England would never
have forgiven for indifference in this cause. Marshal de Biron, who was
known to favor the Reformers, was appointed governor of La Rochelle; but
he could not succeed in gaining admittance within the walls, even alone
and for the purpose of parleying with the inhabitants. The king heard
that one of the bravest Protestant chiefs, La Noue _Ironarm,_ had retired
to Mons with Prince Louis of Nassau. The Duke of Longueville, his old
enemy, induced him to go to Paris. The king received him with great
favor, gave up to him the property of Teligny, whose sister La Noue had
married, and pressed him to go to La Rochelle and prevail upon the
inhabitants to keep the peace. La Noue refused, saying that he was not
at all fitted for this commission. The king promised that he would ask
nothing of him which could wound his honor. La Noue at last consented,
and repaired, about the end of November, 1572, to a village close by La
Rochelle, whither it was arranged that deputies from the town would come
and confer with him. And they came, in fact, but at their first meeting,
"We are come," they said, "to confer with M. de La Noue, but we do not
see him here." La Noue got angry. "I am astonished," he said, "that you
have so soon forgotten one who has received so many wounds and lost an
arm fighting for you." "Yes, there is a M. de La Noue, who was one of
us, and who bravely defended our cause; but he never flattered us with
vain hopes, he never invited us to conferences to betray us." La Noue
got more fiercely angry. "All I ask of you is, to report to the senate
what I have to say to them." They complied, and came back with
permission for him to enter the town. The people looked at him, as he
passed, with a mixture of distrust and interest. After hearing him, the
senate rejected the pacific overtures made to them by La Noue. "We have
no mind to treat specially and for ourselves alone; our cause is that of
God and of all the churches of France; we will accept nothing but what
shall seem proper to all our brethren. For yourself, we give you your
choice between three propositions: remain in our town as a simple
burgess, and we will give you quarters; if you like better to be our
commandant, all the nobility and the people will gladly have you for
their head, and will fight with confidence under your orders; if neither
of these propositions suits you, you shall be welcome to go aboard one of
our vessels and cros