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Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I to Edict of Nantes - James Aitken Wylie

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people?" demanded the duke. "Sir," replied M.<br />

Morel, "I am no seducer, for I have preached <strong>to</strong><br />

them the Gospel <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ." "Go," said the<br />

duke <strong>to</strong> the provost, "and get ready a gibbet, and<br />

hang this rogue." These orders were not executed.<br />

The duke's soldiers were <strong>to</strong>o busy sabre<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

unarmed multitude, and collect<strong>in</strong>g the booty, <strong>to</strong><br />

hang the pas<strong>to</strong>r, and none <strong>of</strong> the <strong>to</strong>wn's-people had<br />

the heart <strong>to</strong> do so cruel a deed.[12]<br />

When the dreadful work was over, it was found<br />

that from sixty <strong>to</strong> eighty persons had been killed,<br />

and 250 wounded, many <strong>of</strong> them mortally. The<br />

streets were filled with the most piteous spectacles.<br />

Women were seen with dishevelled hair, and faces<br />

besmeared with blood from their stream<strong>in</strong>g<br />

wounds, dragg<strong>in</strong>g themselves along, and fill<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

air with their cries and lamentations. The soldiers<br />

signalized their triumph by pull<strong>in</strong>g down the pulpit,<br />

burn<strong>in</strong>g the Bibles and Psalters, plunder<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

poor's-box, spoil<strong>in</strong>g the killed <strong>of</strong> their raiment; and<br />

wreck<strong>in</strong>g the place. The large pulpit Bible was<br />

taken <strong>to</strong> the duke. He exam<strong>in</strong>ed the title-page, and<br />

his learn<strong>in</strong>g enabled him <strong>to</strong> make out that it had<br />

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