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 CHAPTER I Birth of François de Bassompierre--Origin of the Bassompierre family--A romantic legend--His grandfather--His father--His early years--He and his younger brother Jean are sent to the University of Pont-à-Mousson, and afterwards to that of Ingoldstadt--Their studies at Ingoldstadt--Death of their father, Christophe de Bassompierre--Journey of the two brothers through Italy--Their return to Lorraine.