credit with other Princes By this time the Admiral understood of the noise and though he had but ten persons in his house able to bear arms and in his own chamber but two Chirurgians one Minister and two Servitors yet was he so confident of the K. promise as he could not be made afraid trusting as he often did repeat upon the Kings good will to him testified by so many and ample proofs of assurance having like confidence that if the Parisians did but once know the Kings mind to be against this tumult they would soon cease but especially when they saw Cossin the Kings own Captain waching at the gates for his defence But alas he did little think who they were and by whose command or to what intent all was don these reasons were the Admirals Remora's to stop the passage of any belief of treason hid in the Kings heart and it is commonly found that most suffer Shipwrack on the rocks of crudelity and as one saies it is no heresie to affirm That many have been saved by their infidelity The Admiral recounted the Oath and Edict of Pacification so openly and so often sworn recorded by the King Queen Mother and the rest The late League with Queen Elizabeth of England The Articles covenanted with the Prince of Orange His faith given to the Princes of Germany The mariage of the Lady Margaret his own Sister with the King of Navar being done on no other account as the King publickly declared but to keep his faith and to declare his integrity to all he professed which solemn act was but six days old and which doubrless he would not suffer to be defiled with innocent blood Lastly it would stain the glory of the Nation with Forein Princes and States and of posterity never to be believed more besides the great shame as also honour and constancy of a Prince all which the Admiral said he could not believe would ever be forgot by the King or buried in the grave of cruelty and blood And thus he perswaded himself with the Kings faithfulness to keep his promises and oaths He breathed in no other air than that which might gently fill his Sayls with belief of the Kings integrity setting say I towards the cape of good hope but alas alas he sails by this cape to his own ruin They enter the Admirals lodging kill all they meet As soon as the Duke of Guise and bloody Noblemen drew neer the Admirals lodging Cossin knockt at the Gate which he was to keep a goodly guard for the wolf to keep the Sheep he that opened the Gate was presently stabbed as soon as they enter with a number of armed men they kill all they find within the porch which were a few of the King of Navars Harquebuzeirs only one escaped to the Admirals Chamber crying Sir the Lord calls us to him when the Admiral understood it he caused those that were in his Chamber to lift him out of his bed and casting a night-gown upon him he arose on his feet and with his Minister Mr. Merlin in short ejaculations did commend their souls to God He rises goes to prayer commands his Friends servants to shift for their lives the Admiral commands all his Friends and Servants to save their lives by flight if possible and take no more care for him For that he was willing and ready to surrender his Soul to the Lord calling for his Spirits which for a time was lent for his use saying this violent and unexpected cruelty was not only intended for his destruction alone but for the dishonour of Christ and the bloody persecution of so many poor Saints and Servants of God which at the Petition of all the Godly Protestants and the Lord good Grace he had his heart drawn out to the faithful defence of the Protestant Cause through many hazards and dangers The sincerity whereof he left to the Lord to Judge and that he had no other end Then Mr. Merlin the Minister with the rest got up to the top of the House creeping out of the Windows to the Gutters to hide themselves but alas most of them were sought out and slain in the next house yet through Gods mercy the Minister wounderfully escaped as you may at large see in the reverend Author Mr. Clark his Examples a Book worth the perusal of every Christian Presently ascends up the stairs a Germain named Benvese who maried the Cardinall of Lorrains Daughter with him also Cossin the Gascoin Attin a Piccard a Familiar and Depender on the Duke of Aumale one that not long before sought to murder de Andelot by Treason as also Hamfort an Avernois These bloody Murtherers break into the Admirals chamber and blaspheming God thrust him through knock him on the head shoot him with a Pistol wound him again and so he dies all being prepared and armed with Swords Targets and Shirts of male These break into the Admirals Chamber who being no so sooner entred but Benvese advances towards him and bending his drawn Sword at his Breast said Art thou the Admiral who with a Christian countenance full of constancy and quiet satisfaction in Gods good pleasure answered I am so called and withall said young man thou oughtest to consider my age and the weak case I am now in but do what thou wilt for thou canst shorten my life but a very little But he blaspheming God thrust him through the Breast and after strook him on the head then Attin shot him with a pistol in the breast the Admiral was not with these wounds quite dead therefore Benvese gave him the third wound upon the thigh and he presently fell for dead so lying gasping death freeing him from misery wafting him with speed to the Haven of rest and happiness where all tears are wiped from his eyes His body thrown out of the window the D. of Guise with his foot kicks him on the face Now the Duke of Guise and rest of the Noblemen staied below in the Court to hear how things went the Duke of Guise with a lowd voice cryed Hast thou done Benvese who replied I have done the Duke replied our Chevalier the Kings bestard Brother will not believe it unless he see it throw him out of the Window So Benvese with the help of the rest did lift his body to the window who yet breathing laid hold with his hand on the window but these butcherly blood-hounds and cruel Murtherers whom a hundred at once durst not in his life venture to face in the field violently thrust him out of the window into the Court the Duke of Guise presently draws nigh and because his face was bloody and dirty he kneeled down the berter to know him and with a napkin wiped his face saying now I know it is him and so kicked him on the face with his Feet whom all the Murtherers in France feared so much when he was alive They proceed crying kill this is che K.
might suit with them so at last these eminent and brave Cammanders and Gentlemen were by a shadow of Law and illegal Legality condemned to dy and so the 22. of October 1572. in the fight of the King Queen Mother her Sons with many thousand gazing on them they were led to the gallows seated in the prime street of the City but before execution as Briquemault ascended the Ladder came to him the under Provost of the Town whom the King had commanded to insinuate into him and to profer pardon for life if he would confess what was laid to his charge saying further that his Majesty being of an easie nature and courteous affability would as speedily grant pardon as he ask it but he like one truer to his own soul then the K. to his promise replyed That it was the K. duty to ask pardon of God if the day of Gods mercy had not past upon his cruelty and perjury and so was far from asking forgiveness for that whereof God and his soul were witnesses of his innocency yet to prove himself as good a Christian as the King a ernel Tyrant he cordially desired God of his great mercy to forgive the King And so lifting up his eyes to heaven he uttered these Words Oh my God upon whose Tribunal seat I stand and whose face I hope shortly to see thou knowest well that I know nothing nor did not so much as once think of any Conspiracy against the King nor against his Estate though I stand charged with the same in my process but I beseech God to pardon the King and all those that have been the cause of this my unjust death even as I desire pardon at thy hands for my sins and offences committed against thy Divine Majesty so ascending another step of the Ladder he onely said I have somwhat to utter to the King which I would be glad to communicate unto him but saies he I see that I may not and so shrunk up his shouldiers forbearing to use any further speech so these two brave Gentlement were at last with halters about their necks most basely unjustly and dishonorably thrown off the Ladder by the Hangman whose deaths ere this are accounted for and as Briquemaults constancy was much commended so was his death much bewailed by many Catholicks that were spectators of this sad crueltie Two things was very ill spoken of by the Catholicks and Protestants first the presence of the King as a thing unworthy the Head of Justice to see the Execution Secondly That Briquemault being a Gentleman of Good descent was basely hanged being a thing rare in France but especially now in regard he was reputed of his Enemies to be free from the charge for which he died about an hour after this unheard-of Justice and execution the bloody Catholicks of Paris drew their bodies through the Streets thrust their dead bodies through with daggers shooting of dags at them cutting off their ears and omitted no other kind of cruelty and barbarous villany that could be imagined And thus the Noble Gantlemen by their Christian Moderation and composedness of mind reared Trophies of Honour out of the Ruins of their own misfortunes Et Miserias infularum loco habuere wore their disasters like holy vestments as robes of honour They let the world know they could not only do but suffer and that passive fortitude is as good as active valour Et facere pati fortia hoc Romanum est L. Flo. And now to perfect all they likewise with these two famous Gentlemen cause to be hanged a man of straw made for a shadow of the Admiral These barbarous cruelties strange Treacherie and unheard-of perjury in these bloody proceedings against the poor Protestants of France brought an odium and bred a Hatred from Stranger Princes but especially in Poland likewise did much frustrate the French Negotiations in behalf of the Duke of Anjou And Courteous Reader since the first beginning of publishing this sad Tragedy there came in the interim a book to my hand wherein is somwhat discoverd of this History but specially the resentment and judgement of Sir F. Walsing ham then Ambassador in France for Q. Eliz. of blessed memory as also some orher Letters the matter contained therein I have shortly collected for the publick good which though abstracted here yet may more at large be read in the Author In a Letter to Sir Tho. Smith page 245. And therefore I hope her Majesty will stand upon her Guard and strengthen her self with the Amity of the Protestant Princes of Germany who as I hear are awake and marvelously stomack this late cruelty and do think that the danger thereof will reach to themselvs if they do not seek to prevent it One Roulart a Catholick and Canon of Nostre Dame and also a Counsellour in the Parliament uttering certain Speeches in misliking this lawless kind of proceeding without Justice was apprehended and committed to Prison and in prison murthered as disorderly as any of the Rest wherewith divers of the Catholicks themselves were offended This manner of proceeding breedeth General distrust in them of the Nobility and every man feareth Gods vengeance Paris 16. Sept. 1572. F. Walsingham In a Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham page 246. The Ambassadour proceeded shewing also outwardly a marvellous inward grief of mind for this shameful fact professing himself ashamed to be accounted a French man Although indeed the same informations had been true yet the manner of the cruelty used cannot be allowed in any kingdom or Government and least in that place where the King might by order of Justice have done due execution both to the Admiral and all others that should have proved offenders for it cannot be denied that the same forces that murthered so many might have more easily attached them all or the principals and brought them to answer to Justice when the King would c. whose age and knowledge ought in such case to have foreseen how Offenders ought to be justified with the Sword of the Prince and not with the bloody Swords of Murtherers being also the mortal enemies of the party murthered c. And as for the Admiral she confesseth that she was very sorry for his death as for one whom she thought a good Minister to continue Amity betwixt their two Majesties and she had cause to bewall the rest of the Noblemen for the like cause c. Her Majesty did greatly lament their death and doth surely perswade her self that if the King shall not use his power to make some amends for so much blood so horribly shed God who seeth the hearts of all as well Princes as others will shew his Justice in time and place when his honour shall therin be glorified as the Author of all Justice and the Revenger of all blood-shedding of the innocents c. Woodstock Sept. 9. 1572. W. Burleigh F. Knowles Rob Leicester T. Smith James Croft In a Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham folio 250. SIR
THE CIVIL WARS OF FRANCE DURING THE BLOODY REIGN OF CHARLS the Ninth Wherein is shewed The sad and bloody Murthers of many thousand Protestants dying the streets and Rivers with their blood for thirty daies together whose innocent blood cries to God for vengeance And may stand as a Beacon fired to warn and a a Land-Mark to pilot all Protestant Princes and States to a more secure harbour than peace with Papists Faithfully collected out of the most antient and modern Authors by a true Protestant and Friend to the Common-wealth of England London Printed by H.H. for W. London and are to be sold at the Sun and Bible near Py-Corner MDCLV To that flourishing Sprig of Virtue and growing Branch of Honour the most ingenuous T. H. of Grays-Inne Esquire SIR THese first Fruits with bending humility stoops to be pluckt by your sweet hand and tasted by the good relish of your favorable acceptance and if they have but the honour to pearch on the least branch of your noble mind it is all I crave from the seat of your juditious approbation and though I boldly knit the thread of my Labour to your noble name yet the great affections I ow and the greater your merits demand emboldens me to conclude That as your incomparable worth is my encourager so will it as easily pardon as beget this boldness Therefore it is that with strong presumption of your genuine interpretation this peice takes Sanctuary under the refreshing shelter of your noble Patronage from the scorching heat of malitious censure May you be directed to tread the steps of your brave Progenitors especially to trace the Renowned walks of the Right Honourable your noble Father whose valour for his Countrey and immoveable constancy to a good cause may stand as a pattern of Imitation to future ages and challenge a Room among the truly worthy Thus noble Sir go on that as in your younger years you have stamped your actions in the mint of virtue therby coyning Renown as an inseperable adjunct to your great parts so may you by continuance in the same Tract cut out to your self a habitation in the hearts of all that love and honor virtue So sitting in the lap of Prosperity it may at last be sanctified in order to eternity And may the hopeful promises of your lively and capacious Soul inlaid with Gallantry so fructifie that they may struggle with your years for growth and fill the longing world with expectation Now Sir since I have boldly begun let me humbly end ingeniously confessing my self in a great degree unfortunate in having no nobler a sacrifice to offer at the shrine of so much Honour and Virtue All I request is that I may march under the Banner and conduct of your favour and commands For I am Noble Sir Your Humble Servant ERRATA PAge 5. line 11. for pacings read parings p. 5. l. 21. f. check hers r. check-mate hers p. 25. l. 26. f. there r. her p. 63. l. 26. f drawning r. drowning p. 70. l. 13. f. had not r. had not tasted p. 77. l. 8. f. but to a little belief r. to enforce a little belief p. 89. l. 35. f. bis brave soldiers r. this brave Souldier p. 101. l. 21. f. war r. way Courteous Reader THou art desired to pass by the unavoidable errata's of the Press The Epistle to the READER THIS following Narrative is a Theme so sadly copious that if thou art a true Protestant thou canst not but bewail the sad fate of many thousand innocent Christians whose sufferings and their enemies cruelty strove for preheminence who died not so much like Martyrs as murthered like sheep being not overcome by force but betrayed by Treachery and perjury Who can but from the depth of sadness turn his sorrow into tears forcing open the bowels of his compassion through the flood-gates of his eyes when we shall consider so many Lords and Gallant Commanders breath their last by an ignominous and base death not to be compared for cruelty perjury and treachery in any age or History for indeed these sad calamities challenge the Tribute of a bleeding heart so that if the Readers understanding be not already garrisoned with prejudice or if the times be but patient of hearing truth this Book may prove of some use to this Nation The ruins of Truth is often envelloped in the sable clouds of Oblivion Nimium altercando amittitur Truth may be lost in a crowd therefore my industry to preserve antiquity may stand as an argument against calumny for each Book prest into the world is as a Bark at Sea the first as subject to censure as the last to storms therfore I cannot but expect a shower of censures yet as Mr. Feltham saies It is the easiest part to censure and though men think thereby to be accounted wise yet sayes he there is nothing discovers a Fool more for he that knows least censures most Ignorance gives disparagement a lowder tongue than knowledge like Rats that love to eat Books they cannot read and however I may suffer the venome of Asps which grow on some mens tongues yet have I done without crime what I ought to do in conscience and the more impetuous the storms and rapid torrents of calumny assault and beat upon my endeavours the more shall I like the Traveller in the Fable hug my self in the Cloak of my own Innocency and Integrity that though the success of my Labour prove abortive to some yet shall I enjoy the fredom of my own desire and reward my self with that content that the envious World can neither give nor take from me It is not unknown to the World that something of this nature is extant yet may I humbly and truly say is short of this for the Original Structures and composure of this Narrative fetches his Materials from sundry Authors both Modern and Antient and being cul'd from the Reliques of Antiquity by a careful gleaning out of many into one may therefore challenge the privilege to say that all others want somewhat of this being an exact Epitomy of the most remarkable passages of the Civil Wars during this Kings Reign yet as succinct as an orderly proceeding can admit And Courteous Reader that thou mayest be perswaded to go further then the Entrance I do assure thee that the body of this History is collected from the best Writers of both sides whose tinctures of reflection according to their Byasses is so ballanced that the Narrative stands free from the prejudicate part of either being as impartial as pen can collect from the Original of antient Records and as well distanced from the gashes of a partial Pen as the two Poles from one another or the Antipodes from us For I find what any Protestant writer inserts of the worst part is no less published than known by the Catholicks themselves for they cannot deny the act only they excuse the manner And this advantage will come by this collection that whereas it was
to the King of Navar the King crowned the Princes of the Bloud and Duke of Guise contends at the Coronation about precedency the King gives it to the Duke of Guise the Constable forsakes the Protestants and cleaves to the Duke of Guise the Queen Mother for her own advantage joyns with the King of Navar and gives some liberty to the Protestants which so enrages the Catholick party as presently all former Edicts in behalf of the Protestants were broken by a contrary Edict that no Religion should be suffered in the Kingdom but the Romish the King and Queen Mother subscribes thereunto the Protestants at their request have a Conference granted they meet and confer in a hot Dispute but agree not the Catholicks murder many Protestants in Paris the eight Parliaments of France assembles the Duke of Guise disapproved of it and so in a fury departs the Court and goes for Spain the Protestants deluded by the Queen Mother gives her a List of all their Forces the King of Navar turns Catholick the eight Parliaments meet and with the consent of the King and Queen Mother do decree a free and publick Toleration of the Protestant Religion but speedily a sad and cruel Massacre the Duke of Guise furiously assaults the Protestants at a Sermon and murders two hundred of them the Protestants complain to the Prince of Conde of breach of Covenant and Edict the Duke of Guise seises on the King and carries him to Paris the Queen Mother writes to the Prince of Conde for aid against the Duke of Guises Attempt the Prince in his journey to Court suddenly retires to Orleance and possesses it the first Civil War begins The death of King Francis and Reign of King Charls FRancis second King of that name dying the fourteenth of December 1560. made entrance for the Reign of Charls the ninth and as the first died of a Feaver so the last reigned in a Frensie the legitimate off-spring of his Predecessours disease whose short Reign was thought too much lengthened by the train of all sorts of bloudy cruelties which filled this poor distracted Nation of France whose wicked Reign was also attended with the sable clouds of Flagellum Dei which swept both Field and City The beginning of his wicked Reign had a bloudy ending to the poor Kingdom and himself for the bodies of the murthered Protestants was a Prey to the Birds of the Air and Beasts of the Fields the whole Nation wearing the Pensive Weeds of a Ruinous Distraction for through the Lords just Judgments on the Nation they suffer nothing less than all Roberies Rapes and all sorts of Cruelties with horrid Massacres for the space of twelve years And as the Prologue of his Reign was Perjury and Treachery so was the Epilogue Bloudy to himself and poor Nation especially to the poor innocent Protestants A Parliament sits and the Government committed to the Queen Mother during the Kings minority A Parliament being called they begin the 23. of December Now at this time in the Court of France was Katherine de Medices Pope Clements Brothers Daughter and this Kings Mother who being born in Florence a City of Italy had conferr'd upon her the Government of this Kingdom in the Kings minority for it is well known that according to the Laws of this Nation neither the Administration nor Inheritance thereof can justly be cast on the shoulders of a Woman and yet against this Law and through the negligence of the King of Navar the said Queen Mother was joyned with him in the Office of Protectorship the confirmation of her Regency being allowed of by the Chancellour was afterwards confirmed by the Speakers Now in this Assembly of Parliament one John Quintin a Doctor of the Common Law at Paris for the Clergy pleads that none of the Religion Reformed for so they called the Protestants should any more be tolerated or suffered and desired that the Laws in that case provided might be put in speedy execution but the day following that brave Commander and good Christian Gasper de Coligni the Admiral of the Protestants complained to the Queen Mother against the said Quintin who presently excuses himself and in his second Speech moderates his Plea to the Admirals content The Parliament a little enlarges the Protestants privileges Now the Estates proceeds in their consultations making themselves and the beginning of this year somewhat happy by some moderation in matters of Religion whereby the reproachfull names of Papist and Hugenot was forbidden upon pain of Death which name Hugenot they fixed in disdain and derision to the Protestants and was derived from a Gate-house in Tours called St. Hughs Gate where they met in Assemblies Many good and necessary Laws were then published but with more confusiom than advantage for Laws though good and many yet through want of a due execution by the Magistrates power makes the good intent thereof to be perverted and turned into an indirect Channel giving the people cause to slight such wholesom Laws and grow bad under a good Government Great contentions and private animosities arose between the Princes of the Bloud that is the Prince of Conde and King of Navar who were Protestants and Francis Duke of Guise who was descended of the House of Lorain and now Grand Master of the Kings House who being a strong Catholick was no less a bitter Enemy to the poor Protestants the Queen Mother in her affections did secretly incline to the Duke of Guise yet to secure her own interest and power in the Kings minority carried fair to both The Princes of the Bloud being Protestants in discontent absent from Court but the King of Navar and Prince of Conde with the Constable seeing themselves justled out of that power and favour in Court which as due they did expect and also foreseeing the event which must necessarily ensure having onely the pacings of the Duke of Guise they absent from Court with all their Attendants resolving to right their wrong on the Queen Mothers Regency and the Guisans usurpation of their unlimited power Now the Queen Mother by her subtil and natural insight to secret affairs judged so at their Discontent that she politickly cast her Cards that both might have a good hand yet deald her self the Trumps checking their power that they might not check hers The King of Navar by the Queens policy jointly governs with her To which purpose she makes a new Agreement with the Navarois concluding him in the Government that taking the Title and Power of Regency to her self he should be called and but called Lieutenant General to his Majesty All this but in Paper and Ink composed of a double intent but those that can break Oaths witnessed by God and all the World how soon can they swallow and digest the breach of such Paper-promises like that good Actor in Smyrna that cried O Terram yet pointing to the Heaven and O Coelum yet pointing to the earth
The Protestant Army under the command of the Prince of Conde and Admiral lodged about Dreux being a Town twenty six Leagues from Paris and situated on the confines of Normandy in which place on a Plain the 19. of December they joyn Battel The Kings Army was reckoned to be nineteen thousand foot and two thousand Horse The Prince of Conde's Army consisting of twelve thousand Foot and four thousand Horse And now the Battle of Dreux begins where the Admiral of the Protestants with great courage leading the Van fell upon the Kings Cavalry commanded by the Constable and at first onset slew Gabriel de Momorancy and laid dead on the place Count de Rochefort the whole cavalry running away The Constable taken prisoner the Constable himself taken Prisoner and the Duke of Nevers Monsieur de Givry d'Annebault La Bross and his Son with many other Gentlemen and Cavaleirs slain upon the place The Duke of Aumaule Brother to the Duke of Guise and Beauvais were wounded Now the Princes forces being in a too eager pursuit of the Enemy was furiously set upon by the Duke of Guise where after a furious on set and doubtful shock on both sides endured at last the Prince of Conde was taken Prisoner Prince of Conde taken prisoner and on the Kings side was taken Monsieur d'Anvelle being sore wounded which the Admiral perceiving rallies and advances but the former encounter so wearied and weakned his men that after a sharp conflict he was put to the worst and so made an honourable retreat In this encounter was slain on the Catholike party the Marshal de St. Andre The same night all the Army of the Protestants were met together where the Admiral by general consent was chosen General of the Army instead of the Prince of Conde Prisoner Both Armies leave the field the Duke of Guise by the speedy advance of night upon him was forced to lodge upon the Plain at Blainville where the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Guise two mortal enemies both supped and lay in one bed together The next morning after Battle the Admiral presents himself with his Army in the field in Battalia There was in this battle slain seven thousand whereof on the Protestants two thousand foot and one hundred and fifty horse and doubtless it was a dubious engagement for had the Protestants carefully maintained their first encounter in an orderly station they had not been so assailed and foyled at last but Victory had crowned their valour without hazard of doubt but however the Battle proved fatal to the Catholicks and famous to both in that both Generals were taken Prisoners And as the Admiral was chosen General so for the Catholicks was the Duke of Guise General in lieu of the Constable prisoner The Duke of Guise hereupon suddenly marches to lay siege â—o Orleans The Admiral proceeds to the Resolution before determined The Admiral marches for Normandy and keeps his march for Normandy but before their March takes Selles in Bervy St. Aigna Sulli upon Loire and Montrichard and so leaving the care of Orleans to his Brother D'Andelot he advances towards Normandy to meet with Queen Elizabeths supplies and so to come with more strength to annoy the Catholicks and assist his Friends The Duke of Guise with the Kings Army layes siege to Orleans On the fifth day of February the Duke of Guise lays siege to Orleans where the King and Queen Mother came in person D'Andelot was Governour of Orleans who was also assisted with Monsieur de St. Cyr the Sieur de Avaret Bussay Duras and Bouchavanes under whose command were fourteen companies of foot consisting of Germans and Gascoins with five Troops of French Horse that were old Souldiers to whose valour was joined for assistance the unanimous consent of the Citizens to withstand the enemy whose harmonious and joint resolutions for defence of Religion and Liberty did strive to out-vy the Souldiers valour and thus being resolved to dy in pursuit of so good a cause they encourage one another to repulse the enemies assaults The Defects of the Town-walls being supplyed with Resolutions which made weakness impregnable and stood as a Rock against the strongest shock of the enemies force Now the Duke with the whole strength of his Army sets upon a Fauxburg of the City and suddenly surprizes it the first day The Duke of Guise threatens to destroy men women and children in Orleans but is himself cut off which so encouraged the Catholick party and especially the hot spirit of the Duke of Guise whose inveterate malice could not be contained in the bounds of moderation or secresie but openly delivers it by word of mouth and writes by Letters to the King boasting that twenty four hours should not pass so sure as he would in the same compass force the City to his obedience And further declared The day should be made memorable by destroying both men women and children sparing none But behold his hellish rage was confined by a judgement from Heaven whose death was not much unlike our late Duke of Buckingham for the same night there was a young Gentleman descended of a noble family known by the name of John Poltrat Sieur de Merebourn who being mounted on a Spanish Jennet and watching his own opportunity did by his proper and private motion shoot the Duke of Guise into the shoulder with a Pistol laden with three bullets and so this wretched enemy of God and the poor Protestants dyed the four and twentieth of February who by Gods justice was deprived of his unjust and bloody intentions the said Poltrat being afterwards taken and executed did freely declare at his death that what he did in destroying the Duke was to deliver France and especially the City of Orleans from his violent and bloudy threatnings The Admiral returns from Normandy and with his Army enters Orleans This accident in the Kings Army stopt their furious assaults till the seasonable advance of the Admiral from Normandy with Supplies which made a full stop in the siege who after he had greatly annoied the Catholicks in Normandy came to Orleans the 17. day of March and enters the City where was Prisoner the Constable General of the Kings Army taken at the Battle at Dreux and in the Kings Army was the Prince of Conde Prisoner Now the Kings Queen Mother with the Privy Counsellours and Deputies of the Court of Paris were about to arraign the Prince of Conde which being ballanced with a fearful expectation of the like to the Constable they let their resolutions fall A Treaty begun and finished with the Edict of January for liberty granted The Queen Mother at this time fearing the issue of War and seeing success alike to both doubted her desired expectation would fall by reason of the unexpected and constant supplies the Admiral had on all straits she therfore enters on the Old Way Her only way making use of that Proverb VVhere force will
that might put the Protestants backward the Council to fit his purpose finds this expedient That the King of France and Spain should make a firm and inviolable League and that the King of Spain should assist with such forces as might be needful to the aid and succour for the King of France Which League was called the Holy League And that nothing might be wanting to break that famous Edict the Cardinal promises his best aid to assist their commands assuring them that the King and Queen Mother stand firmly for what they decree The Cardinal posts to Rome and endeavours all be can against the protestants Now as soon as this Council broke up the Cardinal posts to Rome and labours with Pope Pius Quartus to send to the King and Queen Mother of France to cause publickly the Decree of the Council to be observed throughout the Kingdom of France presently they begin to have it put in execution for the Embassadours of Spain Italy c. demand of the French King the Observation of the Decrees of the Council of Trent that the Edict should be disannulled and Hereticks rooted out Secret animosities in the hearts of both parties Now begin new firebrands to be cast again all their designe from first to last being to work out the poor Protestants who would be glad of peace with lives and liberty but could have it granted no wayes but in jeast in order to their more secure ruine in earnest for they never meant to be in earnest with their most solemne promises and protestations When they cannot overcome by Warre then a Peace most be made and in that Peace a damnable plot couched to destroy them when by Gods mercifull providence the Plot is discovered and they Arme for defence of Lives and Liberty and by Gods blessing grow too potent and powerfull for their treacherie and Armes then a peace againe and thus they play fast and loose till they cut the Throats of the two peaceable Protestants who were no way to be overcome but by peace The Protestants complain to the King of their daily wrongs desire justice and the performance of his promises but to no purpose Insomuch that wee may here insert a paradox in Divinity that it had been no sin in this cause to be unbeleeving nay they had no other way to be saved but by unbeliefe And thus the Edict that should have been the Cord of Peace was now a breaking in pieces by all the powers of Hell and Rome insomuch that those that were worse affected to the Edict and most forward to crush it cryed out They could not endure two Religions which seemed say they as prodigious as two Sunns And now as just Occasion was the cause of complaints soe now the Protestants sound in the Kings Ears their sad conditions and how little the Edict was like to be kept if such courses were nourish but the King heard to little purpose for it made a noise in his Eare but not in his obdurat heart for this King instead of hearing the complaints and redressing the wrongs of his to good subjects turnes his Ears forsaking the good Example of King Lewis the first of France A notable example of Justice who used three dayes in a week publickly in Person to hear the complainnts of his subjects and judge their Cause A poor woman desiring the Emperour Adrian to hear her Complaint and do her justice he answered that he was not a leisure the poore woman then replies boldly the King and Queen Mother in progress meet the Popes Minister and King of Spain and secretly confer in person together that he ought not to be at leisure to be Emperour Augustus Caesar exceedingly rejoyced to do justice and hear the causes of his subjects insomuch as the night could not allay his vigorous mind to do justice nay when he lay sick he would order the parties to appear at his bed side But this King was so far from following the Command of God or example of Heathens so far from delighting to settle his own Throne in the peace of his subjects that he seeks to overthrow his own tranquillity in his subjects ruine To which purpose the King and Queen Mother make their progress through many parts of the Kingdom and smoothly coloured their plots and conferences with the Duke of Savoy in Dauphine with the Popes Minister at Avignon and with the King of Spaine on the confines of Guienna whereby they might better cōmunicate their secret Counsells without the hazard of revealing their trust to French men whom they thought by their Alliance one way or other might reveale their secret hellish plots to the Protestants And it is to be taken notice of that now at this time was laid a Plot which Embasadors nor Councells intrusted must not know The King Q. coms to Lyons forbids the exercise of Protestant Religion and fortifies the place In this progress the King and Q. Mother comming to Lyons they forbid the Protestants the exercise of their Religion being one of the Towne assigned them for freedom the Protestants being numerous in this City the King orders a Citadell to be built not stirring out of the Towne till it was finished Now this was an Example to other Towns and did very much exasperat and hearten the Catholicks against the Protestants who with cruell Courage seize on them in sundry Towns and shamefully abuse them So that Many Protestants in many places murthered In Crevan in Burgongue the Catholicks fall on the Protestants and murther many being met together for the exercise of their Religion Curee Governour of Fendosme a Protestant was murthered by command of Cavigni Leiutenant to the Duke of Montpenseir at Tours they fell so furiously upon the poor Protestants murthering some hurting others coming from the Sermon and with great rage came into the Town with their bloody swords in their hands and being dyed with blood A gallant Gentleman murthered they proceed further falling on all they meet with murthering without destinction of sex age or Quality Drawning Killing and distroying all they could find many Protestants of Quality were murthered without any account given of their death by justice on the Murtherers Now the daily threats against the Protestants put them into a doubt of their security The sad massacres at Tours for the King and Queen Mother having concluded with the King of Spain secretly to assist one another It now fiftly falls out to discover that treacherous part which all this while lay hid under the plauseble pretences of an Edict of Liberty which indeed was that part of Hypocrisie which as a Cloak covered all their perfidious Treacherie and breach of promise That now what was written on the word of a King before the Eternall God was no more kept or observed than if it had been only written in sand the King and Q. Mother Raises an Army of Switzers pretending to defend the Protestants
unsufferable injuries and cruel murthers were dayly heaped and committed upon the poor Protestants even to the loss of the Estates and Lives of many of their dear friends which opposition was the greater being done by the Kings Liberty granted contrary to Articles of peace and Edict of Pacification promised by Oaths and Covenants therefore though they dayly waited yet now they saw no other way but to arm in their own defence which was the least they could do being tyed by the laws of God and Nature to preserve their Religion Lives and Estates of themselves with their poor wives children and families that else would be left to the power and rage of bloody and deceitful men and that this was their only design of taking arms And further did declare that if they could espy and other way to enjoy their Estates Liberty and Lives they would speedily lay down their arms yet notwithstanding they desired and resolved to continue his Majesties faithful Subjects in obedience to all lawful commands wishing a period to their lives the same moment their obedience ceased if they could but herein see security for enjoyment of their Religion and Lives The Q. of Navars noble Declaration in behalf of the protestants At the same time the Queen of Navar with some dashes of her illustrious pen and a full Testimony of a Christian Resolution does by Letters declare That she could do no less than joyn with the Prince of Conde and Protestants which with the life of her self and children as also the miserable Reliques of the Kingdom of Navar The Cardinal of Lorrain on the one hand and Spaniards on the other did jointly indeavour by force and policy to destroy which was so discernable that all the world was witness to her injuries And indeed this Noble Queen The Q. of Navars high merits in part described would be ecclipsed of her due value by the draught of my rude pen the highest Encomiums will but stain her virtues but to a little belief of her high deserts know only this That her enemies confessed her virtues and Christian valour to exceed the very applause of her Friendly admirers and therefore her deserts was concluded as much undeniable to them as unspeakable by her friends Thus the very beginning of this pretended peace ends in a third Civil War whose effects was as bloody as sharp and at last we shall speedily see in a Tragical Massacre of many thousand Protestants of all degrees and sexes so securely were the Protestants lull'd asleep in their too credulous opinion of the King and Court Now in this Cabinet Council of the Kings was Charls Cardinal of Lorrain The King publishes a bloody Edict that no Religion should be exercised but the Romish on pain of death which cuts off all former promises and Edicts as if they had never been made to be kept Brother to the Duke of Guise a man of a most crafty and terrible nature insomuch that at Rome he was no less reputed for he was a bitter enemy to the Protestants and for the cruelty of his nature was termed the Firebrand of all Civil Flames whose hands being deep in the blood of the Protestants For by his means and the willing mind of the King and bloody Council was published an Edict in his Majesties name levelling the famous Edict of January and enjoyning That none should profess any Religion but the Romish and that it was treason to embrace any other requiring upon pain of death a general conformity to the Catholick Religion Which bloody Edict was accordingly published whereupon all the Protestant Ministers were banished all places of the Kingdom which were in the Kings power The King declares he meant not what be said Oh deep deceit And that the King may stand amazed at this deep hypocrisie this following Sentence was expressed in this Edict printed at Paris And it was further then declared that albeit the King had in many Edicts before that time permitted the freedom of Religion yet his meaning was to retain and cause to be retained of all men the only Romish or Popish Religion within his Realm Which Edict and clause being so wonderfully strange to all that heard or saw it and because it stained the Kings name with the most horrid spot of perjury and breach of faith it was therefore in other impressions afterward printed purposely omitted in the Edict This Edict was published with an incredible confluence of all sorts of Catholicks and received with the highest celebrations of joy as can be imagined and the rather because the Catholicks much doubted of the Queen Mothers intentions in regard of her dissembling carriage to the Protestants and now all was put out of doubt by this Edict Which clearly demonstrates that the King and Queen Mothers intentions all along was to destroy the Protestants root and branch only took their best opportunity to effect their desires with the least noise of suspicion and greatest security to drive the nail home to the head and their bloody Swords to the hearts of the most innocent souls And thus begins strong preparations for a third Civil War for Religion the sad effects whereof we shall peruse in the next chapter CHAP. V. The Contents THe Protestants gallant Resolutions Both parties arm Queen Elizabeth aids the Protestants The protestants take several towns the Armies face one another but ingage not the Battel at Brisac where the Prince of Conde is slain the Prince of Navar and Prince of Conde chosen Generalls of the protestant Army the Admirall and whole Army swears subjection to these two young Princes the Queen of Navar coins money to pay the protestant Army the Princes and Admiral draw their Army into Garrisons the Kings army sits down before Cognac but are valiantly repulsed they take Mucidan put all to the Sword but lost Count Brisac the Duke Deux Pont with 14. thousand marches to join with the Princes but dies himself by the way The Pope sends Forces to ayd the King Both armies engage the Kings Army retires to Garrisons the Princes take in Chastelrault and Lusignan Town and Castle they lay siege to the great City Poictiers the Kings forces besiege La Charite but leave it after the loss of many brave Gentlemen and Commanders the Duke of Anjou besieges Chastelrault but after great loss leaves it the young Duke of Guise advances to Court and his Fathers place at once the Cabinet Council meets the Armies ingage in a bloody Battel the Kings Army besieges Angeli but receives a gallant shock of a resolute defence by that brave Commander Monsieur de Pilles and at last yielded honourably the Kings Army disbands the protestants increase and are Masters of the field The King summons his forces together and gives the command to Marshall de Coss the King Queen Mother and Cabinet Council plot to linck a peace and the Protestants ruin together the protestants at all times willing to embrace a peace the end
of the third Civil War the K. and Queen Mother speed Messengers to the princes and Admiral to make way for a peace they yield to imbrace a treaty the King propounds for both armies to join against a foreign Enemy A firm peace concluded with free liberty of the Edict Several protestant Princes congratulate the King for his happy peace the King subscribes to keep the Edict the Armies dismissed the peace not fully observed the King with the Council plot destruction the King and Court feed the protestants with favours to make them the easier to swallow their own ruin and his love together the King dissembles with the Princes in shewing a dislike to the Catholick party the prince of Orange and his Brother offer the King of France their assistance against the King of Spain and is accepted the Count of Nassaw disguised goes to the King the King invites the Admiral to Court the Duke of Guise and Cardinal Lorrain depart the Court the better to allure the Princes and Admiral to their Ruin the Prince of Orange takes the Spaniards slips the King propounds his Sister the Lady Margaret in mariage with the Prince of Navar the Popes Embassadour arrives at the Court the Kings plot to surprize Rochel the King pronounces the Admiral not guilty many protestants at Roan murthered the Admirall perswaded of the Kings Reality by a Letter under his own Hand and Seal The protestants noble resolutions NOw begins the third bloody War wherein the Protestants solemnly covenanted together so to cleave fast one to another so to knit themselves firmly together in their affections and resolutions as no future transactions should with the help of God ever make them to forget or forsake the cause of God concerned in the Protestant Religion but resolutely to maintain it to the loss of their lives and all that was dear to them Both sides prepare for war Hereupon the King arms amain so also the Princes and Admiral who send out a fleet of thirty sail for Provision for the Army to supply them for the ensuing Winter The Queen of Navar also endeavours all she can for their aid and assistance Q. Eliz. aids the protestants Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory sent over to their aid one hundred thousand Crowns besides ships of Corn and Ammunition A thing to be treasured up in the remembrance of her lasting fame The protestants take in many Towns both armies meet but fight not The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army and soon levels the force of many strong Towns to their power in taking them in and so become Masters of the Field At length both Armies meet yet no battel in regard of the cold season neither Army would fight but on advantage which would be given by neither The Winter being now past in the year 1569. the Armies engage at Battel at Brisac the 16. of March The Battel at Brisac the prince of Conde slain to his eternal honour fighting on his knees to the last wherein the Prince of Conde was wounded and his horse shot under him yet did valiantly defend himself on his knees in the midst of his Enemies but at last was slain On the Kings side was slain the Duke of Monsalez whom de Andelot the Admirals Brother charged so furiously that with his bridle hand he lifted up the Bever of his Helmet and discharged his Pistol in his face and so laid him dead on the ground Great was the slaughter on both sides of Gentry especially wherein the Protestants were worsted by the Catholiques comming upon part of their Army in full bodies which unfortunately was scattered by their too great security and sudden approach of the Kings yet their demeanor in the fight was such that the Kings Army had reason to bewail their great loss and admire their Enemies valour and undoubtedly in outward appearance had the body been entire and both encountred on equal advantatages the day was generally believed would have been otherwise for the Horse only was engaged but the foot never came to any service but secured themselves in a body And thus died that brave Prince of Conde exceedingly commended for virtue and valour and asmuch bewailed for his loss Prince of Navar and prince of Conde Generalls for the protestants After this Battel the Protestants rallie their Forces and by a General choice of the Army Henry Prince of Navar and Henry Son to the deceased Prince of Conde were both elected Generals of the Protestant Army The Prince of Navar was of a noble and gallant Spirit full of Urbanity and Civil courtesie The Prince of Navar shews a gallant spirit in a piâ—hy speech of a Warlike courage and being naturally given to valourous and heroick actions he embraces this courteous invitation and like a Souldier of a long standing being but fifteen or sixteen years old he lengthned their hopeful expectations by a short pithy speech wherein He promised to protect the true Religion and to persevere constantly in defence of the common-cause till death or victory proved the Issue Now to ballance this Royal assent and Christian magnanimity of so tender a Sprout of virtue The Admiral and whole Army profess fidelity and obedience to the princes of the blood and the protestant cause the Admiral and Count de la Roch-fou-caut first submitted and swore fidelity then followed the principal Officers and Soldiers in joint Resolutions to order their steps after his Royal commands and the religious ends proposed in his Speech All of the Army protesting fidelity to the Princes of Bourbon And thus with a volley of applause was this Gallant young Prince elected General of the Army and Protector of the Protestants whose yeers were far younger than his wise conduct of affairs in whom it was hard to say whether his resolution valor and wisdom or youth was more perspicuous for he seemed as if nature which accomplishes others by degrees had finished him in a trice He was no sooner come to his Horizon but his deserts lifted him up to his Meridian The Queen of Navar mother to this virtuous Prince approved well of their choice and his acceptance so that she sharpned all their resolutions by her couragious assistance of the Protestants The Religious and Noble Q. of Navar coins money and inserts a christian and resolute Motto She was a religious Queen in whom resided much virtue and constancy to a good cause Wherefore she caused monies to be coined with her picture on one side and the Princes on the other with these words Pax Certa Victoria Integra Mors Honesta A Motto becoming her noble Spirit Thus they fall to consultation how to order the Army with the best prudence they resolve to divide and draw into Garrisons so also does the King The Princes Army draws into Garrisons So the Princes and Admiral retire to Saint Jean D' Angeli Brave Monsieur de Pilles defended Xaintes Montgomery and Puviant
work labouring to bring this bloudy brat to the Birth To which purpose the King and Queen Mother calls to Council the Duke of Anjou the Cardinal of Lorrain the Duke of Guise and Alberti Conde Count de Retz and speedily resolve them of their secret intentions if by any means it could be effected they therefore desire their best aid and assistance together with their approbation which needed not be doubted for they were men ready enough at all times to act the Kings pleasure The King therefore begins sending out strict orders to all the Provinces of his Kingdome Now the King begins to dissemble strictly commanding an observation of the Edict which he intends not should be observed The King outwardly carried it harshly to the Catholicks to more to work the Protestants to their lure to have a high esteem and regard to the late Edict in behalf of his good Subjects the Protestants and that it was his Majesties express command to have it strictly observed and to make their Hearts understand what they heard by the ear the King gives Order to have this message proclaimed at Rochel the Seat of the Princes and Admiral assuring them in particular of the Kings favourable intentions to what he had confirmed with his Royall Hand which should be kept inviolable from all attempts of the strongest perswasion And yet to penetrate more deep to make one act of dissimulation out-vy another to let the world see he was a good proficient in the Art of Treachery and Bloodshed he carries himself outwardly very harsh to the Catholicks telling the Commissioners that the Power of the Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorrain was not to be feared for that the Government now rested in himself and had no dependency on any of their commands and therefore though they live at Court yet needed not the Princes of the Blood or Admiral fear them as Adversaries for they lived as Subjects not as Masters and that ere long he hoped all acts of forformer hostility and enmity should be by his means buried in eternal forgetfulness and that both parties should be reconciled to the Kings desire and their own good All which did not only peirce the hearts of the common people but wonderfully wrought upon the hearts of the Princes and Admiral with the chief of the Protestants who now begun to believe the Kings intentions real and that being now weary of the bloudy Civil Wars and Distractions and beginning now to govern by himself and not by his Council might at last sincerely desire a firm peace But alas they are too short sighted to espy and too sincere to doubt that such unparalleled deceit should lodge in the hearts of devils much less in a King a Christian King not so much as in his thoughts much less in his intentions and practice but it is the less wonder seeing it is so that not only in publick actions of great men but also in our common intercourse with things of smaller moment we all experience that the greatest hatred and malice is covered with the greatest love and friendship and that there is no greater knavery then that which borrows a cloak of Religion to cover it with some men again make use of friendship as a stepping stone to their own ends as the For being environed with a high Wall and hotly persued by his Enemies was put to great straits for his liberty for he could not leap over the Wall at last espying one by the Wall side stooping for a stone to throw at him he suddenly leaps on the mans back and by that step of advantage leaps over Little did the poor Princes and Admiral with the Queen of Navar and Nobles and Gentlemen of the Religion think their Noble blood to be so neer spilling by such base and unheard-of cruelties covered under so much love who would not pitty to read that so much valor as was in these brave Commanders should be murthered and laid in the bloody grave of a Treacherous death which shortly we shall sadly peruse The first thing the Admiral embraced by these perswasions was the War against the King of Spain which made the way easier to the rest that followed and yet he often said to his Son-in-Law Teligny that he suspected the rowling wit of the Queen Mother whom he was afraid would lead them on in this enterprize and leave them in the midst The Prince of Orange and Count Lodowick his Brother profer their service to the King in the war of the Low Countrys The Count of Nassaw advising with his Brother the Prince of Orange sends word to the King That if it were his Majesties pleasure to War against the King of Spain in the Low Countries they would so order themselves under his commands as that by their service therein his Majesty should find them faithful and useful and perceive their affections to him and the cause in hand to this the King replies in loving Letters commending their resolutions and gave them hearty thanks for their loving Message which tended highly to a free manifestation of their affections to his Service The Emperour mediates between the Prince of Orange and the K. of Spain The King of France encourages the Prince of Orange against the perswasions of the Emperour Now Maximillian the Emperour pretending to pitty the Estate of the Prince of Orange had obtained by Embassadours to the King of Spain that the Prince should have his goods restored conditionally that he should not settle his habitation in the Low Countryes but in some other place and yet nevertheless should enjoy freely all his Revenues As soon as the French King hears hereof and doubting it might be a hindrance to his present design he speedily posts Messengers to the Prince of Orange to perswade him that what the Emperour had done was nothing but to hinder their progress in so good and advantagious a cause and being only a devise to break up his leavies that he had begun in Germany letting him further understand that if he will please to give him credit he should not want assistance sufficient to regain his Estate from the King of Spain These perswasions of the King being not suspected to come from dissimulation and hypocrifie by the Prince of Orange so did he firmly believe all to be real insomuch as he proceeded in his Musters resolving a while to bear the charges thereof whilst all things else fitting for the war were in readiness though the charge at that time was very heavy Count Lodowick disgrised goes to Court and treats with the King and agrees about the War Now Count Lodowick his Brother being of a resolute disposition essayed his own fortunes and by encouragement from the King he secretly journies from Rochel taking with him onely two companions giving out he was going for the Prince of Orange his Brother but in a disguised habit he privately departs and that night arrives at the Court which then was kept at
leaving with one La Gross his Chirurgion was by degrees poisoned and swelled so that the wonderfully and narrowly escaped with his life But these Gloves that poisoned this virtuous Queen were ordered in such a secret sort and just proportion that having worn them a while a violent Feaver seized on her which ended her life in four daies And thus died this Noble Queen bewailed exceedingly by all the Protestants for I find her Enemies say The Queen of Navar in part described She was a Lady of a noble Spirit invincible courage many degrees above most of her Sex qualities besides her Chastity and Magnificence worthy Eternal praise She was one that dived into the deep Mysteries of Divinity which raised her illustrious mind to a high pitch of Christianity being also very judicious of a ready wit invincible in adversity absolute in her actions capable of Counsel comprehending things with great vivacity of Spirit delivering her mind with an admirable grace either by word or writing her comprehension of deep things was of a treble magnitude above any of her sex neither can my pen drop her praise but her infinite merits and if it were possible for any pen to erect Trophies of Honour to the peerless challenges of her immortal praise the lustre of her incomparable merits would be the truest guide in the darkest night This noble Queens Death gave way to the Prince her Son to be King of Navar The Q. death intitles her Son the P. to be K. of Navar. to whom the Kingdome came This unhappy death was looked on by many as very ominous portending a sure prognostick of some unfortunate Catastrophe many bing struck with amazement at this sudden treochery and bloody death concluding it to be a sad Fore-runner of some mischief to come But that which made many Protestants cast away all fear was the Kings loving carriage to them insomuch that things at this time looked with a peaceable countenance throughout the Kingdom of France Now the day of marriage between the Lady Margaret and the King of Navar was appointed which was a great day of joyful hopes to all the Protestants and made all things seem more serene and calm on their side in that also the Guisans and the rest of the chief Catholicks shewed great discontent thereat for all good men judged it an assured pledge of the Kings fidelity and of peace in as much as he shewed such outward joy and declared It was not so much for the wedding as that he said it was for a strong knot of Peace and would tend to a general satisfaction of peaceable Spirits and for the Good of the whole Nation August the 17. the King of Navar The K. of Navar and Lady Margarite maried with great joy on both sides but greater sorrow succeeds and the Lady Margaret was maried with great Solemnity before the great Church of Paris on a Scaffold in sight of all the People and there was a certain form of words so ordered as agreed with both parties which by the Kings commandment was pronounced by the Cardinal of Bourbon the King of Navars Uncle and so was this mariage solemnized with the joy of all good men being kept with Banquets dancing and Masques with a strange mixture of Papists and Protestants together Thus the poor Protestants thought with joy to welcome their own comforts but alas their hopes are frustrate in a contrary success of their expectations and the Kings promises After this the Bride with great magnificence accompanied with a great confluence of Gallants was led to the Church to hear mass The Bridegroom misliking these Ceremonies did with Henry Prince of Conde the Admiral and other Noblemen of the Protestants walk and wait without the Church door for the Brides return The Queen Mother Dukes of Anjou Guise plot But the Queen Mother and her bloody Companions with the Dukes of Anjou and Guise consult about the last Tragical act which was to kill the Admiral and to divide the Protestants thus-like moles under ground they drive on their Hellish designs in Secrecy The King to delude the more speaks publickly The K. publickly declares that he gives his Sister in Mariage as a ty of Union and peace The Admiral of the Kings fleet endeavours to surprize Rochel That he gives not his Sister in mariage to the King of Navar only but as it were to the whole Church of the Protestants to join with them in a undissoluble union and as a ty to their peace and safety Oh! painted ruin whither at last will the fury of thy bloody Chariots drive thee Now while these things proceeded thus at Paris Strozzi as aforesaid Admiral of the Kings Fleet rides before Rochel and at select times sends Captains and Souldiers into the Town under pretence of buying necessaries for their Fleet and sometimes did come ashoar himself but the King had given him Commission to seize on the City although as before it was given out that he say to entrap all the supplies going from Spain to the aid of the Duke of Alva in the Low Countries The like Treachery was used in another part of France by Gonzague Duke of Nevers with a party of Horse neer to La Charite where a bridge passes the River Loyre which the Protestants then had The protestants at Lyons had their names put in a bloody Book this Gonzague requests Liberty of the Town to muster shewing the K. Letters which indeed he had The Governour of Lyons commanded he names of the Protestants to be written in a Book which in regard of their Horrid cruelties committed and devillish Bucheries committed in this City was justly called the bloody Book The Admiral The Admiral desires to depart Paris but the K. desired his stay which on some other grounds he did but sad complaints and great suspition of treason came to his cars but he believes it not after the mariage being then the time he appointed and desired to return to his own house did move the King about his departure but so great was the Court revellings that the Admiral coul not have private access to his Majesty to deal in State-matters Rochel at this time was in a manner besieged with Souldiers arriving hourly giving out terrible threats against the Town which made the Protestants begin to cry to the Admiral for succour and relief for indeed the Admiral was as a nursing Father to them in other Towns also was heard secret murmurings terrifying the most cleer-sighted Protestants giving too sure cause to think a bloody and terrible spectacle would be shewed beyond present conception which will shortly be seen in a horrible manner The Admiral knew not what to answer to all these sad complaints that uncessantly flowed in as one wave on the back of another and all to get him from the Court He answered to all the King had made us swear before him to be Friends the Lady Margaret is given in mariage
and doubtless is a firm pledge of the Kings fidelity what can be done more is not all clear from the least suspition of fraud yet he resolved to depart only waited for a fit opportunity to take leave But the Deputies that were sent from the Reformed Churches complained of the cruelties still committed on the Protestants and understanding of the Admirals intentions to depart they apply themselves with all speed to him and delivering him their books and petitions they earnestly beseech him not to absent from the Court till he had pleaded the cause of the Churches and delivered their petitions to the King and Council Hereupon he resolves like a good Advocate to stay a while and plead their cause But there was another great cause of the Admirals stay for there was on arriers to the Ruttiers of Germany great sums of money for their service under the Admiral during the Wars in which he laboured earnestly to effect But oh I tremble to enter into the ensuing narrative so full of inhumane and cruel bloodshed oh that I could enough bewail the sad fate of these poor innocent souls led as sheep to the slaughter to consider that so many brave Commanders that scorned any other death than like Souldiers must now suffer base murthers and bloody slaughters oh lamentable and to be pittied of all Protestants nay and of ingenuous Papists that so many innocent children and women should suffer for they know not what for we shall shortly see all the Protestants of France in mourning and following the Hearse of their own Ruin in the Papists unparalleled crueltie The Admiral coming from Court with a great train of Nobles and Gentlemen is treacherously shot in both the Arms with a Harqurbuss These businesses being the occasions of the Admiralls stay he did on the 22. day of August repair to the Kings Privy Council to effect his desire which day was the fifth day after the King of Navars marriage but about noon returning from the Council with a great number uf Noblemen and Gentlemen reading a petition as he went was shot thorow both arms with two bullets by a Harquebuzier out of a Window who feeling himself shot shewed no alteration of countenance saying only through yonder window it came what kind of treachery is this It was no news to the King to know his will and command was performed The Admiral speedily sends to the King a Gentleman of his company to give notice of it who being at Tennis with the Duke of Guise shewed such dislike as that in a rage he threw away the Racket that he played withall being exceedingly and outwardly vexed and taking with him his Brother in Law the King of Navar he retires into the Castle of the Lour the King swearing and promising to execute such severe justice upon the offenders Deep hypocrisie that the Admiral and all his Friends should think themselves exceedingly satisfyed The King causes the City gates to be shut pretending lest the Murtherer should escape but indeed was lest the Protestants should escape their cruelty The King therefore to delude the Admiral and Protestants caused all the Gates of the City to be shut except two only which were pretended to be open for bringing in provision yet there was careful watch kept by a strong Guard with a colour of singular care of his Majesty to find out the Murtherer and that if he were in the City he might by no means escape but the truth was lest any of the Protestants should escape this cruel plot laid for their blood by getting out of the City or net of destruction the King swearing and blaspheming that he would not by any means that they should escape which had committed such a horrid act those that durst presume to commit such a hainous crime even at the gates of his Royall Palace The Queen Mother also seems discontented for saies she Who would have thought any ones impudence could arrive so high as this affront to the great prejudice of his Majesty and if ever the King suffer this to go unpunished in the end the next attempt will be on his Royal person But alas alas for a King Queen and Court so to dissemble as if there were no God that could see into their hearts and discover to the World that this was done by the Kings special command and commission as we shall shortly see it was Presently after the Admiral was shot some Gentlemen of his retinue entered by force and violence into the house from whence the shot was where they find only the woman of the House and a Boy that was his lacquey which did the deed finding also a Harquebuss lying upon the Table in the Chamber from whence it was shot but the wretched villain they found not for that he was fled out of the back Gate Fresh horses prepared at several gates to speed away the Murtherer with security and so mounted on a Spanish Gennet which was waiting for him he speedily posted to St. Anthonies Gate where another fresh horse assisted his more swift flight and if he had gon to Marcelles gate there was also another waiting for him Now the King to perswade the Princes Admiral and all the Protestants that he was really sorry and how much it was against his will though God knows to his great satisfaction and inward content he commands sundry to post out into all parts to persue him Set a thief to catch a thief The Admiral shews himself a good Christian and patient sufferer Now the Admiral being safely conveyed to his lodging shewed great piety according to his Godly soul filled with grace and prudence most like a constant and true Christian and faithful holy servant of Christ The Prince of Conde and King of Navar had thought to have departed Paris but the Kings carriage levelled all suspitious thoughts and so turned their resolutions to a longer stay at Court Three Judges to examine the murther At request of the King of Navar and Prince of Conde the King to dissemble with more facility did order three principal men of the Parliament of Paris Thuan Morsant and Viol to examine the business whereupon it was found that the House belonged to one Villimure a Priest and Cannon of St. Germane once the Duke of Guise his Schoolmaster and now a retainer under him That the woman that was in the house being brought before the Judges did acknowledge that a few daies before there came to her one Chally once a Master de Hostel of the Duke of Guises house and now Steward of the Kings houshould commanding her to respect much the man that had done the deed and to lodge him in Villumures own bed-chamber in regard he was his Friend Several speeches there was concerning the person that did it some said it was one Manrevel who in the last Civil War traiterously flew his own Captain a most valiant Commander and Noble Gentleman in the Admirals
Army and thereupon immediately fled to the Kings Camp Others said it was Bondot an Archer of the Kings Guard Now when this confession of the Woman of the house aforesaid was brought to the King he commanded Monsieur de Nance Captain of his Guard to apprehend and bring Chally before him but Chally as soon as he heard the stroke of the piece fled into the Kings Castle of the Loure hiding himself in the Duke of Guises chamber but as soon as he heard of the Kings command he fled Now De Nance Captain of the Kings guard being informed of his escape and no doubt was himself the Informer answered that Chally was a Gentleman of good repute and no doubt but on notice given of the Kings mind would appear before his Majesty or the Magistrates The man that shot the Admiral had commission from the K. to do it Ob horrible The Admiral in danger of death desires the K. visit But not to hold the Reader longer I find it recorded by the most exact Narration that it was Manrevel one whom the Duke of Guise had at his request to the King and by his Commission procured to kill the Admiral which at large is fully related in the Civil wars of France The Admiral now wounded and under the Chirurgians hands dressing his wounds commanded his Son Teligny to go to the King and humbly to beseech his Majesty in behalf of his Father to vouchsafe him a visit for that the wounds lately received were likely to terminate his life and put a short period to his daies desiring therefore to see his Majesty and deliver something to his care that might greatly concern his Majesties safety The K. Q. Mother many other visit the Admiral To which the King in his wonted strain of courtesie answered He would perform his request and so in the afternoon the King goes to visit the Admiral taking along with him the Queen Mother the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Monpenseir a most affectionate Servant to the Church of Rome the Count de Retz a great familiar of the Queen Mothers with Chavigny and Entragny both chief Ringleaders in the bloody Butchery following the King no sooner arrives at the Admirals lodging but he lovingly saluted the Admiral demanding kindly and courteously some few questions concerning the state and health of his body to which the Admiral answered with such a Christian mild and sweetly-quieted countenance with Gods dealing as all that stood by admired at his patience The King hereupon seemed to be so much moved that he uttered these words The hurt my Admiral is done to thee but the dishonour to me and swearing a great Oath saies The K. by a deep oath protests to revenge the Admiralls Hurt I swear I will so sharply and severely revenge both this hurt and dishonour that justice shall have no cause to complain nor the World left without example of my integrity to your deserts And so made many Oaths and Protestations of the Resolutions to punish the Offender as also of his great care he had to preserve the Protestants and the Admirals life against all his Enemies but oh these pretences of friendship will at last prove a smiling harlot that whilest she kisses is like Judas to betray The King further demanded of the Admiral how he did approve of the Judges who had Commission by his appointment to examine the business who answered that he could not dislike of his Majesties care and choise yet humbly intreated his Majesty to let it stand with his good pleasure that Cavagnes might be in Council with them but the wrong he told his Majestie he had committed to God yet desired his Majestie would give order for a strict search and narrow scrutinie into the fact which the King again with his usual Protestations vowed to do and to revenge his wrong as much as his own The K. and Admiral being alone the Admiral declares much faithfulness to the King The Queen Mother and her two Sons withdrew and left the Admiral and King alone the Admiral began to advise the King to remember that he had often told his Majesty of the danger that hovered over his head by some persons neer to him and although he was the mark was shot at yet there was no less hanging over his Majesties head and that long ago there was treason plotted against his Life which his Majesty might please to take notice of as friendly advice and to beware betimes And further declared that now God was pleased to give large symptoms of the decay of his earthly tabernacle and he doubted that his good name would be hoysted up to the pinacle of envious slander by his Enemies and that he often told his Majestie the real Authors of all the late distractions of the Civil War faithfully opening the causes thereof and that he took God to be his witness of his faithful and cordial heart to the King and Kingdome and he never yet knew what was in this world dearer than his Countrey and publick safety all which Discourse the Admirall before his death declared to be spoken betwixt him and his Majesty The King desires the Admiral to lodge in the Loure for his security but was indeed in policy to secure his life and level it to his bloody will To all which the King after such answer as he thought fit with a high voice desired the Admiral to take protection in his own Castle of the Loure wherein his security should be equally envell oped with his own and this he wished might be embraced for fear some sudden commotion might happen from the rabble of that mad and tumultuous people which was a speech preparatory for the plot and yet so much were these poor Protestants blinded in their strange belief of the Kings protestations and not suspecting what followed that they never understood the treacherous intent of these prepared Pills of Hellish Dissimulation The Admiral refused his gilded pretexts of love and care for his ruin A great token of of treason The Admiral most heartily thanked his Majesty and excusing his non-acceptance at present till advice had with his Physicians which when he received it was by them all concluded to be not safe in regard the least motion would increase his pain and so it was resolved not to stir The Count de Retz turned to some of the Admirals Friends in the Chamber saying it were to be wished the Admiral would follow the Kings loving invitation to lodge in the Loure for it was to be feared that some sudden tumult might arise that the King might not be able to appease which was no sooner spoken but it deeply penetrated the Admiral and all his Friends and though they had no proof of reason to fear yet the Admiral desired the King to grant him the favor of a Guard The King grants the Admiral a Guard and flatters damnably To which the King lovingly answered He should
dangers and difficulties got to the Sea side and so escaped over to England bringing sad news in their dejected countenances for the loss of their dear and pretious Friends who were also as kindly welcomed by our good Queen Elizabeth as safely escaped from the cruelty of their treacherous and perjured King Whilst these bloody and unheard of crueltys were committed in Paris A bloody plot against Rochel but prevented Strozzi the Kings Admirals lay hovering at Rochel endeavouring to surprize it under pretence of a Banquet to be made for his Friends of the Castle of La Cheine but being discovered he retreated without the effects of his desire or performance of the Kings command The Protestants murthered at La Charite The murthers at Paris is renewed next day But the poor Protestants of La Charite as aforesaid was entraped by the Italian horse and were now put to the Sword But to return to the bloody City of Paris the next day the slaughter was renewed for all that was found hidden in corners or private places of the City were all sought out brought forth and murthered insomuch that the day before and this day were massacred in Paris above ten thousand Protestants of all degrees and sexes the very common Labourers Porters and the most rascally and desperate villains of the City did this day abuse the dead bodies by pulling off their cloaths and throwing them naked into the River of Sein The places of preferment which now lay empty by reason of this horrid massacre were now by the King given to whom he pleased The Admirals office he gave to the Marquess de Villars c. And so like a true Tyrant leaves nothing his poor Subjects can call their own but their miseries In this butcherly Massacre at Paris were sacked above four thousand houses and above five hundred Barons Knights and Gentlemen who had held the chiefest imployments in the War with many noble and gallant yong Ladies and Gentlewomen that had now purposly met together from all parts to rejoice in honour of the King of Navars mariage with the L. Margaret who poor Noblemen Gentlemen Ladies thought of nothing more then of jollity and pleasures but now suffer the Tyrannical rage of a furious King and bloody death to be pittied by all that shall hear this sad story for poor Ladies they expected no such tragical welcome from a Royal King contrary to his Oaths and their spotless innocency and it must needs stick as the greatest badge of inhumanity and cowardice nay a true character of a bad cause To murther like Devils not fight like men Immediately after these unheard of murthers were acted in Paris the King not yet glutted with blood sends Messengers by post to all parts of the Kingdom often shifting horses for more speed with express command to all other Cities to follow the example of Paris commanding all Protestants which were amongst them to be slain and yet at the same time the same King writes other Letters wherein he laid the fault of the Murthers upon the Admiral and the Duke of Guise Now this command of the King to cut off all the Protestants in all Towns and Cities under his command it cannot he expressed how chearfully willingly and readily they were obeyed by the greatest part of the Cities in France for on the receipt of his Majesty Letters they fell on the Protestants at Meaux Troys Orleans and other parts murthering them without all pitty And now let us a little read with melting hearts the sad affliction of Gods Church let us bring the sad ruins of a good cause to our neer view by a spiritual improvement as a prospect draws the object nearer for we must now relate the sad catastrophe of many thousands of poor Christians who fell under the cruel and bloody command of the King to all his Magistrates which indeed is not to be expressed what sad cruelties were committed to the wonderful astonishment of all that hears or reads it for no sooner does the King let loose his cruel commands but speedily the bloody Papists break out with horrid Massacres more like Devils than men For now in Paris the Prisons that had any Protestants by which reason they escaped for a time were now brought forth and basely slain by the multitude of murtherers in which were three gallant Gentlemen of great reputation viz. Captain Monius a very valourous and stout Gentleman next Lomen Secretary to the King and greatly honored and esteemed for his faithful service in his place and lastly Chappes an antient Lawyer of fourscore years And was also of great renown and fame in the Court of Paris all three were basely murthered as cannot be expressed Amongst the rest must be set forth that unparallel'd bloody and treacherous death of Monsieur de la Place President of the Court of Wards which must I say for the strangness of the murther begg leave to have place in this history Their comes a Captain armed to the Gentlemans house and acquaints him that the D. of Guise had slain the Admiral by the Kings commandment and also many other Protestants but out of his deserts he desired to protect him from their fury with all desiring to see his Gold which he might as well bestow on him for saving him as on others for destroying him the Lord de la Place admires at the Captains audatious and petulant demeanour and so confidently required of him whether he thought there were a King or no the Captain blaspheming desired him to go to the K. to know his pleasure the Lord De la Place thinking danger too near absented from him to a place of better secutity the Captain hereupon plunders his house This poor Gentleman seeking shelter in three houses for his life was refused and so at last was forced to return to his own house again where finding his wife very pensive and sad he rebuked and exhorted her not to be so full of dispondency of spirit for death was the utmost and heaven the crown of their afflictions and sufferings and so spoke fully and sweetly of the promises of God which jointly knit their hearts together in comfort and so calling together his Family he sweetly exhorted them expounding out of a chapter to them then went again to prayer and so resolved with the assistance of Christ to suffer all Torments of death rather than dishonour God in the least drawing back presently after comes the Provost Marshal to his house with many Archers with a pretence to secure him and conduct him to the King who answered that he freely desired to continue his obedience to the King but could not see how to escape the fury of the present danger by continual massacres Presently after comes the Provost des Marchands with order to bring him to the King but he excused it as before but he would not have any delay or excuse so that this Noble Lord resolves to meet death by a Christian preparation and
the Crown but is justly murthered The Duke of Guise is murthered The Queen Mother broke her Heart and died AFter this sad and lamentable Butchery and blood-shed the poor Protestants that were escaped fled with all speed to the several Sanctuaries which God in his mercy had decreed for their preservation Those that inhabited upon the coast of Bretaign Picardy and Normandy which were Provinces lying on the Sea over against England They fled to Queen Elizabeths Protection and if occasion offered to fight under the command of Count Montgomery who then was in the Queens Court. The poor distressed remnant of Protestants in Dauphine Provence and Lyonois fled into Swisserland amongst whom was the Admirals sons and Andelots who by the fame of their Fathers Authority and the tenderness of their years were joyfully welcomed from such a Land flowing with blood and vengeance Some imploy their time and Talents in setting forth to the World in Writing this horrid Treachery and Massacre acted in France and to let all the Protestants in other parts of the World beware by their sad example letting the World know the stratagem that the French Court use is to destroy by Peace and that to shake hands in a peace with Papists is the ready way to destruction the instance whereof was so fresh in their minds that they needed no grand Jury of examples to inforce belief their own late woful experience being sufficient to testifie this for a truth The Protestants of Burgundy and Campagn fled to the Cities of Germany The Protestants in the heart of the Kingdome and towards Rochel flocked to some strong Towns which it pleased God of his goodness to reserve for their safety which places they fortified with all the strength they could They that inhabited in the Isle of France Nivernois and Beausse were possessed of Sancerre Those that lived in the Provinces of Languedoc and Gascoiny placed themselves in Nismes and Montaubon And the Protestants in Guienne Poictou Zaintonge and Anjou fled to Rochel which proved a safe harbour from the cruel Birds of Prey Henry Jaques Maior of the City had the Civil government thereof To this City also resorted three thousand five hundred men and came from sundry parts which had been Souldiers in the Wars and men of approved valour also to their assistance came fifty Gentlemen of good quality from the adjoining parts about the City there came thither also fifty seven Ministers of Gods Word which by Gods mercy were preserved in this sad blow and for Ammunition and other Provision there wanted none to supply their necessity of a strong and lasting siege Now at last the King Queen Mother with his Brethren and Court orders a Day of extraordinary thanksgiving to be returned for the good Success against the Protestants Thus they reared up Castles of Triumph to their Eternal dishonour which practice is condemned by a Turk Sultan Orchan second King of the Turks when he had overcome the Christians in Battail word being brought to him advise was demanded what should be done to those Prisoners that yet alive remained in their mercy whether they should be killed or not who more like a Christian than a Turk replyed Oh no it is not the part of a Souldier to drown Mercy in Cruelty for saies this brave Sultan Mercy is the Alms of Victory a noble saying of a Heathen Now the King sends Monsieur de Byron to Rochell to place a Garrison the Protestants refuse it being a priviledge granted them by the King to receive no Garrisons whereupon Byron proclaims a War against them Poor souls they had sadly felt the smart of the K. perfidiousness by their too credulous opinion of these fair pretences and therfore now thought good to preserve their lives from Treachery or dy with honour And now to let the World know what little reality is sometimes found in Princes the King of France declares to the King of Spain that the war which he seemingly countenanced under command of Count Lodowick of Nassaw was only a plot to bring about his ends which as it could not be seen by all so could it not but be believed by the King of Spain so that the undertakers under Count Lodowick were sharply persecuted by them that afterwards got power over them Thus were these poor Souldiers betrayed out of the Kings own Treachery Only Monsieur de la Nove was preserved secretly who being safely conducted to the Kings Court his Majesty commands him to Rochel to solicite the City to a Composition Brave Monsieur de la Nove stoutly and like a Christian answers the King That it was against his Conscience to advise his fellow Protestants to lay their throats open to them that would too readily cut them But the King commands and together with his secret desire to see Rochel spurs him on so having came to Monsieur de Byron who was at St. Jean de Angeli and after a visit to him delivering the Kings Message he enters Rochel who by a joint Consent of all the City was chosen their Captain General who willingly accepted of it and gave a good proof of his faithful adherence to the Protestant cause In January by the Kings Commandment Monsieur de la Chastre with six thousand men besieges Sancere where finding a furious and resolute Enemy which would not yield to their Summons after the expences of great toil and labour discharging in two moneths about six thousand Cannon shot they made an assault but were bravely repulsed to the Eternal praise of the Sancerrois valour and Resolution The 18. of March by a second battery on all sides they at last made a great breach and so assault and attempt to scale but the besieged who questionless had many friends slain in the bloody Massacre had some sparks of their Friends blood in their minds which then shewed it self in their resolutions that they fall on the Enemy by a strong defence and made not only a Halt in the Catholicks proceedings but made them retreat with the loss of sixty of their best Souldiers dead in the ditch two hundred mortally wounded and two hundred utterly lamed all with the loss of seventeen men of the Protestants which piece of valour so cooled the courage of the Kings Army that they resolved no more attempts to be made again such impregnable defendants So they begirt them close on all sides no relief being able to come to them which did so extreamly streighten the besieged that they were forced to eat their Asses Mules Horses Cats Dogs Mice Moles Leather and at last to eat parchment and trappings of Horses horns wild roots Girdles making bread of the seeds of flax and herbs mixed with Bran and of straw and Nutshels they made use of slates Grease Tallow and Ointments served for pottage frying therewith the Excrements of Horses and Men nay the very filth in the streets also such as went out to seek relief were either killed by the Enemy or lived on Sprigs