At the same time the Duke of Feria suddenly produced in full assembly of Leaguers a written order from Philip that the Duke of Guise and the Infanta should at once be elected king and queen.  Taken by surprise, Mayenne dissembled his rage in masterly-fashion, promised Feria to support the election, and at once began to higgle for conditions.  He stipulated that he should have for himself the governments of Champagne, Burgundy, and La Brie, and that they should be hereditary in his family:  He furthermore demanded that Guise should cede to him the principality of Joinville, and that they should pay him on the spot in hard money two hundred thousand crowns in gold, six hundred thousand more in different payments, together with an annual payment of fifty thousand crowns.

It was obvious that the duke did not undervalue himself; but he had after all no intention of falling into the trap set for him.  “He has made these promises (as above given) in writing,” said the Duke of Savoy’s envoy to his master, “but he will never keep them.  The Duchess of Mayenne could not help telling me that her husband will never consent that the Duke of Guise should have the throne.”  From this resolve he had never wavered, and was not likely to do so now.  Accordingly the man “of his word, of faith, and truth,” whom even the astute Farnese had at times half believed in, and who had received millions of Philip’s money, now thought it time to break with Philip.  He issued a manifesto, in which he observed that the States-General of France had desired that Philip should be elected King of France, and carry out his design of a universal monarchy, as the only-means of ensuring the safety of the Catholic religion and the pacification of the world.  It was feared, however, said Mayenne; that the king might come to the same misfortunes which befell his father, who, when it was supposed that he was inspired only by private ambition; and by the hope of placing a hereditary universal crown in his family, had excited the animosity of the princes of the empire.  “If a mere suspicion had caused so great a misfortune in the empire,” continued the man of his word, “what will the princes of all Europe do when they find his Majesty elected king of France, and grown by increase of power so formidable to the world?  Can it be doubted that they will fly to arms at once, and give all their support to the King of Navarre, heretic though he be?  What motive had so many princes to traverse Philip’s designs in the Netherlands, but desire to destroy the enormous power which they feared?  Therefore had the Queen, of England, although refusing the sovereignty, defended the independence of the Netherlands these fifteen years.