LOUIS XIV. 197 with his head covered, which was alone his privilege, the young king addressed the assembled representatives of the people : " Gentlemen, I have come before my Parliament to inform you that, in obe- dience to the law of my kingdom, I desire to take upon myself the government of my country ; and with the blessing of God, I trust that it will be conducted with justice and piety. My chancellor will state to you more particularly my intentions." The official indicated returned to his place and eloquently enlarged upon the address of his majesty in a long discourse. The queen-mother then spoke to him, telling him that she had taken charge of his education and of the govern- ment in accordance with the expressed wish of the late king, her honored lord, and in obedience to the law she passed over to him the government of the king- dom, and hoped that the grace of God, with his own power and prudence, would render his reign a happy one. The king thanked her for the care she had given to his education and the government of the kingdom, and begged her to continue to give him her good counsels, saying that she should be his chief adviser. His brother, the Duke of Anjou, then approached him, kneeled, kissed his hand, and protested his fidelity. The Duke of Orleans then followed the example of his nephew, as did a multitude of princes, dukes, marshals, ecclesiastics, and all the officers of state. The royal party returned to the Palais-Royal amidst the unan- imous acclamations of the multitude, and the cries of " Vive le roi " continued all night, with bonfires and illuminations. The boy of fourteen was now actually the king, so far as forms could make him so, though he was to remain not much more than a cipher for several years to come. The war of the Fronde lasted about eight years, and was carried on in the in terest of the people against the court, which had overburdened them with taxes. The word " fronde" means a sling, and was applied to those who criticised the government then and in later years. The Parliament refused to impose the taxes required by the regent, which meant Mazarin, and some of its members were ar- rested and imprisoned. Some of the most distinguished nobles in France were implicated with the opposition, including the great Conde, the king's uncle. Mazarin's politic yielding, which alone saved him from destruction, assisted in re- storing peacfe. Conde was in arms against the government, but he was defeated by Turenne. The people and the nobles were tired of the strife, and a general amnesty was proclaimed in 1653. Though Louis was well instructed in his religious duties, was entirely familiar with court etiquette, and knew enough about military affairs to enable him to re- view his troops, he knew little or nothing about the politics of his kingdom, for he had been purposely kept in ignorance of affairs of state. But he manifested a sound judgment and considerable discernment even at this early age. He ac- companied Turenne in a campaign against Conde, and was present at the siege of Arras, which put an end to the Fronde contests. Some of the Frondeurs had in- judiciously called in the aid of Spain to their cause, and that brought on war be- tween the two nations. Peace was made in 1659, and one of the articles of the
