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hem。 The Court was surprised； but； however； did not think fit to delay sending full powers to his Royal Highness to treat for peace on such terms as he thought reasonable and advantageous for the King's service； and there were joined with him； though in subordination； MM。 Mole； the First President； d'Avaux； and myself； with the title of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries。 M。 d'Avaux obliged me to assure Don Gabriel de Toledo； in private； that if the Spaniards would but come to reasonable terms； we would conclude a peace with them in two days' time。 And his Royal Highness said that Don Gabriel being a lover of money； I should promise him for his part 100；000 crowns if the conference that was proposed ended in a peace； and bid him tell the Archduke that； if the Spaniards proposed reasonable terms； he would sign and have them registered in Parliament before Mazarin should know anything of the matter。
Don Gabriel received the overture with joy； he had some particular fancies； but Fuensaldagne； who had a particular kindness for him； said that he was the wisest fool he ever saw in his life。 I have remarked more than once that this sort of man cannot persuade； but can insinuate perfectly well； and that the talent of insinuation is of more service than that of persuasion； because one may insinuate to a hundred where one can hardly persuade five。
The King of England； after having lost the battle of Worcester； arrived in Paris the day that Don Gabriel set out； the 13th of September； 1651。 My Lord Taff was his great chamberlain； valet de chambre； clerk of the kitchen； cup…bearer； and all；an equipage answerable to his Court； for his Majesty had not changed his shirt all the way from England。 Upon his arrival at Paris； indeed； he had one lent him by my Lord Jermyn； but the Queen； his mother； had not money to buy him another for the next day。 The Duc d'Orleans went to compliment his Majesty upon his arrival； but it was not in my power to persuade his Royal Highness to give his nephew one penny； because； said he； 〃a little would not be worth his acceptance； and a great deal would engage me to do as much hereafter。〃 This leads me to make the following digression： that there is nothing so wretched as to be a minister to a Prince； and； at the same time； not his favourite； for it is his favour only that gives one a power over the more minute concerns of the family； for which the public does； nevertheless； think a minister accountable when they； see he has power over affairs of far greater consequence。
Therefore I was not in a condition to oblige his Royal Highness by assisting the King of England with a thousand pistoles； for which I was horridly； ashamed； both upon his account anal my own； but I borrowed fifteen hundred for him from M。 Morangis； and carried them to my Lord Taff。＇Lord Clarendon extols the civilities of Cardinal de Retz to King Charles II。； and has reported a curious conversation which the Cardinal had with that Prince。＇ It is remarkable that the same night； as I was going home； I met one Tilney； an Englishman whom I had formerly known at Rome； who told me that Vere； a great Parliamentarian and a favourite of Cromwell； had arrived in Paris and had orders to see me。 I was a little puzzled； however； I judged it would be improper to refuse him an interview。 Vere gave me a brief letter from Cromwell in the nature of credentials； importing that the sentiments I had enunciated in the 〃Defence of Public Liberty〃 added to my reputation； and had induced Cromwell to desire to enter with me into the strictest friendship。 The letter was in the main wonderfully civil and complaisant。 I answered it with a great deal of respect； but in such a manner as became a true Catholic and an honest Frenchman。 Vere appeared to be a man of surprising abilities。
I now return to our own affairs。 I was told as a mighty secret that Tellier had orders from the Cardinal to remove the Princes from the Bois de Vincennes if the enemy were likely to come near the place； and that he should endeavour by all means to procure the consent of the Duc d'Orleans for that end； but that； in case of refusal； these orders should be executed notwithstanding； and that he should endeavour to gain me to these measures by the means of Madame de Chevreuse。 When Tellier came to me I assured him that it was all one； both to me and the Duc d'Orleans； whether the Princes were removed or not； but since my opinion was desired； I must declare that I think nothing can be more contrary to the true interest of the King； 〃for；〃 said I； 〃the Spaniards must gain a battle before they can come to Vincennes； and when there they must have a flying camp to invest the place before they can deliver the Princes from confinement； and therefore I am convinced that there is no necessity for their removal； and I do affirm that all unnecessary changes in matters which are in themselves disagreeable are pernicious； because odious。 I will maintain； further； that there is less reason to fear the Duc d'Orleans and the Frondeurs than to dread the Spaniards。 Suppose that his Royal Highness is more disaffected towards the Court than anybody； suppose further that M。 de Beaufort and I have a mind to relieve the Princes； in what way could we do it？ Is not the whole garrison in that castle in the King's service？ Has his Royal Highness any regular troops to besiege Vincennes？ And； granting the Frondeurs to be the greatest fools imaginable； will they expose the people of Paris at a siege which two thousand of the King's troops might raise in a quarter of an hour though it consist of a hundred thousand citizens？ I therefore conclude that the removal would be altogether impolitic。 Does it not look rather as if the Cardinal feigns apprehension of the Spaniards only as a pretence to make himself master of the Princes； and to dispose of their persons at pleasure？ The generality of the people； being Frondeurs； will conclude you take the Prince de Conde out of their hands；whom they look upon to be safe while they see him walking upon the battlements of his prison；and that you will give him his liberty when you please； and thus enable him to besiege Paris a second time。 On the other hand； the Prince's party will improve this removal very much to their own advantage by the compassion such a spectacle will raise in the people when they see three Princes dragged in chains from one prison to another。 I was really mistaken just now when I said the case was all one to me； for I see that I am nearly concerned； because the peoplein which word I include the Parliament will cry out against it； I must be then obliged； for my own safety； to say I did not approve of the resolution。 Then the Court will be informed that I find fault with it； and not only that； but that I do it in order to raise the mob and discredit the Cardinal； which； though ever so false； yet in consequence the people will firmly believe it； and thus I shall meet with the same treatment I met with in the beginning of the late troubles； and what I even now experience in relation to the affairs of Guienne。 I am said to be the cause of these troubles because I foretold them； and I was said to encourage the revolt at Bordeaux because I