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

een so often and so deeply duped already. This
the French court saw. A new and grander style of
stratagem than any heretofore employed was
adopted. Professions, promises, and dignities were
profusely lavished upon the Huguenots, but, over
and above, great schemes of national policy were
projected, reaching into the future, embracing the
aggrandisement of France, coinciding with the
views of the Huguenot chiefs, and requiring their
cooperation in order to their successful execution.
This gave an air of sincerity to the professions of
the court which nothing else could have done, for it
was thought impossible that men who were
cogitating plans so enlightened, were merely
contriving a cunning scheme, and weaving a web
of guile. But Catherine was aware that she was too
well known for anything less astute to deceive the
Huguenot leaders. The proposal of the court was
that the young King of Navarre should marry
Margaret de Valois, the sister of Charles IX, and
that an armed intervention should be made in the
Low Countries in aid of the Prince of Orange
against Philip of Spain, and that Coligny should be
placed at the head of the expedition. These were
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