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s I honoured him； and clearly saw the precipice。
I had divers conferences with him； in which I found that his disgust was turned into wrath and indignation。 He swore there was no bearing with the insolence and impertinence of those citizens who struck at the royal authority； that as long as he thought they aimed only at Mazarin he was on their side； that I myself had often confessed that no certain measures could be concerted with men who changed their opinions every quarter of an hour； that he could never condescend to be General of an army of fools； with whom no wise man would entrust himself； besides that； he was a Prince of the blood； and would not be instrumental in giving a shock to the Throne； and that the Parliament might thank themselves if they were ruined through not observing the measures agreed on。
This was the substance of my answer： 〃No men are more bound by interest than the Parliament to maintain the royal authority； so that they cannot be thought to have a design to ruin the State； though their proceedings may have a tendency that way。 It must be owned； therefore； that if the sovereign people do evil； it is only when they are not able to act as well as they would。 A skilful minister； who knows how to manage large bodies of men as well as individuals； keeps up such a due balance between the Prince's authority and the people's obedience as to make all things succeed and prosper。 But the present Prime Minister has neither judgment nor strength to adjust the pendulum of this State clock； the springs of which are out of order。 His business is to make it go slower； which； I own； he attempts to do； but very awkwardly； because he has not the brains for it。 In this lies the fault of our machine。 Your Highness is in the right to set about the mending of it； because nobody else is capable of doing it； but in order to do this must you join with those that would knock it in pieces？
〃You are convinced of the Cardinal's extravagances； and that his only view is to establish in France a form of government known nowhere but in Italy。 If he should succeed； will the State be a gainer by it； according to its only true maxims？ Would it be an advantage to the Princes of the blood in any sense？ But； besides； has he any likelihood of succeeding？ Is he not loaded with the odium and contempt of the public？ and is not the Parliament the idol they revere？ I know you despise them because the Court is so well armed； but let me tell you that they are so confident of their power that they feel their importance。 They are come to that pass that they do not value your forces； and though the evil is that at present their strength consists only in their imagination； yet a time may come when they may be able to do whatever they now think it in their power to do。
〃Your Highness lately told me that this disposition of the people was only smoke； but be assured that smoke so dark and thick proceeds from a brisk fire； which the Parliament blows； and； though they mean well； may blaze up into such a flame as may consume themselves and again hazard the destruction of the State； which has been the case more than once。 Bodies of men； when once exasperated by a Ministry； always aggravate their failures； and scarcely ever show them any favour； which； in some cases； is enough to ruin a kingdom。
〃If； when the proposition was formerly made to the Parliament by the Cardinal to declare whether they intended to set bounds to the royal authority； if； I say； they had not wisely eluded the ridiculous and dangerous question； France would have run a great risk； in my opinion； of being entirely ruined； for had they answered in the affirmative； as they were on the point of doing； they would have rent the veil that covers the mysteries of State。 Every monarchy has its peculiar veil； that of France consists in a kind of religious and sacred silence； which； by the subjects generally paying a blind obedience to their Kings； muffles up that right which they think they have to dispense with their obedience in cases where a complaisance to their Kings would be a prejudice to themselves。 It is a wonder that the Parliament did not strip off this veil by a formal decree。 This has had much worse consequences since the people have taken the liberty to look through it。
〃Your Highness cannot by the force of arms prevent these dangerous consequences； which； perhaps； are already too near at hand。 You see that even the Parliament can hardly restrain the people whom they have roused； that the contagion is spread into the provinces； and you know that Guienne and Provence are entirely governed by the example of Paris。 Every thing shakes and totters； and it is your Highness only that can set us right； because of the splendour of your birth and reputation； and the generally received opinion that none but you can do it。
〃The Queen shares with the Cardinal in the common hatred； and the Duc d'Orleans with La Riviere in the universal contempt of the people。 If； out of mere complaisance； you abet their measures； you will share in the hatred of the public。 It is true that you are above their contempt； but then their dread of you will be so great that it will grievously embitter the hatred they will then bear to you； and the contempt they have already for the others； so that what is at present only a serious wound in the State will perhaps become incurable and mortal。 I am sensible you have grounds to be diffident of the behaviour of a body consisting of above two hundred persons； who are neither capable of governing nor being governed。 I own the thought is perplexing； but such favourable circumstances seem to offer themselves at this juncture that matters are much simplified。
〃Supposing that manifestoes were published； and your Highness declared General of the Parliamentary Army； would you； monseigneur； meet with greater difficulties than your grandfather and great…grandfather did； in accommodating themselves to the caprice of the ministers of Rochelle and the mayors of Nimes and Montauban？ And would your Highness find it a greater task to manage the Parliament of Paris than M。 de Mayenne did in the time of the League； when there was a factious opposition made to all the measures of the Parliament？ Your birth and merit raise you as far above M。 de Mayenne as the cause in hand is above that of the League； and the circumstances of both are no less different。 The head of the League declared war by an open and public alliance with Spain against the Crown； and against one of the best and bravest kings that France ever had。 And this head of the League； though descended from a foreign and suspected family； kept； notwithstanding； that same Parliament in his interest for a considerable time。
〃You have consulted but two members of the whole Parliament； and them only upon their promise to disclose your intentions to no man living。 How then can your Highness think it possible that your sentiments； locked up so closely in the breasts of two members； can have any influence upon the whole body of the Parliament？ I dare answer for it； monseigneur； that if you will but declare yourself openly the protector of the public and of the sovereign companies； you might gover