The king hastened to make terms with the League and commanded all Protestants to leave the country in six months.

At this point the pope intervened to strengthen his cause by issuing the "Bull of Deprivation" [Sidenote: 1585] declaring Henry of Navarre incapable, as a heretic, of succeeding to the throne.

Navarre at once denounced the bull as contrary to French law and invalid, and he was supported both by the Parlement of Paris and by some able pamphleteers.

Hotman published his attack on the "vain and blind fulmination" of the pontiff.
[Sidenote: Battle of Coutras, October 20, 1587] An appeal to arms was inevitable.

At the battle of Coutras, the Huguenots, led by Henry of Navarre, won their first victory.