they were so laboriously pursuing!

It scarcely needs be said that the petition received no attention from a
court not yet tired of war. Marshal Montmorency was compelled to reply to
Coligny, on the twentieth of July, that Charles refused to take notice of
anything emanating from the admiral or his associates until they should
submit and return to their duty. Coligny answered in a letter which closed
the negotiations; protesting that since his enemies would listen to no
terms of accommodation, he had, at least, the consolation of having done
all in his power to avert the approaching desolation of the kingdom, and
calling upon God and all the princes of Europe to bear witness to the
integrity of his purpose.[703]

[Sidenote: Coligny's plans overruled.]

[Sidenote: Disastrous siege of Poitiers.]

The Huguenots now took some advantage of the temporary weakness of the
enemy in the open field. On the one hand they reduced the city of
Chatellerault and the fortress of Lusignan, hitherto deemed
impregnable.[704] On the other, they despatched into Bearn the now famous
Count Montgomery, who, joining the "viscounts," was successful in wresting
the greater part of that district from the hands of Terrides, a skilful
captain sent by Anjou, and in restoring it to the Queen of Navarre.[705]
Respecting their plan of future operations a great diversity of opinion
prevailed among the Huguenot leaders. Admiral Coligny was strongly in
favor of pressing on to the north, and laying siege to Saumur. With this
place in his possession, as it was reasonable to suppose it soon might be,
he would enjoy a secure passage across the river Loire into Brittany,
Anjou, and more distant provinces, as he already had access by the bridge
of La Charite to Burgundy, Champagne, and the German frontier.
Unfortunately the majority of the generals regarded it as a matter of more
immediate importance to capture Poitiers, a rich and populous city, said
at that time to cover more ground than any other city in France, with the
single exception of Paris. They supposed that their recent successes at
Chatellerault and Lusignan, on either side of Poitiers, and the six pieces
of cannon they had taken at Lusignan would materially help them. Coligny
reluctantly yielded to their urgency, and the army which had appeared
before Poitiers on the twenty-fourth of July, 1569,[706] began the siege
three days later. It was a serious blunder. The Huguenots succeeded,
indeed, in