Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew (1st ed. vol 3).djvu/106

 English were not certain as to his creed, and cautiously designated him '“a favourer, if not a member, of the Protestant Church.” But inquirers knew his decided profession, his Protestant chaplain, and his worship in Protestant Churches. In the beginning of 1571, during the interval of treacherous tranquility in his native country, his friends in France summoned him home. He set out for Hampton Court to report himself to our Queen, but was arrested by sudden death on the 14th February 1571. Though poison was suspected, the criminal who administered the poisoned apple did not confess the deed until more than a year afterwards. Odet de Chatillon lies buried in Canterbury Cathedral — the spot is described in Dart’s History of the Cathedral, as being “at the feet of Bishop Courtney, between two of the pillars bending circularly.” It is marked by “a plain tomb of bricks, made like a round-lidded chest, or not much unlike a turf grave, but higher, and composed of bricks plastered over and painted with a lead colour.”

A notable fugitive from the massacre was “the Vidame of Chartres.” Before narrating his adventures we should have a description of himself, Jean de Ferrières, Seigneur de Maligny (such was his name and original title) was of noble descent; his parents were Francois (or Jean?) de Ferrières and Louise de Vendôme. Through his maternal ancestry he was cousin and heir of Francois de Vendôme, at whose death, on 16th December 1560, he succeeded to the dignity of Vidame of the diocese of Chartres, hence he is known to posterity as Le Vidame de Chartres. The designation of his honorary office is said to be derived from “vice-dominus.” Boyer defines Vidame to signify “the Judge of a Bishop’s temporal jurisdiction — celui qui tient la place de l'Evêque entant que Seigneur temporel.” The Vidame de Chartres was renowned for valour and energy, as was his wife Françoise, widow of Charles Chabot Sieur de Sainte-Fry, daughter of François Joubert Sieur de Lanneroy by Perronnelle Carré.

He served in all the civil wars under Condé and Coligny. He visited England in the year 1562, and again in 1569. In 1562 he was sent as an envoy from the Huguenot leaders, and Queen Elizabeth entered into a treaty, giving them 6000 infantry and 100,000 crowns “to prevent Normandy from falling into the hands of the Guises, lest they should seize its ports and carry their exterminating war against Protestants into England.” She had no quarrel with the French King himself, who was a minor; and she refused his ambassador’s request to deliver up the Vidame to him as a traitor. With regard to the Vidame’s adventures I quote from Comber’s “History of the Parisian Massacre" (p. 207):— “The escape of a large body of Huguenot nobility from the toils spread around them on this day of St Bartholomew [1572] is so remarkable as to appear plainly to the attentive and judicious observer a providential event. This body, by the advice of the Vidame of Chartres would not lodge near the Admiral’s quarters, which they suspected to be dangerous, but preferred as much safer the suburbs of St Germain. However, although they retired to this quarter, expressly out of just diffidence of Charles and his perfidious Court, and from a dread of their treachery and cruelty, yet as soon as ever the confused noise of the massacre in the city arose, they seemed from that moment utterly infatuated and quite unable to guess at its cause. Nay, even when the Viscount Montgomery communicated the news which he had received concerning this tumult to the Vidame of Chartres, and a council of all the nobles was hereupon convened, yet, contrary to all probability, and even to common sense, the result of their consultation was, that this insurrection of the Guisian party was not only without, but even against, the King’s will, and that it would be a becoming act of loyalty to sally forth in a body and assist their sovereign in defence of his just authority. How little did Charles deserve these generous resolves! Maurignon, who was appointed to butcher these nobles, was now, in consequence of his orders, in the suburbs, and waiting impatiently for succours which Marcel was ordered to send him from the city. And during some hours their execution was (humanly speaking) very easy, nay, almost inevitable. But lo! the providence of God, which, having suffered these nobles to advance to the very brink of ruin, now snatched them thence by an Almighty hand in a manner, as it were, visible to the eyes of men. Marcel was dilatory in carrying his part of the orders into execution; the designed assassins dispersed to plunder; Maurignon was impatient for the