Page images
PDF
EPUB

At a tournament, or mock encounter, in honour of the nuptials of the princess Elizabeth with the king of Spain, nothing would satisfy Henry, without breaking a lance with Gabriel, count of Montgomery, who was deemed to be uncommonly expert in such encounters. Montgomery resisted his request, as long as possible, but in vain; Henry would be obeyed, and undoubtedly expected to be victorious. Counts have pride, as well as kings, Montgomery was obliged to comply; but he did not think himself obliged to disgrace his former laurels. They met; engaged in the presence of an immense and splendid assembly, and ran violently against each other; when, a splinter of Montgomery's lance pierced the visor of the king's helmet, entered through his eye, deep into his head, which immediately deprived him of his speech, and, in ten days, of his life. Thus died Henry the second, in the forty-fifth year of his age, and in the twelfth year of his reign.

[ocr errors]

It is remarkable, that in the beginning of his reign, this ill-advised prince permitted a duel to be fought between two of the most considerable men of his court, at which he was a spectator. In that duel, the aggressor received a mortal wound; and when the king himself was mortally wounded, who aggressor, no person of common sense can be inclined to dispute.

was

the

While protestants abroad were thus exposed to the flames of persecution, at home, during the same

[blocks in formation]

periód, other protestants had much to suffer in the reigns of Henry the eighth, and Mary his daughter. It is, however, painful to remark, that in France, Germany, and England, protestants did not always behave to their lawful princes, in the genuine spirit of christianity. Many of them imbibed wrong notions of civil government; were therefore, disloyal, and drew down upon themselves much, that by faith and patience, might have been avoided.

Their rulers also erred; for while they abhored rebellion in their own dominions, they encouraged it in other places. Francis the first, and Henry the second, were frequently guilty of this injustice; and, since those days, our Charles the first, encouraged rebellion in France, and Lewis the sixteenth in America: but God, who is every where the God of order, suffered both those princes to die, by the rebellious rage of their own subjects.

These facts contain instructions it is the duty of subjects to regard, and the wisdom of kings not to forget. How goodly are the tents and tabernacles of the nation that delights in order. Happy is that people that is in such a case: yea, people, whose God is the Lord.

happy is that

FRANCIS

FRANCIS II.

1559-1560.

WHEN Francis the second, succeeded his fa

ther, he was only in the sixteenth year of his age; a young man, feeble in body, weak in understanding, and incurably corrupt in his predominant inclinations.

His mother, queen Catharine, was ambitious, voluptuous, cruel, without faith, and of a humour to sacrifice every thing to her passions; and being insatiably desirous of command, resolved, as much as possible, to retain the authority in her own hands.

For this purpose, the king was declared to be a minor, (though contrary to the declaration of former kings;) and for this purpose, she formed an union with the Lorrain princes, that by their assistance, she might obtain the government; which of right, belonged to Anthony of Bourbon, king of Navarre, and his brother Lewis, prince of Condé, first princes of the blood.

But, this ambitious woman, saw herself surrounded by men of very different abilities, interests, and inclinations. The king of Navarre, the prince his brother, the Guises, the Colignys, the constable de Montmorency, formed different parties to defend

defend and to advance themselves, under popular pretences; such as their concern for religion, liberty, and the good of their dear country: At least, there was too much of intrigue, and of worldly mindedness, both with catholics and protestants, during this short and inglorious reign. These things, joined to the extreme corruption of the court, gave those that were really religious, a very unpromising prospect, and produced much anxiety of mind.

[ocr errors]

Now were created those CHAMBERS ARDENTES, which some have called burning courts; and, well they deserved that name; for, in these fire offices, persons accused of heresy, whether male or female, opulent or poor, were condemned to be burnt, without distinction: yet, even these flaming courts did not satisfy the most zealous catholics, who thirsted for a court of inquisition, similar to that erected in Spain.

While dreadful decrees against protestants passed with applause, the most ridiculous regard for wooden images, every where abounded. They were decorated and set up in the most conspicuous places; and, at certain hours, their worshippers sang hymns, said litanies, and bowed their knees, before these blind and dumb idols, at the corner of almost every street. This extravagant devotion, increased the long list of persecutions; for those who passed a long, and did not pay apparent homage to these images, were not only exposed to the rage of

the

the rabble, but in danger of being condemned to death.

Among those that suffered under Francis the se cond, was Du Bourg; a man that had distinguished himself among roman catholics, both as a priest and counsellor. In the FORMER REIGN he spoke with great freedom in parliament, and blamed those in power for their long continued and increasing cruelty to protestants, since there were so many things reprehensible in the clergy, and in the court of Rome. DE THOU spake the same sentiments; but in a different manner, with great caution, and with unfeigned submission to the king.

[ocr errors]

In opposition to Du Bourg, Giles le Maitre, (to gratify the dutchess de Valentinois, and the Lorrain princes,) declaimed violently, against the protestants, and said, the king ought to imitate Philip Augustus, who caused six hundred ALBIGENSES to be burnt in one day. Henry the second, who was present at this debate, and approved of le Maitre's opinions, rose up, and commanded the constable to arrest Du Bourg, and to conduct him, and some others then in court, to the bastile.

Du Bourg, at first, refused to answer in confinement, the questions his judges proposed; and pleaded his privilege, as a counsellor in parliament, not to reply to any criminal charge, except in his own court. This plea was over-ruled; the king commanded him to answer, on pain of his being deemed

« PreviousContinue »