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e； and I must tell you that they have very good reason for their apprehensions； because there is not a soul to be seen in the streets； and to…morrow they may take up whom they list。〃
Montresor； who would be thought to know all things beforehand； said that he was assured it would be so and that he had foretold it。 Laigues bewailed my conduct； which he said had raised the compassion of all my friends； although it had been their ruin。 Upon this I desired to be left about a quarter of an hour to myself； during which； reflecting how I had been provoked and the public threatened； my scruples vanished； I gave rein to all my thoughts； recollected that all the glorious ideas which have ever entered my imagination were most concerned with vast designs； and suffered my mind to be regaled with the pleasing hopes of being the head of a party； a position which I had always admired in Plutarch's 〃Lives。〃 The inconsistency of my scheme with my character made me tremble。 A world of incidents may happen when the virtues in the leader of a party may be vices in an archbishop。 I had this view a thousand times； and it always gave place to the duty I thought I owed to her Majesty； but the remembrance of what had passed at the Queen's table； and the resolution there taken to ruin me with the public； having banished all scruples； I joyfully determined to abandon my destiny to all the impulses of glory。 I said to my friends that the whole Court was witness of the harsh treatment I had met with for above a year in the King's palace； and I added： 〃The public is engaged to defend my honour； but the public being now about to be sacrificed； I am obliged to defend it against oppression。 Our circumstances are not so bad as you imagine； gentlemen； and before twelve o'clock to…morrow I shall be master of Paris。〃
My two friends thought I was mad； and began to counsel moderation； whereas before they always incited me to action； but I did not give them hearing。 I immediately sent for Miron； Accountant…General； one of the city colonels； a man of probity and courage； and having great interest with the people。 I consulted with him； and he executed his commission with so much discretion and bravery that above four hundred considerable citizens were posted up and down in platoons with no more noise and stir than if so many Carthusian novices had been assembled for contemplation。 After having given orders for securing certain gates and bars of the city； I went to sleep； and was told next morning that no soldiers had appeared all night； except a few troopers； who just took a view of the platoons of the citizens and then galloped off。 Hence it was inferred that our precautions had prevented the execution of the design formed against particular persons； but it was believed there was some mischief hatching at the Chancellor's against the public； because sergeants were running backwards and forwards； and Ondedei went thither four times in two hours。
Being informed soon after that the Chancellor was going to the Palace with all the pomp of magistracy； and that two companies of Swiss Guards approached the suburbs； I gave my orders in two words； which were executed in two minutes。 Miron ordered the citizens to take arms； and Argenteuil； disguised as a mason； with a rule in his hand； charged the Swiss in flank； killed twenty or thirty； dispersed the rest； and took one of their colours。 The Chancellor； hemmed in on every side； narrowly escaped with his life to the Hotel d'O； which the people broke open； rushed in with fury； and； as God would have it； fell immediately to plundering； so that they forgot to force open a little chamber where both the Chancellor and his brother； the Bishop of Meaux； to whom he was confessing； lay concealed。 The news of this occurrence ran like wild… fire through the whole city。 Men and women were immediately up in arms； and mothers even put daggers into the hands of their children。 In less than two hours there were erected above two hundred barricades； adorned with all the standards and colours that the League had left entire。 All the cry was； 〃God bless the King！〃 sometimes； 〃God bless the Coadjutor！〃 and the echo was； 〃No Mazarin！〃
The Queen sent her commands to me to use my interest to appease the tumult。 I answered the messenger； very coolly； that I had forfeited my credit with the people on account of yesterday's transactions； and that I did not dare to go abroad。 The messenger had heard the cry of 〃God bless the Coadjutor！〃 and would fain have persuaded me that I was the favourite of the people； but I strove as much to convince him of the contrary。
The Court minions of the two last centuries knew not what they did when they reduced that effectual regard which kings ought to have for their subjects into mere style and form； for there are； as you see； certain conjunctures in which； by a necessary consequence； subjects make a mere form also of the real obedience which they owe to their sovereigns。
The Parliament hearing the cries of the people for Broussel； after having ordered a decree against Cominges； lieutenant of the Queen's Guards； who had arrested him； made it death for all who took the like commissions for the future； and decreed that an information should be drawn up against those who had given that advice； as disturbers of the public peace。 Then the Parliament went in a body； in their robes； to the Queen； with the First President at their head； and amid the acclamations of the people； who opened all their barricades to let them pass。 The First President represented to the Queen； with becoming freedom； that the royal word had been prostituted a thousand times over by scandalous and even childish evasions； defeating resolutions most useful and necessary for the State。 He strongly exaggerated the mighty danger of the State from the city being all in arms； but the Queen； who feared nothing because she knew little； flew into a passion and raved like a fury； saying； 〃I know too well that there is an uproar in the city； but you Parliamentarians； together with your wives and children； shall be answerable for it all；〃 and with that she retired into another chamber and shut the door after her with violence。 The members； who numbered about one hundred and sixty； were going down…stairs； but the First President persuaded them to go up and try the Queen once more； and meeting with the Duc d'Orleans； he； with a great deal of persuasion； introduced twenty of them into the presence…chamber； where the First President made another effort with the Queen； by setting forth the terrors of the enraged metropolis up in arms； but she would hear nothing； and went into the little gallery。
Upon this the Cardinal advanced and proposed to surrender the prisoner； provided the Parliament would promise to hold no more assemblies。 They were going to consider this proposal upon the spot； but； thinking that the people would be inclined to believe that the Parliament had been forced if they gave their votes at the Palais Royal； they resolved to adjourn to their own House。
The Parliament； returning and saying nothing about the liberation of Broussel； were received by the people with angry murmurs instead of with loud acclamations。