7. Third and Fourth Wars, 1588-1573
situation still more critical. Papal,
Spanish, and Jesuit influences were at
work. The government
bad advanced
Wars, to Condd and Coligny funds to pay off
1563-q3. the German troops. The ruinous de
mand for immediate repayment was an
effort to array the masses against the Evangelicals.
The Huguenots were still further embarrassed (Aug.
1568) by a requirement to take an oath of allegiance
to the king. For some time the cardinal of Lorraine
and Chancellor L'HBpital had striven for the mastery
in the direction of the government. The latter was
friendly to the Huguenots; but the cardinal now
triumphed. A plot to seize Condd and Coligny was
frustrated by their flight to La Rochelle. Seeing
that war was unavoidable, they hastily marshaled
their forces. Louis d'Andelot gathered an army in
Breton and Normandy; Jeanne d'Albret with her
young son, Henry (b. Dec. 13, 1553), rode at the
front
of the troops of Gascony and Provence. Notwithstanding a crushing defeat at Moncontour,
Jeanne and Coligny refused to submit, and by Aug.,
1570, they had gained such advantages as to be
able to secure in the Edict of St. Germain freedom
of conscience throughout France, freedom of worship wherever it had been enjoyed before the war,
the holding of La Rochelle, Montauban, Cognac, and
La Charitk (strongly fortified towns) as pledges of
the good faith of the government, and withdrawal
of the king from alliance with Spain. Catherine had
set her heart on the marriage of one of her sons
with Elizabeth of England, and of her daughter with
Henry of Navarre. Charles IX. now began to assert
his kingship, and was anxious to assist the Dutch
Evangelicals in their struggle with Spain. Coligny
became his favorite adviser, and was the recipient
of large gifts; and Henry of Navarre married (Aug.
18, 1572) the king's sister, Margaret of Valois. The
ascendency of Coligny over the young king imperiled Catherine's influence and the continuance of
peace with Spain. The Guises (a new generation)
were intensely hostile to Coligny. Catherine resolved on the death of Coligny, and planned the
massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day (Aug. 24,
1572; see
Coligny, Gaspard).
Henry of Nar
varre and Henry of Condb were spared, but
compelled to bow before the altar. While most
of the leaders had been destroyed, the
great
mass of the Huguenot membership remained. A
fourth war resulted from efforts of the government
to capture Sancerre and La Rochelle, still in the
hands of the Huguenots. The former town, after
enduring the horrors of a long siege, was obliged to
surrender; the latter suffered much, but succeeded
in driving away the besiegers. The Peace of Boulogne (July, 1573) restricted Evangelical worship to
La Rochelle, Nimes, Montauban, and the houses of
the nobles. The Huguenots went on with their
preparations for war. Councils at Nimes and Montauban demanded freedom of worship throughout
France, maintenance of Huguenot garrisons by the
government, two cities of refuge in each province,
condemnation of the massacre and punishment of
its perpetrators, and a guaranty of their rights by
the Protestant states of Europe. The massacre had
called forth a vigorous national party
(Len Politiqum)
that was ready to join with the Huguenots in the
struggle against the tyranny of the foreigners,
Catherine, and the Guises in alliance with Spain
and the pope.
