the memoirs of cardinal de retz-第38节
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Upon this we held a conference； the result of which was that on the 20th the Prince de Conti told the Parliament that himself and the other generals entered their claims solely for the purpose of providing for their safety in case Mazarin should continue in the Ministry； and that he protested； both for himself and for all the gentlemen engaged in the same party； that they would immediately renounce all pretensions whatsoever upon the exclusion of Cardinal Mazarin。
We also prevailed on the Prince de Conti； though almost against his will； to move the Parliament to direct their deputies to join with the Comte de Maure for the expulsion of Cardinal Mazarin。 I had almost lost all my credit with the people； because I hindered them on the 13th of March from massacring the Parliament； and because on the 23d and 24th I opposed the public sale of the Cardinal's library。 But I reestablished my reputation in the Great Hall among the crowd； in the opinion of the firebrands of Parliament； by haranguing against the Comte de Grancei； who had the insolence to pillage the house of M。 Coulon； by insisting on the 24th that the Prince d'Harcourt should be allowed to seize all the public money in the province of Picardy； by insisting on the 25th against a truce which it would have been ridiculous to refuse during a conference； and by opposing on the 30th what was transacted there； though at the same time I knew that peace was made。
I now return to the conference at Saint Germain。
The Court declared they would never consent to the removal of the Cardinal； and that as to the pretensions of the generals； which were either to justice or favour； those of justice should be confirmed； and those of favour left to his Majesty's disposal to reward merit。 They declared their willingness to accept the Archduke's proposal for a general peace。
An amnesty was granted in the most ample manner； comprehending expressly the Prince de Conti； MM。 de Longueville； de Beaufort； d'Harcourt； de Rieug； de Lillebonne； de Bouillon； de Turenne； de Brissac； de Duras； de Matignon； de Beuron； de Noirmoutier； de Sdvigny； de Tremouille； de La Rochefoucault； de Retz； d'Estissac； de Montr4sor； de Matta； de Saint Germain； d'Apchon； de Sauvebeuf； de Saint Ibal； de Lauretat； de Laigues； de Chavagnac； de Chaumont； de Caumesnil； de Cugnac； de Creci； d'Allici； and de Barriere； but I was left out； which contributed to preserve my reputation with the public more than you would expect from such a trifle。
On the 31st the deputies； being returned； made their report to the Parliament； who on the 1st of April verified the declaration of peace。
As I went to the House I found the streets crowded with people crying 〃No peace！ no Mazarin！〃 but I dispersed them by saying that it was one of Mazarin's stratagems to separate the people from the Parliament； who without doubt had reasons for what they had done； that they should be cautious of falling into the snare； that they had no cause to fear Mazarin； and that they might depend on it that I would never agree with him。 When I reached the House I found the guards as excited as the people； and bent on murdering every one they knew to be of Mazarin's party； but I pacified them as I had done the others。 The First President； seeing me coming in； said that 〃I had been consecrating oil mixed； undoubtedly； with saltpetre。〃 I heard the words； but made as if I did not； for had I taken them up； and had the people known it in the Great Hall； it would not have been in my power to have saved the life of one single member。
Soon after the peace the Prince de Conti； Madame de Longueville and M。 de Bouillon went to Saint Germain to the Court； which had by some means or other gained M。 d'Elbeuf。 But MM。 de Brissac； de Retz； de Vitri； de Fiesque； de Fontrailles； de Montr4sor； de Noirmoutier； de Matta； de la Boulaie； de Caumesnil； de Moreul； de Laigues； and d'Annery remained in a body with us； which was not contemptible； considering the people were on our side； but the Cardinal despised us to that degree that when MM。 de Beaufort； de Brissac； de La Mothe； and myself desired one of our friends to assure the Queen of our most humble obedience； she answered that she should not regard our assurances till we had paid our devoirs to the Cardinal。
Madame de Chevreuse having come from Brussels without the Queen's leave； her Majesty sent her orders to quit Paris in twenty…four hours upon which I went to her house and found the lovely creature at her toilet bathed in tears。 My heart yearned towards her； but I bid her not obey till I had the honour of seeing her again。 I consulted with M。 de Beaufort to get the order revoked； upon which he said； 〃I see you are against her going； she shall stay。 She has very fine eyes！〃
I returned to the Palace de Chevreuse； where I was made very welcome； and found the lovely Mademoiselle de Chevreuse。 I got a very intimate acquaintance with Madame de Rhodes； natural daughter of Cardinal de Guise； who was her great confidant。 I entirely demolished the good opinion she had of the Duke of Brunswick…Zell； with whom she had almost struck a bargain。 De Laigues hindered me at first； but the forwardness of the daughter and the good…nature of the mother soon removed all obstacles。 I saw her every day at her own house and very often at Madame de Rhodes's； who allowed us all the liberty we could wish for； and we did not fail to make good use of our time。 I did love her； or rather I thought I loved her； for I still had to do with Madame de Pommereux。
Fronde （sling） being the name given to the faction； I will give you the etymology of it； which I omitted in the first book。
When Parliament met upon State affairs； the Duc d'Orleans and the Prince de Conde came very frequently； and tempered the heat of the contending parties； but the coolness was not lasting； for every other day their fury returned upon them。
Bachoumont once said； in jest； that the Parliament acted like the schoolboys in the Paris ditches； who fling stones； and run away when they see the constable； but meet again as soon as he turns his back。 This was thought a very pretty comparison。 It came to be a subject for ballads； and； upon the peace between the King and Parliament； it was revived and applied to those who were not agreed with the Court； and we studied to give it all possible currency； because we observed that it excited the wrath of the people。 We therefore resolved that night to wear hatbands made in the form of a sling； and had a great number of them made ready to be distributed among a parcel of rough fellows； and we wore them ourselves last of all； for it would have looked much like affectation and have spoilt all had we been the first in the mode。
It is inexpressible what influence this trifle had upon the people； their bread； hats； gloves； handkerchiefs； fans； ornaments were all 'a la mode de la Fronde'； and we ourselves were more in the fashion by this trifle than in reality。 And the truth is we had need of all our shifts to support us against the whole royal family。 For although I had spoken to the Prince de Conde at Madame de Longueville's； I could not suppose myself thoroughly reconciled。 He treated me； indeed； civilly； but with an air of coldness； and I know that he was fully persuaded that I had complained of his breach of a promise which he made by me to some members of Parliament； but； as I had complained to nobody upon this head； I began to suspect that some persona studied to set us at variance。 I imagined it came from the Prince de Conti； who was naturally very malicious； and hated me； he knew not why。 Madame de Longueville loved me no better。 I always suspected Madame de Montbazon； who had not nearly so much influence over M。 de Beaufort as I had； yet was very artful in robbing him of all his secrets。 She did not love me either； because I deprived her of what might have made her a most considerable person at Court。
Count Fuensaldagne was not obliged to help me if he could。 He was not pleased with the conduct of M。 de Bouillon； who； in truth； had neglected the decisive point for a general peace； and he was much less satisfied with his own ministers； whom he used to call his blind moles； but he was pleased with me for insisting always on the peace between the two Crowns； without any view to a separate one。 He therefore sent me Don Antonio Pimentel； to offer me anything that was in the power of the King his master； and to tell me that； as I could not but want assistance； considering how I stood with the Ministry； 100；000 crowns was at my service； which was accordingly brought me in bills of exchange。 He added that he did not desire any engagement from me for it； nor did the King his master propose any other advantage than the pleasure of protecting me。 But I thought fit to refuse the money； for the present； telling Don Antonio that I should think myself unworthy； of the protection of his Catholic Majesty if I took any； gratuity； while I was in no capacity； of serving him； that I was born a Frenchman； and； by virtue of my； post； more particularly； attached than another to the metropolis of the kingdom； that it was my misfortune to be embroiled with the Prime Minister of my King； but that my resentment should never carry m
