CHAPTER XXIV

A new War of Religion breaks out in France--Luynes created Constable--Louis XIII and Duplessis-Mornay--Bassompierre joins the Royal army before Saint-Jean d’Angély--Capitulation of the town--Bassompierre returns with Créquy to Paris--He is “in great consideration” amongst the ladies--Apparent anxiety of Luynes for the marriage of his niece to Bassompierre--The King and the Constable resolve to lay siege to Montauban--Bassompierre decides to rejoin the army without waiting for orders from the latter--He arrives at the King’s quarters at the Château of Picqueos--Dispositions of the besieging army--Narrow escape of Bassompierre while reconnoitring the advanced-works of the town--A gallant Swiss--Death of the Comte de Fiesque--Heavy casualties amongst the besiegers--The Seigneur de Tréville--Bassompierre and the women of Montauban--Death of Mayenne--The Spanish monk--An amateur general--Disastrous results of carrying out his orders--Furious sortie of the garrison--Bassompierre is wounded in the face--An amusing incident--The Cévennes mountaineers endeavour to throw reinforcements into Montauban--A midnight _mêlée_.....pp. 299-319

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

VOL. I

FRANÇOIS, SEIGNEUR DE BASSOMPIERRE, MARQUIS D’HAROUEL, MARÉCHAL DE FRANCE _Frontispiece_

From an engraving by Lasne.

FACING PAGE

GABRIELLE D’ESTRÉES, DUCHESSE DE BEAUFORT 24

HENRIETTE DE BALSAC D’ENTRAGUES, MARQUISE DE VERNEUIL 78

From an engraving by Aubert.

CHARLOTTE MARGUERITE DE MONTMORENCY, PRINCESSE DE CONDÉ 104

From an engraving by Barbant.

HENRI IV, KING OF FRANCE 136

CONCINO CONCINI, MARÉCHAL D’ANCRE 184

From an engraving by Aubert.

CHARLES D’ALBERT, DUC DE LUYNES, CONSTABLE OF FRANCE 238

From a contemporary print.

PHILIP IV, KING OF SPAIN 290

From the painting by Velasquez.

A Gallant of Lorraine