s the fruit of his labors. I say another's fault,
for, since a desire was felt for this kingdom, the execution which has
been made might and ought to have been deferred."[1206] Again and again
Montluc begged that there might be no repetition of such cruelties,
suggesting that an edict, guaranteeing that no one's conscience should be
constrained, might be made or fabricated. If the king had no intention of
carrying it into effect, he could at least send it to the governors, with
private orders to make such disposition of it as he pleased.[1207] But,
above all, there must be no fresh outrages done to the Protestants. "If
between this and the day of the election there were to come the news of
some cruelty," he wrote in midwinter, "we could do nothing, even had we
here ten millions in gold with which to gain men over. The king and the
Duke of Anjou will have to consider whether a purpose of revenge is of
more moment to them, than the acquisition of a kingdom."[1208]

[Sidenote: Sympathy of the Genevese.]

The ministers of Geneva, somewhat removed from the mists that prevented
the greater part of the Huguenot leaders from descrying the perils
environing them, had long foreseen the coming catastrophe, and had in vain
implored Admiral Coligny, in particular, to have a greater care for his
safety. "How often have I predicted it to him! How often have I warned
him!" exclaimed Theodore Beza, in the first paroxysm of grief at the
assassination of his noble friend.[1209] The city government,
participating in the same apprehensions, early in the fatal month of
August, 1572, instructed some of the reformed ministers who had occasion
to revisit their native land on private business, to hasten out of a
country where they were exposed to the treachery of a Florentine
woman.[1210] Their solicitude was only too well grounded. On Saturday, the
thirtieth of August, some merchants arrived in Geneva from Lyons, with the
appalling intelligence that their Protestant countrymen were everywhere
the victims of unparalleled cruelty. From the inn they went on without
delay to the city hall, and narrated to the magistrates the revolting
atrocities of which they had been eye-witnesses. They besought the city to
prepare hospitable shelter and food for the throng of refugees who would
soon make their appearance, having scarce escaped the bloody snares in
which their brethren in great numbers had lost their lives.[1211] "The
frightful news," writes the h