As a justiliCation of this dreadful and unparalleled mas sacre, Charles pretended, that the Protestants had formed a conspiracy to seize his person ; and that, in his own de fence, he had been under the necessity of giving orders for its execution. But the real motive and object were by no means thus concealed ; nay, they were, even dis played to public notice, by the proceedings of the par liament and the court. The former ordered an annual pro cession to celebrate the deliverance of the kingdom ; and the latter had a medal struck, with a legend, intimating, in express terms, that piety had armed justice on this occa sion. Still more unequivocally were the real causes of the massacre of St Bartholomew displayed, by the feelings with which the intelligence of it was received at Rome and in Spain. In both, public rejoicings were held, and solemn thanks were returned to Cod for its success, under the name of the a triumph of the church militant." Among the Protestants, it excited the most deep and penetrating horror, and no where to a greater degree than in Eng land. Fenclon, the French ambassador at the court of St James, gives the following striking picture of his first audience after the massacre was known : A gloomy sor row sate on every face ; silence, as in the dead of night, reigned through all the chambers of the royal apartments ; the ladies and the clad in deep mourning, were ranged on every side ; and as I passed by them, in my approach to the queen, not one bestowed on me a favoura ble look, or made the least return to my salutations." The effect of the massacre on the Protestants was directly the reverse of what the king expected ; but ex actly such as a knowledge of human nature, and of reli gious zeal and enthusiasm, would have anticipated. Cal vinism, instead of being destroyed, became more formida ble by despair ; and a thirst for revenge, united to an ardent spirit of civil and religious liberty. A fourth civil war was kindled. The Protestants assembled in large bodies, and took refuge in the strong places which belong ed to their party. In these, now fatally convinced that their only alternative was open rebellion—if rebellion it might be called—or persecution, they resolved to defend themselves to the last extremity. At their head appear ed the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde, both of whom abjured a religion which they had been compelled to profess. Rochelle made a desperate defence against the Duke of Anjou, who lost almost all his army before it. The siege continued eight months, during which time the citizens repelled nine general, and twenty particular attacks, and at length obliged the Duke to grant them an advantageous peace. The town of Sancerre was defend ed with equal bravery for upwards of seven months ; nor did the inhabitants surrender till they had obtained the promise of liberty of conscience. About this time, the Duke of Anjou was elected King of Poland ; and the mise ries of France daily increasing, Charles embraced the pre tence afforded by the elevation of his brother to conclude a treaty with the Protestants, which he did not intend to keep, and to which they never trusted.
In the following year, A. D. 1574, a third party arose in France, which, without paying the least attention to the religious disputes and differences of the other two parties, confined their efforts entirely to politics : they were called the I\Ialecontents. Their avowed object was to reform the political state of the kingdom, by setting limits to the power and influence of the Guises, excluding the queen from the administration of affairs, and banishing from the kingdom all the Italians, whom she had introduced and countenanced. The Duke of Alencon, brother to the
king, a man restless, intriguing, and versatile, put himself at the head of this party.
In the midst of this disordered and embarrassed state of the kingdom, the health of Charles was rapidly declining. Ever since the massacre of Bartholomew, a deep and suspicious gloom overspread his countenance, and his mind was torn by contending passions. He still hated the Protestants, but he was alarmed at the ambitious views and extensive influence of the families of Montmorenci and Guise, while he was deeply affected by the intrigues of his brother the Duke of Alencon, and the King of Navarre. In this state of bodily weakness and mental agitation, he began to suspect that he had been too easily led by the counsels of his mother, into a line of conduct neither conducive to his peace of mind, honourable to his name, nor advantageous to his own interests, or those of his kingdom. This reflection, conning thus late, served only to increase his bodily and mental sufferings. Ilk health declined with great rapidity: each day some new and fatal symptoms manifested them selves, and at last his disorder took a most singular turn. While a slow and internal fever preyed on his strength, the blood oozed even out of the pores of his skin. Cathe rine was suspected of having administered poison to him, but it is more probable, that his disorder was occasioned by the dissolute life which he had led, and by the excessive violence of his temper. For some time, such was the remaining power of a constitution naturally strong, he struggled against his disorder, but at length, in the 23d year of his age, it overcame him. His last hours were wor thy of a better life, and a better character. These he spent in recommending to those around him to preserve their fidelity to the King of Poland, the heir to the throne on his decease, and he obliged all present to take an oath of fidelity to Catherine during the absence of Henry.
Charles was not naturally devoid of qualities and talents, which if they had not been counteracted by a most vicious education, might have rendered him a blessing to his sub jects. He possessed wit, judgment, activity, and courage, but his disposition was naturally violent, and those who had the care of him in early life, especially the Marshal de Retz, had encouraged, instead of repressed, this violence. Front his mother he learnt the whole mystery of the Italian school of politics, and consequently was an adept in dissimulation and intrigue. Indeed, so far did he carry this habit, that he not unfrequently preferred obtaining by deceit, what he might much more easily and certainly have acquired by open and ingenuous conduct, and his public life shews that even the systematic dissimulation which he learnt from his mother, was as frequently prejudicial as advantageous to him. His tutor Amyot had given him a taste for learning, and he cultivated poetry. Notwithstanding the distractions of this reign, many laws and ordinances, originating in wise and profound views of the public benefit, were passed, chiefly through the labour and patriotic efforts of the Chan cellor De l'Hospital. In the midst of the civil wars, this really great man fixed his undivided attention and wishes on the good of his country; and such was the commanding influence of his character, and his, activity and zeal, that at a time when law generally is trampled under foot, he made it be respected and acted upon.