lf of his
two rivals, of the Duke of Guise by assassination, and of the
states-general by packing them off home. He did not know how intimately
the two great questions of which the sixteenth century was the great
cradle, the question of religious liberty and that of political liberty,
were connected one with the other, and would be prosecuted jointly or
successively in the natural progress of Christian civilization, or
through what trials kings and people would have to pass before
succeeding in any effectual solution of them.

On the 18th of December, 1588, during an entertainment given by Catherine
de' Medici on the marriage of her niece, Christine de Lorraine, with
Ferdinand de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Henry III. summoned to his
cabinet three of his most intimate and safest confidants, Marshal
d'Aumont, Nicholas d'Angennes, Lord of Rambouillet, and Sieur de Beauvais
Nangis. After having laid before them all the Duke of Guise's intrigues
against him and the perils of the position in which they placed him,
"What ought I to do?" he said; "help me to save myself by some speedy
means." They asked the king to give them twenty-four hours to answer in.
Next day, the 19th, Sieur de Maintenon, brother of Rambouillet, and
Alphonso Corso d'Ornano Were added to the party; only one of them was of
opinion that the Duke of Guise should at once be arrested and put upon
his trial; the four others were for a shorter and a surer process, that
of putting the duke to death by a sudden blow. He is evidently making
war upon the king, they said; and the king has a right to defend himself.
Henry III., who had his mind made up, asked Crillon, commandant of the
regiment of guards, "Think you that the Duke of Guise deserves death?"
"Yes, sir." "Very well; then I choose you to give it him." "I am ready
to challenge him." "That is not what is wanted; as leader of the
League, he is guilty of high treason." "Very well, sir; then let him be
tried and executed." "But, Crillon, nothing is less certain than his
conviction in a court of law; he must be struck down unexpectedly."
"Sir, I am a soldier, not an assassin." The king did not persist, but
merely charged Crillon, who promised, to keep the proposal secret. At
this very time Guise was requesting the king to give him a constable's
grand provost and archers to form his guard in his quality of
lieutenant-general of the kingdom. The king deferred his reply.
Catherine de' Medici suppor