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

Protestantism in all the countries of Europe, as well
as rescue France from the gulf into which it was
fast descending; and this hope made him deaf to
the warnings, which every day he was receiving
from friends, that a great treachery was meditated.
And when these warnings were reiterated, louder
and plainer, they only drew forth from Coligny,
who longed for peace as they only long for it who
have often gazed upon the horrors of the stricken
field, protestations that rather would he risk massacre
-- rather would he be dragged as a corpse
through the streets of Paris, than rekindle the
flames of civil war, and forego the hope of
detaching his country from the Spanish alliance.
The admiral, having been completely gained
over, used his influence to win Jeanne d'Albret to a
like confidence. Ever as the marriage of her son to
the daughter of Catherine de Medici was spoken of,
a vague but dreadfid foreboding oppressed her. She
knew how brilliant was the match, and what
important consequences might flow from it.
It might lead her son up the steps of the throne
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