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ffront upon him that was too public to be pardoned。 The Duke was so simple as to believe it； and； while the courtiers turned all into banter； he swore he would receive incense before me at the said church for the future。 In the meantime the Queen sent for me； and told me that the Duke was in a terrible passion； for which she was very sorry； but that nevertheless she could not help being of his opinion； and therefore insisted upon it that I ought to give him satisfaction in the Church of Notre…Dame the Sunday following。 Upon the whole she referred me to Cardinal Mazarin； who declared to me at first that he was very sorry to see me in so much trouble； blamed the Abby for having incensed the Duke to such a degree； and used all the arguments he could to wheedle me to give my consent to being degraded。 And when he saw I was not to be led； he endeavoured to drive me into the snare。 He stormed with an air of authority； and would fain have bullied me into compliance； telling me that hitherto he had spoken as a friend； but that I had forced him henceforth to speak as a minister。 He also began to threaten； and the conversation growing warm； he sought to pick a quarrel by insinuating that if I would do as Saint Ambrose did； I ought to lead a life like him。 As he spoke this loud enough to be heard by some bishops at the other end of the room； I likewise raised my voice； and told him I would endeavour to make the best use of his advice； but he might assure himself I was fully resolved so to imitate Saint Ambrose in this affair that I might； through his means； obtain grace to be able to imitate him in all others。
I had not been long gone home when the Marechal d'Estrees and M。 Senneterre came； furnished with all the flowers of rhetoric； to persuade me that degradation was honourable； and finding me immovable； they insinuated that my obstinacy might oblige his Highness to use force； and order his guards to carry me； in spite of myself； to Notre…Dame； and place me there on a seat below his。 I thought this suggestion too ridiculous to mind it at first； but being forewarned of it that very evening by the Duke's Chancellor； I put myself upon the defensive； which I think is the most ridiculous piece of folly I was ever guilty of； considering it was against a son of France； and when there was a profound tranquillity in the State； without the least appearance of any commotion。 The Duke； to whom I had the honour of being related； was pleased with my boldness。 He remembered the Abby de la Riviere for his insolence in complaining that the Prince de Conti was marked down for a cardinal before him； besides； the Duke knew I was in the right； having made it very evident in a statement I had published upon this head。 He acquainted the Cardinal with it； said he would not suffer the least violence to be offered to me； that I was both his kinsman and devoted servant； and that he would not set out for the army till he saw the affair at an end。
All the Court was in consternation for fear of a rupture； especially when the Prince de Conde had been informed by the Queen of what his son had said； and when he came to my house and found there sixty or eighty gentlemen； this made him believe that a league was already made with the Duke； but there was nothing in it。 He swore； he threatened； he begged； he flattered； and in his transports he let fall some expressions which showed that the Duke was much more concerned for my interest than he ever yet owned to me。 I submitted that very instant； and told the Prince that I would do anything rather than the royal family should be divided on my account。 The Prince； who hitherto found me immovable； was so touched at my sudden surrender in complaisance to his son； at the very time； too； when he himself had just assured me I was to expect a powerful protection from him； that he suddenly changed his temper； so that； instead of thinking as he did at first； that there was no satisfaction great enough for the Duc d'Orleans； he now determined plainly in favour of the expedient I had so often proposed；that I should go and declare to him； in the presence of the whole Court； that I never designed to be wanting in the respect I owed him； and that the orders of the Church had obliged me to act as I did at Notre…Dame。 The Cardinal and the Abby de la Riviere were enraged to the last degree； but the Prince put them into such fear of the Duke that they were fain to submit。 The Prince took me to the Duc d'Orleans's house； where I gave them satisfaction before the whole Court； precisely in the words above mentioned。 His Highness was quite satisfied with my reasons； carried me to see his medals； and thus ended the controversy。
As this affair and the marriage of the Queen of Poland had embroiled me with the Court； you may easily conceive what turn the courtiers gave to it。 But here I found by experience that all the powers upon earth cannot hurt the reputation of a man who preserves it established and unspotted in the society whereof he is a member。 All the learned clergy took my part； and I soon perceived that many of those who had before blamed my conduct now retracted。 I made this observation upon a thousand other occasions。 I even obliged the Court； some time after； to commend my； proceedings； and took an opportunity to convince the Queen that it was my dignity； and not any want of respect and gratitude； that made me resist the Court in the two former cases。 The Cardinal was very well pleased with me； and said in public that he found me as much concerned for the King's service as I was before for the honour of my character。
It falling to my turn to make the speech at the breaking up of the assembly of the clergy at Paris； I had the good luck to please both the clergy and the Court。 Cardinal Mazarin took me to supper with him alone； seemed to be clear of all prejudices against me； and I verily believe was fully persuaded that he had been imposed upon。 But I was too much beloved in Paris to continue long in favour at Court。 This was a crime that rendered me disagreeable in the eyes of a refined Italian statesman； and which was the more dangerous from the fact that I lost no opportunity of aggravating it by a natural and unaffected expense； to which my air of negligence gave a lustre； and by my great alms and bounty； which； though very often secret； had the louder echo； whereas； in truth； I had acted thus at first only in compliance with inclination and out of a sense of duty。 But the necessity I was under of supporting myself against the Court obliged me to be yet more liberal。 I do but just mention it here to show you that the Court was jealous of me； when I never thought myself capable of giving them the least occasion； which made me reflect that a man is oftener deceived by distrusting than by being overcredulous。
Cardinal Mazarin； who was born and bred in the Pope's dominions； where papal authority has no limits； took the impetus given to the regal power by his tutor； the Cardinal de Richelieu； to be natural to the body politic； which mistake of his occasioned the civil war； though we must look much higher for its prime cause。
It is above 1；200 years that France has been governed by kings； but they were