The second quotation is from Comber’s “History of the Parisian Massacre,” p. 207:—
“The escape of a large body of Huguenot nobility from the toils spread around them on this day of St. Bartholomew [1572] is so remarkable as to appear plainly to the attentive and judicious observer a providential event. This body, by the advice of the Vidame of Chartres, would not lodge near the Admiral’s quarters, which they suspected to be dangerous, but preferred as much safer the suburbs of St. Germain. However, although they retired to this quarter, expressly out of just diffidence of Charles and his perfidious Court, and from a dread of their treachery and cruelty, yet as soon as ever the confused noise of the massacre in the city arose, they seemed from that moment utterly infatuated and quite unable to guess at its cause. Nay, even when the Viscount Montgomery communicated the news which he had received concerning this tumult to the Vidame of Chartres, and a council of all the nobles was hereupon convened, yet, contrary to all probability, and even to common sense, the result of their consultation was, that this insurrection of the Guisian party was not only without, but even against, the King’s will, and that it would be a becoming act of loyalty to sally forth in a body and assist their sovereign in defence of his just authority. How little did Charles deserve these generous resolves! Maurignon, who was appointed to butcher these nobles, was now, in consequence of his orders, in the suburbs, and waiting impatiently for succours which Marcel was ordered to send him from the city. And during some hours their execution was (humanly speaking) very easy, nay, almost inevitable. But lo! the providence of God, which, having suffered these nobles to advance to the very brink of ruin, now snatched them thence by an Almighty hand in a manner, as it were, visible to the eyes of men. Marcel was dilatory in carrying his part of the orders into execution; the designed assassins dispersed to plunder; Maurignon was impatient for the arrival of his associates; at length the Duke of Guise resolved to head a body of the guards, and himself to perform the horrid butchery. He advanced to the gate of the suburbs; behold, strange mistake! — wrong keys were brought; the right keys were to be sought for; much time was lost; the morning appeared, and discovered to the too loyal Huguenot nobility a detachment of guards crossing the river in boats, the Duke of Guise himself being at their head; and they heard a firing from the windows of the palace, which was now understood to be, by royal command, against the Huguenots — for, as Guise was commanding the guards, they must be supposed to be acting against his adversaries. These nobles, struck dumb with astonishment, soon recovered the use of their faculties so far as to resolve on instant flight as their only security, and they exerted themselves so effectually as to escape the Duke of Guise’s pursuit, sailed to England, and raised their swords in many a future day of fair battle, and obtained victories against a perfidious tyrant who, by firing on his unarmed innocent subjects, in the hour of peace and of generous confidence in his solemn oaths, had forfeited all the rights of sovereignty and even of common humanity.”
It appears from the Vidame’s own statement that the Duke of Guise actually entered his house before he could escape, but that he concealed himself, and at length secretly got access to the King, who gave him a safe conduct. Instead of being again duped, and going home to be murdered, as the King intended, he used the royal autograph as a passport to the coast of France, and sailed to England, where he landed on the 7th September. He wrote a Latin letter to Lord Burghley (Strype’s Parker, Appendix No. 70), of which the following is a translation:—
