Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 12 · Part 78
The death of Henry the fourth.
HENRY the fourth King of France,Iohn de Serres in the French History. of the Royall Race of the Burbons, who for his famous rescues and victories, and martiall exploits, had purchased vntounto himself amongst his owne Subiects, the sur-name of Great, whose life and actions,Ed: Grimston. An: Christi. 1589. future ages may reade with admiration, was likewise trayterously murdered by the disloyall and vngodly practises of the Papists.
A Parliament being holden at Paris, haning disanulled the Buls of Cardinall Caietans Legation, and other Bulls come from Rome the first of March, together with their procéedings, excommunications, and fulminations, made by Marcellin Landriano, tearming himselfe the Popes Nuntio: The said Bulls, and all their procéedings an edicts being burnt in the Market place, which contained a pardon of that most cruell paracide on Henry the third lately murthered: the King was first therefore excommunicated by Pope Gregory the 4. of that name. Afterward the Iesuits vnderstanding that the King did purpose something against them, for the cruell murder committed on the person of the late King, and for other their exorbitant and deuillish practises daily intended and contriued, the Deuill stirres vp another of his deerely beloued Sonnes to murder his Maiestie on this manner following.
On Friday, the day after the Quéenes Coronation, the King being aduertised of some omninous prediction, he went into his Chamber and fell on his knees and prayed: and thus he did thrée times, in the end he went and walked in the Gallery vntill dinner time. After dinner many Noble-men came into his Chamber, and began to tell some tales to put him out of his melancholly humor, and to make him laugh: hauing …miled a little with the rest (being by nature of a pleasant disposition) in the end he said: We hauehave laughed enough for Fryday, we may well weep on Sunday.
Héereupon he sent to the Arcenall at foure of the clocke; whereupon, they say that the Duke of Uendosme told him that he had beene warned to beware of the foureteenth day; yet making no account thereof, hee went downe into the Court, whereas a man of a meane condition detained him a quarter of an houre, then hee went into his Caroch, by the Duke of Espernon (who sat… in the first place of the Boote, vppon the Kinges right hand) Montbazon, the Marshall Lauardin, La Force, and Praulin, being followed by two Foote-men, and one of his Guard on horsebacke, hauing commaunded Mounsier de Vitry, and the rest of his Guard to stay behinde.
Being betwixt the draw-bridge and the poole, this miserable wretch, who watched his opportunity, drew néere vntounto the Caroch on the right side, thinking his Maiesty had béene there; but seeing he was on the left hand, and hearing them commaund the Coachman to go on, he went the néerest way by the narrow lanes, and met with his Maiesty in the stréet called Ferroneire, neere vntounto S. Innocents Church, wher staying to make way for a Cart to passe, the King leaned downe on the one side towards Mounsier Esper…on, pressing him to reade a letter without spectacles. The Duke of Montbazon turned towards them, and one of the footmen was busie tying vp his garter on the other side: so as this monster had opportunity to stab the King into the left pa…, but the wound was not great, whereupon crying out: O my God I am wounded, he gaue him m…anes to giuegive him a second blow which was mortal, the knife entring betweene the fift and sixt rib, it cut asunder the veine leading vntounto the hart, and the wound was so déepe, as it entred into caua vena, the which was pierc…d, wherewith the King did presently spit blood, losing all apprehension and knowledge, for any thing they could perceiue. They had great diff…culty to saue the murderer from killing presently, yet in the end hee was conuaied to the house of Retz.
The King was carried backe vntounto the Louure, vponupon the way they met with the Dolphin, who went to take the ayre, but they caused him to returne, and be caried into the Quéenes Chamber. The King was laid vppon a Couch in his Cabinet, whereas presently after he gaue vp the Ghoast.
In that these Papisticall and trayterous attempts, tooke effect vntounto the murthering of these two French Kings, when the Lord of his infinite goodnesse still preserued Quéene Elizabeth, and our now dread Soueraigne King Iames from so many, and from more dangerous practises: It may certainly be concluded, that if they had no worse feared the Papists then they did, and put their trust in God as wel as they, and had according to their example purely purged their Realmes from Papistry, the sure prouidence of God would hauehave beene as sure their Castle, strong hold, and defence, as it was to them and their Realmes at all times, and in all occasions and needs.
NOw by the especiall Grace of God, and the assistance of his blessed Spirit, I hauehave sayled vntounto my expected Port, al laud and praise, and thanks therefore be giuen, vntounto the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost: And I most hartily beseech him, that this Booke may beget in the Readers a true dislike of all ceremonies, superstitions, and false Doctrines of Papistry, and to make them truely zealous of Gods word and commandements. O Lord conuert all Papists that belong vntounto thee, and hasten according to thy promises to gather all Kings together to destroy the Popedome: in the meane time, grant all Kings, Princes, and others Grace, to beware of him, that he corrupt not the soules of them nor their subieces, nor hurt their persons or estates.
And lastly, I beséech thee to gather together the number of thine elect, and hasten thy comming to iudgement, that thou ma…st take thy beloued Spouse from the miseries of this World, vntounto thy eternall glory prepared for her: com Lord Iesus come quickly.
FINIS.