CHAPTER VII

1615-16

Close of the States-General--The Bishop of Luçon--Declaration of the royal marriages--Ballet of Madame--State of the Court--Cabal of Concini--Death of Marguerite de Valois--Condé seeks to gain the Parliament--Distrust of Marie de Medicis--Condé leaves Paris--He refuses to accompany the King to Guienne--Perilous position of the Court party--The Maréchal de Bois-Dauphin is appointed Commander-in-Chief--The Court proceed to Guienne--Illness of the Queen and Madame Elisabeth--The Court at Tours--Enforced inertness of M. de Bois-Dauphin--Condé is declared guilty of _lèse-majesté_--He takes up arms--Murmurs of the royal generals--The Comte de St. Pol makes his submission--The Court reach Bordeaux--The royal marriages--Sufferings of the troops--Disaffection of the nobility--Irritation of the Protestants--Pasquinades--Negotiation with the Princes--The Duc de Guise assumes the command of the royal army--Singular escape of Marie de Medicis--Disgrace of the Duc d'Epernon--He retires to his government--The Queen and the astrologer.