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

had had time to complete their preparations for its
defense. The Prince unhappily delayed till the
golden opportunity had passed.[3]
In the end of June, Conde and Coligny set out
from Orleans to attack Paris, and almost at the
same moment the Triumvirs began their march
from Paris to besiege the Huguenots in Orleans.
The two armies, which consisted of about 10,000
each, met half-way between the two cities. A battle
was imminent, and if fought at that moment would
probably have been advantageous to the Huguenot
arms. But the Queen-mother, feigning a horror of
bloodshed, came forward with a proposal for a
conference between the leaders on both sides.
Catherine de Medici vaunted that she could do
more with her pen than twenty generals with their
swords, and her success on this occasion went far
to justify her boast. Her proposal entangled the
Protestants in the meshes of diplomacy. The
expedient which Catherine's genius had hit upon
for securing peace was that the leaders of the two
parties should go into exile till the king had
attained his majority, and the troubles of the nation
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