Cardinal de Richelieu

CARDINAL DE RICHELIEU
TRIPLE PORTRAIT BY PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAGNE
BY ELEANOR C. PRICE AUTHOR OF “A PRINCESS OF THE OLD WORLD”
“Il est dans l’histoire de grandes et énigmatiques figures sur lesquelles le ‘dernier mot’ ne sera peut-être jamais dit.... Telle est, assurément, celle du Cardinal de Richelieu.” Baron A. de Maricourt.
WITH TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS
SECOND EDITION
METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON
“Temerarious indeed must he appear who attempts to comprehend in so small a space the admirable actions of a Hero who filled the whole earth with the fame of his glory, and who, by the wonders he worked in our own days, effaced the most lofty and astounding deeds of Pagan demigods and illustrious Personages of Antiquity. But what encourages me to attempt a thing so daring is the preciousness of the material with which I have to deal; being such that it needs neither the workman nor his art for the heightening of its value. So that, however little I may say of the incomparable and inimitable actions of the great Armand de Richelieu, I shall yet say much; knowing also that if I were to fill large volumes, I should still say very little.”
Although the courtly language of the Sieur de la Colombière, Gentleman-in-Ordinary to Louis XIV., who wrote a Portrait of Cardinal de Richelieu some years after his death, may appear extravagant to modern minds, there is no denying that he is justified on one point—the marvellous interest of his subject.
Few harder tasks could be attempted than a complete biography of Richelieu. It would mean the history of France for more than fifty years, the history of Europe for more than twenty: even a fully equipped student might hesitate before undertaking it. At the same time, Richelieu’s personality and the times in which he lived are so rich in varied interest that even a passing glance at both may be found not unwelcome. If excuse is needed, there is that of Monsieur de la Colombière: “Pour peu que j’en parle, j’en dirai beaucoup.”