1563.] THE ENGLISH AT HA VRE. 49 Chatilloii never wholly convinced the world of his inno- cence, for Poltrot himself accused him while the horses were tearing him in pieces. However it was, that single I shot shattered the Catholic confederacy and changed the politics of Europe. The Guise family fell with theii head into sudden ruin. The Due d'Aumale, badly wounded at Dreux, lived but to hear of his brother's murder, and followed him in a few hours. The Grand Prior died of a cold caught in the same battle. 1 Of the six brothers, who but a few months before held in their hands the fortunes of France, three were dead ; of the three remaining the Marquis d'Elbreuf was shut up in Caen Castle, closely besieged by Chatillon ; the Cardinal of Lorraine was absent at Trent ; and the Cardinal of Guise was the single member of the family who had no capacity. The other great leaders of France had disappeared with equal suddenness : Montmorency was a prisoner in Orleans, Conde a prisoner in Paris ; St Andre was dead, Navarre was dead; Catherine found herself relieved of rivalry and able to govern as she pleased. The Queenof_Scots had no longera friend in France who cared to stand by her ; and well indeed after this blow might she lament to Randolph the misery of life, and say with tears ' she perceived now the world was not that which men would make it, nor they the happiest that lived the longest in it.' 2 Mary Stuart's prospects in England had been on the eve of arrangement, when Elizabeth, relieved of the 1 VABILLAS. 2 Randolph to Cecil, April i : Scotch MSS. Rolls House. VOL. VII. 4
