Besides, the Court hath not seen that Pardon, he oughted to have produced it in writing under the Kings Hand and Seal, and to forgive him once more, would put him into such a condition, as to contrive always Treasons against the State; the remedy of a present evil is not to be neglected upon the hope of an uncertain good; he is in a case to be no more useful; nothing can be expected from his courage but revenge; he that can bring no profit by his virtue and faithfulness, must do it by being made an exemple.
Such were for the most part the reasons of the Court, according to which, and to the conclusions of the Attorney General, the Chancellor did pronounce Sentence of death against the Prisoner; some were of opinion thatla Finshould be arrested, as one that could not justifie himself, for having concealed such a damnable Conspiracy, till he saw that theSpanishaffairs went to wrack. The Chancellor did moderate these opinions, representing that the Conspiracy was not yet wholly discovered, and that such things would hinder the rest of those that knew some thing of it to reveal it; that a man that saveth the Kings Person and his Estate, ought rather to be rewarded then punished. And in confirmation of this, the King sent Letters tola Fin, by which he assured him, that such a service done to him and his Kingdom, should never prove his ruine.
The Court stayed onely for the Kings intention upon the execution of the Sentence, whichSilleryhad carried to St.Germain. The Scaffold was ready to be set up in the place ofGreve, but the execution might have proved dangerous, in the middle of so much people of different humors and tempers; and already there was a rumour, as if some body should throw him a Sword, with which he should make himself a passage, or else have died with a blow less shameful then that of the Hangman; upon his friends intreaty the execution was ordered to be done in theBastille.
The next day about noon, the people knowing that the Sentence was past, went some to theGreve, thinking that the execution should be done there, others to St.Antonystreet, to see the Prisoner pass by; he saw from his Chamber that multitude, and guessed that he was to be the Spectacle of those Spectators; here the anguish of the Grave began to beset him, and drawing a consequence from the shadow of death, that the body was not far of; he sentBarantonaScotishGentleman to intreat the Marquess ofRhosnyto come to see him, or if he could not come, to sue for his Pardon to the King. He sent him answer, he could do neither, and that he was extreamly sorry for his misfortune, that if he had believed him at his coming to Court, he should have confessed what the King did desire to know of him, for by concealing of it, he did hinder the King to give him his life, and all his friends to sue for it.
The next day last ofJuly1602. the Chancellor, the first President,Sillery, three Masters of Requests, some Officers of the Chancery,RapinLieutenant of the short Gown, his Lieutenant,Daniel VoisinRegister of the Court of Parliament, six Sergeants, and seven or eight more went to the Bastille, about ten of the Clock in themorning, as soon as they were come in the Chancellor commanded that the Prisoners Dinner should be carryed, without giving him notice of his coming, and in the mean time he and the first President made a List of those whom they would have to be present in that action: Some Presidents, three Masters of Requests, three Auditors, six Serjeants of the Parliament, the Lieutenant Civil, the Kings Attorney at theChastelet,Rapinand his Lieutenant, the Knight of the Watch, the Prevost of the Merchants, four Aldermen, four Councellors of the City, and some few others, to the number of fifty.
About noon the Prisoner looking through the Grates of his Chamber Windows, perceived the Wife ofRumigny, Captain of the Castle, weeping with her hands up and guessed that those Tears were drawn by the compassion of his Fortune. He was confirmed in his opinion, when he saw the Chancellor followed by the Serjeants,Rapinand his Lieutenant, and some others go through theBastillesYard into the Chappel, then he began to cry aloud, O my God I am a dead man, ah, what injustice it is to put an Innocent Person to death, thereupon he intreatedRumignyto tell his Brothers, Sisters and Kindred, that they should not be ashamed of his death, because he was Innocent of that he was accused.
The Chancellor commanded he should be brought down into the Chappel, where as soon as he saw the Chancellor, are you come, said he, to pronounce me my death: The Chancellor saluted him, then put on his Hat, the Prisoner stood bare headed, and began to speak first. Ah my Lord Chancellor, is there no pardon? is there no Mercy? such and such (whom he did name one after another) have committed such offences and yet have been pardoned. What? you that look like an honest man, have you suffered that I should be so miserably condemned? ah! my Lord, if you had not told the Court that the King would have me to die, they would not have condemned me so. My Lord, my Lord, you could have hindred that evil, and you have not done it, you shall answer for that injustice before all the rest of the Judges that have condemned me, and saying so, he stroke the Chancellor upon the Arm. Ah! what a great service the King doth this day to the King ofSpain, to rid him of such an Enemy as I was, might I not have been kept within four Walls, till some occasion had offered where I might have been useful? Ah my Lord, have you forgot my fathers love to you so much, as not to give notice to the King of what I say, and what dammage he suffereth in loosing me: I am yet as willing as ever to do Service to the Kingdom, you could let him know so much, he hath so good an opinion of you, I am sure he would believe you: A Messenger could quickly go thither and back again; what shall a thousand Gentlemen my Kinsmen say? doth he think that after my death they can do him any service? and what if I had been guilty, would I have come upon those false assurances that PresidentJaninthat great Cheat gave me, when he told me, that businesses were so ill mannaged inFrance, that it was fit I should see the King and tell him of it, who at my perswasion would settle them in better order: I have neglected all the advices of my friends to hearken unto his perswasions. I have trusted to that cursed Traitorla Fin, who writ to me that I could come in all safety, and that he had told the King nothing but of the Marriage that was propounded to me with a daughter ofSavoy, that the King would receive me with all kindness. What then? the goings to and fro of many, the reasons of those who advised me to come, and the Kings Letters, were they all baits to catch me: I am well served to have trusted to much upon his Word, I could have sought and got other securities, if I had not trusted to my Innocency; I am come upon the confidence of my integrity since his pardon. Ah! doth he not know that he hath forgiven me; I have lied some evil designs, I have hearkened, I have written, I have spoken, I confessed them all atLyon, he did assure me never to remember it, and did exhort me that from hence forwards I should commit nothingthat might compel me to have recourse to his clemency: Nevertheless I am now accused of things that are blotted out by his pardon; I have not offended him since, unless it be in that I desired War rather than Peace, because my humour is not peaceable, had not the King at that time reason to approve of it? if this Crime deserveth death I fly to his clemency, I implore his Mercy. The Queen ofEnglandtold me, that if the Earl ofEssexwould have humbled himself, and asked forgiveness, he should have obtained it: I do, being Innocent, what he would not do being guilty. Ah! Shall all Mercy be put out for me; those that have done worse have found Grace and Mercy: I perceive what it is, I am not the more guilty but the most unhappy, and the King, who hath been so sparing of his Subjects lives, hath a mind to be prodigal of mine.
To conclude, he forgot nothing of what might be said by a soul pierced with grief spite, anger, and violent threatning, in exclamations and revilings against the King and his Parliament, in reproaches against the Chancellor, that he had more contributed to his condemnation than to his absolution, in words that are not fit to be spoken nor related.
His words ran so fast that the Chancellor could not stop them: Nevertheless he took occasion to tell him, his passion suggested him many things without appearance of reason, and against his own judgment, that no body had known his defects better than he, and that he could have wished his faults had been as unknown as dissembled, that the knowledge of them had been so visible and apparent, that his Judges had more ado to moderate his punishment than to inflict it. That Sentence was given upon the proofs of several attemps he had made against the Kings Person and his Estate, and for having kept intelligence and correspondency with the Enemies of the Kingdom, of which he had been found guilty, that if he had concealed the truth in the answers to his accusations, he should now reveal it being so near to his end, and that for these causes the King did ask his Order of Knighthood, and his staff of Marshal ofFrance, with which he had formerly honoured him: He pulled the Order out of his Pocket and put it into the Chancellors hands, Protesting and Swearing upon the Salvation of his Soul, that he never had broken the Oath he made in receiving it, that (it is true) he had desired War more than Peace; because he could not preserve in Peace, the reputation he had got in War, as for the Staff, he never carryed it: Nevertheless by the Oath that the Knights of the Holy Ghost take, they are bound to take no Pension, Wages nor Money from forrain Princes, and to engage themselves in no bodies service but the Kings, and faithfully to reveal what they shall know to be for or against the Kings service.
After that the Chancellor exhorted him to lift up his thoughts from Earth to Heaven, to call upon God, and to hear patiently his Sentence.
My Lord (said he) I beseech you do not use me as other men; I know what my Sentence beareth, my accusations are false, I wonder the Court would Condemn me upon the Evidence of the most wicked and detestable man that is alive; he never came near me without Witchcraft, nor never went from me till he had bewitched me, he did bite my left ear off, and made me drink inchanted waters, and when he said, that the King had a mind to rid himself of me, he called me his King, his Benefactor, his Prince, his Lord, he hath communication with the Devils, and hath shewed me a Wax Image, speaking these words in Latine,Rex impie morieris, ungodly King thou shalt die. If he hath had so much power by his Magick, as to make an inanimate body to speak, it is no wonder that he should make my Will conformable to his.
Here the Chancellor stopt him, and told him, that the Court had well considered his answers, and his Letters, that he ought not to find fault with his Sentence, that it had done him the same justice as a Father should do to his son, if he had offendedin the like manner. He had scarce spoken these words when the other answered, what Judgment? I have been heard but once, and had no time to tell the fiftieth part of my justification; if I had been heard at large, I could have made it clearly appear thatla Finis such a one as I say; what Judgment upon the Evidence of a Bougerer? of a Rogue that hath forsaken his Wife, of a treacherous and perfidious man, that had Sworn so many times upon the Holy Sacrament, never to reveal what was between us, of a Knave that hath so often counterfeited my Hand and Seal: It is true, I have written some of those Letters that were shewed me, but I never intended to put them in Execution: and the rest are falsified: Is there not many that can counterfeit so well the Hand and Seal of others, that themselves can scarce distinguish them. It is well known that the LadyMarchionessofVernevilhath lately acknowledged that to be her own hand, which she had never written. My Heart and my Actions have sufficiently countervailed the faults of my Hand, and of my Tongue. Besides, the King hath forgiven me, I do implore his Memory for a Witness. You say I have been found guilty to have attempted upon the Kings Person; that is false, that never came into my mind, and I knew nothing of it till thatla Findid propose it to me before St.KatherinesFort, six or seven days after the Siege, if I had been thus minded, I could have easily brought it to pass; I was the only man that hindred the King to go before the Fort: If my services had been taken into consideration, I should not have been thus condemned: I believe that if you had not been present, the Parliament would not have judged me so rigorously; I wonder that you, whom I thought to be prudent and wise, have used me so cruelly; it would have been more honourable for your quality and old age to implore for me the Kings Mercy, than his Justice. There is Dungeons here where I might have been kept bound hand and foot; I should have at last that comfort to pray for those who should have got me that favour from the King. If I had been but a single Souldier, I should have been sent to the Galleys; but because I am a Marshal ofFrance, I am thought to be as dangerous a man to the State, as I have been useful heretofore. My life is sought after, I see there is no Mercy for me; the King hath often forgiven those, who not only intended to do evil, but had done it; this Vertue is now forgotten, he giveth occasion now to the World to believe, that he never used clemency or forgiveness, but when he was afraid. I was of opinion, that if I had killed one of his Children he would have forgiven me. Is it not pity that my Father should have run so many dangers, and at last died in the field to keep the Crown upon his Head, and that now he should take my head off my Shoulders, is it possible he should forget the services I have done him? doth he not remember the conspiracy ofMantes, and the dangers he should have been in if I had taken the Conspirators part? Hath he forgotten the Siege ofAmiens, where I have been so often among the fire and Bullets, neglecting my own life to preserve his, I have not a Vein but hath been open to preserve his own Blood, I have received five and thirty wounds to save his life; he sheweth now that he never loved me but when he had need of me, he taketh away my head, but let him beware that the Justice of God doth not fall upon his. My Blood shall cry for revenge for the wrong that is done me to day, I call the King ofSpainand the Duke ofSavoyto Witness, if I know any thing what is laid to my charge.La Finhimself did shew me sometimes a Catholick List of about fourscore Gentlemen, who received Pension from the King ofSpain, I had never so much curiosity as to read it; let him be put to the rack he shall tell many particularities of it; the King within a little while shall perceive what he getteth by my death; I shall at last die a good Catholick, and constant in my Religion, I believe that’s the cause of my death.
The Chancellor seeing that all his discourses were full of passion, vanity and repetitions, and void of reason, and were like an impetuous Torrent that cannot be stopt,and that all his words were nothing but reproaches against the King and the Court of Parliament, blasphemies against God, and execrations against his Accusers; said that his business called him away, and that in his absence he would leave him two Divines to comfort him, and to dispose his soul to leave quietly this World, for the enjoying of a better.
As the Chancellor was going out, the Prisoner begged of him that he might have the liberty to make his Will, because he did owe much, and much was owing to him, and he desired to satisfie every body. The Chancellor answered, that the RecorderVoisinshould stay with him to write his Will under the Kings good pleasure. And as the Chancellor spoke toVoisin, the Prisoner turning toRoissy, Master of Requests, asked him if he were, one of those that had condemned him: my Father hath loved you so much, that though you were one, yet should I forgive you.Roissyanswered, my Lord, I pray God Almighty to comfort you.
They went out, and he with a quiet mind and free from passion, did dictate his Will in what form he would, with the sameGarbe, as if he had been making a Speech at the head of an Army; he remembred his friends and servants, and did not forget the Baron ofLux, whom he loved above all the rest. He lest eight hundred Livers a year to a Bastard of his, whom he begot of a woman that he left with Child of another, to which child he left a Mannor nearDijonthat had cost him six thousand Crowns, he disposed all the rest of his Debts, and answered modestly, and without confusion to all the Notes and Bills that were brought him about his affairs. Took three Rings off his fingers, and intreatedBarantonto give them to his Sisters, two to the Countess ofRoussy, and the other to that of SaintBlancard, desiring they would wear them for his sake; he distributed in Alms about 200. Crowns that he had in his Pocket, fifty to theCapuchines, fifty to theFueillants, fifty to theMinimes, and the rest to several poor people.
The Will being made, the Recorder put him in mind how my Lord Chancellor had told him he was condemned to death, and that according to the ordinary forms of the Law, he must have his Sentence read to him; that this action required humility, therefore willed him to kneel before the Altar, leaving off hence forth all thoughts of this World, to think upon the Father of Mercies; he kneeled with the right knee upon the first step of the Altar, and heard it read as followeth:
Seen by the Court, the Chambers being assembled together, the Process extraordinarily made by the Presidents and Councellors, appointed by the King under his Letters Patents, dated the 18 and 19 ofJune, at the request of the Kings Sollicitor General, against the LordCharlesofGontaultofBiron, Knight of both Orders, Duke ofBiron, Peer and Marshal ofFrance, Governour ofBurgundy, Prisoner in the Castle ofBastille, accused of high Treason, Informations, Interrogations, Confessions and denials, Confrontations, and Witnesses, Letters, Advices, and Instructions given to the Enemies, and acknowledged by him, and all what the Solliciter General hath produced. Sentence of the 22 of this Month, by which it was ordered, that in the absence of the Peers ofFrancesummoned, it should be further proceeded to Judgment Conclusions of the Kings Sollicitor, the accuser being heard and interrogated, all things being duly considered, hath been concluded, that the said Court hath declared, and declareth the said Duke ofBiron, attainted and convicted of high Treason, for the conspiracies by him made against the Kings Person and Estates, Proditions and Treaties with his Enemies, when he was Marshal of the Army of the said King, for reparation of which Crime, the said Court hath deprived and depriveth him of all his Estates, Honours and Dignities, and hath condemned and condemneth him to be beheaded upon a Scaffold, which for that purpose shall be erected in the place ofGreve, hath declared, and declareth, all and every one of his Goods, moveable or unmoveable, in whatsoever places scituated and seated, to be acquired and confiscated to the King, the Mannor ofBiron, deprived for ever of the Title andDukedom and Peerage, and altogether all his other Goods, immediately holden from the King, reunited to the Crown again. Done in Parliament the last day ofJuly 1602. Signed in the Original byde Belieure, Chancellor ofFrance, Councillor in the Court, Reporter of the Process.
Seen by the Court, the Chambers being assembled together, the Process extraordinarily made by the Presidents and Councellors, appointed by the King under his Letters Patents, dated the 18 and 19 ofJune, at the request of the Kings Sollicitor General, against the LordCharlesofGontaultofBiron, Knight of both Orders, Duke ofBiron, Peer and Marshal ofFrance, Governour ofBurgundy, Prisoner in the Castle ofBastille, accused of high Treason, Informations, Interrogations, Confessions and denials, Confrontations, and Witnesses, Letters, Advices, and Instructions given to the Enemies, and acknowledged by him, and all what the Solliciter General hath produced. Sentence of the 22 of this Month, by which it was ordered, that in the absence of the Peers ofFrancesummoned, it should be further proceeded to Judgment Conclusions of the Kings Sollicitor, the accuser being heard and interrogated, all things being duly considered, hath been concluded, that the said Court hath declared, and declareth the said Duke ofBiron, attainted and convicted of high Treason, for the conspiracies by him made against the Kings Person and Estates, Proditions and Treaties with his Enemies, when he was Marshal of the Army of the said King, for reparation of which Crime, the said Court hath deprived and depriveth him of all his Estates, Honours and Dignities, and hath condemned and condemneth him to be beheaded upon a Scaffold, which for that purpose shall be erected in the place ofGreve, hath declared, and declareth, all and every one of his Goods, moveable or unmoveable, in whatsoever places scituated and seated, to be acquired and confiscated to the King, the Mannor ofBiron, deprived for ever of the Title andDukedom and Peerage, and altogether all his other Goods, immediately holden from the King, reunited to the Crown again. Done in Parliament the last day ofJuly 1602. Signed in the Original byde Belieure, Chancellor ofFrance, Councillor in the Court, Reporter of the Process.
He was not moved at these words,attainted and convicted of high Treason, but at these,against the Person of the King, he fell into a rage, and Swearing as he had done many times before, and shall do hereafter with great Oaths and Imprecations, there is no such thing, said he to the Recorder, it is false, blot out that; he was also very angry, hearing that he was to be executed in the place ofGreve, thinking that for several respects he was to be distinguished from the common sort of people, and Swore again, that he would not go thither, and that he had rather to be torn in pieces by wild Horses, and that it was not in the power of all those that stood by to carry him thither, then he was a little appeased, whenVoisintold him, that the King had done him that favour to change the place of Execution, and that it was to be done in theBastille. The confiscation of his Goods, and the revenues of the Dukedom ofBironto the Crown, was the last point of the Sentence that vexed him. What? said he, doth the King intend to grow rich out of my poverty? The Lordship ofBironcannot be confiscated, I only possessed it by substitution of my Brethren, what shall my Brethren do, the King ought to have been satisfied with the loss of my life.
The Sentence being pronounced,Voisindid exhort him again to renounce all the vanities of the world, to take no other care but of the Salvation of his Soul, which was to be first by reconciling himself to God Almighty, and that there was two Divines for that purpose, and that according to the usual forms of Executions, he would be pleased to suffer himself to be bound. That word of Execution did seem so horrid to him, that he fell into a new rage, Swearing, that he would never permit so infamous a person to touch him, otherwise than with the Sword, and that he had rather be hewen in pieces. To keep him from falling into a further despair,Voisinleft him, with his Divines,viz.Garnier Almonec, and Confessor to the King, and after that Bishop ofMontpelier, andMagnan, Curate of St.Nicolasin the fields atParis, who began to talk boldly to him of his death, and to disvest himself of all his thoughts, as he had done of his Goods, and to take no other care than that of his Soul, whereupon he fell into a passion again, Let me alone (said he) it is I that must think upon my Soul, you have nothing to do with it, I had no need of you, you shall not be troubled to hear my confession; what I speak aloud is my confession, I have been these eight days a confessing my self, and the last night, me thought I saw the Heavens opened, and that God lent me his Hand; my Keepers heard me laugh for joy in my sleep. The Divines did not loose Courage for all that, but more and more intreated him to consider, that he was no more what he had been before, that within one or two hours he should be no more, that he must change to be for evermore, that his Soul was ready to appear before the fearfull Throne of the living God, to be rewarded with a more happy life than that he had hitherto passed; or be condemned to an Eternal pain and that in comparison of that which he was to suffer now, it was no more than the slight pricking of a Pin, and having in some measure appeased him, they left him to examine his Conscience, whileVoisinwent to give notice of his refusing to be bound; the Chancellor doubted whether he should be compelled to it; the first President said, that it was dangerous to let him loose;Silleryhaving learned ofVoisinthat the Prisoner was at that time very quiet, said, that if they went about to bind him, he would break all the bonds of Patience, and should never be brought to Execution but in a rage and dispair; according to that opinion he was left free in his body, that he might be the more free in his thoughts.
Which were more to the World, and to the setling of his affairs, than to the saving of his Soul, which he had neglected all his life time, and shewed himself utterly ignorant of the principles of his Religion, for which he said a little before, he was put to death, and those that were present related, that his Prayers made him appear more a Souldier than a Christian; he prayed in commanding, and commanded in praying.
His Confession being ended, he walked in the Chappel with one hand upon his side, and with the other holding the strings of his Shirt, did unbutton and button again his Doublet.Voisinbeing come back told him, that the Chancellor and the first President were very glad to hear of his Patience, and of his constant resolution to die. He talked much of the Money he had atDijon, of the worth of his Jewels, and of what was owing to him, and what himself did owe, he desired that some Sums of Money should be paid to certain Gentlemen, that had no Obligation for it: But still he broke forth into exclamations concerning his Innocency, and execrations againstla Fin, asking if it should not be lawfull for his Brothers to prosecute him, and to cause him to be burnt.
Upon this, those that kept him during his Imprisonment, came to take their leave of him, every one having his left hand upon the handle of his Sword, and Tears in his Eyes, he moved them to compassion by the sight of his present condition, and exhorted them to serve the King faithfully, against whom he had said he had done nothing amiss, and complained that he could find no Mercy at his Hands, intreated them to pray to God for him, and to oblige them to that, distributed among them all his Cloaths and linnen, and Watches; he desired also the Knight of the Watch to tell the King, that his Servants knew nothing of his Affairs, that the Earl ofAuvergnewas not to be questioned upon that account: He intreated much one exempt of the Guards to go to the said Earl, and tell him he had laid nothing to his charge, and that he went to die without any grief, but of the loss of his friendship, and that the shortness of his life would not give him leave to shew in effect how much he was his servant. The Earl sent him word, that he did accept of his farewell, as of an intimate friend; and that he remained behind to lament all the days of his life the loss he suffered in him, intreated him to leave him his Bastard Son, to have him brought up with his own Children. After this the Prisoner saw a Gentleman belonging to the Duke ofMayene, and entreated him to tell his Master, that if ever in his life he had given him some occasion not to love him, that he prayed to believe that he would die his servant, as also of the Duke ofAiguillon, and Earl ofSommerivehis Children; he likewise intreatedArnaut, Secretary to the Marquess ofRhosny, to remember his last commendations to his Master, and desire him to remember not so much him that went to die, as his Brethren whom he left behind, that he had him in opinion of a good and usefull servant to the King, and repented much he had not believed his Councel.
About three of the Clock the Chancellor and the first President went up again into the Chappel, and finding him in a good disposition, did fortifie his resolution by their discourses, and desiring to know more particularities from his own mouth, sent all the standers by away, except the Divines and the Recorder: They did exhort him to consider, that the days of man are limited, that the end of his days depended from the Providence of the Almighty, who would take him out of this world before some great and long misery should make him weary of it. He answered, no, no my Lords, do not trouble you about comforting me and strengthning me against the fear of death, I have not been afraid of it these 20 years; you have given me 40 days to study it, but I could not believe that having not been in the power of my Enemies to take away my life, I should be so miserable as to loose it by the consent of my friends; having said this they left him, and took their leavesof him with Tears in their Eyes, he would not suffer them to depart till they had received a new Protestation of his, that he never had attempted any thing against the King, Swearing, that if he would have done it, the King should not have been alive three years ago.
As they were going out of theBastillewithSillery, he sent the Knight of the Watch to intreat the Chancellor, that his Body might be buried atBiron, in the Sepulchre of his Ancestors, and that he would desire the King to give to his younger Brother some Office in the house of theDolphin, and shewing by his Countenance, Carryage, and Words, to care as little for death as one that is a great way from it gave cause to suspect, that he was not out of hope to obtain his pardon from the King, or to escape by some extraordinary means.
The Divines did exhort him to keep nothing back of what might serve for the discharging of his Conscience, and to consider, that they could give him absolution for no more than what he did confess. Although, said he, the King causeth me to die unjustly, nevertheless I have served him with so much affection and obedience, and I have near my death so much good will and affection for him, that if I knew any thing against his Person or State, I would tell it freely, and upon that whispered some things to his Confessors, whichVoisindid presently write.
Being about five of the Clock,Barantonwas sent to tell him it was time to go; let us go said he, seeing I must die, and desired he would charge his Brothers from him, to remain faithful to the King, and not to go to Court, till time had blotted, or at least lessened the shame of his death. He kneeled before the Altar, and having ended his Prayer, he desired the Company to pray for him.
Coming out of the Chappel, he met the Executioner, who offered to follow him, and he thinking it was to bind him; keep off, (said he) and do not touch me till it be time; I shall go willingly to die without troubling any body; but it shall never be said that I am dead like a Slave, or a Thief, and swore by God that if he came near him he would strangle him. The Divines exhorted him going down the stairs to resist those impaciencies and temptations of the Devil, who striveth most to deviate the Soul from her Salvation, when as he hath most need of the Divine assistance to withstand his assaults, remonstrating also unto him, that all his violences and passions could not hinder the Soul to depart from a place where she was but a Tenant at Will. He hearkened to them, and saying three times ah, ah, ah, raising his voice at every one, he said, is there no Mercy in the world, I see to day, that all the world hath forsaken me.
He came into the Yard, and seeing the Lieutenant of the City, in whose house the King had putla Fin, to secure him from all attempts, My Lord Lieutenant (said he) I am very much your friend, take heed to have any thing to do with that Witch and Magician that lyeth at your house, if you meddle with him he will undo you.
The Scaffold was set up in the corner of the Yard, over against the Garden gate, six foot high, and seven long, without any Ornament or distinction. He kneeled upon the first step, lifted up his Eyes to Heaven and made a short Prayer, like a Souldier, and went up as couragiously as if he had gone to an assault, clad in a Gray Taffety Suit, with a black Hat on his Head, but as soon as he saw the Executioner, he looked furiously upon him, and bid him stand aside till he were ready to receive the last stroke: He threw his Hat, his Handkarchief, and Doublet to the first that would take it, nevertheless one of the Executioners men was nimbler than all the rest, and looking upon the Souldiers that kept the Gate armed, with Musquets and Fire-locks. Ah! said he, must I die? is there no pardon? if at least some of those good fellows would shut me (opening his Breast) he should oblige my very much, what pity is it to die so miserably, and of so shameful a blow,then directing his speech to the Spectators, he said, I have put my Soul into such a state as she ought to be to appear before the face of Almighty God, but I pity that of the King, who causeth me to die unjustly: I have erred I confess, but I never attempted anything against the Kings Person, he should have been dead ten years ago if I would have believed the evil Councel that was given me concerning that the trouble and distress of his Soul was so great, that a little while before he said three years, and now he says ten; the Divines having setled him a little once more, he received their absolution.
The Executioner then presented unto him a Frontlet, but it proved to him a new wound, an increase of grief, and swore if he toucht him any other way than with the Sword he would strangle him, & thereupon he asked again for his own Handkarchief to make use of it, his hollow and gastly Eyes shewed he was not in his right mind.Voisinintreated him to be patient, and to raise his thoughts to the place where his Soul was to go, and to be attentive to the reading of his Sentence. He was unwilling to hear the repetition of his Crimes, and to have occasion to exclaim again against the Iniquitie, of those that had condemned him, against the Kings cruelty, as he called it, that would not grant him his pardon, and that this was to make him feel death before death.Voisinanswered, that it could not be done otherwise. He answered that every body knew for what reason he was there and then as if it were by confession, he said,well, read, and thereupon held his Peace tillVoisincame to these words,for having attempted against the Kings Person; for then he fell into a passion again, as he had done before, and said, that it was false, that this never came into his mind, that as God was his Judge, he would be for ever deprived of his Grace if it were true, that since two and twenty Months he had done nothing against the Kings service, that it is true he had written some Letters, but that the King had forgiven him, protesting and calling the Spectators to Witness, that it was the truth what he spoke, as he would answer it before God, and spoke so many words, and so fast that neither he nor the Sheriff could be understood.
The Sentence being read, the Divines did admonish him to leave all Earthly thoughts, to implore the assistance of Heaven, and to resign his Soul to the Eternal providence of the Almighty, and his Body to what the Law had ordained of it, he made some Prayer to God, and bound his Eyes with his own Handkarchief, and asked the Executioner in what place he was to put himself, the Executioner pointing with his finger, said, there my Lord; he pulled off his Handkarchief in a rage, and where is that there, said he? thou seest I am blind fold, and thou shewest me as if I could see; he bound himself again, and bid the Executioner to dispatch quickly: The Executioner told him he ought to kneel, for fear he should do something amiss. No, no, said he, I shall not stir, if thou canst not do it at one blow do it at thirty, he was intreated again to kneel, which he did, and spoke these Imperious words, dispatch, dispatch, then rose up again, and untied his Handkarchief, and by casting his Eyes upon the Executioner, made the people believe, that either he had a mind to seize upon the Sword, or that he was terribly afrighted by the approaches of Death, and began again his former complaints, is there no pardon? must I die so miserably? after so many services. The Executioner intreated him to suffer his hairs behind to be cut off; he began to swear again fearfully, that if he toucht him otherwise than with the Sword, he would strangle him. The Divines told him that he was too carefull of his Body, he would hear no more of that, but fell into a rage, and swore, that he would not be toucht by so Infamous a Person as long as he was alive, that if they did provoke him too much, he would strangle half the Company, and oblige the other half to kill him, those that were upon the Scaffold went down and left him with the Executioner, who repented himself heartily that he had taken the care of him unbound.
The Divines went up again upon the Scaffold, and desired him for the love of God to resolve to step over that pass, which was necessary for every man to do, and with some few other words, whispered into his ears, did calm him a little, and made him resolve to undergo the Execution, after he had made many complaints, and shewed great fears of dying. A strange thing that as stout and valiant a man as ever was born, who had so many times cast himself amongst the greatest dangers, without any fear or apprehension, as if there was no death for him, should shew himself now so fearful at the coming of it; we may judge by this, that the apprehension of death is incomparably greater when it cometh upon a cold blood, and those that know what his Chirurgion was wont to say, shall less wonder at it; for he said, that the Duke ofBironused to wonder at himself, that being not afraid of the thrust of a Sword, nevertheless he was very timerous at the pricking of a Launcet, when he had occasion to be let blood: Whereupon we must confess, that the greatest courage, and most undaunted stoutness of a man, is nothing in comparison of human Natures weakness.
The Divines judging him to be out of fear, gave him his last absolution, he kneeled again, and cried aloud three times,My God, my God, my God, have Mercy upon me, then turning to the Executioner, he took the headband that he had in his hand, and intreatedBarantonto do him that last curtesie as to lift up his hairs behind, whichBarantondid, and the Duke himself did tie the Handkarchief about his Eyes. The Divines seeing him in that good disposition, did assure him, that he was ready to go to Heaven, and to see God, and to enjoy his Glory. Yes, said he, Heaven is open to receive my Soul, and so stooped his neck for the Executioner to do his office. The Executioner considering, that he had untied himself three times before, and might do so again for the fourth, thought fitting to entertain him with fair words, to desire his forgiveness, and to put him in mind of saying his last Prayer, in the mean time he beckened to his man, who was at the foot of the Scaffold, to reach him the Sword, which no sooner was in his hand, but the Duke ofBironsHead was off his Shoulders, it fell from the Scaffold to the ground, and was thrown again by the Executioners man upon the Scaffold, the Body was stript to its Shirt, and wraped in a Sheet, and the same day buried, about nine of the Clock at night, in St.PaulsChurch, without any shew or Ceremony. Thus ended the Tragical History of the Duke ofBiron.
Now follows the two last Verses of this Prophecie.
A Post overtaken in the Countrey,And the Scrivener shall cast himself into the Water.
A Post overtaken in the Countrey,And the Scrivener shall cast himself into the Water.
A Post overtaken in the Countrey,And the Scrivener shall cast himself into the Water.
A Post overtaken in the Countrey,
And the Scrivener shall cast himself into the Water.
Which as we have said before, were concerningNicolas L’oste, Secretary to the LordVilleroy, chief Secretary of State. The History therefore is thus.
TheFrenchEmbassador atMadrid, complained once toHenrythe IV. he was so ill informed, and so late of Affairs, that the King ofSpain’s Ministers knew them before him: The King was a great while troubled before he could discover the spring of that infidelity, at last it came out in this manner.Villeroythat great Oracle ofFrance, and the most confident Secretary to the King, had among his servants oneNicolas l’Oste, born atOrleans, in whom he did confide so much the more, because his Father had been the most part of his life in his service.
The LordRochepotgoing Embassador intoSpain,Ostedesired to be admitted into his Family, to serve him as his secretary, that he might the better fit himself for publick employment.Villeroy’s commendation got him easily that employment, by which in a few Months he became so capable of theSpanishTongue and manners, that no body could have distinguished him from a naturalSpaniard. The Embassador having sworn in the name of the most Christian King the treaty of Peacemade atVeruins, the King ofSpainpresented him with a rich Chain of Jewels, and with six other of Gold, valued at 150. Crowns apiece, to bestow upon as many of his own servants as he should think fit.
The pride and presumption of this young man was such as to perswade him he deserved one of them, and chiefly because one of his fellows was thought worthy of it, but his Master did not think so, and thus he was neglected.
Thus envy and jealousie were the Windows by which the Devil crept into his soul; the vanity, lying, pride, and debauchery gave him a full admittance, he had spent all his Money to buy the love of a Courtisane, and wanted means to follow that course which he had no mind to leave off. His Masters neglecting of him, had extraordinarily vexed him, but he comforted himself that he knew his secrets, and that in revealing them to the King ofSpainsMinisters he shot two Birds with one shot; for he should avenge himself of that contempt he had received, and should have a way to continue his amorous expences. With that intention he made himself known toDon Francheseone of the Secretaries of State, and told him what means he had to serve the King ofSpain, and to shew him proofs of that service and affection he had vowed to him long before, by imparting to him all the Letters that the Embassador did both send and receive from the King his Master.
Don Francheseheard this proposition as from a young man, whose Brains were not well settled, or perhaps did abhor such infidelity, therefore told him coldly, that the Catholick King was in so good amity with the most Christian one, that he desired to know no more of his business, than what his Embassador should tell him.
L’Ostedid not despond for all this, but went toDon Ydiaquesanother Secretary of State, who knowing how important it is for a Prince to know the secrets of his Neighbours, and that the slighting of such an offer would be prejudicial to the King his Masters Service, did hearken unto this Traitor, approved of his design, and exhorted him to persevere in the good affection he shewed to the King ofSpainsservice, promised to acquaint the King with it, and to procure him such a reward, as he should have reason to be satisfied with.
The Councel agreed that L’Osteshould be incouraged, andDon Ydiaques, presented him to the Duke ofLerma, to whom he shewed the Alphabet of Cyphers, with which his Master writ his Letters intoFrance, and for a further proof unciphered the last Letter that the King ofFrancehad sent. The Duke exhorted him to continue his good Will, gave him 1200. Crowns for an earnest of the Bargain, with a promise of as much for a yearly pension, besides a considerable gratification he was to expect from the King.
Since that time theFrenchEmbassador received no Letters but they were presently imparted to theSpanishCouncel: But the Lordla Rochepotbeing called back intoFrance, L’Ostelost the conveniency of prosecuting his Treasons, and consequently the hopes of his promised reward, therefore sought means to come again into his first Masters, that is,Villeroy’s service, but he was a while kept back from it by reason of a difference between his Mother andVilleroy, about some rest of Accounts; but L’Ostehad rather take that loss upon him than to be deprived of that occasion. The Embassador himself gave him a large Testimony Of his ability and faithfulness, and was Instrumental for his re-admission into that service.
Thus being re-established, he became more diligent and sedulous than ever before, and not only writ more Letters than any of his fellows, but also offered them his service to help them, that he might have a more perfect knowledge of all transactions, and so impart them to theSpaniard, and so visited and conferred withTaxistheSpanishEmbassador atParis, and after that with his successor,Don Baltazar de Cuniga, with so much cunning and secrecy, that the Councel ofSpainreceived his Letters,beforedes BarreauxtheFrenchEmbassador atMadrid, could receive those of the King.
Des Barreauxsent word to the King, that when he propounded any thing, according to his Majesties command, to the Councel ofSpain, he found them always preadvised, and could not find out by what means; certainly said the King, there must be some in my Councel that keep a strict intelligence with theSpaniard, and I can not tell whom to suspect. Providence doth often draw good effects out of the worse causes, and permitteth that the wicked should disclose one anothers wickedness, as a Nail driveth out another.Lostehad revealed himself familiarly to oneRaffis, formerly Secretary to the LordLansac, a fugitive intoSpain, for many Treasons, and exempted from pardon; but theSpaniardhad begun to cut him short of his former Pensions, since the Treason of the Baron ofFontanelles, Governour ofDornavenestinBrittanny, in which the saidRaffishad been a principal Actor, though in vain, so that since, the Councel ofSpainlooked upon him as an unprofitable servant, and withdrew their Pension.
Raffisfinding himself near a great want and misery, thought this occasion might be a means to prevent it, and to procure his return into his native Countrey, by doing so great a service to his Prince; therefore he went to one of theFrenchEmbassadors most faithful servants, and told him his grief, for having had a share in so many Treasons and Rebellions inFrance, which he acknowledged God had into his particular protection, that he was resolved to blot out the memory of them by a notable service done to the King and Kingdom, but that could not be, unless he had first obtained pardon for all his former misdemeanors.
This being told to the Embassadour, he heardRaffis, who told him in general that the King was betrayed, and his most secret Councel bewrayed, but that he could not name the Traitor, no not to his Majesty himself, before he had his pardon: that being done, he would wholly withdraw himself from those whom he knew certainly to be enemies to the Kingdom. The Embassadour sent an express to the King to give him notice of it. The King sent him full power to treat withRaffis, with promiss to ratifie whatsoever he should promiss toRaffis;Raffiscould not make good his accusation, but by two Letters written byLoste, to a great friend of his, namedBlas, which Letters he knew to be in a Box ofBlas, who lodged with him; therefore upon some pretext or another, they found means to sendBlasas far as l’Escurial. In his absenceRaffisandDescardesSecretary to the Embassadour, broke open the Box, and took out the Letters, by whichLostedid much magnifie the liberalities ofSpain, as being above his desert and expectation; with this proofs and the Embassadors Letters,Raffisfained to go to a Monastery nearMadrid, and there make his devotions upon Palm-Sunday, as he was wont to do, but he went directly toBayone, where he met withDiscardesupon a set day.Blascame back after Palm-Sunday, and finding his Box open, and his companion run away, he suspected the matter, and gave notice of it to theSpanishMinisters, who presently dispatched two Courriers to theSpanishEmbassador atParis, to give him notice that a man was gone fromMadrid; who would discoverLosteand his practises, therefore he should give him notice of it, and bid him look to himself, and that in case he should be taken, to keep secresie.
DescardesandRaffiscame toParistheWensdayafter Easter, and carried themselves with all faithfulness in this occasion, but not with all the prudence that could have been desired.Villeroywas going the same day to lie at his own House, betweenParisandFountain-bleau, where the Court was then; they met with him atJuvisy, and waited on him as far asVilleroy, but told him nothing of the occasion of their coming by the way, till they presented him with the Embassadors Letters, which was a notablefault, for he would certainly have neglected all other business to secure his man, who was then doing his devotions at the Charter-house ofParis.
The next dayVilleroywas the first that told the King of the coming ofRaffis, and of the perfidiousness of his own servant. As he was going back to his Lodging, notice was given him that twoSpanishCourtiers were arrived at the Post-house; he commanded one of the Commissioners of the Post-house, that he should cause them to withdraw into a Room, and that no body should speak with them; he charged alsoDescardes, that he should spy the coming ofLoste, that he should keep him close company, and send him presently notice of his arrival. The Commissioner andDescardesdid commit here another great fault, forLostebeing come to the Post-house about noon, this silly Commissioner told him that there were arrived twoSpanishCourtiers who asked for him, that they had Letters for him, and more then that, suffered him to go into their Chamber and see them, he saluted them, and one of them whispered him in the ear that he was undone if he did not save himself presently, and thatRaffishad discovered him; fear and astonishment with his guilty conscience, persuaded him easily to look to himself.
Nevertheless, he settled his countenance the best he could, he went out with an intention to take his Horse again, which he had sent before, and so save himself;DescardesandRaffisperceived him,Descardescame and saluted him, and thinking perhaps that he was strong enough to give an account of him, neglected to send word toVilleroy, who was then in his Closet with the Bishop ofChartres;Descardespresence was a great thorn inLoste’s foot, to be rid of him, he said he was going to his Master, who stayed for him;Descardesoffered to accompany him: he answered, he had not dined, and that believing it was past Dinner time at home, he would go into some Cabaret to look for a Dinner, the other answered I have not dinned neither, we shall dine together.Lostefound another excuse, and said my Boots hurt me, I pray give me leave that I may go and pull them off;Descardesanswered, he must needs drink with him. Thus arguing together, they came toVilleroy’s Lodging, whereDescardesthinking to have him sure, left him in the Room, not knowing that theSpanishCourtiers had talked with him, and came near the Closet to give notice of it toVilleroy; but as soon as he saw himself rid ofDescardes, he went down into the Stable, and finding his Horse yet Sadled he Mounted, and with all speed rid toParis;Villeroyin the mean time having notice that his man was come, he commanded they should bring them in; but he was not to be found, nor his Horse neither, no body knowing which way he was gone.Villeroytold the King that his man was escaped, they sent after him on all sides, andVilleroyparticularly sent all his Servants after into all the ways.Lostecoming toParisabout nine of the Clock at night, went to take counsel of theSpanishEmbassadour, and before day, went out habited like aSpaniard, with the Embassadors Steward, and took his way towardsMeaux, with an intent to get intoLuxembourgby Poste.
That every one might endeavour the apprehending of that Traitor, it was spread abroad that one ofVilleroy’s Secretaries had attempted upon the Kings Person, and notice was given of his Stature, Age, Cloaths and Horse. The Sheriffs of every Countrey were in quest, and all Post-Masters were forbidden to let out any Horses, but that ofMeauxhad notice of it too late;Lostewas got on Horseback already, but assoon as he began to gallop, his Horse fell to the ground, and was an illOmento the Rider; he got up again, and shewed so much fearfulness in his Countenance, that the Postillion himself thought he had committed some notorious villany, which he did run for. Being come home, he gave notice of it to his Master, who suspecting him to be the man enquired off, he gave notice of it to the Sheriff, who presently made after him at the second Ferry ofla Ferte soubs Jouare, where he was Crossing the River;the Sheriff cried after the Ferry man to come back, but the fear of his life, which the two run aways put him into, prevailed upon him, above the Sheriffs commands, being got over, and judging that their Post-Horses should be quickly overtaken by those of the Sheriff, they forsook them and the Postillion; and trusted to their heels in the darkness of the night among the Bushes and Brambles that are upon the RiverMarne. The Sheriff scattered his men all about, caused fires to be made, and raised up all the Countrey people thereabout; theSpaniardran over the Champion Countrey, andLostewent from Bush to Bush, and whether accidentally or wilfully he fell into the RiverMarne, where he was drowned; the next day his Hat was found between two posts, and his body two days after not far from that place.
Thus you may plainly see the full event of those two famous Prophecies, contained in this sixth Stanza.