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ything that had relation to the confinement of the Princes belonged to the royal authority。 Talon made a motion that the Parliament should depute some members to carry the petition to the Queen； and to beseech her Majesty to take it into her consideration。 At the same time another petition was presented from Mademoiselle de Longueville； for the liberty of the Duke her father； and that she might have leave to stay in Paris to solicit it。
No sooner was this petition read than a letter from the three Princes was presented and read； praying that they might be brought to trial or set at liberty。
On the 9th day of the month an order was brought to the Parliament from the King； commanding the House to suspend all deliberations on this subject till they had first sent their deputies to Court to know his Majesty's pleasure。
Deputies were sent immediately； to whom； accordingly； the Queen gave audience in bed； telling them that she was very much indisposed。 The Keeper of the Seals added that it was the King's pleasure that the Parliament should not meet at all until such time as the Queen his mother had recovered her health。
On the 10th the House resolved to adjourn only to the 14th； and on that day a general procession was proposed to the Archbishop by the Dean of Parliament； to beg that God would inspire them with such counsels only as might be for the good of the public。
On the 14th they received the King's letter； forbidding their debates； and informing them that the Queen would satisfy them very speedily about the affair of the Princes； but this letter was disregarded。 They sent a deputation to invite the Duc d'Orleans to come to the House； but； after consulting with the Queen； he told the deputies that he did not care to go； that the Assembly was too noisy； that he could not divine what they would be at； that the affairs in debate were never known to fall under their cognisance； and that they had nothing else to do but to refer the said petitions to the Queen。
On the 18th news came that Marechal du Plessis had gained a signal victory over M。 de Turenne； who was coming to succour Rhetel； but found it already surrendered to Marechal du Plessis； and the Spanish garrison； endeavouring to retreat； was forced to an engagement on the plains of Saumepuis； that about 2；000 men were killed upon the spot； among the rest a brother of the Elector Palatine； and six colonels； and that there were nearly 4；000 prisoners； the most considerable of whom were several persons of note； and all the colonels； besides twenty colours and eighty… four standards。 You may easily guess at the consternation of the Princes' party； my house was all night filled with the lamentations of despairing mourners； and I found the Duc d'Orleans； as it were； struck dumb。
On the 19th； as I went to the Parliament House； the people looked melancholy； dejected； and frightened out of their wits。 The members were afraid to open their mouths； and nobody would mention the name of Mazarin except Menardeau Champre； who spoke of him with encomiums； by giving him the honour of the victory of Rhetel； and then he moved the House to entreat the Queen to put the Princes into the hands of that good and wise Minister； who would be as careful of them as he had been hitherto of the State。 I wondered most of all that this man was not hissed in the House； and especially as he passed through the Great Hall。 This circumstance； together with what I saw that afternoon in every street； convinced me how much our friends were dispirited； and I therefore resolved next day to raise their courage。 I knew the First President to be purblind； and such men greedily swallow every new fact which confirms them in their first impression。 I knew likewise the Cardinal to be a man that supposed everybody had a back door。 The only way of dealing with men of that stamp is to make them believe that you design to deceive those whom you earnestly endeavour to serve。
For this reason； on the 20th； I declaimed against the disorders of the State； and showed that it having pleased Almighty God to bless his Majesty's arms and to remove the public enemy from our frontiers by the victory gained over them by Marechal du Plessis； we ought now to apply ourselves seriously to the healing of internal wounds of the State； which are the more dangerous because they are less obvious。 To this I thought fit to add that I was obliged to mention the general oppression of the subjects at a time when we had nothing more to fear from the lately routed Spaniards； that； as one of the props of the public safety was the preservation of the royal family； I could not without the utmost concern see the Princes breathe the unwholesome air of Havre…de…Grace； and that I was of opinion that the House should humbly entreat the King to remove them； at least to some place more healthy。 At this speech everybody regained their courage and concluded that all was not yet lost。 It was observed that the people's countenances were altered。 Those in the Great Hall resumed their former zeal； made the usual acclamations as we went out； and I had that day three hundred carriages of visitors。
On the 22d the debate was continued； and it was more and more observed that the Parliament did not follow the triumphant chariot of Cardinal Mazarin； whose imprudence in hazarding the fate of the whole kingdom in the last battle was set off with all the disadvantages that could be invented to tarnish the victory。
The 30th crowned the work； and produced a decree for making most humble remonstrances to the Queen for the liberty of the Princes and for Mademoiselle de Longueville staying in Paris。
It was further resolved to send a deputation to the Duc d'Orleans； to desire his Royal Highness to use his interest on this occasion in favour of the said Princes。
The King's Council having waited on her Majesty with the remonstrances aforesaid； she pretended to be under medical treatment； and put off the matter a week longer。 The Duc d'Orleans also gave an ambiguous answer。 The Queen's course of treatment continued eight or ten days longer than she imagined； or； rather； than she said； and consequently the remonstrances of the Parliament were not made till the 20th of January； 1651。
On the 28th the First President made his report； and said the Queen had promised to return an answer in a few days。
It happened very luckily for us at this time that the imprudence of the Cardinal was greater than the inconstancy of the Duc d'Orleans； for a little before the Queen returned an answer to the remonstrances； he talked very roughly to the Duke in the Queen's presence； charging him with putting too much confidence in me。 The very day that the Queen made the aforesaid answer he spoke yet more arrogantly to the Duke in her Majesty's apartment； comparing M。 de Beaufort and myself to Cromwell and Fairfax in the House of Commons in England； and exclaimed furiously in the King's presence； so that he frightened the Duke； who was glad he got out of the King's Palace with a whole skin； and who said that he would never put himself again in the power of that furious woman； meaning the Queen； because she had improved on what the Cardinal had said to the King。 I