r known better how to assume. She gave particular expression to the
regret she felt in hearing such tidings from a prince in whom she had had
more confidence than in any other living monarch. And when the ambassador
had stammered out the lying excuse based upon "the horrible ingratitude
and perverse intentions of the Huguenots" against his master, and had
tragically recounted the sorrow of Charles at being constrained to cut off
an arm to save the rest of the body, she replied that she hoped that if
the informations against the admiral and his were confirmed by
investigation, the king "might be excused in some part, both toward God
and the world, in permitting the admiral's enemies by force to prevent his
enterprises." But she would not admit that even then the cruelty of the
mode of punishment was capable of defence, most of all in the case of
Coligny, who, "being in his bed, lamed both on the right hand and left
arm, lying in danger under the care of chyrurgions, being also guarded
about his private house with a number of the king's guard, might have
been, by a word of the king's mouth, brought to any place to have answered
when and how the king should have thought meet." But she preferred to
ascribe the fault, not to Charles, but to those around him whose age and
knowledge "ought in such case to have foreseen how offenders ought to be
justified with the sword of the prince, and not with the bloody swords of
murderers, being also the mortal enemies of the party murdered."[1187]

Elizabeth's council was even more outspoken. "Doubtless," said they, "the
most heinous act that has occurred in the world, since the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ, is that which has been recently committed by the French; an
act which the Italians and the Spaniards, ardent as they are, are far from
applauding in their heart, since it was a deed too full of blood, for the
greater part innocent, and too much suspected of fraud, which had violated
the pledged security of a great king, and disturbed the serenity of the
royal nuptials of his sister, insupportable to be heard by the ears of
princes, and abominable to all classes of subjects, perpetrated contrary
to all law, divine or human, and without a parallel among all acts ever
undertaken in the presence of any prince, and which has even rather
involved the King of France in danger than rescued him from it."[1188]

[Sidenote: The ambassador disheartened.]

The success of the French ambassador, the