To the scaffold (29 page)

A month after the conversation Young recorded occurred, Louis XVI sunmioned the members of the Paris Parlement to Versailles for a Royal Session. The purpose of the special meeting was to persuade the parlementaries to give confirmation, or "registration," to an edict allowing the government to borrow four hundred and forty million livres so that it could go on ftmctioning. The atmosphere was tense in the great chamber where the King, in ftill majesty of purple robe and ermine cloak, gold lace and heavy gold chains, addressed the assembled body. It must have been hard for him to face them at all, still harder to address them knowing their resentments and knowing too that, after the events of the previous summer, they were feeling their power.

They were magistrates, nobles, many lawyers—and among them was the troublesome Orleans. The procedure at a Royal Session called for the King to request the registration of an edict or edicts, then to permit debate on the merits of the proposed laws. Under the circumstances some debate was to be expected, but the vitriolic quarreling that erupted must have surprised Louis. ^^ The parlement was not uniformly opposed to either the King or his proposals; members battled back and forth over whether or not to go along with what was asked—and thereby give tacit support to monarchical authority—or reftise, underscoring their own independence.

For seven hours the debate raged, while the King listened in unhappy silence. Antoinette was not near by to support him, Lomenie de Brienne was unwell, there was no one to advise him on this unprecedented occasion. Finally, seeing that the parlementaries were unable to agree, he decided to assert his power. He

/94 CAROLLY ERICKSON

ordered the keepc. of the seals to register the edicts, even though the parlement had not voted to do so.

From out of the mass of bickering delegates Orleans spoke up. He told his cousin that what he was doing was illegal.

Louis raised himself to his full height. "I don't care!" he shouted. "That's up to you . . . yes ... it is legal because I wish it!"

Trembling with rage, yet abashed by the insubordination he faced, the King shambled out of the hall, the angry shouts of the parlementaries ringing in his ears. In his rush to get away from them he forgot to dissolve the Royal Session. But he did not forget, once he reached the safety of his apartments, to order the exile of his rebellious cousin of Orleans.

Young Marie Antoinette dancing in a ballet with her brothers on the occasion of her older brother Joseph's marriage. Credit: Getty Images

Engraving of the young Queen Marie Antoinette. Credit: Getty Images

The young Queen Marie Antoinette at the clavichord. Credit: Getty Images

The young queen in the extravagant finery of the Court of Versailles. Credit: Getty Images

The queen with her two oldest children. Credit: Getty Images

A subtle and revealing portrait of the queen as a young mother. Credit: Getty Images

The queen dressed as a farm wife. Credit: Getty Images

An unusual portrait of the queen. Credit: Getty Images

The queen at the Feast of the Federation, July 14, 1790. Credit: Getty Images

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The queen as a prisoner in the Temple. Credit: Getty Images

The Widow Capet before the revolutionary tribunal in Paris, October 14, 1793, Credit: Getty Images