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unsure seat；〃 and which in the end led to the massacre of St。
Bartholomew。
Gracious as had been the measures taken by the king to secure the
peace of his good city of Nimes； they had nevertheless been
reactionary； consequently the Catholics； feeling the authorities were
now on their side； returned in crowds： the householders reclaimed
their houses； the priests their ；churches； while； rendered ravenous
by the bitter bread of exile； both the clergy and the laity pillaged
the treasury。 Their return was not； however； stained by bloodshed；
although the Calvinists were reviled in the open street。 A few stabs
from a dagger or shots from an arquebus might； however； have been
better； such wounds heal while mocking words rankle in the memory。
On the morrow of Michaelmas Daythat is； on the 31st September
1567a number of conspirators might have been seen issuing from a
house and spreading themselves through the streets； crying 〃To arms！
Down with the Papists！〃 Captain Bouillargues was taking his revenge。
As the Catholics were attacked unawares； they did not make even a
show of resistance： a number of Protestantsthose who possessed the
best armsrushed to the house of Guy…Rochette； the first consul； and
seized the keys of the city。 Guy Rochette； startled by the cries of
the crowds； had looked out of the window； and seeing a furious mob
approaching his house； and feeling that their rage was directed
against himself； had taken refuge with his brother Gregoire。 There；
recovering his courage and presence of mind； he recalled the
important responsibilities attached to his office； and resolving to
fulfil them whatever might happen； hastened to consult with the other
magistrates； but as they all gave him very excellent reasons for not
meddling； he soon felt there was no dependence to be placed on such
cowards and traitors。 He next repaired to the episcopal palace；
where he found the bishop surrounded by the principal Catholics of
the town； all on their knees offering up earnest prayers to Heaven；
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！