All arrangements having been made, the next morning, shortly after the
sun had risen, Captain Villegagnon, with a considerable party, were
ready to set out for Havre de Grace, the port at which the squadron was
fitting out.
They purposed to avoid Paris, but had to pass through Meaux on their way
to join the high road leading to Havre.
The good admiral and Monsieur de Tourville came out to wish them
farewell as they mounted their horses, and Maitre Leroux was waiting at
a little distance, where he might have a few last words with Nigel.
"Farewell, my young friend," he said, putting a small Testament into his
hand; "you will find this an inestimable treasure. I dare not keep it
long, as it is considered treason for a Frenchman to possess God's Word,
though I have hidden away another copy to which I may go when unobserved
to refresh my soul; and, mark you, should my master and young mistress
ever have occasion to seek for your assistance, you will, I am sure,
afford it."
"I promise you that I will most gladly," answered Nigel, wondering what
the old steward could mean. Wishing his worthy friend good-bye, he
pushed on to overtake his travelling companions.
On entering Meaux, they found the town in a strange commotion, the
people all rushing with eager looks to the market-place, in which, as
they reached it, they found a large crowd assembled. They caught sight
of a number of high gibbets erected at intervals round it, while in the
centre was a circle of stakes surrounded by faggots. The travellers
would have passed on, but the dense crowd prevented them from moving,
and their leader himself showed no inclination to press forward.
Presently shouts arose, and, the crowd opening, a horse was seen
dragging a hurdle, on which a human being lay bound, the blood flowing
from his mouth. A party of soldiers next appeared with a number of
persons, their hands bound behind them, in their midst; while priests,
carrying lighted tapers, were seen among them, apparently trying to gain
their attention. Some of the prisoners were singing a hymn of Marot's,
and all carried their heads erect, advancing fearlessly to the place of
execution. On arriving, they were seized by savage-looking men, while
some were speedily hoisted up to the gibbets by their shoulders, where
they hung, enduring, it was evident, the greatest agony. Fourteen of
the party were then bound to as many stakes, the unhappy man on the
hurdle being the first secured. Among them Nigel recognised the person
who had been seized in the forest on the previous day for shouting,
"Brethren, remember Him who is in heaven above." Though the cords were
drawn so tight as to cut into their wrists and ankles, no one uttered a
cry for mercy, but, lifting their eyes to heaven, continued singing, or
exhorting their companions to be firm.
The faggots being now piled round them, the priests retired, uttering
curses on their heads; while bands of music struck up to drown the
voices of the sufferers. At the sight of two men approaching with
torches, the people raised loud shouts of savage joy, and one of the
piles of faggots surrounding the stake, that to which the chief person,
whose tongue had been cut out, was bound, was speedily kindled.
"All! all! Let them all be burned together," shouted the mob, dancing
frantically.
The other piles were quickly lighted, the smoke ascending from the
fourteen fires forming a dark canopy overhead.
The victims, as long as they could be distinguished, were seen with
their eyes turned to heaven, singing and praising God with their last
breath.
The savage fury of the ignorant populace was not yet satiated. Those
who had been hung up by the shoulders were now taken down, and so
dreadfully flogged, that some of them petitioned that they might be
thrown into the flames amid the ashes of their martyred friends; but
this was a mercy their cruel executioners had no intention of affording
them. Bleeding, they were dragged off to be imprisoned in a monastery,
where they were to be shut up for life.
At length Villegagnon, who had looked on with perfect indifference,
called to his companions to follow, and, the crowd beginning to
disperse, they were able with less difficulty to advance.
The lowest of the rabble only had exulted in the dreadful scene; the
greater number of the people exhibited very different feelings. Nigel
observed many in tears, or with downcast looks, returning to their
homes; others exchanging glances of indignation; and he heard several
exclaiming, "They died in a righteous cause. May we have grace to
suffer as they have done."
"Truly, as I have heard it said in Scotland, `The blood of the martyrs
is the seed of the Church,'" observed Nigel to another of his
companions, whose tears and groans showed the grief he suffered at the
spectacle he had just witnessed.
Villegagnon kept his party together, for more than once some of the more
ferocious persons of the mob cast suspicious looks at them, and
mutterings arose, "Who are these? They have the air of Lutherans, or
they would look more joyous at the destruction of heretics."
"I hold the king's commission, and these are under my orders," cried
Villegagnon. "Make way, good people, make way, and allow us to proceed
on our journey."
Still the mob pressed round, and where showing a determination to stop
the travellers, when a monk stepped forward, and exclaimed, "I know that
gentleman, and he is a true son of the Church. Interfere not, at your
peril, with him and his companions."
Nigel fancied that he observed glances of intelligence exchanged between
the captain and the monk, who had so opportunely come to their rescue.
The mob, at length pacified, drew back, and the party were allowed to
leave the town without being again molested.
They pushed on as fast as their horses could go.
"We have had a happy escape," observed Nigel's companion, "for although
a large portion of the population of Meaux are Protestant, yet the
rabble, supported by the troops and some of the government authorities,
have the upper hand, and it would have fared ill with us had we been
stopped and our object discovered."
Night had already set in when they reached a hostelry where they were to
remain till the morning. As most of the travellers were fatigued, they
retired to rest as soon as supper was over, with their saddles as
pillows, and their cloaks wrapped round them, lying down in the chief
saloon, wherever space could be found. Nigel, with two or three others,
sat up some time longer, when, having got his saddle and cloak,
intending to seek repose, he found every place occupied. While hunting
about, he entered a small room in which were a couple of truckle
bedsteads. Neither was occupied.
"I am in luck," he said to himself, and placing his saddle and other
property by his side, having taken off his riding boots and some of his
clothes, he threw himself upon one of the beds which stood in a corner.
Drawing the coverlid over him, he was soon, sailor-like, fast asleep.
After some time, he was awakened by hearing the door open, and, looking
up, he saw two persons enter the room. One was Villegagnon, who carried
a lamp in his hand; the other was, he saw by the person's costume, an
ecclesiastic. They advanced across the room towards the window, where
stood a table and a couple of chairs. Villegagnon threw himself into
one of them, with his back towards him, the other imitating his example.
The latter produced writing materials, and several papers, which
Villegagnon held to the lamp to read.
"You have made a happy commencement of your work, my friend," said the
priest. "If you carry it out thoroughly, the Church, the Duke of Guise,
and the Cardinal of Lorraine will be deeply indebted to you. Twenty
Calvinist nobles, and some four score of the commonalty, have, I see,
determined to accompany you, and they will entice many more. We shall
be glad to be rid of them at present out of France, and we will then
send out a larger number of faithful Catholics, so that you will reap
the honour of founding a French colony in the New World, the Church will
triumph, and the Calvinists be extirpated."
"But the proceeding smacks somewhat of treachery, and it can matter but
little to you at home whether the colony is established by Calvinists or
Catholics, so that it is firmly grounded and adds to the honour and
glory of France," observed Villegagnon.
"Nay, nay, my friend," said the priest, putting his hand on the
captain's arm; "remember that the means sanctifies the end. We can
allow no Calvinists to exist, either here or abroad. They would be
continually coming back with their pestiferous doctrines, or, finding
themselves in the majority, would speedily put an end to our holy
Church. They must be extirpated, root and branch."
"I have no wish to support the Protestants, as thou knowest right well,
reverend father," answered the captain; "but they are countrymen, and
fight well, and labour well, and count among their number the cleverest
mechanics in France. I know not how it is, but it seems to me that
everywhere the most intelligent men have become Calvinists."
"Their father Satan gives them wisdom. Take care, captain, that you are
not carried away by their doctrines. The true faith will triumph,
depend on that," said the priest, frowning as he spoke.
"Your arguments are conclusive. It will not be my fault if the plan
miscarries," answered Villegagnon. "I will keep on the mask till I feel
myself strong enough to throw it off."
"You will do well. Do not be in a hurry. We must get as many of these
pestiferous sectarians into the net as possible."
Further conversation of the same character was held between the two
worthies for some time. Nigel had found himself most unintentionally
acting the part of an eavesdropper. He had at first felt inclined to
start up and make the captain and priest aware of his presence; but as
the conversation went on he felt that he was justified in thus learning
the character of the leader of the expedition, whose evil intentions he
hoped he might be the means of counteracting. He determined, therefore,
to appear to be fast asleep should they, on quitting the room, discover
him.
As he saw them rise, he closed his eyes. He heard their footsteps as
they approached the door. Just then the light which Villegagnon carried
fell upon him.
"I had no idea that anyone was in the room," whispered the captain,
holding the lamp towards Nigel.
"Who is he?" asked the priest, in a low voice.
"A young pig of a Scotchman, whom the admiral insisted on my taking on
board as an officer."
"Should he have overheard what was said, he might interfere with our
proceedings," observed the priest. "Your dagger would most speedily
settle the question, and prevent mischief."
"I am not fond of killing sleeping men, holy father," answered the
captain, in a somewhat indignant tone. "Even had the youth been awake,
he is so little acquainted with French that he could not have understood
what we were saying; but, you see, he is fast asleep. I, however, will
keep an eye upon him, and shall soon learn whether he knows anything.
If he does, we have frequently dark and stormy nights at sea, when men
get knocked overboard. Such may be his fate; you understand me."
"A good idea. I will trust to your discretion," said the priest, and,
greatly to Nigel's relief, they left the room.
He remained awake, considering how he should act. At length he heard
some one enter the room; it was the captain, who, just taking a glance
at him, threw himself on the bed, and was soon fast asleep.
At early dawn Nigel awoke, and, putting on his garments, went down into
the yard to get some water to wash his hands and face. The rest of the
party were soon on foot.
The captain met him in the morning with a smiling countenance, and, as
he did not even allude to his having shared his room, Nigel thought it
better to say nothing about the matter. He looked about for the priest,
but he was nowhere to be found, nor did Nigel hear any one allude to
him. It was evident that he had come and gone secretly.
The rest of the journey to Havre was performed without any other
incident worthy of note. Three stout ships were found in the harbour,
already in a forward state of equipment. Nigel went on board the
_Madeline_, with several of his travelling companions, and at once took
possession of the cabin intended for his use. The officers and the
crew, as far as he could learn, were all Protestants, as were
undoubtedly the passengers who had already come on board.
He found plenty of occupation in receiving and stowing the provisions
and stores, and in setting up the rigging and bending sails. He was
thus kept actively employed for several days, till the _Madeline_, the
most advanced ship, was fully ready for sea. All the passengers, he
observed, came off at night, to avoid the observation of their
countrymen. Although the ships were already crowded with almost as many
people as they could carry, there were still two vacant cabins on board
the _Madeline_.