Suddenly, the window opened and Cornelius cried:—
“Back! When the powder and saltpetre take fire the falling beams will kill you!”
“Surrender,” cried the captain; “we will take you somehow, see we have muskets and pistols—”
“You have pistols, we have the club of Christ,” replied a voice from within.
Behind the soldiers a priest appeared with a cross and began to read the bishop’s missive.
“He who kills himself unlawfully is a lost man, he loses his temporal life, and draws upon himself everlasting torment.”
The muzzle of an old cannon appeared in the window, a blank cartridge was fired, not to kill but to intimidate the persecutors.
The priest hid himself behind the soldiers, while old Cornelius brandishing his fist yelled:—
“Hell’s torches! Ashes of Sodom! Sands of the ruined tower of Babylon! give me only time, dogs, you won’t escape me. I will treat you better yet. The Lord Jesus Christ will soon come and fight you, all will be fulfilled, thrones will crumble, and your bones will be thrown to the dogs like Jezebel’s! We shall burn in earthly fire, you will burn in the flames everlasting! Forge then innumerable blades, prepare then the most cruel torments, invent terrible deaths, our joy will only be the keener! Kindle, friends! the Lord is with us!”
Women’s sarafans and garments, coats, skirts, shirts, men’s tunics were thrown out of the window:—