‘‘Sir, I have called you together with my ministers and my state secretaries to tell you that until now I have been willing to let my affairs be governed by the late Cardinal. The time has come for me to govern them myself. You will help me with your advice when I ask for it: Apart from the current seal, which I do not intend to change in any way, I beg and order you, Mr. Chancellor, not to seal anything in command except by my orders and without talking to me about it, unless a Secretary of State brings it to you on my behalf. ‘And you, my Secretaries of State, I order you to sign nothing, not even a sauve-guard [royal privilege ] nor a passport, without my commandment; to render an account to me every day, and to favour no one in your offices of the month. [council meetings]”