‘To this Monsieur le Grand replied by such words of virtue, faith, charity and resignation, as exalted their confessors above themselves. The people so thronged in the streets that the coach could hardly move forward, and the despair was such as for like cause has seldom been seen depicted on human countenances. Arrived at the slope of the bridge of the Saône, Monsieur de Thou said to Monsieur de Cinq Mars, “Well, dear friend, who shall first die?” “Your choice shall decide,” he answered. Father Malavette, now speaking, said to Monsieur de Thou, “You are the oldest.” “True,” replied Monsieur de Thou; but turning to Cinq Mars, “You are the most generous, you will show me the road to heaven and glory.” “Alas,” said Cinq Mars, “I opened before you the path to the precipice, but let us fling ourselves there bravely, and we shall rise to the brightness and happiness of God.”
‘During the remainder of the way, Monsieur de Cinq Mars, continuing his acts of piety, recommended himself to the people’s prayers, putting his head forth from the carriage windows. A group of young girls moved withal uttered a great cry, and Father Malavette, affected by their sorrow, could not restrain his own and wept: but Monsieur le Grand, observing him, said, “How, father, are you more interested for me than I for myself? I pray you shed no tears, we need your firmness to fortify our own.”
‘As to the Jesuit Mambrun, he was so affected by the sorrow of the people, the guards and judges, that neither in the palace nor on the way could he utter a word, his speech stifled by his sobs.
‘Monsieur de Thou continued his journey, repeating an hundred times, “Credidi propter quod locutus sum,” making the priest promise that he should be allowed to recite the whole on the scaffold ere he died.
‘Arrived on the Place des Terreaux, Father Malavette first descended, taking Monsieur le Grand and Monsieur de Thou by the hand, and saying these words, “Go, sir; a moment will part us now, but soon shall we be united before God and to all eternity. Do not regret that which you lose; you have been great on earth, you will be greater in heaven, and your grandeur will have no fall.” And having embraced once again with last tokens of friendship, Monsieur le Grand descended from the coach, and some insolent soldiers attempting to tear his cloak from him, he turned to the provost marshal and asked to whom it should be given. He bade him dispose of it as he chose, and he gave it to the priest’s companion, desiring that its price might be bestowed on the poor. Another soldier having taken his hat, he asked him for it civilly, and it was returned, and he ascended the scaffold, having his head covered, with graceful agility and gaiety kissing his hand ere he gave it to Malavette to assist him to reach the summit. He took a turn on the scaffold, still wearing his hat, and bowing round to the crowd with his fine and majestic countenance. Then he flung his hat from him, and knelt down, raising his eyes to heaven in adoration. Next approaching the block, he made trial of it, asking how he should place himself and whether he did well. He took the crucifix from the priest’s hand himself on his knees, and kissed it with a tenderness inconceivable. And as he repeated the action a thousand times, the father called aloud to the people to pray for him; and Monsieur le Grand, stretching forth his arms and then clasping the hands which still held the crucifix, repeated a like prayer.
‘The executioner now approached, but the father bade him retire, and turning Cinq Mars from him, his companion aided to undo the doublet, and then Monsieur le Grand embraced them both, and kneeling they recited together “Ave Maria, stella,” and at its close he received absolution, and casting himself in the priest’s arms remained there while one might say a Miserere.
‘The executioner again advancing to cut the hair, Monsieur de Cinq Mars asked for scissors. The father took them from his hand and gave them to Monsieur le Grand, who called the priest’s companion, desiring he would cut it, and this he did, and he laid his head on the block to try it again, and the father gave a medal into his hand and he received indulgence and kissed the cross. He then kneeled down with wondrous tranquillity, begging of the priest’s companion that he would continue to hold the crucifix before his eyes which he refused to have bound, in order that he might see it till he died. Embracing the block, he placed himself thereon and received the mortal blow from a large butcher’s knife, made after the fashion of the antique axes or rather like those of England, and the one blow ended him, though the head still held to the trunk by the skin of the throat not quite severed. The executioner was an old needy wretch. Unnerved by the necessity of cutting through this skin which remained, and letting the head roll on the scaffold, it fell unto the ground.
‘The people, densely crowded on the square, at the windows and on the towers, broke through the breathless silence which had lasted throughout, and when the axe was raised, uttered a wild cry. The sobs and groans recommenced with a noise and tumult altogether startling.
‘After this, Monsieur de Thou, who had remained within the coach which had been closed, came forth from it boldly, and ascended the scaffold with such alertness that one might have thought he flew, and arrived at its summit he took two turns hat in hand, bowing to the multitude; then flung in a corner his hat and the cloak, and the executioner approaching embraced him and called him brother, and stripped his doublet without a moment’s delay.
‘Father Mambrun who accompanied him was so profoundly affected as to be unable to utter a word. He begged Father Malavette, who had descended while the assistants stripped the body of Cinq Mars, to return and he did so. They recited the psalm “Credidi” together and aloud, and after ejaculations uttered in a firm and loud voice, in a transport and fervour like that of a seraphim, and gestures which seemed as if his body yielded to his soul flying to heaven, he received absolution and gained the indulgence.