The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu: The Significant Chapters and Supporting Selections

VII. The Reformation of the Royal Household (Complete)

CHAPTER VII THE REFORMATION OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD m The acquisition of useful techniques and sound discipline always begins with the mastery of simple undertakings . On that basis, the first thing an architect does when he plans to build a great edifice is to make a model of it, in which the details are so readily observable that they accurately serve him in drafting the final plan. If he has any insurmountable difficulty at this stage he rejects his original concept, common sense indicating to even the slowest mind that what is impossible in the model is even more so in the ultimate undertaking. In like manner, even those of little intelligence know that just as the nature of man is an analogue of the world at large, so are private families the true models of republics and states, and everyone holds for certain that he who cannot or will not manage his family is hardly capable of running a state. It is for this reason that in order to succeed in pre48 THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD 49 scribing for the reformation of this realm I should commence with that of Your Majesty's household. I confess, however, that I have never heretofore dared to undertake it, because the goodness of Your Majesty having always been averse to giving orders which you deemed of little consequence whenever they have dealt only with individuals, one could not propose such a plan without openly shocking your inclination. I was also restrained by the knowledge of the fact that many men, close to you in the greatest familiarity, could have shunted to one side those orders most necessary to your state as a prelude to disposing of those aimed at reforming your household, the renovation of which would be disadvantageous to them. But many a testament brings to light numerous intentions which the testator had not dared to divulge during his lifetime, and this one will beseech Your Majesty to undertake the reformation of your household. So far the task has been avoided, partly because it seemed outwardly more easy to reform than the state, although in truth it was more difficult, and partly because wisdom obliges us, in certain instances, to suffer little disadvantages in order to preclude greater ones. While everyone knows there has never been a king who has advanced the prestige of his state as much as Your Majesty has, it also cannot be denied that no one has ever allowed the reputation of his household to sink so low. Foreigners who have visited France in my time so REFORMATION OF have often been astounded to see a state so grand combined with a household so mean. It has declined, even if gradually and imperceptibly, to the point where there are persons possessing responsibilities of the highest order who during the reign of your predecessors would not have dared to aspire to the lowest; everything is in confusion from the kitchen to your private quarters. In place of the arrangements which prevailed in the time of the king your father, when the officers of the crown and the great nobles of the realm ordinarily ate in the royal dining room, now in your day it appears as' if it were filled by valets and men of the lowest aristocratic rank. Indeed these opportunities have come to mean so little that sometimes they are despised, rather than sought after eagerly. Foreigners have often criticized even your personal table, noting that you are served by common and dirty scullions in place of the gentlemen who customarily serve other kings. I well know that this practice was not introduced in your time. But being ancient does not make it the more tolerable, particularly since it detracts from the dignity and grandeur of so great a prince. I am also conversant with the fact that this practice has been suffered up to now under the pretext of the king's safety, since it is impossible to hold courtiers responsible for an untoward event if they themselves have neither touched nor seen what is borne to Your Majesty. But this reasoning seems ridiculous to me, there being little likelihood that a scul- THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD 5 I lion would be more faithful to his master than a gentleman would be. The latter could, after all, easily betray him on many other occasions if he so desired. Eighty young gentlemen, whom Your Majesty supports...