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

Bordeaux, and other towns too numerous to be
mentioned. In Provence, the scene of recent
slaughter, there existed no fewer than sixty
Churches in the year 1560. [6]
The beginnings of the "great and glorious"
Church of La Rochelle are obscure. So early as
1534 a woman was burned in Poitou, who said she
had been instructed in the truth at La Rochelle.
From that year we find no trace of Protestantism
there till 1552, when its presence there is attested
by the barbarous execution of two martyrs, one of
whom had his tongue cut out for having acted as
the teacher of others; from which we may infer that
there was a little company of disciples in that town,
though keeping themselves concealed for fear of
the persecutor.[7]
In 1558 the King and Queen of Navarre, on
their way to Paris, visited La Rochelle, and were
splendidly entertained by the citizens. In their suite
was M. David, the ex-monk, and now Protestant
preacher, already referred to. He proclaimed
openly the pure Word of God in all the places
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