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Cardinal Richelieu, a Political Testament (1630)
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At the time when your Majesty resolved to admit me both to your council and to an important place in your
confidence for the direction of your affairs, I may say that the Huguenots shared the state with you; that the nobles
conducted themselves as if they were not your subjects, and the most powerful governors of the provinces as if they
were sovereign in their offices.
I may say that the bad example of all of these was so injurious to this realm that even the best regulated parlements
were affected by it, and endeavored, in certain cases, to diminish your royal authority as far as they were able in order to stretch their own powers beyond the limits of reason.
I may say that every one measured his own merit by his audacity; that in place of estimating the benefits which they
(269) received from your Majesty at their proper worth, all valued them only in so far as they satisfied the extravagant
demands of their imagination; that the most arrogant were held to be the wisest, and found themselves the most
prosperous.
I may also say that the foreign alliances were unfortunate, individual interests being preferred to those of the public; in
a word, the dignity of the royal majesty was so disparaged, and so different from what it should be, owing to the
malfeasance of those who conducted your affairs, that it was almost impossible to perceive its existence.
It was impossible, without losing all, to tolerate longer the conduct of those to whom your Majesty had intrusted the
helm of state; and, on the other hand, everything could not be changed at once without violating the laws of prudence,
which do not permit the abrupt passing from one extreme to another.
The sad state of your affairs seemed to force you to hasty decisions, without permitting a choice of time or of means;
and yet it was necessary to make a choice of both, in order to profit by the change which necessity demanded from
your prudence.
Thoughtful observers did not think that it would be possible to escape all the rocks in so tempestuous a period; the
court was full of people who censured the temerity of those who wished to undertake a reform; all well knew that
princes are quick to impute to those who are near them the bad outcome of the undertakings upon which they have been
well advised; few people consequently expected good results from the change which it was announced that I wished to
make, and many believed my fall assured even before your Majesty had elevated me.
Notwithstanding these difficulties which I represented to your Majesty, knowing how much kings may do when they
make good use of their power, I ventured to promise you, with confidence, that you would soon get control of your
state, and that in a short time your prudence, your courage, and the benediction of God would give a new aspect to the
realm.
(270) I promised your Majesty to employ all my industry and all the authority which it should please you to give me to
ruin the Huguenot party, to abase the pride of the nobles, to bring back all your subjects to their duty, and to elevate
your name among foreign nations to the point where it belongs.
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