sovereign from carrying into effect his occasional resolves, to lead in future a life more suitable to his years, and to the lofty station which he filled. He was the Mephistopheles of his royal master. Richelieu was so fortunate as not to be exposed to the revolutionary tempest; his disgraceful career was brought to a close in August, 1788, when he had attained the age of ninety-two. Of prisoners less known, or less important, during the period to which this chapter refers, it will suffice to give a scanty specimen. Religious intolerance contributed largely to people the jails. To enumerate all who expiated in dungeons the crime of being protestants, would be an endless task; in 1686 a hundred and forty-seven persons, and in 1689 sixty-one, were sent to the Bastile alone, almost all of whom were hugonots. To unite in marriage the members of that proscribed class was a heinous offence; a priest, named John de Pardieu, was doomed to the Bastile for committing it. Whole families were immured for endeavouring to leave the kingdom. Some of the victims were driven to despair by the manner in which they were treated. Such was the case with the Sieur Braconneau, who, as the register specifies, was “imprisoned on account of religion, and died of a wound which he gave to himself with a knife.” The protestants were, however, not the sole sufferers; the Jansenists, too, came in for an ample share of persecution. Real or pretended plots and evil speaking against the king were another fruitful source of commitments. The following are a few instances: Don Thomas Crisafi “suspected of intrigues with the Spanish ambassador against the interests of the king.” Joseph Jurin, a footman, for having said, “Who can prevent me from killing the king?” The Sieur Beranger de Berliere, “for a plot against the king’s person.” The Count de Morlot, accused of “detestable purposes against the king’s life.” Desvallons, “for speaking insolently of the king.” Laurence Lemierre, shoemaker, and his wife, for dangerous discourse about the king; and Francis Brindjoug for the same offence. The Sieur Cardel, “for important reasons, regarding the safety of the king’s person.” Jonas de Lamas, a baker, “for execrations against the king.” This man was twenty years in the Bastile, and was then removed to the Bicêtre. The Sieur de la Perche, a fencing-master, accused of having said that “the king oppressed his subjects, and thought only of amusing himself with his old woman; that he would soon be a king of beggars; that his officers were starving; that he had ruined the kingdom by driving away the hugonots; and that he cared not a pin for his people.” The last article of the Sieur de la Perche’s charge against the sovereign was made in language which is too vulgar to be translated.