The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-05
ST. BarthoIomew's Day.


sary of the massacre of St. Bartholomew,
an event which should never pass from
memory while Papal Rome aims and
claims to be what Pagan Rome once was
Mistress of the world The response
bility of that horrid tragedy has been
proved by their own confession, to rest
upon the Papal authorities, who, beyond
all question, were accessories after the
fact if not the immediate instigators of
the massacre. The medal that was
struck at the Vatican at the time in com
memoration of the slaughter, and the
TIE Deum that was chanted in its praise,
are testimonies to the approving part
which the Pope and his Court bore in
the matter. New evidence is also com
ing to light from time to time. The
London Record of the Goth ult. has an
article from which we make an extract
"Of late, attempts have been made to
represent the massacre as arising from
a sudden impulse, and to prove that the
death of Coligny was probably all that
was intended in the first instance, but
that in any case the whole blame of the
transaction rests on the French Court.
1t is not surprising that Roman Catho-
lies should be DESTROYS in these enlight-
ened days to shift all responsibility for
so hideous crime from the heads of
their Church, but the facts of the case
appear increasingly plain to all not will
fully blind. 1t has never, we believe,
been questioned that Gregory XIII. re-
ceived the news of the massacre with
exultation, that Rome was illuminated,
and salutes fired by the guns of st.
Angelo. In addition to this, the Pope
went with his cardinals to offer public
thanks for the event at the various
churches in succession In one of these,
st. Marks, is an inscription over the
door which describes the massacre as
having taken place in consequence of
counsels given to that object, concah-
Drum dd rem datoruna. Frescoes depict
ing the massacre are still to be found in
the Vatican Library, and the medal
struck in honor of it is, of course, familiar
to every one"
A new and interesting proof of the
guilt of the Vatican has, however, lately
come to light. An account of it may be
met with in an article called "a Page
from an Old Book, in the August num-
Der of the Leisure Hour. A work was
published in 1888 entitled
six Books of Allusions, Allegories,
and Emblems, of Signor Principle Fab
rici, of Teramo, upon the Life, Works,
and Deeds of Gregory the Thirteenth,
Pontiff Maximus; In which, under the
Allegory of the Dragon, the Arms of the
said Pontiff is described the true form
Of a Christian Prince and other things.
the sum of which may be read after the
Dedication of the work to his most Illus
trious and Excellent Signor the Duke of
Sora."
Each page consists Of an engraving,
a sonnet, and marginal notes, all IN
honor Of Gregory XIII. On one page
the engraving represents the death of
Coligny; his body is in the act of falling
from the window. The sonnet is as fol-
lows We give the translation from the
Leisure Hour.
Since Coligny is dead in France and
his i'll odor quenched-his followers
scattered and broken, and given to the
blind labyrinth of every dark and black
night;
Remained the dissolute Turk, over
come by threatening, horrible, hard
blows, and the broad provinces of Asia
corrupt, trembling at the arm that held
the arrows.
Stilled every proud and naughty soul.
Enemy to God and rebel to his dear
Spouse, whom each evil and foolish soul
abhors.
Now bind, every friend Of truth and
stern justice, on his fair locks and con-
secrated temples, the chosen crown of
good iron"
The marginal note descriptive of the
illustration is as follows: 1.-THE slaugh-
ter of Coligny and his companions, con
sidered by many Roman Pontiffs in the
Vatican Palace, and completed by Gre
CORY Kill, is seen depicted.
1t will be observed that the massacre
is here so entirely attributed to the in.
stigation of the Vatican, that Catherine
share in it is not even alluded, to. This
book was dedicated to Gregory and pre-
sented to him, though it was not pub
lished till after his death. The license
to publish it was given by Sixtus V. We
may therefore be quite sure that such a
statement as this would never have been
allowed to see the light had not it's vera
city been unimpeachable. Tn an age
when systematic effort is being made
| by an influential class IN soften dovun