the memoirs of cardinal de retz-第31节
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oucault； spoke for carrying on the war； but acted as if he were for peace； and upon the whole I did not doubt but that he waited for some answer from Saint Germain。 M。 d'Elbeuf made a silly proposal to send the Parliament in a body to the Bastille。 M。 de Beaufort； whom we could not entrust with any important secret because of Madame de Montbazon； who was very false； wondered that his and my credit with the people was not made use of on this occasion。
It being very evident that the Parliament would greedily catch at the treaty of peace proposed by the Court； it was in a manner impossible to answer those who urged that the only way to prevent it was to hinder their debates by raising tumults among the people。 M。 de Beaufort held up both his hands for it。 M。 d'Elbeuf； who had lately received a letter from La Riviere full of contempt； talked like an officer of the army。 When I considered the great risk I ran if I did not prevent a tumult； which would certainly be laid at my door； and that； on the other hand； I did not dare to say all I could to stop such commotion； I was at a loss what to do。 But considering the temper of the populace； who might have been up in arms with a word from a person of any credit among us； I declared publicly that I was not for altering our measures till we knew what we were to expect from the Spaniards。
I experienced on this occasion that civil wars are attended with this great inconvenience； that there is more need of caution in what we say to our friends than in what we do against our enemies。 I did not fail to bring the company to my mind； especially when supported by M。 de Bouillon； who was convinced that the confusion which would happen in such a juncture would turn with vengeance upon the authors。 But when the company was gone he told me he was resolved to free himself from the tyranny； or； rather； pedantry of the Parliament as soon as the treaty with Spain was concluded； and M。 de Turenne had declared himself publicly； and as soon as our army was without the walls of Paris。 I answered that upon M。 de Turenne's declaration I would promise him my concurrence； but that till then I could not separate from the Parliament； much less oppose them； without the danger of being banished to Brussels； that as for his own part； he might come off better because of his knowledge of military affairs； and of the assurances which Spain was able to give him； but； nevertheless； I desired him to remember M。 d'Aumale； who fell into the depth of poverty as soon as he had lost all protection but that of Spain； and； consequently； that it was his interest as well as mine to side with the Parliament till we ourselves had secured some position in the kingdom； till the Spanish army； was actually on the march and our troops were encamped without the city； and till the declaration of M。 de Turenne was carried out； which would be the decisive blow； because it would strengthen our party with a body of troops altogether independent of strangers； or rather it would form a party perfectly French； capable by its own strength to carry on our cause。
This last consideration overjoyed Madame de Bouillon； who； however； when she found that the company was gone without resolving to make themselves masters of the Parliament； became very angry； and said to the Duke：
〃I told you beforehand that you would be swayed by the Coadjutor。〃
The Duke replied： 〃What！ madame； would you have the Coadjutor； for our sakes only； run the risk of being no more than chaplain to Fuensaldagne？ Is it possible that you cannot comprehend what he has been preaching to you for these last three days？〃
I replied to her with a great deal of temper； and said； 〃Don't you think that we shall act more securely when our troops are out of Paris； when we receive the Archduke's answer； and when Turenne has made a public declaration？〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 she said； 〃but the Parliament will take one step to…morrow which will render all your preliminaries of no use。〃
〃Never fear； madame；〃 said I； 〃I will undertake that； if our measures succeed； we shall be in a condition to despise all that the Parliament can do。〃
〃Will you promise it？〃 she asked。
〃Yes；〃 said I； 〃and； more than that； I am ready to seal it with my blood。〃
She took me at my word； and though the Duke used all the arguments with her which he could think of； she bound my thumb with silk； and with a needle drew blood； with which she obliged me to sign a promissory note as follows： 〃I promise to Madame la Duchesse de Bouillon to continue united with the Duke her husband against the Parliament in case M。 de Turenne approaches with the army under his command within twenty leagues of Paris and declares for the city。〃 M。 de Bouillon threw it into the fire； and endeavoured to convince the Duchess of what I had said； that if our preliminaries should succeed we should still stand upon our own bottom； notwithstanding all that the Parliament could do； and that if they did miscarry we should still have the satisfaction of not being the authors of a confusion which would infallibly cover me with shame and ruin； and be an uncertain advantage to the family of De Bouillon。
During this discussion a captain in M。 d'Elbeuf's regiment of Guards was seen to throw money to the crowd to encourage them to go to the Parliament House and cry out； 〃No peace！〃 upon which M。 de Bouillon and I agreed to send the Duke these words upon the back of a card： 〃It will be dangerous for you to be at the Parliament House to…morrow。〃 M。 d'Elbeuf came in all haste to the Palace of Bouillon to know the meaning of this short caution。 M。 de Bouillon told him he had heard that the people had got a notion that both the Duke and himself held a correspondence with Mazarin； and that therefore it was their best way not to go to the House for fear of the mob； which might be expected there next day。
M。 d'Elbeuf； knowing that the people did not care for him； and that he was no safer in his own house than elsewhere； said that he feared his absence on such an occasion might be interpreted to his disadvantage。 M。 de Bouillon； having no other design but to alarm him with imaginary fears of a public disturbance； at once made himself sure of him another way； by telling him it was most advisable for him to be at the Parliament； but that he need not expose himself； and therefore had best go along with me。
I went with him accordingly； and found a multitude of people in the Great Hall； crying； 〃God bless the Coadjutor！ no peace！ no Mazarin！〃 and M。 de Beaufort entering another way at the same time； the echoes of our names spread everywhere； so that the people mistook it for a concerted design to disturb the proceedings of Parliament； and as in a commotion everything that confirms us in the belief of it augments likewise the number of mutineers； we were very near bringing about in one moment what we had been a whole week labouring to prevent。
The First President and President de Mesmes having； in concert with the other deputies； suppressed the answer the Queen made them in writing； lest some harsh expressions contained therein should give offence； put the best colour they could upon the obliging terms in which the Queen had spoken to them； and then the House appointed commissioners for the treaty； leaving it to the Queen to name the place； and agreed to send the King's Council next day to demand the opening of the passages； in pursuance of the Queen's promise。 The President de Mesmes； surprised to meet with no opposition； either from the generals or myself； said to the First President； 〃Here is a wonderful harmony！ but I fear the consequences of this dissembled moderation。〃 I believe he was much more surprised when the sergeants came to acquaint the House that the mob threatened to murder all that were for the conference before Mazarin was sent out of the kingdom。 But M。 de Beaufort and I went out and soon dispersed them； so that the members retired without the least danger； which inspired the Parliament with such a degree of boldness afterwards that it nearly proved their ruin。
On the 2d of March； 1649； letters were brought to the Parliament from the Duc d'Orleans and the Prince de Conde； expressing a great deal of joy at what the Parliament had done； but denying that the Queen had promised to throw open the passages； upon which the Parliament fell into such a rage as I cannot describe to you。 They sent orders to the King's Council； who were gone that morning to Saint Germain to fetch the passports for the deputies； to declare that the Parliament was resolved to hold no conference with the Court till the Queen had performed her promise made to the First President。 I thought it a very proper time to let the Court see that the Parliament had not lost all its vigour； and made a motion； by Broussel； that； considering the insincerity of the Court； the levies might be continued and new commissions given out。 The proposition was received with applause； and the Prince de Conti was desired to issue commissions accordingly。
M。 de Beaufort； in concert with M。 de Bouillon； M。 de La Mothe and myself； exclaimed against this contravention； and offered； in the name of his colleagues and his own； to open all the passages themselves if the Parliament
