Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	death_n	great_a	king_n	2,913	5	3.6168	3	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10586	A legendarie, conteining an ample discourse of the life and behauiour of Charles Cardinal of Lorraine, and of his brethren, of the house of Guise. Written in French by Francis de L'isle; Legende de Charles, cardinal de Lorraine et de ses frères, de la maison de Guise. English	La Planche, Louis Régnier de, ca. 1530-ca. 1580.	1577 (1577)	STC 20855; ESTC S115805	138,427	198

of Lorraine neuer found surer or more stedfast foundations then the same which their cousins of Guise had laid in intent to ouerthrowe them For King Henrie tooke charge of the childe and afterward made him his sonne in lawe committing his Duchie into the hands of his vncle the Earle of Vaudemont Hereunto adding their practises against the towne of Metz what farther testimonie shal we neede For what mischief is there which this poore towne hath not suffred within these fewe yeres both within and without being vnder colour of protection bereaued of her libertie dismembred from the Empire for the most part destroyed and as a fulnesse of al miseries reduced into the bondage of the Cardinal who vnder a borowed name hath yerely wrested therout at the least a hundred thousand francks leauing vnto our King nothing but the dishonour of surprising the same vnder pretence of defence the charge of keeping of it with inestimable expenses the losse of great numbers of Frenchmen and the hatred of the Empire which yerely reneweth the decree of the recouerie of the townes of Metz Thoul and Verdun expressing therein their desire at the first opportunitie to restore the same to their former liberties For soone after ensued the siege of Metz aforesaid whereas the Cardinal fearing his brothers skinne and seeking to exalte him aboue al men procured to be sent vnto him most part of the Princes and great Lords of France for his more assurance and at the price of their bloods to raise him as it were vnto the shoulders of Victorie it selfe But what neede we to purchase the triumphe with the offence both of God and man or at the charge of the Kings honour and treasure Also how sweetely haue we paied for this so valiant defence of a forreine towne which neuer offended vs vnlesse it be an offence to giue ouer hastie credence vnto the wordes of a Cardinal therein brought vp whome she accompteth as her bishop and pastor yea to speake truely the Frenchmen haue dearely bought the exchange thereof through the burning and spoyle of Picardie euen vnto Noyon when as vnder the conduct of the third brother of this race and sonne in lawe vnto the great Seneschal Duchesse of Valentinois the French nobilitie receiued the sorest wound that euer it had since the battaile of Pauie because that without anie reasonable cause they were trained thereunto as to a butcherie rather then a battaile For in the same conflict wherein the said harebrained Duke of Aumale the third brother was through his owne default taken prisoner there were slaine about two hundred French gentlemen among whome were sundrie great Lords as the Lords of Rohan S. Forgeu Nancay la Motte Dusseau the Baron of Couches of Castres beside diuers other Lords of name Had our whole realme susteined that only losse through the conduct of these men yet were this sufficient to procure al men to detest them Shortly after this ouerthrowe ensued the siege of Metz aforesaid from whence the Emperour being forced to depart the Duke of Guise attributed to him selfe the whole glorie which the Princes and great Lords of France whome the Cardinal had procured the King to send thither had dearely paide for whervpon it is wonderful to see how the Guisians triumphed Wel to proceede what did the next yeres following bring with them other then two double irrecuperable losses namely the vtter sacke and spoyle of Tirwin and Hesdin the two keies of Picardie by reason whereof the Cardinal sang out his triumphes scoffing at the French nobilitie who said he through default of his brothers assistance were ouerthrowen by the enemie persuading the King that he had no man but of that race who was sufficient to guide the affaires both of peace and warre Howbeit the imprisonment of the third brother whome the Marquise of Brandebourge held did somewhat restraine the course of his brags wherefore they sought with speede to withdrawe him home to the end the one might heaue forward the other and yet were them selues vnwilling to disbourse anie penie of al their briberies and theftes either to take anie compassion of the French nation which was deuoured to the hard bones They inuented therfore an other reasonable honest shift as they supposed which was to borowe the Kings name and authoritie whereby they might vnder pretence of heresie vexe and torment whome so euer they thought best to the end to meete with some confiscations For it seemed not sufficient for him through his temeritie and rashnes to be the cause of the death of so manie great Lords and gallant French gentlemen at his owne taking but now his ransome must be gathered out of the liues of such as remained not forbearing the wiues of such good and vertuous Captaines as in the meane season ventured their liues and goods in the Kings seruice Whereof the Lord of Teligny might haue bene a sufficient witnes had he not shortly after lost his life in King Henries seruice For during the imprisonment of the Duke of Aumale the vertuous Ladie of Teligny was vniustly accused of heresie at the instance of a Sorbonist one of the Cardinals stalions as are the rest of our masters his companions who be men ignorant of all goodnes and honour as fierce cruel and seditious as any aliue vsing religion as a cloke to couer their peruersitie in this respect altogether like vnto the Cardinal of Lorraine the setter of them on worke at the cost of the Kings honour who for that cause incurred the euil wil of many In this fetch they disclosed an other of their sleightes for what with their spunge which was laid close to King Henries ribbes namely the Duchesse of Valentinois this prisoners mother in lawe who by al meanes robbed him on the one side them selues who ruled the common purse they wholy spoyled the King both of the loue and of the goods of his subiectes araying them selues in the same persuading him that nothing was wel done but what them selues did Yea they waxed so impudent as to affirme that their brother had verie wel discharged his duetie also that they whom he had led to the slaughter had in maner betraied him insomuch that the whole fault was imputed vnto the dead and he the suruiuer who had disobeyed the Kings commandement who sent him word not to hazard any thing after his deliuerie returned to the court where by the meanes of his mother in law he was as much or rather more cherished and made of then any of the lustiest lieutenants that the King had Thus did they on the one side laugh King Henry to scorne whome in the meane time they had so artificially bewitched that he accompted him selfe to haue none more assured or faithful seruants then the said lords of Guise except the Constable whom therefore they hated to the death as they afterward declared in diuers wise These warres of Metz were nothing in respect of those of Picardie wherof the house of Guise

greatly commended the sayd gentleman and laughed to scorne him who vndertooke the person of a prince of his blood This Duke pinched to the quicke and did extremely persecute diuers marchantes of the best townes of France but finally beginning with the marchants of Paris who hitherto were not accustomed vnto the rasor the whole citie tooke vpon them the matter and caused his commissions to be reuoked imprisoning some of his promoters whereat the rest vanished away like snow against the sunne for which cause he coÌ„ceiued so grieuous an hatred against the inhabitants therof that neither for dearth or plenty what abundance of corne wine or other victuals so euer there were within the couÌ„trey of Champagne or Bourgundy during his gouernement of either of them the said citie of Paris could euer come by any either for money or loue without plentie of letters of marte which were sweetely payed for and deerely bought howbeit by that meanes he neuer after durst deale with any whole estate or communalty not that he therefore quite quayled but still hauked after confiscations here and there and so lightely mette with one or other wherefore his whole rigourous force he executed ouer the inhabitants of his owne iurisdiction whom he euen flaied with al extremitie which was the cause that King Henry through his fathers aduice would neuer after commit vnto him any matter of weight although his two eldest sonnes the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine did beare great sway for he was at that staye that coÌ„ducting his children vnto the court gate he there left them and so returned backe againe whereof I doubt whether the father or children ought most to haue bene ashamed Finally this man dyed through poyson and as became a good Christian pardoned those persons who mistaking him for an other had hastened the course of his dayes His childreÌ„ did his brother Cardinal Iohn aduaÌ„ce who seing him selfe furnished with many benefices chose Charles to be his successour whom a fewe yeres he maintained in the college of Nauarre from whence he was preferred to the gouernment of the Dauphine For although in France were no want of men farre more meet to vndertake such a charge and execute that function yet did the credit of his vncle Iohn procure this fauour at the handes of the great King Francis together with some tokens of his quick wit and capacitie herein al which notwithstaÌ„ding during the reigne of the said great King Francis they were not of any estimatioÌ„ For this Charles was simplie named lord of Reims his brother FraÌ„cis Earle of Aumale their father being yet liuing the rest of the brethreÌ„ were forced to preferre thrust theÌ„ selues forward with might maine Again King Francis was not ignorant that these men might stirre vp coales and procure some broiles vnder pretence of the counties of Prouence and Anjou and so trouble the state vpon which causes he credited them no further then needes he must In deede he so highly honoured the beautie of their eldest sister as that he permitted her at the entrie of Queene Eleanor to be attired in Princesse araye although afterward perceiuing these strangers to preuaile as if they had alreadie bene Princes of France he denied the wife of the Marquise of Maine of the mantel royal It is not also vnknowen how the same King toward his end made but smal accompt of the Constable who therefore withdrew him self vnto his owne house the chiefe occasion of which displeasure arose of that that through the commendation of the said Constable his sonne the Dauphine Henry had reteined into his fauour the said Lords of Guise the consequence whereof he doubted Their alliaÌ„ce also vnto the daughter of the great Seneschal of Normandie whom al that time the said Dauphin kept caused that the same King Francis who before had highly fauoured her did now also disdaine and mislike her This Ladie who was called the great Seneschal was daughter vnto the late lord of S. Valliers and with her owne maydenhead redeemed her fathers life but afterward to the great reproche and slander of our France after she was halfe spent was giueÌ„ to the Dauphine Henrie whose hearte she so stedfastly wonne as that finally she was created Duchesse of Valentinois and in effect became Queene of France Wherupon the house of Guise accompting her as a conuenient bridge by the which they might passe ouer into France did think it meete to take holde of so good an occasion although it were in effect but an homelie shift and therefore procured the marriage of their thirde brother afterward Duke of Aumale vnto the yongest daughter of this said Seneschal by whose meanes they the further insinuated them selues into King Henries fauour vpon whom in the meane time they practised two seueral drifts wherein we may as in a glasse behold the rest of their behauiours toward the estate of France First by meanes of this Seneschal they presumed so farre as to attempt to wrest from the Dauphine Henrie a promise of restauration vnto the counties of Prouence and Anjou as part of a dowrie toward this their brothers marriage Howbeit as God doeth for the most part euen by the simplest persons abate the pride and crueltie of the mightiest so likewise did he now cause the onely countenance of the Lord de la Chesnay to force theÌ„ most shamefully and euen as it were in despite of their hearts to release this grant being in this only respect to be accompted happie that through the throwing of the same into the fire they did also therewithal consume and reduce into ashes the assured proofe and manifest detection of their trayterous fellonie considering that in case King Francis had but once had anie inckling of the same it would haue bene the vtter extirpation and vndoing not onlie of them selues but of the great Seneschal also Let vs now therefore proceede vnto the second point which was this On the one side King Francis not long before his deceasse was much accompanied with two persons of whome he made great accompt The one was the Cardinal of Tournon chanceler of the order and Master of his chappel The other was the Lord Annebaut Marshal and Admiral of France and besides both these there was the Constable also who notwithstanding he came not to the court yet did he reteine the office of great Master of France On the other side the Dauphine was entangled with the Ladie great Seneschal vpon whom two of the brethren of Guise did continually attend namely Francis Earle of Aumale and Charles Lord of Reims because of the alliance aforesaid al which notwithstanding yet was he most addicted vnto the Lord of S. Andrews whose father had bene his gouernour Now then seing that the sicknes whereof the late King Francis the first died was long and in most of the phisitions opinions in maner incurable the Lords of Guise persuaded the aforesaid Dauphine that so sone as he had gotten possession

treasurer of the purse to pay him the most part of a summe of fiftene thousand francks which he pretended to be due vnto him Throughout the whole realme there remained not so meane an artificer or so poore a citizen who was not contributorie vnto the Kings reliefe and for the same cause was not most extreemely delt with al whilest in the meane time the Cardinal becomming a sergeant executed King Henry in the chiefest time of his miserie and when his affaires were in greatest danger dalying with the spoyled King with such impatieÌ„cie that he would not forbeare vntil the said treasurer of the purse had gathered vp so much money but draue him to borowe the same summe wherwith to satisfie his request Also at the same time the king obteined in the name of a gift of the citie of Paris the summe of three hundred thousand franckes whereof the Cardinal had the disposing which how or whereabout they were employed God knoweth Let this therefore be sufficiently spoken for a simple proofe of infinite such like practises wherby it is to be doubted in which of these two the Cardinal did most exceede either in vnreasonably hoarding together or in excessiue appetite to wast al France which he had chosen as a pray conuenient for his ambition But how was the Duke of Guise occupied in Italie while the French nobilitie was in the King of Spaines prisons in laying the foundation of the greatnes though inuisible of these our Lords and masters The Duke had led with him a reasonable number of noble men and had dried vp al the Kings reuenues endeuoring in the meane time nothing in Italie sauing that for the augmentation of his brothers credite and the practising of conspiracies vnder colour of simplicitie he went with his famous principalitie to prostitute the dignitie of one of the king of France his lieutenants general in Rome to dallie among priests to make vp a lower messe and last seruice at the table of Cardinals of whome the chiefe part are but the Popes Marmosets and Apes Whereupon sundrie haue commended the free stomacke of one of the masters of requests that accompanied him in the said voyage who misliking of the said Duke of Guises behauiour without anie leaue of the Cardinalitie sate downe gallantly by the Dukes side least it should haue bene reproched vnto the Frenchmen that the Kings lieutenant general had serued as a cloke bearer vnto such lickorous griediguttes of the Popes cauldron who vpon their owne dunghil do so lightly accompt of Christian Kings and Princes But what of this It was necessarie that France with the cost and losse of men should put vp yet two iniuries more in Italie The one by the said Lord of Guise who left his campe idle and his masters busines vndone to the end to loyter and dauÌ„ce after the Popes court there to create as the Cardinals hope was he would some and so manie new Cardinals after his brothers minde that in case the Papaltie should be voyd he might be as certaine to succeede in the said roume as a Cardinals faith could extend The other through the follie of the said Duke of Guise in that in his owne person being a lieutenant general he permitted his Kings honour and reputation so shamefully to decay The enemies of the crowne laughed hartily at such his folishe ambition the wisest Frenchmen supposed that the King the Constable had suffred theÌ„ selues to be intangled in such enterprises to the end to be released of an intolerable burden hanging coÌ„tinually vpon their armes through such continual alarmes as the inconstancie couetousnes vaine glorie of the Guisians did daily minister vnto the Kings affaires exceeding the cost of two such conquests Now the Cardinals drift was so sone as he were Pope to transport the warres into Naples Sicil which conquest was the way to haue ouerthrowen their whole race or els in achiuing their enterprise wherein France should haue wonne more then by keeping them vpon her hands as she hath done to haue bound them selues for their life time about their neckes a bonde of the maintenance and keeping of their new conquered dominions Howbeit vnder this pretence the Cardinal pinched at al assaies insomuch that for this cause and others he iested with them in good earnest who so cunningly turned the letters of the name of Charles of Lorraine that thereby he found this which truely we might reproch vnto him to be most true RACLE AS L'OR DE HENRIE signifying Thou hast scraped away al Henries golde But hereof we wil speake some what more particularly Proceding therefore in our matter after the losse of so manie men at S. Laurence battaile together with the taking of the Constable and other contrarie chances the Cardinal finding as he supposed the best occasion possible offered for the aduancement of his familie displaied at that present his whole witte toward the execution of his purposes The first was by making his brother in effect during the reigne of King Henrie a King The other so wel to wrappe his yuie about the pinakle that finally the one might ouerthrow the other which was by motioning a double alliance the one of his niece Marie Stuard Queene of Scots vnto Francis King Henries eldest sonne the other was of his cousin Charles Duke of Lorraine vnto the Ladie Claude of France Againe the Constables absence of whome the Cardinal stoode in great awe and feare whom also marueilously he hated did altogether hearten him on As for the first point the affayres being troubled in Picardie and the realme voyde of forces the Cardinal thought it best to cal home those that before were sent into Italie the whiles to watch least any other shuld haue vndertaken the superintendence ruling of the affaires hoping seing the Constable detained to coÌ„mit the same into the hands of his brother the Duke of Guise presently vpon his returne who about the same time had bene repulsed from before Ciuitella so that this commandement came fitly to him The esquire Scipio also was sent to hasten him away and to wil him to bring his power with him being come the Cardinal caused him presently to be sent to Compiegne there to muster the armie whither as the King shortly after followed him publishing in the presence of his knights of the order and Captaines of his armie that the Duke of Guise was come in fit time to preserue his realme and minded to haue made him Viceroy or vnder King of France but forasmuch as that title seemed strange he commanded to dispatch him a warrant for the Kings lieutenant generalshippe throughout al the said Kings dominions the which du Thyer secretarie of commandements soone made in such maner as it pleased the Cardinal to deuise being also afterward receiued and verified by the court of Parliament of Paris and sundrie other Parliaments of the Realme whereby the Princes of the blood were contemptuously put backe as also after the taking of Calais

There did they commit infinite mischiefs and yet escaped punishment to the ende afterward they might do the better seruice spoyling or ransoming the best houses violating the fairest virgins and women and to the end to suffer no iustice it was sufficient to accuse the plaintifs to be Huguenots Hereupon happened an other expedient meanes to bring their purposes to the better passe The Queene mother seeing so many preparatiues also that among al these tempestes she coulde not easely continew for that one of the parties would humble her for she more feared the Guisians a hundred folde then any others accompting her self certaine as indede it was true that if they ouercame the Princes of the blood they would neither spare her children nor her self on the other side if the Guisians were mated in that she was confederate with them she was also in danger to fall with them she therefore asked the counsel of the Admiral and of the Chaunceler who shewed her that it was necessary to propound vnto the Kings council that the princes lordes of the realme knights of the order and all other men of authoritie ought to be assembled together for to finde meanes howe to pacifye these troubles The Guisians therfore vnderstanding this opinion notwithstanding they misliked vtterly this libertie in the Admiral chanceler were fully resolued to pul them both down together with the rest yet did they herunto condesceÌ„d accoÌ„pting this the best motion of al for the attaining to their poinct for said they so soone as the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Constable and the rest shal receiue the Kings letters tending to that purpose they would not faile to come and so shoulde they all be brought where they shoulde be detained without causing them so muche paine as to goe so farre for them Againe notwithstanding they coulde not obteine this yet at the leaste they shoulde haue so manie voyces in this assemblye that all their deedes passed shoulde be auctorized and their degree established for the time to come so that hereafter it shoulde be a manifest offence for any man to seeke to contrarie them and so consequently shoulde in effecte remayne Kinges of France attending vntill their other driftes might procure them so to be in name also Moreouer if their enemies woulde not come to the said assemblye then shoulde they haue newe matter against them aswell by bringing them more and more into the Kinges hatred and mistruste as also by hauing the better pretence to be reuenged of them Thus therefore there was now no question but of sending of packets euery way in the Kings name and of their owne letters to their friends Then did a great number of Knights of the order whom they had lately created stand them in good stead for there were so many voyces wonne to the confusion of the King and his realme But they vsed a wonderful craft toward the King of Nauarre For they caused the Queene mother to write vnto him not to faile but come but closely they caused his owne counselers namely Descars his chamberlaine Bouchart his chanceler other their spies and secret seruants who were toward this prince to wil him not to come to this assembly and by this meanes they gaue so shrewd a spurne at the estate of this realme that it feleth it yet for this Prince being put in feare was cause that the gouernment remained to these Lordes who afterwarde anewe strengthened themselues In al this assembly were but three persons which pricked them of whom two especially angred them outright For the Bishop of Valence saying his minde warmed them but the Archbishop of Vienna named Marillac made theÌ„ throughly to change countenance in his learned and bould oration concerning the authoritie of the estates and the vrgent necessity of calling theÌ„ concluding with a national council also Entreating of the estates he shewed first that the same was the assured meanes to withhold the commons in their duety then what the estates were and to what end they ought to be assembled Then that the coÌ„plaints of the people ought to be heard and examined in the presence of the estates TherupoÌ„ he discoursed very fitly of the euils which troubled the realme and wherof the Guisians not naming them were cause These euils were the extraordinary ouer chargings which were so growen multiplied that the people were therewith ouerwhelmed the wasting of the Kings reuenewes his great debts the excessiue expenses of the realme the ignorance of the auditors the matters of estate troubled the Kings chiefe ministers burdened with turning al things to their own aduantage of reping their priuate commodities out of other mens calamities the King not obeyed the people not heard the gouernement disordered Afterwarde he declared the great commodities which the assemblie of the estates would procure By them the King should vnderstand the particular affaires of his kingdoÌ„ he should examine the maners of his people he should know his own part and might prouide for his owne estate he should become a good shepherd peaceably shearing his shepe without otherwise hurting of theÌ„ he should behaue himself royally that is to say courteosly holily he should be happie and obteine the beautiful title of the name of a Father of the people whereby the memory of King Lewes the twelfe is most celebrated and shineth as an example to the posteritie more then al the conquestes and victories of his predecessors Then that the people would thereby be the more encouraged to the helping of their king That whatsoeuer is ordeined in such assemblyes is very effectual to make the people quicke and ready in al obedience Also that wheÌ„soeuer few folks are called to the making of lawes the people doe interpret that they were forged according to some mens affections without examining such reasons as those who are absent might haue alleaged in case they could haue bene heard He added that the house of France had florished eleueÌ„ hundred yeres a row by conseruing the authoritie of the estates that the like had happened in the Empire and in the realmes of Spaine England Scotland Denmark Suethland Boheme Hungarie and euery where els He afterward answered to al the obiections of such as sought to persuade men to beleeue that the assemblie of the estates was the diminishing of the Kinges authoritie and then did openly taxe the tyrannie of the Guisians who therefore did giue him so litle thankes that after they had caused him to be threatened he was finally forced to withdrawe him selfe and then seeing in what estate matters were died for sorowe His oration is printed and inserted into the notable History of Francis the seconde lately come to light and therefore we will no longer prolong these matters at this preseÌ„t But that which most of all draue theÌ„ into a rage was the Admirals oratioÌ„ which pearced the impostume of their tyrannie for speaking purposely of the Kings new gard he shewed

of in the middest of his course Sometimes he woulde thrust his finger into the wounde as if he were extremely chafed against the surgeons and Physitions who coulde not prolonge Francis the second his life also as if he coulde not giue them one good looke because he sawe himselfe ensnared Finally after he had forgiuen his wife and lefte his children to the Cardinals tuition not without straight charge to reuendge his death and bring his driftes to their perfection which so often had bene frustrated he was as ye would say by death tyed to the suburbes and gate of Orleans This was the end of the fiercest of all the Guisians who fretted said manye in that he shoulde die in the towne where a King had dyed either that nowe aliue he shoulde come into the Citie which he and his partakers had destined for the death of a Prince of the blood and many good officers of the crowne The Catholikes especially of Paris who neuerthelesse had smal cause as afterward appeared did greatly bewayl his death WheÌ„ the King of Nauarre was slaine at Rouen the Duke of Neuers and the Marshal of S. Andrews at Dreux and diuers others in other places there was no token of sorow But for the Duke of Guise who had abandoned his captain who fought because he would not be accomptable to the estates of France who had violated the Kings edictes and sought to suppresse the house of Valois did they make hearses and vsed al other funeral solemnities as if he had bene a king Now therefore like as after the decease of Francis the second al the whole courte which enuironed the Guisians vanished away and al their multitudes at the same instant conuerted into solitarinesse yea that manye who before had followed them were now ready not onlye to hold the basen to whoÌ„soeuer would cut their throats but eueÌ„ theÌ„selues to paunch theÌ„ so after the death of their eldest brother they remained as a body without members being forsaken of most men and through the vnreasonable authority which they had vsurped become odious vnto such as to them were most vprignt The Cardinal now being at Trente sought new meanes how to begin at an other end and first dealt with the Spaniard as himselfe did since disclose to one of the chiefe counselers of a certaine noble french Lorde for hauing declaimed against and reproued the estate of matters of France he toulde him that the Spaynishe gouernement was excellent and goode where the Great Lords of the country doe so bridle their King that they permit him scarsely to sport him self handling him after the maner of counters of which a man maketh that which somtime is worth but one somtime worth tenne sometimes worth a hundred sometimes worth ten thousand and immediatly reducing it againe to nothing at his pleasure neither were it said he a very harde matter to reduce France to the same poincte In the meane time he counterfaited the mourner writing such consolatory letters vnto his mother as a man would hardly reade without laughiÌ„g especially where he writeth these words Madame I say vnto you that God neuer so greatly honoured any mother neither at any time did so much for any his creature excepting alwayes his owne glorious mother then he hath done for you But this good childe of the most blessed mother in the world next to the virgine Marie inuented other new practises against the estate of his King and country as we now shal perceiue The Duke of Guise his mouthe beyng stopped peace presently ensued but in such maner as did easelie shewe that such remembraunces as the Cardinal lefte at his goynge to the Councille were of greate force For the edicte made in the moneth of Ianuarye was in maner extinguished the Prince of Condye displaced from the rowme which to him apperteined as to the first Prince of the blood the Admiral and other great Lordes expulsed the Courte but principally the sayde Admirall who was charged with procuring the shotte at the Duke of Guise which neuerthelesse was but a policie which the Cardinal and his fautours practised to the ende still to keepe the water troubled and them selues out of accomptes in whiche poincte the Queene mother somewhat fauoured the Guisians in that she was glad to put from her sonne al honourable persons to the ende to bring him vp and frame him according to her own humors the effects wherof haue since manifestly appeared Many things chanced in France betwene the first and second troubles wherein the Guisians sleightes diuersly appeared to the destruction of the realme wherof we wil touch some the most notable particularities not staying ouermuch vpon the circumstance of Dayes in that that entreating of their iniuries offred to the Princes of the blood to the nobilitie to the estates and to other priuate parties in the Realme we may beholde such matters as nowe we wil passe ouer First the Cardinal laboured the Queene mother to grant the estate of great master vnto his nephue Henrie sonne to the late Duke of Guise So that notwithstanding this childe was not capable thereof yet to the great dishonour of the King and the Realme and in despite of the Constable and the Protestants whome the Queene began to hate he was chosen great Master standing in deede in greater neede of a Scholemaster and roddes After the King of Nauarre was dead the Queen mother became a Catholike for she douted lest the Prince of Conde then first Prince of the blood would holde his estate knowing her humours through the assistaÌ„ce of the ChastilloÌ„s the CoÌ„stable himself whose heate began now to coole reduce her to order take the gouernemeÌ„t from her The Cardinal foreseing also that if this were brought to passe both he and al his should be plucked away determined to take some order At the assemblie at Orleans the estates with one common consent had made great complaintes of the vnreasonable giftes which both King Henrie and King Francis the second had giuen to sundrie persons of whome some were vnworthie others had had too much seeking to cal to accounts those who had the charge and gouernement of the treasure The first part of these complaintes touching the vnworthinesse of persons concerned especially and from the bottome of their hearts the Duchesse of Valentinois and al her abomination The second of excesse did pinche to the quicke the Guisians the Marshal of S. Andrewes and some others An other point of this complaint tended wholy against the Guisians as hauing relation only to the time of Francis the second whom they had ordered at their pleasures in whose time much money was spent and consumed On the other side the reformation of the ecclesiastical estate wherupon the nobilitie and third estate did earnestly call killed the Cardinals heart outright Wherefore to the end to procure this pursuite to vanish away he and his brethren could inuent no better shift then by kindeling the ciuil warre aforesaide

conquest of the realmes of Naples and Sicill and there had continued in wages with the Venitians a certayn space did now returne into France there to chalenge his right in the Countyes of Prouence Anjou with the Dutchye of Bar. This Dutchy was graunted vnto him conditionally that he and his successours should for the same doe hoÌ„mage vnto the King of France who thereby remained soueraine lord ouer the same but as for the Countyes of Prouence and Anjou it was answered that they being parcel of the demaynes of the crowne might not fall vnto the distaffe so that finally by consente of King Charles the eight and this Duke Rene the controuersie was referred vnto the arbitrement of three vmpiers whiles in the meane time the King committed vnto the Duke a regiment of an hundred men of armes with the enterteinment of sixe and thirtie thousand frankes of yerly pension Now in the yere of our Lord 1489 the Neopolitanes detesting the tyranny of yong Alphonsus required the ayde of this Duke Rene who thereunto prepared him selfe but duringe his preparation the three vmpiers aforesaid pronounced their arreste wherein it was found thaâ— not onely Anjou and Prouence but also Sicill and Naples did apperteine vnto the King of France vpon which occasion Charles the eight vndertooke that voyage him selfe Howbeit notwithstanding this arrest Yoland mother vnto this Duke Rene euen after the deceasse of her father Rene the great did still reteine the title of Queene of Sicill yea this Rene the seconde chalenged the title of King of Sicill and Ierusalem in the name of the conquestes oâ— his ancesters causinge his eldest sonne Anthony to be called Duke of Calabre still quarteringe the armes of Anjou with his owne for which his presumptioÌ„ togither with diuers other his practises Kinge Lewes the twelueth stomaking him expelled him out of France and tooke away all his pensions but he founde meanes to be reconciled and afterward dyed as he rode on huntinge hauing remained Duke fiue and thirtie yeres This man had by his second wife named Philippe the sister vnto the Duke of Guelderland twelue children of whom seuen dyed in their youth whereby he left only fiue who all were sonnes named Anthony Claude Iohn Lewes and Francis. Anthony succeeded his father in the Duchyes of Lorraine and Bar also in the Countye of Vaudemont and Marquisat of Ponte and by the death of this Charles Duke of Guelderlande his mothers brother in the said Duchye of Guelderlande and in the Countye of Zutphan leauing behind him three children Francis who succeeded in his dominions Anne maried vnto the prince of Orange and Nicolas first bishop of Verdun and afterwarde of Metz and finally as presently he is earle of Vaudemont and at this present father in law vnto Henrye the third King of FraÌ„ce Francis the successour of his father Anthony had by Christian the daughter vnto the King of Denmarck issue one sonne named Charles and two daughters Charles the seconde and sonne vnto Francis succeeded his father in the yere 1545. and presently liueth hauing to wife Claude the daughter of King Henrye the second by whom he hath diuers children now liuing Claude the second sonne of Rene Duke of Guise and Baron of Ginuille repayred vnto the French courte where in short space he obteined the gouernement of Champagne and Burgundye and marying Anthoynet of Bourbon aunt vnto the late King of Nauarre he had by her issue six sonnes namely Francis Charles Claude Lewes Rene and the great Prior of France of whom but especially of Francis who after his father was Duke of Guise and finally slayne by Poltrot at the siege of Orleans and of Charles afterward Cardinall of Lorraine we wil hereafter speake more largelye not omitting what so may be incident touching the other brethren of whom Claude obteined the Dutchye of Aumale and was slaine at the siege of Rochel Rene enioyed the Marquisat of Allebeufe Lewes was created Cardinall of Guise and the yongest was made great Prior of France Iohn the thirde sonne of Rene and bishop of Metz was through great sute vnto Leo the tenth electe Cardinall in the yere 1518 and afterward being ordinarily resident in the French courte obteyned great fauour with King Francis the first for he neuer medled with matters of estate but passed ouer his time in pleasure The other two sonnes namely Lewes and Francis dyed in the warres the one in the realme of Naples and the other at the battayle of Pauie Duke Anthony the first sonne was of a reasonable good disposition and voluntarily came vnto Dijon vnto King Francis and there did him hommage for the Duchye of Bar shewing him selfe very sorye for his offence which he had committed in seeking to defraude the same King Francis of the Duchye of Guelderlande which he pretended to fall to him by succession in the right of his mother For he had practised by one Iames Canis the Borowmaster of Nemegue to rayse the commons and keepe the said King out of his possession but then seing that the people would not accept him but had submitted them selues vnto the Duke of Cleuelande he fought all meanes possible to be reconciled to cure this skarre which through the helpe and fauour of his brother Iohn Cardinal of Lorraine he soone brought to passe and King Francis did cleerly pardon and forgiue him This Cardinal Iohn was the iollyest encrocher of benefices aliue as might plainly be perceiued by the estate wher into he brought the whole French Church but because he otherwise was of a reasonable courteous disposition a great spender and therewithall very liberall all was taken in meetly good parte The third brother who was Duke of Guise and father vnto this Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorraine with the rest was neuer put in any great credite neither had the charge of any waightie affayres committed vnto him For his leading of the Kinges power without his loue or leaue into Lorraine to the succour of his brother Duke Anthony who as the talke went was sore ouerlayed with Anabaptistes was taken in very euil parte and him selfe had not the Constable at that time great master and Marshal of France entreated for him would King Francis haue committed vnto prison and hardely dealt withal For King Francis was such an one as would not permit those who without his owne liberalitie were of them selues of no reputation so farre to encroche vpon his auctoritie as appeared at another time when the said Lord of Guise being gouernour of Burgundye sought to enter into the castle of Aussonne which at that time was a seueral charge and in the custodie of a french gentleman of the retinewe of the Marquise of Rotelin named the Lord of Rouueray who withstoode him forbade him the entrie therinto which the said de Rouueray durst not haue done in case the said Lord of Guise had bene a prince who for that cause complained vnto King Francis but he for that deede

against the said princes notwithstaÌ„ding that any other of what estate or calling so euer he be stranger or Frenchman ought to take heede of misusing the person of any French geÌ„tleman vnlesse he presently be minded to receiue at the handes of the partie misused as much or rather more then he hath done or said vnto him Now the more that the lordes of Guise haue sought to become as Princes of France the more resistance haue they founde especially duringe the reignes of Francis the second and Charles the ninthe neither being as yet quite free from the same as in place shall be shewed Let vs therefore consider some examples of the time of Henry The lord of Rochefort yongest sonne of the house of la Roche-guyon was on a time chalenged man to man in the Kings garden at Fountainbleau by Francis Duke of Guise whereas in their talke he shewed the said Duke that he accompted him not as a prince of France whereof he also afterward made him more plaine demonstration when as at the onlie countenance that the Duke of Guise made to set his haÌ„d vpon his dagger he the said lord of Rochefort who was no knight of the order as now he is set as sone his hande to his sworde and thereby made him to be quiet which deede both the King and Princes did wel allowe of This resistance caused that the same Duke of Guise who thought that the lorde of Montmorency against whom he had a quarell notwithstanding he were not as yet Marshall would doe no lesse then the other on a time suborned his great companion the Duke of Nemours and the prince of Ferrara at a place neere vnto the castle of saint Germain shortly after the Constables returne out of imprisonment and then went and plucked the said lord of Montmorency by the cape in the Queenes chamber the meaning whereof is not vnknowen vnto the gentlemen who presently without speaking vnto any man arose and followed him out of the castle to the place appointed where he made him an answere correspondent vnto his demande accompting him therein no otherwise for a Prince then before time which afterward he shewed him more euidently at Paris Kinge Charles the ninthe being there the same time that the meeting was about the edicte of Iulye in a controuersie concerning an ayrie of haukes of the forest of Compiegne which the said lord of Guise chalenged by prerogatiue but the said ayrie finally remained vnto the lord of Montmorency It is not vnknowen again how the PresideÌ„t Liset in this point diuers times withstood them for once in the full audience at the Parliament of Paris he caused to correct the qualitie of the Prince which the Duke of Guise in a certain cause had taken vpon him An other time in the presence of King Henry he affirmed vnto the Cardinall of Lorraine that he was no Prince neither ought to take place among Princes Again at another iourney before the said King in a foolish brablinge which the Cardinall made the same President Liset vsed vnto him these wordes My sonne and friende you are yet to yong to vnderstand those matters which are no vsuall speches to be said to any Prince of France yea he added moreouer these wordes You are no Prince neither equall with Princes if therefore you be determined to take vpon you that title shew vs also the places of your Principalitie This yong sonne was aboue fiue and twentie yeres olde already both Peere and Cardinall The aforesaid court of Parliament did also an other time by sentence definitiue expulse the Duke of Guise these mens father from his fore sitting which by reason of his Peereshippe he chalenged aboue a prince of France All which notwithstanding their hautinesse in this point brake out openlie in diuers wise during sixteene or seuenteene moneths whilest King Francis the seconde reigned whereof we must necessarily here note also some particularities Immediatly after that King Henry was deceased the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine conueyed King Francis the second his brethren the two Queenes into the Louure leauing the Princes of the blood and the rest of the great lordes of the Realme which were not of their faction behinde to keepe the dead corps whiles in the meane time them selues permitted no man to come neere the said Francis or to speake vnto him vnlesse at the least one of them were still in presence and that so diligently that they neuer let him goe out their sightes Then did they also driue away the Constable and displaced all such as they liked not of causing the King to say whatsoeuer them selues listed They found honest pretences to dispatch away the Princes of the blood by sending one into Flanders another into Spayne and so of the rest hauing continually secret seruants and priuy spies about them They changed the estates and officers of the Kings householde orderinge them selues with such violence that a man might as it were at hie noone perceiue their intentes We will now therefore orderly shew you what people withstood them and in what maner For such particular resistance was to small purpose in respect of that which followed We must now therefore consider to what estate their ambition haue brought the affaires of France being accompanied with couetousnes crueltie vngodlines and manifest villanye I say therefore that since the time that they were exalted by meanes of the Seneschall considering also that their children be of a troublesome and peruerse disposition euen to the ende they neuer desisted from persecuting all sortes of people high and low in this Kingdome whereby to satisfie their aforenamed passions yea for want of meanes and opportunitie to persecute them whom they doe hate they haue bent their whole rage against them selues in so much as it is doubtfull to whom they haue done most displeasure whether to their frieÌ„ds or enemies We will therefore beginne with such mischiefes as they haue practised first against our Kinges then against the Princes of the blood afterward against the great lordes of the Realme and so consequently we will proceede to the estates namely the Nobilitie the officers of Iustice the people the Clergie their fauorites and friends and finally vnto their owne iniuries among them selues setting forth the whole in as briefe maner as possibly we maye desiring the readers to quote downe in their bookes whatsoeuer they perceiue that we haue omitted to the ende to participate the same vnto the posteritie which thereby shall be occasioned for to abhorre the miserie of France which hath suffered and borne so much with ouer great respect many times of such dangerous monsters After the same maner also according as shall be incident in the continuation of our discours we will somewhat touch their vertues to the ende eche one may know by what tokens to remember them Notwithstanding that at the first they were not ouer busie neither kept to great a stirre yet afterward perswading them selues that

they procured the preferring of the Duke of Neuers before the Prince of Conde concerning the charge of the light horsemen Yea within a yere after the Marshal Brissac was also preferred before the said Prince of Conde in the gouernment of Picardie The Duke of Guise hauing gotten this commission and men ouer whom to commande swelled manifestly in pride whiles in the meane time the Cardinal playing vpon his harpe in the middest of all these broyles lulled King Henry on slepe in the bosome of the villainouse Seneschall Neuertheles Henry who on the one parte vehemently loued his gossip the Constable and on the other parte had not his eyes so ouercome with slepe but that sometimes he opened them and so perceiued the Guisians taking ouer highly vpon them whereat he finally begun somewhat to be displeased with him not refrayning from discharging presently part of that which afterward he considered more largely of for he excused him self toward his gossip secretly certifying him that he had bene compelled to make the Duke of Guise his Lieutenant general also to agree to the mariage of the Dauphine with many other things against his will but that the time should doe him right This mariage of the Dauphine was in this wise The Cardinal perceiuing no man at the court able to controlle him his brother vpon his returne out of Italy the Constable prisoner began to motion the mariage of his niece the Queene of Scots for the compassing whereof he propounded that the King might during his owne natural life behold as well his sonne a crowned Kinge as the Emperour Charles had in his time seene his sonne Philippe crowned King of Englande He procured also the estates of Scotland to hasten this matter solliciting them thereunto by the lord of Oisell who had the superintendence of the Queene dowagers affaires in that countrie Also to the ende to cause the Queene of France to condescend vnto this mariage who still alleaged that he neede not be so hastie seing both the parties were in the Kings hands besides that her sonne the Dauphin was yet to yong and not all the best at ease he began to shew him selfe enemie vnto the great Seneschall Duchesse of Valentinois and her to blame so much as in him lay as disdayning the remembrance of her allyance no longer remembring or at the least counterfeiting forgetfulnes that she had bene the only ladder whereby both he and all his brethren had gotten vp so high This did he thinking it the readiest way to winne the Queenes hearte who mortally hated the said Duchesse and not without cause as all the world knoweth To be briefe this practise so well serued his tourne in the aduancement of his businesse that within seuen moneths after the taking of the Constable this mariage was accomplished thence forth Francis was called King Dauphin and so consequently the lords of Guise the Kings vncles The taking of Calais the enterprise whereof the Constable the Admirall and the lord of Senarpont had long before deuised and forecaste augmented the hatred conceiued in King Henry his heart against the Duke of Guise For hauing often heard of the easinesse of the same he had many times purposed him selfe to haue taken it in hande but the Cardinall seeking the winning of the Frenchmens hearts vnto his owne family procured the Kings minde to be altered and the charge thereof to be committed to the Duke of Guise who neuertheles made the matter very dangerous esteeming it vnpossible to bring to passe yea he stood so much thereupon such was his valiantnes that he protested that his proceeding therein was only to obey the Kings expresse commandement who incessantly motioned the contrarie affirming no difficulty at all to be therein Wherefore seing now how the commendations of the said Duke of Guise were therefore sung and published ouer his whole Realme he could not but openly affirme that the said Duke had defrauded him of an honour to him selfe only appertaining Moreouer vnder matters of goodliest shew outwardly the Cardinall still concealed strange driftes tending to the exalting of his race through the ouerthrow of France He nourrished the warres of Picardie and Italie he brake the truce he with his brother gouerned all for the satisfying of his ambition and preparing of his path to proceede further and yet was not all this sufficient He must therefore trye some other meanes The Duchesse of Lorraine motioned some peace with King Philippe whereof the Cardinal taking his aduantage as shortly we shall perceiue procured to him selfe the commission to goe to her to the end there to finde out some other meanes which was this The bishop of Arras now called Cardinall Granuelle being come as the King of Spaynes deputie to this enteruiew alleaged among other things that France was infected with Lutherans among whom some were euen of the chiefest lordes naming the lord d'Andelot adding also that some of the Princes were of the same profession who by meanes thereof lay in wayte for the crowne whereunto they might easely attaine through the ayde and supporte of the ProtestaÌ„tes as lately he had perceiued These words were not spoken in wast for the Cardinal thereby desirous to frame some practise disclosed to Granuelle all that he knew touching certaine offers which the Protestante Princes had made to King Henry togither with the meetings thereupon betwene the King of Nauarre and them This spake he now to the ende to heare the others opinion knowing that vnlesse he found some occasion to stirre vp housholds in France his owne driftes would be in vaine his family come to decaye GraÌ„uelle on the other side considering of what importance in his masters affaires the breaking of these practises with the Protestantes might be togither with the Cardinall of Lorraine layed this foundation of peace namely that their masters were either of them of such force that in case the one should ouerthrowe the other a third person might easely ouercome the coÌ„querer and therefore that it was necessary to agree them in such maner that with their whole power they might together set vpon these gospellers thereby to get the recompence for their owne losses first putting to death all such as were within the iurisdictions of both princes not sparing any For the Cardinall of Lorraine hoped that the Princes and great lordes of France which were thought to be Lutherans being dead the King and Realme should thereby be so weakened that his family might with lesse trauaile and coste enioye the same Also that their confiscations might be employed to the winning of seruants and friendes But that which most of all encouraged him to vndertake this matter was that Granuelle shewed him that he knew no knight or captaine liuing more honoured and regarded then the Duke of Guise who therefore was most worthy of such a commission For presently he began in a foolish kinde of vaine hope to swallow vp whole countries and kingdomes perswading

of Lorraine Loued he the Duke of Alenson Nay but contrariwise at the Kings departure into Poland he defrauded the said Duke of the lieutenantshippe conferring the same to his nephue the Duke of Lorraine and vnder colour thereof gouerned more malepartly then euer before But al these iniuries do require a more exact discourse which hereafter we will looke vpon Thus therefore hauing scorned Henrie and al his they haue replenished his house with abominations and his realme with troubles they haue destroyed the mightie entrapped the meane sort and brought al things into such confusion that in mans iudgement the kingdome is past al hope of restauration or being reduced to anie smal forme of the pristinate and auncient glorie In this Prince Henrie the seconds life time also they began to note out such of his seruants as displeased them dispersing some of them abroad bringing others into displeasure remouing froÌ„ the King his faithful counsailers bringing in their own minions bondmeÌ„ through whose meanes this Prince was persuaded that the Lords of Guise were his most trustie and faithful seruants who sowed dissension among the other Princes and great Lords to the end that drawing the one partie vnto their side they might with the lesse labour destroy the other All these particularities shal better be seene hereafter in their order whereby these iniuries shal plainely be perceiued At this present thus much we wil say which also al true Frenchmen wil stand vnto that considering the breuitie of King Henries life he did them in so short time more good then anie King his predecessor did euer vnto al his whole houshold together he suffred more he bare more with them indured more sorowe grief vnduetiful behauiours losses and hinderances by them then euer master friend or father susteined at the hands of their seruants companions or children For besides that while he liued they infinit waies and times turned away from him seking the destruction of both his bodie and soule to their powers they haue also contaminated his house marred his children and consumed his people euen at his death they haue shewed what regard in his life time they had vnto him We heard before how the eldest brother perceiuing the death of the great King Francis at hand scorned him calling him yoncker They al now haue bene nothing behind but haue vttered many more signes of disobedience and of their trecherous hearts toward King Henrie at his death who was their especial friend natural Lord and mightie benefactor What a sight was it to the French nation bewayling the so vntimely and vnlooked for death of their Prince to beholde at the same instant of his deceasse the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine with ioyful countenances taking their yong King and nephue and transporting him from the Tournelles vnto the Louure Yea there was one who semed to name that day and that not impertinently the Euen of the feast of three Kings For there was no man so ignorant but that viewing these Lordes on horsebacke might wel iudge that France should now haue the King inheritour King in name only and the two Lords of Lorraine Kings in effect or at the least two craftie and cruel tyrants a since they haue manifested them selues Moreouer it is the duetie of the great chamberlaine to take the charge ouer the dead Kings corpes vntil it be buried Now the Duke of Guise was great chamberlaine for he had euen in maner forcibly taken the same office from the house of Longueuille Who then letted the Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorraine hauing a King at their deuotion yea if we may so say at their commandement from doing their dueties but that needes they must presently forsake the corpes as some filthie carrion What may be said of them that so shamefully abandoned the corpes of their King and Lord nothing caring or thinking vpon the garde and burial of the same for the which cause both the Constable and al other the Kings trustie faithful seruants remained stil behind Yea if they had but stayed vntil the bodie had bene colde and assuredly dead or at the least if they had but shewed some countenance of sorow Howbeit peraduenture this inhumanitie proceded of that they had gotten some inckling that King Henrie was minded to driue them away presently after the triumphes and feastes were ended or rather their owne ambition permitted them not long to deferre the discouerie of that which their hearts conspired which was vnder the name of their nephue Francis to raigne ouer vs waiting better occasion to proceede Well peraduenture they dealt better with Francis the second and so behaued them selues that now they deserued to haue their former offences concealed Let vs therefore see whether it be so or not This yong Prince being sixteene yeres old at the most reigned scarce seuenteene moneths fully but we may say and lye not that neuer Realme in seuenteene moneths space was so shaken as our poore France all through these mens ambition yea I dare affirme that in case God for the iust punishment of our sinnes had prolonged the said Francis reigne other seuenteene moneths the house of Valois had vtterly lost the crowne and the whole nobilitie might well haue prepared them selues vnto death or other strange bondage and violences The people the officers of iustice and euen the Clergie them selues could haue assured them selues of no other then most horrible tyrannie To the end therefore that all this may the more euidently be perceiued let vs marcke the ordering of the Realme in the said seuenteene moneths space First they rauished the King out of the handes of the Estates of the Realme and officers of the crowne conueying him euen at the houre of his fathers death into the Louure with his brethren mother and wife There they so warely watched him and diligently kept him that no man might come neere him vnlesse some of the GuisiaÌ„s were at haÌ„d At the same time also began they to be called the Kings kepers They driue away the Constable and others they send away the Princes of the blood one to carie the order into Spayne an other to conduct the lady Elizabeth another to confirme the peace in Flanders and finally vsed them as we shal see comming to speake of their dealings toward sundry Princes of the blood They take or rather wreste from them the dealings in the affaires of estate for when the Parliaments had sent their deputes to the King he gaue them to vnderstand that his two vncles the Cardinall of Lorraine and the Duke of Guise had the whole dealinges commanding that thence forth all men should resorte vnto them in all matters touching the estate of him and his Realmes and dominions charging all men to obey them as him selfe Here you see them by their owne instrument declared Kings for this yong Prince being of no experience and miserable in that he was lincked in to such companie said and did nothing

sought vtterly to root out him and his Thus may you see how they enuenimed the King against his blood and people naming to him Valois in steade of Guise openly playing at King put of thy coate yet could not their cruelties stop men from casting these things in their teeth both in worde and writing being accused of weakening deuouring and wasting both the King and his Realme But al this shal more particularly be described The Cardinal was then so malepart as in the Kings presence to sweare by Gods blood that the Baron of Castelnaul should die for it and that no man should saue him In the meane time the Kings edicts posted euery way and the Duke of Guise the more to floute the King and doubting lest the executioÌ„ of so many might procure him more hatred among al men fearing also least this worde estates which already began to tingle in their eares should tickle the peoples hearts thought it best to saue the liues after the maner of a thiefe which holdeth a man in his mercy at the corner of a wood of the most part of the poore souldiers who were come on foote which was done giuing euery man closely a testorne I wil not here say that they counseled the King to slaye the Prince of Conde neither speake of the meanes which they vsed in washing and clensing them selues in innocent blood neither of the slanders which they layed vpon the dead persons or of their faire promises for time to come and al in the Kings name and yet obserued nothing for we shal haue time enough to speake thereof more largely hereafter But I wil set before the readers an other wonderful iniury which their ambition wrought against the King and his estate Their niece who was married to Francis the second was Queene of Scots Now chalenged she some title to England because she was the daughter of the sonne of one of the sisters of King Henry the eight of England pretending that Queene Elizabeth at this present reigning might easely be displaced especially because that Marie Queene before her being married to King Philippe had declared her vnlawful They caused therfore their niece to take vpon her the title armes both of EnglaÌ„d ScotlaÌ„d determining finally to appropriat to themselues the realm of England at the cost of France and in the name of their said niece whether it were by subtiltie or force Also the religion which Queene Elizabeth professed semed to them a meete pretence to winne some power in England where it is not vnknowen that there are suffred ouer many of the popes affectionate seruants Again the mightines of the King of France together with the inuincible alliaÌ„ce of both kngdomes was vnto them an other couer or cloke vnder the which they gathered together many secret seruants pensioners who sould their wicked consciences by golde weite and in scoffing at the Guisians perswaded them that for the attaining of England it was requsite first to came the Scots who for the most part were become protestants For by this goodly exploit the English Catholikes should haue a sufficient gage of their rest for time to come also that it was necessary that one of the six brethren shoulde remaine stil in Scotland During these practises there arose some trouble in Scotland about religion King Henry the second died and they seeing themselues on horsback determined to pursue this pray with horne and crye They sent therefore the Bishop of Amiens a very nimble person in the court of the Church who in one moneth should reduce said he al the strayed Scots with him la Brosse a hairebrained and furious person who should murder al in that realme These two good commissioners being arriued in Scotland began in their owne fancies to make partition of the gentlemens lands and selling the beares skinne which yet they had not taken they writte vnto the Guisians that there were waies how to draw yerely two hundred thousaÌ„d crownes out of this kingdoÌ„ by puttiÌ„g to death the nobilitie and bringing the commons into subiection also that there they might wel lodge a thousand French gentle meÌ„ who should be to do the lords of Guise seruice God knoweth whither this council clawed them where they itched and whither they maligned the Queene dowager their sister and her minion the lord of Oysel who thought it not best to ouerrunne the said Scotts who had blood in their nayles as they shewed wel making the Bishop to feele that they had nought to doe with his instructions and compelling la Brosse to returne the same way he came and to goe and bragge it in some other place driuing away the priests the Cardinalty and the Papalty al which had it not bene for the foolish ambition of the Guisians might well haue remained Also besides this blowe they susteined an other onset on the coaste of England for Queene Elizabeth made a large protestation expressely against them therein setting before al mens sight the causes of these broyles to the Kings confusion and the destruction of his realme And whatsoeuer countenances or practises that they made afterward fastening according to their custome the foxes skinne vnto the lyons yet gained they nought els on that side sauing shame to themselues and losse and hinderance vnto the King and his realme Whiles they extended their wings so farre of in France one the one side the protestants multiplied and on the otherside such as misliked the gouernement of the Guisians began againe to take heart notwithstanding the successe of the enterprise of Amboyse had in the beginninge greatly quailed the greatest part Hereupon the Duke of Guise marueilously chafed that in his gouernement of Dauphine the protestants had first lifted vp their heades brought in sixtene ensignes of the olde bands of PiedmoÌ„t together with diuers coÌ„panies of other French souldiers vnder the conduct of Tauannes Maugiron and others who made marueilous hauocke in those countreis Sone after also they brought the King to Tours where they did what they could to haue had the towne destroyed for they supposed that the inhabitants thereof had fauoured the enterprise of Amboyse and therefore a great while bare them a milke tooth Thus walking the King vp and downe causing him to taste of the baite of al pleasures they abused his youth and simplicitie dayly planting other pillers of their greatnesse for time to come the more they se they were contrariried the sorer were they enuenimed bent vnto new practises briÌ„ging the King into the hatred both of his subiects and strangers more endamaging the realme in one moneth then then before it had bene in a whole yeres warre against the Spaniard for it was incredible what exactions and debtes they procured also what goods them selues hoarded vp during the raigne of their said nephue FraÌ„cis the second These behauiours together with extreeme violence vsed brought most part of the commons in maner into despaire of euer seeing France againe in

be decreed against theÌ„ also lest their absence should bewray to all the world the difference betwene their furious and vnlawful gouernement that of the Princes of the blood of the Constable of his eldest sonne Montmorency of the brethren of Chastillon also lest by meanes hereof the cause and roote of the coÌ„tagion which infected the coÌ„mon wealth should be cut of which was the thing that they feared more then the plague for they saw that vnlesse they tooke some order it would be knowen that them selues were the very causes originals of disorder But which most troubled them they had a womaÌ„ to gouerne whose stedfastnes they did greatly suspect by reason the Admiral was nere to the yong king her sonne to whom she seemed to yealde as much as she could passe withal for the mollifying of the Princes and Estates They douted also lest so soone as their backs were turned to the Courtward that they had giuen ouer the dealings in the affaires there would come in infinite complaints the verifying wherof neither the Quene mother neither other their friends could denie seing that the crime of treason walked to fast abroad These occasions therefore caused the Guisians to forsake ouerthrow al good lawes and vsual orders put in practise as funerals The Cardinall sought to excuse him self by the King of Nauarre and the Chastillons saying that they had so coÌ„cluded in the counsail chamber because there was not money ynough to bestow vpon so charitable a deed although the foure score thousand frankes which he his brethren had gotten out of the money that came out of Poictou had ben more then sufficient and in deed they were openly taxed therefore For wheÌ„ Sansac la Brosse had brought the body vnto S. Dionice there buried it without any solemnitie or royal ceremonies two dayes after the buriall there was founde pinned vpoÌ„ the veluet hearsecloth which couered his body a litle paper with this writing Ou est messire TaÌ„neguy du Chastel mais il estoit FraÌ„cois signifying VVhere is master TaÌ„neguy du Chastel but he was a French man. Hereat euery maÌ„ at the first did but laugh but afterward thinking better vpon the matter they found it to be other then it was taken for This TaÌ„neguy was charles the seueÌ„ths chief chamberlein bestowed 8000. franks vpon his masters funerals which he was not paied again vntil three yeres after he layd out this money wheÌ„ he saw that al meÌ„ had abandoned his masters corps by reason al the Lords had drawen to his sonne Lewis the eleuenth who was newly entred into his kingdome being as then in the low countreis whither before through his fathers displeasure he was gone This writing therfore was interpreted as a lameÌ„tatioÌ„ made in the name of King Francis seeing him self forsaken destitute of such a chamberleyn as Tanneguy was and then saying as if he reuoked that TaÌ„neguyes good nature dutie was not so wonderfull because he was a French man no straunger wherein the Authour seemed to note the Duke of Guise because he had wrested the office of Great Chamberleyn from the house of Longueuille Now haue we seene the euill entrie of the Guisians during the reigne of Francis the first also howe in the time of Henrie the second their ambition replenished al Germanie and Italie with blood howe their couetousnes set to sale as it were to the most giuer the lawes all iustice howe through infinite exactions it emptied the purses both of rich and poore whereof folowed innumerable calamities Then howe in the time of Francis the seconde it was to be doubted whether bare greater sway in them either rapine or crueltie True it is that the crueltie made the greater shew as we haue alreadie shewed and will agayne hereafter But in the tyme of Charles the ninth the aforesayde vices togyther with many more also all their shadowes of vertue did then as by day appeare In this place coÌ„meth into sight so many to true discourses that I am eueÌ„ in a perplexitie not knowing which to take the number of those which presently do appeare is so infinite Of one thing I am sure and that is this that at this day there is no French man hauing any knowledge in worldly affayres but that he is able to make an other Legende of the particular actes of these Guisians in case he will take so much leysure as to gather togither all that he knoweth wherefore I hope to be excused although I doe onely set in hande this worke which requireth both more hands and wittes King Francis being dead as is aforesaid and the Cardinal when he was euen readie to giue vp the Ghost hauing procured him to vtter these words Lorde forgiue me my sins impute not vnto me whatsoeuer my officers in my name and authoritie haue done The Guisians minded to followe a new counsayle which was to put of their lyons skinne that they could no longer keepe without manifest daunger of being drawen to flaying and to put on the foxes cace Nowe therefore they determined to folowe their hunte through the Queene mothers meanes They promised her that if she will fauour them they will set to their handes to keepe her in the chiefest degree Also the more to put this hammer into her head they doe alleadge vnto her that the Princes through her wincking at matters being so euill dealt withall can do no lesse then wishe her harme seeking all meanes to bring her downe to the ende to set vp the Constable and the house of Chastillon whereby afterward to make more alterations That the estates will disgrade her vnlesse she goeth out at the back doore to meete them also although then the Guisians were excluded yet haue they so many seruants friends that for a long whyle they could withstand the Princes In the meane time that she should retayne her authoritie that when her children should come to age the gouernment of the Princes their partakers should vanish away The Queen being as crafty as they knew how to take hold of this proffer and so to get in betwene both parties that bending sometimes one way sometimes an other to this present she hath kept the place to the confusion of those who had thither lifted her Hauing thus found so good an attourney who at once reconciled them to the King of Nauarre and gaue forth speaches that she would mainteine the Guisians against all their enemies and misreporters they beganne somewhat to assure them selues Now therefore remained no more to doe but to beate downe first the Prince of Conde who would not be handled as his brother the King of Nauarre then Montmorency and then the Chastillons Hereupon came to sight the goodlyest determination for their purpose in the worlde They perceiued the number of Protestantes still to increase in all partes of France also that the Prince of Conde and the Chastillons were openly of that profession for

vnto diuers that he had not of long time heard anie newes that more contented him Ye haue heard already how the estates holden at OrleaÌ„s were proroged vnto May and afterward through diuers disturbances of such as intended to giue no account but on horseback in armour they were adiourned vnto the end of August at Pontoise where they had bene appointed There among other things which touched the Guisians but especially the Duke of Guise there present the propositioÌ„ of the lord Bretagne in his oratioÌ„ in the name of the third estate coÌ„cerning the euil dealings of the said GuisiaÌ„s did chiefly pinch them the wordes because they be notable haue we here set downe Your subiects said he speaking to the King haue bene molested with infinite subsidies both ordinary extraordinary wherupon haue ensued also the augmeÌ„ting of impost the wages of fiftie thousand footmeÌ„ the collations the twentie franckes vpon euery steeple in the Realme the leuie of eight crownes vpon the officers royal sixe vpoÌ„ the aduocates of the Parliament foure vpoÌ„ the Burgeses widowes artificers two vpon the rest of the aduocates practitioners notaries and sergeants borowed not borowed free holdes new gaines money leuied after the battaile of S. Laurence alienation of the demaines helpes gables fines taken vpoÌ„ offices both olde new the suppressioÌ„ of certain of the same money for coÌ„firmations coyne raised vpon houses towne houses pay leuied vpon consignatioÌ„s vessels of gold siluer billeted warlike munitions victuals for campes and armies leuied within these thirty yeres horse and furniture of artillarie erecting of sales of wine furniture apparrel and food for souldiers wages and pay for souldiers in diuers particular townes saultpeter and poulder which the people must furnish officers wages men of armes and footmen vnpayd conduct money into Bretagne with other infinite suÌ„mes vnder sundry names and titles and al tending to the getting of your subiects money so that by reason of the said in supportable charges your pore subiects are so weakened enfeebled impouerished that at this present Sir they haue nothing left to offer or present vnto your maiesty other theÌ„ their good faithful willes They ofteÌ„ haue examined them selues tryed their whole abilities in your maiesties affaires but to their great griefe they haue fouÌ„d themselues destitute of al meanes of helping or succoring you and therefore doe most desire that it may please you to deferre put of the succour which you at this time do attend at their haÌ„ds vntil some other time wheÌ„ through as wel their own diligeÌ„ce labour trauail sparing sobriety as also through such good entreaty as they hope for at your hands they shal haue recouered part of their former abilitie power Neither can they be perswaded considering the great subsidies of them leuyed during the reigns of the Kings your late father and brother that you can be so greatly endebted Calling also to minde whatsoeuer all auncient histories or recordes as wel holy as prophane haue left of al antiquitie as testimonies of valiant deedes they do finde that neuer any monarch King or soueraigne Prince hath died indebted in such excessiue summes as did the late King Henry your Honorable father how long or continual warres the said Monarches haue susteined or enterprised for the augmenting of the boundes and limites of their realmes and empires And to say the trueth so great and wonderful are the debts that quite emptying al the treasuries of your dominions and particularly researching euery subiect yet shal you hardely finde goulde or siluer in their possessions equiualeÌ„t vnto the said suÌ„mes Which notwithstanding it seemeth very hard and incredible yet is the knowledge thereof more grieuous vnto your subiectes because their power is not equal to their desires This therefore hath moued them to coniecture that such great summes of money leuied among your people neuer came wholy into your coffers neither was euer conuerted to the coÌ„moditie of your predecessors but through vnreasonable giftes and such other meanes haue in part remained in the hands of some particular persons whose houses do now triumph and florish through the harmes of your said subiects For the reparation therefore of such former gouernment also to preuent that in time to come you fall not into any such bottomles pit of debts they do most humblye besech you to ordeine that the treasurers ouer seers of your treasury who hitherto haue had the haÌ„dling disposing of the same during the reignes aforesaid may come bring in an accoÌ„pt of their administration before such delegates as your selfe shal chuse or through the assistance of the estates euery prouince and gouernment shal name by this meanes may such be quailed and reuoked to their dueties as in time to come might coÌ„mit the like trespas Again one of the first articles conteined in the roules which the third estate presented were these wordes That such might bring in their accompts as were accomptable had had the ordering of the treasurye for that the said thirde estate could not beleeue but that thereby sundrye great abuses might be found out also that in the meane time aswell such as were accomptable as also al other who had bene dealers in the treasurie euen being of the priuie counsaile might neuerthelesse be forbidden entrie into the said council together with the execution of their said offices vntil the said accomptes were made other where then in the chamber of accompts and in the presence of the delegates of the estates and that al restes and debtes were payed also that especial reuiew might be made of the accompts of those who had receiued the particular loanes of the sommes of eight six foure and two crownes the twenty frankes of eche steple the munitions and victuals the furnitures of the sales of wines and other necessary things for the warres the money leuied vpon the walled townes after the battaile of S. Laurence and al other extraordinary payes leuied vpon the people Also that al excessiue pensions vnreasonable giftes whatsoeuer might be reuoked without exception of any person sauing the Queene mother who had sollicited the estates to pursue these matters for the causes rehearsed in the discourse of her gouernement for that it was euident that this money had neuer bene employed vnto such vse as it had bene destined vnto namely the relieuing of the kings affaires now may we wel thinke whether these motions clawed the Guisians The Cardinal more staied theÌ„ his brother the Duke made no shew of ought as if he had sought to make ready his accompts but in the others forhead a man might reade a thousand threats against the estate of the realme the effects whereof appeared within fiue or six moneths after For their better prouiding therefore for their own affairs they determined as touching the giuing vp of their accompts that they would practise al meanes possible rather then be brought into any such necessitie also that in case

into the citie of Paris and thence to the Court to the ende to be sure both of the towne and of the King and Queene mothers persons and so the more easely to compasse their conspiracies And to the ende to finde some honest couer for the Duke of Guises returne into France he caused the King of Nauarre to call him home howbeit he could not temper his rage vntil he came to the Court but did discharge the same vpon the inhabitants of Vassye as is afore sayde beeing garded with men of armes according to a determinatioÌ„ concluded vpon aboue three monethes before namely that euery man should entise as many Gentlemen and men of armes as was possible warning them to meete in their furniture nere vnto Paris about the beginning of March whereof the Queene mother and the King of Nauarre had bene sufficiently aduertised and yet in stede of prouiding thereagainst they deferred their matters from day to day so that eche played his parte after a strange maner and al in one tragedie The Duke of Guise met at the time appoynted at Nantueil where other his fautors did soone meete with him whose purpose a man may easely coniecture in that most of them comming thither there receyued their Easter rights put them selues in such estate as like men do vse to doe when they thinke them selues nere vnto any daungerous enterprise In the meane time the Queene mother was counsailed that for the eschewing of these troubles it were meete to keepe the Duke of Guise being armed contrary to the Kings ordinances froÌ„ passing through Paris where the Prouost of Marchants and other of the principall did wayte for him whereupon she diuers times sent for him to come to her vnto her house at Monceaux where he shold be welcome expressely forbidding him all entrie into Paris in such array for the auoyding of such inconueniences as she foresawe likely to ensue considering also the execution and slaughter lately by him committed at Vassy for the which all men earnestly cryed vpon the King and her for iustice and in respect of the same al the realme was replenished with complaintes and lamentations Hereunto the Duke of Guise aunswered that he could not come to her for that he had enough to doe to feast and to welcome such his friends as were come to visite him Then after that the Queene had the second time written to him to come he made no answere but hauing receiued his friends did according to the resolution afore taken touching their enterprise take his iourney on the one side accompanied with his adherentes came into Paris by S. Dionice gate making his entrie in open armour in which order he had still marched euen from the murder at Vassy The Prouost of Marchants and three of the Counseylours of the citie assisted him in this entrie with great companies of people and exclamations of men thereunto hyred euen as if the Kings owne person had bene there crying alowd Liue Lord of Guise whereat neyther he neyther any of his company shewed any token of discontentation The Guisians hauing strook this first stroke against the Kinges authoritie and the estate of the Realme proceeded on and in Paris beganne to holde priuate councils Hereupon the Queene mother lying at Monceaux and hauing dayly aduertisementes that the Guisians intended to sease vpon the Kinges person and her determined hastily to departe and retire into some place of assurance Shee came therefore to Melune minding to get to Orleans there to wayte in broader day light to see howe matters wente which nowe began to come to great confusion But the Guisians sent the Prouost of Marchantes to crye after her that vnlesse she returned Paris and all was lost because the Prince of CoÌ„de was in armes the Parisians naked and he so laboured that the rebels had their weapons deliuered them whereby to fortifie the Duke of Guise and his faction agaynst their enemies and so to haue the redier opportunitie to sease vpon the Kings person Also the more to hasten their woorke they got the King of Nauarre vnto Paris for this Prouost of Marchants incessantly cryed out at the Court that the King of Nauarres presence was most necessary in Paris to represse the troubles but through the Guisians driftes al was contrarie For so soone as he was come they helde councils more narrowly then before wherein among other things they determined thorowly to assure them selues of Paris and thence to driue away the Prince of CoÌ„de as the only hinderer of their enterprise touching the seasing vpoÌ„ the King and Quene mother and their bringing to Paris to the end there hauing theÌ„ at coÌ„mandemeÌ„t to prosecute vnder their name and authoritie their whole determinations Finally they did so much that they got the place toke the King Queene mother brought them to the Louure This done notwithstaÌ„ding whatsoeuer the chaÌ„celers others declaratioÌ„s it was fully concluded to arreare open warre against the Prince of CoÌ„de and his adherents During these matters the Prince of Conde sent to the King his protestation and declaration conteining the causes that had moued him to take weapoÌ„ namely to the end to restore the King and his mother to their ful liberties to mainteine the Edictes but especially the last which touched Religion offring to go home to his owne house in case the Duke of Guise would do the like Now the Cardinal of Lorraine his brethren and their adherents considering that nowe there were two especiall pointes which they must needes craftily cloke namely the Kings captiuitie and the breaking of the Edict of Ianuarie did diligently procure the dispatch of a declaration bearing date the eight of Aprill wherein they cause the King to coÌ„fesse that the report of his captiuitie is a false and slaunderous lye which the Prince of Conde and his partakers haue inuented to excuse his owne dealings and that he and the Queene were in as free libertie as euer before also that of their own accorde they came to Paris there to prouide agaynst these troubles These letters were soone allowed in the Parliament of Paris where were many of the Guisians creatures The playnlier also to scorne the King and al the realme they inuented in their opinions an other crafty deuise for within eight or ten dayes after these letters they procured others wherein it was declared that the Prince of Conde vnder a false and fayned pretence of Religion was personally seased vpon by certaine seditious persons who had him now in their possession Also to the ende to haue one full blowe at the Edict of Ianuarie they in the same moneth dispatched other letters wherin in the Kinges name they gaue out that he had bene aduertised how that diuers numbers of people were retired to Orleans and other places vnder colour of a certayn pretended feare of being searched in their consciences and restrained from the benefite of the Edict of Ianuarie He therefore declareth that he

abide that desirous that in France there might shortly appeare as many robberies euen at the Kings his poore peoples costes as there be bridges and passages ouer riuers To be briefe to the end there might be no trafficke letters or purses which thirtene ribbauldes were not sufficient to visite from one place to another thereof to make reporte vnto the said Cardinal we must marke what order he tooke vnder colour said he to keepe the Protestantes from assembling togither to conspire against the Kinge As indeede that was one marke that he shot at together with certaine other more high attempts in case his enterprises against the Prince of Condye and the Admirall had had good successe Howbeit the commissioÌ„ which then he procured more manifestly did reueile the iniurie which he did to the King and the realme also his vehement desire to trouble al the estate to the ende to exalt his owne race through his enemies ouerthrowe This therefore was the tenour of the commission made about the time of the edict afore set downe namely in the moneth of Maye 1568. The King hath ordeined captaine N. in the towne of N. there to remaine Captaine and keeper of the bridge and passage to whome shal be deliuered twelue men to assist his person whome he may command whatsoeuer he thinketh meet conuenient for the Kings seruice which twelue men his maiestie shal pay ouer and besides the entertainment alowed to the said captaine He shal first procure to make a drawbridge ouer the sayde passage which he and his twelue men shall daye and night diligentlye and warily watche and keepe not permitting any to passe vnlesse he first knowe whence he commeth whither he goeth what his businesse is and who himselfe is Also seeing any numbers of men approching to the passage ouer the sayd bridge he shall presently cause it to be drawne not suffering the passage to be taken before he be assured of the same do know that they haue no meanes to hurt him Also to the ende that he his twelue men with him may continually remaine at the said bridge with al conuenient commodities he shal immediatly take order for the making of a lodge neere vnto the said bridge whither he and his souldiers may retire lodge and accommodate theÌ„ selues in not going from the saide bridge or abandoning the custodie thereof and to the same effect his maiestie hath written to the inhabitants of the same towne that they at their owne cost do make the said lodge and draw-bridge Also forasmuche as it may greatly aduantage the said captaine towarde his sure keeping of the said bridge and prouiding that there be no meanes to surprise the same to haue knowledge of things done in the said quarters he shal endeuour to discouer to his power the actions and intentes of those of the new religion and hearing of any thinge preiudicial to the Kings maiesties seruice he shal looke diligently to his charge and giue warning vnto the Captaine of the next bridge passage or towne and the like shal all other captaines do who haue commission for the keeping of any other bridges or passages til time the King be thereof aduertised so that he may take some order And although the principal cause which moued the King to commit this captaine to the charge of the bridge or passage aforesaid is for the safe custodie thereof yet shal he for his part take diligent heede that the Protestants haue no preachings or other exercises of their religion in any other place then his maiestie hath to them ordeined and established as wel by the contents of his edictes of pacification as also by the rule prescribed since the publication of the last edict He shal hearken and take good hede as much as possibly he may that the protestantes make no enroulings of men of warre no leuyes or collections of coyne no vnlawful assemblies or no motions of warre either where his charge lyeth or in any other place thereabout but shal prouide for faithful men to aduertise him and if neede be to send some of the skilfullest about him and such as haue any vnderstanding or do seme meet to penetrate into the said Protestants affaires to the end they may certifie him of whatsoeuer they can learne out He shal endeuour to knowe whether there be any gentlemen of the Kinges side that be displeased or do shewe anie countenance to fauour or followe the said protestants any whome they haue suborned or motioned to make any practises or drifts teÌ„ding to the surprising of any the Kings towns haue not disclosed the same to the end to keepe the said practises or enterprises the more secret farther from suspicion He shal also labour wheÌ„ the said Protestants do holde their Synodes assemblies thorowly to detect vnderstand the causes of the same together with the conclusions therof He shal finde meanes to get in vnder such pretence as he shall thinke best some wise and trustie person who may know and smel out the ende of their intentes and giue him a good accompt of al that hath bene propounded or agreed vpon in the said assemblies he shal take hede that there be no assemblies made in any towne or place forbidden and defended either any secret exercise of their religion To the end also that his maiestie may be serued as appertaineth with good knowledge among his trusty faithful subiects the said captaine shal often commune with the gouernour who hath the charge of the towne of such matters as may fal out touching his said maiesties seruice the one not to encroche vpon the others authority lest any displeasure or controuersy should breed betweene the said gouernour him He shal curiously enquire who be the superintendeÌ„ts ouer the protestants affaires in the said country what their pensions are and whether they do send any messengers into forein couÌ„tries to what end He shall also certify the King of al such matters as he hath learned touching any the said matters or other things tending to his maiesties seruice neither shal he faile of sending weekly one or more messengers according as matters shal fal out the same shal he addresse to my Lord the Kings brother and lieutenant general who shal giue him answere And the said captain may certifie the King my said lord his brother of al that he knoweth by seÌ„ding his letters to him that shal haue the custody of the next bridge so from hand to hand shal the same be conueied by other captaines hauing like commission vnto the King or my Lord his brother Now may any man hauing wit or discretion consider in this coÌ„missioÌ„ wonderful policies of the Cardinal new preparatiues for warre by the meanes wherof he aduanced him self Also how by these drifts the third ciuil warre was sone kiÌ„dled for in lesse theÌ„ two moneths after the peace there were aboue ten thousand persons slaine here there in the

support troubles and partialities in the realme For she told them flatly that they must not loke to haue the edict of Ianuarie obserued neither that in France should be any other religion vsed then the Romish also that the Catholiks were so strong therwith so chafed especially at Paris that without further tumults the said edict could not be kept wherfore they ought to be content in being tolerated to liue quietly in their owne houses without any slaunder or being searched in their consciences prouided alwayes that they practised no preachings administratioÌ„ of the Sacraments or other exercises of their religion The Guisians also remeÌ„bring how diuers times before the said Prince of CoÌ„de his adherents had declared which laÌ„guage they now also vsed vnto the Queene that rather then for their partes to agree to the forcing of their coÌ„sciences or to tolerate any thing contrary to Gods honour or his worde they would depart the realme incurre perpetual exile did now expressely aduertise the Quene that at this parly she should reduce theÌ„ againe to the same coÌ„munication then take theÌ„ at their word which she both promised and diligently brought to passe For hauing declared to the Prince his partakers that their protestations touching the maintenance of the edicts religion were not receyueable she did very liberally yelde to the other point namely that their best was to withdrawe them selues out of France promising to procure vnto theÌ„ as well generally as particularly al such letters of assurance as theÌ„ selues would deuise then accoÌ„pting her self assured of their departure she began to discourse with theÌ„ vpoÌ„ the time wheÌ„ the king should come out of his nonage shewing them that there were some who threatned to coÌ„tinue it vnto the twentieth yere of his age notwithstaÌ„ding she were determined at the four tenth yere to proclayme his maioritie alleadging that she assured her selfe that in case any man sought therein to contrary her the said Prince the rest would not faile but come to her ayde and assistance Yet was she not content so accursedly to mainteine both the Guisians her owne ambition but that she must needes the same night after she came from Talsye dispatch Ramboillet to the ende in the morning to be at the said Princes vprising to hasteÌ„ the departure of him his to bring her worde of the assured houre time of their said departure out of the Realm writing vnto the said prince that she would send him ten thousand crownes to what part soeuer he weÌ„t therin manifestly declaring her self the instrumeÌ„t of the said Guisians wherwith to banish him so that hereby euery man may perceiue what way poore France was like to goe through such accursed gouernement The Prince hereupon returned with such lords as acompanied him into his owne caÌ„pe hauing first reueiled to the Queene mother certain of the Guisians practises whereby they endeuored to haue apprehended him in his returne from the said parlye which he had discouered But all this notwithstanding they were so wide from quayling his constancie that contrariwise being fully resolued to mainteine the liberty and lawes of his countrie and to doe his duety vnto God the Church against the enemies he twise offered them battayle But the Duke of Guise and his friends who so greatly before trusted in their power knowledge and experience as to presume to say euen before the Kings face that with three huÌ„dred men of armes they would not fayle but so beate the Huguenots that for their safety they should haue enough to doe quickly to get into the corners of the Realme then with all the power that they could get in seuen or eight dayes togither with such forces as they gathered vnder the Kings name and auctoritie could not now otherwise shifte but by stealing away and in the night departing vnto Bloys a towne of no strength where they found the poore inhabitants vtterly disarmed of whom some they murdered some they drowned violating women and maydens and committing wonderfull hauocke and thence hauing that passage open they went and sacked sundry other townes and forraged a great parte of the Realme The Cardinal also togither with the Popes Legat followed the army to the armye whereby to preuent all meanes of agreement to mainteine the troubles wherof we neede no more assured proofe then of a certeine remeÌ„brance which at the same time was met withall which the said Cardinal sent to his brother the Duke of Guise and his companions to the campe at Bloys by Seure the controuler of his said brothers houshoold This remembrance among other did conteine these wordes As for breaking of or hindering whatsoeuer is newly propounded touching agreement it is that that is the hardest and conteineth most labour and neuer beleeue that any man taketh any heede thereto or hearken vnto them either that they shal come to any poinct vnlesse they submit them selues to such offers as the Queene saith she hath made vnto them Afterward he addeth saying As for coÌ„tinuing about the Queene that is done all diligence is employed according to the instructions without omitting any houre or occasions and so shal be continued Concerning the Pope those be so long delayes that we can come to no ende neither is there any defaulte of calling vpon yea euen of angring outright Touching the succours of Flanders we perceiue nothing redy without long attent yesterday the Embassadour was spoken vnto who saith he hath done his endeuour in writing to the Lady of Parma For Meaux we haue not power sufficient to doe any thing and therefore we seeke to get them to yelde In any wise forget not Mans and Bourges see that after your departure from where ye are you be not new to beginne The declaration of rebellion was yesterdaye red in the council and well liked of all men The Kings men penned it and it should this day haue bene published But they say they haue promised to doe nothing without you and therefore doe send it to you to adde or diminish Time wasteth send it therefore backe againe speedily This declaration of rebellion had the Cardinal practised thereby to breake the Prince of Condes power and so with more ease to attaine to his purposes The arrest thereof was published in the Parliament of Paris the 27 day of Iuly 1562. But the Prince and his partakers did first refuse the Guisians slaues who prepared them selues to make this declaration and then vttereth the vniustice of the same whereby the Cardinal gotte not much that way sauing that he detected his owne practises and rebellions as the said Prince and his confederates published in their declaration to the Queene wherein were these notable wordes among other Considering with a single eye the parties in this cause ye shall finde that the said lorde Prince and his confederates haue bene wrongfully declared rebelles by those who are so in deede The procurers of all the troubles happened

in this Realme since the death of the late King Henry are the declarers of the said Prince and his fautours to be seditious They who doe oppresse the Kings maiestie abolish his decrees and abuse his name and auctority to the ende with his ouerthrowe to establish their owne mightinesse are the same who haue declared vs guilty of treason Those those are guilty of treason against God whose workes haue alweys shewed that ambition is their God couetousnes their religion and worldly pleasures their paradise and last felicitie who haue sworne warre against the Sonne of God his worde and the defenders of the same who shew the deedes of Anabaptistes in rebaptising children baptised according to the ordinaunce of IESVS CHRIST whose houses are replenished with thefte and their handes bloody in all crueltye Those men also are guilty of humaine treason who haue violated the Kinges edictes armed them selues contrary to his commaundement and seased vpon his royall person who are inwarde friendes and to the same ende doe vse the helpe of those who in seeking to steale away the second person of the Realme endeuored to oppresse the King to bring his estate into ruine confusion And seing we must needes proceed I say that those men are guilty of treason who lately made a conspiracy in Prouence through the ayde of Lauris a president in the Parliament of Aix togither with Fabritius Cerbelone the Popes gouernour of Auignon teÌ„ding to the raising of fiftenth thousand men who as they sware marched at the commaÌ„dement of the Duke of Guise of whom the said Fabritius furnished a thousand footemen and two hundred horse which conspiracy being detected and in the court of Parliament of Prouence verified Entrages and Laydet the two chiefe captaines of this faction were beheaded by sentence of the said courte If this be not sufficient I wil say yet more namely that the Guisians made the like match in Dauphine by meanes of captaine Mantil hoping to arme the said two prouinces then to cause them togither to march where they thought best So that these conspiracies made for the abolishing of the preaching of the Gospel these leauyings of men and this othe to marche at the Duke of Guises commandement doe crye out that he and his confederates are rebels seditious persons and guilty of treason against both God man Also that contrariwise those are the Kings true and faithfull seruantes who both haue and still doe valiantly withstand their rebellions seditions and attemps against the Kings maiesty and the estate of this Realme Also hereof aboue all that is yet spoken the ouerthrowe of the policy and subuersion of the iustice of this Realme togither with the peruerting of the court of Parliament of Paris may be a sufficient testimonye The ayde of which court they haue vsed in this false and pernicious iudgement of rebellion because they could not light vpon any other coÌ„pany so corrupted depraued either so much bound to their willes and appetites as is the same for so many as now be members thereof either do keepe their rowmes through the said Guisians and their adherents fauour or els do liue in hope hereafter through their helpe to clime higher yea most of them are by name comprehended in the said conspiracie and league which the said Guisians and their adherents haue made Thus you see what was then published against the Guisians But vnto this policie of causing the Prince of Condies adherents to be proclaimed rebels the Cardinal yet added other sleights First he got the King and the Queen mother to be brought into his brothers campe by the King of Nauarre whom he sent to fetch them so caused both the Child and mother to march as it were in triumph the better to cloke the end of this warre Secondly he wonne to their parte al strangers eueÌ„ the Protestant Germains whome hee caused to enter into the Realme and in the meane season scoffed at the said Protestants religion because said they that with money they brought them to roote out the gospel in France which them selues had plaÌ„ted in Germany which also they stil professed yea the better to scorne the said Germaines the Guisians gaue them to vnderstande that of long time they had bene minded to establish the confession of Ausbourg in France which the Cardinal had openly detested in the assembly of Poissy notwithstanding that afterwarde at Sauerne he protested that he did allow of the same already had so done in case they had not bene letted by the Prince of Condye his adherents whom they charged to be rebels to seke to vsurpe the crowne to be Anabaptistes Atheistes and men deuoyd of al faith and religion Al this time in France there was no news but of teÌ„pests and horrible confusions throughout al the CouÌ„try as more largely is and shal be discoursed vpon in certaine treatises tending to the same end but the Cardinal endeuouring to assure his matters as wel as he might determined to leaue his brethren at worke in France whiles him selfe went to practise with the Pope the Spanierd and others assembled vnto the Councill of Trent and all vnder colour of religion which he did openly scoffe at for at Gyen and Bloys among other the articles whereunto he caused the King his council to subscribe to the end they might said he passe in the CouÌ„cil though in effect to bring the Pope and his adherentes to that whereat he shot were these fiue wherin his practises may plainely be perceiued First that the Canon of the Masse might be cut of and the rest corrected according to the forme of al auncient liturgies brought into Frenche Secondly that the Psalmes might be souÌ„g in Churches after the maner of that FreÌ„ch translation which the doctors of Sorbone had corrected who in deede are as rude Poets although they loue their drinke well as euill diuines Thirdly that indifferently al men might participate in the Lordes Supper vnder both kinds Fourthly that al flat paintings tending to the storie only should be permitted in Churches al Images taken away or at the least wise the people shuld be exhorted not to worship any of theÌ„ either simplie or by relation Fifthly and finally that all curates and priors shoulde either by them selues or by others interpret the epistle and gospel for the day vnto the people Thus did this troublesome member handle France who was against al men and al men against him yea euen in Rome the Cardinal Vitelly did sharpely rebuke him calling him a busie fellowe and molester of al things who only by his driftes cut out more worke in a day then the whole consistory of Cardinals could sowe in a yere The better to frame his ginnes he got forth with him nine bishops foure Abbots and certaine Sorbonistes and arriued at Trent in Nouember 1562. wherevpon the twentye thirde daye of the same moneth he made an oration conteining some matters worth the noting First

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