The inhabitants were thriving and industrious; many of the manufacturers and merchants were very rich, for it was a place of much traffic and commercial importance.
Teligny, son-in-law of the Admiral, was in the city with a detachment of the Dauphin's regiment; Captain Brueuil was commandant of the town.

Both informed Coligny of the imminent peril in which they stood.

They represented the urgent necessity of immediate reinforcements both of men and supplies.

The city, as the Admiral well knew, was in no condition to stand a siege by such an army, and dire were the consequences which would follow the downfall of so important a place.

It was still practicable, they wrote, to introduce succor, but every day diminished the possibility of affording effectual relief.