456 Popery, as it was, and will be. [ May, 
and Pestrucci, an Italian, both in Guise’s pay, then went up stairs to the 
Admiral, followed by some soldiers. He awoke by the noise, and asked one 
of his attendants what it was; he replied, “ My lord, God calls us to 
himself.” Coligny then said to his attendants, “‘ Save yourselves, my 
friends ; all is over with me. I have been long prepared for death.” 
They all quitted him but one, and he betook himself to prayer, awaiting _ 
his murderers. Every door was soon broke open, and Besme presented 
himself. “ Art thou Coligny?” said he. “Jam he indeed,” said the 
Admiral ; “ young man you ought to respect my grey hairs; but do 
what you will, you can shorten my life only by a few days.” Besme re- 
plied only by plunging his sword into Coligny’s body ; his companions 
then gave him numerous stabs with their daggers. Besme then called 
out of the window to Guise, that it was done. “ Very well,” replied he, 
“ but M. d’Angouleme will not believe it, unless he sees him at his feet.” 
The corpse was then thrown out into the court from the window ; and 
the blood spirted out on the faces and clothes of the princes. Guise 
wiped the murdered man’s face in order to recognize him, and then gave 
orders to cut off his head. * 
The ringing of the bell of St. Germain L’Auxerrois was answered by 
the bells of all the churches, and the discharge of fire-arms in different 
parts. Paris resounded with cries and howlings, which brought the 
defenceless people out of their dwellings, not only unarmed, but half 
naked. Some tried Coligny’s house in the hope of obtaining protection, 
but the companies of guards quickly dispatched them; the Louvre 
seemed to hold out a refuge, but they were driven away by men armed 
with spears and musquetry. Escape was almost impossible; the nume- 
rous lights placed in the windows deprived them of the shelter which 
the darkness would have afforded them; and patroles traversed the 
streets in all directions, killing every one they met. From the streets 
they proceeded to the houses; they broke open the doors, and spared 
neither age, sex, nor condition. A white cross had been put in their . 
hats to distinguish the catholics, and some priests holding a crucifix in — 
one hand, and a sword in the other, preceded the murderers, and encou- 
raged them in God’s name to spare neither relatives or friends. When 
the daylight appeared, Paris exhibited a most appalling spectacle of 
slaughter: the headless bodies were falling from the windows, the gate- 
ways were blocked up with dead and dying, and the streets were filled — 
with carcases, which were drawn on the pavement to the river.t : 
Even the Louvre became the scene of great carnage; the guards 
were drawn up in a double line, and the unfortunate Huguenots who — 
were in that place were called one after another, and were killed with 
the soldiers’ halberts, most of them without complaining or even 
speaking ; others appealed to the public faith and the sacred promise of 
the king. “ Great God,” said they, “ be the defence of the oppressed, 
Just Judge, avenge this perfidy.” Some of the king’s servants, who 
lived in the palace, were killed in bed. a 
Tavannes, Guise, Montpensier, and Angouleme, rode through the 
streets, encouraging the murderers. Guise told them it was the king’s 
wish ; that it was necessary to kill the very last of the heretics, and 
* De Thou, liv. 52. ; { 
+ D’Aubigné Davila, Maimbourg, De Thou, Mathieu, &c. &c. Mem. de Tavannes, © 
p- 418. Davila, liv. v. p. 620. ’ 
