This French statesman, although a persecutor
of witches and their cats, owned many cats. The felines lived in a room
next to his bedroom, and were often allowed to sleep on his bed. Here is a
listing of the fourteen cats in his care when he was on his deathbed:
The Cardinal made provision for all his cats, and their
two attendants in his will, but sadly, as soon as he died the soldiers of
his Swiss Guard burned the poor creatures to death as vengeance for the
many witches and their cats Richelieu had put to death in his lifetime.
