claimant; it was a solemn and reciprocal acknowledgment by the noblesse
of Henry's rights to the crown, and by Henry of the nation's political,
civil, and religious rights. The engagements entered into by Henry were
only what were necessary to complete the guarantees given for the
security of the rights of Catholics. As touching the succession to the
throne, the signataries themselves say that all they do is to maintain
and continue the law of the land."

There was, in 1589, an unlawful pretender to the throne of France; and
that was Cardinal Charles de Bourbon, younger brother of Anthony de
Bourbon, King of Navarre, and consequently uncle of Henry IV., sole
representative of the elder branch. Under Henry III., the cardinal had
thrown in his lot with the League; and, after the murder of Guise, Henry
III. had, by way of precaution, ordered him to be arrested and detained
him in confinement at Chinon, where he still was when Henry III. was in
his turn murdered. On becoming king, the far-sighted Henry IV. at once
bethought him of his uncle and of what he might be able to do against
him. The cardinal was at Chinon, in the custody of Sieur de Chavigny,
"a man of proved fidelity," says De Thou, "but by this time old and
blind." Henry IV. wrote to Du Plessis-Mornay, appointed quite recently
governor of Saumur, "bidding him, at any price," says Madame de Mornay,
"to get Cardinal de Bourbon away from Chinon, where he was, without
sparing anything, even to the whole of his property, because he would
incontinently set himself up for king if he could obtain his release."
Henry IV. was right. As early as the 7th of August, the Duke of Mayenne
had an announcement made to the Parliament of Paris, and written notice
sent to all the provincial governors, "that, in the interval until the
states-general could be assembled, he urged them all to unite with him in
rendering with one accord to their Catholic king, that is to say,
Cardinal de Bourbon, the obedience that was due to him." The cardinal