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Louis XIII.

THE LIFE

OF

MARIE DE MEDICIS

Queen of France

CONSORT OF HENRI IV, AND REGENT OF THEKINGDOM UNDER LOUIS XIII

BY

JULIA PARDOE

AUTHOR OF

'LOUIS XIV AND THE COURT OF FRANCE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY,'

'THE COURT AND REIGN OF FRANCIS THE FIRST,' ETC.

IN THREE VOLUMES

VOL. III

1890

CONTENTS

BOOK III

MARIE DE MEDICIS AS EXILE

CHAPTER I

1618

De Luynes resolves to compel the Queen-mother to remain at Blois--Treacheryof Richelieu--The suspicions of Marie are aroused--Herapprehensions--She demands permission to remove to Monceaux, and isrefused--She affects to resign herself to her fate--A royalcorrespondence--Vanity of the Due d'Epernon--A Court broil--The Abbé Rucellaïoffers his services to Marie de Medicis--He attempts to win over thegreat nobles to her cause--He is compelled to quit the Court, and retiresto Sedan--The Due de Bouillon refuses to join the cabal--The Ducd'Epernon consents to aid the escape of the Queen-mother--The ministersbecome suspicious of the designs of Richelieu--He is ordered to retire toCoussay, and subsequently to Avignon--Tyranny of M. de Roissy--TheQueen-mother resolves to demand a public trial--De Luynes affects toseek a reconciliation with the Prince de Condé--Firmness of theQueen-mother--The three Jesuits--Marie pledges herself not to leave Bloiswithout the sanction of the King--False confidence of De Luynes--Themalcontents are brought to trial--Weakness of the ministers--Politicalexecutions--Indignation of the people--The Princes resolve to liberatethe Queen-mother.

CHAPTER II

1619

The Due d'Epernon leaves Metz--A traitor--A minister at fault--The Ducde Bellegarde offers an asylum to the Queen-mother--Marie de Medicisescapes from Blois--She is conducted by M. d'Epernon to Angoulême--Gaietiesof the capital--Marriages of the Princesse Christine and Mademoisellede Vendôme--Louis XIII is apprised of the escape of theQueen--Alarm of the King--Advice of De Luynes--The Council resolveto despatch a body of troops under M. de Mayenne to removeMarie de Medicis from the keeping of the Duc d'Epernon-Discontentof the citizens--Louis XIII enters into a negotiation with his mother--Sherejects his conditions--Richelieu offers himself as a mediator, and isaccepted--The royal forces march on Angoulême--Marie prepares forresistance--The Princes withdraw from her cause--Schomberg proposes