H. Noel (Hugh Noel) Williams - A Gallant of Lorraine; vol. 2 of 2

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Offer of Schomberg, Saint-Gran and Marillac to take Montauban within twelve daysAdvice of Pre ArnouxDiplomacy of BassompierreA humiliating fiascoA second attempt meets with no better successBassompierre counsels the King to raise the siege, and it is decided to follow his adviceGeneral exasperation against LuynesLouis XIII begins to grow weary of his favouriteConversation of the King with BassompierreThe latter warns Luynes that he does not sufficiently cultivate the good graces of the KingReply of the ConstableLouis XIII twits Luynes with the love of the Duc de Chevreuse for his wifePuisieux, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Pre Arnoux, the Kings Jesuit confessor, conspire against the ConstableDisgrace of the latterBassompierre, at the head of the bulk of the Royal forces, lays siege to MonheurtA perilous situationBassompierre falls ill of feverHe leaves the army and sets out for La RoleHe is taken seriously ill at MarmandeHis three doctorsApproach of the enemyRefusal of the townsfolk to admit him and his suite into the townA terrible nightHe recovers and proceeds to BordeauxDeath of the Constable before Monheurt

Who will govern the King and France?The pretenders to the royal favourPosition of BassompierreThe Cardinal de Retz and Schomberg join forces and secure for their ally De Vic the office of Keeper of the SealsThey propose to remove Bassompierre from the path of their ambition by separating him from the KingBassompierre is offered the lieutenancy-general of Guienne and subsequently the government of Barn, but declines both officesHe inflicts a sharp reverse upon Retz and SchombergCond joins the CourtHis designsThe rival parties: the party of the Ministers and the party of the marshalsMonsieur le Prince decides to ally himself with that of the MinistersMortifying rebuff administered by the King to the Ministers at the instance of BassompierreFailure of an attempt of the Ministers to injure Bassompierre and Crquy with Louis XIIIArrival of the King in ParisAffectionate meeting between him and his motherAccident to the Queen

Question of the Huguenot War the principal subject of contention between the two partiesCond and the Ministers demand its continuanceMarie de Medici, prompted by Richelieu, advocates peaceSecret negotiations of Louis XIII with the Huguenot leadersSoubises offensive in the West obliges the King to continue the warLouis XIII advances against the Huguenot chief, who has established himself in the le de RiCond accuses Bassompierre of desiring to prevent him from acquiring gloryCourage of the KingPassage of the Royal army from the le du Perrier to the le de RiTotal defeat of SoubiseSiege of RoyanThe King in the trenchesHis remarkable coolness and intrepidity under fireCapitulation of RoyanThe Marquis de la Force created a marshal of FranceConversation between Louis XIII and BassompierreDiplomatic speech of the latter

Cond and his allies offer to secure for Bassompierre the position of favourite, if he will join forces with them to bring about the fall of PuisieuxRefusal of BassompierreCond complains to Louis XIII of Bassompierres hostility to himBassompierre informs the King of the proposal which has been made himLouis XIII orders Monsieur le Prince to be reconciled with BassompierreSiege of NgrepelisseThe town is taken by stormTerrible fate of the garrison and the inhabitantsFresh differences between Cond and BassompierreDiscomfiture of Monsieur le PrinceBassompierre, placed temporarily in command of the Royal army, captures the towns of Carmain and Cuq-ToulzaOffer of Bassompierre to resign his claim to the marshals bton in favour of SchombergSurrender of LunelMassacre of the garrison by disbanded soldiers of the Royal armyBassompierre causes eight of the latter to be hangedLunel in danger of being destroyed by fire with all within its wallsBassompierre, by his presence of mind, saves the situationSchomberg and BassompierreThe latter is promised the marshals bton

Conditions of peace with the Huguenots decided uponRefusal of the citizens of Montpellier to open their gates to the King until his army has been disbandedBullion advises Louis XIII to accede to their wishes, and is supported by the majority of the CouncilBassompierre is of the contrary opinion and urges the King to reduce Montpellier to entire submission and repentanceLouis XIII decides to follow the advice of Bassompierre, and the siege of the town is begunA disastrous day for the Royal armyDeath of Zamet and the Italian engineer GamoriniPolitical intriguesBassompierre succeeds in securing the post of Keeper of the Seals for Caumartin, although the King has already promised it to dAligre, the nominee of CondHeavy losses sustained by the besiegers in an attack upon one of the advanced worksCond quits the army and sets out for ItalyBassompierre is created marshal of France amidst general acclamationsPeace is signedDeath of the Abb RoucellaBassompierre accompanies the King to Avignon, where he again falls of petechial fever, but recoversHe assists at the entry of the King and Queen into LyonsHe is offered the government of the Maine, but declines it.

Fall of SchombergLa Vieuville becomes Surintendent des FinancesHis bitter jealousy of BassompierreHe informs Louis XIII that the marshal deserves the Bastille or worseSemi-disgrace of Bassompierre, who, however, succeeds in making his peace with the KingMismanagement of public affairs by Puisieux and his father, the Chancellor Brulart de SilleryLa Vieuville and Richelieu intrigue against them and procure their dismissal from officeThe Earl of Holland arrives in Paris to sound the French Court on the question of a marriage between the Prince of Wales and Henrietta MariaBassompierre takes part in a grand ballet at the LouvreLa Vieuville accuses the marshal of drawing more money for the Swiss than he is entitled toForeign policy of La VieuvilleRichelieu re-enters the CouncilBassompierre accused by La Vieuville of being a pensioner of SpainSerious situation of the marshalThe Conntable Lesdiguires advises Bassompierre to leave France, but the latter decides to remainDifferences between La Vieuville and Richelieu over the negotiations for the English marriageArrogance and presumption of La VieuvilleIntrigues of Richelieu against himThe King informs Bassompierre that he has decided to disgrace La VieuvilleIndiscretion of the marshalDuplicity of Louis XIII towards his MinisterFall of La VieuvilleRichelieu becomes the virtual head of the Council

Vigorous foreign policy of RichelieuThe recovery of the ValtellinaHis projected blow at the Spanish power in Northern Italy frustrated by a fresh Huguenot insurrectionBassompierre sent to BrittanyMarriage of Charles I and Henrietta MariaBassompierre offered the command of a new army which is to be despatched to ItalyHe demands 7,000 men from the Army of ChampagneThe Duc dAngoulme and Louis de Marillac, the generals commanding that army, have recourse to the bogey of a German invasion in order to retain these troopsBassompierre declines the appointmentConversation between Bassompierre and the Spanish Ambassador Mirabello on the subject of peace between France and SpainThe marshal is empowered to treat for peace with MirabelloSingular conduct of the AmbassadorNews arrives from Madrid that Philip IV has revoked the powers given to MirabelloBassompierre is sent as Ambassador Extraordinary to the Swiss Cantons to counteract the intrigues of the house of Austria and the PapacyHis reception in SwitzerlandLavish hospitality which he dispensesComplete success of his negotiations