The massacre of St. Bartholomew — Story, Setting & Ideas

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Authors: White, Henry, 1812-1880 Digital Source: Project Gutenberg Gutenberg Release Year: 2025 First Publication Year: Not confirmed

Key Word: France -- History -- Wars of the Huguenots, 1562-1598; Saint Bartholomew's Day, Massacre of, France, 1572 Target Reader: Readers of public-domain and historical texts

Book Edition: Project Gutenberg digital edition Book Language: en

Edition facts

Words 184,960

Reading time 805 min

Text sections 38

This digital edition of The massacre of St. Bartholomew — Story, Setting & Ideas is described by source-level measurements including 184,960 words, 13 hr 25 min estimated reading time, and 38 detected text sections.

The text analysis averages about 20.3 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.

Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “France -- History -- Wars of the Huguenots, 1562-1598,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.

Source: Project Gutenberg record #75970

Henry White's 1868 history traces the French Wars of Religion through the reign of Charles IX, culminating in the 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. The narrative voice shifts from restrained preface to vivid battle scenes, with a focus on political maneuvering and the human cost of religious conflict.

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Description quality20 pts
Title & short description10 pts
Source metadata20 pts
Text length15 pts
Chapters / structure15 pts
EPUB file integrity20 pts

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File: pg75970

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Causes of the Reformation--Lefevre of Etaples--Francis I.--Revival of Learning--La Renaissance--Clerical Manners--Early Converts and first Victims--Jacques Pavannes, Berquin--Margaret of Valois--Calvin and his Institutes--The King’s Inconstancy--Edict of Fontainebleau--Two Heretics burned--Treaty of Crespy--Vaudois Persecution--The Baron of Oppède--Massacre at Mérindol--Cry of Indignation--Sadolet, Bishop of Carpentras--Tragedy of Meaux--A Cloud of Witnesses--Stephen Dolet and Robert Stephens--Marot--The last Martyr--Death of Francis I.--His Funeral Sermon--His Character PAGE 1

Henry II.--Catherine and Diana--Montmorency--Coronation--King enters Paris--Fêtes--Heretic Burning--New Edicts--Chambres Ardentes--Edict of Chateaubriant--Persecution at Angers, Le Puy, Velay--Inquisition proposed--Resistance of Parliament--Siege and Battle of St. Quentin--Affair of the Rue St. Jacques--Martyrdom of Philippa de Lunz--Calvin’s Letter--Pré aux Clercs and Marot’s Psalms--Peace of Cateau-Cambresis--Divisions in the Paris Parliament--The Mercurial of June--Du Faur and Du Bourg arrested--First Synod of Reformed Churches--Confession of Faith and Book of Discipline--Edict of Ecouen--The Tournament--Henry’s Death 22

Catherine de Medicis--The Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine--St. André--Anthony of Navarre and Condé--Coligny and Andelot--Disgrace of Montmorency--Persecuting Edicts--Execution of Du Bourg--Discontent in France--Edict of Chambord--La Renaudie--The Meeting at Nantes--Tumult of Amboise--Bloody Reprisals--Castelnau’s Trial and Execution--The Duke’s Viands--Aubigné and his Son--Grace of Amboise--Regnier de la Planche--Renewal of Persecutions--L’Hopital made Chancellor--Edict of Romorantin--Religious and Political Malcontents--Abuse of the Pulpit--The Tiger--General Lawlessness--Huguenot Violence--Demand for a Council--Montbrun and Mouvans--L’Hopital’s Inaugural Address--Les Politiques--The Notables at Fontainebleau--Montluc and Marillac--Meeting at Nerac--Address presented to Anthony--The Court at Orleans--Arrest and Trial of Condé--Death of Francis II. 61

FRANCE AT THE ACCESSION OF CHARLES IX.

Contrast--Power of King and Nobles--The Provinces--Roads--Rate of Traveling--Forests--Wild Animals--Brigandage--Inns--League of the Loire--Agriculture--Condition of the Peasantry--Rent--Serfage--Wages--Cost of Provisions--Food--Sumptuary Laws--Social Changes--Ignorance of the People--Population of France--Taxation--Army and Navy--The Clergy--Superstitions--Justice--Punishments--Brutality of Manners--Domestic Architecture--Paris--Cities of France: Orleans, Rouen, Bordeaux, Dieppe, Lyons, Boulogne, Dijon, Moulins, St. Etienne, and Toulouse 112

FROM THE ACCESSION OF CHARLES IX. TO THE MASSACRE OF VASSY.

Character of the Boy-King--Portrait of Catherine--The States-General--The Chancellor’s Address--Speeches of the Three Orators--Agitation in the Provinces--Religious Amnesty--Edict of July--Provincial Assemblies Convoked--Instructions of the Isle of France--The Triumvirate--States of Pontoise--Proposals of Reform--Colloquy of Poissy--Beza--Conference in the Queen’s Chamber--King’s Speech--Beza’s Defense--Catherine’s Liberal Spirit--Spread of New Doctrines--Monster Congregations--The Guises Intrigue with Spain--Violence of the Clergy--Massacres at Cahors and Aurillac--Amiens--Huguenot Outrages--Riot of St. Médard--Notables at St. Germains--Edict of January, 1562--Violence at Dijon and Aix--Anthony’s Apostasy--The Duke and the Cardinal at Saverne--Massacre at Vassy--Both Parties Arm--Guise Enters Paris--Plot to Seize the King 145

Beginning of Reaction--Causes of the War--The Huguenots arm--Advice of Coligny’s Wife--Covenant of Association--Massacre at Sens and Sisteron--Discipline of the Armies--Catherine attempts to mediate--Conference at Thoury--Negotiations broken off--Fearful state of Paris--The Constable’s violence--Appeals to Foreign Sympathy--Successes of the Royalists--Atrocities at Blois and Tours--Rouen Besieged--The Breach stormed--The Hour of Vengeance--Pastor Marlorat hanged--Death of Anthony of Navarre--Disturbances in Normandy--Offer of Amnesty--Battle of Dreux--Condé and Montmorency captured--St. André killed--Siege of Orleans--Duke of Guise murdered--Poltrot de Méré--Pacification of Amboise--Distress caused by the War--Death of Coligny’s Son--Letter to his Wife 195

Nature of the Struggle--Montluc--His Barbarity--Des Adrets--His Ferocity--Murders at Gaillac--The Reform in Provence and Languedoc--Scenes at Orange--Revolt at Valence--Disturbances at Lyons--Compromise--La Rochelle--Massacre at Toulouse--Exodus of Sisteron--Sauteries of Macon--Limoux--Palm Sunday at Castelnaudary--The Monks of St. Calais--Violence in Berry--The Châtelaine of Avallon--The Proctor of Bar--Atrocities of the Bishop of Le Mans and his Lieutenant--Huguenot Cruelties at Dieppe and Bayeux--Angoulême--Quarrels at Court--Siege of Havre--Duplicity of English Government--Charles Proclaimed of Age--His Character--Council of Trent 229

THE MEETING AT BAYONNE.

[June, 1565–March, 1568.]

The Royal progress--Bayonne in June--Identical note--Amusements--Political Deliberations--The Queen of Navarre Excommunicated--Catherine’s Remonstrance--The Pope yields--State of Gascony--Assembly of Notables at Moulins--Feud between Guise and Coligny--Montmorency and the Cardinal--Disturbed state of Maine--Montluc pacifies Gascony--Embassy from Germany--Rebellion in Flanders--March of Alva--Condé leaves the Court--Rumored Plot--Huguenot Meeting at Chatillon--War resolved upon--Attempt to seize Charles--Huguenot Rising--Battle of St. Denis--Death of the Constable--German Auxiliaries--Michelade of Nismes--Siege of Chartres--Peace of Longjumeau--Death of Coligny’s Wife 247

JARNAC AND MONCONTOUR.

State of the Country--The National Party--Atrocities and Retaliation--L’Hopital’s Retirement--The Catholic League--League of Toulouse--The New Plot--The Flight to Rochelle--Aid from England--Anjou, Commander-in-Chief--Battle of Jarnac--Death of Condé--Henry of Bearn--Siege of Cognac--Junction of Duke Wolfgang--Death of Brissac--Battle of Roche-Abeille--Siege of Poitiers--Moncontour--The Admiral’s letter to his Children--Siege of St. Jean D’Angely--Desmarais--The Great March--Cruelties at Orthez, Auxerre, Orleans, Cognat, Aurillac--Coligny’s illness--Battle of Arnay-le-Duc--Treaty of St. Germains 283

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.

[August, 1570, to August, 1572.]

Albert and Pierre de Gondi, Birague, Strozzi, Nevers, and Henry of Guise--Marriage of Charles IX.--Nuptial Festivities at Paris--Embassy of the German Princes--Violent Sermons--Outrages at Orange and Rouen--Objects of the Politiques--Revolt in Flanders--Position of Affairs--Interview between the King and Prince Louis of Nassau--Spanish Threats--Coligny’s Marriage--The Admiral goes to Blois--Conferences with the King--Proposed Marriage of Henry and Margaret--Murder of Lignerolles--The Gastine Cross--Queen of Navarre at Blois--Alessandrino’s Special Embassy--Letters to Rome--Negotiations--Pope refuses the Dispensation--Fears of the Parisians 319

THE MARRIAGE AND THE PLOT.

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Henry White's preface immediately establishes a dual purpose: to describe the 'great struggle' that devastated France and to warn against the persistence of intolerance. He writes with evident regret about the 'cruel persecutions' of the Reformers, yet insists that such pages of history 'contain warnings that it may be well to repeat from time to time.' This measured, moralizing tone contrasts sharply with the narrative chapters, where White adopts a more dramatic register—describing, for instance, how 'the peasantry were between two millstones' during the third civil war, with famine and pestilence following in the wake of armies.

A Preface of Restraint and Warning

White opens his work with a careful, almost apologetic preface. He states that his three preliminary chapters 'necessarily contain many notices of the cruel persecutions,' but he would be 'much grieved' if readers thought he wrote to rekindle religious strife. This defensive posture suggests an awareness of his audience—likely a mid-nineteenth-century Protestant readership. He draws a direct line from sixteenth-century atrocities to contemporary 'mob-law and other forms of terrorism,' arguing that the step from such intimidation to 'the prison, the rack, and the stake' is not wide. The preface thus frames the entire history as a moral lesson, not merely a chronicle of events. White's voice here is that of a Victorian moralist, urging readers to 'revive occasionally the memory of those who have served God in the fire.'

Narrative Voice: From Restraint to Vivid Detail

Once past the preface, White's prose becomes more engaged and pictorial. In Chapter IX, he describes the aftermath of the third civil war with a series of concrete images: towns 'half deserted,' volunteer partisan corps roaming the countryside, and 'drum-head justice' replacing regular courts. He quotes Schiller—'men became savage like their countries'—and adds his own grim details about the appropriation of city chests and the limits of extortion being 'the means of the citizens to pay.' The narrative voice shifts from the preface's measured reflection to a reporter's eye for telling specifics. White also weaves in primary sources, such as King Charles IX's letters to provincial governors, which he presents as evidence of 'conciliatory feeling' that ultimately failed. This alternation between panoramic summary and documentary detail gives the history a layered texture.

Pace and Structure: The Gathering Storm

The book's structure mirrors the accelerating conflict. White devotes three preliminary chapters to the formation of Huguenot character under persecution, then moves through a series of civil wars, each described with increasing urgency. In the excerpt from Chapter IX, the pace quickens as he lists battles—Jarnac, Roche-Abeille, Moncontour—and atrocities at Orthez, Auxerre, and Orleans. The chapter headings themselves become a litany of violence: 'Atrocities and Retaliation,' 'The New Plot,' 'Cruelties at Orthez.' White's sentences grow shorter and more declarative during battle sequences, while his analysis of political maneuvering (such as the Parliament of Paris refusing to register the sale of church property) remains more deliberate. This rhythmic shift between action and reflection keeps the reader engaged without losing historical depth.

Readers should note that White's history, while grounded in nineteenth-century scholarship, offers a particular moral lens. His preface explicitly warns against the dangers of intolerance, and his narrative choices—dwelling on atrocities, quoting conciliatory letters that failed—reinforce that lesson. The book is best approached as a work of its time, blending archival research with a clear authorial stance. Pay attention to how White uses primary documents: they are not neutral evidence but tools to support his argument about the futility of persecution.

Sometimes a book stays with you long after the page is turned, like that pale, terrible dawn in Paris, where neighbor turned on neighbor and the old certainties dissolved into smoke. It makes me think of another volume on my shelf, a quieter but no less haunting tale of the sea’s fury—The Wreck of the "Royal Charter" Compiled from Authentic Sources, with Some Original Matter — Inside the Classic—two chronicles of human frailty, bound by the same unspoken dread.