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t in Poitou。 I sent her three or four billets…doux every day； and received as many。 I went very often to her levee to be more at liberty to talk of affairs； got extraordinary advantages by it； and I knew that it was the only way to be sure of the Prince de Conti。
Having settled a regular correspondence with Madame de Longueville； she made me better acquainted with M。 de La Rochefoucault； who made the Prince de Conti believe that he spoke a good word for him to the lady； his sister； with whom he was in； love。 And the two so blinded the Prince that he did not suspect anything till four years after。
When I saw that the Court would act upon their own initiative； I resolved to declare war against them and attack Mazarin in person； because otherwise we could not escape being first attacked by him。
It is certain that he gave his enemies such an advantage over him as no other Prime Minister ever did。 Power commonly keeps above ridicule； but everybody laughed at the Cardinal because of his silly sayings and doings； which those in his position are seldom guilty of。 It was said that he had lately asked Bougeval； deputy of the Grand Council； whether he did not think himself obliged to have no buttons to the collar of his doublet； if the King should command it；a grave argument to convince the deputies of an important company of the obedience due to kings； for which he was severely lampooned both in prose and verse。
The Court having attempted to legalise excessive usury；I mean with respect to the affair of loans；my dignity would not permit me to tolerate so public and scandalous an evil。 Therefore I held an assembly of the clergy； where； without so much as mentioning the Cardinal's name in the conferences； in which I rather affected to spare him； yet in a week's time I made him pass for one of the most obstinate Jews in Europe。
At this very time I was sent for； by a civil letter under the Queen's own hand； to repair to Saint Germain； the messenger telling me the King was just gone thither and that the army was commanded to advance。 I made him believe I would obey the summons； but I did not intend to do so。
I was pestered for five hours with a parcel of idle rumours of ruin and destruction； which rather diverted than alarmed me； for though the Prince de Conde； distrusting his brother the Prince de Conti； had surprised him in bed and carried him off with him to Saint Germain； yet I did not question but that； as long as Madame de Longueville stayed in Paris； we should see him again； the rather because his brother neither feared nor valued him sufficiently to put him under arrest； and I was assured that M。 de Longueville would be in Paris that evening by having received a letter from himself。
The King was no sooner gone than the Parliament met； frightened out of their senses； and I know not what they could have done if we had not found a way to change their fears into a resolution to make a bold stand。 I have observed a thousand times that there are some kinds of fear only to be removed by higher degrees of terror。 I caused it to be signified to the Parliament that there was in the Hotel de Ville a letter from his Majesty to the magistrates； containing the reasons that had obliged him to leave his good city of Paris； which were in effect that some of the officers of the House held a correspondence with the enemies of the Government； and had conspired to seize his person。
The Parliament； considering this letter and that the President le Feron； 'prevot des marchands'； was a creature of the Court； ordered the citizens to arms； the gates to be secured； and the 'prevot des marchands' and the 'lieutenant de police' to keep open the necessary passages for provisions。
Having thought it good policy that the first public step of resistance should be taken by the Parliament to justify the disobedience of private persons； I then invented this stratagem to render me the more excusable to the Queen for not going to Saint Germain。 Having taken leave of all friends and rejected all their entreaties for my stay in Paris； I took coach as if I were driving to Court； but； by good luck； met with an eminent timber…merchant； a very good friend of mine； at the end of Notre… Dame Street； who was very much out of humour； set upon my postilion； and threatened my coachman。 The people came and overturned my coach； and the women； shrieking； carried me back to my own house。
I wrote to the Queen and Prince； signifying how sorry I was that I had met with such a stoppage； but the Queen treated the messenger with scorn and contempt。 The Prince； at the same time that he pitied me； could not help showing his anger。 La Riviere attacked me with railleries and invectives； and the messenger thought they were sure of putting the rope about all our necks on the morrow。
I was not so much alarmed at their menaces as at the news I heard the same day that M。 de Longueville； returning from Rouen； had turned off to Saint Germain。 Marechal de La Mothe told me twenty times that he would do everything to the letter that M。 de Longueville would have him do for or against the Court。 M。 de Bouillon quarrelled with me for confiding in men who acted so contrary to the repeated assurances I had given him of their good behaviour。 And besides all this； Madame de Longueville protested to me that she had received no news from M。 de La Rochefoucault； who went soon after the King； with a design to fortify the Prince de Conti in his resolution and to bring him back to Paris。 Upon this I sent the Marquis de Noirmoutier to Saint Germain to learn what we had to trust to。
On the 7th of January； 1649； an order was sent from the King to the Parliament to remove to Montargis； to the Chamber of Accounts to adjourn to Orleans and to the Grand Council to retire to Mantes。 A packet was also sent to the Parliament； which they would not open； because they guessed at the contents and were resolved beforehand not to obey。 Therefore they returned it sealed up as it came； and agreed to send assurances of their obedience to the Queen； and to beg she would give them leave to clear themselves from the aspersion thrown upon them in the letter above mentioned sent to the chief magistrate of the city。 And to support the dignity of Parliament it was further resolved that her Majesty should be petitioned in a most humble manner to name the calumniators； that they might be proceeded against according to law。 At the same time Broussel； Viole； Amelot； and seven others moved that it might be demanded in form that Cardinal Mazarin should be removed； but they were not supported by anybody else； so that they were treated as enthusiasts。 Although this was a juncture in which it was more necessary than ever to act with vigour； yet I do not remember the time when I have beheld so much faintheartedness。
The Chamber of Accounts immediately set about making remonstrances； but the Grand Council would have obeyed the King's orders； only the city refused them passports。 I think this was one of the most gloomy days I had as yet seen。 I found the Parliament had almost lost all their spirit； and that I should be obliged to bow my neck under the most shameful and dangerous yoke of slavery； or be