Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/147

 4572.] THE MASSACRE OF ST BARTHOLOMEW. 12? of a professed heretic, and when the Princess afterwards attended mass, her husband ostentatiously withdrew, and remained in the cloister. A few more days and Coligny would be on his way to the army. Though England had failed him, and might perhaps be hostile, the King still meant to persevere. The Queen-mother had tried all her arts tears, threats, entreaties and at times not without effect. Charles's instincts were generous, but his purpose was flexible, and his character was half formed. His mother had ruled him from the time that he had left his cradle, and he had no high convictions, no tenacity of principle or vigour of will, to contend against her. But there was a certain element of chivalry about him which enabled him to recognize in Coligny the noblest cf his subjects, and he had a soldier's am- bition to emulate his father and grandfather. The Duke of Anjou, who related afterwards the secret history of these momentous days, said that whenever the King had been alone with the Admiral, the Queen-mother found him afterwards cold and reserved towards herself. Anjou himself went one day 1 into his brother's cabinet ; the King did not speak to him, but walked up and down the room fingering his dagger, and looking as if he could have stabbed him. If the war was to be prevented, something must be done, and that promptly. Guise, notwithstanding his seeming cordiality with Coligny, was supposed to be meditating mischief, and the King, by Coligny's advice, kept the Royal Guard under arms The i gth or 2oth of August.