own carriage both

The absence of the figurehead Alen?on in England at such a time would have been unfavourable to the Huguenot cause, unless he had gone thither under Huguenot auspices, and was with her, he would sanction everything at oncehe answered. ready to sail from there at any moment to lead the great revolt. Catharine had taken him and Navarre to St. Germain with her, and it had been arranged that the general movement was to be preceded by the forcible rescue of the princes by a body of chosen horsemen under an officer named Guitry. But the intention was betrayed in time to frustrate it, panic seized the courtiers, La Mole, Alen?on’s chosen friend, lost his head, and told the whole story to Navarre’s wife Margaret, who divulged it to her mother. Flight to Catholic Paris was the only course for Catharine and the sick King, and thither they fled during the night, the Queen-mother taking with her in her  Alen?on and Navarre.88 Both the princes were kept prisoners for the next month or so, but the faithful La Mole and the Count de Coconas were busy the while planning their escape. Elizabeth had given a safe conduct, all was ready and the horses waiting on the178 18th of April, but Catharine was on the alert and once more stopped the princes. La Mole and Coconas were seized with an Italian magician, and charged, amongst other things, with causing the illness of the King by witchcraft. Young La Mole was subjected to the most inhuman torture, his legs crushed by the boot, his flesh seared with fire, but the poor lad could only cry out in pity for himself, and declare that he had plotted nothing but his master’s flight. Coconas and others, who were probably deeper in the secret intentions of the Huguenots, made more incriminating admissions,89 and Catharine grasped the nettle firmly.