*

the kings of Spain and of France, and to the doge of Venice, are extant, advocating the same cause The restoration of the ruins was pursued with so much resolution, that the pope himself, regarding the work as a holy one, allowed it to proceed on Saints' days, and the renewed city took the name of Valetta, from that of the master of the military order of St. John of Jerusalem established in that island. The Turks afterwards wreaked their vengeance upon the island of Scio. In order to fortify Christendom, or the popedom in particular, more effectually against this formidable enemy for the future, Pius commissioned his legate Commendone to engage, if possible, the emperor and princes of Germany in a league against him. The papal purse was liberally opened for this object; and the dukes of Savoy, of Este, of Ferrara, of Florence, of Mantua, contributed their share of assistance. But to his pecuniary supplies the pope was not parsimonious in adding those which cost him less-a jubilee in the superlative degree; processions; indulgences. His personal part in these performances was effected with so much labour, and supposed merit,

*Goubau, lib. i. epp. xxviii-xxx.

that, in token of the latter, evil spirits were ejected from some possessed females upon witnessing such an exalted exhibition of humility and devotion*. The new sultan, for he began his reign not till towards the close of the year 1566, made some successful incursions into Hungary.

*Exploits of this description by the pontiff are commemorated in a medal, representing on the obverse his holiness on his chair of state, and before him a female emitting from her mouth a kind of radiated eructation filled with demons. The legend is, MILITANS. DE. INFERNO . TRIUMPHAT. ECCLESIA. On the exergue, PONTIFICIAE. POTESTATIS. ImPERIUM. Bonanni, tom. i. pp. 306, 307. There is other grave and particular authority for the fact. Read Poggiano's letter to cardinal Truchses, Epist., &c., tom. iv. p. 118, et seq. Auxit vero etiam religionem certa nefariorum spirituum ejectio ex aliquot notissimis fœminis: audiebantur enim, appropinquante pontifice, clamores horribiles, violenti ac perversissimi motus, incredibilesque distorsiones cernebantur; quo præsente, et stolâ ipsas attingente mulieres, mira afflictatio consequebatur, et repentini casus ad terram fiebant, ita, ut diu illæ jacerent, non secus ac mortuæ, omnis motus ac sensus expertes. Ex eo die ad sanitatem rediere, ut in nullam postea ejus generis perturbationem inciderint. Notæ sunt omnibus, ut dixi, mulieres, a nefariis spiritibus ereptæ, noti parentes, propinquique; ut nemo jure dubitare possit. What heretic, after this, will have the audacity to doubt? The letter is dated 11 Kal. Oct. 1566.

CHAPTER III.

France-Publication of the Bull in Cœna Domini-Clerical concubinage -Queen of Navarre-Geneva-Avignon-Renewed disturbances in France-Alleged outrages by Protestant army, and reflexion—Succours to France-Victory over Reformed at Jarnac-Pius's Letters in consequence-Italy-Victory over Reformed at MoncontourHistory of France pursued to Pacification in 1570-Alarm and opposition of Pius-Effect of the Pontiff's instructions-Insincerity of the Court in the Peace-Insults by the Romanists.

FRANCE was the theatre of the most persevering, most resolute, and eventually most sanguinary operations of the true vicar of him, who was a murderer from the beginning. The brutal aggression of the sovereigns and government of France, under the influence of their corrupt and persecuting faith, forced at length those who would reform it, both in themselves and others, into measures of selfdefence. To assert, that in any national commotions of such a kind the excesses are only on one side, would be to assume, that a portion of our race are angels; but it is not too much to say, that, in the present contest, in the gross, and perhaps in every particular instance, the excesses of the oppressed party were simple retaliation. Nor will it hastily be questioned, by the equitable, the humane, or the pious, that the power providentially

conferred on the reformers, conveyed a virtual trust for the benefit, not only of themselves, but of the thousands with them, who were enduring similar outrage; and imposed the duty of defending themselves and their fellow sufferers by every justifiable means at their command. Hence, the religious and consequent civil contests in France may be pronounced to be on the one side utterly iniquitous, and on the other substantially, if not perfectly, defensible. Hardly any barbarity, in this unequal, as well as unnatural warfare, had so just and powerful an effect to provoke the reformed to a renewal of the original hostilities, as the wanton and savage massacre at Vassy by the duke of Guise, in 1561. This, which is called the second war, was terminated by a pacification in 1568*.

In this state of things, and two years before the date last mentioned, Pius V. entered upon his pontificate; and his first interference in Gallican affairs was, to write to the bishops enjoining the observation of the Council of Trent, under pain of severe punishment for non-compliance. He likewise directed the queen mother, during her son's minority, to

*For the religious history of France at this time there is no better authority than that of De Serres, de Statu Religionis, &c., which De Thou strictly follows, and even adopts.

dismiss from the councils of government Cardinal Odet de Coligny, bishop of Beauvais, and brother of the admiral, who had been anathematized by his predecessor as a heretic, had haughtily abdicated his order, and, after having, in contempt of apostolic authority, resumed it, had married. Other ecclesiastics, who had done the same, were deprived. He likewise nullified the royal edict, which tolerated the reformers in their services of religion out of the cities. The Roman catechism, translated into French*, was introduced, and papal discipline restored. This was all sanctioned by royal authority. Gabutius, whom we are now following, mentions seven bishops, five of whom he just names, who, being condemned for heresy at Rome, were deposed, and replaced by others; as had been done with Odet, who, we are told, retired to England, where he died impiously. The editor of the last

* I am indebted to Fuenmayor for the fact of the French translation. † Gabutius remembered, and observed, one of the basest rules of the Index, prefixed to that of Clement VIII., 1596. Itemque epitheta honorifica, et omnia in laudem hæreticorum dicta deleantur.-See Literary Policy of the Church of Rome, &c., p. 114.

Morì empiamente.-Catena, 67. Impiously, that is, without confession, absolution, idolatrous reception of the eucharist, and extreme unction. He was poisoned by his valet employed by Catherine.-See Discours Merveilleux, &c., 1575, pp. 71, 2.