A>  wo  appriMcb  the  end  of  the  fivterntb  century,  the  Aruggle  of
partie»  became  more  political  iban  religtotu,  bat  not  Icf*  bitter  than
before.  T}ie  literature  of  the  age  of  ttut  celebrated  "  I.igve,"  whicb
liremed  at  one  time  dcRined  to  Ofrrthtow  the  ancient  royalty  of  France,
confuted  diiclly  of  libellotw  aiKl  abulin-  pamphleii,  bat  in  tbe  midit  of
tbein  there  appeared  i  work  ixt  fupcrior  to  any  punly  political  fatire
which  bad  yet  been  (eea,  and  tbe  fame  of  which  luu  never  pailcd  away.
Ila  objeA  wa*  to  lure  to  ridicule  the  meeting  of  the  Elbtes  of  France,
convoked  by  tbe  duke  of  Maycnne,  Kt  kuder  of  tbe  Ligue,  aj>d  held  at


344  Hifiory  of  Caricature  and  Grotefqtu


Paris  on  ibc  loth  of  Pcbruarr,  1503.    The  graad  objc^  of  ih'H  lucetiog
wM  to  cxclodu  Fleiiri  IV.  from  the  throoc;  tnd  ttic  Spanilb  party  pnw


pof-d  to  abolilh  the  SjIIc  law,  and  prodntm  the  infaiim  of  Spdin  quevn  H
of  Prance.     'I'bc  Fmicli  ligticurt  propolcd  pt:inx  lurdly  left  rnipninoiic,

I


■nd  ihe  duke  of  Uayeiioe,  indigiunt  at  tJie  linall  U'couiil  m*de  of  bis
own  periboal  prolcnlioiu,  pmrugued  lite  meeting,  and  perfuaded  the  two
parties  to  bold  whui  proivd  a  fhiiilcrt  confereuoe  at  Surefne.  It  wok  the
niveiiiig  of  ibc  EJbtc*  ii)  Pjrii  which  gnire  rife  t  *>4t  celebrateil  Snlyrc
Menipptt,  of  wbicb  it  wm  faid,  that  it  lerwd  the  caiite  of  Henri  IV.  as
niucb  H  the  battle  cf  Ivry  itfclf.
