And it must be remembered that his motives were not purely selfish.

The alternative seemed to be indefinite civil war with all its horrors, and Henry deliberately but regretfully sacrificed his confessional convictions on the altar of his country.
The step was not immediately successful.

The Huguenots were naturally enraged.

The Catholics doubted the king's sincerity.

At Paris the preachers of the League ridiculed the conversion from the pulpit.