442, 443-447.] Almost at the very time at which Montluc, who had been sent to Guienne to restore order there between the Catholics and the Protestants, was treating the latter with this shocking severity, an incident, more serious because of the rank of the persons concerned, took place at Vassy, a small town in Champagne, near which the Duke of Guise passed on returning from Germany.

Hearing, as he went, the sound of bells, he asked what it meant.

"It is the church of the Huguenots of Vassy," was the answer.

"Are there many of them ?" asked the duke.

He was told that there were, and that they were increasing more and more.