[289] The account here given is not exaggerated, as the French Protestants were subjected to fearful persecutions, and the number of persons brought to the stake on account of religion, from time to time, would scarcely be credited, unless for the undeniable testimony of contemporary writers. The sudden death of Francis the Second, had undoubtedly the effect of preventing some intended atrocities against the Reformed party in France. [290] A blank space of about two lines left here in MS. 1566, as if to insert some additional names. [291] See next page, note 2. [292] The date here assigned for the death of the French monarch, is incorrect. He died on the 5th, not the 15th of December 1560, (although Mezeray, the French historian, says it was on the 4th of that month,) after a short reign of sixteen months and twenty-four days, in the 17th year of his age. "Oh! that we had heartis deaplie to considder what ar thy wonderouse workis, O Lord, that we mycht praise Thee in the myddest of this most obstinat and wicked generatioun, and leave the memoriall of the same to oure posterities, whiche, allace, we fear, shall forget thy inestimable benefites." The godlie in France, upoun this suddane death, sett furth in these verses ane admonitioun to Kingis:-- AD HUJUS TEMPORIS MONARCHAS PROTREPTICON CARMEN.[293] Consiliis Christum oppugnans et fraudibus, ingens Regum ille terror Carolus: Ipsis ridiculis pueris, furiosus, et excors, Totus repente corruit. Tuque Henrice, malis dum consultoribus utens, Sitis piorum sanguinem: Ipse tuo vecors, inopina, cæde peremptus Terram imbuisti sanguine. Henrici deinceps, sectans vestigia patris Franciscus infoelix puer, Clamantem Christum surda dum negligit aure, Aure putrefacta corruit. Versuti, fatui, surdi, hæc spectacula, Reges, Vos sapere vel mori jubent. [293] The writer of these verses is unknown. They occur in an anonymous work, containing much curious and important matter relating to the state of Religion in France, entitled, "Commentaires de l'Estat de la Religion et Republique soubs les Rois Henry et Francois seconds, et Charles neufieme. (1556-1561.)--M.D.LXV." 8vo. foll. 262. The above "Vers Latins faicts sur la mort du Roy Francois," are thus introduced at fol. 100: "Non long temps apres furent divulguez quelques vers Latins faicts sur la mort dudict Roy Francois, du Roy Henry son pere, et de l'Empereur Charles cinquieme, qui m'ont semblé estre dignes de memoire, et d'estre conservez a la posterité: lesquels pourtant i'ay voulu icy adiouster, la superscription estant telle qu'il s'ensuit ey apres. "AD HVIVS TEMPORIS προτρεπτικον Monarchas προτρεπτικον Carmen. _Consiliis Christum oppugnans," &c._