The King conceived great indignation upon this proceeding of the _Pope_, and began to advise with the Prelates, Bishops, and Counsellors of greatest trust with him, how to ward off such a Storm; and things were carried so far, that the Council-Royal seem’d resolv’d to create a Patriarch in _France_, particularly for the _Gallicane_ Church, who should not in any wise be subject to, or have so much as the least Communication with the Church of _Rome_: And ’tis likely the _French_, who affect Novelties, would not have been backward to close with this Resolution. But whilst Matters went on in this manner, it so came to pass, that the King, as he lay with a great Army at S. _Cloud_, two Leagues from _Paris_, was on the first day of _August_, in the year 1569. wounded in the belly with a two-edged Knife, by a Dominican Fryar named _Jaques Clement_ Native of the City of _Lans_, and of the age of twenty three years, as he was receiving Letters from the hand of the said Friar, who was upon his knees; of which Wound he died within fourteen hours, in regard his Entrals were pierc’d, having imploy’d this short in ordering such things as concerned his Soul. This Murder hapned seventy eight days after the Summons by the _Pope_ for his Appearance at _Rome_, within seventy days; and his Holiness rejoyced not a little at it, since hereby the displeasure, which the Consistory of Cardinals, the People, and Nobility had conceiv’d against him, as one that car’d not much to see the destruction of a Kingdom, which would breed disturbance to the common quiet of _Italy_, from Age to Age, both by Sea and Land. Great were the Stirs which succeeded in _France_ after the King’s death; inasmuch as _Henry_ King of _Navar_, next Heir to the Crown, began to endeavour the possession thereof, by warring against the Lords of the _Ligue_, who were back’d and upheld by the _Spaniards_, by whom the Succession of _Henry_ was infinitely opposed. In these Commotions and Broils of _France_, the _Pope_ gave not those Assistances to the _Ligue_, which they expected and required; and this upon several accounts, but especially because he would not condescend to the Instances of the Cardinals and the _Spaniards_, who much solicited him; giving them this answer, _When we were against the dead_ Henry, _all you were our Opponents_; _Now that you would persecute the living_ Henry, _we will not side with you_, _for the sake of our own Interest_. It was not a little displeasing to the King of _Spain_, that the _Pope_ did not succour the _Ligue_, nor declare Excommunicate those Princes and Prelates that followed the side of _Navar_; so that the King resolv’d to make some Protestations to the _Pope_ concerning this Tergiversation. But his Holiness wanted not Pretexts to fence with, and in a manner made sport with those _Spanish_ Cardinals, who importun’d him either to unite with the _Ligue_, or send considerable Assistance to it.