custome became mediatrix of an Accommodation but the King fearing to be inclosed in a fright retires to Chartres The League by this becoming Mistress of Paris take possession of the Bastille the Hostel de Ville and the Temple hang the Provost of the Merchants and the Civil Lieutenant And at the same time they assured themselves of Orleans Bourges Amiens Abbeville Montreuil Rouen Rheims Chaalons and more then twenty other Cities in several Provinces the people every where crying Long live Guise Long live the Protector of the Faith The King not without much reason was extreamly affrighted The Parisians deputed some to him to Chartres to ask pardon but withal they demand the extirpation of Heresie All the world encreased his fears none fortified his Courage In this distress he knew no securer way to shun that danger which threatned him then by essaying to disarm his subjects To this effect he sends one of his Masters of the Requests to the Parliament to let them understand that his absolute intention was to forget all that was past so that every one returned to his Duty and to labour diligently for the Reformation of the Kingdome for which end he found it convenient to assemble the General Estates at the end of the year where they might provide for the assuring a Catholick Successor of the Blood-Royal protesting that he would observe inviolably all the Resolutions of the Estates but that he would have them free and without Faction and that from that day all his Subjects should lay down Arms. It much troubled the Duke of Guise to consent to the laying down Arms fearing lest when he was left defenceless he should remain at the mercy of his enemies and particularly of the Duke d' Espernon He therefore stirred up the Parisians by a famous deputation to demand the continuation of the War against the Hugonots and the expulsion of that Duke The King after some resistance granted both the one and the other for he caused to be Ratified in Parliament an Edict most advantagiously favourable for the League and most bloody against the Hugonots and he bid Adieu to the Duke d' Espernon who retired into his Government of Angoumois After this the Duke of Guise came to attend the King at Chartres having the Queen-mothers word for his Security and both gave great assurances of his Fidelity and received all the testimonies he could wish of the affection of the King insomuch that he made him great Master of the Gens d' Arms of France In the mean time the League gained the upper hand throughout all the Provinces on this â—ide the Loire and caused Deputies for the Estates to be elected at its pleasure In the moneth of November the Estates assembled in the City of Blois It is not necessary here to recount all their intrigues In fine the King perswading that they had conspired to dethrone him caused the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother to be slain in the Castle and kept prisoner the Cardinal of Bourbon the Archbishop of Lyons the Prince of Joinville who after the Death of his Father was called Duke of Guise and the Duke of Nemours brother by the mother to the first Duke The Queen-mother under whose word the Guises thought to have been in security was so touched with the reproaches made her and with the â—lightings of the King her Son who after this believed he had no more need of her that she died with grief and envy few days after lamented by no person not so much as by her Son and generally hated by all parties In truth if ever there were an Action ambiguous or problematical it was this The servants of the King said that he was constrained to it by the extream audacity of the Guises and that if he had not prevented them they had shaved him and shut him up in a Monastery But the ill repute he had among all men the general esteem these Princes had acquisted and the odious circumstances of the murther made it appear horrible even to the eyes of the very Hugonots who said that this much resembled the bloody Massacre of St. Bartholomew Our Henry conserved a wise Mediocrity in this rencounter he deplored their death and gave praises to their Valour but he said That certainly the King had very puissant Motives to treat them in that manner and for the rest that the Judgements of God were great and his Grace thrice-special towards him having revenged him of his Enemies and neither engaged his Conscience nor his hand in it For certain Gentlemen having often offered themselves to him with a determinate resolution to go kill the Duke of Guise he had always let them know that he abhorred such a Proposition and that he would neither esteem them his friends nor honest men if they conserved it in their thoughts His Council being assembled upon this great News found that he ought not for it make any change in the conduct of his Affairs because the King though himself might be willing to it durst not for some moneths speak of a Peace with him for fear lest he should make it be believed that he had slain the Guises to favour the Hugonots so that he continued the War and kept several places In the mean time the progress of Affairs beat him out a path to lead him to the heart of the Kingdom and return him to the Court which was the post he ought most to wish for Henry the third amusing himself after the murther of the Guises to examine the Acts of the Estates at Blois in stead of mounting presently to horse and shewing himself in those places where his presence was most necessary the League which at first had been astonished at so great a blow regained its spirits The great Cities and principally Paris who were possessed with this madness having had leisure to dissipate their amazement passed from fear to pity and from pity to fury The Sixteen chose at Paris the Duke of Aumarle for their Governour The Preachers and Church-men declaimed horribly against the King the people snatched down his Arms where-ever they found them and dragged them through the dirt The Parliament who would have opposed this rage were imprisoned in the Bastille by Bussy le Clerk a simple Proctor but very much esteemed among the Sixteen and were forced to regain their Liberty to swear to the League At their coming forth of the Bastille there were many who continued to hold the Parliament at Paris the others stole away by little and little and went to the King who transported the Parliament to Tours where they kept their Session until the reducement of Paris in the year fifteen hundred ninety four These without doubt testified most fidelity to their King but those who remained at Paris rendred him afterwards much greater service as shall be observed in its place The Widow of the Duke
all Europe by the esteem of his Vertue In effect since the first foundation of the French Monarchy the History furnisheth us not with any Reign more memorable by reason of the great Events more repleat with the wonders of Divine Assistance more glorious for the Prince and more happy for the People then his and it is without Flattery or Envy that all the Universe hath given him the surname of Great not so much for the greatness of his Victories however comparable to those of Alexander or Pompey as for the greatness of his Soul and of his Courage for he never bow'd either under the Insults of Fortune or under the Traverses of his Enemies or under the Resentments of Revenge or under the Artifices of Favorites or Ministers he remained always in the same temper always Master of himself In a word he remained always King and Soveraign without acknowledging other Superiour then God Justice and Reason Let us then proceed to write the History of his Life which we shall divide into three principal Parts The first shall contain what happened from his Birth till his coming to the Crown of France The second shall speak what he did after he came to it until the Peace of Vervin And the third shall recount his Actions after the Peace of Vervin until the unhappy day of his death But before all it is necessary we speak something briefly of his Genealogie He was Son to Anthony de Bourbon Duke of Vendosme and King of Navarre and of Jane of Albret Heiress of that Kingdome Anthony descended in a direct and Masculine Line from Robert Count of Clermont fifth Son to King St. Lewis This Robert espoused Beatrix Daughter and Heiress to John of Burgoyne Baron of Bourbon by his Wife Agnes for which cause Robert took the Name of Bourbon but not the Arms still keeping those of France This sage Pre-caution served well to his Descendants to maintain themselves in the Degree of Princes of the Blood which those of Courtnay lost for not having acted in the same manner And besides the Vertue which gave a splendour to their Actions the good management and oeconomy which they exercised to conserve and augment their Revenues the great Alliances in which they were very diligent to match themselves ever refusing to mingle their Noble among Vulgar Blood and above all their rare Piety towards God and that singular goodness wherewith they acted towards their Inferiors conserved them and elevated them above Princes of elder Branches for the People seeing them always rich puissant wise and in a word worthy to command had imprinted in their spirits as it were a prophetick perswasion that this House would one day come to the Crown and they on their side seemed to have conceived this hope though it were at great distance having taken for their Word or Device Espoir or Hope Among the younger Branches which issued from this Branch of Bourbon the most considerable and most illustrious was that of Vendosm It carried this Name because they possessed that great Country which came to them in the year 1364. by the marriage of Katharine Vendosme Sister and Heiress to Bouchard last Count of Vendosme with John of Bourbon Count of the Marches At present it was but a County but was after made a Dutchy by King Francis the first in the year 1514. in favou◠of Charles who was great grand-childe to John and father of Anthony This Charles had seven Male-Children Lewis Anthony Francis another Lewis Charles John and a third Lewis the first Lewis and the second died in their infancy Anthony remained the eldest Francis who was Count of Anguien and gained the Battel of Cerisoles died without being married Charles was a Cardinal of the title of Chrysogone and Archbishop of Rouen this is he who was named The old Cardinal of Bourbon John lost his life at the Battel of St. Quintin The third Lewis was called The Prince of Condé and by two Marriages had several Male-Children from the first descended Henry Prince of Condé Francis Prince of Conty and Charles who was Cardinal and Archbishop of Rouen after the Death of the old Cardinal of Bourbon There were eight Generations from Male in Male from St. Lewis to Anthony who was Duke of Vendosme King of Navarre and father to our Henry As for Jane d' Albret his Wife she was Daughter and Heiress to Henry of Albret King of Navarre and of Margaret du Valois Sister to King Francis the first and Widow to the Duke of Alenzon Henry d' Albret was son to John d' Albret who became King of Navarre by his Wife Katherine du Foix Sister to King Phoebus deceased without Children for that Realm had entred into the House of Foix by marriage as it 〈…〉 afterwards into that of Albret and since into that of Bourbon Ferdinand King of Arragon had invaded and taken the Higher Navarre that is that part which is beyond the Pyraenean Hills and the most considerable of that Realm from King John d' Albret so that by consequence there rested to him onely the Lower that is that beneath the Mountains towards France but with it he had the Countries of Bearn of Albrett of Foix of Armagnac of Bigorra and many other great Signories coming as well by the House of Foix as that of Albret Henry his Son had onely one Daughter Jane who was called The Minion of Kings for King Henry her Father and the great King Francis the first her Uncle with Envy to each other strove most to cherish her The Emperour Charles the fifth had cast his Eyes on her and caused her to be demanded of her Father for his Son Philip the second proposing this as a means to pacifie their Differences touching the Kingdome of Navarre but King Francis the first not thinking it fit to introduce so puissant an Enemy into France causing her to come to Chastellerault affianced her to the Duke of Cleves and after releasing her of that Contract married her to Anthony of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme and the Marriage was solemnized at Moulins in the year 1547. the same year that Francis the first died The two young Spouses had in their first three or four years two Sons both which died at Berceau by accidents very extraordinary the first because its Governess being her self cold of nature kept it so hot that she stifled it with heat and the second by the carelessness of the Nurse who playing with a Gentleman as they danced the Childe from one to another let it fall to the ground so that it died in torment Thus Heaven deprived them of these two little Princes to make way for our Henry who merited well both the Birth-right and to be an onely Son Let us now come to the History of his Life The First PART OF THE LIFE OF HENRY the Great Containing his History from his Birth until he came to the Crown of FRANCE
to them and giving to Anthony the Government of Guyenne which had been likewise held by Henry d' Albret his Father-in-law he retrenched him of Languedoc which he had a long time enjoyed About two years after they returned to the Court of France whither they brought their Son aged about four or five years who was the most jolly and best-composed Lad in the world but they stayed but few moneths and returned again to Bearn A little after King Henry the second was slain with a blow of a Lance by Montgomery Francis the second his eldest Son succeeded him and Messieurs de Guise Uncles to Mary Stuart his Queen seized themselves of the Government The Princes of the Blood could not suffer it and therefore Lewis Prince of Condé younger Brother to Anthony called that King into the Court to oppose it During these Divisions the Hugonots contrived the Conspiration d' Amboyse against the present Government and the two Brothers Anthony and Lewis being accused for the Chiefs of it were arrested Prisoners in the State of Orleance and processes made so hotly against the second that it was believed he would have been beheaded if the Death of King Francis the second had not happened Charles the ninth who succeeded him being under age Queen Katherine his Mother caused her self to be declared Regent of the Estates and the King of Navarre first Prince of the Blood was declared Lieutenant-General of the Realm to govern the Estate with her so that by this means he was stay'd in France whither he caused his Queen Jane and his young Son Prince Henry to come But he enjoyed not long this new Dignity for the Troubles dayly continuing by reason of the Surprizes which the new Reformers made of the best Cities of the Kingdome after having re-taken Bourges from them he came to besiege Rouen where visiting one day the Trenches as he was making water he received a Musket-shot in his left shoulder of which he in few days died at Andely on the Siene Had he lived longer the Hugonots had without doubt been but ill treated in France for he mortally hated them though his Brother the Prince of Condé were the principal Chief of their party The Queen his wife and the little Prince his son were at present in the Court of France The mother returned to Bearn where she publickly embraced Calvinism but she left her son with the King under the conduct of a wise Tutor named la Gaucherie who endeavoured to give him some tincture of Learning not by the Rules of Grammar but by Discourses and Entertainments To this effect he taught him by heart many fair Sentences like to these Ou vaincre avec Justice Ou Mourir avec Gloire Or justly gain the Victory Or learn with Glory how to die And that other Les Princes sur leur Peuple ont autorit◠grande Mais Dieu plus fortement dessus les Rois commande Kings rule their Subjects with a mighty hand But God with greater power doth Kings command In the year 1566. his mother took him from the Court of France and led him to Pau and in the place of la Gaucherie who was deceased she gave him Florentius Christian an ancient servant of the house of Vendosme a man of a very agreeable conversation and well versed in Learning but however a Hugonot and who according to the orders of the Queen instructed the Prince in that false Doctrine In the first troubles of the Religion Francis Duke of Guise had been assassinated by Poltrot at the Siege of Orleance leaving his children in minority this was in the year 1563. In the second the Constable of Montmorency received a wound at the battle of St. Dennis of which he died at Paris three days after the Eve of St. Martin in the year 1567. In the third and in the year 1569 Queen Jane rendred her self Protectoress of the Hugonot party being for this effect come to Rochel with her son whom she now devoted to the Defence of that new Religion In this quality he was declared Chief and his Uncle the Prince of Condé his Lieutenant in colleague with the Admiral of Coligny These were two great Chieftains but they committed notable errours and this young Prince though not exceeding thirteen years of age had the spirit to observe them For he judged well at the great skirmish of Loudun that if the Duke of Anjou b had had troops ready to assault them he had done it and that not doing it he was without doubt in an ill estate and therefore should the rather have been assaulted by them but they by not doing it gave time to all his troops to arrive At the battle of Jarnac he represented to them yet more judiciously that there was no means to fight because the forces of the Princes were dispersed and those of the Duke of Anjou firmly imbodied but they were engaged too far to be able to retreat The Prince of Condé was killed in this battle or rather assassinated in cold blood after the Combat in which he had had his Leg broken After that all the authority and belief of the Party remained in the Admiral Coligny who to speak truth was the greatest man of that time of the Religion he took part with but the most unfortunate This Admiral having gathered together new forces hazarded a second battle at Montcontour in Poictou he had caused to come to the Army our little Prince of Navarre and the young Prince of Condé who was likewise named Henry and gave them in charge to Prince Lodowick of Nassaw who guarded them on a Hill little distant with four thousand horse The young Prince burned with desire to engage in person but they permitted him not to run so great a hazard nevertheless when the Avant-Guard of the Duke of Alenzon was disordered by that of the Admiral there had been no danger to let him fall upon the Enemies who were much astonished However they hindred him and he now cryed out We shall loose our advantage and by consequence the battle It arrived as he had foreseen and it was at that hour judged by some that a young man of sixteen years of age had more understanding then the old Souldiers Thus he applyed himself entirely to what he did nor had he onely a Body but a Spirit and Judgement apt Being saved with the remnants of his Army he made almost a turn round the Kingdome fighting in retreat and rallying together the Hugonots troops here and there for five or six moneths during which he suffered so much travel that had he not been elevated in that manner he was he could not have been able to resist it This young Prince always accompanied with the Admiral led his troops into Guyenne and from thence through Languedoc where he took Nismes by stratagem forced several small places and
at the instigation of the friends of the defunct Admiral and of de la Mole who had been his favourite many believed this to be a thing devised by the Queen-mother of purpose to astonish and weaken the spirit of her Son and the reason they had to believe it was because she obliged the King to pardon this crime so lightly none either of the Complices or Instigators being punished for it However it were Henry the third testified in this occasion a particular confidence in our King of Navarre who assisted by his friends served him as Captain of his Guards through the whole way never stirring from the boot of his Coach and in this appeared so much the more generous having no reason to love him beside the obligation of his duty being his kinsman and his vassal Henry the third being arrived at Rheims was on the fifteenth of the month of February installed by the Cardinal of Guise and on the marrow espoused to Louise de Lorrain daughter of the Count of Vaudemont which added yet a great lustre to the house of Guise of which Duke Henry was chief who was at present in favour though after killed at Blois This Prince one of the bravest in all manners that Age produced had ever promised himself to govern the King by Queen Louise his kinswoman He had contracted a very strait familiarity with the King of Navarre whom he called his Master as that King called him his Gossip Queen Margaret who to speak the truth could not live without Intrigues nor Galanteries contributed with all her power to the entertainment of this good intelligence and essayed to make the Monsieur who is he we call Duke d' Alenson enter into it whom she most passionately loved But the union of Princes being the ruine of Favorites and those that governed the Queen-mother straight broke this designe begetting in the King a jealousie of his wife incensing Monsieur against the Duke of Guise by the remembrance of the massacre of the Admiral continually confounding the King of Navarre by the intrigue of some Ladies but particularly of de Sauves who enjoying such person as Katherine commanded her received the love and services of Monsieur to create a difference between them The Queen-mother entertained likewise an irreconcileable hatred between the King and Monsieur by which means there arrived an affair which as much proclaimed the greatness of Courage and Generosity of our Henry as any action he had done in his life The King being fallen sick and in great danger of death with a pain in his ear believed himself to be poisoned as Francis the second had been and accused Monsieur In this belief he sent to seek the King of Navarre and commands him to dispatch Monsieur so soon as he was dead enforcing himself by all reasons possible to perswade him that that wicked one would make him perish and all his if he prevented it not The favorites of the King having the same opinion with their Master seeing Monsieur pass sacrificed him already to their revenge by murthering regards Our Henry endeavoured to sweeten the fury of the King and remonstrated to him the horrible consequences of this command but the King not content with reasons contrary to them emported himself in such manner that he would he should presently execute it for fear lest he should fail of it when he were dead If the two brothers to wit the King and Monsieur had been out of the world the Crown appertained to him Now one in all appearances was about to die and he might easily finde a death for the other having the Favorites the Officers of the King the Guise all their friends and almost all the Nobility at his devotion for Monsieur was a Prince of an ill presence and of low inclinations yet malign and cruel and for all these fair qualities hated by almost all the world and sustained onely by the brave Bussy d' Amboise How few Princes are there that would have let slip so fair an occasion I dare boldly speak it how few are there would not seek it and yet our Hero for in such an action I must of force call him so was so far from prevailing himself of it that he conceived a horrour at the furious vengeance of Henry the third There is no nobler ambition then to know how to moderate ambition when it is not just and to endeavour to conserve our conscience and honour rather then acquist a crown by wicked ways Diadems gained by ill means are not marks of glory to those fronts that carry them but rather frontlets of infamy such as are placed on Thieves and Villains Heaven without doubt approved the generous sentiments of our Henry and destined to him the Scepter of the Flower de Luce because guiltless of an impatience to reach it before his degree On the contrary these brothers of the house of Valois who endeavoured to ravish it one from the other died all unhappily and had him for their successour who by a crime refused to be so Henry the third being recovered knew well that he had wrongfully accused his brother to have impoisoned him yet he loved him never a whit the more he dayly suffered his favorites to give him a thousand affronts and to domineer over him in the publick Assemblies He would likewise cause Bussy d' Amboise who was his favorite and onely support to be murthered by night at the gates of the Louvre and it was believed he had given order if the Duke of Alenzon had gone to his assistance for there were people appointed to come and tell him that Bussy was assassinated to slay him likewise In such manner that getting the bridle out of his teeth he escaped from Court put himself in the field gathered together some male-contents composed an Army and joyned with that of the Hugonots commanded by the Prince of Condé and by Casimir youngest son of the Count Palatine who in these civil wars of the Religion twice or thrice led great levies of German Horse into France Our Henry was puissantly sollicited to follow him and Monsieur said he had promised him to do it but they had taken from about him all those who might favour his escape and placed in their stead people of their own hire He was moreover promised the Lieutenant-Generalship of the Kings Army which was a strong lure to retain him nor was the love of the fair de Sauves less powerful However the natural spurs of his courage and the fear he had left Monsieur and the Prince of Condé should seize on the chief Command amongst the Hugonot party which had been his Cradle and was to be his Castle the remonstrances of some of his servants and the inventions of Queen Katherine who expresly incensed the King against him in the end obliged him to escape and made him take his resolution He saved himself therefore by feigning to go on the Chace
it to be opened in the presence of twenty six Physitians aâ—â— Chirurgeons who found all parts so sounâ— â—hat in the course of Nature he might yet have lived thirty years His Entrails were the same hour sent to St. Denis and interr'd without any Ceremony The Fathers Jesuites demanded the heart and carried it to their Church de la Fleche where this great King had given them his house to build that fair Colledge at present seen The Corps embalmed in a sheet of Lead covered with a Coffin of Wood and a cloath of Gold over it was placed in the Kings Chamber under a Canopy with two Altars on each side on which Mass was said for eighteen days continuance Afterwards it was conducted to St. Denis where it was buried with the ordinary Ceremonies eight days after that of Henry the third his Predecessor For it is to be understood that the body of Henry the third remained till then in the Church of St. Cornille in Compeigne from whence the Duke of Espernon and Bellegarde great Esquire formerly his favourites brought it to St. Denis and caused his funerals to be celebrated Civility obliging that he should be buried before his Successor The Kings death was concealed from the City all the rest of that day and a good part of the morrow whilst the Queen disposed the Grandees and the Parliament to give her the Regency She obtained it without much difficulty having led the young King her Son to the Parliament and the Prince of Conde and the Count of Soissons who alone could have opposed it being absent The first was at Milan as we have said before and the second at his house at Blandy whither he was retired discontented some days before the Instalment of the Queen When the fame of this Tragical accident was spread through Paris and that they knew assuredly that the King whom they believed only wounded was dead that mixture of hope and fear which kept this great City in suspence broke forth on a suddain into extravagant cries and furious groans Some through grief became immoveable Statue-like others ran through the streets like mad men others embraced their friends without saying any thing but Oh what misfortune some shut themselves up in their houses others threw themselves upon the ground women were seen with their disheveled haire run about howling and lamenting Fathers told their Children What will become of you my Children you have lost your Father Those who had most apprehension of the time to come and who remembred the horrible calamities of the past Wars lamented the misfortune of France and said that that accursed blow which had pierced the heart of the King cut the throat of all true French-men It is reported that many were so lively touched that they died some upon the place and others a few days after In fine this seemed not to be mourning for the death of one man alone but for the one half of all men It might have been said that every one had lost his whole family all his goods and all his hopes by the death of this great King He died at the age of fifty seven years and five months the thirty eighth of his reign of Navarre and the one and twentieth of that of France He was married twice as we have said before First with Margaret of France by whom he had no children The second time with Mary of Medicis Margaret was Daughter to King Henry the second and Sister to the Kings Francis the second Charles the ninth and Henry the third from whom he was divorced by sentence of the Prelates deputed for that purpose from the Pope Mary of Medicis was Daughter to Francis and Niece to Ferdinand Dukes of Florence She had three Sons and three Daughters The Sons were all born at Fontain-bleau The first named Louis came into the world on the 27 September in the year 1601. at Eleven a Clock at night He was King after him and had the Surname of Just. The second was born on the 16 of April 1607. he had the title of Duke of Orleans but no name because he died before the Ceremony of his Baptism was celebrated in the year 1611. The third took birth on the 25 of April 1608. and was named John Baptista Gaston and had title Duke of Anjou but the second Son being dead that of Duke of Orleans was given him which he bore to his death which happened two years ago The eldest of the Daughters was born at Fontain-bleau the 22 of November 1602. she was the second child and was named Elizabeth or Isabella she was married to Philip the fourth King of Spain and died some years past She was a Princess of a great heart and had a spirit and brain above her Sex the Spaniards therefore said that she was truly Daughter to Henry the Great The second was born at the Louvre at Paris the 10. of February 1606. There was given to her the name of Christina and she Espoused Victor Amadeo then Prince of Piedmont and after Duke of Savoy a Prince of the greatest vertue and capacity in the world The third was born in the same place on the 25. of November being the Feast of St. Katherine in the year 1609. and had name Henrietta-Maria This is the present Queen-Mother of England widow of the unfortunate King Charles Stuart whom his Subjects cruelly despoiled of his Royalty and Life but heaven the protector of Soveraigns hath gloriously re-established his Son Charles the second Besides these six Legitimate children he had likewise eight Natural ones of four different Mistresses without counting those whom he did not own Of Gabriella d' Estrees Marchioness of Monceaux and Dutchess of Beaufort he had Caesar Duke of Vendosme who yet lives and was born in the month of June in the year 1594 Alexander great Prior of France who died prisoner of Estate and Henrietta married to Charles of Lorrain Duke of Elbeuf Of Henrietta de Balsac d' Entragues whom he made Marchioness of Verneuil he had Henry Bishop of Mets who yet lives and Gabriella who Espoused Bernard of Nogaret Duke of Valette at present Duke of Espernon by whom she had the Duke of Candale dead some time since and a Daughter at present a Religious Carmilite after which she died Of Jacqueline de Bueil to whom he gave the County of Moret was born Anthony Count of Moret who was killed in the Service of the Duke of Orleans in the Battail of Castlenaudary where the Duke of Montmorency was taken This was a young Prince whose Spirit and Courage promised much The Marquis of Vardes Espoused afterward this Jacqueline de Bueil Of Charlotta d' Essards to whom he gave the land of Romorantin came two Daughters Jane who is Abbesse of Fontevrault and Mary-Henrietta who was of Chelles He loved all his children Legitimate and Natural with a like affection but with different consideration He would
sends forth enlivenings and joy into the eyes of all that behold it To continue the Metamorphosis I will yet say that so many wise Laws which he made for Justice for Policy and for his Revenues so many good and useful Establishments of all sorts of Manufactures which produced to France the yearly profit of many Millions so many proud buildings as the Galleries of the Louvre the Pont-neuf the Place Royal the Colledge Royal the Keys for Merchants of the River Seine Fontain-bleau Monceaux St. Germain so many publick works Bridges Causwaies Highwaies repaired so many Churches rebuilded in many places of the Realm should be as the Ingravements and Imbellishments Let us Crown then with a thousand prayses the immortal memory of that great King the love of the French and the terror of the Spaniards the Honour of his age and the Admiration of Posterity Let us make him live in our hearts and in our affections in despite of the rage of those wicked persons deprived him of life Let us shout forth as many Acclamations to his glory as he hath done benefits to France He was a Hereules who cut off the Head of the Hydra by overturning the League He was greater then Alexander and greater then Pompey because he was as Valiant but he was more Just he gained as many victories but he gained more hearts He conquered the Gaules as well as Julius Caesar but he conquered them to give them liberty and Caesar subjugated them to enslave them Let his Name then be raised above that of the Hercules the Alexanders the Pompeys and the Gaesars Let his Reign be the Model of good Kings and his Examples the clear Lights to illuminate the eyes of other Princes Let his Posterity be Eternally Crowned with the Flowers de Lis Let them be alwaies happy alwaies Triumphant And to compleat our wishes let Lewis the Victorious his Grand-child Resemble or if it be possible Surpass him FINIS The Life of Hen. the Great divided into three parts The first The second The third His Genealogie Who Antho. de Bourbon his father was a Peter sixth Son to Lewis le gross espoused Isabella Heiress of Courtnay and took both Name and Arms a fault very prejudicial to his posterity b The branch of Bourbon produced many among others that of Vendosme Charles Duke of Vendosme had Anthony and six other sons Who Jane d' Albret his Mother was 〈◊〉 of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme and Jane d' Albret married at Moulins 1547. 1552. Henry the Great conceived at la Fleche 1553. His mother sings at her delivery of him He cries not at his birth So soon as born his grandfather carries him into his chamber he rubs his lips with Garlick makes him taste wine The Spaniards Raillery concerning the birth of his mother Her fathers Reply to it 1554. Baptism of Hen. 4. His godfathers and godmother He was hard to bring up He had for Governess Madam de Miossens His grandfather permits him not to be nourished delicately * It hath been said that he was ordinarily nourished with coarse bread beef cheese and garlick and that oftentimes he was made to march with naked feet and brre headed The death of Henry d' Albret 1555. His daughter son-in-law succeed him and retire from the Court. 1557. 1558. 1559. Death of King Henry the second Francis 2. succeeâ—s Divisions at Court 1560. Death of Francis 2. Charles 9. succeeds Queen Katherine declared Regent and the King of Navarre Lieutenant-General of the Realm 1562. He is killed before Rouen 1562. The Queen his wife returns to Bearn and embraces Calvinism 1566. She taâ— her son from the Court and gives him a Master instructs him in ill Doctrine 1567. Henry Prince of Navarre declared chief of the Religion 1569. Louys Prince of Condé his Uncle his Lieutenant with Admiral Coligny A judicious action when yet an infant b This Duke of Anjou was King after Hen. 3 Another action very judicious at the battle of Jarnac Lewis Prince of Condé slain After his death the Admiral commands all He hazards the battle of Montcontour Our Prince impatâ—ent to engage but hindred Gives marks of his judgement 1570. He with the Admiral continues the War The peace of Arnay-le-Duc 1571. A Resolution to entrap the Hugonots and exterminate them Death of Jane d' Albret Her son takes the quality of King of Navarre He marries the King of France his sister Massacre of St. Bartholomew The grief and fear of our young King He is constrained to turn Catholick 1572. His great dangers troubles at Court His wise prudent conduct He contracts friendship with the Duke of Guise He shuns contention with Duke d' Alenzon but lets himself be overcome by the beauty of Ladies which was his greatest weakness 1572. He fell not into any other of the horrible Vices of the Court. 1573. The Duke of Anjou besieges Rochel and carries the King with him The siege raised by the election of Duke d' Anjou to the Kingdome of Poland 1574. Charles 9. falls mortally sick at Bois de Vincennes A league made at Court into which Henry enters The Queen-mother discovering it causes him the Duke Alenson c to be arrested and la Mole Coconas Tourtray to be put to death The Chancellour would examine the King of Navarre Charles 9. near his death sends for him 1574. Queen Katherine alarm'd would affright him After the death of Charles 9. she seizeth on the Regency The two Princes set at liberty The Prince of Condé was in Germany The King of Navarre cannot escape as he desires He falls in love with a Lady The Queen-mother alluminates all the factions and civil wars 1575. Conspiracy against Henry 3. who confides in our Henry Henry 3. anointed and espoused to Louis de Lorrain Familiarity between our Henry and the Duke of Guise The Queen-mother breaks this union Henry 3. falls very sick a Francis 2 died of an Aposthume in his ear which was believed to come of poyson A noble and generous action of our Henry 1575. 1576. Monsieur departs from Court and joyns with the Hugonots Our Henry could not soon follow him but at length saves himself at Alenzon Peace made with Monsieur and the Hugonots 1576. Our Henry again turns Hugonot He is received into Rochel and after goes into Guyenne The gates of Bourdeaux shut against him The birth of the League These Leagues a fair path for the ambitious to rise by The Duke of Guise makes himself chief of the League The War of Monsieur his joyning with the Hugonots the cause of the League The Cities of Picardy begin it and why Christopher de Thou hinders its procedure at Paris The Leaguers oblige the King to call the Estates They assemble at Blois War resolved against the Hugonots Henry 3. declares himself chief of the League 1577. He raises three or four Armies against the Hugonots The Queen-mother obliges him to grant them peace 1578. She makes a voyage to Guyenne
retires to Pont de l' Arche The Duke of Parma takes Caudebec and is wounded and the Duke of Mayenne falls sick The Army of the King increases and the pursues the two Dukes Byron beats up one quarter but will not quite defeat them He would continue the War * A French Proverb aâ— if he should say Wouldst thou have me ruine my own Fortune Wonderful retreat of the Duke of Parma which the King cannot hinder The King admires the action A noble and dangerous action of the King at Aumale where he saved his Rereguard Grave answer of the Duke of Parma's concerning the Kings action Byron killed at Espernay Conferences renewed The Duke of Mayenne calls the Estates to Paris to elect a King The election of a King would have been the ruine of Henry 4. and France Expedient which the King finds to hinder this election Confeence of Surene 1593. Estates of the League assemble at Paris Mansfield comes with a Spanish Army takes Noyon afterwards his Army dissipates Byron raises the siege of Selles to relieve Noyon but dares not aâ—tempt it which puffs up the Kings enemies Conspiracy to surpâ—ize his person The Duke of Feria brings a Letter to the States-General from the King of Spain It was time for the King to convert In fine God touches him and he is converted The Spaniards and Legat press the Estates to chuse a King Grand arrest of the Parliament at Paris for the Salique Law Advantagious testimony of Villeroy in favour of the Parliament The King takes Dreux The Spaniards propose to the Estates to elect the Duke of Guise and their Infanta The Duke of Mayenne enraged his Wife more He makes truce with the King His subtile Argument against the Minister He abjures his Errour and becomes a Catholick The Duke of Mayenne dismisses the Estates The King sends the Duke of Nevers to Rome to have absolution of the Pope The Pope shews him self very difficult 1594. The League fals in less then a year Meaux Aix Lyons Orleans Bourges surrender to the King Reduction of Paris The King anointed at Chartres It was almost a wonder how he became master of Paris He sees the Spanish Garison depart and what he saies to them Parliament at Tours recalled to Paris The City rejoyce and are peaceable Two worthy actions of the King The one of Justice The other of Policy Reduction of Rouen Abbeville Troyes Sens c. La Capelle taken by Mansfield and Laon by the King Balagny turns to the Kings party with his City of Cambray Reduction of Amiens Beauvais Peronne The Duke of Guise compounds with the King And likewise the Duke of Lorrain The Duke of Mayenne remains alone and retires into Bourgongne 1595. The King declares war against the Spaniards Two artempts on his person Of Peter Barriere and of John Castel Jesuites exiled the kingdom Reduct on of Beaune Auxerre and Dijon c. The King goes into Bourgongne against the Spanish Army Battail of Fountain-Franzoise where the King shews his valour but is in danger of his life The Spanish Army retire The Duke of Mayenne despairing would retire into Savoy The King hath pity of him and offers him an accommodation and place of retreat He grants him a truce La Fere Ham delivered to the Spaniards who are cut in pieces at Ham. Humieres killed Many Leaguers despairing cast themselves into the Spaniards arms Amongst others Rosny who causeth the taking of Dourlens Battel of Dourlens Villars slain Cambray taken by the Spaniards The Pope absolves the King The Duke of Mayenne in the end makes his Treaty with King Hath advantagious Conditions He comes to Monceaux to salute the King The Duke of Nemours reconciled likewise His elder Brother died of a strange disease 1596. The Duke of Joyeuse makes his Treaty with the King And the Lord of Boisdaufia Reduction of Marseilles The King grants a truce to the Duke of Merceur Arch-duke Albert takes Calais Taking of la Fere by the King The Archduke takes likewise Guines and Ardres The King to have mony calls an assembly of the Chiefs to Rouen The manner of their sitting His Speech The Assembly grant money for the War King of Spain desires the peace Surprizal of Amiens by the Spaniards retards the peace 1597. The King resolves to besiege Amiens Many conspiracies discovered The people contribute willingly and the Leaguers serve him well The Arch-Duke comes to relieve Amiens His arrival assaults put the Kings Army in disorder The King re-assures them Words worthy a good and Christian King The Arch-Duke retires to Flanders The King retakes Amiens The King marches to the gates of Arras and dares the Spaniards The Duke of Merceur daily delays concluding his Treaty The King goes into Brittany resolved to chastise him He gives his daughter to the Kings natural son and by this means makes his agreement By reason of this marriage the King gives his son the Dukedom of Vendosme 1598. He goes to Nantes and Rennes He puts good order in the Province Endeavours for a general peace and the two Kings wish it The Deputies met at Vervin Substance of the Treaty of Vervin The peace published 1598. The third part of the Life of Henry the great more calm and more peaceable then the others He was a Souldier by constraint but a Polititian by inclinaon It is necessary a King should know War but besides that there are other functions of Royalty What those functions are The Peace sworn by the King and Arch-Duke Albertus Byron made Duke and Peer goes to swear the peace in the Netherlands The Spaniards possess him with pride and presumption VVhat the French and what the Spaniards said of the peace VVhy the King desired peace Excellent words Strange sickness death of Philip 2. of Spain Before his death he takes care to marry his son and daughter His sickness hinders his swearing to the peace His son Philip the 2. doth it after his death The King forbids the carrying of arms He dismisses his Troops He remits the arrears of Taxes He commands the false Nobles to be sought out and taxes re-imposed on them He retrenches theluxury of the Nobility and sends them all to their houses in the Country He shews them by his example the modesty of his habits He falls dangerously sick Words of a good King He gives the Estates an account of his expences Cuts off the superfluous expences of his Tables Who were his Counsellours Ministers Chiverny Bellievre Sillery Sancy Janin Villeroy The King confers often with his Counsellours how Rosny after Duke of Sully After the death of Francis d' O he commits his Revenues to five or six who acquit themselves ill Seeing that he makes Sancy alone Superintendent And very little time after Rosny who knows perfectly the Revenues Which the King knows also so well that he could not be cheated He desires Rosny to take no Presents without advertising him He begins to establish a constant
sends likewise to complement him and he answers it by Byron To whom she shews the Earl of Essex head The King Queen enjoy the Jubilee at Orleans The Queen brought to bed of a Daulphine who is named Lewis after surnamed The Just. The King gives him his blessing and puts his sword in his hand Birth of the Infanta of Spain named Anne who after espoused King Lewis xiii The King makes divers Orders for the good of the Estate He suppresses the Triennial Officers for Revenues He establisheth a Chamber of Justice to call Treasurers and Collectors to account The onely remedy against their thefts The King prohibites the transport of gold or silver out of his Kingdome and wearing gold and silver lace or gildings Introduces the manufacture of silk into France The usury excessive in France which caused the ruine of the best families and the Merchants to abandon all traffick The King reduces interests to six in the hundred His great care to enrich his Kingdom He favours the establishment of manufactures After his example all labour for their benefit Idleness punished 1602. The King remedies two things capable to overthrow France The tax of a Sol pour livre burthensome It causes commotions in the Provinces The King to appease them goes to Poictiers His wise and just remonstance to the Deputies of Guyenne * He had sold the Lands of his Patrimony He calms the seditions and revokes the Sol pour livre Conspiracy of the Marshal Byron Laffin discovers it to the King * Vidame is a Lord who holds his Lordship in Fief of a Bishop How he got the Notes written with Byron's own hand The Duke of Savoy keeps Renaze Laffins Secretary Propositions betwixt Byron the Duke of Savoy and the Count Fuentes Byron had demanded pardon of the King but after fell again He speaks ill of the King and boasts excessively of himself Two things compleat his loss Laffin comes to Court and reveals all to the King The King sends for Byron to Court who at first excuses himself In the end Byron comes The King conjures â—im the first time to confess the truth He insolently vindicates himself The King prayes the Count of Soissons to exhort him to confess his crime But he is more obstinate The King speaks to him the second time but in vain He is troubled what to resolve on He resolves to leave him to Justice Yet tries the third time to draw truth from him He finds it in vain leaves him By on and the Count of Auvergne Arrested prisoners His kindred intercede for him The Parliament make his Process He defends himself weakly Letters of the King revoking the pardon granted him at Lyons He reproacheth not Laffin Renaze appears before him at which he is much astonished He is conducted to the Parliament and heard Sentence of death voted against him The King removes the execution to the Bastille Sentence pronounced His head cut off He was very ignorant but a great lover of predictions A reflection very necessary for great men Laffin and Renaze pardoned * That is the Rack So is the Baron of Lux and confirmed in his Charges Montbarot imprisoned and soon released Fontanelles broke on the wheel Duke of Bouillon had a hand in the conspiracy The King sends for him to Court but he presents himself to the Chamber of Castres After he retires to Geneva thence to Heidelberg to the Prince Palatine his Kinsman The favour of Rosny a pretext to the discontents of the great ones Yet the King gave him not too much power but keeps it to himself An important truth A memorable example that a King ought not to yeild too much to his Ministers Enterprizes of the Duke of Savoy on Geneva Thirteen of the Enterprizers â—anged The Duke of Savoy excuses himself to the Suisses From whom the City of Geneva was held It was an Allie of the Suisses and under protection of France The Genevans make War on Savoy But the King obliges them to peace The inhabitants of Mets rise against Sobole their Governour The Duke d' Espernon kindles the fire more The King goes in person The Jesuites present their request to the King for their reestablishment He re-establisheth them gloriously 1602 1603. He visits his sister at Nancy Renews his alliance with the Suisses and Grisons Hears of the death of Queen Elizabeth of England She beheaded Mary Queen of Scots James 6. King of Scotland and Son of Mary succeeded to the Kindom of England He was James the first of that name among the Kings of England Ambassadors go from France and Spain to desire his friendship Piety yeilds to Interest The King labours to conserve peace Excellent speeches of a good King His divertisements Employs of the Nobility Duels too frequent The King makes an Edict against this madness He makes Acts for working the Gold Silver and Copper Mines An enterprize to joyn the Seine and Loire Another design to joyn the two Seas Navigation to Canada Establishment of Religious Orders at Paris The King gives Verneuil to Madamoiselle d' Entragues She despises and offends the Queen * Alluding I suppose to the Dukes of Florence who are all Merchants The Queen on her part troublesome to the King Leonora Conchini her husband foster the Queen in ill humors 1604. The Kings debaucheries cause the Gout The Queen threatens the Marchioness Who prays the King to see her no more And her Father demands leave to retire with her out of France They treat with the Ambassador of Spain The King resolves to hinder them To this end he sends for Auvergne who is at Clermont and refuses to come He is Arrested prisoner and carried to the Bastille D' Entragues and the Marchioness likewise Arrested * The Common Goal of Paris Sentence of Parliament against them The King pardons them and justifies the Marchioness But the Count of Auvergne remained at the Bastille and is despoiled of his County Which is adjudged to Queen Margaret who gives her Estates to the Daulphin The designes of the Duke of Bouillon discovered The King had done him many favours and he had as well served the King But after the Kings conversion he excites the Hugonots against him and would make himself chief of their party His Emissaries endeavour to form a party in Guyenne The King goes to prevent them All the Conspiracy dissipated The King returns to Paris He in vain endeavours to make the Duke of Bouillon humble himself He resolves to besiege Sedan Rosny makes all necessary preparations The King makes him Duke of Sully Inconveniences in the siege of Sedan The King chuses rather to receive the Duke into favour On what conditions The Duke demands pardon of of the King who enters Sedan and thence goes to Paris A great example of generosity in our Prince Notwithstanding which there are many conspiracies Treason of l' Oste. 1605. Treason of Merargues He is surprized talking with the Spanish Ambassadours
crimes in this Court and it ought to be attributed to a particular grace of Heaven that he was not infected with all for there was never any more vicious nor more corrupted Impiety Atheism Witchcraft all most horrible wickedness black ingratitude and perfidiousness poisoning and assassination reigning there in a soveraign degree yet all these abominations in stead of infecting him fortified him in the natural horror he had against them and though amongst wicked persons he had never any thoughts to become their Companion but many to be their Enemy On St. Bartholomews-day succeeding they would finish to exterminate the Hugonots and to this purpose the Duke of Anjou went to besiege Rochel carrying him with him but caused him to be so well observed that he could neither evade to the right hand nor the left It may be judged what heart-grief it was to him to be made an instrument in the destruction of those which yet remained his friends and servants and had refuged themselves in this City After a long siege it was relieved by the arrival of the Ambassadors of Poland who came to seek the Duke of Anjou whom the Estates of that Country had elected their King Some moneths afterwards Charles the ninth fell mortally sick vomiting forth blood through all the conduits of his body so that by many it was believed he was empoisoned but however it were it may justly be said if it be permitted to judge of Kings who ought to be judged by none but God That it was a Divine punishment for his blasphemies His extream malady gave birth to a league made by the Duke of Alenson the Marshals of Montmorency and Cossé and some Catholicks with the Hugonot party to deprive the Queen-mother of the Government and drive the Guises from the Court where they were very puissant Our Henry entred into it not out of any designe to oblige himself with those people but onely that he might have the means to retire with security into his own Country The Queen-mother having understood these practices caused him and the Duke of Alenson to be arrested and committed to Guard The Prince of Condé saved himself happily in Germany She caused likewise the two Marshals of Montmorency and Cossé to be secured and to let the world see she treated not Princes of their degree in this manner without sufficient cause she made them be strictly examined on many treasonable Interrogatories but which were all false there were onely put to death la Mole Coconas and Tourtray three Gentlemen of note who had engaged themselves in their intrigues and possibly this execution was necessary to calm the spirit of the Nobility and People who began to murmur that a son of France and the first Prince of the blood should be treated in this manner In this affair the Chancellour would have examined the King of Navarre but though captive and threatned he would not so much wrong his Dignity as to reply to him However to content the Queen-mother he made a long discourse addressing his speech to her by which he declared many things touching the present estate of affairs but charged no person as the Duke of Alenson had weakly and unworthily done King Charles the ninth being near his death and hating possibly not without reason both his two brothers and his mother sent to seek our Henry in whom alone he acknowledged to have found faith and honour and most affectionately recommended to him his wife and his daughter Katherine de Medicis knowing that he had sent for him was fearful lest he should leave to him the Regency and to this purpose would cast some fear into his soul to the end he should not dare to accept it As he went to attend the King who was at Bois de Vincennes she gave order he should be made pass under the Arches between the Guards who lay in ambush and posture to massacre him He startled at first with fear and recoiled two or three paces backwards however Nanzay le Chastre Captain of the Life-guards reassured him swearing to him he should receive no prejudice he was therefore constrained though he trusted but little to his words to pass through the Carabines and Halberds After the death of Charles the ninth Katherine de Medicis partly by force and partly by cunning seized on the Regency expecting the return of her dear Son the Duke of Anjou who was named Henry the third When he was returned from Poland she brought the two Princes before him to do with them what he pleased whom after some chidings and threatnings he set at liberty These two Princes making reflection on the continual dangers they had for two years past been in resolved with the first occasion to deliver themselves from these fears The Prince of Condé who was in Germany had raised Levies for the Hugonot party who about the end of the reign of Charles the ninth had retaken Arms and Damville second son to du Feu Constable and brother of the Marshal of Montmorency who was a prisoner in the Bastile had joyned himself to their party not taking Religion for his pretext because he was a Catholick but the publick Liberty and Reformation of the State This sort of Catholicks who joyned themselves in league with the Hugonots were named The Politicians Our Henry could not escape from the Court so soon as he desired he was diligently watched and his very Domesticks were as so many spies over him He well understood that if he were surprized whilst he endeavoured to save himself he should certainly be murthered and now whilst he sought occasions to do it with security he engaged himself in new snares becoming passionate of la Dame de Sauves wife to a Secretary of State and at present the fairest in the whole Court In the mean time the Queen-mother who with so much diligence kept him at Court could have been well contented he had been gone For the King her dear Son began to take some knowledge of his own affairs a thing much displeasing to her because she would have governed all she therefore apprehending that as he took the Authority into his own hands hers would be diminished believed that she ought to embroile all by factions and civil wars of which she alone as it may be said had the Key so that nothing could pass without her See here the reason wherefore so long as she lived she did underhand nothing but suscitate troubles and animate different parties both at Court and abroad that in the end after having caused the desolation of the Estate and the subversion of all Laws and all Orders she might her self perish in those flames which she had kindled and supplyed with so much fuel Amongst these transactions as the King went to Rheims to be enstalled a conspiracy was discovered against his Person fostred by the Duke of Alenson
the King granted him and the Conditions are so honourable that never Subject had greater Advantages from any King of France but they had been greater if that before his party had been so much ruined he had treated for those great Cities who yet held him as their Chief and whom by this means he might still have kept firm to his interests Some time after he came to Monceaux to salute the King who seeing him coming along an Alley where he was walking advanced some paces towards him with all Alacrity and good Countenance possible and thrice straitly embracing him assured him that he esteemed him so absolute a man of Honour that he doubted not of his word treating him with as much freedom as if he had always been his most faithful servant The Duke surprized with his goodness said at his departure That it was now onely that the King had compleatly vanquished him And he ever after as well remained in the duty of a most faithful Subject as the King shewed himself a good Prince and exact Observer of his word At the same time that this Duke had concluded his Treaty and obtained an Edict from the King which confirmed it the Duke of Nemours his Brother by the Mothers side and who was called Marquiss of St. Sorlin whilst the brave Duke of Nemours his elder Brother was living by the means of his Mother reconciled himself likewise to the King and brought under his Obedience some little places which he yet held in Lyonnois and in Forez His elder Brother one of the most noble and generous Courages was ever known died the year before of a strange malady which made him vomit through the mouth and through all his pores even to the last drop of his blood Were it that this malady happened to him out of his extream grief when he was shut up in the Castle of Pierre-Encise to hear of the surrendry of Vienne which was his surest retreat or were it caused by a sharp and scalding poyson reported to be given him by those who feared his resentment he died without being married and his younger Brother of whom we speak was Father to those Messieurs de Nemours whose deaths we beheld in the years last past The Duke of Joyeuse who after the death of his younger Brother slain in the Battel of Villemur near Mountauban had quitted his habit of Capuchin to make himself chief of the League in Languedoc and had maintained the City of Tolouse and the Neighbouring Countries on his party took likewise this time to make his Accommodation and obtained very favourable Conditions by the means of Cardinal de Joyeuse his other Brother among other things he had the Staff of Marshal of France The Lord of Boisdaufin had the same recompence though he had no more then two little places in Mayne and Anjou to wit Sable and Castle-Gontier the King granting him this good Treatment rather in Consideration of his Person then his Places There were now no more to reduce besides the Duke of Merceur and Marseilles This City was governed by Charles de Casaux Consul and by Lewis d' Aix the Viguier or Judge As these two men were upon the point to deliver it to the Spaniards a Burgess named Libertat with a Band of his friends caused the Inhabitants to rise against them and having killed Casaux and driven out Lewis d' Aix put it in full Liberty under the Obedience of the King As for the Duke of Merceur the King granted him a prolongation of the Truce because he was not in capacity at present to go so soon to dispossess him of the rest of Brittany being much hindred by the Siege of la Fere where he was in person and where he had made little progress in three or four moneths Moreover it happened when he least thought of it that the Arch-Duke Albert who commanded the Spanish Army incited by the counsels of that Rosny of whom we have spoke came to fall upon Calais and that Rosny who was a great Captain having at first took the Forts of Risban and Nieule the Spaniards forced the place on the 24 of April and put all to the sword A little after the King took la Fere which surrendred for want of Victuals The Spaniards having made the Treaty would have no Hostages from him saying That they knew he was a generous Prince and of good credit a Testimony so much the more glorious for him because coming from the mouth of his enemies The grief which he had for the loss of Calais was redoubled by that of the Cities of Guines and Ardres which were likewise taken by the industry and valour of Rosny who had done many such other exploits if some months after he had not been killed happily for France at the Siege of Hâ—lst near to Gaunt Now the noise of these four or five great losses received one upon another cast some terrour into the hearts of the people and the Emissaries of Spain excited as much as they could new seeds of division in their spirits serving themselves to that purpose of all sorts of pretexts but above all of that of the oppression of the people Truely it was great but it was caused by the pillages of War and by the necessity of Affairs rather then the Kings fault who had no greater desire then to procure the ease of his Subjects as we shall see This cast him into a great affliction and trouble because he had no Treasure to continue the War and he foresaw by the murmurs already excited that if he crushed the people more he should raise against himself a new tempest In this trouble he had recourse to that great Remedy accustomed to be practised when France is in danger which is the Convocation of the Estates but because the pressing necessity gave him not time to assemble them in a full body he called onely the chiefs of the Peers of his Estate of the Prelates and of the Nobility with the Officers of Justice and of the Revenues He desired that the Assembly should be held at Rouen in the great Hall of the Abby of St. Ouen in the midst of which he was seated in a Chair elevated in form of a Throne with a Cloth and Canopy of Estate On his sides were the Prelates and Lords behinde the four Secretaries of Estate beneath him the first Presidents of the soveraign Courts and the Deputies of the Officers of Justice and of the Revenues He made his Overtures to them by a Speech worthy a true King who ought to believe that his Greatness and Authority consists not onely in an absolute power but in the good of his Estate and the safety of his people If I should account it a glory said he to them to pass for an excellent Orator I should have brought hither rather good words then good will but my ambition tends to something higher
took care before his death to treat of the marriage of his Son with Margaret Daughter to the Arch-Duke of Grats and that of his dear Daughter Isabella with the Cardinal-Arch-Duke Albert of the same blood with her and gave him for Dowry the Low-Countries and County of Bourgongne on Condition of its Reversion if she died without issue He had already signed the Articles of the peace but this mortal sickness permitted him not to give Oath to it with the same solemnities as the King and Arch-Duke had done Philip the third his Son and Successour acquitted himself of this Obligation on the one and twentieth of May in the year 1601. in the City of Vallidolid and presence of the Count of Rochepot Ambassodour of France The license of the War having for many years permitted mischiefs with impunity there were yet found a great number of Vagabonds who believed it still permitted them to take the Goods of others at pleasure and others there were who thought they had right to do themselves justice by their arms not acknowledging any Laws but force This obliged our wise King to begin the Reformation of the Estate by the Re-establishment of publick Security To this effect he forbad all carrying of Fire-arms to all persons of what quality soever upon pain of the Confiscation of their Arms and Horses and a Fine of two hundred Crowns for the first fault and of Life without remission for the second permitting all the world to arrest any who carried them except his light-horsemen his Gens d' Arms and the Guards of his body which might bear them onely when they were in service To the same purpose and to ease the Country of the multitudes of his Souldiers he dismissed not onely the greatest part of his new Troops but likewise reduced the one half of his old He reduced the Companies of the Ordinance to a very little number and took off the Guards of the Governours of the Provinces and Lieutenants of the King not willing to suffer any whatsoever besides himself to have that glorious mark of Soveraignty about their persons The Wars had spoiled all Commerce reduced Cities into Villages Villages to small Cots and Lands to Deserts nevertheless the Receivers constrained the poor Husband-men to pay Taxes for those Fruits they had never gathered The Cries of these miserable people who had nothing but their Tongues to lament with touched in such manner the very Entrails of so just and so good a King that he made an Edict by which he released them of all they owed him for the time past and gave them hopes to ease them more for the future Moreover having understood that during the Troubles there were made a great quantity of false Nobles who were exempted from the Tax he commanded that they should be sought forth nor did he confirm their Usurpation for a piece of mony as hath been sometimes done to the great prejudice of other taxed people but he would that the Tax should be re-imposed upon them to the end that by this means they might assist the poor people to bear a good part of the burthen as being the richer He desired with much affection to do good to his true Nobility and repay them those Expences they had been at in his service but his Coffers were empty and moreover all the Gold in Peru had not been sufficient to satisfie the Appetite and Luxury of so many people For King Henry the third had by his example and that of his Minions raised expences so high that Lords lived like Princes and Gentlemen like Lords for which purposes they were forced to alienate the Possessions of their Ancestors and change those old Castles the illustrious marks of their Nobility into Silver-lace Gilt-coaches train and horses Afterwards when they were indebted beyond their credit they fell either upon the Kings Coffers demanding Pensions or on the backs of the people oppressing them with a thousand Thieveries The King willing to remedy this disorder declared very resolvedly to his Nobility That he would they should accustom themselves to live every man on his Estate and to this effect he should be well content that to enjoy themselves of the peace they should go see their Country houses and give order for the improvement of their Lands Thus he eased them of the great expences of the Court and made them understand that the best treasure they could have was that of good management Moreover knowing that the French Nobility would strive to imitate the King in all things he shewed them by his own example how to abridge their superfluity in Cloathing For he ordinarily wore gray Cloath with a Doublet of Sattin or Taffata without slashing Lace or Embroydery He praised those who were clad in this sort and chid the others who carried said he their Mills and their Woods and Forests on their backs About the end of the year he was seized with a suddain and violent sickness at Monceaux of which it was thought he would die All France was affrighted and the rumours which ran of it seemed to re-kindle some factions but in ten or twelve days he was on foot again as if God had onely sent him this sickness to discover to him what ill wills there were yet in the Kingdome and to give him the satisfaction to feel by the sorrows of his people the pleasures of being loved In the strength of his Disease he spoke to his friends these excellent words I do not at all fear death I have affronted it in the greatest dangers but I avow that I should unwillingly leave this Life till I have put this Kingdome into that splendour I have proposed to my self and till I have testified to my people by governing them well and easing them of their many Taxes that I love them as if they were my Children After his recovery continuing in his praise-worthy designes of putting his Affairs in order he came to St. Germain in Laya to resolve the Estates of the expence as well of his House as for the Guard of Frontiers and Garisons entertainment of Forces Artillery Sea-Affairs and many other Charges He had then in his Council as we may say we have at present very great men and most experienced in all sorts of Matters but he still shewed himself more able and more understanding then they He examined and discussed all the particulars of his expence with a judgement and with a clearness of spirit truely admirable retrenched and cut off all that was possible allowing onely what was necessary Amongst other things he abridged the superfluous expences of the Tables in his house not so much that he might spare himself as to oblige his subjects to moderate their liquorish prodigality and hinder them from ruining their whole houses by keeping too great Kitchins In sum by the example of the King which hath always more force then Laws or then Correction Luxury was
Secretary His punishment The Ambassadours Secretary arrested Several discourses concerning Ambassadours priviledges The King forbids any process against the Secretary The Ambassadour makes a great noise and threatens his Kings resentment Treason of the Luquisses A fool makes an attempt on the Kings person Those who desire war whet the Kings spirit upon these Conspiracies Character of Philip 3. of Spair A good profitable reflection In what the courage of a Soveraign principally consists The goodness of Henry the Great But the King hastens not the War He makes himself Arbitrator of the differences of Christendom 1606. After the death of Clement 8. he causes to be chosen Leo xi who soon dies and Paul 5. succeeds A great difference between Paul 5. and the Venetians The Venetians had made a law to bound the Acquisitions of the Clergy They make other Decrees Paul 5. offended at these Decrees He sends Briefs to revoke them He Excommunicates the Senate They declare his sentence of Excommunication null and abusive 1607. Henry the great undertakes to accommodate the difference He sends to this purpose Cardinal Joyeuse who concludes an accommodation The Pope absolves the Signory There was nothing but the reestablishment of the Jesuites not obtained 1608. The King endeavours an accommodation between the Hollander and Spaniard He underhand assists the Hollander with men and money Janin sent for this accommodation They come presently to an eight months truce The King makes an offensive and defensive League with the Hollander The Spaniards Alarm'd at this League Don Pedro de Toledo makes great complaints to the King Things very curious which passed betwixt the King and Don Pedro. Their entertainments Lively and quick replies Don Pedro kisses the Kings Sword Two obstacles in the Treaty of the Hollanders surmounted by the King The Treaty ends in a twelve years Truce Great praise given by the republick of Venice to our Henry All desire his friendship and protection He will not protect Subjects against their Soveraign What the Maurisques were The Spaniards treat them ill * An avanie is when by a false accusation money is forced from any person They demand assistance of Henry the Great He refuses it The King of Spain banisheth them all They are horribly ill Treated by the Spaniards and by the French They are carried into Affrica but some stay in France The great designe of Henry 4. for the extent of the Christian Religion in the Levant He sends some to spy the Country He seeks means to raise mony without burthening his people He would disengage his demain * The Greffes is a due to the King of 63 â— 9 d. Tours upon the sale of wood in several places and take off the Impost by buying the Salt-Marishes He is constrained to acquit himself of old scores to make some new imposts creations He makes not always use of innocent means Inquisition of the rents of the City-house cause disturbance * Hostel de Ville is the same at Paris as Guild-hall at London Miron Provost of the Merchants sustains the interest of the people Some would incense the King against him The people rise to defend him The King counselled to take him by force The Kings wise answer worthy a great Polititian He will not pursue this business of the Rents Establishment of the Paulete Justice formerly administred in France by Gentlemen How it fell into the hands of the Plebeians who made profit of it The Parliament of France meddle with particular affairs and is made sedentary at Paris They make all other Judges subalternate to them The number of the Officers of Parliament small How Offices became vendible under Francis 1. * He had often said that fat Boy would spoile all and Henry 2. How this might be remedied But on the contrary is made incurable by the Paulete Which causes great abuses 1609. Marriage of the Prince of Conde And of the Duke of Vendosme What were the Kings divertisements He loved Play too much He was extremely given to women This passion made him do shameful things Three or four of his Mistresses This causes often contentions with his wife And hinders his great design What that was The means with which he served himself to put it in Execution To this purpose he grants an Edict to the Hugonots and pays his debts Which regains the reputation and credit of France He joyns to him all Christian Princes by promising his conquests He reunites them by accommodating their differences The Princes he made his friends How he would have accommodated the Protestant Princes with the Pope He treats with the Electors With the Lords of Bohemia Hungary Poland With the Pope Model of the designe of Hen. 4. He would part Christendome into fifteen equal Dominions To wit eleven Kingdoms and four Republicks What the Pope had had The Signory of Venice The Italian Common-wealth Duke of Savoy Republick of the Swisses The Low-Countries Kingdome of Hungary The Empire with free election Bohemia Hungary elective A general Council of sixty persons Three others of each twenty Order to hinder tyranny and rebellion and to assist the Provinces adjoyning to Infidels Three general Captains two by Land and one by Sea to war against the Turks What forces what train None but the house of Austria had suffered by this establishment In Italy the Pope Venetians and Savoyard would consent In Germany many Electors and had chosen the Duke of Bavaria Emperour In Bohemia and Hungary the Lords and Nobility The business of Cleves happens to give a beginning to the great designe The Cities of Flanders should revolt The Kingâ— Army should have lived in great order The King would have reserved nothing of his Conquests He had with other Princes prayed the Emperour to rerestore the Cities of the Empire to liberty Bohemia Hungary Austria had made the same request The Duke of Savoy had demanded the Dower of his wife from the Spaniard The Pope and Venetians to become mediators of the difference of Navarre Naples Savoy c. And the King had yeilded his right They had perswaded the King of Spain or else forced him The great Prudence and moderation intended by the King in the pursuit of his design The preparations he made The forces he had The Prince of Oranges Army That of the Electors German Princes That of the Venetians and Savoyard His Exchequer for defraying this great designe He would make the War powerfully that it might be short Great appearance it might have succeeded having no Princes to oppose it but the Dukes of Saxony and Florence What was the business of Cleves and Juliers Death of John Duke of Juliers without issue His succession disputed by many particularly by Brandenbourg and Newbourg The Emperour said it was devolved to the Empire He invests Leopold of Austria who whilst Brandenbourg and Newbourg dispute seizes Juliers They implore the Kings assistance who promises to march in person But tells him he intended to conserve the Catholick Religion in that Country Answer made to the Ambassador of the Empire He establishes good order in the Kingdom before his departure Leaves the Regency to the Queen but gives her a good Council He establishes little Councils in the Provinces who refer to the great one 1610. Some put it into the spirit of the Queen that she should be installed before the Kings departure He though unwillingly consents The instalment of the Queen Many Prognosticks which seemed to presage the death of Henry 4. Advice from several places that his life should be attempted He seems to believe them and fear Who Ravaillac was He is induced to kill the King but it is not known by whom The King departs the Louvre to go to the Arsenal What persons were with him His Coach stopt in the street of the Ferronnerie Ravaillac killeth him He is torn with burning pincers and drawn in pieces by four horses The Kings body opened and found that he might yet live 30 years He is buried at St. Denis The Queen made Regent The great desolation in Paris when they knew of the Kings death His age and the time of of his reign His two wives Margaret and Mary He had three Sons by Mary and three Daughters He had eight Natural children of divers Mistresses Two Sons and a Daughter of Gabriella A Son and a Daughter of the Marchioness of Verneuil Of the Countess of Moret one Son Of Madam d' Essards two daughters He loved all his children and would have them call him Papa Summary recital of the Life of Henry the Great Parallel of his adversities and prosperities * There are more then fifty conspiracies against his person His adversities whet his spirit and courage Why Princes who come young to the Crown seldome learn to govern well Those who come to a Crown at greater distance and a more ripe age are more capable and better The reasons of it A mystick Crown to the glory of Henry the Great