In this critical and embarrassing situation, he had the good sense to appoint the Marquis de Rosny, afterwards the celebrated Duke of Sully, superintendant of the finan ces; and he soon placed the king in a situation to support the expellees of the war. His financial measures were wise and efficacious, at the same time that they were not burdensome to the people. By means of them, Henry in a short time was at the head of an army of 20,000 men, the best appointed that he had ever commanded. Elizabeth reinforced this army with 4000 troops; so that in 1597, the king deemed himself sufficiently strong to attempt the re covery of Amiens. " Let us go," said lie, on setting out on this expedition, " and act the King of Navarre; we have acted the King of France long enough." The enter prise was worthy of the talents of the King ; for the Span ish garrison was composed of excellent troops, and com manded by brave and experienced officers. As they were sensible of the great importance of the place, and knew that on that account the Archduke would march to its re lief, they made a most obstinate and gallant defence. The Archduke did indeed advance to it, but not being able to force the French lines, though his army was composed of 25,000 excellent troops, be retired, and Amiens surrender ed to Henry. The next enterprize of this monarch was against Dourlens, which he also hoped to take : But his troops were fatigued ; disease and discontent began to pre vail among them ; the works went slowly on from these causes, and the unfavourable weather ; the artillery could not be brought up, in consequence of the badness of the roads ; and the vigilance of the Archduke had pre pared the city with every thing necessary for its defence. Henry, therefore, had scarcely begun the siege, before he was convinced that it would be wise to abandon it ; he ac cordingly disbanded the greater part of his troops, and leaving his cavalry for the defence of the frontier, returned to Paris. Here he was received with every mark of loy alty and attachment ; but his stay could not be long, for Brittany still was in possession of the League ; and the Duke of Morceur, of the family of Lorraine, nourished the flames of sedition there. The King, therefore, as soon as the return of spring permitted his troops to march, advan ced to Angers. The Duke, taken unawares, and deserted by the principal part of the nobility, considered himself as utterly lost, when the lucky thought presented itself of of fering his daughter, the heiress of his large estates, to Cx sar, the natural son of Henry, by his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrdes. The King, glad of an opportunity of gratifying her ambition, readily assented to the proposal, and the nup tials were celebrated with princely magnificence at Angers.
The King of Spain, who had hitherto kept alive the cival war in France, seeing the League destroyed, and being broken down with age and infirmity, felt a sincere desire for peace. As Henry was equally solicitous for it, the mediation of Pope Clement was readily accepted, and at his request a congress was held, by the plenipotentiaries of France and Spain, at Vervins, a town in Picardy. While the negociations were carrying on, Henry bethought himself in what manner he might satisfy the Protestants, without offending the Catholics, or exciting their suspicions. This was no easy task; but he effected it in a wise and politic manner, by passing the famous edict of Nantes in favour of the Protestants. This edict confirmed to them all the rights and privileges which had been granted to them by former princes, and it added a free admission to all employments of trust, profit and honour; an establish ment of chambers of justice, in which the members of the two religions were equal; and liberty to educate their chil dren without restraint in any of the universities. The negociations at Vervins were attended with considerable difficulties, but these being removed, principally by means of the Pope, Henry signed a peace, by which he obtained the restitution of Calais, Ardres, Dourlens, and all the towns of France which Spain had wrested from him, but at the same time gave up his pretensions to Cambray.
When this peace was concluded in 1598, France stood much in need of repose. The crown was loaded with debts and pensions; the country was uncultivated; the people were poor and miserable; and the nobility, long accustomed to a life of rebellion and plunder, were destitute of all sense of justice, moderation, or loyalty. Henry, therefore, was
convinced, that a still more arduous task remained for him than any he had yet undertaken; and that it would be ne cessary to bring all his powers of mind into action, if he wished to restore happiness to France. He was also con vinced, that the measures which it would be necessary to pursue, would meet with violent opposition from all those, whose habits and interests attached them to rapine and dis order; but he was neither intimidated at the greatness, nor perplexed by the intricacy, of the task which he tu, dertook. No man indeed was better qualified for it.
His object was single ; he suffered no thought or wish to interfere with his desire for the public good; and his talents were of that description, that what he desired ar dently and sincerely, he could examine in all its bearings, and ascertain every possible mode by which it could be accomplished. He was aware that he must proceed with' caution, and that many must be enticed to do or permit what, if they were ordered to do or reasoned with, they would undoubtedly oppose. Among all men of the mili tary profession he possessed great influence, from his success in war, and his courageous and open disposition ; while, to the nobility in general, he was recommended by his magnanimity, gallantry and gaiety. The people loved and reverenced him ; they were convinced, that all his actions were directed to their good, and they even gave him credit for aiming at it, when their ignorance or their passions prevented them from perceiving in what manner his measures would promote it. As the more violent and factious had experienced his vigour and promptitude, they were afraid to excite his suspicion, by opposing his schemes. Thus he found himself in a condition to under take the mighty and benevolent work of regenerating France, and of curing the wounds which a long civil war had inflicted on her morals, her happiness, and her finances. Still, however, the task was too great for one mind, even of the highest talents and purest views. Henry, there fore, called to his assistance the Marquis de Rosny, whom he created Duke of Sully. This justly celebrated man, in some respects resembled his master ; and where lie did not resemble him, the difference was such as rendered their dispositions and talents mutually beneficial, instead of antagonist to each other. Henry was naturally fond of pleasure, and of a volatile temper ; hence he required a steady and thoughtful friend, possessed of more coolness and perseverance than himself: this friend he found in Sully. " Attached to his master's person by friendship, and to his interest and the public good by principle, he em ployed himself with the most indefatigable industry to restore the dignity of the crown, without giving umbrage to the nobility, or tresspassing on the rights of the people." As all these plans of reform and amelioration depended on the restoration of the finances, Sully first applied his at tention to them, and, in a very short time, he exhibited a statement of them so simple, clear, and satisfactory, digest ing the whole system into tables, that the King became perfectly master of his own affairs, and was able, by a sin gle glance, to see all the branches of his revenue and ex penditure. As it was one of Sully's maxims, that every man employed in collecting the revenue was a citizen lost to the public, and yet maintained by the public, he levied taxes in the shortest and most frugal manner ; all the ex pences of the government were curtailed : but those which were necessary, were paid in a punctual and regular man ner; and he took especial care, that the King should al ways have so much in reserve, as could relieve hi n from the necessity, on any unexpected emergency, of either borrowing, or imposing new taxes. As all these measures were the result of a comprehensive and well digested sys tem, and as both Henry and his minister were convinced that they were founded in wisdom, and would prove ad vantageous, they did not permit any deviation or relaxation in their execution. The consequence was, that in the space of five years, all the debts of the crown were paid ; the revenue was augmented four millions of livres; and there were four millions of surplus above the regular expendi ture in the treasury, while the taxes were much reduced.