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 MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOl\lE\V 135

kingdom, Catholics should pray that he might have grace to pursue his auspicious enterprise to the end, and so complete \vhat he had begun so wel1. l Before a month had passed Vasari \vas summoned from Florence to decorate the hall of kings with paintings of the massacre. 2 The \vork was pronounced his masterpiece; and the shameful scene may still be traced upon the wall, \vhere, for three centuries, it has insulted every pontiff that entered the Sixtine Chapel. The story that the Huguenots had perished because they were detected plotting the King's death was known at Rome on the 6th of September. While the sham edict and the imaginary trial served to confirm it in the eyes of Europe, Catherine and her son took care that it should not deceive the Pope. They assured him that they meant to disregard the edict. To excuse his sister's marriage, the King pleaded that it had been concluded for no object but vengeance; and he promised that there would soon be not a heretic in the country.3 This \vas corroborated by Salviati. As to the proclaimed toleration, he knew that it was a device to disarm foreign enmity, and prevent a popular commotion. He testified that the Queen spoke truly when she said that she had confided to him, long before, the real purpose of her daughter's engagement. 4

1 The Bull, as published in Paris, is printed by Strype (Lift of Parker, iii. 197), La prima occasione che a cib 10 mosse fù per 10 stratagemma fatto da Carlo N ono Christianissimo Rè di Francia contra Coligno Ammiraglio, capo d' U gonotti, et suoi seguaci, tagliati a pezzi in Parigi (Ciappi, Vita di Gregorio XIII., 1596, p, 63). 2 Vasari to Borghini, Oct, 5, 1572; March 5. 1573; to Francesco 1Jedici, Nov, 17, 1572; Gaye, Carleggio d' Artisti, iii. 328. 366, 341, 3 Indubitatamente non si osservarà interamente, havendomi in questo modo, punto che tomo dall' audienza promesso il Rè, imponendomi di darne conto in suo nome a N ostro Signore, di volere in breve tempo liberare il Regno dalli Ugonotti. . ., Mi ba parlato della dispensa, escusandosi non haver fatto il Parentado per ultro, che per liberarsi da suoi in;mici (Salviati, Desp, Sept. 3, Sept. 2, Oct. II, 1572). 4 Si vede che l' editto non essendo osservato ne da popoli, ne dal principe, non è per pigliar piede (Salviati, Desp, Sept, 4), Qual Regina in progresso di tempo intende pur non solo di revocare tal editto, ma per mezzo della giustitia di restituir la fede cattolica nell' antica osservanza, parendogli che nessuno ne debba dubitare adesso, cbe hanno fatto morire l' ammiraglio con tanti altri huomini di valore, con- forme ai raggionamenti altre volte havuti con esso meco essendo aBles, et trattando del parentado di Navarra, et dell' altre cose che correvano in quei tempi, il che essendo vera, ne posso rendere testimonianza, e a N ostro Signore e a tutto i1 mondo (Aug, 27; Theiner, i, 3 2 9, 330),