overned by his consort, who knew no law but the pleasure of her uncles,
men despaired of ever obtaining freedom from the dominion of that
aspiring family. It was the contests of religion which first inspired
the French with courage openly to oppose their unlimited authority.

The theological disputes, first started in the north of Germany, next
in Switzerland, countries at that time wholly illiterate, had long
ago penetrated into France; and as they were assisted by the general
discontent against the court and church of Rome, and by the zealous
spirit of the age, the proselytes to the new religion were secretly
increasing in every province. Henry II., in imitation of his father,
Francis, had opposed the progress of the reformers; and though a prince
addicted to pleasure and society, he was transported by a vehemence,
as well as bigotry, which had little place in the conduct of his
predecessor. Rigorous punishments had been inflicted on the most eminent
of the Protestant party; and a point of honor seemed to have arisen,
whether the one sect could exercise, or the other suffer, most
barbarity. The death of Henry put some stop to the persecutions; and the
people, who had admired the constancy of the new preachers, now heard
with favor their doctrines and arguments. But the cardinal of Lorraine,
as well as his brothers, who were possessed of the legal authority,
thought it their interest to support the established religion; and when
they revived the execution of the penal statutes, they necessarily drove
the malecontent princes and nobles to embrace the protection of the new
religion. The king of Navarre, a man of mild dispositions, but of a weak
character, and the prince of Conde, who possessed many great qualities,
having declared themselves in favor of the Protestants, that sect
acquired new force from their countenance; and the admiral, Coligny,
with his brother Andelot, no longer scrupled to make open profession of
their communion. The integrity of the admiral, who was believed sincere
in his attachment to the new doctrine, and his great reputation both
for valor and conduct, for the arts of peace as well as of war
brought credit to the reformers; and after a frustrated attempt of the
malecontents to seize the king's person at Amboise of which Elizabeth
had probably some intelligence,[*] every place was full of distraction,
and matters hastened to an open rupture between the parties. But the
house of Guise, though thes