no

Europe was considered, in which it was seen that France ought to interest herself; and the economy. plan of Henry IV. was resumed, to curb the power of the house of Austria, which Ferdinand II. was every day rendering more formidable. Negociations were carried on in the different courts, and preparations made for vigorous enterprises. The success of these might have been insured by a good system of economy; but Richelieu was of a character entirely different from Sulli. Haughty, unjust, and tyrannical; through the whole course of his administration he neglected the principal resources of the state, those which a mild and prudent government finds in the happiness and affection of the subjects.

marriage

of

Wales

with

James I. suffered himself to be drawn into Negociates the political schemes of Richelieu. That weak for the monarch, with a view to restore the elector pa- the prince of latine, his son-in-law, had long negociated a treaty of marriage between his son, Charles I., the Infanta. and the Infanta of Spain, notwithstanding the aversion of the English from an alliance with that country. Young Charles, impatient of the delays, by the advice of Buckingham, and accompanied by that rash favourite, had executed the romantic project of going to pay his court to that princess in person. He had pleased, attracted esteem, and the affair seemed to be concluded, when the duke of Buckingham, having drawn upon himself the hatred of the Spaniards by his insolence and debauchery, gave the prince of Wales a disgust to the match, took him out of the country, caused the whole negociation to be broken off, and rendered a war unavoidable, of which James could not

Death

of

bill.

even bear the thoughts. The court of France taking advantage of this conjuncture, gave Henrietta, sister of Louis XIII., to Charles, with eight hundred thousand crowns for her portion. Thus did England become an enemy to the house of Austria.

James died the following year, 1625, amidst James I. the vexations given him both by this rupture Remarkable and the attempts made upon his prerogative within the kingdom. A new parliament had, a little before, abolished all monopolies. The bill declared, that every subject may freely dispose of his own actions, provided they be not injurious to any other person; and that this right can be limited by no authority except the laws. Charles I., who inherited the principles of his father, and, like him, was guided by the counsels of Buckingham, began in troubles an unfortunate reign, which he was destined to end upon a scaffold.

Affair of the

Valteline.

1621.

The war of the Valteline gave an early proof of the vigour of the French ministry. That small province, which was subject to the Grisons, having risen in rebellion, solicited the assistance of the Spaniards; and as the Valtelines were Catholic, and the Grisons Protestant, the court of Madrid coloured their intention of keeping it, with the religious pretext of securing it from the ravages of heresy. Accordingly, some fortresses were erected in it by the governor of the Milanese, and a communícation was by that means opened with Germany. Soon after this enterprise, Spain, by a treaty concluded with France in 1621, obliged herself to restore the Valteline to the Grisons, but the treaty was not carried into execution; and though negociations were again set on

foot, they ended only in sequestrating the fortresses of that province in the hands of the pope. But when Richelieu became minister, he took a short method to get over the diffi culties, by entering into a league with Venice and the duke of Savoy; after which, a French army drove out the garrisons of Urban VIII., and restored matters to their former condition. From that time Europe reckoned that the court of France was rousing from its lethargy. Another league was concluded with Holland, which, after the expiration of the truce in 1621, had again been attacked. However, Spinola found means to force Breda, after a siege of ten months.

the

The Huguenots, who were always injured Peace with and always seditious, having again taken arms, Huguenots. Richelieu resolved to break their power; but the circumstances were not yet ripe. Though their fleet had been defeated, and they were driven out of the isle of Rhée, they obtained the same advantageous terms of peace as before. The cardinal, to use his own expression, thought that he must again give the world occasion of scandal, that he might act with vigour against the house of Austria. Virulent libels were published against him, in which he was styled the Patriarch of the Atheists; but though he was too much affected with those contemptible pieces of ribaldry, he pursued his plan with ardour. He had already filled the great men of the kingdom with apprehensions, by his attempts to bring them under obedience; defied the resentment of Gaston, duke of Orleans, the king's brother; and not only intrigues, but conspiracies, were formed against

favour of

Huguenots.

him. Never had minister so many enemies or difficulties to encounter, but these only served to give vigour to his genius; and the ambition to which he was a prey, inspired him with a courage that necessarily surmounted all opposition.

1627. His vast political designs might be obstructEngland in ed by the commotions of the Huguenots, but the their ruin was hastened by a sudden rupture between England and France. Ever since the marriage of Charles I. with Henrietta, the inconsiderate zeal of the Catholics, who had been attached to the service of the queen, had secretly irritated the nation; but the discontent had only showed itself in murmurs, when Buckingham engaged the kingdom in the quarrel of the Calvinists, in order to gratify a foolish passion. That imprudent minister being desirous of paying another visit to the queen of France, Anne of Austria, with whom he had the insolence to fall in love, had taken a journey into that country, under pretence of signing a treaty against Spain; but the cardinal being informed of his sentiments, caused him to be denied admittance at court, when, out of resentment for this refusal, and jealousy of the cardinal, he determined his master in favour of the Huguenots, who were projecting a new rebellion. Charles entered upon this unnecessary war in very critical circumstances, while the parliament was making warm opposition to the regal power, and trusted the management of it to his minister, who, from incapacity, miscarried in the first campaign. Thus do ridiculous caprices become the spring which sets

governments in motion, and a wrong choice exposes princes to irreparable misfortunes.

1628. Richelieu

Richelieu then executed one of the most glorious enterprises in his ministry. He attacked besieges Rochelle, the bulwark of the Huguenots, shut Rochelle. up the port against the English, by a dyke which was amazingly constructed in the sea, and commanded the troops in person, with all the valour and skill of an accomplished general. In vain did the mayor Guiton, showing a dagger, and laying it upon the council-table, declare, that with that dagger he would stab the first who ventured to speak of surrendering. In vain did the two duchesses of Rohan animate the fanatical courage of the besieged by their example. Buckingham, who was on the point of setting sail with a new fleet, having been assassinated, the English arrived too late, and were repulsed before the dyke. After eleven months resistance, the inhabitants of Rochelle, exhausted by all the horrors of famine and war, were constrained to submit. They lost their privileges; their fortifications were destroyed; but, at least, they were left in possession of their property, and liberty of con

science.

conquest.

This conquest cost forty millions. Louis Difficulties XIII. assisted several months at the siege, and of th exposed himself to danger with heroic bravery. In personal courage he was equal to Henry IV., though so much his inferior in every other respect. However, Richelieu boasted that he had taken Rochelle, maugre the opposition of the king of Spain, the king of England, and the king of France; in fact, the jealous and ambitious lords had used their utmost endea