Joseph and his patron—­The Queen-mother resolves to accompany her son to Italy—­Richelieu assures the King that Marie and Gaston have organized a conspiracy against his life—­The Court proceed to Compiegne—­The Queen-mother refuses to retain her seat in the Council—­Richelieu regains all his influence over the King—­Revenge of the Cardinal upon his enemies—­Desperate position of Marie de Medicis—­Her arrest is determined upon by the Council—­Louis leaves her a prisoner at Compiegne—­Parting interview of the two Queens—­Indignity offered to Anne of Austria—­Death of the Princesse de Conti—­Indignation of the royal prisoner—­A diplomatic correspondence—­Two noble gaolers—­The royal troops pursue Monsieur—­The adherents of Gaston are declared guilty of lese-majeste—­Gaston addresses a declaration to the Parliament—­The Queen-mother forwards a similar protest, and then appeals to the people—­A paper war—­The garrison is withdrawn from Compiegne—­Marie resolves to effect her escape to the Low Countries—­She is assured of the protection of Spain and Germany—­The Queen-mother secretly leaves the fortress—­She is betrayed by the Marquis de Vardes, and proceeds with all speed to Hainault, pursued by the royal troops—­She is received at Mons by the Archduchess Isabella—­Whence she addresses a letter to the King to explain the motives of her flight—­Reply of Louis XIII—­Sympathy of Isabella—­The two Princesses proceed to Brussels—­Triumphal entry of Marie de Medicis into the capital of Flanders—­Renewed hopes of the exiled Queen—­The Belgian Ambassador at the French Court—­Vindictive counsels of the Cardinal—­The property of the Queen-mother and Monsieur is confiscated—­They are abandoned by many of their adherents—­Richelieu is created a duke—­A King and his minister—­Marie consents to the marriage of Monsieur with Marguerite de Lorraine—­The followers of the Queen-mother and the Duc d’Orleans are tried and condemned—­Louis XIII proceeds to Lorraine to prevent the projected alliance of his brother—­Intrigues of Gaston—­Philip of Spain refuses to adopt the cause of Marie de Medicis—­Marriage of Monsieur and the Princesse de Lorraine—­The Queen-mother endeavours to negotiate her return to France—­Richelieu determines the King not to consent—­Charles de Lorraine makes his submission to the French monarch—­And signs a compulsory treaty.

CHAPTER IX

1632

Gaston d’Orleans proceeds to Brussels—­His reception—­Vanity of Monsieur—­Exultation of the Spanish Cabinet—­Montmorency abandons the interests of Richelieu—­Marie de Medicis solicits his support—­He consents to second the projects of Monsieur—­The Queen-mother and the Duc d’Orleans sell their jewels in order to raise troops for the invasion of France—­Trial of the Marechal de Marillac—­Marie and Gaston exert themselves to save his life—­He is executed—­The adherents of the two royal exiles create dissensions between the mother and son—­Gaston