The king was about to bring the matter before his bed of justice, when he fell ill.

He saw no more of Cardinal de Noailles, and this rupture vexed him.

"I am sorry to leave the affairs of the church in the state in which they are," he said to his councillors.

"I am perfectly ignorant in the matter; you know, and I call you to witness, that I have done nothing therein but what you wanted, and that I have done all you wanted.

It is you who will answer before God for all that has been done, whether too much or too little.