The Assembly of the Notables--Bassompierre nominated one of the four presidents--The “sorry Château of Versailles”--The ballet of _le Sérieux et le Grotesque_--Execution of Montmorency-Boutteville and Des Chapelles for duelling--Death of _Madame_--Preparations for war with England--Louis XIII resolves to take command of the army assembled in Poitou--The King falls ill at the Château of Villeroy--Bassompierre is prevented by Richelieu from visiting him--Intrigue by which the Duc d’Angoulême is appointed to the command of the army which ought to have devolved upon Bassompierre--Descent of Buckingham upon the Île de Ré--Blockade of the fortress of Saint-Martin--Investment of La Rochelle by the Royal army--Bassompierre, the King, and Richelieu at the Château of Saumery--The Cardinal assumes the practical direction of the military operations--Provisions and reinforcements are thrown into Saint-Martin--Refusal of the Maréchaux de Bassompierre and Schomberg to allow Angoulême to be associated with them in the command of the Royal army--Schomberg is persuaded to accept the duke as a colleague--Bassompierre persists in his refusal and requests permission of the King to leave the army--He is offered and accepts the command of a separate army, which is to blockade La Rochelle from the north-western side--He declines the government of Brittany--Dangerous situation of Buckingham’s army in the Île de Ré--Unsuccessful attempt to take Saint-Martin by assault--Disastrous retreat of the English.....pp. 502-528 CHAPTER XXXVI Siege of La Rochelle begins--Immense difficulties of the undertaking--Unwillingness of the great nobles to see the Huguenot party entirely crushed--Remark of Bassompierre--Courage and energy of Richelieu--His measures to provide for the welfare and efficiency of the besieging army--The lines of circumvallation--Erection of the Fort of La Fons by Bassompierre--The construction of the mole is begun and proceeded with in the face of great difficulties--Responsibilities of Bassompierre--The Duc d’Angoulême accuses the marshal of a gross piece of negligence, but the latter succeeds in turning the tables upon his accuser--Louis XIII returns to Paris, leaving Richelieu with the title of “Lieutenant-General of the Army”--Critical state of affairs in Italy--Unsuccessful attempts to take La Rochelle by surprise--Intrigues of Marie de’ Medici and the High Catholic party against Richelieu--The King rejoins the army--Guiton elected Mayor of La Rochelle.....pp. 529-541 CHAPTER XXXVII