When any man has endeavoured to deserve distinction, he will be surprised to hear himself censured where he could not expect to have been named; he will find the utmost acrimony of malice among those whom he never could have offended.

The latter opinion prevailed; and the battle of Moncontour was fought with extreme acrimony, especially on the part of the Catholics, who were irritated by the cruelties, as La Noue himself says, which the Protestants had but lately practised at the fight of La Roche l'Abeille.

"Catherine!" expostulated the girl's mother, and Oldfield noticed the sharp acrimony of voice and gesture.

Secondly, the virulence of national prejudice which rages now with tenfold acrimony.