ble, notwithstanding his successes, that he never could, by force of arms alone, render himself master of his kingdom. The catholics of his party grew daily more importunate to know his sentiments in regard to religious matters; and their jealousy on this point seemed to increase, in proportion as he approached to the full possession of his throne. Though a protestant, he was no bigot to his sect; he considered theological differences as subordinate to the public good; and therefore appointed conferences to be held between the divines of the two religions, that he might be enabled to take, with more decency, that step, which the security of the crown, and the happiness of his subjects, now made necessary. In these conferences, if we may credit the celebrated marquis de Rosni (afterwards duke of Sully, and prime minister to Henry (the protestant divines even allowed themselves to be worsted, in order to furnish the king with a better pretext for embracing that religion which it was so much his interest to believe. But however that might be, it is certain, that the more moderate protestants, and Rosni among others, were convinced of the necessity JULY 25. of such a step; and that Henry, soon after the taking of Dreux, solemnly made his abjuration at St. Dennis, and received absolution from the archbishop of Bourges 8. This measure, however, though highly agreeable to the body of the French nation, was not immediately followed 8 Id. ibid. Nothing can more strongly demonstrate the propriety of such a measure, than the reflections of Davila, a living and intelligent ob server of the times. The king's conversion," says he, "was certainly "the most powerful remedy that could be applied to the dangerous disease "of the nation. But the truce by which it was preceded, did also dispose " men's minds for the working of so wholesome a medicine; for the people " on both sides having begun to taste the security and the benefits that re❝sult from concord, in a season when harvest and vintage made them more "sensible of the happiness, they fell so in love with it, that it was after"ward more easy to incline them to a desire of peace, and a willing obedi. ente under their laraful prince" Hist. lib. xiv. by by those beneficial consequences which were expected from it. The more zealous catholics suspected Henry's sincerity they considered his abjuration merely as a device to deceive the League; and as the personal safety of many, who had distinguished themselves by their violence, was concerned in obstructing his progress, they had recourse to their former expedient of assassination, in which they were encouraged by their priests. Several attempts were made against the king's life. The zealous Hugonots, on the other hand, became more diffident of Henry's intentions toward their sect; and his protestant allies, particularly the queen of England, expressed much indignation at this interested change of his religion. Sensible, however, that the League and king of Spain were still their common enemies, Elizabeth at last admitted his apologies. She continued her supplies of men and money; and time soon produced a wonderful alteration in the affairs of the French monarch, and evinced the wisdom of the step which he had taken, though not entirely conformable to the laws of honour, and consequently a reproach on his private character. The Marquis de Vitri, governor of Meaux, was the first man of rank, who shewed the example of a return to duty. He had often solicited the duke of Mayenne, as the cause of the war was at an end, to make his peace with the king; but receiving no satisfaction from that nobleman, he resolved to follow the dictates of his own heart. He ordered the garrison to evacuate the town; and having assembled the magistrates, delivered to them the keys. "Gen"tlemen," said he, "I scorn to steal an advantage, or make "a fortune at other men's expence. I am going to pay my "allegiance to the king, and leave it in your power to act "as you please." The Magistrates, after a short deliberation, agreed to send a deputation to Henry, in order to make their submissions and intreat him to return their goThe deputies were so confounded at their audience, that they were incapable of speech, but threw them vernor. selves at the king's feet. Having viewed them for some moments in that condition, Henry burst into tears; and lifting them up, said, "Come not as enemies to crave for"giveness, but as children to a father always willing to "receive you with open arms"." A. D. 1594. The popularity acquired by this reception greatly promoted the royal cause. Henry was crowned with much solemnity at Chartres, and every thing seemed to promise a speedy pacification. La Chastre delivered up the provinces of Orleanois and Berri, of which he was governor, and d'Alaincourt the city of Pontoise; the duke of Mayenne retired from Paris; and the count de Brisac, who commanded the French garrison (for there was also a Spanish one), privately admitted the king into his capital, of which he took possession almost without shedding blood. Villars, who had so gallantly defended Rouen for the League, surrendered that city on conditions; and a multitude of other places either offered terms, or opened their gates without stipulating for any. The duke of d'Elbeuf, of the house of Lorrain, who had seized the government of Poitou, declared for the king. The young duke of Guise also made his peace with Henry. Baligny, who still held the principality of Cambray, submitted, and mareschal d'Aumont, with the assistance of an English fleet and army, made himself master of Morlaix, Quimpercorentin and Brest, towns guarded by the Spanish forces in Britanny, while the king in person besieged and took Laon. On this advantage Amiens, and great part of Picardy, acknowledged his sway 10. In the midst of these successes Henry was on the point of perishing by the hand of a desperate assassin. On his return from Picardy to Paris, John Chastel, a young fanatic, educated among the Jesuits, struck him on the mauth with a knife, while he was saluting one of 9 Mem. pour servir a l'His. de France. tom. ii. 10. Davila. Mezeray. Dupliex. DEC. 27. his his courtiers, in a chamber of the Louvre, and beat out one of his teeth. The blow was intended for the king's throat; but fortunately, his stooping prevented it from striking that dangerous part. The assassin was seized, avowed his principles, and was executed. On his examination, he confessed that he had frequently heard his ghostly preceptors say, that king-killing was lawful; and that as Henry IV. had not yet been absolved by the pope, he thought he might kill him with a safe conscience. Some writings to the same purpose were found in the possession of father Guisgard, who was condemned to suffer the punishment appointed for treason; and all the Jesuits were banished the kingdom, by a decree of the parliament of Paris". While these things were passing in France, war was still carried on with vigour in the Low Countries. The confederates not only continued to maintain the struggle for liberty, but even rose superior to the power of Spain. Prince Maurice surprised Breda; and, by the assistance of the English Forces, under Sir Francis Vere, he took Gertruydenberg and Groningen, after two of the most obstinate and best conducted sieges recorded in history. Count Mansveldt, an able an experienced officer, who had succeeded the duke of Parma in the chief command, beheld the taking of the first with an army superior to the prince's, without being able to force his lines; and Verdugo, the Spanish general, durst not attempt the relief of the second, though the garrison made a gallant defence. The progress of the confederates, however, did not prevent the archduke Ernest, now governor of the Low Coun tries, from sending ten thousand men to lay waste the frontiers of France; and Henry, who had long been engaged in hostilities with Philip, was provoked by this fresh insult, as well as encouraged by his own successes and those of the confederates, to declare war against A. D. 1595 11, Davila, lib. xiv. Henault, tom. ii. Spain. He led an army in person into Burgundy; took the castles of Dijon and Talan; expelled the Spaniards from that province; obliged the duke of Mayenne to sue for an accommodation, and received absolution from the pope. But while this great prince, rendered too confident by good fortune, was employed in a wild and fruitless expedi tion into Franche Comté, in compliance with the ambition of his mistress, the fair Gabrielle de'Etreês, who wanted a principality for her son Cæsar, a Spanish army, under the command of don Pedro de Guzman, conde de Fuentes, reduced Dourlens, Catelet, and Cambray. In balance, however, of these losses, the duke of Guise surprized Marseilles, and Henry concluded his negociation with the duke of Mayenne; who, charmed with the generous reception which he met with on his submission, continued ever after firmly attached to the king's person and govern ment. A. D. 1596 When informed of the taking of Marseilles, Henry was so much elated, that he exclaimed in a kind of transport of joy, "then I am at last a king13 !" His joy, however, was but of short duration. The archduke Albert, who had succeeded on the death of his brother to the government of the Low Countries, sent an army to besiege Calais : and that fortress, not being in a proper state of defence, the garrison was obliged to surrender, before the king could march with a sufficient force to its relief. This unfortunate event was soon followed by another While Henry was in the utmost distress for the loss of Calais, which fanned the dying ashes of the League.-While harrassed by the complaints of the Hugonots and chagrined at the extravagant demands of the dukes of Savoy and Mercœur who were still in arms against him, and took occasion from his disasters to exalt their conditions,-he received intelligence that Portocarero, the Spanish governor of Dourlens, had made himself master of Amiens, by surprize'4. 13 Dupleix, tom, V. 14 Cayets, tom. iii. |