giving him overall authority of the military. He set about further refortifying Amboise, providing artillery to weak sections, and assigning princes and knights to each quarter of the castle. Further efforts to contain the situation were made. A general amnesty notice was issued for any rebels who returned to their homes within 24 hours; others would be proclaimed rebels, anyone would be allowed to kill them, and their property would be forfeit. Conscious of the confused composition of the insurrection, a provision allowing petitions from subjects if they came to the king 'loyally' was also granted. Over the following days, work continued on the castle, and trenches around it were made. With the arrest parties mopping up stragglers, all relevant bailiffs and seneschals were granted authority to arrest those found in the countryside around Amboise. Aftermath Immediate consequences With most of the conspiracy's leadership captured or killed in the field, the Guise set about interrogating the prisoners they had caught, and examining the papers they had captured from the various raided châteaux. The number of executions that followed has been reported to be as high as 1500, though this appears to be an exaggeration. What was more shocking to aristocratic contemporaries was the summary nature of the executions -- even of men of 'good birth' -- who were hanged or drowned in the Loire. The baron de Castelnau was executed, despite the promise of the gentleman who arrested him that if he came quietly he would not be killed. Guise's wife Anna d'Este pled for his life, but to no avail. Eager to avoid suspicion, Condé did not immediately depart the scene, and stayed at Amboise, angrily denouncing those who were now murmuring of his involvement as 'scum.' Once the court had moved off to the Queen Mother's residence at Chenonceau, he went further, calling his questioners liars -- a cutting rebuke in aristocratic circles -- and challenged anyone who would openly accuse him to fight him in single combat. The duke of Guise, aware that for the moment he lacked proof, consoled Condé that he had no suspicions, and in an audience with the King and Queen Mother they accepted his denials, although Lorraine could not help but avoid eye contact. Taking advantage of Condé's absence at the King's lever on April 18th, his apartments were raided on the orders of Catherine de Medici; however, nothing was found. A