festivities—Arrival of the Spanish envoys—The
Chevalier de Guise—Alarm of Concini—The
Queen and her foster-sister—Concini resolves
to espouse the party of the Princes—The
Duc de Bouillon endeavours to injure the Duc de Rohan
in the estimation of James I.—Reply of
the English monarch—Bouillon returns to
Paris—The Marechal de Lesdiguieres retires
from the Court—The Duc de Vendome solicits
the royal permission to preside over the States of
Brittany—Is refused by the Regent—Challenges
his substitute—And is exiled to Anet—Concini
augments the disaffection of the Princes—The
Duke of Savoy joins the cabal—Lesdiguieres
prepares to march a body of troops against the capital—Concini
deters the Regent from giving the government of Quilleboeuf
to the Comte de Soissons—Indignation of
the Duc de Guise—He reveals the treachery
of Concini to the Princes—All the great
nobles join the faction of M. de Conde with the exception
of the Duc d’Epernon—The Duc de Bellegarde
is accused of sorcery—Quarrel between the
Comte de Soissons and the Marechal de Fervaques—Marie
de Medicis resolves to persecute the Protestants—Bouillon
endeavours to effect the disgrace of the Duc de Rohan—The
Regent refuses to listen to his justification—He
takes possession of St. Jean-d’Angely—Anger
of the Queen—Conflicting manifestoes—M.
de Rohan prepares to resist the royal troops—The
ministers advise a negotiation, which prove successful—Departure
of the Duc de Mayenne for Madrid—Arrival
of the Duque de Pastrano—His brilliant
reception in France—His magnificent retinue—His
first audience of Louis XIII—The Cardinals—Puerility
of the Princes—Reception of the Spanish
Ambassador by Madame—The year of magnificence—Splendour
of the Court of Spain—Signature of the
marriage articles—Honours shown to M. de
Mayenne at Madrid—The Spanish Princess
and her Duenna—The Duke of Savoy demands
the hand of Madame Christine for his son—Marie
desires to unite her to the Prince of Wales—Death
of Prince Henry of England—Death of the
Comte de Soissons—The Prince de Conti claims
the government of Dauphiny—The Comte d’Auvergne
is released from the Bastille, and resigns his government
of Auvergne to M. de Conti—The Prince de
Conde organizes a new faction—The Regent
espouses his views—Alarm of the Guises—Recall
of the Duc de Bellegarde—He refuses to appear
at Court—The Baron de Luz is restored to
favour—The Guises prepare to revenge his
defection from their cause.
CHAPTER V
1613
State of France at the commencement of 1613—Characteristics of the Baron de Luz—His imprudence—He is challenged by the Chevalier de Guise, and killed—The Regent summons a council—The nobles assemble at the Hotel de Guise—The Duke is forbidden to enter the Louvre, and ordered to disperse his friends—M. de la Rochefoucauld refuses to leave the Hotel de Guise—He is exiled from the Court—Moderation of the Duc de Guise—Inflexibility of Marie