Series
Publisher: Delphi Classics
Published: 2024-11-12T00:00:00+00:00

CARDINAL MAZARIN’S LETTER TO MONSIEUR DE BRIENNE.

SIR, THE QUEEN, as far as I understand, believes that you should have only sent me a Letter from the King, as it is usually done to all National Cardinals, when news is brought from Rome that the Pope is in danger, and that I had a particular Priviledge granted me; since, besides the first from the King, and the Duplicate, I have received another, and three from you, all conceived in terms so pressing to make me without any delay depart from Rome, that I confess I was surprized to the last degree, being not able to imagine wherein I have been so deficient in my Duty to their Majesties, that they should press me to take a Journey with so much Ignominy and Danger, and without any means of subsisting. To think that a Letter of Recommendation to the Pope would satisfie all! as if they knew the World so little at Rome, that they could not infer what sort of Protection I was to expect there, since I was abandoned to the Persecution of my Enemies in France, where the King is Master. Nevertheless if I had had the honor to receive a word from the Queen to signifie, that it was the Kings and her pleasure that I should go thither (as she had the goodness to let me know it when she was pleased that I should go out of the Kingdom, and remove as far as the Rhine.) I do assure you, that after having put my Nieces into a Monastery, and turn’d off my Family, I would have gone thither with two Servants only, to confirm their Majesties upon all occasions, that my obedience is blind, and my Fidelity of Proof. I am really ready to do, without any reply, whatever the Queen shall command me, though I cannot receive a greater mortification, than to take this Journy in the condition I am in, which besides cannot but be prejudicial to the Kings honour. Nay, which is another unhappiness in this affair, they have had the Address to make it pass with the Queen for an act of Grace, which was done me, that I might yet feel some effect of the publick joy for the Kings Majority. All this hath loaded me with sorrow, when I see to what height my friends have prevailed by my disgrace, and with what success they have employed their Arts to make me receive such rude usage, at a time when I might justly hope, that they would give some comfort to the Persecutions, which I have suffered for eight Months together with so much Violence, and with so notorious an Affront to the Royal Dignity.

But all this is not comparable to the excess of sorrow which I groaned under, after having seen (in all the Letters, from a great many of my Friends, both at Paris and elsewhere) the great pleasure they take at the Contents of the Kings Declaration, which was Registred in Parliament, and cry’d about the City.

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