The making of a king (40 page)

should be undertaken. Three thousand disciplined Swiss troops were at hand, and it was arranged that, together with his guards, they should accompany the King. By July 3 the Court had returned to Paris, preparatory to setting out, two days later, on the way to Orleans.

CHAPTER XXIV 1614

The journey—The Prince de Conde loses strength—The pleasures of the road— Louis as bon compagnon —The Court at Orleans, Tours, Poitiers, and Nantes—Vendome makes his submission— Return to Paris—Louis's majority.

HER determination reached, the Queen refused to be turned from it. At Paris, as at Saint-Germain, it roused much opposition. During the day passed in the capital a remonstrance was presented to Louis by the Parlement, begging that he would not leave the capital, where his person was in greater security than elsewhere. Louis and his mother were, however, in 11 accord. Thanking the Parlement for its care and anxiety, he added that he desired to visit the country districts, and was resolved upon doing so. Supported by the Regent, no one had power to oppose him, and n the morrow he quitted Paris under the escort of bur hundred horsemen. Epernon, in command of the guards, was to follow without delay ; Mayenne was dispatched to announce to his former confederate, nde, that Queen and King were on their way to Orleans and to summon him to meet them there.

For once Marie displayed boldness and resolution, and, if not free from misgivings, she did not waver in her purpose. As for the young King, the

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expedition must have been hailed with delight by a boy of twelve who, save on the solitary occasion of his coronation, had scarcely left the neighbourhood of Paris. Besides which, ignorant as he may have been of the full importance of the issues at stake, he knew enough of the situation to add the element of excitement to the pleasure of novelty. War, if not probable, was possible, and for war in any shape Louis had always shown a boy's eagerness.

To be ready for a fight was the best method of rendering it unlikely ; and full preparations had been made for the contingency of a resort to arms. It was computed that, in case of necessity, twenty thousand men could be placed, without delay, in the field. Munitions of war had been brought from Paris. Orleans possessed cannon of its own. The result of the measures taken was quickly apparent, the suddenness of the Queen's action rendering it the more effective. No one was, at the moment, in a position to resist the royal forces, and even Vendome, the most contumacious of the confederated nobles, showed signs of submission.

It was true that Conde continued to maintain an ambiguous attitude, posing as an injured man with a right to demand justice. It was further known that he was instrumental in circulating reports damaging to the King, whom he described as hardly capable of mounting a horse and in no wise a sovereign to be desired. But his influence was manifestly on the decline, and, having obeyed the Queen's summons and reached Orleans the day before the Court was expected there, his reception was so cold that, without

awaiting the King's arrival, he turned his back upon the town and betook himself elsewhere. Moreover, when, as Governor of Guienne, he wrote to say that he was to be looked for at Bordeaux the royal lieutenant commanding in that city, in conclave with bishop and magistrates, determined that, should he come, the gates should be shut against him. It was clear that the tide had turned and that, for the moment, the Prince had no chance against the authority of the Queen-Regent. Accepting his defeat, he disbanded the troops he had collected around him, and announced his intention of paying his respects to Louis and his mother, either on their return to Paris, or when the States-General should assemble. Such was the initial success attending the royal progress, and it must have gone far to strengthen the Queen's conviction that the step had been a wise one.

On the day after Conde had left Orleans in dudgeon, Louis made his entry into the city, on horseback, surrounded by nobles and greeted by joy-bells, salutes from the cannon, and illuminations. Not only at Orleans, but wherever he went he received a cordial welcome from the loyal amongst the provincial nobility ; the sight of the boy, as he rode through the towns which lay in his route and showed himself to the populace, was sufficient to give the lie to many of the mischievous reports concerning him. It was true that Sillery still urged retreat, endeavouring to persuade the Regent to return to Paris ; but, listening to wiser counsels, she determined to push forward and to continue her march through the regions where discontent had lately prevailed.

On leaving Orleans she directed her steps towards Tours, passing through Blois on her way. The journey was made by easy stages, and, enlivened by little adventures, afforded the King a pleasant variety to the ordinary routine of Court life. Brought up in a palace, and hedged round by conventional restraints, the most commonplace incidents — being wakened in the morning by the sounds of country traffic, or even the abuse levelled at each other by waggoners as they passed—had all the charm and amusement of novelty. The comparative freedom of the open road was a new experience, and the boy's spirits rose. Recalling, it may be, stories told of his father, and striving to emulate the gay bonhomie which had been one of Henri's characteristics — Louis, less fitted by nature for the part, would at times attempt to imitate him and to play the bon compagnon. Thus, passing one day an encampment, and learning that a certain Sieur de PIsle Rouet was entertaining al fresco "the gormandizers of the Court," he announced his intention of making one of the party.

" Ca," he said, descending from his coach, " j'en veux etre des goinfres de la cour"—proceeding to make away with two partridges, two breasts of chicken, and some tongue, before, with a gay "Adieu, mon hote," to the giver of the feast, the uninvited guest re-entered his carriage and resumed his journey.

In more important matters all prospered. With every day it was becoming more certain that the Queen-Regent's tardy decision to show fight was destined to prove more efficacious in crushing disaffection than the policy of conciliation she had hitherto

pursued. Conde, lately regarded as a grave menace to the royal authority, was increasingly isolated. He had attempted to renew relations with Sully, but Sully had only good advice to bestow upon him ; and, whilst he was attended by no more than four or five gentlemen, the Court was crowded by those who flocked to do honour to the King. The Huguenot party, ceasing to regard the Prince as a possible leader, paraded their loyalty as Louis traversed the district where they were in force. Roquelaure, lieutenant in Guienne, visited Tours with a thousand horse ; the militant Bishop of Poitiers, who had held that town against Conde, waited upon the King at the head of three hundred horsemen, and begged that he would repair to the scene of the late dispute.

The Queen resolved to accede to the Bishop's request, and Poitiers was made the next stage of the royal progress. Wherever the Court passed loyalty continued to revive ; the sovereign who had hitherto been no more than a name had suddenly assumed flesh and blood. He was the son of Henri-Quatre, and the very youth and helplessness of the fatherless boy may have made a successful appeal to the imagination of those of his subjects who had fallen under alien influences. " Toutes ces humeurs poitevines," recorded the "Mercure Fransais," " qui avaient tant ete esmeues, se calmerent en les voyant." Vendome n to foresee that submission in more than profession would ultimately be necessary, but contented himself with sending messages conveying the assurance of his affection, fidelity, and obedience. Louis was not to be propitiated by mere verbiage.

" What sort of obedience ?" he asked contemptuously. " He has not yet disarmed."

Refusing to do the Duke the honour of receiving the letter his envoy had brought, he caused it to be handed to M. de Souvre, by whom it was read. From his rebel brother the King would personally accept no communication.

Nantes, being the capital of Vendome's government, was a place of special importance. The provincial estates were also about to meet there, and it was decided that the Court should proceed thither. The journey was once more a triumphal progress, the Huguenots continuing foremost in their demonstrations of loyal devotion. The keys of their strongholds were presented to the King ; it was suggested that he should visit La Rochelle. Rohan, Sully's son-in-law, and one of the chiefs of the reformed religion, came with his wife to Court. Even Sully was expected.

It was on July u that Nantes was reached. The journey had been made partly by water, and as Louis passed down the Loire, the country folk gathered on the banks of the river to greet and welcome, with tears of emotion and joyful acclamation, their little King. At Nantes the success of the expedition was to be crowned by the long-deferred submission of Vendome. He must have been aware that he had no alternative. The young Governor of Brittany had not gone the way to make his position sure nor to win popularity in the province entrusted to him by his father. The country had been ravaged and laid waste by the troops in his pay, and when the Estates — opened by Louis in person — met, the light in which he was regarded was made

clear. In the remonstrance they drew up the iniquities perpetrated during the last six months of his rule were laid bare, and it was entreated that the Duke should be deprived of his post.

To this length the Regent was not prepared to go. Vendome, discredited as he was, was still the son of Henri-Quatre and safeguarded by his blood from the justice which might have been dealt out to a lesser offender. She was, nevertheless, determined that he should be reduced to obedience, and that order should be restored to the province. Vendome was wise enough to perceive that further resistance would be vain ; though it was not until the Court had spent a fortnight at Nantes that he came thither to tender his homage.

De Retz had preceded his comrade by some days. As, making obeisance to the King, he proffered his excuses for his tardy arrival, they were received by Louis in absolute silence; the General of the Galleys, present at the interview, hinting to the Duke that more was expected of him, and that pardon for his past conduct must be craved before he would be admitted favour. Retz having acted upon the suggestion, the King made reply, not ungraciously. When repentance, he said, should have been proved by deeds he would give him his affection.