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

distribution of clothes or victuals.[14]
On the suggestion of Theodore Beza, a day of
general fasting was observed, and appointed to be
repeated every year on St. Bartholomew's Day. On
the arrival of the news in Scotland, Knox, now old
and worn out with labors, made himself be borne to
his pulpit, and "summoning up the remainder of his
strength," says McCrie, "he thundered the
vengeance of Heaven against 'that cruel murderer
and false traitor, the King of France,' and desired
Le Croc, the French ambassador, to tell his master
that sentence was pronounced against him in
Scotland; that the Divine vengeance would never
depart from him, nor from his house, if repentance
did not ensue; but his name would remain an
execration to posterity, and none proceeding from
his loins would enjoy his kingdom in peace."[15]
At Rome, when the news arrived, the joy was
boundless. The messenger who carried the
despatch was rewarded like one who brings tidings
of some great victory,[16] and the triumph that
followed was such as old pagan Rome might have
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