Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/611

Rh a plansibleplausible [sic] pretext for forming themselves into a league 1576, of which Henry III. was declared head. A. D. 1583, the duke of Anjou died, and the king of Navarre became heir apparent to the throne; but Catherine exerted all her influence over her son to prevail on him to promote his exclusion, and transfer his rights to the children of her daughter, by the duke of Lorrain. The duke of Guise and his brother, encouraged by the queen-mother, put themselves at the head of the league, and their emissaries were loud against an heretical sovereign. The armies took the field, and many sieges ensued. In 1586, Catherine had an interview with the king of Navarre, and the prince of Condé, attended as usual, by the most beautiful women of the court; but neither the persuasions of the one, nor charms of the other, could prevail on the princes to renounce their religion. Meanwhile the dissensions between the king and duke of Guise daily encreased, each party were determined on extremities: Henry had little more than the name of king; and that little continually decreased. Catherine in vain, by tears and remonstrances, attempted to reconcile them; but the breach was too wide to be filled by pacific measures. Henry at length fled from Paris, but now the mediation of Catherine was once more successfully employed, and Henry in appearance reconciled to his rebellious subjects; but by his orders the duke of Guise was assassinated, 1588. As soon as Henry was informed of his death, he passed into the apartment of the queen-mother; and, acquainting her with the event, added, "I am now a king, madam; for the duke of Guise is no more." Catherine, without blaming or commending the action, only coldly asked, if he had considered the consequences? Those which immediately followed.