Francois Ravaillac, the assassin of Henry IV. of France, born in Angoulême about 1578, executed May 27, 1610. He was first a lawyer's clerk, and then a schoolmaster. Having been cast into prison for some offence, he fell into a gloomy fanaticism. He went to Paris, and joined the Feuillants, but was expelled as a fanatic and fool, and returned to Angoulême, where he manifested the most intense hatred of Protestantism. He determined to undertake the murder of Henry IV., whom he was taught to consider the great enemy of the Catholic faith, and went to Paris. On May 14, 1610, about 4 P. M., the king drove to the arsenal to visit Sully, who was sick. In the narrow street La Ferronnerie the carriage was obliged to stop, as the way was blocked up by market wagons. The king was sitting on the left side next to the duke d'Épernon, when Ravaillac, throwing himself upon the right hind wheel, struck twice at him with a dagger, the second time plunging the knife into the heart of the king. He was immediately caught with the knife in his hand, acknowledged his deed, and after a trial before the parliament of Paris was torn to pieces by horses with unexampled tortures.