thou wast so hardy to enter into Parris with no more theÌ„ 8. Gentlemen a signe of thy simple innoceÌ„cie A great matter surely but go thou into Rochel with al thy new Courtiers thy followers thy guard the king of N. wil enter therin but with 4. men only if at thy going out thou runnest not away-he will make thee be shrew thy selfe It is easie to bee said in base Brittaine but those that know that all the kings Councell are on thy side that his mother fauoureth thee that all the mutiners and crocheters of Parris and all the common inhabitants thereof are at thy deuotion We say that thy simplicitie was verie subtill and thy innocencie much to bee suspected How wilt thou haue vs beleeue that thou did-dest put so much trust confidence in the king seeing that after the league and the capitulation of Saint Maur thou wouldest neuer come thither vnlesse thon wert as strong as hee yet during his beeing in his armie against the Rutters thou neuer settest foote within it onely once by surprising it and that for the space of a quarter of an houre No beleeue me it is thy exercise to play these feates and not to excuse them thou art better acquainted with the one then the other Hee saith that the distrust which ceased vppon the people of Parris when the kings forces entered into the publicque places of the Towne constrained his good and faithfull subiects to arme themselues and without conference togither assured of his presence and of certaine order by him suddainly taken among them they Barricadoed themselues on all sides Barricadoes the inuention of the Duke of Guise Then the Barricadoes are the inuention of the Duke of Guise and without his presence the people had not stirred taken armes not banded against the thunder that descended from heauen This is confirmed by the declaration made by the Parrisians the words whereof are these Aduice was giuen that the Regiment of Picardie was sent for in great haste as also the Sieurs de Merâ— and de Thore bringing more then three hundreth horse which could not be prepared vnlesse that matter had beene purposed long before The occasions of the Barricadoes The newes of those troupes made the Parrissians to suspect and the insolencies of those alreadie established made vs as then to inquire of the preparation made by the Duke de Guise and vnderstanding that neither hee nor his were armed euery man thought to ayde himselfe so that as it were by one generall consent euery one in lesse then an houre vnited placed them in the streets for their defence which is a thing natural to al liuing creatures so the Parrissians mooued not but for feare of a Garrison this foundation is not well laid for that all sedition and rebellion is euill and pernicious in kingdomes although the cause bee good and commendable As the Prince should cut off the meanes to the first motions of those troubles and quench the fiers that beeing hatched in a particular house would enter into the Churches Pallaces and publike houses so the people ought to suffer and indure al extremities rather then to rise against their soueraigne although hee were a Tyrant cruell inhumaine for like as all that pleaseth a Prince is not permitted to be done by him so al the is permitted vnto the people is not profitable and oftentimes it happeneth that the remedie is more cruel then the disease it selfe and that seeking to shunne one calamitie we intangle our selues in an infinite of miseries Experience setteth before our eyes the enterprises and successe of coniurations Defence is not permitted to subiects against their King the beginnings haue beene impiteous and the ends miserable The tyrannie of one man is euill that of many is woorse but the worst of all is an vnbridled power and an absolute libertie that hath cast off the yoake of lawes When a people arme themselues against a Tyrant it must take heed that of one it maketh not fifteene or that in seeking to shun tyrannie The words of K. Francis it indureth not confusion and disorder which from the royaltie proceedeth to the populer estate You my Maisters of Parris alleadge that the armes you beare are not to offend any man but onely to defend themselues that is good against a straunge Prince but against the king and your Soueraigne it is most execrable God detesteth and forbiddeth it and whatsoeuer he doth bee it right or wrong it is no more lawfull for you to stirre against him then for a childe to mooue against his Parents Causes of sedition The life of man is the vnion of the bodie and the soule the life of a Realme is commaundement and obedience if the one bee separated from the other that the soule tyrannizeth the bodie and that the bodie will not receiue the lawe of the soule that is of reason it is a death When the Prince commaundeth vniustly and when the subiects will not obey the Realme falleth to ruine her temperature altereth resolueth into the first matter loosing her forme It was to that end that wise King Francis the first said that euery estate of Common-wealth or Monarchie consisteth but in two poynts in the iust commaundement of a Prince and the loyall obedience of the subiects Let vs now see why so many euilles and disobediences haue issued from this pandore all commotions such as that of Paris do commonly growe vpon one of these poynts When the people are charged with supportable exactions by the auarice of the Princes that raiseth them vpon the people by inhumaine and infamous waies and impositions as Caligâ—le raised impositions vppon common Stewes Heliogabalus vpon mens vrin and Alexander Seuerus vpon Hot-houses there is alwaies mutenie And therefore the Parrissians vnder Charles the sixt tooke occasion to mutin because the Gabelliers asked a halfe-penny of a poore woman that solde Cresson When the King giueth estates and dignities to vicious rather then vertuous and vnwoorthie rather then woorthie men For as in a consort of musick the different voyces are ruled by one tune from the which they cannot once so litle varrie but they make a discord in the ears of the Musitians Likewise the Common-wealth composed of men of high meane and base quallities that are vnited by Harmonicall proportion according to the which proportion in the distinction of persons and their merits publicque charges ought to bee supplyed And when honours which is the most daintie morsell of vertue is conferred to colde and rawe stomackes it becommeth contemptible The estate of Barron was renowmed in France but it was afterward imbased when Charles the sixt at the siege of Bourdeaux created 500. at on time The order of S. Michael instituted by King Lewis the 11. The order of Saint Michael continued in his glory vntill such time as our Kings gaue it indifferently to all degrees without exception of persons or quallities that they bestowed it
exception of persons and the failers and delayers therein shall bee punished by authoritie of the General and as hee shall appoynt wherevnto his said associates shal submit themselues Practising with townes All Catholicques of Townes and Villages shall bee aduertised and secretly summoned by the particular Gouernours to enter into the said association and dutie to furnish men and munition for the execution thereof according to the power and facultie of euerie man That such as will not enter into the said association shal be reputed as enemie thereof be pursued by all means sorts of troubles molestations Contribution of men and mony and it shal be forbidden vnto the said associates to enter into debates quarrels one with the other without permission of the Generall at whose arbitrement the contradistors shall bee punished as wel touching reparation of honour as for all other causes If for fortification or greater assurance of the said associates there is any appoyntment made with the Prouinces of this Realm it shal be made in forme aforesaid vpō the same conditions whether the said associations be sought for by the said Townes or Prouinces or that it bee offered vnto them if it bee not otherwise ordained by the Generall I sweare by God the Father touching this Ghospel and vppon paine of cursing and eternall damnation that I haue entered into this holy and Catholicque association The forme of the leaguers oath according to the forme and manner of the extract that hath been presently read vnto mee faithfully and sincerely whether it bee therein to commaund or to serue and obey and promise both vppon mine honor and life to continue therein as long as one drop of blood last within my body without resisting or withdrawing my selfe from the same vnder pretence of any commaundement excuse cause or occasion whatsoeuer The instructions of the Aduocate Dauid About that time the Aduocate Dauid was taken with certaine aduertisements and notes about him concerning the meanes whereby to authorise this league and to breake the ordinary course of the succession of France by impossible meanes which ought neither to be known nor be beleeued and wherewith I meane not to dishonour this discourse Packets of the league of Peronne cast about the streetes Nature of the people Meane time Postes were sent into all places to spread the newes and first aduise of those pretences masked with faire and shining vizardes of holinesse thereby to bleare the eyes of the people and libels were cast about the streets diuers men of good account trauelling about the countrie to serue for bellows to this new forge made to kindle a great warre And the people that ranne from one extremitie to another which loue changes a troupe that followeth such as lead it a sea that neuer riseth without winde and a Monster with many heads suffered themselues to be borne away with the first waues of this tempest The Parliament at Blois 1576 Meane time the king minding to put cold water into the boyling pot and to cut off the meane to this new motion caused the Parliament to be holden which by the last peace he had promised thinking and certainly perswading himself that not any one in his Realme but loued rather to entertain a sworne and solemne peace then to seeke the continuance of warres the ouerthrowe of Townes and the desolation of the people or that the Rutter should once againe return to sucke the blood gnawe the bones and eate the marrowe of their childrē At the first assembly of the Parliament An Oration of Henry the third at the Parliament in Blois and after he had saluted welcommed all the Estates with a most heroyicall and Princely grace he made an Oration vnto them concerning the miseries and afflictions of his Realme and the hope he had that so great an assembly beeing the very quintessence of the finest wits in al France wold prouide some remedie therin shewing that the minoritie of himselfe his brother at the beginning of those ciuill wars was reason sufficient why they should not be esteemed or once thought to bee the causes therof commending the wisdome of his mother touching the gouernment of the Realme protesting that for his own part he had no other care desire nor intent then only to procure the rest welfare of his subiects whose miseries he wold be alwaies readie to relieu with the price of his dearest blood The Crowne of France layde to pawne for 100. millions of gold charging al the assembly to ayde assist him therein to deuise the means to release his Crowne at that time pawned for aboue the sum of 100. millions of golde to vnite themselues togither thereby to puck vp the seeds of partialities to reforme abuses and to restore iustice to herintegritie and to reduce it into the pristinate holinesse splendure That don Pierre d'Epinac Archbishop of Lyons rose vp and before them al declared his reasons touching the Clargie The Lord of Senscey with a militarie franke true French tongue spake for the Nobilitie and Versoris for the common The two first by a multitude of reasons and wonderfull speeches concluded that it was most fit and conuenient that there should bee but one religion in the Realme The third shewed that the people wholly desired the revnion thereof so it might bee done by peaceable and quiet meanes without warres But the Cleargie and Nobilitie after many difficulties caused the Parliament to breake vp so that vnder the ashes of the last warres which as yet were hotte there might be found the sparkes of a great fire For after many messages although in vaine sent by the king to the Protestant Princes Protestation of the Prince of Conde in Ann. 1577. vnder which was placed Deo victricibus armis the warre beganne againe For the Prince of Conde rose vppe in armes and swore not to leaue them vntill he had brought the realme into her pristinate splendure and dignitie restored libertie to the Estates eased the poore people of insupportable tributes inuēted by the Italians deliuered the Frenchmen from the seruitude tyrannicall infamie whervnto they were subiected not onely by their owne carelessenesse and disvnion but by artificiall practises of such as would rayse the foundations of their greatnesse with the blood of the true Princes of France and of the Nobilitie to the great disaduantage and ouerthrow of the auncient lawes and customes of the realme Wherevppon the king hauing enterprised those warres the rather because his Estates shewed him the reasons VVarre beganne about Easter 1577 necessities and commodities although of his owne nature he rather desired not to haue broken the peace but onely to abridge it of certaine particular articles by the Huguenots esteemed most aduantage for them caused two great armies to be leuied wherof Monsieur was Generall of the one that marched towards la Charite and Issoire and the Duke Demain commaunding
are naturally in vs there would not be wood ynough to burne my subiects I will not doo it I had rather haue a sicke then a dead bodie I will not make religion a Butcherie or the alter of a sacrifice which is not bloodie a pillorie or place of execution no the king of France will no more cause his subiects to bee slaine to make them beleeue hee will neuer vndertake to constraine mens soules as long as their bodies are obedient vnto him It belongeth vnto God to accord these false notes that are heard in the harmonie of his Church They would likewise that I should consent vnto the Cleargie that they may purchase in fee farme such goods as heeretofore haue beene aliened from their Churches and constraine the possessors thereof to sell them againe that is as much to say that I should fight for the Church the Cleargie shall keepe their temporall goods while the people playe the Alkamists with their teeth They will giue the alarme and neuer come to battell All the rest of their articles touching the sale of Huguenots goods and of their disabling are alreadie ordained men are imployed therein all my parliaments are troubled therewith What do they demaund of me which I haue not agreed vnto not beeing able to refuse it and how many things haue I graun-vnto thē which I could refuse because I ought not so to do it There is no sinewe in his polliticke bodie but it is wrested nor any member which doth not languish They haue constrained mee to playe and hazard my estate by chaunce of warres I haue alreadie lost the halfe let them suffer me to withdrawe my selfe into the other halfe and liue in peace Such were the obiections of this Prince at the motions of the leaguers articles but because of nature hee was fearefull feeble and light hee neuer had firme resolution within his minde Princes most commonly do faile by not beleeuing counsell but hee deceiued himselfe by too much crediting The first poynt of this mischiefe was that trueth was kept from him and that men followed his humors Hee was perswaded the strongest part to bee that of the Duke of Guise that all the Townes and Prouinces had their mindes set on him that if hee entered not into it he would bee left alone at the mercie both of the League and the Huguenot Yet he firmly resolued to bee Maister and to range both the one and the other vnder his obedience but it was by a weake meanes imbracing the Duke of Guises part and made himselfe principall of the one side with all seueritie to make warre against the Herereticque speaking of nothing but of a voyage into Poitou to besiege Rochel and to take the Isle of Rhie And that which most fauoured this enterprise was that the Huguenots had lost the Prince of Conde vnder whose valour and generositie they conceiued great hopes and without doubt as being indowed with all the quallities conuenient for a valiant Captaine and otherwise an vnrecouerable enemie of their enemies His disease was violent procured by a nosegaye giuen him by some of his housholde seruants for that vppon Thursday beeing the third day of March halfe an houre after he had supt a great paine in the stomacke shortnesse of breath hardnesse of the bellie and continuall vometing with extreame paine and thirst tooke him And the Saterday after when his Phisitians and Surgeons had imployed all Art experience and fidelitie to heale him growing sicker a generall sufforation of all the powers of his bodie ceased vppon him whereof within an houre after hee died His bodie was opened wherein they found all the nether part of his bellie blacke and burnt the guttes full of reddish water the stomacke aboue the orifice The death of the Prince of Conde saterday the 5. of March pearced cleane through and round about and the vitall powers that of themselues were very helpeful and well composed by reason of the great quantitie of poyson were all vlcered The king of Nauarre at his returne out of Gascongne commanded expresly that all those that were suspected to bee necessarie to the poysoning of the Prince should bee punished for the which some were executed Meane time the King that had the enterprise of the League rather then that of the Huguenots more imprinted in his minde knowing that all their demaunds tended onely to this end to make a perpetuall warre prepared himselfe to preuent it and caused certaine forces to bee assembled vnder the conduct of the Duke d'Espernon against whome all the league discharged their chollor making him the onely argument of the confusion and disorder of all his affaires their iealousie more increasing by the succession of the place of the Admirall and of the gouernment of Normandie which hee had newly receiued after the death of the Duke de Ioyeuse This poynt deserueth to passe two steps out of my matter the Admirall in France is the name of one of the chiefe Magistrates in the Realme Generall and Prince of the seas belonging to the countrie as Eghinard called Ruthland that was Admiral in the time of Charles the great The like authoritie the Marshall of France beareth in an armie by land the same doth the Admirall in a Nauie of ships on the sea but these offices are distinguished for that the subiect is different and diuers There is paine and diligence to bee vsed to place an armie by land in order of battell The like must be vsed to conduct a Nauie of shippes vpon the sea At al times the most warlike countrie of France both by sea land hath had her Admiralles and the Frenchmen of Brittaine Narbonne and Prouence are much commended for their practises and greate dexterities in warres Voyages to the holy land vnder Lewis the 7. and Philip Augustus and Philip le Bel. vppon the sea neuer thelesse this office was neuer in so great glorie and estimation as it hath been since the third line of our kings beeing that which brought pollicie and gouernment into this Monarchie as the first had established and the second increased it by victorious conquests then it was that the names of Constable Great-maister Marshall Admirall and other such like dignities were ordained but that of the Admiral remained vnprofitable while our kings trauelled into the Leuant seas to fight against the Infidelles for in those expeditions they supplyed their wants with vessels which they found nearest to the countrie of Iudea and many times with their Admiralles which they had from Genes Pise Venice and Luques But the Frenchman that neuer continueth long vnder the yoake of any stranger would no more bee gouerned by straunge Admiralles if they bare not the name of Admirall of France although for the most part they were no Frenchmen As in the time of Francis the first Andrew and Philip Dorie Geneuois were made Admirals of the Leuant seas and after left him to serue the Emperour Charles the fift There hath bin
Tombe for the Kinges of France Of person hee was a goodly Prince courteous milde The description of king Henry the second louing his seruaunts and men of valour Much addicted to his pleasures and to beleeue such as knewe how to please his humour who many times caused him to vse muche rigour which hee could not so soone discouer the ambition and auarice of certaine men that prouoked him forwarde were the principall causes of the continuance of warres which heretofore we haue noted specially after the breache of truce set lawes Iustice Offices and benefices to sale diued into and emptied the purses of French men by infinit exactions whereof ensued most great mischiefs The estate of France vnder this Prince Two great sinnes raigned in France during the time of this Prince that is Atheisme and Magicque Whereunto may be added the corruption of learning For that the knowledge thereof induced by King Francis the first chaunged into diuers wicked and curious mindes cause of all mischiefe specially in the forme and phrase of French Poets who in the raigne of Henry by their impure rimes filled with all maner of blasphemies conuerted an infinit number of soules These sinnes and others in great abundance still increased drawing vpon both litle and great within the Realme of France the straunge punishments which in the raignes of the successors to this Henry full well appeared Fiue sonnes and fiue daughters By Catherin de Medicis his wife married in Anno. 1533 he had fiue sonnes and fiue daughters The eldest Francis the second borne the 20. of Ianuary 1543. The second Lois the Duke of Orleans that died at the ende of certaine months The third Charles Maxemilian borne the 20. of Iune 1550. King after the death of his brother The 4. Edward Alexandre after King and called Henry the third born the 19. of September 1551. The fift Hercules after called Francis Duke of Alencon Aniou and Berri and Counte du Maine borne the 18. of March 1554. The eldest daughter was Elizabeth promised to Edward the sixt King of England but marryed to Phillip king of Spaine borne the 11. of Aprill 1545. The second Claude maried to Charles Duke of Lorraine bonre the 12. of Nouember 1547. The third Margaret married to Henry de Bourbon King of Nauarre borne the 14. of May 1552. The fourth and fift named Iane and Victoire borne at one burthen vpon the 24. of Iune 1556 and died presently after In this Historie you may behold the successe and estate of the successors to this Henry beeing his sonnes with the first whereof I meane to begin Heere endeth the troubles that happened in the raigne of Henry the second Francis the second M.D.LIX. The intent of King Henrie KING Henry by the counsell giuen him touching the rupture of the truce and by that which after ensued hauing somewhat discouered who and which they were that gaue him euill aduise concerning his estate was minded and fully resolued after the solemnization of the marriages to looke more particularly into such men therby to retaine some and send the rest vnto the places frō whence they came But the wrath of God lay vppon the Realme hauing striken the head pursued the members as heereafter it appeareth Francis the second yong in aduise The state of France vnder Francis the second The Nobilitie The Courtiers much more in yeares was wholly left to the gouernment of his mother and the vncles of his wife that ruled the land as you shal heare Part of the Nobilitie wearied with the troubles of so long warres desired nought but peace leauing all care of publike charges and casting their eyes vppon the surest side thereon to lay hold The Courtiers went which way the winde would blowe as touching the officers of Iustice most of them were friends or subiects vnto diuers Lords some good and vpright men yet resting in the Court of Parliament durst not almost proceed in any thing as beeing abashed at the suddaine blowe giuen vnto the chiefe and principall Court of Parliament the last Mercurialist The Ecclesiasticall persons The Ecclesiasticall persons held and accounted them for principall Pillers of the Church that were the greatest burners As touching the third estate the great charges and troubles of warres forepast had wholly bereaued them of al liuely feeling and moouing Two parties In the Court were two parts the one those that held with the Constable the other the Guisians The Princes of the blood had almost no care of the Common-wealth nor yet of their owne affaires The Queene-mother an Italian Florentine of the familie of Medicis and one that in 22. yeares wherin she had continued in France had some good time to knowe the humours both of the one and the other and behaued her selfe in such sort that shee onely ruled Those of Guise Which to attaine and desiring wholly to driue away the Constable whom shee did most suspect shee held on the other side and placed seruants about the King of Nauarre by them to know and vnderstand his minde Assoone as king Henry was deceased the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine led the King and his brethren with the Queenes vnto the Louure leauing the Prince of the Blood the Constable the Marshall the Admirall with diuers other knights of the Order and Lords that held with the Constable to attend vppon the dead body The beginning of the raigne of this young Prince promised much when suddainly they beheld Francis Oliuier a man of great reputation Francis Oliuier restored to be Chancellor restored againe vnto his place of Chauncellor that had been put out of the place by meanes of the Duches of Valentinois that wholly ruled the deceased king they were in further hope whē they perceiued this Duches to be wholly out of credit for that assoone as he was dead they caused her to yeeld vp the keyes of the kings closet with all his precious Iewels that then were giuen vnto the Queene Regent But this was onely a particular quarrell betweene women for in truth the Duches during king Henries life had been in all mens sight as Queen of France The Queen-mother that hated her extreamly was very glad to see her wholly dispoyled and driuen out of the Court contenting her selfe therewith not to leese the fauour of those of Guise who although they onely had their aduancement by the Duches meanes perceiuing her to bee as a rotten plancke left her to pleasure themselues another way They sent Bertrand from whom the seales were taken vnto Rome and tooke from d'Auancon the ruling of the Treasures Bertrand keeper of the Seales discharged of his office neuerthelesse hee continued still in the Court as beeing too well acquainted with their affaires and as yet it was not necessary to compell him to accept of any new partie The Marshall of S. Andre aduanced by the fauours of King Henry to whom he was a secret seruant and wholly
hauing inuironed the Castle with a strong guard brought them two vnto Amboise after dinner returned againe with a troupe of fiue or sixe hundreth horses The Barron had sent Renaudie to make haste to come to relieue him not minding to abandon the place wherein hee found both armes powder and munition But perceiuing himselfe inclosed and the Duke returned againe hee beganne to parley being required therevnto and hauing at large declared the causes of that their enterprise the Duke oftentimes desired him to leaue his armes and to come and speake with the king binding himselfe vnto him by the faith of a Prince that neyther hee nor any of his should once be hurt but all freely set at libertie The Barron assuring himselfe vppon the word of a Prince was content to doo as hee desired the like did all the rest But beeing in Amboise they spake not vnto any man but onely to such as the Duke of Guise would send vnto them La Renaudie the same day being aduertised what had past at Noisay commaunded the troupes that were beyond the riuer to march straight vnto Amboise which they did within the wood but beeing stayed and intrapped The troupes sent by Renaudie taken and surprised by the horsemen sent thither by those of Guise most of them were taken who being ledde prisoners were presently hanged and then cast into the water those that were best apparrelled and likeliest men were slaine within the woods to spoyle them of that they had Therest of the troupes stayed for in the place appoynted were taken and the Souldiers were tyed by 15. in a companie at horses tailes and so cast into prison The Duke of Guise king in effect Therevppon the 17. of March letter were sent out by the which after a long discourse made against the prisoners of Amboise the Duke of Guise was by the king declared his Lieftenant Genenerall with all power to raise in both foote horse therewith to punish the rebelles without any other forme or manner of Iustice Other letters were sent out the same day with commmaundement vnto al those that were in armes readie to come vnto Amboise beeing aduertised by their leaders Meanes to dispearse the troupes and vppon their faiths giuen should within 24. houres after the sight of those letters depart and get them home into their countries vpon paine to bee hanged if they once presumed to do the contrary The death of Renaudie The next day as Renaudie sought to assemble his troupes hee was met in the Forrest of the Castle Regnaut by one named Pardillan that shot a Pistole at him but hauing fayled Renaudie slewe him but one of Pardillans seruaunts with a shot of a Caliuer flewe Renaudie his bodie was carried vnto Amboise hanged vppon the Bridge with a writing made fast to his necke containing these words La Renaudie called la Forest chiefe of the rebels The death of la Renaudie was the cause that diuers of those which ment to assemble separated themselues and so retired But no man made any great pursuite after them Renaudie had with him fiue hundreth horse followed by 1000. more not accounting the footemen Among the rest of the prisoners there was one la Bigne that had beene Secretarie vnto la Renaudie about whom was found a paper written in Ciphers and to saue his lise he disciphered the paper which contained nothing but onely that which had been concluded by al the Associates with their expresse protestation not to attempt any thing against the kings Maiestie the Princes of his blood nor against the State of the Realme the articles tending onely to this poynt to take the Gouernment from those of Guise and to cause the auncient custome of France to be obserued by a lawfull Parliament Hee was likewise found ceased with an humble petition vnto the king in the behalfe of those of the religion wherein the vniust proceedings of the Cardinall against the Parliament of Parris Anna du Bourg with others were fully discouered Those of Guise at the first The souldt-diers that were prisoners released wold not haue saued any of the prisoners but thinking that the ouer great number that should bee executed would make them to be hated of all men caused the souldiers to bee set at libertie and to each man they gaue a teston to bring them on their way The Captaines la Motte Cocqueuille and others had not lost courage but gaue a whot alarme vnto the Courtiers of Amboise and had it not beene by meanes of some wrong intelligence that constrained them to retire without losse of their horsemen the enterprise had surely been executed but it was nothing but a meanes to kindle the chollor of those of Guise who that last time caused all the footemen that might bee taken presently to bee hanged and as then it was a most daungerous time for all sorts of men eyther souldiers Marshants or others to bee found abroad without Amboise for that the least hurt they could receiue was presently to bee spoyled and stripped of all they had and then the theeues who vnder colour to ayde the king to whom a new guard was giuen composed onely of such kinde of men both horse and foote committed most straunge and cruell extortions The first execution of the prisoners Those of Guise perceiuing the troupes that ment to cease vpon them to bee gone and the rest in prison and being ayded by those that from all places came to helpe them beganne to make pursuit after such as were retiring whereof some they tooke they commaunded the Prince of Conde in the Kings name not to depart from the Court without expresse licence and beganne to hang drowne and behead their prisoners which continued for the space of one whole moneth All the riuer of Loire being couered with dead bodies tyed by sixe eight tenne twelue and fifteene at long Poles the streetes of Amboise lay full of dead mens blood and euery place was hanged with dead bodies many were hanged at the windowes of the Castle and to make men beleeue that all this proceeded onely from those of the religion that sought to establish themselues by armes they questioned with the greatest part of them touching the Articles of their faith The kings complaints against the Guisians and disputed with them of the poynts of the religion now in controuersie therby to blinde matters and not once touching that which wholly concerned the Estate and for which cause the enterprise was taken inhand Some that returned according to the kings permission being intrapped and brought prisoners to Blois found frends that sent vnto the king the Queen his mother to procure their deliuerance but by no meanes they could be spoken withall the soliciters beeing threatned to bee cut and hewed in peeces if they happened to present themselues before the king he would oftentimes in weeping say vnto them What haue I done vnto my people what mean they to deale thus with
religion if there were no other passion that touched his enemies at the heart he added that if the king would not accept his fidelitie hee can do no more but content himselfe with his owne innocencie and affection towards his Maiestie and the State Declaration protestatiō of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde In his declaration hauing disciphered the cause of leaguers taking armes the vanitie of their pretences and the fruites that all the Estates of France may reape by the conclusion of the treatie of Nemours by breaking the peace and beginning warre Hee protesteth and with him the Prince of Conde his Cousin the Duke de Mommorency the Lords Gentlemen Prouinces Townes and common people as well of the one as of the other religion to oppose themselues against the Authors of those troubles in a lawfull and necessary defence therby to conserue the lawes which are the foundations of all families and to maintaine the estate and libertie of the King and of the Queene his mother Sixtus 5. excommunicateth the king of Nauarre the prince of Conde in September 1585. This Prince had need to bee a strong Bulwarke thereby to defend himselfe against so many assaults on all sides made vppon him For hauing both the king and the league as enemies on the one side on the other side commeth the Pope with his thunderboults of excommunication declaring him incapable to the succession of the Crowne of France abandoning his person and his countries for a praye to such as could obtaine it Touching this Bull many whole bookes both with it and against it were written and set foorth to the which I referre the curiositie of such as desire to knowe whether the Pope hath any authoritie ouer the estate of France for which consideration The King of Nauarres letters to the States the Court of Parliament would not allowe it Therevppon the king of Nauarre complained to all the Estates of France in that they had caused the succession of a king beeing yet aliue to bee decided in the Court of Rome made the title of a Prince of the blood to be iudged by the Pope and suffered the Consistorie to giue that which belonged not vnto them And hauing particularly represented vnto them the mischiefes which thereby might arise togither with the shame and perpetuall reproach vnto this Nation in hauing To the Clergie produced monsters into the world and rebelles among a most obedient people hee endeth his letters with reiecting the mischiefes of those miseries vppon those that are the authors In his letter to the Cleargie hee said If war bee so acceptable vnto you if a battell liketh you better then a disputation a bloodie conspiracie more then a Councell I will wash my handes and the blood that thereby shall bee spilt be vppon your owne heades I am assured that the maledictions of such as shall thereby indure great miserie will not fall vppon mee so that my patience my reasons and obedience are sufficiently knowne Meane time I hope God will blesse my iust quarrell to whom I commend you To the Nobilitie To the Nobilitie hee writeth and saith The Princes of France are the keyes of the Nobilitie I loue you all I feele my selfe perished and become weake in your blood The straunger hath no interest in this losse I haue good cause to complaine of some but I rather bewaile them I am readie to imbrace them all That which most displeaseth me is that those which I most esteem of whom I knowe haue been circumuented I cannot distinguish them being in armes but God knoweth my thought their blood be vpon the authors of these miseries to whom we praye c. To the Commons after he had deplored their woundes and scarres and assured them of his readinesse to shed his blood if his enemies would by a combat of two and two end the warre To the Commons which would be the death of so many thousands of men He saith I am a Frenchman borne I will bee partner of your miseries I haue assayed all meanes to exempt you from ciuill discordes and will neuer spare my life that they may be abridged I will not impute the fault vpon you you are Frenchmen but rather esteem of your good willes I demaund nothing else of all you that according to your vocations are most subiect to indure mischiefe then to doo it but onely your vowes prayers and good-wils But because hee feared the sword of Saint Paul more then the keyes of Saint Peter and that the Gold of Spaine is more daungerous then the Lead of Rome he sent his Ambassadors to the protestant Princes of Germanie to craue their aydes Which the king perceiuing sent the Cardinall of Lenoncourt and the President Brulart vnto him to assure him of his Maiesties good-will of the great desire he had to see him vnited to the Catholicke Church not onely for the safetie of his conscience but also for the easier establishing of his succession to the Crown to declare the causes that had moued him to breake the peace and to desire him to yeeld vp the Townes which he held for his securitie The king of N. hauing yeelded most humble thankes vnto them for his Maiesties good will in his behalfe aunswered that without instruction he could not change his religion for the which so much time and blood had been shed And that those of his side were so farre from yeelding vp the Towns giuen to them for their securitie that following the example of the leaguers they had cause rather to aske for more The Ambassadours perceiuing that neither the one nor the other poynt of their Ambassage tooke effect ended their commission by desiring the king of Nauarre to enter into a treatie wherein the Queene-mother would labour to his contentment Conference agreed vpon and trauell as farre as to Champigny if in the meane time it pleased him to staye the forraine armie Hee willingly accepted of the conference but to the other poynt he said that he neither could nor ought in any sort to stay or withdraw the good willes of those who in so much important an occasion yea and in so extreame necessitie had entered into the field that by restoring the authoritie of the king troden vnderfoote by the breach of his edicts they might defend him from the forraine inuation of the league The Electors Palatin the Duke of Saxe the M. of Brandenburg the D. of Brunswick the Lantgraue of Hessen sent Ambassadors to the king in Parris The Kings answere to the Protestant Ambassadors The Princes of Germainie that sought to ayde such as were of their religion perceiuing France to bee a bodie in a manner wounded to death thought good to procure the remedie thereof rather then to helpe to giue the mortall blowe and to prooue if by intreatie and faire meanes they might cease the causes of their diuision and procure the tranquillitie of the common-wealth by the obseruation
league And perceiuing himselfe to bee Maister of Douzy and Rocroy and by that meanes of the passage of the riuer of Meuze hee caused his troupes to enter vppon the lands of the soueraigntie of Sedan vexing the poore countrimen that dwelt in the villages with al kinds of warlike cruelties Mean time that famine plagued them within the towns the D. de Bouillon to diuert him from thence sent the Lord de Schelandre Gouernor of Iamets to make an attempt against Verdun which is the first towne lying in the frontiers of Champaigne and most tumulteously entered into the coniulation of the leaguers pretences The Duke of Guise followed him with the most part of his forces which his departure gaue time and leisure to the Duke de Bouillon to victuall Sedan and the Queene-mother in the meane time disposed the two Dukes to make a truce first for fifteene daies in the which time the Duke of Guise practised certaine souldiers more for gaine then for conscience to surprise the Castle of Iamets but the enterprise failed and the instruments therof were punished and from that time they began againe to renue their courses and spoylings more then they did before The Queene layde an other plaister vppon this sore by a second truce of a month which the Duke de Bouillon imployed in Alsace with foure hundreth horse and eight hundreth Harquebusiers therby to aduance the armie of Germains that were to meete in the plaines of Strausbourg there to bee mustred And the Duke of Guise had leisure to go vnto the King to receiue his instructions and commaundements vppon so great and vrgent an occasion Hee found him at Meaux where hee shewed him that since the Edict of Iuly and the resolution taken by his Maiestie to make warre against the Huguenots it had been so coldly begunne and pursued with so many wants that it was not to bee found straunge if the issue had been as vnfortunate as the cause iust and woorthie to bee done by a king of France that contrary to the edict they had let their hereticques continue in their houses enioye as in a publike peace their lands and goods that ought to be imployed for their destruction and to the taking away of the means that continued their crimes towards god and their rebellion against the estate That in stead of selling and confiscating thereof Borne in France and spaniolized in Rome the reuenues of the Cardinall of Pelleue were ceased vppon because in open consistorie hee had most vertuously sustained the iust occasion of the leuying of armes by the Catholicke Princes against Hereticques That in those warres the Cleargie had indured most and receiued least profit or aduantage hauing continued more for the aduancement of Mignons then for the ruine of Hereticques and that so great summes of money cut off from the possessions of the Cleargie from the nourishing of the poore from the reliefe of Pilgrims from the ransome of captiues and other necessities of the Church had serued to no other end then onely for the entertaining of the enemies of the Cleargie Hee complained of the contradictions of the edict and among other things in that the kings Councell the Court of Parliament in Parris the Iustices nor the Prouost in Parris had not sworne to the edict Of the hard measure shewed to the Townes that had desired the exterpation of heresies and the reuocation of the last edict of peace Of the ouerthrowing of the citadel of Mascon of surprising the of Valēce of the disgrace of the Sieurs de Brissac Crusilles Gessan and Antragues and of the countermaunding of the assignations giuen vnto him for the restoring of the charges by him made in that last raising of souldiers The king to the contrary had well considered how the insolent passion of the league could not finde a firmer footing within all the articles contained in the treatie of Nemours and that it aspired to some greater matter Hee knew well it had demaunded Townes for assurance against the Huguenots in the Prouinces where they had no cause to feare them neither in soule nor bodie That the surprise made by the D. d'Aumalle of the towns of Dourlan Pontdormy and the intelligence discouered at Bollogne were som of the operations of the medicine which they had takē to auoyde this monarchie of vigor strength That for to fortifie themselues with numbers of Townes and participants it had caused a Citadell to bee erected at Vitry le Francois therein to place an Italian in whose countrie a Frenchman cannot so much as obtaine the base office of a Sergeant That the Duke of Guise would not receiue the gouernment of Raucroy vntill his Maiestie had promised him they should hold it in his owne name That it had prodigally spent the 100000. crownes raised for the building of the Citadell in Verdun not desiring other fortresse thererein but the hearts of the people abused with pretences and goodly apparances of the intents of this conspiracie The contrarieties of the edict being well wayed and debated on both partes the Duke of Guise turned his pursuites vppon the meanes to assayle the Huguenots in the same places where they had receiued the foyle in Poitou Dauphine and in the countries of the Duke de Bouillon desired the king to cast his eyes vppon decaying religion if the armie of straungers should beare the triumph into Allemaigne both of France and of the Catholicke Church and to imbrace the conseruation thereof without esteeming any thing to bee difficult or daungerous for so memorable a victorie calling to minde that he was a king of a people that neuer feared any thing but the falling of heauen and assured thēselues to ouercome all whatsoeuer that durst assayle or set vpon them heere on earth The King whose intent was onely to liue and raigne could not consent to warre The Kings oath the 10. of Ianuary 1587. notwithstanding the oath hee made when hee instituted the order of the holy Ghost nor the last resolution sent to the king of Nauarre by Monsieur de Rambouillet that hee would not permit or suffer other religion in his Realme then the auncient Catholieque faith and abolish that which they called reformed yet he desired most earnestly to haue had a good peace therby to diuert the miseries which the armie of strangers would bring with it but when hee perceiued himselfe not strong ynough The kings resolution to make the King of Nanarre and the Duke of Guise to consent by reason of their differences and that hee could not sustaine the one without oppressing the other that hee had not the courage to bee indifferent between both without leaning to the one or to the other and to bee short that hee durst not vse the authoritie of a King hee was constrained to suffer all the heads of the league to counterfeit with him If hee consented to the libertie of reformed religion and restored them the Edict of peace hee thought hee heard
the light of the pietie of France son of that victorious Henry whose memorie shall liue for for euer and brother to those two Catholicque Princes Francis the second and Charles the ninth whom God hath taken to his mercie But But yet againe that which toucheth you nearest remember that you are that renowmed Henry that being but Duke of Aniou and brother to the king did so valiant an act in the defence of the Church wonne so many great battels and so many times daunted the enemies of the Catholicque faith that you haue filled al Christendome with the wonders of your victorious name And we think if that like your Grace that your M. hath not so soone forggotten that great and solemne oath that you made at your coronation not onely to maintaine christian and Catholicque religion but to aduance it as much as possible you might without tollerating any other And if euer any oath lid binde a Prince to maintain keep his faith this hath so straightly bound you to the defence of this religion that you cannot permit any other without breach of conscience and paraduenture make a doubt of the right you haue vnto the Crowne For you know well that you haue agreed and contracted with Iesus Christ that you accepted the Scepter vppon this condition to be defendor of his Catholicque religion and in that solemne oath as a gage and earnest-penny you receiued his holy bodie and dranke his precious blood And now fayling in this religious oath thinke you he hath not good cause to be offended against you knowe you not that all the euils wee haue suffered proceeded onely from his iust wrath and see you not that hauing giuen you this Scepter vppon such conditions hee threatneth to take it from you if you keepe not the holy promise you made so solemnely vnto him And euen as God summoneth you to the obseruation of the faith that you haue giuen him your subiects by the same meanes solicite and inuite you to obserue the conditions wherevppon you were made king and which you cannot infringe breaking your oath but if you must also loose the title of most christian King and wee doubt not that setting these things before your eyes that reuiuing the memorie of your predecessors continuing the first prudence and vertue but you shall haue that great good fortune in your time to see your people reduced to the sheepfold of the holy and Catholicque Church whereof you are as a father and protector By this meanes those great Kings of Ierusalem Dauid Salomon Abis losaphat Ezechias and Iosias obtained the blessings of God and a happy successe in all their affaires hauing with so great care dilligence restored the puritie of religion and reeftablished diuine seruice that was neglected And wee also hope that following their steppes you will reduce all France to the Catholicque religion and for the recompence of your holy intent you shall haue that blessing of God in your time to behold your Realm as flourishing as euer it was And as it shall bee most acceptable vnto God so will it be most honourable to you and to your Crowne and you shall sufficiently perceiue that at this day there is no King Prince Potentate or Common-wealth I except certaine Barbarians and the Turke whose detestable manners and customes ought to bee so odious that the onely name should bee a horrour vnto vs that suffereth their subiects to liue in any other religion then that which the Magistrate by the disvnion of the Church holdeth for onely good and holy And surely such are not woorthie to bee heard that will so much restraine the power of the Prince or Magistrate to say that hee cannot constraine his subiects to the faith but that hee ought to suffer them to liue in libertie of conscience as they say for this opinion hath alwaies generally been condemned and reprooued by all Christians but only by the Manickiens and Donatists that were of opinion that wee must not constraine any man for his religion but suffer euery man to liue in libertie and after his owne santasie and those which at this day in a manner by force pull from you this libertie of their religion permit it not to others For in the places of Christendome where God permitteth that they should bee Maisters and hauing the authoritie in their hands they are so farre from permitting Catholicques freely to liue in the libertie of their consciences that to the contrary the diuers sects that are among them for that alreadie they are banded and diuided among themselues an euident signe of their ruine at hand cannot indure each other And there where the Caluenist is Maister the Lutheriau dareth not liue freely yea and when they change Magistrates of diuers opinions religion changeth according to his pleasure as we haue seene sufficient of such changes in England and in many places in Germanie And what should not this bee a shame and too great a slaunder to a good christian and faithfull Catholicque to bee found lesse affected in his religion that is approued by so long and continuall succession then these new christians in their opinions that are as it were but one night olde It is then a generall and certaine maxime and approoued by the Church and by all Common-wealths that the Magistrate ought and may continue his people vnder one faith as it is sufficiently seene by so many godly lawes and constitutions of Christian and Catholicque Empires and by the kings your predecessors whose examples ought to bee holy and inuiolate vnto your Maiestie Such were the reasons of the League by the vehemencie whereof the king disposed himselfe to warre reseruing alwaies a continuall thought to rid himselfe thereof But the Queene that sawe so many accidents to hang like leade ouer his head that thought the great and proude Spanish armie would land in Brittaine and that all the territories of Italie would fall vppon him to defend the Catholicqueleague did so much that the king dissembled the wound in his heart and said that hee had no more remembrance of the hard dealings that had past that he had no other intent but that of the League which was to extirpe heresie Vppon this assurance the Duke of Guise caused his merchandises to bee liked and to bee more esteemed then they were woorth or then hee hoped Wherevppon hee entered into a treatie with the Queen-mother and with her resolued vppon certaine articles vppon the fifteenth of Iuly which the king approoued receiued and signed within three daies after which were as followeth THe Articles agreed vppon and signed at Nemours the seuenteenth of Iuly 1585 the kings edicts made touching them and the declarations his Maiestie hath since made vppon the edict shall inuiolably be kept and obserued according to their forme and tenour And to cease and for euer to take away the distrusts partiallities and deuisions betweene the Catholicques and the Realme there shall bee a perpetuall and vnreuocable
ingenious and sweete not pompious with arrogancie nor furred with artificialnesse not boulstered with blasphemies not fantasticated with nouelties nor false nor ridiculous as those of the eloquent Orators of the league and if you take away but two or three bookes issuing out of the shops of these Apothicaries wherein neuerthelesse there is nothing to bee redde but olde fables well composed vnder a goodly and a faire couerture you shall finde that as they desire not to doo well so they connot speake well and all the harmony of their writings is but a rude discord of the strings of some olde viole and a building of diuers peeces weake and very feeble The Orations pronounced in this assembly are not in such manner and although there are some that sauour of the kennell from whence they issue yet I esteeme this Historie would thereby be much bewtified but we will reserue them for a larger volume for that the breuitie wee haue promised in the beginning permitteth mee not at large to induce them heerein That onely of the king full of liuely affection of true magnanimitie of reasons pertinent and very likely is like liuely portratures of the beauties of France and the euill fauourednesse which the League hath borrowed vppon her face ought to be placed herein in her proper originall splendure as not being a long preambulation or discourse such as Theopompus Ephorus and Anaximenes vsed to the Captains when they receiued their charge and that it is time rather to doo then say but a discourse woorthie the Maiestie of a King of France and of Henry the third that had that great aduantage aboue all the Princes of his time to aunswere promptly wisely and aptly to all important occasions that were presented that like an ignorant Pilot committed not the guiding of his shippe to his mates and neuer spake by an other mans mouth had within himselfe the knowledge of mannaging the rurther and the wordes that gaue the vnderstanding of his will The places then beeing appoynted and filled according to the greatnesse order and degrees of euery man all the Deputies standing vppe bare-headed the King beganne in this manner to make his Oration by a graue choise of goodly wordes and with a tongue truely ledde by his passions and that yeelded no other sound then the naturall harmonie The kings Oration to the estates MY Lords and friends I will beginne with an humble supplication vnto God from whom proceedeth all good gifts and holy operations that it will please him to ayde me with his holy Spirit conducting me as it were by the hand in this serious action therein to acquit that which I take in hand as woorthily as the worke is holy desired attended and necessary for the vniuersall good of my subiects which is the restoring of my estate by the generall reformation of all the parts of the same which I haue sought as much or rather more then the preseruation of my own proper life Ioyne with mee therefore I pray you in this most instant request which I now make vnto him beseeching him that he wil more and more strenthen that constant desire by him alreadie for that cause rooted within my heart and that likewise hee will take from you all particular passions if there bee any that reiecting all other parts but that of your king you haue no regard but imbrace the honour of God the dignitie and authoritie of soueraigne Prince and to restore the countrie in such manner that there may ensue so laudable and fruitfull a resolution accompanied with so good effects that my estate may receiue his ancient splendure And this will be a worke woorthy of the place wherevnto I am called and witnesse both your capacities and loyalties He whom I haue now inuoked to ayde both me and my estate that is the searcher of all our hearts if it pleaseth can bee a witnesse that assoone as hee appoynted me to be commaunder ouer you an incredible greefe entered into me touching your publike and particular miseries together with a care that euer since hath much increased in mee to procure some wholesome remedies with as happy an end as therein it is much more then necessary What greefe thinke you hath penitrated in my entrals within these fewe yeares since age and experience haue made more capable to apprehend the desolation oppression and ouerthrow of my poore people withall seeming vnto me that my raigne should bee reserued for a light of the iust wrath of God which I acknowledge iustly to hang ouer our heades both for mine and the sinnes of my subiects in generall For this cause I stroue as much as I could to fluffe vp the corruptions and disorders that had made so violent an habitation there and to resist the euilles which had not all been done by mee and which by my onely means if remedie might be had I will appease For I would say without boasting of my selfe that there hath been no meanes to reforme the depriuation of my estate but that I haue called it to minde thereby to establish the same if I had been as well assisted as I was by you good Madame and as necessitie and my good will deserued but I cannot sufficiently shewe how much I haue been ayded by my good mother the Queene which cannot in any sort bee declared and I must say that among so many assistances and strickt obligations whereby shee holdeth all my subiects tyed vnto her that therein they haue aspeciall and my selfe a particular cause that with you in this notable assembly you should yeeld her most humble and hartie thankes Which is that shee is not onely the cause that by the grace of God I am now in this world to bee your king but by her continuall and holy instigations laudable actions and vertuous examples shee hath in such sort ingraued in my soule a right and true intent to the aduancement of the honour of GOD the preferment of his holy Catholicque and Romish Church and the reformation of my estate that the intentions which I haue heeretofore declared wholly tending vnto all good things wherevnto more then euer I was I am resolued proceedeth onely from her not once complaining of the labours indispositions or discommodities of her age in any thing wherein she hath perceiued or found the meanes to aduance this estate hauing so oftentimes preserued the same that shee not onely deserueth the name of the Mother of your King but also of your estate and kingdome Now my principall care and pleasure beeing wholly set to restore this goodly Monarchie and iudging particular remedies not to bee conuenient for the time I determined to assemble my generall estates wherein as in all other things for the good of this Realme it pleased her much to incourage mee knowing that by assembling them I should not leese one houres time what generall oppositions soeuer entered into my my minde and with the which many men peraduenture thought I should bee so
this most true and certaine maxime that were the fault of treason against the diuinitie of God left vnpunished there the fault of treason against man will proceed so farre that in the end it will bee esteemed no offence Straungers authors of new impositions to oppresse the people They assured him that the greatest scourge of this Realme is the straunger from whose extreame auarice proceedeth all the inuentions of new imposts which most cruelly impouerish all the Realme of France that laugh at her ruine make them of great authoritie who alreadie haue made a great part of his people to become male contents and in the end will cause the rest to reuolt if they bee not speedily dispatched out of the Realme like the diuell that causeth perpetuall diuision still hindering the rest and quietnesse of the common people Disorders in pollicie Among diuers disorders crept into the common pollicie of the Realme they mooued him of two most great abuses which by continuance produced all the rest The first touching the giuing of benefices vnto all persons without choise or exception either of men or souldiers that all the Bishoppes of those daies some fewe onely excepted that as yet haue some remembrance of their estates and some sparke of the feare of God imprinted in their minds The pride and couetonsnesse of Prelates are daily seene not to shed teares before the Lord of heauen and by praiers to mittigate his wrath and furie bent against vs but proudly to walke within the Court and in all places with great troupes of men the most desperate and vaine persons that are within this Realme Their houses are not filled with the noyse of Himnes and Psalmes sung to the honour of God but with barking of dogges breeding of hawkes and all kindes of vaine and dissembling speeches And to bee short there is nothing seene but ignorance slaunders adulteries and shame among them the onely beholding of their countenances mooueth men more to go out of the Church then all the Ministers and Preachers of heresie are able to inforce them The second is the sale of offices and places of iustice which causeth the most wicked to bee most esteemed that the strongest without reproach oppressethe weak that without scruple of conscience they sell iustice by retaile which they themselues haue bought by grosse that Townes and Prouinces abound in murthers and diuers vnpunished crimes that there is no more order in pollicic nor faith in bargening no respect to the lawe nor loue to vertue The pollicie of the estate of the church and that a most vnbrideled libertie to all euill runneth throughout the whole Realme Which two abuses to extirpe they said vnto him Your Maiestie is not to deale in any sort with the spiritualtie but if you will vndertake so great a charge when you haue first taken order for your cruill pollicie you must imploy your time therein with all holinesse such as belongeth to the handling of diuine causes you are carefull to seeke and finde out men that are excellent and of good conscience to serue about your person but what excuse will you alleadge in beeing lesse carefull to prouide sufficient men for the seruice of God your Grace conceiueth not the importance of this fault you are the cause that a million of soules are lost and it is a most great fault in those that should aduertise your Maiestie thereof if they do it not If you repent not great and forepassed abuses and heereafter suffer it not to proceed any further it is most certaine you can neuer auoyde eternall damnation Ministers disturbers of the church of iustice and pollicie And let your Maiestie bee assured that if you diuert not these ruines that are likely to fall vpon vs if presently you do degrade a great number as well of Ecclesiasticall Prelates as ciuill Magistrates who at this day are officers in al your soueraigne Courts and iurisdictions you cannot preserue your estate you must degrade and punish with death a great number of the most manifest offenders therein for that hath already been done within your Realme and bred a great contentment Then you must inquire and search out for men of good and honest behauiour wherewith you must replenish your Councell and then God will bee assistant vnto them for Gods spirit is alwaies with the iust man and thereby your enterprises will surely take effect sooner by the hands of those whom he doth blesse then by such as are prophane persons whose works are accursed It is very true that we finde not so great numbers of honest men walking abroad Rari quippe boni yet how corrupt soeuer the world may be it was neuer known or found to be voyde of some most excellent vertuous men what numbers of excellent wits zealous persons are yet at this day in al the Prouinces of this Realme how many hereticall courages replenished with holy magnanimitie and incredible boldnesse as among the Nobilitie of this land not blasphemous Gentlemen but such as loue and feare God that neuer were in your Court but rather dwell and remaine in their owne houses without any imployment How many great rich and commendable wittes are distributed and lye hidde within the heads and mindes of men of all sorts and yet wholly despised of diuers persons who if they were imployed in diuers charges would within short time wholly redresse all the disorders and ruines of our estate but such men are onely knowne of GOD and of some honest men if in your Maiesties Court there were a zeale and a desire of saluation and amendment their places and habitations would be continually sought and found out Reformatiof the excesse and disorders in the court and men vppon their knees would intreate them desiring them to helpe to redresse this fauage and barbarous time wherein wee liue and that in steade of ciuill warres of pouertie of miserable seruitude and infinite other mischiefes they would bring vs a holy peace togither with the aboundance of all good things But the blinde prouidence of your Court is onely to finde out new meanes of recouering mony it onely regardeth that as an Angel of desence it placeth all her confidence in gold siluer wherein are seen nothing but Italian banquers and inuentions of new imposts it is much deceiued it is not the great and massy Scepter of golde as an auncient wise man saith that is not the great treasures that maketh Princes to flourish but rather the dutifull amitie of their subiects which proceedeth only from the good order of iustice and the election of capable persons fit for the gouernment of all estates Touching the proposition made to the king to cut off the superfluous number of officers and to abolish the corruption of the sale of offices from whence hee receiueth not one penny profit which is not tempered in the blood of the common people such as found themselues interested thereby fearing to loose the
profit and commoditie of their places and those specially that concerned the receit of treasures made a great and goodly declaration to the king to mooue him to the contrary to hold thē in their places which they possessed vnder the title of officers for his Maiestie shewing him that the good and comfort of the people which was thought would bee procured by the suppression of their offices is the greatnesse glorie and riches of his Crowne and of his people which is alwaies oppressed and troden vnder foote by such as are mightie if there bee not some that like a barre interpose themselues betweene the power of the one and the weaknesse of the other which is specially done by the offices as well of iustice as of his Maiesties treasures that the erection of offices rather wanteth ayde and profit then oppression and wrong vnto the people for that without them the people must of force haue beene constrained to helpe the King in his warres with their owne goods The decree of Charles the fift dated the 28. of May. 1359. That it is a vaine thing to seeke to make those offices that ought to bee perpetuall to become annuall and so to be exercised by Commissaries for that is not to bee indured in any estate or Monarchie and Charles the fist seeking to erect that order during the prisonment of king Iohn perceiued so many discommodities discontentments and seditions therein that hee reuoked the suspencing and depriuation of such offices and himselfe in person pronounced the decree thereof in open Parliament That it is easie to iudge by the passions and instant pursuites of the greatest of those that demaund commissions that they haue a most extreame enuie to confound the order principal supports of the royal estate so to transferre it to the occupation and mannaging of a small company of men or else to put the rurther of this Monarchicall shippe into the hands of the common people and such as haue least skill knowledge to rule it and by that means to bring the head vnder the foot that diuers of those earnest petitioners had not solde their offices which they had likewise obtained by the same means for the most aduantage they would thinke themselues most happy at this day to ioyne with 80. or a 100. thousand officers whereof that body is composed which at this present imploreth iustice due and woorthie the desert of their cause That the suppression of so many estates and offices which at this day are the chiefe most orient brightnesse of the honourablest families among his subiects would vnfainedly drawe on the desolation decay and totall ruine of the best Townes in all this Realme wherein the youth for want of good exercise should easily throw themselues headlong into vanities and follies whereof idlenesse onely is the cause and therefore they most humbly besought his Maiestie to maintaine them in his seruice suffering them to continue therein and to enioy their offices as they had vsually done The billes of the three estates Which allegation beeing ended the complaints and petitions of the three estates were read in such large ample discourses that the least towne in France had matter sufficient to make a long and tedious declaration All of them in generall complaining besides the excesse of tallages of other subsidies impositions customes furnishings of fiftie thousand souldiers tallies augmentations and increasings of new forces impostes vpon wines lendings of mony both generall and particular subsidies of one hundreth soules for euery processe redeeming of their commons new inuentions touching the pauing of walled Towns the raising and calling downe of monies the surcharge of two three and foure soules vpon euery franke the vniuersall number of tallages The common peoples complaints the fourth and eight part of wines that are solde by retaile with other superfluous impositions and to conclude the people complained of the publicque calamities and oppressions which made them as bare and naked of ease and fatnesse as the body of a man that is appoynted for an anatomie The Nobilitie complained of their seruices done without recompence and of the indiscrcet distribution of the kings liberallities and rewards The Cleargie made a greater noyse and found themselues greeued that neither the summes of mony nor yet the great charges leuyed vpon them had not in any thing aduanced the seruice of religion Wherevppon the King supposing to sustaine the golden world and thereby to restore and procure great rest and quietnesse to his people almost spoyled and vtterly ouerthrowne hee commaunded the Deputies to inuent all the meanes they could for their comfort And from thence sprang the Edict of the suppression of offices newly erected and the ouerture of the discharges of talliages but with a most industrious stratageme of the League They mooued the king to reduce the talliages of the yeare 1576. which they did to this end that if the king agreed therevnto hee should perceiue himselfe bereaued of the meanes to pay his souldiers to content his seruants and to maintaine the greatnesse of his royall estate and if hee refused it it would bee an euident occasion to make the estates fall in a mutenie and so to effect their secret determination which was to appoynt a Protector ouer the King and to driue his faithfull subiects from him Read the kings declation vpon this poynt The Duke of Guise perswaded the King not to graunt it to the ende that thereby hee should not imbase his authoritie at the states pleasures on the other side hee prouoked and incited the Deputies which daily repaired to his lodging there to conclude their propositions and aunsweres to continue their pursuite But the king to shunne their fury consented to the reduction of tallages hoping neuerthelesse by that meanes continuing the Parliament he would shewe them that with so small summes of mony hee could not maintaine his royall estate nor yet proceed in warres against the Huguenots which all of them had so solemnely and faithfully sworne vnto Meane time they beganne to enter into the depth of their pretences A proposition made before at Mallet and Bobier and sought to haue pursuits made against such as had beene appoynted the kings receiuers and thereby abused his liberallitie that they should be constrained to yeelde account they shewed the king what losse hee had sustained by his carelesse contract made touching the farming of salt for the term of sixe yeares then ended in the month of September 1588. to the great deminution of his treasure and oppression of his subiects for that the losse thereby sustained did yearely amount vnto the summe of a hundreth thirtie sixe thousand Crownes and for the other sixe yeares foure millions and eight thousand crownes by not rating the farme of the imposts of salt at as high a price as they should bee This aduise beeing great and very important for the increasing of the Kings treasures was giuen by the Presidents Mallet
King that it would bee necessary for him to make peace within his Realme and to reuenge that iniurie to driue away the Goate that eateth the colewoorths while the Good-man is fighting with his wife to chase the wolfe that assayleth the sheepfolde while the Sheepheards are quarrelling togither For so the Romanes agreed togither when they perceiued the enemie before their Capitoll so the Spaniards left of their mutenie when they beheld the white crosse before Fontarabie so the Frenchmen appeased their debates to ioyne togither for the driuing of the Englishmen out of Normandie They tolde the King it would bee accounted a poynt of great cowardise in them if they should seeme to bee offended thereat if they should indure the pride and ambition of their so weake an enemie if they should suffer the Crowne of France to bee dismembred specially the places which are particularly allotted vnto the eldest sonne of the King The king is resolued to folow strange wars and to pacifie ciuil broyles To suffer that a meane Prince should in a brauado take away from a King of France that little plot that rested vnto him of the territories of Italie togither with foure hundreth peeces of Cannon-shotte the Frontiertowne of France lying beyond the Mountaines that place that was able to withstand the most proude forces of the Spaniards which onely rested vnto vs as an assured pawne therewith in short space to recouer againe the countries of Naples and Milan The King beeing in flamed with iust greefe was fully mooued at this tyranny and iudged this branch of mischiefe to spring out from the bodie of the coniurations of the League for the which cause he said hee would make peace with the Huguenot to serue himselfe by their means against such as sought to pull off his cloathes before he ment to go to bedde minding to quit himselfe from the rule of such as like maiors of the Pallace sougt nothing but his subiection vnto their passions The Duke of Guise excuseth himselfe The Duke of Guise perceiuing that all the assembly the whole Parliament all the kings seruants iudged this inuation to be done by his means and to bee the onely effect of the League and that it bred hatred and repentance in the hearts of those that esteemed his proceedings to bee most iust he besought the king not to bee mooued thereat assuring him that assoone as his Maiestie should haue quenched the fire which the Huguenots had begun to kindle within his realm he would be one of the first that should passe the Mountaines to make his forraine enemies yeeld their praye desiring his Maiestie to giue him that commission but first he said hee ought to assure his people of that hee had promised them by oath touching the holy vnion and the good resolution of the Parliament The king that could not well disiest this aduise receiuing it as from the heart of him that had giuen the spirit motion to the mischiefe by his continuall practises with straungers perceiuing that neither his Edict of vnion nor yet the obligation of the oath which he had taken concerning religion of all the Princes of the League to make them depart and leaue their secret associations as well within as without the Realme had not wrought that effect which hee expected hee determined from that time forward to bee reuenged of all forepassed offences perswading himselfe not to bee bound to obserue the Edict of vnion seeing the League had first begunne to breake it consenting to the pernicious intents of strangers Reade the wars of Geneua in the booke following not withdrawing themselues from the mutuall intelligences it had with him but in the meane time while hee dissembled his displeasure against the Duke of Cuise hee vsed another meanes against the Duke of Sauoy which I will shewe heereafter That the king of Nauarre was not much greeued at the iniurie which a meane Duke had done vnto a mightie king it is not to bee doubted yet he reioyced thereat being in hope of some good fortune that might thereby ensue and that it would be occasions to end the diuisions partiallities within the Realme of France At such time as this new trouble sprang vp among the assembly at Blois hee was in Rochel where hee called an other assembly of the Churches of his religion seeing the artificiall deuises of the League had shut the gate against him where hee ought to holde the principall place as the first Prince and chiefe Magistrate of France An assembly at Rochel This assembly began the fourteenth day of Nouember in the Town-house of Rochel the King of Nauarre beeing present assisted by Moniseur de Turenne Monsieur de Trimouille and other Gentlemen of his house and Councell as in a manner there is not any Prouince in France wherein this religion hath not purchased some acres of land and by that meanes there were Deputies from all places By whose aduise and resolution sprang the request presented vnto the States at Blois The Protestants demaundeth a Councell vnder the name and title of the Frenchmen exiled for the religion beseeching the king to restore them vnto the libertie of the first Edict which from the name of the moneth wherein it was published was called the edict of Ianuary to ordaine that a national Councell might be assembled where the Doctors on both parts with good securitie in presence of his Maiestie and all the assembly might peaceably debatetheir differences and holily decide and resolue vpon the same to graunt them the free libertie of possessing their goods for supplying their necessities to permit the registring of their supplication together with the consenting therevnto by his Maiesties pleasure to the end that nothing might bee done in that assembly to preiudice them This petition was badly framed at that time as beeing wholly contrary to the principall intent of that assembly which beeing for the most part composed of men chosen and purposely taken out from among the most passionate aduancers of the League desire rather to destroy then instruct such as had strayed aside and sooner to drowne then to wash the infected And therefore not beeing satisfied with the Edict of vnion the right destruction of the Protestants they ceased not vntill both from the king himselfe and all the assembly they had procured a declaratiō of the perpetual disabilitie of the king of Nauarre to the succession of the Crowne Yet their artificiall poysons do not so fully infect all the body of that assembly and their mindes were not in such manner tyed vnto the opinions of the League but that there were some persons both of dignitie reputation that would not permit that the means should bee taken from the king to revnite his subiects in one religion seeing that the intent of the Parliament ought onely to tend vnto a publike peace and therefore they counselled him to procure a lawfull Councell against this schisme of conscience
vse of diuers men a great hinderance to the poore and vnwoorthy the name of Christians in this Realme Hospitalles haue beene made and erected vnder Cathedrall Churches and Bishoppricks to the end that Prelates and Pastors should haue the care thereof but since charitie is conuerted into auarice the charge and administration hath beene transformed to the Layetie Remedie if it please the Layetie to continue this charge and that the later ordinances seeme fitter then the ancient constitutions at the least let the spiritualtie bee present at the distribution and yeelding of account to see and vnderstand the fidelitie and dutie that shall bee vsed towards the poore and to reforme the abuses sacriledges and vsurpations that therein are vsed 7. Disorder In times past no man might bee admitted to the place of commander Knights of the order of Ierusalem ouer the order of the knights of S. Iohns in Ierusalem not being noble borne and that in the third degree by order of antiquitie now that goodly order of degrees of antiquitie which procured a hope vnto young men as new fruite vnto the spring to attaine vnto that honor in their Automie hath been broken by the entrie made by certaine Princes by fauour and greatnesse of their house If this disorder had onely rested it had been a thing somewhat tollerable and that might haue couered it selfe by greatnesse and authoritie But now that by this consequent this disorder is induced like the linkes of a chaine following one the other to all persons indifferently without consideration of antiquitie nor any other respect but of fauour or rather as I may say of importunitie the suddaine ouerthrow of this goodly order is like to ensue Knights of S. Iohns of Ierusalem Remedie The king knowing the honour of this order that hath cost so many mens liues to defend the name of Iesus Christ against the Turkes Moores and Barbarians that hath aduanced the crosse throughout all the Mediteranean seas euen into Affrica ought to suffer or permit that it should bee lessened or imbased by these disorders but rather preserued to the glory of God and the honour of this Realme Deceiuing of the Vniuersities 8. Disorder The Schooles and Vniuersities depending vppon the care and administration of the Church which yeelde the Ministers of doctrine and word of God now are full of disorders and licentious persons by the meanes and mischiefes of warres and rebellions Of iustice faithfulnesse Remedie His Maiestie according to the wisedome and loue that is ingrafted in his minde towards learning and vertue ought to chuse and name capable persons for this reformation long time desired so many times promised and still vnperformed Disorders iâ—â— the estate among the Nobilitie 1. From thence hee turned to the capitulation of the disorders knowne to bee in the Nobilitie the valiant and generous French Nobilitie saith hee hath continually beene the terror of all nations and the nations adioyning that haue addicted themselues to the profession exercise of knightly prowesse confesse acknowledge to haue learned it of the Frenchmen these valiant French knights haue preserued the honour and vertue of France as long as it was respected and had in honor but since that in stead of Nobles there hath beene new introductions taken out of the Common people and that they haue been raised to the honour due vnto the Nobilitie and of such men which commaund ouer companies of men at armes it hath wholly altered and changed the glory of this French Chiualrie and many haue degenerated from the vertue of the auncestors obscured their renowne some vsing trades and trafficques of Marchandises keeping in their houses not going into the field other giuing themselues to spoyling of the poore to almasse corne to take and apropriate benefices and other goods belonging to the simple people and to destroy their neighbours and tenants in such sort Aduertisement to the Nobilitis that diuers others more valerous and vertuous beholding the manner and behauiour of many of these Gentlemen beeing greeued to haunt the company of such men had rather imploy their times in the warres with the king and his Lieftenants vertuously to oppose themselues and shew the effects of their valor then to be in the company of those in whom there remaineth but onely the name and shadow of Nobilitie Remedie The King which is the head and father of Nobilitie ought to reerect that goodly order of knighthood ordained by his predecessors to restore decayed trees and to refresh and renue it pruning the vnprofitable branches and so to reduce into such order and forme and with such Discipline that the people may not bee oppressed and to that end cause certaine stipendes to bee yearely payde for the maintenance thereof Excesse in wen of warre 2. Disorder The crueltie violence and rapin of souldiers is so great that there is no difference in them from the fury of Barbarians beeing Conquerers of their enemies there is nothing else but fire and blood that haue entered into diuers places of this Realme but to beate binde ransome imprison sacke violated women and maides to pull yong children from their mothers breasts spoyle breake rent and throw the goods of poore people vnder the horse feete and to beare away the rest to leaue the wife and children in great misery without bread Nonfacile in officio potest miles coÌ„tineri abco qui necessaria noÌ„ sub ministra Xenophon following after their husbands and fathers and horses led away by them is an ordinary thing among souldiers these euills happen partly for want of pollicie and commandement and partly for want of paye and good order and distribution of the treasures of this land To leade souldiers into the warres without mony is properly to make them become theeues and whosoeuer beareth armes and hath no maintenance hee must needes haue some by what meanes soeuer it bee Euill gouerning of treasures 3. Disorder Treasures euill gouerned are like water powred into a siue or basket which presently runneth out and neuer is filled as to the contrary the better and more certaine reuenue consisteth in landes The immoderate leuyings of monies which are drawne from the people are compared to the Milt with in a mans bodie which the more it filleth and swelleth the more it destroyeth and drieth the rest of the bodie and in the end killeth it Remedie The cause or pretence of such leuyings of mony hath beene the warres ingendred by heresie and diuision and seeing that warre is the cause of the ouerthrow of the people it must be brought vnto an end and by the ayde and helpe of all this Realme seeke a finall remedie to this miserable diuision without deferring it so long to the vtter vndooing of the people Corruption in gouernmeÌ„t 4. Disorder Among other mischiefes which war indureth it hath corrupted both lawes manners and pollicie it hath bred a maruellous disorder in iustice Iudges are