Here was a man who knew how to keep a secret, and who had no scruples in the matter of dissimulation, however enraged he might be at seeing men and money diverted from his own masterly combinations in order to carry out these schemes of his master.

Mucio, on the contrary, was imprudent and inclined to boast.  His contempt for Henry III, made him blind to the dangers to be apprehended from Henry of Navarre.  He did little, but talked a great deal.

Philip was very anxious that the work should be done both secretly and thoroughly.  “Let the business be finished before Saint John’s day,” said he to Tassis, when sending fifty thousand dollars for the use of the brothers Guise.  “Tell Iniquez to warn them not to be sluggish.  Let them not begin in a lukewarm manner, but promise them plenty of assistance from me, if they conduct themselves properly.  Let them beware of wavering, or of falling into plans of conciliation.  If they do their duty, I will do mine.”

But the Guise faction moved slowly despite of Philip’s secret promptings.  The truth is, that the means proposed by the Spanish monarch were ludicrously inadequate to his plans, and it was idle to suppose that the world was to be turned upside down for his benefit, at the very low price which he was prepared to pay.

Nothing less than to exterminate all the heretics in Christendom, to place himself on the thrones of France and of England, and to extinguish the last spark of rebellion in the Netherlands, was his secret thought, and yet it was very difficult to get fifty thousand dollars from him from month to month.  Procrastinating and indolent himself, he was for ever rebuking the torpid movements of the Guises.

“Let Mucio set his game well at the outset,” said he; “let him lay the axe to the root of the tree, for to be wasting time fruitlessly is sharpening the knife for himself.”

This was almost prophetic.  When after so much talking and tampering, there began to be recrimination among the leaguers, Philip was very angry with his subordinate.

“Here is Mucio,” said he, “trying to throw the blame of all the difficulties, which have arisen, upon us.  Not hastening, not keeping his secret, letting the execution of the enterprise grow cold, and lending an ear to suggestions about peace, without being sure of its conclusion, he has turned his followers into cowards, discredited his cause, and given the King of France opportunity to strengthen his force and improve his party.  These are all very palpable things.  I am willing to continue my friendship for them, but not, if, while they accept it, they permit themselves to complain, instead of manifesting gratitude.”

On the whole, however, the affairs of the League seemed prosperous.  There was doubtless too much display among the confederates, but there was a growing uneasiness among the royalists.  Cardinal Bourbon, discarding his ecclesiastical robes and scarlet stockings, paraded himself daily in public, clothed in military costume, with all the airs of royalty.  Many persons thought him mad.  On the other hand, Epergnon, the haughty minion-in-chief, who governed Henry III., and insulted all the world, was becoming almost polite.