She was accused not only of crimes of which she was really guilty, like the massacre of St.Bartholomew, but of having murdered {221} the dauphin Francis, her husband's elder brother, and others who had died natural deaths, and of having systematically depraved her children in order to keep the reins of authority in her own hands.
Frightened by the odium in which his mother was held, Henry III thought it wise to disavow all part or lot in St.Bartholomew and to concede to the Huguenots liberty of worship everywhere save in Paris and in whatever place the court might be for the moment.
So difficult was the position of the king that by this attempt to conciliate his enemies he only alienated his friends.

The bigoted Catholics, finding the crown impotent, began to take energetic measures to help themselves.

In 1576 they formed a League to secure the benefit of association.

[Sidenote: The League] Henry Duke of Guise drew up the declaration that formed the constituent act of the League.

It proposed "to establish the law of God in its entirety, to reinstate and maintain divine service according to the form and manner of the holy, Catholic and apostolic church," and also "to restore to the provinces and estates of this kingdom the rights, privileges, franchises, and ancient liberties such as they were in the time of King Clovis, the first Christian king." This last clause is highly significant as showing how the Catholics had now adopted the tactics of the Huguenots in appealing from the central government to the provincial privileges.
It is exactly the same issue as that of Federalism versus States' Rights in American history; the party in power emphasizes the national authority, while the smaller divisions furnish a refuge for the minority.
The constituency of the League rapidly became large.