Chapter V

FROM THE ACCESSION OF CHARLES IX. TO THE MASSACRE OF VASSY.

[1560–1562.]

Character of the Boy-King--Portrait of Catherine--The
States-General--The Chancellor’s Address--Speeches of
the Three Orators--Agitation in the Provinces--Religious
Amnesty--Edict of July--Provincial Assemblies
Convoked--Instructions of the Isle of France--The
Triumvirate--States of Pontoise--Proposals of
Reform--Colloquy of Poissy--Beza--Conference in the Queen’s
Chamber--King’s Speech--Beza’s Defense--Catherine’s Liberal
Spirit--Spread of New Doctrines--Monster Congregations--The
Guises Intrigue with Spain--Violence of the
Clergy--Massacres at Cahors and Aurillac--Amiens--Huguenot
Outrages--Riot of St. Médard--Notables at St.
Germains--Edict of January, 1562--Violence at Dijon and
Aix--Anthony’s Apostasy--The Duke and the Cardinal at
Saverne--Massacre at Vassy--Both Parties Arm--Guise Enters
Paris--Plot to Seize the King 145

CHAPTER VI.

FIRST RELIGIOUS WAR.

[1562–1563.]

Beginning of Reaction--Causes of the War--The
Huguenots arm--Advice of Coligny’s Wife--Covenant of
Association--Massacre at Sens and Sisteron--Discipline of
the Armies--Catherine attempts to mediate--Conference
at Thoury--Negotiations broken off--Fearful state of
Paris--The Constable’s violence--Appeals to Foreign
Sympathy--Successes of the Royalists--Atrocities at Blois
and Tours--Rouen Besieged--The Breach stormed--The Hour
of Vengeance--Pastor Marlorat hanged--Death of Anthony of
Navarre--Disturbances in Normandy--Offer of Amnesty--Battle
of Dreux--Condé and Montmorency captured--St. André
killed--Siege of Orleans--Duke of Guise murdered--Poltrot
de Méré--Pacification of Amboise--Distress caused by the
War--Death of Coligny’s Son--Letter to his Wife 195

CHAPTER VII.

CHAOS.

[1562–1563.]

Nature of the Struggle--Montluc--His Barbarity--Des
Adrets--His Ferocity--Murders at Gaillac--The Reform
in Provence and Languedoc--Scenes at Orange--Revolt
at Valence--Disturbances at Lyons--Compromise--La
Rochelle--Massacre at Toulouse--Exodus of
Sisteron--Sauteries of Macon--Limoux--Palm Sunday
at Castelnaudary--The Monks of St. Calais--Violence
in Berry--The Châtelaine of Avallon--The Proctor
of Bar--Atrocities of the Bishop of Le Mans and
his Lieutenant--Huguenot Cruelties at Dieppe and
Bayeux--Angoulême--Quarrels at Court--Siege of
Havre--Duplicity of English Government--Charles Proclaimed
of Age--His Character--Council of Trent 229

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MEETING AT BAYONNE.

[June, 1565–March, 1568.]

The Royal progress--Bayonne in June--Identical
note--Amusements--Political Deliberations--The Queen of
Navarre Excommunicated--Catherine’s Remonstrance--The
Pope yields--State of Gascony--Assembly of Notables at
Moulins--Feud between Guise and Coligny--Montmorency and
the Cardinal--Disturbed state of Maine--Montluc pacifies
Gascony--Embassy from Germany--Rebellion in Flanders--March
of Alva--Condé leaves the Court--Rumored Plot--Huguenot
Meeting at Chatillon--War resolved upon--Attempt to seize
Charles--Huguenot Rising--Battle of St. Denis--Death of the
Constable--German Auxiliaries--Michelade of Nismes--Siege
of Chartres--Peace of Longjumeau--Death of Coligny’s Wife 247

CHAPTER IX.

JARNAC AND MONCONTOUR.

[1568–1570.]

State of the Country--The National Party--Atrocities
and Retaliation--L’Hopital’s Retirement--The Catholic
League--League of Toulouse--The New Plot--The
Flight to Rochelle--Aid from England--Anjou,
Commander-in-Chief--Battle of Jarnac--Death of
Condé--Henry of Bearn--Siege of Cognac--Junction of Duke
Wolfgang--Death of Brissac--Battle of Roche-Abeille--Siege
of Poitiers--Moncontour--The Admiral’s letter to his
Children--Siege of St. Jean D’Angely--Desmarais--The Great
March--Cruelties at Orthez, Auxerre, Orleans, Cognat,
Aurillac--Coligny’s illness--Battle of Arnay-le-Duc--Treaty
of St. Germains 283

CHAPTER X.

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.

[August, 1570, to August, 1572.]

Albert and Pierre de Gondi, Birague, Strozzi,
Nevers, and Henry of Guise--Marriage of Charles
IX.--Nuptial Festivities at Paris--Embassy of the
German Princes--Violent Sermons--Outrages at Orange
and Rouen--Objects of the Politiques--Revolt in
Flanders--Position of Affairs--Interview between the King
and Prince Louis of Nassau--Spanish Threats--Coligny’s
Marriage--The Admiral goes to Blois--Conferences with the
King--Proposed Marriage of Henry and Margaret--Murder
of Lignerolles--The Gastine Cross--Queen of Navarre
at Blois--Alessandrino’s Special Embassy--Letters to
Rome--Negotiations--Pope refuses the Dispensation--Fears of
the Parisians 319

CHAPTER XI.

THE MARRIAGE AND THE PLOT.

[August, 1572.]

Proposed German and English Alliances--Anjou’s
Refusal--Treaty with England--Capture
of Mons--Defeat of Genlis--Walsingham’s
Dispatches--War-Excitement--Deliberations in
Council--Charles at Montpipeau--Catherine follows
him--Her tears--Increasing influence of Coligny--His
Death resolved on--Joan of Navarre in Paris--Her sudden
Death--Distrust and Warnings--Coligny’s firmness--Plot
and Counterplot--Henry of Navarre enters Paris--The
Wedding--Masque at the Hôtel Bourbon--The Admiral’s
last Letter--Plot to Assassinate him--The Duchess of
Nemours--Maurevel sent for 353

CHAPTER XII.

THE ASSASSINATION.

[22d, 23d, and 24th August.]

Coligny in the Tennis-Court--The Fatal Shot--The
King’s Indignation and Threats--Letters to Provincial
Governors--Precautions in the City--Interview between
Charles and the Admiral--Despair of Catherine
and Anjou--The Huguenot Council--Threats of
violence--De Pilles and Pardaillan at the Louvre--The
Turning-point--Conversation between Catherine and
Anjou--Meeting in the Tuileries Garden--Guard sent
to Coligny--Scene in the King’s Closet--Catherine’s
Argument--De Retz Protests--Charles Yields at last--Guise
in the City--Precautions--Anjou and Angoulême ride
through Paris--Municipal Arrangements--Charles and La
Rochefoucault--Margaret and her sister Claude--Coligny’s
last Night 379

CHAPTER XIII.

THE FESTIVAL OF BLOOD.

[August and September, 1572.]

The Huguenot Gentleman Killed--Midnight at the
Louvre--Charles still hesitates--The Conspirators
at the window--The pistol-shot--Guise recalled too
late--Scene at Coligny’s Hotel--The assault and
murder--Indignities--Montfauçon--Scene at the Louvre--Queen
Margaret’s alarm--Proclamations--Salviati’s letter--List
of Atrocities--Death of Ramus and La Place--Charles
fires upon the Fugitives--Escape of Montgomery, Sully,
Duplessis-Mornay, Caumont--The Miracle of the White
Thorn--Charles conscience-stricken--Thanksgiving
and Justification--Execution of Briquemaut and
Cavaignes--Abjuration of Henry and Condé 404

CHAPTER XIV.

MASSACRE IN THE PROVINCES.

[August to October, 1572.]

Instructions to the Governors--The Count of Tende--Nantes
and Alençon--Massacres at Saumur, Angers, Lyons, Orleans,
Troyes, Rouen, Meaux, Bordeaux, and Toulouse--St. Hérem’s
letter--The stolen Dispatch--The Governor of Bayonne--The
Bishop of Lisieux--Chabot at Arnay-le-Duc--Senlis, Provins,
Château-Thierry, Dieppe, and Nismes spared--The Number of
Victims--Contemporary Judgments--Dorat’s Panegyric--Jean
Le Masle--Pierre Charpentier and Sorbin--Rejoicings at
Rome--Exultation of Philip II.--Horror in England--John
Knox’s Denunciation--The Emperor Maximilian’s regret 446