Origin of a 
A.D. 1574. 
His charac- 
ter. 
7 two parties, confin 
FRANCE. 
In the following year, A. D. 1574, a third party arose 
in France, which, ‘without paying the least attention 
to the religions disputes and differences of the other 
their efforts entirely to politics : 
they were called the Malcontents. Their avowed ob- 
ject, was to reform the political state of the kingdom, by 
nig ing limits to the power and influence of the Guises ; 
excluding the queen from the administration of affairs ; 
and banishing the kingdom all the Italians, whom 
she had introduced and countenanced. The Duke of 
Alengon, brother to the king, a man restless, intriguing, 
and versatile, put himself at the head of ee 
In the midst of this disordered and emba state 
of the kingdom, the health of Charles was vem de- 
clining. Ever since the massacre of Bartholomew, a 
deep and icious gloom overspread his countenance, 
and his mind was torn by contending ions. He 
still hated the Protestants ; but he was ed at the 
ambitious views and extensive influence of the families 
of Montmorenci and Guise, while he was ly af- 
atte Sed repartee ea Alen- 
con, and the King of Navarre. In this state of bodily 
weakness and mental agitation, he began to suspect 
that he had been too easily led by the counsels of his 
mother, into a line of conduct neither conducive to his 
peace of mind, honourable to his name, nor advan- 
s to his own interests, or those of his kingdom. 
This reflection, coming thus late, served only to in- 
crease his bodily and mental sufferings. His health de- 
clined with great rapidity: each day some new and fa- 
tal symptoms manifested themselves; and. at last his 
disorder took a most si turn. While a slow and 
internal fever preyed on his strength, the blood oozed 
even out of the pores of his skin. Catherine was sus- 
of having administered poison to him ; but it is 
more probable, that his disorder was occasioned by the 
dissolute life which he had led, and by the excessive 
violence of his temper. For some time, such was the 
repsedrung power of a pe waaay aetre yre atrorigs - 
struggled against his disorder ; at , in the 23 
year of his age, itovercame him. His last hours were 
hg Sag soo Nearest chormehees These 
t in recommending to those around him-to pre- 
eave thes fidelity to the King of Poland, the heir to 
the throne on his decease ; he obliged all present 
to take an oath of fidelity to Catherme during the ab- 
sence of Henry. , 
Charles was not naturally devoid of qualities and ta- 
lents, which, if they had not been counteracted by a 
a Nagagut education, age have rendered him a 
lessing to his subjects. He possessed wit, judgment, 
activity, and courage; but his disposition abit. 
ly iolent ; and those who had the care of him in ear 
life, especially the Marshal de Retz, had encou § 
l this violence. From his mother 
he learnt the whole mystery of the Italian school of 
hy ee by open and ingenitous conduct; and his public 
e 
_ Notwithstanding the 
laws a3 seer in wise and profound 
views of ic benefit, were passed, chiefly through 
the labour and patriotic efforts of the Chance or 
519 
De Hospital. In the midst of the civil wars, this 
really great«man fixed ‘his undivided attention and 
wishes dn the’ good of his country ; and such was the 
commanding influence of his character, and his activity 
and zeal, that at a time when law generally is trampled 
under foot, he made it be respected and acted upon. 
On the death of Charles 1X. the king of Poland, who 
succeeded him’ under the name of Henry TII. hastened 
to take possession of the throne. Dreading lest the 
Poles should detain him, he withdrew privately, as if 
he had been a prisoner making his escape. As he pas- 
sed through the dominions of the Emperor and the Re- 
public of Venice, he was advised to treat the Protes- 
tants with justice; if not with gentleness and kindness, 
and to avoid persecuting them, if he wished to restore 
tranquillity to France ; but this advice was given in 
vain to a man who had been one of the advisers of the 
massacre, and who; tothe utmost depravity of manners, 
added the external observances of the lowest supersti- 
tion. Scarcely was he seated on the throne of France, 
when he manifested a total unfitness for his situation, 
even independent’of his bigotry and depravity ; for he 
was totally :averse to business,—occupied and interested 
So most low and trifling pursuits and objects ; 
utterly devoid even of the manners and dignity of 
a sov . . 
As the kingdom: was still divided by factions, Ca- 
therine persuaded Henry to take advantage of this’ cir- 
cumstance, and by acting as umpire between them, to 
restore the royal authority to its pristine dignity and 
extent; but the king, though not unfit'for this line ot’ 
conduct, in se to his habits of dissimulation, was 
totally disqualified for it,/on account of his want of vi- 
gouty application, and sound understanding ; instead 
erefore of acquiring a’superiority over both factions, 
he lost the confidence of both, and taught the parti- 
zans of each to regard him with’ suspicion, and to ad- 
here more closely to their ive leaders. 
In the mean time, A. D. 1575,'the Duke of Alengon, 
who, as has already ‘been stated, had put himself at the 
head of the political party united with the Protestants, 
while they were fu encouraged and strengthened 
by the presence of the King of Navarre, and by the ar- 
rival of the Prince of Condé at the head of a German 
army. The king upon this found himself under the 
necessity of con uding a treaty with them, by which 
they obtained the public exercise of their reli ion, eXx- 
cept within two leagues of the court ; party chambers, 
com of an number of Protestants and Ca- 
tholics, were established in all the parliaments’ of the 
kingdom ; all attainders were reversed, and eight cau- 
tionary towns were put into their ion. 
History. 
Henry LIT. 
A. D. 1574, 
His charac- 
ter. 
Pacifies the 
Protestants, 
But, while Henry by this treaty pacified the Protés--anq dis- 
tants, he excited the greatest disgust and indignation aie the 
among the Catholics ; and affording the Duke of Guise Catholics. 
the pretext, which he had long sought, of putting him. 
self at the head of a most formidable party, for thé ex- 
press purpose of entirely suppressing the Protestant 
religion in France. This was the origin of the famous Origin of 
League, the members of which openly declared, that ithe Lengue. 
they would withstand the royal authority in all eases 
where that authority was at variance with the com- 
mands or the interests of the Catholic religion, Henry 
now, saw the error which he had committed in makin 
peace with the Protestants ; and’ as‘ he possessed nei- 
ther the justice nor the vigour that might have prompt- 
ed and enabled him to protect the Protestants against 
the L e, while’ he saw'that the members of it had 
it in their power even to shake the foundations of his 
