按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ous woman； meaning the Queen； because she had improved on what the Cardinal had said to the King。 I resolved to strike the iron while it was hot； and joined with M。 de Beaufort to persuade his Royal Highness to declare himself the next day in Parliament。 We showed him that； after what had lately passed； there was no safety for his person； and if the King should go out of Paris； as the Cardinal designed； we should be engaged in a civil war； whereof he alone； with the city of Paris； must bear the heavy load； that it would be equally scandalous and dangerous for his Royal Highness either to leave the Princes in chains； after having treated with them； or； by his dilatory proceedings； suffer Mazarin to have all the honour of setting them at liberty； and that he ought by all means to go to the Parliament House。
The Duchess； too； seconded us； and upon his Highness saying that if he went to the House to declare against the Court the Cardinal would be sure to take his Majesty out of Paris； the Duchess replied； 〃What； monsieur； are you not Lieutenant…General of France？ Do not you command the army？ Are you not master of the people？ I myself will undertake that the King shall not go out of Paris。〃 The Duke nevertheless remained inflexible； and all we could get out of him was that he would consent to my telling the Parliament； in his name； what we desired he should say himself。 In a word； he would have me make the experiment； the success of which he looked upon to be very uncertain； because he thought the Parliament would have nothing to say against the Queen's answer； and that if I succeeded he should reap the honour of the proposition。 I readily accepted the commission； because all was at stake； and if I had not executed it the next morning I am sure the Cardinal would have eluded setting the Princes at liberty a great while longer； and the affair have ended in a negotiation with them against the Duke。
The Duchess； who saw that I exposed myself for the public good； pitied me very much。 She did all she could to persuade the Duke to command me to mention to the Parliament what the Cardinal had told the King with relation to Cromwell； Fairfax and the English Parliament； which； if declared in the Duke's name； she thought would excite the House the more against Mazarin； and she was certainly in the right。 But he forbade me expressly。
I ran about all night to incite the members at their first meeting to murmur at the Queen's answer； which in the main was very plausible； importing that； though this affair did not fall within the cognisance of Parliament； the Queen would； however； out of her abundant goodness； have regard to their supplications and restore the Princes to liberty。 Besides； it promised a general amnesty to all who had borne arms in their favour； on condition only that M。 de Turenne should lay down his arms； that Madame de Longueville should renounce her treaty with Spain； and that Stenai and Murzon should be evacuated。
At first the Parliament seemed to be dazzled with it； but next day； the 1st of February； the whole House was undeceived； and wondered how it had been so deluded。 The Court of Inquests began to murmur； Viole stood up and said that the Queen's answer was but a snare laid for the Parliament to beguile them； that the 12th of March； the time fixed for the King's coronation； was just at hand； and that as soon as the Court was out of Paris they； would laugh at the Parliament。 At this discourse the old and new Fronde stood up； and when I saw they； were greatly excited I waved my； cap and said that the Duke had commanded me to inform the House that the regard he had for their sentiments having confirmed him in those he always naturally； entertained of his cousins； he was resolved to concur with them for procuring their liberty； and to contribute everything in his power to effect it； and it is incredible what influence these few words had upon the whole assembly。 I was astonished at it myself。 The wisest senators seemed as mad as the common people； and the people madder than ever。 Their acclamations exceeded anything you can imagine； and； indeed； nothing less was sufficient to give heart to the Duke； who had all night been bringing forth new projects with more sorrowful pangs and throes （as the Duchess expressed it） than ever she had felt when in labour with all her children。
When he was fully informed of the good success of his declaration； he embraced me several times before all the company； and M。 Tellier going to wait upon him from the Queen； to know if he acknowledged what I had said in his name in the House； 〃Yes；〃 replied he； 〃I own； and always will own； all that he shall say or act in my name。〃 We thought that after a solemn declaration of this nature the Duke would not scruple to take all the necessary precautions to prevent the Cardinal carrying away the King； and to that end the Duchess did propose to have all the gates of the city well guarded； under pretence of some popular tumults。 But he was deaf to all she said； pretending that he was loth to make his King a prisoner。
On the 2d of February； 1651； the Duke； urged very importunately by the Princes' party informing him that their liberty depended on it； told them that he was going to perform an action which would remove all their diffidence。 He sent immediately for the Keeper of the Seals； Marechal Villeroi； and Tellier； and bade them tell the Queen that he would never come to the Palais Royal as long as Mazarin was there； and that he could no longer treat with a man that ruined the State。 And； then； turning towards Marechal Villeroi； 〃I charge you；〃 said he； 〃with the King's person； you shall be answerable for him to me。〃 I was sadly afraid this would be a means to hasten the King's departure； which was what we dreaded most of all； and I wondered that the Cardinal did not remove after such a declaration。 I thought his head was turned； and indeed I was told that he was beside himself for a fortnight together。
The Duke having openly declared against Mazarin； and being resolved to attack and drive him out of the kingdom； bade me inform the House next day； in his name； how the Cardinal had compared their body to the Rump Parliament in England； and some of their members to Cromwell and Fairfax。 I improved upon this as much as possible； and I daresay that so much heat and ferment was never seen in any society before。 Some were for sending the Cardinal a personal summons to appear on the spot； to give an account of his administration； but the most moderate were for making most humble remonstrances to the Queen for his removal。 You may easily guess what a thunderclap this must have been to the Court。 The Queen asked the Duke whether she might bring the Cardinal to his Royal Highness。 His answer was that he did not think it good for the safety of his own person。 She offered to come alone to confer with his Highness at the Palais d'Orleans； but he excused himself with a great deal of respect。
He sent orders an hour after to the Marshals of France to obey him only； as Lieutenant…General of the State； and likewise to the 'prevots des marchands' not to take up arms except by his authority。 You will wonder； without doubt； that aft