The insinuation that written evidence existed was a falsehood. Fresh arts were therefore employed, to obtain a confession. They were as fruitless as all the former had been. Sentence of death was then passed; and, this having been done, final efforts were made to move him, first by a promise of pardon, next by the menace of torture. He treated both with contempt. He was at last led to the scaffold; he ascended it with calm courage; and, after once more asserting his innocence, he laid his head upon the block. While he was waiting for the blow, and all earthly hopes must have been dead in his bosom, he was suddenly raised up, and told that his life was spared. As he was about to descend from the scaffold, the infamous Laffemas approached, and besought him, in return for the king’s mercy, to disclose whatever he knew respecting the misdeeds of Chateauneuf. But de Jars disdainfully replied, “It is in vain that you seek to take advantage of my disturbed state of mind; since the fear of death failed to extort from me any thing that could injure my friend, you may be certain that all your labour will be thrown away.[6]” It is said that the whole of this scene—a disgraceful scene to all the actors but one—was got up by Laffemas under the direction of Richelieu. Packed as the judges were, it was supposed that, if they thought death were to ensue, even they would shrink from pronouncing the guilt of a man against whom there was not a shadow of proof. The pardon was, therefore, shown to them, and they were told that the mockery of an execution was only meant to intimidate the prisoner into the desired confession. But of what stuff must judges have been made in those days, when they could consent thus to violate the dignity of justice, and the feelings of humanity, in order to gratify the malice of a minister. From Troyes, de Jars was sent back to the Bastile. He remained there till the spring of 1638, when he was liberated on condition of his immediate departure, to travel in Italy. From Guy Patin’s letters, we learn that the chevalier was indebted for his release to the intercession of Charles I. of England and Henrietta Maria. He did not return to France till after the decease of his persecutor. De Jars was engaged in the early part of the political contest, which led to the ridiculous war of the Fronde; but he seems to have been rather a peacemaker than a firebrand, for he endeavoured to arrange matters, by bringing about a reconciliation between Mazarin, with whom he had become acquainted at Rome, and Chateauneuf, the keeper of the seals, of whom he was a constant friend. He at length withdrew from the court, passed his latter years in happy retirement, and died in 1670.