MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW 115
in these \vords: "Quae rationes eo impulerunt regem ut semel apprehensa manu Cardinalis in hanc vocem proruperit: Significate Pontifici illumque certum reddite me totum hoc quod circa id matrimonium feci et facturus sum, nulla alia de causa facere, quam ulciscendi inimicos Dei et hujus regni, et puniendi tam infidos rebelles, ut eventus ipse docebit, nec aliud vobis amplius significare possum. Quo non obstante sem per Cardinalis eas subtexuit difficultates quas potuit, objiciens regi possetne contrahi matrimonium a fidele cum infidele, sitve dispen- satio necessaria; quod si est nunquam Pontificem inductum iri ut illam concedat. Re ipsa ita in suspenso relicta discedendum esse putavit, cum jam rescivisset qua de causa naves parabantur, qui apparatus contra Rocellam tendebant." The opinion that the massacre of St. Bartholomew was a sudden and unpremeditated act cannot be maintained; but it does not follow that the only alternative is to believe that it was the aim of every measure of the Government for two years before. Catherine had long contemplated it as her last expedient in extremity; but she had decided that she could not resort to it while her son was virtually a minor. l She suggested the idea to him in 1570. In that year he gave orders that the Huguenots should be slaughtered at Bourges. The letter is preserved in which La Chastre spurned the cOlnmand : " If the people of Bourges learn that your :I\1ajesty takes pleasure in such tragedies, they will repeat them often. If these men must die, let them first be tried; but do not reward my services and sully my reputation by such a stain." 2 In the autumn of 157 I Coligny came to Blois. Walsingham suspected, and \vas afterwards convinced that the intention to kill him already existed. The Pope was much displeased by his presence at Court; but he
1 Vuol andar con ogni quiete et dissimulatione, fin che il Rè suo figliolo sia in età (Santa Croce, Desp, June 27, 1563; Lettres du Card, Santa Croce, p, 243). 2 La Chastre to Charles IX" Jan, 21, 1570; Raynal, Histoire du Berry, iv, 105 ; Laval1ée, Histoire áes Français, ii. 478, Both Raynal and Lavallée had access to the original.
