comand this is the K. comand Presently the Duke of Guise and his ignoble Train of Nobles goes out of the Court crying Armour Armour we have had good success and a happy beginning let us now proceed to the rest for it is the Kings Commandment which words he repeated often This is the Kings command This is his commandment this is his Will this is his express Pleasure The Alarm bell rings to a general Massacre Then was caused to ring the bloody token for a General Alarum being the great Bell of the Palace and instantly it was bruted and published as the cause of this Murther That the Protestants had conspired against the King Queen and Court and were about to put this design into practice being armed to that purpose The Admirals body cruelly abused his head cut off and sont to the Pope by the King Then a certain Italian of Gonzagues band cut off the Admirals head which was sent to the King and Queen Mother and by them preserved with spices and so sent to the Pope and Cardinal of Lorrain at Rome as a rich Present Others cut off his hands others his secret parts then the common rascally rable for three daies together dragged his dead body which was mangled and besmered with blood and filth through the streets and afterwards drew it out of Town to the common Gallows and so with a rope left his body hanging by the feet at Montfaucon These cruelties were the badges of the Kings commands and these bloody Hell-hounds wore their Masters Livery All they find in the Admirals lodging are basely murthered among whom 2 children of honourable birth Now the Nobles and their cruel Murtherers brake into the rest of the Admirals chambers and those they found in their beds or hidden in any corners they mangled with many bloody-wounds and so cruelly destroyed them amongst which number thus slain was two young innocent babes Pages of an honourable birth and extract which indeed seemed to all that heard it to be too great an act of cruelty but what was bad enough to be done was their best deeds whereby they hoped with the help of the Popes Bulls to prove not only pardonable but also meritorious Count Rochfoucault a brave and noble Commander basely slain and extreamly pittied There was basely murthered the Count Rochfoucault which for his great wisdom pleasant wit and exeeding valour was highly esteemed of by King Henry and for the same cause this King shewed the like favour This brave Commander Statesman and Nobleman de Naunce was commanded to kill but for the true worth he knew was lodged in the heart of this brave Worthy and for the old acquaintance he had with him he utterly abominated it in an absolute refusal but one Laberge an Avernois and Limb of Hell one that was willing to sell his Soul for a little profit one that would receive a reward though it were from the Devils hands one that would enter upon any bloody service though his pay was damnation Deut. 27.25 Cursed is he that taketh are-ward to slay an innocent person and all the people shall say Amen The Admirals Son a noble and valiant Gentleman basely slain his brave speech This bloody unworthy fellow offered himself to the King to murther this brave nobleman if his Majesty would grant him the Count's Captainship of Horse and thus was this gallant Count basely murthered by men not to be spoken of for men when the Count will be remembred and named with respect in the Court of honour At the same time also and in the same place the Admirals Son Teligny was slain he was a young Gentleman of great accomplishments both of wit and valor insomuch that the King by his respects and affections shewed to him did do homage to his great deserts even to exalting him to the highest strain of Adulation this gallant young Gentleman I say being designed to such a cowardly death and base murther cryed out That now he saw it was even grievous for him to live in that he was the cause of his Fathers confidence of the Kings Love in that he had often commended the Kings faithfulness to him and so this brave Gentleman refused not this death offered him yielding his life as a sacrifice to their wrath and cruelty and thus was this poor Gentleman miserably butchered His Lieutenant shews great valor and fights stoutly but is murthered But his Lieutenant a resolute and brave young Gentleman having the advantage of his arms lengthened out his life in a stiff and stout resistance shewing that he would do what he could not who like a valiant Souldier wrapping his cloak about his arm he fought for his life to the feeling and applause of his bloody and merciless enemies but at last overpowred with number and strength was as unworthily slain as highly applauded Many brave Noblemen Gentlemen basely bloodily and inhumanly murthered in their chambers and streets At this time also was murthered Collonel Montaumar and Rouray Son to the Baron Des Adretts with all the rest of the Gentlemen that had relation to the Admiral amongst whom were many flourishing young Noblemen and Gentlemen all being basely and cruelly murthered and butchered in the prime of their youth and so cut off from all future hopes of high attempts who as they were the cream of the Protestnt Gallantry so were they the But of their Enemies cruelty And thus fell these Noble Gentlemen that at all times carried so much intrinsick worth as purchased immortal praise After this Cossins Souldiers with the Noblemens bands The Soldiers encoraged to blood by having the plunder free for their reward Men Women and children murthered children taken out of the womb alive and murthered the street strewed with dead bodys went ransacking from House to house tearing all away that was worth carriage and in such a manner as is commonly done at taking a Town by storm and so many grew rich by others poverty For the Duke of Guise Duke of Montpenscir the Cavalleir King Henry's bastard Gonzague Tavignes and other Principal Lords encouraged the Soldiers to proceed to blood with promise of all the booty free for their pains still crying out This is the Kings commandment So all the day from Morning to evening the skum of the City the gleanings of all villains did run up and down with their bloody Swords raging and glorying in their bloody Massacres unheard of murthers for they spared not the aged nor the women with child nor the poor innocent babes some whereof being taken alive out of their Mothers wombs without pitty they cruelly and presently destroyed and in a Triumphant joy they threw the slain bodies out of the Windows insomuch that there was scarce a lane that was not strewed with the dead bodies of the poor Protestants Nothing to be heard but the doleful crys and groans of the dying and terrible noise of the murtherers And as the City felt
which when one of the Spectators saw in anger he said to the company This fellow has made a Solicism spoken as it were false Greek with his hand And indeed here it was so with the Queen Mother too many Leagues being betwixt her heart and her mouth for we shall ere long see these two parties the Princes of the Bloud and Duke of Guise and Queen Mother make greater wounds in a short time than Ages can afterwards cure The Prince of Conde we must understand was now at liberty and freed from the unjust Sentence against him in the Reign of Francis the second which was for some pretended Fact but indeed was for his Religion sentenced to be executed but the Kings death prevented it The Protestant Princes desire a Toleration The Prince of Conde and King of Navar with the Admiral and other principal of the Protestants desire of the Queen Mother a Toleration for their Religion but the Queen Mother now tottering between these two Factions of the Princes of the Bloud and Guisans counted all things below the present danger of either parties getting power and so thought it not fit therefore to deny their request telling them withall that it could not yet publckly be granted by her to the content and satisfaction of all therefore she would secretly promise them her best way of bargaining that she governing by common consent with the King of Navar would by indirect by ways so work under hand upon emergency of occasions which might daily occur that at last it should incensibly yet assuredly come to pass to their own desire which says she suddenly proclamed might render you in danger and my self out of power to help you These things the Queen Mother promised being forced by necessity and dissembling pollicy for her own safety and security but it is ill making a fast Bargain with a loose Merchant nothing by her being less intended than really promised for she thought it fit and convenient for preservation of her Son's and own interest not wholly to put under hatches nor quite to extinguish the power of the Duke of Guise who was an apt weight to ballance and counterpoise the Power of the Princes of the Bloud desiring to carry it so to both that she might displease neither till she had a sure staff of the one and the other no power lest to oppose hers which at last answered her hellish Plot so that reserving many things to the benefit of time and future industry she left no stone unrolled to provide for time to come and to remedy the present Distractions The Protestants increase and the Princes of the Bloud protect them and presses the Queen Mother for her promise of Toleration Now the goodness of God in converting many to the Protestant Religion appears in a great and vast multiplication of the Professours thereof the King of Navar and Prince of Conde with the Admiral protects and defends them who earnestly presses the Queen Mother to perform her Promises for a free Toleration of their Religion she findes many nice excuses and well-spun pretences to evade the dint of their resolute desires and her absolute promise endeavouring by most subtile arts of perswasion to put off the performance of her Promise till a seasonable oportunity offered to ripen her Designs But the King of Navar daily pressed forward and grew more and more earnest for the speedy effecting of it and he did so publickly reason their case that many of the Kings Council yielded to the force of his Arguments disbanding their former Reasons on the contrary for the King of Navar alleged that it pittied his soul to see so many Protestants and the Kings true Subjects scattered from their peaceable habitations for fear of death and danger and did further profess it did deeply penetrate his heart with an abhortency to think of any more effusion of blood Amongst those of the Religion were many of pregnant wit and Christian courage that with small Tracts in Print dispersed as also with sober Petitions seasonably presented did at last help forward their desires to a speedy Grant A Decree for Release of all Protestants that were imprisoned for their Religion The Queen being now forced to yield gave way by a Decree of the Council at Fontainbleau the 28. of January 1560. That the Magistrates should release all such Prisoners as stood committed for matters of Religion to their former freedom prohibiting all Reproaches of either party with Heretick or Papist To search no mans house The Protestants by this being not fully authorized by a full Toleration and free Exercise of their Religion yet were somewhat satisfied by this seeming Inclination thereunto at least being protected from the present violence daily threatned The Queen Mother would not suppress their power yet would she depress their growth The King of Navar has the Keys of the Palace delivered to him which his great Enemy the Duke of Guise kept Now the King of Navar falling short of the full Grant of the Queens Promise proceeds further to a full Grant which she had secretly made to him requiring that as he was the Kings Lieutenant General the Keys of the Palace might be assigned to him which the Duke of Guise as Grand Master always and at this day kept The Queen as she was loath to offend the Duke of Guise and his party who with the Duke of Lorain upheld the Catholick Cause and Religion so was she as carefull to please the King of Navar and Protestant Princes till time gave a more secure season to bring about her desires for her desire was to be firmly seated betwixt them both by a plausible carriage to either and keeping them both dependents to her power and both equal in strength that neither might have encouragement to murmour To which purpose she is the more willing to favour the King of Navar in his request by reason at this time she findes the power of the Duke of Guise a Pin higher than the Princes of the Bloud and invested with more power than jumped with her purposes she conceived this a fit oportunity to pull down the Guisans power to an equal ballance with the Princes of the Bloud which suiting with her own interest she willingly executed their growth at this time being high and insolent and at all times of an aspiring nature as that they could not be content to fit under the Pent-house of their present power but must suddenly aspire to the pitch of their ambitious aim So the Queen caused the Keys of the Palace to be delivered into the custody of the Kings Lieutenant General the King of Navar. At this the Duke of Guise is highly enraged whose pride findes no bounds but reserved and secret revenge waiting for a fit oportunity to desplay his envenomed hate so that he dissembles his inveterate anger and malice he bore to the Princes of the Bloud and Admiral so he onely makes some shew of discontent for the
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
that ever I read or heard of The K. sends to desire a peace to take it in all it's circumstances After many battels and much loss of treasure and blood a treaty was begun by the King and Q. Mother who sends messengers to the Princes and Admirall signifying how desirous they were of a firm and inviolable peace The Admiral yields to a treaty The admirall being so often deceived with fair pretences of peace could not be so ill an observer but to learn somthing by transactions past therefore was so afraid and jealous that he knew not well how to advise seeing all their fair pretexts of peace since he could remember was but a shorter cut to their invitable ruin so that the burnt child dreads the fire yet being desirous of a peace on good grounds which proved as a Quagmire to swallow up all their hopes he yeelded to embrace a treaty Now the King that he might better colour and varnish over his treachery sends messengers to the Admiral to signifie in his Majesties name that the King himself had now found out a sure way for a lasting peace which way his Majesty thought so safe as none could doubt of his integrity therein which indeed was a subtile piece of policie as follows The subtle and treacherous design of the K. propounding a war against the K. of Spain as a means to a peace one with another That now both Armies which had so long fought against one another in the feirce flames of a Civill War might now unanimoufly joyn against the Duke of Alva as a forein enemie and one that had been too great an instrument of the late combustions in France And that it might appear no French Romance in regard of the suddeness and the ayd lately received by his Majesty from the Duke of Alva against the Protestants as also supplies from the King of Spain his Master therefore he further signified that his Majesty the King of France had high cause prompting him to a War with the King of Spain and among many this was not the smallest the Kings pretended reasons of war against the King of Spain viz that the King of Spain had by violence taken from his Majesty the King of France the Island Florida in new-found-land suddenly slaying all the French Soldiers as also the Marquesdome of Finall the Inhabitants whereof had lately surrendred themselves under the command of the King of France And therefore he desired in his Majesties behalf that the ground of this war might not be misinterpreted but taken in a good sense and that his Majesties ends of propounding both Armies to joyne against the Duke of Alva in the Low-countries might be looked upon as a designe of his Majestie to unite all former discords in a firm bond of union and concord by cleaving together against a common enemie And to set off this business the better he further propounds that it was now a fit opportunity to imploy Count Lodovick of Nassaw Brother to the Prince of Orange for management of the business that he might easily by the assistance of his Commanders and Soldiers suddenly surprise certain Cities which mighe be of great advantage to the future hopes of success the Admiral reasons the case could hardly be brought to believe this war real and oh that he had never believed it Now this penetrated the more into the Admiralls heart in regard this Count of Nassaw was one that had been under his command for two years who behaved himself with an exceeding courage and approved valour and fidelity in a great proof to the Admiralls knowledge and there needed no spur to the Count being a man banished out of his own Country for Religion by the Duke of Alva and was a man of much resolution and courage The Admirall receiving this message was wonderfully put to understand what to do or say for although he seemed not to suspect the Kings fidelity yet he saw strong reasons to look about him for though he valewed not his own life yet he drew along with him the wellfare of all Protestants therefore he considered thus with himself The great power of the Cardinall and Guisans in the Kings Court and was also too well known to be no less greatly in favour with the King and Court of Spain against whom this war should be and therefore could not conceive how this war with Spain could really be caried on when these men were the prime managers of the affairs of France having also severall pensions from the King of Spain therefore could not but increase and confirme his jealousie to suspect treason and deceit when he considered that these men were dependents of Spain who were of the King of France his Cabinet Councell and yet for them to wage war against the King of Spain Oh! Treachery The Admirall could not but take notice that at the same time the Embassadour of the King of Spain was admitted into the Privie Councell of France which to forein nations seemed utterly incredible and that also one Brirragio a Lumbard reported a traitor to his own Country being ignorant of the Law was for his subtil wit hoysted to the honourable office of Chancellour in the room of Michael Hospitall displaced a man well known to be a true Patriot to his own Country and also so learned and able as the like could never be found in France Thus the Admiral on whom did hang all the weight of affaires doubted what to do in this great strait The Admirall in a strait what to resolve on he therefore considered on the contrary side what his adversaries would say against him that they would hereby take occasion to report him backward to Peace as one delighting to live in the fuell and fire of blood and civill wars not knowing how to live but in troubled waters not able to endure the sweet relish of a quiet peace these reasons amongst others did perplex his wavering mind Now the Kings Messenger in behalf and for defence of his Majesty The Kings Messengers reply to the Admiralls Objections did anâ—wer to all the Objections of the Admiral and said That the suddenness of the King of France his resolutions to war with the King of Spain was That he and his Mother the Queen had been informed by one Albery come lately from Spain That for certain King Philip a little before had poisoned his Queen the French Kings Sister and had basely given out through all Spain that he had such things against her as for the credit of many persons of honor were not fit to be published The Admiral perswaded by Count Lodowick to the war with Spain Now all this being said moved not the Admiral so much as the free and chearful resolutions of the Count of Nassaw whose indefagitable earnestness was boundless and perswasions to the Admiral endless till effected The Admiral hereby perswaded laies aside all dishonorable thoughts that might stain the Kings loyalty
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
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
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
incerted only this following Letter The true Copy of the Kings letter to the Governour of Burgundy Cousin YOu have perceived what I wrote unto you Yesterday concerning my Cousin the Admirals wounding and how ready I was to do my endeavour to search out the truth of the deed and to punish it wherein nothing was left undone or forgottou But it hapned since that they of the house of Guise and other Lords and Gentlemen their Adherents whereof there be no small number in this City when they certainly knew that the Admirals friends would proceed to the revenge of his hurt and because they were suspected to be the Authors thereof were so stirred up this last night that a great and lamentable sedition arose thereof insomuch that the Guard by me appointed for his defence about his House was set upon and he himself with certain of his Gentlemen slain and havock of others made in divers places of the City which was handled with such rage that I could not use the remedy I would but had much ado to employ my Guards and other Defence for the safety of my self and my brethren in the Castle of the Loure to give order hereafter for the appeasing of this Sedition which is at this hour well appeased thanks be to God and came to pass by a particular and private quarrel of long time fostering betwixt these two houses Whereof when I foresaw that there would succeed some mischievous purpose I did what I could possibly to appease it as all men know and yet hereby the Edict of Pacification is not broken which I will to be kept as straitly as ever it was as I have given to understand in all places throughout my Realm and because it is greatly to be feared that such an execution might stirr up my Subjects one against another and cause great murthers through the Cities of my Realm whereby I should be greatly grieved I pray you cause to be published and understood in all places of your Government that every person abide and continue in the safeguard of his own house and to take no weapons in hand nor one to hurt another upon pain of death commanding them to keep and diligently to observe our Edict of Pacification and to make the Offenders and Resisters and such as would disobey and break our will to be punished You shall assemble out of hand as great force as you can as well of your friends as of them that be appointed by me and others advertising the Captains of Castles and Cities in your Government to take heed to the safeguard and preservation of the said places so that no fault ensue on their behalf advertising me also as soon as you can what order you have given herein and how all things have passed within the circuit of your Government Hereupon I pray God to keep you Cousin in his Holy safe-guard At Paris August 24. signed Charles and underneath BRULAND Now at the same time were Orders given out by the King for all Towns and Provinces within his Power to follow the example of Paris and to murther and put to death all of the Religion and the very next month he wholly abolishes that famous Edict giving command to root out all the Protestants both from Estates and Places and at last as we shall see causes a Form of Abjuration to be made and causing it to de proclaimed That no Religion should be exercised in the Kingdom but the Romish Now we see by these Letters that the King would fain lay the blot of this foul crueltie to the antient Quarrel of the houses of Guise and Chastillon therefore the Guisans foreseeing the foulness of the fact strove as much to evade the dint of the Dishonour as the King did though the Guisans were the Plotters and chief Agents in the practical part of this cruel Tragedy whereupon they handled the matter so that the King was forced to acknowledge and avow publickly this horrid act and indeed none more fit than the King that commanded it And truly the sad effects of these unheard-of cruelties would make any one disown it and gladly would the King don so for he loved the effects and now could neither evade the dishonour nor Gods just Judgements But he is not yet ripe for them although in these many massacres he had not spared but basely caused to be butchered an infinite number of gallant Noblemen and Young Ladies with abundance of learned men many reverend old men many young Gentlewomen and Virgins many honourable Matrons of good account women with child and little infants at their mothers breasts Now the King being forced to let the world know his perjury and cruelty he labours to set a good face on his cruel heart so that the King that had the four and twentieth day of August 1572. declared by Letters to all the Provinces and several Princes abroad that the tumult in Paris arose betwixt the two parties of the Guisan and Admiral now but two dayes after being the twenty sixth of the same mouth This most mighty King and by consent of all nations commonly called the most Christian King comes into the Parliament with a great Train of his Brethren and other Princes and Lords of his Court attending him where in a full Assembly of his Council he ascends the Throne and sitting thereon he directs his Speech to this great Assembly in manner following The Kings Speech in Parlament That having been informed that the Admiral with certain of his confederates notwithstanding all his favors gratious pardons granted to their former Rebellions yet have now plotted against my person with my mother and Brethren to our utter perdition which being discovered I was forced to prevent my own ruin by Justice to procure theirs and by a speedy course have heaped on their own heads what they would have heaped on mine For this cause therefore it was that by my command the Admiral and his Complices are deservedly cut off hoping thereby that a period is not only put to their Treason against my self and Nobles but also to future troubles which would have fallen on this poor Nation to an utter ruin thereof Now although at first he had both by words and Letters laid the whole Business on the fury of a popular tumult headed by the faction of the Guisans yet now at this time unmasking his Design he discovers himself like his actions and now laid down his Reasons and grounds of this manner of proceeding against these Rebells as he calls them and so further declared That he thought it not altogether unfit to make his Magistrates acquainted with it That what was done at Paris in the late Slaughters was by his own commandment for the safety of his own life and national tranquillity and also that they might proceed with the like severity against such Traytors and Rebells of such a wicked Conspiracy and that it was a sudden thing and not premeditated a deep reach to take