w resource; but
their imprudence in straying beyond the range of the guns was rewarded
with insolent outrage on the part of such of the enemy as were in the
vicinity. Even this circumstance the Huguenots knew how to turn to
advantage. Disguising themselves in feminine attire, a troop of Huguenot
soldiers, a day or two later, issued from the city when the tide was out,
apparently bent on the same errand. It was not long before the royalists
undertook to repeat a diversion which seemed to offer little danger to
them. Scarcely, however, had they approached when the clumsy costume was
hastily thrown aside, and the assailants discovered too late the trap into
which they had fallen. Many a hot-headed soldier of Anjou atoned for his
temerity with his life.[1287]

[Sidenote: La Noue retires. Failure of diplomacy.]

The ordinary wiles of Catharine were not left untried; but she effected
little or nothing by negotiation. The people were not so easily cajoled
and duped as their leaders had often been, and would accept no terms
except such as the court utterly refused to offer--the restoration of the
privileges conferred by the edict, its confirmation by oath, and the
interchange of hostages, to be kept in some neutral state in Germany, with
entire liberty of worship and exemption from royal garrison in and around
La Rochelle, Montauban, Nismes, and Sancerre.[1288] Even Francois de la
Noue became impatient at the excessive caution which the Huguenots seemed
to him to display, and, redeeming the promise he had given the king before
he took command, retired from the city (on the eleventh of March) when all
hope of reconciliation had apparently disappeared. With wonderful prudence
he had managed to forfeit the confidence of neither party. Yet on some
occasions, it must be admitted, his self-control was sorely tried. For
example, at one time a minister--not long after deposed from the sacred
office--so far forgot himself in the heat of angry discussion as to give
La Noue a sound box upon the ear. Even then the great captain refused to
order the offender's punishment, and confined himself to sending him,
under guard, to his wife, with directions to keep him carefully until he
should recover his reason.[1289]

[Sidenote: English aid miscarries.]

The assistance which La Rochelle had counted upon receiving from England
never came. Count Montgomery was a skilful negotiator. If he was unable to
prevail upon Elizabeth to give open counten