ple.

D'O lost no time in making application for the government of Paris and
the Isle of France, and obtained his request; but now a conflict between
his interest and ambition so perplexed this superintendent that,
notwithstanding his new dignity, the reduction of Paris was among the
number of those things he most feared should happen: he would have had it
believed that the true motive of this fear was, lest the finances should
become a prey to the men of the sword and gown, by whom, he said, the
King, as soon as he was possessed of Paris, would be oppressed for the
payment of pensions, appointments, and rewards. But this discourse
deceived none but those who were ignorant of the advantage he found in
keeping the affairs of the finances in their present state of confusion,
and with what success he had hitherto labored for that purpose.

The King, upon this occasion, put all the friends of the Count of Belin
in motion, on whom he had no less dependence than upon Brissac, and at
nine o'clock in the morning presented himself, at the head of eight
thousand men, before the Porte Neuve, where the Mayor of Paris and the
other magistrates received him in form. He went immediately and took
possession of the Louvre, the Palace, the Great and Little Chatelet, and,
finding no opposition anywhere, he proceeded even to the Church of Notre
Dame, which he entered to return thanks to God for his success. His
soldiers, on their part, fulfilled with such exactness the orders and
intentions of their master that no one throughout this great city
complained of having received any outrage from them. They took possession
of all the squares and crossways in the street, where they drew up in
order of battle. Everything was quiet, and from that day the shops were
opened with all the security which a long-continued peace could have
given.

The Spaniards had now only the Bastille, the Temple, and the quarters of
St. Anthony and St. Martin in their possession; and there they fortified
themselves, being about four thousand in number, with the Duc de Feria
and Don Diego d'Evora at their head, all greatly astonished at such
unexpected news, and firmly resolved to defend themselves to the last
extremity, if any attempts were made to force them from those
advantageous posts. The King relieved them from their perplexity by
sending to tell them that they might leave Paris and retreat in full
security. He treated the Cardinals of Placentia and Pelleve wit