in the autumn of 1561. The magistrates were, however, afraid to carry
the sentence into effect. Granvelle did not cease to censure them for
their pusillanimity, and wrote almost daily letters, accusing the
magistrates of being themselves the cause of the tumults by which they
were appalled. The popular commotion was, however, not lightly to be
braved. Six or seven months long the culprits remained in confinement,
while daily and nightly the people crowded the streets, hurling threats
and defiance at the authorities, or pressed about the prison windows,
encouraging their beloved ministers, and promising to rescue them in case
the attempt should be made to fulfil the sentence. At last Granvelle
sent down a peremptory order to execute the culprits by fire. On the
27th of April, 1562, Faveau and Mallart were accordingly taken from their
jail and carried to the market-place, where arrangements had been made
for burning them. Simon Faveau, as the executioner was binding him to
the stake, uttered the invocation, "O! Eternal Father!" A woman in the
crowd, at the same instant, took off her shoe and threw it at the funeral
pile. This was a preconcerted signal. A movement was at once visible in
the crowd. Men in great numbers dashed upon the barriers which had been
erected in the square around the place of execution. Some seized the
fagots, which had been already lighted, and scattered them in every
direction; some tore up the pavements; others broke in pieces the
barriers. The executioners were prevented from carrying out the
sentence, but the guard were enabled, with great celerity and
determination, to bring off the culprits and to place them in their
dungeon again. The authorities were in doubt and dismay. The
inquisitors were for putting the ministers to death in prison, and
hurling their heads upon the street. Evening approached while the
officials were still pondering. The people who had been chanting the
Psalms of David through the town, without having decided what should be
their course of action, at last determined to rescue the victims. A vast