For the seventeen years that I have been King of Navarre, I do not think that I have ever departed from my word.

I beg you to address your prayers to the Lord on my behalf, that He may enlighten me in my views, direct my purposes, bless my endeavors.

And in case I commit any fault or fail in any one of my duties,--for I acknowledge that I am a man like any other,--pray Him to give me grace that I may correct it, and to assist me in all my goings." [Illustration: Henry IV .-- --11] On the 4th of August, 1589, an official manifesto of Henry IV.'s confirmed the ideas and words of this address.

On the same day, in the camp at St.Cloud, the majority of the princes, dukes, lords, and gentlemen present in the camp expressed their full adhesion to the accession and the manifesto of the king, promising him "service and obedience against rebels and enemies who would usurp the kingdom." Two notable leaders, the Duke of Epernon amongst the Catholics, and the Duke of La Tremoille amongst the Protestants, refused to join in this adhesion; the former saying that his conscience would not permit him to serve a heretic king, the latter alleging that his conscience forbade him to serve a prince who engaged to protect Catholic idolatry.

They withdrew, D'Epernon into Angoumois and Saintonge, taking with him six thousand foot and twelve thousand horse; and La Tremoille into Poitou, with nine battalions of Reformers.