[1425] For a description of Blaye see Rel. vén., I, 22, 23.
[1426] For a description of Brouage see Rel. vén., I, 27.
[1427] The sources are unanimous on this point, both Protestant and Catholic (La Noue, Disc. polit. et milit., chap. xxix; La Popelinière, Book XXII; Montluc, Comment., III, 395; Brantôme, ed. Lalanne, IV, 322; Hist. du Lang., V, 527-29, note; Delaborde, III, 189). The outrages of the reiters were so great that a special order of the day was required to govern their conduct (see K. 1,575, No. 17).
[1428] During the nine months which elapsed between the battle of Moncontour and the peace of St. Germain, the Huguenot army marched over 300 leagues.
[1429] La Popelinière, Book XXII; La Noue, chap. xxix; Revue hist., II, 542, 543.
[1430] La Noue’s observation on this point is curious; cf. Delaborde, III, 205.
[1431] Cf. Elizabeth’s declarations of neutrality to Norris, (C. S. P., For., No. 704, February 23, 1570). Across the Channel the cardinal of Châtillon did all he could to secure the support of the English queen for the Huguenots (ibid., No. 742, the cardinal to Cecil, March 9, 1570; cf. Delaborde, Coligny, III, 185); La Ferrière, Le XVIe siècle et les Valois, 254-56; and a letter of the cardinal to the prince of Orange, April 23, 1570, (Arch. de la maison d’Orange-Nassau, III, 373-77). But it was not from England direct, but from Germany, under the stimulus of English gold, that France looked for assistance to come to the Huguenots (C. S. P. Ven., No. 476, February 26, 1570).
[1432] See Appendix XXIV.
[1433] State Papers, Foreign, Elizabeth, Vol. CXII, No. 693 j, the cardinal of Lorraine to——. May 4, 1570, see Appendix XXV.
[1434] Coll. des autographes de M. Picton, No. 67. Order signed by the cardinals of Lorraine, Bourbon, and Pellevé, June 24, 1570, for the alienation of 50,000 écus de rente of the property of the church.