sums of money which the badness of the times rendered necessary to him; but their ambassador had orders to throw into the fire, in the king's presence, the securities for the loan." As the government of Henry IV.

went on growing in strength and extent, two facts, both of them natural, though antagonistic, were being accomplished in France and in Europe.

The moderate Catholics were beginning, not as yet to make approaches towards him, but to see a glimmering possibility of treating with him and obtaining from him such concessions as they considered necessary at the same time that they in their turn made to him such as he might consider sufficient for his party and himself.

It has already been remarked with what sagacity Pope Sixtus V.had divined the character of Henry IV., at the very moment of condemning Henry III.

for making an alliance with him.