A
LETTER
FROM
THE
LORD
OF
ROSNY
,
GREAT
Treasurer
of
France
,
TO
The
Queene
Regent
of
France
,
Concerning
the
Resignation
of
his
Offices
.
MADAME
,
AMong
all
the
honourable
Conditions
of
a
French
Gentleman
,
I
alwayes
held
that
to
be
of
most
of
estéeme
,
which
was
employed
in
the
Important
Affaires
of
his
Countrey
,
in
the
happie
Administration
of
the
seme
:
and
in
obeying
the
Commaundements
of
his
Prince
:
Throughout
the
course
of
manie
yeares
,
I
haue
managed
the
principall
of
this
Estate
,
with
vnexpected
successe
:
vnder
my
King
,
from
a
bottomlesse
Gulphe
of
miserie
,
I
haue
guided
them
to
the
toppe
of
all
glorie
.
At
this
day
(
MADAME
)
I
doe
obey
the
desire
and
expresse
will
of
your
Maiestie
,
I
remit
into
your
handes
the
two
fairest
Tokens
of
the
benefites
and
rewards
of
my
good
Maister
,
The
Bastile
,
and
the
Treasurie
,
which
(
so
long
as
he
liued
,
I
possessed
;
)
Now
that
he
is
deceased
,
I
restore
them
to
you
:
and
well
content
my selfe
,
that
the
Effects
of
my
seruices
may
remaine
ingrauen
in
the
hearts
of
your
people
.
An
other
not
so
faithfull
as
my selfe
,
might
all
all
France
with
his
complaints
:
But
my
perpetuall
deuotion
to
the
place
of
my
Natiuitie
,
and
to
my
King
,
doe
restrain●
and
bridle
my
Tongue
,
and
maketh
mee
to
séeke
rather
in
mine
owne
incapacitie
,
then
in
any
other
consideration
,
the
cause
of
so
great
an
alteration
.
In
one
onely
point
is
my
spirit
impatiently
tormented
:
that
is
;
Of
that
more
then
absolute
resolution
of
your
Maiestie
,
to
vrg●
mee
to
take
money
in
recompence
for
my
Offies
:
Not
that
I
do
not
sufficiently
iudge
how
necessary
this
course
is
,
for
the
good
of
your
seruice
:
But
on
the
other
side
,
it
is
to
my selfe
so
preiudicall
,
and
so
contrary
to
my
demands
,
that
whatsoeuer
power
I
haue
ouer
my selfe
to
content
you
,
yet
haue
I
not
sufficient
to
accept
it
.
But
contrarywise
(
MADAME
)
I
am
forced
to
refuse
it
,
and
contrary
to
my
dutie
in
this
occasion
,
to
preferre
my
particular
Interest
,
before
that
of
your
Maiestie
:
of
all
the
meanes
prouided
to
wade
through
this
busines
,
this
must
néedes
be
to
me
the
most
odious
:
and
indéede
I
do
abhorre
it
,
and
holde
it
as
procéeding
not
from
your
goodnesse
,
but
from
the
malice
of
mine
Enemies
.
For
(
MADAME
)
wherefore
doe
they
not
rather
laye
this
pretence
vpon
my
ouerwild
humour
,
an
incompatible
estrangement
from
all
gratification
of
whatsoeuer
societie
,
and
dissimulation
vpon
the
weake
order
that
I
may
paraduenture
haue
taken
in
the
affaires
of
my
Offices
:
vpon
my
had
Husbandrie
,
in
matter
of
the
Treazurie
:
vpon
the
euils
that
haue
procéeded
of
such
strong
intelligences
as
I
haue
practized
,
as
well
within
as
without
the
Realme
:
and
vpon
such
extreame
care
as
I
tooke
to
establish
my selfe
in
the
preseruation
of
my
Fortunes
:
Wherefore
(
I
say
Madam
)
haue
they
not
rather
chosen
this
foundation
,
rather
then
any
other
:
neither
so
faire
in
shewe
,
and
yet
farre
more
vnlikely
?
For
,
to
publish
or
giue
out
,
that
I
neuer
craued
any
other
recompence
,
then
for
my
Office
of
the
Treasurie
,
neither
yet
any
other
reward
then
the
Office
of
a
Marshal
of
France
,
It
is
a
matter
that
cannot
bee
truely
maintained
;
The
impudencie
of
mine
Enemies
,
and
the
complaint
of
some
of
my
Friendes
,
shall
neuer
be
of
force
sufficient
,
otherwise
to
testifie
it
.
But
if
your
Maiestie
doe
accuse
me
,
that
of
my selfe
I
haue
offered
you
all
that
I
did
possesse
,
I
confesse
it
:
Neither
doe
I
denie
,
but
that
many
times
I
haue
assured
your
Maiestie
,
that
all
that
was
mine
depended
vpon
you
;
yea
,
euen
my
very
life
it selfe
.
But
surely
(
MADAME
)
I
will
also
aduow
,
that
at
that
time
I
could
not
imagine
that
such
Offers
to
a
mans
Soueraigne
,
could
be
offence
sufficient
to
be
therefore
depriued
and
put
from
his
Dignities
.
So
as
if
now
you
doe
so
take
it
,
it
is
a
principle
in
my
opinion
,
very
new
:
Yet
shall
not
this
noueltie
neuertheles
euer
make
me
to
repent
that
I
haue
done
my
dutie
.
But
contrarywise
(
MADAME
)
at
this
present
,
I
doe
againe
offer
to
your
Maistie
,
not
onely
my
honors
,
my
goods
,
but
also
my
very
life
,
with
the
liues
of
my
Children
:
Neither
doe
I
present
them
vnto
you
vppon
any
condition
,
but
to
vse
them
according
to
your
pleasure
;
Yea
,
euen
to
honour
my
very
Enemies
with
them
,
if
to
take
them
from
me
simplie
be
not
matter
of
content
.
If
my
passed
Actions
haue
tended
to
the
aduancement
of
this
Crowne
,
I
will
also
that
my
obedience
shall
bee
the
first
to
shewe
the
meanes
to
preserue
it
.
And
whatsoeuer
my
Enemies
doe
publish
of
my
loue
to
that
I
possesse
,
or
whatsoeuer
other
mens
humors
may
helpe
to
bréede
beliefe
,
yet
is
it
true
(
MADAME
)
that
I
will
abandon
all
that
my
seruices
haue
purchased
me
,
with
more
constancie
,
yea
,
with
a
thousand
times
more
resolution
,
then
an
other
shall
possesse
them
with
pleasure
.
It
shall
suffize
me
in
my
solitarines
,
to
learne
how
your
Maiestie
doth
daily
make
your
Scepter
to
flourish
,
and
preferring
in
these
Affaires
a
goodly
Order
,
and
in
your
Coffers
Treasure
sufficient
to
support
this
Estate
,
which
principally
subsisteth
vppon
the
support
of
these
two
Pillers
.
This
is
it
wherein
I
will
most
quietly
entertaine
my
idle
cogitations
,
and
comforte
my selfe
ouer
the
losse
of
my
good
King
,
without
being
constrained
(
if
it
may
so
please
you
)
to
accept
or
reserue
any
other
recompence
for
my
Offices
,
then
my
contentment
to
receiue
none
,
and
the
honour
of
your
expresse
Commandements
,
but
if
neuerthelesse
,
for
a
finall
Resolution
,
and
that
I
may
not
shew
my selfe
disobedient
to
your
willes
,
your
Maiestie
doe
absolutely
enioyne
me
to
the
contrarie
.
This
then
(
MADAME
)
is
the
greatest
fauour
,
and
that
which
I
most
desire
,
wherewith
I
doe
most
humbly
beséech
you
to
recompence
me
,
that
it
may
please
your
Maiestie
(
MADAME
)
immediately
to
command
my
greatest
enemies
to
goe
into
the
Chamber
Treasuries
of
France
:
that
beside
the
sparing
of
eight
Millions
euery
yéere
:
whereof
hée
yerely
became
indebted
to
his
Officers
,
besides
the
payment
of
all
charges
,
and
of
all
the
ordinarie
Expences
of
the
Estate
,
of
all
the
wages
of
the
soueraigne
Courts
,
of
all
the
wages
of
the
men
of
Warre
,
of
all
the
Garrisons
,
Embassages
,
the
Kings
house
,
the
Voyages
&
Marriages
,
giuing
of
Rewards
&
Recompences
,
with
a
thousand
other
expences
,
too
tedious
to
be
here
set
downe
,
besides
also
the
Guardes
ordinary
summes
,
without
augmenting
either
Taxes
or
Impositions
in
the
Realme
.
Yea
contrariwise
,
If
they
finde
not
that
I
haue
yet
for
the
entertainment
of
three
great
Armies
,
whereof
the
one
recouered
Amuns
an
other
reduced
Bretaigne
,
and
the
third
conquered
Bresse
,
and
Sauoye
:
found
meanes
extraordinarily
to
furnish
aboue
twelue
Millions
:
for
the
discharge
of
the
debts
of
France
,
growen
by
Treaties
,
aboue
fiue
and
twenty
Millions
:
for
the
payment
of
those
of
Switz●rland
,
Germanie
,
Italie
,
and
England
,
aboue
thirtie
Millions
:
For
the
payment
of
Pensions
,
both
within
and
without
the
Realme
,
aboue
foure
and
twentie
Millions
:
For
the
succour
of
forraigne
Prouinces
,
aboue
eight
Millions
:
For
the
refurnishment
of
the
Artilleries
,
Fortifications
,
High-wayes
,
and
Buildings
,
aboue
eight
Millions
:
For
the
reliefe
of
the
poore
,
aboue
sixe
Millions
:
To
lay
vp
in
the
Treasurie
,
in
the
Coffers
of
the
Bastille
,
or
to
leaue
in
Deposito
,
in
the
hands
of
the
Treasurer
of
the
Espargne
,
aboue
seuentéene
Millions
:
To
satisfie
many
other
Expences
,
which
may
easily
be
verified
,
aboue
twenty
Millions
:
If
I
haue
not
also
besides
procured
Contracts
for
the
redéeming
of
the
Demaynes
of
France
,
that
were
engaged
,
wherof
the
greatest
part
is
daylie
put
in
Execution
;
Such
Redemptions
,
amounting
to
aboue
fortie
Millions
.
Finally
,
(
MADAME
)
If
I
haue
not
in
my
great
care
,
by
my
onely
Vigilancie
,
put
in
practise
these
sparings
:
If
also
to
continue
the
same
duty
to
France
,
I
haue
not
at
all
times
offred
to
your
Maiestie
,
to
loose
my
life
,
or
to
support
the
affaires
,
&
that
in
the
same
eminencie
,
yea
,
euen
to
present
them
in
a
higher
degrée
.
If
I
say
,
I
haue
not
preferred
all
these
things
and
more
,
then
doe
I
submit
my selfe
(
MADAME
)
to
any
punishment
for
my
presumtion
,
to
receiue
such
odious
recompence
,
that
you
shall
appoint
me
,
as
the
price
of
my
honors
&
of
my
offices
:
But
if
also
(
MADAME
)
there
be
not
any
one
of
these
Articles
found
false
,
(
vnlesse
it
be
that
they
speake
too
little
)
&
that
my
former
affection
hath
receiued
no
other
alteration
,
but
to
be
growne
more
ardent
and
strong
,
suffer
me
(
MADAME
)
for
my
more
worthy
satisfaction
,
to
endure
the
harme
that
you
doe
me
,
without
accepting
the
good
that
you
offer
me
.
Reuoke
and
call
in
my
offices
without
this
gratious
charge
.
Or
if
necessarily
(
MADAME
)
you
will
vouchsafe
yet
to
honor
me
with
some
fauour
,
Let
it
be
onely
,
if
it
may
so
please
you
,
a
perpetuall
remembrance
of
my
fidelitie
:
A
fauour
which
I
desire
of
your
Maiestie
:
not
that
hereafter
I
might
be
recalled
to
the
painefull
trauell
of
the
affaires
:
but
onely
to
leaue
me
in
rest
,
that
I
may
still
liue
in
the
remembrance
of
her
,
who
is
this
day
the
Regent
of
my
country
:
the
liuing
soule
of
my
maister
,
and
the
mother
of
my
King
.
And
surely
(
MADAME
)
it
is
also
an
honor
,
and
last
acknowledgement
which
you
Madame
cannot
iustly
denie
me
:
for
sith
all
they
whom
in
my
offices
I
may
haue
offended
,
doe
labour
to
sée
me
depriued
,
much
more
may
they
remember
my
seruices
that
doe
triumph
in
them
.
Farewell
house
,
farewell
fortresse
,
which
I
haue
had
in
kéeping
and
gouernment
aboue
twelue
yeares
.
Farewell
Temple
of
the
Goddesse
Moneta
Mony
,
who
haue
procured
me
so
great
enuie
:
Let
me
now
goe
,
now
that
I
am
wearie
of
these
affaires
;
Returne
me
to
a
priuate
life
,
wherein
I
may
no
more
haue
such
cares
.
I
am
he
,
who
strong
in
spirit
and
courage
,
hauing
comprehended
the
very
ground
of
the
riches
of
the
King
and
Kingdome
,
haue
gouerned
them
:
I
am
he
,
vnto
whom
the
selicitie
of
this
estate
,
augmented
in
new
reuenewes
,
and
the
coffers
of
our
yong
maisters
,
replenished
by
iust
and
lawfull
meanes
,
stand
bound
for
that
plaine
and
assured
order
that
I
haue
established
;
I
haue
reaped
great
honors
and
large
recompence
for
that
industrious
care
that
I
tooke
vnder
a
great
king
.
I
was
of
great
power
,
&
had
great
authoritie
,
but
euen
in
the
turning
of
a
hand
,
in
his
bloody
fall
,
I
haue
séene
all
fallen
and
ruined
.
In
the
same
mishap
,
haue
I
séene
extinct
,
all
that
enuie
,
that
made
diuers
many
times
to
threaten
my
vndoing
and
vtter
ruine
,
whiles
I
procured
the
good
of
the
estate
,
and
that
I
sought
nothing
but
to
purchase
onely
my
maisters
fauours
,
without
any
regard
of
the
great
ones
,
and
neuer
knowing
what
it
was
to
séeke
the
fauour
and
good
will
of
the
people
,
euermore
bending
my selfe
wholy
to
this
purpose
.
But
now
in
the
end
,
depart
from
me
all
troublesome
carking
care
,
I
am
now
resolued
to
mew
vp
my
ship
in
a
calme
,
and
safe
hauen
:
peraduenture
the
state
hauing
lost
me
,
shall
better
acknowledge
wherein
I
haue
bene
profitable
vnto
it
,
and
the
people
shall
finde
it
,
albeit
ouerlate
,
when
fauour
and
affection
shall
succéed
hatred
:
but
I
doe
not
so
highly
estéeme
my
owne
grace
and
good
,
as
that
I
should
desire
to
obtaine
it
,
by
the
disasters
and
calamities
of
my
countrey
:
But
contrariwise
,
grant
O
God
,
that
the
fortune
of
this
Realme
,
may
euermore
continue
in
good
estate
,
that
I
may
neuer
sée
it
ouerthrowne
,
and
that
it
may
neuer
haue
cause
to
be
sory
for
the
losse
of
me
,
or
to
wish
for
me
againe
.