France. I am, as it were, beside myself when I think of it,
and cannot persuade myself that the king, your master, will
refuse us satisfaction" (Catharine to Forquevaulx, Moulins,
March 17th, Gaffarel, 427). Not content with this plain
talking to Alava, she "prayed and ordered" Forquevaulx to make
Philip himself understand her desires respecting "the
reparation demanded by _so enormous an outrage_." He was to
tell his Catholic Majesty that Catharine would never rest
content until due satisfaction was made; and that she would
feel "marvellous regret" should she not only find that all her
pains to establish perpetual friendship between the two kings
had been lost, but one day be reproached by Charles for having
suffered such a stain upon his reputation ("que ... j'aye
laisse faire une telle escorne a sa reputation." Gaffarel,
429).

Forquevaulx fulfilled his instructions to the very letter,
adding, on his own account, that in forty-one years of
military service he had never known so execrable an
execution. He seems also to have disposed effectually of the
Spanish claim to Florida through right of ancient discovery,
by emphasizing the circumstance that Menendez, after his
victory, thought it necessary to take formal possession of the
land. He informed Philip that no news could be more welcome to
the Huguenots than that the subjects of Charles had been
murdered by those very persons who were expected to strengthen
him by their friendship and alliance (Forquevaulx to
Catharine, April 9th, Gaffarel, 432). His words had little
effect upon any one at the Spanish court, save the young
queen, who felt the utmost solicitude lest her brother and her
husband should become involved in war with each other. ("Me
sembla qu'il tint a peu qu'elle ne pleurast son soul de
crainte qu'il ne survienne quelque alteration." Forquevaulx,
_ubi supra_, 430.)

But, although no progress was made toward obtaining justice,
the French government did not relax its efforts. Charles wrote
from Saint Maur, May 12, 1566, that his will was that
Forquevaulx should renew his complaint and insist with all
urgency upon a reparation of the wrong done him. "You will not
cease to tell them," said the king, "that they must not hope
that I shall ever be satisfied until