Notwithstanding the little natural liking and the usual distrust he felt for Parliaments, the king still hesitated.

Madame Dubarry managed to inspire him with fears for his person; and he yielded.
During the night between the 19th and 20th of January, 1771, musketeers knocked at the doors of all the magistrates; they were awakened in the king's name, at the same time being ordered to say whether they would consent to resume their service.

No equivocation possible! No margin for those developments of their ideas which are so dear to parliamentary minds! It was a matter of signing yes or no.

Surprised in their slumbers, but still firm in their resolution of resistance, the majority of the magistrates signed no.

They were immediately sent into banishment; their offices were confiscated.