Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-11
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF REVAILLAc.


 Another of the great trials which was the outcome Of a religious con- tFoVersy was that of RevailIac. Over 800 years ago Henry " of France was on his way in a carriage to visit the Duke of Sully. Evidently there were no traffic regulations at that time for even the Kings carriage was forced to wait in the street called Feronnerie, which was then blocked with a large wagon carrying hay and another one laden with wine, which obStruCted the free passage of the royal carriage. All the footmen but two had walked by a. shorter way, So that they might come Up with the coach at tn end of the lane. Of these two, one walked along the street to try to clear a way for the coach, and the other took that precise moment to tie his shoe lace.
 Revaillac, who had been following the coach ever since it had passed the Louvre, precceiving that no per son was near 1t, barring the occunarts advanced to the side at which he ob- served the King. Silently stepping on the spokeS Of the carriage, he drew I. knife from his coat, which was wrapped around his arm, and he stabbed at the King. who vas lean ing over and showing q letter to the Duke of Epernon. The King immedi- ately shouted, T am Wounded,' and the assassin, seeing that he had struck a rib, with 9 blow like lightning stabbed once more, this time right to the heart. near the auricle, so that the blood gusLed in a stream out of the unfortunate n1onarch's mouth He ex- plred almost instantly.
 Amid the tunult of the rushing people in the street, who discerned that something unusual was happen Ing, ReVaIllac was ca blurred and held. On May r, 1610, he was indicted for the murder Of Henry ". Of France at the instigation of the attorney gen. eral, by Achilles de HaTlay, first presi- dent; Nicholas Potter, president; John CoUTtin and Prosper Bavin. being com n1issioners appointed by the court for that purpose.
 The Emperor, the King Of Spain, the Queen Of France the Duke ETl- ernon and the JeSuit5 were all in turn suspected of having insti gated the crime. because they all profted by it; out the assassin declared that he had no accomplices.
 At the beginning of the trial he was severely cross examined, and among other questions he was asked his mo- tive.
 He answered that among other req son WAS this that the King had not, as he was able to dc. brought back the followers Of the pretended reforrua- ton tC the Catholic, Apostolic and Ro- man church. The murder was clear ly preuleditated for RevaiIlsc con
  contemplated the death of the King As he himself said he went to the Louvre, where he had been several !! times since he had resolved upon kill ing him.: that he had gone there tho previous Wednesday and intended to kill him between the gates, as he was going into his coach; that he followed him as far as St. Innocents, near the place where he had once before met him, and observing that the coach [ s-tra T,xrs .l His Majesty turned his face and leaned toward that side where Epernon sat. he struck him twice in the side with his knife, passing his arm above the coach wheel.
 The court then condemned Eevai1lac to be put to torture to confess his ac- i conplices. He was put in q. lorodequin and the first wedge being drove he said, with loud cries and shrieks: T au Q. sinner, I know no more than have declared By the faith I owe to ! God, know no more than what I have declared Three more larger 1 wedges were driven, but sttl he in. sisted that he kne wno more. He was then found guilty and a i long sentence was read: The flesh shall be torn to pieces with red-hot 1 pincers from his breasts. his arms l and thighs and the calves of his legs; ! his right hand, holding the knife wherewith he committed the aforesaid l with flaming birthstone; and on the ] places where the flesh has been torn l ny the pincers. melted lead, boiling 1 oil, scalding pitch, etc, shall be poured, 1 his body torn by four horses and then { burned to ashes and dispersed in the ] air.
 ! quickly al this vas carried oat. he l all the while yelling and Shrieking with. the terrible pair. He was con-
 scious al Of the time. crying out 'Jesu Marie! Oh, God!" -&fuer being pulled around by the four horses for more than an hour, after tie other ! torture3 had been carried olS, ne 1 still denied that he had any accom- pli13ss. Instead, as his sentence ! said c,f lis body being burned at the ! end, while fo was still alive the mob rushed il and with stic<s and swords
 Lhangied his limbs and while the | bloody list was upon them, they l burned different parts of his body in ! almost every section of Paris.