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 de Medicis--Her anger against the Chancellor--She holds a secret council--The Prince de Conde is directed to demand the seals from M.de Sillery, and to command him to retire from the capital--Marie determines to arrest the Duc d'Epernon--Her designs are thwarted by Concini--The Marquis d'Ancre introduces the son of M.de Luz to the Regent--Marie promises him her protection-- Bassompierre endeavours to effect the recall of the Duc de Guise, and succeeds--His reception by the Regent--Arrogance of the Duchesse de Guise--The Prince de Conde forms an alliance with M.de Guise-- Influence of the Prince--He demands the captaincy of the Chateau Trompette--Over-zealous friends--Alarm of the Queen--She resolves to conciliate the Guises--The Marquis d'Ancre and his wife incur the displeasure of the Queen-Marie purchases the loyalty of the Duc de Guise--Dignified bearing of the Duc d'Epernon--A reconciliation--"Put not your faith in princes"-- Exultation of the ministers--A private audience--Eavesdroppers--Mortification of the Prince de Conde--Concini endeavours to conciliate the Queen--He is repulsed--The young Baron de Luz challenges the Chevalier de Guise--Wounds his adversary, and is killed--Royal solicitude--Death of the Chevalier de Guise--Banquet at the Hotel de Conde--Affront to Bassompierre--Concini retires to Amiens--The Duc de Vendome joins the faction of the Prince de Conde--A new intrigue--Suspicions of the Regent--Midnight visitors--The Prince de Conde and the Duc de Vendome leave the Court--The Regent refuses to sanction the departure of M.de Guise--The Queen and her favourite--The ministers pledge themselves to serve Concini--Peril of Bassompierre--He determines to leave France--Is dissuaded from his purpose by the Regent--Troubles in Mantua--Negotiation with the Duke of Savoy--James I.
offers the hand of Prince Charles of England to the Princesse Christine--Satisfaction of Marie de Medicis--The Pope takes alarm--The Regent and the Papal Nuncio--Death of the Marechal de Fervaques--Concini is made Marechal de France--Ladies of Honour--The Queen and her foster-sister--The Princesse de Conti--A well-timed visit--The new Marechal--A sensation at Court.
CHAPTER VI 1614 New anxieties--Disaffection of the Princes--They demand a reformation in the Government--Cunning of the Duc de Bouillon--Imprisonment of M.de Vendome--He escapes--The Regent suspects the sincerity of Bouillon--Conspiracy of the Ducs de Vendome and de Retz--The Duc de Nevers seizes Mezieres--Recall of M.d'Epernon--Marie de Medicis resolves to resign the Regency, but is dissuaded by her Council--Treasonable reports--Precarious position of the Queen--Levy of troops--Manifesto of the Prince de Conde--Reply of the Regent---Death of the Connetable-Duc de Montmorency---Bassompierre is appointed Colonel-General of the Swiss Guards--The march against M.de Conde--Marie endeavours to temporize---The price of loyalty--The Prince de Conde leaves Paris--Christening of the Duc d'Anjou and the Princesse Henriette Marie--A temporary calm--The Ducs de Vendome and de Retz excite the Burgundians to revolt--The Protestants refuse to join their faction--They are compelled to lay down their arms--The Prince de Conde marches upon Poitiers--The Church "military"-- The prelate and the populace--A governor superseded--The Prince is compelled to withdraw to Chatellerault--He burns down the episcopal palace--The Court proceed to Poitou--Their reception--The Duc de Vendome makes his submission--The States assemble at Nantes--Enormities perpetrated by the troops of M.de Vendome--Folly of that Prince--Death of the Prince de Conti--A bachelor-Benedict--A _nom de guerre_--Majority of Louis XIII--The Bed of Justice--The assembly of the States-General is deferred--The King solicits his mother to retain her authority in the Government--Meeting of the States--The early years of Louis XIII--Charles Albert de Luynes--His antecedents--His ambition--His favour with the young King--He is made Governor of Amboise.
CHAPTER VII 1615-16 Close of the States-General--The Bishop of Lucon--Declaration of the royal marriages--Ballet of Madame--State of the Court--Cabal of Concini--Death of Marguerite de Valois--Conde seeks to gain the Parliament--Distrust of Marie de Medicis--Conde leaves Paris--He refuses to accompany the King to Guienne--Perilous position of the Court party--The Marechal de Bois-Dauphin is appointed Commander-in-Chief--The Court proceed to Guienne--Illness of the Queen and Madame Elisabeth--The Court at Tours--Enforced inertness of M.de Bois-Dauphin--Conde is declared guilty of _lese-majeste_--He takes up arms--Murmurs of the royal generals--The Comte de St.Pol makes his submission--The Court reach Bordeaux--The royal marriages--Sufferings of the troops--Disaffection of the nobility--Irritation of the Protestants--Pasquinades--Negotiation with the Princes--The Duc de Guise assumes the command of the royal army--Singular escape of Marie de Medicis--Disgrace of the Duc d'Epernon--He retires to his government--The Queen and the astrologer..