In addition to his skeptical writings, Montaigne (1533–1592) became famous for the whole of his Essais (1560; literally, “Attempts”), the most substantial of which was his The Apology of Raimond Sebond. The essays here were far-ranging, witty, digressive, and all about him; his tastes, opinions, and large and petty problems. He also wrote about his trip to Germany, Switzerland, and Italy in his Journal de voyage en Italie par la Suisse et al’Allemagne en 1580 et 1581 (Travel Journal), undertaken after he had presented a copy of his Essays to the French king. Montaigne was diplomatically active in trying to quell religious antagonism and instrumental in securing Henry of Navarre’s ascension to the throne as King Henry IV. He probably would have become a member of Henry’s court had illness not intervened.