B NOTS. UT while Paris and its vicinity was the birthplace of the Huguenots, it did not represent the whole movement. The reformation was a spontaneous movement in many parts of France, a revulsion against the superstitions and abuses of the papacy. There was a great desire for the Gospel liberty of Protestantism. France is full of sacred places in Huguenot history. We can give but a brief outline of the history of the Huguenots and a brief reference to the most important of their sacred places. The history of the Huguenots may be divided into three main periods: 1. The Rise of the Huguenots. 2. The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and their persecution. 3. Their condition after the Edict of Toleration. I. The Rise of the Huguenots. With the organization of the Huguenot Church at Paris in 1559, the Huguenot movement became a formidable one to the Catholics. A large part of the best citizens of France had become identified with them, especially those of the industrious artizan class, and also the best of the nobility. Their numbers were so great that it looked as if France, like Germany, was about to revolt from the pope. Nothing but the continued adherence of the king to Catholicism saved France to the papacy. The death of King Francis I in 1559, caused two children in succession to be placed on the throne. During that time the Reformed doctrines spread amazingly. In 1561 occurred, as we have seen, the colloquy at Poissy. In that year also, Peter Viret the reformer of French Switzerland, and the companion of Calvin and Farel, in that work, came to southern France to live. He greatly strengthened the French Protestants, by his preaching. He became professor of theology at Orthez and died there. He was a great reformer. Although he had not the profundity of Calvin, or the vehemence of Farel, yet he had an unction of his own a sweetness), so that the people never tired of hearing him. The Huguenot movement had grown to such proportions as to alarm the Catholics, and the Duke of Guise and the queen-mother determined its progress must be stopped. Suddenly there came a thunderclap out of a clear sky-the grim prophecy of future bloodshed for many years. In 1562, while 1,200 Huguenots were worshipping at Vassy in a barn, the Duke of Guise fell on them with his troops and killed sixty and wounded two hundred. This high-handed act greatly alarmed the Huguenots, and the Consistory of the Paris congregation sent Beza to complain to the court, where the reply was made that the Duke of Guise, having been insulted by the Huguenots, could not restrain his troops. But the Huguenots now felt that their cause was endangered. This massacre might be repeated at any time. Hence, driven to desperation, they finally had recourse to arms. Then occurred what have been called the eight wars of the Huguenots, which changed from being a religious organization (out of self-defense) into a political one. There is no time to speak of all these wars, only of the most important. Suffice it to say that they were battles for the toleration of the Huguenot worship. The first war occurred 1562-3. During this war, Rouen, in the north of France, was beseiged by the 1 Catholic armies. The Queen of England allied herself with the Huguenots. But after a brave defence of five weeks, the city fell. The Huguenots were destroyed and some of them hung, among them their pastor, Marlorat. Toulouse, too, in southern France had to undergo the baptism of fire. There were 25,000 Huguenots in that district. The Reformed were beseiged in the city hall and were finally compelled to surrender. They celebrated the Lord's Supper, then marched out, when 3,500 were killed and 700 put to death. But when the war closed, the Huguenots gained the privilege of having the right to worship in the cities then in the hands of the Huguenots. In the second Huguenot war (1567), the Huguenots rose everywhere against the Catholic authorities. They were strong enough to beseige Paris, and fought the battle of St. Denis, just north of Paris, where the French lost their great leader, Montmorency. The third war occurred, 1568. It was during this war that Jeanne D'Albret, Queen of Navarre, allied herself with the Huguenots. Her little kingdom of Navarre was located southwest of France on the borders of the Pyrenees. The reformation early appeared there, but she did not profess the Reformed faith until 1560, when she called Viret to her land. What Joan of Arc had been to the French before, Jeanne D' Albret now became to the Huguenots. The Huguenot leaders during this war had thrown themselves into the city of Rochelle in southwestern France, on the coast. When she joined them at Rochelle with her army of 4,000 men, they were besides themselves with joy. The Prince of Conde in the Huguenot assembly, arose and resigned the command of the Huguenot army in favor of her son, Henry of Navarre. But she declined that honor for her son, saying "I and my children are here to promote the cause or to share in its disaster. The cause of God is dearer to me than the aggrandizement of my son." Rochelle from this time became the citadel of the Huguenots. During this war, occurred the terrible battle of Jarnac, where the prince of Conde, the leader of the Huguenots, was killed. This so paralyzed the Huguenot army that even Coligny could not raise their courage. In despair, the Huguenots leaders sent to Rochelle for Jeanne D' Albret to come to the army. She came and made such an eloquent appeal to the soldiers that tremendous enthusiasm was aroused and her son, |