Planque hearing of this, in his burning zeal for the Catholic faith resolved not to leave such a crime unpunished.

He despatched a detachment of soldiers to arrest the culprits: the task was easy, for they were all once more inside the barrier and in their beds.
They were seized, brought to St.Andre's Church and shut in; then, without trial of any kind,--they were taken, five at a time, and massacred: some were shot and some cut down with sword or axe; all were killed without exception--old and young women and children.

One of the latter, who had received three shots was still able to raise his head and cry, "Where is father?
Why doesn't he come and take me away." Four men and a young girl who had taken refuge in the town of Lasalle, one of the places granted to the houseless villagers as an asylum, asked and received formal permission from the captain of the Soissonais regiment, by name Laplace, to go home on important private business, on condition that they returned the same night.

They promised, and in the intention of keeping this promise they all met on their way back at a small farmhouse.

Just as they reached it a terrible storm came on.