in Citties and Townes in which cases they are vnited by well gouerned lawes and ordinances euery one according to his charge and necessary function but that the mischiefe was that in these daies lawes are nothing else but written papers hee set downe the vnexcusable faults committed in obseruation of lawes pollices and ordinances made for the punishment of swearers blasphemers players idle persons vsurers vnlawfull exacters cousoners wicked liuers men vsing prohibited and vnlawfull places with all such kinde of vices Idle Schollers the libertie of liuing idlely and desolutely without pollicie or gouernment but only by bad and disordered meanes causes and originalles of troubles and seditions which ouerthrow and subuert all kingdomes and good Common-wealths adding therevnto a most earnest exhortation to seeke remedies to all those michiefes The kings debts Lastly hee shewed the great debts the king hadde fallen into his great diligences and hazards by making warres against the hereticques his pietie religion and deuotion to the Romish Church with the rare behauiour actions and counsell of the Queene his mother Ending his Oration with the vnitie and concord that ought to bee as a most necessary thing in that assembly thereby to holde the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane Church with general and particular estate of all that are comprehended therin in true obedience to the king in all vnion and concord which doing this Monarchie would bee found to be inuironed with all happinesse vnder the authoritie of the most christian king and to the contrary dooing otherwise they should feele a continuall greefe and remorse of conscience within their mindes for disobeying God their King and countrie The Archbishop of Bourges Oration The Archbishop of Bourges Patriarch and Primate of Aquitaine thanked the king in that it pleased him to shewe his great good will towards his subiects saying that thereby the poore and miserable countrie of France which for the space of eight and twentie yeares hadde beene so much tormented beganne to receiue some strength and to take courage hearing the sweete and pleasing voyce of her king witnessing his more then fatherly affection towards his subiects which would cause him to bee honoured and belooued within his Realme as much as in auncient time the world worshipped Herculus Theseus and other valiant men that eased and relieued them from the burthen of oppressions and violences vsed in those daies by Tyrants and monstrous Gyants Saying that as God when his people were afflicted raised Moyses Iosue Dauid Manasses Iosaphat Ezechias and other good kings so by his prouidence hee hadde sent into this desolate kingdome a King who from his young yeares hadde beene guided by the Spirite of the Kings beloued of God wisedome of God to gouerne his people and as the young Eagle a celestiall bird comming out of her nest his Maiestie pricked and prouoked by the vengeance and generositie of his Predecessors hath throwne the thunder of the eternall GOD vppon the faces and heades of the enemies of his diuine Maiestie not once sparing his owne life for the honour of God and tranquillitie of his Realme who in his voyage to Polonia His voyage to Polonia passing and repassing through so many and diuers Nations hath hadde and gotten so much experience in all actions that by the onely wisedome and eye of his vertues hee hath dispearsed a great and puissant armie of straungers Rutters and Switzers A happie houre of his raigne Concluding therewith by so certaine a hope that vnder so good and so mightie a king they should see heresie suppressed and repulsed peace assured the seruice of God established all the Churches restored and reedified Townes franchised and freed from caliuers and drummes the Temple of warres closed and shutte vppe and that of peace opened vnto all men iustice and peace imbrasing each other lawes flourishing charitie abounding among men and by one consent and vnion of religion vnder the obedience of God and the King who representing the person of GOD beareth the sword of Gods iustice heere on earth the kingdome of Christ would thereby beginne to flourish as an example of all goodnesse in the world to come wherevnto wee all aspire Great ioy made by the estates And therewith in the name of them all adding this exclamation Viue Rex in sempiternum Liue King liue and liue eternally and for the gracious vertues and notable inspirations wherewith God hath touched your Princely heart all your Realme of France singeth Benedictus Deus qui misit talem voluntatem in cor regis Blessed and praised bee God that hath inspired so good and notable a desire into the heart of our King which wee beseech his diuine Maiestie to assist fortifie and conduct to a most happie and prosperous end for his honour and glorie The Earle of Brssac his OratioÌ„ made in â—ame of the whole Nobilitie After the Archbishop of Bourges sat downe the Earle of Brissac stood vppe and for a congratulation of those of his order hee shewed the King that the Nobilitie in generall hadde giuen him in charge to thanke his Grace for the good and honour they receiued beeing by his commaundements called and conuoked togither by an assembly of the generall estates and in his royall presence there to heare and vnderstand his holy and good resolutions assuring themselues that the effects would bee as prompt and certaine as it was a naturall and iust thing in him to be a true king acknowledging that by that meanes onely it would make them such as they ought to be The affectioÌ„ of the French Nobilitie in the seruice of the king and state touching the reestablishing of the honour of God the Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane religion and of other things profitable to his estate and necessarie for his poore people Promising for their partes to vse the fidelitie zeale affection and generositie that hath allwaies beene naturall in the Gentlemen of France towardes their Kings and soueraigne Princes Offering vnto his Maiestie the most humble seruice of their armes persons and liues to cause him to bee obeyed honoured feared respected and acknowledged of all men as both diuine and humane lawes haue constituted and appoynted And withall to restore his Realme purged of heresies the spring and cause of all diuisions to her first and ancient dignitie wherevnto they would expose themselues freely generously and liberally vnder his authoritie euen to the last drop of their blood The Crati of the third estate The Prouost of Merchants within Parris President for the thirde estate fell on his knees and for those of his degree spake and sayde That seeing it had pleased his Maiestie so to open his minde and to declare his holy intents vnto his people thereby assuring them of his great charitie truely named most fatherly in their behalfes his most humble most obedient and most faithfull subiects of the third estate first praised God that it had pleased him to cast the eyes of his mercie
vnto their libertie hee would destroy and ouerthrow all the Catholicque Churches in Italie The feare of this mischiefe caused him to tollerate an euill otherwise vntollerable pernicious necessitie to haue peace is the most straight band of humane commodities thereby to shunne warres that maketh fathers without childen children Orphans women widdowes Churches without exercise of religion or godlinesse and the world without God without lawe or without faith to bannish warres that change a most christian Realm into a Commōwealth of Atheists Frēchmen that are peaceable and tractable into Scithians and Canibals liuing only by blood this bloodie ciuill warre that maketh the earth a hell and men the diuelles it is most iust and reasonable to appease the differences of religion by peace seeing warre cannot effect it That ancient world of the church which in respect of ours beeing of Iron and brasse might iustly be called golden permitteth this libertie Peace accorded such false concords and made good musicke diuers Princes and Estates which at this day flourish in great honour suffer euery man to liue according to his conscience and manner of religion without any alteration of their estates by such discipline Detestation of massacres They consider that the schisme is begunne that the greatest part of Europe is diuided that diuers good Towns in France make profession of this religion there is no more remedie that wee must leaue this conuersion to the prouidence of God They content themselues that their subiects obey them and that they vse their religion according to their mindes they doo not therefore make a barbarous galemawfre of the members of their subiects they massacre them not they kill them not and beleeue that whatsoeuer wee haue done heretofore is not lesse horrible to the minde then cruell to the will the League replyeth and said Trouble not your selfe so much with tying these examples togither they serue for nothing there is no proportion of one Realme with the other in this poynt that which is good for the Frenchmen is not good for others We must not so much stand vpon the consideration of things that are alreadie done as of those wee should doo France neuer had two religions shee could neuer indure them Arians could not dwell therein the Alligers were not tollerated with them and the Lutherians and Caluinists would not long continue among them if the League bee in force Let your Grace remember what a Chrisostome of France said vnto you at the last Parliament holden in Blois and now giue the like authoritie to his arguments that they then had when they made you take armes to purge the heart of Europe of the poyson of heresie France said hee hath beene such that after it had publicquely receiued the Christian faith vnder Clouis it hath alwaies maintained it in one course immutable iuuiolable France neuer indured the peruerse opinions of faith within her brest France while all Christendome was moued by the pernicious diuisions of so diuers opinions and with so many and different sorts of heresies that vntill this time haue raigned hath alwaies continued constant and vpright not once bending it selfe to any false doctrine France hath been the succor and defence of christian faith and the terror of the enemies thereof And to conclude France hath beene like a rocke or vnexprignable sort of christianitie And how much should it now bee fallen from his auncient honour how much reputation should it loose how much should it want of her first fidelitie towards God if changing her firmitie constancie touching faith it should liue long in such diuision and indure before her eyes in times past so iealous of the vnion of christian beleese and libertie but rather an intollerable libertie to liue vnder diuers religions Your Maiestie looking into the memorie of things past may sufficiently perceiue that as long as France hath been vnited vnder one christian religion shee hath made her glorie and renowne spred through all countries shee hath caused her valor in armes to be prooued felt in all places of the world shee hath alwaies beene victorious ouer all the enemies of Catholicque religion and hath done so many honourable actions achieued so great and happy conquests against Insidels that it wanne such glorie among the Asians Africans Indians Persians Tartarians Moores Sarrazins and others that all the christians in Europe are by them called Frenchmen for that because those strange nations haue onely felt the armes of Frenchmen they haue also comprehended all the Latine churches vnder the name of France Frenchmen But since France hath been diuided rent with two religions let vs see how much it hath loft of her auncient renowne shee that commaunded a great part of Europe that conquered countries farre distant from her that at her onely name made diuers warrelike nations to tremble is found since this vnhappy and vnfortunate diuision to bee reduced into such extremitie that in the middle of her brest she hath receiued forraine powers shee hath in a manner receiued the lawe of her neighbours and of her enemies and that cruell turning her sword against her owne intrailes and although shee was inuincible in respect of all other nations she is now her self so imbased vanquished and ouerthrowne which is the fruit that this venemous plant of new opinion hath induced which seemeth to be at the poynt readie to giue more daungerous thrusts if according to the expectation which your obedient people haue conceiued of your wisdome pietie it pleaseth not your Maiestie speedily to take order therein Remember that your Grace beareth the Scepter of the great king Clouis that first ruled this Monarchie vnder the publike profession of this religion which at this present is put in question within this Realme Remember that you are successor to that great Childeberg that being able to indure such persons about him that had any wrong opinion of christian religion made wars vppon the Visigots that were infected with the heresie of the Arrians and in the end constrained them to ioyne and vnite themselues to the holy and Catholicque Church Remember that you beare vpon your head the crowne of that Charles who for the greatnesse and valor of his actions deserued the name of great and by the vertue of his armes aduanced christian religion and defended the authoritie of the Apostolicque sea against such as persecuted the same Remember that you hold the place of that most woorthieking Philip Auguste who with so much zeale affection imployed his armes against Albigeois hereticques that had sequestred themselues from the Catholicque vnion Remember that you sit in the seate of that renowmed Prince Saint Lewis that spared not his treasures his forces nor his own person for his desence and aduancement of the faith of Christ and by his christian actions deserued the crowne and surname of Saint and without prolonging time to rehearse them all Remember that you are Nephew to that great king Francis
vppon them in the extremitie of their afflictions and then yeelded most hartie thankes vnto his Maiestie who shewing his power ordained from aboue to rule and gouerne this Christian Monarchie with all courtesie and princely inclination hath not refused to bend his royall eares to their most humble petitions to heare their greefes and complaints and withall to shewe a most singular and speciall desire to restore his people to their auncient force to whom as then there rested but the onely libertie of speech and that very weake and feeble to reestablish holy religion in her pristinate estate by the extirpation of all errors and heresies to rule and remit all auncient orders altered by the iniurie and alteration of times vnto their first forme and manner of beeing and to comfort his poore people protesting that therein their most humble and most faithfull seruices should neuer bee wanting euen to the last gaspe which Oration beeing ended the assemblie with a maruellous contentment ended the first day of their meeting The second day of meeting vpon Tuesday the 18. of Octob. 1588. The second day of their meeting beganne vppon the Tuesday after in the same manner as it did vppon the first day and because the King had been mooued by the Archbishop of Ambrun the Counte de Brissac and the Aduocate Bernard Deputies for the three estates to renue his oathes of vnion and perceiuing their pursuite to proceede from the distrust they had in him seeing that hee hauing once sworne it within the Cittie of Roane it was as then needelesse to renue his oath againe hee went neuerthelesse to satisfie the importunitie of the League and so beganne that seconde meeting with the same action The Kings proposition made to the Senate at their meetings Silence beeing commaunded by a Herault his Maiestie saide that at their first meeting hee hadde shewed what great desire and care hee hadde that in his raigne hee might see and beholde his subiects revnited in the true Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane religion vnder the obedience which it hadde pleased GOD for their partes to giue vnto him and for that cause hauing made his Edict in the moneth of Iuly last ordaining it to bee confirmed and holden for a The Edict of vnion made a lawe fondamentall law of his Realm therby to binde both himself and them with all their posterities his meaning was as then to haue it redde openly before them all which done euery man should sweare to obserue it accordingly And with that hee commaunded Monsieur de Beaulieu his principal Secretarie to read it togither with the declaration made vpon the same so to giue it the force and authoritie of a law of his Realme and yet without derogating the liberties and priuiledges of his Nobilite The reading thereof with the declaration beeing ended the king desiring that the woorthinesse of the cause should bee preferred with as much Maiestie as it deserued thereby to mooue the whole assembly better to consider the importance of the contract which as then they were to make with God crauing his horrible and most fearefull vengeance might fall vppon all those that disloyally should falsifie their faiths therevnto giuen as assurances of the obseruation of his said Edict of vnion he commanded the Archbishop of Bourges to make an Oration vnto the states concerning the same The oration of the Archbishop of Bourges touching the Edict of the vnion This learned Prelate saide that seeing it pleased his Maiestie that the instruction of so solemne an oath should bee giuen vnto the people by the mouth of the Prelates hee exhorted all the assembly appoynted for that great and solemne actions to humble themselues vnder the mightie hand of God and to acknowledge his Maiestie togither with the effect and quallitie of the oath which they were as then to receiue considering that God is trueth it selfe and all oathes whatsoeuer which are not grounded vppon that trueth are false and vniust That the cause of the oath as then presented was for the Church the onely spouse of God The Church is visible Vniuersall Catholicque visible heere on earth because it comprehendeth all the faithfull that are the christian communaltie Inuisible in heauen where it is said triumphant vniuersall for that it maketh no distinction of persons nations quallities conditions or sects One without diuision or schisme One for that of Alexandria Ephese Ierusalem Affrica and Aegipt are but one Church and her doctrine is one Romane doctrine not in regard of the walles of the Cittie of Rome but by reason of a speciall nomination and demonstration that is saide of it that therein Saint Peter and after him Saint Clement and others their successors haue preached and announced the word of God witnessing the true christian doctrine and many other Martyrs with the price of their blood which they haue freely shed for the name and honour of God The vnion of the Church That the vnion of this Church is so strong that it cannot bee broken nor separated in it selfe beeing placed vppon the firme rocke which is Iesus Christ so that the gates of hell cannot preuaile against it it is called the Lords vinyard and the Gods sheepfolde vnder one head and shepheard of our soules That to preserue the vnitie of his Church it is conuenenient that all the children thereof should be vnited vnder Christ their Sauiour and vnder the king whose faith hath continued from posteritie to posteritie euen vnto his person and neuer separated it selfe from the vnitie of this holy and christian religion Let vs vnite our selues then said this Prelate let vs vnite our selues togither as true faithfull Catholicques let vs renue this great and solemne oath due vnto God let vs ioyne our vowes and hearts togither and so yeeld them and confirme them vnto God Obedience due to the king Let vs sweare vnto our Prince the obedience submission due vnto him by all lawes diuine and humane let vs imbrace christian charitie let vs abandon hatreds rancors both open and secret with all suspitions and distrusts which hitherto haue troubled and diuided vs and which haue hindered yea and broken so good intents and had it not beene for them France had long since enioyed a happie peace Let vs lift vp our hands to heauen to yeelde vnto that great God the oath wee owe vnto him that it may bee a memorie for euer vnto the world that our posterities may beholde our faiths and constancie in our oathes and not our periurie by the good and holy effects that shall insue And seeing it hath pleased your Maiestie most noble Prince to bee the first that heere in presence of vs all shall performe this oath for an example to all your subiects all wee with one accord will lift vp our hands to heauen and sweare by the liuing God to serue and honour him for euer to maintaine his Catholicque Apostolicque and Romane Church to defend your
Parris see clearer then others touching the gouernment of the Realme displacing of some and placing of others in principall offices to constraine those of Guise to yeeld an account touching the treasures by them receiued in the last Kings time as also of other their misbehauiours to recall the gifts made vnto the Duchesse of Valentinois thēselues and others that before their iustification they shuld not sit in coūsell The Queene-mother much troubled therat found no better nor no surer meanes then to make a new contract with the king of Mauarre and therein to imploy the Constable that by the accord between them the King of Nauarre was expresly declared Liestenant Generall for the King To breake their intent the Queene-mother agreeth with the King of Nauarre and order set downe that the Queene-mother should do nothing but by his aduise and consent This was written and signed by them both as also by the Councell and namely by the Duke of Guise who by the Queenes Counsell shewed himselfe much more tractable then euer hee did Diuers of the King of Nauarres Councell were of the contrary opinion although hee alleadged diuers great promises made vnto him from the Queene by word of mouth alledging that shee would wholly deny whatsoeuer shee had said that his Lieftenants place should be but in paper and that if the matter were ruled and ordered by the Estates both the Queene and those of Guise with all their adherents would bee so dealt withall that the realme would be restored vnto her pristinate gouernment and that to the contrary leauing things in that order France as then beeing at peace and quietnesse with forraine enemies would presently bee troubled in most straunge and extraordinary maner within it selfe for partiallities being great on both sides the one would seeke to ouerrunne the other and that it was to bee hoped that if the affaires of the estate were ruled ordered according to the lawes of the Realme men might easilie impeach and hinder wicked men from effecting that which by them is secretly pretended that then at the beginning it behoued them to looke vnto it and to bee well aduised thereby to establish peace and good gouernment in the affaires of the Realme But whatsoeuer they said it was to no effect whereby both the King of Nauarre himselfe the Princes of the blood and all the Realme in generall did after indure much woe the wound wherof as yet remaineth fresh The increase of the religion not supported Forth us it fell out those of the religion openly increasing within France and in the Court the King of Nauarre did seem to support them Sermons were made both in the prince of Condes the Admirals chambers as also both within and without the Court and the Queene-mother caused the Bishoppe of Valence to preach within the great Hall which Bishoppe followed not the Sorbonists doctrine such as desired nothing but new troubles thereby not to bee constrained to giue account for things past and that knewe full well that the sweete ayre of a firme and steadfast peace would soone melt and consume them or else reduce them into so miserable an estate that they should bee forced to hide their heades taking that occasion as it fell out They first inflamed the Constable by the daylie speeches and exclamations of his wife ordinarily accompanied and plyed by Priests and Friers and then by his kinsmen And lastly The perturbers solicite the Constable to begin their Tragedie by certaine persons purposely appoynted to that end by those of Guise as also by the Queene-mother against those of the religion saying that they went about wholly to abollish the Masse and all his Reliques and that vnder pretence of yeelding vppe of accounts and extraordinary giftes they sought to vnhorse him that for the space of fortie yeares had dealt in the greatest and most vrgent affaires of the Realme The Marshal of Saint Andre and Montpesat draue forward this wheele and therewith perswaded the Constable alreadie mooued in that hee sawe and openly perceiued the auncient traditions of the Romish Church to bee wholly despised both by great and small within the Court. His eldest sonne who beeing a Lord of great iudgement and perceiuing his Father vppon the poynt to bee separated and disioyned from the Prince of Conde and his Nephews de Chastillon other great Lords thereby to become the executioner of the Guisians passions vsed all the means he could to driue backe the blowe but he did no more therein then the Admirall and his brother the Cardinall de Chastillon The Constable remaining firme in that opinion that changing of religion would breed an alteration of the estate which he would not endure and to conclude not long after he and the Duke of Guise hauing made diuers banquets togither with the Duke de Montpensieur at Fontainbleau the Constable made a Supper to the Duke of Guise the Prince de Iainuille and the Marshall of Saint Andre the next day riding to Chantilly to the marriage of Thore his fift sonne the Duke of Guise not long after following him to Nantueil about fiue myles from thence where by letters they had many and seuerall conferences The common people in diuision following the example of the Nobilitie The people of France beeing vsed to cast their eyes vppon the Court perceiuing that there the great personages beganne to looke with strange countenances vpon each other they began to do the like There wāted no prouokers nor perswaders in the temples who without suppression spake of nothing else but fire and sword whereby in many places ensued great mutinies as in Beauuais Amiens Pontoise and other Townes wherein most great excesse and rigor was shewen to those of the religion who beeing as it were but a handfull in comparison to those of the Romish Church demaunded nought but peace sometimes certaine of them lesse patient then the rest not beeing able to indure the iniuries of those that termed them Huguenots and no Christians beganne to replye in like manner calling such as abused them Papistes and from such stinging words they fell to quarrelles which differences produced an edict made at Fontainbleau forbidding those reproaches and names of Huguenots and Papists also not to search any mans house nor to keepe any man prisoner for the religion vnder colour and pretence of certaine formes not well obserued An edict made at Fontainbleau as aremedy against the order taken by the Parliament which as then was almost broken The Parliament of Parris that likewise beganne to take a part in stead of opposing it selfe against commotions that might alter and change the quietnesse of the estate made great declarations vnto the King affirming most plainely that the diuersitie of religion is not to be indured in one estate condemning that by them termed to be a libertie of conscience and requiring the king to make and ordaine an open profession of the Romish religion and therevnto to
enioy benefices without dispensation succeed their Parents and purchase lands and possessions as if they were seculer persons This is the course whereby they haue at chieued such wealth riches in this new order for al that falleth to these lesser obseruantiues by succession purchase chace or any other practise is incorporate into the whole bodie of Iesuites without repetition or reuocation for euen they to whom it falleth haue vowed obedience We are moreouer to note another especiall vow of these men which importeth that they shall in all cases in all places obey their Generall superior who alwaies is a Spaniard chosen by the K. of Spaine as hitherto it hath alwaies fallen out for among other the wordes of this vow they haue these that setting their eie vpō their Geneneral they are to acknowledge in him the person of Iesus Christ as present From these vows distinctions haue proceeded terrible enterprises year euen most heynous attempts against the liues and persons of Princes kings and Queens as the Histories of the low Countries England and Rome do plainly testifie wherof also we wil speak somewhat toward the end of the raigne of Hemy the third As touching the disorders happened in the two orders by thē deuised which are termed the one the great obseruants the other the Iesse Two decrees in the Iesuits sext in fauor whereof they may subdue all the world to the king of Spaine their Soueraigne Maister Pasquier discoueret it at large and time hath veresied it adding these words Seeing it is so said he that in their lesse obseruance there is neither vowe of virginitie nor prouerbe and therinto they receiue all kinds of people indifferently both Priests and Lay-men married vnmaired are not bound to be resident with the great obseruants but permitted to dwell among the commō people only that at certain fixed daies they assembled at their cōmon-house to be participants with their outward cerimonies so that according to this lawe and rule it is not impertinent to see a whole towne to be Iesuites The communication which they haue togither by means of confessions serueth to find out their booties to discouer the secrets both of great and small and because they are particularly affected to the king of Spaine their chiefe founder for whom also they make particular expresse and ordinary prayers it is not to be wondred at if since that time these new brethren both in France and elsewhere haue sought and trauelled so much to make him Monarch of all the world Besides this Maister Pasquier addeth that the Iesuites alluring vs with faire promises are ordained to gripe lay hold vpō our goods and to fil thēselues with our spoiles that they are Sophisters the are entred like fearfull foxes in the middle of vs therin by proces of time to raigne like Lyons that as the auncient Orators and teachers of the people by a kind of pleasing speech by litle litle got credite in Rome so by litle litle they ouerthrew the estate as all Pollititians iudged we must attend expect no lesse of the Iesuites if in the beginning both their race and roote be not extirped The aduise and decree of the Sorbonnists against the Iesuites In the same plea he doth also insert the aduice and decree of the facultie of diuinitie of Parris in the Colledge of Sorbonne of the yeare 1554. importing as followeth This new societie after a new waner attributing to it self only an vnaccustomed title of the name of Iesus so licentiously admitting all people howsoeuer criminall illegitimate or infamous vsing likewise no difference from secular Priests in their outward habit in their tousure in saying their canonical hours either priuately or singing the same publikely in the temples in Cloyster or in silence in choise of meat daies in fasts or in other the seuerall laws ceremonies that do distinguish preserue the estates of religions hauing attained so many diuers priuiledges intelligences liberties especially in regard of Masses confessions without distinction of place or persons likewise in the question of preaching reading or teaching to the great preiudice of ordinaries Curats all other orders of Monks and Fryers yea euen of Princes temporal Lords contrary to the priuiledges of the Vniuersities and to the great oppression of the people do seem to pollute the honestie of monasticall religion to weaken the studious deuoute and necessary exercise of vertue abstinence cerimonies and austeritie yea euen to minister occasion freely to shrink from al other religions to substract and draw away all obediēce subiection due to ordinaries doth wrongfully depriue both temporal Ecclesiasticall Lords of their rights breedeth troubles in al estates eyther pollicke or religious and many quarrels among the commons as suites strife discention enuie rebelliō sundrie schismes Al these considerations with many others diligently wayed and examined this societie seemeth dangerous to the estate of religion a disturbance to the peace and vnitie of the Church and subuerter of all mockerie and an inuention tending rather to destruction then edification Now let vs see what followeth A bitter censure against the Iejuiticall sect There neuer was faith M. Pasquier who protesteth himselfe to be of the Romish church in the faith wherof he voweth to liue die inuented so partial ambitious a sect neither any whose propositions imported more pernicious consequence then the Iesuites In her principles she is a schismatick cōsequently an hereticke Then doth he compare Ignace with Luther so cōcludeth that Ignace is more to be feared them the other for saith he mens consciences may easily be surprised made drunken with the poyson of the Ignatians and Iesuites in that they account them to be the principall protectors of the Romish religion against all hereticques whereof neuerthelesse they are the chiefe subuerters Vnder pretence of supporting the church of God they do subuert it wil at length vtterly ouerthrow it Soone after proceeding in his speech to the whole Court he saith I hope plainly to let you vnderstād that this sect in all their propositions worketh nothing but diuision between the christian and the Iesuit between the Pope the Ordinaries between all other Monks thēselues that so long as they be tollerated no Prince or Potentate can assure his estate against their attempts This sect was founded vpon the ignorance of Ignace euer since maintained and vpholden by the pride arrogancie of his secretaries After that he reproacheth thē terming thēselues Iesuits do degrade the ancient christians and blaspheme against God Further that in Portingal the Indes they term thēselues Apostles saith that as certain sectuaries in An. 1562. surnamed Iesuits others such proud persons were ouerwhelmed by the iust iudgement of God so we are to expect no other thing at the hāds of this mean sext of Iesuits what shew soeuer it maketh that these Ignaciās
mother and his bretheren But the freedome of the Ministers being impatient to staye the resolution of a Councell made them to preach openly whereby they so much tempted and altered mens consciences that suddainly the ceremonies traditions of the Church were abated and the temples seased vpon destroyed And the Constable beeing descended of the first Barron and first Christian in France opposed himselfe against this diuersitie of religion in one realm The Edict of Iuly made at S. Germains in Laye 1561. The assembly at Poissy The murther of Vassy the 1. of Mars 1562. The battaile of Dreux the 19. of Decēber 1561. The Constable was first taken then the Prince of Conde The king of Nauarre was slaine at the siege of Rouē 1562. The Duke of Guise slaine before Orleans the 24. of Febru 1563. 1. Edict of peace Anno. 1563. Reconciliatiō betweene the D. of Guise and the Admirall 1566. Counsell of the Duke of Alue The enterprise at Meaux at the feast of S. Michael 1567. The battaile of S. Denis on S. Martins euen 1567. VVhere the Constable was slaine The second Edict of peace at Lōiumeau which from the time of king Clouis had bin holden maintained in paritie and integritie vnder the ancient faith of their forefathers The Cardinal of Lorraine on the other side tooke the matter in hand and counselled the king to make an Edict against those of the religion the presumption of certain men was such that they cōsented to the disputation at Poissy wher in place of remedie we found but an increasing of our miseries After that the Edict of Ianuarie so much renoumed in all the troubles and solemnized by the Huguenots folowed the breach whereof by the means of Vassy caused both parts to fall to armes vpon the plaines of Dreux which gaue the name to that me morable battell not onely for the number of men there assembled being 1900. foot 2000. horse for the kings part 4000. horse called White-coates 6000. foot of the contrarie as for diuers other accidents that therin were marked besides the taking of two of their chiefe leaders For the Prince of Conde that imputed the first motions of his imprisonmēt of his separatiō frō the fauor and presence of K. Francis the 2. to the practises of the Duke de Guise that euening of the battell was his prisoner accepted the halfe of his auncient enemies bed that was offered vnto him a right discription of this variable world wher you see one triumphing the other captiue Among so many prosperities that inuironed the Duke of Guise by the death of the king of N. Generall of the kings armie followed by all the Catholicque Nobilitie Tutor cōductor of the king Queen-mothers whole affaires death being iealous that the Capitall citie of the realme at his arriuall had cried Viue Guise Viue Guise with as great ioy gladnes as euer they cried Viue le Roy dispatched him out of the way by Poltrots means that slew him at Orleans therby finished the first ciuill war at which time the Prince of Conde was deliuered out of prison the Constable brought the first Edict of peace By this peace France had means to breath and her subiects to liue in some assurance but the corrupted humours that caused the disease of the estate were not so wel disiested but that ther rested some remnants whereby it might be feared it would fall into a much more dangerous sicknesse which happened 3. years after whē the most troublesome alterers of estate renued the fire which although it were not vtterly quenched yet it was half cōsumed The Queen hauing performed that generall visitation of all the kings Prouinces at Moulins taken vp the quarrel between the houses of Guise Chastillon and made thē friends caused 6000. Switzers to be sent for vndera fained sear of the D. of Albes passage throgh France with whom she had conferred at Bayonne wher they concluded that to liue in peace it was best for her to fish after great Samons to leaue the frogs The Admiral perceiuing it determined rather to saue himselfe by his armes then with his legs and went so near vnto the king that he had almost taken him at Meaux and so caused him to retire to Parris being conducted by Pfiffers regiment And the Prince of Conde tooke the town of S. Dennis assieged Parris burned the milles And in fine the two armies met fought before S. Dennis wher the Protestants retired the K. had the victorie but it cost him the life of the Constable beeing one of the valiantest Captains in al Europe who hauing commanded in 7. battels died in the sight of the citie of Parris and of his king at the head of an armie victorious by his cōduction hauing cut his enemies in the cheeks that had wounded him in the face he was by a Scot shot into the raines with a Pistolle so died of the seuenth wound he had receiued in that seuenth battel being of the age of 60. and 7. yeares This death procured an other little peace cōmonly called the lined peace which continued but 6. months and made a war that The Prince of Conde slaine at Bassac the 21 of March 1569. The battaile of Montcontour the 3. of October 1569. The 3. Edict of peace An. 1570. indured for the space of 2. whole years wherein the Prince of Conde died and where the Princes of Nauarre and Conde the Dukes de Guise and Maine were Captains the one of the protestants armie vnder the conduct of the Admiral the other for the defence of Poictiers vnder Monsieur the kings brother General of his Maiesties armie whereby the battell of Moncontour happened where all the protestants footemen were slaine and the Rutters spurs were not sharp ynough to make their horses flie but Monsieur not pursuing his victorie suffered his enemies to range meet togither again who in short time were foūd strong ynough to constrain him to the wars or else to make another Edict of peace with more aduantage then the two first This peace being sworned by al those that had any publike authorite therin caused the Frenchmen to feele the sweetnesse of tranquillitie to be much different from the sharpnesse and bitternesse of ciuill diuisions Therein the king the Queen-mother his bretheren and the Princes did nothing but breath and aspire vnto contentment nothing was spoken of in France but only assurance and of remoouing their wars vnto the frontiers or within the bowelles of forrain countries and euery place was filled with marriages bankets c. But this goodly shew was put only a presaging of the torment that ensued and Saylers iudged that those great calmes would in the end cause some great tempest For presently after ensued the great and terrible day so full of blood teares and sorrow where without respect The massacre vppon Bartholomewe day Ann. 1573. so many
in disobedience to maintaine religion the easing of the people Nor better nor fairer pretence to open the eies hearts and purses of such men to enterprise warre could not be found At the same time the king had sent vnto the Princes for the restitution of the Towns which they held for the obseruation of the last edict of peace which they were to yeelde vp at the end of 6. yeares But because the king of Nauarre sent word vnto his Maiestie Prolongation of the time of the townes of assurance 1582. that the peace hauing so often been broken by surprises and open warres the termed of 6. yeares was too short a time for the execution of the Edict and abollishing of wars he agreed to the prolongation thereof Wherevpon all the Princes of the league tooke occasion to say that the king fauoured Hereticques and that he would indure heresie and considered not that those Townes were inhabited by Huguenots strong of scituation hard to be won by force When the king of Nauarre perceiued those motions and that some matter was breeding he foresawe the tempest wold light vpon him what pretence soeuer was made therevpon he besought the king to call to minde the intelligences hee had giuen him in Anno. 1576. sent expresly by a Gentleman concerning the treatie and handling of the league in Spaine and Italie that he shuld looke to the profite of the myne seeing it was discouered And perceiuing the enterprise euery day more and more to proceed he began to take care of himselfe sent the Lord of Pardillan to the Queen of England the king of Denmarke and the Princes and Electors of Almaine to renue amitie with them desiring their aydes touching the preuenting of new troubles that began to rise in France against the edict of peace to appoynt a good sum of mony to bee sent vnto some Towne in Allemaine to bee imployed for the leuying of certaine forces against the enemie In the mean time for the aduantage of the league but to the great trouble and mischiefe of all the Realme of France The death of the Duke of Alencon in Iune 1584. Monsieur the kings brother eyther by his riotousnesse in the lowe countries for greefe of the hard successe of his affaires by hazard or by Salcedas means that was executed died at Chasteau Thierry His death awakened the most drousie heads it brake all the bandes that stayed the proceedings of the league and caused it presently to roare at Chaalons Rheims Troye Dyon and Mezieres It had alreadie found credite ynough in all the other Towns specially at Parris wherein they were diswaded from the yoake of the Huguenots and the hope of the king of Nauarre to rule ouer them The first point of the loue to the king was alreadie foundred in her hart she spake not of him but with al kinde of disdaine euery day presented him with the opinions and censures of Pasquils indiscreet ieasts and libels without names wherein corrupt minds alreadie stuffed with the disorders of the Court swallowed vp the poyson of their mutinies vnder what pretence I knowe not speaking of the king as of a Sardanapalus or one that did nothing The kings deuise Manet vltime Coelo Qui dedit ante Duas vnam abstulit alcera nutat Tertia tonsoris nunc facienda manu of a Prince drowned in his pleasures and delights whom alreadie they placed like a Chilperic in a Monastrie and in stead of the third Crown which by his deuise was reserued for him in heauen they promised him one made with a raisor in a Cloyster But hee that would knowe the first conception birth and infancie of the league within Parris hee must beleeue that which Manant saith to Maheustre that speaketh like a wise man and by the propositions and answeres representeth all those that deale therein and for the first hee nameth him that was the secret Minister of the leaguers intent to make it known to three Preachers that tooke seuen or eight Coaintors with them thereby to make a small Councell which was oftentimes holtors within the Colledge of Forteret where they beganne to chuse sixe others of the most faithfull The Colledge of Forteret was the cradle of the league The sixe first confederates of the league to watch at all the sixe quarters to report what was done in those places to sowe this new graine within their heads to sound the affections of the most feruent Catholicques and to dispose them to a resolution against the king the world and death Those sixe Arch-leaguers in the beginning made a faire and great Haruest and as with the number courage increased The principall leaguers were assured that those new confederates would ingender others presently therevppon the two pillers that sustaine and vphold the Prince which are the most faithfull Archers of his Court of guard that is good will and authoritie were thrown downe hatred and despight entering into their places Of those two plagues as of a monsterous blood was conceiued and brought foorth most disloyall rebellion and the despising of the lawe and the authoritie of the Prince mixed with the euill minde which the people bare to their king his Councell and his fauourers hatched this great Erynnis and furious mischiefe in France that hath entered into all the vaines of our bodie But alasse poore people what will you do what example what commandement what iust reason mooueth or assureth you to arme your selues against your king What lawe approoueth the rebellion of the subiect against him whom God hath appoynted your king If there be any imperfection or disorder are you to correct it or can the foote ordaine a lawe for the head It is no more lawfull for you to resist against the faults or imperfections of your Gouernours then to despight God and aske him the cause of the frosts and hailes that beat spoyled your vines Stay you little snayles within your shels come not foorth you torteaux out of the cases vnder them you are assured for you shall no sooner put forth your heads nor stretche out a foote but presently be assayled lie opē to your enemies readie to receiue the first blowe that shal be giuen Assoone as the league perceiued that diuers townes had made great fires for ioy of her birth it was presented to the Pope that he might giue it his blessing auouch it for his and declare it to bee for the Catholicke Apostolike and Romish Church But Gregory the 13. desiring to shewe himselfe to bee the common father of all Christians and Pastor not dispearser of his flocke Pope Gregory would nener consent to this raising of men The answere of the Pope vnto the league considering that the raising of armes against a most Christian and Catholicque king was wholly contrarie to the doctrine of the Gospell the examples of Christ and his Apostles and the lawes of pollicie and state certified the leaguers Deputies that he
of Nauarre would yeeld at the onely report of their enterprise They brought this poore king a sleepe with many chimers foresaying he should haue forraine ayde which was as true as the sea burneth It was tolde him that all Christian Princes would helpe him that the Queene of England should haue so many Chastillian forces against her Many chimeres that she should find ynough to do to defend her selfe that the Princes of Germanie would neuer stirre for the king of N. being a Prince poore both without mony and credite and that all would in a manner melt at the apparance of those new sonnes An army by sea prepared in Portugall of 30000. men against England An. 1587. So that the warre was sworne to bee made in all places of the Realme and as then there wanted nothing but mony To the which end the king in his Pallace of Louiene caused the principall of the Cleargie the Parliament and the Cittizens of Parris to bee assembled shewing them that as by their aduise hee had broken the peace so hee desired to bee holpen by their meanes to the maintenance of his warres the charges whereof hee said amounted to the summe of foure hundreth thousand Crownes a month The Kings Oration to those of Parris the eleueth of August 1585. for the entertaining of three armies one in Guyenne the second about his owne person and the third to impeach the enterie of straungers And speaking to the principall President he saide that hauing perceiued so much zeale and affection in him to haue the last edict of peace reuoked he doubted not but hee would bee able by sufficient arguments to perswade his equalles that as long as the warres indured they should not looke for any stipendes To the Prouost of Marchants in Parris hee said that seeing the Towne He commanded him presently to call the Towne togither to leme vpon them the sum of 200000. Crownes was so much affected to the breach of peace it ought to bee as well disposed to contribute to the warres And then turning to the Cardinall of Guise he said that as the heads of the Clargie were those that had most stirred and prouoked him to warres which could not bee made without great expenses they ought not to spare their armes to helpe him considering it was not reasonable that his Maiestie should onely beare the charge of that which would redownd to the benefite of the Common-wealth But when they made certaine difficulties and that alreadie euery one confessed that there is no peace how little aduantage soeuer it bringeth but is much better then any warre how triumphant and victorious soeuer it be Pax vel iniusta vuhor iusâ—â—ssimo bello Cic ad Artic that the apprehensions of publike calamities opened the eyes and mooued the sences of the most insencible that euery man would gladly haue warre without feeling the discommodities it bringeth with it With an angrie countenance hee said vnto them Then I thinke it had beene better to beleeue mee I am in doubt that in seeking to be ridde of preaching Speeches of K. Henry the third wee doo not greatly hazard the warre But the Cleargie whose hearts more then their purses were opened to that war and considering that all the aydes which the kings of France at other times had from the Spiritualtie Read the oration made by the Cardinall of Lorraine to Charles the 6. at Fontainebleau the 28. of May. 1573. The Clergie in lesse then 15. yeares furnished 60. milions of Frankes The Clergies declaration made vnto the King the 19. of Nouember 1585. in their greatest and most vrgent affaires was out of the tithes of their reuenues that since it had ingaged in the Towne-house of Parris the one hundreth thousand Frankes of yearely rent and thereby consented to the alienation of the free farme thereof That at the kings returne froÌ„ Pologne it had alreadie coÌ„tributed 60000000. Frankes that since that it was bound for the space of sixe yeares to paye yearly the summe of one million and three hundreth thousand Frankes for his seruice with condition not to bee charged with other tithes That now the king hauing declared that this warre mooued by the solicitation of the Cleargie ought to be followed and supplyed at the charges of the Church the ruine thereof was most euident they thought good to shew the king their impossibilitie to satiffie the same the iust complaint of the great charges it had borne in the last leuying of armes besides the loosing of their rights and franchises To the which end the Bishoppe of Brien spake for all them vnto the king shewing that vntill that time the Cleargie had not spared the riches of the Alter to maintaine the honour of the sacrifice but now that their meanes were so drawne out their rents ingaged and their free farmes alienated that they could doo no more That it would bee a most erreligious thing that religion should bee defended by people without religion and that the Church nourisheth and entertaineth such as committed so many rapines sacriledges blasphemies pollutions and vnreuerent dealings towards it They besought his Maiestie by the memorie of his father by the honourable name of most christian king the goodnesse of his nature and the liuely comiseration of his spirit to be protector of her priuiledges and for a time permit her to breath Meane time hee animateth him to the execration of the Edict of Iuly which could not bee done without warre the warre not without mony and the mony could not bee leuied but by suppression of the Church or of the common people But that serued not the league would haue warres and of force the foure elements whereof the Monarchie consisteth that is the king and the 3. Estates must bee reduced into the auncient confusion of a Chaos and that they whose fathers vsed to haue warres in Affrica Asia and in the furthest parts of all the world must entertaine and hatch it among themselues Meane time the King of Nauarre beeing aduertised that preparation was made Letters of the King of Nauarre to the King to war against those of the religion complaineth vnto the king touching the peace hee had made with the league shewing him that vppon commaundement receiued from his Maiestie to bee patient and not to stirre against those that had risen against him hee to shewe dutie had so much bridled his nature that in a manner it stained his reputation and according to his Maiesties pleasure reiected the occasions which from day to day presented themselues vnto him whereby hee might reuenge the leaguers attempts and that notwithstanding his Maiestie forgetting the consideration of the particular interest which hee had in his last raysing of armes had made peace with his enemies and armed them with his forces and authoritie against the Estate his blood and his own person And hauing repeated his offer in all his declarations for the ceasing of troubles touching the difference of
good then possession of euill The difference in religion should mildly be agreed vpon Hee is not euill instructed in the principals of faith but hee is not sufficiently informed touching the Ceremonies he beleeueth constantly in the onely word of God contained in the booke called cannonicall the Catholicque taketh the interpretations of the word of God made by the Church for an infallible rule of his saluation and not like the Huguenot by the particular sence but by the vniuersall consent of the Church assembled togither vnder a legitimate head which is the Pope accord these two tunes make them beleeue in the traditions that since the time of the Apostles haue beene brought into the Church our Ceremonies in the administration of our Sacrament and in the election of Ministers and they are pleased and wee shall haue no more neede of warres If they say they will haue no other Iudges to determine their differences but the holy Scriptures which of it selfe is easie ynough without interpretations or Commentaries and that if it bee darke in one place it is opened in another tell them that it is not so easie plaine nor open but that diuers men do stumble in the vnderstanding thereof that it is not so cleare as that without interpretation it can discide all the controuersies of our faith that as God in the old lawes would haue a Moyses to iudge the law so he wold haue Ministers his successors that they shal determine difficulties of the doctrine of the Gospell Make them to agree with vs therein your difference will soone be ended and you shall bannish wars schismes in France To those reasons the league opposed theirs and said Your arguments are of no consequent you say that the Huguenot is not to bee pursued by armes because hee is not declared hereticque by cannonicall proceedings that hee is no hereticque because hee is not stubborne that hee is not stubborne because hee desireth instruction turne ouer the lease and you shall finde that the Huguenot ought to bee pursued by armes in that he hath beene condemned for an heretique by all the Councells specially of that of Trent that all nouelties are odious to the Church that he is an heretique for that knowing as it wer with his finger touching his error he staÌ„deth stubbornly in defence Obstinacy sence reprooued is the punishmeÌ„t of his infidelitie it is then to no end that he should aske instruction when there is no hope of amendment it is a tree without fruite and good for nothing but to bee cast into the fire To this poynt those that loued peace The warres for religion consâ—steth of a great number of Catholiques how deare soeuer it were cried out and said Will you then haue a new recourse to fiers punishments and remedies which wee haue alreadie tried to bee more proper to kindle and spread abroad then to quench and stop the euill Do you not as yet perceiue that God detesteth the terrible persecutions vsed against them in all the Courts of Parris that the Princes Gouernours of Townes Magistrates and officers of iustice haue with their owne bloods payed vserie for the vnmeasurable shedding of Christians blood that since the Magistrate left punishing and that the Prince hath pursued them by armes there hath died at the least a thousand Catholicques to kill a hundreth Huguenots The king is become a Captaine at his owne costs in the battels of Iarnac and Moncontour hee hath continued for the space of tenne or twelue yeares togither to make warres against them and in the ende after hee had vsed all meanes and attempted all extremities hee perceiued it was in vaine for him to kil to make men beleeue that the Gospel is not planted with other tooles then the word and peaceablenesse that it increaseth by suffering and not by persecution Iesus Christ planted his Church by miracles Mahomet by force and violence Religion is not the cause but the pretext of the warre The Talmud with her toyes and the Alcaron with her impostures detest the Christians furie that kill each other the first saith that Iesus Christ increased the Church by vertue of miracles and Machomet by force of armes Wee know well and if wee confesse it not wee are traitors to our countrie and of all others the most incencible that religion is not to be preached by drumb and fyfe and that of a hundreth that beare armes there is not tenne but haue an other intent then onely religion We know that this warre is a meere war against the estate that nothing was said touching the king of Nauarres conscience vntill it was euidently seene that by the death of Monsieur the kings brother hee was the next in succession to the Crowne and that it is most certaine that the League buildeth the assurance of things present by those that are to come that vpon the imaginatiue feare and of the succession of a Prince of an other religion the king beeing in the flower and strength of his age they dispute of the right possession and establish their vsurpation The Monarchie passeth to an other branch of the blood royall The Cardinall of Bourbon because the king hath no children because we should haue some they present vs an olde Prince an olde tree without fruit a hollow oake which serueth but for a support to the iuyce of the League and to the hopes of the Duke of Guise that climeth vnto the royaltie by his meanes Duke of Guise who vnder colour to powre water vppon those flames to place order in disorder and reformation inabuse suffereth men to burne in flame and ouerthrow all things Wherefore from hencefoorth the king must looke vnto that which as yet resteth whole and intire within his Realme that hee should make peace with the Huguenots that he should help himself with their forces which are Frenchmen against those Hispaniolized mindes that will eyther vsurpe the Soueraigntie of this estate or else conuert it into cantons like the Switzers To giue peace to the Huguenots to ayde himselfe with their forces to ouerthrow the Catholiques to stirre vp the Pope the king of Spaine and all Italy and in a word to constraine France to reuolt The king ought not to doo it and it is too much perill for himselfe Obiections against the League too much miserie for his people too much iniurie to the Church whereof hee is the eldest sonne hee should call wolues to helpe which in the end would deuoure the sheepe hee should serue himselfe with foxes that in fine would kil thee geese the king should bee Lent and the king of Nauarre the enterance into Lent or as we say Caresme prenant and then Huguenots would be ledde in triumphs through the Realme If the king should do it it would bee openly said that hee supporteth and aduanceth hereticques that seeking to do for himselfe hee doth for them hee will put Catholicques in dispaire and his crowne in hazard
become incurable if the remedies that follow bee not applyed The vnworthie promotion of Prelats 1. Disorder In the Church simonie ignorance corruption into the Lords sheepfold are entered false Pastors not by the dore but ouer the wals like theeues by vnfit promotions by mony by treasure by fauour and not by learning or good example so that among the learned they introduce ignorant men in stead of fathers and tutors of the Church destroyers in steed of Pastors rauening wolues An abuse which hath drawne with it a chaine and band of all sorts of euilles for the aduancement of ignorant and slaunderous persons vnto Ecclesiasticall dignities hath brought foorth heresie heresie diuision and diuision ruine and destruction Remedie To restore the ancient forme of the Church the election of God wise and learned Prelates that loue God and his Church and faithfull Ministers of Gods word The nomination 2. Disorder The introducing of nominations of Abbeys as also vppon the chiefe Prelates of the same the Monasteries which in times past were the Congregations and colledges of al doctrine pietie renowmed among the Christians as among the auncients the Schooles of Nazariens Leuites Egyptians Medes Persians and Athenians that had nourished and brought vp holy Saints Basiles Chrysostomes Saint Benets and Augustines haue now in them all sorts of people indifferently not only Lawyers but Cittizens souldiers men without learning and crudition and without either name or marke of spiritualtie with women and children from whence proceedeth the foule disorder of the Monasticall life Monasteries of the holy fathers the ruine of the houses and goods of the Church the sacred Temple without prayers prophaned and occupied for the most part by meÌ„ of war who in stead of sustaining and nourishing religious meÌ„ do therin feed their horses dogs hauks frustrating the seruice of God appropriating the inheritance of the Church vnto themselues giuing for dowries to marriages and diuided the Vinyard of the Lord. Remedie To chuse and nominate good and holy personages that shall bee of requisite estate and quallitie to serue God in those places that shall commit good Priors to giue good example and helpe to reforme therevnto imploying the ayde of the arme and force of iustice that from this time forward all Harpies wilde Boores which spoyle Dauids Vinyard auoyde and depart from all such holy consecrated and appoynted places And to this ende let informations and decrees bee made against them those that detaine Abbeyes and are not of that quallitie and those that vsurpe and detaine the goods tithes and other reuenues and according to the informations let proces bee made as against sacriledges and rauishers of the riches that belong vnto God and to the poore The Commanders 3. Disorder Those that were called by our Sauiour vnto the Ministrie for the ease of the Apostles which are Priests and Vicars whose seruice is so necessary in the Church of God is at this day the most miserable and most afflicted order They are driuen and cast out of their houses by the Catholicques and where they are suffered to continue their goods are robbed and taken away they are spoyled and sacked or else constrained to giue part to him that is strongest the souldiers consume them the Lords of the places apropriate their tithes and the people will not pay the duties belonging vnto them both by humane and diuine lawes Remedie Faults of the Cleargie That it will please the king adding vnto the ordinances concerning this poynt made in the last Parliament that it may againe bee inioyned vnto all Gouernours of places and Atturneyes for his Maiestie euery man in his iurisdiction yearly to send processe verball vnto the Parliament containing the names of the Vicars with a testation from euery of them touching the possession and inioying of their goods and what is kept or withholden from them And because diuers poore Vicars dare not openly complaine let it be inioyned vnto the Gouernors Atturneyes for the king secretly to inquire and informe of the vsurpation that is made vpon the said Ecclesiasticall persons The alienatioÌ„ of Church-liuings 4. Dis The riches consecrated to God and giuen to him his Alters and his Priestes the goods that belongeth not to those that fell it is sold withdrawn alienated thereby to consume and bring to nought the Ecclesiasticallestate the goods of the Church is not to bee alienated for any cause or occasion whatsoeuer or with what authoritie so euer it is done it belongeth vnto God it is sacriledge to lay hands vpon it if it belong to the spiritualtie whether it be in propertie or vse it is no point of iustice to incroch vpon it specially without their consent but it belongeth to them both Saint Augustin and diuers other good fathers permitted the selling and alienating of the goods of the Church for the redeeming of Captaines and to releeue the poore but that was the holy vessels mooueables and the mony of the treasurie but touching the immooueables that was neuer known one onely Charles Martell spotted and defaced his memorie by a horrible serpent found within his tombe because he attempted to sell the goods and immunities of the Church So great warres against the Albigeois so great necessities and warres against the Englishmen could neuer breake open this Paladion which the suggestion of secret and couert Huguenots hath inuented Remedie That it would please the king to graunt vnto the Cleargie the perpetuall restoring of the goods of the Church that are solde repaying the iust value with all costs and charges and that such as heereafter shall venture to sell or buy the goods of God and the Church shall now at altimes bee declared and accounted both vniust sellers buyers detainers and occupiers with this clause to bee bound to the restitution both of the principall and the profits The great number of Benefices The vsurping of Hospitall reneâ—â—es 5. Disorder The pluralitie of Benefices for that as no man can sit vppon two seates so all Ecclesiasticall persons well and truely to discharge his dutie cannot holde two benefices which require two Ministers hee cannot pronounce the word of God in two places at one time which is principally vnderstood by two Bishoppricks or two Curates that haue charge of mens soules and consequently require a continuall residence Remedie To cause the Councell of Trent to bee obserued which hath so amply prouided for reformation of the Ecclesiasticall estate togither with the maintenance of faith and Catholicque religion 6. Disorder The manifest sacriledge of such as detaine and vsurpe the reuenues of Hospitalles Spittle-houses and others goods destinated and appoynted for the vse of the poore founded for the ease of Townes Villages and Burrows and of all the people The goods of the poore in diuers places are applyed to the vse of Lay-men to the communalties of Townes to the common charges thereof to voyages and processes yea apropriated to the priuate