The Lieutenant Criminel stood all the while behind Monsieur Daillie and hearkened to all and prompted Monsr Daillie to aske him if hee had said there were 10 Ravillacs besides wch would doe the King’s businesse.  Hee protested solemnly hee never said any such words or if hee did hee never remembered, butt if hee had it was with no intention of Malice.  Then Monsieur Daillie turned to the people and made a discourse in vindication of those of the Religion that it was no Principle of theirs attempts on the persons of King[s] butt only loyalty and obedience.  This ended hee went away; hee staid about an hour in all, and immediately as soon as he was gone, they went to their worke and gave him eleven blows with a barre and laid him on the wheele.  He was two houres dying.  All about Monsr Daillie I heard from his own mouth for I went to wait on him because it was reported hee had said something concerning the King of England butt hee could tell mee nothing of that.  There was a flying report that he should say going from the Chastelet—­The Duke of York hath done mee a great injury.  The Swisses they say resented his [Marsilly’s] taking and misst but 1/2 an hour to take them which betrayed him [the monk] after whom they sent.  When he was on the wheele he was heard to say Le Roy est grand tyrant, Le Roy me traitte d’un facon fort barbare.  All that you read concerning oaths and dying en enrage is false all the oaths hee used being only asseverations to Monsr Daillie that he was falsely accused as to the King’s person

Sr I am &c

Frans.  Vernon.

VI.  The Ambassador Montague to Arlington.[1]

[1] State Papers, France, vol. 126.

Paris:  June 22, 1669.

My Lord,

The Lieutenant criminel hath proceeded pretty farre with Le Roux Marsilly.  The crime they forme their processe on beeing a rape which he had formerly committed at Nismes soe that he perceiving but little hopes of his life, sent word to the King if hee would pardon him he could reveale things to him which would concerne him more and be of greater consequence to him, than his destruction.

VII.  The same to the same.

Paris:  June 26, ’69.

My Lord,

I heard that Marsilly was to be broke on the wheel and I gave order then to one of my servants to write Mr. Williamson word of it, soe I suppose you have heard of it already:  they hastened his execution for feare he should have dyed of the hurt he had done himself the day before; they sent for a minister to him when he was upon the scaffold to see if he would confesse anything, but he still persisted that he was guilty of nothing nor did not know why he was put to death. . . .

PART II—­True Stories of Modern Magic

M. Robert-Houdin

A Conjurer’s Confessions