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

and eaten. Specters, rather than men, clad in armor,
moved through the streets. The houses were full of
dead, which the living had not strength to bury.
Crowds of old women and children went out at the
gate, at times, in the hope that the sight of their
great misery might move their enemies to pity, or
that they might :find something by the way to
assuage their hunger; but they were dealt with as
the caprice or cruelty of the besiegers prompted.
Sometimes they were strangled on gibbets, and
sometimes they were stripped naked and scourged
back into the city. Still no thought of a surrender
was entertained.
For more than a year had the Rochellois waited,
if haply from any quarter -- the Protestants of other
countries, or their brethren in the provinces --
deliverance might arise. In no quarter could they
descry sign or token of help; not a voice was raised
to cheer, not a hand was stretched out to aid.
Fifteen terrible months had passed over them.
Two-thirds of the population were dead. Of the
fighting men not more than 150 remained. Around
their walls was assembled the whole power of
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