Memoirs of Henry the Great, and of the Court of France During His Reign Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824 Excerpt: ... time exert his accustomed clemency, granted Mercceur very advantageous conditions. The daughter of this nobleman, only six years of age, was in consequence aflianced to the infant Caesar, natural son of Gabrielle, then four years old, and who in consequence had settled upon him the duchy of Vendome. In the month of April Henry ratified, in favour of the protestants, the famous edict of Nantes; which was the work of four very experienced men, namely, Schomberg, Jeanin, De Thou, and Colignon, who had by his majestyls order been occupied two years in completing their task. This edict was, to all appearance, grounded on that of Poitiers, and the conventions of Bergerac and Fleix, to which many of its clauses bear a strong resemblance; the king, however, as in ancient edicts, gave up certain places of safety, and engaged to support the garrisons ceded to the Calvinists at his own expense. Henry, situated as he then was, found himself compelled-, to grant this edict; but from motives of delicacy he did not make it public until after the departure of the pope's legate, which occurred in 1599. These important affairs had not slackened the activity of the conferences held at Vervins; and the articles of peace were signed on the 2d of May, 1598. Of all the great negotiators of that time Sillery had the glory of contributing most to the conclusion of that important treaty. Upon the kiug's ratifying the same, he exclaimed: " I have just performed greater exploits by one dash Qf the pen, than I could have accomplished during a_ long war, aided by the best swords in my kingdom." According to the opinions of the ablest politicians of that day, the peace of Vervins was highly beneficial to France; as the king of Spain surrendered up Calais and all ...