Resistance and rising of the Calvinists.—Confederation at Montauban. —Siege of Sancerre.—Siege of La Rochelle.—François Lanoue.—Edict of 1573.—Remonstrances of the Reformed—The party of the politicians or malcontents.—Death of Charles IX.—_Page 176-182._ XV. Journey and return of Henry III. to France.—Abject bigotry of this prince.—The consistorial Reformed and the nobility of the Calvinist party.—Fresh recourse to arms.—Peace.—States-General of Blois. —Edict of Poitiers.—_Page 182-187._ XVI. Intrigues of Catherine de Medicis.—The war of the lovers.—The League.—Vast Scheme of Philippe II.—Character of the Duke Henri de Guise.—Weakness of Henry III.—Anarchy of the kingdom.—Edict of Nemours.—Excommunication of the Bourbons by Sixtus Quintus. —_Page 187-195._ XVII. New war of religion.—Henry de Condé.—The king of Navarre.—Battle of Coutras.—Popularity of the Duke de Guise.—Second States-General of Blois.—Murder of the Duke de Guise.—Rising of the League. —Manifesto of the king of Navarre.—Alliance between the two princes. —Assassination of Henry III.—Manners of the court of the Valois. —_Page 195-202._ XVIII. Henry IV.—Difficulties of his position.—Desertion of the Catholic nobles.—Fidelity of the Calvinists.—Duplessis-Mornay.—His convictions, his talents, and activity.—The Baron de Rosny.—The battle of Ivry.—Edict of Nantes.—_Page 202-207._ XIX. The League.—How Henry IV. changed his religion.—The Abbé Duperron. —Gabrielle d’Estrées.—Character of the king.—Arguments of Sully. —Unshaken opposition of Mornay.—_Ruses_ of Henry IV.—Mock instruction.—Abjuration.—_Page 208-212._ XX. Capitulation of the Catholic lords.—The Calvinists sacrificed and irritated.—Absolution of Henry IV. by Clement VIII.—Complaints of the Reformed.—Their political assemblies.—Organization and object of these assemblies.—The massacre of La Châtaigneraie.—Renewed complaints.—Edict of Nantes.—Conclusion.—_Page 213-220._ BOOK THE THIRD. FROM THE PROMULGATION OF THE EDICT OF NANTES TO ITS REVOCATION. (1598-1685.) I. Abjuration of Henri de Condé.—Catherine de Navarre, sister of Henry IV. —Moderation of the political assemblies of the Reformed.—National synods.—The question of the Antichrist conference between Mornay and Duperron, at Fontainebleau.—Fraudulent proceedings.—The Reformed Church of Charenton.—Assassination of Henry IV.—_Page 221-230._ II. Fears of the Calvinists.—Declaration of the court.—Intrigues of the Duke de Bouillon and De Lesdiguières.—The Duke Henri de Rohan.—Wise conduct of Duplessis-Mornay.—Political assembly of Saumur.—Speech of the Duke de Rohan.—Divisions among the Reformed.—National synod of Privas.—Affair of Jérémie Ferrier.—_Page 230-236._ III.