peace to the pleasures of society and the endearments of the domestic hearth. Rochelle exchanged the stern aspect of a state of war for bridal ensigns and nuptial festivities. The marriage of the prince of Condé was arranged, but not immediately solemnised. The admiral gave his daughter in marriage to Teligny, a young man, brought up under his eye, in whom the want of fortune was compensated by virtue, talents, and a character the most engaging.* His own marriage might figure in a romance. The countess d'Entremont, heiress of one of the first houses of Savoy, captivated by his reputation, declared that she would be the Marcia of the modern Cato †, set out from Savoy in defiance of an edict of the duke, by which her estates became forfeit, arrived at Rochelle, was received by Coligny as she merited, and became his wife. Persecution had made the huguenots a distinct people— in war enemies, in peace aliens - in the bosom of their country. They still looked to Rochelle as their seat of government. A deputation from Rouen announced that a sanguinary outrage had been committed by the catholics upon the protestants of that city. The council of Rochelle sent deputies, among whom were the admiral's son-in-law and the celebrated Lanoue, to Charles for redress. Count Louis, of Nassau, brother of the prince of Orange, joined this deputation in disguise, for the purpose of conferring secretly with Charles at his request, on the subject of the war in Flanders. Charles received the deputies at Fontenai-la-Brie, in what they called "the most gracious manner,”- a prostitute court phrase, not yet become obsolete-promised ample justice; and proceeded with his mother and a few chosen confidants to confer privately with count Louis at the castle of Lumigny. The count urged the policy, and suggested the means, of aiding the Flemings. Charles listened, approved, and promised, but expressed his desire to consult personally with the admiral, upon whom * Brantôme. + Dav. lib. v. Mém. de l'Estat. he proposed conferring the chief command.* The deputies, charmed with their reception and success, returned to Rochelle. A slight but curious incident at the castle of Lumigny should have warned them of the character, if not the designs, of Charles. He gave orders, in their presence, "to turn out the rabbits from their burrow, that he might have the pleasure of killing them," and he executed this burlesque and barbarous rehearsal of the massacre of St. Bartholomew before their eyes.† Teligny was charged by Charles with a letter to the admiral, earnestly desiring his presence and advice at court. These solicitations were repeated through marshal Montmorency by letter, and marshal De Cosse in person. The admiral confided in the consanguinity and friendship of the one, and in the character of the other. His prudence gave way, and he proceeded to Blois, where Charles and Catherine then held their court. Coligny knelt, and protested with an exaggerated and unworthy self-abasement, at the feet of a sovereign against whom he had three times rebelled. Charles raised the rebel, whom he must have hated; caressed him with every demonstration of respect and tenderness; and, repeatedly calling him" father," used one of those expressions of double intent, by which, as perhaps in the massacre of the rabbits, his ferocity compounded with his dissimulation : "We have you, and you shall not escape from us."§ Coligny, now loaded with court honours, flattered with the confidence of the king, an unconscious victim decorated and bound for sacrifice, was made an instrument, by Charles, to bring to court the huguenot chiefs, and the queen of Navarre. That strong-minded woman, after three months' resistance to the persuasions of Coligny, and solicitations of Charles and Catherine, arrived at Blois in February, 1572, with a train of friends, and an ominous presentiment of treachery or dis Thuan. Davila. Mém. de l'Estat. Sully, Econ. Royal. Thuan, lib. 1. Mém. de l'Estat. 66 aster.* "Have I not played my part well?" said Charles, on a particular occasion, to his mother. Yes," said his mother; "but to commence is nothing, unless you go through." Madame," said he, with an oath, "leave it to me: I will net them for you, every one.”+ From this moment the huguenots seem to have rushed headlong to their fate. But the designs of the court encountered obstacles from another quarter. The plot was confined to Catherine, Charles, and the court cabal, called the secret council. It was thought prudent to leave the courts of Spain and Rome in the dark §, whatever momentary embarrasment might arise. The huguenots had every where their emissaries or friends; and the conspirators knew all would be cleared up satisfactorily by the result. So eager and active was Coligny in pressing the measure of aiding the prince of Orange, that Charles could not, without discovering himself, prevent the expe dition of the count de Nassau. The capture of Mons by the count startled Philip and the duke of Alva. General disavowals, and imperfect explanations from Charles and Catherine, could not satisfy them. Alva suspected treachery on the part of his confederate of Bayonne. "If," said he, to the French envoy, "the queen sends me flowers of Florence, I will send her in return thistles of Spain." The son of the duke of Alva laid siege to Mons. Coligny urged Charles to relieve the besieged, and offered the services of 3000 gentlemen of his party. Charles took a list of the principal names, desired that those who were absent should repair to Paris, and mentioned the offer to marshal Tavanes.- "Sire," said the courtier and massacrer, in reply," the subject who offered you what was already your own should lose *Lettres de la Reine de Navarre à son Fils; (apud Perau, Vie de Coligny). Laboureur, Mém. de Cast. Mém de l'Estat. Sully, Econ. Royal. Thuan. Hist. Capilupi, lo Stratagema, &c. Davila, Stor. &c. The secret council comprised Nevers, Retz, Birague, Tavanes, Anjou, at various stages up to the massacre. Catherine, upon some questions, consulted or confided in only one or two. Even in this small cabal she had a council within a council. Capilupi, Stratagema, &c. Dav. Stor. lib. v. Il Ibid. Mez. Charles IX his head." Genlis, à huguenot officer of distinction proceeded to the relief of Mons with 3000 or 4000 volunteers, who were cut in pieces or made prisoners by Alva, in consequence of secret notice of the expedition given to him from the French court.* When the news of this disaster reached Paris, Charles made a masterly display of feigned sorrow. The pope, on the other hand, refused a dispensation for the marriage of Margaret and Henry, between whom there was a double impediment of kindred and religion. Charles, in explanation, admitted that his reception of the admiral might appear strange to many who had not a complete insight into his intentions; expressed his hope that the pope did not suspect any diminution of his true piety and ardent zeal for the catholic religion; protested that all his wishes tended to repair the ravages which “ our sins had brought upon the church of God;" and wished his heart could be read with the natural eye, to show that it was as clear and pure as could be wished. With respect to the marriage, he said, it was counselled by those who always had the first place in his confidence (no doubt, meaning the queen-mother), as the best expedient to give peace to his kingdom, and bring over the prince of Navarre "to our holy mother church."§ Pius V., who had much to do with kings, and put little trust in them, not satisfied with these assurances, ordered the legate, Alessandrino, to proceed from Portugal to France, avert the war with Spain, prevent the heretical marriage, and propose the king of Portugal for the husband of Margaret. Charles received the legate with the most flattering distinctions, presented him a diamond ring ||, which he took from his own finger, repeated the assurance of his pure intentions, said, in a tone mysteriously significant, that " he wished * Mendoza, apud Thuanum, lib. lii. Sir R. Williams's Actions of the Low Countries. Lord Som. Tracts. +"Et quo rex magnum se dolorem sentire egregio simulavit.”— Thuan. lib. li. Charles to the pope. MSS. Bib. du Roi. See Appendix A. Ibid. See idem. Capilupi, Stratagema. Davil. Stor. lib. v. . he could speak out, but his holiness would one day be the first to praise his zeal and piety* ;" and, according to an authority which it seems impossible to reject, even declared that he adopted this only mode left him of avenging himself upon the huguenots. The legate declined the present; the pope still peremptorily refused his dispensation; the marriage treaty proceeded in avowed defiance of his holiness, and the huguenots were confirmed in their fatal security. Was Charles, as some assert, really subdued by the ascendancy of Coligny, or did the arch-dissembler revel in hypocrisy and his triumph? He privately told the admiral that he would henceforth be his own master, and desired that their plans against the king of Spain should be concealed from his mother. Coligny suggested the difficulty of escaping her penetration, and the advantages to be derived from her wisdom. "Father, you mistake," said Charles: "she is the greatest mar-plot on earth." He pronounced his council unworthy of his confidence, passing them individually in review with a contemptuous running commentary. § Even the pope was mentioned by him in a tone of disrespectful familiarity. "My aunt," said he to the queen of Navarre, "I honour you more than the pope, and I love my sister more than I fear him. I am no huguenot, but I am no fool neither; and if Mr. Pope does not mend his manners, I will myself give away Margery in full conventicle." || He manifested all this time, in his savage amusements and rude court pranks, the most buoyant spirits and most careless humour. The clear-sighted Walsingham, then ambassador in France, speaks of him *Capil. Strat. Catena, apud Thuan, lib. li. + Letters of Cardinal Ossat, cited by Mr. Allen in his "Reply." See Appendix B. Charles sent it after him to the French ambassador; but, in a subsequent letter, desired that it should not be given, as then it would be thrown away; probably because Pius V., uncle of the legate, had just died. Charles to Ferralz. MSS. Bib. du Roi. See Appendix C. Mém. de P. l'Est. Thuan, lib. lii. "Ma tante, je vous honore plus que le pape, et aime plus ma sœur que je ne le crains. Je ne suis pas huguenot, mais je ne suis pas sot aussi. Si monsieur le pape fait trop la beste, je prendrai moi-même Margot par la main, et la meneray espouser en pleine prêche."-Mém. de l'Estat. ¶ "Le roy ne parust jamais avec un esprit plus libre et plus enjoue. II |