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

warily choose the part she was to play. She had
outlived all her rivals at court, and the Huguenots
were now the only party she had to fear. Should
she, after the example of the Guises, continue to
pursue them with the sword, or should she hold out
to them the olive-branch? Catherine felt that she
never could be one with the Huguenots. That
would imply a breach with all the traditions of her
house, and a change in the whole habits of her life,
which was not to be thought of. Nor could she
permit France to embrace the Protestant creed, for
the country would thus descend in the scale of
nations, and would embroil itself in a war with
Italy and Spain. But, on the other side, there were
several serious considerations which had to be
looked at. The Huguenots were a powerful party;
their faith was spreading in France; their counsels
were guided and their armies were led by the men
of the greatest character and intellect in the nation.
Moreover, they had friends in Germany and
England, who were not likely to look quietly on
while they were being crushed by arms. To
continue the war seemed very unadvisable.
Catherine had no general able to cope with
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