Villegagnon

Villegagnon, by W.H.G. Kingston

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Title: Villegagnon A Tale of the Huguenot Persecution
Author: W.H.G. Kingston
Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23073]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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VILLEGAGNON ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

Villegagnon, by W.H.G. Kingston.
CHAPTER ONE.
THE TWO COUSINS.
"And what brought you to France, fair cousin?"

The question was put by a beautiful girl scarcely yet verging on
womanhood to a fine intelligent youth, two or three years her senior, as
they paced slowly on together through the gardens of the Louvre on the
banks of the Seine, flowing at that period bright and clear amid fields
and groves. Before them rose the stately palace lately increased and
adorned by Henry the Second, the then reigning monarch of France,
with its lofty towers, richly carved columns, and numerous rows of
windows commanding a view over the city on one side, and across
green fields and extensive forests, and far up and down the river on the
other.
The walk along which the young people were proceeding was shaded
by tall trees, the thick boughs of which kept off the rays of the sun,
shining brightly on the gay flowers and glittering fountains, seen in the
open space beyond them.
The young girl had the air and manner of a grown-up person, with that
perfect self-possession which seems natural to those brought up in the
atmosphere of a court.
Her companion's manner formed a contrast to hers; but though
evidently not at all at his ease, as a brave man does when called upon to
encounter danger, he had braced himself up to face those he might have
to meet, who would, he naturally felt, look down on him on account of
his travel-stained dress, his Scottish accent, and rustic appearance.
"In truth, Cousin Mary, I left Scotland as many of our countrymen are
compelled to do, to seek my fortune abroad, and have come with letters
of introduction to several noblemen and others; among them to Admiral
Coligny, my father's old comrade in arms. Our castle is well-nigh in
ruins, and my estate yields scarcely revenue sufficient to supply me
with clothes and arms, much less to restore it as I wished to have done.
I have already made two voyages to far-off lands, and come back no
richer than I went, and have at length resolved to take service in the
navy of France, in which I may hope to carve out my way to distinction,
with the help of the admiral."
"He may be ready enough to receive you and afford you his patronage;

but I warn you, Cousin Nigel, that he may be less able to forward your
interests than you may suppose. He is known to hold the principles of
the leaders of those dangerous people the Protestants, who are hated
and feared at court, where the Guises, the brothers of the Queen Regent
of Scotland, have of late gained the chief influence. Take my advice,
Cousin Nigel, seek some more profitable patron, and have nothing to
do with the Huguenots."
"I thank you for your advice, cousin. I must confess, however, that I do
not hold the opinion you express of the Protestants, but on the contrary,
am greatly inclined to agree with their principles. I lately heard a
wonderful preacher, one John Knox, who has appeared in Scotland, and
brought thousands to see the gross errors of the papal system. He
proves clearly that the Pope of Rome has no real ground for his
pretensions to be the head of Christ's Church on earth; that he cannot be
the successor of the apostle Peter, who never was Bishop of Rome; but
that he is rather the successor of the great heathen high priest, whose
idolatries he perpetuates and supports, and that therefore he and his
cardinals and priests are impostors, who should on no account be
obeyed. He clearly explains indeed that those who rule in the
Seven-hilled city represent no other than the Scarlet Woman spoken of
in the Apocalypse, their system being in truth the Mystery of Iniquity."
"Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed the young lady. "Why, Cousin Nigel, you
are a rank heretic, and were you to express such opinions as these in
public, your life would be in danger. Hundreds of Frenchmen have
already been burned for holding opinions not half as bad as those you
have expressed. I am almost afraid to