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The Duke added that the Spaniards； of all people； expected honourable usage at the beginning of treaties； and he conjured them to leave the management of the Spanish envoys to himself and the Coadjutor； 〃who；〃 said he； 〃has declared all along that he expects no advantage either from the present troubles or from any arrangement； and is therefore altogether to be depended upon。〃
This discourse was relished by all the company； who accordingly engaged us to compare notes with the envoys of Spain； and make our report to the Prince de Conti and the other generals。
M。 de Bouillon assured me that the Spaniards would not enter upon French ground till we engaged ourselves not to lay down our arms except in conjunction with them； that is； in a treaty for a general peace； but our difficulty was how to enter into an engagement of that nature at a time when we could not be sure but that the Parliament might conclude a particular peace the next moment。 In the meantime a courier came in from M。 de Turenne； crying； 〃Good news！〃 as he entered into the court。 He brought letters for Madame and Mademoiselle de Bouillon and myself； by which we were assured that M。 de Turenne and his army； which was without dispute the finest at that time in all Europe； had declared for us； that Erlach； Governor of Brisac； had with him 1；000 or 1；200 men； who were all he had been able to seduce； that my dear friend and kinsman； the Vicomte de Lamet； was marching directly to our assistance with 2；000 horse； and that M。 de Turenne was to follow on such a day with the larger part of the army。 You will be surprised； without doubt； to hear that M。 de Turenne； General of the King's troops； one who was never a party man； and would never hear talk of party intrigues； should now declare against the Court and perform an action which； I am sure； Le Balafre
＇Henri de Lorraine； first of that name； Duc de Guise； surnamed Le Balafre； because of a wound he received in the left cheek at the battle of Dormans； the scar of which he carried to his grave。 He formed the League； and was stabbed at an assembly of the States of Blois in 1588。＇
and Amiral de Coligny would not have undertaken without hesitation。 Your wonder will increase yet more when I tell you that the motive of this surprising conduct of his is a secret to this day。 His behaviour also during his declaration； which he supported but five days； is equally surprising and mysterious。 This shows that it is possible for some extraordinary characters to be raised above the malice and envy of vulgar souls； for the merit of any person inferior to the Marshal must have been totally eclipsed by such an unaccountable event。
Upon the arrival of this express from Turenne I told M。 de Bouillon it was my opinion that； if the Spaniards would engage to advance as far as Pont…a…Verre and act on this side of it in concert only with us； we should make no scruple of pledging ourselves not to lay down our arms till the conclusion of a general peace； provided they kept their promise given to the Parliament of referring themselves to its arbitration。 〃The true interest of the public；〃 said I； 〃is a general peace； that of the Parliament and other bodies is the reestablishment of good order； and that of your Grace and others； with myself； is to contribute to the before…mentioned blessings in such manner that we may be esteemed the authors of them； all other advantages are necessarily attached to this； and the only way to acquire them is to show that we do not value them。 You know that I have frequently vowed I had no private interest to serve in this affair； and I will keep my vow to the end。 Your circumstances are different from mine； you aim at Sedan； and you are in the right。 M。 de Beaufort wants to be admiral； and I cannot blame him。 M。 de Longueville has other demandswith all my heart。 The Prince de Conti and Madame de Longueville would be； for the future； independent of the Prince de Conde； that independence they shall have。
〃Now； in order to attain to these ends； the only means is to look another way； to turn all our thoughts to bring about a general peace； and to sign to…morrow the most solemn and positive engagement with the enemy； and； the better to please the public； to insert in the articles the expulsion of Cardinal Mazarin as their mortal enemy； to cause the Spanish forces to come up immediately to Pont…a…Verre； and those of M。 de Turenne to advance into Champagne； and to go without any loss of time to propose to the Parliament what Don Josh d'Illescas has offered them already in relation to a general peace； to dispose them to vote as we would have them； which they will not fail to do considering the circumstances we are now in； and to send orders to our deputies at Ruel either to get the Queen to nominate a place to confer about a general peace or to return the next day to their seats in Parliament。 I am willing to think that the Court； seeing to what an extremity they are reduced； will comply； than which what can be more for our honour？
〃And if the Court should refuse this proposition at present； will they not be of another mind before two months are at an end？ Will not the provinces； which are already hesitating； then declare in our favour？ And is the army of the Prince de Conde in a condition to engage that of Spain and ours in conjunction with that of M。 de Turenne？ These two last； when joined； will put us above all the apprehensions from foreign forces which have hitherto made us uneasy； they will depend much more on us than we on them； we shall continue masters of Paris by our own strength； and the more securely because the intervening authority of Parliament will the more firmly unite us to the people。 The declaration of M。 de Turenne is the only means to unite Spain with the Parliament for our defence； which we could not have as much as hoped for otherwise； it gives us an opportunity to engage with Parliament； in concert with whom we cannot act amiss； and this is the only moment when such an engagement is both possible and profitable。 The First President and De Mesmes are now out of the way； and it will be much easier for us to obtain what we want in Parliament than if they were present； and if what is commanded in the Parliamentary decree is faithfully executed； we shall gain our point； and unite the Chambers for that great work of a general peace。 If the Court still rejects our proposals； and those of the deputies who are for the Court refuse to follow our motion or to share in our fortune； we shall gain as much in another respect； we shall keep ourselves still attached to the body of the Parliament； from which they will be deemed deserters； and we shall have much greater weight in the House than now。
〃This is my opinion； which I am willing to sign and to offer to the Parliament if you seize this； the only opportunity。 For if M。 de Turenne should alter his mind before it be done； I should then oppose this scheme with as much warmth as I now recommend it。〃
The Duke said in answer： 〃Nothing can have a more promising aspect than what you have now proposed； it is very practicable； but equally pernicious for all private persons。 Spain will promise all； but perform n