THE COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN from PARIS, the 20. of May 1610. Declaring the manner of the execution of FRANCIS RAVAILLART, that murdered the French King. With what he was known to confess at his death. And other the circumstances and dependencies thereupon. Together with two Edicts; One of the Parliament alone; The other of the new King in Parliament, declaring and confirming the Queen mother Regent of France. ΒΆ Imprinted at BRITAIN BURSE. And are there to be sold. ANNO 1610. THE COPY OF a Letter written from PARIS the 20. of May 1610. Declaring the manner of the Execution of Francis Ravaillart that murdered the French King, etc. SIR, THough Tragedies be sorrowful representations, yet the Spectators having beheld and seen the former acts, they are likewise desirous to know the catastrophe; So fareth it with you, (as I conjecture,) who having understood by my former Letters, what hath hitherto passed about this direful act, you will likewise covet to hear the end of this execrable actor, with other the consequencies; which here you have. Two days since, being the 18. of this month, I was an eye witness of the execution of this accursed creature, which was in this manner as I shall here truly tell you. As soon as he was brought upon the Scaffold in the ordinary place appointed, He began first with crossing himself, and the people, (as in deed he had truly done in an other sense: For never came there a heavier cross nor loss to any Nation, than this untimely death of this King to this kingdom;) Then fell he down upon his knees, making his Confession to the Priest. What he said in particular could not be heard, but the Priest thereupon there openly gave him Absolution. Then was he laid naked upon the Stage, and pinched in divers places with hot Pincers, After which they burned his hand with the knife therein, wherewith he killed the King; Then powered they hot lead into the wounds made with the Pincers, And lastly drew him in pieces with horses. His torments lasted two hours, and at every action with horrible cries and struggling, he testified the sense he had of his pains; Albeit all the while his torments lasted, he ceased not speaking, and in the intermission thereof was demanded divers questions by his Confessor, and by the Officers of justice, but as it is said, he persisted obstinately without confessing any material thing. The people did exceedingly rejoice to see him thus tormented, And much ado there was through their rage, to bring him alive to the execution, and after his death they satisfied themselves what they could by dragging and trailing his members in great fury about the town. This was the manner of his death, and all that is made known of his confession: but there is generally conceived a secret jealousy against the jesuits: And whatsoever of his confession is concealed, may be presumed to be fear to discover that of the Church of Rome, which they are ashamed to lay open. He suffered the torment only twice before his death, and had been executed four or five days sooner, if the Queen by express commandment had not hindered it. The causes of his speedy execution that are alleged by the Court of Parliament, are these; That by their form of proceeding, they never torment any man before he be condemned, and keep him not alive above a day after. That they feared he might die of his torments, & so they to be bereaved of his confession at his death, and the people of so desired a spectacle; who were much pleased and satisfied to see him so cruelly (though deservedly) tortured. He confessed that he had conversed and spoken with a certain jesuite in Paris called Father d' Aubigny, but denied that he had in any sort communicated his purpose unto him; but this jesuite being examined, utterly denied that ever he had seen this man before, which denial made the matter the more suspicious, they find by letters written to this town, & by authentical certificates that the very day of the King's murder, & the day before, there were reports spread thereof out of the Kingdom. They say further that they do well find, that the damnable Maxims which have been insinuated these 20. years by seditious Books, and Preach, in derogation of the sacredness and authority of Princes, have been a chief occasion of this mischief. A point which all Princes had need nearly to regard. And so St for this time I will add no more to your trouble: what else may ensue, you shall hear soon after that I may know that to be true which I shall be about to tell you: and other than truth you shall ever be assured never to receive from me; and so I rest ever ready to do you service. Paris 20. May. 1610. THE SENTENCE of Court of Parliament for establishing the Q. Regent the same evening that the King was slain. WHereas the King's Attorney general hath made remonstrance unto the Court of Parliament and all the Chambers thereof assembled, that (the King being now murdered by a most cruel, inhuman, and detestable parricide committed upon his sacred Person) it were necessary to provide for the affairs of the present King, and of his Estate; and required that there should be presently order given concerning his service, and the good of his Estate, which could not be ruled and governed but by the Queen, during the minority of the said King her son; And that it would please the said Court to declare her Regent, that the affair of the Kingdom might be ordered by her. The matter having been deliberated upon, the said Court hath declared, and doth declare the said Queen (mother of this King) Regent in France for the administration of the affairs of the Kingdom during the minority of the said King her son, with all power and authority. Done in Parliament 14. May 1610. Signed DV TILLET. THE KING'S CONfirmation of the Sentence of the Court of Parliament, Maij 14. declaring the Q. his mother Regent of France. THe KING sitting in his Seat of Justice, by the advice of the princes of his blood, and other Princes and Prelates, Dukes, Peers, and Officers of the Crown, having heard the request of his Attorney general, hath declared and doth declare (according to the Sentence of the Court of Parliament the day before) the Queen his Mother Regent of France, and to have the care of the education, and bringing up of his person, and the administration of the affairs of his Kingdom, during his minority, and this present EDICT shall be published and registered in all the bailliages & senechauses, and in other jurisdictions depending upon the said Court of Parliament, and in all other Parliaments of this said Kingdom. Done in Parliament the 15. of May, 1610. Signed DV TILLET.