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.

The state of France at the commencement of the year 1613 was precarious in the extreme.  As yet no intestine war had broken out, but there existed a sullen undercurrent of discontent and disaffection which threatened, like the sound of distant thunder, to herald an approaching storm.  The Court was, as we have shown, the focus of anarchy and confusion; the power and resources of the great nobles had steadily increased since the death of Henri IV, and had they only been united among themselves, the authority of Marie de Medicis must have been set at nought, and the throne of the boy-King have tottered to its base.  The provinces were, in many instances, in open opposition to the Government; the ministers indignant at the disrespect shown alike to their persons and to their functions; the Parliament jealous of the encroachments on its privileges; the citizens outraged by the lavish magnificence, and indignant at the insolent assumption of the nobility; and the people irritated and impoverished by the constant exactions to which they were subjected in order to supply the exigencies of the state.

Such was the condition of a kingdom dependent for its prosperity upon the rule of a favourite-ridden woman, and a helpless child.