eir being able to assign a lawful, or even a plausible, reason for
such a conduct.

All these persons were perplexed in their debates, and perceived plainly
that their opinion would signify nothing, yet could not prevail upon
themselves to alter it. The King looking at me that moment, "Monsieur de
Rosny," said he, "what makes you so thoughtful? Will not you speak your
mind absolutely any more than the others?" I then began, and was not
afraid to declare myself against all those who had voted, by maintaining
that it was necessary not to hesitate a moment, but to endeavor to gain
the affections of the people by kind treatment, as experience had proved
that harsh measures were productive of no good consequences whatever. I
therefore advised the King to grant them not only the liberty of trade,
which they requested, but also a general truce, if, as the Count de
Belin seemed to hint, they should desire it. To these I added many other
reasons; but they only excited against me the hatred or contempt of most
of the council, to whose decision the King was obliged to yield, and the
Count de Belin returned without being able to gain anything.

Henry, reflecting upon this refusal and judging that there wanted but
little more of the same nature to alienate the people's affections from
him without a possibility of regaining them, and to induce them to go
over to the party of his enemies, he resolved to defer his abjuration no
longer. He was now convinced that there was no probability of his subduing
the reluctance of several of the Protestants, or of ever obtaining their
free consent to this proceeding;[2] but that it was necessary to act
independently of them, and hazard some murmurs, which would end in
nothing. As for the Catholics of his party, the King endeavored only to
remove their fears that, looking upon them as persons of whom he was
already secure, he would apply himself wholly to gaining the rest by
bestowing all rewards upon them. He therefore at last declared publicly
that on July 20, 1593, he would perform his abjuration, and named the
Church of St. Denis for this ceremony.

[2] Henry IV was always sensible that his abjuration would expose
him to great dangers, which made him write in this manner to
Mademoiselle d'Estrees: "On Sunday I shall take a dangerous leap.
While I am writing to you I have a hundred troublesome people
about me, which makes me detest St. Denis as much as you do