quitted the court and Paris trembling, and with grief in her soul, like Hannibal quitting Italy. She felt that the court, Paris, and the heart of the queen, were the true battle-fields, and that to withdraw was to yield the victory to the enemy. Her retreat was a signal of mourning to all the Catholic party, to the friends of peace and of the Spanish alliance, and, on the contrary, of public rejoicing to the friends of the Protestant union. The Count d'Estrade even came to the Louvre in behalf of the Prince of Orange, by whom he was accredited, to thank the regent officially.[1]
Madame de Chevreuse repaired to her estate of Verger, between Tours and Angers. The deep solitude around her rendered the feeling of her defeat still more bitter. She met Montrésor who had also retired to Touraine, and had several interviews with him.[2] She wrote to Paris to the Duke de
- ↑ Archives of foreign affairs, France, vol. cv., letter of Gaudin to Servien, October 31, 1643: "M. d'Estrade congratulated her Majesty in behalf of the Prince of Orange on the banishment of Madame de Chevreuse, saying that she had shown the good intention which she had towards the interest of her allies by this action, as since her arrival the said lady had been scheming an advantageous peace, well knowing that the Spaniards would willingly yield all which the French had taken, provided that one thing might be accorded them, namely, the abandonment of the Swedes and the Dutch."
- ↑ Montrésor, Memoires, ibid., p, 355: "The residence of Madame de Chevreuse, at Tours, gave me opportunity to see her at times, and although this was but rarely, I gained more knowledge of her disposition and the temperament of her mind than I had ever possessed in the time when she was more happy and of greater consideration. Her general desertion by all those whom she had obliged and who were bound in friendship and united in interests with her, caused me to feel how little faith
siderabili di denari contanti. S. M. sa ben li suoi disegni, e che se li da 200 mil lire, come pretende, vi havrà havute 400 mil lire." Journal of Olivier d'Ormesson: "September 19, I heard Monsieur ask at the council if the two hundred thousand livres which had been promised Madame de Chevreuse had been paid her." La Châtre, ibid.: "She persisted in not departing until she had received some money that had been promised her."
