III - Notwithstanding these contests, he preserves the King's esteem.

Summary

The many oppositions our prelate was obliged to make against the measures of the Court were so just as to their object, and so tempered with prudence and respect for those in dignity, that he always maintained himself in the King's favour and esteem. And the King shewd on many occasions how much he was convinced of the uprightness of his intentions and how great confidence he had in his virtue and abilities, above all the other prelates in his kingdom. He used to write to him to enquire about his health and inform him of his own and his royal family's estate. And consulted him at all difficult occasions. Once the Bishop's infirmities and a multiplicity of affairs having hindered him from going to court as often as the King desired his Majesty wrote to him a letter full of affection and tender complaints for his Lordship's not enquiring after his or his family's situation, either personally or by proxy. To which the Bishop returned this polite, philosophic and Christian answer.

Our most hearty and affectionate thanks to your Majesty for his kind information concerning his own, the Queen's and the Royal family's estate, as also for his sollicitous enquiry after ours. As to what your Majesty is pleased to add, that if we had the same concern for you as you have for us we should not have failed to enquire, either by ourselves or some others, about your royal estate; we answer with the Philosopher, that the character of true love, which is full of concern and inquisitiveness after the wellbeing of those it loves, consists in this; that the sincere lover doth not frequent his friend in his prosperity, unless he be expressly called upon. But if he hears of his being in adversity and distress, then he doth not stay till he is called, but of his own accord flys to his assistance, and sacrifices both his goods and his person for his relief and comfort. Hence the true friend is not discovered in time of prosperity because prosperity, which appears ambitious only of applause, finds more of this in the flatterer, than in the true friend. And this is one great advantage of adversity among a number of others, that it serves by the sign just specified to distinguish the real lover from the flatterer.