complete demonstration
of the correctness of their suspicions, and at once took measures for
protecting their city against surprise or open assault. Nor is it
altogether easy to ascertain how far their apprehensions were unfounded.
There were intelligent and well-informed contemporary writers, who felt no
doubt that Strozzi was waiting with sealed orders for the coming of the
fatal twenty-fourth of August. Two months before, they say, there had been
sent him by Catharine de' Medici a packet which he was strictly forbidden
to open until that day. It proved to be a letter of instruction couched in
these words: "Strozzi, I notify you that this day, the twenty-fourth of
August, the admiral and all the Huguenots who were with him here have been
slain. Consequently, take diligent measures to make yourself master of La
Rochelle, and do to the Huguenots who shall fall into your hands the same
that we have done to those who were here. Take good heed that you fail
not, insomuch as you fear to displease the king my son, and myself.
CATHARINE."[1261]

If, as I can but believe, this letter be spurious, none the less may it
serve to indicate how firmly the persuasion was fixed in the minds of the
Protestants that insidious designs were cherished against La Rochelle.

[Sidenote: Designs upon the city.]

It was not long before those designs began to develop. Strozzi, to whom
the inhabitants had sent a deputation, avowedly to obtain explanations
respecting the circumstances of the massacre, but in reality to discover
the plans of the government, graciously offered some companies of his
soldiers for their protection. But the Rochellois with equal politeness
declined to accept such help. Meanwhile, they set themselves vigorously at
work, and not only organized the inhabitants and refugees into companies
for military defence, but repaired and manned the fortifications, and
introduced a great abundance of provisions and munitions of war into the
city.[1262] A few days later, letters were received from Charles himself,
which, while endeavoring to calm the minds of the inhabitants respecting
recent occurrences, promised them full protection in their religious
rights, proclaimed the king's unaltered determination to maintain his
edict, and called upon them to receive with due submission M. de Biron,
whom he sent them to be their governor. No better choice could have been
made among the Roman Catholics; for Biron, it was currently reported, s