CHAP. XXXIV.
THE HOLY AMPULLA IS BROUGHT FROM THE CHURCH OF SAINT REMY AT RHEIMS TO THE KING OF FRANCE, WHEN DANGEROUSLY ILL, AT PLESSIS LE PARC.—THE DEVOUT DEATH OF LOUIS XI.—HE IS BURIED IN THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY AT CLERY.—MAY GOD PARDON HIS SOUL!
THE HOLY AMPULLA IS BROUGHT FROM THE CHURCH OF SAINT REMY AT RHEIMS TO THE KING OF FRANCE, WHEN DANGEROUSLY ILL, AT PLESSIS LE PARC.—THE DEVOUT DEATH OF LOUIS XI.—HE IS BURIED IN THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY AT CLERY.—MAY GOD PARDON HIS SOUL!
Inthe course of this year, the king determined to have the holy ampulla brought to him from Rheims: which had descended filled with oil, by the Divine grace, by means of a white dove, in the year 500, to good St Remy of Rheims, to anoint and consecrate king Clovis of France, the first Christian king, who died in the same year,—and his body is interred in the church of St Genevieve at Paris.
This sacred ampulla had remained in the church of St Remy, for 983 years, when it was taken thence by Claude de Montfaulcon, governor of Auvergne, whom the king had especially commissioned for the purpose. It was brought to Paris on thelast day of July, and was carried with much reverence, and in procession, to repose in the holy chapel of the palace, where it remained until the morrow, and was then conveyed to the king at Plessis le Parc. It was accompanied by the rods of Moses and Aaron, and the cross of victory, which had been sent to the good king St Charlemagne, that he might obtain a conquest over the infidels. They had remained undisturbed in the holy chapel, with other relics, until they were removed, on this first day of August, by the bishop of Sees, and others appointed by the king to bring them to him at Plessis.
The 25th of August, the king's illness so much increased that he lost his speech and senses. News was brought to Paris, on the 27th, that he was dead, by letters from master John Briçonnet, which obtained belief, from the writer being a man of honesty and credit. In consequence of this intelligence, the provost and sheriffs, to provide against accidents, ordered a strong guard at each of the gates, to prevent any persons from entering into or going out of the town. This caused it to be currently rumouredthat the king was dead, but the report was unfounded,—for he recovered his speech and senses, ate and drank, and lingered on until the 30th of August, when, between six and seven in the evening, he gave up the ghost; and his corpse was instantly abandoned by those who had been so obsequious to him during his life.
His body was dressed as usual in such cases, and carried from Plessis to the church of our lady at Clery for interment, as he had thus ordered it before his decease; for he would not be buried with the noble kings of France, his predecessors, in the habitual church of St Denis,—but would never give any reason that induced him to refuse being there interred. It was, however, generally thought that it was owing to his attachment to the church of our lady at Clery, to which he had been a very great benefactor.
During his reign, there were some low persons always about him, such as Olivier le Diable, called le Daim, John de Doyac, and others, who had committed very many acts of injustice, in whom he had greater confidence than in all his ministers or kindred. They had so overloaded the peoplewith taxes that, at the time of his death they were almost in despair; for the wealth he gained from his subjects he expended upon churches, in bestowing great pensions among ambassadors, and people of low degree, to whom he could not resist making great gifts, insomuch that he had alienated the greater part of the domain of the crown.
Notwithstanding the many serious affairs he had had upon his hands during his reign, he brought all his enemies under subjection; and he was so feared and redoubted that there were none so great in France, not even those of his blood, who slept in safety in their houses.
Before his decease, he was sorely afflicted with different disorders,—for the cure of which his physicians prescribed many extraordinary remedies. May these afflictions be the means of preserving his soul, and gain him admittance into paradise, through the mercy of Him who reigns for ever and ever! Amen.