Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	good_a	great_a	think_v	4,338	5	3.9369	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03723	A true and plaine report of the furious outrages of Fraunce & the horrible and shameful slaughter of Chastillion the admirall, and diuers other noble and excellent men, and of the wicked and straunge murder of godlie persons, committed in many cities of Fraunce, without any respect of sorte, kinde, age, or degree. By Ernest Varamund of Freseland.; De furoribus Gallicis. English	Hotman, François, 1524-1590.; Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.; Languet, Hubert, 1518-1581.	1573 (1573)	STC 13847; ESTC S104242	59,763	145

feared by those which pretend to breake the Edict of Pacification and thereby would execute a reuenge of their long priuate grudge to our incredible vexation and anguishe of minde For this cause it is your part to giue to vnderstand and publishe throughout that Citie of ours and other places pertaining to it that euery one should quietly and peacibly kepe their houses without taking weapons in hande and offending one the other vpon paine of death and well and diligently to kepe our Edict of Pacification And if any goe about to contrarie this our intent and minde to cause them to be punished and rigorously chastised by penalties imposed on such offendours in our ordinances hauing a watchfull and diligent eye to the safegarde of that our Citie in such sort that no inconuenience arise in your seruice towardes vs as you woulde haue vs to knowe that you are our loyall and obedient subiectes Giuen at Paris the .xxvij. day of August 1572. Thus signed CHARLES and ●●●owe De neuf-ville A LETTER OF THE TREAsorer of the leagues of the Switzers written by the kings commaundement vnto the sayd Leagues of the same argument that the former letters were NOble Seigniours Monsieur de la Fontaine Ambassador for the King your assured and perfect friend confederate and I his Treasorer in this countrey hauing commaundement of his maiestie to communicate with you as with them whome he accompteth his chiefe and sure friends of a chaunce which lately happened in the Citie of Paris his owne person and court then being there wherof he receiued so much more griefé and displeasure bicause it befell on such a time as he least feared or loked for such a thing The matter is this On the .xxvij. day of August last the Admirall as he went from Louu●e was with an harquebuze shot hurte in the hande and arme whereof when his maiestie was aduertised he commaunded incontinent that search and punishment were had of the offendour and the authors of such a mischiefe whervnto when he had readilie layde his hande by his officers and committed the inhabitantes of the house where the harquebuze was shot to prison they which were the cause firste of the mischiefe as it maye easily be presupposed bicause they woulde preuente the inquisition therof heaping one transgression vpon another on the .xxiij. and .xxiiij. of the said moneth assembled a great troupe of people in the night and moued the people of Paris to a very● great sedition who in a rage set vpon the Admi●rals lodging and enforcing the Garde which his Maiestie had set for the Admirals suretie and keping slewe him with certaine other gentlemen in his companie as the like also was committed vpon others in the Citie the matter growing in the verie same instant to suche an outrage and commotiō that whereas his Maiestie had thought to prouide remedie for appeasing therof he had much a doe with all his Gardes to kepe his house at Louure where he lodged with the two Queens his mother and the Spouse the Lords his brethrē the King of Nauarre and other Princes Thinke therefore ye noble Seigniours in what a perplexitie this yong and couragious King now standeth who as a man may saye hath helde in his hande thornes in steade of a Scepter euer since his comming to the Crowne for the great troubles which haue almost euer since beene in his Realme and therefore by the good and wise counsell and assistance of the Queene his mother and the Lords his brethren thought to enioy and establishe a more sure repose in his Realme and a more happie gouernement for himselfe and his subiectes after he had taken away as he thought all occasions of dissentions amongst his subiectes by the meanes of his Edicts of Pacifications and of the mariage of the King of Nauarre to the Ladie his sister and the Prince of Code to Madome de Neuers Besides all this to the intent nothing should be lefte vndone that mighte serue for the quieting of all things and especially for the Admirals safegard his Maiestie as euery man knoweth hath done his endeuour to the vttermost to appease and reconcile his principall and most daungerous enimyes vnto him And so God the true iudge of the Kings Maiesties good and pureintent brought to passe that the peoples rage being quieted within a few houres euery one went home to his house and the king had speciall regard to nothing more than to see nothing attempted or innouated contrarie to his Edicts of Pacification and the repose of his subiectes as well of the one Religion as of the other And for that purpose hath sent to diuerse of his Gouernours and Officers in his prouinces to loke diligently to the obseruing of his Edictes with expresse commaundement to holde their handes there that euerie one might pe●ceiue that the chaunce at Paris happened for some priuate quarell and not for any purpose to alter his Edicts which his Maiestie will in no wife suffer VVhich is the principall thing noble Seigniours that his Maiestie hath commaunded vs on his parte to assure you and to let you vnderstand the daungers that depende ouer him and his neighbours not so much for this sedition for he trusteth in God that shall growe no further and his Maiestie wil kepe his Realme in as good repose as it hath bene since his last Edict of Pacification but for the great mustering and assembling men of warre in many places specially in the low coūtreyes where it is yet vncertaine on which side God will giue the victorie nor whether the conqueror will employ his force after his conquest VVherefore his Maiestie prayeth you continuing the good loue and intelligence which hath always bene bewixt the Crowne of Fraunce and his allied and confederate friendes the Seigniours of the Le●gues to haue good regarde to him and his Realme in case that neede shall require as he will haue to you and your prosperous estate if it be requisite employing in the meane whyle your great and singular wisedome to the preseruation of the vnion of the Nation in League which is the onely cause to make you not onely able to send succour to your friends but also maintaine your selues in estimation that you may be a terrour to your neighbours how great so euer they be his maiestie promising you in all occurrentes as much friendship fauour and assistance as you can desire and to be as entier and perfect a friend as euer your nation had any A DECLARATION OF THE King concerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his adherents and complices happened in the Citie of Paris the. 24. of August 1572. Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Dallier Stacioner dwelling vpon S. Michaels bridge at the signe of the white Rose by the Kings licence BY THE KING HIs Maiestie desiring to haue all Seigniours Gentlemen and other his subiects vnderstand the cause of the murder of the Admirall and his adherentes and complices which lately happened in this Citie

¶ A true and plaine report of the Furious outrages of Fraunce the horrible and shameful slaughter of CHASTILLION the Admirall and diuers other Noble and excellent men and of the wicked and straunge murder of godlie persons committed in many Cities of Fraunce without any respect of sorte kinde age or degree By ERNEST VARAMVND OF FRESELAND ¶ AT STRIVELING in Scotlande 1573. TO THE READER YOu must ceasse to maruell my good cuntreymen of Scotland that I haue caused this booke printed in our cuntrey of Scotlād to be published altogither in the English phrase orthographie For the language is vvel enough knovvne to our cūtreymē And the chief cause of my translating it was for our good neighbors the Englishmē to whō we are so hiely bound vpon whose good Queene at this present in policie dependeth the chiefe ●●aye of Gods Churche in Christendome I knovv not vvhatrespects haue stayed the learned of that land from setting out this historie Therfore supposing the causes to be such as I conceiue them I haue ben bolde to set it forthe in their language in our cuntrey And you good cuntreymē that haue receiued so honorable succors from England and frō vvhenceal Christendome hopeth for charitable assistāce must be content to yelde that this is framed to serue their vnderstanding Ye Englishmen our good neighbors frends brethrē and patrons I pray you conster rightly of my labour that my purpose is not here to offend any amitie nor violate any honor nor preiudice any truth but to set before you astorie as I found it referring the confirmation thereof to truth and prooues as in all historicall cases is lavvfully vsed How many histories written in Latine Italian French by Iouius Paradine Belleforest and other are printed in Italie Fraunce and Flaunders and published freely had and read in your land although they contain matter expresly to the sclander of your state and princes Matters of that nature are published the burden of prouing resteth vpon the author the iudgement pertaineth to the reader there is no preiudice to anye part Bokes are extant on both parts The very treatises of diuinitie are not al vvarāted that be printed you must take it as it is onely for matter of reporte on the one parte so farre to binde credit as it carieth euidence to furnish your vnderstandings as other bokes do that make rehearsals of the actes states of princes cōmō weales and peoples But howsoeuer it be good Englishmen thanke God that you haue such a soueraigne vnder vvhō you suffer no such things by the noble sincere aide that your good Queene hath giuen vs in Scotland I pray you gather a comsortable confidēce that in respect of such honorable charitie to his church in Scotland god vvil not suffer you at your nede to be succorlesse in England as by dayly miracles in preseruing your Queene he hath plainly shevved and the rather ye may trust hereof if ye be thankeful and faithful to God hir that ye pray hartily to God either by mediate operation of your Queenes iustice or by his ovvne immediate hand vvorking to deliuer his church people frō the cōmon perill to both these realms to the state of al true religiō in christēdome Farewel and God long preserue bothe your good and oure hopeful soueraigne to his glory Amen A declaration of the furious outrages of Fraunce vvith the slaughter of the Admiral IT were to be wished that the memorie of the fresh slaughters and of that butcherly murthering that hathe lately bene committed in a manner in all the townes of Fraunce were vtterly put out of the minds of men for so great dishonor and so greate infamie hath thereby stayned the whole Frēch nation that the most part of them are now ashamed of their owne countrey defiled with two most filthy spottes falsehode and crueltie of the which whether hath bene the greater it is hard to say But forasmuche as there flee euery where abroade Pamphlets written by flatterers of the Courte and men corruptly hired for reward which do most shamefully set out things sayned and falsely imagined in stead of truth I thoughte my selfe bound to do this seruice to posteritie to put the matter in writing as it was truely done in dede being wel enabled to haue know ledge thereof both by mine owne calamitie and by those that with their owne eyes beheld a great part of the same slaughters In the yeare of our Lord. 1561. when there seemed to be some perill of troubles to arise by reason of the multitude of suche as embraced the Religion which they cal reformed for before that time the vsuall manner of punishing such as durst professe that Religion was besides losse and forfeyture of all their goods to the Kings vse to burne their bodies at the request of the great Lordes and nobilitie there was holden an assemblie of the estates in the Kings house at Saint Germaines in Lay neare to the towne of Paris at which assemblie in presence and with the royall assente of King Charles the ninth which now raigneth it was decreed that from thencefoorth it shoulde not be preiudicaill to any man to professe the said Religion and that it should be leefull for thē to haue publique metings and preachings for the exercise thereof but in the suburbs of townes only At this assemblie Francis Duke of Guise being descended of the house of Loraine and at that time Grand master of the Kings houshold was not present But when he was enformed of this decree he boyled with incredible sorow and anger and within few dayes after at a little town in Champagne called Vassey while the professors of the saide Religion were there at a Sermon he accompanied with a band of souldiers set vppon them and slewe men and women to the number of two hundreth There was amōg these of the Religion for so hereafter according to the vsuall phrase of the french tong we intend to call them Lewes of Burbon of the bloud royall commonly called Prince of Conde after the name of a certaine towne a man of great power by reason of his kinred to the king Therefore when the Duke of Guise most vehemently striued against that lawe and as much as in him lay did vtterly ouerthrowe it and troubled the common quiet thereby stablished Gaspar de Coligni Admirall of France and Francis d'Andelot his brother Captaine of the Fantarie and other Princes noble men and Gentlemen of the same Religion come dayly by heapes to the Prince of Conde to complaine of the outragious boldnesse and vntemperate violence of the Duke of Guise At that time Catherine de Medices Pope Clements brothers daughter and mother of King Charles borne in Florence a Citie of Italie had the gouernance of the Realme in the Kings minoritie For though by the lawe of Fraunce neither the inheritance nor the administration of the realme is graunted to women yet through the cowardly negligence

the king he immediatly called Monsieur de Nance captaine of his guard and commaunded him to apprehend Challey and bring him to him Challey assoone as hee heard the stroke of the peece fledde into the Kings castle called the Louure and hid him in the Duke of Guises chamber from whence he conuayed him selfe away assoone as he had heard of the kings commaundement ▪ VVhen de Nance was infourmed of his departure he answered that Challey was a gentleman of good worship and there was no doubte but when neede were he woulde appeare before the King and the magistrates VVhile these things were doyng and the Admirals wound in dressing Theligny went by his commaundement to the King and most humbly besought him in the name of his father in lawe that his maiestie woulde voutsafe to come vnto him for that his life seemed to be in perill and that he had certaine things to say greatly importing to the King safetie whiche he well knewe that none in his Realme durst declare to his maiestie The King curteously aunswered that he would willingly go to him and within a little while after he set forwarde The Queene mother went with him and the Duke of Aniow the Duke of Monpensier a most affectionate subiect to the Churche of Rome the Counte de Rhetz the Queene mothers great familiar Chauigny and Entragny which afterwarde were chiefe ringleaders in the butcherie of Paris VVhen the King had louingly saluted the Admirall as he was wont to do and had gently asked him some questions cōcerning his hurt and the state of his health and the Admirall had aunswered with suche a milde and quiet countenaunce that all they that were present wondered at his temperance and pacience the king beyng much moued as it seemed sayd The hurt my Admirall is done to thee but the dishonour to me but by the death of God saith he I sweare I will so seuerely reuenge both the hurte and the dishonor that it shall neuer be forgotten He asked him also how he lik●d of the Iudges that he had chosen to whō he had giuen commission for examining the matter The Admiral aunswered that he could not but very well like of those that his maiestie had allowed of yet he besought him if he thought it good that Cauagnes might be called to counsell with them albeit that it was no hard matter to finde out for it was no doubt sayd he that this good turne was done him by the Duke of Guise the reuenge wherof he referred to god This onely he most heartily and humbly besoughte of his royall maiestie that the fact might be duelie enquired vpon The King aunswered that he would take earnest care of it and reuenge that iniurie with no lesse seueritie than if it had bene done to himselfe Then the kings brethren and their mother with drawing themselues a while the Admirall as it was afterward knowne by his owne report began to aduise the king to haue in memorie those things that he had ofte tolde him of the daungerous intentions of certaine persons and he tolde him that though he himself had receiued a great wound yet there was no lesse hanging ouer the kings head and that long ago there was treasō in practizing against his life which if he would do wisely he should auoyde betimes Further he sayd that though so soone as God should take him to himselfe out of this life he doubted not but that his same should be brought into sundry slaunders by enuious persons and such as ought him euill will by reason of the late warres neuerthelesse he had oftentimes disclosed vnto the king the authors of the dissentions and opened the causes therof and that God was his witnesse of his most faithfull hearte to the king and the common weale and that he had neuer holden any thing dearer than his countrey and the publique safetie The king after such aunswere made herevnto as he thought best spake aloude heartily entreated the Admirall to suffer himself to be remoued into his castell of the Louure for that he thought some perill least there should arise some sedition among the commons alreadie in disorder or any stirre in that madde and troublesome Citie VVherto this speech of the king tended coulde not then be vnderstoode For though the cōmonaltie of Paris hath euer bene accompted the most foolish madde of all other yet is it euer most easily appeased not onely with the comming and presence of the king but also with the very sound of his name The Admirall most humbly and largely thanked the king and made his exuse vpon the counsell of the Phisitions which feared that shaking would encrease his paine and therfore had taken order that he should not be stirred out of his place Then the Counte de Rhetz turning to certaine gentlemen of the Admirals friends sayd I would the Admirall would follow the kings counsell for it is to be feared that some such stirre may arise in the towne as the king shall not easily be able to appease VVhich speech being vttered although no man did yet suspect whereto that aduise tended yet the Admirall his friends thought it good to request of the king to assigne vnto him certaine of the souldiers of the guarde for his safetie The king aunswered that he verie well liked of that deuise and that he was fully determined to prouide aswell for the Admirals safetie as for his owne and that he would preserue the Admirall as the ball of his eye that he had in admiration the constancie and fortitude of the man and that he neuer before that time beleued that there could be so great valiauntnesse of courage in anye mortall person Therewith the Duke of Aniow the Kings brother commaunded Cossin captaine of the Kings guarde to place a certaine band of souldiers to ward before the Admirals gate There could hardly a man be found more hatefull against the Admirals parte nor more affected to the Guisians thā this Cossin which the successe plainly proued as hereafter shall appeare The Duke of Aniow further added that he thought it should be good for the Admirall if moe of his friēds and familiars that lodged in the fauxburges did drawe nearer about him and forthwith he commaunded the kings herbingers to warne those to whome they had before assigned lodgings in that streete to remoue from thence and to place the Admirals friendes in their roomes VVhiche counsell was suche as none coulde possibly be deuised more fit for those things that followed For those whiche might haue by flight escaped out of the suburbs were nowe holden fast inough being enclosed not only within the walles of the towne but also within the compasse of one narrow strete The nexte day after the Vndermasters of the streetes commonly called Quartermen ●urueyed al the vittailing houses and Innes from house to house and all the names of those of the Religion together with the place of euery of their lodgings they put in bookes and with

speede deliuered ouer the same bookes to those of whome they had receyued that commaundement After noone the Queene mother lead out the King the Duke of Aniow Gonzague Tauaignes the Countie de Rhetz called Gondin into hir gardens called Tegliers This place bicause it was somewhat farre from resort she thoughte most fit for this their last consultation There she shewede them how those whom they had long bene in waite for were nowe sure in hold and the Admirall lay in his bed maymed of hoth his armes and coulde not stirre the king of Nauarre and Prince of Conde were fast lodged in the castle the gates wer kept shut all nighte and watches placed so as they were so snared that they coulde no way escape and the captaines thus taken it was not to be feared that any of the Religion woulde from thencefoorth stirre any more Now was a notable opportunite said she offred to dispatch the matter For all the chiefe captaines were fast closed vp in Paris and the rest in other townes were all vnarmed and vnprepared and that there were scarcely to be founde ten enimies to a thousand Catholikes that the Parisians were in armour and were able to make threescore thousande chosen fighting men and that within the space of one houre all the enimies may be slayne and the whole name and race of those wicked mē be vtterly rooted out On the other side saith she if the King do not take the aduantage of the fitnesse of this time it is no doubte but that if the Admirall recouer his health al Fraunce wil shortly be on fire with the fourth ciuill warre The Queenes opinion was allowed Howbeit it was thought best partly for his age and partly for the affinities sake that the king of Nauarres life shuld be saued As for the Prince of Conde it was doubted whether it were best to spare hym for his age or to put him to death for hatred of his fathers name But herein the opinion of Gonzague toke place that he should with feare of death and torment be drawen from the Religion So that counsell brake vp with appoyntment that the matter should be put in executiō the nexte night early afore day and that the ordering and doing of all shoulde be committed to the Duke of Guise The Admirall being en●ormed of stirre and noyse of armour and threatnings heard euery where through out the towne and preparation of many things pertaining to tumult sent word therof to the King who aunswered that there was no cause for the Admirall to feare for all was done by his commaundement and not euery where but in certaine places that there were certaine appointed by him to be in armor least the people should rise and make any stirre in the towne VVhen the Duke of Guise thoughte all things readie enough he called to him the abouesayde Marcell and charged him that he should a little after midnight assemble togither the maisters of the streetes whome they call Diziners into the towne house for he had certaine strange and speciall matters in charge frō the king which his pleasure was to haue declared vnto them They all assembled bytime Carron the new prouost of merchaunts guarded with certaine Guisians and among the rest Entragne and Pnygallart made the declaration He sayd that the kings meaning was to destroye all the Rebels which had in these late yeares borne armes against his maiestie and to roote out the race of those wicked men it was now very fitly happened that the chieftaynes and ringleaders of them were faste enclosed within the walles of the towne as in a prison and that the same night they should first begin with them and afterward for the rest assone as possibly might be throughout all partes of the Realme the King would take order and the token to set vpon them should be giuen not with a trumpet but with tocksein or ringing of the great bell of the pallace which they knewe to be accustomed onely in great cases and the marke for them to be knowne from other should be a white linnen cloth hanged aboute their left arme and a white crosse pinned vpon their cappes In the meane time the Duke of Guise made priuie thervnto the Captaines of the Kings guarde both Gascoignes Frenchmē and Switzers and bad them be readie to goe to it with good courage Shortly after the Duke of Guise and the bastard sonne of king Henrie commonlye called the Cheualier with a great band of armed men following thē went to the Admirals house which Cossin kept besieged with harquebuziers placed in order on both sides of the streate The Admiral aduertised of the stirre and the noise of the armour although he had scarcely ten persons in his house able to beare harnesse and in his chamber onely two surgions one preacher and one or two seruitors yet coulde not be made afraide trusting as he oft rehearsed vpon the Kings good will toward him approued by so many and so great meanes of assuraunce hauing also confidence that the commonaltie of Paris if they once vnderstode the King to mislike of their madde furie howe much so euer they were in outrage yet so sone as they saw Cossin warding the gate they wold be appeased He repeated also the other for keeping of the peace so ofte openly sworne by the King and his brethren and their mother and entred in publike recordes the league lately made with the Queene of Englande for the same cause the articles of treatie couenanted with the Prince of Aurenge the kings faith giuen to the Princes of Germanie some townes attempted and some taken in the lowe countrey by the Kings commaundement the mariage of the Kings sister solemnized but sixe daies before which it was not like that he wold suffer to be defiled with bloud finally the iugement of forain nations and of posteritie shame and the honor constancie of a Prince publique faith and the sacred respect of the law of nations all which it seemed monstruous and incredible that the king could assent to be stained with so outragious a cruell deede Cossin when he sawe the noblemen drawe neere knocked at the gate which as is abouesaid he was commaunded by the Duke of Aniow to kepe VVhervpon many applyed the olde prouerbe A goodly guarde to make the woolfe keper of the sheepe VVhen he was entred without in maner any difficultie he caried in with him a great companie of armed men and after those followed the great Lords Such as Cossin found at the entrie of within the porch of the house he slew with a partisan that he had in his hand VVhich when the Admirall vnderstoode he caused those that were about him to lift him out of his bed and casting on a nightgowne vpon him he rose vpright on his feete he bad his friends and seruantes to flee and make shift for them selues and to take no more care for him for he sayd that he was readie with most willing hearte to

conspired to kill him and his brethren and the Queene his mother and the King of Nauarre And farther that the King did forbid that from thenceforth there should be no moe assemblies holden nor preachings vsed of the Religion After the kings oration ended Christopher Thuane President of that Parliament a man verie notable for his lighte brayne and his cruell heart did with very large words congratulate vnto the king that he had nowe with guile and subtiltie ouercome these his enimies whom he could neuer vanquishe by armes and battell saying that therein the King had most fully verified the olde saying of Lewes the eleuenth his progenitor King of France which was wont to say that he knew neuer a Latine sentence but this one Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare He that can not skill to dissemble can not skill to be a king But Pibrace the aduocate of the Finances made a short oration the summe wherof was to this effect that although the king had iust and great cause to be displeased yet he thoughte it more agreable with his maiesties clemencie and goodnesse to make an ende of the slaughters and common spoyle and not to suffer suche outrages to be any longer committed without iudiciall proceding in the cause and besoughte his maiestie that from thenceforth it woulde please him to vse the lawe which is well knowne to be the onely stablishment of kingdomes and empires and that there had bene alreadie giuen to the commonaltie too perilous an example to followe An arrest of Parliament with the Kings royall assent being made to that effecte there were immediately Haroldes and trumpeter● sent round about all the towne and an Edict proclaimed in the kings name that frō thenceforth the slaughters cōmon butcherly murtherings shuld ceasse and that all persons shuld abstaine from pillage and robberie This being knowne there were diuers speeches vsed of this matter throughout the town and specially of learned men The most parte sayd that they had read many histories but in all memorie of all ages they neuer heard of any suche thing as this They compared this case with the horrible doings of king Mithridates which with one messenger and with the aduertisement of one letter caused a hundreth and fiftie thousand Romaines to be slaine Some compared it with the doing of Peter of Arragone which slewe eight thousand Frenchmen in Sicile which Isle they had surprised in his absence But yet this difference appeared betwene those cases and this that those Kings had exercised their crueltie vpon foreins and strangers but this king had done his outrage vpon his owne subiectes being yelded not so much to his power as to his fayth and credit Those kings were bounde by no promise but such as was giuen to the strangers themselues this king was with newe made league bounde to the Kings and Princes his neighbours to kepe the peace that he had sworn Those kings vsed no guilefull meanes vnworthie for the maiestie of a king to deceiue this king for a baite and allurement abused the mariage of his owne sister and in a manner besprinkled hir wedding robe with blood VVhich dishonor indignitie no posteritie of all ages can forget Some againe discoursed that though this cruell aduise semed to many Courtiers to haue bene profitable yet not onely the honor of a King but also the estimation and good same of the whole nation was against that shewe of profit They alleaged how Aristides did openly in the audience of all the people reiect the coūsell of Themistocles cōcerning the burning of the Lacedemoniās nauie although it must nedes haue followed that the power of the Lacedemonians their enimies should therby haue bene vtterly weakened Furius Camillus receiued not the childrē of the chiefe Lords of the Phalisce betrayed to him by their schoolemaster but stripped him naked and deliuered him to be whipped home with rods by the same childrē Pausanias hath lefte it reported that the posteritie of Philip of Macedon fell into moste greate calamities for this cause that he was wont to set light by the reuerend conscience of an oth and his faith giuen in leagues Some cited the lawe of the twelue tables Si patronu● clienti fraudem facit facer est● If the patrone or soueraigne defraude his client or vassal be he out of protectiō They disputed also that like faith as the vassall oweth to his Lord the Lord oweth also to his vassall and for what causes and for what fellonies the vassal loseth his tenancie for the same causes and fellonies the Lord loseth his segniorie Some saide that the right hand in auncient time was called the pledge of the faith of a king and that this if a king shall despise there is no communion of right with him and he is no more to be accoūted a king neither of his owne subiects nor of straungers Kingly vertues in times past haue bene reported to be these iustice gentlenesse and clemencie but crueltie and outrage haue euer bene dispraised both in all persons and spec●ally in princes Scipio hath in all ages bene praysed who was wont to say that he had rather saue one citizen than kill a thousand enimies whiche sentence ▪ Antoninus the Emperour surnamed Pius the kind or vertuous did ofte repete It was a most shamefull by worde of yong Tiberius to be called Clay tempered with bloud They said also that kings haue power of life and death ouer their subiects but not without hering the cause and iudicial proceding that there cannot be alleaged a greater authoritie than the dictators had at Rome in whome was the soueraigne power of peace and warre of life and death and without appeale yet was it not lawfull for them to execute a citizen his cause vnheard Only theeues and murderers take away mens liues withoute order of lawe and hearing their cause VVho can doubt said they but that this so great outra●e so great sheading of Christian bloud is the frute of the curssed life of the courtiers For saide they nowe throughout all Fraunce whoredome and loose leudnesse of life are so free and vsuall that nowe the most part of the women of Fraunce seeme to be in manner common and the wicked blasphemies and continuall execrations and dishonorings of Gods most holy name and maiestie are suche as God cannot longer beare and true it is though incredible among foreine Nations that the catholikes of Fraunce haue prescribed them selues this for a speciall marke to bee knowne from other men that at euery thirde word they blasphemously sweare by the head death bloud and bellie of God and wonderfull it is that the King him selfe is so much delighted in this custome of swearing and blaspheming and this as it were a pestilente infection is spred abrode and common among the very plowmen and paysants so as none among them now speaketh three words without most filthy blaspheming and horrible execration of god VVho can longer beare the vile vnchastities the bawdes and

ruffians of the Courte Finally very nature it selfe doth now as it wer expostulate with God for his so long sufferāce and forbearing and the very earth can no longer beare these monsters Nowe as touching the Admirals supposed conspiracie who can thinke it likely that hee shoulde enterprise any suche thing within the walles of Paris For in the Court there is continually watching and warding a garrison of the kings and at the entrie of his castell the guardes of Gascoines Scottes and Switzers are continually attending the king hymselfe both alwayes before and specially at that time by reason of his sisters marriage had a great trayne of Princes great Lords noblemen and gentlemen about him Moreouer it was well knowne that in Paris within three hours space might be assembled and put in armoure threescore thousand chosen armed men specially against the Admiral whom no man is ignorāt that the Parisians most deadly hated beside that the noble yōg men that came thither with the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde by reason of the mariage and brought wyth them their wiues their sisters and their kinswomen thoughte at that time vpon nothing but vpon triumph and exercises of pastime gaye furniture of apparell and ornamentes Finally at whither of these two times can it be likely that the Admirall attempted this conspiracie was it before he was hurt why at that time he found the king his most louing or at leaste his moste liberall and bountifull good Lord neither coulde he hope euer to haue a more fauourable soueraigne in France VVas it then after he was hurt as though forsothe helying sore of two so great woundes aged maimed of both his armes the one wherof the Phisitions consulted whether it were to be cut off accompanied with three hundreth yong men would set vpō threscore thousand armed men or in so small a time could lay the plot for so great and so long and so heynous a fact for he liued scarce fortie houres after his hurte in which time he was enioyned by the Phisitions to forbeare talke Againe if he had bene detected of any such crime was he not committed to Cossin and to his keping and so enuironed all the wayes beset about him and so in the kings power that if it had pleased the king he might at all times in a moment be caried to prison why was not orderly enquir●e and iudiciall proceeding vsed according to the custome and lawes and generall right of nations and witnesses produced according to the form of lawe but be it that the Admirall and a fewe other of his confederats and followers had cōspired why yet proceded the outragious crueltie vpon the rest that were innocent why vpon ancient matrones why vpon noble Ladies and yong gentlewomen and virgins that came thither for the honor of the wedding why were so many women greate with childe against the lawes of al natiōs and of nature before their deliuery throwen into the riuer why were so many aged persons manye that lay sicke in their beds many gownemen manye counsellers aduocates proctors Phisitions many singularly learned professors and teachers of good artes and among the reste Petrus Ramus that renoumed man throughout the world many yong students executed with out hearing withoute pleading their cause without sentence of condemnation moreouer if the Admirall had slaine the three brethren who doubteth but that all countreyes al Cities all Parliaments finally all sortes and degrees of men would haue spedily taken armor and easily haue destroyed all of the Religion hauing them enclosed within their townes hauing iust cause to render to al forrein nations for their common slaughters and killing of them As to that which toucheth the king of Nauarre what can be imagined more absurde and vnlikely had not the Admirall him foure yeares in his power Did not he professe the same Religion that the Admirall did which of those of the Religion which of them I say as Cassius was wont to reason shoulde haue gained or receiued profit by the killing of the king of Nauarre did not the Catholikes hate him and the Admirall coulde not hope to haue any man more friendly to him nor by any other mans meanes to haue reuenge of his iniurie Lastlye in their houses that were slaine what armour what weapons were foūd by which coniectures iudges vse to be lead to trace oute a facte These matters wise men throughout the towne of Paris commonlye muttered But now to retourne to our purpose At such time as the Kings prohibition abouesaide was proclaimed at Paris not only in other townes as at Orleaunce Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxe●●e the like butcheries and slaughters were vsed but also in the towne of Paris it selfe in the very gaoles that are ordeined for the keeping of prisoners if any had escaped the crueltie of the day before they were nowe tumultuously slayne by the raging and outraging multitude in which number were three Gentlemen of great reputation captaine Monins a man very famous in marciall prowesse Lomen the kings secretarie a man of greate estimation for his long seruice in the Courte and Chappes a lawyer neere fourscore yeare olde a man of great renowne in the Courte of Paris And bycause we haue made mention of Angiers we thinke it good not to omitte the case of Masson de Riuers This man was a past●r of the Church and esteemed a singular mā both in vertuousnesse of life in excellēce of wit and learning was the first that had layd the foundation of the Church at Paris As sone as the slaughter was begon at Paris Monsorel a most cruell enimie of the Religion was sente to Angiers in post to preuente all other that might carie tidings of the murdering As sone as he came into the towne he caused himselfe to be brought to Massons house There he met Massons wife in the entrie and gently saluted hir and after the maner of Fraūce specially of the Court he kissed hir and asked hir where hir husbād was she answered that he was walking in the garden and by by she broughte Mōsorel to hir husband who gētly embraced Masson and said vnto him Canst thou tell why I am come hither It is to kill thee by the Kings commaundement at this very instant time for so hath the king commaunded as thou mayst perceiue by these letters and therewith he shewed him his dag ready charged Massō answered that he was not guiltie of any crime howbeit this one thing only he besoughte him to giue him space to call to the mercie of God and to commende his spirit into Gods hande VVhiche prayer as soone as he had ended in fewe wordes he meekely receiued the death offered by the other and was shotte through with a pellet and dyed Now to retourne to Paris the Admirals body being hanged vp by the heeles vppon the common gallowes of Paris as is aforesaid the Parisians went thither by heapes to see it And the Queene mother to