‘They went together, and Monsieur le Grand merely saw the cords and other fearful instruments of torture. Meanwhile about ten o’clock, Monsieur de Thou was conducted from the castle of Pierre Encise to the palace, and presented to the judges to be interrogated there; and after the usual demands, the chancellor asked whether Monsieur d’Effiat (de Cinq Mars) had not revealed to him the conspiracy? To which he made answer: “Gentlemen, I might deny, and absolutely, that I knew aught of this, nor could you convict me of falsehood, for by Monsieur de Cinq Mars only you can be apprised of my knowledge, since to no man breathing have I spoken or written on the subject. An accused man cannot validly accuse another, and a man cannot be condemned to death save by the testimony of two irreproachable witnesses. Thus you see that my life, my death, my condemnation or absolution rest on mine own tongue; nevertheless, gentlemen, I confess that I knew of this matter. I avow it frankly for two reasons. First, because the three months of my imprisonment I have so passed in contemplation of life and death, as to know undoubtingly, that however long the life I may enjoy, it can only be unhappy. And that death is an advantage to me, seeing I hold it as the most certain proof of my election; such as renders me ready to die, for which I can never be better disposed than now. Wherefore I would not let pass this opportunity of salvation. My second reason is, that, notwithstanding this my crime be punishable with death, nevertheless, gentlemen, you observe that it is neither extraordinary, nor of great magnitude, nor of deep dye. I do confess I knew the plot; I did all that in me lay to dissuade him from its accomplishment. He believed me his only and devoted friend, and I would not betray him; therefore I deserve death and I condemn myself by the law, Quisquis....”
‘This speech, which he spoke with a wondrous spirit and vivacity, so favourably impressed his judges, that with difficulty they roused themselves from the feelings it excited, nor was there one there present who felt not a passionate inclination to save him and preserve to France the brightest hope of her court, for so was he called even by his foes.
He was thereupon sentenced to death, as well as Monsieur le Grand; and as he quitted the hall he met there the reverend father Mambrun the Jesuit, who in Pierre Encise had confessed him, and he exclaimed in a religious transport, “Come, on my father, let us go to death and to heaven; let us forward to true glory. What through life have I done for my God to obtain from him this favour he now grants me, to die ignominiously that I may sooner arrive at true life?” and expressing the same thought unceasingly, he was conducted to the chamber where was Monsieur de Cinq Mars. Soon as the latter perceived him, he ran towards him exclaiming, “Oh! friend, friend, how I mourn thy doom!” but Monsieur de Thou embracing him, said, “Ah how happy we are to die thus!” The one asked pardon of the other; they embraced five or six times successively with claspings of a most unmatched love; bidding their very guards burst into tears, for this was such a spectacle as might soften rocks.
‘While these embracings lasted, three or four of their judges came; which obliged them to retire to the extremity of the chamber, where they conversed yet half an hour with most entire affection, of which they gave proof by exclamation and gesture, the while the Father Malavette prayed the judges who were there to promise him that they should not be bound, neither see the executioner till arrived on the scaffold, which was granted after some slight difficulty. And still while this lasted, Monsieur le Grand embraced Monsieur de Thou, ending his discourse thus: “Dear friend, let us go to think on God, and employ the remainder of our lives in working out our salvation.”
‘“It is well said,” replied Monsieur de Thou, and taking his confessor by the hand, he led him to a corner of the chamber and made his confession there. Monsieur de Cinq Mars begged of the guards that they would give him another chamber, which they refused, saying that one was spacious enough, and that if so pleased him to go to the other corner, he might confess himself with all convenience. But still urging his request with grace and mildness, he at last obtained that he asked for. Being entered into another chamber, he made a general confession of his whole life, which lasted a long hour; then wrote three letters, the one to his mother the Maréchale d’Effiat, wherein he prayed her to make payment to two creditors, to whom he wrote two other letters. After which he said to the priest that he could bear up no longer, having swallowed nothing during twenty-four hours.
‘The father prayed his comrade to go in search of wine and eggs, and the guards having brought both, he begged them to place all on the table. When they had gone forth, the said father offered him wine, but he rinsed his mouth only and swallowed nothing. Meanwhile Monsieur de Thou had confessed himself, and with marvellous promptitude indited two letters, and this done, paced the chamber reciting aloud the psalm, “Miserere mei, Deus,” with enthusiasm of mind so shown in the movements of his body, that it seemed he were about to take flight from earth. He repeated the same verses ofttimes, exclaiming aloud and with ejaculations, mingling in his oration passages from St. Paul and the Holy Scripture, then taking up the “Miserere” once more, and reciting nine times after it, “Secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.”
‘During these devotions came several gentlemen to pay their respects to him, but he waved them aside, “My thoughts are with God, I pray you disturb me not, I am no longer of this world.” Notwithstanding this ecstacy, there approached him one gentleman sent by his sister the Présidente Pontac, who had come to Lyons to intercede for her brother. He asked him from her if he wanted aught, and he replied, “I need nothing, sir, saving her prayers and yours; nothing but death to conduct me to life and glory.” And as he commenced reciting the psalm, “Credidi propter quod locutus sum,” the guardian of the convent des Observantins of Tarascon, who had confessed him in prison there, came near and inquired what inscription he chose on the chapel founded by himself in their convent. He replied, “What you will, my father;” but the latter urging his request, he asked for a pen, and with such wondrous promptitude as showed more than human facility and presence of mind, he wrote, “Christo liberatori votum in carcere pro libertate conceptum Franciscus Augustus Thuanus è carcere vita jam liberandus, merito solvit.”
‘Having laid down the pen, he recommenced his prayers, reciting the psalm “Confitebor tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo,” yielding to such enthusiasm as at times almost overcame him. The guards looked on trembling themselves with respect and awe. One of their judges arrived in the meantime, demanding what they waited for, and where was Monsieur le Grand. One knocked at his chamber door where he still was with his confessor, and Monsieur de Cinq Mars replied with his admirable gentleness, that it would be finished soon, and once more drawing the priest aside, he spake to him of his conscience with such feeling of his own offences, and of the goodness of God, that the priest perforce embraced him, adoring in his person the might of God’s grace and that of the mind of man; and then they prepared themselves to go forth. Monsieur le Grand and Monsieur de Thou being met on the steps, and having exchanged salutes, they encouraged one another with zeal and joy, such as proved that the Holy Spirit of a truth had filled their souls and bodies. At the foot of the steps they found their judges, and each made to them a fair speech with thanks for the mild treatment granted them.
‘Being on the steps without the hall, they gazed attentively at the great crowd assembled before the palace, and bowed on all sides low and gracefully. Monsieur de Thou, seeing how they were to be conducted in a coach to the place of execution, said aloud to the people, “Gentlemen, this is indeed goodness to carry thus two criminals to their death, we who merit to be drawn thither in a cart and dragged on hurdles—the Son of God, the symbol of innocence, having been for us so done to death with shame and scandal.”
‘After this they entered the coach which had been prepared for them. Messieurs de Cinq Mars and de Thou placed themselves in the back seat, the two priests’ companions opposite the confessors themselves, one at either door, the guards who accompanied them being about a hundred, belonging to the chevalier du guet, with three hundred cuirassiers, the officers of justice and the provost marshal. They began this sad journey reciting the litanies of the Holy Virgin, after which Monsieur de Thou embraced Monsieur de Cinq Mars four separate times with the ardour of an angel, saying, “Dear friend, what during our lives have we done so pleasing to God as to induce him to do us the favour to die together? with a little infamy to wipe away our crimes, by a slight shame to conquer heaven and its glory? Alas! is it not true that we have not deserved it? let us mortify our hearts and spend our strength in thankfulness, and receive death with all the affection of our souls.”