Abstract
For the next five years, till the death of Concini, the regency drifted on the turbulent waters of palace intrigue from one crisis to another. Dissension thrived at the court and the nobles’ quarrels often threatened not only the peace of the realm but the stability of the monarchy itself. The Condes, the Guises, the Montmorencies struggled to keep power and wealth in their own hands or in those of their friends. The time of kings has passed, the princes jubilantly announced. Our day has come at last; let us make the most of this opportunity.1
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Reference
Sully, Mémoires (Petitot edition) VIII, 396.
Françoise de Motteville, Mémoires (Michaud edition) (Paris, 1857) p. 109.
See for example Remonstrance it la Royne sur les alliances d’Espagne (n.p., 1614) particularly p. 25. For the details of this settlement see the marriage contract between Louis XIII and Anne of Austria which was signed jointly by the Dukes of Guise and Lerma. Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 3805 f. 27–31 vo.
Lettre de Monseigneur le Prince à la Royne (Mezières, 1614) p. 7.
Bouillon believed that he had performed a major service in restraining the Huguenot zealots at Saumur. “Nous avons ésté sur le bord de précipice,” he wrote to his friend Villiers Hotman on November 1, 1611. Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Colbert No. 17 f. 39.
Justus Zinzerling, jodoci sinceri itinerarium Galliae (Geneva, 1627) p. 125.
Rohan, Mémoires (Michaud edition) p. 503.
The details of this transaction may be found in Bassompierre’s journal de ma vie I, 367–371. The court poet François de Malherbe says that Rohan first agreed to sell his colonelcy for 30,000 francs, then raised the ante to 36,000. “Lettres à Peiresc” in his Oeuvres complètes (5 vols., Paris, 1862–69) III, 393, 412. This is confirmed in Marguerite de Bethune’s “Mémoires,” Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 15, 873, f. 112. See also what appears to be Rohan’s formal offer to resign his office, written at Saint Jean d’Angèly, Bibliothèque nationale Fonds Clairambault 364 f. 2.
David de Liques, Vie de Duplessis-Mornay p. 390–92.
Michel Levassor, Histoire du règne de Louis XIII roi de France et de Navarre I, 551–552.
See for example Claude Malingre Entrée magn/que du roy faicte en sa ville de Rouen le mardy 8 juillet 1614 avec l’ordre et cérémonies observées en icelle (Rouen, 5654) passim.
Paul Marchegay, compiler Notices et pièces historiques sur l’ Anjou, l’Aunis, et La Saintonge, La Bretagne, et Le Poitou. (Angers, 1872) third pagination p. 17. See also Sir Thomas Edmond-es to James I August 52, 1614, Public Record Office State Papers 78/62 f. 96–99.
Pontchartrain, Mémoires (Petitot edition) II, 56.
Malherbe to Peiresc, March 1 o, 1614, in the former’s Oeuvres III, 404.
For a recent interpretation of the Estates General of 1614 see three articles in French Historical Studies. George A. Rothrock, “The French Crown and the Estates General of 1614” I (1960) 295–318 and his “Officials and King’s Men: A Note on the Possibilities of Royal Control in the Estates General” II (1962) 504–510, also J. Michael Hayden, “Deputies and Qualities: The Estates General of 1614” III (5964) 507–524.
Florimand Rapine, Recueil très exact et curieux de tout ce qui s’est passé de singulier et mémorable en l’assemblée générale des Etats tenus à Paris en l’année r6r4 (Paris, 1651) p. 133.
For Conde’s proposals see “Articles que M. de La Faye proposera et promettra à Mss de l’assemblée de Grenoble tant en mon nom que des autres princes officiers de la couronne, et seigneurs joints avec moi Henry de Bourbon faict à Secan le 23 jour d’aoust 1615” Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 3805, f. 8–11. Also La Haye’s harangue to the Assembly on August so, 1615 Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Dupuy 323 f. 193–195 and Conde’s manifesto f. 118–19.
Lesdiguières to the Assembly of Grenoble, September 21, 1615. Mercure françois IV, 267–274.
The proceedings of the Assembly of Grenoble — Nimes may be found in Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Brienne 223 nouvelles acquisitions 7194 f. 1–130 and Bibliothèque Mazarine MS 2609.
The Huguenot Assembly decided to treat with Conde on October 15, 1615; on the 28th three deputies brought to the Prince the articles prepared at Nimes. The treaty was signed at Sansay (near Poitiers) on November 27, 1615. Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 7194 f. 114. See also Fonds Dupuy 323 f. 220–222.
Duplessis-Mornay Mémoires (1652 edition) I, 784. See also Sir Thomas Edmondes to the Secretary of State, September 9, 1615 Public Record Office, State Papers 78/64 f. 50–52.
Rohan’s motives for joining the rebellion are discussed in Sir Thomas Edmondes to Sir Ralph Winwood, Bordeaux October 16, 1615. Public Record Office, State Papers 78/64 f. 69, and Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 15873 f. 112 vo. His opinion of the Spanish marriages may be found in two political essays or “discours” printed in his Mémoires (1665 edition) II, 110–124, 130–138.
For the conference at Ste. Foy see Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 4.049 f. 68–69 vo.; also a cryptic remark in Rohan’s Mémoires (Michaud edition) p. 207.
Sir Thomas Edmondes to Sir Ralph Winwood, Bordeaux, October 28, 1615. Public Record Office, State Papers 78/64 f. 86.
The Assembly repeatedly urged the Huguenot communities to assist Rohan. See Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 7194 f. 88, 91, g6, and 113.
Rohan’s brevet as lieutenant general and governor of Poitou is dated June 28, 1616. The warrant states that this honor was conferred on him because of Henry’s close family relationship to the King. Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 22, 343, f. 276–281.
Henri de Rohan, Mémoires sur les choses advenues en France depuis la mort de Henri le Grand jusqu’à la paix faite avec les Reformes au mois de juin 5629. (Michaud edition) p. 509.
I have followed Arnauld d’Andilly’s version of this incident Journal inédit 16r¢—r62o edited by Achille Halphen (Paris, i 857) p. 595. This is confirmed in Marguerite de Bethunes’ MS “Mémoires” Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 15, 873 f. 713. However, Richelieu asserts that Rohan did not reply to Conde Mémoires (Michaud edition) p. io. All this scarcely explains why Conde conceived such a sudden and intense hatred for Rohan. Arnauld d’Andilly goes on to say that “Plusieurs croient que M de Sully savoit le dessein d’arrester M le Prince et que M de Rohan ne l’ignorait pas” op. cit. p. 207. Gramond reports the following reply to Conde’s appeal for help: “Laudo, inquit, autores facti, quia mihi pro jure legitimo est quodcunque Regina indixerit” Historiarum Galliae p. 524.
Histoire tragique du Marquis d’Ancre et sa femme (Paris, 1617 ) p. 4. See also Bentivoglio, Memorie e lettere p. 301–302.
Déclaration du Roy contre les ducs de Vendosme, de Mayenne, Mareschal de Bouillon, Marquis de Coeuvres, le President le,day et tous ceux qui les assistent. Ver(ée en Parlement le treizième février r617. (Paris, 1716 ).
See the King’s interesting letter to Rohan dated January 18, 1617, printed in Richelieu, Lettres, instructions diplomatiques et papiers d’état du cardinal de Richelieu Edited by Avenel (8 vols., Paris, 1853–1877) I, 262–64.
Relation exacte de tout ce qui s’est passé d la mort du Mareschal d’Ancre (see note below) p. 456.
Jean François Paul de Gondi, Cardinal de Retz, Mémoires (4 vols., Paris, 1935 ) I, 3o.
The version of this conversation followed in the text is drawn from the Mémoires du Marquis de Montpouillan which are printed with La Force’s Mémoires authentiques IV, 33. There is considerable disagreement as to the details of the conspiracy against Concini and the degree of Louis’s acquiescence in his murder. Pontchartrain states that the young King informed his mother “que c’était lui que avoit fait tuer le dit maréchal Mémoires (Petitot edition) I, 222. While the Marshal d’Estrees asserts in his Mémoires that Louis was often heard to say that he never intended to have him killed. (Paris, 191o) p. 16o. The Count de Brienne says Louis told Vitry to arrest Concini but not to kill him. Mémoires (Michaud edition) p. 12.
A detailed account of the murder of the Marshal, allegedly written by Michel de Marillac, or according to Batiffol by the Duc de Chaulnes, is to be found in Relation exacte de tout ce qui s’est passé à la mort du Maréchal d’Antre (Michaud edition) vol. XIX of series pl 451–484. For Louis Batiffol’s comments on the authorship of this relation see the Revue historique XCV (1906) 292 notes. The anonymous Histoire tragique du Marquis d’Antre et sa femme confirms Chaulnes’s account but adds that Concini and several of his followers made a show of resistance before Vitry shot him. p. 11.
Arnauld d’Andilly, Journal inédit 1614–1620 p. 282. Levassor, Histoire du régne deLouisXIIl II, deuxième partie, p. 343. Bentivoglio, Memoirie e lettere p. 311. According to Gramond, Louis shouted from the window “Jussu meo transactum opus.” Historiarum Galliae p. 158.
Le definement de la guerre appaisée par la mort de Concino Concini Marquis d’Antre (Paris, 1617) p. 8.
Guido Bentivoglio, Memorie e lettere (Bari, 1934) p. 311.
Mathieu Molé, Mémoires edited by Aimé Champollion-Figeac (4 vols., Paris, 1855–57) I, 146–47.
For the details of this brief but successful campaign, consult the Mercure françois V, 191–99 and Charles Dufayard, Le connétable de Lesdiguières (Paris, 1892) p. 399–406. Also the Actes et correspondance du Connétable de Lesdiguières (3 vols., Grenoble, 1878–1884) II, 133–144•
Jean de Héroard, Journal entry for April to, 1622. II, 272.
For an historical outline of the Beam dispute, admittedly partisan, consult Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds français 20965 f. 136–144.
Rohan, Mémoires (Michaud edition) p. 515. On Marie’s flight see Bentivoglio, Memorie e lettere p. 347–49.
The letters, memoranda, and cahiers of the Assembly of Loudun may be found in Bibliothèque nationale, Fonds Dupuy 323 f. 259–318.
See the “Ecrit envoyé par Messieurs de Lesdiguières et de Chatillan à l’assemblée de Loudun, du 20 mars 1620” Duplessis-Mornay, Mémoires (1652 edition) II, 338–340.
Véritables mémoires de ce qui s’est passé de jour en jour au voyage du Roy depuis son depart de Paris qui fut le septième juillet jusques à son retour du pays de Béarn à la fin du mois d’octobre 162o). (Paris, 162o).
Antoine Aubery, Histoire du cardinal duc de Richelieu (Paris, 166o) p. i8.
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Clarke, J.A. (1966). The Regency’s Uncertain Course. In: Huguenot Warrior. International Archives of the History of Ideas / Archives Internationales D’Histoire des Idees, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1798-4_3
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