CHAPTER VIII

Departure of Anjou for Poland--Condé, compromised in the conspiracy of the “Politiques,” escapes to Strasbourg, where he reverts to the Protestant faith--Death of Charles IX., who is succeeded by the King of Poland--Flight of the new King from Cracow--Death of the Princesse de Condé: extravagant grief of Henry III.--Condé invades France at the head of an army of German mercenaries--The “_Paix de Monsieur_”--Condé endeavours to establish himself in the West of France--Formation of the League and renewal of the civil war--Condé refuses the hand of Mlle. de Vaudémont, Henry III.’s sister-in-law--His second Odyssey--He commands the Huguenot forces in Poitou and Saintonge--He proposes for the hand of Charlotte Catherine de la Trémoille--Letter of Mlle. de la Trémoille to the prince--He visits her at the Château of Taillebourg--Disastrous expedition of Condé against Angers--He is obliged to take refuge in Guernsey 108–124

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