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rasmuch as the author of all these mischiefs was well known； he moved further that the Duc d'Orleans and the officers of the Crown should be desired to come to Parliament to deliberate upon the decree issued in 1617； on account of Marechal d'Ancre； forbidding foreigners to intermeddle in the Government。 We thought ourselves that we had touched too high a key； but a lower note would not have awakened or kept awake men whom fear had perfectly stupefied。 I have observed that this passion of fear has seldom that influence upon individuals that it generally has upon the mass。
Viole's proposition at first startled； then rejoiced； and afterwards animated those that heard it。 Blancmenil； who before seemed to have no life left in him； had now the courage to point at the Cardinal by name； who hitherto had been described only by the designation of Minister； and the Parliament cheerfully agreed to remonstrate with the Queen； according to Viole's proposition； not forgetting to pray her Majesty to remove the troops further from Paris； and not to send for the magistrates to take orders for the security of the city。
The President Coigneux whispered to me； saying； 〃I have no hopes but in you； we shall be undone if you do not work underground。〃 I sat up accordingly all night to prepare instructions for Saint…Ibal to treat with the Count Fuensaldagne； and oblige him to march with the Spanish army； in case of need； to our assistance； and was just going to send him away to Brussels when M。 de Chatillon； my friend and kinsman； who mortally hated the Cardinal； came to tell me that the Prince de Conde would be the next day at Ruel； that the Prince was enraged against the Cardinal； and was sure he would ruin the State if he were let alone； and that the Cardinal held a correspondence in cipher with a fellow in the Prince's army whom he had corrupted； to be informed of everything done there to his prejudice。 By all this I learnt that the Prince had no great understanding with the Court； and upon his arrival at Ruel I ventured to go thither。
Both the Queen and the Cardinal were extremely civil； and the latter took particular notice of the Prince's behaviour to me； who embraced me 'en passant' in the garden； and spoke very low to me； saying that he would be at my house next day。 He kept his word； and desired me to give him an account of the state of affairs； and when I had done so we agreed that I should continue to push the Cardinal by means of the Parliament； that I should take his Highness by night incognito to Longueil and Broussel； to assure them they should not want assistance； that the Prince de Conde should give the Queen all the marks of his respect for and attachment to her； and make all possible reparation for the dissatisfaction he had shown with regard to the Cardinal； that he might thereby insinuate himself into the Queen's favour； and gradually dispose her to receive and fallow his counsels and hear truths against which she had always stopped her ears； and that by thus letting the Cardinal drop insensibly； rather than fall suddenly； the Prince would find himself master of the Cabinet with the Queer's approbation； and； with the assistance of his humble servants in Council； arbiter of the national welfare。
The Queen； who went away from Paris to give her troops an opportunity to starve and attack the city； told the deputies sent by Parliament to entreat her to restore the King to Paris that she was extremely surprised and astonished； that the King used every year at that season to take the air； and that his health was much more to be regarded than the imaginary fears of the people。 The Prince de Conde； coming in at this juncture； told the President and councillors； who invited him to take his seat in Parliament； that he would not come； but obey the Queen though it should prove his ruin。 The Duc d'Orleans said that he would not be there either； because the Parliament had made such proposals as were too bold to be endured； and the Prince de Conti spoke after the same manner。
The next day the King's Council carried an order of Council to Parliament to put a stop to their debates against foreigners being in the Ministry。 This so excited the Parliament that they made a remonstrance in writing； instructed the 'prevot des marchands' to provide for the safety of the city； ordered all other governors to keep the passages free； and resolved next day to continue the debate against foreign ministers。 I laboured all night to ward off the fatal blow； which I was afraid would hurry the Prince； against his will； into the arms of the Court。 But when next day came； the members inflamed one another before they sat； through the cursed spirit of formality； and the very men who two days ago were all fear and trembling were suddenly transported； they knew not why； from a well…grounded fear to a blind rage； so that without reflecting that the General had arrived whose very name made them tremble； because they suspected him to be in the interest of the Court； they issued the said decree； which obliged the Queen to send the Duc d'Anjou；＇Philippe of France； only brother to King Louis XIV。； afterwards Duc d'Orleans； died suddenly at St。 Cloud； in 1701。＇ but just recovered from the smallpox； and the Duchesse d'Orleans； much indisposed； out of town。
This would have begun a civil war next day had not the Prince de Conde taken the wisest measures imaginable； though he had a very bad opinion of the Cardinal； both upon the public account and his own； and was as little pleased with the conduct of the Parliament； with whom there was no dealing； either as a body or as private persons。 The Prince kept an even pace between the Court and country factions； and he said these words to me； which I can never forget：
〃Mazarin does not know what he is doing； and will ruin the State if care be not taken； the Parliament really goes on too fast； as you said they would； if they did but manage according to our scheme； we should be able to settle our own business and that of the public； too； they act with precipitation； and were I to do so； it is probable I should gain more by it than they。 But I am Louis de Bourbon； and will not endanger the State。 Are those devils in square caps mad to force me either to begin a civil war tomorrow or to ruin every man of them； and set over our heads a Sicilian vagabond who will destroy us all at last？〃
In fine； the Prince proposed to set out immediately for Ruel to divert the Court from their project of attacking Paris； and to propose to the Queen that the Duc d'Orleans and himself should write to the Parliament to send deputies to confer about means to relieve the necessities of the State。 The Prince saw that I was so overcome at this proposal that he said to me with tenderness； 〃How different you are from the man you are represented to be at Court！ Would to God that all those rogues in the Ministry were but as well inclined as you！〃
I told the Prince that； considering how the minds of the Parliament were embittered； I doubted whether they would care to confer with the Cardinal； that his Highness would gain a considerable point if he could prevail with the Court not to insist upon the necessity of the Cardinal's presence；