Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	france_n	king_n	normandy_n	1,455	5	11.2407	5	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10586	A legendarie, conteining an ample discourse of the life and behauiour of Charles Cardinal of Lorraine, and of his brethren, of the house of Guise. Written in French by Francis de L'isle; Legende de Charles, cardinal de Lorraine et de ses frères, de la maison de Guise. English	La Planche, Louis Régnier de, ca. 1530-ca. 1580.	1577 (1577)	STC 20855; ESTC S115805	138,427	198

place hereafter Howbeit if so be that such of the race of Guise as do remaine might obteine so much fauour of God as that it would please him to turne their hearts so that they would suffer our realme to be in quiet and that contenting them selues with that which is past and so through courteous and faithful behauiours would blot out the remembrance of their former mischiefes I would be glad to breake promise and would endeuour to be the first that should cast the remembrance thereof into the pit of obliuion but in continuing the race which hitherto they haue runne they shal find both braines hands enough to resist theÌ„ And although that through crafts and treason they and their semblables haue hitherto rather then by force of armes so highly aduaÌ„ced them selues yet wil the trueth in the end ouercome and haue his course so that they shal get nothing by following the steppes of their auncesters saue onely they shal become so much the more odious both vnto God men Yea they shal builde their pinacle so high that finally it shal fall vpon their owne heads and ensnare them selues If therefore they wil preuent this danger and assubiect them selues vnto their duetie it is the thing whereof I should be verie glad neither can I denie but that the house of Guise conteining them selues within their limites might haue done good seruice to the crowne of France but of seruants seeking to become masters they haue marred all and ouerthrowne both themselues and others Thus loth to be in this matter ouer tedious I beseech you friendly readers to shew a good countenance vnto this first booke vntill the comming forth of the rest which shortly shal be presented vnto your view This do I assuredly trust that you wil do in case you be natural French men that is to say affectionate vnto the seruice of God the commoditie of your countrie and the conseruation of your auncient and noble libertie Fare wel THE LEGENDE of Charles Cardinal of Lorraine and of his brethren of the house of Guise IN the yere of our Lord 1362 after the deceasse of Iohn Duke of Lorraine succeeded his eldest sonne Charles the firste who by Margaret daughter vnto Robert of Bauieres Countye Palatine had issue three sonnes as many daughters The sonnes named Charles Robert and Federic dyed without issue But of the daughters the eldest named Marie was maryed vnto Enguerand Earle of Coucy who also died without heyres The seconde called Katherine was giuen to Iames Marquise of Baden with the dowrye of three preuostshipps namely S. Dier Arches and Bruettes besides a good summe of money in consideration whereof the said Marquise renounced his whole title vnto the succession in the Duchye of Lorraine The third daughter Isabell was maried vnto Rene of Anjou the sonne of Lewes of Anjou the seconde sonne to Iohn King of France This Rene the first succeeded his father in lawe Charles in the Duchye of Lorraine seeking also the possession of the Duchye of Bar in the right of his mother Yoland of Arragon wherein Anthony Earle of Vaudemont sonne of Ferry Duke Charles brother withstood him and chalenged the sayd Duchye whereunto he was assisted by Philippe Duke of Burgundye who was offended with the mariage of the said Rene of Anjou vnto Isabell of Lorraine Hereupon in a conflicte neere vnto Bulainuille the said Rene was taken prisoner and thence conueyed vnto Dijon vnder the custodie of the Duke of Burgundye aforesaid where he was deteined fifteene yeres at the petition of the Englishmen and Burgundions vnder whom at the same time Ferry of Vaudemont sonne to this Earle Anthony did serue howbeit finally it was agreed that Duke Rene the prisoner should giue his eldest daughter Yoland in mariage vnto this Ferry of Vaudemont with the summe of two hundred thousande crownes in the name of a ransome In the meane time Lewes of Anjou Duke Rene his eldest brother intending the conquest of Naples whereof Pope Clemente had crowned him Kinge dyed without issue whereof so soone as Duke Rene was aduertised he purposed the possession of the same Realme but notwithstanding the ayde of most states of Italie as Genes Milan and other Potentates he was by the Spanierdes finally expelled Naples and forced to retire into France vnto his brother in lawe King Charles the seuenth whereas after some warre against the citie of Metz hauing knowledge of the death of his wife Isabell he resigned the whole gouernement of Lorraine vnto his eldest sonne Iohn in full intente to liue the reste of his time quietly and peaceably within his dominions of Prouence and Anjou Iohn surnamed of Calabre after he had gouerned Lorraine eighteene yeres dyed leauing a sonne named Iohn of Anjou who in the time of his grandfather Rene aforesaid fianced Anne the daughter of King Lewes the eleuenth albeit afterwarde breaking of with his said father in law through the persuasions of the Duke of Burgundye and entending by repudiating the daughter of France to conclude a mariage with Marie the said Duke of Burgundyes daughter being euen at the very point so to doe he dyed By meanes whereof Rene the seconde of that name sonne of Ferrye of Vaudemont brother vnto Duke Rene of Anjou and of Yoland sister vnto Duke Iohn succeeded in the said Duchyes of Lorraine and Bar in the yere 1473. for want of other heyres during the life of his grandfather on the mothers side Rene of Anjou of his mother Yoland whome the inhabitantes of the countrie would not accept for gouernour This Duke waged continuall warre against the Duke of Burgundye whome finally he ouerthrewe before Nancy in whose time liued his great grandfather Rene of Anjou termed King of Sicill who rested his old bones within his Duchyes of Prouence and Anjou him did Kinge Lewes the eleuenth greatly cherish and quietly entertaine fearing his association with the Duke of Burgundye and the English men who greatly thereunto sollicited him This King Rene sent worde to his nephew Rene that in case he intended to be his heyre he should wholy take vpon him the full armes of Anjou which proffer he refused well was he content to quarter togither the armes of Anjou Sicill Prouence and Lorraine howbeit vpon his other refusall his grandfather King Rene instituted Charles Earle of Maine his nephew by his brother Charles also Earle of Maine for his inheritor whereof Rene being certifyed he hasted toward his grandfather but all being done and past he returned backe againe in a great heat and King Rene died in the yere 1482. Shortly after also dyed Charles of Maine his competitor whereby Lewes the eleuenth King of France remained lord of the countries of Prouence Anjou and Maine by the gifte of the last will of the said Charles who also left vnto him the Duchye of Bar. After the death of King Lewes the eleuenth Rene of Lorraine who through the persuasion of Pope Sixtus was gone into Italie to seeke the

of the crowne he should set forth an edict the contents whereof were that no man should from thence forth retaine in his hands two offices by meanes of the which they promised vnto them selues the spoyle of the noble men aforesaide besides that vnder colour therof they might haue free accesse vnto the handling of the whole estate and so in time atteine vnto their aspiring drifts purposes and that the rather because they perceiued none of the Princes of the blood ouer hastie to intrude them selues thereinto Howbeit now before we go any further we haue to coÌ„sider two other notable chaÌ„ces which happened presently at the death of King Francis afore named This King lying on his death bed called for his sonne the Dauphine to the end familiarly to talke with him In which communication like as the soule approching vnto his departure is for the most part more free and deuoyde of worldly cares earthly burdens and al other transitorie affaires and so consequently lesse tied vnto the bodie also that in maner al men in that extremitie time and place do entreat vpon more mystical and heauenly matter then before time they are wont yea diuers through a certaine prescience of things to come which surpasseth mans natural vnderstanding and reason do prognosticate of that that is most likely to happen euen so now among diuers other aduertisements and notable instructions which this King gaue vnto his sonne one was that he desired yea and charged him not to deale with the Children of Guise neither to permit them to haue any rule in the affayres of the estate For saith he I haue manifestly perceiued and am wel assured that the whole stock of theÌ„ is naught also that in case you transgresse this my precept they are to strip you into your doublet your subiectes into their shirtes This admonition deserued both to be marked put in excution but the simplicitie of the Dauphine being bewitched by this Seneschal together with Gods heauy displeasure against FraÌ„ce would not permit the childe to followe his fathers counsaile which in this case proued but ouer true for his affirming the whole race of them to be naught did shortlye after proue it selfe certaine The same day that this great King Francis let his life at Rambouillet whereas the Dauphine for very sorowe and griefe seeing his father lie in such extremitie and therewithal being in a maner ouercome was layed downe vpon his wiues bed who the whiles sat vpon the floore shewing great tokens of anguish and heauines the great Seneschal the Duke of Guise who yet was but Earle of Aumale walked there also although contraryly affected for she was very pleasant and ioyful seeing the time of her triumph drawe on and he stil from time to time walked to the doore to hearken after newes vsing alwayes at his returne this phrase Now the yonker goeth his waies but had not that yonker seing it pleased him so to tearme him bene both he and the rest of his whole familie had bene but simple vnderlings in Lorraine still But now to our former matter let vs marke the execution of the forenamed edict concerning retaining of sundrie offices The same being concluded vpon King FraÌ„cis dead was put in practise before it was eyther sene or published For preseÌ„tly the Lord of Reims displaced the Cardinal of Tournon of his office of Chanceler of the order who in displeasure resigned to theÌ„ his mastership of the chappel also The Admiral d' Annebaut loste his office of Marshalship likewise nowe therfore I wil procede to the Great Mastership for the obteining whereof the Guisians were importunate mouing King Henry to write vnto the Constable that before his coÌ„ming to the court he should by proxy resigne one of his offices either the CoÌ„stableship or els the great mastership for they supposed that he would stil kepe the Constableship as being of greate auctority credite But were it that the King was at that time determined to exempt his gossippe from their ambition or els that he sought through the others voluntarie resignation to coÌ„ferre the said office vnto the Marshal of S. Andrewes to whome he had already broken his minde to the end by such ordinary meanes to suppresse some part of the furious attemptes of the Earle of Aumale and his brother or what other occasion soeuer there were yet certain it is that he wrote to the said CoÌ„stable with al speed to repaire to him but not to resigne any of his estates referring that vnto their owne priuate communication at their next meeting After his coÌ„ming the King who before euen burned with earnest zeale desire to see the said Constable who so long had bene absent out of his sight was now so farre froÌ„ taking from him any of his estates that contrariwise at their first embrasings he professed him self to be ashamed that he had in his hands no office worthy his person therefore in respect of such default the more to honour his welcoÌ„ming he yelded and presented vnto his said gossip his owne person Now the Lord of Reims had gotten the great seale and the Earle of Aumale had seased vpon the keies of the castle as a seasine fallen to him euen by succession But hearing the King call to the one to render the keyes and command the other to carry the seale vnto the great master whereby they should be driuen necessarily to slepe vnder the locke of the said great Master walke at the coÌ„mandement of the Constable not in any wise to deale in matters of estate without the said gossips permission it may be easy for eche man to comprehende into what part the affections of these brethren were bent Seeing also at the same instant an other estate of Marshal of France erected to the behoofe of Iames of Albon lorde of S. Andrews which was euen the last office that remained in the Kinges hands vpon the which as vpon his last refuge the Earle of Aumale had fixed his whole hope and truste This therfore hath bene one of the fouÌ„dations rootes of their quarell against the Constable and his progenie wherein besides their manifest iniurie offered vnto their owne persons in this respecte they haue also shewed them selues verye vnthankful toward the said Constable For it is not vnknowen vnto all those who duringe the reigne of the great King Francis had anie dealings in matters of estate that as wel the father as also the vncles of the said Lords of Guise had neuer any more assured or faithful friend in France then the said Constable who long before their comming into that country was alreadie in great creditte and estimation with his Prince and afterward with incredible fauour did succeede two great masters of France the one the Lord of Boisy his cousin germaine the other the Duke of Sauoy his Father in Law and finally atteined vnto the hiest degree next vnder the Princes of the kings blood that

Bishops of his realm spedily to come their waies from the Council publishing moreouer vehement protestations against the auctours of the said counsel But herein consisted an other of the Cardinals policies who secretly alleaged that he had inuented these meanes somewhat to gratifie the Pope and the Spaniard to whom he presented a new praye and on the other side he writte to the Queene mother that the King must needes counterfait a discontentation hereat whereby to allure the Queene of Nauarre and so to separate her from the Prince and the Chastillons the readilier to dispatch ech after other Here vpon he returned into France and there set his matters in such order as shortlie you shall perceiue and then made a new voyage vnto Rome there personally to sollicite this curse against the Queen of Nauarre And then to the end to cleare him selfe of such mischief he departed two daies before iudgement should be giuen from whence being arriued at Venice he there sharpely accused the Pope and consistorie of Rome for transgressing the Kings pleasure whereby to perswade men that he was not of that conspiracie or faction At his returne for the accomplishment of his promise he was so impudent as to present the Councilles articles vnto the King not so much for the establishing of the same at the first dashe as to the ende by litle and litle to adnichilate the Edict of pacification And to the ende it might haue the fayrer shewe at his solliciting the Embassadoures of Spayne Sauoy and the Pope came to the Court and presented certayne Articles deuised at the instance of the Cardinall and his adherentes which here we haue set downe because they doe reueale the foundation of the rest of the troubles which since haue ensued in France In the first point they called vpon the King to keepe and cause to be kept within his owne Realme the Countries Territories and Lordshippes in his obedience the articles of the holy council lately holden at Trente which now they had brought with them to the same ende And for the reading of the same and to sweare thereunto before the Delegates of the sayde councill they assigned the sayd King to be at Nancy in Lorrayne vpon our Ladie day in Marche there to meete with their sayde Lordes who togyther with all other Christian Kinges and Princes were determined to make a generall constitution correspondent to the same which was made at Trente for the rooting out of all heresies and new doctrines repugnant to the sayd holy councill In the second point they requested the sayde Lorde to ceasse alienating the temporalities of the Church certifying him on the behalfe of the King of Spayne and of the Duke of Sauoy that they neyther doe nor euer dyd meane to be payde their mariage money which the late King Henrie had promised them out of the church goods and therefore that he ought to be content with some voluntarie gifte which the Ecclesiasticall persons shoulde giue him hauing regarde vnto such sackes and spoyles as lately haue bene committed in his Realme vnder his name and by his Edict whereof they doe neuerthelesse according as they haue bene desired holde him excused through his youth In the thirde point that at the least wise he should bannishe vnlesse he had rather otherwise punishe them the chiefe seditious persones and schismatikes of his Realme by whose meanes the aforesayd spoyles of Churches haue bene committed and who haue brought the enemies of his Crowne into the Realme and giuen straungers free entrie thereinto In the fourth that he shoulde reuoke the remission and absolution which in his Edict of pacification he had graunted especially agaynst such persons as had committed treason agaynst GOD shewing him that it was neyther in him nor in any other Christian King or Prince to remitte or forgiue the offence committed agaynst the Diuine Maiestie for that all such remission appertayneth vnto God onely In the fifth that he as King for his parte woulde assiste Iustice and the same authorize as his predecessours haue done because that thereof dependeth the authoritie of all Christian Kinges and Princes also that in so dooing he should punishe the trayterous murder committed in the person of the late Duke of Guise by such as manifestly are knowen and that in such cases hee ought not to vse any dissimulation considering what person he was who so accursedly was murdered Also that he should procure him selfe to be obeyed as a King so that Iustice might florishe in his Realme And that the Lordes whose Embassadours they are doe offer vnto him all ayde and helpe so soone as he the sayd King shall demaunde the same Euer since that the Guisians vsurped this authoritie ouer the Crowne by making our Kinges theyr slaues we haue alwayes had two kinde of Councilles of the Kinges Letters and of his wordes the one open the other secrete The priuie Councill doe entreate of such matters as they woulde that all the worlde should knowe The letters patentes and open speaches do serue for confirmations of the same But nowe the Guisians haue induced a secret Councill which also sometymes is deuided into three partes For the Queene mother hath one the Guisians an other and sometyme the King hath the thirde which doe consiste of certayne who doe gouerne him In these Councils haue all the matters of our tyme bene determined of from whence these bloody executions haue ensued The letters of the Seale are ordinarily contrary to the letters patentes and open speaches vnto those which are whispered in the eare as it came to passe at the comming of these Embassadoures for publikely in the viewe of all the worlde the King aunswered them that the Edicte of pacification was made for the expelling of the enemies out of his Realme and for other matters generally but particularly their demaundes were handled in the secret Councill in such wyse as the effectes haue since declared The sixe and twentieth day of Februarie in the yere 1563. the King opened one parte of this declaration vnto the aforesayd Embassadoures and to the ende the better to colour all matters the Cardinal and the Queene mother had taught it him by hearte togyther with the maner howe to pronounce it with his mouth for at that time he was as well seene in that he spake as in that that he spake not for he was yet but a chylde especially in such matters Nowe must we note that one day before the Cardinall had obteyned of the Queene a licence in the maner of a brief signed by Secretarie Bourdin wherein he was permitted to beare weapons both by Edictes and letters patentes forbiddeÌ„ But if any man aske why he got this brief rather of the Queene then of the King seeing that the onely Lawmaker my dispense with the law which him selfe hath made eyther wherefore he demaunded not letters patentes rather then a simple briefe I will leaue the iudgement therof to such as be free from all affection For that

of the renewing of the offices of the whole realme which summe if all at once it should be disboursed would surpasse the prodigalitie of al Princes that euer were hoping after her to enioye the same them selues During these matters the Lord of Reims gaping after more promotions whereby he might the better order his intents through the meanes of the aforesaid Seneschall obteyned fauourable letters from King Henry to Pope Paul the thirde who in that time curryed fauour with all Christian princes to the end through their ayde to be reuenged of the Emperour Charles the fifth for the death of his abominable sonne Peter Lewes whereby also the Lord of Reims whome the Seneschal called but master Charles filled his own bagges with the sale of his masters fauour By meanes therefore of these letters about the end of Iulie in the yeare 1547 he was created Cardinal vpon occasion whereof vnder pretence as wel of the Council of Boulogne as also of many other affaires which him selfe deuised he vndertooke a voiage into Italie through other two principal motions The first was for the concluding of the mariage aforesaid of his brother vnto the Duke of Ferara his daughter The other to the end to shew his persoÌ„ and so be knowen in Rome whereby he might in time to come the better order his driftes and deuises Being there he tooke vpon him the title of Cardinal of Anjou but into what peril through that presumptuous folly he brought him selfe most men do knowe For had not the great Seneschal stood his friend he neuer durst haue shewed his face in France any more albeit howsoeuer it came to passe he was compelled to leaue his title of Anjou beyond the Alpes and at his returne to accept the surname of his ancestours and country whereupon we shal hereafter cal him as him selfe hath especially after his vncles deceasse done the Cardinal of Lorraine At his coÌ„ming home to the court he so laboured king Henry that the Earledome of Aumale was erected into a Duchie therby to hasten the marriage of his brother Francis vnto the aforenamed Duke of Ferraras daughter which shortly after was consummate After this time began they to procure their owne aduancements and to lay the foundation of their tyrannie ouer al men both riche and poore in France We wil therefore begin with their vncle Cardinal Iohn who was the instrument to translate master Charles from the College of Nauarre vnto the Courte Not forbearing vntil that through his decease he might enriche them with his benefices they neuer left especially master Charles to pluck froÌ„ vnder his elbow al that possibly they could through a kinde of importunatenes not farre different froÌ„ meere violence This good nephue found meanes to make his vncle desirous to forsake the courte procuring vnto him such seruants as pleased him and frustrating him of those which were the most faithful vnder whatsoeuer colour he thought best and delt with him in such maner as that to his power he stripped him euen into his shirt in so much that shortly a soden death for he liued ouer long for his nephues commoditie caried him away at his returne from the election of Pope Iulius the third in the yere 1550. At that time did his nephue become famous in Rome procuring a Cardinals hat for his brother the Cardinal of Guise the ouerliuer of al the six brethren at which time also was ended consummate the aforesaid marriage of the eldest brother vnto the daughter of Ferrara Hauing thus vnclothed their vncle before he were ready to goe to bed let vs consider how they handled him after his death This man dyed indetted vnto many marchants but especially of Paris leauing such welth in moueable goods as was great yea and more then sufficient to haue discharged al. After his deceasse his creditors drew toward his nephue the Cardinal of Lorrain who together with the Cardinal of Guise had raked vp al his liuings but himselfe alone had seased vpon al the moueables to whom he answered that he was not his heire For such men doe neuer accompt him heire who seaseth vpon the goods as the practitioners do tearme it do medle with the inheritance but him onely who saith I am he But now no man spake that word for the Cardinal of Lorraine ment to haue the goods of free cost and as for his brethren they would not pay because they had not the goods Againe it is not vnknowen that benefices by a certain rigour of Law are not chargeable with the dettes If therefore the said Cardinal of Lorraine had at the first willed most of them to looke for nothing yet in losing of their dettes they should haue bene good gainers for then should they haue saued both their time and cost which they wasted in wayting almost two whole yeres to know the end of this fetch which he caused one of his men to playe to whome he gaue coÌ„mission to peruse the dettes of the party deceased and the same to verifie and set in order as he tearmed it with other such like tearmes of practise which stil were in this commissioners mouth In the meane time they do make an inuentory saith one a description saith an other a remembrance sayth another but whatsoeuer it were among al the dead mans mouables was to be found in the end nothing by the report and conscience of his nephue saue a few olde stooles and settles with a litle rotten tapestrye good to make sport with al which to be briefe was the whole inueÌ„tory of al that that the Cardinal would not haue But the sport was to heare his talke hereupon Whensoeuer the merchants of Paris came in his presence Me thinketh would he say these fleas do bite me an other time Tush they be Englishmen Saluters or giuers of good morowes Againe comming to the particulars To one he is an vserer of Paris to an other he hath not yet deliuered his wares to an other he sould it for six times more then it was worth to another he hath receiued some money in part of payment to another Nothing is dewe signifying you get nothing which title comprehended the greatest nomber But vnto those to whome he shewed greatest fauour he vsed to say Help to paye your selues not meaning Hold forth your hands and take but giue and acquite For when a man had forgiuen halfe or two third partes yea three quarters and more yet looking vpon his booke he should finde no more receiued then that which he had acquitted and forgiuen And for the rest Aske would he say some composition some right or priuiledge or some other thing of the King and I wil healpe you vnto it which was as good as if he should haue sayd to the merchaÌ„ts Go euery one of you kil one or two and I wil procure your pardons for the sale of the settels stooles and tapestry was put of vntil the day after domes day Wherevpon two notable

quiet estate considering what blowes these men strooke To procure therefore some remedie they first sent vnder the name of Theophilus an admonition vnto the Queene mother wherein the tyrannie of the Guisians was most liuely set forth the conclusion whereof was that it was necessarie to prouide for the gouernmeÌ„t of the estate also to counsel the King according to the auncient constitutions and customes of France and not after the appetite of the Guisians Also that the troubles for Religion were to be appeased by a holie and free Council The Queene mother being then in their clawes and seeking by all meanes to please them serued their turne in steade of a spie in al maner possible and caused the bringer of this admonition to be stayed and afterward hauing sought in al places for this Theophilus and put the bringer in feare euen of beating considering that such writings might in time quench their fires and turne the edge of their swords pointes they concluded to plant the Spanish inquisition in France hauing first by secrete seruants mainteined at the Kings charges as wel in Germanie as other where to their powers defamed with al kinde of slanders the said Protestants Howbeit the wisdome of the Chanceler de l'Hospital who politikely haÌ„dled these thornes after a maner brake this blowe For in place of the Spanish inquisition they framed the Edict called of Romorantin which forbad al vnlawful assemblies comprehending vnder that title al preachings and exercises of Religion But in steade of appeasing the troubles this Edict doubled them in all places The thing which most beganne to quicken their spirites was a booke intituled the Kings Maioritie written in the fauour of the Guisians by Iohn du Tillet a clarke of the court of Parliament of Paris notwithstanding his entertainment at the Cardinals hands should neuer haue procured his appetite thereunto but in those dayes all men worshipped these our Lords who in deed were euen as Kings To this booke was made a quicke and liuely answere which afterward was followed by a number of other smal pamphlets for the which there was great serch made yea such as to cause to hang Martin l'Hommet who had printed one called The Tygre of France wherein the Cardinal among his other brethren was painted out in al his colours On the one side the Cardinal fained a kind of ioy that he was thus made immortal and on the other side he practised men to answere these libels which discouered his sleights and alreadie made his Legend immortalizing in deede the filthinesse both of him and of his whole familie But among other Du Tillet who had receiued a shrewd yerke excused him selfe for euer after and exhorted the Cardinal to prouide for his affaires by some other means namely by vsing against both the persons goods of the Protestantes al kinde of rigours which he coulde deuise to the end they might take no sure footing neither haue their mindes at libertie shewing him that he might particularly write vnto the Princes whose counsayle the Cardinal immediatly followed as the most expedient Now to maintaine their credit among foraine Princes and to discouer whatsoeuer was said or done besides the ordinarie ambassadours who were at the Guisians deuotion they did with store of coyne winne diuers Princes seruaÌ„ts hauing in Spaine EnglaÌ„d Germanie pensioners at the cost of the Realme of France Moreouer besides these they had in the courtes of these foreine Princes and of the Princes Lords of France also other secret seruants to whome they gaue such pensions that the onely expenses of secret seruants in France amounted to aboue twentie thousand franckes by moneth They had also ordinarie postes who ranne spying in the ynnes abroade in the countries to marke the behauiours of all men whereby sundrie not thinking thereupon were shortly after imprisoned and brought to that point that they were no more heard of These thinges thus established they renewed their league with the Queene mother wrote vnto al their partakers and gathered vp so manie men as they could in so much that the Duke of Guise durst make his vaunt that he had the promises of twelue hundred french gentlemen of name and the oathes of the captaines with whom together with the olde bands come out of Piedmont and others whome he had at commandement he would ouerrunne al his enemies The Cardinal also propounded vnto the Kings councill that it were good to sease vpon the Prince of Condes person who was burdened to be the chiefe captaine of the enterprise of Amboise and hearing that he was gone into Bearn they persuaded the King that it was to the ende to arreare new warre against him and so to escape punishment for his former offence This entrie beinge made they dispatched out new commissions for the raysing of men to the ende to assayle the King of Nauarre who had withdrawen the Prince his brother They sent also the Marshal of Saint Andrewes to espie the Princes demeanour They fetched through the meanes of the Queene mother one named la Planche to the end by him more particularly to heare the coÌ„playntes of the Huguenots of estate and Religion whereby they might with new subtilties arme themselues there-against Also from that time forwarde they were so impudent and she also if I be not deceiued as to affirme that the meanes to remedie so manie discontentations was by causing to march alwayes a Prince of the blood and then one of the house of Guise a Prince and a Guisian and so forwarde Wherein they sufficiently discouered what mind led them TheÌ„ they changed the gouernours as they thought best they sent la Motte GoÌ„drin into Dauphine and others of their own stampe here and there after this maner laying their nets the more easely to entangle their enemies And as Gods iudgements in this one poynt are admirable namely that the stoutest contemners of his maiesty haue for a while all things succeeding according to their desires to the end their fall afterward may be the greater so happened it to the Guisians For lying in watch and not knowing at which end to beginne la Sague a Biscain gentleman being sent from the prince of Conde to sollicite his friends was taken at Fountainbleau with sundry instructions by meanes whereof together with his owne confessions vpon the racke they did more euidently then before perceiue the string of their tyrannie to be in maner cut a sunder vnlesse they tooke the better heede First therefore they imprisoned le Vidame de Chartres and the Prince of Condyes mother in lawe then sent they the Countie Ringraue vnto the frontiers of Lorraine there to keepe in a readines a regiment of Lansquenets and two thousand harquebuziers They cause the olde bands comen out of Piedmont to descend along the riuer of Loyre into Dauphine faining that they would send them into Scotland but they soiourned in Gyen and about MouÌ„targis there at their need to assure theÌ„selues of the Admirals houses

eÌ„terprise being broken of by the death of king HeÌ„ry was reuiued in the beginning of the reigne of Francis and then slacked againe through the enterprise of Amboyse But now the Guisians hauing two of their principall enemies in their power determined mocking the king of Spayne in making him beleeue that they were earnest defenders of the Catholicke Church so to roote out the Protestantes that thereby they might make their way to the throne the playner They therefore sent the Spaniard worde who for his parte lay also in waite determining if fit opportunitie might serue to giue them the slippe also that the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde vnder colour of quareling at the gouernment sought to put the King and his brethren to death and through the ayde of the Queene of England of the Protestant princes and of the gospelling Switzers to bring in their Religion into France and after the same also to prescribe a rule vnto all Christiandome They vsed other slanders enowe in the end wherof they added that if it pleased the king of Spaine to maintein fauour them in their gouernment they would stoppe all the harme that was ment to him would set to their haÌ„ds that King HeÌ„rys promises might be accoÌ„plished Hereunto they had such answer as they requested through the helpe of the Cardinal of Arras who then thought to haue found a good breach wherby to bring his master into France but had the Guisians become Kings he should haue had lesse entrie then before and peraduenture haue bene in greater care then before for ambition neither wil neither can abide a companion At the same instant they also sent to the Pope to the Duke of Sauoye also through the practises of the Colonnel Freulich who was at their deuotions they wonne the catholicke Switzers determining the same winter to destroy all their enemies in France and the next spring to goe and assayle Geneua and thence against the Germains Switzers of the Religion Also to the end the Spaniard might not on that side be letted by the Turke who might haue set vpon his countries whiles his chiefest forces were entred into the King of Nauarres dominions they sent expressely to Constantinople to him to accuse the Princes of the blood of trecherie and treason of hauing with certaine men of a new Religion which acknowledged no Magistrates or superiorities conspired to put the King and his brethren to death beseching him whiles they were busied in repressing those mens presumption not to innouate or enterprise any thing on the coste of Italie or Spayne and that in consideration of the auncient alliance amitye and confederacie which had bene betwene him and the Kings of France Of him they had so good an answere that the Duke of Guise so farre exceeded his boundes as diuers times to say that whatsoeuer happened he had rather that the Realme should fall into the Turkes power and remaine vnder his dominions then to see the Lutherans and heretikes doctrine for so he called them there receiued Here you see wonderful preparatiues for the establishment of their greatnesse for within the Realme they were armed at all assayes and had their enemies in maner at their feete They had the townes gouernours treasury and people in maner at their commaundement The aforesaid foreine Princes fauoured them and peraduenture should haue had some share in the cake as the Spanierd chiefly looked for it hauing so easely obteyned truce of his great enemie the Turke to the ende to set vpon France therfore we may here see whereunto the cruell ambition of these men had brought all thinges in case God at the same instant had not appeared smiting them sundrie blowes on the eares before they coulde bende their gauntlets They had graunted the assemblie of the Estates the more easely to discouer their enemies and called the Kings letters patents the mousetrappes to catch fooles but that letted not but in the particular estates of the prouinces many things were propounded coÌ„cerning reestablishment of the Realme as well in matters concerning Religion as policie as at Bloys at Angiers and especially at Paris for notwithstanding all the greatnesse wherewith the Guisians made them selues euery where to be feared yet was it published openly in the ful Towne house when the Prince of Condies imprisonment was knowen that they would not permit the blood of France to be troden downe by straungers These reportes hastened the prince of Condies proces whom they purposed to put to death about the tenth of December As for the King of Nauarre they also sought his death endeuouring to doe the King their nephue so much iniurie as to make him the hangman of his owne blood And euen as there remayned no more to doe but to execute this blowe to the ende afterwarde to strike infinite others God strooke Francis the seconde with an impostume in the eare which finally stifled him and so he dyed the fifth day of December in the yeere 1560. This death ouerthrewe all their enterprises and did so quayle them at the first that when they knew there was no more hope they went closed vp theÌ„ selues in their lodgings replenished with mistrust and incredible feare from whence they departed not of a day or twayne vntyll they were assured by the Queene mother and the King of Nauarre that they shoulde haue nothing done to theÌ„ But they were not so farre ouerseene but that they caused presently at their comming forth to carie into their lodging three or foure score thousande frankes which were left in the coffers insomuch that all the Kings treasures were wasted but no man withstoode them which was thought strange whereby men might plainely perceyue that these things were not done without the Queene Mothers consent who sought through their authoritie to mainteine hers and to say the trueth if she had not supported them their noses had then kissed the ground but the sleightes and practises on that parte do deserue an other discourse I had here in maner forgotten an other draught of the wickednesse of the Guisians against their nephew For seeking to washe their own handes of all that was paste and the same to cast vpon the Kings power and absolute will notwithstanding he were but a childe wanting both witte and discretion to be able to examine or to enterprise such and so waightie matters yet did they easely obteine of him that he shoulde speake courteously and louingly vnto the King of Nauarre which he dyd fulfill three dayes before he fell sicke declaring that the Guisians had neuer enterprised any thing against him or his but that of his owne mere motion and contrarie to their opinion he had imprisoned his brother the Prince of Conde and this he desired him to beleeue and for the loue of him and of the Queene his mother to blot out whatsoeuer euill opinion he might haue conceiued against them This practise stoode them in great steade afterwarde for

in this Realme since the death of the late King Henry are the declarers of the said Prince and his fautours to be seditious They who doe oppresse the Kings maiestie abolish his decrees and abuse his name and auctority to the ende with his ouerthrowe to establish their owne mightinesse are the same who haue declared vs guilty of treason Those those are guilty of treason against God whose workes haue alweys shewed that ambition is their God couetousnes their religion and worldly pleasures their paradise and last felicitie who haue sworne warre against the Sonne of God his worde and the defenders of the same who shew the deedes of Anabaptistes in rebaptising children baptised according to the ordinaunce of IESVS CHRIST whose houses are replenished with thefte and their handes bloody in all crueltye Those men also are guilty of humaine treason who haue violated the Kinges edictes armed them selues contrary to his commaundement and seased vpon his royall person who are inwarde friendes and to the same ende doe vse the helpe of those who in seeking to steale away the second person of the Realme endeuored to oppresse the King to bring his estate into ruine confusion And seing we must needes proceed I say that those men are guilty of treason who lately made a conspiracy in Prouence through the ayde of Lauris a president in the Parliament of Aix togither with Fabritius Cerbelone the Popes gouernour of Auignon teÌ„ding to the raising of fiftenth thousand men who as they sware marched at the commaÌ„dement of the Duke of Guise of whom the said Fabritius furnished a thousand footemen and two hundred horse which conspiracy being detected and in the court of Parliament of Prouence verified Entrages and Laydet the two chiefe captaines of this faction were beheaded by sentence of the said courte If this be not sufficient I wil say yet more namely that the Guisians made the like match in Dauphine by meanes of captaine Mantil hoping to arme the said two prouinces then to cause them togither to march where they thought best So that these conspiracies made for the abolishing of the preaching of the Gospel these leauyings of men and this othe to marche at the Duke of Guises commandement doe crye out that he and his confederates are rebels seditious persons and guilty of treason against both God man Also that contrariwise those are the Kings true and faithfull seruantes who both haue and still doe valiantly withstand their rebellions seditions and attemps against the Kings maiesty and the estate of this Realme Also hereof aboue all that is yet spoken the ouerthrowe of the policy and subuersion of the iustice of this Realme togither with the peruerting of the court of Parliament of Paris may be a sufficient testimonye The ayde of which court they haue vsed in this false and pernicious iudgement of rebellion because they could not light vpon any other coÌ„pany so corrupted depraued either so much bound to their willes and appetites as is the same for so many as now be members thereof either do keepe their rowmes through the said Guisians and their adherents fauour or els do liue in hope hereafter through their helpe to clime higher yea most of them are by name comprehended in the said conspiracie and league which the said Guisians and their adherents haue made Thus you see what was then published against the Guisians But vnto this policie of causing the Prince of Condies adherents to be proclaimed rebels the Cardinal yet added other sleights First he got the King and the Queen mother to be brought into his brothers campe by the King of Nauarre whom he sent to fetch them so caused both the Child and mother to march as it were in triumph the better to cloke the end of this warre Secondly he wonne to their parte al strangers eueÌ„ the Protestant Germains whome hee caused to enter into the Realme and in the meane season scoffed at the said Protestants religion because said they that with money they brought them to roote out the gospel in France which them selues had plaÌ„ted in Germany which also they stil professed yea the better to scorne the said Germaines the Guisians gaue them to vnderstande that of long time they had bene minded to establish the confession of Ausbourg in France which the Cardinal had openly detested in the assembly of Poissy notwithstanding that afterwarde at Sauerne he protested that he did allow of the same already had so done in case they had not bene letted by the Prince of Condye his adherents whom they charged to be rebels to seke to vsurpe the crowne to be Anabaptistes Atheistes and men deuoyd of al faith and religion Al this time in France there was no news but of teÌ„pests and horrible confusions throughout al the CouÌ„try as more largely is and shal be discoursed vpon in certaine treatises tending to the same end but the Cardinal endeuouring to assure his matters as wel as he might determined to leaue his brethren at worke in France whiles him selfe went to practise with the Pope the Spanierd and others assembled vnto the Councill of Trent and all vnder colour of religion which he did openly scoffe at for at Gyen and Bloys among other the articles whereunto he caused the King his council to subscribe to the end they might said he passe in the CouÌ„cil though in effect to bring the Pope and his adherentes to that whereat he shot were these fiue wherin his practises may plainely be perceiued First that the Canon of the Masse might be cut of and the rest corrected according to the forme of al auncient liturgies brought into Frenche Secondly that the Psalmes might be souÌ„g in Churches after the maner of that FreÌ„ch translation which the doctors of Sorbone had corrected who in deede are as rude Poets although they loue their drinke well as euill diuines Thirdly that indifferently al men might participate in the Lordes Supper vnder both kinds Fourthly that al flat paintings tending to the storie only should be permitted in Churches al Images taken away or at the least wise the people shuld be exhorted not to worship any of theÌ„ either simplie or by relation Fifthly and finally that all curates and priors shoulde either by them selues or by others interpret the epistle and gospel for the day vnto the people Thus did this troublesome member handle France who was against al men and al men against him yea euen in Rome the Cardinal Vitelly did sharpely rebuke him calling him a busie fellowe and molester of al things who only by his driftes cut out more worke in a day then the whole consistory of Cardinals could sowe in a yere The better to frame his ginnes he got forth with him nine bishops foure Abbots and certaine Sorbonistes and arriued at Trent in Nouember 1562. wherevpon the twentye thirde daye of the same moneth he made an oration conteining some matters worth the noting First

of in the middest of his course Sometimes he woulde thrust his finger into the wounde as if he were extremely chafed against the surgeons and Physitions who coulde not prolonge Francis the second his life also as if he coulde not giue them one good looke because he sawe himselfe ensnared Finally after he had forgiuen his wife and lefte his children to the Cardinals tuition not without straight charge to reuendge his death and bring his driftes to their perfection which so often had bene frustrated he was as ye would say by death tyed to the suburbes and gate of Orleans This was the end of the fiercest of all the Guisians who fretted said manye in that he shoulde die in the towne where a King had dyed either that nowe aliue he shoulde come into the Citie which he and his partakers had destined for the death of a Prince of the blood and many good officers of the crowne The Catholikes especially of Paris who neuerthelesse had smal cause as afterward appeared did greatly bewayl his death WheÌ„ the King of Nauarre was slaine at Rouen the Duke of Neuers and the Marshal of S. Andrews at Dreux and diuers others in other places there was no token of sorow But for the Duke of Guise who had abandoned his captain who fought because he would not be accomptable to the estates of France who had violated the Kings edictes and sought to suppresse the house of Valois did they make hearses and vsed al other funeral solemnities as if he had bene a king Now therefore like as after the decease of Francis the second al the whole courte which enuironed the Guisians vanished away and al their multitudes at the same instant conuerted into solitarinesse yea that manye who before had followed them were now ready not onlye to hold the basen to whoÌ„soeuer would cut their throats but eueÌ„ theÌ„selues to paunch theÌ„ so after the death of their eldest brother they remained as a body without members being forsaken of most men and through the vnreasonable authority which they had vsurped become odious vnto such as to them were most vprignt The Cardinal now being at Trente sought new meanes how to begin at an other end and first dealt with the Spaniard as himselfe did since disclose to one of the chiefe counselers of a certaine noble french Lorde for hauing declaimed against and reproued the estate of matters of France he toulde him that the Spaynishe gouernement was excellent and goode where the Great Lords of the country doe so bridle their King that they permit him scarsely to sport him self handling him after the maner of counters of which a man maketh that which somtime is worth but one somtime worth tenne sometimes worth a hundred sometimes worth ten thousand and immediatly reducing it againe to nothing at his pleasure neither were it said he a very harde matter to reduce France to the same poincte In the meane time he counterfaited the mourner writing such consolatory letters vnto his mother as a man would hardly reade without laughiÌ„g especially where he writeth these words Madame I say vnto you that God neuer so greatly honoured any mother neither at any time did so much for any his creature excepting alwayes his owne glorious mother then he hath done for you But this good childe of the most blessed mother in the world next to the virgine Marie inuented other new practises against the estate of his King and country as we now shal perceiue The Duke of Guise his mouthe beyng stopped peace presently ensued but in such maner as did easelie shewe that such remembraunces as the Cardinal lefte at his goynge to the Councille were of greate force For the edicte made in the moneth of Ianuarye was in maner extinguished the Prince of Condye displaced from the rowme which to him apperteined as to the first Prince of the blood the Admiral and other great Lordes expulsed the Courte but principally the sayde Admirall who was charged with procuring the shotte at the Duke of Guise which neuerthelesse was but a policie which the Cardinal and his fautours practised to the ende still to keepe the water troubled and them selues out of accomptes in whiche poincte the Queene mother somewhat fauoured the Guisians in that she was glad to put from her sonne al honourable persons to the ende to bring him vp and frame him according to her own humors the effects wherof haue since manifestly appeared Many things chanced in France betwene the first and second troubles wherein the Guisians sleightes diuersly appeared to the destruction of the realme wherof we wil touch some the most notable particularities not staying ouermuch vpon the circumstance of Dayes in that that entreating of their iniuries offred to the Princes of the blood to the nobilitie to the estates and to other priuate parties in the Realme we may beholde such matters as nowe we wil passe ouer First the Cardinal laboured the Queene mother to grant the estate of great master vnto his nephue Henrie sonne to the late Duke of Guise So that notwithstanding this childe was not capable thereof yet to the great dishonour of the King and the Realme and in despite of the Constable and the Protestants whome the Queene began to hate he was chosen great Master standing in deede in greater neede of a Scholemaster and roddes After the King of Nauarre was dead the Queen mother became a Catholike for she douted lest the Prince of Conde then first Prince of the blood would holde his estate knowing her humours through the assistaÌ„ce of the ChastilloÌ„s the CoÌ„stable himself whose heate began now to coole reduce her to order take the gouernemeÌ„t from her The Cardinal foreseing also that if this were brought to passe both he and al his should be plucked away determined to take some order At the assemblie at Orleans the estates with one common consent had made great complaintes of the vnreasonable giftes which both King Henrie and King Francis the second had giuen to sundrie persons of whome some were vnworthie others had had too much seeking to cal to accounts those who had the charge and gouernement of the treasure The first part of these complaintes touching the vnworthinesse of persons concerned especially and from the bottome of their hearts the Duchesse of Valentinois and al her abomination The second of excesse did pinche to the quicke the Guisians the Marshal of S. Andrewes and some others An other point of this complaint tended wholy against the Guisians as hauing relation only to the time of Francis the second whom they had ordered at their pleasures in whose time much money was spent and consumed On the other side the reformation of the ecclesiastical estate wherupon the nobilitie and third estate did earnestly call killed the Cardinals heart outright Wherefore to the end to procure this pursuite to vanish away he and his brethren could inuent no better shift then by kindeling the ciuil warre aforesaide

ready preste to deale and for my parte wil spare no cost thinking that the soner would be the better which maketh me desire you well to see vnto it and diligently thereof to consider togither with the said Lorde of Montpensier and to send me worde of your determinations to the end that according to the same I may take order with such of the Lordes and noble men as remaine hereabout and dwell within my gouernement who wil doe whatsoeuer I shal request Now must I not forget to certifie you that writing this letter I had the sight of the copye of another letter which the lorde of Montpensier wrote to the Marshal of Montmorency as an aunswere to that which the said Marshal had written to him concerning his goodly deede I pray you thanke him in our behalfes but chiefly in mine notwithstanding I doe it in the letter which I doe write vnto him we all are greatly behoulding to him Moreouer if you see the Bishop of Mans it were not amisse to moue him also in the same association for both he and his friendes would be gladde to hearken thereunto and we haue already conferred thereof You might doe well also to write vnto the Lorde of Martigues or if you can see him it were better to commune thereof togither I know his good will toward vs is nothing diminished and likewise he may be sure of ours as you may better giue him to vnderstande and I wil seale vnto whatsoeuer you and the said lordes shall agree vpon I send this messenger purposedly to the ende that by him I may the better be certified of your newes He may tary with you so long as you think good and then come to me into Champagne Written the foure and twentieth of February 1565. Seuen moneths before the said Guisians had practised an other league in GuyeÌ„ne through the meanes of the lorde of Candales the Marquise of Trans and others whereof the Queene mother being aduertised she sent them word to passe on no further therein which notwithstanding afterward when they perceyued them selues strengthened through the aduow of the principal in the Realme they sought to bring to effect On the other side the Marquise d'Ellebeufe through the solliciting of the Duke of Aumale did practise his league in his gouernement of Touraine gathering togither from all partes all the thieues and common murderers of the countrie who vnder his protection dayly committed infinite robberies and slaughters so that neither any honest man might escape without trauaile nor quietnesse rest without troubles The Cardinal of Lorraine also for his parte practised sundry matters about the same time and endeuored to bring the Baronages of the Bishopricke of Metz vnder the Emperours protection if the lorde of Salcede the Kings lieutenant at Marsault had not through force stopped the publication of the said protection Vpon which occasion the Cardinall skirmished with him and arreared the warre called the Cardinals warre wherein he had as good successe as in his entry into Paris But albeit herein he became a laughing stocke and execrable altogither yet did he still beare a grudge vnto the said Salcede and razed him out at saint Bartlemewes murder procuring him to be slaine at Paris and his house vtterly to be sacked But the chiefe occasion of suspicion ministred touching this matter was that this drifte was not executed without the counsayl of the Baron of Poluiller the gouernour of Haguenau who for that cause came to the Cardinal to Rembeuiller in Lorraine who hath also bene a solliciter of the most parte of such enterprises as haue bene practised against the estate of France both during the warres of Picardie and after that they were ended This was he also who endeuored to surprise the towne of Lions and to procure the countries of Bresse and Sauoy to reuolte through the counsail of the Cardinal of Arras about the ende of the sayde warres This was the same Poluiller who practised the King of Nauarre to reuolt promising him in recompence the realme of Nauarre This is that Poluiller who being the Cardinall of Lorrains broker durst practise the Prince of Conde vnder pretence vayne hope of helping him to the landes of the Bishoprick of Metz in case he would haue professed the Romish religion wherefore the readers may well consider what couÌ„sail is to be hoped for at such a counsaylours handes being also coÌ„ioyned vnto the Cardinall of Lorraine who during his aboade at Rembeuiller and in Lorraine did many goodly deedes for he pilled his subiectes of the Bishopricke of Metz vnder pretence of withdrawing the landes engaged vnto the Countie Iohn of Nassaw He perswaded the Duke of Lorraine to murder all his subiectes that were of the Religion which he had done in case the Lords of Castelet and Bassompierre had not with their counsaill restrayned him He procured him also to bannishe a great number of the inhabitauntes of Pont-amosson for hatred to the Gospell Moreouer he suborned some say he defiled and forcibly tooke the daughter of the Baylie of Rembeuillers wiues chamber mayde The originall of the Duke d'Aumales letters to his brother the Marquise whereof we haue seene parte of an abstract was presented vnto the King who thereupon hauing heard the depositioÌ„ of one of his Knights of the order who confessed that he had subscribed to the association aforementioned in the said letters caused in his priuie councill this acte folowing to be made which here we haue set downe to the ende thereby hereafter to consider certayn notable craftes of Italian Cardinallike policies This day being the 18. day of May 1565 the King being at Mont de Marsan assisted by the Queene his mother and his brother my lord the Duke of Orleans hath called and assembled the Princes of his blood his priuie councill and other his Lordes and Knightes of the order who were about his person to whom he hath giuen to vnderstande how he hath bene aduertised that in diuers places of his Realme there be made associations collections of coyne enroulings of men gatherings of armour and horses that some haue so farre strayed from their dueties as to sende men out of his Realme to haue intelligence and communication with forrein Princes without his knowledge contrary to his Edictes of Pacification of maioritie and other ordinances declarations and prohibitions against such like matters which he neither can ne yet will beleue by reason of such accompt as he maketh of the affection and syncere good wil of al his subiects to the obeying of his coÌ„mandements the coÌ„moditie of his seruice and the quiet of his realme Neuerthelesse to the end better to be instructed in the trueth he admonished charged them to tel him the trueth of al that they haue heard Which they haue done moreouer do most humbly beseeche his maiestie to beleue that they are so farre wide of these so pernicious practises that rather they be ready prest to spend their liues

holden at Poictiers especially to tend vnto the processe of those who should be fouÌ„d culpable in the said pretended misbehauiours and them to declare guiltie of treason and inasmuch as those presidentes and counselours of the court of Parliament of Paris as were appointed to goe thither seemed insufficient partial and factious in the Cardinals sight he caused to cut of seuen from the liste which was first made and in their steades did surrogate others of his owne creation and conditions For the country of Normandy he sent the master of requestes named S. Martin to whom he procured a coÌ„mission to the same end with letters directed to the court of Parliament of Rouen tending that with the said de S. Martin they should tend to the performance of his commission and not breake vp the courte notwithstanding it were almost vacation time On an other side the Cardinal endeuoured through the Constables meanes to bring the Admiral and his brethreÌ„ on sleepe who had already written certaine letters which detected the traines layed for them The sixe thousande Switzers who were leuied for the execution hereof about this time came to the King to Meaux who was enuironed with the Guisians so that the Prince and the Admiral plainely perceiuing that it was against them and the Protestants that these preparatiues were made determined before things were at a worse poynct to come to the King and for that he was in both his and their enemies hands they thought it best to take into their company certaine gentlemen of name of their kinsfolkes and friends to the number of a hundred or six score also to take some weapons for their assurance which the Cardinal and his adherents failed not to cause the King to take in very euill parte and the more to prouoke him against the Protestants they perswaded him that his death was at hand vnlesse with al speed he got to Paris seeing that the Prince of Condye and the Admiral came with fifteene hundred or two thousand horses entending to force his maiesty the Queene his mother and my Lordes his brethren and to enterprise somewhat against the estate and therefore the 28 of September about four of clocke in the morning they caused the King to departe and put him among the Switzers supposing that if the Prince were so wel accompanied as they reported which was false for when he came to speake to the King betwene Meaux and Paris he had not at the most aboue thre hundred horse things might grow to such passe that stil some of their enemies of one side or other might go to wrack The Duke d' Aumale certaine others followed the King who about foure of clocke after noone arriued at Paris where the Guisians did exhort him neuer more to trust the Huguenots as himselfe made ample Protestation The Cardinal according to his custome would not follow the King but fained to take the way to Reyms howbeit being met by certaine of his enemies fled vpon a iennet of Spaine to Chasteauthierry Thus was the second warre kindled in France and notwithstanding any the Prince of Condye or his adherents requestes for the reducing of al things into quiet yet the Guisians and the Queene mother to the end to be dispatched of one or other caused a battel to be fought betwene Paris and S. Dionice wherein the Constable was wounded to death This day brought the Cardinal and his a great contentation in that they sawe themselues ridde of the Constable and thereby the way open vnto the accomplishment of their desires For on the one side they endeuoured to make the King a sworn enemie vnto the Protestants who so much had stopped the course of the Guisian preferrement and so through him to ouerthrow their aduersaries It was also requisite to haue some other mightie man more at commandement then the King vnder whose authoritie they might shield themselues in the execution of their passions So sone therfore as the CoÌ„stable was dead the Guisians counseled the Queene mother to make the Duke of Anjou the King his brothers lieutenant general and she perceiuing what commoditie thereby she might reape did soone follow this counsel Whereupon the army marched the Guisians wholy gouerned the Duke of Aniou vnder his shadow both then euer since procured diuers fetches for the ouerthrow of the Protestants chiefly But hereafter we wil shew what iniuries they haue done to the said Duke in vsing him as an instrument to subuert al France Now forasmuch as the Protestants had presently succours out of Germanie the Cardinal perceiued that by going backward he might iumpe the farther and therfore when the Prince of Condes campe was before Chartres in the yere 1568 he procured the King to send some men to the Prince to conclude a peace that is to say to vnarme the Protestants whereby the more readily afterward to murder them For he could not denie but that the Protestants were at that time the strongest and yet not being compelled through want either of strength or good successe did separate and vnarme them selues opening their townes to such as the Queene and the Cardinal sent in the Kings name vnder whose onely faith and worde they put away from them al assurance of liues and goods yelding their naked brestes vnto their aduersaries swords and kniues Al the Protestant Lords gentlemen departed to their owne houses whither when some could not find any sure accesse and others were so euil intreated as that diuers were most cruelly slaine murdered manie of them were constrained to assemble themselues together which was it that the Cardinal and his fautors desired as wel to finde occasion to slaunder them as infringers of the Edictes as also to the end the more easily by ouerrunning of them to destroy them and not knowing what to do or whither to go to take the way into Flanders verie vndiscretely in that the King had forbidden them the same although they were through meere necessitie which as the prouerbe is hath no lawe compelled thereunto Howbeit the punishment was so readie and extreeme that the Cardinal and his partakers ought to haue bene content They vsed in the execution thereof the Marshal de Cosse his aide to the end to charge their rage vpon as wel one as other Then sent they a gentleman vnto the Prince of Conde to know whether he allowed of the said leuie of men wherein is to be seene a right Cardinals fetch for the maintaining of the King in his rage expelling the Prince out of the Court causing to ouerrunne him or his troupes if he aduowed them and so by litle and litle consume his enemies As for the strangers come to the Protestants aide they were presently sent home and the Prince and other Protestants compelled to borowe great summes of money wherewith to pay them and yet through the Guisians commandements the garrison of Auxerre stole part of that money slaying some of the guydes and ransomming

reuolt which could not but come to passe when the sword was once taken from the King and iustice and committed to the hands of the communaltie with al immunitie Also to the end to be assured that neuer a protestant might escape the Cardinal gaue the King to vnderstand that he should neuer remaine safe from the Huguenots practises vnlesse the townes which they had holden together with such as were their captaines neighbours were furnished with good and strong garrisons so that this was no sooner counselled but it was also commanded Also yet for their more assured deliÌ„gs herin if there were any captain renowmed for theuery or cruelty either any who had euer a priuate quarel or any company giuen ouer to al leudenesse those were sure to be preferred how many soeuer there were of them to the ende to replenish the townes so sone as they were yelded or to lye about the houses of the Prince of Condie the Admirall and other Lordes whome the Cardinal hated and stood in most feare of Also when one of the priuie Councill chaunced to shewe the sayde Cardinall that it was to be feared least hereby the Protestantes should ouer soone perceiue and smell that they would not obserue the edict also least the Catholikes should complaine of being ouerpressed the charges being so great that the King were not able to beare them he answered saying You knowe not what you say For the first of these two pointes the answere is ready namely that it is for the mainteining of both parties in peace according to the edict and as for the second for the Souldiers lodging among the Huguenots and so an hundred fould ouercharging of them as touching Cottisings all such matters shal light vpon their coffers howsoeuer it be their confiscations shall paye for all and ouer and besides such recompences shall discharge the Kings debts The Cardinal not yet content to the end to keepe the said lords of the Religion from comming to the court and more surely to prouide for the execution of his drifts persuaded the King that his person should neuer be in safetie without keeping him selfe as it were shut vp in Paris for a time and not to stray away thence but by litle and litle This when he had obtained for the better keeping of his prisoner he made drawbridges and other gardes in al the waies and entries into Paris as in time of open warre Hauing thus framed his nets he made an Edict in the Kings name wherewith to drawe all the Protestants into the townes there to murder them or keepe them prisoners in their owne houses at the mercie of a number of thieues vntil the appointed houre for the Sicilian euensong And to the end men might the better coÌ„ceiue hereof we haue set downe the Edict conteining as followeth Like as to procure the obseruing interteyning and inuiolable keeping of the contentes of our Edict made for the pacification of the last troubles chanced in this our Realme among our subiectes we haue heretofore written and sent word vnto our gouernours of our prouinces our intent and pleasure as followeth That the gates of our townes should be open vnto such our subiects as do professe the reformed Religion and that them selues shoulde be receiued and setled in their houses in ful possession of their goods as before the sayd troubles they were leauing their weapons at the gates of the sayd townes according to an order which to that end we haue sent into all partes and places of our dominions So nowe beeing since aduertised that sundrie our subiectes of the saide Religion taking an opinion that they can not be receiued into the saide townes either beeing entred cannot tarie without beeing oppressed and molested by other the inhabitantes haue therefore retired into the fieldes armed in great companies there committing infinite euils and oppressions against our poore people so that it is to be feared least they may procure in our Realme new troubles whereunto desiring to prouide as it is requisite we haue againe said and declared and now do say and declare that our intent alwayes was and stil is That the said of the Religion pretended reformed as well such as haue borne armes as all others comprehended in the bounds of our Edict shall haue free entrie and be receiued into their mansion houses whereinto we will and doe meane that they be admitted by the gouernours of our prouinces and townes bayliefs Seneschals and others our iustices and officers of the same by whome they shall be summoned so to doe with al gentlenes possible maintayned in peaceable possession and vse of their sayde goods and preserued from all iniuries and oppression to the end that in all suretie and quietnes they may with other our subiectes of the Catholike Religion vnder the benefite and according to the true meaning of our Edict of pacification liue in al assurance and quietnes taking them into our protection and sauegarde and giuing euerie man charge with the custodie the one of the other Also in case anie do goe against this our determination our will and pleasure is that all such be punished with the extremitie and rigour of our Edictes and ordinances of whatsoeuer Religion that they be without exception of persons Also wheresoeuer after these summons and calling anie shal be found enemies of common tranquilitie or still keeping the fieldes there to molest our subiectes or to gather together in armes to begin anie newe troubles We will and our intent is that all our saide gouernours of prouinces and townes all Bayliefes Seneschals and other our iustices and officers euerie man in his owne iurisdiction as to him appertaineth shal assemble such numbers of men of warre whether of men of armes of footemen being in our paye or inhabitants of townes and villages as they shal thinke conuenient and necessarie according to the aduertisements which they shal receiue of the perfect number of the said perturbers of the common quiet for to ouerset them and by all such meanes as them selues shall thinke conuenient them ouerthrowe and heaw in pieces in such wise as may be for our strength and obedience For such is our will and pleasure Giuen at Paris the 19. of May 1568. Charles Robertet This Edict conteineth infinite clauses and guiles of the Cardinal for the rooting out of the Protestants aswel with in the townes as in the fieldes which the murders following together with an other practise now to be seene did but ouer truely verifie to the great interest of the whole Realme and perpetual ignominie of the royal Name Al men do knowe that the profite of al countries consisteth especially in trafike and marchandise which is the thing which most commendeth France aboue al countries in the world Now did one of the Articles of pacification import that the townes should immediatly be restored into such estate as they were before the troubles al trafike marchandise restored The Cardinal not being able to

euer any man of what estate couÌ„trey or condicion so euer he were might clime vnto in France To him onely aboue al other I say is the whole generation of Guise bound beholding for their descent from a Princesse of France and daughter of Vendosme because that he the said constable was the motioner of the marriage betwene their father and mother who alreadie nothing hoping or once thinking vpon anie so good hap had begonne to cast his eye toward another Ladie of farre meaner estate and calling Againe the onely request and peticion of the Constable were of sufficient force in their behalfe at the returne of King Francis out of Spaine to keepe free their father out of prison for his leading of the Kings power and forces into Lorraine without the said Kings loue or leaue yea and to restore him againe into fauour Again after the deceasse of the Kings daughter who was Queene of Scots and that the King of Scots was desirous to take another wife in France the Constable was the only preferrer of the said Lords of Guises sister the late Queene mother vnto Marie Stuard how Queene who by his meanes was preferred before many other both more marriageable and meete for such a man then her selfe Howbeit I can not denie but that it was necessarie to send her into places vnknowen for that whiles she remained at Nancy she endeuoured to haue forsaken the court of Lorraine and haue yelded her person vnto the Abbot of Beaulieu great vncle vnto the late Duke of Bouillon yea had not the Countesse of Lignanges warned the Lady Rene of Bourbon of her determination she had assuredly departed with the said Abbot into his cloyster of Beaulieu For the which practise the afore named Abbot was rewarded with the natural courtesies of this race for after that vpon their fidelities he had yelded him self into their clawes and that it seemed they had forgotten the wantonnes of their said sister they procured his murder at vnwares accompanying their cruelty both with periurie and great ingratitude For notwithstanding the house of Sedan hath alwaies stood the race of Lorraine in great steade yet haue the Lords of Guise in diuers wise since persecuted the same Now therefore to returne vnto their ingratitude towarde the Constable King Henrie the second comming vnto the crowne in the yere 1546 and hauing as is aforesaid committed the whole regiment therof vnto his good gossippe the Constable did shortly after take the Earle of Aumale his brother the Lord of Reims and the Lords of Sedan and of S. Andrewes and present them vnto the said Constable with these wordes Gossippe these schollers do I giue vnto you to the end they may learne of you and obey you as my selfe I pray you traine them vp in my affaires so that vnder you during your life they may do me seruice And then turning vnto them he said I do giue you this man for your father and Scholemaster him loue and honour doing whatsoeuer he shal command for my selfe do accompt him my father and the most deare friend and faithful seruant which euer my father had or my selfe may haue Afterward the said Lords of Guises father at his next meeting with the Constable said vnto his sonnes Behold your father for my selfe hath he also created him honour and serue for we al be bound so to do The testimonie also of the late Cardinal their vncle which he gaue in the presence of the Cardinal of Lenoncourt describeth more plainely their dueties vnto the Constable for it was pronounced in his absence and they practising some conspiracie against him Take heede sayd he of displeasing that man for had not he bene both your father and whole kindred had had enough to do neither should your selues haue euer atteined vnto that estate wherein you are now placed nor your sister neither euen my self am in his debt for mine owne promotion and for whatsoeuer fauour coÌ„moditie or credit that I haue reaped at the hands of the late king Al which admonitions were neuerthelesse not of sufficient force to restraine them froÌ„ practising as wel openly as priuately the ouerthrow of the said Constable notwithstanding that so long as King Henrie liued their driftes came but to smal purpose in deede during the raigne of Francis the second they were euen with him and paid for their scholing as hereafter more at large wil appeare We haue alreadie spoken of the marriage of their brother the Marquise of Maine vnto the great Seneschals daughter which was the first roote of their hatred against the Lord of Chastillon afterward Admiral of France the which through new occurrences hath since so encreased that finally they haue brought both him al his brethren vnto their ends not yet ceasing from practising the vtter extirpation of al his race and familie vnlesse them selues may first be dispatched and made away To begin therfore at the foundation of al these euils which since haue almost subuerted the whole estate of France we are to vnderstaÌ„d that the Constable seeking the prefermeÌ„t of his nephues did about eightene yeres since procure vnto the eldest brother of the house of Chastillon the degree of a Cardinal which in that time through ignorance and superstitious zeale was greatly desired among al estates and afterward did by al conuenient meanes aduance as it were steppe by steppe the other two brethren Iasper and Francis into al commissions and offices of warfare both by sea and land by meanes whereof they hauing obteined great credite among the whole nobilitie it was an easie matter for the Admiral then but Lord of Chastillon as wel through the support of his said vncle the CoÌ„stable as also in respect of the debates and quarels that then were prosecuted betwene the Lords of Dampierre S. Andrewes to insinuate him selfe into the especial fauour of King Henrie then Dauphine This the Earle of Aumale perceiuing who in those daies was in least reputation with King Francis he thought it meete for the atteining of the said Dauphines good wil to ioyne in familiaritie and straight league with the said Lord of Chastillon which familiaritie eche of them so firmely obserued for the space of foure or fiue yeres that these two Lords could not liue one without an other but as a token of their more mutual agreemeÌ„t did for the most part apparel them selues daily in like sutes of raimeÌ„t In the meane time it so fel out that the father of these Lords of Guise purposing the preferment of his familie by al meanes possible sought to ioyne his third sonne the Marquise of Maine in marriage vnto the yongest daughter of the great Seneschal the mother being as then the Dauphines harlot Of this marriage the Earle of Aumale could in no wise like and for that cause fearing to prouoke the Dauphine against him selfe he brake the matter vnto his companion the Lord of Chastillon desiring him as his especial friend to giue him some

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