| 
1829.) The Massacre of Saint Bartholomew. 457 
crush the race of vipers. Tavannes ferociously exclaimed, “ Bleed ! 
bleed! the doctors tell us that bleeding is as beneficial in-August as in 
May.” 
| These exhortations were not lost upon an enraged multitude, and the 
_ different companies emulated each other in atrocity. One Cruce, a 
agian boasted of having killed four hundred persons with his own 
and. 
The massacre lasted during the whole week, but after the first day its 
fury considerably abated ; indeed, on the Tuesday a proclamation was 
issued for putting an end to it, but no measures were taken for enforcing the 
order ; the people, however, were no longer urged on to the slaughter. 
What horrors were endured during that time, can be best described by 
those who were present or contemporaries.’ Sully gives the following 
account of his suffering: “I went to bed overnight very early ; I was 
awoke about three hours after midnight by the noise of all the bells, 
and by the confused cries of the populace. St. Julien, my governor, 
went out hastily with my valet-de-chambre to learn the cause, and I 
have never since heard anything of those two men, who were without 
doubt sacrificed amongst the first to public fury. I remained alone 
dressing myself in my chamber, where a few minutes after I observed my 
host enter, pale, and in consternation. He was of the religion, and 
having heard what was the matter, he had decided on going to mass to 
save his life, and preserve his house from plunder. He came to per- 
suade me to do the same, and to take me with him. I did not think 
fit to follow him. I resolved on attempting to get to the college of 
Burgundy, where I studied, notwithstanding the distance of the house 
where I lived from that college, which made my attempt very dan- 
gerous. I put on my scholars’ gown, and taking a pair of large prayer- 
books under my arm, I went down stairs. I was seized with horror as 
I went into the street at seeing the furious men in every direction, 
breaking open the houses, and calling out— Kill, massacre the Hugue- 
nots!” and the blood which I saw shed before my eyes redoubled my 
fright. I fell in with a body of soldiers, who stopped me; I was 
questioned—they began to ill-treat me, when the books which I carried 
were discovered, happily for me, and served me for a passport. Twice 
afterwards I fell into the same danger, from which I was delivered with 
the same good fortune. At length I arrived at the college of Burgundy ; 
a still greater danger awaited me there. The porter having twice 
refused me admittance, I remained in the middle of the street at the 
mercy of the ruffians, whose numbers kept increasing, and who eagerly: 
sought for their prey, when I thought of asking for the principal of the 
college, named Lafaye, a worthy man, and who tenderly loved me. 
The porter, gained by some small pieces of money which I put into his 
s hand, did not refuse to fetch him. The good man took me to his 
_ chamber, where two inhuman priests, whom I heard talk of the Sicilian 
Vespers, tried to snatch me from his hands, to tear me to pieces, saying, 
that the order was to kill even the infants at the breast. All that ‘he 
could do was to conduct me to a remote closet, where he locked me in. 
I remained there three whole days, uncertain of my fate, and receiving 
| no assistance but from a servant of this charitable man, who came from 
| time to time, and brought me something to live upon.” 
The Queen of Navarre has also given an account of the dreadful 
night which preceded, or rather ushered in the massacre. She relates, 
M.M. New Series —Vou.VU. No. 41. 3 .N 
