Dogs, cats, rats, and grass were eaten; the bones of animals and even of dead people were ground up and used for flour; the skins of animals were devoured.

Thirteen thousand persons died of hunger and twenty thousand of the fever brought on by lack of food.

But even this miracle of fanaticism could not have saved the capital eventually, but for the timely invasion of France from the north by the Duke of Parma, who joined Mayenne on the Marne.

Henry raised the siege to meet the new menace, but the campaign of 1591 was fruitless for both sides.
[Sidenote: Anarchy] France seemed to be in a state of anarchy under the operation of many and various forces.

Pope Gregory XIV tried to influence the Catholics to unite against Henry, but he was met by protests from the Parlements in the name of the Gallican Liberties.