of Conde Other companies out of Brie Champaigne Vermandoys and other countries there bordering retyred to Sedan the capitall towne of the principality of Boillon Out of Burgondy and the countries about retyred to Geneua and into the signory of Berna The professers of the reformed religion out of Normandy low Britayn and Picardie passed ouer into England for their safety Good Christian Reader I beseech thee to stay here a while and learne both to feare and tremble at the dreadfull iudgementes of God and also his mercie toward his Church shewed at this time which when I do consider it putteth me in remembrance of the like euent which did happen a litle while afore the siege and destructions of Hierusalem by Vespasian and Titus his sonne That citie which here on earth had borne the Image of the true heauenly Hierusalem hauing most wilfully resisted the sonne of God stopped their eares at his voyce When it had fulfilled the measure of her iniquity and that God would make it a wonder a hissyng and nodding of the head vnto all Nations of the world for her obstinacie and vnthankefulnes a litle before the siege there was at midnight heard a voice in the Temple thus Migremns hinc at the rumor thereof all men were greatly amazed musing what should be signifyed by that warning The Saints which were there tooke that to be the voyce of God who according to the threatninges of the law of the Prophets and of Christ against that City would powre downe his wrath vpon that sinfull City directed vnto them commaunding them to depart and to geue place vnto hys wrath So the Church that was there remoued to the City Pella which was beyond Iordan in the ancient inheritance of the Rubenites where it was preserued and out of a place of safety did behold the mighty stormes of Gods tempestes which fel vpon that so noble and famous a City which by Strabo was thought to be the greatest and fayrest of all the East Euen as Abraham long before did behold the subuersion of Sodom so when the Lord had determined to powre the stormes of his anger vpon those Nations which are betweene the Loyre and the English Seas for their offences lyke vnto them of Hierusalem first hee taketh his Church which was scattered among those Nations Townes and Cities and bringeth most of them beyond Loyre some into England some to Sedan some to Geneua some to Suisserland some to Germany least the presence of them who do call vpon his name should hinder the execution of his wrath vpon his enemies for the publication of the edict of vnion commonly called the edict of Iuly although that in another forme was as it were the voyce of God heard out of the Temple Migremus hinc For those nations lying on the North side of Loyre who had conspired to destroy the Gospell of Christ haue drawen the warre from the Prouinces which doe professe the Gospell vpon their owne heads For not onely haue they felt all the former oppressions and outrages of the Leaguers but also by this edict all the burthen of this last ciuill warre raysed vp by the Leaguers hath fallen vpon them beside the horrible murthers and seditions which they haue committed among themselues by the euill Angels which the Lord in his wrath hath sent among them which also do continue still with greater calamities then euer before and is like to continue vntill that those wicked Nations polluted with idolatrie blood of the sayntes and whoredome be vtterly rooted out that God may be auenged of his enemies giuing in the meane tyme a litle rest vnto the reformed churches beyond Loyre and to make them thankful for his great mercyes who hath rewarded his enemies with euil which they had imagined agaynst his people without a cause So the Lord doth turne all thinges to good vnto his Sayntes Now the Leaguers are masters of all for the king had deliuered his royall authority vnto them and deuided his kingdome among them reseruing vnto himselfe the name of a King haue all the Countrey at theyr deuotion and do replenish all France with armes violence and boastings Now they wil play S. George they wil kil the Deuil eyther on horseback or a foote they will worke miracles or else the Deuill shall fayle them And for to begin these miracles the Duke Mercure brother in law to the King and by the last partition of the kingdome a pety King of Britayne was perswaded by his Counsell that now the publishing of the edict of vnion had of it selfe killed all the Hugonets in Poytow and that easily hee might tame all the Countrey and that bâ—ing in the field not one Hugonet durst lift vp his head therefore supposing there to haue to fight with dead men and making himselfe sure of the conquest to make proofe of his valure the 23 of August passed Loyre at Nantes out of Britayn in Poytow with two thousand men entending to roue and ransake all and hauing sacked many popish Churches spoyled the Abbeys at Saint Florent and Plainpied by Saumure like an horrible tempest did march forward sparing neither holy nor prophane thinges making hauocke of all thinges vntill he came as farre as Fontenay The Prince of Conde turned from Saint Paul Decadewalx to Saynt Ihan D' Angelye hauing assembled some friends as wel out of Xainctonge Poytow as other parts within few dayes saw himselfe to haue a lusty company as well of gentlemen as Harquebusiers on horsebacke and with that force expecting the rest tooke his iourney with as much diligence as hee could to meete with the sayd Mercure The Prince arriued at Chandeuier a towne not farre from Niort vnderstoode that the sayd Mercure was about Fontenay where he determined to giue him battaile Mercure hearing that the Prince approched with his companies so ready and willing to fight was amazed considering that it fell out contrary to the counsell giuen him before and that now be must fight with men aliue This increased his feare so much the more for that hee had not so soone heard of the Princes comming but that presently hee was certifyed that the said Prince was in battell array Whereupon he resolued to retyre home but being hardly pressed by the sayd prince he was fayne to retire to Fontenay And because the gouernor of the towne knowing not well how thinges had passed betweene the King and the Leaguers would not suffer him nor his to enter the towne yet otherwise shewing him such fauors as he might therfore he with his troups betook themselues to the Suburbe of Fontenay called the Loges The Prince desirous to see his enemy face to face aduanced toward the Suburbe in battaile aray to prooue whether he might prouoke the enemy to skirmish But the Duke would none of that play But after the Prince had kept the Duke besieged in the Loges for certaine dayes the said Duke fearing eyther at length to be forced or else that the Prince would
they knew to be about the Kings person in great number wayting for opportunitie to deliuer him prisoner to his enemies or else to dispatch him out of his life with one blow knowing that by their counsels his forces diminished his cities and strong holdes were surprized his enemies waxed strong But specially they feared greatly the playes and tricks which they had taught Charles the ninth his brother and him which they had played many times with them of the religion they I say feared at length to bee snared in the like springes Therefore all these things wel considered they begin euery where to strike the alarum and prepare themselues to the battell against God their King their countrey their liâ—erties and the graues of their fathers So that the Lords Brissak Chastre and Boysdauphin to whome a little before the king had forgiuen great treasons who a little before had promised with an oath obedieÌ„ce to the king who did shewe a semblant of great ioy for the execution done at Bloys they priuily doo steale away and breaking their fayth promise and allegeaunce to their king reuolted agayne to the enemie Brissak went to Anger 's where he thought to cause that Citie to rebell agaynst the king for some of the citie of Anger 's had hitherto dissembled their affection and good wills whch they had to the league and rebellion as well because they had the king at Bloys and Tours who looked to them neerely and narrowly as for not hauing the meanes to execute their enterprize But now at the reuolcing of Brissak they made him head of their enterprize for to seaze vpon the Castell one of the strongest places in all France And for to bring their counsell to a good passe with speede fearing least by delay they might be preuanted by the king being so nigh them therefore they followe a short course for first they trie what corruption may doe They doo promise to the Lord Pichery gouernour of the Castell an hundred thousand crownes and to entertaine foure thousand footmen so that he would keepe it for the league The Lord Pichery as a faith full seruant to his Prince refused all those proffers whereupon the Lord Brissak with the rest of the rebells within the towne did assault the Castel and fortified themselues by all meanes with trenches and barricadoes vpon the ditch of the sayd Castell Whereuppon the Lord Pichery aduertised the King of the state of his affayres and attempts of the Lord Brissak and inhabitantes of the towne The King sent the Marshall Haumont with the regiment of Picardy and part of his guardes who were admitted into the Castell by the Lord Pichery who opened vnto them the great bridge of the said Castell Assoone as the Marshall Haumont entred into the Castel although the rebels were in farre greater number yet the skirmish began then was it tyme for the enemy to packe away in hast many of the rebels were slayne There they were taken prisoners to the Kings vse so many as yeelded one hundred throusand crownes for raunsome Some were executed in the towne and chiefly some Iesuits and Fryers who had beene the firebrands to kindle the combustion and the trompets of the rebellion The Lord Brissak head of the rebellion there saued himselfe by flight with few of his company and seazing vpon the townes of Mans Alençon and Faleze caused the inhabitants there to rebell agaynst the King About the same time the Duke Mercure desirous to get the fauour of the townes and people to assure better the dutchy of Britaine to himselfe tooke vpon him the name of protector of the Romish Church in that prouince of Britanie by the helpe of the Bishops and other rabble of that sinagogue who prescribed certaine formes vnto the Iesuites and Friers whereby in theyr sermons to bring the people to that deuotion Although Christian Reader thou mayst easily perceaue by the whole course of this his history how from time to time the house of Guyze who were not so much by nature as to bee admitted into the society of the Nobility of France at the first made a fayre wether after that preferred them selues before the Princes of the bloud And when through too much lenity of the house of Valoys toward them they had obtayned that they haue practized to steale away the hearts of subiects from their natural Prince at length haue enterprized vpon his life And when by a singular prouidence God had deliuered the King out of their snares and clawes and see they are not able to depriue him of his life they doo depriue him of his Crowne ad dignitie First by the iudgment of Sorboune Secondly by the assotiatiation with they haue sworne to present him to death by all meanes possible Thirdly by taking away from him the name of King though not in plaine tearmes yet by paraphrase as when one taketh vpon him to be the protector of the Crown of France y â— other protector of the Church and giue the same to themselues which properâ—y is and hath beene the office of the king of France For the Kings in France haue had alwayes that honour as due vnto them by right to be Protectors of the Crowne Dignitie State Kingdome Church and people of their dominions and neuer yeelded that title to any man neither durst euer any man vsurpe that title vntill this yeare 1589. by these two companions to wit the Dukes de Mayne and Mercure But it may be obiected that the same title hath béene geuen and taken to the King of Nauarre as protector of the reformed churchs of France and therefore they do that which the heretikes haue taught them To this it may be answered that the case is not alike for the reformed churches were forsaken of the King without any cause at the solicitation of flatterrs sycophantes and clawbaâ—kes who to bring the King to that confusion that hee is come vâ—to did hold his kingdome into troubles and ciuill warres by litle and little to entrench vpon his authority at length to tread him downe vnder feete That part therefore of the Kings subiects which was the best though not the greater in number being wrongfully put from the Kings protection and assaulted euery where haue recourse not to a stranger nor strange bloud the first Peere and Prince of France who after the King hath most interest to the Crowne him they haue requested to protect them vnder the Kings authority against the violences of them who did so counsell the King to forsake the protection of his people But these companyons what hath moued them to vsurpe these tytles The King did neuer forsake the Crowne nor the Romish Church in godliues that way in zeale in integrity and austericy of life in wisedome prudence and fortitude to defend the romish Church he hath passed all the Kings of all ages he hath bestowed his forces hath spent his goods hath ventered his life diuers times hath made shipwracke of his honor for
horses of carriage the onset was giuen within two leagues of Pilmil suburbe of Nantes The King after giuing of thankes vpon that place where the skirmish was fought for that prosperous successe and victorie made a light dinner vnder a tree and after retyred to his lodging at S. Georges where hee soiourned the whole day following for the long daies iourney which he had made the day before notwithstanding that day hee went a hawking for Partridges and in the euening viewed the towne of Montagne to take order for the fortifications and garrisons of the sayd towne and purposed to haue layed the siege to the towne Clisson not farre thence The King being yet at S. George was strengthened with foure regiments of footmen to wit of Charbonieres Sallignak Preau and the regiment of his gardes commanded by the Lord Querine there also he receaued the light horsemen of the Lord Trimouille who had discomfited the regiment of Lestele and taken foure Ensignes which they presented vnto the sayd King The selfe same day being aduertized of the daunger wherein the Duke Espernon stood within the Towne of Engolesme besieged there within the Castell by a conspiracie of the Leaguers caused him to giue ouer his enterprise vpon Clisson the day following being the 15. of August departed from Saint George purposing to make toward Engolesme to succor the saide Lorde Espernon but hearing by the way how the tumult there was pacified went not so far as that place It is saide before how that the Leaguers in their request presented vnto the King made a great complaint against the Duke Espernon charging him to haue intelligences with the King of Nauarre and them of the religion to haue been the cause that their armies had heretofore small successe and that if he should grow to greater authoritie it were danger that in time he would deliuer the places of his gouernement to the King of Nauarre that he is the onely cause that the politick state is so corrupt and out of frame and therefore the King must needes put him from about his person and fauour This Lord Espernon of the auncient house of Valette grew in great fauour with the King through his faithfull seruice a man altogether sold to popery yet a louer of the Kings person crowne and state a louer of the realme and peace of the same a hater of conspirators and perturbers of the quietnes of the King and his subiects who neuer could bee drawne to the conspiracies of the Leaguers neither by faire promises nor other meanes whatsoeuer which thing was the cause that the Leaguers hated him as the onely man about the Kings person who did hinder the execution â—f their enterprises that man therefore must not be about the King nor be admitted into the assembly of the states The King to giue place to their hatred for a time and to auoyde the inconueniences which through y e malice of his enemies might befall to such a trustie seruant determined to send him out of their sight and where hee thought that they should be least able to practise against him And giuing him a very great power and commission in a most ample manner to commaund in the Prouinces of Aniou Toureyne Poytow Engomoyes Xainctonge commaunded him to depart the Court about the same time that the edict of reunion was made by the Leaguers who hauing soiourned a while in the Tower of Loches situated in Toureyne vpon the riuer Vndre which falleth into Loyre betwéene Tours and Samure to fortifie and assure the said place to the Kings obedience against the practises of certaine Gentlemen of the League made against that place From thence he tooke his iourney to Engolesme where he vnderstoode that many enterprises were a working by the League against the Kings seruice There commaunded the Lorde Tageus his kinseman vnder the charge of the Lord Valette his brother The saide Lorde Espernon arriuing at Engolesme accompanied with a great number of the nobilitie was honorably receaued by the Maior and Aldermen of the Citie by the officers of iustice policie with great numbers of people who went to meete him at the gates of the Citie hee was likewise receaued by the Bishop and his Priests at the doore of Saint Peters Church where they sung solemnly a great te Deum laudamus in the worship of him Not long after the said Lord Espernon called together the Bishop and his Priestes the Maior and the Escheuins the Kings officers and other chiefe Citizens to giue them notice of the occasions of his comming which was first to preserue them all in the Catholicke Romane religion for the which and for the Kings seruice he would willingly aduenture his life against all manner of men Exhorting them to aduise what was requisit for their conseruation and that they would propound the same vnto him All answered with one consent that they would dye vnder his authority in the same resolution and for to testify their willes the better they would haue his authority from the King printed read and published as the manner is through all the towne The said Lord hauing many companies both of horsemen and footmen yet would he innouate nothing not so much as to change any part of the garrison of the Citty and to testify vnto them more apparantly of the confidence which hee had in the promises and fidelity of them he would not lodge in any stronger place nor more aduantagious for his preseruation but in the Castell which is called the Kings house wherein he found his Cosin the Lord Tageus lodged as the gouernours heretofore had accustomed to do This Castell hath no strength which is any thing worth nether in Ditches nor in any handy worke except some great Towers of stone very olde but otherwise very commodious for the store of chambers which are therein The said Lord had brought his Lady with him and had also lodged the Lady Tageus there Hee went the same day into the Citadell wherein he commaunded the Lord Bordes with all the nobility which accompanied him could euen then haue lodged there if he had had any diffidence of the inhabitants for the keies were presented to him by the Lord Bordes That Fortresse was sufficient to haue bridled the inhabitantes considering the strength and great store of Munitions of the said place as well in Ordinance as in other necessary things But specially hauing a gate to get out of the towne whereby may be let in as many men as one would But the sayd Lord in stéed of mistrust kept an open house as well for the nobility of the countrey as for the inhabitantes of the citty without any respect of persons whereof a great number but specially the Maior of the town with his conspiratours sat ordinarily at his table with great curtesy and welcome shewed vnto them by the sayd L. Espernon He walked familiarly with them through the citty and suburbs with a small company of his
others who were taken prisoners And because the night drew neere apace the Prince thought good with all speede to assault the other companies of rebels who were at Commeaux who were about a thousand or twelue hundred men conducted by the Lord Beaulieu This company had trenched and fortified themselues and therefore the most part of thē were y e cannons priests monks fryers Iesuites of the Citie of Sees and many persons of the countrey round about who would shewe some proofe of their valour and how they could fight better with a Caliuer then with their Portisse but at length it was found that they had more skill in iugling a Masse and making of Gods then in handling their weapons among them was the Parson of Vimonstier a desperate and sedicious Priest The Lord Beaulieu was their captain who at the first onset the sayd Lord Beaulieu was taken among the first in the forcing of the Fort who being carried away by the Captaine Chauuayne before the Prince sayd that there were within that Fort at the least seauen hundred well armed and appoynted The Prince vnderstanding that commanded the Lords Bakqueuile Archand to get into the Fort and for that purpose he left them the Culuering and went that night to Escouche where he arriued about eleuen of the clocke in the night And assoone as he was gone the rebels of Comeaux vnderstanding how their fellowes had sped yéelded with their liues onely saued who were immediatly disarmed and brought to Escouche to the Prince There the Duke soiourned all the next day being the 21. of Aprill to take the view of the prisoners who were in great number of all qualities of persons The same day the Lords Hallot Bakqueuile Beuil Bellefontayn and Archand went abroad with their companies to see if they could méet with any ranging Rebells where they mist not much to haue taken the Baron Vernier The sayd Baron and Brissake with the rest of their complices retyred in great speede to Argenton fearing to be as kindly hit on the hips as their fellowes had béen The 22. day the Prince leauing the Lords of Harcourt of Saint Mary Venoix and Sassay at Escouche went to Courcy where hee vnderstoode that the Lord Pierrecourt was lodged with some Launciers not farre of he mounted straight on horsebacke and went to finde them out but he had dislodged a little before they came to the place Here Christian Reader marke the presence of God in the assisting of a good cause and handled by persons of lawfull calling First thou seest how the King heretofore in the warres against the K. of Nauarre had not prospered but all things haue fallen to his owne charges dishonour and shame because he persecuted him without a cause and such persons were put in trust of his affayres and aduanced themselues forward intending vnder that colour to supplant their master Now when the King hath a iust cause in hand and put men in trust that are lawfully called bearing a true and vnfayned heart to the King kingdome Crowne and Countrey such as bee the Princes of his bloud and other of the true Nobilitie of France the Lord also is of his side and fighteth for him maketh him victorious and restoreth to him his authoritie by steps as it shall appeare hereafter Secondly here is a notable thing happened which neuer did happen vnto any Captaine that euer I haue read saue vnto that noble Athenian Conon that a Captaine had obtayned three noble victories in one day but vnto this noble Prince of ancient and noble rase Thus the Prince Montpencier by these victories gaue a tast vnto the rebels of the cup of their treasons and so did driue them into Townes and Holds that afterward it was rare to see any rebels abroade except it were when they had neede priuilie to steale out to robb their nigh neighbours of their goods Hauing done this exployt he purposed to bring the artillerie from Courcy and returne to the Citie of Caen intending shortly after to be in the field agayne and to carrie by it vntill he had subdued the countrey to the Kings obedience agayne By a pertinent digression I haue shewed what noble and profitable exployts the Prince Montpencier hath done in Normandy against the Rebels now we will returne to continuance of the narration interrupted It is sayd before how the King seeing himselfe in extreame danger made truces with the King of Nauarre and deliuered him the Towne of Saumour for his safe passage and repassage ouer the riuer of Loyre which he committed to the Lord of Plessis Marline Few dayes being expired after the deliuering of the town of Saumour the King of Nauarre went thether to the great contentation and reioysing of all the inhabitants and of all the Nobility round about well affected to the Kings seruice and good of the realme Liberty was geuen by the K. of Nauarre to all the inhabitants concerning religion indifferently as hée had done in other places The King of Nauarre hauing ordered all things at Saumour about the 17. day of Aprill went foorth and besieged the Castell of Brissak the Lord thereof beeing a traitour and a rebellious Leaguer and tooke it by composition The 18. the King of Nauarre passed all his Forces beyond the riuer of Loyre ouer the bridg of Saumour and within few dayes ioyned with other forces which stayed for him gathered out of Normandy Mayne Anjou Perche Beausse and other countries beeing betweene Loyre and Seyne intending shortly to see face to face the army of the rebels conducted by the Duke de Mayne Thus the King of Nauarre greatly iniuried and offended so often and at the request and for the pleasure of the Duke of Guyze assaulted now commeth to rescue out of danger captiuity and death him that had persecuted him so long with all the forces of a mighty kingdome he commeth I say with a chosen army not onely great in number but also in valour so that euery common souldier might haue supplyed the roome of an Officer Goe on O great King put on the armor of God follow his calling this day thou hast obtayned a greater and more famous victory then at the day of Coutras in ouercomming the desire of reuengement which vpon diuers occasions might haue risen by the frailty of mans nature The 21 the King of Nauarre hauing passed ouer the riuer Loyre and ioyned with his forces gathered out of the Countreys abouesayd setteth forth a declaration shewing the causes of this passage First hee sheweth that hee is called to enter into this action by God by nature by the lawe and by the iust approbation of his Prince which causes do moue him to determine to imploy his lyfe his meanes power for the reestablishing of y e Kings authority restoring of the realm and for the defence of good Subiects within the same decayed and oppressed by the treasons of the Leaguers vnder the colour of godlines and iustice Secondly he protesteth
to hold for enemies onely them who haue declared themselues enemies of the realm by theyr rebellion and outragious insolencies committed against the soueraigne magistrate and iustice promising notwithstanding to receaue to mercy them which deceaued by the enticements of the rebels or feare rather then by their owne malice haue associat themselues to the said rebels Denounceth therfore to all Prouinces Cities Commonalties Church-men Nobles Magistrates Captaynes Souldiers Borgeses Citizens and all other of any degree whatsoeuer to retire speedily from the society of those traitors and rebels and to returne vnder the obedience of their naturall and lawful Prince and King but specially willeth the Church men whereof some haue rendered themselues instruments of the former treacheries and rebellions to loue peace and to keepe themselues within their bounds returning and abiding vnder the obedience of their King Thirdly he protesteth that this his passing the riuer of Loyre by the commaundement of the King is for their defence and therefore taketh all the Kings faithful subiects vnder his protection but specially the Church men forbidding vpon payne of death all his Captaynes and souldiers not to proffer any iniury vnto any of them their goods or places of exercises willing also all the aforesaid persons to repayre vnto the king or vnto him to haue and receaue pasporte and protections that the faythfull may be discerned from the Rebell Fourthly he turneth his speach to the foresaid persons admonishing them to consider the horrible euils which haue already and shall rise out of that damnable rebellion To the Cleargy hee speaketh to consider how godlines is euery where choked in the middest of those tumults the name of God blasphemed and religion despised The Noble men he prayeth to consider how theyr order must needs fall with the ruine of the King Crowne and Estate The Magistrates hee warneth to represent before their eyes what execrable violating of iustice will follow by the examples of the Parliaments of Paris and Tholouse carried away Prisoners as in a triumph by rascals and vilanous persons The commons hee aduertiseth to thinke how they are eased by these tumultes where their goods are exposed to the pray of the vilest sort their traffike interrupted their husbandrie altogether turned into wast and desolation Last of all he exhorteth all men to endeuour themselues to bring what they can to remedy these euils which y e rebels haue procured to the realme which cannot be done without a good peace neither can that be obtayned but by the returning vnder the Kings obedience restoring his royall authority and reestablishing of iustice hee assureth himselfe that God who geueth saluation vnto Kinges will assist him in this enterprise and iust cause Auuergne is a Prouince in France full of hilles and mountains wherein there be three Cityes situated in forme of a triangle and not distant farre one from another to wit Rion Clermont and Monferrant the Kings long before had established at Rion beside other courts a soueraigne court of his treasurers receauers This Citie had receaued the League and had committed rebellion agaynst him in shaking off the yoke of obedience Therefore the King about the 24. of April seeing their obstinacy in their rebellion do reuoke from the said Towne of Rion all his courts and doth transport the same to the Citie of Clermont commaunding all his officers of al his courts in that citty to repaire to the said Clermont and there to execute their charge About the same time also the King doth adiudge all the goods of the Dukes of Mayne Aumale and of the Cheualier Aumale and of the voluntary inhabitants of the cities of Paris Roen Amiens Abeuile Rhemes Orleans Chartres Mans Lyons Tholouse to bee forfaited to his crowne for their treasons and perseuerance in the same aboue the time prefixed vnto them which was the 15. day of March last past and ordained commissioners to sell the sayd goods and lands to his vse The King of Nauarre in the meane time scoureth the countrey and prepareth himselfe to receaue the Kings commaundement and vnderstanding that the Duke de Mayne was lodged at Vendosme and Montoyre the 28. of Aprill he determined to surprize some of the enemies and about foure a clock in the morning taking eight hundered horsemen and one thousand shot on horsbacke went to bait at Chaulx in Anjou ten long leagues from Saumour departing thence hauing already gone forward three leagues he receaued newes how the Duke of Mayne had brought his forces to Chasteaurenault and had sent part of them to besiege the County of Brienne who was at Saint Oyne nigh Amboyse The King hearing of the siege of Chasteaurenault and Saynt Oyne by the enemy hauing him so nigh neighbour and fearing that he would come to lodge in the Suburbs of Tours being in danger to be deliuered into the hands of them by the intelligences which they had wiâ—h the leagued of his Court and of the Citie he did dispatch diuers Postes both to Saumour also to other places to the King of Nauarre And about three leagues from Chaulx toward Vendosme hee was aduertyzed by three Postes that the King sent for him whereuppon the sayd King of Nauarre turned bridle and came that night to lodge at Maille vpoÌ„ Loyre within two leagues of Tours after he had beene 24. howers on horsbacke and immediatly sent word of his comming to the King The King vnderstanding of his being so nigh him did greatly reioyce knowing that the enemy neither would nor durst enterprize any thing whilest he was so nigh his person The enemy sent certayne companies in the euening with a great brauade and tooke a Suburbe of Tours where they defloured a Mayd who had fled into the Church before the high alter in the armes of a Priest but hearing that the King of Nauarre was at hand without any leasure to take breath they retyred presently The King of Nauarre rested himselfe and his troupes the next day but the 30. of Aprill beeing the Lords day in the morning the sayd King of Nauarre iudging that it were necessary for them both to see one another thereuppon to take some certayne resolution of their affayres beeing also requested by the King although his counsell had diuers opinions of that interuiew hee sent to the King by the Lord of Mignouuile that he was gone to set all his troupes in battaile array at the Pont la Mot a quarterr of a league from Tours and thatif it should please his Maiesty to come to the Suburbs he would kisse his Maiesties hands and would receaue his commaundemeÌ„ts to execute theâ— according to the necessity of the affayrs After the said King of Nauarre with all his troupes had stayed about two houres the Marshall Hautmont came to him from the King to pray him that he would passe ouer the riuer to come to him to Plessâ—s les Tours where the King with all the court stayed for him That thing he immediatly determined to
Corne Dates and Wine as in store houses which order he sendeth to the sayd Townes to be put in execution The King being thus deluded by his Counsell and busying himselfe about these matters of warre agaynst them of the reformed religion whether it were in earnest or by dissimulation God knoweth but at length it turned to earnest he giueth leaue and time to the Leaguers to grow greater in strength and number and forgoeth the occasions and opportunitie to prouide for necessary remedies agaynst them These Counsellers at length when they saw time came once more vpon the stage And on a sudden they terrified the King agayne as of a thing happened beside their expectation with the great strength of the League shewing what great danger might insue if he should seeme to saile against that violent tempest Considering that the resolution of restoring the Catholike religion and of the suppressing the reformed had possessed generally the mindes of the people So that if he should seeme to withstand the zeale of the Leaguers for their treason was with them zeale of the popish religion he would be commoÌ„ly thought to be a fauourer of heretikes and thereby an vniuersall rebellion of his subiects might ensue to the vtter vndoing of him and his estate Therefore that as a good Pilot he must obey the weather and seeke for some reconciliation and make peace with them as much to his aduantage as the necessitie of the affayres may suffer him And that in such an extreame case hée must holde with the strongest side These and many other considerations propounded vnto him which had lost his authoritie and that by them which wholly ruled him through a iust iudgement of God for despising the voyce of him and for persecuting him by whom he raigned and from whom he had receiued all royall authoritie and soueraigne maiestie he began to wauer and hearken to some spéeches of vnion Thus the King through Gods iust iudgement and the pernicious perswasions of his vnfaithfull Counsell bewitched doth determine to make peace with enemies as good cheape as he may and for that thing he must seeke out some good chapman skilfull and practised in olde Italian trickes Therefore he thought that his Mother was most fit as most skilfull in such markets This accursed woman as she had alwaies an ambitious and busie soule so she had also a double mind by the which she studied to haue great thanks for doing no good and to kéepe her selfe in authoritie and in the possession of the gouernment thought it should cost her the subuersion of her owne house and children and the vtter desolation of the Realme For the which cause she thought to kéepe the King alwaies busied hampered in trouble vexation and daunger that she might alwaies haue thankes for her bad seruice The King as a naturall sonne put her alwaies in great trust iudging of her naturalnes and loue towards him as he did iudge of his towards her The Leaguers on the other side were assured that she would doo nothing for the Kings aduauntage and ease for feare she should bee no more employed Therefore she was well liked on both sides Up then old Medea you must shewe yet once againe some of your olde Italian trickes Old Catie must bee the market woman she shall make the bargayne But for as much as two eyes doo see more than one she shall haue some counsellers appoynted her in that negotiation such as would not suffer her to doo any good vnto the King and the Realme if she had béen willing so to doo for they were al the Kings enemies addicted to the Leaguers and such as would haue taught Italian trickes the busâ—est head of all Florence yea such as would haue sent the great Prophet of Italy Machiuell with all his diuellish Prophecies to his Christcrosse Now we will leaue the Q Mother with her counsell to doo their market as well as they can whilest wee discourse of some other matters incident to the cause and the time About the beginning of Iuly the King of Nauarre hearing of the Kings wauering and what was like to passe betwéene the sayd King and the League writeth a letter to him from Nerat the 10. day of Iuly in the which hee repeateth the Kings procéedings against the Leaguers as the condemnation proscription and execution of some of their partakers hée aduiseth the King that if hee make peace with the Leaguers hee armeth rebells agaynst himselfe his state and Crowne he doth lament the miserable state of him and of his Realme comforteth himselfe in his integritie and innocencie referreth all things to Gods diuine prouidence reposeth himselfe in the Lord and trusteth in God that he will assist him in his iust defence But this good counsell of the King of Nauarre will not serue his turne the King must followe the streame and will bee shortly promoted to a higher degrée For he shall be one of the fellowes of the League who shall pay for all and haue least to doo in it It is sayd before how the Papists and they of the reformed religion consented ioyntly to keepe the Castle of Marans Now about the beginning of Iuly the Lord S. Hermin had gathered together some thrée hundred men of the Leagued in Poytow to bring them to the Lord S. Luke into Browage as he sayd but indéede it was to seaze vpon the Castle of Marans and other Forts in the Iles. The sayd S. Hermines with them would haue passed through Marans but they of the religion withstood his passage and began to fortifie the Fort called Alowete so that hée was enforced to take his iourney through Maillezais and Ronde and in that iourney shortly after they were discomfited and slaine by them of S. Ihan d' Angely The night following the comming of S. Hermin nigh Marans there was a great alarum in the Towne and the Papists which were in the Castle to the number of fiue and twentie supposing that S. Hermin and his companie had entered the Towne began to reioyce sing and daunce at the sound of a bag-pipe which they caused to play the most part of that night threatning them of the religion who were but foure in number But these foure standing on their warde charged them not to make any innouation with them of the League so that not onely they kept the Papists in feare but also at length with a certayne amazement of them caused their pag-pipe to cease About the same time the Prince of Conde vnderstanding how things were like to passe betwéene the King and the Leaguers departed from Rochel to repayre to the King of Nauarre and leaueth the Lord Rohan in Poytow to ouerlooke and withstand the attempts of the Leaguers there The sayd Lord. Rohan about y t 12. of Iuly departed from Rochel with foure score horses and rode to Marauns to assure those Ilandes The Papistes had already seazed the fort called Brune where through the sayd Lord should passe but their hartes so
straine their wine hippocras and by reason of their flegmatick féeding they are all rotten and leapers afore they come to halfe of their age they doo crawle with lice and taken with that sicknes which the ancients doo call Hydrokephalia that is a madnes procured by rotten flegme enflamed The reformed Bernardines are of the dyet of the asse which féedeth vpon grasse and thistles for they eate nothing but hearbs sod or rawe which thing doth cause them to haue dry and skiruy bodies and that diseaze which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with all to haue asses wits they goe all in black hereby they doo represent to the world their melancholik humor The bare foote Friers doo shew what humor dooth trouble their braine imitating the frantick mad men which haue delight to goe bare foote winter and sommer for we account that man mad that will go bare foote when he may haue shooes to put on All these rakehels armed themselues vnder their lousie raggs doo march in battaile aray through the City mumbling their portuses and when they had giuen a sight of their prowesse vnto the Citizens they would also goe to sée what weather was out of the Towne and when they had marched a while the Kings gardes in the Suburbs tooke the alarum supposing to haue to deale with men but when they had the sight of this legion and perceauing that they were apes imitating men they turned their fury to â—aughter hooping shooting whereupon the apes returned with great speed into the City and this was the end of this skirmish They had for an ensigne a Crucifixe and our Lady carried before them to play the bulbegger About this time bread began to be scarse in Paris whereupon the masters of the Citie fearing the increasing of famine sought out all the poore within the Citie who came to thirty thousand and determined to haue turned them forth out of the City to take their fortune But some of the counsell of the Citie thought that it could not stand with the greatnes and honour of the Citie and therefore were stayed in which thing did greatly hasten the famine which shortly after followed In the middest of Iune the famine being very great there was little or nothing to eate the Souldiours had no pay neither was there money to pay them the Citizâ—ns refused any more to contribute aleaging the great and huge sommes of money which they had disboursed and for feare of some sedition in the Citie Frier Henrico Caietano Frier Goundj Byshop of Paris and the blinde Captaine Bernardino Mendoza consented to rob all the Gods which were in the Temples of Paris they take the golden cuppes of their Gods and all the shrines of golde and siluer which Demetrius his prentizes had made to Diana to Venus to Belona and to many Diuels of hell they turne their reliques old rotten bones of old Friers old dogges and horses which they had made the people worship for the bones of Apostles Martyrs and other Saints of God out of their coates of gold and siluer and make good money to pay the rebells to warre against their naturall and lawfull King contrary to Gods ordinance to that end that things most wickedly abused might remayne still in the same nature The blind Captaine Don Bernardino doth promise to bestow euery day in almes sixe score Crownes Frier Henrico Caietano said he would doo the like but that deuotion waxed as could as the weather was hot according to the Aphorisme of Hypocrates ventres hyeme calidiores estate frigidiores The King knowing well of the great extremity wherewith the Citie was distressed pittyed them and willed them to take some pitty of their distressed estate promised them mercy and fauour but the Friers Henrico Caietano and Goundi answered contrary to the meaning of the poore people that they had determined to dy all rather then to admit an hereticall King Vpon this answer of the Parisiens in the latter end of Iune many noble men and gentlemen began to mutter in the Kings army what great imminent danger was hanging ouer France the ruine of the nobility the decay of so great and noble a City as Paris was and the desolation of the whole realme which euills the King could redresse in making himselfe a Catholicke Of this faction tending to some enterprise was chiefest the prince of Soisson and went so farre as to speake openly that they will serue no longer vnder an hereticall King The King aduertized of this muttering called his nobles and Captaines shewed them what hee was what his right and cause was And whereas they willed him to become a Catholicke he put theÌ„ out of doubt that for to purchase many Kingdomes as great as the realme of France was hee would neuer so little depart from his religion which hee knewe was grounded vpon the infallible truth of God As for their seruice he made no great account knowing that it was God who was his strength force and defender of his cause willed them to depart from his army when they would and that hee had rather haue their roome as their company he knew that GOD would giue him the meanes and power in time to represse his enemies he knew that GOD would raise him friends enough to assist him It is sayd before how the King all in one worke did besiege S. Denis which is a towne walled within foure miles of Paris In this Towne in an Abbey where the burials and monuments of the kings were this towne was so gretaly distressed that they had neither bread nor munition to defend themselues they had consumed all their prouision Horses Asses Dogges Cattes Rattes Mice Hearbes Rootes and whatsoeuer the belly could aduise them Euen to haue tryed to make bread with flower of Oates huske and all and dust of old rotten postes some tryed straw grownd to dust The sayd towne therfore considering how the famin within the sword without did threaten them proffered parly and at length concluded to deliuer the towne to the King with liues reserued vnto all maner of men the souldiers and all manner of men to retire with all thinges which they would carry away who of his great clemency gaue them Horses and Cartes for their carriage The same day the King entred into Saint Denis with great reioycing of all men who had proued his gracious fauour and clemency And beeing setled in his lodging he spyed in the chamber of presence three men walking in the habit of gentlemen whom hee knew not but he suspected that they were there for no good They vppon that suspition were apprehended and examined by certayne noble men appointed by the King vppon a sudden they faultered in their answeres and changing their countenance were sent to prison but afterward being narrowly examined they confessed that two of them were Fryers of Saint Francis order and the third to be a Priest and they three were of the 24. who had coÌ„spired vowed and sworn the