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

cruel, vindictive though he was. To wade through a
sea of blood so deep as that which was about to
flow, might well appall even one who had been
trained, as Charles had been, to look on blood. It is
possible even that the nobleness of Coligny had not
been without its effect upon him. The Queenmother,
who had doubtless foreseen this moment
of irresolution on the part of her son when the
crisis should arrive, was prepared for it. She
instantly combated the indecision of Charles with
the arguments most fitted to influence his weak
mind. She told him that it was now too late to
retreat; that the attempt on the admiral's life had
aroused the Protestants, that the plans of the court
were known to them, and that already messengers
from the Huguenots were on their way to
Switzerland and Germany, for assistance, and that
to hesitate was to be lost. If he had a care for his
throne and house he must act; and with a wellreigned
dread of the calamities she had so vividly
depicted, she is said to have craved leave for
herself and her son, the Duke of Anjou, to retire to
some place of safety before the storm should burst.
This was enough. The idea of being left alone in
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