Neither England nor Germany sent them any help.

[Sidenote: Battle of Mons, July 17, 1572] Their policy of supporting the revolt of the Low Countries against Spain turned out disastrously for themselves when the French under Coligny were defeated at Mons by the troops of Philip.
The Catholics now believed the time ripe for a decisive blow.

Under the stimulus of the Jesuits they {217} had for a short time been conducting an offensive and effective propaganda.

Leagues were formed to combat the organizations of the Huguenots, armed "Brotherhoods of the Holy Spirit" as they were called.

The chief obstacle in their path seemed to be a small group of powerful nobles headed by Coligny.
Catharine and the Guises resolved to cut away this obstacle with the assassin's knife.