the Tent or Pavilion of a General in the midst of an Army Being come to the Gate and intending to go into the Court on horse-back which is a priviledge belonging to the Princes of the Blood they found the Gate shut and only the Wicket open so that they were forced to alight in the midst of the High-way and being neither saluted nor met but by very fâ—w were conducted to the Kings presence who placed between the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorain and compassed about by the Captains of his Guard received them in a much different manner from that familiarity which the Kings of France use to all men but especially to the Princes of their Blood From thence the King himself went with them but the Guises followed not to the Queen-Mothers Chamber who not forgetting her old Maxims to seem independent and not interessed in any party received them with the wonted demonstrations of Honour and with such an apparence of sadness that the tears were seen to fall from her eyes But the King continuing still the same countenance turning to the Prince of Conde began in sharp language to complain that he without any injury or ill usage received from him had in contempt of all humane and divine Laws many times stirred his Subjects to rebel raised War in divers parts of the Kingdom attempted to surprize his principal Cities and practised even against his own life and his brothers To which the Prince not at all dismayed boldly answered That these were the â—alumnies and persecutions of his enemies but â—hat he could soon make his innocence appear to all the world Then replied the King To find out the truth it is necessary to proceed by the usual ways of Justice and so departing out of the Chamber commanded the Captains of his Guard to seize upon his person Here the Queen-Mother who moved with the necessity gave her consent but forgot not the various changes of the world wholly applied herself with kind words to comfort the King of Navarre whilst the Prince not saying a word else but blaming himself to be so coâ—ened by the Cardinal his brother was led to a house hard by which being prepared for that purpose had the Windows walled up the Gates doubled and was reduced into a kind of Fortress flanked with Artillery and strait Guards oâ— every side The King of Navarre astonished at his brothers imprisonment after many complaints and long debate with the Queen-Mother who laying the fault upon the Duke of Guise Lieutenant-General sought to remove all jealousies and ill will from her self was carried to be lodged in a house joining to the Kings Palace where his ordinary Guards being changed saving the liberty of conversation he was in all other respects guarded and kept as a prisoner At the very same time that the Prince was committed Amaury Bouchard the King of Navarre's Secretary was arrested and all his Letters and Writings taken from him The same night also Tannequy de Carrouge went from Court towards Anicâ— in Picardy a place belonging to Magdalen dâ— Roye the Princes Mother-in-law and there finding her without suspition of any thing being but a woman he sent her away prisoner to the Castle of S. Germain and carried all her Letters and Papers with him to the Court. But the news of these stirs notwithstanding the Gates of the City were kept shut and Travellers forbidden to pass being come to the Constable who was still upon the way some few leagues from Paris he presently stopped his journey with a resolution not to go any further till he saw what would be the event of them In the mean while the Assembly of the States began where the first thing that was done was to make a profession of their Faith which being set down by the Doctors of the Sorbon conformable to the belief of the Roman Catholick Church and publickly read by the Cardinal of Tournon President of the Ecclesiastical Order was by a solemn Oath approved and confirmed by every one of the Deputies because none should be admitted into that General Assembly either unwittingly or on purpose that was not a true Catholick This solemn Act being past the High Chancellor in presence of the King proposed those things which were necessary to be consulted of for the Reformation of the Government Upon which and the demand of the Provinces they retired into their several Chambers where when they had debated them apart they were to make their reports thereof in publick But this was the least thing in every mans thought for the minds of all men were in suspence and expecting the issue of the Princes imprisonment whose commitment was confirmed by a solemn Decree of the Kings Council subscribed by the King himself the High Chancellor and all the other Lords except the Guises who as suspected of enmity absented themselves when the Princes of Bourbons cause was to be handled which was remitted to an Assembly of Judges Delegates who forming a Judicial Process should proceed to a final Sentence The Delegates were Christophle de Thou President in the Parliament of Paris Bartholomy de Faye and Iaques Viole Counsellors in the same Parliament and according to the Customs of that Kingdom Giles Bourdin the ordinary Atturney that prosecutes all Causes that either concern the Kings Rights or tend to the maintenance of the peace and safety of his Subjects Procuror fiscal to the King performed the Office of Plaintiff and Accuser Iohn Tilliet Chief Notary in the Court of Parliament wrote the Process and all the Examinations and Acts past in the presence of the High Chancellor In this manner proceeding upon the Examinations of the Prisoners which were on purpose brought from Amboyse Lyons and divers other places they were ready to examine the Prince upon the points already discovered and proved But the High Chancellor and the Delegates coming into the Chamber where the Prince was in prison to interrogate him he constantly refused to answer or submit himself to the Examination of any of them pretending as Prince of the Blood that he was not under any Justice but the Parliament of Paris in the Chamber called The Chamber of Peers that is in a full Parliament the King being there himself in person all the twelve Peers of France and all the Officers of the Crown which was the custom formerly and therefore he could do no other than appeal to the King against such an extraordinary and perverse way of Judicature This appeal being transferred to the Kings Council although according to the ordinary Forms and Customs of the Kingdom it appeared agreeable to reason notwithstanding the present case requiring quick and speedy Judgment and no Law making it necessary that the causes of the Princes should always be tried with such formality in the Chamber of the Peers it was declared not valid But the Prince having often made the same appeal and persisting still to make the same protestations the Kings
great party of the youth who were of unquiet spirits factious and inclined to a desire of Novelties So that the disposition of the Inhabitants answering the instigation of the complices already a great part of the people were willing to take Arms. And that things might be done in due order the Prince had the day before sent Monsieur de Andelotte to the City who entring thereinto secretly at the same time that the Prince seised upon the Court should endeavour likewise to make himself Master of the Town But though it so fell out that the Prince could not arrive at Court Andelotte not knowing what had happened armed three hundred of his followers and at the day appointed suddenly seised on S. Iohn's Gate Upon which accident Monsieur de Monterau Governour of the City getting together some few men of Monsieur de Sipierres company who by chance were then thereabouts very hotly assaulted the Conspirators with no little hope that they should be able to drive them away and recover the entrance of the Gate where they had not had time enough to fortifie themselves so that joyning in a bloody fight after a conflict of many hours Andelotte at length began to yield to the multitude of the Catholicks who ran thither armed from all the parts of the Town and had surely received an affront if he had not been opportunely assisted by an unexpected succour For the Prince of Conde not finding the Court at Fountain-bleau and therefore desisting from his voyage returned much sooner than he thought and marching with great diligence approached near to Orleans at the same time that the fight began and knowing it to be very violent by the continual shot and incessant ringing of Bells which might be heard many miles off he presently gallopped with all his Cavalry towards the City to succour his Confederates who were already in great danger of being defeated They were more than three thousand horse and ran headlong with such fury that the peasants though astonished with the unusual spectacle of civil arms in the midst of their fright and wonder could not forbear to laugh seeing here a horse fall there a man tumbled over and nevertheless without regarding any accident run furiously one over another as fast as their horses could go upon a design which no body knew but themselves But this haste so ridiculous to the Spectators had very good success to the Princes intentions For coming with such a powerful succour and in so fit an opportunity of time the Governour being driven away and those that resisted suppressed at last the Town which was of exceeding consequence was reduced into his power and by the Authority of the Commanders preserved from pillage But the Churches escaped not the fury of the Hugonot-Souldiers who with bruitish examples of barbarous savageness laid them all waste and desolate Thus the Prince having taken Orleans and made it the seat of his Faction he began to think upon War And first having appointed a Council of the principal Lords and Commanders he advised with them of the means to draw as many Towns and Provinces to his Party as was possible and to get together such a sum of money as might defray the expences which at the beginning of a War are ever very great The Catholick party were intent upon the same ends who being come to Paris with the young King and the Queen held frequent consultations how best to order the affairs for their own advantage in which Councils the Duke of Guise openly declared that he thought it most expedient to proceed to a War with the Hugonots so to extinguish the fire before it burst out into a consuming flame and to take away the roots of that growing evil On the contrary the Chancellor de l' Hospital secretly set on by the Queen proposing many difficulties and raising doubts and impediments upon every thing perswaded an agreement by which both parties absenting themselves from the Court the power of the Government should be left free and quiet to the Queen and the King of Navarre But being sharply reproved by the Constable and after the news of the revolt of Orleans injuriously treated under pretence of being a Gown-man he was excluded from the Council that was now called the Council of War by which means also a principal instrument was taken from the Queen who having no power left in that Council for there were newly admitted to it Claud Marquess de â—oisy Honore Marquess Villars Louis de Lansac Monsieur de Cars the Bishop of Auxerre the Sieurs de Maugiron and la Brosse who all absolutely depended upon the Constable and the Guises every thing on that side likewise tended to the raising of Arms. At the first as it ever falleth out their pens were more active than their swords For the Prince of Conde and his adherents willing to justifie in writing the cause of their taking Arms published certain Manifests and Letters in print directed to the King the Court of Parliament in Paris the Protestant Princes of Germany and to other Christian Princes in which very largely but no less artificially dilating themselves they concluded that they had taken Armâ— to set the King at liberty and the Queen his Mother who by the Tyrannical power of the Catholick Lords were kept prisoners and to cause obedience to be rendred in all parts of the Kingdom to his Majesties Edicts which by the violence of certain men that arrogate to themselves a greater Authority in the Government than of right belonged to them were impiously despised and trodden under foot and therefore that they were ready presently to lay down their Arms if the Duke of Guise the Constable and the Mareshal de St. Andre retiring themselves from the Court would leave the King and the Queen in a free place in their own power and that liberty of Religion might be equally tolerated and maintained in all parts of the Kingdom The Parliament at Paris answered their Manifest and the Letters shewing that the pretence was vain by which they sought to justifie their taking of Arms which they had immediately raised against the Kings Person and his Royal Authority for so far was the King or the Queen his Mother from being deprived of liberty or retained in prison by the Constable and the Guises that on the contrary they were in the capital City of the Kingdom where the chief Parliament resided and in which commanded as Governour Charles Cardinal of Bourbon Brother to the Prince of Conde and one of the Princes of the Blood That the King of Navarre Brother also to the same Prince of Conde held the chief place in the Government and the Queen-Mother the charge of the Regency both chosen by the Council according to the ancient custom and confirmed by the consent of the States-General of the Kingdom that every day they assembled the Council composed of eminent persons to consult of fit remedies for the present evils
done The Count de Randan held the command in Auvergne and in Provence the Marquess de Villars and the Sieur de Vins an old adherent to the House of Guise The Dukes of Ioyeuse Father and Brother to him that was slain in the Battel of Contras fighting against the King of Navarre had the Government of Gascogne in which Province except the City and Parliament of Tholouse the party of the Confederates was not very strong and in Dauphine Languedoc and Guienne the League had but very slender Forces But before all these preparations the Duke dispatched Lazare Coqueille Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris to Rome and with him were gone two Doctors of the Sâ—rbonne to confirm the Decree of their Colledge by which they had determined That the King had forfeited his right to the Crown and that his Subjects might justly withdraw their obedience from him the Duke foreseeing well that the popular Cause wholly founded upon the pretence of Religion was to look for and take its increase and nourishment from the Apostolick Sea and the Popes approbation But the King who afflicted with his wonted melancholly though he dissembled it had since the death of his Mother been many days troubled with a Bloody Flux was no less sollicitous concerning the affairs at Rome than the Duke of Mayenne as well because being a very great honourer of Religion he could not be satisfied to live disobedient to the Apostolick Sea as because making the same judgment as they of the League he saw that the greatest foundation of the adverse party consisted in the approbation and encouragement from Rome Wherefore though he had caused absolution to be given him for the death of the Cardinal by vertue of a Breve granted to him a few months before by the present Pope to make himself be absolved in all reserved cases by his own Ordinary Confessor yet seeing that that was not enough he sent Claude d' Angennes of his beloved Family of Rambouillet Bishop of Mans a man of profound Learning and singular Eloquence to the end that being informed of all his Reasons he might as his Sollicitor sue for an absolution from the Pope and endeavour to reconcile him to the Apostolick Sea to which so he might but secure himself he was ready to give the most exact satisfaction The Bishop of Mans came to Rome and having conferred with the other Ambassadors they went together to receive audience from the Pope where after words of compliment full of most deep submission they first argued that the King had not incurred any Censure not having violated the Ecclesiastical Liberties and Immunities for the Cardinal was guilty of the crime of Rebellion in which case the Prelates of France notwithstanding any dignity whatsoever are understood to be subject to the Secular Jurisdiction and so much the rather because he having been a Peer of France his causes naturally ought to be judged in the Court of Peers which is no other but the great Court of Parliament with the assistance of the Princes and Officers of the Crown so that if the King had infringed any Jurisdiction it was that of the Parliament and not the Ecclesiastical one which hath nothing to do with the Peers of France But because this reason was not only disapproved by the Pope but that also he seemed more displeased and offended at it alledging that the eminency and Priviledges of the dignity of Cardinal were immediately subject to the Pope and no other the Ambassadors began to dispute that the Kings of France could not incur Censure for any Sentence they should give and urged the Priviledges of the most Christian Kings and the Jurisdiction of the Gallique Church But this incensed the Pope so much the more who bad them take heed how they proposed things that had a touch of Heresie as this had for he would cause them to be punished To which though the Marquiss replied That as Ambassadors they could not be medled withal nor punished and that no fear should make them forbear to propose the Kings right yet having received Commission to appease and not to exasperate the Pope they alledged in the third place That the King by virtue of the Apostolick Breve granted to him by his Holiness had caused himself to be absolved and therefore they insisted only that his Holiness knowing the Pardon he had granted him would either confirm it or not be displeased if the King valuing it as he ought had made use of it in a seasonable occasion For not having in the heat of danger considered so particularly and having never had any intention to offend the Jurisdiction of the Apostolick See after he had been made sensible of it he being moved with scruple of Conscience had prostrated himself at the feet of his Confessor and had begged and obtained absolution for as much as need should require though he thought he had not transgressed effectively To this the Pope answered That the Breve was granted for things past but could not extend to future sins the absolution whereof cannot be anticipated That such a case as this in which the Apostolick See was directly offended and all Christendom scandalized was not comprehended under that Breve and that the Exposition was to be demanded from him who had granted it which now he declared affirming that it had never been his intention to enable the King to receive absolution for his future faults and for so evident a violation of the Dignity of Cardinal This Treaty having been often repeated and discussed with great allegations of Right and Authority in the end the Ambassadors were contented to petition in writing for the Popes absolution who expressed a desire to have it so and that it was the means to appease and satisfie him Wherefore after good Offices done by the Venetian and Florentine Ambassadors in favour of the King having received order from their Princes to take great pains in his behalf the Bishop with a Petition of a very submissive form demanded absolution of the Pope who with pleasing words answered That he would willingly grant it when he should be assured of the Kings contrition whereof he would have this token that he should set at liberty the Cardinal of Bourbon and Archbishop of Lyons it being vain to grant him absolution for one thing whilst he persisted in the act of another which did infer the same prejudice to the Apostolick See which he could not dissemble At this the Ambassadors and those that favoured them were exceedingly perplexed conceiving themselves to have been deceived and thinking that another kind of moderation ought to be used towards a King of France wherefore laying together all those reasons already alledged in the former Conferences they concluded that the King by setting those Prelates at liberty should but increase the fire in his Kingdom with the evident danger of his own Life and Crown and that therefore it was not fit to free them To which the Pope
having been privy to the death of the Prince her Husband and the sentence that had been given against her by Judges that were not competent nor capable to sentence her they demanded that she having till then been kept in prison at S. Iehan d' Angely the King disanulling the first sentence would be pleased to grant that the Parliament of Paris a natural and competent Judge might hear her cause and having discussed the proofs give sentence upon it to which Petition the King answered That if the Princesses Kinsmen would oblige themselves to put her into the power of the Parliament of Paris he would disanul and make void the sentence that had been given and would refer the case to the aforesaid Parliament into whose power the Princess was to be delivered within the space of four months This served for a colour and excuse to take away suspicion from the Hugonots to deprive them of power to detain the person of the Princess and of her Son And the King sent the Marquiss de Pisani to S. Iehan who though the Hugonots murmured at it brought them both away to Paris where the Princess having declared that she would live for the time to come in the Catholick Religion was absolved by the Parliament of that imputation that had been layed against her the Prince of Conde remaining not only in the King's power but instructed and bred up in the Catholick Religion The Duke of Montmorancy came likewise to the City of Dijon and there took possession of his Office of Constable the Hugonots being thus deprived of those props wherewith they had designed to uphold themselves The Pope was by these lively effects very much confirmed of the King's sincerity who already was wholly averse from them and wholly intent to secure the State of Religion within his obedience He shewed the same inclination by the strict orders and particular Commissions which he had given to restore the use of the Mass in all those places from whence it had been taken and he laboured continually in seeking means to restore the estates of the Clergy possessed by others which by reason of the difficulty of the matter proved very hard and troublesome for the Lords and Gentlemen who in reward of their services had obtained them and had already possessed them a great while could hardly be brought to leave them without equivalent recompences which by reason of the number of the pretenders and the narrowness of affairs in a time of so great distraction it was not possible to satisfie yet the King with infinite patience and dexterity studied how to compose things so that if he could not altogether he did at least in part satisfie the Clergy though of necessity many of the principal of them could not be absolutely contented but discreet persons commended both the King's inclinations and dexterous manner of finding a way to compose interests that were so oppositely diverse and repugnant These things brought by fame unto the Court of Rome did opportunely promote the King's interests but much more were they helped on by the contrary circumstances which troubled the mind of the Pope and of that Court for Schism was in a manner totally setled the Parliament continued diligently to hinder that none should go suâ— for Benefices at Rome and whosoever procured any by such sutes did not certainly obtain the possession of them the King by some one of the great Council did still dispatch Spiritual Oeconomies to the Bishopricks and other cures of Souls that were vacant the name of the Apostolick See seemed to be utterly forgotten and the King's Forces prospering it was doubted he would demand Absolution no more the Duke of Nevers having sâ—id publickly at his departure that they should not look to have any more Ambassadors sent to Rome wherefore though the Treaty was set on foot again by means of Cardinal Gondi and that d' Ossat continued to treat with Sannesio and with Cardinal Aldobrandino yet the Pope fearing the mischief that was imminent and considering the example of other States that had withdrawn themselves from the obedience of the Apostolick See was wonderful anxious by reason of the danger of this division To this was added the Kings confederacy contracted with the States of Holland and the League which was still in treaty with England whereupon it was doubted that so near confederacy being made with Hereticks Religion would in some part be injured by it That which the more incited the Pope was the sharp War made by the Turk in Hungary for being constrained to think of the progress of the common Enemy on that side he desired to appease the tumults of France that he might turn all his Forces for the maintenance and benefit of the Commonweal of Christians for all these reasons being resolved within himself to condescend to the Kings benediction to which he thought himself obliged in Conscience he began to think of softning the Catholick King and therefore besides satisfying him in all his demands he resolved to send his Nephew Giovan Francesco Aldobrandino into Spain under colour of treating of the affairs of Hungary but withal to negotiate the absolution of France to which he laboured to bring the King of Spain gently by shewing that he depended much upon his consent In the mean time by the means of Monsieur d' Ossat he secretly let the King know that things were already ripe and that if he sent new Ministers to treat the absolution perchance might be concluded The King desirous to reconcile himself fully to the Church thought at first to send a gallant Embassy but being informed of the Popes intention who desired that the business should pass privately and with terms of very great submission he determined to send only Iaques Davy Sieur du Perron who should treat of matters together with d' Ossat being also desirous in case the business should not take effect that the manner of treating might not make it the more eminent and remarkable These men seasonably making use of the conjuncture of present affairs managed the Kings intentions modestly and dexterously shewing no less the prosperousness of his enterprizes which at last had gained him the whole Kingdom than his Piety and most ardent affection towards Religion from whence proceeded his infinite patience hardened to bear so many repulses as had been given him by the Pope But those that were well versed in the affairs of the World gave loose reins to their discourse concerning those very things which much troubled the Pope and said freely through the Court that in the end the Kings patience would turn into fury and that having subdued his Enemies and made himself a peaceable Master of his Estate it was to be doubted he would care but little to reconcile himself to the Pope or rather it was to be feared that with a dangerous Schism in the Church of God he would attempt to revenge so many past injuries and persecutions and upon these
Pope's obedience by any adversity whatsoever being now freed from that impediment closed up the Treaty of Agreement in which as Head of the Parâ—y he reserved an entrance for all those that would follow him In the Treaty of this Accommodation there arose two wondrous great difficulties which were very hard to be overcome one the great sum of the debts contracted by the Duke of Mayenne not only in many places and with many Merchants of the Kingdom of France but also with the Switzers Germans and Lorainers for the raising of Souldiers for the Duke of Mayenne standing upon it to have them paid by the King and he at that present not having money to satisfie them it was very difficult to find a mean in that business the Duke being resolved that his estate should not be lyable to the payment and on the other side the Creditors neither consenting to transfer nor defer what they had trusted but would have satisfaction in ready money The other difficulty was the commemoration of the late King's death for all the Decrees and Agreements made in favour of those of the League who were returned unto the Kings obedience having still contained pardon and forgiveness of all past offences except the death of Henry the Third which had always with express words been distinguished and excepted The Duke of Mayenne would have such a kind of mean found out whereby on the one side he might not appear to have been the Author of it and on the other he might not be subject to the Inquisition which might be made concerning that business for the future lest under that pretence occasion might be taken some time or other to revenge past injuries It was extreamly difficult to untie this knot for not only the King thought it very hard to let pass into oblivion so hainous a fact and pernicious an example of attempting against the persons of Kings but also the Parliament would not suffer it and it was most certain the Queen Dowager who often had demanded justice would oppose it These two difficulties hindered the concluding of the Accommodation in Bourgongne and the King being necessitated to go speedily into Picardy had taken President Ieannin with him to continue the Treaty but nothing at all having been concluded in the journey much less could it be done when they were come to Paris for the affairs of the War with the Spaniards were brought into so great danger that the King and all his Ministers were taken up and afflicted both in mind and body wherefore the President was fain to follow the Army into Picardy whither the King marched with an intent to relieve the City of Cambray but the speedy victory of the Spaniards having taken away the necessity of relief the King being come to Fol-ambray a house of pleasure built by King Francis the First for a hunting-seat called all his Council to him that the things appertaining to the peace with the Duke of Mayenne might with maturity be discussed and determined After much treating and much debating obstacles and oppositions arising in all things it seemed most expedient to send for the proofs and inquisitions that had been made by the Parliament touching the Kings death and also for some of the Presidents and Councellors of that Court to see what clearness there was in them and that they might determine which way was the best to manage the expedition of that business The Writings being seen and the matter put into consultation though some signs appeared diversly against divers persons yet did there not appear any such thing as was sufficient to determine the proceeding against any body and though neither the Queen Dowager as Plaintiff had yet brought in the particulars of her accusation nor the Parliament had dived very far into the discussion and inquiry into that business yet it was thought the not appearing at that present that the Duke of Mayenne or any of his were guilty of that fact might serve for a pretence of finding out a mean to satisfie his honour and likewise free him from the danger of future inquisition Wherefore it having been many days consulted of between the High Chancellour the first President Harlay the Sieur de Villeroy the Count de Schombergh and President Ieannin they at last determined That in the Decree which the King was to cause to be published and registred in the Parliament there should be a clause inserted which in substance should contain That the King having caused the Process made upon the death of the late King to be viewed in the presence of himself the Princes of the Blood and the Officers of the Crown in Council there had not been any token found against the Duke of Mayenne nor against any other Prince or Princess of his Blood and that having been desirous for the greater certainty to hear what they alledged about it they had sworn that they had not any any knowledge of nor participation in that crime and that if they had known it they would have opposed the execution of it Wherefore he did declare that the Duke of Mayenne and all the other Princes and Princesses his Adherents were innocent of that fact and therefore he prohibited his Atturney-General to urge at any time that they should be proceeded against and likewise forbad the Court of Parliament and all other Officers and Lawyers to make any inquisition about it The difficulty concerning the payment of debts was also taken away for the King promised secretly to disburse unto the Duke of Mayenne Four hundred and twenty thousand Crowns for the payment of his debts contracted to particular persons and as for the debt of the Leavies the King freed the Duke of Mayenne from it constituting himself Pay-master for him and transferring the debt upon the Crown forbidding the Duke or his estate to be molested for that occasion It was likewise established though not without dispute that peace should be made with the Duke of Mayenne as Head of his Party which the King had refused by reason of the multitude of those that were severally come in to his obedience and chiefly in respect of Paris and the other principal Cities And the Duke of Mayenne for his own honour and the reputation of his agreement stood obstinately for it The King granted three places to the Duke of Mayenne for his security which were Soissons Chalon and Seure the Dominion of which he was to hold for the space of six years and after the said term to restorâ— them He confirmed all the Collations of Offices and Benefices that had been vacant by death during his Government provided the Possessors should take new Patents for them under the Kings Broad-Seal He made a Decree of oblivion and silence of all things past intelligences with Foreign Princes raising of Moneys exactions of Taxes impositions of Payments gathering of Armies demolishings or buildings of Cities and Fortresses acts of Hostility killings of Men and particularly
that the rest would follow the example which that should give he endeavoured very sollicitously as was agreeable to the natural inclination of the inhabitants to hinder there the preachings and assemblies of the Hugonots and in all his other actions of the Government having still a regard to that end he hoped with the benefit of time by degrees to take away their credit and force and lastly their liberty of Religion which maintained in being and gave increase to that party The Prince of Conde was likewise in Paris who on the contrary encouraging the Preachers and enlarging as much as he could their license and liberty under colour of making the Edict of Ianuary to be observed arrogated to himself more by force than reason a great authority in all the affairs of State It appeared necessary to the King of Navarre by some means or other to make the Prince of Conde leave Paris For already either the desire of peace or the envy that he bore him had rendred him exceeding violent against him and Reason perswaded to preserve that City from tumults and seditions upon which the Catholick party chiefly relied but knowing his own forces were not sufficient or willing to communicate this resolution with the other Confederates before any thing were put in execution he sent for the Duke of Guise and the Constable that they might unite all their forces in the same place The Duke of Guise after he retired from Court dwelt at Iainville a place of his own upon the confines of Champagne and Picardy and having received advice from the King of Navarre being accompanied with the Cardinal his Brother with a train of many Gentlemen his dependants and two Squadrons of Lances for Guard was upon the way to be at Paris at the time appointed But the first day of March in the morning passing thorow a little Village in the same confines called Vassy his people heard an unusual noise of Bells and having asked what was the reason of it answer was made That it was the hour wherein the Hugonots used to assemble at their Sermons The Pages and Lacqueys of the Duke that went before the rest of the company moved with the novelty of the thing and a curiosity to see for then those Congregations began first to be kept in publick with jesting speeches and a tumult proper to such kind of people went towards the place where the Hugonots were assembled at their devotion who understanding that the Duke of Guise was there one of their chief persecutors and seeing a great troop come directly towards them fearing some affront or else indeed incensed with the words of derision and contempt which the rudeness of those people used against them without any further consideration presently fell to gather up stones and began to drive back those that advanced first towards the place of their assembly By which injury the Catholick party being incensed who came thither without intent of doing them harm with no less inconsideration betaking themselves to their Arms there began a dangerous scuffle amongst them The Duke perceiving the uproar and desiring to remedy it setting spurs to his horse without any regard put himself into the midst of them where whilst he reprehended his own people and exhorted the Hugonots to retire he was hit with a blow of a stone upon the left cheek by which though lightly hurt yet by reason he bled much being forced to withdraw himself out of the hurly-burly his followers impatient of such an indignity done to their Lord presently betook themselves to their Fire-arms and violently assaulting the house where the Hugonots retired to secure themselves killed above sixty of them and grievously wounded the Minister who climbing over the tyles saved himself in some of the adjoining houses The tumult ended the Duke of Guise called for the Officer of the place and began sharply to reprehend him for suffering such a pernicious license to the prejudice of passengers and he excusing himself that he could not hinder it by reason of the Edict of Ianuary which tolerated the publick Assemblies of the Hugonots The Duke no less offended at his answer than at the thing it self laying his hand upon his Sword replyed in choler This shall soon cut the bond of that Edict though never so binding From which words spoken in the heat of anger and not forgotten by those that were present many afterwards concluded that he was the author and contriver of the ensuing War But the Hugonots exceedingly incensed by this chance and being no longer able to keep themselves within the limits of patience not contented with what they had done formerly both in Paris where killing divers men they fired the Church of S. Medard and in other Cities all over the Kingdom now full of malice and rage stirred up such horrible tumults and bloody seditions that besides the slaughter of men in many places the Monasteries were spoiled Images thrown down the Altars broken and the Churches brutishly polluted By which actions every body being much incensed and the people in all places running headlong to take Arms the Heads of the Factions upon the same occasion went about gathering forces and preparing themselves for a manifest War But the Lords of both parties saw plainly that in the state things were then in they could not take Arms without running into an open Rebellion there being no pretext or apparent colour that covered with the shew of Justice the raising of Arms for the Catholick party could not oppose the Edict of Ianuary without apparently contradicting an Act of Council and trespassing against the Royal Power by which the Edict was authorized and on the other side the Hugonots having the Liberty of Conscience given them which was appointed by the Edict of Ianuary had no just cause to stir Wherefore each Faction desired to draw the King to their party and seizing upon his person by abolishing the Edict or interpreting it under his Name according to their own sense to make a shew of having the right on their sides and the contrary party by opposing the Kings will and resisting him in person to run into an actual Rebellion The Queen-Mother very well knowing these designs and desiring as much as was possible to preserve her own liberty and her Sons continued her wonted artifices so to balance the power of the great ones that by their tyranny they might not prejudice the security of the State and having left Paris that she might not be constrained by either Faction she went to Fountain-bleau a house of pleasure belonging to the Kings of France which being a free open place she conceived she could not be forced to declare her self and hoped by doubtful speeches and ambiguous promises to maintain her credit with both parties Where she gave assurances to the Prince of Conde and the Lords of Chastillon who being inferiour in strength to the Catholicks were gone out of Paris to arm themselves that she would join
Religion and their own Consciences wherefore it was not fit to reduce the publick Cause to a particular Duel an effect very contrary to the end they had propounded to themselves and with other such like reasons they opposed those alledged by the King of Navarre who being advertised of the conclusion of peace between the King and the Lords of the League writ Letters to the King which were published in print grievously complaining that whilst he to obey his Majesties command laid upon him by Letters under his own hand had forborn to take Arms or to undertake any new enterprise an Agreement was established with his Enemies with condition to break the Edicts of Peace already published and contrary to promise already made again to begin the War against the Reformed Religion That he earnestly exhorted and besought the King to consider that to comply with the passions of those that rebelled against him he took Arms against his good and faithful Subjects and Vassals and that he should foresee how the destruction of his whole Kingdom was contained in that War which was preparing against him but that if he did persist to contrive his ruine he could do no less by the Law of Nature than defend himself and he hoped that God for the justness of his Cause would deliver and preserve him from the persecutions of men and one day make his innocence manifest to the whole World Besides this he writ other Letters to the Nobility others to the People and others to the Parliaments excusing himself blaming the League and labouring to make appear that he having punctually observed the conditions of Peace was now contrary to them unjustly assaulted After which Declarations having called unto him the Prince of Conde and the Mareshal d' Anville whom he knew to be no less persecuted than the Hugonots they established with common consent all that was to be done for their own defence and the maintenance of those places which they held of their party and because they already knew by so many proofs that nothing was more available for their defence than the supplies of men out of Germany which diverted the power and forces of their Enemies into very remote places they presently made a dispatch to the Protestant Princes to treat and conclude a strong Levy and that charge was undertaken by the Duke of Bouillon who as in his own inheritance derived from his Ancestors had setled himself in Sedan an exceeding strong place upon the Confines of Champagne and Lorain and by Monsieur de Chastillon Son to the Admiral de Coligny who was Governour of Mompellier for the Hugonots and was now secretly gone out of Languedoc disguised unto Geneva In the mean time the King in private with his Mother and the Cabinet-Council consulted about the manner of executing the Agreement with the League Secretary Villeroy with whom Bellieure and Ville-quier concurred was of opinion that the King had no better nor surer way to extinguish the combustions of his Kingdom and frustrate the designs of the Guises than sincerely to imbrace the War with the Hugonots to manifest to all the World his zeal toward the Catholick Religion and the ill will he bore to the Calvinists to put Offices into the hands of the most flourishing Nobility of his Kingdom to settle the form of Petitions of granting favours and of the disposal of moneys after the old way observed by his Predecessors and to satisfie their designs in particular who were alienated from him out of discontent because they were not able to do any thing at Court they shewed that this was the way to disfurnish the League of all pretences to draw the applause and love of the people to himself who because they saw him averse from those ends did now adore and follow the Lords of Guise as Defenders of Religion and Restorers of an indifferent equality and of the general quietness that it was necessary at last to take away that worst Schism of discords sowed first and principally by the Hugonots and to re-unite unto himself all his Subjects and Vassals in the same charity in the same Religion for the same unanimous universal end and in conclusion that he could neither more honourably nor more easily ruine the League than by doing well carrying himself sincerely and shewing himself altogether contrary to what the Heads thereof had divulged of him for by that upright manner of proceeding he might cross more designs and take away more followers from the Guises in one day than he could do by cunning dissimulation and politick inventions in the whole course of his life though it should last a hundred years The Queen-Mother inclined though warily to this advice for knowing her self to be already reported a favourer of the Guises and a persecuter of the King of Navarre for her Daughters sake she would not shew her self partial on the Catholick side and being angry though secretly that the King as it were not trusting her absolutely had sent the Duke of Espernon to Nemours for the conclusion of the business negotiated with the League she was very reserved in shewing her opinion perhaps doubting she should lose her authority with her Son or as some said desiring to see him intangled in those troubles that he might once again acknowledge the helpful hand wherewith she assisting in the Government with prudence and moderation had so often withheld the imminent ruine of the Crown But the King was otherwise inclined and utterly averse from the opinion of his Councellors The reasons that perswaded him to the contrary were two one that being to make War in good earnest against the Hugonots it could not chuse but be both long and difficult it was necessary to put Offices into the hands of the Guises which would increase their power and gather them Dependents besides the glory of the Victory would be attributed to them it being evident that they had constrained him by force to consent unto the War the other that the Hugonot party being destroyed which bridled their power and hindred the excessive strength of the Guises he should be left a prey unto their Force which would then have no restraint nor would they ever be without pretences to take up Arms though that of Religion were taken away it not being likely that such ready wits and such daring spirits should want other inventions These were the reasons alledged by the King but to them were secretly joined his most bitter hatred nourished a long time and now much more incensed against the House of Guise his inclination to his Minions whose grace and power his heart would not suffer him to abase his covetous desire of disposing the wealth and revenues of the Kingdom his own way to satisfie the prodigality of his mind and the continuation of his old resolution to destroy both Factions in the end by keeping them up against one another Nor to say the truth was he much to be blamed for having seen the
at Sun-set again it is plain the Author meant 2 hours within night which according to the time of Sun-set there in that season of the year must needs be before Nine a Clock for after 2 they could not have had time enough before day-light to march so far and to make a several attempts to scale the City The King marches towards St. Denis but in the midst of the night gives a scalado to the walls of Paris yet the vigilancy of the Duke of Nemours makes it ineffectual The Kings soldiers return at break of day to scale the walls again â— ladders are set up but being discovered they are repulsed with the death of the first that went up Errors imputed to the King and his Army Excuses in favour of the King The King being come to St. Denis without money or victorâ— separates his Army which was oppressed with many diseases The King assaults and batters 〈◊〉 so violently that upon the third day he takes and sacks it Câ—aude Prince of Iainville defends Troyes and beats back Monsieur de Tinteville who had like to have surprised it by intelligence with some of the Citizens The Duke of Parma against his own will lays siege to Corbeil The French of the League begin to hate the Duke of Parma's Souldiers The Duke of Parma takes Corbeil Rigaut the Governour is slain with most of the defendents and the place sacâ—ed The death of Siâ—tus Quintus The Duke of Parma though earnestly intreated to stay in France prepares nevertheless for his departure Vrban the VII created Pope after Sixtus V. he lives but twelve days and is succeeded by Gregory XIV a Milanese The ordering of the Spanish Army in their return into Flanders The Baron de Guiry recovers Corbâ—il and Lagny which had been taken by the Duke of Parma The Spanish Army marching towards Flanders and the Kings Army following they skirmish many dayes but upon the 25 of November the King making shew that he would fight the Baron de Biron engageth himself so far that being relieved by his Friends he had much ado to escape with help of night The King assaults the Spanish Army again and his Horse having encompassed the enemies Rereguard would have cut it in pieces if Georgio Basti a famous Captain of those times had not disengaged them with his Lanciers The Duke of Parma takes leave of the Duke of Mayenne leaving him a Tertia of Italians and another of Spaniards and 500 Horse The Duke of Mencoeurs pretensions to the Dutchy of Bretagne The Prince of Dombes Governor for the King in Bretagne opposes the Duke of Morcoeurs designs and causes Fort Dombes to be built which is demolished bâ— the Spaniards The Sieur de Vins and the Countess de Seâ—â—x conclude to give the superâ—â—â—ity of Provence to the Duke of Savoy he goes to Aiâ— and is by the Parliament declared Head of the Politick and Military Government The Duke of Mayenne writes resentingly to the Parliament of Aix and to the Sieur de Vins who repenting himself begins to dis-favour the Duke of Savoys designs Grenoble in Dauphine after a long siege returns to the Kings obedience 1591. The King assaults Corby and takes it 1591. The Catholicks make great complaints for the Kings persevering in Calvinism Remedies used by the King to conserve the affections of those of his party and keep them in obedience The King recalls the Duke of Espernon to the Army and other Catholick Lords to reconcile them unto him * The Visâ—ount The Viscount of Turenne obtains asâ—istance from Queen Elizabeth the Hollanders and the Protestant Princes of Germany The party of the League take a disgust against the D. of Mayenne which is fomented by the Spaniards The Lords oâ— the House of Lorain begin to be displeased and to grow jealous of one another The Duke of Nemours for some discontents received from his brother the Duke of Mayenne refuses the Government of the City of Paris which the Duke of Mayenne confers upon his eldest Son the Duke of Esguillon appointing the Marquiss of Belin his Lieutenant The Complaiâ—ts of the Widow Dutchess of Guise 1590. The Duke of Mayenne is troubled at the attempts of those of his Family at the designs of the Duke of Savoy and at the delays of the Spaniards The Duke of Mayenne is not satiâ—fied with the new Pope Gregory the 14. doubting his too great dependency upon Spain and the unactiveness of his nature The Duke of Mayenne dispatches President Ieannin to the King of Spain and the Sieur des Portes to the Pope to sollicite aid 1591. The Chevalier d' Aumale goes to surprise St. Denis and without resistance enters with all his men but the Governor with only thirty Horse charges and routs the enemy the Chevalier d' Aumale being run thorow the throat and left dead It was observed that the Chevalier d' Aumale fell dead before an Inn whose sign was a Sword embroidered with Golden Flower-de-luces and that his body being set in the Church was gnawn by Moles The French says Rats President Brisson one of the principal adherents to the League having changed his mind plots insurrections in favor of the King Eighty Captains and other Reformadoes disguised with as many horseâ— load of Corn and Meal receive order to go up to the Port St Honore about midnight and to attempt to surprise Paris The Marquis de Belin Lieutenant Governour of Paris advertised of the Kings design and of some tokens of President Brissons practices makes a severe Proclamation and orders and disposes the Militia and the Citizens for the defence of the the City * Or Wards The order observed by the Kings Souldiers for the surprising of Paris The fourscore disguised Reformadoes are discovered by the Sieur de Tâ—emblecourt The Parisians that they might not be lest unprovided receive a Teâ—â—ia of Spaniards and another of Neopolitans into the City The Duke of Mayenne jealous of the Spanish designs procures a Treaty so far that for many days the Peace was certainly thought to be concluded Pope Gregory the XIV resolves to send meâ— and money to assist the League Marsilio Landriano a Milanese is chosen Legat to the Kingdom of France by Gregory the XIV Gregory the 14. assigns 15000 Crowns by the month for the service of the League The description of the siâ—uation of Chartres before which the Mareschal de Byron lays siege The Sieur de Chastillon's stratagem to cast up his Trench by night without errour For want of Ammunition the Battery goes on so slowly at Chartres that the King thinks to raise the siege The Defendents of Chartres not being relieved surrender the Town The Duke of Mayenne besieges Chasteau-Thierry a place more pleasant than strong the Governor whereof was the Secretary Pinart Secretary Pinart having brought all his goods into the Castle for fear of losing them treats a Composition with the Sieur de Villeroy The Duke of Mayenne receiveth the place and Castle with the