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From Rise of Protestantism in France to Publication of the Institutes - James Aitken Wylie

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The k<strong>in</strong>g was so agitated that he was unable <strong>to</strong><br />

proceed; he burst <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> tears. The assembly wept<br />

with him. The Bishop <strong>of</strong> Paris and <strong>the</strong> provost <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> merchants now approached <strong>the</strong> monarch, and<br />

kneel<strong>in</strong>g before him swore, <strong>the</strong> first <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> name <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> clergy, and <strong>the</strong> second <strong>in</strong> that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> citizens, <strong>to</strong><br />

make war aga<strong>in</strong>st heresy. "Thereupon all <strong>the</strong><br />

specta<strong>to</strong>rs exclaimed, with voices broken by<br />

sobb<strong>in</strong>g, 'We will live and die for <strong>the</strong> Catholic<br />

religion!'"[10]<br />

Hav<strong>in</strong>g sworn this oath <strong>in</strong> Notre Dame -- <strong>the</strong><br />

ro<strong>of</strong> under which, nearly three centuries after, <strong>the</strong><br />

Goddess <strong>of</strong> Reason sat enthroned -- <strong>the</strong> assembly<br />

reformed and set forth <strong>to</strong> beg<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> war that very<br />

hour. Their zeal for <strong>the</strong> "faith" was <strong>in</strong>flamed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

utmost; but <strong>the</strong>y were all <strong>the</strong> better prepared <strong>to</strong><br />

witness <strong>the</strong> dreadful sights that awaited <strong>the</strong>m. A<br />

terrible programme had been sketched out; horrors<br />

were <strong>to</strong> mark every step <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> way back <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Louvre, but Francis and his courtiers were <strong>to</strong> gaze<br />

with pitiless eye and heart on <strong>the</strong>se horrors.<br />

The procession <strong>in</strong> return<strong>in</strong>g made a circuit by<br />

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