Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/173

 1572.] THE MASSACRE OF ST BARTHOLOMEW. 153 most horrible crime which had been committed in the world since the crucifixion of Christ. The very Spaniards and Italians would condemn such unheard- of cruelty. He could not say on whom the guilt most rested, but the plighted word of the King had been violated, and a deed of unexampled infamy had been committed in his presence. Words of this kind, La Mothe intimated, might lead to a breach of amity, but the council was indifferent to consequences. 1 In France, at the focus of the danger, Walsingham used the same language. A letter to Charles had been found among the Admiral's papers putting him on his guard against Spain and England The Queen-mother showed it to Elizabeth's Minister, and he nobly an- swered, * that however the Admiral was affected to England, he had shown himself in that letter a most faithful servant of the Crown of France/ 2 As little did he deign to conceal his disbelief of the pretended plot. He had been in daily communication with Montgomery, whom Catherine especially accused. He was able to assert on his own knowledge that Montgomery was in- nocent of every evil intention ; and he insisted fear- lessly that, were the proofs against him and others as clear as they were futile, they ought to have been arrested and tried. Had the massacre been really intended, the Queen- 1 Burghley to Walsingham, September 19 ; Sir T. Smith to Walsing- ham, October 13: DIGGES. 2 Walsingham to Sir T. Smith, September 14 : DIGGES.