several Protestant pastors had wonderful escapes. The celebrated
D'Espine--the converted monk who took part in the Colloquy of Poissy--was
in company with Madame d'Yverny when her disguise was discovered, but he
was not recognized.[1034] In the case of Merlin, chaplain of Admiral
Coligny, the divine interposition seemed almost as distinct as in that of
the prophet Elijah. After reluctantly leaving Coligny, at his earnest
request, and clambering over the roof of a neighboring house, he fell
through an opening into a garret full of hay. Not daring to show himself,
since he knew not whether he would encounter friends or foes, he remained
for three days in this retreat, his sole food an egg which a hen daily
laid within his reach.[1035]

The future minister of Henry the Fourth, Maximilien de Bethune, Duke of
Sully, at this time a boy of twelve and a student in the college of
Burgundy in Paris, has left us in his "Economies royales" a thrilling
account of his escape. Awakened, about three o'clock in the morning, by
the uproar in the streets, his tutor and his valet-de-chambre went out to
learn the occasion of it, and never returned. They were doubtless among
the first victims. Sully's trembling host--a Protestant who consented
through fear to abjure his faith--now came in, and advised the youth to
save his life by going to mass. Sully was not prepared to take this
counsel, and, so putting on his scholar's gown, he ventured upon the
desperate step of trying to reach the college. A horrible scene presented
itself to view. Everywhere men were breaking into houses, or slaughtering
their captives in the public streets, while the cry of "Kill the
Huguenots" was heard on all sides. Sully himself owed his preservation to
two thick volumes of "Heures"--Romish books of devotion--which he had the
presence of mind to take under his arm, and which effectually disarmed the
suspicions of the three successive bands of soldiers that stopped him. At
the college, after with difficulty gaining admission, he incurred still
greater danger. Happily the principal, M. Du Faye, was a kind-hearted man.
In vain was he urged, by two priests who were his guests, to surrender the
Huguenot boy to death, saying that the order was to massacre even the very
babes at the breast. Du Faye would not consent; and after having secretly
kept Sully locked up for three days in a closet, he found means to restore
him to his friends.[1036]

[Sidenote: Death of the philo