Chapter XV: The Closing Scene

[1572–1574.]

Reaction--Tolerant Protestations of
Government--Walsingham’s disbelief and caution--Renewal
of Civil War--Mission of Cardinal Orsini--Siege of
Rochelle--Honorable terms of Capitulation--Siege of
Sancerre--Famine--Horrible scenes--Capitulation--Meeting
at Montauban--Troubled state of France--Intrigues of
Alençon--Shrove-Tuesday plot--La Mole and Coconnas
executed--Charles falls ill--Conversation with
Henry of Navarre--Charles’s visions--His Huguenot
nurse--Her exhortations--The King’s remorse--His dying
words--Suspicions of Poison--His character--His married
life--Judgment of Posterity 471

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

CÆDES COLIGNII ET SOCIORUM EJUS. THE MASSACRE IN
PARIS (from the Picture in the Vatican by Vasari) _Frontispiece._

GASPARD DE COLIGNY 68

CATHERINE DE MEDICIS 146

THE

MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW.