illumination of your owne brayne and that you will make them beléeue for an vndoubted truth vpon your single asseueration and all the reasons which you bring for the confirmation of these your fantasies you lay downe sic volo sic iubeo I pray you my good Lord tell me whose voyces be these But what if they will not take your sic volo sic iubeo for reasons which may induce them to subscribe to your abiuration and will not suffer themselues to bee cut off neither being not conuincted of error but stand to defend themselues against an vniuersall contumelie iniurie and violence What will you doo My Lord Bishop hearing this newes what will they neither beléeue vs neither suffer themselues to be burned for our pleasures Now all my Lords religion is turned into madnesse his zeale to rage his authoritie to tyrannie and his mildnes that holy Church doth not couet after blood is turned to murther Then my Lord in his furie and in the trance of his hart he crieth Open the Kings Arseuall bring foorth his Ordinance gather together his men of armes and footmen and if néede bee the whole Realme set vpon them kill them slash them cut them spoyle them murther them and worse if you can This is not to warre quoth my Lord no no holy Church thirsteth not after bloud But here is good play which I doo offer you seeing that you must néedes to warre there is in France many legions of diuells of your haire put on your carnall armour for the spirituall armour you haue lost long agoe let your Myter serue you for an Helmet your Rochets for Corslets your Surplesses for shirts of male your Crosses for pikes your Crosier staues for Launces your red roundaches which the Cardinalls doo weare vpon their heads for Targets your Holy water tassels for Clubbes put on your Spectacles too that you may the better aime at your enemie call vppon all the he Saints and she Saints which the Popes haue deified with thousands of Ora pro nobis set you all in battell aray be fiue against one méete the heretikes if you dare in y ◠plaine open field I aduise you though you be desperate enough not to come within their reach least that with bastinadoes the pockes and the gowtes be wrong out of your rotten boanes against your wills But to returne to the purpose he exhorteth the States to vnite themselues and to sweare the foresayd edict which speaches being ended the King tooke the word thus Sir you haue heard the contents of mine edict and vnderstand the qualitie of the same the greatnes and worthines of the oth which you be about now to sweare And seeing that I perceiue your iust desires to agree with mine I will sweare and doo sweare before God in a good conscience the obseruing of this mine edict as long as God shall continue my life here and will do ordaine that it may be kept for euer as a fundamentall law of this realme and in witnesse of the correspondence and vniuersal consent of all the States of my Realme you shall now sweare the obseruation of mine edict of vnion all with one voyce you Churchmen laying your hand vpon your breast and the rest lifting vp their hands to heauen which thing was done with great reioysing and acclamation of all men crying God saue the King Now by this hee in his owne person and his subiects haue sworne an immortall warre in his Realme of which thing he commaundeth an act to bee made in writing to serue for a perpetuall remembrance of the fact The act is such as followeth This day the 18. of October 1588. the King sitting at Bloys in the assemblie of his generall states of his Realme hath sworne in his faith and word of a King to obserue this present lawe in all that shall concerne his Maiestie Also the Lords Cardinalls of Bourbon Vendosme Princes of Soyssons and Monpensier Cardinalls of Guize Leuoncourt and Gundy Dukes of Guize Nemours Neuers and Retes the Lord Kéeper and many other Lords aswell of his Counsell as Commissioners of the three estates of his Realme haue sworne to kéepe and entertaine inuiolable the sayd lawe as well in their proper names as in the names of the Prouinces which haue sent them to the said assemblie of the States This thing being done the King testified the great desire which he had to make an end of this assemblie and to prouide for all his subiects vppon their iust complaints and grieues and for that end promised not to depart out of Bloys vntill the finall end of the said estates commanding likewise them of that assemblie not to depart by any meanes whereof they gaue him most humble thankes The assemblie dismissed the King the Quéenes Princes and Princesses Cardinalls Prelates and other Lords with all the deputies of the States went to the Church S. Sauiour there to sing te Deum where they were alwayes accompanied with a generall voyce of the people crying God saue the King shewing an extreame ioy and gladnesse for their owne calamities and miseries which they had sworne Now good Christian Reader consider well three things in this history to see Gods wrath iustice and mercy the thing which they haue done the miseries which haue followed and the gracious godnes of God in vpholding the ruines and miserable fall of that kingdome For first in this session Gods wrath drawing them to work to sweare and to reioyce in their owne dreadfull destruction they haue degraded and disherited the Princes of the most noble and ancientest family of the world from that inheritance and preheminence which God Nature and Law had appoynted vnto them whose auncestors haue gouerned that kingdome with iustice and equitie aboue thirteene hundred yeares And now without cause contrary to Gods ordinance Lawe and Nature to plant another family vnknowen in France within these threescore and ten yeares the performance of this most vniust exheredation and degradation they haue sworne to execute an oath more damnable than witchcraft ioyning to that iniurie the persecution of the true church of God But O thou most highest rayse vp thy selfe bruse them like a Potters vessell What hath followed that execrable oath First the most wretched and infamous death of the chiefest authors of this coniuring and witchcraft Secondly an vniuersall rebellion against him who sware first and ministred the oath to others I am not a Prophet nor the sonne of a Prophet yet thus much I dare affirme grounded vpon the nature of Gods iustice who sayth that who shall do those abominations shall die the death That peace shall neuer be restored to France as long as there is one left aliue of that damnable and accursed company who with that abomination haue poluted the land either in their mind haue giuen approbation vnto that accursed execration and vntill the Lord hath washed away the polution of their execrable deede with their owne blood Last of all here we haue
the Lord Argence As they were all ready there to signe the agreement behold a new commotion of the people who will not compound the reason was the arryuing into the towne of the Baron of Tonnerak with diuers gentlemen of the League also of captayne Caze Marshall of the lodgings of the L. Aubeterre who do assure them that the sayd Lord of Aubeterre will come with succour to them the next day morning with three hundred horsmen and fiue hundred footmen The Abbot by these occasions was enforced to get him to the castle agayne with greater danger then at the first by reason of the raging of this Leagued people For they brought him by force before the Citadell to forbid the Souldiers to discharge the ordinance agaynst the towne which thing notwithstanding in a while after they continued to do because that the people assaulted the castell continually vppon a vayne hope incited by those leagued gentlemen newly come The chiefest officers of the King and Bourgeses of the Citty hauing duly considered in the Bishops house the danger wherin their citty stood if so many strangers on euery syde should come in ioyned themselues with the cheefest Gentlemen agaynst the rest who were stubburne They sent agayne 2. of the chiefest Bourgeses to the Lord Espernon to beseech him that it may please him that the Lord Tageus his kinsman newly arryued in the Suburbs with his companies might signe and seale the agréement to the which they added onely that they who were detayned prisoners in the castell should be comprised therein and set at liberty according to the fayth which he had geuen them promising of their part to do the like to them whom they did detayne and all that which had been taken in the houses should be restored The Lord Espernon graunting vnto them their demaund sent againe the Abbot who went forth with them of the towne to the Lord Tageus to make him seale the composition which was done about foure a clocke in the euening Within a while after the trenches were broken the people went away the Lady Espernon was conducted by the sayd Abbot into the castell with all the prisoners detayned in the towne The Lord Bordes entred the Citadell the conspiratours and Maiors fellowes who were prisoners in the castell were set at liberty Mere with his complices went forth out of the towne and retyred into theyr houses vnder the conduct of the Lord Maumont captayne of light horses The dead on both sides were quietly buried and namely the Maior whose corps with the corps of his brother were freely deliuered to their friends to be buried When the agreement was concluded it was nine and thirtie houres that neither the Lord Espernon nor any of his had eate nor dronk There was no more powder for the shot he had determined the night following to issue forth vpon the enemies for to seaze vpon the well hee also looked that night to be rescued by his men to be short by the singuler goodnes of God he escaped a perilous snare of the Leaguers a marueilous great danger for the which to auoyde hee shewed himselfe both valiaunt and watchfull and if he would be thankfull to God for so great deliuerance and consider from whence for what cause these blowes came he should doe the part of a right noble man About the selfe same time that these things were done at Engolâ—sme against the Duke Espernon the Lorde Autragues gouernour of Orleans sent to the King to protest obedience with excuse that the things which he had done in fauour of the League had been for none other cause then for zeale of the Catholick religion but perceiuing that the chiefe Leaguers passed further then he thought he wholly doth renounce detest y â— League and vpon that protestation he was receaued in fauour by the King Whilest the King after hee had sent his writtes to the Prouinces Townes and Cities to make thoyse of their deputies men of wisdome discretion and louers of peace to send with speede to the States preparing all things to resort with a soft pace to Bloys to the States It is said also how the Leaguers peruerted all things suborned all the most vile and accursed traitors that could be picked out in all France It is said also how least that execrable company might be spied or crossed they had obtained by the edict of reunion that none of the reformed religion or suspected to fauour the same and that none of the Princes of the bloud shoulde bee admitted to that house least they shoulde bee spyed when they should go about to make processe against their lawfull King and naturall Prince The King considering the shortnes of the time reiourned his estates vntill the beginning of October following whatsoeuer other causes did moue him so to doo But toward the latter end of September he and his mother accompanied with the Duke of Guize with all their traine ariued at Bloys The Princes of Monpensier County and Soyssons did appeare at Bloys and for because the Prince County had ioyned himselfe to the army of the Germanes the yeare before his company was greatly suspected and many of his friends went about to perswade him to send to the Pope for an absolution but in that following the counsell of his best friends and seruants he did it noâ— The Prince of Soyssons had alreadie obtained a Bull of the Pope containing a pardon for hauing followed the part of them of the religion with a Renuoy for his absolution to the Legat of Venise who was also at the States hee made great difficulties in the matter so that they of the assembly had once resolued to require the King not to suffer the saide Prince to bee admitted but at length it was found good to stay their sute for that time Whilest these things aboue said do passe so diuersly in sundry places the great and mightie armie appoynted for Daulphine vnder the leading of the Duke d' Mayne dooth march and at length arriued in Liomoys there continued long daring not enter far into the Prouince of Daulphine for feare of scalding but soiourned vpon the borders betweene Liomoys and Daulphine as a man that came onely to see whether he could make the hereticks afraide or not The King arriued at Bloys with all his traine maketh readie all the solemnities fit for that assemblie whilest the deputies and assignes of the Prouinces doo make readie their instructions and hast to the place appoynted The King hauing more trust in his subiects then his subiects were to be trusted of him doth expect honest wise and indifferent deputies such as would seeke onely the good of the Common wealth But the Duke of Guize had so laboured of long time and so reduced the people that there was almost no citie towne nor prouince in all France but the complices of the Leaguers vnder colour of zeale of religion preuailed in sending such as were altogether factious and desirous of innouations
agaynst their Soueraigne and benefactor and parricide among bretheren one to preuent another The newes of the death of Guyze beeing brought into the Prouinces the most part of Towns and Citties from the riuer of Loyre West North and East being already surprised aforehand and seduced from the Kings obedience by the Leaguers vppon the rumor of that execution were so greatly mooued the Duke of Guyze beeing accompted the onely piller of Popish religion by the perswasion which the Catholikes had conceaued of him that they began euery where to wauer and kindle to a manifest rebellion by the setting on of the Leaguers who were the greatest part in number euery where They did greatly by their inuectiues make heynous and odious that execution vppon the persons of Guyze and the Romish Priest his brother tearming it the Massacre committed at Bloys And thus the iust iudgement of God iustly taking vengeance for so many murthers shedding of innocent bloud and innumerable villanies committed vppon the saintes of God and for stopping their eares at the cleere and lowd voice of the Sonne of God who so louingly hath called them by his word promises by his threatnings and plagues ofpestilence famine and warre gaue them ouer to a reprobat sence with a senceles rage to fall to commit such cruelties among themselues that no enemy would or could haue desired or deuised greater their towns and citiesbeeing euery where replenished with massacres robberies banishments and proscriptions not committed agaynst them of the religion but euen of popish Catholikes against popish Catholikes of Idolaters against Idolaters of murtherers agaynst murtherers so the Lord hath sent euill Angels among them Paris the capitall cittie of the kingdome as they more hoped vppon the Duke of Guyze then any other did so they shew themselues most offended There were firebrands which kindled the sedition to the vttermost to wit the Duchesses of Guyze and Nemours who with their outcries and lamentations did animate the people to a raging madnes Thereunto also added the Iesuits and Fryers set on by the aforenamed all their inuectiues insolent and vnreuerent wordes in their ordinary tragicall outcryes in their Pulpits and philippicall sermons to make the people obstinate desperat and vntractable to be hereafter reduced to any obedience Other Cities followed the example of Paris as Orleans Roen Anieus Abeuille Reymes and Tholose whereby the conspiracy and setting on of the Bishop of the place in most cruel maner they tooke the first president of the court of Parliament there hanged him vpon a Gibet and afterward dragged his dead body about the streets beeing one of the most zealous romish Catholikes which then could liue in this world the onely cause was that he would not allow their rebellion The King vnderstanding the great sturres perilous flames of rebellion in most part of the townes and cities of his realme supposing by impunity which he calleth clemencie and gentlenes to quench that fire which was already too far kindled writeth his declarations emporting an obliuion of all iniuries to be published in all his Parliaments and other courts in Prouinces First he sheweth how oftentimes hee hath borne with the perturbers of his realme not onely in forgiuing them their offences whome hee might haue iustly punished but also by winning them by all fauours possible to be shewed onely thereby séeking the preseruation of the peace of his subiects and of the Catholick religion vntill that hee was certainely informed that they had conspired against his person life and estate so farre as he was inforced to make that execution extraordinarily Secondly he sheweth that although many had béen of that conspiracy whome he might haue iustly punished yet for the loue which he beareth vnto all Catholicks hée hath stayed the punishment vpon the two chiefest authors of the euill Thirdly he protesteth that he will haue the edict of reunion obserued in all poynts burying al the former offences in perpetuall forgetfulnes commaundeth his iudges and officers in all his courtes to make no inquisition of the former offences willing all men to liue in peace vnder his obedience and if not hee chargeth his officers to make exemplary iustice of the offenders The King hauing assembled his estates as is saide before supposing by their help and assistance to haue repressed the outragious attempts of the house of Guize sawe himselfe in the middest of them compassed with a company of mortall enemies to his person life and state Whereupon destitute of authoritie counsell and help through pusillanimity was faine to spare the liues of them who were in his power and of others whome he might easily haue apprehended who had their hands as déepely in the trespasse as the chiefe authors themselues This was the worke of the Lord to bring him to the consideration of his great errors in refusing so often the wholsome and brotherlike aduertisements of the good K. of Nauarre and other Princes both within and without the realme his louing and faithfull friends The more therefore he goeth about with impunity of most grieuous offences which in his declaration hee tearmeth clemency to bring that people of Paris seduced from his obedience to their duety y e more that miserable people condemned of God and in his wrath appointed to hauock and thraâ—dome for multiplying rebellion murthers and confusions vpon their former murthers Idolatries and abominations dooth rage and like mad dogs as out of their wittes doo run headlong to worke the full measure of their desperat rebellions accounting the Kings clemency cowardlines which they might haue called pusillanimitie in deed as though hée feared either to haue them his enemies or else to loose them from being his subiects Therefore hauing committed greeuous crimes all manner of wayes euen with greedines at length hauing concluded to withdraw themselues from their soueraignes obedience the chiefest players in this tragedie of rebellion to colour their diuilish passions with the authoritie of Gods law as though they would haue asked Gods wil out of his owne mouth adressed them themselues to the facultie of Theologie there commonly called the Colledg of Sorboune For that purpose they sent one Vrban one of the Magistrates of Paris to the sayd Sorboune hauing framed in manner of supplication two questions to be resolued by them First an populus regni Galliae possit solui liberari à sacramento fidelitatis obedientiae Henrico tertio praestito Whether the people of France may not be discharged and setfree from the oath of allegeance and obedience made vnto Henry the third Secondly an tuta conscientia possit idem populus armari vniri pecnnias colligere contribuere ad defensionem conseruationem Religionis Catholicae Romanae in hoc regno aduersus nefaria conscilia conatus praedicti regis quorum libet aliorum illi adherentium contra publica fidei violationem ab eo Blaesis factum in praeiuditium praedictae religionis Catholicae edicti sanctae vnionis