590 
ness of manners rise to other consequences l 
rench gentlemen are said to have been 
in single combats, chiefly arising from amorous 
ls, during the first eighteen years of his 
i: a general, his emp otem. eaceely. 5 
though his success t, Ps, to be ascri 
to the confidence and affection with which he inspired 
his officers and soldiers, than to the comprehensive plans 
on which he conducted his campaigns, or the masterly 
manceuvres which he put in practice during an 
ment. Having been accustomed to the profession of arms 
from his earliest youth, he not only set an example of la- 
bour, iety, and , but charmed the soldiers 
by his behaviour and discourse, which entertained them 
by its sprightliness and vivacity, at the same time that it 
convinced them that he was really their father and 
friend. It is scarcely possible to conceive with what 
yess even the common soldiers endeavoured, by 
their conduct, to deserve his approbation ; and it was not 
because they thus hoped to be substantially rewarded, 
for the least expression of praise from him was hailed 
with rapture, and acquired inestimable value. 
Nor were the soldiers the only class among his sub- 
jects who regarded him with the affection of children. 
he same feeling towards him the breasts of 
most Frenchmen,—even of those who differed from him 
with respect to religion, while he was a Protestant, and 
who suspected his sincerity when he professed himself 
a Catholic. Of this, they gave such undoubted proofs, 
as amply to justify the reply of Henry to the Duke of 
Savoy, when he asked him what the revenue of France 
amounted to ;—‘* To what I please; for having the 
hearts cay people, they will grant me whatever I 
ask ; if sees to my life, I will take 
eare that France be in such a condition, that every 
it in it shall be able to have a fowl in his pot.” 
e houses of some ts in Champagne having 
been pi by the soldiery, the King sent for their 
officers, who happened to be at Paris, and commanded 
them instantly to repair to Cham e, and restore or- 
der, and punish = a Ce “¥ gti “eit 
ruin my people, who shall support me; how will 
ee teen be mepecnten 5 who will pay_you, sirs? 
To plunder my people is to plunder me. e was ex- 
tremely attentive to his officers, and they did not hesi- 
tate to consult him ing all their distresses and 
difficulties: The Spanish ambassador, expressing his 
surprise at finding him one day almost besieged by 
them, the King replied, “ If you saw me during a bat- 
tle, they then ga still more closely round me.” 
Bat though he was thus affable, he knew when it 
was his duty to be firm and resolute. A person of 
bea vaca ee influence asked a favour for = 
Ww iad been guilty of murder. His 
sn. 94 Bi dignified, veithonk being harsh. “Tam 
sorry it is not in my power to. grant your request. It 
becomes to act as the uncle ; it becomes me to act 
asthe King. I excuse your request; do you excuse 
my refusal. 
To these rare and excellent qualities of the head and 
heart, Henry added a most ing physi y, 
which at once commanded and inspired affec- 
tion and esteem. He was of middle stature ; of a fine 
complexion, a broad forehead, etrating eyes, an 
= meal and brown hair, Phish. hiv be 
to turn grey when he was only 33 years old. On this 
nappening, he remarked, that the storm of adversity 
early commenced to blow against him. 
Such was Henry IV. a sovereign who restored_trah- 
FRA 
NCE. 
erse 
pdhe who introduced order and economy into 
administration of the 
cles, so many disorders, and so many enemies. 
By M. lis Malicis be had tix guildiroty Sail ht 
by his di mistresses, besides those whom he 
not acknow ; 
He was in the 58th year of his age, and the 21st of 
his reign, when he was assassinated. . . 
Louis, the eldest of Henry’s three sons, by Mary de Louis X11 
Medicis, was only in the ninth year of his age at his 
father’s death, and consequently it was to 
int a regent. A parliament was held, at which 
Duke of on, laying his hand on the hilt of his 
sword, said in a threatening tone, “ It is still in its 
Medicis 
character, she soon became the dupe and instrument of Medicis 
her Italian confidents and favourites. Concini, a na- 8% 
tive of Florence, Marquis D’Ancre, afterw: Marshal 
of France, and his wife Eleanora i, possessed an 
entire ascendency over her mind, directed the af- — 
fairs of the state asthey pleased. The Duke of Sully, 
iving that he was no longer capable of benefiti 
Kia country by his advice or services, and dis; 
with what was going on, indignantly reti 
court to his estates, resigning his offices of governor 
i t of the finances ; 
was persuaded, by 
of 
but he 
his regard to the interests of the 
Protestants, to retain his situations as Master of the 
Prince of Asturias. The Protestants imm took The 
the alarm, auguring that their tion. would 
mediately follow this line of foreign politics. 
Duke 
the mayor, who was attachied to his interest, and i 
inted another entirely at his own devotion, 17 
Queen, timid by nature, and conscious that her power 
was still weak, a endeavoured to pacify, 
