presented itself, now joined the
monarch, saying, 'This day, sire, you have performed the part of
Marshal Biron, and Marshal Biron that of the King.'

"'Let us praise God, Marshal,' answered Henry, 'for the victory is
his.'"

Henry's generous temper, and, withal, turn for fun and drollery, is well
depicted in the account of his forgiveness of Mayenne, the ablest of his
opponents--

"In the meantime, negotiations went on for the reconciliation of the
Duke of Mayenne with his sovereign. His demands were greater,
perhaps, than were justified by his position; but Gabrielle d'
Estrees, who was now with the monarch, exerted all her influence to
render him favourable to the Duke, and Henry consented, at length, to
a treaty, by which it was declared, in regard to the death of Henry
III., that, all things weighed, and the evidence examined, it
appeared to the King, that the Princes and the Princesses of the
League had taken no part in that crime. The Parliaments of the realm
were consequently forbidden to proceed against them. Three places
were given to the Duke in Burgundy and Champagne, as security for six
years, the King burthened himself with the debts which Mayenne had
contracted during the war, and a term of six weeks was granted to the
other Leaguers, who were still in arms, to give in their adhesion to
the treaty of peace.

"This having been settled, and Mayenne feeling deeply the clemency of
the monarch, who had thus, in fact, loaded him with favours, when he
had nothing to expect but disgrace and punishment, set out to make
his submission in person to the King, who was then at Monceaux with
the fair Gabrielle. When he arrived, Henry was in the beautiful park
of that place, attended only by Sully, and on his approach the
monarch advanced to meet him. Mayenne knelt before the King, and
embraced his knees, assuring him of his fidelity for the future, and
thanking him for having delivered him 'from the arrogance of the
Spaniards, and the cunning of the Italians.' The King then hastened
to raise him, and embraced him three times with the utmost
cordiality, after which, taking him by the hand, and changing the
subject, he led him through the park, pointing out the changes and
improvements he intended to make. The King walked with his usual
rapid pace; M