Conditions of peace with the Huguenots decided upon--Refusal of the citizens of Montpellier to open their gates to the King until his army has been disbanded--Bullion advises Louis XIII to accede to their wishes, and is supported by the majority of the Council--Bassompierre is of the contrary opinion, and urges the King to reduce Montpellier to “entire submission and repentance”--Louis XIII decides to follow the advice of Bassompierre, and the siege of the town is begun--A disastrous day for the Royal army--Death of Zamet and the Italian engineer Gamorini--Political intrigues--Bassompierre succeeds in securing the post of Keeper of the Seals for Caumartin, although the King has already promised it to d’Aligre, the nominee of Condé--Heavy losses sustained by the besiegers in an attack upon one of the advanced-works--Condé quits the army and sets out for Italy--Bassompierre is created marshal of France amidst general acclamations--Peace is signed--Death of the Abbé Roucellaï--Bassompierre accompanies the King to Avignon, where he again falls of petechial fever, but recovers--He assists at the entry of the King and Queen into Lyons--He is offered the government of the Maine, but declines it. The Royal army had now invested Montpellier, which Rohan was determined to defend to the last extremity, if he were unable to obtain a treaty for the whole body of his co-religionists; but it seemed as though peace would intervene to prevent further bloodshed. The Huguenots had abated many of their pretensions, and Louis XIII, on his side, was not disposed to press too hardly upon them. Affairs without were becoming more and more alarming; and if the Ultramontane party, blinded by religious hatred, desired to continue the war until the Protestants were entirely crushed, level-headed men saw with grief France rendered impotent abroad and a prey to civil strife to satisfy the bigotry of fanatics and the egoistic ambition of the Prince de Condé. Lesdiguières, who desired to terminate his career by the deliverance of Italy, resumed his negotiations with Rohan, and in an interview between them at Saint-Privat conditions of peace were decided upon. The King was prepared to sign the articles and to make his entry into Montpellier; but the inhabitants firmly refused to open their gates to him. If, said they, the King would withdraw with his army to a distance of ten leagues, they would admit the Constable with what forces he wished to enter, and a week hence, when his army had been disbanded, they would receive his Majesty with all possible magnificence.