_."

[103] And yet I agree with Von Polenz, Gesch. des Franz. Calvinismus
(Gotha, 1859), ii. 188, 189, note, in regarding the Roman Catholic
accounts of Des Adrets's cruelties and perfidy as very much exaggerated,
and in insisting upon the circumstance that the barbarity practised at
Orange had furnished him not only the example, but the incentive.

[104] According to Jean de Serres, this leader was the Baron des Adrets in
person; according to De Thou, Montbrun commanded by the baron's
appointment. So also Histoire eccles., iii. 171.

[105] So at Montbrison, the Baron des Adrets reserved thirty prisoners
from the common slaughter to expiate the massacre of Orange by a similar
method. One of them was observed by Des Adrets to draw back twice before
taking the fatal leap. "What!" said the chief, "do you take _two springs_
to do it?" "I will give you _ten_ to do it!" the witty soldier replied;
and the laugh he evoked from those grim lips saved his life. De Thou (iii.
231, 232) and others.

[106] J. de Serres, ii. 188; Castelnau, liv., iv. c. ii. But the "Discours
des Guerres de la comte de Venayscin et de la Prouence ... par le seigneur
Loys de Perussiis, escuyer de Coumons, subiect uassal de sa sainctete"
(dedicated to "Fr. Fabrice de Serbellon, cousin-germain de N. S. P. et son
general en la cite d'Avignon et dicte comte,") Avignon, 1563, and
reprinted in Cimber (iv. 401, etc.), makes no mention of the fig-tree, and
regards the preservation as almost miraculous. There is a faithful
representation of the ruined Chateau of Mornas above the frightful
precipice, in Count Alexander de Laborde's magnificent work, Les Monuments
de la France (Paris, 1836), plate 179.

[107] Discours des Guerres de la comte de Venayscin, etc., 453; De Thou,
iii. 240.

[108] Mem. de Blaise de Montluc, iii. 393 (Petitot ed.): "pouvant dire
avec la verite qu'il n'y a lieutenant de Roy en France qui ait plus faict
passer d'Huguenots par le cousteau ou par la corde, que moy."

[109] "Me deliberay d'user de toutes les cruautez que je pourrois." Ib.,
iii. 20. "Je recouvray secrettement deux bourreaux, lesquels on appella
depuis mes laquais, parce qu'ils estoient souvent apres moy." Ib., iii.,
21. Consult the succeeding pages for an account of Montluc's brutality,
which could scarcely be credited, but that Montluc himself vouches for it.

[110] Since the publication of the Edict of January at Toulouse (on the
6th of February), the Protestant mini