ˈɪŋɡləndz ˈoʊld ˈɛnəmi,  fɹˈæns, wʌz ɪnðə mˈɪdst ʌv ɪts ɹᵻlˈɪdʒəs wˈɔːɹz, wˌɪtʃ sˈɔː ðə sənt. bɑːɹθˈɑːləmjˌuːz dˈeɪ mˈæsəkɚɹ ɪnðə jˈɪɹ ɪnwˌɪtʃ wˈɪljəm wʌz bˈɔːɹn.
England's old enemy,  France, was in the midst of its Religious Wars, which saw the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in the year in which William was born.