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
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
of the third Civil War the K. and Queen Mother speed Messengers to the princes and Admiral to make way for a peace they yield to imbrace a treaty the King propounds for both armies to join against a foreign Enemy A firm peace concluded with free liberty of the Edict Several protestant Princes congratulate the King for his happy peace the King subscribes to keep the Edict the Armies dismissed the peace not fully observed the King with the Council plot destruction the King and Court feed the protestants with favours to make them the easier to swallow their own ruin and his love together the King dissembles with the Princes in shewing a dislike to the Catholick party the prince of Orange and his Brother offer the King of France their assistance against the King of Spain and is accepted the Count of Nassaw disguised goes to the King the King invites the Admiral to Court the Duke of Guise and Cardinal Lorrain depart the Court the better to allure the Princes and Admiral to their Ruin the Prince of Orange takes the Spaniards slips the King propounds his Sister the Lady Margaret in mariage with the Prince of Navar the Popes Embassadour arrives at the Court the Kings plot to surprize Rochel the King pronounces the Admiral not guilty many protestants at Roan murthered the Admirall perswaded of the Kings Reality by a Letter under his own Hand and Seal The protestants noble resolutions NOw begins the third bloody War wherein the Protestants solemnly covenanted together so to cleave fast one to another so to knit themselves firmly together in their affections and resolutions as no future transactions should with the help of God ever make them to forget or forsake the cause of God concerned in the Protestant Religion but resolutely to maintain it to the loss of their lives and all that was dear to them Both sides prepare for war Hereupon the King arms amain so also the Princes and Admiral who send out a fleet of thirty sail for Provision for the Army to supply them for the ensuing Winter The Queen of Navar also endeavours all she can for their aid and assistance Q. Eliz. aids the protestants Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory sent over to their aid one hundred thousand Crowns besides ships of Corn and Ammunition A thing to be treasured up in the remembrance of her lasting fame The protestants take in many Towns both armies meet but fight not The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army and soon levels the force of many strong Towns to their power in taking them in and so become Masters of the Field At length both Armies meet yet no battel in regard of the cold season neither Army would fight but on advantage which would be given by neither The Winter being now past in the year 1569. the Armies engage at Battel at Brisac the 16. of March The Battel at Brisac the prince of Conde slain to his eternal honour fighting on his knees to the last wherein the Prince of Conde was wounded and his horse shot under him yet did valiantly defend himself on his knees in the midst of his Enemies but at last was slain On the Kings side was slain the Duke of Monsalez whom de Andelot the Admirals Brother charged so furiously that with his bridle hand he lifted up the Bever of his Helmet and discharged his Pistol in his face and so laid him dead on the ground Great was the slaughter on both sides of Gentry especially wherein the Protestants were worsted by the Catholiques comming upon part of their Army in full bodies which unfortunately was scattered by their too great security and sudden approach of the Kings yet their demeanor in the fight was such that the Kings Army had reason to bewail their great loss and admire their Enemies valour and undoubtedly in outward appearance had the body been entire and both encountred on equal advantatages the day was generally believed would have been otherwise for the Horse only was engaged but the foot never came to any service but secured themselves in a body And thus died that brave Prince of Conde exceedingly commended for virtue and valour and asmuch bewailed for his loss Prince of Navar and prince of Conde Generalls for the protestants After this Battel the Protestants rallie their Forces and by a General choice of the Army Henry Prince of Navar and Henry Son to the deceased Prince of Conde were both elected Generals of the Protestant Army The Prince of Navar was of a noble and gallant Spirit full of Urbanity and Civil courtesie The Prince of Navar shews a gallant spirit in a piâ—hy speech of a Warlike courage and being naturally given to valourous and heroick actions he embraces this courteous invitation and like a Souldier of a long standing being but fifteen or sixteen years old he lengthned their hopeful expectations by a short pithy speech wherein He promised to protect the true Religion and to persevere constantly in defence of the common-cause till death or victory proved the Issue Now to ballance this Royal assent and Christian magnanimity of so tender a Sprout of virtue The Admiral and whole Army profess fidelity and obedience to the princes of the blood and the protestant cause the Admiral and Count de la Roch-fou-caut first submitted and swore fidelity then followed the principal Officers and Soldiers in joint Resolutions to order their steps after his Royal commands and the religious ends proposed in his Speech All of the Army protesting fidelity to the Princes of Bourbon And thus with a volley of applause was this Gallant young Prince elected General of the Army and Protector of the Protestants whose yeers were far younger than his wise conduct of affairs in whom it was hard to say whether his resolution valor and wisdom or youth was more perspicuous for he seemed as if nature which accomplishes others by degrees had finished him in a trice He was no sooner come to his Horizon but his deserts lifted him up to his Meridian The Queen of Navar mother to this virtuous Prince approved well of their choice and his acceptance so that she sharpned all their resolutions by her couragious assistance of the Protestants The Religious and Noble Q. of Navar coins money and inserts a christian and resolute Motto She was a religious Queen in whom resided much virtue and constancy to a good cause Wherefore she caused monies to be coined with her picture on one side and the Princes on the other with these words Pax Certa Victoria Integra Mors Honesta A Motto becoming her noble Spirit Thus they fall to consultation how to order the Army with the best prudence they resolve to divide and draw into Garrisons so also does the King The Princes Army draws into Garrisons So the Princes and Admiral retire to Saint Jean D' Angeli Brave Monsieur de Pilles defended Xaintes Montgomery and Puviant
of secrecie that whilst they could see others others could not see them But alas God can easily discover all their close contrivances when he pleases but it must be let alone to the secret will of God why at this time he was pleased to let his people and the Earth be burthened and oppressed with such hellish designs that one would think should make Devils afraid to contrive but however God suffered them to act their lustful rage and bloody cruelty yet he pleased so to unmask the pretences of friendship that in despight of Worldly secrecie the whole Universe may perceive the plot of Popish cruelty This wonderful and Tragical instance will cleerly evince any Impartial Reader and if there were no other yet would it stand alone as an irrefragable Argument that there was a premeditated plot to cut off the Admiral and Protestants which story for the strangeness of the Discovery and the Kings more strange way of Justice to prevent the further spreading of his plot take as followeth and because of its use I hope may prove no digression The secret design of the K. and Council to destroy the Protestants is almost discovered in this cleer and pretty Story There was in the Court of France at this came one Monsieur de Lignoroles a young Gentleman of a sharp and accute wit attended also with a high and bold Spirit which Gentleman was the Duke of Anjou's great Familiar which reason together with the neerness of affection to each other the Duke did impart to him the secret Counsels of the King with this Plot of cutting off all the Protestants by a fair pretence of an alluring carriage till they were under his power and mercy This young Gentleman by his great intimacy with the Duke grew also into high favour with the King and Queen Mother and for his wit and carriage drew the eyes of all the Court towards him attracting great esteem from King Queen Mother and Court This unfortunate Gentleman more happy in the imployment than wise in the improvement of his parts who being in the high Road of Honour wanted but few steps to a high preferment which time and his wise mannagement would necessarily have courted him with and conferred on him This Gentleman I say hapned by his great esteem to be admitted to the presence of the King and Nobles and once on a time when many Nobles of the Religion were present with his Majesty through some occasion of a Treaty for a peaceable enjoyment of freedom of Religion according to the Edict At this time the King was highly moved with the Protestant Nobility this young Gentleman seeing the King angry presently stepped to the King and whether to please the King or to let his Majestie know he was thought worthy of counsel by the great trust some had put him in or moved by ambition to appear no stranger to the Kings nearest secresies which sometimes in young wits many times runs before a discreet conduct of their advantages But he I say whispers in the Kings ear Desiring his Majesty that he would please to silence his mind with a patient forbearance of anger and to smile away their insolency and folly for his Majesty well knew that few days would ripen their destruction and lay them level to justice which saies he by a secret policy of your Majesties great Wisdom and compleat contrivance was almost brought to a full conclusion last meeting and which no doubt in the end will speedily and securely render your Majesty in a full and ample capacity to be avenged on their haughtiness The King at these words startled within himself being touched at the quick to have such a secret imparted to one that was not of the conspiracy whose raw retention might prove fatal to them all wondering how and by what means he should come to the knowledge thereof Now the King in whom lodged a knowledge beyond his years dissembled his understanding at this time and made no shew of any thing that might tend to the understanding of his speech but speedily retired to his chamber with a mind full of anxity and fury and presently without any delayes examines the Count de Retz who denies that ever he revealed any thing to any or to him he then charged the Queen Mother who answered she was not to learn of him to keep secrets at last he fell to examine the Duke of Anjou who confessed it and fell to perswade the King that it was as securely locked from any further discovery as in his own breast and like a Spring lock would shut but not open of it self That his Majesty need not fear that any secret imparted to Ligneroles should ever come neerer his mouth than his heart the King answers No more it shall and I wish it had never come there for I shall take order that he shall not have time to do it So the King calls George de Villequier Vicount of Guerchy whom his Majestie knew hated Ligneroles perfectly and commanded him to use his Discretion for a speedy removal of Ligneroles out of this world and to put off the effecting his desire no longer and that day to bring to pass his pleasure and command without fear or delay which with the Assistance of another was accordingly done as soon as the King heard hereof he was seemingly angry and commanded the Vicount and Count Charls his assistant to be imprisoned in the Palace but in a Months time by the intreaty of Monsieur de Angolesm as also by particular grace and favour they were set at Liberty This Story needs no Comment The King charges the Magistrates of Paris that none in the City should offer the least affront to the Admirall or Protestants After all the Kings favors to the Protestants and pulling down the stone Cross erected to their dishonour the King knowing the extreme inveterate hate the Parisians bore to the Admiral and Protestants he wrote a Letter to the Provost de Marchands one Marcel which is one of the highest places of advancement in Paris giving out severe threatnings against any that should give occasion of commotion or Affront to the Admiral at his comming So also did the Queen Mother and Duke of Anjou write to Marcel and Magistrates of the City insomuch that nothing was now left as a hindrance or objection for the Admirals coming and safety The King sends a Protestant Gentleman to invite the Admiral to Court who comes and is joyfully welcomed Shortly after the King sends a Noble Gentleman of the Protestants named Briquemault to the Admiral being a faithful assistant of the Admirals as also a man of singular vertue and esteem among the Protestants and at last proved a sad though Christian Sufferer for the Protestant cause him the King sends to the Admiral to let him know how greatly his Majesty longed for his counsel in so weighty a business as the War which could not be done without his assistance and present
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
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
July last took date the seventh of January which for the great liberty it gave the present freedom from persecution and hope of peace to all the Nation was commonly called by the name of the edict of January But Alas alas wee shall too soon see the sad effects of this edict for instead of bringing forth the peaceable fruits of a desired and expected tranquillity it brought forth such a sad Perisian Massacre as it may well be termed a monster of nature wherein was such a slaughter of poor Protestants as for the horidness of the fact it is not to be parrelled For before wee come to the end of this sad History wee shall see such a slaughter of Noble gentelmen Gallant souldiers poor Ladies and Gentlewomen and other innocent souls as in three dayes were no less slain then ten thousand whereof 500. were Noblemen Gentlemen and Ladies that were invited to Paris by the Kings dissimulation and treacherous bayt to their sad ruin And in other parts of France in ten dayes by the Kings own commandement were Murtherd most inhumanly thirty thousand Innocent Soules besides what the wars destroyed Such were the sad effects of solemn engagements as if there were no other way of keeping Covenant then by breaking it Nay this edict of peace was by the Kings command and so was the Masacre Oh! that it may stand as a Pyramide to all Nations to be ware how they Make a Peace with those that know no way of Lawfull keeping but unlawfull breaking their most sacred and solemn Oathes promises and engagements This edict being proclaimed did much trouble and dismay the Principal Catholicks setting them all on fire with rage and malice But the greatest enemies the Protestants had were the Duke of Guise King of Navar the Constable and Cardinalls the Queen also was a secret enemie and Ianus like had two faces One full of the greatest dissemulation that ever was found in a female sex taking their parts onely with fair words before their faces yet had the foulest heart wicked inventions as could be imagined And so to support her own power between the indifferent state of the Princes of the blood and the Guisans The Queen Mother being now returned to Fontanbleav Assures the Prince of Conde by all the protestations of Reality that her intentions was no less resolute to preserve the Edict of pacification for their good then it was to secure her own life and so likewise protested to the King of Navar and Duke of Guise that she would never forsake the Catholick partie Now what a wonderfull art of dissimulation was this Queen arrived too what depth of deceit lay hid in her breast which she so ordered by fair pretences that the Protestants that had cause and the Catholicks that had no cause of mistrust yet both alik doutbed of her Reality The Duke of Guise aforesaid being at Spain was absent from this Assembly of estates Asad Massacre of the Protestants at Vassay where the Duke of Guise blaspheming fell on them at a sermon and murthered 200. which was the begining of the first Civil war and consequently affented not to this famous Edict granted by the King Queen and eight Parliaments But he no sooner heard of it but his wonted malice begins to work it is not to be conceived or imagined how full loaden he was which malice and venemous intentions of Injurie to the poor Protestants and so boyling with incredible sorrow at this decree in their behalfs he resolves to wreak his furie on their Innocency He therefore with the constable Cardinal many Gentlemen of the prime Catholicks and two squadrons of Lances advances towads Paris Now as they march from Ianuile to Vassay a little Town in Campagne comming neer and understanding the bell was ringing to Sermon he draws nigher and whilst the poor Protestants were serving God in his holy Ordinances in a barn he furiously sets upon them crying Death of God kill those Huguenots Whereupon he murthered to the number of two hundred men and weomen some had their heads cleft in two others their hands and heads cutt off so that the walls and Galleries of the barn were died with the blood of the slain The Duke with his sword drawn stood among them charging his men to kill without sparing The faithfull Minister of Gods Word was brought to the Duke who cursing called for the Provost and commands him to be hanged on a Gibbot yet through Gods mercy he was released at the request of the Prince of Portion this sad murder we shall shortly see will produce sad effects The Protestants complain to the Prince of Conde of the Breach of the Edict and demands justice of the King Those that were the principal of the Protestants were Lewis of Bourbon of the Bloud Royal commonly called Prince of Conde after the name of a certain Town which Prince was of great force with the King in regard of his alliance so that when the Duke of Guise attempted the breach of the famous Edict endeavouring the utter ruine thereof especially in his bloudy cruelty at Vassey which coming to the hearing of the Admiral and his Brother Francis de Andelot Captain of the Fantery and other Princes Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Protestants they flock daily in heaps with Complaints to the Prince of Conde of the outragious malice and violent attempt of the Duke of Guise against their Brethren the Protestants demanding also of the King Justice for that bloudy Breach of his special Edict and Command The Duke of Guise to countenance his wicked intentions seizes on the King and carries him to Paris Presently after the Duke of Guise arrives at Paris with his bloudy Train and thought it not unfit for carrying on of his Design to get the King into his power that what afterwards he did might be in the Kings name well knowing what great Authority the name of the King would carry in France Whereupon he with the Constable and Marshall of St. Andres seizes on the Kings person and so carries him from Fontanbleau to Paris and there fell a defacing and overthrowing the places where the Protestants used to assemble which so encouraged the Romish party that in every place they abused the Protestants as the most cruel barbarous would blush to act The Queen Mother by Letters desires the Prince of Conde's help for the King and her assistance Hereupon the Queen Mother fearing the power and fierce pride of the Guisans makes a virtue of necessity and writes with her own hand to the Prince of Conde which Letters were produced by the Prince and at the Assembly of the Princes of Germany at Frankford holden under Ferdinand the Emperour were openly read the Contents were Earnestly to intreat his speedy succour and in so great danger and distress not to forsake her but to account both the Mother and the children meaning her self the King and his brethren as committed to his faith and natural kindness desiring
fill his Gorget the Protestant Army forced to retire and run down his male At last the Protestants Army being worn out with a tedious march was forced to retreat and with the Prince the Count of Nassaw Count Volrade all which without any disorder meet that night at Partenay the K. besieges St. Jean d'Angeli which brav Pilles did keep After this bloody Battel the King Queen Mother and Duke of Anjow sit down before St. Iean d'Angeli which was kept by that famous renouned commander Armand Sieur de Pilles whose same spread it self throughout all France by his stout resistance of the Kings power and valorous keeping of the place for against the continuall assaults of the whole Army His excesding valor his brave Soldiers kept it for two months and one time in this seige a truce was made that if in certain dayes relief came not they should yeeld on conditions Relief by a handsome policy the day comes and St. Severin with forty horse deceives by policy the sentinells and Kings Army and as friends passe all to the relief of the Place After many bloody assaults and great loss to the Kings Army the place not able any longer to continue did at last deliver up on honourable rearms Yields on honourable terms To depart with their Goods Arms Horses and ensignes displaied and for four months should not carry armes in defence of the Protestant religion But as Monseiur de Piles made his seige famous so the Catholicks made themselves infamous But dishonourably kept by the King by his Majesties breach of faith given for as they advance to receive the articles of the Kings promise and their own deserts they are spoyled of Armes Apparell and Monies rob their baggage take away their Horses and spoil their Men. Nay a Regiment quartered at St. Jultan halfe a League off under the command of Sarrien fals on Beats Kills Murthers and destroyes many They are murthered casts some into the River and he that can make a safe escape to Angoulesme is happy though he have nothing else but his shirt Whereupon Mounseiur Piles was freed from his engagement by a non-performance of the Kings promise 10000. men lost at the siege and five thousand canon shot spent The King lost at this seige Sebastian of Luxembourg Duke of Martignes and governour of Brittain five thousand cannons shot spent ten thousand men of War lost twenty five or thirty Commissaries of the artillery which was slain in their charge many crept away from the Army and such hot service insomuch that the Camp decreased eighteen or twenty thousand men The K. disbands the Army In the year 1570 for many reasons and after much consultation had the King did resolve to disband his army which accordingly was don The Princes Army increases Now the Protestants labour to gather Strength by the Industrious pains of the most incomparable Prince of Navar who passing the expectation of his age presently Armes the nobility and others in those partes on whom his father the King of Navar had great influence by reason of their near alliances and neighbour hood whereby the Princes Army was now again got to such a degree of strength That they were masters of the field The K. Armie meets and Marshall de Cosse General The King seeing things go contrary to his desire and expectation summons his Army together and in regard the Duke of Anjou was sick the charge of the Army was delivered to Marshall de Cosse the Armies never came so neer as to give battel but often skirmishing and little likelhiood there was for the King to conquer the Protestants by force which opinion as it was grounded on good reason so was it increased by newes which came to the Court that Prince Casimir was raising new forces for aid of the Protestant Princes which indeed put the Catholicks in a great doubt and fear of any success against them The K. Cabinet Council meet and plot a peace and ruin together Now begins the bloody game for the King Queen Mother Duke of Anjon and Cardinall of Lorrain meets privately together and according to their disposition and custome fall a ploting holding it the best way when they could not mend it to think of accommodation and giving liberty to the Protestants Who might better have enjoyed it by war than by peace as the Issue proved If it had pleased the Lord to discover the inside of their treachery which though fatal to the poor Protestants yet so dishonourable to the King of France and the French Nation that it cannot but draw down Gods just Judgements upon them The secret Council thought this way of peace might be the quickest and safest way to their designs of destroying the Protestants better than by War for if they could cut off the chief supporters of the Protestant cause the rest would follow and so they aim at an opportunity to gain a peaceable though bloody access to their persons which in time of War their Sword could not reach so by this means hoping to cut off the Root the Branches would wither Indeed it had been well if it had fallen out that the branches had naturally withered but ah sad and doleful we shall see a horrid and bloody Tragedy which will astonish any heart but flint to hear and read this sad and miserable story and truly it makes my heart bleed to think of the sad cruelties and unparalleld massacres of Gods people And now they discover their Inclinations to peace which they knew at all times would gladly be embraced and acceptably welcom to the Protestants if covered with Liberty and Lives the things they only desired For if they had delighted in any thing but Allegiance or fought for any thing but liberty they would not now incline to peace in the midst of their unlimitted power but poor souls they had been far more happy if they had dyed like men in Warr than murthered in their Bods like Dogs This third war was sharp and thought the greatest in regard of the Kings unfaithfull dealing in the breach of his promise that he should give a free liberty for religion and engage to keep it binding himself thereto by Oath yet the same King speedily after breaks all oaths and promises declaring that solemn engagement before God to be void and that what he then promised was not so meant by him and therefore proclaimes it death for any man to professe any Religion but the Romish and Catholick Now the Princes and Admirall in the behalf of themselves and Protestanrs did declare in the sincerity of their hearts that they desired nothing more then the performance of the Kings edict and socurity to enjoy their Liberties Lives and Families Thus having given as succinctly as possibly I can the most remarkable passages of this War we shall now come to the last Tragicall part of the most unheard-of treachery and bloody massacre
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
aid of his great Wisdom and therefore was impatient of his delay The Admiral at last is now perswaded and resolved to go to Paris he comes and no sooner arrived but was very honourably and affectionately embraced with a courteous and joyful shew of welcome and so was speedily conducted to the King who under fair pretences of friendly ends with a mouth full of courtesy with well pleased words and a worse tuned heart with courteous expressions baited with Treason he calls the Admiral Father protesting That in all his life he had not enjoyed a day adorned with more variety of content thad this day was The Kings unheard of and devilish dissimulation wherein he assures himself than his real desires of peace and the success thereof shall for the time to come shelter under one Pent-house and lodge under the roof of a sweet tranquillity and that he hopes a period will be put to all his troubles not questioning but all as well as himself were no less glad in this expectation hoping that times to come would reap the future as the times now the present benefit of this blessed day wherein he wished and as much hoped that all former acts of civil dissentions should new be put in one grave of oblivion in remembrance of the sad war past and Commemoration of this Sunshine day present Now what a wonderful thing it is to consider that the King should so perfectly dissemble with one that had so often brought the power of his Crown and Kingdom to so many doubtful hazards as to call him Father and to make the World think his treachery to be sincerity The Queen Mother and her Sons with the rest of the great Courtiers received him with greater demonstrations of joy and love than the Admiral expected The King allows the Admirall 50. of his Friends to guard him The King also allowed him fifty Gentlemen to be about him in Paris armed for the greater security and guard of his person Now the King Queen Mother and Admiral falls on consultation about the Wars of the Low Countreys But however the King was in jest with the King of Spain yet the Count Lodowick of Nassaw was in good earnest who with a resolution according to his Manly spirit he enters the Frontiers of the Low Countries The Count of Nassaw enters the Low Countries and takes in Montz taking with him as Partners and assistants three French Gentlemen Saucourt La Nove and Genlis men of great esteem and account with the Admiral besides many Gentlemen that they gathered to go along in the Expedition which the Admiral hearing advised the Count not to be too rash well assuring him that such strength as was requisite would take forty days to gather but the Count as banished men are being enflamed with the sight and desire of his own Country and desirous not to depend too much on the Kings changeable mind suddenly resolved and as speedily attempted to take in Valentiennes but finding a repulse speedily hasted to Montz and though strong by nature and Art yet took it which comming to the ears of the Court of France and the whole nation did the more confirm the Protestants that the Kings mind was real Now Genlis being from the Count to Paris related the whole progress of the War to the King desiring leave to raise certain bands of footmen and Horsemen to strengthen Montz which being quickly granted he as speedily raised four thousand foot and four hundred horse but in his Martch was set upon by the Duke of Alva and quite overthrown which was wrought by the treacherous advice of the Duke of Guise The treachery of the Duke of Guise by private intelligence to the Duke of Alvaâ— of all that was done which thing was very ill resented by the very Catholicks themselves because many of the Romish religion were flain in the business The King of France is afraid that his war in jest might make the King of Spain war in earnest These things troubled the King very much for fear his counsels might be disclosed to the King of Spain and so might occasion some quarrel to the breaking forth of a War yet he gave order to the Admiral to assist the Prince of Orange in Germany with as many horse and foot as he thought fit which was done and because moneys might be had for their pay the King called for the Treasurer and commanded him to deliver the Admiral so much money as he should desire commanding him that the receipt should not express the cause Great dissimulation by the K. but should run thus Paid such a Sum to the Admiral by the Kings Commandement which is for certain uses the King commands should not be written to which the King subscribes with his own hand the King wrote a Letter also to Monducet to use his best endravour for the release of those taken under the conduct of Genlis by the Duke of Alva To the full effecting of their desire A League with Q. Elizabeth of England and the first Article was the observation of the Edict but it proves a deep plot against the Protestants and ties the hands of the English from all assistance in their greatest need and extremity it was thought convenient to enter into League with Queen Elizabeth of England which the King committed to the Admiral which he did so diligently and industriously handle that by his elaborate pains in a speedy time By faith given by Embassadours sent and by Oaths it was confirmed concerning a further procuring of other Leagues as might most stand for the Low Country War and of those Leagues by the Admirals care the principal Condition was That the Liberty of Religion should be continued according to the Edict and that the King should most solemnly observe and keep his most sacred Oath and Promise so strictly made for Liberty to the Protestants according to the Edict of Pacification And now The Religious Q. of Navar poisoned by the K. Apothecary a sad presage of further treachery Courteous Reader I must give thee a sad Tast of what follows like one of Jobs Messengers for the Queen of Navar being all this while at Court thinking of a joyful Mariage of her hopeful Son it pleased God to permit a sudden sickness and as sudden a death in the fourty third year of her age who being on too good grounds suspected to be poisoned was therefore opened by Physicâ—ans but they would find no figures of poyson but by more narrow search in earnest and by the advice of one A. P. it was found That her brain was poisoned with an invenomed smell of a pair of perfumed Gloves ordered by one Renat an Italian and the Kings Apothecary who kept a shop on St. Michaels bridge in Paris neer to the Palace And it is well known that the same Renat some certain years ago gave a pair of poisoned Pomander Gloves to Lewis Prince of Conde which the Prince