He did not possess the capital of his kingdom the League were still masters of Paris.

Uneasy masters of their situation; but not so uneasy, however, as they ought to have been.

The great leaders of the party, the Duke of Mayenne, his mother the Duchess of Nemours, his sister the Duchess of Montpensier, and the Duke of Feria, Spanish ambassador, were within its walls, a prey to alarm and discouragement.

"At breakfast," said the Duchess of Montpensier, "they regale us with the surrender of a hamlet, at dinner of a town, at supper of a whole province." The Duchess of Nemours, who desired peace, exerted herself to convince her son of all their danger.

"Set your affairs in order," she said;--if you do not begin to make your arrangements with the king before leaving Paris, you will lose this capital.