Genoa had offended the king by selling powder to the Algerines, and some ships to Spain. Louis seized, by secret warrant, _lettre de cachet_, the Genoese embassador, and plunged him into one of the dungeons of the Bastile. He then sent a fleet of over fifty vessels of war to chastise, with terrible severity, those who had offended him. The ships sailed from Toulon on the 6th of May, 1684, and entered the harbor of Genoa on the 19th. Immediately there was opened upon the city a terrific fire. In a few hours fourteen thousand bombs were hurled into its dwellings and its streets. A large portion of those marble edifices, which had given the city the name of _Genoa the Superb_, were crumbled to powder. Fourteen thousand soldiers were then disembarked. They advanced through the suburbs, burning the buildings before them. The whole city was threatened with total destruction. The authorities, in terror, sent to the conqueror imploring his clemency. The haughty King of France demanded that the Doge of Genoa, with four of his principal ministers, should repair to the palace of Versailles and humbly implore his pardon. The doge, utterly powerless, was compelled to submit to the humiliating terms. CHAPTER IX. THE REVOCATION OF THE EDICT OF NANTES. 1680-1686 Character of Madame de Maintenon.--Depression of the dauphiness.--Pere la Chaise.--The Edict of Nantes.--The Catholic clergy indignant.--Ravaillac.--Confirmation of the Edict of Nantes.--La Rochelle.--Sufferings of the Huguenots.--Policy of Louis.--Influence of Madame de Maintenon.--Religious zeal of the king.--False-hearted.--Persecution of the Protestants.--Severe measures to force proselytism.--The _dragonnades_.--Moral suasion of the dragoons.--Brutality of the soldiery.--Enactments of intolerance.--Zeal of the king.--The revocation of the Edict of Nantes.--Severe enactments against the Protestants.--Flight of the Protestants.--Numbers of the emigrants.--Scenes of suffering.--Louis alarmed.--Historical accounts of the emigration.--Multiplied outrages.--Reactions.--Secret assemblies.--Rage of the Jesuits.--New measures of the court.--Remonstrances of honorable Catholics.--Intrigues of the king.--Madame de Montespan to be removed.--Banishment of Madame de Montespan.--Parterre of Versailles.--A successful mission.--Egotism and heartlessness of the king.--Singular interview.--The king defends Madame de Maintenon's character.--Scene of frenzy and despair.--Madame de Maintenon and Madame de Montespan.