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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 Majesty with the remonstrances； her Majesty's answer was that no person living wished more for the liberty of the Princes than herself； but that it was reasonable at the same time to consult the safety of the State； that as for Cardinal Mazarin； she was resolved to retain him in her Council as long as she found his assistance necessary for the King's service； and that it did not belong to the Parliament to concern themselves with any of her ministers。
The First President was shrewdly attacked in the House for not being more resolute in speaking to the Queen。 Some were for sending him back to demand another audience in the afternoon； and the Duc d'Orleans having said that the Marshals of France were dependent on Mazarin； it was resolved immediately that they should obey none but his Royal Highness。
I was informed that very evening that the Cardinal had made his escape out of Paris in disguise； and that the Court was in a very great consternation。
The Cardinal's escape was the common topic of conversation； and different reasons were assigned to it； according to the various interests of different parties。 As for my part； I am very well persuaded that fear was the only reason of his flight； and that nothing else hindered him from taking the King and the Queen along with him。 You will see in the sequel of this history that he endeavoured to get their Majesties out of Paris soon after he had made his escape； and that it was concerted in all probability before he left the Court； but I could never understand why he did not put it into execution at a time when he had no reason to fear the least opposition。
On the 17th the Parliament ordered the thanks of the House to be returned to the Queen for removing the Cardinal； and that she should be humbly asked to issue an order for setting the Princes at liberty； and a declaration for excluding all foreigners forever from the King's Council。 The First President being deputed with the message； the Queen told him that she could return him no answer till she had conferred with the Duc d'Orleans； to whom she immediately deputed the Keeper of the Seals； Marechal Villeroi； and Tellier； but he told them that he could not go to the Palais Royal till the Princes were set at liberty and the Cardinal removed further from the Court。 For he observed to the House that the Cardinal was no further off than at Saint Germain； where he governed all the kingdom as before； that his nephew and his nieces were yet at Court； and the Duke proposed that the Parliament should humbly beseech the Queen to explain whether the Cardinal's removal was for good and all。 If I had not seen it； I could not have imagined what a heat the House was in that day。 Some were for an order that there should be no favourites in France for the future。 They became at length of the opinion of his Royal Highness； namely； to address the Queen to ask her to explain herself with relation to the removal of Cardinal Mazarin and to solicit orders for the liberty； of the Princes。
On the same day the Queen sent again to desire the Duc d'Orleans to come and take his place in the Council； and to tell him that； in case he did not think it convenient； she would send the Keeper of the Seals to concert necessary measures with him for setting the Princes at liberty。 His Royal Highness accepted the second； but rejected the first proposal； and treated M。 d'Elbeuf roughly； because he was very pressing with his Royal Highness to go to the King's Palace。 The messengers likewise acquainted the Duke that they were ordered to assure him that the removal of the Cardinal was forever。 You will see presently that； in all probability； had his Royal Highness gone that day to Court； the Queen would have left Paris and carried the Duke along with her。
On the 19th the Parliament decreed that； in pursuance of the Queen's declaration； the Cardinal should； within the space of fifteen days； depart from his Majesty's dominions； with all his relations and foreign servants； otherwise； they should be proceeded against as outlaws； and it should be lawful for anybody to despatch them out of the way。
I suspected that the King would leave Paris that very day； and I was almost asleep when I was sent for to go to the Duc d'Orleans； whom Mademoiselle de Chevreuse went to awaken in the meantime； and； while I was dressing； one of her pages brought me a note from her； containing only these few words：
〃Make haste to Luxembourg； and be upon your guard on the way。〃 I found Mademoiselle de Chevreuse in his chamber； who acquainted me that the King was out of bed； and had his boots on ready for a journey from Paris。
I waited on the Duke； and said； 〃There is but one remedy； which is； to secure the gates of Paris。〃 Yet all that we could obtain of him was to send the captain of the Swiss Guards to wait on the Queen and desire her Majesty to weigh the consequences of an action of that nature。 His Duchess； perceiving that this expedient； if not supported effectually； would ruin all； and that his Royal Highness was still as irresolute as ever； called for pen and ink that lay upon the table in her cabinet； and wrote these words on a large sheet of paper：
M。 le Coadjuteur is ordered to take arms to hinder the adherents of Cardinal Mazarin； condemned by the Parliament； from carrying the King out of Paris。 MARGUERITE DE LORRAINE。
Des Touches； who found the Queen bathed in tears； was charged by her Majesty to assure the Duc d'Orleans that she never thought of carrying away the King； and that it was one of my tricks。
The Duc d'Orleans saying at the House next day that orders for the Princes' liberty would be despatched in two hours' time； the First President said； with a deep sigh； 〃The Prince de Conde is at liberty； but our King； our sovereign Lord and King； is a prisoner。〃 The Duc d'Orleans； being now not near so timorous as before； because he had received more acclamations in the streets than ever； replied； 〃Truly the King has been Mazarin's prisoner； but； God be praised； he is now in better hands。〃
The Cardinal； who hovered about Paris till he heard the city had taken up arms； posted to Havre…de…Grace； where he fawned upon the Prince de Conde with a meanness of spirit that is hardly to be imagined； for he wept； and even fell down on his knees to the Prince； who treated him with the utmost contempt； giving him no thanks for his release。
On the 16th of February the Princes； being set at liberty； arrived in Paris； and； after waiting on the Queen； supped with M。 de Beaufort and myself at the Duc d'Orleans's house； where we drank the King's health and 〃No Mazarin！〃
On the 17th his Royal Highness carried them to the Parliament House； and it is remarkable that the same people who but thirteen months before made bonfires for their confinement did the same now for their release。
On the 20th the declaration demanded of the King against the Cardinal； being brought to be registered in Parliament； was sent back with indignation because the reason of his removal was coloure