us coincidence that Sancerre
capitulated the very day the Polish ambassadors made their appearance.

[Sidenote: Reception of the Polish ambassadors.]

We shall not dwell upon the pomp attending their reception. The banquet
held in the new palace of the Tuileries was brilliant. In the pageant
succeeding it was displayed a massive rock of silver, with sixteen nymphs
in as many niches, personating the provinces of the French kingdom. When,
after some verses well sung but indifferently composed, these nymphs
descended from their elevation, and took part in an intricate maze of
dance, the Polish spectators remarked, in the excess of their admiration,
that the French ballet was something that could be imitated by none of the
kings of the earth. "I would rather," dryly adds a contemporary historian,
"that they had said as much respecting our _armies_."[1314]

[Sidenote: Discontent of the south with the terms of peace.]

The Protestants of Southern France had been included in the Edict of
Pacification. In fact, Nismes and Montauban were as distinctly referred to
by name as La Rochelle.[1315] But the terms of peace were not to the taste
of the enterprising and self-reliant Huguenots of Languedoc and Guyenne.
They had learned, during the last ten years, to distrust all assurances
emanating from the court, even when claiming the authority of the king's
name. Experience had taught them that previous edicts were framed simply
to secure the destruction of those whom open warfare had failed to
destroy.[1316] Without, therefore, either definitely accepting or
rejecting the terms offered them, the Protestants of Nismes applied to
Marshal Damville, who, at the conclusion of the peace, found himself with
the royal troops at the hamlet of Milhaud, a league or two from their
gates,[1317] for a fortnight's suspension of hostilities. The request
being granted, a truce was established which was extended by successive
prolongations beyond the beginning of the next year.[1318]

[Sidenote: Assembly of Milhau and Montauban.]

Meantime the Protestants, notified by the Duke of Anjou of the conclusion
of the peace, sent messengers to his camp requesting that as the matter
was one vitally affecting the entire Protestant population, they might
receive permission to meet, under protection of the royal authority, and
deliberate respecting it. The king's consent having been obtained,
Protestant deputies from almost all parts of the kingdom came togeth