Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-15
The Night Of st. Bartholomew.
MURDER OF CoLIGN'Y

however awful and affective n itself, it affords
a faint relief from the horrors of the scene, to
linger for moment over the fate of illustri-
| trious individuals who pershed in the massacre
Among the first victims to fury and treach.
cry, was the noble, the brave, the venerable
the generous, but alas the too confding Ad-
miraI de Colgny. To secure his destruction,
the Duke of Guise, at a very early period,
hurried the troops to the AdmraPs abode
Accordingly, accompanied by number of the
mobiles and multitude of soldiers, he hasten
ed to the palace where the Admiral resided,
which he surrounded by his military bands -
They forcibly entered the gate of the court,
which was kept by the guards of the King of
Navarro these with many others, they bar
barously murdered. -r
But the courage of the duke and his noble
associates began to fail at the dark deed of
blood which yet lay before them and they
shrunk from illhicting the fatal blow them
selves Perhaps they were awed by its deep
atrocity, or afraid to face their venerable vic
tim--or, perhaps they trembled in the sight of
| Heaven Whatever were their feelings, the
fears or the silent upbraidings of their con-
ence,-they dared not venture further than
the court below ; but, remaining there, they
dispatched band of ruffians to the Admiral's
apartments.
The unfortunate Coligny, hearing the tu-
mutt, the clashing of swords, and the dying
groans of his slaughtered servants, started
from his couch, and now-when, alas too
| late suspected some dark deceitful tragedy.
A sense of deep injury-of horror at the out
rage apparently contemplated sudden ap-
prehcnsion of danger to himself, and a power
full impression of his own approaching doom,
rushed into his mind, and reused a conflict of
agitated feeling. .-..
| Yet even at this moment of awful suspense,
when painful death seemed rapidly approach
ing, his courage did not fail-his great mind
qualed not before the dreadful prospect The
principles of piety which reigned within his
soul, enabled him with calmness to meet the
sudden summons, and the energies of faith po-
werfuIy and sweetly sustained him in the aw-
| full conflict
He calmly kneeled down by the side of his
couch and looking towards heaven, and clasp
ing his hands in the attitude of prayer, he pour
ed out his soul in deep, devout, and imploring
application.
! A few moments passed-moments of strange
and mingled emotion-moments Of awful and
unutterable sUlemnity to the humble and ador-
ing suppliant at the throne--when Cornaton,
one of his faithful attendants, rushed into his
apartment with countenance of awful ankle
ty and horror.
"We are gone my Lord y he wildly ex-
claimed" we are gone we are betrayed !
God calls us to himself The house has been
forced, and no means remain for resistance or
escape" -
The Admiral instantly arose from his knees
evincng by the dignity and calmness of his
couhtenance, the consoling, strengthening, and
elevating influence of his derout and holy ex-
ercise He mildly replied to the frantic ex-
clamation, l....
well Cornaton, [ am ready Let it
come / have long been prepared. AS for
you my faithful attendants save yourselves the
best way you can, for you cannot save my life
| commend my soul to the mercy Of my God :"
Al this moment the murderers burst into the
apartment, and advancing towards the Admit
raj the leader of the band furiopsly demanded
Art thou the Admiral de Coligny 2"
81 AM" he REPLIED with nexpressible COM
posure, with dignity and grace of inefable
benignity that awed them to silence, and stay
ed for moment their murderous design He
then added in accents solemn and impressive,
" Young man Reverence these grey hairs,
my wounds and my infrmties ! But, do what
thou wilt, thou canst only shorten my poor af-
ficted life very few days"
The words were scarcely uttered, when the
murderous assailant, mastering his momentary
feeling of conjunction, plunged his sword,
with the fury of fiend, into the breast of the
brave Coligny, who fell to the ground without
a struggle or Il groan, and expired beneath
the daggers, the insults, and the curses of the
coward and the furious demons of destruction.
The lifeless form of the unfortunate Coligny
was precipitated into the court Of the palace,
where it was instantly surrounded by the eager
crowd below who surveyed the manged form
with satisfaction. Wounds and blood had al
tered the appearance of the Admiral so much,
that none who had known could recognize him
now H
But when the Duke of Guise, in the Joy and
triumph of gratifed revenge, wiped the blood
from his face, his venerable features were dis
tinctly recognised. Though many marks of
violence marred his noble countenance, yet its
former aspect might still be clearly seen. The
stiffness and paleness of death which rested
over it, seemed but the smile and the plecid
i look Of life which in former days arrayed
it, His eyes, indeed, at whose piercing glance
his mightiest foes had trembled, were now
forever seaed--and the tongue that had been
used to counsel or command, was now forever
hushed-and the sage aud fearless spirit that
had swayed the mightiest destines was now
forever fed.
But his lofty brow, though mangled and
disfgured-and his hoary locks though clot-
ted with his gore-and his noble couutenance.
though covered with the image and the pale
ness Of death, fully evinced the features of the
brave but unfortunate Coligny.
Being now completely satisfied with the Ad-
nirals identity, the JOY OF his murderers was
unflisguised and boundless.
Now recognize him :" exclaimed the