ke of Guise, following the councell of the Cardinall Morosin, had
the one and twentith of December incensed the King a new by some bold
and presumptous speeches. . . . The King had the two and twentith day
following prepared seven of his five and fortie (they were gentlemen
whome hee had appointed to be neere his person, besides the ordinarie
archers of his gard) to execute his will, and by many dispatches had
assured those townes which hee held to bee most mutinous. The three and
twentith he assembles his Councell somewhat more early in the morning
then was usuall, having a devotion to go after dinner, and to spend the
holidayes at our Ladie of Clery. . . . The Duke of Guise comes, and
attending the beginning of the councell sends for a handkercher: (the
groome of [724] his chamber had forgotten to put one into his hose.)
Pericart, his secretarie, not daring to commit this new advertisement to
any mans report, ties a note to one of the corners thereof, saying,
'Come forth and save your selfe, else you are but a dead man.' But they
stay the page that carried it. Larchant, captaine of the Kings gard,
causeth an other to be given unto him with all speed by Saint Prix, the
chiefe grome of the Kings chamber. The Castle gates are shutt, and the
Councell sits about eight of the clocke.

"The spirit of man doth often prophecie of the mischeefe that doth
pursue him. So whilest they dispute of a matter propounded by
Petremolle, the Duke feeles strange alterations, and extraordinary
distemperatures, and, amidest his distrust, a great fainting of his
heart. Saint Prix presents unto him some prunes of Brignolles and
raisins of the sunne. Hee eats, and thereupon the King calls him into
his Cabinet by Revoll, one of the secretaries of his Estate, as it were
to confer with him about some secret of importance. The Duke leaves the
Councell to passe unto the Cabinet: and as he did lift up the tapistrie
with one hand to enter, they charge him with their swords, daggers, and
pertuisans: yet not with so great violence, but he shewed the murtherers
the last endeavours of an invincible valour and courage.

"Thus lived and thus died Henry of Lorraine, Duke of Guise: a Prince
worthie to be in the first rankes of Princes, goodly, great, tall of
proportion, amiable of countenance, great of courage, readie in the
execution of his enterprises, popular, dissembling, but covering the
secrets of his minde with his outward behaviour, imbracing all time