and doubtless is a firm pledge of the Kings fidelity what can be done more is not all clear from the least suspition of fraud yet he resolved to depart only waited for a fit opportunity to take leave But the Deputies that were sent from the Reformed Churches complained of the cruelties still committed on the Protestants and understanding of the Admirals intentions to depart they apply themselves with all speed to him and delivering him their books and petitions they earnestly beseech him not to absent from the Court till he had pleaded the cause of the Churches and delivered their petitions to the King and Council Hereupon he resolves like a good Advocate to stay a while and plead their cause But there was another great cause of the Admirals stay for there was on arriers to the Ruttiers of Germany great sums of money for their service under the Admiral during the Wars in which he laboured earnestly to effect But oh I tremble to enter into the ensuing narrative so full of inhumane and cruel bloodshed oh that I could enough bewail the sad fate of these poor innocent souls led as sheep to the slaughter to consider that so many brave Commanders that scorned any other death than like Souldiers must now suffer base murthers and bloody slaughters oh lamentable and to be pittied of all Protestants nay and of ingenuous Papists that so many innocent children and women should suffer for they know not what for we shall shortly see all the Protestants of France in mourning and following the Hearse of their own Ruin in the Papists unparalleled crueltie The Admiral coming from Court with a great train of Nobles and Gentlemen is treacherously shot in both the Arms with a Harqurbuss These businesses being the occasions of the Admiralls stay he did on the 22. day of August repair to the Kings Privy Council to effect his desire which day was the fifth day after the King of Navars marriage but about noon returning from the Council with a great number uf Noblemen and Gentlemen reading a petition as he went was shot thorow both arms with two bullets by a Harquebuzier out of a Window who feeling himself shot shewed no alteration of countenance saying only through yonder window it came what kind of treachery is this It was no news to the King to know his will and command was performed The Admiral speedily sends to the King a Gentleman of his company to give notice of it who being at Tennis with the Duke of Guise shewed such dislike as that in a rage he threw away the Racket that he played withall being exceedingly and outwardly vexed and taking with him his Brother in Law the King of Navar he retires into the Castle of the Lour the King swearing and promising to execute such severe justice upon the offenders Deep hypocrisie that the Admiral and all his Friends should think themselves exceedingly satisfyed The King causes the City gates to be shut pretending lest the Murtherer should escape but indeed was lest the Protestants should escape their cruelty The King therefore to delude the Admiral and Protestants caused all the Gates of the City to be shut except two only which were pretended to be open for bringing in provision yet there was careful watch kept by a strong Guard with a colour of singular care of his Majesty to find out the Murtherer and that if he were in the City he might by no means escape but the truth was lest any of the Protestants should escape this cruel plot laid for their blood by getting out of the City or net of destruction the King swearing and blaspheming that he would not by any means that they should escape which had committed such a horrid act those that durst presume to commit such a hainous crime even at the gates of his Royall Palace The Queen Mother also seems discontented for saies she Who would have thought any ones impudence could arrive so high as this affront to the great prejudice of his Majesty and if ever the King suffer this to go unpunished in the end the next attempt will be on his Royal person But alas alas for a King Queen and Court so to dissemble as if there were no God that could see into their hearts and discover to the World that this was done by the Kings special command and commission as we shall shortly see it was Presently after the Admiral was shot some Gentlemen of his retinue entered by force and violence into the house from whence the shot was where they find only the woman of the House and a Boy that was his lacquey which did the deed finding also a Harquebuss lying upon the Table in the Chamber from whence it was shot but the wretched villain they found not for that he was fled out of the back Gate Fresh horses prepared at several gates to speed away the Murtherer with security and so mounted on a Spanish Gennet which was waiting for him he speedily posted to St. Anthonies Gate where another fresh horse assisted his more swift flight and if he had gon to Marcelles gate there was also another waiting for him Now the King to perswade the Princes Admiral and all the Protestants that he was really sorry and how much it was against his will though God knows to his great satisfaction and inward content he commands sundry to post out into all parts to persue him Set a thief to catch a thief The Admiral shews himself a good Christian and patient sufferer Now the Admiral being safely conveyed to his lodging shewed great piety according to his Godly soul filled with grace and prudence most like a constant and true Christian and faithful holy servant of Christ The Prince of Conde and King of Navar had thought to have departed Paris but the Kings carriage levelled all suspitious thoughts and so turned their resolutions to a longer stay at Court Three Judges to examine the murther At request of the King of Navar and Prince of Conde the King to dissemble with more facility did order three principal men of the Parliament of Paris Thuan Morsant and Viol to examine the business whereupon it was found that the House belonged to one Villimure a Priest and Cannon of St. Germane once the Duke of Guise his Schoolmaster and now a retainer under him That the woman that was in the house being brought before the Judges did acknowledge that a few daies before there came to her one Chally once a Master de Hostel of the Duke of Guises house and now Steward of the Kings houshould commanding her to respect much the man that had done the deed and to lodge him in Villumures own bed-chamber in regard he was his Friend Several speeches there was concerning the person that did it some said it was one Manrevel who in the last Civil War traiterously flew his own Captain a most valiant Commander and Noble Gentleman in the Admirals
to put in execution the advise of the Advocate being also perswaded to it by Morvilleir a wicked fellow and the first that brought the Priests into the Kingdom of France now it was thought fit to bring to publick Justice those that were taken flying and hiding themselves and so after the usual manner of Judicial proceedings should be examined by chosen Judges cull'd on purpose and so by Sentence condemned that in view of all the world they might receive their execution as the effects of justice and reward of there Treasonous practices The Judges thus appointed was Birage Thuan Limege and Belleuxe who presently gave order for a man of Hay made in shape of a mans body and so to personate the Admiral whom they had murthered and so it was dragged through the streets by the Boreau his memory was condemned and razed out of remembrance his arms and Ensigns of Honour and Chivalry demolished his Castles and Farms razed to the ground his Children pronounced infamous and unnoble and all the trees in his woods to the growth of six foot to be cut down And now to make way abroad in the World in the Court of Forein Princes and Nations for a more neat excuse to their unheard-of baseness They disperse Libells full of dishonour to the Admiral and his Adherents and stuft with the Defamation of their memories and that their Actions might not run in a Line Antartick to their words The King dispatches his Grand Provost with all diligence to seize upon the Admirals wife and Mounseir de la Vall the Son of Andelot deceased who by Gods good Providence were already fled to Genova and the better to escape further danger went to live among the Switzers in the Canton of Bearn the younger Children both male and female were condemned to death in their tender years They give also new charges to their Ambassadours negotiating in Germany Poland England Switzerland and other Forein Countreys to justify the actions of the King and Catholicks tending also to the Publick reproach and shame of the Admiral and his Friends But God used these things afterwards as a further mean to discover their treachery and so proved against their expected advantage For had the King and Court of France declared at first that they designed to cut of their Enemies as the exuberous branches of the Kings indulgency and now grown his Enemies hy their plotted treachery this would have excused them from perjury and treason but to pretend that they intended not what they really resolved to do and nothing less than what they did This I say was the height of dishonour to the Crown of France And thus died that famous Religious and Noble Commander Gasper de Colligny Admiral to the Protestant Army and cause for the space of twelve years whose deserved Fame lived with great renown in the hearts of all the Godly and with no less terrour and amazement often filled the Kingdom of France whose valour purchased great merit from his Enemies He that made the King and Court afraid in a hasty and disorderly retreat from Meaux to Paris And that I may add one mite to the Treasure of his true worth this is he that many praised and all admired that through a wise conduct of his affairs terrified his boisterous Enemyes to a submissive calm of subjection A man so inspired with great courage and constancy that to take a Description by any pen would be the highest road to lay his merits in the grave of obscurity being a man full of the sail of valour and sound judgment a star of the greatest magnitude in the affairs of highest importance shining for ever in the lowest obscurity of discords sudden dangers and insurrections One that cannot be enough admired commended or honoured being above all a man of profound judgement in point of reality This being the least part of honour that is paid to his eternal worth by all that knew him He he it was that basely suffered the unresistable shock of a perfidious and treacherous death cowardly murthered by those that durst never draw a Sword with a Resolution of valour against this Champion but trembled at his Remembrance and Presence who was never overcome by valour but by cowardice Amongst the rest that were brought to a Legal murder was one named Caviagnes Master of the Requests to the King and one named Briquemault both inward friends to the Admiral and in great reputation in the Court of honour and Camp of Chivalry Now this brave Commander and old Souldier Briquemault having great renown by his service under King Francis and King Henry was therefore honoured by all but such as love no Rivals nor valued any crueltie if they could but out shine others loyalty by their own treachery This brave Gentleman was about fourscore and ten years old and poor Gentleman had gone through too much proof of fidelity now to end his life under the command and protection of such a cruel Tyrant Now these gallant Commanders aged with experience and filled with innocent integrity were like Lambs before Wolves threatened to be torn in pieces unless without delay they would with their own hands subscribe that they were of the Admirals Councel to cut off the King by an untimely death together with the Queen his Mother and his Brethren and promising pardon if they would accept of it These innocent Gentlemen cryed out That they were ready to suffer the Torments of their merciless cruelty upon their bodies rather than pull down vengeance upon their spotless souls so humbly beseeched the King to spare his torments seeing none could peirce so far as force themselves to a false accusation yet if his Majesty pleased to totment their bodies they hoped God would so in his mercy order it as to lessen the pain thereof by his gratious presence in their souls in whose goodness they hoped to depend for aid rather than perjure their own Souls by a false accusation of themselves and others being as full of innocency and integrity as they of cruelty and perjury they were resolved never to accuse murthered innocency wherein they never were guilty nor commit such an execrable crime as the King requested and say they though the King values the tranquility of his Realm before the blood of Christians yet we hope to embrace a peaceable conscience in trampling underfoot the high esteem of a transitory possession for what will it gain us to gain our lives and lose our immortal souls The Judges having some remorse of conscience began to deny the embracement of that infamy The Judges toucht in conscience do refuse to fit in Judgement which must justly fall on their unjust Sentence for indeed their reasons were unrefistable and these Judges understood the intent of the King by the Defendants Pleas so they refused any more to hear or determine much less to give Sentence whereupon were new Judges appointed in their room and to them was joined a Tormenter and Notary as
to the King of Navar the King crowned the Princes of the Bloud and Duke of Guise contends at the Coronation about precedency the King gives it to the Duke of Guise the Constable forsakes the Protestants and cleaves to the Duke of Guise the Queen Mother for her own advantage joyns with the King of Navar and gives some liberty to the Protestants which so enrages the Catholick party as presently all former Edicts in behalf of the Protestants were broken by a contrary Edict that no Religion should be suffered in the Kingdom but the Romish the King and Queen Mother subscribes thereunto the Protestants at their request have a Conference granted they meet and confer in a hot Dispute but agree not the Catholicks murder many Protestants in Paris the eight Parliaments of France assembles the Duke of Guise disapproved of it and so in a fury departs the Court and goes for Spain the Protestants deluded by the Queen Mother gives her a List of all their Forces the King of Navar turns Catholick the eight Parliaments meet and with the consent of the King and Queen Mother do decree a free and publick Toleration of the Protestant Religion but speedily a sad and cruel Massacre the Duke of Guise furiously assaults the Protestants at a Sermon and murders two hundred of them the Protestants complain to the Prince of Conde of breach of Covenant and Edict the Duke of Guise seises on the King and carries him to Paris the Queen Mother writes to the Prince of Conde for aid against the Duke of Guises Attempt the Prince in his journey to Court suddenly retires to Orleance and possesses it the first Civil War begins The death of King Francis and Reign of King Charls FRancis second King of that name dying the fourteenth of December 1560. made entrance for the Reign of Charls the ninth and as the first died of a Feaver so the last reigned in a Frensie the legitimate off-spring of his Predecessours disease whose short Reign was thought too much lengthened by the train of all sorts of bloudy cruelties which filled this poor distracted Nation of France whose wicked Reign was also attended with the sable clouds of Flagellum Dei which swept both Field and City The beginning of his wicked Reign had a bloudy ending to the poor Kingdom and himself for the bodies of the murthered Protestants was a Prey to the Birds of the Air and Beasts of the Fields the whole Nation wearing the Pensive Weeds of a Ruinous Distraction for through the Lords just Judgments on the Nation they suffer nothing less than all Roberies Rapes and all sorts of Cruelties with horrid Massacres for the space of twelve years And as the Prologue of his Reign was Perjury and Treachery so was the Epilogue Bloudy to himself and poor Nation especially to the poor innocent Protestants A Parliament sits and the Government committed to the Queen Mother during the Kings minority A Parliament being called they begin the 23. of December Now at this time in the Court of France was Katherine de Medices Pope Clements Brothers Daughter and this Kings Mother who being born in Florence a City of Italy had conferr'd upon her the Government of this Kingdom in the Kings minority for it is well known that according to the Laws of this Nation neither the Administration nor Inheritance thereof can justly be cast on the shoulders of a Woman and yet against this Law and through the negligence of the King of Navar the said Queen Mother was joyned with him in the Office of Protectorship the confirmation of her Regency being allowed of by the Chancellour was afterwards confirmed by the Speakers Now in this Assembly of Parliament one John Quintin a Doctor of the Common Law at Paris for the Clergy pleads that none of the Religion Reformed for so they called the Protestants should any more be tolerated or suffered and desired that the Laws in that case provided might be put in speedy execution but the day following that brave Commander and good Christian Gasper de Coligni the Admiral of the Protestants complained to the Queen Mother against the said Quintin who presently excuses himself and in his second Speech moderates his Plea to the Admirals content The Parliament a little enlarges the Protestants privileges Now the Estates proceeds in their consultations making themselves and the beginning of this year somewhat happy by some moderation in matters of Religion whereby the reproachfull names of Papist and Hugenot was forbidden upon pain of Death which name Hugenot they fixed in disdain and derision to the Protestants and was derived from a Gate-house in Tours called St. Hughs Gate where they met in Assemblies Many good and necessary Laws were then published but with more confusiom than advantage for Laws though good and many yet through want of a due execution by the Magistrates power makes the good intent thereof to be perverted and turned into an indirect Channel giving the people cause to slight such wholesom Laws and grow bad under a good Government Great contentions and private animosities arose between the Princes of the Bloud that is the Prince of Conde and King of Navar who were Protestants and Francis Duke of Guise who was descended of the House of Lorain and now Grand Master of the Kings House who being a strong Catholick was no less a bitter Enemy to the poor Protestants the Queen Mother in her affections did secretly incline to the Duke of Guise yet to secure her own interest and power in the Kings minority carried fair to both The Princes of the Bloud being Protestants in discontent absent from Court but the King of Navar and Prince of Conde with the Constable seeing themselves justled out of that power and favour in Court which as due they did expect and also foreseeing the event which must necessarily ensure having onely the pacings of the Duke of Guise they absent from Court with all their Attendants resolving to right their wrong on the Queen Mothers Regency and the Guisans usurpation of their unlimited power Now the Queen Mother by her subtil and natural insight to secret affairs judged so at their Discontent that she politickly cast her Cards that both might have a good hand yet deald her self the Trumps checking their power that they might not check hers The King of Navar by the Queens policy jointly governs with her To which purpose she makes a new Agreement with the Navarois concluding him in the Government that taking the Title and Power of Regency to her self he should be called and but called Lieutenant General to his Majesty All this but in Paper and Ink composed of a double intent but those that can break Oaths witnessed by God and all the World how soon can they swallow and digest the breach of such Paper-promises like that good Actor in Smyrna that cried O Terram yet pointing to the Heaven and O Coelum yet pointing to the earth
tacit Toleration granted the Protestants which doubtless was as real as his malice to their persons for the sad event will too soon and surely demonstrate so that now the discords of these great men seemed to be enveloped in a good satisfaction of their present conditions all discontent seeming to be vanished and laid aside in the Grave of obscure forgetfulness The King of France crowned Now is thought the fittest time to confirm the Kings authority by crowning him though in his minority which was ordered to be done according to the usual Ceremonies accustomed to all the Kings of France in their Coronation to which end and purpose the King journeys to Rheims and there by the Cardinal of Lorain was solemnly crowned and conducted to the City of Paris The King at the Coronation gives the right of precedency from the Princes of the Bloud to the Duke of Guise Now at this time of Coronation the Princes of the Bloud and Duke of Guise contend about precedency but it was ordered by the King though against order that the Duke of Guise should precede all the rest which accordingly was performed the Duke of Guise hereupon like Tinder to the Spark took fire of Ambition flying high with an exasperated spirit to the Princes Admiral and principal of the Protestants and to make his power greater and to ingraft himself more firmly to wrestle with opposition and to strenghthen his malicious resolution The Constable turns Catholick he and the Constable strikes a League together for the preservation of the Catholick Religion and to endeavour the utter extirpation of the Religion Reformed But the Queen Mother hearing of their intended intended purposes presently Aprehended her own danger by the Guisans growing greatness and what tall Cedars they would grow if this confederacy took root according to their desires she also considered that the Princes of Lorain were unsatisfied with her late proceedings in behalf of the Protestants and would Assist and endevor a conjunction with the Guisans faction to deprive her of her Government A thing she only desired peacable to enjoy shee Therefore to preserve her own Interest enters into a firm union with the King of Navar the better to ballance the Guisans power and secure her self so that in this juncture of time shee was well pleased that the King of Navar and his party should have some power which she resolves should stand her instead against the Duke of Guise and his Adherents Which indeed fitly served for her own ends It was therefore commended to all the Parliaments by new edicts and Decrees No further to molest any of the Religion and to restore the goods houses and possessions of those that only for the cause of Religion were deprived of them The Parliament in Paris with the assistance of King and Q. Mother dashes in pieces all former Edicts for Toleration and passes an Edict that no Religion should be suffered but the Romish and that all the Protestants should be expelled the Kingdom This gave an ill gust to the Guisans palat who being enraged with malice set on foot all their power in a strong opposition of the Government whereupon the Cardinall of Lorain took occasion at the Councell table the King and Queen Being present to speak against those of the Religion and against the Tolleration and Edicts lately passed in their behalfs whereupon it was resolved with consent of the Councill to summon A Parlament to meet at Paris which accordingly appeared at the day appointed the thirteenth of July and then and there in a full appearance of Palament they shewed to the King their dislike of the Edict passed the 28. of January Beseeching his Majesty to force his subjects to An open profession of the Catholik Appostolik and Romish Religion upon such pains as should he adjudged of in Councill Which Councill brought forth an hellish bratt from the bosoms of their wicked desires for now contrary to all former edicts they pass an edict That all Protestant Ministers should be expelled the Kingdome no religion to he professed but the Romish all Protestant Assemblies forbidden in all places in the Kingdome And thus was the poor Protestants banished their habitations and condemned to seek refreshment and abode else where and to this edict did the King and Queen Mother subscribe whereupon the cheif of the Protestants were very much greived in regard they knew themselves free from any guilt that might challenge such hard measure from the King and Court of France to such faithfull allegiance concluding it must needs proceed from some inveterate malice or deep design Therefore The Protestants desire conference and had it granted The Prince of Conde and Admirall being not able to hinder this edict presently flies to the Queens promise which she had assuredly given them but now as assuredly broke so that no redress could be found there Whereupon they demand of the King liberty for a conference between the Ministers of the Protestants and the Kings Prelats To examine the Articles of their Doctrins before the Kings presence being not without hopes by this moderate way to Interpose that if possible some liberty might be granted At first it was not allowed of but afrer second considerations it was thought meet to answer their desires and give a hearing The Pope hearing of this meeting for a conference and doubting some liberty might thereby follow to be granted to the Protestants and disadvantage of his Authority presently speeds away the Cardinal of Ferrara his Legat to the Court of France withall giving in command that the cause might be referred to the Councell of Trent which by him was published The Protestant Ministers that were banished by reason of this late edict and settled their a bodes in Geneva now had safe conduct allowed them for there security in their journy to Poissy five leagues from Paris being the place apointed for the conference Them that were at this meeting for the Protestants were Theodora Beza Theodora Beza Peter Martir and others with the K. Court and Prelats meet at Poissy but break up and no good done Peter Martir a Florintin John Virell Augustin Virnmelio Marlorat and other Ministers to the Number of twelve with twenty-two Deputies from the Protestant churches On the Romish side came besides the King and Court the Cardinalls of Lorain Tournon Armagnac Bourbon Guise and Chastillon together with the Bishops and Prelats many Doctors of Sorbon also with many others sent for from most Cities and Universities in the Kingdom This meeting began the nineth day of September in the year 1561. the Relation being at large Recorded I leave the reader to peruse at his liberty But this conference proved not such a salve for the sad distractions of the kingdom as was expected for the Catholicks resolved to continue in force the late edict against the Protestants so that they were in many places forced to stand upon their own guards against the violent attempts of
him that he would with all carefull speed powerfully to provide for their common safety assuring him that she would imprint his willing care into the Kings minde that he should never be a loser by it The Prince of Conde possesses Orleans The Prince of Conde being on his journey to Court news was brought him in the way how things were carried That they had taken the King and brought him to Paris Then presently the Admiral advances towards him and overtaking him they make a stand and there consulted what to do whereupon seeing their own danger the Duke speedily hasted to Orleans and possessed it And this was the beginning of the first Civil War CHAP. II. The Contents THe Prince of Conde publishes a Manifesto laying down the Reasons of taking Arms. Burges and Orleans are the Potestants refuge The King declares against the Prince The Armies meet but engage not The Prince and Admiral dispose of their Armies into Garisons The Kings Army takes and sacks some Towns takes Burges on conditions The Queen Mother unmasks her self causing the Protestants to be proclamed Rebels The Prince and Admiral delivers up Roan Diep and Haverdegrace to Queen Elizabeth of England The Kings Army besieges Roan where the King of Navar is slain and the City stormed and sacked for three days together with cruel murdring De Andelot joynswith the Admiral The Prince of Conde and Admiral advances to the City of Paris The Kings Army advances for defence of the City The Protestants march toward Normandy to receive Queen Elizabeths supplies The Kings Army follows them they joyn Battel where both Generals are taken Prisoners The Admiral with his Army marches to Normandy The Duke of Guise with the Kings Army besieges Orleans the Duke slain before it The Admiral returns from Normandy and enters Orleans A Treaty is begun and Peace concluded at Orleans with free liberty for Religion which is publickly proclamed THe Divisions thus increasing made way to erect a Theatre for a sad Tragedy for the Prince of Conde published a Manifesto and sent Letters also to the King Parliament of Paris Protestant Princes of Germany and to all other Christian Princes The Prince of Conde prints a Manifesto of the grounds of his proceedings The Reasons laid down by the Prince of Conde for his taking Arms. were these The defence of the famous Edict of Toleration which was made by the King being the high Road to Peace if duly observed which could not but be kept without horrible breach of faith and assured ruine of the French Nation in regard there were so many of the Nobility and Gentry of the Nation that were Protestants and daily came in to the Religion And those of Noble birth that were in power dignity or otherwise above others thought it not meet to suffer the cruel punishments and Massacres daily inflicted on some and threatned to others since God had given them power to help themselves And further it was declared that the Duke of Guise a new-come Foreiner translated from the Forests of Lorain should usurp such power in France such dominion and command as the Princes of the Bloud must lose their proper interests to be his slaves and vassals against all the Laws of the Nation further declaring That if the King should cause an observation of the Edict for Religion already signed and that Arms might be laid down on the Kings part they were ready to do the like and would speedily lay down their Arms To this he added the Queen Mothers singular care as it was reported and as indeed she did outwardly shew for preservation of peace and pulling down the powerful rage of the Guisans which indeed she so dissembled that on the very account hereof it is certain above twenty thousand Catholiks joyned themselves to the Protestants in defence of their cause Burges Orleans proves a Sanctuary and hiding place in time of Gods These flames being begun could not so easily be extinguished mauy cruelties being committed on the bodies of the poor Protestants without mercy such as will no question draw out tears from the eies of serious Christians being such sad examples of crueltie as cant be believed should have proceeded from any that had known that ever Christianity had been in the world nothing being drunk more eagerly then the blood of the poor Saints Yet in this callamity God provided a place of refuge for such as he pleased in mercy to preserve from their cruelty For Bourges and Orleans being kept by the Protestants The King declares against the prince of Conde did greatly administer comfort to many distressed Christians that fled theither Hereupon the King at Paris declares against the Edict and the Prince of Conde The Queen Mother now arms those she privately huggs in the bosom of ther affections The Prince of Conde desires to lay all private interests aside for preservation of the Publick efusion of blood But the King of Navar the Duke of Guise the Constable and Marshall of St. Andre by an Edict banishes the Protestants out of Paris and sudenly advances towards the Prince of Conde with twelve thousand foot and three thousand horse They find the Prince strong enough to encounter them contrary to ther expectations and De Andelot and Boucart strongly urged to engage the Kings Army the Queen with subtilty and treacherous pollicie beguils the Protestants But the Queen Mother abuses them with her subtile treachery telling them the hopes of agreement was too near for them to undo all by a too hasty ingagement in so much that she fed them with hopes till the Catholick Army increased in strength both with French and forein forces Thus the Queen having delayed and protracted all hopes of Issue by battle the Prince of Conde maintains his Army about two months in such peace to the Country as was not in the least found to be outragious by spoyling or robbing such was the Christian and carefull discipline of the Prince and Admiral of the Protestant Army which in France was the greater wonder because whoring robbing and blaspheming was the usual attendants and constant harbingers to the Catholick camp which could not be avoyded because the King could not keep to so strickt a discipline as the Prince of Conde and Admiral The Prince and Admiral disperse the Armie into several Provinces The Prince of Conde and Admiral wisely prudently like valliant carefull Commanders take all waies to use their present power for future advantages and ensuing Storms so they send out to several Provinces men of approved fidelity to the Protestant cause which proved next to Gods blessing a great help to their success in possessing many strong holds in sundry parts of France as Roan Deip Angiers Blois Vendosme Tours Poictiers Ragency Maus Angoulesme Chalon upon Soan Maskon and the most part of Daulphin The Kings Army secures what they had and falls upon several Towns taking and miserably sacking them which
aid of his great Wisdom and therefore was impatient of his delay The Admiral at last is now perswaded and resolved to go to Paris he comes and no sooner arrived but was very honourably and affectionately embraced with a courteous and joyful shew of welcome and so was speedily conducted to the King who under fair pretences of friendly ends with a mouth full of courtesy with well pleased words and a worse tuned heart with courteous expressions baited with Treason he calls the Admiral Father protesting That in all his life he had not enjoyed a day adorned with more variety of content thad this day was The Kings unheard of and devilish dissimulation wherein he assures himself than his real desires of peace and the success thereof shall for the time to come shelter under one Pent-house and lodge under the roof of a sweet tranquillity and that he hopes a period will be put to all his troubles not questioning but all as well as himself were no less glad in this expectation hoping that times to come would reap the future as the times now the present benefit of this blessed day wherein he wished and as much hoped that all former acts of civil dissentions should new be put in one grave of oblivion in remembrance of the sad war past and Commemoration of this Sunshine day present Now what a wonderful thing it is to consider that the King should so perfectly dissemble with one that had so often brought the power of his Crown and Kingdom to so many doubtful hazards as to call him Father and to make the World think his treachery to be sincerity The Queen Mother and her Sons with the rest of the great Courtiers received him with greater demonstrations of joy and love than the Admiral expected The King allows the Admirall 50. of his Friends to guard him The King also allowed him fifty Gentlemen to be about him in Paris armed for the greater security and guard of his person Now the King Queen Mother and Admiral falls on consultation about the Wars of the Low Countreys But however the King was in jest with the King of Spain yet the Count Lodowick of Nassaw was in good earnest who with a resolution according to his Manly spirit he enters the Frontiers of the Low Countries The Count of Nassaw enters the Low Countries and takes in Montz taking with him as Partners and assistants three French Gentlemen Saucourt La Nove and Genlis men of great esteem and account with the Admiral besides many Gentlemen that they gathered to go along in the Expedition which the Admiral hearing advised the Count not to be too rash well assuring him that such strength as was requisite would take forty days to gather but the Count as banished men are being enflamed with the sight and desire of his own Country and desirous not to depend too much on the Kings changeable mind suddenly resolved and as speedily attempted to take in Valentiennes but finding a repulse speedily hasted to Montz and though strong by nature and Art yet took it which comming to the ears of the Court of France and the whole nation did the more confirm the Protestants that the Kings mind was real Now Genlis being from the Count to Paris related the whole progress of the War to the King desiring leave to raise certain bands of footmen and Horsemen to strengthen Montz which being quickly granted he as speedily raised four thousand foot and four hundred horse but in his Martch was set upon by the Duke of Alva and quite overthrown which was wrought by the treacherous advice of the Duke of Guise The treachery of the Duke of Guise by private intelligence to the Duke of Alvaâ— of all that was done which thing was very ill resented by the very Catholicks themselves because many of the Romish religion were flain in the business The King of France is afraid that his war in jest might make the King of Spain war in earnest These things troubled the King very much for fear his counsels might be disclosed to the King of Spain and so might occasion some quarrel to the breaking forth of a War yet he gave order to the Admiral to assist the Prince of Orange in Germany with as many horse and foot as he thought fit which was done and because moneys might be had for their pay the King called for the Treasurer and commanded him to deliver the Admiral so much money as he should desire commanding him that the receipt should not express the cause Great dissimulation by the K. but should run thus Paid such a Sum to the Admiral by the Kings Commandement which is for certain uses the King commands should not be written to which the King subscribes with his own hand the King wrote a Letter also to Monducet to use his best endravour for the release of those taken under the conduct of Genlis by the Duke of Alva To the full effecting of their desire A League with Q. Elizabeth of England and the first Article was the observation of the Edict but it proves a deep plot against the Protestants and ties the hands of the English from all assistance in their greatest need and extremity it was thought convenient to enter into League with Queen Elizabeth of England which the King committed to the Admiral which he did so diligently and industriously handle that by his elaborate pains in a speedy time By faith given by Embassadours sent and by Oaths it was confirmed concerning a further procuring of other Leagues as might most stand for the Low Country War and of those Leagues by the Admirals care the principal Condition was That the Liberty of Religion should be continued according to the Edict and that the King should most solemnly observe and keep his most sacred Oath and Promise so strictly made for Liberty to the Protestants according to the Edict of Pacification And now The Religious Q. of Navar poisoned by the K. Apothecary a sad presage of further treachery Courteous Reader I must give thee a sad Tast of what follows like one of Jobs Messengers for the Queen of Navar being all this while at Court thinking of a joyful Mariage of her hopeful Son it pleased God to permit a sudden sickness and as sudden a death in the fourty third year of her age who being on too good grounds suspected to be poisoned was therefore opened by Physicâ—ans but they would find no figures of poyson but by more narrow search in earnest and by the advice of one A. P. it was found That her brain was poisoned with an invenomed smell of a pair of perfumed Gloves ordered by one Renat an Italian and the Kings Apothecary who kept a shop on St. Michaels bridge in Paris neer to the Palace And it is well known that the same Renat some certain years ago gave a pair of poisoned Pomander Gloves to Lewis Prince of Conde which the Prince
the Crown but is justly murthered The Duke of Guise is murthered The Queen Mother broke her Heart and died AFter this sad and lamentable Butchery and blood-shed the poor Protestants that were escaped fled with all speed to the several Sanctuaries which God in his mercy had decreed for their preservation Those that inhabited upon the coast of Bretaign Picardy and Normandy which were Provinces lying on the Sea over against England They fled to Queen Elizabeths Protection and if occasion offered to fight under the command of Count Montgomery who then was in the Queens Court. The poor distressed remnant of Protestants in Dauphine Provence and Lyonois fled into Swisserland amongst whom was the Admirals sons and Andelots who by the fame of their Fathers Authority and the tenderness of their years were joyfully welcomed from such a Land flowing with blood and vengeance Some imploy their time and Talents in setting forth to the World in Writing this horrid Treachery and Massacre acted in France and to let all the Protestants in other parts of the World beware by their sad example letting the World know the stratagem that the French Court use is to destroy by Peace and that to shake hands in a peace with Papists is the ready way to destruction the instance whereof was so fresh in their minds that they needed no grand Jury of examples to inforce belief their own late woful experience being sufficient to testifie this for a truth The Protestants of Burgundy and Campagn fled to the Cities of Germany The Protestants in the heart of the Kingdome and towards Rochel flocked to some strong Towns which it pleased God of his goodness to reserve for their safety which places they fortified with all the strength they could They that inhabited in the Isle of France Nivernois and Beausse were possessed of Sancerre Those that lived in the Provinces of Languedoc and Gascoiny placed themselves in Nismes and Montaubon And the Protestants in Guienne Poictou Zaintonge and Anjou fled to Rochel which proved a safe harbour from the cruel Birds of Prey Henry Jaques Maior of the City had the Civil government thereof To this City also resorted three thousand five hundred men and came from sundry parts which had been Souldiers in the Wars and men of approved valour also to their assistance came fifty Gentlemen of good quality from the adjoining parts about the City there came thither also fifty seven Ministers of Gods Word which by Gods mercy were preserved in this sad blow and for Ammunition and other Provision there wanted none to supply their necessity of a strong and lasting siege Now at last the King Queen Mother with his Brethren and Court orders a Day of extraordinary thanksgiving to be returned for the good Success against the Protestants Thus they reared up Castles of Triumph to their Eternal dishonour which practice is condemned by a Turk Sultan Orchan second King of the Turks when he had overcome the Christians in Battail word being brought to him advise was demanded what should be done to those Prisoners that yet alive remained in their mercy whether they should be killed or not who more like a Christian than a Turk replyed Oh no it is not the part of a Souldier to drown Mercy in Cruelty for saies this brave Sultan Mercy is the Alms of Victory a noble saying of a Heathen Now the King sends Monsieur de Byron to Rochell to place a Garrison the Protestants refuse it being a priviledge granted them by the King to receive no Garrisons whereupon Byron proclaims a War against them Poor souls they had sadly felt the smart of the K. perfidiousness by their too credulous opinion of these fair pretences and therfore now thought good to preserve their lives from Treachery or dy with honour And now to let the World know what little reality is sometimes found in Princes the King of France declares to the King of Spain that the war which he seemingly countenanced under command of Count Lodowick of Nassaw was only a plot to bring about his ends which as it could not be seen by all so could it not but be believed by the King of Spain so that the undertakers under Count Lodowick were sharply persecuted by them that afterwards got power over them Thus were these poor Souldiers betrayed out of the Kings own Treachery Only Monsieur de la Nove was preserved secretly who being safely conducted to the Kings Court his Majesty commands him to Rochel to solicite the City to a Composition Brave Monsieur de la Nove stoutly and like a Christian answers the King That it was against his Conscience to advise his fellow Protestants to lay their throats open to them that would too readily cut them But the King commands and together with his secret desire to see Rochel spurs him on so having came to Monsieur de Byron who was at St. Jean de Angeli and after a visit to him delivering the Kings Message he enters Rochel who by a joint Consent of all the City was chosen their Captain General who willingly accepted of it and gave a good proof of his faithful adherence to the Protestant cause In January by the Kings Commandment Monsieur de la Chastre with six thousand men besieges Sancere where finding a furious and resolute Enemy which would not yield to their Summons after the expences of great toil and labour discharging in two moneths about six thousand Cannon shot they made an assault but were bravely repulsed to the Eternal praise of the Sancerrois valour and Resolution The 18. of March by a second battery on all sides they at last made a great breach and so assault and attempt to scale but the besieged who questionless had many friends slain in the bloody Massacre had some sparks of their Friends blood in their minds which then shewed it self in their resolutions that they fall on the Enemy by a strong defence and made not only a Halt in the Catholicks proceedings but made them retreat with the loss of sixty of their best Souldiers dead in the ditch two hundred mortally wounded and two hundred utterly lamed all with the loss of seventeen men of the Protestants which piece of valour so cooled the courage of the Kings Army that they resolved no more attempts to be made again such impregnable defendants So they begirt them close on all sides no relief being able to come to them which did so extreamly streighten the besieged that they were forced to eat their Asses Mules Horses Cats Dogs Mice Moles Leather and at last to eat parchment and trappings of Horses horns wild roots Girdles making bread of the seeds of flax and herbs mixed with Bran and of straw and Nutshels they made use of slates Grease Tallow and Ointments served for pottage frying therewith the Excrements of Horses and Men nay the very filth in the streets also such as went out to seek relief were either killed by the Enemy or lived on Sprigs
which when one of the Spectators saw in anger he said to the company This fellow has made a Solicism spoken as it were false Greek with his hand And indeed here it was so with the Queen Mother too many Leagues being betwixt her heart and her mouth for we shall ere long see these two parties the Princes of the Bloud and Duke of Guise and Queen Mother make greater wounds in a short time than Ages can afterwards cure The Prince of Conde we must understand was now at liberty and freed from the unjust Sentence against him in the Reign of Francis the second which was for some pretended Fact but indeed was for his Religion sentenced to be executed but the Kings death prevented it The Protestant Princes desire a Toleration The Prince of Conde and King of Navar with the Admiral and other principal of the Protestants desire of the Queen Mother a Toleration for their Religion but the Queen Mother now tottering between these two Factions of the Princes of the Bloud and Guisans counted all things below the present danger of either parties getting power and so thought it not fit therefore to deny their request telling them withall that it could not yet publckly be granted by her to the content and satisfaction of all therefore she would secretly promise them her best way of bargaining that she governing by common consent with the King of Navar would by indirect by ways so work under hand upon emergency of occasions which might daily occur that at last it should incensibly yet assuredly come to pass to their own desire which says she suddenly proclamed might render you in danger and my self out of power to help you These things the Queen Mother promised being forced by necessity and dissembling pollicy for her own safety and security but it is ill making a fast Bargain with a loose Merchant nothing by her being less intended than really promised for she thought it fit and convenient for preservation of her Son's and own interest not wholly to put under hatches nor quite to extinguish the power of the Duke of Guise who was an apt weight to ballance and counterpoise the Power of the Princes of the Bloud desiring to carry it so to both that she might displease neither till she had a sure staff of the one and the other no power lest to oppose hers which at last answered her hellish Plot so that reserving many things to the benefit of time and future industry she left no stone unrolled to provide for time to come and to remedy the present Distractions The Protestants increase and the Princes of the Bloud protect them and presses the Queen Mother for her promise of Toleration Now the goodness of God in converting many to the Protestant Religion appears in a great and vast multiplication of the Professours thereof the King of Navar and Prince of Conde with the Admiral protects and defends them who earnestly presses the Queen Mother to perform her Promises for a free Toleration of their Religion she findes many nice excuses and well-spun pretences to evade the dint of their resolute desires and her absolute promise endeavouring by most subtile arts of perswasion to put off the performance of her Promise till a seasonable oportunity offered to ripen her Designs But the King of Navar daily pressed forward and grew more and more earnest for the speedy effecting of it and he did so publickly reason their case that many of the Kings Council yielded to the force of his Arguments disbanding their former Reasons on the contrary for the King of Navar alleged that it pittied his soul to see so many Protestants and the Kings true Subjects scattered from their peaceable habitations for fear of death and danger and did further profess it did deeply penetrate his heart with an abhortency to think of any more effusion of blood Amongst those of the Religion were many of pregnant wit and Christian courage that with small Tracts in Print dispersed as also with sober Petitions seasonably presented did at last help forward their desires to a speedy Grant A Decree for Release of all Protestants that were imprisoned for their Religion The Queen being now forced to yield gave way by a Decree of the Council at Fontainbleau the 28. of January 1560. That the Magistrates should release all such Prisoners as stood committed for matters of Religion to their former freedom prohibiting all Reproaches of either party with Heretick or Papist To search no mans house The Protestants by this being not fully authorized by a full Toleration and free Exercise of their Religion yet were somewhat satisfied by this seeming Inclination thereunto at least being protected from the present violence daily threatned The Queen Mother would not suppress their power yet would she depress their growth The King of Navar has the Keys of the Palace delivered to him which his great Enemy the Duke of Guise kept Now the King of Navar falling short of the full Grant of the Queens Promise proceeds further to a full Grant which she had secretly made to him requiring that as he was the Kings Lieutenant General the Keys of the Palace might be assigned to him which the Duke of Guise as Grand Master always and at this day kept The Queen as she was loath to offend the Duke of Guise and his party who with the Duke of Lorain upheld the Catholick Cause and Religion so was she as carefull to please the King of Navar and Protestant Princes till time gave a more secure season to bring about her desires for her desire was to be firmly seated betwixt them both by a plausible carriage to either and keeping them both dependents to her power and both equal in strength that neither might have encouragement to murmour To which purpose she is the more willing to favour the King of Navar in his request by reason at this time she findes the power of the Duke of Guise a Pin higher than the Princes of the Bloud and invested with more power than jumped with her purposes she conceived this a fit oportunity to pull down the Guisans power to an equal ballance with the Princes of the Bloud which suiting with her own interest she willingly executed their growth at this time being high and insolent and at all times of an aspiring nature as that they could not be content to fit under the Pent-house of their present power but must suddenly aspire to the pitch of their ambitious aim So the Queen caused the Keys of the Palace to be delivered into the custody of the Kings Lieutenant General the King of Navar. At this the Duke of Guise is highly enraged whose pride findes no bounds but reserved and secret revenge waiting for a fit oportunity to desplay his envenomed hate so that he dissembles his inveterate anger and malice he bore to the Princes of the Bloud and Admiral so he onely makes some shew of discontent for the
shall shortly in particular be related with all the sad circumstances of their cruelty The Catholicks take Bourges oâ— conditions Now the Kings Army sits down before Burges the 10. of August where they felt the valour and courage of the Protestants by many salies even to their trenches but in regard they had no time to fortifie the place their innate valour was forced to yield to necessity whose law has no bounds and so the Governour Monseiur D'Yvoy began to capitulate and at last on conditions yielded but was out of favour ever after by the Prince of Conde and Admiral the Queen discovers her selfe agrinst Protestants and prcolaims them Robels And now the Queen shews her selfe in her colours casts of her vizard and openly appears what she was inwarly For the Catholick cause and against the Protestants and so moved by her implacable malice and inward hatred she with the consent of the King caused the Principal of the Protestants to be Proclaimed Rebels and thus made way for a more open discovery of her most secret treachery whose close hypocrisie til now was so hid under hatches by deceitfull slights that on all hands her deep dissimulation was esteemed real But we shall shortly perceive that the copy of mens actions are sooner read than the copy of their countenances The Prince of Conde delivers up Roan Deip and Haverdegrace to the Queen of England In this mean while the Protestants had delivered up to the Queen of England the Towns of Roan Haverdegrace and Deip as pledges for her security And now the Kings Army marches towarde Roan and on the five and twentieth of September 1562. the whole Army Lodges at Darnettel two Leagues from the City of Roan where the Count Montgommery was Governour for the Protestants and commander of the City The Kings Army Advances to Roan having with him for defence thereof two thousand English and twelve hundred French foot four troopes of horse and an hundred Gentlemen of quallity whose valour was well known to the Army of the Kings that on all times and upon all occations felt the power of their resolutions whose strength and provision failing together with the Kings taking their principal fort did much trouble and hinder their promised success whereupon they sent to Haverdegrace for such supplies as could possibly be spared which in part was effected although the Kings Army had planted Cannons along the River but their great want could not be supplied with a little although at one time from the English arrived with great difficulty to their greater necessity seven hundred men with monyes and ammunition King of Navar slain And here at this seige was remarkably slain the Apostate King of Navar who felt the reward thereof from a divine hand of puunishment The City taken by storm and for three dayes nobus cruelties and murthers The twenty sixt of October the Kings Army storms the City and with great loss and valor on both sides takes it and for the cruelties they used against the poor Protestants lying at their mercy for the space of three dayes I refer the Reader to peruse in the Massaces at Roan which is fully and shortly related in the following Chapter Count Montgomery saved himself through great danger in a galley passing to Haverdegrace and so for England The Admirals Brother D'Andelot with 11000. horse and foot joyns with the Prince of Conde and Admiral Lewis of Burborn Duke of Montpenseir took from the Protestants severall Towns whose barbarous course of cruelty and treacherie is also contracted into a narrow compass which follows in the next chapter Mean while D'Andelot with five thousand foot and four thousand horse with great policie and and no less danger and toyle marches through the enemies power and at last joyfully and seasonably arrives and joyns with the Prince of Conde and Admiral who with great joy and welcome embrases him as much sorrow presently balances all for the success in another place was differently carried by the like Adventure of a Noble Commander the Baron of Duras who having levied five thousand horse and foot in Gascoin and Provinces adjacent endeavouring to pass through difficulties was obstructed by a sharp encounter by the Kings Horse under Command of Monsieur de Mouluc and Burie and at last was defeated yet with good part he escaped to the assistance of the Prince of Conde and Admiral The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army to the walls of Paris who now all march against Paris the Metropolis of the Nation and in their March taks in Estampes Piviers and Dordane and so marches to Paris where after some skirmishes beat back their enemies with Terrour and Confusion into the City putting them all to a stand in their councils but the Queen by Treaties and often Messengers did so with ther subtilty treat with the Prince and Admiral that by delayes the City was strengthened and their gallant Enterprize suprized for want of quick execution but the truth is the Protestants at all times were ready to embrace peace in the midst of their power and so suffered that convenient opportunity to slip and fall into the hands of the Queens policy which opportunity had the Catholicks ever enjoyed peace had not gone before their cruelties But it falls into course here to let the world take notice of this full demonstration of the Princes and Protestants Declarations That they sought only liberty for â—heir Estates and Lives and therefore would to their own prejudice wait an opportunity to effect their peaceable desires But alas it is to be bewailed that ever the Protestants down-right in their actions and words should ever have to deal with such an enemy whose treachery is their refuge and cruelty their mercy Now when they see their Enemies Designs they begin to remember the loss of their own yet falls on the City by a general Assault shoots many Cannons at last face the City to provoke and incite the Enemy to battel all which not answering their desires the Prince and Admiral draw off their Army The Kings Army advances to the defence of the City and the Prince withdraws and marches towards Normandy And now the Kings Army having by this time gathered a great strength from all parts advances under the command of the Duke of Guise and Constable and so follows the Princes Army who now resolves to march into Normandy to joyn with the Forces and Provisions that Queen Elizabeth of England had then according to covenant promised the Protestants being six thousand men twenty pieces of Cannon much Ammunition and fifteen thousand Ducats This March being resolved on at Beauss on December 14. they advance by the way of Chartres and so for Normandy The Kings Army follows the Protestants swiftly and the Protestant Army being very weary and both Armies very near they were by a manifest necessity driven to a Battel The Kings Army follows and they join battle
that might put the Protestants backward the Council to fit his purpose finds this expedient That the King of France and Spain should make a firm and inviolable League and that the King of Spain should assist with such forces as might be needful to the aid and succour for the King of France Which League was called the Holy League And that nothing might be wanting to break that famous Edict the Cardinal promises his best aid to assist their commands assuring them that the King and Queen Mother stand firmly for what they decree The Cardinal posts to Rome and endeavours all be can against the protestants Now as soon as this Council broke up the Cardinal posts to Rome and labours with Pope Pius Quartus to send to the King and Queen Mother of France to cause publickly the Decree of the Council to be observed throughout the Kingdom of France presently they begin to have it put in execution for the Embassadours of Spain Italy c. demand of the French King the Observation of the Decrees of the Council of Trent that the Edict should be disannulled and Hereticks rooted out Secret animosities in the hearts of both parties Now begin new firebrands to be cast again all their designe from first to last being to work out the poor Protestants who would be glad of peace with lives and liberty but could have it granted no wayes but in jeast in order to their more secure ruine in earnest for they never meant to be in earnest with their most solemne promises and protestations When they cannot overcome by Warre then a Peace most be made and in that Peace a damnable plot couched to destroy them when by Gods mercifull providence the Plot is discovered and they Arme for defence of Lives and Liberty and by Gods blessing grow too potent and powerfull for their treacherie and Armes then a peace againe and thus they play fast and loose till they cut the Throats of the two peaceable Protestants who were no way to be overcome but by peace The Protestants complain to the King of their daily wrongs desire justice and the performance of his promises but to no purpose Insomuch that wee may here insert a paradox in Divinity that it had been no sin in this cause to be unbeleeving nay they had no other way to be saved but by unbeliefe And thus the Edict that should have been the Cord of Peace was now a breaking in pieces by all the powers of Hell and Rome insomuch that those that were worse affected to the Edict and most forward to crush it cryed out They could not endure two Religions which seemed say they as prodigious as two Sunns And now as just Occasion was the cause of complaints soe now the Protestants sound in the Kings Ears their sad conditions and how little the Edict was like to be kept if such courses were nourish but the King heard to little purpose for it made a noise in his Eare but not in his obdurat heart for this King instead of hearing the complaints and redressing the wrongs of his to good subjects turnes his Ears forsaking the good Example of King Lewis the first of France A notable example of Justice who used three dayes in a week publickly in Person to hear the complainnts of his subjects and judge their Cause A poor woman desiring the Emperour Adrian to hear her Complaint and do her justice he answered that he was not a leisure the poore woman then replies boldly the King and Queen Mother in progress meet the Popes Minister and King of Spain and secretly confer in person together that he ought not to be at leisure to be Emperour Augustus Caesar exceedingly rejoyced to do justice and hear the causes of his subjects insomuch as the night could not allay his vigorous mind to do justice nay when he lay sick he would order the parties to appear at his bed side But this King was so far from following the Command of God or example of Heathens so far from delighting to settle his own Throne in the peace of his subjects that he seeks to overthrow his own tranquillity in his subjects ruine To which purpose the King and Queen Mother make their progress through many parts of the Kingdom and smoothly coloured their plots and conferences with the Duke of Savoy in Dauphine with the Popes Minister at Avignon and with the King of Spaine on the confines of Guienna whereby they might better cōmunicate their secret Counsells without the hazard of revealing their trust to French men whom they thought by their Alliance one way or other might reveale their secret hellish plots to the Protestants And it is to be taken notice of that now at this time was laid a Plot which Embasadors nor Councells intrusted must not know The King Q. coms to Lyons forbids the exercise of Protestant Religion and fortifies the place In this progress the King and Q. Mother comming to Lyons they forbid the Protestants the exercise of their Religion being one of the Towne assigned them for freedom the Protestants being numerous in this City the King orders a Citadell to be built not stirring out of the Towne till it was finished Now this was an Example to other Towns and did very much exasperat and hearten the Catholicks against the Protestants who with cruell Courage seize on them in sundry Towns and shamefully abuse them So that Many Protestants in many places murthered In Crevan in Burgongue the Catholicks fall on the Protestants and murther many being met together for the exercise of their Religion Curee Governour of Fendosme a Protestant was murthered by command of Cavigni Leiutenant to the Duke of Montpenseir at Tours they fell so furiously upon the poor Protestants murthering some hurting others coming from the Sermon and with great rage came into the Town with their bloody swords in their hands and being dyed with blood A gallant Gentleman murthered they proceed further falling on all they meet with murthering without destinction of sex age or Quality Drawning Killing and distroying all they could find many Protestants of Quality were murthered without any account given of their death by justice on the Murtherers Now the daily threats against the Protestants put them into a doubt of their security The sad massacres at Tours for the King and Queen Mother having concluded with the King of Spain secretly to assist one another It now fiftly falls out to discover that treacherous part which all this while lay hid under the plauseble pretences of an Edict of Liberty which indeed was that part of Hypocrisie which as a Cloak covered all their perfidious Treacherie and breach of promise That now what was written on the word of a King before the Eternall God was no more kept or observed than if it had been only written in sand the King and Q. Mother Raises an Army of Switzers pretending to defend the Protestants
unsufferable injuries and cruel murthers were dayly heaped and committed upon the poor Protestants even to the loss of the Estates and Lives of many of their dear friends which opposition was the greater being done by the Kings Liberty granted contrary to Articles of peace and Edict of Pacification promised by Oaths and Covenants therefore though they dayly waited yet now they saw no other way but to arm in their own defence which was the least they could do being tyed by the laws of God and Nature to preserve their Religion Lives and Estates of themselves with their poor wives children and families that else would be left to the power and rage of bloody and deceitful men and that this was their only design of taking arms And further did declare that if they could espy and other way to enjoy their Estates Liberty and Lives they would speedily lay down their arms yet notwithstanding they desired and resolved to continue his Majesties faithful Subjects in obedience to all lawful commands wishing a period to their lives the same moment their obedience ceased if they could but herein see security for enjoyment of their Religion and Lives The Q. of Navars noble Declaration in behalf of the protestants At the same time the Queen of Navar with some dashes of her illustrious pen and a full Testimony of a Christian Resolution does by Letters declare That she could do no less than joyn with the Prince of Conde and Protestants which with the life of her self and children as also the miserable Reliques of the Kingdom of Navar The Cardinal of Lorrain on the one hand and Spaniards on the other did jointly indeavour by force and policy to destroy which was so discernable that all the world was witness to her injuries And indeed this Noble Queen The Q. of Navars high merits in part described would be ecclipsed of her due value by the draught of my rude pen the highest Encomiums will but stain her virtues but to a little belief of her high deserts know only this That her enemies confessed her virtues and Christian valour to exceed the very applause of her Friendly admirers and therefore her deserts was concluded as much undeniable to them as unspeakable by her friends Thus the very beginning of this pretended peace ends in a third Civil War whose effects was as bloody as sharp and at last we shall speedily see in a Tragical Massacre of many thousand Protestants of all degrees and sexes so securely were the Protestants lull'd asleep in their too credulous opinion of the King and Court Now in this Cabinet Council of the Kings was Charls Cardinal of Lorrain The King publishes a bloody Edict that no Religion should be exercised but the Romish on pain of death which cuts off all former promises and Edicts as if they had never been made to be kept Brother to the Duke of Guise a man of a most crafty and terrible nature insomuch that at Rome he was no less reputed for he was a bitter enemy to the Protestants and for the cruelty of his nature was termed the Firebrand of all Civil Flames whose hands being deep in the blood of the Protestants For by his means and the willing mind of the King and bloody Council was published an Edict in his Majesties name levelling the famous Edict of January and enjoyning That none should profess any Religion but the Romish and that it was treason to embrace any other requiring upon pain of death a general conformity to the Catholick Religion Which bloody Edict was accordingly published whereupon all the Protestant Ministers were banished all places of the Kingdom which were in the Kings power The King declares he meant not what be said Oh deep deceit And that the King may stand amazed at this deep hypocrisie this following Sentence was expressed in this Edict printed at Paris And it was further then declared that albeit the King had in many Edicts before that time permitted the freedom of Religion yet his meaning was to retain and cause to be retained of all men the only Romish or Popish Religion within his Realm Which Edict and clause being so wonderfully strange to all that heard or saw it and because it stained the Kings name with the most horrid spot of perjury and breach of faith it was therefore in other impressions afterward printed purposely omitted in the Edict This Edict was published with an incredible confluence of all sorts of Catholicks and received with the highest celebrations of joy as can be imagined and the rather because the Catholicks much doubted of the Queen Mothers intentions in regard of her dissembling carriage to the Protestants and now all was put out of doubt by this Edict Which clearly demonstrates that the King and Queen Mothers intentions all along was to destroy the Protestants root and branch only took their best opportunity to effect their desires with the least noise of suspicion and greatest security to drive the nail home to the head and their bloody Swords to the hearts of the most innocent souls And thus begins strong preparations for a third Civil War for Religion the sad effects whereof we shall peruse in the next chapter CHAP. V. The Contents THe Protestants gallant Resolutions Both parties arm Queen Elizabeth aids the Protestants The protestants take several towns the Armies face one another but ingage not the Battel at Brisac where the Prince of Conde is slain the Prince of Navar and Prince of Conde chosen Generalls of the protestant Army the Admirall and whole Army swears subjection to these two young Princes the Queen of Navar coins money to pay the protestant Army the Princes and Admiral draw their Army into Garrisons the Kings army sits down before Cognac but are valiantly repulsed they take Mucidan put all to the Sword but lost Count Brisac the Duke Deux Pont with 14. thousand marches to join with the Princes but dies himself by the way The Pope sends Forces to ayd the King Both armies engage the Kings Army retires to Garrisons the Princes take in Chastelrault and Lusignan Town and Castle they lay siege to the great City Poictiers the Kings forces besiege La Charite but leave it after the loss of many brave Gentlemen and Commanders the Duke of Anjou besieges Chastelrault but after great loss leaves it the young Duke of Guise advances to Court and his Fathers place at once the Cabinet Council meets the Armies ingage in a bloody Battel the Kings Army besieges Angeli but receives a gallant shock of a resolute defence by that brave Commander Monsieur de Pilles and at last yielded honourably the Kings Army disbands the protestants increase and are Masters of the field The King summons his forces together and gives the command to Marshall de Coss the King Queen Mother and Cabinet Council plot to linck a peace and the Protestants ruin together the protestants at all times willing to embrace a peace the end
of the third Civil War the K. and Queen Mother speed Messengers to the princes and Admiral to make way for a peace they yield to imbrace a treaty the King propounds for both armies to join against a foreign Enemy A firm peace concluded with free liberty of the Edict Several protestant Princes congratulate the King for his happy peace the King subscribes to keep the Edict the Armies dismissed the peace not fully observed the King with the Council plot destruction the King and Court feed the protestants with favours to make them the easier to swallow their own ruin and his love together the King dissembles with the Princes in shewing a dislike to the Catholick party the prince of Orange and his Brother offer the King of France their assistance against the King of Spain and is accepted the Count of Nassaw disguised goes to the King the King invites the Admiral to Court the Duke of Guise and Cardinal Lorrain depart the Court the better to allure the Princes and Admiral to their Ruin the Prince of Orange takes the Spaniards slips the King propounds his Sister the Lady Margaret in mariage with the Prince of Navar the Popes Embassadour arrives at the Court the Kings plot to surprize Rochel the King pronounces the Admiral not guilty many protestants at Roan murthered the Admirall perswaded of the Kings Reality by a Letter under his own Hand and Seal The protestants noble resolutions NOw begins the third bloody War wherein the Protestants solemnly covenanted together so to cleave fast one to another so to knit themselves firmly together in their affections and resolutions as no future transactions should with the help of God ever make them to forget or forsake the cause of God concerned in the Protestant Religion but resolutely to maintain it to the loss of their lives and all that was dear to them Both sides prepare for war Hereupon the King arms amain so also the Princes and Admiral who send out a fleet of thirty sail for Provision for the Army to supply them for the ensuing Winter The Queen of Navar also endeavours all she can for their aid and assistance Q. Eliz. aids the protestants Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory sent over to their aid one hundred thousand Crowns besides ships of Corn and Ammunition A thing to be treasured up in the remembrance of her lasting fame The protestants take in many Towns both armies meet but fight not The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army and soon levels the force of many strong Towns to their power in taking them in and so become Masters of the Field At length both Armies meet yet no battel in regard of the cold season neither Army would fight but on advantage which would be given by neither The Winter being now past in the year 1569. the Armies engage at Battel at Brisac the 16. of March The Battel at Brisac the prince of Conde slain to his eternal honour fighting on his knees to the last wherein the Prince of Conde was wounded and his horse shot under him yet did valiantly defend himself on his knees in the midst of his Enemies but at last was slain On the Kings side was slain the Duke of Monsalez whom de Andelot the Admirals Brother charged so furiously that with his bridle hand he lifted up the Bever of his Helmet and discharged his Pistol in his face and so laid him dead on the ground Great was the slaughter on both sides of Gentry especially wherein the Protestants were worsted by the Catholiques comming upon part of their Army in full bodies which unfortunately was scattered by their too great security and sudden approach of the Kings yet their demeanor in the fight was such that the Kings Army had reason to bewail their great loss and admire their Enemies valour and undoubtedly in outward appearance had the body been entire and both encountred on equal advantatages the day was generally believed would have been otherwise for the Horse only was engaged but the foot never came to any service but secured themselves in a body And thus died that brave Prince of Conde exceedingly commended for virtue and valour and asmuch bewailed for his loss Prince of Navar and prince of Conde Generalls for the protestants After this Battel the Protestants rallie their Forces and by a General choice of the Army Henry Prince of Navar and Henry Son to the deceased Prince of Conde were both elected Generals of the Protestant Army The Prince of Navar was of a noble and gallant Spirit full of Urbanity and Civil courtesie The Prince of Navar shews a gallant spirit in a piâ—hy speech of a Warlike courage and being naturally given to valourous and heroick actions he embraces this courteous invitation and like a Souldier of a long standing being but fifteen or sixteen years old he lengthned their hopeful expectations by a short pithy speech wherein He promised to protect the true Religion and to persevere constantly in defence of the common-cause till death or victory proved the Issue Now to ballance this Royal assent and Christian magnanimity of so tender a Sprout of virtue The Admiral and whole Army profess fidelity and obedience to the princes of the blood and the protestant cause the Admiral and Count de la Roch-fou-caut first submitted and swore fidelity then followed the principal Officers and Soldiers in joint Resolutions to order their steps after his Royal commands and the religious ends proposed in his Speech All of the Army protesting fidelity to the Princes of Bourbon And thus with a volley of applause was this Gallant young Prince elected General of the Army and Protector of the Protestants whose yeers were far younger than his wise conduct of affairs in whom it was hard to say whether his resolution valor and wisdom or youth was more perspicuous for he seemed as if nature which accomplishes others by degrees had finished him in a trice He was no sooner come to his Horizon but his deserts lifted him up to his Meridian The Queen of Navar mother to this virtuous Prince approved well of their choice and his acceptance so that she sharpned all their resolutions by her couragious assistance of the Protestants The Religious and Noble Q. of Navar coins money and inserts a christian and resolute Motto She was a religious Queen in whom resided much virtue and constancy to a good cause Wherefore she caused monies to be coined with her picture on one side and the Princes on the other with these words Pax Certa Victoria Integra Mors Honesta A Motto becoming her noble Spirit Thus they fall to consultation how to order the Army with the best prudence they resolve to divide and draw into Garrisons so also does the King The Princes Army draws into Garrisons So the Princes and Admiral retire to Saint Jean D' Angeli Brave Monsieur de Pilles defended Xaintes Montgomery and Puviant
take charge of Anglolesm Ienlis commands with a strong garrison in Londun and Monsieur d' Aciere with seven thousand foot and six thousand horse remains at Cognac where the late Battel was fought The K. besieges Cognac is forced to leave it Mucidan taken and all put to the Sword Hereupon the Kings Army under command of the Duke of Anjou attempted to sit down before Cognac but the continud valor in their often sallies amaz'd the enemy to a retreat The Army thus forced to leave Cognac layes siege to Mucidan where the Count of Brisac on the Kings side was slain yet the Town was taken and not only Souldiers but all Inhabitants suffered the rage of a bloody Sword and inveterate Enemy The Noble protestant Duke of Deux-Ponts with fourteen thousand joins with the Princes Army be dies in his March To the assistance of the Princes and Admiral advances the Duke of Deux-Ponts with an Army of fourteen thousand in which Army my was VVilliam of Nassaw Prince of Orange with Lewis and Henry his Brothers in their march it pleases God the Duke the General died by the way and so the Charge of the Army was committed to the Lieutenant General Count Volrade of Mansfield Three daies after the Armies meet with great joy on both sides The Pope mean while assists the Catholicks with four thousand foot and eight hundred horse The Pope and others aid the K. commanded by Paulo Sforza the Duke of Tuscany sent also to their assistance a thousand foot and two hundred horse The Duke of Alva sends three thousand VValloons and three hundred Flemish but Gods just judgments followed their insolent carriages for such Miseries wants and sicknesses followed them that by the way abundance died On the 23. day of June 2569. both Armies approach neer together The Armies engage and next morning by break of day the Princes fell on Strozzi's quarter who was Col General of the Infantry who were all routed and he taken Prisoner there was slain S. Loup and Rogucleauz Lieutenants to Strozzi twenty two Captains and 350 of their best Souldiers on the Protestants side was slain in all 150. The Noble Princes of Navar charges in the head of the Army The Prince of Navar commanded the other part of the Army and charged the Enemy to their quarter with a great deal of manly courage beyond expectation himself charging in the front of his Army Which was so much the more remarkable in regard danger at first seems most terrible so that they that beheld this valour had their senses lifted up with admination and the whole Army puffed up with expectation that the world would be filled with the renown of his actions The Kings Army draws into Garrisons And so after a little skirmishing they both withdrew Hereupon the Duke of Anjou seeing little hopes of overcoming the Invincible manhood and great power of the Protestants he dismisses the Nobility and settles most part of the Army in Garrisons till the first of October against which time all was ordered to be in readiness to appear The Protestants take in Chastelrault The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army and take in the Town of Castelrault and enter in the King of Navars name by whose authority as first Prince of the Blood all things were dispatched The Town and Castle of Lusignan taken They speedily advance to Lusignan and taking the Town laie siege to the Castle which though impregnable for strength yet could not withstand the battering assaults of their valour so was forced to yield on conditions marching with flying colours The Articles being as faithfully performed as promised which though according to Justice yet contrary to the Catholiques constant practice which was a great dishonor to their Army and whole nation The Strong City of Poictiers beseiged but left Speedily after they march and lay siege to the Strong City of Poictiers a City of the greatest Circuit of any in France except Paris being the Head of the adjoining Provinces and where all the wealth and treasure of the Catholiques in the Country was brought for security The Duke of Guise enters with a party to defend the City and after strong assaults and much loss on both sides the Admiral falls sick with continual care and pains to prosecute the siege to a conquest so they rise with their Army and leave the place The catholicks besiege La Charite but are forced away with great loss Now the Kings forces under the command of Monsieur de Sansat laie siege to La Charite and after a sharp assault and stout resistance with the loss of many gallant Gentlemen they were forced to leave it being kept by a resolute and valiant commander Monsciur de Guerchy Cornet to the Admirals own company of Gens d' Arms whom we shall afterwards find basely murthered The catholiques besiege Castelrault but leave it The Duke of Anjou not able to raise the siege of Poictiers did in the mean while lay siege to Chastelrault a place but lately taken by the Protestants but finding a stiff resistance by their valour were forced to tetire with the loss of Fabiano del Monte commander of the Tuscan Forces with two hundred fifty Souldiers and many Gentlemen The Admiral advancing to their relief the Duke was forced next day to march away and lodge his Army at Sello The Duke of Guise admitted to his Fathers place and Cabinet Council The Duke of Guise about this time goes to Court and for his faithfullnesse to the Catholick cause was admitted to his fathers place and to the Cabinet councill this Councill now meets again to consult of the affaires of the Kingdome at last concludes to draw their forces together and fight the Princes Army which although the Prince was on disadvantage yet they resolved unanimously the fight the Catholicks The Armies engage in a bloody and furious battel After sundry skirmishes and sharp encounters the Armies both meet the beginning of October when first the Prince of Navar with ample and Christian Speeches recommended to them all the cause of Religion and Liberty now they engage first with terrible thundering of Cannons and much slaughter but they presently close and fall on with wonderfull fury the horse and foot being strangely mixed together in the heat of the Battle nay such was the heat of their valour on both sides that the very common attendants of the Armies such as Sucklers Boyes Pioneers were deeply engaged for either party And herein the Admirall acted so much of his wonted valour that he shewed himself a valiant Soldier and couragious Conductor for with a furious assault and fixed resolution in the head of his cavalry he charges the Rein-grave and though the Admirall had received a shot in the cheek with a Pistoll yet discharged his Pistoll in the Rein-graves face and there layes him dead on the place and fought valiantly allthough the blood from his wound did
that ever I read or heard of The K. sends to desire a peace to take it in all it's circumstances After many battels and much loss of treasure and blood a treaty was begun by the King and Q. Mother who sends messengers to the Princes and Admirall signifying how desirous they were of a firm and inviolable peace The Admiral yields to a treaty The admirall being so often deceived with fair pretences of peace could not be so ill an observer but to learn somthing by transactions past therefore was so afraid and jealous that he knew not well how to advise seeing all their fair pretexts of peace since he could remember was but a shorter cut to their invitable ruin so that the burnt child dreads the fire yet being desirous of a peace on good grounds which proved as a Quagmire to swallow up all their hopes he yeelded to embrace a treaty Now the King that he might better colour and varnish over his treachery sends messengers to the Admiral to signifie in his Majesties name that the King himself had now found out a sure way for a lasting peace which way his Majesty thought so safe as none could doubt of his integrity therein which indeed was a subtile piece of policie as follows The subtle and treacherous design of the K. propounding a war against the K. of Spain as a means to a peace one with another That now both Armies which had so long fought against one another in the feirce flames of a Civill War might now unanimoufly joyn against the Duke of Alva as a forein enemie and one that had been too great an instrument of the late combustions in France And that it might appear no French Romance in regard of the suddeness and the ayd lately received by his Majesty from the Duke of Alva against the Protestants as also supplies from the King of Spain his Master therefore he further signified that his Majesty the King of France had high cause prompting him to a War with the King of Spain and among many this was not the smallest the Kings pretended reasons of war against the King of Spain viz that the King of Spain had by violence taken from his Majesty the King of France the Island Florida in new-found-land suddenly slaying all the French Soldiers as also the Marquesdome of Finall the Inhabitants whereof had lately surrendred themselves under the command of the King of France And therefore he desired in his Majesties behalf that the ground of this war might not be misinterpreted but taken in a good sense and that his Majesties ends of propounding both Armies to joyne against the Duke of Alva in the Low-countries might be looked upon as a designe of his Majestie to unite all former discords in a firm bond of union and concord by cleaving together against a common enemie And to set off this business the better he further propounds that it was now a fit opportunity to imploy Count Lodovick of Nassaw Brother to the Prince of Orange for management of the business that he might easily by the assistance of his Commanders and Soldiers suddenly surprise certain Cities which mighe be of great advantage to the future hopes of success the Admiral reasons the case could hardly be brought to believe this war real and oh that he had never believed it Now this penetrated the more into the Admiralls heart in regard this Count of Nassaw was one that had been under his command for two years who behaved himself with an exceeding courage and approved valour and fidelity in a great proof to the Admiralls knowledge and there needed no spur to the Count being a man banished out of his own Country for Religion by the Duke of Alva and was a man of much resolution and courage The Admirall receiving this message was wonderfully put to understand what to do or say for although he seemed not to suspect the Kings fidelity yet he saw strong reasons to look about him for though he valewed not his own life yet he drew along with him the wellfare of all Protestants therefore he considered thus with himself The great power of the Cardinall and Guisans in the Kings Court and was also too well known to be no less greatly in favour with the King and Court of Spain against whom this war should be and therefore could not conceive how this war with Spain could really be caried on when these men were the prime managers of the affairs of France having also severall pensions from the King of Spain therefore could not but increase and confirme his jealousie to suspect treason and deceit when he considered that these men were dependents of Spain who were of the King of France his Cabinet Councell and yet for them to wage war against the King of Spain Oh! Treachery The Admirall could not but take notice that at the same time the Embassadour of the King of Spain was admitted into the Privie Councell of France which to forein nations seemed utterly incredible and that also one Brirragio a Lumbard reported a traitor to his own Country being ignorant of the Law was for his subtil wit hoysted to the honourable office of Chancellour in the room of Michael Hospitall displaced a man well known to be a true Patriot to his own Country and also so learned and able as the like could never be found in France Thus the Admiral on whom did hang all the weight of affaires doubted what to do in this great strait The Admirall in a strait what to resolve on he therefore considered on the contrary side what his adversaries would say against him that they would hereby take occasion to report him backward to Peace as one delighting to live in the fuell and fire of blood and civill wars not knowing how to live but in troubled waters not able to endure the sweet relish of a quiet peace these reasons amongst others did perplex his wavering mind Now the Kings Messenger in behalf and for defence of his Majesty The Kings Messengers reply to the Admiralls Objections did anâ—wer to all the Objections of the Admiral and said That the suddenness of the King of France his resolutions to war with the King of Spain was That he and his Mother the Queen had been informed by one Albery come lately from Spain That for certain King Philip a little before had poisoned his Queen the French Kings Sister and had basely given out through all Spain that he had such things against her as for the credit of many persons of honor were not fit to be published The Admiral perswaded by Count Lodowick to the war with Spain Now all this being said moved not the Admiral so much as the free and chearful resolutions of the Count of Nassaw whose indefagitable earnestness was boundless and perswasions to the Admiral endless till effected The Admiral hereby perswaded laies aside all dishonorable thoughts that might stain the Kings loyalty
work labouring to bring this bloudy brat to the Birth To which purpose the King and Queen Mother calls to Council the Duke of Anjou the Cardinal of Lorrain the Duke of Guise and Alberti Conde Count de Retz and speedily resolve them of their secret intentions if by any means it could be effected they therefore desire their best aid and assistance together with their approbation which needed not be doubted for they were men ready enough at all times to act the Kings pleasure The King therefore begins sending out strict orders to all the Provinces of his Kingdome Now the King begins to dissemble strictly commanding an observation of the Edict which he intends not should be observed The King outwardly carried it harshly to the Catholicks to more to work the Protestants to their lure to have a high esteem and regard to the late Edict in behalf of his good Subjects the Protestants and that it was his Majesties express command to have it strictly observed and to make their Hearts understand what they heard by the ear the King gives Order to have this message proclaimed at Rochel the Seat of the Princes and Admiral assuring them in particular of the Kings favourable intentions to what he had confirmed with his Royall Hand which should be kept inviolable from all attempts of the strongest perswasion And yet to penetrate more deep to make one act of dissimulation out-vy another to let the world see he was a good proficient in the Art of Treachery and Bloodshed he carries himself outwardly very harsh to the Catholicks telling the Commissioners that the Power of the Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorrain was not to be feared for that the Government now rested in himself and had no dependency on any of their commands and therefore though they live at Court yet needed not the Princes of the Blood or Admiral fear them as Adversaries for they lived as Subjects not as Masters and that ere long he hoped all acts of forformer hostility and enmity should be by his means buried in eternal forgetfulness and that both parties should be reconciled to the Kings desire and their own good All which did not only peirce the hearts of the common people but wonderfully wrought upon the hearts of the Princes and Admiral with the chief of the Protestants who now begun to believe the Kings intentions real and that being now weary of the bloudy Civil Wars and Distractions and beginning now to govern by himself and not by his Council might at last sincerely desire a firm peace But alas they are too short sighted to espy and too sincere to doubt that such unparalleled deceit should lodge in the hearts of devils much less in a King a Christian King not so much as in his thoughts much less in his intentions and practice but it is the less wonder seeing it is so that not only in publick actions of great men but also in our common intercourse with things of smaller moment we all experience that the greatest hatred and malice is covered with the greatest love and friendship and that there is no greater knavery then that which borrows a cloak of Religion to cover it with some men again make use of friendship as a stepping stone to their own ends as the For being environed with a high Wall and hotly persued by his Enemies was put to great straits for his liberty for he could not leap over the Wall at last espying one by the Wall side stooping for a stone to throw at him he suddenly leaps on the mans back and by that step of advantage leaps over Little did the poor Princes and Admiral with the Queen of Navar and Nobles and Gentlemen of the Religion think their Noble blood to be so neer spilling by such base and unheard-of cruelties covered under so much love who would not pitty to read that so much valor as was in these brave Commanders should be murthered and laid in the bloody grave of a Treacherous death which shortly we shall sadly peruse The first thing the Admiral embraced by these perswasions was the War against the King of Spain which made the way easier to the rest that followed and yet he often said to his Son-in-Law Teligny that he suspected the rowling wit of the Queen Mother whom he was afraid would lead them on in this enterprize and leave them in the midst The Prince of Orange and Count Lodowick his Brother profer their service to the King in the war of the Low Countrys The Count of Nassaw advising with his Brother the Prince of Orange sends word to the King That if it were his Majesties pleasure to War against the King of Spain in the Low Countries they would so order themselves under his commands as that by their service therein his Majesty should find them faithful and useful and perceive their affections to him and the cause in hand to this the King replies in loving Letters commending their resolutions and gave them hearty thanks for their loving Message which tended highly to a free manifestation of their affections to his Service The Emperour mediates between the Prince of Orange and the K. of Spain The King of France encourages the Prince of Orange against the perswasions of the Emperour Now Maximillian the Emperour pretending to pitty the Estate of the Prince of Orange had obtained by Embassadours to the King of Spain that the Prince should have his goods restored conditionally that he should not settle his habitation in the Low Countryes but in some other place and yet nevertheless should enjoy freely all his Revenues As soon as the French King hears hereof and doubting it might be a hindrance to his present design he speedily posts Messengers to the Prince of Orange to perswade him that what the Emperour had done was nothing but to hinder their progress in so good and advantagious a cause and being only a devise to break up his leavies that he had begun in Germany letting him further understand that if he will please to give him credit he should not want assistance sufficient to regain his Estate from the King of Spain These perswasions of the King being not suspected to come from dissimulation and hypocrifie by the Prince of Orange so did he firmly believe all to be real insomuch as he proceeded in his Musters resolving a while to bear the charges thereof whilst all things else fitting for the war were in readiness though the charge at that time was very heavy Count Lodowick disgrised goes to Court and treats with the King and agrees about the War Now Count Lodowick his Brother being of a resolute disposition essayed his own fortunes and by encouragement from the King he secretly journies from Rochel taking with him onely two companions giving out he was going for the Prince of Orange his Brother but in a disguised habit he privately departs and that night arrives at the Court which then was kept at
from the King and Queen Mother as was not fit to be published The King for a secure mannagement of the Wars against the King of Spain The Kings strange plot to surprize Rochel gave Commission to Strozzi and the Baron de li Guard to rig forth ships from Burgess and Rochel and to surprize any Vessels that were going through the English Seas to the aid of the Duke of Alva in the Low-Countreys the Spanish Embassadour complains hereof but these two Captains had secretly and privately an underhand Commission to seize on Rochel and by open or secret force to get into their power for his Majesty although all was carried fair on against the Duke of Alva The King also gave command to the Admiral to send Espials into Peru and Island in the New found World which being plentiful of Gold the Spaniard had possessed himself thereof and there to attempt what he could against the King of Spain which business according to his Majesties command the Admiral undertook committing it to one of his Gentlemen who with a certain Portugal skilful in those navigations he had joined in Commission The King heaps unexpressible favours on the Admiral and Friends Now the King heaped unexpressable favours on the Admiral Count Rochfoucault and Theligni with the rest of the principal Protestants and chief Noblemen of the Religion for what ever was taken from any of them in time of the Civil Wars was now most lovingly restored by the Kings command and if any one that the King could learn was a friend to the Admiral to him he did shew singular respect even to the height of an unimaginable dissimulaeion He commanded one time to be given to the Admiral one hundred thousand pounds of his own treasury in recompence of his great losses When the Cardinal of Chastillon formerly fled to England disguised and having great Revenues and Wealth his death being known to the King he did give to the Admiral all the fruits of the whole year with all his rich and costly Houshold-stuff and though all former Admirals in Council and publick Ceremonies had ever given place to the Marshall of France yet for the Admirals greater honour it was the Kings will and pleasure that he should sit next Monseiur de Momorancy who was the first Marshall and above all the rest The K. desires the Duke of Savoy to favour the Protestants The King also writes to the Duke of Savoy that for his sake he would please to be favourable to the Protestants under his Dominion it should ly upon him as an acceptable favor It is not to be thought what kindnesses the King shewed to the Protestants even to the great amazement of the Catholicks and rejoicing of the Protestants The K. so far dissembles that by his shew of respects to the Protestants the Catholicks suspect him who poor souls thought all true that he said but this love proved bitter hatred like Judas kiss nay the King did so carry it that the Catholicks began to surmise and say that the King did not only favour the Protestants but would himself turn one shortly And in regard there was a mighty enmity betwixt the Duke of Guise and the Admiral by reason of a report fixed on the Admiral as if he should be an instrument of his Fathers death The Admiral and Duke of Guise reconciled and the Admiral declared not guilty of the Duke of Guises death the King therefore to make up all breaches and in order to a perfect peace he prescribes a perfect form of Reconciliation the foundations whereof was laid six years ago in the Town of Molins where the King summoning the principal estates of his Kingdom did on consultation and deliberation declare and pronounce the Admiral not guilty of the death of the Duke Guise a thing his Majestie was before bound in conscience to do but now was acted and done as a piece of good policy this block being taken away as an advance for the Admiral to the Court. But as we said before the most solemn bond and ty for a secure peace is the Lady Margarite Sister to the King of France to be given in mariage to the Prince of Navar who was Son to the most virtuous Queen of Navar. who also had all the last civil war been General of the Protestant Cause and couragiously defended it to his Eternal Praise which mariage the King did declare That he did it for the effecting and establishing a durable peace and as a signal testimony of his loyall affections to the Protestants And yet in the mean while the Papists in Roan murthered divers Protestants and grievously beat others as they came from a Sermon Many Protestants murthered in Roan And in regard that it was objected That the King of France his Sister was of the Roman Religion and the Prince of Navar a Protestant it could not well be effected to a good purpose To which the King answered he would free her by a Dispensation from the Pope that no Impediment might stand in the way to so great a good as a sure peace betwixt him and his Subjects nothing being more delightful or desired by him As soon as this was spread to the Courts of Forein Princes it did amaze the Popish Party that ever the King should proceed in behalf of Hereticks But on the contrary it did exceedingly possess the hearts of the Prince The K. plot takes effect and Admiral and all forein Princes of the same Religion with exceeding joy being such a large demonstration of the Kings affection and as a Seal of fidelity to all he promised and did also drive out of their hearts all jealousies of plots or secret Contrivances but the Admiral which had most reason and was most backward to believe all reall yet he at this time was now most forward to believe and most ready to be confirmed not only by this but also by a Letter which the King sent him by his Son Theligni The Admiral at last perswaded and deluded by a Letter from the King under the Kings own hand and Seal assuring the Admiral That whatever he should do in the Business of the war in the Low Countries against the King of Spain should be by his Majesty allowed of and ratified as if done by his special command such was his alluring baits and pretences of good will and trust to the Admiral And thus the poor Protestant Princes are too much perswaded of the Kings faith who intended their ruin without remedy we shall shortly see them come to Paris and embrace the mountains of treacherous pretences of faith and affection and so be swallowed up in their Enemies malitious and unparallel'd cruelty for all the huge promises of the Kings stood but as an Earnest till their plot was ripe and then they are more swift to shed blood than real to what they promise and truly such a piece of Kingly tteachery is not in any age to be
of secrecie that whilst they could see others others could not see them But alas God can easily discover all their close contrivances when he pleases but it must be let alone to the secret will of God why at this time he was pleased to let his people and the Earth be burthened and oppressed with such hellish designs that one would think should make Devils afraid to contrive but however God suffered them to act their lustful rage and bloody cruelty yet he pleased so to unmask the pretences of friendship that in despight of Worldly secrecie the whole Universe may perceive the plot of Popish cruelty This wonderful and Tragical instance will cleerly evince any Impartial Reader and if there were no other yet would it stand alone as an irrefragable Argument that there was a premeditated plot to cut off the Admiral and Protestants which story for the strangeness of the Discovery and the Kings more strange way of Justice to prevent the further spreading of his plot take as followeth and because of its use I hope may prove no digression The secret design of the K. and Council to destroy the Protestants is almost discovered in this cleer and pretty Story There was in the Court of France at this came one Monsieur de Lignoroles a young Gentleman of a sharp and accute wit attended also with a high and bold Spirit which Gentleman was the Duke of Anjou's great Familiar which reason together with the neerness of affection to each other the Duke did impart to him the secret Counsels of the King with this Plot of cutting off all the Protestants by a fair pretence of an alluring carriage till they were under his power and mercy This young Gentleman by his great intimacy with the Duke grew also into high favour with the King and Queen Mother and for his wit and carriage drew the eyes of all the Court towards him attracting great esteem from King Queen Mother and Court This unfortunate Gentleman more happy in the imployment than wise in the improvement of his parts who being in the high Road of Honour wanted but few steps to a high preferment which time and his wise mannagement would necessarily have courted him with and conferred on him This Gentleman I say hapned by his great esteem to be admitted to the presence of the King and Nobles and once on a time when many Nobles of the Religion were present with his Majesty through some occasion of a Treaty for a peaceable enjoyment of freedom of Religion according to the Edict At this time the King was highly moved with the Protestant Nobility this young Gentleman seeing the King angry presently stepped to the King and whether to please the King or to let his Majestie know he was thought worthy of counsel by the great trust some had put him in or moved by ambition to appear no stranger to the Kings nearest secresies which sometimes in young wits many times runs before a discreet conduct of their advantages But he I say whispers in the Kings ear Desiring his Majesty that he would please to silence his mind with a patient forbearance of anger and to smile away their insolency and folly for his Majesty well knew that few days would ripen their destruction and lay them level to justice which saies he by a secret policy of your Majesties great Wisdom and compleat contrivance was almost brought to a full conclusion last meeting and which no doubt in the end will speedily and securely render your Majesty in a full and ample capacity to be avenged on their haughtiness The King at these words startled within himself being touched at the quick to have such a secret imparted to one that was not of the conspiracy whose raw retention might prove fatal to them all wondering how and by what means he should come to the knowledge thereof Now the King in whom lodged a knowledge beyond his years dissembled his understanding at this time and made no shew of any thing that might tend to the understanding of his speech but speedily retired to his chamber with a mind full of anxity and fury and presently without any delayes examines the Count de Retz who denies that ever he revealed any thing to any or to him he then charged the Queen Mother who answered she was not to learn of him to keep secrets at last he fell to examine the Duke of Anjou who confessed it and fell to perswade the King that it was as securely locked from any further discovery as in his own breast and like a Spring lock would shut but not open of it self That his Majesty need not fear that any secret imparted to Ligneroles should ever come neerer his mouth than his heart the King answers No more it shall and I wish it had never come there for I shall take order that he shall not have time to do it So the King calls George de Villequier Vicount of Guerchy whom his Majestie knew hated Ligneroles perfectly and commanded him to use his Discretion for a speedy removal of Ligneroles out of this world and to put off the effecting his desire no longer and that day to bring to pass his pleasure and command without fear or delay which with the Assistance of another was accordingly done as soon as the King heard hereof he was seemingly angry and commanded the Vicount and Count Charls his assistant to be imprisoned in the Palace but in a Months time by the intreaty of Monsieur de Angolesm as also by particular grace and favour they were set at Liberty This Story needs no Comment The King charges the Magistrates of Paris that none in the City should offer the least affront to the Admirall or Protestants After all the Kings favors to the Protestants and pulling down the stone Cross erected to their dishonour the King knowing the extreme inveterate hate the Parisians bore to the Admiral and Protestants he wrote a Letter to the Provost de Marchands one Marcel which is one of the highest places of advancement in Paris giving out severe threatnings against any that should give occasion of commotion or Affront to the Admiral at his comming So also did the Queen Mother and Duke of Anjou write to Marcel and Magistrates of the City insomuch that nothing was now left as a hindrance or objection for the Admirals coming and safety The King sends a Protestant Gentleman to invite the Admiral to Court who comes and is joyfully welcomed Shortly after the King sends a Noble Gentleman of the Protestants named Briquemault to the Admiral being a faithful assistant of the Admirals as also a man of singular vertue and esteem among the Protestants and at last proved a sad though Christian Sufferer for the Protestant cause him the King sends to the Admiral to let him know how greatly his Majesty longed for his counsel in so weighty a business as the War which could not be done without his assistance and present
Army and thereupon immediately fled to the Kings Camp Others said it was Bondot an Archer of the Kings Guard Now when this confession of the Woman of the house aforesaid was brought to the King he commanded Monsieur de Nance Captain of his Guard to apprehend and bring Chally before him but Chally as soon as he heard the stroke of the piece fled into the Kings Castle of the Loure hiding himself in the Duke of Guises chamber but as soon as he heard of the Kings command he fled Now De Nance Captain of the Kings guard being informed of his escape and no doubt was himself the Informer answered that Chally was a Gentleman of good repute and no doubt but on notice given of the Kings mind would appear before his Majesty or the Magistrates The man that shot the Admiral had commission from the K. to do it Ob horrible The Admiral in danger of death desires the K. visit But not to hold the Reader longer I find it recorded by the most exact Narration that it was Manrevel one whom the Duke of Guise had at his request to the King and by his Commission procured to kill the Admiral which at large is fully related in the Civil wars of France The Admiral now wounded and under the Chirurgians hands dressing his wounds commanded his Son Teligny to go to the King and humbly to beseech his Majesty in behalf of his Father to vouchsafe him a visit for that the wounds lately received were likely to terminate his life and put a short period to his daies desiring therefore to see his Majesty and deliver something to his care that might greatly concern his Majesties safety The K. Q. Mother many other visit the Admiral To which the King in his wonted strain of courtesie answered He would perform his request and so in the afternoon the King goes to visit the Admiral taking along with him the Queen Mother the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Monpenseir a most affectionate Servant to the Church of Rome the Count de Retz a great familiar of the Queen Mothers with Chavigny and Entragny both chief Ringleaders in the bloody Butchery following the King no sooner arrives at the Admirals lodging but he lovingly saluted the Admiral demanding kindly and courteously some few questions concerning the state and health of his body to which the Admiral answered with such a Christian mild and sweetly-quieted countenance with Gods dealing as all that stood by admired at his patience The King hereupon seemed to be so much moved that he uttered these words The hurt my Admiral is done to thee but the dishonour to me and swearing a great Oath saies The K. by a deep oath protests to revenge the Admiralls Hurt I swear I will so sharply and severely revenge both this hurt and dishonour that justice shall have no cause to complain nor the World left without example of my integrity to your deserts And so made many Oaths and Protestations of the Resolutions to punish the Offender as also of his great care he had to preserve the Protestants and the Admirals life against all his Enemies but oh these pretences of friendship will at last prove a smiling harlot that whilest she kisses is like Judas to betray The King further demanded of the Admiral how he did approve of the Judges who had Commission by his appointment to examine the business who answered that he could not dislike of his Majesties care and choise yet humbly intreated his Majesty to let it stand with his good pleasure that Cavagnes might be in Council with them but the wrong he told his Majestie he had committed to God yet desired his Majestie would give order for a strict search and narrow scrutinie into the fact which the King again with his usual Protestations vowed to do and to revenge his wrong as much as his own The K. and Admiral being alone the Admiral declares much faithfulness to the King The Queen Mother and her two Sons withdrew and left the Admiral and King alone the Admiral began to advise the King to remember that he had often told his Majesty of the danger that hovered over his head by some persons neer to him and although he was the mark was shot at yet there was no less hanging over his Majesties head and that long ago there was treason plotted against his Life which his Majesty might please to take notice of as friendly advice and to beware betimes And further declared that now God was pleased to give large symptoms of the decay of his earthly tabernacle and he doubted that his good name would be hoysted up to the pinacle of envious slander by his Enemies and that he often told his Majestie the real Authors of all the late distractions of the Civil War faithfully opening the causes thereof and that he took God to be his witness of his faithful and cordial heart to the King and Kingdome and he never yet knew what was in this world dearer than his Countrey and publick safety all which Discourse the Admirall before his death declared to be spoken betwixt him and his Majesty The King desires the Admiral to lodge in the Loure for his security but was indeed in policy to secure his life and level it to his bloody will To all which the King after such answer as he thought fit with a high voice desired the Admiral to take protection in his own Castle of the Loure wherein his security should be equally envell oped with his own and this he wished might be embraced for fear some sudden commotion might happen from the rabble of that mad and tumultuous people which was a speech preparatory for the plot and yet so much were these poor Protestants blinded in their strange belief of the Kings protestations and not suspecting what followed that they never understood the treacherous intent of these prepared Pills of Hellish Dissimulation The Admiral refused his gilded pretexts of love and care for his ruin A great token of of treason The Admiral most heartily thanked his Majesty and excusing his non-acceptance at present till advice had with his Physicians which when he received it was by them all concluded to be not safe in regard the least motion would increase his pain and so it was resolved not to stir The Count de Retz turned to some of the Admirals Friends in the Chamber saying it were to be wished the Admiral would follow the Kings loving invitation to lodge in the Loure for it was to be feared that some sudden tumult might arise that the King might not be able to appease which was no sooner spoken but it deeply penetrated the Admiral and all his Friends and though they had no proof of reason to fear yet the Admiral desired the King to grant him the favor of a Guard The King grants the Admiral a Guard and flatters damnably To which the King lovingly answered He should
their Ruin The Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother commanded Cossin Captain of the Kings Guard to place a band of Souldiers to watch before the Admirals Gate giving strict charge that no Catholicks should enter Now none could be pitched on as the grand Enemy to the Admiral and Protestants and friend to the Guisans than was this Cossin as we shall see by the following narrative The Admirals friends that lay scattered up and down the City were desired under pretence of care and affection to remove their lodging into the same street with the Admiral that they might be sure not to escape Oh! Monstrous and Hellish Plot covered with the Kings care Now the Duke of Anjou as an inheriter of his Brothers Dissimulation strives also to colour his damnable Plot and Treason in the lovingest and highest demonstrations and and care of the Admiral and Protestants and therefore advises that the Admirals friends that now lodged so far distant from his person as the Fauxburgh might have liberty to have their lodgings neerer to him for saies he they being so far assunder they might on any uproar be hurt and no means to prevent it which being neerer one another they might join force to affection and better afford one another their joint aid And so presently commanded the lodgings in that street to be provided Now this was a bait that took off all suspition for alas who could suspect or imagine this to be out of any treacherous intent but rather of care and respect but Oh sad and hellish plot under the vizard of friendship these poor Noblemen Gentlemen and brave Commanders that might have escaped from the calamity are intangled and allured into a narrow street as into a fold or narrow path of destruction no way to escape the fury of their Enemies rage and cruelty All the names of the Protestants and place of abode is taken into a Catalogue against the day of their calamity The next day the Duke of Anjou and Duke of Guise commanded the Undermasters of the streets vulgarly termed Quartermen to take a view of all the Inns and victual-houses from one house to another and to take all the names of the Protestants and so to bring in an Account of their names and places of abode in writing and to deliver them to the Duke of Anjou and Duke of Guise so that presently after the Protestants begun to discover some bloody intentions through the prospect of these preparations Now the King had by this time set a Guard of fifty Harquebuzeirs at the Gate of the Admirals Lodging and great store of Arms were carried into the Loure and about the evening all the people of the City were in arms The Protestants meet advice given to remove from Paris but they still resolve to depend on the K. vows promises Hereupon the chief Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Protestants assemble together again in the Admirals lodging where amongst the rest was the Vidame of Charteres who as before so now advised speedily to try if by any means the Admiral might be forthwith carried out of Paris and that presently the rest should dislodge yet all refused this Counsel resolving to rely on the word of a King sealed with so many Vowes Covenants and Solemn protestations in the presence of God and to the clear witness of all Princes and States The K. and Q. meet and consult of their bloody cutting off the Protestants in a merciless cruelty and devillish massacre In the afternoon the King and Queen Mother walk forth into a Garden named Tegliers accompanied with the Duke of Anjou Gonzague Tavignes and Count de Retz which garden being remote from Resort was thought the fittest place for secrecie and a silent place for privacy and very well fitted for the present conclusion of their last and bloody consultation Here in this bloody Council it was considered of and spoken That the Princes Admiral with the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Religion were now securely entangled in the Fetters of their own confidence which was so well wedged into their minds as prisons could prove no better instruments to ripen their desires the Admiral he was lying bedsick and could not stir by reason of his wounds the Prince of Conde was fast in the Castle of Loure the City Gates kept shut all night and watched all day those Gentlemen that lodged in the Suburbs were now lodged in the same street with the Admiral and all within the Gates of Paris the rest of the principal Protestants in other Towns were all unarmed and unprepared besides there was not ten Protestants to a thousand Catholicks that the Parisians were in arms and able to make sixty thousand fighting men and that in one hour all might be slain and if these were destroyed they would never make head again in the Kingdom but on the contrary if the Admiral recover such an opportunity would never offer therefore saies the Queen Mother this season must not be lost but taking time by the Foretop all our desires will now come to a period in a success proportionable to all our wishes if we let slip time it withers like a neglected rose on a stalk with a languished head if we shake hands with this golden opportunity our designs will grow under the Sunshine of our desires Thus they lie perdue under the shelter of an unmercifull and bloody Balcony all being resolved to be so swift in execution of the Kings pleasure that no time shall be delayed between his commands and the execution but the moment of performance for now they resolve to take journey from contemplation to action they have learned the Theory of Treachery perjury and cruelty now they come to the practical part of this sad Tragedy But this being a gross and downright murtherous way and no handsome Apology provided to cast over the eyes of peoples understandings it was thought fit to frame some smooth pretext They study a smooth pretext for their bloody cruelty to cosen the vulgar conceptions and honest interpretations But oh who can hide the greatest secrets from Gods searching eye to take off the force and dint of vulgar reports and so to divert the natural current of this tragedy into the illegitimate name of convenient necessity whereupon they order that the common vogue of the peoples tongues should be tipt with this specious pretence that the Duke of Guise and Admirals enmity was the cause of this Massacre They resolve to spare the K. of Navar and Prince of Conde if they will turn Papists Now in this bloody Assembly it was moved whether the King of Navar and Prince of Conde should be destroyed in this Massacre or whether saved the King of Navar in regard of his affinity was concluded to be saved but for the Prince of Conde it was doubtfully carred they considered first whether for his age it were best to spare him or secondly whether to put him to death in revenge of
comand this is the K. comand Presently the Duke of Guise and his ignoble Train of Nobles goes out of the Court crying Armour Armour we have had good success and a happy beginning let us now proceed to the rest for it is the Kings Commandment which words he repeated often This is the Kings command This is his commandment this is his Will this is his express Pleasure The Alarm bell rings to a general Massacre Then was caused to ring the bloody token for a General Alarum being the great Bell of the Palace and instantly it was bruted and published as the cause of this Murther That the Protestants had conspired against the King Queen and Court and were about to put this design into practice being armed to that purpose The Admirals body cruelly abused his head cut off and sont to the Pope by the King Then a certain Italian of Gonzagues band cut off the Admirals head which was sent to the King and Queen Mother and by them preserved with spices and so sent to the Pope and Cardinal of Lorrain at Rome as a rich Present Others cut off his hands others his secret parts then the common rascally rable for three daies together dragged his dead body which was mangled and besmered with blood and filth through the streets and afterwards drew it out of Town to the common Gallows and so with a rope left his body hanging by the feet at Montfaucon These cruelties were the badges of the Kings commands and these bloody Hell-hounds wore their Masters Livery All they find in the Admirals lodging are basely murthered among whom 2 children of honourable birth Now the Nobles and their cruel Murtherers brake into the rest of the Admirals chambers and those they found in their beds or hidden in any corners they mangled with many bloody-wounds and so cruelly destroyed them amongst which number thus slain was two young innocent babes Pages of an honourable birth and extract which indeed seemed to all that heard it to be too great an act of cruelty but what was bad enough to be done was their best deeds whereby they hoped with the help of the Popes Bulls to prove not only pardonable but also meritorious Count Rochfoucault a brave and noble Commander basely slain and extreamly pittied There was basely murthered the Count Rochfoucault which for his great wisdom pleasant wit and exeeding valour was highly esteemed of by King Henry and for the same cause this King shewed the like favour This brave Commander Statesman and Nobleman de Naunce was commanded to kill but for the true worth he knew was lodged in the heart of this brave Worthy and for the old acquaintance he had with him he utterly abominated it in an absolute refusal but one Laberge an Avernois and Limb of Hell one that was willing to sell his Soul for a little profit one that would receive a reward though it were from the Devils hands one that would enter upon any bloody service though his pay was damnation Deut. 27.25 Cursed is he that taketh are-ward to slay an innocent person and all the people shall say Amen The Admirals Son a noble and valiant Gentleman basely slain his brave speech This bloody unworthy fellow offered himself to the King to murther this brave nobleman if his Majesty would grant him the Count's Captainship of Horse and thus was this gallant Count basely murthered by men not to be spoken of for men when the Count will be remembred and named with respect in the Court of honour At the same time also and in the same place the Admirals Son Teligny was slain he was a young Gentleman of great accomplishments both of wit and valor insomuch that the King by his respects and affections shewed to him did do homage to his great deserts even to exalting him to the highest strain of Adulation this gallant young Gentleman I say being designed to such a cowardly death and base murther cryed out That now he saw it was even grievous for him to live in that he was the cause of his Fathers confidence of the Kings Love in that he had often commended the Kings faithfulness to him and so this brave Gentleman refused not this death offered him yielding his life as a sacrifice to their wrath and cruelty and thus was this poor Gentleman miserably butchered His Lieutenant shews great valor and fights stoutly but is murthered But his Lieutenant a resolute and brave young Gentleman having the advantage of his arms lengthened out his life in a stiff and stout resistance shewing that he would do what he could not who like a valiant Souldier wrapping his cloak about his arm he fought for his life to the feeling and applause of his bloody and merciless enemies but at last overpowred with number and strength was as unworthily slain as highly applauded Many brave Noblemen Gentlemen basely bloodily and inhumanly murthered in their chambers and streets At this time also was murthered Collonel Montaumar and Rouray Son to the Baron Des Adretts with all the rest of the Gentlemen that had relation to the Admiral amongst whom were many flourishing young Noblemen and Gentlemen all being basely and cruelly murthered and butchered in the prime of their youth and so cut off from all future hopes of high attempts who as they were the cream of the Protestnt Gallantry so were they the But of their Enemies cruelty And thus fell these Noble Gentlemen that at all times carried so much intrinsick worth as purchased immortal praise After this Cossins Souldiers with the Noblemens bands The Soldiers encoraged to blood by having the plunder free for their reward Men Women and children murthered children taken out of the womb alive and murthered the street strewed with dead bodys went ransacking from House to house tearing all away that was worth carriage and in such a manner as is commonly done at taking a Town by storm and so many grew rich by others poverty For the Duke of Guise Duke of Montpenscir the Cavalleir King Henry's bastard Gonzague Tavignes and other Principal Lords encouraged the Soldiers to proceed to blood with promise of all the booty free for their pains still crying out This is the Kings commandment So all the day from Morning to evening the skum of the City the gleanings of all villains did run up and down with their bloody Swords raging and glorying in their bloody Massacres unheard of murthers for they spared not the aged nor the women with child nor the poor innocent babes some whereof being taken alive out of their Mothers wombs without pitty they cruelly and presently destroyed and in a Triumphant joy they threw the slain bodies out of the Windows insomuch that there was scarce a lane that was not strewed with the dead bodies of the poor Protestants Nothing to be heard but the doleful crys and groans of the dying and terrible noise of the murtherers And as the City felt
dangers and difficulties got to the Sea side and so escaped over to England bringing sad news in their dejected countenances for the loss of their dear and pretious Friends who were also as kindly welcomed by our good Queen Elizabeth as safely escaped from the cruelty of their treacherous and perjured King Whilst these bloody and unheard of crueltys were committed in Paris A bloody plot against Rochel but prevented Strozzi the Kings Admirals lay hovering at Rochel endeavouring to surprize it under pretence of a Banquet to be made for his Friends of the Castle of La Cheine but being discovered he retreated without the effects of his desire or performance of the Kings command The Protestants murthered at La Charite The murthers at Paris is renewed next day But the poor Protestants of La Charite as aforesaid was entraped by the Italian horse and were now put to the Sword But to return to the bloody City of Paris the next day the slaughter was renewed for all that was found hidden in corners or private places of the City were all sought out brought forth and murthered insomuch that the day before and this day were massacred in Paris above ten thousand Protestants of all degrees and sexes the very common Labourers Porters and the most rascally and desperate villains of the City did this day abuse the dead bodies by pulling off their cloaths and throwing them naked into the River of Sein The places of preferment which now lay empty by reason of this horrid massacre were now by the King given to whom he pleased The Admirals office he gave to the Marquess de Villars c. And so like a true Tyrant leaves nothing his poor Subjects can call their own but their miseries In this butcherly Massacre at Paris were sacked above four thousand houses and above five hundred Barons Knights and Gentlemen who had held the chiefest imployments in the War with many noble and gallant yong Ladies and Gentlewomen that had now purposly met together from all parts to rejoice in honour of the King of Navars mariage with the L. Margaret who poor Noblemen Gentlemen Ladies thought of nothing more then of jollity and pleasures but now suffer the Tyrannical rage of a furious King and bloody death to be pittied by all that shall hear this sad story for poor Ladies they expected no such tragical welcome from a Royal King contrary to his Oaths and their spotless innocency and it must needs stick as the greatest badge of inhumanity and cowardice nay a true character of a bad cause To murther like Devils not fight like men Immediately after these unheard of murthers were acted in Paris the King not yet glutted with blood sends Messengers by post to all parts of the Kingdom often shifting horses for more speed with express command to all other Cities to follow the example of Paris commanding all Protestants which were amongst them to be slain and yet at the same time the same King writes other Letters wherein he laid the fault of the Murthers upon the Admiral and the Duke of Guise Now this command of the King to cut off all the Protestants in all Towns and Cities under his command it cannot he expressed how chearfully willingly and readily they were obeyed by the greatest part of the Cities in France for on the receipt of his Majesty Letters they fell on the Protestants at Meaux Troys Orleans and other parts murthering them without all pitty And now let us a little read with melting hearts the sad affliction of Gods Church let us bring the sad ruins of a good cause to our neer view by a spiritual improvement as a prospect draws the object nearer for we must now relate the sad catastrophe of many thousands of poor Christians who fell under the cruel and bloody command of the King to all his Magistrates which indeed is not to be expressed what sad cruelties were committed to the wonderful astonishment of all that hears or reads it for no sooner does the King let loose his cruel commands but speedily the bloody Papists break out with horrid Massacres more like Devils than men For now in Paris the Prisons that had any Protestants by which reason they escaped for a time were now brought forth and basely slain by the multitude of murtherers in which were three gallant Gentlemen of great reputation viz. Captain Monius a very valourous and stout Gentleman next Lomen Secretary to the King and greatly honored and esteemed for his faithful service in his place and lastly Chappes an antient Lawyer of fourscore years And was also of great renown and fame in the Court of Paris all three were basely murthered as cannot be expressed Amongst the rest must be set forth that unparallel'd bloody and treacherous death of Monsieur de la Place President of the Court of Wards which must I say for the strangness of the murther begg leave to have place in this history Their comes a Captain armed to the Gentlemans house and acquaints him that the D. of Guise had slain the Admiral by the Kings commandment and also many other Protestants but out of his deserts he desired to protect him from their fury with all desiring to see his Gold which he might as well bestow on him for saving him as on others for destroying him the Lord de la Place admires at the Captains audatious and petulant demeanour and so confidently required of him whether he thought there were a King or no the Captain blaspheming desired him to go to the K. to know his pleasure the Lord De la Place thinking danger too near absented from him to a place of better secutity the Captain hereupon plunders his house This poor Gentleman seeking shelter in three houses for his life was refused and so at last was forced to return to his own house again where finding his wife very pensive and sad he rebuked and exhorted her not to be so full of dispondency of spirit for death was the utmost and heaven the crown of their afflictions and sufferings and so spoke fully and sweetly of the promises of God which jointly knit their hearts together in comfort and so calling together his Family he sweetly exhorted them expounding out of a chapter to them then went again to prayer and so resolved with the assistance of Christ to suffer all Torments of death rather than dishonour God in the least drawing back presently after comes the Provost Marshal to his house with many Archers with a pretence to secure him and conduct him to the King who answered that he freely desired to continue his obedience to the King but could not see how to escape the fury of the present danger by continual massacres Presently after comes the Provost des Marchands with order to bring him to the King but he excused it as before but he would not have any delay or excuse so that this Noble Lord resolves to meet death by a Christian preparation and
so embracing his wife he desires her never to forsake the true faith but to continue steadfast in the fear of God and so willingly and Christianly advanced like a true martyr of Christ and indeed it fell out so as this Godly soul expected for in the way the murtherers waited with open mouth and bloody hearts with their daggers that he did no sooner approach but they stabbed him that he fell down dead they pillaged him cast his body into a Stable covering his face over with dung and so the next day threw his body into the River And thus died this blessed Servant of Christ in the heigth of their cruelty and his Spirit full of Christian magnanimity Amongst these many murthers in Paris was Peter Ramus slain a man famous for learning being the Kings Professour in Logick the bloody Murtherers breaking into the College of Priests they basely massacred him then cast him out of the chamber window that his bowels with the fall issued out on the ground to a sad view of all tender hearted Spectators then was his body dragged through the streets and by certain yong Schollars whipped being commanded to do it by their Popish Tutors On the Lords day a Godly young man walking abroad in the morning and hearing that the Admiral and the rest were destroyed and seeing little hopes of life he presently returned home and with a Son-like care to his loving Mother told her of the danger and so speedily secured her in a place of great secrecie and so shut himself up in his study and powring out his Soul before the Lord in prayer and preparation for strength to suffer for his name presently the Murtherers ascend and with Battleaxes and other bloody Instruments brake into his study and so knockt him down this poor Soul receiving the blood in his own hands his body they threw into the River Thus dyed this young man and old Christian and may stand as a pattern for our Imitation Two Ministers belonging to the King of Navar were also murthered and thrown into the River but all the rest of the Ministers of Gods word were by a singular and special hand of Gods Providence preserved and kept from the rage of these bloody Tygars There was in this City a Gentleman whom the Murtherers found a bed with his Wife who was then nigh her time of delivery they no sooner knock but poor Gentlewoman she opens the door to these bloud-hounds they presently stab her husband in his bed now the Midwife seeing them bent on blood earnestly intreated them to spare her at least till the Child was born this being the twentieth child that God had given her but their bloody minds admitted of no mercy but presently trust a dagger up to the Hilt into her fundament this poor soul feeling her self mortally wounded fled into a Corn loft to see if God would please to bring the fruit of her womb to a birth but these villains persued her and stabbed her in the belly whereof she presently dyed then they threw her body out of the window into the Streets which fall forced the child out of her body with the head formost gaping and yawning for life in a sad doleful and lamentable manner and so it died One of these villains snatching up a Little child in his arms the child began to play with his beard but instead of compassion this base murtherer had such a flinty heart that he wounded it with his dagger and so cast it in a goar blood into the River But this bloody Massacre at Lyons cannot be paralleled by any age the bare narrative will cloy and Reader at first view Oxen and sheep could not be destroyed with less pitty and more cruelty than those poor Protestants of all sexes and degrees from the Cradle to the Bed-rid Indeed it s the most astonishing and horrible murther that ever Christian heard or read of For No sooner arrived the Kings commandment to Mandelot Governour of Lyons certifying of the Massacre at Paris and commanding to destroy all the Protestants but Mandelot ordered the Gates of the City to be shut declaring it to be death for any Protestant to come out of his house and then by a cryer and afterwards by sound of Trumpet he proclaimed that all the Protestants should speedily repair before him they quickly obey and come he then sends them to Prison they poor souls submit and so followed the officers that was appointed to lead them but by reason of the great multitude of them they are dispersed into several prisons Mandelot the bloody Governour Commanded the common Executioner to take aid to him and destroy them all but he having his conscience smit with pitty replyed He was an Executioner of the Law but not to put to death without law he put to death all such as the world was witness to their publick condemnation and so desired Mandelot to seek some that might better dispence with a bloody conscience This cruel Governour having his desire frustrate by an honest refusal commands the Souldiers that were garrisoned in the Castle to murther them they reply it consisted not with their honour to destroy men in cold blood and too cowardly to cut the throats of those that had not wherewith to defend being a thing too far off from valour or the part of a true Souldier to destroy men at mercy lying supplyant before them nor saw they any cause why death should be inflicted upon poor innocent souls Dear Lord what Protestant heart can contain to read this sad and lamentable murther without thought of revenge who has a spark of Christianity that can read and not wish himself able to revenge their cause only God is the Avenger of the cause of the innocent and doubtless God has a Scourge for this Nation The Governour being refused by a conscientious Hangman and honourable Souldiers more fit for Alexander and Caesar than this bloody and cruel Tyrant he I say rather than let the command of a King ly dead gathers together the scum of wicked men and spawn of the Devil the legitimate of-spring of a Hellish brood the Watermen and bloody Butchers who being let into prison with their bloody Knives and instruments oh unmerciful wretches such as they find prostrate at their feet holding forth their petitions in their sad requests in a bleating Oratory crying to Gods mercy and mans pitty These Butchers of innocent souls instead of pitty for sport cut of their fingers and tops of their noses and then fell a murthering throughout the City was such doleful noise of the dying and lamentable howling of women and children that all those that were zealous in the Romish Religion abhorred their cruelties and had their hearts so peirced with the sad groans of the dying that they thought they were devils that onely had human shape or that they were Indian Tygars or wild beasts only had assumed the shape of men nay many women of the Popish Religion that were with child
off the edge of suspition hapning in a manner saies he by chance and not by any plotted contrivance This Speech of the Kings was by himself and the Parliament commanded to be written and entered into the Records of Parliament proclaimed by Heraulds and published in print a Book also was published by the Kings commandment which because it is within four daies of the same date of that Letter wherein he laies the blame of the Admirals death c. on the Duke of Guise and here takes it to himself therefore I say I thought fit to insert that printed Book by way of Declaration which is as followeth A Declaration of the King concerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his Adherents and Complices hapned in the City of Paris August 24. 1572. By the King HIs Majesty desiring to have all Seigniours Gentlemen and other Subjects understand the cause of the Murther of the Admiral and his Adherents and Complices which lately happened in the City of Paris the four and twentieth day of this present month of August lest the said deed should be otherwise disguised and reported than it was indeed His Majesty therefore declareth that which was done was by his express commandment and for no cause of Religion nor breaking his Edicts of Pacification which he alwaies intended and still mindeth and intendeth to observe and keep yea it was rather done to withstand and prevent a most detestable and cursed conspiracy begun by the said Admiral the chief Captain thereof and his said Adherents and Complices against the Kings person his Estate the Q. his Mother and the Princes his Brethren the King of Navar and other Lords about him wherefore his Majesty by this Declaration and Ordinance giveth to understand to all Gentlemen and others of the Religion which they pretend Reformed that he mindeth and purposeth that they live under his Protection with their wives and children in their houses in as much safeguard as they did before following the benefit of the former Edicts of Pacification most expresly commanding and ordaining that all Governours and Lieutenants General in every of his Countreys and Provinces and other Justices and Officers to whom it appertaineth do not attempt nor suffer to be attempted any thing in what sort soever upon the persons and goods of them of the Religion their wives children and families on pain of death to be inflicted on those that shall be found faulty and culpable in this behalf And nevertheless to withstand the troubles slanders suspitions and defiances that may come by Sermons and Assemblies as well in the houses of the said Gentlemen as in other places as it is suffered by the said Edicts of Pacification it is expresly forbidden and inhibited by his Majesty to all Gentlemen and others of the said Religion to have no assemblies for any cause at all till his Majesty hath provided and appointed otherwise for the Tranquillity of his Realm upon pain of disobedience and confiscation of body and goods It is also expresly forbidden under the pain aforesaid that for the aforesaid accasions none shall take or retain any Prisoners or take ransome of them and that incontinently they certifie the Governours of every Province and the Lieutenant General of the name and quality of every such Prisoner whom his Majesty hath appointed shall be released and set at liberty except they be of the late Conspiracy or such as have made some practice or device for them or had intelligence of and they shall advertise his Majesty of such ro know his further pleasure It is also ordained that from henceforth none shall take or arrest any Prisoner for that cause without his Majesties commandment or his Officers nor that none be suffered to roave abroad in the Fields to take up Dogs Cattel Beefs Kine or other Beasts Goods Fruits Grain or any thing else nor to hurt the Labourers by word or deed but to let them alone about their work or calling in peace and safety At Paris August 28. 1572. signed Charls and underneath Fizes Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Dalleir Stationer dwelling on Saints Michaels Bridge at the sign of the White Rose by the Kings Licence There was Letters also writ by the King to the Officers of Burghs also remembrances sent to the General Lieutenant of Burgundy which being to the same purpose is omitted for brevity The Kings Oration in the great Assembly aforesaid being ended before this Assembly broke up one Christopher Thuane the President of this Assembly in Parliament being one of a high Spirit and subject to admire his own parts and actions ready to wonder what a fool he could make of Solomon being a man reported to be notable for his light brain and cruel heart who trusting more to a slipery tongue than a sound cause congratulated the King for his wise Policy and good success in a speedy conquest over his Enemies But alas how did he conquer Only by wearing the vest of the Innocent to conceal and cover the deformed ugliness of his perfidious perjury But the Advocate of the Finanees succinctly delivered his mind to this purpose That though his Majesty had just cause to punish Delinquents yet it were more becoming the justice of a Prince to proceed according to the Lawes by himself decreed and established and so more fit for his Majesty to command a speedy cessation of such violent slaughters and to enter upon a judicial proceeding according to the Laws which was well known to be the proper and peaceable establishment of Empires and Kingdoms This advice takes well for now the King begins to do unjustly in the name of Justice so he proceeds to dissemble a Legality for all his future Butcheries unwilling to murther any more without a statute and pretence of Justice for it This being a brave principle of a Tyrant and that whereas the Laws at first were known to be the legitimate daughter of judgement it must now be made the adopted daughter of Tyranny Now is an arrest of Parliament with his Royall assent so that immediately Heraulds went about the City and an Edict was proclaimed in the Kings name That all murthers should cease but those that he intended more immediately to have a hand in himself by sitting in judgement and quallifying his cruelty and bloodshed with the name of Justice And first let us see a little of this new Justice of the Kings which now must be exercised on the dead Admiral which being as aforesaid hung by the heels on the common gallows of Paris the people by flocks and multitudes gathered to see it The Queen Mother to delight her self with that sad vâ—ew of her Sons and her own bloody cruelty she takes the King and his Brethren and so advances towards this sad sight but his body was in the night conveyed away by two of the Marshall de Momorancies Servants and was secretly buried at Chantilly whose faithfulness and adventure is beyond a terrene Reward And now the King begins
might suit with them so at last these eminent and brave Cammanders and Gentlemen were by a shadow of Law and illegal Legality condemned to dy and so the 22. of October 1572. in the fight of the King Queen Mother her Sons with many thousand gazing on them they were led to the gallows seated in the prime street of the City but before execution as Briquemault ascended the Ladder came to him the under Provost of the Town whom the King had commanded to insinuate into him and to profer pardon for life if he would confess what was laid to his charge saying further that his Majesty being of an easie nature and courteous affability would as speedily grant pardon as he ask it but he like one truer to his own soul then the K. to his promise replyed That it was the K. duty to ask pardon of God if the day of Gods mercy had not past upon his cruelty and perjury and so was far from asking forgiveness for that whereof God and his soul were witnesses of his innocency yet to prove himself as good a Christian as the King a ernel Tyrant he cordially desired God of his great mercy to forgive the King And so lifting up his eyes to heaven he uttered these Words Oh my God upon whose Tribunal seat I stand and whose face I hope shortly to see thou knowest well that I know nothing nor did not so much as once think of any Conspiracy against the King nor against his Estate though I stand charged with the same in my process but I beseech God to pardon the King and all those that have been the cause of this my unjust death even as I desire pardon at thy hands for my sins and offences committed against thy Divine Majesty so ascending another step of the Ladder he onely said I have somwhat to utter to the King which I would be glad to communicate unto him but saies he I see that I may not and so shrunk up his shouldiers forbearing to use any further speech so these two brave Gentlement were at last with halters about their necks most basely unjustly and dishonorably thrown off the Ladder by the Hangman whose deaths ere this are accounted for and as Briquemaults constancy was much commended so was his death much bewailed by many Catholicks that were spectators of this sad crueltie Two things was very ill spoken of by the Catholicks and Protestants first the presence of the King as a thing unworthy the Head of Justice to see the Execution Secondly That Briquemault being a Gentleman of Good descent was basely hanged being a thing rare in France but especially now in regard he was reputed of his Enemies to be free from the charge for which he died about an hour after this unheard-of Justice and execution the bloody Catholicks of Paris drew their bodies through the Streets thrust their dead bodies through with daggers shooting of dags at them cutting off their ears and omitted no other kind of cruelty and barbarous villany that could be imagined And thus the Noble Gantlemen by their Christian Moderation and composedness of mind reared Trophies of Honour out of the Ruins of their own misfortunes Et Miserias infularum loco habuere wore their disasters like holy vestments as robes of honour They let the world know they could not only do but suffer and that passive fortitude is as good as active valour Et facere pati fortia hoc Romanum est L. Flo. And now to perfect all they likewise with these two famous Gentlemen cause to be hanged a man of straw made for a shadow of the Admiral These barbarous cruelties strange Treacherie and unheard-of perjury in these bloody proceedings against the poor Protestants of France brought an odium and bred a Hatred from Stranger Princes but especially in Poland likewise did much frustrate the French Negotiations in behalf of the Duke of Anjou And Courteous Reader since the first beginning of publishing this sad Tragedy there came in the interim a book to my hand wherein is somwhat discoverd of this History but specially the resentment and judgement of Sir F. Walsing ham then Ambassador in France for Q. Eliz. of blessed memory as also some orher Letters the matter contained therein I have shortly collected for the publick good which though abstracted here yet may more at large be read in the Author In a Letter to Sir Tho. Smith page 245. And therefore I hope her Majesty will stand upon her Guard and strengthen her self with the Amity of the Protestant Princes of Germany who as I hear are awake and marvelously stomack this late cruelty and do think that the danger thereof will reach to themselvs if they do not seek to prevent it One Roulart a Catholick and Canon of Nostre Dame and also a Counsellour in the Parliament uttering certain Speeches in misliking this lawless kind of proceeding without Justice was apprehended and committed to Prison and in prison murthered as disorderly as any of the Rest wherewith divers of the Catholicks themselves were offended This manner of proceeding breedeth General distrust in them of the Nobility and every man feareth Gods vengeance Paris 16. Sept. 1572. F. Walsingham In a Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham page 246. The Ambassadour proceeded shewing also outwardly a marvellous inward grief of mind for this shameful fact professing himself ashamed to be accounted a French man Although indeed the same informations had been true yet the manner of the cruelty used cannot be allowed in any kingdom or Government and least in that place where the King might by order of Justice have done due execution both to the Admiral and all others that should have proved offenders for it cannot be denied that the same forces that murthered so many might have more easily attached them all or the principals and brought them to answer to Justice when the King would c. whose age and knowledge ought in such case to have foreseen how Offenders ought to be justified with the Sword of the Prince and not with the bloody Swords of Murtherers being also the mortal enemies of the party murthered c. And as for the Admiral she confesseth that she was very sorry for his death as for one whom she thought a good Minister to continue Amity betwixt their two Majesties and she had cause to bewall the rest of the Noblemen for the like cause c. Her Majesty did greatly lament their death and doth surely perswade her self that if the King shall not use his power to make some amends for so much blood so horribly shed God who seeth the hearts of all as well Princes as others will shew his Justice in time and place when his honour shall therin be glorified as the Author of all Justice and the Revenger of all blood-shedding of the innocents c. Woodstock Sept. 9. 1572. W. Burleigh F. Knowles Rob Leicester T. Smith James Croft In a Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham folio 250. SIR
deliver their Ambassy to an Oak-tree standing by One of the three Ambassadours spake to the Oak-Tree in these words Thou hallowed Oak and what ever else in this place belongs to the Gods hear and bear witness of this Disloyal perjury and breach of Covenant and favour our just complaints that we may at last by the help of the Gods be revenged on this perjured people So they returned home and presently raised an Army set on this perjured people and by the just Judgements of God utterly destroy them off the face of the earth To omit many other Examples of this Nature take but this one more King of Lacedemonia The King of Lacedemonia and the Argives being at War Cleomenes the Lacedemonian King made Truce for seven days and the third night following fell on them and made a great slaughter and with this excuse thought to evade the dint of the shame and Gods justice for sayes he It is true I made Truce for seven days but I did not mention nights Yet God followed this perjured King with these Judgements The Wives of the slain Argives arm under the command of Tolesilla their Captainess enter the City and puts to the Sword and flight the power and forces of the perjured King Cleomenes afterwards he was banished into Egypt where he miserably died a desperate death being his own Executioner Thus we see what heavy Judgements God has made and does execute upon all such as are contemners and breakers of this holy Edict and Law of God The Lord is to be feared and obeyed for in all his Judgements none greater threatned nor heavyer and surer falls on than on bloody and perjured men A thing abhorred and hated by Heathens before ever they were so far enlightened as to know the Law of God was above the Law of Nature for though they had but the light of Nature yet they held it a sin unpardonable and no Punishment accounted enough as they could invent There were some that recorded these cruelties and treacherys of the Kings and instanced the Law of the twelve Tables Si patronus clienti fraudem facit sacer esto if the Sovereign cheat his Subjects let them be out of safety or Protection He that in antient time despised the keeping of Oaths was no more to be called a King The Right hand was called a Pledge of Faith The Throne is established by Justice and it is an Abomination for Kings to do wickedness The Throne is upheld by mercy saies Solomon But this King by his Treachery Perjury and Cruelty degraded himself of his peoples affections for he valued not the lives of many thousand so his bloody cruelty could be satisfyed Scipio accounted it an honourable thing to save one Citizen rather than to kill a thousand Enemies There was no power and authority so great as the Dictators at Rome it was such an Assembly which met together as had the power of War and Peace nay they had the command of life and death at their will and that without any Appeal and yet it was not lawful for them to execute a Citizen unless his cause was publickly and justly heard and he legally committed and condemned But indeed it is the manner of Murtherers to bereave of life without Law or cause of death Nay had this horrid Massaere been a bare down-right murther it had been the less but it was covered with fraud and deceit The King and Court must personate a Religious habit and pretence of a Religious vow making Gods holy Ordinance stoop to his deceitful and tteacherous intention The Duties of Kings and Powers of the World which is not inconsistent with prudent Policy and sound Christianity A King ought by his Christian demeanour to have a rich store-house and exchequer of Affection and allegiance in his peoples hearts and he who takes care therein to lay such provision of love as that it may be as a firm Rock as a strong foundation what is there then that he may not command which is in their power to perform then the arms of the peoples affections open and are spread to imbrace any command this is the way to have the key of their hearts and to open that treasury of respect which by the wise mannagement of his power received from them he hath ready laid up Loving Subjects are most uniting in a harmonious consent of obedience to all his Commands love to a Prince created by himself will make cowards valourous even to defend him from the shock of his Enemies assaults And it is seen with greatest lustre and to his best advantage in his Straights when he hath made all his Subjects on the least notice ready to be voluntiers in the greatest dangers and hottest attempts for the Honour of their own Prince But when Kings spend too much on the stock of his Peoples willing minds of Subjection and prodigally trade away that stock of Love treasured up in his people what does he but expose himself to all assaults of fury and cruelty without pitty as it has been the end of many Princes nay when love is abused and turned to hatred in what a tottering Throne does he sit But whatsoever the Theory of an absolute Monarchy be yet a Good King loves the practical part of Justice his Power being more safe in his Laws than his Will Though his power and his Command may claim a strong Authority to do as he pleases yet he will not make his Power arbitrary nor beyond the limit of equal justice to all Now for Oppression Tyranny Cruelty and perjury to be seated in the heart of a King and he in the heart of his Kingdome Oh! how it levells his peoples affections and stems the tide and current of their allegiance razes the very foundation of his own security and is the most compendious way to his own utter ruin It doth by a strange instinct raise tumults and vicissitudes that like a rapid Torrent of confusion falls upon his own head as the reward of his vicious merits What foundation can such a King have when it is builded on a Quagmire seated on the terrible aspect of the peoples hatred accrewing by his Treacherous Tyranny An ingenuous people can no more brook oppression than the River Danube can mix with the muddy streams of Sava But this King to establish his Throne of Cruelty and Tyranny Peaceable like betroaths his People and Himself in an indissoluble bond of Peace never to be broke on his part yet no sooner made before the view of heaven and in the sight and presence of God but he registers his falsehood cruelty and perjury in a suddain breach with the blood of his own Subjects taking the advantage of their punctual observance to disarm them and take their Towns which on the peace granted were delivered and so erects his bloody Engines of deceit upon the ruins of his own promise Now Christian Reader let us a little see the small probability that the Admiral should
attempt what they pretend which reasons for general satisfaction I shall gather together because it is declared by the King that it was for a Plot against him and the Court although it is clear that it was resolved on by the King Queen Mother and Cabinet Council to destroy the Admiral and his Friends which by the Kings Commandment is lamentably and wofully effected to the great dishonour of the King and the whole French Nation and cannot but ly as a blot to after ages and a time there must be to satisfy God and the World for it Now who can imagine that the Admiral should think with a few Gentlemen allowed for his Guard to attempt any thing against the King within Paris there being in the Court constant watch and at the entrance to the Castle a strong Guard of Scots Switzers and Gaseoins and was then more strictly kept in regard of the number of Lords Noble-men and Gentlemen met to solemnize the mariage of the King of Navar and the Lady Margaret and that it is well known that in three hours space may be ready at command sixty thousand men in arms Besides all these Reasons the young Noblemen and Gentlemen that came with the King of Navar and Prince of Conde had no other arms than their Swords and Innocency which latter in the greatest danger would defend them best And yet further to clear all doubts the Princes and Noblemen of the Protestants for a Pledge and Testimony for a Solemn Engagement of their innocency they brought with them their Wives Sisters Children and Kinswomen having no thoughts of any thing but Triumph and Recreation The Nobles and Gentlemen intending to shew their expert skill at the Tilt and Tourney Now if it be said it was after the Admirals Hurt that he studied to be revenged It is answered With what probability can any sober mind imagine or conceive that the Admiral lying wounded on both arms tyed up and hourly waiting when one Arm should be cut off by the Doctors advise that the Admiral I say being Guarded by the Kings own Guard should attempt with three hundred Gentlemen of his Guard to surprize the King c. being so sick as few daies was expected to pass over till God would call him to himself that any should think three hundred so resolute as to set upon a City wherein was sixty thousond in Armes by the first Alarum But doubtless had such a thing been known or suspected he would have been secured by Cossin and his men who had by the Kings commandment environed and beset him how soon might the sick Admiral been apprehended as well as murthered There was never any thing laid to his charge which could be proved by the least witness nor what they laid to his charge had the least mention of time place adherents means or witness so that if it had been proved or suspected the King should have proceeded according to Law and Justice which are well known to be the props and Pillars on which a Kingdoms happiness stands secure But suppose we that all these things had been really true and that the manner of the Admirals death and his Complices had been allowable by all nations yet let us consider a little and demand a reason of the insolent cruelty infamous barbarism and unheard-of bloodshed of those that were thought by themselves altogether innocent of any plot being antient Matrons many Noble young Ladies and Gentlewomen in the flour of their Age cut off so basely and barbarously a number of women great with child against the Law of nature were cast into Rivers before the time of their Delivery many aged persons also which lay sick in Bed Many Counsellours Advocates Proctors Physicians c. that consulted only with their books and the rest sequestered from the conference of any Counsel by the Sex and degrees Why was there also so many learned Teachers and Professors of the Arts and Sciences amongst whom was Peter Ramus that famous man for learning through out the world who stands in the memory of the truly learned as really as these bloody actours render France infamous How many young Students without hearing or pleading their cause were here destroyed by this sad Decree of the King and Council Lastly what Armour was found what weapons was found in any of the Protestants houses by which means suspition might grow to proof Or why was the Kings Letters sent to command the like murthers at Meaux Lyons Troys Tholouse and all over his Dominions such slaughters were committed till the very blood of Gods saints made the Rivers swell and streamed through the streets reaking hot that at least 40000. were slain by his bloody command Thus has this King and Court imbrewed their hands in the blood of so many thousand innocent souls even to the great expectation of some vengeance which in Gods due time must needs break out on that land to the third and fourth Generation if a General repentance do not expiate this deserved punishment Now Christian Reader to bring this Kings reign to a close I shall only abstract the most notable passages together which hapned after this sad Massacre CHAP. XI The Contents THe Protestants that escaped this sad Massacre fled to many Places Some set forth Books of this perjury and bloody cruelty Others flie to divers Towns and Cities and fortifie them Rochel strongly fortified Fourty seven Ministers fly to Rochel and escape The King and Court keep a day of Thanksgiving for this Victory The Rochelois refuse a Garrison sent by the King The French King lets the King of Spain know the War against him was in jeast as well as his Oaths and Promises The Counts Army routed and spoyled by Treachery Monsieur de la Nove turns to the Protestants The unparallel'd Siege of Sancerre yet yielded on honourable terms The unheard-of siege of Rochel Yet had honourable Conditions granted The Protestants fortifye and resolve to sell their Lives at a Dear Rate The King takes Villars and performs not Covenant The Protestants take in sundry Towns The King besieges Sommiers and with great loss leaves it and they besiege it again and take it on terms The King besieges Caussade and with great loss retires the Protestants are encouraged by their good Success They Protest against the Kings last Edict contrary to the Edict of Pacification Their Noble and gallant Declaration Their demands of the King and desire of Peace The King terrified with their Resolutions The King recovers of a desperate sickness A Parliament called and the Protestant Deputies resolve to meee them but no good done A new Plot discoverod Count Montgomery with his Fleet from England is besieged at St. Lo he escapes in person and is besieged at Danfront he yields on terms of life but the King breaks Engagement and basely beheaded him in Paris The Conclusion of this sad History The King dies wallowing and rowling himself in his own blood The Duke of Anjou succeeds to