; . . FRANCE. 
"History. system of policy, to which she was. so naturally incli- 
“~~ ned by her disposition, and so happily adapted by her 
_ General as- 
et) 
OF PRE OS er eR ae) Aw 
i 
habits and talents. In consequence of this advice, Ca- 
therine lent her support secretly to the Prince of 
Condé and the Protestants. 
lence, and Marilla, Archbisho of Vienne, spoke with 
ergy against the abuses which occasioned so many 
troubles and disorders ; exposed the vices of the court 
of Rome—the i and corruption of the French 
At the same time, while they, in this bold 
and liberal manner, advocated the cause of truth, and 
denounced the vicious and corrupt, they condemned 
the seditious religionists, and insisted on the necessity 
of ing and curbing them, marking the distinc- 
tion, wever, between those 
jedices ; but unfortunately they conducted 
573 
warmth, that no council should foree or influence him History. 
to change his religion. The Cardinal of Lorraine fol- 
lowed and supported his brother, denying the imputa- 
tions which Coligny had cast on the opinions and prac- 
tices of the church, strongly insisting on the necessity 
and sacred obligation of extirpating error by the secu- 
lar power, and branding as seditious the advice which 
Coligny had given. The opinions of the Guises would 
probably have been carried into full effect, had not 
Catherine of Medicis considered it as her best poli 
to check their violence, and to use her influence wi 
the king to countenance, at least, the advice of Coligny 
and his party. Francis therefore declared his intention 
of convoking the states in the ensuing December, and 
thus breathing time was given to the Protestants. 
It was evidently their policy to keep well with Ca- 
therine of Medicis ; and this they could only effect by 
not alarming either her ambition or her religious pre« 
emselves 
In such a manner as to excite her hatred, and to induce 
her again to unite herself with the Guises: For the 
King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde concerted 
measures to deprive the Guises of their power and in- 
fluence before the states assembled ; and even laid a 
plan* for surprising the city of Lyons, This plan 
reached Catherine, who, regarding it as proceeding’ 
from a spirit which looked farther the mere over- 
throw of ‘the Guises, took the alarm, and, by the in« 
terception of some letters, completely defeated the ex- 
ecution of it. 
In the mean time, the period for the assembly of the 
states drew near. It had been originally-appointed to 
be held at Meaux, but it was afterwards transferred to 
Orleans. Hither the king, now in a very dangerous 
state of health, , with a guard of 1000 caval- 
ry. The King of Navarre, and his brother the Prince Danger of 
of Condé, were invited to attend, with the strongest the King of 
assurances, not only that they should be safe, but that Navarreand 
people saw them maintained in the 
by men of estimable character and 
isting on the ne- 
his subjects, or the object of dread to them. He 
repeating his opinion, that the king’s 
ive, but practical errors from the church. If 
hese things were done sincerely and effectually, the 
king would gain the affections of his subjects, the 
nation would be peaceable and happy, and real religi 
would flourish and influence the conduct of all. i 
kK ae sa saecoranieal, 90 much in character, called up 
Duke of Guise, w urposely misrepresented the 
advice and wishes of Coligny, declaring, with much 
such measures would be adopted at this assembly as 
would satisfy them, and please the Protestants. At first 
they were icious of the machinations of the Guises, 
but at last they resolved to obey the summons. In 
the course of their journey, were darkly and mys-« 
teriously informed of some r that threatened 
them ; but justly concluding, that if they discovered 
suspicion or alarm, or if returned instead of pro- 
ceeding, they might ly expose themselves to 
still r risk, they resolved to on to Orleans. 
Indeed, they beheld before, behind, and on all sides of 
them, — of men stationed there under various pre- 
texts, but whom they had just reason to apprehend 
were instructed to intercept their retreat or flight. 
When they arrived at Orleans, the king at first treat- 
ed them with great coldness and indifference ; but this 
behaviour was soon changed, and succeeded by the 
most violent reproaches, and such accusations as left 
them no doubt that they had acted imprudently in at- 
tending the assembly. Beterelin the Duke of Guise and 
the Cardinal of Lorraine the king was seated ; around 
him were eo ee of his guards. On the Prince 
of Condé he f a look as full of determination and 
meaning as he could well call up, and accused him of 
having attempted to seize on the principal cities in 
France, and even of having plotted to away his 
life and that of his brother’s, This accusation, so un- 
ted, and brought forward at atime and in a place 
which bespoke a determination to throw aside all re. 
gard to justice and innocence, by no means daunted the 
intrepid Condé, He protested that he was guiltless of 
