Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie

Mornay would admit the royal troops, the
immunities of the place should be maintained. No
sooner had the king entered than he declared that
he took definite possession of the castle. To give
this act of ill-faith the semblance of an amicable
arrangement, the king offered Mornay, in addition
to the arrears of his salary, 100,000 crowns and a
marshal's baton. "I cannot," replied the patriot, "in
conscience or in honor sell the liberty and security
of others;" adding that, "as to dignities, he had ever
been more desirous to render himself worthy of
them, than to obtain them." This great man died
two years afterwards. His end was like his life.
"We saw him," says Jean Daille, his private
chaplain, "in the midst of death firmly laying hold
on life, and enjoying full satisfaction where men
are generally terrified." He was the last
representative of that noble generation which had
been molded by the instructions of Calvin and the
example of Beza.
The next exploit of the king's arms was the
taking of St. Jean d'Angely. The besiegers were in
great force around the walls, their shot was falling
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