France in generall receiued by that bastard peace made at Nemours with the heads of the league of the good entertainment they receiued after they had been proclaimed rebels and traitors to his Maiestie Hee said that to strengthen the league the king had commaunded him not to stirre nor prepare himselfe to warre that the people might euidently see who were the first perturbers of the peace That the permission by him giuen to them to in croch so much vppon his authoritie was the onely continuall feuer of this estate That hee sawe no more but by the leaguers eyes nor vnderstood any thing but onely by the eares of his enemies Exhortation to the king of N. to become Catholicque And as the Queene sought to assure him of the kings and her fauour and that both of them had more desire to see him conuerted and protected vnder so faire and assured hope of the chiefe Crowne of all Christian Princes rather then any longer to shrowd himselfe vnder protections of warres dispised of the greatest part of France to be the principall occasion of his friends griefe He said againe that by the kings commandement not to arme himselfe against those the soght to fight with him he had hazarded his life to keep his promise to satiffie those that soght to reduce himto extremities neglected the care of his owne preseruation saying Madame you cannot accuse mee but of too much fidelitie I complaine not of your faith but of your age that doing wrong to your memorie hath made you forget what you promised me The sharpenesse of wordes was somewhat asswaged at the third meeting wherein the Queene-mother strained the corde that brake both the accord and harmonie of their conference for she tolde him that the last and onely resolution of the king was neuer to make peace nor take truce with him if hee became not a Catholicque Wherevnto hee answered that he would neuer haue thought that a Princesse of so good iudgement wold haue taken so much paine to come vnto him onely to propound that wherewith his eares were continually filled beeing meanes of more honourable troubles if it were not ended in manner by him required which was by a generall Councell to whose iudgement hee submitted himselfe promising also to cause all the rest of his friends to doo the like As they continued in this proposition euery man giuing his censure there passed many words whereby to perswade him happily to returne to the Church of God The Queene-mother shewed him how much that change would make his estate more free more assured and more conuenient for his It is said that the Duke de Nemours said vnto him that there hee could not raise any impost It is true said hee and so there are no Italians among vs. degree that his conuersion would drawe him into his Maiesties sauour without longer seeking to court the Maiors of Rochel where hee could not doo as hee would Wherevnto hee answered that the consideration of his particular contentment yea and the winning of thirtie Crowns should neuer cause him shamefully to leaue the religion which for the space of thirtie yeares hee had professed and that hee did what pleased him in Rochel because that therein he did nothing but what hee ought to doo In the end their discourse changed to the propounding of a truce that stayed vnresolued for diuers difficulties therein found as also because of the aduise the Queene had receiued that her presence was necessary in Parris to quench the fires which the Archleaguers wherof we spake in the first booke beganne to kindle grounding the alarme vppon conference had with the king of Nauarre Both of them agreed to a peace confessing that both the Catholicques and Huguenots were wette with the ship wracke they had indured that it was not conuenient to drawe them into it again that their wounds were not as yet healed that they ought not to bee set togither by the eares and that it was requisite to haue a peace The Queen-mother wold haue a truce the King of N. a peace The Queene-mother would haue no truce that should promise a peace vnlesse the king of Nauarre would assure them of his conuersion The king of Nauarre would haue no truce that produced not the effects of a peace and the ruling of his conscience by a nationall Councell She would no truce if the king of Nauarre did not countermaund his forraine armie Hee would not agree to the second poynt of a truce if hee were not assured of a good peace In respect whereof hee offered that great assembly and raising of Rutters and Switzers vnto the king to helpe him to recouer the obedience and authoritie due vnto him In this maner their interview ended without any resolution and the Queene-mother in all haste tooke her waye to Parris vppon the aduise giuen vnto her concerning the last poynt of dispaire that was to be executed therein For the Duke de Maine being aduertised that she went to the king of Nauarre to make peace made haste to Parris to shewethe king that her trauell to that end was against his edict that such peace could not bee good ingendring in religion the effects that are contrary to the tranquillitie of Catholicque consciences He found the Parrisians more mooued then euer they were to rise vp in armes he sawe the secret articles of the sixe Archleaguers to fight against heresie These secret articles were sworne in the house of Reims neare the Augustins to reforme the Court the insolencie of the kings minions They enterprise they sappe they myne they beate downe but all in words their counsels are euill grounded their daungerous attempts are more difficult to execute then to resolue The Rattes found it expedient that to preserue themselues from the Cat they must hang a bel at her eare but none of them durst vndertake to do it they must cease vppon the king but who would bee so bolde Read the Dialogue of Manant Maheutre Fol. 104. They sent vnto the Townes some of their consort who vnder certaine secret pretences went from Towne to Towne to see the leaders of the league and to discipher the secret meanings of his intents Manant saith that at that time among them they spake not of that enterprise but onely tending to their defence if in case they were assayled and that the inuention of Barricadoes was resolued vppon aboue a yeare before they The first resolution of Barticadoes about Easter 1587. tooke effect But hee that wrote the treatie of the causes of the troubles of the moneth of Ianuarie 1589. saith that the league perceiuing that if the Huguenots were driuen out of France and the onely Catholicque religion maintained therein it should haue no more cloaks to couer her shame they thought it good to let the Huguenots remaine on the one side and on the other to torment the king For said they if our ground bee the royaltie wee must
hee vsed to impeach the reducing of Ausonne do sufficiently discouer their pretences And when it pleaseth your Maiestie to haue further declaration hereof with the generall consent of all your subiects wee will bring diuers sufficient proofes which at this present would bee ouer long to set downe and which for diuers good causes wee will now omit This common opinion of the intelligence that the said Duke de Espernon and Mousieur de la Valette haue with the Hugunots and the high estate whervnto it hath pleased your Maiestie to aduance them maketh your good subiects to feare specially the Catholicques that if your fauor should once bee withdrawne from them as it is impossible that their insolent behauiors can long time be indured by so great and wise a King not finding any entertainment among the Catholicques they will take part with Hereticques and thereby deliuer all the Prouences and strong places that are in their possessions into their hands whith whom alreadie they haue so great intelligence in such manner that France that may shortly be deliuered of heresie should become more subiect to their tyrannicall dominion then euer it was The Dukes answere Vpon the taking of Dauphine The Duke de Espernon replyeth by his Councell and saith that hee tooke Valence and other places in Dauphine and put out those of the league that had no authoritie therein to place his Maiesties souldiers if that deserue not an excuse I referre it to the iudgement of all honest men I would to God he had also taken Chaalons Dyon Montreuil and all that acknowledgeth not your Maiestie within the heart of the Realme and yet hee hath not done it without cause and lawfull excuse which hath beene often debated before your Maiestie and your Councell The fauour which he bare to hereticques As touching the other poynts of their accusation touching the fauour which the League saith the Duke d'Espernon beareth vnto Hereticques your Maiestie knoweth and can disprooue their vntrueths if they bee so in this that as touching the ouerthrow of the Rutiters there was not any man that trauelled so much therein as the saide Duke d'Espernon who onely by your Maiesties good pleasure and authoritie hauing effected the disvnion of the Switzers The King of Nauarres complaint against the Duke de Espernon caused their confusion and by that meanes gaue the Duke of Guise occasion to set vppon them at Auneau for the which hee is so much commended to the disgracing of your Maiestie and the honour of that victorie that is due vnto you By this your Maiestie may iudge the truth of all their accusations that knoweth the particularities of the voiage to Guyenne what was done by the Duke d'Espernon and what followed all contrary to their declarations Whereby I dare say the King of N. was so much displeased at the said D. of Espernon that there is not any man in France with whom he is more offended The League addeth that the D. of Espernon his brother are the authors of the disorders in all the good gouernments and pollicie of France that they haue gotten into their Coffers all the treasures of the Realme that they haue aspired to the principall offices of the Crowne separated from it diuers of those that would serue it both well and wisely and besought the King seeing he knew them to be the cause and original of the mischiefe that it would please him to bannish them both of his Court and fauour and discharge them of all the gouernments and offices that they hold within this Realme without any desert The Duke d'Espernon saith that all whatsoeuer they say are but chimeres and inuentions maliciously deuised for the iustification whereof The Dukes offer to testifie the truth of his innocencis hee will gage his head to bee layde at the kings seere if it bee found that hee once so much as dreamed thereof And to the contrary hee reputeth all the causes of miseries vppon the heads of the house of Guise Who hath brought disorder saith hee in the treasures whereof you make so great a matter but your predecessors you that follow their steps Who constrained the king to exact vppon his people but onely the warres which the vnmeasurable ambition hath renued put them vpon the Kings charges let the chamber of accounts be examined there it shall be seen who without contradiction hath handled and gouerned the treasures of the late kings Henry and Francis the second let the most auncient Histories be pervsed to see what house in France hath risen from a most meane beginning to a high and great estate I will name no man euery man knoweth sufficiently what house it is that would thrust his head into the cloudes Gifts of the king without importunitie and with his foote spurne off the kings Crowne wee most humbly call his Maiestie to witnesse as our king the author of our beeing our Protector and our good Maister if wee euer were importunate with him for any benefit we haue receiued at his Graces hands and whether all whatsoeuer wee haue both riches and honour haue not proceeded from him of his free and voluntarie libertie Wee praise God that wee cannot bee accused to bee Pensionaries to the king of Spaine or to haue receiued mony from him to make war against our king and impeached him from taking into his protection the gouernment of the lowe Countries nor by force to haue taken the monies of his generall receipts robbed the waggon of Bourges and in time of open peace constrained the mony of Normandie to bee conducted by a hundreth men of armes euen to the Gates of Parris It shall not bee long of vs that this reformation should not bee performed in France wee will absent our selues from the Court and from the presence of the king Now my Maisters the reformers let vs see some goodly beginning of your policie Is your ambition deuises practises or inuentions The Duke d'Espernon is forbidden the Court. to attain to the highest dignitie therby any thing ceased Haue you left Paris restored it into the hands of her naturall king and Princes No but to the contrary you haue made Melun and Corbeil to reuolt in the very sight of his Maiestie and all the best townes in this Realme which by false perswasions you haue ledde out of the right way And to conclude wee will refuse no condition that may restore and establish this Realme to peace and tranquillitie and as wee do most willingly craue your Maiesties presence in a time wherein wee ought not to doo it thereby to giue no cause of dissiking to our enemies so will wee bee alwaies readie to yeelde vnto your Maiesties hands both liues and goods The Kings answere to the request of the league with all estates charges gouernments places and Castles that it hath pleased you to commit vnto vs vppon condition that our accusers will doo the like And if
condition that for his part hee might haue the Marquisat of Saluce Prouence and Dauphine which the Duke of Guise would by no means consent vnto desiring rather to keepe the kingdome wholly for himselfe which was the cause that the Duke of Sauoy mooued at his aunswere sent Monsieur to the King at Chartres in the moneth of August to offer him all loue and friendshippe whereat the Duke of Guise beeing offended practised the saide intelligence and league graunted the Duke of Sauoyes request and the saide Duke of Sauoy was aduertised of of the resolution taken against the king in the Parliament at Blois to the end that for his part he might finde the meanes to dispatch his businesse at the same time wherein hee slept not forgetting neuerthelesse the promise made vnto his Maiestie and that of his owne free will for hee preuented the time of the execution thereof by the surprising of the Marquisate of Saluces which serued as a preparation to the conspiracie made against the person of the King as euery man iudged as beeing most easie to bee perceiued that the Duke of Sauoye who in regard of the puissance of this great Realme is but a meane Prince and hath la Bresse Sauoye and Piedemont so neare vnto the limittes of France that it laye in the kings power to bereaue him of the greatest parte thereof and that in very short time if hee were not ayded or that his Maiestie hadde not hinderances otherwise which made it apparant vnto all the worlde that hee enterprised not the taking of Carmagnolle Rauel and Saluce without assistance and that on the other side the king should bee retained and hindered from making warre against him although that after such hinderance hee might bee well assured that the Parliament beeing ended his Maiestie would recouer both his saide Marquisate of Saluce and wholly ouerrunne him if hee left not off in time For my part I haue heard it reported that this young Prince foreseeing Cadenti arbori securim in iecit A politicque maxime of Spaine Multa fieri prohibentur quae tamen facta tenent seeing the dissipation of our estate assured himselfe that it would bee best for him to bee the first at the dinision as sonne and husbande of two daughters issued from the blood royall of France and so goodly a peece of land lying in the middle of his countrie would bee sufficient cause to awake a man that were most sound a sleepe to mooue and heate the most colde and greatest Pollititian and that although there appeared iniustice in the action yet there would bee reason found to the possession thereof Concluding his determination by this maxime holden in Councell of Spaine That diuers thinges are forbidden which are good and hold steadfast beeing once done And to execute his pretence for the space of a whole yeare hee had solicited the Gouernour of the Citadell of Carmagnole who playing on both side on the one side tooke money of the Duke and on the other side hee aduertised the King thereof and wrought so well by that meanes that hauing gotten aboue fiue and twentie thousand Crownes hee withdrewe himselfe vnto the Court without deliuering the place which the Duke of Sauoye hadde bargained for who perceiuing himselfe deceiued and that the Barricadoes at Parris gaue the King worke in hand and more then hee could doo hee determined to surprise the Citadell of Carmagnole by the meanes of a Corporall called la Chambre whose treason beeing discouered and his fact once knowne hee was hanged by the feete in the Market-place of Carmagnole and then with all his confederates put to death as hee deserued but that notwithstanding the duke perceiuing the kings minde to bee otherwise occupied then to thinke vppon the Marquisat of Saluces hee leuyed great numbers of men Marquesse of S. Sorbin causing the Marquesse of Saint Sorlin to mount on horsebacke and vnder the pretence of a false report giuen out touching the besieging of Montferrat hee approached in so good time that vppon Al-saints day at night hee surprised the Towne of Carmagnole that for the most part was kept by souldiers of Piedemont And the Castle that hadde alwaies beene victualled for aboue the space of two yeares at that time was found wholly vnprouided because that Montseur de Saint Siluie that hadde succeeded in the place of la Coste hadde caused the victualles to bee carried foorth to haue some fresh in their place in such sort that the Captains fearing to indure great miserie and famine with small honour yeelded vppe that impregnable Fort wherein there was found aboue foure hundreth cannons Ordinance founde at Carmagnole great and little with great quantitie of powder and shotte and by that means the double Pistollets that flew about on all sides bare away the double cannons of this Frontier-Towne of France so that in lesse then threce weekes the Duke wanne all the Marquisats of Saluce and also the Captaines and Frenchmen souldiers retiring with liues and goodes saued drummes sounding and playing Ensignes displayed weapons in their handes but no matches lighted and without their paye of three moneths which the Duke had promised them by his agreement This victorie and conquest made the Duke holde vp his head and his seruants made him beleeue that although hee were forced to yeelde it vp again in the mean time he should enioy it and that it is good to bring things to passe when time and opportunitie serueth And for the same cause he made certaine peeces of mony of the value of a Duket to be minted stamped with the picture of a Centaure treading a Crowne of golde vnder his feete with this deuise Opportune The taking of the Marquesse of Saluce troubles the state Not long after the king receiued the newes thereof and considering the troubles distrusts and commotions practised by the League he imputed this surprising to a brauado togither with an euill will against the good and quietnesse of his estate and knew full well that the Duke of Sanoy beleeuing that the deuision of France would impart a peece thereof to euery man he went to take his part that rather for the scituation then any other right or title hee had vnto the Marquisate of Saluces thereby to ioyne it vnto Piedemont and that he had forseene that his Maiestie beeing hindered by quenching the fire that flamed within the heart of his Realme hee would not haue the meanes to ayde himselfe in his extreamities The full relution of the French Nobalitie to make warre in Sauoy Such as at all times had the flower deluce and the respect of the glory of France liuely imprinted in their hearts not beeing able to support the iniurie wrought in the presence of all the estates of France as then assembled in Blois touching the taking of a place which was the onely treasurie of the spoyles of such conquests as the Kings of France brought out of the countrie of Italie shewed the
intended to compound and make agreement with the Emperour The kings answere to the Princes The King perceiuing that by meanes of his great armie the Protestant Princes had brought the Emperour to some reason and on the other side vnderstanding that the Queene of Hungary with her forces was entered into the field left the Almaines and at his departure made aunswere vnto the Princes that he contented himselfe to be esteemed the cause whereby the Princes that were prisoners should shortly bee deliuered and the countrie of Almaine enioy a happy peace and that if thereafter it should haue cause to vse his helpe hee would not spare what meanes soeuer hee had to doo them good Meane time the armie fedde vppon the poore pesants and the country belonging to those of Strasbourg that stood vpon their guard was nothing spared The Leaders notwithstanding repressing the insolencie of the Souldiers as much as possibly they might but in so great a multitude it is impossible that some disorder should not bee committed The meeting at Passau where the French Ambassadour was present Duke Maurice hauing driuen the Emperor out of Almaine and thereby procured an assembly and meeting to bee holden at Passau there to take order touching the reducing of the Countrie of Almaine into her anâ—â—er 〈◊〉 Ambassadours for the Emperour the Electors and diuers â—â—aces of Germanie met togither Where the Bishop of Bayonne Ambassadour for the King fayled not to come vpon the 3. of Iune in a learned Oration he shewed the ancient long coniunction of the countries of Almaine France the affectioÌ„ that the His Oration king bare vnto the Empire as then hardly and euill gouerned by the Spaniards and their adherents finding it good for the Protestant-Princes to agree and make an accord with the Emperour so the prisoners might be deliuered the ancient alliance of France with the Empire and the last capitilation made with the Princes ratified and confirmed that the Emperour should do him reason and that his whole desire was to consent and agree with them all and particularly with Duke Mauris the answere thervnto was composed with many thankes and declarations couched in such sort that neither the Emperour nor the king Their answere could in any sort bee discontent therewith Touching the renuing of auncient alliances they said that a matter of so great waight importance required great and more ample assembly meane time they desired that the amitie alwaies holden continued between the two nations might stil remaine in force and that the controuersies betweene the Emperour and the king might bee appeased promising therein to imploy all meanes possible meane time they desired the king to shew what wrong he could pretend had beene in any sort offered vnto him by the Emperour to whom they would not faile to write that thereby some end and finall agreement might be made VVarres in the Duchy of Luxenbourg with diuers exployts spotles and pilling of places During this assembly the Queene of Hungary hauing commaunded the Marshall of Cleueland to enter into the Duchy of Luxenberg with an armie of 3000. foote and 600. horse caused them to ioyne with the companies of the lowe countries in such sort that their armie being compassed of 12000. foote and 3000. horse beganne to worke many exployts and hauing taken Stenay vppon Meuse a small Towne belonging to the Duchie of Lorraine they enterprised against other places but not to any effect onely that they burnt certaine villages and small hamblets but the kings armie approaching they beganne to retire which made the Councell to determine vpon the conquest of the Duchie of Luxenbourg wherewith they first set vppon a strong Castle called Roc de Mars which was presently taken and spoyled The like was done to Mont S. Iohn Solieure and other places The Emperours and the kings forces skirmishing before Thionuille the armie passing by it made towards d'Auuille which beeing battered and yeelded vnto the king the Captaines were kept prisoners and the Souldiers suffered to depart without armes onely a white sticke in their hands Iuoy was likewise battered and after yeelded vpon the like condition The Gouernour beeing sent prisoner vnto Parris all the spoyle was giuen vnto the Constable who distributed the greatest part thereof among his troupes and particularly to that of his eldest sonne whereat the Souldiours of the olde companies began to mutinie next Iuoy they tooke Monmedy and while they were imployed therein the Marshall Sedan heire vnto the house la Marshe obtained certaine companies of the King wherewith hee recouered the Towne and Castle of Bouillon with all the places depending belonging to the Duchie VVinning of the Duchy of Bouillon which done the Castles of Lumes Treton Glaion and others were taken and ouerthrowne and to please the olde Souldiers they had the spoyle of Cimay a Towne and Castle belonging vnto the Duke d'Arscot giuen vnto them Where the assieged hauing withdrawne themselues into the Castle and desiring to make some composition were myned vnder the gate and other places of the Castle by the great fury of the assailantes wholly famished and thirsting after spoyle wherevnto they ranne with so great haste that some of their Matches fell into a certaine quantitie of powder The Castle and Towne of Cimay burnt whereby about sixe score of the most forwardest of them were burnt and blowne vp into the aire and to conclude the fury of warre burnt both the Towne and Castle but because the Army began to diminish and to weaken some being laden with spoyle and the greatest part sicke and not well at ease about the ende of Iuly such as were left were placed in Garrisons there to attend the Emperors resolution who hauing to do both with the Protestant Princes and the King determined to agree and compound with the Princes by their meanes to aide himselfe against the King and vpon the last of Iuly he made and concluded a peace with Almaine Peace in Almaine to beginne his warres with France The King was much moued at that agreement yet he discharged the Hostages of Duke Maurice who likewise released his beeing the Earles of Nantueil and Iametz The Emperours enterprises for the recouery of Metz Thoul and Verdun After this appointment with the Almaines the Emperor vsed such means that the Princes and Townes of Almaine by litle and litle agreed to furnish him with men money and Artillery therewith to driue the King out of Metz Thoul and Verdum imperiall Townes to the which ende he gathered an Armie of 50000. foote and 20000. horse with a great number of Artillery and while he was preparing this armie Albert Marquesse of Brandenburge who in the Kings name had made most cruell warre vpon many Townes and Bishopprickes in Almaine being secretly reconciled vnto the Emperour hauing to the number of 2000. horse and 8000. foote with certaine artillery approched the Frontiers of Luxembourge and of Lorraine where
such sort that Honorat returned quietly to Pamiers leauing the Lombats in their ordinarie place called les Cabanes where not long after because they had forsaken the traine companie of Bandoliers yeelding themselues vnto the religion by the means and instruction of two maides rauished by them at the sacking of Montsegur and after married vnto them they were cruelly pursued by those of the Romish Church and in the end saued themselues in Castres The Priestes of Pamiers for their parts vsed all the meanes they could to ouerthrowe and spoyle those of the religion diuers enterprises beeing made whereof the principall being discouered by interception of letters the mischiefe sell vppon the inuentors for the souldiers entring into the Cellers of foure Fryers that shoulde haue lette in Pailles and others dispatched as it is very likely whatsoeuer they founde therein for after that time they were neuer seene nor heard of any more This report put the Priests and Chanons in such feare that they fledde to the Towne of Foix their houses as also the Bishops Pallace beeing sacked and spoyled whatsoeuer the Ministers and the Gouernour could saye or doo Wherevppon the newes of peace ensued and in the beginning of Maye there fell so cruell a hayle that came three times euery eight dayes and beare the Countrey in such sort specially about Foix that there could neyther fruite nor green hearb be seen in all the Countrey no more then in the middle of winter The Chanons of Pamiers to whome the common people imputed the cause of that hayle were constrained to shun the Commons to goe out of Foix and to remaine at Maugansy where we will leaue them to come to Lyonois About the thirtieth of April Monsieur de Tauanes came out of Burgongne Lyonnis and stayed within three miles of Lyons making account to assayle the towne but it fell out otherwise although as then hee hadde aboue fiue thousand men besides three thousand Italians conducted by the Counte de Anguesole and paide by the Pope Those Italians beeing the greatest Brigands then liuing brought with them diuers Goates and vsed the carnall companie of brute Beasts which was the cause that in euery place where they came men detested their abhomination All the Goates being killed and cast vnto the dogges Lyons besieged by the Country Pesants for the space of a moneth while Monsieur de Tauanes had that great company togither he had many braue skirmishes about Lyons whereby the inhabitants durst not sette their vines but in Gardens bordering vppon the Towne But because Tauanes pleased not the Triumuirat they sent the Duke de Nemours for Generall of the Armie with a great number of horses and the Rutters of the Counte Rockendolfe Tauanes not knowing how to discharge himselfe of the displeasure he had procured by his affaires about Lyons was exceeding glad of the arriuall of the Duke de Nemours and therevppon vnder a fained discontentment presently withdrewe himselfe into his gouernment of Burgongne Nemours with all his forces went into Vienne which hee hadde by intelligence and while hee soiournied there victualles beganne to bee scarce with them of Lyons Wherevppon Soubize called Des Adrets and the Prouinceaux that thereby hee might bee strong inough to keepe the fielde But because the hope hee expected else-where failed him hee sent Des Adrets to fetch more ayde out of Dauphine Which hauing done and bringing his troupe beeing of foure or fiue thousand foote and foure hundreth horse was sette vppon by the Army of Nemours hard by Beaurepaire and put to flight but yet with small losse which was done vppon thee nineteenth daye of October whereby his troupes reassembling thither mette altogither and not yet beeing pursued by the Duke de Nemours hee at that time slipt an occasion of some greate importance Des Adrets incamped himselfe within two myles of Vienne and for the space of three weekes that hee lay there hee entertained the Duke de Nemours with skirmishes meane time Soubize got victualles from diuers places About that time it chaunced that a souldier bringing a packet from Orleans vnto Soubize deliuered it into the handes of the Marshall de Brissac who therein hauing found a letter from the Admirall where among other thinges hee said that touching Adrets as much as hee might he must indure the light toyes of his braine and entertaine him least of an insolent person they should make him to become madde and without sence wherevppon in all haste hee sent Saint Sernin a Gentleman of Dauphine vnto the Duke de Nemours and des Adrets to practise somewhat between them By what meanes Adrets left the partie of the religion which at the first was secretly handled but Soubize going to the campe the next day after that S. Seruin had spoken to Adrets presently perceiued some alteration which in time he prouided for and from that time setting some to watch Adrets they presently discouered his intent who by messengers hauing cōmunicated with the duke de Nemours and then speaking with him personally brake vp his armie Nemours who alreadie made account to possesse Lyons Dauphinois went nearer vnto the town and by skirmishes sought to impeach the Towne of victuals vpon the mountaine of Tarare hee ouerthrewe 80. horse that came from Orleans to Lyons and on the other side stretched foorth his armes to gripe Romans and Valence But because it was requisite to beare all his bodie thither thinking to come time ynough to intrappe Lyons seeking to gripe ouermuch in one hand he lost that hold hee had For marching straight to Vienne with all his armie Soubize that slept not presently made so many men to issue out to fetch corne from Dombes that hee recouered great store Those that Nemours had left for guard forsooke keyes places and barnes except fortie that kept the Castle of Treuoux who thinking to saue the honour of their companions by keeping a tower nor being able to defend themselues neither yet yeeld it vppe their obstinacie was punished by a traine of powder that made them all leape higher then ordinarily they vsed to do and to burie their carkasses within the olde ruines of that broken Tower On the other side Soubize caused Adrets to bee taken and by that meanes the affaires and pretences of Nemoures touching Dauphine conuerted into smoke But thinking to bee more fortunate by Atturneys then in person he sent to the Bishoppe du Puy Escaladoes presented but in vaine to take Lyons and to Saint Chaumont saying that seeing Lyons wanted souldiers their men of warre beeing turned to bee marchants of corne they should assay to enter by scalado into the towne But Soubize that spared not mony to entertaine spies in euery place beeing well aduertised thereof tooke such order therein that Saint Chaumont in steed of approaching was forced to retire Nemours determined to supply their default and at two seuerall times with all his forces vppon hope that his participants within Lyons would assist
fauor his retire from the Court Others bearing him no great affection spred foorth a rumour that they were in armes prepared to kill the king the Queene and his Councell The first aduise tooke place neuerthelesse to make the latter seeme likely yet vntrue euery man except it were the king Praclises of the Court whereinto sundrie not able to penetrate at the first the gentry of Normandy found themselues deceined whereof ensued the destruction of the Countie of Montgommery perswaded to stay with his traine in great haste dislodging from Saint Germains where they stayed till the lodgings of the Castle of Blois Saint Vincennes were prepared and rid to Parris from nine of the clock till midnight with most great noyse and tumult I must tell you that the Duke of Alencon was in minde to haue departed from the Court and to take the king of Nauarre with him and that this troupe composed of the Gentlemen their seruants came to bring them to the places appointed by them but imagining many difficulties in the executiō hee tooke aduise of la Mole a Gentleman of Prouence that gouerned him who gaue him counsell with al speed to aduerise the king his brother and his mother what his meaning was which was the cause that the king remooued not neuerthelèsse the mother that had som greater matter in her head made that voyage by night and went to the house of the Marshall de Retz in the subburbs of S. Honore The Parisians beleeuing whatsoeuer was told them touching those horses in short time made a great and puissant armie as they said The next day the king went vnto his mother and within eight daies after they went to Blois Saint Vincennes hauing holden diuers councels to deuise the means to intrap the Marshal d'Anuille that gaue them worke to do in Languedoc Meane time the Duke of Alencon and the king of Mauarre vppon the foure and twentieth of March published a declaration touching the matter of Saint Germains protesting their good wils towards the king and that they were resolued to oppose themselues with all their meanes against such as would rebell against him which was an occasion to bring the Marshall de Montmorencic vnto the Court who being come was arested as also the Marshall de Cosse and both most shamefully led prisoners to the Bastille On the other side la Mole Coconnas Tourtay seruants to the Duke of Alencon were committed within Parris and not long after executed hauing onely confessed to haue been of their Maisters counsell to depart out of the Court Diuers Lords and Gentlemen intangled in this processe saued themselues as well as they could the Duke of Alencon and the king of Nauarre were kept more straight and twise examined touching that action The estate of Dauphine Languedoc and poictou These troubles in the Court hindered not those of the religion their associates to looke vnto themselues In Dauphine Mombrun tooke Loriol Linron Alet Graue and Roinac and ouerthrew fiue companies of footmen that sought to impeach them Those of Villeneufue in Viuarais not long before had put certaine troupes to the swood that came against those of the religion without losse of one man and tooke Aubenas a Towne of great importance hauing cut the throates of all the Garrison for the most part composed of the massacres of Lyons The gouernment of Languedoc and Dauphine hauing bin committed to the Prince d'Auphine Monsieur d'Acier ioyned with him the Marshall d'Anuille by letters intercepted discouered what was pretended against him by which meanes hee beganne to draw to those of the religion consulting with Saint Romaine Gouernour of Nismes seized vppon Montpeslier Beaucaire Lunel and Pezenas In Poistou the Polititians ioyned with la Noue tooke Saint Maixaut Melle Fontenay Lusignan and other places In Normandie about the beginning of March What happened in Normandie to the Countie de Montgommery taken prisoner and after executed the Countie Montgommery accompanied with Lorges and Galardon his children departed from the Isle of Gerze and arriued at Rades where Colombieres de Fey with fistie Gentlemen came to meete him from whence hee went to Saint Lo and then with in three daies after assieged and took Carentan by compositiō Within a month after a strong armie of the enemie commaunded by Matignon and Feruaques set vppon him and inclosed him with a little weake towne and ill furnished called Danfrone accompanied with sixtie horse and eight harguebuziers conducted by Captaine la Touche the younger resoluing vppon a valiant defence euen in the beginning of the siege sent foorth siue and twentie horse and some small shot who giuing a sharpe onset slew seuen Gentlemen assaylants and nine horse and soretired with the losse of the Lord of Friaize who was slaine and two prisoners that they left behinde This was the eleuenth of May. The next day the besieged cut in peeces one Corps de garde but soone after some either for feare or won with faire woords forsooke the Countie and yeelded to the assaylants who in reward stripped and put them to their ransome The Queen-mother vnderstanding that the Countie whom shee hated to the death was in her nettes sent forces day and night to strengthen Matignon as also the armie that lay before Saint Lo was commanded with all speed to march to Danfrone where they had in the beginning of the siege six thousand small shot and fifteen hundreth horse The king being very sicke vpon the 23. of May the Castle was battered with six peeces of cannon that in fiue houres shot aboue fiue hundreth times and made a breach of fiue and fortie foote broad Then did most of the Counties men forsake him and in liew of entring the Castle with him fled out of the Towne into the campe where they receiued their deserued entailment as their former companions About two of the clock at after noone the assay lants came fiercely to the breach where they found the Countie on the right side with the lords of Brossay Chauuiny Cornieres Tere yong Touche Mahiliere Crosse Oulfe and others to the number of twentie On the left side were the Lords of Sey Hayes Vaudore Sanssaye Villenenfue and others in like number of twentie All togither fell vpon their knees to hear the prayer which one of the three Ministers there present made in the presence of the assay lants who when it was done came to handie blows in the order following Out of tenne companies of men at armes present at that siege Matignon the other Captains chose one hundreth Gentlemen even ten out of euerie companie well armed followed with 600. small shot with murrians 100. pikemen with their corselers These 800. men with some 200. voluntaries mixed among thē were led by the LL. of Fernaques Villermois S. Golombe Raberprey Lauerdin and others The fight lasted siue hours neither did the cannon cease which indomaged the defer dants with stones wherewith also the Countie was
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
a iourney The Duke de Bouillon was therein but a learner and those that assisted him were more fit to go of an Ambassage then to giue a charge vpon the enemie The Barron of Othna had lesse experience then courage all his sufficiencie consisted onely in the report and commendation giuen of him by the D. Casimir For about the beginning of the month of August Neither the Rutters nor Switzers would fight with so faire an occasion consusion necessitie two dangerous plagues to a great multitude entered among them There was diuision in their intents some of them would spoyle the country of Lorraine others would stay their vengeance and furie vntill they were in the heart of France The Duke de Bouillon by meanes of that armie would refresh his Towns that as then were vnfurnished the Generall of the Almaines would not doo any thing before hee had a Prince of the blood to direct him The Frenchmen said they must go straight forward to passe the riuer of Loire the Almaines wold march along by the riuer of Seine from thence into Picardie But the passage of the riuer of Loire was resolued vpon after they had let slip a goodly encounter at Pont Saint Vincent where all the troupes of the league made shewe to set vppon them but the necessitie of victualles procured by the Duke of Lorraine by throwing downe milles and ouens made them leaue that bone and passe further forward in this manner The Duke de Bouillon Liestenant Generall the Counte de la Marche his brother led the Vant-guard Cleruant the Switzers the Barron of Othna the Rutters Guitry Marshall of the campe and Mouy ledde the French footemen And as they passed le Barrois and leinuillois newes came of the arriuall of Monsieur de Chastillon at Gresille neare to la Mottes in Lorraine both the armies made thither that of the Duke of Guise to intrappe him and that of the Duke de Bouillon to defend him in which effort they trauelled so much that both the one and the other wearied and weakened themselues The Earle of Marche fell sicke and died leauing his charge to Nonsieur de Chastillon whom hee had ingaged That done long raines want of victualles and sicknesses beganne to torment the armie which notwithstanding all discommodities made right to Chaumont in Bassigny passed the riuer of Marne placed their artilllerie but to no purpose against the Abbey of Clernaux burnt the corne vppon the ground about the countrie crossed l'Aube aâ— Montigny and Seine aboue Chastillon where Monsieur de la Chastre laye passed hard by the Duke de Maine and the troupes of Bourgongne lodged at Leignes and Ansile Franc passed Cure aboue Vermenton and Yonne hard by Creuant and so made a halt towards the riuer of Loire The cause of the overthrow of the Switzers There beganne the complaints of the Switzers and the mutinies of the Rutters because the King of Nauarre came not to them and that the King was at the side of the riuer of Loire either to fight with them or to staye their passage A stratageme woorthie of a King and Councell no lesse commendable then admirable beeing the true and onely cause of the victorie For hee considered that the onely meanes to breake this armie was to impeach their ioyning with the king of Nauarre and so to let them consume of themselues as not hauing victualles to suffice their wants nor retrait for their aduantage That the necessitie of their bellie would cause the head to rebell That famine would cause disseases among them and lessen their troupes From this Councell proceeded two great effects but different in execution hee commaunded the Duke Ioyeuse The battel of Coutras to keepe the King of Nauarre in Poitou and rather to hazard battell then suffer him to passe the riuer of Loire as hee determined to do at the head thereof assuring him that the ruine of the forraine armie depended there vppon to the which end the Duke de Ioyeuse that had anarmie fortified both with men munition artillerie and meanes marched towards Coutras to passe la Drongne at Gue and vpon Tuesday the twentieth of October stayed with all his forces between la Roche Chalais and Coutras the king of Nauarre made towards him fully resolued to fight And his troupes not mercinarie but chosen souldiers not constrained but free that desired rather to sweate in a skirmish then heate themselues in a Tennis-court rather to pursue a flying enemie then staye to drinke sweet and pleasant maluesie at a bankette that feared nothing but the losse of their reputation stayed onely but till they had the word to giue the onset And after they had bin long encouraged to fight and greeued with outrages and threatnings they sell to blowes And about eight of the clocke in the morning the king of Nauarres artillery began to play and that of the Duke de Ioyeuse to aunswere them but not very luckely for that eyther the ignorance or the mallice of the Cannonier had placed it so low that the mouth of the cannon shot right vpon a litle hill of earth wherein the bullet stayed without pearcing further The battell was so soone descided that in tenne houres this great armie of the king that had the aduantage both for place and number beganne to retire was sooner broken then fought withall The king of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and the Earle of Sotssons behaued themselues most valiantly executing the offices both of Captaines and souldiers and gaue thankes to God in open field all died with blood and hilled and couered with dead bodies and among the rest with the bodies of Duke de Ioyeuse Monsieur de Saint Sauueur his brother and fiue and twentieth other Gentlemen of name All their Cornets were taken with the artillerie and baggage and foureteene Gentlemen of account taken and put to raunsome That done the king of Nauarre beeing eased of so many nettes that were set vp to catch him marched forward to ioyne with the forraine armie and to passe the riuer of Loire but the king lay incamped at a little Village called Lere between Cosne and Neusuy impeached him by the aduise of Monsieur de Neuers causing the guets betweene Pouilly and Dony to bee broken downe filling them with thousands of trees stones and chaines to entangle the feete of the Rutters horses that should passe And intrueth the letting of that passage next to the helpe of God was the second cause of the aduantage the king had of the victorie For the Duke of Guise that followed the armie durst not set vpon it nor hinder it from spoyling villages therewith to refresh it selfe But assoone as it perceiued it selfe to be in that inclosure and that they must of force recule to take the left hand and enter into a countrie wherein the Rutter had neuer hunted the Hart and considring the scituation it beganne to be abashed and fall into a mutenie and loose courage and hauing
of the King of Nauarre the conspiracies made the last yeare about Easter and the many aduises and prognostications he had receiued by the singes hee had seene The Queene-mother was not of that mind The 13. of May. 1588. and promised to perswade the Duke of Guise and for the same cause went to find him out desiring him to quench so many fiers alreadie kindled to come speake with the King of whom hee should haue contentment at his pleasure and thereby let him see that in so vrgent an occasion hee had greater desire to serue then to ouerthrow his Crowne to repaire rather then throw downe the edifice of the estate which that commotion had most mischieuously shaken The Duke of Guise betweene hope and feare that neuer esteemed man to bee greater then himselfe as long as hee held his sword in hand making shewe of innocencie and laying the fault vppon the people said that he suffered himselfe to bee borne in that sort by them rather by force and necessitie then that he had any desire so to do That touching the Louure it was but athing falsely deuised against him that it should be a great folly for him to go thither things being in such hatefull estate and so to cast himselfe weake and in his dublet into the mercie of his enemies The Queen-mother aduertised the King by Secretarie Pinâ—rt The Queene marking the stubburnnesse and resolution of the Duke of Guise concerning her requests caused the King to bee aduertised who desiring not to stay any longer in that trance issued out of Parris by the new gate and that night lodged at Trappes It is said that being at Mon-martre he turned towards the Towne and cursing it for the infidelitie ingratitude and disloyaltie thereof in respect of all the benefits it had receiued at his hands hee sware hee would neuer enter into it againe but by a breach his seruants the companies of his guard and men of warre with the Switzers followed him and left their lodgings to those new Kings of Parris The Duke of Guise that had written to the Gouernour of Orleans The Duke of Guises letters to the Gouernor of OrleaÌ„s that he held the Louure so close shut vppe that hee would giue good account of that which was within it knew well the victorie was not performed and that his reputation would be stained if the newes of the Kings retrait were carried out of the Realme by other meanes then by him selfe hee considered that whatsoeuer is attempted against the Kings person toucheth and concerneth all his equalles that as the Prelates the Officers the Senators and Knights and all Kings are bretheren that one blood royall calleth the other that all soueraigne Rulers do blason rebelles and disturbers of estate although they helpe themselues by the same meanes He thought it good to send Monsieur de Brissac to the Ambassadour of England to shewe him the cause of the erecting the Barricadoes I make no difficultie to write whole leaues of a discourse when it is not out of purpose neyther any disgrace to the matter propounded therefore I haue set downe the same words that passed betweene the Ambassadour of England and the Counte de Brissac which were faithfully reported vnto me The Counte de Brissac accompanied with certaine Gentlemen went to visit the Ambassadour of England at his lodging in those commotions and populer insolencies to offer him a safeguard or protection and to desire him not to bee abashed nor to stirre as beeing assured of the protection of Mensieur de Guise The Ambassadour made him aunswere that if hee had beene in Parris as a particular person he would fall downe at the feete of Monsieur de Guise and giue him humble thankes for his great and courteous offers but beeing there hard by the King and for the Queene his Mistresse that had peace and amitie with the King he neither would nor could receiue any protection but from the king himselfe Monsieur de Brissac shewed him that the Duke of Guise was not come to Parris to enterprise any thing against the king or his seruice but that hee had onely put himselfe in defence that there was a great conspiracie made against him and the Cittie of Parris that the Town-house and other places were full of gibbets whereon the king had determined to hang diuers of the Town and others and that the Duke of Guise desired him to aduertise the Queen his Mistresse thereof to the end it might bee known The Ambassadour aunswered that he beleeued the Duke had willed him to say so that the highest and hardiest enterprises often times lye hidden and secret in the minds of those that vndertake them and that when they thinke good they make them knowne with such colour and shewe as they thinke best for their purpose that he could not chuse but tell him plainely that that which passed in Parris would bee found very straunge and euill thought of by all christian Princes hauing interest therein That no cloake or couer how faire soeuer it might bee could cause it to bee liked of it beeing the dutie of a subiect to continue in the iust obedience of his Prince That if there were so many gibbets prepared it would be the easilier beleeued if the Duke of Guise would cause them openly to bee shewed And againe if it were so it is a most odious and intollerable thing that a subiect by force should seek to impeach the iustice that his Soueraigne would execute against offendors That hee would promise him that most willingly and with all speed hee would aduertise the Queene his Mistresse of that had passed but to bee his Interpteter vnto her of Monsieur de Guises intents and those of his confederacie it was no part of his charge the Queen his Mistresse beeing wiser then himselfe both to beleeue and iudge what she thought good Heere endeth the second Booke THE THIRDE BOOKE OF THE LAST troubles of France containing that which passed after the Barricadoes in Parris and there trait of the king to Chartres vntill the Edict of pacification and assembly of the generall estates at Blois in the moneth of September Barricadoes the 12. of May. 1588. O Accursed and fatall day that haste defaced the beautie and pleasure of the twelfth day of May which euery yeare vsed to put vs in minde of the solemne and triumphant enterie of Charles the eight into the Realme of Naples what coale can bee blacke ynough to note thee in our Ephemerides and so leaue to our posteritie the rememberance of the shame and reproach of the rebellioÌ„ which thou breedest vp by driuing the king out of Parris and making knowne the hideous spectacles of the tyrannie of the League There is no memorie that forgetteth the remembrance of thy ingratitude no abolition that defaceth thy felony nor any defence to bee sought that might hide thy shame and there is not sufficient water in the riuer of Seine to wash away the
become incurable if the remedies that follow bee not applyed The vnworthie promotion of Prelats 1. Disorder In the Church simonie ignorance corruption into the Lords sheepfold are entered false Pastors not by the dore but ouer the wals like theeues by vnfit promotions by mony by treasure by fauour and not by learning or good example so that among the learned they introduce ignorant men in stead of fathers and tutors of the Church destroyers in steed of Pastors rauening wolues An abuse which hath drawne with it a chaine and band of all sorts of euilles for the aduancement of ignorant and slaunderous persons vnto Ecclesiasticall dignities hath brought foorth heresie heresie diuision and diuision ruine and destruction Remedie To restore the ancient forme of the Church the election of God wise and learned Prelates that loue God and his Church and faithfull Ministers of Gods word The nomination 2. Disorder The introducing of nominations of Abbeys as also vppon the chiefe Prelates of the same the Monasteries which in times past were the Congregations and colledges of al doctrine pietie renowmed among the Christians as among the auncients the Schooles of Nazariens Leuites Egyptians Medes Persians and Athenians that had nourished and brought vp holy Saints Basiles Chrysostomes Saint Benets and Augustines haue now in them all sorts of people indifferently not only Lawyers but Cittizens souldiers men without learning and crudition and without either name or marke of spiritualtie with women and children from whence proceedeth the foule disorder of the Monasticall life Monasteries of the holy fathers the ruine of the houses and goods of the Church the sacred Temple without prayers prophaned and occupied for the most part by meÌ„ of war who in stead of sustaining and nourishing religious meÌ„ do therin feed their horses dogs hauks frustrating the seruice of God appropriating the inheritance of the Church vnto themselues giuing for dowries to marriages and diuided the Vinyard of the Lord. Remedie To chuse and nominate good and holy personages that shall bee of requisite estate and quallitie to serue God in those places that shall commit good Priors to giue good example and helpe to reforme therevnto imploying the ayde of the arme and force of iustice that from this time forward all Harpies wilde Boores which spoyle Dauids Vinyard auoyde and depart from all such holy consecrated and appoynted places And to this ende let informations and decrees bee made against them those that detaine Abbeyes and are not of that quallitie and those that vsurpe and detaine the goods tithes and other reuenues and according to the informations let proces bee made as against sacriledges and rauishers of the riches that belong vnto God and to the poore The Commanders 3. Disorder Those that were called by our Sauiour vnto the Ministrie for the ease of the Apostles which are Priests and Vicars whose seruice is so necessary in the Church of God is at this day the most miserable and most afflicted order They are driuen and cast out of their houses by the Catholicques and where they are suffered to continue their goods are robbed and taken away they are spoyled and sacked or else constrained to giue part to him that is strongest the souldiers consume them the Lords of the places apropriate their tithes and the people will not pay the duties belonging vnto them both by humane and diuine lawes Remedie Faults of the Cleargie That it will please the king adding vnto the ordinances concerning this poynt made in the last Parliament that it may againe bee inioyned vnto all Gouernours of places and Atturneyes for his Maiestie euery man in his iurisdiction yearly to send processe verball vnto the Parliament containing the names of the Vicars with a testation from euery of them touching the possession and inioying of their goods and what is kept or withholden from them And because diuers poore Vicars dare not openly complaine let it be inioyned vnto the Gouernors Atturneyes for the king secretly to inquire and informe of the vsurpation that is made vpon the said Ecclesiasticall persons The alienatioÌ„ of Church-liuings 4. Dis The riches consecrated to God and giuen to him his Alters and his Priestes the goods that belongeth not to those that fell it is sold withdrawn alienated thereby to consume and bring to nought the Ecclesiasticallestate the goods of the Church is not to bee alienated for any cause or occasion whatsoeuer or with what authoritie so euer it is done it belongeth vnto God it is sacriledge to lay hands vpon it if it belong to the spiritualtie whether it be in propertie or vse it is no point of iustice to incroch vpon it specially without their consent but it belongeth to them both Saint Augustin and diuers other good fathers permitted the selling and alienating of the goods of the Church for the redeeming of Captaines and to releeue the poore but that was the holy vessels mooueables and the mony of the treasurie but touching the immooueables that was neuer known one onely Charles Martell spotted and defaced his memorie by a horrible serpent found within his tombe because he attempted to sell the goods and immunities of the Church So great warres against the Albigeois so great necessities and warres against the Englishmen could neuer breake open this Paladion which the suggestion of secret and couert Huguenots hath inuented Remedie That it would please the king to graunt vnto the Cleargie the perpetuall restoring of the goods of the Church that are solde repaying the iust value with all costs and charges and that such as heereafter shall venture to sell or buy the goods of God and the Church shall now at altimes bee declared and accounted both vniust sellers buyers detainers and occupiers with this clause to bee bound to the restitution both of the principall and the profits The great number of Benefices The vsurping of Hospitall reneâ—â—es 5. Disorder The pluralitie of Benefices for that as no man can sit vppon two seates so all Ecclesiasticall persons well and truely to discharge his dutie cannot holde two benefices which require two Ministers hee cannot pronounce the word of God in two places at one time which is principally vnderstood by two Bishoppricks or two Curates that haue charge of mens soules and consequently require a continuall residence Remedie To cause the Councell of Trent to bee obserued which hath so amply prouided for reformation of the Ecclesiasticall estate togither with the maintenance of faith and Catholicque religion 6. Disorder The manifest sacriledge of such as detaine and vsurpe the reuenues of Hospitalles Spittle-houses and others goods destinated and appoynted for the vse of the poore founded for the ease of Townes Villages and Burrows and of all the people The goods of the poore in diuers places are applyed to the vse of Lay-men to the communalties of Townes to the common charges thereof to voyages and processes yea apropriated to the priuate
to the poynt of his purpose euen to the verie noses of his enemies who daring not to come vnder his hands hee became Maister of the Towne And hauing brought vppon the Leaguers and Spaniards great shame and dishonour hee chased them euen vnto Han prouoking and inforcing them to fight but they could not heare on that side Noyon was yeelded and giuen vp to the King the seuenteenth of August About a month after The Duke of Sauois armie ouerthrowne at Pontcharra the Lord of Diquieres was ouerthrowne in the plaine of Pontcharra neare vnto the Castle of Bayars standing in the valleye of Graisiuodan with the Duke of Sauois armie commaunded by Amedio the Dukes bastard brother accompanied with Dom Oleuares a Spanish Captaine the Marques of Treuic and others There were slaine vppon that plaine more then two thousand and fiue hundreth of the Dukes armie a great number were taken prisoners beeing for the most part Gentlemen of commaund They wonne also aboue three hundreth horse eighteene colours bearing the redde crosse a Cornet was there taken and all their baggage left behinde The bootie which was gotten amounted to the summe of two hundreth thousand Crownes the most part thereof beeing in chaines rings siluer cuppes and coyne both of golde and siluer the rest in horses and armour The next day two thousand Romaines and souldiers of Milaine who with their commander the Earle Galeotte of Belioyeuse were saued within the Castle d'Aualon at length yeelded thēselues to the kings mercie But the furie of the soldiers could not be quieted til they had slain six or seuē hundreth of them the rest hauing white wands giuen in stead of Pasports were sent into Italie there to make report of their vnhappie fortune hauing promised neuer to beare armes against France any more This victorie was the more excellent for that on the kings side after they had searched their companies there was found but one horseman and two footemen dead and three or foure hurt The rest of this yeare was spent by the Lord of Diguieres in the fortifying of Grenoble and in the refreshing of his garrisons After the taking of Noyon the king caused a part of his troupes to go into Normandie as well to same those of Roane who shewed themselues no lesse obstinate then the Parisians as also to prouoke the Spaniards vnto battell for he knew that incontinuent the leaguers would crie for ayde and that if the Duke of Parma deferred their succour that he should either soon ouerthrow them or quickly bring them to some reason On the contrarie if the Duke should come there it would be a meanes to dispatch their affaires hoping that God would fauour his iust cause against the vngodly and infamous rebellion of his enemies In the meane space hee gaue order that Paris should be inclosed on euery side keeping still his garrisons in the fort of Gournay vpon Marne at Saint Dennis Melun Corbeil and other places as well by water as by land the great tributes and taxes which was gathered for the bringing of victuall to the Parisians and the maintenance of their troupes did so glean their mony from them peece by peece that it brought the people to great pouertie The Leaguers then did that which was loooked for for after the king The second and the last comming of the Duke of Parma into France had set forward to Normandie the king of Spaine beeing solicited from diuers parts and of his owne accord also for the recouering of his money sent the Duke of Parma who was diligently prouiding for the affaires of the lowe countries into Normandie to relieue those of Roane and to helpe them vpon such occasions as should bee presented Those of Guise and other commanders of the league made continuall sute to the saide Duke to that effect By this meanes toward the end of the yeare the Duke of Parma hauing committed the gouernment of the low Countries to the Earle of Mansfield departed from Bruxelles and with foure thousand foote and three thousand horse set forward on his way making small iournies because hee thought it the most necessarie for him and that vnder the appearance of armes hee might attaine to an higher purpose which was to procure the states of the league to giue the Crowne of France to the king of Spaines daughter whom they had promised to wife vnto one of the chief of that partie The Dukes armie was strengthened by the Italian succours conducted by Sfondrate Earle of Montemarcian and three thousand Switzers While all this preparation was made the sixteene of Parris the first authors of the league among the people who could not indure to see the Duke de Maine despise them and take state vpon him as he had done within a fewe moneths resolued to depriue him of his state pretending to walke more watily in their affaires according to the king of Spaines intent to whom they had Brisson thē President l'Archir and Tardif councellors hanged solde the Cittie therby to cut off as it were with one blow al the hope which the king had in their subiection They discouered among other that Brisson the President Tardif and Larcher Councellours were sorrie that they had such great part in the furious actions of the league thinking how they might finde remedie for the same vppon this supposing they had found that which they looked for and after certaine counsell had on the matter they went by their authoritie and apprehended the President and both the Councellours committing them to prison the fifteenth day of Nouember and on the morrow they caused them to bee hanged in Greue streete In this sort perished these learned men especially Brisson which plunged himselfe against his conscience into this pit of execrable felonie against his soueraigne Lord and the lawes of the Realme Thus hee receiued of those wicked men which he had so vniustly and so long supported in their heinous crimes a fit reward for his inexecrable faults Foure of the 16. hanged by the Duke of Parma The Duke de Maine which practised with the Duke of Parma beeing aduertised of this tumult went to ioyne with his trustiest friends made speed vnto Parris and caused Louchart Anroux Hameline and Emonnot foure of the sixteene to bee hanged and caused the other twelue to bee thrust out of office and made his Lieftenantship as sure as possibly hee could and to appease the people who were guiltie of this mutinie proclaimed the tenth of December an Edict of banishment vnto all those which had bene medlers in this new ryot Straunge felony committed by the Parliament at Roane As the Duke of Parma tooke easie iourneies into Normandie the Parliament of Roane published the seuenth of Ianuarie a cruell decree against their soueraigne Lord the King containing these words The Court doth most expresly forbid all persons of what estate dignitie or condition soeuer they bee without all exceptions to fauour in any sort whatsoeuer Henry of Bourbon
indeuours and by practises at Rome to ouerthrow indomage and make the D. of Neuers voyage for the king vnprofitable whom hee had sent to acknowledge his dutie to the Pope As for the Preachers belonging to the League publicke and priuately before and after the truce their discourses at Paris and other places were that the Masse which they sung before the king was but a deceit that it was impossible the King should bee conuerted that the Pope could not recatholize him that it was lawfull for the people to rise against him and his officers that it appertained to the Sorbonnists to iudge whether the Pope oght to receiue him as king And if peraduenture hee should do it neuerthelesse hee might bee held for an hereticque and one excommunicate that it was lawfull for any particular man to kill him that should say hee was revnited to the Catholicque Romaine Church These and such other propositions were made and spredde both within Paris and other places In regard of the declarations made by these estates of the League to keepe the fauour of their partakers to giue a secret touch to the kings Councellors as if they were not right Catholickes and to bring the Realme into far greater trouble then before they in their assembly the eighteenth day of August made a declaration containing these words among many others With one consent and aduise wee haue decreed established and or dained and by this present doo decree establish and ordaine that the holy and sacred generall Councell of Trent shall bee receiued published and obserued purely and simply in all places and iurisdictions of this Realme as at this present in the generall bodie of the estates wee do receiue and publish it Their oath Moreouer the same estates deuised the forme of an oath in these termes Wee promise and sweare to continue vnited togither for the defence and preseruation of the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romaine religion and to bring if it be possible this kingdome so long time afflicted to his auncient dignitie and renowme and neuer to consent for any perill or cause whatsoeuer shall come that any thing shall bee done for the aduancement of heresie or to the preiudice of our religion for defence whereof wee promise to hee obedient to the sacred decrees ordinances of our holy father and the sacred sea of Rome without euer falling away from the same Their diuision vpon the principall point But they were not vnited togither in respect of the principall poynt which was to acknowledge one king The Parisians and other townes that held for the League desired that the king of Spaines daughter might bee married to the Duke of Guise and so beeing ioyned by matrimonie they might be crowned King and Queene of France The Duke de Maine who was solicited to aduance the house of the Popes Legate made shewe to agree to so great an honour done to his Nephew but hauing accorded vpon the generall for his particular profit hee demaunded things impossible or at least so difficult that it might bee well perceiued that not esteeming the Popes or King Philips will nor the consent of the estates and chiefe of the League hee said as the Cardinall did in the Conclaue I chose myselfe Impossible it was that euer hee should come to aduance his Nephewe to the Crowne Peter Barriere attēpted to kill the king and is executed for the same These contentions produced the truce aboue mentioned which the Duke of Maine and his Councellours forged to breake a blowe with the partakers of Spaine and to draw new treasures into their purses This wrought the confusion of France on the one side on the other the Prelates and Sorbonnists which with the watch-word receiued from Rome had drawn the king to the Masse imagined in this sort to fish for a golden world But the leaguers thought to bring in new troubles and pernicious practises for in middest of these businesses the sixe and twentieth day of August Peter Barriere Alias Bar borne at Orleans was committed prisoner at Meleun where hee finally confessed that hee was seduced by a Capucin Fryer at Lyons by the Curat and Vicar of a certaine Parish in Paris and also by a Iesuite closely to follow the king and to murther him with a two edged knife the which was found about him He had beene intised to this parriside and was resolued to doo it chiefly about two months before and further confessed that two Priests by him nominated were also come from Lyons for the verie same intent and that he set himselfe the forwardest for the execution thereof to the ende hee might get the greatest honour thereby Hee was drawne through the streetes of Meleun where then the king was they cut off his right hand holding the murthering knife therein and after burned the same After this was done they broke his armes legges and thigh bones and in that sort laide him vppon a wheele where hee languished certaine houres till hee died then was his bodie consumed to ashes and throwne into the riuer his compleces or confederates so disguised themselues that they could not bee found or taken The Duke of Nemours Tragedie At this time was the Duke of Nemours within Lyon from whence hee would not stirre to go to the estates of the league although the Pope had giuen him commaundement the other chiefe Captaines thought it meete and his friend and seruants desired him to go hee vouchsafed not so much as to send vnto them knowing that the leaguers cast their eies altogither vpō the Duke of Guise and that the Duke de Maine his brother by the mothers side crost all his purposes and would worke all meanes for his death A certaine bolde Eryer of Lyon perceiuing well that this yong Prince pretented to bring some new matter to passe within the league whereby at least hee might haue some great hand in the gouernment by the aduice of two or three Councellours who were of his complecies hee compassed Lyon with many fortresses which held on his side at Toissai Vienne Montbrison Chastillon de Dombes Belleuille Tisi Charlieu and other places Quirieu forsaking him hee bought it with a great sum of mony at the hands of the Lord of Saint Iulian which was Gouernour thereof This done Lyon was inclosed as well by water as by land The Lyonnois did not withstand neither his prodigallities nor his Councellours nor his men of warre which forraged the plaine countrie receiuing the guerdon of their reuolt from the kings obedience In the end acknowledging themselues they rose vp against the Duke of Nemours assisted by the counsell and presence of their Archbishop sent by the Duke de Maine and the eighteenth of September they tooke holde of Nemours who was seene three times at deaths doore committing him to close prison where hee continued certaine moneths and at last escaping by cunning meanes spoyled of his succours chased from his Fortresses hee went and died farre from France in