beginnings of the Church of Fraunce béeing as yet but of tender yeares as it were and in the fire or at least wise euen now by little and little coÌ„ming out of the fire Let the causes of the hatred and debate â–ª by these very few things be considered with the which the Bishop of Romes men so outragiously vniustly are inflamed against the faith full against the cause of the faithfull We must not looke here to haue a description of the faithfull and professours of Christ in armes as our aduersaries doe nowe obiect vnto vs but rather of the vnarmed naked members of Christ most cruelly afflicted onely for this cause bicause they preferre the true and pure doctrin of the Gospell now a growing before the auncient customes traditions of men The naked Church in time past was vexed and the Gospell dyd run as it were through the sides of poore men and broughte them to death then Christians were accouÌ„ted as lyers called heretikes and by al maner of meanes vexed oppressed then were they cast in prisons and in bonds then were they whipped then suffered they proscriptions and banishmeÌ„ts yea and cruell deathes without fauour But nowe when it pleased the omnipotent God to appoynte vnto his Church a more clears and beautiful estate and to qualifie and quenche those fierce fyres Sathan not forgetting hys olde subtilties and sleightes deuiseth a new accusatioÌ„ whispering into the eares of kings that the Gospell will plucke their Scepters out of their handes and bycause the faithfull throughout the whole kingdom of France defende their libertie graunted vnto them by the Kings Edictes and by all lawfull causes with force of armes a new crime is nowe layde to their charge namely Sedition rebellion and treason to the king and country these crimes are obiected agaynste the godly by those which abusing the Kings name and authoritie to exercise their own tirannie â—…éeke moste of all the destruction of the Kings maiestie and bicause they haue bene let of their purpose by the faithfull therfore do they spewe out all the poyson of their hatred against them By these beginnings it shall euidently appéere how obedient the Faithful haue bene alwayes to their Princes and Magistrates that this thing béeyng layde as it were the foundation it may plainly be séene who they be which are the true authours of so many troubles as haue flowed thorough this whole kingdome God truely hath armed and fortified his Churche at thys daye with many externall helpes and fortresses yet for all that the cause is not chaunged Christe is the selfe same Christe still the Gospell is not chaunged but it is the selfe same Gospell whiche was vnreuerently handled and dealt withall in the persons of the Faithfull by the sharpe punishementes of the wicked The Faithfull are the same men still in obeying their Magistrates and in reuerencing their Princes that they were before But they are rebells whiche abusing the name and authoritie of Princes and disloyally violating all Lawe persecute the Churche go about to extinguish the Gospel and as if they were Giants furiously fight with God. And by the reading of these Commentaries the Faythfull shall finde many things which they maye applye vnto themselues to stay and comfort themselues in the middest of these troubles In these lamentable tymes manye daungers of moste greuous calamities do compasse vs on euery side many difficulties and newe troubles do dayly burst forth also But if we consider weigh the times paste we shall in very déede haue a gesse nowe what wil come to passe hereafter in our tyme For séeing God hath afore time sette and placed hys Churche in a straunge and wonderfull order We maye gather that the same God being a perpetuall keper and defender of his seruauntes will applie his power and prouidence to dispatche vs out of these our troubles the whiche is a most firme and inuincible argument Let vs call to remembrance the thicke mistes and darke cloudes of the former night let vs sette before oure eyes in what state the Church was in the dayes of Francis the first Henry the second and Francis the second All thinges were then full of feare Infinite kindes of punnishmentes and paynes were layde vppon the Church as banishmentes proscriptions and burninges Then no man durst so much as name the Gospell without he would be counted a manifest heritike Fewe men or none and that of the meaner sort when they were in their secret corners durst not once mutter of the Gospell men coulde not then enioy the libertie of the Gospell except they woulde willinglye banishe themselues their countrey and wander into foreine Nations But who will not merueile herevppon at the issue and end of those afflictions Looke what thinges were then harde of a fewe did openly ringe in the eares of all men Looke what things were reiected in some places and greatly punished were publikely receiued of the greatest part of men yea there were many of the Nobles which sealed that doctrine with their bloud By the deathes of Kyngs the Gospell had passage victorie was gotten Triumphe was made and within fewe dayes the Gospell went through the greatest parte of the Kyngdome by open sermons by publique Disputations where most men were assembled together so that the Gospell had gotten many and singular witnesses The places which had séene the tormenting fyres and ashes of the Faithfull before sawe now great assemblies and multitudes of the Faythfull gathered together to heare the worde of God and the Kynges Edictes which were altogether made for the hurt and destruction of the faythfull were at the last for all that the aduersaries could doe made to preserue the faithfull To be short these Commentaries did bring to our remembraunce and consideration such wonderfull and straunge matters the like wherof wée our selues haue not safely séene that by the prosperous and happye issue and ende of these perturbations we oughte to conceyue a sure and vndoubted hope The matter was then tryed by fyre but now by force of armes he which quenched the flamyng fires by the death and destruction of those whiche were fully purposed vtterly to ouerthrow and destroy the Churche the same Lord of hostes graund Captain of battailes shall direct and order these warres to the libertie and peace of his seruants Therfore the examples of those things which wer done in time past do plentifully shew that whatsoeuer shall happen at the length which in déede is not to be measured by humane reason shall fall out for our health and welfare and that bicause God will not leaue his worke vnperfected Wherefore I truste it is euident by the consideration of the things which are set foorth in this Booke what great profite shal come to those whom the boisterous waues of these tempests haue touched And bicause this is not a priuate matter neither appertaineth to euery one man but common to the whole Church of God dispersed throughout the whole world
it began in maner as followeth Weye and consider with your selfe your estate and you shall finde that all things haue happened ouertwhaâ—…tly vnto you euer since you haue gone about to vexe the Lutheranes When you set forth the Edict made at Cast ellobrian then began warres But when you inhibited and forbad the executioÌ„ of that Edict and were an enimie to the Pope in sending a power into Germanie for the libertie thereof bicause of the afflicted religion your busines had very prosperous successe But what hath hapned vnto you euer since you entred into friendship with the Pope taking the sword of him by which truce being broken warres might begin a fresh God vndoubtedly shall turne thy felicities into those calamities which are now ready to fall vpon thée and thy dignitie To what end went the armie of the Duke of Guise into Italy when he had serued Gods enimie for hire went he not to this ende that when he returned home againe he might vtterly destroy the Churches of the valleys of Pedemonte and might so offer and dedicate his victories vnto God Surely the ende and successe sheweth that God doth bring the deuises and counsels of men to naught when they turne to their own destruction as appeareth by the slaughter which happened on S. Laurence daye of late at what time he derided and frustrated the proude threatninges of the Constable which boasted that if he returned home againe a victor or conquerour he woulde roote out and vtterly destroy Geneua Thus after the repeating of many examples in the which the iudgements of God did appeare against the aduersaries of his truth whose memory also was yet fresh in the heads of al men this letter at the length coÌ„cludeth that afflictioÌ„s cannot abolish destroy the Church of God séeing that as Tertullian sayth The bloud of Martyrs is the seede of the Church and that it is the office of a King to take vpon him the care of religion the which all men might sée by diuers ways to be contaminated and neglected that this might lawfully be done by calling a Councell In the meane time that their cause as yet being vnknowne not certaine they may be peaceably not cruelly intreated which protest that they follow Gods truth and that so holy a name cannot in such wise be coÌ„temned but some inquisition must be made also that iudgement ought to be had not from the deuises of men but from the worde of God the only and most certaine rule of truth Therfore say they if we be not conuinced by Gods word it is neither fire nor sworde nor any maner of punishment that can terrifie vs These shall be the triumph and victorie of our faith that by being ouercome we shall be ouercommers at the last by this Chariote we shall come at the length to the hauen of euerlasting lyfe But that Edict which was made at Cast ellobrian of the which we haue made mention before was very straite and cruell against Religion in the which among many things these were the speciall sentences First that all former Edictes concerning the putting of heretiques to death should be confirmed That no man shoulde be admitted to anye publike office before he had made his coÌ„fession agréeable to the Catholike and Romishe faith That in euery Parliament and in the thirde moneth also there shoulde be assemblies made which are commonly called Mercuriales and that first of all matters concerning Religion shoulde be handled and that there shoulde be speciall regarde and eye had to the assembly of the Parliament least some corruption or heresie might secretly créepe in There was also another Apologie set forth for all men to vse so written that the auncient forme and state of the Church being represented and compared to that which is at this day the auncient fathers themselues also by their own wordes and writings might defend and maintaine the verye selfe and same cause which they nowe defended and in such wise that they which sayde that they reuerenced and embraced antiquitie might heare antiquitie defending and supporting the cause of the reformed Church so called These things truly are plentifully set forth in this wryting but the summe is this That it was against right that the faithfull shoulde be accused for well doing but more iniurious that they should be condemned their cause not being heard Notwithstanding that the Church of Christ before this time long since had felt the same iniuries therfore no maruaile if they whose cause was like were made equall to them in trouble Howbeit that Sathan and his Ministers shoulde so little preuaile that for all their force the Church shoulde arriue through the midst of their temptations to the safe and quiet hauen and the thicke and dark Clowdes being blowne ouer the light of innocencie should appeare and the enimies of the same be founde lyers After this those slaunders and reproches which were obiected against them being particularly examined and considered by them were also fully aunswered altogither out of the writings of the Fathers that their Apologie or defence myght plainly appeare to be true and sounde Furthermore many letters were written to the brethren which were in prison yea and Churches of farre Countries bewayling their estate did comfort them with their letters so that hereby they were wondefrully confirmed And among other Churches or congregations the congregation of Geneua shewed the dutie of the faithfull brethren insomuch that they did not let by all meanes possible to doe them good While those things were prouided for of the faithful the aduersaries on the contrarie part sought by all meanes possible to worke the death of the faithfull which were in prison so soone as they coulde and in this matter Munerius the ciuill Magistrate was not a little diligent and the people for their part gréedily gaped and continually looked for the same Now there came forth a commaundement from the King that all other matters set apart for a time the senate shoulde wholy applye themselues to vnderstande the cause of the faithfull and to iudge of them according to the euidence that shoulde be brought against them by Munerius the eiuill Praetor Notwithstanding the Kings commaundement herein the whole Senate or assembly of the Court refusing and reiecting this Munerius both for that he withstoode the auncient custome of the Court and also bicause as is before sayde he was accused of falshoode concluded that by the relation and report of anye one man which shoulde come forth and giue euidence the iudgement and sentence of those Iudges that were put in trust shoulde be ordered The whole Senate therefore although they were not a little troubled with the great number of prisoners yet notwithstanding what by the expresse commaundements of the King to them and what with the olde and 〈◊〉 spyte they vare to Religion so greatly preuayled within fewe dayes that their causes in déede came to iudgement Of the which they which constantly helde the
spred abroade the Bishop of Nâ—…auetensis or Nâ—…auntes with a certaine power of his men came thither whome he had gathered togither for this matter he giueth commaundement that clothes of tapistry work and other ornaments be hoong forth of euery house vpon the solemne daye in the which he with his wandring power shoulde passe through the Citie thinking by this meanes to fynde out who they were that were Lutheranes then he commaundeth the Drumme to be stricken vp and a signe to be giuen for men to prepare themselues to sight and thus he filleth the Citie with armour and tumult There was then present a certaine noble man who was appoynted by the Kings commaundement to presse and muster men for the warre this man admonisheth the Bishop into what perils he may bring the Citie the Englishe men their enimies approching neare who if they had knowledge of these troubles might easily obtaine the Cuie but his perswasion preuailed so little that he was also in daunger of his life and hardly deliuered himselfe from the mad rage of the common people Therefore the franticke people through euery corner of the Citie are as it were drunken mad by the guidance and leading of the Bishop and doe besiege and forciblye set vpon the houses in the which there were ninetéene of the faithfull congregated to make their prayers vnto god But the faithfull earnestlye beseech the people to be quiet and if there were any thing to be obiected against them they were ready to put themselues into the hands of the magistrate The Bishop aunswereth that the cause of their comming was onely to haue the Minister which they knewe to be among them The faithfull intreate that the Magistrate of the Citie might be called forth and he shoulde vnderstande the truth of the matter When the Praetor or Magistrate of the Citie had entred the houses and made diligent search through the same he declareth that the Minister is not there Notwithstanding the Bishop commaundeth the souldiers to set vpon and assault the houses the which thing the people did with all the force they were able to make seeking also to vndermine the houses But all in vaine for the faithfull that were in the houses affirmed that vnlesse they woulde depart they would driue them away And thus they being nothing dismayed or troubled commended themselues vnto God in Psalmes and songs The Bishop hereat being more angry commaundeth them to yéelde themselues the faithfull refused not to come forth to him if the people might depart saying that they were ready to make answere to those thinges whereof they were accused But for all this the gunnes and other instrumentes of warre were set to and bent against the houses The faythfull séeing into what straytes and extremities they were brought thought nowe within themselues that there was no remedie but that they must defende themselues but bicause it coulde not be done without great slaughter of the people if they did rashlye fall to offer strypes they thought it good not so to defende themselues vntill the verye extremitie came Notwithstanding when the people ranne with haste into the houses through the holes of the walles which they had made with Gunnes and other weapons the faythfull shotte at them with Crossebowes by force whereof many of them being stayne the myndes of the other were so discouraged that by and by the whole multitude ranne awaye and great quietnesse was made throughout the whole Citie They therefore being thus miraculouslye deliuered came forth singing the hundreth and foure and twentye Psalme as they went through the middest of the Citie and so escaped The next daye following the people being gathered togither againe ouerthrewe those houses in the which the faythfull had bene yea and their houses also whome they suspected to bée fauourers of their cause The Bishoppe vnderstanding that the Senate of Paris dislyked of this his facte went to the King and brought it so to passe by the meanes of them that were companiens and confederates wyth him in the same hys wicked furoâ—… that the King allowed all that he had done So lyttle was the equitie of the cause of the faythfull estéemed And very neare about this time also there séemed to be giuen a newe occasion to scirre vp affliction For at Paris in a medowe or fielde nere adioyning to the same commonly called the Clearks field â–ª many of the faithfull when others were busie at their sport and playe began to sing Psalmes little thinking that others would be stirred vp to do the like by their ensample Notwithstanding at the length it grewe to this that when this â–ª exercise had bene vsed certayne dayes many and men also of great estimation and fame came togither to heare the swéete and pleasant harmonie of the singing multitude They which coulde not sing and which had not as yet the knowledge of God went into the most conuenient places of the fielde to heare that which was soong and hearing the same confessed that it was wickedly done to forbid the singing of so honest godlie songs But while this went forwarde the aduersaries as though they were vtterly spoyled went to the king and declared to him that the Lutheranes had mooued sedition at Paris that they were ready to thrust his maiestie out of his kingdome that a great number of them were gathered togither in armour to conspire against him and therefore they requested him to prouide for this mischiefe for say they the Catholike Church and your whole kingdome is in great daunger When the King heard this he commaundeth that there be prohibition and stay made by a publike Edict that men sing no more in that place nor in that companie and also that there shoulde be inquirie made of those which had sooâ—…g They which were the chiefe of the reformed Church séeing into what suspitious those companies were brought giue admonition to their friendes that they neuer againe gather themselues togither in that place to sing as they did before if they woulde sing to sing at hâ—…me In the meane time many for this matter were apprehended who notwithstanding afterward for the lightnesse of the cause were set at libertie At the last when the Bishops preachers saw that the king did fauour them they perswaded with the people that it was an atteptable thing vnto God and a meritorious worke as they call in for a man â—…o kill a Lutherane And truly the beastly rage and madnesse of that people by these perswasions was prouoked insomuch that the reynes of temperancie loosed they ran headlong to commit what mischiefe they could of the which matter among many we will bring certaine examples â–ª On a certaine day after a Sermon it so fell out that two men contended togither by wordes in the Churchyarde of S. Innocentes the one of them to the ende he might stirre and procure hatred to the other by a reprochfull and odious name cried that the people might heare which were nowe going out of
as might conueniently there shoulde be Councels Synodes or Parlings of those Churches that were not farre oft 4 That there be diligent eye and heede giuen specially to the doctrine and also the maners of Ministers 5 That no Minister vsurpe superioritie or principalitie by any maner of meanes among his fellowe Ministers but that all things bee done indifferently and soberlye among them 6 That all offences and stumbling blocks be taken away 7 That the faithfull be taught their dutie and also instructed in the puritie of the worde and in the chaste rule of discipline ▪ 8 That nothing in this discipline be rashly altered by one man or by one Church without the authoritie of the generall Councell But now when the most excellent and famous Princes Protestantes of Germanie vnderstoode of the great punishments and intollerable afflictions layde vpon the faithfull for the Gospels sake they sent their Ambassadours wyth their charge and letters vnto the King beséeching him that he woulde inhibite and staye those grieuous persecutions of the which their letters this was the effect and summe as followeth When they vnderstoode and weyed with themselues that men in all ages estates and times suffered imprisonment and bondes for professing the doctrine of the Gospell which is contrarie to those superstitions which are of the most part obserued and that for the same cause onely they were extréemely punished both in body and goodes they also knowing themselues to be members of the same heade Christ with them whome they hearde to be so cruelly handled and being perswaded that they were bounde in conscience to helpe them so much as they might they thought good for these causes to sende their Ambassadours vnto the King with those letters And that the King might not thinke that the matter is not throughly considered off of them they signifie vnto him that they knowe for a suretie that those men which were restrained from their libertie did maintaine or defende no seditious opinions nor any thing else that is contrary to the true and Apostolicall articles of the Christian faith And bicause they themselues did take no lesse labour and paine than the King himselfe to roote out and abolishe all those things which were against the glorie of God and did onely desire to defende the true inuocation of his holy name and the syncere doctrine of the Catholike Church contained in the writings of the Prophetes Apostles and Fathers and also did seuerely punishe the maintainers of false doctrine and men of impure and vnhonest lyfe and to be short bicause they themselues did acknowledge and worship one God as the hyest and Lorde of all these were the causes which had moued them to write those letters of intreatie for the releasing of those captiues out of miserie whose doctrine they knewe to be farre from all falshoode heresie and sebitious opinions the which thing might euidently appeare by their confession the which they sent vnto the King to that ende There is no man but he will confesse that many corruptions are crept into the Church and haue preuayled partly by error and partly by couetousnesse to roote out the which saye they that diuers good and godly men haue taken great paine of late and that not long since also certaine vertuous and singular learned men in the vniuersitie of Paris as VVilliam of Paris Gersone VVestelus and others had done the like and also that they themselues haue reformed errours in their dominions for the which they are not a little ioyfull Moreouer that his father king Frances of happie memorie a Prince of singular wisedome and vertue purposed to haue made the like reformation folowing herein the examples of his auncelors the Kings of Fraunce who woulde oftentimes themselues finde out the controuersies that happened in the Church The which waye he ought to followe in ending these matters rather than to suffer the crueltie of manye against their brethren and his subiectes assuring himselfe of this that he shoulde so smallye preuayle in suppressing the doctrine of the Gospell by those sharpe and cruell punishments that contrarywise the bloude which was shed for the same shoulde be the séede more and more dailye to increase the number of christians and furthermore ▪ that by this meanes namely by shedding of bloude he shoulde haue the greatest part of his faithfull subiectes cut from him Eeside all this that God doth threaten to take vengeaunce of the bloude of Innocentes vniustly shedde and will seuerely punishe those which shall reiect the perfect knowledge of his doctryne and truth Moreouer they signifie vnto the King in their letters that they did of late sue vnto him and require the selfe same thing of him that they doe nowe by their letters then and Ambassadours also and were almost perswaded by his aunswere againe that he woulde neuer more suffer the miserable Christians so to be afflicted and appressed with those iniuries Notwithstanding that they vnderstoode that the same affliction by all maner of punishment was as great in his kingdome as euer it had bene before Insomuch that in this poynt they did greatly bewayle so much as Christian Charitie required the state and condition of his good and faythfull subiectes who for this cause were onely afflicted for that they followed that doctrine which they retayned sure and firme in their Churches and in the which they grounded their fayth The which wonderfully grieued them not onely bicause they sawe that it was preiudiciall and hurtfull to them but chiefly bicause they perceyued the glorie of the most mightie God to be defaced and as it were derided And bicause Charitie with the which his subiects were beloued of men did prouoke them also to wishe their peace and tranquilitie and aboue all things to desire that the King might behaue himselfe in that thing which appertained to the glorye of God and soules health that he might not prouoke the wrath of God against him they most hartily beseech hym that he woulde prudentlye expende and weigh all the circumstances of this facte and specially that he woulde consider the causes why his miserable subiectes shoulde be so greatly troubled and that he woulde endeuour himselfe that the Church of God might be pourged from all these corruptions with the which it had bene a long time contaminated and infected in so doing he shoulde satisfie the honest desire of a great number in this poynt And bicause he coulde not come to the knowledge of those things which were of so great weyght without the hearing of the iudgementes of godlye learned men they perswaded him so call vnto hym out of hande men expert in knowledge and desirous of Gods glorie after the ensample of his Elders by whome the matters nowe in controuersie might be vprightlye and peaceably decided and determined by the rule of holye Scripture Also that whyle these thinges were in hande and vntill it were fully concluded of the matters in controuersie his subiectes which followe the doctrine agréeing
in euerye place and herevpon followed an infinit number of mischiefes He intreated therfore that the same authoritie might be restored againe to Ecclesiasticall persons and that the king woulde take away no more the reuenewes of Churchmen for that they were consecrated and halowed and coulde not be taken away withoute some manner of sacrilege séeyng that men of the Churche ought carefully to be fed and maintained This thing if the king would doe after the ensample of Charles the great he should get a most glorious name and at the length be called Charles the greatest And last of all he made petition that al the Clergy might neither pay tribute nor tax for that was the prorogatiue of the Church which oughte not to be taken from it For saith he it is the chiefest part of the Kings duetie to defende the Christian faith and doctrine and to maintayne Ecclesiasticall persons The whiche if he did he sayde that he promised vnto hym in the name of the Clergye all prosperitie in thys worlde and in the worlde to come euerlastyng lyfe Thus much concerning his oration which we haue trulye reported according to the written coppie of the same Many maruelled what he ment so vndiscretely to inueye against the protestantes of the reformed Church seing that he him selfe sometime had approued the same and for that cause was constrained to depart from Pictauium Moreouer bycause he wished them to be taken and punished as newe Heretikes which shoulde offer supplications to the King all men at those words loking vpon the Admiral as though he had openly noted him the Admiral made complaint hereof to the king and Quéene Therfore Quintinus was called to come before the king to gyue an accounte of that which he had spoken Who excusing him selfe by the instructions gyuen to hym of the Clergye promised that he would openly in the assembly or courte aske the Admirall forgiuenesse the whiche also he performed But after thys ballets and scoffing Libelles were set vp agaynst him in manye places in so muche that he was openlye derided Wherevpon at the length partlye by the impaciencie of these contumelyes and reproches and partlye by the griefe of hys owne mynde for his euill déede he fell into a sickenesse and gaue vp his life After this there beganne to aryse certayne quarels complaintes and controuersies againste the Guyses For the Burgeses of the Parliament that were chosen for Burgundy and Dolphiny of the which Prouinces the two brethren the Guyses were gouernours and chiefe went aboute to bring to passe that the Guyses mighte be counted as honorable as anye of the Princes the Kings neere kinsmen were to the whyche notwythstandyng the greateste parte of the Burgeses of other Prouinces woulde in no wyse consent At the whiche the Guises beyng offended called those that hindered their estimation sedicious persons They on the other side misliking to be so called complayned therof to the Queene who onely gaue them this aunswere saying that the Guises did so call them adding this condition that if the Burgeses did enterprise any thing against the kings Maiestie and not otherwise and thus by and by they were sent away Then were there certaine dayes spent in bringing the assembly of the Parliament together againe and in debating of diuers matters At the length by earnest sute of manie the Parliamente was proroged vntill another time namely vntill the first day of May nexte following And so with thankes giuen to the king and Quéene the Parliament brake vp Then commaundement was giuen to all the prelates of the French Church That they shuld prepare themselues for the Counsell Also that all Magistrates shoulde set them at libertie both in body and also in goods which were kepte in prison for Religions sake And that no manner of punishement or iniurie shoulde be offered for Religion or factious names Then when the rumour and fame of Religion increased dayly more and more the Constable attended with all diligence vpon the king of Nauarre in so much that he was seldome from him In the meane time the Bishop of Rome hearing of the kings pleasure concerning the calling of a Nationall councell and fearing least the same woulde be hurtful vnto him vrged by and by that there mighte be a generall Counsell holden at Trent summoning the same incontinent and declaring it by publique writing Against the which one Paulus Vergerius sometime a Bishop a notable papist but at the length for taking the Popes doctrine became a member of Christs Church This Paulus I saye wrote letters in the Italian toung to the Bishops of Italy In the which he declared that the Pope had giuen forth a Bull for the calling of a generall Councell the which Bull when he had séene he had great sorrow and griefe of minde and that for waighty causes Namely for that the Pope went about to disperse and scatter and to ouerthrow destroy the Churches of Christ and to bring the same againe to the former state of desolation Adding herevnto that the Pope was greatly offended with the light of reformatioÌ„ which God had caused to shine in earth the space of these fortie yeeres to men that were blinded and ouerwhelmed in thicke darknesse of errors As though sayth he you Bishops were iudges shoulde be vmpires in the Counsel to determine and ende matters So soone as ye be come to Trent ye shall heare some profouÌ„d disputation or other by Monkes but ye shall heare no man that dare truely reply against them Then shall be song very soleÌ„ne songs of ceremonies ye shall be brought into the Temple of S. Vigill ye shall haue faire and sumptuous clothes of Tapisery hong before you ye shall haue Miters put on your heades ye shall sit vpon maruelous faire chaires which the Cardinal of Trent brought from Millaine And being there thus placed ye shall heare solemnly read out of a Pulpit the decrées which the Pope an vnlearned and foolishe man with the helpe of some one monke or other hath deuised But as for you ye must doe nothing but howe downe your mytered heads to the Pope and say to whatsoeuer you heare Placet very well and so to approue the same as thoughe at the first sight you dyd vnderstand and consider of the matter very well Then will the Pope euery where publishe abrode That the Bishops of the Catholike Church haue iudged the Lutherans to be Heretikes Whereas you neuer so determined or iudged of theÌ„ but he alone which sitteth in Peters Chaire And yet notwithstanding ye shall be the cause of all these euâ—…ls Also shal that be called a general couÌ„sell in the which neither we our selues whose cause is in hande are hearde neither yet the Bishops that are present do any thing of theÌ„ selues but stande onely for sifers in agram And the Pope will sende the Canons which were made at Rome to Trent that they may be counted the decrées of the generall Councel And to the
thus Trâ—…aeus hauing no hope to preuaile by wars against these meÌ„ certified the Duke what a hard matter he had taken in hand Afterward the men of the valleys were called to parley with whom these couenantes were made namely That they shoulde vse their accustomed exerciâ—…es of Religion that they should by no maner of meanes be accused or called to account for this warre that they shoulde haue free libertie and intercourse to bie and sell through all parts of the Dukes dominion that they shuld render vnto the Duke all dutie and obedience belonging vnto him that they also should liâ—…e without offence There were diuers other particular matters which because they serue not for our purpose we omit While these things were thus handled Philip King of Spaine on the other side left nothing vndone to punishe vex with all maner of torments so many as imbraced the Gospel in any part of his dominioÌ„s but specially in Spaine Belgio the murdering inquisitioÌ„ in euery place most cruelly was executed the houses in the which the faithfull came together were burned they which were taken were spedilye put to death some being burned some drowned some tormentes with new kinds of death yea there was no respect of persoÌ„s had were he poore or rich gentlemaÌ„ or noble maÌ„ he was not frée froÌ„ these torments The king being greatly inflamed pricked forward herevnto by the Cardinall Granuellan who a little before was made Cardinall in Belgio at the creation of new bishops Neuerthelesse the faithful of the pâ—…rsecuted churches offer their confessioÌ„ to the king of Spaine and publish the same euery where abrode by publique writing open their cause to the magistrates shew how iniurious a thing it is to condemne a man before his cause be heard beséech that they might haue libertie to be heard that their confessioÌ„ might be read which would manifestly declare that they were vniustly condemned these troubles say they do arise of two sorts of men The first are such as are led by rashe vndiscrete zeale to defend their errors which haue long time continued in the Romish Church The second are such as are afeard to haue the Gospell preuaile bicause they know that the doctrine therof reproueth their wicked doings affections It is great arrogancie to condemne those that leane to the worde of God to prefer the inuentions of meÌ„ before the same Wherfore they desire that before they be coÌ„deÌ„ned they might be coÌ„uinced by the word of God that the disputatioÌ„ might not be with fire and sword for say they the word of God is the vndoubted certaine rule of truth But this was the sum of their confession We beleue in one true God which by his glorious names titles may be discerned froÌ„ false counterfeite Gods which may also be knowne by that most mighty worke of the whole world but specially by his word we also imâ—…race receiue the only word of God by faith not so much bicause the Church receiueth the same but bicause it is sealed in the hartes of the faithful by the holy ghost We beleue that one God in esseÌ„ce is distinguished into thrée persons which are the father the sonne the holy Ghost reseruing notwithstanding to euery persoÌ„ his special propertie We beleue that God which hath created the worlde doth gouerne preserue the same by his prouidence We beleue that he created man after his owne image liknesse that is to say holy good perfect that he fell by his owne faulte hath wrapped his prosteritie in y same giltinesse of sinne corruptioÌ„ that he him selfe was in We beleue that Iesus Christ both God and man in one person is a true mediator the onely meane way to saluation We beleue that he beyng promysed long before vnto the Fathers and represented and shadowed vnder the Ceremonyes and fygures of the lawe came in his time and fulfilled all things that pertayned to oure saluation and that withoute greate sacrilege and robbing him of his honor no other meane can be taken also that the faithful are partakers of these benefites which are the Church of God which is gouerned by the holy ghost and not tyed to places or perfons We beléeue that the pure and sincere preaching of Gods worde the pure Ministration of the sacraments and the discipline by the which the Churche is gouerned according to the rule of Gods worde are notes and markes of the visible Churche We beléeue that the Sacraments were ordained to confirme our faith and doe then profite when they are ioyned to the power of the holy Ghost We beléeue that there doe belong onely two sacraments to the Church namely Baptisme which is a seale of remission of sinnes and of our regeneration and therefore a testimonie of our entrance into the Churche And the Lords supper which signifieth that we are truely made partakers of the body of Christ and of all his graces and benefites that is to saye that oure soules are nourished to euerlasting life by his fleshe and bloude euen as our bodyes are nourished with breade and wine but we muste bring faith to receiue the truth of that Sacrament that is to say Christ therefore we beléeue that the Lords Supper doth only profite the faithfull bringeth to the vnworthie that is to the vnbeléeuing condemnation We beléeue that God to defende and preserue the societie of men hath ordayned lawes and pollitique gouernement which al men ought to obey that tributes custome and other taxes ought to be payed to Magistrates who ought to be reuerenced and for whome we ought to pray vnto God. We beleeue also that Christ shall come againe with al power maiestie and glory in the latter day to iudge the quicke and the dead Thus much concerning their persecution But now to returne to our selues againe When the Duke of Guise had bene at no small variance with the Prince of Conde he purposed with himselfe partlye by his owne mind in hope of profite partly by the Counsel of his friends to come into his fauour and friendship again the Quéene and the Constable exhorting him ther vnto and helping him to haue hys purpose Therefore the King when he had called the Prime Councell together and all the Princes beyng present he called both of them before hym and when the matter was opened he commaunded the Duke of Guise to declare the whole matter to the Prince of Conde The which the Duke of Guise did protesting that he neuer caused nor counselled the King which was departed to apprehend the Prince of Conde To which the Prince of Conde answered that he did counte him a wicked and naughtie person which wente aboute to worke him that mischiefe what so euer he was The Duke of Guise sayde that hée thoughte him in lyke manner to be no lesse but he coulde not helpe it At the length by the Kings
commaundement they embraced one another and promysed to put away all grudge and malyce and to be euer afterwarde true and faithfull friendes This reconciliation gaue the Constable occasion more fréely to ioyne him selfe and to kepe company with the Guises and to begyn afreshe to suppresse Religion the which he had alwayes obstinately resisted We sayde before that the assembly of States or Courte of Parliament was delayed and put off vntill the moneth of May. Therefore they resorted agayne in the moneth of August to Pontosia a towne in Picardie and by and by there arose dissention betwéene the Princes and the Cardinalls aboute the order of sitting the Princes denying to sitte belowe the Cardinalls Wherevpon the Cardinals Turnon Lorayne and Guyse went away verye angry But when the Earles and Nobles were gathered together the Chauncelor proposed the matter according to custome shewing the cause of their comming together and willing euerye man fréely to vtter that which he had to say Therefore the Legates or Speakers for the thrée estates made their seuerall orations in the which they spake much concerning the duetie of the King and of the subiectes and of those matters which are commonly handeled in Ciuill conuocations the whiche we meane not to repeate for bicause they appertaine not to our purpose Notwithstanding this is not to be pretermitted that the Legate for the comminaltie complained very muche of the corruptions of Ecclesiasticall persons bycause they ought to teach the people and to exhorte them both by their doctrine and also by their example to a pure and honest lyfe but foule and filthy ignorance was among them and their corrupte and vnchaste lyâ—…e was a greate offence to all men Moreouer he said that they were hyrelings and carefull for nothing lesse than for â—…oyng their dueties but were whollye gyuen to filthy pleasure and this thing sayth he ariseth hereof for that they bée more plentifully fedde and fatted than their offices wyll beare what hath béene the cause sayth he in tymes paste of all the corruptions in the Churche but the too much ease and lyuing of Ecclesiasticall persons Also he made petition in the name of the thirde state whiche we call the comminaltie that the King woulde refourme these greate faultes and woulde so temper and order the lyuings and reuenewes of Ecclesiasticall persons that they mighte not lyue too licenciously at their ease Moreouer he declared that it was the office of a King to take vpon hym the defence of Religion and bycause so manye troubles daylye did aryse for this cause throughout the whole Realme he sayde it was a presente remedie to pacifie them to call forthwith a Nationall Counsell and to gyue to all men leaue to come vnder safe conducte and that it woulde please the King also with the Princes hys Kinsmen to bée present at the same and to call for learned and godly men to come to that parley and also to remoue all those that might be suspected Furthermore that they whiche thinke that they can not wyth a safe conscience come to the Ceremonyes of the Churche of Rome myghte haue libertie freely and quietly to come together into some temple or other publique place where they maye be taughte the worde of God in theyr vulgar tongue and maye haue the rytes of their Religion Ministred And bycause many things maye be sayde to be done amisse in those assemblyes he wished that the King woulde commaunde certaine of his officers to be presente in those assemblyes to see what shoulde be done Also he sayd that they oughte not to be counted for heretikes whiche were condemned their cause not hearde but should be tried and iudged by the word of God. Finallye he made humble supplications that it woulde please the King to graunte suche reasonable requestes the which also the Nobilitie with one consent required but the Ecclesiasticall order or Clergie soughte diligentlye by all meanes possible to defend their cause But to the ende it maye more plainely appeare what greate alterations haue happened within a shorte tyme it shall not be amisse to repeate certayne things whiche were done in that assemblye concernyng matters Ciuill and yet those things onely which also seeme to be more neere to Religion the state wherof to shewe we meane Therefore these remedyes were deuised to discharge the Kyng of that debte and paymentes of money wyth the whiche wee sayde before the Kyng at that tyme was greatlye burthened Firste that they whiche had had the occupying of the Kyngs Treasure shoulde come to accounte In the meane tyme that so manye as were of the Kings Priuye Counsell shoulde bee forbydden to come into that assemblye vntyll they hadde playnelye made theyr accountes also that all shoulde make an accounte the Queene onely excepted of all excéedyng giftes rewardes and doles That so manye as in their owne persons did not discharge their Ecclesiasticall offices should loose all their reuenewes sauyng some parte which shoulde bee lefte them for the deuine seruice and for aimes deedes That all the reuenewes of Benefices in controuersie should be brought to the kings Treasurie That so many Benefices as had their pastors resident if they were worthe fiue hundred pounde in money shoulde paye vnto the King the fourth parte if they were worthe a thousande pounde the thirde parte if they were worth three thousande pounde that then they shoulde paye vnto the King the one halfe Also that they which had in yearely reuenewes comming vnto them twelue thousande poundes shoulde haue onely remaining to them of the same three thousande and the reste to be payde to the King. That from the Cartusian Fryers the Minimi the Mathurines and the Moniakes should be taken all their reuenews that surmounted and came to more than would finde them ordinarie meate drinke and clothe bycause by the order of their rytes and vowe they ought to haue no more Also they saide they had yet a better and more compendious way and that was this if all the landes of Ecclesiasticall persons belonging to their benefices and spirituall promotions sauyng onely a house for the Bishop Canon Maister of the Colledge or person to dwell in were solde And of some parte of the money for the same the Kings debtes should be payde and the rest to be distributed to Ecclesiasticall persons that had more neede of the same Also to the ende the king with the rest might perceyue howe profitable a way this would be they declared that the reuenews of those ecclesiasticall landes woulde be worth fortie thousand pounde and their proper liuing and remainder neuerthelesse twelue hundred thousand poundes And they sayde that these lands would the sooner be solde because they were frée from tribute were all most lords within themselues Adding moreouer that Ecclesiasticall persons should sustaine no harme hereby for they should neuerthelesse haue inough to liue vpon and the king of the ouerplus of those yearely reuenewes should both pay his debtes and also haue euery yeare a great
the true Religion with holines of life least in the middest of these troubles of warres the care of true godlinesse be quight extinguished The best weapons that may be had to fight against our enemies is holines of life and godly prayers If these be wanting our words shall runne through our owne sides And because saye they we sée before our eyes such horrible calamities we following the approued custome of the Church haue appoynted by a common decrée of all men that in all congregations their should be fasting and sollemne prayers for certaine dayes which we admonish you to vse modestly deuoutly and godly and also that God should be prayed vnto publiquely and priuatly to send a happie successe of all these troubles to the glory of his name and to the peace and tranquillitie of his Church They wrote letters also in the name of the whole Synode to Frederike County Pallentine at Rheine whom the refourmed Churches of France had found alwayes in time of cruell persecution a fréend and ready to helpe at néede This was the coppie of their letters We are not ignorant that the basenes of our condition is such that we should not trouble you with our letters but notwithstanding both the experience which we haue had of your singuler clemency and humanitie and also the waight and sharpenes of our miseries and calamities do constrayne vs in these our extremities to flée vnto you for ayd séeing that of long time you haue professed the trueth and haue had a singuler care to pro mote the glory of God and to mayntaine and defende those which professe the trueth of the Gospeel in what place soeuer they are First of all therfore we pray vnto God omnipotent and to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which will haue Kings and Princes to bée Nourses of his Church that he will vouchsafe to confirme and strengthen your highnes in true fortitude constancy by his holy spirit which fortitude you haue hitherto aboundantly shewed with great commendation in setting forth and promooting the woord of God in your Churches And we giue you most harty thankes for those benefites which we receyued of you within these few yeares oftentimes intreating our kynges on the behalfe of our bretherne which were afflicted for the doctrine of Christ. And now we being gathered together of late out of all partes of the Realme for a common Counsell or Synode gladly call to mind the benefits which you haue shewed vppon vs and so much the more willingly also because at this time the truce being broken by which we began to enioye the benefite of the Kinges Edict we stand in great néede of your clemency We foresée the great tempest and calamities of our Churches like to ensue the state of your Churches of Germany in that Ciuill warre comming into our mind the which troubles and calamities being ended by God so happely who hath promised without all doubt to helpe his seruants there is no cause why we should feare Notwith standing we cannot chuse but be very carefull for our flockes commited to our charge But to make the matter more playne because we know that ye vnderstand already our care by certaine Noble men we will not be tedious vnto you Thus much we ad concerning our Churches namely That there is such a conspiracy made against our Churches that except God in his mercy do prouide for the same there is like to ensue no lesse calamitie and confusion than there hath happened long agoe to the Orientall Greeke and Affrican Churches For to conclude the matter in few wordes when the Duke of Guise and they which haue conspired with him perceyued that by the Edict of Ianuary men had leaue fréely and openly to preach the Gospell and that they were restrayned of crueltie which till that time they had declared by all maner of punishments many of the Kinges officers Noble men imbracing the doctrine of the Gospell they made a conspiracie with the enemies of the true Religion to kill in euery Citie the professors of the Gospel Of which their conspiracy we haue had manifest arguments First by the horrible slaughter committed at Uassi it may appeare and then by the cruell and bloudy murther of the men of Sens the Bishoppricke wherof pertayned to the Cardinall of Guise so great slaughter of them being made that for the space of fower dayes there was such killing and steying of men women children without any respect of person that the only remembraunce therof cannot but cause teares to bée shed Yea the dead bodies of such as were slayne came swimming down the Riuer of Seine to Paris requiring as it were their buriall and complayning of this tiranie or rather calling for vengeanee of God and man And now although we know it rather to be our dutie to pray for our enemies and for those which do persecute vs than to accuse them yet notwithstanding we trust that you will interprete to the best these complaints of our iust grief of our manifold calamities And for so much as those our aduersaries to leaue no thing vndone that might be to our destruction haue required your Realme of Germany to ayd and assist them we earnestly pray and beséech you for the loue which you beare to the Church of Christ that you will bend all your might to withstand and put away this euill least Germany imbracing the same truth of the Gospell which we do be euill spoken of for séeking to hurt and anoye vs And we intreat your honour by the tender mercy of God that you will vouchsafe to be a meane for vs to the King and Quéene that there may be some consideration had of our Churches and that you would helpe to mayntayne and defend so iust a cause the time requiring the same Concerning the Letters which the Prince of Conde sent to the refourmed Churches of Fraunce we haue spoken before in the which he willed them when they sawe warres to begin to prepare themselues to the warre with a good courage Whereuppon in many places they obeyed his commaundements some prospering very well in their affayres othersome not hauing so good successe They fortefyed with men and munitiō so much as they could the Cities And after the inhabitants of Towers of Blais and of Angewe had so done also the men of Poicters did the like and then the Normans which fortefied diners Cities tooke their chiefe Citie called Roane But at Burdeux and almost through but Gascoyne except in certaine meane townes the faith full were molested by Monsiere Monluce the Lieutenant who delt very cruelly with the faithfull euery where but specially at Bourdeux By the meanes of this Monsire Monluce there was a great slaughter committed vppon the faithfull at Tholoz and the rest of the multitude which were many in number and had escaped this gréeuous murther brake out of the Citie being a necessary place of refuge both for them and also for
Spanishe King their neighbour if so be that the reformed religion dyd take place there Wherefore the Quéene burst not openly disalowe those executions done vpon the Papistes but woulde rather when the Protestantes came to complaine to hir praise them and make as thoughe she liked very well of them and all to shewe what desire she had that lawe and Iustice shoulde be administred to euery man equally without partialitie At the earnest importunate sute of the Protestantes one place was chosen oute of all that Prouince for the assemblyes to haue the vse and administration of the reformed Religion â–ª but it was inconuenient by reason of the vneuenesse and crookednesse of the way to Merindoll Notwithstanding by the great prouidence of God it came to passe that the same place which a little before had receyued the trueth of the Gospell in the darke and dusky dayes of papistrye and had suffered much calamity for that cause should by the Kings Edict be made a receptacle and mansion place for the Gospell and the faythfull and thereby made very famouse and noble Therefore the faythfull came out of all places of Prouance to Merin dol hauing frée libertie to heare the word of God. After this the King came to Aâ—…inion that frâ—…m thence he might goe into Languedock And as he traueiled he was very princely receyued of euery Citye wherethorough he passed and had very large and stately gyftes gyuen vnto him of the which to make relation pertayneth not to our purpose When the King was come to Nemaux there came thyther a great multitude of protestants making great mone and lamentation in so much that the crying and pitiefull voyce of the people came to the house wher the King lodged who might heare them crying and calling for Iustice of their soueraigne Lorde and requiring of the Christian King the libertie of the reformed Religion This noyse of wéeping and crying was so great and so shrill in the Kings eares that the mynd of the yonge King at the hearing of the same was somwhat abashed and straightway demaunded what the matter was the standers by dissembled and excused the matter but hée with angry moode aunswered and sayde I sée that my people are euill entreated and turning to the Quéâ—…ne sayd How chaunce this people are not satisfied I will Lady sayeth he that this my people haue Iustice Notwithstandinge they by and by put in his head that they were seditiouse people which were wont after that fashion to do all things with tumult And then this multitude being dryuen away with violence by the Kinges Garde the Elders gouernours of their Church were called for and being come they were sharply reproued that thei had suffered the vnruly multitude to come thither in such tumultuouse order and were commaunded to deliuer their grief in wryting to the Maister of Requestes and to come to Montpellier to receyue an answere according to the same The like complayntes also were made by the men of Montpellier when the king came thyther but they with the men of Nismes were sent to Blitters and after this the churches of Blitters those thereaboutes making the lyke complayntes destring reformation had the lyke successe they being puâ—… of from day to day and from one place to another The Constable being sore offended that so many coÌ„plaintes should be made against his sonne d' Anuile And beside the infinite verations of d' Anuille which he brought vpon them the Senat of Tholoze left nothing vndone to make the cause of the reformed churches odiouse before the Kinge These were the mendes made for so great iniuries and this was the profit that ensued the Kings iourney THE new yeare brought with it a certeine rumour of the Kings progresse into Baione which was kept secret vntill this present tyme Therefore consultation being had of the matter with the chiefest of the Senate of Tholoze the king passing through Guian comming to euery citie came at the last to Baione in the moneth of Iuly Thither to her brother the king came Elizabeth wife to King Phillip of Spayne and was very pompously receyued of the whole Courte But the cause why Phillip her husband came not thyther with her notwithstanding that the same place bordered vpon his kingdome was as it is reported that the league concerning the destroying of the reformed religion might the more secretly be confirmed Others attribute the cause of his absence to ambition â–ª for that he would not séeme in any thing to séeke to the King of Fraunce Notwithstanding by the comming of Elizabeth that holy league as they termed it was ratifâ—…ed and established by which was ment as is aforesaide to banish and abandon the reformed religion And to the ende the Realme of Fraunce might be an vtter enemy to the professours of that religion the king of Spayn promised vnto the king of FraÌ„ce so great power and ayde as he could the lyke promyse also made the king of France to the king of Spayne both of theÌ„ promisinge one to the other to embrace obserue the doctrine of Rome with the rites cerimonies therof and to do all that they could to remoue take away all lettes and impediments to the same and so to take the next occasions offered to bring this matter to passe After the confirmation of this league to the ruin of the Church there followed lamentable effectes But notwithstanding the secret conclusion of this matter the prince of Conde and all the Noble men of the reformeâ—… Religion vnderstoode the same whose deathes hereby were sought Thus when the king had viewed all the Region of Guian he returned back agayne into that part of FraÌ„ce called by the Frenchmen Francâ—…ys towarde the latâ—…er ende of this yeare IN this yeare and in the next following there was truce taken betwene the Churches and the faithfull had some reste and breathing tyme notwithstandinge not without sustayning diuers iniuries Yea there wer snaring baytes layed and priuy platformes practised agaynst the Admirall and the Andelot which were espied manifestly reuealed and brought before the king but in vayne The kings longe looked for occasions to put their league in execution It shall not be from our purpose if we note certayne thinges concerning the affaires of the lowe Countrey called Belgio â–ª aboute this time for matters concerning religion both for that the cause is all one and also bycause the same Countrey bordereth vpon Fraunce notwithstanding obseruing the order of time we will inserte those thinges whiche specially appertaine to oure history Therefore ye shall vnderstande that this noble and plentifnll countrey was exercised and muche troubled aboute this time with diuers and sondrye contentious conflictes for religions sake Wherby we haue diuers examples set forth vnto vs of the wonderfull prouidâ—…ce of God in ordering and framing of his Churche quite contrary to humaine reason that is to say whereby we may plainly perceiue that the Church is not the
we think also that the manifest true knowlege of these thinges is loked for of many meÌ„ of forein nations that the first beginnings of those things in these our Commentaries shal not be read of them without some frute Neither do we dout but that many when they haue gotten peace and tranquilitie after troubles will behold our miseries not as thoughe thei themselues were quite out of danger of the like but being moued with the féeling of our afflictions will truly bewaile our estate For whose sake also we haue writteÌ„ these things in Latin that they by some means at the least may be generally vnderstoode of all those which séeke the glorye of God and the preseruation of his Church â–ª Wherfore we trust if we be accused of rashnes as though we had vnaduisedly set forth these things which should haue bin deferred till more conuenient and better occasions wée haue to answere for our selues and to make vs cleare from that faulte For if in a matter commendable and deseruing praise simple and small diligence ought not to be blamed this may be a iuste defence for vs against learned and indifferent meÌ„ namely to wil is sufficieÌ„t in matters of weight It shal be no reproch or shame to vs at all that there be controllers of a learned perfect story But this is the summe of our whole desire that the very truth of those things which were done in Fraunce for religion might be knowne to all men as what is the goodnesse of the cause of the Faithfull and true churches and what is the iniquitie and iniustice of their aduersaries Let al meÌ„ know for a suretie that the Churches of France are not guiltie of sedition and rebellion but are so called by the enimies of the truth and pure doctrine for defending the libertie of the Gospell Let all men know that many thousandes of faithfull Christians being spoyled of their goodes haue like banished meÌ„ forsaken their houses and countrey let them knowe that by warre and by other meanes they haue become true martyrs and by the fraude and deceyte of the Antichristian Guyses are dayly martyred who violating and breaking the moste strayte lawe and faith of promises haue abused the kings name and authoritie to exercise their tirannie and wickednesse To be shorte let al men know that Fraunce is falne into these ciuil wars through the wickednesse of aliens not through the fault of the faithfull Moreouer gentle Reader whiche desirest to be satisfyed in the truth we testifie and affirme thus muche for our selues that we haue written all things truly simply and vprightly without anye manner of parcialitie not gathering any thing by rumours or reportes but by certaine and vndoubted arguments in so much that we are not afrayde to appeale to those that are yet alyue as too eye witnesses yea and to the very time it selfe Farewell â–ª Edward Grant Schoolemaister of VVestminster to the Booke WHo lists to lern the blustring broyles fraÌ„ticke fumes of France The troublous times in three kings raignes that dolefully did chauÌ„ce May here suruey a perfect platt of pageants plaide in vewe That will enforce eche Christian harte most ruthfully to rue To see and heare the true discourse of superstitious tymes That shattered pure Religion with spytefull cankred crimes VVhere errour blind and ignorance true Christians did suppresse And armed all her lungish loutes the godly to distresse To rage and fume against the Church that lurking lay in feare VVith spitefull hate and infamies of those that did it teare Christes faithfull spouse not suffered through furious foes to shine Through rancour lodgd in Princes heads that did from truth decline Gods chosen sheep and vassals true raisd vp to doe his will In puritie him for to serue proud papistes sought to spill Their throates to cut their heades to poll their corpes in fier to caste That to Gods pure Religion came flocking wondrous faste Some choackt with gibbets gabbet at some murdred spitefully Some stabbed in with goting blades and daggers wilfully And all for hating Romish rytes and Belials bragging broode For cleauing to the Chrrstian church that sore astonyed stoode Among the superstitious troupes of Antichristian foes Starke blinded with the Popes delights behedgd with wailsul woes Starte vp some chosen chieftaines stoute of Christes disperpled band That did defie such beggeries in Fraunce that famous lande â–ª VVhich few at first did more allure vnto their sacred sawes To serue the Lord in Hymnes and songes according to his lawes And secretly to pray and preache to set foorth his dew prayse In corners and in hidden holes for feare his trueth to rayse Vntill the rage of hellish hagges the common blinded crew Dyd spye and spite their godly wayes and many of them slew Accused them as Lutherans before the Peeâ—…es and Kings Of Luther that reuin'd the same with fond inuented things Hereof came sectes and taking partes the people censt with rage By might mayntaynd did spoyle the iust the godly â–ª and the sage Edictes were made to staye such broyles and Parliaments were held To let the faithfull be at rest but yet the enemie sweld And daily raged more and more till faithfull did encrease And this reform'd Religion some noble minds did please VVhom God raisde vp to ayde his flocke his chosen sheep to garde Against th â–ª assault of waspishe wolues when their loud cryes he hard For whose defence rose ciuill warres and many a bloudy day The Popish crewe by force did seeke Christes pacient sheepe too slay To roote out this Religion that planted lurking lay And feared not the skalding threates of th' antichristian route But paciently abyde the crosse of Christ with courage stout Though Antichrist the Popes proud grace did rage and fume his fill And all his cankred Cardinals did ioy their bloud to spill They dread not all the Guisian gardes that fierce and mighty be And perfecutors of the trueth that pyne and poute to fee Such valiaunt Captaynes of Christes bande that doe the truth defend And with the gaging of their bloud their frendly ayd doe lend A princely part here Conde playd a prince replet with grace And all his house trew Souldiours stoode the trueth still to embrace Burgeus suffred losse of lyfe and feared not the fier For Gospels sake and truthes defence a lew of his desire Suruey his lyfe and trayning vp his constant faythfull harte His zeale and stout confession he playd a martyrs parte Chatillon shrinke not here a whit a chieftane of the troupe Of Gods dispersed faithfull flocke that made their foes to stoupe Three tymes for this rife ciuill warr the papistes shewd their spight The true and trustie protestants stood stoutly in the right Their cause they manfully mayntaynd Christ Iesus was their shield Sometimes thei foyld their fretting foes that gainst them rose in field Some Nobles slayn and valiant Knights cast downe before their time And all in fence of Christ his cause accused thus
euery man could not haue a prisoÌ„ by himself that some of them were thrust togither into one prisoÌ„ so it came to passe that one of theÌ„ receiued comfort of another in somuch that the prison in the which they were souÌ„ded with the prayers Psalmes vttered song by them But to make these men the more to be hated diuers rumors were euery where spred namely that the Lutherans did assemble themselues togither in the night and being on a heape togither without candle light did fulfill their wandring lusts one with another killed their yong infants and committed other wickednesses The Monkes they made exclamation of this thing in euery place to inflame the people to reuenge the same And not only the common sort of people were stayed with these rumors but the same also of these things came eueÌ„ to the eares of the Péeres of the realm in so much that one of the Inquisitors or Commissioners durst auouch before the King that Tables spred and great prouision of daintie cheare was founde in that place where the faythfull had assembled themselues The which report so inflamed the Kings minde that he sought nothing more than the destruction of the faithfull yea and the mindes of all men did so boyle in hatred against them that he thought himselfe to excell that coulde best conspire the death and destruction of the faithfull At the last a coÌ„maundement was giuen by the king that some méete man should be chosen to knowe consider their causes which were taken Nowe at Paris there was a Magistrate a Citizen called Munerius a man as it was commonlye reported verye apt for all maner of fraude and deceyte At thys time this Munerius was as a Batte in the night and did seldome openly shewe himselfe bicause he was accused of falshood in the matter of the Countesse of Senigana or Seniguen the which he pretended to haue committed that Duke Arscotus who was then takeÌ„ and in hold might escape Notwithstanding to this man this office was committed And bicause by this meanes he hoped to haue pardon and shoulde be restored to his former dignitie he was so forward in his businesse that within fewe dayes many of their causes which were taken prisoners were brought to haue sentence and iudgement In the meane time those reliques which remayned behinde of that vaste and great shipwracke of the faithfull were cast into great distresse and sorrowe notwithstanding they thought it not good to faynt or quayle in those extremities For they which were the chiefe gouernours of the Church went about euery mans house exhorted euery one to be of good chéere perswaded that nothing had happened without the singuler prouidence of God by which also it came to passe that many escaped that daunger moreouer they sayd that they remained to defende the other partes of the Church which were left and that this calamitie shoulde not be the ruine and quite ouerthrow of the Church and on the other side that the same is the waye to increase and inlarge the Church which God both by his word hath shewed and also by experience approued for the gathering togither of the Church And thus when they had exhorted and comforted one another and had committed themselues and all things else to the prouidence of God first of al they appoynted that in euery house there should be extraordinary praiers made and that those faâ—…e rumors shoulde be put away by Apollogies and aunsweres of defence and also that the brethren which were taken should be confirmed and strengthned so often as might be with letters and also with wordes Therefore they write letters vnto the king and bring to passe to haue them caried secretly into the Kings chamber by which they ment to pacifie the kings minde to remooue the same from the euill opinion which it had conceyued of them and to obtaine the hearing of their cause They affirme in their letters that they are falsly accused and slaundered with such slaunders as are not newly deuised but with such as long before had bene obiected agaynst the Church by which Satan went about to make Kinges and Princes to hate the same and are now againe put forth by those only which desire to haue the truth oppressed to the ende they may fréely enioy the riches and goods which they haue vsurped and wrongfully gotten by wicked deceit And that be ought to séeke to haue sure and vndoubted proues of euery matter specially in businesse of so great weight For if it were sufficient to condemnation to accuse who shoulde then escape an innocent Wherfore if he would vouchsafe diligently to search out the truth of this matter it shoulde well appeare that they assembled themselues togither for no other ende and purpose than to praye vnto God for his prosperitie and the peace of the kingdome Also that their doctrine did not maintaine sedition neyther was an enimye to the obedience of Magistrates the which thing they had alway hitherto shewed neuer refusing to obey although they were many in number when they were euill intreated onely for following the worde of god And that thys was their onely desire that Christ might appeare to be the chiefe and heade alone and that the inuentions of men being abrogated God might be obeyed and serued according to his prescript will. Wherefore if it woulde please him to vnderstande their cause he might if he woulde make some publike disputation betwéene some one of those that were in prison and the Sorbonistes or others which might dispute of those things now in controuersie In the ende they doe pray and humbly beséech him that he woulde not suffer the innocencie of good men their cause not being hearde to be condemned séeing that wicked men and such as do most déepely transgresse obtain so much libertie as to shew their cause and aunswere for theÌ„selues These letters were read before the king and those also which were then present but small fruite or profite came thereby certaine of the Cardinals then crying that they were lyes and tales so that notwithstanding their reasonable suite and request they had not so much graunted vnto them as libertie to aunswere for themselues After this there was yet another letter sent to the king the effect wherof was that all men did confesse that these calamities with the which the christian coÌ„mon welth was vexed procéeded of the iust iudgement of God being offended that so many he resies and corruptions shoulde take place But the greatest offence to consist in this thing namely that none of those to whome the care and charge of the Common welth was committed had any regarde at all to discerne heretiques by the worde of God from Christian maintayners of the truth And yet notwithstanding that it did belong vnto the King to applie himselfe to know this thing according to the example of the good Kings Ezechias and losias And after certaine notes put downe of true and false religion
confession of the true doctrine were condemned by great consent of the people to dye and were burnt with fire and suffering most excellent Martyrdome by death they woonderfullye triumphed of the crueltie of their enimies The which thinges bicause they be specially touched in another Booke it shall not be néedefull here to speake any more of them Many deliuered theÌ„selues from death by diuers meanes and wayes that were not lawfull But they to whome this charge and trust was commited boldly doing their office and being nothing slow to exercise crueltie certaine of their friendes which 〈◊〉 in holde propounded causes of refusall against the Iudges desiring that there might be other Iudges set in their places This thing for a time stayed the rage of the persecution Notwithstanding the king being certified hereof sendeth letters by which he declaring those refusals to be nothing commaundeth that all other things set apart they giue their diligence only to intende vpon this thing and that the Nobles which were in authoritie should choose out according as they thought good Counsellours to supplie the places of those that were absent and that in the Praetor Munerius â—…oume bicause for the causes before alleaged he was remooued other should serue to be short that final iudgement might be giuen of those matters howbeit that he might haue warning before any matter were ended These letters did againe displease and anger the mindes of those iudges which tooke it heynously that they were refused So that choller was then set on fire against many for this cause séemed as though it would rage and burne in the new yeare following For the aduersaries went about of late to establish bring in the like inquisition that was in Spain which they thought was the only way vtterly to ouerthrow the gospel letters at the last being obtained froÌ„ the Pope by which thrée Cardinals were appointed chief inquisitors they weÌ„t about all that they could to set forward this deuise The king for his part consented Notwithstanding the senate of Paris hauing better consideration of the matter greatlye withstode this new practise alleaged these causes to the king of their withstanding and prohibition saying If this thing should be brought to passe looke how much the power of the ecclesiasticall Iudges and Inquisitors should be enlarged so much should the supreme authoritie of the king be diminished Secondly that it was a matter of great weight for the naturall subiects of the king to be made destitute and after a sort depriued of their King and to be brought to the power of forreine Iudges and to be made subiect to an Offy â—ciall or Inquisitor Thirdlye that it shoulde be a defrauding of the kingdome but specially of the subiectes to be spoyled of the helpe safegarde of the king and to be themselues and all their goodes iudged disposed after the supreme iudgement of an ecclesiasticall Iudge Fourthly that it would come to passe that when they had gotten infinite power and the greatest part of the kings authoritie that is to say when they had gotten power to iudge of life death as theÌ„ listed without further appeale to any higher Court they might easily abuse their offices For say they the libertie to appeale is the onely sanctuarie and defence of innocencie Fiftly and last of all they say that the King to whoÌ„ the appeale should be made is the reuenger and the defender of violated and wronged innocencie and that iniurie shoulde be done if this thing went forward not only to the people but also to Princes to Dukes to Nobles yea and to the Kings nere kinsemen who also shoulde be bounde with this bonde By this prohibition and resistaÌ„ce the matter was delayed for a time at the length when the Kings Court was at Paris the verye same aduersaries of the truth brought to passe that those letters were confirmed of the King as he went to the Senate or Parliament for this cause Thus when they had gotten the lawe into their owne handes and had written new Edictes appointing mortall punishments for the faithfull whome they called Sacramentaries Sectaries and such lyke euery man looking now for grieuous persecutions it pleased God for a time to disappoint those cruell practises and threatenings by troubling the kingdome with warre and other businesse Neither is it to be buried in silence by what meanes God shewed his vengeaunce vpon many of those persecutors which were the chiefe Capitaynes in S. Iames slaughter That Munerius the Praetor which was the first that delt with the causes of the faithfull and had many wayes cruelly intreated them being afterwarde at the length condemned of falshoode in the cause of the Countesse of Senigana suffered by the decrée of the Senate punishment openly in diuers places and being thus ledde from place to place to be made an open spectacle for all men to behold to his great infamie and reproch was also banished his countrie This man while be was kept in prison sayde that he knew that the punishments which he suffered were a iust reward and recompence to him for his euill intreating of the Lutheranes and that he woulde neuer after séeke to do them any harme In like maner one of the Counsellers which were appoynted to vnderstande and iudge of the causes of the faithfull not long after died by sodaine death Another of them likewise being sodenly striken with a most grieuous sickenesse and being also at the poynt of death sayde I see plainly that I haue grieuously sinned against the Lutheranes which so godly pray vnto the Lorde In lyke maner two other whiche were very cruell against the faithfull in the slaughter that was made on S. Iames daye sodenly dyed in the sight of all men Moreouer two other when they retourned from the murther of the afflicted faithfull fell at contention within themselues and at the last were slaine one of another Thus the Lorde shewed many examples of his iust vengeance vpon his aduersaries Then the Church obtayned peace for a time and some occasion to rest and breath for a whyle â–ª by reason of those tempestes They which were before as it were discouraged through that former great slaughter receyued nowe heart and courage againe many others which were eyther confirmed by the constancy of those blessed Martyrs which suffered or els were lately brought to the knowledge of God ioyned themselues to the Church they also which to flye persecution went aside from out of the citie were not altogither vnfruitful Among these there was one which came to a towne called Crucillum in Britayne neare vnto the sea coaste the which towne was at that time greatly giuen to superstition but it was brought to passe by his meanes within short time after that many of the townesmen were called to the acknowledging of truth insomuch that there was a congregation there At the which good successe Satan was greatly grieued Therfore when the fame of this thing was
which we haue spoken before and that they shoulde first of all deale with matters concerning religion The company therfore being asseâ—… â–ª bled called togither the Kings Solicitor propounded vnto them these matters First that there were diuers opinions in matters that coÌ„cerned Religion founde lately in the Senate disagréeing and contrarie one to another as when lome condemned heretikes to be burnt other some woulde not haue them to be burnt but mittigated the paâ—…ne by banishment the which woulde redounde to the reproche and shame of the Senate Wherefore he required that their sentences and iudgements might be conformable and agréeing euer hereafter with the prescript and tenure of the Edictes which appointed the punishments of death The which in déede was the most speedie and readie way to detect those Iudges that were suspected of religion as after truly it came to passe For when euery man fréely vttred his minde and opinion as the custome is there were diuers iudgementes some woulde haue no punishment by death but banishment other some before any thing was determined woulde haue it knowne whether they were heretikes in déede which were counted heretikes Also he sayd that it was the Kings will that heretikes shoulde be punished and the office of the Senate to sée and finde out who they were that were guiltye of heresie And for this cause he willed them to make supplication vnto the King that according to the first article of the peace concluded he woulde cause a lawfull Councell to be assembled to iudge of these controuersies and that they shoulde in the meane time leaue off to punishe But some sayde that it coulde not be hidde but was apparant for all men to beholde what greate corruptions had inuaded the Church and howe néedefull and requisite it was a reformation to be had and that by the worde of God which is the onely rule of veritie and not custome antiquitie or the opinions of men Furthermore they added that there was daunger and therefore great héede to be taken least while they whome they called Lutheranes were condemned Innocentes also shoulde be put to death For say they the Lutheranes as we terme them haue probable reasons to defend their doctrine withall whose life is irreprouable and without blame vsing themselues oftentimes to praye deuoutly and zealously to God as it hath well appeared to the Senate to be short such is their constancie that thereby they shew themselues not to be such maner of men as they are sayde to be among the common sort of people Thus at this time some spake one thing some another howbeit the greatest part would haue either the punishment to be mittigated or else the men to be quite discharged Many feared least this sentence and determination of those that spake in the behalfe of the Lutheranes shoulde take place wherevpon two of the Councell as it is credibly reported namely Egidius and Minardus went to the King and declared the matter wholy vnto him before the Court had concluded what shoulde be done against both lawe and auncient custome saying vnto him that the matter was nowe come to such a straite that great remedie must be prouided for the same otherwise great perturbations and trouble would ensue adding moreouer that the boldenesse of some was such that they durst arrogantly deride the auncient religion and as for the Edicts of the King they made no account of them at all The King being inflamed and greatly stirred with this newes came the next day into the senate where he declared that he hauing now obtained at the handes of God the most excellent benefit of peace confirmed the same with the societie sure knot of matrimonie there waÌ„ted yet one thing which he greatly desired namely the setting of matters coÌ„cerning religion in a good vniforme order for this cause he said that he came into the Court namely to vnderstand both in what state the matter stoode also to coÌ„fort incourage them by his presence And so he signified by the kéeper of the seales that he would haue them to follow that order which they had begon in shewing their opinions Therefore of theÌ„ which resisted some were more colde fearing some subtill practise to be in hand other som notwithstaÌ„ding â–ª spake their fantasies and opinions with no lesse boldnesse than they did before especially concerning the lawfull calling of a CruÌ„cel or Parliament And among others Anoas Burgaeus a man very godly wel learned when he had first of al giueÌ„ thaks vnto God that he had so wrought in the hart of the Prince that he would be a witnesse indifferent Iudge of so weightie a matter and when he had exhorted the King to bend his minde and giue good eare to so great vrgent cause being in deede the cause of our Lord Iesus Christ which â—…ught to be defended by the patrocinie garde of Kings very boldly and fréely vttered his minde affirming at the length that he dâ—…d wholy giue his coÌ„sent agrée that there should be a couÌ„cel called that the punishments then vsed toward the Lutheranes for that time should surcease Others also after him affirmed the like When the King had heard thefe men he making first his preamble said that to his griefe and sorow he saw corruption to be crept in eueÌ„ into his Court being very sorie that any of his Nobles should be stayned therwith the good he knew as for the others he said he wold â–ª so punish that he would therby extirpe quite pull vp by â–ª the rootes that mischief which was now a growing These threatnings ended talking a while with those that stoode with him he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that Annas Burgaeus Lodouicus Faurus should be takeÌ„ y which his coÌ„mandement was streightway executed by MoÌ„gomerie Captaine of the Garde After this others also were taken as Fumaeus Foixius many others And those that were of these opinions loking to be handled as they were got theÌ„ out of the citie but afterward they were opeÌ„ly proclaimed About the same time almost a Synode was helde at Paris many ministers of the Churches which were theÌ„ called the reformed Churches being then called togither for thys matter in the which both the doctrine of the faith and also Ecclesiasticall discipline were copiously largely intreated of â–ª truly as the time required the forme of discipline which was alredy appointed which was also afterward by many Synodes and Councels inlarged and examined by the rule of Gods word and the approued â–ª customes of the auncient Church brought much profit all which matters here to declare is not our purpose Howbeit these thinges following were the principall points thereof 1 First it is agreed that the confession of the doctrine which may testifie â–ª the coÌ„mon consent of the Churches be registred to the ende that no straunge opinions craftily be conueyed in 2 That all things be done in order in the Churches 3 That so often
Feare not hardly the iudgement of God although ye be constreyned to tremble thereat They which are condemned of you to die reioyce accounting death to be vnto them life they are nothing abashed or dismayed at your crueltie they regard not the iniuries offered vnto thē and as for death they count it a sléepe according to the Prouerbe The conquerour dieth and he that is conquered lamenteth What should it grieue me to be hanged I know Lorde that if euer any wickednesse deserued punishment and payne the wickednesse of those deserueth it euen to the full which reiect and contemne the benefite of thy sonne Christ. I imbrace O Lorde God that saying which thou hast put into the mouths of certaine of thy Martyrs namely that he is worthy of double punishment which receiueth not the offered redemption of our Sauiour No man shall separate vs from Christ what snares of trappes soeuer are layde for vs and with what paynes soeuer our bodies shall be tormented I knowe that we were appointed long ago as shéepe to the slaughter Let them therefore kill vs let them grinde vs to pouder and ashes yet notwithstanding they which dye to the Lorde liue still and shall so ryse agayne at the resurrection of the iust Whatsoeuer come to passe I am a Christian a Christian will I be Uerye earnestly will I crie that I may be hearde dying for my Lorde and sauiour Iesu christ Since the matter standeth thus why do I stay take me hangman carie me to the gallowes And repeating these wordes againe and that with such vehemencie that he made the teares to come out of the eyes of his aduersaries he spake these words to the Senators which were then present namely that he suffred death bicause he woulde not acknowledge iustification grace sanctification merites intercession satisfaction saluation to be in any other than in Christ that therfore he died for the doctrine of the Gospel And after many other words concerning this matter at y length he concluded with these words Put out put out one day those your flaming fires come vnto the lord in newnesse of life that your sinnes may be done away let the wicked man forsake his ways the wicked cogitations of his heart and then the Lorde will haue mercie In the meane time meditate and consider these thinges in your mindes Beholde I go now vnto the death When he had thus vttered his minde the hangman tied his handes and bounde him to the Cart in the which he was caried to the strete commonly called San-Iani Greuaei aboue foure hundred armed men garding him beside this the whole Citie of Paris as though it bene at the cōming of their enimies was furnished with armed men the wayes that led to the place of execution were stopt vp the frequēted places kept Yet for all this this godly Martyr was nothing abashed but abode couragious and constant When he came to the place of execution he put off his clothes himselfe and being stripte naked fetching great and déepe sighes he looked vp stedfastly into heauen And at the length vttered these few words only to the people I am not come hither either for theft nor murther but to suffer only for the Gospels sake For he had the libertie of his tongue graūted vnto him which libertie other of the faithfull had not whē they came to suffer hauing their tōgues first cut out of their heads vpō this condition the he should not speak to the people The which he promised to obserue that he might the better praye vnto god Therefore when he had made his prayers to God and shoulde nowe be sacrifised he oftentimes repeated these words with a loude voyce O my God forsake me not least I forsake thee And being strangled he was cast into the fire sealing that with his bloude and death which before he had subscribed with his hande This was the ende of that good and godlye man being of great fame among the learned both for his witte and also his learning and being also of honorable calling and great welth who had no doubt in short time attayned to greater honor and dignitie in this lyfe had not God reserued him by the pure knowledge of his name to this greatest preferment and dignitie of professing his truth which the world counteth reproch For Burgeus came of an honest familie and stocke being borne in Rionssius a towne in Auergne and brought vp in good letters who had so giuen himselfe to the studie of the lawe that he became famous in the profession thereof Afterwardes being chosen to be one of the Senate of Paris he left great fame of wit and learning behinde him among the most noble men Being therefore in the waye to come to greater honor and preferrement beholde God indueth him with more pure knowledge of hys worde whereby he fearing no perils of times ioyned himselfe to the reformed Church and woulde be present at the sermons which were then secretly made and thus dailye he was feruent more and more in godlye zeale Insomuch that he had not bene partaker of the Lordes supper passing once or twise when he spake his mind so fréely before king Henrie in the Senate house in the defence of the Gospell by whose commaundement he was cast in prison and from thence as ye haue hearde caried to execution A singular example of the efficacie and force of the knowledge of God and also of godlye constancie in so worthie a man at the which the godly hereafter shall iustly maruaile His bloude truly was the séede wherby the Church of Christ in Frāce did greatly increase and growe as may plainly appeare by those things which followe Touching the other Counsellers whom we sayd before were taken togither with Burgaeus this was the ende after a while they had diuers iudgementes giuen of them by which they were deliuered And the causes why these so escaped are these namely either the new Iudges who to vnderstande their causes examined them after another maner than the other was examined eyther the diuersitie of times in which chaunced many troubles or else truly the very inconstancie of the captiued Counsellers themselues relenting somewhat to their aduersaries About this time Nicolaus Durandus who altering his name called himselfe Villegagno that is to say a Conquerour of Cities as though he had bene a newe conquering Vlysses obtained of the King a nauie of shippes with men and vittaile accordingly to sayle to the South Indians taking with him many men which professed the reformed religion to the ende as he sayde that the Gospell might to them be preached and there planted And when he was arriued into America he sent to Geneua that Ministers might be sent vnto him from thence the which his desire was graunted insomuch that he obtained two namely Peter Richerius and George Charterius who came vnto him with a great number of those faithfull Protestantes that fled out of Fraunce in the hote time of
which are the Kings neare kinsemen to bée in lesse estimation than Straungers And althoughe the Princes throughe their humanitie and great modestie woulde suffer them selues to bée so abased yet notwithstanding the Nobles woulde not beare it nor abyde the gouernement of Straungers And to confirme this which he had spoken he brought in manye examples that the Guises being Straungers were neyther in the number of Princes nor at anye time so accounted and that therefore it was not lawfull for the Guises to arrogate vnto themselues the titles and authoritie of Princes which onely appertained to the Kings bloude as the auncient custome of the kingdome woulde declare This sayth he to pacifie those of the temporaltie whose doings were the more to bée feared for that the greater part of the Nobilitie was of that side sauing such as were woonne and procured awaye by the Guiles for the Kings money Thus Planchaeus largely and fréely vttered his mynde But all the whyle that he had this talke with the Quéene the Cardinall of Loraine was hydde behinde the Tapistrie clothes that hâ—…ng before the wall of the Closet Who when Planchaeus had leaue of the Quéene to depart came forth and talking with the Quéene appointed that Planchaeus shoulde be called agayne and commaunded to procéede in his former declaration and to shewe who they were that were the authors and Captaynes of she late conspiracie the which except he woulde promise to doe that he might be caried to prison Therefore Planchaeus being called againe began to vtter his minde as fréely as he had done before shewing the parentage and stocke of the Guises and also howe they were Straungers and nothing appertaining to Fraunce adding moreouer that it was very euill done to commit the gouernement of the Realme to Straungers and speciallye to such as did contende ambitiouslye for the Kingdome and thought it shoulde appertayne to them The Quéene being offended with his boldnesse and speciallye séeing he affirmed that he knewe nothing of the conspiracie commaunded that he should be caried to prison All which Planchaeus spake was euen as it were the voyces of the people speaking by the mouth of one man. After this Michael Hospitall the Kings Chauncelour after the death of Oliuarius of whom we spake before a man verye well learned and wyse was sent to the Senate of Paris to consult with them about many matters that belonged to the gouernement of the Realme and among the rest concerning the prouiding such remedies as might take away the tumults alredie begon And thus afflictions waxed more easie than they wers before and remedies were prouided for so generall a mischiefe But the fame and report of the increasing of the multitude of the faithfull daylye was in euery place of the Realme and bicause great troubles séemed to be at hande all men had regarde vnto them more than to the report of the increase of the faithful the most part endeuouring themselues to staye and pacifie these troubles And at this time this was the state of France the Guises sent the same prouision of warre with the which they withstoode the religion in Fraunce into Scotland ouer the sea to the intent they might there deface and put downe the religion newly begon For the Nobles of Scotland with a great multitude of the people beside had cast off the Popes yoke from of their neckes had plucked downe their Images their altars and abolished the ceremonies of the Papisticall seruice causing the Quéene to get hir into a little towne by hirselfe for that she was sore offended at that which they had done Therefore lacking helpe the Guises brought to passe to haue an hoste of men sent out of France to the number of foure thousande Of this bande of men Brossaeus was Generall with whome was ioyned the Bishop of Ambianensis to the ende the one might fight with the sword and the other with Papisticall power Therfore they toke their iourney with these coÌ„mandements namely that they should seuerely punish the Rebels and the chiefe authors of sedition and that they shoulde restore the wonted and vsuall obedience of the Pope Wherfore so sone as they were come into Scotland they made proclamation that euery one should go to Masse detest and forsake the new religion The Bishop wrote vnto the King that he woulde bring all the people within fewe dayes to the catholike faith Brossaeus wrote that he woulde destroy all within sixe moneths which woulde not come to the auncient Religion But it came otherwise to passe For after the death of Marie Quéene of England the Guises made claime and title to the Crowne of Englande for their Néece the Quéene of Scottes as though she had bene the lawfull heire Whereat the moste gracious Quéene Elizabeth hauing great disdaine sent worde to the King of Fraunce of this great iniurie done to hir Grace by the Guises and biddeth battaile Nowe the Scottés to the ende they might abide the forren power of the Frenchmen féeling also that they stoode in néede of helpe and ayde from some other place went to the Quéene of England beséeching hir that although they were hir olde enimies yet that she woulde vouchsafe to ayde them in so iust a cause of Religion saying that they had rather to abide any extremitie than the tyrannie of the Pope To whom the Quéenes maiestie willingly and gladly promised and graunted helpe The Scottes therefore being encouraged by this ayde did so withstande the French power that they made great slaughter of the French men and draue them to such a strayte that except the matter had bene taken vp by peace it shoulde séeme that they had bene all vtterly destroyed Peace therfore was concluded and the reformed Religion there established And so that tumult was turned to the peace and quietnesse of the Church notwithstanding the subtill practises and cruell threatnings of the aduersaries There were also at that time grieuous afflictions layde vpon the Church in another place For in the townes of Sixtus and Guardia in the countrie of Calabria there were manye yea to the number of a thousande which by the Popes commaundement were put to death for Religions sake and many horrible cruelties also committed by the meanes of one Marchion Buciane In the Kingdome of Fraunce also in diuers places as at Paris and Rhoane many of the faythfull were murthered vpon the solemne feast daye of the Bishops deambulation For the faithfull began more and more to assemble themselues togither and exhibited vnto the King a little booke containing the confession of their faith requiring to haue libertie graunted vnto them to declare their cause Wherfore it shall not be disagréeing from our purpose to put downe here the same their confession to the ende we may therby sée what a notable consent and agréement there was in the doctrine of faith among the Churches of Fraunce notwithstanding the â—…oysterous tempestes of the first afflictions A Confession of the Fayth made
to be imminent and readye to fall on the kingdome might be appeased and mittigated Therefore at the daye appointed diuers of the kings priuie counsel other noble men came togither The which assembly being made the King declared the cause of their comming togither at that time and commauÌ„ded that euery man should freely declare his mind both for his owne profite and for the benefite of the kingdome also The rest he said they should heare more at large of his Chauncelour of the Duke of Guise and of the Cardinall of Loraine Then the Chauncelour stoode vp made a large discourse concerning the state of the kingdome shewing that all men ought most chiefely to endeuour them selues to finde out the causes of so great perill mischiefe as the whole Realme now stoode in the causes wherof being knowne the remedyes might be the more easily prouided for And to this end and purpose he said this assembly was made namely to finde out the causes of this mischiefe to prouide remedyes for the same Adding moreouer that all things were done for the safetie of the people for whom the King had most deepe and especiall care And after hym the Duke of Guise briefly shewed the cause of his gathering together of an Armie These things onely were done that daye the next daye those which before were assembled came together againe into the same place And then the Chauncelor declared that it was the kings pleasure that euerye man shoulde freelye vtter his minde but firste of all they of the priuie counsell that by their example and beginning the reste might more boldely and cheerefully goe forwarde Then Ianus Monlucius Bishop of Valentia the last couÌ„seller being commaunded first of all to vtter his minde Gasper Castillon the Admirall strait way stepte vp came to the king and when he had reuerently saluted him he deliuereed vnto hym two supplications written in their name which called themselues The faithfull Christians dispersed through diuers places of Fraunce Both the whiche supplications at the Kyngs commaundement were read the summe and effecte wherof was that they had good occasioÌ„ offered them by this their assemblye to offer their supplications and their humble requestes to the King praying and beséeching him that he woulde haue regarde to the greatest parte of his subiectes who were euill intreated euen vntill that present time and that for this cause onelye for that they mynded to frame their lyues according to the prescript rule of the pure word of god Affyrming also that they soughte for nothing else than to haue their doctrine examyned by the same rule of Gods worde and that their cause might throughly be wayed and considered that all men mighte knowe for certaine howe greatly they did hate and abhorre those seditious and heretical opinions with the which hitherto they were falsely burthened Seyng they were thus euill intreated and oppressed they flée vnto his maiestie for succour beseching him that he would not disdaine but vouchsafe to behold and way their cause in the meane time that it would please him to omit the punishments by which their blood had béen shed in euery part of the kingdome by the wickednesse crueltie of many of the Iudges who hauyng no regard to the peace and welfare of the Subiectes but séeking rather to satisfie their owne fantasie lust and desire had shed the blood of poore men vndeseruedly and most vniustly had brought to passe to make a stay that their requests and supplicatioÌ„s might at no time come to the kings eares Wherefore they humbly beséeche his grace that he would maintaine and defende his poore subiects against the wicked crueltie of these men for which cause they acknowledge him to be their King and will render vnto him according to Gods commaundement all due and seruisable obedience and doe commit them selues wholy with all theirs vnder his patrociny and safegarde and also doe account him their bulwarke refuge and staye Protesting before God and hys Maiestie that they neuer intended any thing against hym or to omit that loyall duetie and obedience which they owe vnto him for whose prosperitie they daylie make their prayers vnto god Adding moreouer that they sought for no euill libertie or to haue sinne vnpunished but rather that they might haue libertie to liue so néere as they coulde according to the Gospell which they professed and that in this thing they might not feare the iudgemeÌ„ts of their chiefest aduersaries Againe therefore they beséech and praye his Maiestie that it would please him to graunt them leaue to heare the worde of God and to receiue his Sacraments vntill the matter were more fully wayed and considered of the Counsell and that to this end and vse they might haue Churches graunted vnto them least their congregation or assembly being priuate and secrete might come into false and euill suspicion This libell being red the Admiral desired the King that he would take it in good part bringing in diuers testimonies of his faithfulnesse towardes the kings Maiestie As when he was in Normandy to prouide things necessarye for the Scottishe warre and was appoynted by the Quéenes commaundement diligently to inquire out the dealings and behauiour of those which were called Faithfull â–ª and perceiuing that they rendred certaine reasons of their doings he promised vnto them to offer their supplications vnto the Kings maiestie To this the King aunswered that he had diuers good and notable testimonies of him and of his deserts and also that he did take all things that he had done in very good part And then the King commaunded againe the Bishop of Valentia to speake his iudgement Who in effect vttered this which followeth DIOCLESIAN was wont to say that the state and condition of those Princes was miserable which were often deceyued by those in whome onely they reposed their trust bicause they forsaking the gouernement of the common wealth and being as it were drowned in their pleasures might so be easily deceyued The which hath not happened vnto the King forasmuch as there was diligent prouision made against those perilles by the prudent wisedome of the Quéene and by the diligence and care of the Guises by which it was brought to passe that the tumultes alredy raised were suppressed The which being appeased the King did wisely foresée howe to prouide for the like to come and that for this cause he had caused this assembly to be made in the which there were so manye good men that sought the Kings quietnesse and profite that it coulde not be but that his Maiesties desires should be satisfied in euery poynt For so great is the confusion and trouble in euerye place of the Realme that it coulde not be more expressely described by the Prophete Esay to be the dissipation of all things of all orders and gouernement than it is The doctrine which hath so drawne away the mindes of men was not sâ—…wne lately as it were two yeares ago but for the
him to be a King to this ende that he might kéepe the people vnder the knowledge feare and obedience of God that he might gouerne them by good and wholesome lawes and also to saue and defende them from the enimie and in all thinges to shewe himselfe so studious and carefull for the common wealth that he may be honoured and be beloued as a father of the people For this is the onely difference betwéene a King a Tyrant The King reigneth and ruleth with the good will loue and consent of the people but the tyrant ruleth by violence and force In a King therefore a man may behold the ordinance of God the author and preseruer of Common welthes and humaine societie In the tyrant the force and violence of the Diuel who goeth about to peruert that ende to the which God hath ordeyned Kings and Potentates Herevpon it commeth that as the King is loued of all men and hated of none but of wicked men and Rebels so the tyrant is feared of all men without exception and therefore hated of all according to the olde Prouerbe Quem metuunt oderunt him whome men feare they hate Therefore if the King will be loued and obey the commaundement of God and retaine the obedience and loue of his subiectes he must of necessitie stablishe Religion he must heare the complaintes of the people and must prouide for them remedies as a father prouideth for his children séeing that he is set in the kingdome to that ende neyther can he doe otherwise except he will make himselfe vnworthy of the grace of God by which he confesseth that he doth reigne as both examples of holy Scripture and domesticall examples also do plentifully declare The first bond therfore which confirmeth knitteth and retaineth the obedience of kings is Religion the which is nothing else than to know God as it becommeth vs that is to say according to his prescript wil. And now séeing we ought to acknowledge him to be the creator author preseruer of all things it must néedes folow that al our actions ought to tende to the setting forth of his glory Whervpon it cometh to passe that Religion which is that most assured bonde of humane actions and of the true obedience of subiects towards their Kings ought to be reformed preserued maintained But bicause that bonde is dissolued and broken in these our dayes both by the malice wickednesse of some and also by the doting madnesse and folly of other some and by the corruption of our time it is no doubt an euident demonstration and token of the wrath of God which threateneth vnto vs great destruction not farre hence vnlesse it be prouided for out of hande For besides the varietie of doctrines who euer sawe the ancient discipline of the Church so miserably abused contemned and deiected errors so dispersed and rooted euery where offences and stumbling blockes so common the life of Priests so corrupt and so much to be reprehended and also so many and great tumultes among the people The way to remedie this great euill and mischiefe is a generall Councell the only ancient vsuall meane but as it plainely appeareth that is not to be hoped for and that for two causes The one is It is not in our power to bring to passe that the Pope the Emperour the Kings and the Germanes shoulde by by agree of the time the place and maner of holding of a Councell in which things there are oftentimes great coÌ„trouersies The other cause is this Such is the disease and mischief it so grieueth euery part of the kingdome that there is small hope of any remedie Like as if a man troubled with a coÌ„tinuall feuer or with some other grieuous disease which requireth letting of bloude or some other present remedie cannot tarie to haue the Phisitions help which dwelleth farre of bicause of the great vncertainty of his coÌ„ming Therfore we must bring to passe to call a couÌ„cel of our Nation as it was before concluded the which also the King hath alredy openly promised And this parliament must of necessitie be called both for the necessitie which so vrgeth the miserable Church being brought to so great extremities also for the kings estimation and credit who by his owne letters hath openly giuen forth declared y same but specially bicause there hath nothing happened since that time which might let or hinder the same but on the contrarie part there grow new things occasions daily which do vrge and driue vs to séeke to call a Parliament vnlesse we could be contented to lose all that we haue The Emperour Charles the vâ—…lately deceased wheÌ„ he came to Bononia and had conferred with Pope Clement concerning matters of the Church he willed his Chauncelor to talke with that Pope concerning the calling of a CouÌ„cell both to reforme the maners of Church men and also to establish the doctrine which was in controuersie The Pope vehemently withstode this thing affirming that there was no néede to call a Councell neither for doctrine séeing that al new opinions are refuted condemned of the ancient Councels neither yet for Ecclesiasticall discipline which was so wel appointed that it was sufficient only to obserue kepe the decrées written concerning the same But the Emperour being not satisfied with this answere replied againe that it coulde not be but that the great assembly of the generall Councell shoulde bring great profit doe much good both to cut off that euill which daily increased more and more and also to repaire and confirme those things which were very well already receyued and allowed to hinder cut off that which might abolishe them by discontinuance and want of vse And in this minde concerning the procuring of a Councel he continued so loÌ„g as he liued In the which matter he founde no greater aduersaries than those who shoulde haue set him forwarde in so commendable an enterprise Our auncetours were woont euery fiue yeares to call generall Councels as it is to be séene in the decrees But as touching priuate Councels or Councels assembled out of our owne Nation we shall find in the histories of the Kings of Fraunce that they were called in euerye Kings tyme beginning at the raigne of Clodouaeus vntill the tyme of Charles the great and so forth vntill we come to Charles the feue uth his dayes The which Parliamentes or assemblies were sometimes gathered togither from euery part of the whole kingdome sometimes from one halfe of the Realme sometimes but out of certaine Prouinces onely By which Parliaments it was sildome séene but that there ensued great fruite and profite to the reformation both of doctrine and maners Let vs not staye therefore any longer at the matter but followe the examples and wayes of our elders and let vs not be afrayde to be accused to be bringers in of newe customes séeing that we haue so many examples to followe but
let vs assure our selues that there must néedes follows thereof prosperous successe séeing that God is alwaies present with those which assemble themselues togither in hys feare and name Neither let vs defer the time any more séeing that necessitie doth so vrge vs and séeing spéedie remedie is so greatly required We haue many sorowful and lamentable examples to set before our eyes which are forewarnings vnto vs of great desolation to come as the miserable state and condition of the Churches of the Jewes of the Greekes of the Egyptians and Africans the which in time past florished but at this day they scarsly retain a christian name For these causes I conclude that we must defer the time no lenger to call a Parliament to remedie these things without hauing any consideration or respect to those things which the Pope maye obiect as lettes against the same séeing that both it is lawfull for vs so to doe and also bicause our conseruation safetie is now in hazarde For if any one part of the kingdome were lost it is not in the Popes power to restore the same vnto vs againe Whatsoeuer my happen or befall we must not perish to fulfil the Popes minde but must rather follow at this time specially that rule which God hath giuen vnto vs and which our elders haue so oftentimes folowed But yet truly while this Parliament shall be a preparing I think it shall serue very wel for the purpose if we prouide thre or foure ▪ remedies which may greatly further this our enterprise The first is of the Churches that Prelates maye remaine and abide in their Diocesses and in this point let no man be borne withall And here I think it good to put you in mind of the Italians who enioying and occupying the thirde part of the benefites spirituall promotions of this kingdome draw vnto 〈◊〉 selues great profit like horseleaches suck out our bloude hauing no care at al to dwel vpō their benefices And laughing vs to scrone we are so blinde that we cannot sée it And if we chaūce to espie it we are pacified againe by their flattering words If the King should hire a great multitude of souldiers and giue them wages and if they should abide stil at home haue no care of their martiall affaires in the war had not then think you the King iust occasion to depryue them of their wages to dismisse them And thus truly doe our Prelates behaue themselues who in the troublesome time of the Church when heresies such like wickednesses were in diuers places sowne abrode the which in dede is the greatest warre of the Church being so much greater than the earthly warre as the helth of the soule surpasseth excelleth the helth of the body sate notwithstanding in the midst of their pleasures voyde of all care of their flockes cōmitted to their charge The second remedie is to shew declare by some notable manifest act that we are fully perswaded bent seriously to séeke a reformation least the aduersaries should cauil say that we call a Councel not to reforme the Church but to séeke our owne aduantage to stablishe and confirme our owne prerogatiues priueledges In the which matter nothing séemeth to me more méete conuenient for vs to declare that we haue an earnest care for the reformation of the Church than if we looke diligently about that nothing be done in the Church for money and bribes to the ende that Babilonicall beast Couetousnesse which hath brought so many euils corruptions into the Church may at the length vtterly be ouerthrowne And so we shall finde a more easie waye to controuersies and shall also stop the mouths of those that slaunder backbite vs If any man obiect say that so great a matter cannot be brought to passe by so small a number of men as we are without the determination of the Generall Councell we make vnto thē this answere namely that there is no new or vnwanted thing brought in by vs but we séeke to bring those things to passe which Christ hath plainly commanded Councels determined Kings the executors of Councels confirmed which in our time also they which haue ben the best learned in the Romish Church by their iudgementes haue allowed The authoritie of this voice abideth for euer Freely ye haue receyued Giue freely Spirituall things are giuen fréely therfore it is not lawfull to buye sell them and are in that order that they were giuē to be distributed that is to say freely Herevpon they are called Simoniakes which take vnto themselues that vnlawful and forbidden game of the which simonie or forbidden gaine we haue so many examples both in the scriptures also in the historie of the ancient Church that we shall not néede at this time to make any longer discourse of the same And to say somwhat of the Coūcels how oftentimes was this forbidden namely that not onely corruptions but also suspition of corruption should be taken awaye Inso much that they which distributed gaue the almes were forbidden to giue it in the time of the sacramēts least they should séeme to giue their almes for the receiuing of the sacraments as ye may reade in the Councel of Ancyrane and others In like maner king Lodoicus séeing that confusion créeping by little and little into the Church commaunded that the Clergie shoulde abide and dwell in their Diocesses and that no money euer after should be caried to Rome shewing how greatly this chopping and chaunging did displease him yet there was neuer any man that was counted a greater Catholike than he Also Pope Paulus the third himselfe in our time séeing that many departed forsooke the Church of Rome and fearing that this mischiefe wold grow more more was constrained by the continuall cries of the Protestantes to confesse that there were many errors got into the Church therfore commaunded certain men that were coūted notable in learning to note diligently what things were worthie of reformation swore them to hide nothing thereof from him threatning them that if they did not discharge their office throughly they should incurre the penaltie of excommunication Among the rest to whome this charge was cōmitted were these Contarenus who was made Cardinal in Germanie for his dealing in y notable cōtrouersie cardinal Theatinus who after the same Paule the third was made Pope Cardinall Sadoletus cardinall Poole the Englishman fiue others also which for their great learning were chosen to this office These men whē they had diligētly examined the matter gaue forth their sentence opiniō in publike writing the first article wherof was this Nothing ought to be done for money in the vse and administration of the keyes that is to say in the power of the Church Notwithstanding that Pope Paule the thirde which was so hote in the matter with his thundering
the greatest principall point to heale the which at the least may stay theÌ„ least dispayring they shoulde séeke an alteration remedy If on the coÌ„trary part the king aledge for him self the calamitie and trouble of the long continued warres the diuers and manifolde charges and costes that grewe thereof the scarsitie and emptinesse of his Treasurie and also the greate arrerages and debte in the which he founde the Crowne when he came first to the same Is not this a complaint to be considered and talked of in the assembly of States If the people alledge that the King oughte to maintaine himselfe and his traine by his yeerely reuenewes and that he ought to hold and maintaine warres with his subsidies and to set forth armies with his customes and tributes the which things were for this cause graunted in time paste If in like maner the king declare that he found almost al his demeines distracted deuided and conueyed awaye the greatest part of the subsidies taken vp before hande and yet he himselfe greatly burthened and indebted to the ende he might obtaine by the consent of the people that those burthens being somewhat eased mighte remaine as yet for a time vntil meanes and wayes which are dayly deuised to recouer againe his demeines may be brought to effect But is there no other better waye to be had to bring things to passe than by the assembly of the States To speake briefely if there be anye maner of complaint whatsoeuer pretenced or otherwise where can it be better put forth thaÌ„ in the generall assembly of the States and if it be a iuste complaint where can he haue a more present remedie than that which shal be deuised by so many men but if it be vniust where can the same be sooner found out thaÌ„ in the assembly There is also another consideration of necessitie wherof there arise great daungers seing in these straites and extâ—…emities there is no ordinary remedie vsed First of all the King is scarcely obeyed in his Edictes and statutes the which is one of the greatest signes of sedition For when the people are not heard in those things wherof they do complaine it commeth therevpon that they cast away all hope to haue redresse and so they fall into such desperation that they dare enterprise to ease and vnburden them selues without the hauing of any consideration of the kings coÌ„maundement or his officers yea they arme prepare theÌ„ selues against all perils as though nothing were more sharpe intollerable On the other part they which say that they are greued captiously take this coÌ„plaint of the people increase y same do al that they can to amplifie and enlarge that with newe lyes which they haue once falsely tolde and reported for a truth Herevpon commeth the vnhonest publishing and casting abrode of slaunderous bookes and publique writings And the people being exulcerated and vexed with their owne disease willingly receiueth that which appertaineth to their disease and by the ignorance of the kings matters doe flyde and fall into these sinister and wrong opinioÌ„s Of the which things to haue so great and manifolde destructions arise is great daunger many examples whereof we see dayly To auoide which destructions it séemeth most necessarie to call an assembly of the states And although the causes hytherto spoken of shewe no necessitie yet not withstanding the necessitie of the assembly of these men is such that it ought to be wished for of all men For what is more to be desired méete for a yong King to gouerne his kingdome than to be taught the things that concerne his kingdome that he may know the maners of his people and those things also which belong to the order and gouerning them Therefore let him learne to spende as he may and not to excéede and let hym play the part of a good shepherd who in shearing of his shepe doth not flea and pull of skin and all but leaueth the skinne that he maye receiue the fléece at another time againe and let him consider that whatsoeuer he spendeth more than his ordinarie reuenewes tribute custome and tallage is as it were the substance and bloud of the people whome he is set to gouerne by Gods appointment Herevpon shall come honest and godly education herevpon shall come both good beginnings and happie successe of all things and at the last the king shal get vnto him that Magnificent name with great glorye as to be called Pater Patriae The father of the countrey as King Lodowic the twelth was which leaueth a notable memorie behinde to all the posteritie is more to be desired than the Laureat crowne for victorie in warre Another commoditie also will ensue and that is this The people of Fraunce being chéered vp and comforted by this demonstration they will séeke all that euer they be able to ease those burtheÌ„s for they once vnderstanding their kings businesse and néede will imploye all that euer they haue to doe their king seruice But we must take héede least that prompte willingnesse being to often styrred doe not turne at the laste to impacient and brutishe madnesse And these commodities are ioyned with great honestie for that the king if it please him maye in the beginning of his raigne examine olde customes and lawes the which is the onely waye to correct and amende matters that are out of order For althoughe the king alone be the author of the law he onely can rule yet notwithstanding those things which he hath constituted and ordained by this assembly of the states are of greater force and efficacie and those will the people more willingly obey and kéepe bicause they vnderstande that they were confirmed by many mens opinions and Judgements wheras otherwise onely a fewe being assembled together they Judge that the matter was done according to the mind and phantasie of a fewe the reasons not examined wayed which might haue bene brought against the same For by these meanes the FrenchmeÌ„ haue preserued them selues and the kingdome vnto this daye neither is there anye well ordered kingdome in the which this order of assemblies is not obserued the which ought to be of great waight and highly estemed For seing so many kings do confesse that they féele and perceiue so many commodities to spring and growe of thys good order and that they doe counte the same the staye and strength of their scepter we can not certainely well and honestly departe from so ancient commendable a custome And as for the contrarie reasons which were wonte to be broughte to hinder these assemblies they can preuaile nothing at all seing the perill of those things which happened at another time are by no meanes to be feared the Kings authoritie at this day being so firmely established and confirmed by the counsell of the Quéene and by so many consents of Princes and Nobles that if these reasons might be receiued and take place there
kepte sylence the King spake in maner and fourme following All men sayth he know well enoughe what and how great perturbations and troubles are in the Realme for the which cause I haue appoynted you to come together at this time that those things which ye knowe haue néede of reformation maye quietly of you be declared without any maner of affection hauing no consideration or care for any thing but for the glorye of God and the peace and quietnesse of consciences The whyche thing I greatlye desire in so much that I haue determined not to suffer you to departe hence before you haue made some ende of all controuersies that at the length all dissentions being taken away mutual peace and concord may be had among all men This thing if ye bring to passe ye shall giue me occasion to maintayne and defende you with no lesse care than those kings my auncestours that haue béene before me haue done Then he commaunded his Chauncelor to declare his minde more at large The Chauncelor therefore began to shew that the kings will was according to the wils of his predecessors that had béene before him in staying the controuersies of Religion the which when those Kings of happie memorie went diligently aboute to bring to passe they had in their labors very small successe in so much that daylie more and more new troubles arose wherfore he would that all men should the more diligently wisely to apply theÌ„ selues to pacifie in time these troubles for the which cause he had caused them to come togither and minded in his royall person to accompany them that disordered matters in Religion which concerned both doctrine and maners might be reformed he vnderstanding that this was the onelye cause of all troubles woulde diligentlye prouide for them as his office required The remedie which nowe he intendeth to vse séemeth to be a present remedie as it was of late deliberated and considered of in the most noble assembly of the Princes CouÌ„cel namely that by this peculiar and particular conference the matters of Religion in controuersie betwéene both parties might be quietly reasoned and disputed of â–ª But to loke or séeke for remedie by a general Councel it is euen as vaine as if a man hauing good and sufficient remedie at home shoulde notwithstanding trauaile to the Indyes to séeke the same For sayth he we our selues shall better prouide remedyes for oure selues than men of strange and forraine countreys can doe which know neither the state of our cause nor the condition of our people of which kinde of strangers notwithstanding the generall Councell shall consiste Greater fruites and profite haue often times come by Nationall Councels than haue come by generall Councels As may appeare by that generall Councell of Ariminum the which Councell openly fauouring and maintaining the secte of the Arrians was reproued and corrected by particular Synodes Also in this our realme of Fraunce Hilary Bishop of Pictauia by his industrye and faithfull dealing in Synodes banished the heresie of the Arrians out of these partes Therfore sayth he there is no doubte but that there shall aryse great profite and commoditie by this assembly specially seing it pleaseth the king to take such paines himselfe who no doubt wil helpe both with his power authoritie Wherfore he wished the disputers on both partes onely to be carefull to doe their duetie both of them ioyntly to seke concorde the greater part not to despise the lesser not to vse curious disputations without profit and to iudge examine al matters by the word of God only which being wel vnderstoode fewe other authours shall serue also that they which say they followe the newe doctrine woulde not counte the prelates of the contrarye parte for their enimyes séeyng by Baptisme they retaine the name of Christians For the king sayth he hath therefore giuen you leaue to come together that men mighte sée what reasons you haue and that the Prelates on the Popes side might séeke by strong arguments to confute theÌ„ that the disputation at the length beyng published abrode all men may euidently sée that they are condemned for iust causes and not by the vaine authoritie of men Therefore take héede in any case that you do nothing ambitiously know ye that ye are not iudges and indeuour yourselues to finde out and manifest the truth So shall you both glorifye God and also profite your countrey and God himselfe shall blisse your indeuours and the moste constant minde of the king in this matter The matter being thus propounded by the Chauncelor the Cardinall of Turnon in the name of the Prelates gaue great thankes to the king to the Quéene and to the Princes that it pleased them to come to this holy assemblye and for that the Châ—…uncelor by the kings commaundement had put forth these matters the which he desired to haue giuen vnto him in writing that they mighte deliberate and consider what was néedefull to be done in these things Then the Chauncelour saide that he woulde not giue the matter in writing seing it was plainely enough declared And thus they coulde get nothing at the handes of the Chauncelor althoughe the Cardinall of Loraine required the same Then the ministers which sat oueragainst them hauing leaue to speake Theodore Beza began thus Seing that all things O king both great small specially those things which belong to the worship of God and which doe far surmounte oure capacitie doe depende vpon the same God we thinke it not troublesome to your maiestie if we begin with prayer vnto god When he had spoken these wordes he falling on his knées with the rest of his fellowes beganne to pray vnto God in that forme of confession of sinnes which is vsed in the refourmed Churches pronouncing the same with a loude voyce and that done straight way he added vnto the same these wordes For so much as O God thou hast bene so fauourable this daye to thy vnworthye seruauntes as to graunt them leaue to professe the knowledge of thy truth before their King and this most honorable assembly we moste humbly beseeche thee O father of lightes that it may please thee according to thy accustomed goodnesse so to illuminate our mindes to gouerne our affections and to make them apt to be taughte so also to direct oure wordes that whatsoeuer knowledge of thy truth thou shalt giue vnto vs according to our capacitie we may both with hearte and mouthe vtter the same to the glorye of thy name to the profit and prosperitie of our King and of all his subiects and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of this Christian common wealth realme WheÌ„ Beza had thus ended his prayer turning his speach to the king he vttered these wordes in manner and forme following They which doe faithfully serue and obey their Princes most noble King doe thinke themselues moste happie in this thing aboue al other if so
time ended But as touching that principall poynte of the Succession of the Churche I haue sayth he oftentimes maruelled with my selfe by whose authorite and by whose calling ye are entered into the Church and haue taken vpon you the office of teaching seing that ye are not come in by the ordinary way nor by such as haue ordinarie authoritie nor haue not receiued of theÌ„ the impositioÌ„ of hands Here vpoÌ„ he gathered that the ministers of the reformed churches were not true lauful pastors for so much as they could not say that they were come in by ordinarie successioÌ„ much lesse by extraordinarie bicause extraordinarie vocatioÌ„ ought to be coÌ„firmed by miracles eueÌ„ as Moises being raised vp of God to deliuer the people was established by extraordinarie miracles or else truly these extraordinarie callings ought to be coÌ„firmed by some expresse testimonie of scripture as the calling of Ihon by the testimonie of Malachy Both the which seing they lacked he coÌ„cluded that their calling ministery was not lawflul As concerning traditions the interpretatioÌ„ of scripture if ther shal happeÌ„ to be any disputatioÌ„ about theÌ„ theÌ„ we must run haue regard to ordinarie successors as to those to whom the holy Ghost is promised who were ordained to that end purpose as it is manisest by the example of the Leuites with whom in time past meÌ„ ought to consult from whose iudgement it was not lawful to decline Many things yea eueÌ„ those that are most certaine farthest from all doubt are retained by traditioÌ„ As the the father is not begotteÌ„ that the sonne is of like substance with the father that infantes ought to be baptized y the virgin Mary was a pure virgin after the birth of Christ so remained such like the which being receiued from the fathers although they be not plainly writteÌ„ in the word of God the is to say in the bookes of the prophets Apostles yet notwithstanding they are not of lesse credit and authoritie Moreouer he said the whatsoeuer was coÌ„cluded determined by generall couÌ„cels were ought to be accounted most certaine true seing the councels coulde not erre in those things that appertained to doctrin For the which saith he you haue alledged out of S. Austin that one couÌ„cell was correâ—… 〈◊〉 proued by another couÌ„cell following neuer came to passe in those things which appertained to ReligioÌ„ For there were only thrée councels in the time of S. Augustine namely the couÌ„cell of Nicene against the ArriaÌ„s the couÌ„cell of Constantinople against the MacedoniaÌ„s the Ephesine councel specially against Nestorius none of the which were afterward reproued ameÌ„ded That which you brought in coÌ„cerning Paphnutius it is neither certainly true nor yet doth it appertaine to the purpose Here vpoÌ„ he repeated that which was spoken coÌ„cerning the Supper disputing a little about the corporall presence he alledged many things out of the books of a certaine author which as he saide the ministers could not refuse meaning Caluine one of whose bookes he brought forth It was said that Espensius at the coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of the Cardinal of Loraine of purpose begaÌ„ to reason concerning the Supper to the intent he might finde conuenient occasion to breake off the conference While Beza was about to make answer to that which EspeÌ„sius had said a certain Sorbonist a white monke whose name was Xainctius being fully bent to dispute rose vp making a long tedious repetitioÌ„ of those things which were spokeÌ„ by Espensius before said that traditions had a more firme foundatioÌ„ than the scripture it self bicause the scripture might be drawen euerye waye by the varietie of interpretations for the which cause he saide that Cyprian contended with many Affricans affyrming that Christ said not I am custome but I am the way the truth the life The which sentence froÌ„ that time forward was many wayes wrested traÌ„sformed To the same effect he cited the testimonie of TertulliaÌ„ in his booke of prescriptions of heretikes said that Beza had spoken very stately sending him to the same place of Tertullian to reade it more diligently Who saythe Quoth the Monke that Heretikes bring in the scriptures and do leade the ignorant into error beyng moued by the authoritie ther of And thus he concluded that the Scriptures ought not to be vsed and that from them simply we ought not to take weapons to conuince heretikes for bicause of thynges so vncertaine the certaine victory of truth cannot be gotten At the last he obscurely sayde that God beside his Councell had giuen vnto vs his doctrine in writing saide that Chrisostome was the author of this saying Here Beza made answere that those long tedious words of the Monke were very impertinent to their conference and nothing helping to that peace and concorde which they wished and directing his oration to the Quéene he did besech hir to prouide that they might neuer afterward swarue fall into perturbations troubles not seruing to the purpose Therefore sayth he that I may answere to the firste doubt of Espensius from whence the Ministers of our Churches had their calling seing they were not called by ordinarie meanes neither had receiued the imposition of handes know ye that Imposition or laying on of handes is not the speciall note of lawfull calling for the principall and substantiall notes are the Inquisition of maners and doctrine and Election from the which two if imposition of handes shall be wanting yet we muste not thinke the calling to be any whyt the lesse lawfull We are elected Ministers and approued of our Churches which with one consent haue allowed our Ministerie But wheras we haue not had imposition of handes nor appointed by those whome ye call Ordinaries that oughte not to séeme straunge seing that in so greate confusion of all things in the Churche of Rome wée would not receiue imposition of hands of those whose vices superstition and false doctrine we disalowe for that they were open enimyes to the truth It is out of all doubte that the Prophetes in olde time had no greater aduersaries than the Priestes whiche reiected sounde doctrine and neglected their office and duetie Did the Prophetes therefore at any time which were raised vp of God to be enimies vnto them desire the confirmation or approbation of their offices vnto the which they were called and appointed of God And yet notwithstanding who will say that they did intrude themselues into those offices which they executed and discharged faithfully with great perill and daunger of their life The which also we ought to do at this time And it ought not to be said that Myracles are necessarily to be required to extraordinarie callings for that which is written concerning the calling of Moyses is not common to all For by what Myracles were the callings of Esayas Daniel and Zacharias confirmed Did the Apostle Paule
as the King had founde in the beginning of his raigne diuers and sundrie troubles hee vvente aboute by due aduise and Counsell of the Queene his mother of the Princes his neere kinsmen and of his Lordes and Nobles to prouide remedies for them setting forth to this ende and purpose diuers Edictes and among the rest one the last of Iuly In the vvhich all doctrines vvere plainely forbidden sauing the auncient and accustomed rytes and ceremonies of the Churche of Rome the force notvvithstanding and effecte of the vvhich Edicte vvas not onely let and stayed but thereof also folovved diuers perturbations and troubles through the obstinacie and headinesse of the people complayning and finding fault vvith the seueritie and rigor of the same Edict Therefore he hauing regarde to the peace and tranquillitie of his Subiectes by the Counsell aduise and consent of the Queene the King of Nauarre and by the consente of the Princes and Nobles of this Realme and by the aduise of other vvise and graue meÌ„ of the Parliament hath and doth appoint charge and commaunde That the men of the reformed Religion so called doe forthvvith restore vnto all Ecclesiasticall persons their Churches houses or fieldes and their reuenevves or Tenthes vvhich they haue occupied and that they doe suffer them peaceably and quietly to inioy them that neither directly nor indirectly openly nor priuily they hinder vexe or moleste them Yet notvvithstanding it shall not bee lavvfull for those persons of the reformed Religion eyther vvithin or vvithout the Cities to builde them Temples or other conuenient places for the gathering of assemblies together and for preaching of Sermons Also he vvilleth and commaundeth that no Crosses Crucifixes and Images be ouerthrovven oranye other offence in these things hereafter commited vpon payne of death vvithout any hope of pardon Furthermore it shall not bee lavvfull for them to haue anye Sermons or the administration of Sacramentes vvithin the Cities by any manner of meanes openly or secretely in the day time or in the nighte NotvvithstaÌ„ding for the peace and tranquillities sake of his subiectes vvhich he specially seeketh he hath vvilled and commaunded and by these presents doth vvill and commaunde that vntill the determination of a generall Councell no maner of punishment vnder the pretence of the former Edictes be executed vpon those vvhich shall preach or minister according to the reformed Religion or vvhich shall come to or frequent those Sermons or administrations of the said reformed Religion so that they be vvithout the cities Earnestly charging and forbidding all Magistrates others his Maiesties officers to doe any hurt or harme to the men of that Religion for these causes as for going to Sermons or suche other like exercises yea hee vvilleth and commaundeth the sayd Magistrates and all others that beare any manner of publique office to protecte and defende them and to saue them from all iniurie and harme if they neede armour in their defence to put on armour but in anye vvise notvvithstanding to take and punishe according to the Edicts most seuerely such as are seditious vvhat ReligioÌ„ so euer they say they follovve Also hevvilleth commaundeth all men of both sortes of Religion of vvhat state or condition soeuer they be of that they do not assemble themselues together in armour And that no man bâ—…stirred or prouoked for his Religion or bee miscalled vvith contumelious or factious names but that all men liue peaceably and quietly together Moreouer he vvilleth and commaundeth the Ministers of the reformed Religion so called that they receiue no man into their fellovvship or congregation before their lyfe and manners beevvell examined to the intente that if anye man be founde giltie of anye crime he may be deliuered into the hands of the Magistrate But if any of his officers vvill goe to their assemblyes to heare and consider of the doctrine vvhich is there preached his Maiestie vvill that they be honourably receiued vvith due consideration had of the dignities and offices they beare Also he vvilleth and straightly chargeth that they make no nevve ciuill Magistrates among them and that they haue no Synodes Courtes or Consistories excepte some one of the officers be present therat But if any thing should be needefull to be appointed by them concerning the vse of their Religion then he vvilleth them to bring their matter before his officers that by his authoritie all things maye be confyrmed Also he vvilleth that there be no choise of men or entering into league of either part for the putting avvay of mutuall iniuries That there be no contributions of money but if contribution be made for almes sake let the cause firste be shevved to the Magistrate and then let it be done Furthermore he vvilleth and commaundeth that those men of the reformed Religion doe obserue the politique lavves and specially those things vvhich concerne festiuall dayes that no trouble for this cause doe arise in like manner that they obserue in the bondes of Matrimonie those things vvhich concerne consanguinitie Also that the Ministers of that Religion come vnto the Magistrates to svveare before them to obserue and keepe this Edict and also to preache and teache the people onelye the vvorde of God vvith all purenesse and sinceritie doing nothing against the Nicene Councell and against the bookes of the olde and nevve Testament Moreouer he vvilleth that they vse no reproches nor seeke to constraine any man by force to heare or to beleue their doctrine this he giueth in charge to the Ministers Also he vvilleth and commaundeth that no man of vvhat Religion or condition soeuer he bee of doe bolster hide or conceale anye that is a seditious person vpon payne of forfayting for suche as beryche to the poore a thousande Crovvnes and vpon the paine for suche as be poore and not able to paye of vvhipping and then banishment Finally he vvilleth chargeth and straightly commaundeth that no man make sell or cause to be solde anye Bookes or vvritings that tend to the defaming or sclander of any person vpon paine of Cudgeling for the firste time and for the seconde time death And that Magistrates doe their duetie vvithin their precincte othervvise to be remoued from their offices Also if any seditions happen that then they enquire out the authours of the same and punishe them being found most seuerely the matter being manifestly proued to pronounce against them the sentence of death vpon paine of the Kings displeasure This Edict he commaunded to be proclaimed and obediently obserued and kept throughout his whole Realme without exception or exempting of anye person whatsoeuer Yet notwithstanding the Senate of Paris after the first seconde and third commaundement of the king scarcely published the same where as in all other Courtes and parts of the Realme it had béen very solemnly proclaimed according to the kings commaundement in that behalfe But the obstinate contempt of the Senators which were set on
more sure accomplishment wherof after we had made our faithfull prayers vnto God and had duely and rightly wayed and considered all things wyth one heart minde and free will haue entered into league by solemne oth of the name of the liuing God the which we haue sworne and before God and his Angelles haue promised to performe and kepe by the assistance of hys grace and mercy inuiolable vpon these conditions First of al we protest that in this League we haue no manner of consideration or regard either of our priuate persons or of our goods but do only set before our eyes the honor of God and the deliuerance of the King and Queenes Maiesties the obseruation of the Edicts which they haue commaunded and a perfecte good will to punish Rebels and such as contemne the King Queenes Maiesties And for these causes only we sweare and promise that we and euery one of vs will spend and bestowe all that euer we haue euen to the last drop of our bloude And this League shall abide inuiolable vntill the Kings Maiority that is to say vntill the King come to his lawfull age and doe take vpon him selfe the gouernment of the kingdome that then we may obey him in all things with voluntary obedience At which time we trust we shall geue so good an accounte of this our League the which also we wil do to the Quene she being at her own libertie whensoeuer she wil that it shal be manifest that this was no conspiracy but our duety of true obedience to preserue their Maiesties in these perillous times Secondly to the end all men maye vnderstand and know that we haue entered into this league with a pure conscience and in the feare of God vppon whom wee call as vppon the vpholder and protector of our society VVe declare and promise by our othe That wee will not suffer any man among vs to commit any thing against the honour of God and against the Kings Edicts as Idolatry Supersticion Blasphemy VVhoredome Theft Sacriledge and all suche otherlike forbidden by the lawe of God and by the last Edict of Ianuary the which if any do commit we will seuerely punish And to the end all thinges may be done according to the prescript rule of Gods word we will haue in all our assemblies faythfull ministers of Gods word which may teach vs the wil of God and whom as it is meete we may heare that we may obey the will of God. Thirdly we elect and nominate the Prince of Conde to be our Captaine generall being the Kinges neere kinsman and therfore one of his Counsel and the lawful protector and mayntayner of the Crowne of Fraunce VVhom we promise to helpe ayd and assist with al our might and to giue to him all obedience in all those thinges which appertayne to this League and if we neglect to do our dutie in any thing we submit our selues to such punishment as it shall please him to lay vppon vs. And if it shall so happen that the Prince of Conde shall not be able to go forward with this enterprise being let with sicknes or with any other reasonable cause we promise to serue and obey him whom he shall nominate to be his Vicar or Deputie And the Prince of Conde for the glory of Gods sake and for the obedience sake which he oweth to the King byndeth him selfe to these conditions promising to all that are of this confederacy by his othe that hee will with all diligence and courage by the helpe of God according to couenant constantly do the dutie of a true Capitayne Fourthly we comprehend in this League all the Kings Counsellers except those which contrary to their office beare armour to make the King and Queene fulfill their mindes The which armoure except they put of againe and do giue an account of their doinges with all subiection and obedience to the Queene and King whensoeâ—…er it shall please her to call them VVe giue them to vnderstand that for these iust and reasonable causes we wil accompt them giltie of treason and troublers of the coÌ„mon wealth And to come to the ende of this our league the which we protest againe wee haue made only for the glory of God for the dignitie and libertie of the King and for the peace and tranquillitie of this Realme which is to be mayntayned vnder the aucthoritie of the Queene mother wee affirme and promise euery one of vs and do confirme the same by solemne othe before God and his Angelles that we will prepare and prouide out of hand all that wee are able as money armoure horses and all other thinges necessary for the warre that wee may be in a readines so soone as we shall be called by the Prince of Conde and that we may followe him whither soeuer it shall please him to commaund vs and also that we may obey him in all thinges that appertayne to this league euen to the vtmost perill of our liues And if it shall happen that any of our companions and fellowes in this seague shall sustayne any hurt or detrement for this leagues sake we promise that we will helpe ayde and assist him all that wee can at the commaundement of the Prince of Conde But if it shall happen as God forbid it should that any one among vs forgetting his dutie and othe should conspire with our enemies and should violate this league by horrible treason and should not stand to these conditions and couenaunts VVe sweare and protest with all constantnes of faith that we wil bring such an offender to the Prince of Conde and will accompt him for an enemy and handle him as a traytor And thus be it ratefied and established betweene vs with free consent and irreuocable This league being made and the causes thereof being declared in maner and fourme as ye sée then euery where published abrode the Prince of Conde sent letters diuers times to the Queene Mother and to the King of Nauar his brother tending still to this effect That they should consider and haue regard to the state and that they should set before their eyes the manifolde perilles and troubles at hand except they according to their office and dutie did better prouide for the same that they should looke to the obseruation of the Edictes made by the act of Parliament specially now in the time of the Kings minority Protesting herewith for himselfe and the rest that they would be subiect and obedient to all thinges reasonable and lawsull but if the matter should come to triall by sword he sayd that then they feared no maner of perilles but would for the mayntayning of the glory of God the Kinges aucthoritie and the libertie of their consciences spend and bestowe all that they had The Queene Mother tooke the matter very gréeuously and signified to the Prince of Conde by her letters that as her person was a Captiue so also she was resâ—…rayned of her will and could not do
what she would whom she perswaded in her letters to take the mateer into his owne hand and to defend the same and declared also at that time by her letters that she did vtterly dislike and abhor the Guises Certaine of the which letters according to the very tenor of them which remay ned in the Prince of Conde his handes I thought good here to bring in The coppie wherof is this I Haue receiued welbeloued Cosen the letters which you sent vnto me by the Lord Guardius and I signifie vnto you good Cosen that I am as fully perswaded of those thinges contayned in your letters as I may bee of any thing and am no lesse assured of them than I am of my selfe neither wiil I bee vnmindfull at any time of those things which you do for the King my sonnes sake And because the same messenger retourneth back again for those causes which he shall declare vnto you I will wright no more at this time Onely â—…his I will request at your hands that you beleue me in those things which he shall speake vnto you in my name who wisheth so well vnto you as if she were your owne mother namely your deare Cosen CATHARINE The Coppie of another of her Letters I Haue talked with M. de Iuoy euen as if you your selfe were present of whose fidelitie and trustines I doubt not And whatsoeuer I send backagain I assure my selfe that he will disclose to none sauing to you and that you in like maner for my sake will keepe all secret Only be mindfull to preserue and defend the Children the Mother and the kyngdome as he to whom this thing doth specially appertaine and he namely the kyng will neuer I warrant you be vnmindfull of so great a benefite Burne this letter when you haue red it Your deare and louing Cosen KATHARINE These things I say at that time were wrytten by the Queene In the meane time the King of Nauar folowing the willes of the Guises and his adherents both thought and spake very muche euell of hys brother the Prince of Conde All things daily on both partes waxed worse and worse Newes was brought to Orlians concerninge the slaughter of the men of Sens which greatly inflamed the mindes of men Sens is a noble Citie bordering vpon Burgondy In the which the faithful according to the Edicte of Ianuarye congregated them selues together to hear the word of god And although there were new rumors daily concerning the perturbations and troubles at hand yet notwithstaÌ„ding they continued in their godly exercises Therefore diuers Bands of soldiers well appoynted at the commaundement of the Cardinall of Guise who was Bishop of the same Towne sodenly and vnloked for sette vpon the Congregation and flew many of them and at the last such was their rage that they killed both old and yong yea wythout all pitye or mercy man woman childe The which slaughter coÌ„tinued the space of thrée dayes and had continued longer if so be any store of the professors of the Gospell had ben left aliue to kill Yea and it was reported that diuers women great wyth childe were put to the swerd and the children most horriblely torne out of their wombes Suche was the spoyling of the houses of the faithfull and the shedding of bloude in this Citie that the horrible murther committed by the Guises at Vassi was counted nothing in respecte of thys When newes héereof was brought to the Court it made all that heard the same abashed Yea they them selues that had commauÌ„ded this to be done when they heard of the euent were also abashed Notwythstanding after these presumptuous enterprises and beginnings after the slaughter of Vassi all men were fully bent to Ciuill warre The Prince of Conde complained of this thing to the Quéene by his letters which he wrote the ninth of Aprill to this effect First he sayth that he thought that the fault and blame of the wickednesses afore time com mitted would haue stayed their boldnesse which enuied the peace and tranquilitye of the common wealth and haue taught them at the length to embrace folowe and obey the Kings Edicts But sayth he so hath their malice increased that they can no more restraine and bridle their wickednesse but do violate and breake al law which may moue vs to loke for nothing but the seuerity of Gods iudgement to fall vpon vs. Of thys brutishe boldnesse sayeth he after so many olde examples there is now a newe come in place to be séene in the pitifull slaughter at Sens vppon those that professed the liberty of the Gospell by the benefit of the Kings Edict the description of the which Tragedy he sayeth he sendeth vnto her Not doubting but that shée according to her natural and great goodnesse wil tremble at the hearing of so horrible a butcherly murther wherby shée hath to consider what is to be looked for at their handes which blinde and beguile men with theyr faire and flattering woordes He cannot he sayeth but he must néedes complaine vnto her of so great wickednesses committed and is constrained also to hys great gréefe to say That if these presumptuous and horrible murthers escape vnpunished the crye of the innocent bloud that is shed will so pearce the heauens and enter into the eares of the highest that the ruine and vtter subuersion of this whole realme by the iust iudgement of God is to be feared Therfore he sayth he beséecheth her setting before her eyes the examples of so greate and horrible wickednesses and considering also his patience in forbearing so long time euen vntill that present day for the King and her Maiesties sake that shée would diligently vse her authority to repel and reform them and not to suffer suche manifest contempt of the Kings maiesty to escape vnpunished least violence and rebellion were planted in steade of equitie and iustice In so doing shée should preserue the Kings maiesty and the tranquillity of the Realme Otherwise lamentablâ—… afflictions were like to ensue NotwithstaÌ„ding thys reasonable and godly request of the Prince both the people of Parris at the hearing of the Rumors waxed more outragious daily and also the Guises wyth their Adherentes wholely bent them selues to warre We haue spoken before concerning the league betwéene the Prince of Conde and hys Adherents All things therefore daily growing from ill to worse nothing now was looked for but warre But before the warres began the Prince of Conde and they of hys part set forth another Proclamation in the which they shewe the causes and reasons of their purpose and why they were constrained to lift vp the swearde And after certaine letters sente to the King and Quéene and to the king of Nauar they sent vnto them that Proclamation also which was to this effect folowing Althoughe they whych of their owne authority doe first of all put them selues in Armoure oughte to geue account and reason of their so doing yet notwithstanding the Prince of
confesse that I was not the first that toke the sweard in hand and when I did take it after them whych put them selues in Armor againste the King and Quéenes willes I had good occasion so to do For by the Lawe of Nature being a Prince and one of the Kings kinsmen I ought and am bound of duety to defend and maintain the dignity of the King and the peace and tranquillitye of the Realme So soone as I put on Armoure I protested that I woulde put of the same againe vppon suche reasonable conditions as shoulde appertaine to the libertye of the King and Quéene and to the peace and concorde of the Realme Whervpon it must néedes follow that they are the causes authours of troubles which haue refused those conditions and which when they could not abyde the peaceable gouernement of the Quéene and that shée should be the head ouer the Kings subiectes and disdayning at her for that shée looked so straytly vnto theÌ„ least they should defraude the kings creditors of any of their debt put themselues in armour came with a bande of soldiours to the King and beset him about with armed men that hauing the king and Quéene in their owne power they might gouerne the Realme as thei list theÌ„selues they committed horrible murthers vppon the kings subiectes liuing peaceably according to the kings lawes and thus haue brought vpon the whole Realme of France these stormy tempestes of trouble beginning euen a litle before to enioy peace and tranquillitie both partes being contented to liue peaceably so that they might enioye their Religion But and if leauing the present state of things wée will call to mind and consider euery mans actes in time past in good sooth wée shall finde these same men which at this day stirre vp these troubles haue ben also aforetyme the causes of great inconueniences to the Crown and dignitie séeking by the perturbation of this realme to enrich themselues whereas by peace and tranquility they decay And to omit that which king Fraunces a maÌ„ of excellent wisdome and Iudgement sayd of them and to omit also many of their bold and presumptuouse enterprises who knoweth not that they hating publique peace concord were the onely causes and authours of the truce and league breaking betwene king Henry and king Philip of Spaynâ—… to the great dammage and hurte of Fraunce In so much that they brought the same by warres in great perilles and all to haue their will and pleasure by one meanes or other Beside this after S. Laurence slaughter when thei had gotten vnto them the Treasurers office which thei had before gréedily gayed for what detriment or hurt did they not bring vnto the kingdome What did they also to King Henâ—…y who disâ—…king being weary of their violent and cruel dispositioÌ„ mynded to haue sent them away froÌ„ the Court to their howse had he not ben preuented by death But afterward in the dayes of king Fraunces the second being but yong these Straungers and violent Carters agaynstâ—… law and equitie and against the auncient constitutious of the realme of Fraunce vsurped the mere impery and gouernement of the kingdome during which time was the realme voyd of troubles Did they not in the sighte of all men go about to set that yong king being by nature very gentle and full of clemency agaynst his subiects and to haue made him infamouse with the note of cruelty for euer Did they not cause him to be a mortall enemie against his subiectes euen in the middest of his raigne in so much that except GOD in his mercy haâ—… turned away so great calamities and miseries lyke too haue ensewed we all should haue rued the same to remember â—…he which it would cause any Christian harte to tremble And to make an end of so lamentable a Tragedie When kinge Fraunces was dead these boysterouse stormes were blowen ouer the sky was more cleare the gouernement of the Realm being committed to the Quéene and to the king of Nauar vntill such tyme as their ambition hating peace and tranquillitie styred them vp and their fellowes to set heauen and earth togyther and to cause the state to be troublesome as to my great gréefe is to be séene Therefore I leaue the Iudgement of these to all indifferent men to discerne who are the authours of troubles whether they which haue sought peace and concord by all meanes possible or they which haue so mayntayned dissensions always that thei dare at this time to the great hurt of the whole Realme proclayme open warres Besides this there is so little cause for any man to marueile why I should be so busie to deale and so ware and circumspecte in the matter that I shuld be in great falte if I did otherwise For their actes in time paste againste me haue taught me sufficiently to beware how I put my selfe into their handes And it is playne enough to be séene that their purpose is to destroy the greatest part of the Nobilitie and of all estates of men which imbrace the truth of the gospell specially those that attende vpoÌ„ mée The which their meaning may easely be gathered by the talk which the Duke of Guise and the Constable had togyther of late in the Senate of Paris before a great assembly But what obedience they shewe towardes the Quéene it may appeare hereby that contrary to the Quéenes wil which she oftentimes declared they dyd frustrate the kings Edict of Ianuary adding this new exception Let not the Religion be vsed at Paris Who seeth not that they intend nothing else but euen to banish the Gospell out of all partes of the Realme when as also of late proclamation was made at Paris to banish al the new Christians To what purpose shoulde I say that by no other meanes the Inhabitants of Paris can be kept in quiet For we haue séene that the Prince of Rochesuryon and Martial Momorentius hauing about them only twelue soldiers haue kept the people of Paris in quiet without any maner of tumult the space of thrée monethes togyther The which continewed euen vntill that daye on the which the Duke of Guise entred into Paris But this is worthy the remembrance that when the same Martiall Memorency had somewhat increased the number of soldiers to kéepe the ordinary watch wherby the confederacies of certeyne factious persons might be preueÌ„ ted the Marchant maister and certeyne of the Citizens sayd that the people might be kept in peace and quyet with lesse ado a great deale Notwithstanding after the comming of the Guises into the Citie the mindes of the people were so altered that to kéepe them in quiet they were fayne to haue a band of men which they appointed without the knowledge and wil of the Quéene But I knowe it came to passe by the singular prouidence of God that the Duke of Guise and the Constable should disclose the secrets of their harts before so great a multitude that their toong
letters to the Duke of Sabaudia About the same time there was a Synode of the reformed churches of Fraunce at Orleans to the which there came diuers Ministers of Gods word and certaine chosen men also of other churches There was chosen accor ding to custome by the coÌ„mon consent of the whole assemblie to moderate this Synode Antonius Champdâ—…us minister of Gods word in the congregatioÌ„ of Paris a maÌ„ of singular godlynes learning eloquence and modesty This man was borne of a noble house and being but a very yong man be embraced and professed the doctrine of the Gospell in so much that hée was chosen by the church to the ministery of Gods word the same church being but tender and yong and beside that much anoyed with affliction as he was chosen to this office so was he no lesse diligent in the same whereby hée became a most profitable meÌ„ber to the chuche but specially to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of Paris of the which he was SuperinteÌ„dent In this Synode there arose a great controuersie concerning ecclesiastiall discipline which certaine light heads at that time began to discusse seeking to maintayne the licentiousnesse of the common people This controuecsy being at this time stayed burst forth afterwarde more vehemently and troubled many churches And because the ciuill warres increased more more the Ministers by a common decrée proclaymed publique prayers to be made in euery congregatioÌ„ to turn away the wrath of God from the Realme who was not without great cause displeased with the same And they sent to euerye congregacion letters to this effect Al meÌ„ euidently sée what great troubles are at hand like to fall vpon the Realme and the whole churche for the which specially this mischief is prouided Sathan his soldiers enuying the propagation and prosperity of the Gospell and the peace which the same hath enioyed by the great goodnesse of God. And do perceyue that the causes of those troubles are the iuste iudgements of God punishing the sinnes of men which reiect so notable a benefite as the glad tydings of the gospel the power of God to saluatioÌ„ or else estéeme not so reuerently of the same as they ought Our sinnes therfore are the very causes of these calami ties so that we must seriously séeke all that wée may too appease the iust wrath of God but specially they who vnder the name of the reformed Religion liued very wickedly But to such as doo truly and from the bottom of their hartes repent them study to liue in newnesse of life the promises of God are effectuall and doo appertayne Séeing therfore the matter is come to this point that all men maye plainly sée that they which raise vp these troubles of warres do séeke the ruine of the Gospel and of the church and therfore do warre and fight against God himself they must pluck vp their spirits be of good courage and certaynly perswaded that God will not fayle his seruaunts whom he vouchsafeth so to aduaunce that whereas thei haue deserued to be seuerely punished for their sinnes they might be afflicted for the truthes sake and for the glory of his name What haue the enemies left vndone by which thei might extinguish the doctrine of the gospell Yet notwithstanding it hath escaped Sathan and the Romish Antichrist â—…etting fuming in vayn Therfore we must make this our cry The Gospell is assaulted the destruction of the church is sought and open warre proclaymed against god Therfore god will fight for him selfe and for his There are also other causes â—… for beside that their deâ—…estable counseil to abolish the Church all men knowe that they goe about to bring most gréenouse troubles vpon the realm to the ende they themselues alone may gouerne They haue arrogantly broken the Edict of Ianuary they haue added cruelty to their impudent boldnesse they haue put the Kings subiects to death in diuers places vsing quietly the benefit of the Kings Edicts and they haue haÌ„dled them more cruelly than euer were any forreyn enimies What mischief hath not their vnbridled crueltye brought to passe They came to the king being but yoÌ„g to the Quéene a woman and not able to resiste armed with a band of men and tooke them and caryed them wil they nil they whether they would And hauing captiued both their bodies and their willes at their owne pleasure they most impudently abused them breakinge the Kings Edictes and violating his dignitie Therefore say they there are great causes why we shuld hope that God the author of humane societie but specially the preseruer of his church will not suffer the vnbrideled force of those violent and cruell counsailes to procéede more outragiously than they doe but will make hys Churche in the middest of all the trouble the conquerer And we haue a new and manifest argument beside those which haue appered heretofore of this his good wil towards his seruants in that hée hath in these dayes of his afflicted church raysed vp the Prince of Conde to be a Patrone and defender of this cause by miracle of hys diuine prouidence For this cause we must gyue harty thanks vnto God the first and principall author of thys benefit we must looke for happy successe of his cause And because hée will vse this meane to preserue his church we for our partes must be diligent faithful cou ragiouse and constant least we omitte good occasion to bring things to passe being offered Wee séeke the coÌ„ser uation of the Gospell and of the church and for the befendinge of the libertie and dignitie of the King of the Realme and the whole common wealth Who will denie that these are iust and lawfull causes to put on Armour and specially for them to whom that authoritie appertaineth It is méete and necessary ther fore say they that you and we to the vtmost of our pow er and to the spending of our liues do aid and assist the Prince of Conde the rest of the kings officers which haue made a sollemne vow for the defence of the King the Realme and the Church and to be very carefull to giue vnto the Prince of Conde for this cause money fourniture and all maner of warlike prouision whensoeuer he shall require the same In so doing they said this thing should be so profitable for them all that nothing can be more necessary the time being considered And as they thought it to be their dutie to admonish them of these things séeing that now the glory of God the safetie of the Church and the preseruation of humane societie was to be sought for euen so saye they you must not delay the matter being of so great waight by any maner of meanes But forsomuch as all mans helpe is wholely vnprofitable and vaine except wée haue first of all the helpe and ayd of God the aucthor reuenger of this cause We must take héede that wée be diligent in calling vpon God and that we professe
of al vanities and wickednes I speake not these things vnaduisedly the Quéene knoweth these things to be true as wel as I. These Suppliants therfore haue made a more pernicious and hurtfull conspiracy to this Realme than euer was that which Sylla which Caesar and which the Triumuiri made And it had by this time caused much mischiefe to be done if I my selfe had not with all my might withstode the same vnto this daye I marueyle that they so impudently contend before the Quéene in wordes and I doe wonder that the Quéene will hearken and agrée to their wordes as though she had neuer heard any thing of their wicked counselles the which truly playnly declareth that she is more than a captiue And truly if she were not afeard to be stifeled or strangeled in her bed which they haue threatned to her as I appeale to her selfe if she may speake her conscience she would not haue giuen her consent to their Supplication but would haue tolde them to their téeth that their couetousnes and Ambition is the cause of all these troubles Séeing therfore at this time the Quéene in so great perill cannot speake of the matter as she would nor restst those which abuse her with feare to bring their purpose to passe I my selfe am constrayned to defend her aucthoritie and the Kinges also to answere to their suppliant petitions in the King and Quéenes name of whose libertie I confesse my selfe to be a defender And why should I not trust that God will prosper my indenours and that good will which he hath giuen to mée and the Kinges faythfull subiectes also doing their duty in so honest and godly a cause 1 First of all they begin with their titles of dignitie séeking therby to get the more aucthoritie and magnificently paynt forth the memory of their actiōs in time past and would haue men to iudge of their minds and meanings by these their actions Truly it is necessary that so glorious a beginning shuld haue as euil base an end set against it And why so They haue very well behaued themselues towards their Kinges they say in times past is that sufficient not only to couer their faultes at this time but also so to countenaunce them that wicked actes shal be taken for meritorious déedes If they haue done any thing profitable or worthy of commendation for their Kings as they haue done nothing so farre as I know if they haue not in all this time receiued their deserued recompence it doth not followe that they should so importunatly craue to bée recompenced at this time to the ruine and destruction of the King and the Realme But they thrée séeke so great ly for their profite and are such carefull followers of gayne that they would not tary so long before they would craue and receiue a reward for their deserts if they euer deserued any thing For probation wherof what say you to this That their profites and yerely re uenewes do amount aboue the summe of two hundred and fiftie thousand french Crownes more than their patrimony beside other helpes On the contrary part let them remember if any of them will say that they haue not ben fully satisfied in all thinges How many good and singular men by their meanes were cast in prison how many Noble families haue ben by them destroyed in the raigne of Henry the second and Fraunce the second In so much that it may euidently appeare that they abused the fauour of those Kinges not onely to the inriching of them selues but also to the reuenging of their malicious mindes to the ruine and destruction of many Wherefore if they will haue their mindes and counsayles as they say to bee examined tried and iudged by their actions in time past go to then and let them haue that triall and iudgement and let them denie if they can whether their doinges haue not ben such that they ought to be reproued and resisted by all the Kynges true and faythfull subiects Further more they saye that the Kyng and the Realme are in great perill and least they should fall into that meuitable destruction they offer vnto him certayne sure remedies but say they with all reuerence and obedience If it should be demaunded of them what were the very cause of this destruction and if they aunswered truly as their conscience beareth them witnesse they must néedes impute the cause and the whole blame hereof vnto themselues For after the proclamation of the Edict of January there was peace throughout all partes of the Realme Now if they will denie that they were not the disturbers and breakers of this peace then they shall denie a thing so manifest that all men can giue testimonie against them For in what state was the kyngdome when the Duke of Guise began warre and committed horrible murther at Uassi To what end were the conspiracies of the Constable and the Marshiall of Saint Andrewes What ment the beastly barbarous rudenes and rude barbarousnesse shewed at Paris For where as they professe their reuerence and obedience to the Kyng how incredible séemeth that in the eares of all men Those thrée often times contemned the Quéenes commaundements as when the Quene commaunded thē to go to their Mannors Lordships when by her commaundement also in tyme ef perill they were sent for to Monceaulx is this to shewreuerence and obedience to the king and quéene They came also contrary to the Quéenes commaundement to Paris with an armye of men and would not departe from thence for any thing that the quene could do either by intreaty or otherwise Whereas I my selfe to obey the quéenes commaundementes went from Paris they abyding in Paris at their pleasure when they had made there al things sure came to the king and quéene with an army of men brought them whether they would or no violentlye from Fontainbleau to Paris I appeale to the conscience of the Quéene for testimony of these things if shée may fréely speake They were fully determined to rule all thinges at their owne pleasure But this is their obedience toward the king which they shewe by the open breaking of the kinges Edictes This is their loue toward theyr countrey to destroy the which they thinke it not sufficient to arme thmselues and theirs except also they cause the aunciente enemyes of the Realme to arme themselues against the same 3 They seke to haue a perpetual edict made for religiō but to what end Whē wée desired to haue the Edict of January kept vntil the king came to sufficient age him selfe they sayd it was a very vnlawfull request adding that the king might order change amplify and restrain the Edictes when and how it pleased him and that we in desiring that the same which was decréed by the king and his Counsell might be kept vntill he came to his full and ripe age went about to make the king a bonde man and to shut him vp as it were into prison which would limitte
his power and authoritye with these exceptions They then saide And now they go about to make that an euerlasting and irreuocable lawe which they thrée themselues haue deuised and decréed Truly we may with better reason and truth conclude that they go about to make the king a captiue and bonâ—…man vnto them not only in this his minoriti but in his maiority also Who séeth not their sondry and contrary deuises Who séeth not that they go aboute not only to haue the king in their handes and to rule him at theyr pleasure but the whole Realme also when as in a mat ter of so great waight and perillouse they dare take vpon them to determine decre what they theÌ„selues list Dyd euer those Triumuiri of Rome namely Augustus Antonius and Lepidus which by their conspiracie peruerted the lawes and the common wealth of Rome any thing more bould and presumptiouse If they had ben moued by the loue of peace as they say and not by the outragiouse heate of sedition if they had ben moued by zeale of Religion and not by the force of ambition they would not haue begon those their counsailes with force and murder they would haue come reuerentlie and modestly they would haue declared the causes whi they could not allow of the Edict of January And they would haue intreated the kinge and quéene to consulte with their CouÌ„sail for the remedeing of those troubles to the glory of God the dignity of the king and the conseruation of the Realme And so they should haue declared that they were moued by zeale of their consciences But while they go about these things they sufficiently declare that they take Religion but for a colloure to the end that they may draw away the Kinges subiectes to take their part that by their help by the help of strauÌ„gers they may bring al things to their rule Can the Princes the kings kinsmen suffer this that strauÌ„gers shal make lawes Edictes to rule the king the whole Realme 4 They require to haue the church of Rome which they call Catholike and Apostolicall to be alone through out the whole Realme and that the vse and administration of the reformed religion should be forbidden Let this be the Edict of the Duke of Guise a straunger of the Constable Momorentius and of the Marshall of saint Andrew the kinges seruauntes Let their willes mindes and decrese be set against the authority of the kinges Edict which the king the quéene the king of Nauar the Princes the kinges kinsmen the kinges Counsel and forty chosen men out of euery court of the realm haue made Let them oppose and set this their Edicte both against the decrées of the nobility and the cominaltye by their supplicatioÌ„ which they offered to the king first at Orleans then at saint German concerning the orderinge of ReligioÌ„ after this maner theÌ„ they must nedes acknowledge and confesse that their Edict will be the cause of ciuil warres and in tyme the destruction of the realme But blinde Ambition carieth them out of the way to bind the king and the Realme to them as they saye by these merits For this I affirme that the Duke of Guise and his brethren can not deny but that while they go about to molest trouble those that are of the reformed Religion what zeale soeuer they pretende they brynge the Realme into greate perill Let them remember what happened of late almost in the same counsel to theÌ„ in Scotland There both sortes of men that is to say both papistes and Protestants liued peaceably obediently vnder the gouernement of the Quéene vntill it was commaunded by the aucthority of the Guises that no other religion should be there receyued then that which is of Rome Then a certen smal nomber of men for this cause being raised and appointed to battaile by the wisdome of the quene and by the help of the Nobility were easely put down again The which thing ought to haue made the Guises sease from their former purpose for feare of greater trroubles whiche would ensue by the meanes of those Edictes But they on the contrary part more obstinately went forwarde with their purpose to hinder the reformed religion writing sharp letters vnto the Quéen because shée shewed hirself so fauourable and perswaded with hir that it was necessary that the principal authours and many of the Noble men should be put to death Therefore to bring that to passe in déed which they vttered in woordes they sent an army of meÌ„ into Scotland with M. Brosseus the Bishop of Atniens At whose comming most seuere Edictes were made coÌ„cerning the obseruation of popish rytes and comming to Masse The Bishop said that he would soone cal those that were gone astray as hée sayd to the obedience of the Church of Rome and monsieur Brosseus said that hée would quickly within few dayes by force of armes put all the rebels to flight And as cruelty hath always couetousnesse ioyned with it they beheld considered the landes and possessions of the noble men and wrot to the Guises that they could both make the people tributary to pay vnto the Frenche king two hundred thousande Crownes and also assigne to a thousand Noble men of France which should continually maintayne warre in Scotland houses and land The Guises hearinge of the which were glad but the Quéene Osellus a noble maÌ„ of Scotland said vnto M. Brosseus that the Scotts could not be so easely coÌ„quered who if they were coÌ„strayned would craue helpe of straungees which imbracinge the same Religion would not desire to haue better occasion to banish the Popes Religion out of Scotland whereby the Kings Royall estate should come in peril But they refusing these admonitions of the Quéene Osellus said that the Quéene with hir facilitie and sufferance would marre all and they called Osellus foole and dastard Ther fore these wise men so wrought that the greatest parte of the nobility gathered vnto them an army of men and within few dayes eyther slewe or put to flight the Papistes and sacrifising priests which if this had not ben might haue liued peaceably And thus thei which before would binde Beares and which triumphed before the victory â–ª did not only dishonour the Duke of Guise but also lost the aucthoritie of the Church of Rome By this example the Guises ought to acknowledge their fault and to leaue of their enterprise also to haue no more in their mouthes these wordes One of those two Religions must be banished the realme and some muste needes giue place to other some These proud words become not subiectes and seruaunts but a king of full and perfect age And whereas they would haue no religion but the Romish religion established within the realme which they go about to defende by force of armes they bring the realme into great perill and daunger And truly it were a great deale better to kéepe both partes in peace and concord and
the one seeking warres horrible murther the other peace and the generall profiâ—…e of all men yet notwithstanding the Quéene may iudge determine of the whole matter But and if shée cannot at this time fréely declare hir iudgement eyther beinge stayed by violence or else because shée will not for other causes offend them yet notwithstanding this thing wée craue and request at her hands séeing these times great ly requireth the same namely That their supplication and myne may be registred in the publike Commentaries of the Senate That the Edict of Ianuary maye bée obserued and that both partes laying asyde their weapons may depart to their own houses vntill the Kinge comming to ryper yeares shal be able to iudge and order the whole matter as it shall please him or else till the Quéene with the aduise of hir counsaile shal determine of the same The remedie appertayneth to both partes neither caÌ„ any man complaine that hée receyueth any preiudice it is so easy to be done the whosoeuer shall refuse y same cannot deny himself to be an enemy to the king and the realme Neither can it be but that they shal be iudged of all men to be in the blame which refuse the remedye so easie to be had for so great misery and calamitie lyke too ensue It shal be iudged also who is a traytour and an open enemie to the king and the realme eyther he which willingly offereth to vnarme himselfe or he which had rather destroy all than restore the King agayne to hys former liberty But because ciuil warres haue alwayes euill successe the soldiers minds and handes being not easie to bée restrayned I protest before God and men that I put my self in armour and prepare my soldiers to battaill with great grief of mind and doe hartely desire that so great calamities and miseries as are like to come by these ciuill warres might be auerted and appeased by my bloud only if it might so please god But bicause my reasonable request is reiected and séeing my aduersaries wil be Iudges in this cause I protest agayn that my only purpose and intent is to restore the king and Quéene into their former liberty and to bring the gouernement of y kingdome to the Quéene and to the king of Nauar and to deliuer the greatest part of the people from the tyraÌ„nie and oppression of such as haue vsurped the gouernement of the realme I haue no regard to my owne priuate commoditie or gayne in this cause I am not led by ambition by a desire to reuenge or by couetousnesse as knoweth the Lord whose glory and truth I séeke to defende with the dignitie of the King and peace and tranquillitie of the Realme While the matter was thus canuassed too and fro by writing and the Guises with their compartners bearing only an outward shew to the Quéene of reuerence and séeking notwithstanding daily more and more to rule gouerne the realme themselues the Quéen by hir effeminat and timerouse nature was very doubtful being carefull for hir libertie authoritie which shée had lost and fearing also the ambition of the Guises and his adherents And being afeard of their great power she stood in doubt whether she should incline to them or leane to the Prince of Conde Notwithstanding shée wrote often letters vnto him by faithfull messengers and sometime she sent her mind by word of mouth not daring to send by letters Of some of the which letters we haue here put downe the Coppies I Sée such sights dayly to my great grief my welbeloued Cosin that except I looked for helpe froÌ„ God dyd coÌ„fort my self with the trust which I haue in you wherby I am perswaded that you wil preseÌ„tly seke to preserue me the realme and the king my Son I should be much more gréeued than I am But I hope that all thinges shal be very well ordered by vs with the helpe of your good Counsel to the frustrating of all their actions and practises which séeke to destroy al thinges But because I haue at large declared the whole matter vnto this messenger I wil be here the more briefe Only I besech you to credit that which he shall tell you concerning al those things which I haue giuen him in charge to declare vn to you two Your Cosin CATHARINE Also this which foloweth is the copie of another of her letters I giue you harty thankes my deare Cosine for that you so oftentymes certifie me of your affaires and because I trust to sée you ere it be long face to face and to talke with you my selfe I wil not now write much vnto you Only this I request of you that you fully perswade your selfe that I wil neuer forget those things which you haue done for my sake And if it fortune that I did before I shal be able to acknowledge recompeÌ„ce so great a benefit I wil giue my children charge to supply such lacke in mée to requite the same I haue commaunded this messenger to tell you many things Thus much only I certify you of that I do as I do and behauâ—… my selfe as you knowe to worke if it might be peace and concord the which I knowe that you my welbeloued Cosin desier no lesse than I. Salute I pray you in my name your wyfe your wyues Mother and your Uncle Your deare and louing Cosin CATHARINE Whereas the Quéene complaineth in these letters that shée is in great sorrowe and greefe and noteth also many authours of troubles she speaketh of the Guises and his fellowes whom notwithstanding shée durst not openly resiste neyther yet take part with the Prince of Conde And whereas shée sayeth that shée trusteth it wil shortly come to passe that shée shall sée him face to face the occasion was this when nothing went forward neither by letters nor yet by messengers sent from one to another the Quene made peticion to the Prince of Conde that he would come talke with the King of Nauar to the intent they might haue mutuall conference of the whole matter and might deuise some way for peace and concorde The Prince of Conde yelded to the request the place and time for their meting was appointed namely the first of Iune At which tyme the Quéene the Kynge of Nauar and the Prince of Conde met togither in the Region of Beausse in the mid way betwéene Paris and Orleans At this their méeting they commoned of many thinges of the which we will speake hereafter as they were publiquely put downe in writinge by the Prince of Conde The Quene durst not graunt any thing to the Prince of Conde neither did the king of Nauar his brother shew himself any whit tractable or frendly Wher vpon they brake of and departed without any profite by their méeting and conference their minds being therby not a little exasperated and grudge raysed against one another The Quéene and the Kyng of Nauar plainely denied to the Prince
of Conde the remouing of the Guises and his adherents from the Court and the obseruation of the Edicte of Ianuary throughout the whole Realme the which two thinges were the principall poyntes of the petition of the Prince of Conde Therfore the Prince of Conde when he was retourned againe to Orleans and had told the whole matter to his confederats sent letters to the Quéene the xi day of Iune certifying her that according to her commaundement he had declared the whole matter to all those that were his adherents had conferred with them concerning the finding out and deuising wayes for peace and concord Who when they had wisely wayed and considered all thinges gaue their sentence thus That there could be no firme or certaine wayes for peace concord deuised so long as the contrary part their enemies beset the King and her with souldiours ruled them both by violence insomuch that not onely all hope to pacifie thinges is taken away therby but also good occasion is offered vnto vs to feare least all thinges waâ—…e much worse than they now be séeing that they vppon whom the Kyng and Quéene do wholely depend do vnder the pretence of the Kings name authoritie séeke to work their willes and do accuse men of those things whereof they themselues are most of all giltie Therfore sayth he they earnestly desire of you that you would not take it in euil part if they abide in that their former pâ—…rpose séeing they haue now put them selues in Armour to defend them selues from the force of those enemies least in very déede they which haue declared them selues to be enemies should be also Iudges of the cause in controuersie For it was neuer séene in any assembly that when any matter is obiected against many men they should by absence not beâ—… suffered to haue their cause to be iudged examined Is it méete that they shuld be absent specially at that time when matters of so great waight come in question as when they are burthened to be enemies to the glory of God to the Kinges liberty authority also to the common peace Wheras they ar maintainers therof their accusers of such enimies Wherfore they say except they may be permitted to come in presence to cléere them selues of these crimes there is no other waye to be looked for than by force of Armes Also wheras you said being first taught of those enemies that it could not be that the Edict of Ianuary should be obserued the people being armed to break the same it séemeth to them to be no lesse vnreasonable than the other For what can be more vnreasonable than this that the common sort of people should not only defend these opinions without law to maintaine the same but also being of all the Kynges subiectes the very rascall sort should put on Armour both to breake the Kynges Edictes and also to rule and gouerne the Kyng at their pleasure Notwithstanding this they know that séeing that Edict was made and established by a notable and singular assembly of Noble wise and learned men after that matters on both partes were wisely considered of the Nobillitie of Fraunce will not suffer themselues to haue such ignominy neither yet straungers to break the Kings Edicts to make new Edicts at their owne pleasure These things being of her wisely considered she may iudge whether it be méete that the consciences of the kyngs faithfull subiects should be tyed to the wils of factious men and of the outragious multitude or what concord is to be hoped for of them which tooke away all power of gouernement from the Quéene her selfe and whether it be to be suffered that they shoulde haue the Kinges power at their commaundement any longer which séeke to appresse those that defend and mayntaine the Kings authoritie and his lawes Finally she may iudge whether it be more méete that they go home to their owne houses or whether by their presence they bring the kyngs State into perill the which all men sée they will sooner do than they will loose on iot of their wills The which notwithstanding he sayth he trusteth to let with the helpe of God the mayntainer defender of all right And to conclude séeing there was no other way to bréede peace and concord than for the Guises and his adherents to depart from the Court hée prayed the Quéene that she would bring the same to passe the necessity of the time greatly requiring the same He wrote Letters also to his Brother the Kyng of Nauar to this effect ALTHOVGH saith he I might long ago sée some part of those calamities which I now sée to be imminent yet notwithstanding I may truly affirme this that I now sée far greater miseries than euer I feared would come to passe For both the conscience and testimony of the integrity of the reformed Churches and al so of the naturall and louing inclination that I haue séene to be in you beside the testimony of all my actioÌ„s had perswaded me that you they which ar the authors of those troubles being compared with me whom God hath so aduaunced to honour that I am your owne naturall brother would rather follow the loue of brotherly coniunction than the subtill perswasions of those which neuer sought for any thing but their owne aduauncement and your destruction And truly I am not altogether without hope of the same what occasion so euer at this time I haue to thinke to the contrary And for this cause alone I haue now written vnto you my letters not so much with pen and inke as with teares distilling from mine eyes For what can happen vnto me more lamentable sorrowful than to vnderstand that you should be a sworne enimie vnto him which wold be the first that would aduenture his body to defende you from harme that you should go about to take away his life which came of the same parents that you came of which will neuer refuse most gladly to spend his life for your preseruation Consider I pray you diligently wey with your selfe whether there caÌ„ be ani thing which ought to moue you to so great hatred against nature If the matter bée for religion there is no man that can better iudge thaÌ„ you whether it be méete conuenient to violat breake the bonde of nature humanitie for religion which the very Barbarians wil neuer doe Although ye cannot imbrace and receiue all the points of our Religion yet notwithstanding I am fully perswaded of this that your nature disposition is such that you do abhorre so great horri ble cruelties committed against vs so far you are from being the author cause therof If the matter concerne the Kings dignitie authoritie who is there next after you and your children to whom the gouernement more appertayneth than vnto me Iudge I hartely pray you who is most carefull for the state whether he that offereth all lawful condicions to
he attempted no maner of force because of the letters that came in the meane time The sixe and twenty day following the Guises the Constable and the Marshall of Saint Andrew departed from their Campes And by by word was brought to the Prince of Conde that those thrée accordinge to the forme of the peticion were departed from their armie home to their houses When the Prince of Conde vnderstoode this he came to the King of Nauar to Baugence with a fewe only attending vppon him Wherevppon he was brought through the middest of the host in al the hast to a village called Talsiac wher the Quéene aboade and betwene Baugence that Uillage Talsiac were placed certain Garrisons of soldiers When he came to the Quéene he was of her very louingelye entertained and had many faire promises made him and by request easely obtayned leaue of her that certain of his fellowes might come vnto that place both to the end they might salute her and also that they might conferre and talke togither concerninge concord and peace In the meane tyme woord was brought to the frendes and fellowes of the Prince of Conde that the Guises the Constale and the Marshall of Saint Andrew abode still at Chastellodune which was not far distant from Talsia where the Quéene and the Prince of Conde abode and certaine letters also of the Dukeeof Guise to the Cardinall of Loraine his Brother were taken by the way and brought to them Of which letters this is the summe word for word as they were written I send vnto you this messenger in all hast possible to certefie you that all thinges were yesterday finished And know you this also for certaine that many are blinded and deceiued very much Our Mother and her brother sweare that they will not forsake vs and that they will followe no other Counsell than the Counsayle of such whom you know To be short the reformed Religion if we behaue our selues wisely as we mean to do will haue a fall Ye and our Admirall shall haue euill successe All our power remayneth still whole but theires is broken and dispersed our Cities are rendred vp againe without any maner of mencion of preaching or of the administration of Sacraments This messenger which I send vn to you is trustie There came also to the hands of the Prince of Conde by the meanes of one of the kyng of Nauars houshold seruaunts a note in writing of the Duke of Guises left with the Kyng of Nauar for a remembraunce to this effect Let there be no obligation made for Religion See that the pledge be kept in any wise Concerning the rendering vp of the Cities let there be no delay Order the matter wisely Suffer them in no wise to come any neerer to Orleans Let vs be diligently certefied and admonished of all things These forewarnings greatly troubled the Prince of Conde and his adherents they sawe that he was fallen into the handes of his enemies so that there was great daunger on euery side Notwithstanding his friendes thinking it not good to delay the matter and to suffer the Prince to be in perill when they had giuen the Captaines charge to be vigilant and to haue their souldiers in a redines came to the Queene The principall wherof were these the Admirall the Andelot Monsuer Porcia Monsuer Rochfocald Monsuer Rohan Monsuer Genluis Monsuer Grammontius Monsuer Soubizius and Monsuer Piennius These saluted the Quéene and were very louingly entertayned of her She gaue vnto them thankes for their great diligence and paines for her and the kynges prifite at that time insomuch that she sayd they had pre serued her life and the kyngs the which their merits deseruing honour pryce the sayd she wold neuer or get Then they declared to the Quéene with what fidelitie they had serued the Kyng with their body goods vnder the Prince of Conde they shewed vnto her the equitie of their cause which at that time was in controuersie and their earnest care also which they had for the preseruation of the kynges dignitie and the peace profite of the whole Realme Whereuppon they most hartely prayed and beséeched the Quéene that they might not preferre the immaginations of a few men before those things which appertayned to the glory of God and the safetie of the Realme For God saye they will defend euery good cause and seuerely punish all kind of wickednes which are committed against the Kyngs Edicts abusing the Kinges name therunto For himselfe also the Prince of Conde protested that it séemed very straūge vnto him that some shuld be had in such estimation and no regard at all to be had of him which was not only néere of kin to the king whereas the other were straungers and but seruants to the kyng but also had offered all maner of indifferent conditions and submission Wherefore he sayd it was now high time to prouide some remidies to resist and repell those calamities at hand The Quéene being before instructed concerning euery thing what answere she should make began not to answere to those things which were spoken by the Prince of Conde but to declare That the number power and authority of those was very great which followed and imbraced the Church of Roome and they haue the sword in their hands sayth she and are fully determined to defend that Religion which all former kings haue receiued and imbraced so that they meane this shal be the principall condition among the rest for concord and peace That there be no other Religion obserued followed throughout the whole Realme than the Catholique Religion of Roome But the Prince of Conde in the name of the rest replied that they did not plead their owne priuate cause but whatsoeuer had ben done by them vntill that day was done first for the defence of the kynges libertie and authoritie and secondly for a common wealth and herevppon they put themselues in armour at the first by the Quéenes commaundement for the which cause they did not care if they spent their goods liues so that the kyngs Edict might be obserued and kept wherby euery man might haue leaue to vse the reformed Religiō and the libertie of their conscience without the benefite wherof they thought them selues to be but dead Insomuch that if they in whom so great a number of faithfull did repose their trust for the handling of these matters should so much ouershoote themselues and forget their dutie that they should agrée to those thinges which were so repugnant to the glory of God and the common profite of all men it could not be auoyded but that they should be counted of all men forsakers contemners of the glory of God of the kings dignitie and safetie of the cōmon peace tranquillity of the realme The which rather then it should come to passe shoulde cause them to forsake the realm before they would agrée to those so vniust
and seuere conditions And if their departure out of the realme might remedy the matter he beséeched the Quéene that there might be no regarde or consideration had of them but of publike peace and quietnesse The Prince of Conde had oftētimes vsed these words Let there be no consideration had of me I would gladly bring to passe that by my exile the kingdome might be in peace and the vse of the reformed Religion restored And the Quéene euen of purpose had entised and prouoked the Prince of Conde shée hauing the Triumuiri hir Schoole maisters to vse these wordes Therefore the Quéene hauing féete occasion offered hir answered That shée had alwayes the Prince of Conde and the rest in as great estimation as became hir But for somuch as the matter was come to this point that suche remedies must be vsed as shée wished not to her great grief yet notwithstanding because of the present necessitie she said she receiued that condition namely that they should forthwith depart the Realme by whose absence the myndes of the Bishopps would be the better pacified and so the Realme should be at peace and quietnes And shée would she said make generally and particularly to euery man such assurance for their peace and safetie as they could desire The Prince of Conde and his fellowes wonderinge greatly at these wordes of the Quéen which they looked not for said at the length that they had respecte vnto others as wel as to themselues whose aduise thei would haue But the Quéene prosecuted hir former talke saying that so the common wealth should be greatly profited and there are some saith shée that threaten to prolong the kings minoritie vntill hée come to the age of one and twenty if so be néede should require to resiste their violēce she was persuaded she said that the Prince of Conde and the rest of his friends would come and help the King although he were neuer so far of Thus they made an end for this day And the Quéen came to Talsiac The day following there came a Messenger betymes in the morning to the Prince of Conde from the Quéene with short letters which made mention of the communication had the daye before of the concluding of the same for the which cause she sayd shée would haue him come vnto hir Then the Prince of Cōde and his fellowes came to the Quéene and when hée had talked with her a while séeing that the time of hys aboad with her was not limited and séeing also that hée could bring nothing to passe as he would he prayed the Quéene that he and his fellowes might haue leaue to retourne back againe to their armie for so much as also hée perceyued that those perleyings wanted not the accustomed treasons of his aduersaries And thus the Prince of Conde the same day retourned agayne to his armie who very ioyfully receyued him notwithstandinge the soldiers was almost displeased that the Prince of Conde came into so great peril with the common consent of all the Nobles saying that those parleyes should be néedefull no more and that the pollicie of the aduersaries was not perceyued and seene who go about to detract delay the the tyme to the end they may increase their power with forreyne helpe to set vppon vs whom they now feare We for slow say they the aduantage when it is offered Where we had rather suffer any extremity than to haue these delayes Let vs set vpon the enemie and contende no more with wordes but with the dynte of sworde And in very déede if the Prince of Conde had brought hys armie at the first to Paris being so well appoynted and of so great courage there had ben great hope of victory But these delayes through parleying dyd both abate the number and also the courage of the soldiours where as the enemie thereby greatly increased his power The Guises hearing of this retourned with all spéed to their hoaste and were not a little gréeued that the Prince of Conde was so escaped their handes And because they thought it necessary they remoued their host secretly in the night from Baugence leauing there only certayne garrisons of Souldiours to defende the same The day following they assaulted Blais being a Noble Citie which wanted sufficient power to defende the same because the enemie came vnlooked for This they tooke and put a great number of men to the sworde From thence they went to Towers and sought to haue the same rendered vnto them the which when they had taken by surrender they spoyled horrible slaughter was committed by the Papistes in the same towne agaynst the faythfull Men and women without anye respect of age were drowned in the Riuer by shipfulls And diuers also were beheaded These sodayne and vnlooked for rumours stayed the Prince of Conde also the great and huge stoare of raine which fell in that Region being of it selfe very déepe and foule made the Prince of Conde to alter his purpose and to leaue following the enemie For there was no ioyning of battayle by reason of the foulnesse and dyrtinesse of the Countrey the tyme rather seruing to assalt and besiege Cities Wherefore hée determined to reserue his power vntill better occasions were offered and so retourned to Orleans agayne with hys whole Armye About this tyme wel néere the Aumal brother to the Duke of Guise assalted Roan in Normandie and battered a very strong and well fenced Castell commonly called the Castle of Saint Catherin with great store of ordinaunce but he preuailed not but had euill successe the City being stoutly defended by the soldiers in the town Moruilleirs a noble man being their Captaine Therefore the sixtéene day of the seege the Duke Aumale with out his purpose remoued his hoste from Rhoane and departed with losse of a great nomber of his Soldiers at this séege At Lyons and about the vtmost regions as Dolpheny Burgundy and the prouince of Langres the faithful were diuersly vered and troubled In Burgundie the losse of Chalon which in old time was called Cabilo was the occasion that many other Townes also were lost Tauuanies the vicegerent of that prouince hauing alwaies at euery occasion an armie ready and appointed to fighte Matisco was kept and defended by the garrison of soldiers of Lions whose Captaine was Mombrun This Mombrun geuing to the Soldiers in the night a watch word or signe to depart stale away by ship and lefte the City and came to Lyons Then Tauan easely tooke the Citie of Matisco being quite voide of defence Herevppon all Burgundie yéelded to the Pope In Prouince which is a Region nere vnto the Meditaran Sea the faithfull were very euill intreated and murthered Before the first motions of this Ciuil war there was stirred vp a greuouse sedition the chiefe author and Captaine whereof was one Flacean a desperate person who had gotten vnto him a band of wicked and lewde men the which sedition notwithstandinge was easely
maner of our elders The which is the only foundatioÌ„ of those things which haue happened since that time to the which all those things ought to be referred and brought as to the toutchstone that they may be discerned whether they be good or euill Those lawes and constitutions were deuided into foure principall heades 1 The first concerned the custodie and protection of the Kyng and the Gouernour of the Realme 2 The second concerned those which should be of the Kyngs Counsell for that time 3 The third concerned prouision for warre and all maner of Artillary 4 The fourth concerned Religion and the staying of such troubles as might ensue by occasion therof As touching the first vppon great causes and reasons wise waighed and considered the States or whole body of the Realme haue decréed that the Quéene the Kyngs mother shal haue not only the charge and custodie of the Kynges maiestie her sonne but the gouerment also of the Realme in her owne person and the same not to be put ouer to any other without her consent will and pleasure And this decrée of the States was confirmed and approued by Princes the Kynges kinsmen Also the States decréed that the Queene Mother should be by them so directed that she by her wise ordering and disposing of thinges should discharge the great debt which remained to be paied after the death of king Henry and Fraunces and so the people to be disburthened from such great exactions and payments as they had aforetime payed And that she for her part should endeuour her selfe to bring all thinges to their former state and condition and that the people might liue euery where in peace and tranquillitie The second principall poynt was concerning the Kynges Counsaile The which the States desired to haue furnished with men that were vertuous wise carefull for the Kyng and the Realme Therfore they thought good that the Kynges Counsayle should consist of such men as were not sworne to any forreyne Prince or power as Cardinalles Bishoppes Abbats all such which they call Ecclesiasticall persons both for that they ought to followe their ordinary and proper office and calling and also for the oth which they haue sworne and vowed to the Bishoppes of Rome concerning temporall obedience which haue ben oftentimes enemies to the Bishoppes of Fraunce Therfore they prohibite and disalow any of them to be of the Kynges Counsayle or that there shoulde come vnto that Counsell two bretherne or more together according to the example of other Parliaments NotwithstaÌ„ding here thei except those which are Princes and the Kyngs kinsmen to whom it appertaineth without limitation of number by right to bée of the Kyngs Counsayle except the States haue any thing to obiect against them to the contrary Also they forbid such to be of the Kyngs Counsaile as haue had the ouersight vse and disposing of the Kyngs treasure vntill such time as they haue made their accompts And last of all bicause the Kinges Counsailers are bound to make account to the King of their iuste and lawfull counsaile and also to preserue and maintayne the Kinges treasure and when the Kinges treasurie hath smal store of money in it not to receiue of the King or to suffer to be giuen to any great and large gyftes the states do appoint and determine that all such giftes shal be reuoked and that so many as haue receyued such gyftes be constrained to restore them backe againe and in the meane tyme not to be of the Kinges counsaile Upon this second point dependeth the occasion of the â—…uill warre and sedition which at this day shaketh and violently assalteth the whole Realme of Fraunce the Guises the Constable the Marshall of Santandre perceyuing that they by thys meanes should not only be exclu ded out of the Kinges counsaile but also be constrayned to restore those giftes againe which they haue receyued of the Kinges thereby greatly in riched themselues And so they haue ioyned themselues and coÌ„spired togyther specially to hinder and frustrate that decrée It is no new thing that giftes which Kings haue bestowed contrary to the lawes appointed should be nothing regarded not only of the States which are chiefe in authoritie in the tyme of the Kings nonage but also of the ordinary Iudges of the exchecker by whose indgemeÌ„ts the Kinges afore tyme haue ben put to great expences in gyftes contrary to the lawes of the realme Of these thinges we haue many examples as of the Constable Clisson in the dayes of Charles the vi who was depryued of his office because he had gayned by the seruyce of the King to the valew of sixtene thousand pound But there is greater and more vehement cause at this tyme why they which are bound by the decrée of the states should be called to giue an account of that which they haue receyued and seing that now there is found in the kinges Treasurie the suÌ„me of 330000 poundes which was neuer séene before and yet the people at this present are more burthened with exactions and tributes than euer they were before And it is manifest that King Frauncis the first of that name which had diuers warres for the space of thrée and thirty yeares paied for his discharge a great summe of money and toke not so great and so many tributes of the people lefte notwithstanding in his treasury a greate masse of money Therefore the states demaunde the cause of so great expence And because it is likely that they were spenders and wasters whose dutye it was to husband and increase the same the States vppon verie good consideration do desier to haue an account that restitution and allowance may be made of such vnmeasurable expences The which truly is the verie cause why those thrée haue brought the Realme of Fraunce into these troubles to ouerthrowe those decrées of the states that the same may appeare most true which we saide before namely that they conspire not for religioÌ„s sake but for because they are couetously and ambitiously minded which Religion notwithstanding they take for a cloake to couer and hyde their wickednesse withall The third principall point of their costitutions is this The States would haue it in their power and authoritie during the tyme of the Kinges minoritie to order and appoint warres and at their pleasure to commaund the subiectes to arme themselues Because before they take warres in hand they should vnderstand the causes thereof and by what meanes they might be appeased Therfore also they would haue this authoritie that they which haue prouoked the people to Ciuyll warre might be made knowne to be the authoures of all the calamities and detrements which come by these warres The fourth principal point is that which concerneth Religion by which the states haue decréed that there must be a difference made betwene the cause of Religion and the cause of sedition in so much that for Religions sake no man ought to be condemned
as a seditiouse person aud a Rebell Therefore they thinke it lawfull for the kings subiects to haue liberty to take which religion the ilist that is to say eyther the coÌ„mon Romish Religion or els the Religion reformed according to the Gospell and to cleaue to none other and that all violence eyther pryuate or publique against eyther parte ought to be prohibited and that the Ciuill magistrates should prouide Temples for the ministers of the reformed Religion to haue their diuine seruice in and that no man should receiue any maner of violeÌ„ce or harme for vsing the benefit hereof But because those constitutions manifestly touched the Guises the Constable the Marshall of Saint Andre the Guises for that there were two Cardinals of them which were chosen to be of the Kings Counsaile also the Duke of Guise and the Duke de Aumal also because the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine his Brother were the Kinges treasurers And they touched the Constable and the Marshall of Saint Andrew because they by the same meanes were come to great aboundance and wealth For these causes they haue sought by all meanes possible to adnihillate and disanull these Lawes In the meane time the Quéene the Kings Mother as she hath ben alwaies in al her doinges wyse and circumspecte the which she declared when she had full liberty and was not Ruled by other mens power and violence indeuoured her selfe to make an vnity and concord betweene the Churches by frendly and quyet conference To the which Conference and Disputacion came all the chiefe Prelates of France and many Doctors out of the vniuersitie of Paris many Moonkes also which were sent from Rome and the Cardinall of Ferrer the Popes Legate and beside all these twelue Ministers of the Gospell both partes hoping it would come to passe by this friendly conference that they should come to some concord and agréement The which was greatly hindered and let by the Cardinall of Lorraine by whom after certaine principall pointes of the CoÌ„fession of Ausburge were disseÌ„blingly imbraced the Assembly was dissolued Then the Guises tooke other practises in hande and perswaded the Quéene and the King of Nauar to sende for the Iudges and Counsellers of all the Parliamentes of the Realme that they with the Princes and the Kinges Counsaile might giue their aduice for the present necessitie And to this Counsaill they sent suche as they had bound vnto them afore time by one benefite or other that by this meanes they might abolishe that which the States had decréed The which notwithstanding by the prouidence of God fell out otherwyse than they looked for And to the end they might the more craftely bring their purpose to passe they departed from the court â–ª But before they should go to the ende they might leaue nothing vndone that might serue to worke their wills they subtilly practised to carry with them the Duke of Orleans our Kings brother that if their deuises had not had good successe they might haue had one with them of the Kings linage whose name they might abuse â–ª This thing was plainly proued by diuers arguments and coÌ„fessed also by the Duke of Orleans himselfe who stayed the matter Here it may please you to consider at what time and by what meanes the Guises began to be iniuriouse and to shewe violence to the Quéene out of whose lap shée being a widow and in great trouble they went about to take her sonne Afterward the Guises departed not only from the Court but also to the vtmost partes and limites of the Realm and came to Sauern And there they fayned to like of the Confession made at Ausburge before one of the Princes of the Empire that by theis meanes they might insinuate themselues into the num ber of the Princes of the Empire the which as known to your highnesse we touch by the way But their departure out of France caused all men to hope for peace concorde which was euery where receyued by the rumour of their absence For in all places euery man of what religioÌ„ soeuer he wereof liued peaceably without any offence committed for the diuersitie of Religion all men receyuing that religion which liked him best And the word of God was preached in diuerâ—… places many ioyfully imbracing the same if a few had made any stour or businesse for ReligioÌ„ they by and by were easely suppressed About this time there was an assembly of Iudges and Counsellers which sate in the Court that belongeth to the Princes and to the Kings priuy Counsaill amonge whom was the Constable and the Mashall of S. Andrew who wayted for new troubles The Bourgeses or chosen men for the states declared that there was nothing in those things which the States had decréed to be altered but must stand wholy vpon their determination liking and they sayd that before they began with any other matter they must séeke to purge and to reforme the Kings Counsaill On the contrary part they which were to be thrust out of the Kings counsail by the same decree of the States bare themselues so bold vppon that assembly that they perswaded themselues to escape vnpunished notwithstanding all that the â–ª States could do Who neuerthelesse when they vnderstood the power authoritie which beloÌ„ged to the States would not giue their consent to doo any thing contrary to their decrees And although many of them openly declared that they fauoured the Guises and his fellowes yet notwithstanding there was an Edicte made called the Edicte of Ianuary because it was made the 18. day of Ianuary by the which Edict liberty and leaue was graunted for the word of God to be openly preached â–ª as it was decreed by the States Notwithstanding with this exception So that it were done without the walles of the Citie and that the Churches dedicated to the vses of the Church of Rome were not vsurped The Magistrate being commaunded to take an othe of the Ministers of the gospel that they should preache the word of God purely sincerity quietly without any sedition as is more at large declared in that Edict which was confirmed by the decrees of the States And although that same Edicte was suspected of the men of the reformed Churches least when they were out of the Cities and vnarâ—…ed and farre from their houses to helpe themselues they should easely be made a pray for their enemies as it came afterward to passe in deed yet notwithstanding because they would not be importunate and troublesome to the Queene to the King of Nauar to the Princes to the whole assembly they agreed thereunto vpon this condicion That they should deale vprightly and in good fayth the which also the whole assembly promised vnto them And then euery man sware to obserue and keepe the Edict faithfully truly and the men of more noble calling sware agayne before the Queene that they would not craue pardon for those which had violated or broken
being weary of his lyfe through extréeme payne desperately dyed The Quéene the King of Nauars wyfe being very carefull for his health who shewed hirselfe alwaye very modest and constant both in doing her duty with all obedience notwithstanding his euill dispositioÌ„ towardes harlots and also in firme abyding in y truth being also very carefull for the vertuouse education of her children but specially for the trayninge vp of her sonne in the reformed Religion whom the Guises went about to nussell in all kind of wickednesse Therefore the Prince of Conde wrote letters of comfort vntâ—… hir certefying her that a great many at Orleans were sore agréeued for the death of hiâ—… husbande This therefore was the ende of the Kinge of Nauarrâ—… who after that hée had forsakeÌ„ the defence of the trueth was the cause of many troubles â–ª being so muche more hurtfull to the church as hée might haue ben profitable if it had not ben the purpose of God to declare that hée himselfe is the only authour builder preâ—…eruer and defender of his church and not man how noble so euer hâ—… be for herein standeth the glory of God. The Prince of Conde had oftentimes intreated the Quéene of Englandâ—… while there was some hope that peace might be had by intreaty â–ª that her hignnes would be a helpe to him therin but at the length the matter being brought to be tryed by force of armes as we shewed before hée required of her highnesse money and â—…ouldiours to maintayne warre Therfore about this time when there was a rumor spred abrode of the comming of the Germanâ—…s and of the â—…ide out of England to helpe the Prince of Conde there was a writing published in the name of the Quéene of England who also had sent Ambassadours to the king about the same pacification but they little profited yea returned almost without any answere In the which she both layed to the Guises charges that they were the authors and causes of all the warre and also affirmed that she would take vppon her as it became her the defence of the Kynges cause And also that all Christian Realmes and Princes ought both to be moued to compassion and pitie at the afflicted and troubled state of Fraunce at this time and to moue thom to haue a deepe consideration and care to prouide remedies by which not only the Kyng a child the Quéene his mother and all the Kynges sonnes her children and so all the people of Fraunce may be deliuered and frée from present trouble but also to euell and rent vp by the rootes so great a mischiefe least the same should spred it self to other nations Notwithstanding sayth she there is no man to whom this common care doth more specially appertain than vnto me which being both of my selfe inclined to care and also confirmed and prouoked thereunto by the iudgements of my Counsaylers haue hitherto gone about by all meanes to do the best I could to stoppe and preuent the first beginnings of the great mischiefe like to ensue And why I ought thus to do both the commiseration and pitie of the kyng my welbeloued brother a child and my neighbour of the Quéene his Mother of all the Kynges children and of so great a people and also the present perill of conueying the same warre ouer the Sea vnto as all men of sound iudgement eyther hare or â—…ls where both beholding and talking of these things and also praysing this care of it selfe very commendable may sufficiently declare and shew my mind in this matter worthy of commendation Notwithstanding it séemeth reasonable to setforth in open writing how and after what maner I haue behaueâ—… my selfe herein that all men my sée how I haue delt with my neighbours and how I meane to deale hereafter First all men might sée how greatly euen since the beginning of my raigne I haue desired that euery Christian might enioye prate and concord when as because of the same I haue willingly departed from my right and haue let go some part of my auncient Dominion for a time when as otherwise they for whose sake I haue receiued this losse recouered and receiued by and by all that was taken from them And yet notwithstanding â–ª all men remember and know in how short tyme after and for what iust and manifest causes I am constrained seeing that I am offered great iniury and violence to proclayme also my selfe open warre both to deliuer me and my kyngdome from perill and also to frée my neighbours which fled vnto me for succour froÌ„ open tirrany In the which matter notwithstanding how vprightly I haue delt all men may sée first by exhortations to abstayne from warre then by open declaration that I mynded to deliuer my selfe and mine from violence and wrong after that by all maner of good gouernement and disposing of matters and last of all by the very 〈◊〉 and end of the thing it selfe After the pacification of those troubles to the end I might leaue nothing vndone to make true and assured peace concord â–ª I made a firme and euerlasting League with the Quéene of Scots my welbeloued Sister and my neere neighbour In the which matter how sincerely and truly I haue behaued my selfe God knoweth sundry benefites and gifts whith I bestowed vppon the Guises Uncles to the Quéene of Scottes and vppon their seruants may sufficiently declare my great good will herein beside the mutuall and fréendly communication also which I had with the same Quéen of Scots But amoÌ„g these deliberations and communications concerning peace beside the lacke which I had of the fruite of peace I am also constrayned to haue a study and care for those new troubles in the kingdome of Fraunce raysed vp by those which haue alwayes shewed themselues to be enemies towards me and what they haue done to make new suspicions betwéene me and the Quéene of Scottes for the same Quéene of Scottes sake I haue alwayes hitherto kept silence At the beginning when I knew well enough if these troubles should prenaile it would not only come to passe amidest the Ciuill dissentions that the kyngdome of Fraunce should come into great perill of destruction as now it is but also that other Christian Realmes especially my owne Realme should fall into the same perill both for the néerenes of the places and also because the authors of those troubles are my enemies I vsed all meanes that I could both by Letters also by Ambassages that there might some wayes be taken for peace and concord betwéene both partes Notwithstanding one part refused the same and bursted forth into open violence and mortall warre yet I ceased not from my purpose and good intent But when I sawe that the desire of crueltie dayly more and more enereased and that euery where bloudshed butcherly murther was committed and which was most perillons that the young Kyng and his Mother were sodenly besieged and came into their
handes without aide and succour and that he was so forced by them that he would suffer his authoritie to be abused to the murthering of his poore and innocent people to the besieging and spoyling of his Noble Cities to the breaking of good and wholesome Edictes to the iniury of the Kynges kinsmen and Nobles and to the ruine destruction of the Kynges faithfull seruants beside an infinite number of wickednesses mo and all to satisfie their willes and mindes which determined to breake the Kynges Edictes without punnishment which Edictes were made by thē States of the Realme for the preseruation of peace and tranquillitie and for the safetie of the Kyngs Maiestie When also I perceiued that they went about and had already put in practise to ouerthrowe and destroye the Religion and the professors and followers of the same I thought it good and most necessary for these causes to prouide out of hand a more effectuall and forceable remedy that the authors of these troubles might at the last he constrayned to come to peace and concord vppon reasonable conditions least the whole Kyngdome of Fraunce through the vnbrideled and outragious willes of a fewe should bée brought into so great perill And for these causes I sent some of my Counsayle Ambassadours into Fraunce wise graue and experiensed men and addicted to neyther part that in the extremitie of these matters there might bee a remedy found out whereby their Kyng and soueraigne Lorde might be obeyed and the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme mayntayned Notwithstanding this my labor and good indeuour was not thankfully taken neyther could I haue any answere frō the yong Kyng nor from his Mother the Quéene being made a feard by that part which was the cause of all these troubles Whilest therfore I was carefully busied about these thinges and had no other care than for the profite of the Kyng my welbeloued brother without condemning of either part I was other wise delt withall than I looked for Wherby appeared that their will and minde was which so often times denied the bearing of those things which were propounded by me and mine at my commaundement for peace and concordes sake For al my Marchaunts of London and of other partes of my Realme which came into certaine places of Brittaine only about their Marchandize and were preparing to retourne home againe were taken and robbed and dispoyled of all their goodes and they which sought to defend them selues were cxuelly slayne their shippes Marchandize taken by the Magistratrs of those places whereunto they arriued and that for no other cause but for that they were reported to be Huguenotes By the which woord although it séemed strange to those poore Marchaunts and Marriners who knew not what it ment it sufficiently appeared from whom they receyued commaundement to doe these thinges and what they would do more if time and occasion would suffer This was no small rapine or light spoyle but of great waight it was not done sodenly or marage but by the common Magistrate vpon the commaundement of the Gouernour of those partes and that by great contencion with my subiectes The matter being complayned of to those that should haue reformed the same nothing was done but to make a mendes one of my messengers comming homwards with letters of my Ambassadour was robbed the which also escaped vnpunished without any farther examination Wherby I perceiue that the Kyng or Quéene his Mother or rather the Kyng of Nauar do rather want authoritie than good will. And certainely it is manifest both by this and by an infinite sort of other arguments in what state and condition the young Kyng standeth when as he maye not preserue his people and houshold establish his lawes and Edicts nor giue no iust answere to other Princes and Nations By which and by other wicked deuises practised against me and my Realme it appeareth to all men of sound iudgement how greatly that violence which is now vsed in Fraunce by the Guises and his fellowes doth toutch not only Fraunce but also mée and my whole Realme more than any other Prince Therfore forsomuch as the dignity and authoritie of the Kyng and the Queene his Mother of his Counsellers louers of peace cannot at this time so much preuaile as to haue abillitie and leaue to rule and gouern or to do any thing els appertaining either to their own people or to other Nations or to their owne proper persons séeing also the Kynges tender age and the Quéene his Mother are so circumuented and snared that they must condescend and agrée to whatsoeuer the Guises will haue them as may testifie those great destructions and manifold calamities which the authors of these troubles haue brought in besieging assaulting and sacking the Kynges Cities and Townes and in shedding the innocent bloud of his subiects also séeing they haue caused ciuill warre that they might abolish and extinguish in euery place the reformed Religion do séeke to make mortall warre in euery part of the whole world furthermore séeing they are the authors and fautors of these pitifull and lamentable troubles are noted so to be of all men who if they might haue time and oportunitie would séeke by all meanes possible to violate and diminish the state and dignitie of my Realme and to conclude séeing of late also they haue openly gone about to cōtend with me by force of armes but by the grace and goodnes of God were disapoynted of their purpose and do yet diligently séeke the same also to aduaunce them selues to my incōmoditie shall I suffer and beare with those sworne and mortall enemies to peace and concord Shall I suffer the bloud of my neighbours to be cruelly shed if by any maner of meanes I might let the same Shall I suffer the young Kyng my welbeloued brother to bee besieged and in great perill and not to be counted vnthankful and mercilesse Shall I as vnwise and negligent haue no consideration or regard to my mortal enemies and to their practise Therfore for these iust euident and necessary causes of the Kynges subiects requiring my helpe and aide in these tempestes and calamities I commaunded many of my subiectes to be armed both by Sea and land to deliuer the subiectes of my welbeloued brother the Kyng of Fraunce from tirrany Rapine murther and destruction and to kéepe certaine Cities bordering vpon the sea coast and more néere vnto vs in saftie from those enemies least the peace made betwéene me and my brother the Kyng being broken they might the more easely warre against my Realme To prouide for the which thinges tyme calleth vpon me For I haue the testimony of a good conscience and do protest that I in these thinges do vse such sinceritye and integrity that I séeke and iusue christian peace as I ought and I doubt not but that the protection and defence of innocent bloud is acceptable vnto God wil be taken in verye good parte of my wel
in no perell hereafter by any maner of meanes eyther for wearing armour or for Religion commaundinge that all sentences pronounced againste him for these causes to be voyde and of none effect and that his goodes substance which hath bin brought into our treasury be giuen restored to him again and commanding also the watch ward about his house to cease whatsoeuer hath bin ordeyned and decréed in our Parlements for this matter notwithstanding Also that it shal not be nedefull for the said T. R. our suppliant to haue any other argument or proofe to declare our will and pleasure herin but these our letters only Notwith standing prouided that he be no author of seditions of rapines or of spoyling of Churches nor that he secretly conuey to our enemis either money or armour and also vpon this condition that he liue euer hereafter Catholicly and come not to the seruice or rytes of the new Religion that he neuer hereafter beare armour against vs nor do ayde and assiste those that are our enemyes any maner of way But as by these meanes snares were layed to trap entangle the simple and héedelesse sort as shortly after appeared in many when they were come home so there was no staye of excommunications thoondered out at Paris at Tbolouze and at Bordeaulx and in other places where the papistes ruled against such as were counted Huguenotes strayt charge being geuen to al meÌ„ to detect such persones the payne appointed threatened to suche as should conceale any such so suspected and a rewarde promised to him that would detect any such person the Kings Attorney being commaunded to inquire and â—…nd out such causes and to bring them with all spéede before the Senate Then after the publishing of those letters of warrant from the King whereof we spake before the Senate or Parliament of Paris decréed that all those men which came from Burges Poytiers Meaulx Roane Lions and from other Cities which were kepte by the Prince of Conde to Paris should be taken and that they should be punished according to the prescript of the Kings Edicte which commaundeth al men of the new Religion to goe out of Paris notwithstandinge that they had gotten the Kinges letters of warrant and had made a Catholique confession as they terme it of their fayth Roane being wonne as we declared before the army of the Guise came to Paris about the beginning of Nouember the rumour increasing more and more concerning the ayde of the Germanes and of the Englishe men which should come to the Priuce of Conde very shortly Therefore Roan being fortified agayne the breaches of the walles being builded vp and a Garrison left in the towne the Duke of Guise retourned backe agayn with his armie to Paris In the meane tyme came the armies out of Germanie to Orleans sent by the protestant Princes vnder the conduct and charge of the Marshall of Hessen They were thirtéen enseignes of horsemen contayning in iust number 2600 and eleuen enseignes of footemen contayning thrée thousand souldiours Then the Prince of Conde when hée had gathered togyther an armye mynded to remoue from Orleans and to goe to Paris But before his departure from thence hée published a writing in the which he cleareth himselfe from being the author of the first motions and of the ciuill warre deryuing and laying the same vpon the Guises his fellowes and protesteth that dutie moueth him too enter into warre to deliuer the Kinge and the whole Realme from those iniuries and violence This which followeth is the summe of his letter I haue hitherto sufficiently sayeth he by many writings published and sent abroad euidently declared that the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew are the authours and the first and true causes of those troubles which we sée at this tyme to be so hote outra giouse in the Realme because they tooke disdayne that they should be remoued from the gouernement whiche they vsurped in the dayes of King Fraunces the seconde and were offended at the decrée of the States of the Realme in which thei are commaunded to make an accompt of the excéeding number of giftes which they had receyued in the former Kings dayes and of the ordering and bestowing of the Kings money greatly refusinge not onely to be deliuered from this account but also vsing their former subtilties to enriche and set vp them selues by the ruine and decay of others After that I shewed the diuers Counselles and secret deliberations had they couering their conspiracies with the cloake of Religion and how they began to arme them selues by their owne prinate authoritie contrary to the expresse commaundements of the Quéene and the Decrée of the States breaking the common peace how they contemning the Quéenes authoritie the decree of the States by which they were commaunded to goe home to their owne houses came with an army ofmen and tooke the King and Quéene into their handes perforce with so much grief to the King that hée declared the same with teares openly I haue also declared and will euer euidently declare that I haue for iust and necessary causes and by the expresse commaundements of the Quéen her selfe as may appeare by letters sealed with her owne hand armed my selfe and haue ben nominated and elected by her to take vpon me the defence of this cause as can testifie Monsure Jarnac Monsure Soubize and moÌ„sieur Pordillan to whoÌ„ shée expresly declared that it was her will that the Kings faithfull subiectes should obeye mée and that they should at my commaundement withstand the counselles and practises of the Kinges aduersaries to restrayne their licenciouse willes And as for me if I should not take the sword in hand the King and Quéenes Maiesties and the Realme cannot choose but be ruled by the wills of the aduersaries whom experience hath shewed of late to be the tyraunts of Fraunce And now although I haue the testimonie of a good conscience towardes God and the Quéen who hath power and authoritie to gouerne the Realme and although I haue already declared all my actions and the trueth of my cause by diuers writings yet neuerthelesse because my aduersaries according to their wonted wicked custome do send abroad into forreyne nations many false reportes and sclaunders in writing impudently burthening mée with false lyes making mée the authour and cause of all these troubles I which desire to haue a good name and report among all Christian Princes Nobles and among the Kinges faythfull subiectes which desire to kéepe my honor and dignity thought good after many other to publishe this writing also To the ende all men may vnderstand how carefully euen vntill this present daye I haue laboured sought by al meanes possible to mitigat and pacefie those troubles raysed by their wickednesse not onely because I know what great destruction will come thereby but also because I haue a singular care and desire both to stablish the
Kings authoritie and dignitie the safetie and preseruation of the Kings faithfull subiectes the liberty of their consciences and also the peace and tranquillitie of this Realme in the which I was borne And I am fully perswaded that the only demonstration of the which I haue done and will doe shall proue those my aduersaries lyers and sclaunderers shall bring to passe that neuer hereafter any indifferent man shall giue credit to the like First of all euery man may behold and see how I alone in the beginning of this our Kings raigne procured peace and tranquillitie and sought to put away al occasions of seditions and troubles for the which cause I had much ill will and displeasure in the dayes of King Fraunces II. but I haue forgiuen that iniury Since that time hitherto those enemies of God the King and publike peace were offended with the decrées of the States and with the forme of Gouernement which they then perceyued to be contrary to their ambition when as they had determined to peruerte all things to enlarge their power and tyranny to the which end and purpose they conspired with straungers the which conspiracye is more perniciouse and detestable than was the cōspiracie of the Triumuiri of Rome as now appeareth by the lamentable effects thereof but I on the contrary part to quench that burning fyrebrand of troubles haue left nothing vndone that I could doo Neyther dyd I regarde the goodnesse of my cause nor the wickednesse of my aduersaries cause when as they armed them selues of their owne priuate authoritie to ouerthrow the Edicte made by the consent and aduise of the States neyther did I so estéeme of my place and dignitie that I woulde put my selfe in armour without the expresse commandement of the Quéen yet in the beginning I of my own accorde offered to vnarme my selfe agayne so that my enemies would doe the same and that the Edicte so solemly made by the Decrée of the States might be thoroughly kept as may appeare by my writinge concerning this matter The which conditions seemed to all men very indifferent and reasonable sauinge to them selues Furthermore to the ende we might the better and more safely enter into peace and concord I sought diligently that many Christian Princes might be admo nished of this matter and I entreated them by letters and by Ambassadours that they would be meanes to pacefie the same and to take away all occasions of greater dissentions But my aduersaries euen at the same time when al things might haue ben brought to some quietnesse wēt about to take away all hope of concord and sought for the nonce to exasperat and prouoke our mindes to displeasure by new cruelties shewed vpon our bretheren making more carefull prouision to warre against mée and myne than doth the forreyn enemie when hée inuadeth the boundes and limites of the Realme Beside this they suffered not the Ambassadours of the Princes of Germany which were now cōming forwarde in their iourney to doe their office about the pacification but sought to procure the Italian the Spaniard the Switzer to ayde them in their warre and because a certaine Noble man of Fraunce called Gonor did disallowe the comming of forreyne power into the Realme they abused him with iniuriouse wordes openly among the Kinges counsaill Whereby it may appeare to all indifferent men of sound iudgement what I and my aduersaries haue sought for and whether I could in this time of the Kings minoritie deuise more profitable meanes and wayes to auoid these gréeuouse troubles and also whether they can doe more than they haue done to increase the same For they haue gone about to bring in newe harde and violent lawes playne contrary to the Kings Edicte made by the consent of the whole Realme and agréeing with the Spanish Inquisition which is the ruyne and ouerthrow of peace and tranquillitie that thereby they might not onely bring in an infinite heape of troubles but also the confusion of all things The which also I my selfe by publishing a writing contrarye to the same shewed how much it was disagréeing from al reason and indifferency But what soeuer I could shew vnto the Quéene they had her in such bondage and captiuitie by force and subtiltie that they made her an instrument and meane to doe what soeuer they woulde themselues Notwithstanding shée perceyuinge what great inconuenience would come by warre thought she might do much good if she could bring the matter to parley Therefore the Quéene my brother the Kinge of Nauar and I met togither in the midway betwene Paris and Orleans Then I made declaration vnto them of two things which I sayd were the causes of troubles the which causes being taken away the effectes that is to say great troubles shall with them be remoued also To take away the causes I sayd the first was That the Guise the Constable and the Marshal of Santandre who had broken the peace by arming of them selues by their owne priuate authoritie and had forceably dealt with the Kyng and Quéene and also had broken the kyngs Edict of January might go home to their owne houses and might be forbidden to be of the Kynges Counsell during this time of his minoritie And I my selfe though I were of the Kyngs bloud and of much higher degrée than they promised to do the like The second was I sayd that the Edict of January might be fully obserued and that according to the tenor therof the vse of Religion might bee frée for all men throughout the whole Realme To these two ▪ neither the Quéene nor my brother would agrée Affirminge that it was not lawfull for those being the Kynges seruants to depart from the young King being in such extremitie as he was the request they said was neither indifferent nor profitable for the Realme Moreouer they sayd there could not be two Religions together in one Realme and therfore the Edict of January could not bee suffered because they of the Church of Rome were so many in number so sharpe set to mayntaine their Religion ▪ that if they should not haue their willes greated troubles would dayly arise ▪ To this I replied againe saying that it was neyther indifferent nor profitable for the Realme for them to abide with the Kyng which had both abused the Kyngs age and dignitie and also had brought him the whole Realme into great perill and vnhonestly broken the Kyngs Edict And concerning the Edict of January I sayd what could be more vnseemely than for a few priuate men so little to regard the Kynges dignitie that they durst breake the Kynges Edict to obserue kéepe the which they themselues were sworne by the benefite of which Edict not only Paris but also the whole kingdome enioyed peace Also I said it was a very euell example for the people to be armed to breake the kings Edictes and was the ready way to make them euer after more disobedient also that the
cause which was not perticuler but generally belonging to all men and that I should resist open force and tyrāny and restore libertie of conscience to the men of the reformed Churches by the benefite of the kings Edicte after so great and so longe affliction whereby they sayd I should preserue the authoritie and dignitie of the king and the Estates For these causes the greatest part of Noble men and Gentlemen vppon conscience of their dutie knowing that they were bound hereunto both by diuine and also by mans lawe haue followed me and with these the greatest part of the kings subiectes and his most noble Cities haue voluntarily ioyned themselues with me and rather by diuine than humane reason haue elected and created mée with one voyce and consent for this cause to be their Captayne The which office I being of the kings bloud and naturally bound to the Crowne of Fraunce haue taken vpon mée and haue sworne to maintayne the glory of God the dignity and conseruation of the king the Realme hauing also entered into league with them in respecte whereof I haue bound my selfe vnto them and cannot be discharged of my othe againe without the solemne consent of my fellowes to whom I haue giuē my faith And whereas I offered to the Quéene to become a banished man vpon this condicion If by the departing of vs fewe the common peace and libertie of Religion might bee obtayned it is manifest that my departure shall open a gap to more miserable destruction and therefore there is no cause why I should be bound by that my promise If I should departe the realme I should leaue the King in this his nonage in perill of the ambition and violēce of straungers and the Crowne of the which I am by nature a defender and protector in hasard of lying in the dust Agayne it cannot be that the Kinges subiectes should be in the more securitie through my departure whē this one thing is manifest that the Shepeheard beeing away ▪ the Woulfe maye the more easely destroye the flocke Can I thinke that so great a multitude can be sent out of the realm without their great hurt and without the great destruction of the whole realme Therefore for my duties sake to do the which I am bound both by nature and also by my othe I cannot neyther ought I to depart out of the Realme specially in these perillouse tymes vnlesse I would incurre the faulte of a fugitiue and startaway For as touching the reasons which my aduersaries bring to couer their wickednesse and to diswade me from the defence of so iust a cause they are so weake of so small waight that no man will estéeme them but those which are affectionate vnto them For whereas they say that from that time hitherto the Quéene hath altered her purpose disalowed the Edicte and allowed their bearing of armour and had giuen hir authoritie to the King of Nauarre to rule and order the whole matter it is nothing First bycause it is more probable and agreable to reason that whatsoeuer the King the Quéene and the viceroy determined and decréed when they had full libertie and when the kingdome was in peace is more firme and sure than that which they approue and confirme in these troublesome tymes when they are after a sort constrayned by force of Armes Secondly the Quéene cannot alow the gathering togyther of domesticall and forein Armyes of men and the beginning of warre contrary to the auncient custome of the lawes of Fraunce and the late decrée of the states and that for so euil an end purpose as to breake the Kinges Edicte the decrée aforesaid made solemly by the Quenes cōmandement but she must also ouerthrow the foundation vppon which her authoritie standeth which by that meanes should be of no force Neyther can she of her selfe put ouer to another her authority and power to gouerne bycause it commeth not vnto her by natural right but is giuen vnto her by the benefite and consent of another Moreouer touchinge the king of Nauarre whether hée be Viceroy or Legat he hath no such authority that he may commaund the Guises or any other to gather togyther armies of men and that without the commaundement of the Quene or the kings lawfull Counsaile chosen by the states The which was not obserued when the Quéene gaue them commaundement to put of their armour Neyther is it of greater waight or force that the Quéene since that tyme hath approued the bearing of armour and the musteringe of souldiers bycause in those matters it cānot be sufficient to haue only a bare allowing or approuing in the which a sure and expresse commaundement is required To conclude admit the Kinges Counsaile were such as it ought to be by the decrée of the States and that there were ioyned therwith the authoritie of the Quéene and of the Kinge of Nauar God forbid that any man how great soeuer his authority be in the tyme of the Kinges nonage might gather an army proclayme warre and put the power of the King and the Realme into the hands of a subiect be he neuer so faithfull without the wil and consent of the States first had and specially when the purpose is so euill and that the Kinges ▪ Edict should be broken These thinges of me considered I haue determined not to forsake my king in his young age and my Countrey and Religion all which requyre my helpe Therefore I haue brought my army more neare my enemies my souldiers being very willing and couragious to set vppon the enemy and to ioyne battaile But our enemies which haue so often triumphed ouer vs scorned vs haue found no better way than to packe and steale away secretly in the night Therefore forsaking to ioyn battail with vs thei came to Blais a town without any Garrison vnlooked for besieged the same and when they had won it they shewed al maner of cruelty and since that tyme they haue spoyled as yet do spoile cruelly many of the Cities of this Realme And as for the Quéene though she know the goodnes of our cause and that I haue done nothing but by her commaundement yet neuerthelesse bycause she is more a fraide of the power and subtill practises of our aduersaries than she trusteth to the good successe of oure parte mindeth to giue her selfe wholy vnto them anddoth more openly and vehemently fauour them as may plainly appear by these effectes Therefore shée gaue her selfe wholy to the Cardinal of Lorrayn who at that tyme was with her to be gouerned by him although shée knewe well enough the couetousnes ambition cruell mind which is in him and in the rest of that stocke which haue bin the causes of most greuous troubles in the Realme of Fraunce ▪ since that tyme that they haue borne any rule Therfore the Cardinall left nothing vndone that might hinder peace as may appeare by hys letters which by chaunce came to our handes
condition also that they shall within sixtene dayes after the publication of these Letters put of their armoure and depart from those places and assemblies prohibited and forbidden Whatsoeuer he be that shall do otherwise shal fauour support and mayntayne his obstinate subiectes he straytely chargeth and commaundeth his Magistrates and officers seuerally to execute vppon hym such punishmentes as by the Lawes are appoynted ¶ The Duke of Guise vsed these letters which were published vnder the Kynges name to the intent hée might entangle and snare his enemies by all manner of meanes possible After the besieging of Burges the Duke of Nemours with certaine troupes of horsemen came at the coÌ„mandement of the Duke of Guise into Burgundy that ioyning the inhabitantes of Dolpheny and of Auernois with Monsieur Tauuanes Liefetenant of Burgundy he might assay to winne Lions and Dolpheny And at the very first assay he wan Vienna a noble Citie néere vnto the Rosne and bordering also vpon Lions by the meanes of the paâ—… pistes which were in the towne The souldiours were coÌ„ducted by Monsieur Mogeron who after the surrender of the Towne committed great murder and rapine The losse of Vienna was very hurtful to Lions the passage being shut vp into Dolpheny and Languedoc Then Nemours picking out so many souldiours out of his owne men and out of the Burgundians and Indwellers of Auuergnois and of Forest as would make an army remoued with the same néere Lions to besiege the Citie The Liefetenant of Lions as we sayd before was Monsieur Soubize a very wyse man who with great diligence prosperously prouided for the fortyfying of the Citie Notwithstanding Nemours dyd not incampe him selfe hard by the Citie after the manner of besieging but taking the suburbes and places bordering thereaboutes sought to kéepe them from vittailes and other necessary prouision Notwithstanding the Townes men diuers tymes brake forth vpon the enemie and lightly skirmished with them But for all this the enemie at the length was in hope to winne the Citie yet their hope was frustrated to their owne dammage and hurt There came into the handes of Nemours a certayne inhabitant of Lions of a reasonable good wit and at that time of some estimation and countenance This man declared vnto Nemours certayne meanes and wayes to obtayne Lions promising vnto him that if he might be sent thither he would prepare and make an easie enterance for him into the Citie For sayeth he I when I am in Lions am appointed to watche and kéepe the citie ioyning diuers other of the Garrison with me can open the Gate vnto you and can let in such a sufficient multitude of souldiers as coÌ„ming vnlooked for may easely take the Citie Onely set me at libertie and gyue me leaue to goe into the citie gyue me my reward when I haue brought it to passe Nemours tooke his offer and after fayre promises made hée set him frée and bad him go to Lions Hée when hée was come into the Citie declared the whole matter to Monsieur Soubize gouernour of the citie who coÌ„manded the man to kéepe the matter secrete and also to flatter Nemours in hope thereof still Therefore he appointed Nemours the tyme and place where and when hée should come to the Citie watch wordes were giuen and the matter was so appointed that Nemours had great hope to haue his purpose Wherevpon he commaunded a great number of harquebusiers and certayne troupes of horsemen when the tyme was come to go before and hée himselfe followed after with his whole army In the meane time Monsier Soubize had very wel fortified the Citie in euery place and corner the which being done he commaunded him to go toe the Gate of the citie whom Nemours had put in trust for the treason the watchmen about the gate to be very hush and silent without any manner of noyse as if they were a sléepe and then to giue the watchword The souldiours of Nemours hearing the watchword came with all spéed and were let into the Citie And wheÌ„ thrée hundred of them or there abouts were entered the warders of the gate perceyuing that the whole army of the enimies followed after a pace they discharged with all spéede a great péece of Ordinance against those that were without Whereby Nemours perceyuing that he was betrayed fled backe agayne with the reste of his armye so fast as hée conld then the Townesmen fell vpon those that were entered the Citie and slew them very fewe escaping their handes After this Nemours went his way and would neuer more come so néere Lions to besiege the same Notwithstanding they had after this certayn small skirmishes betwéene them Agaynst the comming of Nemours MoÌ„sier des Adretz had gathered togither out of all Dolpheny so many souldiours as he could to helpe the men of Lions and he conducted 1500. footemen with a very small troupe of horsemen The reporte hereof caused Nemours to take a newe deuise in hande and because he vnderstoode that the army of footemen of Monsieur des Adretz wanted horsemen to garde and defend them hée determined to set vpon him with his horsemen Wherefore not farre from Beaupere he met with Monsieur des Adretz and his men and skirmishing with them troubled them sore had slain a great nomber of them if so be both the oportunity of the place also the maÌ„lines of M. de Adretz in conducting his meÌ„ had not holpen theÌ„ So that notwithstanding the greatest part escaped few were lacking Notwithstandinge for this cause the inhabitants from Vienna all a long the ryuer Rosne were greatly afeard and greatly also the newes hereof dismaied Turnon although it was strongly fortified with Garrisons of Souldiers And about this tyme the inhabitantes of Nonay sought to winne the Citie of Sanstephen beinge a very Noble and famouse Citie in the Territory of Viuaretz and this was the occasion there is in the countrey of Forrest a Citie called Sanstephen nere vnto Nonay where dyuers kindes of weapons and artillery the place being very conuenient for the same are made by Copper Smithes of which there are there great store The men of Nonay being desierouse both to haue weapones and also the spoyle of the City which was of reasonable wealth by the aduise and counsayle of their gouernour they intended to winne the same Imageninge that by reason of the nearenes of Nemours and of Monsieur Caumont a man of greate power in that Region and of diuers other noblemen which dwelt about them they were secure and careles and might therefore more easely be opprest And in déed it came to passe according to their imagination For the greatest part of souldiers and almost al the young men and boyes in the Towne hauinge the gouernour of the Towne their Captaine went out of Nonay and trauailing all the nighte wyth great spede through woodes and secret places were very early at the Citie of Sainstephen And so soone as
of the Catholiques and priests whom we will and commaunde to be restoared from this tyme forwarde to the full enioyinge of all their Goods Houses Landes Possessions and Profytes whatsoeuer that they may enioye the same as they did before these troubles were begon that they maye vse their diuine seruice in those places where they were wont without interruption or trouble of any man VVe will also and commaunde that the citie and Court of Paris bee free from the whole vse of that Religion Notwithstanding whatsoeuer he be of the reformed Religion that hath any house or reuenewe in the citie of Paris or within any part of the same may freely come and goe therevnto and shal be in no perill of harme for any thing past or to come concerninge Religion All Cities shal be brought agayne to their former and wonted entercourse of bying and selling and al Straungers shall forthwith be sent out of the Realme And to the end we may the better quiet and stay the mindes of our subiectes we will and commaund that all men be vnder our protection patrociny and defence that thei be restored to their offices and reuenewes what state degree or condition soeuer they bee of notwithstanding the statutes ordinaunces and decrees made since the discease of our deare Father Henry of happie memory for Religion or for the Armour which our welbeloued Cosen the Prince of Conde hath borne or any other at his commaundement The which statutes and decrees we commaund to be voyde and of none effecte least through them they their children executors heyres or assignes should be stayed hereafter from the vse and possession of their goodes and dignities Bee it therfore sufficiently prouided by these our letters and let all men be out of doubt that we set and restore them to the possessions of all their goodes and landes which they now haue or had heretofore AND least any man should stand in doubt of the faith and true meaning of our cosen the Prince of Conde we say and affirme that we do take and accompt him for our welbeloued cosen and for a louing subiect and faithfull seruant in all our affayres In the which nomber of faithfull subiects wee esteeme and accompt al the Peeres Lordes and Nobles and all the inhabitants of the Cities Townes and Villages within this Realmes which haue taken part with our said cosen and haue serued in these tumultes of Ciuill warre in any maner of place within this Realme Thinking that those things which our subiects haue done haue proceeded frō good intent meaning and for their dutie and obedience sake Furthermore wee will and commaund that the Prince of Conde our welbeloued cosen be fully discharged of all accompts for such sommes of money as he hath himself or any other at his commaundement taken out of the Treasury and to be free also from making an accompt of such money as he hath taken out of Cities or corporat Townes or from Ecclesiasticall persons or for the coyning of money the casting of great Goonnes the making of Goonpoulder the fortefying of Cities or for the pulling downe of Edifices or buildings at the Prince of Condes cōmaundement to build vp any fort or hold Of all which thinges we discharge and fully acquite both him and all others at that time vnder his seruice by these our Letters and Edict by vs subscribed and sealed And so many as were taken either in warre or for Religions sake or which are kept in durance for any other cause wee dismisse and set at libertie by these presents Such notwithstanding excepted as are theeues and murtherers to whom the benefit of this Edict shall not appertaine AND because wee specially and aboue all thinges wish that all these causes of these troubles may be cut of and all mens mindes truely reconciled and pacified that by this consent and agreement the obedience due vnto vs may be confirmed wee will and commaund also these thinges following First that all iniuries and offences which haue growne by iniquitie of the time and by the occasions comming therof and that all othes thinges sprong vp by these tumultes may be extinguished forgotten and buried vnder foote euen as if they had neuer bene VVe denie and forbid also vppon payne of death all our subiects what state condition or degree so euer they be of to prouoke one another with contumelious woordes and to stirre vp anger by enuie of thinges past but do exhort them rather to behaue them selues louing ly one towardes another as bretherne and fellowe Citizens him that shall otherwise do wee will and commaund too bee executed forthwith without any further examination or iudgement according to the seueritie of our Edict For the which cause to the end all scruple maye bee quite taken away those our subiects shall shake of and reiect the making of any manner of Leagues or partakinges eyther within this Realme or without neither shall they make hereafter any conuocatiōs moysterings of men nor collections of money otherwise than they are permitted to do by this our Edict and that without Armour The which we straitely forbid them to do vnlesse they will incurre the punishment for breaking this Edict And we will and commaund that this our Edict be sollemnely proclaimed throughout the whole realme and that it be also put downe in the Court Roolles and diligently obserued and kept of all men THIS we commaund by our authoritie to abide firme and irreuocable for euer THE XIII day of the same Moneth Poltrot Merae the same whom we sayd before had killed the Duke of Guise was examined and after examination confessed him selfe to be giltie of the death of the Guise and for the same was by the iudgement of the Senate of Paris con demned to be drawne in peeces with fower horses This is a most cruell kind of death which hath bene euer of olde time vsed vppon Traytors The maner of the death was this They tied to the wrest of ech arme a strong rope and likewise to the small of both his legges and then the other endes of the same roopes being fastened to foure great horses the horses wers made to drawe two of them against the other two til they had rent his lims one frō another This kind of death Poltrot suffered After this his deathe there was a Libell set out concerninge his examination and published and reported also among the Germanes in the Admiralles Campe that Merae appealed the Admirall to bee the author of his wicked déede and Theodore Beza and a cer taine other Minister which he named not to be prouokers of him thereunto and the Countie Rochefoucaut as accessary to the same To this accusation the Admirall answered and affirmed the same to bee false saying that either Maerae had made no such accusation at all or els if he had made it that then he did it falsely being prouoked thereunto eyther for feare or for hope For probation wherof he alleaged the rash and
the Protestantes he came with ranged and warlike armies as though he had ment to haue encountred with some enemie By his commaundement also there was watch and ward appointed at euery gate and flagges set out vpon the battlementes of the walles lyke as the manner is in Cities that be vanquished by force Moreouer he very straightly commaunded the Protestantes that they should bring all their armour to the common halles of euery Citie and charged his owne men that they should ransacke all the houses of the faithfull At Nemaux he caused one to be beaten with cudgelles bycause he had brought in hys armour somewhat to late and vnder colour and cloke of that example did very haynously sclaunder before the King the whole company of the faithful in Languedoc as obstinate and stubborne And deuidinge Garrisons of Souldiers into euery Citie where any congregation was surueyed and vewed them hymselfe and with certain troupes of Horsemen whom he had reclaymed to his owne lure and made fit for his owne pitch did spoile and waste all thinges wheresoeuer he came The Souldiers that were in Garrison and also they which waited vppon the Anuille began very cruelly to rage against the whole families of the faythfull euen as though they had bin taken captiue in war neither did they abstaine from robberies and rauishing of Uirgines but did scotfrée and without checke commit horrible murders the Anuille being in the meane tyme wholy giuen ouer to the filthy loue of whores beastly excesse of that good and gentle wyne of Languedoc and for these two causes he went diuers times to Auinion and there did compell a sight truly almost of incredible impudencie his owne wyfe a noble woman of the wor thy honorable house of the Duke of Bullion to salute entertain at her owne table an whore of that towne a wydowe whom he being taken with her bewty had caused to run headlong after filthy gayne And whereas fhere was an order appointed by the Profestantâ—…s in the Court of Nemaux that before they tooke any thing in hand thereshould be prayers made vnto God whose aide and helpe in administring iustice ought to be craued and sought for the Anuille commaundeth that that custome should be fortwith layde aside and when the chiefe Justice had said vnto him who then shall teach vs true Justice if the righteous and iust God be not called vppon He made aunswere that if he or any of his had anye care or regard of that inuocation or calling vpon Gods name yet not withstanding it was not the Kinges pleasure to lay any such burden vpon them who did little set by any such customes and rytes as that was and so at the commaundement of the Anuille the inuocation of Gods name was vtterly banished out of the Court of Nemaux Through the vnreasonable outrage of this furious raging president ther were diuers iniuries and damages wrought againste the Protestantes eyther vnder coloure of the Edict or els by playne and open force Of the which these thinges that follow being taken out of almost an infinit nomber of other may be sufficient examples The Kinges Edicte of peace did giue frée liberty to exercise the reformed Religion in all those Cities in which it had bin practised the vii day of March as it was prouided by flat expres wordes of the v. braunch of the Edicte besides other Cities that were seuerally to be appointed throughout all and euery one of the Prouinces Against this did the Auuille set this interpre â—…acion So that it be thought Lawfull by the chiefe Lordes of those places And so by these meanes he hindered the vse of the reformed religion in many places and euery wher scatered and dispersed abrode the congregations And although by the expresse tenure and forme of the Edicte liberty of Religion and conscience was graunted to all and in all places of the Kingdome yet he did so curtall and weaken the lihertie of the Edicte that he did not only compell those which were newly come out of the Cloisters and Abbies or els had forsaken some other Popish Rites in the tyme of warre but also those who long a go had left that kind of life and were entred into some better trade of lyuinge to take againe their former lyfe of monkish supersticion and to put awaye their wiues if they had maried any or els to depart out of the boundes and limites of his Prouince And by these meanes he plucked away many of the ministers of Godes woord from their congregations and droue them out of al the Countrey where he ruled A notable example of this extremitie was shew ed in Moton the minister of the congregation Who hauing long before forsaken all kynde of Monkery had maried a wife in honest and lawfull matrimonie and laboured verâ—… frutefully there in that Church To him straight commaundement was giuen eyther quight to forsake hys wife and leaue the ministery and then to take vpon him h is former kind of lyfe or els to depart out of the coast of Languedoc within thre daies who when he had made answer that he was content to depart for that he was so commaunded and hauing prouided al thinges necessarie for his familie and being set forward on his iourney as he passed by Monfrin a little towne of Languedoc by the way that leades to Auinion he went to visit the congregation ther and was requested by the elders of that Church that according to the custome he would preach a sermon to the people Moton was content and preached The matter was signified vnto MoÌ„scur Anuil who by and by coÌ„maunded the chiefe executioner forthwith to hang vp Moton as guilty of breaking the kings Edicte for that he had preached contrary to his forbidding Wherfore Moton was violently apprehended the â—…earefull Protestanteâ—… of the Church of Monfrin standing round about him and being haled and drawen out of his wiueâ—… armes that pitifully cryed out was bound vnto an almon trée Where after that he had comforted his wife and protested that he did willingly seale there with his bloud the truth of his doctrine for which vnwor thely he was so troubled he was strangled to death by the coÌ„mon hangman All which time while this was in doing MoÌ„suer Anâ—…ll lay carelesly at AuinioÌ„ wallowing in the filthye pleasures of whoores and wyne The churches of Languedoc did complaine of these iniâ—…ryes to the Kings maiesty and the Quéene his mother The like did the Prince of Conde being desired there vnto by them of Languedoc but all was in vain For the Constable was a careful maintainer of his lonnes mischiefes and so wrought that all the complaintes that were put vp against his sonne were voyd and to no purpose in so much that they which complayned were in perill and daunger â–ª Whereby it came to passe that â—…he congregations in Languedoc which had any thinge at all borne out the bruntes of the former warre were very hardly
to defende themselues vnlesse very spéedy remedie be had For and vppon these considerations I haue thought it my dutie to certifie the King and Quéene thereof as becommeth a good subiect and trustie seruaunt to doe which desireth by all meanes and wayes possible too auoyde and turne away so great and present daunger and perill Neyther sayeth he is there any cause why I should feare that I shal be accompted and taken of their Maiesties as one that is to importune and vnreasonable not regarding eyther tyme or person albeit I haue diuers tymes troubled them already with these matters especially séeing it standeth me vpoon my honor and honestie and the present and vrgent necessitie of thinges doth so earnestly require me to do it that vnlesse I will become both guilty and worthi punishment for so great and common calamities I can not passe so waighty a businesse in silence Wherefore I most humbly beséech your Maiesties that you will not take it in euill parte that I am come by letters to entreat for them that are without all law and Iustice most shamefully spoyled slayne contrary to your highnesse pleasures declared in your Edict And for that they could not by any other meanes obtayne remedie and redresse of their wrongs they are come vnto me for succour thinking that in respect of my néere kynred to your Maiestie the place whereunto I am called in this realme I might obtayn for them that ease and reliefe of their griefes which otherwise they could not get Neyther could I my selfe for these causes and for the obedience I owe to youre Grace refuse to declare and shew vnto your Maiestie with all humble modestie reuerence these so great miseries and calamities For all your highnesse Subiectes haue felt what great profit and vtility hath come to the whole Realme through your Maiesties Edict of peace the which notwithstanding is so defaced and altered from his first forme that no man hath any care once to acknowledge much lesse to obserue and execute it And although your Grace haue diuers tymes plainly declared and exprest that it was your will and pleasure that it should be obserued and kept inuiolably of al men yet notwithstandinge certayne disordered persons that séeke to abolish and deface the reformed religion haue so preuayled that certayne interpretations of the Edict are set forth in your Maiesties name whose prefaces are very notable and good but if a man but of meane iudgement doe marke the ende of them he shall perceyue that they bee nothinge else but deuises and meanes inuented onely to weaken and take away the libertie of the Edicte and now of late at Rossillon when as no man was with your Maiestie that would mayntayne the cause and right of the protestants there was a Declaration set out by which the Edict is so rent and defaced that it is not credible that it should longe continew for thus it hath The Edict sayth Be it lawfull for all noble men hauing chief authoritie their families and those of their iurisdictiō that wil of their own accord to vse and exercise the reformed religion freely and without molestation But the interpretation sayeth That al suche places are exempted from this libertie as were eyther solde or taken by the kings commaundement from the church liuing neyther should such that had any Church reuenewes enioye that benefite Further the Edict sayeth That libertie of religion was not only graunted to the noble men and their families but also to as many of their subiectes as would willingly resort vnto it But the Declaration of Rossillon sayeth further Neyther shall the Noble men suffer or permit any which is not their subiect to come or resort to any sermons or assemblies And that who so doth to the contrary shall for the firste tyme bee fyned at 500. Crownes and for the second tyme loose and forfeite all their howses and Castels wherein any suche sermons or assemblies shal be had or kept Which rigour and seueritie as it is manifest can neuer be obserued and kept séeing that many of the Noble men do not know all their subiectes and few of the subiects one another whereby it may chaunce that one may come to a Noble mans howse and yet be neyther one of his subiectes nor knowne of him who thinkes takes him for his owne subiect and yet notwithstanding should by these meanes be enforced to pay a great fyne and lose also his house wherein the assemblie was gathered togyther The like dannger also should he incurre if one of his neighbours did but come to sée howe he did Which thing would not onely hinder and trouble but also bring to miserable thraldome and slauerie the mutuall and friendly societie of men the chiefe and surest bond of true friendship and the stay and rocke of all common wealthes and Monarchies The Edict saith That there shall be a Citie choosen out and appointed for the administration of the reformed Religion in euery Prouince or presidentship and other places of Iudgement from which it was lawfull to appeale to the high Courtes of Parliament but this last point was neuer yet put in execution neither coulde it be graunted to the protestants although they both earnestly sued for it and the promise it selfe was confirmed by the expresse commaundement of the Kings letters and certaine Cities named to be chosen as fittest and most profitable for that purpose Also where according to the order of the Edict there ought to haue bene a place appoynted for the vse of the reformed Religion within the suburbes of those Cities that were named it was appointed in other inconuenient places xx or xxv leagues of Whervpon followed diuers slaughters and seditions in many places Notwithstanding thys Article of the Edict was altogether broken and violated wherof I doe not thinke your Maiestie causer neyther any of them who without preiudice to eyther part do wishe that the Edict might be truely and incorruptly obserued but rather I iudge your presidentes and other officers to be procurers of it who of a preposterus and disordered zeale and loue they beare to the popishe Religion could not bridle their owne outragious lust but suffered themselues to be carried headlong by their affections to the breach of the Edict and spoyle of them that professe the reformed Religion The Edict saith That liberite and free vse of the reformed Religion is graunted and permitted to all Cities wherein it was exercised the ▪ vii of March 1562. besides those Cities that were to be chosen and appointed in euery Prouince and this shoulde be done in one or two seuerall places of those Cities accordyng as the King thought good to appoint But the interpretation doth permit none to enioy this but those Cities only which were holden by force in the time of warre and so many are defrauded of that liberty in which the vse of the reformed Religion was kepte at the tyme appoynted namely the. vii day of March 1562
attempte againste the Realme of Frannce or that they mynded to defende Callice against the Quéene of England They sought also other meanes and waies to quarell and contende with the Protestantes mynding to deale with them as giltie of the Edictes broken and to examine those which had done anye thing contrarye to the Edicte specially againste that which was made at Rossillon that is to saye which had gone to anye other places to beare Sermons than to those which were appoynted them by the Kings commaundement or if the Noble men had entertayned any other to the hearyng of the sayd Sermons beside those that were within the compasse of their Iurisdiction and suche like offences As these transgressions had anexed vnto them the pain and punishment of exile so their purpose was to seeke a reformation of these things by seuere putting the same punishmentes in execution according to the tenour of the Edict But least they might séeme to haue no regard to the Counsaile of the Duke of Alba which was It is better to haue one Salmons heade than the heades of a thousand Frogges they went about to snare and catch those Noble men which imbraced the reformed religion as the Prince of Conde the Admirall the Andelot the Rochfoucault and other Noble men And this séemed a present waye to bring the same to passe if so be the Kinge sent for them as standing in néede to haue their aduise in those thinges that concerned the gouernment of the Realme Nowe if they should haue refused to come vnto the King than had he good and iust cause to complaine of them as none of his friendes And if so be they shuld haue neede to vse any force they had at hande two and twentie Giddons of horsemen and certaine Switsers also of which they had already gotten six thousand In the meane time the Prince of Conde the Admiral and diuers other Noble men of the reformed religion were verye carefull For beside these flying rumours bothe the dayly newes of the comming of the Duke of Alba and of the ayde of the Switzers and also the manifest preparation of horsemen with the euident state of all things else caused them to haue a great care For concerning that Holy League made betwéene the kinge of Fraunce and Spayne to destroy the religiō The prince of Conde was fully certifyed by the Prince Rochsuryon the Prince of Condes néere kinsman and of the Kynges bloude of the house of Borbou who a little before hys death exhorted the Prince of Conde to prouide remedye in time for so greate troubles The Noble men aforesayde being very carefull and withall vncertain what to doe fearing least if they should obey the kinges commaundement whose name they perceiued their aduersaries to abuse they shoulde sodainely be oppressed or leaste they shoulde be accused of rebellion if so be they sought meanes to restite the force of their aduersaries they determined I say to séeke all wayes and meanes to appease and quallify these troubles and to certifie the King plainely of their will and mynde herein In the meane time bycause they perceyued their enemyes to be in a readynesse they sente diuers mesiangers to the reformed Churches within the Realme to prepare thēselues and to haue a diligent consideration of all theyr actions They certified diuers of the princes of Germany concerning their affaires requiring aide of them if neede should require This was in the monethes of Iuly and August of this yeare The Spanishe armies aryued at Nice a Citie of the Duke of Sauoy mynding to passe through Pedemont Sauoy and the Countie of Burgundy where the Prince of Orange hadde occasion offered him to finishe notable exploytes if he would haue taken his time but as he dyd in the lowe Countrey so did he nowe leaste he myghte séeme to attempt any thing against the king but within a while after he was very homely requighted by the Duke of Alba. Philbert Duke of Sanoy required of the inhabitantes of Bernoy a great parte of the territory which they had sometyme taken from his Dominion by war and the matter between them was oftentimes solemnly debated in an assembly of the Switzers the men of Bernoys affirming that the same Region was giuen vnto them by the Lawe of Armes and that they had lawfully receiued the same Notwithstanding at the same time when the Spanishe armyes were loked for which came with the Duke of Alba the men of Bernoys communed with the Duke of Sauoy and agréed with him vpon certain conditions and graunted vnto him the thrée Dominions or Lordships that were next to Geneua ▪ By reasō of this agréement the administration and vse of the reformed religion was vsed in those Dominions euen as the men of Bernoys themselues would desire Concerning the purpose and connfaile of the Prince of Conde of the Admirall and of others of the reformed religion we haue spoken before The Prince of Conde therefore by dyuers messengers prayed and intreated the Kinge concerninge the séeking of a reformation for those troubles which were lyke shortly to ensue Declaring vnto him that the comming of the Swirsors into the Realme againe was so perillouse that it would cause the people seditiously to rise The Admirall went often tymes to the Constable his vncle and talked with the Quéene whom he knew to be at Chantilly the Constables house and fréely declared vnto her that if the faithfull were so handled wherby they had iust cause to suspect that war was a preparing for him they could not any longer be kept in peace Notwithstandinge the Quéene and the Costable pretended a notable cause why it was néedefull to haue the aide of forreiners for say they the Spaniardes beare an olde grudge and hatred against the realme of Fraunce so that we haue good cause to feare least they hauing occasion set vppon vs but the King will reforme all thinges so for the faithfulles sake that all men shall sée that he will deale vprightly and iustly towardes all men After this also the Queen made these promises in her letters to the prince of Conde Notwithstanding there came sixe thousand Switsers in the beginning of September and a greate number of horsemen were armed and prepared And the Prince of Conde was fully certified that the Duke of Alba which was already come to Belgio had moued the King of Fraunce in the name of King Phillip to go forward with the holy league and withall had perswaded him to take present occasion to bring his purpose to passe At this time the Cardinall of Lorraine was with the King and a great number of his adherentes also Notwithstanding all thinges waxing dayly woorse and woorse the Prince of Conde and the rest of the péeres and Nobles which professed the reformed religion sawe that ther was no longer stay to be made but that they must of necessity when they could do no good by their letters come before the king themselues and declare vnto him the present daunger
heere inserted though as yet we are not come to that yeare to the ende the reader might the better vnderstande the order of all the actes and affaires of the lowe Countrey After the foresayde slaughter of the Parrisians there courage was somwhat quailed that they durst no more so boldly set vpon the Prince of Conde But the Prince of Conde when he had soughte and intreated peace by messengers sent vnto the King and coulde not obtaine the same and beyng as yet vnable to giue any greater enterprise sent into Germany for aid to the princes For there were prepared great Armies both of horsemen and footemen Germanes their generall Captaine being Câ—…simire Duke of Bauire son of Frederike county Palatine And bycause the prince of Conde wanted great ordinaunce the princes of their owne proper charge prouided reasonable store of great gunnes for him At the length the prince went himself with his army to méete the Germanes that ioyning with them in time he might haue occasion to bring notable thinges to passe Goinge therefore from Sandionise he marched towardes Lorraine being the ready way into Germany The prince being absent the Catholikes armyes which men commonly called the Kings armie had the more libertie to increase their power to whom beside their domesticall ayde came certaine bandes of horsemen and footeâ—… men out of Italy The Catholikes chefetaine General was Alexander Duke of Anion a yong maÌ„ the kings brother but he had vnder him to guide him dyuers expert Captaines as Mons. Martigues 〈◊〉 Lessay and others They wanted greatly the Marshall Brissac who dyed before the troubles of this seconde warre and to whom the charge of the warre was principally committed The Kinges brother hauing gathered his whole Armie together determined to marche also towarde Loraine that he mighte either staye the Prince of Conde from ioyning with the Germans or else by meanes or other might anoy him and to the ende also he mighte ioyne with those Germans which came to ayde him vnder the charge and conduct of Captaine Saxon Baden Thus for space of certaine dayes whilest one of them laye in wayte for another there was nothing done but certaine small skirmishes made the kings brother alwayes refusing to ioyne battaile While these things thus procéeded on both parts by martiall affayres the Catholiques soughte also to preuaile by Edicts and with thundering threates Therfore the vse of the reformed religion was forbydden in all places of the Realme all Ministers were commauÌ„ded to depart the Realme within fiuetene dayes vpon paine of death notwithstanding leaue was graunted to such to abide still at home as coulde be contented to forsake the exercise of the reformed religion agayne it did not appoint any manner of punishment for any diuersitie of opinion concerning Religion so that the holders of them did kéepe their conscience secrete to themselues and did not publishe the saide opinions abroade nor ioyne with the fauourers of the Prince of Conde also all suche as bare anye office and fauoured not the Catholike religion were commauÌ„ded to forsake their offices â–ª and to liue as other priuate Subiectes And straite after this the Senate of Paris sent oute decrées by which they condemned the most parte of the nobles as guiltie of treason but specially the Admiral Whose office was taken from him and giuen to Mons. Martigues a very wicked and vngodlye man but yet a valiant Captaine The Armies pursued one another at Lorain while they wayted for the comming of the Germaine horsmeÌ„ And the Kinges brothers Armie was dayly increased with newe aide to whome within a while after the Cermanes came and ioyned themselues they were in number a thousand and CC. horsemen But all thys while whiche continued the space of two monethes there was no notable attempte gyuen the more was behinde against winter By the sufferance and fauour of the Quéene of Nauar there were armies prest out of the Region of Foix which is within the dominion of the Quéene of Nauar and adioyning to the mountaines Pirenei and they came to Montanbane where other Armies also by the industry of Vicount Burniguet and other noble men were gathered together out of the Territory thereaboutes After this by the diligent trauaile of Monsiuer Monents Monbrune Ponsenac and of other Noble captaines there were diuers other bandes of souldiours footemen gathered out from among suche as were banished out of Prouance Forests Bourgondy Dolpheny and out of Languedoc the which were minded to go together and to ioyne with the Prince of Conde And when they were in Auuergne the Noble men of that region at the Kings commaundement and by the furtherance of the Liuetenant went about with all the power they were able to make too staye the Armyes of the protestantes Wherupon they méeting together ioyned battaile at Cognac a village néere vnto the towne of Gainat The faithfull vnderstanding of the lying in waite of their Aduersaries at the first drew backe Then being incouraged by their Captaynes but speciallye by Mons. Mouents they did not onely encounter with the enemie but also caused them to flée and slewe a greate number of them at which time the foresaide Gannat was a conuenient place of refuge for them Bicause the protestants wanted great gunnes and were lothe to linger their iourney taken in hande they left Gannat as they went to wrecke their anger they set fire on the house of Haulltefull a noble man and one of the chiefe of the Catholiques who was also slayne among the rest of the common souldiers Mons. Pezenac of the protestantes side was very sore wounded in that battaile in so much that he shortly after-died This happened the. viii of Ianuarye After this the protestantes Armye passed peaceably on their Iourney and came into the midest of Fraunce And while they wayted for the comming of the Prince of Conde with the whole armie they through the incouraging of Mouentâ—… wan a Noble Citie called Blays The protestants in Dolpheny were often times skirmished withall by Baron des Adrctz that traytour and Apostata but to small purpose THe Duke of Aniou lingering and delaying to ioyne battaile the Prince of Conde ioyned himselfe with the aide that Casimire brought out of Germany and then sought all occasions to encounter with the enemy And for this cause he determined to besiege Chartres a noble and faire Citie in the region of Belloge beyng rl Myles from Paris He began to besiege this Citie about the ende of February at what tyme he battered the walls of the citie with the great gonnes that came out of Ger many the citie was neyther well fortified nor yet well gouerned by any skilfull Captayn for the chief gouernour of the citie was the County Daulphin of the Kings linage and of the house of Borbon being a very yonge man and the sonne of Monpensier Therefore the King and Quéene were sore afrayd least this noble citie shold be wonne and Monpensier being
of the garrisons which were so nie Againe they told him that it was certainely reported that the purpose of his aduersaries was to take him and the Admirall Therfore when the Prince of Conde had consulted with the Admirall they perceiuing that they had no longer time to tary they commended the successe of al thinges to the prouidence of God and tooke with them their wiues and their children and fled the xxij daye of August the same day the Prince of Condes letters being deliuered to the Kyng in the which he declared vnto him the cause of his departure and complained also of the iniuries offered vnto him I AM SORY saith he most Christian King that in all my letters which I haue sent vnto you since the proclimation of the Edict you haue found nothing but complaints and lamentations of your subiects and yet I am constrained too write of the same vnto you still For if euer any subiect had iust cause to complaine and lament to his Prince and soueraigne Lord then I and the rest of my bretherne haue cause so to do who a long time haue ben abused and oppressed miserably with all kind of iniuries and violence ▪ The which they haue borne the more paciētly because they haue thought that time at the last would ease them of all their euils and because they wold let passe al occasions that might renue the wounds of former warres although ▪ by the goodnes of God they might haue repelled those iniuries many wayes The causes wherof we know O King are not to bee imputed vnto you who of your selfe are so well inclined and disposed that you are an vtter enemie to such waies The which you haue often times declared vnto me by your letters and also by the communication which you had of late with your Mother the Quéene by which you declared how odious the renuing of troubles was vnto you when as you requested her to séeke to pacefie all thinges and to bring to passe that the ciuil warres might be no more begon which could not chuse but bring in time extréeme destruction But we impute the cause of these troubles to the Cardinall of Loraine and to his fellowes your aduersaries and enemies to your Crowne and dignitie by whose wicked counsaile and familiaritie which they haue with the Kyng of Spaeine dissentions and hartburnings haue ben continued these sixe yeres among your subiectes and are miserably fostered and increased by murthers which are dayly committed euery where at their becke vppon those which refuse to ioyne with them Wherin they do openly abuse your Maiesty that they may make your selfe the instrument of the detestable destruction of your Realme and they do also obscure your Maiesties fame while they go about to constraine you to violate the warrant of your faith openly giuen and confirmed by your othe that this one thing might be to all your subiectes and to all forreine Nations an example neuer to credite your faith hereafter whatsoeuer by woordes you shall professe the which how perilous and pernicious a thing it is for the conser uation of your state do ye not sée For what shall they say which haue heard of our prompt and readie obediēce which we haue shewed towards you in disarming our selues and in dismissing our armies with all spéede go ing home to our houses voyde of armour and discouering our naked brestes to the sharpe swordes of our aduersaries and all vnder trust warrant of your faith Shall your faith be said to be a net and share to intangle and slay your better sort of subiects and shal their faithfull obedience be thus tried How long shall an armie at your cost and charge bee waged to gard and defend your enemies but to woorke the destruction of your good and faithfull subiects What shall they saye which vnderstand of the peace made Surely they wil say that we could not sléepe safe in our owne houses that to saue our liues we are constrained with our wife and children to flée from house to house I was no sooner come to this place in Burgandy but there were diuers spies sent to vew the walles therof and the altitude of the Castell And now because our aduersaries would not faile to bring their mischeuous purpose to passe they haue sent hither the chiefest part of their power to hem vs in and to set vppon vs Insomuch that wée are constrained to depart from hence and too wander vp downe vntill God shall appoint a place of refuge and all to auoyde the brutish madnes the furies and cruelties of the Cardinall and his compartners enemies to the Crowne of Fraunce Can there be found in any monument of histories and Cronicles an example of so great falshode and such detestable trechery executed vnder the pretenced name of the Kyng Will you suffer your faith your promise and name to be so abused by them and your subiects which serue you faithfully and truely to be so violently oppressed Shall an vnchast priest a Tiger and a cruell Tirant ▪ with a ra ble of such as he him selfe is rule you and the rest of your Princes the Péeres and Nobles of the realme How long shall your pacience suffer such Iauelles too abuse your authoritie and name and make you the author of your owne destruction How long shall they bée counted for faithfull subiects and seruants which séeke for your Crowne to deuide the same with straungers And how long shall they be counted for Rebelles and Traytors which willingly submit themselues to that obedience which they owe vnto you and desire only to liue peaceably vnder your protection I might be more tediouse vnto you most Christian King if I would speake all that I might to this effect the which séeing thei are more particularly declared in the Supplication which I haue sent to your highnesse by this bearer I refer my selfe to the same and I shall most humbly pray and beséeche your Maiestie to accept to consider and to way the same as procéeding frō him who seeketh so much the preseruation of youre dignitie and Royall estate as the Cardinall and his fellowes are mortall enemies to the same yea as procéeding frō him who only wisheth to liue and dye in that naturall subiection and loyall obedience which hée oweth vnto you Therefore the Prince of Conde sent with these letters a Supplication which although it be long and tediouse yet notwithstāding because it declareth the causes and reasons of great and gréeuouse complaints and sheweth also the necessitie of the warre which he tooke in hand the third tyme we will not let to put down the same in order And thus the Prince of Conde began Although I neuer doubted most Christian King of your Maiesties singular good will to haue your Edicts of pacification obserued because it is the only and most present remedy to establish the peace and tranquillitie of your Realme séeing also your Maiesty hath oftentymes signified vnto mée
to be certifyed and persuaded and to assist vs with your aide and fauour In the meane time the mother and hir children commend themselues to your Maiestie to whom thei wishe most happy preseruation This letter was written the xv of October Certainly England did greatly fauour the cause of the faythfull as may appeare by the second demonstration of their good will in time of extreame perill binding the Frenchemen vnto them for euer by the great benefits and good turnes bestowed vppon them For they gaue liberally to such as were exiles and banished meÌ„ places to dwell in and very much comforted succoured the poore néedy and oppressed in these tumultes and garboyles of ciuill warres But to returne to our former purpose The Prince of Conde ioyned himself with the Army of Monsieur Acier the first day of Nouember at Aulbeterre and then out of hand they consulted concerninge the pursuing of Monpensier of which when they had agréed they tooke certain troupes of horsemen of the first Armie and the greatest parte of harquebuziers whiche came out of Languedoc and then the Admirall went toward a certain village called Bertrizi where it was reported the enemie aboade but when they had diligently enquired out the matter it was founde that hée was departed from thence with great spéed and so with losse of that iorney the Admirall retourned backe agayn to 〈◊〉 to the Prince of Conde To whom when hée was come agayn they determined and decréed togither to séeke all occasions of battail and sâ—… straightway they pursueâ—… Monpensier who with great expedition traueiled toward the Duke of Aniou For the Duke of Aniou with the reste of the army was at Chastelleraud in the territorie of Poictou who had also with him greate store of great Gunnes Therefore the Admirall wyth the first Army pursued Monpensier who was not farre from the Duke of Aniou in so muche that the Duke of Aniou béeing moued with so greate celeritie remoued his Campe néerer the Citie and more strongly encamped himself his souldiers the Admirall not bidding him battaile but extending his army and displayng his Ensignes in great quantitie of ground Notwithstanding this day there was nothing don The day following he marched his army more néere but first of all he gaue knowledge thereof to the Prince of Conde who sending before him his footemen came vnto him with the troupes of horsemen of the seconde Army but as he was comming on from the Admirall met hym and tolde him that he coulde not cause the Duke of Aniou to ioyne battaile with him bycause he had incaÌ„ped his souldiers within certaine valleys inuironed with hils and also by reason of a thicke myste which was so foggie that one of them coulde scarsly discerne and knowe another Therfore this day also was spent with charge and discharge of thundering shotte one agaynste another The Prince of Conde had taken a very strong castle called Caâ—…uigny by surrender which was situate near to the riuer of Vienna This castel he battered downe to the hard ground bycause it should not afterward stand the enemy in any stéede Then the Prince of Conde to the end he might entice the lingering Duke of Aniou to battail after deliberation had of the matter retired backe agayne with the Admirall and went asyde passing ouer the riuer agayn In the meane tyme Monsieur Bocard was comming to the Prince of Conde with the rest of the army and with good stoaâ—…e of great Ordinance when he had takeÌ„ Pont a strong and well fenced citie The Duke of Aniou vnderstanding of this determined to set vpon Monsieur Bocard he being yet a good way of from the Prince of Conde and passing ouer the riuer of Uienua he came to a certain Towne called Pamprui where Monpensier taried for him with the first army The Prince of Conde also was mynded to ioyne himselfe with Monsieur Bocard that if it were possible by this occasion hee might procure and allure the Duke of Anion to battaile Therfore the Prince of Conde came to that place the xvii of November was no farther then half a league from Monpensiers camp And by and by ther was a smal skirmish betwéen them which was but short by reason that night approched The Duke of Aniou was froÌ„ thence aboute a league Monpensier as though he had encamped himselfe made certaine fiers to deceiue the enemy and in the dead tyme of the night came towardes the Duke of Aniou at Iazenail By the breake of the day the Admirall sent Monsieur Briguemauld with certaine Troupes of Horsemen as scoutes to view the coste and hee himselfe aboade there still the Prince of Conde being not far from him Then Monsieur Briguemauld when he came to the place froÌ„ whence the enemy was fled found certain tentes empty and horses tyed with cariage which they had left behinde them and riding a little farther he might discern the enemy going forward then he sent Monsieur la Loe with twenty Horsemen to take a better and more certaine viewe of them who when he had ridden more neare gaue knowledge to Briguemauld that they were their enemies who straighte way with the rest of the horsemen rode against them at the sighte where of the Souldiers of Monpensier were so terrefied that thei forsoâ—…ke their cariage and fled towarde Mongontour hee leauinge his purpose to ioyne with the Duke of Aniou And it séemed now that they had occasion offered them to giue notable attemptes if so be the Admirall had not altered his purpose fearinge least the Prince of Conde on the other part should be troubled with the Duke of Aniou because hee hard oftentymes the sounde of the gonnes For the Prince of Conde fought with the Duke of Aniou with whom hee skirmished diuers tymes euen at his campe Notwithstanding this was not done without sheadinge of bloud six hundred of the Duke of Anious Souldiers being wanting and of them fiueteen captains And if they had not bene preuented by night it was to be feared least the battaile had bin more blou dy by the rescue of the Admirall The next day again the Prince of Conde came with his whole power to the same place but in vain The Duke of Aniou marched with his army to Poictiers and the Prince of Conde with his army to a towne called Mirebell within foure miles of Poictiers which straight way was yelded to the Prince of Conde where he taried eyght dayes Then the Admiral when he hard that certain bands of Souldiers taried at the citie Pontauzane tooke all his horsemen both with lawnce and shotte and trauailed in the night set vppon the whole Legion of the which the Brissac was Captaine and slewe thrée hundred of them There was also the greatest part of the enemyes horsemen whom he durst not set vpon both for that he knew not where the Prince of Conde was and also because there were great showers of rayne which muche anoyed them Therefore
returning backe againe they met with the Prince of Conde who on the other parte went to pursue the enemy And thus for the space of certain monethes the time was spent with skirmishes of horsemen For this was the pollicie of the chiefe Captaines of the Duke of Aniou to deferre ioyning of battaile therby to alaye the force of the Prince of Condes Army that his power being deminished by delay which the Prince of Conde could not easily repaire againe they mighte so at the last oppresse him While these things were thus wroughte in Guian the Duke de Aumall was with another Armye in Loraine mynding there to reseyne the Germanes whyche were loked for to come and aide the Papistes and also to stop the passage of such as should come to ayde the Protestantes as we will declare when we come to the same While the Prince of Conde was at Mirebell there came a Messenger from the Quéene to the Prince of Conde who in the Quéenes name exhorted and perswaded him to peace To this the Prince of Conde made answere before a great multitude that he was coÌ„strained to take the sworde in hande to resist those iniuries offered vnto him and not to enterprise any thing againste the Kings Maiestie I and my friends sayth he séeke onely to inuade the Cardinall of Loraine and hys fellowes from whose tyrannie we will deliuer our consciences our liues and our goods for they are open and sworne enemyes to the King and the Realme All men know how greatly I haue wished sought for peace as of late may appeare by my tractable facillitie But sayth he bicause the king is compassed about beset with his enemies I meane godwilling to make my petitions before the King himself And so with this answere the Messenger was dismist whom fame reported to be sent onely as a Spie to vewe what power he had and also to feede hym wyth the vayne hope of peace that thereby they myghte make hym the more secure Concerninge the prince of Orange wée spake somewhat before Therfore when he had gathered together great bandes of Souldies some oute of Germauie some out of the low Countrey and some out of Fraunce and when Mons. Genly a Noble man had brought vnto hym for ayde a great Army of Frenchmen out of Picardy â—…e passed ouer the ryuer of Mense and came into Belgio otherwise called the lowe Countrey where he taryed certayne monethes and made onely certain small skirmishes with the Duke of Albas souldiers and toke 〈◊〉 oÌ„ the Papistes a fewe small Townes And hauing no occasions offered him to giue any notable attempâ—…e the Duke of Alba hauing the chiefe Townes in possession toward the ende of the Moneth of Nouember he came by Liege to Picardy and so came to Saint Remi and Râ—…bemont with his whole Armye mynding as it was reported to ioyne with the Prince of Conde By reason of the coÌ„ming of the Prince of Orange all the Cities theraboutes were afrayde and Paris it selfe also trembled neyther had they anye hope of ayde and strength the Duke of Aniou beyng in the Region of Poictou and the Aumall in Loraine sufficiently occupied For thys matter the Cardinall of Loraine so prouided that what they coulde not doe by might that they brought to passe by fraude and deceyte and soughte to drawe awaye the myndes of the Germanes by whom the chiefe strength of the Army consisted And they had the better occasion offered them to bring their purpose to passe bycause the myndes of the Germanes were offended by nonpayment of their wages One Schomberg which had accesse to the Prince of Oranges Campe by the meanes of the chiefe Captaine whome they call the Marshall of the Army to whom he was of kinne soughte to bring thys thing to passe Therefore when the Prince of Orange was mynded to March furder into Fraunce the Armies of the Germanes refused required with angry moode to be paied for y time past their wages The captaines made excuse that they made no promyse to the Prince of Orange to come to warre in Fraunce that they could not so doe bycause they were the Kings friendes And thus the myndes of the Captaines beyng distracted the whole armie was dispersed also the Germans saying that they would after so much loste labour returne into their owne countrey The French men also by reason of this distraction went dayly away by heapes And bycause there was no passage into Fraunce by that parte the Prince of Orange with certain French Captaines mynded to returne into Germany againe with the remnant of the armie that he might â—…oyne himself with the Duke of Deuxpons whiche made prouision to ayde the Protestantes The Duke of Alba beinge encouraged wyth this successe pursued and persecuted the remnant of the faithfull throughout all the lowe Countrey and laying new taâ—…es and tributes vppon the people hee prouided also new kindes of torment bringing those forth to execution whom before he had put in prysoÌ„ Euery where horrible and cruel murthering sightes were to be séen but specially at Tornay and Ualencia where fifty Citizens to the terrible feare of all the rest were executed by the common hangman Concerning the Duke D'aumall we haue spoken before and haue shewed for what causes hee was in Lorayne for the papistes to destroy the truth of the Gospel went about to win Germany to take part with them pro mising to the Germanes great rewards of money which is a â—…oble peâ—…swader and can bring mighty thinges to passe Besiâ—…e this also they vsed false perswasions saying that they dâ—…d not warre against religion which the King maintained by his Edicte but rather against Rebelles which without the Kinges commaundemente haue put themselues in armour to trouble the state the people for the most part beinge drawen to mischeuous sedition vnder the prefence of religion On the contrary part the Quéene of Nauar and the Prince of Conde vrged and declared to the Princes that the Gospell was specially assaulted and that with their accustomed guiles they went about to couer their wickednesse and the breaking of the Edict for that all men might sée both by the breaking of the Edict and also by the manyfest denouncinge of warre againste the truth by those laste Edictes published in the moneth of September that they are mere sclaunders of the papistes Therefore Wolphang Duke of Deuxpous knowing and wysely waying the cause of the faithful promised helpe liberally to the Prince of Conde and did so in déede as wee will here after declare In the meane tyme while Duke Daumall wayted for the comming of certain Germanes to serue the king he heard say that there were certain bandes of the faith full in the territory of Strausburg Their Captaine was Monsieur Cochay of Dolpheny a good warrier he had charge of eyght Ensignes of footemen and of certaine troupes of horsmen which he had gathered oute of the remnants of the men of Dolpheny of
a gloriouse name among the French meÌ„ yea among those that were his enemies for euer There was in this prince a singular loâ—…e toward the gospell a desire most ferueÌ„t to aduauÌ„ce the glory of God to further the dignitie of his prince to maintayne the libertie and peace of his countrey For the which his enemies brought him into great perill and sought by all meanes possible to quenche that burning zeale in him toward the Gospel But he declared himself wise and valeant â–ª in ouer passiug those troubles and also constant in the trueth of the Gospel who for the same hath forsaken great dignities and princely honor and hath consecrated himselfe wholy vnto God and who as he hath for the gospel of God for the dignitie of the king and for the libertie of his countrey spent his life euen so séeing he hath for these causes speÌ„t it he hath in the foyle got the victorie of his enemies and being dead triumpheth ouer death and is yet aliue A myracle which all godly and christian men throughout all posterities will euer embrace In this battaile there were two hundred of the faith full slayne fortie noble men taken prisoners among whom was the bastard sonne of the King of Nauar the Lord de la Noue whose horse was slayne at the firste charge the lord of Teligni de la Balbe de Soubize and de Loue also the Lord Stuard a Scot â–ª and Chastelher portaÌ„t who after they were takeÌ„ were stabbed with daggers and murthered On the Catholiques side were slayne the County de la Miraude the lord de Monsaletz the Ba rons of Ingrande and Prunay with many other After this battaile one part of the horsemen drew to S. Iean de Angely with the Admirall the L. Andelot the Countie de la Rochefocault and Monsieur de Acier the other part tooke their way to Coignac In this Encounter the prince had no other footemeÌ„ than the Lord Pluneaux regiment heretofore meÌ„cioned all the rest of his footemen was retired by his commauÌ„demeÌ„t to Iarnac as being not of mynd to fight that day There was made at Iarnac a bridge of boates to passe the Riuer Charente in time of néed ouer which the footmen séeing the ouerthrow passed ouer to the other syde of the riuer so then brake it in péeces for feare of pursutes soretired to Coignac where were the princes of Nauarre and Anguyen The artillery brought from Coygnac was brought thyther agayne hauing made not great way The said princes of Nauar and Anguyen now prince of CoÌ„de departed from Coygnac the next morning with such horsemen as were retyred vnto theÌ„ And the same day they arriued at Sainctes in Sainctonge leauing their footemen at Coygnac to maintayne warre agaynst the Catholiques Who the morrowe after being the fiuetéene of March presented themselues in battayll before Coygnac with horsemen and footemen making countenance to besiege it There was a great skirmish vpoÌ„ them on the parks side thereto adioyning by meane of a silly made by the Lord Baudine In which encounter were left dead in the same place two hundred bodies and great numbers hurt â–ª whiche made the Catholiques to retire the same day retourning to Iarnac In the meane while the Admirall vnderstanding that the princes were retired to Sainctes went thyther too them and with the horsemen of their trayn he brought them to S. Iean de Angely and from thence to ThonieCharante Now the army of the faithfull were in great sorrow when the Quéene of Nauarre came to them because of the death of the Prince of Conde who vsed these persua sions and exhortations to quiet their minds Whereas fayth shée the prince of Cynde hath spent his life valiantly for the defence of so good a cause â–ª which also in his lyfe time he roÌ„stantly defended the hath left behind him to his fellow souldiers an example of Constancie for them to defend Gods trueth the Kings dignitie and the libertie of their Countrey against whiche wicked men rebell Our good and iust cause is not dead with the Prince of Conde neither ought the minds and courage of so good men to quayle and faynt by any maner of meanes God hath so prouided for his cause that he had raysed vp Defenders thereof in the â–ª Prince of Condes place to succede him Those â–ª and many other comfortable persuasions the Quéene of Nauarre vsed to encourage the moorning Army and then retourned to Rochell The prince of Conde thus taken away and his death no small losse to them of the religion the Kings â–ª brother knowing the princes of Nauarre and d'Anguyen â–ª were passed the ryuer of Botoune determined to follow them and in that purpose departed from Iarnac and came to Dampierre where he passed the ryuer he lodged his armie within halfe a league of S. Iean d'Angely of purpose to execute a certaine enterprise within the sayd towne by meane of the captaine of the Castell In the meane while the Princes Armye passed Charante as well at Thonye Charante as at Tallibourgh kéeping the boates alwayes on their side The Kings brother vnderstanding the sayde armye was passed ouer Charante and also that his enterprise vpon the towne of S. Iean d'Angely was so discouered as he coulde not commit it to safe execution returned from whence he came that is to Iarnac Chastoau-neuf and places about Angoulesme attending his opportunitie to effect an attempt which he had conspired vpoÌ„ that towne and that by meane of the captaine of the Parke which was also discouered as hereafter shall follow The Princes being now on the other side of the ryuer Charente begaÌ„ to suruey their forces viewing first their horsemen and then their footâ—… in order as hereafter shal be shewed All the horsemen were sent for in one day into two places The prince of Nauar and the L. Admirall mustred the battaile and the d' Andelot with the Countie Rochefoucaut the vauntgarde There were viewed and enhabled aboute iiii thousande horsemen well mounted and armed with valiante disposition to follow the cause to a good end It was openly read there to all the horsemen that the prince of Nauarre â–ª declared himselfe chiefe of the armie with promise not to leaue the campe till a good and happye peace and muche lesse to spare his life and goods in that behalfe This béeyng published the horsemen likewise protested by othe not to depart the armie without his leaue nor forbeare life 〈◊〉 liuing in the assistance of the quarell l'Endureau captaine of a hundred light horsemen after she last conflicte reuolted and tooke parte with the Countie du Lude gouernor of Poytou He was greuous after his reuolte to the Protestantes in a number of heauie euils as in pilling and robbing them wythoute respect and also vnder shadow of his white Cassakins wherwith he yet disgnised his people He toke the castell of Montaagu in base Poytou yeelding to the garrison no other mercie than by the edge
also in the laste rising as soone as was offered to the sayd prince and other Lords and gentlemen of his company the reestablishment of the exercise of religion notwithstanding their greate troupes and strength of straungers ioyned with them and vpon the very point to assaulte the towne of Chartres in the view and face of the enemyes campe which was for the most disordered if at the onely sounde and pronouncing of peace made by a Trumpet sent vnder the name of your maiestie the sayde prince did not onely forbeare y assault but also raised forthwith his siege and retired his army reping notwithstanding of so readie obedience but a bloudy peace and promise full of infidelitie if also during the same sturre the morrow after the battaile at Sainct Denys where both the prince had the better and the Constable principall leader of the army was slaine The sayde Prince dispatched to your maiestie the Lord de Theliguy aswell to warne you of the ruine and desolation threatning from the instaunt your Realme if the straungers were suffered to enter houering there vpon the frontiers as also to mediate and sollicite in meanes and remedyes to knit an absolute peace only in the cause of religion if in short your Edicts haue bene alwayes published and the peace accorded at suche tymes as they of the religion if they would haue abused the opinion of your purpose might in respect of their forces persuade and beléeue that aswell in all your parleyes and treaties of peace there was no other mention than of the matter of religion as also that their enemyes haue not bene brought to it but by necessitie being vnable by open force to mayntaine any longer against them in what conscience or with what face or countenance may it be sayd that these troubles moue continue for the matter and cause of religion And yit neuerthelesse the more to choke and conuince the Cardinall of Lorraine and other his adherentes of their lies and slaunderous impositions which they publish daily the said Princes Lordes Knightes gentlemen and others of their companies forgetting the infidelitie and all disloyall attemptes heretofore conspired agaynst them declare and protest this daye both before God and your Maiestie that what so euer hath ben don or offered to them in euill from the beginninge to thys houre thei neither haue nor wil once impute it to your Maiestie as knowing your nature to be nothing touched with such iniust seuerities whereof you haue gyuen so many publique experiences that there is nowe no cause of doubte neyther haue or do they thinke to chaunge or diminish in any respect their duetye and naturall regard which they haue alwayes bent to the true aduauncement of your greatnesse and Royall estate wherein and also in so many effectes aforesaid if it bée both knowne and séene that they entertayne no other purpose nor meaning than vnder the obedience and authoritie of your Edictes to serue God according too his will and as they are instructed by his holy woorde with desire to be maintayned with equall care as your other subiectes in their honours liues and goods they are now ready to giue such further manifest proofe and witnesse as their most enemies shall haue least cause henceforth to doubt them And that neither to enter into any iustification of their actions passed as their innâ—…cencie and iustice of their cause béeing sufficientlye known to your maiestie and all other Kings princes and potentates what straungers so euer they be if they be not of the faction and partie of Spaine much lesse to séeke to capitulate with your maiestie knowing god be praysed what is the dutie of good and faythfull subiectes to their soueraigne Prince and naturall Lorde But Sir in respect of the large peny worthes and coÌ„mon marchandise which heretofore hath bene made of the faith and word of your maiestie which aboue all ought to be holy sacred inuiolable and withall with what vnséeming boldnesse your authoritie and name hath ben abused to the extréeme periâ—… of all your people of the reformed profession it néed not séeme straunge if the said Princes with their consociates doe humbly beséeche you to declare by an Edict solemn perpetual and irreuocable your resolute will in a libertie exercise of their Religion to the ende that by the same suche as heretofore at two seuerall times both rashly and with all impunitie haue infringed and violated your former constitution in that cause may by this thirde be more brideled and restrayned wherein because such as were not able to endure the vnitie and vniuersall rest maintayned amongst your people by the good obseruation of your Edictes haue taken occasion to alter and corrupt them by new constructions and modifications contrary to the true substaÌ„ce of the same and sincere meaning of your maiestie And that also the sayde Princes with the reste of their faction confesse to haue borne a most iust iudgement of God in more sortes of afflictions in tyme of peace than when it was open â–ª warre as in con senting too easely to the treatises of peace whiche haue ben made the same prouiding a generall contentment on all sides that God should be serued onely in certayn places of the Realme and by certain persons as though in a sound conscience there belonged no other thing to the seruice of God. They most humbly beséeche your maiestie to accord and graunt generally to all your subiectes of what qualitie and condicion so euer frée vse of the sayd Religion in all Cities villages and boroughes all other places and corners of your Realm and countreys within your obedience and protection without any exception reseruacion modification or restraint of persons tymes or places and that with suerties necessary in so hyghe a cause and besides to ordeyne and enioyne to make manifest profession of the one or other religion to the ende to cut of hereafter all meanes and occasions to many who abusing such benefite and grace are flipt into Atheisme and carnall libertie and who standing vpon no exercise and profession of religion desire nothing more than to sée an vniuersall confusion in this Realme and all order pollicie and Ecclesiasticall discipline reuersed and abolished a thing so daungerous as not to be tollerated in any Christian state And because Sir wée doubt not at al that those who hetherunto haue pitched the foundation of their deuises vppon slaunderous reproches impudently published to make vs hatefull eueÌ„ to such as God be praysâ—…d be frée from the seruitude tyrannie of Antichrist will not sticke to impose vppon vs an inciuiâ—…e obstinacy rather to defend without reason that we haue once resolued to beléeue touching the Articles of Christian religion than to correct or retract our erroures We declare and protest as herevnto we haue done that if in any pointe of the confession of faith heretofore presented to your maiestie by the reformed Churches of your Realme it may be founde by the word
founde desolate directing his way from thence to Nyort to besiege it certaine forerunners of his campe were come alreadye to the gates to terrifie those that were within the towne At this alarum the Lord de Mouy with certaine horsemen issued spéedely oute of towne who were no sooner without the gates than the other were retired almosâ—…e out of sight whervpoÌ„ he returned and being one of the lasâ—… to gouerne the retraite as he was at point to enter the towne one Montreuell yelded to him not long afore vnder colour of religion discharged a Pistolet vpoÌ„ him and hurt him sore in the head flying immediatly well mounted vpon the selfe same horse which the Lorde de Mouy had giuen him who notwithstanding hys hurte determined not to deparâ—… the towne albeit being specicially aduised by his friendes to be caryed where hys hurt may bée cured he left Nyort the seuenth day of October and came to Sainctes and from thence he was caried to Râ—…chell where within fewe dayes after he died to the griefe of the armie for he was of stayed councell in any cause of estate of great spéede and iustice in execution and of long experience in maâ—…ters of warre as witnesse his actes as well in the battaile of Dreux as other places of worthy memory the rest appointed vnder him within Nyort left also the towne together with the Lorde de lâ—… Brosse gouerner there retiring with iii. hundred shot to Rochell This was the same Lorde de la Brosse who with the ayde of the Lorde de Pluuâ—…au made head agaynste the Countie de Lude at the siege aforesayde The Kings brother finding the towne forsaken entred without let whether also came very shortly after the King â–ª the Quéene mother and Cardinall of Lorain being then néere Chynon they began there to deuise and deliberate vppon their present buâ—…nesse accompting it of speciall purpose to recouer the Castle of Lusignan wherein was gouernor the Lord de Mirambeau that afore the Protestants had either renued their strength or well assured their present companyes In this minde they dispatched forthwith certein to summon the castle who so preuayled with perswasions to the gouernour that easily inoughe he gauâ—… vp the Castle onelye with lyues and goods saued certein dayes afore the battell there were bestowed in this holde fiue Cannons which discended to the catholikes by couenaunt this was iiii or â—…ue dayes after the battell of Mâ—…nt-gontour Nyâ—…rt beyng thus abondoneâ—… the Princes wente to S. Iean de Angely the ix of this moneth and so to Sainctes and bicause they gathered that the catholikes woulde besiege it they determined to man it with greate numbers of men of warre causyng to enter forthwith the horsemeÌ„ of the Lord de la Motte with câ—…rtein footemen likewise captaine la Mures companye beyng of the regimen of the Lord de Uirieâ—… At that time was gouernour the L. de Oryoll a gentleman of Sainctonge who after was content to giue order to the pollicie and state of the towne leauing the consideration of matters of warre to the Lord de Pilles whome the Prince established there for that purpose and who as yet was not fully cured of the hurt in his thigh receyued at the siege of Poyctiers He with the Souldiourâ—… and the rest of the inhabitantes resolued to defende the Towne and endure the siege The morow after the Princes came to Sainctes there made their armie passe ouer Charante The â— of the said moneth the lord of Montbrun and Myrabell departed from the Campe to go into Languedoc a iourney pretended longe time before so that they might leade thither their regiments and for this cause at the siege of Poictiers as is aforesaid the Lord de Pontais Marshall of the Princes Campe as well in their owne name as for other Colonelles Captains and Gentlemen of Daulphine were sutors for leaue to go for a certaine time into Daulphine and the more to enforce their motion â–ª they shewed how long they had followed the campe and that their Souldioures wearied with so continuall warre â–ª stoode in néede to be reléeued with the freshe aire and fellowshippe of their Countrey and lastly as their generall feare to be so euill wintered as the yeare before dryue diuers numbers to retire without order to the townes holden by the Religion in Uiuares where they had sure aboade so if they be not some what reléeued of their long and lothsome trauayle alwaies in a campe it is also to be feared that by litle and little they do not abandon their Ensignes leaue their Colonelles in the fiéeldes without Souldiours The same being already reuealed vnto them by certain numbers of their soldioures they could do no lesse than coÌ„mend their sute with humble request in themselues for leaue and liberty to depart now that the siéege of Poyctiers is raised The Princes aunswered that they could not order their request and satisfie the time togyther bicause they were as yet vncertaine what would bée the ende and issue of the siéege and therefore they thought it conuenient that they taried till the ende of the moneth of September hoping after thei had sene the resolute procéedinges of the catholiques to bestowe their armye in garrisons to rest all winter This aunswere qualified their requestes with expectation of the end of September When the army being returned from the countreâ—… of Touraine and soiourning néere to Fay la Vineuse their sute was eftsoones put vpon new â—…earmes for which cause the Gentlemen Captaines and Colonelles of those countrey men assembled to deliberate vppon the motion some were of opinion to pursue in generall a leaue and libertie of the Princes séeing their time of Septem ber is expired But others Iudged the presente season most inconuenient to entreate for leaue consideringe the state and disposition of the warre euery day enclyâ—…ing to battaile where they were bound in duty to bée â—…nlesse they would deface the honoure of their actions passed Which last opinion so settled into the moste of them that they resolued vniuersally both to mortifie their desire to go home and also to giue ouer to attempt further leaue attendinge eyther by battaile or by some happy peace to make themselues frée of the warre and so returue and remaine quietly in their houses And thus the Lord de Montbrun and Mirabell remayned in the Campe vntill the tyme wherein they thought to execute their enterprise wherein after they had communicated with the Lord de Verbeleâ—… brother to the Bishop of Puy in Auuergne and many other as weâ—… of Dauphine as the countreys thereabout as of purpose to haue their company in the voyage they went to An goulesme to the end to tary there for their furniture and strength This being known in the campe many came to Angoulesme to assiste the voyage so that they were in all aboâ—…te foure hundred horsemen in verye good pointe to fight with certaine nombers of shotte on horsebacke with the which the saide Lord
The Lorde de Lespau a gentleman of Berry and one called la Rose Sergeant maior to Sanserre attempted an enterprise vpon the Towne of Bourges in Berry by meane of intelligence with a Souldiour of the towne called Vrsin Pallus to whome was promised a greate summe of money with a bill for the assurance payable within two moneths after he had satisfied hys promise This enterprise had bene of long practised and for the execution of it the parties to the practise imparted it with the Lord de Bricquemau de Guercy Liuetenant to the Lord Admirall ouer his men of Armes and gouernour at the present of Charite for the Kinge vnder the princes to the Lord de Borry Barō of Reury des Essarz with others Lordes and Captaynes in those quarters Who vnderstanding the enterprise at large wyth the meanes to execute it iudged with it as a thing very cōuenient to be pursued This Vrsin Pallus in the meane while reuealed it to the Lord de la Charstre gouernour of the towne of Bourges and countrey of Berry and also to Captaine Martyn kéeper of the tower of Bourges who aduised hym to entertayne the enterprise and assure to them of Charite day place and meane to effect it who likewise applyed himselfe to their instructions In the meane while the said Gouernour of Charstres omitting no preparatiue fitte to welcome them deuysed gynnes of fire traines of pouder within the ditches of the place assigned he bestowed also two grates the one at the entry of the little Forte and the other at the dore or false port by which they enter into the great tower bringing lastly into the towne dyuerse horsemen and footemen Italians for their better suerty and defence The day and houre speciall for this purpose was assigned by the said Pallus on S. Thomas night the on and twenteth of December at two of the clock at after midnighte whiche they of Charite fayled not to obserue in poynt And bycause they were dispersed in diuerse places the place of generall méeting was at Baugy a castle taken before by tht Barron of Reury about six leagues from Bourges There met about a thousande or twelue hundreth harquebushears on foote of the troupes of the Lorde Borry and Loruaye with thrée cornets of horsemē guyded by the Lorde Bricquemau all which in very good poynt obserued both the houre and place asseigned called la Grange Francois half a league from Bourges where where likewise met thē the saide Vrsin Pallus ▪ assuring thē still of the facilitie of the enterprise that he could bring thē to the great tower without daūger wherunto to couer all cause of doubte he offered to be their first leader They of the Religion vnder the saith of his worde made march first and formost with him the Lorde de Lespau accompanyed with twelue aswell Captaines as souldiers and entred by a wicket toward the fort of the false port where they pitched ladders to enter within the false porte which was siue foote aboue grounde After him entred the Baron Reury with fiue twenty men and then the Lord de Sarts with fifty souldiers to sustaine the first but as his troupe entred the cordes of the grate were cut when they also within applyed their seuerall engines to vse and put fire to the traines and at the instant the artillery bestowed in flanks thūdred vppon them that were to enter as also Captaine Martyn with his nūber of armed mē charged such as were vnhappely entred who séeing themselues their enterprise betrayed deuised and labored for their safetie aswell as they could some lept from the wall down some gat oute of the grate the same being somewhat hyer because Buysiere stewarde to the late Lord de Autricour was inclosed vnder it being notwithstandyng taken from thence by his company who not able other wise to effect their enterpryse were constrayned to retyre They killed of them of the Religion twelue or fourtene aswell Captaines as Souldiers almost as many kepte prisoners within the towne besides suche as were hurt the Lord de Lespau the Baron of Reurye de Lessartes des Milles with certaine other were taken within the grosse tower After this they of Bourges fearing the courses that they of the religion made euen to their gates aduertised the king of their necessitie who succoured thē spedely with fixe cornets of horsemen which had bene before at the siege of S. Ian d' Angely they arryued at Bourges vpon the ende of December The Princes being come to Montauban as is said executed the cause of their comming adioyning to their armie the forces of the two Uicountes and Montgomerie In this time the King sente backe to Poyctyers the Duke de Aumall with thrée Canons and one coluerine guyded by the Lord de Gouas and his regiment of footemen And so bestowing his garrisons to winter lycensing afore the Italian to go home his Maiesty came to the Towne of Angiers After these long vexations and troubles all men be gan to desire peace the which as it was greatly desired of the faithfull so there were manifest reasons why the Catholiques should desire the same For although the losse and ruine of the faithfull was more hard to be recouered Notwithstanding they that were staine of the Papistes side were not the lesser number And their spoyles made knowne too many in diuers places caused them to feare the desolation and calamities to come the more if warre should be taken in hand againe which séemed to such as wisely beheld al things not hard to be renued of the Princes part séeing among great difficulties they had both renued warres with encredible spéede and also made them with greater force then before the stirred mindes of the subiects being daungerous weapons But all being weary of the continuall troubles wished for peace and quietnes and would the kyngdome take weapon against it selfe to her owne destruction It was sayd that the Kyng was enclined to peace and yet angry for his former losses and moued with the letters of the Emperour the Princes of Germany concerning a mariadge to bée made betwéene him and Maximilian the Emperours daughter vnto whom the Emperour would not consent but vppon condition of peace And so the matter beinge handled of both partes for certaine monethes at the length in the moneth of August with the great expectation and prayers of all men peace was concluded and by the Edict all men of both Religions were commaunded to liue quietly thorow the whole Realme Which Edict after our long and lamentable vnquietnes it shal be good to set forth in maner and forme following VVheras saith the King we perceiue that the troubles of warre which were spread abrode before this time and also now did threaten present ruine and destruction to our realme and subiects to preuent so great a mischiefe and to bring our kyngdome to her former tranquilitie and quietnes by the aduise and consent of our sister our bretheren and
other assemblyes than suche as shal be alowed of vs excepte they meane to suffer the punishment of rebels and traitours 21 I will also that all Prouinces Cities and townes all other places doe enioy those offices and priuiledges which they haue enioyed before these tumultes of wars 22 And to the ende all occasions of complaintes and quarrels may be quite taken away we will that all fauorers of that Religion without respect may be in authoritie and be pertakers of all manner of offices as well as other men also that they may lawfully be present at all assemblyes Counsels and consultations depending vppon those offices and in no wise to be put frō the said offices after the proclamation of this Edict 23 VVe will and cōmaunde that the men of the said Religion be not oppressed more than the catholiques but to beare all a like one burthen according to the consideration had of their goods And because of the great burthens which the men of the sayd religiō haue borne we will that they be not subiect to the payment of the tributes of Cities which shall be hereafter vppon consideration of those things which haue bene done heretofore Notwithstanding they shall be tributary vnto vs at our commaundement as well as the Catholiques 24 VVe will and commaunde that all they whiche because of these warrs are kept in prison be set at libertie and that without any manner of raunsome 25 If any controuersies happen to be for those raunsomes and that the prisoners goods be taken awaye for the same we will that the parties so disagreing and contending do repaire to our brother the Duke of Aniou who shall order and ende the matter 26 VVe will and commaunde that all men of the reformed religion be vnder our protectiō and may peaceably enioy their offices and dignities notwythstanding we will not that their Lieutenāts the deputies belōging vnto thē be restored vnto those offices because we haue otherwise prouided notwithstanding they shall haue our pay for the same 27 The booties and spoyles not taken in wars which as yet shall remaine shal be restored to their owners again the buyers hauing their money gyuen to them againe in such quantitie as was put down in the regester of the court Thus would we haue all moueables restored againe 28 Also we will and commaunde that all owners may receiue the reuenewes of their lands peaceably this yere and we abrogate all sentences to the contrary 29 VVe will and commaunde that the houses Castles Cities and other places of the men of the reformed Religion be free from Garrisons of souldiers and that they be in the same state condition in the which they were before the beginning of these tumultes 30 VVe will and commaunde that the Prince of Orange and the countie Lodouic his brother be really restored to all their dominions which are within the borders of our Realme and that the dominion of Orange be in the same state and case in the which it was before the troubles of warres according to the prescript of the graunt made King Henry our Father and other Kings our Auncetors commaunding also that al instruments Dedes writings belonging to the same be forthwith restored 31 VVe will also that all writinges and euidences of any landes bee presently restored too all men which are owners of the same of what Religion soeuer they be 32 And to the end the remembrance ▪ of all troubles past may so much as may be quite and cleane forgottē VVe will and commaund iudgements against the men of the said religion pronounced since the death of King Henry our father for because of warres or Religion whi ther the sayd sentences or iudgements concerne death or losse of goodes to be voyd and of none effect and to be rased out of the Regesters of all Courtes and that all goods with the ground of houses ouerthrowne and the appertenances be restored to their owners 33 In like maner we abrogate all sentences in controuersie during the time of this warre gotten and obtained against the men of the said Religion in what cause soeuer it be and we will that the controuersies bee in the same state in the which they were before the beginning of these tumultes ▪ 34 VVe will and commaund the men of the said religion to obserue and keepe all pollitique lawes of our Realme as that which concerneth holy dayes and fasting dayes on the one to do no worke and on the other to eate no flesh 35 And to the end all men may haue the lawe without suspicion of hatred or fauour we will that such controuersies as haue bene already moued or shal be moued hereafter betweene the men of cōtrary Religion be first of all brought before the ordinary Iudges and if any appeale be made in the higher Parliaments in respect of the Parliament of Paris which consisteth of seuen Courtes then the men of the reformed Religion may if they will refuse foure of the Iudges or Senators and yet shew no cause of their refusal howbeit the law is against it which will not suffer any man to challenge or refuse a Senator without he shew some lawfull cause And it shal also be lawful for them to refuse any other Senator shew ing according to custome lawfull causes 36 As touching the controuersies of which the appeale is to be made to the Parliament of Tholoz except the parties shall chuse another Parliament to decide the controuersie it shal be lawfull for them to appeale to our Masters of Requestes in the Pallace of Paris who shall define and decide all controuersies in high Court. 38 In the Parliament of Rhoane of Aijgues of Brittaine and of Granople it shal be lawfull for them too refuse sixe Iudges or Senatours that is to saye three in eche court And in Burdeaux foure in euery courte 38 It shall also be lawful for the catholikes to require that all they which haue bene at any time depriued of their offices may not know or vnderstand their controuersies withoute expressing of any farther cause and withall they shall haue leaue to make exception against any other counsellers according to the custome 39 And bicause so many haue bene offended in the time of these warres that they cannot easily forget the iniuries done vnto them which we woulde gladly haue thē to do to the end therefore all occasions of troubles may be taken cleane away we giue vnto the men of the reformed religion the Cities of Rochel Montaubane Cognac and Charite to keepe In the which they maye dwell which woulde not returne home so quickely for feare of troubles And for the safetie of the said Cities the Prince of Nauar and the Prince of Conde our welbeloued kinsmen and twentie Noble men more of that side will stand bound vnto vs and will be sworne vnto vs to saue them from all perill and to
the slaughter of the Admirall and his adherentes was done by the Kings commaundement for so was his maiesties expresse pleasure bicause they had conspired to kil him and his brethren and the Quéene his mother and the Kyng of Nauarre And farther that the King did forbid that from thenceforthe there should be no moe assemblies holden nor preachings vsed of the Religion After the Kinges oratioÌ„ ended Christopher Thuane PresideÌ„t of that ParliameÌ„t a man very notable for his light brain and his cruell heart did with very large wordes congratulate vnto the King that he had now with guile and subtiltie ouercom these his enimies whome he could neuer vanquishe by armes and battell saying that therein the King had most fully veryfied the olde saying of Lewes the eleuenth his progenitor King of Fraunce which was wont to say that he knew neuer a latine sentence but this one Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare He that can not skil to dissemble can not skil to be a King. But Pibrace the aduocate of the FinaÌ„ces made a short oration the summe whereof was to this effecte that although the King hadde iust and great cause to be displeased yet he thought it more agréeable with his maiesties clemencie and goodnesse to make an ende of the slaughters and common spoyle and not to suffer such outrages to be any longer committed without iudiciall procéeding in the cause and besought his maiestie that from thenceforth it would please him to vse the lawe which is well knowne to be the onely stablishment of kingdomes and Empires and that there had bene already giuen to the commonaltie too perillous an example to followe An arrest of ParliameÌ„t with the Kings royall assent being made to that effect there were immediately Haroldes and trumpeters sent rouÌ„d about all the towne and an Edict proclaimed in the Kings name that from thenceforth the slaughters and common butcherly murtherings should ceasse and that all persons should abstainc from pillage and robberie This being knowne there were diuers speaches vsed of this matter throughout the town and specially of learned meÌ„ The most part sayd that they had read many histories but in all memorie of all ages they neuer heard of any such thing as this They coÌ„pared this case with the horrible doings of King Mithridates which with one messenger and with the aduertisement of one letter caused a hundreth and fiftie thousand Romaines to be slaine Some coÌ„pared it with the doing of Peter of Arragone which slewe eight thousand Frenchmen in Sicile which Isle they had surprised in his absence But yet this difference appeared betwene those cases and this that those Kings had exercised their crueltie vpon foreins and strangers but this King had done his outrage vpon his owne subiectes being yelded not so much to his power as to his faith and credit Those Kings were bound by no promise but such as was giuen to the strangers themselues this King was with newe made league bound to the kings and Princes his neighbors to kepe the peace that he had sworne Those kings vsed no guilefull meanes vnworthie for the maiestie of a King to deceyue this king for a baite and allurement abused the mariage of his owne sister and in a manner besprinkled hir wedding robe with bloud Which dishonor and indignitie no posteritie of all ages can forget Some againe discoursed that though this cruell aduise semed to many Courtiers to haue bene profitable yet not onely the honor of a King but also the estimation and good fame of the whole nation was against that shewe of profit They alleaged how Aristides did openly in the audience of all the people reiect the counsell of Themistocles coÌ„cerning the burning of the Lacedemonians nauie although it must needes haue followed that the power of the Lacedemonians their enimies should therby haue bene vtterly weakened â–ª Fuâ—… Camillus receyued not the children of the chief Lords of the Phalice betrayed to him by their schoolemaister but stripped him naked and deliuered him to be whipped home with rods by the same children Pausanias hath left it reported that the posteritie of Philip of Macedon fell into most great calamities for this cause that he was wont to set light by the reuerend conscience of an oth and his faith giuen in leagues Some cited the lawe of the twelue tables Si patronus clienti fraudem facit sacer esto If the patrone or soueraigne defraude his client or vassall be he out of protection They disputed also that like faith as the vassal oweth to his Lord the Lord oweth also to his vassall and for what causes and for what fellonies the vassal loseth his tenancie for the same causes and fellonies the Lord loseth his seigniorie Some said that the right hand in auncient time was called the pledge of the faith of a King and that this if a King shall despise there is no communion of right with him and he is no more to be accounted a king neither of his owne subiects nor of straungers Kingly vertues in tymes past haue bene reported to be these iustice gentlenesse and clemencie but crueltie and outrage haue euer bene dispraised both in all persons and specially in princes Scipio hath in all ages bene praysed who was wont to say that he had rather saue one citizen than kill a thousand enimies whiche sentence Antoninus the Emperor surnamed Pius the kinde or vertuous did oft repeate It was a most shamefull byworde of yong Tyberius to be called clay tempered with bloud They sayd also that kings haue power of life and death ouer their subiects but not without hearing the cause and iudicial proccding that there cannot be alleaged a greater authoritie than the Dictators had at Rome in whome was the soueraigne power of peace and warre of life and death and without appeale yet was it not lawfull for them to execute a citizen his cause vnheard Only théeues and murderers take away mens liues without order of lawe and hearing their cause Who can doubt said they but that this so great outrage so great sheading of ChristiaÌ„ bloud is the frute of the curssed life of the courtiers For said they now throughout al Fraunce whoredom loose leudnesse of life are so frée vsual the now the most part of the women of Fraunce séeme to be in manner common and â–ª the wicked blasphemies and continuall execrations and dishonorings of Gods most holye name and maiestie are suche as God can not longer beare And true it is though incredible among forein Nations that the Catholikes of France haue prescribed themselues this for a special mark to be knowne from other men that at euery thirde word they blasphemously sweare by the head death bloud and bellie of God and wonderfull it is that the King himselfe is so muche delighted in this custome of swearing and blaspheming and this as it were a pestilent infection is spred abroade and common among the very plowmeÌ„ and peysants so as none
Admiralles friendes woulde proceede to the reuenge of his hurt and bycause they were suspected to be the authours thereof were so stirred vp this laste nyght that a great and lamentable sedition arose thereof in so muche that the Guarde by mee appoynted for his defence about his house was sette vpon and hee himselfe wyth certaine of his Gentlemen slayne and hauock of other made in diuers places of the Citie whiche was handled wyth suche a rage that I coulde not vse the remedie that I woulde but hadde muche a doe to employ my Guardes and other defence for the safetie of my selfe and my brethren within the Castle of Louure to giue order hereafter for the appeasing of this sedition whiche is at this houre well appeased thankes be to God and came to passe by a particular and priuate quarell of long time fostered betwixte those two houses VVhereof when I foresawe that there woulde succeede some mischieuous purpose I did what I coulde possibly to appease it as all men knowe And yet hereby the Edicte of Pacification is not broken whiche I will to bee kepte as straightly as euer it was as I haue giuen to vnderstande in all places throughout my Realme And bycause it is greatly to be feared that suche an execution might stirre vp my subiectes one against an other and cause greate murthers through the Cities of my Realme whereby I shoulde bee greatly grieued I praye you cause to be published and vnderstoode in all places of your gouernement that euery person abyde and continue in the safegard of his owne house and to take no weapons in bande nor one to hurt an other vpon payne of death commaunding them to kepe and diligently to obserue our Edict of Pacification And to make the offenders and resisters and such as would disobey and breake our will to be punished you shall assemble out of hande as great force as you can as well of your friendes as of them that bee appoynted by me and others aduertising the Captains of Castles and Cities in your gouernement to take heede to the safegarde and preseruation of the sayde places so that no faulte ensue on their behalfe aduertising me also so soone as you can what order you haue giuen herein and how all things haue passed within the circuite of your gouernement Herevpon I pray God to keepe you Cousin in his holy safegard At Paris the. xxiiij of August Signed Charles and vnderneath Brulard ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE KING to the Lorde of Prye his Lieutenant generall in Touraine vpon the same matter that the former Letter was MOnsieur de Prie you haue vnderstoode howe my cousin the Admirall was hurt the last day and in what readinesse I was to do as much as in me lay for the tryall of the fact and to cause so great and spedie iustice to be done as should be an example throughout all my Realme wherin nothing was omitted Since it is so happened that my cousins of the house of Guise and other Lords and Gentlemen their adherents which are no smal partie in this towne as all men know hauing gotten certaine intelligence that the friendes of my sayd cousin the Admirall intended to pursue and execute vpon them the reuenge of this hurte for that they had them in suspicion to be the cause and occasion therof haue made such a stirre this night passed that among them on both partes hath bene raised a greate and lamentable tumulte the Garde that was set about the Lorde Admirals house was distressed himselfe slayne in his house with diuers other Gentlemen as also great slaughter hath bene made of other in sundrie places and quarters of this towne which hath bene done with such furie that it was impossible for me to giue such remedie as was to be wished I hauing enough to do to employe my Garde and other forces to keepe my selfe in safetie in the Castle of Louure to the end to giue order for the appeasing of the whole vproare which at this houre thankes be to God is well quenched for that the same happened by the particular quarrell that hath of long tyme bene betwene those twoo houses whereof alwayes hauing some doubt that some vnhappie effecte woulde ensue I haue as is well knowne to all men before this tyme done all that I coulde for to appease it nothing in this last fact tending too the breache of my Edict of Pacification which contrarywise I will in all things to bee mainteyned as at any time heretofore as I do giue it to vnderstand thorowout my Realme And forasmuch as it is greatly to be seared that this may stirre vp and cause my subiectes to rise one against another and to commit greate slaughters in the townes of my Realme whereof I would bee maruelously sorie I pray you that immediatly vpon the receyte hereof ye cause to be published and done to vnderstande in all places of your charge that euery man as well in towne as in countrey remaine in reste and suretie in his house and do not take armes one against another on payn of death And that more diligently than at any time hertofore ye cause the last Edict of Pacificatiō to be kepte and carefully mainteyned and obserued To the intent abouesayd and to punish such as shal do to the cōtrary to distresse all such as shal rise dysobey our pleasure ye shal immediatly assemble al the strength that ye are able as well of your friends being of our allowance as others aduertising the gouernors and captaines of townes and Castels within your charge that they take good heed to the suretie and safe keeping of their peeces in such sort as there ensue no default informing me with speede of suche order as you shal take therin and how all things shall proceede within the compasse of your authoritie I haue here with me my brother the King of Nauarre and my cousin the Prince of Conde to take suche hap as my self I pray the creator Monsieur de Prie to holde you in his holy safegarde From Paris this xxiiij of August Thus signed Charles and vnderneth Pinart These letters are all of one argument as the former be and written all in one forme and al one day to Monsieur de Prye the Lieutenant of Touraine THE KINGS LETTERS TO THE OFFI cers of Burges vpon the same matter that the former were OVr louing and faithfull wee doubt not but by this tyme you knowe of the sedition which to our greate griefe happened in Paris afewe dayes sithens wherin my cousin the Admirall and certaine others of his side were slaine and a greate murder committed vpon diuerse in many places of this Citie And least the newes thereof should change the quiet estate wherin Burges hath hitherto bene maintained since the Edict of Pacification if remedie were not foreseene it is the cause that wee writ this letter presently vntoo you wherby wee commaund and expressely ordeyne that euerie one of you according to his
that Edict The Ministers of the Gospel after their othe had authoritie giuen them by the Magistrat to preache in all Prouinces they had also places for the preaching of the word and for the administration of Sacraments grauÌ„ted vnto them in the 〈◊〉 of the Cities al things else peaceably and without any â—…umult Our aduersaries enuying that all things went forwarde so well sought daylye newe occasions to moue troubles At the length their Captaynes the Constable and the Marshall of S. Andrew thinking it good to delay the tyme no leager wrote letters to the Duke of Guise to come with ayde and a power of man to the Courtâ—… and hauing gotten the King of Naâ—…ar on their syde there was great hope that they should haue all things at their pleasure Then the Duke of Guise comming with a great Armie of footemen and a troope of horsemen made hast toward the Courte and by the waye as he came hée â—…uelly handeled the reformed Churches which peaceablely vsed the benefite of the Edict at Vassi setting sodenly vpon a great number of the faithful which were gathered togither to heare the word of God he slew maÌ„ woman and child without all pitie or mercy Thus beginning his busines he went forward on his iourney without feare and came to Nâ—…antuil the house of his territory or Lordship whether the Constable and the Marshiall of Santandre came And when they had deliberated of the matter and had opened the causes of their complaynts some of them bewayling the decaye of their aucthoritie and rule which thei had in the daies of Kyng Fraunces the second other some repining that they must make their accompt according to the decrée of the States at the length they determined to arme them selues And thus of their owne priuate authority they put them selues in Armes to mayntaine their ambition and couetousnes which notwithstandinge they couer with the cloake of Religion they came to the Kyng and Quéene with an Army of men and made them subiect to their power and tooke vppon them the gouernement subtillie foreséeing that there was no better way to make the people to take their part than vnder the pretence of Religion and the name of the Kyng so to abolish the Lawes and constitutions of the States and the Edict it selfe Therfore from that time forward hauing gotten Paris into their hand and brought the Kyng captiue thither they left no kind of mortall crueltie vnshewed no one corner of the Realme was frée from the Ciuill warres which they had stirred vp insomuch that the lamentable remembraunce of things past and of the great destruction like to come would make a man to tremble Nothwithstanding the Quéene being certified of these thinges was very carefull to let and stay their purpose and to frustrate their deuises sent for the Prince of Conde to come to Monceaulx and prayed him to resist the violent force and crueltie of these men by force of Armes and for this cause she appoynted him to be Captaine generall and named certaine men vnto him whose helpe and furtherance he might vse But the Prince of Conde delaying the matter for feare of tumults and vproares was preuented with the expedition and hast of his enemies who had so gotten the Kyng and Quéene into their handes that they abused their willes at their owne pleasure deludinge and abusing also the facillitie and sufferance of the king of Nauar they séeke thereby coullers to hide their tirranie The which sufferaunce notwithstanding of the king of Nauar although his full consent were ioyned therwith as it ought not by any meanes to restraine or deceiue the king of his libertie euen so it can be of no force to excuse the vnbrideled ambition and presumption of the Guises For in giuing authority the simple and bare ratefying is not sufficient but the ciuill lawes do shew that it is néedefull to haue expresse commaundement Furthermore the Kyng of Nanar hath not this authoritie to rule and gouerne the Realme without the Quéene and neither of them haue any such authoritie that they can set ouer the same to any other without the consent of the States Moreouer as touching the tractation of warre and artillerie the Quéene her selfe during the time of the Kynges nonage can do nothing as of her owne authoritie séeing this thing pertayneth to the States who notwithstanding haue not decréed and appoynted this warre but the Guises which haue caused the same to be in euery corner of the Realme Is there any man in the whole Realme that can or ought to take vnto him such power and authoritie as to gather Armies of men and to moue warre to the detrement and hurt of the Kyng and the Realme as the Duke of Guise now doth And this is the seruice that the Triumuiri namely the Duke of Guise the Marshiall of Saint Andrew and the Constable do to the Kyng their soueraigne Lord in this his tender age in the which he is subiect to many iniuries that is to say their wicked actes by which they go about to ouerthrowe the Kyng with the kingdome Which are the causes O Emperour that we put our selues in Armour and haue chosen the Prince of Conde to be our Captaine who shewed him selfe willinger to take so notable a matter in hand being moued the runto by no lesse good will toward the King and the realme than we were The Quéene also her selfe both perswaded and commaunded him to take this warre in hand to deliuer her from that iniury which both she and the king sustayned as appeareth by her expresse wordes in letters to be séene the Coppies wherof we haue sent vnto thée O Emperour Notwithstanding al this the Prince of Conde which was the last which put himself in armes and that at the commaundement of the Quéene neuer ceased to séeke peace and concord offering all indiffereÌ„t and reasonable conditions that might be as That hée would put of his Armour depart from the Court and would go also if néede were out of the Realme so that his aduersaries would do the like and that the Edict of Ianuary might be obserued Also he prayed and doth pray and beséeth by his letters al Christian Princes that are in League and amitie with Fraunce to be meanes for the making of peace and concord and with them all Noble Princes of the Empire whose godly and commendable indeuours for peace and concord were notwithstanding hindered by the Guises who in the meane time sought by al meanes possible to be ayded by straungers And it is manifest that the Prince of Conde hath sought so many waies to establish peace and concord as they haue sought by all meanes possible to hinder the same as may appeare by the last Parley betwene the Quéen the prince of Conde at Baugence they séeking by Treason to circumuent the Prince of Conde Wherefore by the demonstration and knowledge of al these thinges both the trueth and equity of our cause and of the
Prince of Conde and also the falsehood trechery and vniust dealing of our aduersaries may appeare as is more at large set forth in those writinges published concerning this matter Of the which matters because thou art certified alreadie most noble Emperour we will at this tyme be no longer tediouse vnto thée This one thing the Prince of Conde requesteth at your highnes hand that you will take into your custody the crowne of our yong King from those thrée priuate persones which haue brought him into so great daunger and to restraine them of their willes séeing it is manyfest that these thrée priuate persones the one of them a strauÌ„ger the other two not comparable to the Prince of Conde in no condition haue caused Ciuill warres to the destruction of the Realme And aboue all thinges this he requesteth that you would deliuer the King the Quéene and the Realm from their presumption tiranny and falsehoode and that you would helpe the states of the Realme to their authoritie and the Kinges Subiectes to peace and to the benefite of the Kings Edictes Also because vnder the couller of defendinge the King the Rokendolfe and the Rhengraue haue brought troupes of horsemen out of Germanie into Fraunce notwithstanding meaning to helpe our aduersaries whereby there cannot chuse but ensue great hurte to the King and to the realme the Prince of Conde humbly beséecheth you that by your commaundement and by the commaundementes of your noble Princes they may with all spede be called backe againe and may be seuerely straightly charged not to beare armoure against vs and also that hereafter it be lawful for none within the limmits of the empire to musture either horsemen or footemen to serue the Guises which vse not but abuse the Kinges name and authoritie The which dede most noble Emperour shal become you very wel since God hath made you a refuge for the afflicted in time of trouble and a helpe for Kings especially when they are in daunger of men by reason of their tender yeares Defend therefore our Kinge oure Quéene his mother the Kingdome and the lawes and states of the Realme from the tyrrannie of the Triumuiri Concerning the vayne assaulte that was giuen to Cesteron a Towne in Prouance by Monsuer Sommeriue a Captain on the Papistes side we haue spoken before Yet notwithstanding they came to the same place again the xxvi day of August with a greater armie with al maner of artillery better appointed carying with them from Marsiles certain great fielde péeces Therefore the Citie began to be battered with greater force of ordinance than it was before TheÌ„ word was brought that Monsuer Monbrun came with an Army of men to rayse the siege his Army contained a thousand footemen and two hundred horsemen Monsuer de Suze hearing of this went out to méete him with a company of wel appointed Souldiers and geuing the on set vppon Monsuer Monbrun he slew an hundred and fiftie of his Souldiers and put the rest to flight Monsuer Monbrun also himselfe fledde leauing behinde him two field péeces which afterward came into the handes of Monsuer de Suze At the coÌ„maundement of Baron des Adretz Monsuer Monbrun came to Cesteron minding with the ayd rescue of moÌ„suer de Adretz which on the other part had inuaded the County of Venaâ—… both to remoue the siege from Cesteron and also with the greater force to assault Prouance Against the men of Auinion which went about to resist hym Baron des Adretz preuailed and had the victory geuing vnto theÌ„ the ouerthrow at a village called Orgo Notwithstanding when Baron des Adretz heard that Monsuer Monbrun was put to flight he retourned into Dolpheny New Monsuer Someriue and his Souldiers at the returne and good successe of Monsuer de Suze and his men were not a little incouraged in so much that with greater force vehemency they began to assault the city wheÌ„ by battery they had made a great breach in the wals the soldiers began with great violâ—…ce to enter therat who notwithstanding were coÌ„strained to retire again many of theÌ„ being sâ—…ain by the faithfull But when their vitualles were wel nigh spent and that they were dayly oppressed more and more with penury and scarsitie Monsuer Senaz the lifetenaunt of the Towne Monsuer Mouens whose helpe he greatly vsed began to consider concerning the yéelding vp of the Citie and placing certaine Souldiers in the breach of the wall to kepe the Citie accordinge to the custome of warres they in the night without noyse caried out a great multitude of the Townsmen with Wemen and Children and aged persones at a certaine place to the which the enemy could scarcely come being let with a riuer and a hill which lay betwene them The enemyes scoutes were wary of the noyse and gaue intelligence thereof vnto the Army but rather thinkinge that some came to helpe them than that the faithfull went out of the City suspected nothinge and therefore held themselues still in their tentes Thus Monsuer Mouens and a great multitude of people escaped the peril But Mon suer Someriue being certyfied of the whole matter by the Papistes of the Towne entered into the Citye and there slew all that he found in the Citye both Papistes and Protestantes without respecte of persones Monsuer Mouens caried the people which he brought out of Cesterâ—… most miraculously through diuers places which were possessed by the enemy yet notwithstanding escaped their handes and came at the last to Gratianople a Citie in Dolpheny And so all Prouans when the faithfull were ouercome yelded to the Papistes by whom all kind of cruelty beside the custome of warre was committed in Cityes and Townes as at Marsiles and at Aijques and in that whole Region Many Women also in those Cityes were so outragious best lyke cruell â–ª contrary to their kind that it is almost incredible to be tould These when they had gathered themselues to gyther to a sufficient nomber would in the night as if they had bin dronke or out of their wittes go vp down the Citie searching and ransackinge the houses of the faithfull and when they had founde a woman they led her and scourged her through the Citie vntill she came to the common place of slaughter which they had prepared for the purpose and then hanged her vp by the féete the which being done they draue vp a wedge or wodden pin into the body through the shame and secrete part of the woman and so slewe her an acte most horrible and shamefull to be eyther spoken or heard Euery where robbery rapine and spoyle was committed the Senate in the meane tyme not only suffering these thinges to escape vnpunished but also approuing the same Upon the Territorie of Lions there bordereth a Region called Forestes the chief Citie wherof is Monbriso Therefore the inhabitants of Forrestes hauing Monsuer Monselas their Captayne anoyed the