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the Queen commanded them to attend her by their deputies in the Palais Royal； and told them she was surprised that they pretended to meddle with what had been consecrated by the presence of the King。 These were the very words of the Chancellor。 The First President answered that it was the custom of Parliament； and showed the necessity of it for preserving the liberty of voting。 The Queen seemed to be satisfied； but； finding some days after that the Parliament was consulting as to qualifying those edicts； and so render them of little or no use； she ordered the King's Council to forbid the Parliament meddling with the King's edicts till they had declared formally whether they intended to limit the King's authority。 Those members that were in the Court interest artfully took advantage of the dilemma the Parliament was in to answer the question； and； in order to mollify them； tacked a clause to the decrees which specified the restrictions； namely； that all should be executed according to the good pleasure of the King。 This clause pleased the Queen for a while； but when she perceived that it did not prevent the rejecting of almost any other edict by the common suffrage of the Parliament； she flew into a passion； and told them plainly that she would have all the edicts； without exception； fully executed； without any modifications whatsoever。
Not long after this； the Court of Aids； the Chamber of Accounts； the Grand Council； and the Parliament formed a union which was pretended to be for the reformation of the State； but was more probably calculated for the private interest of the officers； whose salaries were lessened by one of the said edicts。 And the Court； being alarmed and utterly perplexed by the decree for the said union； endeavoured； as much as in them lay； to give it this turn； to make the people have a mean opinion of it。 The Queen acquainted the Parliament by some of the King's Council that； seeing this union was entered into for the particular interest of the companies； and not for the reformation of the State； as they endeavoured to persuade her； she had nothing to say to it； as everybody is at liberty to represent his case to the King； but never to intermeddle with the government of the State。
The Parliament did not relish this ensnaring discourse； and because they were exasperated by the Court's apprehending some of the members of the Grand Council； they thought of nothing but justifying and supporting their decree of union by finding out precedents； which they accordingly met with in the registers； and were going to consider how to put it in execution when one of the Secretaries of State came to the bar of the house； and put into the hands of the King's Council a decree of the Supreme Council which； in very truculent terms； annulled that of the union。 Upon this the Parliament desired a meeting with the deputies of the other three bodies； at which the Court was enraged； and had recourse to the mean expedient of getting the very original decree of union out of the hands of the chief registrar； for that end they sent the Secretary of State and a lieutenant of the Guards； who put him into a coach to drive him to the office； but the people perceiving it； were up in arms immediately； and both the secretary and lieutenant were glad to get off。
After this there was a great division in the Council； and some said the Queen was disposed to arrest the Parliament； but none but herself was of that opinion； which； indeed； was not likely to be acted upon； considering how the people then stood affected。 Therefore a more moderate course was taken。 The Chancellor reprimanded the Parliament in the presence of the King and Court； and ordered a second decree of Council to be read and registered instead of the union decree； forbidding them to assemble under pain of being treated as rebels。 They met； nevertheless； in defiance of the said decree； and had several days' consultation； upon which the Duc d'Orleans； who was very sensible they would never comply； proposed an accommodation。 Accordingly Cardinal Mazarin and the Chancellor made some proposals； which were rejected with indignation。 The Parliament affected to be altogether concerned for the good of the public； and issued a decree obliging themselves to continue their session and to make humble remonstrances to the King for annulling the decrees of the Council。
The King's Council having obtained audience of the Queen for the Parliament； the First President strenuously urged the great necessity of inviolably preferring that golden mean between the King and the subject； proved that the Parliament had been for many ages in possession of full authority to unite and assemble； complained against the annulling of their decree of union； and concluded with a very earnest motion for suppressing decrees of the Supreme Council made in opposition to theirs。 The Court； being moved more by the disposition of the people than by the remonstrances of the Parliament； complied immediately； and ordered the King's Council to acquaint the Parliament that the King would permit the act of union to be executed； and that they might assemble and act in concert with the other bodies for the good of the State。
You may judge how the Cabinet was mortified； but the vulgar were much mistaken in thinking that the weakness of Mazarin upon this occasion gave the least blow to the royal authority。 In that conjuncture it was impossible for him to act otherwise； for if he had continued inflexible on this occasion he would certainly have been reckoned a madman and surrounded with barricades。 He only yielded to the torrent； and yet most people accused him of weakness。 It is certain this affair brought him into great contempt； and though he endeavoured to appease the people by the banishment of Emeri； yet the Parliament； perceiving what ascendancy they had over the Court； left no stone unturned to demolish the power of this overgrown favourite。
The Cardinal； made desperate by the failure of his stratagems to create jealousy among the four bodies； and alarmed at a proposition which they were going to make for cancelling all the loans made to the King upon excessive interest；the Cardinal； I say； being quite mad with rage and grief at these disappointments； and set on by courtiers who had most of their stocks in these loans； made the King go on horseback to the Parliament House in great pomp； and carry a wheedling declaration with him； which contained some articles very advantageous to the public； and a great many others very ambiguous。 But the people were so jealous of the Court that he went without the usual acclamations。 The declaration was soon after censured by the Parliament and the other bodies； though the Duc d'Orleans exhorted and prayed that they would not meddle with it； and threatened them if they did。
The Parliament also passed a decree declaring that no money should be raised without verified declarations； which so provoked the Court that they resolved to proceed to extremities； and to make use of the signal victory which was obtained at Lens on the 24th of August； 1648； to dazzle the eyes of the people and gain their consent to oppressing the Parliament。
All the humours of the St