Today is Sunday March 1st, 2020.

On this day in 1562, Francis Duke of Gies ordered the massacre of dozens of Protestants as they worshipped in a makeshift

church. The massacre marked the beginning of the blood-soaked French Wars of Religion.

Welcome to today in True Crime,

a parcast original.

Due to the graphic nature of today's crimes,

listener discretion is advised. Extreme caution is advised for listeners under 13.

Today we're covering the massacre of Vassie, which resulted in over 60 deaths and over 100 injuries

and kicked off decades of bloodshed across France.

Let's go back to the French town of Vossi

on Sunday, March 1st, 1562. 2.

Francis, the Duke of Gies, had decided to take a detour that day.

Instead of the most direct route home, he ordered his horse and the soldiers accompanying him

to pass through the city of Vassie. Some locals came out to greet the procession,

waving as the men rode through the town. They hadn't made it all the way

through Vassie, however, when music caught the Duke's attention. He looked around and realized the sound was coming from a large barn.

The barn doors were closed and windows were boarded up.

The Duke pulled his horse to a stop and his men followed suit.

With the noise from the horses quieted, he listened closely.

The sound was unmistakably a hymn, but not a Catholic one.

Francis was sure he knew every hymn.

This tune was a Protestant song of worship,

...