of Indexes untill it be corrected and the correction approv'd according to the rules of the Index In the said Decree the word respectively some imagined to be inserted of purpose as an evasion to shew that the Jesuits do not absolutely condemn the doctrin of Becanus but only as it invades the Prerogatives of the French Crown They of the Religion as I told you before suspected some ill consequences of the crosse Match with Spain and feared it would prove crosse to them in time Moreover the Princes of the bloud and others repin'd at the power of D' Ancre whereupon the Duke of Bovillon prime Marshall of France and prime Machinator of this tumult came to visite the Prince of Conde and made a solemn studied speech unto him as followeth My Lord it would be impudence in me to represent unto you the deplorable estate of France whereof you have more knowledge then I or to touch the arrogance of Conchiny which you must needs daily resent or to make his power suspected which is the next dore to tyranny or to exhort you to oppose his pernicious desseins The consideration of your own safety with that of France is enough to rouze up your generous thoughts and to administer Counsell to you who are the most judicious Prince of Europe Moreover in such a manifest and urgent affair as this ther 's no need of Remonstrance consultation or exhortation but to apply some sudden and actuall remedy Therefore I addresse my self now to your Excellence not onely to offer you my means but my person as also 100000. men who would esteem themselves happy to serve you and will hold it a glory to employ their bloud to the last drop under your conduct for the good of the State and your just defence against this Faquin Florentin this Florentine porter who plots the ruin of all those Princes and Peers of the Kingdom who would oreshadow his advancement and hinder to establish his tyranny The difference of Religion which we professe ought not to empeach a strong and solid union between us in the conjuncture of so common a danger considering that while we endeavour our own safety we secure the State generall and incolumity of our Countrey which are conditions inseparable from the Kings service whose Sacred Person is not safe enough under the irregular ambition of a stranger which his Majesty himself begins now to perceive and seeing his liberty engag'd fears the ambition of this tyrant and will find himself oblig'd to those that can rid him of him My Lord you are well assur'd that the greatest part of the Princes finding themselfs involv'd in the same interest with you are touch'd with the same resentments and dispos'd to joyn with your Excellence in a project as glorious as necessary For doubtles the Gentry of France in whom consist the sinews of our armies being naturally averse to the commandements of a stranger will run unto you from all parts to assist you with their armes Touching the Towns you need not doubt but a good part of them which are under the Government of the Princes will declare themselfs for you And I give you certain assurance that They of the Religion which are the strongest and best provided with soldiers artillery ammunition and victualls of any other will declare themselfs for your party as soon as you shall publish your laudable intentions by some Manifesto It concerns your Excellence therefore my Lord to take hold of Time by the foretop for the restauration and safetie of the State in generall and your own in particular and of all the Princes and Gentry of the Kingdom But if you let Occasion escape you know that she is bald behind and you shall never be able to catch her again Besides the Armies which you might justly raise now during the Kings minority and by reason the government is usurped by an Alien who hath not so much as the quality of a Gentleman wold be hereafter felony and treason under the majority and liberty of our lawfull Monark The Prince was a subject fit to be wrought upon and ready to receive any print for he could not brook the exorbitant power of D' Ancre therefore having assurance that the Dukes of Nevers Main Longueville Luxemburg and the said Bovillon would follow him he retires to Mezieres upon the frontire of Champany he made choice of that place because it was his Patrimony and that he might have a sure Rendevous of Sedan if need required The Duke of Vendosme thinking to retire to Britany was arrested in the Louure but he got loose by a trick and the Chevalier his brother was sent to Malta The foresaid male-contented Princes recruted dayly in Champany But had the young King got a horsback and pursued them presently though with a petty Army the Countrey wold have riss with him and so he had prevented their encrease and driven them in all probabilitie to Sedan where he might have kept them in exile with a small Army on the frontires And his Counsell was much tax'd for not advising him so But in lieu of arms he sent Ambassadors and Epistles after them to perswade their return or if they refused to amuse them till he might raise forces sufficient to encounter them to which end he sent to Swisserland for 6000. men but Bovillon by his artifice hinder'd that design from taking its full effect Thus a fearfull storme was like to fall on France for the male-contents dispers'd themselfs to divers strong holds Longuevill went to Picardy Main to Soissons Bovillon to Sedan and Vendosme was as busie as any other to raise the Countrey in Britain Conde continued still at Mezieres nor could any Letter from King or Queen Regent sent by the Duke of Ventadour reduce him He writ to the Queen That the ill government which he imputed not to Her but to ill Counsellors were the cause of his retirement who because they might have the sole direction of things hindred the convocation of the States generall which were used to assemble always in the Kings minority he complain'd that the mariages with Spain were precipitated that the authority of the Parliament was diminished the Church-men trampled upon the Nobles undervalued the people laden with gabells and tallies divisions sowed in Sorbon and the University with divers other soloecismes in the present Government In his conclusion he insists much upon the convocation of the States generall of the Kingdom sure free a suspension of the mariage with Spain and so concluds with much complement These were specious pretences but they were as so many imaginary lines drawing to one reall Center which was the Marq of Ancre who indeed was the sole grievance and not He neither but his power and privacy with the Queen Regent which they thought to demolish by Arms. The Queen Regent in her answer to Conde reprocheth him that he had not imparted these things privatly to her to whom he had perpetual
to detain still the possessions of the Church 2. Others thought it was fit to give the King some contentment but in appearance only and to verifie the Edict assuring themselfs that it could never be put in execution it would meet with so many difficulties 3. Others thought it best to delay the verification to another time The King understanding that they were thus chopping of Logic and that the Synod also which was there then sitting did mainly resist the verification of his Edict He resolves to go thither himself though many disswaded him from the journey by reason of the uncouth wayes the sory lodgings the waters in some places poyson'd by Sorcerers and the scarcity of provision in the Lands of Bourdeaux But none of these reasons could deter the King therefore he prepares for his voyage and in the interim he sent a person of quality to the Rochellers to acquaint them with the Elusory answers which the Bearnois made to his commands and therefore he advis'd and requir'd them to have nothing to do in this busines They of Rochell little regarding what the King said but undertook the protection of the Bearnois The King being advanced in his journey neer Pau the Inhabitants sent to know how he would be receiv'd the King asked if there were ever a Church in the Town if there were he would enter as their Soverain if not he would receive no honor in a place where God Almighty had no House to be honor'd in so he entred without any Ceremony They of the Religion making three parts of the people forbore to send Commodities to Pau Market during the Kings sojourn there to constrain him to go away the sooner so that his train made hard shift to subsist all the while He goes thence to Navarrenz seven leagues neerer the hills a strong tenable place having 45. peeces of Ordnance and 40. Culverins the old Governor Bertrand de Sales sent the keys of the Town to the King where he peaceably entred contrary to all expectation he put in a new Garrison of French there and plac'd another Governor giving for recompence to the old 60000. Franks He also caus'd Masse to be sung there which had not bin done fifty yeers before so having settled all things at Navarrenx he return'd to Pau where the great Church which they of the Religion had turn'd to a Temple was restor'd to the Priests and two thousand crowns given for satisfaction In fine having cast the Church into its old mould and the Military with the Civill Government into a new and leaving a competent strength with La Force to preserve both he took post and came safely and triumphantly to Paris in a few dayes The Bearnois made their addresses to the French Churches and exhibited their complaints unto them and for their justification they alledg'd two reasons One was a possession of fifty yeers continued without interruption of those revenues the King had ravish'd them of The second was an Ordinance of the States Generall of Bearn confirm'd by a Declaration of Henry the Great to that effect The Roman Catholiks answer'd That for the possession they speak of it was violent and accompagnied with rebellion and felony Touching the Assembly of the States Generall which they urg'd it was altogether illegal because the first and most noble part which was the Clergy was excluded by a cruel persecution and for Henry the Great he was then himself a persecutor of the Catholiks The French Reformed Churches which are neer upon eight hundred did much resent the usage of the Bearnois thereupon there was a great Assembly held at Loudun without the Kings permission wherein they resolv'd to assist their brethren of Bearn They drew up Cayers or papers to present unto the King containing sundry demands 1. The first that his Majesty would please to revoke his arrest given in favor of the Ecclesiastiks of Bearn 2. A continuation of their Cautionary Towns foure yeers longer the time being now expir'd 3. They demanded leave to change two Governors which were turn'd Catholiks When these Papers were presented to the King he sent their Deputies word by Condé and Luynes that his will was that first of all they should separat the Assembly and six moneths after their separation they should be favourably answer'd They prai'd this promise might be digested in writing to an Act they were answer'd That it was an indecent and derogatory thing for a Monark to treat in that manner with his subjects as if his word were not sufficient The Deputies receiv'd little satisfaction in this so they returnd to Loudun wher the Assembly continued still notwithstanding two Declarations publish'd by the King wherein they were commanded to separat upon pain of being proclaim'd Traytors They little valu'd the Kings Declarations but dissolving their Assembly at Loudun they sent summons up and down to meet at Rochell where in a greater eagernes and zeal to the Cause then before they solemnly conven'd notwithstanding another new Prohibition of the Kings verifi'd by the Court of Parliament in Paris Hereupon the busines was put into deep deliberation at the Counsell of State whether the King should declare war against the whole body of the Religion or particularly against those that had met at Rochell and the latter opinion took place for these reasons 1. First it could not stand with justice to force consciences to quit that beleef which had bin so long tolerated 2. Secondly that declaring a war against the whole body of them of the Religion might bring in forren ayd 3. Thirdly that if a war were pronounc'd in generall many of the Kings best servants would be involv'd therein and provok'd as the Duks of Trimoville Bovillon Lesdigueres Suilly Chastillon Brassai Montgomery Blamville with divers other of his best sort of subjects The King in regard his Treasury was much drain'd was loth to plunge himself in a serious war again the Rochelers therefore to comply with them he accorded a continuation of their cautionary Towns for five yeers longer notwithstanding that they demanded but foure He also gave them leave to change the Governor of Lectour Castle and to choose a new Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris two things they insisted much upon but they prevail'd little with them unlesse the late Edict of Bearn were revok'd Hereupon the Gran Assembly at Rochell reinforc'd it self and went on more roundly then ever there were also up and down the Countrey divers other meetings as Synods Colloquies Circles and demy-circles which conven'd and consulted They of Rochell went higher and higher they had a new public sealemade they establish'd a new Court of Admiralty and stamp'd new Coines They made 47. Ordinances which were printed and commanded to be strictly observed through all the Reformed Churches They nominated Governors of Provinces and impos'd taxes at pleasure The King was much incens'd at these traverses yet nothing could move him to declare war against the whole body of them
litte hopes of its resurrection while the Clergy and Nobles continue so potent who finding that the third Estate began to tamper with the Popes jurisdiction and Church matters have wrought means to hinder their meeting any time these 30. yeers and upwards This yeer died Queen Margaret the last Branch of the Valois being come of the loyns of thirteen successif Monarks of that line a Lady of a rare attracting exterior bewty she had a high harmonious soul much addicted to music and the sweets of love and oftentimes in a Platonic way She would have this Motto often in her mouth Voulez vous cesser d'aymer possedez la chose aymée Will you cease to love possesse the thing you love She had lodg'd Henry Duke of Guyse who was kill'd at Blois so far in her heart that being afterwards married against her will to Henry the fourth and divorc'd by mutuall consent she profess'd she could never affect him she had strains of humors and transcendencies beyond the vulgar and delighted to be call'd Venus Urania She would have Philosophers and Divines in her House and took pleasure to hear them dispute and clash one with the other she entertain'd fortie Priests English Scots and Irish she would often visit hospitals and did divers acts of charitie to satisfie for the lubricities of her youth There was an accident happen'd this yeer in Paris that made a mighty noise for the time Two of the Kings gards having fought and the one being kill'd the other fled into Sanctuary to the Abbey of St. Germain The Duke of Espernon fetch'd him thence by force Complaint being made to the King he put him over to the Court of Parliament to receive his doom for infringing the Priviledges of the Church and commanded him to deliver the Prisoner again to the Sanctuary or he would fetch him away himself The old Duke did so and coming to the Palace to appear before the Parliament a ruffling company of Souldiers and Cadets follow'd him who did some acts of insolency against the Lawyers by kicking them with their spurs in the Hall where none should come spurr'd this aggravated the busines but the Duke made a long submissive speech to the Parliament wherein he acknowledg'd his error concluding with an apology that they would excuse him if his discourse did not content their learned eares for having bin all his life time a Captain of foot he had learnt to do better then speak The prime President then rise up and said That since the King in imitation of his Progenitors intends to be more inclin'd to sweetnes and clemency then rigor The Court by his expresse command and in consideration of your long services beleeving the good rather then the bad doth graciously interpret the actions of an ancient Officer of the Crown and Peer of France and so receives your excuses hoping that this will occasion you and your children to render the King and the State such services as you are oblig'd to do and for the futur that you will contain your self within the bounds of that respect and honor which you owe to this Court There was mention made a little before how the Assembly of the States Generall was dissolv'd and that having deliver'd their Cayers of complaints to the King they were dismiss'd but with large parol promises only We related also how the Arrest made in the Parliament of Paris in Confirmation of the opinion of the Third Estate touching the independency of the Crown of France was commanded by the King to be suspended and that nothing should be determin'd therein This gather'd ill bloud which bred ill humors and so brake out into divers distempers afterwards as will appear For as in the naturall body if upon taking of Physic the superstuities be onely stirr'd and not purg'd it doth more hurt then good and makes the drug to remain in the stomach undigested So in civil Corporations if abuses be only moved and not remedied it makes the body Politic worse then it was The Parliament of Paris was sensible how the Arrest wherein they concurr'd with the Third Estate was slighted and countermanded therefore they publish'd an Order that under the good pleasure of the King all Princes Dukes Peers and Officers of the Crown which are capable of sitting and have deliberative votes in that Court should repair thither by such a time to consult of matters tending to his Majesties service c. When this Order pass'd the Prince of Condé was promis'd to be there but he was counter-commanded by the King nor did any of the rest appear yet the Parliament went on and fram'd a Remonstrance of abuses in Government which by their Deputies they sent to the King and being come to the Louure they danc'd attendance there a good while and afterwards they were brought up by a back odd way to the Kings presence where the Queen Mother was also present and divers Princes The prime President made an oylie complemental speech full of protestations of loyalty to his Majesty and afterwards delivered the Cayer of Remonstrances which was read aloud by one of the Secretaries of State wherein the Parliament instanced in divers grievances and that they resented nothing more but that in the face of the whole State the royal power was rendred and left problematical and doubtfull The young King was not well pleas'd with this Remonstrance and the Queen Mother much lesse Who told them that the King had just cause to be offended with the Parliament because against his command they had meddled with matters of State and that she was not so short sighted but that she could perceive how these things reflected upon her Regency which they had formerly highly approv'd of and the Assembly of States General had also thank'd her for Then the Chancelor took the word telling them that they had bin misinform'd in many things which they took upon trust and that they were much out of their account in that they alledg'd that the expences were greater and the receipts lesse under this King then his Father who reserv'd but eight thousand liures every yeer not two millions as they pretended So the prime President and the rest of the Parliaments delegats were dismiss'd with little or no countenance at all The Counsell of State spoak high language averring that the passing of the foresaid public Order to invite the Princes and Peers to meet in Parliament upon extraordinary occasions without his Majesties leave was an open and insupportable attempt upon his authoritie now that he is declar'd Major as also upon the authoritie of that Counsell therefore an Arrest issued out That the Parliaments Remonstrances were false calumnious and full of malice and disobedience and that therefore they should be drawn off the Register of the said Parliament and suppress'd for ever with an inhibition that the said Court should not meddle with matters of State but by the Kings command Before this Arrest was publish'd the