their own interest, nor their own glory alone, but war in
behalf of that Almighty God who stands ready to crown His soldiers
contending for Him and His glory, not with a corruptible crown, but with
one that is eternal and fadeth not away."[1235]

[Sidenote: He repeatedly counsels exterminating the Huguenots.]

With this express indorsement of Alva's merciless cruelty before us, it is
not difficult to understand what Pius demanded of Charles of France. Early
in 1569, while sending the Duke of Sforza with auxiliaries, he wrote to
the king: "When God shall by His kindness have given to you and to us, as
we hope, the victory, it will be your duty to punish the heretics and
their leaders with all severity, and thus justly to avenge not only your
own wrongs, but those of Almighty God: in order that, by your execution of
the righteous judgment of God, they may pay the penalty which they have
deserved by their crimes."[1236] After the battle of Jarnac and Conde's
death, we have seen that Pius wrote promptly, bidding Charles "pursue and
destroy the remnants of the enemy, and wholly tear up not only the roots
of an evil so great and which had gathered to itself such strength, but
even the very fibres of the roots." He begged him not to spare those who
had not spared God nor their king.[1237] To Catharine and to the Duke of
Anjou, to the Cardinal of Bourbon, and to the Cardinal of Lorraine, the
same language was addressed. Again and again the Pope held up the example
of Saul, who disregarded the commands of the Lord through Samuel and
spared the Amalekites, as a solemn warning against disobedience. To the
queen mother he said: "Under no circumstances and from no considerations
ought the enemies of God to be spared.[1238] If your Majesty shall
continue, as heretofore, to seek with right purpose of mind and a simple
heart the honor of Almighty God, and shall assail the foes of the Catholic
religion openly and freely even to extermination,[1239] be well assured
that the Divine assistance will never fail, and that still greater
victories will be prepared by God for you and for the king your son,
until, _when all shall have been destroyed_, the pristine worship of the
Catholic religion shall be restored to that most illustrious realm."[1240]
The Duke of Anjou was urged to incite his brother to punish the rebels
with great severity, and to be inexorable in refusing the prayers of all
who would intercede for them.[1241] Charles was given