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I mentioned this dialogue for no other purpose than to observe how dangerous it is to talk disrespectfully of men in high positions； for it was carried to Cromwell； who remembered it with a great deal of resentment on an occasion which I shall mention hereafter； and said to M。 de Bourdeaux； Ambassador of France； then in England； 〃I know but one man in the world who despises me； and that is Cardinal de Retz。〃 This opinion of him was likely to have cost me very dear。 I return from this digression。
On the 31st； Melayer； valet de chambre to the Cardinal； arrived with a despatch to the Queen； in which were these words： 〃Give the Prince de Conde all the declarations of his innocence that he can desire； provided you can but amuse him and hinder him from giving you the slip。〃
On the 4th the Prince de Conde insisted in Parliament on a formal decree for declaring his innocence； which was granted； but deferred to be published till the 7th of September （the day that the King came of age）； on pretence of rendering it more authentic and solemn by the King's presence； but really to gain time； and see what influence the splendour of royalty； which was to be clothed that day with all the advantages of pomp； would have upon the minds of the people。
But the Prince de Conde； who had reason to distrust both the Fronde and the Court； did not appear at the ceremony； and sent the Prince de Conti to the King to desire to be excused； because the calumnies and treacheries of his enemies would not suffer him to come to the Palace； adding that he kept away out of pure respect to his Majesty。 This last expression； which seemed to intimate that otherwise he might have gone thither without danger； provoked the Queen to that degree that she said； 〃The Prince or I must perish。〃
The Prince de Conde retired to Bourges；further from Court。 He was naturally averse to a civil war； nor would his adherents have been more forward than himself if they had found their interests in his reconciliation to the Court； but this seemed impracticable； and therefore they agreed upon a civil war； because none of them believed themselves powerful enough to conclude a peace。 They know nothing of the nature of faction who imagine the head of a party to be their master。 His true interest is most commonly thwarted by the imaginary interests even of his subalterns； and the worst of it is that his own honour sometimes； and generally prudence； joins with them against himself。 The passions and discontent which reigned then among the friends of the Prince de Conde ran so high that they were obliged to abandon him and form a third party； under the authority of the Prince de Conti； in case the Prince accomplished his reconciliation to the Court； according to a proposition then made to him in the name of the Duc d'Orleans。 The subdivision of parties is generally the ruin of all； especially when it is introduced by cunning views； directly contrary to prudence； and this is what the Italians call； in comedy； a 〃plot within a plot；〃 or a 〃wheel within a wheel。〃
HISTORIC COURT MEMOIRS。
MEMOIRS OF JEAN FRANCOIS PAUL de GONDI； CARDINAL DE RETZ； V4 Written by Himself
Being Historic Court Memoirs of the Great Events during the Minority of Louis XIV。 and the Administration of Cardinal Mazarin。
BOOK IV。
In December； 1651； the Parliament agreed to the following resolution： To send a deputation to the King to inform him of the rumours of Mazarin's return； and to beseech him to confirm the royal promise which he had made to his people upon that head； to forbid all governors to give the Cardinal passage； to desire the King to acquaint the Pope and other Princes with the reasons that had obliged him to remove the Cardinal； and to send to all the Parliaments of the kingdom to make the like decree。
Somebody making a motion that a price might be set upon the Cardinal's head； I and the rest of the spiritual councillors retired； because clergymen are forbidden by the canon law to give their vote in cases of life and death。
They agreed also to send deputies to the King to entreat him to write to the Elector of Cologne to send the Cardinal out of his country； and to forbid the magistrates of all cities to entertain any troops sent to favour his return or any of his kindred or domestics。 A certain councillor who said； very judiciously； that the soldiers assembling for Mazarin upon the frontiers would laugh at all the decrees of Parliament unless they were proclaimed to them by good musketeers and pikemen； was run down as if he had talked nonsense； and all the clamour was that it belonged only to the King to disband soldiers。
The Duc d'Orleans acquainted the House； on the 29th； that Cardinal Mazarin had arrived at Sedan； that Marechals de Hoquincourt and de la Ferte were gone to join him with their army to bring him to Court； and that it was high time to oppose his designs。 Upon this it was immediately resolved that deputies should be despatched forthwith to the King； that the Cardinal and all his adherents should be declared guilty of high treason； that the common people should be commanded to treat them as such wherever they met them； that his library and all his household goods should be sold； and that 150；000 livres premium should be given to any man who should deliver up the said Cardinal； either dead or alive。 Upon this expression all the ecclesiastics retired； for the reason above mentioned。
A new decree was passed on the 2d of January； 1652； wherein it was decided that all the Parliaments of France should be invited to issue their decrees against Mazarin； conformable to the last； that two more councillors should be added to the four sent to guard the rivers and to arm the common people； and that the troops of the Duc d'Orleans should oppose the march of Mazarin。
On the 24th the deputies who had been to Poitiers to remonstrate with the King against the return of the Cardinal； made their report in Parliament； to the effect that his Majesty； after having consulted with the Queen and her Council； returned for answer； that without doubt； when the Parliament issued their late decrees； they did not know that Cardinal Mazarin had made no levy of soldiers but by his Majesty's express orders； that it was he who commanded him to enter France with his troops； and that therefore the King did not resent what the company had done； but that； on the other hand； he did not doubt that when they had heard the circumstances he had just mentioned； and knew； moreover； that Cardinal Mazarin only desired an opportunity to justify himself； they would not fail to give all his subjects an exemplary proof of the obedience they owed to him。 The Parliament was highly provoked； and next day resolved to admit no more dukes； peers； nor marshals of France till the Cardinal had left the kingdom。
Mazarin； arriving at Court again； persuaded the King to go to Saumur； though others advised him to march to Guienne against the Prince de Conde； with whom the Duc d'Orleans was now resolved to join forces。 The King went from Saumur to Tours； where the Archbishop of Rouen carried complaints to the King； in the name of the bishops there； against the decrees of Parliament relatin