and De Thou, who were tried and sentenced to
execution.

Bouillon had not long to wait. The execution took place on the very day
on which sentence had been pronounced. The two culprits met death
firmly. Cinq-Mars was but twenty-two years of age. He had rapidly run
his course. "Now that I make not a single step which does not lead me to
death, I am more capable than anybody else of estimating the value of
the things of the world," he wrote. "Enough of this world; away to
Paradise!" said De Thou, as he walked to the scaffold.

There were no more conspiracies against Richelieu. There was no time for
them, for in less than three months afterwards he was dead. The
greatest, or at least the most dramatic, minister known to the pages of
history had departed from this world. His royal master did not long
survive him. In five months afterwards, Louis XIII. had followed his
minister to the grave.

_THE PARLIAMENT OF PARIS._

In the streets of Paris all was tumult and fiery indignation. Never had
there been a more sudden or violent outbreak. The whole city seemed to
have turned into the streets. Not until the era of the Revolution, a
century and a half later, was the capital of France again to see such an
uprising of the people against the court. Broussel had been arrested,
Councillor Broussel, a favorite of the populace, who sustained him in
his opposition to the court party, and at once the city was ablaze; for
the first time in the history of France had the people risen in support
of their representatives.

It was by no means the first time that royalty had ended its disputes
with the Parliament in this summary manner. Four years previously, Anne
of Austria, the queen-regent, had done the same thing, and scarce a
voice had been raised in protest. But in the ensuing four years public
opinion had changed. The king, Louis XIV., was but ten years old; his
mother, aided by her favorite minister, Cardinal Mazarin, ruled the
kingdom,--misruled it, as the people thought; the country was crushed
under its weight of taxes; the finances were in utter disorder; France
was successful abroad, but her successes had been dearly bought, and the
people groaned under the burden of their victories. Parliament made
itself the mouth-piece of the public discontent. It no longer felt upon
it the iron hand of Richelieu. Mazarin was able, but he was not a
master, and the Parliament began once more to claim that authority in
affairs of stat