haue declared to obey our soueraigne Princes and Magistrates and beside they know right well by the behauiour of Rebels that the greatest euil in sedition treason as Cornelius Tacitus others haue learnedlie described is That euerie one woulde commaund hauing no other counsel or reason then their owne wil. Moreouer the most factious and turbulent will euer presume on most authoritie by whom the Magistrates and peaceable Cittizens are ordinarily suspected and are in danger to be prescribed robbed killed or banished There is such mixture of defiances as nothing is ingendered but hate suspition and priuie dissembling so that all honestie all Fayth and humilitie is vtterly forgotten and violated and true reconciliation euer-more hindered All things amongst Rebels are very miserable yet if there fall out any thing to their own desire nothing is more miserable then such a successe as not onely makes them to be more arrogant and vntractable but rather entertaines or nourisheth them more more in mischiefe Do ye not behold that of necessitie the Duke De Maine must doe all things by the aduise and will of the Spanyards although by them he pretends to conquer Marie the Duke of Parma he is too fine to serue them as a Seruaunt he rather wold vsurpe for himselfe if he could a cruell and tyrannicall gouernement to maintaine himselfe by force ouer-throw the Noblemen of this Country afterward beate down the people with feare and terrour VVill not you then take aduantage offered against these Rebelles If yee loue your King and Countrey as I thinke ye doe lay hold yet on the vallour of your Auncestors who valiantly repulsed the Spanyard when hee would haue entred Fraunce made a famous slaughter of all his followers Consider the vnfortunate fal ruine of the ancient estate of Greece very latest Empire therof of Carthage Rome Italie and infinite other Common-weales kingdoms and Signories which onely happened by partialities and deuisions Phillip de Commines heereof wrote well and truelie Such dissention and discordes saith he are verie easily sowne amongst rebellious people and they are a true signall of the ruine and destruction of a Countrey or Kingdome when they take roote therin as they haue doone in diuers other Common-weales and Monarchies And to thys purpose if I were not well assured that the mallice and ambitions of the rebellious Leaguers rather thē destenie is the cause of the desolation of thys estate I could say as Salust sometimes saide of Rome I am perswaded seeing all things that had beginning must haue end that then by destinie the ruine of Rome shall approch when the Cittizens fight against the Cittizens and so beeing spent and weakened shall be exposed as a pray to some King or strange people otherwise all the Nations of the world assembled together cannot ouer-throwe this Empire But any man not sinisterlie carried awaie doth euidentlie perceiue that the originall and source of the downe-fall of this estate except God set his hand to in time ariseth frō the rebellion of these Leaguers so long time practised by the Spanyard and his adherents To escape then from so great an euill withdrawe your selues my Lords to this partie reconcile your selues to your King and relieue your Countrey exposed by the Rebels as a pray to the Spanyard who hath no little while beene plotting and practising this deuice for his purpose Demosthenes fore-seeing the ruines of Greece through the vnderminings and policies of Phillip King of Macedon who kept it in deuisions not only Cittie against Cittie but the Cittizens deuided against each other in euery Cittie by corruppting the chiefe Gouernors that were drawne to take part with him imployed all his paines to reconcile the Athenians and other people of Greece from such dangerous factions and to regard the maintenance of their estate For my selfe I haue not the eloquence of Demosthenes wherewith to perswade yee but this I plainely giue you to vnderstand that an other Phillip King of Spayne hath vsed the like deceits in Fraunce wherby to spoile and ruinate the Countrey as Phillip King of Macedon did in Greece to make himselfe Lord thereof Fly my Lordes fly this partialitie cause of so great troubles pernicious to the publique societie and priuate kind of life euermore readie to hurte and which bringeth no meane damage according to the occasion and occurrences of the time your selues do daily behold the effects heereof for the Armie of the Leaguers beeing hemde in with this partiall Monster as well among the French-men as the Spaniards it will come to passe that without any great labour bestowed by the King their owne deuision wyll both frustrate their enterprises and hinder the victorie they liue in hope to haue euen as it happened in the battaile of Cannas where the Romains lost the day thorow the partialitie of the two chiefe Leaders Paulus Aemilius and Terentius Varro I cannot thinke that the Duke De Maine and the Duke of Parma the onely commaunders of the League will agree long time together but that the one must giue place to the other for the Spanyard is too braue arrogant to holde yoke with the French Rebels hauing occasion so fayre and fit for the purpose whereby to gette the maisterie ouer them now or neuer My Lords you that are faithfull Gentlemen and Seruaunts to the King me thinks thys one cause should induce a good accord and vnion among ye for the seruice of his Maiestie that ye shoulde be both iealous and enuious of the charge and honors distributed by his highnes not to haue thē trans-ferred to such as are so farre vnder you in woorthinesse and vnlesse this fire of iealousie kindle the sooner in yee it will redounde to the great disaduantage of the publique affaires and your own proper ruine As for the rest of you my Lordes that side it with the Rebels wrap not your selues in theyr offences loose not your selues altogether in the heape of theyr discords nor yet forget that you but defend their perfidie impietie in so myserable a confusion forsake such part-taking They can talke enough that the publique Lawes and common rights ought to be kept as also the auncient receiued religion of Christian Catholiques the liberty of the estates the comminalty of the Citties the authority of the Princes Officers of the Crown the Magistrats and Parliaments yet notwithstanding they trauaile day and night as by their effects is plainly discerned to trouble all these by disorder and sedition and to thrust the estate into the hande of a stranger who makes himselfe assured therof alreadie except next the helpe of God you ioyne with vs to remedy this danger The Leagues and deuisions that were in Gaule betweene the Sequani and Autini when as Iulius Caesar there arriued was the cause that brought the Gaules vnder the Romaine obedience This League of Rebels is more pernicious dangerous to the estate were it not we
treades your state vnder his feete but you drawe your weapons to helpe him to his enterprise Knowe ye not that alteration in all things but chiefelie in these publique affaires is most dangerous Without wandring for farre fetcht examples Phillip de Commines deliuereth one of the Realme of England where thorow the partialities betweene the Houses of Lancaster and Yorke each aspyring to the Crowne dyed in eyght and twenty yeeres more then four-score persons all of the blood royall with the verie flower of the English Nobilitie and infinite other valiant men the onely and best Souldiours in all the Land The other Lords were thrust in prison or banished passing the remainder of theyr liues very miserably in strange CouÌ„tries In the end the two Houses being vnited by the marriage of Henrie the seauenth with Elizabeth daughter to King Edwarde the fourth all these troubles ceased See the hurt that ensueth by such deuisions what more strange matter are wee then to expect in such a huge rebellion as this is of the Leaguers Find you it any way reasonable that the true and naturall successour of the Crowne shold endure any other to call his right in question by force of Armes to take it from him that is the most hardie valiant Prince on the earth and who hath learned to haue his Armour oftner on his bodie then the habit royall or the pompe and seruice that other Princes haue which lyue in quiet It is the common cause of all Monarchies to maintaine against the Subiects the estate of a iust and lawfull King and you beeing Noble-men that holde assuraunce of your noblesse goods and faculties of your King will not you maintaine the same against his Subiects and rebellious enemies The Lawe and custome of Fraunce receiued at the first establishing of the Kingdome dyd alwaies refer the Crowne to the next Male issue of the blood royall our Kings then heerin beeing giuen vs by nature mee thinkes there is no reason that any occasion shoulde remooue our estate The Crowne is seated in this so ancient illustrious and royall House of Burbon next succeeding that of Valoys discended of the linage of Orleance In the time of K. Charles the sixth thorowe the practises of the Duke of Burgundie who had made a League with the King of England against Charles Dolphine sonne to the King beside the exheriditation his Father made of him depriuing him of succession in the kingdome there was a certaine iudgment giuen against him in an assembly held at Paris wherby he was exiled banished the Realme beeing declared vnworthy there to succeede On this vniust iudgement he appealed to God and hys sword when the iustice of his cause beeing assisted by the inuincible power of GOD the Crowne was preserued for him and hee established with very wonderfull victories thorow all all his kingdome from whence hee chased the Englishmen beeing reconciled to the Duke of Burgundie and deceassed to the great griefe of all his Subiects leauing them in good peace quiet Whereby you may perceiue that albeit euery one was set against the true heyre to the Crowne yea the Father himselfe yet God in his admirable prouidence woulde not permit that the kingdome should be trans-ferred from the race and linage of S. Lewes neither is it to be doubted that his grace preuenting with the deuoire of all good and faithfull French-men but that it will be continued to all his posterity whereof this most famous and royall House of Burbon is the very neerest and onely heyre to the Crowne What cause then is there to prolong these ciuil warres troubles for the estate seeing we haue the legittimate successour Ah nothing els but absurd and monstrous ambition But some zealous Rebel tels me that he is an Heretique tush these are old stale lyes thys poynt if he were so seeing he demaundeth and offereth to be better instructed is not as yet discided To be an heretique as els where I haue said is obstinately to holde an opinion concerning Religion and rather to die then to forsake it Seest thou in our King any such headdie or obstinate resolution Howe many times hath hee giuen thee to vnderstand his ready will and intent Moreouer this is no argument and good consequent The King is not of our Religion therefore hee is dishabled from succeeding in the Crowne Thou argumentest very ill not like any good Logitian The debate thou vrgest for the Crowne makes a greater breach blemish into Christian religion then if willinglie thou didst consent giue him place as in dutie thou art bound to do seeing that right neither thou or hee can hinder from him to whom it appertaineth which thou hast neither eyes to behold or wit to conceiue If heerin thou mightst preuaile couldst thou be tearmed a good Christistian that flyes and abhors as a plague the ininfamous note of rebellion yea fosakes landes goods wife children and all to follow his King That tearme thou maist returne vpon thy selfe though now thou callest his Highnesse followers pollitiques and heretiques as pleaseth thee to baptise theÌ„ notwithstanding they are more assured of their fayth then thou art and better Chritians then any that take part with thee Of what Religion were our first Kinges of the Merouingians race vntill Clouis the fiâ—t king of Fraunce and first Christian King VVere they any Christians or knewe they what the name of a Christian was What were their subiects hauing receiued the Christian fayth Dyd they for thys cause refuse the obedience they ought in dutie Did they reiect chase or kyll them Ye shall not find one such poynt or anie History that maketh such mention But you Rebels that are too much at your case will not acknowledge your King who so many times hath protested to ye to preserue maintaine ye in your estates and in the Christian Catholique Religion vnder a shadow saist thou himselfe not beeing a Catholique Doost thou know the inward of his words purpose Is there any one can say that euer he falsified his fayth Hee hath sollemnely sworne to defende the Catholique religion as his proper life thinke then if it should be hindered although he neuer will goe against his owne commaundement thy selfe must be the onely cause therof Obey theÌ„ the King let the estate be brought againe into quiet and then thou maist assure thy selfe that when the King would alter any thing in Religion whereon I am perswaded he neuer so thinks he cannot do it nor is it any part of his intent You rather ought to pray to GOD with vs that he will graunt him grace stedfastly to embrace the Catholique religion to plant it heere mildly by reason and not force violence or fyre likewise to loue and esteeme so many valiant good French of contrary opinion that sell not as our zealous Leaguers doe theyr King and Countrey to the Spanyard It is not by blood and death to winne mens consciences
and Gentlemen if yet ye haue not sufficient manifestation that euen against Tyrants Religion cannot serue for anie cloake or collour The Spanyard hath not he declared so much who tearming himselfe in Fraunce Protector of the Catholique Religion hath not hee neuerthelesse suffered Paganisme in many places of Granado Andalozia and Arragon for the great profit hee got by it many yeeres together Will ye not yet bethinke your selues what good affection the Spanyards haue of old borne to the French Did they not no long time since kindly intreate theÌ„ at Florida where they pluckt out theyr eyes to make them die the more miserably Their drift is to bee Commaunders ouer ye and if you haue goods and faire wiues to put you and your heyres to death to possesse your wiues and your goods as they haue practised the like in Flaunders Naples Millaine and in euery place where they by force doe domineere It is the Crowne it is the Crowne that all this debate is for although we hauing as I haue proued a lawfull succeeder there cannot be gathered any occasion for such a debate VVhen heere-to-fore there happened anie such like strife they had recourse to the estates of FrauÌ„ce as it chanced after the death of Lewes the 10. called Hutin that the Crowne was adiudged to Phillip le Long his brother And after Charles le Bel to Phillip de Valloys his Cousin against Edward king of England who pretended the cause of his Mother the daughter of Phillip le Bel sister to the last three kings but there she had no right by force of the Salique Lawe which excludes the daughters of Fraunce from any succession It is now no question of holding the estates in this regard seeing no one maketh doubt but that the Crowne appertaineth to Henry of Burbon by whoÌ„ for his race admirable perfections with his happy fortunes in war amidst so many trauerses the estate receiueth more honor being gouerned by such a king theÌ„ the King dooth of the estate which comes to him by succession as beeing the very neerest heire to the Crowne Then you braue Lordes and Gentlemen of Fraunce whose famous Grandfathers defended this Kingdome by their vertuous strength and made their glorie wondered at through the world spend not your valiant noble blood to your eternal destruction but as your spirits are rockes of far more excellent perfection so seeke such waies as are more worthy and coÌ„mendable for ye To bring again this estate with the whole body of the Nobillity who haue euer stood with the King from whom through false impression your selues are dismembred into her former splendour honorable quiet Vnite your selues to your king your soueraigne Lord to extirpate this rebellion and chase hence your entertained euils the Spanyards your auncient and mortall enemies thereby to bring and re-establish this poore afflicted Realme into such peace and tranquillitie as all good mindes desire and is promised by your generositie force with the grace and blessing of God who I pray to open your eyes to let you wade no further in the loue of thys vnlawfull League that like a subtill Thais is prouided of a thousand baytes and sleights to catch yee withall But if ye continue in her seruice ye shall find your selues betweene two stooles wher-through as the Prouerbe is the taile falles to ground and too late repentance with most pittifull end will be the recompence of your pernicious pursutes and the dishonest pleasures you haue had with her Followe followe then the steppes of the most magnanimous and valiant Princes of the blood so many great Lordes Marshalles of Fraunce Dukes Earles Marquesses Barons and Gentlemen of marke the number wherof is infinite and innumerable al which expose them selues and their deuoire for the seruice of hys Maiesty the reliefe of the estate to preserue you if ye forget not your selues in your goods priueledges and immunities seeking nothing but the quiet and prosperitie heereof God giue them grace and you likewise to make some profit of this fore-warning to the end that wee hauing occasion more and more to bee thankefull to the King for his infinite bountie those faithful subiects that attend on him the celestiall fauour and assistance accompanying the Kings power your amendment and reconciliation may turne to the happie successe of these publique affayres the rest and re-establishment of thys disolate Kingdome FINIS A. M. * The King 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 by Iacobiâ— Fryar * Biaâ—â— a naâ—â— scorneâ— they 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 â—utward 〈◊〉 the â—â—tenance â—edition murder 〈◊〉 the exâ—â—ples Two Iacobines the procurers 〈◊〉 foure thoâ—â—sand and more to bâ— murdered Lisbone â—n obserâ—â—â—t Fryar â—â—â—swaded King of â—â—stile to 〈◊〉 sundry â—â—ristians â—eath â—â—ming 〈◊〉 Apoâ—â—â—â—aes * The dysâ—grace of 〈◊〉 begging Fryars by Doctor of Sorbonne Iesuits too â—roud to be â—eggers â—â—ey rather â—ake begâ—ers to â—aintaine â—â—emselues A Spanyâ—rd the first â—uthour of 〈◊〉 Iesuits â—lame â—â—ning 〈◊〉 proud â—â—nde of â—â—le that 〈◊〉 whole â—â—doms â—â—ther by â—â—ares * The 〈◊〉 counâ—â—â—naunce this 〈◊〉 vn-holie League * An othâ—â— bragge aâ— dissembliâ—â— shewe of these wickâ—â— CoÌ„federaâ—â— * The FreÌ„â—â— against 〈◊〉 French exâ—â—cute the bloody 〈◊〉 of the Spaâ—nyards And is â—â—â—ewise in â—â—glish by 〈◊〉 name of 〈◊〉 Spanish â—â—â—donie * A fitte â—â—â—ample of the Leaguers proâ—ceedings 〈◊〉 Fraunce â—â—at 〈…〉 to the 〈◊〉 black 〈◊〉 Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 3. â—ngland 〈◊〉 re 〈◊〉 thys â—â—â—lesse K. 〈◊〉 seate 〈◊〉 he had 〈◊〉 it * The Sâ—â—â—nyards 〈◊〉 coÌ„tinue deuotion their Goâ— * A Caâ—â—â—logue of honest 〈◊〉 Spanâ—â—â—ards such they 〈◊〉 still to thâ— day * Bloodie Spanyard murderer of Kings spoylers oâ— Commoâ— weales * No examâ—â—es alleadâ—â—d but 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—cked Spaâ—â—ards * Parmaeâ— war but 〈◊〉 his owne profit and the King 〈◊〉 maister The holy 〈◊〉 is â—â—ll it selfe * The blâ—â—dished 〈◊〉 of y e 〈◊〉 wherby tâ— deceiue 〈◊〉 world â—â—hn 29. 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 59. â— Thes. 5 〈◊〉 6. * True Râ—â—ligion noâ— to be decâ—â—ded by thâ— sword 〈◊〉 the examâ—ple * Religioâ— not to bâ— changed any constraint bâ—â— to be 〈◊〉 stood by 〈◊〉 sufâ—â—raunce God in iâ—â—stice righâ— the cause â—ath 10. 〈◊〉 23. 〈◊〉 13. â—ct 2 â—â—ou 8. â—hat we 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 our 〈◊〉 and â—â—â—rebell any 〈◊〉 of cause * Deut. 17 * 1. Sam. 9 1. Peter 2 * 1 Sam. 1 * 1 Sam. 2 1. Sam 24 1. Sam 24 〈◊〉 26 1. Sam. 24. â— Sam 26. 1. Sam 3â— 2. Sam 1 â— Sam 16 â— Kings 1. * 1. Reg. â—â— * 1. Reg. â—â— * 1. Reg. â—â— * 1. Reg. â—â— Kin. 19. Kin. 21. Kin. 22. Kin. 9. Kin. 22. * Epiphaâ—us in hys boâ—ke oâ— the lyues the Prophets * Dan 3 and 6. * Iohn 1 â— * Luke 9 Acts 23 Exod 23 Rom 12 â— Pet 2 〈◊〉 1 et 3. * Baru 3. * Heb 11 * Math 3. Iohn 1 Marke 1 Esay 40 * Math â— * Math â— * Luke ◠〈◊〉 18 â—ath 15 â—ath 10 * Iameâ—â—
apprehended they that had excited this pittifull and bloodie Tragedie who by his commaunde were publiquely burned in Ebora and information beeing giuen against the other theeues and murderers about three-score and tenne of them were most iustly hanged At thys day in Fraunce it is heresie with the Leaguers to doe iustice on such like naughtie villaines when as theyr crimes trecheries and murders are as miraculous An obseruaunt Gray Fryar named brother Ferdinand de la Place wyth other that were hys zealous companions went so fast as he could to Madrill to the King of Castile there this impudent and bloody Monke perswaded him shamefullie to put to death certaine Christians whom he termed to be Apostataes which afterwarde was found to be most false So many abuses mischiefes hath beene committed by these counterfeit hypocrites these scellerous and hooded murtherers as not without cause in the yeere one thousand two hundred and threescore vnder the raigne of S. Lewes was the order of the begging Friars extolled to the third heauen for theyr profession yea they preferred themselues before all other in holinesse of life and stoutlie commended their voluntarie pouertie whereby they prouoked many Prelats against them and almost all men that were seene in Diuinity But Guillaume du Temple d' Amour a Doctor of Sorbonne being a man of better conscience then any at thys day of the same Colledge who create the like instruments of rebellion by their pernicious resolutions and defende the abhominable murder of the late most Christian and religious King with other more of great learning both dispised and disproued openly such Beggers alleadging that theyr pouerty was vowed without cause and that he would maintaine such manner of life to be but a pretext of Religion and onely fit for such beggers as desired to liue in loosenes and idlenes In the end neuerthelesse they got the vpper-hand in their cause by the iudgement of Pope Alexander and the Booke that this Doctor made which at thys day remaineth in the Librarie of Sorbonne was condemned But shoulde not thys Doctor haue highly aduantaged his cause if he had liued tyll now adding to his plea the impieties parricides all sorts of crimes smoothly hyd and couered for the present time vnder the habites of this holinesse Thou hast wretch brought in and practised another manner of people that are called Iesuites not beggers but such as make beggers of whom the scandalles are more secrete yet much more pernicious then of the other But why say I thou hast practised thys bad generation seeing thou thy selfe art not onely practised but begotten ingendred by them Howe now mee thinks I heare some one say belike then thys Alecto or accurssed League hath many Fathers Verie true the Spanish pride and ambition as I haue saide brought it into the world as a mishapen masse or lumpe but these turbulent Iesuites with the Rodemont of Mendoza haue so louinglie lyckt it as they gaue it forme composition and garments to decke it withall These thou esteemest fit for thy coniuration or els they are founde to be very necessarie members to thee cleaue these hypocrites for the particuler profit of themselues and of theyr Maister the King of Tyrants they being all of the Spanish Nation or at the least issued from Spaine For about the yeere one thousand fiue hundred and twentie-one Ignatius de Layola was the first founder of these Iesuites an obstinate enemy to the house of Albret which malice yet continueth in his seede at what time Pampelunae reuolted the affectionate friends to the royall House of Albret from whence descended the King by the late Queene Mother of most worthie memory with those of Foix as also the true heire of the Realme Henrie d' Albret tooke occasion by the retreit of the Garrisons of Pampelunae that sallied forth to succour the Gouernours of Castile by reason of the warres and deuisions then beeing to haue theyr secrete intelligences in Bearne and Fraunce In fauour of whom King Fraunces sent Andrew de Foix Lord of Asperraut the younger Brother to Odet de Foix Lord of Lautrech who gathering vnto him those of the faction of Grammont tooke the Castel of Saint Iohn at the foote of the gate Whereupon the Duke of Nagera Don Anthonie Manrique seeing himselfe so suddainly surprised and that the Citty of Pampelunae began to grow tumultuous secretly got forth thereof and withdrew himselfe into Castile leauing his house to the peoples spoyle Thys Layola then at the dislodging of thys Viceroy Manrique out of Nauarre remained in Garrison in the Castell of Pampelunae with other Souldiours belonging to the Emperour It so chaunced that the Castel was assayled by the people and the mouth of the Cannon directed by the assailants to a certaine place where by hap it met with thys Layola who had both hys feete brused in peeces with the stones that the force of the bullet droue out of the wall so that he fell downe from the height of the Castell beeing with-drawne was afterwarde preserued from death and hys hurts healed Then seeing himselfe thus maimed and vnapt for Armes he gaue beginning to thys good kinde of people Let vs not then account it strange that these men so desperatly applie themselues to remoouing of estates especiallie thys heere considering they are come of a Spanish Father a warriour a naturall enemy to this estate whom heerein they follow very perfitlie but not in change of lyfe For thys holy Father beeing thus metamorphozed could weare no shooes and therefore went bare-foote and came for followers first to Paris where beeing vexed by some and relieued by other-some his owne Maister Peter Fabri Diego Laynes Iohn Codury Claudius Gay Pasquall Brouet Fraunces Xauierre Alphonsus Salmeron Simon Rodrigues and Nicholas de Bonadilla students in diuinitie he raunged into the rule ordained by himselfe each making a vowe of perpetuall pouertie and chastity But to them alone I will not giue thys honour for many other haue trauailed in this high peece of worke as faithfull seruaunts and counsellers of so woorthie Fathers the bellowes of ambition abortiue sonnes of the Father of lyes bringing nothing hether but what they learne of him and marked with his marke to know them for his owne Thy face Sorcerer is writhen and like to that Sibillaes whom the Poets feigne to be the Mother of the Gods but thy Bawdes and Pandars haue made thee a false visage so faire as can be to entise young Lordes and Gentlemen to loue thee The draught of thy dissembled countenaunce to diuers of thy chiefe consorts hath brought immediat death yet seemed it so excellent as in theyr eyes it surpassed the auncient Marble portraite of Venus that wonderfullie enflamed men with loue Diuers Lords and Gentlemen haue been rauished with thy looks whom thou in the end hast depriued of life in sundry battailes and encounters to make them receiue due chastisement to theyr impudent dishonest
assisted by God did not sustaine and restore it hardlie should she find any other to helpe her with recouerie of health albeit this is not the first time that Fraunce hath been deuided into Leagues and partialities after which it hath beene reunited and reconciled For the disease of this estate is so sharpe and violent albeit the cause thereof is well knowne to all as if it find not an aunswerable remedie by the admirable prescription of some speciall and no vulgare Phisition vndoubtedly immediate death will ensue Which were great pittie my Lordes that Rebels should so doe after they haue mangled dissipated and spoyled it vnder collour of reformation and pretence of Religion haue likewise brought in the Spanyard euen to the verie hart of the estate and then caused him to discend into Brittaine Prouince to enrich himselfe with the publique ruines and hauocke of French-mens goods Doe ye not already behold that the Spanyards are Maisters within Paris Doe yee not see them gorging the riches treasure of the Cittizens See yee not likewise how they handle the foolish people that when they come to acknowledge theyr fault they are so feeble and faint-harted as they easily chase driue them forth of their houses wherof they presently will haue the authority and disposing beside eyther by faire meanes or force deale with theyr wiues theyr daughters and their seruaunts It is easie as Pindarus saith for the rude base multitude to trouble and ouer-turne a great Cittie but to bring and re-establish it in the former florishing esttae requireth a little more paine and trauaile For such onely can doe that to whom God as the true Gouernour giueth the means and counsell how to performe it The King alone can re-establish Paris and the Spanyarde assisted with the Rebels both without within gapeth but for the generall ruine therof The King labours to preserue it as beeing his proper heritage and principall seate of the Kinges the Spanyard imployeth his daily paine for the losse therof accounts it best to vse it as a garrison a pernicious garrison a garrison which will be the miserable end of the greatnesse and excellencie of Paris for whose safety the King endured before it the discommodities of a long siedge desiring rather to recouer it by reason and reknowledging of offences past thē to take it by force and so commit it to sack the Souldiours spoyle Therfore thou needest not accuse the King because so long time he besieged Paris with no other intent rather heereby thou shouldest conceiue an argument of most wonderfull and debonnaire kindnesse or rather a princely fatherlines towards his Subiects who are as deere to hym as his naturall Children What man is he so foolish that will thrust fire into his house vnder shadowe that it is occupied by his enemies if he haue the meanes left to chase them away or to make them become hys Freendes VVhat Father is it beeing neuer so greeuously offended with hys Sonne will therefore immediatly worke his death or destruction Will he not rather vse discretion and tarry the time wherein by necessitie or other kinde of trauersing hee may bring him againe into the right way or acknowledgement of hys fault In vain were it to doubt otherwise marrie if the sonne perseuere long time stubborne and the Father be seuere in the end he will chastise him according to his deserts The King then hath proceeded like a good Father of a familie hauing vsed incredible pacience and kindnesse euen till the extremity when he might haue ruined and confounded all his enemies God therefore will permit him a double recompence and if heereafter the Rebelles be handled by his Maiestie more rigorously themselues thereof haue giuen him iust occasion It is harde to order or well guyde an aduice and deliberation for reducing a Kyngdome vexed wyth troubles and sedicions into a sounde assuraunce as the Pylot what-soeuer experience he hath findes it difficult for him to guide the Shyp when he is hindered with exceeding rough Seas and extraordinarie tempests when he shall be dryuen from hys right course of Nauigation and see the vessell begin to splyt and shyuer against the Rockes being vnable longer to man the stearne But GOD gyueth grace to the King as a most good assured expert Pylote to recouer the Barque of the Common-wealth of Fraunce so menaced and in danger of ship-wrack to the confusion of all his enemies And nowe to returne to you my Lordes loue yee better to lyue miserably vnder the tyranny of them that would destroy yee then vnder the sweete and agreeable subiection of the most gracious King on the earth Who makes no spare of himselfe but standes exposed to all daungers to winne you by his Armes and by the assistance of so many great Lords and Gentlemen to re-seate peace quiet and tranquillity As Pindarus writes comparing Peace to a fayre and mylde weather which causeth aboundance and fertilitie of all good things and is as he saith the soule of the spirite and thought the daughter of Iustice that conserueth and maintaineth the greatest Citties hauing the most excellent keyes of counsell and good deliberation VVyll not you then trauaile with your King to gaine thys fayre and precious Iewell Will not you followe him to chase hence the cruell dysquieters of your Countrey Loue ye better to consent to theyr inuasion to loose and bury your selues in theyr Conquests then liue vnited to your King in peace in your Houses and Castels wyth your Wyues and Chyldren Wyll yee suffer your selues to fall head-long into thys discorde which ingendereth nothing but confusion which in such sort dazeleth the very greatest spyrits as they shall not see and know what is good for them How soueraigne a vertue is it to counsell well and howe equall there-with is it to listen good counsell and follow it It is greatly to bee feared considering the mallice of these Rebels that it bee not saide of this estate as Cicero wrote of the Romaine common-wealth the shaddowe whereof to our great paine remaines in this kingdome Sedition is lightly mooued and oftentimes on very small occasion but suddainlie it engendreth dyuers troubles as raging stormes and tempests that sundry wayes tosse and turmoyle the Common-wealth and sometimes it falles out that the Author of these broyles dooth as the Bird who hauing got bird-lyme by chaunce into her winges the more shee striues to loose her selfe the faster her winges cleaue together with the lyme If then wee woulde haue the Common-wealth to liue and florish let vs liue in agreement with our King for concorde is the verie soule of the Common-wealth The vnitie which you haue followed vntill this present is contrarie both to your quiet and welfare of the state Perceiue yee not by the disorders heere engendred by the enemies of the Realme that their entrance was made onely to triumph ouer you And will yee forget your selues so much as
but by the doctrine proofe and good example which greatly wanteth in your false Apostles I beleeue there is not any Christian Catholique a faythfull member to the Crowne but would earnestly desire that the King enriched with such store of vertues required in so great a Prince as he is shold likewise be a Christian Catholique to the end that as we ought to haue but one King so wee might also haue but one fayth and Religion wherein as in the feare of God our Prince earnestly labours to haue vs liue Heereof not only the Philosophers and Christian Doctors but also Emperours are assured witnesses by many constitutions recited as well in the Ecclesiasticall hystories as also in the bookes of Theodosius Iustinian who greatlie trauailed to maintain the vnion of the Christian Catholique Church When there is vnitie in religiō in an estate who doubts but al things do prosper the better We desire without offending our selues against them that are contrary to our religion that they would louinglie become partakers with vs and not pursued to the death by the animositie wherwith the Rebels follow both them and vs subiect vs together vnder one selfe-same detection or Categorie VVe desire I say that according to the good and holy custome helde of olde the King should be sacred and annointed at his Corronation and take the oath of a Catholique Prince that is to maintaine the Catholique Church all the rights franchises and priuiledges thereof We know well that since the raigne of Clouis Fraunce hath beene constantly maintained in the Catholique Religion which is the same as say the Emperours Gracian Valentinian and Theodosius that was giuen and taught by Saint Peter to the Romaines and vvhich both holy Emperours Bishops and Councels haue euer since followed for which cause it is yet called Apostolique and Romaine We are not ignorant although some call vs heretiques because that acknowledging the Princes authoritie according as God hath commaunded vs we haue withdrawn our selues to his side that many great personages haue shewen as much by authority of the holy Scripture that the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church both Greekes and Latines that the Catholique Religion is the onely and true Religion which hath beene from the Apostles vnto this present by continuall succession alwaies taught preserued in the Romaine Church But we are certaine withall that through the vices which haue slipt thereinto by fault of the Pastours the estate of that Church hath much more neede of reformation thē others We know likewise that we are admonished by Iesus Christ and hys Apostles to liue in concord and vnity with God as S. Paule witnesseth in these words The God of patience and of consolation giue you the grace to know one onely thing amongst ye according to Iesus Christ to the ende that with one sole courage and with one mouth you may glorifie God his Father Religion is a constant vertue teaching the true adoration of God which is done with an intire spirit and the vnity thereof is figured by the garment of Christ Iesus wouen without a seame that it was not to be cut or deuided This is in truth a faire assembly of such as are knit in one brotherly vnanimity consent as well in religion as policie whereof the Prophet Dauid singeth beeing assured that to such God wil send blessings and lyfe euerlasting To this effect Plato and Cicero albeit they were both Pagans haue written That there is nothing more agreeable to the highest God that gouerneth the whole world than the assemblies of men that associate and meete together in selfe same will and affection There is but one Catholique Church sayth S. Paule which frameth all Christians of one minde and spirite concerning the doctrine whereof it were in vayne to dispute after so many auncient Doctors of the Church and religious Counsels We desire nothing more then that the King according to the most Christian tytle of hys Predecessors and his people shoulde be vnited in Christian Religion as for preseruing peace in his Kingdome he is declared the Defender and Protector of the Catholique Religion with protestations so oftentimes reitterated so to preserue it as his proper life Nor is he ignorant what Cicero sayth That Religion beeing troubled the whole Common-wealth is troubled because the disquiet and change that happeneth therein dooth nothing else but cloy the spirites of men with disorder and confusion whence proceedeth contempt of Gods true worshippe and hee beeing offended punisheth and afflicteth with diuers woundes and calamities the Countrey that is fallen into such a miserie This therfore his Maiesty wold fore-see by his wisdome desiring that Religion shoulde bee preserued euen as before God the gouernment of the estate is put into his hande God hath giuen vs such a one adorned with so many heroycall vertues as makes him admirable to all Nations of the world Would you then haue vs goe ranging about and vrge a beleefe contrarie to that we doe beleeue Is it possible we should doe so Faith is the gift of God and is not imprinted in mens consciences by stroakes of swordes or any other weapons it is necessary that the spirit of God should be in quiet all the harts of men especially of vs that are his subiects would herein dye and be consumed Of necessitie is it that this grace commeth from aboue and we can do no otherwise but pray to God for his Maiestie and that he will graunt vs to be still mindefull of our dueties hee is our King wee ought to obey him and he ought to preserue maintaine vs according to the Laws statutes of the Countrey as all other Kings hys predecessours haue doone But what shalt thou gaine by desiring the thing thou doost I beleeue that if the King were such a Catholique as thou wouldest haue him and for one Masse he should dispose himselfe euery day to heare two yet the Rebels would say no lesse of him then they did of the late King that he did it for hypocrisie and to be quiet in hys estate What can we else iudge seing their intent is to exterminate his life with all the generous and royall linage of Burbon to follow the seruice of a Stranger But as I haue sayde GOD hath euer-more preserued that race euen for sixe hundred yeeres and more to this present and yet by hys holy will stil continues it for the good quiet of this poore distressed kingdome These Armes that you haue taken against him ô Rebels will turne to your owne ruine and confusion seeing God forbids ye so to doe what-soeuer pretence ye make of Religion Religion should moue ye to pitty and not to rage to compassion and not furie to loue regard of your King and not to rancour or hatred to a naturall French-affection of hys seruice and not to an obstinate will to wound destroy and take his life from him if ye could Now say my Lords