[68] To the causes of Louis XIII.’s reserve, which we have just cited, may be added another, which the duty of not omitting anything causes us to indicate. According to the _Rélation de Don Fernando Giron_ (Archives of Simancas), Louis XIII. held aloof from Anne of Austria “because he had been persuaded that if he had a son, while yet so young, it would cause a civil war in the kingdom.” Nothing, however, confirms this supposition, or renders it likely. [69] Despatch of the Nuncio Bentivoglio, December 4, 1619. [70] _Mémoires de Bassompierre_, confirmed by the _Journal d’Héroard_, March 26, 1622. [71] _Journal d’Héroard_, _passim_, and especially June 8, and August 21, 1626. [72] _Ibid._, May 10, 1621. [73] “He was playing with some little balls, rolling them along his taper stand, and calling them soldiers. M. de Souvré reproved him, and told him that he was always amusing himself at childish games. ‘But, Monsieur de Souvré, these are soldiers; this is not a child’s game!’ ‘Sir, you will always be a child.’ ‘It is you who keep me one!’”--_Journal d’Héroard_, February 21, 1610. [74] Several facts cited by Héroard prove that Louis XIII. was not at all sensible to flattery. (See particularly Oct 8, and Dec. 3, 1610.) [75] Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Manuscripts. Original Letters of Louis XIII. Section France, 5. [76] Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Manuscripts. Section France, vol. lxxxviii. fol. 99, and lxxxix. fols. 3, 23, 67, 78, and 103. [77] M. Michelet indicates another motive which it is only necessary to cite in order to show its improbability. “Richelieu,” he says, “trusted in the weakness of the Queen’s nature, and, consequently, that one day or other she would be involved in some embarrassment or thoughtlessness which would leave her at his mercy.” [78] _Mémoires de La Porte_, p. 370. [79] Letter from Richelieu to Marshal de Schonberg, September 25, 1630; Letter from Father Suffren, Louis XIII.’s confessor, to Father Jacquinot, October 1, 1630. [80] Letter from Father Suffren, already quoted. In one year Bouvart, Louis XIII.’s doctor, had him bled 47 times, made him take 212 medicines and 215 injections.--_Archives Curieuses de l’Histoire de France_, by Cimber and Danjou, 2nd series, vol. v. p. 63. [81] Letter from Richelieu to Schonberg, September 30, 1630; Letter from Richelieu to d’Effiat, October 1, 1630.--_Mémoires de Richelieu_, book xi. vol vi. p. 296. Letter from Father Suffren, already quoted.