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g of the Bastille with the same freedom as the Governor； the greatest authority in the place。
As all extraordinary circumstances are of wonderful weight in popular revolutions； I considered that this project； which was even ripe for execution； would have an admirable effect in the city。 And as nothing animates and supports commotions more than the ridiculing of those against whom they are raised； I knew it would be very easy for us to expose the conduct of a minister who had tamely suffered prisoners to hamper him； as one may say； with their chains。 I lost no time； afterwards I opened myself to M。 d'Estampes； President of the Great Council； and to M。 l'Ecuyer； President of the Chamber of Accounts； both colonels； and in great repute among the citizens； and I found them every way answering the character I had of them from the Count； that is； very zealous for his interest； and fully persuaded that the insurrection was not only practicable； but very easy。 Pray observe that these two gentlemen； who made no great figure； even in their own profession； were； perhaps； two of the most peaceable persons in the kingdom。 But there are some fires which burn all before them。 The main thing is to know and seize the critical moment。
The Count had charged me to disclose myself to none in Paris besides these two； but I ventured to add two more： Parmentier； substitute to the Attorney…General； and his brother…in…law； Epinai； auditor of the Chamber of Accounts； who was the man of the greatest credit； though but a lieutenant； and the other a captain。 Parmentier； who； both by his wit and courage； was as capable of a great action as any man I ever knew； promised me that he would answer for Brigalier； councillor in the Court of Aids； captain in his quarter； and very powerful among the people； but told me at the same time that he must not know a word of the matter； because he was a mere rattle； not to be trusted with a secret。
The Count made me a remittance of 12；000 crowns； which I carried to my aunt De Maignelai； telling her that it was a restitution made by one of my dying friends； who made me trustee of it upon condition that I should distribute it among decayed families who were ashamed to make their necessities known； and that I had taken an oath to distribute it myself； persuant to the desire of the testator； but that I was at a loss to find out fit objects for my charity； and therefore I desired her to take the care of it upon her。 The good woman was perfectly transported； and said she would do it with all her heart； but because I had sworn to make the distribution myself； she insisted upon it that I must be present； not only for the sake of my promise； but to accustom myself to do acts of charity。 This was the very thing I aimed at；an opportunity of knowing all the poor of Paris。 Therefore I suffered myself to be carried every day by my aunt into the outskirts； to visit the poor in their garrets； and I met very often in her house people who were very well clad； and many whom I once knew； that came for private charity。 My good aunt charged them always to pray to God for her nephew； who was the hand that God had been pleased to make use of for this good work。 Judge you of the influence this gave me over the populace； who are without comparison the most considerable in all public disturbances。 For the rich never come into such measures unless they are forced； and beggars do more harm than good； because it is known that they aim at plunder； those； therefore； who are capable of doing most service are such as are not reduced to common beggary； yet so straitened in their circumstances as to wish for nothing more than a general change of affairs in order to repair their broken fortunes。 I made myself acquainted with people of this rank for the course of four months with uncommon application； so that there was hardly a child in the chimney…corner but I gratified with some small token。 I called them by their familiar names。 My aunt； who always made it her business to go from house to house to relieve the poor； was a cloak for all。 I also played the hypocrite； and frequented the conferences of Saint Lazarus。
Varicarville and Beauregarde； my correspondents at Sedan； assured me that the Comte de Soissons was as well inclined as one could wish； and that he had not wavered since he had formed his last resolution。 Varicarville said that we had formerly done him horrible injustice； and that they were now even obliged to restrain him； because he seemed to be too fond of the counsels of Spain and the Empire。 Please to observe that these two Courts； which had made incredible solicitations to him while he wavered； began； as soon as his purpose was fixed； to draw back；a fatality due to the phlegmatic temper of the Spaniard； dignified by the name of prudence； joined to the astute politics of the house of Austria。 You may observe at the same time that the Count； who had continued firm and unshaken three months together； changed his mind as soon as his enemies had granted what he asked； which exactly comes up to the character of an irresolute man； who is always most unsteady the nearer the work comes to its conclusion。 I heard of this convulsion； as one may call it； by an express from Varicarville； and took post the same night for Sedan； arriving there an hour after Aretonville； an agent despatched from the Count's brother in…law； M。 de Longueville。＇Henri d'Orleans； the second of that name； died 1663。＇ He came with some plausible but deceitful terms of accommodation which we all agreed to oppose。 Those who had been always with the Count pressed him strongly with the remembrance of what he himself thought or said was necessary to be done ever since the war had been resolved on。 Saint…Ibal； who had been negotiating for him at Brussels； pressed him with his engagements； advances； and solicitations； insisted on the steps I had； by his order； already taken in Paris； on the promises made to De Vitri and Cremail； and on the secret committed to two persons by his own command； and to four others for his service and with his consent。 Our arguments； considering his engagements； were very just and clear。 We carried our point with much ado after a conflict of four days。 Aretonville was sent back with a very smart answer。 M。 de Guise； who had joined the Count； and was a well…wisher to a rupture； went to Liege to order the levies； Varicarville and I returned to Paris； but I did not care to tell my fellow conspirators of the irresolution of our principal。 Some symptoms of it appeared afterwards； but they very soon vanished。
Being assured that the Spaniards had everything in readiness； I went for the last time to Sedan to take my final instructions。 There I found Meternic； colonel of one of the oldest regiments of the Empire； despatched by General Lamboy； who had advanced with a gallant army under his command； composed for the most part of veteran troops。 The Colonel assured the Count that he was ordered to obey his commands in everything； and to give battle to the Marechal de Chatillon； who commanded the army of France upon the Meuse。 As the undertaking at Paris depended entirely on the success of such a battle； the Count thought it fitting th