MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW 147
direct influence of Madrid or Rome recognised the inexpi- able horror of the crime. But the desire to defend what the Pope approved survived sporadically, when the old fierceness of dogmatic hatred was extinct. A generation passed without any perceptible change in the judgment of Rome. It was a common charge against De Thou that he had condemned the blameless act of Charles IX. The blasphemies of the Huguenots, said one of his critics, were more abominable than their retribution. 1 His History was put on the Index; and Cardinal Barberini let him know that he was condemned because he not only favoured Protestants to the detriment of Catholics, but had even disapproved the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. 2 Eudæmon- Johannes, the friend of Bellarmine, pronounces it a pious and charitable act, which immortalised its author. s Another Jesuit, Bompiani, says that it was grateful to Gregory, because it was likely to relieve the Church. 4 The well-known apology for Charles IX. by Naudé is based rather on political than religious grounds; but his contemporary Guyon, whose History of Orleans is pronounced by the censors full of sound doctrine and pious sentiment, deems it unworthy of Catholics to speak of the murder of heretics as if it were a crime, because, when done under lawful authority, it is a blessed thing. 5 When Innocent XI. refused to approve the Revocation of the Edict of N antes, Frenchmen wondered that he should so far depart from the example which was kept before him by one of the most conspicuous ornaments
1 Lobo de Silveis to De Thou, July 7. 1616 ; His/oire, xv. 371 ; J. B. Gallus, Ibid, p. 435.
Le Cardinal Barberin, que je tiens pour Serviteur du Roy, a parlé franche-
ment sur ceste affaire, et m'a dit qu'il croyoit presqu'impossible qu'il se trouve jamais remede, si vous ne la voulez recommencer; disant que depuis Ie commence- ment jusqu'à la fin vous vous estes ll}onstré du tout passionné contre ce qui est de l'honneur et de la grandeur de l'Eglise, qu'il se trouvera dans vostre histoire que vous ne parlez jamais des Catholiques qu'avec du mépris et de la louange de ceux de la religion; que mesme vous avez blasmé ce que feu Monsieur Ie président de Thou vostre père avoit approuvé, qui est la S. Barthelemy (De Brèves to De Thou, Rome, Feb. 18, 1610; Bib, Imp, F, Dupuy, 812), B Crudelitatisne tu esse ac non dementiae potius, pietatisque putas? (Resþ. ad Eþ, Casauboni, 1612, p, 118). 4 Quae res uti Catholicae Religioni sublevandae opportuna, ita maxime jucunda Gregorio accidit (His!, Pontif. Gregori XIII" p, 3 0 ). II Histoire d'Orléans, pp, 421, 4 2 4,
