VII.] THE RELIGIOUS WARS. 127 the taxes should be reduced and pensions suspended, pro- vided the Tiiird Estate would consent to the publication of the Council of Trent and the re-admission of the Jesuits to the University of Paris. The king held a solemn session on the 24th of February, 161 5, and received the papers with the many reasonable demands of the Third Estate. The next day, when the deputies were going to meet to hear his answer, they found the doors closed against him, and commands were issued from the king that they should return home. No promises to them were kept, no grievances were redressed, and they could only break up in helpless anger and disappointment. The States-General were never again called together till one hundred and sixty years later, when the terrible conse- quences came which a better spirit in 161 5 might have averted. The whole country was indignant at the favour of Concini, and at the Spanish connexion which reversed the policy of one hundred and twenty years ; but Mary de' Medici heeded no remonstrance, and took her children to Bourdeaux, where Lewis XIII. was married to Anne of Austria. 25. The Fall of the Concini, 1617. — The influence of the Concini had hitherto put down all opposition. They hoped much from the dull, sluggish nature of the king, never guessing that a young page named Chayles Albert de Luynes was preparing means of breaking their yoke, and forming a plot in the Louvre among the few whom the young king could trust. Armed with written authority from the king, De Vitry, captain of the guards, met Con- cini at the entrance of the Louvre with the words, " I arrest you," and, as Concini called for help, fired a pistol at him. The words " By order of the king" prevented any one from interfering", and Concini was soon despatched. Then Luynes hurried up-stairs to announce to Lewis, " Sire, from this moment you are a king." The nobles hurried to congratulate their master that he and they were free from a hated tyrant. The queen-mother retired to Blois, and the only other victim was Concini's wife. Her real crime was the taking of bribes, but she was tried before the parliament for witchcraft. When asked by what arts she had gained her power over the queen, she replied, " By the mastery of a strong mind over a weak one." But her fate was fixed, and she was beheaded, and afterwards burned on the 8th of July, 161 7. 26. Ministry of Luynes, 1617. — Luynes was created
