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

Retained meanwhile in the darkness of these
two bosoms, and it might be of one or two others,
the secret was destined to write itself one day on
the face of Europe in characters of blood;
whispered in the deep stillness of these oaken
chambers, it was soon to break in a thunder-crash
upon the world, and roll its dread reverberations
along history's page till the end of time. This, in all
probability, was what was resolved upon at these
conferences at Bayonne. The conspirators did not
plan a particular massacre, to come off on a
particular day of a particular year; what they
agreed upon was rather a policy towards the
Protestants of treachery and murder, which
however, should circumstances favor, might any
day explode in a catastrophe of European
dimensions.
"The Queen of Spain," says Davila, narrating
the meeting at Bayonne, "being come to this place,
accompanied with the Duke of Alva and the Count
de Beneventa, whilst they made show with
triumphs, tournaments, and several kinds of
pastimes, as if they had in eye nothing but
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