When Henry ascended the throne of France in 1589, he was in the 35th year of his age ; eloquent in council, in trepid in action, fertile in resources ; and distinguished by wonderful sagacity, the love of glory and his country, un common frankness, economy, and talents for business. And he had ample occasion for the exercise of all these quali fications ; for his religion prejudiced nearly one half of the royal army against him. The Duke of Mayenee, who was appointed to the command of the League, after the death of his brothers, might have assumed the title of king ; but he chose rather to confer it on the old Cardinal of Bourbon. Under these circumstances, Henry was un der the necessity of signing certain propositions favourable to the Catholics, and promHing to listen with attention and impartiality to the arguments of their clergy. Even after these concessions, he found his force far from numerous ; and he was obliged to abandon the siege of Paris, and re tire into Normandy. The governor of Dieppe opened the gates of that city to him ; and the governor of Caen fol lowed his example. He was thus able to preserve a free communication with England, the only power from which he could expect assistance.
The Dukc of Mayence, sensible of the importance of reducing these places, advanced into Normandy at the head of 30,000 men; while the army of the king amount ed only to 7000. Henry therefore took refuge under the walls of Argues, where he was attacked by the Duke. Henry's troops, encouraged by the exhortations and ex ample of their sovereign, stood firm ; and the Duke found himself under the necessity of retiring from the enter prise. Soon afterwards, the royal arniy was strengthened by 4000 men from England ; and the Swiss cantons, as well as the republic or Venice, acknowledged Henry as king.
Being thus reinforced, he formed the resolution of marching to Paris, in the hope of finding it unguarded; and so rapid and secret was his march, that the Parisians were astonished and intimidated at his appearance, at a time when they thought he was far distant, and by no means in a condition to act on the offensive. Ile insulted the suburbs; cut in pieces above 1300 of the troops of the League ; and if the Duke of Mayence had not arrived, would have made himself master of the capital. In con sequence of this, he retired to Tours; and the Duke in Paris solemnly proclaimed the Cardinal of Bourbon King, by the title of Charles X. though at this time he was a prisoner to Henry. The next object of the king was the town of Dreux, before which he sat down with an army of 12,000 men, in the year 1590 ; but being informed that the army of the League, which was now reinforced by the Prince of Parma, and consisted of excellent and ex perienced troops, was advancing towards him, he raised the siege and prepared for battle. With this view, he posted his army at Ivri, on the banks of the river Eure. His position here was so strong, that the Duke of May ence would have avoided an engagement ; but the citizens of Paris reproached him with cowardice, and he was farther stimulated by the presumptuous and boasting speeches of the Count Egmont. According to him, the cavalry which he commanded were alone able to conquer the whole royal army. The Duke, thus goaded on, gave
orders for battle. The conflict was long, and obstinately contested. But the genius of Henry was everywhere pre sent, directing and encouraging his troops, preventing or remedying the mistakes of his officers ; while, by his ex ample, he taught the lowest of his followers what he ex pected from them. " My Lords," said he to them, " if you should lose sight of your colours, rally round this,— pointing to a large white plume which he wore in his hat,—you will always find it in the road to honour. God is with us !" added he emphatically, drawing his sword, and rushing into the thickest of the enemy ; but when he perceived their ranks broken, and great havock commit ted in the pursuit, he cried out, " Spare my French sub jects !" The Count Egmont, with the greatest part of his troops, perished on the field : 2500 of the troops of the League also fell ; and the Duke of Mayence himself escap ed with difficulty. The Swiss alone remained firm ; and after the battle offered their services to Henry.
Had the finances of the king been in a condition such as would have enabled him to increase his forces, this bat tle, in all probability, would have placed him securely and permanently on the throne. But his want of money was so great, that be could not advance to Paris ; and hoping to gain by treaty what he would rather have secured by arms, he entered into a negociation with his opponents. They, however, were not sincere; but as soon as they had profited by the delay, they broke it off. Two months had now elapsed since the battle of Ivry, and Henry was only beginning his march to Paris. As soon as he arrived be fore it, he commenced the blockade. The Parisians, not withstanding the death of the Cardinal of Bourbon, were still most obstinately averse to Henry, and resolved to suffer the greatest extremities, rather than deliver up the city. In this resolution they were confirmed by the eccle siastics, who, leaving their cloisters, formed themselves into a regiment, under the command of the Pope's legate. Famine and disease soon began to assail the inhabitants. The Duke of Nemours, who had been appointed gover.= nor of the capital, commanded the aged and infirm to leave it. Had Henry refused a passage, it is probable that it must have surrendered ; but he rejected the counsels of his officers, who advised him to drive them back with the sword ; he even permitted the peasants and his own sol diers to carry provisions secretly to the besieged. " I would rather never possess Paris," said he, " than acquire it by the destruction of its citizens." In the space of the last month of the blockade, famine had destroyed above 30,000 of the inhabitants ; when the Duke of Parma, by order of the King of Spain, left the Low Countries, and hastened to its relief. On his approach, henry raised the siege and offered him battle ; but the Duke having accom plished the object for which he was sent, refused to fight. Henry in vain endeavoured to force him to it, and even to attack him with advantage, during his retreat ; but so great were the skill and caution of this celebrated com mander, that he retired in the face of his enemy, without so much as putting his army into disorder.