by the Churches of Fraunce WE belcue and confesse one God which is the only and simple spirituall essence eternall inuisible immutable infinite incomprehensible vnspeakable omnipotent onely wise good iust and mercifull 2 This onely God shewed himselfe to be such a one vnto men first both in the creation of his works and also in the conseruation gouerning of them secondly in his word that more euidently the which worde in the beginniing he reuealed vnto the fathers by certaine visions and oracles and afterward would haue it to be written in those bookes which we call the bookes of holy Scripture 3 All this holy Scripture is cōprehended in the Canonicall bookes of the olde and newe Testament the cataloge of the which bookes is this First the fiue bookes of Moses namely Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numeri Deuteronomium then Iosue Iudges Ruth the two bookes of Samuel the two bookes of Kings the two bokes of Chronicles called Paraly pomenon the booke of Esdras Nehemias Esther Iob Psalmes Prouerbs of Salomon Ecclesiastes otherwise called the Preacher the booke of Cāticles otherwise called the Ballets of Salomon the Prophecie of Esaias Ieremias with the lamentations Ezechiel Daniel the twelue lesser Prophetes namely Oseas Ioel Amos Abdias Ionas Micheas Nahū Abacuc Sophonias Aggeus Zacharias Malachias the holy Gospell of Iesu Christ after Mathew after Marke after Luke and after Iohn The Actes of the Apostles Paules Epistle to the Romanes his two Epistles to the Corinthians his Epistle to the Galathians Ephesians Philippians Colossians his two Epistles to the Thessalonians both his Epistles to Timothie his Epistle to Titus to Philemon to the Hebrues Iames Epistle both the Epistles of Peter the thrée Epistles of Iohn the Epistle of Iude ▪ and the Apocalyps or Reuelation of Iohn 4 These bookes we confesse to be Canonicall that is to saye the Rule and stay of our faith the which we haue not onely by the common consent of the Church but also much more by the testimonie and inwarde perswasion of the holy ghost by the instinct and motion whereof we are taught to discerne them from other Ecclesiasticall bookes the which although they be profitable yet notwithstanding they are not such that we should ground any article of our faith vpon them 5 We beléeue that the worde comprehended in these bokes came from God alone from whome onely it hath his authoritie and not from men And séeing this is the summe of all truth contayning whatsoeuer is requisite for the worship of God and our saluation we saye that it is not méete neither for men nor yet for Angels to adde or detract any thing from the same word or to alter any thing in the same And herevpon it followeth that neither antiquitie nor customes nor multitude nor humane wisedome nor Judgements nor Edicts nor decrées nor Counsels nor Uisions nor Miracles ought to be compared or set against that worde of God but rather that all things oughte to be brought and examined according to the prescript rule therof Wherfore also those three Symbols or Creedes as the Apostles Crede the Nicene Crede and Athanasius Crede are allowed of vs bycause they are agreing to that worde of God. 6 This holie Scripture teacheth vs that in that singular and simple diuine essence there are three persons the Father the Sonne and the holye Ghost The Father is the first cause in order the originall of all things The Sonne is his wisedome and eternall word The holy Ghost is the vertue power and efficacie of them both The sonne was begotten of the Father before all worldes The holy Ghost procéeded from the Father and the Sonne frō euerlasting The which thrée persons are not confounded but distinct and yet for al that not separated but coessentiall coeternal and coequall togither To conclude in this mysterie we allow that which those foure ancient Councels did determine and do detest all those sectes and all others what soeuer cōdemned by those auncient holy Fathers namely by Athanasius Hilarius Cyrill Ambrose and others by the worde of God. 7 We beléeue that God the thrée persons working togither by his power wisdome incomprehensible goodnesse made all things that is to say not onely heauē and earth and all things in them contained but also inuisible spirites of which some fell to perpetuall destruction and other some abode still in their obedience The first as they are by their owne wickednesse depraued so are they perpetuall enimies of all goodnesse and therefore of the whole Churche But the other beyng preserued by the méere grace of God are Ministers of his glorye and appoynted for the saluation of the elect 8 We beléeue that God did not onely create all things but also ruleth and gouerneth them and disposeth also and ordereth at his pleasure whatsoeuer is in the worlde Notwithstanding we deme him to be the author of euill or of those things that are done amisse in anye wyse to deserue blame seing that his will is the chiefe and moste certayne marke and rule of righteousnesse and iustice For he hath rather admirable than speakeable reasons by which he so vseth all Diuels and sinfull men as Instrumentes that whatsoeuer they wickedly do the same as he did iustlye ordaine so also he tourneth it to good Therefore when wee confesse that nothing is done without his prouidence and ordynaunce wée do humblye adore the secrete mysteries that are hydden from vs neither doe we curiously inquire and séeke after those things which are aboue our capacitie But doe rather apply that to our vse and profite which the Scripture teacheth for oure quietnesse and tranquilitie Namely that God to whome all things are subiecte doth with fartherly carefulnesse watche for vs in so muche that not one heare of our heade shall fall away without his wil. And as for Sathan and all oure enimyes he hath them in such holde and bonds that except they haue power giuē vnto them from him they can do nothing at all vnto vs. 9 We beléeue that man being created pure and perfecte and according to the Image of God fell throughe his owne faulte from the grace which he had receyued and therefore caste him selfe from God the welspring of all rightcousnesse and goodnesse in so muche that his nature is altogether corrupted and his heart defiled whereby he hath loste all his former integritie without exception For althoughe he hath some discretion of good and euill notwithstanding we affirme that whatsoeuer light he hath in him the same is tourned into darkenesse when he seeketh after God in so muche that no maner of way he can come vnto him by his owne vnderstanding reason Moreouer although he hath a wil by which he is named to doe this or that notwithstanding seing that the same is captiued made subiect vnto sin it hath no libertie at all to will or desire that which is good but onely that which it receiueth by the grace
good lucke at the first finally through the daunger of the pestilence a greate nomber of his Soldiers went a side and many quight forsooke him Then were fastinges and prayers solemnly proclaimed to be in the Church to the which the Prince of Conde came oftentimes in his owne person He exhorted also his soldiers to be of good courage and was very carefull for the preseruation of Orleans and he sent Monsuer de Subize a noble and wise man to Lyons to be Lifetenant of the same because Monsuer de Adretze séemed to be to rash hardy and aduenterouse in his doingâ—…s And he sent letters oftentimes willinge that there should be diligent héede and care had of Lyons Dolpheny and Languedoc Also because the enemies power dayly increased by the meanes of forreine aids and because they were the more stout and bould vpon hope of newe aide the Prince of Conde sent Monsuer de Stuard a Scot with letters to the Quéene of England requiringe at her handes ayde in his owne name and in the name of his fellowes And he wrote also diuers letters to the princes of Germainy that were protestants in the which he craued help at their hands the Andelot himselfe be ing sent for the same purpose the more spedily to bring the matter to passe The helpers in this matter were said to be the Lantgraue Hessus the County Pallatine and the Duke of Bipont About this time the Prince of Conde published a writinge by which he ment to put awaye those rumores which were spred abrode of him and of his frendes by the Guises as though they had bin the authors and defenders of new and monsterouse opinions The libell published was to this effecte following Because saieth he we heare daily that our aduersaries accordinge to their accostomed maner oh lying and maliciouse dealinge against vs do in euery place slaunder and speake euill of al our doinges one while laying to our charge that we are Atheistes and Anabaptistes that by this meanes they might withdraw from vs their good willes care which séeke with vs to defend and mainetaine the true and pure worshippe of God by the doctrine of the prophetes and Apostles we thought good ouer aboue the former declarations of our cause to propounde a briefe summe of our faith By which faith we woorshippe and cal vpon the liuing God in the name of his only Sonne our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ abiding in his feare seruice by the ministering of his woord and holy Sacraments that is to say by the institucion of Baptisme and of his holy supper To be short we condescend to al the articles of the primitiue Church as to the only rules of our saluation being grounded vpon the bookes of the Prophets Apostles as it is set forth more at large in the confession of our faith confirmed with the whole consent of al the reformed churches within this realme the copie whereof we send out into al forrain Nations to take away those detestable and wicked sclaunders and lyes by which the enemies both of God and of thys our realm being voyd of al shame haue sought in their libelles sealed letters to sclaunder backbyte and defame vs Wherefore we humbly pray and beséeche all those that loue the pure and sincere doctrine of the Gospell and which are the faithfull seruaunts of God yea we require them in the name of the liuing God that they first of all set before their eyes the flowing streames of innocent bloud that hath bene shed throughout this realme crying both from heauen and from earth for vengeance And we require all such that they helpe and ayde vs and that they ioyne with vs in this cause which is not our cause alone but also the cause of all the faithfull to represse and asswage their cruell tyrannie which goe about to take from vs the perfect and frée libertie of our consciences the benefit wherof was grauÌ„ted vnto vs by our soueraign and leige Lord the Kings Maiestie and by the consent of all the states of the realm we being perswaded that we linked togyther in one religion and in one mind the most mighty and eternal God will stretch forth his gloriouse hande to saue hys Church and will also blesse our labour and indeuour to the glory of his and to the inlarging of the kingdom of his sonne Iesus Christ to whom with the father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end The Prince of Conde also made answer to the Ordinance and decrée of the Senat of Paris by the which his Adherentes were condemned of treason First of al refusing all those of the College as the Iudges and Senatours to be men vnméete for this cause and writing the causes of their appeale he sent the same vnto them Their answer was in manner and forme following Although I and my friends and fellowes haue sufficiently declared the equitie of our cause which hath constrayned vs to put our selues in armour namely the libertie and authoritie of the King and the obseruation of the Kings Edictes for the maintenance of the libertie of our consciences the peace of the reformed churches Yet notwithstanding séeing the open and sworne enemies of the glory of God and of the common wealth doo dayly publish and send abroad new sclaunders and infamies to the obscuring of my innocency and the innoceÌ„cy also of my fellowes we thinke it moste necessary and méet that if wicked and vngodly men will not cease too withstand the trueth and all equitie no more should we be weary to defende and maintayne the same trueth For so much as therefore the XXUI day of Iuly there was an ordinance and decrée of Condemnation established in the Senat of Paris by which they make those to be gilty of RebellioÌ„ which haue borne armour to maintayne the authoritie of the King and his estates and against the tyrannie of the Guises and his adherents wée thinke it necessary that the Iustice of the sayde decrée should be declared and set forth not onely to the inhabitants of this Realme but also to other forreyne Nations and for an euerlasting remembrance to be coÌ„mitted to all posterities For it wil be an example worthy to be remembred in the which men may behold and sée into what Laberinthes of blind peruerse iudgements the enemies of God and his Church do fall and are so mad and blind that for truth they mayntaine falsehode iudging them to be sedicious who to the vttermoste of their power séeke the peace and tranquillity of the common wealth and pronouncing them to be Rebels who laying aside all care and consideration of them selues do both hazarde their goods and their liues to mayntaine the obedience belonging to the Kyng and the due and lawfull authoritie of the kynges Edictes And to the end the same proclamation of RebellioÌ„ may euidently appeare to be vnlawfull and vniâ—…st and râ—…ther a sclaunder of the enemie than
maner of our elders The which is the only foundatioÌ„ of those things which haue happened since that time to the which all those things ought to be referred and brought as to the toutchstone that they may be discerned whether they be good or euill Those lawes and constitutions were deuided into foure principall heades 1 The first concerned the custodie and protection of the Kyng and the Gouernour of the Realme 2 The second concerned those which should be of the Kyngs Counsell for that time 3 The third concerned prouision for warre and all maner of Artillary 4 The fourth concerned Religion and the staying of such troubles as might ensue by occasion therof As touching the first vppon great causes and reasons wise waighed and considered the States or whole body of the Realme haue decréed that the Quéene the Kyngs mother shal haue not only the charge and custodie of the Kynges maiestie her sonne but the gouerment also of the Realme in her owne person and the same not to be put ouer to any other without her consent will and pleasure And this decrée of the States was confirmed and approued by Princes the Kynges kinsmen Also the States decréed that the Queene Mother should be by them so directed that she by her wise ordering and disposing of thinges should discharge the great debt which remained to be paied after the death of king Henry and Fraunces and so the people to be disburthened from such great exactions and payments as they had aforetime payed And that she for her part should endeuour her selfe to bring all thinges to their former state and condition and that the people might liue euery where in peace and tranquillitie The second principall poynt was concerning the Kynges Counsaile The which the States desired to haue furnished with men that were vertuous wise carefull for the Kyng and the Realme Therfore they thought good that the Kynges Counsayle should consist of such men as were not sworne to any forreyne Prince or power as Cardinalles Bishoppes Abbats all such which they call Ecclesiasticall persons both for that they ought to followe their ordinary and proper office and calling and also for the oth which they haue sworne and vowed to the Bishoppes of Rome concerning temporall obedience which haue ben oftentimes enemies to the Bishoppes of Fraunce Therfore they prohibite and disalow any of them to be of the Kynges Counsayle or that there shoulde come vnto that Counsell two bretherne or more together according to the example of other Parliaments NotwithstaÌ„ding here thei except those which are Princes and the Kyngs kinsmen to whom it appertaineth without limitation of number by right to bée of the Kyngs Counsayle except the States haue any thing to obiect against them to the contrary Also they forbid such to be of the Kyngs Counsaile as haue had the ouersight vse and disposing of the Kyngs treasure vntill such time as they haue made their accompts And last of all bicause the Kinges Counsailers are bound to make account to the King of their iuste and lawfull counsaile and also to preserue and maintayne the Kinges treasure and when the Kinges treasurie hath smal store of money in it not to receiue of the King or to suffer to be giuen to any great and large gyftes the states do appoint and determine that all such giftes shal be reuoked and that so many as haue receyued such gyftes be constrained to restore them backe againe and in the meane tyme not to be of the Kinges counsaile Upon this second point dependeth the occasion of the â—…uill warre and sedition which at this day shaketh and violently assalteth the whole Realme of Fraunce the Guises the Constable the Marshall of Santandre perceyuing that they by thys meanes should not only be exclu ded out of the Kinges counsaile but also be constrayned to restore those giftes againe which they haue receyued of the Kinges thereby greatly in riched themselues And so they haue ioyned themselues and coÌ„spired togyther specially to hinder and frustrate that decrée It is no new thing that giftes which Kings haue bestowed contrary to the lawes appointed should be nothing regarded not only of the States which are chiefe in authoritie in the tyme of the Kings nonage but also of the ordinary Iudges of the exchecker by whose indgemeÌ„ts the Kinges afore tyme haue ben put to great expences in gyftes contrary to the lawes of the realme Of these thinges we haue many examples as of the Constable Clisson in the dayes of Charles the vi who was depryued of his office because he had gayned by the seruyce of the King to the valew of sixtene thousand pound But there is greater and more vehement cause at this tyme why they which are bound by the decrée of the states should be called to giue an account of that which they haue receyued and seing that now there is found in the kinges Treasurie the suÌ„me of 330000 poundes which was neuer séene before and yet the people at this present are more burthened with exactions and tributes than euer they were before And it is manifest that King Frauncis the first of that name which had diuers warres for the space of thrée and thirty yeares paied for his discharge a great summe of money and toke not so great and so many tributes of the people lefte notwithstanding in his treasury a greate masse of money Therefore the states demaunde the cause of so great expence And because it is likely that they were spenders and wasters whose dutye it was to husband and increase the same the States vppon verie good consideration do desier to haue an account that restitution and allowance may be made of such vnmeasurable expences The which truly is the verie cause why those thrée haue brought the Realme of Fraunce into these troubles to ouerthrowe those decrées of the states that the same may appeare most true which we saide before namely that they conspire not for religioÌ„s sake but for because they are couetously and ambitiously minded which Religion notwithstanding they take for a cloake to couer and hyde their wickednesse withall The third principall point of their costitutions is this The States would haue it in their power and authoritie during the tyme of the Kinges minoritie to order and appoint warres and at their pleasure to commaund the subiectes to arme themselues Because before they take warres in hand they should vnderstand the causes thereof and by what meanes they might be appeased Therfore also they would haue this authoritie that they which haue prouoked the people to Ciuyll warre might be made knowne to be the authoures of all the calamities and detrements which come by these warres The fourth principal point is that which concerneth Religion by which the states haue decréed that there must be a difference made betwene the cause of Religion and the cause of sedition in so much that for Religions sake no man ought to be condemned
sée the end the Admirall I saye séeinge these thinges made hast out of hand to recouer the Germane and French horsmen and when the French men saw that the Germanes returned out of the woode againe in their array with their Harguebutes charged they receyued such courage and boldnes that valeantly together they bid battayle to their enemies again both partes fighting with lyke courage Notwithstandinge the Guises part reculed by little and little and the battaile had bin more whot the minds of the Princes souldiers being fierce if so be the night had not caused the weried souldiers to stay and cease Therefore the retract was blowne on both partes â–ª and both armies retyred to their campes The Admirall for want of horses left behynde him fower fielde péeces In this last battaile the Marshal Santandre was taken and being wounded in the head with a shot dyed in the fielde and was dispoyled this man was of very wicked disposition and the cause of the troubles of Fraunce In this battaile also were slain Monsieur MoÌ„brun the Constables Sonne Monsieur Piennes Moncharne and one of the Guises called the Graund prior ther were sore wounded the two Brosses Monsieur Giury Annebauld and diuers others which notwithstanding lyued But D'aumall and the Duke of Neuers being sore wounded dyed and many others which were wounded and slayne Many also noble men that were Papistes were taken prysoners as the Lord Rotchford Beauuais diuers other Gentlemen to the nomber of 100. Of the Protestants side Monsieur de Mouy and diuers other Noblemen and Captaines were eyther taken or slaine God did so moderate this great battaile that neither part could be saide eyther to conquere or to be conquered thus ordered and appointed by God lest so great a Kingdome denided in it selfe should come to vtter ruine and destruction The Prince of Conde also the faâ—…tor and defender of the cause of the faithful was taken And of the papistes the Constable was taken and the Marshall of Santandre slayne And as of the Papistes side many Swisers and Frenchmen were slayne so many Protestantes were slayne also by the Papistes The greater number of horsemen were slayne by the Guises part and of 22. Ensignes there were but a few left But for all this the Prince of Conde found more lacke of his men though they were the smaller number than did the Guise THE Admirall who now in the absence of the Prince of Conde had the whole gouernment of the ProtestaÌ„ts was very carefull for the preseruation of his Armie Therfore when he had gathered together so much as he could the remaynder of his horsemen and footemen and had increased and furnished his armie againe which was not a little weakened by the losse of the footemen he came to Orleans differring his purpose to ioyne with the Englishmen because it was now winter vntill a more conuenient time And the Constable was also brought with the rest of the Captiues to Orleans The syxt Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and of the common wealth of Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Charles the ninth THE Duke of Guise mynding to repayer his decayed armie came with the same to Paris then appoynted new troupes of horsemen new Captaynes also in the stéede of such as were wanting with a great number of common souldiers And to the end he might make the Kyng and the people thinke the losse of his men to be the lesse he sayd that he had gotten the victory and hoping to drawe many in these troublesome times from the Prince of Condes part he brought to passe that there was an Edict made and published in the Kynges name promising vnto theÌ„ peace and securitie which had and would forsake the Admirall and come vnto him The Edict was to this effect The Kyng being moued both with the due aduise and counsayle of his Counsaylers and also by his inclinable and naturall goodnes hath sought euen vntill this day all meanes wayes possible to appease these troubles in his Realme and to bring his subiectes to their accustomed peace and tranquillitie and to bring to passe that they which without his commaundement haue rashly put them selues in Armes might vnarme them selues againe The which his Maiesties good will he hath declared by many tokens writing Letters to to all places of his Realme and séeking a reconciliatioÌ„ againe by parleys and conference at sundry times with the chiefest of their Captaines the which touching diuers both with remorse of their offences and with the loue and desire of obedience which they owe vnto their naturall Prince hath done some good insomuch that many haue retourned from their wicked purpose and thewed themselues since good and faithfull subiectes Yet notwithstanding that remedy could not so much preuaile as he hoped for albeit he left nothing vndone that might preserue them and that might bring peace and concord the Quéene his mother also with certaine of the Princes that were of Royall bloud and indued with no lesse good wil riding to and fro at sundry times to conferre and talke with them and to declare vnto them her true intent and meaning to bring them into her fauour againe by pardoning their offences But they continuing still in their former euell enterprise God would haue the matter come to the very extreame and last remedy that is to say by bidding battayle against those which haue so obstinatly gone forward the triumphant victory wherof it hath pleased the same most holy and righteous god to giue vnto him by which he hoped to receiue that fruite which so greatly a long time he had wished for namely their retourne and acknowledging of their faultes which had erred and gone astraye at which time they shall vnderstand that although their offences are great yet he is ready to imbrace them with the armes of mercy and to receiue theÌ„ into his fauour againe for the which cause he thought good to signifie the same to all men And because he desireth nothing more than the reconciliation of his subiects and would vse this victory to the Glory of God to the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme to shewe his naturall clemency and goodnes in the beginning of his raigne he willeth and coÌ„maundeth all his subiects what condition state or degrée soeuer they be of which without his will and commaundement haue put them selues in Armour taken Cities incamped them selues against him haue bene at any battayle or skirmish or had done any other thing against him to vnarme them selues againe to leaue those places and assemblies to shew their obedience and to renounce their company fellowship In so doing they shall sustayne neyther losse nor perill in body or goodes for bearing Armour nor for their conscience what soeuer hath bene heretofore decréed notwithstanding but shall be receiued with all their families into his fauour and protection So that euer hereafter they shall liue obediently and quietly Catholiquely and without offence And vppon this
territorie of Bellouac of which he being certified fled and in fléeing was chased by souldiours till he came to the Sea In so much that he was constrayned to leaue the greatest part of his cariage behind him and to take Ship to passe ouer into England It was also commonly reported about this tyme that Charles Sonne to King Philip of Spayne was dead The causes were by diuers men diuersly reported but that which was most credible is That the Inquisitors suspecting him of certain things concerning religion ê“uoked stirred vp the displeasure of the Father against the Sonne that he might depriue himselfe of his onely Sonne and of the lawfull heyre of Spayn Shortly after this also newes was brought concerning the death of Elizabeth wyfe to Philip Kinge of Spayne and Sister to Charles King of Fraunce Furthermore the Duke of Alba dayly more more played the tyrant in Flaunders straining no courtesie at the shedding of innocent bloud wherevpon the prince of Orange being moued partely to discharge his dutie being one of the Princes of the Empire and partely for the loue which hée bare to his Countrey caused a great Army to be in a readinesse that hée might withstand the cruell tyrannie of the said Duke of Alba. He had to ayde him great numbers of horsemen footemen which came out of Germany out of Fraunce and also out of the low CouÌ„trey County Lâ—…dowike also his brother a valeaÌ„t captain came with a great number of good souldiours to ioyne with him COME LORD IESV COME QVICKLY The. ix Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and of the common wealth of Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Charles the ninth THus beganne the third ciuill war in FrauÌ„ce being more notable than the others goyng before both for the great atteÌ„pts and enterprises and also for the continuance of the same for it troubled the Noble Realme of FrauÌ„ce for the space of two yeres Therefore when newes was brought to the Courte of the departure of the Prince of Conde there was open prouision made on both partes for the warre but both their conditions were not alike For the Papistes had Cities Artillery money and all maner of prouision belonging to warre they had also the Kings name authoritie and power by which they preuailed more than by any other meane But as for the Prince of Conde and the Protestantes they had almost nothing but the goodnesâ—…e of their cause and couragious mindes to defende themâ—…elues who though to the perill of the losse of theyr lyues and goods were almost desperate to defende the same Moreouer they which should haue bene helpers and furtherers of their cause were hemde in and shut â—…p throughout the whole Realme in so muche that it was marueile that the Prince of Conde was able to holde warre and to withstand his enemies in so great extreamitie There were great and vrgent caâ—…ses of newe contention â–ª as the diâ—…pleasure taken for the breaking of the oath solemnlye made the breaking of the Kings promise and common peace and the meâ—…itable necessitie of defending their consciences and liues But the Papistes beyng forward enough of themselues tâ—… destroy the godly were pricked forward by the bloudy â—…uriousnesse of the Cardinall of Loraine Therefore by the Kings commaundâ—…ment for vnder this name the Papistes did what they would the Armies that were dismiâ—…t were nowe called backe againe newe choyse and musteâ—…s of men were had and they were all commaunded to be at Staples the. x. dayâ—… of September The wholâ—… ordering and charge of the warre was committed tâ—… Alexander Duke of Angewe the Kings brother being but a young man notwithstanding he had ioyned with him certaine valiant captaines as we sayde before Then were baytes and â—…nares subtiâ—…ly layde and in the Kinges name the gouernours of the Prouinces published a decrée as thus The Kyng commaundeth that all the men of the reformed Religion be vnder his protection no lesse than anye other of his subiectes that they may haue leaue to complaine of iniuries done to them that they may haue remedies prouided out of hande as it is meete and conuenient for their defence and that all Magistrates should be vigilant to defend them In the meane tyme he that caryed the Prince of Condes letters to the King after the deliuerie of them was taken and committed prisoner to a certaine noble man and no answere made to the letters The Prince of Conde when he had stayed in the house of Rochfoucant certaine dayes wente wyth hys whole retinew to Rochel of whose inhabitantes he was very louingly receiued And thether came vnto him the inhabitantes of Xantonge of Poictou of Perigueux of Engolmoys and a great number of noble men of the Regions thereaboutes which embraced the reformed religion and as for the common sort of people they came vnto him out of all those quarters by beapes The Câ—…ties also called Sainctes Tifauge and Montagu offered themselues vnto him But for all this he sente letters to diuers partes of the Realme requiring ayâ—… of hys fellowes and forsomuch as the Protestantes were expulsed almost euery Citie it seemed good vnto him that they shoulde come with all spéede to hiâ—… to Rochel and then hauing greater power to ioyâ—… battaile wyth the enemie Notwithstanding in many places by the wonderfull prouidence of God there were diuers places of refuge reserued throughout the whole Realme as to the men of Francoys Sanferre and Uezelay to the men of Languedoe Montalban Castrealby and Milliaulde to the men of Dolpheny which at that time were in great perill the Cities of Uiuaretze were reserued as Albenac Priuac and many others But before the Prince of Conde began any warre he published a certaine solemne declaration of the causes of the same In manner and forme as followeth I protest before God and his Angels and before this holy assembly that â—…as I also declared in my last letters which I sent vnto the King my Lord intend to do nothing against his Maiestie which may either hurt his person or dignitie but taking him for my Kinge and supreme Lorde next vnder God by him so appoynted I protest that whatsoeuer I doe is for no other cause but to keepe and defende the liberties of our consciences the free vse of the reformed Religion our lyues honours and goods from the tyrannie and oppression of the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes â–ª the whiche tyrannie they haue alwayes hytherto shewed and minde still to vse towards the men of the reformed Religion contrary to our kings will whiche he hath openly declared by publique Edicts and decrees thereby breaking the common peace and tranquiâ—…itie And for this cause to the end I may defend their lyues honours goods and the libertie of their consâ—…ences which professe the reformed religion I affirâ—…e that I wyll spende bothe my lyfe and whatso euer eâ—…se God hath giuen vnto me And bâ—…cause there came souldiers daye by daye vnto
Quéenes good will. But the Quéene of Nauar persisting in her former purpose sent letters to the King to the Quéene to the Duks of Aniou and to the Cardinall of Borbon In the which because she doth plainly she we the reasons of hir purpose it shall not be amisse to repeate the summe of them When saith she I receyued your letters I was rea dy to take my iorney hearing the rumor of so great alte ration the which notwithstanding was not vnlike to come our aduersaries beeinge so outragious that their madnesse could not but take awaye from vs all hope of peace which was offred vnto vs most Christian king by your Edict of patification the which notwithstaÌ„ding was not only euill obserued kept but plainly broken also by the subtil meanes of the Cardinal of Lorain who notwithstanding your promises which you haue made to your miserable subiectes hath not ceased both by letters to the parliaments and also to all those whose help he thought hee might haue to frustrate and adnihillate the force and effect of the Edict abusing our patience after he had made a way to an infinite sort of murthers he presumed to procéede farther and sought to preuaile against the Princes your neare kinsmen of the which we haue a manifest example in my brother the Prince of Conde who was so furiously assaulted that hee was constrained to craue aide of his kinsmen And bycause my Sonne and I are so neare of bloud vnto him wée could not chuse but offer vnto him that kindnesse which the Law of nature requireth Wée know sufficiently your mind which you haue declared both by woord and writinge which is to haue at our handes obedience the which we are ready to yéeld vnto you euen to â—…heading of the laste drop of our bloud And furthermore we know most Christian king that your naturall goodnes is wholy enclâ—…ned to preserue vs and not to destroy vs Seing therfore wée sée such practises against vs is ther any man which knowing you to be a faithfull and iuste king and séeing notwithstanding such contrary actions so manifest against your promises will not Iudge that these things are done withour your commaundement and that by the cankered malice and spight of the Cardinall of Loraine Therefore I pray and beséech you most ChristiaÌ„ King to take it in good part the I was gone froÌ„ home to serue our God you also which are our King and supreme Lord and of our owne bloud Wée setting our selues as vtter enemies against their practises so much as wée may which presumptuously go aboute to oppresse vs And I pray you to certifie your selfe that wee haue not put oure selues in armour but onely for these thrée causes least they should vtterly destroye vs as they haue gone about As touching mine owe part I say the the Cardinal hath done great iniurie vnto you in that he hath gone about to chaunge his power and authoritie into violence séeking to take away my Sonne from me perforce that he might be brought vnto you as though your onely commaundement could not sufficiently preuayle both with him and me But we saye and affirms O king and beséeche you so to thinke that we are your most louing and obedient seruaunts in so much that whensoeuer it shall please you to trye vs to compare our fayth with the falshood of the Cardinall and his fellowes I beléeue you shall finde more trueth and trust in my déedes than you shall finde faythfulnes in his wordes The which also we will alwayes performe with all willingnesse of mynd But to the Quéene the Kings mother she wrote after this manner I protest sayeth shée O Quéene before God and men that nothing hath ben is nor shal be hereafter more déere to me than the loue of God the King my Countrey and my own bloude The whiche haue ben so effectuall in me that Monsieur la Mott whoÌ„ you sent vnto me with letters founde mée gone from home with full purpose and intent to spend and bestow my life goodes and all that I haue for their sakes But I pâ—…ay you O Quéene if these my letters be ouer tediouse vnto you that you would impute it to the necessitie of the time which hath brought me into such extremities that I cannot choose but be long in repeating of them meaning thereby to declare vnto you my purpose and to set before your eyes my whole mynde in the which you may haue a liuely view of those things the which I know are after a contrary maner layd to my charge But I pray you gyue me leaue to repeate the whole matter from that tyme in the which the Guises shewed themselues to be enemies to the peace and tran quillitie of the whole realme at what time they flattered the King my husband disceased with fayre wordes making him beléeue that he should recouer his kingdoÌ„ You know with what kinde of men he was then beset on euery syde to my great griese and to your grieâ—…e I dare say also for I knew it then of your own mâ—…th I pray you remember how faythfull you haue alwayes found me when as for the coÌ„mon wealth of the realm â–ª I almost forsooke my husband and my children I pray you also remember what talke you haue had with me and what a trust you séemed to haue in me when I departed from you from Fontainbleau From that time I protest that I haue ben the same woman still And I pray you remember how faithfully I obeyed your letters which you sent vnto me when I was at Vendosme Remember what I did after that in GuiaÌ„ to obey your commaundements Then I lost the King my husband that I might be partaker of the common chaunce calamity of widowes I wil not repeate euery particular iniury that hath ben don to me seeing that I meane to speak of them all generally And I protest againe that the desire I haue to obey god the loue which I owe to my kinâ—…olkes and countrey haue so possessed my mind that I haue almost no respect or consideration of my selfâ—… Let me come therfore to the time of the extréeme troubles theÌ„ renued again when the Cardinal of Lorain brought vs into such straites as you al men know In the mean time I by their malice subtill practises aboad vnprofâ—… table in my own dominioÌ„ who sought al that thei could to intangle me And what I theÌ„ did you are so wel certified of y same that I shal not néed to make ani farther rehearsal therof Therefore to come to this my present state at what time I sée the Edicts of my King not only brokeÌ„ but also quight contemned set at naught his au thoritie despised his kingly promises not regarded all which come to passe by the wicked practises of the Cardinal of Loraine whom I can not so well point out O Quéene as he is knowne vnto you And beside the barbarouse cruelty which he
kéepe their Souldiours with in their Campes and said that he would come by and by with the reste of the army This aduise pleased the captaynes very well â—…auing onely Monsieur Mouents who vaunsing his Enseignes willed them to followe him Monsieur Pierregorde the reste of the Captayne 's fearing least by this destruction of the bandes ther should be a way made to the enemie to anoy them and protesting that the whole blame hereof should rest on him they also with their bandes marched forward But they were not scarsly gone out of the village when they saw Duke Monpensier comming with a great army of horsmen Then with spéed he prepared himselfe and choose out fyue hundred harquebuziers to be in the first front who straytway discharged a great peale of shot against the launces on horse but they presently charging their launces ran with such violence vppon them that they brake the ray of Mouents souldiours so ensued a sore skirmishe and when they had resisted a while the whole army of Mouents tourned their backes and fled the two Captaynes also themselues being slayne namely Pierregorde and Mouents and the reste whiche fled were for the most part slayne by the Inhabitantes of those quarters notwithstanding many escaped and ame to Monsieur Acier in safety In this skirm ishe there were slayne and wanting of Monsieur Aciers soldiers siâ—…e hundred and of Monpensiers side certaine horsemen of great name After this Monpensier gaue no other attempt but retourned to the Citie Perigeux and Monsieur Acier wheÌ„ he had gathered togither all his souldiers and the remnant of the souldiours of Mouenes came the next day to a village called Aulbeterre The Prince of Conde hearing of the comminge of Monsieur Acier after he had wonne Engolesme prepared himselfe to take his iorney and to méete him The Quéene of Nauarre in the meane tyme dealt very substantially at Rochel and had appointed certain Shippes to kéepe the hauens mouth belonginge to the same and also to the end shée might haue the more easie passage into England which was a great friend and fur therer of the Protestants cause Therefore the Quéene of Nauarre sente letters to the Quéene of Englande by Mousieur Shastiller a Noble man whom shée had made Generall of that Nauy and when shée had declared the causes of the warre begonne shée commended her self and her cause vnto her as followeth Beside the great good will and desire moste Noble Quéene which I always had to abyde in your fauoure there is also at this day occasion offered the which truly would greatly accuse me if I shoulde not by letters declare vnto you what causes haue led mée my children whom God hath lent vnto me hyther And my faulte should be so much the greater by how much hée according to his infinit goodnes hath bestowed so many and so great benefits vpoÌ„ you and hath geuen vnto you such a zeale for the aduauncement of his glory namely to you O Quéene whom he hath choosen to be a â—…ngular Nource of his Church By good right therefore are those things referred and brought before you which doo appertayne to this defence of the trueth of the church of god And truly as I know that you vnderstand the generall state of our affaires most noble Quéene so I pray and beseeche you perswade your selfe that there are thrée causes of the which the least ought to be sufficient which haue constrayned me to forsake my owne Dominion and to come hyther The first cause therfore is RELIGION the which would haue ben oppressed in this our Realme of FraÌ„ce by the olde and barbarouse tyrannie of the Cardinall of Lorrayne and of those which take his part that I should no doubt haue ben ashamed of my selfe and myne and to haue had my name reckoned among the faythfull if so be to withstand this error and horror and to defend the trueth I had not sought all meanes possible both by my goods and also with perill of my lyfe and except also my Sonne and I had ioyned our selues with this so honorable a company of Princes and Nobles All the which are with me determined and fully purposed by the helpe of the lord God of hoastes not to spare in thys cause by any maner of meanes neither lyfe nor goods nor any thing else which God had lent vnto vs. The seconde cause whiche also dependeth vpon the first is our obedience to the King bicause the ruyne of religion is also the ruyne of the King for the preseruation whereof we are straitly bounde And bicause my sonne and I haue obtained at the hands of God this honour and dignitie that we are so néere of bloude to the King this also most Noble Quéene hath constrayned vs to make haste and to set oure selues against those which abusing our Kings name and facillitie doe make him the author of his owne detrement and harme and althoughe of himselfe he is moste faithfull and sure of his promises the breaker of his faith and promises and that by those subtill meanes and wayes whiche they haue deuised to breake the Edicte of pacification The which Edict as it caused maintayned peace betweene the king and his good and faithfull subiectes so long as it was obserued and kepte so the same beyng broken calleth and prouoketh the fidelitie of the subiectes to lamentable and pitifull warre so coacted and constrayned that there is neuer a one of vs whiche is not violently and againste his will drawne therevnto The thirde cause moste Noble Quéene is peculiar to my Sonne and me namely for that we sée the olde and sworne enemyes to God and to our sâ—…ocke and kynred with deadly and impudent hatred to go about and séeke to rase and vtterly to destroy vs and our familie wheÌ„ as also my brother the Prince of Conde to auoyde the practises and conspiracies againste him and his was constrained with his wife and children to séeke a place of refuge and securitie the mother great with childe the children being in so pitifull a cace that I cannot repeate the same without teares besyde this also that I was certifyed knew the same for a suertie that some were appoynted to steale and violently to carry away my sonne from me With these reasons and causes we beyng moued could not chuse but come together to the ende that we beyng ioyned in one mighte lyue and dye together as also the bonde of consanguinitie wyth the which we are mutually knit together dothe bynde vs herevnto that it dothe commaunde vs to doe no lesse These are the thrée causes O Quéene which haue vrged me to take the sworde in hande We doe not as the good catholiques lay to our charge warre against God and oure King we thanke God for it there is no suche treason to be layde to our charge but are faithfull seruauntes and subiectes both to God and oure king Of the which I moste humbly pray and beséeche you
we think also that the manifest true knowlege of these thinges is loked for of many meÌ„ of forein nations that the first beginnings of those things in these our Commentaries shal not be read of them without some frute Neither do we dout but that many when they haue gotten peace and tranquilitie after troubles will behold our miseries not as thoughe thei themselues were quite out of danger of the like but being moued with the féeling of our afflictions will truly bewaile our estate For whose sake also we haue writteÌ„ these things in Latin that they by some means at the least may be generally vnderstoode of all those which séeke the glorye of God and the preseruation of his Church â–ª Wherfore we trust if we be accused of rashnes as though we had vnaduisedly set forth these things which should haue bin deferred till more conuenient and better occasions wée haue to answere for our selues and to make vs cleare from that faulte For if in a matter commendable and deseruing praise simple and small diligence ought not to be blamed this may be a iuste defence for vs against learned and indifferent meÌ„ namely to wil is sufficieÌ„t in matters of weight It shal be no reproch or shame to vs at all that there be controllers of a learned perfect story But this is the summe of our whole desire that the very truth of those things which were done in Fraunce for religion might be knowne to all men as what is the goodnesse of the cause of the Faithfull and true churches and what is the iniquitie and iniustice of their aduersaries Let al meÌ„ know for a suretie that the Churches of France are not guiltie of sedition and rebellion but are so called by the enimies of the truth and pure doctrine for defending the libertie of the Gospell Let all men know that many thousandes of faithfull Christians being spoyled of their goodes haue like banished meÌ„ forsaken their houses and countrey let them knowe that by warre and by other meanes they haue become true martyrs and by the fraude and deceyte of the Antichristian Guyses are dayly martyred who violating and breaking the moste strayte lawe and faith of promises haue abused the kings name and authoritie to exercise their tirannie and wickednesse To be shorte let al men know that Fraunce is falne into these ciuil wars through the wickednesse of aliens not through the fault of the faithfull Moreouer gentle Reader whiche desirest to be satisfyed in the truth we testifie and affirme thus muche for our selues that we haue written all things truly simply and vprightly without anye manner of parcialitie not gathering any thing by rumours or reportes but by certaine and vndoubted arguments in so much that we are not afrayde to appeale to those that are yet alyue as too eye witnesses yea and to the very time it selfe Farewell â–ª Edward Grant Schoolemaister of VVestminster to the Booke WHo lists to lern the blustring broyles fraÌ„ticke fumes of France The troublous times in three kings raignes that dolefully did chauÌ„ce May here suruey a perfect platt of pageants plaide in vewe That will enforce eche Christian harte most ruthfully to rue To see and heare the true discourse of superstitious tymes That shattered pure Religion with spytefull cankred crimes VVhere errour blind and ignorance true Christians did suppresse And armed all her lungish loutes the godly to distresse To rage and fume against the Church that lurking lay in feare VVith spitefull hate and infamies of those that did it teare Christes faithfull spouse not suffered through furious foes to shine Through rancour lodgd in Princes heads that did from truth decline Gods chosen sheep and vassals true raisd vp to doe his will In puritie him for to serue proud papistes sought to spill Their throates to cut their heades to poll their corpes in fier to caste That to Gods pure Religion came flocking wondrous faste Some choackt with gibbets gabbet at some murdred spitefully Some stabbed in with goting blades and daggers wilfully And all for hating Romish rytes and Belials bragging broode For cleauing to the Chrrstian church that sore astonyed stoode Among the superstitious troupes of Antichristian foes Starke blinded with the Popes delights behedgd with wailsul woes Starte vp some chosen chieftaines stoute of Christes disperpled band That did defie such beggeries in Fraunce that famous lande â–ª VVhich few at first did more allure vnto their sacred sawes To serue the Lord in Hymnes and songes according to his lawes And secretly to pray and preache to set foorth his dew prayse In corners and in hidden holes for feare his trueth to rayse Vntill the rage of hellish hagges the common blinded crew Dyd spye and spite their godly wayes and many of them slew Accused them as Lutherans before the Peeâ—…es and Kings Of Luther that reuin'd the same with fond inuented things Hereof came sectes and taking partes the people censt with rage By might mayntaynd did spoyle the iust the godly â–ª and the sage Edictes were made to staye such broyles and Parliaments were held To let the faithfull be at rest but yet the enemie sweld And daily raged more and more till faithfull did encrease And this reform'd Religion some noble minds did please VVhom God raisde vp to ayde his flocke his chosen sheep to garde Against th â–ª assault of waspishe wolues when their loud cryes he hard For whose defence rose ciuill warres and many a bloudy day The Popish crewe by force did seeke Christes pacient sheepe too slay To roote out this Religion that planted lurking lay And feared not the skalding threates of th' antichristian route But paciently abyde the crosse of Christ with courage stout Though Antichrist the Popes proud grace did rage and fume his fill And all his cankred Cardinals did ioy their bloud to spill They dread not all the Guisian gardes that fierce and mighty be And perfecutors of the trueth that pyne and poute to fee Such valiaunt Captaynes of Christes bande that doe the truth defend And with the gaging of their bloud their frendly ayd doe lend A princely part here Conde playd a prince replet with grace And all his house trew Souldiours stoode the trueth still to embrace Burgeus suffred losse of lyfe and feared not the fier For Gospels sake and truthes defence a lew of his desire Suruey his lyfe and trayning vp his constant faythfull harte His zeale and stout confession he playd a martyrs parte Chatillon shrinke not here a whit a chieftane of the troupe Of Gods dispersed faithfull flocke that made their foes to stoupe Three tymes for this rife ciuill warr the papistes shewd their spight The true and trustie protestants stood stoutly in the right Their cause they manfully mayntaynd Christ Iesus was their shield Sometimes thei foyld their fretting foes that gainst them rose in field Some Nobles slayn and valiant Knights cast downe before their time And all in fence of Christ his cause accused thus
of crime Some goard with sword some choackt with rope some battred down There many pareÌ„ts wer dispoild of their beloued sonnes Their tongâ—… cut out wheÌ„ they shold dye for feare that they shold speak with guns And more entyse vnto their god that alwayes aydes the weake Oh Fraunce thou famous realm before and eke most populous place Thou art dispeopled wasted tourne thy owne doe thee deface Thy Cities cract thy Townes bereft thy men and nobles rackt Thy faythful subiects burnt and slaine thy welth and strength is sackt Ah pity pity for to heare how altered is thy state Through tyrannous popish cruel carles that Christ his truth did hate The Lord hath iustly plagued thee for so defacing his VVho in the end will ayd his flocke thou maist be sure of this If euer land might loth her lucke and lamed lowring state Fraunce thou hast cause for to deplore and waile thy cruell fate One of thy owne a pearle of thyne by learned treaties loo And true discourse thy mangled state le ts all the world to kno Thy Ramus here thy Phoenix France thy worthy learned clarke In volumes three conioind displaces thy broiles that he did marke And like a good and natrall child lest thinges should be forgot Hath painefully here pend thy brunts that do thy glory blot And like enough through cruell spite for these his learned paines Among the Popish crew of late dasht out was Ramus braines VVhose death ech scholler may bewaile for learning had a fall VVhen Ramus fell replet with skill thy chiefest clarke of all VVhat chief in France some may obiect ther liueth better still If I haue mist I pardon craue I speake it for good will. That I did learned Ramus lend for his sure grounded skill In learnings lore who for because he wrote in Latin stile VVhich only learned vnderstand well pew'rd with learnings file â–ª Tymme truly hath disrobed him of all his Romane tier And decked him in English clothes with zelous good desire To profit all his countrie men that they may see and vew The stormie tempestes of the French and partes of Popish crew The whole three volumes painfully Tymme hath absolued here And offers them vnto thy sight at last good Reader dere VVhich doth conteine the Ciuill warres or true Religions cause The spights of Papists that repind against Gods sacred lawes VVorthy the sight worthy the vew a mirror to beholde Of Gods elect of tirants fell of Papistes proude and bolde How God his chosen Church doth saue among her perillous foes And cancred cursed currishe kind that it oppresse with woes Therfore good Reader here embrace the founder of this frame And honor Ramus painfull pen the author of the same Giue Tym that Tymme doth wel deserue for Englishing this for thee VVhose paines do merit worthy praise let praise then be his see And waile the wracke of frushed France and giue God hâ—…rtie thanks That hath preseru'd this Royall realme froÌ„ such proud popish pranks FINIS Robertus Rollus in Historiam de Gallicae Ecclesiae statu recens editam UExata est olim priscis Ecclesia seclis Carceribus flagris ignibus ense cruce Haud minor est hodie cedes tu Gallia testis â–ª Sis dudum paribus sanguinolenta modis Qui fidei nuper multis fulsere magistri Prôh pudor indignam sustinuere necem Quoque magis possent inceptum absoluere factum Nullum papicola preteriere scelus Penè datur sceleri lex hoc qui credere posset Vix est tale nephas vnus alter erit Ante erat historia hec libris quasi manca duobus Nunc prodit numeris vndique plena suis. Si authorem spectes plena est si rem quota pars est â–ª Omnia nam tangi tempora nostra vetant Ascraei verba illa senis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quà m sunt huîc mirè consona dicta libro Nempe haec quae legimus quasi dimidiata supersunt Et quasi de domini clade relicta sui Quaeque modò aspicimus librisque notata videmus Debemus scriptis Rame deserte tuis Sed neque Tymme tua merita fraudabere laude Cuique oneris pars est pars honôris erit Τελοσ The summe of those things which are contained in these three first bookes of Commentaries IN these thrée first bookes of Commentaries we comprehende the space of foure yeares namely from the yeare 1557. vnto the yeare 1562. which was in the first motions of the ciuill warres beginning at that time which seemeth to be most fitte for this purpose the matter so aptly offering itselfe that we may very néere begin at the same time in the which Iohn Sleidan that learned man left and ended his Commentaries concerning the state of the CoÌ„mon welth and Religion First of all we set forth that great destruction and losse of men which is commonly called by the vulgar people Iacobs slaughter which séemed wholy to deface not onely the Church of Paris but also the Churches of Fraunce being now as it were but in the swadling clothes then we shew what cruell afflictions came at that time vpon the faithfull what the aduersaries did then and what our men also did We declare also that while newe deuises and practises are sought for to abolishe the Gospell quite nowe beginning to growe in Fraunce the whole kingdome being moued and troubled with newe threatenings of Edictes and punishmentes and the kings of Fraunce and Spaine being nowe in councell concerning this matter in the very league euen in the middest of their consultation when a scourge was a preparing for the Church by the solemnitie of mariage eueÌ„ at that time came the sodeine death of Henrie the king of all men vnlooked for Then howe the â—…uises had the gouernement of the Realme during the time of the nonage of king Fraunces the second how Annas Burgaeus a noble Senatour of the Parliament of Paris at that time was cruelly burned and what other persecutions there were also among which persecutions how the tumult of Ambaxian chaunced the causes and effectes whereof shall be declared After this the solemne assemblies had at the kings house at Fontisbellaquaeum to mitigate the tumultes who agréed to call a Parliament and a Nationall Councell or Conuocation to stay the controuersies of Religion of the which also we will intreate in order Also howe the king set forth an Edict promising them to forget and forgiue all former offences committed for Religions sake Then how the Guises went about to subuert and extinguish the Gospell coacting an assemblie to be made at Aurelias for the same purpose howe the deathes of the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde were conspired the tumult and trouble of Ambaxian being maliciously and falslye layde to their charge But while the Prince of Conde was straitly imprisoned and his death a preparing we will shew howe the sodeine death of king Fraunces the seconde happened to the great amasing