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

now rose a bristling wall of hostile standards and
redoubts, the same beautiful order prevailed.
Besides the inhabitants, there were 12,000 choice
foot-soldiers from Conde's army, four squadrons of
horse, and 2,000 English in the place, with 100
gentlemen who had volunteered to perish in the
defense of the town.[6] The theatres were closed.
There needed no imaginary drama, when one so
real was passing before the inhabitants. The
churches were opened, and every day there was
sermon in them. In their houses the citizens
chanted their daily psalm, just as if battle had been
far distant from their gates. On the ramparts, the
inspired odes of Hebrew times were thundered
forth with a chorus of voices that rose loud above
the shouting of the captains, and the booming of
the cannon.
The enthusiasm for the defense pervaded all
ranks, and both sexes. The daughters and wives of
the citizen-soldiers hastened to the walls, and
regardless of the deadly shot falling thick around
them, they kept their fathers and husbands supplied
with ammunition and weapons.[7] They would
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