During the rest of his journey, he had opportunities of detecting the falsehood of the miracles alleged to have been wrought by the saint. But at Rome he was again in danger. The inns at which he had rested were all full of friars, flocking to the city to attend a grand assembly of their order, and it appears probable that on their arrival some of them communicated to the authorities the suspicions which they entertained with regard to this traveller, in consequence of the conversations they had held with him by the way. Be this as it may, an officer found out his lodgings, and demanded his name, his country, his business, and other particulars. Not knowing what might be the issue of these inquiries, De Mornay thought it prudent to leave Rome for a few days; he therefore retired to Tivoli, from which place he returned after a while, and inspected the interesting and beautiful buildings and remains of the ancient and modern city, without further molestation. In his visits to Cremona, Milan, and other places, he was again put to some inconvenience and trouble by the intolerant spirit of popery; and had some very narrow escapes. But at length, having accomplished his proposed excursion, he arrived safe and in good health at Venice. In these wanderings, he always endeavoured to make acquaintance with men of learning, and particularly with those who had any inclination to the protestant religion, whose conversation tended to attach him more warmly to that faith. From Venice he went into Austria, where he stayed some time at Vienna; departing from thence, he made a tour through Hungary, Bohemia, Saxony, Hesse, and Franconia, wintering at Cologne, (1571.) Amongst his most intimate acquaintances in this city, was father Ximenes, a Spanish divine, with whom he frequently conversed upon religious controversies. The Spaniard confessed that errors had crept into his church, but strongly objected to separation from it; and De Mornay IN DANGER FROM THE PAPISTS. 95 afterwards published a Latin treatise on the subject, to which Ximenes, although pressed by his friends, did not think fit to reply. He also met several gentlemen of the Low Countries at Cologne, and sympathizing with them upon the tyranny and perfidy of the king of Spain*, particularly in his treatment of Rotterdam, wrote two remonstrances, in which he advised the Flemings as to their conduct in the present emergency. The sentiments expressed in these documents, were highly acceptable to William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, who ever after reposed great confidence in him, as an able and judicious counsellor. Meanwhile, nothing was allowed to interrupt his studies, which provided his chief source of pleasure. In this winter (1571-2), he made great progress in his examination of the writings of the Fathers, and of the canon-law and other codes. In the spring, he passed through Flanders into England. The report of his talents and acquirements had already reached this country, and even queen Elizabeth had heard of its merits, and was disposed to look favourably upon him. She received him with a most gracious welcome, and afterwards showed him many marks of her esteem. De Mornay himself testified his respect for our protestant sovereign by presenting to her a poem, in which he urged her to hasten the fall of antichrist, and the restoration of the true church. During his stay in England, he met two distinguished ministers of the king of France, (Montmorency and D'Oignon,) who had been sent over to conclude an alliance between the queen and their royal master. They were also commissioned to salute Mary, queen of Scots, in the name of their king, and to deliver to her some secret despatches; and they proposed to De Mornay that he should go to Coventry, the place of Mary's imprison * For a short review of the sufferings of the Low Countries, or United Provinces of the Netherlands, under the Spanish dominion, see HUME's History of England, chap. XL., anno 1571. ment, to execute this object of their mission. But when he heard that he was to be employed in practising a deceit, he declined the commission; and the ambassadors, strongly commending his independent spirit and high sense of honour, withdrew their request. Having now resided for some months in England, he returned to France, in July, 1572. CHAPTER II. ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY. But who can paint what dire confusion reign'd, Some few indeed survived! Translation of VOLTAIRE'S Henriade. RETURNED to his native land, the first steps of Philip De Mornay were directed towards the house of his excellent mother. With her he passed a few days, and then hastened to Paris to submit to the consideration of his friend, the admiral Coligny, a Discourse to the King, and a Remonstrance, both designed to procure some assistance for the oppressed Flemings, against the tyranny of Spain. The admiral took an early opportunity of presenting these documents to the king; but Charles's mind appeared to be engrossed with the preparations for the approaching marriage of his sister Margaret with Henry, king of Navarre. His thoughts were really engaged upon a scheme of the darkest and most cruel wickedness, in order to effect which, he had invited all the Huguenots ASPECT OF AFFAIRS. 97 nobles and gentlemen to Paris, to be present at the royal nuptials. De Mornay already began to entertain some suspicions, which, as will presently appear, were soon frightfully exceeded in reality; and when the admiral, having returned from the king, told him that it was inexpedient to make further efforts in behalf of Flanders until after the marriage, he remarked to his friend, that all good people foreboded ill from this marriage, and that he feared it would end in misfortune to the admiral, and to all the protestants in Paris. Coligny listened with attention, and then replied. "I know well, my young friend, that neither the queen-mother nor the duke of Anjou wish me well, but the king does me the honour to converse with me with so much frankness, that I cannot suspect any sinister purposes on his part." He added, that he felt himself exposed to calumny and misrepresentation, whatever steps he might take; and, therefore, that he had made up his mind to endure patiently whatever God might see fit to send him. De Mornay participated so little in the hopeful feelings entertained by many of his party, that on the day of the marriage he scarcely left his lodgings. On the following Friday, he called to take leave of the admiral for three days, intending to conduct his mother home to her countryseat. But on the same day, as he was proceeding to pay another visit, one of his servants approached him hastily, and informed him that the admiral had been shot. Agitated by these tidings, he hastened to his friend's assistance, found him severely wounded, and helped to convey him to his hotel.. De Mornay's suspicions of impending evil were greatly increased by this wicked attempt to assassinate the distinguished leader of the protestant party. He instantly hastened his mother's departure from Paris, but resolved, notwithstanding her earnest entreaties, to remain there himself, and to share whatever fate might befall his friends. VOL. II. H On Saturday evening, August 23, 1572, which preceded the day of the most barbarous massacre that ever disgraced the annals of a civilized country, he returned at a late hour from the admiral's residence, and saw, as he passed through the streets, that the citizens were armed. He had previously engaged apartments nearer to his friend, but they could not be prepared for his reception before the following Monday; he therefore regretted, as he retired to rest, that in the mean time he should be unable to render succour to Coligny at a moment's notice, in case of any riotous proceedings. Very early in the morning he sent to inquire about the admiral's health. It was the fatal anniversary of St. Bartholomew, and his affrighted messenger hurried back with the intelligence that assassins had broken into the admiral's hotel. De Mornay started from his bed, dressed himself in haste, and exclaiming, "God will preserve me from this danger, and avenge the crime," was about to sally forth, when the ruffians arrived at his lodgings. Without a moment's delay he burned his papers, and concealing himself under the roof of the house, remained there until he knew that the wretches had departed. That day, the streets of Paris were deluged with protestant blood. Neither age, nor rank, nor sex were considered neither private virtues nor public achievements; but all who were suspected of attachment to the reformed religion, were assassinated without mercy. The rest of the Sabbath-day passed in extreme anxiety to De Mornay, for his own safety and that of his friends. On Monday, the populace, like a hound that has just dipped his tongue in gore, thirsted for further prey, and their frenzy and murderous work augmented in violence and extent. The landlord of De Mornay's house, anxious for his escape for the sake of them both, implored him to seek some more secure retreat; declaring that his further stay would inevitably bring ruin upon the whole family. While they were conversing, the murderers arrived at the |