to the King of Navar the King crowned the Princes of the Bloud and Duke of Guise contends at the Coronation about precedency the King gives it to the Duke of Guise the Constable forsakes the Protestants and cleaves to the Duke of Guise the Queen Mother for her own advantage joyns with the King of Navar and gives some liberty to the Protestants which so enrages the Catholick party as presently all former Edicts in behalf of the Protestants were broken by a contrary Edict that no Religion should be suffered in the Kingdom but the Romish the King and Queen Mother subscribes thereunto the Protestants at their request have a Conference granted they meet and confer in a hot Dispute but agree not the Catholicks murder many Protestants in Paris the eight Parliaments of France assembles the Duke of Guise disapproved of it and so in a fury departs the Court and goes for Spain the Protestants deluded by the Queen Mother gives her a List of all their Forces the King of Navar turns Catholick the eight Parliaments meet and with the consent of the King and Queen Mother do decree a free and publick Toleration of the Protestant Religion but speedily a sad and cruel Massacre the Duke of Guise furiously assaults the Protestants at a Sermon and murders two hundred of them the Protestants complain to the Prince of Conde of breach of Covenant and Edict the Duke of Guise seises on the King and carries him to Paris the Queen Mother writes to the Prince of Conde for aid against the Duke of Guises Attempt the Prince in his journey to Court suddenly retires to Orleance and possesses it the first Civil War begins The death of King Francis and Reign of King Charls FRancis second King of that name dying the fourteenth of December 1560. made entrance for the Reign of Charls the ninth and as the first died of a Feaver so the last reigned in a Frensie the legitimate off-spring of his Predecessours disease whose short Reign was thought too much lengthened by the train of all sorts of bloudy cruelties which filled this poor distracted Nation of France whose wicked Reign was also attended with the sable clouds of Flagellum Dei which swept both Field and City The beginning of his wicked Reign had a bloudy ending to the poor Kingdom and himself for the bodies of the murthered Protestants was a Prey to the Birds of the Air and Beasts of the Fields the whole Nation wearing the Pensive Weeds of a Ruinous Distraction for through the Lords just Judgments on the Nation they suffer nothing less than all Roberies Rapes and all sorts of Cruelties with horrid Massacres for the space of twelve years And as the Prologue of his Reign was Perjury and Treachery so was the Epilogue Bloudy to himself and poor Nation especially to the poor innocent Protestants A Parliament sits and the Government committed to the Queen Mother during the Kings minority A Parliament being called they begin the 23. of December Now at this time in the Court of France was Katherine de Medices Pope Clements Brothers Daughter and this Kings Mother who being born in Florence a City of Italy had conferr'd upon her the Government of this Kingdom in the Kings minority for it is well known that according to the Laws of this Nation neither the Administration nor Inheritance thereof can justly be cast on the shoulders of a Woman and yet against this Law and through the negligence of the King of Navar the said Queen Mother was joyned with him in the Office of Protectorship the confirmation of her Regency being allowed of by the Chancellour was afterwards confirmed by the Speakers Now in this Assembly of Parliament one John Quintin a Doctor of the Common Law at Paris for the Clergy pleads that none of the Religion Reformed for so they called the Protestants should any more be tolerated or suffered and desired that the Laws in that case provided might be put in speedy execution but the day following that brave Commander and good Christian Gasper de Coligni the Admiral of the Protestants complained to the Queen Mother against the said Quintin who presently excuses himself and in his second Speech moderates his Plea to the Admirals content The Parliament a little enlarges the Protestants privileges Now the Estates proceeds in their consultations making themselves and the beginning of this year somewhat happy by some moderation in matters of Religion whereby the reproachfull names of Papist and Hugenot was forbidden upon pain of Death which name Hugenot they fixed in disdain and derision to the Protestants and was derived from a Gate-house in Tours called St. Hughs Gate where they met in Assemblies Many good and necessary Laws were then published but with more confusiom than advantage for Laws though good and many yet through want of a due execution by the Magistrates power makes the good intent thereof to be perverted and turned into an indirect Channel giving the people cause to slight such wholesom Laws and grow bad under a good Government Great contentions and private animosities arose between the Princes of the Bloud that is the Prince of Conde and King of Navar who were Protestants and Francis Duke of Guise who was descended of the House of Lorain and now Grand Master of the Kings House who being a strong Catholick was no less a bitter Enemy to the poor Protestants the Queen Mother in her affections did secretly incline to the Duke of Guise yet to secure her own interest and power in the Kings minority carried fair to both The Princes of the Bloud being Protestants in discontent absent from Court but the King of Navar and Prince of Conde with the Constable seeing themselves justled out of that power and favour in Court which as due they did expect and also foreseeing the event which must necessarily ensure having onely the pacings of the Duke of Guise they absent from Court with all their Attendants resolving to right their wrong on the Queen Mothers Regency and the Guisans usurpation of their unlimited power Now the Queen Mother by her subtil and natural insight to secret affairs judged so at their Discontent that she politickly cast her Cards that both might have a good hand yet deald her self the Trumps checking their power that they might not check hers The King of Navar by the Queens policy jointly governs with her To which purpose she makes a new Agreement with the Navarois concluding him in the Government that taking the Title and Power of Regency to her self he should be called and but called Lieutenant General to his Majesty All this but in Paper and Ink composed of a double intent but those that can break Oaths witnessed by God and all the World how soon can they swallow and digest the breach of such Paper-promises like that good Actor in Smyrna that cried O Terram yet pointing to the Heaven and O Coelum yet pointing to the earth
off the edge of suspition hapning in a manner saies he by chance and not by any plotted contrivance This Speech of the Kings was by himself and the Parliament commanded to be written and entered into the Records of Parliament proclaimed by Heraulds and published in print a Book also was published by the Kings commandment which because it is within four daies of the same date of that Letter wherein he laies the blame of the Admirals death c. on the Duke of Guise and here takes it to himself therefore I say I thought fit to insert that printed Book by way of Declaration which is as followeth A Declaration of the King concerning the occasion of the Admirals death and his Adherents and Complices hapned in the City of Paris August 24. 1572. By the King HIs Majesty desiring to have all Seigniours Gentlemen and other Subjects understand the cause of the Murther of the Admiral and his Adherents and Complices which lately happened in the City of Paris the four and twentieth day of this present month of August lest the said deed should be otherwise disguised and reported than it was indeed His Majesty therefore declareth that which was done was by his express commandment and for no cause of Religion nor breaking his Edicts of Pacification which he alwaies intended and still mindeth and intendeth to observe and keep yea it was rather done to withstand and prevent a most detestable and cursed conspiracy begun by the said Admiral the chief Captain thereof and his said Adherents and Complices against the Kings person his Estate the Q. his Mother and the Princes his Brethren the King of Navar and other Lords about him wherefore his Majesty by this Declaration and Ordinance giveth to understand to all Gentlemen and others of the Religion which they pretend Reformed that he mindeth and purposeth that they live under his Protection with their wives and children in their houses in as much safeguard as they did before following the benefit of the former Edicts of Pacification most expresly commanding and ordaining that all Governours and Lieutenants General in every of his Countreys and Provinces and other Justices and Officers to whom it appertaineth do not attempt nor suffer to be attempted any thing in what sort soever upon the persons and goods of them of the Religion their wives children and families on pain of death to be inflicted on those that shall be found faulty and culpable in this behalf And nevertheless to withstand the troubles slanders suspitions and defiances that may come by Sermons and Assemblies as well in the houses of the said Gentlemen as in other places as it is suffered by the said Edicts of Pacification it is expresly forbidden and inhibited by his Majesty to all Gentlemen and others of the said Religion to have no assemblies for any cause at all till his Majesty hath provided and appointed otherwise for the Tranquillity of his Realm upon pain of disobedience and confiscation of body and goods It is also expresly forbidden under the pain aforesaid that for the aforesaid accasions none shall take or retain any Prisoners or take ransome of them and that incontinently they certifie the Governours of every Province and the Lieutenant General of the name and quality of every such Prisoner whom his Majesty hath appointed shall be released and set at liberty except they be of the late Conspiracy or such as have made some practice or device for them or had intelligence of and they shall advertise his Majesty of such ro know his further pleasure It is also ordained that from henceforth none shall take or arrest any Prisoner for that cause without his Majesties commandment or his Officers nor that none be suffered to roave abroad in the Fields to take up Dogs Cattel Beefs Kine or other Beasts Goods Fruits Grain or any thing else nor to hurt the Labourers by word or deed but to let them alone about their work or calling in peace and safety At Paris August 28. 1572. signed Charls and underneath Fizes Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Dalleir Stationer dwelling on Saints Michaels Bridge at the sign of the White Rose by the Kings Licence There was Letters also writ by the King to the Officers of Burghs also remembrances sent to the General Lieutenant of Burgundy which being to the same purpose is omitted for brevity The Kings Oration in the great Assembly aforesaid being ended before this Assembly broke up one Christopher Thuane the President of this Assembly in Parliament being one of a high Spirit and subject to admire his own parts and actions ready to wonder what a fool he could make of Solomon being a man reported to be notable for his light brain and cruel heart who trusting more to a slipery tongue than a sound cause congratulated the King for his wise Policy and good success in a speedy conquest over his Enemies But alas how did he conquer Only by wearing the vest of the Innocent to conceal and cover the deformed ugliness of his perfidious perjury But the Advocate of the Finanees succinctly delivered his mind to this purpose That though his Majesty had just cause to punish Delinquents yet it were more becoming the justice of a Prince to proceed according to the Lawes by himself decreed and established and so more fit for his Majesty to command a speedy cessation of such violent slaughters and to enter upon a judicial proceeding according to the Laws which was well known to be the proper and peaceable establishment of Empires and Kingdoms This advice takes well for now the King begins to do unjustly in the name of Justice so he proceeds to dissemble a Legality for all his future Butcheries unwilling to murther any more without a statute and pretence of Justice for it This being a brave principle of a Tyrant and that whereas the Laws at first were known to be the legitimate daughter of judgement it must now be made the adopted daughter of Tyranny Now is an arrest of Parliament with his Royall assent so that immediately Heraulds went about the City and an Edict was proclaimed in the Kings name That all murthers should cease but those that he intended more immediately to have a hand in himself by sitting in judgement and quallifying his cruelty and bloodshed with the name of Justice And first let us see a little of this new Justice of the Kings which now must be exercised on the dead Admiral which being as aforesaid hung by the heels on the common gallows of Paris the people by flocks and multitudes gathered to see it The Queen Mother to delight her self with that sad vâ—ew of her Sons and her own bloody cruelty she takes the King and his Brethren and so advances towards this sad sight but his body was in the night conveyed away by two of the Marshall de Momorancies Servants and was secretly buried at Chantilly whose faithfulness and adventure is beyond a terrene Reward And now the King begins
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
work labouring to bring this bloudy brat to the Birth To which purpose the King and Queen Mother calls to Council the Duke of Anjou the Cardinal of Lorrain the Duke of Guise and Alberti Conde Count de Retz and speedily resolve them of their secret intentions if by any means it could be effected they therefore desire their best aid and assistance together with their approbation which needed not be doubted for they were men ready enough at all times to act the Kings pleasure The King therefore begins sending out strict orders to all the Provinces of his Kingdome Now the King begins to dissemble strictly commanding an observation of the Edict which he intends not should be observed The King outwardly carried it harshly to the Catholicks to more to work the Protestants to their lure to have a high esteem and regard to the late Edict in behalf of his good Subjects the Protestants and that it was his Majesties express command to have it strictly observed and to make their Hearts understand what they heard by the ear the King gives Order to have this message proclaimed at Rochel the Seat of the Princes and Admiral assuring them in particular of the Kings favourable intentions to what he had confirmed with his Royall Hand which should be kept inviolable from all attempts of the strongest perswasion And yet to penetrate more deep to make one act of dissimulation out-vy another to let the world see he was a good proficient in the Art of Treachery and Bloodshed he carries himself outwardly very harsh to the Catholicks telling the Commissioners that the Power of the Duke of Guise and Cardinal of Lorrain was not to be feared for that the Government now rested in himself and had no dependency on any of their commands and therefore though they live at Court yet needed not the Princes of the Blood or Admiral fear them as Adversaries for they lived as Subjects not as Masters and that ere long he hoped all acts of forformer hostility and enmity should be by his means buried in eternal forgetfulness and that both parties should be reconciled to the Kings desire and their own good All which did not only peirce the hearts of the common people but wonderfully wrought upon the hearts of the Princes and Admiral with the chief of the Protestants who now begun to believe the Kings intentions real and that being now weary of the bloudy Civil Wars and Distractions and beginning now to govern by himself and not by his Council might at last sincerely desire a firm peace But alas they are too short sighted to espy and too sincere to doubt that such unparalleled deceit should lodge in the hearts of devils much less in a King a Christian King not so much as in his thoughts much less in his intentions and practice but it is the less wonder seeing it is so that not only in publick actions of great men but also in our common intercourse with things of smaller moment we all experience that the greatest hatred and malice is covered with the greatest love and friendship and that there is no greater knavery then that which borrows a cloak of Religion to cover it with some men again make use of friendship as a stepping stone to their own ends as the For being environed with a high Wall and hotly persued by his Enemies was put to great straits for his liberty for he could not leap over the Wall at last espying one by the Wall side stooping for a stone to throw at him he suddenly leaps on the mans back and by that step of advantage leaps over Little did the poor Princes and Admiral with the Queen of Navar and Nobles and Gentlemen of the Religion think their Noble blood to be so neer spilling by such base and unheard-of cruelties covered under so much love who would not pitty to read that so much valor as was in these brave Commanders should be murthered and laid in the bloody grave of a Treacherous death which shortly we shall sadly peruse The first thing the Admiral embraced by these perswasions was the War against the King of Spain which made the way easier to the rest that followed and yet he often said to his Son-in-Law Teligny that he suspected the rowling wit of the Queen Mother whom he was afraid would lead them on in this enterprize and leave them in the midst The Prince of Orange and Count Lodowick his Brother profer their service to the King in the war of the Low Countrys The Count of Nassaw advising with his Brother the Prince of Orange sends word to the King That if it were his Majesties pleasure to War against the King of Spain in the Low Countries they would so order themselves under his commands as that by their service therein his Majesty should find them faithful and useful and perceive their affections to him and the cause in hand to this the King replies in loving Letters commending their resolutions and gave them hearty thanks for their loving Message which tended highly to a free manifestation of their affections to his Service The Emperour mediates between the Prince of Orange and the K. of Spain The King of France encourages the Prince of Orange against the perswasions of the Emperour Now Maximillian the Emperour pretending to pitty the Estate of the Prince of Orange had obtained by Embassadours to the King of Spain that the Prince should have his goods restored conditionally that he should not settle his habitation in the Low Countryes but in some other place and yet nevertheless should enjoy freely all his Revenues As soon as the French King hears hereof and doubting it might be a hindrance to his present design he speedily posts Messengers to the Prince of Orange to perswade him that what the Emperour had done was nothing but to hinder their progress in so good and advantagious a cause and being only a devise to break up his leavies that he had begun in Germany letting him further understand that if he will please to give him credit he should not want assistance sufficient to regain his Estate from the King of Spain These perswasions of the King being not suspected to come from dissimulation and hypocrifie by the Prince of Orange so did he firmly believe all to be real insomuch as he proceeded in his Musters resolving a while to bear the charges thereof whilst all things else fitting for the war were in readiness though the charge at that time was very heavy Count Lodowick disgrised goes to Court and treats with the King and agrees about the War Now Count Lodowick his Brother being of a resolute disposition essayed his own fortunes and by encouragement from the King he secretly journies from Rochel taking with him onely two companions giving out he was going for the Prince of Orange his Brother but in a disguised habit he privately departs and that night arrives at the Court which then was kept at
might suit with them so at last these eminent and brave Cammanders and Gentlemen were by a shadow of Law and illegal Legality condemned to dy and so the 22. of October 1572. in the fight of the King Queen Mother her Sons with many thousand gazing on them they were led to the gallows seated in the prime street of the City but before execution as Briquemault ascended the Ladder came to him the under Provost of the Town whom the King had commanded to insinuate into him and to profer pardon for life if he would confess what was laid to his charge saying further that his Majesty being of an easie nature and courteous affability would as speedily grant pardon as he ask it but he like one truer to his own soul then the K. to his promise replyed That it was the K. duty to ask pardon of God if the day of Gods mercy had not past upon his cruelty and perjury and so was far from asking forgiveness for that whereof God and his soul were witnesses of his innocency yet to prove himself as good a Christian as the King a ernel Tyrant he cordially desired God of his great mercy to forgive the King And so lifting up his eyes to heaven he uttered these Words Oh my God upon whose Tribunal seat I stand and whose face I hope shortly to see thou knowest well that I know nothing nor did not so much as once think of any Conspiracy against the King nor against his Estate though I stand charged with the same in my process but I beseech God to pardon the King and all those that have been the cause of this my unjust death even as I desire pardon at thy hands for my sins and offences committed against thy Divine Majesty so ascending another step of the Ladder he onely said I have somwhat to utter to the King which I would be glad to communicate unto him but saies he I see that I may not and so shrunk up his shouldiers forbearing to use any further speech so these two brave Gentlement were at last with halters about their necks most basely unjustly and dishonorably thrown off the Ladder by the Hangman whose deaths ere this are accounted for and as Briquemaults constancy was much commended so was his death much bewailed by many Catholicks that were spectators of this sad crueltie Two things was very ill spoken of by the Catholicks and Protestants first the presence of the King as a thing unworthy the Head of Justice to see the Execution Secondly That Briquemault being a Gentleman of Good descent was basely hanged being a thing rare in France but especially now in regard he was reputed of his Enemies to be free from the charge for which he died about an hour after this unheard-of Justice and execution the bloody Catholicks of Paris drew their bodies through the Streets thrust their dead bodies through with daggers shooting of dags at them cutting off their ears and omitted no other kind of cruelty and barbarous villany that could be imagined And thus the Noble Gantlemen by their Christian Moderation and composedness of mind reared Trophies of Honour out of the Ruins of their own misfortunes Et Miserias infularum loco habuere wore their disasters like holy vestments as robes of honour They let the world know they could not only do but suffer and that passive fortitude is as good as active valour Et facere pati fortia hoc Romanum est L. Flo. And now to perfect all they likewise with these two famous Gentlemen cause to be hanged a man of straw made for a shadow of the Admiral These barbarous cruelties strange Treacherie and unheard-of perjury in these bloody proceedings against the poor Protestants of France brought an odium and bred a Hatred from Stranger Princes but especially in Poland likewise did much frustrate the French Negotiations in behalf of the Duke of Anjou And Courteous Reader since the first beginning of publishing this sad Tragedy there came in the interim a book to my hand wherein is somwhat discoverd of this History but specially the resentment and judgement of Sir F. Walsing ham then Ambassador in France for Q. Eliz. of blessed memory as also some orher Letters the matter contained therein I have shortly collected for the publick good which though abstracted here yet may more at large be read in the Author In a Letter to Sir Tho. Smith page 245. And therefore I hope her Majesty will stand upon her Guard and strengthen her self with the Amity of the Protestant Princes of Germany who as I hear are awake and marvelously stomack this late cruelty and do think that the danger thereof will reach to themselvs if they do not seek to prevent it One Roulart a Catholick and Canon of Nostre Dame and also a Counsellour in the Parliament uttering certain Speeches in misliking this lawless kind of proceeding without Justice was apprehended and committed to Prison and in prison murthered as disorderly as any of the Rest wherewith divers of the Catholicks themselves were offended This manner of proceeding breedeth General distrust in them of the Nobility and every man feareth Gods vengeance Paris 16. Sept. 1572. F. Walsingham In a Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham page 246. The Ambassadour proceeded shewing also outwardly a marvellous inward grief of mind for this shameful fact professing himself ashamed to be accounted a French man Although indeed the same informations had been true yet the manner of the cruelty used cannot be allowed in any kingdom or Government and least in that place where the King might by order of Justice have done due execution both to the Admiral and all others that should have proved offenders for it cannot be denied that the same forces that murthered so many might have more easily attached them all or the principals and brought them to answer to Justice when the King would c. whose age and knowledge ought in such case to have foreseen how Offenders ought to be justified with the Sword of the Prince and not with the bloody Swords of Murtherers being also the mortal enemies of the party murthered c. And as for the Admiral she confesseth that she was very sorry for his death as for one whom she thought a good Minister to continue Amity betwixt their two Majesties and she had cause to bewall the rest of the Noblemen for the like cause c. Her Majesty did greatly lament their death and doth surely perswade her self that if the King shall not use his power to make some amends for so much blood so horribly shed God who seeth the hearts of all as well Princes as others will shew his Justice in time and place when his honour shall therin be glorified as the Author of all Justice and the Revenger of all blood-shedding of the innocents c. Woodstock Sept. 9. 1572. W. Burleigh F. Knowles Rob Leicester T. Smith James Croft In a Letter to Sir Francis Walsingham folio 250. SIR
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
that might put the Protestants backward the Council to fit his purpose finds this expedient That the King of France and Spain should make a firm and inviolable League and that the King of Spain should assist with such forces as might be needful to the aid and succour for the King of France Which League was called the Holy League And that nothing might be wanting to break that famous Edict the Cardinal promises his best aid to assist their commands assuring them that the King and Queen Mother stand firmly for what they decree The Cardinal posts to Rome and endeavours all be can against the protestants Now as soon as this Council broke up the Cardinal posts to Rome and labours with Pope Pius Quartus to send to the King and Queen Mother of France to cause publickly the Decree of the Council to be observed throughout the Kingdom of France presently they begin to have it put in execution for the Embassadours of Spain Italy c. demand of the French King the Observation of the Decrees of the Council of Trent that the Edict should be disannulled and Hereticks rooted out Secret animosities in the hearts of both parties Now begin new firebrands to be cast again all their designe from first to last being to work out the poor Protestants who would be glad of peace with lives and liberty but could have it granted no wayes but in jeast in order to their more secure ruine in earnest for they never meant to be in earnest with their most solemne promises and protestations When they cannot overcome by Warre then a Peace most be made and in that Peace a damnable plot couched to destroy them when by Gods mercifull providence the Plot is discovered and they Arme for defence of Lives and Liberty and by Gods blessing grow too potent and powerfull for their treacherie and Armes then a peace againe and thus they play fast and loose till they cut the Throats of the two peaceable Protestants who were no way to be overcome but by peace The Protestants complain to the King of their daily wrongs desire justice and the performance of his promises but to no purpose Insomuch that wee may here insert a paradox in Divinity that it had been no sin in this cause to be unbeleeving nay they had no other way to be saved but by unbeliefe And thus the Edict that should have been the Cord of Peace was now a breaking in pieces by all the powers of Hell and Rome insomuch that those that were worse affected to the Edict and most forward to crush it cryed out They could not endure two Religions which seemed say they as prodigious as two Sunns And now as just Occasion was the cause of complaints soe now the Protestants sound in the Kings Ears their sad conditions and how little the Edict was like to be kept if such courses were nourish but the King heard to little purpose for it made a noise in his Eare but not in his obdurat heart for this King instead of hearing the complaints and redressing the wrongs of his to good subjects turnes his Ears forsaking the good Example of King Lewis the first of France A notable example of Justice who used three dayes in a week publickly in Person to hear the complainnts of his subjects and judge their Cause A poor woman desiring the Emperour Adrian to hear her Complaint and do her justice he answered that he was not a leisure the poore woman then replies boldly the King and Queen Mother in progress meet the Popes Minister and King of Spain and secretly confer in person together that he ought not to be at leisure to be Emperour Augustus Caesar exceedingly rejoyced to do justice and hear the causes of his subjects insomuch as the night could not allay his vigorous mind to do justice nay when he lay sick he would order the parties to appear at his bed side But this King was so far from following the Command of God or example of Heathens so far from delighting to settle his own Throne in the peace of his subjects that he seeks to overthrow his own tranquillity in his subjects ruine To which purpose the King and Queen Mother make their progress through many parts of the Kingdom and smoothly coloured their plots and conferences with the Duke of Savoy in Dauphine with the Popes Minister at Avignon and with the King of Spaine on the confines of Guienna whereby they might better cōmunicate their secret Counsells without the hazard of revealing their trust to French men whom they thought by their Alliance one way or other might reveale their secret hellish plots to the Protestants And it is to be taken notice of that now at this time was laid a Plot which Embasadors nor Councells intrusted must not know The King Q. coms to Lyons forbids the exercise of Protestant Religion and fortifies the place In this progress the King and Q. Mother comming to Lyons they forbid the Protestants the exercise of their Religion being one of the Towne assigned them for freedom the Protestants being numerous in this City the King orders a Citadell to be built not stirring out of the Towne till it was finished Now this was an Example to other Towns and did very much exasperat and hearten the Catholicks against the Protestants who with cruell Courage seize on them in sundry Towns and shamefully abuse them So that Many Protestants in many places murthered In Crevan in Burgongue the Catholicks fall on the Protestants and murther many being met together for the exercise of their Religion Curee Governour of Fendosme a Protestant was murthered by command of Cavigni Leiutenant to the Duke of Montpenseir at Tours they fell so furiously upon the poor Protestants murthering some hurting others coming from the Sermon and with great rage came into the Town with their bloody swords in their hands and being dyed with blood A gallant Gentleman murthered they proceed further falling on all they meet with murthering without destinction of sex age or Quality Drawning Killing and distroying all they could find many Protestants of Quality were murthered without any account given of their death by justice on the Murtherers Now the daily threats against the Protestants put them into a doubt of their security The sad massacres at Tours for the King and Queen Mother having concluded with the King of Spain secretly to assist one another It now fiftly falls out to discover that treacherous part which all this while lay hid under the plauseble pretences of an Edict of Liberty which indeed was that part of Hypocrisie which as a Cloak covered all their perfidious Treacherie and breach of promise That now what was written on the word of a King before the Eternall God was no more kept or observed than if it had been only written in sand the King and Q. Mother Raises an Army of Switzers pretending to defend the Protestants
unsufferable injuries and cruel murthers were dayly heaped and committed upon the poor Protestants even to the loss of the Estates and Lives of many of their dear friends which opposition was the greater being done by the Kings Liberty granted contrary to Articles of peace and Edict of Pacification promised by Oaths and Covenants therefore though they dayly waited yet now they saw no other way but to arm in their own defence which was the least they could do being tyed by the laws of God and Nature to preserve their Religion Lives and Estates of themselves with their poor wives children and families that else would be left to the power and rage of bloody and deceitful men and that this was their only design of taking arms And further did declare that if they could espy and other way to enjoy their Estates Liberty and Lives they would speedily lay down their arms yet notwithstanding they desired and resolved to continue his Majesties faithful Subjects in obedience to all lawful commands wishing a period to their lives the same moment their obedience ceased if they could but herein see security for enjoyment of their Religion and Lives The Q. of Navars noble Declaration in behalf of the protestants At the same time the Queen of Navar with some dashes of her illustrious pen and a full Testimony of a Christian Resolution does by Letters declare That she could do no less than joyn with the Prince of Conde and Protestants which with the life of her self and children as also the miserable Reliques of the Kingdom of Navar The Cardinal of Lorrain on the one hand and Spaniards on the other did jointly indeavour by force and policy to destroy which was so discernable that all the world was witness to her injuries And indeed this Noble Queen The Q. of Navars high merits in part described would be ecclipsed of her due value by the draught of my rude pen the highest Encomiums will but stain her virtues but to a little belief of her high deserts know only this That her enemies confessed her virtues and Christian valour to exceed the very applause of her Friendly admirers and therefore her deserts was concluded as much undeniable to them as unspeakable by her friends Thus the very beginning of this pretended peace ends in a third Civil War whose effects was as bloody as sharp and at last we shall speedily see in a Tragical Massacre of many thousand Protestants of all degrees and sexes so securely were the Protestants lull'd asleep in their too credulous opinion of the King and Court Now in this Cabinet Council of the Kings was Charls Cardinal of Lorrain The King publishes a bloody Edict that no Religion should be exercised but the Romish on pain of death which cuts off all former promises and Edicts as if they had never been made to be kept Brother to the Duke of Guise a man of a most crafty and terrible nature insomuch that at Rome he was no less reputed for he was a bitter enemy to the Protestants and for the cruelty of his nature was termed the Firebrand of all Civil Flames whose hands being deep in the blood of the Protestants For by his means and the willing mind of the King and bloody Council was published an Edict in his Majesties name levelling the famous Edict of January and enjoyning That none should profess any Religion but the Romish and that it was treason to embrace any other requiring upon pain of death a general conformity to the Catholick Religion Which bloody Edict was accordingly published whereupon all the Protestant Ministers were banished all places of the Kingdom which were in the Kings power The King declares he meant not what be said Oh deep deceit And that the King may stand amazed at this deep hypocrisie this following Sentence was expressed in this Edict printed at Paris And it was further then declared that albeit the King had in many Edicts before that time permitted the freedom of Religion yet his meaning was to retain and cause to be retained of all men the only Romish or Popish Religion within his Realm Which Edict and clause being so wonderfully strange to all that heard or saw it and because it stained the Kings name with the most horrid spot of perjury and breach of faith it was therefore in other impressions afterward printed purposely omitted in the Edict This Edict was published with an incredible confluence of all sorts of Catholicks and received with the highest celebrations of joy as can be imagined and the rather because the Catholicks much doubted of the Queen Mothers intentions in regard of her dissembling carriage to the Protestants and now all was put out of doubt by this Edict Which clearly demonstrates that the King and Queen Mothers intentions all along was to destroy the Protestants root and branch only took their best opportunity to effect their desires with the least noise of suspicion and greatest security to drive the nail home to the head and their bloody Swords to the hearts of the most innocent souls And thus begins strong preparations for a third Civil War for Religion the sad effects whereof we shall peruse in the next chapter CHAP. V. The Contents THe Protestants gallant Resolutions Both parties arm Queen Elizabeth aids the Protestants The protestants take several towns the Armies face one another but ingage not the Battel at Brisac where the Prince of Conde is slain the Prince of Navar and Prince of Conde chosen Generalls of the protestant Army the Admirall and whole Army swears subjection to these two young Princes the Queen of Navar coins money to pay the protestant Army the Princes and Admiral draw their Army into Garrisons the Kings army sits down before Cognac but are valiantly repulsed they take Mucidan put all to the Sword but lost Count Brisac the Duke Deux Pont with 14. thousand marches to join with the Princes but dies himself by the way The Pope sends Forces to ayd the King Both armies engage the Kings Army retires to Garrisons the Princes take in Chastelrault and Lusignan Town and Castle they lay siege to the great City Poictiers the Kings forces besiege La Charite but leave it after the loss of many brave Gentlemen and Commanders the Duke of Anjou besieges Chastelrault but after great loss leaves it the young Duke of Guise advances to Court and his Fathers place at once the Cabinet Council meets the Armies ingage in a bloody Battel the Kings Army besieges Angeli but receives a gallant shock of a resolute defence by that brave Commander Monsieur de Pilles and at last yielded honourably the Kings Army disbands the protestants increase and are Masters of the field The King summons his forces together and gives the command to Marshall de Coss the King Queen Mother and Cabinet Council plot to linck a peace and the Protestants ruin together the protestants at all times willing to embrace a peace the end
of the third Civil War the K. and Queen Mother speed Messengers to the princes and Admiral to make way for a peace they yield to imbrace a treaty the King propounds for both armies to join against a foreign Enemy A firm peace concluded with free liberty of the Edict Several protestant Princes congratulate the King for his happy peace the King subscribes to keep the Edict the Armies dismissed the peace not fully observed the King with the Council plot destruction the King and Court feed the protestants with favours to make them the easier to swallow their own ruin and his love together the King dissembles with the Princes in shewing a dislike to the Catholick party the prince of Orange and his Brother offer the King of France their assistance against the King of Spain and is accepted the Count of Nassaw disguised goes to the King the King invites the Admiral to Court the Duke of Guise and Cardinal Lorrain depart the Court the better to allure the Princes and Admiral to their Ruin the Prince of Orange takes the Spaniards slips the King propounds his Sister the Lady Margaret in mariage with the Prince of Navar the Popes Embassadour arrives at the Court the Kings plot to surprize Rochel the King pronounces the Admiral not guilty many protestants at Roan murthered the Admirall perswaded of the Kings Reality by a Letter under his own Hand and Seal The protestants noble resolutions NOw begins the third bloody War wherein the Protestants solemnly covenanted together so to cleave fast one to another so to knit themselves firmly together in their affections and resolutions as no future transactions should with the help of God ever make them to forget or forsake the cause of God concerned in the Protestant Religion but resolutely to maintain it to the loss of their lives and all that was dear to them Both sides prepare for war Hereupon the King arms amain so also the Princes and Admiral who send out a fleet of thirty sail for Provision for the Army to supply them for the ensuing Winter The Queen of Navar also endeavours all she can for their aid and assistance Q. Eliz. aids the protestants Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory sent over to their aid one hundred thousand Crowns besides ships of Corn and Ammunition A thing to be treasured up in the remembrance of her lasting fame The protestants take in many Towns both armies meet but fight not The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army and soon levels the force of many strong Towns to their power in taking them in and so become Masters of the Field At length both Armies meet yet no battel in regard of the cold season neither Army would fight but on advantage which would be given by neither The Winter being now past in the year 1569. the Armies engage at Battel at Brisac the 16. of March The Battel at Brisac the prince of Conde slain to his eternal honour fighting on his knees to the last wherein the Prince of Conde was wounded and his horse shot under him yet did valiantly defend himself on his knees in the midst of his Enemies but at last was slain On the Kings side was slain the Duke of Monsalez whom de Andelot the Admirals Brother charged so furiously that with his bridle hand he lifted up the Bever of his Helmet and discharged his Pistol in his face and so laid him dead on the ground Great was the slaughter on both sides of Gentry especially wherein the Protestants were worsted by the Catholiques comming upon part of their Army in full bodies which unfortunately was scattered by their too great security and sudden approach of the Kings yet their demeanor in the fight was such that the Kings Army had reason to bewail their great loss and admire their Enemies valour and undoubtedly in outward appearance had the body been entire and both encountred on equal advantatages the day was generally believed would have been otherwise for the Horse only was engaged but the foot never came to any service but secured themselves in a body And thus died that brave Prince of Conde exceedingly commended for virtue and valour and asmuch bewailed for his loss Prince of Navar and prince of Conde Generalls for the protestants After this Battel the Protestants rallie their Forces and by a General choice of the Army Henry Prince of Navar and Henry Son to the deceased Prince of Conde were both elected Generals of the Protestant Army The Prince of Navar was of a noble and gallant Spirit full of Urbanity and Civil courtesie The Prince of Navar shews a gallant spirit in a piâ—hy speech of a Warlike courage and being naturally given to valourous and heroick actions he embraces this courteous invitation and like a Souldier of a long standing being but fifteen or sixteen years old he lengthned their hopeful expectations by a short pithy speech wherein He promised to protect the true Religion and to persevere constantly in defence of the common-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
take charge of Anglolesm Ienlis commands with a strong garrison in Londun and Monsieur d' Aciere with seven thousand foot and six thousand horse remains at Cognac where the late Battel was fought The K. besieges Cognac is forced to leave it Mucidan taken and all put to the Sword Hereupon the Kings Army under command of the Duke of Anjou attempted to sit down before Cognac but the continud valor in their often sallies amaz'd the enemy to a retreat The Army thus forced to leave Cognac layes siege to Mucidan where the Count of Brisac on the Kings side was slain yet the Town was taken and not only Souldiers but all Inhabitants suffered the rage of a bloody Sword and inveterate Enemy The Noble protestant Duke of Deux-Ponts with fourteen thousand joins with the Princes Army be dies in his March To the assistance of the Princes and Admiral advances the Duke of Deux-Ponts with an Army of fourteen thousand in which Army my was VVilliam of Nassaw Prince of Orange with Lewis and Henry his Brothers in their march it pleases God the Duke the General died by the way and so the Charge of the Army was committed to the Lieutenant General Count Volrade of Mansfield Three daies after the Armies meet with great joy on both sides The Pope mean while assists the Catholicks with four thousand foot and eight hundred horse The Pope and others aid the K. commanded by Paulo Sforza the Duke of Tuscany sent also to their assistance a thousand foot and two hundred horse The Duke of Alva sends three thousand VValloons and three hundred Flemish but Gods just judgments followed their insolent carriages for such Miseries wants and sicknesses followed them that by the way abundance died On the 23. day of June 2569. both Armies approach neer together The Armies engage and next morning by break of day the Princes fell on Strozzi's quarter who was Col General of the Infantry who were all routed and he taken Prisoner there was slain S. Loup and Rogucleauz Lieutenants to Strozzi twenty two Captains and 350 of their best Souldiers on the Protestants side was slain in all 150. The Noble Princes of Navar charges in the head of the Army The Prince of Navar commanded the other part of the Army and charged the Enemy to their quarter with a great deal of manly courage beyond expectation himself charging in the front of his Army Which was so much the more remarkable in regard danger at first seems most terrible so that they that beheld this valour had their senses lifted up with admination and the whole Army puffed up with expectation that the world would be filled with the renown of his actions The Kings Army draws into Garrisons And so after a little skirmishing they both withdrew Hereupon the Duke of Anjou seeing little hopes of overcoming the Invincible manhood and great power of the Protestants he dismisses the Nobility and settles most part of the Army in Garrisons till the first of October against which time all was ordered to be in readiness to appear The Protestants take in Chastelrault The Prince and Admiral advance with their Army and take in the Town of Castelrault and enter in the King of Navars name by whose authority as first Prince of the Blood all things were dispatched The Town and Castle of Lusignan taken They speedily advance to Lusignan and taking the Town laie siege to the Castle which though impregnable for strength yet could not withstand the battering assaults of their valour so was forced to yield on conditions marching with flying colours The Articles being as faithfully performed as promised which though according to Justice yet contrary to the Catholiques constant practice which was a great dishonor to their Army and whole nation The Strong City of Poictiers beseiged but left Speedily after they march and lay siege to the Strong City of Poictiers a City of the greatest Circuit of any in France except Paris being the Head of the adjoining Provinces and where all the wealth and treasure of the Catholiques in the Country was brought for security The Duke of Guise enters with a party to defend the City and after strong assaults and much loss on both sides the Admiral falls sick with continual care and pains to prosecute the siege to a conquest so they rise with their Army and leave the place The catholicks besiege La Charite but are forced away with great loss Now the Kings forces under the command of Monsieur de Sansat laie siege to La Charite and after a sharp assault and stout resistance with the loss of many gallant Gentlemen they were forced to leave it being kept by a resolute and valiant commander Monsciur de Guerchy Cornet to the Admirals own company of Gens d' Arms whom we shall afterwards find basely murthered The catholiques besiege Castelrault but leave it The Duke of Anjou not able to raise the siege of Poictiers did in the mean while lay siege to Chastelrault a place but lately taken by the Protestants but finding a stiff resistance by their valour were forced to tetire with the loss of Fabiano del Monte commander of the Tuscan Forces with two hundred fifty Souldiers and many Gentlemen The Admiral advancing to their relief the Duke was forced next day to march away and lodge his Army at Sello The Duke of Guise admitted to his Fathers place and Cabinet Council The Duke of Guise about this time goes to Court and for his faithfullnesse to the Catholick cause was admitted to his fathers place and to the Cabinet councill this Councill now meets again to consult of the affaires of the Kingdome at last concludes to draw their forces together and fight the Princes Army which although the Prince was on disadvantage yet they resolved unanimously the fight the Catholicks The Armies engage in a bloody and furious battel After sundry skirmishes and sharp encounters the Armies both meet the beginning of October when first the Prince of Navar with ample and Christian Speeches recommended to them all the cause of Religion and Liberty now they engage first with terrible thundering of Cannons and much slaughter but they presently close and fall on with wonderfull fury the horse and foot being strangely mixed together in the heat of the Battle nay such was the heat of their valour on both sides that the very common attendants of the Armies such as Sucklers Boyes Pioneers were deeply engaged for either party And herein the Admirall acted so much of his wonted valour that he shewed himself a valiant Soldier and couragious Conductor for with a furious assault and fixed resolution in the head of his cavalry he charges the Rein-grave and though the Admirall had received a shot in the cheek with a Pistoll yet discharged his Pistoll in the Rein-graves face and there layes him dead on the place and fought valiantly allthough the blood from his wound did
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
from the King and Queen Mother as was not fit to be published The King for a secure mannagement of the Wars against the King of Spain The Kings strange plot to surprize Rochel gave Commission to Strozzi and the Baron de li Guard to rig forth ships from Burgess and Rochel and to surprize any Vessels that were going through the English Seas to the aid of the Duke of Alva in the Low-Countreys the Spanish Embassadour complains hereof but these two Captains had secretly and privately an underhand Commission to seize on Rochel and by open or secret force to get into their power for his Majesty although all was carried fair on against the Duke of Alva The King also gave command to the Admiral to send Espials into Peru and Island in the New found World which being plentiful of Gold the Spaniard had possessed himself thereof and there to attempt what he could against the King of Spain which business according to his Majesties command the Admiral undertook committing it to one of his Gentlemen who with a certain Portugal skilful in those navigations he had joined in Commission The King heaps unexpressible favours on the Admiral and Friends Now the King heaped unexpressable favours on the Admiral Count Rochfoucault and Theligni with the rest of the principal Protestants and chief Noblemen of the Religion for what ever was taken from any of them in time of the Civil Wars was now most lovingly restored by the Kings command and if any one that the King could learn was a friend to the Admiral to him he did shew singular respect even to the height of an unimaginable dissimulaeion He commanded one time to be given to the Admiral one hundred thousand pounds of his own treasury in recompence of his great losses When the Cardinal of Chastillon formerly fled to England disguised and having great Revenues and Wealth his death being known to the King he did give to the Admiral all the fruits of the whole year with all his rich and costly Houshold-stuff and though all former Admirals in Council and publick Ceremonies had ever given place to the Marshall of France yet for the Admirals greater honour it was the Kings will and pleasure that he should sit next Monseiur de Momorancy who was the first Marshall and above all the rest The K. desires the Duke of Savoy to favour the Protestants The King also writes to the Duke of Savoy that for his sake he would please to be favourable to the Protestants under his Dominion it should ly upon him as an acceptable favor It is not to be thought what kindnesses the King shewed to the Protestants even to the great amazement of the Catholicks and rejoicing of the Protestants The K. so far dissembles that by his shew of respects to the Protestants the Catholicks suspect him who poor souls thought all true that he said but this love proved bitter hatred like Judas kiss nay the King did so carry it that the Catholicks began to surmise and say that the King did not only favour the Protestants but would himself turn one shortly And in regard there was a mighty enmity betwixt the Duke of Guise and the Admiral by reason of a report fixed on the Admiral as if he should be an instrument of his Fathers death The Admiral and Duke of Guise reconciled and the Admiral declared not guilty of the Duke of Guises death the King therefore to make up all breaches and in order to a perfect peace he prescribes a perfect form of Reconciliation the foundations whereof was laid six years ago in the Town of Molins where the King summoning the principal estates of his Kingdom did on consultation and deliberation declare and pronounce the Admiral not guilty of the death of the Duke Guise a thing his Majestie was before bound in conscience to do but now was acted and done as a piece of good policy this block being taken away as an advance for the Admiral to the Court. But as we said before the most solemn bond and ty for a secure peace is the Lady Margarite Sister to the King of France to be given in mariage to the Prince of Navar who was Son to the most virtuous Queen of Navar. who also had all the last civil war been General of the Protestant Cause and couragiously defended it to his Eternal Praise which mariage the King did declare That he did it for the effecting and establishing a durable peace and as a signal testimony of his loyall affections to the Protestants And yet in the mean while the Papists in Roan murthered divers Protestants and grievously beat others as they came from a Sermon Many Protestants murthered in Roan And in regard that it was objected That the King of France his Sister was of the Roman Religion and the Prince of Navar a Protestant it could not well be effected to a good purpose To which the King answered he would free her by a Dispensation from the Pope that no Impediment might stand in the way to so great a good as a sure peace betwixt him and his Subjects nothing being more delightful or desired by him As soon as this was spread to the Courts of Forein Princes it did amaze the Popish Party that ever the King should proceed in behalf of Hereticks But on the contrary it did exceedingly possess the hearts of the Prince The K. plot takes effect and Admiral and all forein Princes of the same Religion with exceeding joy being such a large demonstration of the Kings affection and as a Seal of fidelity to all he promised and did also drive out of their hearts all jealousies of plots or secret Contrivances but the Admiral which had most reason and was most backward to believe all reall yet he at this time was now most forward to believe and most ready to be confirmed not only by this but also by a Letter which the King sent him by his Son Theligni The Admiral at last perswaded and deluded by a Letter from the King under the Kings own hand and Seal assuring the Admiral That whatever he should do in the Business of the war in the Low Countries against the King of Spain should be by his Majesty allowed of and ratified as if done by his special command such was his alluring baits and pretences of good will and trust to the Admiral And thus the poor Protestant Princes are too much perswaded of the Kings faith who intended their ruin without remedy we shall shortly see them come to Paris and embrace the mountains of treacherous pretences of faith and affection and so be swallowed up in their Enemies malitious and unparallel'd cruelty for all the huge promises of the Kings stood but as an Earnest till their plot was ripe and then they are more swift to shed blood than real to what they promise and truly such a piece of Kingly tteachery is not in any age to be
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
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
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
their Ruin The Duke of Anjou the Kings Brother commanded Cossin Captain of the Kings Guard to place a band of Souldiers to watch before the Admirals Gate giving strict charge that no Catholicks should enter Now none could be pitched on as the grand Enemy to the Admiral and Protestants and friend to the Guisans than was this Cossin as we shall see by the following narrative The Admirals friends that lay scattered up and down the City were desired under pretence of care and affection to remove their lodging into the same street with the Admiral that they might be sure not to escape Oh! Monstrous and Hellish Plot covered with the Kings care Now the Duke of Anjou as an inheriter of his Brothers Dissimulation strives also to colour his damnable Plot and Treason in the lovingest and highest demonstrations and and care of the Admiral and Protestants and therefore advises that the Admirals friends that now lodged so far distant from his person as the Fauxburgh might have liberty to have their lodgings neerer to him for saies he they being so far assunder they might on any uproar be hurt and no means to prevent it which being neerer one another they might join force to affection and better afford one another their joint aid And so presently commanded the lodgings in that street to be provided Now this was a bait that took off all suspition for alas who could suspect or imagine this to be out of any treacherous intent but rather of care and respect but Oh sad and hellish plot under the vizard of friendship these poor Noblemen Gentlemen and brave Commanders that might have escaped from the calamity are intangled and allured into a narrow street as into a fold or narrow path of destruction no way to escape the fury of their Enemies rage and cruelty All the names of the Protestants and place of abode is taken into a Catalogue against the day of their calamity The next day the Duke of Anjou and Duke of Guise commanded the Undermasters of the streets vulgarly termed Quartermen to take a view of all the Inns and victual-houses from one house to another and to take all the names of the Protestants and so to bring in an Account of their names and places of abode in writing and to deliver them to the Duke of Anjou and Duke of Guise so that presently after the Protestants begun to discover some bloody intentions through the prospect of these preparations Now the King had by this time set a Guard of fifty Harquebuzeirs at the Gate of the Admirals Lodging and great store of Arms were carried into the Loure and about the evening all the people of the City were in arms The Protestants meet advice given to remove from Paris but they still resolve to depend on the K. vows promises Hereupon the chief Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Protestants assemble together again in the Admirals lodging where amongst the rest was the Vidame of Charteres who as before so now advised speedily to try if by any means the Admiral might be forthwith carried out of Paris and that presently the rest should dislodge yet all refused this Counsel resolving to rely on the word of a King sealed with so many Vowes Covenants and Solemn protestations in the presence of God and to the clear witness of all Princes and States The K. and Q. meet and consult of their bloody cutting off the Protestants in a merciless cruelty and devillish massacre In the afternoon the King and Queen Mother walk forth into a Garden named Tegliers accompanied with the Duke of Anjou Gonzague Tavignes and Count de Retz which garden being remote from Resort was thought the fittest place for secrecie and a silent place for privacy and very well fitted for the present conclusion of their last and bloody consultation Here in this bloody Council it was considered of and spoken That the Princes Admiral with the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Religion were now securely entangled in the Fetters of their own confidence which was so well wedged into their minds as prisons could prove no better instruments to ripen their desires the Admiral he was lying bedsick and could not stir by reason of his wounds the Prince of Conde was fast in the Castle of Loure the City Gates kept shut all night and watched all day those Gentlemen that lodged in the Suburbs were now lodged in the same street with the Admiral and all within the Gates of Paris the rest of the principal Protestants in other Towns were all unarmed and unprepared besides there was not ten Protestants to a thousand Catholicks that the Parisians were in arms and able to make sixty thousand fighting men and that in one hour all might be slain and if these were destroyed they would never make head again in the Kingdom but on the contrary if the Admiral recover such an opportunity would never offer therefore saies the Queen Mother this season must not be lost but taking time by the Foretop all our desires will now come to a period in a success proportionable to all our wishes if we let slip time it withers like a neglected rose on a stalk with a languished head if we shake hands with this golden opportunity our designs will grow under the Sunshine of our desires Thus they lie perdue under the shelter of an unmercifull and bloody Balcony all being resolved to be so swift in execution of the Kings pleasure that no time shall be delayed between his commands and the execution but the moment of performance for now they resolve to take journey from contemplation to action they have learned the Theory of Treachery perjury and cruelty now they come to the practical part of this sad Tragedy But this being a gross and downright murtherous way and no handsome Apology provided to cast over the eyes of peoples understandings it was thought fit to frame some smooth pretext They study a smooth pretext for their bloody cruelty to cosen the vulgar conceptions and honest interpretations But oh who can hide the greatest secrets from Gods searching eye to take off the force and dint of vulgar reports and so to divert the natural current of this tragedy into the illegitimate name of convenient necessity whereupon they order that the common vogue of the peoples tongues should be tipt with this specious pretence that the Duke of Guise and Admirals enmity was the cause of this Massacre They resolve to spare the K. of Navar and Prince of Conde if they will turn Papists Now in this bloody Assembly it was moved whether the King of Navar and Prince of Conde should be destroyed in this Massacre or whether saved the King of Navar in regard of his affinity was concluded to be saved but for the Prince of Conde it was doubtfully carred they considered first whether for his age it were best to spare him or secondly whether to put him to death in revenge of
his Fathers protection of the Protestant cause as also in a hatred of his Fathers name the Duke of Guise urged with a pressing forwardness to have both the Prince of Navar and the Prince of Conde to dy amongst the rest but all thought that too abominable if any thing could be so indeed to such bloodthirsty wretches that two young Princes in the flower of their age of the Royal Family the one in the imbraces of his dear Spowse under the protection of such neer friends and late conjunction by mariage that they should be so miserably destroyed so that the opinion of Gonzague was prevalent who pleaded that with fear of death and torment they should be violently turned to the Catholick Religion The plot is committed to the Duke of Guise to put in execution next day And so this Hellish vaux-like Council broke up with firm and fixed Resolutions to act their several parts and so it was appointed that next morning about three or four a cloak it should be put in execution and that all things should be committed to the mannagement and care of the Duke of Guise On Saturday morning it is bruited and noised throughout all the City of Paris A report is spread that the Duke of Guise was in danger of the Admiral and friends that the House of Gâ—ise was in danger of the Admiral and rest of the Protestants by their great threatenings The Dukes of Guise and Aumale speed to the King and complain of their danger and insolent threatnings of the Admiral and Adherents against their lives protesting sorrow to his Majestie that their services were not accepted but their persons slighted and so desired leave of his Majesty to absent from Court and retire to their houses The Kings horrible dissembling for they were ready to depart the King with a frowning countenance saies Go where you please I will have you at all times if you be found guilty of the Admirals Hurt So with a shew of discontent they mount their Horses and bloody resolutions at once but instead of going home they ly in Paris all night Bloody treachery The King sends the Duke of Guise to provide 2000 men in arms on Sabbath day at night All things being resolved on the 24. day of August being Sabbath day at twilight the Duke of Guise with orders from the King comes to President Charron Provost des Marchands the chief head of the People of Paris giving him to understand that by the Kings command he was fotthwith to provide and order in readiness two thousand armed men which accordingly was done The Admiral having word brought thim that there was great noise of armour The Admirall at the noise of armour fears danger and sends to the King Oh! bloody and cruel command of a King They refuse to let any Protestant Gentlemen to watch with the Admiral The Officers assemble and are commanded by the King to destroy the Protestants whom he calls Rebells and great threatnings heard in all parts of the City and preparations of all things in order for a tumult that night presently he sends word to the King who gave answer that the Admiral needed not fear for all was done by his command and that he had appointed in certain places of the Citie a number of men in arms for fear of any tumult This evening some Protestant Gentlemen profer to watch with the Admiral but poor Gentlemen they were refused A sad presage of Treachery my heart relents and bleeds to write the rest When the Duke of Guise saw all things ready he called to him one Marcel charging him a little after midnight to assemble together the Masters of the Streets commonly called Diziners into the Town House for he was to declare from his Majesty and by his command several things they assemble according to the appointed time Charron the Provost des Marchands guarded with Entrague Puygailart and certain other Guisans did there declare that the King had given him in command to destroy all the Rebells meaning the Protestants to cut off root and branch of that Rebellious race letting them understand that the business was so mannaged to their hands that now with great facility his Majesties desire might be accomplished for the Admiral and all the chief were securely under their power being lodged within the walls of the City that it was first intended they should begin with the Admiral and the principal Protestants lodged in that street and then with speedy alacrity to follow on and to cut off the rest in the City and Suburbs and that the like should be done to the Protestants in all parts of the Kingdom which was in the Kings power for his Majestie would take order that it should be speedily effected The token given to be ringing the great Bell and the murtherers to be distinguished with a Napkin on their arms and a cross on their caps and to begin at the Admirals lodging first Orders given to be couragious in shedding blood Divers Lords guard the King The bloody Murthers assaults the Admiralls lodging Now for better order in this bloody undertaking the token given should be with ringing the great Bell of the Palace called Tocksein at break of day which said bell was only rung on great and emergent occasions and that the distinguishing marks should be a white cross on their caps that candles should be lighted at every window that without confusion or disorder they might proceed from house to house to the exact execution of the Kings command Now the Duke of Guise the better to prepare all things acquaints the Captain of the Kings Guard consisting of Gascoins French and Switzers that they would be in readiness to go on with a bold courage exhorting them to be speedy in bloody executions So at midnight the Provost Sheriffs and Captains of each ward in the City had the same commission given them The Duke of Montpenseir and Duke of Nevers with many other Lords of the Court take arms and being accompanied with their Friends guard the Kings person all the Guards being in Arms at the Gates of the Lour At the Prefixt hour the Duke of Guise the Duke of Aumale and Monsieur de Angoulesm Grand Prior of France the Kings bastard Brother with other Commanders to the number of three hundred went to the Admirals house where they found by the Duke of Anjou's order Cossins company with lighted maches placed for a Guard before it and on both sides the Streets Some of the Gentlemen and Commanders of the Protestants that was lodged in this Street awaken with the noise of men running up and down in arms and lighted Torches they presently got up to enquire what was the matter but alas poor Gentlemen it was now too late they were all dead men no way to escape The Admiral is still perswaded of the K. fidelity repeated his Oaths Promises Leagues Publick Faith sacred respect to the Law of Nations and
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
Prison to save the blood yet such was the effusion of Christian blood that it run out of prison streaming down the Gutters of the streets to the amazement of the Popish Inhabitants But now at Orleance the place of the last Treaty of peace and the place where it was solemnly proclaimed with full command for Observation of the Edict At this place I say the Kings Letters came commanding to murther all and happened to come the same day that three hundred were met together at a Sermon whereupon the Maior and Officers commanded the Companies in arms to fall on and to execute speedily the Kings command oh Tyrant and bloody command One of the Murtherers went to a noble mans house inviting himself and his bloody followers to Supper where they were made welcome with good chear no sooner was Supper ended but they blaspheming murthered him and all his family and then plundered his house There were many that lived on the outside of the Town amongst whom was heard such sad murtherings and cruelties that all night long was heard nothing but howlings and cryings of men women and children massacred shooting off of Guns and Pistols breaking doors and rumbling of Carts that conveyed away the dead bodies all which were mixed with the cryes of the bloody Murtherers crying Kill Kill them all and then take the Spoil and thus they continued all the week in these sad and bloody murthers and plundering blasphemously singing in scorn where is now their God On Tuesday they came to a Doctor of the Civil Law who being found in earnest prayer to God they had not the power to kill him only took a little plunder with them next day they came again and views his Library what books they demanded he gave them they told him he must be killed he therefore goes to prayer again and afterwards desired of them that if he must dy to murther him there which they refused they take him and lead him through the Streets and coming to the Schools he desired them to kill him where he taught so many but they led him a little further and so knocked him on the head One that was forced by hunger out of a secret place where he hid himself was presently slain Such as for fear revolted they forced to kill their friends or were killed themselves As soon as the Kings bloody Message came to the City of Tholouse the Gates were presently shut but it pleased the Lord of his good grace and Providence so to order it that the Protestants were gone that morning out of the Ciry to a Sermon and as soon as the noise of the Massacre came to their ears many returned not again to the City But others would venture so far as to go to order their affairs for a Return but poor souls they never returned back for as soon as they came to the Gates they were suffered to enter leaving their swords at the Gates amongst whom was many of great account and on wednesday morning all the poor Protestants were imprisoned with command that none should on pain of death hide any of them Amongst these were six Counsellers which like good Christians encouraged the rest at last they were all brought into one place and so the bloody Murtherers being ready with axes and knives they were one by one destroyed their bodies stripped naked and lay for two daies The six Counsellours being hung up in their long Gowns upon Elm Trees in the Palace yard which would move any one to compassion there being in this City three hundred thus murthered In Roan as soon as the Kings command came there was an infinite number slain in few daies six thousand men besides women whom they used as cruelly as can be imagined their bodies were stript and caried out in carts being put into the pits in great heaps At Bourdeaux as soon as the news of the Massacre at Paris arrived and command from the King to follow their Example The Protestants were boating over the River to a Sermon but orders followed them that they should be apprehended whereupon the Gates of the City were shut yet the Ministers through Gods good mercy and grace escaped and safely landed in England The Governour was somewhat timerous to act the Kings command in such a bloody subjection to cruelty but the Lord Monpessat assured him how acceptable it would be to his Majesty and for their better encouragement he enters the house of the Lord of Obiers and basely murthered him in his own Court And then presently the froath and Scum of the Town assembled and murthered all the rest amongst whom was a Minister that came out of the adjacent Countrey Also there was a reverend old Deacon of a church whom they dragged out of his sick bed through the Streets and so basely and inhumanly murthered As soon as the bloody Message of the Kings cruell command arrives at Angiers they fell on all the Protestants without mercy or pitty to sex or age for no sooner were the Massacres begun at Paris but one Monsorel a bloody and cruel Papist posted and soon arrived with orders from the K. to destroy all he no sooner arrives but desires a speedy conduct to one Masson de Rivers who was a Godly and zealous Pastor of a Church a very able and elaborate Disspenser of the Mysteries of the Gospel and one excelling in wisdom knowledge and learning He it was that laid the foundation stone of the first Church of Christ in Paris This bloody Monsorel meets Mr. Masson's wife at the Door and kindly saluted her demanding where her Husband was she answered in the Garden whither she conducted him who as soon as he commeth to him embraces him kindly saying doest thou know my message and the busmess I come to thee about it is said this villain to kill thee presently for the King commands it and so presents a Pistol to his Breast Master Masson replyed I know not wherein I have given his Majesty such cause but one thing Sir I humbly beg at your hands to give me so much space as to commend my soul to God by prayer which as soon as he had ended this cruel and merciless Tyger pistoled him And so this faithful Servant of Christ fell dead at his feet Not long after arrives another bloody Harbinger from Paris by the Kings Order who drowned many amongst the rest was the virtuous wife of this Godly Minister of Christ Mr. Masson a Christian getting into an obscure place of a Rock the entrance being narrow was after he got in covered with a Spiders web the bloudy Persecutors passing by some of them said it was a fit place for an escape from danger others said can any be here and this Spiders web whole whereupon they departed which may very well be remarkably observed as a special Providence of God CHAP. IX The Contents THe King prolaims pardon to all those that had escaped in Woods and Rocks who no sooner comes home but treacherously destroys
the Crown but is justly murthered The Duke of Guise is murthered The Queen Mother broke her Heart and died AFter this sad and lamentable Butchery and blood-shed the poor Protestants that were escaped fled with all speed to the several Sanctuaries which God in his mercy had decreed for their preservation Those that inhabited upon the coast of Bretaign Picardy and Normandy which were Provinces lying on the Sea over against England They fled to Queen Elizabeths Protection and if occasion offered to fight under the command of Count Montgomery who then was in the Queens Court. The poor distressed remnant of Protestants in Dauphine Provence and Lyonois fled into Swisserland amongst whom was the Admirals sons and Andelots who by the fame of their Fathers Authority and the tenderness of their years were joyfully welcomed from such a Land flowing with blood and vengeance Some imploy their time and Talents in setting forth to the World in Writing this horrid Treachery and Massacre acted in France and to let all the Protestants in other parts of the World beware by their sad example letting the World know the stratagem that the French Court use is to destroy by Peace and that to shake hands in a peace with Papists is the ready way to destruction the instance whereof was so fresh in their minds that they needed no grand Jury of examples to inforce belief their own late woful experience being sufficient to testifie this for a truth The Protestants of Burgundy and Campagn fled to the Cities of Germany The Protestants in the heart of the Kingdome and towards Rochel flocked to some strong Towns which it pleased God of his goodness to reserve for their safety which places they fortified with all the strength they could They that inhabited in the Isle of France Nivernois and Beausse were possessed of Sancerre Those that lived in the Provinces of Languedoc and Gascoiny placed themselves in Nismes and Montaubon And the Protestants in Guienne Poictou Zaintonge and Anjou fled to Rochel which proved a safe harbour from the cruel Birds of Prey Henry Jaques Maior of the City had the Civil government thereof To this City also resorted three thousand five hundred men and came from sundry parts which had been Souldiers in the Wars and men of approved valour also to their assistance came fifty Gentlemen of good quality from the adjoining parts about the City there came thither also fifty seven Ministers of Gods Word which by Gods mercy were preserved in this sad blow and for Ammunition and other Provision there wanted none to supply their necessity of a strong and lasting siege Now at last the King Queen Mother with his Brethren and Court orders a Day of extraordinary thanksgiving to be returned for the good Success against the Protestants Thus they reared up Castles of Triumph to their Eternal dishonour which practice is condemned by a Turk Sultan Orchan second King of the Turks when he had overcome the Christians in Battail word being brought to him advise was demanded what should be done to those Prisoners that yet alive remained in their mercy whether they should be killed or not who more like a Christian than a Turk replyed Oh no it is not the part of a Souldier to drown Mercy in Cruelty for saies this brave Sultan Mercy is the Alms of Victory a noble saying of a Heathen Now the King sends Monsieur de Byron to Rochell to place a Garrison the Protestants refuse it being a priviledge granted them by the King to receive no Garrisons whereupon Byron proclaims a War against them Poor souls they had sadly felt the smart of the K. perfidiousness by their too credulous opinion of these fair pretences and therfore now thought good to preserve their lives from Treachery or dy with honour And now to let the World know what little reality is sometimes found in Princes the King of France declares to the King of Spain that the war which he seemingly countenanced under command of Count Lodowick of Nassaw was only a plot to bring about his ends which as it could not be seen by all so could it not but be believed by the King of Spain so that the undertakers under Count Lodowick were sharply persecuted by them that afterwards got power over them Thus were these poor Souldiers betrayed out of the Kings own Treachery Only Monsieur de la Nove was preserved secretly who being safely conducted to the Kings Court his Majesty commands him to Rochel to solicite the City to a Composition Brave Monsieur de la Nove stoutly and like a Christian answers the King That it was against his Conscience to advise his fellow Protestants to lay their throats open to them that would too readily cut them But the King commands and together with his secret desire to see Rochel spurs him on so having came to Monsieur de Byron who was at St. Jean de Angeli and after a visit to him delivering the Kings Message he enters Rochel who by a joint Consent of all the City was chosen their Captain General who willingly accepted of it and gave a good proof of his faithful adherence to the Protestant cause In January by the Kings Commandment Monsieur de la Chastre with six thousand men besieges Sancere where finding a furious and resolute Enemy which would not yield to their Summons after the expences of great toil and labour discharging in two moneths about six thousand Cannon shot they made an assault but were bravely repulsed to the Eternal praise of the Sancerrois valour and Resolution The 18. of March by a second battery on all sides they at last made a great breach and so assault and attempt to scale but the besieged who questionless had many friends slain in the bloody Massacre had some sparks of their Friends blood in their minds which then shewed it self in their resolutions that they fall on the Enemy by a strong defence and made not only a Halt in the Catholicks proceedings but made them retreat with the loss of sixty of their best Souldiers dead in the ditch two hundred mortally wounded and two hundred utterly lamed all with the loss of seventeen men of the Protestants which piece of valour so cooled the courage of the Kings Army that they resolved no more attempts to be made again such impregnable defendants So they begirt them close on all sides no relief being able to come to them which did so extreamly streighten the besieged that they were forced to eat their Asses Mules Horses Cats Dogs Mice Moles Leather and at last to eat parchment and trappings of Horses horns wild roots Girdles making bread of the seeds of flax and herbs mixed with Bran and of straw and Nutshels they made use of slates Grease Tallow and Ointments served for pottage frying therewith the Excrements of Horses and Men nay the very filth in the streets also such as went out to seek relief were either killed by the Enemy or lived on Sprigs