The Huguenot

Elizabeth tried to tie the white band to William's arm, but the brave young man just pulled it away. King Charles IX was planning to annihilate all the Huguenots in Paris on St. Bartholomew,s Day. Elizabeth was Catholic and William was a Huguenot.The Catholics had been told to wear a white arm to be identified.

"You must wear the arm band!" Elizabeth cried desperately. "I love you. I can't lose you."

"We will meet again." And with that William walked out of the garden, tall and erect.

In the town square a dozen Huguenots stood facing a hundred or so soldiers,William among them. The soldiers took out their swords and pointed them at the Huguenots.

"Do not be afraid," said William in a loud voice as the soldiers charged forward. "Our blood to be spilled today is the start of something much bigger!"

The mass murder started. Hours later, not a single sound was in the air, and in the square a mass of bodies lay about. In the middle of them Elizabeth sat cradling the lifeless body of her lover, William the Huguenot.


Painting Credit: The Huguenot by John Everett Millais