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lethargy； and our medicaster was yet so stupid as to mistake this lethargy for a real state of health。 The provinces； abandoned to the rapine of the superintendents； were stifled； as it were； under the pressure of their heavy misfortunes； and the efforts they made to shake them off in the time of Richelieu added only to their weight and bitterness。 The Parliaments； which had so lately groaned under tyranny； were in a manner insensible to present miseries by a too fresh and lively remembrance of their past troubles。 The grandees； who had for the most part been banished from the kingdom； were glad to have returned； and therefore took their fill of ease and pleasure。 If our quack had but humoured this universal indolence with soporifics； the general drowsiness might have continued much longer； but thinking it to be nothing but natural sleep； he applied no remedy at all。 The disease gained strength； grew worse and worse； the patient awakened； Paris became sensible of her condition； she groaned； but nobody minded it； so that she fell into a frenzy； whereupon the patient became raving mad。
But now to come to particulars。 Emeri； Superintendent of the Finances； and in my opinion the most corrupt man of the age； multiplied edicts as fast as he could find names to call them by。 I cannot give you a better idea of the man than by repeating what I heard him say in full Council； that faith was for tradesmen only； and that the Masters of Requests who urged faith to be observed in the King's affairs deserved to be punished。 This man； who had in his youth been condemned to be hanged at Lyons； absolutely governed Mazarin in all the domestic affairs of the kingdom。 I mention this； among many other instances which I could produce of the same nature； to let you see that a nation does not feel the extremity of misery till its governors have lost all shame； because that is the instant when the subjects throw off all respect and awake convulsively out of their lethargy。
The Swiss seemed； as it were； crushed under the weight of their chains； when three of their powerful cantons revolted and formed themselves into a league。 The Dutch thought of nothing but an entire subjection to the tyrant Duke of Alva； when the Prince of Orange； by the peculiar destiny of great geniuses； who see further into the future than all the world besides； conceived a plan and restored their liberty。 The reason of all this is plain： that which causes a supineness in suffering States is the duration of the evil； which inclines the sufferers to believe it will never have an end； as soon as they have hopes of getting out of it； which never fails when the evil has arrived at a certain pitch； they are so surprised； so glad； and so transported； that they run all of a sudden into the other extreme； and are so far from thinking revolutions impossible that they suppose them easy； and such a disposition alone is sometimes able to bring them about； witness the late revolution in France。 Who could have imagined； three months before the critical period of our disorders； that such a revolution could have happened in a kingdom where all the branches of the royal family were strictly united； where the Court was a slave to the Prime Minister； where the capital city and all the provinces were in subjection to him； where the armies were victorious； and where the corporations and societies seemed to have no power？ whoever； I say； had said this would have been thought a madman； not only in the judgment of the vulgar； but in the opinion of a D'Estrees or a Senneterre。
In August； 1647； there was a mighty clamour against the tariff edict imposing a general tax upon all provisions that came into Paris； which the people were resolved to bear no longer。 But the gentlemen of the Council being determined to support it； the Queen consulted the members deputed from Parliament； when Cardinal Mazarin； a mere ignoramus in these affairs； said he wondered that so considerable a body as they were should mind such trifles；an expression truly worthy of Mazarin。 However； the Council at length imagining the Parliament would do it； thought fit to suppress the tariff themselves by a declaration； in order to save the King's credit。 Nevertheless； a few days after； they presented five edicts even more oppressive than the tariff； not with any hopes of having them received； but to force the Parliament to restore the tariff。 Rather than admit the new ones； the Parliament consented to restore the old one； but with so many qualifications that the Court； despairing to find their account in it； published a decree of the Supreme Council annulling that of the Parliament with all its modifications。 But the Chamber of Vacations answered it by another； enjoining the decree of Parliament to be put in execution。 The Council； seeing they could get no money by this method； acquainted the Parliament that； since they would receive no new edicts； they could do no less than encourage the execution of such edicts as they had formerly ratified； and thereupon they trumped up a declaration which had been registered two years before for the establishment of the Chamber of Domain； which was a terrible charge upon the people； had very pernicious consequences； and which the Parliament had passed； either through a surprise or want of better judgment。 The people mutinied； went in crowds to the Palace； and used very abusive language to the President de Thore； Emeri's son。 The Parliament was obliged to pass a decree against the mutineers。
The Court； overjoyed to see the Parliament and the people together by the ears； supported the decree by a regiment of French and Swiss Guards。 The Parisians were alarmed； and got into the belfries of three churches in the street of Saint Denis； where the guards were posted。 The Provost ran to acquaint the Court that the city was just taking arms。 Upon which they ordered the troops to retire； and pretended they were posted there for no other end than to attend the King as he went to the Church of Notre Dame； and the better to cover their design； the King went next day in great pomp to the said church； and the day after he went to Parliament； without giving notice of his coming till very late the night before； and carried with him five or six edicts more destructive than the former。 The First President spoke very boldly against bringing the King into the House after this manner； to surprise the members and infringe upon their liberty of voting。 Next day the Masters of Requests； to whom one of these edicts； confirmed in the King's presence； had added twelve colleagues； met and took a firm resolution not to admit of this new creation。 The Queen sent for them； told them they were very pretty gentlemen to oppose the King's will； and forbade them to come to Council。 Instead of being frightened； they were the more provoked； and； going into the Great Hall； demanded that they might have leave to enter their protest against the edict for creating new members； which was granted。
The Chambers being assembled the same day to examine the edicts which the King had caused to be ratified in his presence； the Queen commanded them to attend her by their deputies in the Palais Royal； and told them she was