On the 26th of January, 1607, a pleasant farce was acted at the Hotel de
Bourgogne, at Paris, before Henry IV., his queen, and the greater part
of the princes, lords, and ladies of the court. The subject of the piece
was a quarrel between a married man and his wife. The wife told her
husband, that he staid tippling at the tavern while executions were
daily laid upon their goods, for the tax which must be paid to the king,
and that all their substance was carried away. “It is for that very
reason,” said the husband in his defence, “that we should make merry
with good cheer; for of what service would all the fortune we could
amass be to us, since it would not belong to ourselves, but to this same
noble king. I will drink the more, and of the very best: monsieur the
king shall not meddle with that; go fetch me some this minute; march.”
“Ah, wretch!” replied the wife, “would you bring me and your children to
ruin?” During this dialogue, three officers of justice came in, and
demanded the tax, and, in default of payment, prepared to carry away the
furniture. The wife began a loud lamentation; at length the husband
asked them who they were? “We belong to Justice,” said the officers:
“How, to _Justice_!” replied the husband; “they who belong to Justice
act in another manner; I do not believe that you are what you say.”
During this altercation the wife seized a trunk, upon which she seated
herself. The officers commanded her, “in the king’s name,” to open it;
and after much dispute the trunk was opened, and out jumped three
devils, who carry away the three officers of justice.
The magistrates, conceiving themselves to have been insulted by this
performance, caused the actors to be arrested, and committed them to
prison. On the same day they were discharged, by express command of the
king, who magnanimously told those that complained of the affront, “You
are fools! If any one has a right to take offence, it is I, who have
received more abuse than any of you. I pardon the comedians from my
heart; for the rogues made me laugh till I cried again.”[94]
[93] Perefixe.
[94] L’Etoile, Hist. d’Henri IV.
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