aced to the
eminent jurist Francis Hotman, attention was drawn to the original
constitution of the kingdom; and the writer showed by irrefragable proofs
that the regal dignity was not hereditary like a private possession, but
was a gift of the people, which they could as lawfully transfer from one
to another, as originally confer. The participation of women in the
administration of the government was declared to be abhorrent to the
ideas of the founders of the French monarchy.[1353] In another work
appearing not long after, the principle was enunciated that an unbounded
obedience is due to the Almighty alone, while obedience to human
magistrates is in its very nature subject to limitations and exceptions.
The supreme authority of kings and other high magistrates was explained to
be of such a nature "that if they violate the laws, to the observance of
which they have bound themselves by oath, and become manifest tyrants,
giving no room for better counsels, then it is lawful for the inferior
magistrates to make provision both for themselves and for those committed
to their charge, and oppose the tyrant."[1354] The circumstance is not
without significance that in a Huguenot work, published early in the
succeeding year, the guilty king who authorized the butchery of his
innocent subjects on St. Bartholomew's Day, is for the first time
distinctly designated as the "tyrant."[1355]

[Sidenote: Treacherous attempt on La Rochelle.]

The lesson that no trust could be reposed in Charles and his court was one
which the world had learned pretty thoroughly before this; and the events
at La Rochelle during the month of December, 1573, were well calculated to
prevent it from being forgotten. The definite peace, made five months
before, guaranteed the safety of the Protestants, and secured to them the
free exercise of their religious rights. None the less was a project set
on foot to introduce a royal garrison into the city by treachery. M. de
Biron and other captains had been unable to conceal their disgust at the
abandonment of the siege of La Rochelle, when, as they pretended, it must
very shortly have fallen into the king's hands, and Biron had been soundly
berated by Anjou for his pains. He had not, however, given up the notion
of making himself master of the Huguenot stronghold, and there were others
in the royal army intent upon the same end. A scheme to smuggle soldiers
through the gates, in wagons covered with branches of trees