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and awaiting martyrdom。 Guy…Rochette joined them； and the prayers
were continued。
A few instants later fresh noises were heard in the street； and the
gates of the palace court groaned under blows of axe and crowbar。
Hearing these alarming sounds； the bishop； forgetting that it was his
duty to set a brave example； fled through a breach in the wall of the
next house； but Guy…Rochette and his companions valiantly resolved
not to run away； but to await their fate with patience。 The gates
soon yielded； and the courtyard and palace were filled with
Protestants： at their head appeared Captain Bouillargues； sword in
hand。 Guy…Rochette and those with him were seized and secured in a
room under the charge of four guards； and the palace was looted。
Meantime another band of insurgents had attacked the house of the
vicar…general； John Pebereau； whose body pierced by seven stabs of a
dagger was thrown out of a window； the same fate as was meted out to
Admiral Coligny eight years later at the hands of the Catholics。 In
the house a sum of 800 crowns was found and taken。 The two bands
then uniting； rushed to the cathedral； which they sacked for the
second time。
Thus the entire day passed in murder and pillage： when night came the
large number of prisoners so imprudently taken began to be felt as an
encumbrance by the insurgent chiefs； who therefore resolved to take
advantage of the darkness to get rid of them without causing too much
excitement in the city。 They were therefore gathered together from
the various houses in which they had been confined； and were brought
to a large hall in the Hotel de Ville； capable of containing from
four to five hundred persons； and which was soon full。 An irregular
tribunal arrogating to itself powers of life and death was formed；
and a clerk was appointed to register its decrees。 A list of all the
prisoners was given him； a cross placed before a name indicating that
its bearer was condemned to death； and； list in hand； he went from
group to group calling out the names distinguished by the fatal sign。
Those thus sorted out were then conducted to a spot which had been
chosen beforehand as the place of execution。
This was the palace courtyard in the middle of which yawned a well
twenty…four feet in circumference and fifty deep。 The fanatics thus
found a grave ready…digged as it were to their hand； and to save
time； made use of it。
The unfortunate Catholics； led thither in groups； were either stabbed
with daggers or mutilated with axes； and the bodies thrown down the
well。 Guy…Rochette was one of the first to be dragged up。 For
himself he asked neither mercy nor favour； but he begged that the
life of his young brother might be spared； whose only crime was the
bond of blood which united them； but the assassins； paying no heed to
his prayers； struck down both man and boy and flung them into the
well。 The corpse of the vicar…general； who had been killed the day
before； was in its turn dragged thither by a rope and added to the
others。 All night the massacre went on； the crimsoned water rising
in the well as corpse after corpse was thrown in； till； at break of
day； it overflowed； one hundred and twenty bodies being then hidden
in its depths。
Next day； October 1st； the scenes of tumult were renewed： from early
dawn Captain Bouiilargues ran from street to street crying； 〃Courage；
comrades！ Montpellier； Pezenas； Aramon； Beaucaire； Saint…Andeol； and
Villeneuve are taken； and are on our side。 Cardinal de Lorraine is
dead； and the king is in our power。〃 This aroused the failing
energies of the assassins。 They joined the captain； and demanded
that the houses round the palace should be searched； as it was almost
certain that the bishop； who had； as may be remembered； escaped the
day before； had taken refuge in one of them。 This being agreed to； a
house…to…house visitation was begun： when the house of M。 de
Sauvignargues was reached； he confessed that the bishop was in his
cellar； and proposed to treat with Captain Bouillargues for a ransom。
This proposition being considered reasonable； was accepted； and after
a short discussion the sum of 120 crowns was agreed on。 The bishop
laid down every penny he had about him； his servants were despoiled；
and the sum made up by the Sieur de Sauvignargues； who having the
bishop in his house kept him caged。 The prelate； however； made no
objection； although under other circumstances he would have regarded
this restraint as the height of impertinence； but as it was he felt
safer in M。 de Sauvignargues' cellar than in the palace。
But the secret of the worthy prelate's hiding〃 place was but badly
kept by those with whom he had treated； for in a few moments a second
crowd appeared； hoping to obtain a second ransom。 Unfortunately； the
Sieur de Sauvignargues； the bishop； and the bishop's servants had
stripped themselves of all their ready money to make up the first； so
the master of the house； fearing for his own safety； having
barricaded the doors； got out into a lane and escaped； leaving the
bishop to his fate。 The Huguenots climbed in at the windows； crying；
〃No quarter！ Down with the Papists！ 〃The bishop's servants were cut
down； the bishop himself dragged out of the cellar and thrown into
the street。 There his rings and crozier were snatched from him； he
was stripped of his clothes and arrayed in a grotesque and ragged
garment which chanced to be at hand； his mitre was replaced by a
peasant's cap； and in this condition he was dragged back to the
palace and placed on the brink of the well to be thrown in。 One of
the assassins drew attention to the fact that it was already full。
〃Pooh！〃 replied another； 〃they won't mind a little crowding for a
bishop。〃 Meantime the prelate； seeing he need expect no mercy from
man； threw himself on his knees and commended his soul to God。
Suddenly； however； one of those who had shown himself most ferocious
during the massacre； Jean Coussinal by name； was touched as if by
miracle with a feeling of compassion at the sight of so much
resignation； and threw himself between the bishop and those about to
strike； and declaring that whoever touched the prelate must first
overcome himself； took him under his protection； his comrades
retreating in astonishment。 Jean Coussinal raising the bishop；
carried him in his arms into a neighbouring house； and drawing his
sword； took his stand on the threshold。
The assassins； however； soon recovered from their surprise； and
reflecting that when all was said and done they were fifty to one；
considered it would be shameful to let themselves be intimidated by a
single opponent； so they advanced again on Coussinal； who with a
back…handed stroke cut off the head of the first…comer。 The cries
upon this redoubled； and two or three shots were fired at the
obstinate defender of the poor bishop； but they all missed aim。 At
that moment Captain Bouillargues passed by； and seeing one man
attacked by fifty； inquired into the cause。 He was told of
Coussinal's odd determination to save the bishop。 〃He is quite
right；〃 said the captain； 〃the bishop has paid ransom； and no one has
any right to touch him。〃 Saying this； he walked up to Coussinal；
gave him his hand； and the two entered the house； returning in a few
moments with the bishop between them。 In this order they crossed the
town； followed by the murmuring crowd； who were； however； afraid to
do more than murmur； at the gate the bishop was provided with an
escort and let go； his defenders remaining there till he was out of
sight。
The massacres went on during the whole of the second day； though
towards evening the search for victims relaxed somewhat； but still
many isolated acts of murder took place during the night。 On the
morrow； being tired of killing； the people began to destroy； and this
phase lasted a long time； it being less fatiguing to throw stones
about than corpses。 All the convents； all the monasteries； all the
houses of the priests and canons were attacked in turn； nothing was
spared except the cathedral； before which axes and crowbars seemed to
lose their power； and the church of Ste。 Eugenie； which was turned
int