which more than counterbalanced the great disparity in numbers.  He had seen dissension break out among his enemies; even the Pope, Sixtus, had shown him some favour, and the Politique nobles were certainly not going against him.  Early in 1590 Henri had secured Anjou, Maine, and Normandy, and in March defeated Mayenne, in a great pitched battle at Ivry, not far from Dreux.  The Leaguers fell back in consternation to Paris.  Henri reduced all the country round the capital, and sat down before it for a stubborn siege.  The Duke of Parma had at that time his hands full in the Low Countries; young Prince Maurice was beginning to show his great abilities as a soldier, and had got possession of Breda; all, however, had to be suspended by the Spaniards on that side, rather than let Henri of Navarre take Paris.  Parma with great skill relieved the capital without striking a blow, and the campaign of 1590 ended in a failure for Henri.  The success of Parma, however, made Frenchmen feel that Henri’s was the national cause, and that the League flourished only by interference of the foreigner.  Were the King of Navarre but a Catholic, he should be a King of France of whom they might all be proud.  This feeling was strengthened by the death of the old Cardinal de Bourbon, which reopened at once the succession question, and compelled Philip of Spain to show his hand.  He now claimed the throne for his daughter Elisabeth, as eldest daughter of the eldest daughter of Henri II.  All the neighbours of France claimed something; Frenchmen felt that it was either Henri IV. or dismemberment.  The “Bearnais” grew in men’s minds to be the champion of the Salic law, of the hereditary principle of royalty against feudal weakness, of unity against dismemberment, of the nation against the foreigner.

The middle party, the Politiques of Europe,—­the English, that is, and the Germans,—­sent help to Henri, by means of which he was able to hold his own in the northwest and southwest throughout 1591.  Late in the year the violence of the Sixteen of Paris drew on them severe punishment from the Duc de Mayenne; and consequently the Duke ceased to be the recognised head of the League, which now looked entirely to Philip II. and Parma, while Paris ceased to be its headquarters; and more moderate counsels having taken the place of its fierce fanaticism, the capital came under the authority of the lawyers and citizens, instead of the priesthood and the bloodthirsty mob.  Henri, meanwhile, who was closely beleaguering Rouen, was again outgeneralled by Parma, and had to raise the siege.  Parma, following him westward, was wounded at Caudebec; and though he carried his army triumphantly back to the Netherlands, his career was ended by this trifling wound.  He did no more, and died in 1592.