Chapter VIII: Canto XV: St. 207

17. This striking account of the entry of the guards is literally from
DAVILA.

"_La mattina del Giovedi duodecimo giorno dì maggio, un' ora
innanzi giorno, si sentirono i pifferi e i tamburi degli Suizzeri,
che battendo l' ordinanza entrarono nella città per la porta di
Sant' Onorato, precedendo il Maresciallo di Birone a cavallo, e
conseguentamente sotto i loro capitani entrarono con le corde
accese le compagníe de' Francesi."--"All' entrare della milizia,
nota a tutta la città per lo strepito de' tamburi, il popolo pieno
di spavento, e già certo, che la fama divolgata dell' intenzione
del re era più che sicura, cominciò a radunarsi, serrando le porte
delle case, e chiudendo l'entrate delle botteghe, che conforme all'
uso della città di lavorare innanzi giorno, già s' erano cominciare
ad aprire, e ognuno si messe a preparare l'armi, apettando l'ordine
di quello si dovesse operare._" Lib. IX.

18. It was a frequent complaint of the tories at this period, that the
commons, in zeal for their own privileges and immunities, were apt
sometimes to infringe the personal liberties of the subject. This
is set forth with some humour in a political pamphlet of the day,
called, "A Dialogue betwixt Sam, the ferryman of Datchet, Will, a
waterman of London, and Tom, a bargeman of Oxford;" upon the king's
calling a parliament to meet at Oxford, London, 1681. "As to their
own members, they turned them out, and took others in at their will
and pleasure; and if they made any fault, they expelled them; and
wherever any stood in competition for any town, him they knew would
give his vote along with them was admitted, right or wrong. And then
they terrified all the sheriffs, mayors, and bailiffs in the
kingdom, besides abundance of gentlemen and other honest
countrymen. For, on the least complaint of any man's misdemeanour,
or information from any member, immediately a serjeant at arms was
sent for them, and so much a mile and hour paid, and down on their
marrowbones to their worships, and a sound scolding from Mr
Speaker, or else to the Tower or Gatehouse they went. The king, God
bless him, never took a quarter of that state on him they did ...
It was brought to that pass, that two footboys, boxing one day in
the Palace-yard, he that was beaten proved to belong to a member,
and told the other boy, if he knew his master, he would cause him
to be sent for in custody, for keeping such a rogue as he was, that
had committed a breach of privilege in beating a member's servant.
The boy replied, if it would do him any kindness, he would beat him
again, and tell him his master's name into the bargain; and would
lay him a crown, that, though his master should bid the Speaker,
and all the House of Commons, kiss, &c. they durst not send a
serjeant at arms for him. The beaten boy, much nettled at his
speech, laid down his money, as the other did: now, said the boy,
my master is the king of France, and I am come over with some of
his servants to fetch horses out of England; go, bid thy master and
the House of Commons send a serjeant at arms to fetch him
over.--_Sam._ Before my heart it was a good answer; I hope he won
his monies?--_Will._ So he did; but it was put into a waterman's
hands, and when it was demanded, says the beaten boy, Sirrah, give
it him, if you dare; if his master be the king of France, I'll make
you answer it before the House of Commons. The waterman durst do no
other, but gave either their own monies. There's no contending with
parliament men, or parliament men's men, nor boys."

Some occasion was given for these reproaches by the summary and
arbitrary commitment of many individuals, who had addressed the
king in terms expressing their abhorrence of the vehement petitions
presented by the other party for the sitting of parliament, and
were thence distinguished by the name of Abhorrers. This course was
ended by the sturdy resistance of one Stowell, who had, as foreman
of the grand jury at Exeter, presented an _abhorring_ address to
the king. A serjeant at arms having been sent to apprehend him, he
refused to submit, and bid the officer take his course, adding, he
knew no law which made him accountable for what he did as a grand
juryman. The House were so much embarrassed by his obstinacy, that
they hushed up the matter by voting that he was indisposed, and
adjourning the debate _sine dic._

19. This famous interview betwixt Grillon and the king deserved to
have been brought on the stage, in a nobler strain, and free from
the buffoonery, by which the veteran's character is degraded. It is
thus told by Davila: _"Trattandosi delle persone, che avessero da
eseguire il fatto, il Re elesse di fidarsene nel Maestro di campo
della sua guardia Griglione, uomo feroce e ardito e per molte
cagioni nemico del Duca di Guisa. Fattolo perciò venire, gli espose
con accomodate parole il suo pensiero, e gli significò aver
disegnato, che egli fosse quello, che eseguisse l' impresa, nella
quale consisteva tutta la sua salute. Griglione rispose con brevi e
significanti parole: Sire, Io sono ben servitore a Vostra Maestà di
somma fedeltà e divozione, ma faccio professione di soldato, e di
cavuliero; s' ella vuoles ch' io vada a sfidare il Duca di Guisa, e
che mi ammazzi a corpo a corpo con lui, son pronto a farlo in
questo istesso punto; ma ch' io serva di manigoldo, mentre la
giustizia sua determina di farlo morire, questo non si conviene a
par mio, nè sono per farlo giammai. Il Re non si stupì molto della
libertà di Griglione, noto a lui e a tutta la corte per uomo
schietto, e che libramente diceva i suoi sensi senza timore alcuno,
e però replicò; che gli bastava, che tenesse segreta questo
pensiero, perchè non l' aveva communicato ad alcun altro, e
divulgandosi egli sarebbe stato colpevole d' averlo palesato. A
questo rispose Griglione: Essere servitore di fede, d' onore, nè
dover mai ridire i segreti interessi del padrone, e partito lasciò
il Re grandemente dubbioso di quello dovesse operare."_ Lib. ix.

20. A similar assemblage of terrific circumstances announces the
arrival of a fiend upon a similar errand, in the old play,
entitled, the "Merry Devil of Edmonton."

What means the trolling of this fatal chime?
O what a trembling horror strikes my heart!
My stiffened hair stands upright on my head,
As do the bristles of a porcupine.
* * * * *
Coreb, is't thou?
I know thee well; I hear the watchful dogs,
With hollow howling, tell of thy approach.
The lights burn dim, affrighted with thy presence,
And this distempered and tempestuous night
Tells me the air is troubled with some devil!

Dryden certainly appears to have had the old play in his memory
though he has far excelled it.

21. On the evening previous to the assassination, the Seigneur de
Larchant accosted the duke as he passed from his own lodging to the
king's, accompanied by a body of soldiers, who, he pretended, were
petitioners for the duke's interest, to obtain payment of their
arrears, and would attend at the door of the council next day, to
remind him of their case. This pretext was to account for the
unusual number of guards, which might otherwise have excited G
uise's suspicion.

22. _Intanto il Duca entrato nel consiglio, e pustosi in una sedia
vicina al fuoco si sentì un poco di svenimento, o che allora, gli
sovcenisse il pericolo, net quale si ritrovava, separato e diviso
da tutti i suoi, o che natura, come bene spesso avviene, presaga
del mal futuro da se medesima allora si risentizze, o come dissero
i suoi malevoli, per essere stato la medesima notte con Madama di
Marmoutiere amata grandemente da lui, e essersi soverchiamente
debilitato._ Davila, Lib. ix.]

23. The murder of Guise was perpetrated in the Anti-chamber, before
the door of the king's cabinet. Lognac, a gentleman of the king's
chamber, and a creature of the late duke de Joyeuse, commanded the
assassins, who were eight in number. The duke never was able to
unsheath his sword, being slain with many wounds as he grappled
with Lognac. The king himself was in the cabinet, and listened to
the murderous scuffle, till the noise of Guise's fall announced its
termination. The cardinal of Guise, and the archbishop of Lyons
were also within hearing, and were arrested, while they were
endeavouring to call their attendants to Guise's assistance. The
cardinal was next day murdered by Da Gast, to whose custody he had
been commuted.]

24. Literally from Davila: _"Ora comparse il Re, le dimanda egli
primo, come ella stava; al quale avendo risposto che si sentisse
meglio, egli ripigliò: Ancor io mi trovo ora molto meglio, perchè
questa mattina son fatto Re di Francia avendo fatto morire il Re di
Parigi. Alle quali parole, replicò la Reina: Voi avete fatto morire
il Duca di Guisa, ma Dio voglia che non siate ora fatto Re da
niente; avete tagliato bene, non so, se cucirete così bene. Avete
voi preveduti i mali, che sono per succedere? Provvedetevi
diligentemente. Due cose sono necessarie, prestezza e
risoluzione."_ Lib. ix.]