THE HOLY AMPULLA IS BROUGHT FROM THE CHURCH OF SAINT REMY AT RHEIMS
TO THE KING OF FRANCE, WHEN DANGEROUSLY ILL, AT PLESSIS LE PARC.--THE
DEVOUT DEATH OF LOUIS XI.--HE IS BURIED IN THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY AT
CLERY.--MAY GOD PARDON HIS SOUL!
In the course of this year, the king determined to have the holy
ampulla brought to him from Rheims: which had descended filled with
oil, by the Divine grace, by means of a white dove, in the year 500, to
good St Remy of Rheims, to anoint and consecrate king Clovis of France,
the first Christian king, who died in the same year,--and his body is
interred in the church of St Genevieve at Paris.
This sacred ampulla had remained in the church of St Remy, for 983
years, when it was taken thence by Claude de Montfaulcon, governor of
Auvergne, whom the king had especially commissioned for the purpose.
It was brought to Paris on the last day of July, and was carried with
much reverence, and in procession, to repose in the holy chapel of the
palace, where it remained until the morrow, and was then conveyed to
the king at Plessis le Parc. It was accompanied by the rods of Moses
and Aaron, and the cross of victory, which had been sent to the good
king St Charlemagne, that he might obtain a conquest over the infidels.
They had remained undisturbed in the holy chapel, with other relics,
until they were removed, on this first day of August, by the bishop of
Sees, and others appointed by the king to bring them to him at Plessis.
The 25th of August, the king's illness so much increased that he lost
his speech and senses. News was brought to Paris, on the 27th, that he
was dead, by letters from master John Briçonnet, which obtained belief,
from the writer being a man of honesty and credit. In consequence
of this intelligence, the provost and sheriffs, to provide against
accidents, ordered a strong guard at each of the gates, to prevent any
persons from entering into or going out of the town. This caused it
to be currently rumoured that the king was dead, but the report was
unfounded,--for he recovered his speech and senses, ate and drank,
and lingered on until the 30th of August, when, between six and seven
in the evening, he gave up the ghost; and his corpse was instantly
abandoned by those who had been so obsequious to him during his life.
His body was dressed as usual in such cases, and carried from Plessis
to the church of our lady at Clery for interment, as he had thus
ordered it before his decease; for he would not be buried with the
noble kings of France, his predecessors, in the habitual church of St
Denis,--but would never give any reason that induced him to refuse
being there interred. It was, however, generally thought that it was
owing to his attachment to the church of our lady at Clery, to which he
had been a very great benefactor.
During his reign, there were some low persons always about him, such
as Olivier le Diable, called le Daim, John de Doyac, and others, who
had committed very many acts of injustice, in whom he had greater
confidence than in all his ministers or kindred. They had so overloaded
the people with taxes that, at the time of his death they were almost
in despair; for the wealth he gained from his subjects he expended upon
churches, in bestowing great pensions among ambassadors, and people of
low degree, to whom he could not resist making great gifts, insomuch
that he had alienated the greater part of the domain of the crown.
Notwithstanding the many serious affairs he had had upon his hands
during his reign, he brought all his enemies under subjection; and he
was so feared and redoubted that there were none so great in France,
not even those of his blood, who slept in safety in their houses.
Before his decease, he was sorely afflicted with different
disorders,--for the cure of which his physicians prescribed many
extraordinary remedies. May these afflictions be the means of
preserving his soul, and gain him admittance into paradise, through the
mercy of Him who reigns for ever and ever! Amen.