Chapter III: Book THE SECOND

FROM THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE OF POISSY TO THE EDICT OF NANTES.

(1561-1598.)

I.

Project of assembling a national council.—Opposition of the clergy.
—Simple conference.—Misapprehensions of both parties.—Theodore de
Bèze.—Biographical details.—Arrival of Bèze at Poissy.—Conversation
with the Cardinal de Lorraine.—Petition of the pastors.—_Page 101-106._

II.

Opening of the colloquy.—The deputies of the churches at the bar of
the Assembly.—Speech of Theodore de Bèze.—Murmurs of the prelates.
—Second sitting.—Answer of Cardinal de Lorraine.—Individual
conferences.—Stratagem of the Cardinal.—The Jesuit Lainez.—Rupture
of the colloquy.—_Page 106-113._

III.

Immense spread of the Reformation.—Viret at Nismes.—Catholic churches
invaded.—Great meetings at Paris.—Approximative number of the
Reformed at this period.—Edict of January.—Resistance of the Guises
and several Parliaments.—_Page 113-119._

IV.

Intrigues with Antoine de Bourbon, lieutenant-general of the kingdom.
—Defection of this prince.—Jeanne d’Albret.—Her piety and constancy.
—Her return to Béarn.—Wise government and courage of the queen of
Navarre.—_Page 119-122._

V.

Plots of the Guises.—The Reformed of Vassy.—Massacre of Vassy.—The
pastor Morel.—The Bible and the Duke de Guise.—Did he order the
massacre?—Great disquietude of the Calvinists.—Complaints of the
Consistory of Paris.—_Page 122-127._

VI.

Absence of all regular authority.—Resort to arms.—Letters of
Catherine de Medicis to Condé.—The foreigner appealed to by both
sides.—Manifestoes of each party.—Association of the Calvinist lords.
—Useless conferences.—Barbarous decrees of the Parliament.—The
English at Hâvre.—_Page 127-132._

VII.

Siege of Rouen.—Cruelties.—The pastor Marlorat.—Death of Antoine
de Bourbon.—Battle of Dreux.—Siege of Orleans.—Assassination of
the Duke de Guise.—Inconstancy of the Prince de Condé.—Peace of
Amboise.—Discontent of Coligny.—_Page 132-137._

VIII.

The religious war in all the provinces.—Severe discipline of the
Huguenots.—Atrocities of this war.—Massacre of Cahors.—Events at
Toulouse in 1562.—Resistance of the Calvinists at the citadel.—Their
surrender.—Great effusion of blood.—Montluc.—_Page 138-143._

IX.

Violation of the treaty of peace.—Journey of Catherine de Medicis
and Charles IX.—Interview with the duke of Alba.—Enterprises of
the Calvinist leaders.—Battle of Saint Denis.—Arrival of auxiliaries
from Germany.—Peace of Longjumeau.—_Page 143-149._

X.

New acts of violence and perfidy.—Retreat of the Calvinist noblemen
to La Rochelle.—Battle of Jarnac.—Provocations of Pope Pius V.
—Battle of Moncontour.—Heroism of Coligny.—Letter to his children.
—Peace of Saint Germain.—_Page 149-155._

XI.

Weakening of the Huguenot party.—Decline of piety and manners.
—National synods.—The national synod of La Rochelle in 1571.
—_Page 155-158._

XII.

The massacre of St. Bartholomew.—Who were the real authors of it?—An
Italian crime.—How it was prepared.—Sudden death of Jeanne d’Albret
at Paris.—Arrival of Coligny at the court.—Marriage of Henry de
Béarn.—Coligny wounded by Maurevel.—Visit of Charles IX.—Murder of
the Admiral.—Henri de Guise.—_Page 158-167._

XIII.

Execrable crimes.—General processions.—The Saint Bartholomew of the
provinces.—Bishop Hennuyer.—Massacres at Meaux, Troyes, Orleans,
Rouen, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyons, &c.—The number of the victims.
—Rejoicing at Rome and Madrid.—Consternation of the Protestant
countries.—The French ambassador at London, and the Duke d’Anjou in
Germany.—Consequences of the massacre of Saint Bartholomew.
—_Page 167-176._

XIV.

Resistance and rising of the Calvinists.—Confederation at Montauban.
—Siege of Sancerre.—Siege of La Rochelle.—François Lanoue.—Edict
of 1573.—Remonstrances of the Reformed—The party of the politicians
or malcontents.—Death of Charles IX.—_Page 176-182._

XV.

Journey and return of Henry III. to France.—Abject bigotry of this
prince.—The consistorial Reformed and the nobility of the Calvinist
party.—Fresh recourse to arms.—Peace.—States-General of Blois.
—Edict of Poitiers.—_Page 182-187._

XVI.

Intrigues of Catherine de Medicis.—The war of the lovers.—The
League.—Vast Scheme of Philippe II.—Character of the Duke Henri de
Guise.—Weakness of Henry III.—Anarchy of the kingdom.—Edict of
Nemours.—Excommunication of the Bourbons by Sixtus Quintus.
—_Page 187-195._

XVII.

New war of religion.—Henry de Condé.—The king of Navarre.—Battle
of Coutras.—Popularity of the Duke de Guise.—Second States-General
of Blois.—Murder of the Duke de Guise.—Rising of the League.
—Manifesto of the king of Navarre.—Alliance between the two princes.
—Assassination of Henry III.—Manners of the court of the Valois.
—_Page 195-202._

XVIII.

Henry IV.—Difficulties of his position.—Desertion of the Catholic
nobles.—Fidelity of the Calvinists.—Duplessis-Mornay.—His
convictions, his talents, and activity.—The Baron de Rosny.—The
battle of Ivry.—Edict of Nantes.—_Page 202-207._

XIX.

The League.—How Henry IV. changed his religion.—The Abbé Duperron.
—Gabrielle d’Estrées.—Character of the king.—Arguments of Sully.
—Unshaken opposition of Mornay.—_Ruses_ of Henry IV.—Mock
instruction.—Abjuration.—_Page 208-212._

XX.

Capitulation of the Catholic lords.—The Calvinists sacrificed and
irritated.—Absolution of Henry IV. by Clement VIII.—Complaints of
the Reformed.—Their political assemblies.—Organization and object
of these assemblies.—The massacre of La Châtaigneraie.—Renewed
complaints.—Edict of Nantes.—Conclusion.—_Page 213-220._