Charles with arguments.]

"As soon as we had entered the room in which the king my brother was, my
mother began to represent to him that the party of the Huguenots was
arming against him on account of the wounding of the admiral, the latter
having sent several despatches to Germany to make a levy of ten thousand
horse, and to the cantons of Switzerland for another levy of ten thousand
foot; that most of the French captains belonging to the Huguenot party had
already left in order to raise troops within the kingdom; and that the
time and place of assembling had been fixed upon. Let so powerful an army
as this once be joined to their French troops--a thing which was only too
practicable--and the king's forces would not be half sufficient to resist
them, in view of the intrigues and leagues they had, inside and outside of
the kingdom, with many cities, communities, and nations. Of this she had
good and certain advices. Their allies were to revolt in conjunction with
the Huguenots under pretext of the public good; and for him (Charles),
being weak in pecuniary resources, she saw no place of security in France.
And, indeed, there was besides a new consequence of which she wished to
warn him. It was that all the Catholics, wearied by so long a war, and
vexed by so many sorts of calamities, were determined to put an end to
them. In case he refused to follow their counsel, they also had determined
among themselves to elect a captain-general to undertake their protection,
and to form a league offensive and defensive against the Huguenots. Thus
he would remain alone, enveloped in great danger, and without power or
authority. All France would be seen armed by two great parties, over which
he would have no command, and from which he could exact just as little
obedience. But, to ward off so great a danger, a peril impending over him
and his entire state, so much ruin, and so many calamities which were in
preparation and just at hand, and the murder of so many thousands of
men--to avert all these misfortunes, a single thrust of the sword would
suffice--the admiral, the head and author of all the civil wars, alone
need be put to death. The designs and enterprises of the Huguenots would
perish with him; and the Catholics, satisfied with the sacrifice of two or
three men, would remain obedient to him (the king)."

Such arguments, and many more of a similar character, does Henry tell us
that he and his wily mother addressed to the unhappy