FRANCE XXXXVI HE found his authoritie respected within the Realme 1286. as well for his age The dâ—spâ—sition of Philip. as hauing gouerned the State with dignitie vnder his Father Philip. A good Prince Iudicious and of a noble minde and the which was not the least point of happinesse in this life he was well married with Ioane Queene of Nauarre whereof he tooke the name of King before the decease of his father His issue enioying her as a sweete companion of his complexions He had three sonnes by her goodly Princes of body and excellent spirits Lewis Philip and Charles which shall bee Kings successiuely one after another but all so ill matched Philip vnhappie in the marriage of his sonnes as it was his greefe to see his childrens houses infected with three Strumpets and put away without all hope of issue hauing seuerely punished the corrupters of his Daughters in lawe and confinâ—d these inâ—atiat mastiues into Monasteries He had also one Daughter of the same bed named Isabel who was married to Edward King of England leauing vnto France a heauie and dangerous Leuaine of horrible confusion by the meanes of her sonne a fatall scourge for this realme Philip after the decease of Ioane His second wife maried Constance the Daughter of Charles King of Sicilia a faire and a young Princesse whom he left great with a sonne the which was borne eight dayes after his decease and suruiued him but few dayes His raigne He began to raigne in the yeare 1286. and dyed in the yeare 1315. hauing raigned twenty and nine yeares The entrance of this raigne was goodly but Flanders Guienne and the Pope gaue him vpon diuers occasions and at diuers times many great and painfull crosses He loued Iustice and Learning wherin he was well instructed for that age so as he did consecrate the first fruits of his raigne to honor both the one the other as also the Muses did honour him with a goodly Oration which is read in the Originall of this Historie 1287. for a commendable memorie to posteritie of the vertues of this great Prince The Parliament was not tyed to any place but changed according to the necessitie of Prouinces Sutes were most commonly iudged definitiuely by the Bayliffs and Seneshals and the greatest causes were decided Soueraignly in the Kings Councell who gaue free audience to their Subiects Philip hauing obserued by the experience of former raignes that it was very necessarie to haue â—urisdictions distinctly limited The Parliament of Paris erected left a Soueraigne power to his Parliament at Paris a part of his royall authoritie in ciuill and criminall causes and the better to gouerne it he appointed a sufficient number of Presidents and Councellors with his Aduocate and â—roctor which number hath beene since augmented according to occasion and for the greater countenance of this dignitie hee placed it in his chiefe Cittie of Paris and to that end he caused that great Pallace one of the most admirable buildings vnder the coape of Heauen to be built by the meanes of Enguerand of Marigny Earle of Longueuille The Palace built Superintendant of the Treasurie of France Hee first oâ—dained but two sittings of the Parliament in the yeare the which necessitie hath made ordinâ—rie vnder Lewis Hutin his Sonne who also erected an Exchequer at Roan Other Prouinces had their Parliaments at diuers times and vpon diuers occasions With like affection he fauoured his Vniuersities of Paris with all maner of priuiledges hauing his Wife Ioane a companion of the same humour whom he suffered to build in her name that goodly Colledge of Nauarre where at this day in this Iron age Colledge of Nauâ—râ—â— wee may bâ—hold with admiration the great bountie of â—ur Kings in commendable and vertuous actions These goodly beginnings in shew the first fruites of a sound peace were crossed with many difficulties both within and without the realme Flanders gaue the fiâ—st subiect This Countrie is one of the chiefe Seignâ—uries of this Monarchie and in the yeare 1225. this lawfull subiection was acknowledged at Meluâ— by the Earle of Flanders Cause of the wâ—râ—e in Flanders In the beginning of this raigne Guy Earle of Flanders came to do his homage to Philip who required to haue the Citties of Flanders to ratifie this peace of Melun the which was performed but vnwillingly by this riche people who still complained vnto Philip that his Parliament at Paris did infringe their Priuiledges for the which hee wisely prouided but the great securitie of these rich Citties musâ— â—eeds be the cause of their own afflictions as it chanceth ofteÌ„ that a rich people being too faâ—r The cause of quâ—rrell in Guyenne seâ—ke wilfuâ—ly their owne ruine Guyenne did likewise much trouble Philip and these two quarrels were intricate one with another like vnto diseases which come together according to the times and occasions when they chance The King of England was Duke of Guienne since the marriage of Elenor as wee haue seene but many difficulties haue fallen out the accord made by the King S. Lewis specified by vs had limittâ—d the Seignâ—uries of Guienne to the English the which hee should hold by homage of our Crowne but he could not limit his desire being watchfull vpon all occasions to free himselfe from the subiection of France Let vs follow by degrees the actions and the orâ—er of times in the combersome report of these new stormes falling out diuersly and in diuers places like as in a time inclined to raine a Cloud dischargeth it selfe by Planets in diuers parts â—he force and neighbourhood of England increased the quarâ—ell and caused a continuance by diuers accidents Edward the first of that name Sonne to Henry the third liued then in England and Count Guy in Flanders Edward came likewise into France and did homage to the new King for the Duchie of Guienne and other lands which he held of the Crowne Occâ—sioâ—â— to râ—nue the war with the â—â—glish as Guy had done for his It chanced that certaine English Ships scouring along the coast of Normandie made a great spoile of the subiects of France Philip vpon their complaints intreates Edward to cause restiâ—â—â—ion to be made of that which had beene vniustly taken by his subiects Edward neglects it so as Philip causeth him to be adiourned to yeeld a reason of this attempt as vasâ—all to the Crowne He appeares not and so by sentence he is declared guiltie of fellonie and of high Treason and to haue forfeited his interest in all his Seigneuries of France For the execution of this decree Arnoul of Neele Constable of France is sent into Guienne with an armie 1293. in the yeare 1293. a notable date to coate the fiâ—st letter in this Inuentarie of a very long processe although with some inteâ—mission yet so violent as it had a most ruined France The Constable doth his exploit Pâ—ilip sends an armiâ— into
nineteene moneths a prisoner This young Prince inuironed with all these difficulties had yet one which exceeded the rest The King of Nâ—â—aâ—â—e set at liberty comes to Paâ—â—â— The Bishop of Laon the chiefe of his councel betraied him bâ—ing a priuate and passionate partaker of the Nauarrois Charles King of Nauarre is deliuered meaning to come to Paris and therefore he demands a safeâ—conduct from the Daulphin who grants it will he or no that is he puts a sword into the hands of his most malicious and â—urious enemie and lodgeth him in his owne house These were bitter pilles but he must digest them euen the Daulphin and all good men that did assist him But many of them lothe to allow of these confusions by their free conâ—ents retire themselues to their houses The Nauarrois hauing his pasport from the Daulphin not onely as a gage of the publike faithfulnesse but as a sentence against king Iohn being prisoner goes to Paris with a stateâ—â—â— traine where they all prepare for his entertainment The Bishop of Laon and the Prouost of Marchants with a great troupe of his Partisans meet him who went to lodge in the Abby of S. Germaine He lets the people vnderstand that he desires to speake publikly vnto them A scaffold is built the people throng in great troupes bringing both hearts and eares The Nauarrois a subtill and an eloquent man represents vnto them the wrong of his imprisonment and his interest to the Crowne he desires iustice might be done him according to his deâ—â—â—t and qualitie but aboue all he spares not to touch that string which should aduance him to the royaltie The people applaud him and giue charge to the Pâ—ouost of Marchants to make the Daulphin acquainted therewith The Bishop of Laon a traâ—tor to his maiestie the which he perfoâ—mes with a brauado The Bishop of Laon a treacheâ—ous seruant to his Maisteâ— answeâ—s for him being silent in this necessitie That the Daulphin should shew grace and fauour to the King of Nauarre as one good brother ought to another He makes the Daulphin so humble as he preuents the Nauarrois who kept his lodging but to preach to this seditious multitude and doth vâ—sit him first whom he doth scaâ—se meete at the doore with a colde welcome He requires audience of his demands They are read in councell which consisted for the most part of men corrupted Wheâ—e it was decreed That all which the King of Nauarre and his complices had done against the King and his realme should be forgotten as neuer done The 〈◊〉 yeelds to the 〈◊〉 his goods seized and in the Kings hands should be restored both to him and his with their honours which had beene beheaded by the commandement of King â—hon their bones should be gathered together and honourablie interred all acts of condemnation dâ—sâ—nulled and an actâ— of their iustiâ—â—cation autentically drawne to free them and theirs hereafter from all 〈◊〉 The demand of the King of Nauarres pretended title was remitted to another time But the Nauarrois brings in the king of England of whom the Daulphin demaÌ„ded a truâ—e the which he grants vpon condition New causes of warre That he might succour the King of Nauar Iohn of Montfort duke of Brittaine in their pretensions Thus the seeds of warre were sowen during the confused calamitie of this poore realme by the meanes of Charles of Nauarre At the same instant Edward makes rigorous demands of his prisoner Iohn on whom for all his good couÌ„tenance he meant to make a benefit by his captiuity He required homage of him for the realme of France as holding it of the realme of England and vpon this condition he would set him at libertie K. Iohn being of a couragious spirit though a prisoneâ— in his person answers him freely That he must not speake to him of that which he neither ought nor would do to alienate a right inalienable That he was resolued at what price soeuer The generous answer of King Iohn to Edwards demands to leaue it to his children as hee had receiued it from his Ancestors That affliction might well ingage his person but not the inuiolable right of the Crowne where he had the honour to be borne ouer the 〈…〉 prison nor death had any power especially in him who should alwaies hold his life well imployed sacrifiâ—ing it for the immortall preseruation of France This generous magnanimitie of King Iohn gaue as great occasion to pittie his calamity as the strange conditions of the English being victor ministred matter of griefe and 〈◊〉 to all true hearted Frenchmen but all this could neitheâ— temper the malice of the Nauarrois not the furious impudencie of this inchanted people Hâ—â—evpâ—n the Daulphin intreats the Parisiens to take pittie of his poore father who not able to auâ—id the ineuitable crosses of fortune common to all degrees The Parâ—sienâ— in 〈◊〉 to their King could well shewe 〈◊〉 in greatest afflictions But these brutish mindes will not be mooued by any 〈…〉 reasons so as after this poore Prince had vsed all the submissions necessity could 〈◊〉 to win the people in the end after the losse of his paines he sought to the other Citâ—â—◠〈◊〉 France Hauing left Lewis Duke of Aniou his brother at Paris to supply his place 〈◊〉 maintaine some shewe of authority The Daulphin â—olieâ—s the other Citties for the Kings liberty the effect wherof crept hourely into the Nauarrois power he went from Cittie to Cittie crauing aide of the French for the deliuerie of his father and the restoring of his Estate The hâ—story doth much honor the Prouince of Languedoc to haue made greate showes of 〈◊〉 to their King being prisoner for it obserues That the three Estatâ— of the Country assembled in one body at Tholouse vnder the authority of the Earle of Armagnac their gouernor did freely grant a great aide to the King for the performance whereof The loue and duty of them of Languedoâ— to their Kingâ— and of Champagne they would not only imploy their reuenewes but their most precious mouables yea their wiues iewells And to testifie their generall heauines they abandoned all sumptuous apparell and bankets especially all dances maskes plaies and other pleasures during the captiuity of their King Champagne followed this commendable example But examples did no more mooue the Parisâ—â—ns hearts then reason had done who answere the Daulphin â—oughly when hee intreats them most humbly that hee should call an other Parliament where they would aduise what was to be done Their intent was to take all authority from the Daulphin and to vâ—uâ—pe it themselues to dispose of the tresor of honors and dignities of peace and war and of the life and death of the Kings subiects at their pleasures Horrible â—â—solenciâ—s of the Parisiens against their Prince To this end they made this young Prince coÌ„temptible odious assembling together both without his priuity against his will in
Brittain All â—re sent for euery man doth march the Râ—ndezâ—uous is at Mans. Peter of Craon retyers from Sablé whilest this storme â—iseth but the King marcheth on assuring himselfe that he was in Brittaine although some say that he was in Arragon and that the Queene of Arragon had giuen him intelligence that she held a French Knight prisoner at Peâ—pignan who would not discouer his name This distempered choller had much impayred the Kings health who carried in his face the disease of his minde His Physitians disswaded him from this voyage as most preiudiciall for his health and the Duke of Brittain by a new excuse The King marched against the Duke of Brittain beseeched him to beleeue that he had no dealings with Peter of Craon The King could not bee diuerted by all these difficulties from passing on in this iourney so willfully vndertaken by him although his Vncle 's found newe deuises to stay him both at Chartres and at Mans imploying his physitians to shewe vnto him how dangerous it was to march in Sommer beeing extreamely hot 1393. considering the debility of his health much impayred sence his burning choller the which had altâ—red all his bloud whereof he had proofe by daylie feauers His phisâ—â—ions diswade him But this passion of cholleâ— had so possessed his poore afflicted spirits that such as were about him besides himself perceiued his griefe to be the more weake in that he was insensible of what he suffred his seruants espied that which they could not but see in him by the extreame apprehension they had of the harme which was at hand Moreouer the Duke of Brittain to calme this great storme which was readie to fall vpon him although in truth hee had hidden Peter of Craon at Susmet and was â—oâ—y that he had not slaine the Constable Clisson sends a certaine Bishop of his Country to the King called the Bearded a very famous man for the integrity of his life The Duke of Bâ—ittain labors to satisfie â—he King to beseech him to beleeue that he was nothing guilty of this attempt neyther did he knowe what was become of Peter of Craon whome he would send vnto him with his hands and feete bound if he were in his power That he should not make warre against his owne Country and against a poore people which must suffer for an other mans folly In the ende this man pronounceth the threats of Gods iudgement against Charles if hee should proceede vnto warre so lightly vndertaken against his vassalls and subiects and against the articles of marriage concluded betwixt his daughter and the Dukes sonne as a seale of their loues This Bishop was heard in Councell and the Duke of Berry speaking more boldly then the rest for the authority which his degree and white haires gaue him layed open all that mâ—ght hinder this voyage But Charles stopt his eares to all good Councell hauing his braine disposed to the distemperature which shall presently seize vpon him running headlong into the mischieâ—e which should afflict him and all France He parts from Mans in Iuly in an exceeding hot day as the history sayes as if all things had conspited to affâ—â—ct this poore Prince The King parts frâ—m Mans. at nyne of the clocke in the morning to receiue the coolenesse of the greatest heate at Noonetyde weake in head and minde distempred with choller griefe despight and languishing his bodie weaâ—ied with watching and distast not able to eate nor sleepe hauing his head muffled with a great cap of Scarlet and his body couered with a thicke Ierkin of Veluet too waighty for a sharpe winter marching on a sandie plaine so scalt with the sunne beames as the strongest did melt in sweate and were out of breath Being entred the forest of Mans behold a man bare headed and bare legged attired in a coate of white rugge stepps sodenly forth betwixt two trees A strange aâ—cident bâ—falls the King taking hold of the reynes of his horse he stayes him and sayes vnto him King ride no farther but returne backe for thou art betrayed Charles whose spirits were otherwise dulled was amazed at this voyce and his bloud greatly disteâ—pered His seruants runne to this man and with blowes make him leaue the reines of his horse and so without any farther search the man vanished After this accident there presently followes an other Charles and his Noble men did ride in troupes deuided by reason of the dust and he himselfe was all alone pensiue with the pages of his chamber who were so neere vnto him as they troad on his horse heeles He that was neerest carried his helmet vpon his head and the next his Lance being garnished with crimsen silke As the heate of the Noone day makes men drousie on horse backe it chanced the Page which carried his Lance beeing very sleepy let it fall vpon him which carried the helmet making a great noyse like the rushing of armes The King starts with amazement at this noyse and seeing the crimson bandeâ—olle of the Lance hauing his spirits weakned with the former distemperatures transported with the imagination of this voyce sleepy with labour and heate he imagined himsâ—lfe to be compassed in wâ—th many armed men which poursued him to the death The second season from the time of the Kings sicknesse From the yeare 1393. to the yeare 1422. This time of his infirmity is distinguished into many acts whereof this is the first Scene of a long and mournful Tragedie THVS Charles transported with this phrensie layes hold on his sword drawes it runnes violently after his pages and cryes amayâ—e Charles falles into a phrenâ—ie At these Traitors The pages conceyuing at the first that he had beene displeased for the disorder of the Lance flie from him The King followes after doubling his crie At this noyse the Duke of Orleance runnes towards him to vnderstand the cause The King layes at him not knowing him the Duke flies and the King followes The Duke of Bourgoâ—gne â—ides to him Al gather togither with great outcry Squiers knights compasse in the king till that being wearied and his horse out of breath his most trustie Chamberlaine takes hold of him gently behind and stayes him cheering him with flattering words and speaking vnto him with that familiarity that befitts a faithfull seruant to a good master Then all drawe neere vnto him they take his sword from him they lay him on the ground and disroabe him of his thicke velluet ierkin and his scarlet cap to giue him breath His Brother and Vncles salute him but he knowes them not neyther makes he any shewe to moue The first fitt of the Kings phrensie being pensiue his eyes troubled turning vp and downe mute sighing panting mouing both body and head with great amazement All signes of phrensie appered in this poore Prince The Physitians are sent for in hast they come but hee knowes them not The pittifull estate of the Couâ—â— Brother
and Townes drunke so much Christian bloud and slaine so many millions of men of all qualities reteining nothing but the territories of Boullen and Calais Thus the winde doth sodenly drinke vp all the toile all the trauels all the swear of many ages And the Lord saith vnto man Thou foole this night will take thy soule from thee and who shall haue the things which thou hast prepared And All men are vaine doubtlesse man labours for a shadow he troubleâ—h himselfe for nothing But must the quenching of forraine confusions kindle new fires in the middestand foure corners of the realme without doubt there needed no violent but spirituall remedies to redresse those diuisions which grew daily for a religious cause Henry was of a milde and temperate spirit but hee gaue eare too lightly to such as could not effect their desseines but by troubles The prisons were full of such as they called Lutherans Persecutions for religion and euen then many noble faâ—ilies were toucht with that cause Moreouer many officers of the Parliament wâ—shed a milder proceeding against those prisoners This diuersitie caused an assemblâ—e which they called Mercuriale to heare the opinion of Presidents Councellors vpon this controuersie the which the King was required to countenance with his presence Councellors of the Parliament impâ—â—â—oned Anne du Bourg vsed a great libertie of speech some others did second his opinion This freedome transported the King into the choller hee commands the Constâ—ble to put them in prison and vowes to see them burnt within few dayes if they persist But oh Prince The yeares of thy accoumpt are come and thou entrâ—st into a pathe from the which thou shalt no more returne The Constable deliuers them to the Court Montgomery Captaine of his Maiesties gardes who leads â—ourg to the Bastille and the rest to diuerse â—ther priâ—ons Let vs not iudge hereby but admire howsoeuer the iudgements of God in that we shall see these three personageâ— euery one in his ranke dye an extraordinarie and tragicall death The marriages of the Kings Daughters and Sister were sollemnized with all the pleasures and sports that might be deuised The Court exceeded in sâ—mptuous feasts playes maskes dances and bonfires ordinarie acclamations in such ceremonies testâ—fied the peoples publicke ioy by reason of the peace but this pleasant Comedie was conuerted by a sad catastrophe into a pittifull and mournfull Tragedie The King would the tenth of Iune 〈…〉 the â—â—â—â—â—engers at the Tilt in Saint Anthonies streete being seconded by the Duke of Guise and Ferrare and to runne his last course in fauour of the Queene his wife he sent a Lance to the Earle of Montgomery The Earle excuseth himselfe to runne against his Maiestie the day before hee could not hit any one and it may bee now he feared a second shame But hauing a second charge from the King to enter the Lists he runnes and breakes his Launce vpon the Kings cuirasse and with a splinter thereof his Beauer being somewhat open strikes him so deepe â—nto the eye 〈◊〉 the tenâ—h of Iuly his soule left his body The death of King Henry in his house of Tournelles tâ—e 42. yeare of his age He had by Katherine of Medicis his wife fiue Sonnes and fiue Daughters His children Francis his successor of the age oâ— sixteene or seuenteene yeares Lewis Duke of Orleans who liued few moneths Charles Maximiâ—lian Edward Alexander afterwards named Henrâ—e the 3. and Hercules afterwards named Francis Elisabeth married to Philip King of Spaine Claude to Charles Duke of Lorraine Marguerite to Henry of Bourbon then King of Nauarre Iane and Victoire tâ—ins who dyed soone after their birth Hee was a religious Prince goodly of a milde disposition peaceable affable His disposition not greatly subiect to passions generous loâ—ing his seruants and men of merit but voluptuous and not able to discover in due tiâ—e the ambition and couetousnesse of such as possessing him made â—ale of lawes iustice offices and spiâ—ituall liuings emptied the subiects purses and nourished the warres which we haue before obserued namely since the breach of the truce finding such sweetenesse profit and honour in the managing of the Treasure and commanding of the Kings Armies in the voyage of Italie and especially in this last Lieutenancie generall in Picardie as hereafter wee shall see a young Prince raigne like a shadow and they being seized of the gouernment both of his person and of his realme shall dispossesse the chiefe officers of the Crowne keepe backe the Princes of the bloud the true and lawfull gouernours of the State the King being in his minoritie and to plot the meanes to raise their race to the royall throne 1559 FRANCIS the second the 60. King of France FRANCES THE .2 KING OF FRANCE 60. THis raigne is short but very memorable We behold a Theater whereon is acted a horrible tragedie a King yong of yeares and of iudgement gouerned by his mother and his wiues vnckles a a new forme of Court The Princes of the bloud haue no more credit and seeme to neglect both the publike and priuat interest The Courtiers stand at a gaze and for the most part stowpe to the stronger The Clergie shield themselues vnder those that kindle these fires in France The Nobilitie wearied with former toyles do yet wipe off the dâ—st and sweat from their armes The people diuided for matter of religion and oppressed with burthen of former warres desires to breath The Constâ—ble holds his place yet is he not so surely seated but they will displace him There are two factions in Court the Constable holdeth the one those of Guise the other The first was firme and sincere the last cunning Two factions in Couâ—t and plyable The Queene mother ioynes with the last The King of Nauarre might crosse them and therefore to be the better informed of his desseins she entertaines seruants and pensioners about him The Princes of the bloud the Constable the Marshals the Admirall and many other Noblemen prepared for the funerals of the deceased King when as the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine leading the King Alterations in Court his brethren and the Qâ—eenes to the Louâ—re begin a strange alteration a true patterne of the inconstancie of this world The Duchesse of Valentinois had quietly gouerned the deceased King and by her practices had caused Francis Oliuer a man of a singular reputation and Chancellor of France to bee dismissed At the first entrie shee is spoyled of her precious Iewels which testified the Kings loue vnto her to adorne the Queene that raignedâ— and by her disgrace leaues the place to Catherine to rule hereafter without Companion They take the seale from Cardinall Bertrand a â—eruant to the said Duchesse and to haue a Chancellor at their deuotion they restore Oliuer They giue the Cardinall of Lorraine the gouernment of the Treasure and of the affaires of State and to the Duke of
storme which threatned them flie to Nerac to the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé they present themselues and their meanes shewing them the wrongs done by them of Guise to the King and the Realme and beseech them to vndertake the deliuery of his maiestie and maintenance of the estate These two Princes had alreadie resolued to vse all their meanes to chase the tâ—o Lorrains from the gouernment of France This request confirmed them and euen then they sought out all Noblemen and gentlemen which by their armes and meanes might aduance this worke The Constable with the Vidame of Chartres and a great number of others promise to maintaine their iust quarrell against all men except the King the Queenes and his bretheren Their letters fall into the hands of them of Guise the Prince his Agent is imprisoned and the Vidame of Chartres shut into the Basâ—ill and shall not bee fâ—eed vntill the day before the Kings death and himselfe shall die within fewe dayes after An Assembly of Princes Noblemen Thus all things tend to an open warre The Queene Mother desired to see these two parties fight but not with the ruine of either side for the fall of any one of them had set her beside the sadle She therefore caused to bee propounded in Councell by the aduice of the Chancellor and Admirall whome as yet she did willingly heare That it was expedient to assemble all the Princes Noblemen of the Realme and men of authority to aduise of the meanes to pacifie the troubles growne principallie by reason of the persecutions for religion Those of Guise approue this desseine this was in shewe a pitfall to take the King of Nauarre and Prince of Condé Moreouer they hoped to sâ—borne so many witnesses as all things should second their desires and so for that time should dissolue the conuocation of the Estats So the King sends forth his letters into all parts intreating them all to bee at Fontainebleau the twentieth fiue of August especially the King of Nauarre and to bring his brother and those Noblemen that were then with him The Guisiâ—ns also by their letters giue many good hopes and promises But we haue sayd they had in the beginning lodged spies in the King of Nauarres house By their meanes they woâ—ke so as the King of Nauarre stirres not and le ts slippe an oportunitie that he had to settâ—e a lawfull gouernment within the realme The Constable better resolued thinking the Princes would assist arriues with eight hundred horse and by this troupe makes the Lorrains to shewe him a good countenance At the opening of the assemblie the Admirall presents a petition to the King for the Protestants who required to haue Temples graunted them and free exercise of religion throughout the whole Realme There-vpon Charles of Marillac Archbishop of Vienne shewed with such libertie of speech the necessitie to assemble a nationall Councell to remedie these controuersies growne for religion and a Parliament to order the gouernment of France as hee suruiued but fewe dayes after his oration The Amirall toucht the cause of religion and state more vehemently taxing by inuectiue such as giuing the King gards vpon gards entertayned him in distrust of his subiects and his subiects in hatred of their owne King As they had made shewe to like of this assemblie so they seemed to allowe of a Parliament They appoint it first at Meaux and afterward at Orleans the x. of December and the Sinode for the Clergie at Paris the twentieth of Ianuary folowing to determine of what should bee expedient to bee treated of in a generall councell whereof they gaue them hope But as they had vnderhand withdrawne the Princes from comming to this Assemblie so must they make them vnwilling to bee present at the Parliament To this intent those of Guise in the Kings name command the companies of ordinary souldiars to be readie the 20. of September they lodge them in such sort as those whome they suspected had them in front in flanke and behinde them and spies likewise to discouer them and they giue charge to the commanders to cutte all them in peeces that they should finde marching to ioyne with the Princes If their forces were not sufficient to diuert the Prince of Condé whom they knew to bee more busie and to endure lesse they doe also procure Letters from the King to the King of Nauarre whereby hee doth charge the Prince to haue attempted against the estate of France and to haue sought to seize vpon some of the good Townes of the realme Hee desires him therefore to send him his brother with a good and sure garde if not hee himselfe will fetch him well accompanied The answer of Anthonie and Lewis incountring the Lorraines with their owne armes holding them guiltie of the same crimes wherewith they charged them made them to change their note They send a second commandement Policie to abuse the Princes whereby the King giues his word to the Princes to come in safetie hee promiseth to heare all mens admonitions and iustifications willingly to receiue them according to their estates and dignities not to disturbe any Prince in his religion whereof hee now made open profession and that they should returne when they pleased free from iniurie and outrage And to draw them on the Cardinall of Bourbon a Prince not well able to discouer the deceites of the enemies of his house is expresly sent vnto them They marche and are no sooner come to Limoges but seuen or eight hundred Gentlemen well appointed do visit them The Deputies of Prouinces offer them six thousand foot Gascons and Poiteuins foure thousand horse and foote out of Languedoc as many or more out of Normandie and the other Prouinces promise to rise on all sides to fortifie them at this assemblie of States so as it will please the King of Nauarre to declare himselfe Protector of the King and Realme against them of Guise But the Cardinall of Armagnac Escars â—arnac and some other Councellors of the same mould bad seruants to their maister propounded so many dangers so many inconueniences vpon their comming to Court with force and why should they not resist their enemies force as hee sent back all his companie and countermanded such as came promising notwithstanding to imploy himselfe couragiously in the Parliament for the good of all France Heâ—evpon they giue the King to vnderstand that the Lutherans of Orleans practised something to subuert his estate as they had of late attempted at Lions The King câ—mes to Oâ—leans To assure themselues of the Towne and to punish some which were noted in the booke of death whose confiscation was good the Guisiens first send Sipiere Lieutenant to the Prince of Roche-sur-yon gouernour of Orleans to disarme the people and to fill the houses suspected with men of war they call together the nobilitie men at armes of France then they conduct the King thether to make his entry with the
the Dâ—ke kept the Castell the Citadell was at his deuotion might by either of them drawe innecessary succors to vngage him The Seigneur of Tagens the Dukes Cousin aduanced with succors Bordes Captaine of the Citadell beeing prisoner among the conspirators loued the liberty of his place more then his owne life Mere Messeliere Macquerole and Bouchaux summoning the beseeged found nothing in them but a constant resolution to die rather then to yeeld and the people were willing to capitulate when as Tagens by his arriuall pacified the sedition armes were laied aside and the prisoners of both parts deliuered The Duke of Guise hauing made his peace with the King and disapointed his most faithfull Councellors yet one thorne troubled his foote The Huguenoâ—s Estate Hee therefore ceaseth not vntill hee sees them assayled in Poitoâ— and Daulphiné and whilest the Duke of Neuers prepared his armie for Poictou hee sends the regiment of Saint Paul to the Dâ—ke of Mercoeur to annoye the Protestants and not to suffer them to reape any commoditie in the Countâ—ie The Duke of Mercoeur goes into base Poictou beseegeth Montagu repaired by Colombâ—ers whome they of Nantes had hourely at their gates But at the first bruit that the King of Nauarre was come out of Rochelle to succour Montague hee retires straight to Nantes and left the regiment of Gersey to make the retreat Gersey defeated the which â—as ouertaken beaten and defeated two leagues from the suburbs of Nantes On the other side the Duke of Mayenne marched towards Daulphiné but hee planted the limits of his voiage in Lions Now are two mightie armies in field the one vnder the Kings authoritie the other all of Leaguers But this is not enough The King by a solemne oth in the Cathedrall Church at Rouan had sworne the execution of the Edâ—ct of vnion he hath sent it vnto the Bishops and commaunds them to presse the Huguenots in their diocesses to make profession of their faith and to abiure their errors in open Parliaments royall iurisdictions and comonalties This Edict then must bee confirmed as a fundamentall law of State and the King prest to assemble the three Estates of the Realme as hee had promised by tâ—e articles of the peace Henry grants a conuocation the first day of September at Blois Conuocation of the Estates there in the presence of the notablest persons of euery Prouince Seneshalâ—y and Baylewike to propound freely the complaints and greefes of euery man but not medling with any practises or fauouring the priuate passions of any But amidest these Commissions from the King the League wanted no policie to send secretly to them that were most affectionate to the aduancement of their desseins and to the most passionate Leaguers of the Realme articles and remembrances which they should put into their instructions and labour to bee chosen of the Parliament So as in a manner all the Deputies carried the badge of the League and their instructions were conformable to those which had beene sent vnto them The King comes first to Blois hee giues order for the place and for the Deputies lodgings The Duke of Guise followes but it was a great indiscretion for the Duke to goe to Blois seing the King would not come to Paris The Deputies come one after another but the King finding not the number sufficient to begin so sollemne an act he defers it vntill October In the meane time the King studies by the credit which his authoritie giues him oâ—er the three estates of his Realme to bring the Duke of Guise into open vewe and to receiue punishment for all his offences past And the Duke assâ—â—es himselfe that the most part of the Deputies would countenance his cause and would serue him as instruments to controll the Kings power So euery one labours to aduance his desseine and to deceiue one another but hee which shall bee deceiued will verifie that there is danger in delayes The sixteenth of October all the Deputies were readie for the Clergie a hundred thirtie and foure Deputies amongst others foure Arche-Bishops one and twentie Bishops and two Generalls of Orders for the Nobilitie a hundred and fourescore gentlemen for the third estate a hundred fourescore and eleuen Deputies all lawyers or marchants The seuenteenth day being the fiâ—st sitting of the best wits of all France rauished euery man with hope to heare rare propositions The Kinâ—â— speech and resolutions of great affaires for the reformation of the State The Kings oration being full of liuely affection true magnanimitie and pertinent reasons deliuered with an admirable eloquence and grace without any stay will testifie for euer that he exceeded all the Princes of his age in speaking well and that hee could grauely pertineâ—â—â—y and very sodenly make answere to the most important occasions that were offered Montelon keeper of the seale continued his proposition commended the zeale and integritie of his maiesties intentions promised the Estates Mantelon keâ—per of the seale that vnder his happie coÌ„maund they should reape in this conuocation the same effects which had bin tried in diuers raigâ—es hee exhorteth the Clergie to restore the beautie and dignitie of the Church The Nobilitie to frame themselues after the mould of pietie bountie Iustice and other vertues of the French nation so much honoured in all histories The people to reuerence Iustice and to obserue good orders to flie wrangling sutes sweariâ—â— blâ—â—phemies play lust vsurie vniust getting corrupt trading and other vices which be 〈◊〉 seeds of troubles and seditions and the ruine of flourishing Estates He layes open the Kings great debts his charge and care to roote out heresies his religion pietie and deuotion ending his speech with a commendation vnder the Kings obedience of the vnion and concord necessarie for the maintenance of religion The Clergie Renauld of Beaulne Arche-Bishop of Bourges Patriarke and Primat of Aquitania thanked the King for his loue to his subiects and God to haue installed on the throne of this Crowne a King endued from his youth with the spirit of wisedome to gouerne his people who had cast the lightning of the high God euen vpon the face of the enemies of his diuine Maiestâ—e hauing by diuers and dangerous voyages through diuers nations gotten the knowledge of affaires who by his onely wisedome and vertue had lately dispersed a great and mightie armie of strangers and giuen vs hope that vnder so good and great a King wee shall see heresie suppressed peace confirmed the seruice of God established Churches and Temples restored Iustice and peace embraced charitie abound among men by vnitie of religion begin here on earth to raigne with Christ the Idea and patterne of that heauenly kingdome whereunto wee aspire The Baron of Senesei testified the Nobilities affection to the Kings seruice confessing that to him alone belongs to worke those good effects The Nobilitie for the establishment of the honour of God the Catholike religion things profitable for
soueraigne Lord. The 26. of August Peter Barriere borne at Orleans was taken prysoner at Melâ—n where his maiesty was then by the discouery of a Iacobin a Florentine Execution of Peter Barriere to whome he had confessed himselfe in Lions the Preest reuealing this crime incurres no Ecclesiasticall Censure He confessed That seduced and perswaded by a Capuchin of Lions and afterwards confessed by Aubry Curate of Saint Andrew des Acts at Paris by his vicar and by father Varade a Iesuite hee was come thether expresly to murther the King And in truth the wretch was found seized of a sharpe knife with two edges and for this cause hee was pinched with hot pincers his right-hand burnt off holding the sayd knife his armes legges and thighes broken and his bodie burnt to ashes and cast into the riuer Reuolt at Lions against the Duke of Nemours Whilest the Agents of Spaine labour for this election and their partisans doting do as the frogges who weary of their quiet King made choise of the Storke who in the ende deuoured them all the Duke of Nemours made his faction apart and seeing that by the nomination of these goodly Estates hee should be excluded from his pretensions knowing moreouer that his brother on the Mothers side did crosse all his desseines and bare him no good affection hee resolued to canton himselfe in his gouernment and by many and sundrie fortes both on the water and on the land to plant his fortunes there Already the Citadells and fortes he held a Toissay Vienne Montbrison Chastillon in Dombes Belleuille Tisy Charlieu and else where threatned all Lionois with seruitude if the Lord of Saint Iulian would haue sold him Quirieu for readie money whome in the ende thrust on by the perswasions and presence of their Arch-bishop sent by the Duke of Mayenne with this Comisson among others they force in his house and the 18. of September put him with a gard into a straight prison in the Castell of Pierreancise from whence in the ende disguised playing the part of a grome of the Chambe which carryed forth the excrements of his master he passed through the gardes turning away his face more for feare of beeing knowne then for the ill smell and escaping from them the three and twentith of March following being dispossessed of all his meanes and expelled from his places hee went and died in Anecy a house of his owne in the County of Geneue in Sauoye not without suspition of beeing poysoned at a feast that was made him This generall surceasing of armes prolonged vnto the ende of the yeare and religioâ—sly obserued on eyther side Assembly at Mante brought a great quiet to France gaue the kiâ—g leâ—sure to assemble some of the chiefe of the realme at Mante to consult vpon sundy affaires and particularly to heare the complaintes of such as stoode in doubt of the Kings change in religion and were greeued at diuers contrauentions of his Maiesties Edicts 1553. whereby they suffred many wrongs in all Prouinces for the partisans of Spaine for their last refuge continually exclaymed of the incompatibility of two religions in France and many inclyned to this opinion That the King ought not bee admitted but he should promise expresly to banish al such as made profession of any other religion then that which hee did imbrace or at the least to abolish all publike profession But the King imployed all his care to vnite his people in concord and this new change did nothing alter the affection which hee did beare indifferently to all as a common father of his subiects Thus armes were layd aside whilest the Lord of Les-Degiueres hauing beaten the Sauoyard in diuers incounters in Prouence in Daulphinè vpon the fronters and in Sauoye vpon his owne land conquered many places in Piedmont and lately succored Cauours which the Duke had beseeged two monthes gaue great hope to force this neighbour enemy soone to yeeld what hee had lately vsurped of this Crowne if hee had beene supplied with men munition and money and if some priuate seeds of newe combustions had not drawne him away to quench those fires which threatned to consume Prouence By what meanes and degrees the townes subiect vnto the League returned to the obedience of this Crowne and the Spaniard chased out of the Realme BVT courage oh my Countrymen After a long and sharpe winter wee begin to feele a pleasant spring Preparatiâ—s of obedience to the King As the sunne rising on his horizon increaseth in heate and brightnesse so the people are readie to imbrace the French liberty their natural affection to their lawfull Prince reuiues nowe wee shall see them which made the wound giue the remedie the French striue now to submit themselues vnto their King and the King to receiue his subiects with an admirable clemencie and fatherly affection The Lord of Vitry giues the first checke to the Spaniards The sundrie conferences he had had with his Maiesty before Paris and else where do now worke a great effect Meaux begins Orleans and Bourges second it for deliuering the towne of Meaux to the King as a New-yeares-gift he gaue a plausible beginning to this yeare and made the way for the Lord of la Chastre his Vncle to bring vnto his Maiesty two goodly Duchies at once of Orleans and of Berry Some townes practised by the heads of the League demand a continuance of the truce but it was onely to prolong the miseries of France The King therefore doth publish a declaration shewing the wicked and damnable practises of the Leaguers who vnder the continuance of a truce would confirme their tiranny He prescribes to all in generall one moneth of respit to acknowledge their lawfull King and to performe all necessary submissions to be restored to their charges benefices goods and liberties Hee condemnes the rebells and reuoakes his pardon the time beeing expired The brute of this declaration and the Kings preparatiues to punish the obstinate terrefied the heads and the most part of the townes and Comonalties yet he was content to hold the staffe but not to strike and the prouidence of God conducted the worke of this restauration by other then violent meanes The Duke of Mayenne sought all meanes to auoide this blowe but he had no forces able to preuent it So this vnion câ—â—ented togither with so many shiftes oathes and coniurations is dismembred on all sides the most obstinate apprehend their totall ruine if they persist in their rebellion 1554. The Kings Coronation THere was one thing very necessarie to seale the generall approbation of the Kings lawfull authoritie Hee was not yet anoynted nor Crowned and the want hereof as if his Coronation were the essentiall forme of a royaltie serued yet as a maske to many to withhold their obedience It is good in some things to please the peoples humor and doubtlesse the end will shew that this solemne action did serue as a bright Lanterne to
settle concord and to disperse all the miseries which Discord doth bring forth Some haue complained that I would make leuies of Suisses or of other troopes If I did they must thinke it were to some good end by reason of all my actions past Witnesse that which I haue done for the recouerie of Amiens where I haue imployed the money of the Edicts which you would not haue passed Necessâ—â—ie the first reason and essentiall cause of the â—dict if I had not come my selfe vnto the Parliament Necessitie hath foâ—ced mee to make this Edict by the same Necessitie I haue heretofore plaied the Souldiar They haue talked at their pleasures and I haue not seemed to regarde it I am now a King and speake as a King I will bee obeyed There is not any one of you that findes mee not good when hee hath need of me And there is not any one but hath need once in the yeare and yet you are bad to mee that am so good If other Parliaments for that they haue impugned my will haue beene the cause that they of the Religion haue demanded New things I would not haue you the cause of other innouations by your refusall In the yeare 1594. and 95. when I sent vnto you a Declaration vpon the Edict for the prouision of Offices I did then promise that I would not aduance any one of the Religion to Offices in the Court of Parliament Since time hath altered the affaires wee must accomodate our selues therevnto and yet I will bee well assured of such as I shall aduance to those Charges that they shall gouerne themselues as they ought Talke not so much of the Catholike Religion To all these great cryers Catholickes and Ecclesiastickes 400. pound Staâ—lâ—ng let mee giue to one a thousand Crownes a yeare in Benefices to another foure thousand Liueries of Rent they will not speake a word more I haue the same opinion of all others that shall speake against the Edict There are some which hate the sinne for feare of punishment but the good hate it for the loue of Vertue For Gods sake let mee know that you hate sinne for the loue of Vertue or else I will chastice them that hate it for feare of paine and afterwards they will thanke mee as the Sonne doth his Father The Preachers deliuer words in their Sermons more to nourish then to destroy sedition yet no one of you sayeth any thing these faults which concerne â—ee are not regarded But I will foresee that this Thunder shall bring no Storme and that their predictions shall proue vaine I will not vse their remedies which being out of season will but increase the euill Consider that the Edict whereof I speake is the deceased Kings Edict it is also mine for it was made with mee and I do now confirme it I will say no more but aduise you to imitate the example of the obedience of the Duke of Maine Being perswaded to enter into some factions against my will hee answered that hee was too much bound vnto mee and so were all my subiects amongst the which hee would bee alwayes one that should expose his life to please mee for that I had restored France in despight of them that sought to ruine it And if hee that was the head of the League hath spoken in this manner how much more ought you whome I haue restored to the place from whence the League had expelled you yeeld vnto my request that which you would not do for threats You shall haue none of mee do that which I commaund you or rather what I intreat you you shall not do it onely for mee but for your selues and for the good of the peace This speech was pleasing vnto the Parliament the difficulties which were found in the establishment of the Edict were held tollerable by reason of the Kings will and the necessitie of his affaires Yet they continued fortie dayes after before they would resolue of it The Duchesse of Barr the Kings sister would not depart out of Paris before it was established Shee had shewed her selfe burning in zeale and affection in that matter as in all other affaires of that nature and it was not without reason that after the Kings entrie into Paris when as the Deputies of the Churches of Poitou beseeched his Maiestie for some thing depending vppon the execution of his Edicts hee sayd vnto them Adresse your selues vnto my Sister The Kingâ— Sister pursues the establishment of the Edict your Estate is now fallen vnto the Distaffe The articles of the Edict you may reade at large in the Originals The Edict was sent by the care and diligence of the Kings Atturney general vnto al the Baylewikes depending vppon Paris And yet his Maiestie had deputed in euerie Prouince certaine Commissioners for the execution thereof The exercise of the Catholike Religion was restored in Rochelle and in aboue a hundred walled Townes and a thousand Parishes and Monasteries where the sayd exercise had beene interdicted aboue fifteene yeares and in Bearn for the space of one and thirtie yeares Whilest this Edict of pacification was established in France Cardinall Andrew for and in the name of the Archduchesse the Infanta made one against the Hollanders forbidding all her subiects to trafficke with them The tenor of which Proclamation was this That since the beginning of the Ciuill warres vnto this day The Infanâ—taes Proclamaâ—iongainst the States of the vnited Prouinces many offers had beene made by her and her Councell to them of Holland and their Associats which were most reasonable to reduce them to the dutie of their obedience whereas they had rashly shaken off the yoake and refused to vnite themselues to the other Belgicke Prouinces which did acknowledge and obey her but seeing they could not preuaile by that meanes they were forced to come to armes in the which notwithstanding the King her deceased father had vsed all clemencie and mildnes hoping they would acknowledge their error and craue pardon for their reuolt receiue the grace which hath beene often offered them That for this cause he had granted them their nauigations fishing and free traâ—ficke with his obedient subiects fearing that through this occasion the neighbours shouâ—d draw the profit of all negotiations to some other parts the which the Hollanders know well that the sayd neighbours haue laboured to do with all their power But they were so far from being reclaymed by these benefits as contrariwise they grew more insoleÌ„t and are growne obstinate resoluing in their Councels to resist the Peace and to continue the War the which proceeds not from the people who of their owne dispositions loue peace and desire to liue modestly in obedience but from some new men who taking vppon them the authoritie to commaund abuse the poore people in this sort regarding onely their owne priuat profit and not the publike good whereuppon all conditions haue beene reiected by them refusing to heare any Mediators for
is in Hungary in the midest of many discomodities which he holds pleasing for Gods cause but before he goes he giues them occasion to talke of him in the Court of Parliament He had a cause pleaded there and his Aduocate gaue him the quality of a Prince Seruin the Kings Aduocate holding it a base preuarication to be silent at that which ought to be spoken for the Kings seruice and the Lawe of State did shew that that quality did not belong to any but to Princes of the bloud The Duchesse of Mercure who was then in presence sayd that they could not take from her Husband a quality that was due vnto him by the right of his birth and that the King held him so The Duke Mercure holding that which the Kings Aduocate had sayd in discharge of his duty for a brauado and a contempt went the same day vnto his house and gaue him iniurious words The King being aduertised thereof held it a bold act The Court esteemed the iniury done vnto them desired the more to repaire it for that the honor of the Kings seruice was wronged and that it had bin done in sight of the ParliameÌ„t of the Capital Citty of the Realme in his house that was wronged the which should be to euery man an inuiolable Sanctuary The Court decreed that he should be personally adiorned and had proceeded further if the Kings commandement had not stayd them It was a great vertue in the President Lizet when he decreed that the quality of Prince which the Cardinall of Lorraine tooke should be raized out of his Aduocates pleadings The Cardinall complayned vnto the King but the President Lizet answered with sutch Courage and Constancy before the King beeing in Councell that the Cardinall was no Prince nor equall to Princes if you will sayeth he vse it shew vs the place of your Principality A free speech which purchased the old man much reputatioÌ„ In the yeâ—re 1598. yet within two yeares after he made him resigne his place vnder an other pretext There was no Nobleman in France that vsed the benefit of the Peace more worthily theÌ„ the Duke Mercure for disdayning the idlenesse of the Court and the ease of his house hee imployed himselfe to succor the Christians against the greatest enemy of their Religion He leads with him the Count of Chaligny his brother with some gentlemen at his owne charge resoluing to imploy his Goods as well as his Life in this holy warre hauing vowed to serue Christendome two yeares at his owne charge Hee shewed himselfe a great Captaine as well to defend as to assaile hauing kept the enemy with an army of a hundred and fifty thousand men from beseeging of Strigonia this was in his first voiage before whose returne the Emperour desired to see him What pâ—st in Hungary and intreated him to take his way by Prague After the raysing of the seege of Buda or Belgrade the Christian army was dismissed sent to Garâ—isons Buda receiued a new Bascha The Knights of Comorre at the beginning had defeated part of the troupes which were come to coÌ„duct accoÌ„pany the Bascha they spoiled a Ship being laden with spoile they returned to their coÌ„panions The Turke sent fiue Shippes to Buda and changed aâ— the Estate and one of the Baschas which had beene there during the seege who had bene of opinion to yeeld the place was punished It was thought the Bascha of Agria would haue giuen some notable attempt hauing made great preparation for Warre in diuers places and prouided three hundred barrells of poulder Those of Sigeth on the other side hauing made Souldiars Coates of the Germaine fashion thought to surprize the Christians but they fayled being discouered The Tartares The Tartares demand a peace which adhere vnto the Turke by his commandement spoyled the Country vpon the riuer of Hipolis and fell vpon Peste Zolnâ—ek and Hattouan Townes subiect vnto the Turke who being tired with their courses and exhausted of money by the great warres hee had against the Persian hee resolued to demaund a Peace of the Emperour The Tartares came to make this demand at Vienna in the beginning of February who being adressed vnto the Arch-duke Mathias they had no answer The Tartares reuenge for being contemned The Tartares defeated by Palfi but returned as they came by reason of the spoile their men made this request was not reported vnto the Emperour nor vnto the Court at Prague In the meane time the Tartare made a furious reuenge hauing surprised the Citty of Tolice and put all to fire and sword they slue all within it that were of mans age and had done worse if the Lord of Palfi had not made head against them and slaine some among others three Captaines who choose rather to bee slaine then to yeeld except one Vallet who demanded his life and was saued They of Ratzen with all their men retired vnto the Mountaines to auoide the fury of the Tartares but they of Crabatzen resisted them brauely and tooke one of their Captaines Those of Vaxence vnto Buda defeated a great number being gone to freeboote neere to Palaner Meugrade and Zetschen but the rest of the Tartares hauing notice thereof burnt aboue thirty villages neere vnto Calon which had like to haue beene taken and Laomare also if it had not beene well manned but they durst not sally forth for that the enemy was aboue 12. thousand The Fort of Canisia was also burnt at that time whereas the soldiars and the Inhabitants lost all their baggage mouables About that time the garrison of Strigonia defeated a Conuoy tooke a great Booty Orsipetre the Gouernors Lieutenant got much welth and honor among other things he had a Gowne of cloath of Tissue of Gold and Siluer which was sent to the Bascha and knowing that the Fort of Wailes was fallen hee enters it and defeats the garrison with the Aga which is the Gouernor and deliuered them of Bischir The Heiducks which are horsemen led away 800. Sheepe which did greatly releeue Strigonia In the meane time there happened a great alteration in Transiluania the Vauoide Sigismond who had before accepted a recompence of the Emperour to deliuer Transiluania into his hands hauing gonne from his word What past in Transiluania hee prest the Emperour by the Bishop of Alba-Iulia and by Stephen Paschay his Chancellor to restore him Transiluania againe And without attending any answer he goes thether in post takes it againe and makes his Cousine Andrew Battâ—ry the Cardinall to sweare fealty vnto him the which he did also cause George Balte to approue being then at Cassouia in heigh Hungary Generall of the Emperours army who was therein surprized for hee gaue him to vnderstand that it was for the good of Christendome and in the meane time Cardinal Andrew treated with the Turke by safe conduct The Emperour sent Doctor Petzen thether but coÌ„ming to Thorne the Principall Towne
and to ruine all the world with his delights At this time there sprong vp Religious men in France who said they were true Obseruers of the Order of S. Francis The order of 〈◊〉 and that the Franciscans and Capuchins did not maintaine it so exactly but they needed Reformation The King gaue them a Couent at Beauâ—ort by the example of this piety many other places desired it They would lodge at Balmette neere vnto Anger 's the which had beene Founded by Rene King of Sicilia The FranciscaÌ„s who could not indure to be dispossessed by these Recollets beseeged them offered to force their Gates and to scale their Walles The Beseeged defended not themselues with Words and Excorcismes but with Stones and in such Choller as if the People had not come the Scandall had not ended without Murther The Prouinciall seeing that the Recollets would not receiue him Trouble in the â—ouent of Balmâ—â—te and that the Bishop would not suffer him to vse force appealed as from an abuse of their Establishment The Recollâ—ts shew vnto the Court that they are the true Children and Disciples of S. Francis liuing according to the Rule and Discipline that was obserued in Italy from whence the good Precepts of the Reformation of Regulers were drawne that if those of the Famely of Obseruance and of Capuchins were tollerated honoured in France they should be of no worse Condition This cause was the Argument of a famous pleading in the Court Parliament in the which Seruin the Kings Aduocate said That a Reformation was necessary not only in the Order of the Franciscans or Grey-Friars A great pâ—eadâ—â—g â—n the Court of Parlament but also in all others but they must be careful not to transforme by Nouelties in steed of Reforming by Censures alleadging many reasons against the bringing in of nâ—we Orders Whereupon the Court pronounced that there was abuse and restored the Ancient Religious to the Couent of Balmette forbidding all religious Men of the Order of Grey-Fryars to go out off the Realme without license from the King or their Superiors Iealous and distrustfull heads gaue it out that the Peace was in weake estate when as after the iniury done vnto Rochepott in Spaine The King gâ—es to Calais and the forbiding of Trafficke they see the King gonne sodainely to Calais and that from thence hee had sent the Duke Biron into England The Archdukes tooke a sodaine Alarum and to that end sent the Count Soâ—a vnto the King to deliuer vnto him the state of the Seege to Ostend The Count Sora sent vnto the King and to beseech him not to suffer that their enemies should thinke that these approches should be to their aduantage and that their rebellion should be fauoured by an example so hatefull to all Princes The King sent the Duke of l' Esguillon to visit them The Duke of l' Eâ—guillon sent to the Archdukes and to assure them that his intention was not to trouble the Peace but onely to visit his Fronter and to prouide for the fortifications They did not generally beleeue this for although he made this Voyage in Post many thought that he would imbrace this occasion of the seege of Ostend and all the Court followed him as to some great Exploite And for that he would not haue the world in suspence of his desseignes he gaue the Gouernors of his Prouinces to vnderstand that the cause of his going to Calais was but to visit his frontier and to prouide for that which should bee necessary to assure it not from present dangers but from those that might happen He declared also that he had no other desseigne then the preseruation of Peace withall his neighbours to enjoy that which God had giuen him But there were other practises which could not be dispersed but by the Kings presence The Queene of England sent Sir Thomas Edmonds to visit the King and the King returned her the like by the Duke of Biron Hee went accompanied with a hundred and fifty Gentlemen The Count of Avuergne was there as vnknowne The Duke of Biron sent into England but his qâ—aâ—ity discouered him There was nothing omitted that might be for the reception of an Ambassador somewhat more Being at London many Noblemen receiued him and accompanied him to Basing where he rested a day or two before he did see the Queene who made him knowe that shee was honoured by her Subiects aboue other Princes A Prince should loose no occasion to let Strangers see the greatnesse of his Estate to giue them cause to admire him and to maintaine his Subiects in the dutie which they owe him The Queene of England who hath made good proofe that Wonten may raigne as well and as happely as Men obserues this bâ—â—tâ—r then any Prince of her age making all them that followed the Duke of Biron in this Legation to giue the like Iudgement The Queene beeing set in State all the French Gentlemen entred first His entry to the Queene but when as shee discouered the Duke of Biron whome shee knew by the description they had made of his Face and stature shee spake with a loud voyce Ha Monsieur de Biron how haue you taken the paynes to come and see a poore old Woman who hath nothing more liuing in her then the affection shee beares vnto the King and her perfect iudgement to knowe his good Seruants and to esteeme Knights of your sort As she spake this the Duke made a low reuerence the Queene rose from her Chaire to imbrace him to whoÌ„ he deliuered the charge he had from the King and withall his Maiesties Letters the which she read She thanked the King for his remembrance of her but she said she could not conceale The Queenes speech that as there was nothing vnto a heart like vnto hers full of affection and desire more pleasing then to see and heare what it desired so could she not but feele an extreme torment to see her selfe depriued of the sight and presence of the obiect which shee had most desired whose actions she esteemed not onely immortall but diuine being ignorant whether she should more enuy his Fortune then loue his Vertue and admire his Merits so much the one the other did exceede the greatest maruailes in the world That she could not say that a courage which feared nothing but the falling of the Pillers of Heauen should feare the Sea or not trust vnto it for a passage of seuen or eight houres blaming them rather which had not instructed him as well to contemne the Waues of the Sea as the desseignes of his enemies vppon the Land From these speeches shee fell into some bitternesse of Complaints which shee deliuered with a little vehementie saying That after she had succored this Prince with her Forces Purse and Meanes and if she could haue done it with her owne bloud and had as much desired the happy successe of his affayres as himselfe
storme The cause grewe from a decree of the Court giuen against Solyciters and by the Kings authority and expresse commandement who before hee parted from Paris to passe the Easter at Fontainbleau sent for the cheefe of the Court of Parliament and of all the other Courtes to recommend their charges vnto them From whose owne mouth they vnderstoode howe much hee desired that all the Iustice might bee administred with lesse charge and lesse losse of time The Spices is 〈◊〉 vnto Iudges vpon euery 〈◊〉 that is iudged dâ—â—iniâ—iuely in France That there was no Iustice for them that had no money so excessiue were the Iudges Spices and the Soliciters fees The Court of Parliament desiring that according to the Kings minde intention and last comâ—â—unde the excesse whereof they complayned against the Soliciters might bee reduced to a meane and iust temper assembled to redresse those disorders The opinions beeing heard and numbred against Aduocates the first President sheweing that a reformation was as necessary in Iudges as in Soliciters The 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â—â— against 〈◊〉 In the ende 2 decree was made by the which it was ordeyned and apointed that euer Soliciter should set downe vnder his hande in the ende of his writtings what hee had taken for his owne fees to the ende that in case of excesse it might bee moderated when as the Court should proceede to iudgement of the processe Moreouer they should giue a certificate what they had taken for the pleading of causes to be set downe in the taxe of charges all vpon paine of extorsion The Law was not made against the good but onely to restraine the auarice of others who preferre the oportunitie of taking before all reprehension All notwithstanding did oppose themselues against the execution of this Law saying that they would rather leaue their places then subiect themselues to the rigour of the Decree and do so great a wrong to the Dignity and Liberty of their profession The Court made an other Law whereby it was decreed that such as would not pleade should deliuer their names vnto the Register A second decree against Soliciters after the which they were forbidden to practise as Soliciters vppon paine of falshood This second decree was pronounced in open Assembly in the house of the Kings Attornie generall The next day there went out of the Chambers of Consultation by two and two to the number of three hundred and seuen they past through the Pallace hall went to the Register to giue vp their hoods and to declare that they obeyed the second decree seeing they could not obey the first From that time the Pallace was without pleading the Soliciters being busied to defend themselues setting downe al the reasoÌ„s they could for their iustification yet could they not mooue the Court to reuoake or change the Decree they were forced to haue recourse vnto the King who to reconcile this diuision which happened vpon a day which reuiued the memorie of a greater trouble hee sent his letters to the Parliament in tearmes conformable to his Iustice and the wisedome of his Councell By the which it was lawfull for Soliciters to exercise their functions as they had done before the sayd Decree inioyning them notwithstanding to obserue the ordinance made at Blois in that behalfe in the 161. Article The parties which had sutes did languish in expectation of this declaration As they complayned of the corruption so they suffered the inconueniencie of the remedie The Court which had made many iust and seuere Lawes against Combats An â—idict against Combats confirmed the Edict which the King made at Blois Before his Maiesties departure from Fontainbleau hee had commanded the Constable Chancellor Marshalls of France and the cheefe of his Councell to deuise some meanes to suppresse the libertie of Combats being so iniurious and preiudiciall to his estate By their aduise an Edict was made by the which they that call or are called or which assist or seconds him that calls or is called are declared guiltie of high Treason and to bee punished according to the rigour of the Lawes Commanding the Constable Marshals of France Gouernours and Lieutenants generall of Prouinces to preuent Combats and to forbid them vpon paine of death to iudge absolutly as they shall thinke good of all that concernes the reparation of wronges and to force them that are condemned to satisfie by imprisonment The King effected his busines happely in Poâ—tou The King his voyage into Poâ—â—ou in three weâ—kes hee found so great an obedience and affection in them to please him as hee remained very well satisfied His Maiestie left so many testimonies in all places of his bounty as all had cause to prayse him and to blame their practises which sought to trouble the peace The Duke of Biron did not thinke the King should haue found so great obedience and loue among his subiects of that Prouince He had sent some of his seruants to Court to learne how the market went and to shew the discontent he had foâ— the iealousie which was conceiued of his Faith and Dutie The King sends for the Duke of Biron The King who was well informed of his intelligences with the Count of Fuentes reâ—olued to see him and to keepe him from his enemies Hee sent Descures vnto him with charge to say that hauing intelligence of the great Leuies of souldiars made in Italie he had resolued to maintaine the body of an army vpon the froÌ„ter to giue the charge vnto him and to that end he had coÌ„manded DeVic his Ambassador in Suisse to demand a speedy leuy of 6000. men to cause theÌ„ to march wher he should haue directioÌ„s that therein hee followed the Councell of the Constable his gossip whose aduice he sent him in writing and desired to haue his by mouth conâ—uring him to come with speede He stirres not for al that excusing himselfe sometimes vpon the holding of the Estates sometimes that the enemy being so neere it were an act vnworthy of his reputation to turne his backe abandon the Frontier The King sent the PresideÌ„t â—anin a man powerfull in perswasion The President 〈◊〉 sent vnto him who comming to Dijon gaue the Duke to vnderstand howe much the King desired to see him and how necessary this sight was and among many discourses applyed fitly to his humour hee let him knowe the Kings strength and the length of his Arme. This was not able to mooue him He considered that the Duke of Biron must bee perswaded to this voyage by him that was all of his Councell â—home he assured that as he should haue all the Honour of this perswasion Diuers aduises 〈◊〉 to the Duke of Biâ—on so he could expeâ—t nothing but disgrace and ruine of a contrary councell His friends notwithstanding did conâ—ure him not to come one of his best friends sent him word by his Brother that his Gouernment was disposed of and that for his last hope he
a list He that appreheÌ„ds death hath no desire to eate yet hee set him downe rose againe presently and according to his vsuall maner went vnto a window which looked into the Court of the Basâ—ille where hearing the cries and lamentations of a woman hee thought they were for him had this sad content to see they wept for him before his death Soone after the Chancellor goes towards him who crossing through the Court the Duke of Biron espied him cryed out that he was dead You come sayd he to pronounce my sentence I am condemned vniustly tell my kins-folkes that I die an innocent The Chancellor went on without any motion coÌ„manding that they should bring him into the Chappel The prisoner seeing him come a farre of cried out The Duke of Biâ—ons words to the Chancellor Oh my Lord Chancellor is there no pardon is there no mercy The Chancellor saluted him and puâ—ts on his hat The Duke of Biron continued bare and hauing abandoned all the powers of his Soule to greefe and passion hee tooke the aduantage to speake first and to speake all that a tounge ouer greeued might vtter reproching the Chancellor that hee had not had so great a desire to saue him as to condemne him After condemnation all discours is vaine Hee added thervnto certaine words the recording whereof is prohibited and the report punnishable But Princes regard not the rayling of subiects against their Maiesty the which returnes alwaies froÌ„ whence it came The Duke of Biron knowing not whom he should challenge most for his misfortune turned towards the Chancellor and shaking him by the arme sayd You haue iudged me God will absolue me Men condemned may speak any thing hee will lay open their Iniquities which haue shut their eyes because they would not see mine innocency you my Lord shall answere for this iniustice before him whether I do sommon you within a yeare and a day I go before by the iudgement of men but those that are the cause of my death shall come after by the iudgement of God All which was deliuered with such violence as hee cryed out and stormed both against the King and his Parliament They beare with all which proceeds from choller in a condemned man of his humor and quality But this excesse to adiorne a Chancellor to Heauen being 70. yeares old was held vnworthy the great courage of a Captaine blaspheming and brauing death and yet ignorant how they pleade in an other world He was not the first in the like extremities that haue adiourned their Iudges before the Throne of God Iohn Hus sayd in dying That those which had condemned him should answer a hundred yeares after before God and him and the Bohemians who preserued the Asshes of his bones and maintained his Doctrine coyned money with this adiournement But the Duke of Birons assignation was vaine for the Chancellor appeered not but hath bin more healthful since then before He found no means to enter into discours amidest the confusioÌ„ of so many words which were like vnto a violent streame Yet he interrupted him to tell him that he had need of Gods helpe that he should recommend himselfe vnto him He presently answered that hee had thought vpon God and implored his aide to giue him patience against their iniustice but neither he nor his Iudges had thought of it in condeÌ„ning him Passion transports the rounge Passion sayd the Chancellor makes you to speake many things without any colour and against your owne Iudgement There is not any man hath better knowne your merits then my selfe and I would to God your offences had bin as much vnknowne as they haue bin dissembled The knowledge thereofwas so great and so perfect as your Iudges haue bin more troubled howe to moderate your paine then to haue you punnished they haue more labored to iustefie you then to condemne you Whilest the Chancellor was speaking the Duke of Biron turned towards Roissy Master of Requests asked him if he had also bin one of his Iudges Roissy answered My Lord I pray God to comfort you My father loued you so intirely replied the Duke of â—iroÌ„ that although you were one of them that had coÌ„demned me I would forgiue you And so returning to his discourse he addresâ— himselfe vnto the Chancellor who was saying some-thing vnto Voisin I see well sayd he what it is I am not the most wicked but I am the most vnfortunate Those which haue done worse then I would haue done are â—auored The Kings clemency is dead for me Hee doth not immitate the examples of Caesar nor Augustus or of those great Princes who not only pardoned them that would haue done ill but euen them that did ill who were euer sparing of their bloud yea of that which was least esteemed wherin can the King shew himself greater theÌ„ in pardoning Clemency is a Kingly vertue Euery one may giue death Clemency a royall vertue but it belongs onely to Soueraigns to giue life And cruell that he is doth he not knowe well that he hath pardoned me I had a bad desseigne he granted me grace I demand it againe you may easily aduertise him a â—â—st wil soone returne The Queene of England told me that if the Earle of Essâ—x would haue humbled himselfe and sued for grace shee would haue pardoned him Hee grewe obstinate and would neuer implore her mercy taking from her all meanes to shew the effects She like a generous Princesse desiryng to pardon him euen as she would that God should pardon her He was guilty I am innocent he sued for no pardon for his offence I craue it in mine Inoceney Is it possible the King should thinke no more of the seruices I haue done him doth hee not remember the conspiracy at Mantes and the danger hee had runne if I had had intelligence with the Conspirators who found nothing that did hinder the effects of their desseigne then my loyaltie nor a more ready meanes to attayne vnto it then in causing me to be slaine The Duâ—â— oâ— Birons repâ—ochâ—s There is no veine in my bodie which hath not bled for his seruice He shewes that he neuer loued me any longer then he thought himselfe to haue neede of me Hâ—th he forgotten the â—eege of Amiens where they haue seene me so often couered with fire and bullets and to be in so many dangers eyther to giue oâ— to receiue death Hee now quentcheth the torch in my bloud after that he hath vsed it My Father exposed himselfe to a thousand dangers and purchased death to â—et the Crowne vpon his head I haue receiued fiue and thirty wounds vpon my body to preserue it for him and for my reward hee takes my Head from my Shoulders Let him beware least the Iâ—stice of God fall vpon him He shall finde what profit my death will bring him it will nothing assure his affaires but impaire the reputation of his Iustice. Hee
nothing memorable vnder his raigne but that through his facilitie all was tollerable to his bad seruants who vnder his name laid great exactions vpon the people the which caused them to mutine in many places neither did he being great of body and therefore called Long but little of witte vse his authoritie Vnder colour of a voyage to the East two seditious men a Priest and a Monke of the order of Saint Benedict 1322. assembled a multitude of mutinous people which committed a thousand insolencies where they passed Rebels calling themselues Shepherds calling themselueâ— Shepheards but in the end they were defeated in Languedoc The Iewes expelled before were now admitted to returne for money a wretched nation giuen to all kinde of wickednesse and therefore odious to the people An artificiall plague who exclaimed against the disorders growen vp by the facilitie of Philip. This generall hatred bred such a rage in the licentious mindes of the Iewes as they brought the plague into diuers parts of the realme vsing the helpe of Lepars Many were greeuously punished by Iustice and the rest banished out of the dominions of France Flanders seemed ready to fall into new troubles but in the end they were pacified by the marriage of Marguerite the Kings second Daughter with Lewis Earle of Flanders Flanders pacified Neuers and Rethel and the paiment of certaine summes due by the sayd accord These are the most famous acts of that raigne for to what end serues it to relate that priuate Iustice was done vpon a Prouost of Paris who was hanged for that he had put to death a poore innocent for a riche man that was guiltie and condemned to dye Or that Philip would make one waight and one measure throughout his Realme but he could not maintaine his authoritie by the rule of reason These things either too common or not effected are not worthy of a Historie Thus Philip the fift died with small fame the fift yeare of his raigne in the yeare 1322. CHARLES the 4. called the Faire the 49. King of France CHARLES .4 KING OF FRANCE XLIX 1322. AS Philip the Long had succeeded Lewis Hutin his brother with some dispute Charles crowned without opposition so Charles brother to Philip the last of the Sonnes of Philip the Faire succeeded without any dâ—fficultie the question being formerly decided He was Crowned King with great solemnitie the Princes of the bloud and Noblemeâ— assisting â—n the yeare 1322. and raigned six yeares A wise and a temperate Prince His dispositioÌ„ louing Iustice and yet vnfortunate in his familie He was thrice married His first wife Blaâ—che was acâ—uâ—ed and conuicted of Adulteâ—ie duâ—ing his fathers life and was confined to Chasâ—eaâ—-gaillâ—rd by Andely vpon Seine His second Wife was Mary the Daughter of Henry of Luxenbourgh Emperor by whom he had one Sonne whiâ—h dyed as he was borne and his Mother soone after at â—â—ssoudon in Bâ—rry His third Wife was Marguerite the Daughtâ—r of Lewis Earle of Eureux by whom he had Daughters onely His issue leauing â—er with Child as shall be said But let vs make a collection of his life which is not long The facilitie of Philip the Long the furie of Lewis Hutin and the long warres of Philip the Hâ—rdie had peâ—uerted all and giuen libertie to euery man to do what he pleased especially the Nobilitie who being armed committed many insolencies by this libertie and impunitie Charles being annointed he held a great Sessions in his chiefe Citty of Paris to heare all mens complaints and causeth many Gentlemen to be punished Câ—arles punisheth disorders without respect Among the rest Iourdain of Lâ—sâ—e a Gasâ—on who vnder colour of being Nephew to Pope Iohn the 22. then resident in Auignon hauing had his pardon for eighteene crimes whereof the least deserued death continued still in his wickednesse In the end he was taken and brought to Paris The remitting of what was past made him presume of Impunitie But the Iustice of God which comes in 〈◊〉 euen when the insolent and obstinate sinner dreames not of it preuented him 1324. 〈…〉 laying all respect aside caused him to be hanged as a memorable examâ—â—â—â—â—at respâ—ct is an enemy to Iustice which must bee executed without sparing of any oâ—â—â—hat is guâ—ltie of any notable crime 〈…〉 second King of Eâ—gland stood vpon termeâ— for his homage of Guienne 〈…〉 sâ—nt his wife Isabel the Daughter of Philip the Faâ—re and Sister to the King 〈…〉 pouâ—d with him Chaâ—lâ—s brought him to reason bâ— his authoritie and as Hugh 〈◊〉 Lord of Montpesat in Agenâ—is would haue fortified his house without his permisâ—â—â—â—â—e forced him to obey razing the Casteâ—l of Montpesat whence the quarrell 〈◊〉 and made him to giue hostages for the assurance oâ— that hee had promised 〈◊〉 lâ—st these generall quarrels Isabel complaines of her husband Edward King of England there chanced a iarre betwixt Edward and his wife Isabâ—â— dâ—â—contented with her husband for that both she and her Sonne had lost their 〈◊〉 wiâ—h him by the pernicious councell of Hugh Spencer Yet was he so supported by King â—harles as he sent her back into England without any countenance commandiâ—g her to apply her selfe to her husbands humors the which she endeuored to doe bâ—ing a wiâ—e and a couragious Princes yet being assisted as it is likely vnderhand by tâ—e meaâ—es of her Nephew Charles the Faire she preuailed in her desseignes causing Hâ—gh to be apprehended and punished as the Leuaine of all their breach and hauing bâ—ougâ—t heâ— Husband vnto reason she confirmed her Sonne Edward the third a Prince who shortly shall be the cause of much trouble to this Monaâ—chie Charles likewise râ—duced Lewis Earle of Flanders to obedience although he were husband to his Aunt 〈◊〉 hauing called and condemnâ—d him by Court of Parliament at Paris he restored hâ—m to his estates the which he had forfaited by fellonie shewing in one subiect both hâ—s seueritie to punish offences and his clemencie to remit the due punishment The same Eaâ—le being fallen in some dislike with his chiefe Townes seeking to reclaime them by force Charles aduised him to winne them by mildnesse The subiectâ— infirmities must be cured by mildnesse a true remedie to reconcile subiects which are accustomed to oppose themselues against rigour and in resistâ—ng to know their owne forces the which belongs to their Princes by obedience Thâ—s he pacified these discontents betwixt the Earle and the Citties of Flanders by a common reconciliation vpon condition That the Earle should bee acknowledged in his degree and the King as Soueraigne Tâ—is is all that chanced worthy of obseruation in the raigne of Charles the Faire A Prince worthy of the French Monarchie and to bee numbred among the greatest aâ—d most famous men of State His life was veâ—y short in regard of his great sufficienciâ—â— yet with more order and authoritie then his brother Philip the Long who left noâ—e but
Queene the 17. of October The Princes gouerned by their innocencie arriue the eeue of All Saints and passe from the Portereau to the Kings lodging vpon the Estappe The Princes arâ—â—ue betwixt two rankes of armed men The Cardinall of Bourbon and the Prince of Roche-sur-yon receiue them Not a Courtier nor a Bourgeios meetes them and for their first affront when as they sought to enter on horse-back according to the vsuall custome they were answered with a Brauado The great gates do not open The King attended them at the first hauing done their duties to his Maiestie and no man aduanced to bid them welcome I am said he to the Prince of Condé aduertised from diuers places that you haue made many enterprises against me and the estate of my realme and therefore I haue sent for you to know the truth â—rom your owne mouth Lewis iustifies himselfe so plainly and doth charge his enemies so directly as the King himselfe could not impute these accusations bâ—t to the wilfulnesse of his Vncles agâ—inst his owne bloud But he was possessed by them and suffered himselfe to be easiâ—â—e abused So hee commands Chauigny The Prince of Conde impriâ—oned Captaine of his gards sent by them of Guise to seize vpon the Prince Chauigny shuts him vp in a house hard by beâ—ore the which they make a fort of Brick fâ—â—nked with Canoniers and furnished with field peeces to defend the approches The Lady of Roye his mother in law was likewise carried from Anici a house of hers in Picardie prisoner to S. Germaine in Laye by Renouarâ— and Carrouges Ierosâ—â—e Groslot Bayliffe of Orleans vnder colour that his father had beene Chancellor to the deceased King of Nauarre and hee an affectionate seruant to the Princes accused also to be the Protector of the Lutherans in Orleans was likewise imprisoned two dayes after the Princes arriuall La Haye Councellor in the Court of Parliament at Paris who did solicite the Princes affaires was also in trouble Amaury Bouchart maister of Requests vnto the King and Chancellor to the Nauarrois was sent prisoner to Melun which others brought from Lions to haue proofes against the Prince whose triall they did hasten with all speed But they meant no harme to Bouchart he had already retired himselfe and blabbed by his Letters to the Cardinall of Lorraine to the preiudice of his maister Neither the informations taken at Lions by the Marshall S. André noâ— the prisoners at Melun were sufficient to make the Prince a spectacle vpon a scaffold They send for the president of Thou Commissioners to aâ—aigne the Prince Bartholmewe Faye and Iames Viole Councellors of the Parliament at Paris to examine the Prince vpon the point of high Treason and if this peece of batterie were not of force then to touch him vpon the point of religion and to condemne him for heresie The Prince propounds diuers causes of recusation and appeales from them to the King The priuie Councell reiects his appeale and decrees That vpon paine of high treason the Prince should answer before these Commissioners He answers purgeth himselfe cleerly of all crime and aduowes his religion freelie The Prince condemned By this confession iudgement was giuen against him he condemned to dye a day appointed the x. of December to countenance the beginning of the Parliament They onely note the Earle of Saâ—cerre the Chancellor and the Councellor Morâ—ier which did not pollute their soules with the approbation of this vniust sentence This sentence should in the end cause the ruine of all that were accused or suspected as well for matter of State as religion And for the execution of this desseine the forces of the realme diuided into foure marched already into diuers Prouinces vnder the command of the Duke of Aumale and the Marshals of S. André of Brissac and of Termes And with the same furie the King of Nauarre should bee confined into the Castle oâ— Loches the Constable and his children to the great Tower at Bourges the Admirall and some principalls into one at Orleans the which was afterwards called the Admirale neere to that of S. Aignan But behold there are two more violent and more brutish councellors Brissac and S. André they hold opinion that to auoide trouble in giuing the King of Nauarre any gardes they should put him to death they imploy both poison and sword but neither succeeds God had otherwise decreed reseruing these princes for a more honourable death But howsoeuer let vs confesse that the Lord hath strange meanes to punish the ambition of great men we shall scarce see any one of those which acte these furious parts vpon the theator of this Historie end his dayes by an ordinarie and naturall death The x. day of December approched and the Deputies for the Estates ariue by degrees They presently forbid them in the Kings name vpon paine of death not to moue any thing concerning religion his Maiestie hauing referred this controuersie to the Councell which the Pope being then Pius the 4. successor to Theatin lately deceased appointed to begin at Trent at Easter following Those of Languedeâ— amongst the rest came furnished with ample instructions both for the State and religion but they found meanes to stop their mouthes seizing both on their persons and instructions The ix day of the moneth they giue commandement to the King of Nauarre to be ready to go to horse-back their meaning was to carry him to Loches whilest they should present the prince his Brother vpon a mournefull Scaffold to the people of Orleans But O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declared the worke which thou hast done in their time A miraculous deliuerie and in the old time before them Behold the King is taken during Euen-song with a great fainting continued with a paine in his head at the left eare accompanied with a Feuer The Guisâ—ens notwithstanding send forth many Commissions to leuie men and command the Marshaâ—l of Tâ—rmes to ioyne with the Spaniard who tooke the way of Bayonne to spoile the Country of Berne and then to assaile all those whome he should finde to haue fauored the King of Nauarre and the enterprise of Amboise It may be they would haue sold their liues deerely Seauen or eight hundred gentlemen go speedily to horse followed with fiue or six thousand foote resolute when the Marshall should passe Limoges to â—emme him in betwixt two riuers He hath some intelligence thereof and râ—tires to Poitiers This desseine being made frustrate the Kings sicknesse encreasing those of Guise meane to proceed with violence and to murther the King of Nauarre God raysed vp the Cardinall of Tournon who thinking to do a greater act preuents it Hee aduiseth to attend the Constables comming with his Children and Nephewes to the end sayd he that killing one we saue not the rest who afterwards may do more harme then the Princes The dispaire of the Kings helth made them of
Guise to set a good countenance on a bad cause And the Queene mother seeking to hold her authority by supporting them of Guise calles the King of Nauarre into her closet As he was entring a Ladie of the Court sayd to him in his eare My Lord denie the Queene Mother nothing that she shall demand else you are dead So he signed what shee desired A grant of the right which hee might pretend to the gouernment of the King and Regencie of the Realme and his reconciliation with them of Guise Vpon this graunt she promiseth to make him the Kings Lieutenant in France both for peace and warre and nothing should passe but by his aduice and of the other Princes who should bee respected according to the degree they held in France In the meane time death presseth the King The death of Fancis the 2. and those of the house of Guise shut vp in their lodging and seized vpon three or foure scoore thousand frankes which remained yet of the treasor came not forth in two dayes vntill they were assured of the King of Nauarre who hauing imbraced one an other all quarrells seemed to be layd vnder foote In the end this Catarre with a feuer brought the King to his graue the fourteenth of December hauing giuen no time by reason of his yong age and the shortenesse of his â—aigne to discouer any thing in him but onely some shewes of courtesie continency and modestie vertues which his Vncles had easily corrupted by the tast of crueltie which they began to make an impression of in his soule as they did in his successors little lamented for his person but of such as possessing him in his â—oâ—age grounded the greatnesse of their vsurped estates vpoÌ„ his life to ouerthrowe the fundamentall Lawes of the Realme whatsoeuer some wretched writers do babble whose soules haue beene as vendible as the Guisiens armes were then new in our France This death gaue life to the Prince of Condé opened the prisons for such as had beene committed for his cause reuiued an infinit number whome the Princes condemnation had drawne into danger countermanded the troupes of Spaine which aduanced towards Bearn disapointed Montluâ— of the Earldome of Armagnaâ— the which he had deuoured in hope by the promises of the house of Guise and brought many of their most secret seruants to the King of Nauarres deuotion CHARLES the 9. the 61. King of France CHARLES THE .9 KING OF FRANCE 1560. NOW we fall from a feuer into a frensie Wee shall see vndâ—â— aâ—â—ther pupill King of eleuen yeares of age raigning in the wrathâ—â— God the heauens to powre vpon this Realme all the curses 〈◊〉 promised against a nation whose iniquities hee will punish 〈…〉 dâ—â—pleasure A raigne cursed in the Cittie and cursed in the 〈◊〉 cursed in the beginning and cursed in the ending Mortality 〈◊〉 and â—amine haue followed it euen vnto the end The heauens aboue are of brasse and the eaâ—th vnder iâ— of iron the carcases are a prey to the birds of the aire to the bâ—â—sts of the field and no man trouble them They suffer no thing but wrongs and robberies and no man releâ—â—es them Men marry wiues but others sleepe with them They 〈◊〉 and plant but the nations whom they haue not knowne deuowre the fruit To conclude there is nothing but cuâ—sing terror and dissipation The 23. of December the Parliament began and that which the Queene mother most desiâ—â—d the coâ—firmation of heâ— Regencie allowed by the Chancellor and afterwards by those that were the speakers Iohn Quintin of Autun a doctor of the Cannon Lawe at Paris A Parliament â—â—ld â—t Orleans for the Clergie the Lord of Rochefort Damoisel of Commerâ—y for the Nobility Angelo then Aduocate of the Parliament at Bourdeaux and afterwards Councellor there for the people The Chancellor propounded manie articles touching the meanes to pacifie the troubles and the remedies for that which concerned the estate and religion to discharge the Kings debts Quintin would haue the ministers of the Church inforced to discharge their duties not altering any thing in the reformation thereof the which cannot erre not to suffer any other then the Chatholike Apâ—stolicke and Romish religion Against such as demanded Temples and against the deliuerer of their petition meaning the Admirall against whom said he they should proceed according to the Canon and Ciuill constitutions for the prohibiting of such bookes as were not allowed by the Doctors of the Sâ—rbonne and for the rooting ouâ— of Lutherans and Caluinists â—ochfort did speake against the iurisdictions vsurped by the Clergie against the disorders growne among the Nobles against the wrong done to the true Nobilitie against the confusions growne by confiscations for matter of religion against seditions of the meanes to order the Clergie to containe them in their vocation for the releefe of the people especially in matters of Iustice the which should be reduced to a certaine number of Officers Ange insisted much vpon the ignorance couetousnesse and dissolution of the Clergie whence proceeded the greatest part of these present scandales The next day vpon the Admirals complaint to the Queene Mother Quintin excused himselfe vpon the instructions which were giuen him in writing and in his second speech hee did moderate his pleâ— to the Admirals content The Estates continued their conferences and made the beginning of this yeare famous by some prouision for matters of religion whereby it was forbidden vpon paine of death noâ— to reproach religion one to another and commandement giuen to all Iudges and offiâ—ers to set at libertie all such as had beene imprisoned for the said religion Many other good necessary lawes were published but with more confusion then profit And in truth a number of lawes ill obserued peruert Iustice and giues the people occasion not to regard them But when they come seriously to handle the discharge of the Kings debts and that the Nauarrois submits himselfe to restitution If it be found that he hath receiued any extraordinary guifts those of Guise and others which could not make the like offer found meanes to frustrate this proposition by the referring of the Estates to Ponâ—oise hoping hereafter to find some deuise to preuent their yelding vp of any accoumpt Put of to Ponâ—â—oise And in truth all these assemblies vanished away like smoake without any other resolution then to lay the paiment of the Kings debts vpon the Clergie The King of Nauarre the other Princeâ— of the bloud the Constable seeing themselues held to no end in Court and that for matters of State they had but the leauings of them of Guise it made them trusse vp their baggage to retire with an intent to crosse the regencie of the Qâ—eene Mother and the Guisiâ—ns authoritie To frustrate this desseine she makes a new accord with the Nauarrois doth associate him in the gouernement of the realme and concludes with him that leauing the title of Regent he should
causiâ—g the Prince his son to go onâ—e to the Masse the K. of Spaine would giue him the realme of Sardigne The King of Nauarâ—â— â—orsakâ—s the Protestants in recompence of that of Nauarre The Pope likewise confirmes him in this hope This was properly to conceiue a mountaine to bring forth a mouse to take froÌ„ him al means to recouer his realme of Nauarre when he should attempt it So as being drawne by those Spanish and Lorraine practises he estrangeth him selfe by little and little from the protestants sollicits the Q. his wife to retuâ—ne into the bosome of the Romish Church and so to instruct her children Vpon her refusal there growes a breach betwixt theÌ„ and he falls in loue with one of the Queene Mothers maids In the meane time she enteâ—tained the Prince of CoÌ„dé the Admiral whoÌ„ she knew to be yet strong within the realme maintayned the protestants in their peaceable exercise for that end commanded euery gouernor to retire to his gouernment She would haue sent the Prince of Condé into Guienne whose presence without doubt had stayed that horrible and câ—uell shedding of bloud whereby Mouluc vpon his refusall opened the veines of a body wonderfully afflicted But so passeth the world euery one would gouerne the King in his turne and the Regent by little and little did vndermine the â—oundation of the Edict to ouerthrowe the whole body Moâ—eouer those of Guise were desirous to returne to their places neyther had they retyred but to get better footing They are now strong inough hauing drawen the King of Nauarre from the Protestant parte They march towards Paris and passing from Iainuille to Vâ—ssy they dispersed about twelue hundred persons The massacre at Vassy which were asâ—embled for their exercise murther two and fortie wound many to the death leade aâ—ay prisoners and sacke the Towne this was the first firebrand of the ciuill warres which were now a breeding This act puts the Protestants in alarum and makes them to leaue the trowell and the hammer which they imployed in many places to build their Temples euery one skowres his harnes euery one prouides him armes horses Their Churches and Nobilitie complaine and demand iustice of the King The Regent giues them good words and the King of Nauarre rebuks them chargeth them to be the first motiues of this trouble They haue saith he cast stones against my brother the Duke of Guise he could not retaine the furie of his followers And whosoeuer shall touch the end of my brothers fingar shall touch my whole bodie The arriuall of the Duke of Guise the Constable the Marshall of Brissac Montmorency Termes and afterwards of the King of Nauarre to Paris drawes the Prince of Condé and the three brethren of Coligni likewise thether But the stronger carries it They were too weake to incounter the Councels which were held daily at the Constables house To vnderstand what forces the Prince had within the Cittie they make a proclamation That all men of what qualitie soeuer should come and shew vnder what Captaines they were enrolled vpon refusall they should depart within 24. houres So the Prince retyres to Meaux and cals togither such as might by their armes force his enemies to some agreement The Queene mother seeing the Guisiens fortified within Paris and seized vpon the Kings persoÌ„ whom they caused to come from FoÌ„tainebleau to Paris writes vnto the Prince and recommends vnto him both the mother and the children The Princes intention was to come to Court when as newes is brought him Orleans taken by the Protestants That they possesse the King and bring him to Paris He therefore leaues Meaux to go and seize vpon Orleans and at the same instant either faction assures himselfe by diuerse surprises of places exposed to their pleasure The Constable causeth the houses of Ierusalem vpon S. Iames his diâ—ch and of Pepincourt without S. Anthonies gate to be beaten downe where the Protestants did assemble for their exercise in al other places the people transported with the like humour vse extreame violence The Protestants grow egar in all places where they had might reuenge theÌ„selues on the Churches images priests and religious houses To conclude euery Towne thus diuided prepares a wretched Theatre to act a mourneful and bloudie Tragedie Yet euery one iustifies his cause Without the realme the Prince produceth the Regents letters in open ParliameÌ„t of the Princes of Germanie Within the realme he exhorts theÌ„ of his party to prouid men money by an association made with the Noblemen gentlemen of his partie he promiseth to imploy himselfe for the deliuery of the King and Queene and for the maintenance of the Edicts and the Estate of the realme On the other side the King declares by his letters pattents that both hee his mother and his brethren are at libertie forbids all his subiects to arme vnder that pretext commands them that are armed to surcease and to retyre home to their houses and by an other Edict he commands the execution of the Edict of Ianuary but within the Citie of Paris and suburbs thereof But to quite abolish it he cals the Nobilitie the 28. of Aprill and declares by proclamation the Prince and his adherents to bee seditious and bad Christians and that the Prince made prouision of forren forces to disturbe the quiet of France It is an example of dangerous consequence when a people armes vnder colour to set their Prince at libertie for often times in stead of liberty they make him captiue The Queene mother did easily arme that partie which she ment to imploy but great men who most coÌ„monly maintaine their authoritie by armes do more wilingly take them then lay them downe She cannot now cause them to surcease whom she had armed for this deliuerance the confusion is too great their courages are too much incensed and their harts pust vp with many hopes they must come to blowes their fingars itâ—hed on either side In the meane time the heads beeing gone and perswaded to preferre the publike before all priuate respects they offer in shew to lay downe their armes and to retire home to their houses so as their aduersaries will submit themselues to the like But to conclude the companies of men at armes being for the most part arriued at Paris The first ciuill troubles with part of the old bands the King of Nauarre the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Marshall of Saint André the Protestants called the three last Triumuirs and in truth they were but three heads in one hood hauing by an Edict banished the Caluinists out of Paris take the way of Chasteaudun with twelue thousand foot and three thousand horse The Prince was as strong and euen then would haue ioyned with them d' Andelot and Boucart aboue all others vrged it but the Regent abused them with friuolous hopes of an accord whilest the Kings armie grew stronger
Roâ—hell was in the meane time belegard soâ—ldiars arriued hourely giuing terrible threats against the Towne who began to crie tâ— the Admirall for succours In other Townes they heard secret murmurings â—hich terrified the most cleere sighted among the Protestants These aduertisements sound continually in the Admirals eares But he continues alwayes like vnto himselfe constant in the midest of all motions and grew resolute against all such as laboured to call him from Court eyther by mouth or writing As for the house of Guiâ—e sayd hee whereof they will put me in feare the King hath taken order making vs to sweare before him to continue friends and as for them of the religion the marriage of Madam Marguerit whom his Maiestie giues not to the King of Nauarre alone but as it were to all those of the party to ioyne himselfe vnto them by an indissoluble vnion is the finishing of their quiet and safetie To conclude he will be no more troubled touching the Kings ill meaning nor the Qâ—eene Mothers the Duke of Anious the Guisiens nor any others And that which setles the Admirall the more in his conceit he finds the King after the death of Sigismond King of Poland to affect the pursute of that Crowne in fauour of his brother Negotiation of Poland Charles was cleere sighted in affaires of State he was young yet of a quick and ready wit and if bloudie and furious councels had not peruerted him without doubt he might haue brought forth better fruites and this Monarchie â—ad beene freed from the miseries which haue since ruined it His brother had great credit generally in France his mildnesse made him pleasing to his Mother and his liberalitie to the people He desired rather to see him command farre off then neere And the Admirall who knew the Duke of Aniou to be an irreconciliable enemie to tâ—e Protestants supposed that the King would by his absence settle a firme peace that Henry being confined in Poland his adherents would grow more milde that the house of Guise disapointed of this support would feare the Kings lookes the which sometimes appeared terrible and that Charles would soone discharge the Queene â—is Mother from the gouernment of affaires and take it wholy vnto himselfe as already he made some shewes of his intent The Admirall seeing Iohn of Monluc Bishop of Valence a man of iudgment and practised in negotiations departed for this Ambassage hee fed himselfe with new hopes And contrarywise Monluc foreseeing the iminent storme was very glad to be neither a councellor nor a witnesse of the miseries that were like to fall vpon the Protestants And indeed he had before councelled many of the principalls amongst them not to medle in this imaginary warre of Flanders but to retyre in time to theyr houses and not to trust ouermuch in the goodly shewes of Court considering the enuie of the great and the ill will of the people of Paris But thus God confounds the iudgment and blinds the vnderstanding of such as he reserues for an example to their posterity O France my haire stands vpright and I tremble 1972. to enâ—er into the relation of so inhumaine a tragedie And shall wee neuer bee satisfied to heare the lamentable and contiâ—uall slaughter of our countrymen what man would not be troubled what minde would not be oppressed with heauinesse and griefe to see so much bloud vnprofitably spilt in our Citties which should be carefully preserued for the defence of our country against strangers and common enemies yet let vs passe this dangerous passage the course of times inuites vs to proceed A great number of Noblemen both Catholikes and Protestants repaired from all parts to the solemnizing of this marriage Those of Guise come bringing with them a large traine of persons of all qualities faithfull vnto them The water which moues by little and little the birdes which houer aboue it and the ayre colder then of custome foretell a storme to come So the common murmurings the stirring of the quarter maisters and other Captaines of Paris the Kings gards dispersed through the Citty the ordinary threates against the Protestants were certaine testimonies That this marriage should be seasoned more with bloud then water The day appointed comes the Cardinall of Bourbon marries the parties vpon a hiâ—h scaffold The marriage solemnisâ—d built before the doore of our Ladyes Church at Paris Foure dayes are spent in playes feasts dancing and maskes which finished the King protests to the Admirall that he â—â—ll answer and satisfie the Protestants requests Euery one of their Churches had their Deputies in Court for many affaires wherein the Admâ—rals authority was very necessaâ—y They ought a great summe of money to the Germaines due for their entertainment in former warres for the payment whereof the King had suffered them to taxe themselues to the fift part of their estates The Commâ—ssioners and Receiuers prest the collection being desirous to make an end of that businesse the day of payment being past Hereon the Admirall treated with the Priuie Councell on Fâ—iday the two twentith of August where the Duke of Aniou in the Kings absence was president At the rising of the Councel the Admirall hauing attended on the King who went to play at Tenis he retyred himselfe to his lodging at dinner time being accompanied with fifteene or sixteene Gentlemen and reading a petition when as being about a hundred paces from the Louure a Harguebuse shotte from the window of a lodging neere by belonging to Villemur sometimes Schoolemaister to the Duke of Guise The Admiral huâ—t carryes away the forefinger of the right hand and wounds him in the left arme They breake downe the doore of the lodging they finde the Harguebuse but not him that discharged it This was Maureuel vnder a counterfet name of Bolland of the Kings gardes a fitte man for such murthers who mounting vpon a Genet of Spaine which was prouided ready for him fled by Saint Anthonies gate to a place of safetie The King played and vpon the first report of this hurt Shall I neuer haue quiet said he shall I dayly see new troubles And casting his Racket to the ground he retyred to the Louure and sweares with an execration to the King of Nauarre and the Pâ—ince of Condé who were come vnto him to complaine of this outrage to take such exemplary iustice of the offendor his fautors and adherents as the Admirall and his friends should haue cause to rest satisfied Hee presently commands to purâ—ue him that shotte but they go slowly after him hee appoints three of the Parliament to make infoâ—mations against the culpable Thran Morsan and Viole hee leaues onely two gates open with greaâ— gardes vnder colour to search for such as were priuie with this outrage putting the whole Citty into armes The Qâ—eene Mother seemes to â—ee discontented They doe great wrong vnto the King cryes she if hee should suffer this crime vnpunished they would in the end
the priuileges of the Towne In the same moneth the inhabitants of Troyes expelled the Prince of Ioinuille and recalled the Lord of Inteuille their ancient gouernour for the King In Champagne In Poâ—ctou Gasconiâ— The Townes and Prouinces contend who shall haue the honour to returne first to their due obedience from the which these popular furies had withdrawen them Sens Poitiers Agen Villeneufue Marmande and other Townes of Gasconie and in a manner all that had followed the dance of Orleans and Paris do now frame themselues to their tune And all this is done in few weekes The mâ—st factious of the partie did still feed the fire of rebellion in some Townes of Picardie Amiens and Beauuois wauered the Spaniard possessed Laon and La Fere places of importance in that Prouince and the Conâ— Chaâ—les of Mansfield had euen now besieged and taken Capelle a small Towne but strong in the Duchie of Thierasche The King being aduertised thereof went home to their Trenches to drawe them forth to fight but making no show to come forth to get that by force which he could not obtaine by reason hee besiegeth Laon defeates the succors at sundry times that come to the besieged kills aboue fifteene hundred of their men in sundry encounters and taking the Towne by composition in the end of August he ends by this act the furies of ciuill warres without hope of reuiuing and then returnes triumphing to Paris Chasteau Thierry before the siege and after the siege of Laon Amiens Beauuois and all the Townes in Picardie except Soissons and La Fere which the Duke of Mayenne and the Spaniard held did shake off the Strangers yoake and tooke the oth of fealtie to the King Cambray did likewise acknowledge him and gaue his Mâ—iâ—stie such aduantage as his enemies remained without meanes to maintaine the warre and without hope to obtaine their peace The Duke of Mayenne in the meane time entertained all his friends and intelligences at Bruxelles but the supplyes of men and money which hee drew â—rom thence were not able to stay the course of the Kings prosperities Hee therefore retyred himselfe into Bourgongne to assure such places as were yet at his deuotion Contrarywise his neerest kinsmen retyring themselues left him almost alone to treat with the Spaniard The Duke of Nemours made his accord at the Castle of Pierre-aâ—cise but being escaped the 26. of Iuly as we haue sayd death depriued â—im of the vse of his libertie as wee shall see hereafter The Duke of Guise did first testifie The Duke of Guise reconciled to the King that hee desired nothing more then the Kings seruice and drawing in the moneth of Nouember to his Maiesties seruice his bretheren with himselfe many Noblemen the Cittie of Reims and many other places it did greatly shake this monstrous building which was now ready to fall to ruine The sect of Iesuits had as chiefe pillars of the League mightily supported it vnto this day and by all meanes laboured to aduance the Spaniard in France Processe against the Iesuits renued they had spred throughout the whole realme the furious effects of the fire which they had kindled and continued in priuate confessions as lately in their Sermons to disgrace the memorie of the deceased King and the Maiestie of the King now raigning and to encrease it the principall of their Colledge and some others had lately approued countenanced and perswaded that execrable attempt of Peter Barriere The Vniuersitie of Paris grounding the renuing of theiâ— ancient Processe against the Iesuites vpon these considerations and motiues demand the rooting out of them Some great men and of the chiefe men of Iustice sue for them the Cardinall of Bourbon supports them The Duke of Neuers makes their cause his owne The respect of their learning and care and diligence to instruct and teach youth did moue them and a very vrgent cause must drawe the Court of Parliament whose authoritie notwithstanding they did contemne and reiect to pronounce and declare this great decree the which an accursed and detestable attempt by one of their owne disciples did in the end extort 1554. They procured that the cause might bee pleaded secretly for 〈◊〉 said their Aduocate to defend my Clyents I shall bee forced to speake some things offensiue to many which haue lately turned to the Kings seruice But their pleaâ—ings are to be read in Arnault against them and Versoris for them both graue and learned aduocates By the reduction of so many Prouinces Townes Comonalties and priuate Noblemen the League shall bee now confined into some corners of Bourgongne Picardie and Brittanie where the Spaniards to haue alwaies footing within the Realme entertayned the hopes of the Duke of Mayenne and Mercoeur The first began to fall from them but the other grounded vpon some vaine pretentions of the Duchie where he gouerned by reason of his wife hoped to preuaile if not of all yet at the least of a good part The Queene Dowager his Sister laboured to make his peace but hee delayed the time knowing that in his greatest extremity he should finde grace with the King The Spaniard being brought into Blauet by his meanes a fort which the situation of the country had made almost impregnable if as they had built a fort neere vnto Croisae to shut vp the entrie of the port at Brest they had also made an other right agaiâ—st it on the other banke hoped that being chased out of the other Prouinces he should yet hold this as a pawne for the money he had disbursed His Maiestie sent the Marshall D'Aumont Warre in Brittanie and Generall Norrice an English man to encounter him who fortified with a Fleete vnder the command of Captaine Frobisher they became maisters of Quimpercorentin and Morlay and then they forced the new fort at Croisae and slue but with the losse of men and of the sayd Frobisher foure hundred Souldiars to whom the gard was committed France grew quiet yet must they imploy the Souldiars and carry the warre into the Spaniards country It seemed this would free the realme but sildome doth it bring forth the effects that are expected In Luxembouâ—g Yet for a triall the King agrees with the Estates of Holland and their confederates to inuade the Duchie of Luxembourg with their common forces The Duke of Bouillon now Marshall of France and the Cont Nassau seeke to enter in October but they finde the passages stopt and the Cont Charles Mansfield before them who by the defeat of the Hollanders troupes made this attempt fruitlesse On the other side the King seekes to keepe the frontiers of Picardie safe from the Spanish forces and threatned Arthois and Henault That if they fauoured the forces of Spaine which molested Cambray and the Countries there about he would make violent watre against them The Estates of those Prouinces make no answer to these threates framing their excuse that they could draw no direct answer