beyond all other things therein contained. The one is concerning Monsieur La Riviere,
Favorite to the Duke of Orleance: the second touching Monsieur Chavigni, late Secretary
of State; and the third thing, that I make it appear, I seek my particular interests, more than
the good of the State of France.
Father, I pray you to consider, that I am now in the Court of France, as a chief Minister
of State, and so am envied generally of all men in the Kingdom, who remember well the first
life of my Fortune. Monsieur Chavigni, who in times past was my intimate friend, and
one of those who with more likelihood may complain of me, although he have no good ground
for it, only a pretext. That in the beginning of my good fortune, and when the late
King
Lewis the thirteenth intrusted me with the ordering of his Affaires, I promised him to make
him partaker of my felicity, making him equall with me in Authority, so that we had governed
the Kingdom joyntly. This is only a Chimer a forged in his brain; for him is is possible,
that two men equall in Authority, can govern a Monarchy without being at length divided,
and so come to make parties: It is absolutely false, that I ever promised him to share
with him this place, so honourable and advantagious; and it was my wit and cunning,
whereby I did so subtilly shake him off, making him sell his place of Secretary of State, unto
a man void of understanding, whereas he should have considered, That so long as be enjoyed
that place, he had a view of all State-affaires, whether I would or not, and might have proved
an occasion one day to overthrow my Fortune, upon any opportunity offered, and so by
degrees have wearied me from the knowledge of private businesses, and my own designes, thereby
to become absolute, and not depending at all on him or his Councels, But as it is impossible
that being both sutors to one Mistris about the governing the State of France, we can peaceably
enjoy the same both at once without jealousie, and so bring division amongst us, which
would have brought ruine one day upon us both. I was hereupon enforced to break totally
with him, as I have done: for although I gave him but small notice of the chief passages, I saw
he was not out of hopes to come in again, seeing he stood in a posture, which put me into some
apprehension of remaining at Court, and gave me occasion to fear, lest he should take his advantage,
and so be a means to cast me off, as I know he hath indeavoured much underhand, to
his uttermost, I ought to fear him so much the more, That to list up himself above me, his
ambition was seconded by a resent of the injury be beleeveth I have done him, in not making
him partner with me in the Government of the State, and that his succeeding to me who is
so bold and wise, had but only made my ruine the greater, who had counted no small part of his
happiness to undo me utterly, which thing could not happen by the coming in of any other;
so that being desirous to maintain my self in this happy condition, or at the least lessen my loss
as much as in me dyeth, I have been forced to overthrow mine enemies, there being none more
violent, or more powerfull to work my undoing, then Monsieur de Chavigni. I played
the part
of a wise man in calling him to be versed in the place whereof he was Governour.
I come now to Monsieur La Riviere, favorite to D. de Orleance, who hath happily seconded
the design I had to turn out Chavigni, by reason of the great hatred he hath against him.
This favourite, who also would be even ravistied to see my disgrace that so he may take his
place under the authority of a Master, observing none that could interrupt his designs upon
my disgrace, and overthrow, then Chavigni, who was a considerable man in the Councel, as
conceiving I should be constrained at last to forsake my place, to make an end and compose all
differences, and that without doubt the Queen Regent would put him into that imployment,
sooner then any other man, considering the great abilitis well known to be in Monsieur Chavigni,
and so he would be frustrated of his vain hopes: and not only that, but also in great
[unr] to be overswayed by his professed enemy: Which business being so well disposed, is