Saint Bartholomew's Eve: A Tale of the Huguenot Wars

  Chapter 4: An Experiment.

  Marie Vaillant, after remaining six weeks at the chateau, returnedto England; and Philip, with a party of twelve men, escorted her toLa Rochelle. Her visit was cut short somewhat, at the end, by theimminence of the outbreak of hostilities, in which case she mighthave found a difficulty in traversing the country. Moreover, LaRochelle would probably be besieged, soon after the war began; forbeing both an important town and port, the Catholics would beanxious to obtain possession of it, and so cut off the Huguenotsfrom escape to England, besides rendering it difficult forElizabeth to send a force to their assistance.

  "It has been a pleasant time," the countess said, on the morning ofher departure; "and your presence has taken me back five-and-twentyyears, Marie. I hope that when these troubles are past you willagain come over, and spend a happier time with me. I was going tosay that I will look well after Philip, but that I cannot do. Hehas cast his lot in with us, and must share our perils. I amgreatly pleased with him, and I am glad that Francois will have himas a companion in arms. Francois is somewhat impulsive, and liableto be carried away by his ardour; and Philip, although the younger,is, it seems to me, the more thoughtful of the two. He is one Ifeel I can have confidence in. He is grave, yet merry; lighthearted in a way, and yet, I think, prudent and cautious. It seemsstrange, but I shall part with Francois with the more comfort, inthe thought that he has Philip with him.

  "Don't come back more English than you are now, Marie; for trulyyou seem to me to have fallen in love with the ways of theseislanders."

  "I will try not to, Emilie; but I should not like the customs, didit not seem to me that they are better than my own. In EnglandProtestants and Catholics live side by side in friendship, andthere is no persecution of anyone for his religion; the Catholicswho have suffered during the present reign have done so, notbecause they are Catholics, but because they plotted against thequeen. Would that in France men would agree to worship, each in hisown way, without rancour or animosity."

  "Tell Lucie that I am very sorry she did not come over with you andPhilip, and that it is only because you tell me how occupied she isthat I am not furiously angry with her.

  "Tell her, too," she went on earnestly, "that I feel she is one ofus; still a Huguenot, a Frenchwoman, and one of our race, or shewould never have allowed her only son to come over, to risk hislife in our cause. I consider her a heroine, Marie. It is all verywell for me, whose religion is endangered, whose friends are inperil, whose people are persecuted, to throw myself into the strifeand to send Francois into the battle; but with her, working therewith an invalid husband, and her heart, as it must be, wrapped upin her boy, it is splendid to let him come out here, to fight sideby side with us for the faith. Whose idea was it first?"

  "My husband's. Gaspard regards Philip almost in the light of a son.He is a rich man now, as I told you, and Philip will become hisheir. Though he has no desire that he should settle in France, hewished him to take his place in our family here, to show himselfworthy of his race, to become a brave soldier, to win credit andhonour, and to take his place perhaps, some day, in the front rankof the gentry of Kent."

  "They were worldly motives, Marie, and our ministers would denouncethem as sinful; but I cannot do so. I am a Huguenot, but I am acountess of France, a member of one noble family and married intoanother; and though, I believe, as staunch a Huguenot, and as readyto lay down my life for our religion as any man or woman in France,yet I cannot give up all the traditions of my rank, and hold thatfame and honour and reputation and courage are mere snares. Butsuch were not Lucie's feelings in letting him go, I will be bound;nor yours."

  "Mine partly," Marie said. "I am the wife now of a trader, thoughone honoured in his class; but have still a little of yourfeelings, Emilie, and remember that the blood of the De Moulinsruns in Philip's veins, and hope that he will do credit to it. Idon't think that Lucie has any such feelings. She is wrapt up induty--first her duty to God, secondly her duty to her crippledhusband, whom she adores; and I think she regarded the desire ofPhilip to come out to fight in the Huguenot ranks as a call thatshe ought not to oppose. I know she was heartbroken at parting withhim, and yet she never showed it.

  "Lucie is a noble character. Everyone who knows her loves her. Ibelieve the very farm labourers would give their lives for her, anda more utterly unselfish creature never lived."

  "Well, she must take a holiday and come over with you, next timeyou come, Marie. I hope that these troubles may soon be over,though that is a thing one cannot foretell."

  After seeing his aunt safely on board a ship at La Rochelle, Philipprepared to return to the chateau. He and his aunt had stayed twonights at the house of Maitre Bertram, and on his returning therethe latter asked:

  "Have you yet found a suitable servant, Monsieur Philip?"

  "No; my cousin has been inquiring among the tenantry, but the youngmen are all bent on fighting, and indeed there are none of them whowould make the sort of servant one wants in a campaign--a man whocan not only groom horses and clean arms, but who knows somethingof war, can forage for provisions, cook, wait on table, and hasintelligence. One wants an old soldier; one who has served in thesame capacity, if possible."

  "I only asked because I have had a man pestering me to speak to youabout him. He happened to see you ride off, when you were herelast, and apparently became impressed with the idea that you wouldbe a good master. He is a cousin of one of my men, and heard Isuppose from him that you were likely to return. He has been to methree or four times. I have told him again and again that he wasnot the sort of man I could recommend, but he persisted in beggingme to let him see you himself."

  "What sort of a fellow is he?"

  "Well, to tell you the truth he is a sort of ne'er-do-well," themerchant laughed. "I grant that he has not had much chance. Hisfather died when he was a child, and his mother soon married again.There is no doubt that he was badly treated at home, and when hewas twelve he ran away. He was taken back and beaten, time aftertime; but in a few hours he was always off again, and at last theylet him go his own way. There is nothing he hasn't turned his handto. First he lived in the woods, I fancy; and they say he was themost arrant young poacher in the district, though he was so cunningthat he was never caught. At last he had to give that up. Then hefished for a bit, but he couldn't stick to it. He has been alwaysdoing odd jobs, turning his hand to whatever turned up. He workedin a shipyard for a bit, then I took him as a sort of errand boyand porter. He didn't stop long, and the next I heard of him he wasservant at a priest's. He has been a dozen other things, and forthe last three or four months he has been in the stables where yourhorse was standing. I fancy you saw him there. Some people think heis half a fool, but I don't agree with them; he is as sharp as aneedle, to my mind. But, as I say, he has never had a fair chance.A fellow like that, without friends, is sure to get roughlytreated."

  "Is he a young man of about one or two and twenty?" Philip asked."I remember a fellow of about that age brought out the horse, andas he seemed to me a shrewd fellow, and had evidently taken greatpains in grooming Robin, I gave him a crown. I thought he neededit, for his clothes were old and tattered, and he looked as if hehadn't had a hearty meal for a week.

  "Well, Maitre Bertram, can you tell me if, among his otheroccupations, he has ever been charged with theft?"

  "No, I have never heard that brought against him."

  "Why did he leave you?"

  "It was from no complaint as to his honesty. Indeed, he left of hisown accord, after a quarrel with one of the men, who was, as far asI could learn, in the wrong. I did not even hear that he had leftuntil a week after, and it was too late then to go thoroughly intothe matter. Boys are always troublesome and, as everyone had warnedme that Pierre would turn out badly, I gave the matter but littlethought at the time. Of course, you will not think of taking theluckless rascal as your servant."

  "I don't know. I will have a talk with him, anyhow. A fellow likethat would certainly be handy; but whether he coul
d be relied uponto behave discreetly and soberly, and not to bring me intodiscredit, is a different matter. Is he here now?"

  "He is below. Shall I send him up here to you?"

  "No, I will go down and see him in the courtyard. If he comes uphere he would be, perhaps, awkward and unnatural, and would notspeak so freely as he would in the open air."

  The merchant shook his head.

  "If you take the vagabond, remember, Monsieur Philip, that it isaltogether against my advice. I would never have spoken to youabout him, if I had imagined for a moment that you would think oftaking him. A fellow who has never kept any employment for twomonths, how could he be fit for a post of confidence, and be ableto mix as your body servant with the households of honourablefamilies?"

  "But you said yourself, Maitre Bertram, that he has never had afair chance. Well, I will see him, anyhow."

  Philip gets his first look at Pierre.]

  He descended into the courtyard, and could not help smiling as hiseye fell upon a figure seated on the horse block. He was lookingout through the gateway, and did not at first see Philip. Theexpression of his face was dull and almost melancholy, but asPhilip's eye fell on him his attention was attracted by somepassing object in the street. His face lit up with amusement. Hislips twitched and his eyes twinkled. A moment later and thetransient humour passed, and the dull, listless expression againstole over his face.

  "Pierre!" Philip said sharply.

  The young fellow started to his feet, as if shot upwards by aspring; and as he turned and saw who had addressed him, took offhis cap and, bowing, stood twisting it round in his fingers.

  "Monsieur Bertram tells me you want to come with me as a servant,Pierre; but when I asked him about you, he does not give you such acharacter as one would naturally require in a confidential servant.Is there anyone who will speak for you?"

  "Not a soul," the young man said doggedly; "and yet, monsieur, I amnot a bad fellow. What can a man do, when he has not a friend inthe world? He picks up a living as he can, but everybody looks athim with suspicion. There is no friend to take his part, and sopeople vent their ill humours upon him, till the time comes when herevolts at the injustice and strikes back; and then he has to beginit all over again, somewhere else.

  "And yet, sir, I know that I could be faithful and true to anyonewho would not treat me like a dog. You spoke kindly to me in thestable, and gave me a crown. No one had ever given me a crownbefore. But I cared less for that than for the way you spoke. ThenI saw you start, and you spoke pleasantly to your men; and I saidto myself, 'that is the master I would serve, if he would let me.'

  "Try me, sir, and if you do not find me faithful, honest, and trueto you, tell your men to string me up to a bough. I do not drink,and have been in so many services that, ragged as you see me, I canyet behave so as not to do discredit to you."

  Philip hesitated. There was no mistaking the earnestness with whichthe youth spoke.

  "Are you a Catholic or a Huguenot?" he asked.

  "I know nothing of the difference between them," Pierre replied."How should I? No one has ever troubled about me, one way or theother. When my mother lived I went to Mass with her; since then Ihave gone nowhere. I have had no Sunday clothes. I know that thebon Dieu has taken care of me, or I should have died of hunger,long ago. The priest I was with used to tell me that the Huguenotswere worse than heathen; but if that were so, why should they letthemselves be thrown into prison, and even be put to death, ratherthan stay away from their churches? As for me, I know nothing aboutit. They say monsieur is a Huguenot, and if he were good enough totake me into his service, of course I should be a Huguenot."

  "That is a poor reason, Pierre," Philip said smiling. "Still, youmay find better reasons, in time. However, you are not a Catholic,which is the principal thing, at present.

  "Well, I will try you, I think. Perhaps, as you say, you have neverhad a fair chance yet, and I will give you one. I believe what yousay, that you will be faithful."

  The young fellow's face lit up with pleasure.

  "I will be faithful, sir. If I were otherwise, I should deserve tobe cut in pieces."

  "As for wages," Philip said, "I will pay you what you deserve. Wewill settle that when we see how we get on together. Now follow me,and I will get some suitable clothes for you."

  There was no difficulty about this. Clothes were not made to fitclosely in those days, and Philip soon procured a couple of suitssuitable for the serving man of a gentleman of condition. One was ariding suit; with high boots, doublet, and trunks of sober colourand of a strong tough material; a leather sword belt and sword; anda low hat thickly lined and quilted, and capable of resisting aheavy blow. The other suit was for wear in the house. It was ofdark green cloth of a much finer texture than the riding suit; withcloth stockings of the same colour, coming up above the knee, andthen meeting the trunks or puffed breeches. A small cap with turnedup brim, furnished with a few of the tail feathers of a black cock,completed the costume; a dagger being worn in the belt instead ofthe sword. Four woollen shirts, a pair of shoes, and a cloak wereadded to the purchases; which were placed in a valise, to becarried behind the saddle.

  "Is there any house where you can change your clothes, Pierre? Ofcourse you could do so at Monsieur Bertram's, but some of the men Ibrought with me will be there, and it would be just as well thatthey did not see you in your present attire."

  "I can change at the stables, sir, if you will trust me with theclothes."

  "Certainly, I will trust you. If I trust you sufficiently to takeyou as my servant, I can surely trust you in a matter like this. Doyou know of anyone who has a stout nag for sale?"

  Pierre knew of several and, giving Philip an address, the latterwas not long in purchasing one, with saddle and bridle complete. Heordered this to be sent, at once, to the stables where Pierre hadbeen employed, with directions that it was to be handed over to hisservant.

  It was one o'clock in the day when Madame Vaillant embarked, and itwas late in the afternoon before Philip returned to MonsieurBertram's house.

  "What have you done about that vagabond Pierre?"

  "I have hired him," Philip said.

  "You don't say that you have taken him, after what I have told youabout him!" the merchant exclaimed.

  "I have, indeed. He pleaded hard for a trial, and I am going togive him one. I believe that he will turn out a useful fellow. I amsure that he is shrewd, and he ought to be full of expedients. Asto his appearance, good food and decent clothes will make himanother man. I think he will turn out a merry fellow, when he iswell fed and happy; and I must say, Maitre Bertram, that I am notfond of long faces. Lastly, I believe that he will be faithful."

  "Well, well, well, I wash my hands of it altogether, MonsieurPhilip. I am sorry I spoke to you about him, but I never for amoment thought you would take him. If harm comes of it, don't blameme."

  "I will hold you fully acquitted," Philip laughed. "I own that Ihave taken quite a fancy to him, and believe that he will turn outwell."

  An hour later one of the domestics came in, with word that MonsieurPhilip's servant was below, and wished to know if he had anycommands for him.

  "Tell him to come up," Philip said, and a minute later Pierreentered.

  He was dressed in his dark green costume. He had had his hair cut,and presented an appearance so changed that Philip would hardlyhave known him.

  "By my faith!" the merchant said, "you have indeed transformed him.He is not a bad-looking varlet, now that he has got rid of thattangled crop of hair."

  Pierre bowed low at the compliment.

  "Fine feathers make fine birds, Monsieur Bertram," replied Pierre."It is the first time I have had the opportunity of proving thetruth of the proverb. I am greatly indebted to monsieur, forrecommending me to my master."

  "It is not much recommendation you got from me, Pierre," themerchant said bluntly; "for a more troublesome young scamp I neverhad in my warehouse. Still, as I told Monsieur Philip, I thinkeverything has been agains
t you; and I do hope, now that thisEnglish gentleman has given you a chance, that you will takeadvantage of it."

  "I mean to, sir," the young fellow said earnestly, and without atrace of the mocking smile with which he had first spoken. "If I donot give my master satisfaction, it will not be for want of trying.I shall make mistakes at first--it will all be strange to me, but Ifeel sure that he will make allowances. I can at least promise thathe will find me faithful and devoted."

  "Has your horse arrived, Pierre?"

  "Yes, sir. I saw him watered and fed before I came out. Is it yourwish that I should go round to the stables where your horse andthose of your troop are, and take charge of your horse at once?"

  "No, Pierre; the men will look after him, as usual. We will startat six in the morning. Be at the door, on horseback, at that hour."

  Pierre bowed and withdrew.

  "I do not feel so sure as I did that you have made a bad bargain,Monsieur Philip. As far as appearances go, at any rate, he wouldpass muster. Except that his cheeks want filling out a bit, he is animble, active-looking young fellow; and with that little moustacheof his, and his hair cut short, he is by no means ill looking. Ireally should not have known him. I think at present he means whathe says, though whether he will stick to it is another matter,altogether."

  "I think he will stick to it," Philip said quietly. "Putting asidewhat he says about being faithful to me, he is shrewd enough to seethat it is a better chance than he is ever likely to have, again,of making a start in life. He has been leading a dog's life, eversince he was a child; and to be well fed, and well clothed, andfairly treated will be a wonderful change for him.

  "My only fear is that he may get into some scrape at the chateau. Ibelieve that he is naturally full of fun, and fun is a thing thatthe Huguenots, with all their virtues, hardly appreciate."

  "A good thrashing will tame him of that," the merchant said.

  Philip laughed.

  "I don't think I shall be driven to try that. I don't say thatservants are never thrashed in England, but I have not been broughtup among the class who beat their servants. I think I shall be ableto manage him without that. If I can't, we must part.

  "I suppose there is no doubt, Monsieur Bertram, how La Rochellewill go when the troubles begin?"

  "I think not. All preparations are made on our part and, as soon asthe news comes that Conde and the Admiral have thrown their flagsto the wind, we shall seize the gates, turn out all who oppose us,and declare for the cause. I do not think it can be much longerdelayed. I sent a trusty servant yesterday to fetch back mydaughter; who, as I told you, has been staying with a sister ofmine, five or six leagues away. I want to have her here before thetroubles break out. It will be no time for damsels to be wanderingabout the country, when swords are once out of their scabbards."

  The next morning the little troop started early from La Rochelle,Pierre riding gravely behind Philip. The latter presently calledhim up to his side.

  "I suppose you know the country round here well?"

  "Every foot of it. I don't think that there is a pond in which Ihave not laid my lines, not a streamlet of which I do not knowevery pool, not a wood that I have not slept in, nor a hedge whereI have not laid snares for rabbits. I could find my way about aswell by night as by day; and you know, sir, that may be of use, ifyou ever want to send a message into the town when the Guises havegot their troops lying outside."

  Philip looked sharply at him.

  "Oh, you think it likely that the Guises will soon be besieging LaRochelle?"

  "Anyone who keeps his ears open can learn that," Pierre saidquietly. "I haven't troubled myself about these matters. It made nodifference to me whether the Huguenots or the Catholics were in thesaddle; still, one doesn't keep one's ears closed, and people talkfreely enough before me.

  "'Pierre does not concern himself with these things. The lad ishalf a fool; he pays no attention to what is being said.'

  "So they would go on talking, and I would go on rubbing down ahorse, or eating my black bread with a bit of cheese or an onion,or whatever I might be about, and looking as if I did not even knowthey were there. But I gathered that the Catholics think that theGuises, and Queen Catherine, and Philip of Spain, and the Pope aregoing to put an end to the Huguenots altogether. From those on theother side, I learned that the Huguenots will take the first stepin La Rochelle, and that one fine morning the Catholics are likelyto find themselves bundled out of it. Then it doesn't need muchsense to see that, ere long, we shall be having a Catholic armydown here to retake the place; that is, if the Huguenot lords arenot strong enough to stop them on their way."

  "And you think the Catholics are not on their guard at all?"

  "Not they," Pierre said contemptuously. "They have beenstrengthening the walls and building fresh ones, thinking that anattack might come from without from the Huguenots; and all the timethe people of that religion in the town have been laughing in theirsleeves, and pretending to protest against being obliged to help atthe new works, but really paying and working willingly. Why, theyeven let the magistrates arrest and throw into prison a number oftheir party, without saying a word, so that the priests and thecommissioners should think they have got it entirely their own way.It has been fun watching it all, and I had made up my mind to taketo the woods again, directly it began. I had no part in the play,and did not wish to run any risk of getting a ball through my head;whether from a Catholic or a Huguenot arquebus.

  "Now, of course, it is all different. Monsieur is a Huguenot, andtherefore so am I. It is the Catholic bullets that will be shot atme and, as no one likes to be shot at, I shall soon hate theCatholics cordially, and shall be ready to do them any ill turnthat you may desire."

  "And you think that if necessary, Pierre, you could carry a messageinto the town, even though the Catholics were camped round it."

  Pierre nodded.

  "I have never seen a siege, master, and don't know how close thesoldiers might stand round a town; but I think that if a rabbitcould get through I could and, if I could not get in by land, Icould manage somehow to get in by water."

  "But such matters as this do not come within your service, Pierre.Your duties are to wait on me when not in the field, to standbehind my chair at meals, and to see that my horses are wellattended to by the stable varlets. When we take the field you willnot be wanted to fight, but will look after my things; will buyfood and cook it, get dry clothes ready for me to put on if I comeback soaked with rain, and keep an eye upon my horses. Two of themen-at-arms will have special charge of them. They will groom andfeed them. But if they are away with me, they cannot see aftergetting forage for them; and it will be for you to get hold ofthat, either by buying it from the villagers or employing a man tocut it. At any rate, to see that there is food for them, as well asfor me, when the day's work is over."

  "I understand that, master; but there are times when a lad who canlook like a fool, but is not altogether one, can carry messages andmake himself very useful, if he does not place over much value onhis life. When you want anything done, no matter what it is, youhave only to tell me, and it will be done, if it is possible."

  In the afternoon of the second day after starting, they approachedthe chateau. The old sergeant of the band who, with two of his men,was riding a hundred yards ahead, checked his horse and rode backto Philip.

  "There is something of importance doing, Monsieur Philip. The flagis flying over the chateau. I have not seen it hoisted before sincemy lord's death, and I can make out horsemen galloping to and fromthe gates."

  "We will gallop on then," Philip said, and in ten minutes theyarrived.

  Francois ran down the steps as Philip alighted in the courtyard.

  "I am glad you have come, Philip. I had already given orders for ahorseman to ride to meet you, and tell you to hurry on. The die iscast, at last. There was a meeting yesterday at the Admiral's. Amessenger came to my mother from my cousin, Francois de la Noue.The Admiral and Conde had received news, from a friend at co
urt,that there had been a secret meeting of the Royal Council; and thatit had been settled that the Prince should be thrown into prison,and Coligny executed. The Swiss troops were to be divided betweenParis, Orleans, and Poitiers. The edict of toleration was to beannulled, and instant steps taken to suppress Huguenot worship bythe sternest measures.

  "In spite of this news the Admiral still urged patience; but hisbrother, D'Andelot, took the lead among the party of action; andpointed out that if they waited until they, the leaders, were alldragged away to prison, resistance by the Huguenots would behopeless. Since the last war over three thousand Huguenots had beenput to violent deaths. Was this number to be added to indefinitely?Were they to wait until their wives and children were in the handsof the executioners, before they moved? His party were in themajority, and the Admiral reluctantly yielded.

  "Then there was a discussion as to the steps to be taken. Someproposed the seizure of Orleans and other large towns; and that,with these in their hands, they should negotiate with the court forthe dismissal of the Swiss troops; as neither toleration nor peacecould be hoped for, as long as this force was at the disposal ofthe Cardinal of Lorraine and his brothers.

  "This council, however, was overruled. It was pointed out that, atthe beginning of the last war, the Huguenots held fully a hundredtowns, but nearly all were wrested from their hands before itstermination. It was finally resolved that all shall be prepared forstriking a heavy blow, and that the rising shall be arranged totake place, throughout France, on the 29th of September. That anarmy shall take the field, disperse the Swiss, seize if possiblethe Cardinal of Lorraine; and at any rate petition the king for aredress of grievances, for a removal of the Cardinal from hiscouncils, and for sending all foreign troops out of the kingdom.

  "We have, you see, a fortnight to prepare. We have just sent outmessengers to all our Huguenot friends, warning them that the dayis fixed, that their preparations are to be made quietly, and thatwe will notify them when the hour arrives. All are exhorted tomaintain an absolute silence upon the subject, while seeing thattheir tenants and retainers are, in all respects, ready to take thefield."

  "Why have you hoisted your flag, Francois? That will only exciteattention."

  "It is my birthday, Philip, and the flag is supposed to be raisedin my honour. This will serve as an excuse for the assemblage ofour friends, and the gathering of the tenants. It has beenarranged, as you know, that I, and of course you, are to ride withDe la Noue, who is a most gallant gentleman; and that ourcontingent is to form part of his command.

  "I am heartily glad this long suspense is over, and that at last weare going to meet the treachery of the court by force. Too longhave we remained passive, while thousands of our friends have, indefiance of the edicts, been dragged to prison and put to death.Fortunately the court is, as it was before the last war, besottedwith the belief that we are absolutely powerless; and we have everyhope of taking them by surprise."

  "I also am glad that war has been determined upon," Philip said."Since I have arrived here, I have heard nothing but tales ofpersecution and cruelty. I quite agree with you that the time hascome when the Huguenots must either fight for their rights; abandonthe country altogether and go into exile, as so many have alreadydone; or renounce their religion."

  "I see you have a new servant, Philip. He is an active,likely-looking lad, but rather young. He can know nothing ofcampaigning."

  "I believe he is a very handy fellow, with plenty of sense andshrewdness; and if he can do the work, I would rather have a man ofthat age than an older one. It is different with you. You areFrancois, Count de Laville; and your servant, whatever his age,would hold you in respect. I am younger and of far lessconsequence, and an old servant might want to take me under histuition. Moreover, if there is hard work to be done for me, I wouldrather have a young fellow like this doing it than an older man."

  "You are always making out that you are a boy, Philip. You don'tlook it, and you are going to play a man's part."

  "I mean to play it as far as I can, Francois; but that does notreally make me a day older."

  "Well, mind, not a word to a soul as to the day fixed on."

  For the next fortnight the scene at the chateau was a busy one.Huguenot gentlemen came and went. The fifty men-at-arms who were toaccompany Francois were inspected, and their arms and armour servedout to them. The tenantry came up in small parties, and were alsoprovided with weapons, offensive and defensive, from the armoury;so that they might be in readiness to assemble for the defence ofthe chateau, at the shortest notice. All were kept in ignorance asto what was really going on; but it was felt that a crisis wasapproaching, and there was an expression of grim satisfaction onthe stern faces of the men, that showed they rejoiced at theprospect of a termination to the long passive suffering, which theyhad borne at the hands of the persecutors of their faith. Hithertothey themselves had suffered but little, for the Huguenots werestrong in the south of Poitou; while in Niort--the nearest town tothe chateau--the Huguenots, if not in an absolute majority, werefar too strong to be molested by the opposite party. Neverthelesshere, and in all other towns, public worship was suspended; and itwas only in the chateaux and castles of the nobles that theHuguenots could gather to worship without fear of interruption oroutrage.

  There was considerable debate as to whether Francois' troop shouldmarch to join the Admiral, at Chatillon-sur-Loing; or shouldproceed to the southeast, where parties were nearly equallybalanced; but the former course was decided upon. The march itselfwould be more perilous; but as Conde, the Admiral, and his brotherD'Andelot would be with the force gathered there, it was the mostimportant point; and moreover Francois de la Noue would be there.

  So well was the secret of the intended movement kept that theFrench court, which was at Meaux, had no idea of the danger thatthreatened; and when a report of the intentions of the Huguenotscame from the Netherlands, it was received with incredulity. A spywas, however, sent to Chatillon to report upon what the Admiral wasdoing; and he returned with the news that he was at home, and wasbusily occupied in superintending his vintage.

  On the evening of the 26th the troop, fifty strong, mustered in thecourtyard of the chateau. All were armed with breast and backpieces, and steel caps, and carried lances as well as swords. Inaddition to this troop were Philip's four men-at-arms; and fourpicked men who were to form Francois' bodyguard, one of themcarrying his banner. He took as his body servant a man who hadserved his father in that capacity. He and Pierre wore lighterarmour than the others, and carried no lances.

  Francois and Philip were both in complete armour; Philip donning,for the first time, that given to him by his uncle. Neither of themcarried lances, but were armed with swords, light battle-axes, andpistols.

  Before mounting, service was held. The pastor offered up prayersfor the blessing of God upon their arms, and for his protectionover each and all of them in the field. The countess herself madethem a stirring address, exhorting them to remember that theyfought for the right to worship God unmolested, and for the livesof those dear to them. Then she tenderly embraced her son andPhilip, the trumpets sounded to horse, and the party rode out fromthe gates of the chateau.

  As soon as they were away, the two young leaders took off theirhelmets and handed them to their attendants, who rode behind them.Next to these came their eight bodyguards, who were followed by thecaptain and his troop.

  "It may be that this armour will be useful, on the day of battle,"Philip said; "but at present it seems to me, Francois, that I wouldmuch rather be without it."

  "I quite agree with you, Philip. If we had only to fight withgentlemen armed with swords, I would gladly go into battleunprotected; but against men with lances, one needs a defence.However, I do not care so much, now that I have got rid of thehelmet; which, in truth, is a heavy burden."

  "Methinks, Francois, that armour will ere long be abandoned, nowthat arquebuses and cannon are coming more and more into use.Against them they give no protection; and it were better, methin
ks,to have lightness and freedom of action, than to have the troubleof wearing all this iron stuff merely as a protection againstlances. You have been trained to wear armour, and therefore feelless inconvenience; but I have never had as much as a breast plateon before, and I feel at present as if I had almost lost the use ofmy arms. I think that, at any rate, I shall speedily get rid ofthese arm pieces. The body armour I don't so much mind, now that Iam fairly in the saddle.

  "The leg pieces are not as bad as those on the arms. I was scarcelyable to walk in them; still, now that I am mounted, I do not feelthem much. But if I am to be of any use in a melee, I must have myarms free, and trust to my sword to protect them."

  "I believe that some have already given them up, Philip; and if youhave your sleeves well wadded and quilted, I think you might, ifyou like, give up the armour. The men-at-arms are not so protected,and it is only when you meet a noble, in full armour, that youwould be at a disadvantage."

  "I don't think it would be a disadvantage; for I could striketwice, with my arms free, to once with them so confined."

  "There is one thing, you will soon become accustomed to thearmour."

  "Not very soon, I fancy, Francois. You know, you have beenpractising in it almost since you were a child; and yet you admitthat you feel a great difference. Still, I daresay as the noveltywears off I shall get accustomed to it, to some extent."