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PDFde Medicis—Her anger against the Chancellor—She
holds a secret council—The Prince de Conde
is directed to demand the seals from M. de Sillery,
and to command him to retire from the capital—Marie
determines to arrest the Duc d’Epernon—Her
designs are thwarted by Concini—The Marquis
d’Ancre introduces the son of M. de Luz to the
Regent—Marie promises him her protection—
Bassompierre endeavours to effect the recall of the
Duc de Guise, and succeeds—His reception
by the Regent—Arrogance of the Duchesse
de Guise—The Prince de Conde forms an alliance
with M. de Guise— Influence of the Prince—He
demands the captaincy of the Chateau Trompette—Over-zealous
friends—Alarm of the Queen—She
resolves to conciliate the Guises—The Marquis
d’Ancre and his wife incur the displeasure of
the Queen-Marie purchases the loyalty of the Duc de
Guise—Dignified bearing of the Duc d’Epernon—A
reconciliation—“Put not your faith
in princes”—Exultation of the ministers—A
private audience—Eavesdroppers—Mortification
of the Prince de Conde—Concini endeavours
to conciliate the Queen—He is repulsed—The
young Baron de Luz challenges the Chevalier de Guise—Wounds
his adversary, and is killed—Royal solicitude—Death
of the Chevalier de Guise—Banquet at the
Hotel de Conde—Affront to Bassompierre—Concini
retires to Amiens—The Duc de Vendome joins
the faction of the Prince de Conde—A new
intrigue—Suspicions of the Regent—Midnight
visitors—The Prince de Conde and the Duc
de Vendome leave the Court—The Regent refuses
to sanction the departure of M. de Guise—The
Queen and her favourite—The ministers pledge
themselves to serve Concini—Peril of Bassompierre—He
determines to leave France—Is dissuaded
from his purpose by the Regent—Troubles
in Mantua—Negotiation with the Duke of Savoy—James
I. offers the hand of Prince Charles of England to
the Princesse Christine—Satisfaction of
Marie de Medicis—The Pope takes alarm—The
Regent and the Papal Nuncio—Death of the
Marechal de Fervaques—Concini is made Marechal
de France—Ladies of Honour—The
Queen and her foster-sister—The Princesse
de Conti—A well-timed visit—The
new Marechal—A sensation at Court.
CHAPTER VI
1614
New anxieties—Disaffection of the Princes—They demand a reformation in the Government—Cunning of the Duc de Bouillon—Imprisonment of M. de Vendome—He escapes—The Regent suspects the sincerity of Bouillon—Conspiracy of the Ducs de Vendome and de Retz—The Duc de Nevers seizes Mezieres—Recall of M. d’Epernon—Marie de Medicis resolves to resign the Regency, but is dissuaded by her Council—Treasonable reports—Precarious position of the Queen—Levy of troops—Manifesto of the Prince de Conde—Reply of the Regent—–Death of the Connetable-Duc de Montmorency—–Bassompierre is appointed Colonel-General of the Swiss Guards—The march against M. de Conde—Marie endeavours to temporize—–The price of loyalty—The
