ious pacifications, which had been
so often made with the Hugonots, gave them reason to suspect the present
intentions of the court; and after all the other leaders of that party
were deceived into a dangerous credulity, the sagacious admiral still
remained doubtful and uncertain. But his suspicions were at last
overcome, partly by the profound dissimulation of Charles, partly by his
own earnest desire to end the miseries of France, and return again
to the performance of his duty towards his prince and country. He
considered, besides, that as the former violent conduct of the court had
ever met with such fatal success, it was not unlikely that a prince, who
had newly come to years of discretion, and appeared not to be rivetted
in any dangerous animosities or prejudices, would be induced to govern
himself by more moderate maxims. And as Charles was young, was of a
passionate, hasty temper, and addicted to pleasure,[*] such deep
perfidy seemed either remote from his character, or difficult and
almost impossible to be so uniformly supported by him. Moved by these
considerations, the admiral, the queen of Navarre, and all the Hugonots,
began to repose themselves in full security, and gave credit to the
treacherous caresses and professions of the French court. Elizabeth
herself, notwithstanding her great experience and penetration,
entertained not the least distrust of Charles's sincerity; and being
pleased to find her enemies of the house of Guise removed from all
authority, and to observe an animosity every day growing between the
French and Spanish monarchs, she concluded a defensive league with the
former,[**] and regarded this alliance as an invincible barrier to her
throne. Walsingham, her ambassador, sent her over, by every courier, the
most satisfactory accounts of the honor, and plain dealing, and fidelity
of that perfidious prince.

* Digges, p. 8, 39.

** Camden, p. 443.

The better to blind the jealous Hugonots, and draw their leaders into
the snare prepared for them, Charles offered his sister, Margaret,
in marriage to the prince of Navarre; and the admiral, with all the
considerable nobility of the party, had come to Paris, in order to
assist at the celebration of these nuptials, which, it was hoped, would
finally, if not compose the differences, at least appease the bloody
animosity of the two religions. The queen of Navarre was poisoned
by orders from the court; the admiral was dangerously wounde