The fate of Merargues could not be doubtful. He was sentenced to be beheaded, and then quartered. As the culprit was related to the families of the duke of Montpensier and the cardinal de Joyeuse, the king sent to those personages, to offer the commutation of the punishment into perpetual imprisonment. They, however, with a praiseworthy spirit, replied that, though they were grateful for his kindness, they must decline to accept it; of all such villains they would, they said, be glad to see France cleared, and, although the criminal was their relative, they would do justice on him with their own hands, if there were no executioner to perform that duty. Merargues was in consequence executed, at the Grêve, and his head was sent to Marseilles, and exposed on the summit of one of the city gates. On the same day that Merargues was led to the scaffold, the life of Henry was endangered by the violence of one John de Lisle, a madman. In the course of a few months another accident occurred; he narrowly escaped drowning, while crossing the ferry of Neuilly in his carriage. At the expiration of five years, treason accomplished its purpose, and the existence of this justly celebrated monarch was cut short by the knife of Ravaillac. CHAPTER VI. Reign of Louis XIII.—The treasure of Henry IV. dissipated—Prevalent belief in magic—Cesar and Ruggieri—Henry, prince of Condé—The Marchioness d’Ancre—Marshal Ornano—Prevalence of duelling—The count de Bouteville—The Day of the Dupes—Vautier, the physician of Mary of Medicis—The marshal de Bassompierre—The chevalier de Jars—Infamy of Laffemas—Three citizens of Paris sent to the Bastile—Despotic language of Louis XIII.—The count de Cramail—The Marquis of Vitry—Peter de la Porte—Noel Pigard Dubois, an alchemical impostor—The count de Grancé and the Marquis de Praslin—The prince Palatine—Count Philip d’Aglie—Charles de Beys—Letter from an unknown prisoner to Richelieu.