nother almost altogether
Catholic, another equally divided between the two religions. The
Parliament of Paris thundered against the Parliament of Tours; the
partisans of the late king looked with scarcely less jealousy upon
their new sovereign than upon their enemies of the League; and many
of those who were indifferent upon the subject of religion, made it
their first inquiry how they could sell their services to the best
advantage.

"The preceding reigns had extinguished all respect for the law; the
vices of the court had banished all notions of morality; and years of
license had left barely the sense of common decency amongst the
higher classes of the kingdom. Complete disorganisation, in short,
existed throughout the whole fabric of society; and no common
principle of action could be found as a permanent bond in uniting the
members of any great party together. The League itself contained most
discordant materials; but it was far more harmonious in its character
than the great body of the Royalists; for community of religion at
least afforded an apparent motive for combination where more
substantial ties were wanting, while difference of faith in the camp
of the King was at all times a pretext for dissensions which at any
moment might produce disorders, if not actual hostility.

"Such was the state of affairs which Henry knew to exist at the
moment when he received the announcement that he had so suddenly
become King of France. The generous devotion, indeed, of a few loyal
and high-minded men tended greatly to encourage him in the
commencement of his career; but apprehension and perplexity must have
been the first emotions by which he was affected on entering the
Hotel de Gondi and learning that Henry III. was dead. He found still
greater alarm, however, reigning amongst the courtiers of the late
King. Everything was confusion and disarray, and his presence did not
tend to produce harmony and order.

"The moment that his arrival was known, the Scotch guard came and
threw themselves at his feet, exclaiming, 'Oh! Sire, you are now our
king and our master;' and the active and energetic character of the
monarch at once displayed itself in a remarkable manner. Without
losing the time of action in thought, he applied himself to take
advantage o