CHAPTER XXX

Fall of Schomberg--La Vieuville becomes _Surintendent des Finances_--His bitter jealousy of Bassompierre--He informs Louis XIII that the marshal “deserves the Bastille or worse”--Semi-disgrace of Bassompierre, who, however, succeeds in making his peace with the King--Mismanagement of public affairs by Puisieux and his father, the Chancellor Brulart de Sillery--La Vieuville and Richelieu intrigue against them and procure their dismissal from office--The Earl of Holland arrives in Paris to sound the French Court on the question of a marriage between the Prince of Wales and Henrietta Maria--Bassompierre takes part in a grand ballet at the Louvre--La Vieuville accuses the marshal of drawing more money for the Swiss than he is entitled to--Foreign policy of La Vieuville--Richelieu re-enters the Council--Bassompierre accused by La Vieuville of being a pensioner of Spain--Serious situation of the marshal--The Connétable Lesdiguières advises Bassompierre to leave France, but the latter decides to remain--Differences between La Vieuville and Richelieu over the negotiations for the English marriage--Arrogance and presumption of La Vieuville--Intrigues of Richelieu against him--The King informs Bassompierre that he has decided to disgrace La Vieuville--Indiscretion of the marshal--Duplicity of Louis XIII towards his Minister--Fall of La Vieuville--Richelieu becomes the virtual head of the Council.....pp. 394-410