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[Contents.]
[List of Illustrations] (In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] clicking directly on the image, will bring up a larger version.) (etext transcriber's note) |
A GALLANT OF LORRAINE
VOL. II.
A GALLANT
OF LORRAINE
FRANÇOIS, SEIGNEUR DE BASSOMPIERRE,
MARQUIS D’HAROUEL, MARÉCHAL
:: :: DE FRANCE (1579-1646) :: ::
BY
H. NOEL WILLIAMS
AUTHOR OF “FIVE FAIR SISTERS,” “A PRINCESS OF INTRIGUE,”
“THE BROOD OF FALSE LORRAINE,” ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES
With 16 Illustrations
VOL. II
LONDON : HURST & BLACKETT, LTD.
:: PATERNOSTER HOUSE, E.C. ::
CONTENTS
VOL. II
| [CHAPTER XXV] | |
|---|---|
Offer of Schomberg, Saint-Géran and Marillac to take Montauban withintwelve days—Advice of Père Arnoux—Diplomacy of Bassompierre—Ahumiliating fiasco—A second attempt meets with nobetter success—Bassompierre counsels the King to raise the siege,and it is decided to follow his advice—General exasperation againstLuynes—Louis XIII begins to grow weary of his favourite—Conversationof the King with Bassompierre—The latter warnsLuynes that he “does not sufficiently cultivate the good graces ofthe King”—Reply of the Constable—Louis XIII twits Luyneswith the love of the Duc de Chevreuse for his wife—Puisieux,Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Père Arnoux, the King’s Jesuitconfessor, conspire against the Constable—Disgrace of the latter—Bassompierre,at the head of the bulk of the Royal forces, layssiege to Monheurt—A perilous situation—Bassompierre falls illof fever—He leaves the army and sets out for La Réole—He istaken seriously ill at Marmande—His three doctors—Approach ofthe enemy—Refusal of the townsfolk to admit him and his suiteinto the town—A terrible night—He recovers and proceeds toBordeaux—Death of the Constable before Monheurt | |
| [CHAPTER XXVI] | |
Who will govern the King and France?—The pretenders to the royalfavour—Position of Bassompierre—The Cardinal de Retz andSchomberg join forces and secure for their ally De Vic the office ofKeeper of the Seals—They propose to remove Bassompierre fromthe path of their ambition by separating him from the King—Bassompierreis offered the lieutenancy-general of Guienne andsubsequently the government of Béarn, but declines both offices—Heinflicts a sharp reverse upon Retz and Schomberg—Condéjoins the Court—His designs—The rival parties: the party of theMinisters and the party of the marshals—Monsieur le Princedecides to ally himself with that of the Ministers—Mortifyingrebuff administered by the King to the Ministers at the instance ofBassompierre—Failure of an attempt of the Ministers to injureBassompierre and Créquy with Louis XIII—Arrival of the Kingin Paris—Affectionate meeting between him and his mother—Accidentto the Queen | |
| [CHAPTER XXVII] | |
Question of the Huguenot War the principal subject of contentionbetween the two parties—Condé and the Ministers demand itscontinuance—Marie de’ Medici, prompted by Richelieu, advocatespeace—Secret negotiations of Louis XIII with the Huguenotleaders—Soubise’s offensive in the West obliges the King to continuethe war—Louis XIII advances against the Huguenot chief,who has established himself in the Île de Rié—Condé accusesBassompierre of “desiring to prevent him from acquiring glory”—Courageof the King—Passage of the Royal army from the Îledu Perrier to the Île de Rié—Total defeat of Soubise—Siege ofRoyan—The King in the trenches—His remarkable coolness andintrepidity under fire—Capitulation of Royan—The Marquis de laForce created a marshal of France—Conversation between LouisXIII and Bassompierre—Diplomatic speech of the latter | |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII] | |
Condé and his allies offer to secure for Bassompierre the position offavourite, if he will join forces with them to bring about the fall ofPuisieux—Refusal of Bassompierre—Condé complains to LouisXIII of Bassompierre’s hostility to him—Bassompierre informs theKing of the proposal which has been made him—Louis XIII ordersMonsieur le Prince to be reconciled with Bassompierre—Siege ofNégrepelisse—The town is taken by storm—Terrible fate of thegarrison and the inhabitants—Fresh differences between Condéand Bassompierre—Discomfiture of Monsieur le Prince—Bassompierre,placed temporarily in command of the Royal army, capturesthe towns of Carmain and Cuq-Toulza—Offer of Bassompierre toresign his claim to the marshal’s bâton in favour of Schomberg—Surrenderof Lunel—Massacre of the garrison by disbanded soldiersof the Royal army—Bassompierre causes eight of the latter to behanged—Lunel in danger of being destroyed by fire with allwithin its walls—Bassompierre, by his presence of mind, saves thesituation—Schomberg and Bassompierre—The latter is promisedthe marshal’s bâton | |
| [CHAPTER XXIX] | |
Conditions of peace with the Huguenots decided upon—Refusal of thecitizens of Montpellier to open their gates to the King until hisarmy has been disbanded—Bullion advises Louis XIII to accedeto their wishes, and is supported by the majority of the Council—Bassompierreis of the contrary opinion and urges the King toreduce Montpellier to “entire submission and repentance”—LouisXIII decides to follow the advice of Bassompierre, and thesiege of the town is begun—A disastrous day for the Royal army—Deathof Zamet and the Italian engineer Gamorini—Politicalintrigues—Bassompierre succeeds in securing the post of Keeperof the Seals for Caumartin, although the King has already promisedit to d’Aligre, the nominee of Condé—Heavy losses sustained bythe besiegers in an attack upon one of the advanced works—Condéquits the army and sets out for Italy—Bassompierre iscreated marshal of France amidst general acclamations—Peace issigned—Death of the Abbé Roucellaï—Bassompierre accompaniesthe King to Avignon, where he again falls of petechial fever, butrecovers—He assists at the entry of the King and Queen intoLyons—He is offered the government of the Maine, but declines it. | |
| [CHAPTER XXX] | |
Fall of Schomberg—La Vieuville becomes Surintendent des Finances—Hisbitter jealousy of Bassompierre—He informs Louis XIII thatthe marshal “deserves the Bastille or worse”—Semi-disgrace ofBassompierre, who, however, succeeds in making his peace withthe King—Mismanagement of public affairs by Puisieux and hisfather, the Chancellor Brulart de Sillery—La Vieuville andRichelieu intrigue against them and procure their dismissal fromoffice—The Earl of Holland arrives in Paris to sound the FrenchCourt on the question of a marriage between the Prince of Walesand Henrietta Maria—Bassompierre takes part in a grand ballet atthe Louvre—La Vieuville accuses the marshal of drawing moremoney for the Swiss than he is entitled to—Foreign policy of LaVieuville—Richelieu re-enters the Council—Bassompierre accusedby La Vieuville of being a pensioner of Spain—Serious situation ofthe marshal—The Connétable Lesdiguières advises Bassompierreto leave France, but the latter decides to remain—Differencesbetween La Vieuville and Richelieu over the negotiations for theEnglish marriage—Arrogance and presumption of La Vieuville—Intriguesof Richelieu against him—The King informs Bassompierrethat he has decided to disgrace La Vieuville—Indiscretionof the marshal—Duplicity of Louis XIII towards his Minister—Fallof La Vieuville—Richelieu becomes the virtual head of theCouncil | |
| [CHAPTER XXXI] | |
Vigorous foreign policy of Richelieu—The recovery of the Valtellina—Hisprojected blow at the Spanish power in Northern Italyfrustrated by a fresh Huguenot insurrection—Bassompierre sentto Brittany—Marriage of Charles I and Henrietta Maria—Bassompierreoffered the command of a new army which is to bedespatched to Italy—He demands 7,000 men from the Army ofChampagne—The Duc d’Angoulême and Louis de Marillac, thegenerals commanding that army, have recourse to the bogey of aGerman invasion in order to retain these troops—Bassompierredeclines the appointment—Conversation between Bassompierreand the Spanish Ambassador Mirabello on the subject of peacebetween France and Spain—The marshal is empowered to treatfor peace with Mirabello—Singular conduct of the Ambassador—Newsarrives from Madrid that Philip IV has revoked the powersgiven to Mirabello—Bassompierre is sent as Ambassador Extraordinaryto the Swiss Cantons to counteract the intrigues of thehouse of Austria and the Papacy—His reception in Switzerland—Lavishhospitality which he dispenses—Complete success of hisnegotiations | |
| [CHAPTER XXXII] | |
Bassompierre goes on a mission to Charles IV of Lorraine—He returnsto France—The Venetian Ambassador Contarini informs themarshal that it is rumoured that a secret treaty has been signedbetween France and Spain—Richelieu authorises Bassompierre todeny that such a treaty exists, but the same day the marshal learnsfrom the King that the French Ambassador at Madrid has signeda treaty, though unauthorised to do so—Indignation of Bassompierre,who, however, refrains from denouncing the treaty, whichit is decided not to disavow—Explanation of this diplomaticimbroglio—Growing strength of the aristocratic opposition toRichelieu—The marriage of Monsieur—The “Conspiration desDames”—Intrigues of the Duchesse de Chevreuse—Madame deChevreuse and Chalais—Objects of the conspirators—Arrest ofthe Maréchal d’Ornano—Indignation of Monsieur—Conversationof Bassompierre with the prince—Plot against the life or liberty ofRichelieu—Chalais is forced by the Commander de Valençay toreveal it to the Cardinal—“The quarry is no longer at home!”—Alarmof Monsieur—His abject submission to the King andRichelieu—He resumes his intrigues—Chalais is again involved inthe conspiracy by Madame de Chevreuse—Arrest of the Duc deVendôme and his half-brother the Grand Prior | |
| [CHAPTER XXXIII] | |
Alarm of the conspirators at the arrest of the Vendômes—Chalais, atthe instigation of Madame de Chevreuse, urges Monsieur to takeflight and throw himself into a fortress—Monsieur and Chalaisjoin the Court at Blois—The Comte de Louvigny betrays the latterto the Cardinal—Chalais is arrested at Nantes—Despicable conductof Monsieur—Chalais, persuaded by Richelieu that Madamede Chevreuse is unfaithful to him, makes the gravest accusationagainst her, in the hope of saving his life—He is, nevertheless,condemned to death—He withdraws his accusations againstMadame de Chevreuse—His barbarous execution—Death of theMaréchal d’Ornano—Marriage of Monsieur—Bassompierre declinesthe post of Surintendant of Monsieur’s Household—Indignationof Louis XIII against Anne of Austria—Public humiliationinflicted upon the Queen—Banishment of Madame de Chevreuse—Bassompierrenominated Ambassador Extraordinary toEngland—Differences between Charles I and Henrietta over thequestion of the young Queen’s French attendants—The Tyburnpilgrimage—Expulsion of the French attendants from England—Resentmentof the Court of France | |
| [CHAPTER XXXIV] | |
Bassompierre arrives in England—His journey to London—He is visitedsecretly by the Duke of Buckingham—He visits the duke in thesame manner at York House—Charles I commands him to sendPère de Sancy back to France—Singular history of this ecclesiastic—Refusalof Bassompierre—His first audience of Charles I andHenrietta Maria at Hampton Court—Firmness of Bassompierre onthe question of Père de Sancy—He visits the Queen at SomersetHouse—His private audience of the King—He reproves thepresumption of Buckingham—Admirable qualities displayed byBassompierre in the difficult situation in which he is placed—Hesucceeds in effecting a reconciliation between the King and Queen—Hisable and eloquent speech before the Council—An agreementon the question of the Queen’s French attendants is finally arrivedat—Lord Mayor’s Day three centuries ago—Bassompierre reconcilesthe Queen with Buckingham—Stormy scene between Charles Iand Henrietta Maria at Whitehall—Bassompierre speaks his mindto the Queen—Intrigues of Père de Sancy—Peace is re-established—Magnificentfête at York House—Departure of Bassompierrefrom London—He is detained at Dover by bad weather—Englandand France on the verge of war—Buckingham decides to proceedto France on a special mission and proposes to accompany Bassompierre—Embarrassmentof the latter—He visits the duke atCanterbury and persuades him to defer his visit—A disastrousChannel passage—Return of Bassompierre to Paris—Refusal ofthe Court of France to receive Buckingham—An English historian’sappreciation of Bassompierre | |
| [CHAPTER XXXV] | |
The Assembly of the Notables—Bassompierre nominated one of thefour presidents—The “sorry Château of Versailles”—The balletof le Sérieux et le Grotesque—Execution of Montmorency-Bouttevilleand Des Chapelles for duelling—Death of Madame—Preparationsfor war with England—Louis XIII resolves to takecommand of the army assembled in Poitou—The King falls ill atthe Château of Villeroy—Bassompierre is prevented by Richelieufrom visiting him—Intrigue by which the Duc d’Angoulême isappointed to the command of the army which ought to havedevolved upon Bassompierre—Descent of Buckingham upon theÎle de Ré—Blockade of the fortress of Saint-Martin—Investmentof La Rochelle by the Royal army—Bassompierre, the King, andRichelieu at the Château of Saumery—The Cardinal assumes thepractical direction of the military operations—Provisions andreinforcements are thrown into Saint-Martin—Refusal of theMaréchaux de Bassompierre and Schomberg to allow Angoulêmeto be associated with them in the command of the Royal army—Schombergis persuaded to accept the duke as a colleague—Bassompierrepersists in his refusal and requests permission of theKing to leave the army—He is offered and accepts the commandof a separate army, which is to blockade La Rochelle from thenorth-western side—He declines the government of Brittany—Dangeroussituation of Buckingham’s army in the Île de Ré—Unsuccessfulattempt to take Saint-Martin by assault—Disastrousretreat of the English | |
| [CHAPTER XXXVI] | |
Siege of La Rochelle begins—Immense difficulties of the undertaking—Unwillingnessof the great nobles to see the Huguenot partyentirely crushed—Remark of Bassompierre—Courage and energyof Richelieu—His measures to provide for the welfare and efficiencyof the besieging army—The lines of circumvallation—Erection ofthe Fort of La Fons by Bassompierre—The construction of themole is begun and proceeded with in the face of great difficulties—Responsibilitiesof Bassompierre—The Duc d’Angoulêmeaccuses the marshal of a gross piece of negligence, but the lattersucceeds in turning the tables upon his accuser—Louis XIIIreturns to Paris, leaving Richelieu with the title of “Lieutenant-Generalof the Army”—Critical state of affairs in Italy—Unsuccessfulattempts to take La Rochelle by surprise—Intrigues ofMarie de’ Medici and the High Catholic party against Richelieu—TheKing rejoins the army—Guiton elected Mayor of LaRochelle | |
| [CHAPTER XXXVII] | |
Arrival of the English fleet under the Earl of Denbigh—Its composition—Daringfeat of an English pinnace—Retirement of the fleet—Probableexplanation of this fiasco—Indignation of Charles I,who orders Denbigh to return to La Rochelle, but this is found tobe impossible—The Rochellois approach Bassompierre with arequest for a conference to arrange terms of surrender—Thearrival of a letter from Charles I promising to send another fleetto their succour causes the negotiations to be broken off—LaRochelle in the grip of famine—Refusal of Louis XIII to allow theold men, women and children to pass through the Royal lines:their miserable fate—Movements in favour of surrender among thecitizens suppressed by the Mayor Guiton—Terrible sufferings ofLa Rochelle—Bassompierre spares the life of a Huguenot soldierwho had intended to kill him—Difficulties experienced by Charles Iand Buckingham in fitting out a new expedition—Assassinationof Buckingham—The vanguard of the English fleet, under thecommand of the Earl of Lindsey, appears off La Rochelle—Narrowescape of Richelieu and Bassompierre—The King takesup his quarters with Bassompierre at Laleu—Arrival of the restof the English fleet—Feeble efforts of the English to force theirway into the harbour—The Rochellois, reduced to the last extremity,sue for peace—Bassompierre conducts deputies from thetown to Richelieu—Surrender of La Rochelle—Bassompierrereturns with the King to Paris | |
| [CHAPTER XXXVIII] | |
The Duc de Rohan and the Huguenots of the South continue theirresistance—Opposition of Marie de’ Medici and the High Catholicparty to Richelieu’s Italian policy—The Cardinal’s memorial toLouis XIII—Monsieur appointed to the command of the armywhich is to enter Italy—The King, jealous of his brother, decidesto command in person—Twelve thousand crowns for a dozen ofcider—Combat of the Pass of Susa—Treaty signed with CharlesEmmanuel of Savoy—Problem of the reception of the GenoeseAmbassadors—Anger of Louis XIII at a jest of Bassompierre—Peacewith England—Campaign against the Huguenots of Languedoc—Massacreof the garrison of Privas—“La Paix de Grâce”—Surrenderof Montauban—Richelieu and d’Épernon—Bassompierrereturns to Paris with the Cardinal—Their frigid receptionby the Queen-Mother—Richelieu proposes to retire from affairsand the Court, but an accommodation is effected | |
| [CHAPTER XXXIX] | |
Serious situation of affairs in Italy—Trouble with Monsieur—Richelieuentrusted with the command of the Army in Italy—It is decidedto send Bassompierre on a special embassy to Switzerland—Themarshal buys the Château of Chaillot—His departure for Switzerland—Mazarinat Lyons—Bassompierre’s reception at Fribourg—Hearrives at Soleure and convenes a meeting of the Diet—Hisdiscomfiture of the Chancellor of Alsace—Success of his mission—Hereceives orders from Richelieu to mobilise 6,000 Swiss—TheCardinal as generalissimo—Pinerolo surrenders—Bassompierrejoins the King at Lyons—Louis XIII and Mlle. de Hautefort—Successfulcampaign of Bassompierre in Savoy—His mortificationat having to resign his command to the Maréchal de Châtillon—Increasingrancour of the Queen-Mother against Richelieu—Visitof Bassompierre to Paris—An unfortunate coincidence—Louis XIIIfalls dangerously ill at Lyons—Intrigues around his sick-bed—Periloussituation of Richelieu—Recovery of the King—Arrivalof Bassompierre at Lyons—Suspicions of Richelieu concerning themarshal—The latter endeavours to disarm them—Question ofBassompierre’s connection with the anti-Richelieu cabal considered—Hissecret marriage to the Princesse de Conti | |
| [CHAPTER XL] | |
Peace is signed with the Emperor at Ratisbon—The Queen-Motherdeprives Richelieu’s niece Madame de Combalet of her post ofdame d’atours and demands of Louis XIII the instant dismissalof the Cardinal—The Luxembourg interview—“The Day ofDupes”—Triumph of Richelieu—Bassompierre’s explanation ofhis own part in this affair—His visit to Versailles—“He hasarrived after the battle!”—He gives offence to Richelieu byrefusing an invitation to dinner—He finds himself in semi-disgrace—Monsieurquarrels with the Cardinal and leaves the Court—TheKing again treats Bassompierre with cordiality—Departure of theCourt for Compiègne—Bassompierre learns that the Queen-Motherhas been placed under arrest and the Princesse de Contiexiled, and that he himself is to be arrested—The marshal isadvised by the Duc d’Épernon to leave France—He declines andannounces his intention of going to the Court to meet his fate—Heburns “more than six thousand love-letters”—His arrival atthe Court—Singular conduct of the King towards him—Themarshal is arrested by the Sieur de Launay, lieutenant of theGardes du Corps, and conducted to the Bastille | |
| [CHAPTER XLI] | |
Bassompierre in the Bastille—He is informed that he has been imprisoned“from fear lest he might be induced to do wrong”—Monsieurretires to Lorraine—The marshal’s nephew the Marquisde Bassompierre is ordered to leave France—After a few weeks ofcaptivity, Bassompierre solicits his liberty, which is refused—Hefalls seriously ill, but recovers—Death of his wife the Princessede Conti—Flight of the Queen-Mother to Brussels—Death ofBassompierre’s brother the Marquis de Removille—Execution ofthe Maréchal de Marillac—Montmorency’s revolt—Trial andexecution of the duke—Hopes of liberty, which, however, do notmaterialise—Arrest of Châteauneuf—Arrival of the Chevalier deJars in the Bastille—A grim experience—Bassompierre disposesof his post of Colonel-General of the Swiss to the Marquis deCoislin—The marshal’s hopes of liberty constantly flattered and asconstantly deceived—Malignity of Richelieu—The ravages committedby the contending armies upon his estates in Lorrainereduce Bassompierre to the verge of ruin—The marshal’s niece,Madame de Beuvron, solicits her uncle’s liberty of Richelieu—Mockinganswer of the Cardinal—Some notes written by Bassompierrein the margin of a copy of Dupleix’s history are publishedunder his name, but without his authority—The historian complainsto the Cardinal—Arrest of Valbois for reciting a sonnetattacking Richelieu for his treatment of Bassompierre—Apprehensionsof the marshal—His despair at his continued detention—Griefoccasioned him by the death of a favourite dog—The Ducde Guise dies in exile | |
| [CHAPTER XLII] | |
Death of Richelieu—Bassompierre is offered his liberty on conditionthat he shall retire to his brother-in-law Saint-Luc’s Château ofTillières—He at first refuses to leave the Bastille, unless he ispermitted to return to Court—His friends persuade him to alterhis decision—He is authorised to reappear at Court—His answerto the King’s question concerning his age—He recovers his post asColonel-General of the Swiss—His death—His funeral—His sons,Louis de Bassompierre and François de la Tour—His nephews | |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOL. II
| [Queen Henrietta Maria] | [Frontispiece] |
| From the picture by Van Dyck at Dresden. | |
| FACING PAGE | |
| [Louis XIII King of France] | [346] |
| From an engraving by Picart. | |
| [Charles, Marquis de La Vieuville] | [402] |
| From a contemporary print. | |
| [François, Seigneur de Bassompierre, Marquis D’Harouel] | [430] |
| From a contemporary print. | |
| [Charles I] | [470] |
| After the picture by Van Dyck at Dresden. | |
| [George Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham] | [518] |
| After the picture by Gerard Honthorst in the National Portrait Gallery. Photo by Emery Walker. | |
| [Marie de’ Medicis, Queen of France] | [564] |
| From an old print. | |
| [Charlotte Louise de Lorraine, Princesse de Conti] | [604] |
| From an engraving by Thomas de Leu. | |