CHAP. enterprise, took Nemours prisoner, and shut him up XXVIL in St. Pierre Encise. Epinac would then have held Lyons for Mayenne; but the citizens were weary of the League, and combining amongst themselves, delivered the town to Ornano, the general of Henry.*

It is remarkable that, at a time when the entire nation was gradually subsiding from turbulent independence to complete submission to the crown, every personage and party should appeal to the public and the press. There was a shower of pamphlets and printed pleadings, for the League and against it. Villeroy has left a lengthy apology of his conduct. Even soldiers deemed it advisable not to be silent. Vitry published a remarkable manifesto addressed to the noblesse, saying that "he had not abandoned the League till he saw that the Spaniards were cutting the kingdom piecemeal, they being much more ready with funds to purchase a personage or a town than to support an army." La Châtre, surrendering Orleans, not only gave his reasons to the citizens, but addressed the legate, telling him that the Franciscan monks were far more eager for money than zealous for religion.† Whilst Leroy, in the "Vrai Catholicon," lashed the Spaniards and the Parisian zealots, the latter retorted upon Mayenne in the "Dialogue between Maheustre and Manant," one of the most instructive documents of the time.

The Duke of Mayenne had despatched Montpezat to Philip the Second early in the year, to acquaint him that these defections were inevitable, and the party lost without immediate succour. He complained of the indignities inflicted on him by the Duke of Feria. That Spanish agent openly preferred the young Duke of Guise, and in order to afford him an opportunity of

Ornano's letters. MSS. Colbert, N. 11. Réduction de Lyon, ib.

MSS. Colbert, 14. Mayenne to Montpezat, Feb. 4. MSS. Baluze, 9675.

XXVII.

distinguishing himself, now gave him an army, that CHAP. he might strike a blow and achieve a reputation. Mayenne, hearing that this army, under its young leader, was at Ferté Milon, left Paris to its fate, and taking his family. away with him, hurried to the Spanish camp. Ere departing, he forced Brissac as a governor upon the Parisians, promising speedily to reinforce the 600 Spanish troops of the garrison with 2000 men, Brissac having in the meanwhile the support of some thousands of the enregimented population and students instead, whom the Spanish envoy furnished with food and pay.† Mayenne at the same time sought to tranquillise the chief citizens by assuring them that his aim, like theirs, was peace.

par

The prospects of Henry brightened every day. The news from the south was cheering. Lesdiguières held his ground against the Duke of Savoy. Aix and the liament of Provence had defied Epérnon and declared for the king. Toulouse was well inclined, and the Duke of Montmorency, whom Henry created constable, answered for Languedoc and Guyenne. During 1593, the king feared for Britanny and Normandy, and implored Elizabeth, if not to give fresh succours, at least to leave him the English force and artillery still in France. But the queen was indignant at Henry's conversion, threatened the recall of her troops, and demanded possession of a fort at the entrance of the Somme. When Villars however consented to treat for Rouen, and the

* Villars Houdan gives this reason for his departure.

†They were called Minotiers, for their being allowed a minot of corn daily.

Henry's letters. Despatch of De Beauvoir. MS. Fontanieu, p. 426. Elizabeth's frequent demands for a town or fortress near to which she sent her troops, is universally construed by the

French into a design to seize and
keep these places. But the truth
was, that without a town of their
own, which they might provision
and fortify, and seek refuge in,
they were left, especially during
the winter, destitute and exposed.
See letters of Capt. Gould. Birch,
vol. i. p. 88. Also those of Unton.
See page 280.

CHAP.
XXVII.

Paris magistrates offered to give up the capital, the monarch felt more independent. To show the Pope he was king in his despite, Henry came to be crowned with great solemnity at Chartres, amidst a large assemblage, both of nobles and prelates. (Feb.) Returning to St. Denis soon after the departure of the Duke of Mayenne, he received the overtures of the Parisians. The sheriff Langlois, the judge Lemaitre, and the provost of the merchants, and still more important, Brissac himself, the governor appointed by the Spaniards, came to an agreement with the king.

Before daybreak on the morning of the 22nd of March, the royal troops were admitted by the northern, eastern, and western gates. The plot was matured so hastily that not more than 4000 could be collected from the neighbouring garrisons, and from the gentlemen who attended the king. The most important attack was that by the north, through the Porte St. Denis, the Spaniards being stationed in that quarter. Vitry, who commanded it, succeeded in taking possession of the Rue St. Denis, which lay between their quarters. Being thus divided, they kept quiet, and made no effort in defence of the city. The only resistance was experienced by the division which entered the Porte St. Honoré, accompanied by the king. They encountered a troop of lansquenets 60 or 70 in number, and cut them in pieces.* The royal troops occupied the quays, the city, the palace. The king was met by the municipal authorities and the burgess guards, who clamorously saluted his majesty, and escorted him to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, where a Te Deum was instantly performed. As the monarch's cortége issued from the church, it found the people of Paris as loud in their acclamations of welcome as they had been

*Particuliers de la reddition de Paris. MS. Baluze, 9675. Mémoires de la Ligue, De Thou, Ma

thieu, Cayet, D'Aubigné, MS. de Mesmes, and letter from the Simancas Papers, published by Capefigue.

CHAP.'

but a few years since in execration. But the words, amnesty and peace, banished every churlish feeling. XXVII. The entire of the southern portion of the city was indeed reduced by the people themselves, and the magistrates who led them. The rabble and the students armed and paid by Spain attempted indeed to fortify themselves and make a stand in the quartier Latin, and a regiment of Neapolitans held the Porte Bussy. But the Minotiers were driven from the university, and the king having himself offered the Spaniards liberty to withdraw with their arms, the Neapolitans were included in the capitulation. On the eve of the same day, the 22nd, the troops of Philip the Second defiled through the gate of St. Denis. The Duke of Feria, with Ibarra and the Spanish commanders and ambassadors, were at their head, and saluted Henry, who was at a window to witness their withdrawal. "Recommend me to your master," exclaimed the smiling monarch, "but depart, and let us not see your faces again." The Pope's nuncio soon after withdrew to Montargis. The Cardinal Pellevé, the most furious partisan of the League and the Parisians, lost his reason on the shock, and died a few days after, raving mad. The king sent to assure his old foe, the Duchess of Montpensier, of his protection, and he even visited her to restore her confidence. Such treatment to the sister of Guise was holding the generous hand to the family. The persons exempted from the amnesty and banished from Paris amounted to only 120.

The League had indeed every reason for contentment. Their chiefs were largely paid, both in money and in power. Villars, who soon after gave up Rouen, received not the least share of these. Henry defended himself from the accusation of extravagance by saying that it would have cost him more to reduce these men by force, and that the revenue which they surrendered

CHAP. XXVII.

would pay the indemnities. The only parties who had cause of dissatisfaction were the Huguenots. On the submission of Paris, Henry published a declaration restoring to force the old edict of 1577, which forbade the reformed cult in the capital, or within ten miles round, and confined that worship in provinces not exclusively Protestant to the castles of lords, and the suburbs of one town in each district. This latter clause no Catholic governors in towns deigned to observe. It is therefore no subject of surprise that the university in a body expressed their gratitude by flinging themselves at the king's feet, whilst Duplessis-Mornay refused to come to court, the Huguenots summoning a meeting of their body at Fontenay.

In

To complete the reduction of the north was the first care of Henry. Abbeville had submitted soon after the towns of Normandy. Amiens and the other places of Picardy professed themselves ready to follow the example. But Mayenne was still in these provinces with an army of 10,000 Spaniards under Count Mansfeld. June, Henry laid siege to Laon, the principal stronghold in their possession. Twice they strove to relieve it, and failed, the convoys being taken, and their guard routed. Laon surrendered on the first day of August, Amiens and all the towns of Picardy, save Soissons, La Fère, and Ham*, hoisting the royal standard.

cesses.

The submission of the Duke of Guise followed these sucHe had at once to defend himself against Henry and against his uncle of Mayenne, who did not conceal his jealousy, and who wanted to introduce the Spaniards into Rheims. Guise coming to expostulate with the Count of St. Pol, who was preparing to execute the orders of Mayenne, received such an insulting rebuff, that he killed him on the spot. He then treated with the king, demanding Burgundy, the grand-mastership of the palace, all the

*Rélation du Siége de Laon. letters. MSS. Colbert, 32, and Henry's

† Villars Houdan.