The mob threw themselves upon the two messengers: one was killed, and the other, after making a stout defence, returned badly wounded to the Patriarch's house, and fell dead at the preacher's feet.

The provost of tradesmen was for having the bells stopped; the riot became violent; the house of the Reformers was stormed; and the provost's archers had great difficulty in putting a stop to the fight.

More than a hundred persons, it is said, were killed or wounded.
[Illustration: Massacre of Protestants---305] In 1562, in the month of February, whilst the Guises were travelling in Germany, with the object of concluding, in the interests of policy, alliances with some German Lutheran princes, disturbances broke out at Cahors, Amiens, Sens, and Tours, between the Protestants and the Catholics.

Which of the two began them?
It would be difficult to determine.

The passions that lead to insult, attack, defence, and vengeance were mutually felt and equally violent on both sides.