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was engaged in some private negotiation。 M。 d'Elbeuf was as meek as a lamb； and seemed； as far as he dared； to improve what had been advanced already by M。 de Bouillon。 A servant of his told me also that he believed his master had made his peace with the Court。 M。 de Beaufort showed by his behaviour that Madame de Montbazon had done what she could to cool his courage； but his irresolution did not embarrass me very much； because I knew I had her in my power； and his vote； added to that of MM。 de Brissac； de La Mothe； de Noirmoutier and de Bellievre； who all fell in with my sentiments； would have turned the balance on my side if the regard for M。 de Turenne； who was now the life and soul of the party； and the Spaniards' confidence in M。 de Bouillon； had not obliged me to make a virtue of necessity。
I found both the Archduke's envoys quite of an other mind； indeed； they were still desirous of an agreement for a general peace； but they would have it after the manner of M。 de Bouillon； at two separate times； which he had made them believe would be more for their advantage； because thereby we should bring the Parliament into it。 I saw who was at the bottom of it； and； considering the orders they had to follow his advice in everything； all I could allege to the contrary would be of no use。 I laid the state of affairs before the President de Bellievre； who was of my opinion； and considered that a contrary course would infallibly prove our ruin； thinking； nevertheless； that compliance would be highly convenient at this time； because we depended absolutely on the Spaniards and on M。 de Turenne； who had hitherto made no proposals but such as were dictated by M。 de Bouillon。
When I found that all M。 de Bellievre and I said could not persuade M。 de Bouillon； I feigned to come round to his opinion； and to submit to the authority of the Prince de Conti； our Generalissimo。 We agreed to treat with the Archduke upon the plan of M。 de Bouillon； that is； that he should advance his army as far as Pont…A…Verre； and further； if the generals desired it； who； on their part； would omit nothing to oblige the Parliament to enter into this treaty； or rather； to make a new one for a general peace； that is to say； to oblige the King to treat upon reasonable conditions； the particulars whereof his Catholic Majesty would refer to the arbitration of the Parliament。 M。 de Bouillon engaged to have this treaty 'in totidem verbis' signed by the Spanish ministers； and did not so much as ask me whether I would sign it or no。 All the company rejoiced at having the Spaniards' assistance upon such easy terms； and at being at full liberty to receive the propositions of the Court； which now； upon the declaration of M。 de Turenne； could not fail to be very advantageous。
The treaty was accordingly signed in the Prince de Conti's room at the Hotel de Ville； but I forbore to set my hand to it； though solicited by M。 de Bouillon； unless they would come to some final resolution； yet I gave them my word that； if the Parliament would be contented； I had such expedients in my power as would give them all the time necessary to withdraw their troops。 I had two reasons for what I said： first； I knew Fuensaldagne to be a wise man； that he would be of a different opinion from his envoys； and that he would never venture his army into the heart of the kingdom with so little assurance from the generals and none at all from me； secondly； because I was willing to show to our generals that I would not； as far as it lay in my power； suffer the Spaniards to be treacherously surprised or insulted in case of an arrangement between the Court and the Parliament； though I had protested twenty times in the same conference that I would not separate myself from the Parliament。
M。 d'Elbeuf said； 〃You cannot find the expedients you talk of but in having recourse to the people。〃
〃M。 de Bouillon will answer for me；〃 said I； 〃that it is not there that I am to find my expedients。〃
M。 de Bouillon； being desirous that I should sign； said； 〃I know that it is not your intent； but I am fully persuaded that you mean well； that you do not act as you would propose； and that we retain more respect for the Parliament by signing than you do by refusing to sign； for； 〃speaking very low； that he might not be heard by the Spanish ministers； 〃we keep a back door open to get off handsomely with the Parliament。〃
〃They will open that door；〃 said I； 〃when you could wish it shut； as is but too apparent already； and you will be glad to shut it when you cannot； the Parliament is not a body to be jested with。〃
After the signing of the treaty； I was told that the envoys had given 2；000 pistoles to Madame de Montbazon and as much to M。 d'Elbeuf。
De Bellievre； who waited for me at home； whither I returned full of vexation； used an expression which has been since verified by the event： 〃We failed； this day；〃 said he； 〃to induce the Parliament； which if we had done； all had been safe and right。 Pray God that everything goes well； for if but one of our strings fails us we are undone。〃
As for the conferences for a peace with the Court at Ruel； it was proposed on the Queen's part that the Parliament should adjourn their session to Saint Germain； just to ratify the articles of the peace； and not to meet afterwards for two or three years； but the deputies of Parliament insisted that it was their privilege to assemble when and where they pleased。 When these and the like stories came to the ears of the Parisians they were so incensed that the only talk of the Great Chamber was to recall the deputies； and the generals seeing themselves now respected by the Court； who had little regard for them before the declaration of M。 de Turenne； thought that the more the Court was embarrassed the better； and therefore incited the Parliament and people to clamour； that the Cardinal might see that things did not altogether depend upon the conference at Ruel。 I； likewise； contributed what lay in my power to moderate the precipitation of the First President and President de Mesmes towards anything that looked like an agreement。
On the 8th of March the Prince de Conti told the Parliament that M。 de Turenne offered them his services and person against Cardinal Mazarin； the enemy of the State。 I said that I was informed a declaration had been issued the night before at Saint Germain against M。 de Turenne； as guilty of high treason。 The Parliament unanimously passed a decree to annul it； to authorise his taking arms； to enjoin all the King's subjects to give him free passage and support； and to raise the necessary funds for the payment of his troops； lest the 800；000 livres sent from Court to General d'Erlach should corrupt the officers and soldiers。 A severe edict was issued against Courcelles； Lavardin； and Amilly； who had levied troops for the King in the province of Maine； and the commonalty were permitted to meet at the sound of the alarm…bell and to fall foul of all those who had held assemblies without order of Parliament。
On the 9th a decree was passed to suspend the conference till all the promises made by the Court to allow the entry of provisions were punctually executed。
The Prince de Conti informed