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

standard, and with this mighty host he would
pursue the admiral into Normandy, and drive him
and all his followers into the sea, and so stamp out
the Huguenot insurrection. "Once unearth the
foxes," said he, "and we will hunt them all over
France."[15]
Such was the brief and terrible program of the
duke for purging France of the Huguenot heresy.
Where today stood the fair city of Orleans,
tomorrow would be seen only a blackened heap;
and wherever this leprosy had spread, thither, all
over France, would the duke pursue it with fire and
sword, and never rest till it was burned out. A
whole hecatomb of cities, provinces, and men
would grace the obsequies of Huguenotism. The
duke had gone to the trenches to see that all was
ready for the assault that was to give Orleans to
him on the morrow. Of all that he had ordered to be
done, nothing had been omitted. Well pleased the
duke was returning along the road to his chateau in
the evening twilight. Behind him was the city of
Orleans, the broad and deep Loire rolling beneath
its walls, and the peaceful darkness gathering
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