He ordered the immediate delivery into his hands of the Bastille, the arsenal, and the castle of Vincennes.

Ornano, governor of the Bastille, sent an offer to the king, who had arrived at Chartres, to defend it to the last extremity.

"I will not expose to so certain a peril a brave man who may be necessary to me elsewhere," replied the king.

Guise caused to be elected at Paris a new town-council and a new provost of tradesmen, all taken from amongst the most ardent Leaguers.

He at the same time exerted himself to restore order; he allowed all royalists who wished to depart to withdraw to Chartres; he went in person and pressed the premier president of Parliament, Achille de Harlay, to resume the course of justice.