CHAPTER XXVIII

Condé and his allies offer to secure for Bassompierre the position of favourite, if he will join forces with them to bring about the fall of Puisieux--Refusal of Bassompierre--Condé complains to Louis XIII of Bassompierre’s hostility to him--Bassompierre informs the King of the proposal which has been made him--Louis XIII orders _Monsieur le Prince_ to be reconciled with Bassompierre--Siege of Négrepelisse--The town is taken by storm--Terrible fate of the garrison and the inhabitants--Fresh differences between Condé and Bassompierre--Discomfiture of _Monsieur le Prince_--Bassompierre, placed temporarily in command of the Royal army, captures the towns of Carmain and Cuq-Toulza--Offer of Bassompierre to resign his claim to the marshal’s bâton in favour of Schomberg--Surrender of Lunel--Massacre of the garrison by disbanded soldiers of the Royal army--Bassompierre causes eight of the latter to be hanged--Lunel in danger of being destroyed by fire with all within its walls--Bassompierre, by his presence of mind, saves the situation--Schomberg and Bassompierre--The latter is promised the marshal’s bâton.....pp. 363-376