The bold knight-errant of Christendom, the champion to the utterance against Spain, stood there with lance in rest, and the King scarcely hesitated.
The League, gliding so long unheeded, now reared its crest in the very palace of France, and full in the monarch's face.

With a single shudder the victim fell into its coils.
The choice was made.

On the 18th of July (1585) the edict of Nemours was published, revoking all previous edicts by which religious peace had been secured.

Death and confiscation of property were now proclaimed as the penalty of practising any religious rites save those of the Roman Catholic Church.

Six months were allowed to the Nonconformists to put their affairs in order, after which they were to make public profession of the Catholic religion, with regular attendance upon its ceremonies, or else go into perpetual exile.