approved of his receiving Soissons, he could not violate the laws of
hospitality to a prince of the blood.

"Richelieu then persuaded the king to refuse further payments to the
garrisons at Sedan, although the latter had confirmed the agreement
entered into by his father, whereupon my brother openly declared against
Richelieu, and still further excited the cardinal's anger by furnishing
an asylum to the Archbishop of Rheims, second son of Charles of
Lorraine, who had also quarrelled with Richelieu. So matters stand
at present. What will come of it, I know not. I doubt not that the
cardinal's hostility to Bouillon does not arise solely from the Soissons
affair, which but serves him as a pretext. You see his object for the
past four years has been to strengthen France by extending her frontiers
to the east by the conquest of Lorraine. He has already carried them to
the Upper Rhine, and by obtaining from the Duke of Savoy Pinerolo and
its dependencies has brought them up to the foot of the Alps.

"But my brother's dukedom stands in the way of his grand project, for
it is a gate through which an enemy from beyond the Rhine might invade
France; and, moreover, the close family relationship between us and the
Prince of Holland would add to the danger should Holland, at present our
ally, fall out with France. Thus the possession of Bouillon's dukedom,
or at any rate its military occupation for a time, is a consideration of
vital importance to the kingdom. Such, you see, is the situation. Were I
not an officer in the French army doubtless my feelings would be on the
side of my brother. As it is, I am a faithful servant of the king and
his minister, and should deem it the height of dishonour were I to use
my influence against what I perceive is the cause of France. I tell you
this in order that you may understand the various matters which might
surprise you at Sedan.

"You go there as a patient to be nursed by the duchess, my
sister-in-law, and having no influence, and at present not even the
strength to use your sword, there is little fear that any will seek to
involve you in these party turmoils. I shall write to my brother that
you are a soldier of France and that you have done her good service,
that you are a protege of mine, and being of Scottish blood belong to no
party save my party, and that I entreat that he will not allow anyone to
set you against the cardinal, or to try and attach you to any party, for
that I want yo