FRANCE continued in the same Fortune and Condition the Year of our Lord 1648 , that King Lewis the Thirteenth left it : And was in the highest and happiest Posture that she ever had been in the Reign of any whatsoever other King ; being wholly united , and all of a piece : She extended her Conquests from the Banks of the Mosel , to beyond the Rhine in Germany , and beyond those of the Iberi in Spain , by the possession of Flix and Tortosa ; and scouring throughout the Mediterranean with a powerful Fleet , was both dreaded and respected . Lewis de Bourbon Prince of Conde , as famous for War as any of our Age , having continued his Victories in Flanders , had filled all those Provinces with Dread and Fear . Marshall Turenne by his preserving of so many places taken , and by his se●eral De●eats ●iven to the ●nemy in Germany , h●d penetrated beyond ●he River Lec●● in the 〈◊〉 of Bava●●a , and made the French For●es formi●able thr●ugh the who●● Em●ire . Count Plessis P●alin joyning with Francis Duke of Modena , declared to be General of the King of France his Forces in Italy , occasioned no little apprehension in all those Princes , by his Siege laid to Cremona ; it being evident , that if he should succeed in that Enterprize , the French would get footing in the State of Milan . The Armies were composed of Warlike People , all of them almost of the same Nation , which by Vivacity and Courage makes her self as fit for the managing of Arms , and effecting of great Enterprizes , as any other Nation ; and her Commanders were most part of tried Valour , and conspicuous as well for Birth as Courage .

France was Confederated , in Germany , with the Swissers , and with the greatest part of the Protestant Princes ; the Peace not being yet concluded with the Emperour : and in Italy , with the Houses of Savoy and Modena ; and kept excellent Correspondency with almost all the other Princes of Italy . In Spain , the Catalonians continued constant , and the Portuguezes confident . Nor could she be jealous as then of England or Holland ; the former being busied in Civil Wars , and the latter willing to enjoy that Peace , which she had obtained at the expence of so much Money and Blood . Europe being a Spectator of these her Prosperities , looked upon this her Prepotenza with the same reflexions as she had looked upon the Success of the Emperour Charles the Fifth's Forces , when Fortune smiled most upon them . Nothing appeared wanting to crown her Felicity , but a Moderation in some of her Natives , who were guided by Ambition , and by Spleen against him , who manged this so great weight : So as these natural , and almost unalterable defects being taken away , she might peradventure not have found any thing to withstand her in her highest and most generous Designes .

For the better knowledg of what hapned in these times , it will be requisite to look a little back , and take the beginning and true reasons of the first Revolution in Paris , which afforded Fuel to raise the Flame of Civil War a little higher : And because this had no other rise , but his fortunate guidance who directed the Kingdom , which won him so much credit , as awakened jealousies and envy in those who saw themselves not so much respected ; we must attentively examine the Motives , that we may the more clearly deduce the Fallacies of the Conclusions .

King Lewis the Thirteenth leaving the Queen , his Wife , Regent when he died , left a great share of managing the Affairs to Cardinal Mazarino ; moved thereunto by the trial he had often had of his Loyalty and Worth in divers difficult Emergencies . And he may be truly said to be even now one of the greatest Ministers of State that France ever had . For Fortune favouring his designs , made him not only effect unexpected Enterprizes , but won him Applause throughout all Europe . It is rather incredible than strange , that an Infant-King , a Queen of a Rival Nation , a Forreiner chief Minister of State , have not only been able to resist the Contracts of so many divers Opinions , amongst a People so lively Spirited , but being badly looked upon by so many Princes and Lords at Court ; but have at the same time won so many Battels , taken so many Towns , and dilated the French Dominion on all Sides , having no reason to envie the fortunate Government of the late King , nor the Administration of the ever-memorable Cardinal Richelieu .

The most Christian King advancing amongst so many Conquests to his Majority , it is hard to relate what confusion arose amongst those that were enemies to his Crown , who found cleerly , that notwithstanding the Peace concluded between Spain and Holland , the affairs of France were grown to that height , as had it not been for Novelties introduced by the French themselves , the Spanish Monarchy would have been reduced to very bad terms . For if you will consider Italy , Cremona was besieged by the French ; which if it had been taken , would have put the State of Milan in much danger : and the Kingdom of Naples would have been indangered by the Fleet at Sea , that Kingdom being more in the power of the people than of the Spaniards : and Tarragona might have been blockt up by the same Fleet , when the French had taken Tortosa ; so as there would have been but small hope of preserving that place , the loss whereof would have made way for the French to have entered into the Bowels of those Kingdoms , and would have kept the Spaniards from entering into Catalognia . And in Flanders , the winning of the Battel of Lens by the Prince of Condè , made it be known , that the French were sufficient to get the better of the Spaniards best Forces , without any diversion of the Vnited Provinces . But because by how much the King's Authority grew greater , so much more did the jealousies and apprehensions of some few Male-contents increase , who feared the loss of Favour and Authority , and began to be sensible how slowly Favaours were conferr'd upon them , which they desired more than became them ; they thought , that in the conjuncture of the pressing occasions of Court , they might advance their designes by causing some rents in Court , before the King should be out of his Minority : They therefore took a seeming pretence of the common good ; and under the specious asserting that the King's Authority ought to be bounded within the terms of moderate Dominion , they began to invent plausible pretences , under which they masked their true and secret ends , and won upon the peoples affections , who are incapable of any reason , save what sutes with their own likings .

These Male-contents were most of them the chiefest Lords of the Court , and some of their Adherents in Parliament . For the better knowledge of whom , and to inform those who are not fully acquainted with the Affairs of France , we will tell of what the body of this great Assembly doth consist , which hath afforded so much Matter to this present History .

The Parliament of Paris is the first of all other Parliaments of the Kingdom , and consists of Dukes and Peers , who are born Councellors . I say Peers , because those that are not Peers , are not admitted thereinto , though they be Dukes ; & for their admission their Peerage must be proved . Of six Presidents , which are called del Mortaro , by reason of a Cap of Velvet with a Gold Gallown-lace , which they carry in their hand , in shape like a Mortaro , the which they put upon their heads upon any Solemn day , or great day of Ceremony . Of Masters of the Requests , who are also born Councellors , and whereof onely four sit at a time in Parliament . Of Church and Lay-councellors , which are divided into many Chambers , or Classes ; as , into the Great Chamber , the five Chambers delle Iuchieste , or of Enquiries ; the Chamber della Tornella , which takes Cognizance onely of Criminal Affairs ; the Chamber dell' Editto , which dispatches the Controversies or Law-Suits onely of Hugonots . There are moreover three other Chambers , but not Soveraign , or Supream , though they be of the body of the Parliament : to wit , the Chamber of Requests for the King's House , and two other Chambers of Requests for the Palace . Councellors of Honour have also place in Parliament , who usually are great and deserving men , and for the most part chief of the King's Council ; to whom his Majesty gives Letters Patents to be Councellors of Honour , and who are afterwards receiv'd in presence of all the Chambers assembled together , and are next to the Dukes and Peers . After these come Counsellours at Law , who having served twenty years in that Employment , keep their place , though they have sold it : and all these Dukes , Presidents and Councellours may amount to about the number of two hundred .

There is then another Supream Body , which is called the great Council ; this enters not into Parliament , but walks hand in hand with it . It hath sometimes been ambulatory , as it was in these last Conjunctures , wherein it followed the King ; but usually it keeps in Paris , and meets in the Cortile of St. Iermains Auxerrois . It consists but of one onely Chamber , the Presidents whereof ought to be Masters of the Requests . The Jurisdiction of this Council consists in distributing matters of favour , gli Indultarii , and judging the Contests between the Praesidiali , or Magistrates , which are subject to the Parliament .

The Chamber of Accounts is also a Body apart from Parliament ; and the incumbency thereof is to review the Accounts of all the Financiers : All the Treasurers of France are under it ; and there are of these Chambers in divers Provinces .

The Court of Aides is another supream Jurisdiction , whose Power extends to Gabels , Taxes , Impositions , and Excises . They have under them the Magistrates which are called Eletti : And of these Courts there are divers in many parts of France .

The King's Exchequer being much exhausted by so long War , the Council was forc'd to think upon ready and feasible Expedients to raise Moneys ; which gave occasion to the Male-contents to mask their indiscreet Zeal , and to make use of this publick necessity , so to undertake with more boldness pernitious novelties .

Divers means were proposed to raise Moneys ; but all means requiring time , and being in some sort grievous to the people , and therefore not certain whether the Councils resolutions would be approved in Parliament or no ; Monsieur Emery , Superintendant of the Finances , proposed the taking away of the Paoletta , or Annual Right , upon designe either to make the Parliament more submiss , and more obedient to the will of the Court , and consequently less averse to pass the Edicts of the Council-Royal ; or else to renew the Annual Right in some other form , which might be more advantagious , and more proper to raise ready Moneys . This as it had a fair appearance , and came from one who was reputed to be of a high Spirit , and of a great reach , pleased many Lords of the Council ; but the Cardinal would not have this fallen upon in haste , but wisht it might be more maturely examined . So by reason of some other Emergency which arose , it was laid aside .

Antiently , and before the Reign of Francis the First , who was he that brought in the selling of Offices , Places were by the King conferr'd onely upon well-deserving men , and such as were capable of them . In the time of Henry the Fourth , one named Paoletto propounded a means of raising two millions of crowns yearly , by permitting all Counsellours and Officers , as well of Justice as of the Finances , to convey over their Offices after their death to their Heirs , or to sell them to others , reserving a certain annual sum to be duely paid . This was embraced and agreed unto , that upon payment of a certain annual sum , according to the worth of the Place , the Office or Place was to descend to the Heir ; or the Possessor , if he pleased , might sell it whilst he lived , to any one that was capable of it . And that if any one should die without having paid this Annual Right , his Heirs should not enjoy the benefit of the Place , but that it should be left to the King's disposal . This Contract was to last for nine years onely ; which time being expired , the Priviledge was to be continued , or abolished ; as the King should please . Thus from this time forward , taking the name from the inventor of it , this Annual Right was called la Paoletta .

Emery's Intention was , that the nine years of the Paoletta being expired , the King should totally abolish it ; and that if any of the Officers should desire to dispose of their Offices after these nine years , he should make a new Agreement , advancing some considerable sum : By which means he thought to raise good store of Money , whereby the expence of War might be supplied without grieving the people .

This might have taken effect , had it not met with some opposition in the Parliament of Paris , by some troublesome Spirits , who had other particular ends . It was therefore thought fit to exempt it from the said abolition ; which condescention , through weakness , was the cause from whence arose licentious Resolutions , which confounded all good Government .

But the Counsellours having adherences , friends and alliances with many other Lords and Officers of the Kingdom , suspected lest this being introduced into the parts farther off , might by little and little creep into their Employments ; wherefore they began those Novelties , which shall be the subject of the ensuing Narrative .

Yet neither were the alteration of the Paoletta , nor the Grievances , nor the Gabels , the sole occasions which caused Disobedience : for such burthens were quietly suffer'd , and received without any innovation , under the management of Richelieu , who making use therein of the King's Power , maintained them by severity and force , as thinking Rigour to be a better way than Gentleness , whereby to govern a Nation naturally as apt to forget Injuries as good turns . But the proposal in the Edict of augmenting the number of the Masters of the Requests , every of which Places were sold for more than 60000 Crowns , was the true occasion of those troubles which interrupted the Prosperity of that Kingdom , and hastened the Revolutions , though under other reasons and motives , which seemed to aim more at the publick good , than at the private end of some particular men . These Masters of the Requests are conspicuous persons , who after having sat as Counsellours in Parliament , are admitted into that Order : They are admitted into the King's Privy Council , they practise much in Court , and are imployed in Embassies in Provinces , and in Armies for Justice , and for the Finances ; so as they usually prove men of Courage .

All men were troubled and scandalized at the increasing of this number , the price being lessened thereby to those who were in the Places , being considerable persons : For nothing sways more with men , than their particular Interest and Advantage . They used therefore all means to keep the Cardinal from attempting this Novelty ; thinking , that as he was the first Minister of State , he was the first motioner or promoter thereof . The Cardinal knew , that to touch upon what concerned those of the Parliament , was but a slippery business , and therefore he did not in his heart approve entirely of the Proposal : but the business of Moneys being urgent , and the rest of his Majesty's Council not thinking to meet with any repugnancy in those who had such dependancy upon the favour of the Court , and who desired to deserve those Employments which were wont to be confer'd by the King in Armies and in Provinces ; the Edict stood good in substance , but was somewhat moderated by the Cardinal , who was forc'd to yield to the common desires . These Lords having acquainted the Cardinal with their Grievances , they turn'd upon Emery , and reproving him as the contriver of this Plot , they bitterly threatned him ; but he stood constant to what he had propounded , as thinking it most adequate to the necessity . Emery was a man of great Wit , and of a profound and lively Spirit : He was brought into the Finances by Richelieu , who sought to gratifie him for services which he had received from his Father . Being found to be a man of a deep reach , he met with Envy immediately ; but though he was accused by his Enemies of many faults , he overcame all difficulties , and got great experience in the Finances : wherefore the Lord Bullion being Superintendent , knowing his ready Wit , and peradventure envying his Abilities , he endeavour'd to keep him at a distance from the Employment ; and thought it better to fix him Embassador from the King in Savoy , than to have him neer himself . When Cardinal Mazarine entered upon the Affairs of France , Emery made use of the acquaintance he had had with him in Avignon , and in Piemont ; to which the great esteem which was held of his capacity and understanding in the Court being added , he got at last to be Superintendent of the Finances ; where thirsting after greater Fortune , it was said he aspired after more advantages : and he was accused of having intended to shoulder out the Cardinal , by fomenting them underhand , who went about to discredit him with the Queen ; and that having these Objects before him , he had leaned to the late Prince of Condè his Party , and afterward to that of his Son ; befriending many persons who were well thought of at Court , by whose means he ever and anon acquainted the King , that it was true , the Cardinal was of a refined Wit , of a high Spirit , and very understanding in forreign Affairs : but that having never been vers'd in the Finances , he wanted such Indowments as were requisite thereunto : whence it arose , that he went less in the esteem he had hitherto maintained himself , with many , who knew not the truth of the business . Moreover , some , that they might render him odious to the Parliament and to the People , gave out that he ( as being the prime Minister of State ) was the first Author of the abolition of the Paoletto , and of creating new Masters of the Requests , though he had always withstood them ; and that Emery was the onely occasioner of them , being backt by the rest of the Council : And they did this , intending that the Parliament resenting this , might make the Cardinal's conduct be ill thought of , and that by his fall , Emery thought to succeed him . These suspitions were increased by some conversation which he held with Peter Brussel a Counsellour of the Great Chamber , poorly spirited , but popular ; and who instead of judging Processes , was always busie in publick Affairs . He willingly took upon him the Petitions of the Poor , either out of real or feign'd Charity ; and he was hereunto incited by Peter Longuile a Counsellour of the same Chamber , who spent all his talent in Intrigues and Cabals . Brussel applying himself to Longuile's Genius , though he were ignorant enough , and not very capable of what he went about , which made him be believed by those who knew not his true ends , to be a well-minded man : But being displeased with the Court and Cardinal , for that his Son who was Ensigne to the Guard , was denied a Lieutenants place that was vacant , he set himself to beget an ill opinion of the Cardinal . This mean while the Masters of the Requests fearing lest if any of them should die , their Heirs might not succeed unto them in their Office , by reason of the distaste which they had already given unto the Queen , they publish'd a licentious Writing , whereby they did reciprocally oblige themselves to pay for the Place of any that should die , for the Heir of the deceased ; which was thought a very bold thing . Nor did their designes cease here , but finding themselves not able of themselves alone to make good their party , they presented a Request in the name of the Publick , for the union and joyning of the whole Parliament ; representing , that it was necessary for repairing the Ruines of the Kingdom , occasioned by the ill Administration of the Finances , which were more imploy'd in the profit of a few particular men , than for the use of the Crown , from whence the peoples grievances did proceed ; by which appearances they made the people believe , that their end was onely to exempt them from all Impositions . The Queen being hereat highly displeased , she made them be sharply reproved by Peter Segnier the Lord-chancellour , a well-meaning Gentleman , and of great Integrity ; telling them , that such Assemblies were rash , destructive to the State , and disloyal : And she expresly forbid them coming to the Council till they had revoked all their said Declarations , and torn them in her presence . Wherefore all the said Masters of Requests went joyntly to the Palace-Royal to acquaint the Queen with their grievances , who sharply upbraided them with baseness , taxt them with temerarity in opposing the King her Son's will ; and by her treating them thus , did much mortifie them . For there was not then any Faction on foot ; and this would hardly have held good , had it been disturb'd at the beginning . But the Duke of Orleans thinking it fit to apply Remedy to the Evil before it grew too contagious , interposed himself , and wrought with the Queen that she would permit them to exercise their places : But they not being herewith content , grew more insolent , believing that many who did not openly applaud them , would afterwards joyn with them in lessening the Cardinal's power ; which was envied by many , and privately practised against , as was suggested unto them by those who did but wait a time to give the blow . They therefore continued their contumacy ; and not long after , notwithstanding the King's inhibition , the joyning of all the Bodies of Tribunals was decreed , and met , where Brousel , Blammenil , Charton , and others , spoke without any regard , against the Court-government : An Act of great Disobedience , and contrary to all Laws and Practice ; all the Bodies not being accustomed to be called together nor to meet , but by extraordinary order from the King . But those who sought a propitious conjuncture of time to inhanse or exalt their pretended Authority by lessening that of the Kings , being desirous to winde themselves into the Affairs of State , laid hold of the pretence of wasting of the King's Finances , and gave way to this fatal Union , wherein they were applauded by many , not onely for the novelty of the Act , but out of hopes which other Male-contents and their idle followers conceived , that they should be eased of their Grievances by the punishment of those who imploy'd the King's Moneys ill , and that they should thereby have Peace , which they said was retarded out of the Officers particular ends . That which these Supream Companies did , ( for no Appeal was to be had from their judgment ) was , to send many Deputies , who marched two and two through the City , being invironed by an infinite company of people , to shew the King that they were met to provide , during his Majesty's Minority , against the bad administration of his Finances , from whence proceeded the Kingdoms ruine , and the emptiness of the Exchequer ; fearing lest they might hereafter be blamed by his Majesty for carelessness , when he should come to his Majority ; as ( they said ) Charles the Fifth had done , who complained of the Parliament of those times , for not having hindered the miss-spending of his Revenue in his Minority . And to this purpose they chose some of their Deputies to meet in the Chamber called St. Lewis ; which is an extraordinary Congregation , which meets onely upon urgent and grievous occasions ; which are unpleasing to the King , for that therein things contrary to the Function of Parliament are treated of ; and where the Counsellours as well of Parliament as the Chamber of Accounts , the great Council , and of the Court of Aids sit : The power of which Deputies when they are met together , reaches no farther than to examine and give their opinions upon such things as they treat on ; which are afterwards to be reported to the Soveraign Courts , wherein they are either approved , or rejected .

These Broulieres continued on the Parliaments side by keeping together , and by often meeting ; as on the Courts behalf , in impeding them , and crossing them , till such time as the Court lost as much esteem as the Parliament got ; and till it was necessary for the King's Council to take away the Superintendency of the aforesaid Emery in that Office , though it appeared necessary in that emergency of time , he promising again to furnish moneys for some time , to maintain that War . He was ordered to retire from Paris to his Country-house , in appearance of sacrificing him to the satisfaction of the people , and to rid the Parliament of further trouble , by preventing them in their Decrees , which it was thought would be by them shortly thundered out against him . This his deposing , which was done contrary to the general belief , served to provoke the Parliament and the Male-contents to yet higher thoughts , whereinto , upon like occasions , humane insatiateness doth usually fall . The Chambers therefore forbear not to meet , nor the People to murmur ; they railed openly against the King's Ministers of State ; they cri'd out aloud against the Government ; they made it appear that instead of seeing that State restored , Misery and Ruine did still increase , though France was then more powerful and victorious than it had been known to be at any time before . And in sequele of these giddy attempts , which are the usual food of the petulant Vulgar , it happened that Monsieur di Bachaumont Son to President Coigneux , hearing his Father speak in the Parliament in behalf of the Court , being one night at Supper in Monsieur di Paris his house , Mareshal of the Field , and discoursing there with divers Friends touching the present Commotions , said jeastingly to his Companions , with whom he began to sport , throwing Oranges at one another , That he had a designe to sling to some purpose at his Father's Opinion . This jeast was taken notice of , and thereupon when one declaimed boldly in pleading against any person of Quality , men would say , that he slung soundly that morning : so passing from one Jeast to another , he that railed most against the Government , was called a good Slinger . And this went through every ones mouth some months before there was any talk of the Faction called la Fronde , or the Sling ; but the rise thereof was taken from the Boys , who sometimes slung Stones under the new Bridge when the water was low ; whence the forenamed Bachaumont took occasion to say , that he would sling at his Father's Opinion , comparing the Whizze of a Sling to the force of Discourse in Rhetorick .