[126] The sentencing to death of prisoners continued daily, several being sent for execution to Blois, Tours, Orleans, and other places, “that these acts of justice might be witnessed universally and be better known.”
[127] The instructions of the King are a curious witness of the fury of the Guises: “Je vous prye, y estant arrivé, faire si bonne dilligence que vous les puissiez chastier comme ils méritent, sans avoir aucune pitié ny compassion d’eux.... Aussy je vous envoye des lettres dont le nom est en blanc et lesquelles vous ferez remplir à votre fantaisie, que j’escrips aux principaux seigneurs et gentilshommes dudit païs à ce qu’ils ayent à assembler leur voysins et vous accompaigner en ceste entreprinse.”—Négociations relatives au règne de François II, 342, 343.
[128] Throckmorton wrote on February 27, 1560: “It is reported that the idols have been cast out of the churches throughout Aquitaine and that the same would speedily be done in Provence.”—C. S. P. For., No. 779. Later, on April 14, the Venetian ambassador reports that the insurgents in Provence “have stripped the churches, and mutilated the images.”—Ibid., Ven., No. 146. In Dauphiné the achievements of Montbrun made him famous; see De Thou, Book XXV, 548 ff.
[129] Chantonnay to the duke of Sessa, March 24, 1560, K. 1,493, No. 45. At St. Malo the insurgents killed certain public officials and prevented an execution. On March 25 the cardinal of Bourbon went to Rouen; and on the same day there was a sermon in a wood without the town to above two thousand people. A priest and a clerk called them Lutherans and cast stones at them, and a riot ensued. Two days after the preacher was taken and burned (C. S. P. For., 930, March 30, 1560).
[130] C. S. P. Ven., No. 142, March 26, 1560.
[131] Ibid., No. 146, April 4, 1560; ibid., For., 952, April 6. The cardinal of Lorraine justified the drastic policy of the government, saying: “It will be more than necessary to apply violent remedies and proceed to fire and sword, as otherwise, unless provision be made, the alienation of this kingdom, coupled with that of Germany and England and Scotland, would by force draw Spain and Italy and the rest of Christendom to the same result.”—Ibid., Ven., No. 142, March 28, 1560.
[132] The court attended the spectacle of these executions “comme s’il eût été question de voir jouer quelque momerie.”—La Planche, 263.
[133] Monod, “La jeunesse d’Agrippa d’Aubigné,” Mém. de l’Acad. de Caen, 1884.
[134] C. S. P. For., 1560, Introd. Hotman vented his disappointment at the failure of the conspiracy and his wrath because of the cruel policy of the Guises in a famous pamphlet directed against the cardinal of Lorraine. It bore the significant title “Le Tigre.” See De Thou, Book XXV, 512; Weill, 40, 98, Asse, “Un pamphlet en 1560,” Revue de France, January 1876, and Dareste, Mém. de l’Acad. des sc. moral. et polit., CIV (1877), 605. Hotman’s authorship of it remained undiscovered for years. A counselor named Du Lyon, believed to be the author of it, a printer named Martin, and a merchant of Rouen, who had sponsored it, were hanged in the Place Maubert (Castelnau, Book I, chap, xi; La Planche, 312, 313; La Place, 76, 77).
In 1875 M. Charles Read published this famous pamphlet in facsimile from the only existing copy which was rescued from the burning of the Hôtel-de-Ville in 1871. The text is accompanied with historical, literary, and bibliographical notes.