In that state of society into which France was plunged during the regency of Marie de Medicis, and at which I have glanced, absolutism was perhaps a needed force.  Then Richelieu, its great modern representative, arose,—­a model statesman in the eyes of Peter the Great.

But he was not to reign, and trample all other powers beneath his feet, without a memorable struggle.  Three great forces were arrayed against him.  These were the Huguenots, the nobles, and the parliaments,—­the Protestant, the feudal, and the legal elements of society in France.  The people,—­at least the peasantry,—­did not rise up against him; they were powerless and too unenlightened.  The priests sustained him, and the common people acquiesced in his rigid rule, for he established law and order.

He began his labors in behalf of absolutism by suppressing the Huguenots.  That was the only political party which was urgent for its rights.  They were an intelligent party of tradesmen and small farmers; they were plebeian, but conscientious and aspiring.  They were not contented alone to worship God according to the charter which Henry IV. had granted, but they sought political power; and they were so unfortunate as to be guilty of cabals and intrigues inconsistent with a central power.  They were factious, and were not disposed to submit to legitimate authority.  They had declined in numbers and influence; they had even degenerated in religious life; but they were still powerful and dangerous foes.  They had retreated to their strong fortress of La Rochelle, resolved, if attacked, to fight once again the whole power of the monarchy.  They put themselves in a false position; they wanted more than the Edict of Nantes had guaranteed.

Unfortunately for them they had no leaders worthy to marshal their forces.  Fashion and the influence of the court had seduced their men of rank; nor had they the enthusiasm which had secured victory at Ivry.  Nor could they contend openly in the field; they were obliged to intrench themselves in an impregnable fortress:  there they deemed they could defy their enemy.  They even invoked the aid of England, and thus introduced foreign enemies on the soil of France, which was high-treason.  They put themselves in the attitude of rebels against the government; and so long as English ships, with supplies, could go in and out of their harbor, they could not be conquered.  Richelieu, clad in mail, a warrior-priest, surveyed with disgust their strong defences and their open harbor.  His artillery was of no use, nor his lines of circumvallation.  So he put his brain in motion, and studied Quintus Curtius.  He remembered what Alexander did at the siege of Tyre; he constructed a vast dyke of stone and timber and iron across the harbor, in some places twelve hundred feet deep, and thus cut off all egress and ingress.  The English under Buckingham departed, unable to render further assistance.  The capture then was only a work of time; genius had hemmed the