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The Parliament continued to prosecute Mazarin； who was convicted of embezzling some nine millions of the public money。 The Prince assembled the Chambers； and persuaded them to issue a new decree against all those of the Court party who held correspondence with the said Cardinal。
The Prince de Conde； being uneasy at seeing Mazarin's creatures still at Court； retired to Saint Maur on the 6th of July； 1651。 On the 7th the Prince de Conti acquainted the Parliament with the reasons for his departure； and talked in general of the warnings he had received from different hands of a design the Court had formed against his life； adding that his brother could not be safe at Court as long as Tellier； Servien； and Lionne were not removed。 There was a very hot debate in the ensuing session between the Prince de Conti and the First President。 The latter talked very warmly against his retreat to Saint Maur； and called it a melancholy prelude to a civil war。 He hinted also that the said Prince was the author of the late disturbances； upon which the Prince de Conti threatened that had he been in any other place he would have taught him to observe the respect due to Princes of the blood。 The First President said that he did not fear his threats； and that he had reason to complain of his Royal Highness for presuming to interrupt him in a place where he represented the King's person。 Both parties were now in hot blood； and the Duke； who was very glad to see it； did not interpose till he could not avoid it； and then he told them both that they should endeavour to keep their temper。
On the 14th of July a decree was passed； upon a motion made by the Duc d'Orleans； that the thanks of the Parliament should be presented to her Majesty for her gracious promise that the Cardinal should never return； that she should be most humbly entreated to send a declaration to Parliament； and likewise to give the Prince de Conde all the necessary securities for his return； and that those persons who kept up correspondence with Mazarin should be immediately prosecuted。
On the 18th the First President carried the remonstrances of the Parliament to the Queen； and though he took care to keep within the terms of the decree； by not naming the under ministers； yet he pointed them out in such a manner that the Queen complained bitterly； saying that the First President was 〃an unaccountable man； and more vexatious than any of the malcontents。〃
When I took the liberty to show her that the representative of an assembly could not； without prevarication； but deliver the thoughts of the whole body； though they might be different from his own； she replied； very angrily； 〃These are mere republican maxims。〃
I will give you an account of the success of the remonstrances after I have related an adventure to you which happened at the Parliament House during these debates。
The importance of the subject drew thither a large number of ladies who were curious to hear what passed。 Madame and Mademoiselle de Chevreuse； with many other ladies； were there the evening before the decree was passed； but they were singled out from the rest by one Maillard； a brawling fellow； hired by the Prince's party。 As ladies are commonly afraid of a crowd； they stayed till the Duc d'Orleans and the rest were gone out； but when they came into the hall they were hooted by twenty or thirty ragamuffins of the same quality as their leader； who was a cobbler。 I knew nothing of it till I came to the Palace of Chevreuse； where I found Madame de Chevreuse in a rage and her daughter in tears。 I endeavoured to comfort them by the assurance that I would take care to get the scoundrels punished in an exemplary manner that very day。 But these were too inconsiderable victims to atone for such an affront； and were therefore rejected with indignation。 The blood of Bourbon only could make amends for the injury done to that of Lorraine。 These were the very words of Madame de Chevreuse。 They resolved at last upon this expedition；to go again next morning to the House； but so well accompanied as to be in a condition of making themselves respected； and of giving the Prince de Conti to understand that it was to his interest to keep his party for the future from committing the like insolence。 Montresor； who happened to be with us； did all he could to convince the ladies how dangerous it was to make a private quarrel of a public one； especially at a time when a Prince of the blood might possibly lose his life in the fray。 When he found that he could not prevail upon them； he used all means to persuade me to put off my resentment； for which end he drew me aside to tell me what joy and triumph it would be to my enemies to suffer myself to be captivated or led away by the violence of the ladies' passion。 I made him the following answer： 〃I am certainly to blame； both with regard to my profession and on account of my having my hands full； to be so far engaged with Mademoiselle de Chevreuse； but； considering the obligation I am under to her； and that it is too late to recede from it； I am in the right in demanding satisfaction in this present juncture。 I will not by any means assassinate the Prince de Conti； but she may command me to do anything except poisoning or assassinating； and therefore speak no more to me on this head。〃
The ladies went again； therefore； next day； being accompanied by four hundred gentlemen and above four thousand of the most substantial burghers。 The rabble that was hired to make a clamour in the Great Hall sneaked out of sight； and the Prince de Conti； who had not been apprised of this assembly； which was formed with great secrecy； was fain to pass by Madame and Mademoiselle de Chevreuse with demonstrations of the profoundest respect； and to suffer Maillard； who was caught on the stairs of the chapel； to be soundly cudgelled。
I return to the issue of the remonstrances。 The Queen told the deputies that she would next morning send to the House a declaration against Cardinal Mazarin。
On the 21st the Prince de Conde came to Parliament accompanied by M。 de La Rochefoucault and fifty or sixty gentlemen； and congratulated them upon the removal of the ministers； but said that it could not be effectual without inserting an article in the declaration which the Queen had promised to send to the Parliament。 The First President said that it would be both unjust and inconsistent with the respect due to the Queen to demand new conditions of her every day； that her Majesty's promise； of which she had made the Parliament a depositary； was a sufficient security； that it was to be wished that the Prince had shown a due confidence therein by repairing to the Palais Royal rather than to a court of justice； and that the post he was in obliged him to express his surprise at such conduct。 The Prince replied that the First President had no reason to wonder at his great precautions； since he （the Prince） knew by recent woeful experience what it was to live in a prison； and that it was notorious that the Cardinal ruled now in the Cabinet more absolutely than ever he did before。
The Duc d'Orleans； who was gone to Limours on pretence of taking the air； though on purpose to be absent from Parliame