The Wars of Religion in France 1559-1576: The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Philip IIThompson, James Westfall
History
The Wars of Religion in France 1559-1576: The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Philip II
Thompson, James Westfall
France -- History -- Wars of the Huguenots, 1562-1598; Sainte Ligue (1576-1593)
carried to his chamber in the Tournelles,[10] entrance being denied to
all save physicians, apothecaries, and those valets-de-chambre who were
on duty. None were permitted for a great distance to come near until
late in the day, when the duke of Alva, who was to be proxy for his
sovereign at the marriage, the duke of Savoy, the prince of Orange, the
cardinal of Lorraine, and the constable were admitted.[11]
[Illustration: MONTGOMERY IN TOURNAMENT COSTUME
(Bib. Nat., Estampes, _Hist. de France_, reg. Q. b. 19)]
After the first moment of consternation was past, it was thought that
the King would recover, though losing the sight of his eye,[12] since
on the fourth day Henry recovered his senses and his fever was abated.
Meanwhile five or six of the ablest physicians in France had been
diligently experimenting upon the heads of four criminals who were
decapitated for the purpose in the Conciergerie and the prisons of
the Châtelet. On the eighth day Vesalius, Philip II’s physician, who
had long been with the emperor Charles V, and who enjoyed a European
reputation, arrived and took special charge of the royal patient.[13]
In the interval of consciousness Henry commanded that the interrupted
marriages be solemnized. Before they were celebrated the King had lost
the use of speech and lapsed into unconsciousness, and on the morrow
of the marriages he died (July 10, 1559). On August 13 the corpse was
interred at St. Denis.[14] When the ceremony was ended the king of arms
stood up, and after twice pronouncing the words “Le roi est mort,” he
turned around toward the assembly, and the third time cried out: “Vive
le roi, très-chretien François le deuzième de ce nom, par la grace de
Dieu, roi de France.” Thereupon the trumpets sounded and the interment
was ended.[15] A month later, on September 18, Francis II was crowned
at Rheims. Already Montgomery had been deprived of the captaincy of
the Scotch Guard and his post given to “a mere Frenchman,” much to the
indignation of the members of the Guard.[16]
[Illustration: DEATHBED OF HENRY II
A. Catherine de Medici D. Couriers
B. Cardinal of Lorraine E. Courtiers
C. Constable Montmorency F. Physicians]
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