one Salcedo a Spanyard which before had escaped the gibbet of Roan for coyning false coyne with his false gold and siluer wrought by Alchimie fled into Spayne and from thence into Lorrayne where the Guizes hiered him for sixe thousand Crownes which they payed him at Nancie in Lorrayne to murther Monsieur This Salcedo therefore hauing his money and his lesson without the booke went into France proffered his seruice to Monsieur afore he went into the Lowe Countrey and at the recouerie of Cambray shewed some token of dexteritie and in the Low Countrey did all that could be to creepe into greater fauour with Monsieur But withall entered in familiaritie and communication with the yongest sonne of Egmond for which cause the sayd Egmond began to be suspected both of Monsieur and the Prince of Orenge who being examined by the sayd Prince about Salcedos familiaritie answered that their communications were about Alchimie The Prince with a certaine presagious minde replied that he feared that a more dangerous Alchimie would ensue of their familiaritie admonished the sayd Egmond to call to remembrance the dealing of the King of Spayne with his father The Prince of Orenge and Monsieur departed from Antwerpe to Bridges in Flanders where they arriued the 17. day of Februarie Now this conspiracie deuised at Rome confirmed in Spayne brought from thence by Frier Mathewe the Pardoner set in readines to Nancie in Lorrayne the Duke of Parma aduertized thereof thought good with one dayes worke to dispatch these two noble Princes He thought good to bring somewhat of his owne least the Leaguers onely should haue the glorie of this murther therefore to Salcedo he ioyned two companions knowing that a string twisted is not so easily broken These two fellowes were Francisco Baza an Italian of the band of Fernando Gonzago which was in the Campe of the petie Duke of Parma and a Wallon During the time these two Princes were in Bridges Salcedo aduanced himselfe so neere Monsieur that vpon suspition he was apprehended then stayed there in the Court without the sayd Italian and the Wallon tarying for Salcedo This Italian expecting with great desire when Salcedo should come foorth asked of another whether Salcedo were within still Answere was made that he was being asked the question whether hee knewe Salcedo When the Courtier was gone in againe the Italian entring in feare would haue fled but being suddenly layd hold on was examined and confessed the whole conspiracie Salcedo which would not know the Italian before now when he was accused by Baza sayd that the sayd Baza was a muletier and a lyer But Baza answered he would shewe before Salcedo his face such proofes of this matter that his declaratioÌ„s should be found true The malcontent Wallon fled away The 24. of Iuly the young Egmond being brought to the Court to Monsieur perceiuing how Salcedo had accused him reuealed all whatsoeuer Salcedo had opened vnto him Vpon which confession Egmond was committed prisoner to the Magistrate of the towne The 28. Francisco Baza the Italian was examined vppon the Racke who confessed and reuealed horrible things The 30. this desperat Italian with a knife which he had craftily gotten first strooke himselfe in the bellie nigh the nauell and after in the breast on the left side and so killed himselfe And immediatly after by the Magistrate of the Citie was condemned for a murtherer and a Traytor The Wallon malcontent named Nicholas Hugo alias de la borde being afterward taken and examined confessed the conspiracie The King vnderstanding what was done purposed and attempted sent two of his Counsell into the Lowe Countrey to Bridges to bring the said Salcedo into France tooke the paynes in his owne person to examine him and hauing by the said Salcedo his owne confession knowne what was intended at Nancie attempted at Bridges caused the sayd Salcedo to be condemned of treason by the Court of Parliament of Paris and by their sentence the sayd Spanyard Salcedo was drawne and torne with foure Horses There were also some prisoners at Paris about that matter About the same time or not long after one Monsieur de Muy being wounded at the siege of Fere the Duke of Guize went out of Paris in post to be his ghostly father and to giue him some good ghostly counsell not to tell tales out of the schoole nor to discouer holy mysteries The Archdeacon of Toul in Lorreyne named des Rosiers had written a booke of genealogies of the Lorreyns bringing them out of the belly of the house of Eroy to the defacing and disalowing the possession of the crowne by the Valoys About the same time the King sendeth the president Brulard to make his processe and by him was condemned of high treason but afterward by intercession made was quited by recanting and condemning his booke before the Kinges counsaile The Guyzes being thus disappointed of their driftes with the losse of 6. thousand crownes faint not for all y t but follow on their course for they must néeds to see an end of Monsieur whom they thinke to be such a blocke in their way as they cannot ouerlâ—ape without stumbling dangerously There was a holy woman in Paris by name Madam sainte Geneuieue who was so holy that both the King Henry the third and Monsieur his brother would often times goe a pilgrimage to her with much Romish deuotion but with litle honesty she must do the feat for the aduauncing of the holie League and vpholding of the holy Church The Guyzes therefore to spéede well must offer a candell to that Saint of Paris to bée good to them and to doe for them that which God would not doe at their earnest prayers to repaire to Monsieur which was thenat Chasteautierry vpon the riuer of Marne in Brie and that she should haue with her boxes of Concerues This blessed Virgin therefore tooke her iourney to Monsieur ward with her holy boxes with her shée was the more welcome to Monsieur because he had not séene her of a long time he being otherwise somewhat pensiuâ— for missing of his purpose in the low Countrey and for the losse of his credit which he left behinde him at Antwerpe yet for the recreating of him selfe with his olde acquaintance they must banquet together and haue a good merry day once ere they depart Shée came forth with her holy boxes where holy dregges of Rome had béene out of the which she gaue him a bole so hard of digestion that it did him no good for it did lie so heauie vpon his heart that he neuer left vomitting of blood as long as there remained life in him and in like maner as his brother Charles the ninth did before him he died the 10. day of Iuly on the which day his father Henry the second died 24. yeares before As soone as the King was certifyed of the death of his brother he sendeth the Duke de Espernon to the King of Nauarre to aduertise him that he held
him for his sonne and true heire of the Crowne in France in case he doth decease without issue But to come to the matter now here is a blessed daies worke for the Guyzes and holy Church Vp master Frier and get you to Rome the holy Citie once againe to Sir Hugh to shew him what good lucke wée haue and that all thinges do happen as wée would haue them but that we haue néede of his ghostly counsaile Whilest Frier Mathew carier of the Guyzes goeth to do his message as well as he could they of the Guyze with their partakers do dispearse themselues into all partes of the Realme to allure Townes and Cities but especially them that were Malecontentes to their deuotion after the which progresse of theirs with importunacy they do procure the King to call the assembly of the states of the realme at Bloys to the which they had altogether laboured their fauorers and such as did desire nothing more then the decay of the King and increasing of the Guyzes In the same assembly that the King might haue the blame himselfe of the breaking of the peace it was requested First that the edict of pacification should be reuoked and the exercise of the reformed religion forbidden Secondly that the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and all the nobilitie professing the same religion should be exiled out of the realme all others of the same profession should be enforced either to abiure or els to depart forthwith out of the Realme Thirdly that the 8. townes which were giuen them for 6. yeares should be put into the kinges handes alleaging that the time was expired The king being desirous to entertaine his subiectes in peace knowing well the frutes of ciuil warre dissolued the states promising shortly to assemble the best wisest and most experienced of his realme to haue their aduise for the reformation of all thinges About the same time of the states beeing at Bloys the king of Nauarre sendeth new aduertisementes to the king about the intent and open practises of the league willing him to haue some care of himselfe and sheweth him the present danger that he stood in After the returne of Frier Mathew from Rome the Bariesuits in the latter end of September held a certaine Synode or Clandestine conuenticle in Paris in the which the said Frier Mathew as president did rule the rost hauing receaued direction of Sir Hugh vicar of Rome where according to the said directions they lay downe the methode to stirre vp the coles to raise vp seditions and rebellious in all partes but especially to increase the hatred of all men against them of the religion but namely against the king of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde and for that end they forged an infamous libell as more amply shal be shewed The king according to his promise made to the States at Bloys in the latter end of the yeare 1584. called at Saint Germayn in Faye his chéefest and best learned Senators of all his Parliamentes there to shew him the best and readiest meanes to ease the people and to restore the realme to some good state On the other side the king of Nauarre considering that the time appointed to surrender the 8. townes committed to his custody was expired and that the rage of his enemies was rather increased then diminished and that their meanes their factions and their furie was now greater then euer it had béene and that imminent daungers were at hand assembled a méeting of the Nobilitie which professed the reformed religion at Montaulban a strong City in Quercye where Monsieur Belieure one of the kinges counsaile was present to prouide for their common affaires And whereas the king of Nauarre his enemies had spread abroad both by false rumors and libels that immediatly after the death of Monsieur he was returned to the Catholike religion and was gone to Masse the said king of Nauarre therefore to satisfy all men against that false rumor and slaunder protested openly that he knew the truth to be on his side and that by Gods assistance he would stand to the profession and defence of the reformed religion vnto the end and that hée would acknowledge none other fortune but onely that There by the common aduise of all that assembly it was thought good that considering the great daungers which seeme to threaten them of the reformed Religion and generally all France a supplication should bee presented to the king that of his méere fauour clemencie be would continue the kéeping of the said Townes to the king of Nauarre for certaine yeares more Vpon this conclusion the Lord Laual with other deputies were sent to the King at the assembly which was at Saint Germain and shewing the cause of their comming to the king and complaining of diuers iuiuries daily done to them of the reformed religion by the leaguers the 11. of December 〈◊〉 the king granted them the keping of the said townes for 2. yeares longer charging them that for iniuries done to them they should not séeke to reuenge their owne cause for breaking of the peace But that they would shew their gréefes to the King of Nauarre who thereupon should make meanes to him for amendes Whilest all these thinges were working on euery side the king of Nauarre séeing that neither so many aduertisementes from euery part of France geuen to the king neither that which hée himselfe saw namely the partialities societies fraternities leagues confederacies and preparations of the house of Guyze did any whit moue or warne the king to looke to himselfe and to his affaires which thing he might easily haue done in time The said king of Nauarre had sent the Lord de Segur Pardillan superintendent of his house to the Quéene of England the king of Dēmarke the Princes electors the Lands-graue of Hessen and to other States of Germany for thrée causes first to compound the controuersies about certaine articles of religion not as yet agréed vpon in the reformed Churches y t the enemies of the commō cause might not distoine them by that occasiō Secondly to renue the ancient friendship and aliaunce in that sort as it had véene of old Thirdly to dispose a summe of money in Germany in such order that therby he might there prouide succour if he were assaulted by his enemies The said Lord Perdillane returned home to the king of Nauarre in December 1584. when the king did hold his counsaile at Saint Germayn The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE NOw when the Guyzes do draw néere their time to bring forth that monster of treason which they had conceaued they haue many secret conferences with y t Duke of Parma pety sonne to Peter Aloyse Pharnese the Popes bastard hanged at his windowes by his owne subiectes for his execrable life Also with Bernardine Mendoze Giouan Bardachino the king of Spaine his Coriero the Bishop of Cominges bastard sonne to the Lord Lansake playing Dromo betweene them
making their pulpets the trompets of murther treason and rebellion for beside that they did inuaigh against the King in all manner of vile tearmes and interpreting all his actions maliciously to the worst they also forbad the people vpon paines of spirituall and bodily punishment for if they did it was a capitall crime to pray for the King Also the inhabitantes of the citie of Rhemes in Champaigne published an infamous libell comming forth out of the Iesuites forge bearing this title A grieuous lamentation of the inhabitants of the citie of Rehmes vpon the death of the Cardinal Archbishop of Rehmes peere of France and what may he not be if they would That libell was sawced with infamous inâ—ectiues vnworthy and outragious speeches against the king by their language the authors thereof did testifie sufficiently their consent in the rebellion of other towns and cities And seeing that the priests Iesuites and Friers did say such a masse at the funerall of their Bishop it was no marueile if the ignorant people who beleeued them answered Amen And for as much as among those rebellious countreys and cities there were none of the reformed religion vpon whome they might spew their gall they called their owne Priestes Parsons Vicars and Curates for to subscribe vnto their rebellion charging them vpon payne of death not to pray in their massing for the King But such as kept an vpright heart to their Prince and would not conient to their prohibition but in their prayers or otherwise did wish well to the King were executed as male factors and great fauour was shewed them vpon great intreatie of friends if they might escape with depriuation of their liuings or imprisonment and cary away their liues for a pray And by such iniuries shewed vnto their owne priests they placed such as were fit to serue their turnes in kindling more and more the fire of sedition The third taske appoynted to the Fryers and Iesuites was to render the King of Nauarre and them of his part execrable in the eares of all men that by the consent and generall misliking of all men if it were possible he might be excluded from his right of succession The occasion was thus The 26. of December the King of Nauarre had surprized the towne of Niort in Poytow of the taking it of the said Kings gracious goodnes and clemency shewed vnto the inhabitants his deadly enemies which had committed great outrages vpon them of the reformed Religion against his owne person against the Princes of the blood and of late agaynst the Lord Valette an officer of the Crowne of France as it is sufficiently spoken of before These writers of lies to testifie to the world whose Children they are did set foorth such ridiculous falshoods and execrable calumnies and that with as much assurance as they tell vs of their lies and lying miracles which they did worke with their holywater among the sauadge people of Giapane whether they be sure that no man will send to enquire about the truth of the matter with so bolde and impudent faces they did auerre most manifest lies which out of any parte of France might bee disprooued within foure dayes The shamâ—les pamphlet went abroade with this inscription The execrable cruelties committed by the heretiks against the Catholicks of the towne of Niort in Poytow The fable sayth that they of the religon would neuer haue taken that towne without the intelligences of the politicks that is to say of them which fauour the king which were within the sayde towne It is sayde in the Pamphlet that the Kinges officers of Iustice were slayne that the Maior and the Aldermen of the towne were hanged That many were hanged onely for that they would not denie their religion also that all the Priests and Monkes were hanged for companie Also a Priest was opened aliue before his fellowes by terror to make him denie God and his noble partes were pulled out but they remayned as constant as rocks for all those cruelties and valiantly suffered martyrdome That there were innocent persons killed in such great number through the towne euen betweene two or three hundred persons so that the streets flowed with blood and dead bodies That the heretikes as the fable sayth tooke a woman which reprooued them of their cruelties whom they would haue enforced to deny the Masse which thing shee refusing they filled her belly with powder and then set fire to it to make hir burst so that sayth the lyer there is nigh three hundered martirs there put to death which are now in heauen These holy Martyrs may be called in one word holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All this lying lybell is easily confuted euen by the inhabitants themselues by the Magistrates by the Priestes who there do liue in liberty of their Religion and by all the people who will testify that there was no such thing nor otherwise then is recited in the discourse of the surprise of their towne but will testify of the Christian mildnes clemency and moderatnes of the King of Nauarre and surprisers to haue béene far greater then euer they could haue expected or had deserued at his hands But this grosse kind of lying was spread abroad to hasten the rebellion of the Citties and to render the people vntamed and hard harted agaynst true and dutiful obedience whatsoeuer might fall hereafter as if to fall into the handes of the King of Nauarre and of them of the Religion were to fall among sauage beastes mad Tygers and cruell Lyons The King considering that the more he endeuored himselfe to winne the rebels by gentlenes clemency and promising of impunity the more hardned obstiuate insolent and bolde they became Seeing that he must be driuen by force to chastise their rebellions first he procéedeth against them by order of law And for as much as the Dukes de Mayne Aumale and Cheualier Aumale he as if it were subroged in the places of the Duke of Guyze and the Cardinal his brother the King doth first and chiefly proceede iudicially agaynst them three by proscription as attaynted of fellonie rebellion and high treason First the King doth shew himselfe to be a King ordayned and geuen of God hauing receaued of God that sword and power which he had not by vsurpation but by lawfull and naturall right of succession Secondly hee doth shew the great benefites which hee and the Kings his predecessors had bestowed vpon them and namely that he hath spared their liues whom he might iustly haue punished for their diuers attemptes fellonies and disobedience for the loue which hee had vnto them and their house He sheweth also how he had since this their last rebellion sent vnto them diuers of his faythfull seruants with letters and euen Heraulds of arms to let them vnderstand his good will and readines to put vp all iniuries offences and to receaue them to his fauour But that in stead of humbling themselues and of accepting his gracious fauour
they knew to be about the Kings person in great number wayting for opportunitie to deliuer him prisoner to his enemies or else to dispatch him out of his life with one blow knowing that by their counsels his forces diminished his cities and strong holdes were surprized his enemies waxed strong But specially they feared greatly the playes and tricks which they had taught Charles the ninth his brother and him which they had played many times with them of the religion they I say feared at length to bee snared in the like springes Therefore all these things wel considered they begin euery where to strike the alarum and prepare themselues to the battell against God their King their countrey their liâ—erties and the graues of their fathers So that the Lords Brissak Chastre and Boysdauphin to whome a little before the king had forgiuen great treasons who a little before had promised with an oath obedieÌ„ce to the king who did shewe a semblant of great ioy for the execution done at Bloys they priuily doo steale away and breaking their fayth promise and allegeaunce to their king reuolted agayne to the enemie Brissak went to Anger 's where he thought to cause that Citie to rebell agaynst the king for some of the citie of Anger 's had hitherto dissembled their affection and good wills whch they had to the league and rebellion as well because they had the king at Bloys and Tours who looked to them neerely and narrowly as for not hauing the meanes to execute their enterprize But now at the reuolcing of Brissak they made him head of their enterprize for to seaze vpon the Castell one of the strongest places in all France And for to bring their counsell to a good passe with speede fearing least by delay they might be preuanted by the king being so nigh them therefore they followe a short course for first they trie what corruption may doe They doo promise to the Lord Pichery gouernour of the Castell an hundred thousand crownes and to entertaine foure thousand footmen so that he would keepe it for the league The Lord Pichery as a faith full seruant to his Prince refused all those proffers whereupon the Lord Brissak with the rest of the rebells within the towne did assault the Castel and fortified themselues by all meanes with trenches and barricadoes vpon the ditch of the sayd Castell Whereuppon the Lord Pichery aduertised the King of the state of his affayres and attempts of the Lord Brissak and inhabitantes of the towne The King sent the Marshall Haumont with the regiment of Picardy and part of his guardes who were admitted into the Castell by the Lord Pichery who opened vnto them the great bridge of the said Castell Assoone as the Marshall Haumont entred into the Castel although the rebels were in farre greater number yet the skirmish began then was it tyme for the enemy to packe away in hast many of the rebels were slayne There they were taken prisoners to the Kings vse so many as yeelded one hundred throusand crownes for raunsome Some were executed in the towne and chiefly some Iesuits and Fryers who had beene the firebrands to kindle the combustion and the trompets of the rebellion The Lord Brissak head of the rebellion there saued himselfe by flight with few of his company and seazing vpon the townes of Mans Alençon and Faleze caused the inhabitants there to rebell agaynst the King About the same time the Duke Mercure desirous to get the fauour of the townes and people to assure better the dutchy of Britaine to himselfe tooke vpon him the name of protector of the Romish Church in that prouince of Britanie by the helpe of the Bishops and other rabble of that sinagogue who prescribed certaine formes vnto the Iesuites and Friers whereby in theyr sermons to bring the people to that deuotion Although Christian Reader thou mayst easily perceaue by the whole course of this his history how from time to time the house of Guyze who were not so much by nature as to bee admitted into the society of the Nobility of France at the first made a fayre wether after that preferred them selues before the Princes of the bloud And when through too much lenity of the house of Valoys toward them they had obtayned that they haue practized to steale away the hearts of subiects from their natural Prince at length haue enterprized vpon his life And when by a singular prouidence God had deliuered the King out of their snares and clawes and see they are not able to depriue him of his life they doo depriue him of his Crowne ad dignitie First by the iudgment of Sorboune Secondly by the assotiatiation with they haue sworne to present him to death by all meanes possible Thirdly by taking away from him the name of King though not in plaine tearmes yet by paraphrase as when one taketh vpon him to be the protector of the Crown of France y â— other protector of the Church and giue the same to themselues which properâ—y is and hath beene the office of the king of France For the Kings in France haue had alwayes that honour as due vnto them by right to be Protectors of the Crowne Dignitie State Kingdome Church and people of their dominions and neuer yeelded that title to any man neither durst euer any man vsurpe that title vntill this yeare 1589. by these two companions to wit the Dukes de Mayne and Mercure But it may be obiected that the same title hath béene geuen and taken to the King of Nauarre as protector of the reformed churchs of France and therefore they do that which the heretikes haue taught them To this it may be answered that the case is not alike for the reformed churches were forsaken of the King without any cause at the solicitation of flatterrs sycophantes and clawbaâ—kes who to bring the King to that confusion that hee is come vâ—to did hold his kingdome into troubles and ciuill warres by litle and little to entrench vpon his authority at length to tread him downe vnder feete That part therefore of the Kings subiects which was the best though not the greater in number being wrongfully put from the Kings protection and assaulted euery where haue recourse not to a stranger nor strange bloud the first Peere and Prince of France who after the King hath most interest to the Crowne him they haue requested to protect them vnder the Kings authority against the violences of them who did so counsell the King to forsake the protection of his people But these companyons what hath moued them to vsurpe these tytles The King did neuer forsake the Crowne nor the Romish Church in godliues that way in zeale in integrity and austericy of life in wisedome prudence and fortitude to defend the romish Church he hath passed all the Kings of all ages he hath bestowed his forces hath spent his goods hath ventered his life diuers times hath made shipwracke of his honor for
holy Church They let him vnderstand how among all other order of Friers his had deserued the greatest praise in spilling daily the bloud of heretikes as water in the townes and citties of Spaine and Jtaly and all for the honor of God and exaltation of holy Church But this pinch would be the noblest act that euer was done by any man the rememberance thereof should remaine for euer and his name should be made immortall thereby and if he should die he should dye a glorious Martir as Thomas Becket did in England Afterwad he was brought to the Ladies catholike and chast women the Duchesses of Montpencier Guyze Aumale Nemours Foyeuse the mother and the holy Virgin the Ladie Saint Beufue who as a speciall fauour had bestowed the pockes of late vpon the Duke de Mayne and beside diuers of the principall leaguers in the time of her Virginitie This Lady is of such holynes that shee is neither a maide nor wife nor widow in this company were Thais Lais and Bacchis of Corinthus all holy Catholike women They began to shriue the Frier if they were men or if they could be so transformed into men that they might haue accesse to the tirant they could finde in their harts to stabbe him that is a speciall point of honor which they do proffer him to doo such a famous deed It is hereditarie to his order to exalt the Church and to deliuer it hee is a man endued with strength they haue béen his good Ladies they haue fauoured him greatly and pleasured him in any thing that euer he requested What will hee not do so much at their request they must die all and all the citie of Paris what a good deede it is to saue the liues of Princesses Ladies good Citizens deuout Priests and religious men of so many innocents whose death the tirant had sworne with the razing of the cittie If he refuseth to do that good deede they thinke him not to be that man that they tooke him for They shewed him how easy it was to performe it for there were many Leaguers and their partakers in his counsell in his court in his chamber in his campe in his gardes who would assist him and if any danger should stirre they would defende him and rescue him and that none would bee so hardie as to proffer him a blowe for else Frier Pagarola would fome like a boare and thunder like a deuill against them What and if it should happen that he should die for holy Church then he should be happie to deserue the name of Martir that his brother Frier Sixtus would make him a Sainâ—t But if hee returne safe as hee shall no doubt God forbid else hee shall be well rewarded in money hee shall haue a Bishopricke for his paines Frier Paugarola will procure Frier Sixtus to make him a Cardinall for a Frier will doo for a Frier and who knowes not that by these meanes hee may be made Pope after Frier Sixtus is weary of his roome To bee short if hee will not do it he shall see with his eies his good Ladies all his order all the good Catholikes of the whole citty of Paris put to the sword the cittie razed for the tirant hath sworne both he shall die himselfe an assured death ere it bee long the holy Masse the holy Saints Images and relikes the Churches shall all be destroyed and the heretikes shall haue all thinges all these mischiefes cannot be auoyded but by his death By these perswasions the accursed Fryer otherwise ready ynough to all mischiefe is induced to commit one of the most villanous parts which euer was committed in France So Sathan hauing possessed his hart the Fryer perswadeth himselfe that an Angell hath appeared vnto him and commaunded him to kill the King he opened this to another Fryer which was greatly esteemed in Paris by reason of a good opinion of great holines which the people had of him The other Fryer doth encourage him promiseth him that by doing such a holy deed he shall deliuer the Church and set the whole realme at quiet banish warre and restore a most assured and perpetuall peace as Iudith did deliuer Betulia by the death of Holofernâ—s Behold Christian reader the King condemned to dye the executioner to commit the parricide sought out by Pichenard perswaded by the heads of the League and some Ladies belonging to them deluded by Sathan confirmed in this delusion by another Frier as good as himselfe with assured promise of a most sure and constant peace Frier Clement desireth to knowe how he may doo it surely and safely The Leaguers therefore enter into deliberation about three things to wit the accesse to the Kings person the stroke and secrecie As for the first poynt to conuey him to the Kings person they considered his coate which for the reuerence and loue which the King did beare to it would prepare him the way Secondly whereas the rebels in seazing vpon Paris after the death of the Duke of Guize had taken the Senate prisoner and did as yet hold a great many prisoners and among other the first President of the Senate named the President Harlay They had also in like sort many of the chiefest Citizens for bearing good will to the King or because they were rich as is aforesayd whom they detayned in like manner prisoners The sayd Lord President and some of the sayd Citizens procured to write letters vnto the King which should bee deliuered to Frier Iames Clement They taught him also a lesson contayning matters of importance with commaundement that they should not be disclosed vnto any man but vnto the King onely and that in secret As for the stroke it must néedes bee deadly too for els it would but increase their miserie and such a blowe could not bee giuen but by a secret weapon that might bee hidden easily about him for otherwise if it could be perceiued it would make the King more warie hereafter and carefull of himselfe But what could be more fit then a knife which might bee easily conueyed in the Friers sleeue and whose noyse might not detect the treacherie But yet there was another mischance to be preuented for the wouÌ„d of a knife might light vppon such a place as could not be deadly they finde the meanes to worke surely that if he cannot kill him out of hand yet that at length it may be his death Therefore Frier Paugarola Frier Sixtus his Chaplaine must blesse the knife with some poulderdoribus of Rome which such men as he is doo commonly carry in store for great holines among other holy reliques of Rome hauing greater force theÌ„ their Agnus dei or any other agios others they haue to worke miracles and such as the master Frier in Rome dooth vse to giue in a drench to his friends when hee is wearie of their companie to make them giue roome But because such waightie matters cannot bee kept so close very long but will vent out
the Sonne of God So the Lord knoweth who are his Herein also appeareth euidently the mercifulnes of God who worketh all things to the best and comfort of his children For when as the Rebels and murtherers supposed that by the Kings death they might easily make an alteration of the state and transferre the Crowne vpon the head of the Duke de Mayne and so disappoynt the Princes of Bourbon of their right of succession the Lord turned al their counsels vpside downe For the Lord mooued the King lying on his death bed when he was in perfect memorie and farthest as the manner in such a case from all manner of affection and parciality to pronounce his sentence and decrée or rather supplying the person of God to proclayme the King of Nauarre right heire and successor of the crowne and by the inuocation of the glorious name of GOD bâ—und the Princes péeres Nobles Captaines and Souldiours to yéeld him dutifull obedience so that God himselfe hath béene the iudge of his cause giuing sentence on his side by him whome he appoynted his officer in that behalfe It will stand Thus much of the vnworthy death of so great a King in whom ended the issue of the noble house of Engolesme according vnto the fatall period of great Noble and mighty families which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein we haue to note the whole family excepted onely Francis the first as Henry the second Francis the second Charles the ninth Francis Duke of Aniou and this last King Henry the third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per sanguinem ruit and haue died of an vntimely or violent death because they were polluted with that accursed woman Catherine Medicis Pope Clement his sisters brothers daughter And so making an end of the Epitasis of this vnnaturalltragedie played by leaguers we will make an end likewise of this 6. Booke Here endeth the 6. Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE NOw we will follow the Catastrophe and last act which although it be full of Calamities yet it is like to bee ended with a ioyfull and happie successe The King beeing dead great heauines and sorrowe seazed vppon men of all degrees the Campe was full of sorrow and lamentation the wise saw this to be new seeds of a world of euils which wil worke the vtter subuersion of France On the other side great reioysing was seene among the rebels and traitors authors and procurers of the murther their ioye they shewed diuers waies but speciallie with contumelies and sarcasmes demaunding one of another whether the Friers knife was sharpe enough or not The rebels in Paris certified of the assured death of the King and supposing that the army had béen greatly dismayed replenished with teares and lamentation conceaued a good hope to do some great and notable exploit and imagining that it were easie in this mourning of all men to defeat the Kings forces all that night the Duke de Mayne did muster and prepare a mighty army and early in the morning issuing out of the Suburbs was so receaued by the Kings forces that he was enforced to retire within the Citie with blowes and dishonor That morning being the third of August but by the right calender the 23. of Iuly the King of Nauarre who was appointed the Kings Generall lieutenant by the King after that hee had receaued the wound assembled the Princes Lords Nobility and Captaines to deliberat how to remedy those great euils and to put out that combustion which the rebels had kindled in all partes of the realme First there was a capitulation made and concluded betweene theKing and the said Princes and Nobles Lords gentlemen and souldiers that there should be no innouation made in the Romish religion but the same should stand and be exercised peaceably without any interruption And that the reformed religion should be contained with all liberty in the exercise thereof within the places where it was then at that present time established prouided that the Romish religion should bee there exercised also without any disturbance And that men professing these two religions liuing peaceably like good subiects should be protected by the Kings authoritie in their liues goods liberties and franchizes vntill that by a nationall Councell some good and peaceable order should bee taken for some reconsiliation or vniformitie touching religion Which thing the King promised by the faith of a Prince to kéepe inuiolably and with as much speede as might be to prouide that a Councell and méeting of the learned might be assembled This order being concluded and the obseruation thereof promised by the King all his Princes Nobles Lords Gentlemen and Captaines promised vpon their othes all duetifull fidelitie and obedience vnto the K. and to assist him with their liues goods and meanes as well in the defence of his royall authoritie agaynst all traytors rebels and Leaguers which goe about to vsurpe the state as in the execution of the exemplary punishment vpon them who haue procured or committed that haynous disloyaltie felony and treason vpon the Kings person last deceased and all others who shall be knowne consenting knowing or accessarie to the same This order being taken as the readiest and most expedient to vnite the subiects with the King being promised and sworne the King of Nauarre was saluted declared proclaymed and crowned King of France and Nauarre by the name of King Henry the 4. And whereas in this historie hée had béen discerned from the King of France by the title of King of Nauarre now in the course of this historie following he shall be simply named King without any other addition or title This noble King being proclaymed King is crowned and put in the possession of the Crowne of France due vnto him by right not with triffling childish and Monkish cerimonies with holy oyle holy water holy toyes and holy trashes but after the ancient manner of the Emperours of the Romanes in the Camp by the whole army Princes Péeres Nobles and Captaines of the kingdome Here Christian Reader is to be noted Gods most gracious fauour toward France and prouidence toward this great King for except the Lord had prepared this heroicall Prince to restablish this decayed state which was cast downe headlong into such a depth of miseries by the Leaguers as in mans iudgement it was impossible that it could euer haue been vnited againe but rather reduced into a lamentable desolation But the Lord in his mercie beholding from heauen his holy habitation with his lightfull countenance after so many tempests hath raised vp lead by the hand and placed by his own authoritie and power this great Prince on the Throan of that state whom hee hath endued with wisedome prudence fortitude moderatnes modestie iustice and pietie to bee able to heale the deadly wounds of that sickly state to pacifie the controuersies of religion to lodge therein iustice and iudgement so long exiled out of that common wealth and to restore peace so long wished and desired Againe
concluded a truce as is aforesaid in Daulphine and set that Prouince in some good stay with his campe marched toward Prouance to ioyne with the Lord Valete to reduce that countrey to the Kings obedience It is said before how the King during the déepe winter did great exploytes with prosperous successe in subduing the Countries of Beausse Anjou Toureyne Mayne Lauall Perche and most part of Normandie in reducing them to their duetie of aleageance restored them peace iustice and iudgement vtterly subuerted and troden vnder foote by the Leaguâ—rs and how hauing continued few dayes at the siege of Falaize tooke it by assault Now we will returne againe to few matters which were done in the end of this yeare It is said how the Duke de Maine after the Kings departure from Paris gaue himselfe to fight with the Coffers and counting houses of the Parisiens But for recreation sake also he put on the armor of Venus to fight with the Curtizans of Paris so that beeing molten in all filthy pleasures the Lady Saint Beufue or some other such Uirgin did so dresse him that his name shortly after was writteÌ„ in the Chirurgians hall among them that had the pockes and lying in Paris about two moneths with his army about the Citty without dooing any thing for the aduancement of the holy Union onely that it might appeare that he was a King of Fryers he was first annointed King of Fryers by the Chirurgians of Paris with that holy Oile and extreame vnction wherewith the Popes Priests Monks Fryers and Iesuits are oftentimes annoynted and after that crowned with such a crowne as the Fryers themselues are crowned with and about the time that he had somewhat recouered his strength and téeth began to be somewhat fast in his head and his drabbling had left him Fryer Sixtus who somewhat afore the Kings death had called home his Legat who was a Uenetian Bishop of Brixia for that he was thought in Rome to fauour very much the kings affaires vnderstanding the kings affaires to haue better successe then hee would wish or had expected sent a new Legat into France to comfort assist and further the affaires of the Rebels he sent I say Fryer Henrique Cardinall Caietan his brother Canuillo Caietan Patriark of Alexandria when he can haue it Frier Philip Siga Byshop of Placentia Frier Francis Pauigarola Bishop of Aste Hieronimo Moceuigo Bishop of Ceueda Laurence Bauchet Iudge de Rota and Secretarie of this Legacy all whelps of one litter and by one ye may know all the rest who were sent in company with their traine to rid Rome of so many Caterpillers These routes of filthy Friers with their Mouchachos arriued in Paris about the middle of December with loads of such blessings and holy reliques of Rome as the Mules of Frier Campegius did ouerthrow and scatter in Cheapside when hee came into England about the diuorsement of King Henry the eight and Queene Catharine of Spaine his first wife This Frier Henrique called the heads of the League to counsell keepeth a stirre with them chid them that they were lurking in taking their pleasures without dooing any thing for holy Church and holy vnion but now they must go about their businesse handsomly wherefore comprehendeth the whole affaires in four principall points whereof three of them he would performe himselfe And first after the maner of Fryers which is alwaies in their Sermons to remember their conuent to begin with the Deuill hee proclaimed a Iubile through all France to prooue yet whether hee might with that old patched net of robbery called indulgences fish any money to helpe his master who had sent him to fish to maintaine in their brauery the holy Mochachos and Curtizans in Rome During the time of this Iubile which began at the feast of the natiuity of Christ Frier Henrique do replenish the minds of the Parisiens with superstitions the streates of Paris with processions the Churches with sottish Idolaters his belly with the best meat he could get and his purse with as much money as he could This Fisher with his ragged net was not so much superstitiously receaued in Paris as he was despised and laught to scorue euen by the Catholiks generally through all France maruelling that this Saint Peter fisher had no better tooles to goe about his busines and so as the Prouerbe is seldome doo speede the fowler neuer the fisher for beside what he did in Paris in any where else he get not a poore peny to blesse himselfe Secondly he goeth about to weaken the King for hee wrote letters to the Cardinals Bishops and Nobility of the Catholick religion wherewith he warned them of the great danger of their soules in following ayding assisting a King heretick shewing them the great harme which this schisme would doo in time to the Catholick Church by which word he meant the Legioss of Locustes of Priestes Monkes Friers and Iesuites He wrote this supposing that his bare letter would haue caused the Catholicks by heapes to forsake the Kings defence and to ioyne with the rebels This letter of Frier Henryque had thrée diuers effects for first some Bishops thought good to repayre to the King to sée whether they could make him a Catholick to whome the King answered as he had once before answered a Cardinall that he was able sooner to make a Cardinall a Hugonet then a Cardinall would make him a Catholick Others as the Cardinals of Vendosme and Leuoncourt with diuers other Byshops were of opinion that it was most expedient to call a nationall counsel according to the which the king had promised to reforme himselfe But vnto this Frier Henrique the Legat would not harken by any meanes fearing both the light and the pinch The nobility answered that they did hold him for the true heire and successor of the Crown whom they would establish in the full possession therof and when the king had pacifyed the Realme they will thinke on that matter The third thing was to encourage the rebels to set vpon the king two manner of waies by counsell and money First he shewed vnto them that it was shame for them that while the king and hereticks had made great conquests they had done nothing but lurke and take their pleasures That Frier Sixtus his Masters pleasure was to set vppon the king with all their forces before hee were strengthened and confirmed in the kingdome the longer they should delay and linger the harder it would be for them to preuaile against him Now they ought to beate the yron while it is hot and followe the matter while the rebellion is vniuersall the number of partakers great the hearts of them animated while there is great store of money gotten out of the coffers of the inhabitants of Paris out of the confiscations and proâ—criptions of the Royalls they had receaued great store of the Catholick K. of Spayne and he had also charge from Fier Sixtus to deliuer to them fiftie
part of them had béene slayne in the assaults geuen to the Cittie and how the King was strong and not like to bee enforced to depart afore hee had the vpper hand ouer the sayd Towne And vnderstanding that the Duke de Mayne was come to Han with Forces in hope to relieue the sayd distressed towne and that the Lord Rosne who led the Duke de Mayne his army towards Lorreine was returning backe to Laon in Champaygne he delayed the time of composition to see what succor they would geue But at length seeing no reliefe comming and the King vrging the towne the sayd Lord Vile concluded an agreement with the King in this maner following The Lord Vile as well for himselfe as for the Gentlemen Souldiers and inhabitants of Noyon hath promised to yeeld the sayd towne vppon monday next following being the eighteenth of August together with all the munition for warre artillerie and victualls which at this present was therein conditionally if sometime of the day the Duke de Mayne doo not giue him a battell or by force put not within the towne one thousand souldiers or by some meanes doo not raise the siege Also that the sayd Ville Gentlemen and Captains shall depart with armour horses and baggage and the Souldiers with their weapons and horse And that the inhabitants shal be receaued into the Kings fauour entreated as good subiects in rendring him their duetifull obedience but specially and namely that the Lord of Ville his mother may freely remaine there enioy her goods in performing the submission of loyall fidelitie as other subiects Item that if any of the inhabitants be desirous to depart they shal safely passe among the men of warre Item that the Lord Ville shall be permitted to send the Lord of Brouly to the Duke de Mayne to aduertise him of the condition of this capitulation and that the King shall safely conduct him to that effect And for the accomplishing of the premises the sayd Lord Ville hath promised to sende hostages to the King the Lord Rieulx the Abbot of Genlis with foure of the towne such as the King shall choose whom the King doth promise to deliuer vppon the performance of the sayd conditions The King also doth graunt to send two Captaynes into the towne to keepe and see during the time from labouring to the contrary It had pleased the most famous and renowmed Queene of England during this siege to send a new supply of men to the King to assist him in the recouering the possession of his right vnder the conduct of thâ— most honourable and famous Earle of Essex whom the King leauing his power before Noyan went to meet at Gysors in Normandy whom hee receaued in most courteous sort accepting most thankfull her most excellent Maiesties gracious fauour and the said Earle his good and readie will for hazarding himselfe in such a dangerous iourney for his seruice After the death of Frier Sixtus which was hastened by the Spanish faction with a little slubber sauce was elected a newe Vicar of Rome of the house of Sfondraty if I remember well and is as much to say as burst bellie naming himselfe Gregory the 14. This Frier Gregory being set on horsebacke will ride as the prouerbe is vntil he breake his neck First in Ianuary he sent a Legate into France agaynst whom the King procéeded as agaynst an enemie of the publique peace of his subiects and in March last the sayd Frier Gregory pronounced a Bull agaynst the King his Princes Nobles subiects and realme Then not long after it is reported that he sent certain forces mustered out of the Stewes of Rome to the Duke of Sauoy to inuade Prouance conducted by some bastard of his and that Superstition Folly iniury and wrong might goe together he must coniure and charme the Standard of holy Church as all the sort of such idolatrous Antichrists haue bin Coniurers poysoners and Sorcerers many yeares together To play this Comedie he sitteth disguised in his Pontificalibus the Standard of holy Church holden before him he hisseth he bloweth hee mumbleth he crosseth he charmeth he stinketh but behold he that did hold it rather by some presage and token of the fall of that idolatrous rabble than by negligence let the Standard fall vppon the braynesicke Frier Gregories head which not onely did beate downe his triple Crowne from of his head but also gaue a knocke vppon his foolish pate All these companies shortly after were cut to peeces and the charmed Standard taken by the Lord des Diguieres as is reported Fryer Gregorie not content with all these iniurious prouocations sent one M. Marcilius Laudrianus by name an Italian by surname a Britaine but by sawcines and desperatnes a Iesuite vnder the name of his Nuncio to publish a certayne infamous libell full of impietie heresie and sedition vnder a Maske of religion in forme of Bulls against the King his Princes Nobles subieces but specially agaynst the French popish Church which this sawcie companion enterprized to publish at Pont de Larche in Normandie whereupon the K. finding himselfe sore iniâ—ried at the hands of this tyrannous vsurper commaunded his courts of Parliament to proceede by law agaynst these iniuries and so the Kings generall attourney in his court of Parliament holden at Caen in Normandie requiring iustice to be done vnto the King his Princes Nobles and subiects The court of Parliament therefore al Chambers assembled the third day of August did proceede agaynst Fryer Gregorie his person his vsurped tyranny his Nuncio and his Bulls First they doo declare the sayde Fryer Gregorie an enemie vnto the peace of Christianitie a troubler of the Catholick Romane Religion enemie to the King and Estate of France a conspiratour and associate with the rebells within the realme and accessary to the death of the late deceased King most trayterously murthered a firebrand of sedition and stirrer vp of warres and procurer of murthers Secondly they doe condemne his vsurped power vpon the state and Church of France to be vsurped abusiue and wrongful contrary to Gods worde holy decrees and liberties of the French Church commaunding all Primates Archbishops Bishops Colledges Couents Chapters Communalties bodies of Cities Curats Parsons and seruing Priests not to acknowledge any superiority or power of the same Fryer Gregorie nor to render him any obeisance neyther to assist or fauour anie excommunications publications or readings of any thing that should proceede from him The court also dooth forbid not to pursue or receaue of him or anie other whatsoeuer qualitie or conditioÌ„ they be his complices adherents any collations confirmations or prouisions for benefices graces dispensations or other expeditions nor to answere beare or cause to be borne by way of banque or otherwise any gold or siluer to y e court of Rome neither to pay any thing or render obeisance to the Archbishops Bishops his adherents who haue put in execution any of the pretended diffamatory libell
meanes as is aboue sayd in the Prouinces for the making of a strong league with as many as they were able they procured the towne of Montmarsan in Gascoyne to rebell against the King of Nauarre which he shortly after surprized in one night and brought the inhabitants to their duetie without any bloud shedding By their meanes also the Towne of Rause in the Countie of Armignake belonging to the King of Nauarre as the sayd King had entered into the Towne without any mistrust with eightéene Gentlemen the partakers of Guize there let the Percullis fall at his heeles and setting vppon him one offered the Caliuer at his breast But the sayd King neuerthelesse seazed vppon a Tower with his companie and made way to the rest of his traine to enter into the sayd Towne not suffering any of the inhabitants to be put to death buâ— onely him which had leuelled the Caliuer at his breast and that at the earnest sute of the Magistrates of the Towne accusing him with diuers other crimes In Ianuary the King sendeth an Ambassador to the Prince Casimier Palatine of Rhine named Vilaquier to excuse his doings with lyes surmizâ—s and slaunders as that they of the reformed religion had seazed vppon diuers and had committed murthers and cruelties vpon the Catholikes and that they required not the exercize of the religion for any conscience but for fashion sake only and that his States will not suffer him to execute the Edict of peace Vnto this message the Prince Casimier answered as shewing how the King was abused by the States which were none other but such as were enemies of his estate and perturbers of the peace vnder the name of the States and lastly willeth him not to cast his Realme into a miserable flame of ciuill warres for other mens pleasure The Prince Casimier also sendeth Butrich his Ambassador to the King to perswade him if possible were to entertaine the pâ—ace which was made so solemnely which he also willed to be called his peace The sayd Ambassador had audience at Bloys the 23. of February The 7. of March ensuing the sayd Butrich Ambassador surrendred in his Masters name the lands Lordships pensions and offices which the King had giuen him at the concluding of the peace For as much as the Guizes had spread abroad both through France Germany and other countries that the said Prince in consideration and respect of his particular profite was preiudiciall to the publike commoditie of his Souldiers The parish Priests about this time tooke the names of able men Souldiers were euery where secretly mustered according to Sir Hugh his counsell as is aforesaid The Iesuits also began to take the matter in hande to further conspiracies by rayling Sermons who by these meaues crept so deepely into the Kings fauour that he preferred the sawciest of them and them who could thunder most furiously against the reformed religion to Bishoprickes Abbeyes Prebends and other fat Benefices nourishing in his bosome from time to time the firebrands to set him and his Realme in combustion at the first opportunitie The Guizes seeing they could not win them of the religion to fauour their doings but rather that their agents were taken forbeu cozba considering also that they were not able to haue their desire vpon them fearing greatly the King of Nauarre whose wisedome vertue and valour they knewe well goe about to make him to some hatefull and to others contemptible Therefore the Admirall Villars father in lawe to the Duke de Mayne raised vp vpon him the old lye and flander reported of the Christians of the Primitiue Church vp the Pagans to the end that Sathan might bee like to himselfe to wit that the sayd King being at Agen in the night the candles should be put out That false report was spread abroad throughout France afore that any man had heard of it in the Citie of Agen. It was also reprooued for a most false lye by many Noblemen and Ladies of both religions which were then present Now the conclusion or rather collusion of the States was that they required the Edict of peace to bee reuoked the exercize of the reformed religion inhibited and Poperie to be set vp euery where The King was as desirous to graunt them as they to require the breach of the peace wherevpon fearefull persecutions were raised vp euery where great cruelties effected in diuers places vpon them of the religion and open warre denounced And for as much as the condemnation and execution of Monsieur could not be brought to passe as yet for many coÌ„siderations it was kept close and deferred to a fitter time But specially for that he might be a good instrument to be occupied against the King of Nauarre and them of the reformed religion Therefore they thought good to make him and the Duke of Guize Generall ouer the Kings forces Him I say to giue the more authoritie to the actions and enterprizes with greater terror The other was ioyned in Commission to preuent what might happen that Monsieur should not in any wise fauour the King of Nauarre nor his partakers any whit at all The King of Nauarre hauing such power as he could make in Guyen prepared himselfe vppon the defensiue and hauing a mightie power of Germaines readie to enter into France his enemies hearts were somewhat cooled and began to faint On the other side the King wanting money nothing was done By this expedition a great terror of the Germaines hauing seazed France the King now sheweth himselfe as desirous of peace as he was not long before of warre and sendeth his Mother to the King of Nauarre to treat for peace Now old Catie must shewe some Italian iuggling or els farewell Poperie After much chopping and chaunging of words the bargaine was made The King of Nauarre being at Nerack in Gascoyne receiued the peace with some restructions of the former Edict abhorring the slaughters of the Nobilitie and oppressions of the people This peace being concluded at Nerack the Guizes tooke it very grieuously as vnprofitable for the aduancing of that mysterie which did lye hidden in their braine and also for that the King went about to reforme many abuses brought in by warre and to restore the Nobilitie to ease the people of diuers charges For the Guizes would haue all these abuses to continue that in time it might serue for an olde cloake to couer withall their treacherous drifts as they did afterward at the rising of them in armes 1585. Diffidence and iealousies therefore did growe daylie betweene the King and the Guizes But the King to obtaine his intended purpose thought good to pacifie them calleth them to the Court dooth assigue them great pensions bestoweth great gifts and honors vppon them Yet they hauing alwaies a hartburning tickled with their accustomed ambition watching for the death of Monsieur determined to hasten them forasmuch as they feared him more than the King In the yeare 1579. the Guizes sent Frier Claude Mathew
rase but to shewe the vnaduised facilitie of that man who suffered himselfe to be so abused as to become a slaue and a Geta vnto the ambition of other men and by the same meane hath set his Countrey in the which hée did beare so many honors his naturall and lawfull Prince his house his kindred and familie so honorable ancient and famous in a miserable combustion and daunger to be rooted out for a vayne imagination to become a King But to returne to the purpose First they make him require the abolishing of the reformed religion and that the stablishing of the Catholike religion may not bee interrupted hereafter whatsoeuer alteration may happen in the succession of the Crowne they all of them I meane the Leaguers naming themselues falsly only except the Cardinall Bourbon Princes of the blood doo require that a Catholike successor may be nominated which to bee the Cardinall himselfe because he had as they supposed but few yeres to liue and therefore was not like to stand long in their way Secondly they doo require that the K. of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and their heires may bee declared incapable to succeede to the Crowne in case the King should dye without issue alleaging that they are heretickes and relaps And note that for the rest of the Princes of Bourbon to wit the Cardinall Vendosme the Earles Princes and Countie of Soyssons they doo exclude them from the succession of the Crowne because they are sonnes of an hereticke or otherwise contemptuously passe them ouer as not able to buckle with them The house of Monpensier is beyond the x. degree of aguation The King himselfe cannot liue long for they will prouide for that therfore the conclusion is easily to be inferred The Crowne is fallen in the laps of the Péeres of France they must procéede to election of a newe King And who should bee elected I pray you but Master Francis of Lorreyne Thirdly they do quarrell with the king for fauouring the Duke Espernon as though the king may not fauour but whom the Leaguers shall appoint him The cause they do pretend is that Espernon is a fauorer of heretikes that is to say he is too faithfull to the king for their turne Fourthly they do alleage that the Clergie Nobilitie and Commons are charged with intollerable bondage and exactions whom they would restore to their old dignity and liberty The king had geuen the gouernment of Prouance to Monsieur the great Pryor who had published the edict of peace according to the kinges commaundement and caused it to bee precisely obserued in his gouernment of Prouance But the Leaguers had drawen to their conspiracie a great number of that Countrey with Spanish pistolets and specially among others two noble men to wit Monsieur de Saultes and Vines These two applyed the market for the League in Prouance with Spanish Pistolets and woon on their side the Consul of Marseilles named Darius and a Captaine of the towne named Boniface The 9. day of Aprill these two heads of sedition came in the euening to the doore of one Boniface brother to this Captayne aforenamed who was the kings receauer in y t countrey with fained letters from Mōsieur great Prior which was at Aix the head towne in Prouance The said Boniface the kinges receauer came to the dore his owne wife carrying the Candel before him who was immediatly slaine by the said Captayne his owne brother the Consull Darius and their company at his owne doore and in his wiues presence This exploit done the Parricide himself with few of his owne company went vp to ransake the house and rifled all that was there to their lyking From thence with a company of seditious people armed they went to the houses of them of the reformed religion whom they lead with great violence and a great number of prisoners into the tower of Saint Iohn afterward made great hauocke of theyr goods The 10. day they tooke 4. of them more manly one named Chiousse and the other Antony Lambalent which they cruelly murthered and after that their bodyes had béen drawen through the stréetes at length they were cast downe ouer the walles into the towne ditch before the face of them who were detained prisoners in Saint Iohns tower intending to dispatch the rest in like sort the morow or shortly after The 11. day the seditious seaze vpon y e fort of Nostre Dame de la garde and wrote letters to Monsieur Vines praying him to come in all hast with some fortes to take the towne to the vse and kéeping of the League promising him their assistance The Duke of Neuers a man of his owne Countrey to wit an Italian did then lurke in Auignon and had procured 4. Galleyes of the Duke of Florence to be in readines in the hauen vnder the colour to goe to a maryage into Italy at the first newes to haue hasted out of Auignon and with his companie ioyning to Monsieur of Vines to haue made that towne sure for the kyng of Spaine according to their agreement when they cosened him of his Pistolets or else to some pety Duke of Italy There was a certayne man in the City of great wealth credit power named Boukier for feare of this man many of the chiefest citizens by reason of some particular displeasures standing in great distrust of him supposing that now he would take occasion to be reuenged of them fledde into the Abbey of Saint Victor But Boukier considering the daunger that the towne stoode in and the common perill of them all sent to them that had fled into the said Abbey aduertysing them that the time did not require to call to remembrance priuat iniuries assured them of his good-will and safety of his part and required their assistance in kéeping the said towne in the kinges obedience and to looke to the common preseruation of themselues These fearfull Citizens being so reconcyled and encouraged by this waighty occasion and ioyning together went to know of the said Consul Darius Captaine Boniface by what authority they did that which they had done And when they answered to haue done it by the commaundement of the grand Prior and could shew nothing for it they were apprehended and the same day letters were dispatched to the grand Prior being then at Aix to aduertize him of the intended and attempted treason and what had passed there The 12. day the graund Prior came from Aix to Marseilles with 2. hundred horses and a Chamber of the Parliament of Prouance who do hold their court there The 13. Day the said Chamber after due examination of the fact and euident knowledge and proofes of the offences there committed pronounced sentence of death against the said 2. heads of the treason to Darius Boniface which out of hand were executed Also they set at libertie them of there formed religion with commaundement on both sides to kepe the kinges edict and so by these meanes
the towne was deliuered from danger of changing of mastery the people from death and vndoing and the tumult ceased This spéedy execution did greatly weaken and preuent the monopols of the League in the countrie of Prouance About the 15. day the Leaguers hasting to seaze vpon as many townes and houldes as they could in all France to make their part strong as well by force as faction but speciaily in Belgik where they could do more then in any part of France there they committed great cruelties in many places where hauing the vpper hand they were withstoode namely in the towne of Chastilion vppon the riuer Marne in the countrey of Brie they murthered as well the Catholikes as the Hugonets because they made resistance against them About the 20. day the Leaguers did present their association which they had set forth in writing to many Noblemen and Gentlemen vnder the name of the King requiring them to allow of it and subscribe to it But contrary to their expectation many refused so to do and diuers who had allowed it considering more déeply in the matter perceiuing their intentes abiured and forsooke it with protestations set forth in writing printed wherein they do open the secret thoughtes of the Leaguers and Leagued First they do protest that they do acknowledge none other faith then that in the which they haue béen baptized which then they did promise to beléeue and defend and to that promise they do stand still Secondly they do refuse and condemne all manner of associations vnder what soeuer color which binde them to obay any other then their Soueraygne Thirdly they do shew the League to bee nothing else but the circumuention of the king the confusion of the State a dangerous alteration of y â— Realme the bringing of a new Prince of a strange blood and finally caryeth with it selfe a proscription hauocke and bondage of all good men in all degrées About the 22. of Aprill the King of Nauarre in silence beholding the rage of this League and their declaration published in the which they had made him the obiect of their insurrection sent the Lordes Clairuant and Chassincourt with letters to the King in the which he complaineth of the iniuries of the Leaguers proffered vnto him in their declaration requiring iustice to be done for the sayd iniuries done vnto him He offereth also his seruice power to the King for to represse the traiterous intentes and attempts of the said Leaguers About the 30. of Aprill the King willeth the said Lordes Clairuant Chassincourt to giue this gentle answere to the King of Nauarre from him That he doth hold the sayd King of Nauarre as his sonne and heire of his crowne willeth him also to arme himselfe with patience to cause the edict of peace to be obserued by them of the reformed Religion Furthermore that hee acknowledgeth the driftes of the Leaguers aswell against his own person as against the said King of Nauarre but hopeth that he shal be able himselfe alone to represse their furies and to punish them wel for their desertes The second day of May the King by edict and proclamation doth condemnethe Leaguers and Leagued guilty of high treason commaundeth his edict of pacification to be proclaimed a new in all partes of the realme charging all men vpon paine of death to obay and kéepe it inuiolably At the same time also the King answered to euery point of their declaration of the said Leaguers whereof the summe followeth First the King protesteth of his Catholike Religion and calleth to witnes his actions victories daungers and labours taken for the same Secondly he sheweth that the peace was made and approoued by the counsell of the Cardinall in whose name they do séeme to autorize their rebellion and of the rest of the Leaguers not to fauour heretikes as hee tearmes them but to restore the decayed state of the realme to assault them of the reformed religion in conuenient time with greater forces Thirdly he declareth how he hath fauored the Cleargie in giuing them liberty to call prouinciall counsels and to refâ—rme such abuses as the ciuill warres had brought in how he hath also preferred the woorthiest sort to the best Ecclesiasticall liuinges and hath restored to their liuinges them who were dispossessed thereofby the former ciuill warres Fourthly that the Leaguers haue no cause to complaine for the geuing of offices For his predecessors and he after them haue bestowed vpon the Guyzes the best sort and most honorable dignities and that in great number when the Princes of his blood haue béen neglected Fiftly that it is to force nature and tyme to compell him by violence of armes to appoint a successor hée being aliue in strength health and flower of his age and not out of hope to haue issue Last of all he complayneth that this new commotion is very vnfit and out of season considering that he was now earnestly bent and occupyed to restore the Nobilitie to their ancient honor and dignity and the people to their due liberty But by this leauie of armes they haue stopped his godly procéedinges and haue taken the way to oppresse and root out the Cleargy nobility and people About the same time also the King sent Ambassadors into forreine countryes and commaunded his ordinary Ambassadors in the courtes of forreine Princes to geue them knowledge of the wicked intentes and trayterous attemptes of the Leaguers The Leaguers in a short space had scattered abroad the Pistolets of Spaine and about the beginning of Iune they began also to take money and therefore thought good to supply the want of Pistolets with French crownes which is somewhat purer gold for they exacted in diuers places great and excessiue summes of money vpon the townes and cities which they had either seduced to their faâ—â—ion or otherwise surprised As by one we may gather the rest Bourge being a small towne in Xainctonge situated vpon the fall of the riuer Dordonne into Garomne a towne leagued and extreamly addicted to the Leaguers was by them raunsomed to ten thousand crownes and afterward the inhabitantes so cruelly intreated that in leaping by night ouer the walles were enforced to steale away for feare of worse supposing them selues to haue sped well in escaping with their liues About the same time the Lord Saint Luke gouernor of Browage sent a certayne Captayn into the Iles of Maran vnder colour to buy Oates for his prouision to see whether hee could worke some surprizing of the Castell But the Captayne was so roughly shouldered and coursed that he was glad to retire with his whole skinne And after that least the Papistes should put some into the Castell euery night 6. or 7. of the reformed religion with Caliuers conuayed themselues priuily in the darke of the night into the gate of the Castell vntill day The Papistes vnderstanding this and also hearing the threatnings ofthem of the Religion to wit that if they should bee driuen
little aboue the Waren in the high way from Hyers to Browage Wee haue sayd how about the 15. of September the Lord Clermont departed from the Prince at Pons and passed the riuer Loyre at a place called Rosiers thence passing through a place la clousiere des montils to the intent to passe vnknowne did fayne himselfe to be Secretary to the King of Nauarre frō thence he taketh his way to Bange where Rochemort departed from him The sayd Rochemort taketh his way to Beaufort which is situated betwéene Anger 's and the riuer Loyre where he was borne and soiorned there to see his brother and other friends and also to gather as many men as he could in that countrey Beaufort is a little Towne betwéene Loyre and Anger 's which is commaunded by a Castle of a reasonable strength which did hold for the king and was in the kéeping of Captayne Broke Rochemort arriued thether and visiting his friends who were the chiefest of the Towne and among them also Captayne Broke by their spéeches he vnderstood the state of Anger 's and the particularities there about the Castle There was a Captayne named Halot who had the kéeping of the sayd Castle of Anger 's whilest the Lord Bussy of Amboyse liued which had the gouernment of the Countrey Citie and Castle during the life of Monsieur the Kings brother But after the death of the sayd Bussy the Lord Brissack had the gouernment and had put out of the Castle the sayd Halot whereof by all meanes he sought to bee reuenged and to surprize the Castle And to bring this thing to passe he acquainted himselfe with Captayne Fresne who had commanded ouer a companie of Brissack at the beginning of the League This Brissack was one of the chiefest of the League and discharged the sayd Fresne after the edict of vnion was published in Iuly before for the which thing Fresne was greatly offended with Brissack These two Captaynes consented together to enterprize vpon the Castell and repayred to Beaufort to Captayne Broke to haue of him some company of men where they met with Rochemort and after certayne spéeches opened vnto him their enterprize who promised to furnish them with certayn men Rochemort aduertized the Lord Clermont praying him to send him men which shortly after sent him foure stout Souldiers This their counsell was wonderfully disguised as also the euēts fel out to be straunge and tragicall for Halot as he sayd would recouer the Castell for the King of whom sayd he he had letters to that effect to recouer the sayd Castle out of the hands of Brissack who was of the League as is afore sayd but indéede he respected himselfe thinking thereby to get the Kings or the King of Nauarre his fauour Captayne Fresne was desirous to be reuenged of Brissack at any price whatsoeuer These two were sure to haue men for the most part Papists Rochemort was in good hope that if he could get in the Castle he would finde the meanes to make it fall into the hands of the King of Nauarre Halot Fresne doo promise themselues that if Rochemort being the weakest and an Hugonet should attempt to innouate any thing they could easily dispatch him so that vnder the hope of one drift euery man had his meaning vnknowne one to another The enterprize is concluded the day appoynted The 26. of September some doo repayre at the time prefixed to the Suburbe of Pressigny some to the Suburbe called Lisses Captayne Fresne vsed to enter into the Castle easily as well acquainted with the Souldiers of the garde The day therefore prefixed hee goeth to see Captayne Greeke his friend who then commaunded in the Castle with ten or twelue Souldiers The sayd Captayne Greeke biddeth Fresne to dinner Fresne excused himselfe that he had company with whom he had promised to dine that day Captaine Greeke presseth him and prayeth him to bring his company with him Fresne had afore hand woon some of the gard whom he had made priuie to the enterprize he prayeth them of the second garde to let in them of his company whom he assured to be of his acquaintance but some of the souldiers mistrusting went about to shut the gate Rochemort and his companie withstoode them and taking weapons in hand did kill some of the garde Captaine Fresne went vp into the Captaines chamber who hearing the fray would haue gone foorth but being encountred by the sayd Fresne was slaine Captaine Halot seeing the tumult in stead to enter into the Castle ran into the Towne and vpon the rumour of the surprizing of the Castle biddeth the Citizens not to stirre for he had saith he caused the Castle to be taken for the King but incontinently he was taken prisoner by the Citizens Fresne and Rochemort being masters of the Castell the alarme was very hot in the towne notice was giuen euery where in great dilligence Rochemort forgetteth not to send to the Lord Clermont to certify him what was passed desiring him to send greater forces also to send word to the Prince Whilest these newes flye euery where diuers euents happened which deceaued both them and others They of the towne greeued to haue that thorne in their heeles sleep not but take armes beset the Castel and within a whyle haue succour of the Nobilitie of the countrey In the euening the inhabitantes would fayne haue parley with Fresne and vsed the means of Halot for to draw him forth of the Castell hauing placed in the darke of the night nigh the bridge 30. or 40. souldiers with Caliuers either for to take him or else to seaze vpon the drawing bridge when he should come forth Fresne vpon this parley going forth and being yet vpon the bridge one of y e souldiers hasting to shoot Fresne would haue returned in but Rochemort with his company seeing the perill did draw the bridge Fresne not able to recouer the drawing held fast at the chayns they without cut off his handes so hee fell into the ditch which was very deepe and cut in a rocke his Cloke was left hanging on the draw bridge There was a redde Deere in the ditch which tore him with his hornes They of the Towne by the licence of them of the Castell tooke him vp with a coard But the coard breaking hee fell downe agayne and at length was taken vp and buryed in a Chappell nigh the Castell Captayne Halot within few dayes after by the towne was condemned and executed These two being dead Rochemort a Hugonet remayned master of the Castell whereof hee geueth notice to the Lord Clermont who immediatly dispatched a messenger to the Prince being at the siege of Browage The inhabitants who could haue borne it with some contentation because they knew Fresne to be a Papist and that hee sayd he held it for the king after his death asked Rochemort for whom he kept the castel When he had answered that it was for the king of Nauarre they were greatly mooued and
of inhabitants and Souldiers Notwithstanding neither the Gouernour the Lord S. Mesmes nor the Ministers would at any time forsake the remainant of that Church which was there All the fields about were full of Tents and Cabbins replenished with men infected of the plague the villages all round about were in the same case The faithfull exiled out of their owne countreys and houses flowing from euery side of France flying from the contagious pestilence of their soules estéemed lesse than nothing the plague and sicknesse of the bodie rather than should cast away their soules in denying the sonne of God was to bée wished for of them But God according to his trueth kept to them both the one and the other for euen then the pestilence vanished away from all those places as if God had commanded the sicknesse to make roome for them who were exiled for his name for after that there was no more sicknesse seene In this auoydance there was a number murthered but specially in those Prouinces where the gouenours were most passionate and addicted to the League by whose permission the common people tooke much libertie to commit cruell murthers vpon them of the religion They who had not the meanes to recouer some place of refuge and continued in the purenes of religion and escaped the slaughter did lye sousing in prisons and dongeons where they sustayned many combats looking euery day when they should be had away to death Many of them who forsooke the confession of the trueth went to Masse and so were sent to their houses agayne but by a certaine iudgement of God they for the most part dyed euery where through sorrowe or by the pestilence Some of them who had charge in the Church died of notable kindnes of death For some going into the Countrey about theyr businesse fell of their horses and brake their neckes and some dyed otherwise verifying the saying of Christ he which will saue his life shall loose it It is sayd how the Duke de Mayne powred his fuâ—y vppon the olde walles of the vilages of Montigne le Conte Beaulrien and how he tooke Trile which no man will keepe In the latter end of Ianuary the sayd Duke drawing into the furthest part of Perigord set vppon Gaignak a poore little vilage belonging to the Vicount Turenne a place voyde of all fortifications saue that at the endes of the streetes there remayned yet few old walles which did shew that there had béen a gate the inhabitants being poore husbandmen first sustayned an assault supposing to haue to doo with companyes of robbers for so they tooke them But at length being not able to withstand such a multitude they fledde another way and saued themselues except onely foure who either for age or woundes could not auoyd them this great Duke caused to be hanged to powre his gall vpon those poore simple countrey men Thus this great Emperour weary to conquer vilages in Perigord and seeing that his practises agaynst the great and populous Cities of Limoges and Perigueux would not frame he turned short Southward towards Quercy and passing ouer the riuer Dordonne at Soilak left at his left hand the townes of the vicount Turenne Saynt Cere and Turenne in Perigord and coasted Figeak Cadenak and Cayak in Quercye whom hee knew to bee well furnished with garrisons Hee coasted also the houses of the Vicount Gourdine and Montfort a strong place vpon Dordonne which hee sent to view This Duke soiorned long in Quercy sent commaundement to the marchantes of Tholouze and Bourdeaux and others which do traâ—fike vppon Garonne that vppon payne of death they should not agree with the townes which did hold for the king of Nauarre and situated vppon that riuer did stoppe the commerce thereof promising that shortly hee would set all that riuer at liberty yea that he would Whilest hee soiorned so long in high Quercye rouing and wasting the countrey the Bishop of Cahors the Lords Saynt Sulpice and Comburat did instantly require him that he would assault those places aboue said which being holdeÌ„ by them of the religion did dayly annoy molest them which thing when the Duke could not be perswaded to do The Bishop blessing him with his Episcopall benediction and the two sayd Lordes with hot tearmes licensed him to depart out of their countrie in the deuils name Besides eating drinking spoyling and whoring he did no good there saue that he licensed some Gentlemen of the countrey for money to haue the exercise of the reformed religion in their houses so that thence they would not make warre and to colour his cowardlines hee excuseth himselfe vnto the Bishop and other Lords aboue saide that hee would goe to open the riuer of Garonne and to put the commerce vpon that riuer at libertie Thus this secoÌ„d Hannibal coasting the riuer of Lot at his left hand and Dordonne at his right hand for he would haue that riuer of Lot as a wall betweene him and mount Auban entring in Agenoys there issued out certain companies out of Montsâ—anquine vpon the taile of his armie which did slay in one conflict two hundred Harquebusiers of his and discomfited the companie of Captaine Guerche At length he came with his Ianissaries to the fall of the riuer of Lot into Garonne where is situated an olde Towne called Tunnings consisting of lowe and high Towne and Castle That place about the insurrection of the League certaine Ruffians of Agen had seazed vppon where they did greatly molest the countrey The King of Nauarre in August after passing by sent Captayne Lestele to take that towne which thing he did at the first approach and did cast downe those â—â—lthie ruffians with their harlots out of the windowe into the ditch and kept the sayd towne vnto the Dukes comming which then was giuen ouer and that small garrison that was there retyred to the other side of Gharonne to Caumont and Clerake to reserue themselues to a better opportunitie The Duke de Mayne tooke valiantly the sayd towne of Tunnings which no man kept agaynst him And hauing done this valiant exploit he doth coast the riuer Garonne descending toward Bourdeaux In that way he sent a Coriero to the king promising him that he will doo him such notable seruice as neuer no man did for in great sadues hee will take the King of Nauarre dead or aliue if he did not resolue himselfe to depart out of the Realme and if hée can take him he will send him his head in a Charger as Herode did S. Iohn Baptist As this great Duke went downe the riuer the forerunners met with thirtie scattered and vnarmed poore lads which belonged to the garrison of Chaumont they were sent to cause the prouision contributed by the countrey to be brought to the sayd towne of Chaumont These poore lads were killed by these stout warriors which notable victorie was afterward published in Paris by the title of the notable ouerthrowe of the garrison of
be shewed in his place So he made the world beleeue that he had been the onely instrument by the which that armie had receaued all the harme which they receaued And whereas the Kinges onely pollicy had vndone that army yet made he the world beléeue by his horsecorsers whom he sent to walke the said Dutch horses whom bee vsed for sowers of false rumors that not onely the king had willingly let them to escape but also had geuen them the meanes to retire some into Germany and some into Languedock and from thence to the king of Nauarre so that the pulpits of Fryers and Iesuits in Paris and other cities did sound nothing else but of these newes extolling the valour wisedome and glory of the Duke of Guyze with procuring to him much popular authority and good will and making the King hatefull among the Catholikes for glosing and dissembling with them and fauouring the heretikes to that end that when oportunity should be offered the sayd Duke of Guyze might easily bring to passe his enterprizes and the king should not be able to let him Now let vs know what became of the fragments of this armie First the promise was not obserued to them for a great number of theÌ„ were slaine robbed and spoyled in dyuers places The Duke of Lorreynes eldest sonne called Marthuis de Pont accompanyed with the forces of the League set on them in diuers places and enuaded the county of Montbeliard where hee committed horrible cruelties putting all to the sword with execrable whoredoms and abominations Many dyed in the way many dyed when they came in place of safety euen of the cheefest noble men The Lords Boillon Cleruaut and Vau with many other noble men retyred to Geneua where after so many labours and greeues they dyed in the Lord. The like happened to the Swissers whose Colonels and Captayns who were the authors of the first parley and capitulation with the king were punished by their seignories so that few either of the Germans or Swissers returned home or escaped vnpunished It is said before how that France in this yeare was groaning vnder the burthen of seuen great armies besides many particular assemblies wherof it is said how Ioyeuse and his armie was made sure at Coutras and their reduced carkasses were left in perpetuall infamy not for their death but for the causes of it The Germans haue made shipwracke vppon the Rockes of Lancy in Mosconoys the eight of December and after The kinges armie was broken against the banke of Loyre and from thence scattered euery man home The Leaguers are excluded out of Daulphine where the Catholikes and they of the reformed religion after much bloodshed at length agreed to liue like good fellow cityzens vnder the lawful gouernment of theyr king and so the yeare is ended and Christ raigneth for euermore The end of the fourth Booke THE FIFT BOOKE THis yeare is notable not so much by reason that it was holden by the Mathematicians to bee fatall to the world as by reason of the great and tragicall euents which happened to many great and Noble personages For this yeare dyed the Duke of Boillon and other Nobles at Geneua The Prince of Conde at Saint Ihan d'Angelye The Duke of Guyze and some of his partakers The inuincible armado of Spaine intending to haue inuaded England was beaten both by God and man And last of al the famous enterprize atchieued by the French King Henry the third with the famous victories of the Church of God in the principality of Boillon against the conspirators and enemies of mankind of the League It is said before how after the capitulation of the King with the army of Germanes at Lancy in Masconoys the Duke of Boillon the Lordes Cleruaut Vau and others retired to Geneua where these three especially dyed Not long after their aryuing there the Prince of Boillon fell sick the 27. of December feeling in himselfe his end to be at hand that he had to passe to a most blessed life carefull for the state of the Church of God gathered in his Soueraigne principalitie of Boillon disposed of his affayres as followeth He made his soule heire generally of all his goods holden as well in Soueraigntie as otherwise the Lady Charlote de la mark his sister vpon condition y t she shal neither alter nor innouate any thing in the state nor in ReligioÌ„ the which there she shal maintaine as it is established Also that she shall not marrie without the aduise of the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde and the Prince Monpensier her Uncle vpon paine of forfeiting the right of those Soueraignties from the which in case she should otherwise doe he vtterly excludeth her And in case the said Lady of Boillon should decease without heires the Prince of Monpensier her Uncle is substitute as next to inherit and after him the Prince Dombees his sonne conditionally that they shal change nothing in the state nor Religion vpon paine of the like forfeiture And in case the said princes should make there any innouation he doth substitute the King of Nauarre and in like case the Prince of Conde in case the first should fayle in the performance of the premises The said Lord Boillon made executor of his Testament and the Lord la Noue the which done the first of Ianuarie he was deliuered out of this mortall liâ—e to enter into the full enioying of the societie of God being the day of his natiuitie and the 25. of his age This was a Prince of great auncient and famous nobilitie issued by the father side out of the stock of that renowmed Argonante Godfrey of Boillon who was crowned King of Ierusalem a noble and vertuous man his Mother was one of the most vertuous women of our age daughter vnto the Prince Monpensier and sister vnto this Prince now at this yeare liuing her vertue godlines and constancie in the confession of the true doctrine shall be in an euerlasting remembrance For shee being very oftentimes requested by her Father a great deuout Catholick to forsake the Gospell and to returne to poperie at length she agreed vnto him with this condition that if the popish Doctors could bring better proofes for their religion then the ministers of the reformed would for hers shee would fulfill his will Whereupon a disputation being obteyned at the hands of King Charles the ninth and the matter being reasoned betweene two Doctors of Sorbonne and two Ministers of the Gospell for many dayes in her presence her owne husband sitting as moderator it fel out that in stead of that which her Father looked that she should haue been conuerted to popery she was confirmed in the trueth by whose singular wisdome and speciall care afterward the Churches of the Soueraigntie of Boillon were reformed This Principalitie of Boillon is a small countrey holden in soueraigntie yet commonly vnder the protection of the Crowne of France between the riuers Mose and Moselle a
with their continuall brabling and brawling with him with few popish vnreasonable reasons which they tooke out of certayne Sermons of popish Frierly Doctors which they had among them and not onely did daily complaine vppon him to the magistrate but also were some time ready to set vppon him to murâ—her him and the more hee was feruent in prayers the more they did moiest and vexe him The third sort of enemies who did assault him were they which professed friendship who oftentimes came to aduertize him in the prison that the Iudges had concluded to condemne him to die and that it were high time to looke about perswading him to auoid the danger to goe to Masse once or twise and after he could make some shift to get him out of the way but he refused all that counsell So he made his will fully determined to die which hee sent to his wife yet the Iudges must haue a fling more to trye what he would do or otherwise resolue to condemne him made him sit vpon the stoole whereupon they that are condemned of capitall crimes are vsed to sit when they do receaue sentence of condemnation But behold on a sudden they changed their mynds and sent him againe into prison The King had written and set his owne hand to a letter commaunding them to make his Processe with all â—igour of the lawe The Iudges were cruell Papists and Leaguers the Italian was an Atheist contemner of all religions but a notorious blynd enemy of the trueth The opportunity of the time might haue encouraged them to vse all extremity But the Lord to the comfort of his children did put a ring in their Nostrels and after a long imprisonment the eight of Aprill they pronounced sentence agaynst the sayd Tyxier by the which they banished him out of the realme for euer and commaunded him vpon paine of death within two moneths to auoyde his goods were forfaited to the King Which sentence was signifyed vnto him the same day by the secretary of the same Court of Bloys It is sayd how the two noble Princes of Boillon and his brother the County de la Mark dyed the one in the Moneth of October at Lany and the other in Geneua in Ianuary The death of this noble Prince being published abroad the Leaguers tooke it for a presage of their good successe and occasion to encrease their power As for to enterprize any thing against Guyenne or the king of Nauarre the bad successe of de Mayne and the death of Ioyeuse at Coutras did not counsell them There was as little hope in other Prouinces where they of the reformed were strong in armes and fortes as in Languedock and Daulphine where now of late an assotiation vpon the defensiue was made betweene the Catholikes and them of the Religion To attempt the old plat agaynst the kings person the time was not yet come On the other side they did greatly feare the tempest which did threaten them on the side of Germany by reason of the fires which they had kindled in the County of Montpeliard and the execrable outrages by them there committed where as is aforesayd they charged the Rutters in them retyring homeward This feare caused the Duke of Lorreyne to send to the king for succour for they thought that it would be greatly for their aduantage if the King in defending them on that side might haue procured the hatred of the Germans and with all consumed his forces in defending and iustifying theyr vilanies and so all by one meanes should spoyle himselfe of the amity of his neighbours and of his owne forces in being after more easy to be oppressed by them Therefore among so many difficultyes nothing seemed vnto them more commodious to bestow and exercize their forces and by little and little to encrease their power then to inuade the said principallity of Boillon supposing that to be of an easy executioÌ„ considering the opportunity proffered it selfe thereby preparing the way by easy thinges to harder and more difficult matters The oportunity seemed vnto them very fit to wit the death of the two bretheren the amaze which fell vpon the subiectes in the territory of Sedan and Iamets The weakenes of the yong Princesse fatherles in tears and mourning by reason of the death of her two brethren a mayd euen vnder age destitute of men armour and Captaines and as if it were disdayned of the world forsaken of her friends not through vnfaithfulnes but being themselues hampered and busied in the selfesame daungers that shée was in Other friends of the contrary profession durst not shewe her any fauourable looke for feare to be heretikes or fauourers of heresie and so to prouoke agaynst themselues the bloodie power of the League And that which is more she being accounted an hereticke for professing of the trueth and therefore accursed by the Pope proscript by the League and as it were dead to the world by the articles of Nancy whereof it shall be spoken hereafter at large And to that ende they might the better both to inuade that yong Princesse and resist the Germans whom they feared by reason of the villanies wherewith they had prouoked them as is aboue sayd they had succour of the Duke of Parma Italians Spanyards Wallons Legeoys Germans vnder the conduct of the Baron of Sarexenbourg to the number of ten thousand men in all All these occasions opportunities causes forces mooued the Duke of Lorreyne to lay the siege before the Towne of Iamets next of the principalitie which lyeth nigh the borders of Lorreyne about the 20. of Ianuary In the meane while the Princesse caused the inhabitants to sweare fidelitie to her and gaue the gouernment of her affayres vnto the Lord Nueuile vntill she might vnderstand of the Prince Monpensier her vncle appoynted Warde and of the Lord la Noue executor of the Will of her brother but specially of the King of Nauarre whose counsel she desired greatly to followe The companie which she had were the Princesse her selfe the Princesse Bourbon and the Lord Laual a young child the heire of the Lord Laual who dyed at Taillebourg the yeare 1586. in Aprill as is aforesayd The forces were the inhabitants of the countrey and a certaine number of Frenchmen exiled out of their countrey by reason of the persecution of the League The Duke of Boillon being dead the King of Nauarre was certified thereof from Geneua and also from Sedan an expresse messenger was sent to the sayd King to let him vnderstand the state and necessitie of the affayres The King of Nauarre vnderstanding the state of Sedan the iniuries and violences of the League sent thether the Lord Reaulx and from thence to the King to put him in mind of the protection which he did owe to the sayd Princesse and of the seruices done by her predecessors to the Crowne of France but specially to shewe him the importance of the places which the Leaguers did intend to inuade
the premises are according to trueth and for the certitude of the same wee haue sealed this report with our hands andseales at S. Ihan d' Angely the 6. day of March 1588. Medicis Bontemps Pallet Poget Mesnard Chotard About the same time the King of Nauarre came out of Gascoyne who being aduertized of his death commaunded that such as were suspected of that villanous fact should be pursued Whereupon a page suspected saued himselfe by flight many more were apprehended The processe was made vnto many with all the solemnities requisite thereunto whereof within a while after the condemnation of one Brillaut ensued the page also was condemned vpon centumacie executed in Picture Brillaut was drawne vpon a hurdle through all the streates of S. Jhan and in the chiefest place of the sayd towne was torne in peeces with foure horses Now we see how the Leaguers when they haue not been able to destroy the Princes by valour haue vsed treacherous procéedings For first hauing treacherously shortned the life of the Duke of Alençon by poyson as it is saide in the first booke and seduced the Cardinall of Bourbon making him dreame of a kingdome in his old doting age and to oppose himselfe to two Kings to wit the King and the King of Nauarre and to all the house of Bourbons out of which God had made him that honour as to haue issued one of the chiefest as is sayd in the second booke They also haue condemned the King of Nauarre to dye by their Italian figges and there uppon proclaymed his death which they had promised to themselues both in Lorreyne and in the Court and in Townes and Cities of their fauourers but God hath disappoynted them of their murtherous purpose At length by the long suffering of God to plague France they haue preuayled agaynst that good godly vertuous famous Prince of Conde and that vpon such a day as hath béen fatall to the house of Guize to work mischief murther and rebellion The death of this noble Prince amazed all men in Xainctonge knowing that God had some heauie iudgements to execute vppon France and that GOD had taken that noble Prince least he should see euill dayes as the Prophet Esay saith It is sayd before how the Lord Lauerdine who was master of the Campe saued himselfe by flight out of the slaughter of Coutras betooke himselfe to the towne of Niort to the Lord Malicorne his vncle where hée soiourned as his Lieutenant Here Christian Reader wee haue to obserue that although the King and the Leaguers hated in wardly one another and in outward appearance did deepely dissemble their affections yet wee doo see that as Herode and Pilate did excercise priuie hatred betweene them and at length in persecuting Christ did well agree as friends so in men of like degrées and in like actions the like affections are boyling in their hearts For the rumour of the death of the King of Nauarre and Prince of Conde which the Leaguers hauing set some secret price vppon their heads had promised vnto themselues did cause the King and the Leaguers in outward apparance to be great friends and to promise vnto themselues an vtter rooting out of them of the religion and a sure subduing of all things beyond the riuer of Loyre With speede therefore they sent eight or nine regiments conducted by the Lord Courbe to the Lord Lauerdine Lieutenant of his vncle the Lord Malicorne at Niort in Poytow who with al the forces which he could gather both in the lowe and high Poytow the 16. day of March about two a clocke after midnight descended into Marans by boates through the marishes of Beauregard and with fiue hundred footmen seazed vppon the house and farme of the sayd Beauregard hauing found no resistance but onely of two of the inhabitants of Marans with a little boate who were gone to discouer the Iland Cicoigne these two discharging their peeces vpon the enemies retyred to the trenches of Beauregard there they found but fiue or sixe Souldiers as well of the inhabitants as others who also discharged certaine shot vpon the enemie who notwithstanding aduanced and came to land The cause why the Lord Lauerdine subdued these Ilands so easily was first the certayne newes of the death of the Prince of Conde and the rumours bruted abroade touching the supposed death of the King of Nauarre which thing caused great amaze and discouraging among all men Secondly the ill order and prouidence of the gouernour for if he his troups and inhabitants had done their duetie Lauerdine had not entered that Iland at that price or els had been chased out to his dishonour and losse The Lord Iarry had béen aduertized three dayes before of the enterprize of Lauerdine and might haue put into the Ilands forces sufficient to resist the enemie for the companies of the Lord Trimouille conducted by the Lord Boysduly returning from Cotaudiere were very nigh him to wit at S. Radagond Champaigne and Puyreneau who desired nothing more then to enter into Marans But the gouernour and the inhabitants fearing the preace of Souldiers which was excessiue indeede would not admit them but sent to Rochel the Captaine Plaute Lieutenant of the Gouernour to request them of Rochel to send them about fiftie Souldiers whom they would entertayne vntill they might see what the enemie would doo which thing they of Rochel could not doo for that time Notwithstanding this refuse and that the gouernour was well aduertized that he had not sufficient forces to let y e enemie to take land yet the companies of the Lord Boysduly passing through the Brault were sent further as farre as Esuand through foule wayes ouerthwart the Marshes whereas they should haue been stayed to be vsed as the necessitie had required They sent notwithstanding the same day at euening to the said Boysduly but arriuing not before ten or eleuen a clock in the night was the cause that succour could not come in time although that the diligence of the sayd Boysduly and his companies was wonderfull for without any leasure to lodge and without any respect of the indignitie proffered him and his troupes the day before they departed presently and repayred to the fort Brune one houre and a halâ—e before the enemie tooke lande at Beauregard But whilest the gouernour and the inhabitants made some difficultie to let in all his troupes being not willing to receaue aboue 50. or 60. the enemie on the other side entred at Beauregard as is sayd so that the entrie into Brune was not opened to the sayd Boysduly nor his troups afore that the enemy had already gotten the farme house of Beauregarde There had beene meanes to driue back the enemie if speedely the troups who were entred at Brune about three a clock after midnight had gone to meete the enemie as some did giue their aduise to doe For the L. Lauerdine was not yet well accompanyed and it had beene an easie thing to cut the way to the
vttered to them as followeth The Queene my mother hath geuen me to vnderstand that you were all assembled and will repayre to me whereof I am well pleased being assured that you would not offend in such force being the first company of my Realme I haue promised to my selfe of you alwayes all faithfulnes and obedience such as you haue shewed heretofore to my predecessors Kings as vnto your lawfull and naturall Princes And I know that if it had beene in your power to let thinges there passed that you woulde haue done it I am sory for that which hath happened to the city of Paris notwithstanding I am not the first to whome such misfortune hath happenned And the more I am displeased that the spare of these foureteene yeares that I haue beene king I haue alwayes honoured it with my abode shewing all gentlenes and goodnes to the inhabitants and they haue alwayes found me a good king gratifiyng them in all that euer I could I know that in such a Citie as that is there be good and bad when they shall make their submissioÌ„ will acknowledge themselues I will be readie to receiue and imbrace them as a good father his children and as a good King his subiects Your dutie is to labour in the matter for therein consisteth the preseruation of the Citie of your selues your wiues and your familyes Furthermore continue in your charges as you haue accustomed the Queene my mother shall certifie you from time to time of my will In the after noone the King sent for them againe and vsed these speaches following I haue sent for you before you goe hence to let you vnderstand besides that which I tould you this morning that I was aduertised of certaine reportes giuen out that I would haue put Garisons in the Citie of Paris I doo greatly â—â—use that euer such a thing came in their mindes I knowe that Garisons are set either to vndoo a Citie or for the mistrust of the inhabitants They ought not to thinke that I would destroy a Citie to the which I haue shewed so many tokens and witnesse of my good will which I haue so much benefited by my long abiding therein for to haue remayned there more then ten of my predecessors before me had done which thing hath brought to the inhabitantes euen to the simplest sort of artifficers all the commodities which there doo appeare this day whereby ten or twelue other Cities might haue been made rich And when my officers or Marchants haue had neede of me I haue done them good and I may say that I haue shewed my selfe a good King towards them And therefore it was farre from me to conceaue any diffidence of them whome I haue so dearely loued and of whome I ought to assure my selfe for the friendship which I haue witnessed vnto them was enough to take away that opinion from them that I should bee willing to giue them Garisons neither can it in trueth bee said that any man of my gardes or Garisons hath put his foote in any house or taken from any man a loafe of bread or any thing else but contrariwise haue at my prouision been furnished of all needful things neither should they haue stayed there aboue foure and twentie houres but the morrow after without lying in any other place should haue been appointed to their charge as if they had been in the campe I intended to haue made exactly a search of many strangers who were within my Citie of Paris and desirous to offend no man I sent euen to the Lord of Guize and other Lords to that end they should giue me a booke of the names of their houshold seruants and to cause the residue to auoyde Whereof I was aduertised that there was a great number no lesse then fifteene thousand men which thing I did for the preseruation of the Citie and safetie of my subiects This is the cause that I will haue them to acknowledge their fault with sorrow and displeasure I knowe well that they are made beleeue that hauing offended me in such a sort as they haue done mine indignation is irreconsiliable I will you to let them knowe that I haue not that humor nor will to vndoo them and that as God as whose Image I am here vpon the earth though vnworthie desireth not the death of a sinner so doo I not desire their vndooing I will alwaies prooue the peaceable way and when they shall shew their duetie and confesse their fault and testifie in deede the sorrow which they haue of their offence I will receaue and imbrace them as my subiects in shewing my selfe as a father toward his children I will haue them to acknowledge me as their King and Master if they doo it not but delay the matter in drawing my hand as I may doo I will make them feele their offence so that the marke thereof shall remaine for euer For being the first and principallest Citie honored with the first and suprem court of my Kingdome and other courtes priuiledges honors and vniuersitie I can as you know reuoake and remoue thence all my courtes and vniuersitie which would turne to their great displeasure for these things ceasing all other commodities and traffick will diminish as it fellout in the yeare 1579. during the great plague by reason of my absence and ceasing of the Parliament a great number of my officers being retyred thence young Children were seene that yeare to play at the nine pinnes in the streates I knowe that there is a great number of good men in my Citie of Paris and that of foure parts three are of that number who are very sory of that which hath happened Let them therefore so deale that I may be content let them not inforce me to shew them what I may doo more to doo that which I am able and will not You knowe that patiency prouoked doo turne into furie and you knowe also what a King offended may do if I list to employe all my power and meanes to bee reuenged And although I bee not of a vindicatiue spirit yet I would that they should know that I haue courage as much as any of my predecessors I haue not yet since the time that I came to the Crowne by the death of my brother vsed any rigour toward any man yet will not I that they should abuse my clemency I am not an vsurper I am a lawfull King by succession and of a race which hath alwaies commaunded with clemencie It is a tale to speake of religion they must take another way there is not a Prince in this world more Catholicke which desireth more the rooting out of heresie then I my actions and my life haue giuen sufficient witnes in that behalfe to my people I would that it had cost me an arme that the last heretick were in picture in this chamber Goe home to your charges and bee of good courage you ought not to feare any thing while you
haue mee on your side I will you to let them vnderstand all that I haue tolde you During these practises of the Leaguers and their running to an fro to amend their errour to fortifie themselues to make a way to reconsiliation they stoope to the Q Mother who was left at the Loure there they cap and crouch vnto her they kisse her hands and giue her sugred words excusing the matter that they meant no hurt but were put in some feare by the kings forces being lodged and placed in Garison before their doores they were all the Kings most obedient and faithfull seruants they require nothing else but that a Catholick successe be nominated an immortall warre denounced against the hereticks vpon that condition they are ready to bee sacrificed at his feete that she would be a meane to pacifie his anger and displeasure she had been hetherto the onely vpholder of the state against the hereticks now she may shew a notable proofe of her great wisdome and do great seruice to the holy Church By these and such like perswasions she was easily wonne to bee a mediator yet once for them to the King The Q. Mother was as deeply fallen into the crime of treason as they saue onely in one degree for they had conspired the kings death and vsurping of his kingdome Shee was not desirous of the kinges death nor that his kingdome should be taken from him but she was glad and sought all meanes to keepe him wrapped in troubles during her life though it should cost him at length his life and state that shee might alwayes wrest the rule and gouernment out of his hand by throwing him headlong from time to tyme into troubles and dangers This accursed woman therefore seeth here an occasion proffered her to nourish still her ambitious humor to bind both the king and his enemies vnto her by the meanes of reconciliation She from tyme to time sendeth vnto the king maketh him beleeue that there is not so much fault in the Leaguers as it outwardly seemeth to bee they tooke armors to defend themselues standing in some feare and mistrust of his forces disposed in the streetes at their dores and that it was rather a fray which happened by the prouoking of some vnaduised persons then any intent of rebellion and that the people once mooued ranne somewhat rashly and inordinatly as the maner is in such a case shee warneth him to take heede not to kindle a new ciuill warre farre more dangerous then the former with the heretikes stronger in forces wealth and partakers if all the power of the realme had not béene able to extinguish the former it would bee an endles worke to bring this to an end which could not bee done without the subuerting or at least the renting of the kingdome that in tyme he may well be reuenged of the iniuries of some of whom hee feeleth himselfe greeued It is best to dissemble and winke for a time then by a precipitation of counsell to hazard life and state By this Cup which shee borrowed of Circe her countrey woman she transformed the king from a man hauing a Lyons hart into a sheepe cast him in a sound and vnsensiblenes whereby after he could not feele the good counsels of his faithful subiects who proffered him their help to reuenge such notorious and publike contumelies vntill that at length necessity enforced him to do it The rumor of such a notable treason attempted and performed by the Leaguers in expelling the king of such an ancient race out of his imperial Citty spread abroad there repayred vnto the king two maner of people to offer him their help in the reuengement of such an iniury to wit some Leaguers which seeing that the Lorreins had proceeded so far as to attempt agaynst his person and state now do change their minde do pitty their Prince so much abused vnder colour of Catholicisme The Catholikes both noble ecclesiasticall and commons the better sounder part of them come in post to the King exclaiming against the Guyzes and against their presumption requiring the K. to take punishment equall to the greatnes of the offence do counsell him to let alone the King of Nauarre and all the heretikes who neuer enterprised such a thing and to turne his forces agaynst such notorious offenders They prayed him to ouergoe his greefe they proffer him their seruice their liues goods and meanes for the performance thereof The King despiseth not their good counsell and affection toward him but being bewitched by the sorcering of his mother as is abouesaid answereth them quietly that he wanted neither courage nor force to reuenge his priuat iniuries sayth that he will not kindle a new ciuill warre in his realme thanketh them and sendeth them home intending already reconsiliation with the Leaguers It is sayd before how the Leaguers and the Parisiens leagued with them perceauing that the missing of the King might turne to their shame and vndooing tryed to iustify their actions by letters solicited other townes and citties to the like rebellion fortifyed themselues seazed vppon as many holdes as they could surprize and in the meane time searched and viewed the Kinges mynd by their secret spials sounded his mind a farre of by the hipocriticall Capuchins whether these vngratefull actions had any thing mooued him to disoaine poperie and to seeme to encline to them of the reformed religion but specially by them of the court of Parliament whom they sent to him to know his disposition to peace and how he digested the contumelious iniuries It is sayd also that in the meane time by the means of his mother they extinguished that Nemesis which is in great Princes and turned it into pusillanimity and how bee shewed some tokens of that basenes of hart in his speeches with them of his court of Parliament Now the Leaguers perceiuing by all these meanes that the Kinges heat was cooled more inclined vnto impunitie which he calleth clemencie then vnto punishment and reuenge Before they enter into treaty of peace they goe about to temper him somewhat better yet by a forme of petition and to giue some authority to the same they borrow both the person and the name of the Cardinall of Bourbon whose authority from the beginning they had made a couering of their negotiation and conspiracies This Cardinall being one of the first Princes of the blood was not ignorant long time before of all these cōmotions of the old hatred which they of the house of Guyze haue borne to the Princes friends and seruants of the house of Bourbon and that in seeking the decay and fal of thē they procured also his own But through a certaine vnhappines he had suffered himselfe to be possessed and handled by them of the contrary part and following their counsels they had made alwaies a buckler of him considering his qualitie and degree which he hath in that realme as well among the Princes as among the priests So
things will befall which they greatly desired The feare of these thunderclaps was great euery where the forces in number and furniture were inequall therefore in France many not considering that God may defend his people as well with few as with many and that hée hath Legions of Angels to fight at his commaundement for the defence of his Elect yéelded to the time and reuolted made their abiuration and followed the world The Duke of Guize was the Northen Star by the which all this Nauigation was guided so that it was perceaued that neither all this preparation and stoare neither the Prophesies and visions of the rauing Prophets could assure the happy successe except the Duke of Guize might be in court nigh the Kings elbow Therefore the Q. Mother she must be set to worke she with other Leaguers which were about the Kings person tell what a great wise man the Duke of Guize was and that hée could not bée well without such a counseller hauing such great waightie things in hand The King thought it was a dangerous thing to haue such a guest so nigh him yet supposing that it would be the néerest way to surprise him and that at some occasion he might rid his hands of that perilous burthen consented thereto All caueats and prouisions which the prouidence of man could deuise for his safetie being prouided and made sure he purposeth to depart out of Paris to goe to the court He tooke in his companie the Q. Mother and raigning w t a great traine of the inhabitants of Paris the Lords Byron and Neuers who had béen alwaies with the King the one as a faithfull seruant to the King the other as a secret fauourer of the League went to meete the said Duke At his comming to the Kings presence what welcomes what complainings what excuses what praiers what promises what gréetings and what dissimulations there was betweene them to wit the King Guize euery man of iudgement may consider The Duke of Guize caused his table of great master of France to be established and good and assured meanes for the maintenance thereof he obtained also a patent of great Master of men of war in France which is a â—iminiâ—iue title of Constable for an earnest and in hope shortlie to haue all And whereas in the request presented to the King it was demaunded that he should be the Kings Generall of that armie which should bee sent into Guienne Now he dooth recant and vpon the push doth refuse to take that charge but willeth another to be appoynted and that for two causes he would rather venture another mans skin then his owne knowing well that hee could neuer repasse Loyre without a broaken skin which thing he loued not the second cause was that he would not go farre from the King and from Paris there to be at hand vpon all occasions to take opportunitie to execute his enterprise In his roome therefore the Duke of Neuers is appoynted to conduct the armie into Guienne against the King of Nauarre he maketh his excuse fearing the whip as the other did of his indisposition and offereth to mainetaine one hundred Gentlemen so that he might be excused which charge notwithstanding at length he accepted The wisest sort feared in general that this wound could not be closed vp and healed without some fowle scarre remayning or that hee who had once presumed to beat his Prince out of his imperiall citty should not want audacity to attempt further matters All these vprores being now pacifyed and all these great preparations vrged with great courage they of the reformed religion all ready proscript all things threatning death and desolation by land and by water a parliament of the States is appointed by the King to be holden at Bloys the 15. day of August next following there to determine vpon the affaires of the land according to the said edict of reunion and not otherwise and about the reformation of the State but specially for the disheneriting of the Princes of the bloud that they should not succeede to the Crowne In this Parliament the King and the Duke of Guyze had diuers and contrary meanings and neither of them both did intend to do the thinges aboue sayde touching the affaires of the land and reformation of the State But the Kings purpose was that now hauing recouered as he thought part of his authority hee might bridle his domesticall enemy to wit the Duke of Guyze whose practises and attempts had béen so euidently shewed to the eie of all men agaynst his person and estate and there either to haue had him condemned and executed by the full assembly of the states or else by surprising to haue dispatched him out of the way as hee at length performed The Dukes meaning was either to exclude the King from all gouernment or else to haue condemned him by the authority of all the states or if opportunity might serue to do him away by some violence and after to haue tryed how to bring his intent to passe Euery one of them therfore hauing his contrary thoughts in his mind yet they in common do prepare all things for this assembly of the Parliament they make the ouerthrow of the King of Nauarre and the rasing of the Blockhouse of Rochel as they tearme it very easy While they keepe this great adoo and replenish the world with cruell threatnings and are in hand both by land and by water to aduance the treasons of the Leaguers which cannot be done without the rooting out of the true Religion Therefore it is assaulted on the South syde by the Dukes of Sauoy and Mayne with two mighty armies on the West by the omnipotent Armado on the North by all the forces of y e low Countryes in the middle of France by the Duke of Neuers with a mighty army behold God who holdeth the stearne of the whole world doth produce euents all contrary vnto those which men had promised to themselues For in the meane time God doth execute his dreadfull iudgements against the inuincible as they did call them but in deed barbarous and sauage nation of Spaniards partly beating them out of the narrow Seas with a notable slaughter and shame of them by that nation which they had so deadly hated for the Gospell and so arrogantly despised and partly God sent his messengers the wind storme and tempest with the rocks in their waies that by shipwracke thirst famin and pestilence and other calamities of the Sea they might be drowned in an euerlasting obliuion lyke Pharao his horses and horsemen In August the Kings writtes are sent into all prouinces and citties to send speedily their Deputies so that they were catholikes Romans and not otherwise and in the meane time doth fortify himself but not mistrusting the practises of the Leaguers in the Prouinces he gaue them leaue to do all by partialities in the Prouinces in choise of the Deputies For they gaue order that their partakers might come
without any other care then to conferre louingly with them about the necessary thinges for the preseruation of their Cittye The Maior had in his possession all the keies of the Cittie the inhabitantes made their accustomed watches and by halfes with two companies which were vnder the commaundement of the Lord Bordes whereof the most part were inhabitantes of the Citty Vppon request made vnto him by the Maior and Aldermen concerning the necessary fortifications for the safety and increasing of their Cittie the said Lord promised to lend them to that effect such a summe of money as they should thinke good And to aduaunce the worke the said Lord commaunded the Maior and the Lieutenant Nesmond to make the proiect by the counsell of Captaine Ramel son of Augustine mayster of the Kings workes In the meane while the said Lord caused the edict of reunion to be published in the Cittie and according to the same did prepare to war agaynst them of the religion to let them from gathering subsidies and tallages to represse their courses furthermore had made an enterprise agaynst one of their best places And for a beginning of y e performance of these things had commaunded his cosin the Lord Tageus to take with him all the companies of his light horses and the companyes of the Lords Sobelle and Cadilan with all the footmen and troops which he had brought with him And besides all this for to win the hartes of the inhabitantes he caused euery day all sorts of publike exercises of Romish poperie to be done in all their chiefe Idoll Temples in the Cittie He had also promised to the gray Fryers to helpe the reedifying of their couent and temple of the same For the warre defensiue and offensiue agaynst them of the religion hee obmitted no meanes he had no indsturie nor diligence For his pastimes he would go euery day without mistrust of any man to the Tenis court situated in one of the furthest partes of the citty Euery morning he would get vppon his horses himselfe to exercise them in the sight of great assembly of people with a very small company of his men about him It is sayd how the King to conuay the Lord Espernon his trusty and faythfull seruant out of the ielousies dangers of the Leaguers haâ— sent him into Guyenne to keepe such townes there as did wauer into his obedience The towne of Engolesme was aboue all the townes of that Countrey inclyning to the League so disposed by many Gentlemen therabouts who were leagued and deuoted to the Duke of Guyze The Duke Espernon as it is sayd went thether to make it sure to the kings obedience The newes comming to the towne of the determination of the saide Duke the complices of the conspiracie of the League considering that neither to admit him nor to exclude him was a safe way for them considering that the King might recouer the town at all tymes by the citadel which was kept by the L. Bordes a faithfull seruant to his Prince did immediatly send one who was y e Maiors brother to the court to know by the Oracle of the Leaguers what was to be done in such a doubtfull matter The Duke of Guyze with his counsell to wit his brother the Cardinall the Archbishop of Lyons did sit vpon the death of the Duke of Espernon they did condemne him to die They answered to their partakers to admit him and bid him welcome but to rid him out of the way if it can bee done by any meanes the reuenge they neede not to feare for they are in good hope that the master shall followe him shortly and if not yet they wil finde out some shift to excuse the matter and will find him guiltie of his owne death else they will so worke that the King shall haue little leasure to thinke vpon the reuenge They writ also to their complices gentlemen of the countrey as to Mere Massilieres Maqueuile Boucheaulx to the Baron Tonnerak Caze and Fleurak They caused also Vileroy the Kings Secretary to write his letters to the Lord Aubeterre to repaire to the Maior of Engolesme with al his power at such time as they should haue warning by the â—aid Maior in the meane while they expect the Oracle of the Leaguers the Duke Espernon is lulled a sleepe and cast into a dangerous security by the Maior and the rest of the conspiratours they make him beleeue that they loue him as their owne soule by the which dissimulation hee vnarmeth himselfe sendeth his forces abroad to warre agaynst Christ At length Souchet long desired commeth from the court geueth the answere that Espernon must die by all meanes possible biddeth them to put asyde all feare of reuenge for the causes afore shewed Now then it must be executed out of hand afore the returne of the Lord Tageus with the Dukes forces for then shall they not be able to put in execution y t iudgement hauing any forces about him or else because he will goe forth to war agaynst the heretikes according to his deliberation The tenth day of August the Lord Espernon very early got him on horsbacke to goe to his ordinary exercises with few of the nobility with him The maior with certaine of the inhabitants of the cittie were all that morning with him The sayd Lord lighting downe of his horse embraced the Maior and with great curtesy asked him whether hedelighted in horses Thence the sayd Lord returned to his lodging and went into his closet to change his shirt intending to goe deuoutly to Masse in the Chappell of Saint Laurence in the church of Saynt Cibert where his Almoner had prepared all the tooles ready to finish that misticall play this was about 7. a clocke The Maior on the other side with his complices who were gone to see his riding onely to spie what strength he had about him went home to put on his armour to charge his pistoll to take order about nine of the clock that the toxin should be rung and to appoynt at the same time certaine firebrands of sedition to goe about the streates crying that the Hugonâ—ts had seazed vpon the Castell The Maior also did craftily entice the Lord Bordes gouernour of the Citadell into his house vnder colour to discouer him a certaine enterprize against the king and when hee had him in his house kept him as prisoner Betweene eight and nine a clock the Lord Espernon being in his closet and knowing that the Abbot of Elbeue and the Lord Mariuault were in the next wardrobe staying there to accompany him to Masse sendeth a Page to call them to him into the Closet which when they had done hee â—hewed them a place in a booke sent him from Paris full of defamations against the honour authoritie of the King lamenting the vnbridled licence of this age hee prayeth them also to sit by him to vnderstand out of his own mouth his resolution and platforme of war against
whence his slacknes in repressing and punishing by time those offences Specially when remembring the fauours that hee and his predecessors had giuen to that famely but he aboue all had more esteemed them then the Princes of his bloud had made him his fellow and companion in all the exploytes done against them of the reformed religion whome hee had fauored with diuers great dignities pardoned him of so many grieuous offences which he would not haue forgiuen to his owne brother to be short he loued and imbraced him as his own soule this incredible vnthankfulnes and treacherie did moue him to great indignation But specially what griefes and sorrowes did this â—nhappy King conceaue in his heart not onely to 〈◊〉 so vnthankfully rewarded of them whome hee trusted most but for that he in the space of 20 yeares had seen so many warnings giueÌ„ both to his Brother Charles the ninth and to himselfe of their aspiring working not onely by the Princes of the bloud by the King of Nauarre by many Lords Gentlemen and learned men in France but also by the Princes of forren nations and specially by the Princes of Germany who from time to time had proffered their seruices and their assistance vnto him for the repressing of their insolent presumptuousnes And namely when he considered how halfe a yeare before when he was in a manner dispossessed of his kingdome Authority after his flight from Paris how his faithfull subiects of all callings and degrees resorted vnto them both to shew him the vnsufferable indignities which he had receaued of that house and also to proffer him their seruice and assistance When hee called to minde how often and how faithfully the King of Nauarre had proffered him his forces and that in such sort that if it had pleased him but to holde vp his hand onely and let him alone with them he with his owne forces and charges would set him at hearts ease from any danger or sâ—ur of the League He I say as a man which is willingly and wittingly lead to his fatall destruction and fall had neuer regarded nor considered all these things vntil now when being destitute of all meanes and deliberation and scarse knowing whome to trust hee is with too late repentance driuen to shift for his owne life as well as hee may which he seeth is most certainely to be taken away within foure and twentie houres if he dooth not preuent the conspiratours The King in this agony and heauy sighes not considering the causes of these blowes and terrors of death full of sorrowes and indignation dooth determine with himselfe as well as hee can to preuent the treasons of his domesticall enemies in this wise The keyes of the Castell were brought euery night vnto the Duke of Guize as being great Master of the Kings house but the saide Duke of Guize the 22. of December the night before his death prouided not so wisely but that the keyes fell into other mens hands then them of his side So the King tooke the keyes of his house in his custody he also caused a rumour to bee noysed abroad that the day following hee will goe on pilgrimage to the Church called our Lady of Clery situated betweene Bloys and Orleans And according to his prudence he prouided that as well in the Castell as in the towne they of the League might not stir with any force against him for within the Castell he doubled his gardes In the towne hee tooke order that night that the gardes of the towne gates should not in any wise open the saide gates vntill they should haue expresse commaundement from him to the contrary so both the Towne Castell and keyes thereof are made sure in that night and all this was done vnknowne to the Duke of Guize The Lord grand Prior that night made a match to play at Tenis with the Lord Ianuile sonne to the Duke of Guize to whome he gaue his word that the next day very early hee would take him in his bed for that end So the King hauing dispatched many things but specially prouided to make all things sure which he thought needefull to preuent the determination of the Duke of Guize which was vpon the poynt of execution retired into his closet where he was all night to doo many needefull dispatches The same night hee wrote to the Duke of Neuers who was in the army at the siege of Smache hee wrote to Lyons and to diuers other places where hee thought it necessary for the assuring of his affaires and the preseruation of his person The same night the Duke of Guize Frier Lewis the Cardinall his brother and the Archbishop of Lyons to take opportunity to commit their parricide concluded to sit in counsell the next morning early The 23. of December the Duke of Guize the Frier Cardinal his brother the Archbishop of Lyons the Marshall Haultmont and others came to sit in counsell in a chamber nigh to the Kings chamber being but a narow aley betweene them The K. being in his closet with certaine Lords and gentlemen sent for 7. or 8. of those 45. Pensioners or gentlemen y t were daylie attendant vpon him very early in y e morning to whom he vsed some speaches about his affaires so greatly importing him so nearely touching his person abouâ— the assured aduise intelligences which he had receiued of the enterprize against his person State They prostered most willingly their ready seruice to execute his coÌ„maundement in such a iust cause and defence Within a while after the Duke of Guize being in the counsell chamber before they began to sit was called to come to the king He saw at his first comming the guards more carefully disposed than of custome so that as it happâ—neth oftentimes y t vpon the instant of great aduentures the mind of euery man is to him as a Prophet of y e euent or a heauy presage of his mishappe euen as hee had iudged of the enterprize of an other man by calling to remembranâ—e of that which he had in his owne mind and tâ—e stroke which he receaued by that which he intended he entred into a motion of extraordinary mistrust so far that his countenance changing at that calling his heart waxed cold as though he had been ready to fall into a swound whereupon hee sent to the L. Pre one of them who did waite in the K. chamber to aske some raysins which were brought him Afore his going out of the counsell chamber hee sent a page to his chamber to fetch him a handkercher his secretary had bound fast in one of the corners thereof a small bill written contayning a warning to get him out or else hee was dead The handkercher was brought but it was not deliuered for it was intercepted with the remembrance when the page came vp againe with it The Duke of Guyze being about to goe vnto the king when hee went forth of the counsell chamber into the
alley which was betweene it and the kings chamber encreased his mistrust and would haue gone back yet neuerthelesse he did not He had beene perswaded long before that the Lorde Loignak had vndertaken to kill him so that of all other he hated him most and mistrusted him greatly and entering into the kings chamber he saw the same Lord Loignak sitting vpon a coffer hauing his armes a crosse and supposing that he stayed there to set vpon him for he shewed that hee was touched with a violent apprehension of mistrust although the said L. Loignak did not stir yet the Lord Guize notwithstanding did set vpon him setting his hand to his sword did draw it halfe for he had his cloake as commonly he was wont to haue in scarâ—e wise and vnder the cloake his sworde which was the cause that he could not draw it cleane out of the sheath before that some of them who were there seeing him to enterprize such a violent fray at the Kings chamber doore preuented and killed him there Beholde thou vngratious man thou hast hidden all thy conspiracies vnder a cloake of religion and so hast prophaned a prophane religion say then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou vnthankfull slaue of ambition hast thou thought to murther thy naturall prince ordayned of God to commaund thee Say then or if thou wilt not I will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It could not be done without some rumor which was heard out of the counsell chamber whereupon the Cardinall his brother entred into mistrust and conceauing a great feare made haste to get out but he met one of the skottish guardes who had charge to arrest him He tooke that arrest very straunge and made shew to resist but seeing the rumor and daunger hee ceased from his resistaunce and yeelded The Archbishop of Lyons at this alarum went forth furiously and would know more and as he said would succour the Duke of Guyze but he was arrested by some of the guardes and his fury was so cooled that from a woolfe he was turned into the forme of a lambe yet retayning still wooluish conditions so these two Fryers the deuills ghostly fathers remayned both prisoners The graund Pryor was gone very early to awake the Lord Ianuile to to play the match which they had made the day before and found him in his bed and after he had made himself quickly ready but whether it were that he saw the graund Pryor followed incontinently with some of the guardes or some other matter hee began sodaynly to mistrust and went about to slip into a doore of his chamber and to make some resistance seeking to get forth with his sworde in hand against some of the guarde but considering the danger he yeelded him selfe to the sayd guard The graund Pryor seeing that by these new euents the match was broken off went his way At the same instant one Pellicart secretary vnto the Duke of Guyze was taken with al his papers writings by the which many secret counsels of the sayd Guize were discouered to the King with the names of the chiefest of the League as wel of the princes and Nobles as of the priests and townes The king of the Fryers to wit the Cardinall of Bourbon who was at bed was desired by a captayne of the guarde to rise and so was his person made sure The Marquesse d' Albeuf likewise and many other of the partakers of the Lord of Guize were taken and put in places of safety That day the king made a fayre hande for he caught a number of cruell beasts and vncleane foules as Woolues Foxes swine wilde Boars Apes and such like But the loosing of some of them afterward was the cause of his vndooing and death For either through feare of the Popes excommunication or to asswage the displeasure of his subiects or some other cause â—lse he did set at libertie the Archbishop of Lyons which was one of the chiefest counsellors deuisers and procurers of his death These exployts being done at Bloys a gentleman was speedely sent into Poytow to the Lord of Neuers with commaundement to seaze vppon the Lord Chastre gouernour of Berry who was greatly suspected by reason of his great familiaritie with the Lord of Guize But the layd Lord Chastre was aduertized by his friends of all that which happened at Bloys before the gentleman sent by the King arriued at the camp whereupon he went to the Duke of Neuâ—rs saying that he was aduertized how the Duke of Guyze had beene put to death which thing made him beleeue he had enterprized somewhat agaynst the king Hee sayde that he had been alwayes seruant to the Duke of Guize for his particular but that if he had enterprized against the king that hee was neuer made priuie to it And forasmuch as the loue which the said Duke of Guize had borne vnto him might happily make him to be suspected by the king he yeelded himselfe willingly into the hands of the sayd Duke of Neuers for to iustifie his actions Afterward the Gentleman went from the king to the sayd Duke of Neuers who informed him of all that which is aboue sayd and within a while after the Lord Chastre went to the king The King had some speeches with the sayd Lorde Chastre of all that had passed touching the particular of him the Lord Chastre of long continuance which hee woulde forget and vppon the promise which the saide Chastre made to remaine his faithfull seruant commaunded him to make sure the townes of his gouernement to his seruice and to prepare himselfe to goe to Orleans against them of the League which thing the saide Lorde Chastre promised to doo A little while after the death of the Guize the King went to see the Queene his mother and shewed her what was done that morning whereof at the first she was greatly moued yet remembring the iust occasions which the said Duke of Guize had giuen him to seeke reuenge shee prayed God that it might bee well done and willed the King to aduertise the Popes Legat that which was done For a while after the King sent the Cardinall Gundy to shew to the saide Legat the attempt of the Duke of Guize against his person and estate which thing had enforced him to doo that execution he shewed that in it he had followd the Popes his masters counsell who aduised him so to doo if by no other meanes he could auoyde such enterprises Where it is saide that the King dooth aleage to the Popes Legat his masters counsell and consent the matter goeth as the common report gooth It is most certaine that Frier Sixtus and his Chaplines with his predecessors before him had been and were then the chiefest authors setters on and maintainers of the League in France and that by all meanes so that it were not with money for to meddle with the purses of these ghostly fathers is sacriledge and to tirannize the holy Church did fauour foster and further all the
sharpnes of the sicknesse but to a little Castle nigh that village where being the sicknesse did so increase that many doubted of his life He also resolued himselfe constantly to abide the good will of GOD readie willingly to end his life if Gods will was such the thing that only grieued him as that good King Ezechias was the néede which the Church of God might haue of his presence in France if he should fall and also the want of his fidelitie in that kingdome if in the middest of so many great troubles and confusions he should be taken out of this world Notwithstanding he ceased not as much as the disease which was sharpe and violent did permit him to prouide ordayne for the affayres of his armie according as the occasions did fall out He was let bloud and worthily serued and succoured by them who were about him as much as the discommoditie of the place could permit them He sent to all the Churches round about to make prayers and supplications for him which was done with much feruencie and sorrowe The newes of his daungerous disease were brought to Rochel in the euening being the 13. day of Ianuary The congregation was called spéedily with the ringing of the bell to repayre to the Temples This was about seauen of the clocke at night an houre not vsed to such méetings the necessitie notwithstanding requiring the same The people aduertised of the cause ranne with such multitudes to the places of prayers so that the like was neuer seene in that towne All manner of men indifferently euen children and apprentises forsooke the houses to repayre to the Temples the multitude was such that many being not able to goe in went home agayne heauie sad answering by their priuate prayers to those that were made in publike with much lamentation and teares For all men knewe well the greatnes of the affliction throughout all France generally if God at that time so troublesome and confused had taken out of this life that first Prince of the bloud whom he had endued wiâ—h so many graces The sayd extraordinary prayers were continued for the space of many daies vntill that the recouering of his health was certainly knowne The rumour of his death was spread into diuers places of the Realm euen at the Kings Court for the which reports all good and true men did greatly mourne The great contentation which the leagued receiued thereof dured not long for the King receiued newes shortly after of his recouerie It is sayd before how that after the execution done vpon the person of the Duke of Guize the King sent into the Prouinces to aduertise the Gouernours Magistrates and people of the iust causes and necessitie that inforced him to doo that execution And interrupting the continuance of the euents which followed that execution we descended into the lowe Poytow there to see what exployts the great royall armie conducted by the Duke of Neuers had done there and also what the King of Nauarre did all that while Now hauing seene that armie to haue made shipwracke and vanished out of sight we will leaue the King of Nauarre being in bed sicke of a dangerous pleurisie expecting health of the Lord which giueth saluation vnto Kings and to restore him to his health and strength and will come to the matter agayne and consider the horrible accidents which followed the death of the Duke of Guize and of the bounsing Priest the Cardinall his brother After this execution done vpon the bouldest authors of the conspiracie and the rest of the heads of the same being in holde there was great hope that the burning fire of all ciuill dissentions should be on a sudden quenched the flaming torches of tumults being put out But the newes of the sayd execution of the Duke of Guyze being brought into all parts of the Realme by them that fled without bootes and spurres out of the suburbs of Bloys the report came also to the Duke de Mayne being then with an armie in Liomoys he taking with him such as would followe him went out of the Countrey for two causes First fearing vppon these newes the neighbourhood of them of Daulphine Vienoys and Viuarets who might haue doubled their courage vpon that occasioÌ„ being there most of the reformed religion Secondly that because of the death of his brother the hope for the which he and his brother the Duke of Guyze did greatly enuie and malice one an other with mutuall haâ—red doth now proffer it selfe vnto him without any manifest competitour This Duke de Mayne therefore now swallowing downe the crowne of France in one morsell by imagination with as many as would follow him made hast into Burgondie and Champaigne and there made sure to himselfe in those Prouinces as many places as hee could preparing all thinges to warre agaynst the King Here it might bee thought strange how the Duke de Mayne doth so cruelly mooue warre and rebellion against the King seeing that it was he himselfe and his cosin the Duke d'Aumale who gaue aduertisement to the King of the conspiracy and intent of his brother the Duke of Guyze as is aforesayd The question is easily resolued there is no fayth nor fidelity among them who do aspire to the same one kingdome there is no society be it neuer so sworne and holie These three to wit the Duke of Guyze Mayne and Aumale did affect the Kingdome but because the Duke of Guyze was more fauoured of the partakers then the other two he was carryed theretoo as if it were vpon the shoulders by all the partakers who attaining vnto it would haue established the same to himselfe and to his Sonne already in mans estate and to his posterity The Dukes of Mayne and Aumale no doubt did loue more the Duke of Guyze and would haue had the Crowne rather vppon his head then wheâ—e it was yet according to the rules of the Diuinity of Sorboun that charity beginneth at it selfe they would haue worne the Crowne of France euery one vppon his owne head rather then that any other should haue had the occupying of it howsoeuer great and deare friend hee might haue béene This emulation about the affectation of the Crowne was the cause that these two to wit the Dukes de Mayne and Aumale each of theÌ„ in respect of himselfe discouered the conspiracy to the King to the end that he beeing made away they might march a playne way in the same steps which hee had traced before them reseruing to the craftiest or mightiest hereafter to oppresse his cosine for it is not to bee thought that there would haue beene more vnion and loue betweene the Dukes of Mayne and Aumale beeing but cosins then there was between the Dukes of Gnyze and Mayne being brothers Thus wee see what ambition did worke in these new men by affectation of that roall dignity which doth not touch them at all and without any likelihood euer to approch néere vnto namely rebellion
agaynst their Soueraigne and benefactor and parricide among bretheren one to preuent another The newes of the death of Guyze beeing brought into the Prouinces the most part of Towns and Citties from the riuer of Loyre West North and East being already surprised aforehand and seduced from the Kings obedience by the Leaguers vppon the rumor of that execution were so greatly mooued the Duke of Guyze beeing accompted the onely piller of Popish religion by the perswasion which the Catholikes had conceaued of him that they began euery where to wauer and kindle to a manifest rebellion by the setting on of the Leaguers who were the greatest part in number euery where They did greatly by their inuectiues make heynous and odious that execution vppon the persons of Guyze and the Romish Priest his brother tearming it the Massacre committed at Bloys And thus the iust iudgement of God iustly taking vengeance for so many murthers shedding of innocent bloud and innumerable villanies committed vppon the saintes of God and for stopping their eares at the cleere and lowd voice of the Sonne of God who so louingly hath called them by his word promises by his threatnings and plagues ofpestilence famine and warre gaue them ouer to a reprobat sence with a senceles rage to fall to commit such cruelties among themselues that no enemy would or could haue desired or deuised greater their towns and citiesbeeing euery where replenished with massacres robberies banishments and proscriptions not committed agaynst them of the religion but euen of popish Catholikes against popish Catholikes of Idolaters against Idolaters of murtherers agaynst murtherers so the Lord hath sent euill Angels among them Paris the capitall cittie of the kingdome as they more hoped vppon the Duke of Guyze then any other did so they shew themselues most offended There were firebrands which kindled the sedition to the vttermost to wit the Duchesses of Guyze and Nemours who with their outcries and lamentations did animate the people to a raging madnes Thereunto also added the Iesuits and Fryers set on by the aforenamed all their inuectiues insolent and vnreuerent wordes in their ordinary tragicall outcryes in their Pulpits and philippicall sermons to make the people obstinate desperat and vntractable to be hereafter reduced to any obedience Other Cities followed the example of Paris as Orleans Roen Anieus Abeuille Reymes and Tholose whereby the conspiracy and setting on of the Bishop of the place in most cruel maner they tooke the first president of the court of Parliament there hanged him vpon a Gibet and afterward dragged his dead body about the streets beeing one of the most zealous romish Catholikes which then could liue in this world the onely cause was that he would not allow their rebellion The King vnderstanding the great sturres perilous flames of rebellion in most part of the townes and cities of his realme supposing by impunity which he calleth clemencie and gentlenes to quench that fire which was already too far kindled writeth his declarations emporting an obliuion of all iniuries to be published in all his Parliaments and other courts in Prouinces First he sheweth how oftentimes hee hath borne with the perturbers of his realme not onely in forgiuing them their offences whome hee might haue iustly punished but also by winning them by all fauours possible to be shewed onely thereby séeking the preseruation of the peace of his subiects and of the Catholick religion vntill that hee was certainely informed that they had conspired against his person life and estate so farre as he was inforced to make that execution extraordinarily Secondly he sheweth that although many had béen of that conspiracy whome he might haue iustly punished yet for the loue which he beareth vnto all Catholicks hée hath stayed the punishment vpon the two chiefest authors of the euill Thirdly he protesteth that he will haue the edict of reunion obserued in all poynts burying al the former offences in perpetuall forgetfulnes commaundeth his iudges and officers in all his courtes to make no inquisition of the former offences willing all men to liue in peace vnder his obedience and if not hee chargeth his officers to make exemplary iustice of the offenders The King hauing assembled his estates as is saide before supposing by their help and assistance to haue repressed the outragious attempts of the house of Guize sawe himselfe in the middest of them compassed with a company of mortall enemies to his person life and state Whereupon destitute of authoritie counsell and help through pusillanimity was faine to spare the liues of them who were in his power and of others whome he might easily haue apprehended who had their hands as déepely in the trespasse as the chiefe authors themselues This was the worke of the Lord to bring him to the consideration of his great errors in refusing so often the wholsome and brotherlike aduertisements of the good K. of Nauarre and other Princes both within and without the realme his louing and faithfull friends The more therefore he goeth about with impunity of most grieuous offences which in his declaration hee tearmeth clemency to bring that people of Paris seduced from his obedience to their duety y e more that miserable people condemned of God and in his wrath appointed to hauock and thraâ—dome for multiplying rebellion murthers and confusions vpon their former murthers Idolatries and abominations dooth rage and like mad dogs as out of their wittes doo run headlong to worke the full measure of their desperat rebellions accounting the Kings clemency cowardlines which they might haue called pusillanimitie in deed as though hée feared either to haue them his enemies or else to loose them from being his subiects Therefore hauing committed greeuous crimes all manner of wayes euen with greedines at length hauing concluded to withdraw themselues from their soueraignes obedience the chiefest players in this tragedie of rebellion to colour their diuilish passions with the authoritie of Gods law as though they would haue asked Gods wil out of his owne mouth adressed them themselues to the facultie of Theologie there commonly called the Colledg of Sorboune For that purpose they sent one Vrban one of the Magistrates of Paris to the sayd Sorboune hauing framed in manner of supplication two questions to be resolued by them First an populus regni Galliae possit solui liberari à sacramento fidelitatis obedientiae Henrico tertio praestito Whether the people of France may not be discharged and setfree from the oath of allegeance and obedience made vnto Henry the third Secondly an tuta conscientia possit idem populus armari vniri pecnnias colligere contribuere ad defensionem conseruationem Religionis Catholicae Romanae in hoc regno aduersus nefaria conscilia conatus praedicti regis quorum libet aliorum illi adherentium contra publica fidei violationem ab eo Blaesis factum in praeiuditium praedictae religionis Catholicae edicti sanctae vnionis
vnto him Hee sent Cotteblanch Prouost of Paris and the president Neuilly to Paris to see whether they could reduce that seduced people to their dutye the Lords Vilaguier and D'Abin did the like but neither of them could do any good About the fifteenth day these strange alterations beeing done in Paris vnder colour of the authority of the States there called and holden by few seditious persons letters were sent from they sayd assembly of rebels there vnto all citties of their confederacy to go forward in the like outrages and furie as they had done And first to autorise their seditious procéedings with great honourable tytles they call their letters a declaration of the Princes Catholikes vnited with the three estates of France touching the Massacre committed vppon the persons of the Duke of Guyze and the Cardinall his brother First they doo warne their fellowes to beware of any manner of instructions giuen vnto them by the King himselfe or any others contayning any excuse of the execution committed at Bloys vppon the Duke and Cardinall his brother Secondly they doo aduertise them that they haue as yet of that broode the Dukes de Mayne Aumale Mercure and Nemours and that the Duke de Mayne hath a great armie in readines to defend them Thirdly they go about to cléere the Duke of Guize of the crime of treason saying that it is but calumnies of hereticks denised against that house the space of 25. yeares So with them to spye from time to time the trayterous attempts and Note secrecies of the house of Guize is heresie and a worke of heretickes Fourthly they accuse the King of violating the publike faith and prophaning their corpus Domini as they tearme it vpon the which hee had sworne the edict of reunion But in déede the King swore the edict and not to suffer himselfe to bée murthered by the Duke of Guize Note At length they doo aggrauate the death of the Cardinall of Guize and the imprisonment of the Cardinall of Bourbon and Archbishop of Lions and exhort their companies to vnite themselues and to followe theyr example In the first page of this letter was this marke in the other side the Image of the Duke of Guize Now wee will leaue these confusions of Rebells assembled vnder the colour and name of the States of France to procéede further to fill the measure of their trespasse and will goe to see what the King doth at Bloys and elsewhere Immediatly after the death of Guize the King thought good to make Orleans sure of his side The Citadell in the middest of all these tumults and rebellions of Cities was and did hold for the King And the Lord Antragues who a little before had giuen ouer the League did all that euer he could doo to hold the Citie in the Kings obedience But the inhabitants being seduced afore hand by the Leaguers partakers of the Duke de Mayne encouraged by the conduct of Captain Breton and others who did promise to the inhabitants readie succour from the Duke de Mayne tooke weapons and by the confidence which they had in their riches and strength of their walles did openly reuolt It is commonly said that the Citie of Orleans is the Citadel of France as well for the commodious situation of the same vpon the riuer Loyre as for the fortifications thereof These reasons among others caused the King to trie by gracious and fayre meanes to bring them backe to their duetie But reason not preuayling with a people carried away with passion and seduced by the louers of alteration from the obedience of their King he was compelled to trie by force the meane of the Citadell He therefore sendeth the Marshall Haumont with forces as well of footmen as of horsemen with him hee sendeth part of his gardes and the Swissers The inhabitants on their side goe about by all meanes possible to rid themselues of the Citadell as of a heauie burthen they doo besiege it within the towne side doo trench themselues and couer themselues with horsmen and platformes doo vndermine it to blowe vp that Fort which nothing els but onely one of the gates commonly called Porte-bamere they make issues out and euen vpon the Swissers with some successe they doo thunder and rase that Fort with shot of Ordinance on the inside thereof They of the Kings side doo what they can there is a great number slaine on both sides The Lord Antragues promiseth notwithstanding to the King to keepe during the space of a moneth the out side although it were but broken walls and ruines during the which time he might call backe the armie which was in Poytow at the siege of Ganache vnder the conduct of the Lord of Neuers The inhabitants made two Mines vnder the Citadell but they were vented by them within About the 17. of Ianuarie there went forth out of Paris thrée thousand men well furnished but young souldiours and not trained vp in warre to goe to succor Orleans but they were discomfited by the Lorde Montigny and other Gentlemen who charged them betwéene Estampes and Orleans many of them were slaine the remnant were turned home naked The Duke d'Mayne about the last day of Ianuarie sending some supply of succour to Orleans stayed so their estate which did seeme to hang a side that they tooke courage partly by ruines partly with shot of ordinance and other meanes so wrought that they of the Kings side were inforced to giue ouer the ruines that rested of that which was called the citadell By these meanes Orleans remained hardened at the deuotion of the League So good Christian reader thou séest how the right of God and man is turned vpside downe their popish religion which they would séeme so much to honour reuerence and defend they haue most wickedly prophaned vsing it for a couering of their rebellion thou séest how the reuerence of all soueraigne power and authoritie is blotted out of the minds of them the respect of all lawes troden vnderfoote the sanctuarie of iustice violated and poluted thou séest here a damnable and diuelish anarchie the séeds and foundation of a barbarous and intollerable seruitude laied downe in France by the Duke d'Mayne and his partakers in a manner in like sort as Mahomet began his rebellion against the empire of the Romans Therefore yée O Noble Princes and Nobles of all the Kingdoms of Europe all men who are the louers of vertue and ciuility desirous to resigne to the posteritie good lawes christian libertie and discipline vp make hast to runne vppon these accursed enemies of all mankinde put out by time that fire which dooth threaten all authorities and powers of an horrible cumbustion Now there remaineth but thrée things for the League to bring to passe to set vp and dedicate their Idoll which they haue made to wit the Duke d'Mayne and to finish that piece of worke which his brother the Duke of Guize had brought almost to an end if he had
the Kings gardes seazed both vpon the Towne and Castle the which Towne notwithstanding it was without walles yet being situated on high and in a strong place by nature hee vndertooke to fortifie the same by the helpe of them of the religion who did so resort thether from euery where daily that the sayd Lord Requien waxed strong there as hee is a valiant man employed himselfe with them of the religion to make warre against the rebelled Leaguers for the Kings seruice About the 23. of February the King of Nauarre being at Chastelerault tooke occasion to seaze vppon the Castle and the Towne of Argenton in Berry by the meanes which followe That place doth pertaine to the Lord Monpensier but it was graunted to the Lady Dwager of Monpensier sister to the last Duke of Guize by her contract of marriage hauing that honour shewed her to haue married the Duke of Monpensier Prince of the bloud and father to this Duke yet liuing In the beginning of this last warre of the League the castell of Argenton strong and well furnished was made sure for the League the towne remayned at libertie as being not strong and commaunded by the Castell But after the death of the Duke of Guize the garison of the Castell was increased double intending thereby to assure the towne also the garison vnderstanding of the taking of Chastelerault which is not farre of by the King of Nauarre fearing that which afterward happened vnto them they sent to the Duke d'Mayne for succour who sent certaine Captaines with their companies from Orleans They of the towne refusing the association of the rebellion of the Leaguers and willing to remaine faithfull to the King doo aduertise him of all their estate and good wil towards him doo require succor of him as well against them of the Castell as others which did approach to seaze vpon their town The dispatch could not bée in so short space but that in the meane time they of the towne and of the Castell fell at variance vppon the matter each party trusting in the succour which they hoped for The King of Nauarre aduertised of al this and of the succour sent they there by the Leaguers nigh aduaunced with certaine troupes of horsemen determined to make them agrée and vsing his accustomed celerity it fell out with him so happely that hee preuented them in a moment who were sent from Orleans sending before some of his gardes who entred on a suddaine into the towne to the great amaze of the garison of the Castell At the ariuing of the gardes of the king of Nauarre there was a hot skirmish and some were killed on both sides few of the King of Nauarre his gardes but many more of the garison but when the Leaguers of the Castell saw the companies of the King of Nauarre first they were amazed and shortly after conceauing a great terror yéelded the place After that the King of Nauarre had taken possession of that place he appoynted the Lord Beaupre gouernour there where he established the exercise of the reformed religion with liberty and safety in stead of the romish religion as in other places The King of Nauarre returned to Chastelerault where considering how the King was in great danger both abroad and at home how hée had euill counsell giuen him pittying his estate and considering that hee could not bée moued neither to make nor to accept of his seruice for his defence considering also that the Leagued rebels waxed strong and the King weake he putteth forth a protestation bearing date the fourth of March wherein he sheweth that notwithstanding his affaires and estate of them of the reformed religion was neuer stronger who within thrée yeares hath borne the fury of ten mighty armies whereof some had béen beaten to cloutes the others haue béen scattered as dust in the ayre hee doubteth not but the same God will strengthen him with the same force and will defend alwaies hereafter his iust cause and innocency yet hee dooth proffer them that if the King will hearken vnto peace hee was neuer so willing to imbrace it Furthermore hée proffereth himselfe to heare reason and to bée taught by a conference and a counsell promising that if he be conuicted by the word of God to be in any error he will reuoke it and bring all them of the reformed religion to doo the like But to bring him out of that religion wherein he hath béen borne and brought vp euen from his cradell with the dint of the sword he warneth them that therein they haue taken a contrary course by which they will neuer preuaile Last hee dooth adiure all the states by the name of God by the ashes of their ancestors by the loue of their natiue countrey to counsell the King to this ordinary course or else to deuise some better if they can by the which they may stop the subuersion of their countrey About this time came the excommunication rowling from the capitall and thundering like vnto a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the olde Comedy pronounced against the King for the execution done at Bloys vpon the persons of the Duke of Guize the Popes champion and the Cardinal the saide Popes Chapline and the imprisonmént of the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Archbishop of Lyons shot out of the belly of Frier Sixtus at the sute of rebels With the stinke of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Frier Sixtus came forth out of the bottomles pit of hell a number of Iesuites and Friers and such misbegotten monsters to raile to accurse defame their lawfull and naturall King and Prince ordained of God without any remorse of conscience Many of the Leaguers who after the death of their Captaine had hanged downe their heads had retyred to such places as they thought sure far them some other who had forsaken their faith their promise and oath giuen to the League now considering foure accidents which had happened and seen to fauour the affaires of the rebels doo rebell a new doo forsake their King whom God nature thankfulnes and nobility commaunded to dye at his feete First the vnseasonable lenitie or rather pusillanimitie of the King who had stated the execution of iustice for such notorious and hainous treasons committed not against him but against GOD in his person whome God had consecrated to that high dignitie vpon the heads onely of Guize and the Cardinal his brother and in the imprisonmēt of six of the chiefest without proceeding any further Secondly Fryer Sixtus his excommunication by the which they supposed though not in conscience but in passion onely themselues to be set at liberty to doe whatsoeuer without any grudge of conscience Thirdly the beating away of the kings garisons and forces out of the citadell of Orleans by the Duke de Maine therein supposing in a manner for so is the blindnes of mans passion to haue conquered all France Lastly the euill counsell of leagued dissemblers and dissembling traytors whom
others who were taken prisoners And because the night drew neere apace the Prince thought good with all speede to assault the other companies of rebels who were at Commeaux who were about a thousand or twelue hundred men conducted by the Lord Beaulieu This company had trenched and fortified themselues and therefore the most part of thē were y e cannons priests monks fryers Iesuites of the Citie of Sees and many persons of the countrey round about who would shewe some proofe of their valour and how they could fight better with a Caliuer then with their Portisse but at length it was found that they had more skill in iugling a Masse and making of Gods then in handling their weapons among them was the Parson of Vimonstier a desperate and sedicious Priest The Lord Beaulieu was their captain who at the first onset the sayd Lord Beaulieu was taken among the first in the forcing of the Fort who being carried away by the Captaine Chauuayne before the Prince sayd that there were within that Fort at the least seauen hundred well armed and appoynted The Prince vnderstanding that commanded the Lords Bakqueuile Archand to get into the Fort and for that purpose he left them the Culuering and went that night to Escouche where he arriued about eleuen of the clocke in the night And assoone as he was gone the rebels of Comeaux vnderstanding how their fellowes had sped yéelded with their liues onely saued who were immediatly disarmed and brought to Escouche to the Prince There the Duke soiourned all the next day being the 21. of Aprill to take the view of the prisoners who were in great number of all qualities of persons The same day the Lords Hallot Bakqueuile Beuil Bellefontayn and Archand went abroad with their companies to see if they could méet with any ranging Rebells where they mist not much to haue taken the Baron Vernier The sayd Baron and Brissake with the rest of their complices retyred in great speede to Argenton fearing to be as kindly hit on the hips as their fellowes had béen The 22. day the Prince leauing the Lords of Harcourt of Saint Mary Venoix and Sassay at Escouche went to Courcy where hee vnderstoode that the Lord Pierrecourt was lodged with some Launciers not farre of he mounted straight on horsebacke and went to finde them out but he had dislodged a little before they came to the place Here Christian Reader marke the presence of God in the assisting of a good cause and handled by persons of lawfull calling First thou seest how the King heretofore in the warres against the K. of Nauarre had not prospered but all things haue fallen to his owne charges dishonour and shame because he persecuted him without a cause and such persons were put in trust of his affayres and aduanced themselues forward intending vnder that colour to supplant their master Now when the King hath a iust cause in hand and put men in trust that are lawfully called bearing a true and vnfayned heart to the King kingdome Crowne and Countrey such as bee the Princes of his bloud and other of the true Nobilitie of France the Lord also is of his side and fighteth for him maketh him victorious and restoreth to him his authoritie by steps as it shall appeare hereafter Secondly here is a notable thing happened which neuer did happen vnto any Captaine that euer I haue read saue vnto that noble Athenian Conon that a Captaine had obtayned three noble victories in one day but vnto this noble Prince of ancient and noble rase Thus the Prince Montpencier by these victories gaue a tast vnto the rebels of the cup of their treasons and so did driue them into Townes and Holds that afterward it was rare to see any rebels abroade except it were when they had neede priuilie to steale out to robb their nigh neighbours of their goods Hauing done this exployt he purposed to bring the artillerie from Courcy and returne to the Citie of Caen intending shortly after to be in the field agayne and to carrie by it vntill he had subdued the countrey to the Kings obedience agayne By a pertinent digression I haue shewed what noble and profitable exployts the Prince Montpencier hath done in Normandy against the Rebels now we will returne to continuance of the narration interrupted It is sayd before how the King seeing himselfe in extreame danger made truces with the King of Nauarre and deliuered him the Towne of Saumour for his safe passage and repassage ouer the riuer of Loyre which he committed to the Lord of Plessis Marline Few dayes being expired after the deliuering of the town of Saumour the King of Nauarre went thether to the great contentation and reioysing of all the inhabitants and of all the Nobility round about well affected to the Kings seruice and good of the realme Liberty was geuen by the K. of Nauarre to all the inhabitants concerning religion indifferently as hée had done in other places The King of Nauarre hauing ordered all things at Saumour about the 17. day of Aprill went foorth and besieged the Castell of Brissak the Lord thereof beeing a traitour and a rebellious Leaguer and tooke it by composition The 18. the King of Nauarre passed all his Forces beyond the riuer of Loyre ouer the bridg of Saumour and within few dayes ioyned with other forces which stayed for him gathered out of Normandy Mayne Anjou Perche Beausse and other countries beeing betweene Loyre and Seyne intending shortly to see face to face the army of the rebels conducted by the Duke de Mayne Thus the King of Nauarre greatly iniuried and offended so often and at the request and for the pleasure of the Duke of Guyze assaulted now commeth to rescue out of danger captiuity and death him that had persecuted him so long with all the forces of a mighty kingdome he commeth I say with a chosen army not onely great in number but also in valour so that euery common souldier might haue supplyed the roome of an Officer Goe on O great King put on the armor of God follow his calling this day thou hast obtayned a greater and more famous victory then at the day of Coutras in ouercomming the desire of reuengement which vpon diuers occasions might haue risen by the frailty of mans nature The 21 the King of Nauarre hauing passed ouer the riuer Loyre and ioyned with his forces gathered out of the Countreys abouesayd setteth forth a declaration shewing the causes of this passage First hee sheweth that hee is called to enter into this action by God by nature by the lawe and by the iust approbation of his Prince which causes do moue him to determine to imploy his lyfe his meanes power for the reestablishing of y e Kings authority restoring of the realm and for the defence of good Subiects within the same decayed and oppressed by the treasons of the Leaguers vnder the colour of godlines and iustice Secondly he protesteth
to hold for enemies onely them who haue declared themselues enemies of the realm by theyr rebellion and outragious insolencies committed against the soueraigne magistrate and iustice promising notwithstanding to receaue to mercy them which deceaued by the enticements of the rebels or feare rather then by their owne malice haue associat themselues to the said rebels Denounceth therfore to all Prouinces Cities Commonalties Church-men Nobles Magistrates Captaynes Souldiers Borgeses Citizens and all other of any degree whatsoeuer to retire speedily from the society of those traitors and rebels and to returne vnder the obedience of their naturall and lawful Prince and King but specially willeth the Church men whereof some haue rendered themselues instruments of the former treacheries and rebellions to loue peace and to keepe themselues within their bounds returning and abiding vnder the obedience of their King Thirdly he protesteth that this his passing the riuer of Loyre by the commaundement of the King is for their defence and therefore taketh all the Kings faithful subiects vnder his protection but specially the Church men forbidding vpon payne of death all his Captaynes and souldiers not to proffer any iniury vnto any of them their goods or places of exercises willing also all the aforesaid persons to repayre vnto the king or vnto him to haue and receaue pasporte and protections that the faythfull may be discerned from the Rebell Fourthly he turneth his speach to the foresaid persons admonishing them to consider the horrible euils which haue already and shall rise out of that damnable rebellion To the Cleargy hee speaketh to consider how godlines is euery where choked in the middest of those tumults the name of God blasphemed and religion despised The Noble men he prayeth to consider how theyr order must needs fall with the ruine of the King Crowne and Estate The Magistrates hee warneth to represent before their eyes what execrable violating of iustice will follow by the examples of the Parliaments of Paris and Tholouse carried away Prisoners as in a triumph by rascals and vilanous persons The commons hee aduertiseth to thinke how they are eased by these tumultes where their goods are exposed to the pray of the vilest sort their traffike interrupted their husbandrie altogether turned into wast and desolation Last of all he exhorteth all men to endeuour themselues to bring what they can to remedy these euils which y e rebels haue procured to the realme which cannot be done without a good peace neither can that be obtayned but by the returning vnder the Kings obedience restoring his royall authority and reestablishing of iustice hee assureth himselfe that God who geueth saluation vnto Kinges will assist him in this enterprise and iust cause Auuergne is a Prouince in France full of hilles and mountains wherein there be three Cityes situated in forme of a triangle and not distant farre one from another to wit Rion Clermont and Monferrant the Kings long before had established at Rion beside other courts a soueraigne court of his treasurers receauers This Citie had receaued the League and had committed rebellion agaynst him in shaking off the yoke of obedience Therefore the King about the 24. of April seeing their obstinacy in their rebellion do reuoke from the said Towne of Rion all his courts and doth transport the same to the Citie of Clermont commaunding all his officers of al his courts in that citty to repaire to the said Clermont and there to execute their charge About the same time also the King doth adiudge all the goods of the Dukes of Mayne Aumale and of the Cheualier Aumale and of the voluntary inhabitants of the cities of Paris Roen Amiens Abeuile Rhemes Orleans Chartres Mans Lyons Tholouse to bee forfaited to his crowne for their treasons and perseuerance in the same aboue the time prefixed vnto them which was the 15. day of March last past and ordained commissioners to sell the sayd goods and lands to his vse The King of Nauarre in the meane time scoureth the countrey and prepareth himselfe to receaue the Kings commaundement and vnderstanding that the Duke de Mayne was lodged at Vendosme and Montoyre the 28. of Aprill he determined to surprize some of the enemies and about foure a clock in the morning taking eight hundered horsemen and one thousand shot on horsbacke went to bait at Chaulx in Anjou ten long leagues from Saumour departing thence hauing already gone forward three leagues he receaued newes how the Duke of Mayne had brought his forces to Chasteaurenault and had sent part of them to besiege the County of Brienne who was at Saint Oyne nigh Amboyse The King hearing of the siege of Chasteaurenault and Saynt Oyne by the enemy hauing him so nigh neighbour and fearing that he would come to lodge in the Suburbs of Tours being in danger to be deliuered into the hands of them by the intelligences which they had wiâ—h the leagued of his Court and of the Citie he did dispatch diuers Postes both to Saumour also to other places to the King of Nauarre And about three leagues from Chaulx toward Vendosme hee was aduertyzed by three Postes that the King sent for him whereuppon the sayd King of Nauarre turned bridle and came that night to lodge at Maille vpoÌ„ Loyre within two leagues of Tours after he had beene 24. howers on horsbacke and immediatly sent word of his comming to the King The King vnderstanding of his being so nigh him did greatly reioyce knowing that the enemy neither would nor durst enterprize any thing whilest he was so nigh his person The enemy sent certayne companies in the euening with a great brauade and tooke a Suburbe of Tours where they defloured a Mayd who had fled into the Church before the high alter in the armes of a Priest but hearing that the King of Nauarre was at hand without any leasure to take breath they retyred presently The King of Nauarre rested himselfe and his troupes the next day but the 30. of Aprill beeing the Lords day in the morning the sayd King of Nauarre iudging that it were necessary for them both to see one another thereuppon to take some certayne resolution of their affayres beeing also requested by the King although his counsell had diuers opinions of that interuiew hee sent to the King by the Lord of Mignouuile that he was gone to set all his troupes in battaile array at the Pont la Mot a quarterr of a league from Tours and thatif it should please his Maiesty to come to the Suburbs he would kisse his Maiesties hands and would receaue his commaundemeÌ„ts to execute theâ— according to the necessity of the affayrs After the said King of Nauarre with all his troupes had stayed about two houres the Marshall Hautmont came to him from the King to pray him that he would passe ouer the riuer to come to him to Plessâ—s les Tours where the King with all the court stayed for him That thing he immediatly determined to
oppressâ—d with famin pestilence sword and with intollerable bondage vnder the Leaguers The King of Nauarre after this ouerthrow of Saueinze and his companies nigh Bonaual about the 22. of May being at Boysgency vpon Loyre veneath Orleans fiue leagues writeth a louing letter to the rebels of Orleans to proue what reason and fayre offers might do with them wherein he sheweth to them First that he hath foreseene and forewarned France of the euils which this last ciuill Warres would bring and protesteth of the dislyking of it at all times And although his protestations and warnings haue béen little regarded notwithstanding the iniuries which he hath receaued yet wil he not fayle in his duty toward his countrey but will séeke the meanes to cure her disease or die wiâ—h it both in generall and particular Secondly aduiseth them to consider the causes of their rebellion to bee in themselues and not in other men for it cannot be for any religion or any violence or necessitie which hath enforced them thereunto but a wicked and rash minde which maketh them pretend a feare of some euill that may come hereafter and so doing they make themselues vnfortunate and cast themselues in a miserable state And in preuenting a fault that may bée hereafter they doo commit a manifest and heynous crime in going about to stop an euill which they doo imagine to see a farre of they doo procure to themselues innumerable euils to assure a libertie to their children which no man will hinder they doo throwe themselues into a present bondage To make sure as they say their state and goods they yéeld themselues to be spoyled and robbed Put them in remembrance of the calamities which will accompanie their rebellion and their obstinacie in the same as that they doo drawe a cruell warre to their gates whereby they shall be continually in feare and alarume by it they shall haue need continually of an armie to gard them by it they shall see their houses their fieldes their vines set on a fire their wiues and children spoyled their traffique stopped their husbandrie wasted and all this they are like to suffer for going about to reuenge another mans naughtie quarrell and for to make their backes to be footsteps for other men to get vp vnto the scaffold of their ambition which if it doth fall as it cannot stand it will quaile stiffle and vndo them Thirdly admonisheth them to call to remembrance the fidelitie and loyaltie of their ancestors to Charles the 7. whom they defended against England and the most part of France which had conspired against him and exhorteth them also to remember their oath naturally giuen to keepe their fidelitie loyaltie and duetie inuiolable to their naturally Prince Last of all hee assureth them of the Kings clemencie and gracious fauour and proffereth them his meanes to further the same if they will returne vnder his obedience Afterward the King of Nauarre scoured all the countrey of Beausse hauing enforced the rebels to keepe in their Holds At length the King hauing receaued certaine regiments of Swissers and encouraged with these good beginnings against the rebels knowing the God of battailes to be of his side in the latter ende of Iune gatheres all his forces together and came in person to his Campe Helpe commeth to him from all parts of the Realme his armie encreaseth daily in number fame and power The state of the King thus suddenly many Cities begin to entreate vpon peace Thus the King hauing recouered part of his authoritie and in good hope to recouer the whole and more then euer he had by refusing the counsell of strangers and following the good wise sage and discreet counsell of the Princes of his bloud and other his noble and faithfull counsellers subiects and friends he marcheth directly toward Paris to begin the punishment where this vnthankfulnes treacherie and rebellion had begun He taketh Pontoys S. Clow seazeth vppon Poissy S. Germayne Charanton and other Townes round about Paris Meloune and Corbeil he had fortified and holden euer since the beginning of the rebellion The Princes of Germany and Italy sent Ambassadours vnto him doo wish him well doo proffer him money and men to represse that barbarous treacherie of his enemies Some of the first conspirators also through dispayre flee vnto his mercie Finally all things now fall contrary to their expectation and traiterous desires without any hope to looke any more so long as the King liueth for any condition of agreement or suretie of life To be short the case is altered For the King leading his power nigh Paris to compasse it round about and hauing all the Townes about beginneth so to distresse it that either none or small store of victuals could be brought into the Citie The conspirators begin to tremble at this newe and sudden chaunge therefore the heads of the traitors seeing themselues so hardly beset doo enter into counsell to determine vppon the extremitie of their affayres One among the rest declared the daunger wherein they liued he shewed that the mindes of the Nobilitie were mutable and inconstant fawning alwayes on Fortunes side He shewed also that the fearefull Cities could not be kept faithfull vnto them and that vppon the sight of any imminent danger they would be ready to reuolt agayne to the King Also hee discoursed how the Cleargie were couetous and neuer gaue but very little of their owne to their Kings and therefore there was small hope that they would giue to them who might but intreat for it And thus stood their case at home From abroade sayd he lesse hope was to bee looked for for the Spanyard was olde and carefull for the quietnes of his owne familie vnto whom it was more securitie that France should bee troubled then vsurped by any other then himselfe The Italian Princes are circumspect and wise The Germanes are couetous and misers The Pope is subtill craftie and inconstant gréedie for his owne gayne and turning with euery blast of fortune therefore he concluded that there was none other remedie remayning for them but to dye or runne away except one thing could bee brought to passe to wit the death of the King which if they would auoyde their assured vndoing was to be laboured by all meanes possible and that there was no other remedie for redresse of their distressed estate In this counsell sat the Duke de Mayne as a King in hope Aumale Nemours the treacherous Bishop of Lions whom the King a little before had pardoned and set at libertie the Lords Rosne Boysdaulphin Brissak Sagonne the 47. chosen for the counsell of the Citie as aboue sayd the seuentéene Colonels appoynted ouer the eightéene wardes of the Citie All this blessed company hauing heard the discourse aboue sayd and séeing with their eyes vengeance to be at the doore concluded the condemnation and execution of the King speedily to bee dispatched and murthered but the meanes are found very difficult to bring such a famous act
therefore least the smoake of this execrable intended parricide should flee ouer the walles of Paris and so by giuing intelligences their haynous vnnaturall and hellish treason and murther might bée preuented it was diligently prouided that no man should goe out of Paris before the exployt were done Therefore the gates were shut vp and carefully kept and all the issues at the Suburbes end straightly and narrowly watched that no man could goe to tell tales out of the schoole Now the Frier hath on his hypocriticall coate his letters in his hand his lesson in his head his poysoned knife in his sleeue order is taken that no intelligences may be giuen the way is made plaine before this diuellish murtherer euen as farre as to the Kings gate the doores are made open to him by these meanes the execution is to bee performed speedily least delay should disappoynt his enterprise This murtherer accompanied with the other Frier who had confirmed him in his reuelation or illusion wherewith Sathan had deluded him as is aforesayd the 21. of Iuly which by the newe heauen of the Popes making is the first of August out of Paris taking his way to S. Clow which is a Towne vpon Seyne beneath Paris two small leagues and comming to the Campe he tolde them whome hée met first that he had letters from the first President and certaine other Parisiens well affected to the king which contayned matters of great importance and beside that hee had great and waightie things to disclose to the King The King being scarce ready and aduertised of this accursed Friers comming commaunded that he should attend and that speedily hee should be admitted to his speach the Frier did attend with his letter in his hand which he said was from the first president detained prisoner The King being made ready and at such an houre as he was wont to enter into his oratory and when it was not lawfull not for the Princes of the bloud to haue accesse vnto him caused that sauage murtherer to be called to him The Frier came before the King with a bolde countenance the King looking merily vpon him said these words amice ad quid venisti The Frier making a low and humble reuerence euen to the ground gaue the King the letter which he said came from the first president of Paris which letters when the King had read asked the Frier what newes hee brought from Paris the Frier answered that hee had matters of great importance to declare vnto him Whereupon the King commaunded two Gentlemen who waited and serued him at his vprising to goe foorth out of the chamber and sat downe in a chayre to heare what the Frier would say The Frier drew nigh to the King and falling vpon his knées began to tell a tale the King stouping somewhat low to heare what the Frier was about to say gaue more attendance to his words than to his fingers The Frier drawing softly his knife out of his sléeue stabbed the King there with in the lower part of the belly and made hast to get away The King amazed at the suddaine and vnexpected stroak cried out and laying hand vpon a dagger that lay nere him stroak the Frier who partly for the blow partly for feare fell presently down Vppon this noyse the Lordes came running into the Kings chamber and after many woundes slew that cursed Frier Some doo report that the King commaunded that hee should not bee flaine but taken vp and examined which declared who set him on and the authors names of so vile treacherie the wound was presently dressed and as the report went seauen stitches made in it at length the wound being dressed hee was laide on his bed and slept a little vppon his paine and griefe After his sleepe hee made his praiers vnto God and with a loude voyce made a confession of his faith and of the féeling which he had of his redemption adding there unto this feruent praier IF it bee to thy glorie O God and the commodity of thy people graunt me I most humblie desire first pardon of my sinnes and then some longer dayes of life But if it be otherwise I thanke thee most highly O Father that thou doost barre me hence forth from the thraledome of sinne whereby we most oftentimes procure thy wrath against vs and therefore I am ready most willingly to come where thou callest me The King hauing made an end of his praiers sendeth for his brother the King of Nauarre and for the chiefest Lords of his court gouernours and captaines but specially for the heads of the strangers to the intent that if it were Gods will that hee should dye they might knowe his last will First speaking to the King of Nauarre commended vnto him the charge of his Realme the gouernement of his subiects the lawes of France Often times he repeated wordes whereby hee charged the said King of Nauarre to haue a speciall care to keepe Christes flocke in vnity and concord and to preserue the godly and ancient institutions of the realme requested him that by all meanes he would pacify the matter of religion in France and not to alter any thing therein but by the aduise of a generall or naturall counsell lawfully called which things the King of Nauarre promised to doo To the rest of Princes Lords and Noblemen he signified that the lawfull succession of the royall state of France fell not to any other then to the person of Bourbon and declared at that time the King of Nauarre first successor he prayed and exhorted the whole company to acknowledge him and to be faithfull vnto him willed them also to protest in his presence all with one voice the acknowledging of him and to promise true obedience vnto him as to the true lawfull and naturall heire of the Crowne willed them also to cause the like promise and acknowledgement to be made in the Campe by all true and faithfull Captaines and Souldiers that could not be present at that assembly consisting as well of Frenchmen as strangers In all these speaches he shewed himselfe of a good cheere which caused all men to hope that hee stoode in no danger of death The said King sent presently letters to all Prouinces and Cities to aduertise them how things had passed at S. Clow and of his will and last Testament requiring all his faithfull Subiects to protest the fulfilling thereof The second day toward the euening there appeared in the King accidents prognosticating an assured danger not so much through the nature of the wound as through the poysoned contagiousnes of the weapon wherwith the wound was made so that all remedies being vsed by the Phisitions and Chirurgions to preuent the danger and nothing preuailing the King called againe to him the King of Nauarre and other Princes and Lords before whom he greatly bewailed the accursed ciuill warres which had béen the vndooing of his house his nobility and realme and the breeders of so many
we may with admiration celebrate the prouidence of God that cleane contrary vnto the expectation of all men the Lord hath giuen him to France for her good For first the Leaguers in the beginning of their insurrection made him a party Then they vsed for the space of foure yeares all the power of France to oppresse him when force would not serue they procured poysoners to try what might bee done that way But that taking no place they degraded debarred him from his right of succession by a fundamental law of the realme which they sweared sealed and decréed that it should be vnchangeable and should remayne for euer they made him hatefull and abhorred of the common people throughout all France After they had missed of their purpose intended against the King they so vrged their attempts that the King was enforced to yéeld himselfe into the King of Nauarre his hands for his safety at length they murdered the King Then I will aske them what haue you gotten by it They answered that they haue gotten the Crowne either part or the whole Why Because there is no successor Demaunde What are the Bourbons then Answer They are excluded by a fundamentall lawe of the realme sworne by the vnion at Bloys Dem. What saith God to that Ans Beholde the Lord saith that hee will haue the King of Nauarre head of the house of Bourbon to succeede because it is his right for it is not reason that a confederacie of conspirators should make a law contrarie vnto the fundamentall lawe of the realme confirmed by the consent and custome of so many nations by the space of twelue hundred yeares not contrarie vnto Gods word Dem. But where dooth God speake it Ans By the mouth of a Soueraigne Magistrate ordained by him to bée the interpreter of all iudiciall lawes Therefore beholde the meanes which the rebels haue sought to exclude the King of Nauarre from his right of succession the Lord hath vsed to the stablishing of the said King and hath vnited the Princes Péeres and chiefest Lords Gentlemen Captaines and Souldiours of the realme to assist place and defend him in that roome so the arme of fleshe shall not preuaile against the power of God and the hand of the Lord shall be vpon him The Prince Montpencier gouernour and Generall for the King in Normandie then being at Audely a towne vpon the riuer of Seyne aboue Pont de Carche caused all his army to take that oath exhorting them to defend constantly the Kings will according to their oath About the 26. day of Iuly there was an assembly holden at Caen in Normandie of the court of Parliament whereto the late deceased King had transported the said court from the Cittie of Roen after the rebellion thereof of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen of the countrey and of the bodie of the towne and Vniuersitie and of the Citizens and inhabitants of the said towne where the Lord Lizores Lord President of the saide court did sit as head of the saide méeting in whose presence the saide President hauing declared the haynous déede committed vpon the person of the King late deceased and shewed the equitie of the Kings testament and last will on his owne behalfe protested perfect loyaltie to the King right and lawfull successor of the Crowne of France after the publication of the Kings and of y e Prince Montpencier his letters all vniformally with one consent did sweare their acknowledgement and fidelitie vnto the lawfull successor of the Crowne of France and to maintaine al things contained in the will of Henry d'Valoys lately deceased The like declarations and promises were made and othes of fidelitie and loyalty taken publikely in many townes and cities in France euen on the North side of Loyre to the same effect The rebels vnderstanding in Paris what the late deceased King had done and how the King of Nauarre was proclaymed King of France contrarie to their expectation that they were worse hampered now then before like to haue him to be their master whome they had refused and disdained thought good to trie what might be done by treachery vpon the person of the King And because that a Friers coate could not beguile this King as it did the other by reason of the little acquaintance and credit which hée giueth them they suborned a murtherer who vnder the colour of a Gentleman should shoote him through with a Piece but the Lord watching for his annointed brought the murtherer to confusion All thinges falling out so confusedly in France by the death of the last King and the newes thereof fleeing abroad into forreine countries replenished mens harts with admiration of Gods secret iudgements with a maze indignation and feare The King taking counsell what was best to be done in these extremities for to saue the remnant of the realme from vtter subuertion did resolue vpon these three pointes which will follow this miserable murther First the King considering how his enemies long time aforehand had rendered him by slaunderous libels and seditious sermons of Iesuits and Friers by these meanes to make him abhorred of the commonaltie and thereby to make them vnwilling to acknowledge him for their King and to render him fidelity loyaltie and obedience which long practised malice of his enemies would procure him much labour and long continuance of warre betweene him and his subiects Secondly he knew that in the Campe vnder the banner of his predecessor and also in his counsell were many deuoted sworne to the League whom he durst not trust and knowing that they would not do him faithful seruice no more then they did to his predecessor hee determined to licence them to depart so many as would and to liue peaceablie in their houses vnder his obedience whereupon many disbanded themselues and retired some home and some to the enemie Last of all the K. foreseeing that the heads of the League vpon this prosperous exploit done vpon the person of the King lately murthered will double their rage and with great forces which they could quickly set vp in such a mighty and populous cittie would set vpon him and with multitude might greatly distresse him determined to send part of his forces into Picardy vnder the conduct of the duke of Longueuile the Lord la Nouë there to minister play to the enemy and with the greatest part of his army to retire into Normandy there to gather greater forces and if need should require to be nigh and ready vpon the coast there to receaue supply of forces from the mightie Princesse the Queene of England which might bee done vpon short warning considering the small distance which is from Coast to Coast As for the Swissers and other Germans who serued the King his predecessor hee sent their Heads and Captaines vnto their Princes and Signories to vnderstand their pleasure whether they would call their men home or giue them leaue to serue him The said Germans Swissers according to
the Kings will and promise made vnto him proffered vnto him their faithfull seruice Thus the present estate and summe of affairs being managed he retired into Normandy hauing not with him aboue eight thousand men of all sortes and stayed there a while beholding what the enemy would enterprise Now we wil leaue the King about the Sea coast in Normandy where we haue brought him with eight thousand men of all sorts and will goe to see what is done in other places what preparations the Leaguers do and after we will passe ouer the Alpes to see how doth Frier Sixtus and what iolly diuinity is with him and his Chaplains About the 31. of Iuly which to the Papistes is the 21. of August the D. of Lorreine thought good to blow the fire of rebellion to make it burne more furiously There is Langres a noble City in that part of Bourgondy which commonly is called Bassigny the citizens had euer remayned faithfull to the King and could neuer bee brought to associat themselues to the League smelling the breath of the Lorreins as nigh Neighbours to Nancie This noble Citie the Duke of Lorreine desired greatly to bee of the association of the rebellion knowing the importance of that place by reason of the strong situation thereof to make much for the affayres of the rebellion First he sheweth his sorrow for the Kings death to be so great that hee cannot keepe himselfe from weeping This weeping and teares are to be supposed to proceede from ioy he himselfe beeing one of the procurers of the murther Secondly he fayneth a great feare least the Gospell which he calleth heresie entring into their City should breake the necke of Popery and so rid their Citie of that deceitfull guest which by all meanes possible hee would haue courteously entertained Thirdly he exhorteth them to admit none of the Kings fauorers within their walles and in so doing promiseth them all ayde and fauour The noble Citie of Langres after curteous thanks geuen him for an answere the third of August doth first protest of their zeale goodwill and constancie in the Catholike faith Secondly doth protest of their great sorrow conceaued for the death of their late King of blessed memorie proffering themselues their liues their goods and whatsoeuer is deare vnto them for the iust and due reuengement of that most vilanous and execrable deede Last of all doth protest of their dutifull obedience to their King promising all assistance with all their meanes todefend him and nobility ioyned with him both in the defence of the Crowne and State and also in pursuing the authors of that murther vntill that a sufficient reuengement be taken of them The Citizens of the Noble Citie of Langres perceauing by these letters of the Duke of Lorreine that further matters might be attempted to procure a rebellion within their Citie to preuent all that might happen the third day of August and in their Popish calender The twelfth they assembled al the Magistrates Officers Citizens and Inhabitants of their Citie in the Towne-house after ripe consideration of the euils procured by the Leaguers and rebels and of their duties of their lawfull obedience did all with accord and minde promise and sweare First the keeping of the Catholike faith Secondly they do sweare neuer to admit any confederacy society faction or conspiracie neither with the Lorreyne nor any other forreine nor within the Realme without the expresse commandement of their King Thirdly doo acknowledge Henry of Bourbon the 4. to bee their lawfull King and naturall heire and successour to the Crowne of France and sweare neuer to depart from his obedience but to obey him and to defend him and the fundamentall lawes of the right succession of the Crowne proffering all their liues goods and meanes to preserue his person his state Crowne and kingdome and not to admit any sedition or conspiracie against him Last of all doo sweare to assist him with all their power and meanes to reuenge the vnworthie death of Henry de Valoys lately deceased Many other Townes on the North side of Loyre as in Gastinoys Hurepoys Auxerroys Bourgundie Bassigny and Champaigne being wauering encouraged with the example of the noble Citie of Langres did resolue themselues in reiecting the entising perswasions of Rebels to remayne in the Kings obedience and tooke the like oath voluntarily as the sayd Citie of Langres had done As the Rebels in the rest of Townes and Cities tooke occasion by the proclayming of the King to stirre the people to their societie of vnion that is to rebellion crying still the Catholike the Catholike religion heresie heresie heretikes heretikes so in like manner the heads of the rebellion doo prepare all the forces that euer they can for the Duke of Lorreyne gathered a great power of horsemen and footmen which he sent to the Duke de Mayne to Paris conducted by his eldest sonne the Marquesse du Pont. The Duke de Mayne also sent to the Duke of Parma for succour supposing that with the great forces which he was able to make within Paris the succour which was expected from Lorreyne and some companies of horsemen of Wallons and Germanes he would easily make an end of the warre The Duke of Parma therefore sent lustie companies of horsemen and Wallons vnder the conduct of the Duke of Brounswicke and Countie Egmond who did arriue about the beginning of September Now let vs leape ouer the Alpes to see Frier Sixtus and pray to God that the pockes may neuer depart from him nor from that holy sea seeing that his predecessor Iulius the great warriour being either the first or one of the first in all Italy which was infected with it if Ihuigo doth not lye and of a speciall grace and Apostolicall fauour left it to all the legions of Friers and Massemongers for a token of their honest and chast life The Rebels hauing committed that sauage murther vpon the person of their Soueraigne King and Prince whom God commaunded them to obey serue and reuerence and such as in Catholicisme did surpasse the best Catholike in the world and to bee short with one blowe hauing executed the secret counsell of Rome for the rooting out the rase of Valoys and put out the Lamp of France as for the Bourbons they had made their account to haue destroyed them all ere now they sent in post to Rome to congratulate Frier Sixtus for their good successe and also to haue his Frierlike counsell to bring their worke to perfection according to the sacred counsell of Rome as is aforesayd In this message as it appeared in Frier Sixtus oration they had certified him how miraculously the Frier went out of Paris in great daunger to be searched out and afterward miraculously passed through the Campe of the heretikes and through the Kings gardes not perceiued of any man but as if the diuell should conuey him inuisible in a clowde vntill he came into the Kings presence so that no man had no power
to examine him nor to aske him Domine quo vadis The newes of this exploit so happily brought to passe arriuing at Rome filled the Citie with Gaudeamus the Churches with Te Deum and the court of Rome with Curtizans Thereuppon that Fryer Sixtus may fill the measure of iniquity and that he may leaue a testimony to the world to be knowen whose Vicar hee is he called together all his Chaplains into the Consistory and telleth them the happiest newes that euer came to Rome since the day that it was taken and ransaked by Charles of Bourbon to wit that Henry the third K. of France was slayne by the hands of a Frier and that hee may giue some ground to his oration flourished with Monkish eloquence he taketh a text out of A bacuck I haue wrought a worke in your dayes and no man would beleeue it though it be told them Vppon these wordes the lewde lying Frier taketh vppon him to make the articles of our Faith as touâ—â—ing the incarnation and resurrection of Christ and the execrable parricide of this accursed murdering Fryer to bee equally miraculous and wrought by the will counsell finger and power of God and by the inspiration of the selfe same Spirit which guyded the Prophets and Apostles and wrought in them the measure of all wisedome righteousnes and holines conducted this Fryer through all the difficulties of the way and directed him and his hand in committing such a damnable Parâ—icide The Lord reproue the lying spirit of blasphemie Thus may we see the hellish diuinity which Frier Sixtus which sitting in his Consistory in his Pontificalibus cannot erre spueth out by the inspiration of Sathan This impudent Frier the other day being Sonne to a Swineheard lying in Ouens for lacke of better lodging though he be neither Prophet a spudevp-prophet let him be nor the sonne of a Prophet yet telleth to his Chaplayns that hee prophecied to the red-cap Priestes called the Caroinals Joyeuse Leuencourt and Paris how the King should be the last of his name and should die an infortunate and violent death By this prophecie euery man may see how deeply this murthering Fryer Sixtus had his fingers in the conspiracy of the Kings death Thirdly because the King would not yeeld himselfe to be slayne by the Leaguers according to the secret counsell of Rome Also by reason that he suffered the execrable murtherer to bee slayne and willed the King of Nauarre and the Princes with him to make exemplary iustice vppon the authors and accessaries of his death Frier Swineheard otherwise Sixtus sweareth by his cornerd cap that as when it is vppon his head there lyeth vnder it the foure quarters of a false Frier so the King shall haue no Masse of Requiem of him but shall souse burne and broile in purgatory vntill he be as cold as a Frogge So Fryer Sixtus hauing taken so great paines for the holy Church as he did that day his belly began to call him to another worke And all the red cap Priestes making their abashio vpon their knées began to whistle with his mouth and with his two forfingers and his thumb hunting flies ouer their heads blessed them voto milesorum nemo vestrum frugi esto get you to dinner edite bibite cras moriemini Not long after at the solicitation of the rebels who had promised in case Fryer Clement should bée slaine in such good seruice to the holy Church to make him a Saint Fryer Sixtus for why should not a Fryer doo for a Fryer euen a greater thing then that made him a holy martyr who suffered for the Catholick faith and Deum tutelarem of the Citie of Paris Then his Image was set vp in euery Church Massing sensing offring kissing kneeling and ducking is dayly done to the Idoll there was neuer so much a doo about the Idoll of Molok there was neuer so much crying about the Altar of Baal as there is ora pro nobis about this new Saint there was neuer so many flyes about Beelzebub as there is Idolaters in Paris about this new Idoll Now before we do enter into the narration of King Henry the fourth we will represent an image of the miserable confusions which are in the realme by a comparison Henry the fourth Emperour of the Romains by the mothers side was of the royall bloud of France a man of great wisdome and integrity The holy Empyre was set on a fier of sedition by the Bishops Priests and Monkes by the procurement of the Popes which then liued seditious rebellions and commotions were raysed vp by the Shauelings throughout all Germanie about the bestowing of Bishoprikes and Benefices First they stirred vp Saxonie after Suobland they set vp an vsurper to wit Radolph but to his great harme Then they set vp his owne Sonne against him to wit Henry the fift Last of all the Bishops Priests and Monkes by treason oppressed him this noble Emperour could neuer be ouercome by force but had alwaies the victorie against the Shauelings and their partakers his age was blinded with grosse ignorance and a vaine feare of the Popes vayne craking excommunication Henry of Bourbon the fourth all one in name in number in vertue and force and prosperous successe is all one with that noble Emperour issued out if we should well consider the histories of the same famely as the other was by the mothers side his Kingdome is all set on a fire of rebellion the Priestes and Fryers haue blowne and kindled it religion is pretended but in very déede ambition is the procurer of all these euills This age is not so blinde if they would but men are more malicious they vse now the old rusty sword of the Popes excommunication as they did then not that they doo passe for it but to serue their owne turne to bée the trumpet of all rebellion he hath sustayned the fury of the Priests and Fryers and of their partakers for the space of these 14. yeares and had neuer any foyle but hath had alwaies the victory on his side The Emperour Henry the fourth was oppressed by the treasons of popelings this I hope will beware of such Chaplaines Popery then did preuaile but now the Gospell shall florish mauger all the religions of idolatrous Fryers and all the route of Antichrist We haue left the King on the sea coast of Normandie there to view the preparations and attempts of the Leaguers where vnderstanding that the Leaguers did insult by the good successe which they had in executing their traiterous felony vpon the Kings person and that they had prepared a mighty army of such rablement of rebels as Paris could afoord them and had receaued certaine swart Rutâ—ers vnder the conduct of the Duke of Brunswick He was aduertised also that the Duke of Lorreyne had sent his sonne the Marquis d'Pont with certaine companies of Horsemen and that they had receaued certaine Wallons out of the Low Countrey conducted by the County Egmond The
Rochefocault and the Countie of Rossie his brother with the Countie of Rochefort with diuers Gentlemen who were néerest to his person all them he set about his footmen deuiding the Swissers into two parts The enemies were 25. thousand and he had not aboue nine thousand and that to the vttermost With this small number the King knowing that God would consider iustice of the cause and was able to vanquish as well with fewe as with a great number hauing earnestly desired Gods ayde in his priuate prayers commaunded publike prayers which being ended marched against his enemies with such resolued and princelike courage that at the first encounter as it were with one blowe the enemie left vpon the place fiue hundred men beside a number of prisoners and wounded souldiers but the rest fled with great feare and disorder In the same méeting the enemie lost as is aboue sayd at the first encounter fiue hundred men among whom were the chiefest Sague Colonell of the light horsemen the Lord S. Vidal chiefe Marshall of the Ordinance the Lord S. Andrew brother to the Countie of Saulx the Lord Vienuille eldest sonne to the Marshall Vienel who were caried to Roen and there buried with many more of great account The Countie Billing Marshall of the Camp Temblecourt the Countie of Lorreyne who had the first regiment and the Lord Sauelak with diuers other Captaines were taken prisoners Of the Kings side dyed but 26. among whom were the Countie Rossie brother to the Lord Rochefocault and also the Lord Bakqueuile whose vertues were commendable among all men for whom the King was greatly grieued There was among the enemies one Lorde Sagonne a proud man greatly boasting of his valiantnes who with feeling escaped from the slaughter at Seulis the Lord Graund Prior prouoked him to fight who ioyning together the saide Lorde Graund Prior gaue him such a blowe that in retyring and lighting downe of his horse hee fell downe and brake his neck Thus the enemy hauing retyred with shame and losse the King commaunded all his forces to refresh themselues which thing being done fifteene hundred Launce-knights presented themselues to a little trench which was kept by some of the Kings Launce-knights and lifting vp their hands protested and desired to yéeld vnto the King so that the Kings seruants as well as they would put vp their weapons This caused great ioy in the army and euery man putting vp their weapons the Kings men scattered themselues among them without any suspition of treason shaking hands like good fellowes two of the Captaines went to meete the King and being examined suddainely faultring in their speach as knowing not what they said as men troubled in minde named themselues seruants to the Duke d' Mayne in the meane while they fed the Kings Souldiours with fayre words to delay the time till their troupes of horsemen shoulde drawe neere to assist them desiring very much to see the King The King hauing no liking of them commaunded his forces to march downe the medowes from them and whilest these villanous dissembling traitors passed toward the Suissers as though in deed they would yeelde themselues to the King seeing no more the kings horsemen before them and their horsemen approaching still then they seazed vpon the Countie Rochefort and began to set vpon the Kings troupes with all their might whilest fiftéene hundered horsemen came marching a long the medowes to assist them The enemies by these meanes being three thousand and the Kinges forces there beeing not aboue three hundered Horsemen put this small companie in great feare and began to retyre toward the Swissers The Swissers neuer shronk for all that multitude but stoode still firmely shewing such a manly countenance that the enemy suspected the retyre of the Kings horsemen to haue been a policy to draw them into the danger of the Swissers At the same instant that the treason was discouered the Lord Chastilion brought out of Deepe fiue hundred Caliuers Thus all these troupes were deuided into two parts the Harquebusiers of the Kings side were so fitly placed that the enemy durst not venture to set vppon them The Canons in the meane time played vppon them and killed manie The King in this extremity and suddaine discouering of this vnlooked treason hauing ordered all things set vpon the enemies and shewed himselfe both King Captaine and Souldier and by his princely courage did encourage all men to play their partes valiantly The King receaued a shot in his boete and his horse being hurt accompanied with the Marshall Byron fought on foote vntill hée was reuenged of his enemies The enemie retired with shame and losse leauing their dead on the place and hid himselfe at Martinglize The King remayned on the field and commaunded certaine pieces of Ordinance to bée discharged against Martinglize which thing being done he gaue thanks to God with earnest praiers for his gracious goodnes succour and presence in defending them and his iust cause This being done hée greatly commended the good and faithfull seruice of the Swissers in presence of their Captaines and dronke to them for their valiant exploytes done that day The 23. of September the Lord Staphord Ambassadour for the most Noble Quéene of England arriued at Diepe bringing both money and munition but hée sawe not the King vntill the next day following About midnight following the same day the King perceaued that the enemy had changed his opinion and that hée would rayse vp his armie The 24. of September very early in the morning the enemy raised vp his Camp without any sound of Drumme or Trompet in the sight of the King and of his army This their remoouing was done with such great feare and so cowardly that they left their wounded in the Villages behind them and without giuing warning to their Sentinels to retire and saue themselues they left their victuall and munition of warre in the way as they went They tooke their iourney as though they went to the towne of Hewe and at length they turned to Saint Vax Quinqueuile and Bures and camped themselues on the other side of Diepe entrenching themselues in the néerest Villages Ianuile Boutiles and Apeuile The King who was on the other side of the hill in battel aray séeing their departing to be like a fearefull flight while hee receaued the Lord Ambassador of England sent certaine companies to puriue them who also tooke many prisoners ofthem These Prisoners beeing demaunded the cause of the sudden retire answered diuersly for some said it was by reason of the comming of the English ships which lately arriued wherein they doubted great aid to bee sent to the King But some gaue another answere to wit that vpon the death of those Noble men who had béen slaine great strife had growen among them for placing other in their roome some allowing one some choosing another so that it seemeth that these two causes troubled the enemy The King seeing the enemy encamped in another side caused
Mount berry remayned there a whole day to try whether the enemies hauing rested and refreshed themselues thrée dayes in Paris would haue gathered stomacke and pursued him But vnderstanding of their kinde of warre and victories which they had agaynst the Coffers of the citizens of Paris hee determined to leaue those wicked rebels to destroy one another and to take the Towne of Estampes vpon this occasion The Lord Clermont of Lodeshe in Languedocke had thrust himselfe into the sayd Towne with fiftie or threescore Gentlemen through the assurance which the Duke de Mayne had giuen them and confirmed the same by many of his letters which were intercepted that he would come to reléeue them with his armie The King by these letters knowing that the Duke de Mayne stood bound vpon his faith honour to rescue Estampes with all his armie the fift of Nouember hauing sent part of his forces to compasse the sayd towne which was done the same day early he followed and arriued at Estampes with the rest of his armie when it was dark night and at his comming he wonne the Suburbs which the enemies had made shewe to haue defended The same night also the Towne was taken the Souldiers retyring into the Castle The sixt day of Nouember the Castle was enuironed approaches made and two Culuerines placed in batterie The stout Souldiers with the Lord Clermont who did looke so bigg first seeing that the army which should rescue them did not appeare and that they had no newes of it demanded parley and yeelded themselues the same day with condition that eight of them should remayne prisoners vntill such time as they should giue eight others who were named to them to be deliuered After that agréement the King did shew that fauour to the Lord Clermont and vnto fiue others that should haue remayned prisoners to send them away vpon their oathes so there departed out of the Castell about forty Gentlemen and two hundred Souldiours who were safely conducted halfe the way to Paris The King considering that poore Towne of Estampes to haue béene taken thrée times in foure moneths and thought it had been necessary for him to haue kept a good Garison in it yet notwithstanding being of his owne nature as easie to be ouercome with â—lemency as he is inuinsible to his enemies by force was centent to take no other assurance of the towne then the oath of the inhabitants wherein he reposed his trust And that the Castell should not bée a meane of their rigorus vsage hereafter hée determined to rase it and to commit the keeping of the Towne to the townesmen onely perswading himselfe that they comparing the vsage which they haue at his hands and of his enemies together it will be the surest Garison to keepe them in obedience About the eight of Nouember the King remayning yet there arriued a Gentleman from the Quéene Dowager to the King bringing a request which she presented vnto the King veséeching him to doo her iustice for the detâ—stable murther committed vpon the person of the late King her Husband the King deferred the answer vntill such time as hée sat in counsell The ninth day of Nouember the Gentleman was called before the King and his counsel who after he had deliuered his message the request was read aloud in the presence of all the Princes Marshals of France and other Lords and Gentlemen who were then in great number about the King by the which request besides the desiring of the King shee did adiure not onely the Princes and Nobility of France but also all Christian Princes to be assisters in this cause The King making answer himselfe declared that he highly commended her vehemency in following this sute and sent the said supplication vnto his court of Parliament transported to Tours commaunding his generall atturney with the atturney of the said Lady to make information against the offenders to the end the matter might bée determined afterward in his presence in manner and forme conuenient And for his owne part he would not cease to prosecute the matter but vowed in presence of all the company to employ his trauailes and armes vntill such time as he had doue the iustice that God had appoynted him to doo So that as the pittifull tearmes of the request of the said Lady had filled the eyes of all with teares so the princelike answer of the King had quickly dried them vp and replenished their hearts with iust indignation and burnâ—ng desire of reuenge At that time all with a loud voyce renued the oath of not laying downe armes vntill such time as they had reuenged the hatefull death of the late King their master The King séeing that there was no hope to bring the enemy to a battaile but by extreame necessitie sent back the Duke of Longeuile and the Lord la Nouë with such forces as they had brought out of Picardie to refresh themselues in that Prouince he did the like also by the Lorde of Gyury who met him with a good troupe at his departure from Paris and sent him againe into the Country of Brie The King with the rest of his army determined to make a voyage to the riuer of Loyre in the meane time whilest his strange forces that were comming would be further in their way Therefore the tenth of Nouember hee departed from Estampes and marched through the Countrey of Beausse and being aduertised that the towne of Ianuile stopped all the passages he desired to winne it in passing by the way The 11. of Nouember the King arriuing the Captaine that was within it made a shew as though he would defend it but when hée sawe the Canon approach he yéelded it vp and departing with two hundered Harquebusiers the King entred therein and there stayed the day after They of the Towne receaued no displeasure nor discommodity no more then if they neuer had reiected his obedience The King leauing a good Garison in the Castell which is a good strong place departed thence the thirteenth of Nouember to the Towne of Chasteaudunne where as soone as he was arriued he sent to sommon the Towne of Vendosme which was his auncient patrimony and the ancieÌ„t title of his predecessors and because that thereby they were his double subiects they were the more culpable in taking his enemies part yet the King hauing more care to kéepe them from further offending then to punish them for their double treasons he stayed thrée dayes at Chausteaudunne to giue them time to aduise themselues Whilest the King lodged at Chasteaudune the Captaines of the Suissers arriued who were sent immediatly after the death of the late King by their Câ—lonels of the foure Regiments to knowe the pleasure of their superiours whether they should continue in seruice or aske leaue to returne home The saide messengers reported vnto the King that they had expresse charge from their Seignories to giue his Maiesty to vnderstand that they not onely doo commaund the Colonels and
batteries whereof two from sundry parts should batter at one breath of the Castell The third being placed vpon a rock should scoure certaine waies along behinde the breach of the side of the Castell Therefore the fift day of Ianuary at eight of the clock in the morning his Ordinance began to beate two great towers which flanked from the one to the other whereof the one serued for a defence to the breach which he supposed to make And after the bestowing of foure hundered Canon shot the top of one Tower being fallen and a hole being made in the other Tower that defended the creach the King caused it to be battered spéedily for there néeded but the beating of a little piece of a Wall This done the King commaunded certaine companies of Souldiours to goe and view if they could lodge in the said Tower at whose commaundement certaine of them entring the hole which was made through went into the Castell and finding no resistance called their fellowes who entring one after another in a shortspace they became Masters of the Castell and Towne They within being sore dismayed without any fight retyred into the dâ—ngeon out of the which they sent thrée Gentlemen to beséech the King to receaue them vpon any composition The King answered that he would not receaue them but at his pleasure and that they should proue his clemency without binding him else vnto any condition The sixt of Ianuary the King suffered the Lord Brissak to come and submit himselfe vnto him and being ouercome with pitty which hée had vpon the young Gentlemâ—n graunted their â—iues in choosing fifteene of the best sort of them whome hée would keepe prisoners as warlike enemies and fifteene more such as hee should thinke good should bée at his Maiesties disposition Thus God did so beate downe these proud and insolent rebels roaring and breathing a little before nothing but fire and bloud that none of them did proffer or séemed to make head otherwise then by words The Towne being taken by assault could not be preserued from pillaging and sackaging that there might be a difference betweene them that fled to the Kings clemency and those who obstinatly did proue the force of his army the one being wholy desolat the other reioysing in a full quietnes and perfect peace The 15. whom the King tooke for warlike Enemies were put to their ransom the town was geuen to the Souldiours of the other fifteene who were at the Kings disposition the Lord Brissak as consenting and accessary to the Kings death was condeÌ„ned to die But wheras after the Kings death and when the townes of Picardie did reuolt the rebels had taken the Duchesse of Longeuille mother to the Duke now liuing prisoner for abhorring their rebellion and detained her in captiuitie in the Citie of Amiens The Duke of LoÌ„gueuille greatly desirous to deliuer his mother begged the said Brissak to set his mother at liberty and in place of safetie by exchange with the said Brissak which thing the king granted supposing that it would not bee long afore he would come againe into his hands to receaue the reward of his rebellion and parracide Hetherto Christian Reader thou hast seen into what miserable and wofull state the whole Realm was throwen in by the Leaguers by their Friers Monkes and desperat Iesuits and by their venimous seditions and vngodly sermons preached to the people to stirre them to all manner of damnable license And how that kingdome sunke and drowned in a most confused rebellion was left by the king Henry the third and last of the noble familie of Valoys and deliuered to Henry the 4. now king of France and Nauarre named declared and inthronised by his predecessor approued accepted and proclaimed lawfull and natural heire and king of y e crowne of France after the maner of the Emperours of the Romans by the Princes Nobilitie Officers of the Crowne not among few Priests Bishops and Monks with a trash of ceremonies but in the middle of an armie by y e Marshals Colonels captaines Souldiers acknowledged obedience sworn vnto by the best and soundest part of the realm towns cities Commonalties people as well ecclesiasticall as temporall resisted onely by few rebels and robbers who hauing surprised some Townes and Cities do exercise an intollerable and more then Turkish tyranny ouer the Citizens otherwise well disposed Thou hast séene also how God hath guided his hands to battell and his fingers to fight hath blessed his armes before and now in the beginning of his raigne with prosperous successe of victories and reduced Townes Cities and whole Prouinces seduced by the Leaguers to their duetifull obedience and hath so restored to them which will be quiet vnder his gouernement peace iustice and iudgement that they may say that the Lord after a long continual stormy tempest hath geuen them as a calme weather to restore in that afflicted state saturnia regna wherein godlinesse and iustice ought to raigne Now before we make an end of this yeare and this seuenth booke together wee will lay downe other exploits of warre done in other partes of France but specially in the Prouince of Daulphine and hauing no ample informations nor obseruation of time and other circumstances necessary to the perspicuity of the history we will put downe onely the euents bare and naked as it were priuate memories in such sort as they were sent to the noble Princesse of Orenge out of her soueraignty of Orenge by some of her seruantâ— there desyrous onely to aduertize her excellency simply of the accidents which had passed there It said before how the Guizes head of the League tooke for party the king of Nauarre and with him the professors of the reformed religion as onely hinderers of their driftes And afterwardes they proclaimed open warre against the Lords Espernon and Valete his brother who with their faithfull seruice and wise counsel were stumbling blockes in the way of the said Guizes and Leaguers disappointing them of their purposes The L. Valete beeing in Prouance and Daulphine and vnderstanding of the execution done at Bloys vppon the persons of the Duke of Guyze and the Cardinall his brother by a prudent wisedome foresaw how some new tumults would ryse thereupon and how the king would turne his forces against the Leaguers vpon that occasion would reconcile the king of Nauarre to him and vse his seruice and of them of the reformed Religion And thereupon to auoyde all inconueniences which might ensue this strange and vnexpected accident thought good to make peace with the Lord des Diguieres a noble man of great valour who had constantly and valiantly defended the cause of the religion and brought many Townes Cities and Fortresses from the tyranny and slauery of the Leaguers to the Kings obedience And when after the death of the Duke of Guize many Townes and holds had rebelled partly induced by the outâ—ries of y e Leaguers and partly surprized by them but
Lords Clermont Antragues one of the Captaynes of the Kings gards who deceased nigh the Kings person The Lord Tischombert who had borne great charges in warre and now would needes serue as a souldier in the Kings Cornet The Lord of Longauluay in Normandy of fourescore yeares of age the Lord of Creuay Cornet bearer to the Prince Montpencier the Lord Vienne Lieftenant to the Lord Benuron the Lords of Manuille Fequers Valoys and twentie Gentlemen more at the most There were hurt the Marquesse of Neste the Earle of Choysy the Lord d'O the Earle Lude the Lords Montluet Lauergne and Rosny and about twentie Gentlemen more without any danger of death The King going to chase the enemie and hauing deuided his companies as is aforesayd left the Marshall Byron with the rest of his forces to conduct them and followe after him Here good Christian Reader thou hast to note certaine fatall periods of things to wit the circumstances of the persons time and place in the execution of Gods iustice vpon his enemies The 23. day of December 1559. Claude Duke of Guize and Charles Cardinall of Lorreyne his brother in the raigne of Francis the second procured Annas du Borg one of the chiefest Senators of the Court of Parliament of Paris to be burned for the Gospell at Saint Ihan in Greues in Paris The 23. of December as their Calender is now which was the day of the natiuitie of Henry of Bourbon which now raigneth in the yeare 1588. the last Duke and Cardinall of Guize were slayne at Bloys when they had concluded to murther the King the next morning following that day The fourth day of March 1561. Claude of Guize father to this last tooke armes agaynst the edict of Ianuary and committed the cruell murther of Vassie by the which breach of the peace were ciuill warres raised vp in France and euer since haue béen entertayned and nourished by his posteritie which warre was his vndoing The same day of the same moneth in the yeare 1585. the last Duke of Guize sonne to the sayd Claude tooke armes against the King which was the beginning of these last ciuill warres of the League by the which they haue procured their owne vndoing and of many others The same day of the moneth the Duke de Mayne brother to the sayd last Duke of Guize and heire of the Captainship of the rebellion made a shipwracke of all his forces at Saynt Andrewes plaine without hope euer to recouer the like forces Claude Duke of Guyze in December in the year 1561. fought the first battell that was giuen in all these ciuill Warres with Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Condie Prince of famous and blessed memory in the plaine of Dreux with an vncertaiue issue but in equall losses so that to this day it is vniudged who had y e victory but well knowen that the Duke of Guyze had the greatest losse The Duke de Maine fought agaynst Henry of Bourbon the fourth of that name now King of France and Nauarre at the plaine of Saint Andrew next adioyning to the other and the places not distant passing a mile a sunder with a reparable losse The Lord Rendan a rebellious Leaguer in Auuergne with such power as he could make in the sayd countrey but specially in the Townes of Rions and Brion rebelled and holden in the same rebellion by the Iesuits besieged Isoire a great and populous towne in the said Auuergne because it continued in the Kings obedience The Lords Chasseran and Rochemayne willing to do some honorable seruice to the King and good to their countrey gathered such power as they could of the Kings subiectes to rescue the sayd towne of Isoire from falling into the handes of the rebels and with a meane power trusting in GOD the defender of his Ordinance and wayghing the right of the cause marched towards Isoire The sayd Lord Rendan vnderstanding of their approach raysed vp the siege and went intending to meete the sayd Lordes Chasseran and Rochemayne and at the same day and time of the battell at Saint Andrewes playne meeting in a playne field not farre from Jsoire tried the quarell by the sword There the sayd Rendan was ouerthrowen and aboue fourescore Gentlemen of his were slayne on the place all his footmen cut to pieces the artillery bagge and bagage with many prisoners taken so the Towne of Isoyre was deliuered from the danger of the enemie retayned and confirmed in the Kings dutifull obedience It is said how after the victory the King deuided his army into foure parts three of them were appointed their quarters to follow the chase and the Marshall Biron to follow after the King with the residue of the army The King hauing taken this order followed after the Duke de Mayne but finding the bridg broaken was faine to go thrée miles about to passe the riuer afoord and in that way he found many straglers whom he tooke prisoners which was a good turne for them or else they had béen slaine by others he came so fast after the Duke d' Mayne that hee did misse him but a little but vnderstanding how he was receaued in Mant the king lodged that night at Rosni as is said very simple The fift day the Duke d'Mayne very early fearing to be besieged there retyred from Mante to Pontoyse where he soiourned few dayes to take some sure order for the safety of the Towne and after went to Saint Denis The same day the King sent to sommon the Towne of Mante which deliuered the keyes of their towne to his Maiesty receaued and acknowledged him their king and prince and continued there vntill the twentie day of March to refresh his army wearied with so many labours and hardnes of winter to take counsel of the course which he was to take hereafter and to expect certaine munition of warre which was comming to him from Diepe The Citie of Paris first author of this warre had conceaued an assured confidence of all prosperous successe by the vaine bragges which the Duke d'Mayne did cast foorth afore hee went out with the army The Friers Iesuites increased this vain confidence in their pulpets by assuring them either of a certaine victory or else of recoyling of the King as farre as beyond Loyre so that euery day they looked for the King dead or aliue and all his spoyles to be brought for a spectacle and to bee solde and bought among them or else to heare of his flight as farre as the riuer of Loyre This great confidence made them to liue very secure and carelesse in prouiding for the Citie besides that they rested much vpon the great multitude which is within the sayd Citie there beeing great bablers and boasters for the Parisien is as Epimenides speaketh of the Cretayns a lyer euill beast and slothfull belly The towns also which then did hold round about their Citie as Pontoyse beneath vpon the same riuer Charonton Meaux Laguye Corbeil Melun Montereau aboue vpon the riuer
him nor good for his master to meddle with the Kings affayres we sayd the Lord Byron hold the King for the true and naturall heire of the Crowne of France That the King maintained their lawes and liberties inuiolable and had none for enemies but fewe straungers thrust forward by ambition who vnder y e pretence of religion sought to ouerthrowe all good lawes to lay downe the foundation of their tyrannie to giue entrance to the Spanish King and for religion to bring in all Atheisme The Frier protested that his master was free from medling in any such enterprises But his doings his practises his ministring of money to the Rebels his conuersation and familiaritie with Bernardine Mendoza was so auerred to the foolish Friers face that he was proued a lying false flattering Frier Thereupon master Frier his stomacke being not yet satisfied would haue a saucie Frierlike fling against the King and demaunded the Marshall Byron how they being professors of the Catholike religion made so light account of his masters holines and purposes to carrie armes against the Catholikes their brethren The Lord Byron answered that they carried armes agaynst rebels and traytors and told him agayne that it were very wisely done for him his master to looke somewhat neerer to his owne estate For if he so encroached and medled with them they would quickly excommunicate him And that there were diuers Bishops in France as good Catholikes as his master who would bee glad to bee made Patriaches in their seuerall Prouinces and would finde as good Scripture to maintaine their authoritie as his master had any to defend his Some reasoning being vpon this poynt Frier Paniguerola was found to be so great a Clark that he could answer little or nothing But at length to conclude the talke he shewed the somme of his Ambassage to wit he desired a good peace to be concluded and some paynes to be taken to bring the King to be a Catholike But he shewed not his intent which was to delay the siege of Paris if the king had intended to besiege it out of hand The other Ambassadour to wit Vileroy was sent by the King to the Lord Plessis Morney a noble man of great wisedome and profound learning who handled the sayd Vileroy very plainly and roughly reproaching vnto him his vnfaithfull and treacherous seruice to his old master Henry the third And when he had denyed these things wherewith he was charged the Lord Beaulieu both condemned his fayre flattering wordes and promises which he brought now full of dissimulation and verified his olde trayterous practises agaynst his olde master it was thought that iustice should haue been executed vppon him for his treasons according to the Kings edicts The King hauing soiourned at Mante fewe dayes tooke his way to Vernon which lyeth between Mante and Pont de larche which also yéelded vnto him From Vernon the Gentlemen of Normandy to the number of fifteene hundred horses retyred to their home about the eight of March The Lord Chartres gouernour of Deepe returned to Deepe sicke in whose absence certaine Leaguers inhabitants there went about to haue seazed vpon the towne for the League who being detected and preuented at his returne were exiled out of the Towne to the number of sixe score among whom were many of the richest sort of all the towne About the same time that the King soiourned at Vernon the Duke of Longueuile the Lord of Tinteuille arriued to the King with eight thousand Rutters The King hauing seazed on Vernon and Mante and stopped the traffique of that riuer with the Citie of Paris on that side and prouided for the safetie of the sayd Townes concluded in his counsell to besiege Paris the principallest Citie of the Realme where it was considered that the Citie being populous and great would easily be woon by famine which would eschewe slaughter both of his owne Souldiers and Citizens whome hée would by all gentle meanes bring to their duetie of obedience and therefore it was thought good to stop the passages of the riuers Oyse Marne and Seyne aboue Paris For in stopping Oyse the Towne of Pontoyse also should bee distressed Therefore the King deuideth his armie as followeth The Duke of Longueuile should haue part of his armie to besiege Beaumont vpon Oyse He sent the Marshall Byron with another part of the armie to scoure the riuer Marne where he tooke Cressie a towne situated in Brie betweene Meaulx and Corbeil where a Parisien named Peter was Captaine for whose raunsome was proffered eight hundred Crownes but the King for some speciall causes commaunded him to be hanged and fiue and twentie of the chiefest of the towne with him The sayd Marshall Byron immediatly after the taking of Cressie layed the siege before Lagnye vpon the riuer Marne right agaynst Corbeil The Citizens required space of time to send vnto the King which was yet in Normandy to craue his gracious mercie which they obtayned The King about the 21. of March hauing receiued certayne munitions from Deepe and taken order for the safetie of Normandy with part of his armie coasted betweene the riuers of Seyne and Eure and tooke the townes of Possie and S. Germain and the Pont S. Clow and marched toward Corbeil to seaze vpon the riuer of Seyne on that side It is said before how the Leaguers had compacted with the King of Spayne vpon some conditions of receiuing a certaine somme of money to haue deliuered the Citie of Marsels a great strong Citie in Prouance vpon the Mediterran Sea but being disappoynted of his purpose as is said in the first Booke that Citie continued faithfull vnto the King vntil the Duke of Guize his death The King of Spayne had corrupted aforehand the chiefe gouernour of the Citie by giuing him pay to the summe of fifty Crownes a day he had also drawne to his faction three score of the chiefest Citizens paying to some forty crownes some more and some lesse a day Thus the hearts of a great number of Citizens being disposed the death of the Duke of Guize was bruted euen to the coast of the Mediterrane Sea The gouernour and his complices hearing of that began to â—nuaigh and bring the City to a wauâ—ring and inconstancy of wills counsels some would haue the Towne to yéelde to the League and some would not so the Citie remayned as neuter hanging neither to Spayne nor to France In the meane time the Lord Valete as is said hauing made peace with the Lord Diguieres and considering the wauering of that Citie had prepared a nauy of Galeys on the Sea before the said City to controule such Ships or other vessels as might come or goe that way to benefit the said Towne whome he molâ—sted as Leaguers The gouernour and the rest of malcontents hired by the King of Spayne practized that the said King of Spayne and the Duke of Sauoy should send Galleys thether in shew to clense the Seas but in déede
kings death They were hanged without any scraping of the holy greasing which they had of their Bishop These murtherers left a president what trust princes may haue in the rable of Friers Monkes and shaueling Priests About the same time the Lord Rubempre gouernour for the King in Tourreyne gaue an ouerthrow to the Lord Chastre in the Countrey of Berrye About the beginning of Iuly the Lord Viques a most cruell Leaguer had besieged Pontarson a towne in base Britaine holding for the King against the Leaguers and after three assaults in the which he was repulsed he heard that the county of Thorigni was comming with great forces to rayse the siege wherupon he retired to S. Michaels mount wrote letters vnto the Duke Merceur who was then at Nantes for succour fearing least he should bee forced in the sayd mount Saint Michaell Hee that carryed the letters came with the sayd letters to the Earle of Thorigny who hauing perused the letters sent the copie of the same to the Prince Dombes who was betweene Saint Mal◠and Vitre and forthwith sent the Messenger to the Duke Merceur with his letters who after hee had seene them sent by and by an answere to the sayd Lord Viques praying him to be strong and that within three daies he would come to his aide with three thousand men to rescue him from the Earle Thorigny and to oppresse him seeing that the sayd Earle could not haue helpe from the Prince The Messenger came agayne to the sayd Earle and shewed him the answere of Merceur the copie thereof was sent immediatly to the Prince the resolution was so taken betweene them that the Prince caused all the horsemen to march speedily and to get betweene the sayd Merceur and Nantes and the Earle of Thorigny marched towards the sayd Merceur The Duke perceauing that hee was compassed betweene two armies ventured to fight with the Prince Dombes and whilest they were a fighting the Earle came vppon him on the other side hee was so beaten betweene them that he lost seuenteene Ensignes and twelue hundred of his company were slayne on the place he saued himselfe by flight into the Castell Josselin one of the strongest places in all France When the Lord Viques vnderstood of this ouerthrow he yeelded and in the conclusion he gaue his Daughter in marriage to the yonger brother of the Lord Montgomery who was kept prisoner by him He was permitted to keepe Saint Michaell for his safety About the same tyme the strong Towne of Dinan in base Normandie hearing of the sayd ouerthrow of Merceur did beat out of their town their gouernour brother of the Duke Merceur killed many of his Souldiers and among them the chiefest of his Captayns named Iahn and so yeelded vnto the King About this time also the inhabitants of Kilbeuf in Normandie took a galley of the Duke Aumale laden with his goods as it was going vp to Roan In this moneth of Iuly the Franciscan Fryers of Sanlis must needes plaie a Fryerlike part they were greatly desyrous to betray the towne and to deliuer the same into the Leaguers handes which for to bring to passe they caused many Captains of the rebels to come thether apparrelled like Countrey men hauing each of them a basket full of Cheries vppon their shoulders as though they were market-folkes to sell Cheries These Cherie mongers were receaued by the said Friers into their Fryery house where they had gathered together great prouision of armor But this thing beeing suspected by some good Citizens they notifyed it to the King Whereuppon many were taken and of the Fryers Masse-mongers Chery-mongers and treason-mongers of the Towne were hanged to the number of seauen score and so the play was ended Wee haue left the King at Saint Denis whilest wee went to see what was done in other places of the realme now wee will come to the siege of Paris and first speake of the state of the Citie There the famin had so preuailed in the beginning of Iuly that it far passed the famous famin of Saguntum Then began they to denounce war agaynst all the leane horses and skiruy iades agaynst the asses cats and dogges these things were more dayntie vnto them then the daynties of Sibaris little bread and that of Oates with huske and all was very scant it was for Princes and great Ladies and that a small quantity euery day In this extremity Fryer Henrico Caietano had sold and wasted all his money and plate and begging was there little regarded he with the rest of his Masse-mongers did bury in their stomackes their God whom they had made with fiue words in horse dung if they could get it but a strange thing there happened as had béen heard of in any age to wit the Asses of Sorboun were enforced to deuour their owne brothers flesh There were foure sorts of men who went about to remedie this extremity each one following their course Some of the best sort and stoutest stomacke pittying themselues their fellow Citizens whom they saw perish by heaps for the pleasure of few rebels by the aduise of one Renard Atturney in the Court of Parliament tooke counsell how to deliuer the Cittie into the Kings hands of whose clemency and gracious fauour toward the poore distressed people they assured themselues But beeing discouered some fled to the King who were graciously of him receaued some were taken prisoners and the said Renard with some others were executed but the goods of all were forfayted to the heads of the League The second was the Duke de Mayne who fearing greatly the losse of Paris being abroad where he made shift for good cheere though it were at other mens charge as the saying is Qui satur est pleno laudat ieiunia ventre He writeth letters to the inhabitants of Paris commending them for their great constancie promiseth them succour and great prouision of victuals within a certayne time prefixed in the letter willing them to bee patient yet and not to goe about any making of peace with the King The Friers and Iesuites tooke the copies of these letters read them in their pulpets and serued them for text to discourse vpon and to make braue and lustie sermous The third was the blind Captaine Bernardine who taught the delicate Parisiens the dyet of his countrey to wit to take Oates ground meale huske and all and therewith to make a kinde of pap such as the countrey men in Spayne doo vse for their ordinarie dyet and as they doo in France for the fatting of their hogges and here in England the Hunters doo for their houndes and that slubber sauce to bee sould to them that had money by a measure which was followed as long as Oates did last The fourth was the Priests who would also feede their mindes with idolatrous fantasies as their bodies were fed sparingly with spanish slubber wash and first to begin they perswaded them to vow to Nostra donna di Loretta a lampe
of the famine the wilâ—ull obstinacy of that damned people who will rather perish like the heathenish Saguntines then to try his clemenâ—y and fauour whom they knew to be therewith indued more then euer had béen any King in France before him hearing also of this sauage and barbarous act of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by some that fled vnto him out of the City was greatly moued so that lifting vp his hands to Heauen before his nobility protested vnto the Lord as Titus did in like case at the siege of Ierusalem that hee was not guilty of those abominations which were there committed neither of the bloud of them that so desperatly perished That hee was their lawfull King ordayned of God to gouerne them that he had proffered vnto them contrary to their deserts mercy that he might haue forced them but to spare their bloud he had delayed it to his great hinderance hoping that néed would haue caused them to consider their duty But contrary vnto duty and nature they had obstinated themselues and committed more abominations then any City euer did among the heathens This good King his eyes full of teares retyred into his Chamber full of compassion admiration and loue of iustice Compassion was not in him only as it was in Scipio at the burning of Carthage an affection procéeding of a milde nature but a true Christian mercy by the which he did féele the griefes euen of his mortall enemies and therefore gaue certaine passeports vnto many to haue dayly out of his campe a certaine alowance of victuals and liberty to his souldiours to sell some victuals vnto the besieged for necessary thinges as shooes hose apparell and other such things which did somewhat relieue them and stopped the barbarous eating one another The admirations of this strange hardnes of hart of that people brought him to consider Gods iust and secret iudgements who in his wrath hath sent euill spirits of Idolomany in the mouthes of their false prophets that as through blindnes of Idolatrie this fiftie yeres past and more they had replenished their streates with burnings murthers and massacres of the Saints and had stopped their eares vnto the voyce of Christ so they should bee replenished with error and idolatrous hardnes by the wicked Friers and Iesuites possessed with lying spirites to bring them to that thraldome and obloquie neither will that Citie euer be restored to peace and iustice vntill that the streetes thereof be washed with the bloud of that damned generation The King considering his office and charge annexed and inseparably ioyned to his Crowne to minister iustice that is to punish the offenders and transgressors and that there began the rebellion there was by the consent of most wrought the death of the King and that by the reioycing and approbation of the sayd death they had rendred themselues accessarie and guiltie of the same euen their walles houses temples all whatsoeuer they had Therefore he considering correlatiuely his office their offence could not giue ouer the siege and seeing that they refused lawfull try all by their rebellion hee would followe that which in such a case God hath ordained that is force violence and warre yet hee determined to trye fashioning himselfe after Gods Image who is long suffering whether they might be prouoked to take pitie vpon their afflicted estate Here we will leaue the King for a time and will passe into other places to see what preparations of warre be made We haue sayd how the Duke de Mayne returned from Bruxels where hee was royally receaued as a poore simple lackie as is sayd into Champaigne thence he sent to the Duke Aumale and the Vidasme d'Amiens into Picardie to gather such forces as they could and to repayre vnto him with as much speede as they might to ioyne with the Duke of Parma who was comming with great forces Wherevpon about the middest of August the Lord Iumeges vnderstanding that the sayd Duke Aumale and Vidasme had gathered forces were going toward the Duke de Mayne to ioyne with the Spanyards comming out of the Lowe Countrey met with them nigh Amiens discomfited them and slewe thrée thousand of them as the common report is among whom was the Vidasme of Amiens The Duke Aumale by flight saued himselfe within Amiens The Duke of Parma in the meane time commanded the two regiments of Spanyards appoynted by the King of Spayne to keepe home and to doo their feate as they should vnderstand when the opportunitie should serue to march forward before him For although leauing the countrey vnprouided of sufficient forces the States would take occasion to do their busines and to surprise places yet according to the prouerbe he consented to some losse for feare of loosing all The Spaniards were very vnwilling to goe to that iourney but hee put them in hope of doing some great and waightie exployts which were not for euery man to knowe and which could not be effected without their counsell and helpe making them beléeue that they were the onely Souldiers of the world At length the Spanyards as a restie horse which striueth with the rider and goeth backward afore hee will take his way forward Vpon their departure hee sent foorth euery where to shewe his iourney into France hee setteth foorth a description of his armie how many thousand footmen how many thousand horsemen how many Princes Dukes and Earles what Caesars and Alexanders there was in that armie And when all came to all there were three which are by him called Princes euen such as he is himselfe such as may be a Knight here in England which do hold some small Dukedomes of small townes in Italy either of y e Pope or els of King Philip such as are holden in flauerie as the Bassas by the Turke to wit the Princes for so hee tearmeth them of Ascoly Castel Bertran and Symay two Princes as obscure as the name of their principalities There were y e Marquesse of Renty the Earle Berlamount There were also Dons of Spayne as Sanctio Layeua Iuan Baptista Tasis Alonso Idiaques Antonio de Zuniga Pedro Gaetano and Capechuca Romano All these Dons were such as might be twentie groates in the bookes of Subsidie so great noble men they were men that could haue shewed great prowesse vpon the naked Iudiens To be short there were three great Lords Pride Vanitie and Folly who were masters of the Campe. There were also fewe Carrowssers out of Flanders Henault and Brabant hee gaue them terrible names as Amutinados that is angry men Mansferidos and other such I wot not what as would make the poore heathnish women in Italy and Spayne crosse their foreheads thinking to heare some names of diuels He setteth foorth his furniture his stable his pages the couerings of his coffers and moyles and why not the belles of his moyles But a great ouersight was committed by him that made no mention of his Curtizans that was not for lacke of good will but
appeare that as the sayd Duke of Parma was not able to doo good to his partakers so came he not but to bée a scourge of Gods wrath vnto them For he came to raise the siege from before Paris if that had not béen done by dutifull submission the Citie might haue been relieued iustice iudgement which are more then centâ—plex murus to a Cittie had beene established they might haue had their owne Autonomie to wiâ— their Religion and Franchises in peace security and libertie Their commerce and traffike by which the greatnes of that Citie is entertained and nourished had been opened to bee short it would haue florished more then euer it did but the comming of the Duke of Parma disappointed them of all these benefites The Duke of Parma brought a little store of victuals but hee and his consumed not onely that within a few dayes but also all other prouisions which could be made for the Citie so the inhabitants were hungerbitten still with sorrowfull eies they saw others to intercept that which should haue béen their sustenance So that if it were not for the Kings goodnes which by winking and forbearing some store of victuals to goe to their market they would haue beene enforced in few dayes to open their shambles of horse flesh and dogs flesh Hee came to deliuer them as they thought from cruell handes but what could Busyris haue done to his enemies that this man did not to his friends to their wines and children To be short now he is returneâ— home with shame dishonor hunger nakednes feeblenes and stripes and they remaine in a worse case then euer they were before for before they liued in hope of him now they know that he neither may nor will do them good but hath lingered their miseries and heape of euils that they may perish as with a sharpe and consuming sicknes Last of all that al men may learne by seeing the punishment of rebellion to submit themselues vnto the powers ordayned of God as vnto his ministers for the good of the iust and the punishment of the wicked and vniust and that they may discerne between a sawfull power and 〈◊〉 It is sayd before how after the death of the Duke of Guyze the Lords Diguieres and Valete vppon a good iudgement entred in league of amity for the Kinges seruice and after that separated themselues and within a short space scoured the Leaguers for the most part out of Daulphinee some he enforced to receaue the Kings commandement and the rest enforced to seeke for truces for foure yeares which in March were granted and proclaimed in Grenoble vpon Easter day It is saide how the Lord Valete went into Prouance and gathering the states of the countrey by a common consent they concluded to warre against the Senate of Aix who were the ringleaders of the rebellion and had intelligences with the Duke of Sauoy The Lord Diguieres hauing put the countrey of Daulphine in a good stay went into Prouance to the Lord Valete making warre against the rebellious parliament there and the Duke of Sauoy The rumors went abroad that they had lost a field and were sent into their countrey with store of Bastinadoes but for lack of instructions I affirme nothing The Lord Diguieres being in Prouance with the Lord Valete had diuers letters from the King but specially in the latter end of May commanding him to warre against the Duke of Sauoy But the saide countrey of Prouance being assaulted by the Leaguers of Sauoy Lionnoys and Daulphine he thought good yet to employ the moneths of Iune and Iuly with the Lord Valete for the establishing of the affayres of the sayd Prouance wherein they had so good a successe that the enemie in token of that cowardnesse which their rebellion doth bréede in their hearts abandoned the townes and Castells of Peruis Pumichet Valansele Montignak Soluiers Pignauers and Lorgis some were brought to the kings obedience by force and some by composition In Iuly during the soiourning of the Lorde Diguieres in Prouance there was in Daulphine one captaine Cazete who with intelligences which he had with the Duke of Sauoy would haue sould him the townes of Briancon and Essiles in Piemont yet pertayning to the Dolphinate These two townes were kept by the Neutrals that is to say by them who would admit neither the K. nor the Leaguers The said Cazete had receaued commission from the Duke of Sauoy to leauie souldiers to that intent in expecting the arriuall of foure and twenty companies of Spaniards to bring his enterprize the more easie to passe The inhabitants of the valleies perceauing well that if this trayterous captaine should preuaile great warre and miserable desolations of their countrey would ensue therefore the chiefest of those valleyes making acquainted the Lord Diguieres of their purpose determined to rid the sayd Cazete out of the way and did worke so that the fifteenth day of Iuly his house was blowne vp and he slaine This traytor being made out of the way the inhabitants of the valleis seat word to the Lord Diguieres that they would send their deputies to Ambrun to treate with him Vpon the receipt of this message the Lord Diguieres considering the greatnes of the affayres and that it was very expedient for the king to haue those townes of Briancon and Essiles in possession to haue passe and repasse into Piemont when néede should be departed out of Prouance and in hast marched towards Ambrun where the deputies of the valeys did méete him And among other things shewed the treasons of Cazete by the papers which they had found in his house After that they bound themselues by oath to be faythfull to the King they promised also to doe their indeuour to confirme the people into his Maiesties seruice and obedience this was done about the fourth of August Immediatly after this méeting the Lord Diguieres being aduertized of the wauering which the death of the sayd Cazete and voluntarie yéelding of the valeys did cause in the towne of Briancon which was Neutrall knowing also that those who did fauour the kings side in the towne began to be encouraged caused foure Canons to be drawen and brought to that place and after a breach made the enemie did parley and came to that issue that Clauison appoynted there gouernour by the Duke de Mayne surrendred the towne and Castell the tenth day of August Whilest the Lord Diguieres did these exployts in Daulphine Martinengo one of the Duke of Sauoys great warriors did besiege Saint Maximine in Prouance for which cause the L. Valete did daylie solicit the sayd Diguieres to assist him in the rescuing of the sayd Saint Maximine The Lord Diguieres considering the safetie of Saynt Maximine to make much for the preseruation of Prouance when as hee had gone to Montgeneure to take Essiles vpon intelligences which hee had with the gouernour thereof and séeing that there was neither certaintie in al that neither was he
of Parma if he would haue taken it so and how the sayd King retyred to Saint Quintin in the beginning of December 1590. but what course he tooke nor what coast he followed I haue nothing to speake of for lacke of instructions except wee may gather some thing by the euents It seemeth therefore that the King after he had soiorned some dayes in Picardie hee returned to his army which he had leftin Normandie where he tooke aduise concerning the citie of Chartres great mighty strong and riche situated in the countrey of Beausse This is that Citie whereunto K. Henry the third soiorned for a time after hee was put to flight from Paris in May 1588. This Citie is ancient and famous for the ancient superstition of the Druides in our dayes for the renowmed Idoll of our Ladie of Chartres that Citie hath been therefore both with the Pagans with the Romanists a seat of most damnable Idolatrie and of late one of them which rebelled first of all agaynst Henry the third after the death of the Duke of Guyze and had continued still in the same rebellion In the beginning of Ianuary therefore the King hauing prepared all thinges determined to wrest this Citie out of the tyrannous bondage of Leaguers and to enforce the same to returne to theyr dutie And for lacke of instructions of al the notable exploits done in that siege wee haue to shew two things First of a stratagem vsed by the King and secondly of the yeelding of the same This town of Chartres is very strong both by art nature yet was it not very well prouided of Souldiers besides the Citizens and Townesmen After that the King acompanied with his owne forces and the Marshal Biron hauing laine long time about the said Chartres came to his campe he perceaued that it would be very difficult to obtaine the same by force therfore he aduised himselfe to prooue what might be done by stratagem And about the fourtéenth of Februarie he seperated himselfe from the Marshall Biron and faining to geue ouer that siege marched towardes Dreux geuing out that hee would goe to besiege the same and went but thrée miles from the said Chartres The Marshall Biron in like manner séemed the next day which was the fiftéenth of the saide moneth to raise vp the siege and to followe the King as though he dispaired to doe any good there They of Chartres with such forces as they had seeing that resolued themselues to make a sally and to set vpon the rereward of the Marshall Biron as hee was marching toward Dreux vpon this determination they issued out of the towne and roughly charged the Marshals hinder troups The Marshall first seemed to make head against them but soone after began to retire himselfe geuing place to the enemies The enemies followed him amayne continually skirmishing vntill they came about two miles from the Towne In the meane time the King lying in ambush when he saw his time got betweene the Towne and the men thereof that followed the Marshall of Biron and so couragiously charged them behind and the Marshall turning his face towards them agayne that in lesse then an hower that they fought he slew them all except thirty cuirasses which hardly escaped The King following the victorie entred presently one of the Suburbs of Chartres The townesmen seeing this began to make a motiō of peace with him and offered to deliuer him the towne fiftie thousand crownes vpon condition that hee would remooue his forces and place no garrison therein which the King refused to doo and thereupon prepared to batter the towne in two places hauing resolued not to leaue it vntill he were master of it For lacke of instructions we omit here many particularities exployts valiantly performed at that siege During the which siege the inhabitants enforced by y e rebellious Leaguers which were many shewed themselues very malicious and obstinate agaynst him refusing to acknowledge him for their Soueraigne with threatnings and breathing out most vnreuerent and vnnaturall speaches agaynst him The King in that siege hauing made diuers times many breaches gaue assaults vpon them which they endured with great losses vntill they saw theyr walls wonderously battered and beaten downe to the playn ground Then offered they diuers times to yeeld vp vppon certayne conditions But the King answered that it was for him to giue them lawe and for them to receaue it at his hands The King did delay the sharpnes of warre hoping through consideration of the extreame daunger to bring them to reason and duetie But when that would not preuaile about the 16. day of April there was a great and terrible assault giuen which the inhabitants notwithstanding sustayned but very hardly and with great losse The wisest and best sort of the inhabitants considering that it was in vayne to with stand the King and that in fewe such feasts all their citizens might bee spent and yet the King neuerthelesse would enioy the Citie by force which would redound to their extreame perrill agreed to yéeld themselues to his gracious clemencie There was a great number of Leaguers within the Citie who vnderstanding of this resolution shewed themselues greatly offended at it threatning the rest that they would make them repent that euer they went about such matter The rest of the citizens séeing this discontentation of the Leaguers consented that the sayd Leaguers who were so obstinately bent and so hot in the cause at the next assault should defend the breach So the eight day a newe assault being giuen so hot that a great number of them were there throughly cooled and the rest glad to retire and giue ouer and with the rest without any further disputation did submit themselues perceauing now that the League did nothing els but seeke the ruine and destruction of the countrey and that in vayne they did resist him whom God had sayd should raigne ouer them Therefore they agreed to send to his maiestie offering to acknowledge him their onely King and Soueraigne and to craue pardon for their disobedience and vnnaturall rebellion yéelding themselues and their Citie to his accustomed gracious mercie The King graunted their petition and hauing seazed vpon the Citie by such as were appoynted by his maiestie with his Princes and Nobles prepared to enter the towne The ninth day of Aprill the citizens considering with thankfull mindes the Kings great and gracious fauour who might haue had conquered them by force and by lawe of armes iustly taken away from them their lands and goods and for their rebellion put them to the sword they I say prepared themselues in their degrees to attend his Maiesties comming First the whole Cleargie went before in their attyre and order next vnto them the Magistrates with their robes and after them the Citizens followed euery man according to his place and all falling downe vppon their knees before the King did acknowledge him their Soueraigne with this acclamation God saue Henry
speedely put them to flight and followed them to their Barricadoes where master Kemp a Gentleman of that Cornet was slayne Anthony Sherleys horse was shot in the head and Charles Blunt his horse was killed vnder him with the Canon and he himselfe somewhat wounded The thirteenth day the enemie offered some light skirmishes but seeing that he could get nothing by it he refused to bitte The fourteene day the Prince expected the battell as vndertaken by don Iuan de Lagula generall of the Spaniards in the worship of Saynt Iohn whose day it was with them But fearing that bonfires would bee made to their cost and charges they gaue quite ouer the game prepared the same night to dislodge and the next day following repassed the hill for hauing spent al their victuals they must go forth to rob for more The Prince stayed sixe dayes vpon the Heath and in the meane while the enemie durst neuer presume to draw his armie into the Heath The sixteenth day the Lord la Now with the troupe of the Countie Mongomery and the Countie Chombourg came vnto Chasteau Laudran whose arriuall giueth hope of good successe in the Kings affayres They y t haue written the history of wilde beasts which doth recite that there is a wild beast in Asia named Pardalis it yeeldeth such a sauour that the Woolfe hath a great delight to follow a farre off but if it chance that this Pardalis dooth looke back immediatly the Woolfe retyreth and flyeth away So the Noble Princes of Bourbon doo yeeld sweete sauour of pietie vertue and valiantnes Merceur followeth them a farre off but if they turne their face hee runeth away as it hath appeared in the things which heretofore he hath attempted in Poytow There is a towne in Picardy situated vpon the riuer Oyse called Noyon commended if there were none other cause for being the place of the natiuitie vnto that man of God Iohn Caluin of blessed memory whose name is written in the booke of life and shall yeeld a sweete sauour to the true Church of God to the worldes ende whatsoeuer Sathan doth rage against the name of this seruant of God This towne was seduced long before from the Kings obedience by the Leaguers and through rebellion was possessed by the Kings enemies The King therefore after the taking of Louiers thought expedient to remooue his armie from Vernon and to draw Eastward that doing still some profitable exployt he might expect and receaue the forces that came to him out of Germany and considering that the sayd towne of Noyon did lye betweene S. Quintin Compeigne and Corbey which were long before vnder his obedience thought good there to stay for the approaching of the Germanes and during the moneth of Iuly hauing reduced the sayd towne to great distresse made his account shortly to be Lord of it The Vicount Tauanes head of the rebellion in the Citie of Roan and most hatefullest enemie of any that the King had enterprised to relieue the sayd towne of Noyon and for that intent in the beginning of August in the night season departed from Roan accompanied with foure hundred horse and fiue hundred footmen with good hope either to succour the said towne or els by surprise greatly to hinder the King But the King hauing intelligences of his comming met him about two or thrée leagues from Noyon as I haue heard reported where his power was discomfited slayne and taken prisoners and he himselfe after being wounded in the assault was also taken prisoner So the Lord knoweth bow where and when to stay his enemies The newes of this sorrowfull successe of the Leaguers flying abroad caused the Duke Aumale to assemble as great forces as he could make in the towne of Han which is situated vpon the riuer Some betweene Saint Quintin and Peronne vndertaking either to amend the fault committed by Tauanes or els to release the towne of Noyon accompanied with the Lord Largue and Lawney with all their forces ioyned all with the light horsemen the seauenth of August charged vpon the quarter of the Kings light horse where they were stoutly receaued and after more then twelue charges giuen the Kings companies yet very like to haue the victorie of their enemies began to retyre at which retyre that valiant man at armes the Lord Baron of Byron hauing twelue of his owne men did approach and the Kings forces supposing he had brought a supply of fresh Souldiers so soone as they heard him named tooke a wonderfull courage and seeing him in the middest of them gaue a fresh charge vpon the enemie with such force that they did driue the enemie euen into the gates of Han. To whom there was also comming a new succour and fresh supply of men who perceauing the euill successe of the rest retyred in agayne so that some of the Kings forces followed them euen into their Barriars In these so many charges geuen there were a number of armed men slayne on the enemies side and among them diuers of commandement In the number of the dead were found Don Francisco de Gueuara the best Captayne of light Horsemen which the King of Spayne had in the low Countreys also his lieutenant was slayne outright with diuers other of great accompt The Lord Longchamp one of the best Captains of the rebels was taken prisoner with more then foure score men at armes of account and lost aboue fifteene hundred of their best horses The King lost in this skirmish about twelue horse of his light horsemen and among a few which were slayne the Marshall of the light horsemen whose death was greatly bewayled beeing accompted a man of great valour The same day the Duke de Mayne arriued at the said towne of Han with all his troups of horsemen which he could gather which thing made the King thinke that he would goe about either to raise or to interrupt the siege or attempt some thing In the meane time he lost no opportunity about this siege for the same day that this exploit was done to wit the seauenth of August the Canon began to beat a church that standeth in the middest of the Suburbes which together with a great ditch did strongly defend the same The sayd Church beeing battered from the morning to three a clock in the after noone had by that time made a great breach in the same And a fierce assault being geuen there were slayne of the enemies about thirty and about fifty of the Souldiers retired into the vaultes of the said church The sayd Church beeing taken and consequently the Suburb in a maner as strong as the towne gaue occasion both to them that had retired into the vaultes to yeeld to the Kings mercy who sent them away safe with bagge and bagage and also to the Gouernor of the towne to mooue speaches of composition For the Gouernor called the Lord Vile considering how the Towne was slenderly furnished of all thinges but specially of men of armes and that the most
in forme of excommunication or interdiction in payne of confiscation of bodie and goods as infringers and perturbers of the publique peace The court doth commaund the Ecclesiasticall persons by vertue of the Kings letters directed vnto them that they shall not suffer the liberty of the French Church to be in any sort diminished but beeing assisted by their K. their soueraigne Iustice to oppose themselues against all the Popes enterprises Thirdly the court doth declare the foresayd Marcilius Ladrianus Fryer Gregory his Nuncio acommon enemy of al men a kindler of hatred and a sower of sedition commaunding the sayd pretended Nuncio to be pursued taken and apprehended aliue or dead and to be deliuered to iustice if it bee possible to receaue the punishment according to the greatnes of his offence But if he cannot bee apprehended within three daye â—to be summoned by the voice of the publike Cryer in the towne of Pont de Larche that there it may bee proceeded against him according to the Lawes of the Realme The order of the courts of France is that after a man is summoned at 3. seuerall tymes if he doth not appeare he is condemned as conuicted and then executed in picture Last of al the Court doth declare Fryer Gregory his excommunication and Bulles infamous libels full of impiety heresie deceit and slanders condemneth the same to betorne and burned publikly in the place of execution by the publike executioner of iustice forbidding all men to receaue allow reade fauour or conceale the said infamous libell vppon payne to bee attainted conuicted of high treason commaundeth also all manner of persons quickly to reueale to the court if they should know any such to bee kept secretly on the paines aforesaid This sentence of the Popes banishment and of all his tyrâ—nnie out of France was pronounced the third day of August at Caen in Normandie The selfe same proceedinges were vsed in all Courtes of the Realme whereuppon ensued the burning of the sayd Bulles in diuers and sundry places of the Realme but diuersly but euery where in as infamous maner as could bee It was burned at Tours in this maner The Magistrats and the common people of Tours being assembled before the Pallace gate there a piller was crected a little distant from the foot therof there was a fire made by the common Hang-man of the town then did he take the Bull and hanged it on the top of the Piller which beeing done he kindled another fire at the very foot of the Piller which by degrees crept vp vntill it tooke hold of the Bull which presently was consumed with fire to the great ioy of all the beholders Now Master Fryer I ween you be one of them that did drop out of the horses belly of Troy but I will thinke rather that you dropped out of an Asses bellie because you haue an Asses head Did not a little before your Standard reproue you to your face and told you what would follow your saucines and to put you in consideration of your folly gaue you a souse vpon the pate And you beeing of Asses brood will goe about to get Bulles and lo your Bulles bee turned into gydie Calues You neuer read for reading belongs not to your occupation but scortari crebro crebro conuiuarier that it was writteÌ„ in the horse of Troy sero sapiunt Phryges but it shal be hereafter in Asino Romano scriptum erit sero sapiunt Romanenses You knew not when you were well now haue with you to Auignon The towne of Noyan being surrendered according to the agréement betwéene the King and the gouernour of the saide towne the King went to receaue the right honorable Lord Earle of Essex as is said in the towne of Gisors and from thence returned into Champaigne to ioyn with the Germans who approached the borders of France leauing the Marshall Byron to reconduct his army into Normandie During the siege of Noyan the Lord of Pierrefont had béen taken prisoner and had promised vpon his deliuerance to surrender the Castell Pierrefont a place situated vpoÌ„ a rock and inaccessable almost on euery side The said Lord of Pierrefont being a desperat Leaguer had rather breake his faith with dishonor then to fulfill his promise with honour whereupon the Marshall Byron layed the siege before the saide Castell and battered it with nine skore shot of Ordinance wherewith hee made but a very small hole the stuffe wherewith the said Castell is builded being of such qualitie as resisted the shot euen to admiration which caused the said Marshall Byron to breake off his enterprise and march toward Normandie who ioyned with the English forces conducted by the right Honorable Lord the Earle of Essex the ninth of September and the twenty one of the said moneth laide the siege before the towne of Gourney It is saide before in the seauenth booke how after the cruell death of King Henry the third and last of the rase of Valoys the authors of that murther vnder the conduct of the Duke d'Mayne with great bragges and confidence went with a mighty army into Normandie hoping to oppresse the King who with a small power had retyred to Diepe for the causes there alleaged It is said also how the Duke d'Mayne in that iourney tooke the said towne of Gourney and the Lord Rubempre which his companie therein This Towne is distant from Roan ten Leagues from Gisors fiue from Beauuoys sixe and by estimation somewhat bigger then Diepe The Leaguers had fortified it with fortifications munition of warre and strong garrisons for Leagued Gentlemen of the Countrey to the number of foure skore and such power as they thought good to entertaine had settled themselues therein and from thence issuing dayly made courses to the gates of Mante Vernon Pont de larche and Gisors spoyling and wasting all that was in their way and taking prisoners such as trauailed on the high way to Diepe This towne being besieged the enemy put on a stout countenance at the first and being summoned to surrender the said towne they answered that they had receaued it of the Duke d'Mayne and for him they intended to kéepe it neither would they render it but to him onely This answer being giuen the English forces intrenched themselues within a stones cast of the gate and in making and kéeping the said Trenches they had sixe men hurt and one killed The enemies attempted diuers times to put men into the towne but they were in such sort looked to by the English men that they durst neuer approach The 25. day of September at night the Marshall Byron planted nine pieces of Ordinance before the towne the 26. in the morning hee began to batter it and a breach being made the English men were called to the number of one hundred shot to giue the assault who with great gladnes approached within sixescore pases of the wals the breach was scarse assaultable the ditch was more then halfe full of water it is reported that they had within certaine sluces which they might haue opened and greatly molested the assaulters the French men were very vnable to giue the assault because of their long toyling and wearines yet on a suddaine the enemies demaunded parley which being graunted they yeeldéd to foure dishonorable conditions such is the fainting of rebels First that all Souldiours should depart without bagage and armour with a white rod in their hands But the Lord Earle of Essex excepted the Queenes Maiesties subiects therein was found none but one Irish man who was executed The second was that the Gouernour Captaines Lieutenants and Gentlemen of quality should remaine to his mercy It was thought that the Gouernour and some Captaines should be executed The third was that the Citizens should haue their liues but their goods rested at the Kings pleasure The fourth is that they should receaue such garrisons as should bee thought good The taking of this towne is a great ease to the Countrey and preparation for the siege of Roan About the 28. the army tooke his way toward Caudebeck a smal towne situated vpon a rock on the banck of Seyne betweene Roan and Newhauen entending to cleere all the coast round about Newhauen of all filth of rebellion FINIS ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Woodcock and are to be sould at his shop in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the black Beare 1591.
Poole against another regiment which was lodged at Guinefole where certaine Gascoynes of the garison came to hand blowes with the enemie All these skirmishes were so fauourable to them of the Towne that beside the first day they lost not one man onely some were hurt so that the enemie could not during all these skirmishes get any aduauntage vppon them not so much as the hedges within foure hundred paces of the Curtine and Forts Euen ten dayes after they were besieged they issued foorth and pulled downe certaine houses in the sight of the enemie and burned others and among them a house called Escraziere from whence the enemie who had lodged therein was driuen out with losse of certaine men The horsemen also did issue foorth and tooke so great number of prisoners that they were enforced to send back a great many of them that were most vnprofitable they kept a great number to worke at the fortifications others of greater calling were put to their raunsome The Lord Chastre accompanied with ten or twelue hundred horses passed at the Planches to the place where the Lord of Neuers was and séeing certaine horsemen who were issued out of the Towne when he would haue gone to view and aduaunced somewhat for that purpose his horse fell in a ditch and had not béen the diligence of them of his companie in succouring of him and that he was couered with a great number of harquebusiers which followed those horsemen hee had béen taken by them of the Towne As thinges did so passe there the Lord Plessis sent diuers times to the King for to aduertise him of the state of the affayres and by the same messengers had answere againe Whilest these skirmishes and blowes were geuen at Ganache the artillery was brought from Montagne and tooke the way of Maschecow for to auoyd the foulnes of the other way they were whole fifteene dayes before they could conuay the said ordinance although they of the Countrey did shew themselues so desyrous and ready to conduct the sayd ordinance that they omitted nothing of all their meanes industrie and labour but specially the Lord Belisle for the desire which hee had to possesse that place There was of that artillery twelue peeces of Ordinance vz. sixe canons of battery foure great Culuerins and two of a meaner sort This Ordinance being arriued the 21. of December about noone the Duke of Neuers set his army in battell array and saluted the towne with a voley of all these peeces from the top of a little hill nigh the place of execution about fiue hundered paces from the towne That being done he sent an Herault of armes to sommon the Lord Plessis to surrender him the towne as vnto the Kings lieutenant The Lord Plessis by the aduise of al the captaines answered that he and all his fellowes were most humble and faithfull seruantes and subiectes to his maiesty but that hee did not acknowledge in all Guienne any other lieutenant generall for the King but onely the King of Nauarre to whom to none other if it were not by his expresse commaundement hee would surrender that place The Herauld was yet sent twise from the Baron Paluan and the Lord Villeneufue of Anjou for to find the means to speake to the Lord Plessis who knowing the importance of such parley flatly refused it At the selfe same time that the army did so muster in battell aray in the sight of all men a souldier Wallon of the companies of Picardie with his sword in hand drawen began to runne ouerthwart a great medow right to the Fort of Captaine Beauregard crying viue Nauarre the Duke of Guyze is dead and Niort is taken that voice was so high that it was heard of both sides they let flie at him diuers shot but not one did hit him but only in his hat They of the towne were fully aduertised by him of the state of the armie and of the strange euents which had happened at Bloys They vnderstood also of the exploit which the King of Nauarre had donein igh Poytow since the siege All these newes brought not only great ioy to them of the towne but also encreased their courage The Duke of Neuers hauing receaued answere of the besieged caused his Ordinance to bee planted in certaine ruinous houses on the one side of Maschecow defended with certaine Gabions which caused them besieged to thinke that they should bee battered of that side where they also began to crench themselues with great labour and dilligence But now wee will leaue the siege of Ganache whilest the Duke of Neuers doth prepare his battery to make a breach and maketh himselfe ready to giue the assault and also the besieged do prepare themselues to defend the place and receaue the enemie and wee will goe to see what exploits the King of Nauarre hath performed in high Poytow It is sayd before how the King of Nauarre after the taking of Beauuoyre set garrisons in the townes of Poytow to keepe the countrey about and to make head against that army which was comming with great preparations might fury and threatnings which thing beeing done heretired to Rochel to gather all his power and to prouide all necessary things either to crosse or to geue battell to that army if occasion might serue And whilest these blowes and skirmishes aboue sayd did so passe at the siege of Ganache and such strange and so vnlooked for euents did fall out at Bloys the Lord Saint Gelays had long before hand curiously sought out the meanes to enterprise vpon the towne of Niort as well to do seruice to them whose part he followed the inhabitants hauing béen alwayes of the chiefest of the League and great enemies to them of the reformed religion as also for the iniuries which they of the sayd Towne proffered vnto him and to his houses thereabouts doing vnto him all the wrongs that euer they could deuise The King of Nauarre arriued from Rochel into Poytow vnderstood as well by the sayd Lord Saint Gelays and by others of the enterprise vpon the said towne of Niort but the execution thereof was oftentimes delayd at length the sayd King hauing with a type iudgement wayed all the circumstances and seene the facility of the means to compasse that enterprise at length ended his counsell with resolution to try speedily the execution thereof and for that purpose departed from Rochel to Saint Ihan d'Angely vnder other colours about the 21. of December The 24. of December the Lord Saint Gelays departed from Rachel accompanied with the Lord Ranques with ten horsmen of his traine only and arryued at Saynt Iahn about nine a clocke in the night The 26. of December arriued at S. Iahn early at the first opening of the gates a Post from Bloys riding with two Horses who sayd that voluntarily he had departed from Bloys to bring newes to the King of Nauarre touching the death of the Duke of Guyze These newes did not stay the execution of
the enterprise so that the said King hauing geuen order to the men of warre which should be at the execution and appointed them who should conduct them to wit the Lordes Parabiere HaraÌ„bure Preau and others the Lord S. Gelays Ranques with twelue horsemen onely departed from S. Iahn and making toward Villeneufue within a league from Saint Iahn met about 40. Harquebuziers on horse backe of the regiment of the King of Nauarre his guards who were conducted by the Lord des Listres with this troupe the said Lords Saint Gelays Ranques went the way that goeth to the left hand of the Forest Thence beeing yet day the Lord Ranques accompanied with ten or twelue Harquebusiers left the Lord Saynt Gelays and went the way to Foys he was far gone on his way when he met with ten or twelue horsemen of the enemies who were thought to bee Albaneses hee charged them and one was flaine the rest saued themselues in the forrest of Chizai In the meane time while the Lord Saint Gelays with the rest of his troupe went the crosse way nigh to the towne Saint Plausiue where the Lords Parabiere Harambure Preau with others who folowed him to the nuÌ„ber of 350. men with sixe mules carrying the ladders other necessary thiÌ„gs which met y e said Lord S. Gelays ther they staied awhile for the rest of the troupe all assembled together which might be in number between three and foure hundered men Harquebuziers and three or foure score armed men All this companie tooke their way toward Niort with as much silence as could be to the gate Saint Gelays The Lord Ranques separated himselfe as is saide before to scoure the countrey the way which goeth to Saint Jhans gate of Niort to see that no man might goe into the towne to giue aduertisement of the things which were done abroad There were left behinde all the companies two seruants of the Lord Saint Gelays who went on foote they followed their master the way of County to Niort A countrey man was sent to Niort by the Lord Ferriere Lieutenant of the companie of the Lorde Malicorne who then was in his house at County This countrey man did cary letters from the saide Lord Ferriere to the gouernour or to the Lieutenant of Niort a man Leagued turbulent and at whose beck all the inhabitants did tremble with aduertisement that already he had warned them twise to take heede for although the report went that the Hugonets were going to Coignak it was fained for certainely they had returned back and went straightly to them And that he feared least his men had been taken seeing that he had not receaued since any newes which thing caused him to send to them the third time that countrey man to aduertise them carefully to take heede These seruants of the Lord Saint Gelays asked the countrey man whether he goeth He answereth to Niort and we also say they but we feare it will be too late to come thether in time for it was sunne setting care not for that saith the countrey man for I can get in and if it were midnight for I bring letters to the Lord Malicorne The seruants hearing that and perceauing that the countrey man had the letters within a ball of earth which he carried in his hand forced him tooke his letters from him and lead him with them and meeting the Lord Ranques at the rendes-vous at the winde mill tooke him the letters with the countrey man When he had read them hee shewed the same to the Lords Saint Gelays Parabiere and others when they came This had been enough to put them out of heart but in vaine dooth the garde of the citie watch when God will surprise it there is neither safety nor counsell against his power The insolency of the inhabitants of Niort against the King of Nauarre and them of the religion was come to a full measure For notwithstanding the great doubt least they of the towne had been aduertised of their enterprise at the instaâ—t request of some they determined to goe through The troupes had already lighted a great halfe league off in the valey nigh Vouilay and had left their horses made fast with certaine seruants to keepe them they caused the Mules which caried the ladders and other necessarie things to goe through the fieldes vnto a quarrie of stone nigh the towne and distant onely from the wall a bow shoot there were the ladders vnloaden and destributed to them that should occupie them There were prepared the petar shy two Gentlemen named Vilesan and Gentil who being very industrious in such things should vse them which were brought within a stones cast of the wal and the ladders also and all in the high way that leadeth from Chiçay to the gate Saint Gelays all this stirre passed without any perceauing of them within the towne The Moone was not downe nor went not downe foure houres after which increased greatly the feare of them who did enterprise least they should be discouered yet they determined to abide patiently in silence both the great and extreame cold and also the going downe of the Moone at whose shining many lying vpon the frosen hard ground did sleepe being wearie of their long iourney more swéete then if they had béene in their beddes In the meane while the Lordes Ranques Valieres Gentil and others went to view the ditch and the place where the ladders should bée set vp and the gates where the Petars should be applyed When they had viewed all and sawe that nothing did stirre in the towne and had made their report they began to let downe the ladders into the drye ditch by an easie path and also to set the Petars to their places The first company ofskaling ladders was conducted by the Lords Ranques Valieres Ionquieres and others guided by a Souldier named Reuaudiere At the second companyes of ladders were the Lords Preau Arambure and des Listres followed by the men which they had in their companies The Lord Saint Gelays and Parabiere went to the gate of Saint Gelays where the Petars should play The scalado was set vp at the wall of the towne distant from the saide gate of Saint Gelays about thirtie or fortie paces They who caried the Ladders were not so soone descended into the ditch but the Sentinel which was vpon the wall farre from the place of the scalado about forty paces demaunded furiously who goeth there they without held stil without answere He which commaunded the guard of the towne which was vpon the gate of Saint Gelays came forth and asked the Sentinel who is there The Sentinel answered I heard some noyse but it is nothing There happened then a great darknes as commonly doth after the going down of the Moone which did fauour greatly them which were without to steale away from the eyes of the Sentinel for without any knowledge of the said Sentinel the Ladders were placed safely It had been concluded betweene them
they became more insolent which they haue shewed in surprising his townes fortresses and in rebelling agaynst him his Officers and Magistrates couering their treasons vnder the name of Catholike religion Therefore he doth declare the sayd Dukes de Mayne and Aumale to haue forfayted all estates and offices honors power gouerments charges dignities and prerogatiues which they haue receaued of his predecessors and himselfe hee doth declare them attaynted of fellony rebellion and high treason commaundeth his Officers to proceed agaynst them by any maner of way and agaynst their posterity as agaynst such as he hath declared them if they do not submit themselues by the first day of March next following This proscription was declared the first day of February The same day also the King pronounced the like proscriptions against the rebellious and trayterous Citties of Paris Orleans Anjous Roen Abeuile and others declaring them conuicted of fellony rebellion and treason in the highest degree willing all his officers to proceede agaynst them and against al them that doo or shall assist them by any meanes and against their posterity as agaynst such as they be declared if they do not returne vnder his obedience by the 14. day of march next following The King intending by these thunderclaps to call them to their dutie purposing yet to haue forgotten all offences for the loue which he had to popish religion common to the rebels with him and for hatred of the reformed religion gaue them as is aforesaid a certayne day prefixed by the which tyme if they did not returne to their duty he determined to chastise them by force and therefore the sixt day of February hee sent forth his commissions to all Nobles Gentlemen and Captaynes to prepare themselues with all furniture necessary to repayre to him the 12. of March following Neither is the sentence of the King an ydle threatning but is as if it were a condemnation of Gods law pronounced by the soueraigne Magistrate whose punishments God hath partly executed and partly hath reserued to execute hereafter in the fulnes of time About the middle of February the King vnderstanding what had passed in Paris how the rebels had enforced the Senat to swear an vnion against him his life person and estate did transport the exercise of iustice and of all his courts and chambers of Parliament from Paris and also all other courts of iustice in the aforesaid townes of Orleans Aujous Abeuile Roen and others to his citie of Tours vpon Loyre deprauing the sayd trayterous cities of al offices dignities charges and priuileges commaunding al his Iudges Counsellers officers of al his courts in the said cities to repaire to the citie of Tours vpon Loyre by the fifteenth of Aprill next following there to execute their charges vpon payne of depriuation of their wages offices forbiddeth also that no apparance be giuen by any officer vnto any suter and also no parties to appeare in any other place saue in Tours onely before his Iudges there vpon payne to be declared rebels It is sayd before how wee haue left the King of Nauarre sicke in bed of a dangerous pleuresie whilest the League haue nigh filled the measure of their execrable treasons and rebellion Now the Lord reseruing that noble Prince if not to restablish the flourishing estate of that Realm yet he hath raised him as it were out of his graue to prolong the vtter dissipation of it and in the middest of the horrible confusions thereof to reunite the hearts and mindes of the godly and vertuous to saue some corner of the sayd Realme for a place of refuge for the remnant of the Israel of God Behold therefore O great King the Lord hath restored thée to health strengthened thine armes to warre and thy hands to fight he hath girded thée with force constancie wisedome and iustice the Lord of Armies doth call thee to restore true religion iustice iudgement Discipline and peace vtterly decayed through the malice of thine enemies be strong and faint not for the Lord will put a great worke in thine hand to execute Followe the vocation of God and the Lord will be a shadowe at thy right hand to kéepe thée from euill doo good things with good meanes and thou shall see thine enemies to fall before thy face thou shalt pitie them and do them good Whilest the King doth so thunder the threatnings of Gods lawe and the claps of his iustice agaynst those Rebels forsaken and reiected of God as is afore sayd the King of Nauarre perceiuing the King to be in distresse persecuted and dispossessed out of his Towns and Cities euen out of his owne houses by his enemies abroade and to liue in great mistrust of his domesticall enemies who did daily eate bread at his owne table did greatly lament his case keepeth himselfe quiet beyond Loyre ceaseth from all acts of hostilitie and exployts of warre least he should encrease his affliction and heauines And desirous greatly to make a proofe of his fidelitie towards the King and to crosse the actions of the leagued rebels proffereth peace to the King and watcheth diligently that his enemies might not set foote in any place where hee had meanes to make sure for the kings seruice as for the ease of them of the religion So that after the taking of Niort as is afore sayd in the latter end of Ianuary the inhabitants of S. Meixant and Maillezay two Townes nigh neighbours of Niort yeelded themselues vnto him The Lord Aubiguy was appoynted Gouernour of that Iland About the 14. of February the King of Nauarre hauing recouerd his perfect health and strength with part of his forces tooke the field marching toward the riuer of Loyre The inhabitants of Lodune Lisle Bouchard Mirabean Chastelerault Vinonne and other places and Castles of the countrey of Turenne and Poytow offered to open the gates of their townes vnto him and also proffered vnto him their seruices He receiued them very courteously and without innouation of any thing he suffered them of the Romish religion to liue with all libertie with their ordinarie exercises onely he commanded them of the reformed religion with the exercise of the same there to be established commaunding them of both religions to liue in amitie and peace About the same time many Townes and places in diuers parts of the Realme which before did seeme to bee at the deuotion of the Leaguers were made sure for the Kings seruice as well in Bourgondy as in other Prouinces and among others the Towne and Castle of Sancerre in Berry was seazed for the King That Towne had béen greatly defaced in the former warres for the walles of the Towne had béen rased by the Lord Chastre Gouernour of Berry who did put a Captaine within the Castle for the kéeping of the same and to bridle the inhabitants there who were all of the religion But after the death of the Duke of Guize the Lord of Requien of the house of Montigny Captayne of