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es marchands' not to take up arms except by his authority。 You will wonder； without doubt； that after all this noise no care was taken of the gates of Paris to prevent the King's departure。 The Duchess； who trembled at the thoughts of it； daily redoubled her endeavours to induce the Duke to secure the gates of the city； but all to no purpose； for weak minds are generally deficient in some respect or other。
On the 4th the Duke came to the Parliament and assured the assembly of his concurrence in everything to reform the State and to procure the liberty of the Princes and the Cardinal's removal。 As soon as his Royal Highness had done speaking； the Master of the Ceremonies was admitted with a letter from the King； which was read； and which required the House to separate； and to send as many deputies as they could to the Palais Royal to hear the King's will and pleasure。 Deputies were accordingly sent immediately； for whose return the bulk of the members stayed in the Great Chamber。 I was informed that this was one trick among others concerted to ruin me； and； telling the Duc d'Orleans of it； he said that if the old buffoon； the Keeper of the Seals； was concerned in such a complication of folly and knavery； he deserved to be hanged by the side of Mazarin。 But the sequel showed that I was not out in my information。
As soon as the deputies were come to the Palais Royal； the First President told the Queen that the Parliament was extremely concerned that the Princes were still confined； notwithstanding her royal promise for setting them at liberty。 The Queen replied that Marchal de Grammont was sent to release them and to see to their necessary security for the public tranquillity； but that she had sent for them in relation to another affair； which the Keeper of the Seals would explain to them； and which he couched in a sanguinary manifesto； in substance as follows：
〃All the reports made by the Coadjutor in Parliament are false； and invented by him。 He lies！〃 （This is the only word the Queen added to what was already written）。 〃He is a very wicked； dangerous man； and gives the Duke very pernicious advice； he wants to ruin the State because we have refused to make him cardinal； and has publicly boasted that he will set fire to the four corners of the kingdom； and that he will have 100；000 men in readiness to dash out the brains of those that shall attempt to put it out。〃 These expressions were very harsh； and I am sure that I never said anything like that； but it was of no use at this time to make the cloud which was gathering over the head of Mazarin fall in a storm upon mine。 The Court saw that Parliament was assembled to pass a decree for setting the Princes at liberty； and that the Duke in person was declaring against Mazarin in the Grand Chamber； and therefore they believed that a diversion would be as practicable as it was necessary； namely； to bring me upon my trial in such a manner that the Parliament could not refuse nor secure me from the railleries of the most inconsiderable member。 Everything that tended to render the attack plausible was made use of； as well as everything that might weaken my defence。 The writing was signed by the four Secretaries of State； and； the better to defeat all that I could say in my justification； the Comte de Brienne was sent at the heels of the deputies with an order to desire the Duc d'Orleans to come to a conference with the Queen in relation to some few difficulties that remained concerning the liberty of the Princes。
When the deputies had returned to Parliament； the First President began with reading the paper which had been delivered to him against me； upon which you might have read astonishment in every face。 Menardeau； who was to open the trenches against me； was afraid of a salvo from the Great Hall； where he found such a crowd of people； and heard so many acclamations to the Fronde； and so many imprecations against Mazarin； that he durst not open his mouth against me； but contented himself with a pathetic lamentation of the division that was in the State； and especially in the royal family。 The councillors were so divided that some of them were for appointing public prayers for two days； others proposed to desire his Royal Highness to take care of the public safety。 I resolved to treat the writing drawn up against me by the Cardinal as a satire and a libel； and； by some ingenious； short passage； to arouse the minds of my hearers。 As my memory did not furnish me with anything in ancient authors that had any relation to my subject； I made a small discourse in the best Latin I was capable of； and then spoke thus：
〃Were it not for the profound respect I bear to the persons who have spoken before me； I could not forbear complaining of their not crying out against such a scurrilous； satirical paper； which was just now read； contrary to all forms of proceeding； and written in the same style as lately profaned the sacred name of the King； to encourage false witnesses by letters…patent。 I believe that those persons thought this paper； which is but a sally of the furious Mazarin； to be much beneath themselves and me。 And that I may conform my opinion to theirs； I will answer only by repeating a passage from an ancient author： 'In the worst of times I did not forsake the city； in the most prosperous I had no particular views； and in the most desperate times of all I feared nothing。' I desire to be excused for running into this digression。 I move that you would make humble remonstrances to the King； to desire him to despatch an order immediately for setting the Princes at liberty； to make a declaration in their favour； and to remove Cardinal Mazarin from his person and Councils。〃
My opinion was applauded both by the Frondeurs and the Prince's party； and carried almost 'nemine contradicente'。
Talon； the Attorney…General； did wonders。 I never heard or read anything more eloquent or nervous。 He invoked the names of Henri the Great； and upon his knees recommended the kingdom of France in general to the protection of Saint Louis。
Brienne； who had been sent by the （queen to desire an interview with the Duc d'Orleans； was dismissed with no other answer than that the Duke would come to pay his humble duty to the Queen as soon as the Princes were at liberty； and Cardinal Mazarin removed from the King's person and Councils。
On the 5th of February there was an assembly of the； nobility at Nemours for recovering their privileges。 I opposed it to the utmost of my power； for I had experienced more than once that nothing can be more pernicious to a party than to engage without any necessity in such affairs as have the bare appearance of faction； but I was obliged to comply。 This assembly； however； was so terrifying to the Court that six companies of the Guards were ordered to mount； with which the Duc d'Orleans was so offended that he sent word to the officers； in his capacity of Lieutenant…General of the State； to receive no orders but from himself。 They answered very respectfully； but as men devoted to the Queen's interest。
On the 6th； the Duke having taken his place in the Parliament； the King's Council acquainted the House that； having been sent to wait on her