In December 1584, the Duke of Guise had signed the Treaty of Joinville on behalf of the League with Philip II of Spain, who is to supply a considerable annual grant to the Catholic League over the following decade to maintain the civil war in France, with the hope of destroying the French Calvinists.

The House of Guise has long been identified with the defense of the Roman Catholic Church and the Duke of Guise and his relations — the Duke of Mayenne, Duke of Aumale, Duke of Elboeuf, Duke of Mercoeur and the Duke of Lorraine — control extensive territories that were loyal to the League.

The League also has a large following among the urban middle class.The King at first tries to co-opt the head of the Catholic League and steer it towards a negotiated settlement.

This is anathema to the Guise leaders, who want to bankrupt the Huguenots and divide their considerable assets with the King.

The situation degenerates into the Eighth War of Religion (1585-1598), in which the initial phase (as the head of the Guise family is also a Henry) is sometimes called the "War of the Three Henrys".