The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and his descendants

HUGUENOT STRUGGLES. 77
women of the town were all violated. In the introd.
month of September, the King reached Mont- 1622.
pellier, and began a siege which lasted six
weeks. Becoming discouraged, and fearing a
failure as at Montauban, he appointed Les-
diguieres to treat with the Duke of Rohan f orxreaty of
peace; and a treaty was signed in camp, Mont-
October 9, 1622, of which the Edict of Nantes ^ '
was made the basis. Catholicism was declared
the official religion; political assemblies were
treasonable, if held without consent; and all
politics and political discussions were forbidden
in the religious courts of the Reformed.
The King by his army had now established
the strict construction of the Edict of Nantes,
which Lesdiguieres and Bouillon had contended
for in the political assembly at Saumur
in 1611. Lesdiguieres was rewarded with the
office of Marshal of the Kingdom, and for Death of
about four years he enjoyed the honor of being gu-gJes.
second in power in the kingdom. He died
September 28, 1626, in his 84th year.
During the year 1622, Richelieu received Rkheiieu.
from the Pope the Cardinal's hat, and was now
ready to take charge of, and to rule the weak
and imstable King. In 1624, he was made a
member of the council. Louis XIIL needed
his great abilities, but instead of loving him,
he trembled for the influence he might wield
over him, the court, and the kingdom. Still, 1624.
recognizing his abilities, and himself wearied
out with the cares of government that were
encroaching on his freedom and enjoyment,
the King with great
hesitation at last deter-
mined to throw the weight of government on
Richelieu, and made him, April 9, 1624, Councillor
of State. Richelieu's first desire in his
office was the destruction of the Re-
high