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ent of Bordeaux had consented to a union with the Princes； and had sent a deputy to the Parliament of Paris； who had orders to see neither the King nor the ministers； and that the whole province was disposed for a revolt。 The Cardinal was in extreme consternation； and commended himself to the favour of the meanest man of the Fronde with the greatest suppleness imaginable。
As soon as the King came to the neighbourhood of Bordeaux the deputies of Parliament； who went to meet the Court at Lebourne； were peremptorily commanded to open the gates of the city to the King and to all his troops。 They answered that one of their privileges was to guard the King themselves while he was in any of their towns。 Upon this； Marechal de La Meilleraye seized the castle of Vaire； in the command of Pichon； whom the Cardinal ordered to be hanged； and M。 de Bouillon hanged an officer in Meilleraye's army by way of reprisal。
After that the Marshal besieged the city in form； which； despairing of succour from Spain； was forced to capitulate upon the following terms：
That a general pardon should be granted to all who had taken up arms and treated with Spain； that all the soldiers should be disbanded except those whom the King had a mind to keep in his pay； that Madame la Princesse and the Duke should be at liberty to reside either in Anjou or at Mouzon； with no more than two hundred foot and sixty horse； and that M。 d'Epernon should be recalled from the government of Guienne。
The Princess had an interview with both the King and Queen； at which there were great conferences between the Cardinal and the Ducs de Bouillon and de La Rochefoucault。
The deputy from Bordeaux； arriving at Paris soon after the King's departure； went immediately； to Parliament； and； after an eloquent harangue； presented a letter from the Parliament of Bordeaux； together with their decrees； and demanded a union between the two Parliaments。 After some debates it was resolved that the deputy should deliver his credentials in writing； which should be presented to his Majesty by the deputies of the Parliament of Paris； who would； at the same time； most humbly beseech the Queen to restore peace to Guienne。
The Duc d'Orleans was against debating about the petition to the Queen for the liberation of the Priuces and the banishment of Cardinal Mazarin； nevertheless； many of the members voted for it； upon a motion made by the President Viole； who was a warm partisan of the Prince de Conde； not because he had hopes of carrying it； but on purpose to embarrass M。 de Beaufort and myself upon a subject of which we did not care to speak； and yet did not dare to be altogether silent about； without passing in some measure for Mazarinists。 President Viole did the Prince a great deal of service on this occasion； for Bourdet a brave soldier； who had been captain of the Guards and was attached to the interest of the Prince performed an action which emboldened the party very much； though it had no success。 He dressed himself and fourscore other officers of his troops in mason's clothes； and having assembled many of the dregs of the people； to whom he had distributed money； came directly to the Duc d'Orleans as he was going out； and cried； 〃No Mazarin！ God bless the Princes！〃 His Royal Highness； at this apparition and the firing of a brace of pistols at the same time by Bourdet； ran to the Great Chamber； but M。 de Beaufort stood his ground so well with the Duke's guards and our men； that Bourdet was repulsed and thrown down the Parliament stairs。
But the confusion in the Great Chamber was still worse。 There were daily assemblies； wherein the Cardinal was severely attacked； and the Prince's party had the pleasure of exposing us as his accomplices。 What is very strange is that at the same time the Cardinal and his friends accused us of corresponding with the Parliament of Bordeaux； because we maintained； in case the Court did not adjust affairs there； we would infallibly bring the Parliament of Paris into the interest of the Prince。 If I were at the point of death I should have no need to be confessed on account of my behaviour on this occasion。 I acted with as much sincerity in this juncture as if I had been the Cardinal's nephew； though really it was not out of any love to him； but because I thought myself obliged in prudence to oppose the progress of the Prince's faction； owing to the foolish conduct of his enemies； and to this end I was obliged to oppose the flattery of the Cardinal's tools as much as the efforts made by those who were in the service of the Prince。
On the 3d of September President Bailleul returned with the other deputies； and made a report in Parliament of his journey to Court； it was； in brief； that the Queen thanked the Parliament for their good intentions； and had commanded them to assure the Parliament in her name that she was ready to restore peace to Guienne； and that it would have been done before now had not M。 de Bouillon； who had treated with the Spaniards； made himself master of Bordeaux； and thereby cut off the effects of his Majesty's goodness。
The Duc d'Orleans informed the House that he had received a letter from the Archduke； signifying that the King of Spain having sent him full powers to treat for a general peace； he desired earnestly to negotiate it with him。 But his Royal Highness added that he did not think it proper to return him any answer till he had the opinion of the Parliament。 The trumpeter who brought the letter gathered a party at Tiroir cross； and spoke very seditious words to the people。 The next day they found libels posted up and down the city in the name of M。 de Turenne； setting forth that the Archduke was coming with no other disposition than to make peace； and in one of them were these words： 〃It is your business； Parisians； to solicit your false tribunes； who have turned at last pensioners and protectors of Mazarin； who have for so long a time sported with your fortunes and repose； and spurred you on； kept you back； and made you hot or cold； according to the caprices and different progress of their ambition。〃
You see the state and condition the Frondeurs were in at this juncture； when they could not move one step but to their own disadvantage。 The Duc d'Orleans spoke to me that night with a； great deal of bitterness against the Cardinal； which he had never done before； and said he had been tricked by him twice； and that he was ruining himself； the State； and all of us； and would； by so doing； place the Prince de Conde upon the throne。 In short； Monsieur owned that it was not yet time to humble the Cardinal。 〃Therefore；〃 said M。 Bellievre； 〃let us be upon our guard； this man can give us the slip any moment。〃
Next day a letter was sent from the Prince de Conde； by the Baron de Verderonne； to the Archduke； desiring him to name the time； place and persons for a treaty。 The Baron returned with a letter from the Archduke to his Royal Highness； desiring that the conferences might be held between Rheims and Rhetel； and that they might meet there personally； with such others as they should think fit to bring with them。 The Court was surprised； but； however； did not think fit to delay sending full powers to his R