Again, it would not do to call out all our Huguenot tenants; for this would leave their wives and families and homes and property, to say nothing of the chateau, at the mercy of the Catholics while they were away.

I do not think that our Catholic tenants would interfere with them, still less with the chateau; for our family have ever been good masters, and my mother is loved by men of both parties.

Still, bands might come from other districts, or from the towns, to pillage or slay were the estate left without fighting men.

Therefore, we have taken these men-at-arms into our service, with twenty of our own tenants, all young men belonging to large families; while the rest will remain behind, as a guard for the estate and chateau; and as in all they could muster some two hundred and fifty strong, and would be joined by the other Huguenots of the district, they would not likely be molested, unless one of the Catholic armies happened to come in this direction.
"Directly I start with the troop, the younger sons of the tenants will be called in to form a garrison here.

We have five-and-thirty names down, and there are twenty men capable of bearing arms among the household, many of whom have seen service.