the memoirs of cardinal de retz-第52部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


he　assembly　at　the　Hotel　de　Ville。

On　the　20th　the　Parliament　declared　by　a　decree　that；　the　King　being　prisoner　to　Cardinal　Mazarin；　the　Duc　d'Orleans　should　be　desired　to　take　upon　him　the　office　of　Lieutenant…General　of　his　Majesty；　and　the　Prince　to　take　upon　him　the　command　of　the　army　as　long　as　Mazarin　should　continue　in　the　kingdom；　and　that　a　copy　of　the　said　decree　should　be　sent　to　all　the　Parliaments　of　the　kingdom；　who　should　be　desired　to　publish　the　like；　but　not　one　complied；　except　that　of　Bordeaux。　Nor　was　the　Duke　better　obeyed　by　the　several　governors　of　the　provinces；　for　but　one　vouchsafed　him　an　answer　when　he　acquainted　them　with　his　new　dignity；　the　Court　having　put　them　in　mind　of　their　duty　by　an　order　of　Council；　published　to　annul　that　of　the　Parliament　for　establishing　the　said　lieutenancy；　and　in　Paris　itself　the　Duke's　authority　was　despised；　for　two　wretches　having　been　condemned　for　setting　fire　to　the　Hotel　de　Ville；　the　citizens　who　were　ordered　to　take　charge　of　the　execution　refused　to　obey。

On　the　24th　it　was　ordered　that　a　general　assembly　should　be　held　at　the　Hotel　de　Ville；　to　consider　the　ways　and　means　to　raise　money　for　supporting　the　troops；　and　that　the　statues　at　Mazarin's　palace　should　be　sold　to　make　up　the　sum　set　upon　the　Cardinal's　head。

On　the　29th　it　was　resolved　in　the　Hotel　de　Ville　to　raise　800；000　livres　for　augmenting　his　Royal　Highness's　troops；　and　to　exhort　all　the　great　towns　of　the　kingdom　to　unite　with　the　metropolis。

On　the　6th　of　August　the　King　sent　a　declaration　signifying　the　removal　of　the　Parliament　to　Pontoise。　　There　was　a　great　commotion　in　the　House；　who　agreed　not　to　register　it　till　the　Cardinal　had　left　the　kingdom。　As　for　the　Parliament　of　Pontoise；　which　consisted　of　but　fourteen　officers；　with　three　Presidents　at　their　head；　who　had　a　little　before　retired　in　disguise　from　Paris；　they　made　remonstrances　likewise　to　the　King　for　removing　Cardinal　Mazarin。　　The　King　granted　what　was　desired　of　him；　and　that　upon　the　solicitations　of　that　honest；　disinterested　minister；　who　withdrew　from　Court　to　Bouillon。　　This　comedy；　so　unworthy　the　dignity　of　a　king；　was　accompanied　with　circumstances　that　rendered　it　still　more　ridiculous：　The　two　Parliaments　fulminated　severe　decrees　against　one　another；　and　that　of　Paris　made　an　order　that　whosoever　sat　in　the　assembly　at　Pontoise　should　be　struck　off　the　register。

At　the　same　time　that　of　Pontoise　registered　the　King's　declaration；　which　contained　an　injunction　to　the　Parliament　of　Paris；　the　Chamber　of　Accounts；　and　the　Court　of　Aids；　that；　since　Cardinal　Mazarin　was　removed；　they　should　now　lay　down　their　arms　on　condition　that　his　Majesty　would　grant　an　amnesty；　remove　his　troops　from　about　Paris；　withdraw　those　that　were　in　Guienne；　allow　a　free　and　safe　passage　to　the　Spanish　troops；　and　give　the　Princes　permission　to　send　to　his　Majesty　persons　to　confer　with　his　ministers　concerning　what　remained　to　be　adjusted。　　This　same　Parliament　resolved　to　return　their　thanks　to　his　Majesty　for　removing　Cardinal　Mazarin；　and　most　humbly　to　entreat　the　King　to　return　to　his　good　city　of　Paris。

On　the　26th　they　also　registered　the　King's　amnesty；　or　royal　pardon；　granted　to　all　that　had　taken　up　arms　against　him；　but　with　such　restrictions　that　very　few　could　think　themselves　safe　by　it。

The　King　acquainted　the　Duc　d'Orleans　that　he　wondered　that；　since　Mazarin　was　removed；　he　should　delay；　according　to　his　own　declaration　and　promise；　to　lay　down　his　arms；　to　renounce　all　associations　and　treaties；　and　to　cause　the　foreign　troops　to　withdraw；　and　that　when　this　was　done；　those　deputies　that　should　come　to　his　Majesty　from　him　should　be　very　welcome。

On　the　3d　of　September　the　Parliament　resolved　that　their　deputies　should　wait　upon　the　King　with　their　thanks　for　removing　Cardinal　Mazarin；　and　to　beseech　his　Majesty　to　return　to　Paris；　that　the　Duc　d'Orleans　and　the　Prince　de　Conde　should　be　desired　to　write　to　the　King　and　assure　him　they　would　lay　down　their　arms　as　soon　as　his　Majesty　would　be　pleased　to　send　the　passports　for　the　safe　retreat　of　the　foreigners；　together　with　an　amnesty　in　due　form；　registered　in　all　the　Parliaments　of　the　kingdom；　and　that　his　Majesty　should　be　petitioned　to　receive　the　deputies　of　the　Princes。

Pray　indulge　me　with　a　short　pause　here　to　consider　the　scandalous　arts　which　ministers　palliate　with　the　name　and　sacred　word　of　a　great　King；　and　with　which　the　most　august　Parliament　of　the　kingdomthe　Court　of　Peersexpose　themselves　to　ridicule　by　such　manifest　inconsistencies　as　are　more　becoming　the　levity　of　a　college　than　the　majesty　of　a　senate。　In　short；　persons　are　not　sensible　of　what　they　do　in　these　State　paroxysms；　which　savour　somewhat　of　frenzy。　　I　knew　in　those　days　some　very　honest　men；　who　were　so　fully　satisfied　of　the　justice　of　the　cause　of　the　Princes　that；　upon　occasion；　they　would　have　laid　down　their　lives　for　it；　and　I　also　knew　some　eminently　virtuous　and　disinterested　men　who　would　as　gladly　have　been　martyrs　for　the　Court。　　The　ambition　of　great　men　manages　such　dispositions　just　as　it　suits　their　own　interests；　they　help　to　blind　the　rest　of　mankind；　and　they　even　become　blinder　themselves　than　other　people。

Honest　M。　de　Fontenay；　who　had　been　twice　ambassador　at　Rome；　a　man　of　great　experience　and　good　sense　and　a　hearty　well…wisher　to　his　country；　daily　condoled　with　me　on　the　lethargy　into　which　the　intestine　divisions　had　lulled　the　best　citizens　and　patriots。　　We　saw　the　Spanish　colours　and　standards　displayed　upon　the　Pont…Neuf；　the　yellow　sashes　of　Lorraine　appeared　at　Paris　with　the　same　liberty　as　the　Isabelles　and　blue　ones。　People　were　so　accustomed　to　these　spectacles　and　to　the　news　of　provinces；　towns；　and　battles　lost；　that　they　were　become　insolent　and　stupid。　　Several　of　my　friends　blamed　my　inactivity；　and　desired　me　to　bestir　myself。　　They　bid　me　save　the　kingdom；　save　the　city；　or　else　I　should　fall　from　the　greatest　love　to　the　greatest　hatred　of　the　people。　The　Frondeurs　suspected　me　of　favouring　Mazarin's　party；　and　the　Mazarins　thought　I　was　too　partial　to　the　Frondeurs。

I　was　touched　to　the　quick　with　a　pathetic　speech　made　to　me　by　M。　de　Fontenay。　　〃You　see；〃　said　he；　〃that　Mazarin；　like　a　Jack…in…the…bog；　plays　at　Bo…peep；　but　you　see　that；　whether　he　appears　or　disappears；　the　wire　by　which　the　puppet　is　drawn　on　or　off　the　stage　is　the　royal　authority；　which　is　not　likely　to　be　broken　by　the　measures　now　on　foot。　Abundance　of　those　that　appear　to　be　his　greatest　opponents　would　be　very　sorry　to　see　him　crushed；　many　others　would　be　very　glad　to　see　him　get　off；　not　one　endeavours　to　ruin　him　entirely。　　You　may　get　clear　of　the　difficulty　that　embarrasses　you　by　a　door　which　opens　into　a　field　of　honour　and　liberty。　　Paris；　whose　archbishop　you　are；　groans　under　a　heavy　load。　　The　Parliament　there　is　but　a　mere　phantom；　and　the　Hotel　de　Ville　a　desert。　　The　Duc　d'Orleans　and　the　Prince　have　no　more　authority　than　what　the　rascally　mob　is　pleased　to　allow　them。　　The　Spaniards；　Germans；　and　Lorrainers　are　in　the　suburbs　laying　waste　the　very　gardens。　You　that　have　rescued　them　more　than　once；　and　are　their　pastor；　have　been　forced　to　keep　guards　in　your　own　house　for　three　weeks。　　And　you　know　that　at　this　day　your　friends　are　under　great　apprehension　if　they　see　you　in　the　streets　without　arms。　　Do　you　count　it　a　slight　thing　to　put　an　end　to　all　these　miseries？　　And　will　you　neglect　the　only　opportunity　Providence　puts　a　into　your　hands　to　obtain　the　honour　of　it？　Take　your　clergy　with　you　to　Compiegne；　thank　the　King　for　removing　Mazarin；　and　beg　his　Majesty　to　return　to　Paris。　　Keep　up　a　good　correspondence　with　those　bodies　who　have　no　other　design　but　the　common　good；　who　are　already　almost　all　your　particular　friends；　and　who　look　upon　you　as　their　head　by　reason　of　your　dignity。　　And　if　the　King　actually　returns　to　the　city；　the　people　of　Paris　will　be　obliged　to　you　for　it；　if　you　meet　with　a　refusal；　you　will　have　still　their　acknowledgments　for　your　good　intention。　　If　you　can　get　the　Duc　d'Orleans　to　join　with　you；　you　will　save　the　realm；　for　I　am　persuaded　that　if　he　knew　how　to　act　his　part　in　this　juncture　it　would　be　in　his　power　to　bring　the　King　back　to　Paris　and　to　prevent　Mazarin　ever　returning　again。　　You　are　a　cardinal；　you　are　Archbishop　of　Paris；　you　have　the　good…will　of　the　public；　and　are　but　thirty…seven　years　old：　Save　the　city；　save　the　kingdom。〃

In　short；　the　Duc　d'Orleans　approved　of　my　scheme；　and　ordered　me　to　convene　a　general　assembly　of　the　ecclesiastical　communities；　and　to　get　deputies　chosen　out　of　them　all；　and　go　with　them　to　Court；　there　to　present　the　deputation；　which　should　request　the　King　to　give　peace　to　his　people　and　return　to　his　good　city　of　Paris。　　I　was　also　to　endeavour　by　the　aid　of　my　friends　to　induce　the　other　corporate　bodies　of　the　city　to　do　likewise。　　I　was　to　tell　the　Queen　that　she　could　not　but　be　sensible　that　the　Duke　was　in　good　earnest　for　peace；　which　the　public　engagements　he　was　under　to　oppose　Mazarin　had　not　suffered　him　to　conclude；　or　even　to　propose；　while　the　Cardinal　continued　at　Court；　that　he　renounced　all　private　views　and　interests　with　relation　to　himself　or　friends；　that　he　desired　nothing　but　the　security　of　the　public；　and　that　after　he　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　the　King　at　the　Louvre　he　would　then　with　joy　retire　to　Blois；　fully　resolved　to　live　in　peace　and　prepare　for　eternity。

I　set　out　immediately　with　the　deputies　of　all　the　ecclesiastical　bodies　of　Paris；　nearly　two　hundred　gentlemen；　accompanied　by　fifty　men　of　the　Duke's　Guards。　　The　number　of　my　attendants　gave　such　umbrage　at　Court；　where　it　was　ridiculously　exaggerated；　that　the　Queen　sent　me　word　I　should　only　have　accommodation　for　eighty　horses；　whereas　I　had　no　less　than　one　hundred　and　twelve　for　the　coaches　alone。　　If　I　had　known　as　much　when　I　went　as　I　heard　after　I　returned；　I　should　have　hesitated　about　going；　for　I　was　told　that　some　moved　for　arresting　me；　and　others　for　killing　me。　　However；　the　Queen　received　me　very　well；　the　King　gave　me　the　cardinal's　hat　and　a　public　audience。

I　told　the　Queen；　in　a　private　audience；　that　I　was　no