18.03.2019 Views

Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie

  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

lead<strong>in</strong>g objects <strong>of</strong> his ambition, that he should first<br />

subdue <strong>the</strong> Huguenots. They had come <strong>to</strong> be a<br />

powerful' political body <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> State, with a<br />

government <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own, thus divid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />

k<strong>in</strong>gdom, and weaken<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> throne, which it was<br />

one <strong>of</strong> his ma<strong>in</strong> objects <strong>to</strong> streng<strong>the</strong>n. The<br />

Protestants, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, regarded <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

political organization as <strong>the</strong>ir only safeguard -- <strong>the</strong><br />

bulwark beh<strong>in</strong>d which <strong>the</strong>y fought for <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

religious liberties. How feeble a defense were royal<br />

promises and oaths, was a matter on which <strong>the</strong>y<br />

had but <strong>to</strong>o ample an experience; and, provided<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir political comb<strong>in</strong>ations were broken up, and<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir cautionary <strong>to</strong>wns wrested from <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong>y<br />

would be entirely, <strong>the</strong>y felt, at <strong>the</strong> mercy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

enemies. But this was what <strong>the</strong> powerful card<strong>in</strong>al<br />

had resolved upon. The political rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Huguenots were an obstacle <strong>in</strong> his path, which,<br />

postpon<strong>in</strong>g every o<strong>the</strong>r project, he now turned <strong>the</strong><br />

whole resources <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crown, and <strong>the</strong> whole might<br />

<strong>of</strong> his genius, <strong>to</strong> sweep away.<br />

About this time all <strong>in</strong>cident happened at court<br />

which is worth record<strong>in</strong>g. One day Fa<strong>the</strong>r Arnoux,<br />

25

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!