a gloriouse name among the French meÌ„ yea among those that were his enemies for euer There was in this prince a singular loâ—…e toward the gospell a desire most ferueÌ„t to aduauÌ„ce the glory of God to further the dignitie of his prince to maintayne the libertie and peace of his countrey For the which his enemies brought him into great perill and sought by all meanes possible to quenche that burning zeale in him toward the Gospel But he declared himself wise and valeant â–ª in ouer passiug those troubles and also constant in the trueth of the Gospel who for the same hath forsaken great dignities and princely honor and hath consecrated himselfe wholy vnto God and who as he hath for the gospel of God for the dignitie of the king and for the libertie of his countrey spent his life euen so séeing he hath for these causes speÌ„t it he hath in the foyle got the victorie of his enemies and being dead triumpheth ouer death and is yet aliue A myracle which all godly and christian men throughout all posterities will euer embrace In this battaile there were two hundred of the faith full slayne fortie noble men taken prisoners among whom was the bastard sonne of the King of Nauar the Lord de la Noue whose horse was slayne at the firste charge the lord of Teligni de la Balbe de Soubize and de Loue also the Lord Stuard a Scot â–ª and Chastelher portaÌ„t who after they were takeÌ„ were stabbed with daggers and murthered On the Catholiques side were slayne the County de la Miraude the lord de Monsaletz the Ba rons of Ingrande and Prunay with many other After this battaile one part of the horsemen drew to S. Iean de Angely with the Admirall the L. Andelot the Countie de la Rochefocault and Monsieur de Acier the other part tooke their way to Coignac In this Encounter the prince had no other footemeÌ„ than the Lord Pluneaux regiment heretofore meÌ„cioned all the rest of his footemen was retired by his commauÌ„demeÌ„t to Iarnac as being not of mynd to fight that day There was made at Iarnac a bridge of boates to passe the Riuer Charente in time of néed ouer which the footmen séeing the ouerthrow passed ouer to the other syde of the riuer so then brake it in péeces for feare of pursutes soretired to Coignac where were the princes of Nauarre and Anguyen The artillery brought from Coygnac was brought thyther agayne hauing made not great way The said princes of Nauar and Anguyen now prince of CoÌ„de departed from Coygnac the next morning with such horsemen as were retyred vnto theÌ„ And the same day they arriued at Sainctes in Sainctonge leauing their footemen at Coygnac to maintayne warre agaynst the Catholiques Who the morrowe after being the fiuetéene of March presented themselues in battayll before Coygnac with horsemen and footemen making countenance to besiege it There was a great skirmish vpoÌ„ them on the parks side thereto adioyning by meane of a silly made by the Lord Baudine In which encounter were left dead in the same place two hundred bodies and great numbers hurt â–ª whiche made the Catholiques to retire the same day retourning to Iarnac In the meane while the Admirall vnderstanding that the princes were retired to Sainctes went thyther too them and with the horsemen of their trayn he brought them to S. Iean de Angely and from thence to ThonieCharante Now the army of the faithfull were in great sorrow when the Quéene of Nauarre came to them because of the death of the Prince of Conde who vsed these persua sions and exhortations to quiet their minds Whereas fayth shée the prince of Cynde hath spent his life valiantly for the defence of so good a cause â–ª which also in his lyfe time he roÌ„stantly defended the hath left behind him to his fellow souldiers an example of Constancie for them to defend Gods trueth the Kings dignitie and the libertie of their Countrey against whiche wicked men rebell Our good and iust cause is not dead with the Prince of Conde neither ought the minds and courage of so good men to quayle and faynt by any maner of meanes God hath so prouided for his cause that he had raysed vp Defenders thereof in the â–ª Prince of Condes place to succede him Those â–ª and many other comfortable persuasions the Quéene of Nauarre vsed to encourage the moorning Army and then retourned to Rochell The prince of Conde thus taken away and his death no small losse to them of the religion the Kings â–ª brother knowing the princes of Nauarre and d'Anguyen â–ª were passed the ryuer of Botoune determined to follow them and in that purpose departed from Iarnac and came to Dampierre where he passed the ryuer he lodged his armie within halfe a league of S. Iean d'Angely of purpose to execute a certaine enterprise within the sayd towne by meane of the captaine of the Castell In the meane while the Princes Armye passed Charante as well at Thonye Charante as at Tallibourgh kéeping the boates alwayes on their side The Kings brother vnderstanding the sayde armye was passed ouer Charante and also that his enterprise vpon the towne of S. Iean d'Angely was so discouered as he coulde not commit it to safe execution returned from whence he came that is to Iarnac Chastoau-neuf and places about Angoulesme attending his opportunitie to effect an attempt which he had conspired vpoÌ„ that towne and that by meane of the captaine of the Parke which was also discouered as hereafter shall follow The Princes being now on the other side of the ryuer Charente begaÌ„ to suruey their forces viewing first their horsemen and then their footâ—… in order as hereafter shal be shewed All the horsemen were sent for in one day into two places The prince of Nauar and the L. Admirall mustred the battaile and the d' Andelot with the Countie Rochefoucaut the vauntgarde There were viewed and enhabled aboute iiii thousande horsemen well mounted and armed with valiante disposition to follow the cause to a good end It was openly read there to all the horsemen that the prince of Nauarre â–ª declared himselfe chiefe of the armie with promise not to leaue the campe till a good and happye peace and muche lesse to spare his life and goods in that behalfe This béeyng published the horsemen likewise protested by othe not to depart the armie without his leaue nor forbeare life 〈◊〉 liuing in the assistance of the quarell l'Endureau captaine of a hundred light horsemen after she last conflicte reuolted and tooke parte with the Countie du Lude gouernor of Poytou He was greuous after his reuolte to the Protestantes in a number of heauie euils as in pilling and robbing them wythoute respect and also vnder shadow of his white Cassakins wherwith he yet disgnised his people He toke the castell of Montaagu in base Poytou yeelding to the garrison no other mercie than by the edge
beginnings of the Church of Fraunce béeing as yet but of tender yeares as it were and in the fire or at least wise euen now by little and little coÌ„ming out of the fire Let the causes of the hatred and debate â–ª by these very few things be considered with the which the Bishop of Romes men so outragiously vniustly are inflamed against the faith full against the cause of the faithfull We must not looke here to haue a description of the faithfull and professours of Christ in armes as our aduersaries doe nowe obiect vnto vs but rather of the vnarmed naked members of Christ most cruelly afflicted onely for this cause bicause they preferre the true and pure doctrin of the Gospell now a growing before the auncient customes traditions of men The naked Church in time past was vexed and the Gospell dyd run as it were through the sides of poore men and broughte them to death then Christians were accouÌ„ted as lyers called heretikes and by al maner of meanes vexed oppressed then were they cast in prisons and in bonds then were they whipped then suffered they proscriptions and banishmeÌ„ts yea and cruell deathes without fauour But nowe when it pleased the omnipotent God to appoynte vnto his Church a more clears and beautiful estate and to qualifie and quenche those fierce fyres Sathan not forgetting hys olde subtilties and sleightes deuiseth a new accusatioÌ„ whispering into the eares of kings that the Gospell will plucke their Scepters out of their handes and bycause the faithfull throughout the whole kingdom of France defende their libertie graunted vnto them by the Kings Edictes and by all lawfull causes with force of armes a new crime is nowe layde to their charge namely Sedition rebellion and treason to the king and country these crimes are obiected agaynste the godly by those which abusing the Kings name and authoritie to exercise their own tirannie â—…éeke moste of all the destruction of the Kings maiestie and bicause they haue bene let of their purpose by the faithfull therfore do they spewe out all the poyson of their hatred against them By these beginnings it shall euidently appéere how obedient the Faithful haue bene alwayes to their Princes and Magistrates that this thing béeyng layde as it were the foundation it may plainly be séene who they be which are the true authours of so many troubles as haue flowed thorough this whole kingdome God truely hath armed and fortified his Churche at thys daye with many externall helpes and fortresses yet for all that the cause is not chaunged Christe is the selfe same Christe still the Gospell is not chaunged but it is the selfe same Gospell whiche was vnreuerently handled and dealt withall in the persons of the Faithfull by the sharpe punishementes of the wicked The Faithfull are the same men still in obeying their Magistrates and in reuerencing their Princes that they were before But they are rebells whiche abusing the name and authoritie of Princes and disloyally violating all Lawe persecute the Churche go about to extinguish the Gospel and as if they were Giants furiously fight with God. And by the reading of these Commentaries the Faythfull shall finde many things which they maye applye vnto themselues to stay and comfort themselues in the middest of these troubles In these lamentable tymes manye daungers of moste greuous calamities do compasse vs on euery side many difficulties and newe troubles do dayly burst forth also But if we consider weigh the times paste we shall in very déede haue a gesse nowe what wil come to passe hereafter in our tyme For séeing God hath afore time sette and placed hys Churche in a straunge and wonderfull order We maye gather that the same God being a perpetuall keper and defender of his seruauntes will applie his power and prouidence to dispatche vs out of these our troubles the whiche is a most firme and inuincible argument Let vs call to remembrance the thicke mistes and darke cloudes of the former night let vs sette before oure eyes in what state the Church was in the dayes of Francis the first Henry the second and Francis the second All thinges were then full of feare Infinite kindes of punnishmentes and paynes were layde vppon the Church as banishmentes proscriptions and burninges Then no man durst so much as name the Gospell without he would be counted a manifest heritike Fewe men or none and that of the meaner sort when they were in their secret corners durst not once mutter of the Gospell men coulde not then enioy the libertie of the Gospell except they woulde willinglye banishe themselues their countrey and wander into foreine Nations But who will not merueile herevppon at the issue and end of those afflictions Looke what thinges were then harde of a fewe did openly ringe in the eares of all men Looke what things were reiected in some places and greatly punished were publikely receiued of the greatest part of men yea there were many of the Nobles which sealed that doctrine with their bloud By the deathes of Kyngs the Gospell had passage victorie was gotten Triumphe was made and within fewe dayes the Gospell went through the greatest parte of the Kyngdome by open sermons by publique Disputations where most men were assembled together so that the Gospell had gotten many and singular witnesses The places which had séene the tormenting fyres and ashes of the Faithfull before sawe now great assemblies and multitudes of the Faythfull gathered together to heare the worde of God and the Kynges Edictes which were altogether made for the hurt and destruction of the faythfull were at the last for all that the aduersaries could doe made to preserue the faithfull To be short these Commentaries did bring to our remembraunce and consideration such wonderfull and straunge matters the like wherof wée our selues haue not safely séene that by the prosperous and happye issue and ende of these perturbations we oughte to conceyue a sure and vndoubted hope The matter was then tryed by fyre but now by force of armes he which quenched the flamyng fires by the death and destruction of those whiche were fully purposed vtterly to ouerthrow and destroy the Churche the same Lord of hostes graund Captain of battailes shall direct and order these warres to the libertie and peace of his seruants Therfore the examples of those things which wer done in time past do plentifully shew that whatsoeuer shall happen at the length which in déede is not to be measured by humane reason shall fall out for our health and welfare and that bicause God will not leaue his worke vnperfected Wherefore I truste it is euident by the consideration of the things which are set foorth in this Booke what great profite shal come to those whom the boisterous waues of these tempests haue touched And bicause this is not a priuate matter neither appertaineth to euery one man but common to the whole Church of God dispersed throughout the whole world
persecution These men when they were come began to preach the worde of God and to appoint an order of discipline There was also among the rest a certaine man called Ianus Contachus not long before a Sorbonist or Papist who came thither after Villegagno This man being ambitions desired greatly to be made a Bishop Therefore he thought this a verye good way to obtaine his purpose namely vpon the daye appointed for the ministration of the Lordes supper to mooue certaine questions as whether Copes and Surplesies and such Priest like garments were necessary to be vsed in that ministration also whether vnleauened breade and the mixing of water with winâ—… shoulde not in the same be vsed The which he did in déede Howbeit for all this contention mooued by him the Supper of the Lord was then purely celebrated But the controuersies increasing daily more and more among them it was tolde vnto Villegagno that there was a fame and report in Fraunce that many Lutheranes were come into America by his meanes and guidance At the hearing whereof Durandus Villegagno being made asearde quite altered and chaunged his former minde and purpose concerning the bringing in and establishing of the Gospell in those regions And when as on a time Richerius ministred Baptisme and sayd that all those things which were by the Papistes ioyned to Baptisme after the institution of the Apostles were depraued and corrupted additions Villegagno made open proclamation saying that Richerius lyed and streight way affirmed that he had rather followe the ancient rites and customes of the Church made a thousande yeares ago than the new opinions of Caluin and other newfangled persons adding also to this that 〈◊〉 woulde neuer more haue to doe with them At the last after long controuersie it was concluded among them that the articles which were in question shoulde be sent to the Churches of Fraunce and Germanie to iudge of them whose iudgement and opinion they agréed to followe For this cause Charterius was sent into Fraunce But when Villegagno vnderstoode by rumors that great persecution continued still in Fraunce he plainly vttereth his minde and declareth that he would stand to none of all their iudgements and opinions but woulde imbrace the doctrine of the Romishe Church and forbiddeth Richeriâ—…s to preach or â—…o gather togither the congregation to praye any more Thys was the cause why Richerius and Pontanus returned into Fraunce notwithstaÌ„ding the lets and impediments which Villegagno obiected vnto them who in déede went about to bring to passe that so soone as they came into Fraunce they both might be deliuered into the handes of the magistrate Many in like maner of the faithfull which abode in America were very euil intreated for religion some for this cause being drowned left a signe and remembrance to the vtmost partes of the world of their sufferance for the Gospel And this truly was the issue and ende of the rashe and vndiscrete zeale of Villegagno But now let vs here bring in that which we left behind vnspoken concerning the death of king Henrie After that he was buried his funerals celebrated according to custome the new king Frances set in his roome the Guises hauing gotten authoritie and fauour with the King by the meanes of the Quéene of Scottes his wife left nothing vndone to aduaunce them to dignitie séeking all they could to remoue others to whom the gouernement of things appertained but specially in this time of the Kings nonage and at their pleasure placing whome it pleased them to the great detriment losse reproch of those Princes that were the Kings neare kinsemen being of the same familie and lyne that he himselfe was of But this their authoritie power hapned vnto theÌ„ chiefly to the destruction of the Church Therfore that persecutioÌ„ which séemed to end by the wonderfull chauÌ„ce of king Henrie begaÌ„ now to be more vehement thaÌ„ before And the chiefest persecutors were the Guises both for the olde cankred spite they bare to religion and also for the vnbridled and ambitious desire they had to beare rule and to get authoritie the which they saw by no other meanes coulde stande For the Cardinall of Loraine who also ioyned with the Guises was greatlye dismayed and made afearde by newe rumours which were daily brought from forreine Nations namelye that a conspiracie was made against them by manye men whiche coulde not beaâ—… their tirannie And therefore the Guises thought it best to proclaime open warre against the Christians Then was there newe Edicts deuised and set forth more cruell than the other that were before with newe punishmentes added to the same In these it was forbidden so make any secret or priuie assemblies vpon payne of death and also promised to the bewrayets of such as should make the assemblies the one halfe of the confiscation or forfeyture of their goodes beside manye other great rewardes There was also commaundement giuen to the ouerséers and searchers out of such to receyue diligently the accusations brought vnto them to take those that were accused daily to search houses and to certifie the Senate of the Citie what they had done in the premisses Furthermore there was authoritie giuen to the Praetor to hang and drawe at his pleasure that he might giuâ—… sentence of death against such as were before him accused for heresie the benefite of appeale denyed and taken away from such as were condemned The Uâ—…cars and Curates also of euery Parishe were commaunded not to be slacke in excommunicating those whome they knewe to be Lutheranes Besides this there was impunitie and pardon giuen to the accusers if so be it fell out that their accusation were founde false About this time Sathan who séeketâ—… all that he may the destruction of Christes Church to the ende nothing might be left vndone that might by any meanes hurt the same taketh newe wayes in hand as ye shall heare by this which followeth So it was that two false brethren fled from thâ—… Church of Paris One of them was a Goldsmyth by his occupation whome the Lorde had sometime vsed as he doth oftentimes other hypocrites as a meane in bringing many men to the knowledge of him the other was a certaine Painters seruant The first of these two which was the Goldsmith being for his wickednesse and euill life excommunicate from the Church came to Democharis the Inquisitor and tolde him that he knewe many things concerning the Lutheranes and that he for sooke their companie for this cause that he might so much as lay in him worke their destruction And so whatsoeuer he knewe might be hurtful to the faithfull the same he declared to the Inquisitor giuing vnto him the names of such as were chief of the church and burdening them with grieuous crimes To be short he left nothing vntold that might serue any maner of way to be hurtfull vnto them To this fellowe the Inquisitor gaue diligent eare and encouraged him with great commendations to
which are the Kings neare kinsemen to bée in lesse estimation than Straungers And althoughe the Princes throughe their humanitie and great modestie woulde suffer them selues to bée so abased yet notwithstanding the Nobles woulde not beare it nor abyde the gouernement of Straungers And to confirme this which he had spoken he brought in manye examples that the Guises being Straungers were neyther in the number of Princes nor at anye time so accounted and that therefore it was not lawfull for the Guises to arrogate vnto themselues the titles and authoritie of Princes which onely appertained to the Kings bloude as the auncient custome of the kingdome woulde declare This sayth he to pacifie those of the temporaltie whose doings were the more to bée feared for that the greater part of the Nobilitie was of that side sauing such as were woonne and procured awaye by the Guiles for the Kings money Thus Planchaeus largely and fréely vttered his mynde But all the whyle that he had this talke with the Quéene the Cardinall of Loraine was hydde behinde the Tapistrie clothes that hâ—…ng before the wall of the Closet Who when Planchaeus had leaue of the Quéene to depart came forth and talking with the Quéene appointed that Planchaeus shoulde be called agayne and commaunded to procéede in his former declaration and to shewe who they were that were the authors and Captaynes of she late conspiracie the which except he woulde promise to doe that he might be caried to prison Therefore Planchaeus being called againe began to vtter his minde as fréely as he had done before shewing the parentage and stocke of the Guises and also howe they were Straungers and nothing appertaining to Fraunce adding moreouer that it was very euill done to commit the gouernement of the Realme to Straungers and speciallye to such as did contende ambitiouslye for the Kingdome and thought it shoulde appertayne to them The Quéene being offended with his boldnesse and speciallye séeing he affirmed that he knewe nothing of the conspiracie commaunded that he should be caried to prison All which Planchaeus spake was euen as it were the voyces of the people speaking by the mouth of one man. After this Michael Hospitall the Kings Chauncelour after the death of Oliuarius of whom we spake before a man verye well learned and wyse was sent to the Senate of Paris to consult with them about many matters that belonged to the gouernement of the Realme and among the rest concerning the prouiding such remedies as might take away the tumults alredie begon And thus afflictions waxed more easie than they wers before and remedies were prouided for so generall a mischiefe But the fame and report of the increasing of the multitude of the faithfull daylye was in euery place of the Realme and bicause great troubles séemed to be at hande all men had regarde vnto them more than to the report of the increase of the faithful the most part endeuouring themselues to staye and pacifie these troubles And at this time this was the state of France the Guises sent the same prouision of warre with the which they withstoode the religion in Fraunce into Scotland ouer the sea to the intent they might there deface and put downe the religion newly begon For the Nobles of Scotland with a great multitude of the people beside had cast off the Popes yoke from of their neckes had plucked downe their Images their altars and abolished the ceremonies of the Papisticall seruice causing the Quéene to get hir into a little towne by hirselfe for that she was sore offended at that which they had done Therefore lacking helpe the Guises brought to passe to haue an hoste of men sent out of France to the number of foure thousande Of this bande of men Brossaeus was Generall with whome was ioyned the Bishop of Ambianensis to the ende the one might fight with the sword and the other with Papisticall power Therfore they toke their iourney with these coÌ„mandements namely that they should seuerely punish the Rebels and the chiefe authors of sedition and that they shoulde restore the wonted and vsuall obedience of the Pope Wherfore so sone as they were come into Scotland they made proclamation that euery one should go to Masse detest and forsake the new religion The Bishop wrote vnto the King that he woulde bring all the people within fewe dayes to the catholike faith Brossaeus wrote that he woulde destroy all within sixe moneths which woulde not come to the auncient Religion But it came otherwise to passe For after the death of Marie Quéene of England the Guises made claime and title to the Crowne of Englande for their Néece the Quéene of Scottes as though she had bene the lawfull heire Whereat the moste gracious Quéene Elizabeth hauing great disdaine sent worde to the King of Fraunce of this great iniurie done to hir Grace by the Guises and biddeth battaile Nowe the Scottés to the ende they might abide the forren power of the Frenchmen féeling also that they stoode in néede of helpe and ayde from some other place went to the Quéene of England beséeching hir that although they were hir olde enimies yet that she woulde vouchsafe to ayde them in so iust a cause of Religion saying that they had rather to abide any extremitie than the tyrannie of the Pope To whom the Quéenes maiestie willingly and gladly promised and graunted helpe The Scottes therefore being encouraged by this ayde did so withstande the French power that they made great slaughter of the French men and draue them to such a strayte that except the matter had bene taken vp by peace it shoulde séeme that they had bene all vtterly destroyed Peace therfore was concluded and the reformed Religion there established And so that tumult was turned to the peace and quietnesse of the Church notwithstanding the subtill practises and cruell threatnings of the aduersaries There were also at that time grieuous afflictions layde vpon the Church in another place For in the townes of Sixtus and Guardia in the countrie of Calabria there were manye yea to the number of a thousande which by the Popes commaundement were put to death for Religions sake and many horrible cruelties also committed by the meanes of one Marchion Buciane In the Kingdome of Fraunce also in diuers places as at Paris and Rhoane many of the faythfull were murthered vpon the solemne feast daye of the Bishops deambulation For the faithfull began more and more to assemble themselues togither and exhibited vnto the King a little booke containing the confession of their faith requiring to haue libertie graunted vnto them to declare their cause Wherfore it shall not be disagréeing from our purpose to put downe here the same their confession to the ende we may therby sée what a notable consent and agréement there was in the doctrine of faith among the Churches of Fraunce notwithstanding the â—…oysterous tempestes of the first afflictions A Confession of the Fayth made
slaughter was a preparing and whilest all men loked to sée great things come to passe beholde sodaine and vnloked for alterations happen For the king had a ceataine paine and disease in his eares Of the which after he had bene sicke a while he dyed the fifth day of December in the yeare of Lorde god M. D. LX. At the which sodaine alteration the Guyses were not a little dismayde When King Fraunces was deade the Quéene his mother sent vnto the Constable who had detracted the time to come to Aurelias assuring him of hir friendship and promising vnto him that neuer hereafter none should intrude him selfe into an other mans office and praying him also that he would come vnto hir with all spéede There the Constable came to hir to Aurelias without delay with Martiall Momorencius his sonne and saluted the newe king Neuerthelesse the Prince of Conde was kept in holde still but not without greate reuerence of his kéepers shewed towardes him and continusd in prison after the death of the King by the space of ten dayes denying to go out of prison vntill he knewe his aduersarie in this matter layde to his charge But all the matter was layde vpon the King deceased Therfore by a wonderfull and straunge way or meane as by the death of the King the subtill practises of the aduersaries were brought to naught whose funerall was so slenderlye celebrated that he was depriued of that vsuall pompe which Kings commonly haue at their buriall all men wondering that the Guises woulde suffer the same the which also was very wel noted by a publike Epigram or libel sent abrode There were truly within a short time wonderfull manifest signes of Gods iust iudgemeÌ„t against many Princes the which al meÌ„ at that time did plainly sée acknowledge Concerning the which these verses folowing were made Charles a Tyrant King of all kings that before him went Most craftily by counsell gainst Christ his force he bent Till that his foolish madnesse of children being espied In midst of all his mischiefe most sodenly he died And thou O Henrie eke by men that wicked were nought VVast too much led and therfore greedily hast sought The bloud of godly men thereof to drinke thy fill But he that sittes aboue restrainde thee of thy will. For in thy witlesse mode thy rashnes great thou didst declare therfore wouÌ„d of deth by spere thou hadst ere thou wast ware And so thy bleding corps eÌ„brued the earth with blood Bicause to kill the Saints to thee it seemde so good Frances that was his sonne vnhappie childe did so direct His fete in his yll wayes that Christes voice he did neglect He stopt his eares as deafe when Christ to him did crie And therfore putrefacted eares did cause hiÌ„ streight to die Be warnde therefore O Kings by these examples iust VVisedomes doctrine to receiue or else to turne to dust Thus rumors were spred euerywhere abroade that so wonderous a thing had happened the lyke wherof was neuer heard of before namely that they which were brought to that passe that they should haue bene put to death were now aduaunced to great honor And contrarywise that it was come to passe that they which thought their authoritie to be confirmed for a long time sawe the same taken awaye and were brought to their former state and degree They which were of the assemblie of States trembling and quaking before for feare tooke now vnto themselues a bolde courage and with one consent make petition that the king of Nauar may be the ruler gouernor of the kingdome during the time of the Kings nonage minoritie also that the Princes the kings nere kinsemen with the Constable the Admiral the Andelote with the rest of the Nobles might be always of the kings CouÌ„selâ—… that Cardinals Bishops should be sent to their diocesses to discharge their Ecclesiastical offices according to the rule of the canoÌ„s in that behalf The Kinges mother tooke it not in good part that so great good will and fauour should be shewed to the king of Nauar whom she demed not long ago to be hir enimie they increased these suspitions which went about to coÌ„firme their authority by their dissentioÌ„s working hatred spite against the king of Nauar through the sentence of the assembly of the parliament which wished him to haue the rule of the kingdome And thus the minds of the Nobles being diuided into two factions one part helde of the Quéene another part with the king of Nauar. Insomuch that a man might sée the Constable the Admiral his two brethren alwais in the coÌ„pany of the king of Nauar On the other part the Guises Nemorosius the Marshal Santandrae the Marshal Brislac the cardinal of TurnoÌ„ always were about the Quéene stode w thir So that now there was great daunger of present seditioÌ„ but the king of Nauar by his courtesie suffrance put away all this daunger like to arise yéelding vnto the Quéene authoritie to gouerne the kingdome Then the Quéene being somewhat appeased plainly saide that she knew nowe the causes of all the troubles past namely that all the Princes which were of the Kings blouds were displeased that they were not accouÌ„ted off according to their worthinesse which thing she said she woulde sée reformed euer afterward By this occasion the stomacking and taking of parts betwéene them séemed somewhat to be repressed There folowed therfore a wonderful alteration chauÌ„ge and all men began to talke one to another to say that the companies of armed meÌ„ were prepared gathered togither to some other vse purpose than for the safetie of the King that their couÌ„sels and meanings were otherwise which had arrogated vnto themselues authoritie also that their practises shoulde not so easily haue successe nowe But the churches now which before were in great perplexity fear obtained peace and all men hoped nowe for a better state For amidst those sundrie troubles and manifolde afflictions which happened vnder the raigne of king Frances the administration of the sacraments the preaching of Gods worde neuer ceased in the reformed Churches although the number that were assembled were but small though also the same was not done without great daunger warinesse For at that time there were cruell conspiracies against the Church which woulde haue done great harme to the same had not the Lorde by his prouidence tourned them away Then did the reformed Churches coÌ„maunde solemne prayers with fasting to be vsed and they which were the gouernors and chiefe of the congregation exhorted their brethren to be of good chéere and comforted them willing them paciently to looke for helpe from the Lorde So that after so great afflictions and feare there followed excéeding ioye and the sodennesse of the chaunce made the matter to seeme more wonderfull Then was there newes brought of the death of
if they had any thing to obiect against the Prince of Conde Who affirmed in generall by a solemne othe that they had nothing to obiecte against him Then was the final senteÌ„ce of the Senat giuen in maner forme folowing that is to say That the Prince of Conde had done nothing against the kings Maiestie but was pure innocent and guiltlesse of all those crimes layd to his charge â–ª that all actions commensed against him were voyde Also that he should haue libertie to arrest and sue whom he thought good that hee myght bee satisfied according to the dignitie of his person VVith prouiso also that this decree shoulde be proclaymed in the hyghest Courtes of the king and registred in publike Recordes Thys ordinaunce and decrée was pronounced and openly read â–ª by the chiefe iudge of the Senate the gates of the Senate house beeing set wyde open and all the Senatours assembled together solemnely apparelled in their Scarlet Roabes accordyng to order And also at the Readyng hereof there was a great multitude of people and the greatest part of the Nobilitie of Fraunce as the kyng of Nauarre the Cardinall Burbon Monpensier and others of the Princes the Kinges kinsmenne and with these also were present the Dukes of Guise Nemorosius the Constable Momorentius the Marshall of Santandrae the Cardinal of Lorrayn and the Chastillion Others also which were accused for the same cause with the prince of Conde receiued the sentence of their purgation openly read And vndoubtedly the Prince of Conde alwayes denyed that he was the author or of the counsell of that â—…umult of Ambaxian howsoeuer the Guises maliciously interpreted that counsell and way which was deuised to kepe them vnder to be intended against the kings maiestie and the state of the realme By these and such like practizes those two brethren the Guyses inflamed the yong king Frances against the men of Burbon leauing nothing vndone that might séeme to proue their accusations Accusers were diligently sought for and matters of accusation inquired after By gifts by threatnings all things were attempted And in the iudgement of the Prince of Conde they leaned specially to one witnesse whose name was Sagua a seruant of the kyng of Nauar of whom we haue made mention before That Sagua being taken and apprehended by the Guises was diligently examined concerning the Prince of Conde if he knewe whether he had conspired against the king or no. Sagua at the first denied this saying that he knew no suche matter But at the length Frances the duke of Guyse broughte it to passe hauing with him a hangman and a halter by thretning death vnto him except he would plainly accuse the Prince of Conde of conspiracie against the king But at the length being escaped out of the Guyses hands he most coÌ„stantly sayd both by word and writing that the accusation agaynst the prince of Conde was extorted from him by force This publike sentence therfore of the Senate toke away from the Prince of Conde that spite and slaunder wherby he was sayd and thought to be guiltie of the tumult of Ambaxian But if the sentence of the Senate had not cléered and purged him yet the effect and sequele of that whiche followed maye be sufficient to approue that he neuer conspired against the king As his only studie and moste vndoubted good will in defending the young king and the realme also being in great perill from the mischiefe and lyings in wait of forrain enimies The which he would neuer haue doon if he had intended to hurt the king any maner of way The Cardinall of Lorrayn complayned to the Quéene that the matter was euery daye worse and worse and that the people presumed and toke too much libertie vpon the kings Edictes and also that the negligence and carelesnesse of the Iudges increased more and more affirming that there was no wiser way to be found than in suche troublesome matters to take counsell of the Senate of Paris It was reported that he went about this thing being assured and certified before of many of the mindes of the Senatours that by this preiudice he myghte helpe the Nationall Councell shortly at hande Therefore the King and the Quéene and all the priuie Councell came vnto the Senate to deliberate wyth them of those matters whiche appertayned to Religion and the gouernement of the realme The Chauncellor briefly declared that they wer therfore called togither by the kings commandement that they might shewe certaine ready and exquisite wayes to qualifie those perturbations and troubles whiche would euery day more and more increase by reason of the diuersitie of Religion to the ende the Kings subiects might peaceably lyue vnder his obedience To the which matter he sayd it pertained nothing at al to talke of religioÌ„ bicause the ciuil gouernmeÌ„t was only now in hand as for religion he sayd it should be reserued to be handled in the Nationall Councell to whome it belonged to discusse the same When the Chauncellour had ended his oration euery man spake his iudgement Some wishing punishements for religions sake to â—…e stâ—…yde vntil the Câ—…uncel had determined of the same Other some wyshing to haue punishment by death which was contrarâ—…e to the ancient câ—…nstitutions of the Bishops of Rome Other some deeming it best to haue the whole matter left to the authorâ—…tie of Ecclesiastical iurisdiction In the meane tyme they thought good to forbid that there should be no conuenticles or assemblies either priuate or publike â–ª eyther with armes or withoute armes allo that there shulâ—… be no sermons or administrations of Sacraments otherwyse than according to the vsuall maner of the Church of Rome And thus the whole assemblie were deuided into three â—…eueral opinions Uerie many were of the first opinion how beit the last opinion and adâ—…iss prâ—…uayled hauyng three voyces more than the other had for the whych cause there arose contention many men suspecting that the Notarie being corrupted wroughte deceytfully reâ—…koning the names of some whiche came vulooked for whyle the assemblie were vttering their opinions the whiche was againste all order and custome of the Senate Neuerthelesse there was an Edicte made whyche was called the Edicte of Iulye The effecte whereof was thys That all men should liue peaceably that there shouled bee no iniuries doone vnder the pretence of religion That all disturbers and breakers of the peace shoulde suffer death that there should be in no wyse any maner of elections or any other things which pertayned to factions or diuisions That preachers should vse no wordes of offencâ—… that myght breed sedition among the people but shuld rather modestly instruct them and that also vnder payn of death That ther should be no sermons made or sacraments ministred either priuatly or publikely either with armes or without armes after any other maner than that which was vsed in the catholike Church set forth by the king and his clergie of France
I would to God that in stead of our disputations arguments we might with one voice and consent sing a Psalme vnto God and shake handes as friendes as once it came to passe betwéene the Infidels the fielde béeing pitched and bothe armies ready to meete and encounter togyther At which thing truely we might be ashamed if both of vs preaching the doctrine of concorde and peace shoulde easily be deuided and made enemies and hardly reconciled agayne But what néede these wordes These things ought and may be wyshed for of men but it onely belongeth vnto God to bring them to passe the which he will doe when it shall please him with his goodnesse to couer our sinnes and with his light to driue away our darknesse And heere O King to the ende it maye appeare that we simply and plainly meane good soothe we will if it so séeme good and if leaue may be graunted briefly declare the chief and principall pointes of this Conference or Disputation notwithstanding in such order that no man shall haue iuste occasion to be offended There are some whiche thinke and woulde also persuade others that we disagree in matters of small waight and in those thinges which are indifferent not appertayning to the substance of our faith And ther are other some which hauing no knowledge or vnderstanding of those things which we beléeue and defende do thinke nothing lesse but that we agrée with the Iewes and Turkes The purpose and thought of those first sort of mē we trust shall be approued by vs to be no lesse commendable than the other is to be reiected And yet certainly neither of their opinions are firme and true For if we shoulde beléeue the opinion of this last sort the one part could not stand by any meanes without the destruction of the other But if the first opinion be receiued many matters shall be left so raw that occasions of greater troubles will thereof by and by spring and arise Therefore we graunt the whiche we can scarsly do without teares we confesse I say that as we doe agrée in certaine articles of our faithe so in certaine of them we do wholly vary and dissent We confesse that there is one God in one essence infinite and incomprehensible distinguished and deuided in three persons consubstanciall and coequall in all thinges namely into the Father begotten of none into the Sonne begotten of the Father before all worlds and into the holy Ghost procéeding from the Father and the Sonne We confesse that ther is one Iesus Christ perfect God perfect man without confusion of the two natures or separation of the Prophets We confesse that Christ as he is man is not the sonne of Ioseph but conceiued by the secrete power of the holy ghost in the wombe of the virgin Mary a virgin I say both before the byrth and after also We confesse his Natiuitie his life his death his buryal his descending into hell his Resurrection and his assention euen as they are contained in the holy Gospel We beleeue that Christ is now in heauen at the right hand of God from whence he shal come to iudge the quick the dead We beleue in the holy Ghost which doth illuminate comfort and defend vs We beleue that there is one holy Church Catho lique that is to say vniuersall which is the companie fellowship of Saints out of the which ther is no saluatiō We are persuaded of the frée remission of our sinnes in the bloud of Iesus Christ by whose power whē our bodies being raysed vp from deathe shall be ioyned againe to our soules we shall enioy with our God moste happy and euerlasting life What then will some say are not they the articles of our faith In what therfore do we disagree First of all we disagrée in the interpretation of some of these articles Secondly bycause it semeth vnto vs if we erre therin if it can be proued we are ready to acknowledge our error that many things are added vnto those articles as thoughe they were not sufficient so as though the edifice shuld neuer be builded the new inuentions of men haue dayly ben brought in Furthermore we say that whatsoeuer hath ben buylded set vp more was not so far as we can perceiue builded vpon those ancient first foundations therefore they do not only not set forth beautifie the building but also wonderfully defile deforme and disgrace the same yet notwithstanding greater credite and authoritie hath bene giuen vnto those fayned inuentions of men than to the pure woorde of God. This is the summe of those things whiche we beleue and teach But to the end our purpose may be the better vnderstād these things whiche we haue touched generally we will if it may séeme good declare particularly Therfore we do affirme and are persuaded that we may defend with al sobrietie and modestie out of the worde of God that the true God in whome we beléeue is spoyled and robbed of his perfecte righteousnesse if we set against his wrathe and iudgement for sinne any other satisfaction or purgation eyther in this world or in any other worlde than the sounde and perfecte obedience the which can be found in no other sauing in Iesus Chryst only In lyke manner also if we shall saye that God doth forgiue onely parte of our sinnes that we maye bring vnto him the other parte we spoyle hym wholly of his mercy Héerevpon it followeth that when we speake of the manner of saluation we muste stay our selues in the passion and death of Chryst Iesus our Sauiour and redéemer onely or else we must appoint in the place of the true God some straunge and fayned God which is neyther perfectly iuste nor perfectly mercyfull Heerevpon also dependeth another speciall poynte and of great force concerning the office of Iesus Chryst. For except he aboue be wholly our saluation that precious name Iesus that it to say a Sauiour béeing gyuen to him of the Angell dothe not appertayne vnto him In like maner also except he be our only Prophet which hath so fully declared vnto vs the will of his father as should be expedient for our saluation firste by the mouth of his Prophetes then by himselfe with his comming at the fulnesse of tyme and after that by his Apostles except also he alone be the spirituall King of our consciences and except he be our euerlasting Prieste after the order of Melchisidech and by that sacrifice of himselfe only once offered for al and neuer to be offered againe hath reconcyled men vnto God and doth also now alone in heauen make intercessiō for vs to God euen to the end of the world And to be short except we be complete perfect in him that name of Messias or Chryst that is to say Anoynted and appoynted of God the Father for vs to be a Sauiour dothe nothing at all béelong vnto him Therefore if the preaching of his
confesse that I was not the first that toke the sweard in hand and when I did take it after them whych put them selues in Armor againste the King and Quéenes willes I had good occasion so to do For by the Lawe of Nature being a Prince and one of the Kings kinsmen I ought and am bound of duety to defend and maintain the dignity of the King and the peace and tranquillitye of the Realme So soone as I put on Armoure I protested that I woulde put of the same againe vppon suche reasonable conditions as shoulde appertaine to the libertye of the King and Quéene and to the peace and concorde of the Realme Whervpon it must néedes follow that they are the causes authours of troubles which haue refused those conditions and which when they could not abyde the peaceable gouernement of the Quéene and that shée should be the head ouer the Kings subiectes and disdayning at her for that shée looked so straytly vnto theÌ„ least they should defraude the kings creditors of any of their debt put themselues in armour came with a bande of soldiours to the King and beset him about with armed men that hauing the king and Quéene in their owne power they might gouerne the Realme as thei list theÌ„selues they committed horrible murthers vppon the kings subiectes liuing peaceably according to the kings lawes and thus haue brought vpon the whole Realme of France these stormy tempestes of trouble beginning euen a litle before to enioy peace and tranquillitie both partes being contented to liue peaceably so that they might enioye their Religion But and if leauing the present state of things wée will call to mind and consider euery mans actes in time past in good sooth wée shall finde these same men which at this day stirre vp these troubles haue ben also aforetyme the causes of great inconueniences to the Crown and dignitie séeking by the perturbation of this realme to enrich themselues whereas by peace and tranquility they decay And to omit that which king Fraunces a maÌ„ of excellent wisdome and Iudgement sayd of them and to omit also many of their bold and presumptuouse enterprises who knoweth not that they hating publique peace concord were the onely causes and authours of the truce and league breaking betwene king Henry and king Philip of Spaynâ—… to the great dammage and hurte of Fraunce In so much that they brought the same by warres in great perilles and all to haue their will and pleasure by one meanes or other Beside this after S. Laurence slaughter when thei had gotten vnto them the Treasurers office which thei had before gréedily gayed for what detriment or hurt did they not bring vnto the kingdome What did they also to King Henâ—…y who disâ—…king being weary of their violent and cruel dispositioÌ„ mynded to haue sent them away froÌ„ the Court to their howse had he not ben preuented by death But afterward in the dayes of king Fraunces the second being but yong these Straungers and violent Carters agaynstâ—… law and equitie and against the auncient constitutious of the realme of Fraunce vsurped the mere impery and gouernement of the kingdome during which time was the realme voyd of troubles Did they not in the sighte of all men go about to set that yong king being by nature very gentle and full of clemency agaynst his subiects and to haue made him infamouse with the note of cruelty for euer Did they not cause him to be a mortall enemie against his subiectes euen in the middest of his raigne in so much that except GOD in his mercy haâ—… turned away so great calamities and miseries lyke too haue ensewed we all should haue rued the same to remember â—…he which it would cause any Christian harte to tremble And to make an end of so lamentable a Tragedie When kinge Fraunces was dead these boysterouse stormes were blowen ouer the sky was more cleare the gouernement of the Realm being committed to the Quéene and to the king of Nauar vntill such tyme as their ambition hating peace and tranquillitie styred them vp and their fellowes to set heauen and earth togyther and to cause the state to be troublesome as to my great gréefe is to be séene Therefore I leaue the Iudgement of these to all indifferent men to discerne who are the authours of troubles whether they which haue sought peace and concord by all meanes possible or they which haue so mayntayned dissensions always that thei dare at this time to the great hurt of the whole Realme proclayme open warres Besides this there is so little cause for any man to marueile why I should be so busie to deale and so ware and circumspecte in the matter that I shuld be in great falte if I did otherwise For their actes in time paste againste me haue taught me sufficiently to beware how I put my selfe into their handes And it is playne enough to be séene that their purpose is to destroy the greatest part of the Nobilitie and of all estates of men which imbrace the truth of the gospell specially those that attende vpoÌ„ mée The which their meaning may easely be gathered by the talk which the Duke of Guise and the Constable had togyther of late in the Senate of Paris before a great assembly But what obedience they shewe towardes the Quéene it may appeare hereby that contrary to the Quéenes wil which she oftentimes declared they dyd frustrate the kings Edict of Ianuary adding this new exception Let not the Religion be vsed at Paris Who seeth not that they intend nothing else but euen to banish the Gospell out of all partes of the Realme when as also of late proclamation was made at Paris to banish al the new Christians To what purpose shoulde I say that by no other meanes the Inhabitants of Paris can be kept in quiet For we haue séene that the Prince of Rochesuryon and Martial Momorentius hauing about them only twelue soldiers haue kept the people of Paris in quiet without any maner of tumult the space of thrée monethes togyther The which continewed euen vntill that daye on the which the Duke of Guise entred into Paris But this is worthy the remembrance that when the same Martiall Memorency had somewhat increased the number of soldiers to kéepe the ordinary watch wherby the confederacies of certeyne factious persons might be preueÌ„ ted the Marchant maister and certeyne of the Citizens sayd that the people might be kept in peace and quyet with lesse ado a great deale Notwithstanding after the comming of the Guises into the Citie the mindes of the people were so altered that to kéepe them in quiet they were fayne to haue a band of men which they appointed without the knowledge and wil of the Quéene But I knowe it came to passe by the singular prouidence of God that the Duke of Guise and the Constable should disclose the secrets of their harts before so great a multitude that their toong
letters to the Duke of Sabaudia About the same time there was a Synode of the reformed churches of Fraunce at Orleans to the which there came diuers Ministers of Gods word and certaine chosen men also of other churches There was chosen accor ding to custome by the coÌ„mon consent of the whole assemblie to moderate this Synode Antonius Champdâ—…us minister of Gods word in the congregatioÌ„ of Paris a maÌ„ of singular godlynes learning eloquence and modesty This man was borne of a noble house and being but a very yong man be embraced and professed the doctrine of the Gospell in so much that hée was chosen by the church to the ministery of Gods word the same church being but tender and yong and beside that much anoyed with affliction as he was chosen to this office so was he no lesse diligent in the same whereby hée became a most profitable meÌ„ber to the chuche but specially to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of Paris of the which he was SuperinteÌ„dent In this Synode there arose a great controuersie concerning ecclesiastiall discipline which certaine light heads at that time began to discusse seeking to maintayne the licentiousnesse of the common people This controuecsy being at this time stayed burst forth afterwarde more vehemently and troubled many churches And because the ciuill warres increased more more the Ministers by a common decrée proclaymed publique prayers to be made in euery congregatioÌ„ to turn away the wrath of God from the Realme who was not without great cause displeased with the same And they sent to euerye congregacion letters to this effect Al meÌ„ euidently sée what great troubles are at hand like to fall vpon the Realme and the whole churche for the which specially this mischief is prouided Sathan his soldiers enuying the propagation and prosperity of the Gospell and the peace which the same hath enioyed by the great goodnesse of God. And do perceyue that the causes of those troubles are the iuste iudgements of God punishing the sinnes of men which reiect so notable a benefite as the glad tydings of the gospel the power of God to saluatioÌ„ or else estéeme not so reuerently of the same as they ought Our sinnes therfore are the very causes of these calami ties so that we must seriously séeke all that wée may too appease the iust wrath of God but specially they who vnder the name of the reformed Religion liued very wickedly But to such as doo truly and from the bottom of their hartes repent them study to liue in newnesse of life the promises of God are effectuall and doo appertayne Séeing therfore the matter is come to this point that all men maye plainly sée that they which raise vp these troubles of warres do séeke the ruine of the Gospel and of the church and therfore do warre and fight against God himself they must pluck vp their spirits be of good courage and certaynly perswaded that God will not fayle his seruaunts whom he vouchsafeth so to aduaunce that whereas thei haue deserued to be seuerely punished for their sinnes they might be afflicted for the truthes sake and for the glory of his name What haue the enemies left vndone by which thei might extinguish the doctrine of the gospell Yet notwithstanding it hath escaped Sathan and the Romish Antichrist â—…etting fuming in vayn Therfore we must make this our cry The Gospell is assaulted the destruction of the church is sought and open warre proclaymed against god Therfore god will fight for him selfe and for his There are also other causes â—… for beside that their deâ—…estable counseil to abolish the Church all men knowe that they goe about to bring most gréenouse troubles vpon the realm to the ende they themselues alone may gouerne They haue arrogantly broken the Edict of Ianuary they haue added cruelty to their impudent boldnesse they haue put the Kings subiects to death in diuers places vsing quietly the benefit of the Kings Edicts and they haue haÌ„dled them more cruelly than euer were any forreyn enimies What mischief hath not their vnbridled crueltye brought to passe They came to the king being but yoÌ„g to the Quéene a woman and not able to resiste armed with a band of men and tooke them and caryed them wil they nil they whether they would And hauing captiued both their bodies and their willes at their owne pleasure they most impudently abused them breakinge the Kings Edictes and violating his dignitie Therefore say they there are great causes why we shuld hope that God the author of humane societie but specially the preseruer of his church will not suffer the vnbrideled force of those violent and cruell counsailes to procéede more outragiously than they doe but will make hys Churche in the middest of all the trouble the conquerer And we haue a new and manifest argument beside those which haue appered heretofore of this his good wil towards his seruants in that hée hath in these dayes of his afflicted church raysed vp the Prince of Conde to be a Patrone and defender of this cause by miracle of hys diuine prouidence For this cause we must gyue harty thanks vnto God the first and principall author of thys benefit we must looke for happy successe of his cause And because hée will vse this meane to preserue his church we for our partes must be diligent faithful cou ragiouse and constant least we omitte good occasion to bring things to passe being offered Wee séeke the coÌ„ser uation of the Gospell and of the church and for the befendinge of the libertie and dignitie of the King of the Realme and the whole common wealth Who will denie that these are iust and lawfull causes to put on Armour and specially for them to whom that authoritie appertaineth It is méete and necessary ther fore say they that you and we to the vtmost of our pow er and to the spending of our liues do aid and assist the Prince of Conde the rest of the kings officers which haue made a sollemne vow for the defence of the King the Realme and the Church and to be very carefull to giue vnto the Prince of Conde for this cause money fourniture and all maner of warlike prouision whensoeuer he shall require the same In so doing they said this thing should be so profitable for them all that nothing can be more necessary the time being considered And as they thought it to be their dutie to admonish them of these things séeing that now the glory of God the safetie of the Church and the preseruation of humane societie was to be sought for euen so saye they you must not delay the matter being of so great waight by any maner of meanes But forsomuch as all mans helpe is wholely vnprofitable and vaine except wée haue first of all the helpe and ayd of God the aucthor reuenger of this cause We must take héede that wée be diligent in calling vpon God and that we professe
to vse in stéede of blowes woordes and writings omitting all force warres sheding of blood The which peraduenture will so prouoke God and his vengeance to fal that the papists and priests thēselues which might quietly enioye their offices liuings shal be the first that shal féele the furour and madnesse of the people To be short the protection of the Suppliantes cannot chuse but bring great trouble and garboyle vnto them But when they may be assured of this that they néed not without they will themselues be endāmaged neyther in body office nor goods haue they iust cause to complayne except peraduēture they will say that they were carefull and sory for the losse of our soules But what hath made them so sodenly so carefull when as neyther any one Bishop Curate or popish priest hath laboured or takē any maner of paines to that end Séeing therfore we neuer intended to hurt any of thē what néed was there to bring them into this contention and to pretende the name of the Church Is not this too set one against another and to cause the people whiche before could not abyde those priests to hate thē the more Was there euer a more sorowfull sight séene in thys Realme Can there be any profit benefite or good turn so great that it maye make a sufficient mennes for so great destruction Can the Popes pardones and Indulgences restore the bloud that ▪ is shed for this cause These Suppliantes maye one day say vnto the Kinge that they to defend that which no man gainsayed and to preserue the Romish religion which no man wente about to hinder haue lost or went about to loose the one half of his nobilitie and chiefest of his subiectes Then and that truely it shal be obiected vnto them that as by their fayned and dissembled opinions concerning Religion they had brought the Realme of Scotland into great perill of destruction and caused much bloud too bée shed euen so by the same opinions counsayles and Instruments great discord hath ben sowen in this realm and ▪ both sortes of men set togither as it were by the eares in such sort that they may iustly hereafter amōg all posterities be sayd to be the authours and causes of all mischéeues and calamities which shall happen to the men both of the reformed also of the Romish Religiō And to cause more trouble they would haue all the Kings officers and all Ecclesiasticall persones to professe the confession of their faith and that such as should denie or refuse so to do should be depriued if they were temporall men of their offices if they were priests then to loose their benefices For this is the other Edicte of those thrée Suppliants against the receyued approued lawes of the king For there is no man that can remēber neither hath it ben heard of that any king that hath ben heretofore hathe constrayned hys true Subiectes to receiue any other confession of faith than that which is in the Apostels Créede Let that Lawmaker by whose craftie and subtill witte these their supplications were made bring forth but one only example The which truely he cannot do except hee will bring into this Realme the Inquisition of Spaine the which by the iudgement of all other Nations is counted so wicked that they all reiect the same These are the very same trappes and snares which they layd at Aurelias otherwise called Orleans a little before the death of Kyng Fraunces the second and which cannot chuse but bring the extreame ruine and destruction of the kyngs subiectes For those Suppliants know that there are ten thousand Noble men and a hundered thousand souldiours which neither by authority nor by force will forsake that Religion which they haue receiued and wyll not suffer the preaching of the woord and the administration of the Sacraments according to the forme of Religion which they professe to be taken from them and will defend themselues with the sword against them which abuse the aucthoritie of the Kings name That great number cannot be ouercome and destroyed which God forbid without the anoyance and ruine of those that shall set vppon them And to conclude the matter briefely I saye and affirme in the name of the Noble men Gentlemen and of many others which are here with me that this Decrée is made by thrée priuate men which by their authoritie peruert the kynges Edictes and make no accompt of them and to put their decrée in execution before they made the Kyng and Quéene acquaynted with their doinges they put themselues in armour and tooke them both captiue I say and affirme that the same Decrée is against the lawes of this Realme against all Christian order against the State against the Edict of January which was only made for this cause against the dignitie safetie of many of the kings subiects whose enemies they openly shew themselues to be whose goods and life they séeke to take away and all vnder the pretence of Religion conscience This decrée also taketh away the liberty of going to a Counsaile the which should haue ben considered by that subtill counsayler For if it be decréed that the same confession which they call the confession of the Faith shal be receiued of all the inhabitants of this Realme that is to say if all men be constrained to receiue the Popes doctrine and ceremonies this must néedes be a plaine sentence of condemnation against the reformed church neither is it then lawfull for our Ministers or for the Ministers of forreine Nations imbracing the same doctrine to go vnto a Counsaile when as they being not heard are condem ned But before the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraine his brother bring forth the decrée concerning the confession of the Romish faith let them renounce denie many speciall poynts of the confession made at Ausburge which when they were at Sauern they said thei imbraced promised to one of the Princes of Germany that they would cause them to be obserued in Fraunce It is néedfull also that the Cardinall of Loraine should declare by open writing whether he do persist in that opinion which sometime he said to the Quéene before a great many witnesses concerning Transubstantiatiō concerning the carying about of the Sacrament concer ning Iustification Inuocation of Saints Purgatory Images and concerning many other speciall points also of which he spake plainely against the iudgment of the Catholique and Apostolique church of Roome 6 ▪ Furthermore in that supplication straight after this they call to mind the throwing downe of Images require that the same Images be repayred and the breakers of them be punished But thervnto I make this answere The punishments wherwith I punish them which brake downe Images first in diuers places at the last in Orleans shall witnesse before God men that this misdemeanor of the rash multitude al wayes displease me both for that it was contrary to the Edict of
Edict what Priuiledge soeuer to the contrary they were able to bring Whereuppon many were taken by the force of those decrées put to death which came home to their houses vppon trust of the Kyngs Letters of warrant Whereby it may euidently appeare how falsely they haue made report to Princes of other Nations of the securitie that men should haue if so be vppon trust thei would put them selues in their handes And because certaine Princes knowing the goodnes of our cause and the vniust dealing of our aduersaries haue sent vnto mee aide to auoyde those miserable calamities at hand they make exclamation to discredit me and my cause that I bring forreyne ayd and power into the Realme But what I dyd before I tooke thys remedie in hande many Princes know whom I entreated to be meanes to make a pacification and who caÌ„ testifie that their Legates were hindered herein Also séeing they haue replenished the whole Realme with straungers as with Spaniardes Switzers Germanes and with Italians to the ende they might execute their tyraÌ„nie how shamelesse be they to reproche and discredite me in saying that I bring forreyn power into the realm And I protest that as I was constrained to take this remedie in hand so I haue determined euer hereafter to séeke by all lawfull meanes and wayes to deliuer the Church of God the King the Countrey and my self froÌ„ this oppression But whereas they haue euery where published abroade the Decrée of rebellion against me and myne which they haue caused to bée made sure cause not knowne nor heard by certayne seditiouse persones which displacing certayne good men out of their roomes take vpon them the name and countenance of Senatours of Paris I haue appealed from them and shewed in wri ting the causes of my appeale And to the ende their fraude and deceit may appeare the more impudent they haue exempted me from the number of those whom falsly they cal rebelles Howbeit if this good and iust cause may be called rebellion I my selfe aboue all the reste ought to be burthened with the same séeing that I account my selfe to be their Captayne and haue taken vpon me the defence of that cause haue called those that attende vpon me to shewe their obedience to the King at the commaundement of the Queene and doo as yet retayne them with me to this ende And I affirme that there can be greater iniury done vnto me than to be separated from so honest and faithfull a company in whoÌ„ I do note so great fidelitie and obedience toward the king in this so present a necessitie that I think that the same their dutifull obedience wil be commended amonge all posterities for euer This therefore is the summe of those things which I haue don vnto this day the which I haue with great simplicitie and without all cooller declared And I pray all those that loue the trueth moste earnestly which shall reade this writing that they will vprightly and without all preiudice waigh the matter and to Iudge not by the words but by the actions God for his mercies sake order and direct the whole matter to the glory of his name to the peace of the Church â–ª to the tranquillitie of the Realme to the confusion of those his enimies which are the authours of these troubles This writing being published abroad and all maner of warlike prouision being prepared the Prince of Conde as we sayde before remoued with his armie from Orleans and conducted the same by the Countrey of Beausse toward Paris And as hée went hée besieged a town called Pluâ—…iers which was kept with seuen Enseignes of footemen and at the length when hee had sore battered the same with his ordinaunce he had it deliuered vp vnto him Then he tooke twoo of their principall Captaines and caused them to be put to death as for the reste of the common soldiers he spared them After this many Townes yéelded vnto him as Escampes la Ferte Dordan and others which hée receyued into his seruice vpon trust Also he minded to besiege the Citie of Corbeil which the Guises kept and mayntayned with a great garrison of souldiours This Citie is of great forte bâ—…rdering vpon the riuer of Sein by which ryuer great prouision and store of vittailes were caryed to Paris And while he was making al things ready for the siege word was brought vnto him of the death of his brother the King of Nauar. Whose office of Uiceroy he perceyuing that he ought to haue by order during this tyme of the Kings minoritie and then hoping to moderate and end al things by peace he left of his purpose of besieging Corbeiâ—… and comming néerer Paris he pitched his campe at Arcel â–ª the first day of DeceÌ„ber Therfore the Queen sending letters vnto him desired to conferre and talke with him not purposing neuerthelesse as the euent declared to conclude concorde and peace but onely to delay and differre the time and to diminishe the force of the Prince of Conde his armye vntill the armies came out of Spayne and Gascoyne which were dayly looked for this was done by the subtill practises of the Guises But because the Prince of Conde was not at that tyme very well at ease the Admirall went firste to talke with the Quéene passing ouer the ryuer of Seyn by the port Angloyse In the meane tyme the Constable came to the Prince of Conde for a pledge But this iourney was in vayne the Quéene saying that she would neuer agrée that the reformed Religion should be vsed in any parte of the Realme Then was the parley appointed againe in a more conuenient place â—…éere vnto the suburbes of S. Mâ—…rceau in a certayne Mill. At which méeting the Prince of Conde propounded these condicions of peace First that the vse of the reformed religion might be frée in those Cities in the which it was before the warre began and that the faithful might liue peaceably in other places and that they might goe vnto such Townes as they knew the reformed Religion to bée vsed in also that there might be diligent héed taken that they sustained no manner of perill for enioying the benefite of religion Secondly that it might be lawfull for all men of the reformed Religion to enioy their goods offices dignities but specially their religion in what part of the Realme soeuer they dwelt and that all sentences and iudgements of any Court pronounced against them for religion be voyd and of none effect that they which for religions sake were fled the realme or hauing before fled were now come home againe might enioye y same benefite and might haue leaue at their retourne to enioy all that they had that euery Noble man might haue libertie to vse the reformed Religion in his house and also that it might be lawfull for euery one of the Kings Counsell to haue the same religion in or about the Court so long as he shall there giue his attendance
the Porters and Warders of the gates had carelesly suspecting nothing lesse thaÌ„ the comming of the enemie opened the gates of the Citie they violently rushed in and oppressed and slew a great number of the Townesmen as they were making of them ready to arme and defend them selues Their purpose was to retourne back agayne to Nonay with as much spéede as possibly they could when they had gotten them armour and weapons and taken the spoyle of the Citie But when by the example of their Gouernour the soldiours gaue themselues to spoyling of houses and spent the time in vayne vppon dalliance with women they gaue great occasion â—…o Monsure Caumout which was not farre from them to worke their destruction For he being certified of their delay and securitie gathered togyther by and by so great a multitude as he could from the places thereaboutes alarme being sounded in euery streat and corner Therefore the men of Nonay béeing busied in their pray in so much that they neyther remeÌ„bered to departe nor yit suspected the comming of their enemies in so great number were sodeynly hemde in with a great number of souldiours which came vnder the charge of Monsieur Caumout and falling into their handes were slayn for the most part of them with their Gouernour and the rest fled And when Monsieur Caumont vnderstood the matter hée marched with his army taking with him certein fielde péeces towards Nonay and finding the same voyd of any garrison and greatly amased with much feare grief after hée had battered the walles at the length tooke the Citie And then shewed extréeme crueltie killing rashly both Papist and Protestant togyther with women also and children which murther most cruelly continued for the space of two dayes But when it was reported that Monsieur des Adretz was comming by Turnon with a very great hoaste Monsieur Caumont remoued in the night and causing great sileÌ„ce to be kept throughout all his armye he stale away secretly And what soeuer the souldiour at his departure could not carry away that hee spoyled as corne and wyne such like casting the corne abroad in the streates knockinge out the heades of Toonnes of wyne and setting fier on diuers places of the Citie I my selfe which haue written these things am also an eye witnesse of this horrible crueltie being present at the same and carying yet and shall do while I liue certayne markes by woundes in my body to remember the same Nonay being desolated with this horrible murther Monsieur Sainmartin a Captaine Liefetenant of the Region of Viuaretz came within few dayes after with a garrison of souldiers and repayred the broken walls and fortified the same so well as hée could Monsieur des Adretz hauing gathered an army entered into consultacioÌ„ about the besieging of Vienna whether Nemours was come with the greatest part of hys army and remoued his army which hée had taken out of Dolpheny and Languedoc to Uienna myndinge to besiege a citie in the vtmost partes of Viuaretz called Saincte Columbe but he bare at that time a false and trayterouse mynde as experience afterward declared Therefore after certaine small skirmishes they entered into parley with Nemours and Monsieur des Adretz was let into Uienna and comming out from thence agayn shewed manifest tokens that his mind was altered And he agréed with Nemours to yéelde vnto him forthwith Roman and Ualentia cities of Dolpheny Therefore he remoued his army from Vienna and appointed Nemours to be at Roman that day where he himselfe had giuen his fayth at the self same time to be and he himselfe went to view and win other cities When his other fellow captaynâ—… vnderstood of this as Cardet Lieftenant of Ualentia Blacon Bari Mouens and others they admonished Monsieur Cursol of the same and they with the help of Mouents tooke Monsieur des Adretz while he was at Valencia thei hauing sitt occasion offered them therunto And then the subtil lying in wayt of Nemours being detected and bewrayed who came with his souldiers at the day appointed to Romane he returned agayne to Vienna disappointed of his purpose And so the treason of Baron des Adretz being discouered he was brought to the citie of Nemaus in the prouince of Languedoc but because of the benefite of peace which was concluded by an Edict he escaped present and deserued death In the meane time the Duke of Guise hauing augmeÌ„ted his army and prouided all things necessary for war remoued from Paris and went to besiege Orleans in the moneth of Ianuary The Admirall was gone from Orleans with the greatest part of his army and with al the troupes of Germane horsemen to ioyne with the English men leauing to kepe and defend Orleans his brother the Andelot with the other part of the army For the Admirall stood in great néed of money Of the which when the Guise vnderstood he sought all that he could to draw away the Germanes from tâ—…king part with the Prince of Conde because they were discouraged from the Guises because he warred against religion and because the faithfull contended for no other cause than to deliuer the King from captiuitie and to defende the Edicte which concerned the reformed religion the Guise affirmed and protested that hée neyther mayntayned warre against Religion nor kept the Kinge nor any of his Captyues And for this cause he procured the Kings letters in the which the King and Quéene declared to the Marshall of Hessen and to the Germanes which ayded the Prince of CoÌ„de vnder hys conduct that neyther of them were captiues This is the summe of their letters In consideration of the great frendship and vnity which hath bin heretofore betwene the Germane Princes and the Kinges of France our auncetoures and in respect of the mutuall loue which the one hath alwaies shewed towardes the other to the profit and commodity of both parties it could not but séeme wonderful and straunge vnto vs that certaine of those Princes of Germany our frendes should ayde and helpe our subiectes which haue lifted vp the swerd against vs and haue seditiously brought our Realme into great troubles But we thinke that it commeth hereof that those seditious persons haue deceiued the Princes with a false couller and pretence making them beleeue that we are captiued and that they for the duty and obedience which they owe vnto vs haue gone about to deliuer vs from the same In the which opinion euen at this day also they go about to perswade and retaine both the Captaines and also the Souldies of those Germanes whom for the cause and pretence aforesaide they haue broughte into this Realme of whose goodnesse and estimation we are so perswaded that we doubt not but that they will for very grefe and sorow be offended that they haue bene so deceyued For these causes we signifye declare to the Marshall Hess the Captaine generall of those Germanes and to the vnder Captains and souldiers that
see they had set their consciences to sale vvhich thinge certain letters may easely proue which when occasion shall serue I can bring forth that were written from the appointed commissioners to the parlament the vi and xv day of March for the hastening of the execution of Merae in which these woordes were written That the Keepers of Merae were corrupted and that therfore his death was not longer to be deferred for that he would cal back againe that which he had said But I vnderstand that some do take occasion to coygne and forge a sclaunder against me because I confessed in my former writing that I had giuen a certain summe of money to Merae vvhich thinge although I did then and there sufficiently aunswere and thereby shewed that I dealt plainly and truly when as I declared the whole matter simply without any manner dissembling yet notwithstauding I will playnly and sincerely lay forth the cause of the giuinge of that money and therby euidently proue that it is but a meere and malicious surinise whatsoeuer in this matter is objected against me ▪ and chiefely that I may satisfie them that are trayned in Marshall affaires and do exercise that kind of lyfe For I am not ignorant that this matter which came to passe through the occasion of warre and in the Campes of troublesome warriours can not easely bee knowen and vnderstood in the peaceable Courtes of quiet laweyers And yet I could this way easely make ▪ manifest my integrity and innocencie but the testimony of my owne conscience shall suffise me before God and men the double and contrary aunsweres of Merae in his examinations his mind stroken and amazed with the terrour and feare of death the hope of lyfe which he conceyued of the Iudges promyse if he would accuse me which hope hee helde still euen vnto the laste houre of death and of mine owne part the request which I made to haue mine accuser to appeare face to face and my pro testation of my innocencye if that were not graunted the perplexed and headlong affectiō of the Iudges long before by me refused as incompetente To be short the astonied vnquietnes and waueringe inconstancy of my accuser do manifestly and sufficiently declare my vnguiltines and innocency neither truly would I haue differred so long to haue shewed my purpose and intent wherefore I gaue this money vnlesse that hauing written to the Queene and testified vnto her my innocency I had thought my enemyes would not haue made such post and headlong hast with the execution as they did vvhich although it was done for euill will and contrarye to all reason and equitie yet could they not haue gotten a more manifest testimony of my guiltles vprightnesse then that which they themselues thereby did giue mee especially bycause it was necessarie that he should haue bin kept a liue not only for that I was accused of the killing of the Duke of Guise but also for a greater and farre more waightye accusation as though I should haue gone about to haue murdered the king VVherby it ap peareth how shameles those surmises were of the crimes laid to my charge But let that passe and let vs come to shew the end wherfore I gaue that money to Merae least that amongst Strangers geuing credit to rumours and tales the good cause of an harmeles and innocent man be oppressed the matter being neither known nor made manifest And first of all where Merae saith that he offered me his helpe in this matt◅r it is euen so For when he had beinge commended vnto me by Monsieur Subize his letters as I haue more at large declared in my former writing lustely and frankly profered me his seruice I demaunded of him in what thing he could stand me in best stead He aunswered that hee had great acquaintance with the Aumale for that hee had serued in tymes past vnder him in Picardy of whom if he could finde him in the Dukes Campe he would easely know all the Dukes ententes and purposes and that he would forthwith certifye me of them but if the Aumale were not there yet he was so well knowen of a great nomber of Captaines and souldiers that serued vnder the Duke that hee did not doubt but that he should haue both easy and also safe passage into their Campe. The which certainly did make me suspect him when I saw him offer himselfe in such a brauery and I said as much to Monsieur Granmont who was then presente there with mee declaringe vnto him that I had knowen him not passing iii. or iiii dayes and that only by the letters of Monsieur Subize Notwithstanding I gaue him at that tyme xx crounes that I might haue a triall of him For such as are skilfull in feates of warre know what spies and scoutes may do and that money in such a case is not to be spared they who know me can testifie thet I set but little by money when such occasion is offered And this was the first and chiefe cause why I gaue him that money the which truly I counted as caste away For there was nothing I lesse loked for then for Merae when as sodeinly there came vnto me ◅ying at Neuuille Monsieur Tranuie a noble man who said he was come vnto mee at the commaundement of the Andelot my Brother to bring a certaine fellow vnto me that was newly come frō the Guises cāpe And although I looked not for him for I was very often troubled with such matters yet I talked with hym and asked him of diuers small and light matters in the which he seemed to aunswere mee very readily and cunningly wherfore I enquired further of him whether the Duke knew of my departure from Orleance whether I vould go He answered that the Duke knew not the certain day when I would set forward but he knew certainly sixe dayes ago that I meant to go to Normandie and had so prouided for the matter already that I was sure to find many lettes and stayes in my iourney And for this cause there was commaundement gyuen to the Marshal of Vieleuill and the Coūty of Ringraue that they should cause all the Townes both great and small to bee fortified that they should so woorke that there might bee enemies for me in euery place that I could not lay siege to any Towne for that I lacke both footemen and ordinance that the Duke himselfe would see that all the Horses that could bee gotten should bee brought to Paris and that hee would prouide all such Horses as should bee needefull for the cariage of the gunnes that he would bring the matter about that hee would bringe three orfoure thousande shotte on horse besides his light horsemen and men at armes that hee would followe mee so hard and trace me so neerely that I should haue no opportunitie to ioygne with the aide of Normandie no not so much leysure to rest me finally that besides that the
Spanishe King their neighbour if so be that the reformed religion dyd take place there Wherefore the Quéene burst not openly disalowe those executions done vpon the Papistes but woulde rather when the Protestantes came to complaine to hir praise them and make as thoughe she liked very well of them and all to shewe what desire she had that lawe and Iustice shoulde be administred to euery man equally without partialitie At the earnest importunate sute of the Protestantes one place was chosen oute of all that Prouince for the assemblyes to haue the vse and administration of the reformed Religion â–ª but it was inconuenient by reason of the vneuenesse and crookednesse of the way to Merindoll Notwithstanding by the great prouidence of God it came to passe that the same place which a little before had receyued the trueth of the Gospell in the darke and dusky dayes of papistrye and had suffered much calamity for that cause should by the Kings Edict be made a receptacle and mansion place for the Gospell and the faythfull and thereby made very famouse and noble Therefore the faythfull came out of all places of Prouance to Merin dol hauing frée libertie to heare the word of God. After this the King came to Aâ—…inion that frâ—…m thence he might goe into Languedock And as he traueiled he was very princely receyued of euery Citye wherethorough he passed and had very large and stately gyftes gyuen vnto him of the which to make relation pertayneth not to our purpose When the King was come to Nemaux there came thyther a great multitude of protestants making great mone and lamentation in so much that the crying and pitiefull voyce of the people came to the house wher the King lodged who might heare them crying and calling for Iustice of their soueraigne Lorde and requiring of the Christian King the libertie of the reformed Religion This noyse of wéeping and crying was so great and so shrill in the Kings eares that the mynd of the yonge King at the hearing of the same was somwhat abashed and straightway demaunded what the matter was the standers by dissembled and excused the matter but hée with angry moode aunswered and sayde I sée that my people are euill entreated and turning to the Quéâ—…ne sayd How chaunce this people are not satisfied I will Lady sayeth he that this my people haue Iustice Notwithstandinge they by and by put in his head that they were seditiouse people which were wont after that fashion to do all things with tumult And then this multitude being dryuen away with violence by the Kinges Garde the Elders gouernours of their Church were called for and being come they were sharply reproued that thei had suffered the vnruly multitude to come thither in such tumultuouse order and were commaunded to deliuer their grief in wryting to the Maister of Requestes and to come to Montpellier to receyue an answere according to the same The like complayntes also were made by the men of Montpellier when the king came thyther but they with the men of Nismes were sent to Blitters and after this the churches of Blitters those thereaboutes making the lyke complayntes destring reformation had the lyke successe they being puâ—… of from day to day and from one place to another The Constable being sore offended that so many coÌ„plaintes should be made against his sonne d' Anuile And beside the infinite verations of d' Anuille which he brought vpon them the Senat of Tholoze left nothing vndone to make the cause of the reformed churches odiouse before the Kinge These were the mendes made for so great iniuries and this was the profit that ensued the Kings iourney THE new yeare brought with it a certeine rumour of the Kings progresse into Baione which was kept secret vntill this present tyme Therefore consultation being had of the matter with the chiefest of the Senate of Tholoze the king passing through Guian comming to euery citie came at the last to Baione in the moneth of Iuly Thither to her brother the king came Elizabeth wife to King Phillip of Spayne and was very pompously receyued of the whole Courte But the cause why Phillip her husband came not thyther with her notwithstanding that the same place bordered vpon his kingdome was as it is reported that the league concerning the destroying of the reformed religion might the more secretly be confirmed Others attribute the cause of his absence to ambition â–ª for that he would not séeme in any thing to séeke to the King of Fraunce Notwithstanding by the comming of Elizabeth that holy league as they termed it was ratifâ—…ed and established by which was ment as is aforesaide to banish and abandon the reformed religion And to the ende the Realme of Fraunce might be an vtter enemy to the professours of that religion the king of Spayn promised vnto the king of FraÌ„ce so great power and ayde as he could the lyke promyse also made the king of France to the king of Spayne both of theÌ„ promisinge one to the other to embrace obserue the doctrine of Rome with the rites cerimonies therof and to do all that they could to remoue take away all lettes and impediments to the same and so to take the next occasions offered to bring this matter to passe After the confirmation of this league to the ruin of the Church there followed lamentable effectes But notwithstanding the secret conclusion of this matter the prince of Conde and all the Noble men of the reformeâ—… Religion vnderstoode the same whose deathes hereby were sought Thus when the king had viewed all the Region of Guian he returned back agayne into that part of FraÌ„ce called by the Frenchmen Francâ—…ys towarde the latâ—…er ende of this yeare IN this yeare and in the next following there was truce taken betwene the Churches and the faithfull had some reste and breathing tyme notwithstandinge not without sustayning diuers iniuries Yea there wer snaring baytes layed and priuy platformes practised agaynst the Admirall and the Andelot which were espied manifestly reuealed and brought before the king but in vayne The kings longe looked for occasions to put their league in execution It shall not be from our purpose if we note certayne thinges concerning the affaires of the lowe Countrey called Belgio â–ª aboute this time for matters concerning religion both for that the cause is all one and also bycause the same Countrey bordereth vpon Fraunce notwithstanding obseruing the order of time we will inserte those thinges whiche specially appertaine to oure history Therefore ye shall vnderstande that this noble and plentifnll countrey was exercised and muche troubled aboute this time with diuers and sondrye contentious conflictes for religions sake Wherby we haue diuers examples set forth vnto vs of the wonderfull prouidâ—…ce of God in ordering and framing of his Churche quite contrary to humaine reason that is to say whereby we may plainly perceiue that the Church is not the
territorie of Bellouac of which he being certified fled and in fléeing was chased by souldiours till he came to the Sea In so much that he was constrayned to leaue the greatest part of his cariage behind him and to take Ship to passe ouer into England It was also commonly reported about this tyme that Charles Sonne to King Philip of Spayne was dead The causes were by diuers men diuersly reported but that which was most credible is That the Inquisitors suspecting him of certain things concerning religion ê“uoked stirred vp the displeasure of the Father against the Sonne that he might depriue himselfe of his onely Sonne and of the lawfull heyre of Spayn Shortly after this also newes was brought concerning the death of Elizabeth wyfe to Philip Kinge of Spayne and Sister to Charles King of Fraunce Furthermore the Duke of Alba dayly more more played the tyrant in Flaunders straining no courtesie at the shedding of innocent bloud wherevpon the prince of Orange being moued partely to discharge his dutie being one of the Princes of the Empire and partely for the loue which hée bare to his Countrey caused a great Army to be in a readinesse that hée might withstand the cruell tyrannie of the said Duke of Alba. He had to ayde him great numbers of horsemen footemen which came out of Germany out of Fraunce and also out of the low CouÌ„trey County Lâ—…dowike also his brother a valeaÌ„t captain came with a great number of good souldiours to ioyne with him COME LORD IESV COME QVICKLY The. ix Booke of Commentaries concerning the state of Religion and of the common wealth of Fraunce vnder the Raigne of Charles the ninth THus beganne the third ciuill war in FrauÌ„ce being more notable than the others goyng before both for the great atteÌ„pts and enterprises and also for the continuance of the same for it troubled the Noble Realme of FrauÌ„ce for the space of two yeres Therefore when newes was brought to the Courte of the departure of the Prince of Conde there was open prouision made on both partes for the warre but both their conditions were not alike For the Papistes had Cities Artillery money and all maner of prouision belonging to warre they had also the Kings name authoritie and power by which they preuailed more than by any other meane But as for the Prince of Conde and the Protestantes they had almost nothing but the goodnesâ—…e of their cause and couragious mindes to defende themâ—…elues who though to the perill of the losse of theyr lyues and goods were almost desperate to defende the same Moreouer they which should haue bene helpers and furtherers of their cause were hemde in and shut â—…p throughout the whole Realme in so muche that it was marueile that the Prince of Conde was able to holde warre and to withstand his enemies in so great extreamitie There were great and vrgent caâ—…ses of newe contention â–ª as the diâ—…pleasure taken for the breaking of the oath solemnlye made the breaking of the Kings promise and common peace and the meâ—…itable necessitie of defending their consciences and liues But the Papistes beyng forward enough of themselues tâ—… destroy the godly were pricked forward by the bloudy â—…uriousnesse of the Cardinall of Loraine Therefore by the Kings commaundâ—…ment for vnder this name the Papistes did what they would the Armies that were dismiâ—…t were nowe called backe againe newe choyse and musteâ—…s of men were had and they were all commaunded to be at Staples the. x. dayâ—… of September The wholâ—… ordering and charge of the warre was committed tâ—… Alexander Duke of Angewe the Kings brother being but a young man notwithstanding he had ioyned with him certaine valiant captaines as we sayde before Then were baytes and â—…nares subtiâ—…ly layde and in the Kinges name the gouernours of the Prouinces published a decrée as thus The Kyng commaundeth that all the men of the reformed Religion be vnder his protection no lesse than anye other of his subiectes that they may haue leaue to complaine of iniuries done to them that they may haue remedies prouided out of hande as it is meete and conuenient for their defence and that all Magistrates should be vigilant to defend them In the meane tyme he that caryed the Prince of Condes letters to the King after the deliuerie of them was taken and committed prisoner to a certaine noble man and no answere made to the letters The Prince of Conde when he had stayed in the house of Rochfoucant certaine dayes wente wyth hys whole retinew to Rochel of whose inhabitantes he was very louingly receiued And thether came vnto him the inhabitantes of Xantonge of Poictou of Perigueux of Engolmoys and a great number of noble men of the Regions thereaboutes which embraced the reformed religion and as for the common sort of people they came vnto him out of all those quarters by beapes The Câ—…ties also called Sainctes Tifauge and Montagu offered themselues vnto him But for all this he sente letters to diuers partes of the Realme requiring ayâ—… of hys fellowes and forsomuch as the Protestantes were expulsed almost euery Citie it seemed good vnto him that they shoulde come with all spéede to hiâ—… to Rochel and then hauing greater power to ioyâ—… battaile wyth the enemie Notwithstanding in many places by the wonderfull prouidence of God there were diuers places of refuge reserued throughout the whole Realme as to the men of Francoys Sanferre and Uezelay to the men of Languedoe Montalban Castrealby and Milliaulde to the men of Dolpheny which at that time were in great perill the Cities of Uiuaretze were reserued as Albenac Priuac and many others But before the Prince of Conde began any warre he published a certaine solemne declaration of the causes of the same In manner and forme as followeth I protest before God and his Angels and before this holy assembly that â—…as I also declared in my last letters which I sent vnto the King my Lord intend to do nothing against his Maiestie which may either hurt his person or dignitie but taking him for my Kinge and supreme Lorde next vnder God by him so appoynted I protest that whatsoeuer I doe is for no other cause but to keepe and defende the liberties of our consciences the free vse of the reformed Religion our lyues honours and goods from the tyrannie and oppression of the Cardinall of Loraine and his fellowes â–ª the whiche tyrannie they haue alwayes hytherto shewed and minde still to vse towards the men of the reformed Religion contrary to our kings will whiche he hath openly declared by publique Edicts and decrees thereby breaking the common peace and tranquiâ—…itie And for this cause to the end I may defend their lyues honours goods and the libertie of their consâ—…ences which professe the reformed religion I affirâ—…e that I wyll spende bothe my lyfe and whatso euer eâ—…se God hath giuen vnto me And bâ—…cause there came souldiers daye by daye vnto
him and that all things mighte be done orderly â–ª he appoynted a certaine forme of discipline to be vsed among his souldiers the which we thought good here to inserte as worthy remembrance For the performance whereof this was the forme of the oath that was ministred vnto them Ye sweare and promise by the name of the liuing God that ye for the causes declared by the Prince of Conde wyll gyue your liues bodyes and goods to be at the commaundement of the same Prince of Conde whom ye acknowledge to be the captayne of this Armie Ye sweare and promise willingly to obey all those things whyche eyther he or his deputies shall commaunde and faithfully to obserue and keepe the order of discipline which he hath appointed to the gouerning of his armie And that till suche tyme as they whiche are enemyes to the common peace be openly punished by order of law for their murthers roberâ—…es spoyles and oppressions whiche they haue committed agaynst the Kynges will and againste the peace towardes the professors of the reformed Religion within the Realme that we at the lengthe maye eniâ—…ya the freedome of our consciences the securitie of ourdyues and goods peacâ—…ably vnder the Kynges obedience But this was the description and forme of the Discipline prescribed BECAVSE Order as it is profitable to all men sort is necessary for the louers of the reformed Religion I which am lawfully called to this warre haue thought good with the aduise and confent of the Nobles Captaynes and of other expert wyse men to ordayâ—…e and to giue all 〈◊〉 to vnderstande That if there be any man which will not obeye these things there is no place for him in our armye I will therefore that euery man faythfully obserue and kéepe them First whosoeuer shall come to this Army shall declare and giue his name within sixe dayes and shall â—…weare accoâ—…ding to the forme of the othe appoynted the which except they doe their horse and armour shal be taken from them and giuen to their accuser And when he hath giuen his name he shall gyue attendance and â—…de to his charge whether it be to watch and ward day or night or whatsoeuer else if not then he shal forâ—…ayte his armour No man shall forsake his Enseigne and goe to another Enseigne without the sufferance leaue of his Captain he that shall do otherwise shal be punished according to his offence And because no man shall pleade ignorance let them which are lately come to our army be certified of this decrée It shal be lawful for the souldiour to aske leaue of his Captayne if it be denied â–ª I will that he come to me and I will order the matter at my discretion I will also that the othe be ministred euery Moneth And to the ende the names of such as be lacking may be knowne I will that the hils and Scroules of the names be brought vnto mee â—… and that thâ—…re be none in the Army which kéepe backe hys name or which is not alowed by the testimony of some other He which shal be found gilty herein the third day after the publishing of this writing shall suffer death Furthermore I will and appointe that there bee in ei uery Giddon of horsemen one hundreth and of euery Enseigne of footemen CC. and euery Captayne to haue vnder him his vndercaptaynes other officers That no man presume to attempt any thing against the enemie wiihout the commaundement of his Superiours if the Captayne shal be found culpable herein then hee shal be banished his office if the Souldiour his armour shal be taken from him and then he expelled the hoaste That no man forsake his Enseigne and that suche as are found robbing and spoyling be seuerely punished as théeues and their armour and horse gyuen to their accusers And because this warre differeth from the other warres that haue bene heretofore I will that thâ—… spoyles be caryed all to one place for the common profite and wealth of the whole Army If any shall pilpher or purloyn froÌ„ his fellow he shal be punished as a theef and he that shall apprehend and detecte such a one shal be well rewarded The spoyles which shal be taken at the yéelding vp of any Citie shall 〈◊〉 to the general vse of the whole army And nothing shal be counted for spoile but that which may be proued so to be by sure arguments and testimenies otherwise it shal be accouÌ„ted for rapine and theft I will also that there be no vagrant and vnprofitable members in the Army Three footemen shall haue onely one Page attendinge vppon them who also shall followe his Maisters Enseigne if he be found otherwise he shal be hanged It shall not be lawfull for any footeman to haue horses asses or other cattell but onely for Captaynes and such like officers prouided notwithstaÌ„ding that they abuse not this libertie If any man shall take away the cattie that belonge to husband men for tillage he shall suffer death Moreouer I will that there be no braule nor contencion moâ—…ed specially that one man fight not with an other yf any shall so do he shall dye If there happen to bee any offence â—…et the Captaynes be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there may be some order taken and peace 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 that all priuie grudge and maâ—…ice be layde asyde and if any man refuse to be reconciled I commaund 〈◊〉 that Captaynes be admonished thereof that all sawfull wayes may be sought for reconciliation That no man take any other lodging thaÌ„ that which shal be appointed to him If he be a Captayne that shalâ—…e fasty herein hée shall loose his office but if he be but a common souldiour hée shal loose his armoure or horse beside other punishmeÌ„ts at my discretion And I will that all officers diligently come togither to the appointed place of méeting for the Army that they may foresée and prouide whatsoeuer shal be necessary for euery occasion That no maÌ„ steale away the vittayle and prouision belonging to the Army vpon payne of death â–ª And least any man may plead lawfully ignorance I will that these Martiall decrées be proclaymed euery wéeke throughout the whole Army in some coÌ„uenient place or other Let these things be diligently obserued and kept generally They which abused the Kings name feared least the Quéene of Nauarre should goe to the Prince of Conde with the yong Prince her sonne Therefore Monsieur Losse was fent to steale away the Prince but in vayne For the good and Christian Quéene of Nauar when she had made all things ready and had gathered certeyne bandes of men out of her dominion came with hir son to the Prince of Conde Then they practised by other meanes to stay her least she should ioyne her self with the Prince of Conde writing vnto her sugred letters to winne her from the reformed Religion With these letters was sent Monsieur Motte to perswade her and to assure her of the Kinge and