b o o k £i (L g fcheme for affaifinating his majefty, but bleffed the
>— ,— ' “ weapons of the confpirators at Gzeftqcho.w,.previous to their
“ fetting out on their expedition. This is a trait indifputa-
. “ bly true, and fcarcely to be .exceeded by any thing under
11 the reign o.f Charles IX. of France, and o f his mother Ga-
“ tharine of Medicis.”
In addition to Mr. Wraxall’s account I am enabled to. add
the following circumftances
Upon General Coccei’s arrival at the mill, the firft queftion
which his majefty aiked was, whether any o f his attendants
had fuffered from the affalfins ; and upon being informed
that one of the heyducs was killed upon the fpot, and another
dangerouily wounded, his mind, naturally feeling, now rendered
more fufceptible by his late danger, was greatly af-
fetfted; and his joy at his own efcape was coniiderably dimi-
nifhed.
Upon his return to Warfaw, the ftreets through which he
palfed were illumined with torches, and crouded by an im-
menfe concourfe of people, who followed him to the palace,
crying out inceifantly “ The king is alive.” Upon his en-
.tering the palace, the doors were flung open, and perfons of
all ranks were, admitted to approach his perfon, and to felicitate
him upon his efcape. The fcene, as I have been informed
by feveral of the nobility who were prefent, was affeiting
beyond defcription. Every one ftruggled to get near him,
sto kifs his hand, or even to touch his cloaths : all were fo
tranfported with joy, that they even loaded Kofiniki with
careffes, and called him the faviour of their king. His majefty
was fo affedted with thefe figns of zeal and affection,
that he expreffed in the moll: feeling manner his ftrong fenfe
of thefe proofs of their attachment, and declared it was the
happieft hour of his whole life. In this moment of rapture
he
lie forgot the dangers he had avoided, and the wounds he had CHAP-
received ; and as every one feemed anxious to learn the cir- ■ m‘ ■
cumftances o f his efcape, he would not fuffer his wounds to
be infpedted and dreffed before he had himfelf fatisfied their
impatience, by relating the difficulties and dangers he had
undergone. During the recital, a perfon unacquainted with
the language might have difcovered the various events o f the
ftory from the changes o f expreffion in the countenances of
the byftanders, which difplayed the moft hidden alterations
from terror to companion, from compaffion to aftoriifhment,
and from aftonilhment to rapture; while the univerfal filence
was only broken by fighs and tears of joy.
The king having finiihed the account, again repeated his
affurances o f gratitude and affedtion for the unfeigned proofs
they had given of their love and attachment; and difmiffed
them, by adding, that he hoped he had been thus miracu-
louily preferved by Divine Providence, for no other purpofe
than to purfue with additional-zeal the good of his country,
which had ever been the great objedt of his attention.
Being now left alone, his majefty permitted the furgeons
to examine the wound in his head. Upon cutting away the
lkin, it appeared that the hone was hurt, but not dangerouily;
from the quantity of clotted blood, the operation o f drelfing
was tedious and painful, and was fubmited to by the king
with great patience and magnanimity. The furgeons pro-
pofed at firft to bleed him in the foot; but they laid afide
this intention upon finding both his feet fwollen confider-
ably, and covered with blifters and bruifes.
The family of the heyduc, who had faved the king’s life
by the lofs of his own, was amply provided for: his body was
buried with great pomp; and his majefty ere&ed an hand-
V o l . I . G f o m e .