CHAPTER XXVIII. Influence of the rule and character of Philip II.--Heroism of the sixteenth century--Contest for the French throne--Character and policy of the Duke of Mayenne--Escape of the Duke of Guise from Castle Tours--Propositions for the marriage of the Infanta--Plotting of the Catholic party--Grounds of Philip's pretensions to the crown of France--Motives of the Duke of Parma maligned by Commander Moreo --He justifies himself to the king--View of the private relations between Philip and the Duke of Mayenne and their sentiments towards each other--Disposition of the French politicians and soldiers towards Philip--Peculiar commercial pursuits of Philip--Confused state of affairs in France--Treachery of Philip towards the Duke of Parma--Recall of the duke to Spain--His sufferings and death.The People--which has been generally regarded as something naturallybelow its rulers, and as born to be protected and governed, paternally orotherwise, by an accidental selection from its own species, which by somemysterious process has shot up much nearer to heaven than itself--isoften described as brutal, depraved, self-seeking, ignorant, passionate,licentious, and greedy.It is fitting, therefore, that its protectors should be distinguished, atgreat epochs of the world's history, by an absence of such objectionablequalities.It must be confessed, however, that if the world had waited for heroes--during the dreary period which followed the expulsion of something thatwas called Henry III. of France from the gates of his capital, andespecially during the time that followed hard upon the decease of thatembodiment of royalty--its axis must have ceased to turn for a longsuccession of years. The Bearnese was at least alive, and a man. He