If we wanted an instance of pomp, unexampled even in the history of the Roman Empire, of uncompromising consideration as claimed by and accorded to this parvenu prince, whose personal expenses are estimated at more than a thousand crowns a day—considerably more than the monarch he served had at his private disposal—we may find it in the narrative of his (happily) last journey from Tarascon to Paris. It is to be regretted the famous Tarasque had not broken loose that day and devoured him before he started on his egotistical expedition.
Pronouncing himself unable to bear the fatigue of saddle, carriage, or litter, he ordered a room to be built of light boards covered with crimson satin damask, which was to be furnished with a bed, two chairs, and a table for his secretary; this movable house was hoisted on the shoulders of eighteen of the cardinal’s guards, to be relieved at stated distances; they were to walk on bareheaded, no matter what weather, and it was during the month of August, or about the hottest season in France.
When this singular cortège—for the cardinal was followed by carriages containing his numerous suite—arrived at the towns he had to pass through, they found the walls and gates already demolished and cleared away by the direction of a vanguard of attendants sent on before to see that room was made for his Eminence to pass without delay or interruption.
When he reached Paris, chains were stretched along both sides of the streets to keep back the people who crowded them to contemplate in wonder and silent awe the despot, who a few days before, had hurried to the scaffold the youthful Cinq-Mars and his virtuous friend De Thou.
This sight made a profound and lasting impression on the youthful Bossuet, who, being on that day fifteen years of age, arrived in Paris for the first time.
It would be superfluous to cite this will in its entirety; we therefore only transcribe such passages as we feel will be of general interest, and these we give verbatim.
It is dated Narbonne, 23d of May, 1642, and bears the signature of Pierre Falconis, notaire royal. It is contained in twelve quarto pages of very close printing.
After two paragraphs of pious preamble and directions for his funeral, it proceeds to appoint to his niessce, Madame la Duchesse d’Eguillon (sic), all the cash in gold and silver he might possess at his decease, except a sum of 1,500,000 livres to be placed in the hands of his Majesty immediately on his death for a purpose he will explain farther on. It then goes on to declare that by contract he had given to the Crown “ ... Mon grand hostel que j’ai basti sous le nom de Palais Cardinal, ma chapelle d’or enrichie de diamans, mon buffet d’argent ciselé, et un grand diamant que j’ai acheté a Lopez, toutes lesquelles choses le roi a eu agréable par sa bonté d’accepter à ma trez humble et très instante supplication....
“Je supplie S. M. d’avoir agréables huit tentures de tapisserie et trois lits que je prie Madame la Duchesse d’Eguillon, ma niessce, et M. de Noyers de choisir entre mes meubles, pour servir à une partie de l’ameublement des principaux appartemens du dit Palais Cardinal.
“Comme aussi je la supplie d’agréer la donation que je lui fais en outre de l’hostel qui est devant le Palais Cardinal, lequel j’ai acquis de feu M. le Commandeur de Sillery, pour au lieu d’icelui faire une place au devant du dit palais.