accomplishing
its object; for neither Elizabeth nor Walsingham would think less of
Coligny for proving himself faithful to his own sovereign's interests.
Elizabeth's incredulity was, doubtless, enhanced by the hypocritical
pretence of Catharine that her son intended to maintain his edict of
pacification in full force.[1194] "The king's meaning is," the queen
mother once said to the English envoy, "that the Huguenots shall enjoy the
liberty of their conscience." "What, Madam," observed Walsingham, "and the
exercise of their religion too?" "No," Catharine replied, "my son will
have exercise but of one religion in his realm." "Then, how can it agree,
that the observation of the edict, whereof you willed me to advertise the
queen my mistress, that the same should continue in his former strength?"
interposed Walsingham. To that Catharine answered "that they had
discovered certain matters of late, that they saw it necessary to abolish
all exercise of the same." "Why, Madam," said the puzzled and somewhat
pertinacious diplomatist, "will you have them live without exercise of
religion?" "Even," quoth Catharine, who fancied that she had discovered a
pertinent retort, "even as your mistress suffereth the Catholics of
England." But the ambassador could not be so easily silenced. Parrying the
home thrust, and trenching on an uncourtly bluntness of speech, he quietly
called attention to a distinction which her Majesty had not perhaps
observed. "My mistress did never promise them anything by edict; if she
had, she would not fail to have performed it." After that, there was
plainly nothing more to be said, and Catharine resorted to the usual
refuge of worsted argument, and said: "The queen your mistress must direct
the government of her own country, and the king my son his own."[1195]

[Sidenote: Briquemault and Cavaignes hung for alleged conspiracy.]

Some victims were needed to be immolated upon the altar of justice to
atone for the alleged Huguenot conspiracy. They were found in Briquemault
and Cavaignes, two distinguished Protestants. The former, a knight of the
royal order, had, contrary to all rules of international law, been
forcibly taken from the house of the English ambassador, whither he had
fled for refuge.[1196] It was not difficult for the court to obtain what
was desired from the cowardly parliament over which Christopher de Thou
presided. Convicted by false testimony, and complaining that even their
own words were fals