Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

kingdom, stood forth, and stopping the
proceedings, declared that unless the Duke of
Anjou should repeat the oath which he had sworn
at Paris, he would not allow the coronation to take
place. Henry was kneeling on the steps of the altar,
but startled by the words, he rose up, and looking
round him, seemed to hesitate. Firley, seizing the
crown, said in a firm voice, "Si non jurabis, non
regnabis" (If you will not swear, you shall not
reign). The courtiers and spectators were mute with
astonishment. The king was awed; he read in the
crest-fallen countenances of his advisers that he
had but one alternative the oath, or an ignominious
return to France. It was too soon to go back; he
took the copy of the oath which was handed to him,
swore, and was crowned.
The courageous act of the Protestant grand
marshal had dispelled the cloud of civil war that
hung above the nation. But it was only for a
moment that confidence was restored. The first act
of the new sovereign had revealed him to his
subjects as both treacherous and cowardly; what
trust could they repose in him, and what affection
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