and, if it were not that I am
under so much obligation to my wife, I would leave her and go some
whither where neither grandees nor common folk would come to look after
me."

This modest style of language did not prevent Marshal d'Ancre from
occasionally having strange fits of domineering arrogance. "By God,
sir," he wrote to one of his friends, "I have to complain of you; you
treat for peace without me; you have caused the queen to write to me
that, for her sake, I must give up the suit I had commenced against M. de
Montbazon to get paid what he owes me. In all the devils' names, what do
the queen and you take me for? I am devoured to my very bones with
rage." In his dread lest influence opposed to his own should be
exercised over the young king, he took upon himself to regulate his
amusements and his walks, and prohibited him from leaving Paris. Louis
XIII. had amongst his personal attendants a young nobleman, Albert de
Luynes, clever in training little sporting birds, called butcher-birds
(pies grieches, or shrikes), then all the rage; and the king made him his
falconer and lived on familiar terms with him. Playing at billiards one
day, Marshal d'Ancre, putting on his hat, said to the king, "I hope your
Majesty will allow me to be covered." The king allowed it, but remained
surprised and shocked. His young page, Albert de Luynes, observed his
displeasure, and being anxious, himself also, to become a favorite, he
took pains to fan it.

[Illustration: Louis XIII. and Albert de Luynes----154]

A domestic plot was set hatching against Marshal d'Ancre. What was its
extent and who were the accomplices in it? This is not clear. However
it may have been, on the 24th of April, 1617, M. de Vitry, captain of the
guard (_capitaine de quartier_) that day in the royal army which was
besieging Soissons, ordered some of his officers to provide themselves
with a pistol each in their pockets, and he himself went to that door of
the Louvre by which the king would have to go to the queenmother's. When
Marshal d'Ancre arrived at this door, "There is the marshal," said one of
the officers; and Vitry laid hands upon him, saying, "Marshal, I have the
king's orders to arrest you." "Me!" said the marshal in surprise, and
attempting to resist.

[Illustration: Murder of Marshal d'Ancre----155]

The officer fired upon him, and so did several others. It was never
known, or, at any rate, never told, whose shot it was that hit hi