The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-29
WASHINGTON, DC.
THE LITTLE HUGUEN0T.


Huguenot from the Massacre Of Saint Bartho-
lOmew's Day.
The massacre took place at Paris, in the
vesr 1872. 1t was the practical consequence
OF the hatred OF the Papists for the members
of the Reformed Religion, who desired nothing
but to think for themselves on subjects which
concerned their eternal salvation. The King
of France and his mother were at the head of
the conspiracy; and the signal for the begin
ming of the bloodshed vas the tolling of a
church bell, in the immediate neighborhood OF
the Royal Palace. Men and women Of the Re
formed Religion, ard their innocent children,
were assassnated, under the encouragement
and superintendence of the Church and State,
in ali quarters of Paris. The chief man of the
Huguenots-the famous Admiral de Coligny-
suffered with the rest of the victims. He was
officially murdered at night, in his own house,
and bis dead body was thrown from the win
dow of his bed chamber into the courtyard be
low This atrocious massacre was perpetrated
in the name of Christianity; and was invented
and directed by men who were acquainted with
the existence Of the New Testament, and who,
in the natural course of their studies, must
have read the words of the Sermon on the
Mount
In those times Of savage cruelty, and of woree
two brothers, who were Huguenots, and gentle.
men of distinction in that day. One Of the
brothers bore his family name, and was called
Monsieur de la Force. The other was known
by the title of the Sieur de Caumont.
1t so happened that some time before the
day OF the massacre M. de la Force, the young.
er Of the two brothers, had proved himself to
be a good customer and friend to a certain
horse dealer, of whom he had purchased, on
various occasions, nine or ten horses. Strange
as 1t may appear, this person, although he was
a householder, was really sensible, humane,
aud honest man. A few hours before the mas
sacre began, he happened to be in the neigh
bOrhood of Admiral de Coligny's house, and he
there saw or heard something which gave him
q suspicion of the murders which the Papists
were then on the point of committing. He i'm
medstely thought of his kind patron and cus-
toner, and determined to warn him in time of
the imminent danger to which he was exposed,
as man of distinction among the Huguenots.
To do this, it was necessary for the householder
to cross the Seine, M. de la Force living on that
bank Of the river which was opposite to the
bank on which the Kings Palace and the house
Of Admiral de Coligny were situated.
The river Seine was crossed by ferry. boats
in those days. When the horse.d reached
ace stood, aud asked for passage in one of the
ferry boats in attendance there, he was told that
they were all engaged on special service. He
went little further on, to try what he could
do at the next siation-bat here the ferry boats
had all been removed. Knowing that the min.
utes were precious, and determined to succeed
in his errand of mercy, the brave man took off
his clothes, tied them In bundle on his head
aud passed the river by swimming. Once ON
the other bank, he Loaf no time in going straight
TO the house of NJ. de la Force, aud warning
him of his danger. The Huguenot gentleman
lhereupou Immediately betook himself to his
brother the Sieur de Caumon., who lived near
him; aud the Two called together all their
friends of the Reformed Religion who were
within reach, TO consult on the best means of
escaping the deadly danger which now threat
ened them.
After some discussion, the Sieur de Caumout,
ignorant Of the part which the King had Be
cretly taken in organizing the massacre, pro.
posed that ali the persons assembled should
70 straight to the palace, and place themselves
under the royal protection. This advice was
adopted, and they set forth at once for the
nearest station OF ferry boats on that side Of
the river.
Arrived at the place, they found that every
posite bank. This circumstance aroused their
suspicious, and forced them TO the conclusion
that the conspiracy against their lives was
sanctioned in high official quarters. They re-
solved to return Immediately; to get to horse
with their families; to muster in park in the
nelghborhood of Paris, called the Pre- aux
Clercs, and thence to escape to the safest places
OF refuge at their disposal in the country.
While they were preparing for departure
news came that the ferry boats we're approach
lng the side of the river on which they lived
all filled with soldiers armed to the teeth.
Ipon this, the fugitives mounted, without
losing another instant, and made for the Pre-
sux-Clercs. The horses were ready for M. de
la Force and his brother. The Sieur de eau
mont rode off with the rest. M. de la Force
(~ho was widower) was detained by some
difficulty in getting his two boys safely on horse
baek-was detained SO long that he gave up al
hope Of joining the fugitives and, returning
to his house, closed all the doors, and deter
mined to defend his children and himself on hi.
own hearth
Defence, however, was hopeless, against the
number of assaiants who were now approach
ing him. The street was filled with soldiers
who threatened to break in the door if it wal
not opened. 1t being only too evident tina
utes, their demand was complied with, for tn,
sake OF not irritating them unnecessarily.
They rushed in at once, with their drawn
swords, headed by Captain named Martin
and all shouting together, "Kill, kill !" Thei
hrst proceeding was to disarm the master and
his servants, and to place them, with the tive
boys, IN corner of the room
Any one Of you who likes may say hi
prayers, and had better be quick about it,
SAID Captain Martin, for you will all die to
gether in five minutes time"
M. de Ia Force, preserving his selfpossession
replied:
Do what you will with ne; am prepare,
to die, if need be, in five minutes time Blu
have some compassion on these children, VII
have offended no one. By putting them
death, you will gain nothing. By preserving
their lives, you may profit yourself considers
bly, for / have the means of rewarding you
moderation by payment of a heavy ransom"
This last argument made some impressio
on Captain Martin and his men. They put u
their swords, and dispersed to pillsge the hous,
Being unable to find the necessary keys, 18th
person who kept them having taken to fight
tney burst open closed doors, and broke ope
locked boxes in the courtyard. In sho
space OF time, all the property of M. de la Fore
IN money, plate, and clothes, had passed int
their keeping.
having completed the pillage, Captain Ma
'in ana ms men came back to their prisoner
aha 'old them, with many oaths, that die the
musl, AS me soldiers had orders to kill all tb
n1gusnUs IN Paris, without sparing snybod,
"a. de Ia Force again appealed to them o
1ner only weak point, the love of money, an
promised to ransom the lives of himself hi
children, aud his servants, at the price of tw
thousand crowns.
captain Martin looked at his men, pondere
little, and then said, roughly:
80 be it. Follow me, all of you.n
Having got their prisoners into the cour