The three days' ride to the chateau of the Countess de Laville was
marked by no incident. To Philip it was an exceedingly pleasant
one. Everything was new to him; the architecture of the churches
and villages, the dress of the people, their modes of agriculture,
all differing widely from those to which he was accustomed. In some
villages the Catholics predominated, and here the passage of the
little party was regarded with frowning brows and muttered threats;
by the Huguenots they were saluted respectfully, and if they
halted, many questions were asked their followers as to news about
the intentions of the court, the last rumours as to the attitude of
Conde, and the prospects of a continuance of peace.
Here, too, great respect was paid to Marie and Philip when it was
known they were relatives of the Countess de Laville, and belonged
to the family of the De Moulins. Emilie had for some time been a
widow--the count, her husband, having fallen at the battle of
Dreux, at the end of the year 1562--but being an active and capable
woman, she had taken into her hands the entire management of the
estates, and was one of the most influential among the Huguenot
nobles of that part of the country.
From their last halting place, Marie Vaillant sent on a letter by
one of the men to her sister, announcing their coming. She had
written on her landing at La Rochelle, and they had been met on
their way by a messenger from the countess, expressing her delight
that her sister had at last carried out her promise to visit her,
and saying that Francois was looking eagerly for the coming of his
cousin.
The chateau was a semi-fortified building, capable of making a
stout resistance against any sudden attack. It stood on the slope
of a hill, and Philip felt a little awed at its stately aspect as
they approached it. When they were still a mile away, a party of
horsemen rode out from the gateway, and in a few minutes their
leader reined up his horse in front of them and, springing from it,
advanced towards Philip, who also alighted and helped his aunt to
dismount.
"My dear aunt," the young fellow said, doffing his cap, "I am come
in the name of my mother to greet you, and to tell you how joyful
she is that you have, at last, come back to us.
"This is my Cousin Philip, of course; though you are not what I
expected to see. My mother told me that you were two years' my
junior, and I had looked to find you still a boy; but, by my faith,
you seem to be as old as I am. Why, you are taller by two inches,
and broader and stronger too, I should say. Can it be true that you
are but sixteen?"
"That is my age, Cousin Francois; and I am, as you expected, but a
boy yet and, I can assure you, no taller or broader than many of my
English schoolfellows of the same age."
"But we must not delay, aunt," Francois said, turning again to her.
"My mother's commands were urgent, that I was not to delay a moment
in private talk with you, but to bring you speedily on to her;
therefore I pray you to mount again and ride on with me, for
doubtless she is watching impatiently now, and will chide me
rarely, if we linger."
Accordingly the party remounted at once, and rode forward to the
chateau. A dozen men-at-arms were drawn up at the gate and, on the
steps of the entrance from the courtyard into the chateau itself,
the countess was standing. Francois leapt from his horse, and was
by the side of his aunt as Philip reined in his horse. Taking his
hand, she sprang lightly from the saddle, and in a moment the two
sisters fell into each others' arms.
It was more than twenty years since they last met, but time had
dealt gently with them both. The countess had changed least. She
was two or three years older than Marie, was tall, and had been
somewhat stately even as a girl. She had had many cares, but her
position had always been assured; as the wife of a powerful noble
she had been accustomed to be treated with deference and respect,
and although the troubles of the times and the loss of her husband
had left their marks, she was still a fair and stately woman at the
age of forty-three. Marie, upon the other hand, had lived an
untroubled life for the past twenty years. She had married a man
who was considered beneath her, but the match had been in every way
a happy one. Her husband was devoted to her, and the expression of
her face showed that she was a thoroughly contented and happy
woman.
"You are just what I fancied you would be, Marie, a quiet little
home bird, living in your nest beyond the sea, and free from all
the troubles and anxieties of our unhappy country. You have been
good to write so often, far better than I have been; and I seem to
know all about your quiet, well-ordered home, and your good husband
and his business that flourishes so. I thought you were a little
foolish in your choice, and that our father was wrong in mating you
as he did; but it has turned out well, and you have been living in
quiet waters, while we have been encountering a sea of troubles.
"And this tall youth is our nephew, Philip? I wish you could have
brought over Lucie with you. It would have been pleasant, indeed,
for us three sisters to be reunited again, if only for a time. Why,
your Philip is taller than Francois, and yet he is two years
younger. I congratulate you and Lucie upon him.
"Salute me, nephew. I had not looked to see so proper a youth. You
show the blood of the De Moulins plainly, Philip. I suppose you get
your height and your strength from your English father?"
"They are big men, these English, Emilie; and his father is big,
even among them. But, as you say, save in size Philip takes after
our side rather than his father's; and of course he has mixed so
much with our colony at Canterbury that, in spite of his being
English bred, we have preserved in him something of the French
manner, and I think his heart is fairly divided between the two
countries."
"Let us go in," the countess said. "You need rest and refreshment
after your journey, and I long to have a quiet talk with you.
"Francois, do you take charge of your cousin. I have told the
serving men to let you have a meal in your own apartments, and then
you can show him over the chateau and the stables."
Francois and Philip bowed to the two ladies, and then went off
together.
"That is good," the young count said, laying his hand on Philip's
shoulder; "now we shall get to know each other. You will not be
angry, I hope, when I tell you that, though I have looked forward
to seeing my aunt and you, I have yet been a little anxious in my
mind. I do not know why, but I have always pictured the English as
somewhat rough and uncouth--as doughty fighters, for so they have
shown themselves to our cost, but as somewhat deficient in the
graces of manner--and when I heard that my aunt was bringing you
over, to leave you for a time with us, since you longed to fight in
the good cause, I have thought--pray, do not be angry with me, for
I feel ashamed of myself now--" and he hesitated.
"That I should be a rough cub, whom you would be somewhat ashamed
of introducing to your friends as your cousin," Philip laughed. "I
am not surprised. English boys have ideas just as erroneous about
the French, and it was a perpetual wonder to my schoolfellows that,
being half French, I was yet as strong and as tough as they were.
Doubtless I should have been somewhat different, had I not lived so
much with my uncle and aunt and the Huguenot community at
Canterbury. Monsieur Vaillant and my aunt have always impressed
upon me that I belong to a noble French family, and might some day
come over here to stay with my relations; and have taken much pains
with my deportment and manners, and have so far succeeded that I am
always called 'Frenchy' among my English companions, though in
their own games and sports I could hold my own with any of them."
"And can you ride, Philip?"
"I can sit on any horse, but I have had no opportunity of learning
the menage."
"That matters little, after all," Francois said; "though it is an
advantage to be able to manage your horse with a touch of the heel,
or the slightest pressure of the rein, and to make him wheel and
turn at will, while leaving both arms free to use your weapons. You
have learned to fence?"
"Yes. There were some good masters among the colony, and many a
lesson have I had from old soldiers passing through, who paid for a
week's hospitality by putting me up to a few tricks with the
sword."
"I thought you could fence," Francois said. "You would hardly have
that figure and carriage, unless you had practised with the sword.
And you dance, I suppose. Many of our religion regard such
amusement as frivolous, if not sinful; but my mother, although as
staunch a Huguenot as breathes, insists upon my learning it, not as
an amusement but as an exercise. There was no reason, she said, why
the Catholics should monopolize all the graces."
"Yes, I learned to dance, and for the same reason. I think my uncle
rather scandalized the people of our religion in Canterbury. He
maintained that it was necessary, as part of the education of a
gentleman; and that in the English Protestant court, dancing was as
highly thought of as in that of France, the queen herself being
noted for her dancing, and none can throw doubts upon her
Protestantism. My mother and aunt were both against it, but as my
father supported my uncle, he had his own way."
"Well I see, Philip, that we shall be good comrades. There are many
among us younger Huguenots who, though as staunch in the religion
as our fathers, and as ready to fight and die for it if need be,
yet do not see that it is needful to go about always with grave
faces, and to be cut off from all innocent amusements. It is our
natural disposition to be gay, and I see not why, because we hold
the Mass in detestation, and have revolted against the authority of
the Pope and the abuses of the church, we should go through life as
if we were attending a perpetual funeral. Unless I am mistaken,
such is your disposition also; for although your face is grave,
your eyes laugh."
"I have been taught to bear myself gravely, in the presence of my
elders," Philip replied with a smile; "and truly at Canterbury the
French colony was a grave one, being strangers in a strange land;
but among my English friends, I think I was as much disposed for a
bit of fun or mischief as any of them."
"But I thought the English were a grave race."
"I think not, Francois. We call England 'Merry England.' I think we
are an earnest people, but not a grave one. English boys play with
all their might. The French boys of the colony never used to join
in our sports, regarding them as rude and violent beyond all
reason; but it is all in good humour, and it is rare, indeed, for
anyone to lose his temper, however rough the play and hard the
knocks. Then they are fond of dancing and singing, save among the
strictest sects; and the court is as gay as any in Europe. I do not
think that the English can be called a grave people."
"Well, I am glad that it is so, Philip, especially that you
yourself are not grave. Now, as we have finished our meal, let us
visit the stables. I have a horse already set aside for you; but I
saw, as we rode hither, that you are already excellently mounted.
Still, Victor, that is his name, shall be at your disposal. A
second horse is always useful, for shot and arrows no more spare a
horse than his rider."
The stables were large and well ordered for, during the past two
months, there had been large additions made by the countess, in
view of the expected troubles.
"This is my charger. I call him Rollo. He was bred on the estate
and, when I am upon him, I feel that the king is not better
mounted."
"He is a splendid animal, indeed," Philip said, as Rollo tossed his
head, and whinnied with pleasure at his master's approach.
"He can do anything but talk," Francois said, as he patted him. "He
will lie down when I tell him, will come to my whistle and, with
the reins lying loose on his neck, will obey my voice as readily as
he would my hand.
"This is my second horse, Pluto. He is the equal of Rollo in
strength and speed, but not so docile and obedient, and he has a
temper of his own."
"He looks it," Philip agreed. "I should keep well out of reach of
his heels and jaws."
"He is quiet enough when I am on his back," Francois laughed; "but
I own that he is the terror of the stable boys.
"This is Victor. He is not quite as handsome as Rollo, but he has
speed and courage and good manners."
"He is a beautiful creature," Philip said enthusiastically. "I was
very well satisfied with my purchase, but he will not show to
advantage by the side of Victor."
"Ah, I see they have put him in the next stall," Francois said.
"He is a fine animal, too," he went on, after examining the horse
closely. "He comes from Gascony, I should say. He has signs of
Spanish blood."
"Yes, from Gascony or Navarre. I was very fortunate in getting
him," and he related how the animal had been left at La Rochelle.
"You got him for less than half his value, Philip. What are you
going to call him?"
"I shall call him Robin. That was the name of my favourite horse,
at home.
"I see you have got some stout animals in the other stalls, though
of course they are of a very different quality to your own."
"Yes; many of them are new purchases. We have taken on thirty
men-at-arms; stout fellows, old soldiers all, whom my mother will
send into the field if we come to blows. Besides these there will
be some twenty of our tenants. We could have raised the whole
number among them, had we chosen; for if we called up the full
strength of the estate, and put all bound to service in the field
in war time, we could turn out fully three hundred; but of these
well-nigh a third are Catholics, and could not in any way be relied
on, nor would it be just to call upon them to fight against their
co-religionists. Again, it would not do to call out all our
Huguenot tenants; for this would leave their wives and families and
homes and property, to say nothing of the chateau, at the mercy of
the Catholics while they were away. I do not think that our
Catholic tenants would interfere with them, still less with the
chateau; for our family have ever been good masters, and my mother
is loved by men of both parties. Still, bands might come from other
districts, or from the towns, to pillage or slay were the estate
left without fighting men. Therefore, we have taken these
men-at-arms into our service, with twenty of our own tenants, all
young men belonging to large families; while the rest will remain
behind, as a guard for the estate and chateau; and as in all they
could muster some two hundred and fifty strong, and would be joined
by the other Huguenots of the district, they would not likely be
molested, unless one of the Catholic armies happened to come in
this direction.
"Directly I start with the troop, the younger sons of the tenants
will be called in to form a garrison here. We have five-and-thirty
names down, and there are twenty men capable of bearing arms among
the household, many of whom have seen service. Jacques Parold, our
seneschal, has been a valiant soldier in his time, and would make
the best of them; and my mother would assuredly keep our flag
flying till the last.
"I shall go away in comfort for, unless the Guises march this way,
there is little fear of trouble in our absence. We are fortunate in
this province. The parties are pretty evenly divided, and have a
mutual respect for each other. In districts where we are greatly
outnumbered, it is hard for fighting men to march away with the
possibility that, on their return, they will find their families
murdered and their homes levelled.
"Now we will take a turn round the grounds. Their beauty has been
sadly destroyed. You see, before the troubles seven years ago broke
out, there was a view from the windows on this side of the house
over the park and shrubberies; but at that time my father thought
it necessary to provide against sudden attacks, and therefore,
before he went away to the war, he had this wall with its flanking
towers erected. All the tenants came in and helped, and it was
built in five weeks time. It has, as you see, made the place safe
from a sudden attack, for on the other three sides the old defences
remain unaltered. It was on this side, only, that my grandfather
had the house modernized, believing that the days of civil war were
at an end.
"You see, this new wall forms a large quadrangle. We call it the
countess's garden, and my mother has done her best, by planting it
with shrubs and fast-growing trees, to make up for the loss of the
view she formerly had from the windows.
"Along one side you see there are storehouses, which are screened
from view by that bank of turf. They are all full, now, of grain.
There is a gate, as you see, opposite. In case of trouble cattle
will be driven in there, and the garden turned into a stockyard, so
that there is no fear of our being starved out."
"Fifty-five men are a small garrison for so large a place,
Francois."
"Yes, but that is only against a sudden surprise. In case of alarm,
the Protestant tenants would all come in with their wives and
families, and the best of their horses and cattle, and then there
will be force enough to defend the place against anything short of
a siege by an army. You see there is a moat runs all round. It is
full now on three sides, and there is a little stream runs down
from behind, which would fill the fourth side in a few hours.
"Tomorrow we will take a ride through the park, which lies beyond
that wall."
Entering the house, they passed through several stately apartments,
and then entered a large hall completely hung with arms and armour.
[Illustration: Philip and Francois in the armoury.]
"This is the grand hall, and you see it serves also the purpose of
a salle d'armes. Here we have arms and armour for a hundred men,
for although all the tenants are bound, by the terms of their
holding, to appear when called upon fully armed and accoutred, each
with so many men according to the size of his farm, there may well
be deficiencies; especially as, until the religious troubles began,
it was a great number of years since they had been called upon to
take the field. For the last eight years, however, they have been
trained and drilled; fifty at a time coming up, once a week. That
began two years before the last war, as my father always held that
it was absurd to take a number of men, wholly unaccustomed to the
use of arms, into the field. Agincourt taught that lesson to our
nobles, though it has been forgotten by most of them.
"We have two officers accustomed to drill and marshal men, and
these act as teachers here in the hall. The footmen practise with
pike and sword. They are exercised with arquebus and crossbow in
the park, and the mounted men are taught to manoeuvre and charge,
so that, in case of need, we can show a good face against any body
of troops of equal numbers. It is here I practise with my maitre
d'armes, and with Montpace and Bourdon, our two officers.
"Ah! Here is Charles, my maitre d'armes.
"Charles, this is my cousin Philip, who will also be a pupil of
yours while he remains here.
"What do you say, Philip? Will we try a bout with blunted swords
just now?"
"With pleasure," Philip said.
The art of fencing had not, at that time, reached the perfection it
afterwards attained. The swords used were long and straight, and
sharpened at both edges; and were used as much for cutting as
thrusting. In single combat on foot, long daggers were generally
held in the left hand, and were used for the purpose both of
guarding and of striking at close quarters.
They put on thick quilted doublets, and light helmets with visors.
"Do you use a dagger, Philip?"
"No, I have never seen one used in England. We are taught to guard
with our swords, as well as to strike with them."
"Monsieur has learned from English teachers?" the maitre d'armes
asked.
"I have had English teachers as well as French," Philip said. "We
all learn the use of the sword in England; but my uncle, Monsieur
Vaillant, has taken great pains in having me taught also by such
French professors of arms as lived in Canterbury, or happened to
pass through it; but I own that I prefer the English style of
fighting. We generally stand upright to our work, equally poised on
the two feet for advance or retreat; while you lean with the body
far forward and the arm outstretched, which seems to me to cripple
the movements."
"Yes, but it puts the body out of harm's way," Francois said.
"It is the arm's business to guard the body, Francois, and it is
impossible to strike a downright blow when leaning so far forward."
"We strike but little, nowadays, in single combat," the maitre
d'armes said. "The point is more effective."
"That is doubtless so, Maitre Charles," Philip agreed; "but I have
not learned fencing for the sake of fighting duels, but to be able
to take my part on a field of battle. The Spaniards are said to be
masters of the straight sword, and yet they have been roughly used
in the western seas by our sailors; who, methinks, always use the
edge."
The two now took up their position facing each other. Their
attitude was strikingly different. Francois stood on bent knees,
leaning far forward; while Philip stood erect, with his knees but
slightly bent, ready to spring either forwards or backwards, with
his arm but half extended. For a time both fought cautiously.
Francois had been well taught, having had the benefit, whenever he
was in Paris, of the best masters there. He was extremely active
and, as they warmed to their work, Philip had difficulty in
standing his ground against his impetuous rushes. Some minutes
passed without either of them succeeding in touching the other. At
length the maitre d'armes called upon them to lower their swords.
"That is enough," he said. "You are equally matched.
"I congratulate you, Monsieur Philip. You have been well taught;
and indeed, there are not many youths of his age who could hold
their own with my pupil.
"Take off your helmets. Enough has been done for one day."
"Peste, Philip!" Francois said, as he removed his helmet. "I was
not wrong when I said that, from your figure, I was sure that you
had learned fencing. Maitre Charles interfered on my behalf, and to
save me the mortification of defeat. I had nearly shot my bolt, and
you had scarcely begun.
"I own myself a convert. Your attitude is better than ours--that
is, when the hand is skilful enough to defend the body. The fatigue
of holding the arm extended, as I do, is much greater than it is as
you stand; and in the long run you must get the better of anyone
who is not sufficiently skilful to slay you before his arm becomes
fatigued.
"What do you think, Maitre Charles? My cousin is two years younger
than I am, and yet his wrist and arm are stronger than mine, as I
could feel every time he put aside my attacks."
"Is that so?" the maitre d'armes said, in surprise. "I had taken
him for your senior. He will be a famous man-at-arms, when he
attains his full age. His defence is wonderfully strong and,
although I do not admit that he is superior to you with the point,
he would be a formidable opponent to any of our best swordsmen in a
melee. If, as he says, he is more accustomed to use the edge than
the point, I will myself try him tomorrow, if he will permit me. I
have always understood that the English are more used to strike
than to thrust, and although in the duel the edge has little chance
against the point, I own that it is altogether different in a melee
on horseback; especially as the point cannot penetrate armour,
while a stout blow, well delivered with a strong arm, can break it
in.
"Are you skilled in the exercises of the ring, Monsieur Philip?"
"Not at all. I have had no practise, whatever, in them. Except in
some of the great houses, the tourney has gone quite out of fashion
in England; and though I can ride a horse across country, I know
nothing whatever of knightly exercises. My father is but a small
proprietor and, up to the time I left England, I have been but a
schoolboy."
"If all your schoolboys understand the use of their arms as you
do," Maitre Charles said courteously, "it is no wonder that the
English are terrible fighters."
"I do not say that," Philip said, smiling. "I have had the
advantage of the best teaching, both English and French, to be had
at Canterbury; and it would be a shame for me, indeed, if I had not
learnt to defend myself."
A servant now entered, and said that the countess desired their
presence, and they at once went to the apartment where the sisters
were talking.
"What do you think, mother?" Francois said. "This cousin of mine,
whom I had intended to patronize, turns out to be already a better
swordsman than I am."
"Not better, madame," Philip said hastily. "We were a fair match,
neither having touched the other."
"Philip is too modest, mother," Francois laughed. "Maitre Charles
stopped us in time to save me from defeat. Why, he has a wrist like
iron, this cousin of mine."
"We have done our best to have him well taught," Madame Vaillant
said. "There were some good swordsmen among our Huguenot friends,
and he has also had the best English teachers we could get for him.
My husband always wished, particularly, that if he ever came over
to visit our friends here, he should not be deficient in such
matters."
"I feel a little crestfallen," the countess said. "I have been
rather proud of Francois' skill as a swordsman, and I own that it
is a little mortifying to find that Philip, who is two years
younger, is already his match. Still, I am glad that it is so; for
if they ride together into battle, I should wish that Philip should
do honour to our race.
"Now, Philip, I have been hearing all about your mother's life, as
well as that of your uncle and aunt. Now let us hear about your
own, which must needs differ widely from that to which Francois has
been accustomed. Your aunt says that your English schools differ
altogether from ours. With us our sons are generally brought up at
home, and are instructed by the chaplain, in Huguenot families; or
by the priest in Catholic families; or else they go to religious
seminaries, where they are taught what is necessary of books and
Latin, being under strict supervision, and learning all other
matters such as the use of arms after leaving school, or when at
home with their families."
Philip gave an account of his school life, and its rough games and
sports.
"But is it possible, Philip," the countess said in tones of horror,
"that you used to wrestle and to fight? Fight with your arms and
fists against rough boys, the sons of all sorts of common people?"
"Certainly I did, aunt, and it did me a great deal of good, and no
harm so far as I know. All these rough sports strengthen the frame
and give quickness and vigour, just the same as exercises with the
sword do. I should never have been so tall and strong as I am now
if, instead of going to an English school, I had been either, as
you say, educated at home by a chaplain, or sent to be taught and
looked after by priests. My mother did not like it at first, but
she came to see that it was good for me. Besides, there is not the
same difference between classes in England as there is in France.
There is more independence in the lower and middle classes, and
less haughtiness and pride in the upper, and I think that it is
better so."
"It is the English custom, Emilie," her sister said; "and I can
assure you that my husband and I have got very English, in some
things. We do not love our country less, but we see that, in many
respects, the English ways are better than ours; and we admire the
independence of the people, every man respecting himself, though
giving honour, but not lavishly, to those higher placed."
The countess shrugged her shoulders.
"We will not argue, Marie. At any rate, whatever the process, it
has succeeded well with Philip."
The days passed quietly at the chateau. Before breakfast Philip
spent an hour on horseback, learning to manage his horse by the
pressure of knee or hand. This was the more easy, as both his
horses had been thoroughly trained in the menage, and under the
instruction of Captain Montpace, who had been Francois' teacher, he
made rapid progress.
"It is much easier to teach the man than the horse," his instructor
said, "although a horse learns readily enough, when its rider is a
master of the art; but with horse and rider alike ignorant, it is a
long business to get them to work together as if they were one,
which is what should be. As both your horses know their work, they
obey your motions, however slight; and you will soon be able to
pass muster on their backs. But it would take months of patient
teaching for you so to acquire the art of horsemanship as to be
able to train an animal, yourself."
After the lesson was over, Francois and Philip would tilt at rings
and go through other exercises in the courtyard. Breakfast over,
they went hawking or hunting. Of the former sport Philip was
entirely ignorant, and was surprised to learn how highly a
knowledge of it was prized in France, and how necessary it was
considered as part of the education of a gentleman. Upon the other
hand, his shooting with the bow and arrow astonished Francois; for
the bow had never been a French weapon, and the crossbow was fast
giving way to the arquebus; but few gentlemen troubled themselves
to learn the use of either one or the other. The pistol, however,
was becoming a recognized portion of the outfit of a cavalier in
the field and, following Francois' advice, Philip practised with
one steadily, until he became a fair shot.
"They are cowardly weapons," Francois said, "but for all that they
are useful in battle. When you are surrounded by three or four
pikemen, thrusting at you, it is a good thing to be able to
disembarrass yourself of one or two of them. Besides, these German
horsemen, of whom the Guises employ so many, all carry firearms;
and the contest would be too uneven if we were armed only with the
sword; though for my part I wish that all the governments of Europe
would agree to do away with firearms of every description. They
place the meanest footman upon the level of the bravest knight, and
in the end will, it seems to me, reduce armies to the level of
machines."
In the afternoons there were generally gatherings of Huguenot
gentry, who came to discuss the situation, to exchange news, or to
listen to the last rumours from Paris. No good had arisen from the
Conference of Bayonne, and one by one the privileges of the
Huguenots were being diminished.
The uprising of the Protestants of Holland was watched with the
greatest interest by the Huguenots of France. It was known that
several of the most influential Huguenot nobles had met, at Valery
and at Chatillon, to discuss with the Prince of Conde and Admiral
Coligny the question of again taking up arms in defence of their
liberties. It was rumoured that the opinion of the majority was
that the Huguenot standard should be again unfurled, and that this
time there should be no laying down of their arms until freedom of
worship was guaranteed to all; but that the admiral had used all
his powers to persuade them that the time had not yet come, and
that it was better to bear trials and persecutions, for a time, in
order that the world might see they had not appealed to arms until
driven to it by the failure of all other hope of redress of their
grievances.
The elder men among the visitors at the chateau were of the
admiral's opinion. The younger chafed at the delay. The position
had indeed become intolerable. Protestant worship was absolutely
forbidden, except in a few specified buildings near some of the
large towns; and all Protestants, save those dwelling in these
localities, were forced to meet secretly, and at the risk of their
lives, for the purpose of worship. Those caught transgressing the
law were thrown into prison, subjected to crushing fines, and even
punished with torture and death.
"Better a thousand times to die with swords in our hands, in the
open field, than thus tamely to see our brethren ill-treated and
persecuted!" was the cry of the young men; and Philip, who from
daily hearing tales of persecution and cruelty had become more and
more zealous in the Huguenot cause, fully shared their feeling.
In the presence of the elders, however, the more ardent spirits
were silent. At all times grave and sober in manner and word, the
knowledge that a desperate struggle could not long be deferred, and
the ever-increasing encroachments of the Catholics, added to the
gravity of their demeanour. Sometimes those present broke up into
groups, talking in an undertone. Sometimes the gathering took the
form of a general council. Occasionally some fugitive minister, or
a noble from some district where the persecution was particularly
fierce, would be present; and their narratives would be listened to
with stern faces by the elders, and with passionate indignation by
the younger men.
In spite of the decrees, the countess still retained her chaplain
and, before the meetings broke up, prayers were offered by him for
their persecuted brethren, and for a speedy deliverance of those of
the reformed religion from the cruel disabilities under which they
laboured.
Services were held night and morning in the chateau. These were
attended not only by all the residents, but by many of the farmers
and their families. The countess had already received several
warnings from the Catholic authorities of the province; but to
these she paid no attention, and there were no forces available to
enforce the decree in her case, as it would require nothing short
of an army to overcome the opposition that might be expected,
joined as she would be by the other Huguenot gentry of the
district.