preuaile Vve see that al our bloody broiles their courage cannot quaile Vve see how Noble men their forces dailie bend To counter crosse our planted plots this cause for to defend Two ciuill warres are past the third is now in hand Vve see how stoutlie they are bent our forces to withstand Therefore we must deuise to plaie some other part Or else in vaine we take in hand these Princes to subuart Now lend your listening eares and marke what I shall saie A secret thing I haue bethought which here I will bewraie You must make show as though you loude to liue at ease As wearie of these broiles you must intreate to haue a peace The King as chiefest man this plaie must first begin By louing letters words and cheere at first to bring them in And looke what they mislike the King must rase it out And yeeld to all things they request to put them out of doubt The King must shew such face to them aboue the rest As though he did vnfeinedlie of all men loue them best The worst of all their band the King must intertaine With such good will that no mistrust in anie maie remaine And he must make them know as though of late he felt Some pricke in conscience for the cause against the which hee delt And that he will forgiue al quarrels that are past In hope that this their new goodwil with loue might euer last And he must make complaint as though he did of late Mislike the dealings of the Guise and such as they doo hate And then the Guises must awhile from Court retire For thus you shall intrap them all and haue your full desire The King must yeeld to all that they request or craue And he must grant for to cōfirm the thing that they wold haue The Mother Queene in this must also play her part That no suspect of treason maie remaine within their heart And here you must giue out as though you would imploie Their seruice in some forreine warres which dooth your State annoie As if you would not trust the weight of such affaires To anie man but them alone whose faith and watchfull cares You long haue tried and so you maie your plot prepare By these and such like fained things to trap them in your snare If this preuaile not then I stand in fearfull doubt What practise next to put in vre to haue them rooted out Now therefore say your minde if thus it be not best To cut them off that so againe we all may liue in rest The Counsell did agree this was the onelie waie And euerie man did giue his word this sentence to obaie And that they would deuise such things to put in vre As best might fit this cursed plot and make the same most sure Which Sathan hearing rose and thankt them with his heart That they to him so willing were and so they did depart Then presentlie the King in post a message sent Vnto the Admirall to whom he shewed his good intent Which was that he was loath more ciuill warres to haue And that he greatlie did desire his subiects for to saue I will said he forget yea pardon and release All former griefes so that you will now yeeld to haue a peace Which might be now to me a cause of passing ioie For that I meane in forreine warres your seruice to imploie And first we doo require that we may ioyne our band Against the man that causeth all these troubles in our land Our Armies being ioynde we may the stronger goe Against the Duke of Alua whom we know to be our foe Great matters moue our minde against the King of Spaine For he hath taken Florida and late our sister slaine With lies of like deuise the godlie to betraie Requesting him most earnestly that he would come awaie And that he should obtaine what safetie he would craue Yea for his suretie there that he his faith oath should haue The message being done the Admirall as wise Within himselfe did halfe suspect the plot of this deuise And though that manie things did some suspition bring Yet all things els he doubted more than falshood in the King He thought the promise sure and firmelie did beleeue No treason could be ment wheras the king his word did giue The Admirall as one that was deuoide of feare And willing for to heare of peace vnto the King gaue eare So now the ciuill broiles which manie did intend By this deuise were pacified and brought vnto an ende It cannot be exprest what shewes of frendlie minde Both in the King and Courtiers all the Admirall doth finde His frends likewise which had the Gospell long profest As Countie Rouchfaucoult and eke Theligni with the rest Like grace and fauor found which made them so reioyce That to consent vnto the King they all did giue their voice And if in former warres the Admirall had lost Either castles houses townes or fermes what euer it shuld cost The King commanded straight for to restore them all And all things els which he of right of anie man could call And those whom he perceiude the Admirall to loue He blinded them with great rewards suspition to remoue Besides he did command out of his purse to giue To him an hundred thousand pounds his losses to relieue And when as it did chance his brother for to die The Cardinall Chastilion the King then presentlie The fruites and profites all of liuings all one yeare Vnto the Admirall he gaue his charges to forweare Yet not content with this one thing aboue the rest The King most frendlie did the which the godlie liked best He wrote to Philibert the Duke of Sauoie then That he should cease for to molest or grieue those godly men The which in former warres the Gospel did defend And that to such he should leaue off his rigor to extend And that the Admirall might no misliking finde He did by gentle meanes appease the Duke of Guises minde He tride to make them frends brought the same to passe Although it on the Guises part a fained frendship was The Cardinall likewise that was their greatest foe To chuse a Pope made thē beleeue to Rome that he would go So all things being done t'abandon all suspect What they mislikte the King would seeme the same for to reiect So that about the king they onelie credit winne Which did defend the Gospel which latelie were come in But nothing did preuaile to put them out of doubt So much as one thing which as now the king did go about Which was that he did wish his sister for to match Vnto Prince Henrie of Nauarre by this in hope to catch Them all within his snare for this he did conclude Not for good will but mere deceipt the godlie to delude Which match the King would haue consummate out of hand That so it might remaine said he a sure and perfect band Of that vnfained loue and inward
Then Benuise with his mates to put them out of doubt Tooke vp this bloodie corse so from window cast him out Where from his wounded head sprang out so fresh a flood That vizard-like his face was all imbrued with goarie blood Whereby they could not well at first discerne his face Till that the Duke of Guise himselfe first kneeling in the place Had with his napkin wipte the clotted blood awaie And searching viewed euerie part he rose without delay And crying to his crue deuoide of feare and shame It's he my frends I know him well trust me it is the same The Duke descending then from out the stately gates With bloodie hart and cursed mouth he cride vnto his mates O happie lucke that we so good beginnings haue Lo Fortune frames her willing hand to giue that we do craue And sith it pleasde the fates at first such hap to send It giues me cause of future hope to see some happie end Come on my valiant hearts so place your warlike bands That marching forward to the rest not one may scape our hāds This is the Kings decree this hath he giuen out We do no more than he commands to put you out of doubt Let pitie take no place till Rebels all be rid Thus saith the king feare not therfore to do what he doth bid Let nothing now preuaile to dant your hardie minde No though with teares they pitie craue let thē no mercie find Haue no remorse vnto the yong ne yet the olde Without regard to anie one to kill them all be bolde Now sanctifie your swords and bath them in the blood Of these religious Rebels which do meane the King no good So shall we quicklie finde a path to perfect peace So shall we see assured meanes at length to liue at ease For if we can recount the troubles that are past Then happie time wherein we may dispatch them all at last Vvhich said he bad in hast the Tockesein for to ring Vvich sounding bell appointed was the fatall newes to bring Vvhen as this raging rout this murder should begin Vvhich they performde as though they had no men but monsters bin And therewithall deuise a larum for to raise Pretending with some solemne lie the people for to please So now the trumpets sound this lie and shamefull thing That certaine traitors were in armes about to kill the King Heere one among the rest from Rome that latelie came Desirous by some valiant act perhaps to get a name Cut off the bleeding head imbrude with reaking blood Of that most worthie Admirall in hope to doo some good And sent it straight to Rome as Lorraine had requirde A present welcome to the Pope which he had long desirde His hands cut off by some by some his secrete parts Declares what hate to shining light lies hid in blinded harts His hackt and mangled corpes by space of certaine daies Vvas dragde by rascals all along the streetes and filthie waies At length this rusticke rage as furie thought it meete At common gallowes of the towne did hang him by the feete Thus came this Noble man to this vnworthie death Thus doo the Papists learn to break the vow of plighted faith The Admirall being slaine they likewise murdred most cruellie not onelie all such frends Phisitians Preachers and al other that were found hidden in the Admirals lodging but also as manie as were suspected to be of that religion within the towne or anie where els were lamentablie put to the sword as here folowing we may plainlie see THese furies frying thus yet thus were not content But in the house from place to place like greedie hounds they went To search the chambers all and corners of receipt That from the wolfe the sheep might saue his throate by no deceipt And such as sleeping were found naked in their bed Or gone to hide or saue themselues they first cut of their head And after fiercelie pierst with wounds both great and deepe Vvhich being done like cruell currs they throw thē on a heap Among which wofull troope two Noble youths there were And Pages of most worthie birth which likewise died there Vvith these among the rest a man of noble fame The Countie Rouchfoucault was forst at length to tast the same Vvhom for his pleasant wit the King did seeme to loue Yet in this furie nothing might the King to mercie moue But now in hast must be to death vntimelie sent To yeeld againe vnto the Lord the life that he had lent So him at first De Nance commanded was to kill But he most stoutlie did refuse this guiltlesse blood to spill Shall I said he consent to doo this fearfull thing To shed this blood because I am commanded by the King No God forbid I know I haue a soule to saue So bloodie spot to saue my life my name shall neuer haue I know there is a day a day that Saints desire When of our deeds the king aboue a reckoning will require Obaie the King that's true in things that honest be When I obey in wicked hests wo worth the time to me For Ioab did not well King Dauid to obay When wickedlie the King him bad Vriah for to slay Those Elders did offend which shewde themselues too prone Those wicked letters to obey poore Naboth for to stone And cursed Doeg which obaide a wicked will Shall cursed stand for that he did the Lords annointed kill A murder to be done the King doth now request My God cōmands the contrary now which to chuse wer best The King doth threaten death and God doth threaten hell If for the King I should forsake my God should I doo well Vvhat others see ô King I cannot well diuine To kill the vncondemned man it is no charge of mine To slaie my deadlie foe except there were some cause I would not yeeld much lesse my frēd against our sacred laws What enuie doth report ô King I cannot saie But this my frend a faithfull man to me hath been alwaie Therefore I praie your Grace your rigor to asswage Or bid some other whom you list to execute your rage In matters that be good if that you list to vse My seruice you shall see that I no perill will refuse Therefore I praie your Grace this answere for to take Which vnto Saule his Soldiers once were not afraid to make De Nance to kill his frend no wight shall euer see Though for refusall he were sure beheaded for to be Take heed ô noble King what sprite you follow now Let no man force you doo the thing that God doth disallow While good king Dauid was by whoredome brought a sleep He did the thing which being wakt did force his hart to weep While Saule in mallice was against good Dauid bent He ranne to that which afterward with teares he did lament And whilest that Iezabel great mischiefe did intend
same seeme bitter at the last And what though Sathan rage what though the ende be gall Shall bitter blasts make vs forsake our Christ our life and all No God forbid ô King that he should knock in vaine Least being gone we iustlie doubt when he will come againe As yet he stands without and knocketh at thy dore O King receue that blessed guest that he may blesse thee more If that we let him in his promise is to staie But when from vs he shall depart ô most vnhappie day The supper is preparde the Angels sent to call The straying guests of this your Land vnto his sacred hall But if by fond excuse we shun his profered grace He shuts the doore and will admit some others in our place The marriage of the Lambe that blessed Lambe is nie Which makes with al her Romish trickes that whore of Babel flie Then happie is the man blessed from the Lord That with the Lambe maie haue a place sit at sacred bord If now we see the light that danted Saul to ground If now we heare that sacred voice that sweete ioiful sound Then let vs now inquire what voice it is that calls And let vs yeeld vnto the truth that from our eies the scaies Of darknesse may depart For vaine it is to kicke And labour lost for wilfull colte to striue against the pricke And if the hidden Truth the Lord will now reueale To daunt the same ô noble King your force shal not preuaile What Giant can withstand of Truth the piercing might What earthlie force of shining Sunne at noone can quēch the light If Truth do conquere Kings if Truth do cōquere al Then leaue to loue these Popish lies let whorish Babel fall Greeue not that blessed Spirit of life that seales the band For which king Dauid did request by which we vnderstand Our calling to be sure our striuing not in vaine By which we know we are ordaind for Christ to suffer paine Now sith we haue the seale from feare that makes vs free And shining light frō popish shades the Lord hath made vs see We may no longer then dissemble in this case But what we thinke must plainlie showe ô King before your face We cannot as you would the certain Truth denie But that defend though for the same we wer cōdemnd to die And whereas you doo thirst to sucke the guiltlesse blood Of them whō you name Lutherans ô King we think not good To strengthen that deuice which Sathan did inuent Least that with Caine our bloodie fact too late we should repēt For those whom you doo hate and push with heauie hand In verie truth are godlie men the best in all your land Whose faith you doo not see whose life you doo not know Take heed least you in them doo seeke the Lord to ouethrow Which feate by wāton will if now your Grace assay Be wise in time least that in this you frame your owne decay But this we thinke the best that straight way out of hand A lawfull Counsell may be calde to haue the matter scand Till which let godlie men whom enuie cannot staine In lieu of all their cursed wrong in rest at home remaine But if to this ô King you stoppe your princelie eare Lest God with blindnes strike your hart your frēds may iustly feare For they that doo not care aright to serue the Lord He leaues them to their filthie lusts to make thē more abhord Remember Ahabs fall that solde himselfe to death Forget not those two wicked men which long withstood the faith Corrupted men shall fade the reprobates shall die God wil not long maintein their raign that shal his truth denie Their madnesse shall be plaine their follies seene then The godlie shall deride the rage of sinfull wicked men Because saith God you staid to come when I did call I will be deafe when you lament and laugh when you do fall VVhich plague the Lord withhold frō you eke your land The lord preserue your noble grace shield ye with his hand That long in perfect peace your Grace may rule and raigne That in your time Gods knowen truth may once reuiue again And this is all we wish and this the worst we craue That Christ will open once your heart by faith your soule to saue This said he sate again The King in fierie heate Scant able to forbeare so long spake thus from out his seate INdeede and is it so well then we knowe the worst To speake or thinke as we haue heard we deemd no subiect durst But now with griefe we see that this infectious seed Hath taken rooting in our Court whereof this is the seed But most we maruell whie the Nobles of our land So blinded are that they wil needs these matters take in hand We thought it most vnlike that men so graue and wise Should euer stoop to giue consent vnto so leaud deuise But now we must correct our minde and former thought And giue these new religious mē the guerdō they haue sought And trust vs so we will now that we know the crue We doubt not but the proudest shall this day dealings rue Now sith we know the good the rest shall know our minde We doubt not for these bleding woūds some healing salue to find Such tooles we haue in store to fel this rotting moote That quicklie shall pul vp and rase the branches with the roote This seede of Luthers sect which now begins to spring Shall to the fields where it doth growe a wofull haruest bring It's time to looke about it's time to set some stay For if we sleepe we see there be that watch for our decay But they shall haue their meede they shall not lose their hire They shortlie shal with sorrow feele the waight of Princes ire Thus said in raging wise he turneth quite about And pausing staid a while as one that seemde to doubt But yet such rankor rose and boiled in his breast That presentlie he gaue in charge that there they should arrest Annas Burgeus as the chiefe and him to prison bring Who was he thoght the only root by whō the rest did spring When this was said and that the King had so decreed Mongomerie Captaine of the gard was he that did the deede Now good Burgeus is in linkes and irons fast Which sodaine fall did sore appall make the rest agast The King vnwilling was to haue the cause deferd But time and Iudges were assignde to haue the matter heard But such appointed were to iudge this weightie case Which hated him and sought the truth by falshood to deface Which partiall minded men Burgaeus did refuse And to the Senate did recount their olde and ancient vse Which was if anie one of them did chance to slide The order was by all the rest his dealings should be tride
stand awaie For that he had some secret thing vnto the King to saie Which done he thus began O King this life to saue Is not the thing I thank the Lord that I do greatly craue For this I know is true we all must pay a death To God our maker which hath lent this vse of liuelie breath But to your Maiestie the great good will I bare Is it which now aboue the rest dooth most increase my care To see you now beset with such as wish no good Vnto your health your crown life such as seek the blood Of you and of your frends to spill your noble race That so they may in future time your Princelie stocke deface And so at length ingraffe a strange Italian weede VVhich may in France most furelie choake the Princes royall seede This is the onelie marke to which they doo aspire This is the onelie wood ô King that doth mainteine the fire Of these your ciuill warres although they doo pretend Religion and some other thing this is the chiefest end Of all their drift Therefore ô King beware by time Mark this Eclipse whilst yet ye see the Moone is in her Prime I saie the lesse because I know your Grace is wise You shall in time most plainlie see this plot of their deuise Your wisedome dooth perceaue I hope whom I doo meane For of the same with griefe before I heard you oft complaine For though that I doo lie heere wounded as you see The chiefest treason they intend is not alone to me But to your noble Grace whose death they daily craue Whose life by treason long ere this now desire to haue I know when God shall take this fraile and wretched life Some will not sticke to say that I was cause of all the strife But God that is aboue and you my witnesse be How deare the safegard of my Prince peace hath bin to me God grant you see in time your frends from fleering foe That still in safetie you may reigne deuoide of griefe and woe Now I can saie no more but God preserue your Grace And shield you from your fained friends which beare a double face And this amidst your mirth I praie remember still That they that seek to haue my life do beare you no good wil. Vvhich said the King did giue such speach as he thought best And then in loud and solemne words in hearing of the rest He did with frendlie cheere request the Admirall Vnto his Court for to remooue what euer should befall And others spake likewise vnto the same intent His simple meaning could not see the treason that was ment But yet vpon aduise his frends did thinke it best Not knowing what may there betide the K. he should request That he would them assigne some of his Graces gard Before his gates both night day to keep their watch ward The motion being made the King was well content And said to this their good deuise he gladly gaue consent And that he would prouide to haue it surelie knowne That of his life he made accompt no lesse than of his owne And that he would preserue with care more tenderlie The Admirall than he would keepe the apple of his eie For that he did admire the valure of his minde Vvho little thought in mortall man such courage for to finde The Duke of Aniow then commanded out of hand One Câ—ssin Captaine of the gard to ward with Princes band The gates and streates wherein the Admirall did lie Vvhich was no sooner said but was performed presentlie This Câ—ssin that was set with watch to ward the gate Vvas one that did the Admirall in heart most deadlie hate And farther for to put the matter out of doubt They did consent that he should haue his trustie frends about The place where he did lie which came of no good will But hoping rather all by this the easier for to kill And this among the rest a bloodie practise was Vvhich cloaked guile by Sathans art too soone was brought to passe BVt heere the Prologue endes and heere begins the plaie For bloodie mindes resolued quite to vse no more delaie The Mother Queene appeares now first vpon the Stage Vvhere like a diuelish sorceresse with words demure and sage The King she cals aside with other trustie mates Into a close and secret place with whom she now debates The great desire she had to quit them all from care In planting long a bloodie plot which now she must declare O happie light quoth she ô thrice most happie daie Which thus hath thrust into our hands our long desired pray We haue them all in hold we haue the chiefest fast And those for whom we waited long we haue them all at last Vvhie should we longer staie what can we farther craue Vvhat are not all things come to passe which wee doo long to haue Doth not our mightiest foe lie wouÌ„ded in his bed Not able now to helpe himselfe which others long hath led The Captaines captiue are the King of Nauarre sure The Prince of Condee with the rest that mischiefe did procure Are close within our wals we haue them in a trap Good fortune loe hath brought them al laid theÌ„ in our lap By force or flight to saue their liues it is too late If we to cut off future feare and cause of all debate Doo take the profered time which time is onelie now And wisedome matcht with policie our dealings doth allow Vve neede not feare the spot of anie cruell fame So long as we maie feele some ease or profite by the same For wisedome doth allow the Prince to plaie the Foxe And Lion-like to rage but hates the plainnesse of an Oxe Vvhat thogh ye do forswear what thogh ye break your faith Vvhat thogh ye promise life yet repay it with their death Is this so great a fault Naie naie no fault at all For this we learne we ought to doo if such occasions fall Our Masters doo perswade a King to cogge and lie And neuer keep his faith whereas his danger growes thereby Cut off therefore the head of this infectious sore So maie you well assure your selues this Byle wil rise no more The Captaines being slaine the soldiers will be faint So shall we quicklie on the rest performe our whole intent Plucke vp therefore your sprites and play your manlie parts Let neither feare nor faith preuaile to dant your warlike harts What shame is this that I a woman by my kinde Neede thus to speake or passe you men in valure of the minde For heere I doo protest if I had bene a man I had my selfe before this time this murder long began Why doo you doubting stand and wherefore doo you staie If that you loue your peace or life procure no more delaie We haue them in our hands within our Castle gates Within the wals of Paris
Against poore Naboth she at last came to a fearfull ende Looke well therefore ô King before you leap too farre Least in the end this testie scab do breed a lasting scarre Well I can saie no more but God preserue your Grace And graunt your soule when breath is gone with him a resting place But this could not preuaile this noble man to saue For bloodie Doeg did attend his office for to haue For which an Auernois a man of cused fame Made offer there before the King that he would do the same The King was well content this office for to giue To him so that this Noble man of life he would bereaue We see how Sathan doth by glorie mixt with gaine Worke to procure this worthy wight the sooner to be slaine There fell in this assault for mallice to the truth Theligni famous for his wit a rare and passing youth Who for his manlie heart and courage did excell For which the King in outward shewe did seeme to loue him wel Now when the time was come that martird he shuld be With courage bold he smiling said O welcome death to me It grieues me for to liue since faith from Princelie seate Abandonde is and in her place raignes falshood and deceite It grieues me for to see this sad and irksome daie Wherein so great and famous King a traitors part shuld play It grieues me for to heare poore soules deceiued crie Too late for that they did too much on Princes oath relie Woe worth my harmlesse heart too soone that did beleeue And to the kings dissembling words too soone did credit giue Woe worth the wicked time when first I did begin To worke the meanes for to perswade my father to come in Woe worth my lying tongue which first assaid to bring My fearfull Father in the minde that he should trust the King How oft did I commend the Kings assured loue How did I thinke that nothing might vs frō the same remoue How oft did I recount the Kings repeated oath How many frendly signes were seene of force to bind vs both How often did I vrge there was no cause of feare Because for this we saw the King most willing for to sweare But sith it is too late this error to lament My trusting hath deserued death and therefore am content Sith I am not the first whom trust hath thus betraid To suffer death for no offence I am the lesse dismaide And since my greatest hope hath wrought me most despite What shall I saie I saie no more but Lord receaue my sprite Thus came this noble impe vntimelie to his graue For that he to a Papists oath too great afliance gaue And thus fell manie moe of Nobles here and there Whose names valiant acts were now to lōg for to declare Thus did those lawlesse bands go raging vp and downe From house to house they sought to spoyl the welthiest of the town So they that beggers were when first this stirre began At last with rich and flowing welth the chiefest credit wan This while the Duke of Guise these words repeated still With crying voice Kill kill the knaues this is the princes wil. And least the souldiers should waxe faint with bloodie toile Now rid thē al my frēds quoth he you shal haue the spoile Thus did they all a day from morning vnto night With bloodie swords runne vp and down no doubt a heauie sight They spared none they knew no sex could pitie finde The rufull crie of tender babes could not asswage their minde In great triumphing ioye of this their warlike feate The bodies slain frō windowes hie they throw into the streat So that there was no way no lane or passage by Vvhere murdred men you might not see in heaps together lie Now whilst within the towne these things a dooing were The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condee did appeere Before the King For so before it was agreed To saue these youths to farther hope the counsell had decreed For they their lodging had within the Castle wall Vvhich for defence is alway thought the surest place of all These Princes being gone and onelie had awaie The rest were left vnto the sword to die without delaie Their seruants their frends their tutors with the rest Could not preuaile to saue their liues by sute ne yet request But thrust without the dores and kneeling in the place The gard of Switzers slew them all before the Princes face And still betweene the stroke they cried all amaine Vpon the Kings fidelitie but faith was calde in vaine Yet none amongst them all so much lamented was As Mounsieur de Pilles that he should come vnto so hard a passe Because among the rest he past them all so farre For godlie zeale in truth and eke for prowesse in the warre Vvho lying in his bed somwhat before the day And hearing noise of armed men leapt out to see the fray And marking well the voyce in place and time of truce Of cries and killings euerie where it made him much to muse Vvhich dump De Nance did break who did this message bring That straight to void the place he was cōmanded by the king And that he should depart his weapons left behinde From out the Court and Castle gate ful sore against his minde Vvhich was no sooner said but Pilles was forced out Among the bloodie weapons of that rude vnrulie rout To hope for longer life he saw it was but vaine He saw such cruell rage and eke the bodies that were slaine Vvhere lifting vp his voice so that the King might heare These words he spake before them al deuoid of fainting feare O false vnworthie King ô whelpe of sauage kinde O traitrous heart in kinglie breast ô base polluted minde Is this a Princelie part by treason to procure The murder of thy chiefest frends Is this thy Popish lure To traine vs in by trust to thrust vs thus to death Is this thy solemne Kinglie oath is this a Princes faith Is this thy frendlie cheere Is this thy fawning face Is this the fruite of Romish faith ô false dissembling race And doost thou honor so thy sisters spousall daie And couldst thou finde no other time thy treasons to bewraie Is this the trust that is in mother sonne and kinn Let France thē curse the man that did first bring this kinred in How are thy wits bewitcht what furie doth inrage Thy tigers heart that nothing can thy thirst but blood asswage And wast thou not afraid to giue thy leaud consent To murder them which to beleeue thy promise were content Vvhere are thy frendlie words where is thy feined loue Vvhat hath thy flintie heart forgot there is a God aboue And thinkst that thou shalt shed our guiltlesse blood in vaine Shall not the Lord ô wretch of thee require the same againe How darest thou to behold the creatures of the Lord Vvhen for thy
make the King and manie more their dealings to detest And when as they shall meete in Church to serue the Lord VVee'l saie they do defile theÌ„selues to make theÌ„ more abhord And when in fields they ioine their ioifull Psalmes to sing VVee must giue out that they conspire which waie to kill the King So to their filed talke the King will giue no heed But giue vs leaue and ioyne with vs against them to proceede And manie that shall heare this smooth inuented lie VVil neuer seek the truth but then condemne them by by So shall we haue our will so shall we set a staie For those that seek to know the truth to stop theÌ„ in their waie And that we maie the more their dealings quite deface I must deuise to point you all your office and your place For some must Captaines be to lie in waite for blood And burne them in their temples all to doo your master good And such must alwaies be abroad to range the coasts In euerie place to lie in waite and meete them at their hoasts And some must staie at home to lie in Princes eare That of these men within his sight not one may dare appeare If force will not preuaile if Nobles take their part By flattrie then some must attempt these Nobles to subuart This said it was agreed the Counsaile cried Amen And euerie one to plaie his part did giue his promise then O poore vnhappie place ô France how art thou led Thou gleanst the sap of deadlie food in steed of liuelie bread The Mother Queene as cheefe dooth promise to begin By treason ioynd with flatterie to trap them in her ginne And he that was ordaind to watch the Princes hall VVas bloudie Lewes of Loraine towne that filthie Cardinall And they that tooke in hand false rumors for to sowe VVere Priests friers with deuice Gods truth to ouerthrow The Captaineâ— that were glad to take this cause in hand The blinded Guisâ—s were which swore to lead this bloudy baÌ„d Now let vs see the end how these their parts doo plaie And marke where all things fal not out as we haue heard them saie The first outrage and horrible murder of the the Godlie called The winning of Saint Iames his Streete NOw at this verie time when Philip King of Spaine Came to Sanquintines garded with a great and mightie traine The Constable of France to meete him made some hast VVhose power was vanquisht there and he fell prisoner at the last The faithfull which beheld great danger nigh at hand VVhich God did threateÌ„ now to fal on theÌ„ their prince laÌ„d VVith one consent they meete to God they crie and praie VVhich is the onlie meanes for sin Gods heauie wrath to stay But once aboue the rest as in S. Iames his streete In Paris towne they did agree great numbers for to meete To pray vnto the Lord to quench this flaming fire They might receiue his Sacraments eke his word to heare The spies that laie in waite such vantage for to get In tumult armde the common sort their houses to beset VVhose follie thus abusde which furie did incense VVith weapons rann as if these men had done some great offence The faithfull closed thus no waie there was to flie The rage and tumult was so great they yeelded all to die To God they did commend their bodies and their life And with their huÌ„ble sutes assaid to swage their raging strife But all could not preuaile their words could not be heard For furie to their iust excuse did giue but small regard But God that neuer failes his seruants at their neede By stretching out his helping hand did stand theÌ„ now in steed For as to Peter once in prison closelie pent To lose his lockes and set him free an Angel there was sent So God now made a waie a passage strange to giue By opening of a mightie dore the weaker to releeue By which the fainter sort without all danger fled The greater sort were taken then and straight to prison led Among which godlie troope that did their bodies yeeld Were women of great parentage which were with shame reuilde Of them whom furie fed to prison as they went Yet for all this these noble mindes their deedes did not repent And that which was the worst in prison where they were The theeues and bloodie murtherers did find more fauor ther. For they that death deserude were taken from their clinke And in their colde vglie pits which breathd a deadly stinke These men were thrust bound kept with watch ward That al accesse of worldly ioy from them might quite be bard Yet now because they had not roome inough for all In diuers wardes alone to pen these captiues thus in thrall Great numbers they were faine together for to place To comfort them God did deuise to bring it so to passe The prisons now did ring with Psalmes and ioifull songs They praied god wheÌ„ he thoght best to ease theÌ„ of these wroÌ„gs When this was noisde abroad and some were thither sent To know the cause then this was found the sum of their inteÌ„t At first when they did meete a lecture there was red In vulgar tongue out of Gods book wherby their soules were fed Then did the preacher show there he did recite The vse of that most sacred feast whereof S. Paule did write Vnto the Corinthes once In which he shewed plaine The vse and abuse of the same to comfort or to paine When this was done againe they fell vpon their knees And for the King CoÌ„mons all they praied with watrie eies That God would yet withhold his iust reuenging hand And blesse with perfect truth peace their King eke their land Then did they all receiue Communion bread and wine To staie their faith in Christ his death whereof this a signe Now this was all the hurt which they did then procure For which this raging tumult rose they these paines indure But marke the creeping craft of Sathan in this case How he by false report doth seeke the truth for to deface His seruants now he sends and bids them ride in post These new inuented lies to spread abroad in euerie Coast First how the Lutherans so Sathan did them name Great wickednes did put in vse in places where they came And how that in the night when other were at sleape In darknesse where no candles were great numbers on a heap Of men and women both together did resort To match themselues for to fulfill a stinking filthie sport And how these godlie men all sitting in a round VpoÌ„ the tables where they sate great dainties there were fouÌ„d As wine and bellie cheere and each with others wife In these their priuie Bacchus feasts did lead a filthie life And how among the rest to worke their wicked will Their vsage was ô shamelesse lie their
this to vs that doo remaine That God dooth giue to his elect such strength to conquere paine This is the godlie end that blessed man did make VVhom life honor could not beÌ„d his Christ for to forsake He liude with good report his death deserueth fame And he hath left vnto his foes a leaud and filthie shame A rare and passing signe no doubt the Lord did giue To see that noble constancie in him while he did liue VVhose constant death in France and blood did sow the seede VVherby the church did much increase godly yet do feed He came of honest house in learning spent his youth And beeing plac'te in high degree he sought to learn the truth VVhereof when he had felt the sweete and pleasant tast He ioinde himselfe vnto the Church sticks to them at last VVell he is gone before and we that are behinde Lord grant to vs in Iesus Christ like faith and constant minde Amen The iudgements of the Lord which fell vpon King Henrie the second after he had caused Burgaeus to be imprisoned Anno 15â—9 Dilated by the examples of Ahab Amaziah and Zedechiah wicked Kings which vsed the like crueltie against the word THe Lord on Elies sonnes and sinnes this sentence gaue They that doo loue and honor me great honor still shall haue But they that doo despise my word my law and will They shall be sure of euerie man to be abhored still Which sentence of the Lord for euer shall be true As by examples we may see of such as doo insue For when as Ahab was in fond and foolish rage To Ramoth Gilead stoutlie bent vniustlie warres to wage A Prophet from the Lord did tell him verie plaine That if this warre he took in hand King Ahab should be slain But to the prison straight this Prophet then was led The king gaue charge that he shuld be with bread water fed Till he returned safe from Gilead home againe But what befell It came to passe the King indeed was slaine So Amaziah which by idolls did offend Vnto the Prophet would not yeeld his willing eare to bend But did with bitter scoffes and scornes reproue the word For which he was by Iehu spoild and taken by the sword So Zedekiah proud from sinne would not returne But Rebel-like the word of God he did with fire burne And Ieremie by him was oft in prison pent Because he said the King and all to Babel should be sent But let vs see his ende the King of Babel came Who toke him captiue with his men put them al to shame And he that was content Gods Prophet to disgrace Was forc'te to see the murder of his sonnes before his face His eies that would not see Gods truth and shining light The King of Babel put them out as they deserude of right So Henrie King of France which all his force did bend Against the truth did from the Lord receaue a fearfull end For now amidst the ruffe of all their mirth and ioy When euerie man deuised how the godlie to destroie The time appointed came for marriage of the King Which to the Court Courtiers did great mirth pleasure bring And for the greater pompe of all this princely traine A solemne Iust the youthlie King by Crier did proclaime In which he meant to shew his manhood and his might And being horst with limber speare in armor shining bright He chose among the rest the challenge now begun Mongomerie Captaine of his gard against him for to runne Which he did oft refuse and wiselie did withstand Till that the King the fatall speare put in his Captaines hand Where charging with their spears forcing might main A splinter pierst the Princes eie and ranne vnto his braine The King with sodaine wound and bleeding much dismaid Within the next adioyning house to bed he was conuaide Where plungd with grieuous pain his conscience did lament The wrong which he had done to those whoÌ„ he to prison sent I greatlie feare said he least I haue done some ill Against Burgaeus and the rest whose blood I sought to spill But Elimas the witch doth spend his cursed winde From such remorse to keep in thral the Kings afflicted minde It is said he thy foe that doth assault thy faith In which take heed that thou remain stil constant to thy death This heauie hap befell as manie men haue tolde Nere to the place wherein as then Burgaeus was in hold And manie did obserue that he did kill the King Which was commanded to the Iaile Burgaeus for to bring The King did often brag those eies of his should see Burgaeus burnt but loe the Lord did alter that decree For ere Burgeus was vnto the fire led Mongemerie had those eies of his thrust cleane out of his head Now here we plainlie see the life and heauie end Of theÌ„ which persecute the truth which God doth often send And let vs warning take by this most fearfull fate For to returne and loath our sinne before it be too late Amen The bloodie marriage or butcherlie murder of the Admirall of France and diuers other noble and excellent men at the marriage of Margaret the Kinges owne sister vnto Prince Henrie sonne to the Queene of Nauarre committed the 24. of August in the Citie of Paris Anno 1572. NOw haue you heard before of faggot fire and sword Inhaunst by Sathan for to quell Gods truth and blessed word But now I must begin such treason to vnfold As former times for crueltie And ages new and olde Haue neuer seene the like in Christendome till now When sacred faith by flatterie and oath of Princelie vow By treason did contriue to shed the guiltlesse blood Of theÌ„ which now by peace did seek to do their couÌ„trie good For when the Lord did send his truth into the land He raised vp some Noble men to take this cause in hand Among the which as chiefe and souereigne of the field There was Prince Henrie of Nauarre with such as would not yeeld Vnto the Guisian race the Prince of Condee next The Admirall and D' Andelot with others that were vext By bloodie Guises band who daily did inuent How to oppresse the word of truth which Christ had thether sent But when as Sathan saw by words and dealings plaine That manie Princes were in armes this truth for to maintaine It galde him to the heart that where he did deuise To choake the word that euen there the more it did arise He summons all his mates these matters to debate How they might choak this springing seed before it were too late Where all within a round they come without delaie To whom this bloody captaine then these words began to say There is a subtill veyne that feedes this cankred sore For now the deeper it is launcte it riseth still the more Vve see that fire and sword cannot at all
towne the masters their mates This is the onelie time this matter to dispatch But being fled these birds are not so easie for to catch The towne of Paris will most gladlie giue consent And threescore thousand fighting men prouide for this intent So shall we quicklie see the ende of all our strife And in a moment shall dispatch these rebels of their life But if we stand in feare and let them scape our hand They will procure in time to come great trouble in our land For if the Admirall his strength receaue againe Can anie doubt but that he will be mindfull of his paine It is a simple thing for Princes to beleeue That new goodwil an ancient hate from galled hearts caÌ„ driue Therefore if we permit these Rebels to retire We soone shall see by warres againe our Countrie set on fire This is a womans minde and thus I thinke it best Now let vs likewise heare I pray the sentence of the rest This counsell of them all was liked passing well And in respect of present state all others did excell Some doubting mused long which were the better waie The King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condee for to slaie Or els to saue their liues in hope they would recant Because the proofe of perfect yeres they both as yet did want But here they did preuaile as God no doubt would haue Vvho thoght it best in this assalt these princely youths to saue Because they were in hope that when those impes should see Their mates tormeÌ„ted thus they would most willingly agree To bow where they would bind to go where they would cals And to forswere their former faith would make no dout at all But all the rest remaine condemned for to die Vvhich cruell verdit must be put in practise presentlie The night that should insue then next without delay Beginning ere the same were spent long time before the day The Duke of Guise was thought the fittest of the traine To take in hand this bloodie plot to haue the godlie slaine Concluding thus they goe each one vnto his place The godlie doubting nothing lesse than this so heauie case HEere is the first part plaide and heere I doo lament My slender skill wants fitted phrase the sequele to depaint The Duke in office put begins for to prepare So that in troopes the armed men ranne busling here and there With noise threatning words as though some tumult were Preparing now in euerie streete which made the wisest feare Vvhat would insue At length the Admirall did heare This tumult and not knowing how the truth for to inquire He sent vnto the King to know the full intent Vvhy in the night in riot wise these armed people went Thus raging in the streetes and where it were his will If so he would not feare but rest in hope of safetie still The King returned word and wilde him not to feare For this was done by his aduise yet not in euerie where But in some certaine waies these armed men were set The foolish rage of leaud attempts by this in hope to let O leaud and filthie lie vnseemlie for a King Vvhat Turke or Diuell could deuise a more vnworthy thing For when the Duke of Guise had all in order set And nothing rested which might seem their purpose for to let He Marcell calls in hast and wills him haue a care That all the masters of the streetes ere midnight did repaire Vnto the Counsell hall where they should heare at large Great matters froÌ„ the King himself of straÌ„ge speciall charge The message being done they all without delaie Assembled were to know the thing the Guises had to saie Where Prouost Carron rose with stomacke stout and bolde And garded with a Guisian troope this bloodie message tolde My frends quoth he giue eare and marke what I shall saie The Kings intent is presentlie this night without delay Those Rebels to destroy which now these latter yeeres Bore armes against his Grace which thogh they be his peeres Yet will he quite pull vp and roote the lawlesse race Of theÌ„ that long haue sought by force his dealings to disgrace And what a happie time I praie my mates is this When fast within our Citie wals the Captaine closed is That siercelie brued the broile of this our doubtfull strife And manie times hath put vs all in danger of our life Their trust by treason trainde is cause of this deceite Oh happie she that wrought the molde of this so cunning feat Their freÌ„ds will proue their foes sweet plesures wil haue pain And being here they are not like to see their homes againe Their chambers prisons are their beds shall be their graue And ere the day appeere we must a glorious Conquest haue Be strong therefore my frends make sharpe the fatall knife For of these Rebels ere the day not one shall scape with life Their leader and their guide lies wounded in his bed And therefore as the chiefest foe we'ill first haue off his head And when we haue dispatcht the Rebels we haue heere We'ill likewise ransack all the Land of like that shall appeere This is the Kings intent this is his Graces minde To doo this feate let him in vs a willing courage finde And for a token when this murder shall begin The warlike trumpet shall not sound nor banner shalbe seene But Tockeseine shalbe heard this bloodie newes to bring For then begin when as you heare this Pallace bell to ring The badge which you shall bear by which you shal be known Shalbe a Linnen cloath of white made fast about the brawne Of left side arme and eke a crosse vpon your cap Of white likewise and these keepe fast what euer chance may hap And this is all my frends that I haue now to saie Come follow me and let's begin and vse no more delaie This while the Duke of Guise did shew his whole intent Vnto the Captaines of the gard and bad them giue consent With courage to performe so great and famous act Which seruice as the case did staÌ„d they might not loÌ„g protract Now shortlie after this the Duke with manie more Accompanied with the Cheualier and armed men great store Came posting to the gate which Câ—ssin tooke to keep Woe worth the time wheÌ„ they did trust the wolfe to gard the sheepe The Admiral knew wel the tumult of this rout Yet this nor anie thing could make his valiant heart to doubt For though he had but few scarce tenne within the place Yet nothing could at all preuaile to make him doubt his case For oft he would repeate the Kings assured loue Approoued by so manie signes as you haue heard aboue What though the CoÌ„mons rise what thogh the tumult rage When they shal see the princes gard their malice wil asswage I know the King will not by treason false his faith Thogh for the same there might ensue
strong therefore my Sonnes refuse not profred death Which from the Lord is sent to be a triall of our faith But how should we be strong when flesh doth dailie fall O Lord increase our faith that we maie come when thou dost call And from the Lord I know this butchring axe is sent Who Sathans sword hath losed now no doubt for some inteÌ„t This is no new deuise which Sathan puts in vre For they that will imbrace the truth of this shall still be sure For vnto Truth belongs both fier sword and racke And naked Truth hath alwaies tied a whip vnto her backe The ages that are past doo yet declare the same Whose constant death for Christ depaints the glorie of their name For as the sillie sheepe betweene the Lions iawes And like the meek wailing doue in goshauks greedie pawes So is the present state of Christs afflicted flocke Who are content with Christ to lay their head vnto the block Feare not therefore to tast this cup of ioyfull paine That with the Lord in lasting ioy we all may meete againe Let nothing force your faith from Christ to goe astraie For I your Father as your guide will lead you first the waie One house hath helde vs all one Christ hath been our ioy This sweete and noble vnion let Sathan not destroy And let vs ioyne in one this death for to imbrace So ioynd with Christ we shalbe sure with him to haue a place I was not he that gaue your vse of liuelie breath I am not he that sets the time and order of your death It is the Lord alone which will restore againe A better life if for his law by death we suffer paine Come let vs gladlie giue our throate vnto the knife And for our Christ let vs reioyce to leaue this wretched life And saie you all with me ô Lord from these our bands Receaue we praie our sinfull soules into thy blessed hands And lend vs Lord thy grace and mercie to the end Thy blessed helpe to come to thee ô Lord of mercie send And this repeating oft the butchers with their blade Their bodies then with deadlie wouÌ„ds a bloody present made Then ioyning on the ground they clasped all in one Where groueling lay in folded armes the father with the sonn Which sodaine heauie chance such wofull sight did giue That iust remorse of causeles death a flinty hart would grieue Thus hath this blessed man receaud a happie place The Lord grant vs that be behinde like portion of his grace Amen A cruell cowardlie and traitrous murder committed in Angiers in France vpon one Masson de Riuers a famous and godlie preacher by a wicked enemie called Monsorrell who was sent by the King to Angiers in post to commit the like murder there as was in Paris NOw Lions fare thou well to Angiers will I goe Wherein also the godlie flocke lackt not a deadlie foe For there was dwelling then a famous learned man Vvho for his paines and godlie life a worthie credite wan He was the first that dar'de the Gospell for to preach In Paris towne where first the same to manie he did teach Masson De Riuers was this godlie preachers name Vvho had the Sorbons manie times by learning put to shame Now when in Paris towne the murder was at most The bloodie Curre Monsorrell was to Angiers sent in post Vvho was no sooner come within that wofull towne And that from off his barbed house he was descended downe But that he did inquire where Masson then did dwell For that he had vnto the man some secrete thing to tell And comming to the house before the entrie dore He met with Massons wife to whom he vsed then great store Of filed words as though he meant nothing amisse And like a Courtier courteouslie salutes her with a kisse And where is now I praie your husband to be had To see the good man ere I went I would be verie glad For that with him I haue a word or two talke In yonder garden sir quoth she my husband now doth walk And so she did direct the traitor to the place Where comming he most courteouslie good Masson did imbrace And canst thou tell quoth he whie I am â—ether come It is to doo the Princes will whereof this is the summe The King commanded hath that now without delaie Within this place I should not misse thy life to take awaie And that thou maist be sure the King hath thus decreed Lo here are letters from his grace which letters thou shalt read With that he plucked forth a Pistoll readie bent Full charged and to Massons heart now readie to be sent My friend said Masson staie on me some pitie take And to my God ere that I die let me my praiers make I meruaile whie the King this murder should intend I know not anie thing wherein his lawes I did offend It doth become a King a Princelie heart to haue And not vniustlie for to kill the people he should saue And what are you that can the vncondemned kill And what are you that seeke my life which neuer ment you il And why should you desire to suck my guiltlesse blood Which in the Lord vnto my power haue soght to do ye good But staie I know the cause you hate the shining light Of Gods eternal Truth which now you thinke doth shine too bright But frend take heed how that thou welter in the dark Take heed of Gods eternall plague Cayns accursed marke The men that meate refuse with famine shalbe pinde To satisfie their hungrie soules they shall no comfort finde And they that knowen Truth doo wilfullie reiect Shalbe deceiude by lying sprites their follies to correct I weigh not for to die sith death the Lord hath sent But more to view thy wretched state it maketh me lament For after death with me I know it shall be well But for this murder thou maist feare least thou be sent to hell There is a fearfull lawe let it be rightlie scand The Lord himself hath trulie said that blood pollutes the land The Land from bloodie guilt shall not be cleansde or quit But by his blood which wrong fullie the murder did commit Take heed therefore good frend and yet beware in time Pollute not this so famous place with this so bloodie crime But yet if thou obey a Princes wicked word Know in the end that thou likewise shalt perish by the sword Now if my hoarie haires no mercie can procure Yet let the safetie of thy soule to pitie thee allure And if the wailing teares of this my wofull wife Can not by anie meanes preuaile with thee to saue my life Yet see these sillie babes and weigh their wofull mone Which fatherlesse before their time should now be left alone If nothing yet but blood can quench thy hot desire Then in the ende be sure to tast the Lords reuenging ire Haue mercie Lord on me