Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/143

 I572-] THE MASSACRE OF ST BARTHOLOMEW. 123 While these scenes were in progress the Admiral and Count Louis were preparing for the great campaign which was to end in the expulsion of the Spaniards, the death or capture of Alva, and the liberation of the Low Countries. For the French Government to go to war with Spain as the ally of the Prince of Orange, would be equivalent to an open declaration in favour of their own Huguenots ; and with examples of the treat- ment of their brethren before them, the French priests and monks had reason to be alarmed at the prospect of -Calvinist ascendency. The Paris clergy, confident in the support of the populace, had denounced through- out the summer the liberal policy of the King. One of them, de Sainte Foix, in the very Court itself, had held out the story of Jacob and Esau to the ambition of the Duke of Anjou ; and the favour shown to Count Louis, the alliance with excommunicated England, and the approaching marriage of the Princess Margaret had not tended to moderate their vehemence. The war was pronounced to be impious ; the Catholic King was ful- filling a sacred duty in crushing the enemies of God ; and those who would have France interfere to save them were denounced as traitors to Holy Church. Yet as the weeks passed on, it seemed as if all their exertions would be wasted. The traditions of Francis I. were not dead. The opportunity for revenging St Quentin and tearing in pieces the treaty of Cambray was splendidly alluring. The Catholic leaders, Guise, Severs, Tavannes, even Anjou himself, clamoured and threatened, but Charles was carried away by the tempt-