MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOJ\IEvV 117
the Nuncio Castagna to say that the King of France. would gain more than himself by the loss of so many brave Protestants, and that the time was come for him, with the aid of the people of Paris, to get rid of Coligny and the rest of his enemies.! It appears from the letters of Salviati that he also regarded the resolution as having been finally taken after the defeat of Genlis. The Court had determined to enforce unity of faith in France. An edict of toleration was issued for the purpose of lulling the Huguenots; but it was well known that it was only a pretence. 2 Strict injunctions were sent into the provinces that it should not be obeyed; 3 and Catherine said openly to the English envoy, "My son \vill have exercise but of one Religion in his Realm." On the 26th the King explained his plan to Mondoucet, his agent at Brussels: "Since it has pleased God to bring matters to the point they have now reached, I mean to use the opportunity to secure a perpetual repose in my kingdom, and to do something for the good of all Christendom. It is probable that the conflagration will spread to every town in France, and that they will follow the example of Paris, and lay hands on all the Protes- tants. . . . I have written to the governors to assemble forces in order to cut to pieces those who may resist." 4 The great object was to accomplish the extirpation of Protestantism in such a way as might leave intact the friendship with Protestant States. Every step was governed by this consideration; and the difficulty of the task caused the inconsistencies and the vacillation that ensued. By assassinating Coligny alone it was expected that such an agitation would be provoked among his
1 Si potria distruggere i1 resto. maxime che l' ammiraglio si trova in Parigi. populo Catholico et devoto del suo Rè. dove potria se volesse facilmente levarselo dinnanzi per sempre (Castagna, Desp. Aug, 5. 1572; Tbeiner. i. 327). 2 111l11loires de Claude Haton, 68 7,
- 3 En quelque sorte que ce soit ledict Seigneur est résollu faire vivre ses subjectz
en sa religion. et ne permettre jarnais ny tollérer, quelque chose qui puisse advenir. qu'il n'yait aultre forme ny exercice de religion en son royaulme que de la catholique (Instruction for the Governors of Normandy. Nov, 3, 1572; La Mothe, vii, 390). .& Charles IX, to Mondoucet, Aug, 26. 1572; Comþte Relldu de la Commission Royale d lJiJtoire, 2 e Série, iv. 327,
