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
abusie Iesuite of Pontamosson in Lorrayne to Rome to put Sir Hugh to worke and to lay downe some newe direction to execute the secrâ—t Councell of Rome seeing that the former deuises had failed Friâ—r Claude from thence tooke his iourney into Spayne to giue some ghostly counsell to Dom Philipporey despagna Out of this voyage came the expedition of Italians and Spanyards into Ireland vnder the leading of Captaine Saunders which there dyed mad wandring in y e woods From thence also came the lustie flight of Locusts the Iesuits into England vnder the banner of their Generall Campion to roote out the Gospell and to plant Poperie if it could be done But if not to worke some busie peece of worke to her Maiestie that the Guizes in the meane time might work more surely in France without hope of any help out of England to the King and to the King of Nauarre or to them of the reformed religion if they should stand in any neede The Guizes of their part were not idle but by sundrie practizes had renewed the ciuill warres and by the Kings consent Monsieur his brother and the Duke de Mayne were in Commission for the conducting of the Kings Armies which thing they did as well as they could with as great preparations as might bée but yet without doing any harme But because the common report went that Monsieur should passe into England and from thence should go take possession of the Dukedome of Brabanâ— which was offered him by the States of the Lowe Countrey they were content yet once againe to winke at peace that they might be rid of him hoping that he would neuer returne into France to trouble them Therefore in the yeare 1580. Monsieur before he tooke his iourney was sent to the King of Nauarre which both met at Fleyx a Towne in Perigord situated vppon the riuer of Dradogne where they concluded a peace not much varying from the former Which thing being done Monsieur hasted to his iourney Now this being done Frier Mathew the Guizes Pursiuant of méere deuotion must needs post to Rome yet once againe to visite the Stewes and to aduertize Sir Hugh what was past in France to knowe of him how the Guizes should worke vppon this present occasion There Sir Hugh stayed somewhat his wisedome afore hee would giue answere knowing not well what counsell to giue or to followe because his Armado in Ireland vnder the conduct of Captaine Saunders Doctor of Militarie Discipline and his Locusts vnder the leading of the lustie Campion had sped but so so and had a very hot entertainment His brains therefore was driuen to peruss his Christerosse so that in this dumpe Sir Hugh must take counsell of Dom Philipporey despagna Therefore master Frier must trudge ouer the world Haue with you master Frier into Spayne to eate a peny worth of Raphams Vpon this hard mischances of fortune Sir Hugh thought good that Dom Philippo should play Xerxes and whilest he is a preparing the inuincible Arinado meanes should bee made to doo away both Monsieur and the Prince of Orenge that by the death of the one the Low Countreys should be left headlesse vnable to resist the petie Duke of Parma and by the others death the drists of the Guizes might be easily executed in France The procuring of y e death of the Prince of Orenge was committed to the petie Duke of Parma petie sonne to the holy man Pedro Aloisio who for his religion vz. his abominable and monstrous whoredomes was hanged at the windowe of his owne house a holy Martyr and bastard sonne to Sir Alexander Farneso Vicar of Rome called otherwise Paulus tertius This Duke of Parma acquitted himselfe pretily well of his charge as shall bee sayd hereafter The death of Monsieur was vndertaken by the Guizes that that if GOD himselfe would not kill him they would doo it which they also performed in time Frier Mathew Iesuit carrier of the Court of the Guizes returning out of Spayne fell sicke at Barbaste in Gascoyne not for any surfet which he tooke in Spayne except it were for eating too little The poore Pardoner there was so sicke that he would haue eaten any kinde of meate if he could haue had it But his good Masters did so diet him that according to his profession he afflicted his bodie with fasting out of measure to pull downe his courage least when hee should come into the Stewes to giue ghostly counsell to the Curtizans he should doo any thing to the discredite of holy Châ—rch and to the slaundring of the holy order of Iesuits for such fasting as he vsed in that iourney would doo greater miracles in keeping a Frier chaâ—â— than all the weeping which the Iesuites doo vse can doo The King sending his brother into Brabant determined to appoynt him a Counsell But the Kings Counsell being in a manner all Leaguers appoynted him two manner of men one to accompanie him and the other to counsell him They therefore prouided that such counsell should be giuen him as either should altogether nousell him in all filthie life or els should worke such meanes as might dishonor him or put him in danger of his life Another companie was appoynted him of vertuous Noble men of both religions onely to accompanie him to countenance the matter but not to counsell him Monsieur therefore in this equipage of men of so sundrie colours and qualities taketh his iourney first into England and from thence into Brabant the yeare 1582. there to bee inuested of that Dukedome of the holy Empyre which was duely and sumptuously performed Whilest Monsieur soiorneth in the Low Countrey the partakers of the Guizes thinking y e time long were very importunate to set the Duke forward about the busines which he knewe considering the good opportunitie of the absence of Monsieur For if he should returne sayd they and finde all things peaceable it would bee hard for them to worke any thing for as much as Monsieur had knowledge of their drifts who assuredly would seeke to ouerthrowe all and being in France of such power would goe nigh to doo it To these and like perswasions the Duke of Guize was wont to answere that hee will enterprize nothing openly whilest the King had any brother but if he could see one day the last of the house of Valoys to sit vpoÌ„ the Throne he promised them with a round oath to set his hand to worke so surely that if he did not carrie away the whole yet he hoped to haue a good part of the cake In the meane time the Guizes began to sell the most part of their offices and to gather great summes of money making their reckoning shortly to haue all and to dispose of all But thinking the time long that neither sicknes nor the fortune of warre had shortned the life of Monsieur which greatly they desired they determined to do that which God would not do and to execute Sir Hughs spirituall counsell There was
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
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
bee the King and the Princes of the bloud but among them chiefely the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Conde Therefore they must bee made away by one meanes or another and whereas warre and violence were neither the safest nor the surest way they concluded that poyson must bee tried But to bring this to an happie end they must haue the helpe of the Q. Mother she must be one instrument to commit parricides for it is to be thought that if she would not spare her owne Sonne Charles the 9. she would not spare them whome she neuer loued for she neuer cared what shee did so that shee might not doo good she is therefore easily won to doo that which she greatly desired Poysoners are hired they haue their drougges and instructions with them some are sent to minister their Phisick to the King of Nauarre if by any meanes they could But howsoeuer it be either that they which were hired to poyson the King of Nauarre did altar their mindes or had not the meanes to execute so vilanous an act so it is that his death was bruted in Lorreyne and at the Court about the same time that the Prince of Conde dyed But it hath pleased the Lord to haue deliuered him from their snares to punish them in time according to the measure of the treacheries and innumerable enormities by them committed As touching the Prince of Conde they had their mindes vpon him for at length the diuel furthering their treacheries procured some of his owne houshold seruants to bee wonne to take the matter in hand and among others one Brillant and a Page vpon whome he had bestowed great benefits to giue him poyson the third day of March at supper he fell sick of a great paine of the stomack about an howre an a halfe after supper that paine was followed incontinentlie with great vomiting comming at sundrie times with continuation of the said paine and with a great thirst hee was assisted by Nicolas Poget his master Chirurgion At the same houre was called Master Bonauenture de Medicis Doctor of Phisick which considering the accidents did helpe the vomitings following therein the motions of nature The sicknes notwithstanding continued all the night hauing inuaded the inferiour bellie with swelling and hardnes of the same with such difficultie to take breath that he could not lie in his bed but was faine to sit still in a chayre The morrow after were called to counsell Lewis Bontempts and Ihan Pallet Doctors of Phisick who altogether did indeuour to helpe his Excellencie with all diligence and fidelitie by all the meanes which they iudged fit according to the accurrant accidents The fift day of March and second of his disease about three a clock in the after noone all things went from worse to worse so that there came a suffocation of all the famolties of nature in the which he rendered his soule to God halfe an houre after In the death of this Prince God did shoote an arrow of his wrath against the vngratefulnes peruersitie of this world but speciallie against France in plucking this Noble Prince out of so many labours into the societie of the inheritance of his Saints in light Henry Bourbon Prince of Conde Sonne vnto Lewis of Bourbon Prince of Conde whose famous name shall bee in the euerlasting remembrance of the righteous was borne and brought vp in the Church of God whose preseruation was as deare vnto him as his owne life God had endued him with noble vertues he was faithfull vnto God duetifull in the true worship of God true vnto his King louer of his Countrey and of the libertie and honour of this realme enemie vnto the perturbers of the peace of the same and of them all whome he knew to be coniurators against the King and state His generositie und valour with the greatnes of courage had been shewed in many noble exploytes done by him but speciallie in ouercomming many assaults labors perils and miseries during these miserable ciuill warres to be short God hath plucked him in all the course of his life out of many daungers His death was the more to be lamented because it was vyolent and in the flower of his age which happened the fift day of March 1588. at S. Jhan d' Angely in Xainctonge to the great griefe of all men among whome from age to age the remembrance of him shall be honorable For the death of this Prince was hurtfull to all France but gainfull onely to him who chaunged a vaine and paynfull life into one onely true and stedfast life immortall quiet and euerlastingly blessed in the assurance of the which hée died in our Lord Iesus Christ This sudden and vnlooked for accident gaue occasion to the sayd Doctors Phisitions and Chirurgions to thinke that this sicknesse came thorowe some extraordinary and vyolent cause For the sayd Phisitions gaue out vnder their hand and seale as followeth After his departing about two houres there began to issue out of his mouth and nostrels a froth thicke and white which gathered by little and little to the bignesse of ones fist and out of the same place a little after did issue yealowish water in great aboundance On the Lords day being the sixt of March by the commandement of his Counsell we Phisitions and Chirurgions haue beside called Peter Mesnard Focault Chotard both Masters Chirurgions of S. Ihan d' Angely to make the anatomie of his bodie and to search altogether the causes of a death so sudden And first wee haue found all the body blewish and leadie the bellie in a strange manner swolne stretched and hard In the opening of the body we found in the lower bellie all the parts thereof with the inwards blewish and blacke and the hollownesse of his bodie full of yealowish waters After searching diligently the stomack we haue also found it blewish and in the right and vpward part of the same an inch or thereabout vnder the Orifice of the sayd stomacke we haue found a round hole eaten through and through that hole had fallen the waters and liquours which we found within the capacitie of the inferiour bellie Then hauing diligently taken vp viewed cut and emptied the sayd stomack we haue seene euidently the whole bodie of the sayd stomacke as well without as within specially on the right side blacke burned vlcered and gangrened in diuers places but notably about the hole aboue sayd So that wee cannot iudge that it could bee done otherwise then by a notable quantitie of burning vlcering and caustick poyson which had left euident markes of his passing in the Oesophage The liuer also in the place ioyning to the sayd hole was found altered and burned the rest of the substance of the sayd liuer blewish as also the lights There was no part of y e bodie of his Excellencie which was not of a very good constitution and very healthfull if the vyolent poyson had not corrupted y e parts aboue sayd All
illumination of your owne brayne and that you will make them beléeue for an vndoubted truth vpon your single asseueration and all the reasons which you bring for the confirmation of these your fantasies you lay downe sic volo sic iubeo I pray you my good Lord tell me whose voyces be these But what if they will not take your sic volo sic iubeo for reasons which may induce them to subscribe to your abiuration and will not suffer themselues to bee cut off neither being not conuincted of error but stand to defend themselues against an vniuersall contumelie iniurie and violence What will you doo My Lord Bishop hearing this newes what will they neither beléeue vs neither suffer themselues to be burned for our pleasures Now all my Lords religion is turned into madnesse his zeale to rage his authoritie to tyrannie and his mildnes that holy Church doth not couet after blood is turned to murther Then my Lord in his furie and in the trance of his hart he crieth Open the Kings Arseuall bring foorth his Ordinance gather together his men of armes and footmen and if néede bee the whole Realme set vpon them kill them slash them cut them spoyle them murther them and worse if you can This is not to warre quoth my Lord no no holy Church thirsteth not after bloud But here is good play which I doo offer you seeing that you must néedes to warre there is in France many legions of diuells of your haire put on your carnall armour for the spirituall armour you haue lost long agoe let your Myter serue you for an Helmet your Rochets for Corslets your Surplesses for shirts of male your Crosses for pikes your Crosier staues for Launces your red roundaches which the Cardinalls doo weare vpon their heads for Targets your Holy water tassels for Clubbes put on your Spectacles too that you may the better aime at your enemie call vppon all the he Saints and she Saints which the Popes haue deified with thousands of Ora pro nobis set you all in battell aray be fiue against one méete the heretikes if you dare in y ◠plaine open field I aduise you though you be desperate enough not to come within their reach least that with bastinadoes the pockes and the gowtes be wrong out of your rotten boanes against your wills But to returne to the purpose he exhorteth the States to vnite themselues and to sweare the foresayd edict which speaches being ended the King tooke the word thus Sir you haue heard the contents of mine edict and vnderstand the qualitie of the same the greatnes and worthines of the oth which you be about now to sweare And seeing that I perceiue your iust desires to agree with mine I will sweare and doo sweare before God in a good conscience the obseruing of this mine edict as long as God shall continue my life here and will do ordaine that it may be kept for euer as a fundamentall law of this realme and in witnesse of the correspondence and vniuersal consent of all the States of my Realme you shall now sweare the obseruation of mine edict of vnion all with one voyce you Churchmen laying your hand vpon your breast and the rest lifting vp their hands to heauen which thing was done with great reioysing and acclamation of all men crying God saue the King Now by this hee in his owne person and his subiects haue sworne an immortall warre in his Realme of which thing he commaundeth an act to bee made in writing to serue for a perpetuall remembrance of the fact The act is such as followeth This day the 18. of October 1588. the King sitting at Bloys in the assemblie of his generall states of his Realme hath sworne in his faith and word of a King to obserue this present lawe in all that shall concerne his Maiestie Also the Lords Cardinalls of Bourbon Vendosme Princes of Soyssons and Monpensier Cardinalls of Guize Leuoncourt and Gundy Dukes of Guize Nemours Neuers and Retes the Lord Kéeper and many other Lords aswell of his Counsell as Commissioners of the three estates of his Realme haue sworne to kéepe and entertaine inuiolable the sayd lawe as well in their proper names as in the names of the Prouinces which haue sent them to the said assemblie of the States This thing being done the King testified the great desire which he had to make an end of this assemblie and to prouide for all his subiects vppon their iust complaints and grieues and for that end promised not to depart out of Bloys vntill the finall end of the said estates commanding likewise them of that assemblie not to depart by any meanes whereof they gaue him most humble thankes The assemblie dismissed the King the Quéenes Princes and Princesses Cardinalls Prelates and other Lords with all the deputies of the States went to the Church S. Sauiour there to sing te Deum where they were alwayes accompanied with a generall voyce of the people crying God saue the King shewing an extreame ioy and gladnesse for their owne calamities and miseries which they had sworne Now good Christian Reader consider well three things in this history to see Gods wrath iustice and mercy the thing which they haue done the miseries which haue followed and the gracious godnes of God in vpholding the ruines and miserable fall of that kingdome For first in this session Gods wrath drawing them to work to sweare and to reioyce in their owne dreadfull destruction they haue degraded and disherited the Princes of the most noble and ancientest family of the world from that inheritance and preheminence which God Nature and Law had appoynted vnto them whose auncestors haue gouerned that kingdome with iustice and equitie aboue thirteene hundred yeares And now without cause contrary to Gods ordinance Lawe and Nature to plant another family vnknowen in France within these threescore and ten yeares the performance of this most vniust exheredation and degradation they haue sworne to execute an oath more damnable than witchcraft ioyning to that iniurie the persecution of the true church of God But O thou most highest rayse vp thy selfe bruse them like a Potters vessell What hath followed that execrable oath First the most wretched and infamous death of the chiefest authors of this coniuring and witchcraft Secondly an vniuersall rebellion against him who sware first and ministred the oath to others I am not a Prophet nor the sonne of a Prophet yet thus much I dare affirme grounded vpon the nature of Gods iustice who sayth that who shall do those abominations shall die the death That peace shall neuer be restored to France as long as there is one left aliue of that damnable and accursed company who with that abomination haue poluted the land either in their mind haue giuen approbation vnto that accursed execration and vntill the Lord hath washed away the polution of their execrable deede with their owne blood Last of all here we haue
the towne perceaued that the enemie was remoouing the Ordinance from the place where it was first pitched and yet they could not know vpon which side of the Towne they intended to place it vntill the morrowe being the third day of Ianuary when it was seene at the Chappell Saint Leonard couered with gabions and planted within two hundred paces of the wall They perceiued also another batterie in preparing on the side of the Poole in a field toward Guinefole so that the batteries did crosse one another The Winter this yeare was so extreame during this siege that the yce did carrie euery where which thing caused great discommoditie to them which were besieged the earth being so hard that when they began to trench themselues within which was at the arriuing of the Canon they could not in an houre open a foote of earth although that they had made pickaxes and tooles for that purpose But this also did greatly encrease their labour for at the arriuing of the Canon they had saluted the Towne on the side of Maschecow and being lodged within the ruines of certayne houses there had planted gabions which caused them of the towne to beléeue that they should bee battered on that side where they also had begun their trenches with much and vnprofitable labour For as it is sayd the ordinance was remooued to another place now hauing lost all their former labour they are set to worke night and day at the trenches and when they went out of the watch without rest or sleepe they must worke at the trenches wine also fayled them so that in time and toyle so extreame many fell sicke but specially of the bloudy fluxe The same to wit the third day a certaine Corporall was sent by them of the Towne to see whether there was any meanes to enterprise vppon that artillerie but he was slaine with a pellet in the breast About noone the enemie shot certaine voleyes of Ordinance against a gate of the Castle which openeth into the garden where they sawe by the moouing of the earth that Pyouers were at worke The fourth day they within the towne at the breaking of the day perceiuing the preparations for the batterie found themselues hardly distressed for that they had no trenches against the batteries and that it was almost impossible to make any for hardnes of the ground by reason of the frost and yet they laboured hard about it day and night in that sort as is aforesayd Whilest the Gouernour and the Captaines were assembled to take aduice what was expedient to be done one of the companie proposed that it were good to send a Drommer to play with his Dromme toward the broaken Chappell vnder colour of making exchange of prisoners and in the meane time to delay the batterie of the enémie This was concluded but afterward it was reuoked by reason of the disaduantage which might ensue least the enemie vppon that occasion should thinke that they fearing the trench did seeke occasion of parley Then the two batteries began the one did beat the Fort of Beauregard and that which was made aboue an old gate as is said asore the other battery did beat at the other said Fort which was vnder the gate That which was made out of the old wall resisted the fury of the ordinance farre better then it was thought it would for from halfe an hower after Sunne rising vntill Sunne setting it neuer ceased to thunder without any intermission so that there was let flie that day aboue eight hundered canon shot The night beeing so neere they who were besieged saw no apparance that the assault would be geuen and had not prepared themselues to receiue the enemy that day considering that the breaches were flanked with two fortes which were first to be forced notwithstanding all the French footmen and Swissers were seene a farre off in battle array about noone which was the cause that they deuided speedily the small number of men which they had to keepe the Fortes but specially the two Fortes which flanked the breaches on both sydes They prouided also a certayne number to keepe the breaches if the enemy should proffer the assault They were not aboue two hundred and threescore persons which were of ability to defend the breaches for the rest were either sicke or hurt or els occupied to keepe the fiue Fortes which were without The Gouernour tooke vppon him to keepe the breach which was at the left hand with a hole to passe to the Fortes if they were assaulted beeing assisted with twelue men lying in couert and certaine Harquebuziers The Baron Vignoles was appointed to keepe the breach which was aboue the gate with fiue armed men and fifteene Harquebuziers and for as much as that number was not sufficient the Gouernour appointed the Lord Perrine to assist them with fiue armed men more When the breaches began to be reasonable euery one hauing sixteene long paces breadth the whole army beeing in battell array the enemy began to styrre and marching with a swift pace stouping low they set on both sides of the Fortes which were aside of the breaches The enemy sustayned the first onset wherewith these two Fortes receaued them and passed throug halthough that many remained vpon the places saluted by them of the Fortes with shot and with the force of the pikes yet in a little space they were masters of the two fortes They might haue defended the said fortes longer but two causes did let them the one was the small number of the defendants the other was the death of the Lord Marestes yongest sonne to the Lord Sabloniere and brother to the Lord Vignoles who after the death of the Lord Ruffigny commaunded ouer his company and one of the fortes which had befollen him his was slaine with the shot of a Culuerin This his death did greatly hast the forsaking of that fort his brother the Lord Vignoles made great mone for him The Fortes beeing wonne it was high time for them which kept the breaches to bestirre and defende themselues and as they were assaulted furiously by the enemyes so they receaued them coragiously There was all manner of defence vsed shot pikes pomgarnads fiery hoopes stones and all other manner of defence were throwen vppon the enemy Many of the enemies hauing the night fauourable retyred vnder the shadow therof they who did obstinate themselues either were wounded or els remayned dead in the place in this assault happened a thing worthy to bee noted The Baron Vignoles had a frend in the army named Poysson a man of charge in that seruice This man was greatly carefull for the preseruation of the said Baron and desirous to saue him prayed a Captaine of the regiment of Chastiagueray whose Standerd bearer was very sicke to geue him his ensigne for that day onely determined to enter one of the first to saue his friend the sayd Baron Vignoles the Captaine deliuered him his ensigne according to his request Poysson at the
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