to them and returned answer in forme of an Edict granting to those of Rochell Montauban Nismes and others which stood upon their defence liberty for the exercises of Religion the rest to live peaceably in their houses and therein to minister the sacrament of â—aptisme and marriage as they had wont to doe so as their assemblies excéeded not the number of ten besides the parents He restored to the Rochellers and others their rites and priviledges letting fall all the decrées given out against them approving of their defensive war giving them leave according to their ancient custome to retaine in their Cities Towers and Fortresses men and munition yea to receive in Governours among them provided that they were such as they had no cause to suspect or except against By vertue of this Edict upon the tenth day of Iuly about ten of the clocke in the forenoone the Sieur of Biron entred into the City at the gate called de Coigne with an Herauld of armes and foure of the Kings Trumpetters at which houre peace was proclaimed in the most eminent places thereof accompanied with the Lieutenant of the City and with the Lord of Villiers After which dining at the Maiors house he soone after retyred being conducted along till he came without the City The same day many small Vessels laden with Biskets Corne Meale Fish and other provision Acertaine Gentleman Nephew to Puygaillard Governour of Angiers bragging that he had beene one who murthered the Admirall shewing a short sword which he had used in that slaughter threatenâ—d the like to the Rochellers but God cut him short also at the siege of Sancerre entred into the Haven At this siege the Duke D' Amaule lost his life with Cosseins who had broken into the Admirals Lodging and began the massacre at Paris besides many great Lords Gentlemen Captaines Lieutenants and Antients to the number of thréescore the greater part of which having their hands embrued in those other bloody massacres being come thither received their reward namely either present death or wounds so incurable that they escaped not with life One thing ought not here to be passed over in silence to wit the provision of victuals which God furnished this besieged people withall when all other provisions began to faile them namely an infinite number of small fishes never séene before in that haven which every day yéelded themselves to the mercy of the necessitons inhabitants But as soone as the Edict was published and the Rochellers set at liberty by the arriving of the Polish Embassadors these sea fishes withdrew themselves ¶ Although this relation following touching another siege of this City of Rochel sutes nothing at all with the order of time happening as it did in the yeare 1628. yet forasmuch as it seemes to have some affinity with the terrible famine where with both the City of Sancerre and it were afflicted let not the reader be offended for placing the same here somewhat out of place being a thing so worthy of note ¶ An extract of a Letter written on board the Saint George his Majesties Ship in Saint Georges Island THere dyed in this siege of Rochel the thirtieth of October 1628 sixtéen thousand persons the rest enduring a world of miseries most of all their food being hides leather and old gloves other provisions being very scarse were at an excessive rate viz. A Bushell of wheate xx li. A pound of bread xx s. A quarter of Mutton vi li. od mony A pound of Butter xxx s. An Egge viii s. An ounce of Sugar ii s. vi d. A dryed fish xx s. A pinte of Wine xx s. A pound of grapes iii. s. A pinte of Milke xxx s. Also it is reported that through the famine yong maids of fourtéen or sixtéen yeares of age did looke like old women of an hundred yeares old The famine was such that the poore people would cut off the buttocks of the dead as they lay in the Church yard unburied All the English that came out looked like Anatomies They lived two moneths with nothing but Cow hides and Goats skins boiled the dogs cats mice and frogs being all spent And this with a world of other miseries did they suffer in hope of being reléeved by others Thus much I thought good to let you understand ¶ A description of the manner of the death of Charles the ninth King of France IN the yeare 1574. Charles the ninth King of France in the time of whose raigne these forenamed execrable massacres were executed fell sicke which sicknesse seised upon him before his brother the Duke of Aniou tooke his voyage into Poland from which during the winter season he obtained some recovery But that which then séemed to lie hidden brake forth again afresh in the Spring so as this Prince after he had languished thrée whole moneths viz. February March and April drew his Physitians to a consultation about the state of his body who in the end concluded to purge and let him blood But these remedies tooke not such an effect as the King and they expected for he still wasted and consumed away being in the flower of his age to the wonder of many Some guessed he had taken a surfet either in eating or drinking others that hee was enchanted The thirtieth of May he dyed in the presence of his mother and of the Cardinals of Bourbon and Ferrare c. He was borne on the twenty seventh day of Iune 1550. He began his raigne the first of December 1560. and so reigned as that it gives to posterity iust cause both of admiration and detestation Thus this Prince lived not forty yeares fully compleat Now if any desire to be further Anno 1588 satisfied as touching the manner of his death I referre them to that which Master Iohn Fox hath written thereof not many lines before the conclusion of this booke commonly called the booke of Martyrs A note touching a Bull of Pope Sixtus the fifth wherein the King of Navarre and the Prince of Conde were declared Heretiques c. with the censure thereof by the Parliament of Paris IN September 1585. Pope Sixtus the fifth by a Bull sent from Rome condemned the king of Navarre and the Prince of Conde for Heretikes excommunicated them degrading them and their successors from their dignities especially laying claime to the Crowne of France absolving their subjects from their oath of alleigiance and exposing their Countries for a prey to them that could first subdue them The Court of Parliament of Paris made a notable remonstrance to the King concerning these Buls in the which they sought to maintain the priviledges of the Gallicane Church Among other things these words that follow are very remarkable The Court thinks that these Buls are set forth in a stile altogether of a new stamp and so contrary to the modesty of former Popes that they can in no sort discerne therein the spirit of a successor of the Apostles And therefore as the
out his hand to receive you unto him Are you are you willing to goe unto him Yes I assure you saith she most willing and much more willing than to linger here below in this world where I see nothing but vanity The minister not willing to continue longer in this kinde of discourse asked if she were pleased that they should goe to prayer declaring that godly personages there present would willingly joyne their desires with hers To which she consenting the said Minister prayed by her a good space whilest this pious Lady manifested her ardent affection to call upon God When prayer was ended the Minister discerning in her the undoubted testimonies of her repentance and of the sorrow she conceived for the offences which she had committed against God together with the assured confidence which shée had in his mercies as a Minister of the Gospell amd Embassadour of the Son of God by the authority dispensed to him having committed to him the word of reconciliation he assured her in his name that all her sins were forgiven her of 1 Cor. 5. God and that they should never come into account before his judgement Seat yea that she should no more dount thereof then if the Sonne of God from heaven should say unto her Daughter thy sins are forgiven thee And to the end that troubled consciences might the better be quieted Christ hath used these words speaking to his Ministers saying Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted Mat. 16. 14. and whose sins ye unloose they are unloosed The reason is because the word which they pronounce is not the word of a mortall man but of the immortall God being of no lesse weight than if himselfe uttered the same Then he asked of her Majesty if he accepted of so gracious a Message which assured her of the frée pardon of all her sins Yea I doe saith shee and make no doubt thereof Not long after these exhortations the Admirall comming in and with him another Minister shée also gave care to him for a good space together whose discourse tended to prepare her for death as he had done who had spoken to her immediatly before who having finished his spéech prayed also with her and for her which she heard with great attention and affection Then she requested that these two ministers might stay with her all night in her Chamber and that they would in no wise leave her The greater part of this night was spent in holy admonitions which these two ministers gave to this gracious Lady and Princesse one after another Besides these admonitions she commanding that some Chapters of the holy Scripture which were pertinent for her condition should be read unto her one of the Ministers read in her hearing certaine Chapters out of the Gospell of Saint Iohn namely from the fouretéenth to the seventéenth After he had read to her these Chapters he went to prayer which being ended the Quéene desired to take some rest but it was not long ere she commanded them to reade again whereupon the other Minister having made choise of certaine Psalmes of David full of ardent and affectionate prayers suiting to this Princesses present affliction he read them unto her and for a conclusion read the one and thirtieth Psalme Psal 31. 5. where the Prophet among other things doth there commend his spirit into the hands of God because saith he thou hast redéemed me O Lord God of truth The Quéene willed them to pray with her again and thus as I have said was the most part of the night spent in such vertuous exercises namely in exhortation in reading the holy Scripture and in prayer during all which time the ministers never discerned in any of her spéeches or behaviour the least impatiency Nay whereas some dayes before she fell sick she shewed how affectionately she was bent to provide things most magnificent for the day of her Sons marriage according as the State of so great an alliance required it was admirable to observe that after thâ—s sicknesse had seized upon her God wrought in her such aforgetfulnesse and neglect of all such matters that she never made shew of having so much as a thought thereof This night being thus passed and spent by this noble Queene she persevering in the expressions of like pious actions and ardency of Faith the next day in the morning betwéen eight and nine of the clocke she departed this life to take possession of a far better life swéetly yéelding up her spirit into the hands of God the ninth of Iune 1572. the sixth day after she fell sick in the 44. yeare of her age She had her perfect spéech alwaies even to the houre of her death shewing not only the stayednesse and soundnesse of her judgement which ever in times past she had in her care about the salvation of her soule but in her other worldly affaires also Now to avoide all jealousies and suspitions of her being wronged by poyson or otherwise in this matter of her so sudden sickenesse her body was opened by sundry expert and learned Doctors of Physick and Chirurgery with all exquisite diligence who found her heart and liver very sound and untouched her lungs only excepted which long before on the right side had béen very ill affected by reason of an extraordinary hardnesse which they had contracted and withall a great imposthume which so far as man could judge they concluded was the cause of her death But they had no command given them to open the braine and therefore finding somewhat out of frame in her body they delivered their opinions only concerning the same Thus you have with as much brevity as I could and as the merit of the thing required the true report of the manner of this vertuous Princesses sicknesse and death thus ar related unto you only my request is saith my Author that if any have a more perfect and particular knowledge of the excellent parts wherewith the Lord had adorned and beautified her they would not suffer the same to be buried in silence but to cause it to sée the light that on the one side it may serve as an example to posterity and on the other side that we may learne to blesse God for her piety and constancy ¶ An Introduction first into that which Anno 1572. leads to the death of the Admirall of France Then to the massacre at paris and so in some other Cities And first what moved the Admirall to come to Paris AFter the death of the Quéene certaine Princes were sollicited by the King to give their attendance at Paris for the folemnising the mariage of the Prince of Navarre now made king by the death of his mother according to the ceremonies which were thereto appertaining Among the rest letters were directed to the Admirall by the King himselfe to come to this marriage which were delivered unto him by Cavagues wherein the King assured him be would not tarry long after him Willing
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 off his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—nels throughout the stréets he was at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where they 〈◊〉 him by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 were well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 body of the Admirall â—he which they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that doe she 〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they could nver find it out but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—o as they were â—aine to 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and hung that up in stead of the body it self rather than none at all ¶ Here as in fittest place is briefly related the sentence which the Court of Parliament in Paris denounced against Gasper Coligne Admirall of France after hee was massacred as you have formerly heard viz. 1 FIrst That for his conspiracy practised against the King and the State in the yeare 1572 the said Court hath condemned him of high treason 2 That his memory shall bee utterly rased out 3 If his body or any figure thereof shall bee taken that the same shall be first drawne upon a hurdle to the place called Le Grene and there hanged upon a Gibbet by the Executioner 4 After which a Gibbet shall be set up at Mountfaucon and he there to be hanged up in the most eminent place thereof 5 His annes and armor to be drawne at an horse taile through the stréets of the said City of Paris and other Cities where they should bée found and there by the Minister of Iustice to be broken and battered in pieces in signe of his perpetuall ignominy 6 All his goods and possessions to be forfeited to the Kings use 7 All his children to be pronounced ignoble as also held unworthy and uncapable of any honor or dignities whatsoever 8 His house and castle of Chastillon upon the Loin with the base Court and all appurtenances thereunto appertaining to be defaced and demolished to the ground 9 Then in the said place this sentence shall be set up engraven in brasse 10 Lastly that on the foure and twentieth of August 1572 generall processions be made throgh the City of Paris by way of thanksgiving to God for this punishment inflicted upon the conspirator Pronounced and executed in Paris the seven and twentieth and nine and twentieth of October Anno 1572. Signe Malon At Rome solemn masses were sung and thanks Great joy at Rome for these sorrowfull events rendred to God for the good successe which the Roman Catholiques had obsained in massacring the Huguenots At night in token of joy and gladned were made many great bonfires in sundry places And as the report went the Cardinal of Lorraine gave a thousand Crownes to him that brought this desired newes unto him Touching whose death I will here insert that which I finde written of it The Cardinall of Lorraine a principall pillar A note touching the maner of the Cardinall of Lorrains Death in the house of Guise a crafty and cruell persecutor of the reformed churches soone after the raigne of Henry the third brother of Charles the ninth in the yeare 1574 died at Avignon frantique at the houre of whose death there hapned such a horrible tempest in the aire that all stood amased at it The people observing how it fell out in one of the chiefe Cities where Popery bare the sway thought it the more remarkable not sticking to say that this wise worldling who had enriched himselfe beyond measure by execcrable practises received now in the prime of his youth and in the top of his hopes the just reward of all his wicked procéedings it being not possible that a soul so replenished with iniquity could depart quietly But those of the Religion added That in this his so sudden departure shined the wonderfull providence of God in that one of the Popes great supporters comming to Avignon with a purpose to arme the King of France and Polonia against the Christian assemblies out of a vaine confidence thinking that at his onely word and threat the Prince would be perswaded to overthrow all it should fall out so contrary to his expectation that the master builder and upholder of violent and bloudy counsels must now in the middest of his triumphs come to so fearefull and miserable an end That he who bent all his wits to crosse the counsell and wisedome of God should at an instant in this City be smitten with frensie To give warning to all that there is no wisedome or counsell against the Lord who blasteth the ripest wits when they dare to oppose him there with But now to returne againe to the matter where wée left The same day that the Admirall was hurt the King advised the King of Navarre his brother in law to lodge in his chamber with ten or twelve of his trustiest servants to protect him from the designes of the Duke of Guise whom he called an unhappy boy The Admirall as it séemeth somewhat before his death made his will in which he gave the king counsell that he should not give his brethren over great portions The Quéen Mother hearing this and reading the same to the Duke of Alencon the Kings brother Now you sée saith she the heart of your friend the Admirall whom you so much loved and respected The Duke answered I know not how much he loved me but I well perceive by this how much he loved the King The English Embassador made almost the like The Admiral a loving and loyall servant to his Prince and Country answer when the said Quéene told him How the Admirall had advised the King not to trust the English too farre Indéed Madam saith he hereby it appeared that though he bare but little good will to the English yet he manifested himselfe a loyall servant to the Crowne of France The Sieur de Brion Governour of the little Brion governour to the Prince of Condes son massacred Marquesse Conde sonne to the late Prince of Conde hearing these stirres taking his little master even in his shirt thinking to convey him somewhere out of the way met these murtherers who plucking from him the said yong prince massacred the old man in his presence whilest the Prince with teares intreated them to spare his Governour But they died his white haires in his owne bloud and then barbarously dragged him through the mire This Sunday morning all that were popishly Ten thousand massacred within three dates in the City of Paris c. affected tooke liberty to kill and spoyle if being credibly reported That the number of the slaine that day and two other daies following in the City of Paris and in the Suburbs did amount to above ten thousand counting Lords Gentlemen Presidents Counsellors Advocates Lawyers Schollers Physitians Merchants Tradesmen Women Maids and Children The stréets were covered with dead bodies the river was died with bloud the gates and entrance into the Kings palace painted with the same colour but the bloud-thirsty were
such particular acclamations the whole army in every quarter did so deboutly at certaine times sing in her hearing in very tunable manner divers Psalmes put into forme of prayers in praise to Almighty God no waies to be misliked that she greatly commended them Anno 1588. and with very earnest spéech thanked God with them This that I write you may be sure I doe not with any comfort but to give you these manifest arguments that neither this Qéene doth discontent her people nor her people doe shew any discontent in any thing they be commanded to doe for her service as heretofore hath béen imagined The same day wherein the last fight was the Duke of Parma after his vowes offered to the Lady of Halla came somewhat late to Dunkerk and was received with some opprobrious words of the Spaniards as if in favour of Quéene Elizabeth he had slipped the fairest opportunity that could be to doe the service He to make some satisfaction punished the purveiours that had not made provision of beere bread and victuals which was not yet ready nor imbarked secretly smiting at the insolency of the Spaniards when he heard them glorying that what way soever they came upon England they would have an undoubted victory that the English were not able to endure the sight them Bernardinus Mendoza did indéed by Bookes in France sing a foolish and lying triumphant For which a Papist sticks not to taxe him writing upon this subject to Mendcza The Spaniards dismaied flâ—e away for feare song before the victory The English Admirall appointed Seimor and the Hollanders to watch upon the coast of Flanders that the Duke of Parma should not come out himselfe followed the Spaniards upon their backes untill they were past Edenborough frith The Spaniards séeing all hopes faile and finding no other help for themselves but by flight fled amaine and never made stay And so this great Navy being thrée yeares preparing with great cost was within a moneth overthrown and after And all their preparations blasted the English receiving small losse viz. not one hundred men in all nor one ship but that of Cockes many were killed being chased away of English there were not one hundred lost nor one ship lost saving that of Cocks was driven about all Britaine by Scotland Orcades Ireland tossed and shaken with tempests and much lessened and came home without glory Whereupon some money was coined with a Navy fléeing away at full saile and this inscription Venit Vidit Fugit Other were coined with the ships fired the navy confounded in honour of the Quéene inscribed Dux foemina facti As they fled it is certain that many of their ships were cast away upon the shores of Scotland and Ireland More then seven hundred soldiers and Mariners were cast up upon the Scottish shors who at the Duke of Parma his intercession with the Scots King the Quéene of England consenting were after a yâ—are sent into Flanders But they that were cast up upon the Irish shore by tempests came to more miserable fortunes for some were killed by the wilde Irish others by the Deputies command for he fearing that they might joyne themselves to the wild Irish Bingham the Governor of Connach being once or twice commanded to slay them having yeÌ„elded but refusing to doe it Fowle the under Marshall was sent and killed them which cruelty the Quéen much condemned whereupon the rest being afraid sick and hungry with their torne ships committed themselves to the sea and many were drowned Quéene Elizabeth came in publike thankesgiving to Pauls Church in a Chariot drawne Queen Elizabeth giveth thankes to God for so unexpected a deliverance with two horses her Nobles accompanying her with a very gallant traine through the stréets of London which were hung with blew cloth the companies standing on both sides were in their liveries the Banners that were taken from the enemies were spred shée heard the Sermon anpublique thankes were rendred unto God with great joy This publique joy was augmented when sir Robert Sidney returning out of Scotland brought from the King assurance of his noble minde and affection to the Quéene and to religion which as in sincerity he had established so he purposed to maintaine with all his power Sir Robert Sidney was sent to him when the Spanish fléet was comming to congratulate and to give him thankes for his propense affection towards the maintenance of the common cause and to declare how ready she would be to help him if the Spaniards should land in Scotland and that he might recall to memory with what strange ambition the Spaniard had gaped for all Britaine urging the Pope to excommunicate him to the end that he might be thrust from the Kingdome of Scotland and from the succession in England and to give him notice of threatning of Mendoza and the Popes Nuncio who threatned his ruine if they could worke it and therefore warned him to take especiall héed to the Scottish Papists The King pleasantly answered That he looked for no other benefit from the Spaniard then that which Polyphemus promised to Vlysses to devoure him last after all his Fellowes were devoured ¶ To close up this whole relation heare what The odore Beza writes in certaine gratulatory Verses written in Latine and sent unto her Majesty the effect of which Verses is this in English WIth Navy huge the Spaniard proud The English seas had spread And all to set the English Crowne Upon the Spanish head And would you gladly understand The cause of all this rout Ambition first did lay the plot And lucre brought them out How well this pride thus puffed up A puffe did overthrow And swelling wave such swelling wights How well did overflow How well that Worrier of mankinde That Spanish cruell Wolfe Was tost and tumbled up and downe Within the Ocean gulfe And you for whom both all the windes And all the waters fight O noble Queene of all the world The only true delight Goe forward still to rule for God Ambition laid aside Goe forward still for Christ his Flocke In bounty to provide That thou maist England governe long Long England thee enjoy As well a love unto the good As to the bad annoy From Geneva besieged by the Duke of Savoy the twelfth day of August Anno 1589. Your Majesties most humble Orator Theodore Beza ¶ The death of the Duke of Guise and Henry Anno 1598. the third King of France IT was not long after that the Duke of Guise who was slain by the Lord Lougna at the kings Chamber doore and King Henry the third were taken away he being the last of the house of Vallois and dying without any lawfull heires of his body begotten The manner of whose death was thus A Frier of the Order of Saint Dominicke called Iames Clement pretended hee had matters of great consequence to impart to the King who being admitted into his presence upon his knées presented the King with
from it and to cleave wholly to the Doctrine of the Gospell Then leaving them he went into another roome and called for a brush to brush his hat and cloake causing his shooes to be blacked For now said he I am bidden to the mariage of the Lambe where I am to feast with him for ever and ever Going thence some of the prisoners came to him and finding him sitting in the entry of the prison upon a bench with bread and wine set before him which was brought him for his breakefast they asked him if he went to suffer with those shackles on his héeles I would I might said hée yea and that they would bury them with mee to that they might manifest the inhumanity of my adversaries And as those brethren comforted him he replyed that he felt such joy of the holy Ghost in his heart that he could neither with mouth nor tongue expresse it adding That God shewed him a thousand times more favour to take him after this manner out of this transitory life than if he had let him die in his bed by sicknesse for now saith he I shall dye with enjoying the benefit of all the powers of my soule praying the Lord to have mercy upon me Then every one taking his leave of him they retyred and forthwith Guy and La Grange were led to the towne hall to receive the sentence of death namely to be hanged for transgressing the Kings commandement given at the Court of Bruxels And so not medling at all with any of the points of Doctrine which they had preached they especially insisted upon the administration of the Lords Supper against an expresse charge given them to the contrary To be short La Grange being brought to the place of execution and now upon the ladder hée protested with a loud voice notwithstanding the noise which the soldiers kept about the gibbe◠that he died onely for preaching to the people the pure truth of God taking heaven and earth to witnesse the same with him Then was Master Guy brought thither who knéeling downe to have made his prayer at the foot of the ladder was not suffered to make an end for lifting him up they made him by and by to ascend the ladder Being thereon he fastned his féet in the rundles exhorting the people to carry themselves with all due respect towards the Magistrates shewing how some had overshot themselves in that behalfe Then Master Guy exhorted them to stand stedfast in the doctrine which he had taught them avouching that it was the undoubted truth of God He could not finish his spéech fully because the Commissioners gave a signe to the Executiooner to hasten and make an end He was no sooner turned off the ladder but there fell out such a tumult among the souldiers being in armes in the market place that they ran up and downe the City shooting off their pieces against such as they met shooting off their pieces against such as they met as well Papists as others yea killing one another in a grievous manner so as some fell downe dead among many others that were wounded and hurt And thus were they smitten with great feare without any ground thereof at all ¶ Notes touching the estate of the Faithfull in the City of Venice and of some executed there for the Truth in the yeare 1566. IT pleased God for a long space to frée this noble City from being subjected to the cruell Inquisition of the Pope by reason whereof the face of a Church was to be discerned there from the yeare 1530 to the yeare 1542. They enjoyed such fréedome of conferring and scanning of the points of Religion there that they came in a manner to make profession thereof publiquely so as many strange nations came to take notice thereof But the Father of lies observing this began to bestirre himselfe by setting his Lieutenant on worke who hath his seat at Rome to disturbe these good beginnings for it came to passe that whilst multitudes of good Christians flocked thither from other parts in processe of time such a course was taken by Antichrists supporters that many of them were imprisoned and afterward sent thence to Rome The rest by a new found execution never till then heard of were cast into the sea and drowned in the bottome of the same The manner of it was thus After they had received sentence an yron chaine was fastened about their middle with a stone of great weight tyed thereto and then were they laid upon a planke betwéene two wherries which being come to the place appointed the wherries parting asunder the Martyrs were forthwith drowned Yet for all this many ceased not still to assemble together in a place appointed for that purpose to talke and discourse of heavenly matters yea and to make some collections for reliefe of the poore so as in the yeare 1566 the called to them a minister of the Gospell to establish constitute a church among them having also the Supper of the Lord administred to them But some false brethren créeping in under pretence of making the same profession with them betrayed them Then began the Popish Inquisition to be erected there with the greatest cruelty that might be towards the maintenance whereof the Pope sent every yeare a certaine summe of money to those holy Fathers to be distributed among such as were appointed to be spies and revealers of such secrets as they could come to the knowledge of Thus were many cast into the sea and drowned some were sent to Rome others were detained Anno 1567. so long in prisons which were like graves that they rotted there ¶ Master Anthony Ricetto Martyr AMongst others who were condemned to bée drowned there was one Master Anthony Ricetto of Vincence having a sonne about twelve yeares old who comming to visit his father according to the discretion of children besought him with teares to yéeld to those who had condemned him and to save his life that he might not be left fatherlesse A true Christian said his father is bound to forgoe goods children yea and life it selfe for the maintenance of Gods honor and glory For which cause he was now ready and resolved to lay it downe the Lord assisting him The Lords of Venice offered to restore unto him his patrimony which was partly morgaged and sold if he would submit himselfe to the Church of Rome But he refused whatsoever conditions they this way tendred unto him Some that wer prisoners with him namely one M. Iulius Ferlan hath reported much of the abstinence patience and holinesse of this excellent man so farre as to parallel him to another Iohn Baptist On the fiftéenth day of Fegruary 1565. which according to our computation is 1566. Captain Clairmont came unto him and told him that Francis Sega was resolved to recant To which Ricetto * This Sega was his fellow prisoner of whom see more hereafter by and by replyed What tell you me of Sega I will
saile as they say and to apply himselfe to the time being brought hereinto by the advice of some namely that he should faine a giving of his consent to what the Magistrate required of him by meanes whereof hée might escape their hands But about the tenth of September comming againe to himselfe and But soone after recovers himselfe espying whereunto this determination tended hée protested before all that he would stand in the confession he had made from the first of April last past Wherefore on the ninth of August hée was brought againe before the same Iudges where he openly confirmed the same His Iudges said that he should either be drowned or burned alive Then on the thirtéenth of Ianuary 1566. according to the Venetian account which according to our was 1567. on Tuesday morning being come before the Tribunall sentence was pronounced upon him that hée should be drowned as an Heretique To which he gave them this answer I am no heretique but the servant of Iesus Christ At which words the popes legate commanded him to hold his peace telling him that he lied The next day in the morning which was the last of Ianuary he was brought into Saint Peters Chappell where he was degraded because he had béen a Priest and the night following he was conducted unto the Sea and there drowned in the place appointed who died prayising and blessing God with invincible constancy ¶ A relation of such things as fell out under the government of the Duke of Alva and of many men put to death 1567. THe afflictions of the protestants in the Low-Countries were multiplied this yeare under the dominion of Ferdinando of Toledo Duke of Alva It is well knowne that the Spaniards using all their endeavours to rule over this Countrey at their pleasures had no better opportunity to accomplish their design then to establish among them their inquisition thereby to dominéere over the goods honors and lives of every one The Nobles Citizens and Commons did what they could to oppose the same to which purpose they had instantly besought the King to afford them his royall presence that hearing once their complaints his Majesty might take some order for matters of so great importance alledging to this end the example of the Emperour Charles his Father who upon a businesse fame inferiour to this adventured himselfe with much diligence to passe through the enemies country who were but a while before reconciled onele to stay some mutinies begun in the City of Gand. These things had so moved his Majesty that he made them a promise by letters of his comming But his intention was broken off by such as were the upholders of the inquisition that so they might with the more facility attaine the end of their desires In stead of their King then they had sent unto them the Duke of Alva who at his entrance found the prisons replenished with Gentlemen other personages of note whom the Dutches of Parma had left in bonds after her death Long di dthey languish in this captivity whilst the Duke of Alva by faire promises dissembled a kind of méeke and gentle carriage of minde towards them giving them some hope of a generall pardon procéeding from the Kings clemency that thus he might catch the lords and governors â—he more cunningly into his nets whereof the Lord Lemorall Earle of Egmond Prince of Gand Governor of Flanders and Artois and others of quality gave but too lamentable experience who being fed with vaine hopes were at length inhumanely put to death The sixéene Provinces also subjecting themselves To wit Brabant Lambourg Luxembourg Guelderland Flanders Artois Haynaut Holland â—ealand Namur â—utphein Friseland Malines Vtrecht Overâ—seiz and Graningu◠〈◊〉 Le Conseil de sang under this new government lost their antient liberties and priviledges which evidently appeared by the exploits done from the yere 1557. hitherto by a new counsell of twelve elected and setled there by the Duke the principall of which were Vergas and Delrio the Fathers of the inquisition which Councell was commonly called the Councell of bloud ¶ The death of two Barons of Battembourg the one called Gysorecht and the other Thierri brethren with certaine other Gentlemen executed the same day at Bruxells 1568. AMong many Gentleman and Captains who were apprehended after the discomâ—ture of the Assembly in Holland whom the Dutches of Parma had imprisoned in the castle of Villford the two brothers of Battembourg a most antient Barony scituated upon Mense about two miles off from Nieumegne did manifest above others how much they had profited by being instructed in the Church of Geneva The elder of them was Gysbrecht and the other Dietrich or Thierri who from the flower of their youth had constantly professed and confessed the pure Doctrine of the Gospell On Tuesday the first of Iune Anno 1568. the Duke of Alva began to declare to the world his fained méeknesse putting to death the same day these two breathren besides the Lords Heter Dandelet Philip Wingle c. They were first brought into Provost Spellans house néere the horse faire in the City of Bruxels compassed about with a strong guard and many drummes beating that none might heare what were their last spéeches As they went to their death Battembourg the elder séemed to be somewhat pensive whereas Dietrich his brother was very chéerefull comforting the other with his gracious words saying Ah brother is not this the day we have so much desired Be not sorrowfull now for it is the highest honor that can befall us here to suffer for the Doctrine of the Sonne of God It may be for the love you beare me you grieve to sée me dye first I am content that you should drinke of that cup before me in regard you are the elder if not all is one séeing we are going to our God Gysbrecht by and by replied Thinke not deare Brother that the joy of the holy Ghost is taken from me now I am drawing nigh to the Lord being ready to dye for his holy name Then ascending the scaffold after he had made his fervent prayers to God the Executioner taking off his head he slept happily swéetly in the Lord. His brother following him next with such alacrity as much astonished the spectators He desired as some say to sée his brother and when he had espied his head he cried I shall by and by be with thee my brother So after he had ended his prayer he was by a quicke dispatch united unto him Those who testifie these things report That the other Gentleman had so much favour as to bée buried but these two brethren were made a spectacle being hanged up the cause was for that in the very same morning they suffered as also before they directly set themselves against the Idolatries which were proposed unto them The Saturday after the fifth of Iune the Earles of Eagmond and Horne were beheaded and there made a publique gazing flock Of which two the
not yet satisfied But going from house to house with their associats Anno 1569. where they thought to find any Huguenots they brake open the doores then cruelly murthered whomsoever they met sparing neither sex nor age The pretence was this Report was raised there that a treason of the Huguenots was discovered who had conspired to kill the King his Mother his brethren having already killed fifteene of the guard Carts were laden with dead bodies of yong maidens women men and children which were discharged into the river covered in a maner all over with the slain and dyed red with their bloud which also streamed down the stréets from sudry parts thereof whereat the Courtezans laughed their fill saying That the warres were now ended and that hereafter they should live in peace c. But it would take up too much time to recite all the lamentable passages of this so sad and tuefull a tragedy ¶ This with some others which follow belonging to this History because they could not bee omitted are here under inserted TO begin then with Monsieur Pierre de la Place President of the Court of Requests whose story we will relate somewhat at large because his singular piety requires the same On Sunday morning about six of the clock one called Captaine Michael harquebusier of the king came into his lodging into which he had the more easie accesse for divers private respects This Captaine being armed having a harquebuse This was a token by which the murtherers were distinguished form others on his shoulder apâ—stoll at his girdle and his handkerchiefe tyed about his left arme presenting himself before the said De la Place the first words he spake were that the Duke of Guise had slaine the Admirall by the Kings appointment with many Huguenots besides and because the rest of them of what quality soever were destinated to death he was come to his lodging to exempt him from the common destruction onely he desired to have a sight of that gold and silver which was in the house The Lord de la Place somwhat amased at the audacious malapartnesse of the man who in the midst of ten or twelve persons which were there present in the roome durst presume to utter such language askt him if he knew where he was or whether he thought there was a King or no To this the Captaine blaspheming answered that he willed him to goe with him to know the kings pleasure The said Lord de la Place hearing this fearing also some danger to be towards by sedition in the City slipped forth at a backe doore behind his lodging purposing to get into a neighbors house In the meane while most of his servants vanished out of sight and this Captaine having stored himselfe with a thousand crowns was intreated by the Lady Marets daughter to the said Lord to convey her father with the Lord Marets her husband into the house of some Romane Catholike which he consented to doe and also performed it After this de la Place being refused at thrée severall houses was constrained to retire backe againe into his own where he found his wife very pensive and grieved beyond measure fearing lest this Captaine in the end would cast her sonne in law and daughter into the river as also for the imminent danger wherein her deare husband and all his family were But the said Lord de la Place being strengthened by the spirit of God with incredible constancy in the inner man sharply rebuked her and afterwards mildely demonstrated unto her that we must receive these and the like afflictions from the hand of God and so having discoursed a while upon the promises of God comforted her Then he commanded such servants and maids as remained in the house to be called togeher who being come into his Chamber according to his custome on the Lords dayes he made a forme of exhortation to his family then went to prayer and began to read a Chapter out of the booke of Iob with the exposition or sermon of Master Iohn Calvin upon it So having spoken somewhat of Gods mercy and justice which as a good and wise father useth to exercise his elect with sundry chastisements lest they should bée intangled here below with the things of this World he shewed how néedfull afflictions were for Christians and that it was beyond the power of Satan or men to hurt or wrong them unlesse the Lord of his good pleasure gave them leave What néed have we then said he to dread their authority which at the most can but prevaile over our bodies Then he went to prayer againe preparing himselfe and his whole family rather to endure all sorts of torments yea death it selfe than to speake or doe ought that might tend to the dishonour of God Having finished his prayer word was brought him that Senecay the Provost Marihall with many archers were at the doore of his lodging commanding the same to be opened in the Kings name saying that he came to secure the person of the Lord de la Place and to preserve his house from being pillaged by the common sort The Lord de la Place having intelligence of this spéech commanded the doore to be opened to him who entring in declared the great slaughter that was made upon the Huguenots every where in the city by the Kings command adding this withall in Latine that he would not suffer one to live Qui mingat ad Parietem Yet have I expresse charge from his Majesty saith he to sée that you shall sustaine no wrong but only conduct you to the Louvre because the King is desirous to be informed touching many things about the affairs of those of the Religion which he hath now in hand and therfore willed him to make himself ready to goe to his Majesty The Lord de la Place answered That he alwaies thought himselfe happy before he left this life to gaine any opportunity by which hée might render an account to his Majesty of his behaviour and actions But in regard such horrible Massacres were every where committed it was impossible for him to passe to the Louvre without the certaine danger of his person praying him to assure his Majesty of his willingnesse to come the whilest leaving in his lodging as many Archers as hee thought fitting untill the fury of theâ— people was somewhat pacified The Provost agréed to his request and left with him one of his Lieutenants called Toute Voye with some foure of his archers Not long after comes into his lodging Prestdent Charron then provost of the merchants with whom conferring a little in secret going his way he left with the foure archers which were there before foure more of the city archers The whole night following was spent in stopping up and fortifying of all passages from entring the house with logs and provision of Flint-stones damming up the windowes so as if séemed by this so exact and diligent a defence the
upon the swords and armes of the murtherers their sléeves being tucked up which something hindered their procéeding after they had drinke wine their still they meant to returne and make themselves dranke with blood also which that they might shed the more fréely they tooke with them Butchers great axes wherewith they smite downe their Oxen and in the presence of this honest Atturney felled these poore prisoners one after another who called upon God and crying so loud for mercy that all the City in a manner rung thereof This massacre lasted from nine of the Clock at night till it was midnight And for as much as there yet remained many prisoners alive they deferred this their bloody businesse till the next day But this may suffice to have béen said as touching this massacre at Meaux in Brie passe wée on now to the City of Troys in Champaigne and there take notice as it were by the way what cruelties were executed in that place ¶ Persecution of the Faithfull at Troys in Champaigne NEwes comming to Troys of the Massacre executed at Paris the greater part of the Iudges and Officers of the King were sent to the Bailiffe of Troys with commandement diligently to make scarch for all those of the Religion from house to house and to imprison as many as they could méet withall In this city there was a Merchant called Peter Belin a man of a turbulent nature This Belin was at the massacre in Paris on S. Bartholomews day from whence he was sent with Letters from the King dated the eight and twentieth of August to the Maior and Sheriffes of Troys to cause all these persecutions to cease and the prisoners to be set at liberty On the third of September he came to Troys with these two letters which had béen first published in Paris with commandement to deliver them to the foresaid Magistrates to be proclaimed there also But at the first entrance into the City he began to enquire that all might heare him whether they had not executed the Huguenots there as they had done in Parts which was his language thorow the stréets till he came home But even some of the Papists who were not so cruelly minded demanded of Belin the contents of the K. letters whereof they had some inkling before But he like a Bedlam swelling with choler sware that whosoever said they contained any thing tending to varification lyed Hasting therefore to the Bailiffes house at Troys after he had delivered him the packet and buzzed somewhat in his eare he put him on to sée this execution done Now that the same might passe the better for currant the help of the Executioner of Troys was requested whose name was Charles Yet he shewing himself more just and humane than the rest peremptorily refused to have his hand in an act tending to so great cruelty answering that it was contrary to his office to execute any man before sentence of death had first béen pronounced by the Magistrate If they had such sentence to shew against any of the prisoners he was ready to doe justice otherwise he would not presume without a warrant to bereave any man of his life and so with these words he returned home to his house Now albeit this answer procéeding from such a kinde of person whose office and custome it was to shed blood might somewhat have asswaged and taken off the edge of the most barbarous Tyger in the world yet the Bailiffe sleighting it was the further enraged Upon this he sent for one of the Iaylors of the prison who kept those of the religion but he being sicke of a Tertian Ague Martin de Bures was sent to know his pleasure The Bailiffe telling him at large what Belin had signified to him in private as also that on a sudden all the prisoners of the Religion must bée put to death that so the place might be purged of them This he said you must not faile to doe But said the Bailiffe that the blood may not run into the stréets you shall cause a trench to be digged in the middest of the prison and at the two ends thereof set certaine vessels to receive the same But this de Bures for some considerations as namely thinking the Kings Letters whereof he had had some intelligence might be proclauned made no hast to performe his charge acquainting no man with ought that had passed betwéene the Bafliffe and hâ—m no not Perennet the Kéeper who then lay sick in his bed The next day being Tuesday which was the fourth of September the Bailiffe came into the prison about seven or eight of the Clock and calling for Perennet asked of him with a smile Perennet is it done Perennet knowing nothing either more or lesse asked of him what Then saith the Bailiffe Why are not the Prisoners dispatched and thereupon was ready with his dagger to have stabbed him But comming a little better to himselfe he told Perennet what his purpose was and now he was to behave himselfe concerning the execution thereof willing him by all meanes not to forget to make the said Trench At which words this Perennet standing amased though otherwise he was a fellow forward enough of himselfe to commit any outrages against the Protestants certified the Bailiffe that such an inhumane act could not be committed over to him fearing lest in time to come Iustice might be followed against him by the Parents or Allyes of the Prisoners No no said the Bailiffe feare not I will stand betwéene you and all harmes Others of the Iustices have consented thereto besides my selfe and would you have better security than that Within a while after the Iaylor comming into the court of the prison where the prisoners were abroad recreating themselves caused every one to resort to his cabbin or hole because said he the Bailiffe will come by and by to sée whether the Kéepers have done as he commanded them which they did Then began these poore shéep to feare they were destinated to the slaughter and therefore went presently to prayer Perennet instantly called his companions about him reporting to them what the Bailiffe had given him in charge Then they all tooke an oath to execute the same but approaching nigh to the Prisoners they were so surprised with feare and their hearts so failed them that they stood gasing one upon another having no courage to act such a barbarous cruelty and so returned to the Iaylors lodge whence they came without doing any thing But in stead of laying this to heart as an advertisement and warning piece sent them from above as if of set purpose they meant to resist against the checks of their owne consciences and so kick against the prickes they sent to the Taverne for sixtéene pints of the best wine Troys measure with shéepes tongues and other viands and intoxicating their braines with wine they drew a list or Catalogue of all the prisoners which they delivered to Nicholas Martin one of their
while after he was overtaken by the hand of God with such a flux of bléeding at his nose as could not be restrained nor diverted by any of the remedies that were then used It was an hideous sight to sée him still bowing his head over a basonfull of bloud which without ceasing issued out of his nose and mouth This bloudy wretch then who breathed forth Vincent dies drenched in his owne bloud nothing but bloud in the time of his health nor could have his eyes satisfied with séeing the bloud of innocents poured out was forced whilest he lived to sée himselfe drenched in his own bloud even untill his last gaspe Another of them thirsting after bloud as much Another of this wretched crew swelled so long that he burst in sunder God meets with the Governor himself at length as any of the rest was taken with such a swelling in all the parts of his body that there was scarcely to be discerned in him the forme of a man and so continued swelling more and more till at the length he burst in sunder The Governour himselfe who was the chiefe actor in this massacre about two yeares after gathering all the forces he could to besiege Genses with an intention to doe wonders there presenting himselfe ready for the purpose was chosen to goe in the ranke of five and twenty or thirty brave Gentlemen and he onely shot with an harquebuse dyed The rest by and by retiring came off safe without doing any further exploit Thus we have taken a view of the extreme afflictions and oppressions of the reformed Churches in many parts of France wherein within a Thirty thousand massacred within a few weeks in the Cities of France few wéeks well nigh thirty thousand were put to death Now in the yeare 1573 many places whither the faithfull were fled for refuge were assayled by open warre namely in the first place that of Sancerre the History whereof you have here in a short view presented before you in that which followeth A relation of the extreme famine which happened in the City of Sancerre in France being besieged with five hundred horsmen and about five thousand footmen the ninth of Ianuary 1573. with their deliverance The Siour of Chastre was then Generall of the Kings army BEing saith the story compassed about with irreconcileable enemies from about the beginning of Aprill the want of victuals having caused them to gather together all the asses and mules they had in the City they were eaten up in lesse than a moneth Then they came to horses cats rats moules mice and dogges After these were spent they fell to eat oxe and cow-hides sheep-skins parchment old shooes bullockes and horsehoofes hornes of lanthornes ropes and horse harnesse leather girdles c. In the end of Iune the third part of the besieged had not bread to eat Such as could get hemp séed ground it or stamped it in mortars and made bread of it the like they did with all sorts of herbes mingling the same with branne if they had it There they eat meale of chaffe nut-shels and of slate excrements of horses and men yea the offall which lay in the stréets was not spared The nine and twentieth of Iuly a poore man and his wife were executed for having eaten the head braines and entrailes of a young childe about thrée yeares old which died of hunger having made ready the other parts to eat at another meale An old woman lodging in their house eating a part of this mournefull dyet dyed in prison within a few houres after her imprisonment They were found guilty of other offences but this aggravated the same the more All children under twelve yeares of age dyed It was lamentable to heare the pittifull voices uttered by poore parents for the misery wherein their eyes beheld their languishing and dying infants To which purpose you may take notice here of a memorable accident A boy of ten yeares old being ready to yéeld up the ghost séeing his father and mother wéeping over him whose aâ—nes and legges when they handled felt as if they had béen dryed stickes said unto them wherefore wéepe ye thus in séeing me famished to death Mother saith he I aske you no bread I know you have none but séeing it is Gods will I must die this death let us bee thankfull for it Did not the holy man Lazarus dye of famine Have I not read it in my Bible In uttering these with the like spéeches he yéelded up the ghost the thirtieth day of Iuly That all the people died not of famine in the end of this moneth it was by reason of certain horses which were reserved for service if néed should be and six kine which were left to give milk for the sustenance of young infants These beasts were killed and their flesh sold for the reliefe of such as were living with a little corne which by stealth some brought into the City so that a pound of wheat was sold for halfe a crowne There died by fight in Sancerre but eighty four persons but of the famine more than five hundred Many souldiers getting forth as they could out of the City flying from the famine chose rather to dye by the sword of the enemy whereof some were slaine others imprisoned and the rest put to death by the executioner But when all helpe of man failed the King having sworne that he would make them eat up God sent these good men in due season from a farre countrey to preserve this distressed city thom utter ruine one another the King of Kings delivered them by his wonderfull providence For at this instant the embassadors from Poland came into France to accept the duke of Anjou for their king at whose intreaty which could not well be dented poore Sancerre more than halfe famished was now set at liberty by raising the siege who otherwise were determined to leave their bones there rather than to yéeld themselves into their enemies hands in regard they had oft threatened them with a generall massacre Whereas now by the Kings appointment they were permitted to passe out of the City armed if any would tarry that they should Anno 1574. not be molested having liberty granted them to dispose of their affaires as they pleased with promise of conserving the honour and chastities as well of virgins as women c. Now let us come to the City of Rochel which Of this siege Marshall Mon Luc said that it was great long and sightly but though well assailed yet better defended being at this instant strongly besieged by the forces of France both by sea and land with about forty or fifty thousand men was yet in the end also delivered though not without many hot conflicts by the immediate hand of God namely thus The Embassadors of Poland arriving in France the seventéenth day of Iune atruce was made on the sudden articles of peace drawne and sent to the King who consented