Lesdiguieres abandoned not only his friends, but also his faith, for the sword of Connetable de France; and finally the Marquis de Chatillon, the grandson of the brave and murdered Coligni, delivered himself up together with the stronghold of Aigues Mortes; thus leaving no men of mark among the reformers, save the two brothers MM. de Soubise and de Rohan; the former of whom was then in England soliciting the assistance of James I., while the latter was endeavouring to raise troops in the Cevennes for the protection of Montpellier and Nimes, both which cities were threatened with siege.[75]

The favours accorded to the renegade Protestant leaders having caused great dissatisfaction among the Catholic nobles of Louis XIII, the King found himself compelled to gratify these also by honours and emolument.  The Duc d’Epernon was made Governor of Guienne, a province which had never hitherto been bestowed save on a Prince of the Blood; while Bassompierre succeeded to the marshal’s baton vacated by Lesdiguieres on his promotion; and M. de Schomberg was invested with the governments of Angoumois and Limousin.

Towards the close of August the troops marched upon Montpellier, but the arrival of the new Connetable excited the jealousy of Conde, who refused to submit to his authority.  Lesdiguieres, who, although he had abandoned his faith, had not yet ceased to feel a lively interest in the cause of his co-religionists, was eager to effect a peace, and for this purpose had conferred with the Duc de Rohan, who was equally anxious to obtain the same result; but for a considerable time the threatened cities refused to listen to any compromise.  At length, however, the representations of Rohan prevailed, and the negotiation was nearly completed when M. de Conde haughtily declared that whatever might be the conditions conceded by the King and the Connetable, he would deliver over the city to pillage so soon as he had entered the gates.  The citizens of Montpellier, who were aware that, despite the capitulations made with other places, the most enormous atrocities had been committed in the towns which had surrendered, persisted in their turn that they would only admit Lesdiguieres within their walls provided he were accompanied neither by Louis nor the Prince de Conde; a resolution which excited the indignation of the King, and the negotiation consequently failed.  The Connetable returned to Guienne, and once more M. de Conde found himself in undisputed command of the royal army.

The incapacity of the Prince, the casualties of war, and the sickness which manifested itself among the troops, had, however, greatly tended to weaken the military resources of the sovereign; the Cardinal de Retz and De Vic, the Keeper of the Seals, had both fallen victims to disease; while numbers of the nobility had been killed; and De Rohan, with his usual perspicacity, decided that the moment had now arrived in which, could he ever hope to do so, he might be enabled to effect the desired treaty.  Louis, who had become weary of the overweening pretensions and haughty dictation of Conde, secretly encouraged him to persist in his attempt; and the Duke immediately exerted himself to prevail upon the inhabitants of Montpellier to receive his Majesty into their city.