eaders of the
Hugonots were persuaded to hearken to terms of a separate accommodation.
Conde and Montmorency held conferences for settling the peace; and as
they were both of them impatient to relieve themselves from captivity,
they soon came to an agreement with regard to the conditions. The
character of the queen regent, whose ends were always violent, but who
endeavored by subtlety and policy, rather than force, to attain
them, led her to embrace any plausible terms; and in spite of the
protestations of the admiral, whose sagacity could easily discover the
treachery of the court, the articles of agreement were finally settled
between the parties. A toleration under some restrictions was anew
granted to the Protestants; a general amnesty was published; Conde was
reinstated in his offices and governments; and after money was advanced
for the payment of arrears due to the German troops, they were dismissed
the kingdom.

By the agreement between Elizabeth and the prince of Conde, it had been
stipulated,[*] that neither party should conclude peace without the
consent of the other; but this article was at present but little
regarded by the leaders of the French Protestants. They only
comprehended her so far in the treaty, as to obtain a promise that,
on her relinquishing Havre, her charges, and the money which she had
advanced them, should be repaid her by the king of France, and that
Calais, on the expiration of the term, should be restored to her. But
she disdained to accept of these conditions; and thinking the possession
of Havre a much better pledge for effecting her purpose, she sent
Warwick orders to prepare himself against an attack from the now united
power of the French monarchy.

The earl of Warwick, who commanded a garrison of six thousand men,
besides seven hundred pioneers, had no sooner got possession of Havre,
than he employed every means for putting it in a posture of defence;[**]
and after expelling the French from the town, he encouraged his soldiers
to make the most desperate defence against the enemy. The constable
commanded the French army; the queen regent herself and the king were
present in the camp; even the prince of Conde joined the king's forces,
and gave countenance to this enterprise; the admiral and Andelot
alone, anxious still to preserve the friendship of Elizabeth, kept at
a distance, and prudently refused to join their ancient enemies in an
attack upon their allies.

* Forbes, v