BOOK II. 27 But as the Huguenots suffered, the English government became more alarmed for its national safety.20 Its wishes for a pacification between the contending parties; its anxiety for its own security; and the probable consequence of inflaming all Christendom, if councils of violence and the 'extraordinary exaltation of the house of Guise' to enforce them, should be confirmed in France, were calmly stated to the French envoy." But as no conciliating interferences of the English cabinet produced any mitigation of the evil, the queen resolved to grant to the endangered Huguenots, the aid they asked. She made a frank and unambiguous statement of her fair objects in this measure, to the Spanish court;29 avowing that she meant to take possession of those harbors in Normandy, from which England could be invaded by the papal party, but declaring her intentions not to retain them beyond 28 26 In Cecil's private memorial, in July 1562, 'Of the perils growing upon the overthrow of the prince of Condé's cause; we read, 'Whoso ever thinketh that relenting in religion will assuage the Gwysian's aspirations, they are far deceived. For two appetites will never be satisfied, but with the thing desired. The desire to have such a kingdom as England and Scotland may make united, and the cruel appetite of a pope and his adherents to have his authority re-established fully, without any new danger of attempt.' Forb. State Papers, 2. p. 6. The written reasonings that were prepared for an answer to him are in Forbes, 16-20. A verbal communication of them was made, as we learn from Elizabeth's letter to Cath. de Medicis, of 17 Aug. 1562. ib. p. 20. Throckmorton was instructed to express a similar representation to her. See his instructions, p. 22-5. His after letters describe the military movements of the two parties. ib. 26-32. 35, 36-44. 28 Her order for troops to march to Portsmouth and Rye, is dated 11 Sept. 1562. Forbes, p. 44. The convention between her and the prince of Condé, of 20 Sept. is in Forbes, p. 48-51. 29 Her letter to the king of Spain was dated 22 Sept. We are constrained contrary to our own disposition toward quietness, for the surety of us, our crown and realm, to put a reasonable number of our subjects in defensible force; and by that means to preserve such ports as be next unto us from their possession [of the house of Guise] without intent of offence to the king.' Forbes, 54. 31 XXV. the period of danger, and the re-delivery of Calais CHAP. according to the covenanted stipulation.30 She limited her defensive movements strictly to these protecting purposes; and pledged herself to recal her forces when peace was re-established in France, and the town of Calais should be restored as the treaty specified." On these principles she published a declaration of her political motives,33 and sent a naval armament to Havre de Grace, then called Newhaven, under the earl of Warwick; when the Huguenot chiefs delivered it, as they had agreed, peaceably into their possession. This aid to the 34 She added, Until we may see these divisions compounded, or at least them of Guise, whom only we have cause to doubt, out of arms in the parts of Normandy next to us. And so we mean to direct our actions; as, without any injury or violence to the French king, or any of his subjects, we intend to live in good peace with the said French king, and to save our realm, in this convenient time, our right to Calais with surety.' Forbes, 54. "Our good brother! This is our disposition and intent. We mean to do no person wrong, but to provide and foresee how the apparent dangers to our estate may be diverted.' ib. 54. Ib. 55. 'In so doing, we assure you, that we shall be found most ready to revoke our forces, and to live, as we did before these troubles, in full and perfect rest.' ib. This same letter in Latin is in p. 55-7. See its drafts in English and French, in Forbes, p. 69-80. It was printed also at Rouen. ib. 83. Castelnau was at Havre, and briefly describes these incidents. p. 103, 4. "The troops were embarked at Portsmouth on 28 Sept. 1562, to sail that day to Havre. Letter of sir A. Poyning. Forbes, p.81. They sailed early on 3 Oct. but could not land till the evening of the 4th: 'our coming being very joyful to the whole town.' ib. 88. The first arrival was 4000 men, to be followed by as many more, with 1200 cavalry.' ib. 96. Lord Warwick reached it with his supplies on 29 Oct. His letter of 30th, p. 158. He did not find it strong. Fifty Scottish horse had come to offer him their service. This nation he counted the best discoverers in the world,' p. 160; or to reconnoitre. Warwick was lord Leicester's brother. His public orders to his troops there were issued on 10 Nov. The first of these was, 'That all captains and soldiers do duly resort to the church to prayer and preaching upon those days that are appointed to the same: namely, upon Wednesday and Friday, betwixt nine and ten in the forenoon; and upon Sunday at the same hour in the forenoon, at three of the clock in the afternoon, except such as be appointed to ward.' Forbes, p. 181. 11. 36 BOOK Protestant party was the more important, as Spanish forces were assisting their more powerful opponents.35 Attempts for reconciliation failed; and the duke of Guise pursuing his success, besieged Orleans, with every probability of taking it, till he was basely assassinated by a young man from Lyons, as he was riding from the camp to the place he lodged at." This revolting catastrophe, and the presence of English forces in France in support of the reformers, brought on that peace, which had before been unattainable. The Protestant party obtained, on 19th March, an edict of pacification highly favorable to their cause: 38 and the forces of the kingdom were then directed to expel the English from Havre, without the restitution of Calais.39 The place was not found to be long defen 35 Sir N. Throckmorton, on 14 December, reported that 2500 Spaniards had assisted to force the prince of Condé to raise his siege of Paris. Forbes, p. 126. Lett. 36 Against the advice of many at the court, who wished him to go into Normandy, and frustrate the admiral's plans.' Castel. p. 135. 37 Throck. lett. of 1 March. He was wounded on 18 February, and died the 24th. Forbes, 343. The man, Poltrot, rode off, but was taken next day; he was about nineteen or twenty years old. The duke, after he felt the blow in his shoulder, called to a gentleman who was passing him in a furred cloak, to give it him because he was hurt, and then rode in all haste as fast as he could towards Paris. 26 February, p. 339. The murderer, when taken, declared, very assuredly, that it was he who shot the pistol with a resolute intent to kill him, moved and solicited thereunto only by his own zeal to revenge the tyranny which the duke had committed against the Christians, and was like to exercise if he might have any long life; and this was, said he, the end provided for all insolent and tyrannical princes.' Forb. p. 343. He had come dressed like a horse soldier on a Spanish jennet, pretending to have a communication of importance to the duke, but instead of a letter, drew from under his long cloak the pistol, and fired it on his shoulder. Warw. lett. p. 345. The Huguenots disavowed the crime, and the admiral declared it to be a wicked action. Castel. p. 145. 38 Hen. Abrid. 415. Castelnau describes and justifies the peace as a wise and needful measure, tho the furious papists opposed it. p. 153. Castelnau describes the siege and its result, p. 154-9. The succors XXV. sible, and was at length surrendered to the French CHAP. government, and peace was again restored between the two countries.40 Elizabeth had fully gained her real object. She had saved the Huguenots, and averted the danger from her own country and its adopted faith. For these points only she had armed, and both Havre and Calais were but minor and subordinate considerations. that came to keep it for England longer, arrived two days after its capitulation. The French entered it 31 July 1562. ib. 160. The negotiation was carried on at Troyes, and the final treaty of peace published there on 13 April 1563. Avec grande allegresse de leurs magistes et de toute la cour.' Castel. 169. II. CHAP. XXVI. CONTINUED EFFORTS OF THE POPES AGAINST PROTES- BOOK THE determination of the popedom, and of the leaders of the hierarchy, to exterminate those opposing opinions which it termed heresies, and those professors and promoters of the diffusing reformation, whom it branded as heretics, descended unabated from pontiff to pontiff during the sixteenth century. The successor of Leo, Adrian VI. in 1522, called upon the electors and princes of Germany, if Luther would not return to the right way, to visit him with the rod of severity.' He reminded them, that cancerous ulcers were to be cured by fiery cauteries, and alienated limbs to be entirely cut off from the body. To prevent the supposition that he spoke only in the metaphors of rhetoric, he assured them that two Greek emperors had taken off heretics by the sword; and as their own ancestors had put Huss and Jerome to a due death,' he did not 3 ''Severitatis virga animadvertis.' Ep. Had. 6, in Le Plat Monum. v. 2. p. 143. It is dated 25th November 1522. 26 Aspera erunt et ignita cauteria adhibenda; et abalienata membra ab integro corpore penitus resecanda.' ib. 'Sic veteres et pii imperatores, Jovinianum et Priscilianum, hæreticos gladio seculi sustulerunt.' ib. 4 'Sic majores vestri de J. Hussite et Hieronymo P. debitas sump. sere pœnas.' ib. |