CHAPTER XLI

Bassompierre in the Bastille--He is informed that he has been imprisoned “from fear lest he might be induced to do wrong”--_Monsieur_ retires to Lorraine--The marshal’s nephew the Marquis de Bassompierre is ordered to leave France--After a few weeks of captivity, Bassompierre solicits his liberty, which is refused--He falls seriously ill, but recovers--Death of his wife the Princesse de Conti--Flight of the Queen-Mother to Brussels--Death of Bassompierre’s brother the Marquis de Removille--Execution of the Maréchal de Marillac--Montmorency’s revolt--Trial and execution of the duke--Hopes of liberty, which, however, do not materialise--Arrest of Châteauneuf--Arrival of the Chevalier de Jars in the Bastille--A grim experience--Bassompierre disposes of his post of Colonel-General of the Swiss to the Marquis de Coislin--The marshal’s hopes of liberty constantly flattered and as constantly deceived--Malignity of Richelieu--The ravages committed by the contending armies upon his estates in Lorraine reduce Bassompierre to the verge of ruin--The marshal’s niece, Madame de Beuvron, solicits her uncle’s liberty of Richelieu--Mocking answer of the Cardinal--Some notes written by Bassompierre in the margin of a copy of Dupleix’s history are published under his name, but without his authority--The historian complains to the Cardinal--Arrest of Valbois for reciting a sonnet attacking Richelieu for his treatment of Bassompierre--Apprehensions of the marshal--His despair at his continued detention--Grief occasioned him by the death of a favourite dog--The Duc de Guise dies in exile.....pp. 614-633