Prince de Conde leaves Paris—­Christening of the Duc d’Anjou and the Princesse Henriette Marie—­A temporary calm—­The Ducs de Vendome and de Retz excite the Burgundians to revolt—­The Protestants refuse to join their faction—­They are compelled to lay down their arms—­The Prince de Conde marches upon Poitiers—­The Church “military”—­The prelate and the populace—­A governor superseded—­The Prince is compelled to withdraw to Chatellerault—­He burns down the episcopal palace—­The Court proceed to Poitou—­Their reception—­The Duc de Vendome makes his submission—­The States assemble at Nantes—­Enormities perpetrated by the troops of M. de Vendome—­Folly of that Prince—­Death of the Prince de Conti—­A bachelor-Benedict—­A nom de guerre—­Majority of Louis XIII—­The Bed of Justice—­The assembly of the States-General is deferred—­The King solicits his mother to retain her authority in the Government—­Meeting of the States—­The early years of Louis XIII—­Charles Albert de Luynes—­His antecedents—­His ambition—­His favour with the young King—­He is made Governor of Amboise.

CHAPTER VII

1615-16

Close of the States-General—­The Bishop of Lucon—­Declaration of the royal marriages—­Ballet of Madame—­State of the Court—­Cabal of Concini—­Death of Marguerite de Valois—­Conde seeks to gain the Parliament—­Distrust of Marie de Medicis—­Conde leaves Paris—­He refuses to accompany the King to Guienne—­Perilous position of the Court party—­The Marechal de Bois-Dauphin is appointed Commander-in-Chief—­The Court proceed to Guienne—­Illness of the Queen and Madame Elisabeth—­The Court at Tours—­Enforced inertness of M. de Bois-Dauphin—­Conde is declared guilty of lese-majeste—­He takes up arms—­Murmurs of the royal generals—­The Comte de St. Pol makes his submission—­The Court reach Bordeaux—­The royal marriages—­Sufferings of the troops—­Disaffection of the nobility—­Irritation of the Protestants—­Pasquinades—­Negotiation with the Princes—­The Duc de Guise assumes the command of the royal army—­Singular escape of Marie de Medicis—­Disgrace of the Duc d’Epernon—­He retires to his government—­The Queen and the astrologer.

CHAPTER VIII

1616

Conference of Loudun—­Venality of the Princes—­Mutual concessions—­Indisposition of M. de Conde—­He signs the treaty—­Concini is insulted by a citizen of Paris—­The Court return to the capital—­Schism in the cabal—­The seals are transferred to M. du Vair—­Disgrace of the ministers—­Triumph of Concini—­Mangot is appointed Secretary of State, and Barbin Minister of Finance—­The young sovereigns—–­Court costumes—­Anne of Austria and Marie de Medicis—­Puerility of Louis XIII—­The Marechal de Bouillon and the Duc de Mayenne return to Court—­They seek to ruin Concini—­The Prince de Conde effects a reconciliation with the Queen-mother—­James I. sends an embassy to Paris to negotiate a marriage