to chalenge and claymâ—… them for the Spanish king Wherein hée hath both done great iniurie to your maiestie and the wole kingdome and also sought thereby to bring your Grace in feare and to stand in awe of him by reason he is in such fauor and estimation with the king of Spayne to whom he coÌ„municateth all the affaires of this realme There was neuer any deuise inuented or practised neither in the first or second warres whereof Kinge Phillip hath not ben both an authour and fautour whose chief desire is to sée the greatest part of your Nobilitie destroyed that he might the easier conquer your kingdome For surely there is no more effectuall meanes to bring that his purpose to passe then to set vs togither by the eares by sowing of strife and dissention And to what other endâ—…â—…an those Confraternities and brother hoodes as they call them of the Holy Goste bee referred then to this For some of the Noble men which are admitted into that fellowship are so wedded vnto it that they vtterly forget their dutie and doo conspire with them the death of such noble men as professe the reformed religioÌ„ whose desire is to liue quietly with them in the bande of brotherly loue as becometh good subiects vnder one prince and friends alied togither either in kinred or affinitie And who I beséeche your maiestie hath ben the author of these holy brotherhoods but the Cardinall who hath promised to procure your warrant for them notwithstanding your highnesse hath declared them to be hurtefull and preiudiciall to your honour and therefore to be disallowed And what shall we thinke of his sendinge abroad through all the whole kingdome wherin he willed that no maÌ„ should either giue credit to or obey your Maiesties commaundements vnlesse the letters which were sent were signed with speciall signet and surely through this his dooing no commission that euer came out from your grace for the obseruation of the Edicte was in any poinct obeyed and executed so that we may both iustly and truly say that he none but he hath ben auctour of these broyles and tumultes Furthermore who did hinder the publishing of the Edict and who doth stâ—…y the execution of it who emboldened the Parliament of Tolouze to rage so tyrannically as they dyd And who but he and his confederates hath driuen your Maiestie into such streight distresse that you are compelled to violate your publique promise made and solemlie confirmed by othe and thereby to haue your credit and honor crackt amongst all forreyne nations yea we are able to proue how he himselfe wrote letters to your Maiesties mother and had the Aâ—…males hand subscribed vnto them letting hiâ—… to vnderstaÌ„d that he could not staye the conclusion of the peace whereto necessitie drane them notwithstaÌ„ding he would so work that it should neuer be kept By whose meanes is iustice equitie banished out of this realme and most fiâ—…thy and dissolute libertie of factions and seditions brought in with all kinde of trayterous murthering of those that will not yéeld to their tyrannie Who is it that sendeth ruffians and desperat persons euery day yea eueÌ„ home to my owne house to murther both me and the Admirall and this haue two whom I haue taken confessed Who entised certaine Knights of S. Michaels order other Captaines to murther the Admirall who God be thanked had warninge geuen by them that should haue done the deed Who procured Monsieur Sipierre to â—…e slaine and to the number of fiue and thirtie Noble men with him but he For his Brother the Duke of Guise would commonly boaste of it a moneth and more before it was done and being done he himselfe had the first tydings of it Yea who but he or his men flue Monsieur Amanze sitting at his owne doore with his younge daughter in his armes who had offended neyther part but liued quietly with all men of both Religions Neuerthelesse when his Nephew the Duke of Lorayn had aduertised him that it were expedient for him that hée absented himselfe from your Grace because many dyd beare him deadly hatred because he ruling al things at his owne pleasure should be charged as authour and causer of al the troubles and miseries that had or shold endammage the common weale of the kingdome Hée made him aunswere That he ruled not at all and that he made not his aboad with your Maiestie but because he did not knowe any other place wherein hee could bée more safe and frâ—…e from daunger Whereby it is euidâ—…nt that for his â—…uegard onely your highnesse Armie is maintaynâ—… tâ—… your excéeding great charges whiche must néedes bring with it a very daungerous and mischéeuous end For if so be the sauetie and strength of a king doth consist vppon the good will and loue of his â—…ub â—…ectes what cause can be inuented whereby hée shoulde enforce your Maiestie to take armour against those whose onely desire is to shewe the liege and loyall obedience they owe to your maiestie But he thinkes the pretence and shew of your name and aucthoritie sufficient to hide and cloake his mischeuous doinges in so much he spared not of late to saye that your highnesse gaue him this answere That shortly men would haue gathered in their hay and corne and haue made an end of their vinetage that the Riuers would be so highe with showers of raine that men could not passe ouer the sayd Riuers that your treasurie should shortly bee enriched with tributes and that then warre should bée proclaymed against those of the reformed religion but in the meane tyme the chief maintainers thereof were to be dispatcht out of the way Yea such is the impudeÌ„cie of the man that he is not ashamed to bragge that the Quéene hath complayning wise found faulte with him That their purpose of our destructioÌ„ was not brought to effect notwithstaÌ„ding the feast of San Ian was past in which tyme he had promised to rid the greatest parte of vs out of the way And as yet none were dispatched but onely Monsieur Sipierre whereunto hée made answere That he had done the best he could to kéepe promise but all would not serue because the Noble men were alwayes spéedely enformed of al his deuises notwithstanding he was in good hope to compasse the matter and in the meane season it was expedient that your maiestie O Christian king should féed vs with vayne hope and gentle letters till they might spye out fit occasion and oportunitie to accomplishe their desires And what other can your grace conceiue of that suÌ„me of money whiche they procured Ian Baptist to sende to you was not the vsurie beyond all reason to giue a hundreth for an hundreth do they not by this their money shewe what good will and loue they beare your highnesse wherefore can any man say that we of the reformed Religion do without vrgent and great cause assaulte the Cardinall of Loraine howe long shall he with subtill trecheries abuse your
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
which we haue spoken before and that they shoulde first of all deale with matters concerning religion The company therfore being asseâ—… â–ª bled called togither the Kings Solicitor propounded vnto them these matters First that there were diuers opinions in matters that coÌ„cerned Religion founde lately in the Senate disagréeing and contrarie one to another as when lome condemned heretikes to be burnt other some woulde not haue them to be burnt but mittigated the paâ—…ne by banishment the which woulde redounde to the reproche and shame of the Senate Wherefore he required that their sentences and iudgements might be conformable and agréeing euer hereafter with the prescript and tenure of the Edictes which appointed the punishments of death The which in déede was the most speedie and readie way to detect those Iudges that were suspected of religion as after truly it came to passe For when euery man fréely vttred his minde and opinion as the custome is there were diuers iudgementes some woulde haue no punishment by death but banishment other some before any thing was determined woulde haue it knowne whether they were heretikes in déede which were counted heretikes Also he sayd that it was the Kings will that heretikes shoulde be punished and the office of the Senate to sée and finde out who they were that were guiltye of heresie And for this cause he willed them to make supplication vnto the King that according to the first article of the peace concluded he woulde cause a lawfull Councell to be assembled to iudge of these controuersies and that they shoulde in the meane time leaue off to punishe But some sayde that it coulde not be hidde but was apparant for all men to beholde what greate corruptions had inuaded the Church and howe néedefull and requisite it was a reformation to be had and that by the worde of God which is the onely rule of veritie and not custome antiquitie or the opinions of men Furthermore they added that there was daunger and therefore great héede to be taken least while they whome they called Lutheranes were condemned Innocentes also shoulde be put to death For say they the Lutheranes as we terme them haue probable reasons to defend their doctrine withall whose life is irreprouable and without blame vsing themselues oftentimes to praye deuoutly and zealously to God as it hath well appeared to the Senate to be short such is their constancie that thereby they shew themselues not to be such maner of men as they are sayde to be among the common sort of people Thus at this time some spake one thing some another howbeit the greatest part would haue either the punishment to be mittigated or else the men to be quite discharged Many feared least this sentence and determination of those that spake in the behalfe of the Lutheranes shoulde take place wherevpon two of the Councell as it is credibly reported namely Egidius and Minardus went to the King and declared the matter wholy vnto him before the Court had concluded what shoulde be done against both lawe and auncient custome saying vnto him that the matter was nowe come to such a straite that great remedie must be prouided for the same otherwise great perturbations and trouble would ensue adding moreouer that the boldenesse of some was such that they durst arrogantly deride the auncient religion and as for the Edicts of the King they made no account of them at all The King being inflamed and greatly stirred with this newes came the next day into the senate where he declared that he hauing now obtained at the handes of God the most excellent benefit of peace confirmed the same with the societie sure knot of matrimonie there waÌ„ted yet one thing which he greatly desired namely the setting of matters coÌ„cerning religion in a good vniforme order for this cause he said that he came into the Court namely to vnderstand both in what state the matter stoode also to coÌ„fort incourage them by his presence And so he signified by the kéeper of the seales that he would haue them to follow that order which they had begon in shewing their opinions Therefore of theÌ„ which resisted some were more colde fearing some subtill practise to be in hand other som notwithstaÌ„ding â–ª spake their fantasies and opinions with no lesse boldnesse than they did before especially concerning the lawfull calling of a CruÌ„cel or Parliament And among others Anoas Burgaeus a man very godly wel learned when he had first of al giueÌ„ thaks vnto God that he had so wrought in the hart of the Prince that he would be a witnesse indifferent Iudge of so weightie a matter and when he had exhorted the King to bend his minde and giue good eare to so great vrgent cause being in deede the cause of our Lord Iesus Christ which â—…ught to be defended by the patrocinie garde of Kings very boldly and fréely vttered his minde affirming at the length that he dâ—…d wholy giue his coÌ„sent agrée that there should be a couÌ„cel called that the punishments then vsed toward the Lutheranes for that time should surcease Others also after him affirmed the like When the King had heard thefe men he making first his preamble said that to his griefe and sorow he saw corruption to be crept in eueÌ„ into his Court being very sorie that any of his Nobles should be stayned therwith the good he knew as for the others he said he wold â–ª so punish that he would therby extirpe quite pull vp by â–ª the rootes that mischief which was now a growing These threatnings ended talking a while with those that stoode with him he coÌ„mauÌ„ded that Annas Burgaeus Lodouicus Faurus should be takeÌ„ y which his coÌ„mandement was streightway executed by MoÌ„gomerie Captaine of the Garde After this others also were taken as Fumaeus Foixius many others And those that were of these opinions loking to be handled as they were got theÌ„ out of the citie but afterward they were opeÌ„ly proclaimed About the same time almost a Synode was helde at Paris many ministers of the Churches which were theÌ„ called the reformed Churches being then called togither for thys matter in the which both the doctrine of the faith and also Ecclesiasticall discipline were copiously largely intreated of â–ª truly as the time required the forme of discipline which was alredy appointed which was also afterward by many Synodes and Councels inlarged and examined by the rule of Gods word and the approued â–ª customes of the auncient Church brought much profit all which matters here to declare is not our purpose Howbeit these thinges following were the principall points thereof 1 First it is agreed that the confession of the doctrine which may testifie â–ª the coÌ„mon consent of the Churches be registred to the ende that no straunge opinions craftily be conueyed in 2 That all things be done in order in the Churches 3 That so often
Emperour woulde haue the actes of the Councell handled before him to be openlye publyshed abroade But concerning the paines and punishments which were hitherto appointed this he sayde was his opinion â–ª and iudgement That doctrine for the which all this trouble ariseth is of diuers men diuersly receyued Some so soone as they hearde of the same perfecte and approued doctrine and had in no poynt imbraced receyued the same thought it sufficient to knowe this one thing namely that no man ought to heare Masse and that it was lawfull to eate fleshe in Lent that men were not bounde to Auricular confession and that it was lawfull to speake euill of Priestes These men vndiscretely went about to defend that doctrine by force of armes but to be short these men vnder the pretence of Religion were mere seditious and are by no meanes to be excused For if these kinde of men were Christians or by any maner of meanes true receyuers of the Gospell they ought to remember that the Apostle commaunded to praye for Kings and to render all obedience vnto them yea though they were cruell and wicked also they ought to call to minde that neuer in the Church specially in the time of the twelue great persecutions in the which an infinite number of Christians were put to death there was any one man founde which went about to defend his cause by force of armes but rather ouercame the crueltie of their Emperours with their pacience Another sort of men there are also which imbrace this doctrine and retain the same with such zeale loue and obedience towardes God and the King that they woulde in nothing offende them By the life and death of these men it is manifest that they haue a desire to attayne saluation and to finde the way that leadeth to the same and when they haue founde that way they neither feare losse of lyfe and goods nor any maner of punishment but to the vtmost of their power prosecute that way Wherfore they are not to be counted among the number of those wicked professors before spoken off nor to be numbred in the companie of seditious persons As yet we see it playne inough that those punishmentes which haue bene deuised haue done no good but on the contrarie part their patience which they manifestly shewed in the middest of the fierie flames hath stirred vp many to haue a liking and to fauour their cause Herevpon it came to passe that they which neuer hearde of the same doctrine for the which they suffer were desirous to vnderstande what doctrine it was and at the length hauing intelligence of the same they did receiue it with no lesse affection zeale than others had done being ready by the ensample of others to suffer death for it Therfore set before your eyes and consider the examples of the thrée hundred and eightene Bishoppes in the first Councell of Nice of the. 150. in the Councell of Constantinople of the 200. in the Councell of Ephesus and of the 630. in the Councell of Chalcedon who neuer vsed any other armour than the worde of God against the Arrians Macedonians Nestorians and other heretikes conuicted of blasphemie against the holy Trinitie Constantinus Valentinian Theodosius Martian being Christian and godly Emperours did vse no greater punishment against the authors of sects than banishment And as touching assemblies and multitudes gathered togither they were always forbidden for the dauÌ„ger that séemed therof to arise the king also hath sufficiently prouided for this thing by his Edicts And thus this Bishop made an end of his oratioÌ„ adding this one thing by the Kings leaue that it was mete in punishing to haue a prudent consideration of the place of the time of the wils of men of the coÌ„paniâ—… called togither After this man Carolus Marillacus Bishop of Vienna in Dolpheny vttered his opinion in maner and forme folowing Although that matter which is propounded vnto vs to deliberate vpon is very hard long bicause it is left at large and is general therfore the more vneasie to be concluded séeing we must come froÌ„ that which is generall to particularities in discussing wherof the diuersitie of Iudges will bring as it is likely great varietie of opinioÌ„s yet notwithstanding we must hold this as a sure certaine rule in the discussing of all matters namely that after long consultation debating of things some certaintie at the length must be concluded that there cannot be a more pestilent mischiefe mortal plague in the gouernment of common weales than to wander among the diuersitie of opinions to appoint and retaine no certaine thing And if this rule so greatly commended of wise men so prudently obserued of Kings of common weales of Princes which euer at any time florished ought to stirre vs vp to follow the same way and rule truly the necessitie the extremitie in the which we are hath brought vs into such a strayt that we cannot do otherwise though we would â–ª And as all men of sound iudgement wil confesse y matter cannot abide in that state in the which it is now any loÌ„ger But lest I be tedious vnto you â–ª I will come to the matter The tumults which of late haue hapned the feare of newe things the complaintes and displeasure of many men and the feare also and dreade that is among men ought to stirre vs vp to séeke and prouide for remedies in time which may defende vs from these great troubles which else wil make a great alteration of y state And that I may briefly conclude this matter I thinke that there are two things as it were two pillers by which the state of the kingdome may be fortified and borne vp namely the integritie of Religion and the good will of the people The which if they were stable and firme we néede not doubt the safetie of things but if they be once cast downe as it is to be scared there must néedes followe great ruine and destruction of that hie and notable building These two things therfore must be stablished and confirmed to prelient that ruine which is like to come and to this ende as both common profite and necessitie requireth all our Councels reasons deuises and deliberations ought to tende séeing herevpon both the due obedience to the King and the conseruation of the people dependeth The which things are so ioyned togither that the one of them by anye meanes cannot stande without the other As concerning necessitie we must measure and wey the same by hauing a respect and consideration of the King and of his principall members or ministers which vnder him gouerne the people and of others also who ought to obey First of all therfore it is the Kings duty to wey coÌ„sider whervnto he is called wherfore the Lord hath giuen vnto him the rule of so great a people In so doing he shal find that the Lord hath chosen
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
noyse of the great Gonnes In the meane tyme the Guises otherwise peraduēture scarse able to match with the Prince of Conde thought it not best to tarry his comming at Fontaynbleau least they should put their purpose in hazard Therfore they purposed to carry awaye the King from Fontaynbleau which was a place not of strength but of pleasure to a more strong holde Whereuppon they caused the king of Nauar whose authoritie they abused in all things to serue their turne to persuade with the Quéene that it was very necessary for diuers present necessities to departe from Fontaynbleau The Prince of Conde comming to take the king To this the Quéene answered that there was nothing more vnlikely than that his bro ther the Prince of Conde being the Kings kinsmā shuld purpose any such thing against the king his leige Lord and maister and beside this saith she the king will not departe to any other place The Quéene constantly persisting in this mind was agayne prouoked by the king of Nauar who sayde that they must of necessitie departe from thence otherwise the king would be destroyed and excepte shée would graunt hereunto he sayd he would him selfe of his own authoritie and office being the Kinges kéeper and Protectōr transporte the King to another place Then the Quéene began to beséeche the King of Nauar to knowe his intent and why hée should haue these suspicions of the Prince of Conde The King him selfe also sayde that hée would goe to no other place and in his childish vehemence hée declared his griefe with teares But the King of Nauar still affirmed that there was no remedie but that they must néedes departe from thence Therefore hée and the Guises caryed away the King and the Queene his mother his bretheren and his Sister from Fountaynbeleau to a Towne called Mellune The King so soone as hée came thyther was appointed to lodge in the Castell that was therein without any maner of Kinglyke prouision for the same the which Castell afore tyme had bene vsed as a prison to kéepe offenders in and such as had deserued death by their euil demeanor By reason of this expedition and haste of the Guises the Prince of Conde had no way or meane to doe any thing as hée would In so much that now there was a playne gate set wyde to open warres For the Prince of Conde being the Kinges néere kinsman and séeing that his elder Brother dyd not his dutie thought that hée ought not to suffer the safegarde of the King and of the whole realme to come in perill Therefore hée tooke counsell out of hande hée came to Orleans strayt after that hée had sent the Andelot with certayne horsemen and kept the same béeinge a well fenced citie and fit for his purpose gaue commaundement by publiqne Edictes That no man shuld cause any tumult vnder the pretence of Religion and that all men of what Religion so euer they were of should obserue and kéepe the kinges Lawes Edictes He commaunded also the kings Officers and the Magistrates of the Towne to come vnto him Who being come hée straytly charged them to doe their dutie vpon their alleageance and obedience to the king gyuing them to vnderstand that he was not come thyther vnder his owne name but in the name of his soueraygne Lord the king The faythfull according to the prescript of the kings Edict had their Sermons without the Citie The Papistes on the other part fréely vsed their rightes and ceremonies frequented their churches and the morrowe Masse Priestes walked through the citie in their priestly apparell All things were done fréely on both parts the Prince gyuing new commaundements and charge from day to daye that no man should be so hardy as to breake the kings peace This was done in the moneth of March. After this that the Guises were certified that the Prince of Conde was come to Orleans yea and that great rumours were brought dayly vnto them they were fully determined to take no small enterprise in hande Therefore the societie in the which they were lynked before with the Constable and the Martiall of S. Andrew being confirmed now agayn betwene them selues they sayde that it was nowe a more conuenient tyme to proclayme open warre than would be afterwarde by further delay The king of Nauar was woon on their side Paris they enioyed And the king was in their handes But they feared and stoode in doubt of the Quéenes mynd which at that tyme playnely séemed to inclyne to the Prince of Conde Least therefore the Quéene ioyning with the Prince of Conde should go about some new practise first of all they determined to carry the king and the Quéene to the most conuenient place for their purpose that all occasion of feare might be quite taken away And to serue their tourne they vsed diuers pretences and coloures By the king of Nauar they declared vnto the Quéene that it was most necessary in consideracion of those perillouse tymes that the king should be caryed to Paris Beside him the Marchant maister dayly persuaded that it was necessary for the King to come to Paris to stay the hurleyburleys and to quiet the people by his presence They declared therefore to the Quéene that it is fully decréed that the king should be carryed from Melune to Paris notwithstanding that the Queene earnestly requested the contrary First came the Constable with thrée hundred horsemen attending vpon him from Melune to Paris and then began open warre agaynst the faythefull The Constable vnderstanding that Ruzeus a noble Counceller in the common place Court of Paris professed the reformed Religion sent for him and commaunded him to prison And Ruzeus demaunding of him by what authoritie hée did so he aunswered It is authoritie sufficient that the Constable himselfe hath done it After this hée hauing a great multitude of people sollowing him came to those places which were limited to the faythfull by the kinges Edicte for the preaching of the worde and the administration of Sacramentes and there casting all the pewes selles seates and benches on a heape hée set them on fyre The cōmon multitude highly commending him for the same who beeing encouraged by the familiar example of the Constable by and by set the howses belonging to the same on a light fyer and burnt them downe to the ground Then had euery man frée leaue libertie to put him selfe in armour Insomuch that a man might then sée in euery streate and corner of the citie armed men well appoynted to fight and the rash multitude of laboring men hauing weapons in their hands to lay lustely about them committing murther and rapine throughout the citie falling with violence vppon euery on that was said to be a Huguenote Yea a mā might see inordinate sedition in euery place If any man made complaynt to the Constable of any violence or wrong done to him he should for his recompence be threatened to the gallowes The houses
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
January also against the forme of y League othe taken of vs not long since But if that deiection of Images deserueth any punishment because any such fact is contrary to the kyngs Edict what punishments then deserue they which so greatly abuse the kinges name that vnder the coullour therof they coÌ„mit great wickednesse as may appere by the coÌ„mitted murthers at Uassi at Sens at Paris at Tholoz and in many other places He that preferred this Supplication shuld first of all haue considered and remembered himselfe that it is read in no place that a dead Image requireth vengeance but it is read that the bloud of a slaine man which is the liuely Image of God cryeth and calleth for the vengeance of God and doth at the last cause the same to fall vppon the bloudshedders 7 Moreouer those Suppliants or rather commaunders require that they may vnarme themselues which without the commaundement of the king of Nauar put on the same and that they should be counted for Rebels and enemies to the King and the Realme I would glad ly demaund of them which thinke them selues so wise and saye that they séeke for the peace of the common wealth if that be not the way to cut of all hope of concord when they require that I and they that are with me should be counted Rebelles and enemies to the king and the Realme For they say not Let them which wyll not put of their Armoure but which haue put on Armour be accounted the Kinges enemies They which poynt requireth another maner of aunswere than by writing But I trustw tin these few daies to sée them to disputâ—… w titheÌ„ by the dynt of sword whether it be méete for strauÌ„gers two such meÌ„ as they are to iudge a Prince the kings néere kinsman the chiefest part of the Nobility of FrauÌ„ce to be rebels enemies to the king the Realme And let not them pretend the name of the king of Nauar to whom they in the former kinges dayes were sworne enemies They abased him all that they could and caused him to be little regarded of the king hys right and dignity being suppressed in matters of great waighte They cannot deny but that of late dayes when they went about to vsurp the gouernement of the Realme by their meanes it was brought to passe that whatsoeuer the king of Nauar required was denyed al occasion to rule and gouerne either in tyme of war or peace being taken from him and to discharge their spitefull stomacks in the dayes of king Fraunce lately disceased they made him to be lesse estemed then a man of meane state and condition being sent for to Orleans with thretnings and commaundement giuen to Noble men that they should not entertaine him at his cumminge also Marshall Tremen béeinge sent with two armies one of horsemen another of foote men was commaunded to take and â–ª spoyle all his Dominion and to cal the straunger to the pray And when thei saw that their deuise and purpose was let by the soden death of king Fraunces yet notwithstanding they sought by all meanes possible to be deliuered of him and would haue kept him from hauing any authority to rule or gouerne The Duke of Guise openly sayd that he would not departe from the Court neyther at the intreaty nor yet at the commaun dement of the king of Nauar The Marshall of S. Andrew euen in middest of the kinges Counsaile said that be knew no other king or Quene And now they abuse the name of the king of Nauar whoÌ„ they haue so much abused heretofore vnder the pretence wherof they seke the ruin and destruction of his owne naturall brother And they go about to bring to passe that whereas the kinge of Nauar is now beloued of all the Nobilitye of Fraunce he may here after be hated of al that they at the length may spyâ—…te out their venemouse hatred at the full vppon him These are their practises and herevnto tend all their deuises and Counsailes 8 Whereas they require that the king of Nauar wil bend all his force to bring these thinges to passe they plainly euough declare eyther great impudency or els an earnest desire to hinder peace and coÌ„cord For seinge they are fully determined to subdew all those of the reformed Religion to their willes by force of armes they should haue kept it close in secret to themselues vntill we â—…ad bin vnarmed But séeing they do so plainly declare vnto vs their meaning wée will take héede that we be not circumuented and beguiled that is to say we will not vnarme our selues but vpon very sure con ditions and cautions 9 Furthermore they require that by the sentence and wisedome of the Senate of Paris al other things might be added supplied to the making of the Edict Whereby they euideutly shewe in what estimation â–ª they haue the Quéene the king of Nauar and the kings Counsell But I maruaile wherfore they haue no regard of those wise and graue men to vse their Counsell â–ª whom they chose of late to be of the Kinges Counsaile â–ª I doubt not but that ther are in the senate of Paris good men which are nothing inferiour to those of the Senate heretofore in vertue in wisedome and in religion But those thrée Suppliantes haue so handled the matter by bying and selling of offices and by other vnlawfull meanes the the greater number of the Senate are subiect to the Guises so that the voyce of the smaller number â–ª quayleth For probation whereof we haue this The Senat of Paris refused to coÌ„firme that Edicâ—… which was made at that petition of the thrée estates of the Realme and sollemnely confirmed by all the Parliaments and Courtes of the Realme notwithstanding that the kyng him selfe sent his letters and Messengers twise vnto them but of late by the simple commaundement of the kynges Letters another Edict which is contrary to that former Edict in many thinges was by them preferred without any maner of stay This is the hope that we haue of their good and wholesome counsaile 10 To be short they adde this request that the Cities might be yéelded vp againe to the kyng and the Inhabitants therof sworne a new vnto him They woulde bring to passe earnestly séek as they did in the daies of kyng Fraunces the second lately disceased to perswade men that they are the kynges enemies which cannot abide their tirany The Duke of Guise and his bretheren should hold themselues content with this that they haue once already vsed these subtill meanes to the offence of many good men when as they pretented and abused the kyngs name to defend themselues agaynst their enemies If any man were of them suspected to be their enemie â—…ither for that he had at any time spoken vnreuerently of them or for any other cause he was cast by and by into prison was reported to be an enemie to the kyng and to the Realme And because
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
we were neuer kept by any maner of violence nor Captiued any maner of waye But haue alwayes enioyed bothe the fredome of our bodyes mindes and haue euer fouÌ„d those our subiectes which are accused in this behalfe to be most louing faythfull and obedient Furthermor we haue not coÌ„mauÌ„ded or giueÌ„ leaue to those our seditious Subiectes to put themselues in armoure and to ioyne with for reyne Nations as we think now the Marshall Hess himself well perceyued so soone as he cam into the Realme both by the late successe of the battaile also by the infinite nomber of murders rapines and spoyles which that seditiouse sort do dayly commit against our poore subiectes whereby there cannot be a more firme and certain argument to declare what the purpose and mind of those seditious persones is In so much that we must néedes perswade our selues that those Souldiers of Germany by the admonition of these our letters will be certified of the truth and beware of that errour with the which those seditious persones go aboute to blinde them In so doing they shal both win â—…ame to theÌ„selues and also deserue wel at our handes but especially main taine and defend the glory of God. To these letters subscribed Alexandre the Kinges brother Duke of Orleans Henry Borbon Prince of Nauar Charles Cardinall Borbon Lodowicke Borbon Duke of Monpenseir Fraunces Burbon countie de Alphine and Charles Borbon Prince Rochsurion the xxiiii day of Ianuarie After this the Duke of Guise beséeged Orleans wyth a great host of men and with aboundance of great guns which he planted against that 〈◊〉 of the Citie by which the Riuer of Loire ran 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the middest of the same by reason whereof the Guise perswaded hymselfe the more easely to win the same For on the other side of the Citie the ground lay leuell and playne which was very vnméete to incampe vppon and besides this the Citie had very stronge fortes and Towers on that parte to defend it selfe At the first therefore he toâ—…e the Suburbes called Porterell and the Germaine footemen that were set to kepe the same fled away at the receyuing of whom into the Citie ther were a great nomber of Gascoynes and inhabitantes of Languedoc slaine which made the Citizens sore afraide After this the Guise bent his ordinance for the battery against the citie and gaue a very whot assault to the same In the meane time thâ—… Andelot though he was sore troubled with a quartern ague toke great paynes in forteâ—…ing and defending the Citie At the length by treasâ—…n the Guise got the tower which standeth vppon the bridge foote by which the townesmen might haue bin greatly anoyed if so be they had not beat downe a great part of the bridge from the same at the commaundement of the Andelot the Iland being very well fortified and defended ¶ Whyle these thinges were thus in hand at Orleans the Admirall was in Normandy and had ioyned himself to the Englishe men â–ª whereby his army was not only much encreased but also he receyued a great summe of money whereby the Germanes were not a little encouraged The Duke of Guise dayly more and more vrged the men of Orleans and sought newe wayes to worke theyr destruction But behold as the Guise mused and deâ—…ised with himselfe to worke mischiefe there came a certain Souldier from Lions called Pultrot Merae carying letters of Monsieur Soubize to the Admirall being of body great taull and strong but in courage and stomacke a very coward This Pultrot when he had deliuered his letters to the Admirall declared vuto him that he knew an easie way to discomfite the Guises army yea if néede were to kill the Guise himselfe shewinge himselfe very ready and willing to bring the same to passe The Admirall wondered at the boldnesse of the man being to him a mere straunger and also had no great trust in him at the first Notwithstanding bycause he was commended vnto him by Monsieur Soubize he graunted vnto hym according to his owne request leaue to be a spye and secret beholder of the Guises doinges and commaunded him also to certifie him thereof so soone as he could deriding and little regarding that his immagination concer ning the killing of the Guise First of all therefore the Admirall gaue vnto Merae for to play the spye twenty french Crownes after the receyte whereof he went to the Guise in his campe at Orleans and made protestacion vnto him that he was very sory that he had borne armour against the king crauing pardon for his offence of the Guise and promising â—…uer after to shewe himselfe a true and faithfull subiecte towardes the king The Guise hearing this very louingly receyued and entertained Pultrot Merae Then from the Guise he went to the Admirall againe shewing vnto him how well he had sped and receyued of him againe a hundred crownes to by him a Horse Therefore he retourned againe to the Guises campe with a better horse and tarying there cerdayes he earnestly studyed in himselfe how hee myght bring to passe to slay the Duke of Guise and he made the more spéede to finish his purpose bicause he saw the Citie of Orleans lyke to come in perill Wherefore when he had fully determined with himselfe what hee would do he began to deuise with himselfe whether he were best to kill hym when he had many men or fewe about him When he had fully resolued himselfe how and after what maner he would accomplishe this enterprise he came to the Guise as he was vewing the strength of the Towne and the maner of his siege and wayted vppon him according as he had done before At the length the Guise being weary mounted on his horse intending to go home to his house with two men only waighting vppon him and Merae followed him also And when the Guise and the rest were come ouer a certain Ferry not far from his house Merae suffred the Guise to ride about six or seueÌ„ paces before him and then discharged at the shoulder of the Guise a pistolet which he had charged be-before with thre pellettes With the which hee being sore wounded within a fewe dayes after he dyed But Merae so soone as he had done the déed set â—…rres to his horse and fled with spéede And riding al the night from place to place the night being very foule and tempestious as it is commonly in the winter he came againe to the same place from whence he had â—…ed the daye before which was at a Uillage called Oliuet nere vnto the Riuer Lerâ—… the which village was the appointed place for the Army of the Switsers And runninge vppon the Switsers vnawares was by their outcry bewrayed Not withstanding he fled again but was taken within few miles of the Guise campe Now the death of the Guise for certaine dayes was kept from the knowledge of the men of Orleans the captaines slacking neuer a whit lesse
and inuasions of them of Tholouze Aboute this tyme by the adâ—…ise and consent of the Quéene and the counsaile order was taken in certaine graue and waighty matters betwixt the King and his Brother The Dukedome of Orleans was by olde vse and custome of inheritance alwaies giuen to the Kings eldest Brother But bycause many contentions and controuersies did commonly arise betwéene the Kings of France and their second Brothers Dukes of Orleans for diuers considerations of the coÌ„modities of that City and countrey it was thought good and profitable both for the King and the Kingdome that that Dukedome should be taken from the Kinges Brother Wherefore the two Brethren agreeing themselues Alexander â–ª the Duke of Orleans yéelded and gaue vp his Dukedome to the King and had of him for it the Dukedome of Aniou and the Title of Viceroy generall ouer all the prouinces of Fraunce was gyuen him and had also a yerely stipend of an hundreth thousand Crownes which afterward was largely augmented Thus was Orleans taken from the Kinges brother and hée very liberally recompensed for it We spake before of the Prince of Conde and how the Papistes laboured by all meanes possible to entice him from the reformed Religion And surely they had made a great breach wyde entrie to their purpose thorough the to much licentiousnes of the Court that the Princâ—… vsed and the great hope of large gayne that was offred him on all sides But as they were in the midst of their iolitie and triumphing as though they had quight vanquished and reclaimed him to their lure he manfully luckely escaped all their traynes and by this occasion as the Prince did thus gyue himselfe to all pleasure and loosenesse of liuing his wife a most godly and chast matrone tooke sorrow and inward thought at hir hushaÌ„ds imtemperate and disordered conuersacion and thereby with other causes fell gréeuously sicke and stryuing wrestling long with her disease in great sorrowe and laÌ„guishing of mynd at length departed out of this troublesome world but before her death she had very wisely and wittely admonished her husbande to looke well about him and to remember what dutie the knowledge he had of Christian religion and the dignitie and place that God had called him to did require of him The death and this counsell of his wife of whose singular deare and chast loue in his greatest extremities and distresse he had alwayes had sufficient proufe and triall did so moue and stirre him that waying and pondering his estate and calling more néerely and wisely euer after hée tooke vnto him a myraculous and most valeant courage and diligently and willingly obeyed and hearkened to the counsell of such as were good and godly and wexed euery day more and more earnest and zelous in the study of true godlynesse pietie And yit at the first his wifes death seemed to giue great occasion to further and aduaunce the papistes wishe and desire for it was common then in euery mans mouth that the Prince of Conde should marrie with the Quéene of Scotland a veryfaire and beautiful woman and that then the Prince and the Guises should be all one But hee vsing and obeying better aduise did manfully and valiauntly coÌ„temne and despife all those vayne baytes and enticing allurements and afterward married the Dukes sister of Lon gueuille a famouse and worthy man. In the meane time newes came out of all quarters of the cruell slaughters that the papistes committed vpon the protestants which if I should goe about to tehearse it would be a thing of an infinite and endlesse labour nothing appertaining to our purpose for there was accompt made as is euident and to be séene in the commoÌ„ registers of an hundreth and thirtie great slaughters committed in diuers places vpon the faythfull since the publishing of the Edict But there was no mencion I warrant you nor talke of punishment wherefore the Papistes were by this loose and negligente impunitie more and more encouraged to al vnnaturall and outragious crueltie The men of Mayne vnder the conduct and leading of their Bishop who had waged Souldiours for that purpose made horrible hauocke and spoile in many pla ces vppon the Protestantes both man woman child without all respect of yeares younge or old Many complaintes and supplication were put vp to the kinge and the faithfull company of that Countrey set out a wryting openly wherein they declared the horror and abhomination of those mischieuous factes with example of such â–ª furie crueltie as was not erst hard of amongst the Frenchmen Such sauage and cruell madnes had by reason of impunitie enflamed the Bishops mind wyth hatred against Religion Wherefore through all the Câ—…untrey of Maynes in euery Towne and Citie great cruelty was exercised at the Bishops coÌ„maundemente as God willing shall one day be more plainly seene in a full and large discourse of these matters At Creuan a Towne of Burgundy a place appointed by the Kinges commaundement to preaâ—…h the woord of God in when as there was gathered togyther from diuers places of that Prouince a greate nomber of men wemen old men and children altogyther naked and vn armed to heare a Sermon â–ª the Papistes that dwelt in the Towne assembling togyther ranne violently and rushed with force vppon the Protestants And as they began to kill and murther them there was by and by a great vprore and tumult raysed on the contrary parte the papistes were sodenly amased and fearing least the aide of the Protestantes neare adioyninge and of other noble men professoures of the reformed Religion had bin there craftely lefte of their enterprise and so by that meanes the faithfull escaped Notwithstandinge many of them as they stroue to get home to their houses were slaine at the first brunt so the Papistes in Burgundy what by the sufferance of their Lieftenaunt by the setting on of the Counsaile and through the help and ayde of Moâ—…sieur Begat â–ª a seditious and factious Counsailour waxed more and more bould and insolent against the Protestantes Moreouer there assembled vnder coulour of gathering togither the states of euery Prouince certaine companies which they termed the Confraternities or Brotherhoodes of the holy Ghost to the intent to proclaime and denounce euerlastinge and perpetuall warre against the Hugunotes and vnder pre tence of these assemblies many things were haynously seditiously committed Wherfore the Prince of Conde complayned of these misorders to the king Where vppon these conuenticles by the Kinges Interdicte were forbidden and prohibited but all in vaine for the letters wanted that pâ—…iuie signet whereby by the Cardinalles subtiltie and other Papistes of great estimation such letters were knowen as it were of any wayghty matter or importance Monsieur â–ª Begat â–ª the counsailour had alwaies very ryfe in his communication the greate renowne of the Spanish Kinge whereat many men marueiled to see such a fellow borne with all and to be in
workmanship of man But seeing we are in hande with the affaires and actes of the low Countrey let vs first compare the state thereof with the condition of the Church of Fraunce As both Churches are in mighâ—…ye Monarchies so â—…ad they for their aduersaries mighty Monarchies being vexed with the furies of Cardinals both of them in the beginning very small but in the end great and mighty both troubled with great conflictes Amidest the cruell tormentes and bloudy murthers of the Inquisition of the newe Byshops the number of suche as acknowledged and professed the truthe of the Gospell wonderfully increased Insomuche that at the length by the example of the Frenchmen who by the Kings fauour had gotten some libertie to vse the reformâ—…d religion the matter beganne to be handeled more freely and openly a certaine forme of confession of their faith and religion being published But the Cardinall Granuel on the contrary part against the mindes of those Noble men which were appoynted by King Philip went about earnestly to afflict Andwerpe with the Inquisition of the newe Byshops which notwithstanding was exempted from the burthen of the same by speciall priuiledge After thys he being complayned of by those Noble men was put quit out of his authoritie and sent for by the Kings letters to come out of Flaunders But he he had so prouided before his departure and the King was so affected at the instante sute of the Spanâ—…she Inquisitors that their Inquisition was the more seuerelye executed in Flaunders yea all things were done in the absence of Granuel as he would haue them And among all other Cities at Andwerpe great crueltie was shewed against the faythfull one of the Ministers of the reformed religion called Christopher Smith being cruelly slayne the people so much disdayning thereat that they were lyke to cause a daungerouse tumult This was in the yeare of our Lord M. D. lxiiii at what tyme the kingdome of Fraunce was greatly vexed and depriued of the benefite of the Kings Edict Notwithstanding the Churches of the low countrey dayly more and more encreased many of the noble meÌ„ imbracing and professing the truth whiche euen vntill that time had bene enimies to the same Insomuch that certaine Noble men set on fire with the loue of the truth notwithstanding the they sawe themselues to be in great perill of the Inquisitors therefore determined to make a league among themselues That they would endeuor themselues all that they coulde by all lawfull meanes to helpe one another for the auoyding of perill and to certifie one another of the attemptes of the aduersaries Thus when they had made this agréement they went aboute to ioyne and wyn vnto them others that were inflamed and bent against the reformed religion Insomuch that a man might sée openly a great many noble men with the greatest part of the people both to detest Popish superstitious and also receiue and embrace the reformed religion But in the meane time the thunder clappes of the new Byshops made suche a stoure that the faythfull beyng no more so subiecte to iniuries as they were before it was to be doubted least while they went aboute to resiste the violent force and crueltie of the Inquisitors great vexations and troubles woulde arise At this time the Duches of Parme vnder the Kyng had she gouernment of the whole region Therfore she at the Admonition of the rulers of those partes foreséeing the perill to come by their aduise and authoritie sent Egmond to Philip Kinge of Spaine to declare vnto him the great perill and daunger which hoong ouer the whole low countrey of Flaunders and to certifie him that so great troubles coulde not be preuented vnlesse both the seueritie of the Edictes and also the bouldnes of â—…ertaine men outragiously abusing and violating theÌ„ were restrayned yea and that all sortes of men were so sore offended thereat that vnlesse there were some spéedy remedye out of hande prouided there was great perill of great troubles and garboyles To this Egmond the King gaue a gentle answere saying that he had a care for the affaires of the lowe Countrey and that he would endeuour himselfe that all things might be done there peaceably and orderly Then he commaunded the Duches â—…f Parme to take order as necessitie required with the aduise and Counsaile of good and wise men by which she might prouide for so great inconueniences and yet retaine safe the catholiâ—…e Religion The Duches of Perme when she had receyued the Kinges commaundement by Egmond shee by the aduise of the rulers caused a solemn assembly in the which there were thrée Byshops thrée learned Diuines thrée Canons Lawers thrée skilful Ciuillians to whoÌ„ shée committed the ordering of the whole matter They then deuised and put downe an order tooke such paines for the Inquisition that the same could not be more conueniently established For though the forme of wordes were chaunged yet the matter it selfe was more seuerely ratifyed confirmed the terrible worde of Inquisition being mittigated by calling the same a visitation In stéede of burning they vsed hanging as we will hereafter declare more at large Notwithstanding it did not satisfie Granuell and the Spanish inquisitoures as though this kind of most cru ell death had not bin sufficient they being such kinde of men as were accustomed to shewe open cruelty without shame They brought the matter therefore before the King they said that there was a way made to the vâ—…â—…er subuersion of Religion â–ª askinge whether the â—…inge should be afrayd to make open profession of his Religion Moreouer by their meanes the Popes legates perswaded with the King by threatninges shewinge that not only the name of the Catholiques should decay but also that he himselfe should be vtterly ouerthrowen excepte he sought with all spéede to deface and vtterly to destroy euen the least remnantes and reliques of the new Religion in the lowe Countrey the which coulâ—… not be done without the benefite of the inquisition Therefore King Philip reiecting that order of gouernement which the Duches had takeÌ„ by the aduise of those graue and learned men of whom we spake before sent at the length letters vnto the saide Duches of Parme That the Inquisition should be stablished throughout al the lowe Countrey of Flaunders that the inquisitours should haue certain counsellers out of the chiefe senate ioyned to them to euery prouince by whose helpe they might be furthered in doing of their office that the auncient Edictes might euery where be obserued and kepte that Bishoppes should be consecrated in all places that the decreese of the counsaile of Trident should be euery where proclaimed and that by all manner of meanes the Doctrine of the Gospell and the professoures thereof should in all places be persecuted and afflicted This came forth in the yeare of our Lord M. D. L. X. U. and in the moneth of December These letters of the King being made openly knowen by the
the Images as done againste all order and the publique authority of Magistrats They refused also the letters of the Duches of Parme as to helpe any thing at all the offenders herein Therefore gatheringe togyther a great number of Souldiers to serue their turne they toke many in all places of the protestantes and cast them into prison and after examination put them to death After this also Norcam Manques of Berge a notable enemy to the reformed Religion came with foure bandes of horsmen v. Ensignes of footmen minding to besiéege Ualencia toke as he came a Towne called Sainctaman and committed their most cruell tyrannye as rapine murther and the defiling of Uirgins beside most horrible kindes of torment then practised Thys was done in the moneth of Nouember By these cruell actes of the papistes which threatned extreame destruction the protestants sawe that it was now hygh time to prouide for themselues Therefore dyuers practised sondry wayes meanes for theyr defence but God altering and orderinge all thinges by his prouidence would not suffer theÌ„ to come to good effect Great was the multitude of people and great was their courage but they wanted Counsayle and Captaynes to guyde them There were sufficient men enough which could haue gouerned them and conducted them both with wisdome and pollicie agayn the number of Noblemen was not smal that fauoured that side who if they had taken parte with them there had bene good hope of victory and to haue had more quiet gouern ment But such as were of highest calling standing stil as lookers on and séeking neyther to defende nor to resist the one nor the other all good occasion to bring any thing happely to passe was lost The whiche brought great ruine to the protestantes of the lowe Countrey and great calamity to those noble men themselues So hard perillouse a thing it is for a man to séeke to serue two maisters so coÌ„trary the one to the other The grea test part of the Nobilitie professed the reformed religion and yet there was scarse one of them which came at any tyme to the sermons of that Religion Wherefore we must néedes confesse that our sinnes haue caused the Lord not to finish that good worke which he had begonne Herevpon came the pitiefull calamitie of the churches of the low countrey The Protestantes therefore were both destitute of counsaile and also of a goide but the Catholiques waÌ„ted neyther of them both Wherefore their cities were dayly fortified with garrisons and they besieged as is sayd before Valencia which was quight voyde and destitute of any Captayne There came diuers bandes of Souldiours also as scattered shéepe to ayde the Protestants at ValeÌ„cia and that with good courage and while they vainly looked for a Captayne the greatest part coÌ„ueyed themselues away Therefore al this mouth was spent with diuers troubles and diuers cities of the pro testantes were wonne and the inhabitants therof put to flight Antwerpe being vnder the authoritie and gouernement of the prince of Orange was not pertaker of those troubles that other places felt But the foolish men being weary of peace and ease and as though there were not at Antwerpe troublesome heades ynough they sent for Matthâ—…us Illyricus and for Flaccus Spangenberge and other to contende with the men of the reformed religion about the Supper of the Lord and the presence in the Sacrament All things growing daylye from euill to woorse the Protestantes offered vp at diuers tymes Supplications to the Magistrates to whom most humbly and reuerently they committed themselues and their cause promising vnto them a great summe of money vppon condition that they might be in safety Also when dyuers of the Princes of Germany had sought to intreat the matter and could not obtayne that which they wisshed Brederode and certayn noble men confederat with him offered vp a Supplication the eight day of February which consisted of these speciall poyntes That the agreement made betweene him and the Duches of Parme in the moneth of August might be obserued and kept that the libertie of Religion might be graunted and that the soldiours gathered togither contrary to the forme of the othe might be dismist To this within a while after the Du chesse of Parma made answere That shee neuer ment to graunt the publique administration of the Religion nor the vse of Sermons Sacraments and Consistories and as fos the interpretation of the agreemeÌ„t that saith shee dependeth vpon mee Concerning the Request to haue the souldiours dismist all men may see whereunto that tendeth VVherefore sayeth shee I pray and com maund euery man vppon payne of the Kinges displeasure to goe home to his owne house This aunswere made Brederode and his fellowes to doubt to feare the calamitie lyke to ensue And when they had taryed in vayne thirtéene dayes at Antwenpe they got them home to Uian a towne in the borders of Holland and thyther strayghtway a great many fled The reste of the moneth of February was spente with diuers troubles the faithfull Protestants beinge dayly anoyed and vexed more and more with proscriptions banishments and such lyke All this while was continued the siege of Valence which at the laste by the letters of the Duches of Parma wherein shée promysed all clemeney and fauour was surrendered to Noircarm the xxiii day of March. After the which it cannot be expressed what great cruelty was showeÌ„ vpon the townsmen the chief both of the Citie and also of the Church were taken prisoners and among these two ministers the one called Guido Bresse the other Peregrine Grage and certayne other honest Citizens were put to death for that they had Sermones in the Citie without the Kings will and pleasure and had also vsed the administration of Sacramentes In the middest of these garboyles it was reported that Fraunces de Tolede Duke of Alba was comming with a great army to ouercome and subdue all the lowe Countrey otherwyse called Belgio IN this yéere also â–ª the Churches of Fraunce were not a little troubled occasion being taken of the cruel murther committed in the lowe Countrey the whiche the Cardinall of Loraine thoughte fitte for his purpose to afflict and destroy the Churches of Fraunce with the help of the Duke of Alba of whose comming he was truely certifyed by the letters of Granuellan The same Cardinall also procured the Popes letters and the letters of King Philip to the Quéene putting her in minde therby of her promyse of the holy league Therfore this yéere they mynded to worke the vtter ruyne and destruction of the Churches of Fraunce So that they hauing theyr consultations at Marches and at Monseaux at whiche places the King and Quéene moste commonly aboade determined to prouide out of hande bandes of souldiers and to require the helpe and ayde of the Switzers all the which they determined to do vnder the collonr that the Duke of Alba with the Spaniardes ment to giue some
possessed by the Protestantes and so was Rochell In al partes of the realm thoâ—…e was some number or other of Protestantes but they were banished out of the Cities whiche made the army of the Prince of Conde to be the greater The misdemeanour and cruelty of the inhabitantes of Lions made the protestants in other places that wer more mighty in power to aryse Therfore diuers murthers were committed in diuers places and because the Catholiques had burned the churches of the protestants they in lyke manner burned their Churches to requite their crueltie In so much that in all those cities which the protestantes possessed there was not almost a church to be found which thei had not burned spoyled and beaten down to the ground the people crying that all the remnaunts of superstition must bee so taken away that afterward there may be no remembrance or signe thereof to be found While this businesse and garboyle was abroade in diuers places at Paris the papists were very extréeme and cruell agaynst such as they could but suspecte to bée fauourers of the reformed religion All men therefore were set vpon warre and tumult In the meane tyme the prince of Conde wayted for his souldiours at Sandionyse and waxed dayly more strong with new ayde The Constable being verily persuaded that he should oppresse ouercome the prince of Conde marched with all the power he was able to make from Paris takinge with him great gonnes bragging boastinge that the prince of Conde had none such to put him in perill withall but his bragges and boastes had euill successe For after that the Parisians had discharged their great shot and that the battayle began to waxe whote they being not able to abyde the charge of the Prince of Conde and his souldiours though they were the smaller number began at the first to retire and afterwards when their araye was brokeÌ„ to quayle and to flée séeking to recouer the gates of the Citie so fast as they could In this battayle the Constable was sore wounded with a shot his horse also and falling to the grounde was wounded agayne and then was spéedely caryed away by certayn horsmen to Paris after the which within certayn dayes after he dyed This man had liued fiue kinges raignes being of great authoritie in Fraunce many yeres yeâ—… he was the second person in the realme he was also a faythfull and trusty seruaunt to the King being wyse circumspect to auoyde the daunger of his enemies vntill such time as he ioyned himselfe vnto them for the hatred of Religion Concerning the calamitie of the churches of Belgio we spake before After therefore that the people were in good hope by reason of the authoritie and promises of the Noble men that were of the Confederacy they receyued notwithstanding at length the aunswere of the Noble men which séemed to bee of greatest power in these matters That it séemed good vnto them to commit the whole matter to Maximilian the Emperour and the Princes of the Empyre whereby they should be sure to enioye the libertie of the confession of Ausburg But Valence being left destitute of ayde and therefore cruelly spoyled and the whole countrey being desolat that their purpose was frustrate For the protestantes fledd out from all places of the borders of Belgio by heapes also the Ministers chiefe Gouerners of the church of Antwerp yea and the Prince of Orange himselfe leauing his sonne at Louayne fled out of the countrey and that in good tyme as the pitiefull deathes of Counte Egmond and Horne afterwarde declared of the which we will speake anon A great parte of the Protestantes of the low Countrey fled into Englande and part into Germany and into Cleueland the Quene of Enland the princes of Germany but specially the Countye Palatyne graunting vnto them Cities to dwell in God thus prouided for his people who is always a continuall preseruer and vphoulder of his Church the whiche when horrible destruction coÌ„meth he buildeth vp with out the helpe of man. The Duke of Alba therefore came into Belgio otherwyse called the Lowe Countrey where he placed in diuers Cities garrisons of Spayniardes and then proclaimed the Kings Edicte concerninge the establishing of the Inquisition by whiche hée willed and commaunded the reformed religion to be altered and ordered Then also he ordeyned a new senate consisting of twelue men comonly called the Bloudy Counsaile which should sit vppon all matters concerning lyfe and death He displaced also dyuers Magistrates and set others in their roome After this he tooke a great number and cast them into prison hauing no regard or consideration of them what Religion soeuer they professed to such as were fled the countrey he appointed a day for their return and before the day was fully expired he adiudged their goodes to be confiscate Howbeit in the beginning he dissembled this cruelty and made the people beléeue that whatsoeuer had bin done before tyme for religion should be pardoned by the Kings Edict And thus were County Egmond Horne Noble men brought caught in the snare And when sharp lawes wer made concerning the inquisition the inquisitoures were not idle but played their part and cast a great number into pryson Infantes whych had bin baptised before in the reformed Churches were constrained to be rebaptised Women whose husbandes were fled for religion were constrained to be maried agayn to new husbandes and at the commaundement of the Duke de Alba many of them were forced to mary with his soulders Now the Spanish souldier began to pray and spoile in euery City Also when the dissembled clemency of Duke de Alba shewed at the first had drawen a great many home to their houses againe the Bloudy Senate was set a worke some were beheaded some hanged and some had their tungues first of all cutte out of their heades and then a bodkin thrust through their lippes these lamentable sightes were dayly to be sene but specially at Brusselles and at Antwerp Diuers Noblemen also were partakers of these punishmentes as the Battemburges which were Bretheren of a noble house and were cruelly put to death but these had more coÌ„pany for heapes were brought at once to the place of execution And at the same time County Egmond and County Horne noble men and such as afore time had borne great offices and done to their King and Countrey good seruice wer also with this bitter reward of cruel tyranny requited and after they were beheaded their heades were set vp on forkes County Horne all the tyme of his imprisonment and euen in death shewed a singuler zeale of religion It was reported that the Duke of Alba bare towardes both of these an olde grudge but specially towardes the County Egmond for that which he had done in the affaires of France not for religions sake which neyther of them at any tyme had professed These thinges were done in the yeare of our Lord 1568 the which we haue
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
of the sworde He made manye incursions into Poytou and anoyed them with such generall perill that the princes to ouercome him this troupes dispatched thither the Lord de la Rocheâ—…ard with vii cornettes of horsemen and the regiments of footemen of the L. la Mousson Saint Magrin Montamma whose strength and trauell was to small purpose bicause the enemye had a speciall saüetie in hys singular swiftnesse as knowyng well the straites and compasse of that countrey The princes being at Sainctes got intelligence of the enterprise whiche the Kings brother mente to execute within Angoulesme and therevpon knowing also that he was vpon his waye thyther dispatched to intercepte that purpose the CouÌ„tie Montgomery with ten cornets of horsemen ouer and besides the regimen of footemen of the Lord Montbrun and Mirabel sent thither all readie The Montgomery the better to execute his charge in the beginning of Aprill sommoned the sayd ten cornets of horsemen to be before him at Pons the monday being the fourth of April in the euening At his coÌ„ming he founde onely vi cornets with whom he departed after some expectation for the other whiche were not yet come he trauailed all that night and the next morning was receyued within the towne of Angoulesme without any let or impediment by the way the other fower cornets comming somwhat late to Pons hasted on the way after their copanie albeit as they were neere Chasteauneuf neither fearing nor for séeing any perill they were charged by a great troup of horsemeÌ„ layd of purpose in ambâ—…h to intercept theÌ„ â–ª so pursued as the chase came to Coygnac from whence they returned and found safetie in the swiftnesse of their horsses At this encounter the L. de Chaumont captaine of one of the sayde cornets with certaine other common souldiers were takeÌ„ prisoners and about xxx or xl slaine The Countie Montgomery was no sooner within Angoulesme than he begaÌ„ to deuise and prouide for the safetie of the towne wherein for his first pollicie he surueyed the wardes and warders of the towne And bycause that those which afore made the view and search of the towne passed not by the Parke which is a newe building ioyned to the towne which cut of all aduertisment of any thing done there the place it selfe also not vnapt to receiue companyes foysted in by night without knowledge to them of the towne The said Montgomery made pierce the walles and open the gates of that syde towardes the parke so that alwayes after the searchers of the towne passed and visited the gardes of the same He remoued also the Captaine of the sayde Parke to auoyde treason with order that euery nyght the warders of that place should be changed The Duke de Roauois beinge led prisoner as you haue heard to Rochell and there continuing til the moneth of Ianuary was deliuered vpon this promis to pay within thre mo nethes after twentie thousand frankes to raunsome or in default of eyther the time or summe to returne prysoner to Rochell Hee failed and therefore was sommoned to make good his worde which he refused clearing himselfe by the death of the prince of Conde to whom as he had giuen his faith so his death acquited his promise â–ª The Kinges brother kepte still about Angoulesme al be it vnderstandinge of the precise direction of the Montgomery gaue ouer his further attempt and depar ted from thence the xii of Aprill taking his way to Perigueux and passing by Aubeterre he tooke the castle by composition â–ª for whose garde the L. of the place did entertaine about a hundered men who enduring only cer tayne shot of the cannon yéelded themselues their liues saued wherein notwithstanding they were abused for that dyuers were killed and the L. of the place arested as prisoner from Aubeterre he drue to Mucedan a town of Perigueux afore the which as the Lord de Montlue attended him with his forces so the army being arryued they began to batter with such furie as a breach was spéedely enforced There were within the towne seuen or eyght score popular Souldiours who dispairing eyther to fill up the breach or to kepe it longer in respect chiefly of their small nombers abandoned the Towne and closed themselues within the castle being sufficient ly strong the catholikes being within the towne bent their batterye against the castle where they had no sooner battered a breache than they cryed to the assaulte They within susteined the first assault and likewise ii others in the necke of it repulsing at last the catholiks wherof a great nomber left their dead bodies in paune then the Kings borther vnder their word of assurance came to Parle with them wherein he so preuailed as they yéelded reseruing only their liues which notwith standinge were violently taken away from them all without exception â–ª contrarye to his faith and woorde of honour hee loste at these assaultes a great company of souldiours with sundry Lords and captaynes of choice amongest which was the countie Brissac striken with a harquebush shot in the left chéek he was a gallant gentleman and of great hope amongest the people of xxv yeares of age when he died and of great calling function in France For first he was Knight of the order cap taine of fiftie men at armes of the Kinges allowance Colonell general ouer the french footemen in the Kinges campe and gouerned also in this iorney a regimen of xl ensignes of footeman his brother succéeded him in most of his charges sauinge the estate of Colonell generall which was giuen to the Lorde of Strossie there dyed at that slege the contie Pompaden with many other to the number of v. or vi hundred Mucedan being taken in this moneth of Aprill â–ª the Kinges brother toke way againe to Angoulmois the Lorde of Montluc returned to his gouernemente and charge The Princes horsmen being thus viewed and mustered they would also suruey their footemen in which businesse the d' Andelot was chiefly vsed and theréfore immediatly dispatched to the end he might puruse the garrisons in euery towne of their obedience he began his first trauaile in this charge vppon the end of Aprill following the garrisons and mustring them in his own presence In the beginninge of May hee returned to Sainctes féeling himselfe somewhat sicke the same growing so vpoÌ„ him as he dyed the Sarterday the seuenth of the same 1569. to the lamentable griefe and displeasure of the whole army as being noted a most wyse and valeant Gentleman called commonly the knight with out feare his office of generall Colonell of the Frenche footemen was giuen to the Lord d' Acyer â–ª his company of men of armes since his death hath bin gouerned by the Lord of Beauuais his Lieuftenant It was thought he was poysoned and the phisitions that viewed his bo dy were of the same opinion Immediately after in the same moneth and at the same place dyed the Lord of Boccarde hauing lyne long
beloued and estéemed of the Admirall or to haue attained any speciall honour in the saide late warres those he liberally benefited and rewarded To the Admirall himselfe he commaunded one daye to be giuen a hundred thousand pounds of his owne treasure in recompence of his former losses When his brother the Cardinall ChastillioÌ„ endowed with many great and welthy benefices was departed his life the king gaue him the fruites of one whole yéere Also the king wrote to Philibert Duke of Sauoy that he should do him a moste acceptable pleasure if he did not onely deale more gently with those that in the former warres had ayded those of the Religion but also would vse clemencie and mildnesse toward all other that professed the same Religion within his dominions And for that there was old enmitie betwene the Guisians the Admirall whereby it was to be doubted that perillous coÌ„tentions would arise in the Realme of France the king willed it to be signified to them both in his name that they should for his sake and the common weales giue ouer those displeasures and he prescribed them a certaine fourme of reconciliation and agréement the same whereof the foundations had bin layed almoste sixe yéeres before in the towne of Molins wher the king calling to him the greatest estates of his realme after consultation and deliberation had vpon the matter pronounced the admirall not guiltie of the death of the Duke of Guise wherewith he was charged by the yong Duke of Guise and his kinsmen and so the king by the aduise of his Counsell had ended that controuersie Furthermore the Cardinal of Loraine who as we haue said was the very forger of all the former warres to take away al ielousie of new practises was departed to Rome and tooke with him his familiar friend the late created Cardinall Peluey one reputed a moste subtill and craftie persone vnder pretence of going to the election of a newe Pope in place of the old Pope then lately deceassed But there was none greater and more assured token of publike peace and quietnesse than this that the king purposed to giue his sister Margaret in mariage to the Prince Henry the sonne of the Quéene of Nauarre which Prince had in the last warre defended the cause of the Religion and bin soueraigne of their armie Which mariage the king declared that it shuld be the moste streight bond of ciuill concorde and the most assured testimonie of his good will to those of the Religion Yea and also bicause it was alleaged that the said Prince Henry was restrained in conscience so as he might not marrie the Lady Margaret being of a contrarie Religion a Catholike and giuen to the rites of the Romishe Church the king for answere said that he would discharge hir of the Popes lawes and notwithstanding the crying out of all his courtiers to the contrary he permitted him that without all ceremonies in the porch of the great church of Paris the mariage should be celebrate in such a forme as the ministers of the reformed Churche mislyked not Which thing being by reporte and letters spread throughe the world it â—…n not be expressed how much it made the harts of those of the religion assured and out of care and how it cast out all feare and ielosies out of their minds what a confidence it brought them of the Kings good will toward them Finally how muche it reioyced foreine Princes and states that fauored the same Religion But the Admirals minde was muche more stablished by a letter which about the same time Theligny brought him with the Kings own hand and sealed wherein was conteined that whatsoeuer the Admiral should do for the matter of the intended warre of the lowe countrey the Kyng would allowe and ratifie the same as done by his owne commauÌ„demeÌ„t About that time Lodouic of Nassaw with the Quene of Nauarre a Lady most zelously affected to the Religion came to the Frenche court The league was made betwene King Charles and the Prince of Aurenge and the articles thereof put in writing The mariage was appointed to be holden in the towne of Paris For which cause the Quene of Nauarre during those few dayes repaired thether to prouide things for the solemnitie of the wedding For the same cause the King sente to the Admirall one Cauaignes a man of an excellent sharp witte whome for the Admirals sake the King had aduanced to great honor requiring the Admirall to go before to Paris as well for the saide preparation as also for the matter of the war of the lowe countrey promising that he himselfe woulde within few dayes followe after him assuring him that there was nowe no cause for him to feare the threatnings and mad outrages of the Parisians For in as much as the same towne is aboue all other giuen to superstitions and is with seditious preachings of Monkes and Friers dayly enflamed to crueltie it is harde to expresse howe bitterly they hated the Admirall and the professors of that Religion Whereto was added a griefe of their minde conceiued certaine dayes before by reason of a certaine stone crosse gilted and builte after the manner of a spire stéeple commonly called Gastignes crosse whiche the Admirall with great earnest fute obteyned of the King to be ouerthrowne for he alleaged that being erected in the midst of the rage of the ciuill warre as it were in trumphe to the reproche of one of the Religion it was a monument of ciuill dissention and so a matter offensiue to peace and concorde The King well knowing the deadly hate of the Parisians to the Admirall wrote his letters to Marcell the prouost of the Marchaunts which is the highest dignitie in Paris with sharp thretnings if ther shuld be raised any stir or trouble by reason of the Admirals comming To the same effect also the Duke of Aniow the Kings brother and the Quéene mother wrote to the same Marcell and the rest of the Magistrates of Paris so that nowe there séemed vtterly no occasion lefte for the Admirall to feare or distrust And within few dayes after the King sent Briquemault a man of great vertue and estimation to the Admirall with the same instructions saying that the matter of the low cuntrey could not wel be delt in without his presence The Admirall persuaded by thus many meanes and filled with good hope and courage determined to go to Paris where so soone as he was ariued and had ben honorably and louingly entertained of the King and his brethren and the Quéene mother and consultation entred among them about the preparation for the lowe countrey he declared to the King at large howe the Duke of Alua was in leuying of great power and preparing an armie and that if the King should dissemble his purpose it woulde come to passe that many thereby would shewe themselues slower and slacker to the enterprises and that nowe were offered great meanes to do good whiche if he let slippe he
the slaughter of the Admirall and his adherentes was done by the Kings commaundement for so was his maiesties expresse pleasure bicause they had conspired to kil him and his brethren and the Quéene his mother and the Kyng of Nauarre And farther that the King did forbid that from thenceforthe there should be no moe assemblies holden nor preachings vsed of the Religion After the Kinges oratioÌ„ ended Christopher Thuane PresideÌ„t of that ParliameÌ„t a man very notable for his light brain and his cruell heart did with very large wordes congratulate vnto the King that he had now with guile and subtiltie ouercom these his enimies whome he could neuer vanquishe by armes and battell saying that therein the King had most fully veryfied the olde saying of Lewes the eleuenth his progenitor King of Fraunce which was wont to say that he knew neuer a latine sentence but this one Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare He that can not skil to dissemble can not skil to be a King. But Pibrace the aduocate of the FinaÌ„ces made a short oration the summe whereof was to this effecte that although the King hadde iust and great cause to be displeased yet he thought it more agréeable with his maiesties clemencie and goodnesse to make an ende of the slaughters and common spoyle and not to suffer such outrages to be any longer committed without iudiciall procéeding in the cause and besought his maiestie that from thenceforth it would please him to vse the lawe which is well knowne to be the onely stablishment of kingdomes and Empires and that there had bene already giuen to the commonaltie too perillous an example to followe An arrest of ParliameÌ„t with the Kings royall assent being made to that effect there were immediately Haroldes and trumpeters sent rouÌ„d about all the towne and an Edict proclaimed in the Kings name that from thenceforth the slaughters and common butcherly murtherings should ceasse and that all persons should abstainc from pillage and robberie This being knowne there were diuers speaches vsed of this matter throughout the town and specially of learned meÌ„ The most part sayd that they had read many histories but in all memorie of all ages they neuer heard of any such thing as this They coÌ„pared this case with the horrible doings of King Mithridates which with one messenger and with the aduertisement of one letter caused a hundreth and fiftie thousand Romaines to be slaine Some coÌ„pared it with the doing of Peter of Arragone which slewe eight thousand Frenchmen in Sicile which Isle they had surprised in his absence But yet this difference appeared betwene those cases and this that those Kings had exercised their crueltie vpon foreins and strangers but this King had done his outrage vpon his owne subiectes being yelded not so much to his power as to his faith and credit Those Kings were bound by no promise but such as was giuen to the strangers themselues this King was with newe made league bound to the kings and Princes his neighbors to kepe the peace that he had sworne Those kings vsed no guilefull meanes vnworthie for the maiestie of a King to deceyue this king for a baite and allurement abused the mariage of his owne sister and in a manner besprinkled hir wedding robe with bloud Which dishonor and indignitie no posteritie of all ages can forget Some againe discoursed that though this cruell aduise semed to many Courtiers to haue bene profitable yet not onely the honor of a King but also the estimation and good fame of the whole nation was against that shewe of profit They alleaged how Aristides did openly in the audience of all the people reiect the counsell of Themistocles coÌ„cerning the burning of the Lacedemonians nauie although it must needes haue followed that the power of the Lacedemonians their enimies should therby haue bene vtterly weakened â–ª Fuâ—… Camillus receyued not the children of the chief Lords of the Phalice betrayed to him by their schoolemaister but stripped him naked and deliuered him to be whipped home with rods by the same children Pausanias hath left it reported that the posteritie of Philip of Macedon fell into most great calamities for this cause that he was wont to set light by the reuerend conscience of an oth and his faith giuen in leagues Some cited the lawe of the twelue tables Si patronus clienti fraudem facit sacer esto If the patrone or soueraigne defraude his client or vassall be he out of protection They disputed also that like faith as the vassal oweth to his Lord the Lord oweth also to his vassall and for what causes and for what fellonies the vassal loseth his tenancie for the same causes and fellonies the Lord loseth his seigniorie Some said that the right hand in auncient time was called the pledge of the faith of a King and that this if a King shall despise there is no communion of right with him and he is no more to be accounted a king neither of his owne subiects nor of straungers Kingly vertues in tymes past haue bene reported to be these iustice gentlenesse and clemencie but crueltie and outrage haue euer bene dispraised both in all persons and specially in princes Scipio hath in all ages bene praysed who was wont to say that he had rather saue one citizen than kill a thousand enimies whiche sentence Antoninus the Emperor surnamed Pius the kinde or vertuous did oft repeate It was a most shamefull byworde of yong Tyberius to be called clay tempered with bloud They sayd also that kings haue power of life and death ouer their subiects but not without hearing the cause and iudicial proccding that there cannot be alleaged a greater authoritie than the Dictators had at Rome in whome was the soueraigne power of peace and warre of life and death and without appeale yet was it not lawfull for them to execute a citizen his cause vnheard Only théeues and murderers take away mens liues without order of lawe and hearing their cause Who can doubt said they but that this so great outrage so great sheading of ChristiaÌ„ bloud is the frute of the curssed life of the courtiers For said they now throughout al Fraunce whoredom loose leudnesse of life are so frée vsual the now the most part of the women of Fraunce séeme to be in manner common and â–ª the wicked blasphemies and continuall execrations and dishonorings of Gods most holye name and maiestie are suche as God can not longer beare And true it is though incredible among forein Nations that the Catholikes of France haue prescribed themselues this for a special mark to be knowne from other men that at euery thirde word they blasphemously sweare by the head death bloud and bellie of God and wonderfull it is that the King himselfe is so muche delighted in this custome of swearing and blaspheming and this as it were a pestilent infection is spred abroade and common among the very plowmeÌ„ and peysants so as none
amoÌ„g them nowe speaketh thrée wordes without moste filthy blaspheming and horrible execration of god Who can longer beare the vile vnchastities the bawdes and Ruffians of the Court Finally very nature it selfe doth nowe as it were expostulate with God for his so long sufferance and for bearing and the very earth can no longer beare these monsters Nowe as touching the Admirals supposed conspiracie who can thinke it likely that he shoulde enterprise any suche thing within the walles of Paris For in the Court there is continually watching and warding a garrison of the Kings and at the entrie of his Castle the guards of Gascoines Scottes and Switzers are continually attending and the King himselfe both alwayes before and specially at that time by reason of his sisters mariage had a great trayn of Princes great Lords noblemen and Gentlemen about him Moreouer it was well knowne that in Paris within thrée houres space might be assembled and put in armour threescore thousand chosen armed men specially against the Admirall whome no man is ignorant that the Parisians most deadly hated beside that the noble yong men that came thither with the King of Nâ—…uar and the Prince of Conde by reson of the mariage and brought with them their wiues their sisters and their kinswomen thought at that time vpon nothing but vpon triumph and exercises of pastime and gay furniture of apparel and ornaments Finally at whither of these two times can it be likely that the Admirall attempted this conspiracie was it before he was hurt why at that time he founde the King his most louing or at least his most liberall and bountifull good Lord neither could he hope euer to haue a more fauorable soueraigne in France Was it then after he was hurte as though forsoth he lying sore of two so great woundes aged maimed of both his arms the one whereof the PhisitioÌ„s coÌ„sulted whether it were to be cut off accompanied with thrée hundreth yong men would set vpon thréescore thousande armed men or in so small a time coulde lay the plot for so great and so long and so haynous a facte for he lyued scarce fortie houres after his hurt in which time he was enioyned by the Phisitions to forbeare talke Againe if he had bene detected of any suche crime was he not committed to Cossin and to his kéeping and so enuironed all the wayes beset about him and so in the Kings power that if it had pleased the King he might at all times in a momeÌ„t be caried to pryson why was not orderly enquirie anâ—… iudiciall procéeding vsed according to the custome and lawes and generall right of nations and witnesses produced according to the forme of lawe but be it that the Admirall and a fewe other of his confederates and followers had conspired why yet procéeded the outragious crueltie vpon the reste that were innocent why vpon ancient matrones why vpon noble Ladies yong Gentlewomen and virgins that came thither for the honor of the wedding why were so manye women greate with childe against the lawes of all nations and of nature before their deliuery thrown into the Ryuer why were so many aged persons many that lay sicke in their beds many gownemen many Counsellers Aduocates Proctors Phisitions many singularly learned professors and teachers of good artes and among the rest Petrus Ramus that renoâ—…ed man throughout the worlde many yong students executed without hearing without pleading their cause without sentence of condemnation moreouer if the Admirall had â—…aine the thrée brethren who doubteth but that all couâ—…eys al Cities all Parliaments finally all sortes and degrées of men would haue spéedily taken armour and easily haue destroyed all of the Religion hauing them enclosed within their towns and hauing iust cause to render to all foreine nations fâ—…r their common slaughters and killing of them As to that whiche toucheth the King of 〈◊〉 what caÌ„ be imagined more absurd and vnlikely had not the Admirall him foure yeares in his power â–ª Did not he professe the same Religion that the Admirall did which of those 〈◊〉 the Religion which of them I say as Cassius was wont to reason should haue gained or receyued profit by the killing of the King of Nauarre did not the Catholikes hate him and the Admirall coulde not hope to haue any man more friendly to him nor by any other maÌ„s meanes to haue reueÌ„ge of his iniurie Lastly in their houses that were slaine what armour what weapons were found by which coÌ„iectures iudges vse to be lead to trace out a facte These matters wyse men throughout the towne of Paris commonly muttered But now to retourne to our purpose At such tyme as the Kings prâ—…hibition abouesayd was proclaimed at Paris not only in other townes as at Orleance Angiers Viaron Troys and Auxerre the like butcheries and slaughters were vsed but also in the towne of Paris it selfe in the verye gaoles that are ordeyned for the kéeping of prisoners if anye had escaped the crueltie of the day before they were now tumultuously slayne by the raging and outraging multitude in which number were thrée Gentlemen of greate reputation captaine Monins a man very famous in marciall prowesse Lomen the Kings secretarie a man of greate estimation for his long seruice in the Courte and Chappes a lawyer neare fourscore yeare olde a man of greate renowne in the Courte of Paris And bycause we haue made mention of Angiers we thinke it good not to omitte the case of Masson de Riuers This maÌ„ was a pastor of the church and estéemed a singular man both in vertuousnesse of life and in excellence of wit and learning and was the first that had layd the foundacion of the Churche at Paris As sone as the slaughter was begon at Paris Monsorel a most cruell enimie of the Religion was tente to Angiers in post to preuente al other that might carie tidings of the murdering As sone as he came into the towne he caused himself to be brought to Massons house There he met Massons wife in the entrie and geÌ„tly saluted hir and after the maner of Fraunce specially of the Court he kissed hir and asked hiâ—… where hir husband was she answered that he was walking in the garden and by and by she brought Monsorell to hir husbande who gently embraced Masson and sayde vnto him Canst thou tell why I am come hither it is to kyll thée by the Kings coÌ„maundement at this very instant time for so hath the King commaunded as thou mayste perceiue by these letters and therewith he shewed him his dagge ready charged Masson answered that he was not guiltie of any crime howbeit this one thing only he besought him to giue him space to call to the mercie of God and to commende his spirit into Gods hande Which prayer as soone as he had ended in fewe wordes he méekely receiued the death offered by the other and was shot through with a pellet and dyed Now to returne to Paris â–ª the Admirals
it that they were deliuered before their time And out of the Courte of the goale called the Archbyshops pryson the bloude was séene in the broade day light to the great aâ—…orring and feare of many that behelde it runne warme â–ª and smoking into the nexte streats of the town and so down into the Ryuer of Sene. There was in that same Archbyshops pryson an aged man called Francis Collut a Marchaunt of cappes and two yong men his sonnes whome he had euer caused diligently to â—…e taught and instructed in Religion WheÌ„ he saw the butchers come toward him with their Axes he began to exhort his children not to refuse the death offred by Gâ—…d For sayd he it is the perpetual destenie of religioÌ„ that often such sacrâ—…ices do betide in ChristiaÌ„ Churches Christians in al ages haue euer â—…in for euer to the worlds end so shal be as shepe amoÌ„g wolues doues among Hawks sacrifices among priests TheÌ„ the old father embraced hâ—… two yong sonnes lying flat on the ground with theÌ„ crying aloud vpoÌ„ the mercy of God was with mâ—…ny wounds â—…oth he his sonnes slaughtered by those butchers long tyme afterward their thrée bodies hard knit togither yelded a piteous spectacle to many that behelde them In the meane time Mandelot in iest and scorne as it séemed caused to be proclaimed by the cryer that no man should committe any â—…laughter in the town that if any would detecte the doers of any such slaughter he would giue him a huÌ„dreth crowns in reward for his information And froÌ„ that time they ceassed not to kil to rob to spoyle The next day after which was the first of September the greatest part of the deade bodies were thrown into the riuer of Sene and the rest of theÌ„ Mandelot to féede glut his eyes heart with bloud caused to be caried by boat to the other side of the water there to be thrown down vpoÌ„ the grene grasse near vnto the Abbey called Esne There the people of Lions specially the Italians of whome by reason of the Marte there is great store in the towne satisfied their eyes a while did such spites as they could to those heapes of carcases so exercised their crueltie not vpon the lyuing onely but also vpon the deade And there hapned one thing which for the abhominable crueltie is not to be omitted There came to that spectacle certaine Apothecaries amoÌ„g those bodies they perceiued some very fat ones by by they went to the butchers told them that they did vse to make certeÌ„ special medicines of maÌ„s greace that they might make and profit therof Which as sone as the butchers vnderstoode they ran to the heapes chose out the fattest and launced them with their kniues and pulled out the fat and solde it for money to the Apothecaries While these thinges were doing at Lions the King being enformed that diuers of the religion had left their wiues children and were fled out of the other townes and lurked some in the woods and some among their friendes such as toke pitie on them he practised with â—…aire wordes to allure aâ—…d cal them home againe He sent to euery part messaÌ„gers letters affirming that he was highly displesed with those slaughters horrible butcheries that he would that suche crueltie shuld be seuerely punished if the Admiral with a few of his confederates had entred into any secrete practise it was no reason that so many innocents should beare the punishment due to a fewe Many swetely beguiled wyth these wordes of the King and with the letters of the gouernours retired home againe to their dwellings and houses specially they of Rhoan Diepe and Tholouse There were scant two dayes passed when they were againe commaunded to pryson where they were all shutte vp Then were murderers a newe appoynted of the most base and rascall of the people to torment them with all kinde of torture and then to slay them And throughout the whole realme of France for thirtie dayes togither there was no ende of killing slaying and robbing so that at this day there are about a hundreth thousande little babes widowes and children that were wel borne that nowe fatherlesse and motherlesse liue wandering and in beggerie About this time the King caused to be proclaymed that such as had any office or place of charge vnlesse they would spedily return to the Catholike apostolike and Romish Church should giue ouer those their temporall roomes There was no towne nor any so small a village or hamlet wherein all the professors of the Religion were compelled either to goe to Masse or presently to take the sworde into their bosomes and in many places it happened that such as being amazed with the sodainenesse of the matter had abiured their Religion yet notwithstanding were afterwarde slayne And while these things were still in doing yet the King in the meane while sent abroade his letters and messages into all partes and caused to be proclaimed with trumpet that his pleasure was that the Edictes of pacification shuld be obserued and although they coulde not haue fréedome to vse and exercise their Religion in open places yet they should haue libertie permitted them to retaine and professe it within their owne houses and that no man should 〈◊〉 with or disturbe the goodes and possessions of those of the Religion And the same Kyng which but fewe dayes before hadde by letters directed to all the gouernours of his Prouinces signified that his cousin the Admirall was slaine by the Duke of Guise to his great sorrow and that himselfe was in great daunger the same Kyng I say nowe caused it wyth sounde of trumpet to be proclaimed that the traiterous and wicked Admirall was slayne by his will and commaundement He that in fewe dayes before had by new authoritie confirmed the libertie of Religion permitted by his Edicts of pacification the same Kyng did now not onely take from the professors thereof their offices and honours but also prescribed them in precise forme of wordes a forme of abiuring and detesting their Religion Which things least any man should doubt of we shal hereafter set downe the very true copies of the said Letters Edicts Abiurations THE KINGS LETTERS to the Gouernours of Burgundie vvhereby he chargeth those of the house of Guise for the murther committed vpon the Admiralles person and for the sedition vvhich hapned at Paris and commaundeth that the Edicte of Pacification shoulde be kept and reteyned COVSIN YOV HAVE PERCEYued what I wrote vnto you yesterdaye concerning my Cousin the Admiralles wounding and howe readie I was to doe my endeuour to search out the truth of the deed and to punishe it wherin nothing was lefte vndone or forgotten But it happened since that they of the house of Guise and other Lordes and Gentlemen their adherentes whereof there bee no small number in this Citie when they certaynly knewe that the