CHAPTER XLIII .-- --LOUIS XIV., THE FRONDE, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CARDINAL.
MAZARIN.

(1643-1661.) [Illustration: LOUIS XIV .-- --344] Louis XIII.

had never felt confidence in the queen his wife; and Cardinal Richelieu had fostered that sentiment which promoted his views.

When M.
de Chavigny came, on Anne of Austria's behalf, to assure the dying king that she had never had any part in the conspiracy of Chalais, or dreamt of espousing Monsieur in case she was left a widow, Louis XIII.
answered, "Considering the state I am in, I am bound to forgive her, but not to believe her." He did not believe her, he never had believed her, and his declaration touching the Regency was entirely directed towards counteracting by anticipation the power intrusted to his wife and his brother.

The queen's regency and the Duke of Orleans' lieutenant- generalship were in some sort subordinated to a council composed of the Prince of Conde, Cardinal Mazarin, Chancellor Seguier, Superintendent Bouthillier, and Secretary of State Chavigny, "with a prohibition against introducing any change therein, for any cause or on any occasion whatsoever." The queen and the Duke of Orleans had signed and sworn the declaration.
King Louis XIII.