Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/68

54 It was the fault of the queen and her council to resent things too violently at first, and yield unseasonably—which made them at once hated and despised; as these late concessions were justly attributed to imbecility. She was counselled once to set Broussel at liberty, whom they had imprisoned during these tumults, which was loudly demanded by the people: "Set him free!" said she, "I would sooner strangle him with my own hands!" but yet it was found necessary to do it. The sedition augmented to such a height, that she was no longer safe in her own palace; and they began to cry out, "Let the king rule by himself!" Lewis XIV. who was only five years old on the death of his father, was not then above eleven.

The devotional exercises of the queen, meanwhile, were not interrupted. She left the conduct of affairs to Mazarin; but at length, out of patience at the increased commotion, resolved to abandon the field to the factions, and escape with the king from Paris; a design which she executed with success, and was soon followed to St. Germains by the Cardinal and the court. As this was a sudden thing, they found but indifferent acconmodations. There was neither moveables nor linen; and three little beds, which they brought with them, being occupied by the royal family, straw was spread in the apartments for the rest.

On the departure of the queen, despair seems to have seized the minds of the Parisians: they appeared frantic, and nothing but confusion was seen throughout the city. The parliament, who expected the royal vengeance to fall heavily upon them, in their own defence, ordered the citizens to take up arms. They refused to obey the command of the queen, and leave Paris. She then forbade the