The sale of offices, of justice, of collectorships of taxes, of the administration, of the army, of the public domain, was only less onerous than the sale of monopolies and inspectorships of markets and ports.

The only prosperous class seemed to be the government agents and contractors.
In fact, for the first time in the history of France the people were becoming thoroughly disaffected and some of them semi-republican in feeling.
[Sidenote: 1584] The king had no sons and when his only remaining brother died a new element of discord and perplexity was introduced in that the heir to the throne, Henry of Navarre, was a Protestant.

Violent attacks on him were published in the pamphlet press.

The League was revived in stronger form than before.

Its head, Guise, selected as candidate for the throne the uncle of Henry of Navarre, Charles, Cardinal of Bourbon, a stupid and violent man of sixty-four.