It is pleasing to think that this patriotic step and these powerful words
were not without influence over the result which was attained. The King
of Navarre set to work, at the same time with Rosny, one, of the most
eminent, and with Philip du Plessis-Mornay, the most sterling of his
servants; and a month after the publication of his manifesto, on the 3d
of April, 1589, a truce for a year was concluded between the two kings.
It set forth that the King of Navarre should serve the King of France
with all his might and main; that he should have, for the movements of
his troops on both banks of the Loire, the place of Saumur; that the
places of which he made himself master should be handed over to Henry
III., and that he might not anywhere do anything to the prejudice of the
Catholic religion; that the Protestants should be no more disquieted
throughout the whole of France, and that, before the expiration of the
truce, King Henry III. should give them assurance of peace. This
negotiation was not concluded without difficulty, especially as regarded
the town of Saumur; there was a general desire to cede to the King of
Navarre only some place of less importance on the Loire; and when, on the
15th of April, Du Plessis-Mornay, who had been appointed governor of it,
presented himself for admittance at the head of his garrison, the
royalist commandant, who had to deliver the keys to him, limited himself
to letting them drop at his feet. Mornay showed alacrity in picking them
up.

On the 29th of April, the two kings had, each on his own behalf, made
their treaty public. Henry III. sent word to the King of Navarre that he
wished to see him and have some conversation with him. Many of the King
of Navarre's friends dissuaded him from this interview, saying, "They
are traitors; do not put yourself in their power; remember the
St. Bartholomew." This counsel was repeated to him on the 30th of April,
at the very moment when he was stepping aboard the boat to cross the
Loire and go to pay Henry III. a visit at the castle of Plessis-les-
Tours. The King of Navarre made no account of it. "God hath bidden me
to cross and see him," he answered: "it is not in the power of man to
keep me back, for God is guiding me and crossing with me. Of that I am
certain;" and he crossed the river. "It is incredible," says L'Estoile,
"what joy everybody felt at this interview; there was such a throng of
people that, notwithstanding all efforts to