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a mind to bury him alive； and encouraged him to rise with all haste and go to the Parliament House； but he was no sooner out of his bed than the surgeon asked him in a fright how he felt。 〃Very well；〃 said my Lord。 〃But that is impossible；〃 said the surgeon； 〃you look like death；〃 and feeling his pulse； he told him he was in a high fever； upon which my Lord Archbishop went to bed again； and all the kings and queens in Christendom could not get him out for a fortnight。
We went to the Parliament； and found there the Princes with nearly a thousand gentlemen and； I may say； the whole Court。 I had few salutes in the Hall； because it was generally thought I was an undone man。 When I had entered the Great Chamber I heard a hum like that at the end of a pleasing period in a sermon。 When I had taken my place I said that； hearing we were taxed with a seditious conspiracy； we were come to offer our heads to the Parliament if guilty； and if innocent； to demand justice upon our accusers； and that though I knew not what right the Court had to call me to account； yet I would renounce all privileges to make my innocence apparent to a body for whom I always had the greatest attachment and veneration。
Then the informations were read against what they called 〃the public conspiracy from which it had pleased Almighty God to deliver the State and the royal family；〃 after which I made a speech； in substance as follows：
〃I do not believe； gentlemen； that in any of the past ages persons of our quality had ever received any personal summons grounded merely upon hearsay。 Neither can I think that posterity will ever believe that this hearsay evidence was admitted from the mouths of the most infamous miscreants that ever got out of a gaol。 Canto was condemned to the gallows at Pau； Pichon to the wheel at Mans； Sociande is a rogue upon record。 Pray； gentlemen； judge of their evidence by their character and profession。 But this is not all。 They have the distinguishing character of being informers by authority。 I am sorely grieved that the defence of our honour； which is enjoined us by the laws of God and man； should oblige me to expose to light； under the most innocent of Kings； such abominations as were detested in the most corrupt ages of antiquity and under the worst of tyrants。 But I must tell you that Canto； Sociande； and Gorgibus are authorised to inform against us by a commission signed by that august name which should never be employed but for the preservation of the most sacred laws； and which Cardinal Mazarin； who knows no law but that of revenge； which he meditates against the defenders of the public liberty； has forced M。 Tellier； Secretary of State； to countersign。
〃We demand justice； gentlemen； but we do not demand it of you till we have first most humbly implored this House to execute the strictest justice that the laws have provided against rebels； if it appears that we have been concerned directly or indirectly in raising this last disturbance。 Is it possible； gentlemen； that a grandchild of Henri the Great； that a senator of M。 Broussel's age and probity； and that the Coadjutor of Paris should be so much as suspected of being concerned in a sedition raised by a hot…brained fool； at the head of fifteen of the vilest of the mob？ I am fully persuaded it would be scandalous for me to insist longer on this subject。 This is all I know； gentlemen； of the modern conspiracy。〃
The applause that came from the Court of Inquiry was deafening； many voices were heard exclaiming against spies and informers。 Honest Doujat； who was one of the persons appointed by the Attorney…General Talon； his kinsman； to make the report； and who had acquainted me with the facts； acknowledged it publicly by pretending to make the thing appear less odious。 He got up； therefore； as if he were in a passion； and spoke very artfully to this purpose：
〃These witnesses； monsieur； are not to accuse you； as you are pleased to say； but only to discover what passed in the meeting of the annuitants at the Hotel de Ville。 If the King did not promise impunity to such as will give him information necessary for his service； and which sometimes cannot be come at without involving evidence in a crime； how should the King be informed at all？ There is a great deal of difference between patents of this nature and commissions granted on purpose to accuse you。〃
You might have seen fire in 'the face of every member。 The First President called out 〃Order！〃 and said； 〃MM。 de Beaufort； le Coadjuteur； and Broussel； you are accused； and you must withdraw。〃
As Beaufort and I were leaving our seats； Broussel stopped us； saying； 〃Neither you； gentlemen； nor I are bound to depart till we are ordered to do so by the Court。 The First President； whom all the world knows to be our adversary； should go out if we must。〃
I added； 〃And M。 le Prince；〃 who thereupon said； with a scornful air：
〃What； I？ Must I retire？〃
〃Yes； yes； monsieur；〃 said I； 〃justice is no respecter of persons。〃
The President de Mesmes said； 〃No； monseigneur； you must not go out unless the Court orders you。 If the Coadjutor insists that your Highness retire； he must demand it by a petition。 As for himself； he is accused； and therefore must go out； but； seeing he raises difficulties and objections to the contrary； we must put it to the vote。〃 And it was passed that we should withdraw。
Meanwhile； most of the members passed encomiums upon us； satires upon the Ministry； and anathemas upon the witnesses for the Crown。 Nor were the cures and the parishioners wanting in their duty on this occasion。 The people came in shoals from all parts of Paris to the Parliament House。 Nevertheless； no disrespect was shown either to the King's brother or to M。 le Prince； only some in their presence cried out； 〃God bless M。 de Beaufort！ God bless the Coadjutor！〃
M。 de Beaufort told the First President next day that； the State and royal family being in danger； every moment was precious； and that the offenders ought to receive condign punishment； and that therefore the Chambers ought to be assembled without loss of time。 Broussel attacked the First President with a great deal of warmth。 Eight or ten councillors entered immediately into the Great Chamber to testify their astonishment at the indolence and indifference of the House after such a furious conspiracy； and that so little zeal was shown to prosecute the criminals。 MM。 de Bignon and Talon； counsel for the Crown； alarmed the people by declaring that as for themselves they had no hand in the conclusions； which were ridiculous。 The First President returned very calm answers； knowing well that we should have been glad to have put him into a passion in order to catch at some expression that might bear an exception in law。
On Christmas Day I preached such a sermon on Christian charity； without mentioning the present affairs； that the women even wept for the unjust persecution of an archbishop who had so great a tenderness for his very enemies。
On the 29th M。 de Beaufort and I went to the Parliament House； accompanied by a body of three hundred gentlemen； to make it appear that we were more than tribunes of the people； and to screen ourselve