The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-03-12
I Stlrtt Mistrllunq,
THE MASSACRE OF SAINT BAR.
sait. TH0LOMEW.

GkohNO ho0 bOSA tCh JChto tAS
scene of fierce und bloody conflicts be-
tween the Catholic and Protestant par
ties, when in August, 1870. a treaty wa.
concluded at St. Germainen Laye by the
Admiral de Coligny and Henry of Ma
varre, on thesde of the Hugenots, and
the Duke of Guise, Catharine de Medicis
and Charles TX, in behalf of the Catho
lies. The terms of this peace were am.
nesty to the Protestants for past offences
liberty of worship in two towns of every
province in France, the restoration of all
con6scated property, and admissibility te
the principal offices of that State. The
long harrassed Huguenots reposed perfect
faith in this truce, and supposed them.
selves sure at last of tranquility and tol
Grafton, but they little knew the duplicity
and cruelty of the enemies with whom
they had entered into such a sclemr
league. The Infamous Queen mother
Catharine-de Medicis, one of the mos
subtle and heartless hypocrites in history,
had concerted scheme with her son
Charles, the King. and others of the Cath
. olic nobility, for exterminating the Pro
testants of France by a general massa-
ere; to which this treaty was but the pre-
liminary step. The confederates in this
diabolical plot kept it a profound secret,
while they quietly set their traps for the
victims. The King and his mother met
the Protestant leaders with beamine
smiles; and seemed by their manner te
have wholly forgotten the old animosities
and religious differences that had SO Ions
sundered them. And as il to cement The
newly formed alliance, they set on foot
project for a marriage between Henry o
Navarro and the Kings sister, Margaret
( Deceived by the honied promises and fiat
teries of Catharine, who governed he
weak-minded but bigoted son at pleasure
the Huguenots consented to the match
and focked to Paris from all quarters o
! the country to witness its celebration
The ceremony was performed publicl
on the 18th of August, 1879, in front O
the Cathedral of Notre Dame. For fou
days after the marriage, all Paris resoun
ded with festivity. During this short in
terval, the scheme for dispatching the en-
tire body Of Protestants in cold blood wa
perfected in Ill its parts. The first ste
was to assassinate the Admiral de Colie
ny, the virtual head of his party in a wa
which should cause suspicion to fall upo
the Guises as the author of the deed
This, it was hoped, would incite the Pro
testants to retaliate, and throw the cit
zens into an uproar, in the midst of whic
the horrid work might begin. III
= Accordingly, on Friday Aug. %, tn
Admiral was shot and wounded by vi
lain posted in the house, scarcely bur
bdred yard from the Palace. This alarm
ed the Protestants, and had it not bee
for the warm and reiterated pledges {
protection given them by both the Kin
and Catharine, they would immediatel
withdrawn from Paris. The prey wa
on the point of escaping no time was t
be lost. The priyy council resolved t
make bold stroke. The following Sur
day, Aug. a., was st. Bartholomew
day, which was usually devoted to feas
ing and amusements in honor of II
Saint. No time so choice as that for Il
sweet-smelling sacrifice Of heretical bloc
On Saturday night the unsuspectir
dupes, retired to rest as usual soothed
the royal Establishments. The brave O
Admiral, for the first time since the a
tempt on his life. was enjoying refres
ing slumber, sweetened by a consciou
ness OF upright intentions, and by a S
rene trust in God. Suddenly, at dead
night, he was awakened by the report
musketry, and the clang of armor
AT once divining the cause, 'he said to |
terrified attendants. ssFlvl II is INV !;