A cold correspondence--Increasing influence of the Marquis d'Ancre--Animosity between the Duc d'Epernon and Concini--Disunion of the Princes de. Guise and de Lorraine--Renewed dissensions between M. de Bellegarde and the Marquis d'Ancre--They are reconciled by the Comte de Soissons--Marriage of the Duc de Guise--Jealousy of M. de Soissons--Quarrel between the Prince de Conti and the Comte de Soissons--Mission of the Duc de Guise--A new rupture--Intervention of the Duc de Mayenne--Alarm of the Regent--Sully leaves Paris--Madame de Sully--Retirement of M. de Thou--Unpopularity of the Duc d'Epernon--Marie de Medicis endeavours to reconcile the Princes--The royal closet--The Protestants prepare for the General Assembly--The Prince de Condé retires to Guienne--The Duc d'Epernon is charged to watch his movements--Arrogance of Concini--Concini seeks to marry his daughter to a son of the Comte de Soissons--Indignation of the Prince--Cunning of Concini--Bouillon returns to Court--He offers his services to the Regent at the General Assembly--He proceeds to Saumur--He desires to be appointed President of the Assembly--He is rejected in favour of M. du Plessis-Mornay--He attributes his defeat to Sully--He resolves to conciliate the ex-Minister of Finance--Meeting of the Assembly--The Court determines to dissolve the meeting--Prudence of Du Plessis-Mornay--Death of M. de Créquy--The Marquis d'Ancre succeeds to the government of Amiens--His insolent disregard of the royal prerogative--Indignation of the ministers--The Regent resents his impertinence--She refuses to receive Madame d'Ancre--Intrigues of the Princesse de Conti--The favourites forgiven--Marie de Medicis issues several salutary edicts--Court festivities--The Duchesse de Lorraine arrives at Fontainebleau--Death of the Duc de Mayenne--Death of the Queen of Spain---The Duchesse de Lorraine claims the hand of Louis XIII for her daughter--Death of the Duc d'Orléans--Departure of the Duchesse de Lorraine--Rival claims--M. de Brèves appointed preceptor to the Duc d'Anjou--The Comte de Soissons applies for the duchy of Alençon--Rebuke of the Regent--A hunting-party--A new cabal--Recall of the Maréchal de Lesdiguières--Marie de Medicis purchases the Hôtel de Luxembourg. CHAPTER IV 1612