1652.] ORLEANS. 3 



Madame cle Breaute, who is the most cowardly 

 creature in the world, began to cry out against me 

 and everybody who followed me ; in fact, I do not 

 know if she did not swear in her excitement, which 

 amused me verv much." At length, a hole was 

 knocked in the gate ; and a gentleman of her train, 

 who had directed the attack, beckoned her to come 

 on. " As it was very muddy, a man took me and 

 carried me forward, and thrust me in at this hole, 

 where my head was no sooner through than the 

 drums beat to salute me. I gave my hand to the 

 captain of the guard. The shouts redoubled. 

 Two men took me and put me in a wooden chair. 

 I do not know whether I w r as seated in it or on 

 their arms, for I w r as beside myself with joy. 

 Everybody was kissing my hands, and I almost 

 died with laughing to see myself in such an odd 

 position." There was no resisting the enthusiasm 

 of the people and the soldiers. Orleans was won 

 for the Fronde. 1 



The young Countesses of Frontenac and Fiesque 

 had constantly followed her, and climbed after her 

 through the hole in the gate. Her father wrote 

 to compliment them on their prow r ess, and ad- 

 dressed his letter a Mesdames Us Comtesses, 

 Marechales cle Camp dans Varmee de ma fille 

 contre le Mazarin. Officers and soldiers took 

 part in the pleasantry ; and, as Madame de Fronte- 

 nac passed on horseback before the troops, they 

 saluted her with the honors paid to a brigadier. 



When the king, or Cardinal Mazarin who con- 



1 Memoires de Mademoiselle de Montpensier, I. 358-363 (ed. 1859). 



