Poland might be secured for the Duke of Anjou.  That key unlocks the complicated policy of this and the succeeding year.  The Polish election is the clue to the labyrinthian intrigues and royal tergiversations during the period of the interregnum.  Sigismund Augustus, last of the Jagellons, had died on the 7th July; 1572.  The prominent candidates to succeed him were the Archduke Ernest, son of the Emperor, and Henry of Anjou.  The Prince of Orange was not forgotten.  A strong party were in favor of compassing his election, as the most signal triumph which Protestantism could gain, but his ambition had not been excited by the prospect of such a prize.  His own work required all the energies of all his life.  His influence, however, was powerful, and eagerly sought by the partisans of Anjou.  The Lutherans and Moravians in Poland were numerous, the Protestant party there and in Germany holding the whole balance of the election in their hands.

It was difficult for the Prince to overcome his repugnance to the very name of the man whose crime had at once made France desolate, and blighted the fair prospects under which he and his brother had, the year before, entered the Netherlands.  Nevertheless; he was willing to listen to the statements by which the King and his ministers endeavoured, not entirely without success, to remove from their reputations, if not from their souls; the guilt of deep design.  It was something, that the murderers now affected to expiate their offence in sackcloth and ashes—­it was something that, by favoring the pretensions of Anjou, and by listening with indulgence to the repentance of Charles, the siege of Rochelle could be terminated, the Huguenots restored to freedom of conscience, and an alliance with a powerful nation established, by aid of which the Netherlands might once more lift their heads.  The French government, deeply hostile to Spain, both from passion and policy, was capable of rendering much assistance to the revolted provinces.  “I entreat you most humbly, my good master,” wrote Schomberg to Charles ix., “to beware of allowing the electors to take into their heads that you are favoring the affairs of the King of Spain in any manner whatsoever.  Commit against him no act of open hostility, if you think that imprudent; but look sharp! if you do not wish to be thrown clean out of your saddle.  I should split with rage if I should see you, in consequence of the wicked calumnies of your enemies, fail to secure the prize.”

Orange was induced, therefore, to accept, however distrustfully, the expression of a repentance which was to be accompanied with healing measures.  He allowed his brother Louis to resume negotiations with Schomberg, in Germany.  He drew up and transmitted to him the outlines of a treaty which he was willing to make with Charles.  The main conditions of this arrangement illustrated the disinterested character of the man.  He stipulated that the King of France should immediately make peace with his subjects, declaring