Peace found the finances of the kingdom in a very dilapidated condition. The expenditure was eighteen millions of livres, and the revenue less than half that amount; besides which there were arrears due to the foreign auxiliaries--not only those whom Condé had enrolled, but a large body under the Duke of Saxony, who claimed five months’ pay, although they had not drawn a sword and scarcely entered the French territory. These reiters were a terrible scourge to France, and it was necessary to get rid of them at any sacrifice. Davila paints them as sweeping through the country like a frightful hurricane (_spaventosa tempesta_). Armed to the teeth in black mail, drawn up in squadrons sixteen deep and with a front of thirty, they rode down the weak lines of the French cavalry. Fierce in demeanor, brutal in habits, as intractable as they were insolent, and a nuisance alike to friend and foe, they were insatiable pillagers, and their long train of wagons filled with plunder often caused irremediable delay in the march of the Huguenot army. None knew how to drive a hard bargain better than they did. Castelnau gives a curious account of his negotiations with these men, who, in the true spirit of mercenary soldiers, were ready to turn their arms against any body, if they were paid for it. The only means of raising money to meet the various claims upon the treasury was to sell church property, which was done to the amount of 100,000 crowns rental. Although the pope had given his consent to this alienation, provided the money was employed to extirpate heresy, the Parliament of Paris long refused to register the decree authorizing the sale, on the factious ground that “things consecrated to God could not be touched.” CHAPTER IX. THE THIRD CIVIL WAR. [1568–1570.] State of the Country--The National Party--Atrocities and Retaliation--L’Hopital’s Retirement--The Catholic League--League of Toulouse--The New Plot--The Flight to Rochelle--Aid from England--Anjou, Commander-in-Chief--Battle of Jarnac--Death of Condé--Henry of Bearn--Siege of Cognac--Junction of Duke Wolfgang--Death of Brissac--Battle of Roche-Abeille--Siege of Poitiers--Moncontour--The Admiral’s letter to his Children--Siege of St. Jean D’Angely--Desmarais--The Great March--Cruelties at Orthez, Auxerre, Orleans, Cognat, Aurillac--Coligny’s illness--Battle of Arnay le Duc--Treaty of St. Germains.