himself he commaunded one day to be giuē a hundred thousand pounds of his owne treasure in recompence of his former losses VVhen his brother the Cardinall Chastillion endowed with many great and welthie benefices was departed his life the king gaue him the fruites of one whole yeare Also the kyng wrote to Philibert Duke of Sauoy that he should do him a most acceptable pleasure if he did not onely deale more gently with those that in the former warres had ayded those of the Religion but also would vse clemencie and mildenesse toward all other that professed the same Religion within his dominions And for that there was old enmitie betwene the Guisians and the Admirall wherby it was to be doubted that perillous contentions wold arise in the Realme of Fraunce the king willed it to be signified to them both in his name that they should for his sake and the common weales giue ouer those displeasures and he prescribed them a certaine fourme of reconciliation and agrement the same whereof the foundations had bene layed almost sixe yeares before in the towne of Molins where the king calling to him the greatest estates of his realme after consultation and deliberation had vpon the matter pronoūced the Admiral not guiltie of the death of the Duke of Guise wherwith he was charged by the yong Duke of Guise and his kinsmen and so the king by the aduise of his Counsell had ended that controuersie Furthermore the Cardinall of Loraine who as we haue sayd was the very forger of all the former warres to take away al ielousie of new practises was departed to Rome toke with him his familiar friend the late created Cardinall Peluey one reputed a most subtil craftie persō vnder pretēce of goyng to the election of a newe Pope in place of the olde Pope then lately deceassed But there was none greater and more assured tokē of publique peace quietnesse than this that the king purposed to giue hys sister Margaret in marriage to the Prince Henry the sōne of the Queene of Nauarre which Prince had in the last warre defended the cause of the Religion and bene soueraigne of their armie VVhiche mariage the kyng declared that it should be the most streight bond of ciuill concorde and the most assured testimonie of his good will to those of the Religion Yea and also bicause it was alleaged that the sayd Prince Henrie was restrayned in conscience so as he might not marrie the Lady Margaret being of a contrary Religion a Catholike and giuen to the rites of the Romish Church the king for aunswere sayd that he would discharge hir of the Popes lawes and notwithstanding the crying out of all his courtiers to the contrary he permitted him that withoute all ceremonies in the porch of the great church of Paris the mariage shoulde be celebrate in such a fourme as the ministers of the refourmed Church misliked not VVhiche thing being by reporte and letters spread through the world it cannot be expressed howe muche it made the hearts of those of the Religion assured and out of care and howe it cast out al feare ielosies out of their minds what a confidence it brought them of the kings good will toward them Finally how muche it reioyced forreine Princes and states that fauored the same Religion But the Admirals minde was much more stablished by a letter which about the same time Theligny brought him with the kings owne hand and sealed wherein was conteined that whatsoeuer the Admirall shuld do for the matter of the intended warre of the lowe coūntrey the king would allow and ratifie the same as done by his owne commaundement About that time Lodouic of Nassaw with the Queene of Nauarre a Lady most zelously affected to the Religion came to the Frenche Courte The league was made betweene king Charles and the Prince of Aurenge and the articles thereof put in writing The mariage was appointed to be holden in the towne of Paris For whiche cause the Queene of Nauarre during those fewe dayes repaired thether to prouide things for the solemnitie of the wedding For the same cause the king sente to the Admirall one Cauaignes a man of an excellent sharpe witte whome for the Admirals sake the king had aduanced to great honoure requiring the Admirall to go before to Paris as well for the said preparation as also for the matter of the warre of the lowe countrie promising that he himselfe would within fewe dayes followe after him assuring him that there was now no cause for him to feare the threatnings and mad outrages of the Parisians For in asmuch as the same towne is aboue all other giuen to superstitions and is with seditious preachings of Monks and Friers dayly enflamed to crueltie it is hard to expresse how bitterly they hated the Admirall and the professors of that Religion VVherto was added a griefe of their mind conceiued certaine dayes before by reason of a certaine stone crosse gilted and builte after the manner of a spire steeple commonly called Gastignes crosse whiche the Admirall with great earnest sute obtayned of the king to be ouerthrowne for he alleaged that being erected in the midst of the rage of the ciuill warre as it were in triumph to the reproch of one of the Religion it was a monumente of ciuill dissention and so a matter offensiue to peace and concord The King well knowing this deadly hate of the Parisians to the Admirall wrote his letters to Marcell the prouost of the marchauntes whiche is the highest dignitie in Paris with sharpe threatnings if there should be raised any stirre or trouble by reason of the Admirals comming To the same effect also the Duke of Aniow the kings brother and the Queene mother wrote to the same Marcell and the rest of the magistrates of Paris so that nowe there seemed vtterly no occasion lefte for the Admiral to feare or distrust And within few dayes after the king sente Briquemault a man of greate vertue and estimation to the Admirall with the same instructiōs saying that the matter of the lowe countrey could not well be delt in without his presence The Admirall perswaded by thus many meanes and filled with good hope and courage determined to go to Paris where so sone as he was ariued and had bene honorably and louingly entertayned of the king and his brethren and the Queene mother and consultation entred among them about the preparation for the low coūtrey he declared to the king at large how the Duke of Alua was in leuying of great power and preparing an armie and that if the king should dissemble his purpose it would come to passe that many thereby wold shew themselues slower and slacker to the enterprise and that nowe were offered greate meanes to do good whiche if he let slippe hee should not so easily recouer the like againe hereafter And therefore it was best to take the aduantage of this opportunitie A fewe dayes before Lodouie of Nassaw
King had in manye Edictes before that time permitted the freedome of Religion yet this meaning euer was to reteyne and cause to be reteyned of all men the onely Romishe or Popishe Religion within his Realme After manie ouerthrowes on both partes giuen and receyued whereas the ende of this thirde warre was thought likely to be the harder by reason of the breache of sayth in the yeeres before and on the other side the state of the Realme by reason of the wast that the Cities were broughte vnto and the extreme pouertie of the meane people and husbandmen did require some treatie of composition the King sent messangers to the Admirall to signifie vnto him in the Kings name that the King himselfe had at length founde out a most sure way of peace and concorde namely that the armies of both partes ioyned togither shoulde goe into the lowe countrey against the Duke of Alua which had been the author of the late calamities in Fraunce He signified further that he had great causes of querels against the king of Spayne and this principally that he had inuaded and helde by force sodenlye slaying all the souldyers there an Island of the newfound world called Florida which had been taken by the French and kept vnder his dominion and likewise the Marquesdome of Finall the inhabitantes whereof had but a little tyme before yelded themselues to the Kings subiection and allegeance He said that the most stedfast band of concorde shoulde be that forein warre and that there could no other better meane be deuised to drowne the memorie of the former dissentions in eternall forgetfulnesse To the performance hereof he sayd it was a matter of most apte opportunitie that Lodouic counte of Nassaw brother to the Prince of Aurenge had been nowe two yeeres in the Admiralls camp to whome the Admirall gaue principall credit in all things and that by him and his fellowes of the lowe countrey and other whom he vnderstoode to fauour his part it might easily be broughte to passe that certayne Cities mighte be surprised and thereby great aduantage be attayned to the atchieuing of the warre The Admirall hearyng these thyngs was maruellously troubled For albeit he doubted not of the Kings fidelitie yet therwithall many things fell into his minde to be considered as the power of the Cardinall and the rest of the Guisians who were well knowne to haue ben at all times most affectionate to the Kyng of Spayne For the Duke of Guise had lefte a sonne a very yong man called Henry to whoÌ„ the Queene had giuen all the offices and places of honor that his father had borne before beyng vnfit thereto by age and against the ancient lawes and customes and also through the traiterous infidelitie of certayne of the Kings counsaylers whome she knew for their affection to Popish Religion to be most addicted to the Spanishe King and that diuers of them had great yeerely pensions of him and did disclose vnto him the affaires of the Realme He remembred howe hereby it came to passe that the same Kings Embassador whiche among strange nations seemed vtterly incredible was admitted into the priuie Counsell of Fraunce and that one Biragio â— Lumbard and as it is reported a traytour to his owne countrey otherwise altogither vnlearned and specially ignoraunt of the ciuill lawe was yet for the subtiltie of his witte aduanced to so great honour that he executed the Chauncellers office Michael Hospitall being displaced a man knowne to be such a one as there was not in all degrees of men any eyther more wise or more learned or more zelously louing his countrey Herewithall he considered the slaunderous cauillations of his aduersaryes to whome hereby might seme an occasion giuen as if the Admirall were of a troublesome nature and coulde not abide any quietnesse nor could long reste at home without some tumultuous stir Herevnto the messangers replyed as they were able and therewithall alleaged this cause of so sodayne hatred against the Spanishe King that one Albenie late returned out of Spaine had infourmed the King and the Queene mother for certaintie that King Philip a few moneths before had poysoned his wife the Frenche Kings sister and had spred rumors of hir thoroughout all Spaine such as for the honour of manye persons are meete not to be disclosed But nothing moued the Admirall so much as the cherefull earnestnesse of Lodouic of Nassaw who as sone as he was aduertised of that purpose of the King omitted nothing that he thought mighte serue to encourage the Admirall therevnto The Admirall perswaded hereby nothing fearing the infidelitie of those of the Courte gaue his minde to hearken to composition And so was the third ciuill warre ended and the peace concluded wyth the same conditions that were before that euerye man shoulde haue free libertie to vse and professe the Religion VVithin few moneths after this diuers Princes of Germanie that fauored the ReligioÌ„ refourmed and among those the three Electors the Paâ—sgraue the Duke of Saxonie and the Marques of Brandeburge sent their Embassadours into France to the King to gratulate vnto him for the newe reconciliation of his subiects And bycause they accompted it greatly to behoue them selues that the same concorde should remaine stedfast and of long continuance they promised that if any would for that cause procure trouble or make warre vppon him either within his owne dominioÌ„s or without they and their followers shuld be ready to defend him To this embassage the king firste by words and afterward by a booke subscribed with his owne hande answered and gaue his faith that he would for euer most sacredly and faithfully obserue his Edict of pacification Hereby so much the more willingly the Admirall suffered him selfe to be drawne to the sayd purposes for the low countrey although oftentimes calling to minde the nature of the Queene mother he vsed to say to diuers and specially to Theligny to whome he afterwarde maried his daughter that he greatly suspected the rolling wit of that woman For said he so soone as she hath brought vs into that preparation against the lowe countrey she will leaue vs in the midst Neuerthelesse the Counte of Nassaw writeth to his brother and they conferring their aduises together send messengers to the King that if it please him to deale with the matter of the lowe countrey they will shortly so do that he shall by their many and greate seruices well perceyue their affection and deuotion towarde him The King writeth againe to them in most louing termes saying that their message most highly pleased him and he gaue to them both his harty thanks About the same time Maximiliane the Emperoure pitying the estate of the Prince of Aurenge as he said treated by his Embassadours with the King of Spayne and had in manner obteyned that the Prince should haue all hys goodes restored vnto him but with this condition that he should haue no house within the territorie of the lowe countrie but
wente secretly into the frontiers of the lowe countrey and toke with him as partners of his iourney and priuie to his counsell thre Frēchmen of great credite with the Admirall namely Saucourt la Noue and Genlis to whom the king had giuen in charge to see if they coulde by any meanes attēpt and possesse any townes bordering vppon his realme They gathering diuers other gentlemen into their companie went speedily into the lowe countrey the Admirall not knowing of it VVho as soone as he vnderstode of their going thether wrote vnto them that he much maruelled what they mēt saying that he well knewe there coulde be no power gotten readie before .xl. dayes end and that they should be wel aduised to do nothing rashly nor to ouerthrowe with hast their deuises that seemed not ripe to be executed The countie of Nassaw inflamed with the sighte and desire of his countrey and fearing the mutablenesse of the king did firste at the soden set vppon Valentiennes but being repulsed by the Spanish souldiers that were in garrison in the Castell he hastily departed to Montz and toke the towne being a place very strong by nature and well furnished with all things necessarye for the warre VVhiche thing beyng by reporte and messangers spred abrode in the lowe countrey and caried into Fraunce and Germanie both encouraged all them of the Religion with great hope and also seemed to haue now playnely and openlye deciphred disclosed the mind of the French king Moreouer Genlis returning to Paris when he had made reporte to the king of all the matter as it had proceded easily obtayned of him that by his assent he might leuie certaine bandes of footemen and horssemen of Fraunce and carie them to succoure Montz But by the way when he was entred into the bounds of the lowe countrie hauing with him to the number of foure thousand footemen and aboute foure hundreth horssemen they were beset by the Duke of Alua and the most parte of them distressed which thing was well knowne to haue ben wrought by the meanes of the Guisians which by dayly messages and letters aduertised the Duke of Alua of theyr purposes and preparation VVhich falsehod of theirs many most affectionate to the Romish Religion were highly offended with bycause a great number addicted to the same Romishe Religion were in that companie VVith this losse and with the rescue of the towne of Valentiennes the King seemed to be much troubled for he feared least his counsels being disclosed to the Spanish king would at length breede some cause of querel and warre Howbeit when he began to remember that a great parte of his secrets was already reuealed to the Duke of Alua he oftentimes resolued to vtter his minde plainely and to make open warre But he was withdrawne from that purpose by certaine men whiche the Admirall had long before conceyued that they would so do Howbeit he gaue the Admirall libertie to send whatsoeuer he thoughte meete to further the Prince of Aurenge his enterprise and as great supplie either of footemen or of horssemen as he could to the armie which the Prince of Aurenge had leuyed in Germanie VVhen the Admirall for that cause had made request that he might leauie thirtie troupes of horssemen and as many ensignes of footemen he easily obtayned it For the entertainement of these footemen it behooued to haue money wherefore at the request of the Admirall the king called for his Tresurer and commanded him to deliuer to the Admirall so much money as the Admirall should thinke meete and charged him that he should not in any wise after the vsuall manner of the accompts of finances write the causes of the receipt but only set it downe in this forme This summe of money was payde to the Admirall suche a day by the kings commaundement for certayne causes which the king hath commaunded not to be written and to thys warrante the King subscribed with hys owne hand Also the King wrote to Monducet his Embassadoure in the lowe countrey to trauell as earnestly as he could for their deliuerance that were taken at the ouerthrowe of Genlis which commaundment it is said that Monducet did most faithfully and diligently execute Not long before this Ioane Queene of Nauarre aboue mentioned died in the Courte at Paris of a sodaine sicknesse beeing aboute the age of fortie and three yeares where as the suspition was great that she died of poyson and hir body was sort hat cause opened by the Phisitions there were no tokens of poyson espied But shortly after by the detection of one A. P. it hath bene found that she was poysoned with a venomed smell of a pair of perfumed gloues dressed by one Renat the Kings Apothicarie an Italian that hath a shop at Paris vppon sainte Michaels bridge neare vnto the pallace which could not be espied by the phisitions which did not open the head nor loked into the brayne It is well knowne that the same man about certayne yeares past for the same intente gaue to Lewes Prince of Conde a poysoned pomander which the Prince left with one le Grosse his Surgion le Grosse delited with the same was by little and little poysoned therewith and so swelled that he hardly escaped with his life By hir deathe the Kingdome came to the Prince Henrie hir sonne to whom as is abouesaid the Kings sister was promised and contracted Things being as it seemed throughout all Fraunce in most peacible estate and the concord of all degrees well established the day was appointed for the marriage of the king of Nauarre which day all they that fancied the Religion esteemed so muche the more ioyfull to them bycause they sawe the King wonderfully bent therevnto and all good men iudged the same a most assured pledge and stablishmente of ciuill concord whereas on the contrary part the Guisians and other enimies of common quietnesse greatly abhorred the same marriage VVhen the day came the marriage was with royall pompe solemnized before the greate Churche of Paris and a certaine fourme of words so framed as disagreed with the Religion of neither side was by the kings commandement pronounced by the Cardinall of Burbon the king of Nauars vnkle and so the matrimonie celebrate with greate ioy of the king and all good men the bride was with greate trayne and pompe led into the Church to heare Masse and in the meane time the bridegrome who misliked these ceremonies together with Henry Prince of Conde sonne of Lewes and the Admirall and other noble men of the same Religion walked withoute the Church dore wayting for the Brides retourne VVhile these things were in doing at Paris Strozzi who as we haue said had the charge of the kings power at sea houering vpon the coast of Rochell did now and then send of his captaines and souldiers into the towne vnder colour of buying things necessarie and sometime he came thither also him selfe The like was done at the same time in another part
speede deliuered ouer the same bookes to those of whome they had receyued that commaundement After noone the Queene mother lead out the King the Duke of Aniow Gonzague Tauaignes the Countie de Rhetz called Gondin into hir gardens called Tegliers This place bicause it was somewhat farre from resort she thoughte most fit for this their last consultation There she shewede them how those whom they had long bene in waite for were nowe sure in hold and the Admirall lay in his bed maymed of hoth his armes and coulde not stirre the king of Nauarre and Prince of Conde were fast lodged in the castle the gates wer kept shut all nighte and watches placed so as they were so snared that they coulde no way escape and the captaines thus taken it was not to be feared that any of the Religion woulde from thencefoorth stirre any more Now was a notable opportunite said she offred to dispatch the matter For all the chiefe captaines were fast closed vp in Paris and the rest in other townes were all vnarmed and vnprepared and that there were scarcely to be founde ten enimies to a thousand Catholikes that the Parisians were in armour and were able to make threescore thousande chosen fighting men and that within the space of one houre all the enimies may be slayne and the whole name and race of those wicked meÌ„ be vtterly rooted out On the other side saith she if the King do not take the aduantage of the fitnesse of this time it is no doubte but that if the Admirall recouer his health al Fraunce wil shortly be on fire with the fourth ciuill warre The Queenes opinion was allowed Howbeit it was thought best partly for his age and partly for the affinities sake that the king of Nauarres life shuld be saued As for the Prince of Conde it was doubted whether it were best to spare hym for his age or to put him to death for hatred of his fathers name But herein the opinion of Gonzague toke place that he should with feare of death and torment be drawen from the Religion So that counsell brake vp with appoyntment that the matter should be put in executioÌ„ the nexte night early afore day and that the ordering and doing of all shoulde be committed to the Duke of Guise The Admirall being enâ—ormed of stirre and noyse of armour and threatnings heard euery where through out the towne and preparation of many things pertaining to tumult sent word therof to the King who aunswered that there was no cause for the Admirall to feare for all was done by his commaundement and not euery where but in certaine places that there were certaine appointed by him to be in armor least the people should rise and make any stirre in the towne VVhen the Duke of Guise thoughte all things readie enough he called to him the abouesayde Marcell and charged him that he should a little after midnight assemble togither the maisters of the streetes whome they call Diziners into the towne house for he had certaine strange and speciall matters in charge froÌ„ the king which his pleasure was to haue declared vnto them They all assembled bytime Carron the new prouost of merchaunts guarded with certaine Guisians and among the rest Entragne and Pnygallart made the declaration He sayd that the kings meaning was to destroye all the Rebels which had in these late yeares borne armes against his maiestie and to roote out the race of those wicked men it was now very fitly happened that the chieftaynes and ringleaders of them were faste enclosed within the walles of the towne as in a prison and that the same night they should first begin with them and afterward for the rest assone as possibly might be throughout all partes of the Realme the King would take order and the token to set vpon them should be giuen not with a trumpet but with tocksein or ringing of the great bell of the pallace which they knewe to be accustomed onely in great cases and the marke for them to be knowne from other should be a white linnen cloth hanged aboute their left arme and a white crosse pinned vpon their cappes In the meane time the Duke of Guise made priuie thervnto the Captaines of the Kings guarde both Gascoignes FrenchmeÌ„ and Switzers and bad them be readie to goe to it with good courage Shortly after the Duke of Guise and the bastard sonne of king Henrie commonlye called the Cheualier with a great band of armed men following theÌ„ went to the Admirals house which Cossin kept besieged with harquebuziers placed in order on both sides of the streate The Admiral aduertised of the stirre and the noise of the armour although he had scarcely ten persons in his house able to beare harnesse and in his chamber onely two surgions one preacher and one or two seruitors yet coulde not be made afraide trusting as he oft rehearsed vpon the Kings good will toward him approued by so many and so great meanes of assuraunce hauing also confidence that the commonaltie of Paris if they once vnderstode the King to mislike of their madde furie howe much so euer they were in outrage yet so sone as they saw Cossin warding the gate they wold be appeased He repeated also the other for keeping of the peace so ofte openly sworne by the King and his brethren and their mother and entred in publike recordes the league lately made with the Queene of Englande for the same cause the articles of treatie couenanted with the Prince of Aurenge the kings faith giuen to the Princes of Germanie some townes attempted and some taken in the lowe countrey by the Kings commaundement the mariage of the Kings sister solemnized but sixe daies before which it was not like that he wold suffer to be defiled with bloud finally the iugement of forain nations and of posteritie shame and the honor constancie of a Prince publique faith and the sacred respect of the law of nations all which it seemed monstruous and incredible that the king could assent to be stained with so outragious a cruell deede Cossin when he sawe the noblemen drawe neere knocked at the gate which as is abouesaid he was commaunded by the Duke of Aniow to kepe VVhervpon many applyed the olde prouerbe A goodly guarde to make the woolfe keper of the sheepe VVhen he was entred without in maner any difficultie he caried in with him a great companie of armed men and after those followed the great Lords Such as Cossin found at the entrie of within the porch of the house he slew with a partisan that he had in his hand VVhich when the Admirall vnderstoode he caused those that were about him to lift him out of his bed and casting on a nightgowne vpon him he rose vpright on his feete he bad his friends and seruantes to flee and make shift for them selues and to take no more care for him for he sayd that he was readie with most willing hearte to
had stayed in a wardrobe adioyning to his owne chamber and caused them to lodge there al night A little afore day hearing of the running of men and noyse of armor and cries and killings they rose in hast and immediatly de Nance whome we haue before spoken of came to them and cōmanded them in the kings name to come downe into the court and to leaue their weapons behind them and lastly to depart out of the castle VVhen de Pilles sawe himselfe thrust out among the multitude of the murthering souldiers and beheld the bodies of them that were slayne he cried out with a very lowde voyce that the king might well heare him protesting vpon the kings fidelitie and detesting his trayterous infidelitie therwith he toke off a rich cloake whiche he wore and gaue it to one of his acquaintāce saying take here this token of Pilles and hereafter remember Pilles moste vnworthyly and shamefully slayne Oh my good Monsieur de Pilles saide the other I am none of them I thanke you for your cloake but I will not receiue it with that condition and so refused to take the cloake and immediatly de Pilles was thrust through by one of the guarde with a partisan and died And this ende had this most valiante and noble gentleman And then his body was throwen into the quarrey with the rest whiche when they that passed by did behold the souldiers cryed out there they be that made assault vpon vs and would haue killed the king Leranne beeing thrust through with a sword escaped and ran into the Queene of Nauarres chamber and was by hir kept and preserued from the violence of those that pursued him Shortly after she obtayned his pardon of hir brother and committing him to hir owne Phisitions restored him both to life and health VVhile things were in doing at Paris Strozzi which as we haue aforesayd was come with all his power to Rochell sent a great number of his souldiers into the towne vnder colour of a banket to be made to his friends in the castell called la Cheine but by reasō of the iealosie watches of the townes men by whom he sawe his treason was espied he went away without his purpose But they of la Charité which as we haue before shewed were trapped by the Italian horssemen taking lesse heed to the safe keeping of their towne were a little before night surprized and within fewe dayes after put to the sweard The next day following where any that had hidden themselues in corners at Paris coulde be found out the slaughter was renewed also common labourers and porters and other of the most rascals of the people and desperate villaines to haue the spoile of their clothes stripped the dead bodies starke naked threw them into the riuer of Seane The profit of all the robberies and spoyles came all for the most part to the handes of these laborers and the souldiers and to the Kings treasure came very little or nothing The onely gaine that came to him was that which might be made of the vacations as they terme them of offices and of places of Magistrates Captaines other romes of charge wherof yet he gaue a great part freely away to diuers of the court For the Admirals office he gaue to the Marques de Villars the Chancellorship of Nauarre after the murther of Francourt he by and by gaue to Henry Memne de Malassise which had been the truchman and messenger in the treatie of the last peace the office of the maister of the Finances after the slaughter of Prunes he gaue to Villequier the office of President des aides when Plateau was slaine he gaue to de Nully the other offices he sold as his maner is to such as gaue ready money for them For it hath ben the custome now lately of certaine Kings of Fraunce such as among forein nations hath not bene heard of to put to sale all the profits rights and benefites of the crowne and to kepe an open market for money of all iudiciall offices and of all the roomes belonging to his treasure and finances according to a rate of price set vpon euerie one of them and there is not in maner one in all Fraunce that doth not opēly iustifie that he bought his office for readie money and that no man ought to maruell if he desire to fill vp the empty hole of his stock againe And therefore iustice is throughe all Fraunce vsually bought for money though there be neuer so many murders committed yet is there no processe awarded to enquire thereof till present coyne be payde to the rakehelles and scribes This butcherly slaughter of Paris thus perfourmed and foure hundred houses as is abouesayd sacked immediatly messengers were sent in post into all partes of the Realme with ofte shifting their horsses for hast to command all other Cities in the Kings name to follow the example of Paris and to cause to be killed as many as they had among them of the refourmed Religion These commaundments it is wonderfull to tell how readily and cherefully the greatest part of the Cities of Fraunce did obey and execute But the king fearing as it was likely the dishonour of false treacherie and periurie sent letters to the gouernours of his prouinces and also speedie messangers into England Germanie and Switzerland to declare in his name that there was a great commotion and seditious stirre happened at Paris which he was very sorie for that the Duke of Guise had raised the people and with armed men made assaulte vpon the band that was assigned to the Admirall for his guarde and had broken into the house and slaine the Admirall and all his companie and houshold seruants and that the king had hardly kept safe from those daungers hys owne castell of the Louure where he kept him selfe close with his mother and his brethren the true copie of which letters is hereafter inserted But the same most mightie and by the consent of all nations commonlye called the most Christian King within two dayes after came into the Parliament accompanied with a great traine of his brethren and other Princes The counsell being assembled he sitting in his throne began to speake vnto them he declared that he was certified that the Admiral with certaine of his complices had conspired hys death and had intended the like purpose against his brethren the Queene his mother the king of Nauarre and that for this cause he had commaunded his friends to slay the sayde Admiral and all his confederates and so to preuent the treason of his enimies This his testification and declaratiō the king commaunded to be written and entred in the recordes of Parliament and that it should be proclamed by the heraldes and published by Printers And he willed a boke to be set forth to this effect that the slaughter of the Admirall his adherentes was done by the Kings commaundement for so was his maiesties expresse pleasure bicause they had
conspired to kill him and his brethren and the Queene his mother and the King of Nauarre And farther that the King did forbid that from thenceforth there should be no moe assemblies holden nor preachings vsed of the Religion After the kings oration ended Christopher Thuane President of that Parliament a man verie notable for his lighte brayne and his cruell heart did with very large words congratulate vnto the king that he had nowe with guile and subtiltie ouercome these his enimies whom he could neuer vanquishe by armes and battell saying that therein the King had most fully verified the olde saying of Lewes the eleuenth his progenitor King of France which was wont to say that he knew neuer a Latine sentence but this one Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare He that can not skill to dissemble can not skill to be a king But Pibrace the aduocate of the Finances made a short oration the summe wherof was to this effect that although the king had iust and great cause to be displeased yet he thoughte it more agreable with his maiesties clemencie and goodnesse to make an ende of the slaughters and common spoyle and not to suffer suche outrages to be any longer committed without iudiciall proceding in the cause and besoughte his maiestie that from thenceforth it woulde please him to vse the lawe which is well knowne to be the onely stablishment of kingdomes and empires and that there had bene alreadie giuen to the commonaltie too perilous an example to followe An arrest of Parliament with the Kings royall assent being made to that effecte there were immediately Haroldes and trumpeterâ— sent round about all the towne and an Edict proclaimed in the kings name that froÌ„ thenceforth the slaughters coÌ„mon butcherly murtherings shuld ceasse and that all persons shuld abstaine from pillage and robberie This being knowne there were diuers speeches vsed of this matter throughout the town and specially of learned men The most parte sayd that they had read many histories but in all memorie of all ages they neuer heard of any suche thing as this They compared this case with the horrible doings of king Mithridates which with one messenger and with the aduertisement of one letter caused a hundreth and fiftie thousand Romaines to be slaine Some compared it with the doing of Peter of Arragone which slewe eight thousand Frenchmen in Sicile which Isle they had surprised in his absence But yet this difference appeared betwene those cases and this that those Kings had exercised their crueltie vpon foreins and strangers but this king had done his outrage vpon his owne subiectes being yelded not so much to his power as to his fayth and credit Those kings were bounde by no promise but such as was giuen to the strangers themselues this king was with newe made league bounde to the Kings and Princes his neighbours to kepe the peace that he had sworn Those kings vsed no guilefull meanes vnworthie for the maiestie of a king to deceiue this king for a baite and allurement abused the mariage of his owne sister and in a manner besprinkled hir wedding robe with blood VVhich dishonor indignitie no posteritie of all ages can forget Some againe discoursed that though this cruell aduise semed to many Courtiers to haue bene profitable yet not onely the honor of a King but also the estimation and good same of the whole nation was against that shewe of profit They alleaged how Aristides did openly in the audience of all the people reiect the couÌ„sell of Themistocles coÌ„cerning the burning of the LacedemoniaÌ„s nauie although it must nedes haue followed that the power of the Lacedemonians their enimies should therby haue bene vtterly weakened Furius Camillus receiued not the childreÌ„ of the chiefe Lords of the Phalisce betrayed to him by their schoolemaster but stripped him naked and deliuered him to be whipped home with rods by the same childreÌ„ Pausanias hath lefte it reported that the posteritie of Philip of Macedon fell into moste greate calamities for this cause that he was wont to set light by the reuerend conscience of an oth and his faith giuen in leagues Some cited the lawe of the twelue tables Si patronuâ— clienti fraudem facit facer estâ— If the patrone or soueraigne defraude his client or vassal be he out of protectioÌ„ They disputed also that like faith as the vassall oweth to his Lord the Lord oweth also to his vassall and for what causes and for what fellonies the vassal loseth his tenancie for the same causes and fellonies the Lord loseth his segniorie Some saide that the right hand in auncient time was called the pledge of the faith of a king and that this if a king shall despise there is no communion of right with him and he is no more to be accouÌ„ted a king neither of his owne subiects nor of straungers Kingly vertues in times past haue bene reported to be these iustice gentlenesse and clemencie but crueltie and outrage haue euer bene dispraised both in all persons and specâ—ally in princes Scipio hath in all ages bene praysed who was wont to say that he had rather saue one citizen than kill a thousand enimies whiche sentence â–ª Antoninus the Emperour surnamed Pius the kind or vertuous did ofte repete It was a most shamefull by worde of yong Tiberius to be called Clay tempered with bloud They said also that kings haue power of life and death ouer their subiects but not without hering the cause and iudicial proceding that there cannot be alleaged a greater authoritie than the dictators had at Rome in whome was the soueraigne power of peace and warre of life and death and without appeale yet was it not lawfull for them to execute a citizen his cause vnheard Only theeues and murderers take away mens liues withoute order of lawe and hearing their cause VVho can doubt said they but that this so great outraâ—e so great sheading of Christian bloud is the frute of the curssed life of the courtiers For saide they nowe throughout all Fraunce whoredome and loose leudnesse of life are so free and vsuall that nowe the most part of the women of Fraunce seeme to be in manner common and the wicked blasphemies and continuall execrations and dishonorings of Gods most holy name and maiestie are suche as God cannot longer beare and true it is though incredible among foreine Nations that the catholikes of Fraunce haue prescribed them selues this for a speciall marke to bee knowne from other men that at euery thirde word they blasphemously sweare by the head death bloud and bellie of God and wonderfull it is that the King him selfe is so much delighted in this custome of swearing and blaspheming and this as it were a pestilente infection is spred abrode and common among the very plowmen and paysants so as none among them now speaketh three words without most filthy blaspheming and horrible execration of god VVho can longer beare the vile vnchastities the bawdes and
kepe you in his holie tuition VVritten from Paris the .xxviij. of September 1572. Signed CHARLES And vnderneath BRVLART REMEMBRANCES SENT BY the King to all gouernours and Lieutenantes of his Prouinces to put out and remoue all those of the Religion from their estates and charges although they would abiure the same sauing such as haue but small estates and offices to whom his Maiestie permitteth continuance on conditioÌ„ that they abiure the sayd Religion according to the forme of Abiuration sent for that purpose THe King considering how much his officers and Magistrates of Iustice and such as haue the administration and dealing of his Fynes and payments which be of the newe Religion are suspect and hated and put his Catholike subiects in great mistrust if they should presently exercise their offices after these freshe commotions for cause that the sayd offices be in their handes that nowe kepe them therfore least the people shoulde therby be brought to a newe occasion of stirre they of the new Religion be in dauÌ„ger or bazard of their owne persons although they woulde abiure their sayde newe Religion and professe the holy faith and Catholike Religion of Rome his Maiestie desiring to auoyde the new mischiefes and troubles which maye come hath aduised to discharge the sayd officers from the exercise of the sayde offices vntill he shall otherwise appoint And yet neuerthelesse in the meane while if the sayde officers be obediente vnto his will and liue quietly in their houses withoute attempting practising or taking any thing in hande against his seruice they shall receiue their wages and they that will resigne their sayd offices to Catholike persons and come to his Maiestie shal be verie honorably prouided for And as touching other small offices without wages which cannot be troublesome as Notaries Sergeants and such where the officers haue none authoritie which caÌ„not be so odious nor mistrustfull to the people as the other his Maiestie is aduised that such smal officers which will abiure the sayd newe Religion and professe the faith Catholike Apostolike and Romishe and therin liue continually hereafter shall continue in the exercise and enioying of their estates but they that will continue in their newe opinion shall depart from their offices vntill his Maiestie hath otherwise prouided And this is for the great mischiefe and inconuenience that maye betyde them if they shoulde exercise their sayd estates bicause of the great mistrust and suspition which the Catholikes haue conceiued of them of the newe Religion Neuerthelesse his Maiestie well considering that the moste part of the sayd officers haue none other way to liue but the exercise of their said offices willeth that they shall be in thoyse to resigne to Catholike and capable persons and then to come to him for that effect and he will graunt them the greatest fauour and moderation of his treasorie that is possible The which resolution and pleasure of his Maiestie he willeth to be declared to the sayd officers of the new pretended opinion as well by gouernours and Lieutenants generall of his Prouinces as by them of his Courtes of Parliament of the Chamber of his accomptes of the Court of his aydes them of his great Counsell of the Treasorie of Fraunce the Generals of his Fynes his Baylifes Seneshals Prouosts Iudges or their Lieutenants and euery one of them as shall appertaine And to this intent his Maiestie willeth and intendeth that euery one of them in their calling shall send particularly and apart for euery of the sayd officers of the newe Religion which be of their incorporation charge and Jurisdiction and shall admonish then in this behalfe to conforme them selues to his Maiesties minde and if any of them in authoritie bicause of their said estates wil returne to the bosome of the Catholike and Romish Church it shall be sayd to them that his Maiestie liketh verie well of it and that he taketh a great and singular affection therein and that it shall giue him the greater assurance and credit of their good will and that his Maiestie will not bar theÌ„ from his seruice hereafter but will prouide for them as their behauiour shall deserue And notwithstanding for the reasons abouesayd he willeth that they shall cease from the exercise of their estates and offices vntil he otherwise appointeth And bicause that in many places of the Realme they haue proceeded by way of seasing the goods of them of the newe Religion which be deade or absente and hide themselues and sometymes of those which be in their owne houses although his Maiestie gaue to vnderstande by his declarration of the .xxviij. of August last that be would and intended that they of the new Religion should enioy their goods neuerthelesse to the intent there should be no doubt of his purpose and that no mistrust might arise thervpon he declareth willeth and intendeth againe that according to his declaration of the .xxviij. of August they of the newe Religion which be lyuing whether they be present or absent and be not culpable or charged with the last conspiration or to haue attempted against his Maiestie or his estate since his Edict of Pacification shal be restored to their houses and put in possession of all singular their goode moueable or vnmoueable And that the wydowes and heyres of them that be deade may and shall succede them and appres bend all and singular their goodes and that they shal be mainteined in them and kepte vnder the protection and safegard of his Maiestie so that no hurte shal be done or sayd vnto them in any maner of wyse or sort VVilling for this purpose that all necessarie suretie shal be giuen them and that all officers Magistrates Mayors and others which haue publike charge shall maintaine them in al safetie forbidding al persons of what estate qualitie or condition so euer they be not to hurt them in person or goodâ—s vppon paine of deatâ— And neuerthelesse his Maiestie willeth that they of the newe opinion shall submit themselues and promise vpon paine to be declared rebells and traiâ— tours to his Maiestie that they shall hereafter liue vnder his obedience without attempting any thing to the contrarie or taking their parts that do attempt against his Maiestie and estate or things against his ordinances and to acknowledge none but his Maiestie or such as he shall appoint vnder him to haue authoritie to commaund them And if they knowe any that shall enterprise against his Maiestie and service to reueale them incontinent to him and his officers as good and faithfull subiects And to take away all doubte and suspicion as wel from the nobilitie as others bicause that in the declaration of the â–ª xxiiij of the last moneth these wordes are contained Except they be those of the chiefe which had commaundement for those of the newe opinion or those which made practises and deuises for them or those which might haue had intelligence of the sayd conspiracie His Maiestie declareth that he
of diuine seruice and to assist the same which I thinke be to drawe Christian people to pitie and turning to their God as fasting absteyning from meates obseruation of holy dayes and ecclesiasticall pollicie according to the tradition of the Apostles and holy Fathers continued since the primitiue Church till this time and afterwards brought into the Church by the ordinances of Counsels receiued in the same of long and auncient time or of late be good and holy to the whiche I will and ought to obey as prescribed appointed by the holy ghost the author and director of that which serueth for the keping of Christian Religion and of the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church I beleeue also and accepte all the articles of originall sinne and of Iustification I affirme assuredly that we ought to haue and kepe the Images of Iesus Christ of his holy mother and all other saincts and doe honor and reuerence vnto them I confesse the power of indulgence and pardons to be left in the Church by Iesus Christ and the vse of thē to be verie healthfull as also I acknowledge and confesse the Church of Rome to be the mother and chief of all Churches and conducted by the holy ghost and that other pretended particular inspirations against the same come of the suggestion of the Deuill the Prince of dissention which woulde separate the vnion of the mysticall body of the sauiour of the worlde Finally I promise straightly to keepe all that was ordayned at the last generall councell of Trent and promise to God and you neuer more to depart from the Catholike Apostolike and Romaine Church and if I do which God forbid I submit my selfe to the penalties of the canons of the sayd Church made ordeyned and appointed against them which fall backe into Apostasie The which Abiuration and Confession I haue subscribed THE KINGES LETTER TO M. de Guyse and other Lieutenantes and Gouernors of his Prouinces by the which he wholly abolisheth and subuerteth al the Edictes of Pacification and willeth that onely the Romishe Religion shoulde take place in his Realme THe King knowing that the declaration which he made vpon the occasions which lately chaūced in the Citie of Paris the remebrances and instructiōs of his will which be sent round about to all Gouernours of his Prouinces and Lieutenants generall therin and particular letters to the Seneshals and his Courts of Parliament and other officers and Ministers of Iustice can not his therto staye the course of murders and robberies done in the most part of the cities of this Realme to his Maiesties great displeasure hath aduised for a more singular remedie to send all the sayde Gouernours into euery of their charges and gouernements assuring him selfe that according to the qualitie and power which they haue of his Maiestie they can well followe and obserue his intent the which more fully to declare his Maiestie hath caused his letters patentes to be dispatched which shal be deliuered them Besides the contentes wherof M. de Guise the gouernour Lieutenant generall for his Maiestie in Champaigne and Brye shall call before him the gentles men of the newe Religion abyding within his gouernement and shall tell them that the Kings wil and intent is to preserue them their wyues children and families and to mayntaine them in possession of their goods so that on their parte they liue quietly and render to his Maiestie obedience and fidelitie as they ought in which doyng the King also will defende them that they shall not be molested or troubled by waye of Iustice or otherwise in their persons and goods by reason of things done during the troubles and before the Edict of Pacification of August ▪ 1570. And afterwardes be shall louingly admonishe them to continue no longer in the Error of the newe opinions and to returne to the Catholike Religion reconciling themselues to the Catholike Romishe Church vnder the doctrine and obedience wherof Kings his predecessors and their subiects have alwayes holily lyued and this Realme hath ben cares fully conducted and maintained Shewing to thē the mischiefes and calamities which haue happened in this Realme since these newe opinions haue entred into mens spirites Howe manye murders haue bene caused by such which haue fallen from the right waye holden by their Auncestors First they made them separate them selues from the Churche then from their nexte of kinred and also to be estranged from the seruice of their king as a man may see since his raigne And althoughe the authors and heades of that side would haue couered their doyngs vnder the title of Religion and conscience yet their deedes and workes haue shewen well inough that the name of Religion was but a visarde to couer their driftes and disobedience and vnder that pretence to assemble and subborne people and to make and compel them to sweare in the cause vnder the title of disobedience and by suche wayes to turne them from the naturall affection which they owe to the King and consequently from his obedience being notorious that what commaundement so euer the King could make to them of the newe Religion they haue not since his raigne obeyed him otherwise than pleased their heads And contrariwise when their sayd heads commaunded them to arise and take to their weapons to set vpon Cities to burne Churches to sacke and pill to trouble the Realme and fill it with bloud and fire they which went so astray to follow them forgot all trust and duetie of good subiects to execute and obey their commaūdements VVhich things if the gentlemen will well consider they shall easely Iudge how vnhappie and miserable their condition shal be if they continue longer therein For they may well thinke of them selues that the king being taught by experience of so great a daunger from the which it hath pleased God to preserue him and his estate and hauing proued the mischiefes and calamities which this Realme hath suffred by the enterprises of the heads of this cause their adherentes and complices that he will neuer willingly be serued with any gentleman of his subiects that be of any other Religion than the Catholike in the whiche also the king following his predecessors will liue and die He willeth also to take away all mistrust amongst his subiects and to quench the rising of discordes and seditions that all they of whom he is serued in honorable places and specially the gentlemen which desire to be accompted his good and lawfull subiects and would obtaine his fauour and be employed in charges of his seruice according to their degrees and qualities do make profession hereafter to liue in the same Religion that he doth hauing tryed that discords and ciuill warres will not cease in a state where there be many Religions and that it is not possible for a King to maintaine in his Realme diuersities in Religion but that he shall leese the good will and beneuolence of his subiectes yea and they which are of a
of Anthonie King of Nauarre the said Catherine de Medices the kings mother against the custome of the realme was ioyned with him in that office of protectorship She fearing the presumption and fierce pride of the Guisians wrote to the Prince of Conde with hir owne haÌ„d which letters are yet remayning and at the assemblie of the Princes of Germanie at Franckforde holdeÌ„ vnder Ferdinand the Emperoure were produced and openly read about ten yeares past wherein she earnestly besought him in so gret hardnesse and distresse not to forsake hir but to account both the mother and the children that is both hir selfe and the King and the Kings brethren committed to his faith and naturall kindnesse and that he should with all speede prouide for their common safetie assuring him that she would so imprint in the Kings mind his trauell taken in that behalfe that he should neuer be loser by it VVithin few dayes after the Duke of Guise wel knowing how great authoritie the name of the King would carie in Fraunce and to the intent that he would not seeme to attempt anyâ—thing rather of his owne head than by the priuitie of the King and hauing atteyned fit partners to ioyne with him in these enterprises he got the King into his power VVhich thing being knowne abrode and manye hard encombrances therevpon sodaynely rising and a great part of the nobilitie of Fraunce maruellously troubled with it the Prince of Conde by aduise of his friends thought it best for him to take certaine townes and furnishe them with garrisons which was the beginning of the first ciuill warre For the Prince of Conde alleaged the cause of his taking armour to be the defence of the Kings Edict wherein consisted the safetie of the common weale and that it could not be repealed without most assured vndoyng of the nation of Fraunce and destruction of the nobilitie by reason of the exceeding great multitude of those that daylie ioyned themselues to that Religion Of which number suche as being of noble birthe were in power dignitie wealth and credite aboue the rest thoughte it not meete for them to suffer the punishments and crueltie accustomed to be extended vpon the prâ—fessors thereof beside that they helde them discontented that the Duke of Guise a newe come a straunger translated from the forests of Loraine into Fraunce did take vpoÌ„ him in Fraunce so great courage and so high dominion power Therto was added the Queenâ— mothers singular care as was reported for conseruation of peace and repressing the rage of the Guisians Vpon which opinion it is certayne that aboue twentie thousande men hauing regarde onelye to the Queenes inclination ioyned themselues to the side of those of the Religion and to the defence of their profession whiche at that time had besieged the force of the Kings power After certayne battayles and manye losses on both partes and the Duke of Guise slaine within a yeere peace was made with this condition that they of the Religion shoulde haue free libertie thereof and shoulde haue assemblies and preachings for the exercise of the same in certeyne places This peace continued in force but not in all places during fyue yeeres for in the most townes iurisdictions the Officers that were affectionate to the Romishe side whom they commonly call Catholikes did all the displeasures they could to those of the ReligioÌ„ Therfore when Ferdinando Aluares de Toledâ— commonly called Duke of Alua was leading an armie not farre from the frontiers of Fraunce against those of the lowe countrey which embraced the reformed Religion againste the wyll of the Kyng of Spayne the Queene mother caused to be leuied and brought into Fraunce sixe thousande Switzers for a defence as she caused it to be bruted but as the successe hath proued for this intent that the Prince of Conde the Admirall and other noble men of the Religion if they escaped the treasons prepared for them and listed to defende themselues by force and trie it by battayle might be sodaynely oppressed ere they were prouided For the courtiers whiche then had the managing of these matters dyd not at that time well trust the souldiers of Fraunce Many things pertayning to the course of that time and the renewing of the warre must here for hast to our present purpose be necessarily omitted VVheÌ„ the warre had endured about sixe moneths peâ—ce was made with the same coÌ„ditions that we haue aboue rehearsed that all men should haue free libertie to follow and professe the Religion reformed For this was euer one and the last condition vpon all the warres But within fewe dayes or monethes after it was playnly vnderstoode that the same peace was full of guile and treason and finally that it was no peace but most cruell warre cloaked vnder the name of peace For forthwyth all those townes which they of the Religion had yelded vp were possessed and strengthened with garrisons of souldiers of the contrary side sauing onely one towne on the sea coast in the partes of Xantoigne commonly called Rochell For the men of that towne aboute two hundreth yeares past had yelded themselues to the Kings power and allegeance with this condition that they should neuer be constrayned agaynst their will to receyue any garrison souldiers Also the Prince of Conde and the Admirall were aduertised that there was treason agayne prepared to entrap them by Tauaignes a man giueÌ„ to murther and mischiefe which had lately bene made Marshall of Fraunce and that if they did not spedely auoyde the same it should shortly come to passe that they should be deceyued and taken by him and deliuered vp to the crueltie of their aduersaries Vâ— on the receyt of these aduertisementes they immediatly make hast to Rochell carying with them their wiues and yong childreÌ„ which was the beginning of the third ciuill warre the most sharpe and miserable of all the rest There was at that time in the court Charles Cardinall of Loraine brother to the Duke of Guise which as is aboue sayde was slayne in the first warre one accompted most subtill and craftie of all the rest but of a terrible cruell and troublesome disposition so as he was thought intollerable euen at Rome it selfe This man they of the reformed Religion reported to be the moste sharpe and hatefull enimye of their profession and him they abhorred aboue all other for the crueltie of his nature and named him the firebrande of all ciuill flames He at the beginning of the third ciuill warre persuaded the King to publish an Edict that no man professe any Religion but the Romishe or Popish and that whosoeuer wold embrace any other should be compted as traytours In that same Edict Printed at Paris this sentence was expressely conteyned and for the strangenesse of the matter and for that it stayned the Kyngs name with the most dishonorable spot of periurie and breache of faith it was in other impressions afterwarde omitted And it was further then declared that albeit the
a great and lamentable sedition arose therof insomuch that the Garde by me appointed for his defence about his house was set vpon and he himselfe with certaine of his Gentlemen slaine and hauock of other made in diuers places of the Citie which was handled with such a rage that I coulde not vse the remedie that I woulde but had much ado to employ my Gardes and other defence for the safetie of my self and my brethren within the castle of Louure to give order hereafter for the appeasing of this seditioÌ„ which is at this houre wel appeased thankes be to God and came to passe by a particular and priuate quarell of long time fostered betwixte those two houses VVhereof when I foresawe that there woulde succeede some mischieuous purpose I did what I could possibly to appease it as all men knowe And yet hereby the Edicte of Pacification is not broken which I will to bee kepte as straightly as euer it was as I haue giuen to vnderstand in al places throughout my Realme And bicause it is greatly to be feared that such an execution might stirre vp my subiectes one against another and cause great murders through the cities of my Realme whereby I should be greatly grieued I pray you cause to bee published and vnderstoode in all places of your gouernement that euery person abide and continue in the safegarde of his own house and to take no weapons in hande nor one to hurt another vpon paine of death commaunding them to kepe diligently to obserue our Edicte of Pacification And to make the offenders and resisters and such as would disobey and breake our will to be punished you shal assemble out of hand as great force â—s you can as well of your friendes as of theÌ„ that be appointed by me and of others aduertising the captaines of Castles and Cities in your gouernement to take heede to the safegarde and preseruation of the sayde places so that no fault ensue on their behalfe aduertising me also so soone as you can what order you haue giuen herein and how al things haue passed within the circuite of your gouernement Herevpon I pray God to keepe you Cousin in his holie safegarde At Paris the .xxiiij of August Signed CHARLES and vnderneath BRVLARD ANOTHER LETTER FROM the King to the Lorde of Prye his Lieutenant generall in Touraine vpon the same matter that the former letter was MOnsieur de Prie you haue vnde â–ª stoode howe my cousin the Admirall was hurt the last day and in what readinesse I was to do as much as in me lay for the tryall of the fact and to Wuse so gret and spedie iustice to be done as should be an example throughout all my Realme wherin nothing was omitted Since it is so happened that my cousins of the house of Guise and other Lords and Gentlemen their adherents which are no smal partie in this to wne as all men know hauing gotten certaine intelligence that the friendes of my sayd cousin the Admirall intended to pursue and execute vpon them the reuenge of this burte for that they had them in suspicioÌ„ to be the cause and occasion therof have made such a stirre this night passed that among them on both partes hath beâ—e raised a great and lamentable tumulte the Garde that was set about the Lorde Admirals house was distressed himself slayne in his house with diuers other Gentlemen as also great slaughter hath ben made of other in sundrie places and quarters of this towne which hath bene done with such furie that it was impossible for me to giue such remedie as was to be wished I hauing enough to do to employe my Garde and other forces to kepe my selfe in safetie in the Castle of Louure to the end to giue order for the appeasing of the whole vproare which at this houre thankes bee to God is well quenched for that the same happened by the particular quarell that hath of long time bene betwene those two houses where of alwayes hauing some doubt that some vnhappie effecte woulde eâ—sue I haue as is well knowne to all men before this time done all that I coulde for to appease it nothing in this last fact tending to the breache of my Edicte of pacification which contrary wise I will in all things to be mainteined as at any time heretofore as I do giue it to vnderstand thorowout my Realme And forasmuche as it is greatly to be feared that this may stirre vp and cause my subiectes to rise one against another and to commit great slaughters in the to wnes of my Realme whereof I would be maruellously sorie I pray you that immediatly vpon the receyte hereof ye cause to be published and done to vnderstande in al places of your charge that euery man as wel in towne as in countrey remaine in reste and suretie in his house and do not take armes one against another on payne of death And that more diligently than at any time heretofore yee cause the last Edict of Pacification to be kepte and carefully mainteyned and obserued To the intente aboue sayde and to punish such as shall do to the contrary and to distresse all suche as shall rise and dysobey our pleasure ye shal immediately assemble all the strength that ye are able as well of your friends being of our allowance as others aduertising the gouernors and captaines of townes and Castels within your charge that they take goodheede to the suretie and safe keeping of their peeces in such sort as there ensue no default informing me with speede of such order as you shall take therin and how all things shall proceede within the compasse of your authoritie I haue here with me my brother the King of Nauarie and my Cousin the Prince of Conde to take suche hap as my selfe I pray the creator Monsier de Prye to holde you in his holy safegarde From Paris this .xxiiij. of August Thus signed CHARLES and vnderneth PINART These letters are all of one argument as the former be and written all in one forme and al one day to Monsier de Prye the Lieutenant of Touraine THE KINGS LETTERS TO the officers of Burges vpon the same matter that the former were Ovr louing and faithfull we doubt not but by this time you knowe of the sedition which to our great griefe happened in Paris a fewe dayes â–ª sithens wherin my Cousin the Admiâ—all and certaine others of his side were siâ—iâ—e and a great murder committed vpon diuerse in many places of this Citie And least the newes thereof should change the quiet estate wherein Burges hath hitherto ben maintained since the Edict of Pacification if remedie were not foreseene it is the cause that we writ this letter presently vnto you wherby we commaund and expressely ordeine that euerie one of you according to his charge do see that no commotion or insurrection be against the inhabitants of the sayde Citie nor that no murder be committed as it is to be
feared by those which pretend to breake the Edict of Pacification and thereby would execute a reuenge of their long priuate grudge to our incredible vexation and anguishe of minde For this cause it is your part to giue to vnderstand and publishe throughout that Citie of ours and other places pertaining to it that euery one should quietly and peacibly kepe their houses without taking weapons in hande and offending one the other vpon paine of death and well and diligently to kepe our Edict of Pacification And if any goe about to contrarie this our intent and minde to cause them to be punished and rigorously chastised by penalties imposed on such offendours in our ordinances hauing a watchfull and diligent eye to the safegarde of that our Citie in such sort that no inconuenience arise in your seruice towardes vs as you woulde haue vs to knowe that you are our loyall and obedient subiectes Giuen at Paris the .xxvij. day of August 1572. Thus signed CHARLES and â—â—â—owe De neuf-ville A LETTER OF THE TREAsorer of the leagues of the Switzers written by the kings commaundement vnto the sayd Leagues of the same argument that the former letters were NOble Seigniours Monsieur de la Fontaine Ambassador for the King your assured and perfect friend confederate and I his Treasorer in this countrey hauing commaundement of his maiestie to communicate with you as with them whome he accompteth his chiefe and sure friends of a chaunce which lately happened in the Citie of Paris his owne person and court then being there wherof he receiued so much more griefé and displeasure bicause it befell on such a time as he least feared or loked for such a thing The matter is this On the .xxvij. day of August last the Admirall as he went from Louuâ—e was with an harquebuze shot hurte in the hande and arme whereof when his maiestie was aduertised he commaunded incontinent that search and punishment were had of the offendour and the authors of such a mischiefe whervnto when he had readilie layde his hande by his officers and committed the inhabitantes of the house where the harquebuze was shot to prison they which were the cause firste of the mischiefe as it maye easily be presupposed bicause they woulde preuente the inquisition therof heaping one transgression vpon another on the .xxiij. and .xxiiij. of the said moneth assembled a great troupe of people in the night and moued the people of Paris to a veryâ— great sedition who in a rage set vpon the Admiâ—rals lodging and enforcing the Garde which his Maiestie had set for the Admirals suretie and keping slewe him with certaine other gentlemen in his companie as the like also was committed vpon others in the Citie the matter growing in the verie same instant to suche an outrage and commotioÌ„ that whereas his Maiestie had thought to prouide remedie for appeasing therof he had much a doe with all his Gardes to kepe his house at Louure where he lodged with the two Queens his mother and the Spouse the Lords his brethreÌ„ the King of Nauarre and other Princes Thinke therefore ye noble Seigniours in what a perplexitie this yong and couragious King now standeth who as a man may saye hath helde in his hande thornes in steade of a Scepter euer since his comming to the Crowne for the great troubles which haue almost euer since beene in his Realme and therefore by the good and wise counsell and assistance of the Queene his mother and the Lords his brethren thought to enioy and establishe a more sure repose in his Realme and a more happie gouernement for himselfe and his subiectes after he had taken away as he thought all occasions of dissentions amongst his subiectes by the meanes of his Edicts of Pacifications and of the mariage of the King of Nauarre to the Ladie his sister and the Prince of Code to Madome de Neuers Besides all this to the intent nothing should be lefte vndone that mighte serue for the quieting of all things and especially for the Admirals safegard his Maiestie as euery man knoweth hath done his endeuour to the vttermost to appease and reconcile his principall and most daungerous enimyes vnto him And so God the true iudge of the Kings Maiesties good and pureintent brought to passe that the peoples rage being quieted within a few houres euery one went home to his house and the king had speciall regard to nothing more than to see nothing attempted or innouated contrarie to his Edicts of Pacification and the repose of his subiectes as well of the one Religion as of the other And for that purpose hath sent to diuerse of his Gouernours and Officers in his prouinces to loke diligently to the obseruing of his Edictes with expresse commaundement to holde their handes there that euerie one might peâ—ceiue that the chaunce at Paris happened for some priuate quarell and not for any purpose to alter his Edicts which his Maiestie will in no wife suffer VVhich is the principall thing noble Seigniours that his Maiestie hath commaunded vs on his parte to assure you and to let you vnderstand the daungers that depende ouer him and his neighbours not so much for this sedition for he trusteth in God that shall growe no further and his Maiestie wil kepe his Realme in as good repose as it hath bene since his last Edict of Pacification but for the great mustering and assembling men of warre in many places specially in the low couÌ„treyes where it is yet vncertaine on which side God will giue the victorie nor whether the conqueror will employ his force after his conquest VVherefore his Maiestie prayeth you continuing the good loue and intelligence which hath always bene bewixt the Crowne of Fraunce and his allied and confederate friendes the Seigniours of the Leâ—gues to haue good regarde to him and his Realme in case that neede shall require as he will haue to you and your prosperous estate if it be requisite employing in the meane whyle your great and singular wisedome to the preseruation of the vnion of the Nation in League which is the onely cause to make you not onely able to send succour to your friends but also maintaine your selues in estimation that you may be a terrour to your neighbours how great so euer they be his maiestie promising you in all occurrentes as much friendship fauour and assistance as you can desire and to be as entier and perfect a friend as euer your nation had any A DECLARATION OF THE King concerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his adherents and complices happened in the Citie of Paris the. 24. of August 1572. Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Dallier Stacioner dwelling vpon S. Michaels bridge at the signe of the white Rose by the Kings licence BY THE KING HIs Maiestie desiring to haue all Seigniours Gentlemen and other his subiects vnderstand the cause of the murder of the Admirall and his adherentes and complices which lately happened in this Citie