Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I to Edict of Nantes - James Aitken Wylie

of law had ceased, and that the reign of force had
begun. A few days afterwards the duke entered
Paris, more like a conqueror who had routed the
enemies of France, than a man dripping with the
blood of his fellow-subjects. Right and left of him
rode the Constable and the Marshal St. Andre, the
other two members of the Triumvirate, while the
nobles, burgesses, and whole populace of the
capital turned out to grace his entry, and by their
enthusiastic cheers proclaim his welcome. As if he
had been king, they shouted, "Long life to
Guise!"[14] The blood of Vassy, said the mob of
Paris, be on us, and on our children.
The Protestants of France had for some time
past been revolving the question of taking up arms
and standing to their defense, and this deplorable
massacre helped to clear their minds. The
reverence, approaching to a superstition, which in
those days hedged round the person of a king,
made the Huguenots shrink with horror from what
looked like rebellion. But the question was no
longer, Shall we oppose the king? The Triumvirate
had, in effect, set aside both king and regent, and
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