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e rise to…morrow if we please； but ought we to attempt it？ And if we divest the Parliament of its authority； into what an abyss of disorders shall we not precipitate Paris？ But； on the other hand； if we do not raise the people； will the Parliament ever believe we can？ Will they be hindered from taking any further step in favour of the Court； destructive indeed to their own interest； but infallibly ruinous to us first？〃
M。 de Bouillon； who did not believe our affairs to be in so critical a situation； was； together with his lady； in a state of surprise。 The mild and honourable answer which the Queen returned to the King's councillors in relation to the herald； her protestations that she sincerely forgave all the world； and the brilliant gloss of Talon upon her said answer； in an instant overturned the former resolutions of the Parliament； and if they regained sometimes their wonted vigour； either by some intervening accidents or by the skilful management of those who took care to bring them back to the right way； they had still an inclination to recede。 M。 de Bouillon being the wisest man of the party； I told him what I thought； and with him I concerted proper measures。 To the rest； I put on a cheerful air； and magnified every little circumstance of affairs to our own advantage。
M。 de Bouillon proposed that we should let the Parliament and the Hotel de Ville go on in their own way； and endeavour all we could clandestinely to make them odious to the people； and that we should take the first opportunity to secure； by banishment or imprisonment； such persons as we could not depend upon。 He added that Longueville； too； was of opinion that there was no remedy left but to purge the Houses。 This was exactly like him； for never was there a man so positive and violent in his opinion； and yet no man living could palliate it with smoother language。 Though I thought of this expedient before M。 de Bouillon； and perhaps could have said more for it； because I saw the possibility of it much clearer than he； yet I would not give him to understand that I had thought of it； because I knew he had the vanity to love to be esteemed the first author of things； which was the only weakness I observed in his managing State affairs。 I left him an answer in writing； in substance as follows：
〃I confess the scheme is very feasible； but attended with pernicious consequences both to the public and to private persons； for the same people whom you employ to humble the magistracy will refuse you obedience when you demand from them the same homage they paid to the magistrates。 This people adored the Parliament till the beginning of the war； they are still for continuing the war； and yet abate their friendship for the Parliament。 The Parliament imagines that this applies only to some particular members who are Mazarined； but they are deceived； for their prejudice extends to the whole company； and their hatred towards Mazarin's party supports and screens their indifference towards all the rest。 We cheer up their spirits by pasquinades and ballads and the martial sound of trumpets and kettle…drums； but； after all； do they pay their taxes as punctually as they did the first few weeks？ Are there many that have done as you and I； monsieur； who sent our plate to the mint？ Do you not observe that they who would be thought zealous for the common cause plead in favour of some acts committed by those men who are； in short； its enemies？ If the people are so tired already； what will they be long before they come to their journey's end？
〃After we have established our own authority upon the ruin of the Parliament's； we shall certainly fall into the same inconveniences and be obliged to act just as they do now。 We shall impose taxes； raise moneys； and differ from the Parliament only in this； that the hatred and envy they have contracted by various ways from one…third part of the people； I mean the wealthy citizens；in the space of six weeks will devolve upon us； with that of the other two…thirds of the inhabitants； and will complete our ruin in one week。 May not the Court to…morrow put an end to the civil war by the expulsion of Mazarin and by raising the siege of Paris？ The provinces are not yet sufficiently inflamed； and therefore we must double our application to make the most of Paris。 Besides the necessity of treating with Spain and managing the people； there is another expedient come into my head capable of rendering us as considerable in Parliament as our affairs require。
〃We have an army in Paris which will be looked upon as the people so long as it continues within its walls。 Every councillor of inquest is inclined to believe his authority among the soldiers to be equal to that of the generals。 But the leaders of the people are not believed to be very powerful until they make their power known by its execution。 Pray do but consider the conduct of the Court upon this occasion。 Was there any minister or courtier but ridiculed all that could be said of the disposition of the people in favour of the Parliament even to the day of the barricades？ And yet it is as true that every man at Court saw infallible marks of the revolution beforehand。 One would have thought that the barricades should have convinced them； but have they been convinced？ Have they been hindered from besieging Paris on the slight supposition that； though the caprice of the people might run them into a mutiny； yet it would not break out into a civil war？ What we are now doing might undeceive them effectually； but are they yet cured of their infatuation？ Is not the Queen told every day that none are for the Parliament but hired mobs； and that all the wealthy burghers are in her Majesty's interests？
〃The Parliament is now as much infatuated as the Court was then。 This present disturbance among the people carries in it all the marks of power which； in a little time； they will feel the effects of； and which； as they cannot but foresee； they ought to prevent in time； because of the murmurs of the people against them and their redoubled affection for M。 de Beaufort and me。 But far from it； the Parliament will never open its eyes until all its authority is quashed by a sudden blow。 If they see we have a design against them they will； perhaps； have so inconsiderable an opinion of it that they will take courage； and if we should but flinch； they will bear harder still upon us； till we shall be forced to crush them； but this would not turn to our account； on the contrary； it is our true interest to do them all the good we can； lest we divide our own party； and to behave in such a manner as may convince them that our interest and theirs are inseparable。 And the best way is to draw our army out of Paris； and to post it so as it may be ready to secure our convoys and be safe from the insults of the enemy； and I am for having this done at the request of the Parliament； to prevent their taking umbrage； till such time at least as we may find our account in it。 Such precautions will insensibly； as it were； necessitate the Parliament to act in concert with us； and our favour among the people； which is the only thing that can fix us in that situation； will appear to them no longer con