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The Parliament； returning and saying nothing about the liberation of Broussel； were received by the people with angry murmurs instead of with loud acclamations。 They appeased those at the first two barricades by telling them that the Queen had promised them satisfaction； but those at the third barricade would not be paid in that coin； for a journeyman cook； advancing with two hundred men； pressed his halberd against the First President； saying； 〃Go back； traitor； and if thou hast a mind to save thy life； bring us Broussel； or else Mazarin and the Chancellor as hostages。〃
Upon this five presidents 'au mortier' and about twenty councillors fell back into the crowd to make their escape； the First President only； the most undaunted man of the age； continued firm and intrepid。 He rallied the members as well as he could； maintaining still the authority of a magistrate； both in his words and behaviour； and went leisurely back to the King's palace； through volleys of abuse； menaces； curses； and blasphemies。 He had a kind of eloquence peculiar to himself； knew nothing of interjections； was not very exact in his speech； but the force of it made amends for that； and being naturally bold； never spoke so well as when he was in danger； insomuch that when he returned to the Palace he even outdid himself； for it is certain that he moved the hearts of all present except the Queen； who continued inflexible。 The Duc d'Orleans was going to throw himself at her feet； which four or five Princesses； trembling with fear； actually did。 The Cardinal； whom a young councillor jestingly advised to go out into the streets and see how the people stood affected； did at last join with the bulk of the Court； and with much ado the Queen condescended to bid the members go and consult what was fitting to be done； agreed to set the prisoners at liberty； restored Broussel to the people； who carried him upon their heads with loud acclamations； broke down their barricades； opened their shops； and in two hours Paris was more quiet than ever I saw it upon a Good Friday。
As to the primum mobile of this revolution； it was owing to no other cause than a deviation from the laws； which so alters the opinions of the people that many times a faction is formed before the change is so much as perceived。
This little reflection； with what has been said； may serve to confute those who pretend that a faction without a head is never to be feared。 It grows up sometimes in a night。 The commotion I have been speaking of； which was so violent and lasting； did not appear to have any leader for a whole year； but at last there rose up in one moment a much greater number than was necessary for the party。
The morning after the barricades were removed； the Queen sent for me； treated me with all the marks of kindness and confidence； said that if she had hearkened to me she would not have experienced the late disquietness； that the Cardinal was not to blame for it； but that Chavigni had been the sole cause of her misfortunes； to whose pernicious counsels she had paid more deference than to the Cardinal。 〃But； good God！〃 she suddenly exclaimed； 〃will you not get that rogue Beautru soundly thrashed； who has paid so little respect to your character？ The poor Cardinal was very near having it done the other night。〃 I received all this with more respect than credulity。 She commanded me to go to the poor Cardinal； to comfort him； and to advise him as to the best means of quieting the populace。
I went without any scruple。 He embraced me with a tenderness I am not able to express； said there was not an honest man in France but myself； and that all the rest were infamous flatterers； who had misled the Queen in spite of all his and my good counsels。 He protested that he would do nothing for the future without my advice； showed me the foreign despatches； and； in short； was so affable； that honest Broussel； who was likewise present upon his invitation； for all his harmless simplicity； laughed heartily as we were going out； and said that it was all mere buffoonery。
There being a report that the King was to be removed by the Court from Paris； the Queen assured the 'prevot des marchands' that it was false； and yet the very next day carried him to Ruel。 From there I doubted not that she designed to surprise the city； which seemed really astonished at the King's departure； and I found the hottest members of the Parliament in great consternation； and the more so because news arrived at the same time that General Erlac＇He was Governor of Brisac； and commanded the forces of the Duke of Weimar after the Duke's death＇had passed the Somme with 4；000 Germans。 Now； as in general disturbances one piece of bad news seldom comes singly； five or six stories of this kind were published at the same time； which made me think I should find it as difficult a task to raise the spirits of the people as I had before to restrain them。 I was never so nonplussed in all my life。 I saw the full extent of the danger； and everything looked terrible。 Yet the greatest perils have their charms if never so little glory is discovered in the prospect of ill…success； while the least dangers have nothing but horror when defeat is attended with loss of reputation。
I used all the arguments I could to dissuade the Parliament from making the Court desperate； at least till they had thought of some expedients to defend themselves from its insults； to which they would inevitably have been exposed if the Court had taken time by the forelock； in which； perhaps； they were prevented by the unexpected return of the Prince de Conti。 I hereupon formed a resolution which gave me a great deal of uneasiness； but which was firm； because it was the only resolution I had to take。 Extremities are always disagreeable； but are the wisest means when absolutely necessary； the best of it is that they admit of no middle course； and if peradventure they are good； they are always decisive。
Fortune favoured my design。 The Queen ordered Chavigni to be sent prisoner to Havre…de…Grace。 I embraced this opportunity to stir up the natural fears of his dear friend Viole； by telling him that he was a ruined man for doing what he had done at the instigation of Chavigni； that it was plain the King left Paris with a view to attack it； and that he saw as well as I how much the people were dejected； that if their spirits should be quite sunk they could never be raised； that they must be supported； that I would influence the people； and that he should do what he could with the Parliament； who； in my opinion； ought not to be supine； but to be awakened at a juncture when the King's departure had perfectly drowned their senses； adding that a word in season would infallibly produce this good effect。
Accordingly Viole struck one of the boldest strokes that has perhaps been heard of。 He told the Parliament that it was reported Paris was to be besieged； that troops were marching for that end； and the most faithful servants of his late Majesty； who； it was suspected； would oppose designs so pernicious； would be put in chains； that it was necessary for them to address the Queen to bring the King back to Paris； and forasmuch as the author of all these m