Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie
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great predecessor.<br />
Richelieu had fought <strong>the</strong> battle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crown,<br />
and subjected <strong>to</strong> it both <strong>the</strong> nobles and <strong>the</strong> people:<br />
<strong>the</strong> work expected <strong>of</strong> Mazar<strong>in</strong> was that he should<br />
keep what Richelieu had won. This he found,<br />
however, no easy matter. Richelieu had carefully<br />
husbanded <strong>the</strong> revenues <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> State; Mazar<strong>in</strong><br />
wasted <strong>the</strong>m. Extravagance created debts; debts<br />
necessitated new taxes; <strong>the</strong> taxes were felt <strong>to</strong> be<br />
grievous burdens by <strong>the</strong> people. First murmurs<br />
were heard; <strong>the</strong>n, f<strong>in</strong>ally, <strong>in</strong>surrection broke out.<br />
The nobles, now that Richelieu was <strong>in</strong> his grave,<br />
were attempt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> throw <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> yoke. An<br />
oppressed, turbulent, and <strong>in</strong>surrectionary people<br />
were parad<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> streets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> capital, and<br />
carry<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir threats <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> very gates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
palace. Both nobles and mob thought <strong>the</strong> time<br />
favorable for reduc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> throne, and<br />
recover<strong>in</strong>g those privileges and that <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>of</strong><br />
which <strong>the</strong> great m<strong>in</strong>ister <strong>of</strong> Louis XIII had stripped<br />
<strong>the</strong>m. They did not succeed. The yoke which<br />
<strong>the</strong>mselves had so large a share <strong>in</strong> fitt<strong>in</strong>g upon <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
own necks <strong>the</strong>y were compelled <strong>to</strong> wear; but <strong>the</strong><br />
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