One man in three was armed.

Some had arquebuses, others pistols, pikes, swords, pitchforks, poniards, clubs.

The preacher, for whose apprehension a fresh reward had been offered, was escorted to his pulpit by a hundred mounted troopers.

He begged his audience not to be scared from the word of God by menace; assured them that although but a poor preacher himself, he held a divine commission; that he had no fear of death; that, should he fall, there were many better than he to supply his place, and fifty thousand men to avenge his murder.
The Duchess sent forth proclamations by hundreds.

She ordered the instant suppression of these armed assemblies and the arrest of the preachers.
But of what avail were proclamations against such numbers with weapons in their hands.