Reign of Henry IV. continued—Viscount de Tavannes—The marshal duke of Biron—Faults of Biron—Friendship of Henry IV. for Biron—La Fin, and his influence over Biron—The Duke of Savoy—Biron’s first treason pardoned—Embassies of Biron—Speech of Queen Elizabeth to Biron—Discontent among the nobles—Art of La Fin—Imprisonment of Renazé—La Fin betrays Biron—Artifices employed to lull Biron into security—Arrest of Biron, and the Count of Auvergne—Conduct of Biron in the Bastile—His trial—His execution—Respect paid to his remains—Monbarot sent to the Bastile—The Count of Auvergne—He is sent to the Bastile but soon released—He plots again—Cause and intent of the conspiracy—He is again arrested—Sentence of death passed on him, but commuted for imprisonment—He spends twelve years in the Bastile—Mary of Medicis releases him—Conspiracy of Merargues—He is executed—Death of Henry IV. 133 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. 172 CHAPTER VII. Reign of Louis XIV.—Regency of Anne of Austria—Inauspicious circumstances under which she assumed the regency—George de Casselny—The Count de Montresor—The Marquis de Fontrailles—Marshal de Rantzau—The Count de Rieux—Bernard Guyard—Broussel, governor of the Bastile—The Duchess of Montpensier orders the cannon of the Bastile to be fired on the king’s army—Conclusion of the war of the Fronde—Surrender of the Bastile—Despotism of Louis XIV.—Slavishness of the nobles—John Herauld Gourville—The Count de Guiche—Nicholas Fouquet—Paul Pellisson-Fontainier—Charles St. Evremond—Simon Morin—The Marquis de Vardes—Count Bussy Rabutin—Saci le Maistre—The Duke of Lauzun—Marquis of Cavoie—The Chevalier de Rohan—A nameless prisoner—Charles D’Assoucy—Miscellaneous prisoners. 217 CHAPTER VIII.