But he
reflected that the testimony of the dead man's servants would not be
believed, and that no one in his house had seen the deed done, except
the murderers, and an old woman-servant, and a girl fifteen years of
age. He secretly tried to seize the old woman, but, finding means to
escape out of his hands, she sought sanctuary with the Jacobins,(8) and
was afterwards the most trustworthy witness of the murder. The young
maid remained for a few days in St. Aignan's house, but he found means
to have her led astray by one of the murderers, and had her conveyed to
a brothel in Paris so that her testimony might not be received.(9)
8 It was still customary to take sanctuary in churches,
monasteries, and convents at this date, although but little
respect was shown for the refugees, whose hiding-places were
often surrounded so that they might be kept without food and
forced to surrender. After being considerably restricted by
an edict issued in 1515, the right of sanctuary was
abolished by Francis I.
Pages:
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204