Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I to Edict of Nantes - James Aitken Wylie

disdaining retreat he passed on. His hand was
already on the curtain which separated the
antechamber from the royal bed-room, with intent
to draw it aside and enter, when a soldier struck his
dagger into him. The duke sharply faced his
assailants, but only to receive another and another
stroke. He grappled with the men, and so great was
his strength that he bore them with himself to the
floor, where, after struggling a few minutes, he
extricated himself, though covered with wounds.
He was able to lift the curtain, and stagger into the
room, where, falling at the foot of the bed, he
expired in the presence of the king. Henry, getting
up, looked at the corpse, and kicked it with his
foot.
The Queen-mother was also at the Castle of
Blois. Sick and dying, she lay in one of the lower
apartments. The king instantly descended to visit
her. "Madam," he said, "congratulate me, for I am
again King of France, seeing I have this morning
slain the King of Paris." The tidings pleased
Catherine, but she reminded her son that the old
fox, the uncle of the duke, still lived, and that the
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