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The Prince de Conti； M。 de Beaufort； M。 d'Elbeuf； Marechal de La Mothe； M。 de Brissac； President Bellievre； and myself met that night at M。 de Bouillon's house； where a motion was made for the generals of the army to send a deputation likewise to the place of conference； but it was quashed； and indeed nothing would have been more absurd than such a proceeding when we were upon the point of concluding a treaty with Spain； and； considering that we told the envoy that we should never have consented to hold any conference with the Court were we not assured that it was in our power to break it off at pleasure by means of the people。
The Parliament having lately reproached both the generals and troops with being afraid to venture without the gates； M。 de Bouillon； seeing the danger was over； proposed at this meeting； for the satisfaction of the citizens； to carry them to a camp betwixt the Marne and the Seine； where they might be as safe as at Paris。 The motion was agreed to without consulting the Parliament； and； accordingly； on the 4th of March； the troops marched out and the deputies of Parliament went to Ruel。
The Court party flattered themselves that； upon the marching of the militia out of Paris； the citizens； being left to themselves； would become more tractable； and the President de Mesmes made his boast of what he said to the generals； to persuade them to encamp their army。 But Senneterre； one of the ablest men at Court； soon penetrated our designs and undeceived the Court。 He told the First President and De Mesmes that they were beguiled and that they would see it in a little time。 The First President； who could never see two different things at one view； was so overjoyed when he heard the forces had gone out of Paris that he cried out：
〃Now the Coadjutor will have no more mercenary brawlers at the Parliament House。〃
〃Nor；〃 said the President de Mesmes； 〃so many cutthroats。〃
Senneterre； like a wise man； said to them both：
〃It is not the Coadjutor's interest to murder you； but to bring you under。 The people would serve his turn for the first if he aimed at it； and the army is admirably well encamped for the latter。 If he is not a more honest man than he is looked upon to be here； we are likely to have a tedious civil war。〃
The Cardinal confessed that Senneterre was in the right； for； on the one hand； the Prince de Conde perceived that our army； being so advantageously posted as not to be attacked； would be capable of giving him more trouble than if they were still within the walls of the city； and； on the other hand； we began to talk with more courage in Parliament than usual。
The afternoon of the 4th of March gave us a just occasion to show it。 The deputies arriving at Ruel understood that Cardinal Mazarin was one of the commissioners named by the Queen to assist at the conference。 The Parliamentary deputies pretended that they could not confer with a person actually condemned by Parliament。 M。 de Tellier told them in the name of the Duc d'Orleans that the Queen thought it strange that they were not contented to treat upon an equality with their sovereign； but that they should presume to limit his authority by excluding his deputies。 The First President and the Court seeming to be immovable； we sent orders to our deputies not to comply； and to communicate； as a great secret； to President de Mesmes and M。 Menardeau； both creatures of the Court； the following postscript of a letter I wrote to Longueville：
〃P。S。We have concerted our measures； and are now capable to speak more to the purpose than we have been hitherto； and since I finished this letter I have received a piece of news which obliges me to tell you that if the Parliament do not behave very prudently； they will certainly be ruined。〃
Upon this the deputies were resolved to insist upon excluding the Cardinal from the conference； a determination which was so odious to the people that； had we permitted it； we should certainly have lost all our credit with them； and been obliged to shut the gates against our deputies upon their return。
When the Court saw that the deputies desired a convoy to conduct them home； they found out an expedient； which was received with great joy； namely； to appoint two deputies on the part of the Parliament； and two on the part of the King； to confer at the house of the Duc d'Orleans； exclusive of the Cardinal； who was thereupon obliged to return to Saint Germain with mortification。
On the 5th of March； Don Francisco Pisarro； a second envoy from the Archduke； arrived in Paris； with his and Count Fuensaldagne's answer to our former despatches by Don Jose d'Illescas； and full powers for a treaty； instructions for M。 de Bouillon； an obliging letter from the Archduke to the Prince de Conti； and another to myself； from Count Fuensaldagne； importing that the King； his master； would not take my word； but would depend upon whatever I promised Madame de Bouillon。
The Prince de Conti and Madame de Longueville； prompted by M。 de La Rochefoucault； were for an alliance with Spain； in a manner without restriction。 M。 d'Elbeuf aimed at nothing but getting money。 M。 de Beaufort； at the persuasion of Madame de Montbazon； who was resolved to sell him dear to the Spaniards； was very scrupulous to enter into a treaty with the enemies of the State； Marechal de La Mothe declared he could not come to any resolution till he saw M。 de Longueville； and Madame de Longueville questioned whether her husband would come into it； and yet these very persons but a fortnight before unanimously wrote to the Archduke for full powers to treat with him。
M。 de Bouillon told them that he thought they were absolutely obliged to treat with Spain； considering the advances they had already made to the Archduke to that end； and desired them to recollect how they had told his envoy that they waited only for these full powers and instructions to treat with him； that the Archduke had now sent his full powers in the most obliging manner； and that； moreover； he had already gone out of Brussels； to lead his army himself to their assistance； without staying for their engagement。 He begged them to consider that if they took the least step backwards； after such advances； it might provoke Spain to take such measures as would be both contrary to our security and to our honour； that the ill…concerted proceedings of the Parliament gave us just grounds to fear being left to shift for ourselves； that indeed our army was now more useful than it had been before； butyet not strong enough to give us relief in proportion to our necessities； especially if it were not； at least in the beginning； supported by a powerful force； and that； consequently； a treaty was necessary to be entered into and concluded with the Archduke； but not upon any mean conditions； that his envoys had brought carte blanche； but that we ought to consider how to fill it up； that he promised us everything； but though in treaties the strongest may safely promise to the weaker what he thinks fit； it is certain he cannot perform everything； and therefore the weakest should be very wary。
The Duke added that the Spaniards； of all people； expected honourable usage at