The New International Encyclopædia/Montgomery, Gabriel, Count de

MONTGOMERY, Gabriel, Count de (1530-74). French knight of Scottish extraction. He was an officer in the Scottish Life Guard of the King of France, and in a tournament held June 29, 1559, accidentally inflicted a mortal wound on Henry II. Montgomery, although blameless, left France, and soon after embraced Protestantism in England. On the commencement of the religious wars in 1562, he returned to his native country to support the Protestant cause, and defended Rouen with great bravery. In the third civil war he was one of the leaders of the Protestants, and gained many advantages over the Royalists in Languedoc and Béarn. During the massacre of Saint Bartholomew's he happened to be at Paris, but fled to England, owing his escape to the fleetness of his horse. In April, 1573, be appeared off Rochelle with a small fleet, but failed in accomplishing anything. Next year, at the head of a band of Huguenots, he landed in Normandy and commenced war there; but being compelled at last to surrender the Castle of Domfront, he was carried to Paris, and was beheaded.