frets he fumes he raues And of the King some speedie helpe in present danger craues The fate that files my fall ô King faith he is this Your Senate fauours truth too much your Iudges too remisse They are not sharpe inough to shred appearing ill They suffer impes of Luthers sect too much to haue their will The King not well content prouideth out of hand Some new assemblie to be had to haue this matter scand The Senate being set the Kings Attorney first Doth grauely shew vnto them al how that the K. doth thirst To haue them all agree in matters touching faith And to consent that Luthers brood should all be put to death For that some strife of late there was betweene them found Cōcerning this But to their shames this iarring would redoūd Because for Heretikes some first would haue them tride And some would haue them banished some would haue thē fride And therefore wisheth all with him to giue consent That death might end this strife which thing the king hath alwaie ment This was a subtill slight the godlie to betray That such as spake against the same their cōscience should bewray But yet amōg the rest some freely spake their minde That reason for so cruell act as yet they could not finde The King would haue saie they but Heretikes to die And what are they but such as dare the Scriptures to denie If anie such be found let them be wroong to death Because the word is all our staie and Author of our faith But if for Heretikes the godlie should be slaine God would reuenge their blood and we by this should reap no gain And those which you do think the truth do now denie Their reasons deeds faith we see wherein they stoutlie die Therefore if from the Lord this counsell doo proceede To striue against the same it were a vaine and sinfull deede Thus did the better sort their godlie thoughts bewraie Which being crost with coūter cranks was cause of their decaie For Satan fearing least their sentence would preuaile Sent two in post vnto the King these dealings to reueale The limbes of Pluto which this bloodie message went Egidius and Minardus were fit hounds for such a sent Who comming to the King most falselie did declare That in the Senate such were found which stoutly now did Religion to deride and speeches let to fall dare That for his Lawes and Edictes past they made no count at al. Now therefore is the time your Grace must looke about That springing showes of future ill your wisedome may roote out For if you should permit these rebels thus to thriue Great perill is least of your crowne your Grace they would depriue The King inflamed thus doth make no long delaie But to the Senate where they sate he takes his readie waie Where placed in his throne and hauing pausde a while Thus spake in presence of them all in high and princelie stile THe Lord that lendeth all and weeldes the golden spheare Hath sent vs now a wished peace deuoid of forreine feare Which peace is aye confirmde by bande of solemne vowe And plighted faith of solemn match which none can disalow Yet one thing there remaines to perfect this my State That in Religion one consent might banish all debate Which is the onelie cause that moues my pensiue heart In this your meeting for to ioyne and beare a carefull part This is therefore in few our craue and eke request That euerie man doo shew his minde as he shall thinke it best Here some that had before in words been verie rife Began to staie and doubted much the danger of their life Yet there were some which now a noble courage take Annas Burgeus as the chiefe this doubtfull silence brake Who lifting vp his hands in heart began to praie With thankes to God that he did liue to see that happie daie Wherein the Lord had wrought such care within his grace That he would bēd his willing eare to iudge so weightie case The cause saith he is Christs which we haue now in hand For which the Lord wil surely blesse both you eke your lād This is the blessed Arke that came to Edomes hall For which the Lord hath blessing sent on him his house al. This is the dustie booke which good Hilkiah found Which read before the King did giue a sweet siluer sound This is the Angel which to Gedeon did appeare This is the deaw vpon the fleece which set him void of feare This is the sword that made blinde Balaams Asse to speake This is the flame the Prophet forst his silence for to breake This is the liuelie spring which cooles the thirstie heate This is the shining lanterne which giues light vnto our feete This is the flame that earst by night did shew the way This is the blessed cloud that led Gods chosen in the day This is Elgathes flake that made his offering fume And this the blast which frō the Lord great rebels did cōsume This is the mightie voyce that makes the mountaines shake This makes the Liban cedars stoop fearful hindes to quake And this the pleasant wine to weake that comfort giues And this the wholsom milk wherby the sucking Infant liues Now as the Lord doth blesse the land that loues the same So for contemners of his truth he still prouides a shame For why came Ashur vp Gods chosen to molest And led the King with Commons all in Babel for to rest But for because they all their God did often grieue Which hated truth were content their faith to idols giue And if he doo not spare a King ô King take heed If people all to thraldome goe this land ô Lord had neede To weigh the cursed cause of this their finall fall Least for the like the like consume our King and Cōmons all Now is the Angell come with open booke in hand Which long ere this was sealed close from vs eke our land Now must the godlie craue of this to eate their fill So God with plentie will not faile to loue and feed them still Now see this Angel which to vs doth offer grace Is Iesus Christ which by his death our sins doth quite deface If we by liuelie faith of him can take good hold Then voide of feare before the Lord to come we may be bold It's he that shewes the way the truth to intertaine It's he that cleares the blinded eyes it's he that parteth plaine The truth from popish lies the sonne from mystie shades It's he that cals our straying steppes from Sathans sinfull trades O well is he that can this booke this truth imbrace O ill is he that shall refuse when Christ doth offer grace And though this booke at first be sweete vnto our tast Yet Sathans rages makes the
infants for to kill These godlie men saie they that seeme to shine so cleere Now vnder show of godlie life most filthie doo appeere The Monkes as Legates leaud of Plutoes bloodie minde Do sweate some to blaze abroad this stinking hellish wind As men that were most fit to spread this lying same Which in their liues as dooth appeare do dailie vse the same But they in open place these matters so dilate That in the mindes of blinded fooles they raise a deadlie hate Against these seelie soules which neuer meant this ill That eke the common sort did long these godlie men to kill And not the common sort are now deceiud alone But this assailes the Noble men and strikes the Princes throne Which lie no sooner came before the Princes face But stood in hope by Sathans meanes to finde assured grace Whose minde by light beleefe in furie so was bent That to destroy these hurtles men he plants his whoâ—â— intent So now he giues in charge to haue their dealings triâ—â— And chosen men he did appoint the same for to decide These men in office put no time could idle spend But hard against these seely sheepe their woluish wits do bend This poore afflicted flocke that now in prison laie In godlie ioy but worldlie greefe did passe the time away And they that were in faith more stronger than the rest To coÌ„fort those that were but weak their will was euer prest And those that were at large did trudge from place to place To ease the outward greefe of such as saw this heauie case Declaring by the word that this came not by chance But God was he for some intent which lead this woful dance Perchance to shew his will perchance to trie their faith Perchance to plant his hidden truth by their most happy death Perchance to be a meanes their foes for to confound As once amids the flouds he strake proud Pharao to the grouÌ„d Perchance amidst our mirth our God we did forget And youthly bent to vain delights perchance our mind did set So God in mercie now to call vs home againe And see our selues hath thought it good to let vs feele some paine Yet still amids the flame let this be all our rest That all things done to Gods elect are alwaies for the best Thus did they still remaine to God they did commend Themselues their case content to beare what euer God should send And now with solemne fasts praier put in vre And eke by writing they assaie some fauor to procure The King they doo request that truth might trie their deedes That Iustice cicle might deuide the Roses from the weedes That fickle flying tales from credit might be bard Till that by iust and equall proofe both parties haue ben heard And if it were his will that they might now dispute They doubted not by written word the Sorbons to confute Yet this could not preuaile for all this good deuice For some stood by that told the king their writings al were lies The godlie greeued thus as reason did them binde By other letters trie to change the Kings affected minde In which they warne his Grace to looke vnto himselfe Not to preferre before his God this wicked worldlie pelfe And therewithall to view the state of that his Land How all things prospered well which he did take in hand So long as to the truth he bent a willing eare And to the godlie Christian flocke a faithfull heart did beare But since he brake his faith he gaue the Germaine band And to that greasie Priest of Rome againe did giue his hand How all things since haue gone a cleane contrarie waie And nothing prospered well sith he the truth did so betraie And now ô Prince quoth they except thou do repent Assure thy selfe to plague this sinne the Lord is fullie bent And he that now hath lent to thee this happie Raigne Will for thy sinne most surelie turne thy pleasure into paine The Constable of France a looking glasse may be In whoÌ„ the end of swelling pride your Grace may plainly see Who proudlie swearing said If he returned sound He would not cease till he had quasht Geneua to the ground But God that sits aboue his follie did deride And at Sanquintines did confound his purpose and his pride So he that latelie swore against the Lord to fight Was taken captiue by the foe his armie put to flight Of wicked wilfull wits this is the wofull end When fancie rulde by witles will their strength will striue to bend Against the Lord. But now ô King we do not care For whatsoeuer God shall send we willing are to beare But yet of this be sure the blood that thou doost wring From vs vniustlie is the seed whereby the Church doth spring And though our bodies be consumed in the flame Yet of our ashes God will raise that shall defend the same To shade the shining light no wit can well preuaile So vaine to striue to staie the truth which God doth nowe reueale Thus while the Godlie worke their causes to defend The wicked impes of Sathan lurke to bring them to their end But one aboue the rest their death did dailie craue Munerius that bloodie wretch that false and periurde knaue Who hauing now of late by falshood crackt his fame Did hope by hate of Gods elect againe to winne the same And hauing now attaind the Princes bill assignd In Paris towne before the States he shewes the Princes minde Which was that presentlie all businesse set aside The King would haue the prisners calde their dealings to be tride And that they should proceed to iudge eke beleue According to the euidence Munerius then should geue These letters being read the Senate all agree Not to receiue Munerius nor anie thing that he Should laie against the life of those that faithfull were For that himselfe had falst his faith which latelie did forswere And yet they did proclaime that they would not refuse If anie other would step forth the faithfull to accuse So willing to performe the Kings intended minde Their cankred mallice plant the plot to haue the daie assignde When these afflicted soules from prison to their dome Before the whelpes of Pilates brood to iudgement now should come The daie is come and they that were before ordaind To shew the glorie of the Lord could not be now constraind By all their braue deuice the truth for to denie But for the same amidst the flame they willing were to die The bloodie sentence past which was the Kings desire The valiant troope of godlie men were drawne vnto the fire And chained to their stakes all naked as they stood Vnto the Lord their crie was heard from out amids the wood But to the wicked troope which longd to see that daie They knowing sure their causes good this or the like did say NOw shall you
make the King and manie more their dealings to detest And when as they shall meete in Church to serue the Lord VVee'l saie they do defile theÌ„selues to make theÌ„ more abhord And when in fields they ioine their ioifull Psalmes to sing VVee must giue out that they conspire which waie to kill the King So to their filed talke the King will giue no heed But giue vs leaue and ioyne with vs against them to proceede And manie that shall heare this smooth inuented lie VVil neuer seek the truth but then condemne them by by So shall we haue our will so shall we set a staie For those that seek to know the truth to stop theÌ„ in their waie And that we maie the more their dealings quite deface I must deuise to point you all your office and your place For some must Captaines be to lie in waite for blood And burne them in their temples all to doo your master good And such must alwaies be abroad to range the coasts In euerie place to lie in waite and meete them at their hoasts And some must staie at home to lie in Princes eare That of these men within his sight not one may dare appeare If force will not preuaile if Nobles take their part By flattrie then some must attempt these Nobles to subuart This said it was agreed the Counsaile cried Amen And euerie one to plaie his part did giue his promise then O poore vnhappie place ô France how art thou led Thou gleanst the sap of deadlie food in steed of liuelie bread The Mother Queene as cheefe dooth promise to begin By treason ioynd with flatterie to trap them in her ginne And he that was ordaind to watch the Princes hall VVas bloudie Lewes of Loraine towne that filthie Cardinall And they that tooke in hand false rumors for to sowe VVere Priests friers with deuice Gods truth to ouerthrow The Captaineâ— that were glad to take this cause in hand The blinded Guisâ—s were which swore to lead this bloudy baÌ„d Now let vs see the end how these their parts doo plaie And marke where all things fal not out as we haue heard them saie The first outrage and horrible murder of the the Godlie called The winning of Saint Iames his Streete NOw at this verie time when Philip King of Spaine Came to Sanquintines garded with a great and mightie traine The Constable of France to meete him made some hast VVhose power was vanquisht there and he fell prisoner at the last The faithfull which beheld great danger nigh at hand VVhich God did threateÌ„ now to fal on theÌ„ their prince laÌ„d VVith one consent they meete to God they crie and praie VVhich is the onlie meanes for sin Gods heauie wrath to stay But once aboue the rest as in S. Iames his streete In Paris towne they did agree great numbers for to meete To pray vnto the Lord to quench this flaming fire They might receiue his Sacraments eke his word to heare The spies that laie in waite such vantage for to get In tumult armde the common sort their houses to beset VVhose follie thus abusde which furie did incense VVith weapons rann as if these men had done some great offence The faithfull closed thus no waie there was to flie The rage and tumult was so great they yeelded all to die To God they did commend their bodies and their life And with their huÌ„ble sutes assaid to swage their raging strife But all could not preuaile their words could not be heard For furie to their iust excuse did giue but small regard But God that neuer failes his seruants at their neede By stretching out his helping hand did stand theÌ„ now in steed For as to Peter once in prison closelie pent To lose his lockes and set him free an Angel there was sent So God now made a waie a passage strange to giue By opening of a mightie dore the weaker to releeue By which the fainter sort without all danger fled The greater sort were taken then and straight to prison led Among which godlie troope that did their bodies yeeld Were women of great parentage which were with shame reuilde Of them whom furie fed to prison as they went Yet for all this these noble mindes their deedes did not repent And that which was the worst in prison where they were The theeues and bloodie murtherers did find more fauor ther. For they that death deserude were taken from their clinke And in their colde vglie pits which breathd a deadly stinke These men were thrust bound kept with watch ward That al accesse of worldly ioy from them might quite be bard Yet now because they had not roome inough for all In diuers wardes alone to pen these captiues thus in thrall Great numbers they were faine together for to place To comfort them God did deuise to bring it so to passe The prisons now did ring with Psalmes and ioifull songs They praied god wheÌ„ he thoght best to ease theÌ„ of these wroÌ„gs When this was noisde abroad and some were thither sent To know the cause then this was found the sum of their inteÌ„t At first when they did meete a lecture there was red In vulgar tongue out of Gods book wherby their soules were fed Then did the preacher show there he did recite The vse of that most sacred feast whereof S. Paule did write Vnto the Corinthes once In which he shewed plaine The vse and abuse of the same to comfort or to paine When this was done againe they fell vpon their knees And for the King CoÌ„mons all they praied with watrie eies That God would yet withhold his iust reuenging hand And blesse with perfect truth peace their King eke their land Then did they all receiue Communion bread and wine To staie their faith in Christ his death whereof this a signe Now this was all the hurt which they did then procure For which this raging tumult rose they these paines indure But marke the creeping craft of Sathan in this case How he by false report doth seeke the truth for to deface His seruants now he sends and bids them ride in post These new inuented lies to spread abroad in euerie Coast First how the Lutherans so Sathan did them name Great wickednes did put in vse in places where they came And how that in the night when other were at sleape In darknesse where no candles were great numbers on a heap Of men and women both together did resort To match themselues for to fulfill a stinking filthie sport And how these godlie men all sitting in a round VpoÌ„ the tables where they sate great dainties there were fouÌ„d As wine and bellie cheere and each with others wife In these their priuie Bacchus feasts did lead a filthie life And how among the rest to worke their wicked will Their vsage was ô shamelesse lie their
preuaile Vve see that al our bloody broiles their courage cannot quaile Vve see how Noble men their forces dailie bend To counter crosse our planted plots this cause for to defend Two ciuill warres are past the third is now in hand Vve see how stoutlie they are bent our forces to withstand Therefore we must deuise to plaie some other part Or else in vaine we take in hand these Princes to subuart Now lend your listening eares and marke what I shall saie A secret thing I haue bethought which here I will bewraie You must make show as though you loude to liue at ease As wearie of these broiles you must intreate to haue a peace The King as chiefest man this plaie must first begin By louing letters words and cheere at first to bring them in And looke what they mislike the King must rase it out And yeeld to all things they request to put them out of doubt The King must shew such face to them aboue the rest As though he did vnfeinedlie of all men loue them best The worst of all their band the King must intertaine With such good will that no mistrust in anie maie remaine And he must make them know as though of late he felt Some pricke in conscience for the cause against the which hee delt And that he will forgiue al quarrels that are past In hope that this their new goodwil with loue might euer last And he must make complaint as though he did of late Mislike the dealings of the Guise and such as they doo hate And then the Guises must awhile from Court retire For thus you shall intrap them all and haue your full desire The King must yeeld to all that they request or craue And he must grant for to cōfirm the thing that they wold haue The Mother Queene in this must also play her part That no suspect of treason maie remaine within their heart And here you must giue out as though you would imploie Their seruice in some forreine warres which dooth your State annoie As if you would not trust the weight of such affaires To anie man but them alone whose faith and watchfull cares You long haue tried and so you maie your plot prepare By these and such like fained things to trap them in your snare If this preuaile not then I stand in fearfull doubt What practise next to put in vre to haue them rooted out Now therefore say your minde if thus it be not best To cut them off that so againe we all may liue in rest The Counsell did agree this was the onelie waie And euerie man did giue his word this sentence to obaie And that they would deuise such things to put in vre As best might fit this cursed plot and make the same most sure Which Sathan hearing rose and thankt them with his heart That they to him so willing were and so they did depart Then presentlie the King in post a message sent Vnto the Admirall to whom he shewed his good intent Which was that he was loath more ciuill warres to haue And that he greatlie did desire his subiects for to saue I will said he forget yea pardon and release All former griefes so that you will now yeeld to haue a peace Which might be now to me a cause of passing ioie For that I meane in forreine warres your seruice to imploie And first we doo require that we may ioyne our band Against the man that causeth all these troubles in our land Our Armies being ioynde we may the stronger goe Against the Duke of Alua whom we know to be our foe Great matters moue our minde against the King of Spaine For he hath taken Florida and late our sister slaine With lies of like deuise the godlie to betraie Requesting him most earnestly that he would come awaie And that he should obtaine what safetie he would craue Yea for his suretie there that he his faith oath should haue The message being done the Admirall as wise Within himselfe did halfe suspect the plot of this deuise And though that manie things did some suspition bring Yet all things els he doubted more than falshood in the King He thought the promise sure and firmelie did beleeue No treason could be ment wheras the king his word did giue The Admirall as one that was deuoide of feare And willing for to heare of peace vnto the King gaue eare So now the ciuill broiles which manie did intend By this deuise were pacified and brought vnto an ende It cannot be exprest what shewes of frendlie minde Both in the King and Courtiers all the Admirall doth finde His frends likewise which had the Gospell long profest As Countie Rouchfaucoult and eke Theligni with the rest Like grace and fauor found which made them so reioyce That to consent vnto the King they all did giue their voice And if in former warres the Admirall had lost Either castles houses townes or fermes what euer it shuld cost The King commanded straight for to restore them all And all things els which he of right of anie man could call And those whom he perceiude the Admirall to loue He blinded them with great rewards suspition to remoue Besides he did command out of his purse to giue To him an hundred thousand pounds his losses to relieue And when as it did chance his brother for to die The Cardinall Chastilion the King then presentlie The fruites and profites all of liuings all one yeare Vnto the Admirall he gaue his charges to forweare Yet not content with this one thing aboue the rest The King most frendlie did the which the godlie liked best He wrote to Philibert the Duke of Sauoie then That he should cease for to molest or grieue those godly men The which in former warres the Gospel did defend And that to such he should leaue off his rigor to extend And that the Admirall might no misliking finde He did by gentle meanes appease the Duke of Guises minde He tride to make them frends brought the same to passe Although it on the Guises part a fained frendship was The Cardinall likewise that was their greatest foe To chuse a Pope made thē beleeue to Rome that he would go So all things being done t'abandon all suspect What they mislikte the King would seeme the same for to reiect So that about the king they onelie credit winne Which did defend the Gospel which latelie were come in But nothing did preuaile to put them out of doubt So much as one thing which as now the king did go about Which was that he did wish his sister for to match Vnto Prince Henrie of Nauarre by this in hope to catch Them all within his snare for this he did conclude Not for good will but mere deceipt the godlie to delude Which match the King would haue consummate out of hand That so it might remaine said he a sure and perfect band Of that vnfained loue and inward
stand awaie For that he had some secret thing vnto the King to saie Which done he thus began O King this life to saue Is not the thing I thank the Lord that I do greatly craue For this I know is true we all must pay a death To God our maker which hath lent this vse of liuelie breath But to your Maiestie the great good will I bare Is it which now aboue the rest dooth most increase my care To see you now beset with such as wish no good Vnto your health your crown life such as seek the blood Of you and of your frends to spill your noble race That so they may in future time your Princelie stocke deface And so at length ingraffe a strange Italian weede VVhich may in France most furelie choake the Princes royall seede This is the onelie marke to which they doo aspire This is the onelie wood ô King that doth mainteine the fire Of these your ciuill warres although they doo pretend Religion and some other thing this is the chiefest end Of all their drift Therefore ô King beware by time Mark this Eclipse whilst yet ye see the Moone is in her Prime I saie the lesse because I know your Grace is wise You shall in time most plainlie see this plot of their deuise Your wisedome dooth perceaue I hope whom I doo meane For of the same with griefe before I heard you oft complaine For though that I doo lie heere wounded as you see The chiefest treason they intend is not alone to me But to your noble Grace whose death they daily craue Whose life by treason long ere this now desire to haue I know when God shall take this fraile and wretched life Some will not sticke to say that I was cause of all the strife But God that is aboue and you my witnesse be How deare the safegard of my Prince peace hath bin to me God grant you see in time your frends from fleering foe That still in safetie you may reigne deuoide of griefe and woe Now I can saie no more but God preserue your Grace And shield you from your fained friends which beare a double face And this amidst your mirth I praie remember still That they that seek to haue my life do beare you no good wil. Vvhich said the King did giue such speach as he thought best And then in loud and solemne words in hearing of the rest He did with frendlie cheere request the Admirall Vnto his Court for to remooue what euer should befall And others spake likewise vnto the same intent His simple meaning could not see the treason that was ment But yet vpon aduise his frends did thinke it best Not knowing what may there betide the K. he should request That he would them assigne some of his Graces gard Before his gates both night day to keep their watch ward The motion being made the King was well content And said to this their good deuise he gladly gaue consent And that he would prouide to haue it surelie knowne That of his life he made accompt no lesse than of his owne And that he would preserue with care more tenderlie The Admirall than he would keepe the apple of his eie For that he did admire the valure of his minde Vvho little thought in mortall man such courage for to finde The Duke of Aniow then commanded out of hand One Câ—ssin Captaine of the gard to ward with Princes band The gates and streates wherein the Admirall did lie Vvhich was no sooner said but was performed presentlie This Câ—ssin that was set with watch to ward the gate Vvas one that did the Admirall in heart most deadlie hate And farther for to put the matter out of doubt They did consent that he should haue his trustie frends about The place where he did lie which came of no good will But hoping rather all by this the easier for to kill And this among the rest a bloodie practise was Vvhich cloaked guile by Sathans art too soone was brought to passe BVt heere the Prologue endes and heere begins the plaie For bloodie mindes resolued quite to vse no more delaie The Mother Queene appeares now first vpon the Stage Vvhere like a diuelish sorceresse with words demure and sage The King she cals aside with other trustie mates Into a close and secret place with whom she now debates The great desire she had to quit them all from care In planting long a bloodie plot which now she must declare O happie light quoth she ô thrice most happie daie Which thus hath thrust into our hands our long desired pray We haue them all in hold we haue the chiefest fast And those for whom we waited long we haue them all at last Vvhie should we longer staie what can we farther craue Vvhat are not all things come to passe which wee doo long to haue Doth not our mightiest foe lie wouÌ„ded in his bed Not able now to helpe himselfe which others long hath led The Captaines captiue are the King of Nauarre sure The Prince of Condee with the rest that mischiefe did procure Are close within our wals we haue them in a trap Good fortune loe hath brought them al laid theÌ„ in our lap By force or flight to saue their liues it is too late If we to cut off future feare and cause of all debate Doo take the profered time which time is onelie now And wisedome matcht with policie our dealings doth allow Vve neede not feare the spot of anie cruell fame So long as we maie feele some ease or profite by the same For wisedome doth allow the Prince to plaie the Foxe And Lion-like to rage but hates the plainnesse of an Oxe Vvhat thogh ye do forswear what thogh ye break your faith Vvhat thogh ye promise life yet repay it with their death Is this so great a fault Naie naie no fault at all For this we learne we ought to doo if such occasions fall Our Masters doo perswade a King to cogge and lie And neuer keep his faith whereas his danger growes thereby Cut off therefore the head of this infectious sore So maie you well assure your selues this Byle wil rise no more The Captaines being slaine the soldiers will be faint So shall we quicklie on the rest performe our whole intent Plucke vp therefore your sprites and play your manlie parts Let neither feare nor faith preuaile to dant your warlike harts What shame is this that I a woman by my kinde Neede thus to speake or passe you men in valure of the minde For heere I doo protest if I had bene a man I had my selfe before this time this murder long began Why doo you doubting stand and wherefore doo you staie If that you loue your peace or life procure no more delaie We haue them in our hands within our Castle gates Within the wals of Paris
towne the masters their mates This is the onelie time this matter to dispatch But being fled these birds are not so easie for to catch The towne of Paris will most gladlie giue consent And threescore thousand fighting men prouide for this intent So shall we quicklie see the ende of all our strife And in a moment shall dispatch these rebels of their life But if we stand in feare and let them scape our hand They will procure in time to come great trouble in our land For if the Admirall his strength receaue againe Can anie doubt but that he will be mindfull of his paine It is a simple thing for Princes to beleeue That new goodwil an ancient hate from galled hearts caÌ„ driue Therefore if we permit these Rebels to retire We soone shall see by warres againe our Countrie set on fire This is a womans minde and thus I thinke it best Now let vs likewise heare I pray the sentence of the rest This counsell of them all was liked passing well And in respect of present state all others did excell Some doubting mused long which were the better waie The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condee for to slaie Or els to saue their liues in hope they would recant Because the proofe of perfect yeres they both as yet did want But here they did preuaile as God no doubt would haue Vvho thoght it best in this assalt these princely youths to saue Because they were in hope that when those impes should see Their mates tormeÌ„ted thus they would most willingly agree To bow where they would bind to go where they would cals And to forswere their former faith would make no dout at all But all the rest remaine condemned for to die Vvhich cruell verdit must be put in practise presentlie The night that should insue then next without delay Beginning ere the same were spent long time before the day The Duke of Guise was thought the fittest of the traine To take in hand this bloodie plot to haue the godlie slaine Concluding thus they goe each one vnto his place The godlie doubting nothing lesse than this so heauie case HEere is the first part plaide and heere I doo lament My slender skill wants fitted phrase the sequele to depaint The Duke in office put begins for to prepare So that in troopes the armed men ranne busling here and there With noise threatning words as though some tumult were Preparing now in euerie streete which made the wisest feare Vvhat would insue At length the Admirall did heare This tumult and not knowing how the truth for to inquire He sent vnto the King to know the full intent Vvhy in the night in riot wise these armed people went Thus raging in the streetes and where it were his will If so he would not feare but rest in hope of safetie still The King returned word and wilde him not to feare For this was done by his aduise yet not in euerie where But in some certaine waies these armed men were set The foolish rage of leaud attempts by this in hope to let O leaud and filthie lie vnseemlie for a King Vvhat Turke or Diuell could deuise a more vnworthy thing For when the Duke of Guise had all in order set And nothing rested which might seem their purpose for to let He Marcell calls in hast and wills him haue a care That all the masters of the streetes ere midnight did repaire Vnto the Counsell hall where they should heare at large Great matters froÌ„ the King himself of straÌ„ge speciall charge The message being done they all without delaie Assembled were to know the thing the Guises had to saie Where Prouost Carron rose with stomacke stout and bolde And garded with a Guisian troope this bloodie message tolde My frends quoth he giue eare and marke what I shall saie The Kings intent is presentlie this night without delay Those Rebels to destroy which now these latter yeeres Bore armes against his Grace which thogh they be his peeres Yet will he quite pull vp and roote the lawlesse race Of theÌ„ that long haue sought by force his dealings to disgrace And what a happie time I praie my mates is this When fast within our Citie wals the Captaine closed is That siercelie brued the broile of this our doubtfull strife And manie times hath put vs all in danger of our life Their trust by treason trainde is cause of this deceite Oh happie she that wrought the molde of this so cunning feat Their freÌ„ds will proue their foes sweet plesures wil haue pain And being here they are not like to see their homes againe Their chambers prisons are their beds shall be their graue And ere the day appeere we must a glorious Conquest haue Be strong therefore my frends make sharpe the fatall knife For of these Rebels ere the day not one shall scape with life Their leader and their guide lies wounded in his bed And therefore as the chiefest foe we'ill first haue off his head And when we haue dispatcht the Rebels we haue heere We'ill likewise ransack all the Land of like that shall appeere This is the Kings intent this is his Graces minde To doo this feate let him in vs a willing courage finde And for a token when this murder shall begin The warlike trumpet shall not sound nor banner shalbe seene But Tockeseine shalbe heard this bloodie newes to bring For then begin when as you heare this Pallace bell to ring The badge which you shall bear by which you shal be known Shalbe a Linnen cloath of white made fast about the brawne Of left side arme and eke a crosse vpon your cap Of white likewise and these keepe fast what euer chance may hap And this is all my frends that I haue now to saie Come follow me and let's begin and vse no more delaie This while the Duke of Guise did shew his whole intent Vnto the Captaines of the gard and bad them giue consent With courage to performe so great and famous act Which seruice as the case did staÌ„d they might not loÌ„g protract Now shortlie after this the Duke with manie more Accompanied with the Cheualier and armed men great store Came posting to the gate which Câ—ssin tooke to keep Woe worth the time wheÌ„ they did trust the wolfe to gard the sheepe The Admiral knew wel the tumult of this rout Yet this nor anie thing could make his valiant heart to doubt For though he had but few scarce tenne within the place Yet nothing could at all preuaile to make him doubt his case For oft he would repeate the Kings assured loue Approoued by so manie signes as you haue heard aboue What though the CoÌ„mons rise what thogh the tumult rage When they shal see the princes gard their malice wil asswage I know the King will not by treason false his faith Thogh for the same there might ensue
Then Benuise with his mates to put them out of doubt Tooke vp this bloodie corse so from window cast him out Where from his wounded head sprang out so fresh a flood That vizard-like his face was all imbrued with goarie blood Whereby they could not well at first discerne his face Till that the Duke of Guise himselfe first kneeling in the place Had with his napkin wipte the clotted blood awaie And searching viewed euerie part he rose without delay And crying to his crue deuoide of feare and shame It's he my frends I know him well trust me it is the same The Duke descending then from out the stately gates With bloodie hart and cursed mouth he cride vnto his mates O happie lucke that we so good beginnings haue Lo Fortune frames her willing hand to giue that we do craue And sith it pleasde the fates at first such hap to send It giues me cause of future hope to see some happie end Come on my valiant hearts so place your warlike bands That marching forward to the rest not one may scape our hāds This is the Kings decree this hath he giuen out We do no more than he commands to put you out of doubt Let pitie take no place till Rebels all be rid Thus saith the king feare not therfore to do what he doth bid Let nothing now preuaile to dant your hardie minde No though with teares they pitie craue let thē no mercie find Haue no remorse vnto the yong ne yet the olde Without regard to anie one to kill them all be bolde Now sanctifie your swords and bath them in the blood Of these religious Rebels which do meane the King no good So shall we quicklie finde a path to perfect peace So shall we see assured meanes at length to liue at ease For if we can recount the troubles that are past Then happie time wherein we may dispatch them all at last Vvhich said he bad in hast the Tockesein for to ring Vvich sounding bell appointed was the fatall newes to bring Vvhen as this raging rout this murder should begin Vvhich they performde as though they had no men but monsters bin And therewithall deuise a larum for to raise Pretending with some solemne lie the people for to please So now the trumpets sound this lie and shamefull thing That certaine traitors were in armes about to kill the King Heere one among the rest from Rome that latelie came Desirous by some valiant act perhaps to get a name Cut off the bleeding head imbrude with reaking blood Of that most worthie Admirall in hope to doo some good And sent it straight to Rome as Lorraine had requirde A present welcome to the Pope which he had long desirde His hands cut off by some by some his secrete parts Declares what hate to shining light lies hid in blinded harts His hackt and mangled corpes by space of certaine daies Vvas dragde by rascals all along the streetes and filthie waies At length this rusticke rage as furie thought it meete At common gallowes of the towne did hang him by the feete Thus came this Noble man to this vnworthie death Thus doo the Papists learn to break the vow of plighted faith The Admirall being slaine they likewise murdred most cruellie not onelie all such frends Phisitians Preachers and al other that were found hidden in the Admirals lodging but also as manie as were suspected to be of that religion within the towne or anie where els were lamentablie put to the sword as here folowing we may plainlie see THese furies frying thus yet thus were not content But in the house from place to place like greedie hounds they went To search the chambers all and corners of receipt That from the wolfe the sheep might saue his throate by no deceipt And such as sleeping were found naked in their bed Or gone to hide or saue themselues they first cut of their head And after fiercelie pierst with wounds both great and deepe Vvhich being done like cruell currs they throw thē on a heap Among which wofull troope two Noble youths there were And Pages of most worthie birth which likewise died there Vvith these among the rest a man of noble fame The Countie Rouchfoucault was forst at length to tast the same Vvhom for his pleasant wit the King did seeme to loue Yet in this furie nothing might the King to mercie moue But now in hast must be to death vntimelie sent To yeeld againe vnto the Lord the life that he had lent So him at first De Nance commanded was to kill But he most stoutlie did refuse this guiltlesse blood to spill Shall I said he consent to doo this fearfull thing To shed this blood because I am commanded by the King No God forbid I know I haue a soule to saue So bloodie spot to saue my life my name shall neuer haue I know there is a day a day that Saints desire When of our deeds the king aboue a reckoning will require Obaie the King that's true in things that honest be When I obey in wicked hests wo worth the time to me For Ioab did not well King Dauid to obay When wickedlie the King him bad Vriah for to slay Those Elders did offend which shewde themselues too prone Those wicked letters to obey poore Naboth for to stone And cursed Doeg which obaide a wicked will Shall cursed stand for that he did the Lords annointed kill A murder to be done the King doth now request My God cōmands the contrary now which to chuse wer best The King doth threaten death and God doth threaten hell If for the King I should forsake my God should I doo well Vvhat others see ô King I cannot well diuine To kill the vncondemned man it is no charge of mine To slaie my deadlie foe except there were some cause I would not yeeld much lesse my frēd against our sacred laws What enuie doth report ô King I cannot saie But this my frend a faithfull man to me hath been alwaie Therefore I praie your Grace your rigor to asswage Or bid some other whom you list to execute your rage In matters that be good if that you list to vse My seruice you shall see that I no perill will refuse Therefore I praie your Grace this answere for to take Which vnto Saule his Soldiers once were not afraid to make De Nance to kill his frend no wight shall euer see Though for refusall he were sure beheaded for to be Take heed ô noble King what sprite you follow now Let no man force you doo the thing that God doth disallow While good king Dauid was by whoredome brought a sleep He did the thing which being wakt did force his hart to weep While Saule in mallice was against good Dauid bent He ranne to that which afterward with teares he did lament And whilest that Iezabel great mischiefe did intend
Against poore Naboth she at last came to a fearfull ende Looke well therefore ô King before you leap too farre Least in the end this testie scab do breed a lasting scarre Well I can saie no more but God preserue your Grace And graunt your soule when breath is gone with him a resting place But this could not preuaile this noble man to saue For bloodie Doeg did attend his office for to haue For which an Auernois a man of cused fame Made offer there before the King that he would do the same The King was well content this office for to giue To him so that this Noble man of life he would bereaue We see how Sathan doth by glorie mixt with gaine Worke to procure this worthy wight the sooner to be slaine There fell in this assault for mallice to the truth Theligni famous for his wit a rare and passing youth Who for his manlie heart and courage did excell For which the King in outward shewe did seeme to loue him wel Now when the time was come that martird he shuld be With courage bold he smiling said O welcome death to me It grieues me for to liue since faith from Princelie seate Abandonde is and in her place raignes falshood and deceite It grieues me for to see this sad and irksome daie Wherein so great and famous King a traitors part shuld play It grieues me for to heare poore soules deceiued crie Too late for that they did too much on Princes oath relie Woe worth my harmlesse heart too soone that did beleeue And to the kings dissembling words too soone did credit giue Woe worth the wicked time when first I did begin To worke the meanes for to perswade my father to come in Woe worth my lying tongue which first assaid to bring My fearfull Father in the minde that he should trust the King How oft did I commend the Kings assured loue How did I thinke that nothing might vs frō the same remoue How oft did I recount the Kings repeated oath How many frendly signes were seene of force to bind vs both How often did I vrge there was no cause of feare Because for this we saw the King most willing for to sweare But sith it is too late this error to lament My trusting hath deserued death and therefore am content Sith I am not the first whom trust hath thus betraid To suffer death for no offence I am the lesse dismaide And since my greatest hope hath wrought me most despite What shall I saie I saie no more but Lord receaue my sprite Thus came this noble impe vntimelie to his graue For that he to a Papists oath too great afliance gaue And thus fell manie moe of Nobles here and there Whose names valiant acts were now to lōg for to declare Thus did those lawlesse bands go raging vp and downe From house to house they sought to spoyl the welthiest of the town So they that beggers were when first this stirre began At last with rich and flowing welth the chiefest credit wan This while the Duke of Guise these words repeated still With crying voice Kill kill the knaues this is the princes wil. And least the souldiers should waxe faint with bloodie toile Now rid thē al my frēds quoth he you shal haue the spoile Thus did they all a day from morning vnto night With bloodie swords runne vp and down no doubt a heauie sight They spared none they knew no sex could pitie finde The rufull crie of tender babes could not asswage their minde In great triumphing ioye of this their warlike feate The bodies slain frō windowes hie they throw into the streat So that there was no way no lane or passage by Vvhere murdred men you might not see in heaps together lie Now whilst within the towne these things a dooing were The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condee did appeere Before the King For so before it was agreed To saue these youths to farther hope the counsell had decreed For they their lodging had within the Castle wall Vvhich for defence is alway thought the surest place of all These Princes being gone and onelie had awaie The rest were left vnto the sword to die without delaie Their seruants their frends their tutors with the rest Could not preuaile to saue their liues by sute ne yet request But thrust without the dores and kneeling in the place The gard of Switzers slew them all before the Princes face And still betweene the stroke they cried all amaine Vpon the Kings fidelitie but faith was calde in vaine Yet none amongst them all so much lamented was As Mounsieur de Pilles that he should come vnto so hard a passe Because among the rest he past them all so farre For godlie zeale in truth and eke for prowesse in the warre Vvho lying in his bed somwhat before the day And hearing noise of armed men leapt out to see the fray And marking well the voyce in place and time of truce Of cries and killings euerie where it made him much to muse Vvhich dump De Nance did break who did this message bring That straight to void the place he was cōmanded by the king And that he should depart his weapons left behinde From out the Court and Castle gate ful sore against his minde Vvhich was no sooner said but Pilles was forced out Among the bloodie weapons of that rude vnrulie rout To hope for longer life he saw it was but vaine He saw such cruell rage and eke the bodies that were slaine Vvhere lifting vp his voice so that the King might heare These words he spake before them al deuoid of fainting feare O false vnworthie King ô whelpe of sauage kinde O traitrous heart in kinglie breast ô base polluted minde Is this a Princelie part by treason to procure The murder of thy chiefest frends Is this thy Popish lure To traine vs in by trust to thrust vs thus to death Is this thy solemne Kinglie oath is this a Princes faith Is this thy frendlie cheere Is this thy fawning face Is this the fruite of Romish faith ô false dissembling race And doost thou honor so thy sisters spousall daie And couldst thou finde no other time thy treasons to bewraie Is this the trust that is in mother sonne and kinn Let France thē curse the man that did first bring this kinred in How are thy wits bewitcht what furie doth inrage Thy tigers heart that nothing can thy thirst but blood asswage And wast thou not afraid to giue thy leaud consent To murder them which to beleeue thy promise were content Vvhere are thy frendlie words where is thy feined loue Vvhat hath thy flintie heart forgot there is a God aboue And thinkst that thou shalt shed our guiltlesse blood in vaine Shall not the Lord ô wretch of thee require the same againe How darest thou to behold the creatures of the Lord Vvhen for thy