hat no private
interests of his own, not even those of his people, nothing but the
most invincible necessity, could ever induce him to think of a separate
peace with Philip, or make him embrace measures not entirely conformable
to the wishes of all his confederates: that his kingdom, torn with
the convulsions and civil wars of near half a century, required some
interval of repose, ere it could reach a condition in which it might
sustain itself, much more support its allies: that after the minds of
his subjects were composed to tranquillity and accustomed to obedience,
after his finances were brought into order, and after agriculture
and the arts were restored, France, instead of being a burden, as at
present, to her confederates, would be able to lend them effectual
succor, and amply to repay them all the assistance which she had
received during her calamities: and that, if the ambition of Spain would
not at present grant them such terms as they should think reasonable, he
hoped that, in a little time, he should attain such a situation as
would enable him to mediate more effectually, and with more decisive
authority, in their behalf.

The ambassadors were sensible that these reasons were no feigned; and
they therefore remonstrated with the less vehemence against the measures
which, they saw, Henry was determined to pursue. The states knew that
that monarch was interested never to permit their final ruin; and having
received private assurances that he would still, notwithstanding the
peace, give them assistance both of men and money, they were well
pleased to remain on terms of amity with him. His greatest concern was
to give satisfaction to Elizabeth for this breach of treaty. He had a
cordial esteem for that princess, a sympathy of manners, and a gratitude
for the extraordinary favors which he had received from her during his
greatest difficulties: and he used every expedient to apologize and
atone for that measure which necessity extorted from him. But as Spain
refused to treat with the Dutch as a free state, and Elizabeth would not
negotiate without her ally, Henry found himself obliged to conclude at
Vervins a separate peace, by which he recovered possession of all the
places seized by Spain during the course of the civil wars, and procured
to himself leisure to pursue the domestic settlement of his kingdom. His
capacity for the arts of peace was not inferior to his military talents;
and in a little time, by his fru