The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

;STRUGGLES IN FRANCE.S87appendages of oaths and ratifications, but crafty devices forensnaring, disarming, and then massacring the Protestants ?The first edict, guaranteeing them the exercise of their religion,was granted in 1561. It was soon violated, and aworse persecution befell them. They were forced to takeup arms, forthe first time, to save their lives and vindicatetheir rights. They triumphed ; and their success obtainedfor them a new pacification.This was violated in like manner." They [the Court] restrained," says INIezeray, " everyday their liberty, which had been granted them by theedicts, until it was reduced almost to nothing. The peoplefell upon them in the places where tliey were weakest. Inthose where they could defend themselves the governors madeuse of the authority of the king to oppress them. Their citiesand forts were dismantled ; there was no justice for themin the parliaments or king's council they were massacredwith impunity ; they were not re-installed in their goodsand charges. In fine, they had conspired their ruin withthe Pope, the house of Austria, and the Duke of Alva."*Six times was the public faith of France plighted to theProtestants, in solemn treaty, ratified and sanctioned bysolemn oath ; six times was the plighted faith of Franceopenly dishonoured and violated ; and six times did civilwar, the direct fruit of these broken vows, waste the treasureand the blood of that nation.The act of unparalleled crime which brought to an end thefourth pacification, that of 1570, meritsour particular notice.Two years of profound dissimulation and hypocrisypaved the way for that awful tragedy,—the greatest of thecrimes of Rome, — perhaps the most fearful monument ofhuman wickedness which the history of the world contains,—the Massacre of St Bartholomeav. The chiefs of theProtestantparty were invited to Court, caressed, and loadedwith honours. The Protestants generally seemed to betaken into special favour, and now shared the same privi-* Quoted from "Free Thoughts on the Toleration of Popery," p. 175.