Popery and tyranny, or, The present state of France, in relation to its government, trade, manners of the people, and nature of the countrey as it was sent in a letter from an English gentleman abroad, to his friend in England, wherein may be seen the tyranny the subjects of France are under ... English gentleman abroad. 1679 Approx. 40 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A55434 Wing P2922 ESTC R1480 11875977 ocm 11875977 50247 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A55434) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 50247) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 819:28) Popery and tyranny, or, The present state of France, in relation to its government, trade, manners of the people, and nature of the countrey as it was sent in a letter from an English gentleman abroad, to his friend in England, wherein may be seen the tyranny the subjects of France are under ... English gentleman abroad. [2], 18 p. [s.n.], London : 1679. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Catholic Church -- France -- Controversial literature. France -- Politics and government -- 1643-1715. France -- Economic conditions -- Early works to 1800. 2006-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-01 Celeste Ng Sampled and proofread 2007-01 Celeste Ng Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion POPERY AND TYRANNY : OR , THE Present State OF FRANCE : In relation to Its Government , Trade , Manners of the People , and Nature of the Countrey . As it was sent in a Letter from an English Gentleman abroad , to his Friend in England . Wherein may be seen the Tyranny the Subjects of France are under , being Enslaved by the two greatest Enemies to Reason , as well as to Christian or Humane Liberty , I mean Popery and Arbitrary Power . Tunc tua res agitur Paries cum proximus ardet . London , Printed in the Year 1679. SIR , HAving received from you so good and so large an Account of your Affairs at home , with the great Fears you are in , I thought it some small Retribution to give you some little Account of the Government here , and some little Observations I have been able to make since I came hither , which may something inform you both of the Manner the Subjects of France live in , and the Strength of the French King , in case of any Design upon us . Concerning the Government . As to the Government of France ; It is an Absolute Monarchy , imposed upon the People by a standing , illegal , and oppressive Army . It is the Corruption of a Monarchy from the best tempered one ( before the Use of States of France was laid aside ) to the double Tyranny of Popery and Arbitrary Power . Here you will find that Government in its Perfection , being supported by all the Machiavilian tricks of a corrupt Policy , and suffered by a People , who having first submitted the freest part of them to the slavery of Popery , are easily brought to submit the other to the Yoke of Oppression . Here the Prince is now only upon the Defensive part , only to keep what he has got , which he has brought about now to be no very hard Task , having instilled into the People so great a Vanity of Conquering abroad , that they are prouder of having their King take a Town , than of possessing any thing as their own , without being subject to the Griping hand of an Arbitrary Publican . I must confess , it has wrought so much with me , that it has made me , as often as I meditate upon the Afflictions of my Neighbours here , thank the Almighty , as much for having placed me under so good a Prince , and so good a Government , ( as that of England ) as for my daily Sustenance : And really , Sir , it is only to be attributed to the goodness of Almighty God , and the Excellency of his Majesties Temper , that we are not under as great Misfortunes as our Neighbours , having not wanted Ambitious and Ill men among our selves , who had they not been discovered , and curbed by some Noble Patriots , as well as discountenanced , and removed by his Majesty , from his Person and Councels , might too soon have effected their wicked Designs . You must excuse me , Sir , if I have made such a Digression , it being in a thing so much concerns Me , and all of us ; but fearing to trouble you with my thoughts of things , you ( being upon the place ) can best see into : I shall return to what I have promised , viz. Something of the present Government of France ; or the manner of proceeding , after Tyranny and Arbitrary Power is come to be the settled Government , under an Active Popish Prince . The Government of France is to considered , either in relation to its Subjects or Foreign Interest . As to the Subjects , the present state is this : The Nobility of all sorts are very much Oppress'd , and their Interests are to be broken , and rendred absolutely dependent upon the Crown by these Means : 1. No Favourite suffered to form a Faction , or oblige Dependents , Affairs being Managed by three Upstarts , only Assistants to the Prince , who Acts , and Determines all himself : and thus the Nobility and Gentry are totally laid aside as to the Administration of Government . 2. As to Councel , they are rarely and with great Caution made Use of ; and that only upon extraordinary Occasions ; none of them being admitted to those Charges that do render it necessary : as the Prince of Conde , Marshal Turin , who are only made Use of in matters of War , and Foreign Enterprizes . 3. None of their Mediation admitted between the Prince and his Subjects , as to publick or private Favours , Rewards , Preferment , or any Affairs ; laying them aside as to the Court-Interest . 4. All those Charges Military or Civil , that may render them Considerable , supprest or eclipsed , as the high Constable , high Admiral , and Colonel of the Infantry . Governours of Provinces , Towns , Fortresses , are eclips'd by these means , by Intendants who are Superiours , placed in every Province , who usurp the whole Power under the Notion of Intendants , over Justices , Policy , and Finances , at first only ordained for Finances . These render Account only to the King , who admits of no Superiour Intendant , or high Treasurer , nor Mediation of the Governour ; who being thus divested of Power , is reduced also to his bare Pension ; also the Profits and Privileges taken away which were considerable , and in Truth is now much the same thing with our Lord Lieutenants , as to quartering Souldiers , and other Military Affairs . As to Towns and Fortresses , all Inland ones are demolished , and Frontiers , such only as are thought necessary , kept up and maintained , all the French Companies formerly belonging to the Governours , supprest , no Possibility of false Musters , or making Use of Towns-men to fill up the Places , the King supplying his Garrisons out of his standing Army , and taking the Pay of the Provinces towards their Maintenance , and charging them every three Months , by select Companies out of the several Regiments , that the Governour and their Officers may not be able by any Correspondence to have Intrest in them , or reap any Advantages for themselves , notwithstanding all which , the Charges are saleable , and rarely the greater Nobility admitted to them . 2. All Charges both in the Army , Law , Court and Revenue , are diminished in number , and retrench'd in Profits , upon which the Nobility heretofore depended ; they are beside much impoverish'd , 1. By the late Expedition into Flanders , from which they were dismissed without Pay or Recompence : 2. By retrenching their Privileges , as to Exemption from Tally , restraining it to one Farme or Mansion , and that in one Place , not exceeding two Ploughs . 3. By Project of reviewing the ancient Nobles . 4. By re-assuming all the demesne Lands of the Crown as upon a Mortgage . The Clergy is also overawed , 1. By strict Visitations , in point of Manners and Imployment of their Revenues . 2. By upholding the Jansenists against the Jesuits , the Jesuits upholding the Kings Authority against the Popes . 3. By threatning to subject the Religious to Episcopal Jurisdiction ; to which I may add by having the Pope under his Girdle , whereby he extorts from the Religious great Aids , and suppresses all religious Societies , not exceeding such a number , or wanting Royal Establishment . What concerns Offices and Officers , in this Manner . 1. Multitudes of them both in Reference to Law and Finances are supprest . 2. The Profits of Offices relating to the Law are diminished by Code Lewis , and the Fees and Salaries of others regulated by new Edicts . 3. The Privileges of many of the Officers as to Tally are diminished . 4. The Pollet is granted upon very hard Conditions , viz. to contribute to the new Company of Trade and Candia-Expedition , which is now at an end , by the Surrender of Candia to the Turk . The Pollet is an ancient Payment of a certain Sum by each Office , in lieu whereof , the Officers have Power to dispose of the same , though they dye ( by Will or otherwise ) but still at the Election of the Prince , that if he refuse , their Offices are but for Life ; yet rarely , till this Princes time , hath this Pollet been denied . 5. All sorts of Officers and Partisans that have got considerably by Farming or Lending upon the Kings Revenue , are required by the High Court of Justice , in an Arbitrary way ; viz. by comparing what they have got , with what their Places and Farms in Reason ought to yield them , and with what they were worth before , forcing to answer to the King the overplus . 6. All the Courts to which they relate , are awed ; especially that of Parliaments : who are forced to Register , and Pass the Kings Edicts of Course , without the usual Formalities : such as oppose him therein , being usually banished by him by Letters of Cachet . 7. The King takes away Offices at his pleasure , and gives what Recompence he pleases . As to what concerns Protestants , they are diminished in their number , and weakened by these means . 1. By making them incapable of all Offices and Charges of Judicature , the Court of Parliament , and other high Charges in State or Army ; and in truth , by making their Profession an obstacle to all Preferments . 2. Forbidding all Marriages between them and Catholicks . 3. Whensoever they are turned , to make it highly Penal to Return . The Names of the Nobility turned Roman Catholicks of late years , Marshal Turin , Le Duc de Duras : and the Counte de Lorge his Brother : the Count de Lorge Mountgomery , Messieurs de Pons , two Brothers : Mounsieur de St. Miscna in Xaintoign : Mounsieur de la Roachel : Mounsieur de Pellison : Mounsieur the Prince de Tarrant Son to the Duke of Tours . 4. Under Pretence that their Temples have been erected since the Edict of Nantes without Licence , or upon holy Ground belonging to the Catholick Church , as they call themselves , demolishing Multitudes of them thereby , forcing them to the Inconveniency of four or five Leagues if not more , out of their respective City and Towns , and suppressing all private Chappels belonging to the Protestant Gentry , upon Pretence of Non-residence . 5. Demolishing all Places of Strength where they abode in Numbers , and erecting Cittadels to awe these Towns where they are numerous , 6. By taking away Hospitals and all other Provisions for their Poor , given by Protestants , not allowing them to make any Gifts for Perpetuity , nor admitting them the Privilege of other Hospitals provided for the rest of his Subjects . 7. By conniving at the Clergy , when contrary to Law , they force their Children from them , and concealing them from their Parents , bred them up in their own Religion . 8. By restraining Catholicks from taking Protestants Children their Apprentices , and prohibiting Catholicks from placing their Children with Protestants . Touching the Commonalty , his Subjects , first the Burgois . 1. His Impositions are heavy upon them , saving , in such Places where they exercise Forreign Trade , so that most of the inland Towns are much decayed . 2. He admits of no Corporations , or Companies amongst them , whereby they might be formidable , as to Interest , or make themselves Considerable in acquiring Wealth . I have been informed by Peasants , that out of that little which belonged to them , they constantly paid near two Thirds to the King : and that those that had only what they Earned by hard Labour , were not exempt from great Impositions ; nor were they yet free from the Imposition of Salt , viz. from being forced to take it at their prices , what they will think fitting they should spend . Secondly , The Peasant , or lowest sort of Common People , are more favoured than the rest , as to Impositions ; the Tallie being diminished some Millions , the manner of leaving it much Regulated , and multitudes made Contributors , that were not heretofore ; which is done for two Reasons : 1. Because there was Necessity for it . 2. Because they are the Kings Laws , that are to yield to him daily Increase , and therefore to be Encouraged and Cherish'd . To which I might add , the Design the King hath of altering that Tax , and making it real , by charging it upon the Land , which , by throwing it upon the Gentry , and easing the Personal Estate , he hopes to bring to pass . Nor hath he been less favourable to them in the Gabel of Salt , changing , in most places , the way of Imposing it , and contenting himself to be the sole Merchant ; to which end he purchaseth all Salt-pans in private hands , finding , that these things were improved by the Partisans to a destruction of the Duty it self ; and his People and the Government , is at present Vigorous in Execution of Laws , and Impartial in the Execution of Justice , Labouring to free the People from the Oppressions of all others but the King , and to encourage and render them capable of being a Trading Nation . What concerns Foreign Interest . I shall not say much , though I could , it being rather Matter of History than Reflection ; only this present King hath never omitted his Advantage for any regard of Honour or Faith , either in making of Treaties , or observing of Alliances : The Militia of France consists either of Maritime , or Land Forces ; of the latter , I have no exact Account , but by Computation the King hath fifty or sixty thousand Horse and Foot , since the Disbanding ; but according to the best Information , as to the Goodness , I hear they decline daily very much , and that for three respects . 1. The Discipline and Duty being so rigorous , that for want of five men , the Captain shall be cashiered , though they ran away , and he not able to supply it . 2. The Pay is so small , that neither Officer nor Souldier can scarce live upon it , beside Deduction to Horse and Foot for Clothing , Hay and Oats ; and the pay of a Captain of Foot , per diem being fifty Soulz ; a Lieutenant thirty Soulz ; Ensign fifteen Soulz ; Souldier five Soulz : a Captain of Horse six Livres , Lieutenant three , Cornet two Livres five Soulz . 3. The great Discouragement of old Officers , and new ones too , by the late Disbanding without Pay , and keeping only such in Pay , as were able at their own Charges to keep up their Company ; and taking away all Privileges in Muster , or otherwise , for so many Horses , for so many Servants , and their allowance for Table , beside most of their old Boyes are spoiled by Disbanding of part : to which I may add , that the Switzers , Scottish , and Protestants are under such discouragement , that they have almost quitted the Army : but yet to do the King right , he entertains all reformed Officers at half Pay , and daily forbids the sale of Military Offices , and , for the most part , bestows them according to Seniority , unless it be in his Guards , keeps them under good Discipline , Pays punctually , Exercises them frequently , makes them take their turn in Flanders ; and lastly , gives many considerable Pensions , and the truth is , Endeavours to destroy all other Supports , both of them and of the Nobility and Gentry , and to make them all to depend absolutely upon him and his Pensions . As for the Militia by Sea , all that I shall say by way of Reflection is , that he doth vigorously endeavour the Encrease and Propagation of Trade and building of Ships , to which end , he is reported to make up his Fleet 100 Sail , and daily encrease his Stores , by purchasing and cutting down Timber he finds fit for it , and also hath found out great Store of Masts of Timber of his own , with Pitch and Tar , procuring men out of Swethland to teach the making of it here , some Defects I find at present , which time may rectifie ; his Ships are built too high and too narrow , the Guns carry not above 28 l. Bullet : they want Guns , and treat Strangers but ill after they have got them into Service ; the Pay of Seamen is but ten Livres a Moneth , wherein Diet is reckoned ; this undertaken by each particular Captain ; their Gallies worst served , only by condemned Persons , which they change perpetually . They have received an Opinion , that by the Goodness of Powder , and manner of Charging , that they can make their Guns equal the Force of those which are bigger ; and in pursuit hereof , they daily cast great Guns they find in Garisons into this Proportion , which may do well enough for Land , but not for Sea Service . To which I may add , the Port he hath caused to be built at Charante , Haure and other Places , he hath laid out several Millions at Charante , but to little Purpose , through the Knavery and Indiscretion of those that are Overseers , that he is laught at by most that sees it , with a Reparation of Fortifications of the rest of the Ports and Havens , and the many Works he hath provided in several Places for the casting of Ordnance , Anchors , and providing Materials for shipping and all warlike Munitions , and the great Encouragement he gives to all Gentlemen to go to Sea , and above all these the manner whereby he promotes Trade and building Ships of Force by private men , ( which shall farther be shewed under the Head of Trade . ) As for the Governour himself the King of France , I shall be sparing in his Character , because he is so well known that I might run the Danger of Flattery , I shall only remark the most eminent Vertues in him . 1. Industry ; being the Doer of all things himself , making choice of fit Instruments to act under him , both for Advice and Execution ; not such as can incline him , reserving the Determination and account of all that is done unto himself ; and but one day in the Week that he is not personally present in his Councels . 2. A well-stated Reserve in his Comportment ; being easie of Access to all men of Business , and incommunicable to all other Familiarities . 3. The great Command over his Passions ; which he expresses upon all occasions , and government of his Tongue , whereby he obtains a great Secrecy , and renders his Councels insearchable . 4. His unparallel'd Constancy in these and all other his Measures , not quitting Friendship with any one he hath once made choice of , whether of his Favourite , Ministers , or beloved Mistresses , notwithstanding the unsuccessful Undertakings of the first , as in the business of Gydgery in Africa , East and West India Trade , and new Manufacturies . To this I may oppose , by way of Balance ; 1. His great Parcimony ; which may rather serve an Excess of Virtue than of Vice ; whereby the Services done to him are not so well rewarded ; all the Estates of men depending upon him , not supported , they by that means being Indigent and Discontented . This seems grounded upon the Experiment he had of the Misfortune of his Ancestors , by their contrary Practices , not from any inclination in him to Avarice ; which is sufficiently confirmed in him , by his Enterprises , which have alwayes been carefully sustained by his Magnificent Buildings Furniture , and Fortresses , as also by his sumptuous and spl●●did Entertainments ( the Ballad represented five or six Carnavals ago , stood him in 180000 Livres , which is 14000. Sterling , with the care he takes to bestow liberal Pensions , Preferments and Rewards , upon such as have deserved well of him in Civil or Military Employments , not suffering them to make any Advantage , or to take one penny more than their Wages or Salary , from any of his Subjects , or others , for the discharging of their Offices , and turning them out infallibly , and punishing them severely when they do otherwise , thereby obliging them to Fidelity , Industry , and an absolute Dependency upon him , and by his employing the meaner sort in Buildings , Manufactories , Fortresses , in Flanders and France , Magazines , new Chanells , Havens , Shipping and Trade at his own Expence , thereby making the Money circulate quick . 2. He is too rigorous in his Discipline and Execution of Laws and Reformation of Business even to a degree of seeming Injust , as the Military Discipline , Treatment of Fawket and the Partizans Reduction of Offices and Officers do evidence . 3. His personal Vices are too publick to the World , and too open in his own Kingdom , whereby Corruption of Manners is produced in his Court , and amongst the Nobility , even to the spreading it self to all Degrees and Sexes . 4. Amongst his Defects may also be reckoned his not being regardful enough of his Faith and Honour in matters of Alliances where his Interest is concerned . Concerning Trade . The Enlargement and Advantage of Trade seems to be one of the greatest Designs of this Crown , nor is there any Cost spared therein ; as well appears by these ensuing Particulars . 1. Their Endeavours to enlarge both Foreign and Domestick Trade ; as to Foreign , the erecting of East India and West India and Northern Companies , the encouraging and Countenancing them with great Priviledges , both real and personal , and exempting the Commerce from derogating Nobility , their Commodities from all Inland Duties either Provincial , or Entries into Towns or otherwise . 2. Assisting them with great Sums of Money , viz. a fifth part of their Stock , and fifty Solz for all Goods outward , and seventy five for all Goods inward , out of his Coffers ; engaging all his great Officers with Priviledge of Exemption from Residence and Duty there , and imposing upon all Persons of Ability , to go a share in the Stock , thereby not only engaging them in point of Interest , but Experience and Knowledge of the Trade . As to Domestick Trade by encouraging all Manufactors already setled here , and introducing all Others , this Nation is capable of , or his Use of at his Expence , ( he is blamed for attempting also such as are not for their Use , and which they can never afford at the same Rate which others sell at ) as also the great advance of the Trade of Silk , Salt , and Linnen , and the setting upon the Dutch and foreign Manufactures do sufficiently evidence . 3. Having reduced all Home Duties into one receit , to save the Expence of so many Officers , and of Time , is another great Encouragement of Domestick Trade ; to all these I may add , the Advance of Duty upon all Foreign Merchandize , the Defence made against all Foreign Manufacturies , the Favouring the Artizan , as to Table ; but above all , the Example of the Prince , in confining himself to the wearing his Manufacturies , and obliging all his Dependents to the like observance , is of great Importance . 4. The Increase of Navigation and Shipping is procured by these means . 1. Giving 500 l. out of his own Customs , by way of Encouragement for every hundred Tuns of Shipping his Subjects shall build , of above 100 Tuns burden , and 400 Livres for all they shall buy . 2. Rendring all Persons incapable in Corporations relating to Trade , that have not an Interest in Shipping , to put a proportion appointed to each Officer . 3. Electing an Northern Company to furnish his Subjects with Provisions of Shipping at the best hand , and also endeavouring to find the Materials in his own Countrey , as I have already observed . 4. Giving their Shipping Preference of Employment , as the late Edict for Salt shews , obliging all his Officers to fraught French Ships at such a Rate before any Strangers , as also fifty soulz per Tun imposed upon Forreign Vessels . 5. Endeavouring to make his Subjects sole Merchants of all Trades , as well imported as exported , and not only by the Priviledges already mentioned upon their Commodities and Ships , but also by putting all manner of Discouragements upon all Foreign Factories and Merchants by Difficulty in their Dispatches , delayes in point of Justice , subjecting them to Foreign Duties and Seizures , not suffering them to be Factors to the French or any other Nation but their own , and in case of Death to have their Estates seized as Aliens , and the Countenance and conceiving the French have as to all Duty when employ'd in the Service of Foreigners . 6. The great Care taken to set the Poor on Work , to the Increase of Trade , and disburdening the rest of their Fellow-Subjects , as Work-houses over all France manifesteth ; but especially at Paris , and at Lyons , which hath Hostels de Dieu , far better than a Tax to support them in Idleness . The Care taken to Encourage Foreigners to Travel , or abide in France , and so increase the number of Subjects , as sheweth : 1. By a general Naturalization of all Nations , except English , Irish , and Spanish ; the People of Flanders are comprized in that benefit . 2. Convenient Academies , Schools , Colleges , Pensions and Tables de Hostes . 3. Convenient Passages , by Messages , Coaches , and Boats. 4. Impartial and speedy Justice to all Strangers , as well as their own Subjects , especially in Courts-Merchants , and before their Commissaries , considering Contracts made by Strangers ; to which I may add , the late care of setting up Posts Places . For every Winter the King does not keep his Court at Paris , he is obliged by Covenant to abate sixteen hundred thousand Livres to those that Farm his Excise for that Place . In two years time , soon after the Kings Marriage , when the Kingdom was in Peace , the King drew from the Parisians six score Millions of Livres . Some Defects and Difficulties in the way of their Trade managed . 1. The Wealth of the Burgois seem inconsistent with the Policy of this Monarch . 2. The Arbitrariness of the Tallies discourageth the meaner sort , seeking after no more than suplying absolute Necessity , and makes Towns fearful ro receive new Manufactures for fear of Increase of their Tallies . 3. The Prejudice the Trade lies under as to the Nobility , being inconsistent with it , the Policy of this Monarch designing them all for Arms and Art , and not for Trade . 4. The unsettledness of the Books of Rates and great Arbitrariness of the Kings Officers and Farmers , which are too much favoured by Laws . 5. The present Policie admits not of any Corporations of Trade to be Elective . 6. Want of able Merchants amongst them , and putting the Directions of all their present Companies , into the Hands of Persons ignorant in Trade , Favourites of the present Ministers ; whereby they have lost the third part of the Stock of the East India Company already , making all the new Manufactures Monopolies , whereby most of them are come to nothing , as that of Silk-Stockens and Cloth. 7. The Encrease of Church-men and Souldiers , with the Design this Monarchy hath of enlarging it self by new Acquisitions at Land. Lastly , The natural Idleness and Luxury these People are addicted unto , but that Necessity forceth them to the contrary , together with the forcing them to enter into Companies of Trade , and imposing their new Manufactures upon Places and Buyers , with the evil Treatment of those Strangers , that teach them after they have once learned their Trade , and the Difficulty of finding a Market and Credit , ( which attends all new Beginners ) especially where others are in possession of Trade , are Obstructions not easily conquered ; yet should the Project hold , of making the Tally hold real , and Salt Merchantable , succeed , and Trade and Manufacturies be made free , and the Book of Rates be Regulated , under the present Encouragements ; and the great Advantage of the cheapness of Work , and great Industry of Workmen , it were much to be feared , that the rest of the Difficulties would be overcome . Since I wrote this , the King hath passed an Edict , declaring , That the Trade of Merchandize never ought to have been , nor never should be , in any time to come , esteemed a Derogation to Nobility ; and Ennobling it with many Privileges , and by the diminution of the Profits and Privileges of all Charges Military and Civil ( as I have before observed ) endeavouring to Necessitate the Gentry , and Sons of the Nobility themselves to Merchandise . Concerning Revenue . The whole Revenue of the Crown is Eighty Millions ; all Charges deducted , comes to sixty Millions of Livres yearly , not possible to be augmented ; the Clergy , Nobility , and Partizans being already pared and pilled , the Tallies and Gabals in most places , upon the meaner sort , being so far stretcht , that they require abatement : Especially in respect of Cessation of War , and Interruption of Trade with Foreigners , by reason of their new Projects about Trade ; but in general , this I must say , that there never was more care taken in managing of the Kings Revenues by Superiour , as well as Inferiour Officers , and am informed , that the Tally is so regulated , that the Expence in Levying it comes not to above a twentieth part ; but its Arbitrary manner of Collecting the Tally , is thus : The King sends down to the Intendant what he intends to Levy upon the Province by way of Tally ; the Intendant consulting the Elect of each Division , returns up word what he thinks it able to bear that year , with the reasons thereof ; then the King sixeth the Sum ; then the Elects are convened to distribute the Sum upon each Division ; And lastly , the Intendant adviseth with the Elect ; fixes the Sum upon each Parish , as he pleaseth , ( which is practised very Arbitrary ) and also appoints the Assessors in the Parish , ( who are answerable for the Taxes upon the Parish out of their own Estates ) and may impose the same Arbitrarily upon their Neighbours , yet most of them of any Substance take their Turns , and are much regulated by new Edicts , in imposing and levying the same . If there be any complaint made , that the Parish is over-burdened , the Remedy is by Petition to the Intendant , who , upon Examination , doth as he sees cause ; and the Appeal from him is only to the King , which is rarely or never practised ; for those that are great men , and concerned at Court , are alwayes favoured by the Intendant , and for the rest he matters them not . The Intendant , as I said before , is an Officer Elected to Govern and Oversee the Affairs of the Revenue and Finances , but his Power is since inlarged to Examine and Determine all Complaints concerning the good Government of the Province , and every Member , and now lately to oversee the new Manufacturies and Trade , and all other things , except the Militia , and he gives a constant Account to the King by a Master of Requests , of the Estate of the Province , and Trade , and of all such Grievances , Inconveniences , and Complaints , as are not in his Power to remedy , and is become a very necessary Officer ; yet rarely any of Quality is preferred to this Imployment , but men Industrious , bred up to the Law. If there be any complaint between the Assessours and their Neighbours , this is determined at the Court of the Elect. Now it is to be known , these Elects are certain Officers , who buy their Offices , and are appointed by the King for each Division , though possibly in their beginning they were elected by each Division . There lies an Appeal from them to the Courts of Aids , where also Process issues forth against the Assessors , if any Sum be behind ; which Courts are assisted with the Chamber of Accounts ; these hold Plea generally of all Matters relating to the Revenue , and the Edicts concerning the same , are now used to be Registred there , and not in Parliament . An Account of the Clergy , and their Revenue . The Roman Church of France hath in it fourteen Arch-bishopricks , viz. Lyons , Sens Auches , Arles , Remis , Bourdeaux , Tholouse , Burgers , Narbone , Aix , Vienne , Roan , Paris . Under which are contained 95 Bishopricks , 120000 Parishes , or Cures ; it hath 1356 Abbies , 12400 Priories , 256 Commanders of Malta , 452000 Monasteries , that have all Chaplains ; besides the Monasteries of Religious Women , of which the number is 557. Beside these , there are 700 Convents of Cordelis , without comprehending the Jacobins and Carmelites , the Augustines , the Charteva , the Belisines , the Jesuits , the Minims , and other Religious Houses , the Number whereof is 14078 which Ecclesiasticks possess , 9000 Castles , Pallaces and Houses , which have high , mean , and low Justice . They have also 259000 large Farmes and 10000 Arpans of Vines , so that it is found that the Revenue of the Church , per annum , amounts to 312 Millions of Livres . Concerning the Manners of the People . The Nobility and Gentry ( unless it be such as are assured of Ecclesiastical Preferment ) are Unlearned , yet generally well bred , and very capable of the Court and Camp , or Charges belonging to the Law. The Gentry , when they are past the Grammar-School , are usually sent to the Academies , where they learn to ride the great Horse , Dance , Fence , and some of them some part of the Mathematicks ; especially Fortifications . The Burgois are very Ingenious , the Artisan and Peasant very Laborious , of which latter sort , not a hand is Idle from break of Day till dark Night ; all , except the great Nobility and Gentry , Devout ; they are Civil to Strangers , Servile to their Prince , and Good to their Relations and Families . Their Defects and Vices . They are superficially Learned , or knowing nought but Law , Physick , Chirurgery , and Art of War , horribly addicted to Luxury , and Vices of the Court , as plain Building , great Trains , Courtship and Entertainments , which seems to be the Butt and Scope of all men of all Degrees , except peasants ; Proud , Boasters , Despisers of others , Envious of their Superiours , and Tyrannical to their Inferiours ; Slighting in their Friendship , Unreasonable in their Askings , Unjust in their Dealing , extreamly given to Law-Suits , and Exacting upon Strangers , joyn'd with a Court-Confidence , from the Highest to the lowest . The Sum of all ; they imploy themselves to a Court-Deportment , are not Naturally Industrious , except to acquire mony for their Luxury ; which the Peasant also would be inclined unto , were not his Condition such as puts him in despair of it . As to the Countrey ; the Air is generally very wholsom , the Towns wel● built , the Soil very fruitful , and well improved in all but Herbage , abounding in small Walled Towns and Burroughs , through the multiplicity of Lords that shar'd the Lands , now generally decayed , an ill People , delicious Companies , and full of Elegant Seats and Country-Houses , generally small , but embellished with Groves and fine Gardens ; the great Cities are full of Sumptuous Buildings , well Peopled , and over-run with the Religious , with Officers of all kinds , and small Artizans : there is abundance of Wealth , but collected no where but in the Crown ; the rest , the Lawyers , Clergy , and Officers hitherto have the best share . Reflections on the Alliance of France , and its Foreign Interest . They are suspected by all their Neighbours at present , though some , out of Necessity or Interest , are forced to depend on them ; such are the Princes of the Rhyne , and the King of Portugal , the Dukes of Savoy and Lorraign , the Dutch , in Case of Difference with England , the Dane is generally opposed to the Swedes , and joyned to Holland , the Pole upon the Defensive against the Swede , Moscovite , and the Cosack , the Swede and Swiss , upon Occasion for Money , if not otherwise imployed ; the Italian perfectly Spanish , except the Duke of Modena ; the Turk , upon occasion , may make a Diversion upon the Empire with these several Respects ; they regard France , whose great Hopes that England will be corrupted , as it hath been hitherto with the Designs of changing the Government , their flattering Hopes of Assistance in that Behalf , are also to ruine the Dutch , and make us sharers in Flanders , beside the Sums of Money to assist the King in his Necessities ; and to corrupt his Ministers , are the Baites by which they have hitherto prevailed , and hope still to catch us . As for their Tripple Alliance , their present Design is , to get an Opportunity to fortifie Flanders , subdue all Parties and Interest at Home , settle the Revenue of the Crown , to keep up a considerable Army alwayes in Preparation , to take Advantage of the first Occasion , and to oblige the Spaniard to a constant Charge of entertaining the Swede ; by keeping us from all further Occasion , to render us cool in the Prosecution of Alliances , unprofitable to the Spaniard , burthensome to our selves , without Prospect of future Advantage , and to give us Leisure of dividing among our selves . To this I may add , the fomenting the Duke of York's Interest , and Don Ivans in Spain , and their Pretence in Weakening the Dutch , in directing their Trade by their new Impositions , and new introduced Manufactories , whilst we in our Manufactures suffer most by them , the Dutch looking well enough to themselves and their Concerns . Paris May 12th . SIR , Your most Humble Servant . FINIS .