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lieve a word of what he said； but I assured his Eminence that I would speak to him as if he were my father； and I was as good as my word。 I told him I had no personal interest in view but to disengage myself from the public disturbances without any private advantage； and that for the same reason I thought myself obliged to come off with reputation and honour。 I desired him to consider that my age and want of skill in public affairs could not give him any jealousy that I aimed to be the First Minister。 I conjured him to consider also that the influence I had over the people of Paris； supported by mere necessity； did rather reflect disgrace than honour upon my dignity； and that he ought to believe that this one reason was enough to make me impatient to be rid of all these public broils； besides a thousand other inconveniences arising every moment； which disgusted me with faction。 And as for the dignity of cardinal； which might peradventure give him some umbrage； I could tell him very sincerely what had been and what was still my notion of this dignity； which I once foolishly imagined would be more honourable for me to despise than to enjoy。 I mentioned this circumstance to let him see that in my tender years I was no admirer of the purple； and not very fond of it now； because I was persuaded that an Archbishop of Paris could hardly miss obtaining that dignity some time or other； according to form； by actions purely ecclesiastical； and that he should be loth to use any other means to procure it。
I said that I should be extremely sorry if my purple were stained with the least drop of blood spilt in the civil wars； that I was resolved to clear my hands of everything that savoured of intrigue before I would make or suffer any step which had any tendency that way； that he knew that for the same reason I would neither accept money nor abbeys； and that； consequently； I was engaged by the public declarations I had made upon all those heads to serve the Queen without any interest； that the only end I had in view； and in which I never wavered； was to come off with honour； so that I might resume the spiritual functions belonging to my profession with safety； that I desired nothing from him but the accomplishment of an affair which would be more for the King's service than for my particular interest； that he knew that the day after the arrest of the Prince he sent me with his promise to the annuitants of the Hotel de Ville； and that for want of performance those men were persuaded that I was in concert with the Court to deceive them。 Lastly； I told him that the access I had to the Duc d'Orleans might perhaps give him umbrage； but I desired him to consider that I never sought that honour； and that I was very sensible of the inconveniences attending it。 I enlarged upon this head； which is the most difficult point to be understood by Prime Ministers； who are so fond of being freely admitted into a Prince's presence that； notwithstanding all the experience in the world； they cannot help thinking that therein consists the essence of happiness。
When truth has come to a certain point； it darts such powerful rays of light as are irresistible； but I never knew a man who had so little regard for truth as Mazarin。 He seemed； however； more regardful of it than usual； and I laid hold of the occasion to tell him of the dangerous consequences of the disturbances of Guienne； and that if he continued to support M。 d'Epernon； the Prince's faction would not let this opportunity slip； that if the Parliament of Bordeaux should engage in their party； it would not be long before that of Paris would do the same； that； after the late conflagration in this metropolis； he could not suppose but that there was still some fire hidden under the ashes； and that the factious party had reason to fear the heavy punishment to which the whole body of them was liable； as we ourselves were two or three months ago。 The Cardinal began to yield； especially when he was told that M。 de Bouillon began to make a disturbance in the Limousin； where M。 de La Rochefoucault had joined him with some troops。
To confirm our reconciliation； a marriage was proposed between my niece and his nephew； to which he； gave his consent； but I was much averse to it； being not yet resolved to bury my family in that of Mazarin； nor did I set so great a value on grandeur as to purchase it with the public odium。 However； it produced no animosity on either side； and his friends knew that I should be very glad to be employed in making a general peace； they acted their parts so well that the Cardinal； whose love…fit for me lasted about a fortnight； promised me； as it were of his own accord； that I should be gratified。
News came about this time from Guienne that the Ducs de Bouillon and de La Rochefoucault had taken Madame la Princesse into Bordeaux； together with M。 le Duc； her son。 The Parliament was not displeased with the people for receiving into their city M。 le Duc； yet they observed more decorum than could be expected from the inhabitants of Gascogne； so irritated as they were against M。 d'Epernon。 They ordered that Madame la Princesse； M。 le Duc； MM。 de Bouillon and de La Rochefoucault should have liberty to stay in Bordeaux； provided they would promise to undertake nothing against the King's service； and that the petition of Madame la Princesse should be sent to the King with a most humble remonstrance from the Parliament against the confinement of the Princes。
At the same time； one of the Presidents sent word to Senneterre that the Parliament was not so far enraged but that they would still remember their loyalty to the King； provided he did but remove M。 d'Epernon。 But in case of any further delay he would not answer for the Parliament； and much less for the people； who； being now managed and supported by the Prince's party； would in a little time make themselves masters of the Parliament。 Senneterre did what he could to induce the Cardinal to make good use of this advice； and M。 de Chateauneuf； who was now Chancellor； talked wonderfully well upon the point； but seeing the Cardinal gave no return to his reasons but by exclaiming against the Parliament of Bordeaux for sheltering men condemned by the King's declaration； he said to him very plainly； 〃Set out to…morrow； monsieur； if you do not arrange matters to…day； you should have been by this time upon the Garonne。〃
The event proved that Chateauneuf was in the right； for though the Parliament was very excited； they stood out a long time against the madness of the people； spurred on by M。 de Bouillon； and issued a decree ordering an envoy of Spain； who was sent thither to commence a treaty with the Duc de Bouillon； to depart the city； and forbade any of their body to visit such as had correspondence with Spain； the Princess herself not excepted。 Moreover； the mob having undertaken to force the Parliament to unite with the Princes； the Parliament armed the magistracy； who fired upon the people and made them retire。
A little time before the King departed for Guienne； which was in the beginning of July； word came that the Parliament of Bordeaux had consented to a union with the Princes； and had sent a deputy to the Parliament o