I wish it with all my heart." It was a dismal prospect for the States.

The one ally on whom they had a right to depend, the ex-Calvinist and royal Defender of the Faith, in this mortal combat of Protestantism with the League, was slipping out of their grasp with distracting lubricity.

On the other hand, the Most Christian King, a boy of fourteen years, was still in the control of a mother heart and soul with the League--so far as she had heart or soul--was betrothed to the daughter of Spain, and saw his kingdom torn to pieces and almost literally divided among themselves by rebellious princes, who made use of the Spanish marriages as a pretext for unceasing civil war.
The Queen-Mother was at that moment at Bordeaux, and an emissary from the princes was in London.

James had sent to offer his mediation between them and the Queen.

He was fond of mediation.