able dealings of Providence with the ungodly, which so modifies the various stages in the very success of their schemes as to have the appearance of being, and to inflict upon their author the mortification of believing them to be, exactly the reverse. In fact, for the accomplishment of the object common to all the parties, it was necessary for the principal agents to adopt a course calculated to deceive all beholders; and it was not less necessary that the secret should be confided to as few bosoms as possible, even to the exclusion of the most interested and confidential. It is spontaneously admitted as a fact by papal, as well as reformed historians, that the last pacification was, on the king's and court's part, utterly insincere; and that, from the day of its solemn signature, nothing was thought of but the entire extinction of the Huguenots by an act or course of treachery. The treachery, if not the only means, was regarded as the most effectual one, to accom-. plish this object*. The quintessential policy of the queen-mother, who knew that she herself was too well known to be able to deceive, set her ductile son on an attempt, in which it

* Davila, lib. v. tom. i. pp. 295—8. The reader will conjecture why the biographers are in no humour to pursue the history of French affairs.

was presumed he would have a better chance of being successful. About the close of the year 1570, the king married Isabella, youngest daughter of Maximilian, emperor of Germany*. It is affirmed, that the heads of the religion were invited to the ceremony, in order that possession might thus be obtained of their persons, and themselves be sacrificed. But nothing came of this plan. Those who knew with what kind of new friends they had to deal were suspicious. The principal reliance was upon two popular objects. The first was, a war for the recovery of Flanders, to be given to Count Ludovic; and it must be acknowledged this was not a simple feint: something was done; and the admiral and his friends were amused. The other was, the proposal of marriage between the king's sister, Margaret, and the king of Navarre †.

*The papal law made as many impediments to marriage among the opulent as possible, in order that dispensations, to be well paid for, might be equally abundant. The pope, by a letter in Goubau's collection, lib. iii. ep. xlviii., cheerfully gives the apostolic dispensation required, and he does not forget, before he ends, the advantage to which the union may be turned for extirpating heresies.

It is said that the lady was averse to the match; and possibly Sir Francis Walsingham may have mistaken when he writes- The mar'riage between the P. of Navarre and the L. Margaret is not yet tho6 roughly concluded, religion being the only let: the gentlewoman being 6 most desirous thereof, falleth to reading of the Bible, and to the use

G

We shall see, in time, that this proposal was likewise sincere. A great object was to be attained, and some sacrifices were necessary.

Meanwhile the good Catholics of France were impatient under the restraint which the pacification imposed upon them, and conceiving it to be as much their duty to massacre as that of the reformed to be massacred, put their calling in frightful execution at Orange and Rouen. Charles kept working

6

to his proposed end; and one of his measures was, to issue an edict forbidding the carrying of arms. A progress through the provinces was made to ascertain the injuries sustained by the reformed. The admiral was restored to his state and dignities; and the king wrote him a flattering letter with his own hand. Increasing toleration was extended to those of the religion; and Coligny was treated with marked confidence. It may be added, as coinciding with this general scheme, that a marriage was being negotiated between the Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth of England, in which it is hard to determine which party was most insincere. They both knew they could stick at religion. The artful

' of the Prayers used by them of the religion.'-Digges's Complete Ambassador, p. 122.

mother of the duke seems to have been put to the greatest difficulty..

Here we leave France for the present: we shall have occasion to return to it for an important incident, respecting which our biographers recover their speech, and confirm, for they do not give, some important information.

We proceed to other countries.

CHAPTER IV.

Spain-Flanders-Duke of Alva-Naples-the Two Indies-Principal Constitutions of Pius-Breviary-Vices of the Clergy-Missal-Inquisition-Rosary-Baius-Reputed heretics, Bishop of Kiow, Dudith, two Hungarians, Carranza, Cellario, Carnesecchi, Paleario, many others-Germany.

IT

Ir may at first sight seem extraordinary, that his vigilant Holiness should have nothing to do with the country of his Most Catholic Majesty, Philip II. of Spain. But the surprise will cease, when it is recollected, that the sovereign, having passed a novitiate of barbarity in this country, where, for certain good reasons, he commanded his chaplain to advocate clemency, was well prepared, by means of the Inquisition, and, under it, two autos at Valladolid, and two more at Seville, with minor ones, to quench the figurative conflagration of heresy, that is Christianity, by the literal burning of the bodies of those who, from conviction of the truth, and from feeling of its everlasting importance, feared not the fiery trial in the attempt to emancipate their country from the impious and soul-destroying superstition of popery. And so doing, they both saved their own souls, and those, there is no doubt, of numbers who heard them. Enough es