"Who here does not know of that infamous St. Bartholomew's Day in Paris?" Already the Protestants and reformists are "hear hear!"-ing, while the conservatives begin to groan or let out theatrical laughs. Who said anything about killing anybody? one yells, mad Firlej's the one with the cannon! His side cheers him. The clerics sit statuesque, shaking their heads. They start leaning into each other's ears.
Press on. "Who here has not heard of its savagery, of the wanton bloodlust and ghoulish rapine, an affront to God and man alike, making Attila an almsman and Scipio a most merciful conqueror? Those who know of my life and doings will be aware that I myself was at my studies in Paris that black night."
Pause, let them hang. "And I will tell you all the truth, I swear to the Lord and place my honor upon it, too, of what I saw with my own two eyes and heard with my own two ears. For that nightmare was no mere dream."
From the back a voice shouts: What truth matters before an angry god?
In general, though, the elation of the pro-edict camp is louder than the antis' cries of consternation; you have staked your claim and announced your position and you are of no small importance. Like the tides, a wave of shushing follows the periods of reaction; they are truly listening.
You somehow raise your voice even louder to talk over them; you're getting winded and are trying desperately not to cough. "And those broadsheets tell very few lies, my lords!"
The Cardinal-Nuncio rises and shouts in Latin: "to speak in such poor faith, lord prince!" it's hard to hear him over your supporters shouting back at him. "I have spent time in England during their troubles and during the Empire's, too; You as a brother Catholic ought to know the souls on the line in matters as these, yet that a conversion can never be forced!" The dig is noted by all. "We speak not of war, but of correction, gradual and peaceful!"
Translations are shouted out for the less-fortunate gentlemen as the Cardinal's side cheers.
You, on the other hand, feel your back shiver and your jaw turn rusty as you stumble attempting to speak truly off-the-cuff. The anti's begin an attempt to laugh you out as your side cheers you on; the assembly field has grown the loudest it's been all day. You finally manage a retort, making sure to speak Polish. "Indeed, Your Eminence, we are of like minds on matters of faith. But– but the brother Catholics– the Catholics of the land of France, in their conceited frustration to bring the Huguenots back into the fold, threw out what you and I alike know of this!" you cry, to the expected reactions. "Turning to slaughter when they could not win their consciences through persuasion and holy grace." You turn to the Calvinist section and extend an arm as if Cicero. "Do you Protestants waver?"
No! They were nearly in unison there.
"And it does take but a week or two for a plague to spread; who truly can believe that all men possess the fortitude to watch a so-called heretic dance about them and propagate their creed?"
You try to cap it: "hence peace must be enforced by law!" You're a little shaken and know that the cardinal threw you off – nearly embarrassed you – but that you're most certainly still in the fray. The show must go on. Translations are muttered into the cardinal's ear. He shouts a reply of his own that you cannot hear, looking frustrated yet comfortable, and sits back down.
A shock through your neck and temples! You realize how off-topic they've gotten you!
"Furthermore, my lords!"
Do you turn your attention to…
[] The fact that nobles were specifically targeted.
[] The fact that the orchestrators were to be found, yet-unpunished, at the highest levels of power.
[] The scenes of brutality.
[] The preventability of the Huguenot Wars in general.
[] Write-in.
