In January 1577 as France again found itself on the brink of civil war with the Huguenots at arms, Henri, little interested in a war that would leave him at the mercy of the Ligue sent out envoys to the key Protestant aristocrats, hoping to bring them into line such that formal conflict could be averted. Biron was sent with a message to Navarre, a mixture of reassurances about the crowns friendliness to him, and concerns about his actions. Navarre sent a contrite reply, but held several objections to the king's position, and another debate on the conseil privé erupted over whether to go to war. With the peace faction winning, Biron was again sent to Navarre on 3 March to continue negotiations. While these were ongoing the military situation of his supporters deteriorated into war. Navarre maintained his desire for peace, and the two sides were able to come to terms in the Treaty of Bergerac in September 1577. Navarre complained bitterly about Biron's role as lieutenant-general of Guyenne, bemoaning that he was governor in name only given how much authority his subordinate had. In February 1579 he resigned as lieutenant-general of Saintonge and Aunis in favour of the sieur de Belleville. Biron, as lieutenant-general of Guyenne was responsible for overseeing some of the concessions granted to the Protestants in the Treaty of Nérac, however he would not implement them all. As a result the Protestants of the region began re-arming, and Navarre took the excuse to seize the town of Cahors in May 1580. He took a brief leave in 1580 after he fell off a horse whilst campaigning at Toulouse, and while recovering appointed his son Charles to lead his forces. Netherlands The king's younger brother Alençon seeking advancement accepted the offer from William the Silent to become sovereign of the United Provinces of the Netherlands in 1579, entering the country in 1582. In 1581 with Spanish fears about what Alençon might be planning, Biron was sent to Picardy to guard the border in case Spain took the offensive. The following year Alençon now in the low countries was struggling to exert control his army depleted by the harsh winter. Biron and Montpensier were tasked with reinforcing him. Biron arrived with 3500 foot and several companies of cavalry on 1 December 1582. He would grow restless and unsatisfied with the territories he ruled, and sought to surprise