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

days before, in every village through which they
passed, they had been inimminent danger of death.
The number of these arrivals rapidly increased;
they now showed their wounds, which they had
carefully concealed, lest they should thereby be
known to belong to the Reformed.
They declared that since the 26th of August the
fields and villages had been deluged with the blood
of their brethren. All of them gave thanks to God
that they had been permitted to reach a "land of
liberty." Their hearts were full of heaviness, for not
one family was complete; when they mustered on
the frontier, alas! how many parents, children, and
friends were missing! By-and-by this sorrowful
group reached the gates of Geneva, and as they
advanced along the streets, the citizens contended
with each other for the privilege of entertaining
those of the travelers who appeared the greatest
sufferers. The wounded were conveyed to the
houses of the best families, where they were nursed
with the most tender care. So ample was the
hospitality of the citizens, that the magistrates
found it unnecessary to make any public
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