It was, indeed, but a short time after the loss of his great adviser that the king followed him to the tomb.  He had for long suffered from bad health, and now that the statesman who had borne the whole burden of public affairs had left him, he felt the weight overpowering.  He had always been devoted to religious exercises, and saw his end approaching without regret, and died calmly and peacefully on May 14, 1643.  By his will he left the queen regent.  He had never been on good terms with her, and now endeavoured to prevent her from having any real power.  The Duke of Orleans was appointed lieutenant general, but as the king had rightly no confidence in him, he nominated a council which, he intended, should override both.  It was composed of the Prince of Conde, Cardinal Mazarin, the chancellor, Seguerin, the secretary of state, Chavigny, and superintendent Bouthillier.  The king’s will prohibited any change whatever being made in the council, but this proviso was not observed.  The queen speedily made terms with the ministers; and when the little king was conducted in great state to the parliament of Paris, the Duke of Orleans addressed the queen, saying that he desired to take no other part in affairs than that which it might please her to give him.  The Prince of Conde said the same; and that evening, to their astonishment, the queen having become by their resignation the sole head of the administration, announced that she should retain Cardinal Mazarin as her minister, and shortly afterwards nominated Turenne to the command of the army in Italy.  Prince Thomas had now broken altogether with the Spaniards, finding that their protection was not available, for the King of Spain had been obliged to recall a considerable proportion of his troops from Italy to suppress an insurrection in Catalonia.  Hector did not accompany Turenne to Italy, for early in April Turenne had said to him: 

“There seems no chance of employment here at present, Campbell, while there is likely to be some heavy fighting on the Rhine frontier.

“The death of Richelieu has given fresh courage to the enemies of France, and I hear that de Malo, the governor of the Low Countries, has gathered a large army, and is about to invade France.  Our army there is commanded by the young Duc d’Enghien, the Prince of Conde’s son.  He is but twenty-two, and of course owes his appointment to his father’s influence.  The king has, however, sent with him Marshal de l’Hopital, who will be his lieutenant and director.  I know Enghien well, and esteem his talents highly.  He is brave, impetuous, and fiery; but at the same time, if I mistake not, cautious and prudent.  I will give you a letter to him.  I shall tell him that you have greatly distinguished yourself while on my staff, and being anxious above all things to acquire military knowledge and to serve with honour, I have sent you to him, begging him to give you the same post on his staff as you have had on mine, asking it as a personal favour to myself.  This, I have no doubt, he will grant.  He has affected my company a good deal when I have been in Paris, and has evinced the greatest desire to learn as much as he can of military matters from me.”