Brown leather binding with gilt decoration, banding and title on the spine. Gilt border and panel design on the boards. All edges gilt.

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Encased in three superb volumes

Maximilien de Béthune, duke de Sully, also called Marquis De Rosny, (born Dec. 13, 1560, Mantes, France—died Dec. 22, 1641, Villebon), French statesman who, as the trusted minister of King Henry IV, substantially contributed to the rehabilitation of France after the Wars of Religion (1562–98).

Maximilien de Béthune, 1st Duke of Sully, Marquis of Rosny and Nogent, Count of Muret and Villebon, Viscount of Meaux (13 December 1560 – 22 December 1641) was a nobleman, soldier, statesman, and counselor of King Henry IV of France. Historians emphasize Sully’s role in building a strong centralized administrative system in France using coercion and highly effective new administrative techniques. While not all of his policies were original, he used them well to revitalize France after the European Religious Wars. Most, however, were repealed by later monarchs who preferred absolute power. Historians have also studied his Neostoicism and his ideas about virtue, prudence, and discipline.

Sully was very unpopular because he was a favourite and was seen as selfish, obstinate, and rude. He was hated by most Catholics because he was a Protestant, and by most Protestants because he was faithful to the king. He amassed a large personal fortune, and his jealousy of all other ministers and favourites was extravagant. Nevertheless, he was an excellent man of business, inexorable in punishing malversation and dishonesty on the part of others and opposed to ruinous court expenditures that was the bane of almost all European monarchies in his day. He was gifted with executive ability, with confidence and resolution, with fondness for work, and above all with deep devotion to his master. He was implicitly trusted by Henry IV and proved himself the most able assistant of the king in dispelling the chaos into which the religious and civil wars had plunged France. After Henry IV, Sully was a major driving force behind the happy transformation in France between 1598 and 1610, in which agriculture and commerce benefitted, and peace and internal order were re-established.

After the death of Henry IV Sully published, in the deceased king’s name, his ‘Grand Design’, a plan to stop the religious wars. His starting point was that the three churches (Catholic, Lutheran and Calvinist) were there to stay. He planned an international organization, consisting of a Europe of 15 more or less equally strong powers, incidentally, dissolving the Habsburg empire and thus making France Europe’s strongest state. A balance of power mechanism and a permanent assembly of ambassadors should prevent wars in Europe. Military power would only be needed towards Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

The three volumes here include:  

1. Memoirs of the Sages and Royalles Oeconomies d’Estat, Servants, Political and Military of Henry the Great, the Copy of the Kings, the Prince of Virtues, Arms & Laws, & the Father indeed of his Peoples Francis. And useful Servitudes Proper Obediences & Loyal Administrations of MAXIMILIAN DE BETHUNE one of the most confided, familiar & useful soldiers & Servants of the Great Mars of Francis. Dedicate to the France, to all the good Soldiers & all peoples François.A Amstelredam at Alethinosgraphe de Clearetimelee & Graphexechon de Pistariste, A l’enseigne des trois Vertus couronnées d’Amaranthe.

2.   Table of Contents. Special actions of the King of Navarre. Battles, Great Battles & Skirmishes. Broüilleries esquelles Monsieur de Rosny was embarassé. Speech of the King & Monsieur de Rosny. Speech of Monsieur de Rosny & several Individuals. Jobs of Monsieur de Rosny in Finance & his economies. General Factions. Letters from the King to Monsieur de Rosny, & from luy to the Roy. Deaths of various quality people. News in big escrites to Monsieur de Rosny. Cities and Casteaux taken by Sieges or besiege. Cities and Chasteaux taken by surprise, or reduced. Voyages, Entremises & Negociations de Monsieurs de Rosny.-.

3.   Sonnets and Ten of the Royal Maxims of Estat. The Farewell of Monsignor le Dux de Sully to the Court. Gazophilax Exauthoratus. Royal, Amiables and d’Estat Oeconomies, and Loyal, Honorable and Urile Servitudes. Table of Contents. Great Speech touching on various cases of consequence. Collection of currencies leased to the King. Letter from Monsieur de Biron to Monsieur de Rosny. The King dissatisfied with the Spaniards. Speech on the Siege of Bosleduc. Edict against the transport of monnoyes. Various letters from the year 1601. Cases concerning the Count of Soissons. Journey of the King to Blois. Broüilleries in Court. Indulgences of the king. Motto to start the year 1603. Memoirs of the Sieurs Arnaults Secretaires. Description of Valtoline. Capture of the Count of Auvergne. Currency of the golden jettons for the year one thousand six cens five. The relationship of everything that happened on the occasions of your trip to Chastellerault. Designs of the brouillos in Fràce. Defection of the Count of Auvergne, Broüillon & aurres. Speech on German affairs. etc