text: ] We would fain ask these practical people--for such is the eminently inappropriate metaphor by which they rejoice to be distinguished--we would fain ask them (if it be consistent with their profound respect for practice to pay some attention to experience) to cast their eyes upon the proceedings and manners of the French court (wild and chimerical as such an appeal will no doubt appear to them) during the dominion of Catharine of Medicis and her offspring those execrable deceivers corrupters and executioners of their people