THE NEW

MONTHLY BELLE ASSEMBLÉE.

DECEMBER, 1846.

AN EPISODE OF THE FRONDE.

CHAP. XIII.

By Madame Léon Du Parcq.

(Continued from page 262.)

agitated Paris and its neighbourhood.

by the striking resemblance presented in the features of the young girl to those of her In a secluded and picturesque part of the mother, as her face lay close to the marble, park of Busagny a small chapel had some years looking herself as pale. The setting sun threw before been built, on a gentle eminence over- a golden light on those lovely forms of the dead looking the river; and in its hallowed shelter and the living; and Vincent thought he had were deposited the remains of Madame de never beheld so beautiful a group as that formed Flarigny. A full-length figure of the unfor- by Coralie and her mother's statue. But we will tunate lady was exquisitely sculptured in marble leave the priest in soothing conference with on the tomb; the artist had been most success-Coralie, whilst we recur to the events which now ful in retracing her beautiful features, for his hand had been guided by the faithful memory of Father Vincent. For eighteen years that devoted friend had never once neglected, at each succeeding dawn, to place on the tomb a fresh garland of summer flowers; or, in the winter time, a branch of evergreen. In his visits to her mother's grave he was generally accompanied by Coralie, except when the frost and snow rendered it hazardous to her health; but no inclemency of weather had ever deterred Father Vincent from offering up his daily orison at the grave of her he had so fondly but so fatally loved. Here it was also that Coralie, in her opening womanhood, had often fled to indulge in delicious reveries; and to this sacred haunt did she repair on the tenth evening after her marriage day. She sat at the side of her mother's tomb, and leant her head upon the sculptured marble breast, as if she would fain tell it all her griefs.

The sudden calm which succeeded the release and return of Broussel was destined to be of short continuance. Infamous libels against the Queen and Mazarin were now in extensive circulation, the authors of which remained in impenetrable obscurity. The haughty spirit of Anne of Austria was annoyed at her dignity as Queen being thus grossly insulted, and her fair fame as a woman so cruelly blasted, and she appealed to the Parliament itself for protection. That body of magistrates, instead of redressing her grievances, seemed by its silence to add to her humiliation. Broussel indeed proposed the register of the royal remonstrance; but it was conjectured that he was instigated by the wish of recording the triumph of having reduced her Majesty to beg for their aid and support. There was indeed a vague, slight notice taken of her application in a ridiculous decree against sooth"Would that thou couldst hear and speak to sayers and astrologers, who disturbed the tranme, my mother! Thus I said as a happy child-quillity of the state; at the same time the would I were that child again, or that I were laid beside thee !" Her tears flowed fast as her head sunk beside that of the statue.

"Ah! my child," said a gentle voice behind her, "look not thus like thy mother!”

Coralie started with some alarm; but all apprehension vanished as she beheld Father Vincent. The priest had noiselessly stolen to his favourite resort, and had been painfully affected

Parliament urged the Queen and the Minister more vehemently than ever to grant them satis. faction upon those points which it was impossi ble for either to concede at so critical a juncture. Meanwhile De Retz continued his private ma. chinations for personal advancement; he seemed indeed possessed of the very spirit to become a bold, determined, and successful conspirator the active and energetic spirit delighted itself in'

Y

the tortuous and dangerous paths of political intrigue. But even his consummate skill often failed, not only in guiding and governing the Parliament, but in controlling the conduct of his own agents.

Anne of Austria, indignant at the conduct the Parliament pursued towards her, decided on striking a bold and unsuspected coup d'état. With wonderful dissimulation she deceived even the ladies immediately about her person, and, in concert with Mazarin, carried off the young King to Ruel before the people of Paris had the slightest suspicion of her design. This news, when it transpired, filled with equal consternation the people, the Fronde, and the Parliament. It was reported that the Queen intended to recall the Prince de Condé and his army from Flanders, and, by blockading the city of Paris, at once punish it for its past offences and reduce it to submission for the future. That such may have been the intentions of the court is most probable; but many and various impediments prevented these intentions from being carried into effect.

from the neighbourhood of the capital. De Retz plainly perceived that the Parliament was now engaged in a headlong course, which he had no longer power to arrest. Civil war, with its attendant evils, now seemed to him inevitable; and he even meditated on the fitness of demanding armed aid from Spain, when the sudden arrival of the Prince de Condé turned his thoughts in another direction. He had a private interview with the Prince on his road to the court, and confidentially developed to him the plan he had formed for displacing Mazarin, and obtaining for Condé the greatest share of authority in France. De Retz further cautioned him against yielding to the request of the Parliament to deliberate upon the decree against foreigners; but the natural impetuosity of Condé made him forget the counsels of De Retz, and he told the Parliament, not only that they had gone too far, but that he would lay down his life for the Regent. This warmth induced the Parliament to believe him inimical to its interests, when, on the contrary, Condé felt strongly The recall of Condé was, however, decided inclined in its favour. De Retz now became upon; for the Queen hoped that his presence desirous of acting as mediator between the at court might counterpoise the power of Gas- Prince and Parliament, and Condé himself saw ton of Orleans. The return of Condé appeared that he had been too hasty, and that his violence to De Retz rather favourable than otherwise would render inevitable the evil which both he to his cause and party, as that young hero and De Retz wished to avoid-that of civil war. had not yet pronounced himself on either side, Condé now advised the Queen to address the but had occasionally evinced strong personal Parliament, and suggest that that body should dislike to Mazarin. In the meanwhile the send deputies to hold conferences with the wily Italian, in the vigorous measures of princes of the blood upon the state of France. arresting Chavigny and banishing Châteauneuf, In these conferences little was denied the Parlia added still more to his unpopularity, and ment, for Condé and the other princes openly gave occasion to his rival to exite, if possible, communicated with the leaders of the Fronde; further hostility towards him on the side of and Anne of Austria now judged it the wisest the Parliament and people. A tool was ever and most prudent policy to yield almost any ready to the cunning hand of De Retz, and the point. But at this moment the jealousy and one he now fixed upon was the president Viole, intrigues of the rival houses of Orleans and the intimate friend of Chavigny. The coadjutor Condé threatened again to sow the seeds of found little difficulty in persuading Viole that discord in the councils of the Queen. Mazarin the arrest of his friend was an indirect attack on had promised to use his influence at the court himself, and that the court had decided on his of Rome to raise the Abbé de la Rivière, the ruin. The next day, as the president De Mesmes favourite of Gaston of Orleans, to the rank of was presenting to the Parliament a commission Cardinal-a dignity which at that moment was regarding the chamber of justice against the coveted by the Prince de Conti, the younger peculations of the public revenue, Viole sud- brother of De Condé. Condé haughtily de denly rose, and, declaring that there were much manded a retraction of the Minister's promise, more important affairs to be considered than that, and begged that the first Cardinal's hat that was proposed that an humble supplication should be to be disposed of should be placed on his brother's addressed to the Queen, entreating her return, head. The Queen and Mazarin were forced to and that of the young King, to Paris. He yield the point, upon hearing which the Abbe de further added that it was impossible to feign ig-la Rivière was transported with rage and indignanorance of the name of the originator of all the pub- tion, and represented to his patron, Gaston, the lic calamities, and begged that an appeal should gross insult thus offered to his highness through be made to the Duke of Orleans and the high him. Ever easily led, Gaston dared to address officers of the crown to take their seats in Parlia- the Queen in severe and threatening language; ment, and deliberate upon the decree promulgated and on his return to Paris, his palace of the in 1617, by which all foreigners were interdicted Luxembourg was daily crowded by discontented from interference in state affairs. Those bent on men of the very highest rank, who flocked rash and extreme measures violently applauded around him and suddenly made him the chief of the orator, and wished to reinforce the old and the most powerful faction of the day. But he almost forgotten law; but all unanimously voted was destined to be humbled from this position to issue a decree entreating the Queen's return by his own pusillanimity and the base intrigues to Paris, accompanied by the young King, and of his favourite, who at length listened to entreating the Regent to withdraw the soldiery | Mazarin's secret overtures, and further feared the

ascendancy the Dukes de Mercœur, Verdun,, the citizens whom they suspected of favouring and Beaufort might acquire over his patron's the court. fickle mind, to his detriment.

Astonished-nay, strangely intimidated at the sudden and extraordinary power he had almost unconsciously acquired-Gaston tremblingly watched the movements of the Queen's party, who on its side seemed struck with unaccountable panic.

De Retz had to cope, not only with the pusillanimity of the Parliament, but with the fury of the mob. So perplexed became now his position, that he felt that the only alternatives left him were either to solicit the aid of Spain, or to submit to the court-a measure which placed his life at Mazarin's disposal. At this crisis the beautiful form of Geneviève de Longueville rose, like a protecting genius, before him. The Duchess arrived in Paris, promising that her husband, and brother De Conti, as well as De la Rochefoucault, would soon follow. Days of painful suspense passed slowly away, and the Duchess heard with indignation that her husband had joined the court; whilst De Conti and De

The Queen, Mazarin, and Condé himself were apprehensive that the Duke of Orleans was on the eve of marching with overwhelming forces on the Palais Royal, and seizing the person of the young King; whilst Gaston saw only in these preparations for defence machinations for his own arrest and destruction. The Abbé de la Rivière was completely gained by Mazarin, who threw himself before Gaston, and urged an in-la Rochefoucault unaccountably tarried. But terview with the Queen, which Gaston refused, apprehensive of a "guet-à-pens," and finally took refuge in his bed, on pretext of suffering from gout. His cowardice the Queen's party mistook for fearless bearing, conscious of superior force, and trembled in its turn. This mis

understanding forms one of the many absurd and ridiculous points abundantly presented to the historian's derision by the Fronde and its many factions. Le Tellier at length was so fortunate as to find out "le secret de la comédie;" and had Mazarin been of a bolder spirit, this advantage would have enabled him to bring down Gaston to any terms he pleased. As it was, the interview between these kindred timid spirits led to a complete reconciliation, in which it was agreed that the Duke and Condé should together take their seats in Parliament, and try to repress the turbulence of that menacing body.

Gaston's soft speech and winning manner soothed; whilst Condé's haughty commanding tone irritated the Parliament.

De Retz now came forward, and reminded the Prince of the plan agreed upon between thein; but Condé indignantly replied that nothing would now induce him to take the side of a body so unruly, so uncertain, and so inconstant.

"Think you," said the Prince," that I will lead an army of madmen?" He further announced to De Retz his intention of openly espousing the cause of the Queen and court; and even offered to De Retz to effect his reconciliation with them. This the coadjutor declined, and resolved to throw off the mask by boldly declaring his opposition to both.

The Parliament became still more vehement and determined in its language, and more extravagant in its demands; and the Queen again, in secrecy and silence, defied its power by escaping at night with the royal children to St. Germains. Great indeed was the dismay and terror of the Parisians when they heard of this second flight of the Queen.

A siege of the capital was now, with every probability, apprehended.

The Parliament lost all courage and resolution; whilst the lower classes seemed goaded to desperation, and unmercifully attacked those of

spirits like those of the Duchess de Longueville The coadjutor dispatched Noirmontier to ascerand De Retz were not to be so easily baffled. tain the real sentiments of Conti, Longueville, and De la Rochefoucault.

Their delay was caused by a secret stratagem of De Conti, unknown even to his sister, and confided only to De la Rochefoucault: it was, that during his absence at St. Germains, some of the leading members of the Parliament should elect De Conti generalissimo of the Parisian troops. At St. Germains Longueville, De Conti and De la Rochefoucault were believed to be friendly to the court. Their duplicity subsequently jeopardized their personal safety, for on their return to Paris the people participated in this belief, and not only refused to let them pass through the Porte St. Honoré, but received them with yells and

execrations.

For some hours the Princes thus waited in of De Retz relieved them from their painful hopeless expectation at the gates, till the arrival position; and it was then only upon the coadjutor's repeated assurances that they were friends, not foes, that the people allowed them free passage. Meanwhile, the governors of the city of Paris were rapidly taking defensive measures in expectation of a blockade, and the Parliament boldly joined in declaring Mazarin an enemy to the King and France; and any citizen was encouraged-nay, commanded-to pursue him even to the death.

In the excitement which pervaded all ranks, a large military force was easily raised; but a noble and known name was now required to head and lead that force. The delay of the Prince de Conti, and the disaffection the people had shown at his arrival, made De Retz shrink from as yet pronouncing his name. In this dilemma the Duke d'Elbreuf, of the house of Lorraine, boldly offered his name and services to the Parliament, and supported by the president and patriot Mathieu Molé, proved a formidable rival to the Prince de Conti. Mathieu Molé was urged to lend his aid to the Duke by the wish of creating a schism in the Fronde, which would impede any violent, offensive measure on its part, yet would not interfere with the necessary defensive preparations.

crepances of rank and station, the most extraor dinary diversities of opinions and sentiments, so that the historian involuntarily arrests his pen, imagining that it has wandered into the field of fiction, and is not accurately recording the annals of a nation.

But De Retz had decreed it otherwise-again | most opposite characters, the strangest disby his intrigues, activity, and influence over the populace did he triumph; and the next day, when the Prince de Conti appeared in a gorgeous equipage, that fickle populace as vehemently applauded him as a few hours before it had insulted him. Exultingly Conti entered the Parliament-hall, where his triumph was again enhanced by the eloquence of his brotherin-law, the Duke de Longueville, in his favour; whilst the Duke de Bouillon and the Marshal de la Mothe offered their support to the Prince, and declared their pleasure and willingness to serve under the banner of De Conti. The Duke d'Elbreuf saw himself forced to resign the honour he had courted. At this moment De Retz contrived to absent himself from the deliberations, and hastening to the Duchesses de Longueville and De Bouillon, proceeded with them, in pursuance of a concerted plan, to the Hotel de Ville. Already had an immense multitude collected around that venerable pile, in consequence of the activity of the coadjutor's emissaries in propagating the proposition of the Duke de Longueville, of leaving his wife and children in that building, as hostages to the people, of his faith to their cause.

The rich, lustrous locks of Geneviève de Longueville fell in golden redundance on her finely formed shoulders, in seeming, but studied negligence, as if she had been hurried before the crowd in undress; whilst to her knee clung children such as Albano loved to paint. Beside her was seen the no less charming Duchess de Bouillon and her beauteous offspring. When De Retz appeared in a balcony of the Hotel de Ville, leading forward these lovely women and their children, shouts of joyful acclamation rent the air. The multitude bowed before the power of grace and beauty, such as it had never before contemplated in so menacing a scene. The softest smiles and the most winning glances did those high-born beauties lavish on the populace below, as they graciously and lowly bent in acknowledgment of their salutations. But as each fair lady lifted up in her arms a noble boy towards, and presented him to, the people, as if to place them under their protection, the silent, but expressive appeal, was replied to with thundering demonstrations of good-will, which only increased as De Retz left the balcony, thereby signifying that the duchesses were now confided to the generosity of the assembly: in truth, it was an affecting, but a pleasing spectacle, to view those lovely, yet fragile, defenceless women, thus placed at the mercy of the low-bred rabble, who now swore to protect every glossy hair of their graceful heads from harm. Ah! little dreamt they, that infatuated people, that they thus vowed fealty to fair, but false beacons, that would lure them to destruction! And little dreamt, also, those lovely, but thoughtless ones, that the homage then paid them would cause the shedding of the heart's-blood of many now gazing on their marvellous charms!

And thus was decided the civil war of the Fronde, in which were so strangely mingled the

The grave and majestic figure of Mathieu Molé appears borne, by the force of circumstances, down the same stream, ruffled by the agitating influence of the versatile, energetic, and brilliant De Retz; whilst the great Condé takes the different bank of the Rubicon from his own brother and sister. What, indeed, expect but strange and heterogeneous accounts of a period of history in which the councils of war were oft-times swayed by the counsels of capricious women? or when warriors went forth from the battle-field in unchanged attire to the festive hall, over which, like another Armida, Geneviève de Longueville threw around her enchanting spells?

CHAP. XIV.

The Duke de Baudricourt, as yet, had not pronounced himself either on the side of the court or the Fronde; and Mazarin now essayed every art to gain his adherence to the royal cause. Accordingly, on his return from St. Germains, Mazarin sent a gracious and most pressing letter to the Château de Busagny, inviting the young nobleman and his bride to court.

Though the admiration of the Duke had not in any way diminished for his beautiful wife, still Coralie's melancholy deportment often estranged him from, instead of attracting him to, her side; hence it was with a pleasurable feeling that he ordered the preparations for their immediate departure for Paris.

Again did Father Vincent tremble at seeing Coralie a second time leave the paternal roof; and though now she left it under a husband's protection, still the good priest feared for his charge.

Coralie, brought up in strict principles of loyalty and fidelity to the crown, approved her husband's decision of devoting himself to the Queen, but felt at the same time a secret, though unacknowledged pang at being thus opposed to De Retz, who, if not the chief, was at least one of the most powerful instigators of the Fronde. But on arriving at Paris, Coralie was surprised to hear that the Hotel Mazarin was still open to the "Frondeurs."

Ever opposed to violent and rigorous mea sures, Mazarin still continued his mild and conciliatory system. Again did he brilliantly illume the saloons of his magnificent mansion, and indiscriminately welcome the gaily-disposed of all parties. Many might there be detected who, though resolute " Frondeurs," still forgot, for the pleasure of the moment, their political opinions. Well did the wily Italian calculate on this; and bland was his smile whenever he