LO M
ARTES
1837
SCIENTIA
LIBRARY
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
E-PLURIBUS UNUM:
UHOOR
SQUAERIS PENINSULAM AMOENAM
CIRCUMSPICE
1
".
2-54
549
!
MEMOIRS
OF
GUY JOL I,
PRIVATE SECRETARY TO
CARDINAL DE RETZ;
CLAUDE
UDE JOLI,
CANON of NOTRE-DAME;
AND THE
DUTCHESS DE NEMOURS.
Theſe feveral HISTORIES form a SUPPLEMENT to,
and an Illuftration of the MEMOIRS Of CARDINAL
DE RETZ.
Tranflated from the ORIGINAL
By EDWARD TAYLOR.
In THREE VOLUMES.
Who has not read the Memoirs of DE RETZ, of JOLI, and
the DUTCHESS of NEMOURS? thefe WRITERS were Eye
Witneffcs of the Facts which they relate.
Preface to the Memoirs of CuOISY.
LONDO N:
Printed for T. DAVIES, in Rffel-Street, Covent-Garden,
Printer to the Royal Academy.
M.DCC.LXXV.
MEMOIRS
OF
GUY JO L I,
COUNSELLOR of the Châtelet,
PRIVATE SECRETARY TO
CARDINAL DE RE T Z.
V OL: I. -
PREFACE.
A
LTHOUGH M. Joli, the
author of thefe memoirs,
does not rank as the chief.
perfonage in the following fcenes,
yet he, nevertheleſs, is placed in
fo brilliant and fo diftinguiſhed a
point of view, that he, in fome
fort, eclipfes the luftre of the prin-
cipal character of the piece. In
fact, he has the greateſt ſhare in
almoſt every tranſaction: it is he
who gives the most prudent ad-
vice, who inſpires the firmeft re-
folutions, who forms the best con-
certed projects, who devifes the
moſt decifive expedients, who pro-
pofes
A 2
vi PREFACE.
poſes the moſt judicious concilia-
tory meaſures, and who fuccefsfully
undertakes the most delicate nego-
tiations, and the most difficult en-
terprizes. On almoſt every occa-
fion, he appears to be diſcreetly
reſerved in his difcourfe, prudent
in his conduct, enlightened in his
determinations, fixed in his princi-
ples, fruitful in reſources, bold in
danger, and ftedfaft in his refo-
lutions. There is diffuſed, more-
over, throughout his whole narra-
tive a ſpirit of fincerity which
charms us.
Theſe memoirs ought not to be
confidered as a repetition of thoſe
of Cardinal de Retz. Although
the matters related in both feem,
at first view, to be nearly fimilar,
yet
$
PREFACE.
vii
yet we obſerve in the performance
before us,
of new incidents and circumſtances,
which are either totally different,
or are more explicitly recounted.
Befides, M. Joli goes much far-
ther, and gives an account of the
tranſactions of feveral fucceffive
years, of which no mention what-
ever is made in his eminency's
memoirs. It may even be affert-
ed, that thofe additions form the
moſt curious part of the work;
becauſe the domeftic life, and the
perfonal qualities of Cardinal de
Retz, are therein laid open and ex-
hibited in the cleareft light.
a confiderable number
Several editions have been pub-
liſhed of the memoirs of Joli. We
have carefully compared them to-
A 3
gether,
viii
PREFA CE.
gether, and have availed ourſelves
of them to render this, which we
now offer to the public, more exact
and correct than any of thoſe which
have preceded it.
The work compofed by Guy
Joli, one of the Counfeliors of the
Châtelet, is followed by a narra-
tive of the difputes between Car-
dinal de Retz and the court of
France; and which is extracted
from a manuſcript hiftory, written
by Claude Joli, one of the canons
of Notre-Dame. This extract the
reader will find at the beginning of
the third volume, which concludes
with the memoirs of the Dutchefs
de Nemours.
ADVER-
7
ADVERTISEMENT.
HE publick tranfactions of Car-
dinal de Retz's life have been
T
of fo important a nature, that
we naturally wiſh to be made acquainted
with the private motives by which he
was actuated; and, next to an explicit
detail of theſe motives, nothing, per-
haps, can give us greater fatisfaction,
than a circumftantial account of his do-
meftic life. Indeed, the behaviour of
all fuch perfons as have diftinguiſhed
themſelves in the world in any eminent
degree, particularly ftateſmen, at thoſe
times when, it may be fuppoſed, they
appeared in their own real characters, in
their families, and amongst their friends,
has ever been deemed matter of the
:
moſt
x ADVERTISEMENT.
moſt agreeable entertainment; witneſs the
pleaſure with which we read the fami-
liar recitals of the plain, but wife and
judicious Plutarch. It will appear, from
a perufal of the following fheets, that
no one was better qualified to under-
take this taſk, of depicting the private life
and manners of Cardinal de Retz, as
well as of difcovering to us the true
fources of his public actions, than M.
Guy Joli, the author of the memoirs
which bear his name. The Cardinal
placed an unlimited confidence in his
abilities and fidelity, and entruſted him
with the management of his moſt im-
portant concerns: and the conduct of
M. Joli, in all the various tranfactions
in which he bore a part, fully jufti-
fied his eminency's choice. The authen-
ticity of theſe memoirs is immoveably
eſtabliſhed, by the praiſes given them by all
cotemporary writers, and by M. Voltaire;
as alfo by the repeated references made
to them in the notes to the memoirs of
*
Cardinal
ADVERTISEMENT.
xi
Cardinal de Retz
M. Claude Joli, the
author of the memo rs at the beginning
of the third volume, was at once a mem-
ber of the chapter of Paris, in virtue of
his office of Canon of Notre-Dame, and
alſo held a poft in one of the civil de-
partments of the ſtate; by which double
advantage he was enabled to acquire a
thorough infight into the feveral matters
which he relates. The Dutchefs de Ne-
mours, whofe memoirs conclude the
work, in laying open to us the fecret
motives which influenced the conduct of
the principal Frondeurs, has fupplied that,
which alone was wanting to render the
whole compleat and perfect. It remains
only to folicit the indulgence of the
reader for any errors which, in ſpite
of the utmost care to avoid them, may
have imperceptibly crept into this tranſla-
tion.
i.
MEMOIRS
MEMOIRS
O F
GUY JO L I
A
S the mal-adminiftration of Cardinal de
Richelieu had drawn upon him the general
odium, fo the news of his death was received,
throughout all France, with inexpreffible demon-
ftrations of joy; and, as this event was quickly
followed by the deceaſe of Lewis the XIIIth, in
confequence of which the Queen was conftituted
Regent, the general joy received no fmall addition,
from the hopes which were conceived, that her Ma-
jefty, who had, in her own perfon, fuffered much
from the violent meafures of the Cardinal, would
adopt a conduct, diametrically oppoſite to that which
had been purſued by the preceding minifter; more
efpecially, as her Majefty had, hitherto, manifefted
a fenfible concern for the miſeries of the people, in
general, and the difgrace which had fallen upon
fome individuals, in particular. But, when it was
obferved, that the Queen, together with her ftation
in the government, had changed her opinion and
difpofition alfo; when it was feen, that he had
VOL. I.
difmiffed
B
2
MEMOIRS OF
difmiffed the Biſhop of Beauvais *, to whom ſhe had
thegreateſt obligations, and who bore the reputa·
tion of being, at leaft, an honest man, and that
fhe committed the management of national affairs
entirely to Cardinal Mazarin; every one formed
his own conjectures on the caufes of this her ex-
traordinary predilection, and attachment to a fo-
reigner, till, at length, fhe infenfibly became flight-
ed by moſt of the chief nobility, and other per-
fons of diftinction, nay, even by fome of her moſt
particular friends, whofe intereſt ſhe had, very impru-
dently, folicited, in fupport of her new favourite.
When the people, alfo, perceived that, inſtead
of the relief which they expected, their taxes were
encreaſed, the feductive hopes which they had en-
tertained, and the fhouts of acclamation which they
had raiſed, when the Queen conducted the new
monarch to Paris, and was declared Regent, were
fuddenly converted into murmurs, imprecations, and
that kind of defpair, which is ever mot violent
in thofe, who, having once given way to hope,
find themſelves unexpectedly diſappointed in their
defires.
To theſe cauſes, in fact, muft we attribute the
fubfequent infurrection. For although that event
did not happen till the fixth year from the com-
mencement of the Regency, yet the people had been
fo conftantly difgufted and incenfed to a very high
* Auguftin Potier, the Queen's almoner, and chief confi
dent. It was this prelate who advifed the Hollanders to em-
brace the Roman Catholic religion, thereby to preferve to
themſelves the friendship and alliance of the French court.
degree,
GUY JOL I.
3
degree, by the miſconduct of their rulers, that we have
much greater reafon for furprize that their refent-
ment lay fo long dormant, than that it broke out
with fuch violence at laft.
The people had long and patiently fubmitted
to thefe oppreffions. They had fuffered the prefi-
dent de Barillon to end his days in confinement, in
the priſon of Amboife, to which the Queen had
doomed him, although he had been the chief in-
ftrument of her defigns in the parliament, during
the Regency. They had been witneffes to the te-
dious impriſonment of the Duke of Beaufort, in the
Caftle of Vincennes, where he languished feveral
years, under a falfe and ridiculous charge of con-
fpiring against the life of Cardinal Mazarin: They
made loud complaints of the bad ſtate of the Finan-
ces; and openly condemned the appointment of
Emery, a man of a violent temper and mean extrac
tion, to the office of fuperintendant. As the court
judged it neceffary to make fome alterations in the
Tariff, the parliament afferabled feveral times, on
that buſineſs, towards the clofe of the year 1647.
The people daily gathered in crouds, at the Pa-
lais. and all the public places of the city. At this
time, Meffrs. De Cadeau, an eminent merchant, De
Croifet, a folicitor of the Chatelet † of Paris, and
feveral other worthy citizens prefented, and vigo-
roufly fupported a petition to the parliament, againſt
*The place of meeting of the parliament, and fome of the
other courts of judicature.
A court, both of civil and criminal jurifdiction. The
parliament of Paris affembles, five times a year, at the Chatelet,
for the trial of piifoners.
B 2
the
4.
MEMOIRS OF
the edict of the Domaine 1. This tranfaction gave
fo much offence to the court, that orders were iffued
for feizing the perfons of all the parties concerned in
it. But no fooner did the regiment of guards,
which had been fent to favour the execution of
thefe orders, appear in the ftreet of St. Denis, than
the populace, who were apprized of their defign,
inſtantly ran to arms, rang the alarum bells of all
the neighbouring churches, and made fuch effectual
difpofitions for the protection of thoſe againſt whom
the aforefaid orders were iffued, that they compelled
both the guards and the lieutenant-civil, who had
received inftructions to attend perfonally on the
occafion, to retire, leaving their commiffion un-
executed.
The inceffant firing of guns, which was heared
in every quarter of the city, during the following
nights, demonftrated, that the minds of the inha-
bitants were occupied with other defigns, than mere-
ly that of their owu defence.
However, as neither the parliament, nor the other
fuperior courts had, as yet, declared for either
party, but conftantly endeavoured to preſerve a me-
dium, between the oppreffive conduct of the court
and the rage of refentment in the people, matters
advanced but flowly; and 'tis probable that no event
of confequence would have enfued, had not the im-
The Domaine is a tax levied on the crown lands, con-
fifcations, fines, &c. and forms a confiderable part of the
King's revenue.
Thefe are the parliament of Paris, the grand council,
the court of aids, and the chamber of accounts. Vide pa. 8.
pru-
GUY JOL I.
5
prudence of the minifter and his affociates betrayed
them into two actions, at the beginning of the year
1648, which claſhed fo violently with the interefts of
all the fuperior courts, as to compel them to fuch a
conduct, for the prefervation of their own particular
rights, as no confideration of the public welfare
could hitherto produce in them.
It cannot be denied, but that there were, in each
of the fuperior courts, many perfons of probity,
who preferred the public good to their own private
intereft; yet, as their honeft defigns were conftantly
thwarted, by the corrupt influence of the cabal, nei-
ther the tears of the people, nor the ſpirited refift.
ance of the magiftrates would, in the end, have
proved of any avail, had not the court, by its im-
prudent conduct, countermined and deftroyed its
own baneful projects.
In the month of January 1648, the King delivered
an edict to the parliament, containing an appoint.
ment of twelve additional maſters of requeſts *. This
appointment became the firft foundation of that vi-
gorous oppofition, by which the fuperior courts, as
will be feen hereafter, fo eminently diftinguiſhed
themſelves, against the arbitrary attempts of the
court. For although the above edict appeared to
concern the fociety of the mafters of requests alone,
yet its influence extended itfelf to every member of
the profeffion of the law; and there were few fa-
* The judicial intendants, as alfo thefe of the police and
finances, are apointed from this body. The masters of re-
quests, to the number of four only, are admitted alfo to a
feat in the parliament.
B 3
milies
6
MEMOIRS OF
milies which were not affected by it, in the perfons
either of their relations or friends. Befides, as the
mafters of requeſts affembled on the fame day, and,
on the day following, fent deputies to the parlia-
ment, with a proteft againſt the above edict; this
animated conduct, in a fociety which had been hi-
therto rather remarkable for their fubmiffiveneſs to
the court, awakened the general attention; and fo
much the more, as it was well known, that this
meeting had been held in defiance of the expreſs
prohibition of the chancellor, and that they had re-
folved to raiſe a fund, among themſelves, to allow
12,000 livres per annum to each member of their
fociety, who might be exiled on this occafion, and,
in caſe of the death of any of them, during fuch ex-
ile, to pay the purchaſe-value of their office to the
widows or heirs of the deceaſed.
There happened alfo, about this time, another in-
cident, which contributed much to produce the fubfe-
quent union of the fuperior courts. The members of
the chamber of accounts the grand council †, and
the court of aids I had lately been required to con-
To this court all thoſe who are concerned in the manage ·
ment of the King's revenues deliver in their accounts. It
has alſo precedence even of the parliament, refpecting the date
of its establishment, which is fuppofed to be coeval with
that of the kingdom,
†The jurifdiction of this court extends over the whole
kingdom, and there is no appeal from its decifions. The
chancellor, for the time being, fits as prefident in this
court.
The court of aids has the fuperintendance of the falt-
duties, tallies, and all other taxes and impofts.
tribute
GUY JOL I.
7
tribute their quota to the Paulette ||, a tax which
had, for fome time, lain dormant, and was now
newly revived. With this demand, however, they
abfolutely refused to comply, alledging, that none
but inferior officers had ever been fubjected to the
tax; and orders were, in confequence, iffued for
ftopping the payment of their falaries.
Operas were now first exhibited at the Palais Roy-
al§. For the purpoſe of this entertainment, up-
wards of 500,000 crowns had been expended, in
procuring muficians and fingers, from Italy. This
circumſtance attracted the particular attention of
the public in general, but efpecially of the three fa-
perior courts abovementioned, who plainly per
ceived, from this enormous and fuperfluous expence,
that the demand made on them was vexatious, and
unauthorized by any peculiar exigency of the ſtate.
Although they made no public declaration of their
refentment aganift the rigour and difrefpectful conduct
of the court, they, nevertheless, fecretly concerted
the meaſures neceffary to their common intereft;
and, rightly judging that, unless they made the
general welfare of the nation, and the regulation of
the finances, the oftenfible motives of their future
tranſactions, they ſhould meet with little countenance
or fupport from the people, they therefore deter-
mined to diſclaim all regard to their own private
A tax paid by fome of the officers of the courts of justice.
It derives its name from one Paulet, fecretary of the chamber
to Henry the IVth, who firft projected it.
§ The Palais Royal was then a royal palace, it now be-
longs to the Duke of Orleans,
B 4
intereft,
8
MEMOIRS OF
intereft, and to profefs themselves to be actuated
by no other confideration than that of the public
good. In confequence of this determination, the
grand council and the court of aids affembled, and
fent a deputation to the chamber of accounts, pro-
pofing a coalition of the three companies, for the
purpoſe of deliberating on the fteps neceffary to be
taken, for remedying certain abuſes in the flate,
without mentioning either the demand made on
them, or the ftoppage of their falaries.
This meafure cauſed an univerfal fupprize; more
eſpecially as the chamber of accounts readily ac-
ceded to the propofition, and inftantly appointed
deputies, to accompany thofe of the court of aids,
with a fimilar propofal to the parliament, for a ge-
neral union of the four courts. Cardinal Mazarin
put in practice every artifice, in order to prevent
the fuccefs of this application. But all his efforts
proved ineffectual: for, on the thirteenth of May
1648 the parliament, alfo, yielded their confent;
and decreed, that the deputies of the four courts
fhould affemble, at ftated times, in the chamber
of St. Louis, to confult on the prefent fituation of
affairs.
The above decree of the parliament now be-
came the fubject of general converfation, through-
out the kingdom, and the court, being totally un-
prepared for it, fat every engine in motion to pro-
cure its reverſal: They even offered to relinquish the
demand which had been made on the fuperior courts.
But this condefcenfion came too late to produce the
intended effect; and the companies, acquiring freſh
}
courage
GUY JOLI.
9
courage from the encreafing weakneſs of the court,
rejected the offers which were made them; haogh-
tily adding, that their oppofition arofe folely from a
fenfe of their duty to the public.
The court therefore, perceiving that its credit and
authority diminished daily, refolved to try the effects
of force; and, in the night between the Thurfday
and Friday, preceding the feaft of Pentecoft, feized
the perfons of Meffrs. Turgot and d'Argouges,
counſellors of the grand council, who were con-
ducted to Mount Olympus, M. Lotin, a prefident,
and two counsellors of the parliament, who were
carried to Pont-à-Mouffon, and Meffrs. Chefel and
Guerin, counſellors of the court of aids, who were
exiled to Nanci.
Several decrees had been iffued by the council,
annulling that of the parliament, of the thirteenth
of May and M. Guenegaud, fecretary of ftate, was
fent with M. Carnavalet, lieutenant of the King's
body-guarde, to the Palais, with orders to tear out
the leaf of the regiſter in which that decree was in-
ferted. But an inferior clerk, belonging to the
office where the regiſter is kept, having refufed to
produce the book, at their requifition, intelligence
of this refufal was foon communicated to the fhop-
keepers in the great hall *, who inftantly fhut all
the doors, and would, poffibly, have proceeded to
extremities, had not Meffis. Guenegaud and Carna-
valet precipitately retreated by a back flaircafe, leav-
ing the bufinefs they came upon unfiniſhed.
*In the great hall of the Palais, there are a number of
Shops where goods are daily expoſed to fale.
B 5
Much
10
MEMOIRS OF
Much about this time, an incident happened,
which, tho' apparently of fmall importance in itſelf,
had a marvellous effect towards irritating the minds
even of thoſe members of the parliament, who had,
hitherto, conducted themſelves with the most mo-
deration. The court being informed that the pre-
fident de Mefmes had, on a certain occafion, de-
livered his fentiments in the parliament with un-
wonted freedom, took the ridiculous precaution of
placing a ſpy before his door, with inftructions to
minute down the names of all perfons reforting to the
houfe. This circumftance coming to the prefident's
knowledge, he gave the fpy into the cuftody of a
commiffary, who conducted him to the Chatelet. But
when the parliament fent an order, on the next
day, for his removal from thence to the Concierge-
rie*, it appeared, that he had been fet at liberty,
early that morning, by the King's authority. This
proceeding was highly refented by all the members;
and many of them were of opinion, that the whole
was a concerted fcheme, to give the prefident (whoſe
conduct had rendered him fufpected) greater credit
with the parliament.
The numerous and trifling incidents of this kind,
which happened daily, fo far inflamed the people's
minds, and diminiſhed their refpect for the court,
that all the public places, and particularly the hall
of the Palais were continually filled with perfons,
who openly inveighed againſt the late edicts. Nay,
even the women affembled on Saturdays, at the door
of the church of Notre Dame, when the Queen came
An inferior prifon; refembling our Bridewell,
10
GUY JOLI.
ΣΕ
to mafs, and, as the guards would not ſuffer them
to approach near enough to fpeak to her Majefty,
repeatedly cried out, " to Naples, to Naples"; in-
finuating thereby, that the people of Paris, unleſs
their wrongs were quickly redreffed, would follow
the example which had been recently fet them by
thofe of Naples *.
Theſe inftances of the popular diffatisfaction were,
however, but ſlightly regarded by the Queen and
the miniſtry, although they are at all times dange-
rous to the flate, as the people are thereby infenfibly
led to adopt the fentiments of their neighbours in
Amilar fituations. This negligence was the more
reprchen.ble, as the meaſures which were then car-
rying on in England † had produced a very finifter
effect in France alfo: where, although every one
diſapproved of the extremities to which the English.
had proceeded, yet 'twas the exceſs only, and not
the motives, which they condemned; and the people
had imperceptibly imbibed the dangerous notion,
that it was both natural and lawful for fubjects op-
preffed by their governors, to take up arms and de
fend themſelves.
The Duke of Beaufort's efcape from imprifon-
ment in the caftle of Vincennes, on the feaft of
Pentecost 1648, greatly contributed to encreaſe the
confidence of the people, who, from that moment,
looked upon his highnefs in the light of a leader,
An infurrection had lately happened at Naples.
†The civil war between Charles the I. and his Par-
liament.
B 6
capable
12
MEMOIRS OF
capable of defending them againſt the court; and
their hatred to Cardinal Mazarin, caufed them to
confider the Duke's reſtoration to liberty as the com-
mencement of the era of their own freedom.
The Duke, during his confinement, had kept up a
conftant correſpondence with one of the perfons ap-
pointed to guard him, whofe name was Vaugri-
maut, on whom he at length prevailed to furniſh him
with the means of making his efcape. Ropes and
all other articles neceffary for the purpofe having
been previouſly provided, the day of Pentecoft was
fixed on for the execution of this enterprize. Ac-
cordingly, about one o'clock in the afternoon of that
day, as the Duke and M. De la Ramée, the gover-
nor of the castle of Vincennes, were walking to-
gether in the gallery leading to the platform, as
was their daily cuftom, Vaugrimaut entered the gal-
lery, and, having fecured the door on the inſide,
he and the Duke fell on the governor, whom they
bound and gagged. This being effected, Vaugri-
maut, without ceremony, took the lead, and let him-
felf down by a rope into the ditch, telling the Duke,
that it was but juft that he fhould provide for his
own fafety firſt, as his life depended on the fuccefs
of the enterprize; whereas, in cafe his Highnes
fhould be retaken, it would be attended with no
other confequence, than a more clofe confinement
than he had hitherto undergone. The Duke, ad-
mitting the force of this argument, now followed his
deliverer into the ditch, from whence they were both
drawn out, by fome perfons whom Vaumorin, the
Duke's valet de chambre had procured for that,
end; and the whole company, being mounted on
horseback,
GUY JO LI.
13
horfeback, arrived fafe in the diftriat of Maine and
Anjou, where the Duke remained concealed for fome
time, in the houfe of the Curate of La Fleche.
This event greatly furprifed the court, although
Cardinal Mazarin had, feveral days before, received
intelligence of fuch a deſign being in agitation. It
had been foretold, alfo, by the Abbé de Marivaux
and the Advocate Goifet, who were both addicted
to the ftudy of aftrology. Although theſe prog-
noftications were treated with univerfal ridicule,
yet the Abbé was fo confident of the accompliſh-
ment of his prediction, that he published it, with
all the attendant circumstances; and, being jeered
by one of his friends, whom he met at court, on the
day on which the event took place, who told him
aloud, that the Duke of Beaufort was fill at Vin-
cennes, he cooly replied, that it was not yet four
o'clock, and that all raillery on the subject must be
mal-à-propos till that hour was elapfed. At length,
however, the affair fo ftrongly attracted the public
attention, and the Cardinal received fuch repeated
cautions on the fubject, that he thought proper to
diſpatch an exprefs to M. de la Ramée, ordering him
to keep a watchful eye over his prifoner, without
explaining himself any farther; but the governor had
not the leaft fufpicion of Vaugrimaut, he being the
man in whom he moft confided.
Befides the preceding circumſtances, the advices
which continually arrived from Munfier cut off e-
very hope of an approaching peace, and thereby
filled up the meaſure of the people's refentment
against the Cardinal, to whom they imputed all
the
14
MEMOIRS OF
the delays and difficulties which had arifen on the
occafion.
Ever fince the year 1643, the Duke de Longue-
ville and Meffts. D'Avaux and Servien had been
fent to Munſter, as Plenipotentiaries; where, after
many obstacles had been raiſed by Servien, who
was in the fecret of the Cardinal's private inten-
tions, certain propofitions were, at length, agreed
to by the Duke and M. D'Avaux, as being honour-
able and advantagious to France. 'Tis certain, alſo,
that thoſe two minifters, were much inclined to fign
the above propofitions, but that, Servien having
refus'd his concurrence, they wanted refolution to ac-
complish it, although their commiffions empowered.
them to fign whenever any two of them should
agree in the fame opinion. At the Duke de Lon-
gueville's return to France, the authenticity of the
advices which had been received from Munter was
fo firmly eſtabliſhed, by thofe who had accompany'd
him on the embaffy, that all men were convinced
that the Cardinal had purpoſely obſtructed and de-
feated the negotiations, fearing left a peace might
diminish his confequence in the ftate, and alfo left
he fhould thereby forfeit the emoluments, which
he derived from the numerous taxes, wherewith
the people were continually burden'd, under the
pretence of ſupporting the War,
The deputies of the parliament and the other
courts ftill continued to affemble in the Chambre of
St. Louis, in open defiance of the daily prohibitory
decrees of the council. This conduct created fuch a
general expectation of an approaching change in the
flate
GUY JO L I.
15
fate of affairs, that every one eagerly fought the
means of promoting a meaſure fo defireable to the
whole nation.
But the victory obtained by the Prince of Condé,
at Lens, during this period, on the 20th of Auguft
1648, infpiring the court with fresh courage, it
was determined to feize the perfons of thoſe who
were the moſt active in the parliament, on a fup-
pofition that the reft would thereby be eafily reduced
to fubmiffion.
This defign had been fuggefted even by fome of
the members themfelves, and particluarly by M.
Molé, the first prefident, who, although he at times
affected a ſpirited oppofition to the meaſures of the
court, yet privately practifed every artifice to pro-
mote them. To this conduct he was influenced by
a double motive: on the one hand, that he might
gain credit with the parliament; and on the other,
that, by encreafing his confequence with the court,
he might thereby render himfelf more deferving in
their opinion, of the gratification of 100,000 livres
which they paid him annually, and obtain new fa-
nours for his children, whofe power over him was
abfolute, and who fold him to the court.
It was well known, alfo, that the high reputa-
tion which the Sieur de Brouffel had acquired in the
parliament, was the fource of much difquietude to
M. Molé; and from hence it was conjectured, that
the prefident was one of thoſe who had recommend-
ed to the Court the above pernicious meafure, of
feizing that gentleman and fome other members,
whofe
16
MEMOIRS OF
whoſe fole crime was their having acquired the af-
fection of the people, whofe caufe they had defended
against the attempts of the Minifter.
However, this grand project was executed on the
26th Auguſt 1648, on which day the King accom-
pany'd the Queen to the church of Notre Dame, to
be preſent at the Te Deum, which was perform'd on
account of the victory of Lens. After the fervice
was finished, their Majesties returned to the palace,
but the French and Swifs guards, contrary to their
uſual cuſtom remained pofted in the neighbourhood
of the church. At the fame time, the Sieur de
Comminges, lieutenant of the Queen's guards, at-
tended by a few foldiers, about one o'clock in the
afternoon, entered the houſe of M. de Brouffel, near
the gate of St. Landri, juít at the infant he rofe from
table, in his gown and flippers, in company with
his children.
M. de Comminges, on his entrance, prefented this
worthy men with a Lettre de Cacher, which contained
an order for his immediately following the bearer.
M. Brouffel replied that he was ready to obey, but
defired permiffion to drefs himself first; and Mifs
Brouffel added that, as her father had taken phyfic,
which was really the cafe, it was posible he might
have occafion to retire on that account. This was
confented to: but M. de Comminges, thinking that
his prifoner taid rather too long, and obferving
that the people gathered about the door, and had
even driven away the coach which had been pre-
This fignifics fimply a letter under the Royal Signet.
par'd
GUY JO L I.
17
par'd for the purpoſe, obliged the Sieur de Brouffel to
fet off directly, in the drefs in which he firſt found
him. As they paſſed through the ſtreet des Marmoufets,
fome perfons threw a wooden bench into the middle
of the way, with a view of ftopping the coach :
but this proved ineffectual, and the coach drove over
it, through the midft of the guards, firft to the New
Market, and afterwards to the Goldfmith's Quay,
where it broke down. At this inftant, however, a
lady paffing by in another carriage, M. de Com-
minges obliged her to alight, and placing his pri-
foner therein, conducted him to the caftle of Ma-
drid, and from thence to St. Germain's, where he
lay. The guards now filed off towards the fpot
where the coach had broke down, extending them-
felves the whole length of the New Bridge. In the
mean time, as the news of this event was fpread
through the whole city, the people began to affen-
ble, and all the fhops were almoſt inflantaneouſly
fhut up. The fervants and neighbours of M. Brouf-
fel, whoſe houfes overlooked the river, having ac-
quainted the watermen on the shore with the tranſ-
action, they went in their boats to the gate St.
Landri, and, taking their boat-hooks for weapons,
joined a body of people, who had affembled at the
ringing of the alarm hell of St. Landri's church,
armed with rufty fwords and halberds; and ran
after the coach, crying out," kill, kill." But the
Marſhal de la Milleraye, who was on horſeback at
the head of the guards, upon the New Bridge, ad-
vancing into the freet St. Louis, endeavoured to
fupprefs the tumult. This, however, he found im-
practicable; and it was with much difficulty and
danger that he effected a retreat; as a watchmaker,
who
18
MEMOIRS OF
who lived in the above ſtreet, attempted to ſhoot
him, from one of the windows, but, happily, his picce
miffed fire.
The lieutenant-civil, the lieutenant-criminal, and
the other magiftrates of the police now thought pro-
per to repair to the houſe of the first prefident of the
parliament; but, in paffing along, they were pelted
with ftones, by the populace, as was alfo the Mar-
fhal, who, having received a flight hurt, difcharg'd
a piftol, and mortally wounded a man, who was
porter, near the church of St. Germain of Auxer-
rois.
a
It was in the freet St. Honoré that the porter was
hot; and the Coadjutor paffing thro' that ftreet, on
his return from the Palais, much difpleafed at the
reception he had met with, confeffed him, as he
lay in the kennel. The people were very vifibly af-
fected by this incident; and it contributed not a lit-
tle to reconcile them to the Coadjutor; to effect
which, as he has fince declared in my hearing, was the
chief motive of his conduct on the occafion. On
his entrance into the Queen's apartment, in his
pontifical robes, which he had not laid afide fince
the Te Deum, he overhear'd Beautru whiſper to the
Queen, "Your Majefty is very fick; the Coadjutor
has brought you the extreme unction," and ſeve-
ral other pleaſantries. The Queen then addreffed
him," Mr. Coadjutor, the King, my fon, will
take a proper time to puniſh" but, Cardinal Ma-
zarin giving her a tap on the fhoulder, fhe inftantly
changed her tone. While the Coadjutor was con-
fefling the porter, he received a blow, from a ftone
thrown
GUY JOLI.
19
thrown at him, which caufed a contufion in his
fide; and, when the Queen fent to defire that he
would come the next day to the Palais Royal, he
had taken to his bed, purpoſely to avoid comply-
ing with the requeſt, which he had forefeen. The
Queen offered to punish Beautru, if he required it;
but he replied, that he was not at all offended.
That night he fent for one Miron, a master of ac
counts, who was much attached to him, and was
killed afterwards, at the fire at the Hotel de Ville.
This man had the command of the city-guard in
the quarter where he lived, called the Chevalier de
Gust. Miron propofed beating to arms, and to bar-
ricading the ſtreets, but, as it was judged improper
for that quarter to fet the example, Martineau, a
Counſellor of the Requeſts, who commanded in the
Atreet St. Jaques, was fent to on the occafion. He
was gone to bed, much intoxicated: but his wife,
the preſident de Pommereuil's fifter, with whom the
Coadjutor was in love, inftantly rofe, ordered the
drums to be beaten, and began the barricadoes in
that quarter, as did Miron alfo, directly afterwards,
in hi..
The Coadjutor of Paris, through a feigned defire
of putting a flop to the tumult, left his palace, on
foot, dreft in his pontifical robes; and, as he paffed
through the streets, very bountifully bestowed his
benedictions on the people, who, on their part, as
readily threw themfelves on their knees to receive
them, but, at the fame time, never ceafed from cry-
ing out, that M. Brouffel muſt be fet at liberty. The
prelate, at length, with fome difficulty, reached the
Palais Royal, and, being admitted to the Queen's
preſence
20
MEMOIRS OF
prefence, reprefented to her, is very lively terms,
the danger which was likely to enfue from a per-
feverance in the meafures lately adopted: but, as
her Majesty anſwered him with a degree of afperity,
and the partizans of the Cardinal treated him with
ridicule, it has been conjectured, that the occur-
rences of this audience laid the firft foundation of
that unremitting enmity to the court, by which his
fubfequent conduct was fo ftrongly marked.
Many, however, were of opinion, that the Coad-
jutor's difpleafure against the Cardinal was of an
earlier date, and that it arofe from his eminency's
having refufed to grant him the poft of governor
of Paris for the 'Duke de Montbazon. The truth is,
that the Coadjutor's palace had, for fome time paft,
been the refort of the Count de Montrefor, the
Marquis de Noirmoutier, Meffis. Saint Ibal, de Lai-
gues, de Fontrailles, de Varicarville, d'Argenteuil,
and of all the malecontents in general: he had alſo
preached a fermon before the Jefuits Society, on
the feast of St. Louis, and at which their Majefties
alfo were prefent, which was deemed by the cour-
tiers very feditious and inflammatory. They afferted
alfo (what was but too true) that his benedictions
to the people were better calculated to create, than
to appeafe a commotion; and that Meffrs. d'Argen-
teuil and de Marigni, who were his fupporters, ex-
horted the populace to perfevere in their tumultuous
concu&t.
The preſident de Blancmenil was taken into cu-
ftody at the fame time with M. Brouffel; and the
officers went, on the fame buſineſs, to the houſes of
the
GUY JO L I.
21
the Prefident Charton, and Meffrs. Lainé and Loỳ-
fel, all of whom had made their efcape. At each
of the houſes of the two laft mentioned gentlemen
a Lettre de Cachet was left, to express their being
baniſhed, the one to Nantes, the other to Senlis :
but neither of them obey'd the order. Thefe tranf-
actions obliged the parliament to affemble, and to
proceed in a body to the Palais Royal. On their
entrance, the Queen was much inclined to order fome
of the counsellors to be immediately hung up at the
windows; but ſhe was diffuaded therefrom by the
Cardinal: my father was one of thoſe whom the
Queen had mark'd out as victims. A queftion arofe,.
whether, as they were not then in Loco Majorum, they
could legally proceed to bufinefs, in their parliamen-
tary capacity, which was at length determined in
the affirmative: I have been told that the arguments
on both fides were very ingenious. Martineau gave
it as his opinion, that the people's demand of M.
Brouffel's enlargement was reafonable, and ought to
be granted; which gave rife to much murmuring a-
mong
the members: and, in fact, he appeared not yet
to have ſlept himſelf ſober.
A kind of general aſſembly of the courts was now
held, but, as nothing could be determined on that
day, the meeting was adjourned to the next morn-
ing. About fix o'clock in the evening, the fury
of the people appeared to abate, as they began to
retire, by degrees, to their habitations, after the
guards had quitted the new bridge, by order of the
Marfhal de la Meilleraye, who, nevertheless, re-
turned in a ſhort time, accompany'd by a number
of perſons, hired for the purpofe, fhouting "God
fave
22
OF
MEMOIRS
fave the King!" the fhops, however, ftill remained
ſhut, and moſt of the citizens continued under arms,
at their doors, having alfo taken the precaution to
provide themſelves with a fufficient quantity of ammu-
nition. After all, there was great probability, that
the return of night would have reftor'd tranquility to
the city, had not the mayor and the other magiftrates
of the police, by the Queen's orders, fent notice to
all the officers of the city-guard to hold their arms and
men ready for fervice. Theſe orders were occafioned
by the mis-information which the Queen had received,
refpecting the general difpofition of the inhabitants,
in the prefent circumftances of affairs: it having
been reprefented to her Majefty, that all the citi-
zens of any confequence and reputation were well-
affected, and that the prefent difturbances were raiſed
by a few of the rabble only, who might eafily be
quelled.
In the mean time, this order greatly encreafed
the confidence of the citizens, who thereby faw them.
felves authorized, in fome fort, to act at their own
diſcretion. Moreover, the relations and friends of
M. Brouffel and the other exiles, as alfo all thofe
who were in oppofition to the court, were very
alert on the occafion; fending meffages, during
the night, to all the citizens of their acquaintance,
exhorting them to a fpirited exertion of their duty
on this important conjun&ture.
The Coadjutor alfo, who was highly offened at
the reception the tender of his fervices had met
with from the court, fent fimilar meffages to his
friends, by his relation the Chevalier de Serrigni,
and
GUY JOL I.
2.5
and Meffrs. d'Argenteuil and de Laigues; the latter
of whom was lately returned from the army, much
incenſed againſt the Prince of Condé, by whom he
had been very ill treated, in confequence of a difpute
at play.
All thefe movements, however, would poffibly
have been attended with no material confequence,
had not the court, in the following inftance, broken
through all bounds, and raised the refentment of the
people to the highest pitch. The Queen and Car-
dinal Mazarin, emboldened by the affurances they
had received of the citizens fidelity, refolved to pur-
fue the fame tract of rigorous conduct, in which
they at first fat out. In confequence of this deter-
mination, the Chancellor was fent to the parliament,
with orders to put a stop to their deliberations, and
to prohibit them from taking any cognizance of pub-
lic affairs for the future: this meafure was alfo
fecretly promoted by the firft Prefident, and fome o-
thers of the Cardinal's partizans, who had exerted
every effort to abate the ardour of the parliament,
and to fpin out the buſineſs as much as poffible.
As the entrance of feveral of the ſtreets were block-
ed up, by the chaius ftretched across them, when
the Chancellor's carriage reached the Hotel de Luines,
on the Auguftine's quay, he found himfelf obliged to
alight, and to purfue his journey on foot. In pafling
through a croud of people, who were affembied near
the ſpot, his perfon was recognized by a man, againſt
whom he had lately decided a caufe brought before
the council; who fuddenly cried out, "there's that
"fcoundrel the Chancellor, who is going to forbid
"the parliament to affemble, that M. Brouffel may
• not
24
OF
MEMOIRS
"not be fet at liberty: knock him down!" There-
upon, the people running towards the Chancellor,
he had but just time enough to flip into the Hotel de
Luines, where he remained for fome time, hid in a
cloaths-prefs, which was contrived in the wall.
The people now, rushing from all quarters, for-
ced their way into the houfe, and fearched it from
top to bottom :
but not being able to find the
Chancellor, they refolved to fet fire to it. They
were prevented however, from executing this defign,
by the arrival of the Marſhal de la Meilleraye, at
the head of two or three companies of the French
and Swifs guards, who drove the people away, and
thereby gave the Chancellor an opportunity of get-
ting into the coach of his relation, M. d'Aubai, the
Lieutenant-Civil, who had alfo come to his affift-
ance, with fome officers of justice.
This being effected, the Marfhal drew off his
troops with all poffible expedition, as he perceived
that the people were, on all fides, making the ne-
cellary difpofitions for impeding his retreat for this
reafon alfo, he ordered the guards to fire feveral
times as they retired; and he himself, with a piliol,
fhot a poor woman, with a baſket on her head, at the
entrance of the New Bridge. This incident ſerved
only to incenfe the people ftill the more; and as the
Chancellor and his efcort paffed the brazen horſe,
feveral pieces were fired from the oppofite houſes,
by which the coach was fhot through in five or fix
places, and Picard, Lieutenant to the Grand Pro-
voft, together with the eldeſt ſon of Sanfon the geo-
graphift,
GUY
25
JOLI
graphift, who was at the coach-door, were killed on
the ſpot.
At the other end of the Bridge alfo, there was a
great tumult: as the people on the Tanner's Quay,.
hearing the report of the mufketry, inftantly affem-
bled in a body, firft arming themſelves with the old
iron utenfils, &c. which are daily expofed to fale in
that place. In the mean while, as all the efforts
of the populace to prevent the Chancellor's efcape
had proved ineffectual, five or fix hundred of them,
forming a feperate body, with a piece of linen faft-
ened to the end of a ſtick, for a flag, and a drum
beating before them, without any manner of order,
marched along the quay towards the Grand Chatelet.
This circumftance, and an apprehenfion left the riot-
ers fhould attempt a general pillage, induced the
captain of that divifion of the city-guard to order
the entrance of the street oppofite the Church of
St. Leufroi to be fhut up with the chain. He alfo or-
dered the drum to be beat: and, as his company,
in confequence of the order of the preceding day,
had been kept in readiness, they immediately march'd
out and took poft about the chain and in the ad-
jacent parts. This example was quickly followed
by the whole city; and the general cry being, "to
arms and the barricadoes!" in lefs than half an
hour all the ſtreets were barricaded in a fimilar
manner, with the chains and double rows of cafks,
filled with earth, ftones, &c. behind which the citi-
zens with their arms were ranged, to an almoſt incon-
ceivable number.
It was on the 27th of Auguft 1648, about ten
VCL I.
o'clock
C
26
MEMOIRS OF
o'clock in the morning, that this infurrection hap-
pened at which time the parliament was affem-
bled, to deliberate on the meafares neceffary to be
taken, with refpe&t to the recent impriſonment of
their brethren; and after many of the members had
given their opinion, with more or leſs ſpirit, it was
at length determined, as foon as they became ac-
quainted with what had paffed in the city, to wait
on the Queen in a body, with a request for their
enlargement, and, in cafe of a refufal, to refume
and continue their deliberations, till they fhould at-
tain the point in view. Accordingly, about half an
hour after ten o'clock, they fat out from the Palais,
dreft in the habits of their office, to the number
of one hundred and fixty, the people every where
opening the barricadoes, to let them país, fhouting
"God fave the King! God fave Brouffel! God
fave the Parliament !" and conjuring them, at all
events to obtain M. Brouffel's liberty.
σε
When the parliament arrived at the Palais Royal,
they were immediately admitted to an audience, in
a ball, in which were the King, the Queen, the
Duke of Orleans, Cardinal Mazarin, the Chancel-
lor, the Marthal de la Meilleraye, and feveral other
perfons. The firft Prefident made an harangue, in
which he fet forth the diſturbances which had ari-
fen in the city, and reprefented the abfolute ne-
ceffity of an immediate recall of the exiles; but the
Queen answered, with much afperity, that nothing
hould make her change her refolution; that the
Parliament fhould be refponfible to the King for
all thoſe diſturbances, which were not fo formidable
but that they might easily have quelled them; that
A
fit.
the
GUY JOL I.
27.
the King would, at a proper time, take due ven,
geance on them; and it has even been faid that,
as her Majefty retired to another apartment, the ad-
ded, in a lower voice,
yes; he fhall be delivered
દ
* up; but not whilft he has breath." As the com.
pany were about to depart, fome propoſals were
made for an accommodation: but, this producing
no effect, the Parliament returned in the fame or-
der in which they came, fave that, as they paſſed
thro' the first barricadoes, the citizens, by their mur-
murs, expreffed great difcontent at the failure of
their applicaion for M. Brouffel's enlargement.
At length, when they arrived at the barricado at
the place called la Croix du Tiroir, they were
topped by one Raguenet, a dealer in iron, who
commanded in that quarter, and about fifteen of his
company, carrying halberds; and Raguenet, ad-
dreffing himſelf to the first Prefident, demanded
whether he had brought back M. Brouffel? To this
queſtion, the Preſident replied in the negative: but
added, that they had received a very gracious an-
fwer from the Queen, on the fubject of which
they were then going to the Palais, to deliberate:
but Raguenet told him, that he must return to the
Palais Royal and procure M. Brouffel's releaſe-
ment, otherwiſe he ſhould not be permitted to paſs
through that quarter. At this inftant, fome per-
fons in the croud cried out, that they well knew
there were traitors amongst them, of whom he,
the Prefident, was one, who were fecretly leagued
*
* It must be remembered, that the Palais is the place of
affembly of the parliament, and the Palais Royal is the King's
palace.
C 2
with
28
MEMOIRS OF
with the court, and bore no good will to M. Brouf-
fel; and that, if they did not, on their next re-
turn, bring him back with them, not a life of one
of them ſhould be fpared. Theſe declarations were
accompanied with many infults towards feveral of
the members, and particularly the firft Prefident,
whom they ſhoved about with great rudeness, and,
at last, they even pulled him by the beard, which
he wore very long,
*
i
F
The people were partly influenced to this conduct
by thoſe of the members who had been the moſt
zealous in their oppofition, and exhorted them to
compel the first Prefident to return with which he
at length found himſelf obliged to comply, through
fear of meeting with worfe treatment, than he had
hitherto experienced, in cafe of his non compliance.
However, he was not attended back again by all
the members; as five of the Prefidents and feve-
ral Councellors, dreading the confequence of the
peoples menaces, made their efcape thro' fome of
the by-streets.
The parliament now returned to the Palais Royal,
and, having obtained permiffion to deliberate in one
of the halls, refolved again to fupplicate her Ma-
jefty, to grant the exiles their liberty. To this
request the court, when informed of the preceding
conduct of the people, no longer hefitated to ac-
cede; and two of the royal coaches were, in con-
fequence, immediately difpatched to bring back
Meffrs. Blancmenil and Brouffel: at the fame time,
letters de Cachet, containing the recall of the other
exiles,
GUY JOLI.
29
exiles, were alfo delivered to the relations of thoſe
perfons.
It was not till near feven o'clock in the even-
ing that this bufinefs was compleated: after which
all the members of the parliament retired to their
own houſes, without any moleftation from the peo-
ple, who were acquainted with what had paffed,
and had ſeen the coaches fet off for the above-men-
tioned gentlemen.
On the fame day, the Coadjutor, who was mi-
nutely informed of every incident, and naturally con-
cluded that thefe tranfactions muft produce very
important confequences, was perfuaded by fome of
his friends to fend M. d'Argenteuil to the Duke de
Longueville, who was as much at enmity with the
court as himſelf, requeſting an interview and con-
ference on the fubject of the prefent ftate of af-
fairs. The Duke embraced the propoſal with avi.
dity, and went directly himself to the Coadjutor's
palace.
Their conference lafted a confiderable time; and
fome of the friends of the Coadjutor, who were
prefent, were for pufhing matters ftill farther: urg-
ing that there could not be a more favourable
opportunity; that the people, in their prefent dif-
pofition, were ready to undertake any thing; that
they declared publickly in the freets, that they
ought to attack the Cardinal in perfon; that, un-
leſs this meaſure was adopted, all others would
prove ineffectual; and that, if Cardinal Mazarin i
fhould prevail in this conteft, he would not a&t
C 3
with
}
30
OF
MEMOIRS
with the fame moderation as his opponents had
done in the preſent inftance.
But, as thefe kinds of enterprizes are much more
eally propofed than executed, and as the chief
nobility do not chufe to appear as leaders upon fuch
occafions, well knowing that they thereby for ever
exclude themſelves from the favour of the fovereign,
this confultation ended in an agreement to keep a
watchful eye on the motions of the parliament and
people, and to uſe all their endeavours, to bring
over as many of the nobility as poffible to their in-
terefts, particularly the Prince of Condé, who feem-
ed, in fome fort to be injured by the court, in the
choice they had made of this ſeaſon, of rejoicing
for his victory, at Lens, for the execution of ſo un-
popular an enterprize. The recent tranfactions at
the Palais Royal had greatly abated the people's re-
fentment: yet, as M. Brouffel was not yet arrived,
they continued in arms during the whole night, in
ſpite of every endeavour of the magiftrates, to com-.
pel them to lay them down and to remove the barri
cadoes, and although the Prefident de Blancmeni
was returned from his exile ever fince the Friday
morning. At length, at about ten o'clock on the
next day, M. Erouffe arrived; and was received
every where with the most extravagant demonftra-
tions of joy; the people fhouting "God fave the
"King! God fave Brouffel!" and firing repeated
vollies of muſketry, the report of which created a
belief in many perfons, that an engagement had
enfued between the citizens and the foldiers. M.
Brouffel got out of his coach near the church of
Notre Dame, from whence he was accompany'd, by an
innumerable
GUY JOLI..
31
innumerable concourfe of people, to his own houſe;
where having fhewn himself, at one of the win-
dows, for fome time, the commotion began gradu-
ally to fubfide.
In confequence of a meffage which he had re-
ceived from the parliament, he went to the Palais,
and, after he had replied, with much modefty, to a
complimentary fpeech, which the first prefident, in
the name of the whole body, addreffed to the pre-
fident de Blancmenil and him, he refumed his
feat amongst them, without the leaft appearance of
oftentation.
Orders were then iffued for removing the bar-
ricadoes and difarming, which were inftantly com
plied with; and, in the ſpace of one hour, the
hops were all opened, the carriages were feen
driving through the ftreets, and all things wore the
fame face of tranquility as if the late difturbances
had never happened. Towards evening, however,
it was reported, that a body of troops were pofted
in the wood of Boulogne; but this report quickly
vanished, and the general repofe fuffered no inter
ruption during the night. It has been afferted, that
when the Duke of Beaufort received intelligence
at La Flêche of the tranfa&tions at Paris, he fat.
out poft, and arrived there a ſhort time after the
tumult was appealed. Had he made a little more
difpatch, he might have reached the city in time to
have taken ample vengeance' on Cardinal Mazarin:
a: leat, the number of thoſe in the city, who
were actuated by the fame fentiments with his high-
nefs, respecting the Cardinal, was fo confiderable,
C 4
that,
32
MEMOIRS OF
that, had they been headed by fuch a leader as the
Duke of Beaufort, the court would have found
it much more difficult to obtain an accommodation
with the infurgents.
This incident drew much cenfure on Cardinal
Mazarin's conduct, in expoſing the King, the Queen
and himſelf to fuch imminent peril; and it was
the opinion of many that, previous to feizing the
perfons of M. Brouffel and the reft, he fhould have
conducted the King to St. Germain or Fontain-
bleau, where he would have had nothing to fear
from the enterprizes either of the parliament or
the people, and could never have been compelled
to fuch conceffions, as were extorted from him on the
late occafion.
He committed another great error, in fending the
Chancellor to the parliament, before the refent-
ment of the members had had time to fubfide. It
would have been more prudent, and more becoming
the dignity of the court, to have waited patiently for
their remonftrances; and it ought to have been
confidered that, even if the Chancellor could have
reached the Palais without interruption, there was
ftill great reafon to fear, that the people might retain
him, as an hoftage for the fafety of the exiles.
Another act of great imprudence was that of
putting arms into the hands of the citizens, who,
there is reaſon to believe, would not have joined
in the.commotion, at least not fo univerfally, but
for this circumftance; feeing that individuals, who
have fomething to loſe, ſeldom chuſe to proceed
to
GUY JO L 1.
33
to thofe extremities, thro' fear of rendering them-
felves confpicuous, whereas they are apt to give
a greater looſe to their refentments, when they fee
themſelves countenanced therein by the magiftrates:
and it argues the moſt confummate ignorance of hu-
man nature, to have imagined that the citizens, ir-
ritated as they were, and now furniſhed with arms,
would fide with the court. The infurrection which
happened in the reign of Henry the IIId ſhould
have proved a leffon on this occafion; and, if all
the dignity of a fovereign of his age proved infuf-
ficent, to reſtrain the people within the bounds of
duty and reſpect, much lefs was it to be expected,
that this effect fhould be produced by the pre-
ſence of a minor King, a Spanish Queen, held by
all in contempt, and an alien minifter, univerfally.
deteſted.
All that can be faid in excufe of this erroneous
conduct of the Cardinal's is, that thofe by whom
he was environed, and who fought to obtain pre-
ferment through his intereft, judged that the beſt
method of making their court to him was by miſ-
reprefenting the real ſtate of affairs, and by adviſing
fuch violent meaſures, as they knew would be moſt
agreeable to the turbulent temper of the Queen. In
fact, the greateſt part of the courtiers felt a fecret
fatisfaction in thefe difturbances, as they hoped.
thereby to encreaſe their confequence with the court,
and that they fhould the more easily obtain the
reward of their fervices.
'Tis probable alſo, that thoſe who held the chief
offices in the ftate would have rejoiced in the Car-
C 5
dinal's
34
MEMOIRS OF
dinal's ruin, in the expectation that they might
fucceed to his dignity, and that the Queen would'
be obliged to throw herfelf upon their protection:
and this fufpicion is verified by the conduct of the
most apparently impetuous amongst them, who,
although they openly gave the most inflammatory
counfels, yet fecretly held intelligence with fome
of the members of the parliament, and others of
the citizens, and conftantly recommended to them
to continue firm in the caufe in which they had
-embarked.
The tranquility, which, for feveral days paff,
feemed to be perfectly reftored, did not in the leaft
abate that hatred, in which every one held Cardi-
nal Mazarin: his very name was become fo odious,
that the judges thought proper to make an order,
that any perſon, who gave it to another as a nick-
name, ſhould be fubjected thereby to a profecution;
which regulation was become neceffary, as thofe
perfons, to whom this title of reproach was given,
were often in danger of their lives, and always of
being infulted by the populace; feveral inflances
of which had recently happened. This name fell,
at length, into fuch utter deteftation, that the com-
mon people made ufe of it as a kind of imprecation,
againſt any thing which offended them; and it was
very common to fee the carmen in the ftreets
whipping their horfes and calling them "Bougres
"de Mazarins.”
Another bad confequence refulting from the op-
probrious acceptation which this title had obtained
amongst the people was, that it became at laft a
mark
GUY JOLI
35
i
mark of party diftin&tion; thofe who fided with
the court being termed Mazarins, whilft their op-
ponents bore the name of Frondeurs; and as the
whole city was ranged under the one or the other of
thofe claffes, hence arofe the moft virulent domeftic
diffention; the father was fet at variance with the
fon, the husband with the wife, and the brother
with the fifter: but with this difference, that the
firft of thofe appellations was eſteemed a fevere
reproach, even by the court partizans themſelves,
whereas thofe to whom the latter was given gloried
in the diftinction.
This term, of Frondeur, [a flinger] took its rife
from the following incident: during this and the
preceding year, the hop boys, and other young
people, frequently affembled, in different parts of the
city, and amufed themfelves with flinging ones
at each other, in fpite of all the attempts of the
officers of juſtice to prevent them. This circum-
ftance the Sieur Bachaumont, a counfellor of the
parliament, and fon of the president Le Coigneux,
jeftingly applied one day, to the Duke of Orleans
going to the parliament, as he often did at that
time, purpoſely to reftrain the impetuofity of fome
of the members, who were accuſtomed to deliver
their fentiments with too much freedom; in which
his Highness generally fucceeded, fo long as he
continued prefent amongst them, but, in his abfence,
the affembly frequently refumed the confideration
*He was jointly engaged, with M. La Chapelle, ia
that much-efecmed work, entitled "La Chapelle and Ba
"chaumont's Voyages."
C 6
of
36
MEMOIRS OF
K
of former day's tranfactions, and their decifions
thereon often proved very unfatisfactory to the court:
upon which the Sieur Bachaumont obſerved, that
the court was likely to fucceed no better in its at-
tempts to reftrain the parliament, than the officers
of juſtice had in theirs to fupprefs the diſorderly
conduct of the [flingers] Frondeurs: fo that, from
this time, the above title was given, at firſt, to all
thofe members in general who expreffed their fen-
timents freely, and, afterwards to thofe only who
acted in oppofition to the Cardinal; and it obtained
fo general an uſe at laft, that cloths, ribbonds, laces,
fwords, and all other kinds of merchandize, even
bread itſelf, could none of them be good, unleſs
they were a la fronde, and there was no term more
expreffive, to denote an honeft man, than that of
"a good Frondeur.”
CHAP.
GUY JO LI.
37
}
THE
CHA P. II.
The War of Paris.
'HE deliberations of the parliament, which had
been diſcontinued during the late tumults,
were now refumed; and the firſt ſubject of their
confideration was certain propofitions, relative to
the Tariff and the fund of the Hotel de Ville. As the
feafon of adjournment now approached, the par-
liament, by its fole authority, continued to fit during
the vacations; having, for form-fake only, demand-
ed permiffion from the Queen, who, with much
difficulty granted it, but limited the time of their
fitting, and even this limitation the afterwards
thought proper to contract.
At this feafon of the year, the Queen frequently
attended the King upon fhort excurfions into the
country, for the benefit of the air; and, in confe-
quence of this cuftom, having conducted his Ma-
jefty, one morning about fix o'clock, from Paris to
Ruel, the people conceived an opinion, that there
was fomething myfterious in this journey, which
they then looked upon as a preparatory ſtep towards
befieging the city; more eſpecially as recent advices
had been received, that the troops were approach-
ing, and that they were guilty of great irregularities
on their march.
In this fituation of affairs, the parliament affem-
bled, on the 22d of September 1648, and petitioned
her
38
MEMOIRS OF
her Majefty to return with the King immediately to
Paris, and to remove the troops from its neighbour-
hood. Many of the members openly accufed Car-
dinal Mazarin as the caufe of all thefe diflurbances,
and ſome of them proceeded fo far, as to advife a
renewal of the cdiet of 1617, which excludes fo-
reigners from all fhare in the government of the
realm. Thefe violent councils, however, were not
adopted, and they contented themfelves with adding
to their other refolutions, that letters fhould be writ-
ten to the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Condé,
requesting their highneffes to come and take their
feats in the parliament.
But the two Princes returned for anfwer, that they
wifhed to have a conference with the parliament at
Roel; and deputies were accordingly fent, who made
fundry propofitions on the fubject of fuch matters,
as had been agitated in their feveral affemblies, fince
the infurrection. As the Sieur de Chavigni had been
lately put under confinement, and M. de Château-
neuf, the keeper of the feal, together with the Mar-
quis de la Vieuville, fuperintendant of the finances,
were fent into exile, this circumftance induced the
deputies to demand, in the most ftrenuous manner,
fome affurance for the public fecurity.
The precife caufe of M. de Chavigni's imprifon-
ment never tranfpired; but the most common con-
jecture was, that it arofe from an accufation brought
against him, of having, in revenge for the Cardinals
depriving him of the poft of Secretary of State, and
beftowing it on M. de Brienne, perfuaded the Prince
of
GUY JOL I.
39
of Conde to join with the parliament; and fome
faid that he had communicated this defign, in confi-
dence, to the Prefident Perrault, one of his High-
neffes's friends, who betray'd the fecret to Cardinal
Mazarin, in confequence of which M. de Chavigni
was immediately feized, the Cardinal dreading his
talents, and his powerful connections with many of
the principal perfons, both of the court and parlia
ment, through which he might have been enabled
to raiſe a cabal in the cabinet, much more to be ap-
prehended, than all the murmurs of the people, and
the remonftrances of the parliament. After various
conferences and feveral journies of the deputies to
Ruel, an accommodation took place, and an edict
was publiſhed, on the 24th of October 1648, by
which the King remitted to his fubjects the payment
of a fifth, on the tallies for the years 1648 and
1649, and fuppreffed feveral other impofts: his Ma
jelty thereby engaged, aifo, that no office, either ju-
dicial or financial, fhould be created, for the term
of the four enfuing years; that the officers of the
fuperior courts fhould not be impeded in the exer-
cife of their functions, either by letters de Cachet or
otherwife; and that all prifoners of ſtate ſhould be
brought to an examination, in twenty-four hours
from the time of their being taken into cuftody.
On the publication of this edict, and the King's re-
turn to Paris, on the last day of October, the parlia-
ment adjourned to the feaft of St. Martin.
Thofe, who had taken an active part in the late
infurrection, now perceived, that the court was fully
bent on vengeance: and, as they were, moreover,
well informed, that the King's return to Paris was
owing,
40
MEMOIRS OF
owing, folely, to the Duke of Orleans's refufal to
confent to the fiege of that city, they determined to
unite in the neceffary meaſures for their defence.
Several of the most zealous, amongst the coun-
fellors of the parliament, affembled regularly, every
afternoon, at the houſe of one of their brethren,
the Sieur de Longueuil, where they adjufted the
plan of conduct to be purfued, refpecting fuch mat-
ters as were to be brought before the parliament on
the following days. Thofe who attended ofteneſt
at theſe conferences were Meffrs. de Croiffi, Fou-
quet, Dorat, Quatre-Sous, de Montenelos, the Abbé
Amelot, de Caumartin, Le Fêvre, La Barre, and a
number of others, fome of whom reforted, alſo, on
the fame buſineſs, to the houſe of the Sieur Coulon,
where Meffrs. Bachaumont, fon of the prefident Le
Coigneux, Givry, Vialard, and feveral officers of
the army ufually met.
But the chief tranfactions of the party were car-
ried on at the Coadjutor's palace, by fome perfons
of quality, among whom was the Marquis de Noir
moutier, who was lately returned from the army,
full of refentment againſt the Prince of Condé, who
had caft fome farcaftical reflections on his conduct at
the battle of Lens; afferting, that the first line, of
which the Marquis had the command, had given
way during the engagement, which was contrary to
truth, as they had maintained their ground with the
greateſt bravery: upon his return, he applied to the
court for fatisfaction for the affront which he had re-
ceived, but without effect.
Thefe,
GUY JOL I.
41
Thefe circumftances, it may naturally be fuppofed,
highly incenfed the Marquis, and induced him to
enter, with alacrity, into the party of the Coadjutor,
as did his friend the Marquis de Laigues, who (it has
been already mentioned) had, alfo, grounds of com-
plaint against his Highnefs: and, as Noirmoutier
was connected with the Prince of Conti and the
Dutchefs de Longueville, both of whom, he knew,
were much diſpleaſed with the Prince of Condé; the
latter on
account of many injurious infinuations
which his Highnefs had thrown out, refpecting her
and the Prince de Marfillac, he (Noirmoutier) con-
cluded, it would be no difficult matter to engage them
in an oppofition to the Prince of Condé, and even
to the court, with whofe conduct, alfo, the Prince
of Conti was much diffatisfied, in the refufal to admit
him to a feat at the council board.
The Duke de Longueville, alfo, who claimed a
right of precedence immediately after the Princes of
the Blood, ſeeing that the Prince of Condé was ra-
ther backward in fupporting his claim, was eafily
prevailed on, by the Dutchefs, his fpoufe, to unite
in a confederacy against his Highneſs. The. Dut-
chefs entertained a great partiality for the Prince de
Marfillac, who, on his fide, did not neglect to avail
himſelf of that circumftance, but paid the moſt aſſi-
duous attention to her, well-knowing that the afcen-
dency, which ſhe had acquired over her huſband and
the Prince of Conti, would give her great weight
with the party: and that, whenever the court fhould
be inclined to make overtures of accommodation,
he might, through her influence, obtain for himſelf
the
42
OF
MEMOIRS
the most advantageous terms. A plan of opera-
tions being, at length, fettled, Noifi was fixed
upon as the place of rendezvous, from whence the
Prince of Conti and the Dutchefs de Longueville
engaged to march into Paris, in cafe the court,
fhould, as it was already univerfally reported
they intended, order the Prince of Condé to form
the fiege of that city. As the Coadjutor had, for
fome time palt, conceived a violent paffion for the
Dutchefs, this promife proved doubly grateful to
him, both as it regarded the ftate of public affairs,
and as he hoped to derive from thence more fre-
quent opportunities of advancing his fuit, and, per
haps, in the end, to fupplant the Prince de Marfil
lac, whom he confidered as his rival,
*
In the mean time, the Coadjutor urgently follicit
ed the Prince of Condé, alfo, to enter into the af
fociation, and he has conftantly affirmed, that his
Highnofs had given him a pofitive promife of his
concurrence, and that two meetings were held, at
the houſe of M. Brouffel, at which both parties re-
newed their former engagements. But the Prince.
has always denied the truth of this affertion; and,
indeed, there appears great reaſon to believe, that
what paffed on thoſe occafions were fuch general pro-
feflions, only, as would bear an extenfive interpre-
tation, and from the obfervance of which a man
may eaſily releaſe himſelf, whenever he thinks pro-
per.
It is certain, however, that his Highness, at this
* Some have maintained that this ſtory is a dion.
time,
GUY JOL I
43
time, wavered much in opinion, whether he fhould
follow the advice of Chatillon, who perfuaded him
to join the party of the Frondeurs, or whether he
ſhould adopt the counfel of the Marſhal de Gram-
mont, who ftrongly preffed him to continue his con-
nection with the-court. To fay the truth, the mat-
ter was well worthy of confideration: he, at length,
determined in favour of the court, in hopes that he
fhould command the cabinet and be the arbiter of
the Cardinal's fortune, whom he might even facri-
fice to the people's refentment, whenever he ſhould,
be inclined to regain their affection, which he plainly
perceived he was about to forfeit for a time. Under
the influence of thefe expectations, his Highneſs.
made a tender of his fervices to the Queen, not for
getting to extol his inviolable attachment to her Ma.
jefty's interests.
When the Queen had thus fecured the Prince of
Condé, fhe next turned her thoughts to the Duke
of Orleans, to whom the fent the Abbé de la Riviere,
with
This Abbé, who was afterwards. Bishop of Langres, at
his death bequeathed 100 crowns to the perſon who fhould
write his epitaph: here follow two of the number which were
written on the occafion.
Monfieur de Langres is dead and by his laft will,
Which you, Sir, have promis'd with faith to fulfil,
A hundred good crowns to the verfe-making wight
Hath given, who befſt ſhall his Epitaph write:
Then let this infcription his tombitone adorn :
Here lies a great Scoundrel, as ever was born !
Now, as money is good in theſe tickliſh times,
And the talk is compleated; pay me for my rhymes.
Another.
44
ΜΕΜΟΙRS OF
with inftructions, to reprefent to him the great in-
jury his interefts would fuffer, fhould he permit that
Prince to remain alone in his ftation about the King's
perfon, which would be the infallible means of
throwing the whole management of affairs into his
hands, to the total exclufion of his Royal Highness,
who would thereby be rendered a mere cypher in
the ſtate. Theſe, and ſeveral fimilar arguments
made great impreffion on his mind, he being na
turally jealous of the views and reputation of the
Prince of Condé.
Had his Royal Highnefs hearkened to the advice of
his real friends, or had he examined minutely into
the ftate of affairs, and the diſpoſition of the people,
he would plainly have feen, that it was moft for his
advantage to fide with the parliament, and that,
by declaring himſelf in favour of that party, be
would have obtained the whole management of af-
fairs, and have had nothing to fear, either from the
court, or from the too great exaltation of the Prince
of Condé. But all men have their foibles, and it is
difficult to inſpire thofe with vigorous refolutions,
Another.
Beneath this tomb
whofe
are repofed the remains of a great Perfonage,
defcended from a long line of illuftrious anceflors:
he poffeffed a thoufand virtues;
he never deceived a human being,
and was replete with wildom.
To this I hali nothing add;
having already written too many lies,
for the reward of
a hundred crowns.
GUY JOLI.
45
whoſe tempers are by nature timid. As the Duke,
therefore, had, thro' the perfuafion of the Queen's
emiffaries, given his confent to the fiege of Paris,
the troops advanced for that purpoſe, from all quar-
ters but this was not executed fo fecretly, but that
the parliament and the city received repeated intel-
ligence of the defign.
:
The parliament, therefore, met, on the feaft of St.
Martin, and began to deliberate on the approach of
the troops and the non-execution of the King's edict,
of the 24th of October, which obliged the Duke of
Orleans and the Prince of Condé, to repair, in all
hafte, to the affembly; and the latter, on one occa-
fion, fpoke and acted with fo little referve, (inter-
rupting the Prefident Viole in the midft of his ha-
rangue, and making a motion with his hand, as if
to intimidate him), that a general ferment arofe a-
morg the members, and his Highness, finding that
this conduct had produced a very different effect to
what he intended, delivered himself, on the next
day, with much more temper and moderation. The
remembrance of the late infurrection operated fo
powerfully on the Cardinal's mind, that he, for fome
time, uſed every endeavour to diffuade the Queen
from undertaking the fiege: he was, further, induced
to oppofe this enterprize, by the confideration, that,
whilft its failure would expofe him to certain dan.
ger, he could not expect to derive any advantage to
himſelf even from it's fuccefs; but, on the con-
trary, that he ſhould, thereby, be reduced to a ſtate
of dependance on the Prince of Condé; a fituation
which he dreaded more than any other: and it is high-
ly
45
OF
MEMOIRS
ly probable that, had he been permitted to rule, the
defign would have been laid afide: but the Queen's
impetuofity, and the infinuations of the courtiers,
who fcrupled not, openly, in her Majefty's prefence,
to impute his ref. fal to timidity, at length compel
led him to yield to the torrent, and to trust the e-
vent to fortune: more eſpecially, as the Sieur Le
Tellier pofitively affirmed, that the city would not
hold out beyond a fortnight, and that, in cafe their
úfual ſupply of bread, from Gonéffe, fhould fail them
for two or three market-days only, the citizens
would throw themſelves upon her Majefty's mercy,
and fubmit to whatever conditions fhe fhould think
proper to grant them.
The court now began, in earnest, to make pre-
parations for the fiege, on the fubject of which
many confultations were held, but they did not
come to any decifive refolution for fome time. The
Prince of Condé and the Marthal de la Meilleraye
adviſed, that the King fhould take up his refidence
at the Arfenal, and that they fhould feize upon the
gates of S. Antoine, S. Bernard, and of the ifle of
Notre Dame. Had this advice been purfued, Paris
would, doubtless, have been thrown into the ut-
moit confufion, and it would have proved the moſt
probable means of reducing that city by force.
But Cardinal Mazarin, who was apprehenfive left,
if that counſel fhould be adopted, he might not be
able to make a fecure retreat, in cafe of neceffity,
propofed that the court fhould retire from Paris
into the country, which was agreed to. Accord.
ingly, on twelfth-day 1649, at two o'clock in the
morning, the King and Queen, accompanied by
the
GUY JOLI
47
the Duke of Anjou and the Cardinal, the Duke of
Orleans, the Prince of Condé, the Prince of Conti,
the Marthal de Villeroi, the Chancellor, the Se-
cretaries of State, and feveral other perfons attend-
ing the court, paffed through the gate of La Con-
férence in their way to St. Germain's, the inha-
bitants remaining totally ignorant of their departure
till day-light.
As foon as the news of this defertion came to
the ears of the citizens, they immediately gathered
together, and, without any regularity, feized upon
the gates of S. Honoré, La Conférence and ſeveral
others. The parliament, alfo, inftantly affembled,
although it was a holyday, and, being informed
that the court had left a letter, addrefied to the
Provoſt of the Merchants and the Sheriffs, they
fent a meffage to thofe magiftrates, defiring to be
informed of its contents. The letter was brought
to them and contained, in fubftance, that the King
had been compelled to retire from his faithful city
of Paris, in order to ſhelter himlelf from the ma-
chinations of certain members of the parliament,
who, after repeatedly fetting his authority at de-
fiance and abufing his lenity towards them, had, at
length, carried their audacity fo far, as to form a
confpiracy to feize his perfon, and to enter into
a treaſonable correfpondence with the enemies of
the ftate: that his majefty had deigned to give
them (the magi@rate) this information, cónimanding
them, in the moit exprefs manner, to uie all dili-
gence in the execution of their office, that the
tranquility of the city might receive no interrup•
₹
tion;
48
OF
MEMOIRS
tion; his Majesty referving to himſelf to acquaint
them with his further pleafure, as occafion fhould
require.
Had this letter pointed out, by name, thofe who
were meant to be accufed, it might, poffibly, have
produced fome effect: but as this circunftance was
omitted, and as the article of the treaſonable cor
refpondence was univerfally known to be a mere
fiction, it made a very flight impreffion on the minds
of the members: and fome other letters, which had
been left by the Queen, the Duke of Orleans, and the
Prince of Condé were treated with a like difregard.
The parliament, therefore, without paying any at
tention to the abovementioned letters, ordered, that
the citizens should guard all the gates; that guard-
houſes ſhould be eftablished, wherever the public
fecurity might require; and that, in cafe of need,
the entrance of the streets fhould be blocked up
with the chains: at the fame time, aifo, they gave
inftructions to the lieutenant-civil and the other of-
ficers of the police, to take care that the city was
well ſupplied with provifions, and to oblige the
foldiers to quit all the towns and villages within
twenty miles of Paris; they prohibited, alfo, all the
neighbouring places from receiving garrifons.
A feperate letter was fent to the Coadjutor,
commanding his attendance at St. Germain's, which
injunction he pretended a willingness to obey :
but, as he paffed by the new market, fome of his
partizans ſtopped his coach, and conjured him not
to abandon the city, but to continue his protection
to
GUY JO L. I.
49.
to the people in the prefent critical juncture: with
which he made but little difficulty to comply, being
fully fatisfied that he should be much more fafe
at Paris, than at St. Germain's.
On the next day, January 7, a lieutenant of the
King's guards brought two letters de Cachet, one of
which was addreffed to the King's council, the
other to the parliament, and delivered both of them
to the former. They immediately went to the
Palais, with the letter for the parliament, and ac-
quainted the court that, from the letter which was
addreffed to themfelves, it appeared to be the King's
pleaſure, that the parliament fhould remove to St.
Germain's, there to attend his Majefty's orders.
Upon this information the parliament refolved to
return the letter which was intended for them, un-
opened, and to proceed to the confideration of that
which had been received, the day before, by the
Provoſt of the Merchants and the Sheriffs: they,
alfo, ordered that the King's counfel fhould wait
upon her Majefty, at St. Germain's, with a requeft,
that ſhe would be pleafed to acquaint the parlia-
ment with the names of thofe perfons, who had
dared thus to calumniate them, that they might be
profecuted with the utmoſt rigour of the law.
The King's counfel went, in confequence, to
St. Germain's, but were not admitted to an au-
dience; her Majefty fending them word, that it was
The first Prefident Molé, tho' leagued with the court,
ſpiritedly obferved, on the occafion, that he was not the fuft
Freſident of Montargis, but of Paris.
D
too
50
OF
MEMOIRS
→
too late now to make propoſals, and that they
ſhould not be permitted to lie at St. Germain's that
night. However, as it was nine o'clock in the
evening when they received this meffage, and as
they must have ran a manifeſt rifque of their lives,
had they attempted to return to Paris at fo late
an hour, they remained where they were till the
next day; but, to comply, as far as poffible, with
her Majefty's intentions, without going to bed.
Would the Queen have granted thele perfons an
audience and difmiffed them in a gracious manner;
and would fhe, inftead of accufing the parliament
in general, have brought a charge, no matter whe-
ther well or ill founded, against fome of the in-
dividuals only, it is highly probable, that the ſub-
fequent union of the whole company would not
have taken place, as many of the members began
to be difpirited, and to dread the confequences of
a fiege.
But when the parliament perceived, by this
haughty anfwer, that matters were now come to
extremities, they, on the 8th, iffued a moft furious
edict against the Cardinal (who was, therein, charg-
ed with being the fole author of all the evils with
which the kingdom was afflicted) enjoining him
to quit the court in twenty-four hours, and the
kingdom in a week, and, in defect of his com-
pliance, commanding all loyal fubjc&s to attack
him perfonally, with a ftrict prohibition against any
one's affording him fhelter.
In confequence of a fecond letter, which the
Provoft
}
GUY JOLI
51
Provoſt of the Merchants and the Sheriffs had receiv
ed, commanding them as if it were in their power
o to do, to exact obedience from the parliament,
another edict was iffued, on the Saturday morning,
for eftabliſhing a fund, to be applied to the pur-
pofe of levying troops. This meafure proved fo
fuccefsful, that upwards of four millions [of livres]
were ſubſcribed in a ſhort time, the parliament and
the other courts having affeffed themſelves, each at
certain quota.
3
'Till now all thofe counsellors, who were ad-
mitted at the last nomination, in the ministry of
Cardinal Richelieu, had derived little benefit from
the poffeffion of their offices, as the prefidents never
gave them briefs, and very feldom afked their ad-
vice; which rendered it very difficult for them to
find perfons willing to take them off their hands.
The Sieur Boylefire, canon of the church of Notre
Dame, who held one of thefe offices, judged this
a fit opportunity to attempt a remedy to the dif
advantages which himſelf and his brethren laboured
under: he, therefore, propofed that they ſhould
fubfcribe, each 150co livres, over and above the
fum at which they were affeffed as members of the
company, on condition that they ſhould be fet upon
the fame footing with the rest of the counfellors.
This propofal was accepted, and, the money being
paid, all diſtinction between them and the other
counsellors ceafed from that time: except that,
from the circumflance of their number (twenty)
and the additional fum, (15000-livres) which each
D 2·
perfor
52
OF
MEMOIRS
perfon fubfcribed, they obtained the nick-name of
"the Quinze vingt.”*
As foon as it was known that there was money
in the public treafury, inany of the military officers
and perfons of quality, made a tender of their fer-
vices to the parliament and the city. The first
who offered himfelf, was the Marquis de Boulaye
induced thereto, perhaps, by the confideration of
kis having a fuit at that time depending before
the parliament. The Duke d'Elbeuf, with his fons,
quickly followed, and was appointed commander
in chief of the King's armies, under the authority
of the parliament: whence, he acquired fuch great
credit, that, for fome days, he appeared to be the
abfolute maſter of the city. No fooner did he be-
than he wrote a letter
come fenfible of his power,
to the Queen, requesting her Majefty to honour
him with her commands in the prefent conjuncture
of affairs, which, he eafily perceived, could not be
of long duration.
In fact, upon the arrival of the Prince of Conti,
the Duke de Longueville, the Prince de Marfillac,
and the Marquis de Noirmoutier, from St. Ger-
main's, the Duke d'Elbeuf's authority became in-
Rantly eclipfed, and his command, in fpite of all
the oppofition he could make, was transferred to
the Prince of Conti. He fill, however, retained
fufficient power, to have created much disturbance ;
and it is certain, that every thing was fo entirely
This is alle five to an Hofpital in Paris, entitled the
Quinze-Vingis, for 300 blind people.
at
GUY JO LI
53
at his difpofal for one whole day, that, had he
been confcious of his own Arength, and of the dif-
truſt which every one entertained of the Prince of
Conti, he might eally have driven his rival from
the city. Bu e Pradjutor, who had now acquir-
ed a confiderable degree of confidence with the peos
ple, declaring that his Highness and Cube de
Longueville had been fecretly engaged in the party
for a long time pal, and that they had never con-
fented to the King's departure from Paris, all which
was corroborated by the President de Novion, to
whom the Coadjutor had entrusted the fecret, his
Highness's appointment to the chief command was
ratified by the public voice. The Dukes d'Elbeuf
and de Bouillon, together with the Marthal de la
Mothe-Houdancourt. were conftituted Lieutenants-
General, with an equal authority, which they were
to exerciſe alternately; with this diftinction only,
that the Duke d'Elbeuf fhould first enter upon the
command, and that he fhould have precedence of
all the other members of the council of war, which
was daily held at the Hotel de Ville, where the Prince
of Conti had purpofely taken up his refdence, to
efface any ill impreflions which the people might
ftill entertain of his fidelity. For the like reaſon,
the Dutchefs de Longueville, alfo, fixed her abode
at the fame place; which now became of general
refort; and the levees, which were held there every
night, were confequently attended by the gentlemen
of the law and of the army, as alfo by the Coadju-
tor, who was influenced thereto by private as well
as public motives. During this time, the Dutchefs
de Longueville was brought to bed of a fon, to
whom
D }
54
OF
MEMOIRS
whom the corporation of Paris flood fponfors, giving
him the name of Charles-Paris. In the mean time,
the Duke de Longueville departed to his govern-
ment in Normandy, judging it would be a degra
tion of his rank, to accept of a command amongst
the other Generals. The Dukes de Chevreufe, de
Luines, and de Briffac; the Marquiffes de Vitri, de
Foffcufe, and de Silleri, with many more of the no-
bility, alfo, made a tender of their fervices to the
parliament and city, which was readily accepted.
The Duke of Feaufort, likewife, took this occa-
fion to come to Paris, where he was received with
the univerfal acclamations of the people, who, in
the end, placed no real confidence in any onc, but
him and the Coadjutor, with whom he formed a
clofe connection. Till now the Coadjutor had had no
feat in the parliament; but this privilege was con-
ferred on him on the prefent occafion, in the ab-
fence of the Archbishop of Paris, his uncle, the 21.ft
of January 1649.
Hitherto, few enterprizes of any confequence had
been undertaken on either fide. The citizens had
feized upon the Balille only, of which M. Brouffel
was appointed governor, and his fon, the Sicur de
Louviers, a Lieutenant in the guards, Lieutenant-
Governor. On the other hand, the Prince of Condé,
who commanded the King's army, had made him
felf mafter of the important pofts of S. Cloud, S.
Dennis, and Charenton, the latter of which he,
however, evacuated in a fhort time afterwards. The
parliament was conflantly occupied in procuring
Cup-
GUY JOLI
55
fapplies of provifions, and in raifing a fund for the
payment of the troops; and various edicts were if-
fued, for the feizing fuch monies as the collectors
of the revenue might have in their hands, as alfo
all effects belonging to Cardinal Mazarin or bis par-
tizans; and offering a reward, of one third of the
produce, to all perfons making difcoveries of fuch
effects. Although no great fam was raiſed by theſe
methods, the troops ftill continued to receive their
pay and the Coadjutor raiſed a regiment of cavalry
at his own expence, the command of which he gave ·
to the Chevalier de Serrigni, his relation, and called
it the regimeut of Corinthians, from his own hono-
rary title of Archbishop of Corinth.
This circumftance, of a Prieft's railing troops, gave
much offence to fome, and the event proved rather
unfavourable to the Coadjutor: for the Chevalier de
Serrigni, having made a fally with his regiment, and
engaged a party of the enemy, was worsted by them ;
and this misfortune gave rife to much farcaſm a-
mong the people, who termed it "the first defeat
"of the Corinthians." The officers foon compleated
their regiments, and fo great was the general zeal,
that the parliament's army, in the courfe of a few
days, amounted to upwards of 12,000 men; but
they were moſtly had troops, particularly the cavalry,
which had been raised in hafte by thofe who kept
coaches, according to the parliament's orders; and,
from this incident, the Marquis de la Boulaye, who
was General of the cavalry, acquired the nick name
of General of the "Portes Cocheres. 32
* Portes Cocheres fignifies the gates of the hotels for the ad-
miflion of coaches.
D4
Although
56
OF
MEMOIRS
-
Although the King's army was lefs numerous
- than that of the parliament, not amounting to more
than ten or eleven thousand men, yet the deficiency
of number was fully compenfated by the fuperior
goodness of the troops. An expedient for raifing
forces was propos'd to the parliament and city, by
the Duke de Bouillon, which, had it been adepted,
would have proved far more fervicesbic, and much
lefs expenfive than the method which was purfued
upon the occafion. This expedient was, to fend
500,000 livres to M. de Turenne, the Duke's bro-
ther, to be diſtributed by him among the German
troops which he commanded, thereby to engage
them in the ſervice of the parliament. M. de Tu-
reane and most of the general officers were much
inclined to accede to fuch a propofal; but the court
did not allow them time to carry their defigns into
execution, having fent a fum of money to the army
by the Sieur d'Herlac, who found means to ſecure
feveral of the foreign officers in the King's interefts,
particularly Colonel Rofen, the avowed enemy of
M. de Turenne, who, together with his friends,
were thereupon obliged to retire from the army;
which would not have happened, had the aforefaid
propofal of the Duke de Bouillon been accepted.
But the number of thofe, who were corrupted by
the court, both in the city and parliament, was fo
fuperior to that of the real friends of the public,
that it is not at all extraordinary the latter fhould be
precluded from rendering any confiderable fervice to
their country during the war. In the mean time,
all forts of diverfions went on as uſual at Paris
fcarce
GUY JOLI
57
fcarce a day paffed which did not produce fome bal-
lad, reflecting on Cardinal Mazarin, moft of which
were very ingenious, and in the manner of M. de
Marigni. Scarron, alfo, wrote his Mazarinade at
this time, and there appear'd fuch a number of ſcur-
rilous publications, in ſome of which even the Queen
herſelf was not fpared, that the parliament was at
But
length obliged to forbid the tale of them.
this injunction could not prevent the publication of
thefe libels; and the Queen was become the object
of fuch univerfal contempt, that the common peo-
ple, in fpeaking of her, never used any other title,
than that of "Madam Anne." This freedom of
ſpeech was one of thoſe things, which contributed
the most to keep up the people's refentment against
the court, and to abate their vexation at feeing
that nothing of confequence had as yet been per-
form'd by their leaders.
However, the Duke of Beaufort now undertook
to open the co
communication with Corbeil, and, for
that porpo put himself at the head of a numerous
body of the citizens, who threatened to do wonders;
but when they reached Juvifi, intelligence was
b
given them, that a jetachment had marched from
St. German', to intercept them on their return,
which damped their courage fo much, that they
haftened back to Paris with all fpeed. The Duke
was more fuccesful on a fubfequent occation: for
having made a fally, with three hundred norle,
in order to facilitate the entrance of a confider-
able convoy, which the Marquis de Noirmoutie,
was conducting from Etampes, and which had bern
D 5
driven
58
OF
MEMOIRS
20
driven back by the King's troops as far as the vil-
lage of Vitri, he (the Duke) came up with the e-
nemy at the entrance of that village, and attacked
them fo brifkly, that he compelled them to retire,
and thereby faved the convoy from falling into their
'hands. It has even been reported, by fome, that he
'killed M. Nerlieu, who commanded Cardinal Maza-
rin's regiment, with his own hand; but others have
afferted that Nerlieu was killed at the distance of fifty
`paces from him,
:
•
This day was productive of much glory to the
Duke not only with respect to the above-men-
tioned fuccefs, but, alfo, as the citizens, when they
heared he was engaged with the enemy, immediate-
ly, of their own accord, ran to arms, and, in lefs
than an hour, 30,000 of them marched out of the
city, among whom were even feveral women, carry-
ing fwords, halberds, fpits, &c. and when he return-
ed to the city, in the evening, all the ftreets thro
which he paffed were illuminated, and refounded
with repeated shouts of " Long live the Duke of
"Beaufort!"
The Marquis de Noirmoutier had conducted ano-
ther convoy to the city, through the valle; of Grof-
bois but this enterprize was executed with diffi.
culty, as the troops which he had ftationed, to
cover the paffage of the convoy, had quitted their
poſts to attack fome fquadrous of the enemy. On
this occaſion the Marquis de Silieri was taken prifo-
ner, and the Prince de Marfillac, together with the
Count de Roian, were dangerouſly wounded.
Another
GUY JOL I.
59
Another convoy arrived, foon afterwards, which
was fo numerous, that the waggons continued paff-
ing into the city for the fpace of two days and
nights, without intermiffion. On this account, an
almost general fally was made, from the gates of $.
Dennis and S. Martin, and the Marquis de Noir-
moutier, who had the chief management of this con-
voy alfo, advanc'd as far as Dammartin, as did alfo
the Marquis de la Motte to Goneffe: but the whole.
was conducted very badly.
The Marquis de la Boulaye, alfo, at different
times, eſcorted fome fmall convoys to the city; and,
although he was not held in much eftimation by the
army, he had acquired a confiderable degree of fa-
vour with the people.
At length, the Generals determined to encamp
the greatest part of the troops at Villejuif, and to
canton the eſt in the adjacent villages: placing a
Arong body of them in the neighbourhood of the
gate a l'Anglois for the fecurity of a bridge of boats,
which had been thrown acrofs the Seine,
Thefe were the chief exploits, performed by the
parliament's troops, during the Siege: and thofe of
the King's army were little more material. After
the Prince of Condé had taken Lagni and Brie-
Comte Robert, he attacked Charenton, which was
ftrongly garrisoned, it being a poft of the utmoſt
importance to the city, whofe fubfiftence depended,
in a great meafure, on their keeping poffeffion of it.
The Marquis de Clanleu, who commanded the place,
D 6
rejca.
*
во
MEMOIRS OF
rejecting all offers of quarter, was killed, together
with many other officers of note: and ſcarcely any of
the ſurvivors eſcaped being made prifoners, except
the Marquis de Coignac, grandfon of the Marſhal de
la Force, who, after behaving in the moſt gallant
manner at the head of his regiment, faved himſelf
on fome floating ice, on which he arrived at Paris.
The affailants, alſo, loſt a confiderable number of
men: amongst whom was the Duke de Chatillon,
who was killed by a cannon-fhot, and whofe death
was much lamented by all parties.
"Tis true that the Parifian Generals marched out,
'to the relief of the place; but the Prince of Condé
had pofted his army, confifting of feven or eight
thouſand men only, fo advantageouſly, that they did
not chuſe to hazard an engagement, with their new
troops, the Coadjutor, alone, being of a contrary
opinion; who appeared, on this occafion, with pi-
ftols at his faddle-bow and other warlike accoutre
ments, to thew that the character of a gallant map
was not at all incompatible with that of a prieft.
The lofs of Charenton, although it was evacua
ted two days afterwards, threw the party into great
confternation, and contribued not a little, to create
in the parliament an incinnation for peace. Thofe
who were in the court intereft now affumed freſh
vigour, as appeared from an intercepted letter, from
the Biſhop of Dole, to Cardinal Mazarin, containing
an ample detail of the ftate of affairs. In this letter
it was mentioned, that the Bishop of Glandêve, who
was the Queen's confeffor, and was formerly known
by the name of Father Faure, together with M.
Delaune,
GUY JOL I.
61
Delaune, a Counsellor of the Chatelet, were affi-
duous in their endeavours to ferve the court; that
the parliament was willing to accept of a peace on
any terms, and that the Generals of the army, alſo,
were well difpofed to the meaſure. In confequence
of this diſcovery, the parliament fat a guard over the
Biſhop of Dole; but excufed the Bishop of Glan-
dêve therefrom, on account of his refiding in the
convent of the Cordeliers, of which fraternity he
was a member.
Orders were alſo iffued for feizing
M. Delaune, but he, having received timely infor-
mation of the defign, efcaped to St. Germain's. Se-
veral other letters were, alfo, intercepted, which,
though they had no fignature, were known to come
from fome of the officers of the parliament. This
buſineſs made a great noife at firſt, but was finally
huſhed up the affair alfo of the Chevalier de la
Valette, a natural fon of the Duke d'Efpernon, who
was apprehended in the act of fcattering inflamma-
tory hand bills about the ftreets, during the night,
was fuffered to fubfide in the fame negligent man-
ner.
Some few days before, the court, depending on the
intelligence which had been received from its emif-
faries at Paris, had fent a herald at arms, with let-
ters for the parliament, the Prince of Conti and
the Provoſt of the Merchants and the Sheriffs.
When the Herald arrived at the gate of S. Honoré
he founded his trumpet; and the officer * on guard,
before
This officer was the fon of the President de Maifons, and
Counſellor of the Parliament. At the Herald's approach,
he refuſed him entrance: the Herald laid down the letters at
Ond
62
ΜΕΜΟIRS OF
1
before he would permit him to enter the city, fent
notice of his arrival to the parliament. After many
debates, it was at length determined, neither to
grant the herald a hearing, nor to receive the let-
ters, but to fend the King's Council to St. Ger-
main's, to acquaint the Queen, that the'r refufal a-
roſe folely from the rcfpe&t they bore her Majeſly;
that they humbly conceived that heralds were never
fent but to fovereign princes and to enemies; and
that, as they utterly aifclaimed the latter tite, they
befeeched her Majefty to inform them of her will
from her own mouth; giving her, at the fame time,
the ftrongcft affurances of their loyalty and affection
to the King.
This was precifely what the court wanted, as an
opening to a negociation, which they had long fought
ineffe&tually; and there is fome reafon to believe,
that the whole tranfa&ion had been concerted, be-
tween the court and its agents in the parliament, to
anfwer the above mentioned purpofe. The Queen
profited alfo of the occafion, and fent a meflage to
the King's Council, upon their arrival at St. Ger-
main's, that he was well pleafed with the affurances
which the parliament had given her of their loyalty,
but that ſhe wifhed to fee fome proofs of it; after
which they might depend on receiving from her
one of the city gates. The officer went himself to give infor-
mation to the parliament. I have heard Cardinal de Retz and
my father fay, that the arguments, on this occafion, were
the moſt eloquent they had ever heard, and that the fincere
refpe&, which all parties demonftrated for his Majelly, plainly
evinced, that the Cardinal was the fole object of their reſent-
ment.
the
GUY JOL I.
Ez
the moſt convincing marks of her good intentions
towards all perfons without exception.
In confequence of this gracious answer, the Par-
Hament adopted a conduct, which proved highly fa
tisfactory to the court. The arrival of another he-
rald*, whom the Arch-duke, Governor of the Low
Countries, fent at this time, with letters for the
parliament, contributed, alto, not a little to produce
this change; as the court emiffaries dexteroully a
vailed themfelves of this circumftance, to fhew that
there were perfons who carried on a dangerous and
treasonable correfpondence with the Spaniards. In
fact, this envoy had remained concealed in Paris for
upwards of a fortnight; during which time, fome of
the members, among whom the Prefident de Believre
and M. Longueil were chiefly fufpected, were em-
ployed in drawing up forged credentials, which
to produce, as authentic, to the parlia
he was
ment.
Be that as it may; when this man demanded an
audience of the parliament, a great debate arofe,
whether it ſhould be granted him: it was, at length,
carried in the affirmative, and, after exhibiting his
credentials, he was admitted to a feat in the affem-
bly. He went by the name of Don Jofeph Illefcas
Arnolphini, a man of no great note, but of good
*The Archduke never feat any herald; and the truth is,
that the whole was a ſcheme, concerted between the Marquis
de Laigues and the Dutchefs de Chevreufe, to throw an o-
dium on Cardinal Mazarin, by propofing a general peace. The
uniform which the Herald wore, and which was the fame as
the Arch-duke's, was made for the purpoſe, at Paris.
parts.
64
MEMOIRS OF
parts. The Dutcheís de Chevreufe, who was then
at Bruxelles, had pitched upon hun for the purpoſe,
and had inſtructed him to confer chiefly with the
Coadjutor, and thofe of the party in whom the
placed the moft confidence. In his harangue to the
parliament, he obferved, that he could not doubt of a
welcome reception, as he brought with him propoials
for a general pacification; au event fo earnestly
wifhed for by all the chriftian world; that Cardinal
Mazarin had refus'd to coin ide in that meaſure,
at the congrefs at Munder, although the terms of-
fered were very advantageous to France; but that,
fince the King's departure from Paris, he (the
Cardinal) had propofd other articles, very favour-
able to Spain, that he might be in a condition to
chaftize the rebels and to reduce the city to reaſon ;
that his Catholic Majefty had judged it neither fafe
nor honourable to accept of fuch propofitions, from
a man who had been declared an enemy to the ſtate,
by the parliament, where all treaties must be rati-
fied, in order to acquire validity; that his royal
maſter had, therefore, fent him, with iaftructions
to acquaint the parliament, that he willingly fub-
mitted it to them to appoint any place, even Parts
itſelf, where he might fend plenipotentiaries, to
treat with a deputation from their body, on the
terms of a peace between the two crowns; and
that he was impowered to offer to the parliament,
in the mean time, the entire difpofal of his maſter',
troops, to be commanded, if they ſhould think
proper, by French officers; furthermore declaring
that, in caſe the parliament fhould have no occa-
fion for the ſervice of thofe troops, they ſhould re-
main
GUY JO L I.
65
main in total inaction, on the frontiers, during the
whole time of the congrefs.
This fpeech, and the report of the King's coun-
til, of what had paffed at St. Germain's, by which
it was fucceeded, occafioned a confultation; where-
In it was decided, that a certain number of their
body ſhould be deputed to St. Germain's, to return
her Majesty thanks for the favourable reception fe
had granted to the King's counfel; to requeſt that
ſhe would be pleaſed to order the blockade of the
city to be raiſed; and to deliver to her Majeſty
a copy of the Arch-duke's letter; acquainting her,
at the fame time, with the purport of the envoy's
ſpeech, on the ſubject of which they had refrain'd
from deliberating, till her Majefty fhould make
known to them her pleaſure, with which they ſhould
be ever ready to comply, and to approve themſelves
faithful fubjects to the King.
A deputation was therefore fent to St. Germain's,
confifting of the firft Prefident, the Prefident de
Mefmes, and a certain number of members from
ach of the courts; and it was agreed, by both
parties, to fend commiffioners to Ruel, who should
be inveſted with full powers to conclude an accom-
modation; and her Majefty engaged that, as foon
as the parliament fhould ratify this agreement, the
communications ſhould be opened for the free intro-
duction of proviſions.
This agreement was readily confirmed by the
parliament, as the court partizans were very affi-
duous in their endeavours to difguft the people
againft
66
MEMOIRS OF
against the war, by daily propofing new taxes for
its fupport, and by every other art which they
could devife. The Frondeurs, on their fide, con-
fidently reported, that the Duke de Longueville
was in full march, to the relief of the city, with
an army of ten or twelve thoufand men: but, as
the report was never verified, their antagonists made
uſe of the circumftance as an argument of the
weakness of the party, and to difpirit its adhe-
rents.
The people, however, ftill manifested a ſtrong
difinclination to pacific meaſures: but certain arti-
cles were now agreed to, by the deputies who had
been ſent to negotiate at Ruel, which were tranf-
mitted to Paris, for the approbation of the parlia
ment. Many objections were aifed to theſe arti-
cles: particularly that the article concerning the
parliament of Rouen was very defective; and that
Cardinal Mazarin had been permitted to affix bis
fignature to the propofitions. Thefe circumstances
created fo much difcontent among the people, that,
when the deputies, at their return f.om Ruel,
went to the parliament, to make their report, a
great mob affembled at the Palais, and infifted
that the Cardinal's fignature ſhould be delivered
sp to them, that it might be burnt, by the hands
of the common hangman; threatening, alfo, to fa-
crifice the deputies to their refentment: and it was
with great difficulty that the Duke of Beaufort, at
length, pacified them.
Another confultation was, therefore, entered on,
though. Atrongly oppofed by the first Prefident and
the
GUY JO LI
67
'the Prefident de Melmes, which ended with a refo-
lution, to fend the deputies again to Ruel, with
Freſh inſtructions, relative to the demands of the
general officers, who, alfo, deputed fome mem-
bers of their own body, with ftrict orders not
to fuffer the treaty to be figned by Cardinal Ma-
garin.
At the breaking up of this conference, which
had continued from morning till night, the Coad-
jutor and the Duke of Beaufort were obliged to
accompany the first Prefident, in order to prote&
him from the fury of the populace. Lettre de
Cachet, concerning the affair of the generals, which
was fent juſt at this time, only ferved to encreaſe
the ferment, and to produce further demands from
the parliament, for an alteration in the article re-
fpeaing the Paulette, and fome others.
In the mean time, as the generals had fent the
Duke de Briffac and the Count de Maure, as their
agents, to Ruel, and had, apparently, reduced all
their demands to the fingle point of the Cardinal's
removal, the parliament's deputies were infrufted
to infift particularly upon that article; and, had
the generals been as much in earnest as they feemed
to be, they would, doubtlefs, have obtained this
demand. This conjecture is the more probable,
as the Arch-duke, to whom the Marquiffes de Noir-
moutier and de Laigues had been fent, by the
Frondeurs, had at length marched into France, with
the Spanish army; and had written to the Prince
of Conti, that, notwithstanding he had taken this
Rep, he was ftill ready to liften to propofals for a
general
68
MEMOIRS OF
general peace, and that he would ftop his march
whenever deputies fhould be appointed for that
purpoſe. This letter was laid before the parlia-
ment, who ordered that her Majefty fhould be
made acquainted with its contents, and there the
whole affair refted. If the Spaniards had adopted.
this conduct fooner, they would certainly have reap-
ed great advantages from it: but, in the prefent
ftate of affairs, it only ferved to haften an accom-
modation between the court and the parliament,
both parties being heartily tired of the war.
In short, the court, having fucceeded in its at
tempts to fow diffention in the parliament, DOW
put in practice every art to feduce fome of the ge-
nerals alfo. With this defign, a private negotiation
was opened, with ſome of the leaders, and the fol-
lowing terms were at length agreed to: that the
Prince of Conti ſhould have a feat in the privy
council, and a government; that the Duke de Lon-
gueville fhould be nominated to the government of
Pont-de-l'Arche; that the Duke d'Elbeuf ſhould
have a fam of money and a valuable grant of lands
in Normandy; that the Duke de Bouillon ſhould
receive full fatisfaction in all his claims; and that
the Prince de Marfillac fhould be created a Duke
and Peer; which laft article greatly contributed to
effect a reconciliation between the Duchefs de Lon-
gueville and the Prince of Condé. All obftacles
to a general accommodation were now removed,
and the deputies returned from St. Germain's, with
an edict, which was regillred on the first of April
1649, by which his Majefty granted a general am-
nelty to all perfons concerned in the late proceed-
ings,
GUY JOL I.
69,
ings, and to the Marquiffes de Noirmoutier and de
Laigues, with the Counts de Fiefque, Saint Ibal,
la Sauvetat and la Boulaye, by name. This edict
made not the leaft mention of Cardinal Mazarin,
who ftill remained, as he actually was, mafter of
every thing, and in a condition to revenge him-
felf, whenever he pleafed, of the Coadjutor and the
Duke of Beaufort, who had always appeared the
moft zealous and difinterested perfons of the whol
party.
As neither party derived from the peace all thoſe
advantages which they had promiſed themfelves, it
brought with it, indeed, a fufpenfion of arms, but
intrigues and cabals were continued, on both fides,
with as much earneſtneſs, as before. The Fron-
deurs but ill brooked Cardinal Mazarin's remaining
in power, and, as they dreaded his refentment, they
moft affiduoefly cherished the public animofity. On
the other hand, the Cardinal ufed every endeavour,
to re-establish his credit, trufing to time, to far-
nish him with opportunities of vengeance: but what
difquieted him moft was, the great authority which
the Prince of Condé had affbacd, during the war,
of which he much feared the confequences. His
Highnefs, being very unwilling to relinquish the
fuperiority which he had acquired, infifted that he
was entitled to it, both by his rank and fervices ;
and, although he had no intention totally to de-
ſtroy the Cardinal's power, he determined to re-
duce him to a flate of dependance and fubmiffion,
Moreover, as he expected that fome of his defigns
would meet with oppofition from the Frendeurs, he
above all things fought to ruin the party entirely,
or,
70
MEMOIRS OF
or, at leaft, to humble them, and to deprive them
of the public favour, which they now enjoyed with-
out any competitors.
With fo great a variety of clafhing interefts, it
could fcarcely be expected, that the different parties
should agree very well together: accordingly, they
often thwarted and broke each others meaſures, and,
fometimes, even without defign. The Duke de
Candale's arrival at Paris was one of the fift inci-
dents which ferved to revive the popular refent-
ment, as it was the opinion oft commonly re-
ceived, that the court had fent for him purpoſely
to affront the Duke of Beaufort, that it might be
feen what effc&t that circumftance would have upon
the people. Some, however, were of a contrary
opinion, and maintained that the Duke de Candale's
coming to Paris, at this time, was not the refult of
any preconcerted theme between the court and him.
Be that as it will: this nobleman, walking with fome
of his friends one evening in the Thuilleries, uttered
aloud fome farcaftical expreffions, refpe&ting the li-
berty, which, he obferved, then reigned in the streets
of Paris; at the fame time, turning into ridicule cer-
tain tranfactions of the war: from all which, though
he mentioned no names, it was plain enough to be
underflood, that the Duke of Beaufort was the per-
fon aimed at.
Intelligence of this affair was quickly communi-
cated to the Duke of Beaufort and his friends, who,
having learnt that the Duke of Candale was to fup,
in a few days, at Renards's garden, at the end of
the
-
GUY JO LI.
71
the Thuilleries, determined to go there at the time,
and to retalliate the infult. This project was accord-
ingly executed. The Duke of Beaufort, arriving at
the spot where the Duke of Candale was at fupper,
told him, in a jefting manner, that, prefuming on
the freedom which then reigned in Paris, he was
come to make merry with him. The raillery
gave offence; and produced a harsh reply: and the
Duke of Beaufort, who waited only for this, laid
hold of the table-cloth and threw every thing on
the table to the ground. The Duke of Candale at-
tempted to draw his fword, but was prevented by
his friends, who plainly faw that his antagonist's
party would be an overmatch for them. However,
on the next day, the Duke de Candale quitted Paris,
with an intention of fending a challenge to the
Duke of Beaufort: but the court interfered, and
prevented any further confequences. This affair
made much noiſe in Paris for feveral days, and the
1
*This Renard was, firft, a footman and afterwards Valet
de Chambre to the Rifhop of Beauvais. As he had, through
his maſter, free admittance to the Louvre, he made it a rule
to prefent a nofegay, every morning, to the Queen, who was
very fond of flowers. The c little prefents were well re-
ceived, and Renard, in c ofequence, obtained fome favours ]
from her Majefty. Amongst the reft, a fpot of ground in
the Thuiris [gardens] was granted him, on which he built |
a houſe and fitted it up fo elegantly, that it became the
refort of the chief nobility. Frequent parties of pleaſure
were held here; and, fometimes, even conferences on the
ſtate of public affairs. Renard cau.ed his picture to be
drawn; in which he was reprefented as a youth, prefenting
flowers to fortune, to render the ddefs propitious. For
tune extends her hand, to receive the nofegay, and, with
a fmiling afpect, pours a fhower of gold into the youth's
bofom.
people
72
MEMOIRS OF
people manifefted a firm refolution to fupport the
Duke of Beaufort's quarrel againſt all oppofers.
Another incident, which happened juft at this
time, threatened to create freſh difturbances. A
boat was fent from the Arfenal, loaded with bombs
and granadoes; but, in paffing down the river, it
was flopped, near the Pont-rouge, and pillaged; the
people declaring, as a reafon for their conduct, that
the boat was defigned for St. Germain's, and that
a deſign was formed to befiege the city a fecond
time.
The Duke of Beaufort being taken ill juft at this
time, fome perfons did not fcruple to affert that he
had been poisoned. The people came in crouds, at
every hour of the day, to the hotel de Vendôme
to enquire after his health; and, although his dif
diforder was very flight, the Frondeurs reported that
his life was in great danger. In the mean time, or-
ders were given to his attendants, to admit a num-
ber of thoſe who came, into his chamber feveral of
whom, upon their entrance, fecing him in bed,
threw themſelves upon their knees and, with tears
ftreaming from their eyes, offered up their moft fer-
vent prayers for his recovery, ftiting him their father
and their deliverer.
Cardinal Mazarin was fully convinced, from the
preceding circumitances, and from the hatred which
the people still maufefted towards him in their diſ-
courſe, that Paris was not, as yet, fufficiently fafe for
he was, therefore, very unwilling to return to
that city; though the Queen urgently preffed him
thereto,
him;
GUY JOL I.
73.
thereto, and the Prince of Condé pledged himſelf to
conduct him thither in perfect fecurity. It has even
been ſaid that, to justify this unwillingneſs, and to
ſhew that his fears were not void of foundation, he
fent a waggon, with his arms upon it, which, upon
Its entrance into the city, was immediately pillaged,
by fome perfons hired for the purpoſe. In order
to give time for the ferment to fubfide, the Court
removed from St. Germain's to Compeigne, all but
the Prince of Condé, who went to Paris. Upon his
Highneſs's arrival, the parliament fent a deputation
from their body, expressly to compliment him: but
their conduct therein gave great offence to the peo-
ple, who looked upon his Highneſs as the chief au-
thor of their troubles; in ſo much, that, had he ſtaid
much longer in the city, his fafety muſt have proved
very precarious: but he foon retired from thence
into Burgundy, and thus left Cardinal Mazarin alone
with their Majefties, heartily rejoiced at being freed
from a rival, whoſe preſence had given him ſo much
uneasiness.
The Parifians, alfo, felt great fatisfaction from
his Highness's departure, as they teftified, on occa-
fion of an affair, which happened foon afterwards,
and which made much noife in the city. One Beau-
tou, an Advocate of the Privy Council, was taken
into cuſtody, upon a charge of being the author of
a performance, entitled, "Remarks on the conduct
"of the parliament, in fending a deputation to the
"Prince of Condé :" the court was very zealous in
its endeavours to procure the Prince juftice in this
bufinefs, and neglected nothing to bring this inno-
cent man to puniſhment.
E
The
24
OF
MEMOIRS
The tendency of this publication was, to fhew
that the parliament had acted wrong upon the occa-
fion firft, as that court had never, before, paid a
like compliment to any perfon, but his Majeſty and
the Duke of Orleans; and, fecondly, that, as his
Highness had been the chief inftigator of the fiege,
and ſtill afforded his protection to the Cardinal; his
return was no ſubject for joy to them and then,
addreffing the Prince himſelf, the author foretells,
that he will fall a victim to that minifter whom he
now ſupports, who will throw him into priſon; his
deliverance from which he will, at length, owe to
the generosity of those, whom he had caufelessly
perfecuted which prediction was fully verified in
the end.
Had the Prince beftowed that ferious confidera-
tion on the prediction which it merited, he would
not, perhaps, have carried his refentment to fo great
a height; and he would have perceived, that the
conduct of the court, throughout this whole affair,
tended folely to turn the current of the people's
vengeance against him. Indeed, his vehemence fer-
ved only to produce other writings on the fubject,
ftill more offenfive, under pretext of vindicating M.
Beautou, who, after narrowly efcaping being con-
demned to death, by the fentence of the Chatelet,
was, at length, acquitted of the charge by the par-
liament. M. Beautou was chiefly indebted, for the
happy termination of this affair to the Sieur J›lit,
* The real author was M. Portail, a Counsellor of the Par-
liament.
†The Author of theſe Memoirs.
GUY JOLÏ
75
a Counsellor of the Chatelet, who now firft began
to attract the public notice, and, by engaging ſome
of the judges to join with him, in oppoſing the
evil intentions of the reft of their brethren, who
were devoted to the court, faved the prifoner from
that fate, which muft otherwife inevitably have at-
tended him. M. Joli, from a principle of pure
generofity, undertook the defence of this man with
fo much zeal, that he frequently went to him in
priſon, to inſtruct him in the conduct he ſhould
purſue when brought to an examination: but the
unhappy man's reafon was fo much difturbed by
the accident, that, inftead of profiting by the ad-
vice given him, his own anſwers, when before the
judges, had nearly proved his ruin. Till now,
a frict intimacy had fubfifted between M. Jeli and
M. d'Aubrai, the lieutenant-civil: but on this oc-
cafion, the connection between them was diffolved,
and they even proceeded fo far, as to uſe very
harſh language to each other.
Another incident, of a fimilar kind, happened
alſo much about this time. One Marlot, having
printed a very obfcene and libellous performance,
highly reflecting on the Queen, entitled [la Cu-
ftode] "the Guardian", was condemned to be hang-
ed for the offence: but, as he was leading to exe-
cution, a number of Bookſellers and Printer's boys,
and other perfons affembled, and, attacking the
officers of juftice with ftones, refcued the prifoner
out of their hands: feveral of the officers were
wounded; as was, alfo, M. Grani, the lieutenant-
criminal, who commanded them, and who made
E 2
good
76
MEMOIRS OF
good his retreat with fo me difficulty, after being
pretty feverely beaten by the mob.
All theſe circumftances greatly furprized the court;
and Cardinal Mazarin would, from thence, have de-
duced an argument, for the King's delaying his re-
turn to Paris: but he was given to understand, that a
longer abfence might produce incidents of ſtill more
dangerous confequences than the preceding, and
which might render the return of the court im-
practicable when it should be moft requifite: he
was informed, alfo, that it was neceflary to accuftom
the people to the King's prefence amongst them;
that there was no method fo proper to check their
impetuofity, and, finally, that it would be good
policy to give a nearer fupport, to thofe who were
well-affected and wiſhed to ſee an end to thoſe
diſturbances.
Induced by thefe fuggeftions, the Cardinal, at
length, determined to return to Paris, after taking
all poffible care to guard against the ill-will of the
people. His first precaution was, to apply to the
Dutchefs de Montbazon, who had an unlimited in-
fluence over the Duke of Beaufort, to engage the
Duke not to oppoſe his return, which, by dint of
promifes, he obtained. He would fain have pre-
vailed on the Duke to go to the court, at Com-
peigne; but could not fucceed. The Coadjutor
was lefs fcrupulous, and, with very little difficul-
ty, confented to go to Compeigne, although many
of his friends endeavoured to diffuade him from
it, as a meaſure which might prejudice him in the
opinion of the people; but he rejected their ad-
vice,
GUY JOLI
77
vice, fancying that, to fatisfy the public, he need
only declare, on his return, that he went folely to
pay his refpects to the King and Queen, and that
he had no interview with the Cardinal. The truth
is, however, that he had a conference with his
eminency, during the night, which lafted upwards
of three hours.
The next step was to fecure the different com-
panies of tradefmen, by means of the lieutenant-
civil, the provoft of the merchants, and others;
and there were even perfons employed to diftri-
bute money and liquor among the boat-men. M.
de Longueil, a counfellor of the parliament, was
alfo employed by the court on this occafion, and a
promife was made him of the office, of fuperin-
tendant of the finances, for his brother, the prefi-
dent de Maifons.
Cardinal Mazarin judged, alfo, that the under-
taking ſome enterprize of confequence might tend to
reſtore his credit. For this reaſon, the Count d'Har-
court was fent to befiege Cambrai, and the Car-
dinal himſelf went there, and diftributed prefents,
of fwords, perfumes, gloves, &c. amongst the offi-
cers. But all this parade ferved only to ſubject
him to the public ridicule, more eſpecially as the
fiege was afterwards raiſed: fo that it was now de-
termined, that the court fhould return without any
further delay: a meaſure which, although every
day's experience proved it to be ftill more neceſſary,
the Cardinal would never have confented to, had
not the Prince of Condé pledged himself for his
perfonal fafety.
E 30
In
78
MEMOIRS OF
In the month of Auguſt 1649 the court, there-
fore, returned to Paris. Cardinal Mazarin fat in
the coach with his Majefty, and the Prince of
Condé rode by the fide of it, in order to protect
the Cardinal from any infults which might be of-
fered him by the people. Upon occafion of this
event, the whole court, being magnificently habited,
went in proceffion, on the feast of St. Louis, from
the Palais Royal to the Jefuits church, in the
Atreet 8. Antoine; his eminency riding, as on the
former day, in the King's coach, and the Prince
of Condé, on horseback, by the fide of it. But
all this pomp was ineffectual to reftrain the people
from murmuring; and fo manifeft was their dif
pleaſure, that the Cardinal was well-nigh having
great cauſe to repent of his raſhneſs, in truſting
himſelf amongst them.
In a fhort time, his eminency had ftill further
grounds for uneasiness, from the threats of the
Prince of Condé, to unite with the Frondeurs in his
deftruction, becaufe he had refuſed to perform the
engagement entered into with the Duke de Lon-
gueville, refpecting the government of Pont-de-
l'Arche. Altho' his Highneſs made this the often-
fible cauſe of his complaint against the Cardinal,
yet he had fome other, more effential and per-
fonal reaſons for his diffatisfaction, which, how-
ever, from the nature of them, he could not avow.
He was not well pleafed with the Cardinal's de
fign, of forming an alliance with the houſe of
Vendôme, by marrying one of his nieces to M. de
. Mercæur: he was justly irritated by the duplicity
of the Cardinal's con uct, with reſpect to the Prin-
cipality
GUY JO LI..
79
cipality of Montbeillard; which he had given his
Highness reafon to expect, that the King would treat
for in his favour, fending, alfo, M. Hervart, ap
parently to negotiate the affair; but, at the fame
time, fecretly inftructing him not to come to any
determination. In short, every day's experience
evinced to him, that the minister fecretly counter-
worked all his defigns, whilft he affected, publickly,
to pay him the utmoſt attention.
On the other hand, the Cardinal thought he
had equal reaſon to complain of the Prince. His
eminency could not brook fome degrading ex,
preffions which the Prince had ufed, refpecting
his nieces, faying, that they were not fit matches
for perfons of honourable defcent; and adding that
if the Cardinal offended him, he would oblige
Champfleuri, the captain of his eminency's guards, to
drag his maſter by the beard, to the Hotel de Condi:
he was very fufpicious, alfo, that his Highness
had fecretly abetted Jerfay in the ridiculous de-
claration of love, which he had had the temerity
to make to the Queen; and 'tis certain that Jerfay
was protected by him, although he had been ba-
niſhed from the court for that offence: nor did
his fufpicions on this fubject end here: for he con-
ceived, as did many others, alfo, who were ac-
customed to examine more minutely into affairs,
that the Prince's motive in counfelling Jerfay to
this attempt was, thereby, to procure the Cardi-
nal's removal, and to fix himfelf in his place.
Each party had other motives to his conduct, than
thofe here fpecified; all arifing from a defire, in
the one, to retain his authority, and in the other,
E 4
to
80
MEMOIRS OF
to fupplant him in it. However, the fole matter
in contention, which appeared to the public, was
the affair of the Pont-de-l'Arche, refpecting which
the Cardinal gave himſelf very little concern; all
his apprehenfions being now nearly difpelled: to
verify that proverb of his own nation [paffato il
pericolo, fe vien gabbato il fanto] the danger being at
an end, health returns and cures the former appre-
henfions.
This difagreement arofe, at length, to fo great
a height, that the Prince of Condé went feveral
times fucceffively to the Coadjutor's palace, as if
to concert meafures with him and the Frondeurs,
against the Cardinal. Even the Duke of Orleans
appeared to have united with his Highnefs; in-fo-
much that thofe two Princes were obferved one
evening, at a fupper at the Palais Reval, to be on
the most familiar footing, diverting themfelves with
throwing oranges at each other; and on this occa-
fion, it was particularly noted, that the Prince of
Condé, in drinking to the Cardinal's health, ad-
ded, "a la Riviere", [literally, "to the River"] and
this in a tone, which made it doubtful whether he
meant to drink, to the health of the Abbé de la
Riviere, alſo, who was prefent at the time; or
whether he intended to infinuate, by thoſe words,
that the Cardinal ought to be thrown into the ri-
ver it has likewife been afferted that, on the next
day, thofe Princes, in conjunction, fent a letter to
the Cardinal, which was fuperfcrib'd, à l'illuftri-
Jimo Signor Facquino [" to the moft illuftrious Lord
"Scoundrel".]
In
GUY JOLI
85
In this fituation of affairs, the Coadjutor, the
Duke of Beaufort and the other leaders among the
Frondeurs, fent notices to all their friends, to hold
themſelves in readineſs againſt any fudden emer-
gency. But the differences between the Prince of
Condé and the Cardinal were fuddenly adjuſted:
the latter having given the Prince full fatisfaction
on the affair of Pont-de-l'Arche and promiſed to
him and his friends every advantage which it ſhould·
lay in his power to procure. The Frince, on his
part, engaged, to fupport the Cardinal with all his
intereft, and to hold no further connection whatever
with the Frondeurs, whom he now again hated
more than ever, efpecially as he clearly perceived
that he had offended them..
This accommodation highly irritated the Fron-
deurs, who loudly complained, that his Highneſs
had treated with them, for the fole purpoſe of ſa-
crificing them to his interefts; and, recalling the
idea of his former treachery, they neglected no-
thing which might render him odious to the peo-
ple, whom they taught to believe that his recon-
ciliation with the Cardinal was an action of the
moſt heinous perfidy towards their party. In fact,
as the Prince had been feen publickly with the
Coadjutor during the whole continuation of his
quarrel with the Cardinal, he could, therefore,
bring no plea in juftification of his conduct; fave
that the Coadjutor, in all the conferences which
they had had together, propofed fuch violent mea-
fures only, as were very hazardous in themſelves,
and must have thrown every thing into confu-
fion.
E5
It
82
MEMOIRS OF
It was imagined, by many, that this re-union of
the Prince of Condé with the Cardinal muft ne-
ceffarily prove the deftruction of the Frondeurs, and
that the court would now put in force the arbi-
trary authority which it ſeemed to have, thereby, ac-
quired, and of which it was ſo jealous: but thoſe,
who confidered things more maturely, rightly judg-
ed, that this conftrained reconcilement could not
be of any long duration, and that the Italian Car-
dinal would embrace every opportunity of reveng-
ing the affronts which he had received from the
Prince, and of releafing himfelf from that ftate of
fubjection to which he was reduced, and by which
he had been compelled to grant his Highness all
his demands.
In the mean time, Cardinal Mazarin appeared
to be occupied folely with forming projects in
order to ruin the Frondeurs, thereby amufing the
Prince, who wiſhed for that event ſtill more ear-
neftly than he did, concluding that their extirpa-
tion would render that of the Cardinal much lefs
difficult. The Frondeurs on their fide, were afli-
duous in feeking the means to fupport themfelves,
and to profit of fuch events as might tend to rekin-
dle the people's refentment.
The imprudence of the court, in taking under
its protection the farmers of the falt duties, whom
the parliament had condemned to make good the
deficiency of the fund of the Hotel de Ville, fur-
nifhed the Frondeurs with one of thoſe defired in-
cidents. As the proprietors of that fund clearly
faw, that their interefts were neglected by the pro-
voA
GUY JOLI.
$3
voft of the merchants and the fheriffs, who had
been gained over by the court, they affembled fe-
veral times, at the Hotel de Ville, to confider on
the meaſures neceffary to be taken in the preſent
ftate of affairs. At one of theſe affemblies, it was
propoſed, by the Sieur Joli, a counfellor of the
Chatelet, that they ſhould commit the whole ma
nagement of their affairs to a certain number of
Syndics, to be chofen from amongst themſelves;
which propofition was immediately adopted, not-
withſtanding an order from the Chamber of Va-
cations, prohibiting them from affembling; which
they, nevertheless, continued to do every week,
fometimes to the number of 500 perfons. Thoſe who
were chofen to act as Syndics, were Meffrs. Char-
ton, prefident of the court of Mafters of Requests,
Joli, a counſellor of the Chatelet, Matharel, La-
bory and des Coutures, fecretaries to the King, du
Portail, a counsellor of the parliament, Maréchal, an
advocate of the privy-council, Delote, and fome
others, making twelve in all. Their next ſtep was, ›
to fix up printed bills in all parts of the city, re-
quefting the proprietors to meet at the Hotel de
Ville. Moft of the chief perfons amongſt them.
did not attend thefe meetings, for fear of being
remarked, but contented themſelves with fecretly
countenancing thofe of their brethren, who took an
active part upon the occafion..
Neither the court, nor the Frondeurs did, at
firft, perceive the important tendency of this af
fair; and ſeveral days elapfed before they difco-
vered, that there were few perfons, either in Paris
or the whole kingdom,
who were not,
E 6
directly or in-
directly,
84
MEMOIRS OF
directly, intereſted therein. The court began too
late to uſe preventive meaſures; and the Frondeurs
were, at length, convinced that nothing could be
better calculated, than the above incident, to con-
firm the people in their refentment. The Fron-
deurs, therefore, now applied themſelves to thoſe of
the Syndics, who feemed to have the most weight
with their brethren, particularly Joli, whofe repu-
tation for firmnefs and zeal, in the caufe of juftice
and of the public, was fo well eſtabliſhed, that they
doubted not, if they could gain him, that they
fhould acquire an unlimited influence over the peo-
ple. In confequence of an agreement with the
Frondeurs, a body of the proprietors went in form,
to demand the protection of the Coadjutor and the
Duke of Beaufort; and one of the company ad-
dreſſed them in a handfome ſpeech, to which they
replied in a moft gracious manner, and with re-
peated affurances of their regard for the public
welfare.
To give greater weight to this bufines, Joli
incited the Frondeurs, with whom he now began
to be cloſely connected, to prefent a petition to the
parliament, praying them to confirm the election
of the Syndics, which petition fhould be figned by
fome of the counſellors, who were intereſted in the
fund. The defign of this meaſure was, that, if
the grand chamber, which was totally under the
guidance of the first prefident, fhould be inclined
to attempt any thing against the proprietors, it
might be compelled to call a general meeting of
all the other chambers. This propofal was much
approved,
GUY JOLI
85
approved, as it tended to caufe a meeting of the
parliament, which was ardently withed for by the
Frondeurs, who forefaw that it would be productive
of many favourable incidents; fuch as the affair
of the parliament of Bourdeaux, which had re-
queſted that of Paris to concur in an application
to the King, for the removal of the Duke d'Eper-
non from the government of that province. The
petition was, therefore, figned by near five hun-
dred of the proprietors; amongst the rest by M. de
Loifel, a counſellor of the parliament, who had not
the leaft connection with the Frondeurs, together
with Meffrs. de Croifi, Fouquet, Daurat, Quatre-
fous, Caumartin, la Barre and Vialar, all coun
fellors of the parliament alfo, who were influenced
thereto by the Coadjutor and the Duke of Beau.
fort; and, quickly after the feast of St. Martin,
it was preſented to the grand chamber, which
claimed the ſole cognizance of it, altho' the cham-
ber of enquiries had demanded a general affembly
of all the chambers, and had determined amongft.
themſelves to confirm the election of the Syndics..
The court had proceeded too far in the affair, and
was too deeply interefted therein, to retract: in-
Read, therefore, of inclining, to fatisfy the demands
of the proprietors, it adopted a direct contrary
conduct, and fat every engine in motion, to pro-
cure the rejection of their petition; rightly judg-
ing, that a compliance with it would tend, ine-
vitably, to take all power out of the hands of the
ordinary officers of the city, and to lodge it in the
Frondeurs, through their inftruments the Syndics.
For
86
MEMOIRS OF
For thefe reafons, the first prefident was ftriâly
enjoined, to be diligent in traverfing the deſigns
of the party, and, at all events, to prefent a ge-
neral meeting of the chambers. In the mean time,
the Cardinal, being defirous of acquiring infor-
mation of every thing that paffed in the city, gave
written commiffions to feveral perfons, empower-
ing them to attend at the meetings of the proprie-
tors and upon all other occafions, and to demean
themſelves in fuch a manner, both in words and
actions, as they ſhould judge moft likely to procure
them the confidence of the people, and to enable
them to dive into each man's fentiments; command--
ing them, withal, to make a minute report to him of
their conduct, and of whatever intelligence they might
gain. The infamy of this tranfaction was, hitherto,
unexampled in the French Hiftory; and, indeed, it
was conducted with fuch fecrecy, that not the leaſt
circumftance of it tranfpired till a long time after-
wards. It was obferved only, that the firft prefi-
dent ftill firmly oppofed the meeting of the cham-
bers, although there were ſeveral other affairs, of
which that of the parliament of Bourdeaux was the
principal, which waited for their deciſion.
However, the proprietors did not in the leaft re-
lax from their purfuit; and, as they were firmly
ſupported by the chamber of enquiries, the first
prefident was at length compelled, to propofe a.
conference at his houfe, at which a certain number
of deputies from each of the chambers fhould at-
tend, together with fome of the proprietors. This ‹
conference was held on Saturday, the 4th of De-
cember
GUY JOLI
87
:
cember at the firft prefident's houfe, where, befides
the deputies, feveral prefidents a Mortier, and a
confiderable number of the proprietors attended.
At the beginning every thing went on quietly,
the first prefident having acquainted the affembly, in
general terms, that the affair might be eaſily accom-
modated, by complying with the demands of the
proprietors but the chamber of enquiries obferved,
that it would alſo be neceſſary to enforce obedience
to the intended regulation, refpecting the Syndics,
from the provoft of the merchants and the fheriffs:
a motion was alſo made, that a ſmall number only
of the proprietors might be admitted into the af
fembly, to fet forth their claims; and the doors be--
ing, thereupon, thrown open, Joli and two others
were introduced for that purpoſe.
Upon their entrance, the firſt prefident endea
voured to dazzle them with feveral fpecious pro--
pofals, which, however, contained nothing fatis-
factory but Joli replied, that the firft ftep to be
taken was, to ratify the election of the Syndics,
without which, all other propofitions muſt be vain :
this being heared by fome of the proprietors, who
were without, they loudly and repeatedly fhouted,
Syndics! Syndics!" but the first prefident, being.
refolute in his refufal to comply with the above
demand, adjourned the meeting to the following
Saturday. As the members went from the place
of meeting, the proprietors addreffed themfelves to
fuch of them as they knew to be criminal to their
interefts, reproaching them with the epithets of
Traitors and Mazarins; and I was witness to fome
of them being even roughly handled, whilft the
greateft
88
MEMOIRS OF
greatest part made their efcape by different private
ſtaircaſes. In the midst of this confufion, M. de
Champlatreux, the first prefident's eldest fon, came
up to Joli, and accofted him in very injurious terms,
calling him a feditious fellow, and threatening to
have him taken into cuftody for his conduct; to all
which Joli, who now found himſelf ſupported by a
number of the proprietors, whom this incident had
drawn to the ſpot, replied with equal warmth: after
which both parties retired, without any attempt on
the fide of the former to execute his threats, al-
though feveral perfons ftood at a fmall diftance,
who had been placed there with that defign. This
affair gave much caufe for fpeculation to both
parties.
Cardinal Mazarin now judged it neceffary to take
fome fpirited and rigorous meaſures against thofe
of the proprietors, who had fhewn themſelves the
moft zealous, at the late conference: he therefore
refolved to feize the perfons of five or fix of them,
at their next affembly, on the enfuing Saturday,
who were to be immediately condemned to death,
by certain magiftrates bribed for the purpoſe, and to
be hung up, on the pallifades of the Palais: the re-
giment of guards alfo was to attend, to favour the
execution of this enterprize.
It will ſcarcely be believed, perhaps, that the
minifter could harbour fo violent a defign; yet no
thing is more certain: and tho' the Frondeurs were
not acquainted with it at that time, they came to
the knowledge of it afterwards, in a manner, which
left them no room to doubt of its reality. They
had
}
GUY JOL I.
89
had learnt, however, that fome grand project was
hatching against them by the court; that, on this
account the ordinary guard was doubled every day,
and that the proprietors were to be made the firſt
object of the enterprize, after which, the Coadju-
tor, the Duke of Beaufort and all the other chiefs
of the party were to be attacked, wherever they
fhould be met with.
This general intelligence was communicated by
a perfon, who received it from one of thoſe who
were prefent at the confultation, in which the a-
bove meaſures were propoſed and adopted; and,
although it was not fo explicit as they could have
wifhed, yet it was fufficient to fhew them their
danger, and to fet them on their guard: neither
were they at all remifs on the occafion. A meet-
ing was therefore held, at the Coadjutor's palace,
at which were prefent the Marquiffes de Noirmou-
tier, de Foffeafe and de Laigues, and M. Joli
but the whole without the knowledge both of the
Duke of Beaufort, the Marquis de Boulaye and
many others of the party, whofe fecrecy they could
not depend on; particularly the Duke of Beaufort,
who, they well knew, concealed nothing from Ma-
dame de Montbazon. They were long undeter-
mined what meaſures to take; rightly judging, that
it would be eafy for the court, by a fudden and
well-concerted enterprize, to fruftrate all their
ſchemes, and render their condition irretrievable :
after many debates, they all joined in opinion,
that their immediate fafety depended on their dif-
appointing the prefent evil intentions of the court.
towards
i
90
MEMOIRS OF
towards them, and that the most likely method of
effecting this would be, to procure a general af
fembly of the chambers, before the day on which
the conference was to be renewed, at the first pre-
fident's houſe; as they made no doubt, but that the
court had fixed on that day, for the execution of
its deſigns.
The grand difficulty was, to find a pretext, for
demanding fo early a meeting of the chambers.
The Coadjutor made feveral propofitions on the
ſubject, all founded on the bafis of his reputation
with the people, none of which, however, were
adopted. The Marquis de Noirmoutier renew'd a
propoſal, which he had made on a former occa-
fion, for a feigned attack on the Duke of Beaufort
or M. Brouffel, by perfons unknown in the city,
or by fome of their own party, mafqued; which,
It was imagined, would produce a general infurrec-
tion. But it was remarked, that this project, alfo,
was liable to objections; as the party, who was
to be attacked, must be previouſly acquainted with
the defign, confequently, that neither the Duke of
Beaufort nor M. Brouffel were eligible for the pur-
pofe, for the reafon above affigned, the want of
fufficient confidence in their fecrecy. The Coad-
juter, alfo, offered himſelf, as the object of a
fimilar enterprize; but it was very apparent, that he
wifhed not to be taken at his word..
At length, Joli, who had before conferred upon
the fubject, with the Count de Montrefon and M.
d'Argenteuil, propofed himself as the perfon to be
attack'd.
i
GUY JOLI.
91
`attack'd. He obferved, that he was neither fuffi-
ciently known, nor esteemed in the world, to expect
that the people ſhould take much part in any thing
which concern'd him, as a fimple individual; but
that his quality of Syndic, and the reputation he
had acquired amongſt his brethren would, he con-
ceived, ftand in the ftead of all other advantages,
and produce, at leaft, an affembly of the cham
bers, through the ferment, which the news of
fuch an attack would infallibly create among the
proprietors, who daily attended in crouds at the
Palais.
This propofal was readily affented to by the
whole company, amongſt whom, there certainly
was not one, who would have undertaken the fame,
For the execution of the defign, the Marquis de
Noirmoutier engaged to procure a gentleman, of
confirmed bravery and well adapted to the purpofe,
named Eſtainville, who fhould fire a loaded piftol
at M. Joli, in paffing through the streets in his
coach, in fuch manner as fhould be agreed upon
between them; and the Marquis de Foffeufe promiſed
to furnish Eftainville with a very fleet horfe on the
occafion.
On the Friday night, Argenteuil and Joli went.
to the Marquis de Noirmoutier's, who lived in the
Areet of S. Merri, in the fame houfe in which
Admiral Chatillon was killed, in the maffacre,
on the feast of St. Bartholomew. Here, in one
of the rooms moft diftant from the street, they
found Eftainville. In this room they adjufted Joli's.
doublet
92
MEMOIRS OF
doublet and cloak on a piece of wood, fixed in a
particular pofition, one of the fleeves of the dou-
blet being filled with ſtraw, at which Eftainvil
fired a piftol, with fuch truth, that the ball paffed
through the very part which it was intended to
pierce. After this experiment, it was agreed that
the real attack fhould be made on the next morn-
ing, at half an hour after feven o'clock, in the
ftreet of the Bernardines, oppofite Argenteuil's
houfe, which was but a fmall diftance from that of
the prefident Charton, to which Joli went almoſt
daily.
The fcheme was executed, in every refpect, as
it had been concerted. Eftainville rode up to the
coach; Joli ftooped, and the balls paffed over his
head, through the side of the coach, in a direction
exactly answerable to the pofition in which Joli
was ſuppos'd to have fat in the coach: care had
been taken not to have any fervants behind the
coach, left they might have prevented the defign.
Eftainville now made off, with all expedition, but
with no fmall danger, as his horfe, unfortunately,
fell with him. He, however, by feveral by e ways,
at length, got fafe to the Marquis de Noirmou-
tier's, from whence he fent back the horſe to
the Marquis de Foffeufe, who fent it into the
country to be poifoned, in order to prevent any
knowledge of the affair from tranfpiring by that
means..
Another incident happened, which had nearly
ruined the whole project. The paper which d'Eſtain-
ville had made ufe of, for wadding, in loading his
piftol,
GUY JOLI.
93.
piftol, was the cover of a letter, which had been
addreffed to him; but, happily, that part of it
which contained his name was burnt away: the
remainder of the paper, together with the balls,
which were ftill quite hot, were taken up by M.
Bignon, the advocate general, who lived in the cloi.
fter of the Bernardines: this circumftance contributed
greatly to perfuade the people into a belief of the
reality of the attack.
Directly after this tranfaction, Joli was conduct-
ed to the houſe of a furgeon, living at the end of
the ſtreet of the Bernardines, oppofite the church
of S. Nicolas du Chardonnet, where, upon taking
off his cloaths, a kind of wound was diſcovered on
his left ſhoulder, which he had himself made, the
night before, with a gun flint; fo that the furgeon
had not the leaft doubt, but that he had been
fhot, and he, therefore,
therefore, laid on the cuftomary
dreffings.
During this time, Argenteuil was affiduous in
his endeavours, to induce a belief, that the court,
alone, could have projected this enterprize, in order
to get rid of that particular Syndic, who had ap-
peared the moft zealous. He went, alfo, to the
prefident Charton's, who had conceived a notion,
that he was the perfon meant to be attacked; and,
as he had the command of the city-guard in that
quarter, he ordered the drums to beat to arms. In
the mean time Joli retired to his own houſe and }
went to bed.
The
94
MEMOIRS OF
The news of the above tranſaction having reach-
ed the Palais, the proprietors, accompanied by
fome of the Frondeurs, ran in crouds to the Tour-
nelle, demanding justice against thofe who had
affaffinated Joli, who, they afferted, was killed. On
this account, the court, which was then fitting, im-
mediately broke up, and the chamber of enquiries,
being much inflamed, haftened to take their feats
in the grand chamber. The prefident de Charton,
alfo, went thither, armed, with his fword by his
fide, declaring that the enterprize was intended a-
gainst him, and had been executed at his door;
and his vehemence was fo great and unaffected,
that he repeated upwards of fifty times, "I fay
"that" a phrafe that he had acquired through
a bad cuſtom, but which, on other occafions, he
feldom uſed above feven or eight times; being,
moreover, a very worthy man, and firmly attached
to his friends. The good prefident carried mat-
ters fo far, as to demand a guard, for the pro-
tection of his perfon: but, as nobody looked upon
the affair in the fame light as he did, his de-
mand was eluded; and he had the mortification
to hear M. Viole Douzenceau, clerk of the council
of the grand chamber, obferve, that he had no.
objection to granting a guard to the prefident Char-
ton, but that they ought to be made by a Carpen-
ter. The parliament went no further in the af-
fair this day, than to order, that Meffrs. Champion
and Doujat, two of their members, fhould make
the neceffary enquiries relative to the affaffination.
of M. Joli, and thould lay the refult thereof before
the affembly; and that they fhould alfo inform
themfelves
GUY JOLI.
95
themſelves of the ſtate of his health. The ferment
into which this affair had thrown the parliament,
induced the Marquis de Boulaye to put himſelf at
the head of about two hundred men, who paffing
through the streets, exhorted the citizens to take
up arms, affuring them that a counsellor of the
parliament, who was, alfo, one of the Syndics, had
been affaffinated, at the inftigation of the court,
and that a fimilar defign had been concerted againſt
the Duke of Beaufort. In this manner, the Mar-
quis went to the houſes of ſeveral of the chiefs of
the Frondeurs, particularly to the Coadjutor and M.
Brouffel; but he was very little attended to, fome
few shops, only, being fhut up, in different parts
of the city, and the most material confequence
which attended this attempt was, that all the bread
in the different markets was immediately bought
up, at double the customary price.
It muſt be obſerved, that the Marquis was to-
tally ignorant of the real ftate of Joli's affair, and
that he had concerted no previous meaſures with
any of the party, except the Duke of Beaufort,
who held himſelf in readiness, with a number
of his friends, during the whole morning, to have
joined the Marquis, in cafe an infurrection had
enfued.
The members, who had been commiffioned by
the parliament, to enquire into the circumftances
of Joli's affaffination and of his health, having been
at his houſe in the morning, repeated their vifit
in the afternoon, and were very much difpleafed,
that his wound had been dreffed in their abfence.
To
4.
96
MEMOIRS OF
To fatisfy them, therefore, the dreffings were again.
taken off, by the phyficians and furgeons of the
parliament. The Queen had ordered M. Gue-
naud, one of the phyficians, to bring her an account,
in the evening, of the condition in which he fhould
find Joli. He accordingly went to the Palais Royal,
and informed her Majeſty, that there could not be the
leaſt doubt of the reality of the affair; that he had
found M. Joli very feverish, and that the beſt actos
in the world could not puſh his diffimulation ſo far,
in a caſe of this nature.
As the Marquis de Boulaye forefaw, that the
bad fuccefs of his enterprize, in the morning, might
be attended with ftrange confequences, he deter-
mined to retrieve his fault, if poffible, by an at-
tempt fill more hazardous; which was to attack
the Prince of Condé, on the new bridge, as he re-
turned, in the evening, from the Louvre to che
Hotel de Condé. For the execution of this defign
he affembled between two and three hundred men,
in the iſle of the Palais and the environs: but the
Cardinal, having obtained intelligence of his inten.
tion, communicated it to the Prince. To fruftrats
this fcheme, therefore, fome of the Prince's dome-
ftics, were placed in his own coach, and alſo in
that of M. Duras, which commonly followed it, one
This Guenaud is the perfon of whom Gui Patin makes
mention, in his letters. He was physician to the Queen,
and a zealous affertor of the virtues of antimony. It was
his cuſtom to visit his patients on horſeback; which circum-
ſtance gave rife to the jeft, in fpeaking of him, to fay
« Guenaud and his horfe," He died in 1667.
of"
1
}
GUY JO LI.
97
of whom was much wounded by a pistol-fhot; and
it is certain, that, had his Highneſs been in the
carriage, his life would have been in imminent
danger.
Many people, however, conjectured that the
Marquis de Boulaye had undertaken this enter-
prize folely at the inftigation of Cardinal Maza-
rin: but this does not feem probable, although
the Marquis, during his concealment at the Hotel
de Vendôme, afterwards acknowledged to ſeveral
of his friends, that he undertook it to repair the
error which he had committed in the morning;
being fully fenfible, that the Cardinal would have,
rejoiced in the Prince's deftruction, as he had
propofed to him, by Madame de Montbazon, fo
long before as the month of October, to ſeize his
Highness's perfon, at noon-day, upon the new-
bridge.
ง
V
Be that as it may; the other leaders of the
Frondeurs had, doubtleſs, no share in theſe two
enterprizes, which were planned by other hands,
and bore no affinity whatever to Joli's affair. The
Prince of Condé, nevertheleſs, was of a contrary
opinion, and he was eafily induced to credit all
the Cardinal's infinuations on the fubject; who,
repreſented to him, that this was a fair opportu
nity to ruin the chiefs of the party; whom the
people had plainly deferted on this occafion, and
whom the parliament must neceffarily condemn, on
fuch evident proofs of a conſpiracy.
1
*
In fact, for feveral of the first days, this bu-
VOL. I.
F
finefs
}
བྷ༔
98
MEMOIRS OF
!
ſineſs ſeemed to turn out much in favour of the
court; and a letter de Cachet being fent to the
parliament, on Monday the 13th of December,
commanding them to make the ftri&teft enquiries
into the affair, as being a dangerous plot againſt
the ſtate, the rest of the week was employed in
taking informations, which were kept very fecret,.
and which were communicated chiefly by thoſe
commiffioned fpies, of whom mention has been
already made. But as this artifice of the Car-
dinal's had not as yet tranſpired, and as even
thofe of the parliament, who were well difpofed
to the Frondeurs dared not oppofe the execution
of the orders contained in the letter de Cachet,
fo general a confternation arofe amongst the
party, that, had the court purfued its advantage
vigorously, it would have acquired a compleat
victory over it's opponents, and rendered all their
future efforts impotent. This panic had riſen
to fo great a heighth, that the Coadjutor, the
Duke of Beaufort, and the moſt confiderable leaders
of the Frondeurs, were on the point of retiring
from Paris to Peronne, where they hoped to meet
with protection from the Marshal d'Hoquincourt,
who was an intimate friend of the Dutcheffes de
Chevreuſe and de Montbazon; but the Count
de Montrefor demonstrated to them, that this
ftep would inevitably prove their ruin; that it
was neceffary they should go boldly to the parlia-
ment, where they had till many friends, and that,
by their appearing not to defert their own caufe,
the people would be induced to fupport them in
cafe of need.
Having
GUY JOLI
99
Having learnt, therefore, that the informations
which had been taken contained nothing mate-
rial, and that they related only to the Marquis
de Boulaye, who had withdrawn to the Hotel
de Vendôme, they determined to go in a body
to the parliament, with the Dukes of Beaufort and
Briffac at their head, to counteract the Duke of
Orleans, the Prince of Condé, and feveral others
of the nobility, who appeared there in behalf
of the court. The affembly, however, broke up
without doing any thing material; the chief bu-
finefs which came on being a petition from Joli,
on the ſubject of his affaffination: but the firſt
Prefident oppofed its being taken into confidera-
tion; which gave rife to fuch a ferment amongſt
the members, as clearly fhewed, that the popular
difcontent had not *fo effectually fubfided, as by
fome was imagined.
This diſcontent fuddenly broke out, with great
violence, at a fubfequent meeting of the parlia-
ment, on the Wedneſday following; when, after
the informations, already mentioned, had been read,
together with the opinion of the King's counſel
thereon, it appearing that the Coadjutor, the
Duke of Beaufort, and M. Brouffel were therein
accuſed, the first Prefident infifted that thofe per-
fons fhould withdraw: but, as the Duke of Beau-
fort and the Coadjutor were about to obey, one
of the counſellors, named Coulon, oppofed their
intention, and M. Brouffe abfolutely refuſed to
retire, unless the firft Prefident did fo likewife;
who, he urged, was a party in the affair, having
afferted that they had conceived a defign to af-
faffinate
F2
100
MEMOIRS OF
faffinate him. He added, that the Prefident was
his mortal foe, 'and had attempted to ruin him on
feveral occafions; proofs of which he was at all
times ready to produce.
The firmness of this good old man quickly
changed the face of affairs; and fuch loud and
uninterrupted murmurs arofe against the firft Pre-
fident, as precluded the affembly from entering
into any deliberations on that day, although the
fittings lafted from feven o'clock in the morning
till four in the evening. When the news of thefe
tranfactions was communicated to the people, who
were in waiting, in and about the Palais, to the
number of upwards of ten thousand men, they
manifefted great joy on the occafion; and, when
the Duke of Beaufort went away, fome perfons
crying out "hats off! here comes the Duke of
"Beaufort!" every one inftantly uncovered, re-
peatedly fhouting, "God fave Beaufort! God
"fave Brouffel!" whereas, the Duke of Orleans
and the Prince of Condé were conſtantly received, by
the generality of the populace, with evident marks
of difpleaſure.
37
T
From this day, the Frondeurs, having difcovered
their ftrength, neglected no means, to cherish the
people's difcontent, and the favourable difpofition
of the parliament. For this purpoſe, they affembled
every evening, at the houfe of M. de Longueil,
to concert a plan of operations for the next day,
and it was determined, that requefts of excepting
against the first Prefident fhould be prefented, by
the Coadjutor, the Duke of Beaufort, and Meffrs,
Brouffel
GUY JOLL
101
Brouffel and Joli, founded on that magiftrate's
perfonal intereft in the affair, feveral witneſſes
having depofed, that a defign had been formed
against his life. Thefe requests produced all the
effect which was expected from them; although,
as the first Prefident had many partizans, even
àmong thoſe who were totally unconnected with
the court, feveral days were spent in debating,
whether they ſhould be received. Exceptions
were alſo prefented against the Prince of Condé,
who offered thereupon to retire; but this the
company would not permit, and the demand was
in the end relinquifhed, refpecting him.
At length, as this affair occafioned much delay
and confufion, and as the Frondeurs had cauſed to
be printed the grounds of their exceptions, which
had contributed greatly to inflame the people's
minds, fome common friends of both parties pro-
pofed, that the requests of exceptions fhould be
withdrawn, and that they fhould proceed directly
to confider the charges contained in the informa-
tions, as mentioned above. To induce an ac-
ceptance of this propofal, they promiſed the Coad -
jutor, the Duke of Beaufort and M. Brouffel, to
extricate them inftantly from their dilemma, af
furing them, that the accufations againſt them
contained nothing of much confequence. Thefe
perfons, trufting too easily to appearances, yielded
to the propofal, and withdrew their requests of
exception but, as it was neceffary to obtain
the concurrence of M. Joli alfo, the Coadjutor,
who was very defirous to put an end to the
affair
F 3
*
102
MEMOIRS OF
affair at any rate, went to him, in the great
hall of the Palais, and endeavoured to perfuade
him to follow their example. But Joli abfolute-
ly refuſed to comply, alledging, that thefe offers
of accommodation were intended, only to delude
them to their ruin; and he therefore instructed
M. Lainé, in whofe hands he had placed his
requeft, to bring it on immediately before the
parliament. It was accordingly read, and the
objections which it contained against the first
Prefident, were found to be fo fuccinct and
forcible, that it caufed a fudden and univerfal
murmur in the affembly, which put a top to all
bufinefs for fome time. At length, however, the
tumult being abated, the requests of the Coad-
jutor and the Duke of Beaufort, which, upon
foli's refufal, had been returned by thofe perfons
to their council, were now read; and it was
thereupon refolved, that the first Prefident fhould
leave his feat and go without the bar, to an-
fwer to the contents of thofe requests: this he
did in a manner tolerably fatisfactory; but he was
fo much affected by the circumftance, that his
eyes were frequently filled with tears, during his
Speech.
Amongst all the counfellors, M. Daurat, a
counsellor of the third chamber of enquiries,
diftinguiſhed himſelf the moft, by his zeal and
eloquence, in fupport of the requests,
After many debates, it was at length decided,
by a very fmall majority of voices, that the, ob-
jections
GUY JOLI
103
jections alledged again the first Prefident were
infufficient, and that he ſhould be permitted to
act in his capacity of judge on this occaſion:
which defeat arofe from the caprice and fickle-
nefs of fome of thofe, who bore the reputation
of being moſt attached to the party, amongſt
whom were Meffrs. l'Abbé, Amelot and Bachau-
mont.
But the Frondeurs compenfated themſelves,' quick-
ly afterwards, for this flight rebuff, by a negotia-
tion which they entered into with Cardinal Ma-
zarin for the impriſonment of the Prince of
Condé, with whom they were as much diſpleaſed
as with the Cardinal himſelf. Hitherto, the
Cardinal had never dared to undertake any en-
terprize againſt the Prince, through fear left he
fhould join with the Frondeurs, and thereby render
his ruin inevitable. He had alſo conceived an
apinion, that when, in conjunction with his
Highnefs, he should have fubdued that party,
it would be eafy for him to reduce the Prince him-
felf to fubmiflion, by the terror of the King's
authority; and it was this confideration which
had determined him to begin with the Frondeurs
firſt. But he clearly perceived, from the refult
of the abovementioned tranfactions in the par-
liament, that the party was ftill too powerful,
and that it would be dangerous to carry matters to
extremities with them, having learnt, alfo, that
they had fent for a large number of their friends,
who kept their arms in readiness against any
fudden emergency.
F 4
Of
104
MEMOIRS OF
•
Of this circumstance the Dutchefs de Chev-
reufe, in concert with the Frondeurs, took care
to make the Cardinal fully fenfible; offering
him, at the ſame time, their affiftance against the
Prince of Condé, which, with much difficulty,
he at length accepted, thereby to releafe himfelf
from the embarraffment, into which the failure
of his late defign against them had plunged him,
and at once to put an end to that continual uneafi-
nefs, which the Prince's too great authority had
given birth to in his mind.
The Duke de Richelieu's marriage with the
daughter of the Marquis de Vigean, which had
been concerted by the Prince of Condé, without
the participation of the court, alfo contributed,
not a little, to influence the Cardinal to this
refolution the Prince having himfelf conducted
the new married couple to the houfe of the
Dutchefs de Longueville, at Trie, and had dif
patched the Duke de Richelieu, on the fame night,
to fecure the poffeffion of Havre; which the Car-
dinal judged to be only a prelude to fome more
important deſigns.
{
;
Things being thus circumftanced, the Cardinal
now began, in earneſt, to negotiate with the Dutchefs
de Chevreufe, who immediately gave fecret infor-
mation thereof to her friend the Marquis de Lai-
gues, by whom it was communicated to the Mar-
quis de Noirmoutier. Thus, these two perfons,
whom the Prince had formerly injured, had now
the fatisfactiou to find themfelves, in fome fort,
the
GUY JOLI
105
the arbitrators of his fate, having been the firſt
promoters of his impriſonment.
However, the Coadjutor was, in the end, the
perfon who had the greateft fhare in this bufinefs,
which he at length compleated, after feveral con-
ferences with the Cardinal, at the Palais Royal,
whither he always went difguifed in the habit of
a military officer. The Dutchefs de Chevreuſe,
whofe intercourfe with the Cardinal was liable to
lefs reftraint, took upon herself to negotiate with
} him the demands of thoſe chiefs of the party, who
were refponfible for the concurrence of the rest.
The terms agreed on were as follow: that the
Coadjutor fhould have a cardinal's hat: that the
Duke of Beaufort, altho' he was totally ignorant
of this negotiation, which was kept a profound
fecret, fhould be invested with the title of ad-
miral that the government of Charleville and
Mount Olympus fhould be conferred on the Mar-
quis de Noirmoutier; and that the Marquis de
de Laigues fhould be appointed captain of the
guards.
蒙
​There now remained nothing, further, to be
done, but to obtain the Duke of Orleans's con-
fent to the execution of this defign againſt the
Prince. Nor was this at all difficult; as his Royal
Highness, being naturally jealous of the Prince of
Condé, readily yielded to the arguments, which
the Queen and the Dutchefs de Chevreufe ufed,
to convince him, that it was his intereft to dimi-
niſh, by all poffible means, the too great credit
which the Prince had acquired, They were yet
F5
under
гоб
MEMOIRS OF
under fome apprehenfion, left his Royal Highness
fhould communicate the affair to his favourite,
the Abbé de la Riviere, who, they knew, was
clofely connected with the Prince of Condé : but
his Royal Highneſs gave them the moft poffitive
affurances of his fecrecy, and it ſo happened alſo,
that he had lately conceived fome diſpleaſure againſt
the Abbé.
During this negotiation with the Cardinal, the
Frondeurs fecretly entered into treaty with the
Prince of Condé alfo; the Duke de Retz and
the Marquis de Noirmoutier being employed on
their part, and M. de Chavigni and the Prince
de Marfillac on the fide of the Prince. But his
Highnefs could not be prevailed on to join with
them, tho' ftrongly urged thereto by many of his
friends; and he even treated as chimerical the re-
peated intelligence which he received, of the ac-
commodation between the Cardinal and the Fron-
Reurs, upon a ftrong prefumption that the latter
would not fo earnestly have follicited a junction
with him, had there been any probability of their
fucceeding with the court; and alfo, that neither
the Queen nor the Cardinal would enter into
any meaſures againſt him, not only on account
of his late ſervices, but likewiſe in confideration
of the prefent critical ftate both of domeſtic and
foreign affairs. Befides, her Majefty and the mi-
niſter, in order to cover their defigns, continued
to give him and his friends the moft flattering
affurances of regard. In fhort, he was very fen-
fible that the court would not undertake any
thing againſt him, without the concurrence of
-
the
GUY JO E I.
107
the Duke of Orleans; and as he imagined, that
his Royal Highneſs would doubtless communicate
any fuch propofal to the Abbé dè la Riviere,
this circumftance contributed, above all others, to
blind him to the intentions of his enemies.
A
Thus, the frequent informations which his High-
hefs received of the Cardinal's nocturnal confe-
rences with the Coadjutor, diſguiſed as a military
officer, were totally difcredited by him; and he
made them a ſubject of merriment with the
Cardinal, who replied, in the fame tone, and with-
out the leaft difcompofure, that the Coadjutor
would, doubtlefs, make a fine figure with large
rowlers, a plume of feathers, a red cloak, and
a fword by his fide; and he affured his Highnèſs
that he would regale him with the fight, when-
ever that prelate fhould take it in his head to
viſit him in fuch a garb. All this was faid with
fuch an appearance of freedom and franknefs, that
his Highness was impofed upon thereby; but he
was on the point of diſcovering the whole affair a
few days afterwards, having entered abruptly into
the Cardinal's cloſet, at the very time that his
eminency was dictating to M. de Lionne, the
orders for feizing him, the Prince of Conti, and
the Duke de Longueville. Every thing being
now determined on, it only remained to carry
the defign into execution: but fuch was the
wavering and timid difpofition of the Cardinal,
and fo long did he heftate, in hopes, perhaps,
that time might give birth to fome incidents,
which might relieve him from the difagreeable
neceffity
F 6
108
MEMOIRS OF
neceffity of proceeding to fuch extremities, that
the Frondeurs were at laft obliged to uſe menaces,
in order to procure his compliance: they had
even taken fome meaſures with the parliament,
against his eminency, which they were refolved to
have parfued, in cafe he had not yielded to their
folicitations. Neither did they neglect to repre.
fent to him the great danger that there was, left
the Duke of Orleans, who was naturally indif-
creet, fhould at length divulge the fecret; that
the Duke had withdrawn himfelf from the par-
liament for fome days paft, under the pretence of
a feigned indifpofition; that he openly afferted,
that the affair of the informations was a mere
mockery, as if purpoſely to infinuate to the Prince
of Condé, that it was needlefs for him to purſue
it; and that he might poffibly fpeak ftill plainer,
and thereby lead the Prince to fufpect the change
which had arifen in the difpofition of the court:
in fhort, they uſed fuch powerful arguments with
the Cardinal, that he determined to put the fi-
nishing hand to the bufinefs, without any further
delay. With this view he reprefented to the
Prince, that he had received intelligence that des
Coutures, one of the principal perfons accufed in
the informations, was concealed in a houfe in the
Atreet of Montmartre, and that, as he propoſed to
have him feized in the afternoon, he judged it
advifeable, that the gendarmes and the light-horfe
fhould be poſted behind the Palais Royal, in rea-
dinefs to fubdue any tumult which might arife
on the occafion: to which his Highness affented.
His Eminency further told kim, that fome advices.
had
GUY JOLI
109
had been received from Germany, on the fubject
of which it was neceflary to call a council, and
that it would be proper for his Highness to ac-
quaint the Prince of Conti and the Duke de Lon-
gueville therewith, and to defire their attendance.
Accordingly thefe three Princes came to the Palais
Royal, at the ufual hour of the council's meeting,
and were immediately taken into cuftody, by M.
Guitaut, captain of the Queen's guards, and M.
Comminges, his nephew, on the 18th of January
1650, and were, foon afterwards, conducted acrófs
the garden to a coach, which conveyed them, ac-
companied by M de Comminges, to the caftle
of Vincennes. They were eſcorted by a party
of fifty horſe, one half of which were of the Gen-
darmerie, and the other of the Queen's guards,
commanded by M. de Mioffens, known afterwards
by the title of Marſhal d'Albret, and M. de
Comminges. It was very late when they arrived
at Vincennes, the coach having broken down by
the way; and the Prince of Condé took occafion,
from this accident, to propoſe to M. de Mioffens
to ſuffer him to eſcape: but he replied, that his
duty to the King would not permit him to liften
to the propofal; and M. de Comminges, having
overheard the converfation, and obferving that the
Prince eagerly looked round, to fee whether there
was any affiftance near at hand, he told his High-
nefs that he was ready to oblige him as far as lay
in his power, but, in a cafe where the King's
ſervice was concerned, he ſhould listen to no other
fuggeſtions than thofe of his duty, and that, if
any attempt ſhould be made to rescue his pri-
foners, rather than permit their efcape, which
would
110
MEMOIRS OF
would render him incapable of giving his Ma-
jeſty a good account of the commiffion with
which he had done him the honour to entruſt
him, he would himſelf poniard them. In ſpite
of this harsh declaration, the Prince of Condé
placed fuch great confidence in M. Comminges,
during the first days of his imprisonment, that
he would permit no other perfon to taste the
victuals which were fet before them. But this
lafted but for a fhort time, as M. de Bar was
foon afterwards appointed to guard them, and
fome of the King's domeftics were fent to wait
on them.
}
When the news of this event was communi-
cated to the Duke of Orleans, his Royal High-
neſs exclaimed, "Here's a fine catch! a lion, a
*C
monkey, and a fox, all taken at the fame time!"
the prefident Peraut, who was the Prince of Condé's
fteward, was alfo feized, and feveral others, who
had been doomed to the fame fate, withdrew
themſelves. Of all thoſe who were, in any re-
ſpect, connected with the Prince, not one was
excepted in the general profcription, fare the
Princess Dowager [of Condé :] but fhe was,
quickly afterwards, exiled to one of her country
feats.
f
During the whole of this tranfaction, the Coad-
jutor and the Duke of Beaufort remained at the
Hotel de Chevreufe, where they had dined. Strict
orders had been given, that no perfon fhould be
permitted to enter the houfe; as they were em--
ployed
GUY JOL I.
ployed in writing notices to all the parochial
clergy of Paris, acquainting them with the im-
priſonment of the Princes: and fo incautious were
they on the occafion, that, had fome of the per-
fons who were prefent been curious enough to
attend to what was doing, they might eafily have
come to the knowledge of the contents of thoſe
notices, and have given their Highneffes timely
intimation of their danger. But the Princes des
ftiny forbad it and the news of their being feized
was brought by Brillet, the Duke of Beaufort's
equerry, who had been fent to the Palais Royal,
with orders to return as foon as he fhould havé
received information of this event, either from
the Marquis de Laigues, or de Noirmoutier; this
being the first day of their re-appearance at court.-
whither they came a fhort time before the feizure
of the Princes.
:
It might perhaps, have been more prudent in
theſe two nobleman to have kept away from the
court, on this occafion, as their prefence, alone,
might have tended to create fufpicions, at least, if
not a difcovery of the defign: but the Queen
infifted on their being prefent. They themselves
were ſo defirous of revenge, and of exhibiting
alfo to the world the fhare they had in procuring
the Prince of Condé's impriſonment, that they
could not refift this opportunity of gratifying
themſelves: befides the party of the Frondeurs
were fo well acquainted with the Cardinal's ir -
refolute difpofition, that they judged it impro-
per to leave him to himfelf in fo critical a con-
juncture.
A
I IZ
MEMOIRS OF
C
A report having been circulated, in the city,
that fome perfon had been taken into cuftody
at the Palais Royal, without mentioning whom,
the people conceived a notion, that the Duke of
Beaufort was the perfon : and, in confequence of this
notion, many of the citizens ran to arms, particularly
thofe refiding near the markets, and near the
gate dauphine. This example would have been
generally followed, had not the Queen fent in all
hafte to the Duke, who had been; together with
the Coadjutor, at the Duke of Orleans's palace,
from the time that they had received the intelli-
gence from Brillet. The tumult. amongst the peo-
ple was fo great, that, to pacify them, the Duke:
of Beaufort was obliged to ride through the
Atreets, from nine o'clock in the evening till two-
the next morning, attended by between three and
four hundred horfemer, with a number of light-
ed flambeaux, many of the populace crying out,
that the man with the great beard ought to be
put to death, meaning the first prefident, and even
laying hold of his horfe's bridle, to lead him to
that quarter of the city in which the prefident
refided.
•
During theſe tranſactions, fome of the Prince's
friends, who were affembled at the Hotel de Condé,
propofed to fally out on horfeback, and to attack
the Duke of Beaufort in the ſtreets, in order, by
the confufion, to mislead the people, who might
be induced thereby to imagine, that the Cardinal
had concerted this enterprize; and indeed, had
the affair been well conducted, it might have
produced a "favourable effect. But the propofal
was
GUY JOLI
113
was not adopted, every one being folely occupied
with the thoughts of retiring from the city. The
Dutchefs de Longueville had fet out, early in the
night, for Normandy, efcorted by the Duke de
la Rochefoucault; at the head of a party of fixty
horſe. The Duke de Bouillon took the rous of
Bourdeaux; the Viſcount de Turenne that of
Stenai, and M. de Bouteville, who was afterwards
created Duke of Luxembourg and a Marſhal of
France, with fome others, that of Burgundy in
confequence of which difpofitions, it was judged,
that the party of the Princes would, by the next
day, have acquired a fufficient degree of ftrength.
The citizens, however, manifefted their joy an
this occafion, by making bonfires in the different
parts of the city; and most of them declared, that
the Cardinal himſelf was no longer a Mazarin, after
fuch an action as this.
}
The affair of the informations was now, there-
fore, eafily decided. All thofe who had been
accufed therein were acquitted of the charges
brought against them, on terms more or lefs ad-
vantageous, according to the circumſtances. The
decree which Joli obtained was more favourable
than any of the reft; as he was, thereby, not only
diſcharged from the accufation against him, but
was permitted, alfo, to continue the procefs which
he had inftituted, in confequence of the feigned
affaffination. It must be acknowledged, that M.
de Champlatreux contributed to obtain this deci-
fion fearing left, as he had loft the fupport of
the Prince of Condé, advantage might be taken
of that circumftance to urge the affair of Joli's
being
114
MEMOIRS OF
being fired at, against him; which might eafily
have been effected, by the teftimony of two wit-
neffes, whereby he might have been much em-
barraffed. On this account, he made a propofal
to Joli, by the Duke de Noirmoutier, to give
him 2000 crowns, to ftop all further proceedings;
which offer cauſed thoſe who were in the fecret
of the affaflination to fmile, though, at the fame
time, they fufpected that there was fome defign
concealed under it. Joli replied, that he was very
ready to accept of the offer, but on condition,
only that the whole tranfaction fhould be recorded
by a notary. But this public method of adjuſt-
ing the affair was not approved of by M. de
Champlatreux; and the matter was, at length, fettled
in a private manner; M. de Champlatreux engag-
ing that, when the informations againſt Joli ſhould
be laid before the parliament, he and all his re-
lations would quit the affembly, and would take
no part whatever in the decifion thereon; and
Joli, on his fide, promifed,, that he would drop
the profecution which had been commenced in his
name. He would not have been permitted to
have gone on with it, had he been fo inclined;
for, foon afterwards, the court iffued an amnesty,
in favour of the Marquis de Boulaye, and of all
thoſe who were concerned in the tranſactions of the
11th of December 1649. [The day on which the
feigned attack was made on Joli.]
This amnefty confirmed the fufpicions which
had formerly arifen, that the Marquis had acted
totally under the Cardinal's directions: and this
seport gained ftill greater credit, after that mi-
nifter's
GUY JOLI
115
nifter's death, the Marquis himself plainly infi
nuating that it was true; altho' he had always,
hitherto ſpoken with much referve on the fub-
ject. But there is great reafon to believe, that, in
this cafe, the Marquis was influenced by a de-
fire of exculpating himſelf from the blame of fo
frange an action, and of throwing it upon the
Cardinal.
The Princes were treated with great harfhuefs
during the first part of their confinement; Car-
dinal Mazarin having committed them to the care
of M. de Bar, a man of a favage difpofition, who
imagined that his ill ufage of his prifoners would
recommend him to the favour of the court. Their
fole confolation, therefore, was the correfpondence.
which, after the third or fourth day of their im-
prifonment, they contrived to carry on with their
friends.
M. de Montreuil, the Prince of Conti's fecre-
tary, had the management of this correfpondence;
and he made ufe of ſuch ſubtil inventions, that M.
de Bar himſelf was frequently the agent, by whom
he conveyed to the Princes their friends letters.
For this purpoſe, he caufed a number of crown-
pieces to be hollowed, fo as to fcrew together;
and ſome of theſe, containing letters, being mixed
with other common ones, which were continually
fent to the prifoners, to ſerve them for counters,.
were often given to M. de Bar, and delivered
by himself into their hands. The domeftics who
waited on them, and even one of M. de Bar's
own valets, were often employed in the fame man-
ner a
#16
MEMOIRS OF
ner; not to mention the many other expedients
which were adopted, and for which prifoners are
never at a lofs.
But all theſe little ftratagems afforded them
but fmall comfort, as the intelligence which they
acquired thereby was far from being encouraging:
for, although their friends were very active, both
within and without the kingdom, yet the Car-
dinal was always fo fortunate as to diſcover their
defigns, and that, frequently, by means of the
Frondeurs. For this reafon, his eminency, at firit,
conducted himſelf towards that party with the
moft flattering civility: but, his fucceffes having
rendered him too vain, he afterwards treated them
with fuch neglect, as compelled them to take thofe
meaſures, which reftored the Princes to their liber-
ty, and produced a confederacy against him, which
was almoft general.
The first step which the Cardinal took, refpect-
ing the Princes, after their impriſonment, was to
fend a declaration to the parliament, which was
very badly drawn up, containing the reafons for
adopting that meaſure. This declaration would
not have produced its defired effect, had not the
replies made to it by the Prince's friends been
conceived in fill worse terms than the piece
itſelf.
He next conducted the King and Queen to
Rouen; at whofe approach the Dutchefs de Lon-
gueville retired from thence to Dieppe, then into.
Flanders, and from thence fhe went to join the
Marſhal
A
•
GUY JOL I.
117
Marthal de Turenne at Stenai. The Duke de
Richelieu, alio, abandoned Havre, and thus the
whole province, as well as thofe places which
the Duke de Longueville had poffeffed, was re-
duced to the King's fubjection. The fame fuc
cefs happened in Burguudy; where all thoſe places
which had declared for the Princes quickly fur-
rendered, after the reduction of Bellegarde.
¿
+
In the mean time, the Princefs Dowager [of
Condé] petitioned the parliament, for leave to re-
fide at Paris, in order to follicit her children's
enlargement: but, through the influence of the
Duke of Orleans, the Coadjutor and the Duke
of Beaufort, her application was rejected, although
a ftrong party, among whom was the first prefi-
dent, had been formed in fupport of it. In order
to effect her purpoſe, the Princefs fubmitted even
to throw herſelf at the Coadjutor's feet, as he en-
tered the Palais: a debafement, which wẻ can
fcarcely pardon even in a mother, of her rank,
however defolate her fituation might be.
•
J
Some time after the Cardinal's return to Paris,
he took a ſudden refolation of marching with the
army to Bourdeaux; into which place the Prin-
cefs Dowager and the Duke d'Enguien, as alfo
the Dukes de Bouillon and de la Rochefoucault
had been admitted, and had prevailed on the
parliament [of that city] to vote a petition to the
King for the Princes enlargement. Moft of his
eminency's friends adviſed him againſt this enter-
prize, as it would require a large number of
troops,
i
1
113
MEMOIRS OF
troops, and the frontiers of Flanders would there-
by be too much expofed to the enemy. They
alfo fuggeſted to him, that the Princes friends
might take the advantage of the abfence of the
court, to enter into dangerous intrigues with the par-
liament and city of Paris; that it would be fuf-
ficient, to fend an experienced general, with a
body of troops, to quiet the difturbances at Bour-
deaux, and, in fhort, that as Paris was the head
of all affairs, and the heart of the ftate, no in-
ducement whatever ſhould prevail on him to quit
that city. But the minifter overlooked all thefe
confiderations: and, as the Spaniards had recent-
ly been compelled to raiſe the fiege of Guife,
with ſome loſs, he concluded, that they would not
fo foon be in a capacity to undertake any frefh.
enterprize, before he had reduced Bourdeaux,
which he expected to effect with as little difficulty
as he had experienced in Burgundy and Norman-
dy. He therefore departed from Paris on this
expedition with the King and Queen, leaving the
care of the city to the Duke of Orleans, in qua-
lity of lieutenant-general of the crown, with M,
le Tellier, one of the fecretaries of ftate, in
whom the Cardinal placed the moft implicit
confidence.
The Frondeurs, alfo, gave him the moſt poſitive
affurances of a due obfervance of their late treaty
with him, and engaged to oppofe any cabals
which the Princes adherents might enter into,
either with the parliament or the people, or even
with the Duke of Orleans, into whofe confidence
the Coadjutor had been admitted, fince the dif
grace
GUY JOLI.
119
grace of the Abbé de la Riviere, whom his Royal
Highnefs had diſcarded foon after the impriſon-
ment of the Princes.
Cardinal Mazarin entruſted the Dutchefs de Chev
reuſe and M. de Chateauneuf, the keeper of the
feals, with the management of the Frondeurs; the
latter by means of his miſtreſs, Madame de Rhodes,
who went every evening to the Hotel de Chev-
reufe, where the leaders of the party conftantly
met. But, as the keeper of the feals was grown
old, and as Madame de Rhodes had no longer
any other than an interested regard for him, fhe]
preferred the fervice of the Frondeurs, before
that of the Cardinal, to whom M. de Chateau-
neuf himſelf was not very well affected at the
bottom.
All the Cardinal's precautions could not, there.
fore, avert the inconveniencies which his friends
had predicted to him. As the fiege of Bour-
deaux lafted longer than he had expected, this
circumftance gave the Spaniards an opportunity
of re-entering the territories of France, and of
making themfelves matters of Capel, Rhetel and
Chateau-Porcien. The Prince's friends, alfo, found
means to induce the parliament [of Paris] to take
into confideration the itate of affairs at Bourdeaux,
from whence two deputies had been fent to Paris
with letters.
Theſe two incidents began to give a new turn
to affairs. The near approach of the Spaniards,
whoſe fituation at Rhetel had rendered the fafety
I
of
180
MEMOIRS OF
of Vincennes very hazardous, obliged the court
to think of removing the Princes from thence to
fome place of greater fecurity: but the great
difficulty was to fix on a ſpot proper for the pur-
poſe. The Cardinal propofed Havre but the
Princes agents oppofed the choice of that place
with their utmoft power; neither did the Fron-
deurs at all approve of it, as being fo immediately
under the Cardinal's command. That party would
have preferred the Baftile, of which they were al-
moſt the maſters; and this was the opinion of the
Coadjutor and the Duke of Beaufort. But M.
le Tellier fat in motion every engine, to induce
the Duke of Orleans to reject this propofal and
to adopt that of the Cardinal. The Marquis de
Laigues, having been confulted on the fubject by
the Duke of Orleans, approved of neither pro-
pofal; especially of the firft, as the Duke had
no power whatever over the citadel of Havre.
His Royal Highness, therefore, after many de-
liberations, determined, of his own motion, to
remove the Princes to Marcouffi; which place had
not yet been thought of by any one.
;
This meaſure proved very difagreeable to the
court: and, when the Cardinal was informed of it,
he accufed the Coadjutor of having projected it,
purpoſely to get the Princes into his hands,
under the fanction of his Royal Highneſs's name.
He was alfo much offended at the Duke of Or-
leans's having fent the Marquis de Verderonne
and the Count d'Avaux, to treat with the Arch-
duke on fome further propofals which had been
lately made by that Prince; charging this alfo to
the
GUY JOL I.
121
the account of the Coadjutor, who, he faid, was
defirous of making a peace without his participa-
tion. 'Tis certain, that this negotiation was car-
ried rather too far; for although the Archduke had
fent Don Gabriel de Toledo to Paris on this bufi-
neſs, yet it afterwards appeared, that his deſign
therein was folely to embroil affairs ftill more, as,
when the Pope's nuncio and the Venetian am-
baffador, who had been appointed mediators, had
advanced, in that quality, as far as Nanteuil, he
abfolutely refuſed to grant them the neceffary pafs
ports, to enable them to proceed to the place ap-
pointed for a congreſs.
His eminency was alfo much diſpleaſed that
the parliament had, at the inſtigation of his Royal
Highness, fent fome of their body to the King,
under pretext of acquainting his Majefty with the
propofitions made by the deputies from Bourdeaux;
but, in reality, to endeavour to accommodate the
affairs of that city. The Cardinal confidered this
as an artifice of the Coadjutor's, to deprive him of
the glory of reducing Bourdeaux by force.
The freedom with which the Cardinal expreffed
his fentiments on this fubject, created a great
coolness between him and the Coadjutor, who
now began to give ear to fome propoſals, on the
part of the Princes, made to him by M. Arnauld,
the general of the Carabiniers, his and their com-
mon friend, to whom he granted ſeveral fecret
audiences thereon, during the night. He, how-
ever, concealed his refentment, although he plainly
G
perceived,
122
MEMOIRS OF
perceived, that the Cardinal fought a pretext to
quarrel, and that he fhould foon be obliged to
drop his connection with him, feeing that the
Princes party had taken fuch meaſures as would
render it impoffible for the Frondeurs to continue
in oppofition to them, without forfeiting the favour
both of the city and the parliament.
Indeed, the Prince's friends were fo elevated by
their fuccefs in the parliament, respecting the affair
of Bourdeaux, that they talked of preſenting re-
monftrances, not only for the enlargement of the
Princes, but alſo for the removal of the Cardi-
nal from his Majefty's councils and dominions :
and, as the Coadjutor and the Frondeurs fpoke
in very ambiguous terms on the fubject, this con-
duct did them great differvice with the people,
whofe hatred to the Cardinal was not at all di-
miniſhed.
The Princes party had alſo hired a number of
adventurers, who, mingling with the croud, in
the hall of the Palais, and loudly inveighing
againſt the Cardinal, excited a great ferment
amongst the people, who repeatedly fhouted, "God
"fave the King! God fave the Princes! down
"with the Cardinal!" and the tumult proceeded
to fuch a height, that it was with the great-
eft difficulty that the Duke of Orleans's guards,
though headed by the Duke of Beaufort, could
clear a paffage for his Royal Highnefs through
the croud, having been repulfed twice or thrice
in the attempt. The Coadjutor too, as the ftory
goes,
GUY JOL I.
123
goes, was attacked one day, by a gentleman, with
a poniard in his hand, whom he boaſted to have
difarm'd: however, he never would mention the
name of the party, although he always declared
that he was very well acquainted with his pers
fon. But it is fcarcely probable that an incident
of this nature ſhould have happened, in the great
hall of the Palais, without any perfon's being
witneſs to it. Befides, thofe who were beft ac-
quainted with the Coadjutor's character knew full-
well, that he was as incapable of keeping a fecret
of this kind, as he was of concealing the favours
which he received from the ladies.
}
However, the Frondeurs continuing faithful to
their engagements with the Cardinal, no refolu-
tion was taken against his eminency, or in favouri
of the Princes; and all the deliberations of the
parliament, on the affairs of Bourdeaux, terminated
with fending a fecond deputation to the court,
with propofitions, which were, at length, acceded
to. A treaty was therefore figned; the chief ar-
ticles of which were, that the Duke d'Epernon,
the governor of that province, fhould be recalled;
that a general amneftry fhould be granted to the
city, and to all thoſe who had taken up arms,
particularly to the Dukes de Bouillon and de la
Rochefoucault; and that the Princefs Dowager
ſhould be permitted to retire, with the Prince her
fon, either to Montrond, or to one of her eſtates
in the Province of Anjou.
This affair being adjuſted, the parliament broke
G 2
up
124
MEMOIRS OF
up their meetings: but the Princes partizans were
not on that account the lefs indefatigable in their
intrigues, to render the people favourable to their
cauſe. Amongst other methods which they took,
to increaſe the popular refentment againſt the
Cardinal, they one morning expofed to view a
half-length picture of his eminency, in his robes,
which they faſtened to a poft, the cord paffing
round the neck of the figure, to reprefent a per-
fon hanging upon a gibbet, with a written paper
affixed thereto, containing a lift of the crimes for
which he had been doomed to death. Two of
theſe pictures were expoſed; one at the Croix du
Tiroir, and the other at the end of the New Bridge,
oppoſite the street of Dauphine: and this Bagatelle
had fuch an effect on the populace, that an exempt
was near being killed by them, in attempting to
take down one of the pictures.
Another circumftance alfo caufed a great di-
fturbance in the city. This was the affaffination
of one of the Duke of Beaufort's gentlemen,
named Saint-Eglan, who was killed, at eleven
o'clock at night, in the ftreet of S. Honoré, as he
was going, in the Duke's coach, to fetch him
from the Hotel de Montbazon. This murder oc-
cafioned much fpeculation: fome pretended to be-
lieve that the perfons by whom it was committed
were nothing more than common robbers; many
imputed it to the machinations of the Prince of
Condé's friends; but the moſt received opinion,
and which the Princes emiffaries took great pains
to inculcate, was, that the Cardinal was the au-
thor of it, but that the affaffins had made a
mistake,
GUY JOL I.
125
miftake, the Duke of Beaufort being the perfon
whom they meant to have attacked. Be that as
it may; the real ftate of the tranfaction hath ever
remained a fecret; thofe who were executed for
the fact having fimply declared, that the perfon
who headed them on the occafion had made his
eſcape; and that they knew nothing further of him,
than that he had formerly ferved in one of the
Prince of Condé's regiments.
Upon opening the body of one of theſe wretches,
which had been delivered to the furgeons for diſ-
fection, all the internal parts were found to be
tranfpofed; the heart and fpleen being placed on
the right, and the liver on the left fide. This
was confidered as a phoenomenon; but the fame
extraordinary conformation was afterwards difcover-
ed in the body of one of the canons of Nantes,
who died much about the fame time.
During this time, the Prince's friends exerted
their utmoſt endeavours, to engage the Coadjutor
in their intereſts, without which they plainly faw
that nothing could be effected with the Duke of
Orleans. They had learnt, alfo, that the Coad-
jutor highly reſented the complaints which the Car-
dinal made against him; and had opened his mind
on the ſubject to the Dutchefs de Chevreuſe.
This lady reprefented to him, that it would be
great imprudence, on fuch flight grounds, to quit
the party of the court, and to embrace the in-
terefts of the Prince of Condé, whofe fincerity,
after what had paffed, might juftly be fufpected
G 3
by
136
MEMOIRS OF
by him; that he ought not to give ear to fuch
reports, as might, poffibly, be fpread by the Princes
emiffaries, to delude him, and which, even if they
fhould prove to be true, were not of fufficient
importance to juſtify his proceeding to extremities;
and, in ſhort, that, before he came to any re-
folution, he ought firft to demand of the court
the performance of its promife, to nominate him
to a Cardinalſhip, which would prove the un-
erring teft of its good or evil intentions towards
him.
The Coadjutor pretended not to yield to thefe
arguments, declaring that he would not condefcend
to ask any favour whatever of the Cardinal; but,
as the Dutchefs de Chevreufe was fenfible how
much his heart was fet upon this affair, fhe there-
fore, without his knowledge, fpoke to M. Le
Tellier on the fubject, defiring him to write to
the Cardinal, without delay, and to reprefent to
him, the abfolute neceffity of retaining the Coad-
jutor in his interefts, whatever it might coft him..
But M. Le Tellier declined the undertaking, well-
knowing that the propofition would not be at all
approved by the Cardinal; and the Dutchefs there-
fore wrote herſelf to his eminency, who returned
an anfwer, couched in fuch general terms, as, in
his language, had no determinate meaning; not
omitting, however, to give her fome diftant hopes-
of his compliance.
This letter of the Cardinal's ferved to retain.
the Coadjutor in his interefts for fome time longer,
till he learnt that his eminency had, upon a ccr-
tain
GUY JOLI.
127
tain occafion, let fall fome virulent expreffions
The Dutchefs de
against him and his friends.
Chevreuſe, alfo, began, from this circumstance, to
entertain fome diftruft of the Cardinal, who had
included her friend, the Marquis de Laigues, in
the reflections which he had thrown out, faying
that the Marquis was ftill too much of the fame
complexion with the Coadjutor to be confided
in. For this reafon, immediately upon the court's
return to Fontainbleau, the Dutchefs went thither,
to demand a more explicit declaration of the mi-
nifter's intentions refpecting the Coadjutor: but
not being able to obtain any fatisfactory anſwer
from his eminency, fhe told him, at taking leave,
that he could not diſpenſe with giving the Coad-
jutor fome intimation of his indifference refpect
ing him.
The Cardinal, however, upon more
mature reflection, fent the next morning, to in-
vite the Dutchefs to a fecond conference; and,
having learnt that he had already fat out on her
return, he next fent, in great halte, for the Mar-
quis de Laigues, to whom he gave an almoſt
abfolute promife on the fubject; fearing left the
Coadjutor fhould traverfe his deligns of returning
to Paris, and of removing the Princes to Havre
de Grace.
The Queen was fo much bent upon this deſign,
that ſhe made it the firſt ſubject of her conferences
with the Duke of Orleans, at Fontainbleau, ear-
neftly preffing him, either to take the immediate
care of the Princes upon himſelf, or to permit
their removal to Havre. His Royal Highness,
for fome time, continued firm in his refufal, but
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at
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MEMOIRS OF
at? length yielded to the Queen's importunities :
and the Cardinal, apprehending that he might
again alter his mind, directed M. Le Tellier to
make out the neceffary orders with all poffible
difpatch; enjoining him, at the fame time, to
keep himſelf fo carefully concealed, that if the
Duke of Orleans fhould fend for him, to prohi-
bit him from putting thofe orders into execu~-
tion, his intention might thereby be rendered in--
effectual: which circumftance happened as the
Cardinal had forefeen; but it was now too
late.
}
This meaſure, of removing the Princes, proved
a very fenfible mortification to their friends, who
had, for fome time paft, been employed in form-
ing a ſcheme, which they had almoft brought to
perfection, for fetting them at liberty. With this
view, they had bribed four of the foldiers out.
of the feven of which the guard in the Princes
apartment confifted, who engaged either to make
themſelves mafters of their companions, or to po.
niard them, in cafe they fhould refift. They hadi
alfo fecured the affiftance of fome of the officers-
and men, who did duty without, on the terrace
of the caftle of Marcouffi, at the foot of which a.
man was to be ready with a boat, to convey the
Princes over the ditch, whilſt the Duke de Nemours,
with a ſtrong eſcort, fhould be in waiting, at the
diſtance of twenty paces, to conduct them to fome
place of fafety.
Thus, the Count d'Harcourt, who had taken
upon.
GUY JOL I.
119
upon himſelf the charge of conducting the Princes
to Havre, executed his commiffion without any
difficulty: but he was much cenfured on the
occafion by all well intentioned men, who looked
upon the action as unworthy the high reputation
which he had defervedly acquired in the world.
The following lines, upon the fubject, were com-
poſed by the Prince of Condé, on the road from
Marcouffi to Havre :
That man, fat and fhort, in hift'ry renowned,
The great Count Harcourt, with glory all crowned;
Who Cazel relieved, and retook Turin,
Is now the Bumb-Bailey of Jules Mazarin.
Some ſhort time. after, the court being re-
turned to Paris, the Dutchefs de Chevreuſe took
occafion to prefs his eminency to a performance
of his engagement with the Coadjutor, refpecting
his nomination to the Cardinalſhip. But that
miniſter, ſeeing the Princes in his power, and
flattering himself that he had nothing to fear from
any further attempts of his opponents, now alter-
ed his tone, and peremptorily refufed to perform
the promiſes he had made to the Marquis de
Laigues, on that fubject, at Fontainbleau. The
Coadjutor always predicted this event, and the
Dutchefs de Chevreufe had, for fome time paſt,
leaned to the fame opinion, but her attach-
ment to the court was fuch, that all the at-
tempts made by the Princes party to engage
her in their interefts must have proved ineffectual,
had they not hit upon the expedient of propofing
G5
to
730
MEMOIRS OF
to her a marriage between Mifs de Chevreufe and
the Prince of Conti.
This project had originally been concerted
between Madame de Rhodes and the Princefs Pa-
latine, in whom the Princes placed an entire
confidence. The Coadjutor and Mifs de Chev-
reufe earneſtly wished for its accomplishment: but
the cafe was otherwife with the Dutchefs de Cher-
reufe; who received the propoſal, at firſt, with
great coolness, on account of the ftrong oppofi-
tion made to it by the Marquis de Laigues, who,
as well as the Marquis de Noirmoutier, manifeft-
ed much reluctancy to break with the Cardinal,
with whofe conduct, towards them, they had good
caufe to be fatisfied. Befides, thefe two gentle-
men had perfonal reafons to oppofe any accom-
modation with the Prince of Condé, of whofe
revenge and ficklenefs they were very apprehen-
five. They alledged, that they had every thing
to fear from the Prince of Condé, and fcarcely
any thing from the Cardinal, who, although it
were poffible, that he might not readily grant
them all their demands, would ftill be obliged to
obferve them to a certain degree; and, in fhört,
that the propofed marriage was not a fuficient
pledge of fecurity to them, even fhould the Prince
fulfil that article; which it was very likely he
would not do, when once he ſhould have obtained
his liberty.
Thefe arguments were, indeed, plaufible, and
well calculated to make an impreffion on the minds
of the Frondeurs. But the article of the marriage
was
GUY JOLI.
131
was kept ſo profoundly fecret, that none of the
party knew any thing of it, except M. Caumar-
tin, who acquired fome intelligence of it, in
virtue of his being the friend of Madame de
Rhodes, and the confident of the Coadjutor and
the Ducchefs de Chevreufe, by whom he was
much efteemed; for, although very young, he
poffeffed a moft pliant and amiable difpofition,
together with a great fund of knowledge in par
liamentary bufinefs; on which latter account, ei-
ther he, or Joli, was always employed by the
Coadjutor, to draw up the heads of his harangues
in the parliament, and frequently both of them
together.
"
At length, by dint of affiduity, Mifs de Chev-
reufe, Madame de Rhodes, the Coadjutor, and Cau-
martin obtained the concurrence of the Dutchefs de
Chevreuſe and the Marquis de Ligues both to
the marriage and the treaty with the Princes :
the Coadjutor was impowered to negotiate with
the Princes, whilft the Dutchefs, on her part,
fhould ufe every endeavour to procure the confent
of the Duke of Orleans: a meafure not easily to
be effected. Not but that his Royal Highneſs
readily admitted the neceffity of reducing the too
great authority of the Cardinal; that the oppor-
tunity of doing this would be irretrievably loft,
if they waited till the King came of age, which
period approached very fast, and, in short, tirat
the fole means of attaining this end would be to
unite with the Princes. The Count de Bethune,
in whom the Duke of Orleans placed an unlimited
confidence, contributed greatly to make him fen-
G 6
+
fible
132
MEMOIRS OF
A
fible of this neceffity: but his Royal Highness
conftantly dreaded the confequences of this re-
union, imagining that the Prince of Condé would
be too much aggrandized thereby. He, however,
at length, yielded his concurrence, upon a propofi-
tion being made for the Duke d'Enguien's efpoufal
of Mademoiſelle d'Orleans.
Theſe preliminaries being adjuſted, nothing now
remained but to enter into written engagements:
but here a fresh difficulty arofe; for fome of the
Princes friends, who had commenced a private
negotiation with the Cardinal, from whom they'
had received affurances of their Highneffes fpeedy
releaſement, were of opinion that no refolution
ought to be taken, till it was feen what would
be the refult of thefe affurances. Others of the
party maintained, on the contrary, that, his emi-
nency meant only to delude them, and that no-
thing was to be expected, but what they could
wreft from him by force; to which end the af-
fitance of the Frondeurs was indifpenfably ne-
ceffary. But that which proved the greatest ob-
ftacle to the completion of this bufinefs, was an
article, which the Frondeurs infifted on inferting
in the treaty, binding the Princes to co-operate
with them, in their endeavours to procure the
Cardinal's removal; to which many of the other
party would by no means be induced to accede,
being profeffed Mazarins, and fworn foes to the
Frondeurs.
Nevertheleſs, as the Prince of Condé had en-
truded the fole care of this negotiation to the
Princess
GUY JOLI.
133
Princeſs Palatine, the prefident Viole, and M. de
Croiffi, who were totally uninfluenced by any
regard for the Cardinal, they gave no heed to the
above confiderations, but entered into conference
with the Coadjutor, who referted for that pur-
poſe, every night, incognito, to the Hotel of the
Prince's Palatine, whither he was often accompanied
by Caumartin.
This tranfaction, however, was not carried on
fo fecretly, but that the Cardinal received intima-
tion of it; but as the intelligence was extremely
vague, and as he was then in treaty with fome
of the principal friends of the Princes, he gave
himſelf very little concern on the fubject; imagin-
ing that his great fucceffes in Normandy, Bur.
gundy, and at Bourdeaux had rendered him in-
vincible.
As Rhetel, on the frontiers of Champagne, was
the only place, which ſtill remained in poffeffion
of the enemy, his eminency determined to at
tempt the reduction of it in perfon; and, his
good fortune fill attending him, he not only fab-
dued Rhetel, but acquired a ftill greater advantage
from the defeat of the army under the Viſcount
de Turenne, by that of the King, commanded by
the Marſhal du Pleffis, near Saumepuis: after which
he returned in triumph to Paris, full of the idea,
that all his opponents muft now, inevitably, quit
the field.
But he quickly found his error: for, in con-
ſequence
134
MEMOIRS OF
fequence of the treaty with the Princes having
been figned, a few days after his arrival, the
Princess Dowager of Condé prefented a petition,
together with a letter from the Princes, which
were taken under confideration by the parliament,
in spite of all the artifices of the Cardinal to pre-
vent it; and it was, at length, determined to pre-
fent remonftrances to the King and Queen, and
to request the Duke of Orleans to interpofe his
authority towards procuring the enlargement of
the Princes.
His Royal Highneſs had taken no part in theſe
determinations, altho' he publickly avowed his
wishes for the Princes liberty, and had openly de-
clared, that their removal to Havre had been ef-
fected without his confent: but, as his treaty
with them was not as yet concluded, he did not
think proper to engage himſelf before he had pro-
vided for his fafety.
At length, the whole bufinefs was adjusted by
the Coadjutor, who concluded two treaties with
the Princeſs Palatine, to whom the Prince of
Condé had fent full powers for that purpoſe,
written on a piece of flate; the Dutchefs de Lon-
gueville alfo having promifed, in the name of the
Princes, to ratify any engagements which their
agents fhould enter into, in their behalf. The
first treaty, which related to the Duke of Orleans
in particular, ftipulated, that the Prince of Condé
fhould eſpouſe one of the Princeffes, his Royal
Highness's daughters; together with feveral other
conditions, all declaratory of the moft firm friend-
fhip
GUY JOL I.
135
hip and attachment in the contracting parties.
The ſecond treaty concerned the Coadjutor, the
Duke of Beaufort, and the rest of the party, of
whom, however, the majority were totally igno-
rant of this whole tranfaction. It confifted chiefly
of the article refpecting Mifs de Chevreufe's mai-
riage with the Prince of Conti, including a reci-
procal engagement to act in concert againſt the
Cardinal, and of another, for fecuring to the
Duke of Beaufort the command of the fleet, to
which poft, the Prince of Condé thereby gave
up all claim. This treaty was figned by the
Coadjutor and the Duke of Beaufort, from whom
great care had been taken to conceal the article
of the marriage of Mifs de Chevreuſe, left Ma-
dame de Montbazon, through her jealoufy of
that lady and her mother, the Dutchefs, fhould
break off the affair: and the Coadjutor, in reading
the treaty, dexterously ſkipped over that clauſe,
without the Duke's perceiving the deception. It
has even been pretended that, the more eafily
to obtain the Duke of Beaufort's concurrence, a
promife was made, in the name of the Princes,
of a confiderable fum of money to Madame de
Montbazon. Nothing now remained, but to fix
on the proper mode of proceeding, in order to
fet the Princes at liberty. On this fubject, api-
nions were divided: fome declared for feizing the
perfon of the Cardinal, and confining him in the
Baftille; for which fervice the Coadjutor propoſed
the Marquis de Chandenier, the firſt captain of
the King's guards, for whom he offered to be
refponfible and the matter was carried fo far,
that the Coadjutor fent notice to many of his
friends,
136
MEMOIRS OF
friends, that the defign was to be executed on
fuch a night, on which M. Tubeuf, the fuperin.
tendant to the Queen, was to give an entertainment
to the Cardinal, defiring them to hold themselves
in readinefs on the occafion.
But, as the Duke of Orleans could not be pre-
vailed on to yield his confent to this meafure, it
was, therefore, refolved, to importune the Count
for an answer to the parliaments remonftrances,
which had been hitherto delayed, under various
pretexts, and through the intrigues of the firſt
prefident, who, although a friend of the Princes,
could not bear that the Frondeurs fhould have
the reputation of procuring their enlargement. But
the parliament was now fo urgent in its appli-
cations, that the court did not think it prudent
any longer to refift; more eſpecially as feveral
of the members had lately renewed fome proceed-
ings against the Cardinal. The Queen, therefore,
in anſwer to the remonftrances, declared, that ſhe
was willing to grant the Princes their liberty:
but, as the Dutchefs de Longueville and the Vif.
count de Turenne ftill kept poffeffion of Stenai,
they ought firſt to ſurrender that city to the King,
and return to their obedience: after which her
Majefty would give the neceffary orders towards
fatisfying the wiſhes of the parliament. This an◄
fwer was confidered as an artifice of the Cardinal,
to gain time, and to evade a compliance with the
intention of the remonftrances, by a captious pro-
pofition, which tended to delay, at leaſt, the affair
of
GUY JOLI
137
of the Princes enlargement, if not totally to fet
it afide.
Immediately, therefore, after this anfwer had
been read, in the parliament, fome of the mem-
bers of the court of inquefts declared, that it was
neceffary to proceed to a deliberation thereon; with
which the first Prefident found himſelf obliged to
acquiefce; the Coadjutor having acquainted the
affembly, that the Duke of Orleans judged it re-
quifite to the public welfare that the Princes ſhould
be fet at liberty.
The debates lafted a confiderable time, as the
Frondeurs and the Princes party differed widely in
their fentiments on the ſubject; the first ftill de-
claring for the Cardinal's removal, whilft the lat-
ter, with equal zeal, oppofed the meaſure. At
length, fome of the members having adviſed an
invitation to be fent to the Duke of Orleans,
requesting him to take his feat in the affembly,
the propoſal was univerfally adopted. His Royal
Highness declined complying with this request for
feveral days, but, at laſt, he yielded; having taken
great offence at fome expreffions which the Car-
dinal had ufed in the council, faying that the
parliament of Paris feem'd inclined to follow the
example of that of England, and comparing the
Coadjutor and the Duke of Beaufort to Fairfax
and Cromwell. Thefe expreffions, by which the
minifter meant to render that party odious, pro-
duced a quite contrary effect: infomuch, that
his Royal Highneſs told her Majefty, in plain
terms, that he would never again fet foot in
the
1
138
MEMOIRS OF
the council, whilft the Cardinal continued in
it.
In this temper of mind, his Royal Highnefs
refolved to go to the parliament, although the
Queen uſed every endeavour to diffuade him there-
from, and to prevail on him to return to the
council for this purpoſe, her Majefty offered to
conduct the King to the Luxembourg palace, at-
tended by a fingle equerry, and without his guards,
to manifeft the confidence the placed in him, (the
Duke) and to remove the jealoufy he had conceiv-
ed, on account of the orders which had been given
to the gendarmes and the light horfe to hold them-
felves in readineſs, in cafe their affiftance ſhould
be wanted. But this produced no effect. The
Cardinal, therefore, perceiving that nothing was to
be expected from his Royal Highness, diſpatched
the Marſhal de Grammont, a friend of the Prince
of Condé, in all hafte to Havre, to treat with the
Princes on the terms of their releaſement; but
without impowering him to conclude upon any
thing. In the mean time, the Duke of Orleans
having taken his feat in the parliament, the court,
being defirous to put a flop to their deliberations,
fent the Marquis de Rhodes, the grand mafter of
the ceremonies, with a letter de Cachet, requiring
the attendance of the whole company, at nine
o'clock, at the Palais Royal, there to be acquainted
with his Majesty's further pleaſure. The first Pre-
fident recommended obedience to this order; but
feveral of the counsellors of the court of inquests
oppoſed the meaſure; obferving that it had been
already agreed not to pay any attention to thofe
letters
1
GUY JOLI
139
letters de Cachet, which the court was continually
fending, and that, as his Royal Highness was
then prefent, it was neceffary to proceed to the
confideration of the matter before them. This ad-
vice would certainly have been adopted, in fpite
of all the efforts of the firft Prefident, had not the
Duke of Orleans propofed to fend deputies, forth-
with, to the Palais Royal, to learn her Majeſty's
pleafure, and that, in the mean time, the affem-
bly ſhould continue fitting, in order to take the
Queen's answer into immediate confideration. The
first Prefident and fome other members were ac-
cordingly deputed on this bufinefs, and three hours
elapfed before they returned, during which time
his Royal Highnefs remained in the affembly.
When the deputies had again taken their feats,
the first Prefident, with the moft palpable affecta-
tion, in order to imprefs a high idea of the dig-
nity of the court, declared that their accefs to the
Palais Royal had been rendered very difficult, by
the long train of carriages, and the great throng of
courtiers; but that, having been, at length, ad:
mitted to an audience, the King and Queen, the
Duke of Anjou, the Cardinal, and feveral other
great officers of the ftate being prefent, the keep-
er of the feals addreffed them in the following
fpeech:
"Gentlemen,
"The Queen has commanded your attendance,
purpoſely to acquaint you that, for thefe two
"days paft, a report has been affiduously circu-
"lated by the Coadjutor, with the malevolent
"defign of exciting the public refentment, that
** Cardinal
140
MEMOIRS OF
"Cardinal Mazarin, on a late occafion, uttered
"fome very injurious expreffions against your bo-
"dy. Her Majefty, by this method, affures you
"that the accufation is falfe, and informs you of
"what paffed in the council on Wedneſday laſt,
"the time alluded to by the Coadjutor; when,
"in the courſe of a confultation on the ſtate of
"public affairs, the Cardinal ſaid, that he was con-
"vinced that the evil defigns in agitation were not
"levelled at him alone, but at the King's authority
"alfo; that the male-contents having once effected
"their purpoſes against him, would not ftop there,
"but would next attack the Duke of Orleans,
" and afterwards the Queen, and that the Coad-
"jutor was the chief inftigator of all this diforder
and tumult; to which his Royal Highness re-
plied, that the charge brought by the Cardinal
"was ill founded, and that the minifter, and
"his bad conduct were the fole objects of their
defigns: that, after the council broke up, his
"Royal Highneſs complained to the Queen of the
"expreffions which the Cardinal had ufed on the
“occafion, and, on the next day, fent the Mar-
"fhal de Villeroi and M. Le Tellier, to acquaint
"her Majefty, that he would not attend the coun-
"cil again, fo long as the Cardinal fhould con-
"tinue in it: at which determination her Majefty
"is the more chagrined, as he has always acted
"with the greateſt unreſerve towards his Royal
Highness, never concealing from him the mot
"fecret deliberations, and that he cannot but im-
"pute his conduct, in this cafe, to the evil fug-
geftions of the Coadjutor; that with refpect to
"the releaſement of the Princes, her Majefty wiſhes
" fos
1
GUY JOL I.
141
"for that event ftill more earneſtly than he does,
"who ought rather to fear it, and, finally, that.
"The conjures his Royal Highneſs to return im-
"mediately to his feat in the council, where every
thing waits but for his prefence, to be replaced
upon its former footing."
The fir Prefident further acquainted the affem-
bly, that this fpeech was fucceeded by one from
the Queen herſelf, who ordered them to acquaint
his Royal Highnefs, that he could not fufficiently
exprefs the uneafinefs fhe felt on the account of his
retiring from the council, and that the conjured him
to return, affuring him that he ſhould rule, in all caſes,
with a power equal to her own; that ſhe afterwards
promiſed them, that the King fhould not quit the
city, and, finally, that he was ready to grant the
Princes their liberty, free of all conditions, and
that, at the return of the Marshal de Grammont
from Havre, it would be feen which of the two
was most defirous of their enlargement, herfelf or
the Coadjutor, againſt whofe infinuations fhe begged
his Royal Highnefs to be upon his guard. The'
Count de Brienne, one of the fecretaries of ſtate,
then delivered to the parliament a writing, which
contained a confirmation of the firſt preſident's re-
cital, and, addreffing himſelf to the Duke of Or-
leans, acquainted him, that the Queen earnestly
requested his prefence at the Palais Royal, where
fhe wished to confer with him on the prefent ſtate
of affairs. His Royal Highnefs replied, that as
the report which had been made by the firſt pre-
fident was of the utmost importance, he muſt firſt
know
242
OF
MEMOIRS
know the fentiments of the affembly thereon, be-
fore he could determine on the conduct which he
ought to purſue on the occafion. The first pre-
fident inftantly answered, that his Royal Highness
ought to comply with her Majeſty's defire; that
his refufal would create a general tumult and con-
fufion in the ſtate; that every thing might be
adjusted by the propofed conference; or, if that
fhould fail, that the parliament would then fub-
mit itſelf implicitly to his Royal Highness's direc-
tion; and that he conjured him, by his regard
for the welfare and peace of the kingdom, no
longer to reject her Majefty's folicitations. Hav-
ing proceeded thus far, with great energy and
vehemence, the first Prefident now ftopped ſhort
in his harangue: his eyes were filled with tears,
and his whole carriage exhibited the ftrongest marks
of grief: he feemed at a lofs for words to expreſs
himſelf further, and concluded in theſe terms: Ah!
Sir, do not bring ruin on the kingdom; you have ever
born a tender affection to the King!
This fpeech had fuch an effect upon the affem-
bly, that a general filence enfued; no one daring
to interfere, in fo delicate a conjun&ture. The
Duke of Orleans briefly replied, that he would
not refuſe to wait on her Majefty, if the parlia-
ment fhould advife him to it, whatever fubject he
might have for diftruft. But this he faid in a
manner and tone fo irrefolute, that it only en-
creaſed the general embarraffment. The firft Pre-
fident, therefore, laid hold on this occafion, to
reiterate his former arguments, and he would,
poffibly, have at length fucceeded in his defign,
had
GUY JOL I.
143
had not the Duke of Bea ufort interrupted him,
by afking, where was the fecurity for his Royal
Highness's fafety. But even this produced but a
flight effect, as the first Prefident anfwered, with-
out any hesitation, Ah! Sir, it is perfect; the par-
liament will be the hoflages. At length the Coad-
jutor, who had been hitherto filent, addreffed the
firſt Preſident in thefe terms: "His Royal High-
"nefs has already acquainted you, Sir, that he
"will be guided by the advice of this affem-
bly the advice of the affembly is not that of
"one or two, therefore it will be neceffary to
proceed to a deliberation."
C
Theſe words difpelled the general confternation,
and the clamour which enfued, in fupport of the
Coadjutor's opinion, was fo great, that the firſt
Prefident found himſelf, at length, obliged to
yield. The Duke of Orleans, alfo, refumed his
courage, and having commanded the Count de
Brienne to make his excufe to the Queen, he
made the following ſpeech:
"Gentlemen,
impute to me an
change of cor-
exculpate myfelf,
you in its true
"As, from what you have heard, it appears,
that the Queen means to
egregious and reprehenfible
duct, I think it neceflary to
"and to fet the affair before
light. For this purpoſe, I muſt recur as far
<<< back as
a council, which was held at Com-
peigne, about eighteen months ago, relative to
"the diſturbances in Guienne; on which occafion,
"I gave
144
MEMOIRS OF
"I gave it as my opinion, that the moſt likely
"method to calm the troubles of that province
"would be, to recall the Duke d'Epernon. Car-
"dinal Mazarin expreffed himſelf much diffatis-
"fied with me for broaching this advice: he
"defired the Queen to fpeak to me privately on
"the ſubject; and, at a ſubſequent council, which
was held at Paris, on the fame buſineſs, finding
"that I perſiſted in my former opinion, he op-
"poſed it with all his power, and prevailed to
"
have it thought extraordinary. My reſpect for
"her Majefty kept me filent. Some time after-
"wards, the deſign of impriſoning the Princes
was brought upon the carpet: it was repre-
"fented to me, as a meaſure abfolutely neceffary,
"and it was executed without allowing me the
"time I had demanded for determining thereon.
"When the expedition against Bourdeaux was
"propofed, I ftrongly objected to it; urging the
"imminent danger to which the Frontiers would
"be thereby expofed, from the attacks of the ene-
my. My arguments only ferved to incenfe the
* Cardinal, and, without paying any attention to
"them, he prevailed to have the enterprize adopt-
"ed; every purpoſe of which might have been
"much better anfwered by recalling the Duke
64
d'Epernon, and nominating another governor to
the command of the province. Soon after, I
"received intelligence of the obftinate defence of
"Bourdeaux; that the Spaniards had made an
"irruption into Champagne, and that they had
"taken Catelet. To remedy theſe complicated
"misfortunes, I judged it neceffary that depu-
"ties
GUY JOL I.
145
દુઃ
* ties fhould be fent from your body, to co-oper-
"ate in the negotiations refpe&ting Guyenne:
"you, gentlemen, know what kind of reception
they met with. The war continued: a fecond
deputation was refolved on. Cardinal Mazarin
"was much offended with my conduct on the
" occafion; he accufed me of having impeded
"the fuccefs of his Majefty's arms, and pre-
"vailed on the Queen to write to me in thofe
"terms."
"When the Princefs Dowager retired from
"Bourdeaux, the Cardinal had a long conference
"with her Highness, of which he gave me not
"the leaft intimation. The enemy had now pe-
"netrated fo far into the kingdom, that we re-
"ceived intelligence, from different quarters, that
"from their fituation they might reach the foreft
" of Vincennes in twenty-four hours. For the
"greater fecurity of the Princes, I caufed them
"to be removed to Marcouffi; with which ſtep
"the court was much diſpleaſed. The Spaniards
"
having retired, I wrote, thrice, to the Queen,
"to know whether it was her pleaſure that the
"Princes fhould be removed back to Vincennes;
"but her Majefty never returned me any anſwer.
Upon the King's return to Fontainbleau, I went
thither immediately. The Queen earneftly preff-
"ed me to confent to the removal of the Princes
"to Havre, and, that I might not offend her,
"I was forced to comply. A fhort time after-
"wards, I fent for the keeper of the feals and M. !
« Le Tellier, and acquainted them, that I did not
"at all approve of the meaſure, and that, in an
VOL. I.
" affair
H
વે
146
MEMOIRS OF
"ffair of fuch importance, I must be vanquished
4<
by arguments and not by intreaties. The Car-
• dinal inftigated her Majelty to reproach me on
"my conduct, and even intimated to me fome-
thing of his diffatisfaction him felf. From that
time, he has entertained ſo much animofity againſt
"me, that most of the late councils have paffed
in conteftations between us. He has concealed
from me the knowledge of feveral matters of
"confequence: he has propofed violent meaſures.
CC
againſt this company: he has urged me to a-
"bandon my nephew, the Duke of Beaufort, and
"the Coadjutor: he has filled the King's mind
" with jealoufies of his fubjects, and maxims dan-
"gerous to the welfare of the ftate. In short, at
the council held on Wedneſday laft, fpeaking
of your affembly, he had the audacity to affert,
that the King was the ultimate object of your
defigns; that you meant to begin with him fir,
"thereby intimating the conduct of the English,
refpecting the viceroy of Ireland, after which,
neither myfelf, the Queen, nor even the King
would be fafe from your attacks; but that, if
"I would fuffer him to take his own meaſures
،،
with the feditious crew, he would effectually
fruftrate all their attempts. To this I replied,
"that the parliament of Paris was injured by
being compared with that of England, that
"you were all honeft men and faithful fubje&s
to the King, and that your whole refentment
"was directed against the minifter, whom you
"confidered as the fole author of all the difor-
"ders which had arifen in the flate. Finally,
perceiving that he perfifted in this kind of lan-
"guage,
GUY JOLI.
147
<<
guage, 1 acquainted the Queen with my de-
"termination, no longer to affociate with a man
"who filled the King's mind with ſuch groundleſs
"jealoufies. On the next day, I fent for the
keeper of the feals, the Marfhal de Villeroi,
"and M. Le Tellier, and informed them of my
"fixed reſolution to appear no more in the coun-
"cil, fo long as the Cardinal fhould continue
"in it. This, gentlemen, is an exact detail of
my conduct; from whence, I flatter myſelf, it
"will appear, that I have not been biaffed by
any private confiderations. Every one has been
"witness to the manner in which I have acted
"hitherto, and to the refpect which I have al-
ways manifeſted for the Queen: I will never
lofe fight of that refpect, much leſs will I ever
"fail in my duty to the King, to promote whoſe
ſervice has been the conſtant ſtudy and chief hap-
pineſs of my life."*
This harangue, tho' delivered off-hand, and
without any previous preparation, was uttered by
his Royal Highneſs with fuch fluency, and with
an air of majesty fo worthy his high defcent, that
* His Royal Highness's firmness bore no proportion to
bis eloquence; ip which latter quality the Duke of Beau-
fort was particularly deficient. This circumftance gave rife
to the following lines:
Beaufort fhines in feats of arms,
And Gafton in oration
Why has not Beaufort Gafton's tongue!
Or Gafton Beaufort's arm fo ftrong,
To fave a finking Nation!
H 2
it
148
MEMOIRS OF
الله
it was received with the univerfal applaufe of the
affembly, to which fucceeded a loud and continual
clamour, reſpecting the neceffity of proceeding to a
deliberation. However, the first Prefident and the
Prefident Le Coigneux ftill perfifted in recom-
mending a conference between his Royal High-
nefs and the Queen: but their arguments proved
of no more effect than thoſe of the attorney ge-
neral, who, after opening his harangue with an
obfervation that, the eclipses of the heavenly lumi-
naries arofe, folely, from the interpofition of other
intervening bodies, (from whence it was imagined
that he intended to recommend the most rigorous
proceedings againſt the Cardinal) fuddenly chang-
ed his tone, and concluded with requeſting his
Royal Highness to yield to the Queen's follicita-
tions. He alſo feigned to weep, in imitation of
the first Prefident, but this mummery was treated
with the ridicule it merited. The first Prefident,
not at all difcouraged by his former ill fuccefs,
now returned to the charge, with the fame arti-
fices as before, and, addreffing himself to the Duke
of Orleans, "Ah! Sir," cried he, "the whole
affembly perceives the emotion of your mind:
"for God's fake, Sir, for the fake of the King
" and the ftate, do not prefer violent meafures!
"your arguments will have much greater weight
CC
with her Majefty than all the remonflrances of
this affembly." But, having, unfortunately, af-
ferted that he would, venture to be refponfible for
the enlargement of the Princes; that they were,
perhaps, at liberty at that, very inftant; that the
Marſhal de Grammont was gone to Havre, ex-
prefly
$
GUY JOL I.
149
prefly for that purpoſe, and that the Queen had
commanded him to make this declaration to the
affembly: the Duke of Orleans immediately re-
plied, "Mr. first Prefident you are then much
"better informed, in this cafe, than I am; for
"all that I know of the matter is, that the Mar-
"fhal de Grammont has been fent to negotiate
"with the Princes, refpecting their releaſement,
4
but without any power to conclude upon the
"terms." The firft Prefident, therefore, finding
all his hopes defeated, now proceeded to take the
opinions of the different members, fome of which
were, as is customary in all great affemblies, well
worthy of attention, whilft others were too frivo-
lous to merit any regard. Every one expected that
the Coadjutor would have entered into a formal
juftification of his conduct: but he was more pru-
dent than they imagined him to be. His ſpeech
was conceived in the following terms:
"Gentlemen,
"In reply to the injurious reflections 'which
"have been thrown out against me, I fall only
"obferve that, * In difficillimis Reip. Temporibus
"Urbem non deferui, in profperis nihil de publico de-
"libavi; in deſperatis nihil timui †. I will not
H 3
'deny
{
* This piece of Latin was compofed off-hand by the
Coadjutor: but the greatest part of the audience took it for
a quotation from Cicero, or fome other famous author a-
mongst the ancients.
:
+
This paffage may be thus rendered: "In the
bulent ftate of public affairs, I never deferted my
>
moft tur-
duty to my
<<< fellow-
150
MEMOIRS OF
"not deny but that I am fenfibly affected by the
"unfavourable opinion which their Majeflies have
" been led to entertain of me; but it is my con-
folation, that I am calumniated by a perfon,
"whofe very praifes are held in abhorrence by
"all good men. The public approbation with
"which the Duke of Orleans has been pleafed to
"kongur me, renders all further juflification of my
"conduct both unneceffary and improper: I there-
"fore give it as my advice, that the Queen be
"entreated to iffue an edict, declaratory of the
"innocence of the Princes, and to difmifs Car-
"dinal Mazarin from his Majefty's prefence and
"councils: and I alfo recommend, that this af
fembly acompany its complaints, of the reflec-
tions uttered by the Cardinal, with a demand of
a public reparation of the injury.”
re
Some of the members propofed to proceed ri-
gorously againſt the Cardinal, by informations, de-
crees, &c. but, the Duke of Orleans having given
it as his opinion, that the times were not adapted
to the execution of fuch violent meaſures, it was
determined, at length, to petition the King and
the Queen to grant the Princes their liberty, to
iffue an edict, fetting forth their innocence, and,
alfo, to banish the Cardinal; and it was further
refolved to meet again on the Monday following,
in order to take their Majefties anfwer into con-
fideration. The affembly did not break up till
"fellow-citizens: I have never relaxed in my attention to
"the public welfare in the time of profperity; nor have I
“ever given way to fear in the hour of danger."
four
GUY JOL I.
151
four o'clock in the afternoon: and, when the Duke
of Orleans came out, he was received by the peo-
ple, of whom a great concourfe had gathered a-
bout the Palais, with much joy, and with loud and
reiterated fhouts of "God fave the King! Nə
"Mazarin !"
This determination of the parliament greatly
furprized and difconcerted the court, but did not
totally difpirit: and, as the Queen perceived that
the declaration which he had enjoined the firft
Prefident to make, in her name, relative to the
releaſement of the Princes, had not produced the
intended effect the refolved to difavow it; in
hopes that the friends of the Princes, who had
fo ftrenuouſly endeavoured to procure the Cardi-
nal's removal, might be induc'd to defift from
that demand, when they fhould fee that nothing
was to be obtained from the court, in favour or
their Highneffes, by a perfeverance in fuch a plas
of conduct. Her Majesty, therefore, fent the keeper
of the feals, the Marſhal de Villeroi, and M. Le
Tellier to the Duke of Orleans, to notify to him
her difavowal of the first Prefident's affertions, con-
cerning the enlargement of the Princes, and to ac-
quaint his Royal Highnefs that no refolution had
been taken thereon, fince the last council, at which
he was prefent: they were alfo very urgent with
hm to return to the Palais Royal; to which he
only replied, that all matters reſpecting the affair
of the Princes must be firft adjutted.
On the Monday morning, his Royal Highneſs
acquainted the parliament with the particulars of
H +
this
152
MEMOIRS OF
this meffage; which excited a violent clamour in
the affembly, against the firft Prefident, who was
thrown into the utmost confufion. by the circum-
fance. His embaraffment encreafed, upon fome
queftions being put to him, relative to the remon-
trances which the affembly had ordered, by its
Jast edit, to be prefented to their Majefties; and,
as it appeared that he had purpofely delayed his
compliance with that order, this gave rife to frefh
murmurs against him, and created the ftrongeſt
fufpicions in every one's mind of the evil defigns
of the court: particularly as his Royal Highneſs,
at the fame time complain'd, that the Queen had
fent pofitive injunctions to the provost of the mer-
chants, and all the other officers of the city, to pay
Bo obedience to his commands, although he was
velted with the character. of lieutenant-general of
It was therefore concluded that fresh
remonftrances fhould be prefented to the Queen,
and that the Duke of Orleans fhould be thanked
for the protection which he had been pleaſed to
grant to the company.
the crown.
The Cardinal, now, clearly perceiv'd the ne-
ceffity of a voluntary retirement, in order to avoid
the being compelled thereto by force, and to fhel-
ter himſelf from thofe infults to which he would
inevitably be expofed, in cafe any tumult ſhould
arife. Having, therefore, communicated his dc-
fign to fome of his particular friends, they ad-
viled him to carry off the King and Queen; af-
ter which he might fet at nought all the pro-
ceedings of the parliament, and, by putting him-
felf at the head of an army, might reduce the
Princes
}
GUY JOLI.
153
*
་
Princes party to apply to him for their releaſe;
as he would at all times be the arbiter of their
fate. The fame expedient had been fuggefted to
him after the battle of Rhetel; and it is certain
that, had he adopted it at that time, he would
have greatly embarraffed his enemies, who were
divided into different parties, and were much dif
fatisfied with each other. But he was fo much
intoxicated by his late victory, and by the fuc-'
cefs he had met with in Normandy, Burgundy,
and Guienne, that he imagined it would be an
eafy matter for him to deftroy the one party, by
uniting with the other; after which, he concluded,
all refiftance would fubfide: but the event did
not answer his expectations. However, the great
change, which had now taken place in the late
of public affairs, rendered fach a design not only
dangerous but impracticable alfo; the Cardinal's
enemies having taken proper meaſures to guard
against any attempt of the kind, and having pro
cured, from all parts, a number of foldiers, who
conftantly patroled, on horfeback, during the night,
round the Palais Royal and the environs...
Thefe precautions were authorized by the Duke
of Orleans; who, together with the Dukes of
Beaufort, of Nemours, &c. and many others of
the nobility, whom his Royal Highness, had per-
mitted to affemble, held themselves continnally in
readineſs, to take the held upon the very firit
alarm. As the Cardinal was well acquainted with
all thefe, tranfactions, he, therefore, now deter-
mined to retire. alone; in hopes that his abfence
might appease the popular ferment, and open the
938
HS
↓
way
$54
MEMOIRS OF
way to a negotiation. Accordingly, on the 6th of
February 1651, at about eleven o'clock in the
evening, his eminency quitted the city, on foot,
and diſguiſed in a grey habit: he was accom-
panied only by his equerry and three other per-
fons, who conducted him, through the gate de
Richelieu, to a fpot, a little way out of the city,
where they mounted fome horfes, which were in
readinefs, and repaired to a more diftant rendez-
vous, at which place they found a body of five
hundred horfe, by whom the Cardinal was eſcort-
ed to S. Germain. The news of his departure
was quickly spread through the city and the
Queen having fent the Count de Brienne, to ac-
quaint the Duke of Orleans with the event, his
Royal Highness inftantly carried the intelligence
to the parliament, declaring, at the fame time,
that he muft ftill decline the Queen's propofal of
a conference, fo long as the Cardinal fhould re-
main in the neighbourhood of Paris, and the court
fhould perfift in detaining the Princes in confine-
ment*. This refolution of his Royal Highness
was univerfally approved: and, in confirmation of
it, the parliament ordered that the Queen fhould
be humbly requested, that very day, to expedite
In the Paris edition of this work, there is a note
containing the following paffage: "M. de C. had carried
"the treaty, for the releaſe of the Princes, in his pocket
"for three whole days, before he could prevail on the
"Duke of Orleans to fign it: and it was, at length,
<figned, between two doors, at the Luxembourg Pa-
lace, M. de C's hat ferving as a table on the occa-
«^Kog.”
the
GUY JOL I.
155
the neceffary inftructions for fetting the Princes at
liberty; that the moft grateful thanks of that af-
fembly ſhould be returned to their Majeſties, for
the difmiffion of the Cardinal, and that their Ma-
jefties fhould be further follicited, to command i
his eminency to depart the kingdom, and to iffue
an ordonnance, excluding from his Majefty's coun-
cils, in future, ail foreigners, not excepting fuch
as ſhould be naturalized, and, in general, all thoſe
who ſhould have fworn allegiance to any other
Prince than the King, their lawful fovereign. Ia
confequence of this determination, the first Pre-
fident, attended by the other deputies, waited on
the Queen at the Palais Royal; but her Majeſty
acquainted them, that no anfwer could be return-
ed to their application, till fhe had firſt taken the
advice of her council, which could not be affem-
bled, fo long as the Duke of Orleans, who pre-
fided therein, fhould refufe his attendance; and
that his Royal Highness's further perfeverance in
fuch refufal would compel her, to convoke an affem-
bly of the nobility of the kingdom, in order to
take their fentiments on the preſent ftate of af-
fairs. The Queen, accordingly, fent the Dukes
de Vendôme, d'Elbeuf, and d'Epernon; the Mar.
fhals d'Etrées, Schomberg, de l'Hôpital, de Vil-
leroi, Dupleffis, d'Hocquincourt, and de Grancey,
together with the Bishop of Ambrun*, to the
Luxembourg Palace, who acquainted his Royal
Highness that, the Queen having expreffed a de-
fre that they should affemble at the Palais Royal,
* This Prelate's name was George d'Aubuffon.
H 6
they
156,
OF
MEMOIRS
they had waited on him, to request that he would.
be pleaſed to attend, on the occafion; affuring
him that every thing might, by this means, be
adjusted, and offering to put themſelves into the
hands of his guards, as hoftages for his perfonal
fecurity. To this the Duke d'Elbeuf added, very
indifcreetly, that he would be his Royal Highness's
furety, upon which the Duke of Orleans, who
had, long entertained a pique against that noble-
man, on account of his attachment to the Cardi-
nal, contrary to all the obligations which had
been conferred upon him by his Royal Highness,
tartly replied: "It well becomes you, Mazarin,
a vaffal, to intermeddle in this bufinefs! you,
"who ought daily to attend my levee, are a very
"proper perfon to be my furety! but it is well-
"known, that this your change of fentiment has
"been occafioned by the grants of land and money
* which you have obtained. Were it not for the
reſpect I bear to thefe gentlemen, in whofe com-
pany you are, I would teach you a proper mode
"of behaviour to me. From this hour, I forbid
·
you my houſe, and my prefence." His Royal
Highness, then, addreffing himfelf to the reft of
the company, returned them thanks for their be-
coming.comportment; but informed them, that
he could not confent, conformably with the ad-
vice of his friends, to go to the Palais Royal, till
the Princes fhould be fet at liberty, and till the
Cardinal fhould have quitted his refidence, at the
very gates, as it were, of Paris, where he ftill
governed, with as great authority as if he was at
the Louvre. The fleady perfeverance which the
Duke
GUY JOL I.
137
Duke of Orleans manifefted on this occafion, great-
ly furprized the Queen, who had, in common with
many other perfons, entertained hopes, that the
Cardinal's retreat would have removed all his fufpi-
cions, and have deprived him of every further pre-
text for refufing to attend at the council. Beſides,
it is beyond a doubt, that this was his Royal
Highness's first intention; of which he, twice fent
the most pofitive affurances to her Majefty: but
the Princes friends foon prevailed on him to alter
his refolution, by alarming his fears for his per-
fonal fafety, and by reprefenting to him the di-
lemma to which, they pretended, he would be
reduced; either to abandon the interefts of thoſe
with whom he had entered into treaty, or elſe
to reject the applications which the Queen would
naturally make to him in perfon, at the pro-
pofed conference; whereby her Majefty would be
much more fenfibly offended, than by the more
diſtant excufes of which he might avail him
felf.
The Queen, therefore, dropped all thoughts of
convoking the nobility; and, finding herſelf cloſe-
ly preffed to give an anſwer to the two last edicts
of the parliament, her Majefty fent the King's
council to the affembly, with a declaration, pur-
porting that, if the Duke of Orleans ftill perfifted
in his refuſal to go to the Palais Royal, ſhe would,
to demonftrate the fincerity of her intentions,
command the Marthal de Villeroi, the keeper of
the feals, and M. Le Tellier to wait on his Royal
Highness, in order to concert the neceffary mea-
fures for releafing the Princes from their confine-
4
ment:
15.8
MEMOIRS OF
ment: to which her Majefty added an affur-
ance, that the Cardinal's difmiffion from the court
was final. Although the Duke of Oleans ex-
with the conciliatory
preffed himself fati.fied
terms of this declaration, yet it did not at all
abate the virulency of the parliament againſt the
Cardinal. A freſh edi& was, therefore, iffued;
by which it was ordered that, in confequence
of the above declaration of their Majefties, Car-
dinal Mazarin, his relations, and his foreign do-
meftics fhould quit the kingdom in a fortnight,
and fhould never return to it again, under any
pretext whatfoever; that, in cafe of their non-
compliance with this order, criminal proceffes
fhould be inftituted against them, and the faithful
fubjects of the King fhould be permitted to attack
them perfonally; and that all Governors, Mayors,
and Sheriffs fhould uſe the utmoft diligence to
prevent their taking fhelter in any of the cities
in the King's dominion:: and, laftly, it was or-
dered, that this edict fhould be published by found
of trumpet.
However, the conferences ftill went on, at the
Duke of Orleans's palace, where the Dukes de
Beaufort and de la Rochefoucault, the Coadjutor,
the Preſident Viole, and M. Arnauld attended, to
concert matters with the commiffioners whom the
Queen had nominated for that purpoſe. After
fome time had been spent in debates, it was, at
length, agreed that the Duke de la Rochefou-
cault, M. de la Vrilliere, the Prefident Viole,
and M. Arnauld fhould, immediately, fet off for
Havre, with a letter de Cachet, figned by the
Queen
GUY JOLF
159
Queen and his Royal Highnefs, containing ex-
prefs orders to M. de Bar, to fet the Princes at
liberty. All caufe of complaint feemed now to
be removed; when, fuddenly, a report was cir-
culated, that the Queen had formed a defign to
conduct the King fecretly from Paris, which re-
vived the apprehenfions of the people. It was
never properly known from whence this report
originated, or how far it was founded on fact:
but the Duke of Orleans feemed fully fatisfied of
its truth; declaring openly that he had received
the moſt convincing intelligence of it. This cir-
cumftance gave rise to a conjecture, that the Queen
would not, fo readily, have agreed to a confe-
rence, but with the view of removing all caufe
for fufpicion, that he might, with greater eafe,
carry her projected fcheme into execution. Be
that as it may; the Duke of Orleans made fuch
effectual difpofitions to fruftrate the defign, that
her Majefty could not poffibly have fucceeded, even
if he had attempted the enterprize; eſpecially as,
at the inftigation of the Coadjutor, five or fix
companies of the citizens, in the quarter of S.
Honoré, affembled, at two o'clock in the morn-
ing, and took poffeffion of fuch of the city gates as
were neareſt to the Palais Royal. However, theſe
proc:edings were much difapproved by many of
the members of the parliament; and the first
Prefident and fome others, openly condemned the
meaſure in very strong terms. But every one ac-
quiefced, when the Duke of Orleans had inform-
ed the affembly, that the whole was executed in
virtue of thofe orders which he had judged it
expe
160
MEMOIRS OF
}
·
expedient to iffue, to prevent the fuccefs of a
freſh ſcheme which had been concerted, to conduc
the King by ſtealth from the city and it was re-
folved to entreat the Queen to quiet the minds of
the people, by removing every caufe of fufpicion
on the fubject; with which her Majefty was O-
bliged to comply, by delivering up the gates into
the hands of the citizens. The alarm which the
above report had created, occafion'd fo ftrict a
watch to be kept, that all the coaches paffing
through the Gate Dauphine, in their way to the
fair at S. Germain, underwent a narrow fearch,
through an apprehenfion that the King might
poffibly be concealed in one or other of them.
In this fituation of affairs, the deputies, who were
appointed to carry the orders for the relcafement
of the Princes, fat out for Havre. But Cardinal
Mazarin, who fill remained in the neighbourhood
of Paris, being apprized of rhis tranfaction, and
wifhing to have the credit of releafing the Princes
himſelf, got the fart of the deputies, and, tra-
welling poft, night and day, reached Havre be-
fore them. He arrived at that place on the Mon-
day morning, February 13, 1651, and went, im-
mediately, to the citadel, to pay his refpects
to the Princes, and to acquaint them, that they
were at liberty to retire wherever they fhould
think proper.
He even debafed himſelf fo far,
as to throw himself at the Prince of Condé's
foet, and, with tears in his eyes, to follicit his
Highness's protection: but, the Prince's anfwers,
during a converfation which lasted upwards of an
hour, were merely general, and of little import.
Immediately after dinner, the Princes fat out for
Paris,
GUY JOLI
161
}
Paris, where they arrived on the 16th of the fame
month, and were met, on the road, by a very
confiderable number of the nobility. Even the
*
Duke of Orleans went as far as S. Denis to meet
them; where, the Princes having quitted their
coach, his Royal Highness did the fame; and, as
foon as the first compliments were over, prefented
to them the Duke of Beaufort and the Coadjutor,
whom they loaded with civilities: after which
their Highneffes purfued the remainder of their
journey, in the Duke of Orleans's coach. Im-
mediately upon their arrival at Paris, they were
conducted, by the Duke of Orleans, to an au-
dience of the King and Queen; by whom they
were received very graciously. They were
tended, wherever they went, by a great number
of carriages and a prodigious concourſe of people,
who faluted them with repeated fhouts of "God
at-
fave the King! God fave the Princes!" and even
bonfires were made, on the occafion, in many parts.
of the city.
On the next day, their Highneffes went to the
Palais, to return thanks to the parliament for its
late good offices. In a day or two after, the
King fent an edit to the parliament, declaratory
of the innocence of the Princes; which was re-
gistered on the 28th of February. At length, in
order to give entire fatisfaction to the parliament,
and to put a stop to all further deliberations, the
King iffued an ordinance, by which all foreigners,.
thoſe who ſhould be naturalized not excepted, were
for ever excluded from his Majesty's councils, as.
likewife:
162
MEMOIRS OF
likewife all Cardinals, even fuch as ſhould be
natives of France.* The parliament was a long
time employed in the confideration of this latter
claufe, and the debates on the ſubject were very
elaborate and interefting. The infertion of this
claufe muſt be chiefly imputed to the intrigues
of Cardinal Mazarin's partizans; who, enraged at
the late difmiffion of their patron, took this me-
thod to fatlate their revenge on the Coadju-
tor, whoſe whole foul, they well knew, was
occupied with the defire of obtaining that dig-
nity.
Thus ended the impriſonment of the Prince of
Condé during which period he received the moſt
effential fervices from an infinite number of friends,
both within and without the kingdom. It muſt
be acknowledged, however, that it was to the
Frondeurs that he, chiefly, owed his liberty; al-
though it was the opinion of many, that they
afted contrary to their own intereft in the part
they took. But, fetting afide the private con-
fiderations, by which they may have been in-
duced to this conduct, it is very certain that,
It was
on this occafion, that M. Talon faid to
the King" Although it is to your Majefty, alone, that
"the Cardinals are indebted for their promotion, and
"not to the Pope, who fimply confirms your Majefty's
"nomination; yet, no fooner are they invefted with this
"dignity, than they not only deem themselves Coun-
"fellors, Senators, and Coadjutors of the pontifical power,
"but they even imagine that they are, thereby, rendered
"partakers of it's very effence, and entitled, in fome fort,
to a fhare of its authority," &c•
excepting
GUY JOLI
163
excepting the Marquiffes de Noirmoutier and de
Laigues, all the other leaders of the party con-
fented with great unwillingness to his Highnefs's
impriſonment, and that they firft ufed every ef-
fort to prevail on him to be reconciled to them.
As the Queen's confent to the Cardinal's dif
miffion, and the releaſe of the Princes, was to-
tally involuntary, and had been wrung from her
by force, the fubfequent tranfactions must be con-
fidered as the confequences, only, of the former
intrigues. What related to the Princes gave her
Majefty little uneasiness; her chief concern was
for the Cardinal's abfence: and, as the recent
union of the Princes with the Frondeurs had pro-
duced his eminency's difmiffion, and continued
an invincible obftacle to his return, fhe put in
practice every art to break their connection, pur-
fuant to the earneſt exhortations which the daily
received from the Cardinal on that head. This
conftant correſpondence, between her Majefty and
the Cardinal, having tranfpired, occafioned much
murmuring among the people, and gave great
umbrage to the Princes and to the parliament.
The Prince of Condé feemed to be firmly at-
tached to his new connections, and conftantly ma-
nifefted a ftrong refentment against Cardinal Ma-
zarin. It is, however, a certain fact, that his
Highneſs, even at this time, had conceived the
defign of re-adjufling matters with the Cardinal,
and that he had no other view, in all his pro-
ceedings, than to frighten his eminency into an
implicit fubmiffion to his will; by which means
he
164
MEMOIRS OF
he hoped to obtain that uncontroulable authority
in the cabinet, which had ever been the fole aim
of all his projects. But, as he carefully concealed.
his intentions from the knowledge of the public,
and fedulously avoided giving any grounds for
fufpicion by his actions, every one heartily con-
curred in the attempt to render the Cardinal's
return impracticable. With this view, the par-
liament, now refumed its former deliberations on
the fubject, with fresh vigour; in confequence of
which, new edicts were iſſued against the Cardi-
nal, and deputies were fent, to make enquiries
into the cauſe of his long ftay at fome particular
places on his rout, to oblige him to quit the
kingdom withour further delay, and to fee that
none of the Governors on the frontiers fhould
permit him to take refuge in any of their di
Atricts.
A
In the mean time, the Duke of Beaufort and
the Dutchefs de Longueville, who had had but a
fmall fhare in the releaſement of the Princes,
fearing that their confequence in public affairs
would be utterly loft, if they fhould fuffer the
marriage of the Prince of Conti with Mademoi-
felle de Chevreufe to take place, determined to
fet every engine in motion to prevent that al-
liance; and, as they penetrated, more readily than
any one elfe, into the fentiments of the Prince of
Condé, they imagined that there would be no
great rifque in giving the Queen a hint, that the
Prince of Condé was not fo ftrictly united with
the Frondeurs, but that he might be d tached from
their party, by a well-judged proffer of favours,
for
GUY JOL I.
163
for himſelf and his friends. This overture prov
ed highly pleafing to the Queen; and the Car-
dina', being informed of it, immediately wrote
to her Majelly, advising her to offer the Prince
his own terms. However, as his eminency's real
deſign was folely to open a negotiation, in hopes
that time might produce fome event in his favour,
her Majefty, under the pretext of putting the
fincerity of his Highnets's intentions to the teft,
propofed to him to diffo've the affembly of the
nobility, which had encreafed in number fo much,
fince his reſtoration to liberty, that not less than
between feven and eight hundred perfons, of the
belt families in France, (fome of whom alfo acted
as proxies for others, who could not attend) met
regularly twice or thrice a week, at the convent
of the Cordeliers: fo that this affembly repres
fented, in fome fort, the whole nobility of the
kingdom.
This new confederacy of the nobleffe juftly
gave the Cardinal great uneafinefs; for, as the
original purpofe of their affembling had been to
obtain his difmillion, and the releaſe of the Princes,
it was natural to imagine that they would oppofe,
with all their power, every meaſure which he
might take for his return. Moreover, all their
proceedings, from the very first day of their meet-
ing, had been conducted with fuch order and pro-
priety, that the authority which they derived from
their rank was confiderably increafed, by the ap-
probation which they met with from all honeft
men.
In
'
166
OF
MEMOIRS
}
In this affembly, two new Preſidents were elect-
ed every fortnight, whofe office it was to collect
the fuffrages of the members, which was per-
formed with much lefs noife and confufion than
in the parliament. No perfon interrupted ano-
ther whilft he was fpeaking. Two fecretaries,
alfo, had been elected at their first meeting, who
were not removeable, like the Prefidents: one of
thefe was the Marquis d'Auvery, of the houſe of
Ailly, a friend of the Coadjutor, and the other
the Marquis de Chanloft, who belonged to the
Prince of Condé's houfhold: their buſineſs was
to reduce to writing all the debates, refolutions,
&c. of the affembly. Finally, they had carried
matters fo far, under pretence of providing for
the fecurity of their own rights, and thofe of the
public, as to demand, at last, a convocation of the
eftates general of the kingdom, which propofal
gave fuch univerfal fatisfaction; that thofe of the
prelates who were then at Paris, deputed M. de
Comminges to the affembly, with a proffer of
their ready concurrence therein. Thus, nothing
was now wanting but to obtain the confent of
the third eftate, the people, for which purpoſe,
it was intended to apply, without delay, to the
corporation of the city, and to write circular let-
ters, on the fubject, into all the provinces: after
which the eftates muft, neceffarily, have been con-
voked, whereby the door would have been, for
ever, fhut againſt the Cardinal's return.
Nor was
his eminency either unapprized of the danger of
his fituation, or remifs in his endeavours to avert
the mifchiefs which threatened him.
His parti-
zans in the parliament were rictly enjoined to
inveigh
GUY JOLI.
167
inveigh against the propofed convocation, as a
meaſure which would inevitably prove highly de-
trimental to the interests of that company: and,
by thefe kind of fuggeftions, they fucceeded fo far,
as to fow diftruft in the minds of fome, even of
thoſe who were the beft difpofed to the defign,
but who, now, began to fufpect, on too flight
grounds, that a general affembly of the eftates
would certainly annihilate all the power and au-
thority of the parliament.
But, as matters were already in great forward-
nefs, and as the conduct of the nobility, in this
buſineſs, met with the general approbation of the
public, the court found it abfolutely expedient to
have recourſe to the Duke of Orleans and the
Prince of Condé, in order to attain its views.
Both thefe Princes, from different motives, rea-
dily yielded to the inflances of the court; parti-
cularly the latter, whom the Dutchefs de Longue-
ville and the Duke de la Rochefoucault easily
perfuaded, that, in an ailembly of the eftates, the
Duke of Orleans would, naturally, have much
more weight than his Highneis; that fuch an af
fembly would give rife to a general confufion,
and which might, probably, prove not at all fa-
vourable to the interefts of the Princes of the
blood; and, finally, that his Highness might,
without any hazard, in one quarter of an hour,
obtain for himfelf and his friends more real ad-
vantages, both of emolument and dignity, than he
could poffibly expect either from the Frondeurs or
from an affèmbly of the eftates.
The
168.
MEMOIRS OF
1
The Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Condé,
in confequence of their engagements with the court,
went in perſon to the affembly of the nobility,
where they had beforehand fecured a majority to
fupport their propofal, and urgently exhorted them
to put an end to their meetings, and to confide
in the Queen's promife, for the performance of
which their Highneffes pledged themfelves to the
company, to convoke an aflembly of the eftates,
as foon as the King fhould come of age, and, in
the mean time, to fend the neceffary orders into
the different provinces for electing the deputies.
Many of thofe prefent did not, however, at all
approve of the propofal, and feveral of them, who
were of the first quality, ftrongly reprefented to
the Princes the difadvantages which would inevi-
tably refult to themſelves from its adoption; con-
juring them to reflect on the danger of delaying
matters, and on the fmall likelihood there was, that
the court would execute thofe promifes, of which it
was now fo prodigal, when the King thould come
of age.
The harangues, on this occafion, were conceiv-
ed in fuch frog terms, and were replete with
fentiments fo worthy of the noble fpeakers, that
it may jufly be faid, that all the affemblies of
the parliament produced nothing comparable to
them.
It was decided, however, by a majority of voices,
that the aflembly fhould be diffolved: and, mere-
ly for form-fake, circular letters were fent, through-
out the precincts of the city, in confequence of
which
}
GUY JOL I.
169
which a meeting was held, at the Archbishop's
palace, for the purpofe of nominating deputies,
to the pretended affembly of the eſtates of the
kingdom, But the occurrences which arofe foon
after defeated all theſe meaſures, which the court
would, otherwife, by fome means or other, have
doubtless rendered ineffectual. The court did not
ftop here and as Cardinal Mazarin had diſcovered
the great repugnancy of the Dutchefs de Longue-
ville to the propofed marriage of Mademoiſelle de
Chevreufe, he undertook to render that defign
abortive, and, thus, to lead the Prince of Condé
into the commiffion of a fecond fault, which, in
its confequences, proved more prejudicial to him
than the former. The Cardinal, therefore, gave
his Highneſs to underſtand that, as the firft ftep
towards eſtabliſhing an entire confidence between
them, it would be neceffary to break through
every engagement which he had entered into re-
specting the above marriage. Mademoiſelle de
Chevreuſe was young and handfome, of an en-
gaging difpofition, and every way qualified to
gain the affections of the Prince of Conti, and
to merit the friendship of his brother, the Prince
of Condé. The Dutchefs de Longueville,* alſo,
"The Dutchefs de Longueville" (fays the Duke de
la Rochefoucanlt)" poffeffed fo great a fhare of wit and
beauty, that it feemed as if nature had determined to
" exhibit, in her perfon, a perfect and finished work.
"But all theſe fine qualities were, in part, obfcured, by
one particular defect: which was that, inftead of giving
"law to her adorers, fhe adopted herfelf to their difpofitions
"to fo high a degree, that ſhe no longer feemed to have any
"will of her own."
IC
VOL. I.
I
poffeffed
170
MEMOIRS OF
poffeffed fome of theſe qualifications, but ſhe no
longer now relied upon thoſe advantages, not
being fo young as the former lady. For this
reafon, the feconded the Cardinal's folicitations
with all her power; on every occafion, uttering
the moſt injurious reflections against Mademoiſelle
de Chevreuſe, whom he even did not fcruple to
accufe of an infamous connection with the Coad-
jutor. And in this conduct, fhe was marvelously
abetted by Madame de Montbazon and the Duke
of Beaufort, who were much offended at the cau-
tion which had been uſed, to conceal this artic'e
of the marriage from them, and at the trick which
had been played by the Coadjutor, at the time
of figning the treaty. The Duke de la Roche-
foucault, in concert with the other perfons above-
mentioned, incefiantly reprefented to the Prince
of Condé, that he muſt never expect to obtain
any thing from the court, without making fome
conceffion to the Queen; that a perfeverance in
his connections with the Coadjutor, and in the
defign of effecting the marriage in queftion, would
certainly exclude him, perhaps for ever, from all
fhare in the management of affairs, unlefs, indeed,
he could deprive the Queen of her power in the
flate an enterprize very difficult in itfelf, and to
which the Duke of Orleans would never yield
his confent; that, even if it could be accompliſh-
ed, the Duke of Orleans would be the only gainer
thereby, as all authority must neceffarily devolve
on him; that it was true that the Queen enter-
tained a great partiality for Cardinal Mazarin, but
that, ftill, this attachment might not be indiffolu-
ble; that cvery day produced inftances of perfons,
the
GUY JOL I.
171
the most firmly connected, conceiving difgufts a-
gainst each other; and that, at the worst, by
flattering and humouring the Queen's difpofition,
his Highneſs would be enabled to introduce his
friends and his creatures into the council, after
which every thing might be hoped for, from
the fortunate conjunction of times and circum-
ftances.
Many of his Highnefs's friends maintained, on
the other hand, that nothing was to be expected
from that quarter; that the Queen's attachment
to Cardinal Mazarin would never alter; that the
minifter wished for nothing fo much, as to exclude
his Highness from all participation in public bufi-
nefs; that the delufive offers which he held out,
were only meant to detach him from the Fron-
deurs, after which the Cardinal would not fail
to re-unite himſelf with that party, in order to
infure his ruin; that, upon this account, the ſureſt
method would be to attack the Cardinal, and the
Queen, alfo, fhould it be found neceflary, with
the utmoſt vigour; that this might be effected
with much lefs difficulty than was imagined, by
uniting in a body, to obtain the confent of the
Duke of Orleans thereto; that there was no cauſe
to fear that this would throw the
management
of affairs fo entirely, into the hands of his Royal
Highnefs, as the marriage in quellion would at-
tach the Frondeurs more clofely to the Prince of
Condé than to any one elfe; finally, that it would
be much to his difcredit, thus to violate the en-
gagements of a treaty, in virtue of which he had
fo recently obtained his liberty: a mode of con-
dec
1 2
172
MEMOIRS OF
duct which would, naturally, difguft his friends,
and would deprive him of the fupport of all ho-
neft men. All theſe different confiderations great-
ly embarraffed the Prince of Condé, and kept
him for fome time in fufpence: at length, how-
ever, he was forced to yield to the earnest foli.
citations of the Dutchefs de Longueville, and thoſe
domeftic cabals, which, on fuch occafions, are com-
monly irrefiftable. Moreover, the Queen, who was
inform'd of all that paffed, very opportunely,
whilft he was yet undetermined in his choice,
made him the following propofals: that his friend,
M. de Chavigni, fhould be re-admitted into the
council; that the keeper of the feals, M. de Cha-
teauneuf, who was attached to the Frondeurs, fhould
be difmiffed from it, and that the feals ſhould be
given to the firſt Preſident of the parliament, who
was ever ready to ferve his Highness whilft he
preferved the friendſhip of the court. Her Ma-
jeſty alſo engaged to confer on his Highneſs, the
government of Guyenne, inflead of that of Bur.
gundy, and the lieutenant-generalfhip thereof, to-
gether with the government of Blaye, on the
Duke de la Rochefoucault; the government of
Provence was promifed to the Prince of Conti,
and numerous other emoluments and dignities
All theſe pro-
were granted to their creatures.
pofals could not fail of producing their effe&t;
more eſpecially as the Queen began, immediately,
to put in execution the most confiderable and
effential of them; the Prince of Condé having al-
lowed time for the performance of the reft. This
was neceffary in fome refpects; as in the cafe of
the government of Provence, which was then in
the
A
GUY JOLI.
173
the hands of M. d'Angoulême, and befides, as
the Prince did not chufe that the public fhould
fo foon be acquainted with his treaty with the
court, or that it fhould be fufpe&ted that he had
confented to the Cardinal's return.
In the mean time, this change in the council
greatly furprized the Duke of Orleans, who had
not received the leaft intimation of the defign,
and he rightly judged that it could arife, folely,
from a new and ftrit engagement between the
court and the Prince of Condé. This the Prince,
on being taxed with it, denied: but he took care
to confirm the fufpicion, paft all manner of doubt,
by the moſt ſtudied affectation of conduct, by going,
on the fame day, in triumph, to the Luxembourg
Palace, accompanied by the Duke de la Roche-
foucault, and molt of his other partizans, where
they, in a manner, infulted the Coadjutor and
fuch of the Frondeurs as chanced to be there at
the time. This incident greatly embarraffed the
Duke of Orleans, but he diffembled his refent-
ment for the prefent, not being able to deter-
mine his choice, amongst the diverfity of plans
which were recommended to him by his friends,
who adviſed him not to fuffer fuch a palpable af-
front to pass unnoticed, nor to accuftom the Queen
to make changes of confequence in the ftate, with-
out his concurrence. The Coadjutor and the Mar-
quis de Noirmoutier were even of opinion, that
the feals ought to be taken, by force, from the
first Prefident, and brought to the Luxembourg
Palace; which ftep, they maintained, his Royal
Highness was authorized to take, in virtue of his
I 3
office
174
MEMOIRS OF
算
​office of lieutenant general of the crown. But,
as the Duke of Orleans could not be prevailed on
to confent to fuch an open violence, every one,
from that moment, rightly conjectured that little
was to be expected from him, and that neither
the article relative to the marriage of Mademoi-
felle de Chevreufe, nor any other of the engage-
ments, which the Prince of Condé had made with
them, would be adhered to.
In fact, the Prince no longer reftrained him.
felf within the bounds of common decorum, in the
affair of the marriage; and, although he had, at
firft, commiffioned the Prefident Viole to withdraw
the promiſes which him felf and the Prince of Conti
had made, on the fubject, and to apologize to the
Dutchefs de Chevreufe and her daughter for their
conduct, yet he now chofe rather to break off
the affair in the moft public manner. Accord-
ingly, he took the opportunity, one night at fup-
per, to relate to the Prince of Conti, in the pre-
fence of the whole company, a number of cir-
cumftances highly injurious to the character of Ma-
demoifelle de Chevreufe, in confequence of which
that Prince, who had conceived a paffion for
her, declared that he would never think of her
more.
The Prince of Condé's conduct, on this occa-
fion, was univerfally condemned: but what molt
irritated the public againſt him was, the renewal
of his connections with the court, which he now
took very little precaution to conceal, and which
bis partizans, in vain, endeavoured to juftify.
The
only
GUY JOL I.
175
only circumstance which could exculpate the Prince
was, what the Coadjutor mentioned fome time after-
wards, that the Prince had, on a certain day, in
his prefence, fuggefted to the Duke of Orleans
the neceflity of depriving the Queen of the Re-
gency; but that his Royal Highness would give
no ear to the propofal, nor could he (the Coad-
jutor) be induced to confent to it, on account of
the favours which he had received from her Ma-
jefty. Admitting this to be true, the Prince was
not much to be blamed for the meaſures he after-
wards adopted, as the mode of proceeding he ad-
viſed was, doubtless, the only effectual one to
procure the Cardinal's quin. But, befides that nei-
ther the Prince nor his friends ever thought of
urging this circumftance, as a plea in his vindica-
tion, the Coadjutor himſelf never mentioned a fylla-
ble of it till long after the time when it was fup-
poſed to have happened; and thofe to whom he
told the ſtory did not credit it, being perfuaded
that he had invented it, in order thereby, to create
himſelf a kind of merit with the Queen, (to whom
he was, certainly, indebted for his Coadjutor-
fhip) and that too at the expence of the Prince of
Condé. Be that as it may, all talk of the mar-
riage of Mademoiſelle de Chevreufe was now
dropped. A report was alfo fpread, even at the
time when the feals were taken from M. de Châ-
teauneuf, that both the mother and daughter would
be banished; of the truth of which, it is faid
they themselves were fo fully perfuaded, that they
held themfelves in readineſs during a whole night,
without going to bed, Mademoiſelle de Chevreufe
keeping
14
176
MEMOIRS OF
keeping a caſket, which contained their jewels, un-
der her arm, all the time. The Coadjutor, and fome
others of the Frondeurs, alſo remained at the Hotel
de Chevreuſe all the night, concerting meaſures for
avenging themſelves, as occafion fhould offer: but,
as the expected letter de Cachet was not fent, their
fears, in part, fubfided, and every one retired to
his own houfe.
:
?
However, as the want of refoluation, which the
Duke of Orleans had manifefted on this occafion,
had given much offence to the Frondeurs, they judg-
ed it proper to make him fenfible of their difplea-
fare in fome exemplary manner, whereby he might,
gorhaps, be induced to difmifs his fears, and to com-
ply with their views. Accordingly, the Coadjutor
went, fomne days afterwards, to the Luxembourg
Palace, and informed the Duke of Orleans, that
having, hitherto, confidered himfelf, as being not
altogether uſeleſs to the public, he had always ex-
erted himſelf, to the utmoft of his abilities, in its
fervice: but, perceiving that his former little con-
fequence was now totally loft, and that affairs had
taken a different courfe, he was determined to re-
tire in peace, and to expofe himſelf no longer to
thofe inconveniencies and troubles, which his re-
gard for the interefts of the public, and of fome
individuals, had made him chearfully fuffer, although,
he now found, his conduct therein was held in very
cheap eſtimation. This language, as had been fore-
feen, greatly furprized the Duke of Orleans, who
replied, that, if they imagined him capable of de-
ferting them, and uniting with the other party,
they
GUY JOL I.
177
they did him great wrong, and that it was his de-
fire, ever to maintain a good intelligence with the
Coadjutor and his friends: but that prelate fill
feigned to perfift in his refolution to retire, although
his Royal Highnefs ufed every argument to dif
fuade him from it.
The Coadjutor carried his diffimulation fo far,
that many even of his friends believed him to be
ferious. As one method to diſguiſe his real defigns,
he went about, with great pomp, to various churches
in the city, to adminifter the facrament of confir-
mation: but this did not, at all, take off his atten-
tion from other matters; and he reforted every
night to the Hotel de Chevreufe, where the chiefs
of the cabal conftantly attended.
Thus matters remained, for fome time, in a kind
of calm, the Prince of Condé flattering himſelf with
the notion, that his power was uncontroulable. Even
the parliament did nothing now but clamour againft
Cardinal Mazarin, and againſt thoſe who ſent him
intelligence of all that paffed to Bouillon, to which
place he had retired: and, as the Prince no lon-
ger countenanced thofe clamours, they ceafed of
themſelves, by degrees, together with the meeting's
of the parliament. But this tranquility was not
of long duration: for, as the Frondeurs had learnt
from the apparent diffidence of the court, in the
late affair of the Dutchefs de Chevreufe, that their
condition was far from being defperate, they fe-
cretly founded the inclination of the Queen and
Cardinal Mazarin towards a negotiation, and found
them not at all averfe to the propofal, all their ex-
I. 5,
pectations
178
MEMOIRS OF
pectations from the Prince of Condé being an-
fwered, by his refufal to fulfill his engagements,
reſpecting the marriage of Mademoiſelle de Chew.
reufe.
Having been thus fuccefsful in its attempts to
render the Prince of Condé odious to the Fron-
deurs, the court now fought every means of redu-
cing the latter to retaliate the affronts and injuries
which they had received from his Highness; in
hopes, thereby, to preclude even the poffibility of
a reconciliation between the parties. Cardinal Ma-
zarin plainly faw that, unlefs this purpoſe could be
effected, the obftacles to his return would be, in
a manner, infurmountable. As neither of the par-
ties was fufficiently powerful to afford him that fup-
port, in his defign of returning, of which he stood
in need, he judged, that it would be neceffary to
foment the difcord between them with the ut
moft affiduity, in order to destroy them by each
others hands after which he might eafily reſume
his former authority and ſtation in the government.
Moreover, he preferred a connection with the Fron-
deurs, both as their cabal had ever been the moſt
powerful, confequently the most to be dreaded by
him, and, alſo, as the continual demands made by
the Prince of Condé gave him caufe to fear, that
his Highneſs would, in the end, acquire the fu-
preme direction of affairs; whereas he had nothing
of that kind to apprehend from the Frondeurs, who
only fought to gratify their vengeance on the Prince,
without any other condition.
With
GUY JOLI.
179
With this view, the Cardinal, apparently, con-
fented to the propofition, made to him by the
Dutchefs de Chevreufe, for imprifoning the Prince
of Condé a fecond time. He communicated this
defign to the Princess Palatine, who did not at-
tempt to diffuade him from it, being at this time
much difpleafed with the Prince, who, by his pre-
fent difrefpectful neglect of her, made a very bad
return for the fervices which the had rendered him
during the period of his confinement. The Car-
dinal, being well acquainted with her abilities, en-
trafled her with the management of the chief of
his concerns, whil he remained in exile, employ-
ing her frequently in the most fecret and difficult
intrigues. It was from this Princefs, therefore,
through the intervention of Madame de Rhodes,
that the Coadjutor received the first intelligence
of the Cardinal's having confented to a fecond im-
priſonment of the Prince of Condé. But, as the
did not wish to break with the Prince entirely, fhe
would not permit her name to be mentioned en
the occafion and to this, 'tis poffible, the might
be further induced, by a fufpicion that, in the pre-
fent, as in former inftances, the Cardinal only dif
fembled his defigns, for the fole parpofe of widen-
ing the breach between the two parties. M. de
Lyonne, the Queen's fecretary, was commiffion'd
to negotiate this bufinefs with the Coadjutor. A
meeting was, accordingly, held, at the Count de
Montrefor's Hotel, at which, after a conference of
three hours, every thing was readily adjuſted, and
a folid and perfect union was agreed upon, of
which the Prince's imprifonment was to ferve as
16
the-
180
MEMOIRS OF
the bafis. The Coadjutor engaged, alfo, in the
name of his party, upon the above preliminary's
being duly executed, to fet every engine in mo-
tion to facilitate the Cardinal's return; at the fame
time, referving to himfelf the liberty of purfuing
fuch a conduct, in the parliament, even tho' it
fhould fometimes appear contradictory, as he fhould
judge moft conducive to the furtherance of the de-
fign in view and M. de Lyonne promifed, on
behalf of the Cardinal, to procure for the Coad-
jutor and his friends every favour they could
defire.
At the breaking up of the conference, the Coad-
jutor told Joli, who had waited for him, in an
adjoining apartment, that the defign, of which he
was already informed, would, certainly be carried
into execution, and that there remained only a few
previous meaſures to be adjufted, whereby to ren-
der the Prince's fate inevitable; which meaſures
were the more expedient, as it had been refolved,
in order to guard, as much as poffible, againſt the
failure of the enterprize, not to mention the mat-
ter to the Duke of Orleans. But the bufinefs was
not fo far advanced, as had been imagined: and
M. de Lyonne, when queftioned relative to the
repeated delays which had arifen, conftantly im-
puted them to the difficulty of procuring intelli-
gence from the Cardinal, which prevented him
from receiving his eminency's final orders on the
ſubject. Theſe excufes carried with them fuch a
femblance of truth, that neither the Coadjutor,
the Dutchefs de Chevreufe, nor any of the rest of
the
GUY JOLI
181
the party, had the leaft fufpicion of the real caufe
of thoſe delays..
However, it afterwards appeared, beyond all man-
ner of doubt, that M. de Lyonne, who, on all oc-
cafions, openly affected the moft myfterious fecre-
cy, had himſelf revealed the defign to the Mar-
fhal de Grammont, who having communicated it,.
in confidence, to M. de Chavigni, this latter in-
ftantly informed the Prince of Condé of the whole
affair: and, as his Highneſs, at the fame time, re-
ceived a note, acquainting him that three compa-
nies of the regiment of guards had been ordered.
to march towards the fuburb named S. Germain,
he mounted on horfeback, with all ſpeed, and, at
about two o'clock in the morning, on the 6th of
July 1651, quitted the city, being accompanied by
fome of his friends, and retired to S. Maur, whi-
ther he was, foon afterwards, followed by the Prince
of Conti, the Dutchefs de Longueville, the Dukes
de Nemours, and de la Rochefoucault, and by fe.
veral others of the nobility. This retreat occa-
fioned an univerfal furprize, no one being able
to penetrate into the cauſe of it. The Prince's
friends endeavoured to induce a belief, that a de-
fign had been formed to feize his perſon, becauſe
he had oppoſed the Cardinal's return: but the
Coadjutor and his friends publickly maintained that
this was a new frolick arifing, folely, from the re-
fufal of the court to grant the continual demands
made by the Prince, in behalf of himſelf and his
creatures; that what had been alledged, refpecting
the Cardinal, was only meant to inflame the minds
of
1182
MEMOIRS OF
of the people; that the report of the court's in
tention to feize his Highnefs's perfon was totally
falſe, and that the jealoufies which he had con-
ceived were utterly deftitute of foundation, and
could be confidered only as indicating an evil de-
fign,
Thefe opinions, from the mouths of perfons un-
fufpected, bore great weight, and created a belief
that the Prince's flight proceeded from a panic ter-
ror; and from an intention of reviving the late
troubles in the flate. Many were fill further con-
firmed in this belief, by the appearance of the
Prince of Conti, on the very next day, at the Far-
liament, where he only obferved, in vindication of
his brother's retreat, that his Highnefs had receiv-
ed undoubted intelligence of the defign to feize his
perfon, without adding any other particulars, fave
that couriers were diſpatched, almost daily, to the
Cardinal; that he poffeffed more power than ever
in the council, through means of his creatures,
Mcffrs. Servien, le Tellier, and de Lyonne, who
did nothing without his orders; that his Highness
could place no confidence in the declarations of the
court, neither could he find any fecurity for his
perfonal fafety, whilft thofe perfons fhould remain
in their pofts; that he, therefore, earneſtly re-
quefted the affembly to difmifs them, after which,
he would return immediately to Paris, and would
attend the levee of the King, as uſual.
This harangue made but little impreffion on the
affembly; nor was any greater effect produced by
a letter, which the Prince of Condé had fent, by
one.
GUY JOL I..
183
*
one of his gentlemen, and which was conceived.
in much the fame terms as the harangue, fave
that the Duke de Mercœur was therein accufed,
by name, as being one of thofe pe fons who had
viſited the Cardinal, at Cologne, and that too with
the defign of efpoufing one of his nieces.* The
first Prefident, therefore, who was more attached!
to the court than to the Prince of Condé, in an--
fwer to the foregoing harangue of the Prince of
Conti, briefly replied, that the Prince of Condé
would have afted more prudently, if he had laid
his complaints before the parliament in perfon, in-
ftead of thus withdrawing himſelf, in order to
create a general alarm among the people, and that,
in fact, his Highness did not run a greater iſk,
nor ought to be more fcrupulous of coming to the
parliament, than he (the Prince of Conti) himſelf
The Duke of Orleans, alfo, fpoke upon
the occafion, and declared, that he confidered it as
his duty to exculpate the Queen, in the prefent
cafe, from any defign against the perfon of the
Prince of Condé, and his Royal Highness was firm²
ly perfuaded of the truth of what he afferted, every
precaution having been taken, to conceal the above
intention from him. As the Duke of Orleans ap-
peared to be well convinced of what he advanced,
was.
* The Duke de Mercœur, having efpoufed Madame de
Mancini, the Cardinal's niece, was cited before the parlia-
ment, for having contracted that marriage out of the king-
dom, and without previously obtaining the King's confent.
The Dutchels de Meicœur died in 1657, greatly regret-
ted by the whole court, on account of her extraordinary
merit,
his
134
MEMOIRS OF
his ſpeech had a great effect on the affembly, and
it was judged fufficient to order, that the letter
fhould be carried to the Queen, to know her Ma-
jefty's pleaſure thereon, and that his Royal High-
nefs fhould be requested to interpofe his good of-
fices, and to endeavour to remove the Prince's
fears.
The Queen, therefore, fent the Marſhal de Gram-
mont, to accompany the Duke of Orleans to S. Maur,
to affure the Prince of Condé that his fufpicions were
groundlefs, and that he might return, in all fafety, upon
the fecurity of her word. To which the Prince re-
plied, that he would never return, fo long as the
Queen retained Cardinal Mazarin's valet about her
perfon. This expreffion was deemed rather too harili,
nor was the conduct of his Highnefs, in difpatching
circular letters, on the very fame day, to all the
parliaments of the kingdom, at all approved by the
public: which meafure feemed to indicate a pre-
meditated defign of exciting the people to a ge-
neral revolt, more efpecially as, on that day, a
confiderable number of officers and foldiers ap-
peared in the great hall of the Palais, whilft the
parliament was fitting, as if purpoſely to influence
the determinations of the affembly. There were,
alfo, fome perfons, who, as the members retired
from the Palais, fhouted, "No Mazarin! No Ma-
"zarin!" but they were only fuch as had been
hired to that intent. However, theſe marks of
refentment against the Cardinal fell infinitely ſhort
of thoſe which had been exhibited on former oc-
cafions at thofe times, it was unneceffary to. hire
perfons to raiſe a cry against his eminency, every
one
GUY JOLI.
185
one expreffing, with his voice, the undifguifed fen-
timents of his heart. But the face of affairs was
now entirely altered, and, each man attaching him-
felf to one or other of the different cabals, the in-
terefts of the public were totally difregarded by
all.
The general inveteracy, which ftill exifted, a-
gainſt Cardinal Mazarin proved, however, of fin-
gular fervice to the Prince's caufe, by procuring him
the fuffrages of many perfons, who believed that
he was in earnest in his oppofition to the Cardi-
nal: but others, who confidered matters more at-.
tentively, judged it neceffary to act with great.
circumfpection, perceiving that his Highnefs had
lately refuſed to perform the articles of a treaty,
which had been entered into for the exprefs pur-
poſe of effecting that minifter's ruin. Amongst the
reft, the Duke of Beaufort declared himſelf in fa-
vour of the Prince, fondly imagining that he fhould,
thereby, induce the people alfo, to embrace his
Highneſs's intereft: but the face of affairs was now
totally changed. Every one was heartily wearied
of the late difturbances and tumults, and carefully
avoided reviving them; the Cardinal had quitted
the kingdom; moreover, the public could ſcarce.
ly conceive that the Duke of Beaufort's attach-
ment to the Prince was fincere, feeing that his
Highness had fo lately accufed the Duke's brother,
the Duke de Mercœur, openly before the parlia-
ment, of reforting to the Cardinal, for the pur-
poſe of concluding a marriage with one of his
nieces. In fhort,
In fhort, it was clearly perceived, that the
Duke had entered into this new connection merely.
through.
186
MEMOIRS OF
through private views, which interefted no one but
himfelf, and that, in his prefent fituation, he held
the rank of a fubaltern only, without influence,
without eftimation: whereas, had he adopted a
contrary conduct, he would ever have been con-
fidered as the chief leader of a
party.
very powerful
In the mean time, the Prince of Condé's letter
having been laid before the Queen, her Majefty
fent a written anfwer thereto, which was delivered
by the King's counfel to the parliament, and con-
tained, in fubftance, as follows: that the Prince
ought no longer to retain thofe fufpicions, on
which he pretended to juſtify his retreat, after the
affurances which her Majelly, in concert with the
Duke of Orleans, had given him of the contrary;
that her Majefty had impowered the Duke of Or
leans to accommodate matters with the Prince, con-
formably to the parliament's requeft; that, with
respect to the Cardinal, her Majefty never had any
intention to re-call him, being determined to ad-
here, most religiously, to the promife which the
had given the parliament; that the Duke de Mer-
cœur's late negotiation with the Cardinal had been
carried on without either her confent or know-
ledge; that Meffrs. Servien and Le Tellier had ever
been faithful fervants to the late King; that M.
de Lyonne was one of her domcttics, whom the
was entitled to chufe at difcre ion; that the affur-
ed the affembly that neither of thofe perions had
entered into any negotiation for the Cardinal's re-
turn; that if-after thefe declarations, the Prince
of
GUY JOLI.
187
of Condé fhould fill continue to withdraw him-
felf from court, it would, naturally, be fuppofed
that he was influenced thereto by other motives,
than thoſe which he had affigned; and, finally,
that, if the Prince fhould perfift in fuch conduct,
he would greatly offend her Majefty, feeing that
it was the height of her wishes to re-eſtabliſh
that harmony in the Royal Family, which was
fo effential to the peace and welfare of the
flate.
This anfwer, although very infincere, was, ne-
vertheless, well received by the parliament: fome
of the members, however, objected that it was not
figned by a ſecretary of state: but this breach of
the cuſtomary forms was easily paffed over. Ac-
cordingly, the Duke of Orleans was again requeſt-
ed to endeavour to bring the Prince to a compliance ;
which he promifed to undertake.
Some high words paffed, on this occafion, be-
tween the Prince of Conti and the firft Preſident.
The latter, urging the importance of the affair
before them, obferved that the Prince of Condé
ſhould not have retired from the city upon a fim-
ple fufpicion only, and that his precipitate re-
treat might have given rife to a civil war. Here
he was interrupted by the Prince of Conti, who
told him that fuch language was not proper to.
be uſed, when ſpeaking of a Prince of the Royal
Blood. But the first Prefident replied, that it was
not right thus to cut him fhort in his harangue,
and that, in the place where he then was, none,
but
188
MEMOIRS OF
but the King, had the power of impofing filence
upon him: and, reverting to his former theme, of
the civil war, he proceeded fo far as to remind
the affembly, that there were inftances upon re-
cord, and thofe too of no very diftant date, where-
in fome of the Prince of Condé's ancestors had
created great diſturbances in the ftate. The Prince
of Conti's patience was now totally exhaufted, and
he replied to the first Prefident, in a violent rage,
that in any other place, he would teach him the
reſpect due to a Frince of the Blood.
The Duke of Orleans remained a filent ſpecta-
tor of this difpute: but, when it came to his turn
to fpeak, he expreffed much concern that the o-
dious term, of civil war, fhould have been made
ufe of; adding, that he hoped that nothing of the
kind would enfue, and that he would exert all
his endeavours, to re-establish the public tranqui-
lity. In fact, at a fubfequent conferenee, held at
Rambouillet, he ufed every argument to difpel the
Prince of Condé's fufpicions, and to induce him
to recede from his demands, refpecting the dif
miffion of Meffrs. Servien, Le Tellier, and De
Lyonne. But the Prince continued immoveable in
his determination, and abfolutely refufed to yield
to any terms of agreement, till that condition fhould
be first executed: to which the Queen could, by
no means, be induced to confent. His Royal High-
nefs communicated to the parliament, an account
of all that paffed at that conference: but, as he
avoided giving his opinion on the matter, it was
found neceffary to proceed to a deliberation; which
was conducted in a very diforderly and confufed
manner,
GUY JOL I.
189
manner, the members being much divided in their
fentiments, in confequence of the violent fpirit of
party which reigned amongst them, and of their
attachment to the various cabals, which had of late
ftarted up. In this diverfity of opinions, that of
the Coadjutor bore the most weight; both as the
affembly was totally unacquainted with his real
fentiments, and as his fituation between the two
parties, of the court and the Princes, appeared to
be truly critical. But, as he had previously con-
certed matters with M. De Lyonne, he found it
in no wife difficult fo to frame his advice, as to
give no offence to either party. The fpeech which
he delivered on the occafion had been compofed
by Meffre. Caumartin and Joli, who were well ac-
quainted with the difpofitions of the parliament,
and with the proper modes of proceeding, in or-
der to fecure the fuffrages of the major part of
that affembly. This fpeech was conceived in the
following terins:
"It has ever been my opinion, gentlemen, that
"it had been better, had we never harboured a
fufpicion of Cardinal Mazarin's return, nay, that
46 we had even deemed fuch an event impoffible.
"As his difmiffion has been pronounced neceflary,
by the general voice of the whole nation, our
"fears of his return feem to imply, alfo, an appre-
"henfion for the welfare of the flate, which must,
"confequently, be thrown into great confufion and
diſorder. If thefe fufpicions are well-founded,
we have great reafon to dread the effects they
may produce; and, fhould they be even void
"of foundation, they are, ftill, fufficient to alarm
us,
190
MEMOIRS OF
"us, by the pretexts they furnish for every fpe-
"cies of innovation. To ftifle them, therefore,
"all at once, and effectually to deprive the one
party of all hope, and the other of every pre-
text, I think we cannot be too decifive in our
"determinations; and, as reports are circulated
"of a certain dangerous correfpondence, which
has been carried on for fome time paft, it ap-
pears to be requifite to declare all thofe crimi-
“nal, and difturbers of the public peace, who
"fall, in any manner whatſoever, prefume to
correfpond with the Cardinal, or to attempt to
procure his re-call. If the advice given by his
"Royal Highness, fome months paft, had been
66
..
adopted, affairs would, at this time, have worn
"a different afpect; we ſhould never have hear-
"ed of thefe fufpicions and ditirufts; the peace
"of the ſtate would have remained inviolate, and
"we ſhould not have been compelled to requeit
his Royal Highneſs's interpofition with the Queen,
(as it is my advice that we do) to procure the
"difmiffion of thoſe partizans of the Cardinal al-
"ready mentioned It must be acknowledged, that
"the manner in which this demand is made
very uncommon, and that, if the appointment
"and difmiffion of the King's fervants were to be
liable to the controul of any Prince of the Blood,
"fuch a dependance would prove a great diminu-
tion of his Majefty's prerogative. The liberty
"of the fubject, and the condition of a courtier
.. would be rendered very precarious, by being
" thus ſubjected to the caprice of ſo many maſters.
"In the prefent cafe, an exception is to be made:
the
GUY JOLI.
191
"the demand in queftion relates to the removal
"of certain perfons, whoſe difmiflion muft, doubt-
lefs, be productive of good confequences, by
"obviating the apprehenfions which have been
"conceived, on the fubject of the Cardinal's re-
"tarn: this demand comes recommended to you,
"alfo, by his Royal Highness, whofe fincere and
"difintereſted attention to the welfare of the ftate,
"and his Majefty's fervice, is fo well known
throughout Europe. We muſt confide in the
prudence and wisdom of their Majesties, and
"the Duke of Orleans, for the removal of thoſe
"apprehenfions, and for the fpeedy re-eftabliſh-
"ment of that concord in the Royal Family, which
"is fo earnestly defired by all honeft men, and to
L.C
effect which was their fole motive, in their en-
"deavours to procure the Princes their liberty: too
(
happy to have contributed thereto, even in the
flightest degree, by their fuffrages! My advice,
“therefore, is, that all thoſe who ſhall, in any
wife, negotiate with the Cardinal, or fhall en-
"ter into any meaſures to procure his recal, be
"declared criminal, and diburbers of the public
tranquility; that his Royal Highneſs be requeſt-
"ed to ufe his influence with the Queen, to ob-
"tain the difmiffion of the afore-mention'd par-
"tizans of the Cardinal, and that the thanks of
"this affembly be returned to his Royal High-
"nefs, for his unwearied endeavours to accom-
plish a re-union in the Royal Family, which is
fo effentially requifite to the profperity of the
tate and the public quiet."
This
192
MEMOIRS OF
This fpeech of the Coadjutor's was univerfally
approved: the Prince of Condè's friends could find
nothing in it to object againft, as it tended to
fupport him in his demands, and the court highly
applauded the feverity with which that Prelate had
reprehended his Highnefs's conduct. The Duke
of Orleans, alfo, had good reafon to be pleaſed
with the manner in which the Coadjutor had ſpoken
of him on the occafion. Thus, this harangue de-
ftroyed, in one moment, all the Prince's expec-
tations from the parliament, and feveral of the
members could not even refrain from cenfuring
his conduct in the moſt unreſerved manner: amongſt
others, M. l'Ainé, a member of the grand cham-
ber, who, though conftant in his oppofition to the
court, gave it as his opinion that, before they came
to any determination on the fubject of the Prince's
demands, it would be neceffary to requeft his
Highness's perfonal attendance, in order that they
might learn, from his own mouth, the fum of thoſe
demands, and, having once fatisfied him therein,
that they might prohibit him from making any
further claims as he might, otherwife, infift, in
the end, on filling the council, and the chief de-
partments of the ftate, with his creatures, in order,
thereby, to acquire the fupreme direction of all
affairs. The Duke of Orleans delivered his fen-
timents in a very irrefolute manner, and he ap-
peared much difinclined to declare himfelf, in fa-
vour either of the court or the Prince; although
the Coadjutor had neglected nothing, to awaken
the fears and jealoufies which his Royal High-
nefs naturally entertained, left the Prince of Condé
fhould
GUY JOL 1.
193
fhould acquire too great a fhare of power in the
ftate. This irreſolution of the Duke of Orleans,
which was apparent from the beginning to the
end of the debates, fo far influenced the determi-
nation of the affembly, that the edict which they
iffued was conceived in terms almoſt as ambiguous
as thoſe, in which the major part of the members
had delivered their opinions on the ſubject: it
being decreed only, that the Queen fhould be thank-
ed for her promiſe, not to re-call the Cardinal, and
that ſhe ſhould be humbly requeſted to fend a
written declaration thereof to the parliament, to be
regiſtered in due form; that her Majefty fhould
be further requested to give the Prince of Condé
all neceffary fatisfaction, refpecting his perfonal ſe-
curity, in caſe of his return, and that informations
ſhould be iſſued against thoſe who had held any
intercourſe with the Cardinal, fince the time of
the prohibition.
The Queen might, therefore, had he been fo
inclined, have difpenfed with difmiffing Meflrs.
Servien, Le Tellier, and De Lyonne, as the edict
contained nothing explicit relating thereto. But,
as it had been determined to deprive the Prince
of Condé of every pretext for perfevering in his
refuſal to return, her Majefty ordered thofe per-
fons to withdraw themfelves from the council: and,
when the deputies from the parliament, in confe-
quence of the edict, went to the Palais Royal, the
affured them that ſhe would give orders for the
drawing up a declaration, refpecting the Cardi-
nal, conformably to the wiſhes of the affembly, and
that ſhe would diſmiſs the three perfons who were
VOL. I.
become
K
194
MEMOIRS OF
become fufpected by his Highness. They, ac-
cordingly, retired from the council; and they even
took the precaution to appear no more in public,
attended by their fervants in livery. This con-
duct was very prudent, and, perhaps, neceffary;
both on account of the meaſures which the Prince
of Condé's friends had taken, to render them o-
dious to the public, and, alſo, to fcreen themſelves
from the effects of that reſentment, which the peo-
ple expreſſed againſt every one, whom they fufpect-
ed of negotiating with Cardinal Mazarin. It was
plainly to be feen, that the difmiffion of thefe per-
fons was a mere artifice: but, as it ferved to de-
prive the Prince of all further pretext for abfenting
himfelf from the city, his Highness was compelled
to act with equal craftinefs. He, accordingly, ap-
peared publickly at Paris during the day, but con-
ftantly retired in the evening to St Maur; and,
for the greater fecurity, whenever he paffed through
the ſtreets, he caufed himſelf to be attended by an
extraordinary number of pages and footmen, in
very rich liveries, although he was in mourning at
the time, for his mother, the Princefs Dowager of
Condé. He was, alfo, accompanied, on fuch oc-
cafions, by many of the nobility and officers of the
army, in their carriages: and, further, he had taken
the precaution to diſtribute money among the rab-
ble, who conftantly preceded him, in crouds, re-
"God fave the King! God
peatedly fhouting,
fave the Princes! Thus accompanied, and with
too ſtudied an air of haughtinefs and diſdain, his
Highness came to the parliament. After the firſt
Prefident had recited to him the affurances which
her Majefty had given the affembly, refpecting the
difmiffion
GUY JOLI
195
difmiſſion of thoſe perſons who had fallen under his
fufpicion, his Highnefs replied, that he expected that
the Queen ſhould promife, alfo, never to re-inftate
them which declaration gave great offence to e-
very one preſent, being confidered as the refult of
a premeditated defign, to throw every poffible ob-
ſtacle in the way of an accommodation. Many of
the members highly difapproved, likewife, of the
Prince's being admitted to take his feat in the par-
liament, before he had been to the Palais Royal,
to pay his reſpects to the King: the first Prefident
earneſtly adviſed him to this ftep, which occafioned
fome ſharp words between them; his Highnefs
maintaining that his perfonal fafety would thereby
be expoſed to imminent danger, and that before
his impriſonment the court had given him repeated
affurances of a fimilar kind, of which afterwards
it made no account: the Prince, therefore, return-
ed to St. Maur, in the evening, without having
feen their Majefties. Although the Queen, fome
time afterwards, made the parliament the guaranty
of her promife, relative to his Highneſs's perfonal
ſafety, yet he ftill refused to confide therein; nėi-
ther could he be induced to pay his refpects to
the King, notwithſtanding he one day met his Ma-
jeſty at the Cours*, whither, it has been reported
by fome, he went purpoſely with that view. "Tis
true, that the Prince has conftantly denied the
charge: the firft Prefident, however, did not ne-
* A fpot of ground, in the environs of Paris, to which
the nobility and gentry refort in the fummer time, in their
carriages, to take the air: reſembling, in that reſpect, what
was formerly called, the Ring, in Hyde Park,
K z
glec
196
MEMOIRS OF
占
​1
glect to make the moſt of this incident; and, fpeak-
ing on the ſubject one day in the parliament, he
even ventured to tell his Highneſs, that he ſeemed
to have an intention to fet up altar against altar.
The Prince, interrupting him, replied, that he could
not fuffer that expreffion to pass unnoticed; that
he well knew the duty he owed to the King; that
he would never fwerve from it in any cafe, where
the performance of it fhould not be incompatible
with his fafety, and that his demand of fureties, in
the preſent ſtate of affairs, was well founded, and
ought not to be conftrued into a defign of raifing
altar againſt altar, as the moft open correfpondence
was daily carried on between Cardinal Mazarin and
his partizans, and as fome of them, whofe names
were Berthet, Brachet, Silhon*, and Ondedei †,
made continual journies to Cologne, whither the
Cardinal had retired. He declar'd, moreover, that
he was well informed that certain affemblies had
of late been held, wherein it had been determined
to impriſon him a fecond time; of all which he
* Jean Silhon, a zealous partizan of Cardinal Mazarin,
in defence of whom he publiſhed ſeveral pieces, one of the
moft material of which was entitled, An attempt to fet
in a true light feveral tranfactions in the adminiftration
"of C. Mazarin;" printed, in folio and in duodecimo, in
1650 and 1651. See Pere Le Long's Catalogue, and Pe-
Mention is made
lillon's Hiftory of the French Academy.
therein of fome other works, written by this Silhon, who
died in 1666.
+ Ondedei was, at firft, a fpy to Cardinal Mazarin, or to
any one else who would pay him well, and was afterwards
promoted to a Bishop's fee.
propofed
GUY JOL I.
197
propoſed to bring his complaints, regularly, before
the affembly, in due time and place, and to name
the parties, whom he defcribed in fuch a man-
ner, as to leave no doubt but that the Coadjutor
was the perſon meant.
Theſe bickerings were fucceeded by a delibera-
tion; at the cloſe of which it was determined, that
the Queen's anfwer fhould be registered; that the
Prince of Condé fhould be requeſted to wait upon
their Majesties; that orders fhould be given to the
Attorney General, to iffue informations against all
the perfons, who ſhould be found to have attended
at thoſe ſecret conferences, which had been held
for the purpoſe of feizing the Prince's perfon; that
the Duke de Mercœur fhould be cited, to give an
account of his conduct, with refpect to his late
interview with Cardinal Mazarin, and his marriage
with the Cardinal's niece; that the aforemention'd
Ondedei, Berthet, Brachet, and Silhon fhould be
fummoned, to answer to the charges which fhould
be brought against them by the Attorney General,
and that the firft of the four fhould be taken into
cuftody.
In a few days afterwards, the Prince of Condé
went, at length, to pay his refpects to their Ma-
jefties, at the Palais Royal, whither he was ac-
companied by the Duke of Orleans: but, although
he met with a tolerably favourable reception from
the King and Queen, it was plainly to be ſeen,
that there yet remained a certain degree of ani-
moſity and diſtruſt on both fides; and the Prince
K 3
of
198
MEMOIRS OF
of Condé ftill continued to appear with a nume-
rous train of followers during the day, and at night
with an eſcort of fourfcore horfe. The fame mode
of conduct was adopted by the Prince of Conti;
and the Coadjutor, alfo, following their example,
never firred abroad, without a ftrong party of his
friends and dependants to attend him.
In the mean time, the Prince of Condé earnestly
preffed the execution of that part of the laſt edict
which related to the Duke de Mercœur. The
Duke was therefore compelled, at length, to ap-
pear before the parliament, to give an account of
his conduct. He began with avowing his marriage,
and declared that the fole motive of his journey to
Cologne had been to fetch his wife from thence;
and that, after all, this marriage had been con-
tracted with the confent of the Queen, the Duke
of Orleans, and, even, of the Prince of Condé him-
felf. To this the Duke of Orleans replied, that
'twas true he had given his confent three years be-
fore, as had her Majefty alfo, through the perfua-
fion of the Abbé de la Riviere and the Marſhal
d'Eftrées; but that, having fince perceived the evil
tendency of the Cardinal's public conduct, he had
ufed every endeavour to prevail on the Queen
to revoke her confent, and to diffuade the Duke
de Mercœur from his defign, to whom he had
alfo given the most pofitive affurances that he would
never yield his concurrence therein.
Although this, his Royal Highness's declaration,
appeared rather unfavourable to the Duke de Mer-
cœur's cauſe, yet the affair was fuffered to drop,
feeing
GUY JOLI
199
ť.
feeing that it would have been a very difficult
matter to annul a marriage, which had been per-
formed and confummated in all the requifite forms:
befides, a bufinefs of much greater importance was
now in agitation. The Queen and her council
were affiduous in their endeavours, to compel the
Prince of Condé to retire from Paris, and they in-
ceffantly preffed the Coadjutor to exert himſelf vi-
gorously, in oppofition to all his Highness's defigns
in the parliament. The Coadjutor and his party
wifhed for the Prince's abfence, ftill more ardent.
ly than even the Queen herself: for, although they
were very fenfible that little confidence was to be
placed in the Cardinal's promifes, yet they were
fo enraged at his Highness's repeated perfidy, that
they fuffered their defire of revenge to get the
better of every other conſideration whatever. More-
over, they flattered themſelves, that the Prince's re-
treat would not render the Cardinal fo abfolutely
the mafter of affairs, but that he would ftill ftand
in need of their fupport for fome time, whence,
he would be neceffitated to grant them certain fa ·
vours, and, perhaps, the nomination of the Coad-
jutor to the Cardinalfhip.
On the other hand, the Prince of Condé ftrove
to maintain his ground in Paris, being very un-
willing to quit the city: but, as he perceived the
period of the King's coming of age to draw on
apace, and as his credit with the people diminish-
ed daily, through his variance with the Frondeurs,
he began to take the neceffary fteps, both within
K4
' and
200
MEMOIRS OF
and without the kingdom, for forming fuch a par-
ty as might enable him to keep the Cardinal in
awe, and oblige his eminency to grant him thofe
favours which he had, hitherto, conftantly refuſed
him. However, unfortunately for him, thefe ne-
gotiations could not be carried on fo fecretly, but
that they came to the knowledge of the court:
the Queen, therefore, finding herfelf preffed by the
parliament for an anſwer to its laft (dict, by which
ſhe was requeſted to iffue a more explicit declara-
tion against Cardinal Mazarin, judged this a pro-
per time to drop the maſk: and, as the Prince
of Condé had never appeared at the Louvre fince
the day that he had been conducted thither by the
Duke of Orleans, her Majefty determined to make
a public complaint of his Highness's diſreſpectful
and dangerous conduct, thereby to oblige him to
retire from the city, and, at the fame time, to
evade the urgent follicitations of the parliament
with regard to Cardinal Mazarin.
With this view, her Majefty commanded the at-
tendance of all the fuperior courts, as alſo of the
city corporation, on the 17th of Auguſt 1651; and
the parliament having, accordingly, fent deputies
to the Louvre, the Duke of Orleans, and many o-
thers of the nobility and great officers of the ftate
being, alſo, prefent on the occafion, a kind of me-
morial was read to them, which was afterwards de-
livered to the firft Prefident of the parliament, to
be communicated by him to the whole affembly.
This memorial contained a freſh promiſe from their
Majeſties never to recall the Cardinal, and a fum-
mary difcuffion of his Highnefs's conduct, in which
he
GUY JOL I.
201
he was, firft, reproached with his ingratitude for
the numerous favours which he had received from
the court. Their Majefties then proceeded to fet
forth, that they had received undoubted informa-
tion, that the Prince had commenced a fecret cor-
refpondence with the Archduke, the Count de
Fuenfaldagne, and other enemies of the ftate; that,
on this account, he would not fuffer the Spaniards
to evacuate Stenai, of which place they had taken
poffeffion during the time of his impriſonment, al-
though this was the fole proof of his good inten-
tions which the King had exacted from him; that
he had written to all the different parliaments, and
to all the principal cities of the kingdom, to incite
them to a revolt; that he had fortified all thofe
places which remained in his hands, particularly
Montrond, whither the Princefs [of Condé] and
the Dutchefs de Longueville had already retired;
that he had conftantly refuſed to join the King's
army with his troops, and that, inſtead of being
employed against the enemies of the kingdom, they
were folely occupied in ravaging the provinces of
Picardy and Champagne; and, finally, that their
Majesties had 'judged it expedient to acquaint the
parliament with all theſe matters; not doubting but
that that affembly would ufe its utmost efforts to
fupport the King's authority, and to prevail on the
Prince to return to his duty.
The contents of this memorial cauſed an uni-
verfal furprize, and it certainly laid the foundation
of all thoſe diſturbances which quickly afterwards
enfued. The Prince endeavoured to exculpate him-
felf from the charges brought against him by im-
puting
K 5
202
OF
MEMOIRS
puting them to the malice of his enemies, particu-
larly of the Coadjutor, whom he called a flanderer,
accufing him alſo of being the author of the above
memorial, and of having been preſent at feveral
conferences, at the Count de Montrefor's Hotel,
at which meaſures had been taken for impriſoning.
him a ſecond time. His Highneſs had never fpo-
ken fo plainly on the fubject of thefe conferences
before, out of complaifance to M. de Lyonne, by
whom he had been firft informed of them, which
circumſtance he ftill cautiously endeavoured to con-
ceal, by mentioning the Coadjutor and the Count
de Montrefor, only, as being preſent at thoſe meet-
ings, But this artifice only ferved to render the
Coadjutor and his friends ftill more fufpicious of
M. de Lyonne; although it was the opinion of
many, that he would not have dared to reveal the
fecret, unleſs he had been impowered fo to do by
Cardinal Mazarin.
Be that as it may, the Coadjutor pofitively dif-
claimed all ſhare in framing the memorial, tho' it
is certain, that he fuggefted and approved of it,
difavowing alſo every, the leaft knowledge of the
abovementioned conferences at the Count de Mon-
trefor's, on the fubject of which he fpoke with
fuch apparent indifferency and unconcern, that the
affembly was greatly puzzled to know what judg
ment to form thereon. The Prince then laid be-
fore the parliament two written vindications of his
conduct; one of which was drawn up in his own
name, and contained diflinct answers to all the
charges ſpecified in their Majefties aforementioned
memorial; the other being a declaration of the
Duke
GUY JOL I.
203
Duke of Orleans, to the fame purport. The Prince
was very urgent with the Duke of Orleans to at-
tend in perfon in the parliament, in order to give
the greater fanction to his declaration; but his
Royal Highness could not be induced to comply,
having, for fome time paft, withdrawn himſelf from
the affembly, both on account of the almoft daily
riots which happened at the Palais, and alfo from
an unwillingness to enter into an oppofition to the
court, or to diſoblige the Coadjutor, who had now
acquired great influence over him. It is even cer-
tain, that he fought every pretext to excufe him-
felf from granting the Prince this declaration in
his favour; but he was, at length, compelled to
yield to his Highness's importunity.
This declaration fet forth, that he (the Duke
of Orleans) had been made acquainted with the
Queen's intentions, of commanding the attendance
of the fuperior courts, a very fhort time only be-
fore that meaſure was carried into execution; that
the above-recited memorial had been communicated
to him but a quarter of an hour before the arrival
of the deputies of the parliament; that it con-
tained many exceptionable articles, which he had
adviſed her Majefty to fupprefs; that the Prince
of Condé had, in his prefence, propofed to the
Queen, and afterwards to the council, two dif-
ferent plans for compelling the Spaniards to eva-
cuate Stenai, one of which was to conclude a fuf-
penfion of arms between that city and the pro-
vince of Luxembourg, and the other to give him
the command of a detachment, of two thoufand
men, with which he would lay fiege to the city.
K 6
and
204
MEMOIRS OF
and drive them out by force, which he could not
effect with a ſmaller body of troops, feeing that
he had only two hundred men in the citadel,
whereas the number of Spaniards in the city a
mounted to upwards of five hundred; that the fole
reafon of the Prince's refufal to join the King's
army with his troops was, that the former was
commanded by the Marshal de la Ferté, a man
totally devoted to Cardinal Mazarin, whom he had
conftantly attended ever fince his retreat from the
city, and had given him admiffion into all thoſe
places which were under his government, in con-
tempt of the ſeveral prohibitory edicts of the parlia
ment; that, the Prince having applied to his Royal
Highness, to appoint a perfon to the command of his
troops, he (his R. H.) had accordingly nominated
M. Vallon, but that the Queen would not permit
him to take upon himſelf that office; that the
Prince's jealoufies and fufpicions were but too well
founded; that he had not met with a fatisfactory
reception at the Palais Royal; that his Royal High-
nefs had not judged it adviſeable for him to go
thither a fecond time, having received undoubted
intelligence of thofe conferences of which the Prince
complained; and, finally, that he could not fuf-
pect the Prince of forming any evil defigns againſt
the ftate. The Prince of Condé's declaration was
couched in terms nearly fimilar to the foregoing.
He proteſted that he had not had the leaſt ſhare,
either before or during the time of his imprifon-
ment, in any of the proceedings which had been
carried on againſt the Cardinal; that, it was true
that, fince the above period, he had ufed all his
efforts, in concert with the parliament and the
whole
GUY JOL I.
205
whole nation, to preferve the public tranquility,
which would have been much endangered by the
Cardinal's return; that, had the council taken pro-
per precaution to remove the apprehenfions of the
public, relative to the correspondence openly car-
ried on with the Cardinal, the parliament would
not have been neceffitated to requeft their Majefties
to confirm the edicts which had been iſſued by that
affembly, and to defeat which appeared to be the de-
fign of the late memorial; that, with regard to
the favours with which he was reproached, he
thought himself juftly entitled to them by his fer-
vices; that, after all, neither he nor his friends
had fo many places in their hands as the Cardinal
and his creatures, who commanded in Pignerol,
Perpignan, Rofes, Breſt, Dunkirk, Mardyke, Ber-
gues, Dourlans, la Baffée, Bapaume, Ypres, Cour-
trai, &c. that fomething more than mere promifes
was wanting, to infure the abfence of a man, who
poffefs'd the keys of fo many doors, by which he
might re-enter the kingdom whenever he fhald
think proper; that whoever confider'd the diſagree-
ment which exifted between him and the first Pre-
fident [of the parliament] would never impute to
him the laſt change in the council, in which he
declared that he had had no fhare, unleſs it were
in oppoſing, in concert with the Duke of Orleans,
the violent counfels of the Coadjutor and the Count
de Montrefor, who had adviſed that the feals fhould
be taken from the firft Prefident by force, that the
citizens fhould be excited to take arms, and to re-
pair in a body to the Palais Royal; that the re-
moval of Meffrs. Servien, Le Tellier, and De Ly-
onne,
206
MEMOIRS OF
onne, was effential to his perfonal fecurity, and
had been approved by the general voice of the
parliament and the people, and, if the Queen had
deigned to comply with his demands in that in-
ftance, he would immediately have conformed him-
felf to her Majelty's pleaſure; but that, perceiving
that a regular correfpondence was carried on with
the Cardinal at the fame time, he had judged it
expedient to provide for his fafety; that this was
the fole cauſe of his perfeverance in withdrawing
himſelf from the court and the council, in which
every thing was determined according to the Car-
dinal's pleafure, and into which, he was well in-
formed, that it was intended to introduce fome per-
fons, who were ftill more devoted to his eminency
than thoſe who had been diſmiſſed,
The perfons here hinted at were M. de Chateau-
neuf* (an intimate friend of the Dutchefs de Chev-
reufe, and Madame de Rhodes) whom his Highness
had cauſed to be difmiffed from his poft of Keeper
of the Seals, and who was afterwards re-inftated, and
was appointed to the Prefidency of the Council, and
the Marquis de la Vieuville, on whom the office of
Superintendant of the Finances was conferred.
His Highneſs then proceeded to declare, that it was
true that he had written to the different Parliaments
and Cities of the kingdom, but that it had been with
the fole intent of juſtifying himſelf from the imputa-
*The Prince had conceived an invincible averfion to him,
on account of his having given judgment in the cauſe of
M. de Montmorenci,
tation
GUY JOL I.
207
tation of a defign, with which he had been openly
charged, to excite a civil war; that the Princeſs [of
Condé] and the Dutchefs de Longueville had no o-
ther view, in retiring to Montrond, than to fhelter
themſelves from the enterprifes of their enemies;
that it was falfe that he had fortified thoſe places
which were in his hands, although he was empower-
ed fo to do by the King; and, finally, that the ac-
cufation of correfponding with the Spaniards was
an abfolute calumny, and moft injurious to the ho
nour of a Prince of the Blood, for which he de-
manded juftice; that he earneſtly entreated the af-
fembly to procure him fatisfaction in this demand,
and to prevail on his Majesty to name the authors of
the accufation, readily fubmitting himself to the judg-
ment of the affembly, fhould it appear that he had
acted in any manner derogatory to the dignity of his
deſcent.
After thefe declarations, and their Majefties me
morial had been read, a debate enfued: amongſt the
variety of opinions, there were two which carried
with them much greater weight than the reft; of
which the firſt was, that the Duke of Orleans fhould
be requeſted to mediate a reconciliation between
their Majefties and the Prince; and the latter, that
the memorial and declarations, on both fides, ſhould
be fuppreffed, and be no more mentioned. But, as
the affembly could not come to any decifion on
that day, the further confideration of the buſineſs
was postponed to the 21ft. of August 1651. As the
members retired from the Palais, a number of per-
fons in the hall repeatedly fhouted, "No Mazarin !
"No Coadjutor!" doubtlefs by order of the Prince
of
208
MEMOIRS OF
of Condé, who came to the parliament on that day
with fo numerous a train of officers and foldiers,
that it is furprizing that the Coadjutor did not meet
with much greater infults, he being but very flightly
accompanied at the time. For this reafon, as it was
néceffary that he fhould juftify himſelf before the Par-
liament on the Monday, he judged it would be great
imprudence to expofe himſelf in future to fuch im-
minent rifque; and therefore took proper meaſures
to provide himſelf with a ftrong guard in which he
fucceeded marvelously well, confidering the fhort-
nefs of the time, all the Frondeurs having united on
this occafion, except the Duke of Beaufort, who
had declared himſelf in favour of the Prince.
As her Majefty confidered the Coadjutor as the
only perſon who could fupport the King's authority
in the parliament, ſhe gave orders to the officers of
the feveral corps of the body guards, gendarmes, and
light-horſe, to fend a number of their men, fecretly,
to the Palais; on the Monday morning, who fhould
be under the direction of the Marquis de Laigues,
and to whom the watch-word of Notre-Dame was
given, to diftinguish them. The Prince of Condé,
alfo, collected a numerous body of attendants, to
whom he gave the watch word of S Louis.
The Coadjutor came the first to the Palais,
accompanied by a confiderable number of per-
fons of quality, who placed themſelves near the
bar of the court, whilft the King's Council occupied
all the space between the bar, and the door of the
grand chamber, where the tip-taves were accuftom-
ed to ftand. The foldiers difperfed themſelves, as
if
GUY JO LI
209
if without defign, in fuch a manner, as to be able
to attack the partizans of the Prince's on all fides
at once. In a word, a riot was fo univerſally expect-
ed, that many of the members came to the affem-
bly armed with fwords, poniards, and other weapons,
which they concealed under their gowns.
The Count de Montrefor, alſo, came, with a view
of exculpating himſelf from the accufations brought
against him by the Prince of Condé : but, not being
able to gain admittance into the affembly, on ac-
count of the crowd, he repaired, with M. Argen-
teuil, and fome others of their party, to the bar of
the tip-flaves. A confiderable number of the friends
of the Princes had already taken poffeffion of this
fpot; which circumftance had nearly proved fatal to
the Coadjutor in the end.
His Royal Highness abfented himſelf, on this oc-
cafion, as he had done from all the late affemblies;
fo that the two parties, being totally uninfluenced
by any confiderations, either of decorum or refpect,
gave an unbounded loofe to their virulency against
each other. The Prince of Condé began with de-
claring, that fome evil defigns were in agitation a-
gainst his perfon; that, in paffing through the hall,
he had remarked a number of the Coadjutor's friends
in the croud; and that ten men per company had
been detached from each of the companies of the
guards, to whom the watch-word of Notre Dame
had been given. All this the Coadjutor acknow-
ledged; adding, that he had judged it neceffary to
request the attendance of his friends, in order that
he might not again be expofed to a like danger
with
210
OF
MEMOIRS
with that by which he had been threatened at the
laft affembly; but that, if the Prince would difmifs
his followers, he would defire his friends to retire.
alfo. Accordingly, the parliament having ordered the
hall to be cleared, M. de Champlatreux, and fome
others of the members, were commiffioned to carry
that order into execution and the Prince having
fent the Duke de la Rochefoucault with them, to
defire his friends to retire, the Coadjutor went in
perfon to difmifs his partizans, totally unapprized of
the danger to which he was going to expofe him-
felf.
:
He had ſcarcely paffed the door of the tip-ftaves
chamber, accompanied by M. d'Argenteuil, before
five or fix of the Prince's footmen, came running
towards him, fword in hand, crying, " down with
"the_Mazarin!" Immediately both parties drew
their fwords, and the Coadjutor's friends rushed to
his affiftance, fhouting, "God fave the King!" and
their antagonists, "God fave the King, and the
"Princes!" infomuch that, in the space of a mo-
ment, three or four thousand naked fwords ap-
peared on every fide. There is good reaſon to be-
lieve, that there would have been much blood fhed
on the occafion, had any one began the attack, and
alſo had not the Prince's party been the most nume-
rous, as, the Coadjutor's friends were, at first, obliged
to give ground, and the foldiers, with their officers
at their head, were preparing to furround the adhe-
rents of the Princes. But it fortunately happened
that the Marquis de Crenan, captain of the Prince
of Conti's guards, addreffing himſelf to the Marquis
de
GUY JOL I.
214
de Foffeufe, the heir of the houfe of Montmorenci,
and one of the Coadjutor's chief friends, obferved,
that it was a pity that ſo many brave men, and per-
fons of the first quality, fhould cut each others
throats, in the caufe of fuch a fcoundrel as the Car-
dinal. The Marquis de Foffeufe making anſwer,
that the prefent conteft had no reference to the Car-
dinal, but that it was expected that every one ſhould
join in fhouting folely, "God fave the King!" the
Marquis de Crenan replied, "We are all faithful
fubjects of the King", at the fame time ſheathing
his fword: which example was immediately fol-
lowed by all the rest of the perfons in the Palais,
who unanimouſly united in a general acclamation of,
"God fave the King!" without any further addi-
tion. However, the Coadjutor being defirous of
returning to the grand chamber, through the apart-
ment of the tip-ftaves, he there met with the Duke
de la Rochefoucault, who had ordered the iron bar to
be put to the door, which was thereby kept partly
open, but not fufficiently fo to admit a man to paſs
through. The Duke, whilst the Coadjutor was at-
tempting to force himself through, adviſed M. de
Chavagnac, a friend of the Prince of Condé, to po-
niard him but that gentleman replied, that he
came there to ferve the Prince, but not to affaffinate
any man, and that the Duke might poniard him
himſelf, if he pleaſed.
The Coadjutor efcaped a ftill more threatening
danger, in the attempt to get through the door-
way, by the affistance of M. d'Argenteuil, who,
doubtlefs, ſaved his life on the occafion. For a man,
whoſe
212
MEMOIRS OF
whofe name was Pech, one of the loweft of the
people, and the greatest clamourer for the Prince of
Condé, advanced towards him, accompanied by his
wife, with a drawn poniard in his hand, crying out,
"Where is that fcoundrel the Coadjutor I will
"certainly kill him, if I find him!" At this inftant
M. d'Argenteuil very dexterously threw the gown
of a friar, who chanced to be prefent, over the Co-
adjutor, thereby concealing his pontifical robes from
view, and, placing himself between the parties, he
calmly aſked the wretch, whether he meant to mur-
der his archbishop. This queftion awed him into
reſpect; and, intelligence having been carried to
the grand chamber, in the mean time, of the danger
to which the Coadjutor was expofed, M. de Cham.
platreux, though no friend to that prelate, and a
domeftic of the Prince of Condé, went, in all hafte,
to the tip faves apartment, in order to caufe the
door to be opened for his admiffion, which he, at
length, with much difficulty effected, with the affift-
ance of M. Noblet d'Auvilliers The last mention-
ed gentleman rendered the Coadjutor, whom he
only knew by fight, a moft effential fervice on the
occañon, by facilitating his admiffion, and, alío, by
warding off, as he alledges, a blow made at him,
by a man with a naked poniard: in gratitude for
which that prelate received M. Noblet into his fa-
mily, where he remained till his death.
Thus the Coadjutor returned to the grand cham-
ber, juft at the intant that the people in the hall
sheathed their fwords, and, M. de Champlatreux
having had fome converfation with the leaders on
each
GUY JO L I.
213
each fide, both parties retired into the court-yard
of the Palais, by different doors, in order to avoid
all confufion and difpute, the partizans of the Prince
of Condé having infifted that the Coadjutor's friends
ſhould quit the hall firſt,
No bufinefs was done in the parliament on this
day, the refentment of the members being too much
inflamed, to fuffer them to act with calmness. At
the breaking up of the affembly, the Prince of
Condé and the Coadjutor were received by their
refpective friends, in the court-yard of the Palais;
and were conducted home by them. It muft not
be omitted, that fome fharp words paffed between
the Coadjutor and the Duke de la Rochefoucault,
after they had returned to the grand chamber: but
the difpute was very cavalierly terminated by the
Coadjutor, who, if it is to be credited, addreffed
the Duke, before the whole affembly, in the fol-
lowing terms: "Friend la Franchife," (which was
the Duke's name) "I am a prieft, and you are a
“mere coward: therefore we shall not fight toge.
"ther on this occafion." Nevertheless, the Duke
de Briffac, a relation of the Coadjutor, and who
always accompanied him whenever he went to the
parliament, upon his return home from the af-
fembly, fent M. de St. Aubar, a gentleman of
Dauphiny, with a challenge to the Duke de
la Rochefoucault: but, this circumftance having
tranſpired, the matter was afterwards fuffered to
drop.
In the afternoon, the Duke of Orleans fent a
perfon
214
MEMOIRS OF
perfon to the Coadjutor, to defire that he would
not go to the parliament on the next day: but to
this he could fcarcely be perfuaded to confent, al-
though he had been already informed, that the
Queen was perfectly fatisfied with what he had
done, and that the expected nothing further from
him. However, as he deemed that the withdraw-
ing himſelf on this occaſion would be, in ſome ſort,
to defert the party, he would not have yielded
readily, had not Joli fuggefted to him a very plau-
fible pretext for abfenting himſelf, by attending
the folemn proceffion of the feveral religious fra-
ternities, which was to be made on that day, and
at which it was cuftomary for the archbishop, and
all the curates of the city to be prefent. This
proceffion is made from the Madelaine to the con-
vent of the Cordeliers, where mafs is performed:
and, as the archbishop's health would not permit
him to afflift at the ceremony, decency required that
the Coadjutor ſhould fupply his place; and 'tis pro-
bable that he was not diſpleaſed with having found
the means to fecure both his honour and his per-
fon.
Nevertheless, he was very near being expoſed to as
much danger on this occafion, as he had been on
the preceding day, although, in the end, the af
fair turned out advantageoufly for him. The Prince
of Condé chanced, on that day, to leave the Pa-
lais, in order to return to the Hotel de Condé,
juft at the time that the proceffion was returning
from the Cordeliers convent to the Madelaine, and
the rabble who went before his Highuefs's coach,
without any refpect for the folemnity, began to
infult
і
GUY. JOLL
215
infult the Coadjutor, as the proceffion paffed thro'
the ſtreet du Paon with their ufual cry of, "down
"with the Mazarin!" But the Prince filenced
them and when his carriage reached the fpot
where the Coadjutor was, he ordered it to ſtop, and
the door to be opened; and all thoſe who were
with him in the coach got out and threw them-
felves on their knees, not excepting even M. Gan-
court, who did the fame with the reft, although
he was of the Proteftant religion. The Prince
kneeled down in the door-way of the coach, and
the Coadjutor gave him his benediction as he paffed
along, after which he made a very reſpectful bow
to his Highness, who returned the compliment with
as much politenefs, as if they had been upon the
beſt terms whatever: after which both parties went
their way.
After this day, the Coadjutor returned no more
to the parliament, not being required fo to do by
the Queen, who conftantly expreffed herſelf well
fatisfied with his conduct. An exculpatory decla-
ration was demanded: for which reaſon the par-
liament ordered, that all the different papers fhould
be laid before their Majefties, and that the Queen
fhould be humbly requeſted to fupprefs the whole
affair, as alſo, that his Royal Highneſs fhould be
defired to interpofe his good offices towards pro-
curing an accommodation.
The Prince's partizans would fain have carried
matters ftill farther, by adding to the foregoing
refolutions, that the Queen fhould be requested to
name
216
MEMOIRS OF
name the authors of the declaration againſt his
Highnels, and to produce the proofs of the charges
contained therein. But, the Coadjutor's friends
uniting with the court party, on this occafion, the
dengn was rendered abortive.
At length, the Queen having commanded the
attendance of the parliament, the Chancellor ac-
quainted them, in her Majefty's name, that, the
charge against the Prince of Condé, of carrying on
a correfpondence with the Spaniards, not having
been confirmed, her Majefty was willing to believe
it to be void of foundation; that he had fince
learnt that his Highness had caufed Stenai to be
evacuated; that his troops were on their march
10 join the King's army; that he had given orders
for ftopping the fortifications which had been be-
gun at Montrond, and for reducing the garrifons
of thoſe places to their eſtabliſhed number of troops,
and that her Majefty expected that his Highnes
fhould, in confirmation of his good intentions, im-
mediately wait on the King, and return to his
feat in the council.
This declaration was dictated by M. de Cha-
teauneuf, who had been restored to favour, and
had been placed at the head of the council, but
without returning him the feals, which fill remain-
ed in the hands of the firft Prefident.
It will be proper to relate here the various pre-
texts which were made use of for depriving M. de
Chateauneuf of the feals: and which were omitted
in their due place.
The
GUY JOLI
217
The parliament urgently demanded the declara-
tion for the exclufion of foreigners, and of all Car-
dinals from the council. The keeper of the feals
refuſed to iffue it, maintaining that the Queen,
fimply as guardian to her fon, was not impowered
to make a fimilar law. The reafon affigned was
a very good one; but the real motive to his re-
fufal was, that he was in hopes of obtaining a
Cardinal's hat, in cafe the marriage of the Prince
of Conti, who had the nomination, ſhould take
place.
The Coadjutor received intelligence that the
Queen, who had conftantly enjoined the keeper of
the feals to this conduct, had determined to grant
the declaration, after the keeper of the feals ſhould
have refuſed it, purpofely to throw the hatred of
the parliament upon him.
My father was fent to the keeper of the feals,
to exhort him to yield; but he continued im-
moveable in his determination, giving no other
reaſon for his perfeverance, than that if the Queen
was fincere in her refufal he ſhould have nothing
to fear: that, if he was refolved on his ruin, he
fhould caly difgrace himself, by confenting to a mea
fure, which had been refuſed on ſuch juſt grounds,
and that, in the courſe of a week, he might
be difmiffed from his poft on fome other pre-
text.
When the deputies of the parliament were ad-
mitted to the Queen's prefence, the keeper of the
VOL. I.
L
feals
218
MEMOIRS OF
feals approached her Majefty, to receive her or-
ders on the fubject of the requeſted declaration.
She perfifted in refufing to grant it: the firft Pre-
fident harangued. The keeper of the feals replied,
with great ftrength of argument. The Queen,
rifing from her feat, faid: "Mr. keeper of the
feals, fet the feal to the declaration which the
parliament requires ;" and immediately retired.
into her cloſet. The keeper of the feals returned
to his own houfe, where he found M. Guenegaud,
who took the feals away with him, and delivered
them to first Prefident.
One of the members of the parliament having
acquainted the Duke of Orleans, that he had juft
come from the first President's, where he had ſeen
the feals lying on the table, my father adviſed his
Royal Highness to go, with the Prince of Condé,
and to take them away by force. The Duke ap-
proved of the propofal, and confulted the Prince
of Condé on the fubject, who, being perfectly
well acquainted with his Royal Highnefs's want
of refolution, anfwer'd that he was ready to ac-
company him; that he understood the war of the
field, but was totally unverfed in that of factious
incendaries and printed publications. This was
fufficient to induce his Royal Highness to drop
his intention.
M. de Chateauneuf fent a meffage to the Duke
of Orleans, by my father, that he would not re-
accept of the feals, but that, when his Royal
Highneſs fhould have taken them into his own
poffeffion,
GUY JOL I.
219
poffeffion, he would wait on him daily, to give him
his advice.
The feals, therefore, remained in the hands of
the first Prefident, who, neverthelefs, ftill continu-
ed at the head of the parliament, for which lat-
ter office he was very well qualified, whereas in
the buſineſs of the cabinet he was quite a no-
vice.
It had been imagined that the Queen's declara-
tion would have reduced the Prince of Condé to
the neceffity of yielding. Her Majefty required
nothing of him but what was reaſonable, and
juftified him, in fome degree, from the charge of
correfponding with the enemies of the ftate, al-
though it was well known that the acccufation was
far from being groundleſs, and that he fill conti-
nued to concert meaſures with them for kindling
a war in the kingdom. But the Queen diffembled
on the ſubject, purpoſely to deprive him of every
pretext and as the Prince of Condé infifted upon
an exculpatory declaration, in which demand he
was fupported by the Duke of Orleans, in the
parliament, her Majefty, at length, determined to
comply with the demand, and, at the fame time to
iffue the edict, which had fo long and earnestly been
follicited by the parliament, againſt Cardinal Ma-
zarin after which, it was the general opinion that
the Prince of Condé would no longer fcruple to
return to the Palais Royal.
But thoſe who examined matters more clofely,
and who were acquainted with the various intri-
L 2
gues
220
MEMOIRS OF
gues of the Prince, to win the parliament and the
people to his fide, rightly judged that even thefe
conceffions would not be fufficient to induce him
to comply. In fact, finding himſelf now deprived
of every plauſible reaſon for perſevering in his re-
fufal, and obferving alfo, that the period of the
King's coming of age approached apace, he deter-
mined to retire to Bourdeaux, after having written
a letter to the King, to excufe his conduct on
the occafion.
1
It is certain, that the Prince adopted this refo-
lution with great unwillingnefs, foreſeeing that it
might be productive of diſagreeable confequences.
Moreover, he felt much repugnancy at quitting his
fine feat at Chantilly, and it was with the utmoſt
regret that he faw himſelf compelled to leave Ma-
dam de Châtillon, for whom he had conceived a
violent paffion. But the Dutchefs de Longueville,
the Duke de la Rochefoucault, and a multitude
of officers of the army, by whom he was con-
flantly environed, and who only fought to better
their fortunes, at length determined him to take
up the trade of war. The Dutchefs de Longue-
ville and the Duke de la Rochefoucault, who had
first fet on foot the negotiations between the Prince
of Condé and the Cardinal, and who had diſcover-
ed that the latter only trifled with them, were ea-
gerly bent on revenge.
They had entertained and conftantly inculcated
into the Prince, a notion that the leaft fhew of a
preparation for war would fo far difmay the Car-
a.nal and the court, that before his Highnefs could
reach
GUY JOLI.
221
reach Bourges, a carte blanche would be fent after
him. The Dutchefs de Longueville had, moreover,
particular and private reafons for wifhing for a rup-
ture, as ſhe was very defirous of eluding the folli-
citations of her husband, who urgently preffed her
to return with him; and as nothing could juſtify
her refufal but the pretext of fupporting her bro-
ther, in a quarrel, in which all knew fhe was as
much, and more concerned than any one elſe.
Thus the Prince of Condé yielded, in fpite of
himſelf in a manner. to the follicitations and re-
fentments of thoſe by whom he was furrounded.
He was fenfible of the intereſted motives by which
they were actuated, and this drew from him a de-
claration, that, if once they cauſed him to draw the
fword, he would not ſheath it again fo foon as their
caprice might, perhaps, require.
The
The Duke de Nemours had a great ſhare in
determining the Prince to this conduct, and he con-
tinued to the end firmly attached to his Highness's
intereft. But it was otherwife with the Duke de
Longueville, who remain'd quiet in his government
of Normandy, much difpleafed with his wife, and
little fatisfied with the Prince of Condé.
Duke de Bouillon alfo, and the Viſcount Turenne
rejected all the offers which were made them, to
induce them to join the party, although the for-
mer had, at first, given the Prince hopes of his en-
gaging with him, having had ſeveral conferences on
the ſubject with the Duke de la Rochefoucault.
Finally, the Prince of Condé, before his depar-
ture, concerted fome neceffary meaſures with the
Duke
L 3
222
MEMOIRS OF
Duke of Orleans, who, in the mean time, remain-
ed at Paris, to be a fpectator of the tragedy which
was about to begin.
On the 7th of September 1651, the King en-
tered into his fourteenth year: on which day his
Majefty, accompanied by all the officers of the
crown, and a numerous train of the nobility, rich-
ly habited, and mounted on horfeback, proceeded
from the Palais Royal to the parliament, where
he was declared of age, with all the ufual fo-
lemnities, according to the laws of the king-
dom.
Nevertheless, in the midst of this pomp and
magnificence, and notwithstanding all the ftreets
were crouded with fpectators, it was eafy to diftin-
guith the unhappy temper of the times: inftead
of the customary fhouts and acclamations, which
cught on this occafion to have been redoubled every
moment, a mournful filence almoſt univerſally pre-
vailed. The rout of this cavalcade was through
the ſtreets S. Honoré, des Lombards, des Arcis,
and from thence over the bridge of Notre-Dame,
where fome of the King's attendants having point-
ed out to him the Coadjutor, at the window of
a houſe, near the church of S. Denis de la Char-
tre, his Majefty did him the honour to falute him.
When the cavalcade arrived at the Palais, the de-
claration of the King's being of age was firft made
in due form, after which his Majefty, being feated
on his bed of juftice, returned the Queen thanks
for the care fhe had taken of his perfon and educa-
tion. This compliment the Queen did not deferve,
as
GUY JOL I.
223
4
as the and the Cardinal had taken little care to
inftruct the King, and to cultivate that happy dif
pofition, which had diſcovered itſelf in his Majeſty
from the first, in order the longer to keep him in
dependance, and to preferve to themfelves the ma-
ragement of affairs. Then followed an edict a-
gainst duelling, and another againſt blafphemers,
as also an exculpatory declaration in favour of the
Prince of Condé. This was done with the view
of depriving him of every further pretext, an!
for giving the better colour to the meaſures which
it was intended to put in execution against him.
This declaration, however, did not prevent the
Prince from continuing his journey; to which the
blunder of a courier, whom the Marſhal de Gram-
mont had fent after him, to adviſe him to proceed
no further, and to inform him that there were ſtill
fome hopes of an accommodation, not a little con-
tributed. The Prince of Condé had been for fome
time at Augerville, a country feat belonging to
the prefident Perrault. The courier, confounding
Augerville with Angerville, took the road to the
latter place and the circuit which he was obliged
to make was the caufe that his Highness did not
receive the Marshal's letter till the inftant that he
was about to depart from Augerville. Having
read the letter, he told thofe about him that, had
it arrived a little fooner, he might have been in-
duced to ftop where he was; but that, being now
on horfeback, he would not difmount, nor truſt
to hopes of which the completion was very uncertain.
And thus, without any further deliberation, he di-
L. 4
reЯed
224
OF
MEMOIRS
rected his courſe to Bourdeaux, with the ſmall re-
tinue which he had been able to collect; but he
was quickly followed by the Prince of Conti, who
had attended the ceremony of declaring the King
of age, by the Dukes de Nemours and de la Ro-
chefoucault, and by most of the perfons of quality
who had declared themſelves in his favour during
the time of his impriſonment, except the Duke
de Bouillon and the Viſcount de Turenne. The
Count d'Ognon, who was governor of Brouage, alfo
joined his party, after having held a conference with
him at Bourdeaux, where the Prince met with the
moſt welcome reception, both from the people and
the parliament; the latter having immediately if
fued orders for feizing the King's revenues, and
for complying, in every refpect, with what his
Highneſs ſhould require.
The Prince of Condé then gave orders for railing
troops on all fides, and diſtributed commiffions a-
mongſt thoſe cfficers who accompanied him; info-
much that he quickly found himſelf at the head of
an army of ten cr twelve thouſand regular troops,
and ready to enter upon action. But as it was ab-
folutely requifite that the public'hould be made
acquainted, that he had been compelled to pro-
ceed to theſe extremities, from motives of ſelf de-
fence, and mere neceffity, his Highness firft wrote
a letter to the Duke of Orleans, which was com-
pofed in the form of a manifeſto, containing a re-
cital of all that had paffed at court, fince the time
of his reſtoration to liberty. In this letter he par-
ticularly mentioned the appointment of Meffrs. de
Chateauneuf and de la Vieuville to be members
of
+
GUY JOL I.
225
of the council: they being creatures of Cardinal
Mazarin, to whom they were far more devoted than
Meffrs. Servien, Le Tellier, and de Lyonre, who
had been difmiffed folely with the view of deceiv-
ing him, and of replacing them with fuch perfons
as were his avowed enemies. He alſo endeavoured
to infinuate, that he had undertaken nothing with-
out the concurrence of his Royal Highness, who,
he obferved, had not approved of the above change
any more than himself, concluding with fome ge-
neral proteftations of contributing, all in his power,
to [the execution of fuch meaſures, as his Royal
Highness and the parliament fhould judge moft con-
ducive to the general welfare, in the prefent dif.
ordered ſtate of public affairs.
The court, being informed of what paffed at
Bourdeaux, determined to remove to Fontainbleau,
on the 26th of September, and from thence to Poic-
tiers, in order to be nearer at hand, to oppoſe the
defigns and progrefs of the Prince of Condé, leav-
ing the management of affairs at Paris to M. de
Chateauneuf, the Marquis de Vieuville, the firſt
Prefident, [of the parliament] and, above all, the
Coadjutor: and the latter engaged to ufe all his
influence with the Duke of Orleans, the parlia-
ment, and the people, in order to keep every thing
quiet, and to traverſe the defigns of the Prince's
friends. Not that the Queen and the Cardinal
placed an implicit confidence in the Coadjutor, but
they were fo well convinced, from all the late tranf
actions, of his great fway in the city, that they
deemed themſelves neceffitated, in a manner, to re-
tain him in their fervice, in order to prevent a ge-
neral
L.5
226
MEMOIRS OF
neral infurrection, which would inevitably have
taken place, had that prelate gone over to the other
party. His friends improved this opinion of the
court fo much to his advantage, that they obtained
for him the nomination to the Cardinalfhip, which
had been fo long promifed him. The Dutchefs de
Chevreufe contributed greatly to bring about this
event, by repreſenting to the Queen and the Car-
dinal, that the late mifunderftanding had arifen,
folely, from their refufal to fulfil their promiſe to
the Coadjutor, and that, in the prefent conjunc-
ture, if they neglected to recompenfe his fervices,
with which they had acknowledged themfelves fo
well fatisfied, there was reafon to fear that he
might once more change his fentiments and con-
duct.
Theſe arguments were alfo ftrongly urged by the
Princefs Palatine, whofe credit with the court was
greater than that of the Dutchefs de Chevreuſe, and
to whom the honour of compleating the bufinefs
was juftly due, Cardinal Mazarin having found, by
frequent experience, that this Princefs poffeffed a
much greater influence over the Coadjutor, than the
Dutchefs de Chevreufe could pretend to.
Be that as it may, it is certain that the Dutchefs
de Chevreufe and her daughter, and the Marquis de
Laigues, were the dupes of the Coadjutor, on this
occafion, as he reforted almost every evening, in
company with Madame de Rhodes, to the Princefs
Palatine's Hotel, in Joli's coach, in which he was
conducted from thence to the Hotel de Chevreuſe,
where he always pretended to be juſt come from
home,
GUY JOLI.
227
home, without mentioning a word of his vifits to
the Princefs. To render this intercourſe the more
effectual, during the abfence of the court, he gave
the Princeſs a cypher, of which ſhe made very con-
ftant ufe, faithfully communicating to him every
thing which concerned him to know, and not omit-
ting even fome matters which the interefts of the court
required to have been concealed. The Coadjutor,
on his part, neglected nothing, in all his letters,
which might tend to encreaſe her credit with the
Queen, and to induce an opinion in her Majefty,
that most of the effential fervices, which he at that
time rendered the court upon all occafions, were the
refult of the counfels of the Princefs Palatine: for
it muſt be acknowledged, that he now uſed all his
endeavours to further the defigns of the court, by
his intereft both with the parliament and with the
Duke of Orleans, whom he often found it difficult.
to bring over to his views, on account of the
great regard which his Royal Highness affected to
have for the friends of the Prince of Condé, by
whom he was continually furrounded. Although »
his Royal Highness conftantly exerted himself to
the utmoſt, to prevent any mea furcs from being
adopted to the prejudice of the Prince's intereſts,
under pretext that he would fet about effecting an
accommodation, yet the parliament, nevertheleſs,
on the 7th of October 1651, iffued an edict, at
the inſtigation of the Attorney General, prohibit-
ing all perfons from raifing troops, in any part of
the kingdom, unleſs duly authorized by letters pa-
tent from the King, figned by a fecretary of ftate,-
and fealed with the great feal, under the penalty.
of being declared guilty of high treafon, and ftrict-
L 6
ly
228
OF
MEMOIRS
ly enjoining all governors of provinces, cities, &c.
to feize the perfons of all fuch as fhould be found
offending. This edict was plainly levelled at the
Prince of Condé, although he was not mentioned
in it by name, and it was iffued folely in confe-
quence of the advices which had been received of
the levees which were making, in his name, on
every fide, and in order to reftrain the people and
the officers in their duty, and to prevent their
taking arms in his Highnefs's favour. It was with
the fame view, and to leave the Prince no excufe
for perfevering in this line of conduct, that the
King wrote a letter to Bourges, by way of anfwer
to that from his Highnefs, in which his Majefty
declared, that he was ready to liften to any propo-
fals which might be made for the re-establishment
of the public tranquility, and that, for that end,
he had granted the neceffary powers to the Duke
of Orleans, in conjunction with the Marfhal de
l'Hôpital, Meffrs. d'Aligre and de la Marguerie,
counsellors of ftate, and Meffrs. de Meſme, Me-
mardeau, Champofé, and de Cumont, counsellors
of the parliament, to negotiate with the Prince, at
whatever place fhould be agreed upon between
them. But his Highnefs having rejected this pro-
pofition, on fome merely frivolous pretences, his
Majefty fent an edit to the parliament, whereby
the Princes of Condé and Conti, the Princeſs [of
Condé] the Dutchefs de Longueville, the Dukes
de Nemours and de la Rochefoucault, and all thoſe
who ſhould in anywife aid them, were declared
guilty of high treafon, if they did not, in the
courfe of one month, acknowledge their faults,
and return to their duty. The Duke of Orleans,
under
2
GUY JOLL
229
under various pretexts, in which he was vigorously
fupported by the Prince's friends, prevented this
edict from being registered for the ſpace of a fort-
night. But, at length, the court party having unit-
ed with the friends of the Coadjutor, it was de-
termined to proceed to a deliberation, at which
his Royal Highneſs declined attending. Accord-
ingly, on the 4th of December 1651, after fome
time had been spent in debating, it was refolved
that the edict ſhould be read, published, and re-
giſtered, in order to its being executed, according
to its form and tenor; that the Duke of Orleans,
fhould, nevertheless, be requested to continue his
endeavours to effect an accommodation, and that,
after the time limited by the edict, no process
ſhould be inſtituted againſt the Princes, and other
privileged perfons, but in the parliament, in a ge-
neral affembly of all the courts, conformably to
the laws of the kingdom. This edict gave as
much fatisfaction to the court as it did vexation
to the Princes partizans, who never imagined that the
buſineſs would have been fo foon decided, and who
fufpected that the Duke of Orleans had not exert-
ed himſelf fo much as he
oppofition to the meaſure.
Royal Highneſs, through the fuggeftions of the
Coadjutor, was become of late very cool in the
cauſe, and that, from this time, he ſupported the
Prince's interefts from mere complaifance only. How-
ever, had he even beſtirred himſelf to the utmoſt in
this buſineſs, and had he attended in perfon at the
deliberation, ftill he would not have been able to
have prevented the edicts being regiſtered, as the
might have done, in
The truth is, that his
Prince
་
•
230
MEMOIRS OF
Prince of Condé. had now commenced open hofti-
lities, having caufed the Spaniſh fleet to enter the
Garonne, and having invefted feveral different places,.
amongst others Coignac, of which city he was com
pelled to raiſe the fiege, by the Count d'Har--
court.
In the mean time, the Prince's friends ftill con-
tinued to negotiate in his behalf, both with the
court and with Cardinal Mazarin, to whom they
repeatedly fent M. de Gourville, with propofitions.
Thefe frequent journies fupplied the Prince with
the means of correfponding with his partizans at
Paris, and, befides, furniſhed M. de Gourville with:
the opportunity of forming an enterprize againſt the
perfon of the Coadjutor, of which he doubtlefs was.
not the first contriver.
曲
​Be that as it may, Gourville came to Paris a--
bout the end of the month of October, where he
collected together between 40 and 50 of the Prince's
dependants, with fome officers and foldiers of the
garrifon of Damvilliers, whom the major, named
Rochecorbon, had brought with him. On a cer
tain evening, previously agreed upon, one party.
of theſe people were ftation'd in the little ftreet
in which the church of S. Thomas du Louvre ſtands,
whilſt the reſt poſted them felves under the arch of
a fmall bridge, at the end of the ſtreet des Pou
lies, near the leffer Bourbon Palace, with the intent
of attacking the Coadjutor in his coach, at his re-
turn from the Hotel de Chevreufe, from whence he
commonly came back every evening, along the
Quay of the galleries of the Louvre. The enter
prize
GUYOLE
231
/
prize was extremely well planned, and muft, in
all probability, have fucceeded, as it had been
determined to attack the coach on all fides at once,
on a ſpot cloſe to the river's fide, and remote
from all affiſtance. But it fo happened that the
evening proved very rainy, which having prevent
ed Madame de Rhodes's attendants from bringing
her coach, which was hung with mourning, fhe
requested the Coadjutor to conduct her home, in
his carriage, and he was, therefore, obliged, con-
trary to his uſual cuftom, to return through the
ftreet S. Honoré, in order to fet that lady down
at the Hotel de Briffac, where the refided, at the
corner of the ftreet d'Orleans. This was certainly
a very fortunate incident for the Coadjutor, but
it was followed, on the next day, by one ftill
more extraordinary. One of the foldiers having:
heared, from fome of his comrades, that the Coad--
jutor was the perfon meant to be attacked, and
imagining that that prelate might be a friend of
M. Talon's, the intendant of the frontiers, with
whom he had fome acquaintance, went to that
gentleman, and communicated to him the whole
defign, together with the names of thofe perfons
by whom the enterprize was conducted, who, he
faid, had retired the preceding night, much cha-
grined at their bad fuccefs. M. Talon, who fup-
pofs'd the Coadjutor to ftand well in the favour
of the court, from the circumftance of his late no-
mination to the Cardinalfhip, immediately carried
this intelligence to him, pointing out the places.
where Rochecorbon and his affociates were to be
found, and offering to produce the perfon from whom
he had receiv'd his information: fo that the Coad-
jutor,
232
MEMOIRS OF
}
jutor, who by accident had taken phyfic that day,
and did not ftir from home, had time to enquire
privately into the particulars of the affair. How-
ever, this did not prevent his going, on the next
day, to pay a visit to his old friend, Madame de
Pommereuil, the wife of the Preſident of that name,,
to whom he was more attached, than to any one
elfe. 'Tis true that, before he left home, he pro-
mifed Joli, whom he had employed to enquire into
the circumſtances of the foregoing plot, that he
would return before night, but, his pleafure hav-
ing detained him longer than he thought for, he
was very nigh paying dear for his neglect, Gour-
ville and his companions having miffed of him,
in the old ſtreet du Temple, by a fhort quarter
of an hour only. This circumftance, alfo, was
communicated by the ſame perfon who gave the firſt
information of the defign to M. Talon.
The Coadjutor, perceiving, from this incident,
that all his fteps were watched with the utmoſt
attention, judged it neceffary, to be more cautious
in future: he therefore never went to the Hotel
de Chevreufe, of an evening, without a ftrong par-
ty to attend him, and conftantly returned home
through the ſtreet S. Honoré. From hence, Gour-
ville concluded, that his intentions were diſcovered:
and the foldier again gave information, that him-
felf and his comrades had received orders to return
to the garriſon, that Gourville had already fet off
for Bourdeaux, and that Rochecorbon was prepar-
ing to depart with all ſpeed. This intelligence
induced the Coadjutor to apply to the firft Prefi-
dent
}
GUY JOLI
233
dent for an order to feize the perfons of Gour-
ville and Rochecorbon, as being agents to the
Prince of Condé, and as having come to Paris with
the view of raifing troops for his Highness's fervice,
in defiance of the prohibition of the parliament,
carefully concealing, however, the real motives to
his application, as being unwilling to fuffer an affair
of that nature to tranfpire, till a fit opportunity
fhould offer. He alfo wrote to M. de Chateau-
neuf, to defire that he would caufe Gourville to
be taken into cuſtody, upon his arrival at Poitiers,
through which place, according to the information
of the aforementioned foldier, he was to pafs, in
his way to Bourdeaux. Spies were, alfo, plac'd
about the houſe where Rochecorbon lodged, who
gave intelligence that he had fet off, at break of
day, for Bourg la Reine. La Forêt, the lieute-
nant of the provost of the ifle of France, was im-
mediately diſpatch'd after him, and overtook him
at Chartres, where he had lain, from whence he
was conducted to the Bastille, together with two
of his affociates. He was immediately interrogated
by the lieutenant-criminal, but, at firft, denied all
knowledge of the affair; however, one of his va-
lets having told another kind of ftory, and being
confronted with him, he confeffed the whole; de-
claring that Gourville had engaged him in a defign
to carry off the Coadjutor, who was to ferve as a
hoſtage for the fafety of the Abbé de Silleri, whom
the court had caus'd to be feized, at Lyons. A
few days afterwards, Gourville, alfo, was taken
into cuſtody, at Foitiers, through the affiduity of
M. de Chateauneuf, who fent immediate intelli-
gence of the event to the Coadjutor, informing
him
234
MEMOIRS OF
Į
him, however, at the fame time, that the Queen
had given inſtant orders for Gourville's enlarge-
ment. It even happened, fome time afterwards,
that Gourville was again diſcovered at Paris, where
he had stopped, on his return from another journey
which he had made to the place of Cardinal Ma-
zarin's refidence; and, as he was on the point of
being feized, by la Forêt and the Coadjutor's e-
querry, who had followed him very cloſe to fome
diftance from the city, they were prevented from
executing their defign by an order from the firft
Prefident.
Thefe incidents greatly embarraffed the Coad-
jutor and his friends; and, although they did not
altogether believe that the Cardinal was concerned
in the enterprize, yet they could not refrain from
entertaining a violent fufpicion that the court muft
have had a fhare in it, from the circumftance of
the protection which had been granted to Gour-
ville, and that a fecret correfpondence was carried
on between his eminency and the Prince of Condé.
Nevertheless, they thought proper to diffemble, and
to treat the affair as a matter of no confequence:
thus the proſecutions were neglected by degrees,
and, at length entirely abandoned. With refpect
to Rochecorbon, although the p:oofs again him.
were fufficient to have convicted him, yet he e-
fcap'd with only with five or fix months confine-
ment in prifon, from which he found means to
releafe himſelf, by making a hole in the wall,
through the evident connivance of M. de Louviers,
the fon of M. Brouffel, the governor of the Baſtille,.
who was, at that time, more attached to the Prince.
of
GUY JOL I.
235
of Condé than to the Coadjutor. Gourville, there-
fore, continued his journies and negotiations, with-
out any interruption, and he went, openly, both
to Paris and to the place of the Cardinal's refi-
dence, without appearing, however, to be employ-
ed by the Prince of Condé, from whom he had
no commiffion, in fact; but he had received full
powers from the Dutchefs de Longueville, and
the Duke de la Rochefoucault, who were employed
much in the fame manner as himſelf. The Prince
had devifed this expedient, that his name might
not appear openly in thefe negotiations, and that.
he might reſerve to himſelf the power of difavow-
ing the propoſals made by Gourville with his con-
fent, after the return of Cardinal Mazarin. Not
but that he very readily entered into thefe nego-
tiations, and that he earnestly wished to induce
the Cardinal to take that ftep, in hopes that he
fhould extricate himself from his prefent difficul-
ties, by an advantageous accommodation, and, at
leaft, that his party would acquire fresh vigour from
the return of that minifter, whofe very prefence
would greatly benefit his caufe, and would occa-
fion his quarrel to be confidered as that of the
public, The truth is, that his Highness's fitua-
tion now began to wear fo unfavourble an aſpect,
on all fides, that he would foon have been obliged
to have fubmitted himfelf, had not the Cardinal's
too precipitate return caufed a total change in the
face of affairs. His troops had been defeated in al-
moit every engagement, by thofe of the King, in-
Guienne, and that Prince, although very brave, and
expert in the art of war, was obliged to yield to.
the-
236
MEMOIRS OF
f
!
the better fortune of the Count d'Harcourt, who
certainly was his inferior in point of ſkill. He
had been compelled to raiſe the fiege, not only
of Coignac, as mentioned before, but alſo of Mi-
radoux, a ſmall and ill-fortified town, in which
the regiment of Champagne was pent up; and,
although the befieged were in want of every ne-
ceffary, they, nevertheless, held out againſt all his
efforts, till they were relieved by the Count d'Har-
court. He was alſo obliged, fome time afterwards,
to evacuate Agen, whither he had retreated, the
citizens having rifen againſt him, and barricaded
the ſtreets, upon the approach of the King's army.
Thus the Prince of Condé was, in a manner, ſhut
up within the walls of Bourdeaux, without money
and without affiftance. Neither were his affairs in
a better fituation at Paris: all the principal citi-
zens were weary of the war, and the pretext of
Cardinal Mazarin's name was no longer heeded by
any but the rabble. It was in vain that his High-
nefs's emiffaries threw hand-bills into the houſes,
ftuck up papers in the streets, and inftigated the
populace to go bawling about the city all this
produced no effect. The parliament iffued feve-
ral edicts against him, which were executed, not
only by the officers of justice, but also by the ci-
tizens, who, frequently, even anticipated them.
It is certain, therefore, that the Prince's party was
reduced to the laft degree of humiliation, and muft
foon have been utterly ruined, had not the Car-
dinal, by a strange infatuation, determined to rè-
turn thus unfeaſonably, thereby reducing his af-
fairs to a worſe ſtate than they were in before.
And, indeed, moft of his friends advifed him a-
gainſt
GUY 237
k.
JOLI
gainst this ftep, and the Coadjutor repeatedly ex-
preffed his diſapprobation of the meaſure, in his
letters to the Princefs Palatine, although he was
very fenfible that his advice would be unfavourably
received, and misinterpreted, by Cardinal Maza-
rin, and that he might, in confequence, be ma-
terially injured in his purfuits at the court of Rome,
to obtain the hat to which he had been nominated.
But theſe conſiderations could not reftrain him from
declaring his fentiments with freedom; nor could
Cardinal Mazarin be induced to lay afide his de-
fign, being fully convinced, that all thofe who
endeavoured to diffuade him from it were actuated
by interested motives. In this opinion, to tell the
truth, he might not be altogether miſtaken: as it
is certain that, for fome time paft, the members
of the council had formed a ftrict union amongst
themſelves, for the purpoſe of excluding the Car-
dinal from all future fhare in the management of
affairs; that the Queen feemed no longer to be af-
fected by his abfence, and that he began to be
better reconciled to thofe about her, infomuch that,
when the received intelligence of the Pope's illness,
ſhe ordered the Count de Brienne, one of the fe
cretaries of ſtate, to write to Cardinal Mazarin, and
to repreſent to him that he could not employ him-
felf better, during his abfence, than in going to
Rome, in order to fupport the intereſts of the King
in the conclave, in cafe the Pope ſhould die, and
that ſuch a ſtep might prove the means of facili
tating his return. But he was too fubtle to fall
into this fnare, plainly foreſeeing the confequences
which must refult from fuch a journey. It was
even this very confideration which induced him tɔ
haften
1
1
238
MEMOIRS OF
haften his return, through fear that the Queen,
under that pretext, might yield her affent to fome
meaſures, to which it would be impoffible after-
wards to apply any remedy, and that, from a
fickleneſs natural to her fex, fhe might attach her-
felf to one or other of thoſe who were preſent with
her, forgetting thoſe who were abſent.
For theſe reaſons. therefore, he fuddenly return-
ed, at the head of an army of ſeven or eight thou-
fand men, whom he had raiſed at his own ex.
pence, imagining that it would be an eafy matter
for him to cruſh the Prince's party, by uniting his
troops with thoſe of the King. Having made all
the neceffary preparations, he gave the command
of his troops to the Marfhal d'Hoquincourt, who
had raiſed the major part of them, and had gi-
ven them green fafhes as a mark of diftinc-
tion.
This unforeseen event was attended with all the
bad effects which had been predicted, and with
many others, alfo, of which no expectation had
been formed, every thing being, thereby, thrown
into the utmoft confufion and diforder. The first,
and principal of theſe effects was the change of
conduct of the Duke of Orleans, who had began
to difengage himſelf from the party of the Prince
of Condé, and who had of late abfented himſelf
from the meetings of the parliament, with the
view of abating the general ferment. His Royal
Highness, being highly incenfed that the court
fhould have confented, or even dared to think of
Cardinal
GUY JOL I.
239
Cardinal Mazarin's return, without confulting him,
after fo many folemn declarations to the contrary,
looked upon himſelf as being obliged to unite
with thoſe who oppoſed that defign, and he ma-
nifeſted a firmnefs, in the end, of which he had
never, hitherto, been deemed capable, often ren-
dering the Prince fuch effential ſervices, as even
far furpaffed the expectations of his warmest friends.
This appeared chiefly on occafion of the arrival of
the Spaniſh troops, which were led into France by
the Duke de Nemours, his Royal Highneſs having
prevented the parliament from oppofing their en-
trance into the kingdom, and from paying any at-
tention to the repeated orders which the King fent.
to the affembly on that fubject, conftantly main-
taining that they were not Spaniards, notwithſtand-
ing they came from the Low Countries, by order of
the Archduke, and that they were only Germans,
natives of Liege, and other foreigners, to whofe
fervice the Prince of Condé was as well entitled,
for his defence, as the Cardinal was to that of the
troops which he brought with him, in contempt
of fo many declarations of the King, and of lo
many edicts of the parliament. Thus all the ef-
forts of the court proved infufficient to attain their
ends.
The Duke of Orleans did not ftop here: he
affembled another body of troops, in his own name
and in that of M. de Valois, his fon, the command
of which he gave to the Duke of Beaufort, in
confequence of an edict of the parliament, by which
he was requeſted to ufe all his endeavours to pre-
vent the Cardinal's return: nor would any oppo-
fition
240
MEMOIRS OF
$
fition which the Coadjutor and his friends could
have raiſed againſt this edict have proved effectual,
feeing that the public refentment againſt Cardinal
Mazarin was now become more violent than ever.
The parliament now iffued freſh edicts, prohibit-
ing his return, one of the 13th and another of
the 21st of December 1651, by which it was cr-
dered, that a deputation, confifting of a prefident
and a certain number of counsellors, fhould be
fent, to acquaint the King with what was doing on
the frontiers, and to request his Majefty to pledge
his royal word, for the execution of his declara-
tion, which was registered on the 6th of September;
prohibiting all perfons whatſoever from giving the
Cardinal any affiſtance on his return, under the
penalties contained in the edicts, and of forfeit-
ing whatever pofts or dignities they might be poſ-
feffed of. The Cardinal, however, returned, in
fpite of the edicts. He was accompanied by the
Marthals de la Ferté and d'Hoquincourt, and a
number of perfons of quality, who attended him
as far as Poitiers, well knowing that it was the
propereft method of making their court to the Queen,
who dared not, or would not liften to the advice
of any one but him, whilft he continued with
her. This obliged M. de Châteauneuf to with-
draw himfelf, rightly judging, that his prefence
would not be agreeable to the Cardinal, and that
he fhould no longer make but an indifferent fi-
gure at court.
In the mean time, intelligence of his march.
having been communicated to the parliament, that
affembly
GUY JO L-I.
241
affembly iffued another edict, ordering that the Pre-
fident de Beliévre, and the other deputies ſhould
depart without delay, and declaring Cardinal Ma-
zarin, and all thoſe who had favoured his return,
guilty of high treafon, difturbers of the public
tranquility, and as having forfeited all their em-
ployments in the ftate, and priviledges of nobility,
and enjoining the commonalty perfonally to attack
the Cardinal and his adherents, wherever they ſhould
be found. It was further ordered, by this edict,
that the Cardinal's library, and all his other effects,
fould be fold; that all his benefices fhould be feiz-
ed, out of which the fum of fifteen thousand livres
ſhould be fet apart, for a reward to any one who
fhould deliver him up to justice, either dead or
alive; and that the Duke of Orleans fhould be re-
quefted to exert all his authority, towards carrying
this edict into execution.
This edict made much noiſe in the world, eſpe-
cially amongſt the clergy, who confidered this mea.
fure, of fetting a price on the head of a Cardinal,
as being highly injurious to the honour of their
function. Cardinal Châtillon, the brother of Ad-
miral Coligni, who had apoftatized, alfo gave much
uneafinefs to Cardinal Mazarin, who was well fa-
tisfied that, in his own country, an edit of this
nature would not have remain'd long unexecuted.
But what difquieted him ſtill more was a fmall
performance of Marigny's, in which the above fum
of fifteen thouſand livres was divided into a cer-
tain number of ſhares, to be given as rewards to
fuch perfons, as ſhould find the means, either of
destroying or of maiming the Cardinal; the author
VOL. I.
M
having,
242
MEMOIRS OF
having, in a very humorous manner, deviſed up-
wards of a hundred different ways, in which his
eminency's domeftics, or any of thoſe who had ac-
cefs to him, might make attempts upon his per-
fon, againſt which it would be impoffible for him
to be on his guard: and the whole was feaſoned
with that kind of pleaſantry, which often makes a
ftronger impreffion than the mofl ferious arguments.
This Marigny poffeffed a marvellous talent for theſe
kind of writings, and he had already entertained
the public with a number of fongs, ballads, and
otier Jeux d'Esprit, of the fame nature, during
the impriſonment of the Prince of Condé, which
had contributed, in no fmall degree, to render the
Frondeurs favourable to his caufe. In confequence
of the last edit, the parliament fent Meffrs. Bi-
taud and Du Coudray Giviers, to break down all
the bridges on the rout which the Cardinal was
to take: and, thefe two counfellors having ar-
rived at Pont-fur-Yonne much at the fame time
with the Marthal d'Hoquincourt, M. Bitaud wast
taken prifoner, and it was with difficulty that M.
Giviers efcaped, having been purfued, to a con-
fiderable diſtance, by fome of the Marfhal's troops.
The news of this incident gave rife to a long de-
bate in the parliament, to whom intelligence was
brought that M. Giviers had been killed on the
occafion; but, this report proving falfe, the refent-
ment of the affembly in part abated, and they
judged it fufficient to iffue edicts for M. Bitaud's
releaſement, to procure which they even folicited
the concurrence of the other parliaments of the
kingdom, as if it had been a matter of great im-
portance. It was plain, however, that the court
look'd
GUY JOLI.
243
look'd upon the affair in a different light, having
given orders for M. Bitaud's being fet at liberty,
almoſt immediately after his detention.
At length, Cardinal Mazarin, having furmount-
ed all obstacles, arrived at Poitiers, and the Queen,
being informed of his approach, prevailed on the
King to go to meet him, at the diſtance of a full
league, and the Cardinal was conducted, on horfe-
back, by his Majeſty, to an audience of the Queen,
whom impatience had kept upwards of an hour at
a window, in expectation of her beloved favou-
rite's arrival. The deputies of the parliament,
who arrived nearly at the fame time, met with a
much cooler reception. The King, however, re-
turned a tolerably gracious answer to their remon-
ftrances, declaring that he was well perfuaded of
the good intentions of the affembly, and that they
would not have taken that ftep, had they known
that the Cardinal had returned to France, folely
in obedience to the orders which his Majefty had
fent him, to raiſe a body of troops, and to lead
them to his affiftance, that he might be enabled,
with the greater facility, to fubdue the rebels; that
the edict which they had iffued against the Car-
dinal was in its nature extraordinary and unex-
ampled; that the Cardinal was defirous of juſti-
fying himself, and that his Majefty could not, in
reaſon, reject his demand. In the mean time, the
Prince of Condé diſpatched M. de la Sale to the
parliament, with a letter, and alſo cauſed a peti-
tion to be prefented to that affembly, requiring
that the enforcement of the declaration which had
M 2
been
244
MEMOIRS OF
been iſſued against him might be fufpended, until
the feveral edicts of the parliament against Car-
dinal Mazarin, fhould be executed in their full ex-
tent; which demand was granted by the parlia-
ment, on the 12th of January 1652. But they
did not ftop here; for, on the 25th of the fame
month, after taking into confideration the King's
anfwer to the deputies, they refolved, that his Ma-
jefty fhould be humbly requested to difmifs the
Cardinal, that, in the mean time, the edicts which
had been iffued againſt him ſhould be carried into
execution, and that the other parliaments of the
kingdom fhould be requested to ifue fimilar or-
dinances with which fome of them complied in
the end.
During these tranfactions at Paris, the Spanish
troops, commanded by the Duke de Nemours, ad-
vanced, without any oppofition, as far as the banks
of the Loire; and the Duke de Rohan-Chabot
made himſelf mafter of the city of Angers. This
obliged the King to remove to Saumur, for the
purpoſe of befieging the above city, which held
out but a fhort time, the Duke de Rohan having
capitulated on the very eve of the arrival of a
reinforcement, which had been fent to his relief,
under the command of the Duke of Beaufort. This
incident, however, did not prevent the Duke of
Orleans from taking him (the Duke de Rohan)
under his protection, but for which he certainly
would never have obtained a confirmation of his
patent of Duke and Peer; every one being per-
fuaded that that nobleman, who had ever been
attached to the interefts of Cardinal Mazarin, had
excited
GUY JOLI
245
excited this diforder folely with the intent of ren.
dering the parliament favourable to his views. Be
that as it may; he was highly blamed by both
parties, the court accufing him of ingratitude and
infidelity, whilft the Prince of Condé reproached
him with cowardice, in furrendering a place which
muft inevitably have been relieved.
Another incident happened, at this time, which,
with proper care, might have been made produc
tive of important confequences. The King iffued
orders for converting the monies due, as intereft,
to the proprietors of the fund of the Hotel de
Ville, to the payment of the troops, and other
exigencies of the war. The parliament, hereupon,
inftantly took the alarm, and the affair was car-
ried fo far, that it was, at length, determined
to convene a general affembly of all the fuperior
courts,
Accordingly, feveral conferences were held, in
the chamber of St. Louis, at which the Prince of
Condé's emiffaries made many attempts to engage
the ſuperior courts, and the city corporation, in an
union fimilar to that, which had taken place in the
year 1648. But all their endeavours proved in.
effectual; the deputies having declared, that they
were not empowered to confer on any other bufi-
nefs, than that of the fund, with which the matters
propoſed by the Prince's friends had no connection.
Thus, after a confiderable time had been ſpent in
the confideration of this affair, the whole was iuf-
fered, by degrees, to drop, the council having
iſſued fome edicts, by which provifion was made
M. 3
for
246
MEMOIRS OF
for the fecurity of the property of thoſe concerned
in the fund.
The first ardour of the parliament being now
much abated, on the fubject both of this and all
the other affairs, which had been the objects of
their late deliberations, thofe who had fo eagerly
fought to bring about the general union, found it
impoffible to carry their point, although the Mar-
fhal d'Estampes had made a freſh propoſal, to the
above purport, which was, at first, approved by
many, but was afterwards rejected by the majority
of the affembly. The partizans of the Prince of
Condé, however, were not difpirited, and, the
King's troops having drawn near to Paris, after
the reduction of Angers, his Highness feized that
opportunity to excite afrefh, the refentment of the
parliament, under pretence that this was a direct
violation of certain edicts, which that aſſembly had
formerly iffued, prohibiting the troops from ap-
proaching nearer than the diſtance of ten miles
round the city. But the Marfhal de l'Hôpital, the
governor of Paris, eluded this artifice, by an offer
which he made, in his Majefty's name, to remove
thoſe troops, in cafe his Royal Highness and the
Duke de Nemours would remove theirs alfo. Thus
the Prince's defign, although well imagined, pro-
duced no effect. The Marthal de l'Hôpital was a
man of reſolution, to which quality he was in-
debted for his promotion to the government of that
great city, in thofe critical times, and alfo to the
recommendation of the Princeſs Palatine, who had
procured him that poft, at the request of her inti-
mate friend, Madame de Rhodes, the Marfhal's
daughter-
$
UY JOL I.
247
daughter-in law.
It was through means of theſe
o ladies, alfo, that a cloſe connection was formed
Between the Coadjutor and the Marshal, who, act-
ing in concert against the Prince of Condé, eafily
fruftrated all his meaſures, both in the city and
in the parliament. For, although the Coadjutor
was now inveſted with the character of a Cardinal,
which conſequently excluded him from fitting any
longer in the parliament, yet his friends continued
to act in that affembly, with more vigour than ever,
being animated by his new dignity, from whence
they vainly imagined, that he would. in time, acquire
a far greater degree of power and wealth, than
he had ever yet poffeffed. So deeply had fome
of theſe gentlemen imbibed this notion, that, al-
though they were fenfible that he had no fortune,
they, nevertheleſs, with the utmoſt readineſs, ten-
dered him their purfes, among others Meffrs. Dau-
rat, Le Fevre, De la Barre, and Pinon du Martrai;
fo that the Coadjutor, in a fhort time, found him-
felf in poffeffion of no lefs a fum than fifty thou-
fand crowns in cafh, and as much more in bills,
on his own credit only. Neither had he been at
much expence in obtaining the hat, fave for the
charges of fome journies made by the Abbé Cha-
rier, whom he had employed as his agent, in that
bufinefs, at Rome, and, alfo, for fome prefents of
jewels to the Princefs de Roffane, who had eſpouſed
the nephew of Pope Innocent the Xth. For the
fovereign Pontiff was fo well inclined to ferve him,
being prepoffeffed with fuch an exalted idea of the
Coadjutor's talents, and with fo flight an opinion
of the abilities of Cardinal Mazarin, that the bu-
finefs
248
MEMOIRS O
finefs of the negotiation for the hat, met with
fcarcely any obftruction on the part of his Holi-
nefs, who imagined that the Coadjutor would
immediately fucceed to the Cardinal's polt, of prime
minifter, and that he might, perhaps, be more at-
tached to himſelf, and to the Holy See, than his
predeceffor had been. The only circumflance which,
for a fhort time, retarded the bufinefs was, that he
could not be admitted to that dignity but at a
general promotion, which the Pope was aeceffitated
to make, in favour of the other crowned heads.
Moreover, the bailly of Valencay, who was after-
wards grand prior of France, the French ambaffador
at the court of Rome, fecretly traverfed all his
defigns, by order of Cardinal Mazarin, not daring
to do it openly, becauſe his inftructions were con-
ceived in very ambiguous terms, his eminency be-
ing obliged to keep fair with the Coadjutor, of
whofe fervices he flood much in need. Thus, it
was judged fufficient to infinuate to the court of
Rome, that that prelate was a Janfenift in his
principles and his foes were very near carrying
their point by this artifice, feeing that, in thoſe
times, the very title of Janfenift was at least as
odious at Rome, as that of Mazarin was in France;
M. Chighi, the fecretary of the briefs, having been
fo much alarmed by this fuggeftion, that he o-
bliged the Pope to demand of the Coadjutor a for-
mal renunciation of the tenets of Janfenifm, under
his own hand. The Pope, for his part, gave him-
felf little concern about the matter; but M. Chighi,
who was totally devoted to the Jefuits, would not
recede from his demand, fo that the Abbé Charier
found it neceffary to dispatch a courier, exprefs,
to
GUY JOLI
249
to the Coadjutor, to defire that he would fend him
the abjuration required. With this, however, the
Coadjutor refufed to comply, although, in his heart,
he was neither a Janfenift, nor a Molinift, and
troubled himself very little with the difputes of the
times. Nay, he was even on the verge of adopt-
ing a directly contrary conduct, having begun a
Latin letter, which was never finished, whereby he
propoſed to justify his refufal, and to prove, by a
multiplicity of arguments, that the Pope was not
authorized to demand any fuch declaration from
him. This imperfect letter was fhewn to all thofe
of his friends with whom he was, in any degree,
familiar, but there the matter dropped: and it
happened very fortunately for him, that, the face of
affairs being now totally changed, on occafion of
the reports which were fpread, of Cardinal Maza-
rin's intended return, the Abbé Charier, availing
himſelf properly of the conjuncture, reprefented to
the Pope, that all his good intentions towards the
Coadjutor muft, inevitably, be defeated, ſhould the
Cardinal once return to the court, where he would
rule more defpotically than ever, and be enabled
to cruſh his antagoniſt, unless his Holinefs fhould
obviate the ill effects of which his return would be
productive, by immediately conferring on the Co-
adjutor the dignity which he folicited, whereby he
would put him in a condition of ſupporting him-
felf, without any other aid: to this the Abbé add-
ed, that he had received certain intelligence, that
a revocation of the Coadjutor's appointment to the
cardinalſhip, was then on the road, which was abſo•
lutely true. Theſe arguments made fuch an impreffion
on the Pope, that he inftantly determined to pro.
ceed
250
MEMOIRS OF
ceed to the promotion, without any further delay,
having firft obliged the Abbé Charier to fign au
engagement, to procure from the Coadjutor the de-
claration which had been required of him. This
determination, although it was kept very fecret, ne-
vertheless, came to the ears of the Bailly de Valencay,
who, being empowered to revoke the nomination,
in cafe of need, immediately fent, on the Sunday
evening, to demand an audience for the next morn-
ing. This demand having been granted him with-
out hesitation, he concluded that he had nothing to
fear as yet.
The Pope, however, who ftrongly
fufpected his intentions, affembled the confiſtory,
with as much privacy as poffible, at a very early
hour on the Monday morning, the 18th of February
1652: and, having begun with the buſineſs of the
promotion, he waited, with great compofure, to re-
ceive the ambaffador, who, finding his defign thus
defeated, fent a meffage to his Holinefs, defiring
to put off the audience to another opportunity.
This disappointment muft have affected him the
more fentibly, as, on the Sunday evening, he re-
ceived a packet, by a courier who had been pur-
pofely dispatched to him, containing not only a
revocation, in due form, of the Coadjutor's ap-
pointment, but alſo a nomination in favour of him.
felf. At leaſt fuch a report was current, at the
time, in Rome. Be that as it may, the news of
this promotion having been brought to Paris, by
the Grand Duke's courier, who had out-rode the
meffenger whom the Abbé Charier had diſpatched
on the occafion, the Coadjutor immediately took
upon himſelf the title of Cardinal de Retz. When
this intelligence was communicated to his friends,
they
GUY JOLI.
251
they all expreffed the utmoſt joy, excepting the
Dutchefs de Chevreuſe and her daughter, who feem-
ed to be but little affected by it, feeing that they
had diſcovered the connection which fubfifted be-
tween that prelate and the Princefs Palatine. He
ftill, however, continued upon good terms with
them: neither did they omit any of thofe external
demonftrations of fatisfaction, which are cuftomary
in fuch cafes. But it was plainly to be perceived
that their joy was affected and infincere, efpecially
with refpect to Mademoiſelle de Chevreuſe, who could
not diffemble ſo well as her mother did, and who, 'tis
poffible, might have other cauſes of complaint a-
gainft him, than what ſprung merely from a poli-
tical jealoufy, and from her knowledge of his con-
nection with the Princefs Palatine. Cardinal de
Retz, on his fide, was much difpleafed that the
Dutchefs de Chevreufe had appointed the Abbé
Fouquet her chief agent at the court; fo that
each party pretended to have certain caufes for
difguft, which, however, were known but to few
perfons: all the exterior marks of a good under-
landing between them having been preferved to
the time of Mademoiſelle de Chevreufe's death,
which happened a few months afterwards.
The circumstances of this lady's death cauſed
an univerſal ſurprize, as the had been ill for three
or four days only, of an extraordinary diforder,
by which he was, at length, carried off, in a
fudden fit of fuffocation. It was remarked that
her face and body became quite black, after her
deceaſe, as did, alfo, all the filver utenfils, &c.
which were in her chamber; from whence a re-
port
1
252
MEMOIRS OF
port arofe, that her death had been occafioned by
poifon, which fhe had either taken herſelf, or which
had been administered to her by her mother, for fome
private reaſons. Be that as it may, Cardinal de
Retz received the intelligence with an indifferency,
which greatly difgufted thoſe who knew on what
terms he had always lived with her.
Whatever fatisfaction Cardinal de Retz's friends
might derive from his promotion, it proved highly
unpleafing to the adherents of the Prince of Condé,
and even to thofe alfo, who had never joined with
either party, and who, now, plainly perceived that,
in all the late tranfactions, he had been influenced
folely by a regard for his own private intereſt,
and that he would, in future, blindly devote him-
felf to the fervice of the court. This opinion
threatened to be of dangerous confequences to him,
more eſpecially as his enemies endeavoured to in-
fpire the Duke of Orleans with the fame unfa-
vourable fentiments; but the attempt proved in-
effectual, and his Royal Highness was one of thofe
perfons, who manifefted the moft fincere joy on
occafion of his acquifition of dignity. He even
did him the honour of a vifit, at his own palace;
and, although he was attached to the intereſts of
the Prince of Condé, yet he conftantly liftened to,
and frequently followed the counfels of the new
Cardinal.
For this reaſon, Cardinal de Retz was always
very cautious not to eſpouſe the interefts of Cardinal
Mazarin in preſence of his Royal Highness; but,
to make amends, he feized every opportunity of
fuggefting
GUY JOLI.
253
•
fuggefting to him, that it was not for his advan-
tage to contribute to the aggrandizement of the
Prince of Condé. This was his Royal Highness's
moſt fenfible part, in which he lay open to every
kind of impreffion. No man was fo well acquaint-
ed with this jealouſy of the Duke of Orleans as
Cardinal de Retz, and he frequently availed him-
felf of it, to diffuade him from carrying into exe-
cution fuch meaſures, as he had determined on,.
in the Prince's favour. It was thus that he pre-
vailed on him to drop his intention of going to
Orleans, after the Prince's friends had ufed all
their endeavours to perfuade him to undertake that:
journey, in order to prefent the defigns of the
King's army, which was advancing on that fide;
and this he might eafily have effected, that city.
being the capital of his domain. But, tho' they
failed in their application to him, yet they were
more facceſsful with his daughter, Mademoiselle,
who yielded to their requeft, and was introduced
into the place through an aperture, which was.
made in the walls, by fome boatmen : after, which,
'tis true, that the court dropp'd all thoughts of
eſtabliſhing its refidence in that city. But, had
his Royal Highnefs gone thither in perfon, his
prefence would have produced a very different ef-
fect, and would, donbtlefs, have greatly benefited:
the Prince's affairs at Paris.
}
Thus, although the Prince's friends had carried
their point on that fide, yet they did not think]
this fufficient, judging that it would be requilite
for them to find fome means of fixing the Dake
of Orleans more firmly in their intereft, they hav--
N.
ing
254
MEMOIRS OF
ing been deceived in their dependance on him in
feveral late inftances. They, therefore, wrote to
the Prince of Condé, who was then at Bourdeaux,
to acquaint him that the prefent ftate of his af-
fairs at Paris required his inftant prefence in that
city, feeing that Cardinal de Retz's influence over
the Duke of Orleans encreaſed every day, and that
his party, being united with that of the court, had
acquired fuch a degree of power in the city, that,
in cafe of the approach of the King's troops, it
would be impoffible for them (his Highness's friends)
to maintain their ground. Upon receiving this in-
telligence, the Prince of Condé determined to re-
turn to Paris, more eſpecially as he had met with
but indifferent fuccefs in Guienne, and as it was
become neceffary to appoint fome other perfon to the
command of the Spanish troops, in the room of the
Duke de Nemours. He was in hopes, alfo, that the
negotiations which were then carrying on, by the
Duke de la Rochefoucault, and M. Gourville, with
Cardinal Mazarin, would be rendered lefs difficult
by his prefence, and that he ſhould be better en-
abled to regulate his conduct, accordingly as cir-
cumſtances ſhould arife.
In the mean time, upon the first report of the
Prince's intention to return to the city, the Mar-
fhal de l'Hôpital, the provost of the merchants,
and the ſheriffs, accompanied by many of the prin-
cipal citizens, waited on the Duke of Orleans, and
repreſented to him, that the Prince ought not to
be received, till he had firft juftified himſelf from
the charges contained in the declaration which had
been
GUY JOLI
255
been iſſued against him. To this the Duke of Or-
leans replied, that the Prince did not come to create
any diſturbance, but merely for the purpofe of con-
ferring with him, and that his Highnefs would not
ftay longer than four and twenty hours in the city.
The Prince's partizans, nevertheless, took this op-
portunity to ftick up papers in different parts of
the city, in order to excite the people to rife, in-
ftructing their emiffaries alfo to go about the ſtreets,
fhouting "God fave the King! God fave the
"Princes! down with the Mazarin !" in which
they fucceeded fo well, that his Royal Highnefs
was obliged to fend his own guards, and to arm
a party of the citizens, in order to diſperſe a large
mob, who were attempting to pillage the Hotel
de Nevers, belonging to M. Guenegaud, one of
the fecretaries of ftate; and it was found ne-
ceffary to hang fome of the rioters, at the end
of the New Bridge. This being the difpofition
of the citizens, it is poffible that the Prince of
Condé might have found it rather difficult to ob-
tain admiſſion into Paris; had he not been fo for-
tunate as to obtain fome fmall advantages over
the King's army, which was pofted on the banks
of the Loire, under the command of the Marſhal
d'Hoquincourt: but the news of this incident ferved
to keep every one in awe, none daring now to op.
pofe his return. Here ends the firft part of thefe
memoirs.
End of the FIRST VOLUME.
"
}
A
Page. Line.
ERRAT A.
6 12 Fór to allow, read and to allor.
19 13. For to barricading, read to barricade.
37 7 For its fole authority, read its own fole au-
thority.
53 29. For confequently, read conftantly.
$6 3 For preſent, read prevent.
37 30 For criminal, read inimical.
100
30 For excepting, read exceptions.
178 7 For reducing, read inducing,
DEC
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THIS BOOK
FORMS PART OF THE
Original library
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
BOUGHT IN EUROPE
1838 TO 1839
BY
ASA GRAY
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