pledge--Madame de Verneuil urges her claim to the hand of the Duc de Guise--The important document--A ducal dilemma--The Regent discountenances the claim of the Marquise--Madame de Verneuil is induced by Jeannin to withdraw her pretensions--Her subsequent obscurity. CHAPTER II 1610 A temporary calm--Louis XIII--Marie de Medicis purchases the Marquisate of Ancre for Concini--Rapid rise of his fortunes--His profusion--He intrigues to create dissension among the Princes of the Blood--His personal endowments--The Duc de Bouillon endeavours to induce M. de Condé to revolt--He fails--He disposes of his office at Court to the Marquis d'Ancre--Marie de Medicis continues the public edifices commenced and projected by Henri IV--Zeal of the Duc de Mayenne--Cupidity of the Court--M. de Condé and his advisers--The Prince and the Minister--Forebodings of Sully--He determines to resign office--His unpopularity--The Regent refuses to accept his resignation--The war in Germany--The Regent resolves to despatch an army to Clèves--The Duc de Bouillon demands the command of the troops--Is refused by the Council--Retires in disgust to Sedan--The command is conferred on the Maréchal de la Châtre--A bootless campaign--The French troops return home--New dissensions at Court--The Duc d'Epernon becomes the declared enemy of the Protestants--Apprehensions of the reformed party--Quarrel of Sully and Villeroy--The Regent endeavours to effect a reconciliation with the Prince de Conti--Princely wages--M. de Conti returns to Court--The Princes of the Blood attend the Parliament--The Marquis d'Ancre is admitted to the State Council--Sully and Bouillon retire from the capital--Sully resolves to withdraw from the Government, but is again induced to retain office--The King and Père Cotton--The Court leave Paris for Rheims--Coronation of Louis XIII--His public entry into the capital--The Prince de Condé and the Comte de Soissons are reconciled--Quarrel between the Marquis d'Ancre and the Duc de Bellegarde--Cabal against Sully--The Huguenots petition for a General Assembly--Reluctance of the Regent to concede their demand--She finds herself compelled to comply--M. de Villeroy garrisons Lyons--Sully retires from the Ministry--Demands of the Princes--Sully's last official act--His parting interview with Louis XIII--The Minister and the Mountebanks. CHAPTER III 1611