On reaching the gate of the palace, Nigel had met the captain of the
Scottish guard, Norman Leslie, a distant relative, by whose means he had
gained admission to the palace, and had been able to enjoy the interview
with his cousin, Mary Seton.
"How fared it with you, Nigel, among the gay ladies of the court?" asked
the captain, one of those careless characters, who receive their pay and
fight accordingly, very little troubled as to the justice of the cause
they support.
"I had a talk with my cousin, and had the honour of paying my _devoirs_
to the queen," answered Nigel, cautiously. "Having now no longer any
business in Paris, I am about to set out on a visit to Admiral Coligny.
Can you direct me to my hostelry, at the sign of the Angel, and tell me
where I can find a steed to carry me on my journey? for, albeit it would
best suit my purse to trudge on foot, I would wish to present myself to
the admiral in a way suitable to the character of a Scottish gentleman."
"As I am off guard I will accompany you, my good kinsman, and will
assist you in procuring a horse," was the answer.
Nigel gladly accepted Leslie's offer, and the two Scotchmen set forth
together. Nigel, being totally ignorant of the city, had no notion in
what direction they were going. They were passing through the Rue Saint
Antoine, when they saw before them a large crowd thronging round a party
of troopers and a body of men-at-arms, who were escorting between them
several persons, their hands bound behind their backs, and mostly
without hats, the soldiers urging them on with the points of their
swords or pikes; Nigel also observed among them three or four women, who
were treated with the same barbarous indignity as the men.
"Who are those unhappy people?" he asked.
"Heretics on their way to prison, to be burnt, probably, in a few days
for the amusement of the king, who, ambitious of surpassing his sister
sovereign, Queen Mary of England, and to exhibit his love for religion,
manages to put to death ten times as many as she ventures to send to the
stake, unless they recant, when they will have the honour of being
strangled or hung instead," answered Leslie, in a nonchalant tone. "He
and his counsellors are determined to extirpate heresy; but as the
Protestants are numbered by hundreds of thousands, and as there are a
good many men of high rank and wealth among them, his Majesty has
undertaken a difficult task."
"I pray that he may alter his mind, or fail in the attempt," exclaimed
Nigel, indignantly.
"I may whisper amen; although, as the foolish people bring the
punishment on their own heads, I am not inclined to throw down the
gauntlet in their cause, and must e'en do my duty and carry out the
orders of the master whose bread I eat," said Leslie.
Nigel did not reply, but he felt more than ever determined not to take
service on shore, however tempting the offers he might receive. Leslie
told him that of late years, throughout France, many hundreds, nay,
thousands of persons, after being broken on the wheel, or having had
their tongues cut out, or being tortured in some other way, had been
burnt at the stake for their religious opinions; but that,
notwithstanding, the Protestants increased in numbers, and that, for his
part, though himself a faithful son of the Church, he thought that a
wiser plan might have been adopted.
"For my part, I believe that had not the Pope and the priests and monks
interfered, and worked up some of our fanatic nobles and the ignorant
populace to persecute their fellow-countrymen, they might have lived
together on friendly terms; and, for the life of me, I cannot see why
people should not be allowed to worship God according to the dictates of
their consciences," added the shrewd Scotchman, with a shrug of his
shoulders.
Nigel, who had only heard rumours of such proceedings, felt his blood
boil with indignation, and instinctively touching the hilt of his sword,
he vowed that he was ready to do battle in the cause of justice and
humanity. His kinsman, who saw the act, smiled; and divining his
thoughts, said, "Let me advise you to avoid interference in quarrels not
your own, unless you receive a due recompense in pay, and then the less
you trouble yourself about the rights of the case the better. Come
along. The first thing we are to do is to look out for your steed.
Honest Jacques Cochut will supply you with one which will bear you from
one end of France to the other, and an attendant to bring the animal
back. It will be more economical than purchasing a horse, unless you
have a long journey to make."
Nigel accompanied his friend to the stables of Jacques Cochut, to whom
Leslie was well known. A strong and active steed was soon engaged, with
the promise that it should be ready at the door of the hostelry at an
early hour next morning.
Leslie, leaving Nigel at the Angel inn, returned to his duty at the
palace, while the latter, having ordered his supper, retired to his room
to think over the events of the day.
It is needless to say that Constance de Tourville frequently recurred to
his thoughts. He had heard enough to make him understand the dangerous
position of the Protestants in France, even of the highest rank, and the
fearful persecutions to which all classes were exposed. From the
remarks Constance had made, it was evident that she herself was exposed
to much annoyance, if not danger, even within the precincts of the
palace, and he earnestly hoped that he might have an opportunity of
speaking to her father, and obtaining her release.
He had sat for some time when he was aroused by a knock at the door, and
the servant of the inn announced that a person desired to speak with
him.
"Let him come in," said Nigel; and a respectable-looking man, somewhat
advanced in life, as was shown by his silvery locks, stepped forward.
"I am attached to the house of the Count de Tourville, whose daughter
despatched me to seek you out, and place myself at your service."
"Come in, my friend," said Nigel, offering him a chair. "You are, I
presume, Maitre Leroux, and I am grateful to the young lady for her
kindness, of which I will gladly avail myself. Shall you be ready to
set out to-morrow morning?"
"I had intended to do so, but business will keep me in Paris for another
day," answered Maitre Leroux; "and if you, fair sir, do not object to
remain, I will gladly set forth with you at any hour you may name on the
following morning. You may, in the mean time, find amusement in this
big city of Paris."
Nigel, who was pleased with Maitre Leroux, though anxious to continue
his journey, willingly agreed to wait for the purpose of having his
escort.
"But I have engaged my horse for to-morrow," he added.
"I will easily settle that matter with Jacques Cochut; and if you will
accept of my company I will call for you, and show you some of the
sights of our city, as you will, alone, be unable to find your way about
the streets, and may chance to lose yourself, or get into some
difficulty."
"Thank you," said Nigel. "I shall indeed be glad of your society, for,
except a kinsman in the guards, I know no one in the whole of Paris."
These arrangements having been made, Maitre Leroux took his departure;
and Nigel was not sorry, soon after supper, to throw himself on his bed,
and seek the repose which even his well-knit limbs required.
Nigel, who slept longer than was his wont, waited at the inn some time
for Maitre Leroux. He was afraid to go out, lest the steward might
arrive during his absence. At length his guide appeared.
"I have been detained longer than I expected," said Maitre Leroux; "but
monsieur will pardon me. We have still time to see much of the city."
They set out, and during their walk visited many places of interest, of
which the steward gave the history to the young Scotchman.
"Your Paris buildings surpass those of our bonny Edinburgh in size and
number, I must confess," remarked Nigel; "but still we have our
Holyrood, and our castle, and the situation of our city is unrivalled, I
am led to believe, by that of any other in the world."
"As I have not seen your city I am unable to dispute the point,"
answered the steward. "Would you like to visit one of our courts of
justice? Though not open to the public, I may be able to gain
admittance, and I am deeply interested in the case, albeit it would be
wise not to show that, and having a stranger with me will be a
sufficient excuse."
"Under those circumstances I will gladly accompany you," said Nigel.
They soon reached the portals of a large building, through which, after
some hesitation on the part of the guards, the steward and his companion
were admitted. Nigel observed that Maitre Leroux slipped some money
into the hands of two or three people, this silver key evidently having
its usual power of opening doors otherwise closed. Going through a side
door they reached a large hall, crowded with persons. Among those
seated were numerous ecclesiastics, a judge in his robes, and lawyers
and their clerks while a strong body of men-at-arms were guarding a
party of some fifty or sixty persons, who, from their position and
attitudes, were evidently prisoners. They were men of different ranks;
several, from their costume, being gentlemen, and others citizens and
artisans. There were a few women among them also. All looked deadly
pale, but their countenances exhibited firmness and determination.
"Of what crime have these people been guilty?" asked Nigel.
"Of a fearful one in the eyes of their judges," answered Maitre Leroux.
"They have been worshipping God according to the dictates of their
consciences, and were found assembled together in a house at Meaux,
listening to the gospel of the mild and loving Saviour. They have
already been put to the torture to compel them to recant and betray
their associates, but it has not produced the desired effect. In vain
their advocate has pleaded their cause. Listen! the judge is about to
pronounce their sentence."
Dreadful indeed that was. With blasphemous expressions, which cannot be
repeated, the condemned were sentenced to be carried back to Meaux;
fourteen, after being again put to the torture, were to be burnt alive
in the market-place; most of the others were to be hung up by their
shoulders during the execution of their brethren, and then to be flogged
and imprisoned for life in a monastery, while the remainder were to
receive somewhat less severe, though still grievous punishment.
The hardy young Scot almost turned sick with horror and indignation as
he heard the sentence; and putting his hand to his sword, he was about
to cry out and demand, in the name of justice, that instead of being
punished, the prisoners should be released, when his companion grasped
him by the arm, whispering, "Be calm, my friend; such events are so
common in France, that we have grown accustomed to them. Hundreds have
already died as these men are about to die; and we, their countrymen,
have been compelled to look on without daring to raise our voices in
their cause, or, as you are inclined to do, to draw a sword for their
defence."
Maitre Leroux, after exchanging a few sentences in an undertone with
three or four people they met, whose sad countenances showed the
interest they took in the condemned, led his young friend from the
so-called hall of justice. On their way they looked into the
magnificent church of Notre Dame. Priests in gorgeous dresses were
chanting mass; music was pealing through the building, and incense was
ascending to the roof.
"Impious mockery," muttered Nigel. "Well may Calvin and John Knox
desire the overthrow of such a system, and desire to supplant it by the
true faith of the Gospel."
"Hush! hush! my young friend," whispered Maitre Leroux, hurrying him out
of the church, regretting that he had entered it. "Though many may
think as you do, it's dangerous to utter such opinions in this place."
"Can nothing be done to save these poor men?" asked Nigel. "Surely the
king cannot desire the destruction of his subjects?"
"The king, like Gallio, cares for none of these things. He is taught to
believe that the priests are the best supporters of his crown: and, at
all events, he knows that they allow him full licence in the indulgence
of his pleasures, which the Protestants, he supposes, would be less
inclined to do."
"I would that I were out of this city of Paris, and away from France
itself," said Nigel.
"Many think and feel as you do, and are acting upon it," answered the
steward. "Already many thousand men of science and clever artisans have
left, to carry their knowledge and industry to other lands; and others,
in all directions, are preparing to follow. You will hear more about
the matter when you visit the admiral, and my good master, who does not
look unmoved on such proceedings. More on the subject it would not
become me to say. Not long ago an edict was issued, by which all the
old laws on heresy were revived, it being the resolution of the king to
purge and clear the country of all those who are deemed heretics.
Magistrates are ordered to search unceasingly for them, and to make
domiciliary visits in quest of forbidden books, while the informer is to
obtain one-third of the heretic's confiscated property. Should a person
be acquitted of heresy in any ordinary court of justice, he may be again
tried before an ecclesiastical tribunal, thus depriving him of all
chances of escape. Even interference on behalf of a heretic is made
penal, and should a person be suspected, he must exhibit a certificate
of orthodoxy, or run the risk of being condemned. You see, therefore,
young sir, that I am right in recommending caution as to what you say;
not that these edicts have the effect expected, for Calvinism increases
rapidly, and the stream of emigration continues from all parts of the
kingdom."
They walked on in silence, Nigel meditating on what he had heard.
"Some fresh air will do you good after the scenes we have witnessed,"
observed Maitre Leroux. "We will take a turn in the Pre-aux-Clercs. It
is but a short distance past the Invalides."
It was evening, and a number of people were thronging that pleasant
meadow on the banks of the Seine, the Hyde Park of that period. A party
of young men coming by struck up one of the hymns of Marot, a
translation of one of the psalms of David, written some years before by
the Protestant poet. Others joined in, and evidently sang them
heartily; several other parties, as they passed along, were indulging in
the same melodies.
"How is it, after what you have told me, that the people venture to sing
these hymns?" asked Nigel. "I know them well, for they have already
been introduced into our Protestant congregations in Scotland."
"They became the favourites of the king and court before they had the
significance they now possess," answered the steward; "and it is only
thus that many who hate the papal system can give expression to their
sentiments. Before long, however, I fear that they will be prohibited,
or those who sing them will be marked as suspected. Alas, alas! our
lovely France will be deprived of all freedom of thought, opinion, and
action."
The worthy Maitre Leroux seemed greatly out of spirits as they took
their way back to the inn. They parted at the door, for Nigel felt no
inclination to go forth again, and the steward had business, he said, to
attend to. He promised to call for Nigel at an early hour the next
morning to set out for Meaux, undertaking to direct Jacques Cochut to
have his horses in readiness.