The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-21
RECENT LITERATURE.

HENRY OF NAVARRO AND THE RELIGIOUS
WARS BY Edward r. Blair. Published by j..
T. Lippincote Company, Philadelphia. For sale
by Brouiano, Washington, ID. g. Price, in cloth,
81
Ono of the most interesting periods in the
history Of France is that round about the
splendid figure of Henry Of Navarro. It was
the time of great political activity, intrigue,
and warfare Street brawls and great battles
make continual excitement, while through it
all and part Of it all runs the great religious
discussion and the struggle between Catholics
and Huguenots; the same questions and strug-
giles that Il few years before had disturbed the
peace of England Germany. Spain, Holland,
and ItaIy-the great Reformation.
The author claims for this work only. cit
endeavors to avoid partiality, and to present a
faithful picture of characters and events which
have been much distorted by partisan writer's"
Wo could wish more splendid passages, more
enthusiasm about the great characters. and
moro details of famous events, and less tire
some impartiality in the details. with their
innumerable battles and leaders, of the six
religious wars that took place between the
birth and the death of the central figure; but
with all the lack of enthusiasm the history is
in most part very readable.
Henry ~ was born in 1883, and, oddly
enough this and one other arc the only dates
in all the 800 pages of history. His mother
sang all during his birth, that he should not be
puny From her he seems to have inherited all
his intellectual ability, his Professionalism, his
honesty aud courage. His father was worth
less scamp, who gave his son the name Bour-
bon and an inordinatc love for women, which
latter inheritance was as conspicuous as the
honesty he inherited from his good mother.
From his old grandfather he received the
Kingdom of Navarro, including Bearn, walled
in by the Pyrenees Mountains, strongly
o,t in, thooa fauial dora oh
power,
France consisted of great feoffs. practically
independent of the crown, whose lieges waged
war on each other or on their suZerain when
ever they pleased" So, from the first the
little Prince was power in France, although
he was very remotely considered an heir to the
throne.
From his mountain country he received an
other inheritance.
Mountain air is tho breath of freedom, and
the Bearnais, like the Scotch and the Swiss
preserved their liberties even under the fiery
Princes of Folk. They were a hardy, adven-
turous race in whose character the southern
sun had infused that curious mixture of
shrewdness aud bravado which has always
made the Gasc0ns fav0rites with the writers of
the romantic school,"
In the meantime, willis Henry IL being
trained in the classics. in hunting in courtly
graces and in warfare in the Puritan court of
Navarro, France is warning and dsputing in
the first throes OF her struggles for religious
tolerance. Wars of religion were closely
connected with political and dynastic questions
that matters of faith seem to hold merely
nominal part. when the first case of icono-
cIasm occurred Francis l., the King. offered
reward OF a thousand gold crowns for the dis
covery of the offenders He then went bare
headed, with a lighted taper in his hand, TO the
scene OF the dissertations, accompanied by a
great procession of the great mobiles and prelates
OF the court. There were 81 executions for
heresy during bis reign. and even the Pope is
said to have deprecated the Kings severity,
reminding him that our Lord, while OH earth,
mado more use of mercy than of Justice"
But the people continued to throw stones
and ring bells at each others worship and
wars wore fought, and leaders rose and fell, and
France was the uneasiest monarchy in all
Europe. At the death of Henry H.. the next
King, the influence of Catherins de Medicis |
began to be felt. As the neglected wife of
Henry, for 90 years she had remained quietly |
in the backg ground.
Tho most singular circumstance in the ca |
reer oil that wonderful woman, whose political |
ambitions and powers were now destined to boz |
come the most potent factor in French politics, |
was that, for 20 years, with all this desire and |
capacity for ruling she could humble herself |
before hor husbands mistress Diana do Poiters) |
andO consent to remain nonentity in tina /
ream. But she was frendless and isolated,
regarded at the French court merely az the /
laughter of Florentins banker"
Site is further described: Catherine never
willingly made an enemy, and was always
milling and courteous. She excelled in I'M
'avelling the intricacies of human action.
Catherine neither made friendships
Tor intfufged in anIm0sities, and was as likely
whom OCCASION demanded it to coneiliate her
nemies as she was to desert her friends ASA
When Baby was sick, we gave her Castoria
When she was a Child she criaff for r,s.orja