at Venaissin. This was early in February, 1571. Now began a
scene of rapine and bloodshed that might demand detailed mention, were it
not that at the frequent repetition of such ghastly recitals the stoutest
heart sickens. Men, and even mere boys, of the reformed faith were
butchered in their homes, in the arms of their wives or their mothers. The
goods of Protestants were plundered and openly sold to the highest
bidder. Of many, a ransom was exacted for their safety. The work went on
for two weeks. At last a deputy from Orange reached the Huguenot princes
and the admiral at La Rochelle, and Count Louis of Nassau, who was still
there, wrote to Charles with such urgency, in the name of his brother, the
Prince of Orange, that measures were taken to repress and punish the
disorder.[805]

[Sidenote: The Protestants at Rouen attacked, March 4, 1571.]

A much more serious infringement upon the protection granted to the
Protestants by the edict, took place at Rouen about a month later.
Unable to celebrate their worship within the city walls, the
Protestants had gone out one Sunday morning to the place assigned them
for this purpose in the suburbs. Meantime a body of four hundred Roman
Catholics posted themselves in ambush near the gates to await their
return. When the unsuspecting Huguenots, devoutly meditating upon the
solemnities in which they had been engaged, made their appearance,
they were greeted first with imprecations and blasphemies, then with a
murderous attack. Between one hundred and one hundred and twenty are
said to have been killed or wounded. The punishment of this audacious
violation of the rights of the Protestants was at first left by
parliament to the inferior or presidial judges, and the investigation
dragged. The judges were threatened as they went to court: "Si l'on
scavoit que vous eussiez informe, on vous creveroit les yeux; si vous
y mectez la main, on vous coupera la gorge!" The people broke into the
prisons and liberated the accused. The civic militia refused to
interfere. It was evident that no justice could be obtained from the
local magistrates. The king, however, on receiving the complaints of
the Huguenots, displayed great indignation, and despatched Montmorency
to Rouen with twenty-seven companies of soldiers, and a commission
authorized to try the culprits. The greater part of these, however,
had fled. Only five persons received the punishment of death; several
hundred fugitives were hung i