PLOT OF THE CORDELIERS.
A Cordelier, named le Père Léonard, guardian of a convent, engaged many of the leading townspeople in a conspiracy to retake Metz from the French.
For this purpose, having first persuaded his brother monks to join him, he introduced into the convent, which had walls capable of defence, arms and soldiers.
He then agreed with the Governor of Thionville to open an entrance into the town for a body of Imperialist troops on a given night; at the same time, to distract the French, the town was to be fired in several places.
Vieilleville, the Governor of Metz, hearing that a Cordelier was constantly seen in conversation with the Governor of Thionville, became suspicious, and suddenly visiting the convent, found the arms and concealed men; he also seized Père Léonard as he entered the city on his return from Thionville, and learning from him that a body of Imperial troops was to march to Metz that very night, despatched a force, which, taking them by surprise, routed them and cut them to pieces.
The monks, from whom by promises and threats he had extorted a full disclosure of the plot, he threw into a dungeon, telling them they should be hanged next day, and might confess to each other.
On the dungeon being opened in the morning, it was found that the monks, enraged with the Superior, who had drawn them into the plot, had killed him and maimed his four advisers; these latter were, with ten of their brethren, hanged, and the ten youngest were exiled from the town.
In 1631, Metz capitulated to Gustavus Adolphus; he remained there all the winter, and presented the Bishop’s library to his Chancellor, Oxenstiern, who sent it off to Sweden; but the vessel sank and the books were lost.
The only other extract from the history of Metz we shall here give is of a different character.
Louis XV. arrived at Metz with a strong army, in order to oppose Charles of Lorraine, whose duchy he had given to Stanislas of Poland.
Louis, who was accompanied by his mistress, the Duchess of Châteauroux, and her sister, was taken mortally ill; previously there had been erected a wooden gallery, which led, along the sides of four streets, from the Duchess’s apartments to those of the King: this gallery was now given up at the angry remonstrances of the people, who were much scandalized by the proceedings, and the sisters proceeded to the King’s residence, where they shut themselves into an apartment adjoining that of the dying monarch.
The Duke de Richelieu, who was in league with the Duchess, was First Lord of the Bedchamber, and would not allow any of the Princes to have access to the King.
The town urged the King’s Confessor to remonstrate with him, but he refused; then the Bishop of Soissons undertook the task, and threatened the King that he would not administer the last sacrament to him if he refused to dismiss his mistresses. The doors were thrown open between the King’s room and that where the Duchesses sat, anxiously waiting the turn of events.
At length the King was induced to order them to depart, and they fled into the country.
Contrary to all expectation, and in consequence of a strong dose administered by a quack, the King recovered, after he had been given over by his doctors and received the last sacrament. The Duchesses were recalled.
Metz at the present day is the chief town of the Department of the Moselle; it is situated on both banks and the island formed by the embranchment of the river: its picturesque streets are connected by several bridges, from which the views are very striking.
It has excellent bathing establishments, fine cafés, a theatre, good shops, and above all a promenade, almost unequalled in beauty; it is situated on very high ground, densely shaded with great trees: seats, and flowers, and grass are there; the military bands play in the evening; the ladies are handsome and well-dressed, and from the walks the view extends for many miles over the green plains of the Moselle; the different branches of the river shine in the valley; the sun sets over the hills which westward bound the view, its golden light streams through the foliage and suffuses the whole valley; little boats glide up and down the stream; merry voices sing in the distance; and thus, with music, beauty, and sunshine, we leave the old Austrasian capital.
Environs of Metz.