fray in January, 1565. Both quarrels were settled
amicably in the king's presence, with as much sincerity as generally
characterizes such reconciliations. Coligny declared on oath, in the royal
presence, that he was guiltless of Guise's murder, neither having been its
author nor having consented to it; whereupon the king declared him
innocent, and ordered the parties to be reconciled. The command was
obeyed, for Anne d'Este, Guise's widow, and Cardinal Charles of Lorraine
in turn embraced the admiral, in token of renewed friendship. How much of
meaning these caresses contained was to be shown six years later by the
active participation of the one in the most famous massacre which the
annals of modern history present, and by the exultant rejoicings in which
the other indulged when he heard of it. Young Henry of Guise, less
hypocritical than his mother and his uncle, held aloof from the
demonstration, and permitted the beholders to infer that he was quietly
biding his time for vengeance.[403]

[Sidenote: The chancellor introduces a measure for the relief of the
Protestants.]

[Sidenote: A new altercation between Lorraine and the chancellor.]

An event of principal importance that occurred during the stay of the
court at Moulins was a fresh altercation between Lorraine and L'Hospital.
A tolerant but apparently unauthorized act of the chancellor furnished the
occasion. The Edict of Pacification had made provision for the worship of
the Huguenots in but a small number of places through the kingdom. If
living out of reach of these more favored localities, what were they to
do, that they might not be compelled to exist without the restraints of
religion during their lifetime, and to die without its consolations, nor
leave their children unbaptized and uninstructed in the articles of their
faith? L'Hospital proposed to remedy the evil by permitting the
Protestants, in such cases, to institute a species of private worship in
their houses, and had procured the royal signature to an edict permitting
them to call in, as occasion might require, ministers of the Gospel from
other cities where their regular ministrations were tolerated by the law
of Amboise.[404] This edict he had sent forthwith to the different
parliaments for registration. The Parliament of Dijon, in Burgundy,
however, instead of obeying, promptly despatched two counsellors with a
remonstrance to the king.[405] On arriving at court, the delegation at
first found i