lulled their suspicions. A guard was appointed about Coligni's person, and all the protestants lodged in his neighbourhood. Charles is said to have betrayed such fear and irresolution on the eve of St. Bartholomew, that all the art of his mother was requisite to make him give the order. "Shall the occasion," said the blasphemous Catherine, "that God presents of avenging the obdurate enemies of your authority, be suffered to escape through your want of courage? How much better is it to tear in pieces these corrupt members, than to rankle the bosom of the church, the spouse of our Lord?" This impious exhortation expelled from his bosom every sentiment of humanity, and with eyes glaring with rage, he pronounced the horrid mandate:—"Go on, then; and let none remain to reproach me with the deed." Having thus obtained her aim, Catherine anticipated the hour of the signal; the bell was rung! Coligni's house was first beset; and the admiral died as he had lived, anxious for the safety of his friends. The greatest indignities were offered to his corpse. A general massacre then ensued; and horrors, which humanity can scarce conceive, were perpetrated. About 6000 protestants, 500 of whom were nobility, thus perished in Paris, and this inhuman slaughter appears to have been premeditated before the last peace was agreed on; or it might be the subject of one of the queen's conferences with the duke of Alva, at Bayonne. About 30,000 were butchered in other parts of the kingdom. The exasperated protestants, regarding the faith of their enemies as worthless, fortified themselves to the utmost of their power, and demanded full toleration. The duke of Anjou, offended at not being appointed lieutenant-general of the kingdom after his brother's accession to the crown of Poland (the former duke of Anjou), en-
