s and of Madame de
Valentinois (Diana of Poitiers) inspired her with no little fear. All
which coy suggestions La Mothe Fenelon, astute courtier that he was, knew
well how to answer.[816]

[Sidenote: Machinations to dissuade Anjou.]

Soon, however, the difficulty threatened to be the unwillingness of the
suitor, rather than the reluctance of the lady. Henry of Anjou was the
head of the Roman Catholic party in France. Charles's orthodoxy might be
suspected; there was no doubt of his brother's. His intimacy with the
Guises, his successes as general of the royal forces in what was styled a
war in defence of religion, were guarantees of his devotion to the papal
cause. All his prestige would be lost if he married the heretical daughter
of Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn. Hence desperate efforts were made to
deter him--efforts which did not escape the Argus-eyed Walsingham. "The
Pope, the King of Spain, and the rest of the confederates, upon the doubt
of a match between the queen, my mistress, and monsieur, do seek, by what
means they can, to dissuade and draw him from the same. They offer him to
be the head and chief executioner of the league against the Turk, a thing
now newly renewed, though long ago meant; which league is thought to
stretch to as many as they repute to be Turks, although better Christians
than themselves. The cause of the Cardinal of Lorraine's repair hither
from Rheims, as it is thought, was to this purpose."[817]

[Sidenote: Charles indignant at the interference.]

Charles the Ninth was indignant at this interference, and said: "If this
matter go forward, it behooveth me to make some counter-league," having
his eye upon the German Protestant princes and Elizabeth.[818] Besides,
there were at this juncture other reasons for displeasure, especially with
Spain. Charles and his mother had received a rebuff from Sebastian of
Portugal, to whom they had offered Margaret of Valois in marriage. The
young king had replied, through Malicorne, "that they were both young,
and that therefore about eight years hence that matter might be better
talked of," "which disdainful answer," the English ambassador wrote from
the French court, "is accepted here in very ill part, and is thought not
to be done without the counsel of Spain."[819]

[Sidenote: Alencon to be substituted as suitor.]

With Henry of Anjou, however, much to the disgust and disappointment of
his mother, the "league" succeeded too well. Scarcely had