means of reestablishing the unity of
France."

The "Puritans of France" were persecuted under all these kings.
During the minority of Charles IX his mother, Catherine de' Medici,
was regent, and throughout his reign she dictated the King's policy.
Under this rule the persecutions continued with increasing violence.

From 1562 to 1570 France was torn with civil wars between Catholics
and Protestants. On the Protestant side the great leaders were the
Prince of Conde, Admiral Coligny, and later Henry of Navarre. Conde
was murdered in 1569. By the Peace of St. Germain (1570) the
Huguenots received some favorable concessions. The weak Charles IX,
now in fear of Philip II of Spain, was inclining to the Protestant
side. Seconded by Coligny, he planned alliances with all the enemies
of Philip in Europe. But Catherine overruled him. Charles and
Coligny, however, had their way in the marriage of the King's
sister, Margaret of Valois, to Henry of Navarre. Coligny now gained
a stronger influence over the young Charles. He was followed by a
large body of exulting Protestants to Paris, and the Catholic party,
headed by Catherine, the Duke of Anjou, and the Guises, became
greatly enraged.

Of the terrible massacre which followed, and in which the number
killed throughout France has been estimated at from twenty thousand
to one hundred thousand, Coligny was the first victim. One attempt
to assassinate him failed; he was only wounded; and the Queen-mother
then plied her weak son with argument and persuasion in order to
make him consent to the admiral's murder and to the massacre which
had been arranged, with profound secrecy, for August 24th. She told
him of a Huguenot plot, in which, at a signal from Coligny,
conspirators were to rise throughout the kingdom, overturn the
throne, take Charles himself prisoner, and destroy the Queen-mother
and the Catholic nobility. She showed him some proofs, "forged or
real," of his personal danger.

As a counter-view to the intensely bitter picture of Catherine
presented by most non-Catholic historians, and represented here by
White, the explanation of Charles IX himself, in the letter
furnished by D'Israeli, possesses a peculiar interest.

HENRY WHITE

The King sat moody and silent, biting his nails, as was his wont. He
woul