CORRIGENDA p. 1, 1. 14 from bottom. For Lorraine read Guise. p. 126, 1. 23. p. 161, 1. 17. p. 173, 1. 20. For Solyman I read Solyman II. For Archbishop read Bishop. For Brunswick-Lüneburg read Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. p. 213, 11. 2 and 3. For Bertz read Berty. p. 470, 1. 20 from bottom. For Inflammati read Infiammati. p. 476, 1. 11. For Farneses read Farnesi. p. 511 head-line. For Murder read Murders. p. 598, 1. 12. For August 12 read August 12, 1580. p. 711, L. 3 from bottom. p. 712, line 2 from bottom. For Hydegger read Nydeggen. For Saxe-Weimar read Saxe-Altenburg. CHAPTER I THE WARS OF RELIGION IN FRANCE SMALL as was the measure of toleration accorded to the Protestants by the Edict of January, it was too large for the zealots of the opposite party. Throughout the winter attacks upon Huguenot congregations had been taking place all over the country; but the chief impression was made by an incident which occurred on Sunday, March 1, 1562. The Duke of Guise, who was staying at his house of Joinville (in the modern Department of the Haute-Marne), went that day to dine at the little town of Vassy, attended after the fashion of the times by a large band of armed retainers. At Vassy they found a Huguenot service going on, and some of the Duke's followers attempting to push their way into the barn where it was being held were met with shouts of "Papists! idolaters!" Stones began to fly; and the Duke was himself struck. His enraged attendants fired upon the crowd, with the result that out of six or seven hundred worshippers sixty were killed and many wounded. The exasperation of the Protestants throughout France was great, nor was it abated by the line of apology which the opposite party adopted. Comparisons of the Duke to Moses and Jehu were not soothing to people who had been attacked when only exercising their legal right. Another slaughter of Huguenots at Sens, where the Cardinal of Lorraine was Archbishop, added fuel to the fire, and by April war was seen to be inevitable. The first object of either party was to secure the presence of the King in its midst. Catharine, who wished to maintain her neutral Position as long as possible, had withdrawn with him to Fontainebleau, after sending orders, which were not obeyed, to the Duke of Guise not to bring an armed force to Paris. He had entered the capital on March 20, and Condé, at the Queen-Mother's desire, had immediately left it; retiring first to Meaux, then to la Ferté-sous-Jouarre. Then the King of Navarre, at the bidding of the Triumvirate, by whom he was now entirely ruled, had induced Catharine, partly by persuasion, partly by menaces, to consent to her own and the King's return to Paris; a decision which, it is said, cost tears both to the child and to Lis mother. C. M. H. III. |
