Page 120. line 16. _Years._] He died of a stroke of apoplexy brought on, as Platina says, by good living, suddenly in his chamber. This historian, (who, however, suffered from some persecution under his authority) is not very favourable to his memory. His luxury and pride he represents to have been inordinate. Among other stories told of him, it is said that he prided himself excessively on his comeliness of person and wished at his accession to have assumed the name of Formosus, but was deterred by some of his cardinals who, being more conversant in history than himself, reminded him of the miserable fate of the only pontiff who had borne that name. He then chose that of Paul, but could never afterwards esteem himself completely happy, from his wish in that important particular having been frustrated. It was reported of him that he used to paint his face like the ladies, whenever he appeared in public. He wished, at another time, to issue a papal bull ordaining that all cardinal's hats for the future should be made of silk: but in this also he was over-ruled by the common sense of those about him. He was at least as great an enemy to learning and learned men as his predecessor had been a promoter and encourager of both; but here again it is the _learned_ Platina who speaks. He was notorious for having one living witness at least of his amours, which became the subject of an epigram somewhat more pointed than is usual on such occasions. Pontificis Pauli testes ne Roma requiras. Filia quam genuit, sat docet, esse marem. Sanctum non possum, patrem te dicere possum, Cum video natam, Paule secunde, tuam. Page 126. line 18. _Lord de Malicorne._] Guy de Sourches, lord of Malicorne. Page 128. last line. _Butchers_] Audi alteram partem. "The duke of Burgundy sent a trumpet to the inhabitants of Nesle commanding them to open their gates to him. They ask a truce for a few days to consult concerning the terms of capitulation to be proposed. But leave being granted, while the business was still in agitation, they rise upon the duke's trumpeter and his companions and murder them when peaceably walking in the streets. Moved to excessive anger by this act of treachery, the duke commands the lady of Nesle to quit the place, and no sooner was she departed than he gave orders for a general massacre." Heuterus. Thus, though the historian of Burgundy admits the massacre, (stating at the same time a provocation by which it is almost justified) he says not a word about the violation of sanctuary, or about the savage expressions which the duke is here said to have uttered.