Relations of the Republic to France--Queen's Severity towards Catholics and Calvinists--Relative Positions of England and France-- Timidity of Germany--Apathy of Protestant Germany--Indignation of the Netherlanders--Henry III.

of France--The King and his Minions-- Henry of Guise--Henry of Navarre--Power of France--Embassy of the States to France--Ignominious position of the Envoys--Views of the French Huguenots--Efforts to procure Annexation--Success of Des Pruneaux.
The Prince of Orange had always favoured a French policy.

He had ever felt a stronger reliance upon the support of France than upon that of any other power.

This was not unreasonable, and so long as he lived, the tendency of the Netherlands had been in that direction.

It had never been the wish of England to acquire the sovereignty of the Provinces.