His Mistresses were as different in their Humours, as they were in their Looks. They gave Matter of very different Reflections. The last[3] especially was quite out of the Definition of an ordinary Mistress; the Causes and the Manner of her being first introduced were very different. A very peculiar Distinction was spoken of, same extraordinary Solemnities that might dignify, though not sanctify her Function. Her Chamber was the true Cabinet Council. The King did always by his Councils, as he did sometimes by his Meals; he sat down out of form with the _Queen_, but he supped _below Stairs_. To have the Secrets of a King, who happens to have too many, is to have a King in Chains: He must not only, not part with her, but he must in his own Defence dissemble his dislike: The less kindness he hath, the more he must shew: There is great difference between being _muffled_, and being _tied_: He was the first, not the last. If he had quarelled at some times, besides other Advantages, this Mistress had a powerful _Second_; (one may suppose a kind of a _Guarantee_) this to a Man that loved his _Ease_, though his _Age_ had not helped, was sufficient. The thing called _Sauntering_, is a stronger Temptation to Princes than it is to others. The being galled with Importunities, pursued from one Room to another with asking Faces; the dismal Sound of unreasonable Complaints, and ill-grounded Pretences; the Deformity of Fraud ill-disguised; all these would make any Man run away from them; and I used to think it was the Motive for making him walk so fast. So it was more properly taking Sanctuary. To get into a Room, where all Business was to stay at the Door, excepting such as he was disposed to admit, might be very acceptable to a younger Man than he was, and less given to his Ease. He slumbered after Dinner, had the noise of the Company to divert him, without their Solicitations to importune him. In these Hours where he was more unguarded, no doubt the cunning Men of the Court took their times to make their Observations, and there is as little doubt but he made his upon them too: Where Men had Chinks he would see through them as soon as any Man about him. There was much more real Business done there in his Politick, than there was in his personal Capacity, _Stans pede in uno_; and there was the _French part_ of _the Government_, which was not the least. In short, without endeavouring to find more Arguments, he was _used_ to it. Men do not care to put off a Habit, nor do often succeed when they go about it. His was not an _unthinkingness_; he did not perhaps think so much of his Subjects as they might wish; but he was far from being wanting to think of himself. IV. _His_ CONDUCT _to his_ MINISTERS.