"to run into the foot of the Parisians." But
Catherine de' Medici had quietly entered once more into negotiations with
some of the Protestant chiefs, even with Conde himself. Charles IX.
published an edict in which he distinguished between heretics and rebels,
and assured of his protection all Huguenots who should lay down arms.
Chartres seemed to be on the point of capitulating, when news came that
peace had just been signed at Longjumeau, on the 23d of March. The king
put again in force the edict of Amboise of 1563, suppressing all the
restrictions which had been tacked on to it successively. The Prince of
Conde and his adherents were reinstated in all their possessions,
offices, and honors; and Conde was "held and reputed good relative,
faithful subject, and servant of the king." The Reformers had to
disband, restore the new places they had occupied, and send away their
German allies, to whom the king undertook to advance the hundred thousand
gold crowns which were due to them. He further promised, by a secret
article, that he too would at a later date dismiss his foreign troops and
a portion of the French.

This news caused very various impressions amongst the Protestant camp and
people. The majority of the men of family engaged in the war, who most
frequently had to bear the expense of it, desired peace. The personal
advantages accruing to Conde himself--made it very acceptable to him.
But the ardent Reformers, with Coligny at their head, complained bitterly
of others being lured away by fine words and exceptional favors, and not
prosecuting the war when, to maintain it, there was so good an army and
the chances were so favorable. A serious dispute took place between the
pacific negotiators and the malcontents. Chancellor de l'Hospital wrote,
in favor of peace, a discourse on the pacific settlement of the troubles
of the year 1567, containing the necessary causes and reasons of the
treaty, together with the means of reconciling the two parties to one
another, and keeping them in perpetual concord; composed by a high
personage, true subject, and faithful servant of the French crown. But,
if the chancellor's reasons were sound, the hopes he hung upon them were
extravagant; the parties were at that pitch of passion at which reasoning
is in vain against impressions, and promises are powerless against
suspicions. Concluded "through the vehemence of the desire to get home
again," as La Noue says, the peace of