1617

The royal forces march against the insurgent Princes—­Indignities offered to the young sovereign—­Louis XIII and his favourite—­Arrogance of the Marechal d’Ancre—­Indignation of the King—­Confiscation of the property of the rebel Princes—­Household of Louis XIII—­Cabal of De Luynes—­Infatuation of the Marechal d’Ancre—­An evil counsellor—­Marie de Medicis resolves to withdraw from the Government, but is dissuaded from her purpose—­Popular discontent—­Precautions of Concini—­Alarm of Louis XIII—­The Duc de Nevers is declared guilty of Use-majeste—­Firmness of the Queen-mother—­Insolence of Concini and Richelieu—­Conde is refused permission to justify himself—­Success of the royal forces—­Louis XIII consents to the arrest of the Marechal d’Ancre—­Bassompierre warns Marie de Medicis of her danger—­She disregards the warning—­Concini and Leonora prepare to leave France—­Old grievances renewed—­A diplomatic Janus—­Blindness of Marie and her ministers—­A new conspirator—­How to be made a marshal—­Incaution of De Luynes—­Treachery of Richelieu—­A narrow escape—­A morning mass—­Singular position of the Court—­Assassination of Concini—­Public rejoicings—­Imprisonment of the Queen-mother—­Barbin is sent to the Bastille—­The seals are restored to Du Vair—­A royal reception—­Anguish of Marie de Medicis—­She demands to see the King, and is refused—­Her isolation—­A Queen and her favourite—­A mother and her son—­Arrest of Madame d’Ancre—­The Crown jewels—­Political pillage—­The Marechale in the Bastille.

In the month of January the Comte d’Auvergne, who had recently been liberated from the Bastille, was despatched at the head of fourteen thousand men against the insurgent Princes; and his departure was made a pretext for depriving the young King of the gentlemen of his household and of his bodyguard, an insult which he deeply although silently resented.  He had been attacked in the November of the preceding year by an indisposition which for a time had threatened the most serious consequences, and from whose latent effects he had not yet recovered.  As time wore on, moreover, he was becoming more and more weary of the insignificance to which he was reduced by the delegated authority of his mother; and had easily suffered himself to be persuaded by De Luynes that her repeated offers to resign it had merely been designed to make him feel the necessity of her assistance.  As we have already shown, Louis XIII derived little pleasure from the society of his young and lovely wife; he made no friends; and thus he was flung entirely into the power of his wily favourite, who, aware that the King could hate, although he could not love, was unremitting in his endeavours to excite him against Marie de Medicis and her favourite.  The infatuated Concini seconded his efforts but too well; for, unable to bear his fortunes meekly, he paraded his riches and his power with an insolence which tended to justify the aversion of his enemies.  On one occasion,