On March 1st .1562, the massacre of Vassy took place, when a Huguenout congregation was surprised and cut to pieces. On June 8 th a law was passed that enabled any person to kill any Huguenot he might meet on the spot. This was more than the Reformed could bear, and we cannot be surprised that they felt the time had come for them to repel their miseries by the sword. France was thus plunged into civil war, which progressed with varying success. The Pope ,Pius 5., now intervened, and writing to Catherine, the queen -mother advised her to pursue the Huguenots" till the are all massacred; for it is only by the entire extermination of heretics that the Roman Catholic worship can be restored." Thus was the seed of one of the most dreadful crimes that ever disgraced humanity sown by a Pious pope! This crime is known as The Massacre of St. Bartholomew,which took place on Sunday morning, August 24 th 1572 . Preparations for thisawful deed were made with crafty skill, and they we...
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