to bee borne ouer vs Will wee graunt that to force that belongeth to reason In my opinion we deceiue our selues if we weene by weapons to wrest any thing from Mars especially in whatsoeuer concerneth Religion which among honest and the best men goeth nearer and is of greater efficacie then all other humaine actions So as to the contrary I doe stedfastly beleeue that wee haue the more cause to hope well of the gouernment of the said Lord King of Nauarre if it should happen For sith his enemies are forced to coÌ„fesse that of himself he is a Prince wise well taught discreete and reasonable also that our selues see him assured and by weapons in expugnable in that which from his infancie hee hath bene perswaded to bee good for him in respect of y t feare that he hath of God how great a peece of the work soeuer offereth it self to his view or whatsoeuer humaine hazard there be any apparance that he should feare in the conseruation of a mightie earthly Kingdome whereof as yet he is presumptiue heire it is an inuincible argument for vs to knowe that hee loueth and feareth God aboue all things Let vs therefore giue him a taste of our reasons sith he is so very capable to the ende we may at his hand winne that we desire and which wee ought and may spedely hope for without perticulerly hating his person without offending him without prouoking him and without encurring the wrath of God by procuring the shedding of the innocent bloud of so many thousands of our brethren and together with them the destroying of our poore Countrey As yet in troth it is too great an abuse to terme the said Lord King of Nauarre a Rebell or Traytor to the Kings Maiestie for keeping himselfe from being slayne and for opposing to his enemies the walles of those who being shadowed in their owne houses did onely withall instance and most humble petition require the King to permit them to liue in peace of conscience vnder his obedience against the which they did nâ—uer striue neither would euer had recourse vnto or craued the said Lord King of Nauarres protection whome they know neuer to haue so much loued any thing as to liue his Maiesties most humble most obedient subiect whereof wee all in our consciences are eye witnesses neither neede we any greater proofe for the iustification of him who neither doth neither euer did desire of the King his Lorde any other thing then to liue in his good fauour and to bee of him accoumpted a most humble and most obedient subiect and kinsman 3 For this cause in this action let al good Frenchmen coÌ„sider that the sayd Lord King of Nauarre is as they the Kinges good subiect a Christian one that feareth God and a louer of his Countrey so as for his sake wee neede not take armes or beate our braynes as doe some that be perswaded by the wicked counsaile of these firebrandes he is the sonne of the famely he is not a Spaniard that commeth to your walles and to y e doores of your houses he is a true Frenchman one that desireth peace and one that would obey the King his Lord in whatsoeuer lyeth in him he is a louer of the lawes of the Realme a sworne enemy to the sedicious an oppressor of the wicked and a defender of the Commonwealth Besides he hath aboue all other the French nation the honor to bee the first Prince of the bloud royal heire apparant to the Crowne in case God should cal our King without leauing any issue male of his body Let euery one therefore consider that al his enemies obiections are but meere cauillations Let the French nation iudge whether they haue not more cause or are not greatlier bound to loue and acknowledge the King of Nauarre then and other next to the Maiestrie of our soueraigne Lord the King seeing we haue chosen for our tutors gouernours and lawfull administrators the most noble and couragious famelie of the Capets to bee our Kinges of Fraunce from whence is discended in right masculine ligne on the fathers side the sayde Lord King of Nauarre as is aforesayde also that euery other way he hath thence taken his originall for his Grandmother on the fathers side was Lady Frances of Alencon daughter to Rene Duke of Alencon and sister to Charles last deceased all discended in right ligne of y e males of Charles of Valois who first tooke the name and title of Alenâ—oÌ„ and was brother to Philip of Valois King of France both sonnes to Charles of Valois brother to King Philip the Faire which two were sonnes to Philip y e Bould eldest sonne to S. Lewes and his successor in the Realm Againe the sayd King of Nauarres Grandmother by the mother was Lady Margaret of Fraunce sister to King Frances the first As for the Kings of Nauarre whom by his mother Iane of Albret daughter and heire to Henry of Albret King of Nauarre whom he hath succeeded they also are discended from father to the sonne of the house of France by the interposition of daughters capable of succession in the Realme of Nauarre for Henry Earle of Champagne and Brye by his mother Blanch King of Nâ—uarrâ— maried a daughter of Robert Earle of Arthois sonne to King Lewes the 8. of Francâ— and brother to S. Lewes of which marriage was borne Iane heire of 〈◊〉 and wife of Phillip the Faire King of France of them two came Lewes Hutin successor in the Realmes of France and Nauarre when he dyed he left a daughter Iane who after her Vnkles Phil. the Long Charles y t Faire was Queene of Nauarre she maried Phil. of Eureux sonne to Lewes of Eureux Sonne to Phillip the bould King of France and brother to Phillip the fayre Of their mariage issued among other children Charles King of Nauarre who maried the daughter of King Iohn of FraÌ„ce and of them was borne a Sonne of the same name for whose sake King Charles the sixt erected the lande of Nemours into a Dutchy At his decease hee left two Daughters of which Blanch the elder succeeded in the sayd Realme and of her and Iohn of Castile her houseband issued Eleoner wife to Gaston of Foix who seazed vpon the Succession of the realme of Nauarre and other great goods Of that mariage came Gaston of Foix that maried Magdalein of France sister to King Lewes the eleuenth who had Frances Phebus king of Nauarre after his grandmother Eleoner and Catherin who succeeded her brother Phebus shee maried with Iohn of Albret father to Henry of Albret and grandfather to Queene Iane late deceased at Paris mother to the said King of Nauarre now raigning So as it adpeareth that he is on euery side true french and issued of the bloud royall of Fraunce Let vs not therefore any longer giue eare to these sclauuders but only haue recourse to God by hartie praier that if the sayd Lorde King of Nauarre or
A CATHOLICKE APOLOGIE AGAINST THE LIBELS DECLARATIONS ADVICES AND CONSVLTATIONS MADE WRITTEN and published by those of the League perturbers of the quiet Estate of the Realme of France Who are risen since the decease of the late Monsier the Kings onely brother By E. D. L. I. C. Answere a foole according to his folly least he should thincke him selfe wise Prouerb 26. ⧠Imprinted at London for Edward Aggas THE PREFACE to the Reader O Christian and Catholick Frenchman neuer was there offered better meanes then at this time to discouer and smel out the subtelties of our enemies with what money Sathan vsually paieth his seruants whē we see some of thē so blinded that beeing vppon the poynt of their destruction they promise to themselues all assuraunce still coueting to conceale their abhominable wickednesse with sleights shiftes and lyes Neuerthelesse when they do most hide themselues they are foonest spied For to say the trueth what goodlier or more apparant pretēce could the perturbers of the quiet of our Fraunce take holde of then Religion and the reliefe of the people but as the enemie of trueth hath allured thē vnto him by lyes so hath hee for their repaste left them no other foode vpon his Table and yet doth that also faile them when they make it an vsuall messe and trueth remaineth Mistresse According hereto the lyes and horrible slaūders that to this day haue bene spued foorth against the King of Nauarre the Lord Prince of Condie by certaine straungers enemies to this Crowne the Royall Progenie vnder the pretence of zeale of Religion doth ouerthrowe them because cōtinually they haue sought to perswade our souraigne Lord the King and all the French Nation that these Princes were his euill seruaunts Rebels and disobedient persons enemies to his Estate in the preseruation and encrease whereof they haue greater interest then any other worldly person next vnto his Maiestie vnto whom they haue the honor very nerely to appertaine As also in truth we are hartely to giue GOD thankes especially in that after so many false and slaunderous inductions made vnto the most Christian Maiestie against these two Princes his good kinsmen and most faithfull subiects and seruants by whose reliefe this feeble weake and pale Realme hath oftentimes escaped falling it hath pleased him to open the Kings eyes to let him perceiue that all the illusions vnto him presented tended only to the ouerthrow of himself his Crowne and Estate in offering hetherto to his viewe one thing in liewe of an other For herevpon his Maiestie smelling out the causes of passed mischiefe hath finally in earnest done as the good Phisitiō who whē he seeth his Patient pale weake faint and grieuously sicke beginneth his cure with bringing him to his bed discharging him frō all painfull toyle causing him to take some rest euen so our King casting his eyes vpō his poore realm afflicted with ciuill warres which so long haue bene kindled vnder a false and slaunderous pretence to the end to begin the cure hath first sought to set it in peace that after some time of rest he might haue better opportunitie to heale the rest of the causes of the disease to put from about him those who vnder his authoritie had by their false wicked perswasiōs so hardly entreated it Which when his euill Councellors perceiued seeing that they could no longer goe forward in the same path they haue sought with open play to compasse that which so lōg they had craftely practised now haue plainly shewed that it was the State Crowne that they leueled at procuring the writing of diuers Libels aduices and consultations of their suffragās to the end not only to diminish and blemish the King of Nauarres vndoubted lawfull succession if it should please God to worke his will of the Kings Maiestie without leauing any issue Male but also to aduaūce their own false slaunderous and supposed titles and pretēces Howbeit although the said Lord King of Nauarre neede not yet to pleade his cause or presently to aunswere all these sleights and counsailes of the wicked in respect of the sufficient terme small likelihood of occasion euer to put the same in executiō cōsidering the King is thāks be to God yong in health in good disposition together with the small interest that in my opinion the sayd Lord King of Nauarre pretendeth to any such successiō as being a Prince both wise circumspect such a one as hath not so smal forecast but that he knoweth vndoubtedly that the greatest wealth reliefe good hap contentation that may redound to him cōsisteth in the prosperitie health long and happie life of the King his Lord to the ende perpetually to be vnder him the same that he is to liue vnder his liking in his protection wherby vnder the fauour wherof he shalbe not only preserued from the cōspiraties which his enemies worke against him but also which is more if it please God to encrease him he shal alwaies be by the King fauoured aduanced vnto whō he hath the honor to be the first Prince of his bloud Neuerthelesse how euer it be I do not thinke that any man at this day cā with reason and iudgement conceiue any bad or sinister opinion of the sayde Lorde King of Nauarre though he lay open his iust causes sith those that haue no right and for whō there can be no likelihood at all are so impudent rash vndiscreete as to bring to the barre a matter wherevpon euen their most affectionate seruāts durst not before haue thought which to saye the trueth is one of the cōsideratiōs that moued me to set hand to the pen to the aunswering of such diffamatorie Lybelles discourses aduices cōsultatiōs as within this yeere haue come to my hands and I protest that I haue done it without either cōmaundemēt or commission of the sayd Lord King of Nauarre vnto whom I neuer had the honor to approach neither is it of any affectiō or desire to aduaunce the Religiō that he professeth sith my self am and all my life time haue bene a Catholick and liued vnder the authoritie of the Apostolicke Romish Church But the onely cause hath bene that being borne a Frenchman I haue thought it my duetie to vphold the rightful cause of the French Princes vnto whome after his soueraigne Maiestie for whose seruice we are naturally bounde and holden to procure all honor wealth prosperitie to maintain and defend them from slaūders and such deceipts as Sathan would stirre vp against their excellēcie greatnesse besides that euery mā may perceiue that these Tragedies are kindled to the vtter ruine losse fubuertion of this miserable Realm so as the loue of my Countrey Christian piety and that compassiō that I take in beholding my fellow Citizens and my self with them in daunger to consume our selues in that fire that by those ciuill warres which vnder this
behaued our selues toward them we shall surely find that we haue left no more to doe but either to destroy our selues and perish all togither whereby the one shall not scorne the other either els to let them liue among vs one with an other in peace and libertie of conscience and neuer be so desirous to driue them into heauen with the edge of the Sword But will you haue me tell you the trueth your pompe your pride your ambition and the ignorance of yours is cause of al this mischiefe Notwithstanding you see the the Church on a flame who is there among you I will except some small number that endeuoureth to amend his life and to distribute y â— Church goods in such sort as he ought See wee not still the Kinges Courtes the Townes and Country full of superfluitie of our Bishops and other Clergie men such a number of Abbots called Commendatories who are of no professed order of Religion but doe neuerthelesse deuour the reuenues that belong to the poore so many beneficed persons with diuers Bishoprickes Abbayes Priories and Cures some in title others in commendam of the which they neuer see so much as one vnlesse it were to the ende to farme the same foorth You may see their Churches fall in decay and the Priestes whoÌ„ themselues haue annoynted begge their foode the rest of the poore dye for hunger at their gates And in one word to say all these Maisters haue no money to doe their dueties w tall no not so much as to procure preaching which themselues can not doe or for performing the deuine seruice either to instruct the youth For euery one doth sufficiently know that the late King Charles the nineth whom God pardon and King Henry the third now raigning visiting and comming to those Townes wherein the principal Vniuersities of their Realme are planted did ordeine that the Clergie of certaine Dioceses should contribute some small portion toward the salaries of the Doctors and RegeÌ„ts of the same yet was it neuer possible for these poore people who are the seedes of iustice and vertue to reape any one penny Our Maisters haue nowe money enough to helpe to maintaine warre against the King vnder an imaginary and false preteÌ„ce of defending the Catholicke Religion You deceiue your selues if you hope to conuert others before ye make cleane your selues no neuer looke for it for it will still be obiected vnto you that you can see a mote in other mens eyes but cannot take away the whole blocke that blindeth your selues Why follow you not the example of Moses who when he beheld and sawe Gods people offende the deuine Maiestie with Idolatrie did not take the sworde to put them to death but began to crye O Lorde this people haue sinned forgiue them or els blot mee out of thy booke which thou hast written Let vs liue well let vs reforme our selues and let vs not be so careful for the wealth of the world We haue so long cryed out against those of the pretended Religion concerning this poynt that now they can say of vs The Doctor is to blame who reproaueth other for the fault that himself hath Yea they will saye worse for still they stand vpon the defensiue you are the assailants They haue euermore acknowledged the Kings Maiestie for their soueraigne Lord and neuer contemned the Princes of his bloud as the King himselfe in his Edicts hath not sticked to confesse but you endeuour to enstale Straungers against the estate and dignitie of his Maiestie who both before he was King and since hath prodigally ventred his life and hazarded his Crowne for the glutting of your desires and putting of your ouer rude counsailes in executioÌ„ What reason therefore haue you now to match your selues with the meere enemies to the peace of the Church enemies to your Common-wealth enemies to your King and the Princes of his bloud I saye to your most Christian and Catholicke King one that feareth God and one who hath peraduenture done more then he ought for the getting by armes that contention which you do wish for I am moued so to say because in trueth I beleeue and experience hath taught vs that the more we stirre vp this euill the more it encreaseth wherefore herein the best counsaile that wise men haue left vs were to resolue our selues that if this pretended reformed Religion bee not by the decree and establishment of Gods worde it will without any warres perish and vanish of it self as haue done so many former heresies but contrariwise if it be according to the wil of the holy Ghost we may crye out at our pleasures but it will fulfill his worke 10 But my Maisters if you be not led by malice are you so blinde as to thinke that the authors of this conspiracie which they terme a holy League bee ledde by any zeale of Catholicke Religion If that were their drift wherefore haue not they also called into the same such Lords Princes of the bloud as stil continuing Catholickes and liuing according to the Romish Church were neuer so much as suspected to bee of the pretended reformed Religion We know very well that the Lord Cardinal of Bourbon whose yeres they haue seduced and whom vnder a vaine hope of smoke they make to weare the knife wherewith to embrue his hands in his owne bloud hauing wrested from him the fayrest and most of his Benefices whereof by their suggestion hee hath depriued his owne Nenewes before he altogether became vnnaturall when they bounde him to this peeuishnesse offering vnto him their fayned League to signe requested that his Neuewes the Lordes Cardinall of Vandosme Prince of Conty and Earle of Soissons might bee included in y â— same wherto these our Maisters could not intend Whereof doe they suspect the Lord Duke of MontpeÌ„sier and the Lord Prince of DoÌ„bes his sonne both being most Catholicke Princes onely that they bee of the house of Bourbon which they seeke to roote out and so doe make accoumpt to transferre the Crowne into their owne handes trying themselues onely vpon the sayd Lord Cardinall a man worne and of small continuance so contenting themselues to make him the standerd whereby to establish their armes neither would they auctorize the rest amoÌ„g their troupes fearing least they should haue better eyes then the sayd Lorde Cardinall to discouer their wicked entents besides that if it shoulde so fall out that they shoulde come to the drawing of lâ—ttes for the beane in the cake the people would rather haue recourse to these Princes as to the braunches and sprigges of their Kings and those who onely in their degrees and order are capable of the Crowne of France either els least the FreÌ„ch Nobilitie should blush for shame at the preferring of the tirannous dominion of straÌ„gers before their French Princes and lawfull Lordes This is not the first day that the house of Bourbon haue bene subiect to the enuie and malice of these Espaniolized
cursed and detestable pretence are like to bee kindled will seaze vpon al degrees haue beene to mee as a spurre to hasten my penne to aunswere these damnable writings fearing least the people should suffer themselues to be won thereby so might withstaÌ„d y â— truth equitie if euer occasioÌ„ to debate thereof were ministred or that these preteÌ„ders should propouÌ„d or bring this coÌ„trouersie in questioÌ„ I doe therefore most humbly desire the French Catholike Reader laying a way al passions to cal to mind first the bond commaundement wherein by God he is bound to the King and the Princes of his bloud according to the order and natural succession by the Lawes of this Crowne Secondly the loue of his Countrey considering wee all are men all Christians all Frenchmen and al louers of our selues that if we should stoope vnder the yoke of these tyraÌ„ts that would bring vs into subiection and abuze vs with lyes falshoodes and forged titles they would afterward beare vs the like minde and their faith as tainted corrupt as by corruption faâ—â—ehood and vntrueth they had abused our simplicitie and suborned withdrawne vs from the obedience of our true and natural Lords For in asmuch as they are deriders riders and contemners of God in whose name they haue dared to begin and endeuoured that the most abhominable fellony that euer was might be made manifest to all it can not be that wee should looke for any other thing of theÌ„ but that hope that they haue conceiued to entreate and handle vs after the Turkish manner with a more detestable daungerous inquisitioÌ„ then that which now raigneth vnder the Spanish tyrannie Let therefore euery person diligently aud faithfully employ himselfe to serue our King and the Princes of his bloud whose cause we ought eueÌ„ with the price and venture of our liues to vphold to the end the state of this Realme being assured at the least our childreÌ„ may liue peaceably vnder the obedieÌ„ce of their naturall Lords who by that meanes shall haue the greater occasion to cherrish and entreate them well as they haue done vs remembring that with the grace of God by our fidelitie loyaltie they haue bene preserued in that greatnesse and dignitie wherein the diuine goodnes hath suffered them to bee borne in this Realme to the glorie of the King of Kings to whom only it be and remaine euerlastingly So be it FINIS The names of the chiefe Authors cyted in this Apologie ABbot of Vspergue Ado of Vienne Aegn Agathius Aimoinus AlexaÌ„der the Martir S. Ambrose Anges Antonius Appian Aristotle Auentinus Augustin de Ancona S. Augustin Baldus Bale Benno Blondus Capitolinu Cassiodore Charles Molins Chron. of Chronikles Chrisostome Collenutius Counsailes Cromer Decrees Decretals Demosthenes Dyon Dionis of Haliâ—ar Doctors ciuil and Canonistes Edmond Boulay Euripides Eusebius Floart Fulgentius Gaguin Garib Geof of Viterb Geof Ardoyn Goth. Iornandes Gratian. Grego of Tours S. Gregory Guichardine Guil. Occham Guil. de Monte. Heman Herodote S. Hierome Hillary Hostiensis Iames de Terano Iohn Andrew Ignatius Illustrations of Gaule Innocent 3. Pope Io. Magnus Iohn of Terrano Irineus Isidore Iustin. Iuuenall Lawyers Ciuill and Cannon Maister of Sentences Marianus Siculus Martinus Polonus Massaeus Matthieu Zampin Molinaeus Munster Nicephorâ—â— Niceâ—â— Vignier Nicol. Aegidius Nicol. de Vbald Oldrad Onuphrius Optatus Milcuitanus Osorius Otho of Erisingen Paulus Diaconus Paul Emile Pausanias Platine Plin. Jun. Plutarque Polid. Virg. Procope Regino Renatus Chopinus Richard of Wassenbourg Robert Cenalis Rozieres Salicke law Sanctiones Pontif. Iuris Orient Sansouin Sigisbert Socrates Sosomenes Strabo Suetonius Tacite Tertullian Tiraquell Tite Liue. Tritemius Turpin Valere the great Vgo Gemblac Vigneus Vincent Historial Witichiâ—dus Xiphilinus ⧠THE CONTENTS OF THE first part of this Booke 1. The causes of the troubles of this Realme 2. The Genealogie of the Lords of Lorrain by Edmond Boulay 3. The true discent of the house of Lorrain from the Counties of Louayn 4. The Salick Lawe taketh not place in the Duchy of Lorrain 5. An Inhibition not to dispute of succession during the kings life decreed by the Counsails 6. The Realme of France is successiue not hereditary 7. The nerest male in blood by agnatioÌ„ succedeth in whatsoeuer degree 8. Realmes successiue are more perfect then electiue 9. Sainct Lewes the common stocke of the house of Fraunce Bourbon 10. Robert S. Lewes yonger Sonne His mariage with the heyr of Bourbon The cause of the name of Bourbon in that family the erection thereof into a Dutchy The Countie Dauphin of Auuergne in the house of Bourbon 11. The Alliance of the house of Sauoy Bourbon 12. The cause of discoÌ„tentmeÌ„t of Charles of Bourbon Baronage of Mercure issued out of the house of Bourbon The erectioÌ„ of the Dutchy of Montpensier 13. The CouÌ„ties of Vendosme Castres The principalitie of Conde others in the house of Bourbon 14. The first Alliance of the houses of Bourbon and Nauarre Iames of Bourbon King of Naples The erection of the Dutchy of Nemours 15 The alliance of the house of Boulogne and Bourbon 16 The erection of the Dutchy and Pairry of Vendosme Antoinet of Bourbon wife to the L. of Guise A Catholicke Apologie against the Libels Declarations Aduices and Consulatations made writen and published by those of the League perturbers of the quiet estate of the Realme of France who are risen since the decease of the late Monsier the Kings onely brother By E. D. L. I. C. 1 IF wisely we do consider the ambitioÌ„ of some that are borne nourished and brought vp in the greatest honors wealth and fauours of this Realme we shall as it were with our fingers touch and euideÌ„tly perceiue that they resemble y e same which the auncients doe write concerning Vipers who doe eate out the entrailes of her that giueth them life and doe malitiously endeuour by such ciuill wars as they haue kindeled in this Estate within these 25. yeres to become as occasion may serue masters aud vsurpers thereof by such sleights wresting the true French from that bond and duetifull good will that they ought to beare to their naturall Princes For it is most certain and vnfallible that as the course of the Water mainteineth the Riuer so the continuance of ciuill warres yeeldeth the bad mindes of the people immortall yet are wee neuerthelesse so blinded vndiscreet and vnconstant as neuer to haue had iudgement to knowe our disease since the time we were first afflicted with the condition of such as can not bee satisfied with the Dominion of the whole world and who voluntarily doe hazard whatsoeuer their owne assured as welth quiet and life to make themselues Lords of that which they can conceaue no hope of without merueilous effusion of blood and vtter ruine of their Countrey Whereunto vndoubtedly it seemeth that time through the diuersitie of religion among vs hath inuited them as also in that they see a number of our
naturall princes mainteine the one part which is least plausible and agreeable with the French nation much lesse aucthorised by Princes and forrein potentates whose weapons they hope to vse when neede shall require To the end also with lesse labor and greater pretence to hoyst vp the Ladder of their driftes they haue procured the writing of a number of bookes which within these fewe yeres are come to euery mans hands concerning the discents of the Princes of Lorrain whome gladly they would bring aboord into this quarrell if possibly they could meaning with them in mens hartes to imprint falsely to perswade that our Kings and Princes are no lawfull Successors but tyrants and vsurpers of this crowne from those of the auncient race of whome they would make the Lorrains to be discended so to procure them to be Captains of their conspiracie 2 But these Princes haue euermore sought to bee accompted too wise iust and vpright dealers to haue their eares so ticklish as to let them selues be led with such false inductions which could bring them no other but speedy shame perpetuall ignominie of their race for doing as the husbandmans Serpent who when hee had well refreshed himselfe at his fier would haue driuen him also out of his house As also to shewe that they neuer thought vpon so detestable a deede That euery man therefore may knowe it to be too euident an abuse to say that they be come of the famely of Charlemagne I will vse onely that Booke that themselues did in the yere 1549. to cause Edmond of Boulay the chief Herault and King of Armes of their house to publish wherein with the common opinion they doe mainteine that Charles of Lorrayn brother to Lothair King of France the last of Charlemagnes posteritie of whom the seditious do make so great accompt left a Sonne named Ottho who was Duke of Lorrain and died without issue so as in him ended the males of Charlemagne In deede the said aucthor saith that Godfrey with the beard Earle of Ardenne succeeded his Cossen If then he were Cousen to the said Ottho the same kindred might come by beeing discended of a daughter of the said Charles wife to LaÌ„bert Earle of Bergues or Monts who was Merquize of the Empire Earle of Brabant so consequently by the Salique Lawe vncapable of this Realme By reason whereof Pope Benedict the eight beeing at Pauy with the Emperour Henry the second and Robert sonne to Hugh Capet in the yere a thousand two hundred and three declared the sayd Robert to be lawfull King and Lord of the Crowne of Fraunce Besides the Author is forced to confesse that this Male ligne of Godfrey Countie of Arden failed againe and fel into the person of Ide wife to Eustace Countie of Bolongne on the Sea the father and mother to Godfrey of BoloÌ„gne King of Hierusalem who in Lorrain succeeded his vâ—kle by the mother Godfrey with the crouch backe so doe the Males of the house of Bologne are by the same writer continued vntil Lady Isabell the onely daughter and heire of Charles Duke of Lorrein who in the yeere 1418. maried Rene of Aniew pety sonne to King Iohn of Fraunce Thus we see by the domesticall testimony of the Princes of Lorrein the third distaffe in the house of Lorrein since the sayd pretended Ottho Sonne to Charles of France of which the first had bene sufficient to depriue them of the Succession Royall not withstanding their auncesters had drawen their Orriginall from the Masculine house of the saide Charlemagne For in respect of the house of Aniew extract out of the royall stocke of Fraunce and grafted into the Dutchy of Lorrain by the marriage of the said Rene with Isabell of Lorrain the same Lorrain Historiographer agreeth y t it ceased in Nicolas Marquize of Pont sonne to Iohn the second that dyed in y e yere 1433. whose succession was gathered vp by his Sister Yolland wife to Ferry of Vaâ—demont who was the yonger of the auncient house of Lorraine sonne to Antony sonne to Ferri brother to Charles Father to the foresaid Isabell 3 I will and that truely auowe that the house of Lorrain now being is so farre from being issued out of the race of Charlemagne either by Male or Female farre or néere that contrariwise the Dutchy of Lorraine hath chaunged stock or family fower or fiue times since the posteritie of Charlemaigne First in the house of the Counties of Ardenne when after the decease of Ottho Sonne to Charles of France in the yere 1005. Henry the second Emperour gaue Lorraine to Godfrey the sonne of Godfrey Earle of Ardenne whose seruice he had vsed against the sonnes by whome the Duke of Lorrain had bene emprisoned and soone after deceased without issue After hym succeeded his brother Gothelo in the yere 1019. in the time of Robert King of France Then in the yere 1033. Conrade the Emperour gaue to Gothelo Mosele after the decease of Frederick Earle thereof so as hee grewe mightier in Lorrain then before Against this Gothelo marched Odo Earle of ChaÌ„pagne seazed vpon Bar but the Lorrain gaue him battaile wherein the said Odo deceased Gothelo had a sonne named Godfrey vnto whom the Emperour Henry the fowerth refused to giue the Dutchy of Mosele and therefore hee would not also be Duke of Lorrain but in the yere 1044. rebelled against the Emperour who tooke him prisoner and after released him taking his sonne for Hostage who being dead the father reuolted again stirred vp Baldwin Earle of Flanders to help him to warre vpon him And this Godfrey slew Albert to whom the Emperour had giued Mosele for which cause the Emperour inuested Euerard of Alsatie in Mosele Fredericke vnckle to Baldwine of Flanders in the Dutchy of Lorraine Godfrey seeing him selfe so oppressed passed into Italie and there maried the daughter of Marquize Boniface but was by the Emperour soone after driuen out of Lomberdie wherefore he retired into Flanders and accompanied with the saide Baldwine besieged Fredericke in Antwarpe but the Lorrains came to his succour This Godfrey had a brother called Frederick sonne to Gothelo who retourning from Constantinople became a Monck at Mount Cassin and was after y e 157. Pope called Steuen in the time of Henry King of France After the decease of Frederick of Flanders inuested in the Dutchy of Lorraine Euerard of Alsatye was Duke of Lorrain but both the said Godfrey Euerard being dead in the yere 1070. the Emperor gaue Mosele to Deoderick son of the saide Euerard and restored Godfrey with the crooke back sonne of Godfrey aforesaid to Lorraine This man wholy destroyed the Frizons but was in the end slaine by Richarius in the yere 1089. so as by his death began the second house of Lorrain in the person of Ide sister to the last Godfrey with the crouche backe and wife to Eustace Earle of Bolongne whose Children were Dukes of Lorrain
briefe that to the ende by the death of the late Mounsier the Duke to insinuate himselfe further in his Maiesties fauour and to bee neerer vnto him he had determined to alâ—er his Religion Which was a subtile â—llicie both to bring him into suspition with his owne partakers and into contempt among the Catholickes so as by that meanes both parts might haue forsaken and despised him and so he might become a pray to their fayned League as a man light vnconstant and of small stedfastnesse which is one of the chiefest things that euery ChristiaÌ„ Prince ought to abhorre especially in causes of ReligioÌ„ which we may not lightly chaÌ„ge neither without great notice of the cause and the discourse thereof publickly argued in the Church of God but especially in our awne consciences Wherefore good men neither ought ne caÌ„ mislike that the sayd Lord King of Nauarre doth protest to liue and dye in his Religion permitted vnder the Kings authoritie by his Maiesties Edicts published euen by y e decree of the States of the Realm neither are wee to terme him an hereticke or obstinate person vntill wee haue lawfully by a free vniuersall or nationall Counsaile whether shall seeme most expedient condemned that opinion which he holdeth Will ye likewise that I shewe you what mistrust the Catholickes may conceiue of his goodnesse and singuler clemencie Then would I pray the most passionate to consider and looke vpon his famelie They shall finde the same to consist for the most part of Catholicke Officers But of what sorte Euen such as are neerest about his person who haue him in their haÌ„ds vpon their honors and consciences to whom he committeth himselfe and vpon whom of himself he doth depend as vpon his keepers Maisters of his Guardrobe Stewardes and many others who before his face with his liking and contentation being in his trayne do ordinarely go to the Masse assist at the deuine Seruice ministred after the maner of the Catholick Romish Church To be brief euen with this qualitie he acknowledgeth theÌ„ for his good faithfull and loyall seruants This could they not assure themselues of neither yet serue him with good hearts beeing such men of honor as they are if in his behauiours they could perceiue any mistrust which is the nource of hatred and mallice against the professors of their Religion or if they could finde which were easie to doe that he did euill entreate or forbid them to serue God after their maner and so sought to bee the tormentor of their consciences To conclude al these coÌ„siderations alledged against the King of Nauarre which are neither true neither of any outwarde apparence cannot in y e coÌ„sciences of good men truely FreÌ„ch debarre him from beeing sufficient and capable of the Crowne of France yea further I say that the same notwithstanding he is your true and lawfull King to whome onely you are bound to obeye in cace during his life the sayde occasion of substitution should fall out which God forbid and which also neither he ne wee ought or should desire if either wee were Christians either els did beare any iot of hartie good will or affection to our King 18 To proceede let vs see whether a king houlding the Scepter or raigning ouer any estate especially ouer ours may appoint and nominate any other successor then him whom nature and the Lawe of the Realme haue giuen him This question I do not moue without cause for in trueth the perturbers of the peace of this Crowne and such as iniustly do pretend to set thereinto a foote haue made a League which they entitle Holy but al good med doe truely name Bloody with the Pope the Spanierd and the Sauoyan the conspired enemies to France and the Royall blood thereof through whose helpe they hope to leauy an Army wherwith to come into the hart of the Realme onely say they simply to sommon the most Christian King to name a successor at their deuotions Oh what an execrable mischiefe to seeke to force vs to enfringe the successiue lawe of this Realme whereof we haue so many worldes enioyed the blessed good hap What impudency those that haue not almost whereof to liue in their owne houses to goe about to preuent and ouerthrowe the order and Estate of so great an Empire This is a wonderfull bouldnesse to endeuour to compell so mightie a Monarcke as the French King and their owne lorde being yong healthy and such a one as it if please God hee may graunt him the blessing of the posteritie of Abraham to choose him a man to be his Heir But the French men doe assure them selues that they haue a King that is of better bringing vp then so one that is valeant feareth God and is ielous of his honour yea such a-one as would not for the getting of the whole worlde make such a breache in his conscience reputation vertue and memory that our Children should haue cause atro carbone illum notare saying that he had so farre hated himselfe and his owne blood as to haue corrupted the Lawes whereby after his predecessors he doth raigne euen since the originall of the Monarchie and to haue transferred the Crowne out of his owne famely for the satisfying of the rashnesse of those who finding them selues in Armes might hasten his time to the end to cause him the sooner to leaue them his roume For what dareth not Ambition and desire to Raigne vndertake Moreouer I doe most humbly beseech his Maiestie to pardon me though I boldly shew him that it is a thing that hee may not doe Also that the Lawe of the Realme whereby him selfe is King forbiddeth hym to meddle therewith because the same taken order therin vnto whom it is commendable in the Maiestie of a Monarke to acknowledge him selfe bounden And thus was it iudged declared and put in execution by the Parliament of the Peeres of France for Charles the seauenth against the treaty which king Charles the sixt in the yere 1420. made in y e towne of Troye in Champagne at the Mariage of his daughter Lady Katherin vnto King Henrie the fifth of Englande which imported the graunt and minde of the sayd King Charles the sixt to be that the sayd King of England or his issue male comming of the sayd mariage shonld be called to y e Crowne of France the said Charles the seueuth be thereof debarred and disinherited for euer This is not now say our Maisters the first time that it hath bene and perpetually shall be obserued by y e Salick law of this florishing Crowne which the King that houldeth the Scepter cannot alter because he is but a tutor protector collector and administrator thereof salua eius substantia itaque nec donare nec perdere poterit neither otherwise dispose of the proximitie of his bloud then the law of the Realm will beare neither yet transferre it into any other hand then that whereto it apperteineth although hee
prouoked vnder pretence of the sayd interdiction did him some displeasure Howbeit so soone as hee seemed willing to mend his maners toward the English natioÌ„ they fell at his feete and expulsed Lewes of Fraunce whom they had subrogated in his place so soone as the sayd Iohn was dead admitted his sonne Henry King Henry the eight of the same Ile was very faithfully obeyed by his subiects after that Pope Paule the third had excommunicated interdicted aggrauated and reaggrauated the curse against him wherby some were somewhat shaken froÌ„ his obedieÌ„ce Suâ—noo King of Denmarke about the yeere of our Lord 850. was iustly excoÌ„municated by y â— Bishop of Roscholech for becomming an Apostata and procuring to slay sundry of the Princes of his blood in the Church founded in the name of the holy Trinitie in the same Towne of Rhoscholech the entry into which Church this Bishop forbad him together with the communioÌ„ of the faithfull but he did not neuerthelesse depriue him of his Crowne neither did his subiects refuse him their faithfull seruice although Canutus and Wademarus two of his chiefest fauorites and priuy Counsailors who sought to share the Realme with Suercherus King of Sueden did thereto suborne them Brigerus King of Sueden who raigned about the yere 1300. was one of the most wicked and cruell Kings that could be especially against the Church and Churchmen but chiefly against Nicholas Archbishop of Vpsale whom together with the rest of his Bishops he committed to prison wherevpon they excommunicated him and Turgillus Canutus his Lieutenant general and author of his behauiours neuerthelesse the people though therby stirred vp against their King and hauing greater opportunitie to rebel and shake of the yoke of his obedience vnder the conduct of Wademarus and Henry his brothers who sought no better occasion to put out their brother would neuer hearken to theÌ„ neither hinder or become cruell to their naturall Lord so as the two brothers were forced to employe their other friendes for the executing of their inteÌ„ts against Brigerus whom when they had taken prisoner they were neuerthelesse compelled to force al the townes neither found they any one that would yeeld to them so greatly did the Subiectes of the Realme accoumpt themselues bound to the seruice of their King whom they knew to be wicked excommunicate and an euill liuer besides a prisoner and captiue in the power of his brethren whom in the ende they forced to set him at libertie to submit themselues to his obedience Of such force is the bond of good people to their King whatsoeuer he be In Poland Bolesâ—aus a Prince of most wicked life a commoÌ„ adulterer an enemie to the Church and Cleargie after Stanisâ—aus Bishop of Cracouy had often admonished him to amend was by him at length excommunicated whereat the King being offended did put the sayd Bishop to death for which cause Pope Gregory the seuenth did confirme and aggrauate the sayd excommunication with a generall interdiction against the Realme about the yeere 1079. yet did he still raigne by the consent and with the obedience of the Polonians ouer whom he ruled a whole yere and more vntill in his iourney to Ladislaus King of Hungary hee flewe himselfe peraduenture through the iust iudgement of God The Emperour Sigismund and his faction could neuer winne the Bohemians from the due affection that they ought to his brother Winceslaus their naturall King though vicious wicked filthy for the which offences through the practises of the said Sigismund he was often emprisoned and excommunicated by the Bishops of that couÌ„trey yea by the Electors deposed from the Empire so as in the ende he dyed in Boheme still taking the place order and qualitie Royall through the goodwill of his Subiects who deemed that the same could not perticulerly conteyne any dispensation to discharge the subiects therof of the oath and faith that to him they ought as also they may not be discharged froÌ„ his bondage but onely by death or his owne liberall cession which he would make to an other as did Albert King of Sueden about the yeere 1388. beeing prisoner to Margaret Queene of Denmark and Norway to whom he yeelded whatsoeuer his right to the Crowne of Gothland and Sueden whereby the States of the countrey sware their faith and homage to the sayde Margaret and after they had secretly enquired of their King sundry times solemnly desired him to shew them his mind or els to discharge them of the duetie wherein they stood bound to him although vndoubtedly the Suedens had great cause to seeke his mishap for all Histories doe agree that neuer Prince committed so many outrages and wrought so many iniuries to his subiects as had this Albert. It therefore remaineth that by the lawe of Nations the inuiolable keeping of the obligation that the subiectes doe owe to their naturall Prince and not to depart therefro at the appetite or sentence of others haue euen among the most barbarous people bene euermore obserued so as wee ought in respect of the bonde that wee owe him say of the King and his bloud as of Matrimonie whom God hath ioyned together let no man put a sunder 22 But let vs more perticulerly learne whether the sentence of excommunication were lawfully vppon reasonable cause and exemplary occasion pronounced against a King and done by the iudgements of many Popes of Roome within these fiue hundred yeeres against such Kings and Emperours to whoÌ„ they haue borne bad minds Although I thinke it not meete to ground any lawe vpon the examples of these men in troth full fraught with ambition more then humaine affection but it is requisite to examine this question by the rules of Gods lawe and politicke reason established for the preseruation of the societie of mankinde Herein therefore I say y t the sentence of excoÌ„municatioÌ„ denouÌ„ced against a King how iust soeuer the cause bee and conteyneth dispensation for the oath and duetie that the subiects do owe vnto him this licence and tolleration vnto the people graunted is repugnant to the lawe of God and all mans reason For sith the subiects are by Gods commandement bound to obeye their Princes whatsoeuer without any further enquirie of their consciences and behauiours they cannot by any tradition or permission of man either generall or perticuler be dispensed with because no man can enterprize vpon Gods ordenances and euery dispensation so graunted is voyde as beeing repugnant to the deuine prouidence As Pope Leo and Vrban haue very wisely confessed Especially sith this dispensation cannot bee put in execution without great sclaunder and shedding of bloud by reason of such warres and quarels as will be raysed through the rebellion of the Subiects against their Prince their Kings resistance not onely in respect of his conscience but also for his Estate and the defence of his Crowne In such necessities therefore Pope Gelasius teacheth vs that we are especially
the Tyrants tormentors of their consciences and abusers of the honors that they haue receiued of our Kings and the Princes of the bloud of the house of France Let them marke the miserable ende of Absalon and Achitophel his counsaylor against the Maiestie of Dauid of Adonias Athalia and infinite others who with their conspiraties haue dyed in confusioÌ„ and miserie Oh noble Frenchmen will you abide in the world I will not say to looke vppon but which is more to hasten and aduance the cursed drift of the translation of the scepter of the Flowerdeluce out of the hands of your King and the Princes of his house to whom only you doe owe your condition your welth and your very life not in courtesie and honestie onely but by Gods expresse coÌ„mandement who hath therewith burdened your consciences Wil you more then villanously forgoe that great commendation which all nations in the world haue so greatly commeÌ„ded and honored in you for being more faithfull and ielous of the hononr and seruice of your Kings and Princes of their bloud then any nation that euer was vpon the face of the earth Will you stand as instruments and offer the ladder to those y â— wrongfully would make them selues Kinges and cause you to commit the most abhominable fellonie that euer was conspired Doe you not plainly see that those who doe sollicite you are not able to vphoulde you as hauing no other meanes then such as your enemies minister vnto theÌ„ to whom both you and they shall serue for pasture the next day after Is it not most certaine that they cannot pretend sith God hath giuen vs a King I will speake without sâ—atterie as wanting the honor to bee knowne of his Maiestie of whom the least of them can not saye the pertinent occasion of his discontentment but yet when GOD shall haue wrought his wil vpon him are ye not certain who ought to be his successor Liue you not vnder a Christian Monarchy that hath lawes established for that purpose Would you liue to be called corrupters and perturbers of the foundations of the Crowne vnder the which and by the succession whereof your fathers haue obteyned and left vnto you the name honor and title of Nobilitie which ye beare What weene you the curious posteritie may thinke of you when they finde it written that the French Nobilitie tooke Armes against their King to name vnto him a successor and vnder the pretence thereof to depriue him of all authoritie respect honor vnto him due euen by him that should succeede him according to the Salick law who with this declaration should stil be assisted by these firebraÌ„ds of this tyme to the ende to make him withstand and ecclipse the bright sunne of his Maiestie What opinion would you wish Christian Princes to conceiue of your fidelitie when they shall knowe that without regarde of your bond to this Crowne you shall haue assisted the enemies therof against your King and the Lawes of the Realme Would you your King should haue occasion of ielouzy against him whom they pretend to cause to be nominated who also by such as shall haue aduaunced him might bee perswaded to lift his hornes ouer high and so to become a censor ouer his Lorde To be briefe I tell you the world could neuer beare two SuÌ„nes What greater recoÌ„pence may ye hope for of straungers that you knowe not then of your naturall Princes whoÌ„ God by his holy wil hath established ouer you Is it not felicitie enough for you to bee borne men to bee made Christians to haue bene brought vp Frenchmen See ye not well enough that the Lord Cardinall of Bourbon is but the vizard and pretence to runne into armes for the glutting of their ambition there is great zeale and likelihood in their deedes wheÌ„ they would name a successor aboue 60. yeeres olde broken and crooked to succeede a young King healthie lustie moderate in his exercizes and maner of dyet yea and all this contrary to Iustice and the lawes not onely of this Realme but also of all other the best ordered Estates that euer were whereby together with infinite reasons I haue shewed you that it is the King of Nauarre to whom the same should apperteyne Shall I with Cicero speaking of Cesar and Pompey tell you all They here offer vnto vs y e Image of the Lord Cardinall of Bourbon but would set vp their owne They will with that good man arme them selues and become more Kings then he whoÌ„ they make shew to loue more then any other and yet doe they loue themselues better euen to the preiudice of your honor life memorie and reputation if ye take not heede so that God will vndoubtedly suffer them to be swallowed vp when they haue bene the occasions of infinite murders robberies and spoyles For the letting whereof as also of all other mishap or destruction that wee attende of such ciuill warres as vnder this contention are brewed let vs withdrawe our selues to God and most humbly beseech him to order our hearts in one consent according to his holy will to the ende according thereunto wee may acknowledge and embrace our King who is the same to whom next after God we owe al and after the diuine power ought to bee vnto vs aboue all Let vs also weete that next vnto him we are bound to haue respect vnto him whom it hath pleased God to cause to be borne into the world to gouerne vs in the Royall dignitie whensoeuer it should please him to call away our king without issue capable of y e Crowne and together with him whom for vs he hath elected and blessed in his mothers wombe let vs with one heart and minde crye peace peace bee among vs glory to the Lorde on high and peace and good will vnto men Amen FINIS Sigisbert in his Chron. Sigisb fol. 233. Idem fol. 595. Idem fol. 596. Idem fol. 597. Idem fol. 599. Idem fol. 601. Sigis. in his Chron. Heman in his contraction of Chron. Idem Sigis. fol. 611. Idem fol. 612. Idem fol. eodem Munster Cosmog Sanso in his Chron. Vign in the orig of the French leg Salic lib. p. ca. 26 Paul Aem. in Philip. Vales Concil vol. 2. cap. 4. fol. 739. I. vel agnatis ff de relig l. ius sepulchri C. cod Ign. in disput an rex Franc. recog snper Mol. in coÌ„s paris tit p. ff 8. Bald. in ff vnic de feud March Ioh. de Teran in lib. coÌ„t reb reg Tract p art p. coÌ„cil 9. 10. 11. 12. Guil. de Month. in tract de suc reg Franc. l. 9. ff desp l. 32. parag si quis spon sam ff de don int vir l. 66. ff de iur dot l. 65. ff de don int vir l. 30. ff quand die leg ccd â— 10. ff de cond de monst l. 13. parag si minor ff ad leg iul de adult l. 4. ff de rit nupt l. 17. 18 ff de