“Jean-Louis-Alberic, Baron de Raunay, guilty of heresy, of the crime of lese-majeste, and assault with armed hand against the person of the king.”
A tall handsome man mounted the scaffold with a firm step, bowed to the people and the court, and said:
“That sentence lies. I took arms to deliver the king from his enemies, the Guises.”
He placed his head on the block, and it fell. The Reformers chanted:—
“Thou, O God! hast proved us;
Thou hast tried us;
As silver is tried in the fire,
So hast thou purified us.”
“Robert-Jean-Rene Briquemart, Comte de Villemongis, guilty of the crime of lese-majeste, and of attempts against the person of the king!” called the clerk.
The count dipped his hands in the blood of the Baron de Raunay, and said:—
“May this blood recoil upon those who are really guilty of those crimes.”
The Reformers chanted:—
“Thou broughtest us into the snare;
Thou laidest afflictions upon our loins;
Thou hast suffered our enemies
To ride over us.”