of course, put to death. Such as refused to confess and receive the
Catholic sacraments perished by fire. A poor wretch, accused of having
ridiculed these mysteries, had his tongue torn out before being beheaded.
A cobbler, named Blaise Bouzet, was hanged for having eaten meat-soup
upon Friday. He was also accused of going to the Protestant preachings
for the sake of participating in the alms distributed an these occasions,
a crime for which many other paupers were executed. An old man of sixty-
two was sent to the scaffold for having permitted his son to bear arms
among the volunteers. At last, when all pretexts were wanting to justify
executions; the council assigned as motives for its decrees an adhesion
of heart on the part of the victims to the cause of the insurgents,
or to the doctrines of the Reformed Church. Ten, twelve, twenty persons,
were often hanged, burned, or beheaded in a single day. Gibbets laden
with mutilated bodies lined the public highways,--while Noircarmes, by
frightful expressions of approbation, excited without ceasing the fury of
his satellites. This monster would perhaps, be less worthy of execration
had he been governed in these foul proceedings by fanatical bigotry or by
political hatred; but his motives were of the most sordid description.
It was mainly to acquire gold for himself that he ordained all this
carnage. With the same pen which signed the death-sentences of the
richest victims, he drew orders to his own benefit on their confiscated
property. The lion's share of the plunder was appropriated by himself.
He desired the estate; of Francois de Glarges, Seigneur d'Eslesmes. The
gentleman had committed no offence of any kind, and, moreover, lived.
beyond the French frontier. Nevertheless, in contempt of international
law, the neighbouring territory was invaded, and d'Eslesmes dragged
before the blood tribunal of Mons. Noircarmes had drawn up beforehand,
in his own handwriting, both the terms of the accusation and of the
sentence. The victim was innocent and a Catholic, but he was rich.
He confessed to have been twice at the preaching, from curiosity, and