Historical Epochs of the French Revolution: With The Judgment And Execution Of Louis XVI., King Of France; And A List Of The Members Of The National Convention, Who Voted For And Against His DeathGoudemetz, Henry
History
Historical Epochs of the French Revolution: With The Judgment And Execution Of Louis XVI., King Of France; And A List Of The Members Of The National Convention, Who Voted For And Against His Death
Goudemetz, Henry
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799; Louis XVI, King of France, 1754-1793
I implore all charitable persons to join their prayers to mine, to
obtain from God the pardon of my sins; I, with all my heart, forgive
those who are become my enemies, although I have not given them any
reason to be so; and I beseech God to forgive them, as well as those
who, through a false or mistaken zeal, have brought many misfortunes
on me.
I recommend to God, my wife and children; my sisters, my aunts, my
brothers, and all those who are attached to me, either by the ties of
blood, or in any other way whatever. I particularly beseech God to
cast a merciful eye on my wife, my children, and my sister, who have
long suffered with me, to support them by his grace, if they should
happen to lose me, and as long as they remain in this perishable
world.
I recommend my children to my wife; I never doubted her maternal
tenderness for them. I above all recommend to her to make them good
christians, and honest people; to make them consider the grandeurs of
this world (if they be condemned to possess them) only as dangerous
and perishable possessions, and to direct their attention to
Eternity, the only solid and durable glory. I beg of my sister to
continue her tenderness to my children, and to be a mother to them,
if they should have the misfortune of losing her who is such.
I intreat my wife to forgive me all the afflictions she suffers
for my sake, and the sorrows I may have given her in the course of
our union; as she may be certain that I have no fault to find with
her, even where she may think she has cause to reproach herself.
I earnestly recommend to my children, after what they owe to God,
(which is the first of all duties) to live always in harmony with one
another, to be submissive and obedient to their mother, and grateful
to her for all the care and trouble she takes for them out of regard
to my memory. I desire them to consider my sister as their second
mother.
I recommend to my Son, if he has the misfortune to become King, to
remember that he owes himself entirely to his fellow citizens; that
he must forget all hatred and resentment, and particularly all that
relates to the misfortunes and afflictions that I endure; that he can
only make the people happy by reigning according to the laws, but at
the same time, that a King cannot make himself respected, and do all
the good he wishes, without having the necessary authority; and that
otherwise, being restrained in his operations, and not inspiring
respect, he is rather hurtful than useful.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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