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

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aised up others worthy <strong>to</strong> succeed him. To those<br />

brave warriors I add my son. Make pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> his<br />

valor: Soldiers! I <strong>of</strong>fer you everyth<strong>in</strong>g I have <strong>to</strong><br />

give--my dom<strong>in</strong>ions, my treasures, my life, and<br />

what is dearer <strong>to</strong> me than all, my children. I swear<br />

<strong>to</strong> defend <strong>to</strong> my last sigh the holy cause that now<br />

unites us!" With these heroic words she breathed<br />

her own spirit <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the soldiers. They looked up;<br />

they s<strong>to</strong>od erect; the fire returned <strong>to</strong> their eyes.<br />

Henry <strong>of</strong> Navarre was proclaimed general <strong>of</strong> the<br />

army, amid the plaudits <strong>of</strong> the soldiers; and<br />

Coligny and the other chiefs were the first <strong>to</strong> swear<br />

fidelity <strong>to</strong> the hero, <strong>to</strong> whom the whole realm was<br />

one day <strong>to</strong> vow allegiance.<br />

Thus the disaster <strong>of</strong> Jarnac was so far repaired;<br />

but a yet deeper reverse awaited the Huguenot<br />

arms. The summer which opened so om<strong>in</strong>ously<br />

passed without any affair <strong>of</strong> consequence till the<br />

3rd <strong>of</strong> Oc<strong>to</strong>ber, and then came the fatal battle <strong>of</strong><br />

Montcon<strong>to</strong>ur. It was an <strong>in</strong>convenient moment for<br />

Coligny <strong>to</strong> fight, for his German auxiliaries had<br />

just mut<strong>in</strong>ied; but no alternative was left him. The<br />

Huguenots rushed with fury <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> action; but their<br />

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