[K. Philip the 3d.] King Philip the Third, our sovereign Lord, succeeded him, having been before sworn in all his Kingdoms, who, amidst the Tears and Funeral Solemnities, Commanded the Will to be open'd, and what his Father had order'd to be fulfill'd. His Instructions, and the Mysteries of State, whereof he was so great a Master, and which he communicated to his Son till the last Gasp, produc'd the Peace which attended his most happy Succession, which was his Due by Natural Right, the Law of Nations, and his own innate Virtues; the general Submission of his Subjects, and the Fidelity of the Armies that serv'd in the Northern Provinces in Italy, Africk, Asia, the Indies, and in Garrisons, were a Curb to other Nations. Many of them presented the new King with Protestations of Loyalty, before they had receiv'd Letters and Advice of his being upon the Throne. The same Unanimity was found in the Fleet, and Naval Power, wherein the Treasures and Commodities are transported; a rare Tranquility upon the Change of Princes. The Roman Legions in Germany, and Illyricum, did not show such Respect to Tyberius, after the Death of Augustus. [Greatness of the Spanish Monarchy.] And tho' the Spanish Monarchy is of so great an Extent, that it borders on the unknown World, and it is never Night in all Parts of it, because the Sun encompasses and continually displays his Light over it, yet it obey'd without any Commotion, or rather with Pride, as if it knew and were sensible of the new Hand that took up the Reins of Government. Excellent Princes have seldom fail'd to employ extraordinary Ministers about their Persons, to manage and sustain the Burden their Fortune lays upon their Shoulders; so Alexander the Great had Hephestion; the two Scipios, the two Lelij; Augustus Cæsar, Marcus Agrippa; the Princes of the August House of Austria, other Persons of singular Virtue; for all moral Wisdom, and Experience it self teaches us, that the Difficulties of weighty Affairs are not to be duly manag'd, and surmounted, by any but Persons of a more than ordinary Capacity; because Nature has not left any of its Works destitute of a proportionable Ministry. And considering, that it is of great Importance to the publick Welfare, to contrive, that what is necessary for the Use and Commerce of Mankind may appear eminent in Dignity, for the strengthning of the common Advantage with Authority: The King, I say, following those ancient Examples, made Choice of Don Francisco de Rojas y Sandoval, then Marques of Denia, and since first Duke of Lerma, a most [Duke of Lerma Prime Minister.] able Minister, privately to consult with him about fundamental Matters and Concerns, for which he had been prepar'd with singular Affection in those Times: Besides the great Antiquity of his Family, which has ally'd him to all the noblest of the Grandees of Spain, all Men own him endow'd with the necessary Virtues, that belong to a Person in so great a Post; which shine through that pleasing Gravity of his Countenance, with a stay'd Gayity that testifies his Capacity, and provokes Respect at the same Time that it gains Affections. He constituted him the first of his Council of State, and all the Orders for Peace and War began to run through his Hands. All the Opinions of Councels, which he found seal'd, for King Philip the 2d to give his Decision thereupon, he restor'd, without opening them, to the Presidents of the said Councels they came from, being, perhaps, calculated out of Respect, that they might again debate upon them with more Liberty, and send them back enlarg'd or reform'd.