as might conueniently there shoulde be Councels Synodes or Parlings of those Churches that were not farre oft 4 That there be diligent eye and heede giuen specially to the doctrine and also the maners of Ministers 5 That no Minister vsurpe superioritie or principalitie by any maner of meanes among his fellowe Ministers but that all things bee done indifferently and soberlye among them 6 That all offences and stumbling blocks be taken away 7 That the faithfull be taught their dutie and also instructed in the puritie of the worde and in the chaste rule of discipline ⪠8 That nothing in this discipline be rashly altered by one man or by one Church without the authoritie of the generall Councell But now when the most excellent and famous Princes Protestantes of Germanie vnderstoode of the great punishments and intollerable afflictions layde vpon the faithfull for the Gospels sake they sent their Ambassadours wyth their charge and letters vnto the King beséeching him that he woulde inhibite and staye those grieuous persecutions of the which their letters this was the effect and summe as followeth When they vnderstoode and weyed with themselues that men in all ages estates and times suffered imprisonment and bondes for professing the doctrine of the Gospell which is contrarie to those superstitions which are of the most part obserued and that for the same cause onely they were extréemely punished both in body and goodes they also knowing themselues to be members of the same heade Christ with them whome they hearde to be so cruelly handled and being perswaded that they were bounde in conscience to helpe them so much as they might they thought good for these causes to sende their Ambassadours vnto the King with those letters And that the King might not thinke that the matter is not throughly considered off of them they signifie vnto him that they knowe for a suretie that those men which were restrained from their libertie did maintaine or defende no seditious opinions nor any thing else that is contrary to the true and Apostolicall articles of the Christian faith And bicause they themselues did take no lesse labour and paine than the King himselfe to roote out and abolishe all those things which were against the glorie of God and did onely desire to defende the true inuocation of his holy name and the syncere doctrine of the Catholike Church contained in the writings of the Prophetes Apostles and Fathers and also did seuerely punishe the maintainers of false doctrine and men of impure and vnhonest lyfe and to be short bicause they themselues did acknowledge and worship one God as the hyest and Lorde of all these were the causes which had moued them to write those letters of intreatie for the releasing of those captiues out of miserie whose doctrine they knewe to be farre from all falshoode heresie and sebitious opinions the which thing might euidently appeare by their confession the which they sent vnto the King to that ende There is no man but he will confesse that many corruptions are crept into the Church and haue preuayled partly by error and partly by couetousnesse to roote out the which saye they that diuers good and godly men haue taken great paine of late and that not long since also certaine vertuous and singular learned men in the vniuersitie of Paris as VVilliam of Paris Gersone VVestelus and others had done the like and also that they themselues haue reformed errours in their dominions for the which they are not a little ioyfull Moreouer that his father king Frances of happie memorie a Prince of singular wisedome and vertue purposed to haue made the like reformation folowing herein the examples of his auncelors the Kings of Fraunce who woulde oftentimes themselues finde out the controuersies that happened in the Church The which waye he ought to followe in ending these matters rather than to suffer the crueltie of manye against their brethren and his subiectes assuring himselfe of this that he shoulde so smallye preuayle in suppressing the doctrine of the Gospell by those sharpe and cruell punishments that contrarywise the bloude which was shed for the same shoulde be the séede more and more dailye to increase the number of christians and furthermore ⪠that by this meanes namely by shedding of bloude he shoulde haue the greatest part of his faithfull subiectes cut from him Eeside all this that God doth threaten to take vengeaunce of the bloude of Innocentes vniustly shedde and will seuerely punishe those which shall reiect the perfect knowledge of his doctryne and truth Moreouer they signifie vnto the King in their letters that they did of late sue vnto him and require the selfe same thing of him that they doe nowe by their letters then and Ambassadours also and were almost perswaded by his aunswere againe that he woulde neuer more suffer the miserable Christians so to be afflicted and appressed with those iniuries Notwithstanding that they vnderstoode that the same affliction by all maner of punishment was as great in his kingdome as euer it had bene before Insomuch that in this poynt they did greatly bewayle so much as Christian Charitie required the state and condition of his good and faythfull subiectes who for this cause were onely afflicted for that they followed that doctrine which they retayned sure and firme in their Churches and in the which they grounded their fayth The which wonderfully grieued them not onely bicause they sawe that it was preiudiciall and hurtfull to them but chiefly bicause they perceyued the glorie of the most mightie God to be defaced and as it were derided And bicause Charitie with the which his subiects were beloued of men did prouoke them also to wishe their peace and tranquilitie and aboue all things to desire that the King might behaue himselfe in that thing which appertained to the glorye of God and soules health that he might not prouoke the wrath of God against him they most hartily beseech hym that he woulde prudentlye expende and weigh all the circumstances of this facte and specially that he woulde consider the causes why his miserable subiectes shoulde be so greatly troubled and that he woulde endeuour himselfe that the Church of God might be pourged from all these corruptions with the which it had bene a long time contaminated and infected in so doing he shoulde satisfie the honest desire of a great number in this poynt And bicause he coulde not come to the knowledge of those things which were of so great weyght without the hearing of the iudgementes of godlye learned men they perswaded him so call vnto hym out of hande men expert in knowledge and desirous of Gods glorie after the ensample of his Elders by whome the matters nowe in controuersie might be vprightlye and peaceably decided and determined by the rule of holye Scripture Also that whyle these thinges were in hande and vntill it were fully concluded of the matters in controuersie his subiectes which followe the doctrine agréeing
to be imminent and readye to fall on the kingdome might be appeased and mittigated Therefore at the daye appointed diuers of the kings priuie counsel other noble men came togither The which assembly being made the King declared the cause of their comming togither at that time and commauÌded that euery man should freely declare his mind both for his owne profite and for the benefite of the kingdome also The rest he said they should heare more at large of his Chauncelour of the Duke of Guise and of the Cardinall of Loraine Then the Chauncelour stoode vp made a large discourse concerning the state of the kingdome shewing that all men ought most chiefely to endeuour them selues to finde out the causes of so great perill mischiefe as the whole Realme now stoode in the causes wherof being knowne the remedyes might be the more easily prouided for And to this end and purpose he said this assembly was made namely to finde out the causes of this mischiefe to prouide remedyes for the same Adding moreouer that all things were done for the safetie of the people for whom the King had most deepe and especiall care And after hym the Duke of Guise briefly shewed the cause of his gathering together of an Armie These things onely were done that daye the next daye those which before were assembled came together againe into the same place And then the Chauncelor declared that it was the kings pleasure that euerye man shoulde freelye vtter his minde but firste of all they of the priuie counsell that by their example and beginning the reste might more boldely and cheerefully goe forwarde Then Ianus Monlucius Bishop of Valentia the last couÌseller being commaunded first of all to vtter his minde Gasper Castillon the Admirall strait way stepte vp came to the king and when he had reuerently saluted him he deliuereed vnto hym two supplications written in their name which called themselues The faithfull Christians dispersed through diuers places of Fraunce Both the whiche supplications at the Kyngs commaundement were read the summe and effecte wherof was that they had good occasioÌ offered them by this their assemblye to offer their supplications and their humble requestes to the King praying and beséeching him that he woulde haue regarde to the greatest parte of his subiectes who were euill intreated euen vntill that present time and that for this cause onelye for that they mynded to frame their lyues according to the prescript rule of the pure word of god Affyrming also that they soughte for nothing else than to haue their doctrine examyned by the same rule of Gods worde and that their cause might throughly be wayed and considered that all men mighte knowe for certaine howe greatly they did hate and abhorre those seditious and heretical opinions with the which hitherto they were falsely burthened Seyng they were thus euill intreated and oppressed they flée vnto his maiestie for succour beseching him that he would not disdaine but vouchsafe to behold and way their cause in the meane time that it would please him to omit the punishments by which their blood had béen shed in euery part of the kingdome by the wickednesse crueltie of many of the Iudges who hauyng no regard to the peace and welfare of the Subiectes but séeking rather to satisfie their owne fantasie lust and desire had shed the blood of poore men vndeseruedly and most vniustly had brought to passe to make a stay that their requests and supplicatioÌs might at no time come to the kings eares Wherefore they humbly beséeche his grace that he would maintaine and defende his poore subiects against the wicked crueltie of these men for which cause they acknowledge him to be their King and will render vnto him according to Gods commaundement all due and seruisable obedience and doe commit them selues wholy with all theirs vnder his patrociny and safegarde and also doe account him their bulwarke refuge and staye Protesting before God and hys Maiestie that they neuer intended any thing against hym or to omit that loyall duetie and obedience which they owe vnto him for whose prosperitie they daylie make their prayers vnto god Adding moreouer that they sought for no euill libertie or to haue sinne vnpunished but rather that they might haue libertie to liue so néere as they coulde according to the Gospell which they professed and that in this thing they might not feare the iudgemeÌts of their chiefest aduersaries Againe therefore they beséech and praye his Maiestie that it would please him to graunt them leaue to heare the worde of God and to receiue his Sacraments vntill the matter were more fully wayed and considered of the Counsell and that to this end and vse they might haue Churches graunted vnto them least their congregation or assembly being priuate and secrete might come into false and euill suspicion This libell being red the Admiral desired the King that he would take it in good part bringing in diuers testimonies of his faithfulnesse towardes the kings Maiestie As when he was in Normandy to prouide things necessarye for the Scottishe warre and was appoynted by the Quéenes commaundement diligently to inquire out the dealings and behauiour of those which were called Faithfull ⪠and perceiuing that they rendred certaine reasons of their doings he promised vnto them to offer their supplications vnto the Kings maiestie To this the King aunswered that he had diuers good and notable testimonies of him and of his deserts and also that he did take all things that he had done in very good part And then the King commaunded againe the Bishop of Valentia to speake his iudgement Who in effect vttered this which followeth DIOCLESIAN was wont to say that the state and condition of those Princes was miserable which were often deceyued by those in whome onely they reposed their trust bicause they forsaking the gouernement of the common wealth and being as it were drowned in their pleasures might so be easily deceyued The which hath not happened vnto the King forasmuch as there was diligent prouision made against those perilles by the prudent wisedome of the Quéene and by the diligence and care of the Guises by which it was brought to passe that the tumultes alredy raised were suppressed The which being appeased the King did wisely foresée howe to prouide for the like to come and that for this cause he had caused this assembly to be made in the which there were so manye good men that sought the Kings quietnesse and profite that it coulde not be but that his Maiesties desires should be satisfied in euery poynt For so great is the confusion and trouble in euerye place of the Realme that it coulde not be more expressely described by the Prophete Esay to be the dissipation of all things of all orders and gouernement than it is The doctrine which hath so drawne away the mindes of men was not sââ¦wne lately as it were two yeares ago but for the
Edict what Priuiledge soeuer to the contrary they were able to bring Whereuppon many were taken by the force of those decrées put to death which came home to their houses vppon trust of the Kyngs Letters of warrant Whereby it may euidently appeare how falsely they haue made report to Princes of other Nations of the securitie that men should haue if so be vppon trust thei would put them selues in their handes And because certaine Princes knowing the goodnes of our cause and the vniust dealing of our aduersaries haue sent vnto mee aide to auoyde those miserable calamities at hand they make exclamation to discredit me and my cause that I bring forreyne ayd and power into the Realme But what I dyd before I tooke thys remedie in hande many Princes know whom I entreated to be meanes to make a pacification and who caÌ testifie that their Legates were hindered herein Also séeing they haue replenished the whole Realme with straungers as with Spaniardes Switzers Germanes and with Italians to the ende they might execute their tyraÌnie how shamelesse be they to reproche and discredite me in saying that I bring forreyn power into the realm And I protest that as I was constrained to take this remedie in hand so I haue determined euer hereafter to séeke by all lawfull meanes and wayes to deliuer the Church of God the King the Countrey and my self froÌ this oppression But whereas they haue euery where published abroade the Decrée of rebellion against me and myne which they haue caused to bée made sure cause not knowne nor heard by certayne seditiouse persones which displacing certayne good men out of their roomes take vpon them the name and countenance of Senatours of Paris I haue appealed from them and shewed in wri ting the causes of my appeale And to the ende their fraude and deceit may appeare the more impudent they haue exempted me from the number of those whom falsly they cal rebelles Howbeit if this good and iust cause may be called rebellion I my selfe aboue all the reste ought to be burthened with the same séeing that I account my selfe to be their Captayne and haue taken vpon me the defence of that cause haue called those that attende vpon me to shewe their obedience to the King at the commaundement of the Queene and doo as yet retayne them with me to this ende And I affirme that there can be greater iniury done vnto me than to be separated from so honest and faithfull a company in whoÌ I do note so great fidelitie and obedience toward the king in this so present a necessitie that I think that the same their dutifull obedience wil be commended amonge all posterities for euer This therefore is the summe of those things which I haue don vnto this day the which I haue with great simplicitie and without all cooller declared And I pray all those that loue the trueth moste earnestly which shall reade this writing that they will vprightly and without all preiudice waigh the matter and to Iudge not by the words but by the actions God for his mercies sake order and direct the whole matter to the glory of his name to the peace of the Church ⪠to the tranquillitie of the Realme to the confusion of those his enimies which are the authours of these troubles This writing being published abroad and all maner of warlike prouision being prepared the Prince of Conde as we sayde before remoued with his armie from Orleans and conducted the same by the Countrey of Beausse toward Paris And as hée went hée besieged a town called Pluââ¦iers which was kept with seuen Enseignes of footemen and at the length when hee had sore battered the same with his ordinaunce he had it deliuered vp vnto him Then he tooke twoo of their principall Captaines and caused them to be put to death as for the reste of the common soldiers he spared them After this many Townes yéelded vnto him as Escampes la Ferte Dordan and others which hée receyued into his seruice vpon trust Also he minded to besiege the Citie of Corbeil which the Guises kept and mayntayned with a great garrison of souldiours This Citie is of great forte bââ¦rdering vpon the riuer of Sein by which ryuer great prouision and store of vittailes were caryed to Paris And while he was making al things ready for the siege word was brought vnto him of the death of his brother the King of Nauar. Whose office of Uiceroy he perceyuing that he ought to haue by order during this tyme of the Kings minoritie and then hoping to moderate and end al things by peace he left of his purpose of besieging Corbeiâ⦠and comming néerer Paris he pitched his campe at Arcel ⪠the first day of DeceÌber Therfore the Queen sending letters vnto him desired to conferre and talke with him not purposing neuerthelesse as the euent declared to conclude concorde and peace but onely to delay and differre the time and to diminishe the force of the Prince of Conde his armye vntill the armies came out of Spayne and Gascoyne which were dayly looked for this was done by the subtill practises of the Guises But because the Prince of Conde was not at that tyme very well at ease the Admirall went firste to talke with the Quéene passing ouer the ryuer of Seyn by the port Angloyse In the meane tyme the Constable came to the Prince of Conde for a pledge But this iourney was in vayne the Quéene saying that she would neuer agrée that the reformed Religion should be vsed in any parte of the Realme Then was the parley appointed againe in a more conuenient place ââ¦Ã©ere vnto the suburbes of S. Mââ¦rceau in a certayne Mill. At which méeting the Prince of Conde propounded these condicions of peace First that the vse of the reformed religion might be frée in those Cities in the which it was before the warre began and that the faithful might liue peaceably in other places and that they might goe vnto such Townes as they knew the reformed Religion to bée vsed in also that there might be diligent héed taken that they sustained no manner of perill for enioying the benefite of religion Secondly that it might be lawfull for all men of the reformed Religion to enioy their goods offices dignities but specially their religion in what part of the Realme soeuer they dwelt and that all sentences and iudgements of any Court pronounced against them for religion be voyd and of none effect that they which for religions sake were fled the realme or hauing before fled were now come home againe might enioye y same benefite and might haue leaue at their retourne to enioy all that they had that euery Noble man might haue libertie to vse the reformed Religion in his house and also that it might be lawfull for euery one of the Kings Counsell to haue the same religion in or about the Court so long as he shall there giue his attendance
euery man could not haue a prisoÌ by himself that some of them were thrust togither into one prisoÌ so it came to passe that one of theÌ receiued comfort of another in somuch that the prison in the which they were souÌded with the prayers Psalmes vttered song by them But to make these men the more to be hated diuers rumors were euery where spred namely that the Lutherans did assemble themselues togither in the night and being on a heape togither without candle light did fulfill their wandring lusts one with another killed their yong infants and committed other wickednesses The Monkes they made exclamation of this thing in euery place to inflame the people to reuenge the same And not only the common sort of people were stayed with these rumors but the same also of these things came eueÌ to the eares of the Péeres of the realm in so much that one of the Inquisitors or Commissioners durst auouch before the King that Tables spred and great prouision of daintie cheare was founde in that place where the faythfull had assembled themselues The which report so inflamed the Kings minde that he sought nothing more than the destruction of the faithfull yea and the mindes of all men did so boyle in hatred against them that he thought himselfe to excell that coulde best conspire the death and destruction of the faithfull At the last a coÌmaundement was giuen by the king that some méete man should be chosen to knowe consider their causes which were taken Nowe at Paris there was a Magistrate a Citizen called Munerius a man as it was commonlye reported verye apt for all maner of fraude and deceyte At thys time this Munerius was as a Batte in the night and did seldome openly shewe himselfe bicause he was accused of falshood in the matter of the Countesse of Senigana or Seniguen the which he pretended to haue committed that Duke Arscotus who was then takeÌ and in hold might escape Notwithstanding to this man this office was committed And bicause by this meanes he hoped to haue pardon and shoulde be restored to his former dignitie he was so forward in his businesse that within fewe dayes many of their causes which were taken prisoners were brought to haue sentence and iudgement In the meane time those reliques which remayned behinde of that vaste and great shipwracke of the faithfull were cast into great distresse and sorrowe notwithstanding they thought it not good to faynt or quayle in those extremities For they which were the chiefe gouernours of the Church went about euery mans house exhorted euery one to be of good chéere perswaded that nothing had happened without the singuler prouidence of God by which also it came to passe that many escaped that daunger moreouer they sayd that they remained to defende the other partes of the Church which were left and that this calamitie shoulde not be the ruine and quite ouerthrow of the Church and on the other side that the same is the waye to increase and inlarge the Church which God both by his word hath shewed and also by experience approued for the gathering togither of the Church And thus when they had exhorted and comforted one another and had committed themselues and all things else to the prouidence of God first of al they appoynted that in euery house there should be extraordinary praiers made and that those faââ¦e rumors shoulde be put away by Apollogies and aunsweres of defence and also that the brethren which were taken should be confirmed and strengthned so often as might be with letters and also with wordes Therefore they write letters vnto the king and bring to passe to haue them caried secretly into the Kings chamber by which they ment to pacifie the kings minde to remooue the same from the euill opinion which it had conceyued of them and to obtaine the hearing of their cause They affirme in their letters that they are falsly accused and slaundered with such slaunders as are not newly deuised but with such as long before had bene obiected agaynst the Church by which Satan went about to make Kinges and Princes to hate the same and are now againe put forth by those only which desire to haue the truth oppressed to the ende they may fréely enioy the riches and goods which they haue vsurped and wrongfully gotten by wicked deceit And that be ought to séeke to haue sure and vndoubted proues of euery matter specially in businesse of so great weight For if it were sufficient to condemnation to accuse who shoulde then escape an innocent Wherfore if he would vouchsafe diligently to search out the truth of this matter it shoulde well appeare that they assembled themselues togither for no other ende and purpose than to praye vnto God for his prosperitie and the peace of the kingdome Also that their doctrine did not maintaine sedition neyther was an enimye to the obedience of Magistrates the which thing they had alway hitherto shewed neuer refusing to obey although they were many in number when they were euill intreated onely for following the worde of god And that thys was their onely desire that Christ might appeare to be the chiefe and heade alone and that the inuentions of men being abrogated God might be obeyed and serued according to his prescript will. Wherefore if it woulde please him to vnderstande their cause he might if he woulde make some publike disputation betwéene some one of those that were in prison and the Sorbonistes or others which might dispute of those things now in controuersie In the ende they doe pray and humbly beséech him that he woulde not suffer the innocencie of good men their cause not being hearde to be condemned séeing that wicked men and such as do most déepely transgresse obtain so much libertie as to shew their cause and aunswere for theÌselues These letters were read before the king and those also which were then present but small fruite or profite came thereby certaine of the Cardinals then crying that they were lyes and tales so that notwithstanding their reasonable suite and request they had not so much graunted vnto them as libertie to aunswere for themselues After this there was yet another letter sent to the king the effect wherof was that all men did confesse that these calamities with the which the christian coÌmon welth was vexed procéeded of the iust iudgement of God being offended that so many he resies and corruptions shoulde take place But the greatest offence to consist in this thing namely that none of those to whome the care and charge of the Common welth was committed had any regarde at all to discerne heretiques by the worde of God from Christian maintayners of the truth And yet notwithstanding that it did belong vnto the King to applie himselfe to know this thing according to the example of the good Kings Ezechias and losias And after certaine notes put downe of true and false religion
confession of the true doctrine were condemned by great consent of the people to dye and were burnt with fire and suffering most excellent Martyrdome by death they woonderfullye triumphed of the crueltie of their enimies The which thinges bicause they be specially touched in another Booke it shall not be néedefull here to speake any more of them Many deliuered theÌselues from death by diuers meanes and wayes that were not lawfull But they to whome this charge and trust was commited boldly doing their office and being nothing slow to exercise crueltie certaine of their friendes which ãâã in holde propounded causes of refusall against the Iudges desiring that there might be other Iudges set in their places This thing for a time stayed the rage of the persecution Notwithstanding the king being certified hereof sendeth letters by which he declaring those refusals to be nothing commaundeth that all other things set apart they giue their diligence only to intende vpon this thing and that the Nobles which were in authoritie should choose out according as they thought good Counsellours to supplie the places of those that were absent and that in the Praetor Munerius ââ¦oume bicause for the causes before alleaged he was remooued other should serue to be short that final iudgement might be giuen of those matters howbeit that he might haue warning before any matter were ended These letters did againe displease and anger the mindes of those iudges which tooke it heynously that they were refused So that choller was then set on fire against many for this cause séemed as though it would rage and burne in the new yeare following For the aduersaries went about of late to establish bring in the like inquisition that was in Spain which they thought was the only way vtterly to ouerthrow the gospel letters at the last being obtained froÌ the Pope by which thrée Cardinals were appointed chief inquisitors they weÌt about all that they could to set forward this deuise The king for his part consented Notwithstanding the senate of Paris hauing better consideration of the matter greatlye withstode this new practise alleaged these causes to the king of their withstanding and prohibition saying If this thing should be brought to passe looke how much the power of the ecclesiasticall Iudges and Inquisitors should be enlarged so much should the supreme authoritie of the king be diminished Secondly that it was a matter of great weight for the naturall subiects of the king to be made destitute and after a sort depriued of their King and to be brought to the power of forreine Iudges and to be made subiect to an Offy âciall or Inquisitor Thirdlye that it shoulde be a defrauding of the kingdome but specially of the subiectes to be spoyled of the helpe safegarde of the king and to be themselues and all their goodes iudged disposed after the supreme iudgement of an ecclesiasticall Iudge Fourthly that it would come to passe that when they had gotten infinite power and the greatest part of the kings authoritie that is to say when they had gotten power to iudge of life death as theÌ listed without further appeale to any higher Court they might easily abuse their offices For say they the libertie to appeale is the onely sanctuarie and defence of innocencie Fiftly and last of all they say that the King to whoÌ the appeale should be made is the reuenger and the defender of violated and wronged innocencie and that iniurie shoulde be done if this thing went forward not only to the people but also to Princes to Dukes to Nobles yea and to the Kings nere kinsemen who also shoulde be bounde with this bonde By this prohibition and resistaÌce the matter was delayed for a time at the length when the Kings Court was at Paris the verye same aduersaries of the truth brought to passe that those letters were confirmed of the King as he went to the Senate or Parliament for this cause Thus when they had gotten the lawe into their owne handes and had written new Edictes appointing mortall punishments for the faithfull whome they called Sacramentaries Sectaries and such lyke euery man looking now for grieuous persecutions it pleased God for a time to disappoint those cruell practises and threatenings by troubling the kingdome with warre and other businesse Neither is it to be buried in silence by what meanes God shewed his vengeaunce vpon many of those persecutors which were the chiefe Capitaynes in S. Iames slaughter That Munerius the Praetor which was the first that delt with the causes of the faithfull and had many wayes cruelly intreated them being afterwarde at the length condemned of falshoode in the cause of the Countesse of Senigana suffered by the decrée of the Senate punishment openly in diuers places and being thus ledde from place to place to be made an open spectacle for all men to behold to his great infamie and reproch was also banished his countrie This man while be was kept in prison sayde that he knew that the punishments which he suffered were a iust reward and recompence to him for his euill intreating of the Lutheranes and that he woulde neuer after séeke to do them any harme In like maner one of the Counsellers which were appoynted to vnderstande and iudge of the causes of the faithfull not long after died by sodaine death Another of them likewise being sodenly striken with a most grieuous sickenesse and being also at the poynt of death sayde I see plainly that I haue grieuously sinned against the Lutheranes which so godly pray vnto the Lorde In lyke maner two other whiche were very cruell against the faithfull in the slaughter that was made on S. Iames daye sodenly dyed in the sight of all men Moreouer two other when they retourned from the murther of the afflicted faithfull fell at contention within themselues and at the last were slaine one of another Thus the Lorde shewed many examples of his iust vengeance vpon his aduersaries Then the Church obtayned peace for a time and some occasion to rest and breath for a whyle ⪠by reason of those tempestes They which were before as it were discouraged through that former great slaughter receyued nowe heart and courage againe many others which were eyther confirmed by the constancy of those blessed Martyrs which suffered or els were lately brought to the knowledge of God ioyned themselues to the Church they also which to flye persecution went aside from out of the citie were not altogither vnfruitful Among these there was one which came to a towne called Crucillum in Britayne neare vnto the sea coaste the which towne was at that time greatly giuen to superstition but it was brought to passe by his meanes within short time after that many of the townesmen were called to the acknowledging of truth insomuch that there was a congregation there At the which good successe Satan was greatly grieued Therfore when the fame of this thing was
slaughter was a preparing and whilest all men loked to sée great things come to passe beholde sodaine and vnloked for alterations happen For the king had a ceataine paine and disease in his eares Of the which after he had bene sicke a while he dyed the fifth day of December in the yeare of Lorde god M. D. LX. At the which sodaine alteration the Guyses were not a little dismayde When King Fraunces was deade the Quéene his mother sent vnto the Constable who had detracted the time to come to Aurelias assuring him of hir friendship and promising vnto him that neuer hereafter none should intrude him selfe into an other mans office and praying him also that he would come vnto hir with all spéede There the Constable came to hir to Aurelias without delay with Martiall Momorencius his sonne and saluted the newe king Neuerthelesse the Prince of Conde was kept in holde still but not without greate reuerence of his kéepers shewed towardes him and continusd in prison after the death of the King by the space of ten dayes denying to go out of prison vntill he knewe his aduersarie in this matter layde to his charge But all the matter was layde vpon the King deceased Therfore by a wonderfull and straunge way or meane as by the death of the King the subtill practises of the aduersaries were brought to naught whose funerall was so slenderlye celebrated that he was depriued of that vsuall pompe which Kings commonly haue at their buriall all men wondering that the Guises woulde suffer the same the which also was very wel noted by a publike Epigram or libel sent abrode There were truly within a short time wonderfull manifest signes of Gods iust iudgemeÌt against many Princes the which al meÌ at that time did plainly sée acknowledge Concerning the which these verses folowing were made Charles a Tyrant King of all kings that before him went Most craftily by counsell gainst Christ his force he bent Till that his foolish madnesse of children being espied In midst of all his mischiefe most sodenly he died And thou O Henrie eke by men that wicked were nought VVast too much led and therfore greedily hast sought The bloud of godly men thereof to drinke thy fill But he that sittes aboue restrainde thee of thy will. For in thy witlesse mode thy rashnes great thou didst declare therfore wouÌd of deth by spere thou hadst ere thou wast ware And so thy bleding corps eÌbrued the earth with blood Bicause to kill the Saints to thee it seemde so good Frances that was his sonne vnhappie childe did so direct His fete in his yll wayes that Christes voice he did neglect He stopt his eares as deafe when Christ to him did crie And therfore putrefacted eares did cause hiÌ streight to die Be warnde therefore O Kings by these examples iust VVisedomes doctrine to receiue or else to turne to dust Thus rumors were spred euerywhere abroade that so wonderous a thing had happened the lyke wherof was neuer heard of before namely that they which were brought to that passe that they should haue bene put to death were now aduaunced to great honor And contrarywise that it was come to passe that they which thought their authoritie to be confirmed for a long time sawe the same taken awaye and were brought to their former state and degree They which were of the assemblie of States trembling and quaking before for feare tooke now vnto themselues a bolde courage and with one consent make petition that the king of Nauar may be the ruler gouernor of the kingdome during the time of the Kings nonage minoritie also that the Princes the kings nere kinsemen with the Constable the Admiral the Andelote with the rest of the Nobles might be always of the kings CouÌselâ⦠that Cardinals Bishops should be sent to their diocesses to discharge their Ecclesiastical offices according to the rule of the canoÌs in that behalf The Kinges mother tooke it not in good part that so great good will and fauour should be shewed to the king of Nauar whom she demed not long ago to be hir enimie they increased these suspitions which went about to coÌfirme their authority by their dissentioÌs working hatred spite against the king of Nauar through the sentence of the assembly of the parliament which wished him to haue the rule of the kingdome And thus the minds of the Nobles being diuided into two factions one part helde of the Quéene another part with the king of Nauar. Insomuch that a man might sée the Constable the Admiral his two brethren alwais in the coÌpany of the king of Nauar On the other part the Guises Nemorosius the Marshal Santandrae the Marshal Brislac the cardinal of TurnoÌ always were about the Quéene stode w thir So that now there was great daunger of present seditioÌ but the king of Nauar by his courtesie suffrance put away all this daunger like to arise yéelding vnto the Quéene authoritie to gouerne the kingdome Then the Quéene being somewhat appeased plainly saide that she knew nowe the causes of all the troubles past namely that all the Princes which were of the Kings blouds were displeased that they were not accouÌted off according to their worthinesse which thing she said she woulde sée reformed euer afterward By this occasion the stomacking and taking of parts betwéene them séemed somewhat to be repressed There folowed therfore a wonderful alteration chauÌge and all men began to talke one to another to say that the companies of armed meÌ were prepared gathered togither to some other vse purpose than for the safetie of the King that their couÌsels and meanings were otherwise which had arrogated vnto themselues authoritie also that their practises shoulde not so easily haue successe nowe But the churches now which before were in great perplexity fear obtained peace and all men hoped nowe for a better state For amidst those sundrie troubles and manifolde afflictions which happened vnder the raigne of king Frances the administration of the sacraments the preaching of Gods worde neuer ceased in the reformed Churches although the number that were assembled were but small though also the same was not done without great daunger warinesse For at that time there were cruell conspiracies against the Church which woulde haue done great harme to the same had not the Lorde by his prouidence tourned them away Then did the reformed Churches coÌmaunde solemne prayers with fasting to be vsed and they which were the gouernors and chiefe of the congregation exhorted their brethren to be of good chéere and comforted them willing them paciently to looke for helpe from the Lorde So that after so great afflictions and feare there followed excéeding ioye and the sodennesse of the chaunce made the matter to seeme more wonderfull Then was there newes brought of the death of
kepte sylence the King spake in maner and fourme following All men sayth he know well enoughe what and how great perturbations and troubles are in the Realme for the which cause I haue appoynted you to come together at this time that those things which ye knowe haue néede of reformation maye quietly of you be declared without any maner of affection hauing no consideration or care for any thing but for the glorye of God and the peace and quietnesse of consciences The whyche thing I greatlye desire in so much that I haue determined not to suffer you to departe hence before you haue made some ende of all controuersies that at the length all dissentions being taken away mutual peace and concord may be had among all men This thing if ye bring to passe ye shall giue me occasion to maintayne and defende you with no lesse care than those kings my auncestours that haue béene before me haue done Then he commaunded his Chauncelor to declare his minde more at large The Chauncelor therefore began to shew that the kings will was according to the wils of his predecessors that had béene before him in staying the controuersies of Religion the which when those Kings of happie memorie went diligently aboute to bring to passe they had in their labors very small successe in so much that daylie more and more new troubles arose wherfore he would that all men should the more diligently wisely to apply theÌ selues to pacifie in time these troubles for the which cause he had caused them to come togither and minded in his royall person to accompany them that disordered matters in Religion which concerned both doctrine and maners might be reformed he vnderstanding that this was the onelye cause of all troubles woulde diligentlye prouide for them as his office required The remedie which nowe he intendeth to vse séemeth to be a present remedie as it was of late deliberated and considered of in the most noble assembly of the Princes CouÌcel namely that by this peculiar and particular conference the matters of Religion in controuersie betwéene both parties might be quietly reasoned and disputed of ⪠But to loke or séeke for remedie by a general Councel it is euen as vaine as if a man hauing good and sufficient remedie at home shoulde notwithstanding trauaile to the Indyes to séeke the same For sayth he we our selues shall better prouide remedyes for oure selues than men of strange and forraine countreys can doe which know neither the state of our cause nor the condition of our people of which kinde of strangers notwithstanding the generall Councell shall consiste Greater fruites and profite haue often times come by Nationall Councels than haue come by generall Councels As may appeare by that generall Councell of Ariminum the which Councell openly fauouring and maintaining the secte of the Arrians was reproued and corrected by particular Synodes Also in this our realme of Fraunce Hilary Bishop of Pictauia by his industrye and faithfull dealing in Synodes banished the heresie of the Arrians out of these partes Therfore sayth he there is no doubte but that there shall aryse great profite and commoditie by this assembly specially seing it pleaseth the king to take such paines himselfe who no doubt wil helpe both with his power authoritie Wherfore he wished the disputers on both partes onely to be carefull to doe their duetie both of them ioyntly to seke concorde the greater part not to despise the lesser not to vse curious disputations without profit and to iudge examine al matters by the word of God only which being wel vnderstoode fewe other authours shall serue also that they which say they followe the newe doctrine woulde not counte the prelates of the contrarye parte for their enimyes séeyng by Baptisme they retaine the name of Christians For the king sayth he hath therefore giuen you leaue to come together that men mighte sée what reasons you haue and that the Prelates on the Popes side might séeke by strong arguments to confute theÌ that the disputation at the length beyng published abrode all men may euidently sée that they are condemned for iust causes and not by the vaine authoritie of men Therefore take héede in any case that you do nothing ambitiously know ye that ye are not iudges and indeuour yourselues to finde out and manifest the truth So shall you both glorifye God and also profite your countrey and God himselfe shall blisse your indeuours and the moste constant minde of the king in this matter The matter being thus propounded by the Chauncelor the Cardinall of Turnon in the name of the Prelates gaue great thankes to the king to the Quéene and to the Princes that it pleased them to come to this holy assemblye and for that the Chââ¦uncelor by the kings commaundement had put forth these matters the which he desired to haue giuen vnto him in writing that they mighte deliberate and consider what was néedefull to be done in these things Then the Chauncelour saide that he woulde not giue the matter in writing seing it was plainely enough declared And thus they coulde get nothing at the handes of the Chauncelor althoughe the Cardinall of Loraine required the same Then the ministers which sat oueragainst them hauing leaue to speake Theodore Beza began thus Seing that all things O king both great small specially those things which belong to the worship of God and which doe far surmounte oure capacitie doe depende vpon the same God we thinke it not troublesome to your maiestie if we begin with prayer vnto god When he had spoken these wordes he falling on his knées with the rest of his fellowes beganne to pray vnto God in that forme of confession of sinnes which is vsed in the refourmed Churches pronouncing the same with a loude voyce and that done straight way he added vnto the same these wordes For so much as O God thou hast bene so fauourable this daye to thy vnworthye seruauntes as to graunt them leaue to professe the knowledge of thy truth before their King and this most honorable assembly we moste humbly beseeche thee O father of lightes that it may please thee according to thy accustomed goodnesse so to illuminate our mindes to gouerne our affections and to make them apt to be taughte so also to direct oure wordes that whatsoeuer knowledge of thy truth thou shalt giue vnto vs according to our capacitie we may both with hearte and mouthe vtter the same to the glorye of thy name to the profit and prosperitie of our King and of all his subiects and specially to the peace and tranquillitie of this Christian common wealth realme WheÌ Beza had thus ended his prayer turning his speach to the king he vttered these wordes in manner and forme following They which doe faithfully serue and obey their Princes most noble King doe thinke themselues moste happie in this thing aboue al other if so
be they may behold the faces of their Princes the which representing as it were a certaine visible maiestie of God can not chose but stirre vp and delight the mindes of faithfull subiectes For such is our nature that those things which we sée oure selues with our eyes do more effectually moue our affections thaÌ those things which we féele and perceiue by the bare and simple apprehension of the minde But and if it come to passe that not only the subiects may sée their Prince but also may be sene of their Prince and that which is more may be heard at the length approued of him then they thinke that they haue al that they caÌ wish or desire Of these foure things O king it pleased God to depriue many of your faithfull subiects for a time to their great sorrowe griefe vntill the same God in his infinite mercy goodnesse at our sorrowful teares continual sighes forgiuing somewhat so spared vs that he hath giuen vnto vs this daye a benefite more of vs wished than hoped for namely libertie to beholde your maiestie that of the same we may both be sene hard in this most noble assembly almost of the whole worlde If we had neuer receiued any other benefite neither should hereafter receiue all the reste of the race of oure life shoulde not be sufficient to celebrate and set forth so great a benefite of God and to giue immortall and condigne thankes to your Maiestie But seing we doe ioyne this also to those former benefites that this daye doth not onely giue vnto vs accesse but dothe also inuite vs with one minde and consente to professââ¦the name of oure God and the obedience due to your maiestie we muste no doubte confesse that oure mindes are farre vnapte to conceiue so greate benefites as these be and oure tongues also lââ¦sse able to vtter and expresse that which we féele in oure myndes Therefore this benefite surpassing all humaine eloquence we had rather by modest sylence to confesse oure imbecillitie than with the barenesse of words to diminishe the greatnesse of the same But this one thing we wiââ¦e that oure duetifull obedience maye be acceptable to your maiestie this daye The which we hope will come to passe if so be our comming together maye ende not onely the miseryes of oure afflictions paste the remembraunce whereof this most happie daye doth quite banishe but that thing also which alwayes séemed vnto vs more bitter than death which was the great troubles raised in this Realme for Religion to the great destruction of manye But nowe there are manye occasions which euen at this day will not suffer vs to enioye so great a benefite and haue also taken cleane awaye from vs al hope to enioy the same except by other meanes we be stayed and comforted First of all there are many men which by what mischiefe I knowe not are throughly persuaded of vs that we are troublesome persons ambitious whollye wedded to our opinions ⪠enimies to peace tranquilitie There are also other some who although they doe thinke vs not to abhorre peace concorde yet notwithstanding they do thinke that we do require the same vpoÌ such vnlawful straight coÌditions that we ought by no meanes to be receiued as though we wold inuert the whole world after our owne fantasie make it new againe depriue many from their goods that we our selues might inioye them There are also other suche like great impediments but we had rather to bury them in sylence than in speaking of them to rubbe and renewe olde punishments specially at this tyme when complaintes are not to be made but rather the remedies of complaintes to be sought and prouided for But who doth incourage vs among so many lets stays We are destitute of helpe O King seeing of all men we are the most base sorte But this maketh vs bolde namely our good conscience whiche is a helpe vnto our cause the which we trust God will defend reuenge by the meanes of your Maiestie In lyke maner your clemencie O king which most dilectably is to be seene in your mouthe countenance and talke the equitie and vprightnesse of your mind most excellent Quéene the goodnesse of your mynde and of the myndes of the Princes the kings kinsmen moste noble King the occasion also whiche you haue giuen vs to thinke well of you most honorable Councellours who agreeing in one do your selues no lesse desire to giue vnto vs necessarie and pure concorde than we earnestly desire to receiue the same doe giue vnto vs great boldnesse and hope What shoulde I vse many wordes There is also an other thing whiche maketh vs to haue some hope and that is the rule of charitie which we trust will so moderate you with whoÌ we must enter into disputation that you will rather seke with vs according to our slender capacitie to manyfeste the truth than to obscure the same to teach than to contend to expend and weye reason than wilfully to refuse reason and also that you will rather restrayne euill that it goe no farther than to loose the reynes to the same and to make it incurable This truely is our hope and persuasion of you And we praye and beséech you by the name of the mightie God which hath gathered vs here togither whiche shall be a witnesse of our cogitatious and wordes that ⪠whatsoeuer hath bene written or spoken for the space of these 40. yeres you will with vs put awaye all preiudiciall meanes which maye possibly hinder the fruite and profite of this laudable way now taken in hand and that it will please you to hope and to assure your selues of that in vs whiche by the grace of God you shall find that is to saye a mynde apt to be taughte and to receyue whatsoeuer shall be shewed out of the pure worde of god Thinke you not that we are come hyther to defende and mayntayne any error but to the ende that wherinsoeuer you or we haue offended we maye acknowledge the same and amende it Thinke you ââ¦ot that we are so arrogant that we would abolyshe the Churche of our God which is sempiternall Thinke you not that we seeke means to bring you into this vile miserable condition in the which notwithstanding by the greate grace of God we ar very wel quieted contented This is that which we séeke for namely that the ruine of Hierusalem maye be repayred that the spiritual temple may be buylded that the same house of God being builded vp with liuely stones may recouer his former excellencie also that the scattered dispersed shéepe may be gathered brought again into the shéepfold of that only most excellent Shepherd Christ Iesus This is our purpose this is our wil this is our desire the whiche if you as yet beléeue not we truste you will then beléeue when we conferre with you with all pacience and méekenesse But
more sure accomplishment wherof after we had made our faithfull prayers vnto God and had duely and rightly wayed and considered all things wyth one heart minde and free will haue entered into league by solemne oth of the name of the liuing God the which we haue sworne and before God and his Angelles haue promised to performe and kepe by the assistance of hys grace and mercy inuiolable vpon these conditions First of al we protest that in this League we haue no manner of consideration or regard either of our priuate persons or of our goods but do only set before our eyes the honor of God and the deliuerance of the King and Queenes Maiesties the obseruation of the Edicts which they haue commaunded and a perfecte good will to punish Rebels and such as contemne the King Queenes Maiesties And for these causes only we sweare and promise that we and euery one of vs will spend and bestowe all that euer we haue euen to the last drop of our bloude And this League shall abide inuiolable vntill the Kings Maiority that is to say vntill the King come to his lawfull age and doe take vpon him selfe the gouernment of the kingdome that then we may obey him in all things with voluntary obedience At which time we trust we shall geue so good an accounte of this our League the which also we wil do to the Quene she being at her own libertie whensoeuer she wil that it shal be manifest that this was no conspiracy but our duety of true obedience to preserue their Maiesties in these perillous times Secondly to the end all men maye vnderstand and know that we haue entered into this league with a pure conscience and in the feare of God vppon whom wee call as vppon the vpholder and protector of our society VVe declare and promise by our othe That wee will not suffer any man among vs to commit any thing against the honour of God and against the Kings Edicts as Idolatry Supersticion Blasphemy VVhoredome Theft Sacriledge and all suche otherlike forbidden by the lawe of God and by the last Edict of Ianuary the which if any do commit we will seuerely punish And to the end all thinges may be done according to the prescript rule of Gods word we will haue in all our assemblies faythfull ministers of Gods word which may teach vs the wil of God and whom as it is meete we may heare that we may obey the will of God. Thirdly we elect and nominate the Prince of Conde to be our Captaine generall being the Kinges neere kinsman and therfore one of his Counsel and the lawful protector and mayntayner of the Crowne of Fraunce VVhom we promise to helpe ayd and assist with al our might and to giue to him all obedience in all those thinges which appertayne to this League and if we neglect to do our dutie in any thing we submit our selues to such punishment as it shall please him to lay vppon vs. And if it shall so happen that the Prince of Conde shall not be able to go forward with this enterprise being let with sicknes or with any other reasonable cause we promise to serue and obey him whom he shall nominate to be his Vicar or Deputie And the Prince of Conde for the glory of Gods sake and for the obedience sake which he oweth to the King byndeth him selfe to these conditions promising to all that are of this confederacy by his othe that hee will with all diligence and courage by the helpe of God according to couenant constantly do the dutie of a true Capitayne Fourthly we comprehend in this League all the Kings Counsellers except those which contrary to their office beare armour to make the King and Queene fulfill their mindes The which armoure except they put of againe and do giue an account of their doinges with all subiection and obedience to the Queene and King whensoeââ¦er it shall please her to call them VVe giue them to vnderstand that for these iust and reasonable causes we wil accompt them giltie of treason and troublers of the coÌmon wealth And to come to the ende of this our league the which we protest againe wee haue made only for the glory of God for the dignitie and libertie of the King and for the peace and tranquillitie of this Realme which is to be mayntayned vnder the aucthoritie of the Queene mother wee affirme and promise euery one of vs and do confirme the same by solemne othe before God and his Angelles that we will prepare and prouide out of hand all that wee are able as money armoure horses and all other thinges necessary for the warre that wee may be in a readines so soone as we shall be called by the Prince of Conde and that we may followe him whither soeuer it shall please him to commaund vs and also that we may obey him in all thinges that appertayne to this league euen to the vtmost perill of our liues And if it shall happen that any of our companions and fellowes in this seague shall sustayne any hurt or detrement for this leagues sake we promise that we will helpe ayde and assist him all that wee can at the commaundement of the Prince of Conde But if it shall happen as God forbid it should that any one among vs forgetting his dutie and othe should conspire with our enemies and should violate this league by horrible treason and should not stand to these conditions and couenaunts VVe sweare and protest with all constantnes of faith that we wil bring such an offender to the Prince of Conde and will accompt him for an enemy and handle him as a traytor And thus be it ratefied and established betweene vs with free consent and irreuocable This league being made and the causes thereof being declared in maner and fourme as ye sée then euery where published abrode the Prince of Conde sent letters diuers times to the Queene Mother and to the King of Nauar his brother tending still to this effect That they should consider and haue regard to the state and that they should set before their eyes the manifolde perilles and troubles at hand except they according to their office and dutie did better prouide for the same that they should looke to the obseruation of the Edictes made by the act of Parliament specially now in the time of the Kings minority Protesting herewith for himselfe and the rest that they would be subiect and obedient to all thinges reasonable and lawsull but if the matter should come to triall by sword he sayd that then they feared no maner of perilles but would for the mayntayning of the glory of God the Kinges aucthoritie and the libertie of their consciences spend and bestowe all that they had The Queene Mother tooke the matter very gréeuously and signified to the Prince of Conde by her letters that as her person was a Captiue so also she was resââ¦rayned of her will and could not do
my part truly do thinke that I could not haue better occasion offered to expresse my loue and duty towards the kinge and to get vnto my selfe true honour and prayse than by this meanes and fully I am perswa ded that my King and Prince will consider my dutifull seruice which I now shew vnto him when he commeth to that age that he is able to iudge hereof and to weigh the sayth and truth of my good wil shewed in such time of néede For these causes duly considered and weyed I which haue sought al meanes and wayes to paceââ¦y these troubles which are like to bring destruction to the realme which haue offered and do offer still al reasonable coÌditions to be takeÌ for the laying aside of armour on both parts only vpon consideratioÌ of the king and Quéene of the coÌmon welth do protest again before the king quéene before al the states of the realme that the whole fault and blame of all those calamities and mischéeues which are like to ensue by the meanes of these warres is to be attributed to those alone whom I haue declared to be the causes of these perturbations troubles who refuse in the presente peryll of the destruction of the Realme to departe from the Courte and the kinges Counsell which their armor layd apart would bring peace and concord I do earnestly pray and beséech all the kings Courts and Parliaments and all estates and degrées to weigh and consider all thinges in due time and to be diligent in doing of their duties for the preseruation of the kinges dignity and the authority gouernement of the Quéene that one day they may geue an accouÌt of their doings as I trust to do of mine to the king when he cometh to his lawful age that they may rather haue praise reward for their doings than reproch ignominy And not to forslow themselues either for to satisfy their own desires or for fear or fauor of those which seeke to colour their faultes And to conclude I hartely pray and beséeth all the Kynges faythfull subiectes to helpe ayde and assiste me in this so good and iust a cause callinge God to witnesse that I onely for the aduancement of Gods glory for the setting of the Kynge and Quéene at theyr former liberty whom I sée beséeged and inclosed about with theyr subiectes for the mainteyninge of the Quéene in her authoritie for the defendinge of the common wealth and for the putting away of those iniuries offered to the Kinges subiectes for these causes I say I haue bene prouoked to put my selfe in armour and to resist theyr violence The which euen at this day I iudge and sée to bée so profitable to bridle the outragious madnesse that I trust hereafter God will blesse my labours and will bringe the woorke which he hath put into my handes to so good effecte and to so prosperous an ende that his name shal be glorified our Kynges dignitie and Royal seate defended and peace and tranquilitie main tayned This was the whole summe of this Protestation which the Prynce of Conde sente to the Kinge and Quéene by certayne Messengers to whom he gaue commaundement to declare howe earnestly he deuÌred peace for the which he woulde refuse no indifferente conditions He wrote also to dyuers Princes that were his fréendes in the kingedome of Fraunce and specially to the Princes of Germany whom he prayed to be meanes to make peace amonge them He wrote also letters to the Emperour the fower and twenty day of May to this effect In consideration of the singuler clemency humanity and wonderfull wisedome which for diuers causes I haue thought to be in you I thought it my dutye although to my great gréefe to make you acquaynted with the state of Fraunce Know you therfore that the matter is come to this that the Guises conspiring with the Constable and the Martiall of S. Andrew haue gotten the king into their hands insomuch that they haue taken away from him and froÌ the Quéene their liberty and setting at naught the kinges Edictes they do euen what they list themselues And they haue already so begoon their Practises and Counsailes that if they may bring them to effect ther is no doubt but that the kings dignitie and the liberty of the kingdome of Fraunce wil quight be ouer throwne But to the ende you may vnderstand the whole matter I sende here vnto you the trew and plain explication of al things whych both the Guises and I my selfe haue done in this businesse By which it may euidently appeare that the Guises are the conspiratours and the breakers of the kings lawes and dignitie But I to stay these troubles for the defence of my kinge to whom I am bound both by duty and also by the bonde of nature also for the Realme my natiue contrey will spend all that I am able and my life it selfe And I alone will not do this but a great manye more of the same mind Wherfore I huÌbly beséech you to waigh and consider the reasons of all my doings the which if they seme iuste and good be an ayde I pray you in these perillous times to the king and Quene and to al the family of Valesia and set to your helping hand for peace and concorde In so doing your maiestie shall do a most godly acte He sent letters also to the Countie Palatine called Frederike all most to the same effect with both his writings also in the which he declared the maner of his doinges and because he had alwaies wished al his actions to be knowen to all men and to be iudged of those that will vprightly consider of the same he sayde he greatly desired that the truth of all thinges might be faithfully and truly knowen to all men to the end all those slaunders might be takeÌ away which his aduersaries the authours of al the trouble to his infamy euery where colourably spred abrode Although therefore the truth nedeth no defence and although he had both the testimony of a good conscience and also a sure testimony of many men for all his doinges to maintaine his cause yit notwithstanding he said he thought good to signifi vnto him with how great care labour he had sought as it became a faithful subiecte to do to make peace and quietnesse Where by hée trusted that he should sée both his faithfulnes towardes the king in the which he would alwaies abide and also should marualle at the peruerse obstinacy of his enemies which intend rather to coÌfouÌd peruert al things than to forsake their ambitiouse desire to rule Therefore hée sayd that hee wold write vnto him those things which he had great cause to lament beséeching him that for the loue and friendship which he bare to the King the realm he would helpe to further his purpose which only tended to the working of peace and tranquillitie To the same effect also he wrote two
letters to the Duke of Sabaudia About the same time there was a Synode of the reformed churches of Fraunce at Orleans to the which there came diuers Ministers of Gods word and certaine chosen men also of other churches There was chosen accor ding to custome by the coÌmon consent of the whole assemblie to moderate this Synode Antonius Champdââ¦us minister of Gods word in the congregatioÌ of Paris a maÌ of singular godlynes learning eloquence and modesty This man was borne of a noble house and being but a very yong man be embraced and professed the doctrine of the Gospell in so much that hée was chosen by the church to the ministery of Gods word the same church being but tender and yong and beside that much anoyed with affliction as he was chosen to this office so was he no lesse diligent in the same whereby hée became a most profitable meÌber to the chuche but specially to the coÌgregatioÌ of Paris of the which he was SuperinteÌdent In this Synode there arose a great controuersie concerning ecclesiastiall discipline which certaine light heads at that time began to discusse seeking to maintayne the licentiousnesse of the common people This controuecsy being at this time stayed burst forth afterwarde more vehemently and troubled many churches And because the ciuill warres increased more more the Ministers by a common decrée proclaymed publique prayers to be made in euery congregatioÌ to turn away the wrath of God from the Realme who was not without great cause displeased with the same And they sent to euerye congregacion letters to this effect Al meÌ euidently sée what great troubles are at hand like to fall vpon the Realme and the whole churche for the which specially this mischief is prouided Sathan his soldiers enuying the propagation and prosperity of the Gospell and the peace which the same hath enioyed by the great goodnesse of God. And do perceyue that the causes of those troubles are the iuste iudgements of God punishing the sinnes of men which reiect so notable a benefite as the glad tydings of the gospel the power of God to saluatioÌ or else estéeme not so reuerently of the same as they ought Our sinnes therfore are the very causes of these calami ties so that we must seriously séeke all that wée may too appease the iust wrath of God but specially they who vnder the name of the reformed Religion liued very wickedly But to such as doo truly and from the bottom of their hartes repent them study to liue in newnesse of life the promises of God are effectuall and doo appertayne Séeing therfore the matter is come to this point that all men maye plainly sée that they which raise vp these troubles of warres do séeke the ruine of the Gospel and of the church and therfore do warre and fight against God himself they must pluck vp their spirits be of good courage and certaynly perswaded that God will not fayle his seruaunts whom he vouchsafeth so to aduaunce that whereas thei haue deserued to be seuerely punished for their sinnes they might be afflicted for the truthes sake and for the glory of his name What haue the enemies left vndone by which thei might extinguish the doctrine of the gospell Yet notwithstanding it hath escaped Sathan and the Romish Antichrist ââ¦etting fuming in vayn Therfore we must make this our cry The Gospell is assaulted the destruction of the church is sought and open warre proclaymed against god Therfore god will fight for him selfe and for his There are also other causes â⦠for beside that their deââ¦estable counseil to abolish the Church all men knowe that they goe about to bring most gréenouse troubles vpon the realm to the ende they themselues alone may gouerne They haue arrogantly broken the Edict of Ianuary they haue added cruelty to their impudent boldnesse they haue put the Kings subiects to death in diuers places vsing quietly the benefit of the Kings Edicts and they haue haÌdled them more cruelly than euer were any forreyn enimies What mischief hath not their vnbridled crueltye brought to passe They came to the king being but yoÌg to the Quéene a woman and not able to resiste armed with a band of men and tooke them and caryed them wil they nil they whether they would And hauing captiued both their bodies and their willes at their owne pleasure they most impudently abused them breakinge the Kings Edictes and violating his dignitie Therefore say they there are great causes why we shuld hope that God the author of humane societie but specially the preseruer of his church will not suffer the vnbrideled force of those violent and cruell counsailes to procéede more outragiously than they doe but will make hys Churche in the middest of all the trouble the conquerer And we haue a new and manifest argument beside those which haue appered heretofore of this his good wil towards his seruants in that hée hath in these dayes of his afflicted church raysed vp the Prince of Conde to be a Patrone and defender of this cause by miracle of hys diuine prouidence For this cause we must gyue harty thanks vnto God the first and principall author of thys benefit we must looke for happy successe of his cause And because hée will vse this meane to preserue his church we for our partes must be diligent faithful cou ragiouse and constant least we omitte good occasion to bring things to passe being offered Wee séeke the coÌser uation of the Gospell and of the church and for the befendinge of the libertie and dignitie of the King of the Realme and the whole common wealth Who will denie that these are iust and lawfull causes to put on Armour and specially for them to whom that authoritie appertaineth It is méete and necessary ther fore say they that you and we to the vtmost of our pow er and to the spending of our liues do aid and assist the Prince of Conde the rest of the kings officers which haue made a sollemne vow for the defence of the King the Realme and the Church and to be very carefull to giue vnto the Prince of Conde for this cause money fourniture and all maner of warlike prouision whensoeuer he shall require the same In so doing they said this thing should be so profitable for them all that nothing can be more necessary the time being considered And as they thought it to be their dutie to admonish them of these things séeing that now the glory of God the safetie of the Church and the preseruation of humane societie was to be sought for euen so saye they you must not delay the matter being of so great waight by any maner of meanes But forsomuch as all mans helpe is wholely vnprofitable and vaine except wée haue first of all the helpe and ayd of God the aucthor reuenger of this cause We must take héede that wée be diligent in calling vpon God and that we professe
of al vanities and wickednes I speake not these things vnaduisedly the Quéene knoweth these things to be true as wel as I. These Suppliants therfore haue made a more pernicious and hurtfull conspiracy to this Realme than euer was that which Sylla which Caesar and which the Triumuiri made And it had by this time caused much mischiefe to be done if I my selfe had not with all my might withstode the same vnto this daye I marueyle that they so impudently contend before the Quéene in wordes and I doe wonder that the Quéene will hearken and agrée to their wordes as though she had neuer heard any thing of their wicked counselles the which truly playnly declareth that she is more than a captiue And truly if she were not afeard to be stifeled or strangeled in her bed which they haue threatned to her as I appeale to her selfe if she may speake her conscience she would not haue giuen her consent to their Supplication but would haue tolde them to their téeth that their couetousnes and Ambition is the cause of all these troubles Séeing therfore at this time the Quéene in so great perill cannot speake of the matter as she would nor restst those which abuse her with feare to bring their purpose to passe I my selfe am constrayned to defend her aucthoritie and the Kinges also to answere to their suppliant petitions in the King and Quéenes name of whose libertie I confesse my selfe to be a defender And why should I not trust that God will prosper my indenours and that good will which he hath giuen to mée and the Kinges faythfull subiectes also doing their duty in so honest and godly a cause 1 First of all they begin with their titles of dignitie séeking therby to get the more aucthoritie and magnificently paynt forth the memory of their actioÌs in time past and would haue men to iudge of their minds and meanings by these their actions Truly it is necessary that so glorious a beginning shuld haue as euil base an end set against it And why so They haue very well behaued themselues towards their Kinges they say in times past is that sufficient not only to couer their faultes at this time but also so to countenaunce them that wicked actes shal be taken for meritorious déedes If they haue done any thing profitable or worthy of commendation for their Kings as they haue done nothing so farre as I know if they haue not in all this time receiued their deserued recompence it doth not followe that they should so importunatly craue to bée recompenced at this time to the ruine and destruction of the King and the Realme But they thrée séeke so great ly for their profite and are such carefull followers of gayne that they would not tary so long before they would craue and receiue a reward for their deserts if they euer deserued any thing For probation wherof what say you to this That their profites and yerely re uenewes do amount aboue the summe of two hundred and fiftie thousand french Crownes more than their patrimony beside other helpes On the contrary part let them remember if any of them will say that they haue not ben fully satisfied in all thinges How many good and singular men by their meanes were cast in prison how many Noble families haue ben by them destroyed in the raigne of Henry the second and Fraunce the second In so much that it may euidently appeare that they abused the fauour of those Kinges not onely to the inriching of them selues but also to the reuenging of their malicious mindes to the ruine and destruction of many Wherefore if they will haue their mindes and counsayles as they say to bee examined tried and iudged by their actions in time past go to then and let them haue that triall and iudgement and let them denie if they can whether their doinges haue not ben such that they ought to be reproued and resisted by all the Kynges true and faythfull subiects Further more they saye that the Kyng and the Realme are in great perill and least they should fall into that meuitable destruction they offer vnto him certayne sure remedies but say they with all reuerence and obedience If it should be demaunded of them what were the very cause of this destruction and if they aunswered truly as their conscience beareth them witnesse they must néedes impute the cause and the whole blame hereof vnto themselues For after the proclamation of the Edict of January there was peace throughout all partes of the Realme Now if they will denie that they were not the disturbers and breakers of this peace then they shall denie a thing so manifest that all men can giue testimonie against them For in what state was the kyngdome when the Duke of Guise began warre and committed horrible murther at Uassi To what end were the conspiracies of the Constable and the Marshiall of Saint Andrewes What ment the beastly barbarous rudenes and rude barbarousnesse shewed at Paris For where as they professe their reuerence and obedience to the Kyng how incredible séemeth that in the eares of all men Those thrée often times contemned the Quéenes commaundements as when the Quene commaunded theÌ to go to their Mannors Lordships when by her commaundement also in tyme ef perill they were sent for to Monceaulx is this to shewreuerence and obedience to the king and quéene They came also contrary to the Quéenes commaundement to Paris with an armye of men and would not departe from thence for any thing that the quene could do either by intreaty or otherwise Whereas I my selfe to obey the quéenes commaundementes went from Paris they abyding in Paris at their pleasure when they had made there al things sure came to the king and quéene with an army of men brought them whether they would or no violentlye from Fontainbleau to Paris I appeale to the conscience of the Quéene for testimony of these things if shée may fréely speake They were fully determined to rule all thinges at their owne pleasure But this is their obedience toward the king which they shewe by the open breaking of the kinges Edictes This is their loue toward theyr countrey to destroy the which they thinke it not sufficient to arme thmselues and theirs except also they cause the aunciente enemyes of the Realme to arme themselues against the same 3 They seke to haue a perpetual edict made for religioÌ but to what end WheÌ wée desired to haue the Edict of January kept vntil the king came to sufficient age him selfe they sayd it was a very vnlawfull request adding that the king might order change amplify and restrain the Edictes when and how it pleased him and that we in desiring that the same which was decréed by the king and his Counsell might be kept vntill he came to his full and ripe age went about to make the king a bonde man and to shut him vp as it were into prison which would limitte
to vse in stéede of blowes woordes and writings omitting all force warres sheding of blood The which peraduenture will so prouoke God and his vengeance to fal that the papists and priests theÌselues which might quietly enioye their offices liuings shal be the first that shal féele the furour and madnesse of the people To be short the protection of the Suppliantes cannot chuse but bring great trouble and garboyle vnto them But when they may be assured of this that they néed not without they will themselues be endaÌmaged neyther in body office nor goods haue they iust cause to complayne except peradueÌture they will say that they were carefull and sory for the losse of our soules But what hath made them so sodenly so carefull when as neyther any one Bishop Curate or popish priest hath laboured or takeÌ any maner of paines to that end Séeing therfore we neuer intended to hurt any of theÌ what néed was there to bring them into this contention and to pretende the name of the Church Is not this too set one against another and to cause the people whiche before could not abyde those priests to hate theÌ the more Was there euer a more sorowfull sight séene in thys Realme Can there be any profit benefite or good turn so great that it maye make a sufficient mennes for so great destruction Can the Popes pardones and Indulgences restore the bloud that ⪠is shed for this cause These Suppliantes maye one day say vnto the Kinge that they to defend that which no man gainsayed and to preserue the Romish religion which no man wente about to hinder haue lost or went about to loose the one half of his nobilitie and chiefest of his subiectes Then and that truely it shal be obiected vnto them that as by their fayned and dissembled opinions concerning Religion they had brought the Realme of Scotland into great perill of destruction and caused much bloud too bée shed euen so by the same opinions counsayles and Instruments great discord hath ben sowen in this realm and ⪠both sortes of men set togither as it were by the eares in such sort that they may iustly hereafter amoÌg all posterities be sayd to be the authours and causes of all mischéeues and calamities which shall happen to the men both of the reformed also of the Romish ReligioÌ And to cause more trouble they would haue all the Kings officers and all Ecclesiasticall persones to professe the confession of their faith and that such as should denie or refuse so to do should be depriued if they were temporall men of their offices if they were priests then to loose their benefices For this is the other Edicte of those thrée Suppliants against the receyued approued lawes of the king For there is no man that can remeÌber neither hath it ben heard of that any king that hath ben heretofore hathe constrayned hys true Subiectes to receiue any other confession of faith than that which is in the Apostels Créede Let that Lawmaker by whose craftie and subtill witte these their supplications were made bring forth but one only example The which truely he cannot do except hee will bring into this Realme the Inquisition of Spaine the which by the iudgement of all other Nations is counted so wicked that they all reiect the same These are the very same trappes and snares which they layd at Aurelias otherwise called Orleans a little before the death of Kyng Fraunces the second and which cannot chuse but bring the extreame ruine and destruction of the kyngs subiectes For those Suppliants know that there are ten thousand Noble men and a hundered thousand souldiours which neither by authority nor by force will forsake that Religion which they haue receiued and wyll not suffer the preaching of the woord and the administration of the Sacraments according to the forme of Religion which they professe to be taken from them and will defend themselues with the sword against them which abuse the aucthoritie of the Kings name That great number cannot be ouercome and destroyed which God forbid without the anoyance and ruine of those that shall set vppon them And to conclude the matter briefely I saye and affirme in the name of the Noble men Gentlemen and of many others which are here with me that this Decrée is made by thrée priuate men which by their authoritie peruert the kynges Edictes and make no accompt of them and to put their decrée in execution before they made the Kyng and Quéene acquaynted with their doinges they put themselues in armour and tooke them both captiue I say and affirme that the same Decrée is against the lawes of this Realme against all Christian order against the State against the Edict of January which was only made for this cause against the dignitie safetie of many of the kings subiects whose enemies they openly shew themselues to be whose goods and life they séeke to take away and all vnder the pretence of Religion conscience This decrée also taketh away the liberty of going to a Counsaile the which should haue ben considered by that subtill counsayler For if it be decréed that the same confession which they call the confession of the Faith shal be receiued of all the inhabitants of this Realme that is to say if all men be constrained to receiue the Popes doctrine and ceremonies this must néedes be a plaine sentence of condemnation against the reformed church neither is it then lawfull for our Ministers or for the Ministers of forreine Nations imbracing the same doctrine to go vnto a Counsaile when as they being not heard are condem ned But before the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine his brother bring forth the decrée concerning the confession of the Romish faith let them renounce denie many speciall poynts of the confession made at Ausburge which when they were at Sauern they said thei imbraced promised to one of the Princes of Germany that they would cause them to be obserued in Fraunce It is néedfull also that the Cardinall of Loraine should declare by open writing whether he do persist in that opinion which sometime he said to the Quéene before a great many witnesses concerning TransubstantiatioÌ concerning the carying about of the Sacrament concer ning Iustification Inuocation of Saints Purgatory Images and concerning many other speciall points also of which he spake plainely against the iudgment of the Catholique and Apostolique church of Roome 6 ⪠Furthermore in that supplication straight after this they call to mind the throwing downe of Images require that the same Images be repayred and the breakers of them be punished But thervnto I make this answere The punishments wherwith I punish them which brake downe Images first in diuers places at the last in Orleans shall witnesse before God men that this misdemeanor of the rash multitude al wayes displease me both for that it was contrary to the Edict of
those their subtil flightes haue once had good successe and haue bene by them abused to the destruction of many if God had not prouided for the same they wold now put them in prac tise againe although there is not one of those which taketh our part which would not willingly spend bestowe all that he hath his life to in the seruice of the kyng yet notwithstanding they call ââ¦e Rebelles the kynges enemies There is I say not one of vs which would not most gladly for the preseruation of our king whom we alone singularly loue serue reuerence as the only gift of God spend bestowe his life There is none of vs which hath put him self in armour to requier any thing of the Quéen or of the king of Nauar. We require no other kyng whom we may acknowledge reuerence as our liedge Lord Soueraigne Neither do wee require to haue him and his authoritye in our hands We desire not to haue tributes customes taxes other payments due to him to be made to be eased diminished nay on the contrary part we not only haue not refused to beare any burthen that hath ben layed vp pon vs but do also now of our owne accord promise vnto the king to giue vnto him whatsoeuer he wil require so far forth as our goodes wil extend The Cities which are blamed as Rebelles haue not forsaken or changed their Soueraigne they gladly acknowledge al obedieÌce to the kyng They haue not put themselues in armoure against the King such wickednes be farre from them neither haue they sought by force to make the King and his authoritie subiect vnto them But they we haue put our selues in armour against the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew that with such discre tion modesty that we séeke neither their bloud goods nor offices Therfore they which shall say that we haue put our selues in Armour against the kyng shall impudently lie or els those Suppliants attribute to them selues the kyngs name dignitie But they which shal counsell perswade the king to giue vnto them his authority souldiers money although warre were enter prised against him shal truly one day make an accoÌpt of those their couÌselles shall declare who hath caused the king the Realme to contend who also hath spent the kings money contrary to the lawes of the Realme And I trust it will so fall out that the goodes which they haue taken out of the Kings treasury to mayntain warres wil be one day repayed againe out of their substance both to the profite of the Kyng and also to the easing and disburthening of the people 11 Last of all they protest that they are ready to goe home to their owne priuate houses yea to the vtmost partes of the world if néede should require and to the end we should not be ignorant they assigne the time of their departure saying When these thinges are fulfilled and brought to passe that is to say When the Edict of January by their priuate authoritie is openly broken when the reformed Religion is wholy abrogated with the preaching of the word of God and the administration of Sacraments when our consciences shal be subiect to the vexatioÌ of straunge doctrine wheÌ al they that haue im braced the reformed ReligioÌ shal be put to sileÌce made subiect to the furor outragions madnes of their enemies being in dauÌger of their liues if they liue otherwise than they would haue them and to vse their owne wordes if they shall liue without offence that is to say if they will come to Masse and to other popish ceremonies this they call to liue without offence These are the conditions which we may looke for at their handes This is their discréete counsaile ¶ But let vs now procéede a little farther and let my petition be ioyned and compared with theirs which I now make as followeth I require the obseruation of the Edict of January they on the contrary part would haue the same abolished They desire the subuersion ruine of many Noble families and of others also I desire that al the kings subiects of what estte or condition soeuer they be of should be in safty stil inioye their goodes liuinges and to be deliuered from all iniury violence and oppression They goe about to kyll and destroye all those of the reformed Religion I séeke to preserue them vntill the Kyng shall come to ryper age to iudge and determine of the whole matter as shall séeme best vnto him and in the meane time I desire that both parts may liue quietly that the papistes may enioy their liuings reuenewes with safety They séeke to deale by open violence not caryng to begin ciuill warre séeking by forrayne ayd to destroy vs spending the kings treasure to the destruction both of the king and also of the realme wherby we are constrayned to defend our selues I neyther desire warres neither do I spend the kinges treasure neither do I séeke the helpe of straungers nay I re fused them alwais hitherto when they haue offered me their seruice so wil I doe still except I be thereunto greatly constrayned by these authours of warres I desire to haue armour put of on both partes do promise that all those which are of my part shal be obedient and that loue and the reuerence which we owe to the king shal more preuail with vs thaÌ force of armes for whose preseruation we are ready to spend all that we haue They desire that we may be counted rebells and open enemies our cause not heard yea they séeke our bloud our offices our goods and our consciences We neyther séeke their bloud their offices their goods nor their consciences This only we séeke for at their hands to whoÌ wée will be bound that they and wée will go home euery man to his own house according to the tenor of those conditions which we haue more copiously declared in the Instrument which we sent to the King and Quéene con cerning this matter Neyther can they complayne say that they are hereby dishonored séeing that we submit our selues to the same conditions Our peticion is alike without any manner of inequalitie we desire nothing but that which is indifferent for both partes séeing that they theÌselues came otherwise then they ought to haue come to the king and were the causes of these troubles by their vntimely vsurping of armour And they haue violently assaulted so many good men that although our petitions are not alike and so indifferent yet notwithstanding it should be expedient for the peace tranquillitie of the realme to haue rather regard consideration of many men than of a few least the whole kingdome for these causes be brought into peril of ciuill warres But although there be no comparison betwéene these two peticions séeing the one is iust and equal but the other vniust and violent
haue the matter quieted or thei which had rather bring al things into present peril daunger than to forsake their armour which most vniustââ¦y they haue put on and to followe peace which they haue vngodly forsaken Iudge I beséeche you if thâ⦠matter came thereunto that they had destroyed them whom they perceyue to resiste their ambition in what state should the kingdome then stande the kéeper protector wherof you are and of what power you should be of to defend and preserue the same If the matter ' concerne your dignitie you may call to mind what manner of persons they are which scarce two yeres since were not contented not only to take away your dignitie but sought your life also And whether they haue since that time chaunged their mindes I cannot tell time truely will reueale but thus much I protest for my selfe that the obedience which I owe vnto you I will performe shew while life doth last vpon condicion that he may bée made equall with those which are neither so néere vnto you by bloud nor yet so borne to obey you as hée is Neuerthelesse you shal graunt me leaue to be ignorant how they can be your friends who are not content agayn to séeke to put your brother to death except thye make you the minister and instrument of their hatred But wey consider that I haue spoken these things not for myne own cause but for the glory of Gods sake for the loue of my countrey and in respect of you before you procéed any further to set vpon him which by the bond of nature is no lesse carefull and louing vnto you than you are to your self for as by the leaue of God hée wil neuer cease to doe his dutie vnto you euen so hée had rather suffer death than to wishe those calamities which will follow this contention which way soeuer the victory shall encline But and if the authours of these troubles which ought to submit them selues to reason and equitie doe prosecute their counsells being not restrayned by you to whom God hath giuen authoritie we trust by the help of God the defence of whose glory wée will séeke to the shedding of the last drop of our bloud that you shall behold that euent which shall euidently declare vnto you the endes of all their counsails and shal also certifie you how faythfull a harte not only I but this whole assembly also haue borne to you next vnto God and the King and Quéene The Prince of Conde sent with his letters also the summe of his petitions briefly contayned in writing in maner and forme following I think saith he that these are conuenient and necessary meanes and waies to auoyd the perturbations and troubles which hange ouer the realm the which I propound by the leaue of the King and Queen For so much as before thei began their counsail which were the first that put themselues in armour and which as yet kéepe the Kinge in their custodie by force of armes all thys whole realme began to enioy peace and tranquillitie concerning religion men of both sorts of religioÌ thinking themselues in very good case by the benefite of the Edicte made in the moneth of January last past with the aduise and consent of the Princes the kings kinsmen of the Kings Counsaill and by the consent of all the most notable men of all the kingdome and experience will shewe that without the obseruation of that Edict there cannot be peace and concord kept among the kings subiectes First of all I require this that the same Edicte of January according to the forme thereof be obserued and kept without alteration of the same vntill the determination of another Parliament or vntil such time as the King himself by lawfull age shal be able to take vpon him the gouernement of the Realm and to order the matter according to his owne discretion to whome I and my CoÌfederates doo yéeld ourselues in such wyse to obey that if it should please the King to take from vs the benefite of the reformed Religion we would also alter our purpose and obey Secondly that al violent actes on both partes coÌmitted since the time that they put themselues in armour may be punished and that whatsoeuer hath bene done and constituted since that time may be quite abolished and taken away because the mindes of the Kinge and Quéene were and are captiued by the Guises And because the coÌming of the Guises of the Constable and of the Marshal of S. Andrewe into the Court and many of their déedes which they did are the only causes of these tumults I can sée no other way to bring peace and concord then to haue theÌ to depart from the court The which I desire not for that I for my owne parte beare vnto theÌ any euill will but to the end the King Quéene may haue their liberty that the Quéene may haue her authority in gouerning the kingdome that the Edictes may be obserued that there may be some con sideration regard had of mée of those which attend vpon me of all the reformed Churches which otherwise stand in great feare I desire therfore that the Guises the Constable and the Marshall of S. Andrew may laie aside their armour and that they may go home to their owne Lordships vntill the kinge come to more perfite age And I promise that I and they which are with mée shall do the like And to the end the matter may be sene to be spoken in good faith I wil giue my Eldest Sonne in hostage and al the rest of my children to be most precious pledges of my faithfull meaning These are the most equall and indifferent pledges that I could deuise And I protest that I will put away all causes of debate and enmity that appertayned to me and the Guises for the kinge and Quéenes sake The which Conditions if they be reiected I sai and affirme the which also I haue oftentymes protested that not I but they are the authours of al those calamities and miseries which by reason of all these Ciuill warres haue happened vnto mée who haue reiected these conditions to the present peril of the kingdome ¶ The fyfth Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of the common wealth and Religion in Fraunce vnder the raigne of King Charles the ninth THESE peticions and admonitioÌs of the Prince of Conde to coÌcorde tooke no place but were lightly regarded whereby the matter daylye waxed worse worse The quene could neyther retaine her authoritie neyther did shée care at the length to haue the same And whereas at the first shée was drawne away from the Prince of Conde through feare shée became now through effeminate rashnes and inconstancy a bitter enemye to him and his cause The Kinge of Nauar being vtterly blinded and bereââ¦t of iudgement was so inflamed with wrath and greate indignation against his brother and his adherents also against the reformed Churches as
good lucke at the first finally through the daunger of the pestilence a greate nomber of his Soldiers went a side and many quight forsooke him Then were fastinges and prayers solemnly proclaimed to be in the Church to the which the Prince of Conde came oftentimes in his owne person He exhorted also his soldiers to be of good courage and was very carefull for the preseruation of Orleans and he sent Monsuer de Subize a noble and wise man to Lyons to be Lifetenant of the same because Monsuer de Adretze séemed to be to rash hardy and aduenterouse in his doingââ¦s And he sent letters oftentimes willinge that there should be diligent héede and care had of Lyons Dolpheny and Languedoc Also because the enemies power dayly increased by the meanes of forreine aids and because they were the more stout and bould vpon hope of newe aide the Prince of Conde sent Monsuer de Stuard a Scot with letters to the Quéene of England requiringe at her handes ayde in his owne name and in the name of his fellowes And he wrote also diuers letters to the princes of Germainy that were protestants in the which he craued help at their hands the Andelot himselfe be ing sent for the same purpose the more spedily to bring the matter to passe The helpers in this matter were said to be the Lantgraue Hessus the County Pallatine and the Duke of Bipont About this time the Prince of Conde published a writinge by which he ment to put awaye those rumores which were spred abrode of him and of his frendes by the Guises as though they had bin the authors and defenders of new and monsterouse opinions The libell published was to this effecte following Because saieth he we heare daily that our aduersaries accordinge to their accostomed maner oh lying and maliciouse dealinge against vs do in euery place slaunder and speake euill of al our doinges one while laying to our charge that we are Atheistes and Anabaptistes that by this meanes they might withdraw from vs their good willes care which séeke with vs to defend and mainetaine the true and pure worshippe of God by the doctrine of the prophetes and Apostles we thought good ouer aboue the former declarations of our cause to propounde a briefe summe of our faith By which faith we woorshippe and cal vpon the liuing God in the name of his only Sonne our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ abiding in his feare seruice by the ministering of his woord and holy Sacraments that is to say by the institucion of Baptisme and of his holy supper To be short we condescend to al the articles of the primitiue Church as to the only rules of our saluation being grounded vpon the bookes of the Prophets Apostles as it is set forth more at large in the confession of our faith confirmed with the whole consent of al the reformed churches within this realme the copie whereof we send out into al forrain Nations to take away those detestable and wicked sclaunders and lyes by which the enemies both of God and of thys our realm being voyd of al shame haue sought in their libelles sealed letters to sclaunder backbyte and defame vs Wherefore we humbly pray and beséeche all those that loue the pure and sincere doctrine of the Gospell and which are the faithfull seruaunts of God yea we require them in the name of the liuing God that they first of all set before their eyes the flowing streames of innocent bloud that hath bene shed throughout this realme crying both from heauen and from earth for vengeance And we require all such that they helpe and ayde vs and that they ioyne with vs in this cause which is not our cause alone but also the cause of all the faithfull to represse and asswage their cruell tyrannie which goe about to take from vs the perfect and frée libertie of our consciences the benefit wherof was grauÌted vnto vs by our soueraign and leige Lord the Kings Maiestie and by the consent of all the states of the realm we being perswaded that we linked togyther in one religion and in one mind the most mighty and eternal God will stretch forth his gloriouse hande to saue hys Church and will also blesse our labour and indeuour to the glory of his and to the inlarging of the kingdom of his sonne Iesus Christ to whom with the father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end The Prince of Conde also made answer to the Ordinance and decrée of the Senat of Paris by the which his Adherentes were condemned of treason First of al refusing all those of the College as the Iudges and Senatours to be men vnméete for this cause and writing the causes of their appeale he sent the same vnto them Their answer was in manner and forme following Although I and my friends and fellowes haue sufficiently declared the equitie of our cause which hath constrayned vs to put our selues in armour namely the libertie and authoritie of the King and the obseruation of the Kings Edictes for the maintenance of the libertie of our consciences the peace of the reformed churches Yet notwithstanding séeing the open and sworne enemies of the glory of God and of the common wealth doo dayly publish and send abroad new sclaunders and infamies to the obscuring of my innocency and the innoceÌcy also of my fellowes we thinke it moste necessary and méet that if wicked and vngodly men will not cease too withstand the trueth and all equitie no more should we be weary to defende and maintayne the same trueth For so much as therefore the XXUI day of Iuly there was an ordinance and decrée of Condemnation established in the Senat of Paris by which they make those to be gilty of RebellioÌ which haue borne armour to maintayne the authoritie of the King and his estates and against the tyrannie of the Guises and his adherents wée thinke it necessary that the Iustice of the sayde decrée should be declared and set forth not onely to the inhabitants of this Realme but also to other forreyne Nations and for an euerlasting remembrance to be coÌmitted to all posterities For it wil be an example worthy to be remembred in the which men may behold and sée into what Laberinthes of blind peruerse iudgements the enemies of God and his Church do fall and are so mad and blind that for truth they mayntaine falsehode iudging them to be sedicious who to the vttermoste of their power séeke the peace and tranquillity of the common wealth and pronouncing them to be Rebels who laying aside all care and consideration of them selues do both hazarde their goods and their liues to mayntaine the obedience belonging to the Kyng and the due and lawfull authoritie of the kynges Edictes And to the end the same proclamation of RebellioÌ may euidently appeare to be vnlawfull and vniââ¦st and rââ¦ther a sclaunder of the enemie than
and his fellowes are rebelles seditiouse and gilty both of Diuine and humane treason Contrarywyse it is euident that they are the true and faithfull subiectes of the King which stoutely withstand their rebellions seditions and wicked practises to ouerthrow the Kings authoritie and the state of the Realme Of the which matter beside the Arguments which I haue alleadged this also may be a testimony That they haue ouerthrowne the Law and Gouernement of this Realme and that in the Senate of Paris whose helpe thei haue abused in this false and perniciouse sentence of Rebellion And truely they could not haue found more wicked and corrupt meÌ and more seruiseable to their mindes who either had their offices by fauor of the Guises or else hoped to come to some preferment by them and many of the chiefe of them haue conspired with the Guises the lamentable successe wherof wée féele at this day And truly we must néedes confesse that among all the calamities with the which God hath afflicted this realme this one is the greatest that this Senat which ought to be the place of Iustice the refuge and Sanctuary of the oppressed and the brydel punishment of vice is so declined from his right natu rall vse that it looseth the raynes and openeth the gate to all Iniustice violence and to all vnbrideled wickednesse And for probation hereof I do not only bring in the manifold iniuries which they haue done to diuers the complaintes the cryes and the bloud of so many oppres sed condemned and slayne innocents by them but specially I bring forth this false and peruerse iudgement which thei haue denounced against vs which is an iniury done to a great number of men whose lyfe actions haue alwaye testified the reuerent obedience which we wishe might be giuen to the king But to the end those vniust Iudges might leaue nothing vndone they pronounced this sentence the cause not heard no matters discussed and the reasons of iustification not vnderstood also they being refused and the causes of the refusall or appeale being declared yet neuerthelesse they persisted in their purpose that all men might knowe how that in the Senat of Paris there ar no other Iudges but preposterouse opinions corruptions and hatreds that there are no other lawes than the contempt open violating of the Kings Lawes Edictes and of his approued customes And here I appeale vnto you which beare the name of Iudges What is it to deale vniustly corruptly if this be not so to deale ⪠For where is there any forme of Iustice obserued where are the reasons with the which they that are gilty are conuinced where is y auncient approued custome that one Iudge in one the selfesame cause ought not to be Iudge also plaintiue Wherfore haue you made your selues Iudges of those men which haue refused you to be their Iudges hauing so many reasons mouing theÌ therunto as there ar argumeÌts of iniustice in you And to speak truly are ye not iustly and vpon good and sufficient cause refused which haue thrust out of your society all those which yée thought would not condescend agrée to your conspiracies that is to say yée which by that your Edict put the sword into the hande of the furiouse and mad people against the law of God the law of man your own lawes and against the whole peace tranquillitie of the realm Who haue proclaymed the Ministers of the reformed Churches to be open enemies and traytors to the King whom notwithstanding the King had receyued into his fauour and which also vpon this condicion were sworn to the King. You truly which are growne to such boldnesse that by your Deputies Monsieur de Fay and Monsieur Chambo that ye durst say vnto the king that these words concerning the enterance into peace concord séemed won derfull vnto you and perniciouse and that ye would neuer allow these reasons coÌcerning the making of peace betwéene mée my aduersaries to take away all doubt that ye were to me and to my fellowes mortall sworn enemies But what néedeth many wordes Let men coÌsider the Metropolitane Citie of the kingdome in the which ye dwell let men consider the horrible cruelties which the people dayly commit before your eyes with your consent will and prouocation Let men consider the greatest part of you of the which many to the ende ye may the better shew your selues to haue cast awaye Iustice and rather to vse violence and force than the law are become of Iudges and Councellers or Senators soldiers and haue chaunged your pennes into swordes and your scarlet gownes into armour ye shewe your selues to be warlike Captaines and are openly séene in armour setting forward this kinde of wickednesse very far vnméete for your calling Let all these things be considered But and if rebells cannot iudge of rebellion and open enemies of peace tranquillitie of sedition also if the breakers of the kings lawes cannot iudge of traytours if I say they which are condemned themselues ought not to condemne others ye cannot deny but that those whom ye haue condemned haue iust and vndoubted reasons not onely to refuse you but also to haue you punished accordinge to your wickednesses committed Therfore al these things being iustly wayed in equall ballance shall euidently appeare to all those which shall bring to the discerning of this cause an vpright iudgement without preiudice although nothing be brought to defend my innoceÌcy the innoceÌcy of my fellowes against this vniust iudgmeÌt yet notwithstanding the matter is so apparant plain that it speaketh for it selfe and plainlye conuinceth the false and impudent sclaunders of the Iudges our aduer saries And this thing I leaue to all men to consider of what iust cause I haue to be gréeued séeing that I haue alwayes faythefully obeyed the commaundements of the King and Quéene for their defence and haue done so much as a man of my estate degrée and calling might doo for the peace and profite of the whole Realme and now to be recompenced with these rewardes as to haue my seruise done to y king called in question my obedience couÌted Sedition This thing is not only greuouse vnto me but altogither intollerable And although they cannot touch me with that note of infamy which they lay vnto my charge yet notwithstandinge I professe and acknowledge that I haue a great desier to defend my estimation and credit and the estimation of my fellowes and will séeke by all meanes possible that our innocencie may appeare not only to our contrey men but also to people of forreine nations and that it may be remembred among all pââ¦sterities And because I perceaue that by so vniust a sentence pronounced against me and my fellowes and by the breaking of the lawes and auncient customes of Fraunce the way to attaine iustice is stopt against me that I can haue no hope to looke for the obseruation of the
kinges Edictes and therefore not to declare and shewe forth my innocency as I would for these causes I am compelled to take the sworde in hand as the only and last refuge The which séeinge I haue taken into my handes both at the commaundement of the King and Quéene and also for my office and callinges sake which I am of in this Realme I protest that I am in the same mind that I wil neuer lay away the same vntill such time as my soueraigne Lord the King be of all men peaceably obeyed his Edictes obserued my innocency the innoceÌcy also of the rest of my fellowes be made euident plain to all men The glory of God my duty perswade me herevnto I cannot chuse but publish the same Therefore I and my fellowes proteste before God him selfe before the kings maiesty before al people nations to whom the knowledge of these things may come that we are most obedient loyall and faithful subiects seruants of the kings maiesty our soueraine and léege Lord and that we do beare our armoure not againste him but against his aduersaries and enemies Whom we call Rebels seditiouse and Traitoures because they haue peruerââ¦ed the lawes and institutions of the Realme broken the Kinges Edictes impudently violated the authority of the estates of the Realme and besides this they haue thrust theÌselues into the Kings counsaile beinge forbidden before by the decrée of the states after which time they troubled and vexed many faithfull and good men of the Kinges priuie Counsaile And also because they hauing taken the King into their handes do depriue him of his liberty do abuse his name authoritie to satisfie their insatiable couetouse and cruell desiers and do dayly make conspiracies and consultations both for the kepinge of that which they haue vsurped also to destroy the greatest part of the Kings true and faithfull subiectes specially for this cause that they may banish the pure sincere preaching of the Gospell out of Fraunce and may quight destroy the louers professors of the truth Therefore only againste those men and for those causes especially I and my fellowes proteste that we haue taken the swerde in hand and that constrained by extreme necessitie seing that we haue no other way to defend maintain the King the authortie of the Kings Edictes the firmity of the Kinges dignity the state of the whole Realme the goodes and liues of many of the Kinges subiectes and the pure woorshiping of God and the King established by Edictes throughout the whole Realme The waight of which thinges do so touch our mindes that when we considered the horrible calamitie and destruction which through murders bloudshed rapines and such kinde of mischieues is like to come vpon the whole realme if they go forward as they haue begon for the space of these fyue monethes we haue determined for the auoyding of such euilles to shunne no perill and for the safetie of the Kinges subiects and the tranquility of the Realme to aduenture our liues and loose our goodes And as for that wicked and false iudgement of Rebellion we feare it not at all but do account the same a false slaunder impudently deuised and published by our aduersaries And truly séeing we do oppose and set our selues against the same we protest that we do not in any point withstand the Kinges will nor the ordinance and decrée of the Parliment lawfully made but the robbery oppression open violence which our aduersaries shew against our liues and goodes Wherfore I pray and beséech not only all the inhabitantes of this Realme which are willing to yelde all obedience vnto the King but also all forreine Princes which loue equyty and right to ioyne with me againste those that vse violence iniury and oppression against the King be ing yet a Childe Whose vertues appearing in this his tender age do put vs in good hope that when he shall come to his ripe perfite age he wil giue harty thanks to the ayders and assisters of him in his great necessityes And specially I pray beseech all forrein Germans and Swysers which are come already and are daily loked for to come to helpe my aduersaries that they will call to their remembraunce that good name renowne and equity which their Elders had alwaies in estimation and reuerence least they do that which shall afterward turne to their reproch shame because they shal fight in the defence of an euil and vniust cause against a good and iuste cause for the Kinges enemies againste the Kings faithfull subiectes for forreine Prnces agaynst a Prince that is the Kings neare kinsman for Papistes and main tainers of the Church of Rome against those which professe the sincere truth of the Gospel And here I call the consciences of all those straungers before the iudgement seate of God which professe purity of the Gospel that they take héede that they be not helpers of our aduersaries to expell and banish the Gospell out of the Realme and all the godly and Christian professors of the same I also pray them to note and marke the pur pose of my aduersaries who although they pretend the name of rebellion and go aboute to lay the same to me and to my fellowes charge yet notwithstanding seke to suppresse the Gospell being contrary to their ambition and cruelty and that therefore I am molested by them because I séeke to defend and mainetaine the libertie of the Gospell graunted by the Kinges Edicte Therefore those forreiners which imbrace with vs the pure and sincere doctrine of the Gospell ought not to giue to my aduersaries occasion to laugh them to scorne as though they could bring to passe by their money which they already boast of that they which had defended the Gospel in their owne countrey should come to warre againste the Gospell in Fraunce I admonish them also to haue farther regard to the matter and to feare that if those enemies of the truth destroye the professoures of the truth of the gospel in France they will also war against the inhabitants of Rheyne to the end thei by the league made with the Pope and other forreyne Princes maye set vppon them also beinge in their houses professinge the same doctrine that we do And although for my part I haue refrayned vntill this day to séeke the helpe ayd of straungers yet notwithstanding séeing my aduersaries haue begon to call straungers to assiste theÌ in their euill cause I protest that I will not let hereafter to vse their helpe to defend my cause because the coÌseruation of the king standeth thervpon And because this warre which dayly increaseth more more cannot choose but bring great calamities with it I and my fellowes protest before God and men that we are not the causes of those calamities but they which haue stirred vp caused these garboiles that is to say my enemies that they may beare the blame of all
the euills like to ensue Finally I will and desire that the league whiche I haue made with the Princes Péeres Nobles and with all those that follow me and shall follow me may be established confirmed by this my writing To the which my fellowes I promise and vow that séeing it hath plea sed God to aduaunce me to so great honor as to make me the Captain and principall of that league and to be a deliuerer of the reformed churches liuing vnder the Kings Edictes from the iniuries and violence of the enemies I wil be the first that will spend my lyfe goods to maintayne the pure worship of God to defende the true professours and followers thereof to restore the King to his former libertie and authoritie and his Edictes and the lawes of the Realme to their proper dignitie In like manner I pray and beséeche all my Confederates that they abyde in the same mind courage and constancy that I am of in this so godly and commendable a purpose hauing alwayes respect vnto the vprightnesse of our cause reposing all their trust in the power of God being fully perswaded of this that fighting for the glory of God for the preseruation of his Church and for the conseruation of the King and the Realme God the mighty Lord of hoastes will stretch forth his mighty hand to helpe Whom I most humbly beséeche to take vpon him the patrociny and defence of our cause and to enter into the Throne of his iudgement before whom I shew and reueale the horrible blasphemies which our aduersaries haue breathed out against his Maiestie the cruelties which thei shewed vpon his poore afflicted meÌbers the innocent bloud of so many of his seruauntes that hath ben shed and the bloudy and mischeuouse coun sailes against his glory and the lyfe and safetie of hys Saincts so that hée taking his people vnder his protection would shew his power Iustice and wisdome both in destroying his aduersaries and also in blessing those which séeke to defend his people whereby all the world may know that hée is a refuge for the afflicted in time of trouble a deliuerer of his Church and an enemie anâ⦠Iudge of his enemies About this time also the Prince of Condes fellowes sent letters to the Emperour Ferdinande to whom they declared their cause and rendered a reason of all theyr dooings and frustrated the rumors of their aduersaries praying him that hee would be carefull to defende thys cause and also that hée would call backe the Germanes that were gone to helpe the Guises And although saye they the reportes of the troubles which were in France were euery where spred abroad and were come also to the Emperours eares by letters sent from both partes yet notwithstandinge the Prince of Conde sent to the Emperoure whom he vnderstoode should come to an honorable assembly the causes of all his actions that the Emperour himselfe might certefie the whole assembly of the same seeing so great and waighty matters were obiected against him by his aduersaries the Prince of Conde thinking that it became him in a matter of so great waight to shewe the causes of all his dooings to all men and to the Emperour himself being of so highe calling that he might leaue to the whole world euident testimony of his innocency To bring the which matter to passe he may be glad that he hath gotten so good occasion to craue helpe to be ayded in this iust cause for the preseruation of the yong King of France being of suche age that the same of itselfe requireth and ought to obtayne helpe It is no new thing neyther wanteth it exaÌples that Kyngs in their minoritie and infancââ¦e haue receyued the Kyngdome of Fraunce as appeareth by the late times of Charles the sixt and the eight and of others In whose time of minoritie we do not read that there was any contention about the gouernement of the Realme because the Princes which were the Kynges kinsmen left alwayes the gouernement of the Realme to thein which were elected and created by the States of the Realme of Fraunce to whom the gouernement of the Realme was committed so long as the King coÌtinuing in his minoritie which was vntill he came to the age of fouretéene yeares The which order of gouernement in the Kyngs Neââ¦age hath ben alwayes so approued that Kyngs haue warely prouided in their Testaments that if they should disceace before their Sonnes were come to their perfect age to gouerne the Realme then the States should prouide for the same gouernement The which doth sufficiently declare that this kind of gouernement doth in no poynt deminish the Kynges aucthoritie or power whom whosoeuer resisteth resisteth the ordinaunce of God but is rather necessary to preserue and defend them so long as they are vnméete to take vppon them any such gouernement through the defect and imbecillitie of Nature But when the Kyng shall come to the age of fouretéene yeres that vicary or substituted gouernemeÌt doth cease and all things do so retourne to the Kyng that whatsoeuer he shall will or decrée shall be ratified In the dayes of Charles the sixt after he had raigned many yeres and that it pleased GOD for the sinnes of the people to depriue him of his witte and sences and when the time came that the Realme must of necessitie be gouerned there arose a certaine contention among the Princes that were the Kyngs kinsmen about the same gouernement but this was neuer heard of that a forreyne Prince would euer intrude him selfe into the gouernement of the Realme and that against the will ordinance and decrée of the States as doth now the Duke of Guise at the first with force of armes and afterwardes vnder the coullour and name of the Kyng of Nauar corrupting and breaking all Lawes constitutions and customes that by all meanes possible he might satisfie his ambicious minde and get the gouernement of the Realme into his handes And say they most renowmed Emperour you must not thinke that he is moued to do these things for the loue he beareth to any Religion but doth only make Religion a cleake to fulfill his ambicious desire but vnder this pretence he hath drawne a great part of the people vnto him whom he hath so stirred to outrage crueltie promising that they shall escape vnpunished whatsoeuer they do that now the mad and franticke people throughout the whole Realme of Fraunce do nothing els but kill spoyle and shew al maner of violence After the death of Henry the second and Fraunces the second Kynges of Fraunce it was expedient according to the auncient vse of the lawes that the States of FrauÌce should be called together and that in the greater number because Charles our Kyng was of tender yeres Then the States as it was méete made certayne lawes and statutes the which should only stand in force and strength duringe this time of the Kynges minority according to the institution and
maner of our elders The which is the only foundatioÌ of those things which haue happened since that time to the which all those things ought to be referred and brought as to the toutchstone that they may be discerned whether they be good or euill Those lawes and constitutions were deuided into foure principall heades 1 The first concerned the custodie and protection of the Kyng and the Gouernour of the Realme 2 The second concerned those which should be of the Kyngs Counsell for that time 3 The third concerned prouision for warre and all maner of Artillary 4 The fourth concerned Religion and the staying of such troubles as might ensue by occasion therof As touching the first vppon great causes and reasons wise waighed and considered the States or whole body of the Realme haue decréed that the Quéene the Kyngs mother shal haue not only the charge and custodie of the Kynges maiestie her sonne but the gouerment also of the Realme in her owne person and the same not to be put ouer to any other without her consent will and pleasure And this decrée of the States was confirmed and approued by Princes the Kynges kinsmen Also the States decréed that the Queene Mother should be by them so directed that she by her wise ordering and disposing of thinges should discharge the great debt which remained to be paied after the death of king Henry and Fraunces and so the people to be disburthened from such great exactions and payments as they had aforetime payed And that she for her part should endeuour her selfe to bring all thinges to their former state and condition and that the people might liue euery where in peace and tranquillitie The second principall poynt was concerning the Kynges Counsaile The which the States desired to haue furnished with men that were vertuous wise carefull for the Kyng and the Realme Therfore they thought good that the Kynges Counsayle should consist of such men as were not sworne to any forreyne Prince or power as Cardinalles Bishoppes Abbats all such which they call Ecclesiasticall persons both for that they ought to followe their ordinary and proper office and calling and also for the oth which they haue sworne and vowed to the Bishoppes of Rome concerning temporall obedience which haue ben oftentimes enemies to the Bishoppes of Fraunce Therfore they prohibite and disalow any of them to be of the Kynges Counsayle or that there shoulde come vnto that Counsell two bretherne or more together according to the example of other Parliaments NotwithstaÌding here thei except those which are Princes and the Kyngs kinsmen to whom it appertaineth without limitation of number by right to bée of the Kyngs Counsayle except the States haue any thing to obiect against them to the contrary Also they forbid such to be of the Kyngs Counsaile as haue had the ouersight vse and disposing of the Kyngs treasure vntill such time as they haue made their accompts And last of all bicause the Kinges Counsailers are bound to make account to the King of their iuste and lawfull counsaile and also to preserue and maintayne the Kinges treasure and when the Kinges treasurie hath smal store of money in it not to receiue of the King or to suffer to be giuen to any great and large gyftes the states do appoint and determine that all such giftes shal be reuoked and that so many as haue receyued such gyftes be constrained to restore them backe againe and in the meane tyme not to be of the Kinges counsaile Upon this second point dependeth the occasion of the ââ¦uill warre and sedition which at this day shaketh and violently assalteth the whole Realme of Fraunce the Guises the Constable the Marshall of Santandre perceyuing that they by thys meanes should not only be exclu ded out of the Kinges counsaile but also be constrayned to restore those giftes againe which they haue receyued of the Kinges thereby greatly in riched themselues And so they haue ioyned themselues and coÌspired togyther specially to hinder and frustrate that decrée It is no new thing that giftes which Kings haue bestowed contrary to the lawes appointed should be nothing regarded not only of the States which are chiefe in authoritie in the tyme of the Kings nonage but also of the ordinary Iudges of the exchecker by whose indgemeÌts the Kinges afore tyme haue ben put to great expences in gyftes contrary to the lawes of the realme Of these thinges we haue many examples as of the Constable Clisson in the dayes of Charles the vi who was depryued of his office because he had gayned by the seruyce of the King to the valew of sixtene thousand pound But there is greater and more vehement cause at this tyme why they which are bound by the decrée of the states should be called to giue an account of that which they haue receyued and seing that now there is found in the kinges Treasurie the suÌme of 330000 poundes which was neuer séene before and yet the people at this present are more burthened with exactions and tributes than euer they were before And it is manifest that King Frauncis the first of that name which had diuers warres for the space of thrée and thirty yeares paied for his discharge a great summe of money and toke not so great and so many tributes of the people lefte notwithstanding in his treasury a greate masse of money Therefore the states demaunde the cause of so great expence And because it is likely that they were spenders and wasters whose dutye it was to husband and increase the same the States vppon verie good consideration do desier to haue an account that restitution and allowance may be made of such vnmeasurable expences The which truly is the verie cause why those thrée haue brought the Realme of Fraunce into these troubles to ouerthrowe those decrées of the states that the same may appeare most true which we saide before namely that they conspire not for religioÌs sake but for because they are couetously and ambitiously minded which Religion notwithstanding they take for a cloake to couer and hyde their wickednesse withall The third principall point of their costitutions is this The States would haue it in their power and authoritie during the tyme of the Kinges minoritie to order and appoint warres and at their pleasure to commaund the subiectes to arme themselues Because before they take warres in hand they should vnderstand the causes thereof and by what meanes they might be appeased Therfore also they would haue this authoritie that they which haue prouoked the people to Ciuyll warre might be made knowne to be the authoures of all the calamities and detrements which come by these warres The fourth principal point is that which concerneth Religion by which the states haue decréed that there must be a difference made betwene the cause of Religion and the cause of sedition in so much that for Religions sake no man ought to be condemned
in no perell hereafter by any maner of meanes eyther for wearing armour or for Religion commaundinge that all sentences pronounced againste him for these causes to be voyde and of none effect and that his goodes substance which hath bin brought into our treasury be giuen restored to him again and commanding also the watch ward about his house to cease whatsoeuer hath bin ordeyned and decréed in our Parlements for this matter notwithstanding Also that it shal not be nedefull for the said T. R. our suppliant to haue any other argument or proofe to declare our will and pleasure herin but these our letters only Notwith standing prouided that he be no author of seditions of rapines or of spoyling of Churches nor that he secretly conuey to our enemis either money or armour and also vpon this condition that he liue euer hereafter Catholicly and come not to the seruice or rytes of the new Religion that he neuer hereafter beare armour against vs nor do ayde and assiste those that are our enemyes any maner of way But as by these meanes snares were layed to trap entangle the simple and héedelesse sort as shortly after appeared in many when they were come home so there was no staye of excommunications thoondered out at Paris at Tbolouze and at Bordeaulx and in other places where the papistes ruled against such as were counted Huguenotes strayt charge being geuen to al meÌ to detect such persones the payne appointed threatened to suche as should conceale any such so suspected and a rewarde promised to him that would detect any such person the Kings Attorney being commaunded to inquire and ââ¦nd out such causes and to bring them with all spéede before the Senate Then after the publishing of those letters of warrant from the King whereof we spake before the Senate or Parliament of Paris decréed that all those men which came from Burges Poytiers Meaulx Roane Lions and from other Cities which were kepte by the Prince of Conde to Paris should be taken and that they should be punished according to the prescript of the Kings Edicte which commaundeth al men of the new Religion to goe out of Paris notwithstandinge that they had gotten the Kinges letters of warrant and had made a Catholique confession as they terme it of their fayth Roane being wonne as we declared before the army of the Guise came to Paris about the beginning of Nouember the rumour increasing more and more concerning the ayde of the Germanes and of the Englishe men which should come to the Priuce of Conde very shortly Therefore Roan being fortified agayne the breaches of the walles being builded vp and a Garrison left in the towne the Duke of Guise retourned backe agayn with his armie to Paris In the meane tyme came the armies out of Germanie to Orleans sent by the protestant Princes vnder the conduct and charge of the Marshall of Hessen They were thirtéen enseignes of horsemen contayning in iust number 2600 and eleuen enseignes of footemen contayning thrée thousand souldiours Then the Prince of Conde when hée had gathered togyther an armye mynded to remoue from Orleans and to goe to Paris But before his departure from thence hée published a writing in the which he cleareth himselfe from being the author of the first motions and of the ciuill warre deryuing and laying the same vpon the Guises his fellowes and protesteth that dutie moueth him too enter into warre to deliuer the Kinge and the whole Realme from those iniuries and violence This which followeth is the summe of his letter I haue hitherto sufficiently sayeth he by many writings published and sent abroad euidently declared that the Guises the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew are the authours and the first and true causes of those troubles which we sée at this tyme to be so hote outra giouse in the Realme because they tooke disdayne that they should be remoued from the gouernement whiche they vsurped in the dayes of King Fraunces the seconde and were offended at the decrée of the States of the Realme in which thei are commaunded to make an accompt of the excéeding number of giftes which they had receyued in the former Kings dayes and of the ordering and bestowing of the Kings money greatly refusinge not onely to be deliuered from this account but also vsing their former subtilties to enriche and set vp them selues by the ruine and decay of others After that I shewed the diuers Counselles and secret deliberations had they couering their conspiracies with the cloake of Religion and how they began to arme them selues by their owne prinate authoritie contrary to the expresse commaundements of the Quéene and the Decrée of the States breaking the common peace how they contemning the Quéenes authoritie the decree of the States by which they were commaunded to goe home to their owne houses came with an army ofmen and tooke the King and Quéene into their handes perforce with so much grief to the King that hée declared the same with teares openly I haue also declared and will euer euidently declare that I haue for iust and necessary causes and by the expresse commaundements of the Quéen her selfe as may appeare by letters sealed with her owne hand armed my selfe and haue ben nominated and elected by her to take vpon me the defence of this cause as can testifie Monsure Jarnac Monsure Soubize and moÌsieur Pordillan to whoÌ shée expresly declared that it was her will that the Kings faithfull subiectes should obeye mée and that they should at my commaundement withstand the counselles and practises of the Kinges aduersaries to restrayne their licenciouse willes And as for me if I should not take the sword in hand the King and Quéenes Maiesties and the Realme cannot choose but be ruled by the wills of the aduersaries whom experience hath shewed of late to be the tyraunts of Fraunce And now although I haue the testimonie of a good conscience towardes God and the Quéen who hath power and authoritie to gouerne the Realme and although I haue already declared all my actions and the trueth of my cause by diuers writings yet neuerthelesse because my aduersaries according to their wonted wicked custome do send abroad into forreyne nations many false reportes and sclaunders in writing impudently burthening mée with false lyes making mée the authour and cause of all these troubles I which desire to haue a good name and report among all Christian Princes Nobles and among the Kinges faythfull subiectes which desire to kéepe my honor and dignity thought good after many other to publishe this writing also To the ende all men may vnderstand how carefully euen vntill this present daye I haue laboured sought by al meanes possible to mitigat and pacefie those troubles raysed by their wickednesse not onely because I know what great destruction will come thereby but also because I haue a singular care and desire both to stablish the
see they had set their consciences to sale vvhich thinge certain letters may easely proue which when occasion shall serue I can bring forth that were written from the appointed commissioners to the parlament the vi and xv day of March for the hastening of the execution of Merae in which these woordes were written That the Keepers of Merae were corrupted and that therfore his death was not longer to be deferred for that he would cal back againe that which he had said But I vnderstand that some do take occasion to coygne and forge a sclaunder against me because I confessed in my former writing that I had giuen a certain summe of money to Merae vvhich thinge although I did then and there sufficiently aunswere and thereby shewed that I dealt plainly and truly when as I declared the whole matter simply without any manner dissembling yet notwithstauding I will playnly and sincerely lay forth the cause of the giuinge of that money and therby euidently proue that it is but a meere and malicious surinise whatsoeuer in this matter is objected against me ⪠and chiefely that I may satisfie them that are trayned in Marshall affaires and do exercise that kind of lyfe For I am not ignorant that this matter which came to passe through the occasion of warre and in the Campes of troublesome warriours can not easely bee knowen and vnderstood in the peaceable Courtes of quiet laweyers And yet I could this way easely make ⪠manifest my integrity and innocencie but the testimony of my owne conscience shall suffise me before God and men the double and contrary aunsweres of Merae in his examinations his mind stroken and amazed with the terrour and feare of death the hope of lyfe which he conceyued of the Iudges promyse if he would accuse me which hope hee helde still euen vnto the laste houre of death and of mine owne part the request which I made to haue mine accuser to appeare face to face and my pro testation of my innocencye if that were not graunted the perplexed and headlong affectioÌ of the Iudges long before by me refused as incompetente To be short the astonied vnquietnes and waueringe inconstancy of my accuser do manifestly and sufficiently declare my vnguiltines and innocency neither truly would I haue differred so long to haue shewed my purpose and intent wherefore I gaue this money vnlesse that hauing written to the Queene and testified vnto her my innocency I had thought my enemyes would not haue made such post and headlong hast with the execution as they did vvhich although it was done for euill will and contrarye to all reason and equitie yet could they not haue gotten a more manifest testimony of my guiltles vprightnesse then that which they themselues thereby did giue mee especially bycause it was necessarie that he should haue bin kept a liue not only for that I was accused of the killing of the Duke of Guise but also for a greater and farre more waightye accusation as though I should haue gone about to haue murdered the king VVherby it ap peareth how shameles those surmises were of the crimes laid to my charge But let that passe and let vs come to shew the end wherfore I gaue that money to Merae least that amongst Strangers geuing credit to rumours and tales the good cause of an harmeles and innocent man be oppressed the matter being neither known nor made manifest And first of all where Merae saith that he offered me his helpe in this mattââ¦r it is euen so For when he had beinge commended vnto me by Monsieur Subize his letters as I haue more at large declared in my former writing lustely and frankly profered me his seruice I demaunded of him in what thing he could stand me in best stead He aunswered that hee had great acquaintance with the Aumale for that hee had serued in tymes past vnder him in Picardy of whom if he could finde him in the Dukes Campe he would easely know all the Dukes ententes and purposes and that he would forthwith certifye me of them but if the Aumale were not there yet he was so well knowen of a great nomber of Captaines and souldiers that serued vnder the Duke that hee did not doubt but that he should haue both easy and also safe passage into their Campe. The which certainly did make me suspect him when I saw him offer himselfe in such a brauery and I said as much to Monsieur Granmont who was then presente there with mee declaringe vnto him that I had knowen him not passing iii. or iiii dayes and that only by the letters of Monsieur Subize Notwithstanding I gaue him at that tyme xx crounes that I might haue a triall of him For such as are skilfull in feates of warre know what spies and scoutes may do and that money in such a case is not to be spared they who know me can testifie thet I set but little by money when such occasion is offered And this was the first and chiefe cause why I gaue him that money the which truly I counted as caste away For there was nothing I lesse loked for then for Merae when as sodeinly there came vnto me ââ¦ying at Neuuille Monsieur Tranuie a noble man who said he was come vnto mee at the commaundement of the Andelot my Brother to bring a certaine fellow vnto me that was newly come froÌ the Guises caÌpe And although I looked not for him for I was very often troubled with such matters yet I talked with hym and asked him of diuers small and light matters in the which he seemed to aunswere mee very readily and cunningly wherfore I enquired further of him whether the Duke knew of my departure from Orleance whether I vould go He answered that the Duke knew not the certain day when I would set forward but he knew certainly sixe dayes ago that I meant to go to Normandie and had so prouided for the matter already that I was sure to find many lettes and stayes in my iourney And for this cause there was commaundement gyuen to the Marshal of Vieleuill and the CouÌty of Ringraue that they should cause all the Townes both great and small to bee fortified that they should so woorke that there might bee enemies for me in euery place that I could not lay siege to any Towne for that I lacke both footemen and ordinance that the Duke himselfe would see that all the Horses that could bee gotten should bee brought to Paris and that hee would prouide all such Horses as should bee needefull for the cariage of the gunnes that he would bring the matter about that hee would bringe three orfoure thousande shotte on horse besides his light horsemen and men at armes that hee would followe mee so hard and trace me so neerely that I should haue no opportunitie to ioygne with the aide of Normandie no not so much leysure to rest me finally that besides that the
to defende themselues vnlesse very spéedy remedie be had For and vppon these considerations I haue thought it my dutie to certifie the King and Quéene thereof as becommeth a good subiect and trustie seruaunt to doe which desireth by all meanes and wayes possible too auoyde and turne away so great and present daunger and perill Neyther sayeth he is there any cause why I should feare that I shal be accompted and taken of their Maiesties as one that is to importune and vnreasonable not regarding eyther tyme or person albeit I haue diuers tymes troubled them already with these matters especially séeing it standeth me vpoon my honor and honestie and the present and vrgent necessitie of thinges doth so earnestly require me to do it that vnlesse I will become both guilty and worthi punishment for so great and common calamities I can not passe so waighty a businesse in silence Wherefore I most humbly beséech your Maiesties that you will not take it in euill parte that I am come by letters to entreat for them that are without all law and Iustice most shamefully spoyled slayne contrary to your highnesse pleasures declared in your Edict And for that they could not by any other meanes obtayne remedie and redresse of their wrongs they are come vnto me for succour thinking that in respect of my néere kynred to your Maiestie the place whereunto I am called in this realme I might obtayn for them that ease and reliefe of their griefes which otherwise they could not get Neyther could I my selfe for these causes and for the obedience I owe to youre Grace refuse to declare and shew vnto your Maiestie with all humble modestie reuerence these so great miseries and calamities For all your highnesse Subiectes haue felt what great profit and vtility hath come to the whole Realme through your Maiesties Edict of peace the which notwithstanding is so defaced and altered from his first forme that no man hath any care once to acknowledge much lesse to obserue and execute it And although your Grace haue diuers tymes plainly declared and exprest that it was your will and pleasure that it should be obserued and kept inuiolably of al men yet notwithstandinge certayne disordered persons that séeke to abolish and deface the reformed religion haue so preuayled that certayne interpretations of the Edict are set forth in your Maiesties name whose prefaces are very notable and good but if a man but of meane iudgement doe marke the ende of them he shall perceyue that they bee nothinge else but deuises and meanes inuented onely to weaken and take away the libertie of the Edicte and now of late at Rossillon when as no man was with your Maiestie that would mayntayne the cause and right of the protestants there was a Declaration set out by which the Edict is so rent and defaced that it is not credible that it should longe continew for thus it hath The Edict sayth Be it lawfull for all noble men hauing chief authoritie their families and those of their iurisdictioÌ that wil of their own accord to vse and exercise the reformed religion freely and without molestation But the interpretation sayeth That al suche places are exempted from this libertie as were eyther solde or taken by the kings commaundement from the church liuing neyther should such that had any Church reuenewes enioye that benefite Further the Edict sayeth That libertie of religion was not only graunted to the noble men and their families but also to as many of their subiectes as would willingly resort vnto it But the Declaration of Rossillon sayeth further Neyther shall the Noble men suffer or permit any which is not their subiect to come or resort to any sermons or assemblies And that who so doth to the contrary shall for the firste tyme bee fyned at 500. Crownes and for the second tyme loose and forfeite all their howses and Castels wherein any suche sermons or assemblies shal be had or kept Which rigour and seueritie as it is manifest can neuer be obserued and kept séeing that many of the Noble men do not know all their subiectes and few of the subiects one another whereby it may chaunce that one may come to a Noble mans howse and yet be neyther one of his subiectes nor knowne of him who thinkes takes him for his owne subiect and yet notwithstanding should by these meanes be enforced to pay a great fyne and lose also his house wherein the assemblie was gathered togyther The like dannger also should he incurre if one of his neighbours did but come to sée howe he did Which thing would not onely hinder and trouble but also bring to miserable thraldome and slauerie the mutuall and friendly societie of men the chiefe and surest bond of true friendship and the stay and rocke of all common wealthes and Monarchies The Edict saith That there shall be a Citie choosen out and appointed for the administration of the reformed Religion in euery Prouince or presidentship and other places of Iudgement from which it was lawfull to appeale to the high Courtes of Parliament but this last point was neuer yet put in execution neither coulde it be graunted to the protestants although they both earnestly sued for it and the promise it selfe was confirmed by the expresse commaundement of the Kings letters and certaine Cities named to be chosen as fittest and most profitable for that purpose Also where according to the order of the Edict there ought to haue bene a place appoynted for the vse of the reformed Religion within the suburbes of those Cities that were named it was appointed in other inconuenient places xx or xxv leagues of Whervpon followed diuers slaughters and seditions in many places Notwithstanding thys Article of the Edict was altogether broken and violated wherof I doe not thinke your Maiestie causer neyther any of them who without preiudice to eyther part do wishe that the Edict might be truely and incorruptly obserued but rather I iudge your presidentes and other officers to be procurers of it who of a preposterus and disordered zeale and loue they beare to the popishe Religion could not bridle their owne outragious lust but suffered themselues to be carried headlong by their affections to the breach of the Edict and spoyle of them that professe the reformed Religion The Edict saith That liberite and free vse of the reformed Religion is graunted and permitted to all Cities wherein it was exercised the ⪠vii of March 1562. besides those Cities that were to be chosen and appointed in euery Prouince and this shoulde be done in one or two seuerall places of those Cities accordyng as the King thought good to appoint But the interpretation doth permit none to enioy this but those Cities only which were holden by force in the time of warre and so many are defrauded of that liberty in which the vse of the reformed Religion was kepte at the tyme appoynted namely the. vii day of March 1562
attempte againste the Realme of Frannce or that they mynded to defende Callice against the Quéene of England They sought also other meanes and waies to quarell and contende with the Protestantes mynding to deale with them as giltie of the Edictes broken and to examine those which had done anye thing contrarye to the Edicte specially againste that which was made at Rossillon that is to saye which had gone to anye other places to beare Sermons than to those which were appoynted them by the Kings commaundement or if the Noble men had entertayned any other to the hearyng of the sayd Sermons beside those that were within the compasse of their Iurisdiction and suche like offences As these transgressions had anexed vnto them the pain and punishment of exile so their purpose was to seeke a reformation of these things by seuere putting the same punishmentes in execution according to the tenour of the Edict But least they might séeme to haue no regard to the Counsaile of the Duke of Alba which was It is better to haue one Salmons heade than the heades of a thousand Frogges they went about to snare and catch those Noble men which imbraced the reformed religion as the Prince of Conde the Admirall the Andelot the Rochfoucault and other Noble men And this séemed a present waye to bring the same to passe if so be the Kinge sent for them as standing in néede to haue their aduise in those thinges that concerned the gouernment of the Realme Nowe if they should haue refused to come vnto the King than had he good and iust cause to complaine of them as none of his friendes And if so be they shuld haue neede to vse any force they had at hande two and twentie Giddons of horsemen and certaine Switsers also of which they had already gotten six thousand In the meane time the Prince of Conde the Admiral and diuers other Noble men of the reformed religion were verye carefull For beside these flying rumours bothe the dayly newes of the comming of the Duke of Alba and of the ayde of the Switzers and also the manifest preparation of horsemen with the euident state of all things else caused them to haue a great care For concerning that Holy League made betwéene the kinge of Fraunce and Spayne to destroy the religioÌ The prince of Conde was fully certifyed by the Prince Rochsuryon the Prince of Condes néere kinsman and of the Kynges bloude of the house of Borbou who a little before hys death exhorted the Prince of Conde to prouide remedye in time for so greate troubles The Noble men aforesayde being very carefull and withall vncertain what to doe fearing least if they should obey the kinges commaundement whose name they perceiued their aduersaries to abuse they shoulde sodainely be oppressed or leaste they shoulde be accused of rebellion if so be they sought meanes to restite the force of their aduersaries they determined I say to séeke all wayes and meanes to appease and quallify these troubles and to certifie the King plainely of their will and mynde herein In the meane time bycause they perceyued their enemyes to be in a readynesse they sente diuers mesiangers to the reformed Churches within the Realme to prepare theÌselues and to haue a diligent consideration of all theyr actions They certified diuers of the princes of Germany concerning their affaires requiring aide of them if neede should require This was in the monethes of Iuly and August of this yeare The Spanishe armies aryued at Nice a Citie of the Duke of Sauoy mynding to passe through Pedemont Sauoy and the Countie of Burgundy where the Prince of Orange hadde occasion offered him to finishe notable exploytes if he would haue taken his time but as he dyd in the lowe Countrey so did he nowe leaste he myghte séeme to attempt any thing against the king but within a while after he was very homely requighted by the Duke of Alba. Philbert Duke of Sanoy required of the inhabitantes of Bernoy a great parte of the territory which they had sometyme taken from his Dominion by war and the matter between them was oftentimes solemnly debated in an assembly of the Switzers the men of Bernoys affirming that the same Region was giuen vnto them by the Lawe of Armes and that they had lawfully receiued the same Notwithstanding at the same time when the Spanishe armyes were loked for which came with the Duke of Alba the men of Bernoys communed with the Duke of Sauoy and agréed with him vpon certain conditions and graunted vnto him the thrée Dominions or Lordships that were next to Geneua ⪠By reasoÌ of this agréement the administration and vse of the reformed religion was vsed in those Dominions euen as the men of Bernoys themselues would desire Concerning the purpose and connfaile of the Prince of Conde of the Admirall and of others of the reformed religion we haue spoken before The Prince of Conde therefore by dyuers messengers prayed and intreated the Kinge concerninge the séeking of a reformation for those troubles which were lyke shortly to ensue Declaring vnto him that the comming of the Swirsors into the Realme againe was so perillouse that it would cause the people seditiously to rise The Admirall went often tymes to the Constable his vncle and talked with the Quéene whom he knew to be at Chantilly the Constables house and fréely declared vnto her that if the faithfull were so handled wherby they had iust cause to suspect that war was a preparing for him they could not any longer be kept in peace Notwithstandinge the Quéene and the Costable pretended a notable cause why it was néedefull to haue the aide of forreiners for say they the Spaniardes beare an olde grudge and hatred against the realme of Fraunce so that we haue good cause to feare least they hauing occasion set vppon vs but the King will reforme all thinges so for the faithfulles sake that all men shall sée that he will deale vprightly and iustly towardes all men After this also the Queen made these promises in her letters to the prince of Conde Notwithstanding there came sixe thousand Switsers in the beginning of September and a greate number of horsemen were armed and prepared And the Prince of Conde was fully certified that the Duke of Alba which was already come to Belgio had moued the King of Fraunce in the name of King Phillip to go forward with the holy league and withall had perswaded him to take present occasion to bring his purpose to passe At this time the Cardinall of Lorraine was with the King and a great number of his adherentes also Notwithstanding all thinges waxing dayly woorse and woorse the Prince of Conde and the rest of the péeres and Nobles which professed the reformed religion sawe that ther was no longer stay to be made but that they must of necessity when they could do no good by their letters come before the king themselues and declare vnto him the present daunger
kéepe their Souldiours with in their Campes and said that he would come by and by with the reste of the army This aduise pleased the captaynes very well ââ¦auing onely Monsieur Mouents who vaunsing his Enseignes willed them to followe him Monsieur Pierregorde the reste of the Captayne 's fearing least by this destruction of the bandes ther should be a way made to the enemie to anoy them and protesting that the whole blame hereof should rest on him they also with their bandes marched forward But they were not scarsly gone out of the village when they saw Duke Monpensier comming with a great army of horsmen Then with spéed he prepared himselfe and choose out fyue hundred harquebuziers to be in the first front who straytway discharged a great peale of shot against the launces on horse but they presently charging their launces ran with such violence vppon them that they brake the ray of Mouents souldiours so ensued a sore skirmishe and when they had resisted a while the whole army of Mouents tourned their backes and fled the two Captaynes also themselues being slayne namely Pierregorde and Mouents and the reste whiche fled were for the most part slayne by the Inhabitantes of those quarters notwithstanding many escaped and ame to Monsieur Acier in safety In this skirm ishe there were slayne and wanting of Monsieur Aciers soldiers siââ¦e hundred and of Monpensiers side certaine horsemen of great name After this Monpensier gaue no other attempt but retourned to the Citie Perigeux and Monsieur Acier wheÌ he had gathered togither all his souldiers and the remnant of the souldiours of Mouenes came the next day to a village called Aulbeterre The Prince of Conde hearing of the comminge of Monsieur Acier after he had wonne Engolesme prepared himselfe to take his iorney and to méete him The Quéene of Nauarre in the meane tyme dealt very substantially at Rochel and had appointed certain Shippes to kéepe the hauens mouth belonginge to the same and also to the end shée might haue the more easie passage into England which was a great friend and fur therer of the Protestants cause Therefore the Quéene of Nauarre sente letters to the Quéene of Englande by Mousieur Shastiller a Noble man whom shée had made Generall of that Nauy and when shée had declared the causes of the warre begonne shée commended her self and her cause vnto her as followeth Beside the great good will and desire moste Noble Quéene which I always had to abyde in your fauoure there is also at this day occasion offered the which truly would greatly accuse me if I shoulde not by letters declare vnto you what causes haue led mée my children whom God hath lent vnto me hyther And my faulte should be so much the greater by how much hée according to his infinit goodnes hath bestowed so many and so great benefits vpoÌ you and hath geuen vnto you such a zeale for the aduauncement of his glory namely to you O Quéene whom he hath choosen to be a ââ¦ngular Nource of his Church By good right therefore are those things referred and brought before you which doo appertayne to this defence of the trueth of the church of god And truly as I know that you vnderstand the generall state of our affaires most noble Quéene so I pray and beseeche you perswade your selfe that there are thrée causes of the which the least ought to be sufficient which haue constrayned me to forsake my owne Dominion and to come hyther The first cause therfore is RELIGION the which would haue ben oppressed in this our Realme of FraÌce by the olde and barbarouse tyrannie of the Cardinall of Lorrayne and of those which take his part that I should no doubt haue ben ashamed of my selfe and myne and to haue had my name reckoned among the faythfull if so be to withstand this error and horror and to defend the trueth I had not sought all meanes possible both by my goods and also with perill of my lyfe and except also my Sonne and I had ioyned our selues with this so honorable a company of Princes and Nobles All the which are with me determined and fully purposed by the helpe of the lord God of hoastes not to spare in thys cause by any maner of meanes neither lyfe nor goods nor any thing else which God had lent vnto vs. The seconde cause whiche also dependeth vpon the first is our obedience to the King bicause the ruyne of religion is also the ruyne of the King for the preseruation whereof we are straitly bounde And bicause my sonne and I haue obtained at the hands of God this honour and dignitie that we are so néere of bloude to the King this also most Noble Quéene hath constrayned vs to make haste and to set oure selues against those which abusing our Kings name and facillitie doe make him the author of his owne detrement and harme and althoughe of himselfe he is moste faithfull and sure of his promises the breaker of his faith and promises and that by those subtill meanes and wayes whiche they haue deuised to breake the Edicte of pacification The which Edict as it caused maintayned peace betweene the king and his good and faithfull subiectes so long as it was obserued and kepte so the same beyng broken calleth and prouoketh the fidelitie of the subiectes to lamentable and pitifull warre so coacted and constrayned that there is neuer a one of vs whiche is not violently and againste his will drawne therevnto The thirde cause moste Noble Quéene is peculiar to my Sonne and me namely for that we sée the olde and sworne enemyes to God and to our sââ¦ocke and kynred with deadly and impudent hatred to go about and séeke to rase and vtterly to destroy vs and our familie wheÌ as also my brother the Prince of Conde to auoyde the practises and conspiracies againste him and his was constrained with his wife and children to séeke a place of refuge and securitie the mother great with childe the children being in so pitifull a cace that I cannot repeate the same without teares besyde this also that I was certifyed knew the same for a suertie that some were appoynted to steale and violently to carry away my sonne from me With these reasons and causes we beyng moued could not chuse but come together to the ende that we beyng ioyned in one mighte lyue and dye together as also the bonde of consanguinitie wyth the which we are mutually knit together dothe bynde vs herevnto that it dothe commaunde vs to doe no lesse These are the thrée causes O Quéene which haue vrged me to take the sworde in hande We doe not as the good catholiques lay to our charge warre against God and oure King we thanke God for it there is no suche treason to be layde to our charge but are faithfull seruauntes and subiectes both to God and oure king Of the which I moste humbly pray and beséeche you
also in the laste rising as soone as was offered to the sayd prince and other Lords and gentlemen of his company the reestablishment of the exercise of religion notwithstanding their greate troupes and strength of straungers ioyned with them and vpon the very point to assaulte the towne of Chartres in the view and face of the enemyes campe which was for the most disordered if at the onely sounde and pronouncing of peace made by a Trumpet sent vnder the name of your maiestie the sayde prince did not onely forbeare y assault but also raised forthwith his siege and retired his army reping notwithstanding of so readie obedience but a bloudy peace and promise full of infidelitie if also during the same sturre the morrow after the battaile at Sainct Denys where both the prince had the better and the Constable principall leader of the army was slaine The sayde Prince dispatched to your maiestie the Lord de Theliguy aswell to warne you of the ruine and desolation threatning from the instaunt your Realme if the straungers were suffered to enter houering there vpon the frontiers as also to mediate and sollicite in meanes and remedyes to knit an absolute peace only in the cause of religion if in short your Edicts haue bene alwayes published and the peace accorded at suche tymes as they of the religion if they would haue abused the opinion of your purpose might in respect of their forces persuade and beléeue that aswell in all your parleyes and treaties of peace there was no other mention than of the matter of religion as also that their enemyes haue not bene brought to it but by necessitie being vnable by open force to mayntaine any longer against them in what conscience or with what face or countenance may it be sayd that these troubles moue continue for the matter and cause of religion And yit neuerthelesse the more to choke and conuince the Cardinall of Lorraine and other his adherentes of their lies and slaunderous impositions which they publish daily the said Princes Lordes Knightes gentlemen and others of their companies forgetting the infidelitie and all disloyall attemptes heretofore conspired agaynst them declare and protest this daye both before God and your Maiestie that what so euer hath ben don or offered to them in euill from the beginninge to thys houre thei neither haue nor wil once impute it to your Maiestie as knowing your nature to be nothing touched with such iniust seuerities whereof you haue gyuen so many publique experiences that there is nowe no cause of doubte neyther haue or do they thinke to chaunge or diminish in any respect their duetye and naturall regard which they haue alwayes bent to the true aduauncement of your greatnesse and Royall estate wherein and also in so many effectes aforesaid if it bée both knowne and séene that they entertayne no other purpose nor meaning than vnder the obedience and authoritie of your Edictes to serue God according too his will and as they are instructed by his holy woorde with desire to be maintayned with equall care as your other subiectes in their honours liues and goods they are now ready to giue such further manifest proofe and witnesse as their most enemies shall haue least cause henceforth to doubt them And that neither to enter into any iustification of their actions passed as their innââ¦cencie and iustice of their cause béeing sufficientlye known to your maiestie and all other Kings princes and potentates what straungers so euer they be if they be not of the faction and partie of Spaine much lesse to séeke to capitulate with your maiestie knowing god be praysed what is the dutie of good and faythfull subiectes to their soueraigne Prince and naturall Lorde But Sir in respect of the large peny worthes and coÌmon marchandise which heretofore hath bene made of the faith and word of your maiestie which aboue all ought to be holy sacred inuiolable and withall with what vnséeming boldnesse your authoritie and name hath ben abused to the extréeme periâ⦠of all your people of the reformed profession it néed not séeme straunge if the said Princes with their consociates doe humbly beséeche you to declare by an Edict solemn perpetual and irreuocable your resolute will in a libertie exercise of their Religion to the ende that by the same suche as heretofore at two seuerall times both rashly and with all impunitie haue infringed and violated your former constitution in that cause may by this thirde be more brideled and restrayned wherein because such as were not able to endure the vnitie and vniuersall rest maintayned amongst your people by the good obseruation of your Edictes haue taken occasion to alter and corrupt them by new constructions and modifications contrary to the true substaÌce of the same and sincere meaning of your maiestie And that also the sayde Princes with the reste of their faction confesse to haue borne a most iust iudgement of God in more sortes of afflictions in tyme of peace than when it was open ⪠warre as in con senting too easely to the treatises of peace whiche haue ben made the same prouiding a generall contentment on all sides that God should be serued onely in certayn places of the Realme and by certain persons as though in a sound conscience there belonged no other thing to the seruice of God. They most humbly beséeche your maiestie to accord and graunt generally to all your subiectes of what qualitie and condicion so euer frée vse of the sayd Religion in all Cities villages and boroughes all other places and corners of your Realm and countreys within your obedience and protection without any exception reseruacion modification or restraint of persons tymes or places and that with suerties necessary in so hyghe a cause and besides to ordeyne and enioyne to make manifest profession of the one or other religion to the ende to cut of hereafter all meanes and occasions to many who abusing such benefite and grace are flipt into Atheisme and carnall libertie and who standing vpon no exercise and profession of religion desire nothing more than to sée an vniuersall confusion in this Realme and all order pollicie and Ecclesiasticall discipline reuersed and abolished a thing so daungerous as not to be tollerated in any Christian state And because Sir wée doubt not at al that those who hetherunto haue pitched the foundation of their deuises vppon slaunderous reproches impudently published to make vs hatefull eueÌ to such as God be praysââ¦d be frée from the seruitude tyrannie of Antichrist will not sticke to impose vppon vs an inciuiââ¦e obstinacy rather to defend without reason that we haue once resolued to beléeue touching the Articles of Christian religion than to correct or retract our erroures We declare and protest as herevnto we haue done that if in any pointe of the confession of faith heretofore presented to your maiestie by the reformed Churches of your Realme it may be founde by the word
charge do see that no commotion or insurrection bee against the inhabitants of the sayd Citie nor that no murder be committed as it is to be feared by those which pretend too breake the Edict of Pacification and thereby would execute a reuenge of their long and priuate grudge too 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 payne 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 towards vs as you would haue vs to knowe that you are our loyal and obedient subiectes Giuen at Paris the. xxvij of August 1572. Thus signed Charles and belowe 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 and confederate and I his Treasorer in this countrey hauing commaundement of his maiestie too communicate with you as with them whome be 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 whereof he receyued so much more griefe and displeasure bycause it befell on such a time as he least feared or loked for such a thing The matter is this On the xxij day of August last the Admirall as he went from Louure 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 whervntoo when he had readilie layde his hande by his officiers 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 bee presupposed bycause they woulde preuente the inquisition therof heaping one transgression vpon another on the. xxiij and xxiiij of the sayd moneth assembled a great troupe of people in the night and moued the people of Paris to a verie great sedition who in a rage set vpon the Admirals lodging and enforcing the Garde which his Maiestie had set for the Admirals suretie and keping slew 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 such an oââ¦age and commotion that whereas his Maiestie had thought to prouide remedy for appeasing therof he had much a doe with all his Gardes to keepe his house at Louure where he lodged with the two Queenes his mother and the Spouse the Lords his brethreÌ the King of Nauarre and other Princes Think therefore ye noble Seigniours in what a perplexitie this yong and courageous 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 greate troubles which haue almost euer since beene in his Realme and therefore by the good and wise counsell and assistaÌce 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 al occasions of dissentions amoÌgst 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 Conde to Madame de Neuers Besides all this to the intent nothing should be lefte vndone that mighte serue for the quieting of al things and especially for the Admirals safegard his Maiestie as euery man knoweth hath done his indââ¦uour to the vttermost to appease and reconcile his principall and most daungerous enimies vnto him And so God the true iudge of the Kings Maiesties good and pure intent brought to passe that the peoples rage being quieted within a few houres euery one went home too 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 aswel 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 diligeÌtly to the obserââ¦ing of his Edictes with expresse commaundement to ââ¦olde their handes there that euerie one might perceyue that the chaunce at Paris happened for some priuate quarell and not for any purpose to alter his Edicts which his Maiestie wil in no wise suffer VVhich is the principal 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 neyghbours not so much for this seditioÌ 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 greate mustering and assembling men of warre in many places specially in the lowe countreyes where it is yet vncertaine on which side God will giue the victorie nor whither the conqueror will employ his force after his conquest VVherefore his Maiestie prayeth you continuing the good loue and intelligence which hath always bene betwixt the Crowne of Fraunce and his allied and confederate friendes the Seigniours of the Leagues too haue good regarde to him and his Realme in case that neede shall require as he wil haue to you and your prosperous estate if it bee requisite employing in the meane whyle your greate and singular wisdome to the perseruation 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 CON cerning 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
spred abroade the Bishop of Nââ¦auetensis or Nââ¦auntes with a certaine power of his men came thither whome he had gathered togither for this matter he giueth commaundement that clothes of tapistry work and other ornaments be hoong forth of euery house vpon the solemne daye in the which he with his wandring power shoulde passe through the Citie thinking by this meanes to fynde out who they were that were Lutheranes then he commaundeth the Drumme to be stricken vp and a signe to be giuen for men to prepare themselues to sight and thus he filleth the Citie with armour and tumult There was then present a certaine noble man who was appoynted by the Kings commaundement to presse and muster men for the warre this man admonisheth the Bishop into what perils he may bring the Citie the Englishe men their enimies approching neare who if they had knowledge of these troubles might easily obtaine the Cuie but his perswasion preuailed so little that he was also in daunger of his life and hardly deliuered himselfe from the mad rage of the common people Therefore the franticke people through euery corner of the Citie are as it were drunken mad by the guidance and leading of the Bishop and doe besiege and forciblye set vpon the houses in the which there were ninetéene of the faithfull congregated to make their prayers vnto god But the faithfull earnestlye beseech the people to be quiet and if there were any thing to be obiected against them they were ready to put themselues into the hands of the magistrate The Bishop aunswereth that the cause of their comming was onely to haue the Minister which they knewe to be among them The faithfull intreate that the Magistrate of the Citie might be called forth and he shoulde vnderstande the truth of the matter When the Praetor or Magistrate of the Citie had entred the houses and made diligent search through the same he declareth that the Minister is not there Notwithstanding the Bishop commaundeth the souldiers to set vpon and assault the houses the which thing the people did with all the force they were able to make seeking also to vndermine the houses But all in vaine for the faithfull that were in the houses affirmed that vnlesse they woulde depart they would driue them away And thus they being nothing dismayed or troubled commended themselues vnto God in Psalmes and songs The Bishop hereat being more angry commaundeth them to yéelde themselues the faithfull refused not to come forth to him if the people might depart saying that they were ready to make answere to those thinges whereof they were accused But for all this the gunnes and other instrumentes of warre were set to and bent against the houses The faythfull séeing into what straytes and extremities they were brought thought nowe within themselues that there was no remedie but that they must defende themselues but bicause it coulde not be done without great slaughter of the people if they did rashlye fall to offer strypes they thought it good not so to defende themselues vntill the verye extremitie came Notwithstanding when the people ranne with haste into the houses through the holes of the walles which they had made with Gunnes and other weapons the faythfull shotte at them with Crossebowes by force whereof many of them being stayne the myndes of the other were so discouraged that by and by the whole multitude ranne awaye and great quietnesse was made throughout the whole Citie They therefore being thus miraculouslye deliuered came forth singing the hundreth and foure and twentye Psalme as they went through the middest of the Citie and so escaped The next daye following the people being gathered togither againe ouerthrewe those houses in the which the faythfull had bene yea and their houses also whome they suspected to bée fauourers of their cause The Bishoppe vnderstanding that the Senate of Paris dislyked of this his facte went to the King and brought it so to passe by the meanes of them that were companiens and confederates wyth him in the same hys wicked furoâ⦠that the King allowed all that he had done So lyttle was the equitie of the cause of the faythfull estéemed And very neare about this time also there séemed to be giuen a newe occasion to scirre vp affliction For at Paris in a medowe or fielde nere adioyning to the same commonly called the Clearks field ⪠many of the faithfull when others were busie at their sport and playe began to sing Psalmes little thinking that others would be stirred vp to do the like by their ensample Notwithstanding at the length it grewe to this that when this ⪠exercise had bene vsed certayne dayes many and men also of great estimation and fame came togither to heare the swéete and pleasant harmonie of the singing multitude They which coulde not sing and which had not as yet the knowledge of God went into the most conuenient places of the fielde to heare that which was soong and hearing the same confessed that it was wickedly done to forbid the singing of so honest godlie songs But while this went forwarde the aduersaries as though they were vtterly spoyled went to the king and declared to him that the Lutheranes had mooued sedition at Paris that they were ready to thrust his maiestie out of his kingdome that a great number of them were gathered togither in armour to conspire against him and therefore they requested him to prouide for this mischiefe for say they the Catholike Church and your whole kingdome is in great daunger When the King heard this he commaundeth that there be prohibition and stay made by a publike Edict that men sing no more in that place nor in that companie and also that there shoulde be inquirie made of those which had sooââ¦g They which were the chiefe of the reformed Church séeing into what suspitious those companies were brought giue admonition to their friendes that they neuer againe gather themselues togither in that place to sing as they did before if they woulde sing to sing at hââ¦me In the meane time many for this matter were apprehended who notwithstanding afterward for the lightnesse of the cause were set at libertie At the last when the Bishops preachers saw that the king did fauour them they perswaded with the people that it was an atteptable thing vnto God and a meritorious worke as they call in for a man ââ¦o kill a Lutherane And truly the beastly rage and madnesse of that people by these perswasions was prouoked insomuch that the reynes of temperancie loosed they ran headlong to commit what mischiefe they could of the which matter among many we will bring certaine examples ⪠On a certaine day after a Sermon it so fell out that two men contended togither by wordes in the Churchyarde of S. Innocentes the one of them to the ende he might stirre and procure hatred to the other by a reprochfull and odious name cried that the people might heare which were nowe going out of
which we haue spoken before and that they shoulde first of all deale with matters concerning religion The company therfore being asseâ⦠⪠bled called togither the Kings Solicitor propounded vnto them these matters First that there were diuers opinions in matters that coÌcerned Religion founde lately in the Senate disagréeing and contrarie one to another as when lome condemned heretikes to be burnt other some woulde not haue them to be burnt but mittigated the paââ¦ne by banishment the which woulde redounde to the reproche and shame of the Senate Wherefore he required that their sentences and iudgements might be conformable and agréeing euer hereafter with the prescript and tenure of the Edictes which appointed the punishments of death The which in déede was the most speedie and readie way to detect those Iudges that were suspected of religion as after truly it came to passe For when euery man fréely vttred his minde and opinion as the custome is there were diuers iudgementes some woulde haue no punishment by death but banishment other some before any thing was determined woulde haue it knowne whether they were heretikes in déede which were counted heretikes Also he sayd that it was the Kings will that heretikes shoulde be punished and the office of the Senate to sée and finde out who they were that were guiltye of heresie And for this cause he willed them to make supplication vnto the King that according to the first article of the peace concluded he woulde cause a lawfull Councell to be assembled to iudge of these controuersies and that they shoulde in the meane time leaue off to punishe But some sayde that it coulde not be hidde but was apparant for all men to beholde what greate corruptions had inuaded the Church and howe néedefull and requisite it was a reformation to be had and that by the worde of God which is the onely rule of veritie and not custome antiquitie or the opinions of men Furthermore they added that there was daunger and therefore great héede to be taken least while they whome they called Lutheranes were condemned Innocentes also shoulde be put to death For say they the Lutheranes as we terme them haue probable reasons to defend their doctrine withall whose life is irreprouable and without blame vsing themselues oftentimes to praye deuoutly and zealously to God as it hath well appeared to the Senate to be short such is their constancie that thereby they shew themselues not to be such maner of men as they are sayde to be among the common sort of people Thus at this time some spake one thing some another howbeit the greatest part would haue either the punishment to be mittigated or else the men to be quite discharged Many feared least this sentence and determination of those that spake in the behalfe of the Lutheranes shoulde take place wherevpon two of the Councell as it is credibly reported namely Egidius and Minardus went to the King and declared the matter wholy vnto him before the Court had concluded what shoulde be done against both lawe and auncient custome saying vnto him that the matter was nowe come to such a straite that great remedie must be prouided for the same otherwise great perturbations and trouble would ensue adding moreouer that the boldenesse of some was such that they durst arrogantly deride the auncient religion and as for the Edicts of the King they made no account of them at all The King being inflamed and greatly stirred with this newes came the next day into the senate where he declared that he hauing now obtained at the handes of God the most excellent benefit of peace confirmed the same with the societie sure knot of matrimonie there waÌted yet one thing which he greatly desired namely the setting of matters coÌcerning religion in a good vniforme order for this cause he said that he came into the Court namely to vnderstand both in what state the matter stoode also to coÌfort incourage them by his presence And so he signified by the kéeper of the seales that he would haue them to follow that order which they had begon in shewing their opinions Therefore of theÌ which resisted some were more colde fearing some subtill practise to be in hand other som notwithstaÌding ⪠spake their fantasies and opinions with no lesse boldnesse than they did before especially concerning the lawfull calling of a CruÌcel or Parliament And among others Anoas Burgaeus a man very godly wel learned when he had first of al giueÌ thaks vnto God that he had so wrought in the hart of the Prince that he would be a witnesse indifferent Iudge of so weightie a matter and when he had exhorted the King to bend his minde and giue good eare to so great vrgent cause being in deede the cause of our Lord Iesus Christ which ââ¦ught to be defended by the patrocinie garde of Kings very boldly and fréely vttered his minde affirming at the length that he dââ¦d wholy giue his coÌsent agrée that there should be a couÌcel called that the punishments then vsed toward the Lutheranes for that time should surcease Others also after him affirmed the like When the King had heard thefe men he making first his preamble said that to his griefe and sorow he saw corruption to be crept in eueÌ into his Court being very sorie that any of his Nobles should be stayned therwith the good he knew as for the others he said he wold ⪠so punish that he would therby extirpe quite pull vp by ⪠the rootes that mischief which was now a growing These threatnings ended talking a while with those that stoode with him he coÌmauÌded that Annas Burgaeus Lodouicus Faurus should be takeÌ y which his coÌmandement was streightway executed by MoÌgomerie Captaine of the Garde After this others also were taken as Fumaeus Foixius many others And those that were of these opinions loking to be handled as they were got theÌ out of the citie but afterward they were opeÌly proclaimed About the same time almost a Synode was helde at Paris many ministers of the Churches which were theÌ called the reformed Churches being then called togither for thys matter in the which both the doctrine of the faith and also Ecclesiasticall discipline were copiously largely intreated of ⪠truly as the time required the forme of discipline which was alredy appointed which was also afterward by many Synodes and Councels inlarged and examined by the rule of Gods word and the approued ⪠customes of the auncient Church brought much profit all which matters here to declare is not our purpose Howbeit these thinges following were the principall points thereof 1 First it is agreed that the confession of the doctrine which may testifie ⪠the coÌmon consent of the Churches be registred to the ende that no straunge opinions craftily be conueyed in 2 That all things be done in order in the Churches 3 That so often
spirite in this fayth vnto the ende and that it will please him to graunt me-strength for his mercies sake with my heart and mouth boldly to confesse his holy name both before the faithfull and also before Infidels tyrants and murthering butchers of Antichrist euen to the shedding of the vtmost drop of my bloud All my desire is to liue and dye in this sayth being fully perswaded that the same is grounded vpon the worde of God alone and that all the Saintes Patriarkes Prophetes and Apostles did lyue and dye therein This is the only true knowledge of God in the which the vndoubted and eternall felicitie of men is placed This I saye is the fayth in the which I will both liue and die To this confession I haue subscribed with my owne hande being readye also to seale the same with my bloude for the defence of the doctrine of the sonne of God whom I pray to open the eyes of your heartes that at the length if it be his will ye maye knowe and vnderstande the truth Therefore when he had wholye confirmed that confession and had with his owne mouth plainely testified the same before his Iudges then was there no hope left that Burgaeus shoulde be deliuered For he had great and mightie aduersaries among whome his chiefe and principall enimie was the Cardinall of Loraine who left nothing vndone that might by any maner of meanes hasten his death For he feared least at the length he shoulde bée deliuered by the king For many Noble men as Fredericke Earle of Palatine Prince Elector and others had very earnestly written to the King for him All things therefore being so appoynted as wée haue shewed hys aduersaries thought that they had manye iust reasons by which they might condemne him to dye And therefore on the twentie day of December they pronounce the sentence of death agaynst him namely That Burgaeus being condemned of heresie shoulde be burnt with firé vntill his bodie were consumed to ashes The which sentence Burgaeus heard and receiued cherefully and when he had heard it he gaue thanks vnto God that had suffred him to sée so ioyfull and happie a daye and prayed also vnto God that hée woulde pardon and forgiue his Iudges who had iudged him according to their owne conscience and knowledge but not according to the true knowledge and wisedome of god Many wordes be vttered vnto them at that time which were so rhetoricall weightie and sentencious with vehemencie vttred that it might well appeare the holy ghost rather to speak than he the which his words here to repeare shall be nothing from our purpose Hath sayth he that fraudulent message of hell full of all guile and deceyte and an abhominable lie with deadly hatred still striuing against the truth so preuayled that being accused vnto you falslye for those men which we are not shall so be condemned We I saye are the sonnes of God whome we knowe to be our father with whom there is no respect of persons with whome we are able to doe all thinges and without whome nothing he it is whome you ought to heare speaking nowe vnto you otherwise he threateneth vnto you death and destruction It is trulye the part of great and intollerable boldenesse for men to dare presume so much against the holy and inââ¦tolable commaundement of God. Shall we suffer our redemption and the bloude so plentifullye shed for our sinnes to be troden vnder foote Shall we not obey that our most mightie King who woulde haue vs to defende his cause who séeketh vs who sustaineth vs who is also our ⪠Captaine in fight What shall we do then shall feare make vs vnconstant or driue vs from doing our dutie No we shall rather be strong and valiant séeing we encounter with so weake an enimie But beholde what this wicked generation commaundeth that we suffer God to be blasphemed that we betray the truth of God and such like the which bicause we will not do we are counted execrable and wicked yes we are called seditious Ye are say they rebels to Princes and wherefore bicause we will not offer vnto Baal O good God how long wilt thou suffer the vnbridled lustes and ambitions willes of men to haue their swaye In the meane time most merciful and louing father till it shall please thée to restraine them haue mercy vpon vs leade vs forth and gouerne vs in defending of thy truth to the vtmost of our power Make it to be knowne O Lord that they themselues are rebels in déede to Princes and I for my part while I haue breath will not let to tel them so Is this to play the part of a rebell for a man to giue vnto his Prince both body and goodes and whatsoeuer else to be at his pleasure Is this the part of a traitor and Rebell to praye vnto God for the preseruation and prosperitie of the King and the kingdome and that he and his Ministers Counsellers and Magistrates maye truly and faithfully doe their dutie that all false worship being taken away God may be glorified alone and of all men purely worshipped Is not this rather rebellion to deface Gods glorie and to giue that honor due vnto him to creatures and to followe the deuises and fantasies of men in worshipping him to count it a vertue to rent and teare the name of God with blasphemous othes to suffer brothell houses and common stewes and an infinite number of wickednesses mo I appeale here vnto you ye Senators if ye beare the sworde of the Lorde only to reuenge his cause to the punishment of wickednesse and vice take héede I aduise you what ye doe Will ye giue iudgement and proâ⦠condemnation against your selues Weigh and consider I pray you a little with your selues the wickednes that is layde to our charge and first of all iudge whether it be more méete for vs to obey you rather than god Are ye made so drunke with the Cup of the great beast Doe ye after this sorte bring the people from falling into sinne whome ye bring from the true worship of God If you reuerence and feare more the opinions of men than ye do the iudgement of God consider with your selues what the people of forroine nations and kingdomes shall thinke of you when the crueltie of your iudgements shall be spoken of in euery place ⪠yea and that before so famous Princes Howe many wickednesses doe ye commit by the commaundements of that ruddie purpuled Phalaris canst thou O cruel tyrant by the cruel death cease our sobbing sighes who at his owne pleasure for his proper aduauntage and gayne aduanced the authoritie of certaine rulers to the destruction of the King and the whole kingdome At his commaundement ye so racke and torment our bodies that ye your selues are constreyned to pitie the same Howe great is your crueltie But me thinketh I sée teares fall from your eyes Why wéepe you Can you hide the burthen of your consciences
neyther that he coulde so be proued by any meanes This one thing he coÌfessed to be true that he went about to resist the tyrannie of the Guises with a great number of the Nobilitie of Fraunce if this were to offende the Kings maiestie sayde he they must be called Kings before I and they can iustly be condemned of treason And séeing they might not haue libertie to appeale to mortall Iudges he sayde that he appealed to the celestiall Iudge for so vniust iudgement giuen vpon him the which ere it be long will take vengeance on innocent bloude so vniustly shed The like also many others affirming and committing their innocencie to God caused manye to lament their state with teares And among the rest one whose name was Villemongius bathing his handes in the bloude of his fellowes which were newlye slayne lifted vp his handes imbrued with bloude to heauen crying Lord this is the bloud of thy seruants thou shalt take vengeance Nowe therefore these horrible slaughters a man woulde thinke had bene sufficient to make Renaudius forsake his former purpose but he notwithstanding continued in the same Wherefore he went about to gather togither againe his men which were dispersed as you haue heard eueÌ now the which while he assayed he met with a horseman of hys enimies side who shot of at Renaudius his dag but missing him was at the last by Renaudius slayne But Renaudius by a souldiour standing by being the seruaunt of the horseman that was slaine was also wounded to death with the shot of a Dagge whome notwithstanding before he died Renaudius also manfully slue But streight after by the grieuousnesse of the wounde he dyed Whose deade carcas being brought to Ambaxia was hanged vp with this title RENAVDIVS captaine of Rebels and Author of Sedition After this it was deuided or quartered into foure partes and set vp in diuers places and his heade set vpon a forke A wonderfull and straunge thing it was that so many men should come togither from all parts of the Realme and yet be séene of none But this was not the ende of this tumult The Guises against whome this conspiracie was made made great search and inquiry for those that were suspected to be guiltie of this conspiracie Moreouer the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde in this contention tooke part against the Guises as hereafter shall be declared The Constable at the commaundement of the King went to the Senate of Paris and there opened the whole matter concerning the tumulte of Ambaxia commending the great diligence of the Guises in pacifying of the same But bicause he sayde that this conspiracie was made against those that were in chiefe authoritie about the King the Guises tooke the same in very euil part who would haue had all men perswaded that it was made for the destruction of the King and the whole Realme that all good order being taken away euery man might rule and gouerne as him lysted At this time Oliuarius the Kinges high Chauncelour who had condemned those that were taken in the tumult of Ambaxia was grieuously taken with sickenesse and being very extréemely handled therewith sayde that he had iustly deserued the same for that those whome he had condemned had great iniurie done vnto them Moreouer hée made exclamation against the cardinal of Loraine who hearing of his extreme sicknesse came to sée him saying Thou O Cardinall art he that bringeth destruction to vs all And so fetching déepe sighes grieuous grones be ended his life Nowe there came forth a newe Edict very cruell against those which followed the newe Religion as they termed it Notwithstanding the late conspiracie being founde to come through the cruell punishmentes layde vpon men whereat they boldly repined brought to passe that the Guises being afrayde thought it best to temper and mittigate those punishments Therefore there were sent abrode letters of pardon in the which the King declared that he would not in the first yere of his reigne begin with the miserable slaughter of his subiects although they had deserued the same but wold rather folow the example of our heauenly father to retain his seruaÌts by his lenitie mercie than by seueritie and punishments Therfore he sayd he sorgaue all offences concerning religion and gaue generall pardon notwithstanding vpon that condition that they which enioyed the benefite therof should liue catholikely as others did Moreouer the same that came by the conspiracie troubled also the Cardinall of Loraine being a man by nature verye fearefull and wauering insomuch that now after a sort he shewed himselfe very gentle toward the fauourers of the Gospell yea and hearde willingly many of the Ministers of Gods worde which were not afearde to talke with him concerning the chiefe pointes of the Religion nowe in controuersie affirming also that he himselfe did agrée with them in many points But the Quéene to the ende she might vnderstande the true causes of the tumult of Ambaxian and might sée also what remedies might be had for those troubles which were nowe readie to come vpon the kingdome sent for one called Planchaeus bicause he was sayde to be a man that had by long vse great experience who being come and brought into hir priuie chamber she declared that she had sent for him to this ende that she might vnderstande by him what were the causes of the troubles nowe at hande and also what remedies might be prouided for the same Of which she sayde no man coulde better satisfie hir than he Who when he coulde by no excuse shift off or denie this request at the last affirmed that for his obedience sake he woulde take this thing vpon him and so farre as he coulde satisfie hir request First therefore he began thus saying there are two sortes of them who hauing their names altered were no more called Lutheranes but Huguenotes I saye of these there are two factions the one of religious persons the other of Ciuile or politike persons Of the whiche two factions the first for their afflicted Religion the other for that the gouernement of the Realme was put into the handes of the Guises the Princes the Kings neare kinsemen beyng defrauded of the same were greatlye displeased These were the verye causes of these troubles to remedie the which there is no waye but to satisfie both their wylles The first namely the religious persons may easilye be perswaded if so be godly and learned men were gathered togither and disputation made of those articles nowe in controuersie But the others which were of the Temporaltie can not be so easilye pacified bicause they thinke that they haue iust occasion to put themselues in armour and to resist This therefore is the onely remedie if the Princes the Kings neare kinsemen be kept and set in their owne proper degrée and dignitye and the Guises by some faire and gentle meanes remooued from gouerning the Kingdome For the Nobilitie will not suffer the Princes
which are the Kings neare kinsemen to bée in lesse estimation than Straungers And althoughe the Princes throughe their humanitie and great modestie woulde suffer them selues to bée so abased yet notwithstanding the Nobles woulde not beare it nor abyde the gouernement of Straungers And to confirme this which he had spoken he brought in manye examples that the Guises being Straungers were neyther in the number of Princes nor at anye time so accounted and that therefore it was not lawfull for the Guises to arrogate vnto themselues the titles and authoritie of Princes which onely appertained to the Kings bloude as the auncient custome of the kingdome woulde declare This sayth he to pacifie those of the temporaltie whose doings were the more to bée feared for that the greater part of the Nobilitie was of that side sauing such as were woonne and procured awaye by the Guiles for the Kings money Thus Planchaeus largely and fréely vttered his mynde But all the whyle that he had this talke with the Quéene the Cardinall of Loraine was hydde behinde the Tapistrie clothes that hââ¦ng before the wall of the Closet Who when Planchaeus had leaue of the Quéene to depart came forth and talking with the Quéene appointed that Planchaeus shoulde be called agayne and commaunded to procéede in his former declaration and to shewe who they were that were the authors and Captaynes of she late conspiracie the which except he woulde promise to doe that he might be caried to prison Therefore Planchaeus being called againe began to vtter his minde as fréely as he had done before shewing the parentage and stocke of the Guises and also howe they were Straungers and nothing appertaining to Fraunce adding moreouer that it was very euill done to commit the gouernement of the Realme to Straungers and speciallye to such as did contende ambitiouslye for the Kingdome and thought it shoulde appertayne to them The Quéene being offended with his boldnesse and speciallye séeing he affirmed that he knewe nothing of the conspiracie commaunded that he should be caried to prison All which Planchaeus spake was euen as it were the voyces of the people speaking by the mouth of one man. After this Michael Hospitall the Kings Chauncelour after the death of Oliuarius of whom we spake before a man verye well learned and wyse was sent to the Senate of Paris to consult with them about many matters that belonged to the gouernement of the Realme and among the rest concerning the prouiding such remedies as might take away the tumults alredie begon And thus afflictions waxed more easie than they wers before and remedies were prouided for so generall a mischiefe But the fame and report of the increasing of the multitude of the faithfull daylye was in euery place of the Realme and bicause great troubles séemed to be at hande all men had regarde vnto them more than to the report of the increase of the faithful the most part endeuouring themselues to staye and pacifie these troubles And at this time this was the state of France the Guises sent the same prouision of warre with the which they withstoode the religion in Fraunce into Scotland ouer the sea to the intent they might there deface and put downe the religion newly begon For the Nobles of Scotland with a great multitude of the people beside had cast off the Popes yoke from of their neckes had plucked downe their Images their altars and abolished the ceremonies of the Papisticall seruice causing the Quéene to get hir into a little towne by hirselfe for that she was sore offended at that which they had done Therefore lacking helpe the Guises brought to passe to haue an hoste of men sent out of France to the number of foure thousande Of this bande of men Brossaeus was Generall with whome was ioyned the Bishop of Ambianensis to the ende the one might fight with the sword and the other with Papisticall power Therfore they toke their iourney with these coÌmandements namely that they should seuerely punish the Rebels and the chiefe authors of sedition and that they shoulde restore the wonted and vsuall obedience of the Pope Wherfore so sone as they were come into Scotland they made proclamation that euery one should go to Masse detest and forsake the new religion The Bishop wrote vnto the King that he woulde bring all the people within fewe dayes to the catholike faith Brossaeus wrote that he woulde destroy all within sixe moneths which woulde not come to the auncient Religion But it came otherwise to passe For after the death of Marie Quéene of England the Guises made claime and title to the Crowne of Englande for their Néece the Quéene of Scottes as though she had bene the lawfull heire Whereat the moste gracious Quéene Elizabeth hauing great disdaine sent worde to the King of Fraunce of this great iniurie done to hir Grace by the Guises and biddeth battaile Nowe the Scottés to the ende they might abide the forren power of the Frenchmen féeling also that they stoode in néede of helpe and ayde from some other place went to the Quéene of England beséeching hir that although they were hir olde enimies yet that she woulde vouchsafe to ayde them in so iust a cause of Religion saying that they had rather to abide any extremitie than the tyrannie of the Pope To whom the Quéenes maiestie willingly and gladly promised and graunted helpe The Scottes therefore being encouraged by this ayde did so withstande the French power that they made great slaughter of the French men and draue them to such a strayte that except the matter had bene taken vp by peace it shoulde séeme that they had bene all vtterly destroyed Peace therfore was concluded and the reformed Religion there established And so that tumult was turned to the peace and quietnesse of the Church notwithstanding the subtill practises and cruell threatnings of the aduersaries There were also at that time grieuous afflictions layde vpon the Church in another place For in the townes of Sixtus and Guardia in the countrie of Calabria there were manye yea to the number of a thousande which by the Popes commaundement were put to death for Religions sake and many horrible cruelties also committed by the meanes of one Marchion Buciane In the Kingdome of Fraunce also in diuers places as at Paris and Rhoane many of the faythfull were murthered vpon the solemne feast daye of the Bishops deambulation For the faithfull began more and more to assemble themselues togither and exhibited vnto the King a little booke containing the confession of their faith requiring to haue libertie graunted vnto them to declare their cause Wherfore it shall not be disagréeing from our purpose to put downe here the same their confession to the ende we may therby sée what a notable consent and agréement there was in the doctrine of faith among the Churches of Fraunce notwithstanding the ââ¦oysterous tempestes of the first afflictions A Confession of the Fayth made
Emperour woulde haue the actes of the Councell handled before him to be openlye publyshed abroade But concerning the paines and punishments which were hitherto appointed this he sayde was his opinion ⪠and iudgement That doctrine for the which all this trouble ariseth is of diuers men diuersly receyued Some so soone as they hearde of the same perfecte and approued doctrine and had in no poynt imbraced receyued the same thought it sufficient to knowe this one thing namely that no man ought to heare Masse and that it was lawfull to eate fleshe in Lent that men were not bounde to Auricular confession and that it was lawfull to speake euill of Priestes These men vndiscretely went about to defend that doctrine by force of armes but to be short these men vnder the pretence of Religion were mere seditious and are by no meanes to be excused For if these kinde of men were Christians or by any maner of meanes true receyuers of the Gospell they ought to remember that the Apostle commaunded to praye for Kings and to render all obedience vnto them yea though they were cruell and wicked also they ought to call to minde that neuer in the Church specially in the time of the twelue great persecutions in the which an infinite number of Christians were put to death there was any one man founde which went about to defend his cause by force of armes but rather ouercame the crueltie of their Emperours with their pacience Another sort of men there are also which imbrace this doctrine and retain the same with such zeale loue and obedience towardes God and the King that they woulde in nothing offende them By the life and death of these men it is manifest that they haue a desire to attayne saluation and to finde the way that leadeth to the same and when they haue founde that way they neither feare losse of lyfe and goods nor any maner of punishment but to the vtmost of their power prosecute that way Wherfore they are not to be counted among the number of those wicked professors before spoken off nor to be numbred in the companie of seditious persons As yet we see it playne inough that those punishmentes which haue bene deuised haue done no good but on the contrarie part their patience which they manifestly shewed in the middest of the fierie flames hath stirred vp many to haue a liking and to fauour their cause Herevpon it came to passe that they which neuer hearde of the same doctrine for the which they suffer were desirous to vnderstande what doctrine it was and at the length hauing intelligence of the same they did receiue it with no lesse affection zeale than others had done being ready by the ensample of others to suffer death for it Therfore set before your eyes and consider the examples of the thrée hundred and eightene Bishoppes in the first Councell of Nice of the. 150. in the Councell of Constantinople of the 200. in the Councell of Ephesus and of the 630. in the Councell of Chalcedon who neuer vsed any other armour than the worde of God against the Arrians Macedonians Nestorians and other heretikes conuicted of blasphemie against the holy Trinitie Constantinus Valentinian Theodosius Martian being Christian and godly Emperours did vse no greater punishment against the authors of sects than banishment And as touching assemblies and multitudes gathered togither they were always forbidden for the dauÌger that séemed therof to arise the king also hath sufficiently prouided for this thing by his Edicts And thus this Bishop made an end of his oratioÌ adding this one thing by the Kings leaue that it was mete in punishing to haue a prudent consideration of the place of the time of the wils of men of the coÌpaniâ⦠called togither After this man Carolus Marillacus Bishop of Vienna in Dolpheny vttered his opinion in maner and forme folowing Although that matter which is propounded vnto vs to deliberate vpon is very hard long bicause it is left at large and is general therfore the more vneasie to be concluded séeing we must come froÌ that which is generall to particularities in discussing wherof the diuersitie of Iudges will bring as it is likely great varietie of opinioÌs yet notwithstanding we must hold this as a sure certaine rule in the discussing of all matters namely that after long consultation debating of things some certaintie at the length must be concluded that there cannot be a more pestilent mischiefe mortal plague in the gouernment of common weales than to wander among the diuersitie of opinions to appoint and retaine no certaine thing And if this rule so greatly commended of wise men so prudently obserued of Kings of common weales of Princes which euer at any time florished ought to stirre vs vp to follow the same way and rule truly the necessitie the extremitie in the which we are hath brought vs into such a strayt that we cannot do otherwise though we would ⪠And as all men of sound iudgement wil confesse y matter cannot abide in that state in the which it is now any loÌger But lest I be tedious vnto you ⪠I will come to the matter The tumults which of late haue hapned the feare of newe things the complaintes and displeasure of many men and the feare also and dreade that is among men ought to stirre vs vp to séeke and prouide for remedies in time which may defende vs from these great troubles which else wil make a great alteration of y state And that I may briefly conclude this matter I thinke that there are two things as it were two pillers by which the state of the kingdome may be fortified and borne vp namely the integritie of Religion and the good will of the people The which if they were stable and firme we néede not doubt the safetie of things but if they be once cast downe as it is to be scared there must néedes followe great ruine and destruction of that hie and notable building These two things therfore must be stablished and confirmed to prelient that ruine which is like to come and to this ende as both common profite and necessitie requireth all our Councels reasons deuises and deliberations ought to tende séeing herevpon both the due obedience to the King and the conseruation of the people dependeth The which things are so ioyned togither that the one of them by anye meanes cannot stande without the other As concerning necessitie we must measure and wey the same by hauing a respect and consideration of the King and of his principall members or ministers which vnder him gouerne the people and of others also who ought to obey First of all therfore it is the Kings duty to wey coÌsider whervnto he is called wherfore the Lord hath giuen vnto him the rule of so great a people In so doing he shal find that the Lord hath chosen
let vs assure our selues that there must néedes follows thereof prosperous successe séeing that God is alwaies present with those which assemble themselues togither in hys feare and name Neither let vs defer the time any more séeing that necessitie doth so vrge vs and séeing spéedie remedie is so greatly required We haue many sorowful and lamentable examples to set before our eyes which are forewarnings vnto vs of great desolation to come as the miserable state and condition of the Churches of the Jewes of the Greekes of the Egyptians and Africans the which in time past florished but at this day they scarsly retain a christian name For these causes I conclude that we must defer the time no lenger to call a Parliament to remedie these things without hauing any consideration or respect to those things which the Pope maye obiect as lettes against the same séeing that both it is lawfull for vs so to doe and also bicause our conseruation safetie is now in hazarde For if any one part of the kingdome were lost it is not in the Popes power to restore the same vnto vs againe Whatsoeuer my happen or befall we must not perish to fulfil the Popes minde but must rather follow at this time specially that rule which God hath giuen vnto vs and which our elders haue so oftentimes folowed But yet truly while this Parliament shall be a preparing I think it shall serue very wel for the purpose if we prouide thre or foure ⪠remedies which may greatly further this our enterprise The first is of the Churches that Prelates maye remaine and abide in their Diocesses and in this point let no man be borne withall And here I think it good to put you in mind of the Italians who enioying and occupying the thirde part of the benefites spirituall promotions of this kingdome draw vnto ãâã selues great profit like horseleaches suck out our bloude hauing no care at al to dwel vpoÌ their benefices And laughing vs to scrone we are so blinde that we cannot sée it And if we chauÌce to espie it we are pacified againe by their flattering words If the King should hire a great multitude of souldiers and giue them wages and if they should abide stil at home haue no care of their martiall affaires in the war had not then think you the King iust occasion to depryue them of their wages to dismisse them And thus truly doe our Prelates behaue themselues who in the troublesome time of the Church when heresies such like wickednesses were in diuers places sowne abrode the which in dede is the greatest warre of the Church being so much greater than the earthly warre as the helth of the soule surpasseth excelleth the helth of the body sate notwithstanding in the midst of their pleasures voyde of all care of their flockes coÌmitted to their charge The second remedie is to shew declare by some notable manifest act that we are fully perswaded bent seriously to séeke a reformation least the aduersaries should cauil say that we call a Councel not to reforme the Church but to séeke our owne aduantage to stablishe and confirme our owne prerogatiues priueledges In the which matter nothing séemeth to me more méete conuenient for vs to declare that we haue an earnest care for the reformation of the Church than if we looke diligently about that nothing be done in the Church for money and bribes to the ende that Babilonicall beast Couetousnesse which hath brought so many euils corruptions into the Church may at the length vtterly be ouerthrowne And so we shall finde a more easie waye to controuersies and shall also stop the mouths of those that slaunder backbite vs If any man obiect say that so great a matter cannot be brought to passe by so small a number of men as we are without the determination of the Generall Councell we make vnto theÌ this answere namely that there is no new or vnwanted thing brought in by vs but we séeke to bring those things to passe which Christ hath plainly commanded Councels determined Kings the executors of Councels confirmed which in our time also they which haue ben the best learned in the Romish Church by their iudgementes haue allowed The authoritie of this voice abideth for euer Freely ye haue receyued Giue freely Spirituall things are giuen fréely therfore it is not lawfull to buye sell them and are in that order that they were giueÌ to be distributed that is to say freely Herevpon they are called Simoniakes which take vnto themselues that vnlawful and forbidden game of the which simonie or forbidden gaine we haue so many examples both in the scriptures also in the historie of the ancient Church that we shall not néede at this time to make any longer discourse of the same And to say somwhat of the CouÌcels how oftentimes was this forbidden namely that not onely corruptions but also suspition of corruption should be taken awaye Inso much that they which distributed gaue the almes were forbidden to giue it in the time of the sacrameÌts least they should séeme to giue their almes for the receiuing of the sacraments as ye may reade in the Councel of Ancyrane and others In like maner king Lodoicus séeing that confusion créeping by little and little into the Church commaunded that the Clergie shoulde abide and dwell in their Diocesses and that no money euer after should be caried to Rome shewing how greatly this chopping and chaunging did displease him yet there was neuer any man that was counted a greater Catholike than he Also Pope Paulus the third himselfe in our time séeing that many departed forsooke the Church of Rome and fearing that this mischiefe wold grow more more was constrained by the continuall cries of the Protestantes to confesse that there were many errors got into the Church therfore commaunded certain men that were couÌted notable in learning to note diligently what things were worthie of reformation swore them to hide nothing thereof from him threatning them that if they did not discharge their office throughly they should incurre the penaltie of excommunication Among the rest to whome this charge was coÌmitted were these Contarenus who was made Cardinal in Germanie for his dealing in y notable coÌtrouersie cardinal Theatinus who after the same Paule the third was made Pope Cardinall Sadoletus cardinall Poole the Englishman fiue others also which for their great learning were chosen to this office These men wheÌ they had diligeÌtly examined the matter gaue forth their sentence opinioÌ in publike writing the first article wherof was this Nothing ought to be done for money in the vse and administration of the keyes that is to say in the power of the Church Notwithstanding that Pope Paule the thirde which was so hote in the matter with his thundering
threatnings did nothing at all therein when it came to the pinch Neither would Pope Paule the fourth his successor wheÌ he was yet but Cardinal establish that which he thought to be mete necessary I omit that which Bernard other learned fathers haue said only this I say except we aply our minds put our haÌds to the tearing vp of this roote of al euil Jesus Christ will descend from heauen with a whip in his hand to expel vs as buiers sellers out of the temple The third remedie shal be to confesse our faults the which in dede is the first step to helth to make the same manifest by publike generall fastings the which maner was alwayes obserued in the olde Church whensoeuer any great perill or daunger was like to come vpon the Church as plague famine or warre the which thrée euils in these our dayes inuade the realme togither For what greater plague can there be thaÌ that which slayeth mens soules What greater famine can therebe than the famine of Gods word Or what warre caÌ be more mortall or cruell than the corruption of pure doctrine By which we being drawn froÌ God are depriued of the eternal kingdom which Christ by his bloud hath purchased for vs Let vs therfore turn vs vnto those old accustomed remedies as to Cââ¦mmon praier to fasting and to wéeping and first of all we must take into our handes the sworde of God that is to say his word the scahard wherof we scarsly retaine neither must we thinke that Myters Croziers Cappes Garments and other ornaments the which in old time were outwardly worne to shewe that which was inwarde that is to say that godly doctrine ought to be ioyned with a godly life can deliuer vs froÌ the coÌtempt of the people seeing that which is eternall is wanting there onely remaineth an outward shew feined sight Let vs set before our eies this horrible sentence which John the Baptist pronounced against the Jewes saying Nowe is the axe put to the roote of the trees euery tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruite is ââ¦ew ââ¦e downe and cast into the fire The fourth remedie shall be while the Councel is a preparing gathering togither to stay seditious persons so to restraine theÌ that they break not by any meanes the coÌmon peace tranquilitie let this be kept as a law ratified and inuiolable that it is not lawful for any subiect vpoÌ any occasioÌ or for any cause to take armes to lift vp the sword without the coÌmandement or leaue of the Prince the only moderator gouernor of warres This I speak for the sorowful exaÌples sake which hapned are like to happeÌ except we take heds Of the one part we saw the tumult of Ambaxia on y other part there were certain Preachers which stirred vp the people to tumult violently to set theÌselues to destroy banish those protestaÌts vnder a pretence of godly seditioÌ as though that Religion coulde or ought to be established by sedition And thus there was greate offence committed on both parts insomuch that many were slaine which were thought to be Protestants Moreouer those protestants did greatly offend enterprising many things rashly to put away these iniuries offred vnto theÌ taking armes therby violating the law of the magistrate which beloÌgeth to no priuate persoÌ For the end of the law is to liue according vnto Gods wil to hurt no man and to obey the lawe of Armes Therfore the king is the maintainer of Gods law and the moderator of wars the which he may and ought to vse to the authoritie of the lawe and to the punishing of rebelles and traitours To be shorte he counteth him selfe a king who although he be not ordained of God yet of his owne will and authoritie moueth warre And truely herevpon it followeth that he ought to be counted of all men as an enimy and to be punished as a breaker of Gods ordinance and publique power For this cause I thinke it good that commaundement be giuen to inferior Magistrates that they diligently attend vpon their charge and offices least some newe thing happen by their carelesse negligence Hereby therefore it euidently appéereth that the first bonde to preserue the kings estate is so to establishe Religion that no man may abuse y same at his owne pleasure against the authoritie of the law and the ende thereof which is that both God and the king maye be obeyed But now to come to the seconde principall point as concerning the ordering and kéeping of the people in due obedience we thinke this to be the waye namely to heare the complaintes of the subiectes and to vse conuenient remedies for the same Notwithstanding there is great differeÌce betwéene priuate open complaintes for if the complaints be made of priuate persons to priuate persons the diligence of the Judges which are appointed to ordinary gouernemeÌt is a spéedie way to remedie and helpe them But when there are generall complaints or when eyther the confirmation or alteration of things commeth in question we must straight way haue recourse to those auncient constitutions and orders by whiche the safetie of the kingdome standeth the which are nothing else than those thrée orders which we call the states That is to saye that those things being made manifest and opened which maye bring any confusioÌ and the remedies which were prouided to put away the same being diligently sought for the king for the loues sake that he beareth to his people maye determine and appoint that which is iustly required to the honor of God and the coÌmon profyte of all men Of the which thing the good will of the people wholy dependeth that hauing done that duetie which he oweth vnto God he may in lyke maner satisfie the mindes and willes of his subiectes And so he shall not onely kéepe the name of a king the gifts of nature appertaining to a kingly name but also may rule and gouerne by peace seing that gentlenesse may allure them of their owne good wils to do more than force or violence can extorte from them And to the ende it may euidentlye appéere that the complaintes are such that they ought to be heard and examined of the assembly of the States I will shewe vnto you a generall reason namely this The extraordinarie taxes tallages tributes haue so increased that now the subiectes not onely are not able to beare this great burthen but also not able to satisfie discharge those old duties which were before time accustomed to be payde Is not this a complaint to be considered talked of in the assembly of States Seing the greatest part of the people complaineth of the same and are by no maner of meanes any thing disburthened but specially seing that to heare the afflicted oppressed is the beginning of consolation to declare a readinesse and good will to ease theÌ is
Ecclesiasticall persons if they well consider the weightinesse of the matter will looke better vnto their office and duetie than they haue done heretofore Let vs knowe that the dissolution of our Church was the first beginning of heresies but it is to bée thought that a Reformation will take them away againe This victorie must not be sought for by violence or by force of armes but by godlye exhortations and by godlynesse of lyfe Wyth these weapons the Heretikes in tymes past were ouercome We must not hate the menne but the vyces and wickednesses that are in men and wée must goe aboute all that wée maye to bring them into the waye that are in errour Let vs therefore put awaye all factious and seditious names as the names of Lutheranes Huguenotes Papystes and suche lyke and let vs retayne and kéepe still the names of Christians But bicause there are manye founde whyche wyll not bee satisfyed desiring tumult and confusion enimies to peace and the coÌmon welth and as it appeareth contemners of God and Religion the King which otherwise of himselfe is gentle and long suffering hitherto hath vene constrayned and peraduenture shall be hereafter vrged to indeuour himselfe to punishe the frowarde obstinate It may seeme a very sharp remedy but if we looke well vpon the disease and mischiefe yet a growing we shall find it very necessary for the same Notwithstanding it is so come to passe as yet by the goodnesse of God and the clemencie of the Prince that there hath bene no greater punishment layde vpon any man nor no greater destruction followed as the subuersion of Cities the burning of houses the disfraunchizing of Cities of their priuiledges and the restraint of their liberties the which other Princes that dwell about vs haue oftentimes vsed euen within the compasse of our remembrance for the punishing of seditious persons And bicause it is to be feared least the armies of souldiers being dismist the seditious will begin to practise and conspire a freshe of two things the one is to be done namely that either the armies be kept and maintained still which cannot be done without the great cost and charge of the Subiectes or else that the Citizens of euery Citie endeuour themselues to punishe such seditious and seditious persons and he that shall be first founde to go about to alter the state of the common welth let him by his seuere punishment be an example to all the rest The King to this ende and purpose will giue you a power of armed men Consider with your selues which of these wayes is most for your profite either that you maintaine garrisons of souldiers to kéepe the cities for the king or that you your selues in your owne persons do it at your owne costes and charges As for all other things the King will prouide and sée vnto them by his officers In the meane time let such as are Ecclesiastical persons doe their dutie by prayers by Sermons and by diligent instructing of the people And so it will come to passe that the King shall be obeyed and you shall enioye peace tranquilitie WheÌ the ChauÌcelor had procéeded thus far forth and had spokeÌ somewhat concerning the Kings substaunce and great erpences exhorting the Court of Parliament to ease the same he declared that it was the King and the Quéenes pleasures that euery man shoulde fréely put forth his complaintes and sutes for that their Maiesties intended with all clemencie as it was meete to prouide for all thinges And this only was done the first day In the next méeting the assemblye of States chose out thrée men to speake for them the which thrée stoode before the King and made their seuerall orations The sum wherof I will briefely repeate so far forth as they shall séeme necessary for our purpose The speaker for the thirde order of States that is to say for the Commonalty was named Angell a Counseller and a pleader of causes in the Senate of Burdeux in Gascoyne This man declared by many reasons that for the due putting away of perturbations and troubles it séemed good and most necessary to the people first of all to remoue and to take away the causes Which causes he saide were partlye the corruptions among Ecclesiasticall persons among which corruptions which were very many in number there were thrée notable and more pernicious than the rest namely Couetousnesse Ignorance and Luxurie Ignorance he sayd was so manifest that no man néede to doubte of the same and so great also that among that sorte of men it was to be séene from the hyest to the lowest Which ignorance is the mother and Nurse of all errours as both experience and also the testimonies of learned fathers aboundantlye declare To remedie this he saide Canons and decrées woulde be prouided but in vaine For so great is the contempte and negligence of preaching and instructing the people which is notwithstanding the office of a good pastour that Bishops at this day counte it a shame and reproch vnto them to féede the flocke of Christ. And such as are Curates and other masse priests following the euill example of Bishoppes doe also euen abhorre their office and doe commit the same to vnlearned vicars who singing Masses for their rewarde haue onely some one slender bosome collation or other which they alwayes vse without discretion as one plaister to all maner of soares The seconde vice is Couetousnesse the whiche as it is no lesse pestiferous than Ignorance so is it no lesse to be séene as well in the heades as in the inferiors And as for Luxurie the pompe and pryde of Prelates he fayde it was suche that it was a great stumbling blocke and offence to all men For they are painted and set for the as though by an outwarde shewe in the world they should represent the maiestie of God when as they shoulde rather expresse the same by godlynesse and integritie of life How greatly haue our Bishoppes of late dayes degenerated from the meane estate puritie and godlynesse of the true Byshoppes of olde time All these corruptions saith he must be taken away by a godly and lawfull Counsel called and also by the kings authoritie The speaker for the Nobilitie was one Iacobus Sillius This man began first to speake many things concerning the power authoritie and office of Kings and largely also concerning the order of Nobles which he saide was verye profitable and necessary to preserue and maintaine the dignitie of the king In speaking of matters concerning Religion he founde this fault aboue all others namely that hytherto there had béene great ouersight in suffering Ecclesiasticall persons to haue so great power and authoritie and so large lyuing and reuenewes who haue incroched vnto them selues the houses of Noble men do wickedly abuse all that euer they haue Wherfore saith he it is necessarye that these sortes of men shuld he reformed Also he wished that it might be diligently
and slewe three score of them three of their owne side onely being lacking When Trinitaeus sawe that he had assaulted Agronia in vaine he assaulted the villages thereabout as Comba and Tagliaret but at their handes he receiued the repulse also with losse of thirtie of his men Seyng therefore howe hardly he should obtaine his purpose and that he little preuayled by open violence he soughte to practise by subtiltie and crafte And sent to the inhabitantes of the valleys promising them peace if they woulde vnarme them selues sende men to the Duke to craue pardon for their rebellion and gyue vnto hym sixtene thousande Crownes The people desyring peace and to bée eased of all their troubles easilye yelded to these conditions And sente chosen men for the purpose to Trinitaeus saying that they woulde fulfyll his commaundement and so they put off their armoure which by and by was taken from them by the souldiers They sente in lyke maner in their owne name to the Duke two men to confirme the obedience of the people vnto hym by an othe so that they might haue libertie to vse their Religion In the meane time there was a great summe of money required the one halfe beyng payed and a daye appoynted for the payment of the other halfe Within fewe dayes after the Duke sente for the two Legates of the valleys and the Popes Legate sitting by him and a great multitude of people beyng present commaunded them kneeling on theyr knees in the name and on the behalfe of the inhabitantes of the valleys to confesse their faultes and to craue pardon for the same firste of the Duke and then of the Pope in the person of hys Legate there presente and to sweare both of them euer afterward to be loyal and obedient This thing beyng extorted from the Legates by feare the Duke by the meanes of these promyses commaunded the men of the valleys to put awaye their Ministers and to receyue suche as he sente vnto them and to come to the Masse The inhabitantes of the valleys blamed the inconstancie of their ambassadors saying that the same shuld not deceyue them neither that they woulde consente vnto that which they had done beyng agaynste theyr wils and commaundemente They woulde they sayde obey theyr Prince but so notwithstanding that they woulde haue the libertie of their conscience Wherfore they desired that they might haue leaue to exercise that doctrine which before time they had followed So soone as the Duke hearde of this he sent an armye againe and that in the deepe of Winter inuading all the countrey burning houses spoiling goods and Cattells and showing so much crueltie as might be The men of the valleys therefore being constrained forsooke their houses and fled to the toppes of the Mountaines with their wiues and children beyng couered with snowe From thence they sawe their houses on fire their trées cut downe their cattell taken away and spââ¦yled And yet for all this eueryone of them yea eueÌ their women shed no teares for the same but gaue prayses vnto God who had made theÌ worthie to suffer for his name and had made their houses ashes to throwe in the eyes of Antichrist Therefore when they sawe whereabout their enimyes went they dispayred not in the middest of so great affliction but made their prayers vnto God and sayde with one mind and consent that in so iuste a cause they would spende their liues thinking it better to dye than to receiue such horrible superstitions beyng fully persuaded that in so good and iust a cause God woulde not fayle them And thus they bended them selues to séeke their owne defence appointing scoutes and watches in certaine conuenient places making certaine holdes stopping the wayes againste their enimyes and setting all thyngs that was necessarye for them in so good order as they coulde There was therefore dayly skirmishes on bothe sides and within a fewe dayes there were a hundred men slaine on the Dukes side and on the other side not fortie Among other valiant Captaines there was one called Carolus Truchetus a very expert fellow in the warre and of great estimation and authoritie with the Duke This fellowe sought how he might win the Castles and holdes of their enimyes and therefore by the skill of the places and by the knowledge that he had of their situation he brought to passe by coÌming on the backe side of the mountaine that he brought a thousand souldiers and placed them on the ridge of a hill and hauing quietly possessed the same he put his souldiers in comfort to haue the pray and after he had fortified the same he made hast to win another holde Of the which when many were ware that kept a little hill harde by they tolde the rest of their fellowes of the which part went to repell their enimyes and parte with all spéede gaue warning to all those that dwelt there rounde about with the sounde of a Trumpet And at the laste two hundred men being gathered together they easilye put their enimyes to flight And making hast to remoue those souldiers which were placed on the top of the hill they sawe certaine troupes of their enimyes making hast to get a forte néere vnto them of great force Therfore when they had altered their purpose leauing their former assault which they had ment to giue against those on the ridge of the hill they made hast to encounter with the other part and setting vpon them before they were readye they slew many of their enimyes and had made a greater slaughter had not a certaine preacher of Gods word by his admonitions stayed their force But Truchetus being strickeÌ with a stone on the legge was caryed away by two souldiers The which when a certain Cowheard which fed oxen there saw he threw a stone at him with a sling with so great violence that he falling to the ground and being lefte of his souldiers was slaine with his owne sworde by the same Cowhearde And nowe for wante of Gunnes the men of the valleys had made them crossebowes of wood which would deliuer stones with great force and therefore the men of Sabaudia being on the lower ground were very muche anoyed with this newe kinde of shooting Wherefore the men of Sabaudia to saue theÌ selues from the force and violence of the stones that were thus shot at them deuised great Targets with which they might couer their whole bodyes Therefore they sending before them fortie men shéelding them and defending them froÌ the force of the stones with their Targets marched on in hast with all their armies The which when the men of the valleys perceyued they set vpon them on the one side and slewe many of them and put all their armies to flight And at the length the enimyes vnloked for toke the towne Taglaretus and there some were slaine But they which were ââ¦n the edges of the mountaines set vpon the enimyes slewe many of them put the rest to flighte And
troubles bothe wyth his presence and authoritie and also woulde bende all his Counsell wisedome and power to finde oute remedyes for the same On the one parte he might set before his eyes the infinite multitude of soules which runne headlong as it were into destruction bycause they knowe not well the waye of saluation On the other parte he might sée part of the kingdome to be distracted and drawne away from the communion and fellowship of the Churche whiche consisted of the greatest part of the Nobles of learned men of the best citizens and most ciuil sorte of the common people who wante neyther force nor counsell or any other meanes to atchieue their purpose séeing there are among them men of great wealth and riches which will not let to spend their goods and substance in their cause Furthermore such is the concord consent and vnitie among them that it is wonderful to sée how carefully one of them doe defende an other in somuch that they can neither be drawne from that concord neyther can they be ouercome by force of armes And without present perill this kingdome can not be cast into those straites whiche threaten vnto the same no doubte greate ruine and extreme destruction Seing therfore the matter standeth thus and séeing ther is a manifest token of great troubles as haÌd the number of those men increasing and waxing strong euery day more and more she also being persuaded that the holie Father being myndefull of those benefites which he had receyued of the Frenche kings would carefully indeuoure himselfe to prouide remedies to ease these troubles for this cause she was boldâ⦠to flee vnto him as to a refuge that he woulde apply all his counsell wisedome and power to procure the vnitie of the Church It may please him therfore to vnderstand that this thing might the more easyly be brought to passe bicause by the goodnesse of God there are not in the whole realme of France any Anabaptistes heretikes or any that speake against the Christian Articles of the faith nor yet against the declaration of those Articles made by the sire generall Councels And she sayd this was the opinion and iudgement of certain lerned men with whom she had conferred that the holie Father might receyue them which confessed that catholike profession of the faith plainly confirmed and expounded by those sixe generall Councels into the Communion felowship of the Church although they were of diuers opinions And that other opinions can not let the vnion of the Churche euen as in tyme past the diuersitie in celebrating the Passeouer the diuers and sundrie obseruations of fastings and rites in sacraments and other partes of diuine seruice did nothing at all hinder the vnion of the Churche and that the same waye then vsed should be very profitable now to stay the controuersies of the Latine and Gréeke Churche Therfore they trust the controuersies being at an end that God wil be with them and that the darke mistie cloudes being driuen awaye at the length he will shewe the true and perfecte lyghte of the truth And sayth she if this generall waye shall not be approued and allowed although it oughte to be referred to a generall Councell yet notwithstandyng it is necessarie that the holie Father do prouide a spéedie remedie before that time considering the present necessitie For delay will bring such greate inconueniences with it as can not easily by any meanes be recouered againe But the remedie séemeth to consiste in two thinges First that they which haue alreadie separated themselues from the CoÌmmunion of the Churche might be called and brought to the same agayne Secondly that they which as yet haue not withdrawne themselues might be kept in this communion still To winne the first it may séeme very necessarie to vse often admonitions and to haue mutual and quiet conference on bothe partes Bishops and their ministers muste diligently preache Gods worde and exhorte the people to mutuall peace and concorde and names of reproche on bothe sydes muste quyte be taken awaye The whyche she hoped was a speedie waye to bring concorde and loue The whyche also she sayd she had giuen in commaundemente to those that were separated from the Churche and was hytherto obeyed But as touching those whyche as yet hadde not separated them selues from the Communion of the Churche there are many sayeth she whiche as yet purpose not to departe from the same and yet notwithstanding they stande continually in doubte and specially in these thrée principall poyntes The first is that they vnderstande that the primitiue Churche had no images They knowe that God hathe expressely forbidden to worshyp them or to set them in those places where they maye be worshipped They know also that Gregorie hath foribdden the same and that diuers good men in lyke maner whiche synce that tyme receyued them into the Churches expressely declared that they were ordeined for no other vse than to put the ignorante people in mynde of their Gods whiche were absente Notwithstanding many errours deceytes and lyes haue preuayled and crepte into this kingdome and realme of Fraunce and many deceyuers contrarie to the doctrine of the auncient Fathers haue moste wickedly abused the worshipping of images to their owne lucre and gaine in so muche that the cousciences of many men for this cause are greately offended and therefore will not come into the Churches least they shoulde bowe theyr knée before the Images The matter therefore béeing well examined if on the one parte the inconueniences whyche may aryse héereof and the fruites and commodities whyche are lyke to come bee wyââ¦ely wayed it shall bée founde that it is better to remoue them than to woorship them with offence of many specially seeing the same is neyther the commaundement of God nor yet hath bene receyued of the Churche vpon any necessitie Therefore to cut away all occasions of slaunderous reporte and to keepe those still of whome we speake in the fellowship of the Churche lette it be considered if it bée profitable to remoue these Images from the Altars and to place them aboute the Temple eyther within or without the causes béeing declared namely that certaine vngodly men séeking theyr owne gayne on the one parte and on the other part certaine ignorant and vnskilful men also wil bring to passe that the people shall abuse them against the ordinaunce of the Churche 2 The second principall point is concerning the administration of Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper In the administration of Baptism it seemeth strange to many good and godly men that Exorcismes and many formes of prayers should be vsed the which may somwhat profite those that vnderstande them but séeing the greatest parte of the people doe not vnderstand them it séemeth better to omit them And where as it is beléeued and taughte that these things are necessarie to be done before Baptism they say that
it is done against the pure and sound iudgemeÌt of the Churche which hath decréed and appoynted Water and the Worde to be only necessarie in the Sacramente but as for Exorcismes and Prayers not to be necessarie to the Sacrament Furthermore they saye that in Baptisme the wordes of the auncient Catechismes are reteyned still the vse wherof is nowe gone and therfore at this tyme is vsed in vayne in Baptisme Also many do very much misselike that a diseased or infected priest should spit his vncleane spittell into the mouth of the infant wherby some great euill and perill mighte arise All these inconueniences she sayd might be remedied if it might be left in the choyce of al men eyther to vse Exorcismes and prayers in baptizyng their infantes or else purely and simply without any additions to kéepe the substance of Baptisme that is to saye water and the word and to haue the same ministred in the vulgar tong that the people may vnderstand it The whiche libertie were more tollerable than eyther the offence or separation of many men and so no infantes shall be baptized out of the Congregation of the Romishe churche 3 As concerning the holie Comunion many good men do misselyke thrée things in the same Of the which the firste is that it is giuen to communicate only vnder one kynde Whose consciences in this matter can not bée quieted and stayed eyther by the authoritie of the Councell of Constance or by the obseruation of custome receyued not many yeares agoe seing that Iesus Christ playnly sayth Take yee eate ye drinke ye Paule the Apostle also sayth VVho soeuer eateth of this bread and drinketh of this cup. To the which expresse word of God is ioyned also the auncient custome of the Churche constantly obserued for a thousande yeares and more And although for reuerence sake whiche they owe vnto the Church they will not condemne the couÌcell of Constance yet notwithstanding seing thorough feare of erring they leane only to plaine testimonies of Scripture and to the auncient custome of the Church it is to be feared that whyle there is controuersie aboute this matter others whiche are weake will easily be broughte to their opinion and so withdrawne from the fellowship of the Churche of Rome For the obiection of the aduersaries séemeth to be of greate force seing they bring bothe the expresse word of God and also euident reasons for that whiche they alleage Maye it please him therefore to consider whether it be not best to giue libertie that the communion may be ministred vnder both kindes although the councell of Constance be against the same 2 The seconde thing they misselyke in the holie Communion is this Manie are afeard to come to the holy communion being ministred in such order as it is in the Romishe Churches that is to say to one or to a few alone vsing no prayers that may be vnderstode of the common people neither yet expounding the vse of the Sacrament the aduersaries on the contrarie part saying and openly shewing in verie deede that they haue restored in this poynte the approued maner of the auncient Church The which matter when diuers reasons and wayes of communicating are alleaged on both sydes can not be tolde howe many of oure countreymen it doth pierce and moue in so much that there is no doubt but that very manie shal be constrayned for this cause to depart from the Church ⪠For when ââ¦n the one part they sée some one alone or a cerââ¦ain smal numbre without prayers without a sermon without giuing of thanks to ãâã any part of the sacrament and that in an vââ¦knowne tongue on the other part a congregation of a great number of men together plainly to make confession of their faith publikely to confesse their synnes to giue thankes vnto God to pray vnto God to sing Psalmes in the vulgar tong to come to the Sermon by which they may be instructed to liââ¦e a godly and a chrisââ¦ian lyââ¦e and to prepare themselues alââ¦o to receyue the Sacrament it is harde to say but that they whiche take oure parte onely for a zeale and true desyre of Religion will take these occasions to fall awaye from vs. To remedie this inconuenience let the Pope himselfe consider if it shall not be well doone to suffer the holy cââ¦mmunion to be ministred euerye moneth according to the maner of the primitiue Church that the Pastors and Elders of Churches may call all those togither whiche wyll communicate the first Sunday of euery moneth or oftner if they be required and that there in the vulgar tongue Psalme maye be soong and a generall confession of fayth and of sins lykewise to be made publike and coÌmon prayers also for the preseruation of Magistrates for the purenesse of the ayre for the frutes of the earth and for suche as are afflicted deuoutly to be sayde And to them thus assembled togither some place either of the Euangelistes or of Paules Epistles whiche concerneth the vse of the Lordes supper may be red and so to be receyued to the coÌmunion vnder both kynds And although this seemeth to be newe and not customably heretofore to be vsed yet notwithstaÌding seeing the Apostles and they which straight after succeded them did so it can not be sayde that the holy father hath done or appoynted any thing against the coÌmandemeÌt of God and the maner of the Church And to the end he may vnderstande for what cause they vrge and so earnestly desire this thing it may please him to know that there is nothing that so much troubleth and burdeneth their consciences as the feare of not rightly receiuing the Sacramentes And here the aduersaries triumphe and crie that the commaundement of God is broken and thus by little our ministerie and all our doctrin groweth out of credite insomuch that the shame and reproche hereof will redound to the holie Father himselfe at the length except it be foreséen For the which they thinke that there can not be a better more present remedie founde than if the Lordes Supper be celebrated in that order as is before declared The whyche thyng she hir selfe so muche the more vrgeth and earnestly craueth that he might helpe and remedie so greate troubles in tyme. 3 The thirde speciall poynt of offence is this There are many men of the more learned sort in al the realme which are offended at that rite or feast whiche is commonly called Corpus Christi day at which yearely feast the bodie of the Lorde is caried about the Cities to the which solemnitie they saye they can not with safe consciences come and that for these causes Firste bicause it is against the expresse institution of the Sacrament Take ye eate ye drinke ye Also Doo this in remembraunce of me That is to saye Do yée as I haue doone And therefore they say that there is so great difference betwéen the giuyng of bread to be
assembly doth consist of two sorts of men For some are Ministers of other Cuntreys in such places in whiche their calling is approued Of these men ye haue nothing to do to take an account of their offices Other some there are here whiche preach the word of God in this Realme but ye haue not called these men before you to constraine them to make an account of their calling but to conferre with them concerning doctrine otherwise they mighte séeme after this manner to be brought to iudgement the which we thinke O Quéene not to be your will or meaning But if ye did it for disputatioÌs sake by your leaue I must say that it was not meete to moue any such talke openly to answere the which we had no good occasion offered vs excepte we woulde offende the mindes of the Prelates the which to doe we would be verie loth least we might seme to be the cause that the conference should be broken off And least we may séeme to speake without reason consider that so often as two partes come together to conferre or to dispute If the one parte demaunde why do you this and the other parte also demaunde the same thing saying why do you this it cannot be but in these questions reiterated there shall discention arise But omitting the Prelates of this Realme whome we will not offende let vs imagine with our selues that there were here a certaine Bishop which should demaund of vs saying by what authoritie doe ye preache and minister the Sacramentes And we in like maner should demaund by what authoritie he did the like that is to saye whether he were elected by the Seniors of his Churche in the which he is Bishop whether the people desired to haue him and whether his life maners and doctrine were firste examined He would answere that he was in that order called but the contrary is manifestly knowne and we call the conscience of those to witnesse that heare vs knowe how y matter standeth If he should saye vnto vs ye are no ministers bicause ye haue not the impositioÌ of haÌds we in like maner would answere neyther are ye Bishops bicause in your institution the principall and most substantial matters commaunded by the worde of God are lacking If the disputation procéede farther we maye vse these wordes ye haue but one onely thing which is required in the right institution namely laying on of handes If the lacke of this one thing make as you thinke that we are not ministers ãâã must néedes the lacke of the other two namely the election by Seniors and the triall of life and doctrine proue you to be no Bishops The Councell of Chalcedone euen one of the firste vniuersall Counsels appoynted that the ordering and appoynting of a Prieste shoulde be voyde whiche was not doone by the Ministerie of some one Churche A greate deale more might we say to the Byshoppe disputing with vs séeing that two principall and substantiall thinges are wanting to him centrarie to the commaundemente of the Apostle There is also an other thing whiche we speake agaynst our will and yet notwithstanding we must speake it that all the whole assembly maye euidently sée that this question concerning Uocation is full of perill and ãâã If ye shoulde demaunde of that Byshoppe of whome he hadde receyued imposition of handes and for howe muche he hath bought the same what woulde he saye Surely he woulde make aunswere that he hadde receyued imposition of handes of Byshoppes and that he hadde not bought the same but that he gaue for it so many thousande Crownes whiche is as muche as if he shoulde saye I haue not bought the breade but I haue bought the wheate If this disputation verily shoulde be iudged by the Counsels and Canons of the Church it woulde make many Byshoppes and Curaââ¦es ashamed Into the whiche Disputation we woulde not willingly enter leaste we shoulde offende any man But take not this to be spoken to the ende we might enter into that disputation or to the intent we myght render quid pro quo or check for taunt but to the end you might vnderstand O Quéene that we did therfore very vnwillingly touche the matter leaste the peace and concorde a working might be hindered As touching the Article of the Lords Supper we would of late speake no further of the same bycause we hadde regarde to many men of this assembly whiche neuer hearing of any suche matter before mighte easily haue béene there at ofââ¦ended as at some newe thing We hadde rather that they shoulde heare the wordes of the aunciente Fathers of the Church than ours for somuche as the Cardinall of Loraine by open promise bounde himselfe to persuade and satisââ¦fie ãâã in this principall point of doctrine by the proper words of the fathers the which thing we greatly desired To satisfie this our desire and the expectation also of a great manye men the article of the Lordes Supper was put forth decided out of many and verie necessarie articles of the fayth and it was sayd vnto vs Either subscribe vnto this or else we wil proceede no farther If ye were oure Iudges and had authoritie to sit vpon our liues ye woulde not say Subscribe vnto this but VVe condemne you Your office leadeth you to another maner of speache and willeth you to shewe vnto vs our errors if there be anye in vs and to instructe them in the doctrine of truth which are readie to giue an account of their faith by the word of God. We are here before you O Quéene that for two speciall causes The firste is that we maye giue an account of our faith to God to you to the whole world The seconde is that we may obey God the king you so much as in vs lyeth to the pacifying of those troubles which are raised vp for Religions sake If ye had to do with vs onely which are here ye might the more easily haue yââ¦ur wils and purpose but hehold we represent a great number of men which are not onely in this kingdome but also in the chiefest partes of Heluetia Polonia Germanie England Scotland and Flanders and which long to see to what ende this conference will come But they shall vnderstande that in steade of the determination of a free and generall Conference the tenth parte of an Article was exhibited and that it was sayde Eyther subscribe vnto thys or else wee will proceede no farther And admit we should subscribe herevnto what were ye the better They whiche haue sente vs hyther wyll knowe whether by constrainte against our wils or else by force of good and holesome Argumentes we haue subscribed Therefore O Quéene we most earnestly beseche you that so good and godly a worke be not brokeÌ off and that ye will vouchsafe to graunt such men vnto ââ¦s which will not disdaine peaceably and soberly to conferre and dispute with vs otherwise you may consider with your selfe what great
of these confusions tumultes God himselfe the Prince of Princes shewed his singular prouidence care which hee hath effectually towardes mankind but especially peculiarly towards his church to preserue and stablish the same mightely in the iniddest of al worldly troubles neither by one meanes only bnt by sundry meanes as it hath seemed good to him in the diuers formes of rule gouernment to assigne vnto his church an abyding place as of old time in the gouerning of the primitiue Church immediatly after the Apostels and in our tyme in Germany Switserland England Scotland and in other places it hath appeared and more of late in these our countrey of Fraunce is euidently seene not that in this varietie we should ascribe any thing to the rule of fortune but that the manifold and maruailouse efficacy of the wisdome of God might be considered which doth singularly wateh ouer the safety of the Church And if it may please thee to consider the second middell causes and reasons of the Instruments which God vsed in the beginning of this worke you shall see how coÌtrary they be and how variable On the one side the wicked and vnbridled iustes of men proue to worke mischief doo appeare a colour of religion is pretended to worke the ouerthrowe of Religion the kinges name is vsurped when they go about to suppresse the King himself and in the meane time the gospeil is accused as a common enemy and the subuersion of the same is conspyred On y other side God styrreth vp many men to preserue defend his church in those troubles because the destruction of the same was chiefly desired Ther appeareth in those meÌ as the history plainly sheweth a desire of the safety of the church of the Kings dignitie authoritie of the publique peace and yet in the exââ¦ution of that their laudable desire it appeareth that they were not vtterly faultlesse yet is the Church preserued in the middest of all these misorders that as it is manifest that men cannot be sayd to be the very authors keepers therof so must we nedes confesse that God is the very author preseruer and keeper of the same Therfore the church doth not triumphe as hauing gotten the victory by mans ayde neither doth it lye vtterly prostrat by the violence of worldly tumultes which being fashoned like vnto her head raigning in the middest of hiâ⦠enemies doth so stryue in continual conflictes in this world because she certainly knoweth that the heauenly Iudge hath prouided â⦠time when they shall fully triumph The church hath heretofore ben exercised in many battails how many are behind God knoweth bycause the time which is appointed for the last victory is vnknown yet the promise of the heaueÌly reward is most true which that most valiant ChaÌpion hath pronounced with his own mouth saying That through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heauen If the promise of God as touching y victory of his church were included within the limites of this world surely it should triumphe in this world by the vertue power of the omnipotent euerlasting God but that her triumph is appointed elswher the often greuouse spoyles and calamities of the same declare In the meane time let vs consider these things contemplate wher in what partes of the world the tokens of that Catholike true church do appeare let vs aduaunce the prouidence wisdom bountifulnes and power of God in preseruing gouerning the same least if the blind ignorance of men be reprehended that worthely because they see not God who hath not left himself as saith the Apostââ¦e without witnesse in this world we also be much more worthy of blame who see not the light before our ââ¦yes ⪠nor the Sunne beames glistering throughout the whole world neyther do reuerence Iesus Christ diuersely triumphing by the mighty working of the Gospell Truly gentle reader this is my counsaill purpose in writing these Commentaries to giue thee occasion by preseruing the memory of these things to contemplate reuerence the prouidence of God in the gouernment of his church wherof we be members and that we thereby while the whole body is assaulted enduring manfully our own particular conflicts might with all our mind long for the reward of the heauenly victory Moreouer what soeuer in this litle work wherin I haue traueled faithfully belongeth vnto me I dedicate the same wholy liberaly frankly to thee Christian Reader neither shall it greeue mee too beare the censure of diuers iudgements so that thou by reading these sââ¦iender CoÌmen taries mayest be encouraged and prepared to reade a iust history FARE WELL. The Table A ACtes done by M des Adretz in Dolphini in the countie of Vâ⦠ayas 143 Aunswere made by the Prince of Conde to the supplicatioÌ which was put vp too the King and Queene by the Guises 91 Aunswere made by the Prince of Conde and his friends to the decree of the Senate of Paris 148 Assault giuen too Cesteron by the Papistes a citie in Prouance 181 Auinion a Citie in Prouance yeeldeth to the faithfull 80 Aide commeth from the Princes of Germanie the Protestants to the Prince of Conde to Orleans 214 B Blesa and Towers taken by the Papistes 137 Breach of the Edict of Ianuary cau sed the Ciuill warres 2 Burges besieged by the Papistes 199 C Cane in Normandie woon by the Admirall 259 Ciuill warre caused by the breach of the Edict of Ianuary 2 Ciuill warres begon 124 Complaint made by the faithful of the slaughter at Vassie 14 Comparison made betweene the Princes request and the request of the Guises 110 Conde forsaketh Paris 19 Conde commeth to Orleans 21 Conde enclined to peace 24 Conde perswaded to take the protection of the young King. 26 Conde complaineth too the olde Queene of the murther done aâ⦠Sens 34 Conde sory for the slaugher of Mot recondrine 085 Conde returneth to Orleans with his armie 173 Conditions of peace offered by the King to the faithfull 124 Conditions offered by the Prince of Conde at the first parley 219 Conspiracies made against the Gos pell by the Guises the Marshall of Saint Andrew and the Constable 4 Craftie pollicies wrought by the coÌ spiratours to seduce the King of Nauar to take their partes 5 Conspiracie against Languedocke 184 Crueltie vsed at the takinge of Orange 140 CouÌsaile holden at Orleans by theÌ of the reformed Religion 72 D Declaration set forth by the Prince of Conde the second time 56 Decrees made by the Senate of Paris against the men of OrleaÌs 145 E Edicts set forth in the kings name promising peace to them which had and would forsake the Admirall 245. F Foure speciall constitutions in the kings minoritie 168. G Great cruelty vsed by the papistes to the inhabitants of Orange 140. Great slaughter of the papistes 194. Guyses vnder collour of pence seke to decââ¦e the prince of CoÌde 130. Guyses
moleââ¦eth or troubleth them in their Religion or that doth hinder their Clergie by any maner of meanes And if there were any of vs that would so do or that would behaue our selues otherwise than we ought there are lawes and punishments to punish vs But truely vnder the coullor and pretence of Religion they séeke another thing We denie not but that they hate the truth of the Gospell as they haue of late declared by fyer and sword but this is the speciall thing they séeke for to trap and snare those that before tyme miraculously haue escaped their handes to be reuenged of others whome they haue alwayes hated and to enrich themselues by the spole of others The whicâ⦠to bring to passe they care for no Religion And such as go about to resist their practises by which they séeke both the pââ¦rill of our kyng and the destruction of his subiecteâ⦠by Ciuill warre they call open enemies to the kyng THese and many other things which time will reueale being wayââ¦d and considered the Prince of Conde testified before the kyng and Quéen these things also following and wished all kyngs Princes Nobles and all others of the Realme of Fraunce and all Christi an Nations ⪠truely to vnderstand these thinges First of all therfore he testifieth that he is not moued by desire of his owne profite but only with loue of the glory of God and of the profite of the whole common wealth to séeke the which he thought him selfe specially bound vnder the Quéenes auethoritie So that for conscience sake to do his dutie and for the loue hée beareth to his Countrey he sayth he is constrayned compelled to séeke all lawfull meanes to set the Quéen and the kinges Sonnes at libertie and to mayntaine and defend the kyngs Edictes and the Edict of Ianuary which was made for the ordering of Religion And he prayeth and beseecheth all the kynges true lawfull subiects waying and considering the matter as is before sayd that they would ayd and assist him in so good and godly a cause And because the king in the beginning of his raigne found him selfe oppressed with a great burthen of debt and hauing but little any maner of waye to discharge the same many of his faithfull subiects gaue vnto him a great summe of money both to discharge the same also to recouer his patrimony but there is no doubt but that they which are the auethors of this Ciuill warre will now laye holde and catch vnto them that sum of money which was giuen to the kyng for those causes and will spend and bestowe the same to oââ¦her vses Whereby both the people shall receiue great hurt and losse and also the hope which the Quéene and the kyng of Nauar had for the paiment and discharge of all the kynges debtes that the people might be brought into the same state in the which they were in the time of kyng Lodowiâ⦠the xij that hope I saye by the wasting and consuming of that money should be ãâã and quight taken awaye For these causes the Prince of Conde affirmeth that they which shall get vn to them that money shal be bound to restore the same againe and at the length shall giue an accompt for the bestowing therof But he testifieth that he and all those that fight vnder his banner shall mayntayne furnish themselues with their owne proper costes and charges And God sayth he will heare from heauen the ââ¦rie of his poore oppressed people against those which begin warres and refuse all reasonable order which séeke trouble and constrayne vs to defend our selues wyth force of Armes And because all men do vnderstand and knowe that the kyng and Quéene being beset on euery side wyth souldiours and captiued and ruled and that the greater part of the Counsell are so quayled wyth feare that they dare not resist the auââ¦thors of this warre The Prince of Conde would haue all men certefied that hée myndeth and will shew towards the kyng and Quéene all obedience in the which he will giue place to none and that he will not suffer him selfe to be so deceiued mocked vnder the pretence of rescriptes of commaundements and of Letters vnder the kinges name and seale but will warre against them vntill the Kyng and Quéene do recouer their former libertie and authoritie and may declare their willes by their owne méere gouernement Concerninge the kyng of Nauar his brother the Prince of Conde beside the naturall bond of brotherly loue the particuler cause of obedience which he ought and will giue vnto him he testifieth that he doth consider of him according to his worthines and will giue vnto him next vnto the King and Quéene al obââ¦dience And hâ⦠trusteth that he wil giue an accompt of his dealing whensoeuer it shal be required at his handes To be short the Prince of Conde and a great multitude of Earles Lordes and Nobles and other estates to declare that they speake simply and in good earnest and that they séeke for nothing more than the glory of God and the excellency and dignitie of their kyng Do earnestly pray and beséech the Queene Mother with all reuerence that setting the feare of men aside whych gard her after a straunge fashion with force of Armes as if she were a captiue that she would according to hir iudgement and mind fréely declare whether part were to be blanted and that she would goe vnto that Citie whererevnto she had most mind that from thence shée might coÌmaund both parts by the meanest seruant she hath to put of their Armour so they would shew that dew obedience which shoulde become loyall subiectes to shew vnto their soueraigne Lord and would also mo destly answere to their doings according to the lawe The Prince promiseth that he will obey her lawââ¦ull commaundements vppon the condition that others would shew themselues ready to do their duties But if they refuse he testifieth that he with fiftie thousand men more which are of the same mynd will spend their liues And if it please not the Quéene to go to another place to do these thinges then let her first of all seeke that they by whom she is garded and captiued may goe to another place puââ¦tting of their Armour namely the Duke of Guise and his bretherne the Constable and the Marshiall of S. Andrew And although he being a Prince and the kynges néere kinsmen were their superior yet notwithstanding to the inteÌt it might apéere that he is in no poynt the cause of trouble and vnquietnââ¦s he promiseth that he and his whole armie will depart euery man home to his owne house vppon those conditions before spoken of Also hee sayth that hee hath a speciall care for this that the Kynges Counsellers may haue their accustomed libertie and that the kyngs lawes and the Edict of January may be obserued and kept vntill the kyng comming vnto his Maioritie may iudge of the matter him selfe and may punish
those according to their desertes which haue abused his auââ¦thoritie But and if these conditions were not perfourmed and that the Guises and their fellowes went on still to shew violence against the Kyng the Quéene and the kynges Counsell to deceaue and beguile men vnder the kynges name and to be iniurious to the kyngs subiectes the Prince of Conde testifieth that hée wyll not beare it and will bring to passe that hée shall not bée found giltie of all those calamities mischiefes and miseries which will happen for these commotions and troubles but rather they themselues which are the authors and only cause thereof This his Protestation being published abrode all mens mindes séemed to be troubled and diuersly occupied the faythfull being more bolde and couragious to defend themselues who at the first sturre of the Guises were not a little terrefied The Prince of Conde sent letters to all the reformed Churches the twenty day of April sending diuers messengers with the Copy of those letters throughout all prouinces of the Realme to this effect Forsomuch as the necessity of the time is such that we must openly resist the violence and tiranny of the Guises aduersaries of the Christian Religion who hauing captiued the King and Quene ⪠do so abuse their name that they tread vnderfote true Religion with the liberty of the Realme and doe what they list them selues see that ye prepare your selues against these troubles and beware that you leaue nothing vndone that may further you in your businesse And because we must nowe of necessitye begin warres be diligent to prouide Armor Mony all kind of Artillery so sone as may be and whatsoeuer you do certefy me of the same by these messengers that I haue sent vnto you But aboue all things see that ye behaue your selues so peaceably as ye may and forget not diligently to call vpon God the vpholder and defender of his truthe and of all iust causes That former declaration wherof we haue spoken before was scaââ¦sely come to Paris when as two Edicts were solemnely proclaimed there in the Kings name to thys effectâ⦠The King séeing what great troubles garboyles were in the Realme is very sory and much agréeued who hââ¦th left no remedies vnsoughte for for the maintenance of peace and tranquillity by the aduise of the Quéene the King of Nauar and the Princes as may appeare of late by the Edict made in the moneth of Ianuary by which to order all matters peaceably he shewed him selfe very fauorable contrary to the manner and cââ¦ome of his Aââ¦cetors the Kings towards Religion that by this meanes in bearing with the frowardnes of men be ââ¦ght maintaine publique peace concorde yââ¦t notwithââ¦anding for all this they can not be content and quiet as appeareth by diuers tumultes by them all ready raised manye of them which hath not bene heard of before being so bold that they dare make open warre and take diuers of the Kings Cities The which although it be very greuous vnto him that men should so lewdly and impudently behaue them selues abasing him in this hys tender age to the great hurt of the Realme yet notwithstanding he will continue still toward them hys accustomed clemency and goodnesse And therfore to confirme that his will and meaning he willeth and commaundeth by this publique Edict that al men vse the rites and administration of their religion fréely according to the prescript of the Edicte of Ianuary But because at Paris the Metropolitane Citye of the Realme there haue ben oftentimes great perils of moste gréeuous seditions he willeth in consideration of the present time that there be no exercise of the reformed Religion so called in that City nor in the Suburbes borders and limmites neare adioyning to the same vntill it shall séeme good otherwise to the King. There was also publiquely set forth about the same time very solemly the Kings Rescript whych they call Letters patents in manner and forme folowing All men sée the great perturbations and troubles of the Realme and also howe the mindes of all estates and degrée are so vexed and disquieted that there cannot chuse but insue great hurt except God of his mercy and goodnesse turn away the same Notwithstanding it is wonderfull that men which are the authors of these troubles dissensions shuld so couler ouer the causes of their wickednes that they caÌ deceiue therby the simple sort of people But wheras they coÌplaine of the violating and breaking of y Edict which was made for Religion the is most false as may apeare by the manifest declaratioÌ of the Kings will which he plainly of late shewed by hys Edict And this also is a most impudent slaÌder wheras they say that the King and the Queene his mother hys bretheren and sister are captiues in the handes of certaine of his chief officers and seruants and do boast that they lift vp the sworde to the intent they may set them at their lawfull libertie But the King and the Quéene do openly testifie and would haue it generally knowen for a suertie that hée his mother his brethren and hys sister neuer came thankes be to God into that state of captiuitie but coÌtrarywyse do retaine kéepe libertie autority kingly dignitie and power and shal no doubt by the goodnesse of God enioye the same with the help and diligence of good and faithfull subiects And bicause those seditiouse persons doe greatly abuse the facilitie gentle nature of the Prince of Conde their kinsman whom they haue chosen to be the Captaine of their conspiracie he testifieth that he will doe all that he can to restoare him to his former libertie and to pacefie the troubled state so much as he may There was also at this time mustering of men in Pa ris specially of Noble men which are coÌmonly appointed to be horsemen and commaundement was sent thorough euery prouince to all men to be in a readinesse against the moneth of May nexte comming Paris also was in euery corner replenished with armour with sol diours and Enseignes The Prince of Conde being entered into Orleans very many of the faythfull which bordered thereaboutes tooke cities for the Prince of Conde professing notwithstanding that they mayntayned the Kings authoritie as they of Towers of Blais of Angew and many others as hereafter shal be declared Notwithstanding the Edict of January was rightly obserued by the seuere coÌmaundements of the Prince of Conde which were oftentymes repeated by his seruaunts But all things growing dayly néerer warre then peace the greatest part of the inhabitants of Towers and Blayz sodenly rose and went into the popish churches and brake downe and quite defaced the Images and pictures which they there found notwithstanding there was no murther committed When newes hereof was brought to Orleans the Prince of Conde greatly misliked of their doing gaue commaundement that enquirie should be made of the doers hereof and that they shold be punished
confesse that I was not the first that toke the sweard in hand and when I did take it after them whych put them selues in Armor againste the King and Quéenes willes I had good occasion so to do For by the Lawe of Nature being a Prince and one of the Kings kinsmen I ought and am bound of duety to defend and maintain the dignity of the King and the peace and tranquillitye of the Realme So soone as I put on Armoure I protested that I woulde put of the same againe vppon suche reasonable conditions as shoulde appertaine to the libertye of the King and Quéene and to the peace and concorde of the Realme Whervpon it must néedes follow that they are the causes authours of troubles which haue refused those conditions and which when they could not abyde the peaceable gouernement of the Quéene and that shée should be the head ouer the Kings subiectes and disdayning at her for that shée looked so straytly vnto theÌ least they should defraude the kings creditors of any of their debt put themselues in armour came with a bande of soldiours to the King and beset him about with armed men that hauing the king and Quéene in their owne power they might gouerne the Realme as thei list theÌselues they committed horrible murthers vppon the kings subiectes liuing peaceably according to the kings lawes and thus haue brought vpon the whole Realme of France these stormy tempestes of trouble beginning euen a litle before to enioy peace and tranquillitie both partes being contented to liue peaceably so that they might enioye their Religion But and if leauing the present state of things wée will call to mind and consider euery mans actes in time past in good sooth wée shall finde these same men which at this day stirre vp these troubles haue ben also aforetyme the causes of great inconueniences to the Crown and dignitie séeking by the perturbation of this realme to enrich themselues whereas by peace and tranquility they decay And to omit that which king Fraunces a maÌ of excellent wisdome and Iudgement sayd of them and to omit also many of their bold and presumptuouse enterprises who knoweth not that they hating publique peace concord were the onely causes and authours of the truce and league breaking betwene king Henry and king Philip of Spaynâ⦠to the great dammage and hurte of Fraunce In so much that they brought the same by warres in great perilles and all to haue their will and pleasure by one meanes or other Beside this after S. Laurence slaughter when thei had gotten vnto them the Treasurers office which thei had before gréedily gayed for what detriment or hurt did they not bring vnto the kingdome What did they also to King Henââ¦y who disââ¦king being weary of their violent and cruel dispositioÌ mynded to haue sent them away froÌ the Court to their howse had he not ben preuented by death But afterward in the dayes of king Fraunces the second being but yong these Straungers and violent Carters agaynstâ⦠law and equitie and against the auncient constitutious of the realme of Fraunce vsurped the mere impery and gouernement of the kingdome during which time was the realme voyd of troubles Did they not in the sighte of all men go about to set that yong king being by nature very gentle and full of clemency agaynst his subiects and to haue made him infamouse with the note of cruelty for euer Did they not cause him to be a mortall enemie against his subiectes euen in the middest of his raigne in so much that except GOD in his mercy haâ⦠turned away so great calamities and miseries lyke too haue ensewed we all should haue rued the same to remember ââ¦he which it would cause any Christian harte to tremble And to make an end of so lamentable a Tragedie When kinge Fraunces was dead these boysterouse stormes were blowen ouer the sky was more cleare the gouernement of the Realm being committed to the Quéene and to the king of Nauar vntill such tyme as their ambition hating peace and tranquillitie styred them vp and their fellowes to set heauen and earth togyther and to cause the state to be troublesome as to my great gréefe is to be séene Therefore I leaue the Iudgement of these to all indifferent men to discerne who are the authours of troubles whether they which haue sought peace and concord by all meanes possible or they which haue so mayntayned dissensions always that thei dare at this time to the great hurt of the whole Realme proclayme open warres Besides this there is so little cause for any man to marueile why I should be so busie to deale and so ware and circumspecte in the matter that I shuld be in great falte if I did otherwise For their actes in time paste againste me haue taught me sufficiently to beware how I put my selfe into their handes And it is playne enough to be séene that their purpose is to destroy the greatest part of the Nobilitie and of all estates of men which imbrace the truth of the gospell specially those that attende vpoÌ mée The which their meaning may easely be gathered by the talk which the Duke of Guise and the Constable had togyther of late in the Senate of Paris before a great assembly But what obedience they shewe towardes the Quéene it may appeare hereby that contrary to the Quéenes wil which she oftentimes declared they dyd frustrate the kings Edict of Ianuary adding this new exception Let not the Religion be vsed at Paris Who seeth not that they intend nothing else but euen to banish the Gospell out of all partes of the Realme when as also of late proclamation was made at Paris to banish al the new Christians To what purpose shoulde I say that by no other meanes the Inhabitants of Paris can be kept in quiet For we haue séene that the Prince of Rochesuryon and Martial Momorentius hauing about them only twelue soldiers haue kept the people of Paris in quiet without any maner of tumult the space of thrée monethes togyther The which continewed euen vntill that daye on the which the Duke of Guise entred into Paris But this is worthy the remembrance that when the same Martiall Memorency had somewhat increased the number of soldiers to kéepe the ordinary watch wherby the confederacies of certeyne factious persons might be preueÌ ted the Marchant maister and certeyne of the Citizens sayd that the people might be kept in peace and quyet with lesse ado a great deale Notwithstanding after the comming of the Guises into the Citie the mindes of the people were so altered that to kéepe them in quiet they were fayne to haue a band of men which they appointed without the knowledge and wil of the Quéene But I knowe it came to passe by the singular prouidence of God that the Duke of Guise and the Constable should disclose the secrets of their harts before so great a multitude that their toong
the true Religion with holines of life least in the middest of these troubles of warres the care of true godlinesse be quight extinguished The best weapons that may be had to fight against our enemies is holines of life and godly prayers If these be wanting our words shall runne through our owne sides And because saye they we sée before our eyes such horrible calamities we following the approued custome of the Church haue appoynted by a common decrée of all men that in all congregations their should be fasting and sollemne prayers for certaine dayes which we admonish you to vse modestly deuoutly and godly and also that God should be prayed vnto publiquely and priuatly to send a happie successe of all these troubles to the glory of his name and to the peace and tranquillitie of his Church They wrote letters also in the name of the whole Synode to Frederike County Pallentine at Rheine whom the refourmed Churches of France had found alwayes in time of cruell persecution a fréend and ready to helpe at néede This was the coppie of their letters We are not ignorant that the basenes of our condition is such that we should not trouble you with our letters but notwithstanding both the experience which we haue had of your singuler clemency and humanitie and also the waight and sharpenes of our miseries and calamities do constrayne vs in these our extremities to flée vnto you for ayd séeing that of long time you haue professed the trueth and haue had a singuler care to pro mote the glory of God and to mayntaine and defende those which professe the trueth of the Gospeel in what place soeuer they are First of all therfore we pray vnto God omnipotent and to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which will haue Kings and Princes to bée Nourses of his Church that he will vouchsafe to confirme and strengthen your highnes in true fortitude constancy by his holy spirit which fortitude you haue hitherto aboundantly shewed with great commendation in setting forth and promooting the woord of God in your Churches And we giue you most harty thankes for those benefites which we receyued of you within these few yeares oftentimes intreating our kynges on the behalfe of our bretherne which were afflicted for the doctrine of Christ. And now we being gathered together of late out of all partes of the Realme for a common Counsell or Synode gladly call to mind the benefits which you haue shewed vppon vs and so much the more willingly also because at this time the truce being broken by which we began to enioye the benefite of the Kinges Edict we stand in great néede of your clemency We foresée the great tempest and calamities of our Churches like to ensue the state of your Churches of Germany in that Ciuill warre comming into our mind the which troubles and calamities being ended by God so happely who hath promised without all doubt to helpe his seruants there is no cause why we should feare Notwith standing we cannot chuse but be very carefull for our flockes commited to our charge But to make the matter more playne because we know that ye vnderstand already our care by certaine Noble men we will not be tedious vnto you Thus much we ad concerning our Churches namely That there is such a conspiracy made against our Churches that except God in his mercy do prouide for the same there is like to ensue no lesse calamitie and confusion than there hath happened long agoe to the Orientall Greeke and Affrican Churches For to conclude the matter in few wordes when the Duke of Guise and they which haue conspired with him perceyued that by the Edict of Ianuary men had leaue fréely and openly to preach the Gospell and that they were restrayned of crueltie which till that time they had declared by all maner of punishments many of the Kinges officers Noble men imbracing the doctrine of the Gospell they made a conspiracie with the enemies of the true Religion to kill in euery Citie the professors of the Gospel Of which their conspiracy we haue had manifest arguments First by the horrible slaughter committed at Uassi it may appeare and then by the cruell and bloudy murther of the men of Sens the Bishoppricke wherof pertayned to the Cardinall of Guise so great slaughter of them being made that for the space of fower dayes there was such killing and steying of men women children without any respect of person that the only remembraunce therof cannot but cause teares to bée shed Yea the dead bodies of such as were slayne came swimming down the Riuer of Seine to Paris requiring as it were their buriall and complayning of this tiranie or rather calling for vengeanee of God and man And now although we know it rather to be our dutie to pray for our enemies and for those which do persecute vs than to accuse them yet notwithstanding we trust that you will interprete to the best these complaints of our iust grief of our manifold calamities And for so much as those our aduersaries to leaue no thing vndone that might be to our destruction haue required your Realme of Germany to ayd and assist them we earnestly pray and beséech you for the loue which you beare to the Church of Christ that you will bend all your might to withstand and put away this euill least Germany imbracing the same truth of the Gospell which we do be euill spoken of for séeking to hurt and anoye vs And we intreat your honour by the tender mercy of God that you will vouchsafe to be a meane for vs to the King and Quéene that there may be some consideration had of our Churches and that you would helpe to mayntayne and defend so iust a cause the time requiring the same Concerning the Letters which the Prince of Conde sent to the refourmed Churches of Fraunce we haue spoken before in the which he willed them when they sawe warres to begin to prepare themselues to the warre with a good courage Whereuppon in many places they obeyed his commaundements some prospering very well in their affayres othersome not hauing so good successe They fortefyed with men and munitioÌ so much as they could the Cities And after the inhabitants of Towers of Blais and of Angewe had so done also the men of Poicters did the like and then the Normans which fortefied diners Cities tooke their chiefe Citie called Roane But at Burdeux and almost through but Gascoyne except in certaine meane townes the faith full were molested by Monsiere Monluce the Lieutenant who delt very cruelly with the faithfull euery where but specially at Bourdeux By the meanes of this Monsire Monluce there was a great slaughter committed vppon the faithfull at Tholoz and the rest of the multitude which were many in number and had escaped this gréeuous murther brake out of the Citie being a necessary place of refuge both for them and also for
notwithstanding being carefull to defend theÌselues euen now of late they had brought soldiours armour into the Citie In the meane time newes was brought to Lyons of the tumult of Valentia almost about that hower in which the sturre was there made Then wente Mongeron from Lyons and by and by Fame reported that Mottecondrin was slaine at Valentia Therefore the faithful thinking it best to behaue theÌ selues maÌly they in the night time secretly placed diuers armed soldiers in soÌdry places of the coÌmon streates at the length when thei had gotten the Townhouse had fortified euery place of the Citie and had taken the Churches they came into Parley with the Brother hood of saint Jhons which were fat and rich priestes who had leaue giuen them to departe out of the Citie vnarmed And so the faithfull had the City to themselues placed certaine péeces of ordinaunce in diuers conuenient places fortified the City After those things they came to Saltain the Liuetenaunt and declared vnto him that they had not done these thinges eyther for contempt of the king or his magistrates but to defend the Citye froÌ iniuries of open enemies and to kepe it for the Kynge obeyinge as their dutye required the commaundemeÌts of the Prince of Conde to whom the conseruation of the king and Quéen appertayned and therefore they willed him according to his accustomed maner to proceed in the gouernmeÌt of the citie But M. Saltain within a while after forsaking his office got him home to his own house And M. des Adretze in the name of the Prince of Conde tooke vpon him the gouernment of the Citie And when consultacion was made by the Citizens what were best to be done they agréed at the last vpon this That there shuld be chosen out two thousand men of the reformed Religion to kéepe the Citie and that they should be payed their wages both out of the common treasury and also out of Ecclesiasticall liuings That no man should be indammaged or hurt for his religion but that it should be lawful for euery one to liue with his conscience to him selfe Notwithstanding that there should no Masses or other rytes and ceremonies be vsed either within or without the citie That there should be twelue of the chiefest of the reformed Religion ioyned with the Consuls or Aldermen of the Citie And that it should not be lawefull for the Aldermen of the citie to do any thing without their coÌsent And thus Lions came wholy into the handes and power of the faithfull After this the people spoyled the popish churches brake the Images and pictures of saincts and other ornamentes belonging to the Masse And it is reported that there were only thrée slaine in the winning of thys so great a citie Lyons being after this manner brought into the handes of the faithfull they tooke also the greatest part of Burgundy Monsieur Tauuanes the Liefetenant séeking in vaine to hinder and let them The newes of these things thus prospering on the Protestants side being spred throughout Fraunce troubled the mynds of the Guises a new and encouraged the Prince of Conde and those of his syde to procéed in their purpose Notwithstandinge the Prince of Conde was very sory that the men of Valentia had slayne M. Mottecondrin and much discommended them for the same Neyther did the Prince of Conde allowe the breakinge downe of Images and the spoyling of other such superstitions the which notwithstanding hée him selfe could not staye when hée was at Orleans the people crying euerywhere that the Idolles which were the causes of all these troubles ought not to be spared and that séeing the defenders of them were so cruell that they would not let to kill liuing men is it not necessary then to ouerthrow those false worshippes of Idols that the Idolatrers themselues mai see their punishments for their abominable wickednesse And the people were not a little displeased with the Prince of Conde for that he seuerely forbad these things to be done Therefore vpon a certayne small rumour of the throwing downe of Idolles which were set vp in a certaine place in the suburbes the fame thereof was by and by spred throughout the whole citie in so much that all men ran to the churches some into one church and some into an other and made such a spoile of Images and other monuments of Idolatry as thogh it had ben so appointed by the kings commaundement or by an Edict this I saye they dyd notwithstanding that the seruauntes of the Prince of Conde did all that they could to staye them And least that the church called Holy Rood Church which was more beautyful should be thus serued and spoyled the Prince of Conde commaunded certayne souldiours to garde the same but they also shutting vnto theÌ the church doores began to pull downe the Images and to deface the pictures In the meane tyme the papistes being sorrowefull ran vp and downe the Citie cryed that the kings Edictes were broken At the last the faythefull of the Churche of Orleans where this broyle was with much a do obtayned leaue ââ¦f ãâã ââ¦rince of Conde to haue sermons in the citie yea with importunate sute they went about to obtayne at the laste leaue to haue their Sermons in those Churches in the which the Idoles were defaced But the Prince of Conde said that his purpose was not to deface Idoles but to see that nothing shoulde bée done contrary to the Edict of January for the breaking wherof his aduersaries he sayd being giltie were to be punished But the common voyce notwithstanding of the people was this to him againe Séeing say they the aduersaries of the trueth haue first begoone to extingnish the reformed Religion and to persecute the professors thereof why should we not destroy all false worship And why should they deale coldly which had taken vppon them the defence of the trueth and of the liberty of the Realme séeing that their aduersaries had proclaymed open warres against the truth the Kyng the Realme The affayres of the faythfull going forward as ye sée diuers rumors of them in the meane tyme being brought to the Court the Duke of Guise the Constable Momorencius and the Marshiall of Saint Andrew to the end they might make it séeme a matter of enuy that they were charged to put themselues in Armour to kéepe the Kyng and Quéen captiues as might appéere by the Letters of the Prince of Conde which were spred abrode to that effect they would haue all men they sayd to know that all thinges were done by the authoritie and will of the Kyng and Quéene and that therfore they were falsely sclaundered They offered therfore to the King and Quéene a Supplication to this effect following TO THE intent it may appeare vnto you to the whole worlde that we haue alwayes borne towardes you and towardes the kinges your auncetors of happy memory our soueraigne Lordes a faythfull and louing mind and
haue sought to the vtmost of our power the aduauncement of your dignities for the mayntenance whereof next to the glory of God we will spend our liues and all that we haue we pray and most humbly beséech you that ye will vnderstand our very purpose and meaninges which we wholely and truely declare vnto you in this Supplication to the end also we might declare the causes why we came vnto you and why also we are with you as yet and why we do thinke in our conscience that we ought not in coÌsideration of the offices coÌmitted vnto vs to depart from you except we woulde incurre the daunger of perpetuall oprobry and shame both to vs and our posteritie as carelesse and vntrustie seruants to you and as despisers of the glory of God the safetie of the Kyng and of the common peace and tranquillitie of the countrey the which wée sée in most gréeuous perill at this time of ineuitable destruction vnlesse it be holpen in time by the only remedies of these Edictes which we hope you will preferre and which ought to be confirmed by all Parliaments but specially by the Parliament or Court of Paris The which remedies we propound here before your Maiestie with all obedience and reuerence in manner and fourme following First we thinke it necessary not only for our conscience sake but specially for the conseruation of the Kynges dignitie and for the defence of that othe which the Kyng tooke at the time of his coronation by which he bound him selfe to mayntaine the peace tranquillitie and safetie of the whole Realme least the Lawe both of GOD and also of man should be confounded whereby the perturbation and vtter destruction of all Realmes Kingdomes and Monarchies must néedes follow For these causes it is necessary that the Kyng declare by and euerlasting Edict that hee will not suffer hereafter diuersitie of Religion and of Churches diuers doctrines and sundry fashions of administrations of Sacraments and of Ecclesiasticall rites nor the Ministers of such in his Realme But that he would will and commaund one Catholike Apostolique and Romish church which he and the Kyngs his Auncetors before him had receyued to be retayned kept throughout his whole Realme forbidding all other assemblies or congregations to set forth and teach any thing to the contrary That all such as beare any office in this Ralme as Iustices Treasurers or any other such like officer vnder the King be coÌmaunded to imbrace and follow this only Religion and openly to professe the same and such as should denie or refuse so to do by any maner of waye to be depriued of their offices Prouided notwith standing that for the same thei be indammaged neither in body nor in goods so that they be found not to be the auââ¦thors of troubles of Seditions and of forbidden assemblies That all Prelates of what state or condition soeuer they be of make the same confession of faith of Religion and such as shall disobey this to lose their spiritual promotions and the profites therof to go to the kings treasury or els to place fit men ordinarily called in their roomes That all temples and churches throughout the Realme which were violated spoyled broken downe and defaced to the dishonour of God the contempt of the church and of the king and the manifest breaking of the wholsome lawes made both of late and also aforetime should be reedefied repayred restored to the former comlines deceÌt beauty that it euer at any time had that the breakers of the Kings Edicts shuld be punished according to the prescript of the kings Edicts That all maner of men what state or condition so euer they were of throughout the Realme or what couler or pretence soeuer they had should put of their armoure except they had put on the same by the expres coÌmaundement of the king of Nauar the kinges visegerente of the whole Realme and if any refuse so to do that then they bee proclaymed and accompted of all men for Traitours Rebels enemies to the king the whole Realme That it may be lawfull for the king of Nauar the kinges deputy or for whom soeuer he shall appoint to haue bandes of armed Soldiers for the orderinge of these things and such other like which shal séeme mete for the conseruation of the king and quéene That those Armies which were gathered togither at the Kinges coÌmaundement for the causes afore sayd may be maintayned for certain monethes in the which space there is great hope that there wil spring some frute of these remedies and that we shal sée publique peace Other matters and necessary Cautions for the workinge of thys peace shal be supplied and put in by the counsell iudge ment of the highe courte of parliment in Paris These things without the which we must néedes looke for the destruction of the Realme being thus ordered and appointed we are euery one of vs ready not only to go home to our houses if it so séeme good vnto you but also to be banished for euer into the vttermost parte of the world wée being fully perswaded that wée haue gyuen vnto God to the king to our countrey and to our selues that honour obedience loue natural affection which wee owe vnto them in so great perill and daunger as is now to auoyd the which wée are ready to spende our lyues and whatsoeuer els wée haue in this world The which we signifie to you and to the king of Nauar both to the end ye may be Iudges witnesses to vs of these thinges and also that ye may apply these conuenient re medies to those inconueniences And wée testifie protest before God and you that we only séeke the safetye peace of your dignities and of the whole Realme And we trust that all they which séeke the same will gladly yéeld vnto the things contayned in this Supplication which we wishe to take effect for the duties sake which wée owe vnto God and you This was the summe of their Supplication To which the King and Quéene made answer that it was not their willes that they should departe thence to any other place Therefore the same day they offered another supplication to the Quéene to this effect Beside those things which wée haue already offered to your Maiesties in writing that ye might plainly vnderstand that wée will submit our willes and opinions to your Iudgements after we hearde that it was your pleasures that we should not depart to any other place wée thoght good to make this offer namely That if they which were at Orleans laying asyde their armour and yéelding vp to the King the Cities and Townes which they had taken would be sworne to shewe all obedience toward the King as to their soueraigne Lorde would also obey the Kings Edictes which were al ready made and shal be made hereafter by our coÌsent and confirmed by the Senat of Paris we would depart of our
owne accorde To the which except they will graunt wée cannot in consideration of our office depart from the King except we would shew our selues to be carelesse in defending the King and the Realme in so great necessity But if they will yéeld vnto these conditions we are ready to get vs to our owne houses and to obey the coÌmauÌdement of the King of Nauar. But we meane not hereby to seclude the Prince of Conde from the Kings company nay we wish rather that he were néere the King and that he were sent for to come from them with whoÌ he is now linked and to be daily with the King trusting that so worthy a Prince will do nothing but that which shall become him to doo After that these supplications of the Guise and his fellowes came to the eares of the Prince of CoÌde he made answer vnto them sending letters to the Quéene with his answer beseeching hir that she would also diligently wey and consider his reasons and that she would cause both his writing his aduersaries also to bée kept for a memoriall for euer that both their actions might one day be shewed to the king The aunswere which he made was to this effect Although saith he I haue heretofore oftentimes declared both by writing and also by other meanes why I haue put myself in armour and vppon what condicions I am ready to vnarme my self agayn and to go to my house yet notwithstanding I could neuer obtayne any thing at their handes which haue the King and Quéene in hold but threatnings contumelious wordes So soone as I came hither before they vnderstood any thing of me they sent letters such seuere sharpe commaundmente as though they had had to do with théeues the most wicked men aliue But nowe when they perceiue that I regarde not their impudent boasting proud threates that thei cannot stay me froÌ my purpose also that I coÌstaÌtly perseuere in my lawfull request hauing no consideration of my selfe but of the libertie of the King Quéene and of the peace and tranquillitie of the realme they séeke to preuayle by other subtil wayes And this forsooth is their deuise they haue offered a certayne supplication to the king in the which they pretend al obedience submission reuereÌce But if a man read mark the same well he shall find it rather a Decrée than a Supplication For it is a flat sentence and decrée made concluded vpon by these thrée namely by the Duke of Guise the Constable Momorencie and by the Martiall of S. Andrew with these also was the Popes Legate the seruants of straungers But they which for six monthes ago marked noted al their doings can testifie vpon what foundacions these conclu sions do stand not vpon zeale of Religion and fayth but rather vpon the fraude deceypt and ambition of those thrée who séeing theÌselues to be out of the court were offended not that thei had any iniurie offered them but because they could neuer yet abyde that the Prince being of the kings bloud should be about the king perceiuing also that the Quéene rather sought the Kings profite and the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme than to satisfie their willes they began to ioyne ano associate themselues togyther to recouer their former libertie againe to rule and gouerne all thinges as they list themselues And when they saw that they could not haue helpe of the Nobles nor of the common sorte of people to bring their matters to passe for the they were iustly hated of them they coloured their purpose wyth the pretence of Religion hoping therby that the popish priests and those that hoong vpon them would ayde assist them And thus winning so many to take their parte as they could and séeking to haue ayd by straungers of for reyne Nations they minded to come to the kinge and Quéene in such battayle aray that no man should once resist them And to the end they might haue better hope to rule thei tooke and kept the names of all those whom they thought or suspected would be hurtfull vnto them minding to kil some to banish other some and to spoyle and depriue many of their offices And among the principall number was Michael Hospital the Kings ChauÌcelour diuers of the kinges counsell and many other good men set in authoritie and office vnder the Kinge There were also already some placed in their roomes which were eyther slaine or banished And truely they very well declared their iudgement of late in chosinge those six whom they appointed to be of the Kings counsel the matter being so ridiculouse that the people made a game or ieste of that choyce The Quéene was sent away to Cââ¦enoncellum to busie hir selfe in gardening The Prince Rochsurion the kinges néere kinsman being a very wise and godly person was called away froÌ the King and in his place were set new Tutours that he might neuer heare any mention made of God or of any godlynesse nor any thing else which appertained to good education he being of himselfe of a good disposition and well inclined And that he might not bée taught to vnderstande his estate which the Quéene his mother went about to instruct him in teaching him to heare euery mans cause peaceably to make much of his noble men to estéeme the vse of armour for necessities sake to looke to iudgement to maintaine his people to be a gard to the afflicted to deliuer the oppressed and aboue al things to beware least he retayned any suche persons about him which vnder colour of frendship humility would take vpon him the kings office vse tyrannie against the kings subiectes These things I say were taught him of the Quéen his mother which these thrée Suppliants much mislike of who would haue the King frame himself to their bent disposition as to daunce cunningly to sit or ryde a great horse well hansomly to carry a speare to be a waÌtoÌ louer to loue another mans wife more than his owne and to be short to bee ignorant of all honesty vertu For they say the it is not méet for a King to be occupied and troubled with suche hard matters But rather say they it is méete for a king to shewe him selfe very seuere towards his subiectes that come vnto him to enriche his housholde seruaunts and to commit the gouernement of the Realme wholy vnto them not to trouble himself in hearing mens causes in reading letters in setting too his hand and seale least their deceites which they vse vnder the coullour of his seale should be espied to fancy and fauour a few which coÌtend one with another who shal be the greatest theef to be liberall only to a few and to other some sparing hard and to dispoyle the people of their goods to sell the offices of Judges for money to simple and vnlearned men last of all to fill the Court full
January also against the forme of y League othe taken of vs not long since But if that deiection of Images deserueth any punishment because any such fact is contrary to the kyngs Edict what punishments then deserue they which so greatly abuse the kinges name that vnder the coullour therof they coÌmit great wickednesse as may appere by the coÌmitted murthers at Uassi at Sens at Paris at Tholoz and in many other places He that preferred this Supplication shuld first of all haue considered and remembered himselfe that it is read in no place that a dead Image requireth vengeance but it is read that the bloud of a slaine man which is the liuely Image of God cryeth and calleth for the vengeance of God and doth at the last cause the same to fall vppon the bloudshedders 7 Moreouer those Suppliants or rather commaunders require that they may vnarme themselues which without the commaundement of the king of Nauar put on the same and that they should be counted for Rebels and enemies to the King and the Realme I would glad ly demaund of them which thinke them selues so wise and saye that they séeke for the peace of the common wealth if that be not the way to cut of all hope of concord when they require that I and they that are with me should be counted Rebelles and enemies to the king and the Realme For they say not Let them which wyll not put of their Armoure but which haue put on Armour be accounted the Kinges enemies They which poynt requireth another maner of aunswere than by writing But I trustw tin these few daies to sée them to disputâ⦠w titheÌ by the dynt of sword whether it be méete for strauÌgers two such meÌ as they are to iudge a Prince the kings néere kinsman the chiefest part of the Nobility of FrauÌce to be rebels enemies to the king the Realme And let not them pretend the name of the king of Nauar to whom they in the former kinges dayes were sworne enemies They abased him all that they could and caused him to be little regarded of the king hys right and dignity being suppressed in matters of great waighte They cannot deny but that of late dayes when they went about to vsurp the gouernement of the Realme by their meanes it was brought to passe that whatsoeuer the king of Nauar required was denyed al occasion to rule and gouerne either in tyme of war or peace being taken from him and to discharge their spitefull stomacks in the dayes of king Fraunce lately disceased they made him to be lesse estemed then a man of meane state and condition being sent for to Orleans with thretnings and commaundement giuen to Noble men that they should not entertaine him at his cumminge also Marshall Tremen béeinge sent with two armies one of horsemen another of foote men was commaunded to take and ⪠spoyle all his Dominion and to cal the straunger to the pray And when thei saw that their deuise and purpose was let by the soden death of king Fraunces yet notwithstanding they sought by all meanes possible to be deliuered of him and would haue kept him from hauing any authority to rule or gouerne The Duke of Guise openly sayd that he would not departe from the Court neyther at the intreaty nor yet at the commaun dement of the king of Nauar The Marshall of S. Andrew euen in middest of the kinges Counsaile said that be knew no other king or Quene And now they abuse the name of the king of Nauar whoÌ they haue so much abused heretofore vnder the pretence wherof they seke the ruin and destruction of his owne naturall brother And they go about to bring to passe that whereas the kinge of Nauar is now beloued of all the Nobilitye of Fraunce he may here after be hated of al that they at the length may spyââ¦te out their venemouse hatred at the full vppon him These are their practises and herevnto tend all their deuises and Counsailes 8 Whereas they require that the king of Nauar wil bend all his force to bring these thinges to passe they plainly euough declare eyther great impudency or els an earnest desire to hinder peace and coÌcord For seinge they are fully determined to subdew all those of the reformed Religion to their willes by force of armes they should haue kept it close in secret to themselues vntill we ââ¦ad bin vnarmed But séeing they do so plainly declare vnto vs their meaning wée will take héede that we be not circumuented and beguiled that is to say we will not vnarme our selues but vpon very sure con ditions and cautions 9 Furthermore they require that by the sentence and wisedome of the Senate of Paris al other things might be added supplied to the making of the Edict Whereby they euideutly shewe in what estimation ⪠they haue the Quéene the king of Nauar and the kings Counsell But I maruaile wherfore they haue no regard of those wise and graue men to vse their Counsell ⪠whom they chose of late to be of the Kinges Counsaile ⪠I doubt not but that ther are in the senate of Paris good men which are nothing inferiour to those of the Senate heretofore in vertue in wisedome and in religion But those thrée Suppliantes haue so handled the matter by bying and selling of offices and by other vnlawfull meanes the the greater number of the Senate are subiect to the Guises so that the voyce of the smaller number ⪠quayleth For probation whereof we haue this The Senat of Paris refused to coÌfirme that Edicâ⦠which was made at that petition of the thrée estates of the Realme and sollemnely confirmed by all the Parliaments and Courtes of the Realme notwithstanding that the kyng him selfe sent his letters and Messengers twise vnto them but of late by the simple commaundement of the kynges Letters another Edict which is contrary to that former Edict in many thinges was by them preferred without any maner of stay This is the hope that we haue of their good and wholesome counsaile 10 To be short they adde this request that the Cities might be yéelded vp againe to the kyng and the Inhabitants therof sworne a new vnto him They woulde bring to passe earnestly séek as they did in the daies of kyng Fraunces the second lately disceased to perswade men that they are the kynges enemies which cannot abide their tirany The Duke of Guise and his bretheren should hold themselues content with this that they haue once already vsed these subtill meanes to the offence of many good men when as they pretented and abused the kyngs name to defend themselues agaynst their enemies If any man were of them suspected to be their enemie ââ¦ither for that he had at any time spoken vnreuerently of them or for any other cause he was cast by and by into prison was reported to be an enemie to the kyng and to the Realme And because
the one seeking warres horrible murther the other peace and the generall profiââ¦e of all men yet notwithstanding the Quéene may iudge determine of the whole matter But and if shée cannot at this time fréely declare hir iudgement eyther beinge stayed by violence or else because shée will not for other causes offend them yet notwithstanding this thing wée craue and request at her hands séeing these times great ly requireth the same namely That their supplication and myne may be registred in the publike Commentaries of the Senate That the Edict of Ianuary maye bée obserued and that both partes laying asyde their weapons may depart to their own houses vntill the Kinge comming to ryper yeares shal be able to iudge and order the whole matter as it shall please him or else till the Quéene with the aduise of hir counsaile shal determine of the same The remedie appertayneth to both partes neither caÌ any man complaine that hée receyueth any preiudice it is so easy to be done the whosoeuer shall refuse y same cannot deny himself to be an enemy to the king and the realme Neither can it be but that they shal be iudged of all men to be in the blame which refuse the remedye so easie to be had for so great misery and calamitie lyke too ensue It shal be iudged also who is a traytour and an open enemie to the king and the realme eyther he which willingly offereth to vnarme himselfe or he which had rather destroy all than restore the King agayne to hys former liberty But because ciuil warres haue alwayes euill successe the soldiers minds and handes being not easie to bée restrayned I protest before God and men that I put my self in armour and prepare my soldiers to battaill with great grief of mind and doe hartely desire that so great calamities and miseries as are like to come by these ciuill warres might be auerted and appeased by my bloud only if it might so please god But bicause my reasonable request is reiected and séeing my aduersaries wil be Iudges in this cause I protest agayn that my only purpose and intent is to restore the king and Quéene into their former liberty and to bring the gouernement of y kingdome to the Quéene and to the king of Nauar and to deliuer the greatest part of the people from the tyraÌnie and oppression of such as haue vsurped the gouernement of the realme I haue no regard to my owne priuate commoditie or gayne in this cause I am not led by ambition by a desire to reuenge or by couetousnesse as knoweth the Lord whose glory and truth I séeke to defende with the dignitie of the King and peace and tranquillitie of the Realme While the matter was thus canuassed too and fro by writing and the Guises with their compartners bearing only an outward shew to the Quéene of reuerence and séeking notwithstanding daily more and more to rule gouerne the realme themselues the Quéen by hir effeminat and timerouse nature was very doubtful being carefull for hir libertie authoritie which shée had lost and fearing also the ambition of the Guises and his adherents And being afeard of their great power she stood in doubt whether she should incline to them or leane to the Prince of Conde Notwithstanding shée wrote often letters vnto him by faithfull messengers and sometime she sent her mind by word of mouth not daring to send by letters Of some of the which letters we haue here put downe the Coppies I Sée such sights dayly to my great grief my welbeloued Cosin that except I looked for helpe froÌ God dyd coÌfort my self with the trust which I haue in you wherby I am perswaded that you wil preseÌtly seke to preserue me the realme and the king my Son I should be much more gréeued than I am But I hope that all thinges shal be very well ordered by vs with the helpe of your good Counsel to the frustrating of all their actions and practises which séeke to destroy al thinges But because I haue at large declared the whole matter vnto this messenger I wil be here the more briefe Only I besech you to credit that which he shall tell you concerning al those things which I haue giuen him in charge to declare vn to you two Your Cosin CATHARINE Also this which foloweth is the copie of another of her letters I giue you harty thankes my deare Cosine for that you so oftentymes certifie me of your affaires and because I trust to sée you ere it be long face to face and to talke with you my selfe I wil not now write much vnto you Only this I request of you that you fully perswade your selfe that I wil neuer forget those things which you haue done for my sake And if it fortune that I did before I shal be able to acknowledge recompeÌce so great a benefit I wil giue my children charge to supply such lacke in mée to requite the same I haue commaunded this messenger to tell you many things Thus much only I certify you of that I do as I do and behauâ⦠my selfe as you knowe to worke if it might be peace and concord the which I knowe that you my welbeloued Cosin desier no lesse than I. Salute I pray you in my name your wyfe your wyues Mother and your Uncle Your deare and louing Cosin CATHARINE Whereas the Quéene complaineth in these letters that shée is in great sorrowe and greefe and noteth also many authours of troubles she speaketh of the Guises and his fellowes whom notwithstanding shée durst not openly resiste neyther yet take part with the Prince of Conde And whereas shée sayeth that shée trusteth it wil shortly come to passe that shée shall sée him face to face the occasion was this when nothing went forward neither by letters nor yet by messengers sent from one to another the Quene made peticion to the Prince of Conde that he would come talke with the King of Nauar to the intent they might haue mutuall conference of the whole matter and might deuise some way for peace and concorde The Prince of Conde yelded to the request the place and time for their meting was appointed namely the first of Iune At which tyme the Quéene the Kynge of Nauar and the Prince of Conde met togither in the Region of Beausse in the mid way betwéene Paris and Orleans At this their méeting they commoned of many thinges of the which we will speake hereafter as they were publiquely put downe in writinge by the Prince of Conde The Quene durst not graunt any thing to the Prince of Conde neither did the king of Nauar his brother shew himself any whit tractable or frendly Wher vpon they brake of and departed without any profite by their méeting and conference their minds being therby not a little exasperated and grudge raysed against one another The Quéene and the Kyng of Nauar plainely denied to the Prince
of Conde the remouing of the Guises and his adherents from the Court and the obseruation of the Edicte of Ianuary throughout the whole Realme the which two thinges were the principall poyntes of the petition of the Prince of Conde Therfore the Prince of Conde when he was retourned againe to Orleans and had told the whole matter to his confederats sent letters to the Quéene the xi day of Iune certifying her that according to her commaundement he had declared the whole matter to all those that were his adherents had conferred with them concerning the finding out and deuising wayes for peace and concord Who when they had wisely wayed and considered all thinges gaue their sentence thus That there could be no firme or certaine wayes for peace concord deuised so long as the contrary part their enemies beset the King and her with souldiours ruled them both by violence insomuch that not onely all hope to pacifie thinges is taken away therby but also good occasion is offered vnto vs to feare least all thinges waââ¦e much worse than they now be séeing that they vppon whom the Kyng and Quéene do wholely depend do vnder the pretence of the Kings name authoritie séeke to work their willes and do accuse men of those things whereof they themselues are most of all giltie Therfore sayth he they earnestly desire of you that you would not take it in euil part if they abide in that their former pââ¦rpose séeing they haue now put them selues in Armour to defend them selues from the force of those enemies least in very déede they which haue declared them selues to be enemies should be also Iudges of the cause in controuersie For it was neuer séene in any assembly that when any matter is obiected against many men they should by absence not beâ⦠suffered to haue their cause to be iudged examined Is it méete that they shuld be absent specially at that time when matters of so great waight come in question as when they are burthened to be enemies to the glory of God to the Kinges liberty authority also to the common peace Wheras they ar maintainers therof their accusers of such enimies Wherfore they say except they may be permitted to come in presence to cléere them selues of these crimes there is no other waye to be looked for than by force of Armes Also wheras you said being first taught of those enemies that it could not be that the Edict of Ianuary should be obserued the people being armed to break the same it séemeth to them to be no lesse vnreasonable than the other For what can be more vnreasonable than this that the common sort of people should not only defend these opinions without law to maintaine the same but also being of all the Kynges subiectes the very rascall sort should put on Armour both to breake the Kynges Edictes and also to rule and gouerne the Kyng at their pleasure Notwithstanding this they know that séeing that Edict was made and established by a notable and singular assembly of Noble wise and learned men after that matters on both partes were wisely considered of the Nobillitie of Fraunce will not suffer themselues to haue such ignominy neither yet straungers to break the Kings Edicts to make new Edicts at their owne pleasure These things being of her wisely considered she may iudge whether it be méete that the consciences of the kyngs faithfull subiects should be tyed to the wils of factious men and of the outragious multitude or what concord is to be hoped for of them which tooke away all power of gouernement from the Quéene her selfe and whether it be to be suffered that they shoulde haue the Kinges power at their commaundement any longer which séeke to appresse those that defend and mayntaine the Kings authoritie and his lawes Finally she may iudge whether it be more méete that they go home to their owne houses or whether by their presence they bring the kyngs State into perill the which all men sée they will sooner do than they will loose on iot of their wills The which notwithstanding he sayth he trusteth to let with the helpe of God the mayntainer defender of all right And to conclude séeing there was no other way to bréede peace and concord than for the Guises and his adherents to depart from the Court hée prayed the Quéene that she would bring the same to passe the necessity of the time greatly requiring the same He wrote Letters also to his Brother the Kyng of Nauar to this effect ALTHOVGH saith he I might long ago sée some part of those calamities which I now sée to be imminent yet notwithstanding I may truly affirme this that I now sée far greater miseries than euer I feared would come to passe For both the conscience and testimony of the integrity of the reformed Churches and al so of the naturall and louing inclination that I haue séene to be in you beside the testimony of all my actioÌs had perswaded me that you they which ar the authors of those troubles being compared with me whom God hath so aduaunced to honour that I am your owne naturall brother would rather follow the loue of brotherly coniunction than the subtill perswasions of those which neuer sought for any thing but their owne aduauncement and your destruction And truly I am not altogether without hope of the same what occasion so euer at this time I haue to thinke to the contrary And for this cause alone I haue now written vnto you my letters not so much with pen and inke as with teares distilling from mine eyes For what can happen vnto me more lamentable sorrowful than to vnderstand that you should be a sworne enimie vnto him which wold be the first that would aduenture his body to defende you from harme that you should go about to take away his life which came of the same parents that you came of which will neuer refuse most gladly to spend his life for your preseruation Consider I pray you diligently wey with your selfe whether there caÌ be ani thing which ought to moue you to so great hatred against nature If the matter bée for religion there is no man that can better iudge thaÌ you whether it be méete conuenient to violat breake the bonde of nature humanitie for religion which the very Barbarians wil neuer doe Although ye cannot imbrace and receiue all the points of our Religion yet notwithstanding I am fully perswaded of this that your nature disposition is such that you do abhorre so great horri ble cruelties committed against vs so far you are from being the author cause therof If the matter concerne the Kings dignitie authoritie who is there next after you and your children to whom the gouernement more appertayneth than vnto me Iudge I hartely pray you who is most carefull for the state whether he that offereth all lawful condicions to
he attempted no maner of force because of the letters that came in the meane time The sixe and twenty day following the Guises the Constable and the Marshall of Saint Andrew departed from their Campes And by by word was brought to the Prince of Conde that those thrée accordinge to the forme of the peticion were departed from their armie home to their houses When the Prince of Conde vnderstoode this he came to the King of Nauar to Baugence with a fewe only attending vppon him Wherevppon he was brought through the middest of the host in al the hast to a village called Talsiac wher the Quéene aboade and betwene Baugence that Uillage Talsiac were placed certain Garrisons of soldiers When he came to the Quéene he was of her very louingelye entertained and had many faire promises made him and by request easely obtayned leaue of her that certain of his fellowes might come vnto that place both to the end they might salute her and also that they might conferre and talke togither concerninge concord and peace In the meane tyme woord was brought to the frendes and fellowes of the Prince of Conde that the Guises the Constale and the Marshall of Saint Andrew abode still at Chastellodune which was not far distant from Talsia where the Quéene and the Prince of Conde abode and certaine letters also of the Dukeeof Guise to the Cardinall of Loraine his Brother were taken by the way and brought to them Of which letters this is the summe word for word as they were written I send vnto you this messenger in all hast possible to certefie you that all thinges were yesterday finished And know you this also for certaine that many are blinded and deceiued very much Our Mother and her brother sweare that they will not forsake vs and that they will followe no other Counsell than the Counsayle of such whom you know To be short the reformed Religion if we behaue our selues wisely as we mean to do will haue a fall Ye and our Admirall shall haue euill successe All our power remayneth still whole but theires is broken and dispersed our Cities are rendred vp againe without any maner of mencion of preaching or of the administration of Sacraments This messenger which I send vn to you is trustie There came also to the hands of the Prince of Conde by the meanes of one of the kyng of Nauars houshold seruaunts a note in writing of the Duke of Guises left with the Kyng of Nauar for a remembraunce to this effect Let there be no obligation made for Religion See that the pledge be kept in any wise Concerning the rendering vp of the Cities let there be no delay Order the matter wisely Suffer them in no wise to come any neerer to Orleans Let vs be diligently certefied and admonished of all things These forewarnings greatly troubled the Prince of Conde and his adherents they sawe that he was fallen into the handes of his enemies so that there was great daunger on euery side Notwithstanding his friendes thinking it not good to delay the matter and to suffer the Prince to be in perill when they had giuen the Captaines charge to be vigilant and to haue their souldiers in a redines came to the Queene The principall wherof were these the Admirall the Andelot Monsuer Porcia Monsuer Rochfocald Monsuer Rohan Monsuer Genluis Monsuer Grammontius Monsuer Soubizius and Monsuer Piennius These saluted the Quéene and were very louingly entertayned of her She gaue vnto them thankes for their great diligence and paines for her and the kynges prifite at that time insomuch that she sayd they had pre serued her life and the kyngs the which their merits deseruing honour pryce the sayd she wold neuer or get Then they declared to the Quéene with what fidelitie they had serued the Kyng with their body goods vnder the Prince of Conde they shewed vnto her the equitie of their cause which at that time was in controuersie and their earnest care also which they had for the preseruation of the kynges dignitie and the peace profite of the whole Realme Whereuppon they most hartely prayed and beséeched the Quéene that they might not preferre the immaginations of a few men before those things which appertayned to the glory of God and the safetie of the Realme For God saye they will defend euery good cause and seuerely punish all kind of wickednes which are committed against the Kyngs Edicts abusing the Kinges name therunto For himselfe also the Prince of Conde protested that it séemed very strauÌge vnto him that some shuld be had in such estimation and no regard at all to be had of him which was not only néere of kin to the king whereas the other were straungers and but seruants to the kyng but also had offered all maner of indifferent conditions and submission Wherefore he sayd it was now high time to prouide some remidies to resist and repell those calamities at hand The Quéene being before instructed concerning euery thing what answere she should make began not to answere to those things which were spoken by the Prince of Conde but to declare That the number power and authority of those was very great which followed and imbraced the Church of Roome and they haue the sword in their hands sayth she and are fully determined to defend that Religion which all former kings haue receiued and imbraced so that they meane this shal be the principall condition among the rest for concord and peace That there be no other Religion obserued followed throughout the whole Realme than the Catholique Religion of Roome But the Prince of Conde in the name of the rest replied that they did not plead their owne priuate cause but whatsoeuer had ben done by them vntill that day was done first for the defence of the kynges libertie and authoritie and secondly for a common wealth and herevppon they put themselues in armour at the first by the Quéenes commaundement for the which cause they did not care if they spent their goods liues so that the kyngs Edict might be obserued and kept wherby euery man might haue leaue to vse the reformed ReligioÌ and the libertie of their conscience without the benefite wherof they thought them selues to be but dead Insomuch that if they in whom so great a number of faithfull did repose their trust for the handling of these matters should so much ouershoote themselues and forget their dutie that they should agrée to those thinges which were so repugnant to the glory of God and the common profite of all men it could not be auoyded but that they should be counted of all men forsakers contemners of the glory of God of the kings dignitie and safetie of the coÌmon peace tranquillity of the realme The which rather then it should come to passe shoulde cause them to forsake the realm before they would agrée to those so vniust
and seuere conditions And if their departure out of the realme might remedy the matter he beséeched the Quéene that there might be no regarde or consideration had of them but of publike peace and quietnesse The Prince of Conde had ofteÌtimes vsed these words Let there be no consideration had of me I would gladly bring to passe that by my exile the kingdome might be in peace and the vse of the reformed Religion restored And the Quéene euen of purpose had entised and prouoked the Prince of Conde shée hauing the Triumuiri hir Schoole maisters to vse these wordes Therefore the Quéene hauing féete occasion offered hir answered That shée had alwayes the Prince of Conde and the rest in as great estimation as became hir But for somuch as the matter was come to this point that suche remedies must be vsed as shée wished not to her great grief yet notwithstanding because of the present necessitie she said she receiued that condition namely that they should forthwith depart the Realme by whose absence the myndes of the Bishopps would be the better pacified and so the Realme should be at peace and quietnes And shée would she said make generally and particularly to euery man such assurance for their peace and safetie as they could desire The Prince of Conde and his fellowes wonderinge greatly at these wordes of the Quéen which they looked not for said at the length that they had respecte vnto others as wel as to themselues whose aduise thei would haue But the Quéene prosecuted hir former talke saying that so the common wealth should be greatly profited and there are some saith shée that threaten to prolong the kings minoritie vntill hée come to the age of one and twenty if so be néede should require to resiste their violeÌce she was persuaded she said that the Prince of Conde and the rest of his friends would come and help the King although he were neuer so far of Thus they made an end for this day And the Quéen came to Talsiac The day following there came a Messenger betymes in the morning to the Prince of Conde from the Quéene with short letters which made mention of the communication had the daye before of the concluding of the same for the which cause she sayd shée would haue him come vnto hir Then the Prince of CoÌde and his fellowes came to the Quéene and when hée had talked with her a while séeing that the time of hys aboad with her was not limited and séeing also that hée could bring nothing to passe as he would he prayed the Quéene that he and his fellowes might haue leaue to retourne back againe to their armie for so much as also hée perceyued that those perleyings wanted not the accustomed treasons of his aduersaries And thus the Prince of Conde the same day retourned agayne to his armie who very ioyfully receyued him notwithstandinge the soldiers was almost displeased that the Prince of Conde came into so great peril with the common consent of all the Nobles saying that those parleyes should be néedefull no more and that the pollicie of the aduersaries was not perceyued and seene who go about to detract delay the the tyme to the end they may increase their power with forreyne helpe to set vppon vs whom they now feare We for slow say they the aduantage when it is offered Where we had rather suffer any extremity than to haue these delayes Let vs set vpon the enemie and contende no more with wordes but with the dynte of sworde And in very déede if the Prince of Conde had brought hys armie at the first to Paris being so well appoynted and of so great courage there had ben great hope of victory But these delayes through parleying dyd both abate the number and also the courage of the soldiours where as the enemie thereby greatly increased his power The Guises hearing of this retourned with all spéed to their hoaste and were not a little gréeued that the Prince of Conde was so escaped their handes And because they thought it necessary they remoued their host secretly in the night from Baugence leauing there only certayne garrisons of Souldiours to defende the same The day following they assaulted Blais being a Noble Citie which wanted sufficient power to defende the same because the enemie came vnlooked for This they tooke and put a great number of men to the sworde From thence they went to Towers and sought to haue the same rendered vnto them the which when they had taken by surrender they spoyled horrible slaughter was committed by the Papistes in the same towne agaynst the faythfull Men and women without anye respect of age were drowned in the Riuer by shipfulls And diuers also were beheaded These sodayne and vnlooked for rumours stayed the Prince of Conde also the great and huge stoare of raine which fell in that Region being of it selfe very déepe and foule made the Prince of Conde to alter his purpose and to leaue following the enemie For there was no ioyning of battayle by reason of the foulnesse and dyrtinesse of the Countrey the tyme rather seruing to assalt and besiege Cities Wherefore hée determined to reserue his power vntill better occasions were offered and so retourned to Orleans agayne with hys whole Armye About this tyme wel néere the Aumal brother to the Duke of Guise assalted Roan in Normandie and battered a very strong and well fenced Castell commonly called the Castle of Saint Catherin with great store of ordinaunce but he preuailed not but had euill successe the City being stoutly defended by the soldiers in the town Moruilleirs a noble man being their Captaine Therefore the sixtéene day of the seege the Duke Aumale with out his purpose remoued his hoste from Rhoane and departed with losse of a great nomber of his Soldiers at this séege At Lyons and about the vtmost regions as Dolpheny Burgundy and the prouince of Langres the faithful were diuersly vered and troubled In Burgundie the losse of Chalon which in old time was called Cabilo was the occasion that many other Townes also were lost Tauuanies the vicegerent of that prouince hauing alwaies at euery occasion an armie ready and appointed to fighte Matisco was kept and defended by the garrison of soldiers of Lions whose Captaine was Mombrun This Mombrun geuing to the Soldiers in the night a watch word or signe to depart stale away by ship and lefte the City and came to Lyons Then Tauan easely tooke the Citie of Matisco being quite voide of defence Herevppon all Burgundie yéelded to the Pope In Prouince which is a Region nere vnto the Meditaran Sea the faithfull were very euill intreated and murthered Before the first motions of this Ciuil war there was stirred vp a greuouse sedition the chiefe author and Captaine whereof was one Flacean a desperate person who had gotten vnto him a band of wicked and lewde men the which sedition notwithstandinge was easely
being weary of his lyfe through extréeme payne desperately dyed The Quéene the King of Nauars wyfe being very carefull for his health who shewed hirselfe alwaye very modest and constant both in doing her duty with all obedience notwithstanding his euill dispositioÌ towardes harlots and also in firme abyding in y truth being also very carefull for the vertuouse education of her children but specially for the trayninge vp of her sonne in the reformed Religion whom the Guises went about to nussell in all kind of wickednesse Therefore the Prince of Conde wrote letters of comfort vntâ⦠hir certefying her that a great many at Orleans were sore agréeued for the death of hiâ⦠husbande This therefore was the ende of the Kinge of Nauarrâ⦠who after that hée had forsakeÌ the defence of the trueth was the cause of many troubles ⪠being so muche more hurtfull to the church as hée might haue ben profitable if it had not ben the purpose of God to declare that hée himselfe is the only authour builder preââ¦eruer and defender of his church and not man how noble so euer hâ⦠be for herein standeth the glory of God. The Prince of Conde had oftentimes intreated the Quéene of Englandâ⦠while there was some hope that peace might be had by intreaty ⪠that her hignnes would be a helpe to him therin but at the length the matter being brought to be tryed by force of armes as we shewed before hée required of her highnesse money and ââ¦ouldiours to maintayne warre Therfore about this time when there was a rumor spred abrode of the comming of the Germanââ¦s and of the ââ¦ide out of England to helpe the Prince of Conde there was a writing published in the name of the Quéene of England who also had sent Ambassadours to the king about the same pacification but they little profited yea returned almost without any answere In the which she both layed to the Guises charges that they were the authors and causes of all the warre and also affirmed that she would take vppon her as it became her the defence of the Kynges cause And also that all Christian Realmes and Princes ought both to be moued to compassion and pitie at the afflicted and troubled state of Fraunce at this time and to moue thom to haue a deepe consideration and care to prouide remedies by which not only the Kyng a child the Quéene his mother and all the Kynges sonnes her children and so all the people of Fraunce may be deliuered and frée from present trouble but also to euell and rent vp by the rootes so great a mischiefe least the same should spred it self to other nations Notwithstanding sayth she there is no man to whom this common care doth more specially appertain than vnto me which being both of my selfe inclined to care and also confirmed and prouoked thereunto by the iudgements of my Counsaylers haue hitherto gone about by all meanes to do the best I could to stoppe and preuent the first beginnings of the great mischiefe like to ensue And why I ought thus to do both the commiseration and pitie of the kyng my welbeloued brother a child and my neighbour of the Quéene his Mother of all the Kynges children and of so great a people and also the present perill of conueying the same warre ouer the Sea vnto as all men of sound iudgement eyther hare or ââ¦ls where both beholding and talking of these things and also praysing this care of it selfe very commendable may sufficiently declare and shew my mind in this matter worthy of commendation Notwithstanding it séemeth reasonable to setforth in open writing how and after what maner I haue behaueâ⦠my selfe herein that all men my sée how I haue delt with my neighbours and how I meane to deale hereafter First all men might sée how greatly euen since the beginning of my raigne I haue desired that euery Christian might enioye prate and concord when as because of the same I haue willingly departed from my right and haue let go some part of my auncient Dominion for a time when as otherwise they for whose sake I haue receiued this losse recouered and receiued by and by all that was taken from them And yet notwithstanding ⪠all men remember and know in how short tyme after and for what iust and manifest causes I am constrained seeing that I am offered great iniury and violence to proclayme also my selfe open warre both to deliuer me and my kyngdome from perill and also to frée my neighbours which fled vnto me for succour froÌ open tirrany In the which matter notwithstanding how vprightly I haue delt all men may sée first by exhortations to abstayne from warre then by open declaration that I mynded to deliuer my selfe and mine from violence and wrong after that by all maner of good gouernement and disposing of matters and last of all by the very ãâã and end of the thing it selfe After the pacification of those troubles to the end I might leaue nothing vndone to make true and assured peace concord ⪠I made a firme and euerlasting League with the Quéene of Scots my welbeloued Sister and my neere neighbour In the which matter how sincerely and truly I haue behaued my selfe God knoweth sundry benefites and gifts whith I bestowed vppon the Guises Uncles to the Quéene of Scottes and vppon their seruants may sufficiently declare my great good will herein beside the mutuall and fréendly communication also which I had with the same Quéen of Scots But amoÌg these deliberations and communications concerning peace beside the lacke which I had of the fruite of peace I am also constrayned to haue a study and care for those new troubles in the kingdome of Fraunce raysed vp by those which haue alwayes shewed themselues to be enemies towards me and what they haue done to make new suspicions betwéene me and the Quéene of Scottes for the same Quéene of Scottes sake I haue alwayes hitherto kept silence At the beginning when I knew well enough if these troubles should prenaile it would not only come to passe amidest the Ciuill dissentions that the kyngdome of Fraunce should come into great perill of destruction as now it is but also that other Christian Realmes especially my owne Realme should fall into the same perill both for the néerenes of the places and also because the authors of those troubles are my enemies I vsed all meanes that I could both by Letters also by Ambassages that there might some wayes be taken for peace and concord betwéene both partes Notwithstanding one part refused the same and bursted forth into open violence and mortall warre yet I ceased not from my purpose and good intent But when I sawe that the desire of crueltie dayly more and more enereased and that euery where bloudshed butcherly murther was committed and which was most perillons that the young Kyng and his Mother were sodenly besieged and came into their
handes without aide and succour and that he was so forced by them that he would suffer his authoritie to be abused to the murthering of his poore and innocent people to the besieging and spoyling of his Noble Cities to the breaking of good and wholesome Edictes to the iniury of the Kynges kinsmen and Nobles and to the ruine destruction of the Kynges faithfull seruants beside an infinite number of wickednesses mo and all to satisfie their willes and mindes which determined to breake the Kynges Edictes without punnishment which Edictes were made by theÌ States of the Realme for the preseruation of peace and tranquillitie and for the safetie of the Kyngs Maiestie When also I perceiued that they went about and had already put in practise to ouerthrowe and destroye the Religion and the professors and followers of the same I thought it good and most necessary for these causes to prouide out of hand a more effectuall and forceable remedy that the authors of these troubles might at the last he constrayned to come to peace and concord vppon reasonable conditions least the whole Kyngdome of Fraunce through the vnbrideled and outragious willes of a fewe should bée brought into so great perill And for these causes I sent some of my Counsayle Ambassadours into Fraunce wise graue and experiensed men and addicted to neyther part that in the extremitie of these matters there might bee a remedy found out whereby their Kyng and soueraigne Lorde might be obeyed and the peace and tranquillitie of the Realme mayntayned Notwithstanding this my labor and good indeuour was not thankfully taken neyther could I haue any answere froÌ the yong Kyng nor from his Mother the Quéene being made a feard by that part which was the cause of all these troubles Whilest therfore I was carefully busied about these thinges and had no other care than for the profite of the Kyng my welbeloued brother without condemning of either part I was other wise delt withall than I looked for Wherby appeared that their will and minde was which so often times denied the bearing of those things which were propounded by me and mine at my commaundement for peace and concordes sake For al my Marchaunts of London and of other partes of my Realme which came into certaine places of Brittaine only about their Marchandize and were preparing to retourne home againe were taken and robbed and dispoyled of all their goodes and they which sought to defend them selues were cxuelly slayne their shippes Marchandize taken by the Magistratrs of those places whereunto they arriued and that for no other cause but for that they were reported to be Huguenotes By the which woord although it séemed strange to those poore Marchaunts and Marriners who knew not what it ment it sufficiently appeared from whom they receyued commaundement to doe these thinges and what they would do more if time and occasion would suffer This was no small rapine or light spoyle but of great waight it was not done sodenly or marage but by the common Magistrate vpon the commaundement of the Gouernour of those partes and that by great contencion with my subiectes The matter being complayned of to those that should haue reformed the same nothing was done but to make a mendes one of my messengers comming homwards with letters of my Ambassadour was robbed the which also escaped vnpunished without any farther examination Wherby I perceiue that the Kyng or Quéene his Mother or rather the Kyng of Nauar do rather want authoritie than good will. And certainely it is manifest both by this and by an infinite sort of other arguments in what state and condition the young Kyng standeth when as he maye not preserue his people and houshold establish his lawes and Edicts nor giue no iust answere to other Princes and Nations By which and by other wicked deuises practised against me and my Realme it appeareth to all men of sound iudgement how greatly that violence which is now vsed in Fraunce by the Guises and his fellowes doth toutch not only Fraunce but also mée and my whole Realme more than any other Prince Therfore forsomuch as the dignity and authoritie of the Kyng and the Queene his Mother of his Counsellers louers of peace cannot at this time so much preuaile as to haue abillitie and leaue to rule and gouern or to do any thing els appertaining either to their own people or to other Nations or to their owne proper persons séeing also the Kynges tender age and the Quéene his Mother are so circumuented and snared that they must condescend and agrée to whatsoeuer the Guises will haue them as may testifie those great destructions and manifold calamities which the authors of these troubles haue brought in besieging assaulting and sacking the Kynges Cities and Townes and in shedding the innocent bloud of his subiects also séeing they haue caused ciuill warre that they might abolish and extinguish in euery place the reformed Religion do séeke to make mortall warre in euery part of the whole world furthermore séeing they are the authors and fautors of these pitifull and lamentable troubles are noted so to be of all men who if they might haue time and oportunitie would séeke by all meanes possible to violate and diminish the state and dignitie of my Realme and to conclude séeing of late also they haue openly gone about to coÌtend with me by force of armes but by the grace and goodnes of God were disapoynted of their purpose and do yet diligently séeke the same also to aduaunce them selues to my incoÌmoditie shall I suffer and beare with those sworne and mortall enemies to peace and concord Shall I suffer the bloud of my neighbours to be cruelly shed if by any maner of meanes I might let the same Shall I suffer the young Kyng my welbeloued brother to bee besieged and in great perill and not to be counted vnthankful and mercilesse Shall I as vnwise and negligent haue no consideration or regard to my mortal enemies and to their practise Therfore for these iust euident and necessary causes of the Kynges subiects requiring my helpe and aide in these tempestes and calamities I commaunded many of my subiectes to be armed both by Sea and land to deliuer the subiectes of my welbeloued brother the Kyng of Fraunce from tirrany Rapine murther and destruction and to kéepe certaine Cities bordering vpon the sea coast and more néere vnto vs in saftie from those enemies least the peace made betwéene me and my brother the Kyng being broken they might the more easely warre against my Realme To prouide for the which thinges tyme calleth vpon me For I haue the testimony of a good conscience and do protest that I in these thinges do vse such sinceritye and integrity that I séeke and iusue christian peace as I ought and I doubt not but that the protection and defence of innocent bloud is acceptable vnto God wil be taken in verye good parte of my wel
Kings authoritie and dignitie the safetie and preseruation of the Kings faithfull subiectes the liberty of their consciences and also the peace and tranquillitie of this Realme in the which I was borne And I am fully perswaded that the only demonstration of the which I haue done and will doe shall proue those my aduersaries lyers and sclaunderers shall bring to passe that neuer hereafter any indifferent man shall giue credit to the like First of all euery man may behold and see how I alone in the beginning of this our Kings raigne procured peace and tranquillitie and sought to put away al occasions of seditions and troubles for the which cause I had much ill will and displeasure in the dayes of King Fraunces II. but I haue forgiuen that iniury Since that time hitherto those enemies of God the King and publike peace were offended with the decrées of the States and with the forme of Gouernement which they then perceyued to be contrary to their ambition when as they had determined to peruerte all things to enlarge their power and tyranny to the which end and purpose they conspired with straungers the which conspiracye is more perniciouse and detestable than was the coÌspiracie of the Triumuiri of Rome as now appeareth by the lamentable effects thereof but I on the contrary part to quench that burning fyrebrand of troubles haue left nothing vndone that I could doo Neyther dyd I regarde the goodnesse of my cause nor the wickednesse of my aduersaries cause when as they armed them selues of their owne priuate authoritie to ouerthrow the Edicte made by the consent and aduise of the States neyther did I so estéeme of my place and dignitie that I woulde put my selfe in armour without the expresse commandement of the Quéen yet in the beginning I of my own accorde offered to vnarme my selfe agayne so that my enemies would doe the same and that the Edicte so solemly made by the Decrée of the States might be thoroughly kept as may appeare by my writinge concerning this matter The which conditions seemed to all men very indifferent and reasonable sauinge to them selues Furthermore to the ende we might the better and more safely enter into peace and concord I sought diligently that many Christian Princes might be admo nished of this matter and I entreated them by letters and by Ambassadours that they would be meanes to pacefie the same and to take away all occasions of greater dissentions But my aduersaries euen at the same time when al things might haue ben brought to some quietnesse weÌt about to take away all hope of concord and sought for the nonce to exasperat and prouoke our mindes to displeasure by new cruelties shewed vpon our bretheren making more carefull prouision to warre against mée and myne than doth the forreyn enemie when hée inuadeth the boundes and limites of the Realme Beside this they suffered not the Ambassadours of the Princes of Germany which were now coÌming forwarde in their iourney to doe their office about the pacification but sought to procure the Italian the Spaniard the Switzer to ayde them in their warre and because a certaine Noble man of Fraunce called Gonor did disallowe the comming of forreyne power into the Realme they abused him with iniuriouse wordes openly among the Kinges counsaill Whereby it may appeare to all indifferent men of sound iudgement what I and my aduersaries haue sought for and whether I could in this time of the Kings minoritie deuise more profitable meanes and wayes to auoid these gréeuouse troubles and also whether they can doe more than they haue done to increase the same For they haue gone about to bring in newe harde and violent lawes playne contrary to the Kings Edicte made by the consent of the whole Realme and agréeing with the Spanish Inquisition which is the ruyne and ouerthrow of peace and tranquillitie that thereby they might not onely bring in an infinite heape of troubles but also the confusion of all things The which also I my selfe by publishing a writing contrarye to the same shewed how much it was disagréeing from al reason and indifferency But what soeuer I could shew vnto the Quéene they had her in such bondage and captiuitie by force and subtiltie that they made her an instrument and meane to doe what soeuer they woulde themselues Notwithstanding shée perceyuinge what great inconuenience would come by warre thought she might do much good if she could bring the matter to parley Therefore the Quéene my brother the Kinge of Nauar and I met togither in the midway betwene Paris and Orleans Then I made declaration vnto them of two things which I sayd were the causes of troubles the which causes being taken away the effectes that is to say great troubles shall with them be remoued also To take away the causes I sayd the first was That the Guise the Constable and the Marshal of Santandre who had broken the peace by arming of them selues by their owne priuate authoritie and had forceably dealt with the Kyng and Quéene and also had broken the kyngs Edict of January might go home to their owne houses and might be forbidden to be of the Kynges Counsell during this time of his minoritie And I my selfe though I were of the Kyngs bloud and of much higher degrée than they promised to do the like The second was I sayd that the Edict of January might be fully obserued and that according to the tenor therof the vse of Religion might bee frée for all men throughout the whole Realme To these two ⪠neither the Quéene nor my brother would agrée Affirminge that it was not lawfull for those being the Kynges seruants to depart from the young King being in such extremitie as he was the request they said was neither indifferent nor profitable for the Realme Moreouer they sayd there could not be two Religions together in one Realme and therfore the Edict of January could not bee suffered because they of the Church of Rome were so many in number so sharpe set to mayntaine their Religion ⪠that if they should not haue their willes greated troubles would dayly arise ⪠To this I replied againe saying that it was neyther indifferent nor profitable for the Realme for them to abide with the Kyng which had both abused the Kyngs age and dignitie and also had brought him the whole Realme into great perill and vnhonestly broken the Kyngs Edict And concerning the Edict of January I sayd what could be more vnseemely than for a few priuate men so little to regard the Kynges dignitie that they durst breake the Kynges Edict to obserue kéepe the which they themselues were sworne by the benefite of which Edict not only Paris but also the whole kingdome enioyed peace Also I said it was a very euell example for the people to be armed to breake the kings Edictes and was the ready way to make them euer after more disobedient also that the
the Protestantes he came with ranged and warlike armies as though he had ment to haue encountred with some enemie By his commaundement also there was watch and ward appointed at euery gate and flagges set out vpon the battlementes of the walles lyke as the manner is in Cities that be vanquished by force Moreouer he very straightly commaunded the Protestantes that they should bring all their armour to the common halles of euery Citie and charged his owne men that they should ransacke all the houses of the faithfull At Nemaux he caused one to be beaten with cudgelles bycause he had brought in hys armour somewhat to late and vnder colour and cloke of that example did very haynously sclaunder before the King the whole company of the faithful in Languedoc as obstinate and stubborne And deuidinge Garrisons of Souldiers into euery Citie where any congregation was surueyed and vewed them hymselfe and with certain troupes of Horsemen whom he had reclaymed to his owne lure and made fit for his owne pitch did spoile and waste all thinges wheresoeuer he came The Souldiers that were in Garrison and also they which waited vppon the Anuille began very cruelly to rage against the whole families of the faythfull euen as though they had bin taken captiue in war neither did they abstaine from robberies and rauishing of Uirgines but did scotfrée and without checke commit horrible murders the Anuille being in the meane tyme wholy giuen ouer to the filthy loue of whores beastly excesse of that good and gentle wyne of Languedoc and for these two causes he went diuers times to Auinion and there did compell a sight truly almost of incredible impudencie his owne wyfe a noble woman of the wor thy honorable house of the Duke of Bullion to salute entertain at her owne table an whore of that towne a wydowe whom he being taken with her bewty had caused to run headlong after filthy gayne And whereas fhere was an order appointed by the Profestantââ¦s in the Court of Nemaux that before they tooke any thing in hand thereshould be prayers made vnto God whose aide and helpe in administring iustice ought to be craued and sought for the Anuille commaundeth that that custome should be fortwith layde aside and when the chiefe Justice had said vnto him who then shall teach vs true Justice if the righteous and iust God be not called vppon He made aunswere that if he or any of his had anye care or regard of that inuocation or calling vpon Gods name yet not withstanding it was not the Kinges pleasure to lay any such burden vpon them who did little set by any such customes and rytes as that was and so at the commaundement of the Anuille the inuocation of Gods name was vtterly banished out of the Court of Nemaux Through the vnreasonable outrage of this furious raging president ther were diuers iniuries and damages wrought againste the Protestantes eyther vnder coloure of the Edict or els by playne and open force Of the which these thinges that follow being taken out of almost an infinit nomber of other may be sufficient examples The Kinges Edicte of peace did giue frée liberty to exercise the reformed Religion in all those Cities in which it had bin practised the vii day of March as it was prouided by flat expres wordes of the v. braunch of the Edicte besides other Cities that were seuerally to be appointed throughout all and euery one of the Prouinces Against this did the Auuille set this interpre ââ¦acion So that it be thought Lawfull by the chiefe Lordes of those places And so by these meanes he hindered the vse of the reformed religion in many places and euery wher scatered and dispersed abrode the congregations And although by the expresse tenure and forme of the Edicte liberty of Religion and conscience was graunted to all and in all places of the Kingdome yet he did so curtall and weaken the lihertie of the Edicte that he did not only compell those which were newly come out of the Cloisters and Abbies or els had forsaken some other Popish Rites in the tyme of warre but also those who long a go had left that kind of life and were entred into some better trade of lyuinge to take againe their former lyfe of monkish supersticion and to put awaye their wiues if they had maried any or els to depart out of the boundes and limites of his Prouince And by these meanes he plucked away many of the ministers of Godes woord from their congregations and droue them out of al the Countrey where he ruled A notable example of this extremitie was shew ed in Moton the minister of the congregation Who hauing long before forsaken all kynde of Monkery had maried a wife in honest and lawfull matrimonie and laboured verâ⦠frutefully there in that Church To him straight commaundement was giuen eyther quight to forsake hys wife and leaue the ministery and then to take vpon him h is former kind of lyfe or els to depart out of the coast of Languedoc within thre daies who when he had made answer that he was content to depart for that he was so commaunded and hauing prouided al thinges necessarie for his familie and being set forward on his iourney as he passed by Monfrin a little towne of Languedoc by the way that leades to Auinion he went to visit the congregation ther and was requested by the elders of that Church that according to the custome he would preach a sermon to the people Moton was content and preached The matter was signified vnto MoÌscur Anuil who by and by coÌmaunded the chiefe executioner forthwith to hang vp Moton as guilty of breaking the kings Edicte for that he had preached contrary to his forbidding Wherfore Moton was violently apprehended the ââ¦earefull Protestanteâ⦠of the Church of Monfrin standing round about him and being haled and drawen out of his wiueâ⦠armes that pitifully cryed out was bound vnto an almon trée Where after that he had comforted his wife and protested that he did willingly seale there with his bloud the truth of his doctrine for which vnwor thely he was so troubled he was strangled to death by the coÌmon hangman All which time while this was in doing MoÌsuer Anââ¦ll lay carelesly at AuinioÌ wallowing in the filthye pleasures of whoores and wyne The churches of Languedoc did complaine of these iniââ¦ryes to the Kings maiesty and the Quéene his mother The like did the Prince of Conde being desired there vnto by them of Languedoc but all was in vain For the Constable was a careful maintainer of his lonnes mischiefes and so wrought that all the complaintes that were put vp against his sonne were voyd and to no purpose in so much that they which complayned were in perill and daunger ⪠Whereby it came to passe that ââ¦he congregations in Languedoc which had any thinge at all borne out the bruntes of the former warre were very hardly
all Fraunce to the great griefe and hart sore of the Papistes for whose cause especially they had procured this exposition of the Edict Wherefore he departing thence went first to the Countrie of Orange and afterwardes at the Quéene of Nauarres commaundment he came to Bearn to confirme and set in order the Churches and Congregations that were there The Papistes now began to mocke and laughe in their sléeues to sée this Declaration gyuen out by the King and published abroad in open writing whereby it was made manifest what an ouerthrow was gyuen to the Edict and being in a brauery and al vpon the hoigh set day and appointed the time and that with threatnings when as it should be vtterly abolished and quite done awaye and warrantinge them selues vppon this beginning they euery day more more without checke violated the Edict There be also new deuises put in practise whereby they might entyce and allure the Prince of Conde from the reformed Religion This fetch was practised before by the Cardinal of Loreine against the king of Nauarre and had preuayled therefore he thought good to proue and trie once againe against the Prince thinking with himselfe that hée might as easely and with the same deuises wherewith he had ouercome the king of Nauar winne also vnto him the Prince of Conde the Quéene of her selfe was ready and desirous to take this matter in hande many other meanes there were that séemed as it were to profer their helpe for the accomplishmeÌt thereof The Prince of himselfe was of a myld and soft disposition desirous of peace and euen glutted with the lothsomenesse of the former warres and being altogither bent to kéepe and maintain peace did from his hart abhorre and detest strife and contentious troubles Wherefore hée was much and often at the Court and very familiar both with the King and the Quéene hys mother The Guises also of set purpose séemed not too come so often to the Court nor to be in such fauour with the Quéene as they were wont to bée and all for the Princes sake to win whom there was no fetch no deuise no subtiltie left vntried The Quéene her selfe vsed very often and louingly to shew the deare good will she bare to the Prince and told him that of her self and for her part she dyd fauour and loue him that it was should be both the Kings and her will mind to estéeme and loue as right reason required the Princes their néere kinsmen in their degrée and place that there was good cause why there should bee more néere and deaââ¦e friendship betwixt her and him aboue all others that he should not thinke that any thing had or might hereafter happen that should stay or sââ¦ack the true and perfect good will she bare him so that he would doe his dutie let no occasioÌ slip that might aduaunce and enlarge the glory and honour of hers his And many other trayns were intermingled with this talke whereof that subtil and alluring woman thorough her courtly trickes and baytes had great store Beside this there were more particular promises made and that olde forged deuise was renewed of the yéelding and gyuing vp of the I le of Sardina which had ben diuers tymes before that offered to the King of Nauarre and was now agayne promiââ¦ed to the Prince by the Quéen and that in the name of the King of Spayne And that it should not be thought that the matter were but triffled withall in wordes ther were many great gifts bestowed vpon the Prince and his Children Mariage also was attempted that there might be a more sure band and coniunction of amitie amongst them The Marishall of Saint Andrew a man of excéeding great wealth being slayne in the battayle of Dreux had left behind him one onely daughter who was heire of all those goodly and ample possessions To her beinge almost mariageable the Quéene went about to couple the Prince of Condies eldest sonne who was then called the Duke of Augnien the mother of the gentle woman doing all she could to bring that mariage to passe And although the honour and nobilitie of the two howfes were nothing like equall yet the Marshialles daughter had great aboundance of ritchesse on her side which surely is the thing that striketh the strok and beareth greatest sway in marriage matters now in these our dayes wherein men are altogyther gyuen to get wealth and riches The Prince himself was not very vnwilling and therefore kept company very fami liarly with the widowe the Marshialles wife and great curteousie was exercised betwixte them The Marshalles wyfe gaue vnto the Prince of Conde a very fruitfull and beautifull place called the Territory of Ualeri and the Marishiall him selfe had bestowed there for the trimming and beawtifying of it much rickes which King Henry had giuen him in giftes and rewardes this place dyd shée giue vnto the Prince withall the right Title and possessions thereto belonging the Quéen ratifying and allowing the matter very well wherefore euery man looked euery day when that mariage should be solemnized And who in the Courte then but the Prince of Conde who as the nature of man is to slyde and fall through ill companie from exercise and vertuouse trauaill to pleasure and idlenesse began contrary to the institution of the reformed religion and good conuersation to gyue himself to the wanton desire and lust of women and tasting very licentiously of the baytes snaring traynes that were layde for him séemed euery day more and more carelesse of that good and vertuouse Matrone his wife who was of the howse and family of Roye and waxed cold and faynt in the profession and defence of the reformed religion to the great grief feare of all good men but to the great ioy of the papistes who made their vaunts and crackes saying that the Prince would daunce the same daunce that his brother the king of Nauarre had lead defore him And surely there was great likelihood of most lamentable and sorrowfull decay and ruine had not the mercyfull prouidence of god speedely preuented it as hereafter in his place shal bee declared In the vttermost part of the prouince of Languedoc in the way as they go to the mountaines Pyrenââ¦es there is a Citie called Paniez a very rich and populous towne This towne was kept and holden by the Protestants in the time of warre but after that Truce was taken and peace concluded and that Monsieur de Anuill as wee haue before declared was come into Languedoc and had euen wearied all the cities thereof with his outragious and vnruly garrisons the InhabitaÌts of Paniez foreséeing their own dauÌger by other mennes harmes wrote vnto Monsieur de Anuille desiring him that hée woulde not presse and charge them with néedlesse garrisons whereof there should be no need nor vse séeing that they were and would be ready prest to obey all his commauÌ dements and did purpose truly
fauour with the people who in open assembles would so frankely set out and bââ¦ag of the fame and glory of a forreine Prince and such a one as might the easier anââ¦oy them by reason hee was so neare adioyning vnto them yea certaine Orations that he had made of that matter were at the Cardinall Granuillans commaunded printed at Andwerpe and published abrode Wherefore the people encouraged by the example of Monsieur Begat began to talke of the Spanish Kings name and to boast and vaunt themselues of his fauour and the Papistes in euery place mingled and enterlarded the Catholique authority and power of Spain with the affaires of Fraunce as though the King of Spaine had had the ordering of Religion there and the gouernment and moderation of the Kinges Edict Monsieur Curee who as we haue beefore declared had valiantly behaued himselfe in the vauntgard of the battayle of Dreux vnder the Prince of Conde was by the Kings commaundement ruler and gouernour ouer the Prouince of Vendosme a man much giuen to the stu die and embracing of the reformed religion and therefore greatly hated of al the papists in so much that the filthy bloudsuckers encouraged by the impunitie of the hauââ¦cke made vpon the faithful of Macine and hauing their handes red and dyed with the bloud of the miserable subiectes began nowe to conspire the death of their head and ruler and laying snares and ambushementes for him set vpon him suspecting no such thing and cruelly flue him Monsieur Curee his wyfe and his brother complained of the matter to the King declaringe what an horrible villany was committed vpon the person of the Kinges Lieuftenant and after they had taryed and wayted at the Court sir whole wéekes at the last wyth great sute much a do they obtayned that the murther should be brought in question and examination Whervpon the doers of the déed were accused and apprehended and when the case was proued by so many certaine and euident argumentes that euerye man thought it should haue proceded on be put in further execution that no man could withstand it behold sodenly those hainous and trayterous murtherers were deliuered dispatched out of hand by the Kings commaundment he that apprehended them sent them to ward was coÌmaunded to apeare and that vnder payn of sharpe punnishment to giue accompte of his doinges for hee was charged to haue done more then his commission would beare him in his house was made flat with the grouÌd and he him selfe appeared and was throwen into prison and very hardly at length got out again The murtherers as though they had done well were not onely pardoned and forgiuen but had also great rewardes for their wel doinges and offices also bestowed vpon them A notable surely and an euill example of contemning and ouerthrowing of Iustyce There came out also about this tyme the Kings letters contayning certeyne newe exceptions against the Edict That it shold not be lawful for any Ministers of the reformed they terme it new Religion to dwel or inhabite in any other place then in suche as were in euery prouince appointed for the hearing of sermons for this purpose that they might not visite and comfort the sick nor take any héed or care of the housholdes and families of the faythfull And that it should not be lawfull for any of that profession to be schoolemaisters or keepe any open schoole for to bring vp or teache yonge children And this was the old fetch of the Cardinall of Lorraine that taking away all discipline the puritie of doctrine should vtterly decay and that all knowledge of good learning and liberall Sciences being banished the study and desire of trueth might be darkened with the duskie and lothsome clowds of barbarous and sauage ignorance A practise vsed in tymes paste by Iulian the Apostate and now put in vre agayne by the Cardinall a good and cunning scholler in suche matters and worthie of such a maister whereby he might declare him selfe an open and manifest enemie to al humanitie and pure doctrine Notwithstanding there were causes and matter pretended that in shew were very godly as That it was so enacted to the end all things might bee done in good order and least that the greater part of his subiectes beeing thereby stirred vp might gyue occasions of new trou bles not that it was the Kings pleasure to chaunge or alter any thing in the Edict but that this was the very plain exposition of his Maiesties pleasure which he commauÌdeth and willeth to be receyued and kepte of all his subiectes The King as we said before vnder coulor to suruay and vewe his Realme came to Paris and from thence he first went to Troye a noble and famouse citie of Campaigne thence he remoued to Lions and so along through Dolpheny Prouance and Languedoc towardes Baââ¦onne a Citie of Guian situat vpon the Sea coaste and next adioyning to Spayne that there the Sacred league might be made and established as hereafter we will shewe in place conuenient It were a long and tedious matter to rehearse here what was done in euery Citie what complayntes and supplicacions were put vp to the Kinge what iniuries done to the protestants and what sleightes and deuises were forged and practised to enflame and encense the yong King against Religion that must be done hereafter by some more large and perfect historie But wee because we meane but to drawe out briefe and shorte notes of the warres will briefly setting apart all long discourses of so large and copiouse matter set forth the summe of that was done in this progresse The papists spared no sleightes no forgerie no lies no saucie malapartââ¦es no impââ¦dencie nor any kinde of malicious spyghtfull wickednes whereby they might by any way procure hatred and enuie against the protest and ãâã and their cause I seââ¦aunder no man for ãâã I am bond by reason order of this my enterprise to say the trueth I will not spare to speak it From euery quarter came great flockes of the faithefull complayninge of their wronges supplications were offered vp but when any satisfaction was to be made to their complaintes they were so posted ouer from this man to that man from this place to that place that whilest the executioÌ of law and equitie was prolonged and differred Iustice was quight gone and fled from amongst them We haue spoken before of the accusation commenced against the Admirall as though he had ben authour of the Duke of Guises death and of his aunswer there too But because the matter séemed likely to bréede further trouble and that it was such as might hinder and disquiet his progresse both partes being so earnestly bent to wrath and reuengement the King thought it best to decide and take vp the matter before he procéeded any further on his iourney Wherefore at Molins the chief Citie of the Dukedome of Bourbone the Admirall was
license our noble men to exercise their new religion freely wee will that it be so vnderstood that this benefit do reach to themselues only and their families and that this was our entent and purpose the very forme and tenure of the wordes therein do sufficiently proue VVherefore wee forbid and prohibit all and euery of our noble men to giue any licence to any other whosoeuer do vse the benefit of the Edict vnlesle he bee of the nomber of his or their subiectes and that who so shall do to the contrarie him or them we take and denounce as Traitours to our maiestie and do appoint for them such punnishment as is due and fit for traitours rebelles VVe also will and commaund that none of the new religion shall as they were accustomed gather togither or sommon any assemblies or conuenticles in waye of Sinodes any more hereafter and that who so fayleth herein be punished accordinge to the greatnes and estimation of his fault And where as very many treading vnder foote the holy ordinaunces of Religious houses haue forsaken their former lyues of priesthood and monachisme either in the time of the former wars and trou bles or els after the pacification of them contemning the vow of religious chastitie haue throwen themselues headlong into the state of most detestable and accursed mariage we will and commaund that all such men be by imprisonment enforced and coÌpelled to forsake and renounce their wiues and the women likewise their husbandes and so to returne to their former kind of life or els to be punished with perpetual exile and banishment and within the space of ii monethes to depart the bouÌds and limites of our Realmes and Dominions The neglec toures therof by this our sentence we adiudge if hee be a man to the gallie there to remaine for euer a gallie slaue if a woman to perpetuall imprisonment and this our declaration we will and commaunde to bee established and in as full force and authoritie as the Edicte it selfe The protestants were greatly endamaged by these exceptions for they who were scatered abroad through the Prouinces and could not conueniently repayre to those Cities that were appointed for preachinge were by the first article forbidden to resort to any other places to heare sermons for thei that sought or resorted to any such place were both in great danger as thei went and were also charged to be violaters of the Edict Yea the noble men themselues were in great perill trouble And where the assembling of Sinodes and collections of money were forbidden there were all meanes and waies of bringing any thing to passe taken awaie and the authority of discipline quight defaced ⪠which being maintained by Counsaile was the chiefe and greatest instrumente whereby the Church was preserued The ministerye also was almost destroied all thinges that made for the reliefe sustenance of the ministers being by these exceptions taken awaye For the vse amongst the Protestantes was to contribute and giue their money togither wherew t their ministers liued were mainteined And as for the coÌmaundment wherby they were enforced to returne to Monkerie and the disannulling and destruction of such mariadges as they had coÌtracted euery maÌ may sée how dauÌgerous hurt full they were and of all men to be detested and abhorred so full farst and stuft are the papistes budgettes with sleightes and subtilties to ouerthrow religion Whiles these exceptions and breaches of the Edicte were by the papistes vnder preteÌce of the Kings name forged and inuented others of their side committed diuers actes of extréeme outrage and boldnesse in violating it In Towers a famouse town of Fraunce there was a Congregation beautified and furnished with a great number of faythful Christians But because they had not libertie by the Edict to practise the reformed religion within the Citie it self there was a place appoin ted for them by the Kings commaundement at the castel next to the citie called Loray whether when the congregation had one day resorted to heare a Sermon and great number of all ages and sortes of men women were there sodeynly they suspectinge no suche thing heard a great shout and outcrye of the papistes who rushing burst in vpon them with weapon and armour and besetting all the passages round about flew violently vpon the naked and vnarmed Assemblie and murthered and slew all they met with And many of them as they sled stragling here and there were slayn many also were sore wounded both men and women and their Minister thrust thorough euen in the very pulpit Like crueltie also and fury was exercised within the Citie with all maner rapines pillage slaughters and hauockes that might be The brute and rumour of this so great villanie and mischief amazed and feared all the Congregations round about them and coÌming to the Prince of Condes eares it maruelously moued stirred vp his mynd with the often remembrance of so many mischieues committed against them by the papistes without checke or controlement the shamefull and cruell violating and wresting of the Edict did gréeuously vexe him Wherfore he complaineth of the matter to the King and the Queen in diuers letters wherof some were set out in print which we meane here to repeat bycause they conteyned in them the whole matter of all the rest Whereas I haue diligently and thorowly wayed considered of the last aunswere I receyued from the Quéene concerning my letters I sent to her wherein I admonished her of such things as séemed to be prepared for the disquieting and disturbing of the whole Realme and publique profit thereof whose euil beginnings being full fraught with horrible murthers and slaughters past and augmented with shameful hauock and robberies which are but newly committed that without all manner punishment do foretell and warn vs of very greeuous troubles hanging ouer our heades and like to ensue and when I had with good héed and aduise pondered eche poynt and article of all her aunsweres and especially that which coÌteigned the causes of the Interpretation of Rosillon And doe now perceiue that this mischief doth not onely steale vpon vs by little and little but violently doth inuade and ouerflowe vs and all through the disobedience and contentious factions of the Kings officers and the great indignation disdaine that a great number of his subiectes haue conceyued agaynst him which surely doth arise and spring of this because that whereas they sée the Edicte violated and are dayly oppressed and afflicted with all manner rapines slaughters and all other kind of outrage violence yet can get no redresse nor remedie of their griefes by the law but are driuen to suche a pinche and desperation of mynd that I caÌ not but greatly feare the daunger of tumultes and insurrections and that they will endeuour themselues through indignation of the iniuries don vnto them heretofore by force to put awai violence and by armour and weapon
writing it shall not be amisse to set downe the same accordinge to the very tenour thereof that all men may sée howe the aduersaries of the trueth go about to abuse the name of God to bring their owne willes to passe Ye may reade of the like in the African History in Hunrich Wandallet tyme practised by him agaynst the Christians The protestantes sayde that because in the forme of that othe exhibited vnto them the Catholiques so called were not comprehended they playnly perecyued that their fidelitie and obedience past and to come was now called in questioÌ and that the security of the kings protection was to them vncertayne Also they sayd séeing they were fully perswaded that the Kings Maiesty had spoken nothing vnto them hytherto but the whiche was true and vnfayned without all dissimulation they could not nor would thinke that the same forme of the othe offered vnto them was knowne to the Kinge but rather deuised by some notable enemy both to him and also to the publique peace of all meÌ But neuerthelesse because we desire this one thing say they aboue all the reste namely to shewe our true and sincere obedience which we owe to our King and naturall Prince Charles the ninth we modestly humbly desire to make our aunswere to that othe praying beséeching the Kings Maiestie that before he procéede any further in establishing the forme of the same othe it maye please him to consider these our petitions whiche with all reuerence and submission of mynde wée propose in manner and forme following The Forme of the Oathe VVe proteste before God and sweare by his name That wee acknowledge King Charles the nynth too be our soueraigne Lord and naturall King. The Answere We will neuer doubt or stay to sweare in so good and iust a cause but we most humbly beséech our king so to iudge of vs as he hath himselfe spoken of vs in his Edict For our conscience beareth vs witnesse that we neuer had any thing in our mindes contrary to the form and meaning of this Oathe Oathe And are ready to giue vnto him all honor obedience and Submission Answer ⪠To this we wil most gladly and willingly sweare séeing that this exception can not be denyed vs That according to the tenor of hys Edictes we haue graunted to vs the libertie of our consciences the vse of the reformed religion Oathe And that we will neuer beare armour but at his expresse commaundementes as shall appeare vnto vs by his owne letters And that we will neither consent vnto them nor helpe them with Counsaile with Money with vittailes or with any other necessary thing which may arme them against vs. Answer To this also we willingly swere for seing we haue two Edictes of pacification for certaine and plaine demonstrations vnto vs of his wil and meaning we wil account all other commaundements contrary to those two Edictes for false and counterfaite And we will neuer bear armor neither haue we so don at any time vnlesse we haue bene plainely constrained to defende our selues from the iniuries and oppression of those meÌ whiche breaking the commaundementes of his maiesties Edictes haue gone about to oppresse vs contrary to his will. Oathe Neither will we make anye collections of Money vnder the collour of anye occasion withoute his expresse commaundement Answere We trust that in this braunche the Money whiche necessarily we gather for the releuing of our Ministers the poore and for the repairing of oure Churches and for other necessarye vses is not comprehended The which being gathered we sweare beyng ordinarilye called that we will not vse them deceytââ¦ully to anye other ende Oathe VVe will not haue any secrete Counsailes nor priuie leagues neither wil we consent vnto them but contrariwise we promise and sweare that we will certifie hym or his officers faithfully of all those things which shall be practised against his Maiestie against the tranquilitie of the Realme or against anye that are neere vnto hys Maiestie Answer By the order of this Article whosoeuer was the author of the same we séeme to be accused as though we had hytherto behaued oure selues otherwise than wée ought to haue done the which certainly we wil neuer confesse For the Kinges Edictes of pacification will not suffer vs so to do séeing it hath pleased his Maiesty by them to acknowledge vs for suche manner of men as in déede we are namely for his lawfull and faithfull Subiectes This being added we will sweare that we will with the helpe of God constantly retain vnto the death this Article of the Oathe Oathe VVe pray and besech with all reuerence and submission of mind his Maiestie that it may please him to extende towardes vs his accustomed clemencie and goodnesse ⪠and to accounte vs for his faithfull and obedient seruaunts and to kepe vs vnder his protection to whom next vnder God we flee vnto Answerâ⦠⪠As we neuer doubted of the clemencie and goodnes of oure King whom we haue acknowledged and do acknowledge for our naturall Prince and supreme Lord next vnto God so are we ready most humbly to praye and beséeche him ⪠to coââ¦tinue the same his good wil vnto vs ⪠his most obedient and faithfull subiectes Notwithstanding if it may be spoken with his highnes fauour and leaue we haue no néede to craââ¦e his fauour and pardon for the time paste seyng by the goodnesse of God our consciences doe beare vs witnesse that we haue neither done nor thought any thing against hys Maiestie and therefore we trustââ¦ââ¦hat this is not so ment or spoken Oathe To whom we will pray vncessantly for the conseruation of his life and dignitie and for the happy estate of the Queene his mother and of his brethren Answer We haue and alwayes will God willing make our prayers from the bottome of our hart vnto the Lorde And we gyue thankes vnto the Kyng that it pleaseth him to think better of vs than our aduersaries do who both by their wordes writings report vs to be wicked and call our prayers blasphemies Oathe And we do submit our selues willingly to all rygor of paynes and punishments if there shal happen any troubles or tumultes through our default in this Citie Expessing the name of the Citie for the defence whereof vnder the Kinges authoritie and at the commaundement of his Ministers we will willingly spende and bestow our liues and goods Answââ To this Article we answere with all reuerence This being so generally put downe experience hathe taught vs that it will be a ready way and fitte occasion for them of whose mindes we haue had of late to large testimonies to kill vs at their pleasure either by preteÌding iudgement or else by some seditious tumult of which things they are skilfull workemen Therefore as euery one of vs would willingly sweare vnto these things so we most hartely pray and beséech the Kings Maiestie to sée diligently that we maye haue Iustice more truely
to chalenge and claymâ⦠them for the Spanish king Wherein hée hath both done great iniurie to your maiestie and the wole kingdome and also sought thereby to bring your Grace in feare and to stand in awe of him by reason he is in such fauor and estimation with the king of Spayne to whom he coÌmunicateth all the affaires of this realme There was neuer any deuise inuented or practised neither in the first or second warres whereof Kinge Phillip hath not ben both an authour and fautour whose chief desire is to sée the greatest part of your Nobilitie destroyed that he might the easier conquer your kingdome For surely there is no more effectuall meanes to bring that his purpose to passe then to set vs togither by the eares by sowing of strife and dissention And to what other endââ¦ââ¦an those Confraternities and brother hoodes as they call them of the Holy Goste bee referred then to this For some of the Noble men which are admitted into that fellowship are so wedded vnto it that they vtterly forget their dutie and doo conspire with them the death of such noble men as professe the reformed religioÌ whose desire is to liue quietly with them in the bande of brotherly loue as becometh good subiects vnder one prince and friends alied togither either in kinred or affinitie And who I beséeche your maiestie hath ben the author of these holy brotherhoods but the Cardinall who hath promised to procure your warrant for them notwithstanding your highnesse hath declared them to be hurtefull and preiudiciall to your honour and therefore to be disallowed And what shall we thinke of his sendinge abroad through all the whole kingdome wherin he willed that no maÌ should either giue credit to or obey your Maiesties commaundements vnlesse the letters which were sent were signed with speciall signet and surely through this his dooing no commission that euer came out from your grace for the obseruation of the Edicte was in any poinct obeyed and executed so that we may both iustly and truly say that he none but he hath ben auctour of these broyles and tumultes Furthermore who did hinder the publishing of the Edict and who doth stââ¦y the execution of it who emboldened the Parliament of Tolouze to rage so tyrannically as they dyd And who but he and his confederates hath driuen your Maiestie into such streight distresse that you are compelled to violate your publique promise made and solemlie confirmed by othe and thereby to haue your credit and honor crackt amongst all forreyne nations yea we are able to proue how he himselfe wrote letters to your Maiesties mother and had the Aââ¦males hand subscribed vnto them letting hiâ⦠to vnderstaÌd that he could not staye the conclusion of the peace whereto necessitie drane them notwithstaÌding he would so work that it should neuer be kept By whose meanes is iustice equitie banished out of this realme and most fiââ¦thy and dissolute libertie of factions and seditions brought in with all kinde of trayterous murthering of those that will not yéeld to their tyrannie Who is it that sendeth ruffians and desperat persons euery day yea eueÌ home to my owne house to murther both me and the Admirall and this haue two whom I haue taken confessed Who entised certaine Knights of S. Michaels order other Captaines to murther the Admirall who God be thanked had warninge geuen by them that should haue done the deed Who procured Monsieur Sipierre to ââ¦e slaine and to the number of fiue and thirtie Noble men with him but he For his Brother the Duke of Guise would commonly boaste of it a moneth and more before it was done and being done he himselfe had the first tydings of it Yea who but he or his men flue Monsieur Amanze sitting at his owne doore with his younge daughter in his armes who had offended neyther part but liued quietly with all men of both Religions Neuerthelesse when his Nephew the Duke of Lorayn had aduertised him that it were expedient for him that hée absented himselfe from your Grace because many dyd beare him deadly hatred because he ruling al things at his owne pleasure should be charged as authour and causer of al the troubles and miseries that had or shold endammage the common weale of the kingdome Hée made him aunswere That he ruled not at all and that he made not his aboad with your Maiestie but because he did not knowe any other place wherein hee could bée more safe and frââ¦e from daunger Whereby it is euidââ¦nt that for his ââ¦uegard onely your highnesse Armie is maintaynâ⦠tâ⦠your excéeding great charges whiche must néedes bring with it a very daungerous and mischéeuous end For if so be the sauetie and strength of a king doth consist vppon the good will and loue of his ââ¦ub ââ¦ectes what cause can be inuented whereby hée shoulde enforce your Maiestie to take armour against those whose onely desire is to shewe the liege and loyall obedience they owe to your maiestie But he thinkes the pretence and shew of your name and aucthoritie sufficient to hide and cloake his mischeuous doinges in so much he spared not of late to saye that your highnesse gaue him this answere That shortly men would haue gathered in their hay and corne and haue made an end of their vinetage that the Riuers would be so highe with showers of raine that men could not passe ouer the sayd Riuers that your treasurie should shortly bee enriched with tributes and that then warre should bée proclaymed against those of the reformed religion but in the meane tyme the chief maintainers thereof were to be dispatcht out of the way Yea such is the impudeÌcie of the man that he is not ashamed to bragge that the Quéene hath complayning wise found faulte with him That their purpose of our destructioÌ was not brought to effect notwithstaÌding the feast of San Ian was past in which tyme he had promised to rid the greatest parte of vs out of the way And as yet none were dispatched but onely Monsieur Sipierre whereunto hée made answere That he had done the best he could to kéepe promise but all would not serue because the Noble men were alwayes spéedely enformed of al his deuises notwithstanding he was in good hope to compasse the matter and in the meane season it was expedient that your maiestie O Christian king should féed vs with vayne hope and gentle letters till they might spye out fit occasion and oportunitie to accomplishe their desires And what other can your grace conceiue of that suÌme of money whiche they procured Ian Baptist to sende to you was not the vsurie beyond all reason to giue a hundreth for an hundreth do they not by this their money shewe what good will and loue they beare your highnesse wherefore can any man say that we of the reformed Religion do without vrgent and great cause assaulte the Cardinall of Loraine howe long shall he with subtill trecheries abuse your
those to bée slaine murthered and spoyled of all they haue whom your maiestie is bound by your dutie too defend and shield from all harme and distresse To be short is there any thing so coÌtrary to Iustice and equitie as to winke at these infinite murthers and intollerable iniuries which by the Cardinalles procurement and allowance do so gréeuously aflict this whole kingdome and are by them and his fellowes falsely fathered to be your Maiesties procéedings Wherfore séeing this is euident and plaine as in deede it can not be denied that it gréeueth your Maiesty as you haue often written to the Admirall and me to be bereaued of lawfull and due obedience and to haue Iustice defiled and corrupted and haue theruppon desired your mother that all things might be done quietly without any kind of tumult and that the Edict might be obserued and all occasions eschewed that might pro cure ciuill warres againe being the extréeme destructi on of your kingdome if I say your Maiestie haue done all these things and notwithstanding your faithfull true subiects do perceiue that the Cardinall who hath conspired our death hath as it were violently and frau duntly possessed your authoritie and abusing the same doth charge your host and souldiers contrariâ⦠to the publique warrant graunted to vs to take both me and the Admirall by treason and ambushe and doth also en force your Maiestie to do al thinges contrary to the dutie of a good and gracious Kyng to the entent he might weaken and slaken the good will and loue of your subiectes Wese him also rule and gouerne the whole coÌmon wealth according to his owne filthy lust to bring all thinges to such narrow streites that euery mans hart is ready to flame out with euerlasting fire of dead ly hatred by reason of so many horible murthers that escaped al vnpunished scotfrée séeing therfore that these thinges are so manifest what els can your subiects doe in this extréeme desperation but to suppresse that wicked Cardinall author and beginner of all mischiefe And surely the cause that vrgeth them to séeke this remedie is both iust and lawfull séeing they can not suffer any man to raigne ouer them but your Maiestie sée moreouer your dignitie and Crowne their religion honour goods and liues to bee in the handes of their deadly enemies nor haue nor can haue any protection wherewith to shield them selues from such iniuries as openly are both threatned and offered them How can they either hope or suffer any longer foreséeing in their mindes that terrible and blustering tempest of troubles that is like to ensue Wherof they haue full many a time aduertised your Maiestie setting before your graces eyes the fearefull lamentable state of things haue very often most humbly craued remedie at your handes These are the causes O Kyng that haue enforced me and the Admirall and diuers others of your subiectes who had rather to hazard their liues and die valiantly and honorably then to suffer so great iniurie villanie to be wrought against your Maiestie and the whole Realme after long and earnest sute for other lawfull meanes to take this thing vppon vs Wherfore we all desiring and crauing the helpe and aide of all Princes Noble men confederate to succour your Maiestie in these extréeme daungers do protest before God and all the world that this is our only entent desire to haue The Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes and that it is they only whom we seeke as the very rootes causes and maintayners of all trouble and mischiefe Which threaten destruction desolation to this kingdome and to pursue them as periured robbers violaters of peace chiefe and deadly enemies of all good orders and quietnes Wherefore let no man hereafter marueile if I and my fellowes refuse to obey any thing that shal be ordeyned in your Maiesties counsell where in the Cardinall is present not that wee will disobethem as come from your highnes but as coygned and framed by the Cardinall and his companions whome we vtterly refuse renounce both in publique affaires that concerne the common wealth and also in priuate matters that only touch vs to the entent wee bee not charged with the troubles that may arise hereof but he rather who is the authour and father of them the Cardinall I meane and his adherents These letters and this supplication therefore béeing deliuered to the King the prince of Conde went to Noiers with his wyfe great with childe and with his childreÌ also of which some were in their tender infancie The Admirall also caried with him his whole familie his brother the Andelots wife with her Sonne which was then of the age of two yeares with this weake Army the Prince of Conde went to Noyers but not without great perill of the garrisons of souldioures wich were at hande Notwithstanding the Prince of Conde what with his owne men and what with the housholde seruaunts of the Admirall and certaine other Noble meÌ which came to ayde them had an hundred and fifty horsmen to garde his trayne But being in great perill and necessitie found out a remedie though full of daunger aduenture Therefore because the Hauens Portes Bridges and passages were warded with garrisons of souldiours so that they could not passe thei determined to goe ouer the Riuer of Loyer This Riuer is in all places for the most part so déepe that a shippe may passe by the same Notwithstanding because the force of the streame fretteth worketh vp great heapes of sandes oftentimes there is in certain places the lesse plenty of water By reason hereof they found by and by a shallow foorde ouer the which when an horse had safely passed the whole multitude followed in like manner The which passage was wonderfull séeing the very same place within two dayes after was so depe that no man might in the same manner passe ouer againe The selfe same day certain armies of footemen whiche we sayd were sent for to leaue the siege of Rochell and to come to take the Prince of Conde came to Sangodon a village almost thrée miles distant from that parte of the Riuer ouer the whiche the Prince of Conde had passed Therefore when the Prince of Conde had a cléere passage he made the more spéede in his iorney towardes the house of the Rouchfaucalt in the territorie of Santonge shoonning all Townes and places where he knew Garrisons of Souldioures to bee set and hée wrote letters to Marshall Vielleuil which was then at Poyctiers and to Monsieur Monluce Lieuetenant of Guian signifying vnto them that his purpose was to go to the house of Rochefocault only to leaue his family in safetie and there to abyde himselfe vntill such time as hée had receyued an aunswere of his letters of which wée spake before from the king About this time also the aduersaries lay in wayte to take the Cardinall Odet Chastillon abydinge in the
him and that all things mighte be done orderly ⪠he appoynted a certaine forme of discipline to be vsed among his souldiers the which we thought good here to inserte as worthy remembrance For the performance whereof this was the forme of the oath that was ministred vnto them Ye sweare and promise by the name of the liuing God that ye for the causes declared by the Prince of Conde wyll gyue your liues bodyes and goods to be at the commaundement of the same Prince of Conde whom ye acknowledge to be the captayne of this Armie Ye sweare and promise willingly to obey all those things whyche eyther he or his deputies shall commaunde and faithfully to obserue and keepe the order of discipline which he hath appointed to the gouerning of his armie And that till suche tyme as they whiche are enemyes to the common peace be openly punished by order of law for their murthers roberââ¦es spoyles and oppressions whiche they haue committed agaynst the Kynges will and againste the peace towardes the professors of the reformed Religion within the Realme that we at the lengthe maye eniââ¦ya the freedome of our consciences the securitie of ourdyues and goods peacââ¦ably vnder the Kynges obedience But this was the description and forme of the Discipline prescribed BECAVSE Order as it is profitable to all men sort is necessary for the louers of the reformed Religion I which am lawfully called to this warre haue thought good with the aduise and confent of the Nobles Captaynes and of other expert wyse men to ordayââ¦e and to giue all ãâã to vnderstande That if there be any man which will not obeye these things there is no place for him in our armye I will therefore that euery man faythfully obserue and kéepe them First whosoeuer shall come to this Army shall declare and giue his name within sixe dayes and shall ââ¦weare accoââ¦ding to the forme of the othe appoynted the which except they doe their horse and armour shal be taken from them and giuen to their accuser And when he hath giuen his name he shall gyue attendance and ââ¦de to his charge whether it be to watch and ward day or night or whatsoeuer else if not then he shal forââ¦ayte his armour No man shall forsake his Enseigne and goe to another Enseigne without the sufferance leaue of his Captain he that shall do otherwise shal be punished according to his offence And because no man shall pleade ignorance let them which are lately come to our army be certified of this decrée It shal be lawful for the souldiour to aske leaue of his Captayne if it be denied ⪠I will that he come to me and I will order the matter at my discretion I will also that the othe be ministred euery Moneth And to the ende the names of such as be lacking may be knowne I will that the hils and Scroules of the names be brought vnto mee â⦠and that thââ¦re be none in the Army which kéepe backe hys name or which is not alowed by the testimony of some other He which shal be found gilty herein the third day after the publishing of this writing shall suffer death Furthermore I will and appointe that there bee in ei uery Giddon of horsemen one hundreth and of euery Enseigne of footemen CC. and euery Captayne to haue vnder him his vndercaptaynes other officers That no man presume to attempt any thing against the enemie wiihout the commaundement of his Superiours if the Captayne shal be found culpable herein then hee shal be banished his office if the Souldiour his armour shal be taken from him and then he expelled the hoaste That no man forsake his Enseigne and that suche as are found robbing and spoyling be seuerely punished as théeues and their armour and horse gyuen to their accusers And because this warre differeth from the other warres that haue bene heretofore I will that thâ⦠spoyles be caryed all to one place for the common profite and wealth of the whole Army If any shall pilpher or purloyn froÌ his fellow he shal be punished as a theef and he that shall apprehend and detecte such a one shal be well rewarded The spoyles which shal be taken at the yéelding vp of any Citie shall ãâã to the general vse of the whole army And nothing shal be counted for spoile but that which may be proued so to be by sure arguments and testimenies otherwise it shal be accouÌted for rapine and theft I will also that there be no vagrant and vnprofitable members in the Army Three footemen shall haue onely one Page attendinge vppon them who also shall followe his Maisters Enseigne if he be found otherwise he shal be hanged It shall not be lawfull for any footeman to haue horses asses or other cattell but onely for Captaynes and such like officers prouided notwithstaÌding that they abuse not this libertie If any man shall take away the cattie that belonge to husband men for tillage he shall suffer death Moreouer I will that there be no braule nor contencion moââ¦ed specially that one man fight not with an other yf any shall so do he shall dye If there happen to bee any offence ââ¦et the Captaynes be ãâã ãâã ãâã there may be some order taken and peace ãâã I ãâã that all priuie grudge and maââ¦ice be layde asyde and if any man refuse to be reconciled I commaund ãâã that Captaynes be admonished thereof that all sawfull wayes may be sought for reconciliation That no man take any other lodging thaÌ that which shal be appointed to him If he be a Captayne that shalââ¦e fasty herein hée shall loose his office but if he be but a common souldiour hée shal loose his armoure or horse beside other punishmeÌts at my discretion And I will that all officers diligently come togither to the appointed place of méeting for the Army that they may foresée and prouide whatsoeuer shal be necessary for euery occasion That no maÌ steale away the vittayle and prouision belonging to the Army vpon payne of death ⪠And least any man may plead lawfully ignorance I will that these Martiall decrées be proclaymed euery wéeke throughout the whole Army in some coÌuenient place or other Let these things be diligently obserued and kept generally They which abused the Kings name feared least the Quéene of Nauarre should goe to the Prince of Conde with the yong Prince her sonne Therefore Monsieur Losse was fent to steale away the Prince but in vayne For the good and Christian Quéene of Nauar when she had made all things ready and had gathered certeyne bandes of men out of her dominion came with hir son to the Prince of Conde Then they practised by other meanes to stay her least she should ioyne her self with the Prince of Conde writing vnto her sugred letters to winne her from the reformed Religion With these letters was sent Monsieur Motte to perswade her and to assure her of the Kinge and
a gloriouse name among the French meÌ yea among those that were his enemies for euer There was in this prince a singular loââ¦e toward the gospell a desire most ferueÌt to aduauÌce the glory of God to further the dignitie of his prince to maintayne the libertie and peace of his countrey For the which his enemies brought him into great perill and sought by all meanes possible to quenche that burning zeale in him toward the Gospel But he declared himself wise and valeant ⪠in ouer passiug those troubles and also constant in the trueth of the Gospel who for the same hath forsaken great dignities and princely honor and hath consecrated himselfe wholy vnto God and who as he hath for the gospel of God for the dignitie of the king and for the libertie of his countrey spent his life euen so séeing he hath for these causes speÌt it he hath in the foyle got the victorie of his enemies and being dead triumpheth ouer death and is yet aliue A myracle which all godly and christian men throughout all posterities will euer embrace In this battaile there were two hundred of the faith full slayne fortie noble men taken prisoners among whom was the bastard sonne of the King of Nauar the Lord de la Noue whose horse was slayne at the firste charge the lord of Teligni de la Balbe de Soubize and de Loue also the Lord Stuard a Scot ⪠and Chastelher portaÌt who after they were takeÌ were stabbed with daggers and murthered On the Catholiques side were slayne the County de la Miraude the lord de Monsaletz the Ba rons of Ingrande and Prunay with many other After this battaile one part of the horsemen drew to S. Iean de Angely with the Admirall the L. Andelot the Countie de la Rochefocault and Monsieur de Acier the other part tooke their way to Coignac In this Encounter the prince had no other footemeÌ than the Lord Pluneaux regiment heretofore meÌcioned all the rest of his footemen was retired by his commauÌdemeÌt to Iarnac as being not of mynd to fight that day There was made at Iarnac a bridge of boates to passe the Riuer Charente in time of néed ouer which the footmen séeing the ouerthrow passed ouer to the other syde of the riuer so then brake it in péeces for feare of pursutes soretired to Coignac where were the princes of Nauarre and Anguyen The artillery brought from Coygnac was brought thyther agayne hauing made not great way The said princes of Nauar and Anguyen now prince of CoÌde departed from Coygnac the next morning with such horsemen as were retyred vnto theÌ And the same day they arriued at Sainctes in Sainctonge leauing their footemen at Coygnac to maintayne warre agaynst the Catholiques Who the morrowe after being the fiuetéene of March presented themselues in battayll before Coygnac with horsemen and footemen making countenance to besiege it There was a great skirmish vpoÌ them on the parks side thereto adioyning by meane of a silly made by the Lord Baudine In which encounter were left dead in the same place two hundred bodies and great numbers hurt ⪠whiche made the Catholiques to retire the same day retourning to Iarnac In the meane while the Admirall vnderstanding that the princes were retired to Sainctes went thyther too them and with the horsemen of their trayn he brought them to S. Iean de Angely and from thence to ThonieCharante Now the army of the faithfull were in great sorrow when the Quéene of Nauarre came to them because of the death of the Prince of Conde who vsed these persua sions and exhortations to quiet their minds Whereas fayth shée the prince of Cynde hath spent his life valiantly for the defence of so good a cause ⪠which also in his lyfe time he roÌstantly defended the hath left behind him to his fellow souldiers an example of Constancie for them to defend Gods trueth the Kings dignitie and the libertie of their Countrey against whiche wicked men rebell Our good and iust cause is not dead with the Prince of Conde neither ought the minds and courage of so good men to quayle and faynt by any maner of meanes God hath so prouided for his cause that he had raysed vp Defenders thereof in the ⪠Prince of Condes place to succede him Those ⪠and many other comfortable persuasions the Quéene of Nauarre vsed to encourage the moorning Army and then retourned to Rochell The prince of Conde thus taken away and his death no small losse to them of the religion the Kings ⪠brother knowing the princes of Nauarre and d'Anguyen ⪠were passed the ryuer of Botoune determined to follow them and in that purpose departed from Iarnac and came to Dampierre where he passed the ryuer he lodged his armie within halfe a league of S. Iean d'Angely of purpose to execute a certaine enterprise within the sayd towne by meane of the captaine of the Castell In the meane while the Princes Armye passed Charante as well at Thonye Charante as at Tallibourgh kéeping the boates alwayes on their side The Kings brother vnderstanding the sayde armye was passed ouer Charante and also that his enterprise vpon the towne of S. Iean d'Angely was so discouered as he coulde not commit it to safe execution returned from whence he came that is to Iarnac Chastoau-neuf and places about Angoulesme attending his opportunitie to effect an attempt which he had conspired vpoÌ that towne and that by meane of the captaine of the Parke which was also discouered as hereafter shall follow The Princes being now on the other side of the ryuer Charente begaÌ to suruey their forces viewing first their horsemen and then their footâ⦠in order as hereafter shal be shewed All the horsemen were sent for in one day into two places The prince of Nauar and the L. Admirall mustred the battaile and the d' Andelot with the Countie Rochefoucaut the vauntgarde There were viewed and enhabled aboute iiii thousande horsemen well mounted and armed with valiante disposition to follow the cause to a good end It was openly read there to all the horsemen that the prince of Nauarre ⪠declared himselfe chiefe of the armie with promise not to leaue the campe till a good and happye peace and muche lesse to spare his life and goods in that behalfe This béeyng published the horsemen likewise protested by othe not to depart the armie without his leaue nor forbeare life ãâã liuing in the assistance of the quarell l'Endureau captaine of a hundred light horsemen after she last conflicte reuolted and tooke parte with the Countie du Lude gouernor of Poytou He was greuous after his reuolte to the Protestantes in a number of heauie euils as in pilling and robbing them wythoute respect and also vnder shadow of his white Cassakins wherwith he yet disgnised his people He toke the castell of Montaagu in base Poytou yeelding to the garrison no other mercie than by the edge
religion being come but to make a first view of the state of the towne retiring with losse of very few of their people The 26. day being tuesday the Princes beset the town on al sides pitching their tentes in the medow beneath Hostel-dieu néere to a milne where they made foorthwith a bridge vpon the Ryuer of Clyn to passe on both sides the towne as need required the same day certayn principals of the army viewed the Towne on all sides beginning the next day to batter the defenââ¦es of the castell with certayn culuerines and other meaner péeces There was no other thing worthy of report done thys month but making and filling of baskettes deuidinge of quarters disposing the campe casting trenches ditches and digging of earth to couer and shroude the shot The batterie began the Monday being the first of August on the right side of the Tower of the Bridge Anioubert and the wall fast by planting viii or ix péeces ââ¦f battery vpoÌ the rock or hil right against the said bridge aboue and betwéene the suburbes of Pympaneau and S. Sornyn which continued thrée dayes the reason was that otherwayes the said tower might gréeue the army and other batteries they forbare not also to prouoke skirmishe wherein they that kept the Suburbes beyond the bridge as Captaynes Arsach and Bonneau with their companie were forced to leaue the sayd suburbes Assoone as the said suburbes were abandoned there was brought down two Canons to beat the foote of the wall piercing of purpose to make it a house to serue for baskets of earth the same being perceyued by them in the towne forthwith discharged certaine volues of the cannon against it to make it fall so enforced the sayd two cannons to be haled away in the meane while the protestantes laboured to win the suburbes of Rochreul garded by the Captaine la Uacherie skirmishing continually within a vyne lying directly betwene the sayde suburbes and the castle where was hoat warre without intermission The v. of August the sayd captaine la Vacherie as he maintained the skirmish was shot thorough the head with a harquebush whereof hée dyed in the fielde I haue noted before that the L. de Aunoux maister of the campe of the regiment of the late Counte Brissac was left within S. Mesen by the counte du Lude since his returne from Nyort who now by commaundment from the Duke of Guyse coolled out iiii or v. hundred of the best souldiours in his companies to come to the succours of Poictiers sendinge the residue with his cariage to Pertnay where was the captaine Allard and so he ariued at Poyctiers about two houres after midnight the sixt of August The batterie hauing ceassed at the bridge Anioubert from the iiii of this month began againe the vii of the same albeit not on that syde but agaynst a towre of the bridge S. Cyprian next to the suburbes by meane wherof they within were inforced to descende and leaue the sayd towre and entrenche themselues vpon the bridge with vessels and hogsheads and other such like things the Protestants from that tyme afterward being vnable to greue them within the Abbay of S. Cyprian as they did afore The company of Captaine Reynaut was ordayned for the garde of this Towre and quarter After the defences of this tower were raysed the Princes remoued their péeces to the righte side of the wall of the Abbots meade thinking that place moste weake of all the towne and to that effect they planted their canons the nynth of this moneth to make a breach bestowing others in other places to batter the flanke side hauing the day before set vp in this quarter vpon the ryuer of Clyn a bridge of pypes and boordes tyed togither with great cables The batterie was so vehement and fierse that in small time they had enforced two great breaches the one neare the other skowring such defences as anoyed them by reasoÌ of a tower and mylue which were there by they within laboured to fill vp their breaches albeit with great difficultie and distresse as not able to shewe themselues within the Abbottes meade without great peryll bycause the hylles gouerned all the sayde medow The breaches thus battered the Protestants were of mynde to assault them bestowing for this purpose their people in squares and winges and shewed theÌ selues vpon the hilles in very good order They first sent certaine Captaines and Souldiers to viewe the breaches who brought reporte that they could not be entred without great perill the rather bycause the bridge which they had erected vpon Clyn ouer the which they must passe to go to the breach was neither conuenient for the matter nor sufficient to beare the souldiours that should passe ouer it neyther coulde the horsemen what distresse or néede so euer chaunced goe to the succours of the footemen within the saide Abbots meade if it happened that they were charged by the horsemen of the Catholikes Besides they wythin had planted a counter batterie of thrée or foure Cannons fast by Carmes which discharging right vpon the breaches might muche endaunger them that offred the assault these were the causes that nothing was done that day Captaine Caluerat beyng in a tower neare the breache and goyng to sée it was killed the same daye in the nyght the Catholikes discended to the ryuer and cut the cordes of the bridge before mentioned and brake it vsing this pollicie to couer and disguise their enterprise ⪠they brought down great volues and noyse of Harquebushot bestowing them against the body of the watche beyng neare the artillery to the ende they shoulde be neither heard nor séene whilest they breake the bridge These things hanging thus in traine afore Poyctyers the King and Quéene mother accompanyed wyth the Cardinals of Bourbon and Lorarne came to Amboise from thence to Towars whether the kings brother came to them there they deliberated vpon meanes to succour Poyctiers and to that ende was dispatched spéedely the knight Montluc with v. C. harquebusiers on horsebacke to get if he could within Poyctiers albeit he was so discouered in the way that his enterprise quailed and he returned to the campe The king sent for y eLorde de Sancsac lying before the siege of La Charite to come to him with all hys forces he procured also a spéedy leuy within Paris of twentie enseignes of footemen and certaine horsemen dispatching speciall letters to all the Nobilitie of Fraunce to repaire spéedely to hym to the Camp which he was determined to follow in person and that vpon payn of confiscation of bodyes and goods or to be declared within the daunger of contempte he raysed also his arrear bankes in many prouinces who forthwith came to hym in the sayde country of Tourain in effecte he assembled wyth wonderfull diligence as muche succours as he coulde for the rescue of Poyctiers There were certaine Cornets whiche ordinarily vsed to beate the stréetes and wayes within halfe a league of
we spake before these forces assembled he made march his vauÌtgard out of Chynon the sixe and twenty of this moneth vnder the conduct of the Lord Montpensier himselfe following with the battayle lodging neere Lodune the princes campe drue towardes Partney the xxix of this moneth whom the Catholiques followed néere to prouoke them to battayll as in respect of the aduantage fauour of certayn townes which they held thereabout eyther the camp was within the view of other both of equall desire to gayne Mont-gontour vsing like diligence the rather to obtayne it For which cause the Admirall made his footemen aduaunce all night his horsemen being in poynt of battell the last daye of September in the very first discouery of the morning vppon a playne wythin a league of the town of Mont-gontour There the Admirall sente the Lorde de La-loue and de La-noue with seuen cornets of horsemen and Captaine Normauts herquebuzears on horsebacke to Mont-gontour to know if the Kinges brother were there who finding no body returned with spéedy report to the Admirall accordingly who made marche forthwith the footemen of the battel then the artillery and so the footemen of the vauntgard as wel French as Almaines folowing them himselfe with the horsmen of both the one and the other Nation Hée left in the taile the Lord de Mony with charge to gouerne the retract with fiue cornets of French horsmen two cornets of Reistres and a company of harquebushears on horsebacke of Captain Montarnaunt a prouinciall The catholikes coasted them very near expecting their artillery which was not yet come The Admirall passed ouer a little Riuer halfe a league from Mongontour very vneasie to marche ouer by reason of a marrish a long the brink of it the same making it impossible on all partes sauing in a little straight or gutter beneath certaine houses a long the highe waye there lacked no more but the Lord of Mouy his troup whom the catholikes with xl cornets of horsmen charged togyther with a voley of canons discharged also vppon them It was thought this charge was giuen by the Lord de Tauannes gouernour for the King in Burgon it was withstanded a little by the Lord de Mouy who vnable to sustaine it thorowly in respect of the multitude retired the Admirall seing his perill gaue backe with the horsmen and returned with no lesse fury the charge vppon them that had laide it vpon the Lord de Mouy who in the mean tyme retired with the rest of his troupe with the losse of some fewe amongst the which was the Lord de Entrichaut ensign bearer to the Lord S. Auban Dauphynois the artillery was by this at Mont-gontour and the footemen of the battaile very neare who séeing that charge turned backe to the fight as also the Lorde de la Noue and la Loue with their cornets all that daye passed in skirmishing without offer of other charge The Catholikes shotte vehemently which albeit an noyed much the Admirall yet he lefte not the fiéeld till night and then retired with those of the Religion to Mont-gontour and the catholikes encamped vppon the place The next morrow being saterday and first day of the moneth of October the said army issued out of Mont gontour and lodged in the Uillages thereabout leauing the Lord de Mouy with his regiment of horsemen and two regimentes of footemen within the towne to gard the passage There were certaine lighy skirmishes alââ¦eit neither of long fight nor much losse they moued by certaine disordered shot of the catholiques who thought to winne the Suburbs on their side but being repulsed their purpose was also intercepted and they forced to returne without any other thing doing The Kinges Brother seeinge that syde closed from him ⪠and that he could not easily wade the riuer of Viue the fame beinge his onely impediment to followe the Princes Campe determined to passe aboue the head of the riuer in a Uillage beneath Mirebean In the meane while the Princes hauing bin at Niort to sée the Quéene of Nauar returned to the campe the second of October where they drewe into counsayle with resolution to take the way to Partney and Niorte and giue battayle to the Catholikes if they assayled them in the way sommoning for this purpose the whole army to be ready by the dawning of the day and euery Colonell and Captaine to labour accordingly in his charge The Catholikes were also of opinion to go to Nyort and besiege it and by that meanes to prouoke the princes to battell The Princes campe according to the order resolute aforesayd was in a perfect readinesse ringed in battels and squares pitching the nexte morning the third of October vpoÌ a little hill néere to Mont-gontour well disposed as is aforesayd to giue battell if the enemye aduaunced who also began to appéere and discouer on the left hand vpon another round hill from the bottom whereof they might easily discerne the disposition of the Princes armye which when he had well viewed he retired his marche as though he ment to draw directly to Nyort vsing notwithstanding suche order as his rings and companyes néere together The Admiral bearing an eye to their doings espied their pollicie and purpose of procéeding wherein as he suspected that thei shot at his aduauntage as labouring to win way vpon him made descend forthwith the Princes armye from the hill where it was setled of purpose to gaine and occupie the plain afore them whervpon the Catholiques in place to march forward commaunded a sodain stay holding their pikes vprighte ringing them in square and mean battels turned face to their vauntgard winning by that meanes the hill from whence the princes army were but now descended And being maisters in this forte of the hill aboue the opinion and expectation of the Admirall began to dispose theÌselues to the shock And at the first descending from the hill they ordered ringed their footemen in the valley or side of the foote of the said hill not without great discretion iudgement kéeping by that meanes their footemen in couert defended from the storme of the artillerie which discharged vehemently as well on the one as other side In the meane while the Kings brother dressed and disposed two batteries not sparing his body to trauell from one battell square to another with persuasion to the souldiours to haue good hart the like also dyd the Princes visiting in person euery ranke aswell of horsemen as footemen whose pleasant aspect specially in the prince of Nauarre gaue cause of singular courage to the souldiours whose stomakes besides they were firmely setled in the goodnesse of the cause yet they séemed to redouble in desire the rather at the gracious view and persuasions of the yong Prince Immediatly after two of the clock in the afternoone the vauntgarde of the Catholyques went to the charge with a square and wing of 18. cornets of Reisters and great numbers of horsemen as well
founde desolate directing his way from thence to Nyort to besiege it certaine forerunners of his campe were come alreadye to the gates to terrifie those that were within the towne At this alarum the Lord de Mouy with certaine horsemen issued spéedely oute of towne who were no sooner without the gates than the other were retired almosââ¦e out of sight whervpoÌ he returned and being one of the lasâ⦠to gouerne the retraite as he was at point to enter the towne one Montreuell yelded to him not long afore vnder colour of religion discharged a Pistolet vpoÌ him and hurt him sore in the head flying immediatly well mounted vpon the selfe same horse which the Lorde de Mouy had giuen him who notwithstanding hys hurte determined not to deparâ⦠the towne albeit being specicially aduised by his friendes to be caryed where hys hurt may bée cured he left Nyort the seuenth day of October and came to Sainctes and from thence he was caried to Rââ¦chell where within fewe dayes after he died to the griefe of the armie for he was of stayed councell in any cause of estate of great spéede and iustice in execution and of long experience in maââ¦ters of warre as witnesse his actes as well in the battaile of Dreux as other places of worthy memory the rest appointed vnder him within Nyort left also the towne together with the Lorde de lâ⦠Brosse gouerner there retiring with iii. hundred shot to Rochell This was the same Lorde de la Brosse who with the ayde of the Lorde de Pluuââ¦au made head agaynste the Countie de Lude at the siege aforesayde The Kings brother finding the towne forsaken entred without let whether also came very shortly after the King ⪠the Quéene mother and Cardinall of Lorain being then néere Chynon they began there to deuise and deliberate vppon their present buââ¦nesse accompting it of speciall purpose to recouer the Castle of Lusignan wherein was gouernor the Lord de Mirambeau that afore the Protestants had either renued their strength or well assured their present companyes In this minde they dispatched forthwith certein to summon the castle who so preuayled with perswasions to the gouernour that easily inoughe he gauâ⦠vp the Castle onelye with lyues and goods saued certein dayes afore the battell there were bestowed in this holde fiue Cannons which discended to the catholikes by couenaunt this was iiii or ââ¦ue dayes after the battell of Mââ¦nt-gontour Nyââ¦rt beyng thus abondoneâ⦠the Princes wente to S. Iean de Angely the ix of this moneth and so to Sainctes and bicause they gathered that the catholikes woulde besiege it they determined to man it with greate numbers of men of warre causyng to enter forthwith the horsemeÌ of the Lord de la Motte with cââ¦rtein footemen likewise captaine la Mures companye beyng of the regimen of the Lord de Uirieâ⦠At that time was gouernour the L. de Oryoll a gentleman of Sainctonge who after was content to giue order to the pollicie and state of the towne leauing the consideration of matters of warre to the Lord de Pilles whome the Prince established there for that purpose and who as yet was not fully cured of the hurt in his thigh receyued at the siege of Poyctiers He with the Souldiourâ⦠and the rest of the inhabitantes resolued to defende the Towne and endure the siege The morow after the Princes came to Sainctes there made their armie passe ouer Charante The â of the said moneth the lord of Montbrun and Myrabell departed from the Campe to go into Languedoc a iourney pretended longe time before so that they might leade thither their regiments and for this cause at the siege of Poictiers as is aforesaid the Lord de Pontais Marshall of the Princes Campe as well in their owne name as for other Colonelles Captains and Gentlemen of Daulphine were sutors for leaue to go for a certaine time into Daulphine and the more to enforce their motion ⪠they shewed how long they had followed the campe and that their Souldioures wearied with so continuall warre ⪠stoode in néede to be reléeued with the freshe aire and fellowshippe of their Countrey and lastly as their generall feare to be so euill wintered as the yeare before dryue diuers numbers to retire without order to the townes holden by the Religion in Uiuares where they had sure aboade so if they be not some what reléeued of their long and lothsome trauayle alwaies in a campe it is also to be feared that by litle and little they do not abandon their Ensignes leaue their Colonelles in the fiéeldes without Souldiours The same being already reuealed vnto them by certain numbers of their soldioures they could do no lesse than coÌmend their sute with humble request in themselues for leaue and liberty to depart now that the siéege of Poyctiers is raised The Princes aunswered that they could not order their request and satisfie the time togyther bicause they were as yet vncertaine what would bée the ende and issue of the siéege and therefore they thought it conuenient that they taried till the ende of the moneth of September hoping after thei had sene the resolute procéedinges of the catholiques to bestowe their armye in garrisons to rest all winter This aunswere qualified their requestes with expectation of the end of September When the army being returned from the countreâ⦠of Touraine and soiourning néere to Fay la Vineuse their sute was eftsoones put vpon new ââ¦earmes for which cause the Gentlemen Captaines and Colonelles of those countrey men assembled to deliberate vppon the motion some were of opinion to pursue in generall a leaue and libertie of the Princes séeing their time of Septem ber is expired But others Iudged the presente season most inconuenient to entreate for leaue consideringe the state and disposition of the warre euery day enclyââ¦ing to battaile where they were bound in duty to bée ââ¦nlesse they would deface the honoure of their actions passed Which last opinion so settled into the moste of them that they resolued vniuersally both to mortifie their desire to go home and also to giue ouer to attempt further leaue attendinge eyther by battaile or by some happy peace to make themselues frée of the warre and so returue and remaine quietly in their houses And thus the Lord de Montbrun and Mirabell remayned in the Campe vntill the tyme wherein they thought to execute their enterprise wherein after they had communicated with the Lord de Verbeleâ⦠brother to the Bishop of Puy in Auuergne and many other as weâ⦠of Dauphine as the countreys thereabout as of purpose to haue their company in the voyage they went to An goulesme to the end to tary there for their furniture and strength This being known in the campe many came to Angoulesme to assiste the voyage so that they were in all aboââ¦te foure hundred horsemen in verye good pointe to fight with certaine nombers of shotte on horsebacke with the which the saide Lord
amoÌg them nowe speaketh thrée wordes without moste filthy blaspheming and horrible execration of god Who can longer beare the vile vnchastities the bawdes and Ruffians of the Court Finally very nature it selfe doth nowe as it were expostulate with God for his so long sufferance and for bearing and the very earth can no longer beare these monsters Nowe as touching the Admirals supposed conspiracie who can thinke it likely that he 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 Castle the guards of Gascoines Scottes and Switzers are continually attending and the King himselfe both alwayes before and specially at that time by reason of his sisters mariage had a great trayn of Princes great Lords noblemen and Gentlemen about him Moreouer it was well knowne that in Paris within thrée houres space might be assembled and put in armour threescore thousand chosen armed men specially against the Admirall whome no man is ignorant that the Parisians most deadly hated beside that the noble yong men that came thither with the King of Nââ¦uar and the Prince of Conde by reson of the mariage and brought with them their wiues their sisters and their kinswomen thought at that time vpon nothing but vpon triumph and exercises of pastime and gay furniture of apparel and ornaments 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 founde the King his most louing or at least his most liberall and bountifull good Lord neither could he hope euer to haue a more fauorable soueraigne in France Was it then after he was hurte as though forsoth he lying sore of two so great woundes aged maimed of both his arms the one whereof the PhisitioÌs coÌsulted whether it were to be cut off accompanied with thrée hundreth yong men would set vpon thréescore thousande armed men or in so small a time coulde lay the plot for so great and so long and so haynous a facte for he lyued scarce fortie houres after his hurt in which time he was enioyned by the Phisitions to forbeare talke Againe if he had bene detected of any suche crime was he not committed to Cossin and to his kéeping 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 momeÌt be caried to pryson why was not orderly enquirie anâ⦠iudiciall procéeding vsed according to the custome and lawes and generall right of nations and witnesses produced according to the forme of lawe but be it that the Admirall and a fewe other of his confederates and followers had conspired why yet procéeded the outragious crueltie vpon the reste that were innocent why vpon ancient matrones why vpon noble Ladies yong Gentlewomen and virgins that came thither for the honor of the wedding why were so manye women greate with childe against the lawes of all nations and of nature before their deliuery thrown into the Ryuer why were so many aged persons many that lay sicke in their beds many gownemen many Counsellers Aduocates Proctors Phisitions many singularly learned professors and teachers of good artes and among the rest Petrus Ramus that renoââ¦ed man throughout the worlde many yong students executed without hearing without pleading their cause without sentence of condemnation moreouer if the Admirall had ââ¦aine the thrée brethren who doubteth but that all couââ¦eys al Cities all Parliaments finally all sortes and degrées of men would haue spéedily taken armour and easily haue destroyed all of the Religion hauing them enclosed within their towns and hauing iust cause to render to all foreine nations fââ¦r their common slaughters and killing of them As to that whiche toucheth the King of ãâã what caÌ be imagined more absurd 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 ãâã the Religion which of them I say as Cassius was wont to reason should haue gained or receyued 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 maÌs meanes to haue reueÌge of his iniurie Lastly in their houses that were slaine what armour what weapons were found by which coÌiectures iudges vse to be lead to trace out a facte These matters wyse men throughout the towne of Paris commonly muttered But now to retourne to our purpose At such tyme as the Kings prââ¦hibition abouesayd was proclaimed at Paris not only in other townes as at Orleance Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxerre the like butcheries and slaughters were vsed but also in the towne of Paris it selfe in the verye gaoles that are ordeyned for the kéeping of prisoners if anye had escaped the crueltie of the day before they were now tumultuously slayne by the raging and outraging multitude in which number were thrée Gentlemen of greate 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 neare fourscore yeare olde a man of greate 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 maÌ was a pastor of the church and estéemed a singular man both in vertuousnesse of life and in excellence of wit and learning and was the first that had layd the foundacion of the Churche at Paris As sone as the slaughter was begon at Paris Monsorel a most cruell enimie of the Religion was tente to Angiers in post to preuente al other that might carie tidings of the murdering As sone as he came into the towne he caused himself to be brought to Massons house There he met Massons wife in the entrie and geÌtly saluted hir and after the maner of Fraunce specially of the Court he kissed hir and asked hiâ⦠where hir husband was she answered that he was walking in the garden and by and by she brought Monsorell to hir husbande who gently embraced Masson and sayde vnto him Canst thou tell why I am come hither it is to kyll thée by the Kings coÌmaundement at this very instant time for so hath the King commaunded as thou mayste perceiue by these letters and therewith he shewed him his dagge ready charged Masson answered that he was not guiltie of any crime howbeit this one thing only he besought him to giue him space to call to the mercie of God and to commende his spirit into Gods hande Which prayer as soone as he had ended in fewe wordes he méekely receiued the death offered by the other and was shot through with a pellet and dyed Now to returne to Paris ⪠the Admirals
séene and the eating of breade in déede euen as if a man shoulde not receyue that wholsom medicine giuen vnto him for his health but should cause it verie sumptuously to be caryed vp and down the chamber They saye also that Paule sayd not Carie this bread about the stretes but VVhosoeuer eateth of this bread and drinketh of this wine Furthermore they say that Christe is in heauen and that therfore there is onely required a spirituall worship Wherevpon they say that great iniââ¦rie is done to him by those corporal and externall worships seing he exalted ãâã from earth to heauen to the end he might be worshipped and adored with true and spirituall honor And last of all they say that this rite of carying the Lords bodie vp and down was brought in and by little litle established not by any authoritie of Scripture but by the deuotion of some singular man Also that neither Clement nor Gregorie bishops of Rome whiche appointed the same to be a solemne feasââ¦e haue not spoken one worde of that deambulation and that therefore our sacrifiââ¦ing Priests do erre and offende against their will and institution seing that no other day hath such fréedome and libertie to commit all kinde of wickednesse as that hath the whiche truly is not the waye to knowledge and worshippe Christ seeing that he requireth of his disciples purenesse and newnesse of lyfe and in his holy worde vtterly detesteth all sinfull libertie The which things séeme hurtfull not onely to those whiche haue separated themselues from our felowship but also to those which will not leaue the same They doe perceyue that herevpon many things are done amisââ¦e as the pollutiââ¦n of the Sacrament against the word of God and the approued customes of the Church Also that by the occasion of this day many men are aââ¦used and led to commit wicked and horââ¦ible things and that the same day is a verââ¦e prââ¦uocation of most ãâã sedition as we hitherto to our great griefe haue felt Therefore except this thing be foreseene and a remeâ⦠prouiââ¦d for the same at the length experience will shewe that it is better to séeke a more deuoute way to worship God withall than to refeyne kepe this ryte to the hurt and offence of many The Masse also is an other greate cause of offence All men crie out that the Masse is a great offence slumbling block to the Church the same being sold of ignorant dissolute and most vngodly Priests and yet no man seeketh to reforme and amende the same This thing truly hath of late diminished the deuotion of the people very muche yea and many of our felowship do proceed further also ââ¦o doubt of the Masse both touching the substance and also touching the forme In the subsââ¦aÌce they doe note that the Churchemen afââ¦irme that the priestes do offer Christe and do more esteeme of their owne sacrifice than they dââ¦e of the sacrifice of Christe And that certaine of the Doctours doe saye that the same sacrifiice whiche the Priests offer is onely a monument and signe of the true sacrifice whiche Christe offered for vs once for all but the ignoraÌt people are taught by ignorant priests that he ought to be counted for an heretik which thinketh otherwise The which truly seeing it seemeth to be most absurd it giueth great occasion to the aduersarie to speak euil But in the forme of the Masse they note foure principall things First that all things are done in the same in a strange an vnknowne tong the which in déed is vnprofitable and dangerous séeing no fruite commeth thereof vnto the people but are onely fed with certaine outward shewes Wheras on the contrarie part say they it is necessarie that the confession of the faith shoulde be plainly and euidently vnderstode of all men and séeing the Latine tongue muste needes be vsed let the same yet be expounded into the mother tong that it may of all men be vnderstode And seing the prayers which are there made appertaine to the common profit of all the hearers who vnderstanding not what is spoken shall aunswere Amen Furthermore they saye that the consciences of the Clergie doe accuse them and tel them that they doe amisse séeing no part of the vse of their Masse is declared without the which notwithstanding the administration of the Sacramente seemeth to be but vaine Thirdly séeing those things which are spoken in the Masse doe belong to the whole congregation and not to the Priesââ¦es alone and specially those things whiche concerne the Communion and yet neuerthelesse one Priest only communica ãâã the people sââ¦anding by and looking on it séemeth iusââ¦ly to be verââ¦e farre out oâ⦠order and not agréeing to the truthe Wherfore they thiââ¦ke it ãâã that it shoulde be reduced and brought to the ancient maner of the church agréeing to the first institution ⪠Fourthly they misââ¦yke the order of the diuine seruice In the which is to be coââ¦idered what great profiâ⦠the singing of Psalmes and the maââ¦ing of Prayers in the vulgar tong hath brought in tyme paste And truly our aduersaries of late days vsing these meanes haue allured and drawne many vnto them Wherefore let the holy Father consider if it shall not be best to giue libertie to haue the Psalmes soong and Prayââ¦rs also made in the vulgar toung that they maye be ãâã of all the people These are the principall poyntes whiche they saââ¦e are needfull to be amended ââ¦en they which haue separated themselues from our felowship which they ãâã to haue taken in good part seeing they goâ⦠not about to violate the Apostoliââ¦ie authoritie of the holy father and ãâã perââ¦ct in these two things namely that nothing be altered ââ¦n dââ¦ctrine And also that if the Minisââ¦ers of the Churche doÌ offende in any thing the Ministeââ¦e therefore shoulde nââ¦t be taken away but the authoritie thereof alwayes to remain preserued and safe These two things being firmely holden they thinke it no absurditie if diligente inquiââ¦ition be made of other matters which haue neede of reââ¦ormation Therefore she dothe humbly beséeche the holye Father that he woulde prouide for these thinges for that greater inconueniences no dout woulde folowe if so be that there were not remedie prouided in tyme As for other thinges the Quéene promiseth that she hir selfe with the counsell of good men and with hir diligence and iââ¦deuour will looke vnto so muche as she maye both for the peace and quietnesse of the Church and also for the dignitie of the Popes holynesse These thinges haue ben by vs faithfully gathered out of the Copie of hir owne letters ¶ The thirde Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and or the common vvealth of Fraunce IN the meane season the Prelaââ¦es and Clergée came from all partes of the realme to a towne called ãâã néere to Sangeiman at the ââ¦ay appointed in the moneth of August to reason and fréely to
but newly ended Frances the Duke of Guise being murdered the chiefe and most expert Captaines dead finally the Constable hymselfe a man of a most spightful and cankered stomack against the Protestantes was afraid and trembled at the remeÌbrance of the bloudy slaughters that were before committed and was very loth to fight againe a fresh any new battailes Wherefore they take another way and deuysed new fetches and sleightes to compasse that which by open force they could not atchieue Of which deuises the Cardinall of Lorraine an olde enemie of the reformed Churches had coined great store and put them foorth to be practised The Counsaile at Trent that had bin often before renewed by great diligence was now again summoned Thither went the Cardinalâ⦠of Lorraine in the name of all the Popishe Prelates of Fraunce hauinge before he tooke his iourney by the helpe and counsaile of some of the counsailours of Paris deuised and protested a grenous and sharpe accusation againste the Admirall as though he had commaunded Merae to kill the Duke of Guise and giuen him money for that purpose Mere was now already dispached out of the waye with extreame punnishment as we haue before declared and a wryting published abrode in the tyme of war of his examination wherein the Admirall was called the aucthor and procurer of that murder The Admirall as also is exprest in the former booke had made aunswere to that wryting in which his aunswere he first requested that Merae might bee kept a liue to the entent the accuser mighte appeare face to face with the accused accordinge to order of Lawe and iustice But after that execution was done vppon Merae he complained that the same was done in such poste haste to the end all meanes to purge himselfe by the accuser beinge taken from him preiudicat and hurtfull opinions of false accusations mighte be conceyued against him But the Cardinall laboured by all meanes possible vnder pretence of that accusation to procure hatred againste the Admirall and had replenyshed many mennes mindes with displeasure and malice against him alwaies laying abrode and shewing the horror and vnwoorthines of that murther so shamefully committed by treason vppon so woorthy and noble a man. And besides a great number that were welwillers and followers of the dead Duke he stirred vp the harts of forrein Princes against him and wrote to the Emperour Ferdinando of the same matter and to diuers other Princes of Germany And this was the cause and beginning of many and great troubles ⪠The Kinge of Spaine also being moued thereunto by the often letters of the Cardinal did write vnto the King that there was no peace to be obserued and kept with such betrayinge Traitores that had defiled themselues with the bloud of a man so notable and famouse The Admirall wrote to the King to the Quéene his mother and as much as he can purgeth himselfe and shifteth of his accusations complaininge that they were but iniuries offered vnto him by the Cardinall of Lorreine and publisheth abrode for his owne defence a certaine writinge as hereafter followeth Those thinges saith he which I aunswered to the accusation of Merae in my former writing gyuen vp to the Queene the Kinges mother and published abroade throughout the whole kingdome ought to be sufficient to discharge and free me of all kinde of blame with all men of wisdome and discreation and not before them only which haue had triall and knowledge howe I haue led my lyfe heretofore but with them also which knowe and vnderstand howe naturall and vnfayned the hewe and colour of truth is and how simplye and plainly she vseth to tell her tale Especially seeinge I did so earnestly request that my accuser Merae might be reserued to appeare against me VVhich certainly I would neuer haue done had I not bin therto moued by an assured cleare conscience of my iust cause and innocencie This my request was not in vaine nor to cloke the matter for I did not aske it by violence forcibly nor yet for a fashion slightly but only for this one end and purpose that the truthe mighte be knowen and made manifeste to all the world But this request beeinge denied me I did verely thinke with my selfe and esteeme all the iudgementes that the parliamente of Paris had giuen againste me as void and of none effect vvhose entent was as by the hasty and spedy execution of my aduersary it did appeare to pres me with false and preiudicial surmises al meanes of reprouing conuincing mine accuser being quight cut of I haue therefore done that which my duty requyred and requested that the matter might be handled and knowen according to order of law And whereas besides the letters I seÌt to the Quene of this matter I haue newpublished this writing abroad I haue not done it with out great and waighty cause and the aduise and counsaile of wyse and pollitique men For by that my request I was in good hope to haue stayed the spedy expedition of the execution which the Iudges being very sore bent against me did hasten and helpe forward all that they could Also by this meanes I thought the end of the broiles and troubles that were then being vncertaine to haue satisfied the desires of many men which desired to know the matter especially of forreiners and straungers amongst whom I was euill spoken of by infamous Libelles and false malicious sclaunders vntill such time as I hauing my aduersarie before me might haue better occasion more clearely to purge my selfe Moreouer I did know for a certainty not only that Merae had vtterly denyed and renounced his former accusation against me whereby it was manifeste that he did that which he did by plaine force and threatninges but also that his priuy and secret confessions were in my ememies handes by which ââ¦e did declare me to be innocent and guiltles of the matter All other accusations therefore wherewith Merae did charge me and yet if he had flatly and without all doubt pronounced me as guiltie my aunswer all men know might be ready ⪠that forasmuch as I could not bee suffered to talke with him all these thinges which are obiected against me were violently extorted and wringed out of him eyther in hope to escape death or els to moderate and lessen the torment and furie of his punnishment I hold and take as forged and faigned seeing that it may appeare by the testimony of many good and very worthy men that Merae had often tymes said that he had declared before the Iudges that I was cleare and free from all maner blame in that matter and that when he was drawen and had to execution he expresly and openly said that those accusations against me were written and penned downe by my enemies before them only who had left no way in this cause vntried that might seeme to further my accusation and for their sakes in winning of whose fauour al men might
Admiralles friendes woulde proceede to the reuenge of his hurt and bycause they were suspected to be the authours thereof were so stirred vp this laste nyght that a great and lamentable sedition arose thereof in so muche that the Guarde by mee appoynted for his defence about his house was sette vpon and hee himselfe wyth certaine of his Gentlemen slayne and hauock of other made in diuers places of the Citie whiche was handled wyth suche a rage that I coulde not vse the remedie that I woulde but hadde muche a doe to employ my Guardes and other defence for the safetie of my selfe and my brethren within the Castle of Louure to giue order hereafter for the appeasing of this sedition whiche is at this houre well appeased thankes be to God and came to passe by a particular and priuate quarell of long time fostered betwixte those two houses VVhereof when I foresawe that there woulde succeede some mischieuous purpose I did what I coulde possibly to appease it as all men knowe And yet hereby the Edicte of Pacification is not broken whiche I will to bee kepte as straightly as euer it was as I haue giuen to vnderstande in all places throughout my Realme And bycause it is greatly to be feared that suche an execution might stirre vp my subiectes one against an other and cause greate murthers through the Cities of my Realme whereby I shoulde bee greatly grieued I praye you cause to be published and vnderstoode in all places of your gouernement that euery person abyde and continue in the safegard of his owne house and to take no weapons in bande nor one to hurt an other vpon payne of death commaunding them to kepe and diligently to obserue our Edict of Pacification And to make the offenders and resisters and such as would disobey and breake our will to be punished you shall assemble out of hande as great force as you can as well of your friendes as of them that bee appoynted by me and others aduertising the Captains of Castles and Cities in your gouernement to take heede to the safegarde and preseruation of the sayde places so that no faulte ensue on their behalfe aduertising me also so soone as you can what order you haue giuen herein and how all things haue passed within the circuite of your gouernement Herevpon I pray God to keepe you Cousin in his holy safegard At Paris the. xxiiij of August Signed Charles and vnderneath Brulard ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE KING to the Lorde of Prye his Lieutenant generall in Touraine vpon the same matter that the former Letter was MOnsieur de Prie you haue vnderstoode howe my cousin the Admirall was hurt the last day and in what readinesse I was to do as much as in me lay for the tryall of the fact and to cause so great and spedie iustice to be done as should be an example throughout all my Realme wherin nothing was omitted Since it is so happened that my cousins of the house of Guise and other Lords and Gentlemen their adherents which are no smal partie in this towne as all men know hauing gotten certaine intelligence that the friendes of my sayd cousin the Admirall intended to pursue and execute vpon them the reuenge of this hurte for that they had them in suspicion to be the cause and occasion therof haue made such a stirre this night passed that among them on both partes hath bene raised a greate and lamentable tumulte the Garde that was set about the Lorde Admirals house was distressed himselfe slayne in his house with diuers other Gentlemen as also great slaughter hath bene made of other in sundrie places and quarters of this towne which hath bene done with such furie that it was impossible for me to giue such remedie as was to be wished I hauing enough to do to employe my Garde and other forces to keepe my selfe in safetie in the Castle of Louure to the end to giue order for the appeasing of the whole vproare which at this houre thankes be to God is well quenched for that the same happened by the particular quarrell that hath of long tyme bene betwene those twoo houses whereof alwayes hauing some doubt that some vnhappie effecte woulde ensue I haue as is well knowne to all men before this tyme done all that I coulde for to appease it nothing in this last fact tending too the breache of my Edict of Pacification which contrarywise I will in all things to bee mainteyned as at any time heretofore as I do giue it to vnderstand thorowout my Realme And forasmuch as it is greatly to be seared that this may stirre vp and cause my subiectes to rise one against another and to commit greate slaughters in the townes of my Realme whereof I would bee maruelously sorie I pray you that immediatly vpon the receyte hereof ye cause to be published and done to vnderstande in all places of your charge that euery man as well in towne as in countrey remaine in reste and suretie in his house and do not take armes one against another on payn of death And that more diligently than at any time hertofore ye cause the last Edict of PacificatioÌ to be kepte and carefully mainteyned and obserued To the intent abouesayd and to punish such as shal do to the coÌtrary to distresse all such as shal rise dysobey our pleasure ye shal immediatly assemble al the strength that ye are able as well of your friends being of our allowance as others aduertising the gouernors and captaines of townes and Castels within your charge that they take good heed to the suretie and safe keeping of their peeces in such sort as there ensue no default informing me with speede of suche order as you shal take therin and how all things shall proceede within the compasse of your authoritie I haue here with me my brother the King of Nauarre and my cousin the Prince of Conde to take suche hap as my self I pray the creator Monsieur de Prie to holde you in his holy safegarde From Paris this xxiiij of August Thus signed Charles and vnderneth Pinart These letters are all of one argument as the former be and written all in one forme and al one day to Monsieur de Prye the Lieutenant of Touraine THE KINGS LETTERS TO THE OFFI cers of Burges vpon the same matter that the former were OVr louing and faithfull wee doubt not but by this tyme you knowe of the sedition which to our greate griefe happened in Paris afewe dayes sithens wherin my cousin the Admirall and certaine others of his side were slaine and a greate murder committed vpon diuerse in many places of this Citie And least the newes thereof should change the quiet estate wherin Burges hath hitherto bene maintained since the Edict of Pacification if remedie were not foreseene it is the cause that wee writ this letter presently vntoo you wherby wee commaund and expressely ordeyne that euerie one of you according to his