e; theological
controversy daily whetted the animosity of the sects; and every private
injury became the ground of a public quarrel.

{1578.} The king, hoping by his artifice and subtlety to allure the
nation into a love of pleasure and repose, was himself caught in the
snare; and sinking into a dissolute indolence, wholly lost the esteem,
and, in a great measure, the affections, of his people. Instead of
advancing such men of character and abilities as were neuters between
these dangerous factions, he gave all his confidence to young, agreeable
favorites, who, unable to prop his falling authority, leaned entirely
upon it, and inflamed the general odium against his administration. The
public burdens, increased by his profuse liberality, and felt more heavy
on a disordered kingdom, became another ground of complaint: and the
uncontrolled animosity of parties, joined to the multiplicity of taxes,
rendered peace more calamitous than any open state of foreign or even
domestic hostility.

{1579.} The artifices of the king too refined to succeed, and too
frequent to be concealed; and the plain, direct, and avowed conduct of
the duke of Guise on one side, and that of the king of Navarre on the
other, drew by degrees the generality of the nation to devote themselves
without reserve to one or the other of those great leaders.

The civil commotions of France were of too general importance to be
overlooked by the other princes of Europe; and Elizabeth's foresight and
vigilance, though somewhat restrained by her frugality, led her to take
secretly some part in them. Besides employing on all occasions her good
offices in favor of the Hugonots, she had expended no inconsiderable
sums in levying that army of Germans which the prince of Conde and
Prince Casimir conducted into France;[*] and notwithstanding her
negotiations with the court, and her professions of amity, she always
considered her own interests as connected with the prosperity of the
French Protestants, and the depression of the house of Guise. Philip,
on the other hand, had declared himself protector of the league; had
entered into the closest correspondence with Guise; and had employed
all his authority in supporting the credit of that factious leader. This
sympathy of religion, which of itself begat a connection of interests,
was one considerable inducement; but that monarch had also in view the
subduing of his rebellious subjects in the Netherlands; who, as they
rec